Note: This chapter will be edited to be made longer and possibly taken out at some point.

More important note: there are Japanese words. If they look to be misspelled or misused, please let me know. I'd appreciate it.

[Excuse me/I'm sorry, teacher/master] "Gomenasai, Sensai," I bow at the dojo entrance. I've no doubts that Leo told Master all about what happened earlier today. They had sat with me on the couch, hearing the entire tale - though I left out the part about the purple dragons in the alleyway. I'm still not technically supposed to fight by myself. My brothers are fifteen, and it took years for Splinter to allow them. Not all of my brothers thought it was very fair that I get to go at fourteen. So the compromise was that I'm allowed as long as I'm accompanied. And if I'm not, then I'm not allowed to fight. I can only skate or rooftop run. At this point, I'll take what I can get.

"Hai, Alexandria?" Splinter opens his eyes. He'd been meditating, but unlike Leo, he allows interruptions. But only when his door is open. And I'm sure he knew I'd be coming. He seems to know everything. Like a Jedi.

I speak Japanese when I'm in the dojo, but usually when it's only Master Splinter and I. Leo knows enough to get the gist of what we're saying and Raph knows a few phrases. Donnie doesn't see the point when he's got an app, and Mikey, well, he can say 'Hei, Sensai.' Mainly I do it cause it's something that Splinter and I enjoy. Plus, we both get a kick out of talking this way when the others can't understand. [Teacher… I'm sorry I interrupted your meditation. I thought that I should explain what happened before.] "Sensei... Anata no meisō o chūdan shite shimatte mōshiwake arimasen. Watashi wa mae ni okotta koto o setsumei surubekida to omotta," I shrug with my good arm. I can't really look at Splinter right now. I know I probably disappointed him. I broke a rule, but honestly, how could I not have? Those people were in trouble. I did the right thing. Right?

We continue our conversation in Japanese, "Come. Sit." I walk in gratefully and take a seat on a pillow opposite him. He has two tea cups set out and a steaming pot. He definitely knew I'd be coming. He pours me a cup, seeing as how it'd be difficult to do it myself. We don't talk for a while, simply sitting and drinking. My face and clothes are still grimy and smell like smoke. I wanted to take a shower to wash it all away, but my bros keep jarring me in different directions. At first it was Leo who demanded a full report, then it was Don who wanted to take a good look at my arm - which still hasn't happened - then Raph wanted a turn at yelling at me about how I should have made him come. About how he knew I'd get into trouble by going by myself. That's usually something Leo would say, so I'm still worried about that. Then, of course, Mikey wanted to play some video games with me to help take my mind off of things. This was all well and good and I was thankful, but by the time Raph had finished reprimanding me and Don and Mike were both waiting, Leo had already told Master Splinter the whole thing and now here I am. Waiting for him to ask for my side of the story.

But he never does, "You haven't had a chance to wash up yet."

It's a statement, though I still feel I should respond. It's the first he's spoken to me since I've sat down, "No, Sensai."

He sets down his now empty tea cup, "And why is that?"

Unlike my brothers, I don't tend to throw them under the bus, "Lots to do since I've been back, I suppose."

"How is your arm?" he asks.

I take a sip, "Better than earlier." Honestly, it is. The tingling stopped just after I'd finished telling the story. And like I said, the smoke left my lungs before I'd even reached the lair. All I have left now is the fatigue and the slight pains from when I move a certain way. The tea helps with those things though. And I have a feeling he planned it that way.

"Have you had your brother take a look?" he asks.

I shake my head, "No, Sensai. Not yet."

He seems to know this as well. The thing about Splinter and I is that we get each other. We drink tea together on a regular basis but we hardly talk because it's like we can read each other's minds. He knew every single answer to every question he's asked so far. Just like I knew he'd be asking these questions. And he already knows the facts about what happened; I left to go skateboarding, noticed a building was on fire, went in to help people, did, and got hurt on my way out. But I also got home safe and that's what's important. And probably the only reason I'm drinking tea instead of doing fifty katas. There is nothing for us to talk about, so we don't.

The others don't really understand our relationship. How we can sit in a room together for hours without saying a word and know every detail of each others day. How we can take one look at each other and know what the other is feeling. The thing I fear they will never understand, however, is when Splinter will call each of them out - repeatedly - on their mistakes, but he never mentions mine to me.

Don't get me wrong, he doesn't badger them, just mentions it so they'll concentrate on those areas specifically. But with me, he just says it once and that's it. I try to explain it's because I already know what I've done wrong, but Leo just says that he already knows what he's done wrong, too. The difference is that I'll reprimand myself harder than Splinter will. Leo says that he reprimands himself just as hard because he's the leader and he's got the most responsibility. But the thing he doesn't get is that our responsibility is equal.

I feel just as much responsible when things go wrong as he does because I've got four older brothers who have all been doing this a lot longer and I'm still trying to catch up in some areas. I'm the weakest link, and the chain can only be as strong as me. The fact is that I don't need Splinter to tell me constantly because I'm already doing it myself. The difference is that they don't have anyone to compare themselves to because they're all at the same level - mostly. I have to try twice as hard. But Leo just doesn't understand that. And I figure if I can't explain it to Leo, I shouldn't bother with the others. They can all just go about thinking that I get away with it cause I'm a girl. The fact is that I don't get away with it. I get it twice as bad.

"Your thoughts trouble you," Splinter points out.

I nod, "Yes, Sensai."

He pours himself another cup, "What are you thinking about?"

Chances are that he already knows, but it does feel nice to say these things and get it off my chest, "I feel that I could have done better."

"Better how?" he questions.

I think up my list of areas where I made mistakes tonight, "I never explained to Donnie what was going on until I was in the building. If I'd of said something sooner, maybe they could have come and helped. And if I was stronger, maybe I could have carried all of the people out at once instead of almost getting them killed. Or even hurting my arm. And maybe if I was faster I could have done it all and still had time to catch the Shredder before he got away. But I didn't, and I wasn't, and he got away."

Splinter takes a sip, "I heard a lot of maybes. So I'll provide some as well. Maybe your brothers would have shown in time, but then no one would have been able to tell you that everyone had gotten out. Maybe you could have carried them all, but with the weight on your shoulders, there was a greater chance of falling down the stairs. Maybe you could have had time to chase after the Shredder, but you would have had to face him and Hun alone. I have no doubts that you are strong, Alexandria, but I would never ask that any of you face him alone."

I look down, "I understand."

"You should get cleaned up," Splinter sets his cup down, standing. He gestures to the door, walking me out, "You've had a long night."

"Hai, Sensai," I bow, walking out of the dojo. When I open the doors, I find my brothers' ears pressed up against the screen. This is another reason I speak Japanese to Sensai. My brothers like to listen in.

I cross my good arm over the sling as Mike stutters to a stand, "Oh! Hi, Lex. What's up?"

"Nothing much," I glare, "What's up with you?"

"Oh, you know," he rubs his neck as my other brothers all stand, "This and that. Well…gotta go." With that, he rushes to the living room.

Don is right behind him, "Yeah, I uh, think my thing is done doing it's…thing."

Raph just rolls his eyes and walks away as Leo stays. Splinter says goodnight to the both of us before turning in. My eyes go to Leo, "So…"

"So," he nods.

"I'm gonna go get cleaned up less you feel like reprimanding me again," I shrug with my good arm.

He shakes his head, "Nope. You're good. Just don't do something like that again."

"Which part?" I giggle as I walk past, "Playing firefighter or speaking Japanese so you couldn't understand us?"

"Both," he glares playfully. We both laugh a little as I hit the showers.