Chapter 7 – Yin & Yang

(Katrina's POV)

My blood turned to ice and I felt my heart stop.

"What?!" Ant's voice cracked with rage and disbelief.

I dared to look up slightly and I saw him glaring at the Shredder, "That's a lie!" He spat, face red.

"It is not child, and you are trying my patience." Shredder growled. I gulped. It definitely wasn't a good idea to displease this man. We were at his mercy.

"Then where's our mother?" My eyes widened and I covered my mouth and looked back down. The words had slipped before I could stop them.

There was a long silence before I heard his voice, though it was softer than before, "Your mother is dead."

My eyes widened. I was in complete shock. Our mother was dead? Antonio was my brother? Shredder was our father?!

I shook my head. No, it couldn't be true! None of it was!

"You're lying!" I shrieked. My voice filled with pain and disbelief. Shredder seemed to smirk under that mask. Then we saw the picture.

We both gasped. There was an elegant woman with jet black hair. She wore a red Kimono and in her arms was a small baby with chocolate brown eyes. Standing beside her was a tall, muscular man. He held a small baby in his arm with stormy blue eyes.

"Y-you…" I couldn't get the words out

"I would recognize my own daughter Nagisa." Shredder said.

'Nagisa?'

"No, it isn't true! It can't be true!" Ant wailed, "You're evil!"

"Everything Hamato Yoshi has told you is a lie. I may have killed Tang Shen but he killed Tang Chika, her sister, and your mother." Shredder growled, "I could not save her. She told me to make sure you were safe before she died."

I just stared at him, mouth gaping. This was too much. It was so hard to believe but yet it all made sense. It was so convincing. I shook my head and closed my eyes, "No…" I wouldn't be fooled by his lies! Yet as I told myself that, tears began to slide down my face.

"Take them to their room. Give them time to take all this in. I will speak with them tomorrow." Shredder grunted.

I felt Rahzar lift me to my feet and I opened my eyes. I turned my head to Ant and I saw him looking at me in concern. I just turned away. Rahzar and Fishface led us out the doors and down a hallway. Rahzar opened a door and the two mutants pushed us in before closing the doors behind us. I ran to the tiny window and looked up at the moon. I closed my eyes with a frowns and sat on the bed. I brought my legs to my chest and rested my head between my knees. I didn't feel happy, or sad, or even angry. I just felt completely numb.

(Leo's POV)

I sat on the couch, completely exhausted. I lay back, staring at the tv with half interest.

My mind was on those two kids. I had let them be taken by the Foot. Was that a good thing? I didn't know. I didn't know if they were evil or not. That Antonio was certainly questionable. His mood seemed to change from Donnie to Raph in a second. We both didn't like each other, that much was clear. Though he was ok with Donnie. I didn't know if we could trust him. They both seemed off from the beginning. Yet he risked his life to save Kat. That could have been a heroic act, or simply saving his partner in crime.

'No.' I shook my head. That was outrageous. They wouldn't betray us. They weren't evil. 'I've been watching too much space heroes…' Yet I couldn't convince myself that these kids were good.

"Leo." I looked up to see Donnie looking down at me, "We have to save them."

I opened my mouth to say something but he cut me off, "I know it's been hard for you. You don't trust them. I get it. But I see good in them. They wouldn't hurt us. I know it. It's the right thing to do."

I looked down, thinking over what he said. I imagined what the Shredder could be doing to them. Every soul had a value and I wasn't going to let my suspicion blind me from my honor.

"You're right Donnie. Let's go save them." Donnie smiled at me and held out his hand. I grabbed it and pulled myself up.

"I'm coming too!" I turned and saw Mikey standing in the door frame of the lab with a giant smile on his face.

"Well I guess I have to come too." Raph walked over with a smirk.

"Let's do this guys."

(Antonio's POV)

I watched Katrina with sadness. She looked so isolated and alone. I felt the urge to go over and hug her, tell her it would be ok and that Shredder was just lying. But how could I convince her, if I couldn't convince myself?

According to Shredder we were siblings, brother and sister. That was always how I had seen her, and now I found out it was true. How could an evil man like Shredder be our father? But yet… how did we know it wasn't the turtles who were lying? We had met them a few weeks ago, but knew so little about them. Master Splinter seemed very reluctant to talk about his past. What if they were the liars?

Shredder didn't seem so bad. He hadn't hurt us. Sure, maybe he wouldn't get the father of the year award but he seemed ok. It was too good to be true. All these years, we thought we were alone. But now we might have a chance of getting the life we always wanted. The truth had lied in front of us this whole time and we didn't even know it.

After many thoughts, I was convinced. Shredder was our father, Oroku Saki.

I woke up with a start. Immediately sitting up in bed and trying to calm my breathing. The dream had been so vivid, so real. Was it even a dream? The fire, the screams, the blood. Maybe it was a memory. I would ask Shredder about it later.

I shook my head and rubbed my eyes to clear away the last bit of sleepy blurriness. I yawned and turned to see Katrina. She was curled up in a ball, sleeping peacefully. I smiled a bit and stood up, stretching.

Suddenly the door opened and Kat's head shot up, eyes wide.

Standing before us was a young girl, about our age. She had shinning metal armor on and a Tanto sheathe on her belt. She had a smooth haircut and her hair was black and yellow. She wore some makeup around her amber eyes.

"Come with me, my father waits for you in his throne room." She said.

'Father?' I thought. Shredder had another daughter?

The girl held an icy glare and I decided to keep my mouth shut. She turned and walked out. I looked back at Kat and she just shrugged at me. I turned back and followed the girl. We walked down a long hallway in silence until we reached the big room we both had been in just the previous day.

The doors opened and there was Shredder.

"Come closer." I shivered. His voice sent chills down my spine. I felt something nudge my hand and I turned my head to see Kat hiding behind me. She was scared and that came as a huge surprise. Kat was always the brave one of us both. I gave her a reassuring smile and I stepped forward and walked towards Shredder, Kat scurrying behind me.

We stopped before him and I looked at him bravely, no evidence of uncertainty or fear showing in my eyes.

"What is your decision?" Shredder asked.

'Decision? What decision?' I presumed he meant whether or not we believed him.

I stepped forward, "I do. Father."

I heard a gasp behind me but ignored it.

"I am glad you now see the truth behind Hamato Yoshi and his 'sons.'" Shred-our father said.

I nodded, "I do see, they are nothing but liars, using us for their own purposes. And I wish to join the Footclan."

My father's eyes narrowed, "Very well, you will begin training tomorrow, Toshiro."

'Toshiro… that must be the name he gave me when I was a baby. I like it.'

Someone grabbed my arm and I turned to see Katrina.

"Ant what are you doing?! Can't you see he's lying?! She wailed.

I shook my head in disbelief. How could Kat be so blind?! It's the turtles who were lying!

"Kat, you're wrong. The Hamatos have been lying to us. Shredder is our father. Your name is Nagisa and mine is Toshiro." I reasoned.

She gaped at me, "Are you crazy?!"

"Enough!" We looked at Shredder, "If Nagisa does not wish to see the truth then that is her choice. I just wish you would believe me, my daughter."

Kat, or Nagisa as I will call her now, glared at Shredder, "I am not your daughter." She spat.

"Nagisa!" I exclaimed.

"That's not my name!"

Rahzar suddenly grabbed her and started to drag her away, "No! Let go of me!" She yelled.

I was about to go after her when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and saw my father, "Let her go.
She made her own choice to believe the lies."

I narrowed my eyes. He was right. She was a fool. Nagisa's eyes were wide and begging but I just stared at her hard. Her eyes then held betrayal as she was dragged out of the room.

"If you wish to join the foot clan you will have to be stronger." Shredder said.

I smirked. A chance to be stronger, "How?"

"Follow me, my son." Shredder began walking out of the throne room and I happily followed my father.

He led me to an even bigger room. It was huge! Right in the middle was a giant tank full of a glowing, green substance.

"Tigerclaw." My eyes widened when a tall mutant tiger stepped out of the shadows, "Make the preparations." Shredder ordered.

Tigerclaw growled and walked away.

"Father, what in here will make me stronger?" I questioned.

He pointed to the tank, "That. Mutagen."

I gaped at it. He wanted to mutate me?!

He looked at me, "I know what you must be thinking, but trust me. It will improve your skills greatly and I would never purposely hurt you my son." I nodded. I trusted him.

"Everything is ready Master Shredder." Tigerclaw walked up.

"Very good Tigerclaw." Shredder nodded his head at the mutant.

I took that gesture as an invitation to follow the tiger, so I did. I walked up to him and he turned, leading me up a spiral staircase. By the time we reached the top, we were over the tank. I peered down and my stomach churned with slight fear and uncertainty. What would happen to me when I went in?

Tigerclaw typed a few things on a control panel and looked back at me, "It is time." I gulped and looked at the mutagen. I held my breath and took one step.

(Katrina's POV)

I punched the wall to my room again. I was furious! How could Ant believe such a lie?! He betrayed me! I was begging for his help but he just ignored me!

I punched the wall again and yelped in pain. I examined my hand to see blood but I just clenched my fist and narrowed my eyes. He said he would protect me, just like a big brother. But he lied and joined the evil Footclan.

I heard my door opened but I didn't acknowledge the newcomer. I could care less.

That is, until they grabbed me.

I snapped my head in their direction to see Rahzar again, "Let me go you freak!" I kicked him but he seemed unfazed.

"You are weak." He sneered, "Maybe I should toughen you up." He raised his fist and I covered my face with my hands.

"Bradford! Remember Master Shredder's orders." I opened my eyes and uncovered my face. There was Xever, or better known as Fishface.

Rahzar grunted, clearly unamused. He got a better grip on my arm and dragged me out. I cried out for help but soon gave up. No one was coming to save me. Especially Ant. I just growled at the thought of him.

I was brought down hallway and into a giant room. Stood in the middle was a giant tank of something.

Before I even knew it, I was tied up and being carried up some stairs. I struggled again. Whatever Rahzar was going to do to me, couldn't be good.

He chuckled at my flimsy attempts and took that chance to punch me hard in the gut. I coughed. Man did he pack a punch. He soon stood on the edge of a platform and held me over the giant pool of glowing ooze.

"H-hey! What are you doing?!" I screeched and tried to grab his arm.

"Making your life into a nightmare." He cackled and let go.

I screamed as I fell. I hit the substance with a splash and sank. I thrashed around, my lungs screaming for air. I felt the bounds that trapped me uncoil and I tried to scream. The pain was unbarable! It felt like every bone in my body was breaking! My limbs ached and I stopped struggling as I sank deeper. A sound hit my ears and I hit something hard. My eyes opened to blurry slits and I peered around. I saw the feet of two figures before I let sleep take me away.