I'm back! Sorry for going missing for so long. It's been a lot this past month, not only with a lot of drama in my house, and the stress isn't getting any better. Add in the fact I'm still working with my attorney over the car wreck that happened some months ago, and the stress of that is making the head injury flare up again, it's been….a lot.

So, here's to another chapter!

Leo smiled, happily stuffing the last piece needed for the surprise he planned for his brothers into a book bag slung over his shoulder, then walked out of the building he'd spent the last couple hours in.

Pulling a deep breath to exhale in a sigh of supreme satisfaction, Leonardo adjusted the bag and turned towards home. It was rush hour, and the sidewalks were busy with people eager to go home and leave their work day behind. The ninja strolled down the street, marveling at how he could walk around and no one even batted an eye at his existence. The feeling of being topside in the sunlight, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of New York was exhilarating, and Leo knew he would mourn when it inevitably came to an end, however, he wasn't going to dwell on the negative. Not when he had a back pack full of dreams to take home.

Leonardo felt a shiver of pure unadulterated joy jitter down his spine, mind lost in a daydream as he pictured the looks on his brothers faces when he gave them their gifts. Overhead, the sun was setting, staining the glass and steel skyscrapers shades of purple, orange and crimson, each color making the young leader think of the siblings he loved so dearly. His already wide grin grew impossibly bigger, excitement thrumming in his veins. Tonight was going to be perfect!

Turning a corner, Leo entered a dark alleyway, the garbage strewn path providing a shortcut to the garage holding the elevator to take him back to the sewers. Humming a happy little ditty to himself, the warrior almost missed the glint of steel shining in a dark corner, however, years of honing his senses and reflexes to a fine edge gave him the advantage needed to avoid the unexpected attack. A knife swung out from the shadows, aiming for the teen's face in a wide arc that would have been devastating, possibly even crippling.

Dark hair swirled through the air as Leo lunged backwards, his right foot sliding back to maintain balance, before the ninja whirled around into a defensive stance. Sapphire eyes grew cold like twin chips of ice as Leo shifted into battle mode. "Who's there?" He called, "Come out where I can see you!"

"Yer pretty fast, ain't ya?"

Dark brows furrowed, head cocking to the side in confusion, as Leonardo watched a figure extricate itself from the shadow. Leather vest over a white t-shirt, dirty torn jeans with battered black boots, and an unforgettable neon purple Mohawk. The ninja's jaw dropped in shock, defensive fists dropping a centimeter as he fought the urge to laugh, "Mohawk guy?"

"Huh?" The purple dragon paused, his own features blank in confusion, "Do I know ya, or somethin'?" He asked gruffly, "Ya don't look familiar, but then I don't remember every schmuck I've mugged on these streets."

"Uh," Leo floundered, eyes bouncing as he searched for the guy's backup, but oddly finding none, "yeah, we've met, but only once. Where's the rest of your crew?"

The gang banger snarled, "Ain't got no crew," he spat, "bunch'a dirtbags decided ta jump ship and follow someone else. It's just me now."

Leo cursed his compassionate heart as he felt it give an empathetic pang. The poor guy was reduced to mugging random people in alleyways because he was abandoned by his team. No wonder his eyes were bloodshot and his skin pale, he was probably drinking pretty heavily to ease the heartbreak of losing his family. Not that that condoned his actions, and to be honest, the creep would be better off starting work from the ground up, and creating a new and better life for himself. It was possible, and while not easy by any means, there had been plenty of reformed criminals who'd taken the plunge and turned their back on criminal lifestyles. Regardless, Leonardo would not take it easy on the former gang banger, the guy could have blinded him with that attack earlier, so he needed to learn a lesson in manners.

"Listen Mohawk, I feel for you, but I need to get home and if you're smart, you'll let me go without any more trouble." Pale fingers tightened back into unforgiving fists, Leo gracefully gliding into one of the first forms of a martial art designed for unarmed combat against a knife wielding foe.

Mohawk gave a dark chuckle, "And if I ain't smart?"

The warrior narrowed serious sapphire eyes, "Then you'll learn a very painful lesson about what happens when you try mugging the wrong person."

"HA!" The older man gave an incredulous bark, "what can a skinny kid like ya do ta me?"

"Never judge a book by its cover," Leonardo smirked.

Mohawk's jeering grin turned into a frown, something about that smirk, and those eyes seemed familiar. He couldn't quite place where he'd seen them before, but the back of his brain was itching with indignant rage at the kid's seeming carelessness about facing a guy with a knife. Twirling the blade between his fingers, the former gang member snarled, "Let's see ya smile when yer face is sliced open, ya brat!"

Mohawk darted forward, lunging towards Leo with the knife, but the attack may have been in slow motion as far as the ninja was concerned. Expertly turning his body in various twists, the teen was able to dodge each jab, all the while only using a minimal amount of energy. As he avoided the frantic attacks, Leo shook his head, "You don't have to do this, you know?" He stated in a bored tone, twisting his shoulders to dodge another sweep of the blade, "I'm sorry your team abandoned you, Mohawk guy, but you should take this as a sign to start over. Get a job, settle down, do something with your life that doesn't have to be steeped in illicit activity and senseless violence."

"Shut yer yap, kid!" The criminal gasped, already beginning to pant with exertion, "and don't call me Mohawk!"

"What should I call you?" Another stab, another dodge.

Mohawk paused, chest heaving as he fought for air, knife still held in a threatening stance, "Ya can call me, Muerte!"

"M- Muerte?" Leo spluttered, the urge to giggle difficult to stifle as the warrior realized that this must have been a name the guy thought long and hard on, most likely going for something that would sound intimidating. No wonder the purple dragons dumped him, "Muerte?" He repeated, "Like the Spanish word for death?"

"Exactly, man!"

Leonardo looked down at the ground, struggling to contain the mirth crawling up his throat, before giving a quick glance at his sparring partner, "Are you even Hispanic?"

"What's that got ta do wit' anythin'?!" Mohawk growled.

"Nothing," the ninja shrugged, clearing his throat free of chuckles, "just wondered, but I guess since we're introducing ourselves, it's nice to meet you Morty, I'm Leo."

"Not Morty! It's Muerte, man!" Morty snarled, springing forward with surprising speed, forcing Leo to unconsciously pull his backpack around to his front, and hold it out as a shield.

The knife slide through the material of the book bag, startling the turtle turned human, as he looked down and realized that his instincts may have accidentally hurt the surprise for his siblings. "Hey!" He squawked, eyes wide and indignant, "careful with that thing, I got valuables in here!"

Morty sliced the knife down, making the rip even larger, "Aw, too bad," he sneered, "but don't worry, they won't be yers ta worry about fer much longer!"

Leonardo was officially irritated. Not only did this guy try to mug him right when he was happily heading home, loaded with gifts and surprises for his siblings, but now he had ruined the back pack April had bought for him. This thing cost almost $60! Now a two-bit crook thought he was going to make off with it and the treasures it carried? In the words of a certain hotheaded brother, ain't happenin'!

Giving the bag a deft twist, Leo was able to disarm the thug, then sprung forward to deliver a crushing blow with his knee into Morty's abdomen. As the man was doubled over, a breathless gasp of pain being strangled from his throat, the ninja twirled gracefully in a roundhouse kick straight to the criminal's jaw, sending Morty flying face first into the opposite wall of the alley. The resounding crack of skull meeting brick was satisfying to say the least, and Leo dusted himself off before turning to inspect the damage on his backpack. Rummaging through the bag, the ninja was pleased to report that the gifts miraculously survived. At least, as far as he knew, but he could take more careful inventory at home.

Sapphire eyes scanning the area, and assessing that the man was not in immediate need of an ambulance, Leo rolled his eyes and continued his walk through the alley, "You should be grateful my brothers weren't here," he called breezily over one shoulder, "otherwise you'd have ended up with a lot worse than a mild concussion."

…..

Donatello's head popped up as he heard the front door to the lair groan open, a happy smile greeting their eldest as he strolled through, "Aniki!" He exclaimed, "where'd you go?"

Leo indulged in a rare grin, the excitement of spoiling his brothers bringing out his goofier side, "It's a surprise," he drawled mischievously.

The scientist perked up, curiosity and eager excitement forcing him to abandon his latest project, "What kind of surprise?" Donnie inquired, stepping away from his workbench and approaching his sibling, "Like is it a movie and pizza night kind of surprise, or something else?"

"A good surprise that everyone will enjoy," the eldest stated, evading the genius brother's prodding, "and no, you're not going to find out before everyone else."

"Aw," Don whined, face falling in a pout.

Leo chuckled at the disconsolate expression, wrapping an arm around his younger sibling's shoulders, "Don't worry, Donnie, I promise you won't have to wait too long. I'll tell you what the surprise is as soon as Raph and Mikey are here."

The genius paused, allowing his leader's words to sink in, before suddenly pulling in a deep breath. Leo barely had time to cover his ears before Donatello bellowed as loud as he was able, "RAPHIE! MIKEY! GET YOUR SHELLS DOWN HERE!"

"….ow…." Leonardo winced, removing his hands from where they were protecting his ears, "I don't think they heard you over in Jersey."

"Think I should try calling them again?"

Sapphire eyes widened in panic, and Leo barely had enough time, as Donnie reeled in another deep breath, to clap a firm hand over the scientist's mouth, "No," the leader stated decisively.

Purple and blue stood frozen, a pair of brown eyes twinkling with mischief while Leonardo strained to maintain his serious façade, and not give in to laughter. Upstairs, Michelangelo and Raphael came bursting out of their rooms, each wearing a look of worried concern. "Sheesh!" Raph hissed, shoulders deflating from the offensive stance he had taken, and awash with relief when he saw his brothers safe and sound, "What's with the caterwaulin', Don?!"

Donatello wiggled his eyebrows, making Leo finally chuckle, and the leader stepped away, releasing the scientist from his grip. "Leo's got a surprise for us, but he won't say what it is until we're all down here!" Donnie exclaimed, features alight with the urgency that his brothers join them downstairs now.

"What kinda surprise?" Raphael asked, even as Mikey whooped and proceeded to pelt down the stairs.

Leonardo shook his head, miming zipping his lips, making Donnie sigh, "He won't say until we're all together."

"I was actually planning to wait until after dinner," Leo shrugged with a wicked grin, "I never said now."

Donnie's face fell, the promise of his surprise coming sooner rather than later diminishing like a popped balloon, "But you said as soon as Raphie and Mikey were here you'd tell us!"

"True," the blue ninja nodded, "but at this time of day, we don't normally regather until dinner time. You're the one that took my statement as a hint to call them downstairs."

"But," the genius pouted, tugging on his sibling's blue hoodie, "I want to know what it is, come on, Leo, you know I can't take suspense!"

"I don't know," the eldest made a show of thinking it over, pretending that he might actually hold out until dinner.

Mikey sprinted over to his brother's side, and latched onto an arm, "Aw, come on, Leo, you wouldn't deny your baby brother his surprise, would you?"

The leader merely raised one eyebrow, in a silent question of "Wouldn't I?"

Michelangelo was not to be deterred, however, in the past two and a half weeks of being human, he'd learned a very important lesson. That, while he may hate being smaller and weaker than he was accustomed to being, it was extremely useful due to the fact he was now unquestionably adorable. "Please, Leo?" Mikey wheedled, batting baby blue eyes, and giving his best puppy dog pout, "Pretty please?"

Raphael snickered as Leonardo struggled to hold out against the onslaught of sheer cuteness Mikey was putting out. The kid practically glowed with sparkles glinting in the air like in the anime they all indulged in every now and again. The eldest clenched his eyes shut, leaning away, but even then, he could feel Mikey's eyes on him like laser beams. If Leo thought it was hard resisting the baby's puppy dog eyes when they were turtles, it was nigh on impossible now. Finally, the blue ninja heaved a resigned sigh, groaning his defeat.

"Fi-ine!" He said with more reluctance than he felt, acting as though he weren't just as excited as they were, "everyone to the couch!"

Donnie and Mikey shared twin looks of exultant victory, before making a mad dash towards the living area of the home. The two youngest siblings dove over the back of the couch, then settled in their respective spot, bouncing eagerly for the surprise Leo had planned for them. Leonardo and Raphael followed at a more sedate pace, slowing their steps intentionally so to annoy their younger brothers. It worked like a charm, leaving red and blue to cackle in amusement at the unhappy glares directed their way over the couch headrest.

Settling on the couch between Don and Michelangelo, with Raphael sitting on the floor in front of them, Leo dug into the ripped back pack. "Ok," the eldest began, "ever since Donnie told me the good news that this is only temporary, I started thinking…"

"Normally, that sentence would fill me wit' dread," Raph snickered, "as it's usually what we hear right before ya start explainin' some new trainin' idea."

Leo wrinkled his nose playfully at the brawler, happily rewarded with a guffaw from the hothead, "No," he shook his head, "it's not that, I promise. I've been wanting to have some special family time, one-on-one with each of you, a special day where we hang out and do something fun. Then I started thinking about all the things you've told me you wished you could do, but couldn't since we're mutant turtles, but since right now we're not…TA-DAH!"

The eldest's face was wreathed in a gleeful smile, face flushing with joy and pride at being able to give his brothers such precious gifts, and eagerly began handing them out. "Raphie, there's a big wrestling match at Madison Square Gardens this weekend, I got us tickets for some killer seats!"

Raphael's jaw dropped, the topaz gaze growing glassy, tears pricking at his eyes as he reverently took the tickets from his brother, "Holy…shell…" he whispered in awe, then glanced back up at his leader, brotherly love beaming from liquid gold eyes, "thanks, bro," he rasped with a smile.

The eldest grinned at the brawler in return, then continued to the next gift, "Donnie," Leo turned to the genius, giving out another pair of tickets and a pamphlet, "apparently there's a symposium happening at the New York Hall of Science, and inventors and engineers from all over the country are bringing their latest projects! I got us tickets to go see, but they even have an area where young inventors can bring a project of their choice and present it to a panel of judges. The prize is a scholarship to any university of your choice, and many in the list offer online classes! You could go as yourself and I bet you could win the scholarship! Then it's just a matter of creating a believable filter that would make you look human on screen for class, which would be a piece of cake for you! Granted, we'd have to figure out how to get school records for you, but I'm sure April could help us with that!"

Leo paused, realizing that he was pushing his brother into not only presenting an invention, but even attending college, without asking if said brother even wanted to, "That is," he said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, "if you're interested?"

"Am I interested?" Don asked incredulously, the genius copying Raphael as happy tears sprung into brown eyes "Are you seriously questioning if I'd be interested? Of course, I am! This is amazing, Leo!"

The eldest glowed at the praise, chest swelling with happiness that he was able to give Donnie the first steps towards the future they saw in 2105. "My turn, my turn!" Michelangelo begged, fluffy blond locks bouncing as the youngest fidgeted in his seat, prompting a laugh from Leonardo.

Nodding his head, the young leader pulled out two more tickets, "I found out that the New York zoo is holding a comic book day," he said, giving Michelangelo the tickets, "comic book artists from DC, Marvel, and even Dark Horse and a bunch of other comic book publishers will be there. Plus, everyone is encouraged to dress up! I know it isn't Comic-Con, I wish I could do that for you, but…"

"It's perfect!" Mikey squealed, grabbing the tickets and tackling Leonardo in a bear hug, "it's completely perfect!"

The blue ninja held his baby brother, nuzzling his nose into the blond curls, reveling in the fierce hug conveying Mikey's gratitude, "I'm glad, otouto," he whispered, tears causing a lump in his throat.

The orange ninja leaned back, baby blue eyes gleaming in excitement, "Who should we dress up as?" He questioned eagerly, "We could be Batman and robin? Or maybe Superman and Superboy? Oooh, ooh, how about…!"

Leo released a deep belly laugh, "Actually, I commissioned this to be made, I figured since a lot of people will be dressed up in their own designs, why not?"

Leo pulled out a human sized Turtle Titan costume, one that would easily fit Mikey, and the baby's eyes caught up to his brothers as they welled with tears, "My Turtle Titan consume!" He gushed, "Does that mean you'll be my sidekick?"

"Yes, but for that day only!"

"Sweet!" Mikey grinned, before his eyes widened in startled surprise, "it's got a rip in it?"

"Wait, what?" Leo leaned over, and felt his heart sink at the unquestionable tear along the front of the costume, "oh, no." He mourned softly.

Mikey quickly waved away the concern, "Dude, it's ok, I mean, who do you think made the original? I can fix it no sweat!"

"What happened?" Raphael asked, keen gaze just now taking in the state of the back pack.

Leo sighed, happy that Mikey wasn't upset, but lingering anger at Mohawk guy stealing his smile, "You remember that guy who kidnapped us, and gave me that weird drug?"

Donnie cackled at the memory, "How could we forget?" He exclaimed, "The memory of you searching the entire lair for your head, which apparently floated away, is a memory I treasure!"

Leo rolled his eyes, "Well, the guy tried to mug me at knife point today, I defended myself, and during the fight he stabbed the bag," he explained, "honestly, I can't even call it a fight, he could barely make use of his knife."

"Ya mean this knife?" Raphael pulled out the blade that the eldest had taken from the thug, giving it an expert twirl, "the guy may be a pathetic excuse fer a human bein', but I gotta admit that he's got nice taste in steel."

"If you want it, keep it," the leader shrugged, "unfortunately, he got past my defenses and I had to use the back pack as a shield. Sorry, Mikey."

"Bro, I already said it's ok!" Michelangelo reassured, "Ive got better things to think about, like you dressing up as my sidekick!"

"Yay," Leo stated, voice monotone, and smile obviously forced.

Laughter rang out in the living room, but was quickly replaced by excited chattering, all three brothers exclaiming to each other and Leo about how they were looking forward to their individual days out with the eldest. Leonardo didn't contribute much, though. No, he basked in the love and gratitude that his siblings showed, joy resonating inside him so powerfully, he felt as if he were flying. This was what made this whole experience worth it. It took them a bit to get back on their feet, but now, with new experiences and time spent as a family on the horizon, Leo couldn't help but whisper a prayer of thanks, before once again addressing his brothers.

"Alright, guys," he said, turning loving sapphire eyes on his team, "let's eat dinner, but nothing too heavy, we're going topside for patrol tonight."

"YES!"

…

It was late, a chilly wind blew over the concrete and steel rooftops of New York, as a baleful moon hung in the heavens illuminating the cityscape. March was drawing to a close, with the month of April on the horizon, and Karai couldn't help shake her head at the irony.

The first of April, commonly known as April Fool's Day, an innocuous little holiday in which the pranksters of the world could release their pent up energy in inane tomfoolery on the rest of the population. Dr. Chaplin had explained this to her, as April Fools Day wasn't widely celebrated in Japan, if it all, and Karai had merely brushed it off as yet another oddity of her new home. However, she was currently staring at what most assuredly must be a prank, because she had no other explanation for the sight greeting her. She was gobsmacked, flabbergasted, utterly stupefied (Chaplin had been helping her improve her English with intense games of scrabble in the evenings), and any other adjective she could think of to describe the sheer level of speechlessness afflicting her in this moment.

Four, young, teenage boys stood tall, shoulders back and chins high in confidence, casually swinging or twirling various, and extremely familiar, weapons. Not only that, but each child was wearing a specific color, colors that Karai would not expect, or allow, on anyone else. They were colors that the kunoichi attributed to four very specific warriors, and she was never one to tolerate copy-cats, even of warriors that she held a tenuous truce with. However, the one wearing blue (the nerve of the child, to wear such a sacred color) had immediately called her by name when she landed on their rooftop.

Karai was out on a run, the dojo and gym full of equipment up in the tower too stifling, prompting the woman to escape into the night. She had made a full circuit of her old route she would run when under the command of her father, when the kunoichi heard the sounds of battle, though with the laughter interspersed throughout, it was certainly more playful than serious. Following the sounds led her to the rooftop in which she currently stood. The children had been in the middle of a sparring match, their agile bodies rippling under the moonlight, when the woman had noticed them. At first, she had decided to ignore the rowdy group, but upon noticing their weapons and the way that they fought, her gut screamed to investigate. To say she was shocked when she found out it was the turtles, would be a massive understatement.

Shaking her head in firm disbelieving strokes, the woman could only continue to gape. "This….is impossible," she gasped out, shock making her words tense and strained, "it cannot be…you?"

The teen boy in blue heaved a sigh, handsome features pale under the moonlight, "It's us, Karai, trust me, we were just as shocked as you are."

The woman's eyes widened, taking in every detail, searching for evidence to back up his claim, and finding more than enough to confirm it. The flawless stance, even when merely standing casually, which left no openings for attack. The unmistakable twin katana, and the familiar leather binding that held them firmly in place. However, the thing that convinced her that he was telling the truth, was the piercing sapphire gaze, burning with twin flames of determined azure fire. No one else had eyes so strong, so wise, overflowing with deadly confidence and haunted by the ghosts of past battles barely won. Karai knew those eyes, and there was only one person who she could place as their owner.

"Leonardo?"

"Well, at least that answers that question." Donatello muttered, leaning on his Bo staff.

"Which question?" The woman asked, mind still reeling with the miracle in front of her.

"On whether ya were the one what did it ta us," Raphael supplied, crossing muscular arms over his torso, "I'm not sayin' I don't appreciate the truce an all, but ya gotta admit, somethin' like this happenin', we gotta consider every possibility."

Karai could only give a weary nod, not faulting the turtles (boys?), wait…the kunoichi cocked her head, squinting to peer around Leonardo. The swordsman was hiding something behind him, a toned arm holding a wriggling mass out of sight. "Mikey," Leonardo hissed, grappling with the hidden figure, "stay behind me!"

"Dude!" A soft voice whined, blond curls popping around the blue clad shoulder, only to get shoved back, "I'm the Battle Nexus champion, or did you forget?! Just because I shrunk, doesn't make me helpless!"

"Mikey, I'm just trying to keep you safe," Leo ground out, send a reprimanding glare over his shoulder.

"If she was gonna hurt us, she would have done it by now!" With one more wriggle and a grunt of effort, the figure burst out from behind the leader and Karai felt her world stop.

A young boy, certainly early teens, with gentle Japanese features, fluffy blond hair and the biggest, brightest blue eyes she'd ever seen. It was like having the entire sky encapsulated inside two wide innocent orbs. Karai crept forward, both hands slowly reaching up to cover her mouth, as an altogether unbecoming feminine squeal of pure adoration built in the bottom of her throat. "Kawaii!" She gushed in Japanese, one hand reaching out to tease a dandelion curl, "Fluffy!"

Leonardo, Raphael and Donatello merely blinked, stupefied by the scene. Karai was undaunted, she continued to play with the child's curls, occasionally exclaiming in her native tongue the cuteness existing before her in that very moment. Michelangelo, however, was extremely creeped out. Yes, he'd been saying he was the pretty one of the family for years, and true after turning human, his brothers had more of the masculine attributes that made girls blush, if their reactions when they were outside were anything to go by. However, mikey never thought that actually being the cute one would be so…uncomfortable. The constant touching of his hair, the head pats, how girls would gather around him, and coo over how cute he was, inevitably all before flirting with his big brothers. It was just a bit much. Which was something neither he, nor his family, ever expected of the orange ninja.

"I'm not a dog, you know," Mikey groused, "so you can stop petting my head."

Karai came back to her senses with a snap, lunging backwards as she realized what she had been doing, "I'm sorry!" She stammered, "I-I just…"

"Don't sweat it," the youngest grumbled, "I have to deal with it every day from complete strangers, at least I know you."

"Still," Karai had the grace to blush with shame, dipping in a quick bow, "I do apologize for my behavior."

The woman sighed, shaking her head at the strange turn her night had taken, before a new thought, unprovoked and shocking, seared it's way across her consciousness, and ultimately tumbling out of her mouth, "Wait," she gasped, "how old even are you?!"

Mikey blinked, and turned to his brothers, Leonardo and Donnie shrugged at each other, and Raphael cocked his head in confusion, "Ya don't know?"

"Well, it's not like we've ever exchanged birthdays, Raphie," Donnie stated dryly, "and the Shredder never really stopped to check if we were of legal age to pummel mercilessly. Not that CPS would be able to do anything, I'm not sure mutant turtles fall under their purview."

Leonardo sighed, turning back to face their sometimes ally, "In answer to your question, we're about seventeen, best guess." The teen shrugged, "We've always assumed Michelangelo was the youngest, because he always was the last one to go through his growth spurts, but now we know for sure. At least, we think that's why he's so small."

Ok, now Karai just felt nauseas.

"All this time," she whispered, a shaking hand cupping her forehead as she was hit with a dizzying wave of vertigo, "all this time….you were children? I fought…hurt…children?!"

"Leonardo," the woman continued, casting a horrified glance at the leader, "my father, he tortured you…three years ago, and you were…"

"Barely fifteen," Leonardo nodded, sapphire eyes weary with remembered pain.

"Why?" She gasped, unable to fully verbalize her horror.

"Why didn't we say anything?" Leonardo ventured, waiting until she nodded in confirmation, "Come on, Karai, do you really think knowing our ages would have changed anything? Would have changed him?"

The kunoichi would have liked to say yes, would have liked to believe that she could have protected them, the same way she protected other children from her father. However, as usual, Leonardo's words rung with truth. "No," she admitted with a mournful shake of her head, "it would have changed nothing. He would still have hunted you down, regardless of your adolescence."

The woman released another sigh, her mind clicking away with each new piece of information shocking her that night.

So, the turtles are human, for the moment at least. She may not know him as well as Leonardo, however, Donatello regularly made a fool of Baxter Stockman. No doubt the purple ninja was well on his way to getting them back to their normal state. Not that she even knew that for sure. However, their biology had proven an advantage more than once, despite their appearance. The shell saving their lives, and durable bodies allowing them the strength needed to fight through a difficult battle. She had a feeling they would prefer their previous existence, even with its many drawbacks. However, the question of how this happened still hung in the air, and was apparently as much a mystery to them as it was to her.

"Based on your earlier statement," she eventually said, having finally collected herself, "you are not aware who did this to you? This was not the result of one of your own adventures?"

"Basically," Donatello groaned.

Karai nodded, then she would just have to help protect them until they were back to normal, "I'll keep my ears and eyes open then," she decided, "if I hear anything through my sources that may be of use to you, I'll inform you of what I find immediately."

Leonardo's sapphire gaze widened in surprise at the woman's decision to help, but chose to accept it regardless. They needed every ally they could find while stuck in these less powerful bodies, "Thank you, Karai, we would appreciate any help you can give."

The kunoichi merely nodded, then turned towards the Foot headquarters, "I'll leave you then," she stated, "and do not be concerned on if I will tell anyone of your current state, I'll ensure that your secret stays with me."

"Once again," Leonardo breathed, "thank you."

With that, Karai disappeared, her lithe frame flirting across the rooftops, leaving the teens to puzzle over her words and intentions. "Well, at least she seems to be on our side," Donnie muttered, "for now, that is."

"Yeah," Raph broke in, a grin stretching his features, "but I gotta admit, the sight of Karai actin' all girly over Mikey, that was pretty crazy. Who knew him turnin' inta a cute little kid could be our secret weapon?"

"But I don't wanna be the secret weapon," Michelangelo whined, stomping across the roof and heading in the direction of the lair, "I thought I'd like being actually cute, but it's more trouble than it's worth!"

"Aw, poor Mikey," Donnie cooed, grabbing the youngest's head for a fond noogie, "it's not easy being pretty, is it?"

"Donnie, I'm going to ignore your deprecating tone," Michelangelo pouted, "however, if you continue, don't be surprised if laxative somehow ends up in your breakfast tomorrow."

"Ok, ok," Donatello relented with a chuckle, "I'll stop."

Leo shook his head at the baby's antics before heaving a tired sigh, "Come guys, let's head home."

"Good idea, I'm bushed anyway," Raphael said with a yawn, "who wants ta watch a late night movie before bed?"

"Only if Mikey isn't in charge of making that popcorn," Donnie grinned, "he's so sensitive these days, I can't guarantee that he won't get up to any funny business in the kitchen."

"I can make the popcorn," Leo volunteered, only to reel back when all three brothers swung around to bellow in unison;

"NO!"

"Aw, come on," the leader said with an exasperated roll of his eyes, "it's microwaveable! I can operate a microwave!"

"No way," Mikey stated with a firm shake of his head, "the microwave and the toaster are too closely related, the inevitable conclusion could only be complete and utter destruction."

"That's being a little over dramatic, don't you think, Mikey?" Leo scoffed.

"Dude, you burned water…water!" Mikey emphasized, "You've burned up God know how many teapots, and don't even get me started on the thanksgiving you wanted to try to make a pie. I'm still finding bits of molten pumpkin inside the oven. You're not. Using. My kitchen!"

"Your kitchen?"

"Yes, my kitchen, now let's go home," Michelangelo groused, "I have double chocolate chunk ice cream calling my name."

Leonardo smiled, gesturing with one arm, "Lead the way, little brother,"

"Gladly."

Does this make up for my absence? I hope so. Please leave any thoughts or ideas in the comments, and as usual, thank you for your continued support!