Grace sat on her bed, a frown on her face as she gazed at the floor. A soft knock on her door interrupted her troubled musing, and she lifted her head.

"Come in."

Hamari entered, an eager smile on her face.

"Well, how did it go?" She looked at Grace's face and her smile turned to a frown. "Did something go wrong?"

Grace sighed.

"Well, not entirely wrong. It's just… Sensei has a history with the former head of the Hamato clan."

Hamari's eyes widened.

"Really? What?"

Her eyes moving back to the floor, Grace recalled her conversation with her mother.

"When she met my father, she wanted to leave our clan to be with him. Master Yoshi disapproved, and they never really trusted each other after that."

Hamari cocked her head, frowning.

"No offense to Sensei," she said slowly. "But that sounds like a sort of petty thing to be hung up on. Does mean she doesn't want to ally with them?"

"Well, not exactly," Grace said slowly. "She isn't exactly pleased, but since Master Yoshi no longer leads the clan, she seems willing to put it aside."

"Well, that's good, isn't it?" Hamari replied. "So what's wrong?"

Grace pressed her lips together.

"It's just… I think she might be up to something that she's not telling me. I can't be sure, though. It's more a feeling than anything else."

Her mother had always told her that she couldn't rely on her heart more than her head, but it was a feeling Grace just couldn't shake.

"But she still wants to work with them?" Hamari prompted.

"Yes," Grace said, smiling. "She wants us to patrol with the turtles tonight."

Hamari's face immediately lit up.

"She wants me to go too?"

Grace's smile widened as she nodded; she knew her friend would be happy to hear that.

"Sensei wants us to observe their form, to see how it compares to ours."

"Excellent!" Hamari exclaimed. She sat down on the bed beside Grace. "What do you think they're like?"

"I suppose we'll find out," Grace replied. "I didn't talk to the others long enough to get much of an idea about them, but Michelangelo seems friendly."

Her smile grew thoughtful as she gazed ahead. She couldn't deny… that turtle was making her look forward to tonight. She was curious about all of them, of course, but felt a particular eagerness to know more about him. Maybe it was because he was the first one that she contacted, or that he was the first one in this city to reach out to her. Hamari's voice drew her out of her thoughts.

"I have to say, I wonder how they got to be the way they are. Part human and part animal… I've never heard of anything like that outside the yokai legends."

Grace leaned back, biting her lip in thought.

"Maybe they'll tell us tonight if we ask," she said. "Leonardo said it was a long story."

Hamari hummed, her look similarly thoughtful.

"Most certainly interesting too."

Grace nodded.

"But you know," she said slowly. "Sensei told me that the first few days here, she'd heard talk of creatures like these turtles. Apparently, they're known as mutants. But most people seemed to think they were no more than an urban legend, so she didn't take it very seriously."

She looked at Hamari to see her friend's eyes widen, meeting her gaze with a surprised look.

"Well, it seems there was more to those rumors than she thought then."

Grace nodded, looking ahead again.

"Yes… it does."

Her thoughts turned back to the upcoming patrol, and her smile returned. It would be a new experience, working with Michelangelo and his brothers, but she found it was something she was looking forward to more than anything in a long time.

"On another subject," she said, standing and stretching. "I suppose we should be in peak form for tonight. Care to spar?"

Hamari stood as well, grinning.

"I think I can find the stamina."

The girls left Grace's room, walking side by side down the corridor. Apparently, the word had spread that they had new allies in the city; other clan members that they passed greeted them with a nod, directing approving looks toward Grace. She couldn't help but smile, feeling as if she had taken a major step in finally proving herself, to her clan and to her mother.

There were other ninja already sparring when they reached the training room, so Grace and Hamari found an out of the way spot on the far end. Her ninjato in a high guard, Grace slid into a defensive position, her eyes on her opponent's sais. Twirling them expertly in her hands, Hamari kept her own eyes on Grace as they slowly circled each other.

Grace made the first move, darting forward and swinging her blade in a flat arc that Hamari caught with her sais. Pushing Grace back, she leaped toward her and jabbed her own weapons in rapid succession. Grace blocked each one with quick, deft parries before casting Hamari a grin.

"Nice move."

Her friend returned her grin.

"Thank you."

For a few moments they swung and parried in silence, then Grace spoke up.

"You know, one of the turtles has the same weapon as you."

She saw Hamari's brows lift in surprise.

"Really?"

"Yes," Grace said before leaping forward and swinging her weapon, her breathing measured and steady. "The red-masked one… Raphael."

Hamari blocked her attack, pushing her back. A faint smirk came to her face as they circled again, eyes locked.

"Well, I'll be most curious to know how good he is with them."

"And how humble he is about it," Grace teased, raising a brow. She saw a faint blush tinge Hamari's face, her smile growing sheepish. It was well-known that she took great pride in her skill with her weapons.

"Well, I have yet to meet someone who can match your skill at your age," she said with a smile. Grace shrugged but couldn't help smiling herself. It was good to know that her hours of training were enough for at least some people. That thought brought a more solemn look to her face… it was enough for her friends, but would it ever be enough for her mother?

As she blocked another attack from Hamari, she noticed that her friend's look had grown more solemn as well. When their eyes met, Hamari gave her a small, gentle smile. She was one of the few people who knew about Grace's struggles; she didn't open up to many people about them, worried that word would get back to her mother. The last thing she needed was to show any weakness to her.

"So, you'll be taking precedence tonight, I assume?" Hamari asked, her voice light. Grace knew she was trying to make her feel better, and she did appreciate it, but the words brought a twinge of nerves as well. As a full-fledged ninja, she would indeed take precedence over her friend. It was the first time she had ever been given command.

"Yes," she said. "Sensei said so."

She gave Hamari a grin, hoping her nervousness didn't show.

"I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all!" her friend replied cheerfully. "I'm honored, in fact."

That made Grace's grin widen a little; even if her friend's utter confidence was a little unnerving, it helped too. Leaping, she slid smoothly into the final kata of the exercise and felt a surge of pride when Hamari blocked each strike with sharp precision. Backing off, both released a measured breath before bowing to each other. Grace gave her friend a smile and nod.

"Excellent form… you've really made strides in your training. I don't think it'll be long before Master Akira recommends your induction as a full ninja."

The joyful smile that came to Hamari's face warmed Grace all over. In many ways, her friend was just like her… determined and anxious to prove herself.

Maybe soon we'll both get that chance.