Well, this is not how I had envisioned this chapter as turning out, but that just makes things more interesting! Review please!

-Leah by Michelangelo

Ch.2-Taking a turn for the worst

I leaped from rooftop to rooftop with little to no effort, and even though my body was focused on my training, my mind was, well…elsewhere. My brothers stopped on the next roof and I was once again in the here and now. As soon as I landed Leonardo turned to address me, his shoulders tense.

"What is with you Raph? You're slowing us down."

"I don't know. Maybe I just don't feel like jumping roofs is doing anything for me tonight."

My older brother stared. He's not buying it. "Raphael, maybe you should head back to the lair."

"What?!"

The deep blue eyes flashed in warning. No way he's giving up this time. "It's obvious you're distracted and you're slowing us down. Look, whatever it is that's bothering you go home and sort it out. We'll handle patrol on our own tonight."

I said nothing, but glared sourly at him.

"If you don't I'll tell Master Splinter. I can guarantee you'll get at least a hundred extra flips in the morning and you'll have to go home. So, Raph? Your choice."

My choice? What choice do I have? I growled and jumped off the rooftop into the nearest alley. As I left I vaguely heard my brother say something that sounded like, "I thought so."

Two more turns and I'd be at the nearest manhole cover. As I made the second turn and approached it, my mind went back to the girl I met yesterday. I still can't believe she wasn't afraid of me. Half of me was convinced she'd been lying, but the other… I stared down at the manhole cover in front of me for a long time, completely at war with myself.

It was ten minutes to eleven. Should I go home? Or should I…?

I turned away, heading straight for Eleventh and Bleaker. Under normal circumstances, I'd be traveling by rooftop, but to tonight I was an enemy in my own territory, after all the rooftops were currently my brothers' domain and I can't afford to get caught.

It was almost five minutes after by the time I reached the apartment window. I knocked quietly with the back of my hand and within seconds the window opened. I tensed and concealed myself in the shadows of the fire escape, just in case. The girl I met last night—Midori-poked her head out the window. "Who's there?" She whispered.

"It's me."

The human girl's eyes widened and she stared as I slowly emerged from the shadows. "Well what are you waiting for, muscle head, get in here!"

I stared at her for a moment before approaching the window cautiously. Midori backed away and motioned for me to come in. A giant mutant turtle appears outside her bedroom window and she just decides to invite him in, yep, that's completely normal. I thought dryly. This girl is weird. I ducked in and closed the window behind me.

I took a quick glance around the room, not too much furniture, just the essentials but not so empty that it screamed of order and cleanliness. There were a couple posters on the wall of various concert tours and bands, some of them the same ones I had in my room. I took a look at the bookshelf and grinned, practically all mushy romance novels, but one shelf was all comics. Mikey would be so jealous of the collection she's got. I thought with a smirk.

Midori took a seat on the floor with her legs crossed and she pulled a large folder from under her bed. She opened the folder and slowly spread its contents out so that I could see them I sat down beside her and looked some them over.

There was so much data. It was almost like a case file from the police department in one of those cop shows. She had manifests, photographs, historical articles, the backgrounds of the smuggled items, everything. Everything except rock hard evidence. Midori had all the elements except one. She had no clear proof that the Foot Clan itself was responsible.

"How long have you been looking into this?" I turned to her, intrigued.

"Almost six months, this is all the data that I've managed to compile. Here." She handed me a flashdrive. "That contains a map of all the docks that have received smuggled antiques, each smuggling corresponds with a night of increased Foot Activity. There's been word going round on the streets that some really valuable artifact is being smuggled in three days from now at the docks." I put the flashdrive in a pocket of my belt for safekeeping, planning to give it to Don later.

"How do you know all stuff?"

"I've been spying on the Purple Dragons. They're wimps, but they do get around."

"So do you." I said, my green eyes narrowed, "Why're you doing all this?"

"I told you. They killed my father."

"It's more than that, though isn't it?" I glared at her.

"And what if there is?" She retorted, frowning right back at me. That was the first time I noticed her eyes. Wow, were they beautiful. They were a fascinating shade of golden brown, a color almost sweeter than honey.

"How can I trust you're telling me the truth if you won't even tell me why you're doing this?"

Midori glared, "Fine. It was almost seventeen years ago, when my mom was still pregnant. My father was part of the Foot Gang."

My eyes widened with surprise.

"But as soon as he realized what Shredder was up to, he was quickly disillusioned. Shredder ordered my father to execute a man who'd been labeled an 'enemy' of the Foot. My father…refused. Oroku Saki had him tortured and beheaded the next morning. Saki threatened my mother and forced her into his service. After I was born, he told my mother that he would spare my life only if she swore to serve the Foot Clan. As soon as I was old enough, I too was forced into Shredder's service, but I was defiant, unruly. I quickly became one of the best kunoichi in their ranks in Japan, second only to Shredder's daughter, Karai. Finally, after ten long years of indentured servitude my mother and I were finally able to escape. We left the country and headed straight to America, to New York. Shredder will pay. For everything. I swear it." Her golden eyes glinted dangerously, reflecting the dim light coming from the bedside table. "My mother and I escaped to this country to start a new life. Six months ago the Foot appeared in New York." She stated, her tone filled with emotion. "They're hunting us down and when they find us-"

The sound of glass shattering in the next room made both of us tense. Midori stared with alarm at the door before bolting out and turning, presumable heading for her mother's room. A devastated scream made my heart drop to my stomach. Screw it! I ran out and into the hallway, looking in the room next door. My eyes widened. There was a woman lying on the ground, her body limp, pale and lifeless. Water and glass shards littered the floor around the broken and beaten form.

Midori rushed over to her side and kneeled, tears cascading down her face. "Mother…no." Her bangs fell in her face and all I could see were the tears running down her face. I went over, careful to avoid stepping on any glass. My chest tightened in pain as I paid respects to a woman I never known, but from what I had heard deserved the highest level of respect. No one really escapes the Shredder. I looked up at Midori, and down at her mother's still form. They look just like each other. As I stared at her deceased form I made Midori's mother a pledge:

I'll watch over her. I'll protect her. I promise.