Sensai Saki calls me into a meeting. But it's not in his dojo. It's in a lab. Baxter's lab. I've been seeing him regularly since I woke up a week ago and he's been asking me what I remember about the past. I tell him 'nothing.' What I do remember are planted memories by the Kappa.
The Kappa. The more I think about them, the more the face of the orange one - Michelangelo as he called himself - comes to my mind. He was so hurt. And when I was standing there, confused and stunned with myself, he never tried to harm me. Never used his weapons against me. He was…different. The other Kappa were a lot like Mike, but not entirely. The blue one was fierce. Angry for Karai taking his sister away. Even though it was just a trick, but he must have tricked himself. He became so consumed in his lie that he lost focus and it made his attack weaker. I didn't see much of the purple one, but the red was a fury of fists and anger. He said I was his sister. I was their sister. And they all seemed to believe it. And the more I think about it, the more confused I become.
Saki says one thing, but my memories say another. And although Kappa were believed to be demons, they weren't capable of messing with memories. So, unless they brainwashed me after they injected me, then it's unlikely that they did anything. Which would mean that my memories are real.
"Baxter?" I walk into his lab, "Can I speak with you?"
"Of course, my dear," he gestures to a chair, "What's on your mind?"
"A lot," I confess, "It's all so confusing. The Kappa? I have memories of them. But not of fighting them. Of…having fun with them."
Baxter sighs, taking a seat, "I was afraid this would happen. You always did see the best in people, Alexandria."
"What?" I'm confused.
He explains, "You knew the Kappa - the Hamato clan - before you became a ninja with Saki. Saki saved you from them. They were using you for evil deeds, but you went along because you had a family. A nice one that kept you entertained. Your memories are probably from the time before you came here. Before Saki put you onto the better path."
"But I have recent memories," I explain, "Of only a few months ago."
He nods, "After Saki saved you, you went under cover. The Kappa are obsessed with getting you back because they feel we stole you from them. But we didn't. We saved you from them. They were evil, Alexandria. They murder and steal and do other very bad things. And they tricked you into doing it with them. But it's alright now. You're safe from them."
I nod slow. I suppose that makes since. It's why they think of me like a sister. Why they wiped my memories of Saki and Karai. Why they go out of their way to trick me. They'd spent a lot of time brainwashing me to just let me go. "But…" I look away, "They just looked so sincere." Michelangelo especially. And they looked so hurt when I called them freaks. If they were truly ruthless, truly killers, and thieves, then why would they be so effected by being called names?
"I know," he pats my shoulder, "I know. But it's alright now." I nod, despite my thoughts. We steal too. And Saki teaches 'no mercy'. And Karai is cold and distant. But the Kappa…they were nice. And sincere. And capable of emotional hurt. It just doesn't add up.