Disclaimer: TMNT not mine, but neither is my life, so you don't here me complaining.

Chapter Eighteen

Owen sat pitifully slumped down onto the stool. It seemed like hours he sat in that seat, but his biological clock told him otherwise.

He had only been sitting there for fifteen, twenty minutes tops! It just felt like a whole lot longer…

Nevertheless, still he sat, the fight, the impatience, the anger gone…and replaced by nothing but boredom.

Pure boredom.

The turtle had complete his appointed task about ten minutes prior, and now, they both sat in wait, for what seemed as forever, just waiting for the jet black dye in his hair to take affect.

But with no such luck.

It just wasn't taking…or at least, that's what Mikey said.

Now the turtle in question sat across from him on the cool porcelain of the side of the tub. It seemed that this turtle, too, was rather impatient as well, for every other minute or so he would stand to inspect the vampire's hair.

Which proved to be a rather dreary cycle indeed.

"Nope, not yet, still not cookin'…."

Mike poked at the hair with the comb, but finding that didn't help anything, he settled for running the comb thorough the hair instead.

Owen, long since not caring anymore about any of it, just sat in his chair; his eyes half lidded, his head neatly in his palms, fingers framing his face as his elbows rested comfortably on his knees.

Oh, how he wished this day would end, but just like with the dye, he was having no such luck.

"Hmm, I'm giving it another five minutes, and then…I guess…I should call Centrice."

Yes, even Mike knew when to call it quits and call in the cavalry. Although his pride said no, his common sense still screamed yes.

He needed help, and he knew it.

Meanwhile, after hearing Michelangelo's speech, the most Owen could do was make a single displaced grunt before falling silent once again. It wasn't that he didn't care, but just, he was so close to not caring, one could almost call it such. This, Mike noticed, and in response he eyed the now yawning Owen before sitting back down on the side of the tub. His shell clanked loudly as he sat, but he ignored it. Instead, he kept his eyes on the powerful vampire before him.

It was just so weird seeing Owen like this, so average, so normal.
He remembered first meeting the vampire; Owen came across as cold, powerful…and mysterious.

But now it seemed that with all of this interaction between Owen and their family, the former image of a ruthless, powerful vampire melted down to that of a rather…weird, but normal guy.

A Powerful guy.

But still, a normal guy.

He had thoughts, feelings, likes, dislikes, and quirks, just like the lot of them.

Which made him a person.

Just like them.

But now it seemed, that this 'person' was…well, bored.

If his posture didn't give him away, his face sure did.

Hmm, they still had about two minutes left, maybe Mike could help him get though it…

How?

The 'Mikey' way of course!

Owen sat, his eyes relatively distant in Michelangelo's direction, his mind elsewhere.

However, Michelangelo's next actions were enough to catch Owen's attention, and keep it.

A three-fingered hand waved before his face before falling back into the personal space of its owner. Mike then paused for a moment until he was sure that Owen was actually paying attention, then he brought his hand down to his knee…and then up. The vampire followed with slightly curious eyes.

Half-lidded eyes…but curious eyes nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Mike continued.

Up…down…right…left, his hand moved, and more out of curiosity than any thing else, Owen's eyes followed.

His hand moved in each direction, its travel slow enough to match the vampire's mood, but quick enough to keep his attention.

That exactly was what Mike wanted.

Meanwhile, Owen watched from under half-lidded eyes the weird turtle before him…until…

"BOOGADY-BOOGADY!"

"AHHH!" Owen jumped back, nearly falling backwards off of his stool as Mike suddenly thrusted both of his hands forward and literally into Owen's face. They would have connected if Owen didn't jump back, but thankfully, for his nearly impaled eyes, he did.

Meanwhile, sudden, uncontained, hysterical laughter filled the bathroom for the second time in as many hours. Owen scowled as he readjusted himself on the stool just as Mike literally doubled over in hysterics.

"You should have seen your face! Too funny!" He stated between laughs. Owen only sighed.

"Hysterical…"

Sarcasm in its simplest form.

Luckily, for him, Mike caught it as well, sobering up at Owen's sarcasm.

Well, almost.

A few chuckles still escaped the laughing turtle, but he did the best he could to cover it up, straightening before placing a hand on the vampire's back in reassurance.

"Aww, Owen. Don't get in a huff! Its cool man, you're cool. You're funny, but cool too. That's what makes you just…so damn cool!"
Mike shook Owen's shoulders at his last few words, which earned him a small smile from the formally solemn vampire.

Owen just couldn't help it.

The turtle's words were so…unique…it had to make him smile. In his centuries of life never was he described as…"so damn cool."

This turtle…this silly, insane excuse for a turtle, was just so…different than anyone he had ever encountered in his life…the most he could do was laugh.

And it seemed that the turtle took it as such as well.

Grinning, Mikey gave the vampire one more shake before moving from the vampire and back to the tub, running the water and giving it a quick check before addressing the vampire once more time.

"Owen…it's time."

His voice was solemn…too solemn, seemingly coming straight out of a bad movie, and in response, Owen only rolled his eyes before allowing a small smile to grace his face. He tracked over to join the turtle at the tub.

This time, it wasn't as easy for him to bend over and into the tub, the turtle's shell making him significantly bigger in form and space than that of Centrice, but with a few choice adjustments, Owen soon found himself right back underneath the faucet just like before.

However, as it turned out, that was the only similarity between that morning and now.

This time, the experience proved arduous.

Michelangelo's hands were too rough and thick for him to really enjoy it, not to mention his ministrations weren't nearly as soft as Centrice's, but instead were hard, rough, and almost painful.

Owen cringed as Mike went thorough his hair, but blinked when Mike seemed to freeze, stopping entirely.

Owen froze as well…Was he finished? Was this it? Was it finally over?

However, behind him, Mike squashed all of Owen hopes, sighing before speaking out for the first time since washing Owen's hair.

"I think…"He stated dejectedly, "It's time to call Centrice."

Centrice stretched as she left the cramped bathroom, happy for the newfound air space and personal area that came with leaving.

With one person in the bathroom, it was more cozy than cramped…but with three people in there, one being an energetic turtle and the other being a six-foot tall vampire… Cramped was definitely the word.

But even though she was still worried about what she had left behind, she justified leaving with the excuse of getting a quick snack.

A very quicksnack.

She wouldn't dare leave Michelangelo alone with that head of hair longer than absolutely necessary.

So in order to ensure that Owen get well taken care of she had to eat now and fast. Wasting no more time with credentials, Centrice quickly made her way to the kitchen, only to find it already occupied.

Raph and Leo looked up in greetings from their previous conversation.

"Yo' Centrice."

"Hey, long time no see. How's the makeover coming along?"

Centrice flopped down into the empty chair, right between the reading Leonardo and the eating Raphael. They watched in slight wonder as she quickly helped herself to one of the quickly diminishing slices of pizza currently occupying the table.

Pizza…with pepperoni, her favorite.

Meanwhile, between rushed and hurried bites, she responded.

"Well, there was a few…technical difficulties…but it's nothing we can't handle."

Leo and Raph stopped what they were doing just to watch Centrice in mild fascination as she finished the rather big slice of pizza before she could even finish talking.

A Record by far, even by Mike's standards.

"…Hungry?"

Raph could only stare as Centrice shoved the last bit of crust into her mouth before getting up without another word. "Hey…where ya going?!" Was all he could muster, but it seemed it was all lost to her.

She was already out of the room.

At her sudden and unexplained departure, he turned to Leonardo only to find that his brother's eyes was already on him, and like always, an explanation already on his breath.

"She probably had to hurry back…you know Mikey when he's left alone…"

Leo trailed off, there being no need to explain then as he picked up his newspaper once again and resumed reading.

Raphael only nodded, picking up his slice as well, allowing a relative silence to fill the kitchen once more as they both went back to their tasks.

However, they silence did not last long, the both of them jumping as a sudden noise echoed through the lair….seemingly coming from the bathroom.

"Boogady-Boogady!"

"Ahhh!"

After looking at each other, they both smiled before turning back to their former tasks…only to have Centrice come back in, her pace laid back and steady.

"Looks like I didn't make it." She stated absentmindedly, plopping herself back down into the spare chair.

Raph blinked, as did Leo.

"No duh!" They stated in unison, Leo never looking up from his paper, Raph never looking up from his pizza. Centrice sighed, finally able to relax. She had been rushing to try to prevent Mike from traumatizing Owen, but since it seemed that that was now over with, she might as well relax.

Damage like that just couldn't be undone.

So, with one more sigh of tranquility, she reached for another slice of pizza only to be startled from her peace by yet another sound.

"Uh, Centrice. I need your helllp!"

Mike's wine was undeniable and with yet another sigh she stood, abandoning the food she had yet to eat.

Meanwhile, Raph and Leo snickered from their respective spots at the table.

"Looks as if you're needed after all…"

Centrice growled.

Leo and his comments…Raph and his snickers…

They'll get theirs…

"Yoo-Hoo! Centrrriiiiccceee! I neeed youuuu!"

More laughter, more snickering, more angry thoughts...

Swallowing her pride, she left the laughing pair only to make her way to the bathroom, turned prison, turned labor camp.

"I need a vacation…" She muttered to herself. Her feet ached, her hands hurt, not to mention her strained back…she was in pain. Meanwhile, though, her mind only smiled before responding.

'But…you are on vacation.'

Centrice paused then, only to resume at the conformation.

Her mind was right, she was on vacation, or at least,

That's what she told her job…

"Crud. Some vacation…"

Mike looked at the hair in his hands, panic on his breath as he washed more and more of the dye out only to reveal more and more of the mess that lay underneath.

He froze, not really knowing what to do.

However, his hesitation did not go unnoticed.

"Is something wrong, Michelangelo?"

Owen peeked up from the stream of black water in hopes of looking into Michelangelo's face and maybe getting some answers as to what was wrong, but as it was, his attempt failed instantly. Well…more like it failed before it even began.

Before he could turn, or even breathe, Michelangelo was already at the door.

"Uh, Centrice. I need your helllp!"

And in response, Owen closed his eyes.

It seemed that the fates had officially heard his earlier pleas…

And declined.

Meaning, his day had officially gotten worse.

"Yoo-Hoo! Centrrriiiiccceee! I neeed youuuu!"

And the Fates were mocking him because of it.

"Mikey! What did you do?!"

Centrice's voice boomed in Owen's ear, leaving him cringing, but not as much as Michelangelo.

Actually, Michelangelo cringed in fear, not pain. But whatever he cringed in, it left him backing away from the pair, eyes wide as watched on in relative silence.

Meanwhile Centrice thoroughly examined the damage.

Owen sat in a static silence, more or less induced by the fearful turtle in sight as shedissected the mop that was his hair. Her disapproval filled the room almost instantly.

"Mike, how long did you leave it in?"

She looked over the vampire's hair and into the frightened eyes of the green beholder, and in turn, he blinked back.

"How…long?"

Well, if that had anything to do with the outcome, he was certainly screwed.

In search of a good answer, he twiddled with tails of his bandana, but still found none. He wasn't even sure what he did wrong, so he couldn't even diddle around it. So, instead, he just stated the truth, and hoped that he would live to see another day.

"Well…" He began, his bandana tails becoming more and more bunched in his hands. "I think the dye stayed in for about…oh, fifteen minutes, I guess."

He watched her evenly, not at all sure about how she would take the news, but preparing himself nevertheless. Lucky for him, it wasn't that big of a reaction.

Or at least, not as big as he was expecting.

Centrice groaned, before placing her face in her hand in exasperation.

"Mikey, did you read the directions?"

Her voice was flat, Owen observed. Flat and toneless, which seemed to do the trick. More of the orange bandana disappeared in a fist of green; Mike's fidgeting continuing as he responded.

"A little?"

Centrice smirked from behind her hand and the reference to their on running joke. However, this time, (just like every other time) 'A little' just wouldn't cut it.

"Mikey…" She looked up then, the smile never leaving her lips. It was a way to tell him that he was still wrong, but it wasn't horribly bad. And just as she hoped, he seemed to get the point well enough, the bandana tails falling from his hands and to their regular spots on his shoulder.

She eyed the newly formed wrinkles as she continued.

"If you read the directions, you would have known that the dye takes about a half an hour to set."

Mikey's mouth made an "o" before blinking in thought and understanding. Meanwhile, Centrice turned back to Owen's hair, teasing it lightly to survey the majority of the damage.

What a nightmare…

Pieces were completely black, being dyed perfectly well, while other pieces were just shades in between. And even then, some of his hair was just as white as when they started.

Totally uneven, and totally unacceptable, she made a promise…

"Owen?" She asked, and in response, he spoke for the very first time, his voice rather foreign as a result.

"Yes?"

Nevertheless, Centrice's voice was as determined as it was stern, stating the promise she was destined to keep…

"I will fix it."

Owen couldn't help but smile. Throughout the whole thing, the only thing that kept him steady and even there was the idea that in the end, she would make sure he was how he should be. And in the end…

He was right.

"So, can I help finish Owen's hair?"

Meanwhile and from the other side of the bathroom, Mike's voice was hopeful; but when Centrice shook her head, his hope took an immediate dive.

Both vampire and girl looked up and into the face of complete devastation. Completely crestfallen and immensely sad, the turtle stood, his entire demeanor expressing his complete utter melancholy.

Or at least, it did, that is until Centrice spoke.

"Mikey, you're relieved. They're eating pizza in the kitchen; go grab a slice before it's gone."

Instantly, Mike's sadness was a thing of the past as he quickly "whooped" before high-tailing it right out of the room.

Centrice grinned.

That's Michelangelo. A one-track mind, all the way.

And just as he would, even after he left the room, his thoughts still were heard.

"Pizza! Yay, you guys got…pizza-Hey, where did you get this?!"

There was a small pause in Mike's booming voice, (that was filled with the muttered sounds of someone else) before Mike's voice screeched through the lair once more.

"That was my hidden stash! I was saving it for Dinner! Raph, how could you?!"

Centrice nearly collapsed, her laughter filling the bathroom at the irony of it all.

Poor Raph. Don had told her earlier about all the events that had occurred since Owen had entered the lair.

The badgering of Raph over Mike's pizza being one of them.

It seemed that even now, Raph still couldn't catch a break. Leo had eaten the pizza too, having finished before Raphael, but still a culprit all the same, as well as Centrice. But nooo, Mikey only saw Raph, and therefore, Raph would be held responsible.

She had to admit, though, the idea of Raph being "punished" by the orange bandana-wearin' turtle left her smiling.

And as she looked down into Owen's multicolored locks, she could tell that it left him smiling as well.

Well, might as well get started.

"Hmm…it's so uneven, it definitely needs a re-dye…" She trailed off, turning to look at the half-empty bottle of black dye that remained. That would have been just the right amount to do the trick, except for the face that as time after the initial mixing; the black goop was basically… useless, leaving Owen's hair unfinished.

And Centrice unsatisfied.

There must be a way to get this all fixed, or covered up, or something?!

"Hmm, it's not too bad, maybe he can just wear a baseball cap or somethin-" However, she didn't get to finish her thought for a new thought dawned on her just as quickly.

And in the spur of the moment, it was that same thought that lead her away from Owen, and to the nearly forgotten bags at the door.

She should have thought of it sooner!

That dye hadn't been the only one they bought. Yeah, she had bought the black dye, but that didn't keep Mikey from finding other options. Bright red, purple, and orange colors inhabited Mikey's bag; there being almost every color in the rainbow, actually.

At the time, she scolded Mikey, telling him that Owen probably wouldn't be caught dead in any of those colors. But being Mikey, he still continued to buy them, despite her discouragement.

However, now, she was rather glad that he had continued to buy them, despite her words.

No, the oranges hues and purple mixes still wouldn't work on Owen, they never would, but she did see at least one color that would work…and it might just be the solution they needed…

She found the box, and with a wide grin, she held it to the light.

Oh yeah, this was it.

Meanwhile, Owen watched from his chair, puzzled as to how Centrice was going to fix their "little" problem, but confident that she would find a way.

However, as he continued to observe her, it seemed that the solution was a little less than…expected.

"Midnight-Blue?"

Centrice turned then, only to come face to face with the vampire in question.

It was funny, he didn't sound that close when he spoke, but there he was nevertheless…

He took as step back then from reading over Centrice shoulder, not really giving her sudden turn a second thought. Besides, what she was holding seemed to be way more interesting.

"So you think that will do the trick?"

His voice was questioning, and genuinely intrigued. This was all very new to him, he never having the experience of anything like this in his long life. So in a way, it seemed like an adventure all in itself.

The 'exciting' adventure of hairdressing…

And he could tell, Centrice felt the same way.

"I think this might work, Owen. You know, this might just come out better than I thought!"

She hurriedly pushed him back, making him stumbled backwards for a moment or two before falling into the chair he had all but grown accustomed to.

Meanwhile, she continued, opening the box as a newly found excitement filled her eyes.

"Well, there's only one way to find out."

"So she kicked you out?"

Leo raised an eyebrow.

In reality, he was not at all surprised at the outcome, but he dare not let Mikey know that. He was already upset about his consumed pizza; therefore, it was a good idea not to upset him more…

Or else, they would never hear the end of it.

Now, Mikey flopped down and into the chair Centrice had occupied only moment's earlier, his eyes still set on 'glare.' Destination: Raphael.

Raphael only rolled his eyes in response.

"Mike, I-"

"Ah! Raph, do not speak to me! I am not interested in conversing with Pizza Infidels! Be gone!"

Raph stared wide-eyed as Mike's green palm was suddenly thrusted into his face, mere inches from his beak at Mike's dismissal.

'What the hell?'

However, his mild shock only lasted a few moments, Raph huffing once before actually complying, getting up and stalking off. Soft muttering could be heard as he made his way to his room, something about dumb, pizza loving turtles that could use a kick in the…..then the muttering trailed off completely as the door closed behind him.

Leo blinked, finally placing down his paper, only to see that Mike still held the same stance, his hand out, his face away from the now empty seat.

Only after the "infidel" of a turtle was truly gone did he finally break his stance, turning to Leo once again as if nothing had happened.

"So, what are we supposed to do now, fearless one?"

Mike's voice was light and cheery, a giant contrast to the heavy and solemn tones he held with his brother in red. And in response, Leo only chuckled before replying, completely used to every mood swing this turtle could muster.

Hey, living with Michelangelo for twenty-three years, had its benefits after all…

"Well, I guess that after Owen is finished we just give him his clothes, and then he'll be off…"

Mike blinked.

"That's it?!"

Leo only shrugged.

"Well yeah…" He waited for Mike to sit back before revealing the rest of the plan, a small smile on his beak. "Donny's wiring job should be enough, don't you think?"

"Wiring job?" Mike was at a loss, and it showed, so with a mischievous smile Leo leaned in, revealing their ingenious plan.

"Do you remember those clothes Raph picked out, well, Donny has them now, and for good reason…"

"Are you sure he's done?"

Raph crossed his arms, leaning against the hallway's wall. He, like his other brothers, Leonardo and Michelangelo, watched the bathroom door in anticipation. Centrice, had, only moments earlier, called out saying that Owen was almost though.

Thus, calling them all to the door in wait.

However, with at the call came the alert to Donatello that the clothes were needed soon, so with one last adjustment to his "installments" he brought them out, only to meet his brothers, of whom already waited by the door.

"Hello." He greeted simply before joining them in wait. Raphael did not speak but chose instead to move over, allowing Donatello a spot on the wall as well.

Now with Donatello, all of them was there, Leonardo kneeling next to the bathroom's doorframe while Mike all-out sat on the other side. Donatello and Raphael inhabited the other wall, both leaning nearly identical to each other, except for the fact that Donny held the dark clothing.

As a result, this was the scene Centrice was welcomed to when she finally reopened the door, and in response, she raised an eyebrow.

"What are you guys doing?"

At the sudden speech, all four of them looked up before straitening, Donatello taking the liberty of handing her the dark materials, of which she received with a small smile.

"This was what I was going to ask you guys about, but like always, you guy are already a step ahead."

She gave the bunch one more weary eye before turning back, seemingly delivering the clothes to the vampire himself. A muttered 'thank you' was heard, only to be followed by a feminine 'you're welcome.'

And with that, Centrice left the bathroom only to run into the turtles once more.

"What are you guy's doing?" She asked for a second time. The first time had been overall justified, the bunch being there for the purpose of delivering the clothes (although why they were all there, was beyond her.) But now they had no excuse.

Other than the obvious.

However, and just as always, Michelangelo was the first one to come up with a suitable excuse.

"Awaiting the reemergence of ET! Donny's calculations show that he will reappear in this very spot!"

Scratch 'Suitable.' Try Retarded.

All eyes turned to Michelangelo, who only shrugged.

"Hey, at least I tried, what were you guys' excuses?!" He folded his arms, as Centrice only rolled her eyes.

"Right, well, whatever. You guys move it! He'll be out in a second, so wait in the den if you are still moved to."

She shooed the turtles away from the doorway, but was suspired to see that they actually listed to her, each one of them getting up from their relative spots only to shuffle into the Den.

She followed, her eyebrows knit at their actions.

Something was up, and she would make sure to get to the bottom of it.

"What are you guys up to? Really, I know you guys. Something's up. So spill it!"

Newly relocated, the turtles resided in the Den, making themselves comfortable at various parts of the living quarters. From his spot now on the long couch, Donatello sighed. He knew Centrice was just too smart to let something like this bypass her.

But would her knowledge of their simple but complicated plan jeopardize the entire thing?

"I'm waiting…."

He hoped not.

With a deep breath, Donny sighed, but spoke, his voice calm and collected. He would let Centrice in on it. Besides, it wasn't as if he had a choice at this point now anyway.

"Well, you know those clothes Raph picked out?"

Centrice nodded, her angered stance relaxing to one of conception and then complete understanding as her mind put two and two and two together, and indeed, she got six.

Donatello almost blinked.

Almost.

It seemed that even without his explanations, she was still able to figure it all out.

Her next words all but confirmed the fact.

"So, he's bugged?"

Don nodded in conformation. "Exactly."

But she wasn't finished. With a raised eyebrow, she continued.

"And you don't want him to know about it."

This time it was a statement, not a question.

She was past questions at this point.

"That would be preferable."

Leo spoke up from his spot behind the couch, of which he was currently leaned against; head down, arms crossed. But now, he looked up, turning his head to face the imposing Centrice, eye almost stern, but not quite.

Basically, it was an order, but not so much of an order that Leo had to impose is "Leadership" to demand it. Just a silent plea to keep it quiet, hence his eyes.

Well, whatever, it was, Centrice listened and understood, giving Leo a small nod of agreement before moving to sit next to her significant other, not having seen him for basically what felt like the entire day.

However, the sound of an opening door cut off any movement she could have hoped to accomplish as well as all of the movement in the room.

Donatello looked up, his eyes wide in anticipation and likewise Leo turned questioning eyes to the archway as well. Raphael, from his spot in the easy chair, only sat up, his eyes also on the den's opening in anticipation.

However, the biggest reaction seemed to come from the "youngest" turtle, his seat just happening to be on the floor next to the easy chair. At the sound, Michelangelo's entire body seemed to go ridged as his face broke out into the biggest smile possible. Before anyone could even blink, Mike had his hand to his mouth, his whistle already echoing in the entire lair.

"Yoo-Hoo, in here, O'! Oww! Geez! Raph, what was that for?!"

Mike's hand immediacy checked to see if he was bleeding, the flick to forehead, hurting more that he would have liked to admit. Raph snickered from his spot in the Easy boy, obviously pleased with the current events.

"Call it payback, Pizza boy…"

Raph trailed off as footsteps approached the archway only moments before the figure truly appeared.

A figure that none of them actually recognized.

'Korn' inhabited the youth's short-sleeved black shirt, the white letters slashed against black, which seemed to be the only coloration on his clothes. The rest of his outfit consisted of a simple wide-legged black pants, of which, covered his shoes completely as he walked.

However, that did not complete the ensemble.

Around his waist was a silver chain that ran through various loops before hanging lax on his side. As a result, it jingled when he moved. A various amount of other "jewelry" also inhabited his body. Studded black bands circling each wrist in black and silver, while a single large black studded band inhabited his neck as well, joining up with the silver necklace that already resided there.

A rather large pendent hung from his neck in beauty and blaze, the colors and shape of the pendent making it the most complicated piece of jewelry over all. The pendant itself, (another piece from Michelangelo's "bag-o-goodies") hung on a small silver chain, which in turn, accented the silver in the pendent as well.

An orb of blue, yellow, and purples inhabited that pendant, seemingly swirled around like the world itself, the silver around it holding it like space as it should.

While looking through the bag, the pendent itself seemed to be the first thing that caught his eye, and as such, he couldn't help but put it on.

Especially since it seemed to tone with his hair so well.

Blue.

That's what it was, well, mostly.

Where the black dye had failed to take, the blue dye took over, thus giving his hair a sort of "opaque" effect. In certain light, the entire thing could have been mistaken for both, black or blue, but in reality, it was both black and blue.

Which, he would admit, he rather liked.

And if that wasn't enough, the hairstyle Centrice cut it into was enough to change anyone's appearance, or at least in his opinion anyways. Still rather long, it stood straight into the hair only to have a few uncooperative pieces fall gracefully into his face and eyes.

But only a few, which suit him just fine, he noticed.

Now, transformation complete, Owen stood before the judge and jury; their reaction sought out and waited for.

And like he thought he would, their "Reactions" were immediately received.

"Holy Crap!"

"Wow, what a change!"

"You look totally unrecognizable!"

"Dude! You look awesome!"

However, despite the others, Leonardo still was silent. Sensing his seriousness, the others fell silent as well, all eyes on him as he pushed himself off of the couch in order to get a good look at the vampire before him. He walked up to Owen, circling him completely in silent contemplation, and in turn, Owen watched him. That is until Leo completed his circle.

Meeting Owen's gaze fort he first time.

Owen kept his Leonardo's gaze, not one to back down in a stare down, but still curious as to what Leo was getting at.

That is until Leonardo suddenly…grinned.

The lair was sent into uproar, Michelangelo's "whoops" filling everyone's ears, but only after Leo statement of conviction and blessing.

"He is ready."

-

OK, Yay! That's over with. This is the end of this part, Ladies and Gents, but there is more to come (hard to explain, look at my Info page for info, it's all explained there) But don't worry, we're on the home stretch. The end is coming up very soon, and that "End" will be under the Name, "Blood Lust: The Symphony's Coda" and that will be that! Look out, it's coming soon! R and R in the meantime though! Hehe!

Oh, also another note.

I am leaving…tonight actually (well, tomorrow morning depending on how you look at it) For Wisconsin, and I will be gone for an entire week. Because of this, I have decided to post this chapter before I would have liked too. I needed to get to bed, so I didn't get a chance to do a final "proofread" before posting. So any mistakes or such you found during you read I am sorry for. If you want, you can leave me a note in your reviews of the errors found, and I will get to correcting them as soon as I get back. Thank you :)