Chapter Twenty Five- Kuro and Shredder

Kuro slunk through the hole in the glass ceiling and to the overhang in Shredder's throne room. She wasted no time in leaping down to the floor and marching up to Shredder's throne. Dogpound, Fishface, and Stockman stood off to the side. Dogpound watched, amused, as Stockman continued to work on the robotic legs for Fishface.

"Ah, Kuro." Shredder greeted. "You came."

"You texted me." Kuro noted. "You said you wanted to speak with me."

"Yes." Shredder nodded, rising from his throne to descend down the stairs to his daughter. "I wanted to talk to you about your recent mission. It seems as though it affected you in more ways than one."

"Oh?" Kuro raised an eyebrow, shedding her hood. Her long braid of hair, usually pinned up around her head, fell free and loose down her back.

"If I am wrong, stop me before I go on." Shredder circled Kuro a little as he talked. "It has come to my attention that your attack on Splinter may have drained you mentally." Shredder explained. "It is not unnatural to be shocked at your first kill, Kuro. It is very different to kill someone outright instead of during a battle. But it's justified, Kuro. You have avenged your mother and made me very proud. There is nothing wrong with what you have done and it is perfectly fine if you are feeling a little…uncomfortable. Perhaps even sick to your stomach. But you do not need to worry anymore. Hamato Yoshi is dead because of you. You, Oroku Kuro, have honored yourself and your family." Shredder stood in front of Kuro and put his hands on her shoulders. "I am so proud of you, my daughter."

Kuro stared at the floor, her fists clenched tightly. "I have to ask you something very important."

"What is that, Kuro?" Shredder asked, turning to walk back to his throne.

"Are you my father?" Kuro asked, staring at Shredder.

Shredder paused, his eyes widening ever so slightly. Dogpound, Fishface, and Stockman paused and turned to the man and his "daughter". They stayed silent, watching as the tension in the air climbed higher and higher.

Shredder finally turned to Kuro. "What kind of question is that?"

"That doesn't answer my question." Kuro noted with a glare.

"I do not understand why you would even ask a question like that." Shredder scoffed, turning to walk up to his throne.

"It's a simple question." Kuro countered, taking a few steps closer to Shredder. "Are you my father?"

"Why do you ask?" Shredder demanded, spinning around to glare at her. "What did Hamato tell you?"

"You still have not answered my question." Kuro pointed out.

"Your question does not need answering." Shredder waved her off.

"You're avoiding it." Kuro accused.

"I am not avoiding anything!" Shredder shouted, turning from her and standing beside his throne. He stared out the window wall, his hands folded masterfully behind his back.

Kuro glared hard. "I have trusted you my entire life. You called me 'Kuro, my daughter', and I called you 'Father' since I was a little girl! I have never asked you if you were my father because I never had a reason to doubt it! But my time with the Turtles and Splinter especially has made me see things differently. I will continue to trust you if you will just be honest with me! Are you my father or not? Answer me now!"

Shredder paused for a moment, not even turning to look at Kuro. Then, he finally chuckled darkly. "I am surprised you discovered the truth, Miwa. You were so young when I took you in."

April burst into the lair, panting from running so far. "Splinter! Master Splinter!"

The humanoid rat looked up from the shrine to his family, having just placed Miwa's necklace before the picture. He hurried out and intercepted April before she could start running around like a headless chicken. "April! What is wrong?"

"I was attacked by some weird Kraang droid at school!" April explained hurriedly. "The guys came to help me and we found out the Kraang have been hacking the World Wide Genome Project's data!"

"Are you hurt?" Splinter asked, looking over his konoichi student.

"I'm fine." April assured. "But we saw Miwa!"

Splinter's eyes widened and he hurriedly asked, "Where?"

"She helped the guys take down the Kraang droid that attacked me." April said. "I found her again on the way here, but she wouldn't come back with me. I tried to get her to understand the truth, but she said she needed more proof. She told me she was going to ask someone else."

"Like who?" Splinter urged.

April swallowed. "She said she would ask 'the man I once called Father'. You don't think she means—"

"The Shredder?" Splinter finished, standing and hurrying to the dojo. April followed close behind. "I know for a fact that Miwa would be the type of person to not only ask Shredder, but then try and kill him when she found the truth."

"Try and kill him?" April repeated.

"I have to find her." Splinter ordered, tying his katana to his belt. "I have to find her and save her before it is too late."

"Are you insane?" April only stared.

"April, I will not lose my daughter again!" Splinter almost shouted. He ran off towards the entrance.

April grabbed the closest weapons to her (a few shuriken) and followed Splinter. "Then I'm coming with you!"

Kuro's eyes widened. "What?"

"Mere months old." Shredder said. "You were so small and so innocent." He turned to look at Kuro, smirking evilly under his mask "And now look at you; just as ruthless as I am."

Kuro glared hard. "You lied to me. For fifteen years you lied to me!"

"For fifteen years I raised you." Shredder corrected. "Treated you as my own."

"You kidnapped me and tried to kill my parents!" Kuro countered.

"Hamato Yoshi stole everything from me!" Shredder shouted. "My honor, my name, my love!"

"How can a heathen like you know anything about love?" Kuro growled.

"Tang Shen was mine to have and marry." Shredder growled. "I should have been the one to have her, and Splinter stole her away from me! He stole you away from me!"

"You're despicable." Kuro growled.

Shredder chuckled darkly, descending down the stairs and stopping at the bottom. "Come now, Oroku Kuro. Is that any way to talk to your father?"

"You. Aren't. My. Father." Kuro emphasized every word. "My father is Hamato Yoshi, and he is a great man and an even better warrior. He is a thousand times the man you will ever be."

"Is that so?" Shredder asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Kuro took a strong fighting stance, just as Splinter taught her. "I am Hamato Miwa, daughter of Hamato Yoshi. You killed my mother." She unsheathed her gauntlet claws. "Prepare to die, Oroku Saki."

Miwa lunged for the murderer of her father. She swiped her claws towards his face, but he leaned back quickly to avoid it. Baxter Stockman cowered in a corner while Fishface and Dogpound just remained frozen in shock. Shredder unsheathed his own claws and the two opponents' blades clashed. Miwa back-flipped into the air and landed several feet away from Shredder. She held her claws ready and glared hard at Shredder. He charged for her, swiping his claws towards her neck. Miwa skillfully crossed her own blades to block the attack, pushed back a few feet from the impact. She planted her foot in his stomach and managed to launch him backwards.

"You never should've come back when you realized the truth." Shredder taunted, charging for Miwa again.

Miwa jumped aside. "You always told me and Karai—" She grunted as she blocked another attack. "—that every day Splinter lives is a stain on our honor. You told us that—" She jumped up and roundhouse kicked him in the helmet, making him stagger back a little. "—because you told us he was the cause of our misfortune. But now I understand. You are the cause of every bad thing that's ever happened to me!"

"I was the reason you survived that fire!" Shredder growled, stabbing his claws forward. Miwa knocked them aside. "Hamato abandoned you."

"I don't know the details of what happened that night." Miwa snarled, sheathing her claws and landing a few punches to his chest. "All I know is that you separated an infant from her father. And I can never forgive you for that."

Shredder scoffed. "So be it." Dogpound and Fishface moved to join the fight, but Shredder raised a hand to stop them. "This is my battle. I will be the one to kill her."

Shredder lunged with his claws, but Miwa grabbed his wrist and pulled him to the floor. She spun around and did a perfect back kick, knocking Shredder backwards a few feet and forcing him to the ground. Miwa jumped up and aimed to stab her claws down into Shredder's face, but he rolled away and leaped to his feet. He swung his blades for Miwa's head, but she crouched down and somersaulted to the side. She swept at Shredder's feet, but her heel clanged against his metal boots. She grit her teeth in pain, but had to roll to one side when Shredder's foot nearly crushed her stomach. She pushed herself to her feet and swiped her claws across Shredder's arm. Shredder shouted in pain, but suddenly punched Miwa in the chest, sending her flying into the steps. She grunted in pain, fighting to clear her head. Shredder shouted and lunged for her. Miwa pushed herself to her hands and knees and crawled her way up the stairs. She stood and turned to face Shredder as he advanced towards her.

"Is that the best you can do?" Miwa taunted.

Shredder growled. "You insolent little girl!" He lunged for Miwa, but she performed a simple upper block and stopped his claws from stabbing her head. Then, she plunged her claws into a small, unprotected area of Shredder's abdomen, right under his breastplate. Shredder gasped in pain, frozen in shock. Miwa smirked and kicked Shredder down the stairs. She casually walked down and wiped her blood claws off on his cape before sheathing the claws. She glanced over at Fishface, Dogpound, and Stockman, still in the corner.

"If you guys ever come near the Turtles or Splinter again," Miwa threatened. "I'll personally dish out the punishment."

The three boys didn't answer. Miwa walked off, a smirk on her face.

"You pathetic little cretin."

Miwa froze and spun around, her eyes widening when she saw Shredder stand. Blood streamed down from under his armor, but it looked like all the wound did was anger him.

"Did you really think you could defeat me so easily?" Shredder demanded. In the blink of an eye, he stood before Miwa and grabbed her braid, holding her up off her feet. Miwa groaned and cried out in pain. "I will not be stopped by some mere child!" Shredder threw Miwa aside. The konoichi bounced and rolled, hitting the stairs hard. Miwa stared in horror as Shredder approached her, claws unsheathed and ready to strike. Miwa pushed herself to her feet and lunged for Shredder, but he brutally knocked her aside.

"You're a monster." Miwa groaned, trying to push herself to her feet.

Shredder scoffed. "And you are worthless." He swiped his claws, tearing open Miwa's shirt and leaving two long scratch marks across her back, right above her shoulder blades. Miwa involuntarily let out a pained scream. Shredder grabbed her braid again and lifted her up to his eye level. He raised his claws, the tips now bloodied. Shredder narrowed his eyes, staring into Miwa's determined glare. "But perhaps you are not completely useless. I will give you one chance to come back; we can get you a good doctor and you'll be back on your feet within days. Return home and become my daughter once more, Oroku Kuro."

Miwa growled animalistic-like. "I would rather die."

Shredder growled back. "Fine."

"No!"

A flash of silver suddenly sliced through Miwa's hair, forcing Shredder to drop her. Shredder turned as a humanoid rat suddenly swung a katana towards his head. Shredder quickly held up his claws to block the sudden onslaught as the rat continued to swipe at him. He was caught off-guard, however, when the rat planted a foot in his stomach and sent him flying backwards.

Splinter still held his katana ready. "Don't you dare harm my daughter."

April knelt down beside her friend, shaking her gently but eyeing the scratch marks on her back.

Shredder narrowed his eyes. "Yoshi? Hamato Yoshi?" Splinter didn't answer, and Shredder laughed a little maniacally. "My greatest enemy, a rat? A rat! How incredibly….fitting."

Splinter narrowed his eyes. "If you harm another hair on her body so help me—"

"Oh, save the faux strength for our master, Yoshi." Shredder scoffed. "I am not afraid of you."

Splinter blocked Shredder's attack and the two quickly engaged in a fierce blade battle. April stayed close to Miwa, keeping her eyes on Dogpound and Fishface. But the two mutants were too focused on the battle between the masters to even glance at her. April looked over at the battle between Splinter and Shredder and watched as Shredder planted his foot in Splinter's stomach and sent him crashing to the ground, the katana skittering across the floor. Shredder raised his claws to stab Splinter but April acted first, taking out a shuriken and flinging it like a Frisbee. It didn't pierce Shredder's armor, but it ricocheted off his helmet and caught his attention. When he turned to face April, the redhead's fist connected with his face. The metal of his mask only added to the pain as he stumbled back, holding his face.

"Take that you no good son of a—AAHH!" April ducked as Shredder's claws nearly took her head off.

Splinter kicked at Shredder's knees, knocking him to the ground. Splinter jumped to his feet, scooped up his katana, and pushed April back towards Miwa. "We must leave. Now." He sheathed his katana and scooped Miwa up, holding her bridal style as he and April turned to run off. But Shredder once again charged for them. April drew another shuriken and flung it, distracting Shredder just long enough for April to jump up, grab his helmet, and twist it around so he couldn't see. April and Splinter hurried off and disappeared. Fishface moved to go after them, but Dogpound held up a paw.

This is your only chance to stay away, kid. Dogpound resolved as he approached his master. I truly did care about you. "Master, are you all right?"

"I am fine!" Shredder shouted, readjusting his helmet. "Stockman! Get back to work on Xever's legs! Now!"

Stockman fearfully resumed his work while Dogpound just watched Shredder stomp from the room, fuming and muttering Japanese curses under his breath.

The Turtles radiated with depression and a little tension as they returned home. Leo led the way, but he could feel his brothers' eyes on him. Why didn't I just tell them before this whole mess could start? "Hey, Sensei?" He called. "We gotta talk!"

April sprinted in from the dojo. "You guys are back! Oh thank goodness!"

"Yeah, we're back." Leo nodded. "And we…..er, I, need to tell everyone something."

"It'll have to wait." April said hurriedly. "Donnie, we need your help. Bring the first aid kit."

"Why?" Donnie asked worriedly. "Is Splinter okay?"

"He's with Miwa, now hurry!" April almost shouted as she returned to the dojo.

The boys exchanged shocked looks. "Miwa?" Mikey gasped. He hurried off after April. Donnie ran to get the first aid kit while Raph and Leo followed Mikey. When they reached the dojo, they found Splinter kneeling in the middle of the floor, right next to a Japanese futon bed. Miwa rested on the bed, lying on her stomach with a thick blanket pulled over her legs and lower back. The fabric of her shirt was torn and two nasty cuts showed through.

"Sensei!" Mikey knelt down next to Splinter, staring worriedly at Miwa. "Is she okay?"

"She will be fine." Splinter assured. "But we need Donatello's medicine skills."

Right on cue, Donnie ran inside. His eye widened when he saw Miwa's wound. "Everyone out, now! I need space and I can't work under so much pressure or people hanging over my shoulder."

"But we—" Mikey tried to protest, but Donnie interrupted him.

"All of you: out!" Donnie almost shouted. "Now!"

Leo and Raph exchanged surprised looks, awestruck by Donnie's sudden outburst. They rose and exited the dojo, April following them. Mikey glanced at Miwa sadly and worriedly before trudging after his brothers and April.

Donnie turned to Splinter. "Sensei…"

"Donatello, I am going to say this right now." Splinter's hard gaze locked with his son's soft one. "I lost my daughter once and I refuse to do it again."

Donnie sighed, but nodded. He took out a small knife and sliced open Miwa's shirt. He gently pushed the black fabric aside and inspected the wounds. "They're pretty deep, but I don't think they'll need stitches. Just some disinfecting and good bandages." He opened his box and pulled out a cloth and the disinfectant. He wiped away the blood from the wounds before taking a fresh cloth and adding the disinfectant to it. "You might have to hold her still, just in case." Donnie told Splinter. The rat only nodded, keeping his eyes on Miwa. Donnie gently wiped the cuts, and Miwa cringed. A few pained whimpers escaped her lips, tugging at Splinter's heart. He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. He continued to hold her hand as Donnie disinfected both cuts and wrapped them in gauze. When he finished, he sighed and silently put his things away.

"Thank you, Donatello." Splinter bowed his head to his son. "This—"

Donnie held up his hand. "Miwa is your daughter. Therefore, she is my sister. Treating her wounds is no different than treating my brothers' wounds. Believe me when I say that it's just a part of my job."

Splinter smiled. He gently petted Miwa's hair and sighed. "Is she going to be all right?"

"Well, I don't think she should lie on her back for a while." Donnie suggested, making sure Miwa's head lay to the side so she could breathe. "But with a few days of rest, she'll be kicking butt with the rest of us in no time."

Splinter sighed in relief. "Good."

"For now, we need to talk." Donnie said, standing. "Leo has something very important to talk to us about." Splinter glanced worriedly down at his daughter. "Sensei, she'll be fine. I promise."

Splinter looked worried, but followed Donnie out to the living room, where everyone else waited. Before leaving the dojo, Splinter turned and took one last look at his daughter. He smiled softly; relieved beyond belief that he finally had her back.

Karai marched into the throne room, glaring determinedly. She hardly paid any attention to Dogpound as he cracked up laughing again due to Xever's malfunctions. Stockman pounded on his controls frustratingly. She approached him and slammed the Kraang droid she carried onto the table. "The robots, I've seen them up close." She informed. "They call themselves 'the Kraang'."

"I told you I am not interested in this robot fiction!" Shredder snapped as he approached, still fuming over his battle with Miwa and Splinter. "I will hear to more of this!"

"I think this is how they control their robot bodies." Karai continued, holding up the strange device. "I don't know; maybe you can use it." She tossed the remote to Stockman, who pressed a few buttons and watched in awe as the droid Karai brought started moving.

Stockman's eyes lit up. "This is exactly the kind of neurotransmission interface I've been trying to develop!"

Shredder eyed Stockman and the droid for a moment before narrowing his eyes. "Very well." He stepped behind Karai and put his hands on her shoulders. "I want you to find out all you can about this Kraang. Their technology may prove useful in our war against the Turtles." He looked down at his daughter, he loyal, devoted, worthy daughter. "Well done, Karai."

Karai only smirked. "Thank you, Father." She calmly moved to walk away, but paused. "By the way, did you get a chance to talk to Kuro?"

Shredder's gaze hardened a little. Dogpound, Fishface, and Stockman looked back and forth between Karai and Shredder, waiting for the latter's response.

"I'm afraid it did not go over well." Shredder reported. "It turns out Kuro failed in her mission to kill Splinter. She behaved strangely this past week because she felt guilty, believing she failed me and dishonored the Foot Clan. I tried to talk to her about getting a location on the Turtles, but she seemed too distraught to talk. She left soon after to confront Splinter alone." Shredder pulled something from his belt and tossed it to Karai. "This was all that came back."

Karai unfolded the black cloth and recognized it as Kuro's Moon Shadow hood and mask. But the black fabric was torn and stained with blood. Karai's eyes widened in horror. "Kuro's…..dead?"

Shredder folded his hands masterfully behind his back, walking past Karai to the door. "I am so sorry, Karai. It is a terrible loss when one loses a family member." He exited the room, leaving Karai still staring at the black torn-up hood. Dogpound approached Karai to console her, but the konoichi turned and stormed off to her room. She slammed the door shut, locking it behind her. She staggered a little as she collapsed on her bed, clutching the hood to her chest. She fought back angry tears as she allowed her anger and hate for the Turtles and Splinter lull her to an uneasy sleep.

I'm going to kill you, Leonardo. Karai promised. I'm going to kill you and your master for this.