A Turtle on the Outside, a Wolf on the Inside

by Sairey13

Before Yoshi got the turtles from the Pet Store, Leo was found playing with the manager's dog, who was told to be a wolf-hybrid. Right before Yoshi took the turtles away, Leo ate some of the canine's fur and when he got mutated, the mutagen somehow enhanced the inside of his body to match a wolf's behavior and abilities. NO T-CEST, LEORAI or APRITELLO!

13. A Secret Friend

May Twenty-Seventh, 2012...
The night's cool air brought out a feeling of calmness amongst the city, which many civilians relished in the coolness from having to deal with the early heat. Unfortunately, not many are enjoying the coolness the night brings. One in particular, a blue-masked turtle teenager, pacing in anger and damaging whatever items he can break with his punches and kicks, growling and snarling like a caged lion.

Why is he in such a pissed off mood? Simple: He and Raphael got into another fight with each other. However, unlike their previous fights they had in the past, this fight was involved with Leonardo's leadership on leading the team.

---

Flashback; Earlier…
The four brothers chased down the humanoid-weed mutant, Snakeweed. Lately, the news were making reports of Snakeweed randomly snatching people off the streets and alleyway in the middle of the night. So far, the total of missing people was nine. However, as the brothers chased him, the mutant was able to snag a pizza delivery teenager off his moped.

"No! Not the pizza guy! Take Donnie!" Michelangelo cried out, viewing the teenager as if he were his hero and was mistaken for some sacrifice.

"Snakeweed's getting away." Snakeweed made a hard turn to the right, then went into the alleyway between two condemned shops that went out of business seven years ago.

"Somebody help me!" The teenager's cry of distress echoed out, pushing Leo to give chase and run through the alleyway.

Wait!

His Conscience made him stop in his tracks.

Don't just run in without a plan. Remember, his vines can pin you all with ease from what little spacing there is in the alley.

He looked around for something that they can use to help them with Snakeweed's vines, when he saw the clotheslines.

'Perfect!' "We got him trapped." He informed his brothers, knowing that the alleyway leads to a dead-end from a third building in-between the two buildings.

"Good. Then let's go weed-whacking."

"Tree-trimming."

"Gardening!"

Neither of the three brothers noticed their older brother already went up the building, grabbing for the clotheslines and wrapping them over his arms. Looking down, he saw Snakeweed bending over to the ground, as if looking for something he dropped… Till he saw him pull a round object off the ground, realizing that it was a manhole cover to the sewers*.

Immediately, he grabbed for one of the clotheslines, tied one end to itself to form into a makeshift lasso, spun it over his head before tossing the circle towards the mutant, watching as it wrapped itself over Snakeweed's head and coil itself around his neck.

He gave a powerful tug of the clothesline, forcing the mutant to let out a screech of pain from the line pulling at his throat, around his heart where his weak spot is located.

"Release me, Turtle!" Snakeweed yelled, pulling the top-half of how body forward to overpower Leo's strength, only for the clothesline to tighten against his weakness and make him weaker.

"Not until you let the kid go, along with your other captives!" The vine holding the human-teenager in one of the pincers raised itself, as if Snakeweed was offering to let the turtle take him. Using his right-foot to keep a firm hold on the clothesline wrapped around the mutant's neck, the blue-masked turtled formed the other clothesline into another lasso and looped the hole around the boy. The pincer slowly released the boy, who was unconscious from fainting in fear of the mutant who caught him, one of the vines curled underneath the boy's body. "Now, talk: Where are the other humans you grabbed?"

Snakeweed was gasping out from the line tightening on his neck, his eyes blinking rapidly from the black-spots dancing in his big yellow-eyes.

Before he could even get a word to be spoken… Tragedy came in.

"Booyakasha!" Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo, all charged at the mutated-weed/insect human and, as a unit, rammed him against the wall. With his foot still on the clothesline, Leo nearly fell on his shell if his left-leg didn't help him catch his balance.

'No!' With nobody to tighten the line around the beating heart, Snakeweed can breathe normally and regained his strength. When all three jumped in the air to attack, the twelve foot mutant sent three of his vines from his back to smacking the turtles off to the side, pinning them to the walls as he used one of his pincers to grab for the teenager. Acting fast, Leo dropped down from the roof and, with a twist, sliced through the vine connected to the pincer and the human landed back down to the ground.

"Eeeeeee!" Snakeweed's screech echoed out from the alley, snarling down at the blue-masked turtle for interfering on taking his tenth victim. His screech attracted the cops' attention, seeing flashing lights of red and blue coming towards their direction. The twelve foot mutant wouldn't be too concern of a human knowing his existence, but having a police officer involved is a problem he didn't want knowing where he takes his captives to. "I'll get back at you for this, turtles!" He grumbled out, releasing the others and swiftly went down in the sewers.

"Hey, get back here!" Raphael yelled, grabbing his sais that he dropped when Snakeweed pinned him up against the wall and made a run for the sewer. Leo stepped up in front of him.

"We need to go, Raph. The cops are coming." The red-masked turtle was just about to argue, but the flashing lights grew closer and when hearing the sound of doors slamming, Raph followed his brothers back to the rooftop of the building, watching from the shadows as the cops took the teenager to their car.

"We did the city a great deed, tonight." Mikey stated, watching as the cops take the pizza deliverer to the hospital, puffing his chest out with his hands on his hips like a superhero.

"Not exactly, Mikey." Donatello, being the one to always be the bearer of bad news. "Snakeweed got away, and we have no idea what he's done with the other people he kidnapped."

"And it's all thanks to the worst leader!" Raphael added in, glaring at his older-twin who glared right back at the red-masked turtle.

"How exactly does that makes me the 'worst leader', when you three didn't follow my lead to the roof and charged ahead at a twelve foot mutated weed/insect? On that note: Why the hell did you guys decided to take a moment to come up with fight puns, when we're trying to rescue a kidnapped teen from a runaway abductor?"

"It wasn't our fault that you didn't tell us what the plan was, otherwise we wouldn't had dashed in like that. At least my plan was more effective than yours." His taller younger-twin got up in his face, his stance showing to not back down to admitting any faults he and the others did.

Beta-Brother Raphael, challenge Pup's title? Challenge position Alpha entrusted to Pup…? Ignorant pup, blinded by self's strength and intimidation, can't see own decision endangered self and Kins.

"You mean where you guys decided to endanger yourselves, that was also part of your plan?" Leo questioned, earning an angry tick from the red-masked turtle. "My plan was going as accorded, until you three decided to do your way and almost got us captured in the process. If you three had followed my lead and hadn't wasted time second-guessing my orders, we would've gotten Snakeweed."

"Well, don't give bad orders, and I won't second-guess 'em."

The side of Leo's lip pulled back, flashing off fangs that are eager to go for Raph's neck and punish him for ignoring his leadership, force him to submit and remember where his place is on the team… The very team who treats every situation as a game, to ignore certain orders that are meant to keep them safe in the shadows… To go behind his back to get back at some street gang, breaking his trust and never know of the responsibility he has to carry since he was four years old.

Tonight, he just about had it.

"You know what, Raph? If you think you can do better-"

What are you doing?

'What I should've done from the very beginning.' "Why don't you lead?" Donatello and Michelangelo were stunned to what their big brother just said. He, Hamato Leonardo, was giving the title of Leadership to Raphael? The hothead of the Hamato Clan?

"First good idea you've had all day." The comment was very smug, with more of an insult towards the blue-masked turtle, as the two twins glared at each other like chained dogs, ready to be pitted into a fight to the death.

"Dudes, we'll compromise. I'll lead." Raphael glared at the orange-masked turtle, daring him to repeat what he just said to let him take on a new challenger for the leadership role. Wisely, Mikey back away and returned to Don.

"Fine, Raph, the team's yours." And like that, he turned his shell to them and started walking away from them.

"Where do you think you're going?!" Raphael called out, not bothering to move from his spot. "I didn't say you can leave! You have to listen to me, now!" It took every ounce of strength in Leo's body to not dash back to his brothers and slam Raph to the ground, not unless he wants to break one of his codes of Bushido… The Law of the Pack. He stopped in his tracks, turning a side-glance at his brothers, letting out a low, threatening growl.

"I said 'the team is yours'." He rumbled out, his eyes almost appears to be flashing from the moon's own light beaming down. "I am not part of your team. So, therefore, I don't follow your orders. After all, you don't want me on your team and I can clearly see how I'm not needed."

He sent a glance to his younger brothers, silently wishing them luck under Raph's guidance, before he ran for the ledge of the roof, jumping into the darkness to continue forward.
End of Flashback…

---

And so, that's how he ended up where he is, on the rooftop next to a Boboco Cola billboard in the Eastern part of New York. While out on his own, he cut off five satellite TV with Kamiizumi and kicked seven empire turbine ventilators.

It's pretty clear how angry he is, that not even taking deep breaths and slowing his heart rate was helping with his anger.

You need to calm down, then once your head is clear, go back to the Lair and rejoin the others to find Snake.

'And deal with more of Raph's verbal abuse, and being blamed for something he, now as leader, is responsible for?! Forget it!' He leaned over the ledge of the roof, staring at the view of New York. 'He and the others can find Snakeweed their way, and I'll find him on my own terms.'

As soon as he finished that thought, it hit him like Bradford rammed him against that chemical truck a little over a week ago. He just realized what has happened: He left the team, and none of them went after him... He's by himself, completely alone... He's-

*Thump*

He hears footsteps behind him... And they weren't his brothers. Turning, he sees four Foot ninjas before him, each with a blade in their hands.

Leo let a low growl escape from his throat, a wolfish smile crossed his face.

"You just made my night," he growled out.

As a unit, the four ninjas charged at the turtle. The blue-masked turtle saw that coming and, with none of his brothers around, he allowed himself to not hold back. With such grace and swiftness, he let Musashi leave cuts on the humans' chest, all barely having any time to react before they dropped to the ground and struggled to remain conscious to stop the bleeding.

Leonardo was never one to feel any joy when bringing down those who are a threat to him and his clan... That doesn't mean he won't let any of his enemies to walk away, without gaining a mark to be a warning to stay away from him.

The blood on Musashi glided from the tip down to the hilt, dripping onto the ground before the turtle's feet. The humans struggled to their feet, making a slow retreat for the shadows, neither of the four ninjas looked back at the turtle and some of them appears to be trembling.

Leonardo snorted at their retreating forms.

"That makes me feel a whole lot better."

His nose told him that a human is remaining where they are during the fight, a fifth Foot ninja was his best bet and when he looked up, he indeed saw a human-figure standing on top of the Boboco Cola billboard.

The figure dropped down where they stood, landing five feet from Leo.

"Not bad." The human commented, revealing to being a Kunoichi, a female human.

She wore all black, a metal breastplate that covers the upper-half of her body from her shoulders to her stomach. She also had metal-plates covering the midsection of her Humerus, the arms of her Radius and Ulna to the palm of her hands, the midsection of her Femur and her legs from her Tibia to her Fibula. There was also a metal-piece covering the bottom-half of her mouth, which the turtle wasn't sure if she was using it to hide her identity or to prevent herself from inhaling certain chemicals. Her hair is helmet-shaped, with most of it on the top being midnight-black and the bottom-half of the back of her head being blonde, that his nose picked up the scent of dye.

And then, there was her eyes: They were chocolate-like brown, with a mixture that's similar to Amber… There was something about her eyes that puzzles the turtle.

'Her eyes… They seem… Familiar?' He didn't say anything back to the human, only glaring at her and slightly tightening his grip onto Musashi, sensing she'll make a strike on him like the Foot ninjas has done.

"You might actually be a challenge." With such confidence, she slowly made her way towards him. Her left-hand slowly reaching for the hilt of her Wakizashi, gaining Leo's attention. Even a few feet away from his new opponent, his eyes caught a faint glint from her blade. His eyes narrowed.

'Something's on the blade.' With a few small sniffs in the air, he caught the scent that was similar to dust and sand, along with something that burns his nose like Cilantro.

Blinding Powder!

His eyes widen from the information and that's when the Kunoichi pulled her sword out, swinging her blade at the air to have it travel towards him.

Blind Attack!

Immediately, Leo closed his eyes and turned his bandana sideways to prevent the powder from getting into his eyes, holding his breath in the process since inhaling it could also cause irritation to the throat and some breathing difficulties.

*Step-Step* *Step-Step*

His hearing pinpointed her coming at him, straight on. So, he charged back at her, jumping in the air at the same time with her, ramming his left-knee with her own. Being a bit bigger than her and with the mutagen enhancing his own strength, he forced her backwards and she grimace in pain from his padded-knee slamming against her unprotected knee. He reached with his left-hand for her right-shoulder and slammed her to the ground, placing the same knee to her stomach and his right-leg to cross over both her own legs.

He didn't need to see how surprised she was at the moment, only focused on placing his blade against her neck to silently warn her not to move. He bared part of his fangs down towards her, snarling ferociously at her.

"I was wrong," she said. "You are going to be a challenge." The scraping of blade against the roof told the turtle her intention to stab him, which he forced himself to backflip off of her and landing perfectly on his feet, around the same time she flung herself back onto hers. She smirked, sounding very impressed and intrigued of the turtle before her. "My name's Karai." As if to show off, while her opponent still had his mask covering his eyes, she spun her Wakizashi with one hand until sliding the blade back into its scabbard that rest on the back of her waist. "See you around."

The wind informed Leonardo of her retreating into the shadows, leaving him alone on the roof… Just like that?

'She's just leaving me… With no intentions to shadow me and attack?' "What the hell just happened?" He questioned himself, knowing no one will answer him. He reached to turn his mask back in place, but his muscles tensed up.

Wait! The Blinding Powder could still be lingering onto your mask, they'll get into your eyes.

His nose verified his Conscience's hunch to being correct; the burning scent mixed with the dust/sand-like substance still lingers on him, irritating his nose from the burning scent.

'Better find some water to wash it off, but where?'

Head for Park; no Human goes at night towards Park. Water for Pup to use at Park.

Leo didn't argue with that suggestion; it was only a few minutes away from where he's at and has a fountain that has clean water, which will be better suited for his eyes than just going to the sewers to find a sewer's Wastewater Treatment Plant. Besides, he needs to wash the blood off of Musashi and with the park's fountain always cleaned before nine in the morning, no humans will ever notice blood has spilled tonight.

Three Minutes Later, at the Park...
Guided by his sense of hearing, touch and smell, Leo found the park with minimal difficulties. His ears caught no sounds of humans anywhere in the park, only the usual critters residing in the trees and the few strays are the only beings in the park with him.

When he located the fountain, he removed his mask and washed his face before his bandana, removing what little traces of Blinding Powder was left on his person. He then washed the blood off of Musashi, using the bandages of his hands to help dry his weapon, one of his fangs, to prevent the possibility of rust and placed the longer-blade back into it's scabbard.

He let out a deep sigh, relishing from the feeling of the coolness of his mask resting against his already wet face, along with the wind stroking his skin. The park, itself, has a feeling of calmness work its atmosphere, calming the turtle and every animal within it's terrain.

Are you going to go back to the Lair, yet? Or go look for Snake?

And once again, his Conscience has to interrupt his own personal time by reminding him of his duties, or get on his hide from being separated from his brothers.

'Give me a minute to collect myself.'

You can do so, after you rejoin the others. Besides, that Kunoichi, Karai, could be lurking in the shadows to strike at any moment. You need to take refuge to properly recover from the Blinding Powder.

Leo growled at his Conscience, choosing to ignore it's words to lean over the fountain to lap at the water.

'We've already been over this: Raph is now the leader of the team, and doesn't need me getting in his way. Besides -A smile came on his face- Since I'm not their teammate and none of them came to get me... I'm free to do whatever I choose to do, whether to find Snake on my own or even to explore the city by my own terms.'

No! You're not going to abandon them! You swore!

'I know what I promised to do, and I'm not going to break it... I just want to take this opportunity to see how I fair in the city, on my own. Plus, there are certain parts of the city I need to mark on where I've been and how close the nearest manhole-covers are.'

...Not bad idea; Pup and Kins will expand patrol for future conflict, and must know where they can seek shelter if need to retreat.

His Conscience didn't say anything for a good while, meaning it was silently agreeing with him and his Instinct but didn't want to admit it to being a good idea at all. As he continued quenching his thirst, he heard the soft sound of paws coming his ways.

'Too light and soft for a canine, but heavier than a small creature… A cat?'

"Momma, what is that?" A small-voice caught his attention, that he lifted his head from the fountain and looked over to seeing a silver-tipped blue-grey cat, with three miniature versions of the cat beside her, eyeing him with curiosity and uncertain fear.

Leonardo immediately recognized, from their coat color and body sizes, especially their heart-shaped heads and large green-eyes, that they're Korat cats. He loved how their fur shimmer and look more rain-cloud grey, with sea foam into the mixture from the shimmer. He also found it interesting, as he looked into the kittens' eyes, how their amber/golden-green eyes will change to a more Peridot-green between two to four years. When he was younger, he sometimes dream of playing with a Korat cat who never judged him because he was different and would snuggle against his plastron when it wanted to sleep.

He smiled gently at the felines, slowly getting himself to lay down on the ground to appear less intimidating and smaller than he would at standing to his full sight. While the kittens looked eager to run over to sniff him, they stayed behind their mother, cautiously eyeing him to figure out if he's a threat to her little ones and what exactly he is. She slowly stalked over to the fifteen year-old, sniffing at his direction as her kittens stayed close by and, when she sniffed nose-to-nose with the turtle… She let out a trusting, loving purr sound, licking his beak and rubbing her face against his.

"He is a friend."

---

For over two hours, on his own, Leonardo scoured the parts of New York… The entire time, he enjoyed every moment of it. Since his interaction with the Korat cat and her kittens, he found himself truly at peace with the animals he would greet. Whether it's because he's more animal than human or found to having a special connection with them, he doesn't know the answer. But, is very much happy to be making friends who see past his appearance and doesn't see him as some abomination, like many view humans to being monstrous predators because they experience certain neglect by them or how they view the humans to easily harm them from their larger appearances… He agrees to that reason, considering his recent experiences with certain humans.

When the kittens asked how he became as he appears to them, he told them, along with the other animals in the park who also came to greet him, of how he and his brothers evolved from normal turtles to humanoid-turtles… Along with how he became a humanoid-wolf/turtle, and none of his pack mates ever knew his secret. He knew they'll spread his stories to others all over the city, maybe even to other states of North America. At least all the animals of New York will know he's friend through his stories, especially when hearing that he, himself, took on White Death five years ago and made the sewers safer since the Albino-Allidile left.

While he made certain markings upon some of the rooftops that he'll know where the nearest manhole-covers are, he would either sniff the air to find Snakeweed's scent or even asked some of the animals if they've seen the humanoid-insect/weed mutant. So far, many claimed to have seen the mutant come out from time to time but not know where he came from or where he'd vanish to. It was very troubling to the turtle and with the cities multiple smells making Snakeweed's scent harder to follow, it seemed like he wasn't going to find Snake's or the missing victims.

His Conscience, at that time, got on his hide that he should've went home and rejoin his brothers. That he should suck up his wounded pride with whatever Raphael will use to taunt or insult him with and go with them to find Snakeweed's Lair, stating that Don would've already figured out where he's hiding.

But then, luck would happen, a few stray dogs crossed his path to inform him they've seen Snakeweed coming out of the sewer and taking a female-human with him about two days ago. However, because their instincts had them take shelter from the twelve foot mutant and were chased by a dog catcher yesterday, they didn't know which manhole-cover Snakeweed went to. All they know, is that it was somewhere on 47th.

No matter how small the information was, just knowing which street Snakeweed was seen in before hiding was more than enough for the turtle to look for the manhole-cover near the area and find his scent.

He head for the East-West near 47th Street, which took him seven minutes to get there by all-fours, hiding within the shadows of an alleyway.

You should still-

'Shut. Up.'

He and his Conscience had argued many times in the past, just as much as he and Raph gets into fights with each other. At least when he and his twin fight, it ends right there and then when one or both walks away or when apologizes of the mistakes they made. With his Conscience, however, even when the issue is fixed, it'll still bring up his mistakes from the past and use it against him to guilt trip him.

Father wouldn't have approved this, considering it's not your choice to make.

'It doesn't matter if Sensei approves what I do or not, only that there's a leader guiding the others.'

And with Raph as leader, there's no telling what sorts of trouble they'll run into! This isn't like Follow the Leader, you know?

'Well, considering the few times I actually played that game with them, I don't know the difference between them.'

This isn't the time to being a smart ass, Leonardo!

The blue-masked turtle let out a snarl of frustration, digging his fingers into the hard-surface of the building to his right, not noticing or even caring if he left a claw-mark of blood on the wall.

'And when is the time to being one? Huh? They have no idea what kind of pressure, the stress, I'm going through, and all they do is complain.'

So what? You want something in return? To make you feel appreciated, or something? Because being leader isn't about being appreciated. It's about responsibility! It doesn't matter how heavy the burden is; what matters that you carry it!

'…I never asked for it… I never asked for the burden… The burden Sensei gave to me, not caring that I never wanted it in the first place.'

But he knew, that only you can handle the burden.

He glared at the view before him, pushing the conversation for another time to focus where on 47th Snakeweed's Lair is located.

"If only they saw an address or described what was where in the area, besides only giving me 47th-"

"Do you always talk to yourself?" A voice cut him off, knowing instantly who's right behind him. He turned to face the Kunoichi from earlier, giving her calm smirk.

"Don't have any friends of mine to hear me, so I'm the only one who'll listen."

"I'll listen," she offered. "When you beg for your life." She pulled out her Wakizashi from it's sheath, waiting patiently for Leo to pull out one of his blades. He chose Kamiizumi, which is similar to the length of the Kunoichi's Wakizashi.

"Let's see how you'll make me 'beg for my life'."

"Let's see how you fight against somebody who's better than you." She talked back, being cocky and acting like the victor of the conversation.

"Oh, you talking about yourself? Funny, I didn't think somebody, who claims to be better than me, would send in their minions to soften their opponent to become less of a challenge." He backfired, warning a twitch at the eye and one side of her lip to lose part of the smile.

"I'm actually at a loss of words," she said. "I'm guessing your the smart ass of your team?"

You're getting to her.

"Perhaps, by your own point of view, just as much as you think you're better than an enemy you got pinned by earlier, after blinding with Blinding Powder."

"…I'm going to enjoy this." Her tone of voice lowered, no longer cheerful and suddenly very serious, and her smile replaced with a frown… The urge to kill reflect off her eyes, just as the blue-masked turtle expected to see from someone threatening to kill him.

At the same time, both kneeled to one another, both their chosen weapon held in their right-hand. Even as enemy to each other, Honor dictates they respectfully bow to the other, whether it be a friendly spar or even a fight to the death, in showing the honor they had within their clan to guide them and showing whoever the victor will be will see the defeated opponent hold true to their honor.

Almost like a reflection from the mirror, both turtle and Kunoichi moved exactly as their opponent did. They glared at each other, held their swords out with both hands clenching firmly to their weapon, digging one of their foot into the ground… Then, Karai broke the cycle by springing forward towards the turtle. In response, Leonardo did the same, only leaping over the girl and crossing blades with her, forcing her to twist in the middle of the air and barely having time to land on her feet, as the turtle spun in the air before landing on his own.

She immediately charged, bringing down her blade onto Kamiizumi when Leo blocked the strike. He pushed the Wakizashi to the side, ducking when she swiped it back to aim for his neck, and held it back up when she twirled to bring her blade on his right-shoulder. The second time she brought it back down on his sword, the Wakizashi came down the other direction, as if making a cross over Leonardo's chest.

"Jūji-Ken. Interesting." He held out his blade to his left-side with both hands, charged, glided the Wakizashi up to the side of his right and bringing it down, knowing she'll pull back to dodge. He prevented Kamiizumi from hitting the ground, twisted himself to swing to his right, missing when Karai dodged and, when charging down at her, swiped up to the side to at least lay a cut when she did a midair roll.

"Kocho-giri. Predictable."

Rrrrrriiiiiip!

Both teen heard the tearing of fabric and, when looked down, saw a perfect side-cut on her right-leg near her ankle… The exact mark Leonardo made in the air that she assumed she dodged. A small trail of blood can easily be seen through the torn fabric, but she didn't have enough time to process what happened when the blue-masked turtle brought down Kamiizumi, forcing her to block his strikes until she twisted herself to get behind his shell to strike the back of his head. Leo twisted himself to block the attack. With their blades locked with each other, the teens circled each other until Leo pushed her back.

He swiped his blade to the left, then to the right, both attacks being blocked by the Wakizashi, and then Karai backflipped from the third swipe.

"You're good-…"

Rrrrrriiiiiippppp!

Another sound of fabric tearing was heard, seeing it next to her right-knee. Her smile formed into a frown.

"No wonder we haven't wiped you out, yet."

"Not like Shredder hasn't been trying." He stated, smirking at the sound of her silent frustration that her opponent got in two cuts on her, while she hasn't laid a single scratch on him.

"I know," she agreed. Even though she may act mature, she's still a teenager like himself and as such, prefers to speak in the conversation as if talking with one of her girlfriends about how lame and annoying their parents are. "That's all he ever talks about: 'Revenge, revenge. Vendetta, vendetta'."

"Is that so?" He asked, raising Kamiizumi to the right-side of his head. "While you may sound a bit bored and annoyed by the same topic, you seem to be just fine with it?"

"Oh, I'm totally fine with it." She answered, smirking while positioning Wakizashi to her right. "I'm just saying, he needs a hobby." She charged. "Hee-ya!" Leonardo flipped over the blade, gliding Kamiizumi over the Wakizashi and staying locked with the blade when he landed.

"And what kind of hobby you think he should do? Take up Water paint? -Karai pulled back to slam her blade against his.- Write Haiku? -When they separated, she charged at him, purposely glided her Wakizashi across his Kamiizumi, using it as a distraction to knee him.- Maybe some origami?"

He landed on his feet, he pushed up his blade when his opponent's hit next to the hilt of his sword, feeling her swipe his right-foot with her own to make him roll to his left. She attempted another kick to his face with her left, only to miss when the turtle backflipped away from her.

"Not bad, but I've seen better."

"With one blade, perhaps. -He reached for Musashi with his right-hand, feeling complete with both of his fangs ready to attack.- With two, that's another story."

The sixteen year-old appeared impressed, even some form of excitement, when the turtle pulled out his second sword from it's scabbard. Now, he's going to take the fight more seriously.

In unison, the two charged for their opponent.

---

Leonardo's POV
For the first time ever, I'm fighting with a Kunoichi. A Kunoichi from the Foot Clan... A Kunoichi, who confuses me. The way we fought each other, our fighting styles, even the way we get on the others' nerve... It feels so similar. Each time we swing our swords, it almost sound as if the wind around us is calling out to the slicing sound we would make… To me, it sounded as if the wind is crying for us.

And while she tried to cheap shot me earlier by using Blinding Powder, she also fight with some form of honor. Nothing like Bushido, but something more respectful than Bradford's way of honor... Much more than Shredder's own twisted way of honor.

It doesn't matter if she has any honor. She's still a member of the Foot Clan, and is your enemy!

'I know... But still...'

Pup sense some form of connection with She-Pup Karai?

'I don't know. I don't feel drawn to her like Don feels for April, but I feel-'

Look out!

I pulled back before her Wakizashi could stab me in the eye, forcing my legs to jump for the ladder of the fire escape above my head.

"You know? It's almost like you're having fun, but fighting to not show it!" Karai said to me, launching herself in the air and crossing blades with Musashi. "Why not just admit that you're having just as much fun as I'm having?"

I growled, disgusted she would think I'd find this pointless fight anything but joyous.

"You may find this as fun, but I see this more as a struggle for survival." I answered, glaring at her behind the ladder. "Tell me something, earlier on the rooftop, you could've finished me off. Why didn't you?"

"Simple, because you're the first thing in this city that doesn't bore me." As she answered my question, Karai pulled out two shuriken, sharp enough to slice through wood, and tossed them in my way. I used Musashi to block the stars away from me, only to realize I left myself open for an attack when she used the ladder to swoop down and slam a powerful kick onto me. Luckily, Kamiizumi was in her path to block her attack. "Also, I don't think you're as good as you pretend to be." She charged, crossing blades with Kamiizumi and her Wakizashi… Then, forced my blade to glide backwards, got behind me and had her blade crossed over my throat. She has my head trapped, with Kamiizumi held against the right-side of my head and her Wakizashi near my neck to the left. "Don't tell me the goody-three-toes thing doesn't wear thin after a while."

I snarled up at her, anger boiling in my chest as I remain trapped in her grasp and between two blades. How dare she turn one of my swords, one of my own fangs, against me?!

"I never claimed myself to be good," I replied. "And whether I do or not, it's better than the alternative."

"Which is what? To have fun? -she tightened her grip, bringing her Wakizashi closer to my neck.- To cut loose? To live your own life?"

My heart pounded against my plastron, as I attempted to turn my face away from her. That last part she said… It's all that I ever wanted: To live my own life, the way I wanted to live it. Not the way of my master, and what he and my brothers expect me to do with the life I lived by… A life, where I can decide what I want to do and finally get a chance to feel any joy of living the way I am now.

Don't believe a single word she say!

My right-hand that held Musashi, tightened onto the hilt and, with concentration, gabbed that end of my blade against her side. At the same time, I forced my head to face her and, ignoring the feeling of a sharp metal cutting into my flesh, head butted her face with my own. Even after that, she still smiles.

"Guess I struck a nerve." She obviously in pain from my attacks, totally not prepared for the jab I inflicted near her right-hip and seemed taken back that I allowed her weapon to cut my neck, seeing a small trail of blood gliding from the wound.

"And I struck you more times than you were able to inflict any injury upon me." She frowned at my remark, then swiftly sprang on the upper-half of my body. It was all thanks to my reflexes that I was able to pull myself away from her blade and remove myself from her grasp, crouching a bit low in case she tries to jump on me again and I'll be ready to jump out of the way.

Instead of continuing her assault, she just smiled again and pointed her blade behind her.

"You see that high-rise?" I looked over to where she has her Wakizashi pointing towards, a tall building that was ten blocks away from where we are. It was the Byerly Building, owned by some millionaire who collects rare artifacts.

"Yeah?"

"Meet me there by midnight." She jumped backwards, kneeling over the railing of the fire escape and putting away her weapon. Is she just going to leaving me, again?

"Why?" I had to ask. Is this something she does for 'fun' with her enemies?

Must be a trap! She's trying to lure you there to catch you off guard!

'I don't think so. If she was, then why to that building exact, where there are more lighting than darkness?'

"I wanna show you something." With cat-like reflexes, she pounced to the next floor of the fire escape, then backflipped to the next building across from us and was gone… Just like before.

That girl, she puzzles me. Twice, she picked a fight with me, and instead of finishing the battle she started, she up and runs away… She isn't like the other Foot ninjas my brothers and I fought, let alone anything like Xever and Bradford. At least for them, they kept fighting until we turn the fight in our favor and sent them packing, or force them to a corner that leads them to drastic measures.

Slowly, I placed Musashi and Kamiizumi back into their scabbards.

You can't be thinking of going there, are you?

'She said she wanted to show me something. Whatever it is, could be the very reason why she ran from our previous battle and this fight.'

And you're not at all concern that she could've just said that, just so she'll plan ahead on how to take you down?!

'She didn't use her Blinding Powder this time and instead of waiting in the shadows, she's really gone.'

She-Pup Karai possibly was testing, viewing what Pup can do in battle… Yet, not bring others with her.

That also got me by surprised. Either she thinks she doesn't need any help from other Foot Clans from how I took them down with ease, or doesn't want anybody to get in her way with her 'fun', I'll never know the answer to. But, if she came here on her own… Does that mean the Foot, the Shredder, has no idea where she is? Let alone, what she's been doing?

A scared thought came to mind: How long has she been out?

Whether she informs them of her whereabouts or not, Shredder will still send out his ninjas

'And judging by the way she talks about him, it almost sounds as if she's close to Saki. I don't know how close, but it's pretty clear she's well trained enough to be somewhere around the ranking as Bradford's, despite her teenage rebellion.'

Immediately, I pushed myself to the rooftop and blended in with the shadows. Alone or not, I need to be certain that nobody tries to see me. While hiding, I used one of my bandages of my finger to help me clot the blood on my neck, binding my throat to temporarily stop the bleeding until I return home to properly take care of the cut.

Still think you should meet her at the Byerly Building?

'I may have to. She probably hasn't informed Shredder about our encounter… At least, not yet. But, if I don't show up, what will be the chances that she'll go off and run in with my brothers?'

By Meeting with She-Pup Karai, Pup ensure any possible hostage to being avoided.

'Exactly.'

But, what about Snake? Yours brothers can't take him on, on their own!

'If anything were to go south, Don will be my best guess to think of an escape. They also have their smoke-bombs with them, just in case for an emergency.'

I check on my T-Phone, finding no messages or any miss calls from my brothers or April. I also looked at the time, finding that I have about forty minutes before midnight to meet up with Karai. I can burn the time with more marking the area, but my mind is still concern of running in with more Foot ninjas. Besides, another disturbing thought came to mind.

'She appears to be around April's age, which means she must still be in school… Does she go to the same school as April?'

I couldn't smell any scent that Karai carries to confirm any related smells April carries when coming to the Lair from school, but that wasn't enough to settle my fear for the redheaded girl.

…Alright… Head for April's. It's best to warn her of the possibility that a student from her school is from the Foot Clan.

At least my Conscience isn't going to argue with me about my concern for April's safety. Instantly, I dropped to my hands and feet. I jumped off the rooftop, head for the manhole-cover of a small park that was to the left-side of the alleyway, climbed down into the sewers and took off for the shortcut to where April's Aunt's house is located at the western part of the city.

---

Thirteen Minutes Later, at April's Aunt's House…
*Knock knock knock*

"April… April?" Leonardo called out in a whispering tone, eyes looking out for any humans who may see him outside at some random house, thinking he's breaking in to harm whoever is inside. The sound of light footsteps can be heard, heading for the window where the turtle stood beside. Just as he expected from the footsteps, April came into view, wearing her long-sleeve button yellow-shirt and white-pants with flower decoration.

She was very surprised to see him outside of her bedroom.

"Leo?" He nodded his head to her, silently answering her question. Immediately, she opened her window. "Is everything all right?" She also looked around the area, seeing no humans out or any signs of people with their windows opening. Still, seeing the bandage wrapped around his neck, a red-mark showing to be blood, gotten her very concern, besides that the blue-masked is alone and there was no sign of his brothers anywhere. "Get in."

She grabbed for his hand, gently urging him to come into her bedroom and shut the window when he silently entered her home. While this was her aunt's home, it seems clear that her aunt had a bedroom for April to have when she stays over. She had a dresser, a bed, her own TV and even a desk where her computer sat beside the door. April lead him to sit in the chair of her desk, kneeling beside her bed to pull out her own first aid kit and setting it on her mattress. She slowly reached for the bandage, giving Leo the opportunity to pull away or even stop her, before she undid the wrapping.

She gasped at the size of the cut, eyeing as the blood continued to escape with the bandage no longer clotting the wound.

"What happened?" She asked, grabbing for the disinfectant and new bandages from the kit, applying the spray to his cut and wrapping his neck with the bandage. "And where are the guys?" As she finished treating the cut and set the medical pack down on the ground, Leonardo answered her.

"We need to talk," he started. "I met this girl." April gasped from his words, thinking he found himself an actual girlfriend and wanted to ask her for any advice about girls. Before she could say anything, he held up a hand. "It's not what you think." His gaze showed concern for the girl, with a hint of anger and confusion, meaning that what he has to tell her is very serious. "She's a Kunoichi… From the Foot Clan."

She blinked at him, before realizing where the source of the cut on his neck come from.

"And the others?"

"They went to find Snake, that twelve foot humanoid-weed/insect mutant we fought when we went to save you and your father from the Kraang." She nodded her head, remembering that horrifying creature the guys fought. "Listen, April, do you know anybody that goes by Karai?" April thought long and hard, but couldn't find anybody who goes by that name.

"No."

"I see…" He sighed out. 'Which means, there's a chance Karai could either be attending another school or could even be homeschooled at the Foot HQ.'

Still, it's best to make sure she knows who Karai is.

"Do you have pencil and paper?" He asked, turning his chair to face the desk while the sixteen year-old reached for her backpack and gave him the two items he asked for. Leonardo instantly went to work, drawing out the helmet-like hair before adding in the girl's face. In barely two minutes, he finished the drawing and presented it to April. "This is what Karai will look like."

The redheaded girl eyed at the drawing, taken back at not only who this girl who dare to attack one of her friends looks like, but how well detailed Leo put in to the drawing.

"I never knew you can draw this good," she complimented.

'Not the first reaction I expect her to give me, but alright.' "April, I need you to pay attention for a moment. If you ever see her, day or night, do not engage combat. She's been trained by the Shredder, no doubt, and it's important that you don't try to take her on by yourself. Even with your training progress growing, don't fight her unless she attacks you first. Okay?"

April stared at the drawing a little more, then glanced at Leo, and nodded her head.

"So, did something happen that she's involved with? Besides the obvious." She pointed a finger to her neck, silently referring to the turtle's wound.

"I'm meeting her later at the Byerly Building," he answered. "I know she's got something planned."

"Yeah, like pushing you off of the Byerly Building. It's obviously a trap, Leo." She set the drawing on her desk, worry held within her Sky-Blue eyes when learning that Leo was going to meet this girl at the Byerly Building.

"Honestly, April, I don't think so. -He got off from the chair, heading for the window and opening it up to let himself out.- There's something about her that-… I don't know what, but something tells me that she isn't like Shredder or his followers. I swear, I saw there's some good in her. She had every chance to finish me off, but she didn't. -He turned back to April, who didn't look at all happy or very supporting to his decision.- I need to do this April. And no matter what happens, it'll be all right."

He launched himself from her window sill, grabbing for the ledge of the roof and took off before the girl could even call out his name.

She stood in front of the open window, looking to where Leo was last seen, worry held in her eyes and the uncomfortable of fear clenching her heart.

"I hope you're right." As she pulled her window to close, she thought long and hard on what she should do, until she went to her nightstand and reached for her T-Phone.

---

Meanwhile, at the Lair...
"Sensei, we need help!" Raphael called for their father, grabbing ahold of Michelangelo's feet while Donatello has the orange-masked turtle's shoulders. Both were running, carrying an unconscious Mikey into the Lair.

Hearing the distress call of his second eldest, Splinter came out from the dojo. On his shoulder, a nearly five weeks old Karasu took residence until Leonardo returns to take her out for some flying lessons.

"Set him down," he told the two turtles. Raph and Donnie sat the youngest-turtle on one of the couches, stepping back for their father to check over Mikey. Karasu hopped off of his shoulder, landing on the turtle's plastron and laid out on the youngest turtle. Splinter noticed they were short a member of their team. "Where is Leonardo?"

"He didn't come back? I thought he went home after our-" Raphael, still shook up from what just happened with their fight with Snakeweed, realized his greatest mistake he made tonight, besides having his youngest brother injure himself and remaining unconscious. "Sensei, this is a disaster, and it's all my fault. I don't know what happened. I just froze up. I mean, I have no problem risking my own life, but risking my brothers'?"

Splinter, fear held within his reddish-brown eyes from learning his eldest son is somewhere in the city, alone, immediately learned what has taken place amongst his sons.

"Now you see the price of leadership, Raphael: Responsibility. A task I knew you are not ready for."

"Yeah, I hate it." Saying that he hated it was more of an understatement. He loathed it; the weight on his shoulder, the responsibility… The burden of the job being leader truly brings, it was suffocating. He's truly amazed on how Leo seems to be able to carry the weight so easily, when Raph could barely stand from it pulling him down to his knees.

"So you understand Leonardo's burden?" Splinter asked his second eldest, who didn't need to be asked in the first place from the remorse look on his face.

"We need him back… I need him back." The humanoid-rat got to his feet, placing a hand on the red-masked turtle's right-shoulder, bringing the fifteen year-old to look into his father's eyes.

"You must find him, my son. Bring him home."

"But, Sensei, I don't even know where he is." And because Leo hasn't contacted them since their argument hours ago, along with the habit on setting his T-Phone to Stealth Mode in case somebody finds his phone to locate the other turtles or the Lair, since their incident with Dogpound and Baxter Stockman using April's stolen phone to see where they're hiding from Shredder, Donatello can't track down the blue-masked turtle's T-Phone.

"He's going to the Byerly Building." Said purple-masked turtle answered his brother's problem, earning a look from both brother and father on how and why he would suggest that specific building. "April texted me." He explained, holding up his T-Phone, showing them a text message from the sixteen year-old girl. Suddenly, realizing what he just said, he stared right back at the screen, hoping he didn't make a mistake. "April texted me?! -He got up to his feet, a huge smile on his face.- This is the best day!"

"Uuuuugh…" He was brought back to what happened to the youngest turtle from the turtle's groan of pain, earning disapproval glares from Raph and Splinter. Karasu, also not happy with Don's response, would've flew to the her genius turtle-brother and slap him upside the head with her wing, if she wasn't so focused on watching over her Older-Brother Michelangelo to distract her from her distress of her big brother out on his own in the city.

"Well, I mean, it's has its ups and downs."

Raphael rolled his eyes.

"Nice save, Donnie." He stated in a sarcastic tone, before turning to his father. "I'll find him, Sensei, and bring him back. No matter what. -He turned to Donatello- Don, stay with Sensei and look after Mikey." The genius turtle didn't argue with his hotheaded brother, as he and Splinter watch him take off in the tunnels to reach the Byerly Building sooner than going from the rooftops. 'You better be there, Leo… I won't let you try and run from our family, again.'

---

Midnight, on a Building Next to the Byerly Building…
At the top of the building, Karai slowly and calmly paced on the ledge, awaiting for the blue-masked turtle to show. While she may appear calm, she was really angry and annoyed… But, also scared. Somehow, Shredder found out she has encounter with Leonardo and she wasn't even certain if somebody from the Foot Clan was watching her from afar distance, considering she didn't sense anybody nearby while she and the turtle fought.

He didn't bought her lie that he got away, even using his first encounter with them to make a point didn't soften his lecture when he brought out the claws. Now, he has informed her that she's to finish him off… Which, honestly, she didn't want to do. Well, at least not right away. She wasn't lying to the turtle when she stated he was the first thing in the city that didn't bore her and the way he fought, she really enjoyed having an actual challenge than training with some wannabe ninjas who trained under the tutelage of Shredder and his prized student, Bradford.

Unfortunately, whenever Shredder, her father, gives her an order, she has to follow through with it, no matter how much she doesn't approve his decision or even wants to do the opposite.

'Times like these, makes me wish he wasn't my father.' As she continues pacing, the moment she turned her back, Leonardo appeared before her, silent and calm. "I was beginning to think you were a no-show, but you don't disappoint."

"You told me that you wanted to show me something," he reminded. "Whatever it is, it must've been important for you to stop our fight. -He slowly walk towards her.- Now, what is this about?"

She tossed him a pair of binoculars.

"That." She pointed to one of the windows of the Byerly Building. While many of the windows are dark, one of the windows showed a light dimming that his sharp eyes caught. Looking through the binoculars, his eyes widen in astonishment: There, sitting on a sword display stand, in a room with traditional Japanese art, was a long-sword in a black-scabbard… A sword Leo recognized from the rayskin handle marking from the blade.

"That's the sword of Miyamoto Musashi." He never thought, in his entire life, to be seeing a blade that once belonged to one of the greatest swordsmen in the world.

"The greatest swordsman in the history of Japan. -She kneels on the ledge to the turtle's right, eyeing at the window where the sword was being held.- It's ancient. It's priceless. And it's yours… If you help me."

The last thing she just said to him, it took him by surprise.

'"Mine"? Why would she-…? Oh, no. She can't be serious.'

Should've expected to see this coming, the moment she showed you the sword! She's wants you to steal it!

"Karai, I can't do that." He firmly told her, earning a disapproval look on her face.

"Come on, that sword is just sitting there, collecting dust." She tried to persuade him. "You know you deserve that Katana. Certainly more than some lazy rich guy. -She moved to be beside him.- Stop being responsible, Leo. Stop waiting for people to give you the life you want. Go out and take it."

Leonardo glared at her pushing.

'Does she honestly think that's going to work on me…? She may have a point of me taking what I want in my life, but stealing because of wanting of ownership for a blade I wouldn't even use? That's-…! What I expect of a human to do.'

Pup?

'Something's been bothering me about that sword.'

What do you mean?

'It's here, in North America. And yet, it's supposed to be a prized possession for Japanese History… How did a human, an American Billionaire, gets his hands on it?'

"Well, Leo?" Karai asked, becoming a little impatient and a bit awkward from the turtle being non-responsive to what she just said to him.

"…I can't." He answered, getting to his feet. "The moral rules I've been implanted to live by and Bushido prevents me from breaking into a person's territory, all to just steal something for some meaningless possession. No matter how much you may claim that I 'deserve it', I could never dishonor myself, let alone to the Great Miyamoto Musashi, by taking Mikinosuke for myself."

She glared at him for refusing to go along with her plan, but then lost that anger to confusion on what he just said.

"'Mikinosuke'?"

"That was the name of his first son he took in as his own," he explained. "Sadly, when Lord Taiyu died, Mikinosuke committed Seppuku… In a farewell feast, before he died, Musashi named his katana after his first son*… Besides, I could never replace my own Musashi, no matter how valuable that sword has been in history."

Karai, was really at a lost for words; under Shredder's teachings, you take what you want that you see as yours to claim and you take what you need if it'll save your life. However, this turtle wants to respect the Late Miyamoto Musashi by not taking the sword for himself. While that may be very predictable to what some goody two shoes would do, the sixteen year-old felt some form of respect to the turtle's reasoning… After all, she has to follow rules of honor, herself.

"…Although," he continued. "Something tells me that by stealing the katana, we'd be righting a wrong."

That caught her a bit off guard.

'First he said he can't steal it, and now he's suggesting that we do?! Can't he make his mind up?' "What do you mean?"

"I remember reading on an article, that a few years ago, Japan had an auction on weapons from the Feudal Era. Did that happen?"

The Kunoichi thought about it for a moment, recalling moments from her past in Japan on what occurred a few years ago. She eventually remembered Saki taking her to some of those auctions and educating her of their history. While they didn't end up buying any of the weapons, it at least gotten the girl interested on learning to use those kinds of weapons… At least, until her father had her covered in black and blue for nearly two months when trained to use each type of weapons that were displayed for auction.

"Yeah, it did." She answered. "Many of the buyers donated the weapons to the National Museum of Japanese History, while others claim those weapons as their lost family heirloom. But I don't see what this got to do with-"

"One of those weapons that were put for auction, was Mikinosuke… Said to be bought by Suzuki Katei, who was going to donate it to the National Museum of Japanese History."

Her chocolate/Amber-eyes widened by his claim. She grabbed for the binocular and zoomed in on the sword, anger boiling as it continues to sit there, collecting the dust that covers the great katana of Miyamoto Musashi.

"And yet, here it is, in America, owned by some lazy rich man." She growled out. Handing the binoculars back to Leonardo, she turned her back and walked off of the ledge, grabbing for her cellphone. Pressing a few buttons, she held the small device to her ear. "Shini, it's Karai."

Leonardo merely stared at her, watching as she has a conversation with this 'Shini' person.

'What sort of business does she have with this "Shini", that would have her involved with Musashi's sword?'

"Yes, Shini, I miss you too, but I need you to do something for me... At the National Museum of Japanese History, Miyamoto Musashi's Katana... I have a reliable source here, along with evidential proof, that the sword in the museum is a fake... Well, my source and I are looking at the sword right now, in some rich man's building, collecting dust as some prized display... Yes… Anthony Byerly... That'll do just fine... Thanks, Shini... Love you, too, Sis. Call you later."

Snapping her phone close, she returned to the turtle.

"I have a friend in Japan who's going to look at the sword at the museum, and verify it being real or not. Though, she thinks it'll end up being a fake as well. -She kneeled back on the ledge.- While she does that, how about we do some breaking and entering and get that sword?"

While he, too, wants to recover the sword so they can send it to it's rightful place, Leonardo has to follow Bushido.

"Unfortunately, Karai, until your friend informs us about the sword being stolen or replaced with a replica, I still can't steal Mikinosuke."

The sixteen year-old let out a sigh of annoyance.

"You're not going to let up, are you?" She asked, not believing he won't let loose and have fun, especially since they'll be righting a wrong.

"I need to be a hundred percent certain, that the sword in there is the real deal, before making such rash decisions." He answered, gazing down at the window where Musashi's Katana sat, unguarded and unprotected in case someone tries to steal if. "Besides, with enough evidence and verifying proof, we can show how far greed can lead a human to commit."

"...In other words, you want to have Anthony Byerly, publicly humiliated and exposed as the crook he is? -A smile of approval spread on her face.- Now that, is something I can agree on doing."

Leo smirked at her own conclusion of his meaning... Though, he wasn't going to deny on how satisfying that will feel to witness that possibility to happen, should it go according to plan.

Great, now you're going to act like her! You'll end up dishonoring the Hamato Clan, and yourself!

Not true. Pup won't commit action, only suggesting lesser of two evil on Pup's end. She-Pup Karai, however, will go along with idea... Yet, no matter false, wrong it appears, both doing good by returning fang to rightful land of birth.

"I gotta admit, I was worried that you were gonna let me down. But, once again, you proved me wrong." She smiled at the blue-masked turtle. "You sure know how to make a game a bit more interesting, including on finding ways to restoring honor and plotting a way to put a crook to justice."

He smiled back at the older-teen before him, actually glad to make her see from his view that she didn't need to commit a sin to have fun. Though, he knew that she'll still act to her old ways as a criminal... Which he sense will be happening very soon.

"While I do appreciate your compliment, I'd be more happier if you weren't pulling out your Wakizashi to use on me." Her eyes flashed with mixed feelings: Stunned that he saw where she was going to do, annoyed that she got caught... And great sorrow, that she has to do.

Immediately, she pulled her weapon out and charged, swinging at the air when the turtle dodged with a side flip.

"It's nothing personal, Leo." She said, smiling as she and the blue-masked turtle slowly circled each other. "It really was fun, hanging out and such. Unfortunately, I got my orders to dispose of you."

Leonardo sighed heavily, pulling Musashi and Kamiizumi from their scabbards.

"Figure that was going to happen... And hey, the feeling's mutual." They both kneeled to each other, just like they did in their last battle, got to their feet and then, at the same time, charged towards each other.

They glided blades, passing each other, before shifting back to stare at their opponents. Before either could make the next move, a pair of footsteps caught their attention.

"Leo!" It was Raphael, who finally found the closest building next to the Byerly Building, came running in and saw his older-twin fighting with a female Kunoichi. "What's going on? Who's that?"

Leonardo's left-eye twitched, a sign of annoyance that his brother just intervened with his fight against this girl that he felt some form of kinship with honor. He shifted his body to make it easier to face the two, as he quickly introduced the two with the other.

"Raph, Karai. Karai, Raph. Now that we've got that out of the way, we can continue where we left off." Raphael, while relived to have found his brother, was pissed from how Leo tried to wave him off and go back into a fight that the red-masked turtle wasn't a part of.

"Well, excuse me for interrupting your playtime with the Foot. But, in case you don't know, we're out there risking our necks with our fight against Snakeweed!" Leonardo glared at his taller brother.

'And you came all the way here, to blame me…? Something must've happened.' "If that's the case, where are Don and Mikey?" The red-masked turtle's Emerald-green eyes had a slight shift of its anger that appears to be guilt and self-loathing.

Looks like his time as leader didn't go so well.

Beta-Brother Raphael now sees position, role as Zeta, serious task in Pack. Not a game, especially in times of blood and war.

To his right, Karai was a bit taken by the way Leonardo interacts with his brother. It was kinda interesting, but a bit unsettling. She wasn't sure how, but somehow, she can feel a heavier burden radiating off of the blue-masked turtle, as he and his larger-brother talked and glare at one another.

'Now, I see why he doesn't try to loosen up. -Her eyes glared over to Raphael.- It's because of his 'brothers' for dragging him down and, no doubt, their 'Master', for making him the responsible one.'

While Raph tries to find the right words on what he wants, what he needed to tell his brother, Leo took notice something coming off of his brother from behind.

"What is that?" He asked, walking over to his brother and turning his shell to face him. There, on the top-left of his shell, next to his shoulder, was a yellow, powder-like substance. He touched the powder with a single finger and sniffed at it, making him sneeze when it irritated his nose.

Pollen?

Substance purposely leaves trail in air… Design to signal Beta-Brother's location.

Leonardo's eyes widen from the two suggestion.

"Raph, where is Snake?" He growled out, his sixth sense telling him that the humanoid-weed/insect is coming for them.

"We had him tied up at his Lair," the red-masked turtle answered. He turned his head to see what his brother's looking at on his shell, and finally took notice of the pollen and the trail the pollen was leaving in the air. "What the shell?"

"You just left him a trail to find you."

As if on cue, the sound of a hissing/click-like growl behind the second turtle, all turning and seeing a twelve foot mutated-weed pulling itself onto the rooftop and standing before them.

"I found you, turtles!" It was Snakeweed, and boy, does he look ready to strangle them in his vines and de-shell them with his own fang-like teeth. He brought down one of his vines towards the three teenagers, all of them dodging the attack by jumping over the vine when it went to grab one of them by their feet.

Raph and Leo dodged at the same direction.

"All is forgiven. You're the leader again. Welcome back." The red-masked turtle told his older-twin, rather quickly before the two pulled apart when Snakeweed brought down a foot to pin them to the ground.

Leo glared at his brother.

'Not really much for a proper apology.'

Not really the time for that! Stay focus!

The blue-masked turtle sliced one of the vines with Musashi, twisted himself to dodge one of the pincers before cutting another vine with Kamiizumi, as he and his brother circled the mutant to find the opportunity to strike. As he finished his somersault, he noticed Karai standing on the side line, not making any movement to enter the battle with them. He glared at the smiling teen, before he turned his attention back to Snake.

A vine wrapped itself around his right-wrist, its thorns cutting through his wrappings and piercing his skin. He leaned in and bite at the vine, resulting the vine to pull him to the side and slam him against the ground of the roof. He struggled to his feet, only for the same vine to coil itself around his shell and plastron, trapping his right-arm in the process and forced to let go of Musashi. His left hand, while able to avoid being caught in the vine, also had to let go of Kamiizumi to grab for the entrance of the building to prevent himself from being pulled back to the twelve foot mutant.

Raphael immediately got back into the fight, duck from a vine and launched himself to Snakeweed to free his brother, only to be whack down with another vine. He then wrapped his second vine around Raph's right-ankle and hauled him in the air, raising his pincers to suffocate the red-masked turtle, which the turtle caught the two sides and struggles to push the pincer away from him.

Again, Leo leaned in on the vine and bit down, hard. He ignored the taste of Snakeweed's abnormal blood making contact with his tongue, as he kept firm to his grip on the wall.

This isn't working! He probably doesn't have that much connection ties of touch to the vines, judging from his lack of reactions whenever you and your brothers would cut them.

Pup won't last long. Must free self and Beta-Brother.

'I can't reach for my swords and the shurikens take up too much time to aim, besides not being sharp enough to cause that much damaged to his enhanced skin.' He looked over to the Kunoichi, his eyes flashing her a pleading request for her to help. 'Please, Karai.'

All she did was smile at him... Then, with quick reflexes, tossed a tantō towards him. His eyes widened a bit, but didn't flinch or closed his eyes, even when small blade landed just an inch over his head.

"Sayōnara." She said to the blue-masked turtle, before jumping off the ledge of the rooftop, leaving the turtles with their fight with Snakeweed. Her response to his silent cry for her aid, truly caught him by surprise.

Don't think on that right now! Hurry, help Raph!

His left-hand let go of the wall to grab for the blade above him, allowing Snakeweed to pull the leader in blue towards him. He twisted himself in the air, slicing at the vine that bound him and brought up both his feet to deliver a powerful kick, imitating a kangaroo's attack. Thanks to the kick's distraction, Raph sliced at the vine that held his ankle and landed on his feet.

"What's the plan, Leo?" Leo looked around, figuring out the best source of action to take.

'Top priority: Avoid humans getting involved.' "Follow my lead, we must lead Snake away from the humans and their household."

"You're the boss."

Both twins ran from rooftop to rooftop, avoiding the whip lashing of Snakeweed's vines as they drew the mutant away from the houses and towards a more secluded area. As Leo and Raph scaled down a fire escape ladder, the leader in blue noticed a building that has a logo of a polar bear, laying on an F made of snow and balancing a snowflake on its left-paw.

'Chilly Chillkins Refrigeration Company?' He saw, just sitting outside of the building, nine storage tanks of liquid nitrogen. '…I got an idea.'

While this wouldn't be the best time to be asking, but… Who leaves out expensive, liquid nitrogen storage tanks, in the middle of the night? Anybody could easily steal this to save up a lot of money, or even sell it for a larger price.

'It could've been just delivered, not enough storage spacing for the rest, or perhaps the workers are just being lazy on their jobs.'

Focus, Pup!

"Raph, over here."

While Raphael isn't much for using his head, especially for science like his younger brother, but he has just enough smarts to know the cold isn't good for plants. So, when he saw where his brother is heading for, he followed Leo's plan to go for the storage tanks to use against Snakeweed. And speaking of Snake, he brought down one of his pincers to stop the two teens in their tracks before he dropped down to the street and slap the two towards the wall across the building. Raphael slammed his shell against the building, while Leo shifted his body to have his feet absorb the impact before dropping beside his brother.

"Now what?" Raph asked.

"We charge him." Leo's answer caught the red-masked turtle by surprise.

'He wants us to pull a… Me?' "Really?" The blue-masked turtle turned to his taller, younger-twin, offering him a confident smile of reassurance.

"Trust me," he replied. His gaze then went back to Snakeweed, who sent out one of his pincers to grab one of the turtles towards him. "Let's move."

Both ducked away from the pincers that slammed into the wall, then, after side-flipping to avoid the other pincer, Raphael joined his brother to charge for the humanoid-weed/insect. Leo, while making his way to the twelve foot mutant, avoided the left-pincer when it reached to grab his left-shoulder, then performed a triple mid-air barrel roll to dodge two of his vines when they slap down to pin him.

When he landed into a crouching position, he forced his legs to spring him up in the air and delivered a powerful spin kick to Snakeweed, sending the attack to his weak spot: His throat, where his heart is located.

Snakeweed let out a grinding screech, barely able to remain standing from the attack affecting his body. Leaving the mutant open, Leonardo ran around him to the liquid nitrogen storage tanks. At the same time, Raph went to make his mark on their enemy. Snakeweed tried catching the red-masked turtle with his vines, but the attack from earlier still left him a bit lethargic and his strikes were easily avoided. Raphael stabbed at one of the vines and, like Leo did before him, though with a little help from the vine, launched himself in the air and delivered a powerful kick of his own, landing for the head that he, with Donatello and Michelangelo from their earlier encounter, kept aiming for and failed.

The mutant slammed to the building, giving Leo a perfect opportunity to throw the tanks the creature.

'We need to stay clear from the tanks, or we'll run the risk of the liquid nitrogen to freezing us alongside with Snake.' He threw one tank at the mutant, only hitting his head but didn't rupture the tank. He grabbed for a second storage tank and charged for a closer target, only for Snakeweed to shove him back to the tanks, scattering them behind the turtle.

Raphael immediately went to aid his brother, attacking Snakeweed before he went to grab the blue-masked turtle. He got behind the mutant's head, wrapping both his hands tightly around his throat and forcing Snake to walk backwards. However, a vine wrapped itself around Raph's shell and pulled him off of Snakeweed, tossing him to the building. Taking safety precautions to not have no more distractions when focusing on one of his preys, Snake had a vine curl itself around Raph's throat and kept him pin to the ground.

Leonardo grabbed for a third storage tank and charged for their opponent, but a second vine smacked him back down to the ground, forcing him to release his hold on the tank. Excluding the vine that still has a hold on Raph, Snakeweed used his other five vines, including his two pincers to pull aside to put aside the five canisters that surrounded the blue-masked turtle, not knowing that one of the tanks is hiding behind the fifteen year-old's shell, who made a quick grab for it and hiding it behind his back when Snake pulled the turtle up at his face.

The moment he's face-to-face with Snakeweed, who screech at him, Leonardo bought up the storage tank and shoved it into the mutant's mouth, adding in a good kick to force it deeper. The turtle was released from the vine, as Snakeweed tried using one of his vines to remove the tank from his mouth, only to discover that his teeth had embedded themselves through the metal and slowly releasing the liquid nitrogen.

"Raph!" Leo landed on his hands and feet, glaring at the struggling and exposed humanoid-weed/insect. "Now!"

Following his leader's orders, Raphael brought out one of his sais and tossed his weapon for the blue tank. Upon contact, the tank burst and thick cloud of mist covered Snakeweed. When the mist subsided, instead of a green mutant, an ice sculpture of the twelve foot mutant appeared before the brothers, the broken storage tank remain in Snakeweed's mouth. The red-masked turtle sprang up, using the mutant's body to launch himself in the middle of the air and brought down his other sai.

"Booyakasha!" Like glass, Snakeweed's frozen body shattered into pieces from the impact of Raph's strength put into his weapon, his remains scattered all over the ground.

Seeing what's left of their enemy, made the red-masked turtle very much relieved to finally put an end to Snakeweed. While Leonardo, who came beside his brother to stare at the scattered ice of Snake, didn't feel the same.

'I don't know why, but something tells me he'll be back.'

He did came back, completely good as new, after being burnt to a crisp from your guys' first encounter with the Kraang. If Snake can can walk away from an explosion that burnt him alive, there's a possible chance he'll somehow come out of being turned into an ice sculpture… Shouldn't you gather his remains and melt them, or even toss him to the ocean?

Negative. Possibility to becoming threat to other lands is high. Even if Pup melts remains, remains will revive from water or even travel through wind before body repairs self.

'Meaning, the only option we have, is to leave Snake here and prepare ourselves for the next encounter we'll have with him.'

"Nice work." Raphael praised his older-twin, breaking him from his conversation with his Instinct and Conscience. Leo smiled at his brother, truly thankful of the truth and honesty he heard within his taller-twin's voice.

"Thanks…"

"And, uh… -the red-masked turtle looked away for a moment, clearly embarrassed and nervous on getting what he needs, what he wants, to tell the blue-masked turtle- …Sorry." The last word came out in a whisper, but Leo caught what he said.

'…He finally gets it… He finally learned the truth of what becoming a leader means, and how it isn't like playing a game or even intimidating others to do what you want them to.' "Apology accepted," he said. "Now, how about we get our weapons, and head on home? And on the way, perhaps you should tell me what occurred and how you figured out where I was at?"

---

Twelve-Fifteen, at the Lair…
The three older brothers gathered around their youngest brother on the couch, who remained unconscious since Snakeweed tossed him to the wall and hit his head. Thanks to the Mutagen, their bone structure has enhanced to take on more damage than a normal human can withstand.

Leonardo, kneeling beside Raphael on the ground, held up a slice of pizza before their knocked out brother… Who, after taking a few sniffs the second the food was presented, immediately came back to his senses and woken up.

"Mmm, pepperoni." Leo smiled at his brother, offering the food to the youngest turtle.

"Works every time." Raphael and Donatello, while feeling a bit dumbfounded on how easily their big brother got Michelangelo to wake up, were stunned that he actually woke up.

"Mikey!" Raph grabbed Mikey by the shoulders, pulling him to sit up and shaking him. "Don't scare me like that, buddy!" He then pulled his brother into a big hug, relief spread on his face. "I thought we lost you."

While still a bit lethargic and clearly confused, Mikey recovered from the shaking treatment from Raph.

"Dudes, I had the weirdest dream." He said, sounding very much tired as he started eating the slice of pizza. "I dreamt that the stuff in the sewers was made out of-"

"Eh, forget about it, Mikey. It was just a dream." Don made eye-contact with Leo, clearly giving him the signal to not ask or, figuring out what their youngest brother was just told, not to tell him.

Karasu, who sat comfortably on his left-shoulder, only stared, before letting out a few chirps to gain Leo's attention.

"How does he not know what comes down here, when he lived here all his life?" Leo smiled at the curious bird, gently stroking her head.

"That's how Mikey is," he whispered. In another translation, she knew he'll tell her later. Raph, meanwhile, grabbed his right-arm, gently pulling him to his feet to talk in private. They went outside of the Lair, so Don can check on Mikey and not have the two ease drop on their conversation.

"So, what's with the girl who tried to kill you?"

Leo let back a groan to his brother's question.

'Figure, he would bring up Karai.' "I don't really know much about her," he answered. "What I do know, is that she's dangerous to engage in combat. No doubt, the Shredder, himself, must've trained her to become a skilled Kunoichi."

"That would explain why she's in the Foot Clan." He stated, eyeing at the tantō knife in Leo's hand. "So, what do we do about her?"

Leo let out a tiring sigh, facing with a difficult discussion he has to address to his twin-brother.

"While she's in the Foot Clan, I'm afraid there's going to be some problem. -He held up the tantō, staring down at the blade.- While her intentions to work under Shredder is to hunt us down and kill Master Splinter, she still, inevitably, helped us with our fight against Snake."

"She threw a knife at you." Raph argued, not liking where this conversation is going.

"She, purposely, threw a tantō knife over my head, for me to use." Leo corrected. "Believe what you will Raph, but she could've left us before Snake made the first strike, let alone not give me her weapon to free me from Snake's vines and distracting him long enough for you to cut yourself loose. -He laid a hand on his brother's left-shoulder, a serious look written on the blue-masked turtle's face.- Raphael, she saved our lives. I'm honor-Bound to accept that fact and… In the Spirit of Bushido, I must test her."

That caught Raph by surprised.

"'Test her'? For what?"

You need to tell him, even though he'll not approve of this.

"Before you found us, we actually fought each other, twice. The first time, she retreated after I pinned her down. The second fight, she called to a halt to meet up at the Byerly Building. She didn't choose to linger in the shadows and strike me down when my guard is down, and didn't bring any Foot ninjas the second time we crossed paths. And while she may have sworn loyalty to the Shredder, she purposely defied his orders and chose, of her volition, to let us go and to even help us. Because of those reasons, I must give her the right to be judged… To see if she's worthy, on becoming our ally."

Emerald/green-eyes stared into Cerulean/Sapphire-eyes, a clear sign that Raph is uncertain on how he's going to react or what he's going to do… All the while, fighting to gain control of his anger, fighting to be release to release its wrath on his brother.

"…So, you're going to ignore the fact that she's from the Foot Clan, our father's sworn enemy to the Hamato Clan, all because she's 'different' from the other members of the Foot?"

His voice gave away his disbelief on what his smaller older-twin just said to him. The blue-masked turtle does feel guilty, even a bit surprised on how his brother could very much label him as a traitor, but he pushed those feelings aside to stand his ground.

"Don't forget, Raph, that Master Splinter's own father, Hamato Yūta, instead of ending the life of the sole survivor of the Foot Clan he and his clansmen killed, took in an infant he made into an orphan and raised him as his own, alongside Hamato Yoshi."

"And guess where that decision lead him, the Hamato Clan, Sensei and his family?"

That time, Leo let out a low growl at his brother.

'You dare put the blame on Sensei's own father? The man who raised Hamato Yoshi into the kind, honorable man he still is, to this very day? And not as Oroku Saki made himself into?'

Even Karasu glared at Raphael for his choice of words, already hearing the tale that Leo and his brothers heard from the blue-masked turtle, himself. Rather than hiss or even make an attempt to come at him, she remained quiet so the red-masked turtle can hear their big brother's anger. If Raphael was honest with himself, whenever he hears his own brother growl, a part of him makes him feel scared, as if he's faced with the boogieman who came out of hiding to terrorize him. And his eyes, they weren't the eyes of his best friend and twin-brother he grew up with, but of a feral, enraged beast, ready to spring up and snap his neck.

Sensing the fear radiating off of his brother, Leonardo forced himself to calm down and to put aside his growling. He gazed down, ashamed for scaring his brother, and still angry that he doesn't understand how much in a tight spot he's in.

"…I shouldn't have expect you to understand," he grunted. "You, Don and Mikey were never trained to uphold Bushido and its teachings, only the ways of Ninjutsu. While I, myself, was taught to become both, ninja, and samurai. And with that burden, I follow a strict code of honor that you three will never learn to live by."

With that being said, he turned away from Raphael and made his way to his bedroom, locking the door in case the red-masked turtle tries to barge into his own sanctuary to continue their discussion. As he made his way to lay on his bed, with the top-half of his body laying against the wall, Karasu, not wanting to feel the emotional pain coming off of the one who raised her since her parents death, came out from her spot and made herself comfortable on his plastron.

"It'll be okay, Leo." She said, nuzzling her head against the turtle's. "You did what you were taught was right, by Papa's own examples and teachings. You made the right choice, no matter how hard it'll try to cause a rift between you and our brothers. -She cuddled up underneath his chin, making small cooing sounds.- I'm proud to have you as my Big Brother."

Tears formed in Leonardo's eyes, as he placed a hand on her small-body, returning his display of love by the low rumbling leaving his chest.

"Thank you, Kara… I really appreciate it." He whispered, slowly letting his body slide down until he's completely flat on his bed. 'Times like this, makes me feel so bless to have her in my life.'

Yeah… However, she won't be here, forever.

The reminder of what's going to happen, to what he promised to Karasu's parents, made a stabbing feeling in his heart. The tears melted into his mask, leaving faint stains when he allowed them to fall. Karasu, obviously, can smell the tears, but didn't pull away or even said anything about it, only focusing on cuddling up with her big brother.

'…I know,' he thought. '…Is this what it's like, being a parent?'

In some ways, it is, Pup… And yet, it's also part of life: Letting go, so life can continue the journey of those who're ready.

'Yeah… If only Master Splinter can do the same.'

Sleep was slowly creeping up the turtle, but he knew he has to do something, before he allowed himself to sleep.

---

At the Same Time, At April's Aunt's House…
Sixteen years old, April O'Neil, paced within her bedroom. The concern, the fear for the blue-masked turtle prevented her from trying to go back to sleep. After she sent Donnie a text on where Leo is, she's nervous on how Leo was going to react once he learns she told on him to his brothers. A part of her suggested that she should let him handle the situation on his own with the Foot Clan Kunoichi, but a larger part of her didn't want him to be on his own and tried telling herself that she made the right choice.

Ping!

Her T-Phone went off, alerting the girl that she has a text message, and her gut feeling is telling her that the message is from Leonardo, himself. Wanting to wait until morning, but know better than to get over with whatever Leo has to say to her, the redhead reached for her phone and brought up the text:

Kazoku e yōkoso, Shimai.

That single sentence, truly caught April by surprise. While she's still learning Japanese, she was able to recognized most of the word. The last one, however, she doesn't know what it means. Knowing that the turtles are awake, she went a quick group text to the Raph, Don and Mikey.

Hey, guys, what does "Shimai" mean?

A minute later, she received an answer from Donnie… And the answer she got, was a huge surprise for her.

It means "Sister" in Japanese. Why?

April read the text over and over, making sure that what Donatello just said to her was exactly how he wanted to send the message to her, before putting the whole sentence together… Bringing tears of joy to run down her face and holding the phone to her beating heart.

Welcome to the family, Sister.

TBC

---

Yep, it finally happened, people. Leonardo has finally come to accept April as family. Don't worry, Leo will probably explain it in the next chapter… Which will be the next episode, which makes me angry and to one of the many reasons I hate Leorai (Which I never supported at all, even when I was eight when 2k3 turtles came out [I'm very glad they never implied for them to being a couple, ever, and that she ended up with Dr. Chaplin]) and how they made Leo act/behave!

*: If you guys look carefully, when seeing the alleyway and Leo saying "Where he-?", before the angle turned, you'll see a circle on the ground that shows to being a manhole-cover underneath the fire escape. Even if the guys were to see this and figure out that Snakeweed is hiding in the sewers, they would still be arguing when they couldn't find the trail and the show would still be as it was. Still, they probably should've had the guys drop down to find the manhole-cover and look around to see for any tracks.

*: Nobody really knew what Musashi named his swords, so I decided he named his sword after his first adopted son, Mikinosuke.

In other news, I'm officially on vacation for the entire week. So, hopefully, I'll get the chance to get some rest… Unless, they try to call me in, again, to clean up the other Courtesy Clerk's messes, again. On that note, my mom's birthday is tomorrow.

…And in two days, will be seventeen years since 9/11… And to this very, and many years to come, those who perished shall never be forgotten and those who risked their lives, will forever be heroes in our eyes.

R&R