A/N: Sorry it's been so long since an update. October was crazy busy. This chapter is dedicated to my friend Beautyandharmony and is in fulfillment of her special request to read Chapter 10 from Leo's POV. So here is Scars, Chapter 11:

Let me see inside your heart

All the cracks and broken parts

The shadows in the light

There's no need to hide

-Ross Copperman "Hunger"

Breathless. There was no other way to describe it. And I couldn't… air was trapped in my chest, burning but unable to escape. While my lungs failed to inhale and exhale, my heart failed to remember to beat. Wisps of drenched inky locks clung to her flushed pink cheeks, her breath hanging in soft clouds before brilliant cherry lips, and the sight of her… so exposed… I blinked, swallowed hard, struggling to keep my eyes locked on her face.

Then she reached for my cheek and I feared the reality of what I am had finally hit her. Something had. That had to be it. Her expression was like none I'd ever seen on her before. Then her thumb brushed my lip and I thought my lungs would burst. This was it. She was seeing me, really seeing me.

What is she thinking? My heart jerked with a desperate need to know.

Her sugar-brown eyes were warm, sweeping lashes coated with raindrops. A gasp of air escaped, carrying me heavenward with it. Because there was light in them, life in them, hope, joy, everything I'd always wanted to see in her, for her, in those perfect gems. It was there. But what was it? Where did it come from? She moved closer still and I straightened. What is she— Oh no!

I won't have her do this. Whatever it is. Not now.

And what was she doing? Just sitting there like that? She had to hear that tree breaking!

Glowering, I gripped her biceps, tugged her to me. "What are you doing, Karai?"

Why am I so mad?

I should be thrilled! She's moving toward me. Not away. She was calling for me. She's happy to see me. Me. She wants me here with her.

My nostrils flare, breaths coming faster, blood pumping throughout, thrumming in my fingers and toes, rushing to my head, leaving my mind blurry at its edges.

I'd watched over her every night since I'd let her believe I'd left. I'd seen her crumbling. Was proud of her when she rallied, like I knew she would.

From that first night when she'd looked for me. The horrible break on her face, the tears I'm not sure she knew she'd shed, the way she'd gnawed on her hand to keep from screaming. Every muscle in my body was coiled so tight I thought I might spring from my hiding place just to snatch her up and crush her to me. And it only got worse.

Then came the thistle. Her struggle to make her way through the field, knowing it wasn't the weeds in her path but her inner turmoil ripping her to pieces. No. Any scratch left on her from those thorns was insignificant compared to the mess she was on the inside. And she proved my thoughts correct when she'd fallen to her knees and cried for her mother. I'd wept with her, wishing I could give Tang Shen to her. Even doubted myself, and choices I'd made in a past that might have put her with our father. Would she ever forgive me if she knew? I would spend my life making that up to her. And maybe, when the time was right I'd tell her. I should.

When she'd cried more than I thought her capable, she'd yet again got to her feet, and I wanted to shout for her, cheer her on. So much I'd pressed my fingers to my lips to keep them shut. I've been so damn proud of her.

But then she'd climbed the hill, like it was nothing. Her journey was moving forward, faster now. Something was making it easier for her. I wanted desperately to walk beside her. Just to be there. To let her know. I always had been there and always would be.

When she called my name my world stopped.

The tails of my mask flapped around my neck and when she slipped her fingers around them it felt like she'd reached beneath my plastron and touched my heart. The muscle thumped in long hard beats, and it ached so much I thought I may have been dying. Then she gave the fraying blue fabric a gentle tug, guiding me to her.

Dare I hope for one second, even pretend, that she feels for me, could feel for me, what I do for her? Was it me that made things easier for her? Was she finally going to let me in?

She looked on me with bright, wet eyes, my heart skipping beats as I breathed her name. "Karai—"

I wanted to snatch her up, thrust my mouth against hers and inhale her. I wanted to feel her smooth, warm frailness… my fingers reached for her biceps, squeezed them a bit, felt what I knew was toned—for a human—muscle give beneath my thick green fingers and I loosened my hold, but found I couldn't let go. Not even when I thought we'd lost the world, and her with it, had I been able to let that last piece of her go. She'd become… a part of me and I was miserable, but determined, to bear the scar that was Oroku Karai for all my days.

Maybe it had been that way all along, since the first time I'd seen her from the wrong end of a perfectly sharpened blade, flinty eyes, coy lips, sass, and fire. And fight. How my insides had burned when she'd given me a real sparring match. That skill, that talent, that… heart. And I'd wondered then less than I did looking at her right now, if she knew her limits at all.

My head tipped so close the faint remnants of lavender and rose mixed with rainwater filled me with her being. The temperature was dropping, steam rolling from her skin, falling from her lips, the heat of them wafting up to mine like an invisible force, one more powerful than gravity, linking us together.

When I'd met her she was trapped, rebelling, but I saw then what I'd seen again and again, the need for more, the strength, the passion, the honor, the thirst for freedom. Then we learned the truth, and everything she was, that light, it was extinguished and I thought I was suffocating with her. I'd never wanted to help anyone so fiercely before.

I'm so proud of you, Karai. So proud. Because, like I knew you would, you did, you fought, you stumbled, you fell, you rallied and you won.
She shifted her weight forward, and as my heels sank into the mud my fingers slid around to the small of her back. To my surprise with a controlled grace I knew I had, but had never used on a human, I held her to me.

Her chin lifted, her gaze sweeping over me before our eyes met and I felt my control slipping. My perfectly managed, contained, padlocked heart, my pristine, carefully focused mind, blurry and spinning out of my grasp. And. I. Didn't. Care.

I pulled her closer, lowered my face to hers. Everything that had been was just that, was, the past, and we were scarred, probably for life, damaged, and battered, worn and yet… victorious. She was my future. And I wanted her there. Would keep her there. But for now, I was going to live as I had many of my moments, in the here and now. Right there, right then, breathing in the sweet floral scent of her, hints of mud and pine, steel and sandalwood, skin tender and warm, hooded brown eyes baring her soul to me. No. This moment I'd waited for so long, I was going to take.

Her fingers traveled to my cheek, felt like silk over my pebbled skin and my insides swarmed like a hive of bees. Then our mouths drifted closer still, our breaths dancing in an electric haven between us. I know I want to feel those trembling lips, I want to taste her, want to know every inch of her, inside and out. But is it right?

"What are you doing, Karai?" I whispered, just missing her lips.

Stray tears were mixed with the downpour, though I don't think she knew they were getting away from her. Her lashes fluttered as she considered my words, then her chin lifted a bit, her voice slight amid the raindrops pounding the leaves around us. "Kiss me, Leonardo."

YES, my heart screamed. Yet, while her words drifted into my mouth, drawing hers closer still, I managed to push my energy down, barely containing it. I had to be sure.

"What...?" I asked, desperate to hear it again.

A flicker of the old Karai, the one that snatched my heart in the beginning, challenged me. "Don't toy with me Leonardo. You heard me."

How badly I want this. How long I'd waited. And though I wanted to toy with her, like when we sparred, now was not that time. But damn if I wasn't ecstatic to see a bit of the old her was still there. I resisted the urge to show my hand, kept my best game face, gave her a slight shake of my head and reassured her.

"I'm not toying with you. I just—"

"Talk too much. Think too much." Her mouth moved closer, almost brushed mine. "You're always in your head Leo; for once just be right here, in the moment, do what—"

She dared me yet again, and I thought I'd lose my mind. I shifted one hand awkwardly through her hair, ignored my fumble and pressed my lips against hers. My eyelids filled with swirling blue and black ribbons and as I cracked them open I realized it was the tails of my mask and her hair, drenched and mashed between the workings of her tiny but perfect mouth and my own. I closed them again, unable to think for drinking in the sweet, honeyed taste of her. Her tongue slipped forward and I wondered if I could… my lips parted, I reached for her and our mouths danced in perfect harmony, as if they didn't need instruction, our connection guided us, and for once I was fine to follow.

"Mmmm," she hummed, and savoring the feel of her, I moaned in reply.

Compelled to open my eyes I found her gaze burning into me, liquid heat, I'm sure matching my own. Then they filled, fresh tears slipping away. There was a break in the cloud-cover, broken beams of white light sprayed over us. As the rain came to a stop, I felt the lump rising in my throat, heat pressing against the backs of my eyes. Because the same as those frail rays of light, she was fractured. And I could not allow myself to interfere with her healing. I snatched my tongue back into my mouth and pressed my lips hastily against hers once more before forcing myself back a step, where I belonged. In shadow.

"Don't you leave me, Leonardo. You. Stay. Right. There."

A knot formed in the pit of my stomach, while tears slipped free of her determined blinking eyes.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and held it. I would gain control of myself. I had to do what was best for her. But she made herself pretty clear. But she's healing and— this can't be right. But it felt right. But— I dropped my head and huffed. "I shouldn't be here, Karai. It's… it's not our time. This journey, it's yours and I shouldn't interfere. I should—"

"—Stay right here and let me talk. Yes. You should."

The inflection of her voice brought my head up, eyes locked on her. She was in there. She was breaking through. And from the look of the hand on her hip… her bare… creamy… Is she wearing a thong? Wait! No! Focus Leo. This is serious. She's being serious. But she is seriously beautiful… and… she's talking to me… and it's important. Look at her eyes, look at those… Wait— is she mad?

"Maybe the beginning of this quest was about me finding my way, Leo. But, no matter which way I turn, what direction I look, where a memory begins," she reached out, wrapping all of her fingers around only one of mine, "everything leads me back to you. It was you that," her voice cracked as the dam broke, "never gave up on me. Not in the beginning, before we knew… about my father."

While it hurt to watch, she needed to cry. To weep and know that she was not alone, that I would be here, that I am here, and I'd never think any less of her for it.

She cleared her throat, then continued, "Not when Shredder locked me up, not when my body was destroyed, not when my mind was bent to his will, not when I betrayed you, not even when the world had been sucked into a damned black hole. You never let me go. Hell, you couldn't even leave me here, Leo. And why? WHY?"

She sniffled, blinking hard as if it would stop the waterfall flowing from her. "You traveled in time, saved the damn world, and still remembered me. You still came back for me… to me."

She closed her eyes, pressed a hand to her lips. Then her knees buckled, and her hands flew out. "Please don't go now, Leo. I need you."

I dove for her, caught her tiny, exhausted body and pulled her up, held her as she pressed a cheek into my plastron and dug feeble fingers into my biceps. Now, Leo. Now. My heart pounded. Tell her, my head was screaming, and never let her go. Like she's telling you. Because she is. She's saying everything you've dreamt of hearing her say.

"Karai, I need you to listen," I whispered into her hair as I held her.

She scrunched her eyes shut, swiping away at them as she wept. "Just… don't go, Leo, please. Say you'll stay. I know," she pulled back, swiping at the rivers on her cheeks, "I know, I'm – you deserve bet—"

No. Don't say that.

"Shut up, Karai." I placed a hand to the back of her head, tipped her chin up to face me, and wiped away her tears.

"Wwwhat?"

"Shut. Up." I smiled, unable to contain the hint of a dare rising to my voice. I wouldn't listen to her put herself down and she'd know I was here to stay. Because I was going to make that clear. But I had to see that fire, that storm that was her very essence, because it fed me, and I cherished her for it. And now I knew… whether she realized it or not, she loved me. Lest the warrior before me would never feel safe enough, or trust anyone enough to fall apart, bare herself to anyone else. She chose me.

Stunned, she abruptly stopped crying, pulled back and looked at me. "What, did you say to me?"

"I said. Shut. Up. And you heard me just fine. If you want me to stay, I'll stay." I looked toward the clearing sky and sighed, then turned toward her again. "It's not like I'll actually leave you anyway."

Her fingers drifted up the tails of my mask. "Why, why do you never leave, Leo? After everything I've done?"

I swallowed, looked away again. Knowing why was one thing. Saying it, well that was another. "You know why," I whispered.

She pressed herself closer to me, so much so I felt her thighs against mine. Her voice came out soft, like a caress, lulling me to reveal my truth. Our truth. "I want to hear you say it."

She wants a confession.

I closed my eyes, knew I shouldn't even be there. "I shouldn't."

This is a fantasy.

She scoffed and I released her, putting a small space between our bodies that I wanted to eliminate; while my blood thrummed in traitorous places. She tugged on the tails of my mask again. "Yes, Leo, you should."

No. I really shouldn't. This is selfish.

My chin dropped, my shoulders slumped. "There are so many reasons I shouldn't, the least of which is timing. I mean, you're human, you're kind of my sister, you're going through so much right now, you're my best friend, and I don't want to risk ever losing you again. Do I need to go on?"

"No, this time it's you who needs to shut up."

I shook my head. "Funny."

"No, I'm serious. Forget what I am… if it doesn't matter to me why does it bother you? And my brother? Seriously? We are two different species, Leo. It's not like we've known each other our whole lives and were raised as siblings. I think it's a pretty unique situation. And timing? I need you… now, more than ever."

My eyes opened again but stayed fixed on the puddle we'd come to sit beside. "I find that hard to believe." I find all of this hard to believe.

"Yeah, well, in some ways, me too. I mean, I didn't know this was what this is."

Now we both stared at the puddle of water. She leaned back against her palms, pushing them into the mud. She was trembling and I wished I could do something to warm her. My conscience tapped me on the shoulder and I wanted to flick it off. How long I'd wanted this, this conversation, this truth, laid out, stripped down and exposed. Now here it was, and the timing— but— Even as I tried to push it from my chest, I felt hope blossom like a seedling pushing through the soil and reaching for the sun. If she was willing to speak it, I wanted to hear it.

"What what is?" I asked.

She raised her eyebrows. "You know."

She'd come so far. She'd spiraled into the rabbit hole and come out the other side and while not unscathed, but forever changed, one thing had endured. This thing between us. My heart dipped. She deserves so much better than I can ever give her. Then the damned muscle rallied. But if she says she wants me, and I want her—

"Yeah. It's always been there, I think," I say, still staring at the puddle, which I notice becoming very clear as the debris settles, like a mirror reflecting a distorted image of us.

"Since the very beginning," she says, wiping the muddy hand on her bare hip, then leaning forward, allowing her breast to press against my plastron.

My insides flare, searing beneath the closeness of her and I shut my eyes, unable to breathe. "Yes."

Her fingers traced my neck, drifted up to my cheek, and I wanted to grab her, pull her to me, and share everything with her. Then she was pressing me again. "So if timing's not an issue for me, and I don't care what anyone thinks, I just need to hear you say it."

Why? Why couldn't this be simple? Why wasn't anything easy? But then maybe loving someone was. It was everything in the way that was difficult. And there she was telling me, asking me…

I pressed my lips together, shook my head again. "No. The timing is important. We should talk to Sensei, be sure this is okay with him. We should get you through the rest of this quest, be sure it's what you want. We should—"

She guided me to face her. My eyes lingered over the puddle, drifted up toward the delicate curve of her hip, then darted from her bare stomach to the perfect mound of her breast, along the sweet hollow of her neck, and as I paused on her mouth, mine watered, recalling the taste of her. I wanted more. I wanted it all. And I would be honest with her. I met her gaze, saw myself in her eyes and looked to her mouth again.

"Shut up, Leo. You should stop talking. Hell, stop thinking. Get out of your own way. We're alone out here. Me and you. And I know, now, what this is between us. The question is, what do you want, what do you feel? Or am I wrong and you don't want—"

Yes I want. I want and damn it—

The taste of her lips on mine soothed the burning, swirling hurricane inside me. I snaked my arms around her, pulling her to me, covering her with all that I am. Savoring the closeness of her, I knew we were closer to everything I'd ever wanted with her and she was right, we should just take it. Because we'd earned it. And it… this… was ours.

I pulled her up, pressing her against a tree trunk as I kissed her, my hands sliding around her muscled thighs as I held her. Then she whispered into my neck, "I love you, Hamato Leonardo."

My heart jerked. Her words echoing throughout, like the sweetest sound I thought I'd never hear.

My breaths came in short pants against her damp cheek, blowing back her drying ebony locks. The aching muscle in the center of my chest was full, spilling over. How I adored every hair on her precious head. My lips brushed her ear. "I love you, Oroku Karai."

"Hamato Karai," she corrected me and my head jerked back to look at her.

"Really?" I whispered against her lips.

"Yes," she moaned, answering with the tender workings of our mouths.

"Sounds like we have some catching up to do," I told her in between kisses.

"Well, let's."

"Yes, let's."