Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT, obviously. (The memory in this chapter has also been altered, on account of... needless violence, honestly. Tone is the same, but it's slightly more believable/less horrific to read.) Enjoy :)


Plans were made.

Karai would stay at April's that night and the next, but on Sunday, both girls and Casey (and Angel, whose attendance nobody planned for, but she refused to stay home and miss it) would meet Leo and his brothers at Murakami's noodle shop after-hours. Karai was at first reluctant to leave at night, but the presence of her friends and brothers convinced her.

Leo had shook his head in disbelief when they explained everything to him, flicking Karai's temple then discreetly kissing it better, demanding that both them and Casey tell him next time they find a lost clan member. They both promised to do so, and Leo left the girls in peace for the night, though he did take a photograph of the duo hugging on his T-Phone as proof and reassurance for his family.

"Leonardo," Splinter sternly greeted him when he finally returned to the lair. "Where have you been? Why did you leave the lair without informing us?"

Well, Leo thought, I guess that's better than Raph's, "Where the hell were you, Lame-o-nardo?!"

"I went to ask April why she's been avoiding us," he answered calmly, feeling his brothers' stares. "I thought if we all went, it might overwhelm her."

"Then why did you not tell us?" his master inquired.

"Because… I didn't want anyone to come with me, and…" Leo blushed. "I was worried about April; I didn't want anyone to know I was talking to her."

Splinter exhaled heavily. "Leonardo, you know better than to sneak out of the lair like that."

"I know, Sensei." He pulled his T-Phone from his pocket and fiddled with it awkwardly. "Could I speak to you alone for a moment please?"

"… Of course."

Leo followed Splinter into the dojo, trying to regulate his breathing. Once the screen door slid into place and his brothers' faces were obscured from view, Leo unlocked the phone and selected the image. "I saw something… someone interesting at April's apartment. I think you should see this." He handed him the phone.

Splinter stared at the phone intently, struggling to believe what he was seeing. "M-Miwa... My daughter..." He reached a finger towards the screen, then retracted it. "My beautiful child... She is human in this image."

"Yeah..." Leo peered over his father's shoulder to admire Karai's smile. "Baxter Stockman managed to cure her; Shredder recaptured her, but she escaped."

"Impressive of her, though I cannot say I am surprised by her skills." His finger again bushed the screen, as though stroking Karai's hair. "Thank you for showing this to me."

"Father, she… She told me she was scared to come home." His words caught in his throat. "She was afraid we would reject her, that we didn't want her after what she did."

Master Splinter sighed sadly. "I understand. Let us hope that Miwa feels ready soon."

"Well, she ran right out to hug me when she saw me on the fire escape," Leo confided with a shrug. "She wants to come back, I know it. I think we've almost convinced her, though; April and I got her to agree to meet with me and the guys at Murakami's on Sunday night."

"Wonderful." A smile spread across his face. He studied the picture intently a moment, then handed the phone back to Leonardo. "Thank you, my son."

"No problem, Sensei."

"You should tell your brothers," Splinter advised, walking over to the shrine he had built for his family. "They will be pleased to hear, I am sure."

"Definitely," Leo agreed with a nod. "Donnie in particular; he's been laying off the retro-mutagen work a bit since April's last visit, but I know he's still stressed. He should be relieved that he can stop for good now."

"I am sure he will be."

The turtle cracked a grin. "Goodnight, Sensei."

"Goodnight, Leonardo. Please ensure that Michelangelo actually goes to bed; it is already late, and he insisted on waiting for you." Splinter picked up the framed photograph on the shelf and turned to Leo. "I presume you find his comments on his exhaustion as enjoyable as I do."

Leo chuckled. "Hai, Sensei."

With that, Leo left his Sensei in peace, exiting the dojo to inform his brothers. Splinter focused on his memory of the photographs, feeling his lips curl upwards at his daughter's contented smile. "Oh, Miwa... You will always be welcome with us. If only you could see that."


"You are a disgrace!"

Oroku Saki slapped the child across the face. She choked back a cry and her eyes watered, but she tried to speak anyway, "Father, I'm sorry-"

"Sorry is not good enough!" Another smack, up the back of her head this time.

She squealed in pain, covering her face with her hands. "Father..."

"Oroku Karai..." The Shredder stalked around the child, staring down at her coldly. "You are an embarrassment to our clan and our family."

"I am sorry..." Karai whimpered, fighting back tears.

He grabbed her by her hair, yanking her head up to look at him. She gasped in pain. Saki examined the long black hair, so reminiscent of the child's mother... And her father, he thought. Karai screamed as sharp pain shot through her scalp. A fistful of black locks fell from her father's hand to the floor, a small spattering of blood joining it.

His hand secured another fistful, and he dragged her ear up to his mouth. "If you cannot act worthily for the Foot Clan," he growled into her ear, "then you do not deserve to harbour so much of your mother's appearance."

The Shredder smacked her again, right where her scalp was so tender. "Learn from this, Karai. From now on, if I see your hair long enough to pass here-" Karai shrieked as the edge of his armoured glove cut just below her jaw, severing another small chunk "-I will carefully pull out every piece."

He left the room calmly, as if nothing atypical had taken place. "Idiotic child... It would be dishonorable to Tang Shen to allow the child to continue mocking her image," he muttered decisively to himself. Really, it was kind of him to permit a ninja to have any hair at all. He was being merciful.

Meanwhile, Karai knelt on the floor, cradling her lost lock of hair. She sobbed profusely, her scalp stinging painfully. Her hair had been that length since she first saw a photograph of her mother; she had been delighted to look so much like the beautiful woman she could never meet. He knew how important it was to her. Anger flared in the nine-year-old girl's chest even as she raised the sword to her own locks.

The hair would grow back. The wounds would heal. But the event would never be forgotten.


When April woke up in the morning, she could nothing more than smile sympathetically at the indents Karai's fingers had pressed into her arm. The girl was still asleep, though her face was contorted as though in pain, and her knuckles were almost white from how tightly she was gripping April's limb.

"Karai." The girl whimpered fearfully in her sleep; April smoothed out the creases in her forehead with one hand. "Come on, wake up."

She shook her head drowsily, and April ruffled her hair forcefully. Eventually, Karai groaned in annoyance and swatted her away, blinking as she sat up. "I'm awake, okay?"

"I have to get ready, let go of me," laughed April, trying to tug her arm free.

Karai laughed with her, releasing the girl's arm. She shifted the duvet off of her and sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. "What time?"

"Sorry?"

"What time is it?"

"Almost ten – get your butt out of bed."

"Ten isn't that late." Karai flopped back down on the bed, smirking.

"Pretty sure that attitude doesn't help ya master Ninjutsu," quipped April, but she was smirking back. "Seriously, get up so I can make my bed."

"Fine, fine, calm down." She crawled out of the bed, tangling the sheets as much as possible, just to tick April off.

It clearly worked; the redhead glared fierily at her. "Man, you are so freaking annoying, Karai."

She set about making the bed again, while her new roommate dug out a pair of jeans, the black tank top she had taken from her old room, and clean underwear. She changed without modesty, unconcerned by April's presence. Feeling uncomfortable, April took her own clothes and underwear through to the bathroom to change, hoping that maybe Karai would pick up an example. When she returned, Karai had already applied her make-up and was brushing her hair.

"Wow, you get ready fast." April grabbed her own hairbrush and started working to untangle the knots in her orange hair.

Karai shrugged. "Life in the Foot was fast-paced; I learned to adapt. Make-up was the last thing I could waste time on, so I'm used to getting it out of the way."

"And yet yours still looks better than if I dedicated a whole hour to mine," April sighed wistfully.

Silence settled between them for a few moments, until Karai hesitantly offered, "You know, I could try to teach you, if you want?"

"… Really?" Her blue eyes widened hopefully. "If you're up for it… That'd be awesome! Thanks, Rai."

She smiled. "No problem. We'll just need to work out your skin tone and stuff first, and skin type."

The redhead groaned. "Jeez, I didn't realise so much work went into make-up!"

"You're seventeen, and you've never used make-up?" inquired Karai in disbelief.

A blush spread across her face. "Not, like, actually. Not the proper stuff."

"Well then," Karai grinned, "we'll just have to fix that, won't we?"

"Can we fix it by tomorrow?" she asked.

Karai fiddled with the hem of her top awkwardly, but she nodded. "Yeah, sure…"

"Oh, hey, I meant to ask: What are you gonna wear?"

Her head shot up, tilted in confusion. "What?"

April started tying her hair back. "Like, when we go to Murakami's. What are you planning to wear?"

"… Crap." She massaged her temples. "Damn. I never even thought about it. I only own some tops and jeans, and training gear… I'm so screwed."

"Actually, I was hoping you'd say that," admitted April giddily. Before Karai could question her, she leapt to her feet and ran to her closet. "I have a dress that would suit you perfectly; it's too long for me, but you're taller."

"Yeah, no offense April, but I don't really think we have the same taste in-"

"Got it!" The redhead whirled around, holding a hangar with a lacy black dress. "See? It'll look great on you!"

Shakily, Karai took the hangar and examined it. "Oh, is this the one you mentioned the other day?" April nodded. "Weird… This doesn't seem like your style. Why do you even have this?"

"Birthday present," she answered. "My mom's sister, Julie; she hasn't seen me in a couple years."

"Are you sure you don't mind me borrowing it?"

"You can have it, if you want," April said with a smile.

She raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"If you like it, yeah." The girl grinned. "You'll get more use out of it than I ever will, I'm sure. Besides, you might need a formal dress sometime in the lair; you never know."

"April," Karai chuckled fondly, "if it was a special event in a Japanese home, I would need a kimono. But thanks, anyway."

The two girls embraced kindly, all tension from their past forgotten in that moment, holding each-other as though they had never been enemies. April silently marvelled at how far they had come in the past two weeks, from shaky allies to what she would call good friends. The progress truly had been amazing, and she hoped it was setting Karai on a bright path for the future.