We hadn't gotten very far from the pier when I felt Raph's death grip on my shoulder pull me away from Mike, Don, and Kat and into an alley. He spun me around and dropped his arm to his side again. "You're kidding, right?"
"Hey, who was the one who brought April down to the sewer?" I reminded him.
"I..." he started before he realized that he had nothing to say. "Fine, okay, I'll give you that. But Leo, there's something weird here. I don't think it's wise to take her with us. It was too easy."
"Well, what would you suggest, Raph?"
He shrugged. "She wants to go back home, let's take her there. I don't see what the problem is."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "We still don't know who took her or why, okay?" I reminded him. That wasn't a lie. We didn't know. Although I was afraid I had a pretty good idea. And if my hunch was right, they'd be back. "How do we know she's out of danger?"
"How do we know we're out of danger?" he snapped. "I don't like how easy that was. And I don't like how you're not seeing that."
I sighed. "Raph, I do see what you're saying. But what if you're wrong? What if we're both wrong and there's something they want with her, personally? They'll kill her."
"If they were going to do that, they would've."
"So what did they want, Raph? They didn't want her, they didn't want us... what did they want?"
He said nothing.
"And that's exactly my point. Neither one of us know. But I intend to find out."
He sighed and looked away. "Geez, Leo, I never thought I'd hear this from you," he mumbled. "What the hell is wrong with you lately?"
"Nothing's wrong with me."
With a frustrated growl, he turned and stormed away.
DONATELLO:
She didn't talk. She wouldn't answer our questions. When we got back to the lair and she saw April, she suddenly changed. The relief was evident on both sides as they hugged each other. April's attention fell to Kat's wrists. "Do you guys have any peroxide?" she asked. "And some bandages."
"I'm fine, April, really," Kat assured her. "I'm tired, but that's all."
"Maybe now you could tell us what the foot clan wanted with you," Raphael reminded her, leaning back on the wall.
Kat's eyes hit the floor and she hugged her chest. "It wasn't you," she mumbled. "I know that's what you're thinking, but it had nothing to do with you. The truth is, a friend of mine is involved with them." She glanced up, catching Leo's steady gaze. "And I guess he... really ticked them off somehow."
"Where is he now?" I asked.
She hesitated. "He... left the city a while ago; I haven't seen him since."
"Do you know if he's even alive?" Mike asked.
She shook her head.
I glanced at her. "Well, obviously the foot does or they wouldn't be trying to trap him."
"Yeah," Leo mumbled to himself. Raph shot him a look that warned of the argument to come.
"Look I..." Kat started hesitantly. "I don't want to start a fight. I just... if you'll take me back home..."
All eyes turned to Leo. Leo looked at Raph. April opened her mouth to say something, but stopped. I could feel the tension in the room as Leo and Raph held a silent conversation. Suddenly, Raphael turned and walked close to Leo. "Fine," he whispered harshly, through gritted teeth. "I don't know what the hell you all want me to say. But you just remember, I had nothing to do with this. Don't forget that."
Without another word, he stormed out of the room. I watched him go, wondering what all had been said between them. I had obviously missed something. "Why don't you rest here?" Leonardo offered.
"No, I really..." she protested weakly.
"I insist," he smiled.
April rested her hand on Kat's arm. "Come on," she assured her. "We really should spend the night here. It'll be safer."
Kat gave a distrusting glance around the room before bringing her eyes to rest on Leo. She forced a smile. "Thank you," she relented.
He bowed respectfully and Mikey motioned away from the gathering. "Come on," he guided. "I'll show you where you can sleep."
The two of them left with April and I turned my attention to Leo. "Raph is pissed at you?" I mumbled. It wasn't really a question.
"Yeah," he sighed. "What else is new?"
"What's he mad about?"
He shook his head silently and there was a moment of silence. Finally, he looked up at me. "Do you think I'm making a mistake?" he asked.
I stared at him, shocked. "What do you mean?"
"Helping her. Raph thinks I'm making a mistake."
I considered it for a moment. "No," I answered. "I don't. And I don't think Raph has a lot of room to talk."
He smiled faintly. "My sentiments exactly," he whispered.
I hadn't even heard the whole story, and already I knew it was the beginning of an ongoing battle between them.
KIARA:
A gentle breeze swept over Central Park as we walked through the darkness. In the cover of night, and without his traditional costume, he blended with society as easily as I did. Only the scar on his face betrayed his identity. I thought I had never seen him look so unthreatening as he did now. Still, I knew the strength and skill he hid under that mask of a normal civilian. I knew not to challenge him. So when he had asked me to come here, I had not questioned him.
"{What have you accomplished?}" he asked. We spoke in Japanese, as we always did when we discussed "business".
I sighed. "{You asked me to organize your offensive,}" I reminded him. "{And I am doing that. You need not follow me around.}"
He studied the ground as it passed under our feet. "{I wish to be kept informed.}"
His voice was deep, inhuman. It could intimidate the strongest man when used in a threatening tone. "{I allowed them to succeed so that I could follow them back to their home,}" I explained. "{I know where they stay.}"
I turned and studied me carefully, determining my honesty. "{They did not see you?}" "{They did not suspect it. They were too concerned in getting their victim to safety.}"
He watched me for a moment longer, then turned his attention back to the path. I could tell that he was not pleased. He had hoped for a direct approach. But I knew that wouldn't work. And that was why he had given me this assignment in the first place, though he would never admit it. He had tried his way, and he had failed. Now he wanted a different perspective, a woman's touch. I was the obvious choice, given my relationship to him.
I sighed. "{In all the fighting we have done with them, we have never come any closer to defeating them,}" I explained myself. "{They are four, and well-trained. You train your soldiers quickly, to make them ready for battle as soon as possible. And for that reason, all of your men could never defeat four trained ninjas.}"
He studied me carefully. "{I know this,}" he told me. "{But why then did you request that my men reinforce you?}"
"{The combat was a distraction. It would have been unnatural for them to arrive and find the building vacant. They would have been wary of the real attack. As it happened, their arrogance in believing that they had eliminated the threat worked to our advantage. They never suspected that I was with them.}"
He smiled faintly. "{When can I expect them to be in hand?}"
I sighed and cast my eyes to the ground. "{Soon, Father,}" I assured him.
KATARINA:
I was aware of my surroundings long before I was awake. It was quiet and still. I could hear the TV coming from somewhere far away, but I was alone in the room. I breathed deep, taking in the faint smell of incense. April had burned it last night. It was so easy for her to fall asleep here; she was so comfortable. But I was not so lucky. I had watched the glowing numbers on the clock change for hours. It was after 4:30 when I finally slipped away.
From that point, I was up every half-hour until ten. Then I somehow fell into a deep, dreamless sleep and didn't wake up again for... a long time. I had to get to work soon, I was sure. I hadn't looked at the clock yet, but I figured it was at least 2:00. I didn't think I'd moved since ten. I was sore all over, and I stretched with my eyes still closed. I was comfortable and warm. I didn't want to have to open my eyes and remember where I was.
I rolled onto my back and raised my hand to my forehead, rubbing away a slight headache. I opened my eyes to darkness and realized that the time of day had no effect on this place. Turning my head, I glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost 5:00! I bolted upright, shocked. I'd slept through the entire day! And I was two hours late for work!
I stumbled to my feet and tripped toward the door, throwing it open. One of them was sitting on the couch, staring at the TV. He looked up as I stepped into his line of sight. I froze. I hadn't thought about what I was going to say when I saw them. "Hey," he greeted.
"Hi," I answered hesitantly. I looked around. "Where's April?" Or Leo, I added silently.
"She went to work. Said for you not to worry about it, they got someone to cover for you."
I nodded slowly. "She should've woken me up," I mumbled. "I could've gone in."
He shrugged. "She didn't seem to think so. Besides, how would you explain that?"
He pointed and I looked down at my hands and the raw, red marks circling my wrists. "I... I don't know," I answered truthfully.
"I don't think we've been formally introduced," he smiled after a moment of silence. "I'm Michaelangelo. You can call me Mike."
I forced a smile. I knew his name. Leonardo talked about him, and his other brothers. It hadn't taken me long to figure out who they were by their descriptions. Raphael was the easiest to pinpoint: violent, angry, dark. I'd watched him for all of an hour and I could already tell he was different. A firey tongue and a bitter secret separated him from the world. He scared and fascinated me at the same time.
"Kat," I introduced. "But I guess you probably already know that."
I looked around the still room. "Where is everyone?" I asked.
"I dunno," he answered. "Out somewhere? I don't keep track."
I nodded slowly and caught a glimpse of the small black and white TV. "What are you watching?" I asked.
"Old stuff. Black and white. Not that you could tell with this TV."
His voice held a hint of bitterness. I smiled faintly, wondering what the story was but not daring to ask. "Some of the best films are in black and white," I mumbled. "Nowadays every plot is the same. There's no new ideas, really."
He grinned, but said nothing. I sat down on the couch next to him and, for a moment, we watched the actors. I stole another nervous glance at him. "Hey, you guys aren't gonna, like, kill me while I sleep, are you?" I asked hesitantly.
He laughed. "What kind of a question is that?"
"Well, I mean... I know Raphael isn't exactly thrilled with me being here. He's not gonna go psycho or anything, is he?"
He smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Just give it some time, babe. He'll warm up to you. He's just... antisocial, that's all."
I smiled back, still not quite reassured, and turned my attention to the TV.
LEONARDO:
Kat spent the evening in the living room. It took a few hours, but she finally started to loosen up. By the time Mike and Donny left to go pick up a pizza, she was smiling. They invited her to come, but she'd refused. I was glad. I needed to talk to her before Raph showed up. God only knew where he was; I was just glad it wasn't here.
"Your brothers are nice," she smiled as I turned the TV off.
"Yeah," I agreed. "We don't get a lot of company down here so... I think they like just being able to interact with someone other than each other."
She smiled. "I don't think Raphael likes me, though," she informed me.
"He doesn't like anyone," I answered. "Don't take it personally."
"He gave me this look, when he came through here earlier," she explained. "Didn't say anything, just... that look."
"I know," I sympathized.
"Kinda scares me," she admitted, looking away.
"Live and let live, Kat," I advised. "I doubt he'll mess with you unless you start it."
"He messes with you," she reminded me.
I smiled. "He's my brother. He feels he has a right to."
She shook her head silently, looking away. "Don't worry about it, Katarina," I advised. "He's..." I wanted to say harmless, but I caught myself. Raphael was anything but harmless. "He's alright."
She said nothing, and there was a moment of silence. "Kat," I finally sighed, walking around the couch. I sat down on the armrest. "I realize you were covering my ass last night when you didn't tell them that you knew me and believe me, I'm grateful for that."
She grinned at me. "It was nothing."
"But I also realize that in covering our friendship, you might not have been able to tell us everything. And I need to know, how much do you really know about what they wanted with you?"
She glanced away. "They didn't say anything about... you specifically. They just..." She sighed. "It was an impression I got. They didn't talk to me, and I couldn't understand most of what they were saying to each other."
"Why?"
"It was muffled. And I was confused. I think they drugged me or something."
"But there was a woman?"
"I think so. Leo, I really don't know."
I sighed deeply and closed my eyes, considering the situation. "How do you... feel? About going back?"
She swallowed hard. "I don't know," she mumbled. "I mean, it would be different if Madonna was there, you know? If there were two of us. But... no, I don't want to be alone."
I nodded slowly. I understood. And I couldn't say I blamed her. "You can stay here as long as you need to," I offered.
She stared at me. "What about Raphael? He's not gonna like that."
"Let me handle Raph."
"I don't want to cause a problem," she mumbled. "Maybe I could just stay with April."
"No," I protested. "They took you from April's house. I don't think she'd deter them from doing it again."
"And Madonna would?" she smiled.
"Madonna can kick my ass if she's mad enough," I joked.
Kat laughed. "Right. Except that Madonna's never studied martial arts in her life."
We smiled about that for a moment, then the atmosphere turned serious again. "Kat, I want you to stay here," I mumbled. "But there's just one thing."
"What?"
I sighed. "I think... you already figured this out, but I just wanted to make sure." My eyes met hers. "Please don't tell them anything about Madonna."
She nodded. "I know, Leo. I won't."
"Thank you."
MICHAELANGELO:
"Look what we found," I smiled as April stepped off the ladder.
Leo and Kat looked up from where they'd been talking on the sofa. April took her high heel shoes off. "You know how hard it is to come down a ladder in heels and a skirt?" she mumbled.
Donatello followed her, and Raph. We'd run into him, too. Leo stood. "Have a good show?" Kat asked April.
"Yeah, it was okay," she answered. "Little bit of a switcher tour in the first block because we had a new TD."
"Really?" Kat asked. "Who's TDing?"
"What's a TD?" I asked. I didn't know the first thing about TV "lingo".
"Amy," April answered Kat first. "Leason directed." She turned to me. "A TD is the person who punches the buttons to take the shots."
I nodded and April turned back to Kat. "How are you?" she asked.
"Okay," Kat nodded.
"It's supposed to pour tonight," April informed. "So if you need to go anywhere, I recommend doing it before the sewers get flooded."
Kat nodded. Raph and Leo exchanged intense glances. I remembered that Donny had the food.
I didn't like the tension in the room, and I decided to change the mood. Music. Don went into the kitchen and I went over to the CD player. A moment later, Christina Aguilera blared from the speakers. "Oh, gag me!" Raph complained, reaching for a slice of pizza.
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with Christina Aguilera," Kat defended.
I raised an eyebrow at her, surprised by her boldness. It wasn't every day someone decided to stand up to Raph. Especially when it wasn't a matter of life and death. She smiled and winked at me. I smiled back, not sure how else to react. I wondered what Leo had said to her while I was away...
"I don't trust her," Raphael mumbled as Katarina disappeared up the ladder with April and Donny. They were going to Kat's apartment to get clothes.
Leo turned to look at him. "Raph, you don't trust anyone."
It was the beginning of a fight, but I didn't feel like getting up. They would argue for a few minutes and Raph would storm out of here. Leo would go off and meditate somewhere and it would get quiet again. I was comfortable enough on the couch to wait it out. I looked back at the TV as a cop car smashed into a wall during a high-speed chase.
"Somethin's not right, Leo. Even you can see that. But you still invite her to stay here even when you know there's something wrong! How easy would it be for her to slit our throats when we're not expecting it?"
"If she was going to do that, she would've done it already," Leo cut in.
Raph stared at him, shocked. "What the hell, Leo! Ain't you always the one telling us to be careful about...?"
"Yes," Leo interrupted. "But what do you want me to do, Raph?"
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Raph yelled. "You're supposed to be the one who tells all of us we're being..."
"What's she gonna do, Raph?" Leo interrupted, starting to lose the measured tone in his voice. I glanced at him, surprised. In all the fighting he did with Raphael, he was always the calm one. "She gonna take on all four of us? On our turf? If she was going to do anything, it wouldn't be here."
And for once, Leo's argument was lacking. Raph was right, and he was going to rip him apart on this one. The more comfortable we got, the more we lowered our guard. Hell, look at how comfortable we'd gotten with April. If she ever turned on us, we'd sit there and stare at her with our mouths gaping while she killed us all. But I also knew what was happening here. Leo was getting frustrated, because he knew something he was trying to hide. He had a reason why he trusted her, but he didn't want to explain it. So he was using evidence that he knew wasn't very credible to prove something he knew was right.
"How much you think it's worth to Shredder, huh?" Raphael challenged. "You think he wouldn't give her anything she wanted just for telling him where we're staying?"
"You're being ridiculous, Raph," Leo sighed.
Raphael stared at him for a moment, a shocked look on his face. "Tell me you don't really believe that," he pleaded. "Because if you do, she's got you more blinded than I thought."
I looked up suddenly. Uh oh. I caught the accusatory tone in Raph's voice just as plainly as Leo did. Leonardo stared in apparent confusion. "Just what are you implying?" he demanded.
I knew exactly what Raph was implying, and I couldn't help but think that it was hitting below the belt. My eyes darted back and forth between the two of him, concerned that this was going to get out of hand. It wouldn't be the first time. Raph and Leo had come inches from killing each other on more than one occasion. I hoped that this would not be another.
I felt along my waist, checking for my weapons reflexively. What the hell good will that do? I asked myself as I realized what I was implying. It was damn near suicide to get between them. Donny and I had pulled them apart before, and I'd suffered a black eye in the process. Without Splinter to mediate, there were no boundries, no rules. When they went at it, it was best to duck and run. The tension in the room skyrocketed as I considered what course of action I might have to take.
Raph smiled wickedly. "Oh, come on, Leo. You think it's hard to see the way you're all over her? You think I can't tell? You think I'm stupid?"
I looked to see how Leo would respond. He looked as if he'd just been punched in the stomach. Raph was reveling in his success. Leo didn't have many weak spots, but it seemed Raph had found one of them. "I don't know what you're talking about," Leo choked. It was weak. It would've been better if he hadn't said anything at all. Raphael had won this round, and it was better to just walk away. Oh, please just walk away...
"Oh, you don't know what I'm talking about?" Raphael challenged, painfully twisting the invisible dagger he'd attacked with. "She that 'personal business' you had to take care of the other night? Secret love affair we ought to know about? Maybe you'll tell us in the same breath that you tell us she's pregnant, huh?"
That was harsh. And Raph was pushing it. Leo wouldn't do that, and we all knew it. But the implication was a serious enough insult. I saw anger flood Leo's face and I tensed. "You have no right..." he growled.
"You're putting my life in danger, Leo, I have every right."
"It's not like that!"
"Well, whatever it's like, I don't think Splinter would have..."
The mention of Splinter put Leo right over the edge. "Screw you, Raph!" he yelled, his fists clenching at his sides. "You have noidea what Splinter would..."
"I'd rather screw her, but you've probably already tended to that!" Raph shot back, cutting him off.
I stared at them in total shock, ready to be on my feet in an instant if either of them moved. Leo wasn't one to normally shoot insults like that. That was Raph's job. Leo tended to be the calm, collected, patronizing one.
They stared each other down. Raphael's hands fell to his weapons in a silent, dangerous challenge. He made no move to attack, but the fire in his eyes made his willingness apparent. The silence continued, electricity sparking between the two of them. I watched, trying to think of something that I could say or do to end the nervous silence. But my voice caught in my throat and I knew all I could do was watch and be ready to commit suicide if either of them actually drew a weapon.
It took a full thirty seconds before Leo turned and stormed out of the room. Raph watched him go, a wicked smile crossing his face. I glared at him. Part of me wanted to smack him for being such a jerk. If Leo did like Katarina, Raph wasn't being fair about it. But part of me knew he was right. Not that Leo was sleeping with her, but there was definately something between them. They'd known each other long before last night, and I wasn't the only one who'd figured that out.
LEONARDO:
I heard a knock on the door. It wasn't hard to figure out who it was. I doubted Raph was going to be coming by to apologize and Donny was with April and Kat. That left Mike. But I didn't want to talk. "Go away," I called.
The door cracked open in defiance of my request. "You okay?" Michaelangelo asked.
I closed my eyes, keeping my head turned to the wall. "Fine."
"That wasn't exactly a fair fight," he mumbled. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to say to that.
Mike said nothing and there was a long, calming silence. I closed my eyes and breathed deep. Then I turned onto my back and looked up at my brother. He was leaning against the dresser, his arms crossed over his chest and a look of concern written on his face. "You know he's wrong, right?" I mumbled.
"'Bout what?"
"Me and Katarina?"
He shrugged. "No, I don't know that. But I don't think it was fair that he threw it in your face, whether it's true or not."
"It's not true!" I practically yelled, bolting upright.
He uncrossed his arms and held them up in surrender. "Hey, bro, I'm not tryin' to fight with you!" he laughed. "I believe you, okay? But I can also see where Raph gets his argument."
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and buried my face in my hands. "I knew her, okay?" I admitted. "We'd run into each other. But it's not like Raph thinks. I just don't want her to get hurt because of me."
"Because of you?" he repeated.
I looked up and caught his stare. "Who do you think that friend she mentioned is? Who's involved with the foot? They're after her because of me."
There was a long silence as he considered my confession. I knew my secret was safe with him. The only one I was really worried about was Raphael. I didn't want him to know anything if I could avoid it.
I felt hopelessness creep over me. He made me so angry! Nobody on Earth could push my buttons like he did. Arrogant, impulsive... and my brother. That was the hardest thing. I loved him and hated him at the same time. I didn't know what to do with him. And I didn't know what to do with myself.
I wanted nothing more than to sort through some much-needed advice. But that wasn't possible anymore. That time was gone. "You know, sometimes I really miss him," I finally whispered.
"I know, Leo," he mumbled. He immediately knew who I was talking about. "I miss him, too."
"Just... those times when I could really use his advice."
He was quiet for a moment. "Well, I'm not Splinter, but I can give you some advice of my own right now. If you'll be honest with me."
I looked up. "What?" I asked, although the part about being honest let me know that he still didn't believe me about Katarina.
"Do you like her?"
I sighed. He wasn't going to believe me. And I wasn't about to tell him about Madonna. Her face flashed across my mind and I realized that I missed her already. It had only been two days. "Like as in how, Mikey? Like as in the way I like April? Yeah, sure, I like her. But I'm not sleeping with her. I don't like her that way."
He considered that for a moment. "Okay," he answered. "I believe you. But Leo..." I looked up and met his gaze. "You do realize that Raph has a point. I mean, about her being dangerous."
I sighed. "I know," I mumbled. "But it's not exactly blind trust."
"Maybe you should tell Raph that."
I laughed cynically. "Are you kidding? Mike, I don't want to promote any more temper tantrums, okay? He'll freak out and you know it."
"Why?"
I sighed. "Because, Mikey, think about it. I mean, he'd be right, too. I tell him to be careful and not to go out and sleep around and then I..." I stopped.
"I thought you said you weren't sleeping with her," Mike finished.
I stood up, frustrated. "I'm not!" I growled. "But just the fact that I know her. And that I've continued to... socialize with her."
He sighed. "I still think you should tell him."
I turned to him and took hold of his shoulders. "No. And you're not going to either."
The statement was somewhere between a threat and a plea. He stared at me for a moment before shaking his head slowly. "No, Leo," he sighed. "You know I won't."
KIARA:
Their weapons locked, but only briefly. As soon as the attack came, then the counterattack. They were fast. I watched from the shadows, hidden behind the cracked-open door and ready to bolt if one of them approached. I knew I was safe here. As long as all four of them were all in the room, I was in no danger of being discovered. I could watch them as those before me had: in awe and subtle fear.
There was no doubt that they were ninjas. Their movements were far to smooth and fast to suggest otherwise. To kill in a single blow, and do it silently... They could, I knew. They chose not to remain silent, using their cries to heighten the adrenaline that flowed in the room. And of course, they weren't really trying to kill each other. But even one poorly aimed blow, even one weapon not pulled just short of contact, and they easily could kill each other. That was the art of it, and the excitement.
I watched the two of them spar, while the others looked on. Donatello and Raphael on the mat, Leonardo and Michaelangelo talking quietly against the wall. I couldn't hear what they were saying, and there was no way to get near them without being seen. Suddenly, Michaelangelo started toward the door. He didn't say where he was going, but it was obvious he was leaving. I jumped back and retreated to safety.
