Holy snap! I'm sorry about that guys! I forgot to update Sunday and I was so freaking exhausted Monday, but here it is Tuesday! YEAH! Anywho, thanks for all the love and support and please enjoy this next chapter!
A month. It had been 1 month since they first found out about Raph. Both Raph and his mother with the help of the police had moved out of the home they had shared with Jason. He had been arrested and the court date was set for next month. They were both in counseling now much to Raph's chagrin, but it seemed to be helping. Or maybe that was because of them. That night they had gone with Raph to the police station and had stayed with him. Even when the police had led him into another room to speak to him privately, they had stayed. When he had come out he had angry tears in his eyes, but none of them had said a word and they had returned home together. Raph and his mother now stayed in a little apartment in lower east Manhattan, but he really just stayed at the lair most of the time. He even moved his pet turtle (go figure) Spike, in with them.
As for the fight with the Foot and the Kraang went, they were pretty much stopping them every night. April had started training with them and she had become a familiar sight around the lair. Leo knew it wasn't just because of her need to help them but because of a certain purple wearing brother of his. The googly eyes they sent to each other was now starting to get ridiculous.
Another familiar face that had joined the team was a one Casey Jones. A friend Raph had met a few weeks before. They all liked Casey, but he was a little too much like Raph at times. They had accidentally let him in on the secret when he had followed them to the lair and saw them change before training one day. They didn't have much choice after that. It turned out alright in the end. They had more allies to fight with and the more they fought, the more Leo realized they needed the help.
Leo was happy to say that morale was back. About two weeks after they had moved Raph and his mother to their new apartment they had run into a chilling truth about the Foot clan.
Leo dodged another swipe from the sword the Foot ninja was wielding and took a glance at everyone else. Mikey was having a great time fighting off/annoying the heck out of 3 Foot ninja while Donnie was massacring the Kraang. Raph as usual was pulverizing everything. Leo smirked, they were doing fine, but then suddenly the Foot pulled back all at once. "Where de heck are dey going?" Raph grumbled not at all happy about the turn of events. Before any of them could answer someone else step forward. He had on armor like nothing they had ever seen. It was metal spikes and razor sharp metal talons on his right hand. He had on a helmet that had the Foot insignia on it and a facemask. He just stood there waiting not doing anything.
Finally Raph had had enough and charged forward, "Raph wait!" Leo cried in vain. The metal man blocked every one of Raph's blows like he was a child before seizing him by the throat and squeezing. Raph started choking and dropped his Sai so he could scrabble at his neck trying to get himself free. They all cried out for him, but before they had a chance to attack the man through Raph at them. He landed on them all in a pile on the ground.
Leo stood at once in front of them as Mikey came to join him at his side while Donnie checked on Raph. Leo and Mikey charged at the metal man each fighting him the best they could. They were both thrown to the side pathetically. Leo sat up as Mikey groaned in pain Donnie then jumped in to battle but was quickly defeated as well. "Donnie?" Leo questioned not taking his eyes off the man who was staring him down. "How's Raph?"
"It's all right." Donnie answered, "He's breathing."
"He will not be for long and neither will you." The man said finally speaking. His voice was dark, deep, and menacing. It sent chills down their spines. "You have interfered in my business for the last time. Know my name and fear it. I am the Shredder. I will give you your first and last warning. Interfere again and it will be the last thing you ever do."
They had limped home after that nursing their wounds and pride. Master Splinter nearly went berserk for a week with their training until finally they knocked some sense into him. Yes they needed to train and yes they were unprepared but no they didn't need to work themselves to death! Master Splinter then explained why he had been so afraid. The Shredder was Saki. The man responsible for his family's death. They had all remained silent the rest of the day.
On a more positive not with himself, Leo's relationship with Karai was progressing nicely. They hung out quite a bit and spared nearly every night. She was brilliant, beautiful and dangerous, but for whatever reason Leo was never concerned. He trusted Karai and she seemed to trust him which was proven to him when she stopped their spar early one evening and told him a truth that would spark another. "My father and I moved here from Japan searching for the monster that killed my mother."
Leo nearly dropped his Katana. "What?" He asked confused and blinking as he stood and sheathed his swords.
Karai sighed and looked like maybe she had really not wanted to say anything to begin with, but as he had learned Karai wasn't afraid of anything so she took a seat on the edge of the roof and plowed right on through. "When I was a baby there was a… man," She growled the word, "Who had fallen in love with my mother, but she had chosen my father. This man didn't like that and tried to kill both myself and my mother, but my father saved me. He couldn't save my mother from that monster and before my father could stop him for good the coward ran away here." She looked up into the New York skyline as the wind ruffled her hair making her look even more beautiful to Leo. "We've been searching for him for 15 years, but he evaded us. Now finally we have a clue." She turned back to him with a very serious face, "He's started his own ninja clan to try and fight us because he knows we're here. Please Leo," She begged, "Have you seen any ninjas in New York?"
Leo stared at her. Seen ninjas in New York… heck yeah he has! They literally try to kill him and his team nearly every night! He decided to share. "Yes I have."
Karai's face lite up beautifully, "You have? Where?"
"They're all over the city, mostly at the docks though." He answered before turning to her, "They're incredibly dangerous Karai."
"I know." She said nodding.
Leo shook his head, "No you don't." Karai looked at him confused, "Practically every night they try to kill me." He paused trying to debate whether or not to tell her the truth. He didn't want her to be involved like he was and constantly be in danger. He cared about her too much. But if she was out looking for trouble anyway and he knew she wouldn't listen to his 'stay away' line, she was just that stubborn, he at least had to warn her. "They're trying to resurrect an ancient evil to help destroy this world." He quickly added, "I know it's hard to believe-"
"Wouldn't put it past him." Karai snarled interrupting a now surprised Leo.
The young man blinked, "What?"
"I said I wouldn't put it past that monster to try such a horrible thing." She said and Leo felt sad for her. She never had a mother he knew somewhat how that felt, but not really. At least his mother was still alive. They were silent for a while before Karai once again turned her shinning eyes on him, "Do you know where they are now?"
Leo stared at her for a second before shaking his head, "Karai, you don't understand what you're asking, they're dangerous."
She rolled her eyes, "Please Leo, you know I can handle myself."
"Yes I realize that." He conceded, "But they're different. There's more to them than you think and-"
"Please Leo." Karai said again softly looking at him with pleading eyes. "He murdered my mother."
It was then, looking into her beautiful honey colored eyes that Leo did the dumbest or smartest thing he could have done. He nodded, "Alright, but we have to hurry." She smiled and nodded and they were off towards the docks.
Leo and Karai moved swiftly through the city on silent feet from roof top to roof top until they ran out and jumped to the ground. They didn't have to look long before they spotted the group of ninjas loading and unloading cargo into Kraang vehicles. "That's them." Leo answered nodding his head towards the Foot ninja. He pulled out his Katana and looked to Karai, "Listen I know this is really weird and everything, but those guys in suits are really bad and whatever it is that they are getting from the Foot ninja can't be good. We have to stop them." Leo was about ready to jump into battle before Karai grabbed hold of him making him pause, "What?" He asked confused.
Karai looked a little lost before she gestured for him to follow her. Leo really wanted to argue and fight off the Kraang and Foot, but something about the way Karai looked at him made him pause. It was like she was… scared. As he had said, he had never known Karai to be afraid of anything, but he supposed she had a right to be. This was pretty scary and if he hadn't been living it for the past 3 weeks he probably would've been scared too.
So with that thought in mind he followed Karai away from the docks and onto the roof tops. Once they were far enough away Karai started pacing some. "They aren't supposed to be there." She finally said as he jumped to join her stopping her pacing.
Leo was confused, "Who's not supposed to be where?"
"The Foot. They're not supposed to be there. We didn't have a shipment tonight. I wasn't told about them meeting those men in suits." Karai answered before starting to talk to herself.
"Wait," Leo began, "How do you know about Foot clan activities?"
"Because I'm part of the Foot clan. My father runs it." Karai answered with a roll of her eyes.
Leo's own eyes widened, "You're part of the Foot clan!?" He cried shocked. That wasn't good.
"Yes!" Karai snapped. "I'm trying to find the Hamato clan!"
"Hamato!?" Leo cried again. "Why are you trying to find the Hamato clan?"
Karai let out an exasperated sound, "Because the man that killed my mother is their leader! Hamato Yoshi!"
Leo felt like he just got punched in the gut without his shell. That couldn't be right. Master Splinter would never hurt someone let alone kill them! Master Splinter had told them his real name when they had asked him what his life was like before his change. He had been very forth coming and open with them and Leo was reminded about how much his adoptive father had lost. He shook his head refusing to believe it. "That can't be right."
"My father told me so." Karai insisted.
"Then who is your father?" Leo snapped a little exasperated himself.
"He used to be Hamato's best friend before that monster betrayed him. My father's name is Oroku Saki."
Okay now Leo felt like he was punched in the gut without his shell. How… how… what… wa… ah… He couldn't even form a thought!
Karai carried on, "That monster killed my mother and I'm going to kill him." She growled. "He's part of the Hamato clan. I've seen proof of them here in New York and I was hoping you would help me." She said looking at him, her eyes softening just slightly.
Finally Leo regained the ability to speak, "Karai your mother wouldn't happen to be Tang Shen, would she?" Leo asked eyeing warily.
Karai tensed and pulled out her weapon. "How the hell did you know that? I never told you her name."
Leo couldn't believe it. Master Splinter's daughter, whom he thought was long since passed, was standing right in front of him and he had been dating her for the past month and a half! He needed to play this wisely. He really cared about Karai and he didn't want to lose her and he didn't want her to be lied to anymore. "Listen Karai I know this is going to be hard to believe, but you haven't been told the whole truth."
Karai's eyes narrowed at him and she refused to move out of her battle ready state, "What are you talking about?"
"Oroku Saki is lying to you." Leo said as gently as he could.
"Excuse me?" Karai hissed her eyes becoming dangerous slits.
Apparently he didn't say nearly as gently as he should have.
"He isn't your real father. Hamato Yoshi is." Leo said and before she could stab him he brought out his Katana and blocked her swing. "Oroku Saki loved your mother Tang Shen, but she chose Yoshi." He went on even as she continued to attack him in rage. "They got married and had you, but Saki was jealous and challenged Yoshi to a duel. Yoshi won, but Saki cheated. In the fight your house caught on fire and Yoshi thought you and Tang Shen both died in the blaze!"
"You liar!" Karai screeched attacking harder.
"It's true!" Leo cried back refusing to attack her back, only blocking. "He talks about you all the time and says how much he misses you and your mother. Your real name is Miwa!"
"Shut up!" Karai roared getting a lucky strike and cutting his arm pretty deeply.
Leo hissed and grabbed his arm in pain, but he didn't have time to think much about it as she went at him again. "I not going to stop Karai, this is the truth and you've been lied to long enough! He has a picture of the three of you in a memorial shrine!"
This made Karai pause, "What?" She snapped.
"He has a family photo of you, him, and your mother, Tang Shen in a memorial in the dojo. He never stops missing you." Leo went on slowly as their death battle seemed to pause, "Sometimes I catch him just looking at the photo and he's…" Leo trailed off sadly remember a time when he had done just as he was saying and it hurt his heart seeing a man he had come to love in so much pain. "He's so sad."
"Why should I believe anything you say!?" Karai snapped taking a step away from him. Neither one of them sheathed their weapons. "You just told me you're the enemy I've come to stop! Why should I believe the lies of a Hamato?" She spat the name with disgust.
Leo looked her straight in the eyes, "Because it's the truth." He answered simply. Karai's face fell a bit as it seemed his words affected her slightly, but then she scowled at him again. So he went on, "You said so yourself, the Foot ninja aren't supposed to be at the docks. You weren't told the whole truth. Oroku Saki is dangerous Karai and what he's trying to do it horrible." He decided to tell her even if it was dangerous she needed to know. "He's working together with the Kraang, these demon servants to raise up the real demon Shredder to take over the world and destroy everything. Yoshi has been chosen to help train myself and along with three others to use our new abilities to stop this from happening." Karai looked like she didn't believe a word he was saying and in all honesty he didn't really blame her, but he pushed forward anyway. "I've never once lied to you Karai and I've been completely honest with you about everything. Why would I suddenly now change all that?"
"Because you found out we're enemies." She answered without a second thought.
Leo shook his head, "But you're not my enemy Karai. I'll prove it to you." Leo closed eyes and tapped into his pulsing core and changed instantly. He didn't really even need to think about it anymore, it came so naturally to him. He opened his eye to see a shocked Karai. "I told you, I'm telling the truth. I've been chosen along with Mikey, Donnie, and Raph to fight this demon Shredder and stop him from rising. I don't know why Saki is trying to raise him up, but he is!"
Karai shook her head in stubbornness, "We're enemies." She said refusing to look at him.
"Again you're not my enemy." Leo went on patiently, "You're my girlfriend and I care about you." He then looked at her pleadingly, "I don't want anything to happen to you. Just ask Saki to tell you the truth when he lies to you, you'll know for sure."
Karai shook her head as she took a few steps back and away from him, "I'm nothing to you anymore Leonardo." She said angrily, ignoring his last statement, "From now on, you and I are enemies. And if I see you again…" She narrowed her eyes at him, "I'll kill you too." With that she jumped off the roof and was gone.
"Karai!" Leo called out racing the edge to try and stop her, but it was too late.
She was gone.
Leo felt his heart grow heavy. Not just from the truth he now knew and for Master Splinter's loss yet again, but for the loss of Karai in his life. Leo was telling her the truth when he said he cared about her. He cared about her a great deal and was scared for her. He just hoped she would be okay.