Chapter 2: Suspicions

April had been pestering her boss for weeks for a new assignment,

one other than the fluff pieces he was known to give her. Finally,

he called her into his office. "April I got an idea for a new story.

Try to do a report on some of the gangs here in New York.

Maybe some publicity will help in controlling them." He said.

April nodded. Finally, a meaty assignment! "Anything special I

should be aware of sir?" she asked, trying to make sure that she

had all her bases covered. "No, but be careful April." He said as

he turned away from her. "The lord knows you get into enough

trouble anyway." He muttered under his breath.

April was in high spirits after that. After weeks of covering convention

openings, flower shows, and all sorts of little, feminine things, she was

finally getting a assignment worthy of a reporter. She headed down

to the archives to see what activity was going on with the local gangs,

to try and see what she would need to try and get in with one of them.

Suddenly April heard a car alarm go off. "Go! Go! Run!" A female

voice shouted, April saw a black haired teenager girl and some others

run from where the sound came from. April was shocked to see several

beefy looking men carrying guns shooting at the gang members!

"Give us back our loot, you crooks!" They called out, trying to stop

them from running away and one knocked down a red young man,

who looked barely in his teens. "Luna!" He called out falling to the ground.

Hearing the call the black haired girl turned and suddenly then a round

about and kicked one of the men in the face, backing them up as she

fought them. "You stole this money and we are taking it from you! Now

leave before you truly get hurt." She hissed at them, using a leg sweep

to take one of them down.

The men backed up some as the young woman took something from

her belt. "Pack vanish!" She shouted as she threw down a smoke ball.

When it cleared, the girl and her gang was gone!

April was impressed! The tactics used were similar to the Ninja's that

her association with the Turtles had caused her to do some research on.

And the way that she issued the orders, indicated that this young lady

was a leader of some sort. April had found her interest for the story!

That night ... April went to the turtles and told them what she saw.

"She fought like you guys in a way." "How so April?"asked Leonardo,

the leader of the quartet of turtle brothers. "She struck very fast. And

she was confident she could takethose men down."

"It sounds like she is a confident warrior." stated Master Splinter, who

was listening in on the conversation. "Very. And ..." April stopped thinking

and frowned deeply. "What is it April?" asked Donatello, the machine

master of the group. "She .. she looks a bit like Keno." She said slowly

thinking about it.

"You sure April? I mean, we haven't seen the kid." Stated

Michelangelo. "No she looked like Keno. He said his sister

was coming to NY a few weeks ago did he?" April asked.

"Yeah, he did say that. Never got a picture of the girl. But

right now, we need to find out more about this gang, before

they try and ruin our reps." Stated Raphael.

April nodded. "And I think I know it's name. When the girl

and the gang vanished she said 'Pack vanish' and they did."

She said. "It sounds like a well trained group. I would be

very careful April. They may not take kindly to strangers."

Splinter warned her.

"No." Leonardo said and the others looked at him. "No,

I think it is more the girl. Keno did say she acts a little cold

to him and her father. If this is ... Nastu ... then it her we need

to get at. Before she gets herself killed." "He is right dudes.

We promised Keno we help look after her." Mickey said.

"Perhaps if I introduced myself to her as a friend of her brother,

it might pave the way for a reconciliation between the two,

as well as finding out why the crooks were after them."

April suggested.

"Hmm, maybe but be careful April. If she is a gangster then

she probably won't listen." Raphael said. *But she might listen

if she has too* He thought deciding if it was Keno's sister,

he and the others would set her straight. "But if I'm going to

make inroads with them, I'm going to have to change my image.

A reporter isn't going to be the easiest way to get close to

them." April remarked, leading to a major discussion amongst

the turtles.

"April." Master Splinter said. "Perhaps you should allow us to

handle this. The turtles are the ones that will have to help Keno's

sister. Let them watch the child for a few days, if she is indeed

on who walks in darkness they will help her." "I appreciate the

suggestion Master Splinter, but this is my assignment. I need to

carry it out myself. But I wouldn't object to the turtles keeping

an eye open for trouble just in case." she stated.

None of the turtles liked it but they agreed. "Ok, Pack, a girl who

fights good and looks like Keno. Some clues." Raphael said sarcasticly.

"There may be more clues than one thinks, if you look at them." Suggested

Master Splinter. "What?" The four turtles asked.

"Think my students. If she fights this way, she must have had some

training." Splinter said, his four students and son caught on. "Martial

arts training. But Keno said his mother hated any form of fighting."

Michelango said. "But what about her father?" Suggested Donatello.

"Perhaps he taught her some moves." He suggested.

"And if she is a gang member here then what to stop her from being

one in L.A? Maybe her father taught her some before she went to

live with her mother and she learned the rest on the streets." Leonardo

said shaking his head. "You do think Keno knows?" Mickey asked

looking at his brother who just shook his head. "I doubt it and if I

know Keno he is going to have it out with his sister if she is."

Meanwhile ..... a red haired fourteen year old boy listened to the

sounds outside a bedroom window and let out a low whistle and

motioned with his hand. "It's clear Luna." He called softly, 'Luna'

slipped out of an alley she hide in. "Thanks Tom, now go, I see

you tomorrow." She said as she climbed into the window after

the boy. "Ok Luna, take care and tend to your arm." The boy

whispered as he left.

As she got in and shut her bedroom window Nastu listened to her

father and brother's light breathing and she slipped into the bathroom.

After locking the door quietly she went to the sink and washed some

blood off her arm examining the wound. It was thin, long and clear,

a switchblade cut. *That was accidental, I hate to see what that kid

would do on purpose.* She thought as she banaged up the cut and

pulled her shirt sleeve over the wound.

Then Nastu qiuetly sneak back into her room, she almost had a

heart attack seeing her brother as she qiucky darted into her room

and under her bed sheets. Nastu all but held her breath when her

brother turned on the hallway light and his shadow fell into her room.

A few tense moments passed before Keno turned off the light and

his footsteps faded, Nastu let out a soft sigh of relief as she rolled

onto her back and tried to sleep.

Keno stopped outside his bedroom door frowning,she came

back again. For the pass week Keno heard Nastu sneaking

out at night and returning at different hours. She never acted

or said anything about leaving so he guessed she didn't know

he knew she was leaving.

*Maybe I should tell dad.* Keno thought then shook his

head. *No, this is my work. If Nastu joined a gang, I'll

get her out! I won't have my sister become some street

scum!* He swore angrily as he also went to bed but knew

after work tomorrow, he was going to have a 'talk' with his

sister.