Disclaimer: The only things TMNT-related that belong to me are a few DVDs and way too much excitement about the new episodes :')
"Man, I still can't believe you ate it all!" Mikey congratulated his sister, squeezing her tightly. "None of our human friends have ever eaten any algae and worms, let alone a whole bowl!"
Karai smiled weakly, hoping he couldn't see how ill she felt. "It wasn't too bad, actually; better than I expected it to be."
"Now you can have breakfast with us every day!" gasped Mikey. "We're gonna need to up our algae-diving quota!"
She was sure her skin had paled. Luckily, Leo came to her rescue once again. "Mikey, she's a human, remember? She can't live off just algae and worms; we'll have to get other food for her, like we do for Master Splinter, April, and Casey." The blue-clad turtle turned to his partner with a devious grin. "But I'm sure she can join us sometimes."
The kunoichi raised an eyebrow at him and he winked cheekily, riding on the thrill her presence brought him. As Mikey bounced into the living area to announce the news to Raph and Donnie, Leo laced his three fingers through Karai's five, squeezing tightly.
"Hmm…" She glanced down at their fingers. "Why do I get the feeling that you are going to be incredibly clingy in this partnership?"
Leo smiled shyly, his grip loosening. "Heheh, uh… Sorry, Karai, I just-"
"It's okay, Leo," she said quietly. "I… I kind of like it."
He blushed. "You do?"
"… Yes." The girl averted her eyes coyly. "It… It's kind of nice to have somebody care enough about me to need constant check-ups."
"I can't help it," he admitted sheepishly, clutching her hand again. "I like reassuring myself that you're here with me, and I like making sure you're happy."
When her eyes met his, they were surprisingly defenceless and open, her appreciation and affection very visible. "Thank you, Leonardo. Thank you so much."
He kissed her on the cheek quickly, pulling back just as their brothers approached. Raphael rolled his eyes at them and Mikey and Donnie both smiled, but to Karai's amazement, there was no further reaction. Karai wondered why they were being so casual, until it hit her: She had feared their brothers discovering their partnership due to the taboo it would have incurred topside, but after living in the sewers their whole lives, her brothers obviously weren't aware of said taboo. Or, in the cases of Donatello and probably Leo, they just didn't care about it.
So maybe she should stop caring, too. Not just about the taboo, but about everything; Leo wanted to be her partner, she wanted to be his, and their family weren't upset about it. Maybe that was all that mattered.
As Mikey distracted their brothers, Leo cupped her face gently in both hands and placed a quick peck on her lips. Screw you, Foot Clan, she thought to herself, bringing him in for a deeper kiss. Screw it all.
Two days. Splinter's resolve lasted two days. Two days of fighting against the desire for vengeance so strong it physically hurt, coping purely through will power, and comfort drawn from watching his boys fuss over their new sister. Training and patrols had both been cancelled for a few days, partly so the boys could help welcome Miwa, and partly because neither he nor Leonardo had decided how to tell her that she wasn't to go on patrols while the Shredder was searching for her.
However, even the strongest can fall, and as he lay awake again that night, he gave in to revenge.
He strapped two of his finest blades – well-crafted twin katana, of a sleeker build than even Leonardo's – onto his back in their sheaths. They had not been used in battle for over sixteen years, yet were still polished, pristine and, most importantly, prepared. To cover his inevitable passage in the streets, the humanoid rat retrieved a cloak of thin, black material – it would conceal himself and his blades, but was light enough to be thrown aside with a moment's notice if need be.
Moving silently, Splinter exited the dojo and descended into the pit. He crossed the area with light footsteps, and had one hand on the turnstiles when-
"Father?"
Karai stood at the edge of the pit, at the entrance to the hall housing his children's bedrooms. She eyed the swords strapped to his back, outlined through the thin fabric of his cloak. Lips pursed, she asked, "Where are you going?"
He sighed. "Miwa, you cannot expect me to forget what the Shredder has done to you."
She frowned. "You expected me to forget what he had done to you and my mother..."
As another sigh tore through Splinter's body, his hand squeezed the turnstile. "That was... different. You're my child, and he took and violated you."
"He also took Mother from both of us," Karai reminded him gently, stepping closer. "There's nothing we can do to change what he has done to us and what he has taken - you taught me that." She set a hand on his shoulder. "What we can change is how much power we give him."
"Miwa..."
He turned to face her and quickly regretted it, faced with the rarity of raw emotion on her face. Karai placed her hands on his shoulders. "Please, don't let him take my father from me."
Her amber eyes were filling with tears despite her efforts to fight it, and she was biting into her lower lip. Shakily, Splinter reached a pawed hand to her black tangled hair, winding the locks around his fingers. Karai struggled to keep eye contact, repeating his promises not to harm her in her head to comfort herself.
"I do not wish for us to be separated again, my daughter," Splinter whispered, "though I admit that I still want Saki to suffer for his actions towards us."
"Me too," she admitted quietly, "but I've learned from my mistake, Father. I tried to put revenge above reason, and it turned me into a mindless freak." His breathing hitched for a moment in memory, and his hand moved to her back to hold her close. Karai gazed up at him. "If we allow our revenge to consume us, then he still wins, Master Splinter."
The humanoid rat smiled proudly at his child, tears welling in his own eyes. "How did you become so wise under the Shredder's reign?"
"Actually, I learned that from you," Karai informed him, finally closing the distance and hugging him.
Splinter held her tightly, delicately stroking her hair. Her arms wrapped around his stomach, grazing the swords strapped to his back. "Are those Leo's swords?"
He chuckled. "No, these are from my own collection. My sons are not permitted to touch them, as you will probably understand."
"Yeah, I can see that." She laughed. "Imagine if Mikey could get his hands on them!"
Her father shuddered. "I have been having trouble sleeping as it is, Miwa. Do not give me further nightmares."
Karai smirked at first, before the words really sunk in. "I... I'm sorry, Father. I shouldn't have told you so much so quickly. Guess I didn't learn as much as I thought I had from last time, huh?"
"No, my child. I needed you to tell me, so I could understand your troubles." He pulled back far enough to look her in the eyes. "Said troubles may be troubling me, but as your father, it is my responsibility to help you through your difficulties."
"I just..." She sighed softly. "I'm used to handling things on my own. It's weird... knowing that there's somebody - a lot of somebodies, in fact - there for me."
"Try to remember that, my daughter," Splinter said kindly. "We are your family now, and we will always be there when you need us."
To his surprise, Karai snuggled into him again. "Thank you," she breathed into his robe.
"You are my daughter, Miwa; supporting you is hardly a problem."
Though her face was hidden, he could hear her begin to cry almost inaudibly. She whimpered incoherently, and he soothingly massaged her head. Splinter murmured quietly to her, "Shh, child, shh... You are safe here, and you always will be. I love you, my Miwa." He kissed the crown of her head lightly.
She gasped, then stilled in his embrace. "Thank you," she repeated. "Thank you for everything."
"I wish I could have been with you all these lost years," Splinter sighed regretfully, "but I promise you that I will be with you for many more."
"Good," Karai replied, tilting her tear-stained face up to him. "I don't want to lose you again."
"If I have anything to say about it, you will not."
They hugged each-other for a few moments longer, both feeling safer and more grounded with the other's presence. Splinter couldn't deny the anger still burning in his chest, or the desire to avenge his wife and daughter, but there was a calming cool spreading over him. This was a feeling normally limited to meditation, but he welcomed its effects, as his breathing evened out and a small portion of the weight evaporated from his shoulders.
"Do you feel calmer, Father?" she asked, breaching the silence.
Splinter nodded. "Yes, thank you. I want revenge on the Shredder, but I believe I can handle that urge now. Thank you, Miwa."
"Thank you." Karai grinned at him. "You won't seek revenge alone, will you?"
"I will not," he vowed. "When the time comes, though, I insist on being the one to take Saki out. There is no chance of me placing that burden on any of my children."
Karai exhaled in relief. "That's good. I hate the Shredder with all my heart, but... I don't think I could dispose of him. Memories and everything..."
"That is understandable. My own memories of Saki still plague me, but many of them are negative, which allows me to overlook the good ones I remember."
"Do... Do you think that day will come soon?" Karai inquired tentatively.
He sighed, then lowered his head to hers. "I hope not. Though if it does, I believe we will be ready for it."
An indefinite amount of time slipped past, neither wishing to break the moment of contentedness enveloping them. However, Splinter knew that he had to let go of her, or there was a chance he never would. "Now, it is late, and we both need our rest."
Karai gave him a pointed look. "Will you actually rest, Father? Or will you just sneak out when you think I'm asleep?"
"I promise you, my daughter, I will not leave the lair tonight." He hesitated. "Whether or not I rest, however, is a different matter."
"Father," she sighed, "I'm here with you all now. Like you said, I'm safe, and it's not like anything we can do will change what Shredder did. Please, rest. It'll do you good."
Splinter smiled, his eyes soft with affection. "I will try my best. Now…" He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I would send you back to Leonardo, but evidently you can escape without his notice…"
"Actually, I wouldn't be so sure about that."
They both jumped, and turned simultaneously to see the turtle in blue lounging in the doorway where Karai had been standing originally.
The kunoichi blinked. "Wha- When did you…?"
He rolled his blue eyes. "I knew you weren't asleep, Karai; I could tell. I'll admit, I thought you were sneaking out again, but I wasn't sure, so I followed you just in case." Leo blushed slightly. "I didn't want to just ambush you if you were only going to get a glass of water or something."
"Well then," Splinter's voice brought their attention back to him. "Since Leonardo has proven he can keep track of you, Miwa, perhaps we should all get some sleep."
"That's probably a decent idea," agreed Leo, extending an arm to Karai from across the pit.
Although, Karai did not seem quite ready to let this go just yet. "You really will stay put, won't you, Master Splinter?"
"Yes, Miwa. I give you my word." He ruffled her short hair fondly. "Now go, daughter. Rest."
She looked him the eye for a long, silent second. "… Fine. Come on, Leo."
The turtle waited for her obediently, then kept one arm around her as he led her from the room. They paused at their bedroom door and glanced back at him. Leo cleared his throat. "Master Splinter? You are-"
"Yes, my children." He would have chuckled in amusement if he wasn't so sick of it. "Miwa has talked some sense into me; I will not be seeking revenge on Saki without proper preparation. You may rest peacefully."
Both fidgeted on the spot for a moment, met each-other's gaze, then smiled knowingly. Karai and Leo turned to their father, grinning widely. "You know what, Sensei? I think we'll do that," Leo conceded.
"Yeah," Karai added, "we have the perfect plan for it, too."
Splinter raised an eyebrow at them. "What plan?"
Twenty minutes later, Splinter bid his children goodnight with a caring chuckle, shutting the screen door to his bedroom behind him. On the other side, Karai and Leo lay together on the dojo's floor, sharing a thick training mat and some woollen blankets, using each-other as their pillows.
Sorry about the feels overload these last couple of chapters, guys. I tried to break it up a bit, but yeah. Also, sorry if you don't like the Leorai; that's gonna be toned down a bit in the next couple chapters too, it's just that the story focuses on Karai's life and obviously that's a big part of it right now. Thanks for understanding ^^
Also, thank you for reading this, and if you are going to review or ever have in the past, thank you so much. Seriously, makes my day, guys. You are all the absolute best xD
