Hey everyone! So I hope you guys are ready for this chapter! :D Please enjoy.

Disclaimer: I still don't own TMNT.

-x-

Karai sat on her bed, staring blankly at the clock in front of her as she processed everything that had occurred earlier that evening. At about 8 she had captured the princess and set the bait for the turtles. At around 9:30 the turtles had arrived, bringing her the first rush of excitement that thrilled her all day. At 10 she had reported to her father that she had successfully brought back Leo and Donatello. At almost 11:30 they both had woken up from the sedatives and she reported that news to her father. Now it was 12:23 and she felt numb inside.

First was the issue with her father suddenly transforming almost overnight. Ever since two weeks ago a change had come over her father. He had become cold, distant and obsessed with destroying Hamato Yoshi and his disciples. But last night in particular everything had gotten infinitely worse. She couldn't understand what had caused the sudden change, but she knew that the father she once knew was slipping away from her. As far as she knew her father was suffering from nightmares, but nightmares don't cause personality changes…do they? She loved her father, but sometimes she had to wonder what went on inside his head.

That brought her to the second matter of importance. Her father's blatant disregard for Leo was disturbing. The look in his eye when he held the blue mask tightly in his clutches, the sadistic smile he wore when he forced Leo to put the mask on himself, the pleased way his jaw was set as he continued to fidget with it when Leo lay on the ground before him. A shudder rippled through her. She had never seen her father torture someone in this way before.

She had witnessed several torture and interrogation sessions since the time she was eight. Hell, she had even participated in a few herself since she was nine. Her father's preferred method was with electrical "incentives" and psychological manipulation. This…this was completely different. There was some of the manipulation, but as far as she could tell it was mainly Leo being unable to do anything to defend himself and he willingly went along with it. Leo accepted it.

Disgust surged within her. Surely Leo wasn't so pathetic to be broken down that easily. She pondered the thought for a while before she came upon a startling revelation. Her father must have wagered Leo's safety over another individual's, most likely Donatello's. Another shudder rippled through her as revulsion set in. Her father was playing dirty this time. She struggled to place the man she saw in there as her father. After all, her father may play the psychology game, but he never forced someone to either submit or watch another person suffer in his or her stead. He absolutely hated those techniques. He taught her that there was no honor in those procedures. And yet here he was doing the exact same things that he so despised.

It didn't make sense and now Karai regretted how her curiosity had compelled her to watch. She saw the whole thing happen and, now that her mind decided to play it on repeat for her, she kept seeing it replay in her head. She saw everything, from Leo's confidence to his sullen look of defeat. She had wrung her hands, and occasionally noticed that Donatello was watching her with a stern look.

The images swam in front of her eyes and she was lost to the outside world until a knock on the door caused her to nearly jump off of her bed. Startled, she asked, "Who is it?"

"It is your father, Karai. May I come in?"

She blinked a few times before stating, "Yes, Father."

He strode in, wearing a pleasant smile as he approached her and sat next to her on her bed. A small moment of silence passed between them before he spoke, "I am proud of you, Karai."

She turned her head and gave him a quizzical look, "What?"

Beaming, he continued, "You have always brought me everything I ever wanted or needed. And tonight you brought me our enemies."

"Yes, Father." She muttered quietly, staring at the floor in front of her.

"And tomorrow, you will participate in what I have planned for the turtles."

She felt sick to her stomach as the meaning of his words sunk in. She'd help him torture them come morning. She had never been particularly fond of it before, but now the idea seemed utterly repulsive. Torture Leo? She didn't want to. She wanted nothing to do with it. She didn't…and yet she had no choice. She had to whether she liked it or not. She dipped her head and replied, "Yes, Father."

With a smile, her father stood up and made his way to the door. Then, as if considering something, he turned back to face her and hissed, "Don't forget, Karai! We of the Foot Clan don't show mercy to our enemies! Remember that!" And then he strode out, leaving Karai to stare after him in blank terror.

'Does he know that I don't want to do this? No…That's impossible. He can't know. I just don't feel like it is all. It means nothing. It doesn't mean I have feelings for him. That's what girls do. I'm stronger than that.'

Flopping herself down onto her pillow, she buried herself in the light cool fluff that surrounded her face on all sides. She mentally noted that she had not removed her makeup from her face and that her pillow would look like a cosmetic disaster come morning. Shrugging, she decided that she didn't care. Someone would do the laundry tomorrow just like any other day. Instead, she fought to silence her thoughts, growing increasingly irritated with each tick she heard from the clock on the wall.

Twisting and turning, she huffed, "Gah! I am a ninja! A warrior! I don't have feelings! I don't need them! I especially don't need Leo!" She fell silent, staring up at her ceiling as her brain finally started to quiet down. 'Thank goodness.' Closing her eyes, she welcomed the calm that she expected would greet her with open arms.

When she opened her eyes that was not what she found. Inside her imagination, she was honestly surprised to find that she still had one, she was being forced to relive what she had seen from outside the door through that small window. Leo was on the ground, groveling and shivering under the cold stare of her father. She watched with increasing distress and worry, until she felt a more powerful gaze pull at her attention.

When she looked in the general direction, she found that Donatello's burning glare seared right through her eyes straight to her core. Don't they say the eyes are the windows to the soul? She could see everything he thought in that accusatory stare. It was her fault that Leo was suffering. It was her fault that they were torn from their family.

Karai backed away, shaking her head, as she whispered, "No. Stop it. No!" Only Hamato Yoshi tore families apart! And Karai had nothing in common with that monster! Nothing! After all, he was the one who killed her mother out of jealousy. He was the one who left her to die in the fire. He was the one who was to blame for everything that had ever gone wrong in her life.

And yet the secrets of her soul were being exposed for those eyes to see. All around her, people stared and laughed at her. They teased her for not having a mother. Picked on her for not having a normal childhood. Bullied her for the burn scars left on her father's face because of that fire. Hated her for not being like them. Through it all, only one person brought comfort and protection. She sought the security that eluded her. "Father…"

Then suddenly she found herself in the room, a few feet away from him. A smile formed on her face. She was safe now. His deep voice beckoned her, "Come here, child." Elated, she ran toward him just like she did when she was little. 'Father will make everything all right. Father will take care of me.'

Just before she reached him, those blades made an appearance. She froze, her delight turning into terror as the figure that was her father morphed into a black shadow that was equipped with her father's armor. "Father?" she asked timidly.

"Failure comes with a stiff penalty, child," the figure growled in a gravelly voice.

The figure launched itself straight toward her and her voice caught in her throat, trapping a scream inside her chest. Reflexively ducking, she managed to dodge the first attack. Her heart pounded as adrenaline rushed through her veins. This wasn't her father! There was no hint of the man whom she loved and idolized in this monster!

Her fear ignited a fury within her as she spat, "Oh yeah? You think you're so tough? Attacking someone who doesn't have a weapon to defend themselves with? How pathetic!"

"Is it really?" another voice called out to her from the side.

Karai turned her head toward where the voice emanated from the darkness. "Who's there?" she barked, squinting her eyes to try and see the owner of the voice. Something about it struck a chord within her and she felt that she should recognize it.

"Has it been so long that you've forgotten who I am?" A figure approached her from the shadows, continuing to taunt her, "I find that hard to believe. You stood by. You just sat there and watched as the man you call a father tortured me!"

Her eyes widened as the words assaulted her like punches. Although she still couldn't see him clearly, she knew without a doubt who the phantom in her mind was. "Leo…" she whispered softly.

"Yeah. That's right. I knew you'd figure it out. After all, I'm the real reason as to why you're here."

She flicked her chin and hissed, "Don't sound so smug! You aren't that important to me!"

Leo sounded quizzical as he asked, "Really now?" There was a long pause before he continued, "Liar…"

Karai blushed a bright crimson, curling her lip as she growled, "Why don't you just say what you want to say and get it over with? I hate boring men like you."

A short laugh erupted from Leo, the sound of it pleasant to her ears. "I am just a piece of you. My only purpose is to help you sort out your thoughts in as painless a way as possible. Like ripping off a bandaid…" his tone darkened as he growled, "Or like ripping off a mask?"

Hurt laced through her, cutting straight down to her heart like a dagger. Her throat tightened as she asserted, "I told you! I had nothing to do with that! That was –"

"Your father, right?" Leo interrupted her, his tone becoming bitter as he went on. "How could I forget? Your father is the Shredder. Our enemy. He doesn't acknowledge us as equals. Shell, he doesn't even acknowledge us as anything but freaks!" He spat out the last word as if it left a horrid taste in his mouth.

Karai flinched, unsure of what to do. She was out of practice with the whole 'comforting' thing. Her father hadn't provided her with emotional comfort since she was seven. He had told her it was a part of becoming a ninja. She'd have to become self-reliant, a stronger and more disciplined warrior.

"Why is it every time you get involved my brothers are in danger, Karai? It's because of you that Donnie is here! Why couldn't you let him go? Why did you have to bring him too? I was perfectly fine with being taken prisoner if it meant they could get away! But no!" Leo was shouting now, "You had to bring my brother here as well! Tell me, Karai! Why!"

"I can't…" she whispered, her mind running a complete blank. Why did she do anything anymore? She didn't know. She was so confused.

There was another long pause before Leo finally growled, "Then until you figure it out, I have nothing more to say to you. Farewell, Karai." Then he vanished into the darkness from whence he came.

She reached into the darkness, calling out to him in desperation, "Leo! Wait! I-"

The hair rose on the back of her neck as she heard a chilling whisper from behind her, "Do not fail me, child! I'd hate to think of what would happen if you did."

Annoyed, confused and scared she whirled around and hissed, "Or what!"

The shadow seemed to smirk at her as it purred, "Why don't you figure it out yourself?" Then the figure lunged for her again, the blades aiming straight for her face as she watched them come in horror. Time slowed and when the figure came close enough she saw its eyes gleam red and it whispered, "Farewell, Karai."

"NO!" She screamed, jumping out of bed in one fluid motion. Landing on the floor, she curled up into a ball, panting heavily as a cold sweat covered every inch of her. Her eyes wide, she searched the room frantically, the adrenaline causing her muscles to tremble as her heart forced blood to them with increased voracity.

After about a minute ticked slowly by, she began to relax. "It was just a dream. It was just a dream," she muttered to herself. She drew in deep calming breaths, closing her eyes as she couldn't help but be swayed by the quiet of her room. A thin smile forming on her lips, she breathed, "It wasn't real."

She stared at her hands as the adrenaline began to wear off. 'I have got to pull myself together. I can't have anyone see me like this,' she thought stubbornly. Making her way over to her simple vanity, she turned on the small light and marveled at her appearance. Her makeup was smeared all over her face and it looked like she had gotten into a fight with a hamburger and lost for all the red and yellow that covered her.

Rolling her eyes, she forcibly wiped her face with a convenient towel that always stayed on her vanity. She knew this would happen. All while she removed the makeup, she couldn't help but ponder what her nightmare meant. Somewhere in her head, it seemed a part of her felt almost guilty about what happened to Leo. But that didn't make sense to her. How many times had her father instructed her not to feel for the enemy? To never show them mercy? And Leo was an enemy…right?

She thought back to that shadowed figure with the red eyes. That figure shared some similarities to her father. But only in appearance and temper…right? A shudder rippled through her as she remembered how the nightmare ended. The shadowed figure was going to kill her. Of that she didn't have a doubt. Her blood ran cold when she aimlessly thought back to the look in her father's face earlier that day when he threatened her. The expressions were identical!

"He's my father," she began to mutter under her breath. "He wouldn't hurt me. He loves me. That was a fluke. It wasn't real. He's just under pressure. He's just stressed. He won't hurt me." Her chanting did little to ease her fears. It was almost like he lost something of crucial importance quite recently.

And again, when he snapped at her for her questions he had a look to his face that she had never seen before. It bothered her. That light hadn't been in his eyes that time he woke up screaming from a nightmare, but now it seemed that every time he had requested something that light would be there. Shining bright in the depths of his once warm gaze.

"I need to take a walk," she declared, trying to distract herself from thinking about what was happening with her father any further than she already had. She had successfully removed her makeup and now she looked presentable. At least she thought she looked far more presentable than she had earlier. Not bothering to put on her slippers, she made her way out of her room and into the dimmed hallway.

She was just aimlessly wandering about when she found herself standing right in front of the room that Leo and Donatello were inside. She felt compelled to go inside, to see and check for herself the damage her father had done. But she stopped short when she remembered the Leo in her dream. He was angry and hurt. She bit her lip, unsure if she should go in and confront the reality of the situation. There was no way they could be anything after this. For some reason, that single thought stirred up a surge of rebellion within her. 'No way!' she mentally declared. Leo was way too much fun to play with, and she didn't want to let go of him so easily.

Having decided to go face the music, she pushed open the door and entered. Instantly, Donatello's eyes landed on her, his narrowed gaze a silent warning that if she strayed too close he'd strike. She had to admit that she was impressed with his attitude. Most others would not have the guts to give such a silent command.

A weak voice caught her attention, "Don? Who is it?"

She turned to where she heard the voice come from and was surprised to find that Leo was conscious. She was both pleased and disappointed to see this. Pleased because it meant her father hadn't gone too far. Disappointed because that meant that she'd have to take her chances and watch as the look in his eyes changed from warm acceptance to cold hatred. Before she could speak, Donatello growled, "It's Karai."

"Karai?" Leo gasped, and Karai watched as he struggled to turn and face her. It disturbed her to see him move like this so she looked away, focusing on the corner of the room.

"Leo! Stop it!" Donatello urged, his tone becoming desperate. "You don't have to do this! Not again!"

'Not again?' Karai silently repeated, reluctantly turning back to look at Leo's struggle to move.

"Donnie, I have to find a way to resist the – AH!" Leo yelped as he began convulsing.

Karai watched in silent shock as Leo had what looked to be a seizure on the floor in front of her. It was mercifully short, but when it was over he was panting heavily.

"Leo, that's why I told you to stop! You can't handle many more of those 'incentives'. Please!" Donatello was begging now, and Karai stiffened when she heard the word "incentive".

Curious, she turned toward the bo-wielder and pressed, "What do you mean by 'incentives'?"

Donatello glared at her and hissed, "Why should I tell you?"

Unimpressed, she growled, "Because I'm the one who calls the shots around here. Now answer my question!" She clenched her fist. If she had to, she would do whatever was necessary to get her answers.

"Leave...Donnie...alone...Karai!" Leo forced out between breaths, meeting her surprised stare with his steady gaze. Having grabbed a hold of her attention, he growled, "Now back away from my brother."

Karai hesitated. If she faltered here then she would give them the impression that she was weak. If she didn't do what Leo asked, he'd be furious with her and that was not something she wanted to see happen. She decided to go with option three, don't seem weak but do what Leo wants. She could live with that. With a sniff, she approached Leo and demanded, "Then you will answer my question!"

Leo smirked and muttered, "Of course." His gaze fell to the ground between them before he lifted them back up and Karai was surprised to see the stern evenness that comprised his whole expression for it completely contradicted his tone when he finally spoke. "What would you like to know, Karai? How I caused my brother to lose his optimism? Or about how I betrayed his trust? Oh, I know. How about I tell you about how it's entirely my fault that Donnie is here with me?"

Karai blinked as his words cut through her like knives. Leo was definitely angry, although he seemed much more upset in her dream. Another difference was that in her head Leo accused her of everything, but here Leo was shouldering the blame for most of it. That was when she realized just how different their worlds truly were. Whereas Leo would shoulder the responsibility, Karai had a tendency to pin the blame on others around them. He was too good to be true.

"Not interested in any of those answers, Karai?" Leo pressed, sounding exhausted.

Karai smirked, "No. I want to know what your brother meant when he said 'incentives'."

Leo leveled his gaze at her, peering into her eyes with such intensity that Karai was feeling as if all her secrets were being exposed before him. All her crimes lay bare; she trembled as she felt him judge her. He finally whispered, "You don't need to know that."

Furious, she snapped, "And why not!"

"It's none of your business, Karai!" He growled sharply, his blue eyes blazing as he stared her down.

She glared back at him, her rage mounting as she yelled, "It is my business! My father had you outfitted with those harnesses! And tomorrow he's going to force me to…" Her voice died as she witnessed a solemn expression of acceptance sweep over him. She stared at the floor, not wanting to vocalize what she believed her father had planned for the both of them come morning.

There was a short pause before Leo muttered, "Get my brother out of here."

"No, Leo! I'm staying with you!" Donatello protested, glaring daggers at Karai as if to caution her against even attempting to set him free.

"Silence, Donatello!" Leo ordered, causing Donatello to shut his mouth in obedience. "If what Karai insinuates is true, then you have to get out of here."

Karai blinked and asked, "What makes you think I'm under any obligation to let your brother go free just because you asked me? I can't betray my father. Surely you understand, Leo."

Leo flinched and looked uncomfortable when her words sunk in. After a brief pause he whispered hopefully, "Then can you at least treat his injuries? Donnie scraped up his wrists pretty badly earlier."

Donatello shook his head, protesting once again, "Leo, you are in far worse shape. I don't need any help. Especially not from her." His eyes narrowed as he looked at her and he growled, "You hurt our April! I don't want any help from you!"

Karai bit her lip as Donatello's words pierced her and muttered, "It's late. You both will need as much rest as you can get before tomorrow." With that, she started back toward the door. She needed to be strong. She had to be a strong kunoichi that would make her father proud. It was bad enough that tomorrow would be one of the most challenging missions her father had ever given her. She couldn't be getting weak the night before such a task. When she reached the door, only then did she pause because she heard Leo call out to her.

"Wait! Karai!"

Karai stared fixedly at the doorknob, not wanting to look back into his face or her determination would waver. She had to get out, but she couldn't make herself leave. She cursed herself for her weakness as she cried, "What do you want, Leo?"

"Just answer me, Karai! Donnie told me that he saw you. You…watched the whole thing. Do I matter to you…at all? I have a right to know! I thought we were…"

She fought to keep her barriers up. She wouldn't allow them to come down in front of him. She swallowed roughly before she whispered, "I can't…"

"You can't?" The hurt in his voice was nearly more than she could bear to hear. She closed her eyes, hoping for him to say anything, to get angry, to retaliate in any way he knew how. Instead he remained silent, and it nearly broke her.

Opening the door just enough for her to walk through, she breathed, "You look better with your mask than without."

The last thing she heard before she slipped through and closed the door behind her was a startled, "What?"

And then there was silence. More silence. Just as heavy as his silence was. Just as tense as her father's silence was. She wanted to scream. Any sound would have been okay as long as it interrupted the silence that filled the space around her. She wanted to run back to her room where at least the clock on her wall would tick by.

Her vision became blurry as she made her way down the hallway. She refused to think about what she had done to him, what she would be forced to do tomorrow. As she closed her bedroom door behind her, she found herself vaguely checking the clock on the wall and she scoffed when she saw that it read 1:30. She could've sworn it was so much later than that. She felt drained, like there was nothing left inside her. With a dim sense of duty she realized that she only had a few hours until she would have to slay her own heart in order to perform her tasks.

As she settled down for the night she heard a voice cry out in her head, but whether that was the requiem of her dying heart or the rallying cry of her warrior spirit she had no clue.

-x-

I hope you guys liked this! Let me know in reviews what you think! I love you all!

-Ariane