Disclaimer: The TMNT belong to Eastman and Laird. And since my name is neither Eastman nor Laird, the logical conclusion is that I do not own the Ninja Turtles. Sigh. Logic sucks.

Alright, I'm starting this sucker out with a warning; this chapter will be kinda violent, rather bloody, and extremely angsty. And I mean angsty; I'm talking ten thousand emo kids who just lost their black nail polish all converging at a 'My Chemical Romance' concert. XD (That is probably the strangest analogy I've ever come up with. Oh, and absolutely no offense is meant to people who like 'My Chemical Romance', that's just the clearest example I could think of.) And yes, there is a character death within, just so you're all forewarned. This is probably going to be the biggest chapter of the story, at least in the way of pivotal happenings and goings-on; I don't know about page length. And no, there's not going to be anything over-the-top, like limbs flying and guts all over the place. I don't see the merit of death scenes like that, except for certain kinds of stories, and I don't know that I'd really have the stomach to write such a death scene, anyways. But this one will still be gory. And if anyone thinks I need to change the rating for this story, please let me know; I personally think the rating is alright at 'T', but it'd be helpful to know what you guys think. And now I'm seriously thinking I wrote waaay too much about it, and I'm probably making too big of a deal about it, but at least you're warned. Bah. I'm gonna stop typing before I make a bigger idiot of myself than usual. :D (I know what you're thinking; that'd be hard to do, ne? Lol. Shaddup. :b)

Now on to the thanking! Copious amounts of thanks go out to the reviewers for Chapter Five: Tristripe, Aurora Musis Amica, RedRebel84, Pi90katana, Therabidsquirrel, BubblyShell22, greshunkai, Tewi, The Burninator Named Trogdor, and skyle. You guys are way too good to me, and I'm seriously jazzed (does anyone other than me even say that anymore?) that you all liked that chapter so much. I think it was everyone's favorite so far. 

And that's it! As for story progression, everything's going well. Chapter 7 is almost completely finished, so that should be another quick update, too. For more news on the story proceedings and such, check my profile; I really am going to try and update that periodically in between chapters so that you guys know I haven't died or anything. :D The only other thing I'm going to say is this: please like this chapter. I have worked really hard on this sucker and put a lot of effort into it, and I'll probably have to go drown myself in chocolate if it doesn't go over well. So please like it! Now that all that business is taken care of, on to the story!

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Karai growled as she paced across the rooftop. How? Another frustrated sigh, and another turn as she ran out of rooftop. How can half an hour be so cursed long? She glanced over at Leo, who lay a few feet away on the roof, still in the same position as when the Elite had left him. Karai spared another look at her watch, growling again. When Chaplin had told her that the sedative would render the Turtles unconscious for half an hour, she was perfectly happy with the allotted time; she'd even wished slightly for a few extra minutes, just to ensure that everything went off perfectly. But now she doubted she would be able to wait for Leonardo to wake up. After so many months, so many hours and days and weeks, it seemed completely ridiculous that waiting half an hour should be so hard; but it was. The one who had caused her so much grief, who had brought her world tumbling down around her, who had caused her to lose her father's love and her father, was lying right there, not five feet from her. Part of her wanted to do nothing more than go over and drive her blade straight through his heart, to end it, to end him and avenge her father, once and for all. But the other, larger part of her was what kept her pacing along the rooftop; the part that wanted Leonardo to suffer, the part that wanted to prove she could kill him…and the part that wanted answers. A curse escaped her, and she walked over to where Leonardo laid motionless, staring down at him. Frustrated, she swung her foot out and kicked him in the arm.

He didn't move. Not a twitch, not a blink, nothing.

Karai sighed, abandoning her aimless pacing to sit against the edge of the building. So many months I have waited for this…to avenge my father, to get this—this thing out of my life for good. And yet Time decides to mock me and do nothing more than crawl by. She looked back at Leonardo.

From where she sat, she could see the broken, shattered section of his shell, fractured during their battle on her father's ship. A small flicker of guilt wormed its way into her gut. Her anger flared again. Why should I feel any guilt? He is my enemy; I did what I had to.

Is he truly your enemy?

Karai grit her teeth. That cursed voice, the same small one that had told her to stop her father from killing Leonardo, still continued to plague her.

If he was your enemy, why did he save you so many times? If he was your enemy, why did you save him?

She growled again. More questions…more questions she didn't have answers to. More questions she was determined to have Leonardo answer before she killed him. Unable to help herself, Karai let her mind drift back through the time she had known Leonardo. And to her chagrin, there were several times when he had saved her life; in Beijing, again when that scum Bishop kidnapped her, and then the time when she would have plummeted to her death aboard her father's ship. But why? That was the question at the root of every problem, both the easy ones…and the hard ones.

Why has he saved my life so many times? Why did I save him? Why is he my enemy? Why is there still some foolish part of me that doesn't want to kill him?

Karai could not deny that a small part of her did not wish to see Leonardo dead. It was a very small part, and had been almost entirely consumed by her anger, but it still remained.

Because you love him, that small, treacherous voice whispered again.

She sighed brokenly, dropping her face in her hands. I cannot love him. I hate him. Nothing will come of it…nothing can come of it. I am going to kill him tonight.

That doesn't change the truth.

Karai slammed a hand into the unyielding surface of the roof. She needed Leonardo to wake up, so she could have her answers, kill him, and silence that cursed voice forever. She looked over at the silent turtle again. But…it was hard to hate him when he looked so peaceful. Karai had always seen Leonardo as a warrior; she loved watching him in battle, and fighting him as well, for it was rare to find such a wonderful opponent. He was always on his guard, confident and hard to read. But now his face was still and calm, unguarded in sleep…and surprisingly vulnerable. And young. It was one of the few times Karai remembered that Leonardo was only in his teens; in the way he spoke, and acted, and fought…he always seemed so much older.

Another growl worked its way out of her throat. If she had to wait much longer, she risked having her will weakened. She risked losing her anger and hatred, forgetting why she wanted to kill Leonardo as she remembered why she was so drawn to him. If this took much longer, she was going to fall back into that pointless habit of wondering how they could make things work between them. Gritting her teeth so tightly they creaked, she shot another look at her watch.

Ten minutes remained.

Karai jolted back to her feet, resuming her pacing. Her steps rapped against the rooftop sharply, and each time she passed Leonardo she had to fight to keep her eyes away from him. A vehement stream of curses escaped her.

It was going to be a long ten minutes.

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Leo stirred restlessly. He felt like he was in a thick fog, like every part of him was weighted down by an invisible but heavy mass. There was a constant noise echoing around him, and he slowly realized that whatever the repetitive clanking noise was, it was exactly in time with the muffled pounding that was taking up residence behind his eyes. Despite his body's protests, Leo pried his eyes open, intent on finding that annoying noise and stopping it. His head was turned to the side, and he saw metallic boots pace past him. Slightly confused, he let his eyes slip shut again as he struggled to think. Metal boots…? Who the shell would wear something like that?

…Karai!

The answer cleared most of the muzzy feeling that clouded his head immediately. Her name began a chain reaction of memories as he recalled what had happened; setting out to rescue April, being surrounded by the Foot, getting April away safely…only to watch his brothers fall to the rooftop, unconscious, before he too was sedated.

A flood of emotions raced through Leo as his memory caught up with him. There was fear; where were his brothers? Were they alright? Were…were they even still alive? Anger was present too; how could he have led them into such a trap? Never mind his vision, why didn't he convince his brothers to let him go alone? Why did things have to come to this, anyways? And oddly enough, there was also relief; he was at last on the path his vision had shown him. There would be no more haunting dreams, no more tense days of worrying and fruitless planning; things were at last at an end…for better or worse. All that remained now was to stand up and fight.

With that thought, Leo forced his eyes open a second time and slowly rolled on to his front. He couldn't help a small groan; even though he was shifting carefully, the pounding in his head increased ferociously at his movement. As soon as the small sound of pain left his mouth, the rap of Karai's footsteps halted. Her cold voice drifted towards his ears from somewhere ahead of him.

"So, you are finally awake."

Leo risked a glance at her as he cautiously worked his way into a kneeling position. There was a frustrated look of impatience on her face. Confusion and exasperation pricked at him. First she knocks me out, and now I've taken too long to wake up? "So sorry to keep you waiting," he murmured.

"Do not mock me, Leonardo. You are alone, and hardly in an advantageous position to do so."

Her words froze him, and he glanced around him quickly. She was right; his brothers weren't there. Leo whipped his head back towards her, despite the pain it caused his head, and glared at her. "Where are my brothers?" he asked, his voice low.

A smug smile tugged at her lips. "Safely on their way home…unfortunately for you."

"What?" Leo tried to hide his confusion. "Why would my brothers' safety be unfortunate for me?"

Karai's eyes held triumph. "Because they are going to lead me straight to whatever hole you and the rat have been hiding in, Leonardo."

"What? How—" A light snapped on in Leo's mind, and he could feel his heart drop into his stomach. "No…you—you bugged them?" The victorious expression on her face told him all he needed to know.

"Your brothers should be awakening now, just as you have…if they are not already dead. I had your brothers delivered to your rat master, and gave him a choice: take the three of them and return home unharmed, or refuse and be killed." She regarded Leo, her expression curiously blank. "I have not yet heard from my soldiers, so tell me; which do you think he chose?"

For a dizzying moment Leo thought he would be sick to his stomach. Leo knew his father would not be able to bring himself to risk three sons for one; he wouldn't even want Splinter to do so, not for his sake. But his brothers…his family…it was far too easy to think of what would happen to them. He could easily see the foundry destroyed like the Y'Lyntian Lair had been. And this time…this time, Leo couldn't see any escape for his family. They would be caught off guard; Splinter's attention would be focused on his brothers, who would just be starting to recover from the sedative's effects. Karai wouldn't take any chances after what happened last time…they would be even more greatly outnumbered than last time…Leo's eyes slid shut, and he thought his despair would swallow him whole. No…there could still be a chance, couldn't there…? Maybe…maybe it's a trick…

"You took my father from me, Leonardo; the only family I have ever had. So I took away your family. And now it is only us."

Leo glared death at the woman in front of him. "I will kill you for this," he vowed, his voice shaking with emotion.

Karai's face quickly took on a look of hate that matched Leo's. "That is where you are wrong, Leonardo. You are the one who will die tonight. I will avenge my father, and I will wipe you off of the face of this earth. You and your entire family will be nothing more than a memory. Less, even; who will remain to remember you?"

"Damn you…" Leo whispered. He could hardly speak for the weight for his emotions. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to his feet. "How could I have ever thought I could trust you?"

A hint of pain crossed Karai's face. "I suppose for the same reason I thought I could trust you; naïveté and ignorant hope. We both have been fools, and now we are both orphaned fools."

Leo closed his eyes, trying to come to grips with what had happened, but he couldn't. The loss of his entire family, so swiftly and when he couldn't even be there with them…combined with Karai's actions and the discovery of his feelings, it all was a wound too raw to touch. I will avenge this, he promised himself. Now, because there is no longer any reason for hesitation. Reaching behind him, he drew one of his katana, then met Karai's eyes. He pushed his pain away, bringing his focus only to the coming fight. "You wanted your battle, Karai; let's go, then. We'll end this now."

"No."

"…What?"

"We will fight, and you will die…but I will have some answers first."

"Answers," Leo repeated flatly, confused again. "Answers about what?"

Karai's haughty demeanor seemed to wither, replaced by what looked like discomfort. If Leo believed it could happen, he would say she looked embarrassed. "I want to know; why did you save me?"

"What?"

"Why did you save me?" Karai asked again. "Those times, in Beijing, on Bishop's train…on my father's ship…"

Leo's mind was trying to return to thoughts of his family, but he knew if he thought about them, he would crumble. He couldn't afford to do that; he had to hold everything together if he wanted to avenge them. So he locked it all away with a silent apology to his family; because as much as he wanted to go to them, wherever they were, part of him needed this—this closure with Karai.

"Leonardo?"

"I don't know," he replied abruptly. "My brothers—" His voice caught, but he pushed on. "They always ask—asked the same question. But…I don't know. I think it was because I—trusted you. Thought there was some good in you." His tone was bitingly cynical. "And we see where that got me."

Something like pain flashed across Karai's features. "That is why? You—trusted me?"

"Yes. Because I'm a fool."

Karai flinched, then recovered. "You should be glad you're a fool, then, because that is part of the reason you're alive," she snapped.

Leo stared at her. "What the shell are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about when I saved your life," Karai retorted.

"You saved my life," Leo repeated, disbelieving. "When?"

"On my father's ship, when you and your family lay broken and beaten at his feet. My father was about to kill you, but…I stopped him. How else do you think we ended up in the hall instead of in that chamber with you? Did you think we just conveniently walked away?"

Leo thought his mind was probably about to break from all the strain it was going through in just one night. "Why?"

"Because…because it would have dishonored him. You were already defeated; I did not want him to be dishonored just for your deaths."

"Didn't want him to be dishonored? You're a few million innocent deaths too late for that", Leo said bitterly.

Karai went pale with fury. "How dare you?!" she shrieked. "I knew I should have just let you die!"

"Then why didn't you?"

"Because I cared for you at one point," Karai blurted out. Her eyes widened in dismay immediately after that, and Leo had a suspicion that his eyes were just as wide.

For several long moments there was nothing but silence. Leo could hardly comprehend what Karai had just said, but he tried to anyways. Before he realized what he was doing, his mouth seemed to move of its own volition. "I think I may have cared for you as well."

Karai somehow managed to recover and cocked a neat eyebrow. "'May have'?" She echoed, struggling to hide her slight pain. "I see that you also have attached the past tense to that phrase."

"Yes." The word was less than a whisper as Leo stood there. In part of his mind, horror was welling up in him; had he actually said that? It was something he had never said to anyone, something no one knew about; something he hardly knew or had realized himself. And he was saying he cared about the woman who may have killed his family? But still…he needed to say these things. "Yes," he repeated, only slightly stronger. "But…I cannot care for you now, Karai, because I cannot trust you. You destroyed my home, you attacked my family, and you left all of that lying there like an open wound for me to find when I returned. And now…now this."

"Our families have always been at war, Leonardo; you have little right to be angry with me when, given the opportunity, you would have done the same thing that I did."

Words of anger and denial quickly rose to his lips, but before they could be spoken, Karai's words sunk deeper into his brain. Would he have done what she did? Invaded her home with forces far greater than hers, attacked her family when they were unprepared and unaware? Hunted each member of the Foot down until they were dead? The answer frightened him, because he had a sinking feeling that the answer might be 'yes'. To ensure his family's safety…to finally end the feud between their clans…suddenly it seemed that the sense of dishonor he saw in her actions may have been worth it to him, had their places been switched. "Maybe you're right," he said slowly.

"Maybe I am. But regardless, things changed that night, didn't they? Your…feelings for me changed that night." Karai grimaced, awkward embarrassment squirming in her gut; her voice and words sounded odd to her own ears. And yet, wasn't that excusable? Things such as feelings, especially feelings for each other, were things that she and Leonardo had never discussed before.

"How could they not change, Karai? I have given you so many chances, tried to help you so many times, and each time you slapped away my hand. Then you attacked the one thing in the world that means most to me; my family." Leo's eyes became dangerously narrow. "That is unforgivable. I've killed people for that. And yet, even after that, I gave you another chance. I warned you to stay away from my family, and you ignored me."

"And yet you constantly attack my family without remorse, and you think yourself beyond reproach," Karai retorted.

Leo laughed. "Your family? Who, the Foot? They aren't your family; they're only your clan. You don't care enough about them for them to be your family."

Heat rose in Karai's cheeks. "How dare you presume to know who I care about?"

"I'm not presuming anything, Karai, merely going by what I see." The laughter died in Leo's voice, and he became serious. "If you truly thought of the Foot as your "family", you wouldn't treat them like you do. You send them out like pawns to face me and my family. I can't think of how many times we've left your soldiers dead or injured on rooftops, scattered around the city, and not once have I ever seen you show up to check on them, to see if they are okay. If you truly cared about them, you would work with them, train with them, try to make them better; you wouldn't leave them to be beaten by us every single time."

"You have no right to judge me—"

"Please don't try and pull that, Karai," Leo interrupted. "I know what you do, what kind of life you live. I know what it's like to have to lead, because I must lead my brothers. I know what it's like to have to take care of and protect your clan, even though mine isn't as big as yours. But you don't even make an effort to truly care for those who are in your clan."

"That is a lie," Karai snapped.

Leo leveled a hard look at her. "Fine, then prove me wrong. Tell me about the ninja you had with you when you attacked me and my brothers tonight."

Karai pulled back, confused. "What?"

"Tell me about them," the leader repeated. "What are their names? Who are they? What are their dreams? How far would they go for you?"

The young woman felt distinctly uncomfortable, but quickly latched on to the last question. "Any of my ninja would die for me."

"Why? Out of love? Out of worry for you? Would they give up their lives because they consider yours more precious, or merely because you demand it?"

"…They know their duty."

Leo shook his head sadly. "That's all the proof I need. The Foot is no family of yours, Karai, not with how you treat them. You cannot compare your assault on my family with me and my brothers fighting against you and the Foot to protect New York."

Karai glared at him for a moment, then spat and laughed mockingly. "I must thank you, Leonardo."

The turtle narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Thank me for what?"

"For reminding me. Each time I am away from you, it almost seems as though I could bring myself to let you and your disgusting family go. But then I see you again, with your arrogant belief that you and only you are right about everything, and it becomes so clear again why I still hate you."

"You still hate me because you know I am right," Leo said, quietly vehement.

Karai froze in her tracks. "Excuse me?"

"You know I am right about the Shredder, Karai. You were there at his trial; you heard the testimonies about the countless atrocities he committed. I'm the one that made you face those truths, and you hate me for it, because you would rather remember him as a father, as the man who taught you Ninjutsu. But he is not just the man who raised you; he is also a murderer who slaughtered millions of innocent beings." Leo narrowed his eyes, the look in them both regretful and cold. "The hand that guided you is the same one that shed oceans of blood. You cannot wash that away, Karai. You can't erase what he did. You can't forget what he did, or you dishonor the memory of those he destroyed; and for standing against him, they deserve more honor than that. No matter how many statues you erect to Oroku Saki, no matter how many speeches you give or libraries you donate in his honor, he is still the Shredder. Nothing can wipe that away; nothing but death can make up for what he has done." He continued without pause. "You hate me because I opened your eyes. I made you see the truth, but you refuse to accept it. You know that the things he did were awful, and you hate me because I made you become aware of that."

"No." Karai shook her head. "No. You are wrong. I hate you because you think you are always so right. I hate you because you tore my father from me. I hate you because this is all your fault!"

"How is it my fault, Karai? Did I make Saki order attacks on peaceful planets? Did I put guns in his hands and force him to kill thousands of innocents whose only crime was standing in your father's way? Did I create the selfish, self-serving hatred and bloodlust and power-madness that lie within him? No. All I did was warn you about him, and try to stop him from spreading like the plague he is, stop him from destroying the Utroms. Your father's capture, trial and punishment were all his own fault…not mine." He sighed, his shoulders sagging. "I…I have enough failures and shortcomings of my own to bear; I won't take the burden of his as well."

The stark and honest statement left Karai taken aback. "…I do not care about your burdens," she said at last, her expression both guarded and confused.

"I know you don't," Leo sighed. "And I don't expect you to. But you, at least, understand them. You understand what it's like to be responsible for the lives of others. You know what it's like to have to devote your entire life to a war that isn't even of your own making. You understand what a strain it is to life your life trying to please one person, and how much it hurts to fail them."

Karai fell silent. His words struck a chord in her; she knew she too carried each burden that he had mentioned…especially the last one. "Yes…I suppose I do understand," she said softly. "It…it is a difficult thing…living your life for someone else…"

Leo's eyes glanced up to meet Karai's. "What…what did the Shr—your father do when you…saved me?"

A hand rose up to her cheek as she remembered how lost she'd felt when her father had struck her. "He hit me…"

"He did?" Leo was quiet for several moments. "I am sorry for that," he said softly. "You shouldn't have had to deal with that."

The compassion in his voice infuriated her for some strange reason. "No, I shouldn't have, but I did; and all because I saved your life. I was dishonored in my father's eyes because of you."

"No." Leo shook his head tensely. "I told you, Karai, I will not bear anyone else's burdens. No one else's guilt, or hate, or failure; I—I'm done taking responsibility for things that aren't my fault, things I can't control."

Karai's brows lowered. Leo's words and unusual behavior continued to confuse her. "Why are you acting like this, Leonardo? I have never heard you speak so…openly before."

A dark laugh forced its way out of Leo. "I wish I could say it was the drugs, but it's not."

"Then what is it?"

"Realization. There are many things in my life I have wished to say to you, and haven't. There are dozens of questions I've wanted to ask you, and haven't. I'm saying them now because I know I'll never get another chance to say them, and if I don't say them, they'll just continue to eat away at me. We both know that this is the end. There hasn't been any way for us to go forward together for a long time, and now there is also no going back. One of us will die tonight, if not both of us…and dying with regrets is not something I want to risk."

Karai was silent for a moment, then spoke up hesitantly. "What—" Her voice caught in her throat, which was suspiciously tight all of a sudden. She cleared it briskly, then tried again. "What kind of questions?"

Leo smiled slightly at her query, then met her eyes, speaking softly. "Well, this is a rather common one: what is it about you? What is it about you that I can't get out of my head? What is it that always makes me come back and try again?"

"That is a question that I have also had. And if I knew what it was, in either of us, I would have destroyed it and made this easier on both of us."

Leo laughed cynically. "Oh yes, if only it had been that simple." He fell silent, the severity coming back into his face. "Though, seeing as how your belief in honor is one of the things that keeps bringing me back, and seeing as how that's what caused you to save me…I'm glad you didn't destroy it. But…you are right…" He looked away. "It would have made things simpler," he whispered, trailing off. A moment later, a dark laugh poured out of Leo's mouth. "They certainly did raise us well, didn't they?"

Karai lowered her brows, confused. "Who?"

"Them. Your father, my father; they raised us so damn well that we're willing to do whatever they ask of us. Never mind what we want, never mind if it tears us apart inside, never mind if it means throwing away the one thing we actually want…" He locked his gaze onto Karai's, and the intensity of his stare sent shivers rippling down her spine. "We do what they want anyways. After all this time, all these years, they just pass their hate onto us, and we fight their battles for them."

"We would have fought regardless, Leonardo, even if our fathers had not taught us to hate each other."

Leo shook his head. "No, you're wrong. If we had met without their orders and hatred, as ourselves and no one's puppets…can you honestly tell me that you think we would have been enemies?"

Karai glanced away, discomforted by his question. He had hit on something she herself often wondered; if they had met under different circumstances, would they have ended up where they were now? An uncomfortable sensation rolled deep in her stomach, because when Karai had thought about that very question, she'd come up with an answer: no. During the few times she'd allowed herself to dwell on dreams, she found it easy to picture a life with Leonardo in it…one in which he wasn't an enemy.

The blue-banded turtle must have read the answer on her face, because he smiled crookedly. "I didn't think so. I don't see us as enemies either…at least in another life."

His words brought Karai back to herself. "Yes, in another life…but this is not another life, is it, Leonardo?"

"No…it definitely isn't." Leo put his face in his hand, sighing wearily. "I am so tired of this."

Leo's behavior and unveiled honesty was so unusual that Karai's curiosity got the best of her. "Tired of what?" she asked hesitantly.

"This," Leo said, waving a hand to encompass the two of them. "Everything. Fighting a war that never seems to end, always being forced to lose or give up something, having small victories that only come with terrible sacrifices…everything. I'm just so tired of it…so ready for it to be over."

Karai straightened, her armored hand clenching tightly. "And that is why we are here tonight," she said frostily, reminding herself as well as Leonardo. She could not let her guard down, could not let herself feel even a moment of concern at the sight of the pain of this…man, this person that was normally so strong; she had to remember who her enemies were. "To bring an end to things…through death."

"Yes…an end through death." Leo's eyes were dull. "It's fitting, I suppose; it started with death, and it will end the same way." He glanced at the sword in his hand, then looked up at the woman in front of him. "I'm sorry, Karai. For what was, for what could have been, and for this. I…don't know what it is about you, but this is not what I always wanted. At a time…yes, all I wanted was your death. And part of me still does. But in another part, I'm sorry it has come to this." Leo paused, struggling to gather his emotions. He met her eyes, then asked her a question that had haunted him for ages. "Are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Are you sorry that it came to this? Do you regret what has happened?"

Karai's eyes narrowed. "That is not what you are asking me. You are asking me if I am sorry for my actions." Her voice began to rise. "You are asking me if I am sorry for following the Shredder. You are asking me if I am sorry for following my master and his orders, as honor demands! No, I am not sorry! Not for that, never for that!" She broke off, her chest heaving with the force of her emotions. But suddenly, she sagged, her shoulders slumping an almost imperceptible amount. "But if you are asking…if I am sorry for what has happened between us…then yes, I am sorry. I also never wished for it to come to this."

Leo's look was grave. "But only for that? You are only sorry for what we could have been? Nothing else?"

Karai met his gaze squarely, even though a tiny part of her heart cracked at the look on his face, the disappointment she saw there. "Only that. Nothing else." I should not have to be sorry for anything else! a part of her cried.

Leo closed his eyes, pain flashing across his features. "And that is why I must do this, because you refuse to know anything but him and his actions. I can't stand by and let more innocent lives be wasted, let more innocents suffer at the hand of another Shredder. Honor demands that those who can act, do." He raised his eyes, every emotion in the world seeming to be reflecting in them as he gazed at her. "Goodbye, Karai."

With that, he lunged and struck at her, forcing her backwards. As she put distance between them, he lowered his head for several moments, collecting himself. Leo knew he would have to be cautious. He had defeated Karai the last time they battled, and he knew she remembered that; he also knew that, armed with that knowledge, she wouldn't have challenged him if she didn't think she would win. This was not going to be easy…but at least it would be over. Leo looked up again slowly, drawing his second sword fluidly and sinking into a defensive stance. "Let's finish this, Shredder."

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Karai felt a part of herself turn to stone. Every emotion was gone from Leonardo's face. The look he turned towards her now was the same cold, expressionless mask of determination she had seen him direct towards her father countless times. 'Let's finish this, Shredder'; his words rang loudly in her head. Not Karai; Shredder. She felt a strange sense of loss well up in her as she realized what significance his words had carried: she no longer existed to him as Karai. The woman who was a tentative ally, a fellow ninja, was gone; now she was only the Shredder: a killer, a dishonorable warrior…

An enemy. His enemy.

That was what she had never had, Karai realized. That certainty. In Leonardo's life, there was no gray area, there was only black and white, honor and dishonor, right and wrong…but Karai had lived her life moving through shades of gray. Leonardo knew what he believed, knew the morals and values that he lived his life by, and stuck to them. But she had wavered. She had been torn between him and her master. She had been torn by the desire to please them both…why? Anger rose quickly in her heart. Why should she have had to please Leonardo? He was not her master; she owed him nothing. Why did she have to answer to him? She didn't!

And yet…for some inexplicable reason, his regard had always mattered dearly to her, almost as much as, and sometimes more than, her father's. But that was all past now. Once the choice is made, there is no turning back. Once the choice is made, you can only go forward. The words echoed in her mind, a small excerpt she had read once. Until now she had disagreed with the words, and why not? She had chosen to serve the Shredder, and yet had also changed her mind, aiding Leonardo and his brothers when she could. Guilt welled up in her. She had betrayed her master in her efforts to keep them both, to keep her father and Leonardo near her…and now she had lost them both. Her father was gone, and she was now dead to Leonardo. The anger wrapped around her once more, joined by grief and frustration. I have lost everything now! The two people I cared for the most have been taken from me…My father and master…and now, Leonardo. Karai narrowed her eyes as she too drew her sword. Her anger cooled into a frigid fire in her chest, filling her veins with ice and strength. I will not lose. I will use my anger against him, not myself. It is because of Leonardo that I have lost everything…So I will make Leonardo lose everything as well. As she leapt forward and collided with Leo, a stray thought wove into her mind, its simple truth striking her hard: When there is nothing left to lose, the choices become much easier to make.

Then the time for thought was over, and there was room for nothing but motion. The two of them flew around each other, neither hesitating a moment, sparks flying as their swords rang against one another. Karai sliced at Leo, a move he blocked quickly, then came at him from low on his side with the claws on the back of her hand. Leo spun away, then darted back, his katana shrieking against Karai's armor as he struck at her, leaving slices in the heavy breastplate. It was Karai's turn to step back this time, then they clashed again.

The warriors raged against each other once more, swords flashing in the nighttime darkness. Advances and retreats blended together with spins and thrusts, and the only noise that resulted was the ringing peal of sword against sword. Not a word was spoken; both felt that everything possible had already been said. The two of them flowed through the battle, knowing the steps of the dance well…a deadly dance that was both beautiful and terrible in its ferocity.

Leo was the first to draw blood, in a double-bladed attack with his swords; with a slanting strike he managed to knock Karai's armor off, and his other katana came silently in the shadow of the other, slicing a cut into Karai's cheek. Her eyes flew open in shock, then burned with anger. She recovered quicker than Leo expected and darted past his defenses, laying open his right thigh with a strike from her katana. A hiss escaped Leo as his leg flared with pain. The slash had come dangerously close to the large muscles in his thigh, but had fortunately not severed any of them. He forced her back with a violent flurry of strikes, compelling her to retreat due to the reach of his swords, then tried to catch his breath and balance in the moment of peace his attack allowed him. The brief respite was quickly over; Karai flew back at him, and the pair once again traded hits.

Their dance continued, taking them all over the rooftop. Leo gritted his teeth; his leg was burning and bleeding heavily from all the movement. He had to divide his attention between Karai and the surface of the roof in order to ensure that he didn't slip in his own blood. After faltering once, Leo pulled back, drawing Karai away from a section of the roof that was becoming slightly slick from the blood running down his leg. Karai refused to let him regain any advantage and lunged forward again. Already moving back, Leo took another step and stumbled as his foot connected with Karai's abandoned helmet. The moment of uncertainty was not one Karai wasted. Darting forward, she ensnared Leo's swords with the claws on her hand, then brought her sword up. A bright flash of triumph flared within her, and she drove her blade towards Leo's chest.

"You want to kill me? Go ahead; I won't stop you."

Leo's words suddenly echoed through her head, disorienting her as the present blended with the past, bringing with it memories of the time Leo had trusted her not to kill him. With her blade mere inches from his heart, she halted. She still could not bring herself to kill him. Despite the fact that her hatred had only grown since the first time they found themselves in this position, the truths that they had revealed since then made it even harder to strike Leonardo down. After an agonizingly long minute, Karai finally brought herself to lift her gaze to meet Leonardo's, and what she saw there destroyed her.

That damned look of his was there in his eyes again, that belief in her. It was that look that made her falter every time; and, frighteningly enough, it was backed by the glimmer of something that looked far too much like affection for her comfort. Despite everything she had done to break it, the small belief that she could be redeemed still remained. And she hated him for it.

That trust made her want to earn it. That look of faith made her want to be who he wanted her to be. But she could not do it. Why did it have to be her that was wrong? What was it that made him right? It had finally come down to this choice…Leonardo or her father. She could not think about it being a choice between good and evil, right and wrong…for who could truly draw such lines in a case such as this? Part of her sneered at her weak excuse, but she ignored that part. This was the only way she could manage to make a choice. Who would have her loyalty? Leonardo, or her father and master, the Shredder? Would she change, again, to suit someone else?

…No. No, she would not; damn them all, she shouldn't have to!!!

She chose her father. And if that made her evil, so be it; at least the choice was made. She gripped her conviction as tightly as her sword and lunged forward, finishing her weapon's trip to Leo's heart.

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Leo gasped as the blade struck him. However, instead of penetrating his body, it skidded across the thick surface of his plastron; without any velocity, Karai's blade couldn't pierce straight into his heart.

But that didn't mean it couldn't still wound him.

The sword slid down and to the side, slicing along the upper left scute of his plastron until it slipped off the body armor and lodged deep in his left side…deep in the unprotected flesh between plastron and shell.

Leo hissed and choked, much as he had the first time she had stabbed him. The pain of the strike drove him to his knees, his movement tearing the weapon from Karai's grip. He dropped his own katana, the blades clattering to the rooftop. A strangled cry forced its way out from behind his teeth. The pain was coming in waves, pulsating through his body from the sword's entry point and burning every nerve in an instant. It was too much…too much pain, too much blood…too much feeling! He could feel the blade, feel the cold metal inside of him, feel where it was scraping against his ribs. Heat covered him, flowing from his side. The sword was now eliciting fiery screams of agony from the nerves that resided there, nerves unused to such abuse. Blood began to leak from around the steel, trickling down his side. But suddenly, amidst the torment tearing through him, another sensation quickly took precedence: the feeling of cold steel against his neck. Leo froze, holding himself as still as he could, and glanced to the side. One of his own katana was in Karai's grip, resting gently against the side of his throat, the sharp edge making itself known on his skin.

Shell, I almost hope she uses it…The thought floated through Leo's mind, fueled by the raw, overwhelming pain in his side. He shook himself mentally, pushing the thought away with all the strength he had left. Leo glanced at the wound in his side again before he looked back up at Karai.

She stood above him, her face expressionless, though her eyes spoke of inner turmoil. Karai glanced at Leo's side, at the blood flowing from his wound, then met his eyes. "I told you I was going to kill you, Leonardo. I think now would be a good time."

With all the emotions flowing from his heart and mind, as well as the newly reopened wound of Karai's latest betrayal, Leo could only manage one question.

"So I guess this is how you treat everyone you love, huh?"

His voice was soft and ragged, and the anger, pain and disappointment in his words shattered Karai's resolve into pieces. She stumbled back from him, the katana making a scratching noise as it slid against his rough skin and away from his throat. The kunoichi swallowed hard. Leo didn't know how deeply the question cut. He also didn't know how hard it was to find an answer.

"This—this is how I treat enemies."

"Enemy…" Leo smiled slightly, the expression melancholy. "When did I first earn that title?"

This question was easier to answer, allowing her to fall back on her anger, her constant companion of so many months. "When you banished my father."

"Why? Why have you always chosen him, even when you know in your heart that he is wrong? Why did you choose him now?"

Karai looked away; he honestly wanted a reason, wanted to know why she had done what she had. That broke her, because she knew that she couldn't give him an answer, mainly because she had no firm answer herself; at least, not a good one.

"I did it because…"

Because it's what I've always done…

Because I don't think I'm strong enough to love you…

Because if you're gone, then there's no one to tell me that I'm wrong…

Because if you're weak, I don't have to think about spending forever in your arms in order to find strength…

Because it was easy…easy to hurt you like you hurt me…

"Because I had to. You kept telling me I had to choose, so I did." She met his gaze defiantly, an angry, lost look in her eyes. "But it's not the choice you wanted, is it?"

Looking down at the torn flesh and dripping blood on his side, grimacing at another heavy wave of pain, Leo felt his mouth curve into a sardonic smile. "No, I can't say that it is." He raised his eyes to hers once more. "I read a quote in a book once, which was said by a very wise man: 'The time is coming when we all must make the choice between what is right, and what is easy.'" He smiled sadly. "I think we have both reached that time. You have chosen what is easy, and I…I have to choose what is right."

Before Karai could respond, Leo grabbed his katana and lunged forward, driving the blade through her armor and deep into her stomach. She gasped, her eyes flying wide open. Leo winced as the blade in his side tore at his flesh even further, but kept hold of his sword. Karai stared at him wonderingly, her hands unconsciously gripping his sword where it emerged from her abdomen. There was a look of fear in her eyes, and they both knew why. The gut strike was used in seppuku for a reason:

It always worked. Sooner or later, it would kill anyone.

Karai fell to her knees, bringing herself to the same level as Leo. It would have been an odd sight for anyone to see; two figures kneeling on a rooftop, both with swords pierced through them, both bleeding, both lost and confused…and both unable to look anywhere but at each other.

The two figures remained that way for some time, until Karai broke the silence. Her eyes contained a challenge as she echoed Leo's words back to him. "Why?"

Leo could do nothing but respond in kind. "Because I had to. For my family, for the other lives you might have destroyed…"

"For yourself?" Karai asked, her eyes sad and angry.

"No." Leo shook his head, pain and sadness visible in his every move. "This is not something I would ever do for myself. I would kill to protect my family and myself, but I would never kill someone just because it was my will." He stared into her eyes. "Especially not you."

Karai gritted her teeth, trapping a harsh scream before it could leave her lips. She held Leo's gaze as they both attempted to ride out the throbbing pain of their wounds. "So this is it."

Leo's expression was pained, though this time the agony was more emotional than physical. "You have to believe me, Karai; I didn't want this."

"But you still went through with it."

"I had no choice. I asked you if I could trust you…and I got your answer." He looked meaningfully at the sword embedded in his flesh.

That was all that Karai could take. The fact that he still did not hate her, even after all this time, was her breaking point. She screamed at Leo. "Why?!"

He pulled back slightly. "Why? Why what?"

"Why? Why have you trusted me for so long? Why don't you hate me? It would have been easier if you had just hated me!" She ended her words in an angry gasp, gritting her teeth at the pain in her stomach.

Leo looked at her, his face a mass of emotions. "I…" He dropped his gaze. "I don't know," he whispered. "I think…I think I did hate you at one point, but now…I don't know. I don't trust you—but I also don't hate you. It's just—I just can't. All I know is that I've always thought there was something in you that was good. I know there is; you've shown it before, you just insist on burying it. I hate failing, I hate not being good enough…I think that's why I kept trying to reach you. I just kept convincing myself that I could save you. I couldn't stand the thought that I might not be able to."

"I do not need saving," Karai snapped.

"No," he said quietly. "Not in a battle. You could always match anyone in battle. But you needed saving. The life you lived, are still living, under the control of the Shredder is a sham of a life. You should respect and love your master because of who he is and what he has taught you. Neither of those emotions should be felt out of fear or a sense of debt. I know that you think you owe Saki your love and respect for giving you a life, but you don't. He benefited from taking you in just as much as you did." He swallowed hard, fear pricking him slightly as the coppery taste of blood rose in the back of his throat. How much damage did her sword do to me? "It feels odd to say this, but I suppose I should thank him; if he'd never adopted you, we never would have met."

Tears began to gather in Karai's eyes at his words; angry, bitter, sad tears. "I never wanted this, Leonardo. I can tell you that truly, just as I can swear that I wish we had ended differently."

"'We'?" Leo asked, echoing her words. "There was a 'we'?"

Karai met his gaze. "You know there was. It might have been small…and it might be gone now…but at one point, it was there. I don't know…what we had…but there has always been…something between us." Her words came in gasps as she struggled to breath through her pain. "That…is what made all of this…so difficult. I think that is why…it had to come to this."

"I think you're right."

Karai nodded. She then coughed harshly, blood staining her lips as it flew from her mouth. Fear once again seized her features as she looked at Leo.

Her expression pulled at his heart. He didn't, couldn't see an enemy at that moment, only a young woman whose eyes clearly said 'I don't want to die'.

"I'm sorry, Karai," he whispered, not trusting his voice to speak any louder, "but I have to remember my family. I have tried so hard, so many times to reach you…but nothing came of it. This is the last thing I wanted, but…"

"But apparently…our ending was inevitable," Karai finished for him.

Leo fell silent. He looked down at his side and gently lifted one of his katana, holding the blade gingerly in both hands. Keeping his eyes firmly on the weapon, he spoke softly. "If you wish it…I will grant you a warrior's death, Karai. Despite everything, you have earned that." He could hardly get the words out, choking on the hatred he felt for himself as he spoke.

"Thank you, Leonardo…but no. This is my warrior's death. I will fall…have fallen in battle." She squeezed her eyes shut, riding out another wave of pain, before gazing at her wound. "Besides…this is as close to seppuku…as I have the courage to come."

Leo lifted his head, taking in Karai's current state. "Seppuku? Karai, what do you have to atone for?"

Karai smiled bitterly. "Of all people, I would expect you to know the answer to that, Leonardo. I need to cleanse my honor for betraying my father, and…you."

The blue-banded turtle shook his head. "No, you don't. Karai, war blurs a lot of lines. You…you were placed in a bad position, pulled on from both directions. The past is over; just let it go. It's…hard to do, I know, but it helps."

"I cannot. My past has made me who I am; it is all I know. I…I am not strong or brave enough to let it go. And I don't wish to."

"Karai, you are much…braver than you know. There are many who would have…crumbled under the strain of the life you lead," Leo said, his breath growing more ragged. He tried not to groan, but the pain in his side was quickly blocking out all other thought.

Karai speared Leo with a firm look. "Can the same not be said about you, Leonardo?" Leo sat very still, taken aback by Karai's question. She smiled weakly and continued. "It is ironic, is it not? That it has taken…death for us to let go of things. It has taken death…for us to…love each other. It has been…an honor and a privilege…to know you." Karai's expression was firm and composed as she bowed slightly, though her eyes still held a myriad of emotions.

"It has also been my honor to know you, Oroku Karai." Leo bowed back, then hissed and gripped his side, the movement aggravating the sword still lodged there.

"Leonardo…" Karai reached out, trying to comfort him. Their past was easy to forget in this moment; even though she was the one who had caused him pain, she still wanted to ease it now. But before she could reach him, she collapsed, blood pouring faster from her abdomen. Despite the pain it caused him, Leo caught her and lowered her to the rooftop. He held her as the crimson fluid quickly stained the concrete. Karai trembled all over, but struggled to speak. "I won't ask…for forgiveness…I won't. I s-shouldn't…shouldn't have to. But please…stay with me until…"

Leo cut her off. "I'll stay until it's over, Karai. I swear it."

Struggling, Karai pulled off one of her gloves, then reached up towards Leo's face. Leo gently took her hand. "No," she said, shaking her head and pulling weakly at her hand. "Please…let me touch you."

Surprise crossed Leo's face as he released her hand. "What?"

"I want to touch you…please. There is…there is no one to see." Her voice was weak and slightly dreamy as the blood loss and pain gained control of her system. "We can…we can love each other now…now that no one is watching us. P-please?"

The blue-banded turtle swallowed hard against the lump lodged in his throat and released Karai's hand. He didn't say a word.

Karai smiled slightly, then softly placed her hand against Leo's cheek. "You're so warm…I did not expect that."

Leo managed a small grin. "That bugs Don sometimes too," he admitted.

A slight chuckle left the kunoichi. Her hand continued across Leo's face, tracing his features, then dropped to his chest. She carefully followed the outlines of his plastron, keeping her eyes on the contours. Karai's hand drifted towards Leo's left shoulder, her fingertips resting for a moment on the scar left by her sword, then reached further to ghost over the torn and ruined part of Leo's shell. His breath hissed through his teeth, despite the feather-lightness of Karai's touch; the shell wound was still sensitive and painful. Sadness lit in Karai's eyes and she withdrew her hand, resting it on Leo's chest as she looked back up at him. "We—we could have been…wonderful together," she said sadly.

Leo shook his head slowly. "Not in this life," he whispered. "In a different life, we might have had a chance. But not in this one. It never…it never would have lasted. We might have had a week, a month, a year…but sooner or later we still would have found our way to a bloody end on a lonely rooftop."

"I know…" Karai's eyes danced across his face again, followed by her fingers. "Why…why did this life create us to…complete each other…so well…if it was never to be?"

"I wish I knew," Leo murmured, hesitantly running a hand through Karai's hair. "Because I think if there was one person that I could kill for doing this to us…for fashioning our fates like this…I would. I wish I could have seen what we could have been."

A tear slipped down Karai's face. "So do I…" Blood erupted from her mouth as her body seized up, and she gripped Leo's hand weakly. "Goodbye…Leonardo. I am…sorry…for us…"

"So am I, Karai," Leo whispered.

"One more thing…have to say…" She coughed deeply, then relaxed. Her eyes drifted up to Leo's. "I do love you. Underneath my hate…I think I…always have…"

Leo closed his eyes in pain, both emotional and physical. "I know. When I let myself…I love you too."

Karai smiled slightly, blood staining her lips a deep red. Reaching up shakily, she placed a limp hand behind Leo's head and slowly drew him down to her. She closed her eyes and kissed him softly, tears gathering in her eyes as he responded to the kiss as well, emotions stirring in them both at the contact. Her hand fell from behind his head, and she sagged back in his arms, looking at him. "You taste…like pain," she whispered sadly, a ghost of a smile on her face. "I guess it…is true."

Leo gazed at the woman he held, the woman he…loved?...as pain of every kind lashed at his body and soul. "What's true, Karai?"

A single tear slipped from her eye. "Romeo…and Juliet…never…die…happy…" And with that, Oroku Karai, daughter of the Shredder, and the Shredder herself, died.

Leo remained where he was, rooted to the cold roof beneath him. Even after the light had dimmed and was gone from Karai's eyes, he stayed. Even after blood ceased to flow from her wounds, he stayed. It wasn't until the blood that he knelt in and the body that he held began to cool, that he moved.

The blue-banded turtle winced as he eased his grip on Karai, setting her down on the roof. He inhaled sharply as he leaned back; the pain from his side was making him sick. And the memories…the memories were only making it worse. He saw everything in a flash: the first time he met Karai; the times he had fought with her, fought against her; every time that he tried to convince her to leave the Shredder; every time his brothers had told him she couldn't be trusted; the time she stabbed him on the Shredder's starship; the time he hunted her down after she attacked his family and destroyed their home; and now, when he had kissed her, held her and looked her in the eyes as he watched her die…

It was more than he could take. Staring at her dead body, at the blood coating his hands and blades, he hunched over himself, wrapping his arms around himself. His body shook with tension and half-suppressed sobs. Why? Why do I feel this way? She was a threat to my family, a liar, a traitor, the daughter and right hand of my greatest enemy…so why do I feel like this?

A quiet part of his mind answered the question with uncomfortable accuracy. Because she was also an ally, a fellow warrior, a fellow ninja, and the closest thing to a soul mate that you will ever know on this earth. Leo raised his head again to look at Karai's body.

Damnit…damnit!! For a moment, the barriers on Leo's temper broke, and his anger flared out. That is a future I will never have the chance to know! I had something I never expected to have; the love of a woman. And we had to fight each other, and I had to kill her, because it was right, because it was honorable, he sneered to himself bitterly. Because our fathers refused to let their hatred die. Damn both of you for doing this to us! A flash of guilt shot through him for his anger at his father and sensei, but the rage and pain churning within him quickly swept that feeling away. Leo's fist slammed into the rooftop's surface, and a sharp twinge in his side left him gasping for breath. Of course it hurts, shell-for-brains, Karai's katana is still in you.

Leo touched the handle of the sword gently. The wound still hurt more than he could imagine, and the bleeding still continued. He knew from the talks he had had with Don that it was better to leave the weapon in the wound until it could be properly treated; otherwise, he faced the risk of bleeding out. Well, I have nothing to bandage this with, so it would be best to leave the sword there…Leo glanced down at Karai's body, so pale and cold now, lying on the roof. But Karai died a warrior, and she deserves to be buried with her weapon. Besides, there's no way I can move with this thing still stuck in me. The decision made, he took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself and relax his muscles so it wouldn't hurt as much. Then, gritting his teeth, Leo gripped the handle of the katana and jerked it out of his side.

Nothing could have prepared him for the pain that the action caused. He screamed as the blade left his body, his stomach roiling from the sick sensation of steel grating against bone and torn flesh once again. Black spots danced across his vision, and dizziness slammed into him. The moment the weapon left his body he fell to his knees, vomiting from the pain.

Oh shell…Leo remained on his knees for several long minutes, shaking from the pain. It…it didn't hurt this much…last time. He stayed curled into a ball, hunched over himself and clutching his side desperately. Small thoughts flitted across his mind as he struggled to overcome the pain in his body. The sword didn't stab me here last time…wasn't my sword, it was Karai's…dead, she's dead…this hurts so much…I guess Raph was right…The last thought was an anchor that he clung to, that brought him back to himself. Raph…oh shell! Raph, Don, Mikey! And Sensei…I have to go to them. I need—I need to go home. Leo shook his head, trying to focus. Gathering all of his strength, he managed to force himself upright, dizzy with pain and exertion.

First things first, Leo thought. Try and stop the bleeding, or I'll be going nowhere and doing nothing. Moving carefully, he worked the knee pad on his right leg up to his thigh and placed it over his wound, covering the deepest part. He then secured the pad as tightly as he could, stopping when the pressure made him wince. There. That'll keep that from being a problem, but as for my side…

The stab wound still throbbed with pain, and continued bleeding at an alarming rate. Grabbing his other knee pad and leaning back against one edge of the building, Leo pressed down on his wound. The steady throbbing in his side immediately erupted into blinding pain, and black spots threatened to darken his vision. Leo gritted his teeth and held on, struggling to remain conscious and keep pressure on the wound. After what seemed like an age, the pain receded into a dull pounding again, and he relaxed against the building.

Looking above him, Leo watched the stars come out. It was an unusually clear night, especially for New York, and more than the normal handful of twinkling lights glittered in the night sky. The normal sounds of the city came to his ears, now that the battle was over. Leo's eyes began to flutter, his eyelids slowly sliding shut. I'm just going to rest for a couple minutes…just long enough to get my strength back…His breath slowed and evened out, and his head nodded. A small voice in the back of his head clamored for his attention, warning him not to go to sleep, but the fatigue pulling at his body quickly drowned it out. Seconds later, Leo sagged into the support of the building's wall, lost to the power of his exhaustion.

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Leo woke with a jolt as his hand slipped from his side, falling into his lap. Glancing around in a panic, he quickly realized where he was. Damn…I can't believe I fell asleep. He took stock of his surroundings, relieved to realize he must have only slept for about ten or fifteen minutes. Grimacing, he slowly worked his way to his feet. It took a while, and not just because of his fatigue and blood loss; the night had cooled significantly, and Leo found himself trying to move muscles that he didn't know could get stiff. Struggling with his belt and knee pad, he managed to fashion a way to keep the pad over his wound. The bleeding had slowed, but still continued. The only thing he could console himself with was the fact that the brief rest had recharged him slightly.

Glancing to the side, his eyes fell on Karai's body. She lay in the same place, her armor shining dully, the city lights reflecting off of the blood that pooled around her. Crimson stained the entire midsection of the body of armor, and splattered across other parts of it as well. An inexplicable hatred rose up in Leo suddenly; all of his fury and hate seemed to attach itself to that armor. In his strained mind, the armor suddenly became everything the Shredder was, and a strange compulsion overcame him.

Get the armor off of Karai. The armor makes the Shredder; get it off of her, and bury her as the woman you loved, not the Shredder.

Bury her?

Leo's mind balked at the idea. No, I can't…no. Even if I wanted to, even if I had the strength to do so…she belongs with her clan. Despite who and what they are, they should be the ones to lay her to rest.

But he would not let them bury her in that outfit. He didn't care if she had been the Shredder; he would not let his last memory be of her in that tainted armor.

Moving slowly, Leo moved over to kneel by Karai, and began removing the armor from her body, reassembling it a little ways away. He had to take several breaks, wearied by the fight, his blood loss, and his attempts to keep his pain at bay. A warrior is stronger than his pain, he lectured himself, repeating the lessons he'd read in so many books as he removed Karai's gauntlets and shoulder armor. A ninja can overcome the limitations of his own body. Pain is only in the mind…A sharp, biting flash of agony shot through him when he reached farther than he should have. Leo's breath hissed between his teeth as he fought to keep from yelling. Placing his hand over the pad on his side, he grimaced. Bullshit it's only in the mind, he snarled to himself, the pain loosening his grip on his temper. He hated being weak and helpless; those two scenarios were among the few things that could truly cause him to snap. Taking several deep breaths, Leo calmed himself and returned to his task. I don't have the time or strength to throw a temper tantrum, he reminded himself. That will have to wait until I get home.

Reaching over, Leo grabbed the final piece of Karai's armor; her helmet. He held it in his hands for a moment, briefly reliving the memories that had become attached to the object; the morbid triumph when he'd thought he'd decapitated and killed the Shredder, the horror he'd felt when he saw it during his ambush, the confused disgust when he'd used it to defend himself in the Hall of Past Champions at the Battle Nexus. For a brief moment he was consumed with the desire to throw it off the side of the building, but he managed to control it and set the helmet atop the rest of the armor.

Karai now lay in the simple black outfit that Leo had been accustomed to seeing. He grabbed her sword and carefully worked it into one of his sheathes along with his own blades; it was a tight fit, and he'd probably end up with a few new scratches on his katana, but he had no other way of carrying the third sword. Once the weapon was stowed away, Leo gently worked his arms underneath Karai and stood, grunting as her body settled into his grip. She weighed less than he'd expected, but her extra weight was still another burden that his aching muscles screamed that he didn't need. Leo ignored his body's complaints, pushing his pain as far away as he could. His leg had stopped bleeding, and even the bleeding from his side was miraculously beginning to taper off. They'll both most likely start back up once I start moving, Leo thought with a grimace. But there's nothing for it. I need to get home…and I won't leave Karai here.

Before he could talk himself out of it or think about how much it would hurt, Leo ran for the edge of the building, leaping for the next rooftop. He landed heavily, Karai's extra weight throwing him off and pulling painfully at his thigh. Biting back a moan, he kept going, struggling to keep up his speed; with the burden he carried, he needed all the help he could get to ensure that he bridged each gap between buildings. The trip soon began to blur together into one mass of pain as he traveled the rooftops, falling into a long pattern of agony; run with strength he didn't have, push off with legs that trembled, land gracelessly as his injured leg threatened to give, regain his balance and stumble on to the next roof. Several times Leo nearly dropped where he stood, but his will managed to carry him on. He didn't dare stop, not even to rest, because he knew that the moment he did, he would want nothing more than to fall asleep…and never wake up. After what seemed like years, he finally reached one of the buildings surrounding Foot headquarters.

Leo halted on the rooftop, his chest heaving. The only other time he could remember hurting this much and having pushed himself this far was when he'd been ambushed. He eyed the gap between his current building and the Foot skyscraper. There's no way I can make that…not in my condition. Glancing down at Karai's body, he grimaced. I'm sorry, Karai, but this is as far as I can take you. As carefully as he could, he knelt and placed Karai gently on the roof. Leaning over, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, then laid her head down. "Goodbye, Karai."

He stood slowly, stumbling as the world spun around him. His body was in full rebellion now, refusing to take any more abuse. I…I've gotta…get out of here. Leo was able to focus on that thought, and limped over to the fire escape. Every single part of him felt like it burned with the pain radiating from his side, and it seemed like an age before he managed to get himself over the side of the building. Leo glanced back once, seeing Karai lying on the roof, and closed his eyes. Goodbye, Karai. Our feud is over…now let's see if it's going to take both of us with it.

Step by agonizing step, Leo made his way down the side of the building, clinging to the fire escape and resting on each landing. When his feet finally touched the ground, he nearly collapsed, weak and trembling with fatigue. He leaned against the wall, breathing heavily and trying to find the strength to move again. I have to keep going…I have to get away from here. I have to get home.

Clinging to that one thought, Leo slowly cast himself into a meditation trance, withdrawing into his mind to try and find some shelter from his pain. He knew there was no way that he could make it home as he was; he was in far too much pain and was much too tired. However, his body could still carry him home. Eighteen years of training his body had shaped it into the best tool it could be, and he had long since mastered it. Silence, stealth, and staying in the shadows were all things he had lived for years; they were nearly as automatic as breathing. They were all programmed into him, and his body remembered the motions. He would get home somehow. Before his mind severed the last connections with his body, he sent it an order; get home. Leo sent his last thought echoing through every part of his body, then slipped into the shelter of his mind.

Moments later, a quiet wraith drifted through the alleys of New York, making no noise, blending into the gathering darkness….a trail of blood the only sign of its passing.

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Leo staggered along a back alley, stumbling over a piece of debris and into a wall. The motion jarred him out of his trance and the pain rushed back into every corner of his mind, leaving him hardly able to think. Panting desperately, he paused for a moment, leaning against a dirty wall. He looked down at himself, trying to take stock of his injuries. More bruises and scratches than he remembered getting dotted his figure. Blood continued to trickle from around the pad on his side and still oozed from the slice on this thigh, both wounds aggravated by his excessive movement. As though triggered by his thoughts, sharp twinges from both his side and leg nearly drove him to his knees.

I've got…to get home…

Stubbornly clinging to the wall, he glanced around dizzily, trying to get his bearings. What he discovered wasn't reassuring. Ninth Street…I've only made it five blocks from Foot headquarters…Leo slumped against the wall when he realized what that meant. I still have three blocks to go…to get back to the Lair.

Leo had just decided to find a quiet alley to rest in when the barest whisper of a premonition caused him to whip around. A mere five feet away from him were two Foot soldiers. The ninja were moving quickly around the alley, looking behind trash cans and dumpsters, their movements speaking openly that they were searching for something. Leo's heart sank. They must have found Karai's body. They're looking for me, he realized. And if they find me, I'm in deep shell. Moving as quietly as he could, Leo began backing towards the nearest intersecting alley. But in his efforts to keep an eye on the two ninja, he accidentally brushed against a trash can. The two Foot soldiers whirled around at the sound, and their eyes narrowed at the sight of the turtle in front of them. Swords immediately appeared in their hands as they approached.

"You…" one of the soldiers growled. Leo started in surprise; he had never heard any of the Foot actually speak before. "You killed Mistress Karai. You caused Master Shredder to be banished. You are to blame for countless downfalls in our clan."

Leo slowly began moving his hand to his belt as he watched the soldiers carefully. "What can I say? I guess I just…like to stay busy."

The other ninja snarled. "Then allow us to help you with that. We will keep you very busy as we carve you into pieces. Then we'll use your worthless corpse to draw out the rest of your pitiful family…if any still remain. That way, you can stay busy even after you die."

The turtle narrowed his eyes, trying his best to focus through his growing pain and fatigue. Adrenaline began to pump through him in anticipation of the inevitable fight ahead of him, but even that only took the edge off of his exhaustion. "You will die…a thousand…of the most painful deaths I can give you…before you will even touch any member of my family."

Both ninjas laughed, and the second ninja spoke again. "If your words were more than an idle threat, then perhaps we would be worried. But from the looks of things, turtle, you have less than nothing left."

"I've got enough left…to kill the two of you," Leo promised darkly. With that, he pulled two shuriken out of his belt and flung them at the ninja.

The tiny bladed stars hit their marks with easy efficiency, years of training still managing to take precedence over his exhaustion. One shuriken landed in the upper thigh of a ninja, and the second in the side of the other. Both ninjas hissed in pain at the contact.

"That was very poorly planned, freak," one ninja snarled, grimacing as he yanked the shuriken out of his thigh and discarded it on the ground. "Not only was your "attack" useless, you just made things even worse for yourself."

"Nothing is always…as it appears," Leo retorted. He panted for a moment, dismayed at how much energy even the simple action of throwing the shuriken had cost him. "Tell me," he continued when he had regained his breath, "how do you feel?"

The other ninja snarled at him as he removed the throwing star from his side. "That has nothing—" He broke off suddenly, staring at Leo for a long moment. His mouth worked silently, as though he couldn't think enough to speak. Then without any warning, he fell to his knees.

The ninja's comrade stared at him in shock before his legs crumpled also. "What…?"

"Poison…" Leo whispered, leaning against the wall once more. "Your clan isn't the only one…with special shuriken. The poison will…atrophy all of your muscles…and kill you…as soon as it reaches your heart. It's a little creation of Don's…he whipped it up when…he was bored one day."

"You are g…gu-ng—" The first ninja to fall never got any farther before he lost the ability to talk. His eyes continued to glare hatred, however, as he fell to his side.

"This won't help you…escape, freak." Leo turned to the second Foot soldier, his attention caught by the venom and hatred in the man's voice. "There are more of us out here…than you can imagine. You…will not ge-get farr…" The second ninja's voice failed as well, fury and a touch of fear twisting his features as he too fell to the ground.

"I don't have to get that far," Leo responded quietly. "Just far enough."

He stood silently as the poison made its way quickly through the bodies of the ninjas. Both ninjas' eyes were filled with terror as they lost all control over their bodies, jaws struggling to open in voiceless screams as the poison hit their hearts. Seconds later, all movement stopped and the men lay quiet, their glassy eyes reflecting the weak light shining from the streetlamp.

Leo sighed in relief, nearly collapsing from the strain of remaining on his feet. He turned, trying to continue home, but his legs gave out, dropping him to his knees. His body, pushed terribly beyond its limits, refused to go any further. Dizziness swallowed him, pulling at his mind, dragging him into darkness. He managed to drag himself forward a few more feet, then dropped his body into a shadowy niche formed by a building outcropping.

Have to hide…

Have to get out of sight…

Can't…can't be seen…

Shivers racked his body at the cold touch of the pavement, joining the tremors that already consumed his weary muscles. The pain swelled, and he curled into himself, finally succumbing to the agony plaguing his body and soul.

It hurts…so much…

So much blood…

Exhaustion slowly sucked away his remaining strength, sending his thoughts spiraling towards unconsciousness…but this time, he made no attempt to fight the encroaching darkness.

I—I can't take this anymore…

Someone, please…

Help me…

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A/N: There's not really anything I feel that I can say after this chapter, other than thank you for reading, and please review. Oh, and even though everyone probably already knows it, that quote of Leo's is from the Harry Potter book, and is property of J.K. Rowling. I don't own it, I'm just borrowing it, please don't sue. Thanks, and take care.