hey guys sorry its been so long, but I really had a lot on my plate and this chapter is really long, and there are things I wanted to get in it that didn't get in it. Like Jade meeting the Nightwatcher. Anyway, here you are. Midori meets the Nightwatcher, Leo worries, Master Splinter is curious as to his second son's behavior and Michelangelo knows all (or at least thinks he does). Enjoy! Review please!

Ch. 18-Meeting the Nightwatcher

Midori sat on the couch in her uncle's apartment staring blankly at the television as the protagonist chased some criminal through the streets, loud action-themed move music played in the background. It had been a week since the 'Raphael incident' and she still couldn't stop thinking about him. Then again, with her uncle's return continuously being pushed back in order to expand the Japanese branch of the company, there was little else for her to think about.

I mean, most girls would be happy to find out a guy is interested in them. Heck, a lot of girls wouldn't resist it if a guy tried to kiss them…but what do I do? I send him away and try to lose myself in crumby action flicks and junk food!

Midori leaned over until she fell on her side. Her body hit the couch cushions with a soft thud. She sighed. Honey-colored eyes stared forward at the wall, her mind lost in thought once more.

So he tries to kiss you and what do you? Push him away. And in the process lose your best friend, who just happens to be one of the nicest guys you've ever met.

Well maybe I'm just not ready for a relationship right now.

So then you tell him you just want to be friends, you idiot! If you don't you'll lose the guy forever, at least, that's assuming you haven't already.

Raph wouldn't run off just because I pushed him away. He'll come back, he'll be willing to listen.

Of course he'll come back. But he won't unless you reach out to him. So call him. It's not like things could get any worse.

Just as Midori was thinking it over a news report snapped on and a speaker announced:

"We interrupt this program to bring you this special bulletin." Midori fumbled to pull the remote from the space between the cushions and turned up the volume. "This just in: In an alleyway in the lower-Manhattan district an attempted robbery was stopped, once again, by a mysterious vigilante. A witness claims that the assailant was struck down by a dark figure wearing some kind of strange battle-armor and chained to a streetlight. This illustrious hero was reported to have been between 5'4'' and 5'7'', wearing a silver motorcycle helmet with a black visor. The question then becomes: who is this strange masked madman and will we see any more of him in the near future? This is Carlos Chang O'Brien saying: keep your eyes peeled!"

The television went back to the movie and Midori's eyes narrowed. She pressed the off button on the remote and the screen went dark. Slowly, she stood, her long off-black hair tied in a low ponytail as it swished softly behind her. The nimble young woman clambered swiftly up the stairs, into her room. She pulled on a tan leather jacket, and put a couple shuriken and a small switchblade in her pockets. Silently, she crept out the window and jumped the side of the fire escape landing softly on the ground below.

Midori glanced both ways down the alley, unable to shake off the feeling that she was being watched. She pointedly ignored the fact that she wasn't exactly wearing the right outfit for this, considering all she was currently wearing, other than underclothes, was a rather revealing white halter tank top, army green harem-style sport capris, and red sneakers. And the leather jacket of course. Instead of taking the Ninja, which she had first been apt to do, Midori decided she needed to go for a walk.

As she walked with her hands in her pockets, her mind drifted back to Raphael, and minutes later, she found herself standing in front of the very manhole cover they'd used when she'd helped him down into the sewers after he was wounded. She bent down and began lifting it, before indecision filled her head and she gently lowered it back into place. There was a soft shuffle behind her and she spun around, her eyes wide. What she saw made her shoulders droop as she found herself flooded with a feeling of extreme annoyance.

"Yeah, great job Midori, your senses are about as fine-tuned as a bad actress in stupid horror film." She muttered to herself. The little yellow alley-cat stared up at her, licking its paw nonchalantly. "Hey Puss, you seen any five foot talking turtles lately?" she asked, her tone cynical. Midori rolled her eyes and sighed. The feline glanced up at her one last time before running off down the alley. "Didn't think so." She said sarcastically. Then she proceeded on, sparing one last glance at the manhole cover before turning the corner.

A shiver ran down her spine. Winter was almost upon them, and yet the city was still waiting for the first good snow of the season. Midori's breath came out in warm puffs, her cheeks and nose growing slightly flushed from the sudden onslaught of cold. Still, she pressed onward, wandering on through the heavy maze of streets, but always keeping in mind the return route. About seven blocks down Bleaker, her senses where certain she was being followed. Since whoever-it-is obviously is following directly behind me, they must have some idea where I'm headed. At that moment, she looked up and focused in on some four-story apartment buildings with fire escapes and a rooftop awning. The realization hit her and she smirked. Or…he's keeping tabs on me from a bird's eye view.

Midori walked rapidly across the street, and turned back just fast enough to catch a glimpse of an armored figure. Fast as she could she sprinted into an alley adjacent to the building he'd been on. She jumped on top of a dumpster and from there swung herself onto the platform of a fire escape.

Now, being a trained kunoichi, Midori was fast and mobile, but the cold weather, coupled with the fact that she'd spent the last couple days sitting depressed in front of the television eating junk food, made it far too difficult for her to contend. She knew that by the time she got up there, her mysterious observer would be long gone.

Therefore you can probably imagine her surprise when she saw the strange figure standing not two roof-tops away, staring back at her over his shoulder. Her eyes glanced him up and down for a moment, searchingly. Silver helmet, black suit, with a light, yet seemingly durable metal protective plating. Wait a minute…silver helmet with a black visor. He's the vigilante they were talking about on television. But why is he following me?

Seconds passed and the vigilante was still turned towards her, neither of them making a move. Then, as if jolted from a trance, he began making a run for it. Golden eyes narrowed with determination as Midori shot off after him.

It wasn't until she'd been chasing him for almost fifteen minutes that she realized it was exactly what he wanted.

The vigilante led her down a dark alley towards the warehouse district where he disappeared, probably hiding behind something. Midori ground to a halt and called out: "Hey you!" There was no reply, but she could hear the soft whirr of his breath behind the helmet. Whoever this guy was, he had very quiet breathing. "I know you're there!" Again there was no reply and her hand shakily drew the switch. Her thumb pressed softly down, releasing the blade with a quiet flick. A shadow behind a dumpster further up the alley drew her attention and Midori inched forward cautiously. Finally when she was almost a foot away she rushed around, "Why are you following me?!" She yelled forcefully, but her arms fell to her sides when she realized he was gone. Any normal individual would have immediately looked around, but being a kunoichi Midori's first instinct was to look up. As she did so, she caught just a glimpse of a black-clad heel. Instead of pursuing him, she sheathed the switch-blade and a small smile flickered across her face. "Impressive." She murmured lowly before turning and sauntering slowly back the way she'd come.

Nightwatcher smirked.

The next night…Two voices echoed down the sewer tunnels near the Turtles' lair.

"Raph, where are you going now?!"

"Out. I'll be back in a couple hours don't wait up."

"Wait, don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

"Nope, I'll be back in a couple of hours."

Sigh, "Just be careful."

Raphael held up his hands and lowered his eyes at his older brother's stern expression, "Look Leo, just chill. I'll be back by twelve okay?"

"Make certain of that."

"Geez I already said I would, just relax."

Leonardo gave his brother a sideways glance and a teasing ghost of a smile, "Easier said than done when it comes to your late night excursions." He rubbed his younger brother's bald head affectionately, and the red-clad turtle growled and swung a playful fist at him. Leo chuckled and Raph smiled. Leo didn't laugh nearly enough.

The metal door of the warehouse clattered noisily as it rolled up. The bike's lights snapped on, and its engine purred deep and strong. Nightwatcher smiled behind his helmet, tightening his grip on the handles. The smile broke out into a full blown laugh as he raced through crowded streets and real New York traffic. The whistling wind and the sound of his 'baby's' engine roaring beneath him made his neon green eyes flash with mischief. He gunned it, the beautiful black motor shot forward as he weaved masterfully through the traffic. When he reached a more secluded, peaceful district Raph popped a wheelie.

Two hours later he had done his share of good deeds for the night and was going to head back to the lair when he saw the time. He'd put his mask into compartment he'd installed in the motorcycle along with his t-phone. When he realized he still had an hour or more to spend before he went back. It had been a great night and the turtle was now pumped with adrenaline and ready for some real action.

As he passed the docks, his eyes caught a dark, shadowy form moving and he coasted to a stop, shifting into reverse and backing up slowly. Well, well, well, if it isn't a Foot. Wonder if there's any more of them around…his eyes caught three more. Bingo, looks like I hit the jackpot. As he drove over it occurred to him that nice as it was having a beautiful, roaring engine, in his line of…interest it might be better to modify it to be as quiet as possible. He rolled in slowly and parked the Ducati in a dark alley a good ways out of hearing distance.

When I get home I'm going to have to come up with a name for this little beauty. He thought before he hopped off and proceeded towards the docks. The vigilante climbed up a stack of crates so that he could look down on the operation and decide whether or not he could take them himself.

See, despite what his older brother thought, Raphael did think before he jumped into battle. There was a lot more to him than met the eye, which was part of the reason why he got so mad when his brothers criticized him for being the way he was. Because they didn't know the half of it. He was a lot smarter than they gave him credit for and he didn't appreciate being treated like he was the dumb one, especially by Donatello. Sure he and Leo had a rivalry that created many problems within their family, but if nothing cut Raph to the quick like Donatello treating him like he was the most clueless muscle-brained guy in all existence. I know I'm not the brightest guy in the world, but I'm a lot smarter than they think. And this will prove it.

While in his Nightwatcher persona Raphael took care not to act like himself, because if he made one little slip, and his brothers found out…well he might as well never go topside again. Shell, if Leo found out the resulting lecture would be…just imagining it made the tough turtle shudder in horror. And Master Splinter…it's not even worth discussing. Let's just say he'd probably never be allowed topside unchaperoned again, if at all.

Raph carefully planned his course of action and was about to jump in when someone started shouting and he caught himself just in time. Immediately his head shot up in the direction that he believed was the source of the voice and he realized there was another figure he hadn't registered the first time. Damn. The guy was standing just far enough in the walkway between containers that he couldn't see his face. Just a big shadowy outline. Dang it. So much for getting some work done tonight. After all, he'd told Leo he'd be careful, and all things considered it was good of his older brother to let him go in the first place…Leo said to be careful, but he didn't say I couldn't get in over my head. As long as I'm careful about it….He thought and a smirk crossed his face.

Because he was outnumbered almost three to one, and he had no idea how good this mystery dude was, he decided to play it safe (yes a rare thing for him) and opted for a stealth tactic. One by one he used his manriki to catch the Footbots off their guard and pull them into the shadows where he could finish them off. Then when he ran out of easy grabs he turned to the ones carrying boxes, which he assumed contained smuggled items.

As soon as he realized at least half his cronies had been defeated, the strange shadowy figure gave the order to attack.

Raphael's spot in the shadows was now compromised and he flung himself into the open, taking down the robots using every ounce of street-fighting he had in him. Raph growled, he desperately wanted to use ninjitsu, but there was always a chance that his style would be recognized and that would put him straight out of business as a vigilante. After all, as far as he was concerned, a fighting style is like a fingerprint.

By the time Raphael finished, the mysterious guy in charge had fled the scene and the turtle was left alone with a pile of dismembered Foot bots. He cursed when he realized the bird had flown. Great, Leo's gonna kill me when I tell him about this one…

"Raphael! You engaged them in battle, took them down and then let the guy get away?!"

"I didn't let him get away Leo. He ran while I was fighting the robots."

Leo gave him a bland stare. Oh, if words could only express how much Raph hated that look… "Don't give me that look. I did the best I could. I hate it when you look at me like that Leo!"

"Good that means its working." Raph glared at the eldest, but Leo went on, "And obviously you didn't do the best you could because the best thing you could've done was call us."

"Leonardo." The eldest turtle ceased his angry tirade and turned to their father who had just emerged from the dojo. "If Raphael believes he did his best, then so be it. While there were many other options he could have chosen, he chose the one he thought best. Do not berate him for something that is already over and done with."

"Hai Sensei."

Splinter nodded and then turned to question his son when a sound of complaint came from the couch and the three of them glanced down at Michelangelo and Donatello.

"Dudes, they're interrupting my show!" the youngest said.

Raph, Leo, Splinter, Don and Mikey all watched as the television flashed a special news bulletin.

"Citizens of New York, could heroes no longer be a thing of fantasy and fiction?"

Leo, Mikey and Don looked at each other, but Raph's gaze remained glued to the television.

"This just in, the strange vigilante has struck again. This time five separate reports of a black-armored figure with a silver helmet have been filed, each of them reporting the strange man swept in and saved their lives before vanishing into the shadows. And it seems as though there is now a name to go with the description. According to the testimony of several would-be crime victims, this mysterious figure is calling himself…the Nightwatcher. This is Carlos Chang O'Brien signing off."

"Whoa! Our own New York vigilante! Nightwatcher…" Mikey echoed in awe before his eyes lit up, "Dude that is an awesome name! Even I couldn't have named him better than that! That's epic, bros!"

Raphael fought the urge to smile. But then Leo turned back to him.

"You think this Nightwatcher could be the guy you saw working for the Foot on the docks?"

"What? No!" Raph could feel his frustration building and he had to hold himself back. "Leo, Nightwatcher could not have been the mystery freak!"

Mikey jumped in with Raph, " Yeah, they said Nightwatcher's the good guy."

Leo's eyes narrowed and he ignored Mikey's comment. "Well why not? You said you never clearly saw him."

"No I didn't see the guy at the docks…"

"Then how would you know?"

Raph's eyes narrowed. He knew this would be a risk, but it was one he'd have to take regardless. "I may not have seen the guy ordering the Foot around…but—"

"But what?"

"I've seen Nightwatcher. I know what he looks like and that guy wasn't him."

Everyone stared.

"What?!" Leo, Mikey and Donnie said all at once.

"When I was out I caught a glimpse of him fighting some street hustlers…He was big and muscular. Whoever's under that suit is real hardcore. That stuff looks like it weighs a ton. Black armor, heavy duty, and bullet-proof. Wears a silver motorcycle helmet and wields these really funky manriki-style weighted chains, they were pretty cool; I wouldn't mind learning how to work with those myself." He said with a grin.

Master Splinter frowned and stroked his beard. "Did you recognize his fighting style, my son?"

"No Sensei. It was obvious that he had some knowledge of ninjitsu, but for the most part he was simply street-fighting."

"Hm. I think it would be wise for the four of you to gather more information on this Nightwatcher, and keep an eye out for this strange Foot figure as well. But I believe it would be wiser for you to wait until tomorrow night. I sense this 'vigilante' will act only at night. Raphael, since you have seen him you will be indispensable to your brothers' search. Be sure you aid them in any way you can."

"Hai Sensei." Raph replied with a small nod which his father returned. "But this vigilante isn't…I think what I'm trying to say is that he's on our side, same as Jade. I think we should tread carefully. I understand these guys, Sensei, I know how they think, how they feel. Please, just let me approach them first. I bet I can find out what they want, just let me handle it alone."

"Raphael…"

"Sensei, I can handle it. I know you don't want us to reveal ourselves, but I have a plan."

The rat glanced at his second son with a thoughtful expression on his face. Normally he would have told his hot-headed son to consult his older brother, but right now Raphael seemed incredibly calm and rational, which made Splinter consider the offer carefully. "Alright Raphael. I will allow you one week to investigate this on your own and deal with it in your own manner."

Leo stared. "But Sensei—!"

"The decision has been made Leonardo."

"Hai Sensei. But I don't understand how we're supposed to function as a team if Raph is always off on his own!"

"I'm doing my part to protect this family, Leo. Just like you do yours." Raph's green eyes flared and Splinter began to reconsider his decision.

"Raphael!" The second sibling snapped to attention. "Do not make me regret my decision." The anger vanished from Raphael's eyes faster than sugar in water. Splinter raised an eyebrow. "You seem to be making great strides in controlling your anger Raphael."

"Anything's easier with the right motivation." He replied without pause, and his father turned to him with surprised eyes.

His brothers also seemed to be slightly surprised by the strange rationality of Raphael's reply.

"Indeed, very true. Wise words Raphael."

"Thank you, Sensei."

"Are you feeling alright, my son?" The rat asked, still slightly skeptical.

Raph smiled. "Never better Father." Before his brothers could question him any further Raphael was gone. And instead of the usual slamming, his door shut behind him with a quiet click.

Leo and Don exchanged worried glances.

Michelangelo smiled mischievously, his expression all-knowing.

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