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Beta read by the super talented Dierdre!

Chapter 8

Master Splinter's point of view

It was now morning and we were no closer to discovering Donatello's whereabouts than last night. I was going to inform my sons of what I had been able to gather, but the information seemed so insignificant. I was sitting in my favorite worn and comfortable armchair, waiting for my sons' to wake. This would certainly make for an interesting morning discussion.

Soon, my sons and Karai joined me in the living room. Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo made themselves comfortable on the sofa. Karai sat down near me. For a moment, no one dared to speak.

A tense and uncomfortable silence descended upon us, until I cleared my throat and broke the hush.

"Currently, your brother is alive and well. He is injured, but…" I trailed off purposely, for how could I tell my sons that their brother had blocked me out even though he called for me?

When I looked upon their grief stricken faces, however, I found that I could not lie to them. They were not little children anymore. They were young, responsible and capable adults. But, in the furthest corner of my mind, I was worried about their reactions to the next component of my discovery.

"What is it, Master Splinter?" Leonardo asked.

I looked towards my eldest, and then towards to my other sons. All of them looked so anxious as I said, "Even though Donatello called out to me, I was unable to maintain contact with him. He blocked all of my attempts to reach him, and I do not know what caused your brother to do so. Before I left, however, I did feel an incredible amount of despair surrounding him."

Silence greeted the room, until Karai spoke, "Do you think that is the reason why you could not locate him, Master Splinter?"

I nodded. "Perhaps it is, Karai. I cannot help but feel as if there is an even bigger threat looming over us besides Donatello's sudden disappearance."

"So what are we going to do? Do we just sit around here and trade theories, or do we go out there and start looking for Donnie?" Raphael asked.

Of all of my sons, he was always the most blunt and impatient. There was no mistaking the passionate flames swirling around inside of him, desperately looking for an escape. I sighed heavily and turned to face Raphael, fixing him with a compassionate yet stern gaze.

"I know that you are concerned for Donatello, but it will not aid him or ourselves, if you decide to approach this problem with just the little information we currently have. We must take everything into consideration, and then create some sort of plan."

His gaze became deadly as his voice grew louder, "So we're just gonna do nothing! Donnie could be in trouble, and you want us to just twiddle our fingers and quietly wait for something to happen!"

I could feel his anger reaching its peak. Undeterred by this, I continued to speak to him calmly. "That is not what I meant, Raphael."

"Well, then, what do you mean? 'Cause I sure got the impression that we're gonna laze about and let Donnie get tortured, abused and experimented on. Or worse… killed!"

By now Raphael was clenching and unclenching his fists. I knew that he wanted to do something about this particular situation, but this was not the way to achieve the desired results.

Before I could voice my thoughts, Leonardo addressed Raphael, glaring at him as he spoke, "Raph, that's enough! Master Splinter is worried about Don, just like you are."

"Yeah, well, I sure can't tell, Leo!"

Raphael got up and began walking towards the lair's entrance. I stood up with every intention to stop Raphael. Donatello had been taken away from us and now the same fate might befall Raphael. My heart began to beat a little faster as I narrowed my eyes.

I could not and would not loose two sons!

"Raphael, I forbid you to leave! We can not afford to have you and Donatello…"

Raphael interrupted me before I could finish my statement. "I'm just going out for a little while to cool down, all right? I ain't gonna do anything stupid, okay?"

His voice sounded so venomous that I could say nothing as I watched him angrily grab his coat and fedora. He dressed himself quickly, and then he was gone. I knew Raphael's words had upset Leonardo, so it came as no surprise to see him making a grab for his coat and fedora as well. But just as he was about to dress himself, Michelangelo took the items from him.

"Raph's not going to be in the mood to deal with you, Leo."

"But what if he…"

Michelangelo put a comforting hand on Leonardo's shoulder. "He's not going to do anything to me. If anything, I'll be able to get him talking and, hopefully, come back here. Don't worry too much. I've got Raph wrapped around my finger and you know it."

He smiled, dressed himself, and then left. Leonardo stood at the lair's entrance, looking completely lost. Frowning ever so slightly, he seemed to be silently debating whether or not he should go after his brothers or if he should trust them to return safely on their own.

I rose from my chair and began to retreat to my bedroom. It was time for more meditation. As I walked to my bedding chambers, Karai's voice stopped me in my tracks.

"I am sorry."

I turned to face her. As I gazed upon her countenance, I could sense great amounts of uncertainty, confusion and doubt surrounding her.

"You have nothing to be sorry about. Raphael has always been a rather rash and unpredictable individual."

She averted her gaze elsewhere. "This isn't about Raphael. I am sorry that my presence here has caused you and everyone else so much confusion and pain. Perhaps it would be best if I were to leave."

Smiling softly, I beckoned her to follow me. "Come with me, Karai. Leonardo, please go after your brothers."

Obediently, she followed me while Leonardo did as I requested of him. Shortly after arriving in my bedchambers, I lit some incense and candles. Karai softly closed the door and then stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. As I seated myself on a midnight blue pillow, our eyes met.

"Sit down, Karai."

She seated herself on a lavender pillow. I stared deep into her eyes, searching for anything that would reveal her true intentions to me. Precious moments passed us by, until finally I addressed her, "You sincerely wish to help us, even if that means sacrificing your own life. Am I correct?"

Karai nodded as her features quickly became grim and determined. "If that is what it takes, then I would do so without a moment's hesitation."

"And why do you feel this strongly?"

Her stern gaze never once left her features. "For too long, I have sat idly by and done nothing to stop the Shredder. Whether or not you believe me, he was not always such a ruthless and coldhearted monster. That is why, as he changed into the man that you currently know, I held my tongue and carried out all of his orders. Once I met your sons, however, I began to question myself and the Shredder's teachings. Leonardo once told me that honor meant everything to a ninja. While I believe that is true, there are other values that a ninja holds in high regard."

"What are those other values, Karai?"

"Dignity, pride, respect, obedience and loyalty also serve to mold a person into an extremely capable ninja, as well as a human being. The Shredder cares nothing for such things, and that is why I betrayed him."

"And you are fully aware of what your betrayal means to him?"

"Your son Raphael told me that I am now considered his enemy, regardless of the fact that I was once his adopted daughter and best soldier."

"My son has told you correctly. You are under no obligation to help us, Karai, and yet you are willing to aid us in finding Donatello. Even though you are well aware of the dangers that may lie ahead of us, you are risking much. It is for those reasons that I commend you and thank you."

I bowed to her. After doing so, I noticed that she was blushing faintly as her eyes shone with pleasure.

"I am merely doing that which is right," she replied. "Had it not been for your sons, I would still be under the grand delusion that the Shredder is justified in all that he does."

She bowed to me as she continued speaking, "I can not thank you enough for allowing me entrance to your home, or for your ceaseless patience and tolerance. I am forever in your debt, Master Splinter."

I rose from my position on the pillow and kneeled in front of her. I placed a paw under her chin and gently raised her face towards me. Once again, our eyes locked. "Do not ever feel as though you must earn your worth, Karai. You are very much considered a part of this family."

She looked at me, her eyes widening slightly, and then a faint tear rolled down her cheek.

"Thank you," she whispered as I let go of her face.

"You are welcome."

She rose from her pillow and quietly exited my chambers. As I began my breathing exercises in preparation for meditation, I knew that my words had affected her greatly. Closing my eyes, I found it quite ironic that I had managed to soothe some of her wounds, and yet I had failed to do so for Donatello.