2. Mind Connections?

Later that night Yuki woke to the sound of a small fight. "You need to tell us what is going on, Raph!"

"I told you I can't!"

"Why not?"

"Yeah, we're family right?"

"Look, I just can't tell you. Ok? It's out of my hands."

"How are we suppose to help if you won't tell us what is going on with his girl? Just who or what is she?"

"Watch it, Leo. Don't talk about her like that."

"Or what?"

"I'll kick your butt." Yuki shot up out of the hammock she was lying in and ran into the other room.

"Wait! Please don't blame Raph for this. It's my fault! I made him promise not to tell!"

"Dude, what's wrong with your eyes?" Mikey ask as he saw her baby blue eyes with a bright gold star in each other them. Yuki reached up and noticed her sunglasses were gone. She panicked and ran back into the room she just came out of.

"Nice going." Raph whacked Mikey as he walked by his little brother.

"What?" Mikey rubbed his head.

"It seems Raph really cares about this girl." Don rubbed his chin. "Hm."

Raph walked into his room and looked around. The room was dark but he found what he was looking for. He quietly walked over to the corner of his room. He sat down by Yuki. She was sitting with her legs pulled with her arms wrapped around her knees, hiding her face in her knees. "I'm sorry."

"Hm…"

"I didn't mean for you to get into a fight with your brothers."

"You know….Yuki….you don't have to hide who you are around my family. They do know about being different."

"I guess. I'm just…."

"Scared?"

Yuki looked at him then down at the floor. "Yeah."

"You know I am right here by your side." Raph held up his hand and smiled. She looked at his hand then his eyes. "It's ok. You don't have to be scared."

Yuki looked at his hand again then took it. They stood up and walked out of his room. Yuki's hand tightened around Raph's as they got closer to his brothers. Mikey stepped towards her. "Look….I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean anything…."

"It's ok. I'm just…."

"She's sensitive about her eyes." Raph finished for her.

"Would you like to explain to us what your story is?" Splinter walked up to the girl. "And how you and Raphael met up?"

"Where to start?" Yuki asked more to herself than to anyone.

"How about where you got your powers?" Don suggested.

"Well I got them from my mother's side of the family. It goes back generations. How we came to have these powers no one remembers anymore. The stories just kind of faded. My mom was training me when she…" Yuki bit her bottom lip. "My mom died in a car crash about a year ago. I survived but was in a coma for six months."

"I remember hearing about that on the news. Everyone was sitting on egg shells to see if you would wake up." Don said.

"How did you meet up with Raph?" Mikey asked.

"Well about three months ago I was out walking at night, my dad and stepmom is never around so I'm mostly on my own, except for my butler who's really just there when I need him, the Foot attacked me and Raph just happened to be out riding his bike that night."

"Wow." Was all Don could say. "And you have no idea what your powers can do?"

"Not really. As far as I know they can do just about anything I want."

"Then why did you pass out back there in the alley?" Mikey asked.

"Because I can't control them. When I get into stressful situations it takes over, explodes and I black out."

"And you have no idea why the foot would want your powers?" Splinter asked.

"I'm not sure but mom once told me that there is one could take my powers away from me."

"How?" Don asked.

"With this." Yuki held her hands in front of her about half a foot apart. A small glow ball of blue formed and a blood red crystal sitting in a gold circle ring on a golden chain appeared inside. "It's called Demon's Eye."

"Creepy." Mikey said rubbing his arms as if he was cold. Just looking at the amulet made them all get an eerie feeling.

"This amulet is the only thing that can take my powers away from me."

"Hm…." Don rubbed his chin. "I think I have seen this amulet before."

"Probably have. It traveled around to different museums until it was stolen three years ago." Yuki explained as the image vanished. "No one has seen it since and no one knows who took it. Who ever it was, was really good at getting into a museum with high security, round the clock guards, heat sensing video cams and lasers."

"The Foot would even have trouble getting into that place." Mikey said.

"Maybe it wasn't the Foot." Leo suggested.

"Then who?" Don asked.

"Just about anybody with the right amount of desperation." Yuki pulled her feet up onto the couch and hugged her knees. "Just about everybody knows the legend of the amulet and a lot of power hungry thugs would do anything it get it. Many have tried and many have died."

"Then who can control this amulet?" Don asked.

"I'm not sure but they have to have some kind of magical ability I would think. And if the person with the amulet has powers then the whole world will be in danger." Raph just nodded in agreement with her.

"That's deep." Mikey, sitting backwards in a wooden chair, rested his chin on his arms the was across the back of the chair. "No wonder you wanted to protect her."

"Now you understand why I couldn't just tell you about her." Raph replied looking worryingly at her. Yuki gave him a small smile and patted his knee before leaning against his side.

Leo sat up and took note of this. Though the whole story he kept a close eye on the girl. Something about her was nagging at his stomach. But what he couldn't put his finger on it. He was surprised at the way he was feeling about her. He was usually so open towards other people, so why not her?

For the first time, since Yuki started her story, she looked up and met his eyes. They stared at each other for what seemed the longest time. They were trying to read each other's thoughts and, for the most part, they were succeeding. What are you looking for, Leonardo?

What is the deal with you? Why are you so relaxed around us? It's like you have always have been with us.

Is that a problem?

I'm just unsure about you. There's something you are hiding.

Why would I keep a secret from you? You can see into my mind. Yuki smiled at Leo then said out loud. "But you can't see into my heart."

"Huh?" Leo looked at her shocked. They really did read each others minds.

"At least not yet." Yuki continued to smile at the blue ninja.

"What do you mean by that?" Raph asked.

"Oh….it's nothing…." Yuki finally broke her gaze from Leo's and look at Raph. "Don't worry about it. I just spaced out."

"And you said that you are home alone for the most part. Am I right, Ms. White?" Splinter asked.

"Yes that's right. Since my father and step-mother aren't around hardly and I'm the only one at home, dad let the staff go. Except for my butler." Yuki replied. "He's just around when I need him or when my father and stepmother come home from a trip."

"Then, if I may suggest, you should stay here with us." Splinter said.

"What?" Everyone yelled.

"It is not safe for you to be alone. It would be better if we could protect you around the clock."

"Oh no!" Yuki waved her hands in front of her. "I couldn't. I don't want to be a bother."

"It will be no bother at all." Splinter smiled. "My sons are a hand full but you are very much welcome to stay with us."

"No I really can't."

"Come on, Yuki." Raph grabbed her shoulders so she would look at him. "Please? I want to know that you will be safe. Besides you once told me that you get really lonely in the big house all by yourself."

"I'm not…."

"Yeah come on, Yuki. You'll have a lot of fun living with us." Mikey smiled.

"And I could help you with you homework if you want." Don offered.

"So how about it?" Mikey asked. "Stay? Please! Please! PLEASE!"

"Well….I guess I don't have a choice." Yuki smiled then locked eyes with Leo again. Do you mind this?

What ever. If it's what Splinter wants and will make Raph happy.

"Yes! Now we have something a beautiful face to counter Raph's ugly face!" Mikey said. Yuki blushed at this.

"You little pest!" Raph was immediately on top of his brother and they proceeded to wrestle on the ground.

"Oh my." Yuki watched them with confusion on her face. Don sat down beside her.

"Don't worry about those two. They do this all the time. You'll get use to it." Don smiled. "We should go get your stuff so you can move in with us."

"Ok." The two teens stood up.

"Hey wait for me." Raph said as he let go of Mikey.

"I'm coming too!" Mikey leaped up and followed them to the battle shell.

"You coming, Leo?" Don asked.

"No. I'm going to stay here." Leo waved his brother off. Don shrugged and joined the others in the elevator.

"Something troubles you, my son?" Splinter asked.

"No, sensei. Everything's fine. Just….fine…."

"Are you sure?"

"Sensei?"

"Yes, my son?"

"Is it possible for two…un….people….to read each others minds?"

"I believe so. For people who have been together for a long time."

"What if these two people just met?"

"Hm…" Splinter rubbed his chin in thought.

"Never mind. Forget I mentioned it."