FrozenWolfHeart22... I am not good with hiatus's...

I wanted to be able to create a backlog of chapters so that y'all were not necessarily waiting on me to finish writing a chapter before I published it. HOWEVER... I WANT Y'ALL TO KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT! I will enjoy the mini hiatus I have created for myself and share this next bit. I am working on some REALLY fun stuff! :)

I'll also admit that I had a slightly harder time writing the front end of this chapter. I'll tell y'all what I WANTED to put in, but took out because it was causing too much writer's block:

I wanted April and Raph to do another one of their 'Airbending' cool downs or to not have time to do one of 'their things' that would ultimately lead to a conversation about how even though April and Donnie have grown closer as a result of their budding relationship, she still makes time to do things with her brothers.

Sorry that couldn't be included, but know that intent is still sprinkled through out the story!

(Also also FWH22: You got all the references to the Salt Water stuff several chapters ago. Sorry I never posted it!)

Enjoy!

June 8, 2012

Splinter stood before the massive tree in the dojo, eyeing the two teens circling each other for their sparring session. Mikey, Leo, and Raph sat kneeling off to the side. Donnie twirled his bo staff, smirking at the girl across from him.

"Don't go easy on me, Dee." April readied her tessen.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

Splinter straightened. "Hajime!" He barked.

The duo lunged for each other. Donnie shifted his grip on the bo staff, swinging it like a bat. April rolled under the attack. She blocked Donnie's backward bo jab with her tessen. They spun, Donnie's shell pressed up against April's back for the briefest moment. Donnie took advantage of their position by swatting April's legs from beneath her. She squeaked as he caught her.

"Still falling for me?" Donnie winked.

April rolled her eyes as she flicked his snoot. "Always."

Donnie leaned in further and that was when April struck. She launched herself backwards over his arm, twisting his hold on the bo staff until he was trapped between it and her chest.

"I thought I told you not to go easy on me," She sniggered as he tapped out.

The boy rose, both hands holding his lower back. "How'd you expect me to harm someone as lovely as you?"

"GROSS!" Mikey yelled, effectively ruining the mood. Donnie glared at his younger brother.

Splinter bit back a chuckle as the couple rejoined the others. "You have all done well today. However, Donatello, I would remind you that 'going easy' on April will help neither of you in the long run."

Donnie lowered his head at his father's remark. "Hai, Sensei." He muttered. He looked up as April nudged his leg with her own. She offered him a soft smile, but returned her attention to Splinter as he ceased his pacing in front of her.

"You are all dismissed. And Dear One… you might want to hurry." He suggested with a chuckle.

April glanced at her watch before doing a double take. "Whoa! I gotta get cleaned up for work! Mr. Murakami promised to teach me some of the kitchen stuff today after my shift!" The girl leapt to her feet, running out of the dojo. Before too long, April was clean and getting ready to make the trek topside. As usual, Donnie was sitting atop the turnstile waiting for her.

"You know I gotta go, Donnie." April chided, moving to push past him with a smile. He trailed behind her, the turnstiles clicking.

"I know you're running behind, so I thought I'd get you there on the Turtle Express." The boy scooped April into his arms before passing her onto his back. Her giggles were music to his ears as he sped through the tunnels to the manhole cover closest to the Murakamis' noodle shop.

She slid from his shell as they arrived at the ladder. "Thanks for the ride, Dee! We made good time. I even have a couple minutes to stop in the thrift store and see if they have anything new." April gripped the ladder rung just above her head, pivoting back to the turtle. "Want me to keep an eye out for anything while I'm there?"

"I'm good for now. Thanks for asking though." Donnie stopped April from climbing the ladder by taking her hand into his own. Having recaptured her attention, he smiled. "I love you."

The girl beamed, squeezing his hand in return. "I love you too, Donnie." April leaned in to give him a brief kiss. "I'll see you guys tonight."

April almost didn't want to go to work as the boy turned to leave, but managed to haul herself up the ladder into daylight. She peeked around the corner of the noodle shop to make sure no one would notice her emerging from the empty alley. The girl waved to Mrs. Murakami through the shop's front window, indicating that she would be in for her shift shortly.

Pushing a large bundle of clothes along the rack, April held a shirt up for inspection. Ever since she started making her own money at Mr. Murakami's shop, she enjoyed picking out her Christmas gifts for her family throughout the year. That way there were more options than purely 'Christmas' themed items and allowed her to spread the cost over several months. Currently, she held a long sleeved, two-toned, watercolor tye-dyed shirt that would be perfect for Mikey! It was missing something though…

April surveyed the rest of the store until her eyes lit upon a table full of knit beanies. She scurried over. This would complete the look for sure!

"But which one?" She mumbled, rummaging through the selection. Normally she would just go with the turtle's signature color, however Mikey's orange didn't quite go with the shirt. April bit her lip. A hand suddenly offered up a deep purple beanie, laying it against the shirt.

"What about this one?"

April looked up to see a girl dressed in a baseball hat, a long red sweater, and black leggings shyly offering up the hat. She glanced back at the offering.

"I wouldn't normally choose this color for this person, but the combination is perfect! Thanks."

"No problem." The girl pointed at the pins affixed to the strap of April's bag. "I see you like Broadway."

April examined her bag strap, trying to remember which pins she had put on this week. She had a pin that simply said Broadway, along with others for shows she had seen with Donnie.

"Yeah! My boyfriend took me to see The Little Mermaid when it opened. I've been hooked ever since. Actually, he told me that was the night he knew he loved me." April smiled dreamily at the memory.

"Aw!" The girl cooed. "That's so cute! My 'gateway show' was Wicked. I would go and see it whenever my dad would come to New York for business. Now that I've moved here, I'll have to go see it more!"

April shifted her items to a more comfortable position. "For sure! When'd you move?"

"Just a couple of months ago. I'm still getting used to the city." The girl's face brightened. "Okay - question. Whether it's been on stage or a movie adaptation, what's the weirdest show you've seen?"

The red-head tapped her chin. "That's GOTTA be Shrek The Musical. My boyfriend and I went to go see it before it closed down in 2010, but it was beautifully weird!" She snickered. "I've got to say that the guy that played Donkey was way more entertaining than Eddie Murphy was in the original movie!"

The girl shook her head. "Man, I wish I could've seen it."

"I've heard that they may release a pro-shot of it soon."

"That would be cool!"

"For sure!" April reached into the pocket of her jeans as she felt her phone vibrate. Her eyes widened at the sight of the time. "Shoot! I'm gonna be late for work!" She paused, turning back to the girl. "Hey… if you're not doing anything, can I treat you to lunch? I work just next door at Murakami's. I'd love to geek out more over Broadway with you."

The girl shrugged. "My afternoon's wide open."

April stuck out her hand. "Name's April."

The girl extended her hand to shake. "Karai."

xXx

The bell tinkled over the door as April and Karai walked in. "Hey, Murakami-san. I'm here!" April ran to the back to throw her stuff into the employee break area. "This is my friend Karai. We met next door. Anything she gets today is on me. Where would you like me to start today?"

The older man gestured to the ingredients laying on the counter. "I'm starting a new batch of the Special. Would you like to learn how?"

"Really?" April squealed. "I thought you were going to show me after my shift!"

"I thought you could try your first batch on your new friend here." Murikami grinned at Karai as she took a seat at the counter, having taken off her baseball hat. "Kon'nichiwa, my dear."

"Kon'nichiwa." Karai responded with a bow of her head.

"Ā, anata wa utsukushiku hanashimasu! Doko de manabimashita ka?" [Oh, you speak beautifully! Where did you learn?]

"Watashi wa Nihon de sodachimashita. Watashi wa chichi kara manabimashita." [I grew up in Japan. I learned from my father.]

Murakami stroked his chin. "U ̄n. Nan'nen mo mae ni, Nihon de kare no kako kara hashitte iru hito ga sono hijō ni koshikake ni suwatte imashita. Nani kara nigete iru nda,-ko?" [Hm. Many years ago, a man running from his past in Japan sat in that very stool. What are you running from, child?]

Karai's face grew red. Before she could respond, April leaned against the counter.

"Would you like to try my first Pizza Gyozas, Karai?"

"Wait, this is the place that sells the pizza gyoza?" Karai blinked. "My boyfriend loves those!"

"Well here is one while you wait." Murakami slid a plate of gyoza in front of the girl. "That way you can let April know how hers compare," He winked.

Karai grinned. She bowed her head and clasped her hands. "Itadakimasu." She murmured before skewering one of the dumplings. "WOW! Best dumpling ever! I gotta tell Leo I finally tried one." She went back in for another.

April whirled around from her place at the stove. "Wait… Leo?"

Karai blinked, slowly nodding. She swallowed before speaking. "Yeah. My boyfriend - Leo. He told me about a family friend who makes the best pizza gyoza. He told me that he'd bring me here sometime, but I guess I beat him to it." She leaned back as April crept closer, trepidation in her eyes.

"Hamato Leo?"

Karai's face went pale. "H-how do you know Leo?"

"He's my brother…" April leapt over the counter to sit in the stool next to Karai. "I thought your name sounded familiar! I just thought you two had the same name!"

The black-haired girl shook her head. "Nuh uh. No way. He never mentioned having a sister. And, don't take this the wrong way, but…" Karai looked the red-head up and down. "You're not a turtle."

April shrugged. "No offense taken. His dad, Splinter, adopted me when I was four."

"How'd that happen?" Karai tilted her head. "Leo told me the whole batch of them mutated years ago, including Splinter; though he won't tell me what..."

"I don't think you'll believe me. It's kinda crazy…"

Karai cocked an eyebrow. "Try me, Red."

April squinted at the nickname she'd only ever heard from the guys before sighing. "Fine. But I warned you. My parents were killed by these aliens called the Kraang. Splinter found me and I've been with them ever since." She pounded Karai on the back as she began choking on the piece of gyoza she had just eaten. "Hey, are you okay?"

"H-hang on," Karai coughed. "April… April O'Neil?"

April's hand stilled. She stood from her seat at the counter. "How did you know that? No one knows that except the-"

"I gotta go." Karai grabbed her bag and made a break for the exit. April ran to cut her off.

"Karai, wait!" She grabbed the black-haired girl's arm. "How do you know my birth name?"

"You don't understand!" Karai's breathing came out ragged. "If we're seen together and I don't drag you outta here unconscious, Shredder and the Kraang will have both our heads!"

That shocked her. "What does Shredder want with me?"

Karai looked around, panicked. "He and the Kraang teamed up a couple months back. They're giving him mutants in exchange for his manpower to track you down."

"What?"

"Keep up, O'Neil!" Karai snapped. "For now, get home and stay there. Stay close to the guys. Keep your head down." She wrenched her wrist from April's grasp, disappearing into the night.

April stood in the doorway to the shop barely breathing. "Murakami-san? I think I need to head home early…"

WOW! Did you guys expect that?

I do have a question... I'm looking for a BETA/ editor to maybe read through OUADN to see if there are any mistakes I've made in my haste to crank out and post these chapters/ see if there's a way to improve some of the scenes where I feel like they're lacking. If there is anyone who would be up for the task, PLEASE feel free to send me a PM!