Random quote: "A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down."

~ Arnold H. Glascow

Disclaimer: don't own 'em..... yet -evil grin-; still writin' fanfiction

Please note: 12kirby12 (that's me! :)) and OneAndOnlyHardyGirl (Miz) are writing a story together under the joint account TheGrimSister. Our story is titled "Enter Wonderland" and we would appreciate some reviewers! Thanks my lovelies!!

And now...

Onto the story!

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The girl looked around once the turtles were gone. There was nothing to do and she didn't feel like watching T.V. She walked into the training room, eager to take some of her frustrations out on the punching bag. An hour soon came and went, then two, and then finally she flopped back down on the couch, completely exhausted.

Her eyes closed and her dreams took her back to the year she was forced to spend in Japan. The scientists, who estimated her to be seven in human years at the time, had wanted to see if maybe, with a little genetic "persuasion", an animal could speak. They had already attempted to teach her English, but maybe some Japanese would be better. It was, supposedly, easier to speak and learn, after all.

Her teacher was kind, but strict. He was not afraid to strike the small tiger cub. They had muzzled her, which somehow defeated the purpose of her "training", and pit a device on her paws that disabled her to spring her claws. She was defenseless and all too often struck.

The girl twisted on the couch, caught up in her "Master's" beating. "Sutopu! Kudasai!" she cried out. Stop! Please! "Kudasai!" Please! She writhed on the couch, unaware of Master Splinter's attempts to awaken her.

"Calm, down, my child." he soothed, gently shaking her shoulder. She shuddered under his touch and twisted into an impossible position. Her face scrunched up as if in severe pain and tears trickled down her cheeks.

" Tatsajim, kudasai! Ishi tosai muz kashi!" Master, please! I'll try harder! She cringed and covered her face with an arm.

"You must wake up, my child. It is only a dream. You are safe here."

The girl twisted once again, then bolted upright with a scream and a cry of "SUTOPU!!" STOP!! She opened her eyes, breathing hard, and remembered where she was. Her eyes fell on Master Splinter's worried face and she flushed scarlet.

"Master Splinter, I- I'm sorry..." she said, stopping the tears with an effort. "You shouldn't have had to see that."

"It's alright, my dear. Now, tell me. What is troubling you so?"

"It... It's nothing... Just a dream is all..."

"That was no ordinary dream. Where did you learn to speak Japanese?" Master Splinter inquired politely.

"I... I was forced to go to Japan and learn..." the girl said, ashamed.

"When you were a cub, correct?"

"Yes."

Splinter handed the girl a cup of hot tea. "Here. This will help you."

The girl took it gratefully and drank. The tea was a bit bitter, but she forced it down.

"Thank you." she said, setting the empty cup on the table. She could hear the turtle's returning, their voices and footsteps echoing through the tunnels. They appeared thirty seconds later.

"Welcome back, my sons." Master Splinter said with a smile.

"Thank you Sensei." Leo said, walking toward the couch. He caught the still-frightened look of the girl and the tear tracks on her face. "What happened?" he asked sharply.

"Our guest was dreaming of her stay in Japan." the old rat said with a look that said 'We'll talk later.'

The girl dried her eyes and stood up. "I need some air." she said quietly, heading off into the direction of the ladder.

"Donnie?"

"Let her go. One of us should go with her though. Just in case."

It was decided that Leo would go, since Mikey would chatter, Raph grumbled that the girl shouldn't even be there (with a pointed look at Leo) and Donnie would fuss over her injuries.

"I'll be back soon." Leo said, hurrying off after the girl. He found her on a nearby roof, surveying the street below. She heard him approach and crouch beside her.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly after a few minutes of silence.

She nodded. "Yes. I just... needed some space to breathe." she xplined, looking atLeo's face.

"Would you like to talk about it?"

The girl shook her head. "I can't." And with that she leaped to the ground, using the fire escape ladder to catch herself with. Se dropped into the sewers and waited.

She didn't have to wait long. Leo dropped down beside her and together they entered the Lair.

"Dudette!" Mikey exclaimed when he spotted her. He was sitting with Donnie at the old, worn kitchen table. A book was in his hands, Famous Artists of the Renaissance Era.

"What are you doing?" the girl asked, glancing at the pile of books stacked on the table.

"Looking up suitable names for you." Don said, not glancing up from the book he was holding.

The teen looked at it. The cover read Women of the Era; Famous and Unheard, or Overrated?

"So far we have a few." Don said, adding a name to the already half-full sheet f paper in front of him. Mikey wrote something on his and turned back to the book.

"You guys did all this in ten minutes?" the teenager said skeptically.

"Shell no." Mikey said. "We worked on it lat night while you were out for the count."

The girl smiled and she and Leo pulled up a couple of chairs. They each grabbed a book and got to work, occasionally pausing to write something down or call out an idea. Soon each of them had at least one full sheet of paper of names. Several were vetoed, others were put on a different list for further consideration.

Naomi, Artemisia, Rachel, Lavinia, Louise, and Josefa were the final six, then it was slowly narrowed down to Naomi, Artemisia, and Lavinia. Finally it was down to Naomi and Artemisia.

"I can't decide." the nameless girl sighed, leaning back in her chair.

"If I may make a suggestion." Master Splinter stepped into the the room and smiled at the sight of his sons helping their young guest.

"Of course, Sensei." Leo said.

"Why do you not combine them, making a first and middle name?"

"Naomi Artemisia. I like it!" the girl said, writing the two side by side.

"It''s official then. Welcome, Naomi." Leo said with a smile.

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YAY!! I got my three requested reviews! :D

Oh, and sorry if I completely butchered the Japanese language, it was not my intent....

Her "middle name" is pronounced Ar-TEE-see-muh, by the way. Naomi is pronounced Nay-OH-mee. Thanks again!!

THREE reviews before I post the next chapter, pretty please. Thank you!!

-12kirby12