Chapter Seven- Trust

The girl rose with the sun the next morning and stretched her stiff and sore muscles. The fatigue from yesterday lingered in her body, forcing her to spend a good couple of minutes warming up her muscles. She looked down at her pillow and noticed it looked a little damp. She frowned a little, but simply turned over the pillow and stood up from her nest. She brushed off her pajamas, thankful she had time to grab them last night when she snuck back into her apartment. She walked over to her bag in the corner and pulled out her hairbrush, undoing her braids as she did. She made her way towards the kitchen, brushing out her soot-colored hair as she did.

Wonder if they even have any food down here. She huffed as she looked around the kitchen.

"Good morning."

The girl jumped with a yelp, spun around, and threw her hairbrush at the being behind her. Splinter was calm and collected as he skillfully caught the flying object aimed for his head. The girl sighed in relief. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"No." Splinter replied simply.

The girl frowned. "So you just sneak up on people all the time?"

"No." Splinter shrugged, handing the hairbrush back to the girl. It was then she noticed the jade staff in his hand, no doubt with as much brunt force as her aluminum bat.

She took her brush and raised an eyebrow. "You do realize you're a bit confusing?"

"Yes." Splinter nodded, pulling out a cup and a box of tea bags. He put the metal kettle on the stove and turned it on. "Would you like some tea?"

"I'm fine." The girl refused. "How are those wounds healing up?"

"Quite well." Splinter nodded. "Your skills in medicine are better than I thought."

"I volunteered in a hospital for a while." The girl shrugged. "I learned by watching the doctors. I see you got that blood stain out."

"It's a new yukata." Splinter explained.

"Yukata?" the girl cocked her head.

"It's like a kimono." Splinter said as the kettle started whistling. He poured the hot water into his cup. "But a yukata is made from cotton instead of silk."

"Are you from Japan?" the girl asked.

Splinter paused. "Do you know why I haven't asked you for your name yet?"

The girl shook her head.

"It's because I believe some information is only meant to be shared with people you trust. Names are a good example. You know our names simply because you listened to us talk. We don't know yours yet; do you want to tell us?"

The girl paused, thinking it over. She didn't really know these mutants anyhow. She was only there to help Splinter heal. He brought up valid points with her name and such. After a moment, she shook her head. "I guess I don't."

Splinter picked up his cup and walked off. "I'll be meditating in the dojo if you need me. The boys should be waking up soon."

The girl watched him leave until he disappeared around the corner. She leaned against the counter, lost in thought. She looked all around the lair, making mental notes about where everything rested. She figured the Turtles would wake up soon, but she just didn't know when. What was she supposed to do until then? She noticed a note on the fridge and walked over to get a better look. She realized it was April's phone number.

Hmm….wonder if she's awake. The girl took out her phone and started typing numbers.

Dogpound's ears flicked to his laptop and he hurried over, realizing someone was calling on video chat. He checked the caller ID, but then made a face before answering. "What do you want, Kuro?"

"I'm reporting to Shredder." Kuro answered simply.

"Then call him!" Dogpound snapped. "I ain't some messenger mutt."

"Could've fooled me." Kuro sassed.

"Don't test me!" Dogpound snarled. Then he noticed the background. "Kuro, where are you now?"

"In the sewers." Kuro said. "Shredder said they lived down here, so—"

"Kuro, the New York sewer system is bigger and vaster than you think." Dogpound interrupted. "It'll take days for you to find the Turtles by looking down there. You'll get lost first."

"You have no faith in me." Kuro rolled her eyes.

"Kuro, you're still a kid." Dogpound reasoned. "Besides, if Shredder lost you, he'll take his anger out on us."

"I'll be fine." Kuro assured. "I'll take down the Turtles from the inside and throw them at my father's feet." She suddenly turned. "I gotta go. I'll report again in a week. I need time."

"Hey Kuro." Dogpound said suddenly. Kuro looked expectantly towards the mutant. "You be careful, okay kid?"

Kuro smiled a little. "Thanks Chris."

"What are you doing?" Leo demanded as the girl walked in from the entrance.

"Just making a call." The girl shrugged, stowing away her phone. "What's on the agenda for today?"

"You're going to sit down and be quiet." Raph said as he followed his brothers to the dojo. "We're going to train."

"Can I watch?" the girl asked, trailing after the brothers.

"No." Raph snapped. "Ninjas only."

"I've taken some martial arts classes." The girl noted as she continued to follow.

"Not the same." Raph insisted.

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

"What is?"

Raph and the girl stopped arguing to look towards Splinter as he approached. "Splinter, tell her she can't watch us train."

"No training today." Splinter said. The boys stared at him strangely. "I want us all to rest today; it was an eventful evening last night, and we need time to rest."

"As you wish, Sensei!" Donnie nodded, hurrying off to his lab.

"Thanks Sensei!" Mikey called as he hurried out.

"Day of rest or not, I'm still going to beat up the dummy." Raph said. He cast a smug look to the girl. "I'm sorry, the fake dummy." The girl growled animalistic-like after him.

"Sensei, are you feeling all right?" Leo asked.

"Honestly, Leonardo, this is a day for all of us to heal, including me." Splinter admitted. He touched his chest, where his wounds remained. "Go rest. I'll join you in a few minutes." Leo looked concerned, but bowed to his sensei and walked off.

"Is something wrong?" the girl asked.

"I want to talk to my sons about you staying here. You're all going to have to get along somehow, so I want the five of you to spend today getting to know each other."

"Seriously?" the girl raised an eyebrow. "What happened to 'personal info shouldn't be revealed'?"

"Just try and find some similar interests." Splinter said simply. "I have a feeling you will be here longer than you think."

"Really?" the girl groaned a little.

"The mutant dog that attacked you works for a man known as the Shredder." Splinter explained. "He won't rest until he finds you if he truly believes you are involved with us. April is in the same situation."

The girl sighed. "Very well. I'll try and be a little less snarky."

"Thank you. But I also wish to discuss with my sons about someone they encountered yesterday." Splinter explained. "Someone called Moon Shadow."

"Moon Shadow?" the girl asked.

"A konoichi that put up a pretty good fight." Splinter nodded in thought. "Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael encountered her while they searched for Michelangelo and me. From what they know, she is planning an attack on us and our home. But they were attacked before getting any more information."

"You have very many enemies?" the girl asked.

"Not many." Splinter shook his head. "But the ones we have are very strong and very annoying."

The girl smirked. "Well, considering it's one girl against four mutant turtles, the winner ought to be obvious, right?"

"No battle is set in stone." Splinter said. "Nor should one judge a book by their cover."

The girl nodded in understanding and walked off. Don't think I didn't catch the implication of that last comment, Splinter. She sighed. But how am I supposed to connect with four mutant turtles? Even if they do have some human aspects to them, they're still boys. The girl sighed as she approached the main room. She looked around and noticed Leo sitting in front of the TV, Raph beating up a punching bag, Mikey reading a comic book, and Donnie…out of sight.

"Where's the purple one?" the girl asked.

"Tinkering with his little machines." Raph shrugged. "But don't think he won't smack you with a wrench if you bug him."

The girl rolled her eyes and calmly walked around the corner, where she could see sparks flying. She saw the purple masked turtle using a blowtorch to weld together a couple pieces of metal on a go-kart like vehicle. She watched him work for a few minutes before clearing her throat to announce her presence.

Donnie looked up in surprise, lifting his welding mask to stare curiously at the girl. "Hey. What are you doing here?"

"Splinter says to get to know you guys, so I thought I'd have a civil conversation to start off." The girl explained. "You seemed like a good start. After all, we're alone."

Donnie narrowed his eyes a little. "You're not here to hurt us?"

"I saved your sensei and your brother." The girl protested. "Why do you think I would hurt you?"

"Because we were taught to be wary of strangers." Donnie explained, returning to his work.

"Even one's best friends start out as strangers." The girl said wisely.

Donnie looked back up at the girl. He smiled under his mask. "All right, as long as you're not here to pummel me with a pipe or something."

"Aww." The girl whined, setting down the large wrench in her hand. "So, what are you working on?"

Donnie looked excited as he stood, shedding his welding mask. "Well, it's this really cool thing that I call a patrol buggy. It's loaded with all sorts of cool tricks like caltrops, grappling hooks….."

"She almost sliced us to sushi." Raph finished his story. "But we used the smoke bombs to escape."

"She sounds strong." Mikey noted. "And she calls herself Moon Shadow? That's actually kinda cool!"

"Whoever she is, she obviously has ties with Shredder." Splinter nodded in thought. "Tonight, when you are out on patrol, I want you to keep an eye out for her."

"Who are you keeping an eye out for?" April asked as she came in.

"A ninja that calls herself 'Moon Shadow'." Leo explained. "She's planning to attack us."

"Who isn't planning to attack you?" April chuckled a little.

"Our new houseguest." Mikey noted.

"Ah yes, I wanted to speak to you all about her." Splinter said. "This girl will be staying with us for now, and I'm noticing a bit of….tension between her and you."

"A bit?" April scoffed.

"Sensei, how do we know she isn't a danger to us?" Leo demanded.

"Why do you think she is a danger to us?" Splinter countered.

"Something about her just makes me angry." Leo said. "I can't explain it. But I feel uneasy around her."

"Do you trust your ninjutsu training?" Splinter asked.

"Of course." Leo nodded. Raph and Mikey voiced their own confirmations.

"Then why do you worry?" Splinter asked. "She can't find her way in or out of the lair without one of us." Raph and Leo still looked unsure. "You trust me, don't you?" The pair nodded. "Then trust her for now. I see no reason why she would reveal us to anyone else."

"What about Moon Shadow?" Raph asked. "What do we do about her?"

"You should be wary of her." Splinter advised. "Don't fight with her unless absolutely necessary, do you understand?" He looked more at Raph than Leo or Mikey.

"She seems….different….from our other enemies." Leo noted. "She's not a mutant, but her skills are far more advanced than a Foot Ninja. She obviously knows who we are, so she had to have gotten her information from someone."

"Maybe the Kraang?" Mikey suggested. "They had Snake work for them before he went all weedy and monstrous."

"I don't think so." Leo shook his head. "She knew Splinter's name was Hamato Yoshi and each of our names."

"This is some puzzle." Raph sighed.

"I say we roll with the punches." Mikey shrugged.

"Michelangelo is right." Splinter nodded. "We do not know enough about this Moon Shadow. Only time will tell where this girl's loyalties lie."

Kuro took a deep breath of the cool night air through her nose, sighing in content. She made sure her mask was covering all but her eyes before moving on to leap across the rooftops. She looked all around her, keeping her eyes open for any flash of green. Unfortunately, the only green she saw for a while was the occasional tree.

Suddenly, she was forced to lean back when a stream of pink-purple light shot past her face. She fell right on her butt, spots dancing across her vision. She shook her head and crawled forward. When she looked over the edge, Kuro saw a building with that same pink-purple light flashing in the windows. Kuro uncovered her ear and cocked her head, listening to the voices coming from inside.

"Look out!"

"On your left!"

"Your left or my left?"

"The ones called the Turtles will soon be destroyed by the weapon that will destroy the ones called the turtles!"

"Hi-yah! Ouch!"

"Slice them! Don't kick them!"

"The Turtles." Kuro growled. She stood up and leaped down to the building below. She reached a window in the ceiling and looked inside. Sure enough, the Turtles were there, fighting off the Kraang droids. But Kuro guessed she arrived at the end of the battle, because one of the Kraang shouted something about fleeing from the place where the Turtles are in this place and the droids started running off.

Guess I won't be fighting the Turtles tonight. Kuro sighed. Then, she heard an engine revving in front of the building, and she jogged to the edge of the structure to see a familiar white van. But maybe I can find April's dad. She hurried off to the alley and down to the ground. Careful to not let the Kraang spot her, she slipped under the van and clung to the pipes underneath, about six inches off the ground. Minutes later, the van started up and sped away. Kuro hung on tightly, careful to not let anything hang down from her and risk it getting caught in the tires.

"Come on guys!"

"Stop there Kraang creeps!"

Kuro groaned. "Great." She yelped when the van tires suddenly popped, all the air spewing out. The van started spinning out of control, with Kuro clinging to the bottom for dear life. She wasn't afraid; she only preferred to not get crushed by a van. Suddenly, the van toppled over on its side, skittering across the ground. When the van finally stopped, Kuro found herself panting from the adrenaline of the experience.

"Hey!"

Kuro turned sharply to glare at Leo as he drew his katanas. She dropped from the van and quickly jumped to her feet. She looked past the blue-masked turtle and noticed his brothers battling the Kraang droids. Kuro drew her katana, the black blade glinting wickedly in the streetlights.

"I've got enough problems dealing with these metal freaks." Leo growled. "I don't need you to add on."

"Perhaps you should've thought about that before you messed with my father." Kuro sassed.

"I don't even know your father." Leo snapped. "I hardly know who you are."

Kuro smirked. "On the contrary; you know my father quite well. He used to be a friend of your sensei's. Someone by the name of Oroku Saki."

Leo's eyes widened. "Shredder? The Shredder is your dad?"

"Is it really such a surprise?" Kuro laughed. "How else would I learn how to use this?" She suddenly lunged with her katana, barely giving Leo enough time to block with his own blades. The konoichi's quick movements forced him to remain defensive, using his blades like a shield to prevent his face from getting carved into. Kuro didn't stop, swiping and spinning and stabbing, trying to hit whatever wasn't covered in shell. Leo continued to block and tried to attack her as well, but they were evenly matched.

"Back off!" Mikey suddenly swung his kusarigama towards Kuro's head. She ducked just in time, rolling away into the shadows of a nearby alley.

"Come on!" Raph urged. The four brothers hurried after the konoichi. But when they arrived at the alley, Moon Shadow was nowhere in sight.

"Where'd she go?" Donnie wondered aloud.

"Forget her." Leo reasoned. "Let's check out the Kraang's van. Maybe we'll find something that'll help us with April." His brothers looked reluctant, but followed Leo to the van.

Kuro stared after the brothers as they scoured the van. What are you doing with April you scum? She finally slipped away, sprinting through the shadows until she felt she was a good distance away. She found a mark she made on a sewer grate and slipped down the manhole into the sewers. She found the mark she made on the wall and started moving down the dark corridor. She kept an eye out for the marks she made, indicating where she had looked during her journeys through the sewer to find the Turtles.

Kuro pulled off her mask and stuffed it in her belt. She pulled out her phone and pressed a few buttons. "Come on, come on. Pick up."

"Hello?"

"April!" Kuro sighed in relief. "Where are you?"

"At a friend's house. Why?"

"I just wanted to check on you." Kuro said. "I got in a bit of a scuffle and I wanted to make sure you weren't on the streets."

April sat up from her spot on the couch. "Kuro, are you okay? You sound like you're in trouble."

"I thought I heard something about your father. I wanted to make sure you weren't hurt or anything."

"You know where my dad is?" April asked hopefully.

"Not yet, but I think I have an idea."

"Kuro, listen to me." April said hurriedly. "Don't go after the Kraang. They aren't the brightest in the world, but they are dangerous. You don't have to track him down like some sort of detective."

"Don't you miss your dad?" Kuro asked.

April sighed. "More than you know. But I'll find him. Don't you worry about it, you hear?"

Kuro sighed on the other end of the line. "Fine. But April, you come talk to me if you ever need an ear, okay?"

April smiled. "Thanks Kuro." She noticed Splinter coming from the dojo. "I gotta go. I'll text you later."

Splinter gave April an odd look. "April, are you all right?"

April put on a brave smile. "I'm fine, Master Splinter."

The humanoid rat smiled knowingly. He sat down beside April and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. "You know, it's all right to miss your father. And you can talk about it if you want."

April pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them. She rested her chin on her arms. She felt Splinter's paw-like hand give her shoulder a small squeeze. She hesitantly reached over and took Splinter's hand in hers. The humanoid rat sat closer to her and gave her a small hug, smiling reassuringly. The two of them sat like that for a long time in silence until they heard the boys' voices echoing down the tunnels to the lair.

"Thank you, Master Splinter." April sighed. "This means a lot to me."

"Of course, April." Splinter nodded. "I'm always here if you need someone to talk to."

You're not the only one. April thought with an amused smile.

A/N: What do you think of Kuro and the girl so far? Am I confusing anyone?