A/N: 11 page long chapter ahead. You have been warned.

Chapter Twelve- New Girl in Town Part II

Kuro and Leo leaped across buildings, staying side-by-side the entire way. Kuro tucked her hair up into a black beanie and pulled a black hoodie on over her shirt. The green mask Mikey gave her fit snugly over her eyes. For a weapon, a quiver of arrows was strapped to her back and a bow was slung over her shoulder. She glanced at Leo as she ran, noting how frustrated he looked. Obviously, he didn't want to go after his brothers, but he respected his Sensei too much to refuse his orders.

Soon, the two of them stopped atop an apartment. "Donnie said Snakeweed's lair was somewhere around here." Kuro noted. "How about we split up and look?"

"Hm?" Leo didn't seem to hear. "Oh, yeah, sounds good."

"What's wrong with you?" Kuro demanded. "Did that blinding powder mess with your brain or something? Whoever hit you with that must've landed a pretty hard blow."

"She wasn't so tough." Leo huffed.

Kuro's eyes widened a little. "'She'?"

"Yeah, it was a female Foot Ninja." Leo explained. "True, the Foot wear masks and we can't usually tell if they're girls or boys. But this one didn't really wear a mask; and then she took it off and told me her name was Karai before attacking me."

Kuro glared a little. Karai. I should've known. "Look, let's just forget about it, okay? We can worry about the Foot after we find your brothers and Snakeweed. I'll head north, you head south."

"Whatever." Leo growled.

Kuro's glare hardened even more. "Why did Splinter make you leader anyway? Did he hold a competition and you won or something?"

"No." Leo shook his head. "He made me leader because…I asked."

"That's it?" Kuro asked.

"I know. He seemed so sure of it." Leo sighed. "But he told me that was one of the responsibilities of being a leader; trusting yourself and your decisions." Kuro could tell he didn't want to talk about it, because then he marched off to the fire escape to climb down.

"Leo." Kuro called, stopping him. "You were made leader for a reason. Splinter trusted you with the burden of leadership, and now's your time to show why." She turned and ran off, leaping down the alley below. "At least I have motive now. Leo doesn't want the burden of leadership, so I'll just take it off him." She peered around the corner and noticed the street signs. "Let's see….Snakeweed's lair would most likely be underground. And this is 47th." Kuro put a finger to her mouth in thought. "I wonder if the boys have their cell phones." She pulled out her own phone and typed in the number. She listened to the ring on the other end, tapping her foot impatiently. "Come on, Mikey, pick up."

"Yello?"

"Hey Mikey." Kuro greeted. "Where are you guys?"

"In the sewers, looking for Snakeweed." Mikey replied simply.

"How about some specifics?" Kuro requested. "Leo and I are looking for you guys."

"Uh, I don't think Leo and Raph should be hanging out for a while." Mikey said worriedly.

"Tell Leo we don't need his help!" Raph's voice shouted from the background.

"Tell Raph that Splinter sent Leo and me to find you guys." Kuro said. "Leo and I split up and—"

The sounds of battle made Kuro jump and spin around. Oh you've got to be kidding. "Guys, I'll call you back!" She hung up before Mikey could answer and ran off towards the sounds of battle. She stopped at the corner of the ally and leaned against it, listening.

"Jujiken." Leo's voice noted. "Interesting."

Battle cries and grunts of effort rang out.

"Kochogiri." A female's voice scoffed. "Predictable."

"Karai." Kuro growled. "What are you doing?" She slipped into the shadows of the alley as Karai's and Leo's blades clashed again and again. Kuro hid behind a dumpster and peered out, observing the battle between the two adversaries.

"You're good." Karai admitted. "No wonder we haven't wiped you out yet."

That's because you and I are the only smart ones in the Foot Clan. Kuro mentally noted.

"It's not like Shredder hasn't been trying." Leo smirked.

"I know. It's all he ever talks about." Karai sighed. "Revenge, revenge. Vendetta, vendetta."

"Really?" Leo mused, holding his katana ready. "I take it you don't approve."

"No, I'm fine with it." Karai assured, raising her blade. "I'm just saying; he needs a hobby."

Kuro rolled her eyes. Oh Karai. She winced a little as the fight got more brutal, both opponents kicking and swiping their blades. Leo was having a hard time keeping up with Karai's attacks. He started wishing that he and Kuro hadn't split up, but he pushed the thought aside. He could handle this; he could fight Karai and win, without Kuro's or anyone else's help.

"Not bad." Karai said after landing a hard kick to Leo's jaw. "But I've seen better."

Leo scoffed. "With one blade maybe." He drew his second katana. "Not with two."

Instead of looking deterred, Karai looked interested, maybe even impressed. They charged forward once more, resuming the battle. Kuro hid fully in the shadow of the dumpster, pondering what was happening. Karai usually had no challenge, apart from Shredder or herself. Either Leo was a better fighter than he hinted, or Karai was going easy on him. Kuro pushed the latter aside; Karai didn't go easy, not even during sparring. There had to be another reason, but what that was, Kuro didn't know.

She looked back towards the escalating battle. What are you hiding, little sister?

Leo ducked as Karai leaped up to the fire escape. He followed close behind. Okay Kuro. Any time now. "You know what?" he taunted Karai. "I don't think you're as bad as you pretend to be."

"Oh?" Karai scoffed. "What part of swinging a sword at your head do you not understand?"

Leo laughed. "On the rooftop? You could've finished me, but you didn't."

"Because…..you're the first thing in this city that doesn't bore me." Karai protested, flinging some shuriken towards the turtle.

Kuro glared as she watched the battle. "What are you doing, Karai?" she whispered. "Why are you doing this?" She moved a little to get closer to the battle. When she looked up again, Karai had her blade to Leo's throat. Kuro pulled her bow off her shoulder and loaded an arrow into it. If I don't at least try to help and he finds me, he'll know something's up. Kuro reasoned. If I hit Karai, it's her own fault for getting in the way. But Leo suddenly broke free from Karai's grip and held his swords up. Kuro watched curiously, waiting for Karai to kick him off the fire escape. Instead, Karai pointed her blade behind her.

"You see that high rise?" she asked.

Leo and Kuro both followed her point to the Bierlee building. "Yeah." Leo nodded.

Kuro's eyes widened when Karai put her blade away. "Meet me there at midnight."

"Why?" Leo asked as Karai leaped up on the railing.

"I wanna show you something." Karai said simply before leaping up and disappearing. Leo stared after her. Kuro glared between Leo and the spot Karai used to occupy. She stowed away her arrow and stood once Leo disappeared. She jumped when her phone rang and checked the caller ID.

"Hey Leo, you find the guys yet?" Kuro asked, even though she knew the answer.

"No, but I…it's hard to explain." Leo sighed. "Listen, I have to go talk to April. Can you keep looking for the guys?"

"April?" Kuro asked. "Leo, we have to find your brothers."

"Kuro, trust me." Leo pleaded. "I'll catch up with you as soon as I can. Just find the guys and call me when you do." Leo hung up before Kuro could answer.

"Ugh, boys." Kuro sighed, stowing away her phone. She froze when shouts reached her ears. She looked towards a manhole and crawled over to it. She lifted up the lid and listened in. Sure enough, the sounds of battle came from below. "Found the guys." She said to herself. She considered calling Leo, but knew at once that he would talk to April about Karai. Maybe she can smack some sense into him while I do the same with Karai and the boys. She slipped down the hole and covered it again. She ran off down the sewers, following the echoes traveling down the tunnels. Form the sound of things, the boys weren't doing well, especially when Kuro heard Mikey shout, "Wow, we're totally losing!"

"What'd you do this time, Raph?" Kuro growled as her pace quickened. She followed the sounds of battle until she rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. She reached a large room, with talk green stalks of who knows what in the middle and a layer of what looked like green fog resting on the floor. Raph, Mikey, and Donnie were there, fighting a giant, monstrous plant that could only be Snakeweed. Kuro, unprepared for the sight of the beast, could only stand and watch the boys fight a losing battle. Then, Snakeweed grabbed Mikey and harshly threw him aside. Kuro flinched as Mikey bounced and rolled and slammed his head into the metal walls.

"Mikey!" Raph shouted in despair.

Kuro turned and stared as Raph ran towards his fallen brother, dodging Snakeweed along the way. She ran forward into battle as Donnie did, notching an arrow into her bow and firing it at the plant mutant. The arrow hit one of his tentacles and Donnie smacked him across the face with his staff. He landed between the monster and his brothers, Kuro joining him two seconds later.

"You guys seem to be handling this well." Kuro mocked in a sarcastic tone.

Donnie looked back at Raph, their current leader. "Raph! A little help here!"

"Just…..hold him off!" Raph called desperately, trying to revive his little brother.

Donnie looked scared and gulped, turning to face Snakeweed once more. He and Kuro ran into battle once more. Donnie swatted aside Snakeweed's tentacles with his staff while Kuro sprinted up and slashed the sharp ends of her bow across the mutant's eye. Snakeweed grabbed her and threw her aside, sending her crashing into one of the stalks. She growled and stood again, firing a couple arrows dangerously close to Snakeweed's heart.

"Mikey's down!" Raph shouted.

"So what do we do now, Raph?" Donnie asked, pushing against Snakeweed as his leafy tentacles wrapped around his bō. Kuro looked back towards Raph, who had a scared…..no, terrified look on his face. His eyes darted back and forth between the fight and his wounded/unconscious brother. Kuro charged into battle, only for Snakeweed to swat her aside and she hit the wall, falling beside Mikey.

"Raph, we have to do something!" Kuro urged.

"Raph!" Donnie cried, his voice strained from effort.

Raph only whimpered, his pupils shrinking and holding his head in his hands. Kuro could see he wouldn't make a decision before Snakeweed pulverized them. So loaded an arrow and fired it, hitting one of Snakeweed's eyes. Snakeweed reared back, letting out enough slack for Donnie to jump up and weave his way through some pipes on the wall. He let go of his staff, and Snakeweed found himself tangled in the pipes, unable to let go of the staff.

"Raph!" Donnie called. Raph didn't answer, his eyes glued to Mikey's still form. Donnie took his shoulders and shook the red masked turtle. "We don't have much time before he grows back! Let's grab Mikey and get out of here!"

Kuro whacked one of Snakeweed's tentacles as he reached for them. "Get Mikey out of here now! I'll hold him off!"

"Are you crazy?" Donnie snapped.

"He can still reach us, even if he can't move!" Kuro reasoned, firing an arrow into Snakeweed.

"But you—"

"Just go!" Kuro growled, running into battle with the mutant plant once more. Donnie and Raph picked up Mikey and hurried off. "I'll catch up with you guys later!" Kuro called after them, firing a few more arrows into Snakeweed.

"I'm coming for you, Turtles!" Snakeweed snarled. "You hear me? I'm coming for you!"

"Not this time!" Kuro declared, whacking the plant on the head with her bow. They're mine to kill. She continued to whack him and fired a few more arrows into him. She noticed his heart, protected by nothing more than a vine cage. It was vulnerable, so she could take him down now and be done with it. But something held her back; after all, Snakeweed could provide the perfect distraction to get the Turtles away from their master. So Kuro finally leaped backwards and ran off into the sewers, not stopping until she felt safe enough to scurry up and out of a manhole cover. She leaned again a wall, panting a little.

"Well, chalk this up for one of my most interesting experiences." Kuro sighed. She looked up at a bell chiming and noticed she somehow ended up back at Shredder's headquarters. She narrowed her eyes and pulled out her phone.

"Hello?"

"Karai, it's Kuro."

"Hey, Kuro, how's it going?" Karai greeted warmly. "You're lucky I picked this up; I put it on vibrate."

"Karai, what were you thinking?" Kuro demanded. "I watched you fight with Leonardo. It's one thing to mess with the Turtles in the middle of my plans, but then you let him go? Why do that? The least you could've done was knock him unconscious."

"You were watching us?" Karai repeated. "Why didn't you help me?"

"I'm undercover as a friend to the Turtles." Kuro protested. "If I revealed myself, I would be forced to fight with Leo and against you."

"Oh really?" Karai scoffed.

"Karai, what's going on?" Kuro demanded. "You're about as ruthless as I am. So why are you holding back against our father's greatest enemy?"

"Maybe because I can change him." Karai said. "If I can influence him enough, I can change his mind. We connect in ways you wouldn't know."

"That's not an answer. Not an honest one at least." Kuro protested. "I know you're keen to lying, but I thought we agreed we'd be honest with each other no matter what." Karai didn't answer. "If you don't fess up, I'll talk to Father."

"Yeah right."Karai scoffed and hung up. She leaned back in her chair, flipping through a magazine. She needed to kill an hour before she could run off to the Bierlee building and meet up with Leonardo. "What does Kuro know, anyhow? She's been spending too much time with those Turtles. So what if I'm a little attracted to the blue one? He's pretty cool; and I can introduce him to a whole new level of fun." She smirked. "This plan can't possibly fail."

Knock knock knock

"Coming!" Karai called, standing and walking to the door. A Foot Ninja greeted her with a bow.

"Master Shredder wishes to see you, madam." The ninja announced. Karai raised an eyebrow, but stepped past the ninja and made her way to the throne room. She walked up and stopped some feet from the steps, bowing her head and then kneeling, pressing her fist to the ground out of respect.

"Karai." Shredder said. "I have learned that you had the opportunity to dispatch Leonardo."

"Really?" Karai asked, lifting her head and noticing Kuro standing beside her father. I warned you. Kuro mouthed with a small shrug. She was just glad she had time to shed her mask and weapons and hide them away. Shredder would understand that she used Splinter's weapons, but if he laid eyes on that mask he'd flip.

"But you let him go instead." Shredder continued.

"That's not true." Karai insisted. "He escaped."

"I find that hard to believe." Shredder said.

Karai smirked and raised an eyebrow. "He escaped from you, didn't he?"

Shredder growled and shouted, "Enough!"

Karai and Kuro jumped. Shredder stood and walked up to Karai, who went down low and bowed her head almost to the floor, keeping her eyes on the ground. Kuro watched anxiously, praying her father didn't do something terrible. Both her and Karai's eyes widened in fear when Shredder unsheathed his claws. Kuro stepped forward, watching the two carefully.

"Next time you see Leonardo, you must finish him!" Shredder ordered. "Understood?"

Karai lifted her head a little. "I understand, Father." She closed her eyes as Shredder stepped past her. Kuro waited until Shredder disappeared before approaching her sister. Karai jumped to her feet and gave Kuro a shove. "What was that about?"

"I warned you." Kuro raised her hands innocently. "We were taught to not show mercy."

"Oh please!" Karai scoffed. "I don't see Shredder beating up on you for spending so much time with the Turtles! You should've killed them ages ago!"

"I have a plan." Kuro protested. "You, on the other hand, just ran into battle against Leo without another thought. What exactly were you planning when you attacked him?"

"You stay out of this, Kuro!" Karai growled. "Everyone knows you're Shredder's precious little girl while I'm just some kid he picked up off the streets! You started your training when you were five! You were raised by Shredder! His blood runs through your veins. I, on the other hand, was abandoned by my parents when I was seven! They left me in the streets to die, so Shredder took me in out of pity! I will never be good like you. I've accepted that. Now get down from your high and mighty throne of pride and try to understand the situation the rest of us are in!"

Kuro stayed silent with a solemn expression throughout the outburst. Then, she sighed and smiled at her surrogate sister. "Karai, it doesn't matter that you were adopted and that I'm Shredder's biological daughter. We agreed that we were sisters; together to the end. I am Kuro Saki. And you are my sister."

Karai looked down, avoiding her elder sister's eyes. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Kuro assured. "Just do what you think is best. I gotta pick up some stuff." She walked off, but paused at the door. "Karai, I want you to understand that I won't hold it against you if you really like Leonardo. But you have to understand that my plan, and most likely Father's plan, involves the death of those turtles and their master. If you truly like this guy, you better get him on our side fast."

Kuro sat on the edge of the building, staring from the shadows at the Bierlee building just across the street. She remained careful, staying in the shadows so Karai and Leo didn't see her. She watched as they kneeled on the edge of their own building, their eyes set on the sword of Niomote Musashi in the building Kuro rested atop. Kuro honestly didn't know what Karai was thinking by getting Leo to join her, but she had to give her props for trying. She continued to watch as Karai got closer to Leo. Then, they stood up, Karai going for her blade. Leo took her hand in his, and she suddenly flipped him to his stomach.

Kuro shook her head. "It's amazing those two don't see eye to eye. They make such a cute couple."

"Leo!"

Kuro looked up and her eyes widened when she saw Raph. "Oh, no." She groaned. She thought for sure everything would fall to pieces when she noticed something that looked like yellow smoke coming off Raph's shell. She looked down the building and noticed Snakeweed climbing up towards the turtles and her sister. "Not again." Kuro grabbed an arrow and fired it into the building. She tied the other end of the rope attached to a pole and yanked on it to make sure it was strong. Then she race forward, darting up the rope and not daring to look down. She kept her eyes on Snakeweed as he tried to smash Leo and Raph. She jumped forward, somersaulting across the ground and smacking one of the tentacles that tried to grab her. She stepped aside when Leo landed beside her.

"It's about time you got here!" Leo complained, jumping into battle.

"Oh shut up." Kuro droned. She ran forward, firing arrows into Snakeweed and whacking any tentacles that came near her. She stole a glance at Karai, but the Foot konoichi didn't recognize her with the green mask over her eyes. Kuro's head whipped around at a cry of pain, and she realized Snakeweed held Raph upside down by his ankle and tried to pull Leo into the same fate. Leo held onto the door to the building's stairs, straining under the effort. Kuro darted forward with a cry of effort, but Snakeweed grabbed her next, wrapping a tentacle around her waist and lifting her up beside Raph. One of the tentacles shot towards Raph, its Venus fly trap-like mouth threatening to swallow him whole. He held open the mouth, growling.

"Karai!" Leo shouted. "Karai, please! Help!"

Kuro looked towards Karai, who only stood at the edge of the building as though the fight amused her. Kuro drew an arrow, hopefully to cut herself free, when Karai suddenly threw one of her blades. It impaled the wood mere inches from Leo's head, even when standing straight up. He and Kuro stared at Karai.

"Sayonara." Karai said simply before flipping off the building and disappearing.

Leo grabbed Karai's blade and sliced Snakeweed's tentacle, freeing himself and giving him the opportunity to plant his foot in Snakeweed's face. Raph and Kuro cut themselves free as well and landed beside Leo.

"Raph! Kuro! Follow me!" Leo ordered, sheathing the blade. "I got an idea!"

"You're the boss!" Raph said simply.

Not for long. Kuro thought.

The three of them hurried down the fire escape, Snakeweed's raspy snarling close behind. When they reached the bottom, Leo ran towards some blue metal canisters with snowflake and ice designs on them. Flash freeze. Interesting. Kuro thought as she and Raph stayed close behind. But Snakeweed landed between them, hitting them aside and forcing them to slam into a wall.

"Now what?" Raph asked Leo.

"We charge him." Leo ordered.

"Really?" Raph asked, surprised.

"Is that such a good idea?" Kuro added.

"Trust me." Leo assured. "Let's move." The three of them ran forward, dodging vines expertly. Leo jumped up and landed a solid kick to Snakeweed's heart, stunning him enough to make him stumble. Raph stabbed his sai into Snakeweed's leg, and Kuro fired a few arrows. Snakeweed tried to hit the turtle, but Raph dodged and stabbed until he was thrown into the air. When he came down, he spun and his foot met Snakeweed's face, sending his purple goopy blood flying. Kuro counted with a sharp, flying front kick to Snakeweed's jaw, knocking out a few teeth. Snakeweed fell back, and Leo threw one of the canisters at him. He picked up another and charged, but Snakeweed knocked him back into the pile. When Raph landed, he charged for Snakeweed and jumped up onto his back. Snakeweed grabbed him by the throat and threw him off, pinning him to the ground. Kuro ran forward to help, but Snakeweed smacked her aside. He pushed aside the other canisters and grabbed Leo by the throat, holding him up to eye level. Kuro noticed the extra canister, hidden behind Leo's back, and she aimed another arrow.

"Hey Snakeweed!" Kuro shouted. She fired, and the arrow pierced Snakeweed's already wounded eye. He roared in pain, giving Leo the opportunity to shove the canister into his mouth. He kicked it farther in for good measure. Snakeweed reared back, dropping his victims.

"Raph!" Leo grunted as he hit the ground. "Now!"

Raph glared at Snakeweed, spun around, and flung his sai. The weapon spun like a boomerang until it hit the canister, making it explode and flash freezing Snakeweed into ice. Raph jumped forward, leaped off Snakeweed's leg, and raised his second sai ready.

"Booyakasha!" Raph cried, stabbing his sai down and breaking the plant mutant into pieces.

No doubt paying tribute to Mikey. Kuro inwardly smiled. She and Leo jogged up to stand by Raph's side, staring a little at what remained of Snakeweed.

"Nice work." Raph told Leo.

"Thanks." Leo smiled. "Good to be back."

"And, uh…" Raph lowered his voice a little. "….sorry."

"What did you say?" Leo boasted, putting a hand to his earhole. "I couldn't hear."

Raph sighed. "I said…I'm…" he suddenly shouted. "SORRY!"

Leo shook a little, his eardrums ringing. "Apology accepted." Leo sighed as he held his aching earhole. Raph smirked as he and Kuro followed him out of the alley, unaware of Snakeweed's heart melting and resume beating.

Kuro sat at Mikey's head, watching as Leo held out a piece of pizza to his younger brother's nose. Mikey sniffed and then sighed. "Mmmm…..pepperoni…"

"Works every time." Leo smiled as Mikey sat up, following the delectable pizza.

"Mikey!" Raph suddenly grabbed his orange masked borhter's shoulders, shaking him. "Don't scare me like that, buddy! I thought we lost you!"

"Dudes." Mikey groaned. "I had the weirdest dream. I dreamt the stuff from the sewer was made out of—"

"Forget about it, Mikey." Donnie said hurriedly. "It was…..just a dream…."

"I don't even wanna know." Kuro waved it off. Leo handed Mikey the pizza, which he started devouring.

Raph pulled Leo away. "So what's with the girl that tried to kill you?"

"She didn't try to kill me." Leo scoffed. "She saved me."

"She threw a knife at your head." Raph protested.

"She threw a knife near my head." Leo countered, holding up said knife.

"She's in the Foot Clan." Raph crossed his arms.

"Nobody's perfect." Leo patted Raph's shoulder and walked off, staring at the blade.

"You got that right." Kuro huffed angrily, standing up. "Leo, this girl is a member of the Foot Clan. She tried to kill you."

"She didn't try to kill me." Leo protested.

"Oh really?" Kuro scoffed. "Because isn't she the one that hit you with the blinding powder?"

"So what if she did?" Leo asked, turning to glower a little at Kuro.

"Leo, you can't see this girl again." Kuro growled a little. "She's messing with your brain. What kind of leader hangs around a person that tries to kill him?"

"Oh, so now you're taking a jab at my leadership skills?" Leo snapped.

"I thought you were a pretty good leader until you dumped the burden onto Raph and caused this mess." Kuro said. "You said Splinter seemed so sure of his decision to make you the leader. Well, if you ask me, I think your actions tonight let him down big time."

"There's your problem, Kuro." Leo stood close to her, his ocean blue eyes glaring into her dark chocolate brown ones. "Nobody asked you."

Kuro's eyes narrowed. "We'll just see what happens when Splinter finds out about this."

"You gonna be a snitch?" Leo guessed.

"I'm going to show you who can be the better leader." Kuro said simply.

A/N: Do you think I capture Karai and Kuro's relationship well? I hope I did. Stay tuned for the next chapter! Also, may I humbly ask for your reviews if you can make the time to give your feedback? I will go down to my knees and bow oh so respectfully if you do!