I Don't own 'em…. Except Kit, she's mine.

Four Step Program

"Run faster! Run faster!" Raph barked, "Only ninety-six laps to go!" He announced before dissolving into loud, deep-chested laughter.

"Keep that pack up!" Mikey ordered as Kit ran past him. "The stuff in there will be used for… um…" He frowned, not remembering what it would be used for. Finally he gave up and settled for repeating Raph's "Run faster!"

As Kit splashed through the sewer water her breath came in short painful gasps and the straps of her pack dug into her shoulders. She jogged around a bend and nearly ran into Donnie wearing a lab coat and holding his bo staff. "Don't forget, we start weapons practice this afternoon. I know how you've been looking forward to that." He gave his staff a spin.

The wood kicked up sludge from the sewer, spewing dirty water and mud at Kit. She cringed and held an arm up to try and protect her eyes from the nasty shower. Don's bo moved faster and faster until the water hitting Kit stung. He stepped closer and Kit was able to hear the wood cutting through the air. The wood took on a higher pitch, sounding higher and higher until it was like a giant buzz-saw cutting through the water.

Kit tried to back up only to be stopped by Raph. "Why ain't ya runnin'? Ya barely started!"

Mikey stopped her from trying a different route. "Craftsmanship! It'll be like craft time at camp… only ninja-ed!"

Donatello was still coming closer and closer with his buzz staff. Raph and Mikey each grabbed an arm to keep her from running. "Consida' this part of yer endurance trainin'." Raph quipped.

The wooded blade came closer and closer. Kit closed her eyes tightly and braced herself as best she could before the staff nudged her shoulder.

"GAH!" Kit jerked awake with such force that the chair she was standing on toppled over, taking her with it. "ow…" She sat up a little to coddle her head and squint at Leo. "Um… Sun Tsu?" She guessed.

The blue banded turtle leaned on a practice staff and smiled serenely and with a touch of amusement. "I didn't ask a question, but that's a good answer. It's almost a shame you get up as early as I do. Waking you up is kind of fun."

Kit frowned. "Why do you have a staff?"

Leo touched his mask self-consciously where it failed to cover a bruise that Kit had started and Raph had made worse. "I learned my lesson last time I tried to wake you." He explained.

"Right." Kit noted. "Sorry about that."

"No problem." Leo stepped forward and helped Kit to her feet.

"I don't get it." Kit told him. "I didn't do anything to you, why are you still forcing me to take your lessons?"

One hand was held up with the thumb held in. With the turtles this could mean anything from 'hey there!' to 'stop or die' "Two reasons." Leo counted off, "One, Japanese history is valuable whether you're being punished or not." Although Kit didn't believe this she nodded. "Two, I figure this way you get an hour or more of rest between Raph's strength training and Donnie's weapons training."

Groaning, Kit allowed herself to fall back onto the floor. "That's right, I start weapons training today… whoo hoo." She pinned her ears and closed her eyes, trying to ward off her next round of punishment. Weapons was perhaps the one part of ninjitsu she least wanted to learn from. This lack of interest had kept her out of training with anything more than shuriken for over two years but time was officially up.

Literally.

"KIT!" Donatello called from the dojo.

Kit's eyes shot open. "Leo, if you never do me another favor, grant me this." She begged.

"What?" Leo asked.

"Kill me now!"