Chapter Eight- Tempers All Around

Splinter cringed at the short burst of pain as the girl pulled out another stitch.

"Hold still." The girl droned, continuing to snip at the thread and pulling it from Splinter's skin.

"Easy for you to say." Splinter grumbled.

"Just one more little bit." The girl assured. She pulled out the last bit of black thread and nodded in satisfaction. "There. All done. Those wounds healed up nicely."

"Thank you again." Splinter nodded.

"No problem." The girl shook her head. "I'm just glad they healed faster than expected."

Splinter nodded in agreement. The girl had only spent five days in the lair, yet the wounds healed fast. The girl and the boys managed to get along well enough to not be at each other's throats all the time. But they still didn't fully trust one another. In fact, when the girl announced that she would be returning to her home soon, the boys seemed a little relieved. Mikey was the exception; he had grown quite fond of the girl, and he admitted that he would miss her when she left.

"Well, I'm going to pack my things." The girl's voice pulled Splinter from his thoughts.

"So soon?" Splinter blinked in surprise.

"I'm not staying here." The girl shrugged. "I don't see how I can. Nor do I see a reason for staying."

"And here I thought you and the boys were actually getting along." Splinter chuckled.

The girl smiled a little. "I think it'll be fine. And I promise I won't tell anyone about you or your sons."

Splinter could see the stubbornness in the girl's deep brown eyes. He opened his mouth to argue, but nothing came out. So he only bowed his head in thanks. The girl returned the bow, stood, and walked off. Splinter stared after her, pulling his robes back over his chest. He gingerly traced the newly healed wounds in his shoulder, lost in thought. He couldn't stop thinking about the girl. The entire time she spent down in the lair, she remained mysterious, quiet, and reserved. She made some connections with the boys on similar interests (she loved reading like Donnie and was violent like Raph) but she refused to open up, as though she knew that the situation was only temporary and she wanted to protect her feelings. But, based on her behavior towards the Turtles and Splinter, it was hard to believe she had genuine and sincere feelings for the mutants.

"Such a mysterious girl." Splinter murmured.

CRASH!

"Hey!"

Splinter jumped and hurried out to the living room as shouts echoed through the lair. He was soon met with the sight of Raph and the girl glaring at each other. A pile broken ceramic pieces lay at their feet. Mikey, Leo, April, and Donnie were in the pit, hiding a little from the oncoming storm.

"You did that on purpose!" Raph shouted.

"I did not!" the girl snapped. "Maybe if you watched where you were going, we wouldn't have bumped into each other!"

"I was watching where I was going!" Raph protested. "You did that so I would break the plates! Splinter's gonna kill me!"

"That's your problem, not mine." The girl huffed.

"You made me drop them!"

"We bumped into each other on accident!"

"A likely story!"

"You are the most stubborn person I've ever met!"

"And you're the most idiotic person I've ever met! That's saying something considering I live with Mikey!"

"I resent that." Mikey grumbled.

"Why do you have to be such a bully to your brothers?" the girl demanded.

"I'm not a bully!" Raph scoffed.

"You just called Mikey an idiot." Donnie noted.

Raph ignored him. "So I'm a little hard on them. I'd still be willing to risk my life if they were in danger to help them!"

"Oh would you?" the girl challenged. "Would you give your life to save your brothers? Because based on what I've experience by living with you for the past five days, I would think otherwise."

"What do you know about us?" Raph demanded. "You're some wimpy little girl that was never meant to be here. It was dumb luck that your van got mixed up and you found Mikey and Splinter. You never should've come down here in the first place! Someone like you would never understand us or how we live! You're just like any other human; you will never understand us or be a part of us."

The girl glared hard at Raph. Her unflinching brown eyes locked with his bright green ones.

"Raphael!" Splinter finally snapped out of his shock. "What is the meaning of this?"

"It's her fault." Raph huffed. "She's always gotten in our way. She never did anything to earn our trust and she's always hovering over us! I haven't slept easily all week because I kept thinking she—"

WHAM!

Everyone's eyes went wide when the girl suddenly planted her fist in Raph's face, sending him stumbling backwards and landing on his tail. He looked up and stared at the girl, rubbing his sore cheek. The girl glared down at him, her eyes ablaze with silent fury. She took a few breaths and closed her eyes to compose herself. When she opened them again, she calmly stepped past Raphael and made her way towards the exit.

"Where are you going?" Mikey asked.

"On a walk." The girl muttered as she disappeared around the corner.

Splinter glared at his red-masked son. "Raphael…"

Raph sighed. "Sensei, I can't explain it. Something about that girl rubs me the wrong way."

"Whether or not that is true is debatable." Splinter said. "Your temper, however, is not."

Raph looked down. "I just don't understand how you expect us to get along with her."

"I don't understand why you're having such a hard time getting along with her." Splinter countered. "I thought you and her would get along best. After all, you both have a temper and violent tendencies."

Raph felt a smirk tug at his lips, but he frowned. "I guess I did kinda treat her badly. You always told us to not judge a book by their cover."

"Should we go after her?" Donnie suggested.

"I think a walk will do her some good." April assured.

"We could all use some time to think." Splinter agreed. He walked off, leaving Raph still on the floor and thinking about his words.

Kuro continued to walk, kicking the tiny pebbles at her feet. She stuffed her hands in her pockets, sighing to herself.

This is gonna be harder than I thought. Kuro admitted to herself. How can I go forward with my plans now? If Father finds out that I haven't had any progress, he'll make me randori with him for a week. If only those stupid turtles were more cooperative and just come out of hiding. Kuro stopped walking and scoffed to herself. "That's a childish way of thinking. Then again, I am still a child."

Kuro fingered the fabric of her shirt, where the turtle charm lay. She always found it ironic that her most treasured possession resembled the very people she hated. But she could never let go of the charm. Every time she tried to toss it, something stopped her from doing so. The name somehow meant so much to her.

"But whose name is it?" Kuro wondered aloud. "Not my mother's; maybe an aunt? A cousin? A sister, perhaps? That would be nice. I'd like a sister; a real sister, not just sister-like friends like April." She groaned. "I'm talking to myself again!" She started walking again.

She really was still a child. She was only fifteen. And she wanted more than anything to make her father happy. Shredder wasn't always the most nurturing of fathers, but he was still protective and loving…..a little less on the latter. But he was the only parental figure Kuro had, and she was trained to make do with what she was given. She couldn't be selfish or angry. Maybe Hamato did kill her mother; then again, maybe he didn't. All Kuro knew was Shredder and the Foot Clan. If Shredder said Hamato Yoshi and his disciples were evil, then she had no reason to not believe him. Besides, the Turtles knew April and the situation her father was in. Obviously, they wanted something from him.

Maybe to change back into their original forms. Kuro guessed.

Kuro jumped at a small splash. She whipped around, scanning the tunnel and the waters. When she heard nothing, she continued down the tunnel. But another splash made her shift into a strong stance, ready for battle.

"Show yourselves, Turtles." She demanded in a strong voice.

Slowly, the source of the splashing came forward from the water.

Kuro's eyes widened and she screamed.

Mikey's head shot up. His wide eyes stared at the entrance of the lair. "Something's wrong!"

He leaped to his feet; his brothers and April close behind as they followed the scream echoing down the tunnels. They hurried as fast as they could, down the tunnels and searching for their friend. They skidded to a halt when they saw the circle of light coming from the open manhole cover.

"She wouldn't leave that uncovered." April breathed.

"Come on!" Donnie urged, jumping on the ladder.

"Hold it!" Leo stopped his brother. The group noticed the leader in blue staring at the waters behind them. Something under the water shifted the still surface, and the turtles immediately drew their weapons. April took a strong stance, standing ready alongside her comrades. Slowly, a leathery green object rose from the waters. White, pointed daggers came next. Then, a pair of lime green eyes with slit pupils appeared.

Mikey's face broke out into smiles. "Leatherhead! Buddy!"

The giant mutant crocodile lifted his head as Mikey hugged his snout. He smiled. "It is good to see you too, my friend."

"Where have you been?" Mikey asked with a sad tone of voice.

"Hiding, my friend." Leatherhead responded simply. "Hiding from the Kraang. I trust that power cell is still safe."

"You bet." Donnie nodded.

"Good." Leatherhead sighed. "Thank you."

"Leatherhead, did you see a girl come by here?" Leo asked. "Japanese? Dark eyes? Even darker hair?"

"I did see someone while I was down here." Leatherhead nodded. "I believe I may have scared them."

"I can't imagine why." April murmured.

Leatherhead only chuckled at the redhead's response. "Whoever they were, they ran up that manhole. But beware; I have a feeling they are not your friend." Everyone whipped around to the open manhole when the sounds of battle reached them.

"That's the girl!" Mikey realized. He jumped up to the surface, not waiting for his brothers and April.

"Follow him." Leatherhead instructed. "Help your friend; and keep an eye out for any strangers in the sewers." He dipped away and disappeared into the waters, slipping away before anyone could say another word. Leo, Raph, Donnie, and April hurried up the ladder to join their brother. They soon found him fighting off a group of Foot Ninjas. Dogpound was with them, currently hauling the girl over his shoulder like a sack of flour.

"Put me down!" the girl screamed. "I said put me down you mutt!"

"Let her go!" Donnie shouted, pole vaulting over the Foot Ninja to get to the mutant dog. Leo and Raph hurried into battle. April got around the fight as Donnie managed to force Dogpound to drop the girl. April took the girl's hand and led her off back to the manhole. But the girls were forced to jump back when a Foot stood between them. He swung his spear towards them, and the girl pushed April back. The Foot stabbed with the spear, and the girl sidestepped, grabbed the spear, and swung the pole around to smash the ninja into a wall. The girl broke the blade of the spear off and handed the wooden pole to April.

"Defend yourself." The girl ordered.

"What?" April raised an eyebrow. But the girl already leaped into battle, using the spear blade like a knife to battle with a Foot Ninja using a katana. April shrugged and twirled the staff in her hands, whacking Foot Ninja left, right, and center. She aimed for their heads, knocking a good number unconscious.

Mikey grunted as Dogpound's fist suddenly slammed into him. He went flying, knocking down the Japanese girl as he did. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." The girl assured. Suddenly, she shoved Mikey aside as Dogpound's oversized fist slammed down in the spot they just occupied. He grabbed Mikey and slammed him into a wall, raising a fist to smash his face in. The girl found a metal trashcan lid and flung it like a Frisbee, making contact with Dogpound's face. The mutant dog growled and threw Mikey aside. He lunged for the girl, who jumped back to avoid his sharp knuckles. Dogpound kept attacking, again and again, forcing the girl to jump back. Her eyes widened in fear as one blow came dangerously close to her. She tripped over a trashcan and fell backwards with a CRASH! She scrambled/crawled across the ground, desperately trying to avoid Dogpound's vicious onslaught. She suddenly found herself cornered, with the giant mutant dog towering over her. She stared in horror as he lifted a spiked fist, ready to smash it into her.

Before the strike could come, however, a chain wrapped around Dogpound's fist, holding it in place. He turned as Mikey planted his foot in the dog's face. Mikey picked up the girl, still stunned and unmoving on the ground, and held her bridal style as he ran off to join his brothers and April. Leo pulled out a smoke bomb and smashed it on the ground. A burst of black and purple smoke surrounded the group. By the time it settled, they were gone, leaving Dogpound and the Foot Ninja to trudge away in frustration and defeat. Dogpound especially looked peeved at the thought of reporting another failure to Shredder.

Leo moved the sewer grate back over the hole. He slid down the ladder to join his brothers. "That was close. Is everyone okay?" Everyone voiced their confirmations, except for the girl in Mikey's arms. She stared straight ahead, holding onto Mikey's neck.

"Are you all right?" Mikey asked finally.

The girl realized the others were staring at her concernedly. She swallowed. "He tried to kill me."

The boys and April shared looks before returning to the lair in silence. The only sounds were the sewer water, the occasional "squeak" from the rats, and the girl whispering "He tried to kill me" over and over again. It was clear she was shaken by the incident. When the group reached the lair, Splinter stood at the entrance to greet them. He instructed Leo to make some tea and sent Donnie to get a blanket. He led Mikey to the pit and had her set the girl down on the couch. The girl involuntarily shivered; the cold stone only adding to how terrible she felt. Donnie returned with the blanket a few minutes later, draping it over her shoulders. April sat near the girl, placing a hand on her back and rubbing it soothingly. Mikey put a comforting hand on the girl's knee.

Splinter lifted the girl's chin so she looked him in the eyes. She continued to whisper, "He tried to kill me."

"Who tried to kill you?" Splinter asked.

The girl swallowed again. "The mutant dog. Dogpound."

Splinter looked towards Mikey. "What happened?"

Mikey and April explained the battle while the girl continued to stare into space. She pulled the blanket tighter around her, keeping her eyes downcast. By the time the story was finished, the tea had arrived and everyone settled down. The girl remained wrapped up in her blanket, staring at the ground.

Splinter sighed. "It is clear now that our enemies have made their decision." He turned to the girl. "I want you to rest for now. We will decide everything tomorrow." The girl only nodded.

Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, the girl had settled into her nest of blankets with Splinter sitting cross-legged above her, keeping careful watch over the teenager. He meditated peacefully, his rat ears twitching at the slightest sounds. He hardly moved, even when footsteps approached him and the girl. He only listened as the footsteps stopped, the blankets rustled, and the footsteps hurried away. Splinter opened his eyes just as one of his sons disappeared around the corner to his room. He crawled over to kneel next to the girl and smiled at the sight.

One of Raphael's sais rested next to the girl's head, with a note that said, In case you need to defend yourself. Use it well. –Raph

A/N: Awwwww! Raph is so sweet! It's so cute to see his softer side, especially when he's talking to his pet turtle Spike! Stay tuned for the next chapter! It may not be updated until the weekend.

Hopefully, you all remember in the episode "I Think His Name is Baxter Stockman" when Splinter whacks the turtles into the ground with that wooden katana. He called it "randori". It's a term in Japanese martial arts that refers to free-style practice. It's when they spar without the kata.