A/N: I've updated the cover art. I hope you like it as well as this chapter.


Japan

Leo stretched as he looked out of the glowing city of Osaka. He had slept most of the twelve hour flight hiding in the cargo area of the plane. This foreign city strangely reminded him of home. Though the chatter of the people was different, the people were still just people - still human that is. The wind was the same as it swept around him too, but it carried with it new scents. He sighed and looked over his shoulder towards the ocean in the distance. "I'm so far away from home. I hope they're all okay."

He tried to focus on the task at hand. He needed to find Splinter's village. It was certainly going to be tricky, because his master's explanation of where it was had been rather vague. North of Shino, near Mount Yahazugasen. He pulled out his map and shook his head again. That still leaves a lot of area to search.

He squared his shoulders and steadied his resolve, using the rooftops as he did at home and making good time. When the tall buildings gave way to warehouses, he stopped to listen to the men speak as they loaded trucks. His Japanese was a bit rusty, but he was able to determine which truck was headed northwest and he hitched a ride, unbeknownst to the driver.

It took several days to reach the foot of Mount Yahazugasen. The land here was beautiful and mostly untouched by man. Bubbling streams and moss covered rocks and bright colored Irises peppered the landscape. He was easily able to avoid contact with the locals by traveling mainly at night and away from the main thoroughfares.

On his third day of searching for the burial grounds and illusive village, he stopped to rest on an outcropping overlooking a valley. He sighed. "This is taking far too long. The guys are probably starting to get worried about me."

A flicker of light drew his attention to an area he had yet to check. "Hmm, I wonder…" The sky was already beginning to turn pink with dawn, so the investigation of this new village would have to wait until dark.


New York

Raph kissed Cat warmly, before turning and stepping into the elevator with his brothers. "We shouldn't be too late."

"Be careful." Kala called from where she sat on the couch. Sarah smiled lovingly at Donnie as the doors closed and the guys headed for the surface.

They had all agreed it would be best to start their nightly patrols again, even without Leo. It felt strange to them though, jumping from rooftop to rooftop as a trio rather than a quartet. There was a definite gap in their team with the lack of a distinct leader. But they had fumbled through in beginning to settle on short discussions prior to any conflicts that needed strategy.

They paused on a rooftop overlooking the rougher part of town. Mikey sighed. "Do you think Leo is headed home yet?"

Raph growled and Donnie frowned. They hadn't heard from their brother in several days and when they had the connection had been weak. The signal had cut in and out. Donnie sighed. "I don't know, Mikey."

"But he said he'd only be gone a week and it's been over that now."

Raph growled again, not bothering to look at his brothers. "He said he'd come back as soon as he could."

"Maybe, he's having more trouble finding Sensei's village and burial grounds than he thought he would." Donnie suggested.

The sound of running feet made them all turn. Mikey gasped. "Foot soldiers? But how? We sent Shredder and Krang into Dimension X and the Techno-drome was destroyed."

Raph spun his sai. "Looks like their back."

Donnie scanned the soldiers before them. They were surrounded on all three sides, the street below looming at their backs. "There's something strange. Why isn't Shredder here or Bebop or Rocksteady?"

Raph stepped forward his brothers flanking him. "It don't matter. They came to pick a fight, so I say let's give'em one!" The three charged forward engaging their oldest enemy once more.


Sarah smiled as she tucked Mira into her bed. The small turtle yawned. "Will Daddy be home soon?"

She kissed her daughter's head. "Yes, it shouldn't be long now." She could feel the familiar sensation of her mate engaged in battle, but she gave it little thought. Over the past eight years she had learned to deal with the pain of the occasional blow that would get through his defenses. "Good night, sweetheart." She rose, shutting the door behind her.

She walked back to the living room where Kala and Cat were talking about the show that was on, making fun of it. Cat laughed. "These guys are pathetic. Raph could run that course in under five seconds."

Kala chuckled. "Mikey could too, as long as there was a pizza at the end."

Sarah leaned over the back of the couch to see what they were watching. "American Ninja, huh? I think we have enough of that around here already."

The two girls laughed. Cat grinned. "You got that right."

Suddenly an alarm sounded and they turned to look at the monitor above the elevator door. But there was nothing on it. Kala covered her ears. "What is it?"

Sarah frowned. Was Donnie's security system malfunctioning? She shook her head. No it couldn't be. She turned and ran for the lab, the two other girls on her heels. She slipped into the chair at his computer console and hit a few keys. She gasped. "I don't know who it is, but they've broken through the security both above and below. And they'll be here in a matter of seconds." She jumped to her feet. "Mira!"

Kala grabbed Cat's arm as Sarah ran from the room. "We need to arm ourselves or get out of here!"

Cat glanced at the screen. "There is no way out. It looks like we're surrounded."

Sarah came rushing back into the room, Mira tucked tightly in her arms. "We need to go now!"

But it was too late. A voice cold and familiar spoke from outside the room. "Come out, come out wherever you are."

The three women gasped, their blood running cold.


Japan

It was nearing sunset as Leo slipped through the forest headed for the place he'd seen the speck of light the night before. He was surprised to see there was indeed a small village here with a shrine as well. Staying out of sight he skirted along the area, until he came to what appeared to be a small graveyard.

It was nearly dark as he scanned the headstones. None read the name Hamato on them. He sighed. "I guess I'll just have to keep looking."

He leaped into a nearby bush as soft footsteps came down the path from the shrine. Leo watched the figure move in the dying light. It was a woman. She moved with grace and confidence to sit on the small stone bench. Leo marveled at her beauty. She was dressed in a traditional kimono and her waist length ebony hair floated in the soft breeze. Unconsciously he took a deep breath, drawing in her scent. She smelt of flowers and herbs.

"Amaya? Amaya?" An older man dressed in the garb of a priest came down the path. He stopped beside her with a sad expression. "I thought I might find you here."

"I wish to be alone, Master Shinta." Her voice was soft but held an underlying firmness.

The old man sighed. "Do not be angry with them, Amaya. They do not understand."

She lowered her head a bit. "That I know all too well." She sighed, her shoulders sagging. "I'm not angry with them. I just wish they'd…"

"Respect you?" She gave a slight nod and the man put a hand on her shoulder. "It is unfortunately the way of the world. I know that if things would have been different, you would have become a great priestess."

The young woman shook her head. "But things aren't different and they never will be."

Master Shinta sighed. "I suppose you're right. Don't stay out too late, child." He started up the path again to the shrine.

Leo watched the young woman with growing interest. She seemed poised and dignified. Her movements were elegant and graceful. He wondered why she was upset. He took in another lungful of her lovely scent. He said her name was Amaya. The night rain.

Her head snapped up and she turned to look in his direction. If he hadn't known better, he could have sworn she could see him in the near pitch darkness that now surrounded them. She stood. "Who's there?" She demanded and he felt himself shrink away a bit. "I know you're there. I can hear you. What do you want?"

Despite all his training and all his common sense, he felt he had to answer. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."

She paused, still staring blankly in his direction. There was a strangeness in the way she looked on – seeing and yet not seeing. Finally, she spoke again, her voice much gentler. "Forgive me. Are you visiting here? You're an American?"

He paused now. He had spoken in Japanese. "Yes." His response was tentative. He watched a small smile cross her lips.

When she spoke again it was in English. "I thought so. Do you have a place to stay the night? You may stay at the shrine if you wish."

Leo watched her take a few steps towards him. How does she know where I am? "No, I can't. I'm searching for my father's village." A thought struck him. "Are there any other villages near here with a burial ground?"

"I don't know, perhaps. Why don't you come out and we will discuss it. It has been many years since I had the chance to practice my English."

There was something about this woman that made him want to forget his better judgement and do as she'd asked. But another part him felt shame. He would likely only frighten her with his appearance. "I can't. If you don't know, then I should go."

"Why do you hesitate? Most travelers would be glad for shelter and food." She paused, averting her gaze. "Is it because of me? Do I frighten you?"

Leo felt his chest tighten. "What? No, you're….you're fine. It's me that would frighten you."

The young woman let out a hallow laugh and the sound made his chest tighten even more. "My eyes have been unseeing since I was a small child. "

He froze. She had moved with such refinement and self-assurance, he had never suspected she was…. "You're blind?"

"Yes, my physical eyes cannot see. But what I can see is your spirit. And you could no more frighten or harm me than the butterfly can the mountain." She took another step in his direction. "That is not to say your spirit is not strong, but that it is noble."

Leo slowly stood to face her fully. He was struck once more by her beauty. Her pale skin glowed softly in the starlight and her hair shimmered in the nearly nonexistent moonlight. "So, do you think you could help me find my father's village?"

A smile graced her soft lips. "Yes, but first wait here while I fetch you something to eat."

Leo took a step towards her. "Um, please don't tell anyone I'm here."

Her smile remained gentle. "I had no intention of doing so. May I ask your name though?"

He smiled. "It's Hamato Leonardo."

She bowed slightly. "Mine is Himura Amaya. I'm pleased to meet you, Leonardo. I will be back shortly." She turned and headed up the path with the same elegant confidence as before. He found himself marveling a new at her. From a distance it was impossible to even tell she was blind. He pondered this while nervously waiting for her to return.

Why had he been so quick to speak with her? To trust her? She was vulnerable, yet fearless. Something about her resonated deep inside him. He watched from behind a Sakura tree as her sole figured stepped from the shrine and down the path to the small graveyard. Her dark hair swirled around her in the wind, giving her an ethereal appearance. She approached, giving him a small smile as she set the tray with two bowls of rice, two of meat and vegetable, and two cups of tea on the stone bench. She knelt to one side and gestured for him to do the same.

He knelt, watching her movements with interest. Her smile faded slightly. "Is it so strange to find a blind woman in a village so far removed from the outside world?"

He blushed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare." He looked down with a touch of embarrassment. "Thank you for the food. I haven't had a real meal in a while." The small amount of food he'd brought with him was gone no more than a few days into his travel and he'd been forced to scavenge and hunt to survive the last few days.

Amaya smiled again with a little laugh. "I hate to disappoint you, but Yuka made the meal and she tends to put too much salt."

He grinned. "It can't be worse than the things my brother cooks."

She chuckled and they sat for a moment eating in silence. The stars sparkled above them, lighting their shared meal. At length she spoke. "You mentioned your father before."

He nodded and paused, realizing she could not see the motion. "Yes. I'm looking for his family's burial grounds, so that I can lay his remains to rest."

"It is an honorable thing you do, so I will tell you what I know. The only other village that was once near here was the one I was born in. A great fire swept through it, destroying most of the homes there."

He spoke softly, unsure if he were overstepping his bounds. "Is that how you lost your sight?"

She nodded. "I was only five when it happened. My parents died in the fire but I was rescued. My eyes, however, were severely damaged. The priest here agreed to take me in. I have lived with Master Shinta since." Her expression dropped some. "I will likely never leave here, as there is no place for me in the outside world."

Just like us. He frowned. "The priest called you a priestess though."

She shook her head. "I can never truly become a miko, due to my limitations. They would never accept me, even though I have trained under my master for most of my life. He even entrust me teach the younger priestesses to deal with evil spirits."

He frowned. "Is that who you were talking about earlier?"

She sighed. "Yes, even here they do not fully accept me."

Leo felt his chest tighten again. Her vulnerability was easy to see while her strength was not. He was the opposite, always showing his strength and never his vulnerability. They were opposites and yet the same. She was an outcast among humans, just as he was.

"Amaya! Amaya come quickly!" A small figure ran down the path from the shrine. She turned to look in the voice's direction and when she turned back Leo was gone. He had disappeared as silently as the night.


A/N: I hope you're liking her so far. The more I writer her the more I love her. Let me know what you think. Oh, and check out more of my art on deviant art. Be kind I'm a poor artist.