Not much to say only that more stuff happens and answers some of you have been waiting for. :F Anywho, thanks for all the love and support and please enjoy this next chapter!
As Leo walked into the lair he was met with a familiar sight. Mikey was eating pizza and playing a video game, Raph and Casey were sparing in the corner and Donnie and April were on the couch. Donnie was resting his back against the arm of the couch and April was resting in his lap leaning against his chest. They weren't doing really anything, just sitting there.
Leo was pretty darn sure they were dating.
Mikey was the first to notice him. "Leo dude! You're home! We have so much to tell you!"
"Yeah?" Leo asked, "I have something to share too."
"Perhaps we should all convene in the Dojo." Master Splinter's voice said drawing everyone's attention. They all nodded and headed inside. "Now why don't we start with Raphael and Michelangelo." He began facing them, "You said have you distressing news.
"Yeah! The Kraang said April's the key!" Mikey cried.
"What?" Donnie and April asked together.
"What knucklehead here is tryin' ta say," Raph began shoving Mikey slightly, "Is dat we overheard dem talkin' about how they're gettin' ready to raise de Shredder in a month and how all dey need now is 'the key' April." Raph finished putting 'the key' into finger quotes.
Casey nodded, "Word on the street is the Foot clan is gearin' up for somethin' big. Everyone's gettin' the heck out of the city! Even the Purple Dragons are layin' low. Well," Casey added with a smirk, "Lower."
Master Splinter stroked the hair on his chin in thought as he spoke, "This is troubling. I did not know the enemy was that close to rising. And it begs the question, why April is the key?"
"April and I discovered something that may help explain that." Donnie said speaking up. "Apparently, April is…" He paused unable to continue. "She's…" He paused again seemingly having a difficult time with something.
"I'm part Kraang." April finished for him causing the whole room to gasp and stare in shock.
"But you're a good guy!" Mikey cried confused.
"How is that possible?" Leo asked just as confused.
"I don't know." April said sadly as she looked down at her lap.
Donnie brought their hands together and smiled reassuringly at her before continuing. "I've run every test I can think of to try and figure out if I was wrong, but I'm not. April is Human she just has Kraang DNA in her too."
"That would explain her psychic connection to them." Master Splinter offered.
Donnie nodded, "My thoughts exactly. We also discovered that the Kraang have this sort of mutagen, a type of ooze, that they've created and whatever the ooze touches, it transforms the host into something else. However it has no effect on April."
"Why?" Raph asked.
"The only reason I can come up with is because of her Kraang DNA. It makes her immune."
"That may prove useful in the fight." Leo said thoughtfully drawing the attention, "If they use that we could have April there to help us."
"Well thought." Master Splinter agreed.
"We still need to figure out why April is needed and why she is part Kraang?" Donnie said glaring slightly at Leo, clearly not pleased with the idea.
"And we will." Master Splinter said before turning to Leo. "What is your news, my son?"
Leo took a deep breath, dreading what he was about to say. He wasn't looking forward to it in the slightest. "I was with Karai tonight when she told me something." He paused for a moment taking another breath. "She said she was here to get revenge," He looked right at Master Splinter, "For her mother Tang Shen."
They all gasped and Master Splinter's astonishment made him fall to his knees. "What?" He whispered in shock.
"She told me her father, Oroku Saki, The Shredder, told her that his enemy Hamato Yoshi, killed her mother Tang Shen and fled to New York to escape." Leo continued stoically.
"That is a lie!" Master Splinter cried standing in anger.
Leo faced him undeterred. "I know. And I told her that. She didn't believe me, but Master Splinter. She has to be your daughter Miwa. She even knew about the fire."
Master Splinter sat down once more, "My Miwa. Alive?" He whispered in reverence.
Leo nodded, "She's a member of the Foot and apparently in charge of them behind the Shredder. However she didn't know about the Foot's involvement with the Kraang. She seemed genuinely confused." He added hoping to lessen the blow. After All Leo still cared about her.
"Wait, wait, wait." Raph began. "You mean this whole time, you've been dating Master Splinter's long lost daughter!?" He cried shocked.
Again Leo nodded.
"Wow." Mikey said, "If I wasn't so sad and confused right now I'd be laughing my shell off."
"No kidding." Raph agreed solemnly.
Everyone was silent for a moment before April spoke. "If she really is your daughter than we need to find a way to help her." She said drawing attention. "To show her the real truth."
"She seemed pretty confused about the Foot being with the Kraang." Leo answered. "And if I know Karai she's going to find out why."
..::-::..
Karai jumped onto the beam above her father's throne now hidden in the darkness. The room was dark and empty. Just the way she wanted. Karai knew her father would enter his throne room any minute and she was going to get answers. Leo had been telling the truth about the Foot and she wanted to know why. Why was the Foot having dealings with these things called the Kraang? And why wasn't she told about it? She also wanted to know why and how he had known so much about her past and her mother. She had no doubt that Hamato Yoshi had told him those lies about her being Hamato's daughter, but why would he believe him over her?
Sure she probably hadn't known him as long, but Karai thought Leo was smart. He was clever and had a mind of his own. He wouldn't be so easily fooled by lies. Apparently however, he was and that hurt her. That he didn't believe her over that liar Hamato. Karai felt that they had a certain connection. She had really cared about him… she still really cared about him.
Karai shook her head. She wasn't some gushing school girl! She was Karai Saki! She needed no man!
Karai sighed. She didn't need a man, but she did have to admit that she wished Leo was there with her. She always felt safe with him and like she could tell him anything. She was still furious of course and she wouldn't let him off so easily, but she could at least admit that to herself.
The doors opened suddenly drawing Karai from her thoughts. "Master Shredder." She heard Bradford say, "We have everything in order. The last shipment of supplies has been handed to the Kraang and the payment is in our bank."
"Good." Her father said taking a seat. "The Kraang are fools." He went on, "They can raise their master 'The Demon Shredder' on the new moon of the next month and we'll be happy to help them."
Xever then walked in with his knife ever playing with it. "Our last meet up with the Kraang was interrupted by the Turtles again, but we did manage to get everything done."
Shredder slammed his fist down on his throne, "Damn those creatures!" He roared. "When the Demon Shredder has risen I will take his power for my own and destroy them all!"
Karai's heart stopped for a moment as she realized he was taking about Leo. He was going to kill Leo! She… she couldn't let him do that! And what was this Demon Shredder business about? She might not know everything, but she was pretty sure raising a demon from anything is a very bad thing.
"Yes Master." Bradford and Xever said bowing to him before Bradford continued. "Master, Karai. I caught her going throw our files earlier. The ones with your enemy Hamato Yoshi."
The Shredder growled. "What did she find out?"
"I'm not sure. She was looking through it all." Bradford answered.
The Shredder stood turned facing the large window. "She must not be allowed to know the truth. I will not lose Karai." He turned and glared at them. "Make sure that Karai continues to believe that Hamato Yoshi is her enemy. If she were to find out the truth, that Hamato Yoshi is her biological father, she would betray me." He turned back to the window, "She is too useful to lose."
Karai barely heard or saw as the two idiots left left. Her entire world was crumbling around her.
Leo had been telling the truth and now, he probably hated her.
..::-::..
Leo rolled over and sighed as he glanced at the clock. 6:45 on the dot. His body was so used to waking up early because of training he woke up this early even on the weekends. Today was Friday, but it was some sort of school holiday. All of them, with the exception of Casey, had decided to spend the night at the lair after their long and informative talk last night. Master Splinter had sent them all to bed saying they would speak more in the morning after practice. Leo pushed his covers off of him and jumped out of bed making it quickly before heading into the kitchen. It would seem he was the only one up.
He went to the fridge and pulled out an apple. Just as he shut the fridge door he saw Master Splinter walk up to the stove and start to prepare tea. Leo paused for a moment. He had always been able to talk to his Master and surrogate father, but now that he had been dating his daughter that they believed to be dead, he felt awkward to say the least. Leo took a breath and pushed through it. Despite how he felt, Master Splinter needed his family right now and he had been there for Leo when he needed him. So Leo would be there for his father when he needed him.
"Master Splinter, how are you doing?" He asked coming to sit next to him.
Master Splinter looked at him and forced a small smile, "I am doing as well as one can." He paused as he took a drink of his tea. "I… am pleased she is alive, but I cannot help but worry about her. I pray that she is safe even if she is with Saki and I pray that she finds the truth."
Leo nodded saddened for him. "If I know Karai, which I think I do pretty well, she'll take care of herself. She's very skilled and whenever we fought she gave me a run for my money."
"You two fought?" Master Splinter asked curiously.
"We sparred often. It was something we both really enjoyed it." Leo added with sad, but fond smile. Master Splinter said nothing just nodded. Leo looked at him, "We'll get her back, Master. I promise. Karai's smart she doesn't let anyone tell her what to do unless she believes in it. Something she must have gotten from you." He added with a smirk. Master Splinter smiled at him before they heard the rest of the lair wake up.
Leo and Master Splinter headed to the dojo and was met by Raph and April both stretching and speaking. Mikey headed into the room a moment later with a yawn. "Can we start now? The sooner we start, the sooner I can go back to bed." He said tiredly.
"Where's Donnie?" April asked looking around.
"I don't know." Leo said also looking around. "I didn't see him this morning, but I know he stayed the night."
"I'll go check the lab." April said running out.
"I'll check his room." Raph added racing away.
"I'll get the bathroom." Mikey added before disappearing.
"And I'll check tracks." Leo added to himself. A few minutes later they all returned having found nothing. "I wonder where he went." Leo asked confused.
"And why he didn't say anything." April added.
Suddenly Leo's T-Phone started ringing and he pulled it out of his pocket, "Donnie?" He asked somewhat worriedly and relieved.
"Bro where are you!" Mikey cried getting far too close to Leo to the point where he just shoved him away.
"We started trainin'." Raph said coming to stand next to them.
"And why didn't you say anything if you were leaving?" April added.
"Hey guys," Donnie's voice floated over the line sounding tired and sad. "Sorry I'm not there. Something came up and I'm down at the hospital."
"Are you okay?" Was Leo's immediate question.
"Yeah, I'm alright, but I won't be able to make it to training today. Sorry. I'll see you guys later." With that Donnie hung up.
"Is everything alright?" Master Splinter asked once Leo hung up.
"I don't know." Leo answered truthfully. "I've never heard Donnie sound so… sad." For a moment they were all silent until Leo made a decision, "We need to go see Donnie and see why he's at the hospital." Raph, Mikey, and April all nodded before they turned to Master Splinter, "I'm sorry sensei, but can we not train today? Donnie needs us." Leo asked determinedly.
For a moment he thought Master Splinter would say no, but then the old rat smiled and nodded, "You may go."
"Really?" Raph asked blinking in surprise.
"Yes. I am not only your Master in the ways on Ninjutsu and teaching you how to fight and defend yourselves, but I am also your teacher in the ways of Bushido." Splinter answered with a smile. "Bushido is about honor. When one of your own is in trouble you support him, as you do now. And as a father I worry for my sons. Go and support Donatello."
They all nodded and were about to head out before Leo turned to April. "Maybe you should stay here." He said gently knowing April wouldn't like it.
"What?" She asked anger coming into her voice. He knew it.
"I'm sorry April, but with everything we found out last night and the Kraang after you. It probably isn't the best idea for you to be walking around out in the open." He said trying to suede her.
"That may be a wise course of action April." Master Splinter said placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. April looked like she was about to protest then he added, "I know you are concerned and care about Donatello very much, but your safety is also a concern."
"We'll bring him back." Leo added with a smile. With a reluctant nod April let them go and a quick transformation back to humans, they headed out of the sewer.
They made it to the hospital relatively quickly and headed inside. It didn't take them long to locate Donnie. "Donnie!" Mikey cried as they raced over.
Donnie turned to look at them surprise written all over his face, "What are you guys doing here?" He asked confused.
"Something was wrong so we came." Leo answered simply.
"Yeah, dude. What are brothers for?" Mikey added with a smile.
"So what's goin' on? You okay?" Raph asked getting to the point.
Donnie looked down and away from them. Clearly not wanting to talk. Leo sighed then walked up to him and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Donnie, if you don't want to tell us you don't have to, but know that we won't judge you or treat you any differently. We just want to help."
"We're here for ya man." Raph added coming to stand closer.
Mikey nodded, "100 percent."
Donnie offered them a faint smile before it disappeared and he looked to the hospital doors, "It's my mom." He finally said. "She has leukemia and had a bad flare up this morning before training which is why I wasn't there." Leo stared at him in shock. He never would have guessed nor wished it on anyone. Poor Donnie. "It's just been my mom and me for a while now since my dad died in a car accident when I was 7. She got diagnosed with it last year and we've been fighting it ever since and were not sure if she's going to pull through." They were all silent for a while as the heaviness of his words came down on them. Leo knew people in the world had cancer and it was awful he just never thought he'd be saddled with the reality of it and if he was weighed down by just knowing someone with cancer, he couldn't imagine how poor Donnie felt. Donnie's eyes then began to water, "I… I don't want to lose her." He said softly before the tears started to fall.
Leo said nothing as there really was nothing to say and he wrapped his arms around Donnie hugging him. Donnie was hesitant at first, but then returned the hug tightly. He needed it. Mikey and Raph then joined them and they stood hugging each other offering silent comfort to their distraught friend and brother.