As the white-banded turtle walked through the familiar sewers, her trench coat stuffed into her bag, she felt memories flood before her mind's eye.
'I sure missed this place…'
She found the door, and adjusted the bag on her shoulder before opening it.
She stepped into the lair, and smiled.
'Hasn't changed a bit…'
"Hey, guys!!! Where's the welcome wagon!?!"
She heard a snort, and someone fell off the couch.
She couldn't help a giggle as an orange-masked turtle looked over the back of the couch.
"K-Kitty?!"
A warm smile, and she put a hand on her hip.
"Yep!! Now get over here and say hello to your sister!!"
He happily obliged, jumping over the couch and hug-tackling his sister.
"Whoa!!! Mikey torpedo in the water!!" She joked, hugging him back.
But she tensed when she heard him crying.
"Mikey? What's wrong?"
"I-I knew y-you'd come b-back…But n-no one b-believed me…"
She soothed him as she sat up, holding him like a small child.
"Shh…Shhh…It's okay, Mikey…I'm here, and that's all that matters, 'kay?"
He nodded up at her with watery baby blue eyes, and she smiled, standing up, still cuddling him to her chest like a child, and put him gently on the couch.
"Where are the others?"
Mikey shrugged, and Cat just rolled her eyes playfully, looking for their life forces.
'Don…'
"C-Cat?"
She smiled at the surprised purple-banded turtle.
"Hey, Donnie! Long time no see, eh bro?"
He still seemed in shock, so she went over and caught him in a headlock.
"I missed you, bro! Ain't ya happy to see me again?"
He got over his shock, freeing himself from her arms, and smiled.
"I…I didn't think…"
"You thought I wasn't coming back."
He only nodded mutely.
A forgiving smile.
"I would never just leave like that. I love you all too much."
She gave him a huge hug, and he returned it after a moment.
For the first time since the two turtles had left, Donatello felt safe and protected again.
Then again, Cat had always been a protector, ever since she'd been mutated.
"What's with all the noise?!"
She looked up at the familiar gruff voice, a smile making her face brighten up.
"Raphie!!"
Surprise flitted across the red-banded turtles face as he saw her.
"K-Kitten…"
She couldn't help the love that flashed through her violet eyes, and released her purple-banded brother to turn towards him, putting her hands on her hip.
"Hello, tough guy. Gonna come down and say hello?"
He still seemed wary, as if thinking she'd changed her mind.
She still remembered that day…the day Splinter found out…
Flashback:
Cat looked up at Raphael with misty violet eyes, smiling contently.
Their first time, and she couldn't have felt happier.
She was tired, exhausted, but she didn't care.
The fire in her chest wouldn't let her think of such things.
Her mask was on the floor, along with both their gear, but she only kept her attention on the turtle beside her.
Her flexible leg rubbed his leg sensually, smiling as her fingers went across his chest and stomach, feeling his muscles tense and then relax under her feather-soft touch.
"Kitten…" He muttered sleepily, looking at her with hooded eyes.
"Hey, tough guy…" She whispered back, smiling.
"…I've gotta go…don't want sensei to catch me…"
She moved out of the warmth, picking up her things, and gave him a kiss before sneaking out the door.
But when she reached her door, a voice stopped her from stepping in.
"Caterina, come with me to my room."
She sighed, tying on her mask and pulling on her gear as she followed the elderly rat obediently.
'I'm in deep shit, aren't I?'
She kneeled before her father, looking at the floor.
"…My daughter…I have become aware of your relationship with your brother…"
She closed her eyes for a moment.
"And I am surprised that you took it to the next level without asking for my permission."
She sighed, clenching her fists.
"So you don't approve…"
"Unfortunately, my daughter, you were raised as siblings. This is not allowed."
"Among humans, sensei!" She retorted, a pleading in her tone.
"We're not human! We may act like it and feel like it, but we're not! I'm the only girl, so you should've suspected something like this would happen!"
Splinter sighed.
"I know…but I didn't expect it to happen until much later…when you could make a mature decision…"
"I'm old enough to know what love is!"
She couldn't help the tears that shimmered in her eyes.
"THIS is why I didn't want you to know! Because I knew you wouldn't understand!"
"Caterina, you must understand that I'm doing what's best for you…"
"Then leave us be!"
She was so close to crying…
"My daughter…I believe you should also go on a training trip…"
Her eyes hardened as she clenched her fists.
"You're separating us…"
"Some time on your own will help you think more clearly about the situation…"
"It won't change anything." She said stubbornly.
"You never know, my child…"
"…Fine…when I come back…"
She stood up, feeling her life energy, what some called chakra, threaten to rein loose.
"…I'll be expecting that blessing…"
And she left, silent tears on her cheeks…
End Flashback:
Raph had moved closer, looking at her in surprise.
She'd changed so much while she was gone…
He hoped she hadn't changed her mind…
She surprised him by pulling him into a kiss, and he got his answer as her tongue danced with his own.
Mikey smiled, saying, "It's been a while since I've seen THIS…"
"Yep…I'm just glad their happy…"
Cat pulled back, the smile starting to fall.
"Hello, sensei."
The other three turtles turned to see Splinter, both hands on his walking stick.
"Hello, my daughter."
The three brothers were surprised to see the emotion vanish from her face, as if hidden by a wall, as her eyes caught her sensei's.
"…May I speak with you privately, Caterina…"
She nodded mutely, following him.
"…She's changed…" Mikey muttered.
"…She had to…after what happened…" Don answered.
Raph stood there a moment, deep in thought, and then marched in, seeing Cat about to kneel before their sensei.
"Raphael…"
"She's here, so I'm gonna be here, too."
Cat's eyes sparked slightly with understanding, but she hid it well.
Splinter allowed it, and the red-banded turtle kneeled beside her.
He only moved again when Cat held his hand, giving a reassuring squeeze.
He relaxed as Splinter kneeled down as well.
"…I seem to have been…rash about my decision to split you apart…it seems that this isn't what I had suspected it was…"
Cat looked back at him, a flicker of hope in her eyes.
"…So I will allow this relationship to go on…"
Happiness, joy…they lit up her eyes like stars, and a smile split her face open.
"…Now, about you're time in Alaska…"
Cat shook the feelings away, trying to act professional.
"It was educational, sensei. I've learned much, and trained hard. I finally understand the world outside…"
"What has your training brought you, my daughter?"
Raph was wondering the same.
She still had the same belt and pads, but the new things showed she'd learned something.
That's what she'd said when she was younger.
'When I become a true kunoichi, you'll know!'
She straightened slightly.
"I have mastered my life force, and my meditation has allowed me to control the darkness. I've learned many tricks, and my time in the wilderness has trained me physically."
Splinter nodded.
"It seems it has helped you much…"
The elderly rat stood, motioning for her to follow.
She smiled slightly at Raph before following, and stood respectfully.
Splinter held up a silver chain, made of Japanese symbols, with a strange diamond hanging from it, at least as big as her middle finger. It seemed to have formed naturally into a strange star-like shape, and made the light split into rainbows.
"This is an unknown relic my Master Yoshi protected. I don't understand why, but I understand that only a master should hold it, or the bearer will be shocked by its power."
Cat nodded, holding out her palm.
She was surprised when the cool stone touched her palm, not hurting her at all.
The old rat before her smiled.
"You are ready, Caterina."
She nodded, still slightly shocked, as he put the chain around her neck.
"Do not let anyone have it, my daughter…"
She nodded, touching the handles of her blades for reassurance.
"Yes, sensei…"
She hesitated before hugging him.
"…Thank you…father…"
He smiled slightly, returning the gesture.
"…It is good to have you home…"