I made my way into the skyscraper, just being there kind of made me feel more safe and secure from the intense emotions that I was feeling, but I feared that Master Saki would want to see me. I mean Casey attacked me in front of my friends so I am sure my master would have found out. I knew what Master Saki's feeling were towards the turtles and I knew he would be very angry with me if he found out that I had spoken with them. I walked down the hallway on the 40th floor where my room was located. It was a very nice, quiet floor. My room was great! Very spacious! Almost better than my old room! No it WAS better than my old room! The bed was very soft and huge! I had a 6 CD stereo system in my room that Hun had given to me along with tons of CDs of bands of which I really enjoyed. I did miss listening to Delerium, but I knew that it wouldn't look right to everyone else around me so I was stuck with Mudvayne, Fear Factory, and Mushroomhead. Bands I didn't really mind at all, but anymore, on how I was feeling, they weren't really bands I wanted to listen to so I mostly kept to myself in my room. I approached the door, but suddenly a foot ninja approached me. It was what I had dreaded; Master Saki wanted to see me. So I sighed and followed the foot ninja into the private elevator to head up to the top floor where Master Saki's dojo was.

Oddly enough when I walked inside the room I noticed that Hun was nowhere to be seen. This kind of confused me because I had noticed that Hun and Saki seemed to be close. But now Hun wasn't there. I think this really threw me off because I was kind of startled when Saki called out my name. I approached him and sat down on the floor before him on my knees, which I have noticed that many foot ninjas have done. "Where were you?" He asked me, his dark eyes right on me. For a moment, I felt a cold chill go down my spine. "Hun told me that a group that you were in was attacked by that vigilante that is an ally with the turtles."

"Nowhere, Master. I was safe," I said kind of in a low tone, not really wanting to discuss the matter. I kept my eyes down to the floor, trying not to look at his judging face. I heard him get up from where he was sitting and walked over to the windows.

"You were with them," He said in a cold tone. "Weren't you?"

I looked up and now his back was to me. His hands were holding one another behind his back and he seemed to be looking out the window. I clenched my teeth and hesitated on to answer. I knew if I told him the truth that it may put my friend in danger. I didn't want any harm come to Lea. But I knew if I lied to him that it may make the situation worse plus I knew he could tell if I was lying or not, so lying wouldn't really have done any good. "Yes, Master, I was…"

I heard a growl come out of Saki's mouth as he turned quickly around and faced me. "How DARE you defy me!" He roared, he started to walk towards me. "After everything that I have DONE for you!"

My heart was pounding hard and I felt tears were going to my eyes. I never once in my life liked to be yelled at. It has always bothered me. When my dad use to get upset at me and raise his voice with me, I always wanted to cry. I guess sometimes I am sensitive. I looked away from him, my eyes back to the floor. I could feel them growing hot as tears wanted to flow out onto my cheeks. "I am sorry, Master Saki…. My friend Lea…" I choked some. I felt myself breaking down. Everything that I had bottled inside me was pouring out. "She's friends with them, Master. She keeps trying to make me stay close to them, but I try not to, Master. I keep running away from her, but I don't want to lose my friendship with her," I said as my voice shook some, I could feel some tears streaming down my cheeks.

That's when I heard the tone of Saki's voice go back down once again. I looked up at him. He was actually smiling again some! Why was he smiling at me? "Melinda, I am very proud of you. Unfortunately your friend has fallen prey to their deceitful lies. Please understand that I am trying to help you. Are you not happy staying where you are at the moment?"

"I am, Master…" I said softly.

"That is good to hear. Hun has told me that you have made some friends with his group and you seem to be quiet happy being with them. Melinda, the turtles are evil. I wouldn't lie to you about this. They have attacked many innocent people. Hun told me that they attack some of people from his group. Your friend Tina was attacked just because of the way she looks, the turtles thought she looked like one of your criminals just because of her outfit. They don't really care for you at all or your friend. They are just using you to get close into the Purple Dragons and to me." Saki paused as if he was waiting for me to take everything in. I sat there, looking down at the floor with my eyes wide. I couldn't believe what he was saying! Then he spoke up again, "Melinda, that turtle that you claim may have some sort of feelings for you. Describe him for me." He walked over to where he was originally sitting and sat down in front of me.

"Well I don't know much about him, but he does wear a purple bandana and he seems to be very quiet." I said and then closed my eyes. I felt a great pain in my heart as I spoke about Donatello. I could see an image of his face in my head.

"Aww, yes. The quiet one, I figured that would be him," Saki said.

I looked up at him in bewilderment. "What do you mean?"

Saki shook his head sadly and then looked back at me. "That is the same one who upset Tina about a year ago."

"Huh?" I said in almost complete shock. I felt a bit of anger deep down inside my chest.

"He played the same trick with Tina about a year ago. He told her that he had feelings for her, and then denied her months later. Believe me, I am trying to help you for your own good. Tina was devastated by this, I do not want this to happen to you," Saki replied. I felt like crying right there and then, but I held deep down inside me. There was a long moment of silence in the room after he said this to me. I really wanted to cry. I was so angry inside…I could feel the nails digging into my skin as I balled my fists! HOW DARE HE DO THIS TO ME! I KNEW IT! Donatello never loved me! I was so blind to think this! Finally Saki spoke up again. "Melinda, do you practice martial arts?"

This question kind of threw me off, but it kind of gotten my mind off of Donatello. "I use to, but I did take fencing in my senior year in college."

"As you may know, I do train people in the martial arts. If you are interested I would be honored to train you. I am sure you would be an excellent fighter yourself," He said as he arose from his sitting position and walked over to a foot ninja who was standing in the corner holding a pillow in his hands with a cover over it. I didn't even notice the guy earlier.

"I guess I could try," I said.

"I have a present for you," Saki said as the foot ninja took the cover off. Saki picked up 2 small weapons and walked back over to me. " I had these specially made for you if you decided to train in martial arts and become part of my clan." He held out the weapons. They were 2 metal silver sais with black and fuchsia wrappings. My eyes went wide. I have always had a thing for weapons and these were beautiful!

"I-I can have these?" I asked as I admired the 2 sais.

"These are yours," Saki smiled. I reached over and took the sais from them. They felt not too heavy or not too light! "I am sure you will learn well with them."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door to Saki's dojo and Hun entered. He seemed to be having an urgent message. He walked over to Saki and looked at me. Saki walked away from me over with Hun to another spot in the room to talk. I couldn't hear what was being said, but I watched with interest. Moments later, Saki walked back with me. "You must excuse me, Melinda. I have business to attend to."

"You can go back to the club if you like." Hun said, smiling to me. "I think your friends have been looking for you. I'll put your sais back in your room. Why don't you go on now?"

"Alright," I said, looking at them kind of confused, but I tried not to think too much about it.

"Oh wait!" Hun called after me. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black handgun and held it in the palm of his hand. My eyes went wide! I never had seen a handgun that close. "Take this with you. Just in case you run into that masked vigilante or those freaks again. It's loaded so be careful." He instructed me as he pointed to the safety switch. I nodded and gently took the gun from him and put it in my jacket pocket.

I walked down the busy darkened streets of Manhattan. I decided that I really didn't want to take the subway over to Brooklyn that in fact I would walk. I knew that Lea would be angry if she knew that I was out walking around in the dark in the big city by myself. I made my way towards the southeastern portion of Manhattan Island where South Side Street Port was and the Brooklyn Bridge. I hurried as I walked down one side street towards the bridge, but suddenly I felt someone grab my shirt and pull me almost off of my feet into the alley. I was kind of scared by this so I jerked some, my hand going towards my jacket pocket where my gun was but when I saw whom it was, I stopped struggling. It was Leonardo.

"Leo!" I asked, my eyes were wide. He put his finger to his mouth to signal me to be quiet and motioned for me to follow him towards the middle portion of the alley so that way people wouldn't hear or see us. I watched him for a moment, a bit hesitant on following, but I did anyways. When I reached to where he was, he spoke up again.

"So…care to explain yourself?" He crossed his arms and looked right at me.

"About what?" I asked, kind of confused on his matter.

"On why you left again? And where Lea is?"

"I don't know where Lea is…"

"She LEFT with you…so obviously you MUST know where she is?" He said, the tone of his voice raising.

"She didn't LEAVE with me, Leo."

"She never caught up with you?"

"No…" I said, I saw a huge wave of dread go over his face when I said this. "Why? Is she missing or something?"

Leo closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "I don't believe this…where did you go!"

I remained quiet and just looked at him. I was kind of shocked that Lea was missing, but I knew that he was trying to blame me for her disappearance. "Answer me!" Leo screamed.

"Look! It's none of your damned business!"

"Your FRIEND is missing and MAY be in trouble. Does that EVEN bother you!"

I was about to answer, but then I heard my cell phone ringing. I groaned as I pulled my cell phone from my pocket and checked the number. It was T calling me. I knew they must have wondered where I was. I sighed and looked at Leo. "Look, Leo. I have to go now. I'll look for Lea later." I hated to be so mean to Lea, but after hearing what Saki told me, I didn't want to deal with the problem with Leo or any of his brothers. I started to walk away from him, but I felt him grab my arm.

"No, you are coming with me right now," Leo glared at me. I could see the anger in his eyes. I sighed and turned my cell phone off and put it into my jacket.

Leonardo led me down into the sewer to wherever he was taking me! I don't know! I can't believe they live in the sewer! It was the grossest thing in my entire life! I had asked him where he was taking me and he said that I would see, but I didn't say anything else. He led me to this lighted up area of the sewer tunnels. "Hey, everybody. Come here, please," He said as he walked into the lighted area. I followed him. The place was huge! It almost looked very decent to be in the sewers! There were several little entrances on a top floor with some at the bottom level. There seemed to be some sort of pond in the middle. To one side on a ledge were several monitors hooked together with couches in front. This place looked almost so serene and calm and light that it made me kind of be less tense. I saw Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo walking out towards where Leonardo and I were followed by their Sensei.

"Whoa! You brought her here!" Michelangelo exclaimed, he looked at Leo with large eyes.

"Yeah! Are you nuts?" Raph asked kind of angrily as he looked at me. I caught Don's glance and quickly looked away, trying to keep myself hidden behind Leonardo.

Leonardo let out a sigh and said, "It was the only way we can get her to talk."

I watched Leonardo walk over and sit down on the floor. I felt kind of bad, he looked like he was deeply troubled about something. He looked very hurt inside as if he had lost something so valuable to him that it seemed to mean more than life itself. Was he worried about Lea? Was that what was troubling him so much? I frowned some, he seemed to have no more interest in me, but with his own thoughts.

Raph kind of snapped my attention back over to where he was standing. He was leaning up against one of the poles, with his arms crossed glaring at me. I didn't want to face him, but I didn't want my eyes to wander, fearing that they would fall upon Donatello. "So, you're here. Now TALK to us and no running off this time."

I looked at him kind of confused. "Talk about what?"

"You know DAMN well what. Why the hell you are messing with those Purple Dragon goons? Why the hell you ARE hanging around with Saki and Hun!" Raph shouted.

"Raph," Mike protested. "Don't be so hard on her." I smiled some, seeing the forgiveness almost in Mike's eyes.

"Don't be so hard on her!" Raph screamed out. "Mike! Are you THAT dumb! She HURT my brother and she getting our shells into more trouble than we NEED to be. She's not worth it! At least her friend seems to be VERY nice to us, but Melinda seems so heartless that she acts like she doesn't give a shit about her!"

"That's enough, Raph!" Don finally spoke up. "I AM not hurt. Melinda made her choice, I can't FORCE her to do anything she doesn't want to do.

"Not hurt! Don, are you NOT thinking? Don't you dare try to defend her! Bro, you have not been well since you met her! You hardly do anything anymore! You don't focus! You don't sleep! She's dragging you down! You don't NEED her!" Raph shouted back.

My eyes went wide and I growled some. "Look! I don't NEED to be here and listen to you guys attack me." My eyes shot right to Don as I spoke. "Look I don't like or love Don. If that makes you guys happy? Okay! I DON'T LOVE HIM!" I screamed as hard as I could, my anger was boiling. All I could think of was what Saki said to me and Raphael's words. I clenched my fists and stood there, I was breathing heavy. I'll never forget the look on Don's face after I spoke. It was so painful looking that I can't even describe it. He didn't even say a word, he just turned around really hard and walked up to one of the rooms on the top level and disappear. I think at that very moment I regretted what I had said. The whole place grew quiet.

I heard Leo mutter under his breath, "Damnit, Don…"

Raphael looked at where Don went as well. His eyes and mouth were wide open, then he looked at me with his eyes narrowed to slits. "Look why you don't' you JUST get the hell out of here! And get yourself killed if you WANT! But we are DONE messing around with you! You are WORTHLESS!" Raphael screamed.

I was hurt by his words and yelled out "Fuck you!" Then I turned quickly on my heels to leave, but then I heard a voice calling out for me.

"Melinda, wait!" I turned back around, it was Master Splinter.

I looked back at him, his eyes were pleading with me as he approached me. He walked with his walking stick towards me, giving a small glare to Raphael. "Please, my child. Do not leave. Come and talk with me," He said as he started to motion for me to follow him.

"Master Splinter…" Raphael started, but Splinter shot him another glare and he grew quiet. I let out a sigh and followed the 4-foot tall humanoid rat into another room.

The room was very calm looking. It had a sliding door that resembled a Japanese door and the room was covered with candles and soft pillows. I stood in awe at his room. "Please sit…" Master Splinter motioned for me to sit in one of the pillows. I sat down and remained quiet. He then began to speak. "My child, you are filled with such emotions that you are losing control over your mind. Tell me do not be afraid to say something that you think will alarm me. I want to help you."

I let out a sigh and sat there…I started to cry. I knew what I said to Don I was regretting, but deep down inside, I couldn't make myself love him, no matter how hard I tried.

"Melinda, you are a very good person and sweet. There's nothing wrong with you despite what my son, Raphael, says. Donatello is deeply troubled over you. He cares for you a lot and has been trying to maintain your well-being. However, he knows that he can't protect you when you are with Oraku Saki. I fear that he may have your friend." Splinter let out a deep sigh. "I am not certain, but it is a possibility. Though I do not want to risk all of my sons going into that dreadful place for no reason. It is very dangerous. Melinda, though I do not wish you to set a foot in that place anymore, I fear that is our only solution. You will need Donatello's help in this. Please let him help you, he cares for you deeply. You are not forced to have feelings for him, Melinda if you do not wish it so. But I am asking you for the sake of your friend, will you work with him?"

I let out a sigh, and then nodded my head. I dreaded it, but I wanted to save Lea. I had no clue that she was in the same building. I never saw her. Why would Saki be interested in having her?

Splinter let me back out from his room to the main area again. He explained to his sons of the plan that he had in mind. Raphael had some small arguments, but Splinter has great authority over Raphael sometimes, which is kind of funny to watch! I stood there listening in on the conversation. I could tell by the sound of Don's voice that he was troubled, but I tried not to focus on it. Donatello had explained to them that he could give me some sort of camera device to take inside the building with me, which would allow him to view what was in the building. It was the only option that they had besides going into the building. I could tell by the look in Leonardo's eyes that he wanted to go with us, but Splinter quickly spoke up and said the most dreadful thing, "Donatello and Melinda are going alone. The rest of us will sit here and wait." I heard Mikey let out a whine, Raph start to grumble, and Leo let out a deep sigh, but Donatello didn't speak a word. I tried my best not to look at him.

Minutes later after I had waited on Don to get his bag, I walked with him out of the sewer back to the darkened streets towards Saki's skyscraper. The journey there was very quiet. Don and I hardly spoke a word or even made eye contact with each other. I could tell that he was hurt, but I didn't know what to say. I mean how could I talk to him about the issue if I myself was so confused by it? I led Don to an alley that was located right next to the skyscraper. Don stayed behind me and rummaged through this duffle bag that he had taken with him. "Alright, when you get inside I need you to place this preferably in one of the air duct systems if you can. I can navigate my way up the building through the ventilation shafts. Then once it is done, try to come back out if you can. I'll be waiting here for you." He said as he pulled out a small green device. It was small in shape of a turtle. I was amazed how it was a camera!

"Aww that's kind of cute, Don!" I chuckled some as I reached out to grab the camera. But when I picked up the camera…a part of our hands touched. I shivered some and felt my heart pounding faster. I shook my head trying to get the emotions out and turned back around to face the building with Don behind me. "Alright, I'm going now."

I turned the corner to leave but quickly stepped right in front of one of Saki's Elite guards. He walked towards me. His eyes were red and he I could barely see his face underneath his hat. In his hand he was carrying a double sided sword. I noticed to the back of Don and I were several of Saki's foot ninja. I quickly shoved the cam into my jeans pocket, hoping they didn't see it. I felt the elite's eyes locked onto mine as if he was trying to read my mind. Don let out a growl and took out his bo staff as he backed up some into an angle to where he could face the elite and the ninjas. I stood there…the foot ninjas seemed to have no interest in me, they closed in on Don, but the Elite stayed where he was, and his eyes were glaring at me. I trembled some and my hand went for my jacket pocket. Inside I felt the cold steel of the gun that I was carrying. My hand was shaking as I pulled it out and pushed the safety tab off of it. The Elite kept watching me. I closed my eyes some then turned around and aimed the gun towards Don. "Put your weapon down!" I yelled out…my adrenaline was pumping! I clutched the gun tighter in my hand, my other hand moving to hold onto the gun too.

Don looked at me with a confused expression, his eyes went wide as he saw the gun in my hands. "Huh?"

"I said put your weapon down now!" I clenched my teeth tighter.

"I don't believe this…you HAVE to be joking…," Don said, he held his bo staff, anger coming into his voice.

"NOW!" I screamed and pulled back some, making the gun click in place.

I knew Don heard the click. He looked at me, his eyes narrowed and he let out a growl of frustration as he tossed his bo staff onto the ground in front of my feet. I held my gun to him, but then looked back at the elite. "There you go. I brought him for Master Saki. Take him to him." The Elite looked at me one more time before bowing his head and motioned for his foot ninjas. The foot ninjas ran up to Don holding onto his arms as they pushed him towards the skyscraper entrance. The Elite followed with me behind him. I let out a sigh and put the gun back into my pocket…