Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT, obviously.
Quick apology because I want the end of this chapter to flow with the start of the next; I would've put this chapter and the next as one chapter, but it would've been one long chapter. So, a bit of a cliffhanger. Sorry ^^
Also, thank you to everyone that's been reviewing, following, favourite-ing, and just reading xD
"Right," Angel ran the brush through Karai's short, wet hair, "let's get your hair sorted, yeah?"
The kunoichi laughed. "Ang', you have to be a hairdresser when you grow up."
"Only if you go down in history as a master kunoichi," she replied with a wink.
"Deal."
Angel, Karai and April had all decided to get ready together before going to Murakami's that night. Casey had initially refused, but eventually caved into letting April help him pick an outfit. This left Angel and Karai alone in the room, with the former styling the latter's hair.
"So… Leo, huh?"
Karai blushed at the younger girl's tone. "What about him?"
"Aw, c'mon, you can tell me."
"Tell you what?" She raised an eyebrow.
"About Leo." Angel sounded exasperated. "I mean, if you like 'im so much, you've gotta have some stories to tell."
"Who said I 'like him so much'?" she inquired.
"Uhm, lemme see…" She counted her points on her fingers. "Casey, April, your voice, your body language, your blush…"
"Oh, shut up." Karai smacked her on the arm.
"Alright, alright." She switched on the hair-dryer, and conversation was halted because the machine drowned out anything they could say. Once that section of her hair was dry, Angel turned off the machine and began brushing heat-protection spray through the next part. "But I'm just saying; it's totally obvious how you two feel about each-other."
"Angel…"
"Just a statement, don't kill me."
"Leo and I are friends, you're just imagining things. And anyway, you've never even met him," she pointed out.
"I've heard about him," the girl countered, "and in every story you're in he gets all mushy about you."
"No he doesn't, Angel." Karai rolled her eyes. "Leo's just a nice guy."
"He worked really hard to convince you to change sides."
"Like I said, he's nice. He'd do that for anyone, believe me."
"I don't."
The hair-dryer flicked on again, and conversation had to pause until the next section of Karai's hair was dry.
"He trusted you so much, though. No way he'd do that for anyone."
"Angel, just drop it…" Karai groaned in annoyance.
"Sorry, I just can't help it." Angel dropped the brush and knelt beside Karai, resting her head on her shoulder. "It's so cute, and you guys deserve your happy ending."
"What?" She lay her head against Angel's.
"Well, I know I don't know the whole story – you don't have to tell me right now, don't worry – but I know some of it, and I just think you guys have earned it, y'know?" she explained with a shrug.
"I suppose." She tucked a lock of damp hair behind her ear. "Leo definitely deserves a happy ending, but probably with someone better than me."
The younger girl wrapped her arms around her. "What do you mean, 'someone better than you'? Rai-Rai, you're awesome!" Seeing the kunoichi about to object, she quickly added, "I mean, without you, I'd never have made it through that invasion. Those creepy brain-aliens would've got me and mutated me. You saved my life, and it was out of your own choice. You could've just ditched me from the start; you were way faster, and you have the whole ninja-thing going for you. You chose to save me."
"You saved me, too," she murmured softly. At Angel's confused expression, she elaborated, "I was losing my sapience following my mutation. With that and the Kraang taking over, I was starting to think there was no point struggling for what control I could. You gave me something to keep fighting for."
"Aww, Rai-Rai!"
The girls hugged each-other tightly, Angel practically climbing into Karai's lap before the older girl ushered her off. "Alright, alright, get off me." The kunoichi swatted her away. "Come on, finish my hair; we've gotta get ready."
"Bossy…" muttered Angel, but she grinned when Karai turned to her.
"Casey, you cannot wear that!"
The accused stormed into the room, ignoring the redhead trailing behind him angrily. "Guys, do you think this is okay?" He gestured to his outfit, which consisted of a shirt with a tuxedo design, and his slightly-less-filthy-than-usual jeans and shoes.
"It is not okay! This is a big occasion!" protested April.
"Everything's clean!" He hesitated. "Or… clean-ish, anyway."
"Clean-ish isn't good enough, Casey." Her hands flew to her hips. "At least wear a dress shirt, or better pants!"
"That's the closest thing he has to a dress shirt," interjected Angel.
"And they're probably his best pants, too," added Karai.
Casey chuckled in agreement. "Both valid points, Red. And these are my cleanest shoes."
April groaned in disbelief, dropping her head into her hands. "I give up." Angel had rolled the teenager's red hair into curlers while Karai was showering, and somehow April had managed to not to jostle them in the slightest while changing into her yellow one-shouldered dress and kitten heels. To see her standing beside Casey, it didn't look like they were going to the same event.
The sound of the hair-dryer would have made conversation difficult if anyone had tried, but the quartet were comfortable enough with each-other that they could deal with the silence. By the time Karai's hair was dry and tousled lightly with hair gel, April had already drifted to the bathroom to do her make-up. Karai joined her after a few moments, while Angel straightened her hair and Casey argued in favour of his tuxedo shirt.
Less than an hour later, all three girls had finished their hair and make-up and were checking their dresses (or, in Angel's case, her shirt and skinny jeans, because dresses "weren't her thing"), and Casey was impatiently tapping his feet. Karai had already packed the small amount of belongings she had into a duffel bag Casey agreed to lend her, and she was fussing awkwardly with the straps when April patted her shoulder.
"Don't worry, Karai," she said quietly. "It'll be fine." Her voice lowered as she added, "Remember Leo the other night…?" Karai's eyes widened and her face flushed darker. April chuckled. "It'll be fine," she repeated.
The dark-haired girl smiled gratefully. "Thanks, princess."
Sheathing his katana swords, Leonardo adjusted his mask again and checked the wrappings on his hands and feet. For one of the few times in his life, Leo wished he had some kind of reflective surface in his room other than his katana blades. Although, he thought, maybe I can ask Karai for her opinion in the future… He then immediately chastised himself for thinking so far ahead and making assumptions. She might not want to come home yet… But if she does, she'll have no problem telling me if I look stupid. He chuckled.
"Hey, Lame-o-nardo!" yelled Raph from outside his door. "We goin' or what?"
The blue-clad turtle grinned, and opened his door. "Yeah, everyone ready?"
Raph cracked a grin. "As ready as we're gonna be… but Mikey'll still find something he forgot the second you say we're leaving."
Leo laughed. "Of course. We're leaving in ten minutes, can you tell Don for me?" When Raph shrugged and agreed, Leo clapped him on the shoulder and strode through to the dojo to tell Splinter he was going, calling out, "We're heading out in five minutes, Mikey!"
"Wait, I'm not ready yet!"
Leo entered the dojo with Raph's laughter echoing behind him. Poking his head around the screen door, he coughed tentatively so as not to startle Splinter from his meditative state. "Master Splinter? We were, uh, about to head out to Murakami's."
Splinter's eyes remained closed, but he hummed in acknowledgement. "Very well. You and your brothers know to bring your weapons and phones – which must be on, remind Michelangelo. And to avoid public restrooms."
"Can't promise that last one, Sensei," Leo said with a smirk. "We did once find a Kraang portal in a porta-potty, remember?"
"… Yes, Leonardo, I remember."
The turtle laughed, then composed himself and said softly. "I think she's coming home with us this time, Father. I really do think she'll come back."
Lowering his head, Splinter let out a shaky sigh. "I hope so, my son."
"Me too." Leo smiled at his father. "We'll be back by about, uh…"
"Do not worry, Leonardo." Splinter opened his eyes and grinned at his son. "You all have fun."
"Thanks, Sensei." Leonardo bowed to his father, bid him goodbye, and returned to the pit to collect his brothers.
Donnie and Raph were sat together on the couch, debating why they would/would not need to bring sedation tablets in the medical kit. "Raph, Karai might still be crazy. We might have to-"
"Sedate her? Your answer is to sedate her?!"
"Not as a first resort – just in case!" Donnie argued. "It might be the only way we can bring her home!"
"If the only way to bring her home is against her will, then we're not bringing her home," answered Leo sternly. He set a hand on the purple-clad turtle's shoulder as he said, "Look, Don, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but if she comes back, it's gonna be because she chooses to, okay?"
Donnie nodded. "Okay. Sorry. I just… want her home already. I'm sick of worrying about her out there alone, scared and senile."
"She's got April and the Jones' with her now, remember?" Leo reminded him gently. Donnie had been a worrier ever since they were kids, occasionally fretting himself into a panic attack. "And I saw her two days ago; she's sane now, Donnie. She's… back to normal. She's human."
Donnie smiled up at his brother. "Okay. Thanks, Leo. Sorry, Raph, you were right."
Raph clapped his brother on the shoulder, smirking. "I always am, Don."
"'Cept when it involves knowing when not to beat people up," commented Mikey, hopping into the room as he secured the wrappings around his foot. In response, Raphael threw a pillow at his brother, knocking him off balance. Mikey only just avoided tumbling into the water. "Dude! Not cool!"
"Stop fooling around, guys," ordered Leo half-heartedly. His own anticipation made it hard to muster up his leader persona. He exhaled smoothly and grinned at his brothers. "Let's go."
The brothers left the lair, Mikey whooping and hollering until Raph hit him in the head. Splinter chuckled to himself as his children's laughter carried through the screen doors, before he sighed softly. Hopefully, when they returned, they would have Miwa laughing along with them.
"I still don't see why we brought the Shellraiser," announced Raph, as Leo parked the vehicle in the shadows of the alley by Murakami's.
"Because none of us will want to walk home if it's late, and the Party Wagon is too conspicuous." Leo secured the handbrake, and exited the vehicle with his brothers. "Besides, Karai seemed more… fragile the other night. She might not be up to the walk; she's still healing from her time with the Shredder."
"Uh… Leo?" Mikey raised his hand tentatively. "Y'know there's only four seats in the Shellraiser, right?"
He shrugged. "We'll work it out later, if we need to." Leo swallowed, then addressed his brothers seriously, "Guys, please remember: this isn't necessarily us collecting her to take her home. If that happens, great, but if it doesn't, we don't force it. Everybody understand?"
His brothers agreed, and Leo led them around to the front of the shop. He was about to open the door when April and Casey burst through it, the former struggling to run in her heels. "Hey guys," April chimed sheepishly, steadying herself on Casey's shoulder.
The hockey player laughed at her. "I told ya heels were a stupid idea; we're part of a ninja clan, Red."
Ignoring him, April glanced at the turtles. "Hey, I'm… I'm sorry for giving you guys the cold shoulder lately. So's Casey, but he's so far up himself he won't say it." She elbowed him in the ribs teasingly, and he shrugged in an attempt to seem nonchalant, but he wouldn't meet anyone's eye and his mouth twitched in embarrassment. "I wanted to tell you guys about her, but Karai… didn't feel comfortable with it. I'm not blaming her or anything!" she amended hurriedly. "I'm just stating facts. Look, I really am sorry. Are we… Are we cool?"
Donnie smiled acceptingly at her. "Thanks, April. We're cool." He inclined his head towards Casey. "You too, puck-head."
"Thank you for apologising," Leo replied. "I understand why you both hid her."
"We're good this time," conceded Raph. He stepped forward and lightly shoved April's shoulder. "But I'm getting sick of you freezing us out so much. This'd better be the last time." She would have been offended, but Raph's smirk was almost affectionate.
"Yay! We're all okay!" cheered Mikey, dragging everyone into a group hug. He held it for a few moments before excitedly whispering, "Can we go in and see her now?"
"Uh, it might be a good idea if you guys don't all run in at once," suggested Casey. "That might freak her out a bit."
Mikey pouted, but Leo acknowledged it with, "That's fair enough. One at a time?"
"I'd say one of you to start, at least. Ease her into it." Casey offered an apologetic smile. "She's getting better with 'em, but I don't think emotions are her strong point."
All four turtles nodded. Donnie tapped Leo on the shoulder. "Maybe you should go, Leo. She's always been closest to you, and you did see her the other night; you'd be a familiar face."
Leo nodded formally, trying not to let his delight and relief show. "Sure. Mikey?" His brother glanced up at him. "I think you should go next. I'll come to the door and get you in a few minutes, okay?" Mikey's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously.
Breathing steadily, Leo smiled at his family for a moment, before opening the door to Murakami's and slipping in before he could change his mind.
