(Storynotes: Splinter is not sick and he will not be dying anytime soon. He is very health considering his advanced ageing thanks in part to the Mutagen in his blood. He is simply at a stage in his life where he is now the Grandmaster of the Clan who is enjoying his 'Retirement' (of sorts) now that Leonardo has taken over as head of the family and instructor for his brothers. He also enjoys using his age to his advantage as any elderly person tends to do at that age lol)


Chapter 4: Street Dreams ( Hollywood Undead )/ Lullaby ( Nickelback )

As the Turtles, Usagi and Splinter sat around Kira in deep meditation they each felt themselves leaving their own bodies and into the Nightmarishly black void that had engulfed the young woman's mind. Grouping together tightly once they each reached the same location a icy chill ran up each of their spines before they could bring themselves to move forward where they then found themselves standing on a rooftop somewhere in Upper Manhattan.

" Hey, this is close to where we found that burnt up car" Michelangelo spoke up being the first to figure out where about in the city they were at. " Hey, look down there isn't that Kira?" He asked pointing out the girl walking down the street bellow.

" Yeah, let's go…" Raphael replied anxiously moving to jump down onto the fire escape bellow until his fathers gentle hand stopped " But that's her…" he protested not understanding the delay.

" Remember, we are within Kira's mind and mustn't enter fear until we know what we are up against!" Splinter replied reminding his son's of what they had to do when they found the scenery around them moved to a different point in her memory.

Resting his arms on his knee as he stood with one leg propped up onto the roof ledge, Raphael watched the events unfold on the streets below with his brothers close at his side. Donatello pointed out the car driving erratically in her direction and it took every ounce of their self restraint to watch it swerve out of control and plow right into Kira and pinning her to the building next to her after letting out a bloodcurdling scream. Tears were visibly running down their cheeks when she went limp and the car quickly caught fire until when Splinter realized something important was missing from the scean.

" Hummm, interesting…" the old Rat muttered more to himself before jumping over to the next roof over to look at it from a different angle.

" What's wrong Dad?" Leonardo inquired quickly following suit with the others right behind him.

" This is only showing part of what happened that night. Watch closely as it resets itself My Sons." He instructed right as everything went quickly into reverse before playing out once again.

" She's stuck in a memory loop?" Michelangelo pointed out, saying exactly what was on everyone's mind, " So how do we break her out of it Sensei?"

" When it happened on the night of my trip, I came from that alley where I then forced the car a way from her and carried her threw the portal." Splinter explained as he pointed out the alley he was in " As she wasn't conscious at this time it might explain the missing events of that night" he suggested.

Exchanging a look with Leonardo, Usagi spoke up " I think I know what's holding her to this place in the memory, Splinter-sama" he began as he moved over next to him to point out something in the wreck " She once told me of a reoccurring dream centered around a mute shadow figure. Also, when she first awoke she had mentioned the need to be somewhere on this night… Maybe that is who she is waiting for?" he suggested putting together what information he had to offer.

" Sounds like its time for her Knight in shining green armor to jump in and save the day!" Michelangelo smirked giving Raphael a nudge of his elbow.

" If that's what's causing the loop then we should get down there so Raphael can get her attention and break the cycle." Donatello pointed out logically.

" Be carful Sons" Splinter spoke up giving his approval of their course of action " Usagi and I will be right behind you!"

With that said Leonardo held his hand up in a silent hold command before giving the signal to head down to street level moments before her scream and the crash. Once Kira was pinned in place the four Turtles ran over to her location with only Raphael directly at her side.

" Hey ya gotta listen ta my voice Kira, you gotta remember my voice … You need ta pull yerself outta this loop, come on, I know yer stronger than to let this hold ya down! Remember the night we met, the asskickin I took in trying to rescue your scrawny ass? Come on Kira, where's the Girl I know who nailed Hun in the nuts with that Skateboard ta save my Dumbass?" Raphael spoke up baiting her with a challenge he knew she couldn't pass up.

When it came time the memory would have began to rewind it instead changed completely and all traces of injured Kira and the crash were now gone. It was now appearing to be mid spring and it had just stopped raining when it began to show Raphael surrounded by Purple Dragons and Huns massive hand holding him off the ground by his neck.

" Remind me later to have a talk with you about this event Raphael" Leonardo muttered under his breath relived to see that it was working. Standing up next to his brothers Raphael watched the events that unfolded before them.

" Get the hell out ta here, are you stupid or somethin?" Raphael shouted out as he struggled against Hun's grasp.

" This will be the last time you interfere, Raphael! " Hun laughed as he began to squeeze the throat of the turtle he held in his grasp.

" Hey, Shit for brains…" the image of Kira shouted now standing at the top of a staircase with a skateboard underfoot. Kicking off she road down the smooth surface of the side wall next to the stairs and when the board launched into the air she dove off into a forward roll and looked up in time to watch the board nail Hun right square in the nuts.

Dropping the turtle in order to hold his injured area, Hun ordered his men to attack both the turtle and the " little Bitch" who were now running off together as fast as they could to get away.

(" Dude she dropped Hun with one hit!" Michelangelo sniggered watching the memory.

" It ain't over with yet Mikey!" Raphael groaned knowing in his gut he was going to be in it deep once this was over and done with. )

With the Dragons hot on their heals Raphael tried to think of a way out as they neared a populated area " Hey Turtle, can you tuck your arms and legs in that muscle bound body you got?" Kira asked startling him from his thoughts.

" Why the fuck do ya want to know that? We ain't got time for a fucking biology lesson 'ere!" Raphael snapped back.

" Don't ya give me that snapin' turtle bullshit…" She snapped back grabbing him by the top of his plastron making him stop " Can you or fuckin not?" she demanded forcefully.

" Yeah, what of it?" Raphael grumped as he narrowed his eyes at her cautiously before they needed to start running again.

" Then do it when I say, I gotta plan to get us out ta here!" she shouted taking hold of his hand as they ran.

They were almost to a busy intersection when she shouted " Now" and Raphael begrudgingly tucked fully into himself as she swung him around in front of her and directly behind a cop car where she knelt on his plastron like a wakeboard. Holding onto the bumper of the cop car Kira steered them threw the rain soaked streets causing the Purple Dragons to stop their pursuit. Once they were far enough away she pulled them down the bumper and timed the turn just right to where they played crack the whip and went flying into an alleyway.

Feeling her weight suddenly lifting from his plastron, Raphael popped out of his shell and pulled her into him securely where he used his body to protect her from the impending collision with a pile of trash and cardboard boxes.

(All three of his brothers looked at Raphael in shock and amusement at what they had just witnessed " Not A Fuckin Word Out ta any of ya!" He growled as his face flushed with embarrassment. )

Pushing the boxes off of them Raphael looked down at the teenager that had saved him after failing to save her " Where in the Hell did you get that idea from?" he demanded to know while catching his breath.

"The Travel Channel!" Kira smirked looking up at him and was unable to look away from his amber eyes. (Michelangelo was now rolling on his shell as he couldn't stop laughing hysterically)

Feeling self-conscious with how she was looking at him, he growled slightly " What?"

Kira shook her head and moved away to sit up " Sorry, ah Thanks for savin my ass!" she mumbled awkwardly.

Standing up he held out a three fingered hand and helped her to her feet "Its just what I do… So, ahh how far is it to your place. Ya know just so I know ya made it home safely" he asked taking a few steps backwards awkwardly.

" We're here, I'm crashing in that building over there tonight!" she replied reluctantly pointing it out to him.

This didn't go unnoticed by him, " Don't look like a safe place ta me…" he replied deep in thought. Pulling out a Kunai he flipped it a few times before walking closer to her " Here, take this! Ya know how to use I knife don'tcha?" he asked in a hushed voice holding it out to her " I'm Raphael…"

She looked between him and the knife and tentatively reached out to take it from him " I'm Kira, yeah I got a good idea on to defend myself with one…" she replied with false bravado.

Raphael snorted in amusement " Ya better. Hitting a guy in the sack only works so many times!" he pointed out smirking.

She crossed her arms definitely as she gave him a hard look " Yeah? Well it worked a lot better than that ballet bullshit you were trying to pull back there!"

" You got some mouth on ya, ya know that!" Raphael growled intimidatingly rounding off in front of her showing he was bigger and a bit taller than she was.

" Yeah I do, an I got the brains ta back it up to… Turtle!" She replied not backing down.

This had Raphael chuckling deeply " Tell ya what, meet me here on Tuesday night ' bout eleven thirtyish an we can find out how well you can handle yerself..." He proposed stretching his hand out to her throwing the challenge out there.

Kira reached out and shook his hand " Deal, loser buys me dinner and Hot Chocolate!" She smirked " I'll catch ya Tuesday… Raphael" leaning up she placed a chaste kiss on the cheek before running off.

When the memory finished Raphael pulled the burnt Kunai out from his belt and gave it a few flips " Is losing this what's got ya freaked out?" He called out into the black voice while holding the kinds up into the air " Come on Babe, throw me a bone here… What do I gotta do to get ya ta wake up…" he shouted out desperately " It ain't my fault I got held up that night ya got hurt, I tried ta get out ta see ya but Splinter JR here made it damn near impossible" he hollered out his voice filled with regret.

" Anyone ever tell ya you're a giant pain in the ass, Turtle!"

The voice was Kira's voice and it seamed to come out from all around them, which had everyone looking around frantically as the blackness seamed to fade away and it was replaced with a daytime view of Central Park.

" Kira" Michelangelo chimed out excitedly upon seeing her walking up to them.

" Sometimes I wonder which one of us is more stubborn!" Kira spoke up moving to stand next to Raphael causing him to jump and nearly collapse to his knees making her giggle "Its time for you to go now Raphie, I got some real personal shit that I have to deal with on my own now!" she pointed out softly as she placed a lingering kiss upon his cheek before she and everything around them quickly faded away.

Raphael was the first to wake from meditation and leaned down next to Kira's ears in order to whisper something personal to her to further urge her to wake up. Before he could sit back up her head shifted into the direction of his voice which caused his heart to nearly skip a beat. Sitting back up he looked around and realized that everyone was now awake and smiling happily as they also caught her movement.

" Michelangelo, please assist your Brother and carry Kira up to her room where she may rest!" Splinter spoke up gently " She is out of danger and I believe we all could use some rest as well " he added politely signaling that he would like everyone to leave his room.

Stretching out as they all stood up Usagi and Leonardo both bowed and walked off together while Donatello helped Michelangelo lift Kira's now peacefully sleeping body up and carried her off to her room while Raphael remained knelt in place with his head bowed.

" About what ya seen in there, I didn't tell ya ' bout the run in with Hun cause I …"

" Because you felt embarrassed over the situation!" Splinter said finishing his sentence for him " I will not punish you for this laps in honesty my son as it happened a long time ago, But I expect for it not to be repeated!" He replied setting his sons mind at ease over an emending punishment " Now, as far as things between you two go, I do not wish to see or hear anything that can not be done in polite company! I also request the door to any room you both are in together will remain open or that one of your brothers be present. That includes all trips to the surface the two of you make. Do I make myself clear Raphael?" he asked after having laid out the ground rules for them, "I understand that you care for her very much, so I will allow you to be together as long as it will not cause any problems in your team work, practice or relationships with your brothers!"

" Yes, Masta Splinter" Raphael replied not helping the slight blushing of his cheeks " Thanks for helping her out like this Dad, It really means a lot ta me.. Ya know.." he whispered somewhat embarrassed.

Chuckling softly he nodded " Now if you would please leave, I would like to retire for the evening…"

" Yeah, sorry bout that" Raphael chuckled as he stood up and bowed to his father before leaving his Shoji.

Running across the lair and taking the stairs two at a time he made it up to Kira's room as his two brothers were walking out " She's all yours tonight bro" the youngest grinned.

"She's resting for now but I don't want her to push it for a few days until I know the worst is behind her, I'll be leaving my door open in case you need my help. Good night Raph" Donatello replied giving his older brother a pat on the shoulder and a look that said he was proud of him.

" Thanks Donnie," Raphael smiled happily before walking quietly into Kira's small bedroom. Pulling the chair that had been brought up into the room next to the bed, he sat on it backwards as to rest his arms on its back while he watched her sleep.

She hadn't even been in their home one day and they already needed to go into her mind to rescue her, resting his head on his arms Raphael couldn't help but to chuckle. " Ya don't even remember who I am an I still find ya trying ta boss me around!" he muttered more to himself as he continued to think back on the days events " Now ya realize My Bruthers ain't gonna let me live half the shit they seen down! Havin' my ass saved by a skateboard ta Hun's sack, getin' use for fucking wakeboarding behind a damn Cop car.. Cop Car? Were ya trying ta dance with the devil or what? " he asked softly as he wasn't aware of the type of car they were pulled behind that night.

" Just be thankful she's got a good head on her shoulders!"

Looking over at the door Raphael snorted as he watched Leonardo walk in to check on things " Thought you'd be busy with yer 'Friend" He inquired teasing his brother on his ' relationship' with one Ronin Samurai Rabbit.

The eldest turtle snorted and shook his head in amusement " He's down taking a shower…" reaching up he placed his hand onto his brothers Shell " Just make sure you don't sleep like this Raph, " he advised him in his ' Big Brother' voice.

" So…Dad's letten you two…" Raphael inquired waggling his eyebrows suggestively at his older brother causing him cough to hide his embarrassment.

Leonardo straitened himself up " I don't know Raph, is he going to let you two figure things out?" he countered pointedly, partially because as his leader he needed to know this things.

" Yup!" Raphael grinned happily " Gave me talk on proper conduct, what he didn't want to ' Hear ', keep in doors open… havin' a fuckin babysitter …." He growled slightly at the last part feeling like it was a little to old fashion and unnecessary.

Leonardo chuckled apathetically " You know its because he wants us to be careful and avoids things from being to uncomfortable for him Mikey and Donnie! Besides, you've turned your back for us more than a few times in the past…"he pointed out with a knowing wink that made his brother groan uncomfortably.

" Yeah well, ya better get going so you can help him dry off!" He replied dismissing him from the room " Hey Leo," he called out after watching him walk out smiling before stopping him before he left the " Thanks Bro!" he said softly as he quickly returned his attention onto ' His ' Kira sleeping.

" Anytime Bro... Anytime!"

Once he was alone in the room with her again, he reached out and brushed his fingers along her right hand " I hope you can keep what was said a secret cause Leo don't want anyone outside of me, Mikey, Donnie and Dad ta know 'bout him an Usagi. Not like it affects things much, outside of him being impossible to deal with when he won't admit he's missing ' His' Rabbit!" he whispered still talking to her. Resting his head onto his arms once again, he closed his eyes for just a minute not planning on really falling asleep but that's exactly what he did as exhaustion took him over.

Unable to sleep Splinter decided to check on his new addition to his growing Clan. The lair was dark now except for the few lights scattered throw-out the lower level and the track lighting on the second level. Walking threw with his hands comfortably behind his back he made his way up to the stairs and turned towards the rooms on the right. First room he came to was that of his second eldest, which didn't come as any surprise to him in finding it empty and the chances were he would most likely be found in the next room. Continuing on his ears picked up a hushed one-sided conversation in the dimly lit room that now belonged to Kira. Opening the partially ajar door a crack more a received smile grew on his furry muzzle with the sight within.

Sitting sideways on the foot of the bed was his youngest son with a stack of comics by his side as he was reading aloud in a hushed voice. Looking in further he held back a laugh as he found his missing son sound asleep upon the floor of her room in a sloppy makeshift bed, most likely made by his brother. Clearing his throat to announce his presence before entering the room, He chuckled as he had inadvertently startled Michelangelo.

" Woah, gave me a heart attack Sensei!" he replied holding his chest as his heart pounded away within it " I heard Raphie stop talking to her so I came to check on things and found him sleeping on the chair and since I was awake anyway I thought I'd sit and read to her" He explained cheerfully to his father.

" That is very generous of you my son. Your voices may indeed aide her in as her spirit continues to heal" he replied in a soft gentle voice as he walked over to her bedside to check on her. " I had hoped that it could be healed threw meditative sessions to avoid this but fate had different plans for her!" he explained with a heavy heart as he had no idea how long she would remain in this state.

" She's a fighter Sensei!" he smiled confidently while looking down at the girl who captured his best friends heart " She'll find her way back before ya know it, besides I gotta keep my word to Raphie and I need her to do so!" he smirked giving her foot a pat.

Raising an eyebrow at his sons words Splinter simply chuckled and patted his knee as he turned to leave " I will inform Leonardo that you and Raphael are excused from morning practice as you both have chosen to sit in vigil with Kira. I hope she will enjoy your reading of the comics…"

" Goodnight Sensei!" he smiled watching his father leave the room before picking up where he left off as he read to her from one of his Silver Sentry comics. " You would love this skate shop I know Kira… when you wake up I'll show you my ramp and this new trick I'm working on!" he spoke softly as he paused his reading again " I don't know if Raphies told you but he prefers rollerblading over skateboarding, don't get me wrong, he's really good at it but I got my preference ya know! Maybe we could hit the skate park topside sometime once Donnie's cleared ya, he's really anal about head injuries!" he informed her knowing that his genius brother's going to be keeping close tabs on her as long as she out " Now where we're we…"