Both turtles ran out to find Casey in the living room straddling Akira and holding his fist menacingly over the other male while Mikey attempted to keep him from striking.

"Casey, what are you doing here?"

Leo asked, pushing the hot-tempered male off of Akira.

"April texted me and told me what was going on so I told my boss that my kid was sick and they let me go early. What the hell is he doing here?"

Casey yelled, pointing in annoyance at Akira, who was already on his feet, ready for an attack.

"Back off Case. Fearless has agreed to let him stay here for the night."

Raph piped up, glaring at both of the men in turn. Leo sighed, Casey fumed, and Akira continued to watch everyone carefully, eyeing all the exits in turn. Mikey sighed, looking over to the kitchen where Venus had quickly disappeared back into.

"Well, if you guys don't need me, I'm going to help get dinner ready."

He made his escape quickly, ducking past his eldest brother before he could protest.

"Hey V, what can I help you with?"

He asked, settling in at one of the stools at the island.

"Do you want to prepare a salad? I know you guys won't eat it but I'm sure Donny would prefer his patient eat something a little bit healthier."

Venus suggested while keeping an eye on the time. Mikey quickly grabbed a few veggies, starting to cut them up while he listened for any noises coming from the other room.

"Well, this turned out to be an exciting night didn't it?"

He commented, smiling at the female. Venus rolled her eyes, nodding towards her shell cell.

"Yea, April's texted me twice Shadow is really upset that she had to leave, she really wanted a movie night with us."

"Maybe we could leave… it's not like we are really needed up here, and the tension is giving me a headache."

"I know what you mean. I keep waiting for Leo and Raph to start blowing up at each other and it's making me crazy."

Venus placed on a hot mitt and pulled out the first pizza, placing it on the counter. She reached for the second one, only to drop it on the stove top and double over. Mikey was by her side in an instant, helping her backwards until she was sitting down.

"You ok?"

He whispered, patting her hand reassuringly.

"Yea, I just got a stitch in my side, I must have moved funny."

Venus said, wincing slightly as she lightly touched the left side of her shell.

"Do you want me to go get Donny?"

"No, it's going away, I had a bad cramp after practice this morning and I probably just irritated it."

With that Venus stood up, smiling at Mikey.

"How about we feed the herd then tell Leo we're going back to the lair? I'm sure he won't argue with us about it."

Mikey nodded, encouraging Venus to sit for a minute while he grabbed some plates and silverware, making her a plate before he offered food to the rest of the crew.

Dinner was eaten in silence, Mikey had forced Casey to go eat in the kitchen with him and Venus so Leo didn't have to keep an eye on him. Donny sat up against the couch, coaching Akira through feeding Hinata some veggies while making sure he was chewing properly. Leo had dragged Raph into the bedroom, the two quietly arguing about the situation.

Finally, they both came out, Raph looking annoyed and Leo just looking tired. The eldest gave his brother a pointed look before entering the kitchen himself to address the rest of them.

"Casey, why don't you go back to work? Let them know everything is ok, and if we need you we will give you a call?"

"C'mon Leo, I don't want that guy in my house. He's a-a-a-"

Casey stuttered, looking over at Venus as if to measure what he could say in front of her.

"-a jerk."

"I know Case, but you being here isn't helping the situation at all. Raph and I can handle Akira, I don't want you to get in trouble at work."

Casey nodded, muttering to himself but not wanting to pick a fight with Leo. He still had the bruises from the last time after all. Leo nodded, looking over at his other two siblings.

"You guys might as well go too… it's going to be a long night, and you should get some rest just in case we need someone to stand guard tomorrow."

Mikey nodded, turning to wink at Venus who just smiled.

"Sounds good to me bro, V and I will have our Shell Cells on if you need anything."

Mikey said, grabbing his plate and Venus's and taking them over to the sink.

"Let me just talking to Donatello real quick, I'll give him a few things that he can mix up if he needs them and then we will go."

Venus said, getting up and grabbing her herb box. She quickly pulled out a few, handing them to Donny and telling him how to mix things before Mikey grabbed her to leave. They both whispered a quick 'good luck' to the genius before nodding at Raph and escaping, bounding quickly down the stairs to head back home.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Where is he?"

Shredder questions, throwing Hun to the floor in disgust.

"Master, I have every member of the Purple Dragons out looking for him. They'll find that traitor, and bring him back home to be properly disposed of."

Shredder shook his head, looking out the window in anger and frustration. He had sent Xever out to find Hinata and finish him off. The former fish mutant was quick on the streets, but not quick enough. By the time he had gotten to the hospital Hinata was gone, aided by his own lieutenant, Akira.

Shredder curled his fingers into fists, remembering the tension that had flowed through his body at the realization that his own third in command had betrayed him like this. If only Karai would have finished off Hinata when she was suppose too, none of this would have happened.

Shredder's footsteps echoed through the halls, various members of his Clan bowing as their master passed by. Entering his throne room, he sat down heavily on his seat, deep in thought.

Scenes of his own life, of his upbringing,, of the betrayal he had felt when he finally had realized that he was not in fact a member of the Hamato Clan, but a member of their greatest enemies. How he had fought Hamato Yoshi, wanting to destroy the man he had once called brother, to gain back his honor, the honor of his father.

Taking Miwa, renaming her to honor the life of the woman he loved, who had abandoned him. Years later, finding out that Yoshi still lived, only to be 'defeated by his pupils and the female. His greatest plan, to shape one of Yoshi's students to be the ultimate leader, the heir to the Foot, only to have that turtle throw everything back into his face.

So many of his followers had vouched for the mutant, and when he had refused, Shredder tried to pass it off as a mistake, his greatest enemy having brainwashed the teenager so Shredder couldn't get through to him. However, the seeds of doubt had been planted into his followers, and they were beginning to silently question his leadership.

Not many, but the younger ones who had yet to fully reap the benefits of being Clan members, and had fallen for Raphael's compassion towards them. They were quietly being disposed of, the cops calling them yet another John Doe that turned up in the system.

However, Hinata was a bigger problem. Having been a member for years, he had many fans in the Clan, people who respected him. If word got out that he was planning on leaving, to pledge his loyalty to the Hamato Clan, it could cause some issues for Shredder and the rest of The Foot.

"Father?"

Karai asked, approaching his throne and bowing deeply.

"I have returned from Japan, I managed to get an earlier flight."

Shredder nodded in approval, smiling down at his daughter.

"Karai. Akira has betrayed us. He has stolen Hinata from the hospital that he was staying at before we could finish him off. I need you to go out and search for them, finish the job I put you on, and destroy Akira."

Karai paled just a bit, before nodded.

"Yes father."

She bowed to him before turning and walking briskly away.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hours past, and the sun was just about to start peaking over the tops of buildings. Leo stirred, having nodded off for a few hours His phone was beeping, the slight noise having woken him up. He looked down, only slightly surprised to see that it was Karai, asking him to meet her at their secret location. Glancing around, he looked over at Donny, who was staring at him.

"Do you mind if step out for a bit?"

Donny shook his head, looking over at his patient, who seemed to still be sleeping comfortably. Leo sheathed his Katana's, glancing over at Raph and Akira who were both still sleeping, and disappeared out the window into the quickly rising sunlight.

Karai paced around the roof, waiting in annoyance for Leo to appear. A slight noise behind her and she jumped, looking over to see him standing there, arms crossed and frowning.

"Leonardo."

She said, approaching the turtle and hugging him, surprised at how much she had missed him. After the Shredder had been defeated, he had sent her back to Japan, only coming over every few months to check on things.

She hadn't seen Leo in that time, Shredder warning her against spending time out on her own looking for him. He had seen the signs, the affection between the two, and was determined to crush them before anything happened.

Leo stiffened up, not knowing what game she was trying to play now. Karai smiled to herself, glad to know that she could still get to him if she wanted.

"What do you want Karai?"

He asked, taking an unsure step back and reaching up instinctively for his Katana.

"Oh Leo, are we going to start that already?" Couldn't a girl just want to catch up with an old friend she hasn't seen in a while?"

Karai asked, holding up her hands as if to show that she did not plan to attack.

"I don't think you're here as an 'old friend' Karai. What do you want?"

Leo repeated, and Karai smiled.

"So tense, like always. You'd think finally finding a female of your species would have loosened you up a bit Leonardo. Unless, of, course, she's not interested in you?"

Leo didn't respond, trying to hide the slight blush that appeared on his cheeks. Karai watched him, smiling suggestively.

"That's what I thought."

She pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Leo, who stared at it in confusion. It was almost blank, only a small black dot in the middle.

"I don't understand. What is this supposed to mean."

"Father gave it to me. It's a marker, for when I finish my mission."

"Are you here to kill me Karai?"

Leo asked, looking straight at her.

"No, you're pretty low on father's 'needs killed' list right now. He's after the three traitors- Hinata, Akira, and Raphael."

"My brother did not betray him, Shredder was trying to play his mind games and he lost."

Leo snapped back, throwing the paper on the ground and getting into a fighting stance. Karai sighed, shaking her head.

"I'm not here to fight you Leonardo, I'm here to deliver a warning. Tell them to flee the city, to surrender everything they have here, and live a life of exile, or next time I'll carve all of them to pieces and throw them in the river."

Karai approached him, reaching out to touch a scar on Leo's left arm.

"Perhaps you should remind Raphael just how skilled with a knife I can be."

She said, throwing a smoke bomb at him and disappearing before Leo could respond.

He made it back to April's, dodging and weaving around to avoid being seen in the daylight. Raph was waiting by the window, fuming.

"Where have you been?"

He snapped, and Leo rolled his eyes.

"I had a meeting Raph, jeez, calm down."

Leo said, calming entering the apartment and regarding the occupants.

"Where's Donny?"

He asked, and Raph pointed his thumb over his shoulder towards April's room.

"He didn't sleep all night, I told him to get some zzz's while I played doctor. How's Karai?"

Leo froze, blinking at Raph in surprise.

"I can tell you've been with her because you always get that stupid look on your face afterwards."

Raph commented, watching as Akira stiffened up.

"We had a lovely chat as always, she sends you her regards."

Leo said, sitting down on the couch next to Hinata, who groaned as he woke up.

"You need to leave."

He said, looking straight at the two humans before handing Akira the piece of paper that Karai had left him.

"He's looking for all of you. He knows that Akira got Hinata out of the hospital, he's gunning for both of you. And you."

Leo finished, looking over at Raph.

"Karai has been given these markers for all three of you. She told me the only way to protect you, to protect the rest of our family is for you three to leave the city."

Raph shook his head, not believing what he was hearing.

"You want me to leave, just like that? With these two?"

He shouted, pointing at the humans in disgust.

"Do you remember what they did to me? Why would I leave with them after they served me up on a platter to my own enemy?"

"I was leaving."

Hinata whispered, causing Raph to blink in surprise.

"My plan was to disappear for a while, then come find you and beg you for another chance. I was recruiting, there were several of us who had started to see the light and wanted to rejoin you. Shredder found out, he sent Karai after me but she let me live."

Hinata struggled to sit up, grabbing on the back of the couch to support himself. He placed his feet on the ground, attempting to stand but not being able to so he chose to kneel on the floor.

"Raphael, I have spent most of my life being abused and abandoned. When I joined The Foot, I did it to find a place somewhere with people who would protect me no matter what happened. The Shredder became my father, and the other members became my family. When I joined your Clan, I did so with the intent of destroying your family, but I realized how great an asset you really could be to us. Then, the past few months being back among my fellow clansmen, I realized that I was wrong to betray you, to choose this life over the one you were offering me."

Hinata bowed deeper, his nose almost touching the floor.

"I realize that I have too much blood on my hands to become a member of the Hamato Clan, but I believe I can prove myself by being a member of your Clan, the Clan Sai."

Akira watched this whole exchange, staring at Raph's surprised face. The silence stretched on, as Raph debated his options.

"Go."

Leo whispered, standing up to place his hands on his brother's shoulders.

"Get them out of town-we will figure out how to deal with Shredder, then you can come back."

"I don't run from threats Leo, you know that."

Raph spitted, picking up his Sais.

"I'll take care of this once and for all."

He ran out the window before anyone could stop him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Shredder was still sitting in his throne room, waiting impatient for any news when an arrow whizzed by his head. Looking up, he saw Raphael standing by the skylight, the sun burning brightly behind him.

"So, you've come to offer yourself up as a sacrifice. How noble. How pathetic."

"I've come to fight you one last time, to drag you down to hell where you belong."

Raph said, jumping down and brandishing his Sai. Shredder rose, leaping down the steps to land in front of the turtle and swinging. Raph dodged, back flipping away. He then counter attacked, locking his Sai around one of Shredder's gauntlet and throwing him across the room. Shredder's helmet fell off, and he glared angrily at his attacker.

The two clashed again, Raph's anger towards him refocused into making precise, damaging strikes. Shredder wasn't used to this, all his times fighting this turtle he had gained the upper hand quickly, turning his anger into another weapon.

Without that, Raph was stronger, and Shredder under estimated him, falling to his knees as another blow was felled on him.

He looked up, daring the turtle to do it, and his last thought was that he would finally have a chance to beg Tang Shen for forgiveness.

A/N: One more chapter left, and it will finally be done! Thanks for reading!