They were trying to argue softly. Not that it would have made a difference if I could hear them because they were also arguing in Japanese. I hadn't moved from the spot on the floor where Raphael knocked me down. Seemed a little safer there than anywhere near Raphael and my father.

Uncle Mike, I noticed, didn't get involved in their fight. He just shook his head angrily and started shoving the blankets and other things into a bag. He looked up and smiled at me. "Here, Ren," he said tossing something to me. "Your dad brought you some clothes to change into." He walked over and fell beside me. "Can't have you meeting the family for the first time in pajamas."

I glanced at where my father and uncle stood arguing. "My dad's pretty mad."

Mike nodded slowly and grinned a little. "Yeah, Raph tends to bring out the best in everyone. Especially Leo. Don't worry about it though. They used to do this all the time." He looked at me seriously. "You know, Raphael would never hurt you."

I touched the spot on my throat where his weapon had been just a few minutes ago. "Could've fooled me."

"Yeah well, he kinda forgot who he was dealing with for a second. That you don't understand things." He chuckled. "I can't count the number of times Splinter knocked me on my butt for mouthing off to him. He probably still could."

Oh God. I couldn't handle it if Splinter were like Raphael. "Splinter is your dad. Is he your...Sensei too?" I asked hesitantly.

Michaelangelo nodded. "Sensei or teacher."

"Teacher of what?" I wasn't sure I really wanted to know. I haven't been exactly living in a bubble. I looked normal enough to attend a private school near our house and we had a television. I knew a sensei was a teacher. Usually of martial arts. And judging by Raphael's weapon, I figured that it was a martial arts weapon. But what I couldn't understand was, why all the secrecy? Some of my friends studied martial arts, although my father refused to even discuss it with me. Why was everyone so solemn about it?

And Uncle Mike deepened the mystery by whispering. "Ninjutsu. The way of the ninja."

Ninja? Those guys who ran around in black hoods? But Mike looked so.reverent that I didn't dare ask. So instead I got back to my fear of meeting Splinter. "Did Splinter you know...ever hold a.a weapon on you?"

Mike was quiet for a second as if deep in thought. "I don't remember him ever holding a sai on me. Although. his walking stick was sure lethal enough." He laughed at my concerned face, breaking the seriousness of the conversation and nudged me. "I'm kidding. Sort of. Look, Ren, the way it works is that students just don't talk back to Sensei. Ever. Period. Not unless they're prepared for the consequences."

I really didn't like being lectured by Michaelangelo who up to that point had been very nice to me. "I'm nothis student," I muttered.

"Yeah well," Mike glanced up at my father and Raphael whose argument seemed to be winding down. "Looks like that may change soon."

My father broke away from Raphael and walked towards us. "He's still a stubborn asshole," he muttered to Mike when he was close enough.

Michaelangelo chuckled and stood up. "He said the same thing about you. Nice to know some things never change." He dusted himself off and wandered over to a corner to pick up a coat and hat from the floor. I noticed Raphael was getting dressed too.

I picked the clothes up Michaelangelo had tossed me earlier. "Dad, where are we going?"

My dad pulled on his own coat and hat. "The train's dropping us off outside of the city. A friend is picking us up and taking us to Mike's apartment." He wasn't looking at me.

"Dad," I said softly. "I'm scared."

He finally faced me with guilt written all over his face. He knelt down. "I'm sorry, Ren. I know you're scared. It's a lot to face all at once. And I know you have a lot of questions." He trailed off seemingly not ready to answer them yet.

"Dad, are you a ninja?" I asked.

He nodded. "I was. I am. Although the last few years I had tried to forget some of the things I had been taught."

"What about me?" I held my breath not wanting to know. "Am I?"

"You will be, Ren," he said slowly.

My eyes narrowed angrily that he let Raphael win that argument. "What if I don't want to be?" I bit my lip remembering what Mike had said about mouthing off, but to my surprise my dad just shook his head.

"Neither of us has much of a choice, Son." He smiled. "It's not as bad as you think. But we both have a lot work to do to get caught up. Now, get dressed. It's time to go."

A few minutes later, Raphael pulled the door to the train open and jumped out. Uncle Mike followed and then lifted me down beside him. My dad followed. I heard crickets chirping nearby and the small moon offered little light in the darkened train yard.

"Where's April meeting us?" Dad asked.

"About a mile from here," Raphael answered. He walked off and the three of us followed behind. Michaelangelo was happily whistling as we plodded along. Suddenly, everyone froze, except me and I walked straight into Mike's back.

"What?' I asked quietly. I was silent. I couldn't hear anything. Even the crickets I heard earlier were quiet.

Raphael, Michaelangelo and my dad formed a circle with me in the center. Raphael pulled his weapons from his belt and I saw Mike did the same. Nunchucks. Cool. My dad had his hands curled into fists and the three of them circled around silently.

"We're surrounded," Raphael said.

"Oh shit," I whispered just before the silence was shattered and all hell broke loose.