Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT. I'm also calling artistic license on banks and hair dye (that'll make sense in a minute), because my experience and understanding of both is quite limited. Thanks for understanding :)


"Now, let me see if I have this correct. Your father wishes you to empty your account?"

Karai nodded to the innocent bank teller. "Yes. It's a long story, but he instructed that I come down here in person to collect the money."

"And… he wants you to take out all $15,000 in cash?" The poor woman had no idea what she was unwittingly doing.

"That's right." She offered a convincing smile. "I did call ahead, to ensure such an extraction would be possible."

"I… I suppose I'll go get the paperwork, then." The young woman rose and scuttled off in her high heels. An eventful first day for the new employee.

Meanwhile, the kunoichi turned with her hands on her hips to smirk at April, who was sat fidgeting in one of the old chairs across the room. After a carefully calculated decision that Casey looked too shifty to sit in a bank and Angel looked too young, April offered to accompany Karai down to the local bank. She had found the debit card her father had given to her upon her arrival in America over a year ago hidden in the lining of her jacket, and once she had confirmed via phone that it was still active, she had been eager to get as much money out of it as possible before Shredder thought to cancel it.

When the bank teller returned with a stack of papers and a thick, bulging envelope, it took everything Karai had not to grin manically. It's a small victory, she thought, but at least I'm not down and out.

April was practically bouncing as she and Karai walked down the street. "I can't believe you stole $15,000 from Shredder!"

"Shh!" hissed Karai, but she was smiling. "Don't yell that in the streets, princess."

She blushed. "Sorry. It's just exciting, that's all."

"Well, at the very least, it'll pay for a good few orders of pizza."

The redhead swatted at her teasingly, but felt her heart warm at the fact that Karai was already thinking about her brothers. "Yeah, but we've gotta get you some new stuff, too. I mean, you'll need more than one outfit, and I doubt many of my clothes are going to suffice."

"Uhm… Yeah, no offence, but I'm not really into the whole bright yellow thing."

"I didn't think so." She linked arms with Karai, and was surprised when she didn't pull away. "Although, I do have a little black dress I think you'd like. It's too long on me, and the lace sleeves look weird, but it'd suit you."

"Thanks." The girl squeezed April's arm.

The redhead towed her through the streets, acting casual and natural in a way that Karai couldn't, be it from nerves or lack of recreational experience. They ducked into a small black and red store when Karai panicked because she thought she saw a Foot-Bot, and happened to find a pair of dark jeans and a Fall Out Boy shirt (which amazed Karai, who thought the band were too obsolete to have merchandise for sale in high-street shops). Having made their purchase for a bargain, since the sales-boy took a liking to Karai, the girls decided to go to a café for lunch.

"This place is good," Karai admitted, picking at her sandwich.

"I think anything would be, compared to Casey's cooking," joked April. "Seriously, you should get a medal for surviving that."

"I… don't think that's what I deserve a medal for surviving…" she muttered to herself.

April placed her hand over Karai's across the table. "Come on, don't do that. Don't think about it. Today is just for fun. A Sunday of fun with a fellow kunoichi. No sadness, okay?"

"Got it." She grasped April's hand gratefully.

The day was exactly as predicted; fun and frivolous, though the girls refrained from spending much despite how much money they had in their possession, because they didn't wish to waste any of it. They returned to Casey's apartment with almost as much as they had originally withdrawn, with only several human necessities, some spare clothes, and a box of black hair dye to show for the day.

The hair dye was Angel's expertise. "Self-dying since age eleven, and getting less dreadful every time," she proclaimed proudly, as she draped an old, multicolour-stained towel around Karai's shoulders. "I know what I'm doing."

Karai pushed her wet hair out of her face. "Why don't I believe you?"

Almost two hours later, the bleached portion of Karai's hair was indistinguishable from the rest of her naturally black hair. She washed out the excess dye and smiled at her reflection. It was a small step, but it was another step away from being Oroku Saki's daughter. Donning Casey's jersey again, she blow-dried her hair and returned to the living room.

Casey smirked at her. "Aww, ready for bed already?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "Wow Casey, you're so witty and clever. Well done."

April fist-bumped her from the armchair. "Nice one. You know, I kinda like having another girl around to put Jones in his place."

"Hey, if you two ever need a hand with that, you know where I am," joked Angel.

The hockey player threw his shoes at April and Karai, then whacked Angel across the back of the head. The three girls laughed, and eventually Casey joined in, offering Karai a seat between him and Angel. She sat cross-legged between them, grinning at her new friends.

"You know," Karai turned to Casey when he spoke, "I think I like your hair all black."

"Me too," agreed April.

"Me three," chimed Angel.

She chuckled bashfully. "Thanks, guys." She caught her reflection in the television screen in the corner of the room. "I think I like it too."


The four terrapin brothers emerged from the dojo after training, sweat coating their skin and their muscles aching. Donatello, too exhausted to even put his bõ staff away, groaned unhappily when he noticed his lab door open.

"What's the matter, bro?" asked Mikey tiredly, ever the heart of his brothers.

He sighed. "Nothing, Mikey. I just have to get working on Karai's retro-mutagen again…"

"No, you don't." Leo's hand landed on his brother's shoulder. "Donnie, we haven't seen any sign of her in weeks, and you've been overworking yourself – don't think we haven't noticed. Training was hard today; you should just get some rest."

"Leo, I can't-"

"Donatello. Go to sleep. Now."

The purple-clad turtle smirked sleepily. "Fine. Thanks, Leo."

He patted his younger brother on the shoulder. "It's fine, Donnie." He then addressed all of his brothers. "Guys, I'm sorry for becoming so obsessed with the patrols and searches lately. I want to help Karai, but… I was harming us in the process."

"It's cool, Leo." Mikey ran up to hug him. "We all wanna save Karai."

"We just weren't all that obsessed," interjected Raph.

Ignoring him, Mikey continued, "And we're going to, sooner or later. We're not gonna give up, and she won't either."

Leo placed an arm around his brother. "Thank you, Mikey."

"That was very wise, Michelangelo." Approaching as silently as ever from the dojo, Splinter smiled warmly at his sons.

Raph grinned. "Man, never thought I'd hear that."

"I did not expect to be saying it," he admitted with a slight chuckle, "but it was a pleasant surprise. I hope that you will all listen to his words… Leonardo and Donatello particularly." He eyed the two sons in questions. "Overworking yourself will not provide a solution, my sons. I am sure Miwa would tell you the same if she was in a position to do so."

All four of his sons nodded, with a chorus of, "Hai, Sensei."

"Good. Now, the lot of you should listen to Leonardo's advice and get some rest."

When his sons were finally traipsing off to their bedrooms, mumbling and grumbling the complaints they knew they couldn't voice aloud, Splinter walked calmly back to the dojo and knelt in front of the shrine he had built for his family. He examined the photograph of himself, Tang Shen and a baby Miwa, and a sigh escaped him.

"Oh, Miwa…" His eyes watered. "What has become of you, my child?"

He imagined the young woman kneeling beside him, donning her black jumpsuit and silver armour, with her make-up carefully applied and her hair styled back. He remembered the tension in her muscles as he held her, as though wondering whether she had made the right decision. Her arms wrapping around him, the first real contact he had experienced with her in over sixteen years, but nowhere near enough. Then the lithe arms morphed into coils before his very eyes, his lost daughter transforming into a mindless serpent trying to squeeze the life out of him. And though the bloodthirsty look in her eyes was painful, he almost preferred it to the look of horrifying remorse once she came to her senses.

Splinter took the photograph into his hands, watching as small droplets of water fell onto the glass. Lowering his head dejectedly, he closed his eyes and stroked the image.

"Master Splinter?"

He sighed. "Leonardo, I sent you boys to bed."

"I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep." The boy's voice was thick with emotion.

Calmly and deliberately, Splinter dabbed the photograph dry with his sleeve, then placed it back onto the shelf. He rose and looked to Leonardo, standing forlorn on the other side of the room. The turtle was still fully equipped for a patrol or battle, down to the twin katana blades on his back. He smiled proudly at his eldest – technically second eldest, as he refused to give up hope on Miwa – and gestured for him to approach.

"Sensei…" Leo's eyes drifted to the photograph as he walked closer, "I promise we will find her."

The man lay a hand on his son's shoulder. "I wish to believe you, Leonardo, I really do. I hope that she is still out there somewhere, somehow."

"I'm sure she is, Sensei." He smiled at his father. "She is strong."

"She is…" Splinter patted Leo's shoulder. "Now, why could you not sleep?"

"I… I was just worried about her, but I trust her to look after herself." The blue-clad turtle grinned wistfully at the thought of her. "She's intelligent and crafty; she'll be just fine out there. We'll find her in no time, I know it."

He smirked knowingly. "You are still very fond of her, aren't you?"

Leo blushed. "Y-Yeah, I am. I always have been."

"I am aware." Splinter chuckled. "But it is late, Leonardo; you really should rest."

"Hai, Sensei." He bowed. "Thank you for… understanding about Kar- Miwa."

Smiling, Splinter motioned for Leo to exit, and retreated to his own room. Sliding the screen door into place, Splinter sighed again. "Goodnight, Shen," he said to the darkness. "Goodnight, Miwa… wherever you are."


Stretching his arms over his head, Casey yawned loudly. April had left a few hours ago, to stop her father from worrying, but the hockey player was still sat up with Angel and Karai. The trio were huddled together on the couch, blankets wrapped around them and mugs of hot cocoa in their hands.

"Man... I don't normally like going to school, but tomorrow is gonna suck," complained Angel.

Casey blinked tiredly at her. "What's gonna make going tomorrow worse?"

Angel gestured to Karai, sitting beside Casey with her head on his shoulder. "I'm gonna know she's here; it's gonna make it even harder to sit through algebra lessons than ever!"

"All my fault again," the kunoichi murmured half-heartedly. "Sorry."

The boy ruffled her short black hair. "Don't be stupid, you didn't do anything wrong."

"Yeah, we wanna spend time with you 'cause you're fun, Rai-Rai." Angel embraced the older girl tightly, burying her face in her neck. "And nice, when you want to be."

"That isn't often," she chuckled.

Laying his arm around the both of them, Casey laughed. "Well, at least I won't have to lie to April about Rai being here."

"That's true; you're a terrible liar," commented Angel, glancing up from Karai's shoulder.

Casey's response was a very rude gesture in her direction, which Karai smacked him on the head for. "Stop hitting me, you freaking…" She stuck her tongue out at him and smirked.

When Angel began muttering sleepily, both teens diverted their attention to her and smiled warmly. Karai gently shook her awake, and she managed a lackadaisical, "What time is it?"

Karai shrugged. "Late? You should go to bed; you're falling asleep on me."

Angel pouted, which quickly changed to a glare when her desperate glance to Casey provided no support. "I hate both of you."

"No, you don't." Casey picked her up casually and carried the struggling girl to her room without much trouble. "Just go to bed, Angel."

"Why do I have to when you and Rai-Rai get to stay up?" she asked angrily.

"We won't be staying up either, Angel; Casey has school tomorrow too," Karai called from the couch.

The girl broke out of Casey's grasp and dashed back over to her friend, grinning widely. "Are you coming with me, then?"

Casey petted her head. "I assumed she'd be staying with me again."

Angel raised an eyebrow at him. "Right, like I trust you alone in a room with her at night."

"Angel!"

"What? It's true!" She grabbed Karai's wrist and dragged her to her room. "C'mon, Rai, you can stay with me tonight."

"I don't have a choice, do I?" she teased playfully, taking Angel's hand.

"Nope!" she chimed cheerily. The girl was already wearing her pyjamas, and her hair was bunched into a ponytail again.

Leaning around the doorway, Casey bid both girls goodnight before leaving them and shutting the door. Both girls huddled together under the blankets, Angel cuddling close to Karai as she had during the invasion. They were both reminded of the months during the Kraang's tyranny, and they smirked fondly at each-other.

"I really did miss you, Rai-Rai," Angel mumbled.

"I missed you too," she admitted.


Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter :) I think you'll either love or hate the next one... Hopefully love :P

Thanks for reading, and please review xD

[Slight Edit] And yes, I know Fall Out Boy isn't that obscure (thanks to Guest for reminding me to say this), but where I live it's rare to find any of their merchandise and they were the first band I thought of that Karai would like. I have since thought of quite a few others, but oh well.