- Chapter 42 -

A Chinatown Ghost Story

Late one night, Dragon Face led a few of the Purple Dragons to a museum in Chinatown, preparing to break in.

"How we gonna get in?" one of them asked.

Dragon Face smirked, pulling out a ring of keys. "You wanna steal, steal a key."

"Or you could not steal at all," came a young man's voice. "That's an option."

The Dragons froze, turning back to see Tai, Mizuki, and Jade standing right behind them.

"Oh, fan-fuckin'-tastic," Dragon Face cursed.

"This is our turf, punks," Jade told them. "Now why don't we take a nice walk to the police station?"

Dragon Face scowled. "How about you kiss the fattest part of my ass!"

Mizuki sighed, drawing her bow. "Someone needs to teach you some manners."

Tai charged forward, kicking two Dragons in the face as Mizuki shot at Dragon Face, who jumped back to avoid the arrow.

"You punks ain't stopping us!" he yelled. "We're gonna get big bucks for the stuff in that museum!"

"And who are you selling it to?" Jade questioned.

"Yeah, right!" one of the Dragons chuckled. "Like we'd ever tell you we're swiping rare artifacts for Ivan Steranko!"

He froze up, realizing what he just said.

"Wow," Mizuki said flatly. "You're an idiot."

Dragon Face whirled on the man. "You dumb shit!"

"Sorry, Dragon Face," the man said sheepishly. "I wasn't thinking.

"Were you ever?" Dragon Face deadpanned before kicking a trash can at the ninja trio and running for the museum door, unlocking it.

"HEY!" Jade shouted, running after him just as he opened the door and went inside.

-X-

Dragon Face looked around the museum before his eyes fell on an ancient looking dagger in a sheath. Grinning, he walked over to it.

"Steranko's gonna pay through the roof when I give him this," he declared. "I'll be on Easy Street for life!"

"Is that so?"

Dragon Face whirled around to see Jade standing there, drawing her staff. He snarled at her.

"Stupid kid. You really think you can stop me?"

"Well, let's see," Jade mused, a finger on her chin. "I've got a big, solid metal staff, and I know how to use it. What do you think will happen if I hit you with it in, say, the clavicle? Or the kneecaps?"

Dragon Face grabbed the dagger, pulling it from its sheath before getting into a fighting position. "I'd like to see you try it."

Jade rolled her eyes. "When you see the sunrise from a hospital bed, remember one thing: you brought this on yourself."

Suddenly, the dagger began to shake and glow. Dragon Face dropped it in surprise, stepping back as it continued to do so.

"What the fuck?!" Jade let out before glaring at Dragon Face. "What the hell did you do?!"

"I didn't do nothing!" Dragon Face retorted. "That thing's whack!"

A blast of force sent Jade flying across the room, slamming into the wall next to the door as Dragon Face's cohorts entered. Laughter sounded as from the dagger emerged a ghostly figure with a thick black beard, dressed in ancient Chinese robes.

"Greetings, Purple Dragons!" he declared. "You may now bow before your master, the great sorcerer Ho Chan."

"Uhhh…" Dragon Face let out, "what?"

"I said bow!" Ho Chan ordered, pointing at them.

A bolt of lightning fired from his finger near the Dragons' feet, and they instantly did so. As the ghost's attention was focused on the Dragons, Jade used the confusion to slip out the door. Staying out of sight, she listened in on the conversation.

"Man, the guys aren't gonna believe this..." she whispered.

"W-what are you, man?" Dragon Face stammered. "Some kinda ghost?"

"You can call me Ho Chan. I was once the greatest practitioner of the most ancient form of martial arts." He performed multiple katas, making whoops and kya's similar to Bruce Lee. "To the ignorant, untrained eye, my abilities could be mistaken for magic."

"You gotta be kidding me…" Jade muttered as she looked on.

"I would have been the ruler of the universe, had I not been trapped in that accursed dagger thousands of years ago!" Ho Chan went on, levitating the dagger to his hand and crying briefly before chuckling and looking over the Dragons. "We are not so different. Well, besides the fact that you're all simpering idiots."

"Hey!" Dragon Face said, offended.

"Uh…" one of the Dragons said cluelessly, "what's simpering mean?"

"Oh, nothing," Ho Chan dismissed. "But I can make you buffoons stronger! More powerful! If you serve me."

"I dunno," Dragon Face said uncertainly. "We've already got ties to someone-" Ho Chan gestured at him and a lightning bolt struck near his feet. "But that can change!"

"Excellent!" Ho Chan declared. "I knew you'd see things my way. Now then…"

Jade looked on wide-eyed as Ho Chan fired lightning bolts at the Dragons, lifting them up.

"Moron, I grant you the power of lightning!" Ho Chan declared as One of the Dragons fell to the ground, now crackling with electricity and donning a conical straw hat.

"Stupid idiot, you become thunder!" The second Dragon fell, also wearing a straw hat. He created a yellow energy ball in his hand and threw it at a wall, where it exploded with a thunderclap.

"And numbskull, you are wind!" Dragon Face, also wearing a straw hat, fell to the ground and began spinning rapidly, a tornado forming around him.

"Together, we will rule the world!" Ho Chan declared. "Now, go find me a lair of opulent beauty, worthy of my divine power."

That was enough for Jade. She immediately turned tail and ran out the building as fast as her legs could carry her.

-X-

Outside, Tai and Mizuki were surprised to see Jade running, a look of utter terror on her face.

"Jade, what the-" Tai let out.

"Don't ask questions!" Jade shouted, running past them. "Just run! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!"

Deciding to just go with it, Tai and Mizuki hurried after them.

Down in the dojo, Splinter looked over photos of himself, with Shen and baby Miwa. He had a wistful expression about him, one that drew the attention of Kasumi.

"Yoshi…" Kasumi greeted, approaching him. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Splinter told her. "Just… remembering."

"Thinking about Donatello's retro-mutagen?" Kasumi asked, getting a nod. "Do you think you'll take it?"

"I honestly do not know. I have been like this for fifteen years. It is hard to see myself as anything other than the rat Splinter. Yes, being human and going to live on the surface has been a dream of mine that I have had... such a feat will make it much easier for Saki to track me down."

"Whatever you decide, you have my full support, Yoshi," Kasumi assured him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Splinter smiled, placing his hand over hers in a gentle, peaceful moment. One that was sadly interrupted when the sound of stampeding footsteps descended into the lair.

"GUYS!" Jade screamed.

Alarmed, the two adults hurried out to see a hysterical Jade alongside Tai and Mizuki, standing before the Turtles, Hisako, and Kagome.

"Jade?!" Donnie said in surprise. "What's wrong?!"

Jade was so shaken up and terrified by what she saw that for the most part, she just started babbling incoherently.

"Hang on," Mikey said. "I speak crazy." He approached Jade as she started sputtering and gasping, making giant hand motions before clapping her hands together and making a thunder sound. "She's saying that she, Tai, and Mizuki encountered the Purple Dragons in Chinatown, they unleashed some kind of ancient spirit that gave them all elemental powers, and they barely escaped with their lives."

Jade nodded, confirming his story.

"Wait, wait. Hold it." Hisako walked over to Jade. "You're saying the Purple Dragons unleashed some crazed ghost, that said ghost gave them powers… and you just LEFT THEM ALONE?!"

"What could I do?!" Jade objected. "Crazy powers?! A fucking ghost?!"

"A what?!" Kagome asked, stiffening.

"A ghost, Kagome!" Jade screamed. "I'm not crazy, I saw it! The Purple Dragons set loose some freaky Chinese ghost!"

Kagome went pale, backing away. "Oh no, oh no, oh no…"

"So…" Raph began, "anyone else want to slap her back to reality or should I?"

"Jade, calm down," Tai ordered, disregarding Kagome for the moment. "Just calm down, and tell us what happened."

Jade slowly sit down, taking cleansing breaths. "Right. Okay." After one last breath, she began her story. "We saw Dragon Face and some of his mooks breaking into a museum. I followed him inside, and he grabbed this ancient dagger. All of a sudden, it's glowing and shaking, and this giant, sorcerer ghost comes out, saying he was their new master."

Raph twirled his finger near his ear, whistling in a manner imitating a cuckoo clock. Jade jumped up, glaring at him. "Shut the fuck up, Raph! I know what I saw!"

"Okay," Donnie said. "I'm beginning to believe in mutants, aliens, and… whatever the Rat King is. But ghosts? Seriously?"

"How many times do I have to say it?!" Jade demanded. "Ho Chan is real! He had freaky powers and everything!"

Splinter and Kasumi stiffened, looking nervous.

"What was that name?" Kasumi demanded.

"Ho Chan," Jade replied.

"Didn't I hear that name in a Kurt Russell movie?" Mikey asked.

"That was Lo Pan," Donnie pointed out. "Totally different."

"Kasumi, who is Ho Chan?" Hisako asked. "And why do you seem scared of him?"

"Ho Chan is a figure in a story my father used to tell us," Splinter explained. "During the Shang Dynasty in China, he was a feared and powerful warrior."

"He did tell the Dragons that his martial arts skill was so incredible that people mistook it for magic," Jade recalled.

"That honestly does sound terrifying," Hisako admitted.

"He wreaked so much havoc that in 987 BC, the Emperor paid a group of sorcerers to stop him," Kasumi explained. "The battle was long, and bloody, but in the end, Ho Chan was stripped of his physical body, and his spirit sealed within a mystical dagger. They then disposed of the dagger, throwing it into the Yangtze River."

"Only for it to show up in a museum in modern-day New York," Donnie mused.

"Wow," Mikey remarked. "Just like when the Sword of Tengu showed up in that Japanese museum."

"That's real, too?!" Mizuki exclaimed.

"Yep," said Hisako. "Krang and his men were the Tetsu-Oni who gave the Sword to Koga Takuza."

"We'll fill you in later," Leo said, snapping them back to attention. "So, Ho Chan is real, and has all these freaky powers. The real question is... how can we stop him?"

"According to the story my father told us, only the mystic dagger that was used to seal him away can harm him," Splinter said.

"Then we need to find that dagger," Hisako said. "I'll call April, combat power with power."

"The rest of us will scout out Chinatown to find them," Leo declared. "We'll wait to move once we're all together."

"Right," Kagome said nervously. "You guys do that, and I'll... I'll just stay and tidy up the lair."

"Awww…" Vee teased. "Big, bad ninja's afraid of ghosts."

Mikey held up a cockroach, causing Vee to scream and retreat into her shell. "Just like you and cockroaches, huh Vee?"

"We need all hands on deck for this, Kagome," Donnie insisted. "Sorry."

"Jade saw what Ho Chan can do!" Kagome exclaimed. "How he supercharged Dragon Face and his mooks! This isn't Shredder or Krang! This is an actual, freaking ghost wizard!"

"Which is why we're gonna need everything we got for this one," Leo rationalized.

"Alright, fine," Kagome sighed, standing up. "I guess I'll just… ESCAPE!"

She made a break for it, only to find herself surrounded by a green glow and running on air.

"Nice try," Hisako told her. "We all have to face our fears. Including you."

Kagome sighed in resignation. "I hate you so much right now."

"I know you mean love!" Hisako retorted.

Meanwhile, Dragon Face and his goons led Ho Chan to the old, rundown building the Purple Dragons used as a hideout. Ho Chan looked around the area, unimpressed.

"What the heck is this?! This is your lair of opulent beauty?" he demanded, giving the area a deadpanned glare before shrugging. "Well… it will serve."

"Happy to be of service," Dragon Face replied.

At that moment, Hun came down the stairs. "There you are. Did you get the thing for-" he trailed off as he noticed the ghostly figure of Ho Chan. "The hell?

"Ah, not this is more like it!" The ghost looked Hun up and down with an approving sneer. "I am Ho Chan. Your new boss."

Hun scoffed, and Dragon Face raised a hand. "I'd listen to him, Hun. I'd hate to have to take you out."

"Excuse me?!" Hun shouted. "I'm in command here! When Master Shredder finds out about this, he'll have your heads!"

"Shredder?!" Ho Chan exclaimed, a blast of force knocking Hun back. Hun stumbled backwards as Ho Chan pinched the bridge of his nose. "That no-good… you'd think after a thousand years, a family would die out. Who is the current Shredder, and where is he?"

"His name is Oroku Saki, sir," Dragon Face replied without hesitation. "And he's in Japan on business."

"Curses…" Ho Chan grumbled before glaring at Hun. "If I cannot destroy him, then I'll just destroy everything he stands for! Starting with this overgrown buffoon!" He snapped his fingers, and out of the blue, glowing blue ropes descended from the ceiling and wrapped tightly around Hun, stringing him up like a piñata. "Congratulations, buffoon. You get to tell me everything you know. I'll know if you're lying. And I have ways of making you talk."

Hun glared at him. "What exactly is your beef with the Shredder?"

"You really wanna know?" Ho Chan demanded. "That overgrown cleaving knife stole my thunder! Everyone's heard of the great Koga Takuza and his stupid Tetsu-Oni! But old Ho Chan?! Oh, no. He stole the legendary fame that was rightfully mine!"

After a minute, Hun raised an eyebrow. "...That's it?"

"Does there need to be more, buffoon?" Ho Chan retorted.

"Well, I'd be more impressed with your motive if it was, say, being pissed at losing to a past Shredder in a fight. That he was the one who killed you."

"You kidding? I was sealed away long before that upstart was even born." Ho Chang then gave a shrug. "Well, I'll soon one-up him. On to other matters." He turned to Dragon Face and the others. "I need you to perform a very important task for me. I need a girl with a very special power. That will return me to my physical form."

"Just one?" Dragon Face questioned. "I can think of two off hand."

"Only one will suffice." Ho Chan closed his eyes, sensing. "I can feel one nearby. A girl with red hair, dressed in yellow. A girl by the name of April O'Neil."

Around that time, Kasumi returned home, letting out a small sigh.

"Ancient Chinese ghosts," she said aloud. "And just when I thought I had seen it all."

As she went into the living room, she froze, sensing something was amiss. She carefully looked around, going on high alert "You know, breaking into the home of a ninja master isn't exactly a smart move."

"Maybe…" a familiar voice began. Kasumi's eyes widened in surprise as Karai stepped out of the shadows. "But I'm sick of waiting."

"Karai…" Kasumi managed before her expression darkened. "You do not want this fight."

"Oh, believe me, I do..." Karai hissed, walking over to her. "I've tried to send soldiers after you, mutant monsters to destroy all you love, powerful robots meant to bring about your demise. But in the end, never send an underling to do a kunoichi's job!"

She landed a fast punch to Kasumi's face. Kasumi's head reeled back before she turned back to her with a glare.

"I'm warning you," she said, her voice calm but cold. "Leave. My. Home."

"Not until your blood paints these walls!" Karai shouted.

She landed a punch to Kasumi's ribs, and then threw a second punch… only for Kasumi to effortlessly catch her fist, bending her arm back. Karai gasped, her eyes widening in surprise.

"I warned you," Kasumi told her before throwing her to the ground. "You should've listened."

Karai's eyes blazed up at Kasumi as the teen slowly got to her feet.

"Stand down and go home, Karai. If I wanted it, you'd already be dead."

"No!" Karai shouted, drawing her tanto. "I'm not leaving until I avenge my mother!"

She slashed at Kasumi with her sword, but the woman effortlessly side-stepped her attack.

"Stop screwing around and fight me, you bitch!" Karai screamed.

"I will do no such thing," Kasumi said firmly. "You're a confused child, one who has been lied to by the man she calls her father."

"Shut UP!" Karai screamed, charging at her again, only to miss every attempted blow. She was starting to breathe heavily, losing her grip on her composure. "Fight back! Why! Won't! You! Fight! BACK?!"

Kasumi grabbed her arms, pinning her to the wall. "Because I'm not your enemy."

Karai glared at her, not buying it for a second.

Around that time, the Shellraiser rolled up to the 2nd Time Around. The Turtles and co. went into the store, where Kirby was manning the cash register.

"Hi, Mr. O'Neil," Donnie greeted. "Is April in? We need her help on a case."

"I'll go get her," Kirby told him. "And please, call me Kirby."

He went upstairs to get April, while the others talked things out.

"So," Leo began, "what exactly did they bust into the museum for?"

"One of the Dragons said they were stealing ancient artifacts for some guy named Ivan Steranko," Mizuki told him.

Donnie immediately ran a search on his T-Phone for information. "Got something! Ivan Steranko. An arms dealer based in Moscow. He's got ties to the Foot."

"Of course he does," Raph muttered. "Shredder's got his hands in every pie there is."

"They broke into the museum for antiques to sell him," Tai remembered. "Sounds like he's got an eye for art, too."

"So he wanted the dagger because it was a rare antique?" Hisako questioned. "Not because of the Chinese wizard ghost?"

"Sounds like it," Donnie said.

"As for the dagger, one of the last things I saw was Ho Chan picking it up," Jade reported. "It's most likely with him right now."

"Oh, great," Kagome moaned.

"That's where April and I come in," said Hisako. "We just need to get the dagger away from him."

"Yeah, let's let April and Hisako handle it, and just relax," Kagome declared a little too quickly. "Pizza, anyone?"

She turned, but barely made it a step before Jade stomped down on the end of Kagome's scarf, snagging it and sending her to the ground. Choking and gagging, Kagome loosened her scarf before glaring daggers at Jade.

"Are you trying to kill me?!" she shouted.

"No," Jade replied. "Just trying to keep you from running off."

"What is with you, Kagome?" Raph asked. "You've faced down aliens, mutants, and the Shredder. Why are you so hung over on ghosts?"

"Oh, I don't know," Kagome answered in a short, annoyed tone. "Maybe because they're TERRIFYING AS HELL?!"

"Chillax, dudette," Mikey told her. "Ghosts can't hurt anyone. They literally can't touch you.

"Hello?! Have you forgotten what Jade saw Ho Chan do?! He's not just a regular ghost! He's got magic!"

"Well, we're not regular ninja," April cut in, making her way downstairs. "We got this, Kagome."

"You heard everything?" Leo asked.

April tapped the side of her head with a finger. "Psychic, remember?"

"Right..." Mikey nodded. "I keep forgetting there's two of you now."

"Okay, we got April on board," Tai said, clapping his hands. "Now, we gotta find Dragon Face and his cohorts."

Almost as soon as he was done talking, a massive clap of thunder sounded outside, and everyone jumped out of their skins.

"I think they found us," Jade deadpanned.

They ran outside, seeing the three bespelled Dragons.

"April O'Neil!" Dragon Face shouted. "Our master has need of you and your power."

"Ugh, again?!" April moaned. "Why are all the villains we faced so obsessed with me?"

"You get used to it," Hisako told her.

"Ho Chan isn't getting her!" Leo declared, drawing his swords.

"Stupid mutant freak," Dragon Face retorted. "We're stronger now! More powerful! You ain't stoppin' us this time!"

"We'll see about that!" Raph shouted, drawing his sai and charging at them.

Dragon Face spun in place, whipping up a tornado around himself that blew Raph back and into a wall.

"...Ow..." the red turtle groaned.

"This… is gonna be hard," Vee declared.

Back at the Lee mansion, Karai continued her assault on Kasumi, but found herself greatly outmatched against her more experienced opponent.

"I won't fall for your lies!" the irate teen kunoichi yelled. "Father told me what you two did! Hamato Yoshi killed my mother in cold blood out of petty jealousy, and you burned down the dojo to cover his trail!"

"You have it all wrong," Kasumi insisted. "Saki is the one who killed Tang Shen. The fire was caused by fallen candles when he and Yoshi fought. Your mother was an innocent casualty... when she gave her life to save Yoshi."

"Stop lying to me!" Karai was close to tears at this point. Bitter, angry tears.

"I speak only the truth, Karai," Kasumi continued, casually evading all of Karai's attacks. "You're not Shredder's daughter. You're Hamato Yoshi's child. Hamato Miwa, the daughter Saki stole from Yoshi out of petty jealousy and spite."

"Why should I believe anything you say?!"

"If you require proof…" Kasumi threw Karai into a small shrine in the corner, one set up for Tang Shen and Kohaku. The entire thing collapsed on her, and a photo fell in her lap. Karai pulled herself up, and gasped in shock as she looked at the photo. It was of Yoshi holding a baby Miwa next to a smiling Shen, Kasumi, Kohaku, and baby Kagome with them. They were seated on a picnic blanket in front of a group of cherry blossom trees, all of them as happy as can be.

"That was your and Kagome's very first hanami, (1)" Kasumi explained, walking over to her. "You were so happy... trying to catch the pedals in your little hands."

"No…" Karai let out in shock, pulling herself up. "It… it can't be!"

"It's true. You are not Oroku Karai. You're Hamato Miwa."

"No… that- That's not true!" Karai screamed, clutching the sides of her head. "That's impossible (2)!"

"Take the photo and look within yourself. You know it to be true. You have your mother's heart… and your true father's sense of honor." Karai took a step back, the photo still in her hand, as Kasumi looked on, a slight glimmer of tears in her eyes. "And for what it's worth, Miwa… I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

Karai took a few steps back, then just bolted out of the house. Kasumi watched her go, then sighed, getting to work setting the shrine back up.

Back with the Turtles and co., things weren't going too well. Lightning cracked, wind whipped, thunder howled, and they were helpless before the Dragons' power.

"They're too strong!" Vee shouted.

"We need to hold them back!" April declared.

"YES!" a new voice cheered.

They all jumped as Ho Chan materialized behind the Dragons. Kagome yelped, hiding behind Raph.

"This is my power!" he declared.

"That's him!" Jade screamed, pointing at him. "That's Ho Chan!"

"That's Ho Chan?" Mikey asked, confused. "He looks like that slimy advisor from Mulan."

Ho Chan glared at him. "You dare mock me, turtle creature?!"

"Sorry," Mikey told him. "I just expected you to look a little more... imposing."

"What do you want with April, Ho Chan?!" Leo demanded.

"I have been cursed without flesh for two thousand years. My power is ancient and vast. But April O'Neil exhibits a power I have never encountered, a power that Ho Chan will take to become flesh once more and rule the universe!"

"A clown like you couldn't rule a damn bowl of Jello!" Vee retorted.

Ho Chan scowled, then looked at Kagome, seeing her cowering behind Raph. "At least one of you knows how to respond appropriately when faced with your better."

She screamed and retreated farther behind Raph, who growled and got into a fighting stance. Ho Chan rolled his eyes, and then his hands expanded before he stretched them out and grabbed April.

"Giant hands!" he bragged. "My contribution to the ancient arts. Everybody loves giant hands!"

"Let me GO!" April screamed.

She tried to summon her powers, but the yellow glow flowed from her body and into Ho Chan. As this happened, his body began to solidify. Hisako got to her feet, realizing what this meant, and ran at Ho Chan.

"Get your hands off her!" she shouted as she jumped up, landing a solid kick to his face and knocking him back. Seeing him fall, Hisako grinned, her hunch having been proved right. "Guys, he's solid now! We can hit him!"

Ho Chan wiped his lip, gasping in surprise upon seeing the blood on his hand. "I feel… For the first time in centuries, I feel something!"

"Well, feel THIS!" Hisako screamed, punching him in the face.

Ho Chan swung at her, but she ducked, grabbing the dagger tucked into his belt and yanking it away. Hisako unsheathed the dagger and made to stab him with it, but he kept blocking and dodging.

"No magic necessary!" he boasted. "It's all in the reflexes!"

He expanded his hand and punched Hisako in the face. She flew back, slamming back first into the wall, the dagger flying out of her hand and landing near Kagome. She looked at it, then at Ho Chan, who was focused on Hisako. Ho Chan raised his hand, which crackled with lightning as he prepared a final attack… and Kagome immediately grabbed the dagger and charged at him, plunging the blade up to the hilt into his back.

"Reflexes or not," Kagome told him, "you should learn to watch your back!"

"No!" Ho Chan screamed. "Not again!"

His body converted back to spirit form, and he was promptly sucked back into the dagger. Kagome quickly sheathed the blade before helping Hisako to her feet. As this was going on, Dragon Face and his pals screamed and collapsed, unconscious, as their magic powers were drawn out of them, and the energy Ho Chan absorbed flowed back into April, who sat up.

"Okay…" she said, "let's never do that again."

Kagome looked down at the dagger in her hand. "He wasn't so tough. Can't believe I was actually afraid of him."

"So what're we gonna do about him?" Jade asked, pointing at the dagger.

Donnie smirked at that. "I've got an idea, since tossing it in the ocean didn't work last time."

-X-

At the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island, Donnie dug up a patch of earth in the grossest, smelliest corner he could find before pulling Ho Chan's dagger out of his pocket.

"Please!" Ho Chan begged from within the dagger. "I can make you powerful, rich, whatever you desire, seriously!"

"What I 'desire' is to never see your pitiful face again," Donnie told him. "Enjoy your stinky eternal rest."

With that, he dropped the dagger into the hole he dug and began shoveling dirt onto the dagger. As he shoveled the last of the dirt into the makeshift grave, Ho Chan made one last vow.

"You haven't seen the last of me!"

"Yeah, yeah," Donnie said flippantly. "Heard it all before."

Later, at the lair, Kasumi told Splinter and the Hamato teens about what had happened at her home.

"Karai did WHAT?!" Kagome exclaimed.

"I can't believe this," Leo muttered. "Even after what happened with Chrome Dome, she refuses to learn..."

"Well, I can believe it," Raph said bluntly. "Her family tree is rotten to the core, and the apple fell straight down."

"Raph!" Leo objected.

"No!" Raph snapped, whirling on his brother. "Don't you fucking say it, Leo! There is NOTHING good or redeeming in Karai! Shredder made damn sure of that!"

"Seriously Leo, you're the one who hasn't learned here," Kagome added. "I figured her insulting Hisako would be enough, but then her jealous rampage with Chrome Dome, and now attacking my mom? Why can't you see that she's a snake through and through?"

Leo blinked. "You too, Kagome?!"

Kagome nodded. "I'm sorry, but I'm with Raph on this one. Karai's beyond saving."

"How can you be so cold?!" Leo demanded.

"How can you be so stupid?!" Raph shot back. "She made mutants and robots to kill us. She sicced Chrome Dome on April out of jealousy! She broke into Kagome's house and tried to kill Kasumi! Just how many lines does she have to cross before you get it through your thick head that she's EVIL?!"

"Enough!" Splinter slammed his walking stick on the ground. Everyone turned to him, seeing the grief-stricken expression on his face. "Enough..."

Raph and Kagome's anger was instantly replaced with horror, realizing that they had just made all those disparaging, hateful remarks about Splinter's daughter right in front of him.

"Dad..." Raph managed. "I-I'm sorry."

"Master Splinter... Oh my God, I-I didn't mean..." Kagome dropped to her hands and knees before him, kneeling. "Forgive me."

"Rise..." Splinter sighed. "Your anger is understandable, and it grieves me to think that... that I failed my daughter so... That I allowed Saki to take my child... my Miwa... and turn her into this..."

"No, Yoshi," Kasumi insisted. "It's my fault. If I had just gotten to the dojo sooner..."

"We can't change what happened," Leo cut in. "And throwing blame at anyone but Shredder isn't going to help anyone."

"Maybe so, but I'm afraid that Karai might be beyond help," Donnie said. "She was raised by Shredder, Leo. Her entire life has been molded by him. She knows nothing else. And making her question everything she does know?" He shook his head. "The chances of her coming around are close to zero."

"She saw Kasumi's photos of her as a baby, Leo, and even that didn't make her come around," Vee chimed in. "If that didn't do it, I don't know what will."

"Yeah..." Mikey agreed. "We're up a creek without a paddle here."

Leo had his arms crossed, racking his brain for a solution. He perked, slowly turning to Hisako. "Maybe not."

Hisako looked up, then her eyes went wide. "No. Leo, I can't."

"Can't?" Leo asked, narrowing his eyes. "Or won't."

"Do you even realize what you're asking me?" Hisako demanded.

"I'm asking you to get Karai to see the truth, so that Dad can have his daughter back." Leo said matter-of-factly.

"No. You're asking me to force Dad to relive the worst moment of his life," Hisako let out a breath. "When I look at memories, when I force them to the surface... I bring up everything. Including the raw emotions tied to that memory. If I make Dad relive the memory of Miwa and Tang Shen, that will include the kidnapping of one, and the murder of the other. All that pain, anger, grief... it'll be like he's back in the dojo, the day it happened."

Leo winced, the implications of his request finally dawning on him. Hisako sighed, placing a hand on his shell. "Believe me when I say I get it. Like you, I want to try and help Karai to see the truth. But... I can't do that to Dad. I can't, and I won't."

After a few minutes of thinking it over, Splinter nodded, making a decision. "I'll do it."

Everyone turned to him.

"Yoshi..." Kasumi let out.

"Dad..." Hisako managed.

"Dad, didn't you hear what Hisako just said?" Mikey questioned. "She does this, she's basically ripping stitches out of your brain! Reopening that old wound!"

"If it means saving Miwa, I will endure any hardship," Splinter assured them.

"That's all well and good, but how would we even get Hisako close enough to Karai to even do this?" Raph wondered, crossing his arms. "More than that, how would we get you close enough? She's more likely to take your head off."

"That, big bro, is the million dollar question," said Vee.

Author's Note:

(1): Literally means "flower viewing." The Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers; flowers ("hana") are in this case almost always referring to those of the cherry or plum trees.

(2): Perfect opportunity for an Empire Strikes Back reference.

Another one bites the dust. Next chapter: Shredder returns from his business trip, with new, vicious foes for our heroes.

Please R&R. Until next time!