- Chapter 48 -
Vengeance is Mine
Down in the dungeons of the Foot HQ, Karai continued to saw through the bars, but paused as she heard the dungeon doors opening. She quickly hid the blade and retreated back as Fishface approached, carrying a bowl of gruel.
"Well, if it isn't the sushi I ordered," she quipped, looking at the bowl in disgust. "And whatever that is. Can't you lay some masago for me?"
"This is a dungeon, not a bed and breakfast," Fishface informed her. "You will eat whatever I bring!"
"You mean whatever Tiger Claw tells you to bring," Karai shot back.
Fishface scoffed. "Frankly, I'd much rather leave you down here to starve. But Master Shredder won't allow that."
Unbeknownst to the fish, a familiar black cat creeped up behind him. Karai noticed, but kept a straight face.
"Ooh, lucky me," she said flatly.
The cat transformed into Shinigami, who promptly bashed Fishface over the head, knocking him unconscious. She lowered him gently to the floor before approaching the bars.
"Shini, what are you doing?!" Karai whispered. "Shredder's gonna kill you if you pull this off!"
"I don't care," Shinigami said firmly. "My loyalty is to you, not to him. I'm just sorry it took me so long to realize that."
Karai managed a smile. "You always were my best friend."
"Technically, I was your only friend," Shinigami clarified.
Karai shrugged. "Details. Who needs 'em."
Shinigami placed a hand on the lock, opening it with her magic. She took Karai's hand, and the two promptly bolted for the exit. Sadly, they didn't get far before a roar sounded, and Tiger Claw grabbed them from behind.
"Where do you think you're going, little ones?" he asked.
Karai twisted in his grip, her foot connecting with his bad eye. He dropped them both, clutching his ruined eye in agony as Karai turned to Shinigami.
"Shini, get out of here," she ordered.
"But-" Shinigami began.
"Go!" Karai yelled. "He'll kill you, but they want me alive. Now RUN!"
Shinigami sighed in resignation. "I will come back for you. I promise."
She turned into a bird and flew away as Tiger Claw recovered, glaring at Karai. "Facing me alone… Big mistake."
"I can take you!" Karai boasted.
She charged at him, punching and kicking. Tiger Claw merely stood there, bored, none of Karai's attacks fazing him at all.
"Is that so?" Tiger Claw asked, before grabbing her and body-slamming her into the ground with all his might.
He spread her claws, ready to deal a fatal blow when-
"STOP!" Shredder entered at that moment. "You will not harm her."
"As you wish, Master Shredder," Tiger Claw replied.
He obediently backed off, leaving an unconscious Karai on the floor.
-X-
Karai was thrown into a higher security cell, this time in handcuffs. When she awoke, she immediately pulled against her new chains, stopping when she realized she was not alone. She kept her back to the door as Shredder loomed over her.
"Karai… I wish you could understand," he said solemnly, removing the faceplate of his helmet. "Everything I have done is for our clan's honor. Why must you insist on hurting me?"
Karai kept his back to him, refusing to say a word.
"Have you nothing to say to me, daughter?" Shredder demanded.
That lit a fire in Karai's heart. She slowly turned to face him, scowling. "I am not. Your. DAUGHTER!"
Shredder was silent for a few moments before slowly turning and walking away. In the tiny window high above the cell, Shinigami watched solemnly before flying away, seeking the only people she knew could help.
In the Hamato Clan apartments, the Turtles, Hisako, and Tai's gang looked over a model of Shredder's lair, bickering over what plan of attack to take.
"This is the only way it can work, Raph," Leo insisted.
"Look, I'm all on board for rescuing Karai," Raph began, "but if we're gonna storm Shredder's lair, why not take him down once and for all?"
"Because any direct contact we have with Shredder is basically suicide," Tai pointed out.
"I just don't see why I'm the bait while Donnie's sitting in the Shellraiser, and Mizuki's on sniping points," Mikey interjected.
"Someone's gotta be the getaway driver, and Mizuki's the best shot we have," Donnie said.
"Still, we don't know where she's being kept in there," Hisako reminded them. "And I'm a sitting duck if I'm playing sonar."
"Once we get in, we're gonna be fighting blind," Erika remarked.
At that moment, Splinter, Oyuki, and Seiko entered, having a passionate argument.
"Master, we have to do it!" Seiko insisted. "We can finally get Miwa away from Saki! Back where she belongs!"
"You want your daughter back, don't you?" Oyuki added. "Then c'mon!"
"I wish Miwa rescued more than anyone, but a plan that leads to confrontation with the Shredder is doomed to failure," Splinter told her.
Leo stood up at that. "It's worth the risk! We're rescuing your daughter, Dad! Our sister!"
"We've risked life and limb for each other every day," Vee added. "What makes this any different?"
"This is going right into the lion's den with a raw steak tied around your neck," Splinter told her.
"We managed to get into Shredder's lair before, when he had you poisoned!" Hana pointed out.
"You got lucky," Splinter replied. "And it will not be enough to go in like this."
"In the Hamato Clan, nobody gets left behind," Mizuki insisted. "Karai is your biological daughter. That makes her one of us."
"And we're not leaving her with him any longer," Makoto added.
"Enough!" Splinter shouted, shutting them all up. "I am not willing to risk your lives, or my daughter's!"
With that, he stormed off. After a minute, Mikey broke the silence. "So… is that a no go on Operation: Rescue Karai?"
"No." Seiko shook her head, approaching the teens. "We're getting Miwa away from that bastard tonight. Count us in."
"Seiko's right," Leo agreed. "We can't wait."
"What about Kagome?" Hisako pointed out. "We're gonna need all ninjas on deck."
Jade raised an eyebrow. "You really think Kasumi's gonna let her go after Splinter blew us outta the water?"
"She's right," said Leo. "We're just gonna have to find a way to do this without her."
At that moment, Leo's T-Phone rang. He answered it.
"Kagome?" he asked, before putting her on speaker-phone. "What's up?"
"Guys, you're going to think I'm nuts , but a raven just flew into my room, turned into a girl, and begged me to help her save Karai."
The group exchanged looks, but decided not to question it after everything else they had seen.
"We're on our way," Leo told Kagome.
The ninjas made it to the Lee mansion, and snuck in through Kagome's window. On the bed sat Shinigami, Kagome standing off to the side.
"Who are you?" Leo asked. "And what did you mean by wanting to help Karai?"
Shinigami stood, bowing respectfully to the group. "My name is Shinigami. Daughter of Kitsune, the Foot Clan's master of the mystic arts."
"A Foot witch?" Raph let out, everyone stiffening.
"I understand your skepticism, but I swear on my life, I speak naught but the truth," she assured them. "All I want is to free Karai and return her to her true family. To you." She sighed before going on. "I already tried to break her out myself... but Tiger Claw was there."
Hisako's fist clenched at that, and Jade noticed, turning to her.
"Hisako, I've been curious about one thing," she said. "How exactly do you know Tiger Claw?"
"He was a prisoner of Krang's," Hisako explained. "He and another escaped a year or so before Leatherhead and I did. They were the first. I looked up to him. He gave me hope in that wretched hellhole." She sighed. "Seeing him now, the heartless asshole working for Shredder... I can't believe I ever did."
"Never meet your heroes, I guess," Oyuki said somberly.
"Don't I know it," Mikey added, remembering his encounter with Bradford.
"Anyway, Karai ordered me to escape, so I did," Shinigami went on. "This was the only place I could think of to go. Your home and the home of your clan is unknown to me."
"Can we trust her?" Raph asked.
"Yeah," Hisako informed them. "She means every word."
"Can you get us into Shredder's lair, undetected?" Leo asked.
"I can try," Shinigami told him. "But they know I betrayed them."
"I'll take what I can get," Leo decided.
"I'm in," Kagome declared. "But Leo, you know Splinter and Mom are probably gonna stuff us all in the Hashi as soon as we get back."
"As long as we save Karai, I don't give a crap," Leo told her. "Let's go to work."
-X-
As they drove along in the Shellraiser, Leo outlined their plan of attack.
"Okay, here's what we do. Donnie, you monitor from the Shellraiser and provide us cover. Mizuki, you take position on the rooftop right across from Shredder's lair. Keep your bow up and ready for anything. Mikey, you, Makoto, Oyuki, and Erika keep Shredder's goons distracted outside."
"Can do!" Mikey declared.
Leo nodded before going on. "Raph, Tai, Seiko, Shinigami, and I will go in and grab Karai while they're distracted, with Hisako coming and serving as our Foot detector. Hana, you, Vee, Kagome, and Jade are on standby. Keep your weapons ready, and if anything that's NOT us comes out those doors, take 'em down."
Hisako popped her neck. "No problem. I've got your back."
"Alright, it's now or never," Leo declared. "We're getting Karai away from Shredder if we have to take out the entire Foot Clan to do it."
Outside Shredder's lair, Donnie handed Leo and Mizuki two small headsets, complete with a single green monocle-like eyepiece on the front.
"Allow me to introduce my latest inventions, the T-Glass," he declared. "All-purpose goggles and radio headsets in one."
"They kinda look like scouters," Makoto mused.
"Say 'it's over 9000' and I'm gonna bop you," Erika warned, getting a chuckle out of the others.
"Anyway, I was just able to make two prototypes," Donnie went on. "But I figured they could help us."
"They'll do," Leo said. "Thanks, Don."
Mizuki quickly exited and took position on the rooftop across from Shredder's lair. She slid the T-Glass on, tapping the radio antenna with a finger.
"Testing one, two, three," she said. "Donnie, can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear," Donnie replied. "Leo, mic check. Do you copy?"
"I copy," Leo informed him.
"Good," said Donnie. "Okay, Mizuki. Aim at the power lines nearest to the building, and shoot out the wires. The blackout will help keep Shredder and his cronies off our backs."
Mizuki took careful aim and fired, severing the lines. On cue, the lights in Shredder's lair went out.
"It worked!" Donnie declared. "Leo, that's your cue!"
"Roger that," Leo replied.
Leo's group scurried into the lair. Mikey, Makoto, and Erika took point on the rooftops as Shredder's henchmen came out to investigate. Rahzar took a shiff around.
"I smell turtle," he remarked.
-X-
Inside, Leo's group made it down to the dungeons. Seiko stealthily crept up behind a Footbot before grabbing its head. With one quick twist, she snapped its neck, the bot surging and sparking with electricity before spasming and going limp.
"So it's true," Seiko mused. "Saki has replaced his Foot soldiers with robots."
"Yeah, we kicked the butts of all the human ones a while ago," Raph told her.
"Unfortunately, that makes my job harder," Hisako admitted. "Robots don't think. I can't sense them."
"But it makes our job easier," Tai pointed out. "They're not humans. They're mindless machines. Which means we don't have to hold back."
Leo turned to Shinigami. "Which way is it from here?"
"Follow me," Shinigami told him before running down the hall.
After a couple minutes of running, they made it to the cellblock Karai was in.
"Karai, it's us!" Leo called out quietly. "We're here to get you out."
"Leo?" Karai peeked through the small slot in her cell door. Leo smiled in relief, approaching her. Karai's eyes narrowed. "...What took you so long?"
Leo smirked. "Well, we got tired of waiting for you to escape on your own."
"Is this a rescue or a romantic comedy?" Raph cut in. "Move it already!"
Leo and Karai both turned red, turning to him.
"It's nothing like that!" Karai insisted.
"Yeah, we're basically siblings!" Leo added.
"Okay, whatever you say," Tai shrugged. "Let's just open the door and get the hell outta here."
Shinigami placed a hand on the lock and it opened. As Karai stepped out, Seiko was one of the first to approach her.
"Miwa- Karai, I'm Seiko Mishima," she explained before cutting through the chains on her wrists. "You probably don't remember, but I used to babysit you."
"I don't," Karai admitted. "But we can reminisce all you want after we blow this joint."
"This way," Hisako said. "We're clear to-" She stopped, going wide-eyed. "No way…"
"What?" Raph asked, but Hisako was spared the effort of an answer when Tiger Claw rounded the corner.
"It seems some pesky rats have stuck their noses where they don't belong," he mused. "Well, turtles to be more precise."
"Be smart for once Tiger Claw, and let us pass," Leo warned.
Seiko took point, drawing her sais as she glared at Tiger Claw. "We're taking Miwa home to her real father. So unless you want to get spayed and neutered, kitty, I suggest you get the hell out of our way."
-X-
Outside, Mikey's group was giving Rahzar, Tokka, and Fishface the run-around. Rahzar followed what he assumed was Mikey's shadow, while Tokka peeked over the edge of the rooftop.
"Where ya looking, kappa meinu? " Oyuki's voice taunted. "Forget your glasses at home?"
She whirled around, seeing nothing.
"Yoo-hoo!" Erika called out, peeking out from around a skylight and wiggling her fingers at Tokka mockingly.
"Nyah-nyah!" she taunted before darting back behind the light.
"Where are you?!" Tokka demanded. "Show yourselves!"
Fishface stalked around and was startled when Makoto jumped out from behind a fireplace.
"Smile!" he shouted before dropping his pants and full-on mooning Fishface, slapping his butt mockingly.
Fishface growled. "You're really starting to piss me off, brat!"
"Good!" Makoto retorted, pulling his pants up and throwing a smoke bomb in his face before darting away.
Eventually, the villainous trio was at their wit's end.
"What is all this?!" Fishface demanded.
Mikey popped out, pulling down his eyelid and blowing a raspberry.
"We're distracting you, ya overgrown sushi platter!" he taunted.
"What? Why would-" Tokka began before she went wide-eyed. "Karai!"
-X-
Down below, Leo's group had their hands full with Tiger Claw. Seiko kicked him back and then pulled off an aerial spin-kick, hitting him in the face multiple times. Tiger Claw recovered before kicking her aside. Seiko pulled herself to her feet, glaring at the mutant.
"It's a damn shame," she lamented. "You could've put those skills of yours to good use. What a waste of talent.
"I was thinking the same about you," Tiger Claw commented.
Raph ran up and tried slashing at him with his sai, but Tiger Claw just caught them in his hand before kicking him back.
"Master Shredder said he offered you a chance to join him," He went on, looking back at Seiko.
Seiko scoffed. "Like I would join the son of a bitch who betrayed my clan, slaughtered my sensei's wife, and kidnapped his daughter."
Before this could continue, Hisako jumped on his back, grabbing his head and shoving her fingers in. Tiger Claw struggled to get her off, but she remained just out of reach as his body stiffened.
"That's it," she muttered as he sank to his knees. "Go down, kitty."
Tigerclaw then dropped to the ground as the others just stared.
"Fine time to take a catnap," Tai quipped, earning him a weird look from everyone. "What, only Mikey gets to make dumb jokes?"
Hisako yanked her hands out of Tiger Claw's head, getting back to her feet.
"C'mon, we're wasting time," she told them all.
-X-
Rahzar bared down on Mikey, growling.
"You're lookin' good, Rahzar," Mikey remarked nervously. "You lost some weight?"
Before Mikey could react, Rahzar jumped on him, pinning him down. He was about to bite Mikey in the face when Erika ran forward.
"Sit, boy!" she shouted before jumping and drop-kicking Rahzar in the face, knocking him off Mikey.
"Well, there goes my masculinity," Mikey quipped.
"What's the matter?" Erika asked, offering him a hand. "Never been saved by a girl?"
Mikey took it and let Erika help him up before clutching his left arm, which Rahzar had slashed during his attack. Fishface approached, smirking.
"Let's see how well you fight with one arm!" he declared.
"At least we have two things you don't!" Mikey shot back, patting one of his legs.
"Burn!" Makoto laughed.
Fishface snarled and ran at them, but the quartet dodged. That's when Tokka ran in, slashing with her claws.
"I'll crush your skull, turtle!" she shouted.
"Would you believe you're the first to say that?" Mikey quipped.
Tokka roared as she charged at him. Mikey leapt out of the way, causing her to accidentally tackle Fishface and send them both off the roof. Rahzar got to his feet, growling in rage as he found himself faced with Oyuki. He scoffed at the sight of the seemingly undisciplined delinquent before him.
"I'm a martial arts superstar, a ninja master," he pointed out. "You honestly expect to beat me, you little street rat?"
He performed a few katas, whooping as Oyuki just stood there. As he came charging in, Mikey, Makoto, and Erika perked as they heard a metallic thunk and a yelp, seeing Rahzar laying unconscious on the ground and Oyuki standing over him with a tire iron.
"Yeah..." Oyuki deadpanned. "This street rat may not be a black belt like you, Bradford, but you let me know when that stops hurting."
"Ooh!" Mikey let out. "Eat it, Rahzar!"
"That's the best Shredder has to offer, huh?" Makoto quipped. "Why not call those three Moe, Larry, and Curly?"
Erika turned to Mikey. "Let me take a look at that arm."
"Let's get outta here first," Mikey told her. "I don't think those guys are gonna stay down for long."
"But Leo's team isn't back yet," Makoto pointed out. "We can't leave without them."
As if on cue, a manhole opened up, with Leo, his team, and Karai coming out.
"There he is!" Oyuki declared. "Let's scram."
They quickly jumped down, but Hisako stiffened.
"Oh, shit…" she muttered. "He's coming."
At that, numerous Footbots surrounded them, led by Tatsu.
"Give it up, Turtles!" he declared. "You're outnumbered and outgunned."
"NOW!" Leo shouted.
The Shellraiser drove in, plowing down multiple Footbots before stopping behind them.
"Better count again!" Donnie shouted before pressing a button.
A high-pitched whistle sounded, and Tatsu collapsed, clutching his ears in excruciating pain.
"Figured that would come in handy," Donnie boasted. "Now get in! Quick!"
Mizuki jumped down from her sniping position, putting multiple arrows through the Footbots' heads before scrambling inside, followed by the others. Karai was the last one in, but stopped as she looked back to see Shredder watching her from the roof of his hideout.
"Karai, let's go!" Leo yelled, snapping her back to attention.
Karai got in, and Erika immediately got to work treating and bandaging Mikey's injured arm.
"I'm good," Mikey insisted. "It's not my water balloon throwing arm."
"We're not out of the woods yet," Hisako warned.
They looked out, seeing several Footbots and Tiger Claw ride after them on motorcycles. Tai gaped in shock.
"No way!" he let out. "Hisako knocked him out! How can he be up already?!"
"Rage is a hell of a wake-up call, Tai," Seiko said.
"And he's certainly pissed off," Hisako added.
Raph went to the manhole shooter, but much to his dismay, it was empty.
"Okay, who forgot to load the manhole covers?!" he demanded.
Before anyone could answer, something landed on top of the Shellraiser, and they heard a loud drilling sound.
"No time to point fingers!" Leo shouted, swerving and knocking the Footbots off.
Raph resorted to firing the garbage cannon, knocking more of them away.
"That's all you've got?" Karai demanded. "Balls of garbage?!"
"Sorry Princess," Raph retorted, "but not all of us can afford missiles and laser guns!"
"What? Of course you can!" Jade objected. "Kagome's mom is the richest person in the city, right?"
"Well, yeah, but Donnie refuses to ask us for anything," Kagome explained. "He likes doing things himself."
"Hey, this baby's still got a few tricks in her," Donnie said, before pressing a few buttons.
A smokescreen spewed out from behind, clouding their sight, and then an oil slick spilled out, sending the Footbots tumbling along and crashing. Tiger Claw, however, jumped off his bike and rocketed away. Just as things seemed calm, a sword pierced through the roof of the Shellraiser, nearly impaling Karai through the skull. On instinct, Seiko ran forward and grabbed the blade with her bare hands, holding it in place and grimacing as the sharp edge dug into her palms.
"Mom!" Makoto shouted in concern.
Seiko looked at Leo, wincing in pain and determination.
"Now might be a good time for something heroic," she told him.
Leo nodded, turning to Mikey. "Mikey, find somewhere we can lose this cat!"
Mikey quickly looked over the maps and nodded. "Dragon's bridge! Two blocks on the right!"
Karai's expression steeled, and she made for the hatch. "Hana, gimme a boost!"
Hana hesitated, then nodded, boosting Karai out through the hatch. Tiger Claw turned to face her before jerking his blade free with one mighty yank, eliciting a scream of pain from Seiko inside. Karai ran forward and kicked Tiger Claw in the face, knocking him back.
"Stay down if you know what's good for you, Tiger Claw," she warned.
Tiger Claw scoffed, standing up. "Your life means nothing to me, girl. Were it not for Master Shredder, I would simply kill you here and be done with it."
Karai sneered. "You must be so proud. You've gone from the deadliest assassin in Asia to Shredder's professional butt-kisser. Tell me, if he told you to put your blaster to your head and pull the trigger, would you?"
"I'd rather put my blaster to your head," Tiger Claw growled.
He began firing on her, but she quickly dodged around the blasts.
"Thought Shredder wanted me back alive," Karai remarked.
Tiger Claw smirked. "He didn't say how much alive."
They kept fighting, but again, Karai's attacks proved ineffectual against the tiger. She punched him in the gut a few times. Tiger Claw didn't even flinch, but casually raised his arm and thumped Karai over the head with his fist, dropping her.
-X-
"Shit!" Hisako let out, turning to the others. "Karai's down!"
"Where's that bridge, Leo?!" Vee demanded as she helped Erika bandage Seiko's gashed hands.
"We're coming up on it now!" Leo shouted, flooring it.
Tiger Claw noticed the vehicle was picking up speed, and looked up just in time to slam full-force into the Dragon Bridge, which knocked him off the Shellraiser. Hisako used her telekinesis to keep Karai safely on the roof.
"Eat that, kitty cat!" Mikey bragged.
"Open the hatch!" Hisako yelled. "Now!"
Raph threw open the hatch, grabbing Karai by the leg and yanking her inside. He plopped her down on a chair and Erika hurried over.
"You okay?" she asked.
"Yeah," Karai assured her, before turning to the others. "Guys… I…"
"It's okay," Leo assured her. "You don't have to say anything."
Almost as soon as they arrived in the lair, they all stopped cold, seeing Splinter, Yukio, and Kasumi sitting down there.
"Seiko," Yukio said sternly, glaring at her. "I cannot believe you would go against direct orders and assault Saki's compound like this! And you dragged Oyuki into it as well?!"
"She didn't drag me into anything, brother!" Oyuki shot back. "I chose to help them!"
"Michelangelo, what happened?!" Splinter demanded, seeing his bandaged arm.
"It's just a scratch, Dad," Mikey assured him. "You should see the other guy."
Kasumi stormed over to them, visibly angry.
"What have you kids done?!" she demanded. "We turn our backs for a few seconds, and you go raid Saki's lair?! How stupid can you…"
Kasumi's words trailed off as she and Splinter finally noticed Karai among them.
"Miwa…" Splinter managed.
"Father…" Karai replied.
She slowly approached him, and then grabbed and hugged him, tears in her eyes. Splinter wasted no time returning the hug. Jade sniffled at the sight, wiping her eyes and smiling. Erika turned to her in surprise.
"Jade?" she asked. "Are you… crying?"
"No, squirt," Jade replied, wiping a tear away. "It's just really dusty down here."
"Liar," Hisako said simply, also sniffling and wiping tears away.
"See, Sensei?" Leo told him. "I told you my plan would work."
Splinter managed a smile. "Perhaps some things are worth the risk."
Back at Shredder's lair, Tiger Claw made his report to his master.
"I have scoured the city, but I've been unable to sniff out the Turtles or Karai," he explained. "Footbots are still on the search. They will report back to me with every detail."
"Hamato Yoshi has been able to hide himself from us for fifteen years. You will not find him," Shredder informed Tiger Claw. "But this does not matter. Sooner or later, Karai will come to us."
"What makes you so sure?" Tiger Claw questioned.
"I saw that look in her eyes. Before long, she will return with Hamato Yoshi and his brood to finish what they started. And I will finally have my vengeance." Shredder leaned forward. "Get me Stockman."
Down in the lair, the Hamato siblings and Kagome trained as Splinter, Karai, and Kasumi watched on. Leo and Mikey clashed for a bit before Mikey recoiled, clutching his bandaged arm.
"Ow!" he yelped. "Watch it, man!"
Leo gasped.
"Sorry!" he exclaimed hastily. "I didn't-"
A water balloon hit Leo in the face at that. Leo's face became deadpan as he glared at his brother.
"Yeah, dude!" Mikey bragged. "Never underestimate the water balloon arm."
Leo growled and charged at him, the two slugging at each other. Donnie and Vee soon got swept up in the tussle. Raph, Hisako, and Kagome looked on for a few moments, exchanged looks, then shrugged before jumping into the fray. Karai giggled somewhat at the sight before turning to Splinter and Kasumi.
"Is training always like this?" she questioned.
"More or less," Splinter admitted.
As the fight went on, Mikey grabbed onto Hisako's right leg and sank his teeth into her calf.
"OW!" Hisako shouted, throwing Mikey into the wall telekinetically. "Damn it, Mikey! No biting!"
At that, Kasumi stood up.
"Yame!" she shouted.
All seven instantly stopped. Hisako rubbed her calf, glaring at Mikey.
"Biting people? Seriously?" she asked. "I thought you were fifteen, Mikey. Not five."
"I got caught up in the moment!" Mikey defended.
"My children, that is enough for today," Splinter said before looking at Mikey sternly. "And Michelangelo, the next time you bite anyone during training, you will spend an hour in the Hashi."
Mikey gulped. "Hai, Sensei."
The others walked out as Karai lagged behind.
"Karai, you coming?" Leo called.
"In a minute!" Karai called back, looking over the shrine in the corner.
"Not what you expected?" Splinter asked.
"I admit, it's a little weird being with people I was told were my enemies," Karai confessed before turning to the two ninja masters. "I gotta know. What really happened between you two and Shredder?"
The two exchanged looks, and sighed.
"I suppose the memories of that night make little sense without the full story," Splinter remarked.
"Let me make some tea first," Kasumi insisted.
-X-
After the tea was brewed, Kasumi passed out cups, and they sat down as Splinter began the tale.
"In centuries past, a bitter feud existed between the Hamato and Foot Clans," Splinter said. "This went on until the Foot came crashing down."
"Your grandfather, Hamato Yuta, led a battle that led to the Foot being decimated," Kasumi added. "Only one survived. A baby boy, the son of his enemy Oroku Kaiji."
"Shredder," Karai realized.
"Oroku Saki was just a child, so my father gave him shelter," Splinter continued. "We were raised as brothers, and rivals in all things as brothers are, but that rivalry soon turned bitter when we met Tang Shen, your mother."
"I grew up alongside the two of them, but I was always closer to Yoshi," Kasumi admitted. "I found Saki's fixation on Shen annoying and pathetic; he just refused to move on. But I never anticipated that it would come to what it did."
"Saki's jealousy festered into hatred when he learned of his true heritage," Splinter recalled. "He swore vengeance and rebuilt the Foot Clan."
"He converted most of the Hamato Clan to the Foot's ideology, and one night, he struck," Kasumi included. "He came to my house first, trying to convince me to join him. But I refused to betray my best friend."
"Wait," Karai said. "You mean you two aren't-"
The two realized what she was getting at, and vigorously shook their heads.
"No, no! Of course not!" Splinter insisted.
"Yoshi and I are just friends and nothing more," Kasumi said. "I was the maid of honor at his wedding."
"Ohhhhh…" Karai said in realization.
Kasumi sighed sadly before going on with the story. "Since I refused to side with him, Saki tried to kill me. But my husband, Kohaku, took the fatal blow." She wiped a tear away. "My beloved died in my arms, encouraging me to save Yoshi and not let Saki win."
"Meanwhile, Saki came to the dojo to end my life," Splinter remarked. "And you know what happened from there…"
Karai winced as Splinter's memories flashed through her mind again.
"I arrived just in time to save Yoshi from the blaze," Kasumi remembered, a somber expression on her face. "By the time I got there, Saki was long gone."
Karai noticed her sadness. "That night at your house… what you said…"
Kasumi nodded. "I often find myself looking back at that night. If I had just made it there a few minutes sooner, I could have gotten to the dojo in time to stop Saki from killing Shen. From taking you away from Yoshi." She sighed, looking at Karai sadly. "As I said before, I'm sorry I couldn't save you, Miwa."
"It's not your fault," Karai assured her. "You did what you could. You both did." She clenched her fists in anger. "It's all his fault…" she snarled before looking them in the eyes. "After everything he's done... Why haven't you gone after him? Haven't you wanted revenge?"
"After all this time, I have learned that revenge only leads to more pain," Splinter replied.
"Something that is completely lost on the Shredder," Kasumi added.
"But I've seen you two fight!" Karai objected. "You could take him out!"
"We are safe here, and we are together again, my daughter," Splinter told her. "That is all that matters, not revenge."
Karai looked to the side, clearly not convinced.
-X-
Later that night, everybody was seemingly asleep… but Karai's eyes opened. She sat up, looking around before quietly sneaking out of the room she was in.
"Sneaking out is hard." Karai jumped and whirled around to see Hisako casually seated in a chair. "Especially when there's a psychic down the hall."
"Don't try to stop me, Hisako," Karai warned. "You know none of us will ever be safe until Shredder is finally dealt with."
"Believe me, I know," Hisako told her, standing up and walking toward her. "But I also know that you don't stand a chance. We just got you back. Don't make us lose you again." She stole a glance at Splinter's room. "Don't make our father lose you again."
Karai looked down for a moment, before looking determined. "Sorry, Hisako. But this ends tonight!"
Before Hisako could react, Karai threw a handful of blinding powder into her eyes and took off. Hisako wiped at her eyes, scowling.
"Shit, this hurts!" she shouted. "GUYS! WAKE UP!"
The Turtles and Splinter quickly hurried out of their rooms.
"Hisako, what happened?!" Leo demanded. "Where's Karai?!"
"Gone," Hisako told him, blinking away the powder as best she could. "She's going after Shredder by herself."
Splinter winced at that. "I was a fool. Kasumi and I told her too much too quickly."
"We gotta stop her!" Donnie insisted.
"I'll call Kasumi and Kagome," said Raph. "If we're lucky, we can stop her before she gets herself killed."
Shredder sat on his throne, motionless, as Karai slipped in through the window. She crept over to him, tanto drawn, and charged in, plunging her sword right into his heart-
-only to find herself stabbing a Footbot placed in the throne.
"Karai," came Shredder's voice.
Karai whirled around, seeing Shredder emerge from the shadows.
"Shredder…" she growled in hatred.
"You returned even sooner than I expected," Shredder mused.
Karai scowled, glaring at him. "I know everything you've done, Shredder. You killed Kasumi's husband. You killed my mother. And now I'm gonna make you pay."
She threw a smoke bomb into Shredder's face and charged at him, attacking him from every angle, but Shredder effortlessly blocked and deflected all of her attacks.
"Foolish child," he said. "I trained you, taught you everything you know. You hold no surprises for me."
Karai still pressed on, determined to end his life. Eventually, Shredder knocked her blade out of her hands.
"This has gone far enough!" he shouted, dealing a swift chop to the back of Karai's head, dropping her.
Tiger Claw entered at that moment. "Master, the Turtles have not arrived."
"They cannot be far," Shredder answered. "Take her to Stockman. It is time to begin the experiment."
Just outside, the Shellraiser idled up just in time to see Shredder and Tiger Claw exiting the lair, gaping at the sight of Karai slung over Tiger Claw's shoulder.
"Damn it, we're too late!" Kagome exclaimed.
"Not yet," Donnie said. "Follow that tiger!"
The Shellraiser followed them at a safe distance.
In Stockman's lab, he worked on a special batch of mutagen, preparing it to Shredder's liking. It was then that Shredder and Tiger Claw entered.
"Stockman!" Shredder declared.
Stockman jumped, turning to him.
"Yezzz, mazzzter?" he asked.
"Is the mutagen ready?" Shredder questioned.
"Prepared to your specifications," Stockman informed him. "The serpent DNA is ready."
Tiger Claw gasped in shock. "You wouldn't!"
"Make sure she is secure," Shredder ordered as Karai was bound in chains.
"You're mutating me?!" Karai shouted, struggling profusely. "Not gonna happen!"
"Mutating your own cub," Tiger Claw muttered. "You're more ruthless than I thought."
"Don't be dramatic. She is merely bait," Shredder replied. "When the Turtles attempt to rescue her, I will drop them into the mutagen. This will mutate them into mindless serpents. I want Splinter to witness his own pupils become one of the rat's deadliest predators. Then when his spirit is broken, I will shatter his body."
"You're a monster!" Karai screamed at him. "I can't believe I ever loved you, or looked up to you!"
"Gag her," Shredder told Tiger Claw. "We cannot afford for her to give away the trap."
Tiger Claw nodded, slapping a piece of duct tape over her mouth and suspending her above the mutagen.
"And now we wait," Shredder declared.
Tiger Claw sniffed the air. "I smell the rat."
-X-
The Hamato septet, Splinter, and Kasumi lurked above on the rafters, taking stock of the situation.
"Doing that to her…" Vee hissed through clenched teeth. "How low can Shredder sink?!"
"It's not for her. It's for us," Hisako reported. "She's bait."
They jumped down… and were instantly surrounded by the Foot.
"Welcome, my old friend," Shredder declared, making his way forward with Kitsune by his side.
"Let my daughter go!" Splinter ordered her.
Shredder chuckled darkly. "You are more than welcome to rescue her if you can."
"Provided you can get through all of us," Kitsune added.
Hisako took a step back, getting the same feeling from Kitsune that she got from the Rat King.
"Okay, what the fuck are you?" she demanded. "Because you're obviously not human."
Kitsune wagged a finger at her. "Such barbaric language."
"Sis, is now really the time for this?" Leo asked.
"Considering she's giving the same whacked-out vibes I got from Rat King, yes," Hisako replied.
"Hmmm…" Kitsune mused. "My brother was right about your instincts, Hamato Hisako."
They all sputtered in shock at that.
"BROTHER?!" The Turtles and Kagome all screamed.
"So you're like him," Hisako said. "A so-called 'god'."
She placed heavy air quotes on the word "god". Shredder turned to Kitsune, a mixture of intrigue and surprise in his voice.
"It seems you've been keeping secrets from me, Kitsune," he told her.
"And now it's out," Kitsune replied flippantly. "Yes. I am the youngest of our great family."
"Rat King mentioned the rest of you," Hisako recalled. "The beings who would compete for the 'throne of the world.'"
"Yes," Kitsune said, grinning. "And while we're telling secrets, allow me to reveal another one." She looked at Splinter and Kasumi. "Tell me, Hamato Yoshi, Kasumi Lee… have you ever wondered the circumstances that led Saki to the path he now walks? How he discovered his true parentage? Let's say he had a little… divine intervention."
Splinter and Kasumi got it at that, both of them gasping and shock.
"You…" Kasumi let out. "you're what pushed him over the edge. You're the one who drove him to become this... this…" She couldn't finish.
"It's worse," Hisako realized, hearing Kitsune's thoughts. "She's the one who told him his heritage. Who convinced him to rebuild the Foot."
"YOU!" Kagome screamed, furious tears in her eyes as she pointed an accusing finger at Kitsune. "It's all your fault! You're the reason Tang Shen and my father are dead! You turned Shredder into a monster!"
Kitsune chuckled. "My dear girl, he was always a monster. I merely let him out of the cage Hamato Yuta put him in."
"That part is true," Shredder admitted. "My rage, my hate and jealousy of Yoshi and Shen... it was always there. Kitsune merely set me free and allowed me to fully embrace it."
"He's right…" Hisako realized. "I can hear it in his thoughts. Even if Kitsune had never approached him and pushed him over the edge, something else would've done it."
"Why?!" Leo demanded. "What reason could you have for doing that?!"
Kitsune scoffed. "A god does not need to justify her actions to mere mortals."
Hisako scowled at her. "I'll tell you what I told your brother." she hissed, eyes glowing green. "There's no such thing. As GODS!"
She blasted her back with telekinesis, and a massive fight began. Splinter leapt forward and clashed with Shredder.
"Yes!" Shredder declared. "Fight me, rat!"
The fight continued, and one by one, the Turtles were trapped in cages, along with Kagome and Kasumi.
"Now my vengeance will be complete!" Shredder gloated. "Hamato Yoshi, you will watch as your disciples and dear friend are transformed into your natural enemy, and I will crush you once and for all!"
Leo slipped part of his katana into his cage and pried it open before making his way up to Karai.
"Hang on!" he told her, ripping the tape off of her mouth and eliciting a yelp of pain.
"Ow! Why don't you just rip my lips off?" she asked before softening. "And… thanks."
Shredder saw this happening, and leapt at Leo with his blades outstretched. Leo ducked, causing Shredder to inadvertently slice through the chain keeping Karai suspended. The two managed to jump to safety, but Karai wasn't so lucky, falling into the vat and sinking rapidly with a scream.
"Miwa!" Splinter and Kasumi screamed in unison.
Shredder turned, his eyes widening in horror as he saw what had happened.
"Karai!" he shouted. "NOOOOOO!"
Wide-eyed with panic, Hisako blew through her cage with telekinesis, barreling through the Footbots and boosting herself into the air. She dove into the mutagen, swimming around in a desperate attempt to save Karai. After a minute, she surfaced, dragging a white and purple snake mutant out of the vat. The two collapsed onto the stairs leading to the vat, Hisako shaking the mutant violently as tears filled her eyes.
"Dad!" she cried out. "Karai! She's-! HELP!"
Splinter managed to free himself and hurried over to them, kneeling down.
"Miwa…" he let out in despair. "My child…"
Hisako passed Karai over to him, careful to keep mutagen off of him.
"I'm so sorry, Dad…" she sobbed. "I tried to save her. I tried..."
Shredder glared on, trembling with rage. "No… Hamato Yoshi… this is YOUR FAULT!"
Kasumi glared at him from her cage, rage and sorrow plain on her face.
"How is it Yoshi's fault, Saki?!" she demanded. " You're the one who cut her chain! Miwa is a monster now because of YOU! "
Shredder roared, and was about to charge when part of the roof collapsed. "NO!"
Karai stirred, letting out a feral hiss before wrapping her coils around Splinter, squeezing him tightly. Hisako tried to intervene, only for one of Karai's hands, now a snake head, to lash out and sink its fangs into her arm. Hisako let out a pained cry and collapsed, clutching her arm.
In shock, Leo dropped to his knees.
"No…" he whispered. "This is not happening. It can't be happening. It can't …"
Splinter struggled in Karai's grip, looking up at her sadly.
"Miwa… my daughter…" he managed. "Please…"
Karai hesitated, the dawn of reason returning to her eyes. "F-Father?" she managed before hissing and letting him go. She looked between her father and the downed Hisako, and immediately darted out the window in shame.
"Karai!" Leo shouted, futilely reaching for her. "WAIT!"
Splinter watched her go, before sighing and scooping up Hisako. "We must leave this place. Now."
"But Karai-!" Leo began.
"There is nothing we can do for her now, Leonardo," Splinter cut him off.
As Leo worked to free the others from their cages, Splinter looked on from behind the rubble, Kitsune and Tiger Claw flanking him.
"Master Shredder, we must go," Tiger Claw insisted.
"Splinter and his brood are broken," Kitsune added. "This is a victory for us."
"Victory?!" Shredder repeated. "How is this a victory when Karai is-?!" He sighed, glaring at Splinter's group as they made their escape. He clenched his fists, making a quiet vow as he made his own retreat. "I will avenge you, my daughter."
At the Hamato Clan apartments, failure hung over the group. Erika solemnly healed Hisako as the others digested what they had heard. Oyuki immediately lit a cigarette, leaning out the window as she took a puff.
"Damn it…" Seiko muttered, before slamming her fists on the coffee table. "DAMN IT!"
"Shredder…" Shinigami let out. "I knew he was evil, but to go this far…" She hugged herself. "Karai…"
Hisako sniffled, covering her face with her uninjured arm. "If I had just stopped her… If I'd reacted sooner in the lab... she wouldn't be…" She broke down in tears at that.
Raph and Kagome held hands, comforting each other silently. Mikey glanced over at Donnie, fiddling with his nunchucks remorsefully. "You can make a retro-mutagen for her… right?"
Donnie sighed. "I'm gonna try, Mikey."
"We'll find Karai, guys," Tai swore. "We'll search day and night until we do. I promise."
"No," Shinigami cut in, standing up and making her way to the window. "I'll find her."
"Shinigami, you don't have to do this alone," Vee told her gently.
"Yes, I do," Shinigami insisted. "I'm her best friend, and I wasn't there to-" She fought off emotion before going on. "But I will find her. I swear."
With that, she morphed into a raven and flew off into the night. Seiko sighed, pouring herself a cup of tea. She went to drink from it, but instead let out a furious growl, clutching the cup so tightly that it shattered in her grip.
"Shredder…" she hissed, "I swear to whatever God is listening I'm gonna make him pay for this."
Author's Note:
*sniff* Poor Karai.
Kitsune's role is similar to that in IDW; she's been manipulating Shredder and his ancestors since feudal Japan in that world.
Please R&R. Until next time!