Disclaimer: I wish, but nah. Don't own it, sorry.


The first thing Leo did after parking the Shellraiser in Donnie's makeshift garage was dash to meet Mikey, who gratefully handed over the napping girl he had been struggling to lift. Karai had dozed off at some point during the drive back, her head resting on Mikey's thigh. Leo didn't blame her, though; Casey had taken him aside in the night to warn him about Karai's sleeping troubles.

He roused her with a gentle shake, smirking at her brief disorientation. "Hey. Ready to see Sensei?"

She swallowed nervously. "I… I think so."

After making sure nobody was looking, Leo pecked her on the cheek. "Father has missed you, Karai. He'll be ecstatic to see you again."

Karai didn't respond verbally, but she tightened her arms around Leo's neck and shook her head to wake herself up more. He carried her through to the main room, where his brothers waited. "Where's Sensei?"

"Boys? Is that you?"

"Ooh, ooh!" Mikey jumped up and down with his hand in the air. When Leo nodded to him, he pointed to the dojo's screen door, which was sliding open. "He's over there."

Leo rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Mikey." He placed Karai on her feet just as his father came into view.

"My sons-" Splinter's breath hitched as he saw her. "Miwa... You are here."

She nodded stiffly, her voice small. "I am."

His eyes softened. "I do not know whether to thank my stars or my sons."

"I'd say your sons," advised Mikey from the side-lines.

Splinter chuckled, but he couldn't take his eyes off his daughter. Karai averted her gaze shyly, focusing on the floor. "Very well, Michelangelo. Thank you for bringing her to me, my sons. And Miwa?" Her eyes flicked up to meet his. Splinter stepped forward, extending his arms to her. "Thank you for returning to us."

Karai hesitantly took a step forward, looking at the floor again. Then, she ran towards her father and threw her arms around his waist. He held her tightly, his snout buried in her hair. When she raised her head, he dabbed away her tears with the sleeve of his robe. She watched the action anxiously, tracking his hand back down to her waist. He pulled her close again and she tensed, before she realised that he was only going to hold her. Eyes watering again, she pressed herself into him and wept. He kissed her head lovingly as he cradled her.

Once her sobbing began to subside, he tilted her head up and wiped the stray tears and remnants of her make-up away, prior to lightly pecking her forehead. "I love you, Miwa," Splinter whispered to her. Karai lay her head against his robe, but couldn't bring herself to repeat the phrase aloud yet. Her father tolerated this for now, settling for just hugging her.

The four turtles watched the duo embracing, before Mikey yawned loudly. Splinter glanced at him in amusement, and he smiled sheepishly. "Heh, uh, sorry Sensei…"

"Do not worry, Michelangelo," he assured his youngest, "it is late. We should all rest." He looked down at Karai. "Miwa, I was wondering whether you would mind having a… room-mate, of sorts."

Her eyes widened. "A room-mate?"

"Indeed. To ensure you do not go out on any midnight escapades." His arms tightened.

Karai swallowed. This is your fault, she thought. You betrayed them. You deserve punishment; you brought this on yourself. She nodded. "Okay."

Splinter smiled at her, and she closed her eyes in fear. "Then I am certain Leonardo will be more than happy to accommodate you."

Silence. Then, she peered up at him. "Leonardo?"

He beckoned said son forward and kissed her temple. "I am assuming neither of you will mind this?"

"No, Father," they answered in unison.

"Good." Splinter squeezed Karai tightly, then released her. Leo placed a hand on her shoulder. "I will see you all in the morning. Miwa, I would like to see you in the dojo then. Alone, preferably."

Focusing very intently on Leo's hand cupping her shoulder, Karai murmured a soft "okay", hoping her father's enhanced hearing couldn't hear her heartbeat. Though apparently Leo could at least sense it, because his hand travelled to the base of her neck and rubbed it comfortingly.

"Well then," Splinter reached out a hand and caressed her cheek, a wistful look in his eyes, "perhaps we should all get some sleep. Goodnight, my children."

"Goodnight, Sensei," his family chorused, before heading off towards their respective bedrooms. Karai's voice hadn't been in the chorus, but she bowed her head respectfully to him before turning to leave.

However, a hand to each of their shoulders stopped Leo and Karai in their tracks. They glanced up at their father. "Now, I am assuming that I can trust you both," Splinter said sternly, arms folded.

Leo blinked, unfazed. "Of course, Sensei."

Karai on the other hand, understanding immediately, smirked. "Don't worry, Father, we'll behave." She gestured to a bemused Leo. "He doesn't have a clue what you mean."

Splinter hummed non-committally. "Very well. Though I shall still expect you to leave the door open for as long as this arrangement lasts."

"Why?" asked Leo, before realisation dawned on him and he flushed pink. "O-Oh. Yeah, Sensei, the door'll be open from now on. N-Not that it would need to be, of course." He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head.

Karai patted his shoulder, then smiled at Splinter. "It's okay, I won't be corrupting him." Splinter nodded and dismissed them. Karai leant into Leo's ear as they left and whispered lowly, "Well, not tonight, at least."

Blushing deeply, he shoved her forward as he stooped to retrieve her bag. "I hate you so much."

"No, you don't."

Leonardo followed her happily with the bag under his arm, swatting at her even though she was out of reach, failing to notice the humanoid rat watching them with a fond smile from across the room.


After brushing her teeth beside her new brothers (and marvelling at how surreal it was), Karai removed her make-up and, upon Leo's insistence, changed alone in the bathroom. She padded through to Leo's room – the door left wide open for her – with her dress over her arm, and felt anxiety crawling over her skin again. Shaking it off and putting on a smirk, she sauntered into Leo's bedroom, only to be immediately swung off her feet. Shrieking in surprise, she dropped what she was holding and twisted to see her attacker.

Leo grinned at her, lifting her higher over his head. "Hello again."

She allowed him to play for a little longer, waving her around over his head, but when he stopped swinging her side to side and began spinning in circles, she asked, "Leo, what are you doing?"

He shrugged, then tossed her up into the air, catching her carefully as she fell. "I don't know." This time, he twirled around with her, before clutching her to his plastron. Karai just let him do what he wished, laughing quietly all the while.

"You really are weird, Leo," Karai informed him. "Even for a mutant turtle."

"I can't help it; I'm happy." Flicking off the light and pulling the door over (leaving it open enough to stave off Splinter's wrath), Leo carried her to the bed with ease. "I mean, after a year, you're finally here. I mean, for real. And you're my partner now, which I am more than okay with."

Leo lay her down in the bed and tucked her in, smiling at her all the while. She smirked at him. "Stop trying to be cute."

"Hey, you said it yourself, remember? I'm adorable."

She laughed. "I also recall saying you were stupid."

He stuck his tongue out at her as he clambered into the bed beside her, and she couldn't deny how safe she felt as he cuddled closer to her, his large arm curved around her shoulders. "So," Leo said with a grin, though his eyes sparkled with concern, "how's your back, partner?"

"We're not in the Old West, Leo," she scoffed. The kunoichi rolled onto her side, only aware of the tingling pain after having thought of it. "And my back is fine."

Karai felt his sigh of relief. "Awesome. You might wanna get Donnie to look at it tomorrow, though, just in case."

She rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay, calm down."

Leo kissed her on the cheek. "What? I'm worried about you, that's all. I don't want you to be in pain."

"Thank you," the kunoichi said softly, tucking herself into Leo's side. The turtle held her close without even thinking about it, easily accepting her into his personal space. Karai's mouth curled upwards, and he felt the movement of her lips against his plastron.

"Goodnight, my beautiful little partner," he whispered to her.

"Little?" She gazed at him through her eyelashes. "I'm taller than you."

"Well, yeah," Leo conceded, "but my frame's bigger. And anyway, right now you look absolutely tiny."

Karai scowled half-heartedly at him. "You know, we can't all have huge shells, Leo."

"That would certainly make myself and our brothers less special."

"Nothing would make you less special, Leo," she chuckled to herself.

He blew a raspberry on the crown of her head and she squealed in disgust. The turtle laughed down at her, ruffling her short hair, then heaved a sigh. "Karai?"

"Yes?"

"Why… Why did you kiss me so quickly the other night?" She froze in his arms. Hurriedly, he pecked her on the forehead and explained, "It's just – I'm not complaining, honest – but I don't… I don't understand what prompted it. I wanted it to happen, but I didn't really expect it." He paused, gauging her reaction. She seemed to be listening, though it didn't look like she was going to speak any time soon. When Leo spoke again, his voice seemed small in the silent room. "I was just wondering why."

If Leo's voice had been small, Karai's was minuscule. "… Because I was scared that if I waited, I would lose the only person that's ever cared about me again."

"Oh, Karai…" Leo caressed her cheek, then set her head down on his chest again. "You won't lose me. Now come on, you need to go to sleep."

Her arms wrapped around his neck as she drew closer. He placed a kiss on her head, inhaling her scent greedily. "Goodnight, Leonardo."

"Goodnight, Karai. See you in the morning."

Comforted by Leo's presence and steady breathing, Karai felt herself drifting off to sleep against the heavy shell of her companion. And for the first time since her mutation, she slept peacefully.


When Karai awoke the next morning, it was to discover a firm grip around her waist. Leo was snuggled right up to her, his arms locked around her even in his sleep. He murmured sleepily, drooling onto her neck.

"Ew," she muttered pointedly. A long, slow lick trailed across her neck, and she hissed in repulsion. "Leo, that's disgusting!"

His blue eyes opened, and he grinned cheekily at her. "What? You liked my tongue last night…"

She blinked in surprise. "Wow. I suppose the stick-up-his-shell, leader boy persona doesn't kick in until you wake up properly, huh?"

As if just realising what he had said, Leo blushed. "Uhm… I-"

Karai cut him off with her laughter. "You really are adorable, Leonardo."

He smiled. "Thanks." The turtle leaned up towards her, but she winced and turned away. "What?"

She stifled her giggles behind her hand. "You have the worst morning breath ever."

Leo frowned, then pressed his mouth against hers anyway, chuckling into their kiss. Thankfully, Karai laughed too, kissing him back. As they broke the kiss, Karai rolled her eyes. "Morning breath and turtle lips? Aren't I just the luckiest girl in the world?"

"Hey," Leo teased playfully, "you're the first girl in the world to ever kiss a mutant turtle. I'd say that's pretty lucky." He thought for a moment, then added, "And anyway, it could've been worse; my brothers and I lived off algae and worms, which probably would've been worse than morning breath."

"Ugh." Karai shuddered in mock-horror. "You're never allowed to kiss me after you eat algae and worms."

He pouted, then pecked her on the cheek. "I still can't believe you're here with me, Rai-Rai."

She shook her head. "I don't think so, Leo. Rai-Rai is Angel's nickname for me. Try again."

"Uh… Precious?"

"Cute, but no."

"Honey?"

"Hmm… No, too sickly sweet."

"… Baby?"

"Absolutely not."

Leo sighed in defeat. "I'll think on it."

She smirked. "Good. Let me know when you think of something."

"Will do." He kissed her on the head. "Come on, we should get up."

The turtle scooped the kunoichi into his arms and swung her over his shoulder, carrying her out of the room and through to the main living area. Upon her request, Leo set her down on her feet again just before they entered, and kept his hands off her as they walked together.

"Morning, Karai!" shouted Mikey eagerly, dashing over to her from nowhere and throwing his arms around her. "Did you sleep okay?"

"For once, yes," she answered honestly, wrapping one arm around Mikey's shell. Leo met her eyes over the younger turtle's head with a question in his eyes, and she offered him a small smile.

"Awesome." The young turtle beamed up at her. "I did, too; I dreamt that me and our brothers were sat in here watching TV – probably Crognard, I can't remember – and then a broken Foot-Bot flew in through the turnstiles, and I could hear a bunch of other ones getting mashed up, and one working robot got into the lair and was taking pictures – its eyes had cameras – and I was all like, "Oh no, bro!" but it was okay, 'cuz then you leapt over the turnstiles too – in your snake form – and totally crushed it and saved us all, and then-"

"What on earth are you talking about?" questioned Raph as he entered, tying the wraps around one of his hands.

"My dream," answered Mikey, as if it was obvious. "Wanna hear about it, too?"

The red-clad turtle rolled his eyes. "No, Mikey, I really don't." He turned to Karai. "Hey princess, I think Sensei wants to talk to you. You might wanna get changed first, though."

Trying to regulate her breathing, she nodded. "Okay."

"You alright?" Leo asked gently.

Karai smiled gratefully at him. "Yeah, I'm… alright."


Okay, so quick warning: Up until now, I've had at least one full chapter written up and proof-read, but I've fallen a bit behind, so while I think I should probably be okay, I'm warning you in advance that I might be a little late on some future updates. If I am, I'm really sorry.

Anyway, thank you very much for reading this chapter, and to anyone that has reviewed or plans to, you are awesome xD