Well, here's the next chapter! We're nearing the end, but I'm sorry if chapters are late... Starting school again, and I get pretty busy. Enjoy! And thanks for support.

Raphael

"Insolent child! I treated you as if you were my own blood. I gave you the power to be strong, returned to you the will to live! Yet, you betray me for my greatest enemy and his disciples. You chose a life among freaks over a thrown!" With the final word, I watched Shredder pull back his hand and strike Serena's cheek, cutting the flesh further.

"Leave her alone!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, tugging at my restraints. They cut farther into my wrists. Through the bandages wrapped around them, pain was followed by a wetness flowing from my broken skin.

"Raphael," his attention was successfully turned towards me, "I am glad you are here. I am glad it is you who were the one to twist Senshi's mind if it had to occur."

"Her name is Serena!" I spat at him. He spun and landed his fist into the side of my neck. I coughed and sputtered as I felt another cut open across the back of it. One of his claws was tinted red at the tip where it had grazed me. Any closer, and I would have been drowning in my own blood.

Shredder glowered over me, "Silence freak! You were always the one who fought the hardest among your brothers! It is you who has always been the one to protect them all when they could not themselves. Without you, they will truly be lambs coming to the slaughter…"

He turned from me and walked back towards Serena. She looked up to him in her kneeling position, but I could not make out the expression on her face. My vision was blurred again from the attack, and I continued to wheeze. "Which will make this all the more enjoyable."

Behind her back, he lashed out again. This time metal struck metal, but the chain cut like butter. Serena starred at her wrists where the shackles fell away, rubbing them slowly. He circled her, like a buzzard over a rotting kill. Bitter and hateful, he crouched down beside her. "Redeem yourself now. Kill Raphael and lead me to the others. You know now where they are, and with him reduced to a lifeless corpse, they will not stand a chance. Do this and you will survive. You will see another day and you may slowly gain my trust again."

"When has that ever been a bribe for me?" she hissed back. A slight shake altered her words. Shredder stood once again and rounded the girl with a disapproving posture.

"As we speak, your old second in command, Aaron boards a private plane that is intended to land in Italy. It could land safely or, it may not arrive. Its destiny is in your hands. You control his life as well," I could see the horror in her eyes when she finally looked up, starring past me. Her lips were slightly agape, but nothing left them but a sharp breath. "If I remember correctly, you owe him your life. He has saved you from others… and yourself. Make your choice."

Slowly, I watched her stand up next to him, reaching nowhere near her height. Aaron had been her family long before I became a part of her life. If she really did owe him a life debt, would she throw it away for me? She hardly knew me, and still what could I offer her compared to him? A single Foot soldier emerged from the shadows and held a sheathed chokuto out to her. Thunder rolled in the distance as she threw away her tattered jackets. Her eyes locked onto me as she took the sword in one hand and stepped forward. Unsheathing the straight, thin blade, it hung heavily in her right hand while the other held tight to the sheath.

Shredder held farther back while the soldier disappeared back into the shadows. "I told you I should have left Raphael. I told you… you should have killed me. I told you that I would be the death of you. You left me with no choice."

I watched her chest heave beneath the armor around her waist. Standing there over me, I could see how terrifying of a force she really could be for her enemies. Her bare, muscular arms revealed all the scars they wore. Battle wounds and those self inflicted, she was a survivor, but on top of that she wasn't without honor. I had faith that she had another plan on her mind. Regardless, her decision would keep her safe, and if it came to it, my brothers would be alright without me. "I know. Go ahead then, save yourself… save the man you love. Take your family back. It's okay."

"I never wanted this… I am sorry, Raphael." Serena leveled the sword beside my neck. Her eyes were narrowed, but this close, this close I could fall into the green.

"Pathetic creature, doesn't know enough to squabble for its life," Shredder growled, urging her to complete the task.

So low that only I could hear her, she whispered, "Forgive me, Aaron. Forgive me… father."

As if in slow motion, I watched her turn towards her father. The blade narrowly passed above my head as she threw the scabbard towards Shredder. Easily he reflected it away as his stance changed and grew firmer. Serena swung her weapon and it locked onto his gauntlets. "Miserable girl! You are no daughter of mine! Tonight, you all will die!"

Standing between the two of us, Serena starred down the man who had raised her. He knuckles were white on the handle. "Che sarà sarà. Dio volendo lo faro."

Serena

Both of us stepped forward, and the fight began. Through my life, I had faced Oroku Saki before in training. Compared to others, I was quite strong, but never before had I truly won against him. I could hold my own for only so long, but in the end… I doubted today would be any different, but I had to try. He would not get his revenge through me. His enemies were honorable and kind people. They weren't my rivals.

His set of claws slammed down dangerously close to my face. My chokuto swung up and caught them. How I wished for my tessen now, but Karai had them along with Raphael's sai. She hid somewhere in the shadows behind Raphael. None of my focus could be on her now. I swept my leg low, upsetting his balance briefly, but not knocking him down as it would have with anyone else. He leapt back sending shuriken flying. Each bounced off my sword with a light metallic sound.

"I will not live your life of hate and deceit!" I threw countless punches at him. Seeking out all points of his torso, but his own arms blocked each one swiftly.

The last I threw, he caught in his hold. "So you turn to a life of good and righteousness? You are an assassin. You are a thief. Your record is nearly as red as my own. You not only have taken the lives of your enemies but of innocents as well. You are no better than me, child!"

"Lies!" I screamed before turning into him. My elbow swung back into his the weak spot in his armor on his side. The force made him roar and throw me away. My shoulder was torn in the wrong way making me yelp as I landed. I held my right arm, still heavy with the blade. "I am nothing like you! I have learned to let people in! I have learned to let go of the past that left me broken. I have felt the regrets of my darker days and faced them. You are nothing but the embodiment of a demon who knows only fear and destruction."

Oroku Saki's response was only another roar before he charged me once more. This time, his open palm connected straight into my temple with a horrible force. Dazed, I stumbled trying to keep my hands ready to guard myself with my weapon. His leg flew through the air and knocked the blade from my grip irritating my shoulder further. The chokuto clattered on the rooftop as his open palm slammed into my sternum. I fell back and rolled on the ground till I slammed into the raised ledge of the building. The back of my head ached from the collision.

Ringing filled my ears as I struggled to push myself up. The rooftop seemed to tip side to side. I could barely make out Raphael anymore. It was difficult to look anywhere now. But what I could see was Shredder walking his way. Something he said must have struck a nerve. But he was still chained by both hands.

"No!" I screamed, getting to my feet again. "Father! You face me!"

Raphael

All that I could see, all that I could think about was how lifeless Serena's form looked crumpled at the edge of the rooftop. I had seen many go up against the Shredder before, never had I seen such passion in doing so. But now, she looked like she was running out of ideas. "You raised her from a child! What kind of man can do that to their daughter?"

I pulled harder and harder as he walked closer. Blood was beginning to flow more and more and that meant my hands grew slicker. "You disgusting reptile, you were raised by the hands of a coward. You know nothing about what kind of man I am or how I raise a daughter!"

He raised his clawed hand, ready for a final blow. My distraction worked though, it bought Serena time. With great effort, she stood once more. "No, Father! You face me!"

His gaze fell back to her. As he began to turn, I maneuvered my body. I swung my legs again and swept at his. He stumbled away from me, cursing at me in Japanese. The corner of my mouth raised in a smile, but it was short lived. While Serena pulled Shredder back in for battle, I heard footsteps from behind. Karai charged fury in her eyes from my move. One last tug made me grit my teeth, but my left hand became free.

Now bound by only one hand, I spun around when she slammed her katana where I was kneeling. Her eyes widened in surprise, and I took the opportunity. Planting my hands firmly, I launched both of my feet towards her. One caught her chin, the other her stomach. Karai fell hard into the concrete. Out cold, I spun around taking advantage to get close enough to grab the familiar folded tessen at her waist.

"Serena!" I hollered, looking over my shoulder. Panting hard, she ducked under Shredder's arm and caught the first I sent spiraling towards her. The other landed in her grip as she spun farther, avoiding another blow. With her weapon returned to her, I knew the odds were much more in her favor than they had been before. I let myself smile before turning back to Karai. I was bleeding pretty badly from my hand now, and I really didn't think I could copy what I had just done. "Now, where's the key?"