Hello everyone! SO sorry for the late post. Real world stuff got a bit crazy this weekend and this was the earliest I could post. Hope youe enjoy the aftermath of Defy!

June 10, 2012

"Wait, wait…" Splinter brought his hand up to his head. "Karai is the Shredder's daughter?"

After returning from his rendezvous with Karai, Leo asked his father if he could speak to him in the Dojo - alone. There was a lot to talk about.

Leo shook his head. "I-I don't think so, Sensei. We got to talking and something came up. She said…" His face twisted. "She said her mother's name was Tang Shen."

Splinter's eyes widened. "No…" His breath hitched.

The boy scooted closer. "Couldn't it be possible? Karai's the age Miwa would be now, she looks a lot like Tang Shen from your photo, and she said her mother died by your hand. What if that's the lie Shredder's been feeding her all these years? To turn her against you when the time was right?" Leo's eyes followed his father as the man shuffled towards where the family shrine held the photo of him with Shen and Miwa.

"Unfortunately, that is something Oroku Saki would do. I… I never found Miwa's body…" Splinter's voice trembled. "I always assumed she perished in the fire with my beloved Shen." He picked up the photo from its shelf. "Could it be possible?" He turned back to his son. "Where is she now?"

"She left." Leo admitted. "She said she was leaving to go figure stuff out. I haven't heard from her in a couple of hours, though."

Splinter raised an eyebrow. "You have been in contact with a member of the Foot?"

Leo cringed. "Uh… yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I've been meaning to tell you about that…"

This was a development Splinter hadn't been expecting. "How long has this been going on, Leonardo?"

He wouldn't meet his father's eyes. "...about two months."

"You have been keeping this to yourself for the past two months?"

"Well… Raph and April kinda knew about it for a bit, and they both told me it was a bad idea-"

"Because it was!" Splinter whirled on his son, confliction shrouding his features. "You knew from the beginning Karai was a kunoichi under the training of a clan you knew little about. A kunoichi's greatest weapon is the power of deception. You took a risk in continuing contact with her," He sighed. "Ultimately, that risk might have paid off. I have hope for my daughter for the first time in fifteen years…"

Leo stood, slowly inching towards his father. "Thanks for understanding, Sensei. I'm glad you're not too mad." He flinched at the glare Splinter shot him.

"Who says I'm not mad?"

Splinter used his cane to sweep Leo's legs out from under him. The boy yelped as he landed on the curve of his shell. He grunted, propping his arms behind him as he sat up.

"Okay! I get that I should've told you sooner about being in contact with Karai and I'm sorry about that." Leo stood. After his latest growth spurt, he was closer to looking Splinter directly in the eye. "But, respectfully, I will not apologize for being a friend for someone who needed one. And the fact that Karai could really be Miwa? I can feel in my gut that this is legit. You're always telling us to trust our instincts, right?"

The rat regarded the young man standing before him. Leo was right. He was simply putting into practice the values and training Splinter had instilled in them. The boy acknowledged where he had gone wrong, but also stood up for what he believed was right. The pride he felt for his son in that moment swirled within him. He closed his eyes.

"I can hear the conviction behind your words, Leonardo. I am curious, though. Do you happen to have a photo of Karai?

Leo nodded, pulling his Tphone from the side pocket on his utility belt. He scrolled through his photos, finally showing his father the selfie he had taken with Karai only a couple hours before. Splinter sucked in a breath.

"She is the spitting image of her mother. Karai is Miwa." It took everything within Splinter to not collapse right there. Leo offered his shoulder for his father to lean on.

"Should we tell the guys about this, Sensei? They have a right to know…"

Splinter nodded. "You are right, my son. Let us go inform the family."

xXx

It had been a long while since Splinter had called a family meeting. Donnie and April sat snuggled together on the couch, Donnie's arm draped over the back of the couch behind her as April rubbed sleep from her eyes. Raph sat on the corner cushion of the sectional with Spike snoozing in his lap. Mikey lounged on the floor while Leo stood next to Splinter.

"What's so important it couldn't wait until morning?" Raph grumbled. He had almost been asleep when Leo barged into his room to inform him of the family meeting.

"Trust me, Raph. It's that big." Leo crossed his arms.

"Hang on," All heads turned to Donnie. He was frowning. "Where did you go? April was attacked by your girlfriend and you just disappear-" He paused. "Tell me you didn't, Leo…"

Splinter banged his cane against the ground once. "He did and that is why we are here. Leonardo has uncovered a secret even I was not privy to until an hour ago, but it is time you all knew the truth." He took a shuddering breath. "The child I thought I had lost in the fire all those years ago, Miwa… there is a good chance that she is the Foot soldier known as Karai."

"WHAT?!" Raph exploded out of his seat. He quickly set Spike on the cushion next to him before the pet could be launched across the living room. "Is this a joke, Pop?"

"Do you really think this is something he would joke about, Raph?" Leo stalked towards his brother, ready to challenge him.

"Well, no. But how could Karai possibly be Miwa?"

Splinter gestured for his sons to sit once more. "It appears the Shredder stole her that night, raising her as his daughter and training her as a deadly Foot assassin."

No one spoke as the severity of the moment washed over the group.

"This is insane!" Donnie exclaimed. April shifted next to him, still unsure of what to make of the girl she had met earlier that day.

"We have another sister?" Mikey whispered. He quickly rolled out of the way as Raph stomped over to Leo and Splinter.

"Pop, she's still our enemy!" The red clad turtle huffed. "She's basically the princess of the Foot. How do we know she's not playing some kind of long con to capture us all?"

"Yeah! How could we ever fully trust her?" Donnie implored.

April pushed herself away from her boyfriend. "Seriously, Dee? If Karai wanted to harm us, I wouldn't be here. She would've already dragged me back to Shredder and the Kraang!"

Leo stepped forward. "Guys, you weren't there. Karai was scared of Shredder. She's ready to leave the Foot. We can bring her home! We just need a plan to get her out of there-" He stopped, feeling the vibration of his Tphone on his belt. "It's Karai!"

"What does she want now?" Raph grumbled. He plopped on the floor next to Mikey, pulling Spike back into his lap.

"First of all, I'm okay. Tiger Claw and I snuck out of the Foot and are in a place below New York called the Hidden City. Found evidence to back up that Splinter is my true father. Guess we're sibs now, huh? Going dark for a bit. I'll be back in contact once the dust settles. Be safe. TTYL." He looked up to meet the eyes of his family. "That's it…"

Splinter finally sank onto the couch, the tension of the day leaving his shoulders. April left Donnie's side to sit next to him. "At least she is safe." He observed.

"Safe?" Leo wailed, clutching his head in his hands. "What's the Hidden City? How long is 'in a bit'? Why wouldn't she come here? Why with Tiger Claw? Why-" He was stopped by a slap to the face. Everyone stared at Mikey in confusion. "Did you just slap me?" Leo asked incredulously.

"I was calming you down."

"WHY WOULD THAT CALM ME DOWN?"

Mikey shrugged. "It works on Space Heroes, right?"

"Boys!" Splinter chided. Leo glared at Mikey once more before returning his attention to his father. "Do not let your fears guide your actions, Leonardo. I know not of this 'Hidden City', but if someone else with the desire to escape the Foot took her there, I trust that Karai will be safe until we meet again."

"I've actually heard of the Hidden City!" Donnie pulled his laptop out from its hiding spot under the couch.

"Of course YOU have," Raph muttered.

Donnie continued. "Theorists on the dark web have long since believed that there was some sort of mystic city underneath New York. Man, what I wouldn't give to go down there and investigate!"

Mikey excitedly bounced on his toes. "Does that mean we're gonna go check it out?"

"For now, we shall give Karai the space she desires." Splinter decreed. "Once she is ready for visitors and informs us how to enter the Hidden City, we will go."

April and the others continued to chitter as Leo slunk unseen back to his room. Yes, he was hurt and confused that Karai would rather go into hiding instead of hiding out with her family. But he also knew that her entire world had just shattered. Leo learned from the mistakes of Donnie and April. He would give Karai the space she needed. She would eventually come around; that didn't mean that she would be alone. Leo pulled out his phone and opened up his messages.

L: glad ur safe. i'm here 4 u if u want 2 tlk about things. see u soon