Raphael sighed in contentment as the warm water cascaded over him, and bowed his head under the spray. Memories had come crashing down on him while reading the tome, like a torrent of water when a dam broke. The sudden rush had left him feeling overwhelmed so he'd retreated to his room, deciding a calming shower would help sooth his troubled mind. No such luck, all he'd done since was let his mind drift. After one of Renet's failed attempts at using the time scepter Raphael had ended up in Feudal Japan; alone. Good old turtle luck had decided to dump him on his head upon arrival and it had been lights out. He'd woken up to two men talking animatedly over him, in Japanese no less. Thankfully the pair were decent enough in english, coupled with his mediocre grasp of Japanese, he'd managed to understand most of their tale.

The two of them had been searching far and wide for a solution against the constant attacks on their village. Just when they'd lost all hope the heavens had torn open above them and dropped him right at their feet. Raphael had no idea where his brothers were and so had decided to follow them to their village, hoping to discover their whereabouts in the process. The first few days had been spent watching them ply their craft while asking about others like him. Everyone in the village helped one another, living in a kind of harmony that he'd found soothing. Even the children helped with easier tasks. They'd been remarkably accepting of his presence and he'd found himself helping them with some of the heavier labor after realizing none of his brothers had been sent with him. During that time he'd also grown closer to the two who found him. Oshi was a quiet fellow who preferred to work and observe in silence, reminding him of Leonardo. Sato brought to mind Casey, though a much more polite version of him. It was probably why he'd preferred his company over Oshi's.

Nearing the end of his first week with them was when the attack came, catching the villagers unprepared. It was chaos, and Raphael had done what he could to try to guide them to safety. One woman he'd been ushering inside a nearby building had shoved him aside and when he'd rounded on her to ask what her problem was his words had never come. An arrow had lodged in her throat and he'd caught her before her legs gave way, carrying her inside. She'd died in his arms before he even had the chance to set her down. Rage was something Raphael knew well and in that moment he'd embraced that familiar red haze, rushing out of the building with a battle cry that sent a few men scrambling to flee from him. They'd been the first to fall, but not the last. Raphael didn't remember much of the battle but at some point Sato and Oshi had joined him, grabbing whatever weapons they'd been able to get their hands on. Sato had run ahead, whirling a manriki he'd pilfered from amongst the fallen. Oshi had followed him, doing his best to keep the other man safe having assumed, rightly so, that it was best to stay away from Raphael.

Eventually the attacking force had sounded a retreat and fled back the way they'd come. Raphael had remained mostly unharmed, except for a few arrows that had found their mark, and most of the blood covering him had been from his enemies. Sato had been the one to remove the arrows and tend to his injuries while Oshi helped the villagers. Raphael had remained by the woman's side the rest of the day. From what Sato had told him, Ume was a selfless woman who did all she could for them and asked for nothing in return. Only a week with them and she'd already willingly sacrificed herself for his safety. Once she'd been buried, Raphael had placed a few plum blossoms on her grave, a symbolic gesture on his part. He'd taken it upon himself to care for her orphaned son, his father stricken down by sickness the previous year. Teaching Sato and Oshi the way of the ninja had been his top priority afterwards, along with anyone else who'd been willing to learn.

Then one fateful day he'd taken the two with him on a journey, not knowing where he was going other than feeling a pull and he'd followed. At one point he'd rounded onto a trail leading up into the mountains and had bumped into Renet, who'd instantly taken him back to his time period before he could stop her. Sato and Oshi had seen a flash of light, according to the tome, and hurried around the corner but he'd vanished without a trace. The two had meditated at the place of his disappearance and received a vision of his return, this time wearing the armor he did now. It was in his honor that the symbol had been chosen, and had featured prominently in the centuries to come. His own actions tampering with the timeline coupled with Renet's lingering magic had more than likely been the cause of the visions, but they'd played a pivotal role in the formation of the clan. Raphael had been shocked to learn he'd been in Japan a little over a year, even though only a few moments had gone by in his own timeline.

From there they'd become the most powerful and successful warriors and assassins. Sato and Oshi had led the clan together, wearing modified versions of his future armor. As for his own, they'd forged it with their own hands, enshrining it and having it guarded day and night. Offerings were made to him before any missions, believing that he would grant them his blessing. Ume's son had eventually left on a pilgrimage several years later, declaring that he would not return until he was found. They never saw him again and it was assumed he had died. Another lovely failure to add to his apparent mountain of them. Not only had he promised to care for the youth and then vanished without a trace, but the kid had left to find him and never come back. Raphael sighed and leaned his forehead against the tiles as he turned off the water, asking Ume for her forgiveness as he did. A year with them and he'd almost completely forgotten about them, and couldn't help but blame Renet for that since he never would have willingly done so. They'd become family after all. In one year they'd made him feel more welcomed than his brothers ever had in his entire life. Not a single person had told him his temper was a fault, instead they'd embraced and learned from it, focusing his fury in ways that he envied. All his family had ever done was berate him for it.

Raphael finally stepped out and dried himself with a nearby towel before picking up the outfit he'd left on the counter, examining the clan symbol more thoroughly than he'd ever done before. It did seem like a stylized sai, now that he knew where the inspiration had come from. Done putting on the ensemble he tucked the tanto into his obi before strapping a metal sheath with a spring-loaded blade on his forearm and letting the sleeve hide it from view. Satisfied he stood in front of the vanity, moving his hand over the steam covered mirror so he could see himself. Without thinking he traced the scar over his left eye, tilting his head to examine its path down his neck. A little deeper and Leonardo would have fatally wounded him. None of them had tried to contact him since, and worse, Karai had found a few cameras hidden near the tower in key locations that were perfect for an ambush. Karai believed it was Bishop's doing, but Raphael had recognized Donatello's handiwork the moment he saw them. That was information he kept to himself. Donatello would notice that a few spy cams had been disabled, but that couldn't be helped. They were under strict orders to keep an eye open for them and take note of their location rather than remove them.

The ones already in his possession had been brought to Chaplin, with the hopes the clever man would be able to find the location of the rest somehow. The redhead may not have been as intelligent as his brother, but had access to the best technology money could buy and was incredibly passionate about his work. One way or another Chaplin would get him the results he wanted, that was something he knew for certain. The modifications to his armor had proven that, and Chaplin had far surpassed his expectations. He'd been telling himself that Karai had lied to him about his family, though he hadn't been able to quite ignore the lingering doubt in the back of his mind. More and more he found himself believing her. Not a single word from them and now strategically placed cameras? All they'd had to do was tell Karai they wanted to talk, he would have been willing to hear them out. So long as they didn't do anything to harm his men or the clan he would turn a blind eye to their activities. He was certain if he kept a civil front that Leonardo would at least tolerate the Foot's presence in the city. As for what happened behind the scenes, well, that wasn't any of their business.

Finding Karai standing by his bed when he opened the door was no surprise and he didn't even glance at her as he passed by, sitting on the edge. Raphael had given up trying to care for his eye, even after the medic had given him a larger bottle and Karai had taken it upon herself to do so for him. Karai tilted his head back and squeezed a few drops onto his eye, realizing too late she'd put a few too many. When he lowered his head again the excess slid down his cheek and she cupped the side of his face, thumbing the stray drop away.

Karai's gaze traveled to his waist and she walked her fingers across the tanto. "I see you have finally chosen to take your safety seriously."

"It's that or keep having to listen to you bitch and moan about it all the time." Raphael grumbled, crossing his arms. "This way you'll hopefully shut up."

A smirk showed Karai was unperturbed by his answer, even amused by it. "Perhaps if I persist you will pick your Elites?"

"Or I could just cut out your tongue." Raphael fired back without missing a beat. "That would work too."

Karai's eyes snapped quickly to him in shock and Raphael schooled his features to remain neutral, even though he desperately wanted to laugh at the horrified expression on her face. The pressure Karai's hand was making on the tanto made him uncomfortable since the sheath was resting over the slit of his lower plastron. Shifting his position only made it rub across it and he gripped her hand a little harder than intended, pulling it off the weapon.

"Your book is wrong about one thing." Raphael mumbled, eyeing the tome on the nightstand and Karai tilted her head in curiosity. "I'm not a God."

"Were you not in Japan centuries ago?"

"That was an accident."

Karai climbed onto the bed beside him and Raphael had half a mind to knock her off before she was lost from sight behind him. "Do not believe the lies you have been fed. Only a divine being could have lived then and now."

And they said he was stubborn! "I'm a mutant freak, a detail you like to forget."

"The accident and the mutagen spill, your very presence during that pivotal moment? All part of your plan, centuries in the making, to ensure we would recognize you when the time came."

Raphael rubbed his face in frustration. "I'm mortal, Karai."

"Of course you are, it is the only way you can live amongst us; like the Emperor." Karai made a soft noise of disgust. "Of course he is nothing but a fake."

"Then why are their three others like me? Huh?"

"Mockeries sent by your ancient enemies to trick us, nothing more..." She replied, massaging his shoulders as she did. "...and it nearly worked." Karai whispered in his ear slit, smiling when she felt him tense. "Leonardo was given your place as leader of your family, and very nearly stole my loyalty because of it." Her smile grew when Raphael growled and she pushed the fabric off his shoulder as she caressed it slowly. "Had it not been for my father's efforts, I would have been deceived." Karai trailed soft touches across his plastron as she moved to straddle his lap. "Something I fully intend to make up for." She played teasingly with his obi, giving him an alluring smile.

"Like you're giving me much of a choice." Raphael growled, glaring at her. "It's either I go along with this or I don't and you get rid of me."

Karai sighed at his accusatory tone. "My loyalty to you remains whether you accept or not." She whispered, leaning forward so her face was only inches from his. "If my advances are unwelcome then say so and I shall trouble you no more with them."

Instinctively Raphael's left hand shot out and pushed her clean off the bed before he could remind himself to use his right instead. Getting used to his ruined depth perception was taking longer than he thought it would; much longer. If there was one thing he'd never take for granted ever again it was definitely his sight. Accidents weren't frequent, considering Itsuo was often with him, but occasional mishaps still happened. Door frames seemed to take particular joy in reminding him. Raphael eyed her as she got up, thankful she'd landed in a crouch rather than on her ass.

"Your message is clear, Master." Karai gave him her usual bow, as composed as ever, as if nothing had happened. "I apologize if my actions have offended, it will not happen again."

It was only once she'd left that he snatched the tome to leaf through it quickly before tossing it over with the other book, which hadn't been there before he took his shower. Raphael snorted as he let himself rest against the headboard, eyeing the book in amusement. Karai constantly left the personnel roster where he would find it, a subtle reminder that he needed to get around to it. Raphael watched the flames dancing in the grate before getting up and moving towards the fireplace. The flames were well stoked and in no need of tending, likely Karai's doing while she'd waited for him to finish. Raphael looked up at the plaque mounted on the cladding, admiring his Purple Dragon knife. As much as he liked it, the weapon didn't really fit the image he wished to portray. Instead of getting rid of it, he'd had it mounted and hung over the fireplace as a trophy; a fond reminder of his time as Nightwatcher. As for the two guns he'd pilfered the night he'd officially joined the Clan, each was loaded and ready in their own hidden compartments should his life ever be threatened; one in his throne, the other in the bed. The likelihood of that ever happening were slim with an entire tower of patrolling ninjas, but one couldn't be too careful. Ch'rell had made many enemies during his reign and by taking his place Raphael knew he'd inherited them as well. A handful knew about the one hidden in the throne, but none did about the one in his room. Hanging out in the lab and garage helping Donatello had advantages, and it had only taken a bit of time examining the mechanism for him to make his own version for the bed.

Raphael sighed and finally looked at the real reason he'd got up in the first place. The black keepsake box sat on the mantel shelf and Raphael pulled its key from his obi, inserting it in the only Foot symbol it had. Slowly he opened the lid, the two charms resting undisturbed on the red velvet interior. He took them carefully, rubbing a thumb over one and then the other. Family was a sore spot for him of late, but none more so than Donatello. Raphael closed his hand and let it drop to his side as he leaned heavily against the fireplace, letting himself be lost in yet more memories as he stared at the flames.

Time ticked by as he stood there until his eyes narrowed and he tossed the charms into the fire before he could talk himself out of it like the other times. The paint on them bubbled from the intense heat and the flames sputtered and hissed, relentless in their assault to consume all that was offered to them. Raphael gripped the shelf tightly when they burst into flame, unable to look away. It wasn't until he couldn't tell them apart from the rest of the wood that he finally shook himself out of his trance. He took the roster as he walked past the nightstand, getting himself comfortable on the bed as he opened it to the first entry.

It was time he took care of his real family.