Disclaimer for this story: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is property of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird (the 2012 series made by Viacom) and InuYasha is property of Rumiko Takahashi. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author, punkish furball. The author, punkish furball, is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. The author, punkish furball, makes no profit from this fanfiction. No copyright infringement is intended.

punkish furball – Hello, all! X3

Words to Ponder:

So, after a friend of mine got me into the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, this little idea's been floating around in my head for the past few days. For now, it's just a one-shot, but I could make it a longer piece if you guys like it. XD

Chapter 1

Kagome Higurashi sighed as she shrugged her yellow backpack off her shoulders, placing it on the floor of her new bedroom next to the rest of her luggage. It was an average-sized room furnished with a full-sized bed and nightstand placed against one wall with a desk and a tall, narrow bookcase on the opposing wall next to a standing wardrobe.

'Can't forget the awesome view,' Kagome thought with a snort.

The bedroom window opened onto the fire escape showcasing a clear image of the brick building next door and the dark alley below. Kagome leaned forward with her arms propped on the windowsill to support herself. She would miss looking out at her family shrine, enjoying the blooming greenery her mother dutifully tended and the ever-present Goshinbaku.

'That's life in the big city for ya.'

"Kagome-chan!"

The sound of her name being called startled her out of her thoughts.

"Come down here please."

"I'm coming!" she answered and left her room to walk down the stairs of her new home.

Several months ago, Kagome officially ended her travels in the Feudal Era and returned to her time for good, leaving her friends and allies she made throughout her journey behind. Despite ending her adventures victorious, it didn't take long for Kagome to realize there was something absent from her life and trying to adjust to a normal existence was not going well for her. She hid her frustrations from her family and continued to struggle on her own. They already sacrificed so much from her and got nothing in return, especially her poor mother, Nodoka. She owed it to them to try her hardest to make a life in a world that went on without her. However, no matter how hard she tried to focus on her schoolwork or interact with her peers, her every attempt led to failure. Still, she kept trying and managed to pass middle school.

Unfortunately, Kagome's luck didn't pan out, and she failed the entrance exam for every high school she applied to. She couldn't hide her hardships from her family any longer, and they eagerly helped her find a solution. Her mother and grandfather decided that a change of scenery was Kagome's best option. She didn't want to leave her home but agreed that putting physical distance between her and her past might help her move on. They reached out to extended family asking if anyone was willing to take her in.

As soon as he heard about the troubling situation, Kagome's uncle Hideo Murakami, her mother's blind older brother who relocated to the United States when he was younger, agreed to take Kagome into his New York City home where he owned and operated a popular Japanese style noodle shop, Subarashii Tabemono. Her English was proficient enough, and she could get by with a noticeable accent. And, despite her poor transcripts, Kagome was accepted to a local public school, Roosevelt High, as a sophomore student. At age 17, she would be a year older than most of her classmates, but she tried not to let it bother her as she did with everything else. All she could do was continue moving forward.

Within a few days, Kagome packed her bags and flew to the States to make a fresh start with her family's blessing. As for Kagome, she vowed to try as hard as she could to move on and avoid becoming a burden to her kind and generous uncle.

'What would InuYasha say if he saw me now? Probably tell me to quit blubbering and get over it already,' the miko thought with a fleeting, fond smile. Time and distance may separate them, but her friends were never far from her mind.

"Yes, Oji-chan?" Kagome said once she stood in front of the restaurant's bar counter. Murakami was stationed behind the bar, offering her a freshly cooked dumpling with a pair of chopsticks. It was one of many packed away in a large takeout container placed nearby.

"Try this," he instructed wearing a small grin.

Kagome reached out and gingerly took the dumpling, lifting it to her nostrils and taking a quick sniff. She wrinkled her nose at its odor. Her uncle was an exceptional chef, but this didn't smell like any dumpling she tried before.

"What flavor is it?" she asked.

"Pizza gyoza," Murakami answered.

Kagome abruptly dropped the dumpling in the box with the others. "I'll pass, but why'd you make so many?"

Murakami chuckled as he began to clean up. He explained, "It's a pickup order for the Turtles. They're good friends and regular customers, so it's on the house tonight."

"Really?" Kagome remarked and glanced at the clock which read 10:50 PM. It was almost closing time, so the Turtles—whoever they were—would probably arrive any minute.

"How about I stay down here to clean and close for the night while you go up to bed?" she suggested.

"Nonsense," Murakami protested, "You still have a lot of unpacking to do. Besides, this blind man has made do long before you got here."

Kagome smiled and countered, "I know that, but I do have to earn my keep around here. I might as well get an early start."

"Very well," he acquiesced, knowing it wouldn't do him any good to argue. His niece was just as stubborn as his sister.

"Don't stay up too late, Kagome-chan. You start school next week and need to be prepared."

Kagome turned her head to the side and rolled her eyes, mouthing the word "great". She cringed when, without warning, the flat end of a spatula lightly smacked the back of her head.

"I may not be able to see them, but there will be no rude gestures in this shop, young lady," Murakami told her.

"Right," she sheepishly replied, "Gomen ne, Oji-chan."

Murakami nodded and stepped from behind the bar to head upstairs. "Oyasuminasai, Kagome-chan. Rest well."

"Oyasumi, Oji-chan."

Once her uncle was gone, Kagome packed the box of pizza gyoza in a paper bag. She shuddered when she got another whiff of the stuff and folded the bag shut.

"The Turtles certainly have unique tastes," she mumbled before she rolled up her sleeves and started to clean. Murakami was so efficient in the kitchen that there was little for her to do. Still, Kagome thoroughly cleaned each surface. Just as she began to sweep, Kagome paused and looked up when she heard someone entered the shop, a red-haired girl around her age.

"Sorry I'm late, Murakami-san," she began until she spotted Kagome standing in the shop owner's place.

"Oh, hello. Sorry, but I didn't know Murakami-san wasn't here."

"Irasshaimase!" Kagome greeted with a smile, leaning the broom against the wall, "Murakami-san is my uncle, and I just moved here from Japan. I take it you're one of the 'Turtles'?"

"Yeah," she answered with a shrug, "Sort of. My name's April O'Neil."

"I'm Higurashi Kagome," Kagome replied as she passed the takeout bag to April, "And may I just say as politely as possible that pizza gyoza is one of the grossest things I've ever heard of."

April laughed. "Trust me, they're actually much better than you'd think. So what brings you to town? Sightseeing?"

"Actually, it's more like moving to a new place for a fresh start," Kagome clarified and playfully added, "But all of the dark alleys and graffiti I've seen are fascinating."

"They really are the highlights of the city," April replied with a grin, "Well, I should get going. Nice meeting you."

"Same here," Kagome said with a small wave, "Enjoy your gyoza, and come see us again!"

"I will. Goodnight. Nice to meet you!"

Once April was gone, Kagome finished the rest of the nighttime chores. She hoped she would see the redhead again. She was pleasant enough to be around and might become a friend if she was a shop regular.

'Hmm…I have some time before bed,' Kagome thought, pursing her lips together. She could get some more unpacking done but decided against it. For some reason, she was feeling restless, and staying put was not a viable option.

'I think I'll go for a quick jog. I shouldn't run into any trouble since it seems like a quiet night.'

Murakami and her mother repeatedly told her to be cautious in the city and avoid going out at night until she became familiar with her surroundings. Tokyo may be larger and more populated than New York City, but it was far safer. On top of that, Subarashii Tabemono was located in a rough part of town dominated by a street gang called the Purple Dragons. Her uncle had a few run-ins with them, so Kagome knew to be alert.

'I won't be out long. I'll only go a couple of blocks away.'

With that in mind, Kagome carefully snuck up to her room. Once inside, she pulled her hair into a high ponytail and changed into a pair of black leggings and an oversized white T-shirt. Before leaving her room, Kagome reached into her backpack and retrieved a small tanto, strapping it to her thigh and concealing the hilt with her shirt. It wasn't much, but, during the same time she was developing her spiritual abilities, Kagome had training sessions with Sango and, occasionally, InuYasha in hand-to-hand combat and weapon use. Learning the basics of fighting without the aid of her spiritual powers was enough to keep her protected whenever she was caught off guard. After all, she couldn't turn all of their enemies into dust with holy energy.

Kagome quietly crept downstairs, exited the apartment, and locked the door behind her. She began jogging in a random direction after slipping her house key in her right pocket. City surroundings weren't an ideal environment for a late night stroll, but it was something to do until she tired herself out. She came to a sudden stop a few blocks away from the restaurant when she heard glass shattering to her right.

'Sounds like trouble,' she thought. She should turn around and head back home before she was spotted, but Kagome decided to check it out. If someone was in immediate danger, she'd intervene. If not, she'd make note of the location and call the police when she got to a phone.

Kagome turned around and increased her speed, searching for the source of the noise.

-O0o0O-

Raphael groaned as he jumped to another unoccupied rooftop and surveyed the city. Due to Kraang sightings being at an all-time low, Leonardo decided to split up the team to patrol separate sections of the city. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but he quickly grew bored. At least, patrolling with the others would keep him entertained.

Raphael smirked when he spotted the Purple Dragons about two blocks away breaking the windows of an old factory warehouse. The gang members were much weaker than the Kraang or the Foot Clan, but it would be fun to take them on by himself.

'Alright! I got action!'

The mutant terrapin made his way to the warehouse, and, before he dropped down from the building, a petite human girl appeared from the street and confronted the Purple Dragons in his place. She shouted at the gang members, a hand on her hip as she pointed a stern finger at them.

After recovering for his initial surprise, Raphael didn't hesitate to jump to her aid. Leonardo wouldn't approve of him revealing himself to a human, but he couldn't let some random girl interrupt his first real beating of the night. Raphael was certain she would book it the second the big green mutant appeared and a fight broke out, screaming her pretty little head off. Humans always did.

-O0o0O-

Kagome hurriedly approached the trio of thugs vandalizing an abandoned building too engrossed in their illicit activity to notice her arrival. Once she was close enough, she narrowed her eyes and cleared her throat to get their attention, forgetting what she promised herself earlier. These guys were probably members of the Purple Dragons who targeted her uncle and other business owners in the area. She wasn't going to let them off lightly.

As soon as they heard Kagome's voice, the gang turned to face her, shocked by her sudden presence.

"Who's this broad?" the largest member of the group asked.

Kagome bristled; she didn't know much American slang but decided she didn't like the sound of that term.

"Excuse me! I am not a 'broad'," she sternly told them, "And don't you think it's a little late to be making so much noise?"

The two other thugs, completely unintimidated by her scolding, began to laugh.

"I don't think she likes ya, Sid," the mustached guy said. He jabbed "Sid" in the side with his elbow, nudging him toward Kagome.

"You should go apologize to her, huh?"

Sid growled and pushed him away. "Fuck off."

The leanest member of the group stepped forward and smirked in Kagome's direction. "Hold on, guys. She's pretty cute. I think we can have a real good time once we get to know each other."

Kagome visibly flinched when he stalked even closer with his two flunkies closing in on her sides. He grinned and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"So how bout it? Wanna hang with us? We'll show you a fun time."

Kagome rolled her eyes as she took a step back and pushed his hand away. "As if! I can't stand being around halfwits like you for another second!"

The leader snarled and raised his hand to strike. Kagome quickly stepped back and slipped into a defensive stance. The two flunkies began to snicker behind their irate leader.

"Looks like our girl wants to play rough."

"Well then, we'll just have to take care of you another way, you frigid bitch."

Kagome smirked and sized them up, taking note of each thug's position. They outmatched her in strength, but their formation was poor. She could bypass them easily and make a run for it without having to draw a weapon. Retreating was her only option to make it home safely.

'Guess my workout got a little more intense.'

Before she or the gang members could act, a large, oddly shaped figure jumped down from the rooftops and landed on the pavement behind Kagome. The gang members immediately disregarded Kagome's presence and focused all of their attention on the newcomer.

"It's one of the Turtles!" the leader exclaimed.

'Turtles?' Kagome thought as she relaxed her posture. When she turned around and got a good look at him, her eyes widened.

'Huh…He really is a turtle.'

A man-sized Kelly green turtle wearing a red mask across his eyes and dark brown combat gear joined them in the alley, a roguish grin on his face.

"That's right, and this is my first fight of the night," the large turtle said as he drew a pair of sai strapped to his shell, "Try to make it interesting, alright?"

Kagome stepped back and watch the resulting fight, her eyes following the turtle's every move. She never imagined she would see someone like him after she returned from the Feudal Era even though the man-sized turtle possessed no demonic energy. The more Kagome thought about it, she wanted to know more about him. Anyone who stood up to those goons was okay in her book.

The fight only lasted a few more minutes before it ended. The gang members put forth a decent effort but were no match for the masked turtle assailant and were rendered unconscious on the pavement.

"Alright!" the turtle shouted, his fist raised high in the air, "That's what I'm talking about!"

Kagome held a hand to her mouth to stifle her giggles as the terrapin continued to whoop and holler.

'It's too much. I can't help it!'

The miko opened her mouth and began to laugh, bending over and clutching her sides. The turtle stiffened before he turned around to face her, a confused look etched on his face.

"You're still here?" he blurted out, "Why didn't you run away?"

Kagome stopped laughing and stood up straight, hurriedly composing herself.

"Why would I?" she countered, shrugging her shoulders.

"I don't know. Maybe because that's what human girls are supposed to do," he replied, annoyed.

"Yeah, I can see that," Kagome quipped as she walked past him to stand beside one of the men lying on the ground. Tentatively, she tapped his side with the tip of her foot.

"These guys are out cold. A bit of overkill, don't you think?" she asked, looking at him over her shoulder.

The turtle scoffed and turned away from her. "What do you know anyway?"

Kagome sighed as she withdrew her foot. This turtle was a typical tough guy, the hot-tempered type who rushed in without thinking and acted standoffish when he was caught doing something nice. She had more than her fair share of experience with guys like that.

'A tsundere,' she decided, 'He's definitely a tsundere.'

Luckily, she knew just how to handle guys like him, and she wasn't about to let such an interesting being elude her. Kagome walked back over to the turtle, so she could face him, putting on her brightest smile. It grew when the turtle flinched. She clearly made him uncomfortable.

"My name's Higurashi Kagome. What's yours?"

"As if I'd tell you."

"That's too bad," she cheekily replied, "I'll just have to call you 'Kame-chan' until you tell me. Cute, right?"

"Kame-chan?" he repeated, growling as he brandished his sai.

"What are you gonna do? Beat me up?" Kagome asked, quirking an eyebrow and crossing her arms over her chest, "You're not much of a hero, are you, Kame-chan?"

He grunted and put his weapons away. "If you're looking for a hero, you're looking at the wrong turtle. I wasn't trying to save you. I would have beat the Purple Dragons with or without you getting in my way."

Kagome discretely rolled her eyes. As she expected, Kame-chan wasn't the most approachable being she met, but that never discouraged her from making a new friend before. If he really wanted to hurt her, he would have done it by now. And, everything else aside, he was kinda cute for a man-sized turtle, and the possibility there were more like him peaked her interest.

"Fair enough, but you did help me out of a bad situation," Kagome stated.

She pressed herself to Kame-chan's front and, using his shell for leverage, stood on the tips of her toes to press a kiss to his cheek. It was a bold move, almost out of character, but she wanted to make a lasting impression. She wanted to catch his attention like he had hers.

Kagome blushed and giggled when she felt him go rigid against her, completely shell-shocked. His green skin was smooth and pleasantly cool, not how she expected it to feel but satisfying to the touch.

"Thanks, hero," she whispered before she stepped away from him and jogged out of the alley.

Kagome hid her disappointment when she heard Kame-chan jump onto a nearby dumpster and leave in the opposite direction. He didn't follow her like she hoped he would.

'I don't know why I thought that would work,' she mused with a frown, 'He probably thinks I'm a weirdo.'

About a block away from the noodle shop, Kagome nearly stumbled over her own feet. She felt Kame-chan's unique presence following her some distance away. Kagome smiled to herself and continued jogging home without letting on that she knew he was there. She didn't want her latest interest to get spooked before she learned more about him.

-O0o0O-

'This is stupid.'

Raphael glowered as he followed the strange human girl, Kagome, from the rooftops. His only purpose was to confirm she stayed out of trouble long enough to make it home. He had a feeling a girl like her was a magnet for trouble.

Raphael paused when he felt his T-phone vibrate. A quick glance at the screen revealed Leonardo's contact image. He halted his pursuit and answered the call, keeping Kagome in his sights.

"What's up?"

"Hey, Raph," Leonardo replied, "Did you find anything?"

"Nope," Raphael stated without hesitation, "It's been a boring night."

"The others and I aren't having much luck either. We're gonna call it a night. Try not to get into any trouble on the way home, okay?"

Raphael snorted before he hung up without a word. He continued watching Kagome from a distance until she stopped in front of Subarashii Tabemono. She opened the door to the apartment with a key she retrieved from her pants pocket and walked inside.

'She must live there,' he thought, surprised, 'Weird. Murakami never mentioned her.'

Her sudden appearance seemed suspicious, but he doubted the petite raven could harm a fly. Still, he'd keep an eye on her.

Raphael remained for a few minutes before heading back to the lair, vehemently ignoring the way his cheek began to heat as he thought about her.

-O0o0O-

punkish furball – I hope you enjoyed that, and I recommend watching TMNT (2012)! Until next time, TCB! XD

(revised 2.7.2020)