Here we go, I know a little tardy, but better late than never! :] Anywho, thanks for all the love and support and please enjoy this next chapter!
Leo jumped from building to building breathing heavily as he did so. It was cold outside and the rain was starting to fall. It had been four days since Donnie's mom had gone to the hospital. She was still there but for now she was stable and the doctors said she was improving even if by a small margin. Donnie had moved into the lair for the time being and for the first day he had refused to come out of his lab. The doors had been shut tight and he didn't even come out to eat or get anything to drink. The second day he had only come out to get a snack or two and a drink of water once and he still refused to speak to anyone. By the third day Raph had had enough and barged right on in.
Leo wanted to stop him, to make him see that sometimes people just needed to be left alone to think about everything. That they needed time to process to deal with it, but he was also worried about him and Leo knew Donnie needed to be with his family now. At first he was unresponsive, but Raph did something none of them were expecting. After yelling at him for a few minutes he reached out and pulled the smartest among them into a hug. Again Donnie let the tears flow and Leo could see Raph was tearing up as well causing Mikey to bawl like a baby and Leo's eyes started to sting a little too. He followed them out into the main room and they all spent the rest of the time talking and even laughing a little.
Generally at the expense of Mikey.
By the fourth day he joined them for meals even if he was still a little quiet and he stayed with them when he was working on things. They all could tell he was considerably scared to lose her, but Leo was proud to see how he was holding up. He could see why Donnie was chosen. He was brave and showing everyone his bravery, but not letting his fear control him.
Leo sighed again and looked out at the landscape of the city he was trying to protect. It had also been four days since he had found out about Karai and still nothing. He wasn't going to give up though. He was going to find her and shake some sense into her even if it killed him. And judging by how pissed off she was, it probably would.
Leo slid to a stop when he reached the end of his sector and pulled out his T-Phone taking a moment to gather his breathing. When Donatello answered he spoke, "Have you guys found anything?"
"No sorry Leo. Nothing on our end." Donnie answered for he and April.
"Mikey and I haven't found anything either." Raph reported.
"South side's empty too." Casey added.
Leo sighed. "Alright. Everyone keep in touch. If you find anything, let me know." Leo hung up and sighed again. He really wanted to find her. To explain to her what had happened. He realized now he probably had come on tostrong and when you're lied to your entire life, it's hard to hear something completely different. Above all Leo was worried. Karai was smart and as he had stated, she would seek to find out the truth. What caused him to worry was that the Shredder probably didn't want her to know the truth. Karai wouldn't take no for an answer, something he had had to learn the hard way once or twice and he didn't want her to get hurt. He just wished-
Leo was knocked off his feet giving a grunt as he landed harshly on the ground of the roof. He rolled over quickly, jumped to his feet, and pulled out his katana all in one swift moment. He was met however with something he didn't think he'd see.
Karai was standing before him breathing heavily with her Tanto out ready to fight. Her outfit was ripped and damaged and she had cuts all over her body. Her cheek was bleeding with a slice and her head was bleeding as well. Some of her armor was missing too and he saw multiple bruises all over her and one large one under her left eye.
"Karai!" Leo cried dropping his defense at once. "Are you okay? What happened!?"
Karai raised her Tanto to his neck and made him pause. "Tell me Leo." She said lowly, her breathing labored, "Hamato Yoshi. How long have you known him?"
Leo was a bit confused by her question, but answered nonetheless. "I've known him for a little over a month now."
"And he told you about his so called family in that short of time? Just let it out to virtually a stranger and didn't hold back?" She went on with a sneer.
"Yes he did." Leo answered with a nod.
"You believed him? After only knowing him a month, you believed him and what he told you?" Karai asked seemingly angered at him though he wasn't sure why.
"Yes Karai. I believed him and I believe in him now." He said with determination.
"Why?!" She cried. "Why do you believe him so easily!?"
Leo took a moment before answering. "Because I know he is telling the truth. I can sense it. Master Splinter is a good man who had horrible things happen to him, but he didn't let that stop him. He let it empower him to become a better person." Karai lowered her Tanto a bit and shook her head as if she was trying to deny him, but failing. Leo took the plunge and stepped forward some putting his katana away. "I trust Master Splinter and I care about him. He's a good man and has become more of a father to me than my own."
Karai's Tanto fell from her hands and she started to shake. Her head was lowered so he couldn't see her eyes, but Leo knew she was fighting not to cry. He took another step forward and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. That seemed to break the spell as Karai threw her arms around Leo and started to cry on his chest. Leo for his part pulled her in close and tightened his hold on her.
Leo allowed Karai to cry on him for a few moments before he pulled away some and made her look at him in the eyes. "Karai." He said softly. She lifted her beautiful eyes to him and he continued just as softly, "Please tell me what happened? I was so worried about you."
Karai looked away gaining her strength back. "He lied to me about everything." She said bitterly. "Saki is not my father!" She continued getting angrier. "He used me!" She snapped turned away from him and hugging her arms.
"What do you mean?" Leo asked worried about her and why she was so beaten up. Suddenly all of Karai's anger deflated. "Why don't we head somewhere else?" Leo suggested quickly. He didn't want her to run away again if he was pushing too much. And if he was he wanted to be in a place where he could easily catch her and he had reinforcements. Everyone needed to know what happened and he was anxious to get Karai back to safety and back to Master Splinter. For a moment Karai looked like she was going to argue, but in the end they both headed towards the lair and on the way Leo called the team back. At first they were confused, but he told them he would explain everything back at the lair.
Leo showed her the way in and was greeted by everyone and their shocked faces. "Leo… what?" April was the first to speak.
"Guys this is Karai and she's hurt." Leo said looking at Donnie directly refusing anything else at the moment. He really wanted to make sure she was alright.
"Okay." Donnie said and walked over to the suddenly and strangely, shy Karai. "Come with me Karai, I can take a look at your injuries in the lab."
Karai nodded and followed him to the lab leaving Leo out with everyone else. "You brought her here?" Raph asked looking upset with him.
Leo nodded undeterred. "Yes I did. She was attacked-"
"The Shredder did that to her?" Casey asked amazed. "I thought you said she was his sort of daughter?"
"I did." Leo answered, "But remember. This is the Shredder. He's not exactly nice."
"So what happened to her?" Mikey asked looking at Donnie's lab worriedly.
"I don't know." Leo said also looking. "Let's go find out." They all headed that way then Leo turned to April, "Where's sensei?"
"He was in deep meditation when we got back and none of us wanted to bother him." She answered.
Leo nodded, "We'll tell him after Karai is cleaned up. No use in having him see his daughter whom he thought was dead for years in pain and hurt." April nodded her head agreeing with him as they all entered the room.
Karai was seated on the table as Donnie looked at her arm. "Karai can you please tell us what happed?" Leo asked gently coming to stand next to her. Karai looked at him then at the others before sighing and looking down. Leo reached out and gently took her hand in his. "Karai, please." He said softly. "We want to help you."
She looked at him for a moment then nodded her head.
Karai waited until after they had all left before she jumped down from her hiding spot. However the Shredder stepped out from one of his own and faced her. "I knew you were there listening, Karai."
At once Karai pulled out her Tanto, "Of course you did." She said bitterly. "Now that I know the truth what are you going to do?"
The Shredder looked at her for a moment longer than she thought necessary before he finally spoke. "Nothing."
Karai was taken aback by this. "What do you mean?"
"I wanted you to hear this truth. Bradford informed me of your snooping and treacherous behavior before he came in here. Not to mention your meetings with that boy, Leo I believe you call him."
Karai felt her heart stop for a moment recognizing his tone of voice. "How do you know about Leo and what does he have to do with anything?"
"He has everything to do with this." The Shredder answered. "He is one of the turtle creatures that constantly get in our way. That stop us from achieving our goal. He is the enemy!" He roared angered. Karai took a step back in fear as she felt the hatred coming off of him as he spoke. She tried not to show it, but he was terrifying her. "The moment I found out about his meetings with you I have had my men watching you."
"You were spying on me?!" Karai snapped now forgetting her fear for her own anger.
"You were with the enemy!" The Shredder cried right back. "Then you started looking through old files. I had to make sure you were loyal to me." He turned and looked at her, his eyes gleaming, "You now know the truth Karai. Yoshi may have been your birth father, but he left you to die in that fire. He was too selfish. Worried for his own safety. He has no honor." He hissed angered. "I saved you and have raised you as my own, taught you everything you know and have given you everything. What will you choose? Will you choose the dishonorable path and go to Yoshi, the coward who betrayed me? Or will you choose the right path and stay with me, the man who raised you. Your father."
Karai was shaking now as she raised her head she glared at him, "You are not my FATHER!" She roared before charging him.
After Karai was done they were all silent, not sure what to say to the information she had just told them. It didn't take a genius to figure out who had hurt her so badly. Leo couldn't believe that anyone could do that to someone they had claimed to love for so long and turn right around and try to kill them.
"I just couldn't stay there anymore." Karai said quietly before looking up into Leo eyes, "And I had to warn you."
"Warn us? About what?" Mikey asked from his seat beside her.
Karai rolled her eyes and huffed angrily, "Weren't you listening? Saki's going to take over the Demon's power as his own and we only have till next month's new moon! We have to stop them!"
"We will Karai don't worry." Leo said smiling at her reassuringly. "We're not going to let him take over and we're-" Suddenly Leo looked up as everyone followed his line of sight and saw none other than Master Splinter standing in the doorway.
His face held a numb shock as he saw Karai seated on the table. No one spoke a word and the first thing they heard was a heartfelt call. "Miwa?"