Chapter Twenty Six- Closure
Two whole days passed. April spent all her time in the lair, thankful for the long weekend from school. Her aunt gladly let her stay and even offered to come and check Miwa out. But Splinter was still uneasy with letting so many people know where they lived, so Aunt Kelsey just gave her best. Donnie constantly checked on Miwa's vitals, worried about how deep the wounds may have been. Splinter never left Miwa's side the entire time, so the boys trained on their own out in the living room to not disturb him. They didn't even go out on patrol because they were too worried.
"It's been days!" Raph growled, pounding on a punching bag.
"It's only been two." Donnie reminded him. "She's fatigued and hurt and she needs rest."
"She needs to wake up at least long enough for us to know that she's okay!" Raph shouted. He stabbed his sais into the punching bag, breathing hard.
"Raph, it'll be okay." April assured.
"How can you be sure?" Raph shouted. "How do you know that Shredder didn't get the last laugh? After all this time, we finally find out that Miwa's alive and then Shredder has to take her away from us! We can't let that happen! Not after everything we've been through with that kid!"
"Raph." Leo reached for his brother, but Raph turned away from him and started stabbing the punching bag again.
"I'm tired of Shredder threatening our family!" Raph yelled, but his voice steadily lowered with every sentence. "He's gone too far! He kidnapped our sister and trained her to kill us! He put her through torture and she finally broke when she tried to kill us! We had to be the ones that shove the truth down her throat, and she choked on it! Then she had to go and fight Shredder and now we might lose her!" Raph fell to his knees, growling and panting. "If anything happens to her because of Shredder, I swear I'm gonna murder him."
Leo put a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. "Raph, Kuro—er, Miwa, will be fine. She's pretty tough."
"This is Miwa we're talking about." Mikey reminded them. "She fought Shredder and actually wounded him! If you ask me, that's pretty cool. And if she can do that, there's no way Shredder will take her down like this." He turned to April. "Thanks, April, for going after her and punching Shredder in the face."
"My pleasure." April assured, smiling.
Splinter smiled when he heard his sons and April laugh. He looked down at Miwa, still lying on her stomach and terrifyingly still. He pressed his fingers to her neck, relieved at the strong pulse he felt.
"Miwa." Splinter whispered. "I do not know if you can hear me, but you must understand that we need you here. My sons need their sister and April needs her friend. I know you are strong enough to pull through." He gently stroked Miwa's hair. "Please come back to us, Miwa." He sighed and stood, finally finding the strength to leave his room and out into the dojo. Donnie determined just yesterday that Miwa could be moved from the dojo to Splinter's room so she would have more peace when she rested. It did nothing to soothe everyone's nerves, though. In fact, it made Splinter seem like a shut-in with how much time he spent with her.
Tang Shen, watch over her. Splinter prayed as he walked off to join his children. Please help her pull through.
Later that night, Splinter found sleep had evaded him. He meditated, checked on his sons, April and Miwa, and watered his bonsai. But nothing made him sleepy. Eventually, he found himself pulling open the shrine and taking out the picture of him, Tang Shen, and Miwa. He stared at the photo, paying particular attention to the young babe in Tang Shen's arms. He unconsciously started singing an old Japanese lullaby under his breath, reminiscing back to when he would sing this same lullaby to his loving little girl. For the first time in a long time, tears welled up in his eyes and dripped to the floor and into the fur on his cheeks.
Hamato rocked baby Miwa in a calm, soothing rhythm, singing the only Japanese lullaby that could put her to sleep. The baby in his arms yawned and cooed up at her father, smiling all the while.
"Aishiteru, my precious little mouse." Hamato nuzzled his daughter's forehead with his own.
Miwa bolted upright, ignoring the throbbing pain in her upper back and shoulders. When she still heard the lullaby, she pinched herself to wake up. But the music continued. Curious, Miwa slowly got up from her bed and followed the sound to the dojo. She silently opened the door and her eyes widened when she realized it was Splinter singing that song. Miwa, overcome with shock and joy, trembled a little as she took a few steps forward.
"Otōsan?" Miwa squeaked a little.
Splinter stopped singing and spun around to face Miwa, dropping the picture as he did. For a long time, the two of them stared at each other. Then, Splinter swallowed. "Yes?"
Miwa swallowed the lump in her throat. "I remember."
Splinter stared at her with surprise and hope. "You do?"
"I remember how my father sang to me every night." Miwa struggled to keep her voice steady. "I remember that you had to sing that same lullaby to me every night or I wouldn't be able to sleep. And that lullaby is what kept me sane all these years." Miwa felt tears stream down her cheeks.
Splinter smiled and instantly went from wise and masterly to loving and fatherly. He spread his arms and Miwa ran forward and jumped into his warm embrace. She buried her face in his chest and openly sobbed, something she had not done in a long time. Splinter held his daughter close, joyful tears dropping from his eyes and into her hair.
"I love you, Otōsan." Miwa's voice was muffled as she spoke into Splinter's robes.
"Aishiteru, my little mouse." Splinter sighed.
When someone besides Miwa sniffed, the father and daughter looked up to see the turtles and April standing at the door. Mikey was crying a little.
"It's so beautiful!" He cried dramatically. He and Donnie hugged each other and started bawling.
Miwa and Splinter laughed. "Come, my sons." Splinter invited. "You as well, April." Mikey and Donnie hurried into the group hug, April and Leo laughing as they followed.
"Come on, Raph, you too." Leo encouraged.
"Ninjas don't participate in group hugs." Raph huffed.
"We aren't ninjas right now!" Donnie protested. "We're family!"
"Being a part of the family means being a part of group hugs." April added, wrapping an arm around Donnie's neck. The purple-masked turtle's eyes instantly turned to hearts, indicating his pure bliss.
Raph rolled his eyes. "Hold on." He disappeared and returned a few minutes later with his pet turtle Spike. "Spike is a part of this family, so he will join in."
"Then bring it in!" Mikey laughed. "Before this precious bonding moment is over!" He squeezed Miwa a little tighter, sighing in content. Miwa only rolled her eyes and giggled. Raph finally started to smile and joined in the family moment. Even Haiiro the smoky gray kitten climbed up and snuggled next to Splinter's neck, rubbing her head on his chin. The nine of them, Spike and Haiiro included, all agreed that it was the best group hug they had in a long time.
And I mean a really long time.
"Can I get up now?"
"No."
Pause…..
"How about now?"
"No."
Pause…
"Now?"
"No."
"Now?"
"No."
"Now?"
"No!"
Miwa groaned. "Come on, Donnie! I've been stuck in this bed for three days!"
"Yes, and you've bee unconscious for two of them." Donnie reminded her. "You can't move or your wounds might reopen."
"So?" Miwa huffed.
"So, we can't let that happen." Donnie insisted. "If you want to be out of this bed and back on your feet soon, then stay still and let the wounds heal for another day." Miwa crossed her arms and huffed. "Miwa, I promise that the minute you're well enough to do so, you can join me and the guys on patrol."
"Really?" Miwa asked excitedly.
"Yes." Donnie nodded. "But you gotta stay in bed for at least one more day."
Miwa sighed and lay back down on her stomach. "Fine."
Donnie nodded in satisfaction and stood to leave.
"Hey Donnie." Miwa's voice made him pause. "I'm sorry. You know, for trying to kill you and your brothers and Splinter."
Donnie smiled. "Hey, it's all in the past. Let it go. We're a family now."
Miwa smiled back. "Thanks." She said softly before drifting off to sleep. Donnie quietly closed the door and journeyed off to the living room, where his brothers rested.
"How is she?" Mikey asked hurriedly.
"She's fine." Donnie assured. "She's resting for now and she should be back on her feet by tomorrow night. I even promised her that she could come on patrol with us."
"Great!" Mikey cheered. "But wait, what's she gonna wear?"
"What do you mean?" Leo asked.
"Well, she refuses to wear her Moon Shadow gear, including her black katana." Mikey explained. "And she won't wear her gauntlets."
"So?" Raph asked.
"It doesn't seem right for her to just give up her Moon Shadow and Kuro parts of her." Mikey shrugged. "Whether she likes it or not, they're a part of her; they're a part of her identity."
"She made it clear that she wanted to put it all behind her." Donnie reminded them as he sat down.
"But she fights so well with those weapons!" Mikey protested. "Why should she give up the things that make her unique?"
"Mikey, nobody's forcing her to do this." Leo told his brother. "While you do make a good point, this is Miwa's decision, and who are we to stop her?"
"I don't know." Mikey sighed. "I feel like she's lost all sense of who she is. I think we need to help her find an identity for herself."
"When did you get so wise?" Raph scoffed.
"I'm serious guys." Mikey insisted.
"Then, what did you have in mind?" Donnie asked.
Mikey only smiled craftily.
The next day, as promised, Donnie undressed Miwa's wounds and confirmed that she would be well enough to go on patrol with them.
"But I'm keeping them dressed and protected, just in case." Donnie said as he rewrapped the wounds.
"As long as I can finally get out of this bed, I'll go on patrol dressed as a mummy!" Miwa leaped out of bed and ran out of the room and the dojo, almost crashing into Splinter on her way.
"Miwa, what are you doing out of bed?" Splinter raised an eyebrow at his daughter.
"Donnie promised I could go out on patrol with the boys tonight!" Miwa said excitedly. "I'm finally getting out into the fresh air!"
Splinter looked unsure. "Miwa, I don't think—"
"Please, please, please!" Miwa begged. "If I don't get out of this lair for at least a few minutes, I'll go insane!"
Splinter opened his mouth to protest, but noticed the look in Miwa's eyes. He sighed and turned to Leo. "Watch over her."
"Hai, Sensei." Leo nodded.
Miwa sighed. "I'm not a baby."
"I never said you were." Splinter noted. "I just want you to be safe."
"I promise, Otōsan." Miwa bowed.
"By the way, I believe this is yours." Splinter held up his hand, and Miwa's eyes brightened at the sight of her turtle charm in his palm, only now it hung on a silver chain instead of a shoelace. She took it and latched it around her neck.
"Thank you." Miwa said with a smile. "Can I go on patrol now? Please?"
Splinter chuckled. "Yes, you may go."
"But first!" Mikey suddenly appeared before Miwa. "We have a gift for you!"
"A gift?" Miwa asked.
"Just trust us." Mikey insisted. "Or just trust me. Close your eyes and hold out her hands."
Miwa rolled her eyes before closing them and held out her hands. She felt some fabric and something heavy against her skin, and she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Mikey?"
"Wait for it!" Mikey said excitedly. "Open your eyes!"
Miwa opened her eyes and looked down. But then she frowned. "What are these?"
"Your gauntlets and your Moon Shadow stuff!" Mikey said excitedly.
"Mikey, I never want to see this stuff again." Miwa said firmly, holding the items out to the turtle. "Burn it."
"Miwa, just trust me." Mikey requested. "Look, it's your ninja gear without the mask. That's your Moon Shadow part. Then we have the gauntlets you created. That's your Kuro part."
"I want to leave those behind me." Miwa insisted.
"Miwa, they're a part of you." Mikey said.
"You cannot let go of what makes you who you are." Splinter said, putting a comforting hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Accepting these would allow you to accept yourself."
Miwa stared at the weapons and clothes. "Are you sure? I look at this stuff and I feel like a murderer."
"Miwa, they're just clothes and sharp pieces of metal." Mikey said with a soft smile. "It's not about them; it's about the person inside them."
Miwa smirked. "When did you get so wise?" She laughed with Mikey. "All right, I'll put it on." She jogged off to the bathroom. By the time the boys prepared for patrol, Miwa arrived in her own attire. She donned herself in her Moon Shadow ninja gear and her gauntlets strapped to her wrists. She pulled her waist long ashen hair into a single braid down her back, letting it hang freely rather than rolling it flat on her head. The clincher (for Mikey at least) was the dark green mask tied over her eyes.
"Perfect!" Mikey cheered.
"You're saying that because you gave me the mask." Miwa reminded him.
"Who cares?" Mikey laughed. "Let's go, guys!" He whooped and cheered as he ran into the tunnels. His brothers and sister followed close behind. The second they were topside, Miwa took a deep breath. Two seconds later, she gagged a little.
"Okay, so the dumpster reeks." Miwa coughed. "But it's better than being stuck in the sewer! Let's do this!"
"Whoa, whoa, wait a sec!" Leo grabbed Miwa's arms and pulled her back. "We should probably go over the procedure for this kind of thing." Leo cleared his throat. "Now, it is important to understand that we are ninjas, and we must be silent like kage, or shadows. If you neglect this, you run the risk of being seen or heard, which would only lead to—"
"Race you to the top!"
"I'll race you to Central Park!"
"You're on!"
"Whoo-hoo! Let's go!"
Leo looked up just as his brothers and new sister disappeared over the edge of the building. "Guys! Wait up!" He hurried after them as the quintet raced across the rooftops, laughing silently and performing acrobatic feats from one roof to the next. Miwa steadily gained speed until she ran a good five feet in front of her new brothers. She looked over her left shoulder and saw Leo and Donnie; she looked over her right shoulder and saw Mikey and Raph. The four of them smiled warmly and laughed a little, shoving each other playfully. Miwa smiled broadly and let out a loud whoop for joy. She couldn't remember the last time she had so much fun, even when she was with Karai.
"Watch out!"
"Hee-yah!"
WHAM!
Miwa skidded to a halt and spun around. She found herself at least two buildings away from the one her brothers stood on, and her brothers' path was blocked by a familiar konoichi with black/blond hair and a tantō.
"What do you want?" Leo demanded.
"My sister back." Karai growled under her mask. "And I suppose you want to live to see sunrise. But I guess we're all going to be disappointed tonight." She lunged with a roar-like cry, swiping her blade towards the Turtles' heads. The guys jumped back, but Karai came at them with a fury they could not match. She punched Raph in the nose and kicked him so hard he flew into a wall and slammed into it so hard it left cracks. The red-masked turtle instantly fell, barely conscious, to the ground. Donnie ran in next, but Karai sliced his bō in half with her blade, grabbed him by the plastron, and threw him into Mikey, causing the two of them to tumble and roll and almost fall off the building. Karai didn't even turn around when Miwa attacked from behind; she performed a perfect back kick that sent the green-masked konoichi to the ground. Then, Karai turned to Leo, unleashing a flurry of attacks so fast that Leo barely had time to block and retaliate. Karai finally slammed her sword against Leo's so hard the blade snapped. Leo stared in shock and disbelief, distracting him long enough for Karai to tackle him and pin him to the ground. She pressed her hand against his throat, keeping him pinned to the floor.
"You will pay for killing my sister." Karai hissed. "Splinter will pay for laying a hand on her."
"What're you...talking about?" Leo choked out.
"Kuro was a great warrior." Karai growled, holding her tantō ready to stab it into Leo's shoulder and straight to his heart. "You will die now for murdering her!"
"Karai, no!"
Karai froze, her eyes wide. She turned her head to look behind her, watching with wide eyes as Miwa shed her green mask and stared at her with concerned eyes. "Kuro…"
"Karai, I'm alive." Miwa assured. "Let him go. Leo, don't attack her."
Karai looked back and forth between Leo and her sister. "But…..you…."
"Karai, you need to listen to me." Miwa insisted. "My name is not Kuro. It's Miwa. Hamato Miwa."
Karai stared at Miwa with wide eyes for another moment before she suddenly darted off, sheathing her tantō as she did. Miwa watched her go with a solemn expression, hardly looking at her brothers as they groaned and shakily rose to their feet.
"What the shell was she doing?" Raph growled. "I thought we dealt with her when she left us to deal with the Kraang."
"We didn't deal with her." Leo shook his head. "She just abandoned us."
Mikey stared at Miwa, still frozen in place. "Miwa, what's wrong?"
Miwa's gaze hardened. "You guys continue on patrol. I gotta head home." She tied her mask back around her eyes and ran to the edge of the building.
"Why?" Donnie asked.
Miwa sighed. "There's just something I have to do."
Karai blared her music to hopefully drown her thoughts in the tunes. She nodded her head and flipped through a fashion magazine, circling some outfits she particularly liked. Few people knew about her fashion designing hobby; even her father didn't know about it. But she was still a teenager and she wanted something to do besides training or worrying about Shredder's vendetta. Besides, she needed to get her mind off her sister for a while.
Somewhere in the music, Karai noticed a tapping sound that didn't quite fit. When she looked up, she noticed the same girl that was with the Turtles earlier that evening crouched right outside her window. Karai narrowed her eyes, set her magazine and iPod down, marched to the window, and pulled it open.
"Kuro?" Karai asked.
"Hey sis." Miwa shed her green mask and tied it to her wrist, just above her gauntlet.
Karai suddenly pulled Miwa into a tight hug. "Don't you dare scare me like that again!"
Miwa hugged her sister back. "I make no such promises."
"B-but Father told me you were dead!" Karai protested, pulling away and holding her sister out at arm's length. "He told me Splinter killed you! That you went to challenge Splinter but you failed and then you went to challenge him again and all I got back was a bloody mask and if you ever scare me like that again so help me I'm going to—"
Miwa covered her sister's mouth. "Karai, we need to talk. Follow me." Miwa turned and crouched next to the window again. When Karai looked out, she finally noticed the length of rope that connected her window to the building across the way. Miwa darted across the thin rope, without losing her balance, and jumped to the apartment on the other end. Karai raised an eyebrow, but followed her sister quickly and quietly to the apartment across the street.
"Okay, Kuro, what's this all about?" Karai asked.
"My name's not Kuro." Miwa explained. She held up a hand when Karai opened her mouth to speak. "Before you say anything, all I ask is that you keep an open mind and listen closely to what I and my father are about to say."
"Your father?" Karai raised an eyebrow.
Miwa turned to the fire escape. "Otōsan, kite kudasai."
Karai turned as a humanoid rat dressed in a maroon yukata appeared and stood beside Miwa. Karai narrowed her eyes, but sat down at Miwa's instruction and waited patiently. Splinter and Miwa told Karai the whole story. Splinter told her about Tang Shen and the birth of Miwa, and how months later Oroku Saki attacked his family. Miwa told her about her time with the Turtles and how Mikey and Splinter proved that she truly was Hamato Yoshi's daughter. Karai didn't say or do anything. She just stared at the pair as they talked.
"Shredder lied to me my entire life." Miwa finished. "He claimed me as his daughter when, in reality, he kidnapped me from my home."
"I have reasons to believe that Shredder may have lied to you as well." Splinter added. "Miwa has told me about you; I think there has been a misunderstanding."
Karai still didn't answer.
"Karai, we're not trying to trick you." Miwa assured. "You're still my sister and I would never lie to you. They're telling me the truth; I know it." Miwa pulled out her turtle charm, now hanging on a small, silver chain. "This charm has my real name: Miwa. And everything they've been telling me makes so much sense. I can feel it; they aren't lying. I would love nothing more than for you to be a part of this family because I know you would fit in if you just understood."
"Perhaps Shredder did adopt you and raise you as his child." Splinter said. "But something tells me he was not the greatest father in the world." Karai looked down, only confirming Splinter's assumption. "Karai, I was initially concerned about coming with my daughter to meet you tonight. After everything that happened between you and my sons, I believed that you could not be trusted." Splitner put a hand on Miwa's shoulder. "But if my daughter trusts you, then I will too, until such time you prove untrustworthy."
Karai stared at the rat and her sister with an emotionless gaze. She didn't speak nor break the gaze for a long, tense moment.
"Come on, Karai, say something." Miwa pleaded.
But she didn't. Instead, Karai stood, brushed off her pants, and silently returned to her room.
Miwa sighed. "Well, it was worth a shot."
Splinter squeezed his daughter's shoulder. "You did the right thing, Miwa. Perhaps, with time, Karai will learn to accept things as they are." He stood up and pulled Miwa to her feet. "Now come. Let us go home."
Miwa smiled and hugged her father as they walked. "Home." She agreed.
The father and daughter journeyed home together, finally feeling as though their worlds were complete.
Shredder remained still and silent as he sat upon his throne. His throne room was empty, so he felt comfortable keeping his helmet off. The lack of helmet helped his mind feel freer. He kept his eyes closed as his thoughts swirled around in his brain. He stayed frozen in position, hardly breathing, in fact, before he finally opened his eyes.
Knock knock knock
Shredder donned his helmet before commanding, "Enter."'
Dogpound lumbered inside, pressing a button that opened up the glass parts of the floor and allowing Fishface to finally come out from hiding under the metal walkway and poke his head out of the water. After Shredder threatened to slice his head off if he looked, Fishface found it safer to take a quick nap rather than sneak a peek at Shredder's scarred face.
Dogpound knelt to the ground in respect. "You summoned me, Master?"
"Yes." Shredder nodded. "I have a new mission that must be followed through to the letter."
"A new mission, sir?" Dogpound repeated.
"A new mission." Shredder nodded. "We have been aiming to destroy the Turtles to get to Splinter, and so far that has not been successful. I have a new plan; one that cannot possibly fail."
"What is this plan, Master Shredder?" Fishface asked eagerly.
"We're going to attack at the source." Shredder said. "And I will kill Splinter myself."
"If I may ask, how are you going to find him?" Dogpound asked.
"I will not go to him." Shredder corrected. "He will come to me."
The End
A/N: Oh, Shredder, what could you be planning? Guess we'll never know. I don't plan to write a sequel to this story anyway. Hope you guys enjoyed!
As for the Japanese:
Aishiteru means "I love you"
Nezumi means "Mouse"
Otōsan, kite kudasai means "Father, please come."
See ya guys! Hope you liked my first TMNT story!