Well, I'm back with another chapter and this was just what I needed to decompress from the stress of studying for exams. And as you can see by the POV just ahead, go ahead and start making your guess. This chapter occurs a couple days after Misaki and Leonardo's interactions. Enjoy!

(Karai's POV)

Leo was out getting some new supplies since we realized a lot of our pads and mats were really getting worn down and ripped.

Then again they weren't the 'highest quality' to begin with so we weren't expecting them to last a long time and we didn't want to buy the top shelf equipment right away since we had no idea if our business was going to work out.

But, now that we are pretty successful with the business exactly how we want it and the dojo is doing very well, we thought it was finally time to update. So, Leo's picking everything up at a shipping warehouse outside of the city with a rental truck, so I've just been... reorganizing, and not just the dojo.

But, now that I'm finally clear to not wear that awful mask on my face and go back to my work, I finally feel like a useful person again.

I just finished eating something quick for lunch since I'm trying to just keep myself busy, mostly just to keep myself from going idle and thinking too much. I tried to dismiss it as I was about to just go back downstairs when I hear rustling coming from Kaito's room.

I looked in and I felt every muscle in my back tighten when I saw... her putting her things into this canvas bag that she came here with.

I kept giving her this look, my mind inevitably going back to what I heard 3 days ago when she was talking to Leo.

Right then she realized I was there and stopped what she was doing, our eyes locking almost immediately.

But… I didn't know? I had no idea what to even do or say... or anything. After the situation, things have been... frustrating. Well, maybe not entirely frustrating, but more just… confusing.

Sure both of us have still been trying to still just try not to talk to each other and honestly the only time we've actually interacted since that whole situation is at dinner.

I finally go the ability to glance at her bag before I looked back at her and said, "What are you doing?"

She slowly looked back at her canvas bag, until she finally looked back at me and only reminding me of how much I look like her. Since she left a couple weeks before my fourth birthday, my memories of her being there were very vague and are even more vague to me now more than ever since it's been pretty much 40 years since then.

But, when she was there and as much as it frustrates me to admit, there was not much I could say was wrong.

My mother was a lot like me when I first had Kaito from what I realized.

Since my father really didn't care too much for my company until I was older and more capable, my mother was the one who spent the most time with me.

Which even thinking back to it is an understatement since most of my memories before she left only included my mother. But, she was pretty much all I had and she was the one who actually was there for me.

Just doing things with me that most 4 or 5 year olds would remember doing with their parents.

She would sit and eat with me, walk and hold my hand as we went around the dojo's property, and then every night before I'd go to bed… she'd tell me a story.

Sure she wasn't a 'doting' or perfect parent and I could also say the same for myself, but it still didn't mean she wasn't a good mother… or even a good grandmother.

As much as it still conflicts and confuses me, seeing her bond with Kaya and doing a lot of the things she used to do with me with my daughter now only confirms that my vague memories were true about her.

But… it just confuses me even more.

"I thought I'd slip away. You're well again and seem to be handling your affairs on your accord, and I just think I've done enough. So, I thought I'd go now… make things easier." She explained, only getting to me even more as to what was actually going.

Yes, I knew she was referring to going away, but… I don't know?

"Easier for us, or for you?" I replied, seeing her hands at her sides clench until her knuckles turned white.

Then she turned around and I saw her walk off into the corner where her sword, which is apparently an heirloom in my family, was and I saw her pick it up.

She looked it over for a second before she turned around and walked back over to me.

"Before I go, I believe you should have this... to keep it in our family. Perhaps you or your daughter could have some use of it. I would suggest your husband or son but they seem rather attached to their respective weapons. Particularly I know your son has a keen skill with a yumi. But, Kaya possibly may have some use of it in a couple of years." I just looked down at the sword again and while I have to admit that it is a very impressive looking blade for weapon that's been used by my family since they were part of the samurai class, yet another thing I found out only recently about myself.

Also, I was surprised she brought up how Kaito's weapon is a yumi.

Sure Kaito is also quite good with his juji-ken, even back when he was younger Kaito had a skill with swords. But since my weapon of choice is also a juji ken and Leo, being his father, has always been a skilled ninja with his katana blades, it only made sense that Kaito would just have that inherent ability to use a sword of some kind effectively and yet… Kaito's choice and full talent has never been completely with anything until he picked up a yumi and skills that surpassed even my own very quickly.

At first I thought he got that talent from Leo since I knew Leo was no stranger to a yumi either the times I've seen him us one, but then I realized after that he gained that ability from my mother.

Even before she came back, I knew my mother was a known skilled warrior with a yumi and I know my son is no different either.

I just kept standing there and looking at the blade until I put my hand on it and pushed it down as I said, "I don't want it." She gave me this slight look as she said, "Then give it to…" "No, I'm telling you I don't want it because that's not what I want. Because you know what I want from you and before you say anything… I heard what you told Leo. So, I'm giving you one last chance… why?"

Ever since that conversation, when I heard Leo sound so adamant about her telling me the truth and even what she told me before we got into that altercation.

Yes, as much as I still hate admitting when Leo is right, since he always just has to be constantly, he is right. I know she came back for a reason, and I'll be damned if I let her just walk away again without telling me anything.

"As I have said, I cannot say. Not to anyone, not even you." She said, still trying to avoid it, even to the point of trying to walk past me.

Then again, I know I'm being a total hypocrite right now acting like this since this must be exactly how Leo feels about me sometimes, especially before we were married. But I was quick to block her path and shut Kaito's door, making sure she had no way of escaping unless she just wanted to dive out the window as a last resort to avoid giving me an explanation.

Before she came back, I was fine with just putting everything behind me.

But, now that she's back, so did everything else about my past and at this point, I welcome it.

"Karai…" "No, you listen to me. I'm standing with Leo on this. All of us including you know that you didn't just come back for no reason. You came back here for something and I expect something. I want to know why you left? So, tell me what explanation you can possibly have for just walking out. Did you not even care about me that much that you just abandoned me to be left with someone who didn't even care about me until I was useful enough to him?!"

Even to me that sounded pretty harsh and direct, but I had been holding this in for what feels like an eternity.

Because what I told my father before we took him down at the warehouse was exactly how I felt. I don't blame my mother at all for wanting to leave my father since I finally made the decision to do the exact same thing moments before we defeated him and brought the Foot Clan down.

But, what I can't excuse is why she left me?

What kind of excuse could she possibly have for leaving her barely 4 year old daughter behind with her psychotic estranged-husband and then just left without even explaining anything, or better yet… why the hell didn't she take me with her?!

After the way I lashed out, I was expecting her to do the same and for her to get as equally angry and frustrated as I was… but she didn't.

Instead I saw her look at the floor before closing her eyes, her expression now showing a mixture of guilt and shame as she said, very to the point, "You're wrong."

I was about to question what anything about what I said was 'wrong' until she kept going as she continued, with probably one of the most genuine things I've heard her say, "Karai, you talk as if you meant nothing to me… when you were anything but that. You meant everything to me, and still do."

While I was still processing what she just admitted, it still didn't stop my frustration as I questioned, "So why did you leave me then? All I remember was you just putting me to bed and you were there, then the next morning... you were gone with no explanation and just left with me with my father, which might as well have been nothing or monster."

It was quiet for a second before I heard her let out a sigh and run a hand down her face before she folded her hands behind her back and looked back up at me, "It was more than you make it out to be, Karai. So much more. That last night, I left you a message, explaining everything and hoping that in the future you would be able to read it and understand."

I gave her a confused look and was pretty much thinking out loud as I inquired immediately, "What message? I never got anything from you. Once you left, father was quick to remove any and all trace of you from the dojo and threatened me and sometimes even punished me if I even asked about you."

I immediately saw her close her eyes and look down again, this time looking frustrated as she pursed her lips together before saying, "I should have know your father would do that. But, I knew once I left that I couldn't come back and I knew that last note was all I could do to get in any sort of contact with you before I left. The situation was so complicated. But, as you may or may not remember, my relationship with your father was not ideal. Actually, it was horrible. Those last few weeks before I left it was just getting worse and worse with your father and I physically turning on each other almost constantly in our arguments," She finally looked back up at me again before she said, "Make no mistake about any of this, Karai. I wanted nothing more than to take you with me away from there, truly."

"So, why didn't you?" I interjected immediately.

But, it was seriously all I wanted to know. For what possible reason could leaving me behind with my father and that being the best possible option in any situation involving my father.

As far as I'm concerned, any situation not including my father is probably the best possible thing anyone could ever choose.

I mean, come on, my mother left Japan and even Hamato Yoshi left too JUST to get away from my father.

So, why was I of all people left behind with him?!

Just then she took a step closer toward me, still looking at me as she said, "Karai, my decision was more complicated than you could ever imagine. I actually didn't make that decision until that last night I was with you putting you to bed. I was so close to just taking you with me, but right when I looked at you and saw you fall asleep, I knew I couldn't. Karai, you as much as I do, know what kind of a man your father was. Vengeful, irrational, spiteful, and above all hateful. There was no logic or decision in his entire being, only irrational hate. I had already seen what had become of Hamato Yoshi's wife and daughter because of your father's recklessness and I knew that I would be subjecting myself to that possible same fate by my leaving that night alone. He could have tracked me and taken me down out of spite and that would be a possible risk I was willing to take on myself… but not on you. Karai, if I would have taken you with me, I would have put you in more danger than I was willing to risk for your sake. Whatever happened to me was my own concern, but I couldn't bear the thought of what could have happened to you if your father found us. It was the most difficult decision I have ever made in my life, but I knew I could not think selfishly. In addition to constantly be on guard of your father possibly hunting us down, I also knew it wouldn't help you to be on the move constantly like I was used to for most of my life. You were so young and I knew you would have been better off with a more solid foundation. Karai, it was the most difficult decision I have ever made in my life. To the point where even I couldn't stay away from you completely."

Even though my mind was like a hornet's nest of thoughts circling and buzzing constantly around my brain, my mood kept further slipping into confusion as I rose an eyebrow and asked, wondering what she implied with that last thing she said, "What do you mean?"

She looked away from me a little for a second before she looked back at me with this very sure look and admitted, "As risky as it was after I left, I came back just to see you, even if it was just getting a look at you from the tree line surrounding the dojo. The first was only about 6 months after I left, then the last time was when you were about 12. However that time I was caught by your father's associate, Tatsu. Luckily it was Tatsu and not anyone else, since he issued a warning to me about not coming back since your father was tightening on the dojo's surveillance. So, for your sake and as much as it pained me... I stayed away. Until recently… I'm getting on in my years now and so was your father from my thinking, so I decided a couple months back to take the risk of meeting your father once again just to see if you were still there. But, as Kaito informed me, you were no longer there and your father was no longer living, so once he told me you lived in New York, I went to work on finding you… and I did."

I kept processing everything she just told me until I got hung up once she mentioned Tatsu.

Tatsu was, as she said, an old associate of my father's until he left to pursue other things when I was about 14. I never had much of a problem with Tatsu and he was the same associate who came back to the dojo and told me the truth about my parents when Kaito was young and we were still living at the old dojo.

He was the one who told me that whole story that I told Leo years ago about what happened between my parents, or at least as much as he knew.

But I pretty much trusted his word since if anyone knew the most about my parents, it was Tatsu.

Even though now, I had to admit that I couldn't believe everything I heard. Especially now that I knew about the fact that she came back a couple different times after she left just to see me.

With all this information, and even though I'm still confused to admit it, I felt... guilty.

"I didn't know." I said out loud. I was still trying to figure out exactly what to say. But, I knew I wasn't the only one who felt that way right now.

"There was no way for you to know any different. But, it was the best I could manage for you." She said and then I was surprised when I saw her take another step closer before saying, "Whatever happens, and now that I've told the truth, I want to be completely honest with you in entirety, Karai."

She paused for a second before looking me right in the eye and continuing, "I've made many mistakes in my life, Karai. Too many of them. Aside from my reputation as Lotus Blossom, my entire relationship to your father was something I bitterly regret and sometimes wish I could take the entire thing away… except one thing." I was surprised when I saw her hand go to my shoulder as she continued looking at me before explaining, "Karai, you were the one good thing that came out of it. Despite everything... you grew up just fine. You're a skilled kunoichi, a successful business woman, you made an excellent match in your marriage, and you are better mother to your children than I ever had the capability to be to you. Though I have no right to claim any of your success, just know that I am proud to call you my daughter."

I felt my throat swell shut as I tried to recompose myself as I processed the full impact of what she… my mother just said to me. I was trying to gain more control over myself before I looked back at the sword that was still in her other hand.

Even though I had no real idea of what to say, I knew I at least had to return that same honesty.

Because, this wasn't just about me if she leaves again again right now.

"You're better than you think, especially as a grandmother. It was difficult for me to admit before now, but since you've been here you've made an impression on Kaya, and I can see how much she's made an impression on you." I stopped as I made my way past her and made my point as I started taking everything out of her bag as I kept saying, "And I know if you leave right now, it'll be another risk that I don't want any of us to take ever again. Because my daughter shouldn't know what it's like to have you leave. Because I can see how much Kaya's gotten used to having her grandmother around, and I can see you feel the same way about her."

I stopped as I walked back over and looked at her again as I continued, putting my hand on her shoulder and wanting to make sure I made my point clear, "And I think I've been without my mother for long enough."

As much as I'm trying to hold myself together, it was taking every fiber of my being to keep my composure. But, everything I said was true. Now that I know the full truth of what happened, and even if it means admitting Leo was right the entire time, Leo was right.

Also, this wasn't about me anymore either.

In my mother's way, I can see how much she's gotten attached to Kaya since I can see she was trying leave while Kaya was at school just to avoid the situation. She's gotten used to being a grandmother and Kaya's gotten used to having another grandmother… and I don't want her to feel anything I did by having her leave again.

When she walked out, I had no idea of anything in my past except for the Foot Clan history and lies I was fed by my father growing up. But, I have more now.

I have a family and a whole other past history that I don't need to feel ashamed of. And I want my daughter to at least have something she can be proud of and know about from my side. And while she still doesn't know anything about my past or my father or anything, and she still won't know everything… at least she has some part of my past through my mother.

I was pulled back into the situation, pretty much literally, when my mother actually... hugged me. It felt kind of tense and slightly awkward for a good moment but think it was because neither of us barely knew how to react since we were probably both trying to think of the last time this happened and how we actually got to this point somehow again.

But, I couldn't stop myself.

I slowly hugged her back, still trying to contain the mess of thoughts and emotions threatening to escape my brain right now.

But, I could sense that I wasn't the only one feeling that way right now as I felt my mother's hold on me tighten. Despite being a grown woman in my 40's, I couldn't stop myself from just regressing to the childlike need of returning that same thing back at my mother, almost not wanting to let go.

Yes, nothing about my life has been normal until about 10 years ago and yes it took me getting my nose broken, but now… I finally feel the one thing I never entirely felt until just now.

Peace.

Well, here was the conclusion to the Misaki arc, well… part of it. From here on out Misaki will be a recurring character in the future chapters of this series of mini-arcs and one-shots. I wanted to make sure this chapter was worth the wait to see. I really wanted to capture Misaki and Karai's pent up frustration and hesitation when it came to confronting each other about the truth. But, as Karai realized, the reasons behind Misaki leaving her with Shredder were much more complicated than she realized and that what happened was what Misaki saw was the best for Karai's safety. So, for those of you that have been liking Misaki's character in this series, there will be more of Misaki to come in future one-shots. Also, you can look forward to some time skips for some looks into the futures of Kaito and Kaya. Also, perhaps even an arc for Kaya in the future? ;) Anyway, I hope this resolution was worth the wait and please take the time to leave some constructive feedback if you have the chance. Also with Halloween coming up, have a safe and fun time enjoying your prefered activities. While I'm a tired 22 year old university, my festivities for Halloween include eating a bag of candy I get from the store and watch Halloween Themed movies until I fall asleep. Haha. But for those of you who still trick-or-treat… have an awesome time doing so! :)

Stay Classy!

Dexter1995