TMNT: Karai Short Stories

Two Times Karai thought about ending it all and one time, attempted.

Hey, guys, sorry I'm moving so slow with this. I thought I had more free time but guess not. Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter. Warning: heavy depression, if you can not handle it, please, do not read.

1.

"Karai. Pimiko. Stay close..." Shredder orders sternly as they walk through the dark halls. 12-year-old Karai and 11-year-old Pimiko were doing their very best to stay close to their father as well as aware of their surroundings, knowing very well that they could be attacked at any moment. Karai and Pimiko went on small missions before but with Bradford and Xever, never before had their father offer to take them.

Karai was a bit excited, because she felt like if her father was joining then it must be a very serious mission unlike her kiddie ones. Pimiko, on the other hand, looked very nerve wracking and distrusting, she was still working on hiding her emotions, but it was very clear to Karai that her sister did not trust their father to lead them, she just slightly hopes her father does not notice.

Shredder raises his hand once they reach a corner, quietly singling his daughters to stop and they obeyed as they watched him go down. Karai and Pimiko waited back, and they both flinched when they suddenly heard fighting going on. They glance at each other, wondering if they should go in or not but then, "Come, my daughters!" Their father calls them, and they quickly go out to see their father looming over a man who was trembling from head to toe. "P-Please, I surrender! I will tell you anything!" He begs but Shredder just scoffs in disgust as he turns towards his daughters. "Karai."

Karai walks forward, only glancing once at the frighten man before looking at her father's serious gaze. "This man worked for the same man who dishonored our clan, I want you to handle him." Karai frowns in confusion. "Handle him?"

In response, Shredder snaps out his blades from his wrist, and at that, Karai knew what he meant. "But Father, he is surrendering, do we really have to?" Karai has never killed before; she knew it was an action that sometimes had to be done but she has tried everything in her power to avoid it. Shredder looks at her sternly. "It does not matter. He has dishonored us and the only way our honor can be restored is to take his life."

"N-No! Please!" The man cries but Shredder silences him by kicking him hard on the side of the face. Karai keeps her face stern, but her heart feels heavy as she hears the man whimpering beside her. "Then shouldn't you do it? You are the master."

"I want you to become stronger. Once you kill, you will be able to destroy all of our enemies and, you are my eldest, if you want to become the next Shredder, like you say, then you need to prove to me that you can be strong, hold our honor, and protect our clan," Shredder explains plainly and at that, Karai becomes conflicted. Pimiko notices her struggle and scoffs before taking a step forward to her father. "Father, I can do it-"

"You silence!" Shredder shouts. "You have already made your first kill, now it is Karai's turn!" Pimiko flinches slightly then scowls before giving a quiet bow to him, taking a step back. Shredder glares at her for a moment longer before turning his attention back to Karai. He goes on one knee and puts a hand on her shoulder, making her look him in the eyes. "You are my successor, Karai, I trust you more than anyone else and I only want to make you strong. Will you restore our family's honor, the one that he stole?" Karai bites the inside of her cheek, uncertainty then Shredder's 'gentle' voice turns dark. "Or will you fail me?"

Karai tenses and slowly shakes her head. "No, Father."

"Prove it..." Shredder says while standing back on his feet and motioning to the still trembling man. Hesitating only for a moment, Karai pulls out her sword and walks over to him. "Pl-Please, don't!" Karai bites down on her lower lip so hard that she is sure it bleeds as she lifts up her sword. She mouths to him, 'Sorry' before bringing it down...