"Your friends of yours are not really your friends at all."

"What do you mean? Of course, they're my friends!"

'Hmm. This might be easier than expected.' Oroku Saki mused as he carefully chose his next words for the defiant young maiden before him. If he did this correctly then she would be his and all of her power would be at his disposal. "Real friends wouldn't keep you locked away, right?"

"I suppose not."

"And real friends would believe you about your worries, correct?"

"Yes.."

"And they disregarded you in concern for their brother. A brother who went missing, am I correct."

"Yeah, but he's been found. He's okay." Angel looked down at her knees and proceeded to hug herself, "He's okay." Unsure of who she was trying to convince, herself or Mr. Saki.

"But do they want to spend time with you? Make certain that you are alright?"

"No," The purple-haired girl sighed dejectedly, "They don't."

"But I do. I am your friend, Angel. I am here for you. I have believed you when it came to your worries and I am here for you if you ever need anything. Unlike those fair-weather friends of yours, I will always be here for you." Oroku Saki took one of her hands out of her self-hug and held it almost tenderly in his.

"But what am I going to do? I have nowhere else to go. I've been staying with my friends as you well know and I have no job to even be able to afford an apartment."

"I may have a solution for you."

She raised a lone purple eyebrow at him.

"I may have an opening for someone with your abilities."

"What do you mean?"

"There is a force, an evil force in this world that has stuck its tentacles deep and I cannot fight it alone. It has unfortunately sunk its roots into those that could have helped me in the fight against it but now are lost to me forever. If you could help me, dear Angel, it would put this old heart at rest."

She thought for a moment. "Who were those that could have helped you if not for this evil force?"

'Almost there.' He almost smirked openly. "A ninja turtle who went by the name of Leonardo and his brothers.

"I see..." She bit her lower lip in thought. 'I could have swore that they said that it was the Shredder that had tried to get them on his side. Not Oroku Saki. They must have been wrong somehow. I just... I know that they're good so why didn't they help this man. This makes no sense but maybe if I help him, I could figure out why they refused to help. Maybe.' She sighed softly. It seemed like there was nothing else that she could do. Aside from being homeless and jobless, that is. "Okay. I'll help you."

He snapped his fingers and a male servant came to his side with a small package in hand. "I am glad that you agreed for I have a gift for you." Mr. Saki handed the package over to Angel who set it on her lap.

The box was fairly small and wrapped in a fancy purple wrapping paper that was decorated with elaborate silver swoops and swirls and tied off with a black ribbon. She carefully undid the wrapping. It really was too lovely to ruin. Underneath all of the wrapping was a lovely black necklace, almost like a choker in design. There were black swoops and swirls which surrounded a large red gem. She gasped in surprise. "I really don't know what to say."

"I simply thought that since the last necklace I gave you was ruined by the fire that you needed a decent replacement. Would you allow me the courtesy to put it on?"

She nodded blankly, still too much in awe over what was happening to make a coherent sentence. He picked up the necklace and clasped it delicately around her neck. Then it was almost like a shock ran through her, a subtle-but-still-there shock. "What was that?" She whispered as she gently touched the red stone.

"What was what?"

"...Nothing. I must've been imagining things."

"Go and take a walk. You have my number now. Call me when you need a ride and I'll come for you."

Angel nodded once before she followed the servant out of the room for some well needed fresh air. She had a LOT to think over.