In case I haven't said this before, I don't own the turtles. I do own any original characters that might pop up, and since this is me, any songs that may pop up. Enjoy this chapter, and thanks for everyone's support!!!

Raph sat on his bed, staring at his wall. He had just finished yet another fight with Leo, and he was NOT in a good mood.

"Stupid Leo, he's always in my way."

His 8-year-old mind was on overdrive, and it was all because of his irritating attitude. Leo had just informed him that he was a nuisance and a liability to this family, and that he should never be aloud to go outside by himself again. Raph muttered under his breath for a minute before sniffling. He could not help but let a few tears fall down, after the fight he had just had with Leo, he was surprised that he wasn't bawling like crazy.

Wiping away a few stray tears, Raph got up to leave his bedroom. Checking the small mirror that hung in the room that was hanging on the wall in the room he still shared with Mikey, he couldn't help but notice that his eyes were still a little red and puffy, and he frowned. Rubbing his eyes, he checked again, and decided that he still needed a few minutes to re-coup himself. Raph stared into the mirror, getting lost in thought.

He didn't know what to do anymore. Lately, Leo and he had not been getting along at all. All they did was fight, and it did not help that Master Splinter was too tired to keep them in line. Instead, all he did was look at Leo occasionally and whisper things under his breath about how he wished that someone could be more like him. Raph knew that Master Splinter wished that Raph could be more controlled and train just as hard as Leo did. However, Raph did not want to be like Leo, he wanted to be himself. He just wished that Master Splinter could understand that...

Halfway across the world, someone else was having an identity crisis. The young female turtle, Mei Phi Chi, and frustrated by her studies.

"Why do I have to study these stupid dusty scrolls all of the time, I want to go outside and play, not stand here and learn to read a language that doesn't even exist anymore."

Mei whined to her father, in perfect English. Only 8 years old, the young turtle knew how to speak in at least five languages, Chinese from her father, English and Japanese from her fathers' friend, Master Splinter, and at least two of the dialects from her native Shinobi language. Even though she had not mastered any of the languages except for Chinese, she knew enough to be able to hold her own in a conversation with anyone.

Mei noticed lately though, that her father was getting frustrated with her, and she could not help but wonder why. She knew that she was being difficult, but she felt that this was too much work for her, and it was not her responsibility to carry on some stupid tradition that barely anyone understood anymore. In fact, her Master was about to yell at her right now. She could see it in his eyes, and she bit her lip and shrunk back a little in response.

Mikey opened the door slowly, knowing that his brother was not in a good mood, and would probably rip his head off for entering their room without knocking and waiting for permission. He noticed Raph staring in the mirror, and saw how red his eyes were. Quickly closing the door, he walked over to his older brother, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"What's wrong Raph?"

Raph jerked away from his touch, keeping his eyes on the ground.

"Nothing Mikey, just leave me alone, I'm not in the mood for your antics right now alright." Mikey winced, which Raph noticed and sighed. He knew that he should not be taking his anger and frustration out on Mikey. Raph sat down hard on his bed, and Mikey followed, leaving little room between the two young turtles. Raph sighed, and glared once at the mirror before looking back at his brother.

"Master Splinter has been acting strange lately, and it's really staring to bother me. Sometimes, I feel like he does not even want me around anymore. Every time Leo and I get into a fight, he only agrees with Leo. He never wants to hear my side of the story, and half the time I feel like he is trying to change who I am. I don't like it, and I don't appreciate it. I'm only 8 years-old, and I don't want to spend hours and hours in the training room like Leo does, I want to have a little fun, that's all."

Mikey smiled at his older brother, before wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

"I wouldn't worry too much about it Raph, I know how you feel. Sometimes I feel like Splinter would like to change a few things about me, but I know that he would never want me give up who I am. I know that he doesn't want you to either."

Mikey smiled at Raph before giving him a quick hug, knowing that the other turtle did not like to be hugged long.

"Now come on, it's almost time for dinner; let's see if Master Splinter needs any help."

Raph agreed, and the two turtles walked out of their room, both feeling a little bit better about themselves and each other. Chung I looked at his daughter for a minute before sighing.

"Mei Phi Chi, you need to focus your energy on your training. I know that you feel you do not need to pay attention and practice, but you are the end of the line. I do not have any blood children, and none of the other Shinobi Shamans has even the distinct possibility to be a full- fledged Shaman as you do. Even though many of them have perfected almost all of the hard spells, they do not have the family ties to the Shinobi heritage as you do. When I adopted you as my daughter, I did it with the hope that you would one day take over from me, and you will become the keeper of the Shinobi ways."

Mei felt her face fall, knowing that she was disappointing her father was hurting her deeply. When she was younger, she did not care that she was hurting her father by being selfish. That was, until one day, when she had overheard her father and Master Splinter talking. All she had heard from the conversation was her Master's wish that she could be more disciplined and focused like someone named Leonardo, and Splinter wishing the same for someone named Raphael. Mei didn't know who these people were, but she figured that she would meet them sometime soon, just as he had let her meet Master Splinter. Until then, she had vowed to start apply herself to lessons more, and to listen to her father. She didn't want him to worry about her anymore than he already did.