(Before you read this, you might consider reading the first book, TMNT:A New Recruit by me to get some background information. But if you don't want to, there is no need. Enjoy!)
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*Raph's POV*
"Here you go, Spike," I said, handing him a fresh leaf to chew on.
I had to so something to calm myself. Mikey had "accidentally" ran into my pile of ninja magazines while skateboarding and holding twelve pizza boxes on a bet with Casey.
But that wasn't the only thing. Recently I had been having nightmares beyond comprehension. They all involved cockroaches devouring everything I hold dear. My brothers, Sensei, April and Casey, and even our new friend, Kitanna.
Sensei was moping around, too, making it gloomy in the lab. My only ups were feeding Spike and checking on Kitanna. Her eyes were still yellow with her cat eye slits, signifying that she was in pain. I hurt her badly, but she forgave me, thankfully.
I sighed. Spike looked at me with his wide eyes.
"What?" I asked him.
He blinked in response. He then turned his head to the lab, where Donnie was talking to Kitanna about possible internal injuries she had. I turned to, just in time to see Kitanna nodding and leaving the lab.
Okay, play it cool. Don't become Donnie, I told myself.
"Hey, Kitanna." I said in a cool voice.
"Hello, Raph. How are you today?" She replied, her cape flowing behind her.
"Bored." I replied. I went to give Spike his leaf, and he bit me. He's never done that before... "Ouch! Spike, what the..." I looked down at him and he was smiling, looking over at Kitanna.
She was suppressing a giggle. I could see it. "Let me see," she said in as serious a tone she could through little gasps of laughter.
I subconsciously handed her my hand. She took it in hers, and she examined the bite. Her hands were surprisingly warm, and soft.
It was then that Spike turned and walked slowly over to Kitanna. He went to bite her arm, but her new black leather armor she made protected her skin. Spike continually chewed on the leather strap, making Kitanna laugh.
"Your finger is fine. This little boy, though," she rubbed two fingers on top of Spike's head, "Needs to eat different leaves."
"Different leaves?" I asked, looking at Kitanna. Spike had crawled up onto her shoulder and tried munching her black hair.
"Yes," she said with humor in her voice. "You see he is trying to eat 'harder' items so he can have a better stomach."
I laughed at Spike's nibbling and held out my arm for him to climb up. Spike looked at me, dropped the leather strap and climbed up Kitanna's arm.
Is he trying to... I thought. No, he couldn't... Could he? I had told Spike about Kitanna. Where she lived, her past, her black center back length hair, her mesmerizing green... and yellow eyes, her laugh... Was he trying to hook me up?
I laughed, both at Spikes behavior and the thought. He couldn't do that. I looked at Kitanna, and noticed her eyes diminish back to their green color.
"Kitanna, your... your eyes! They're returning to their green color!" I exclaimed.
Her hand immediately went up to her eyes. She stood and walked over to the water where our tire swing hung. "So they are! Now I won't be color blind... for now," she replied to her reflection.
"What?" I asked, walking over. Spike still clung to her shoulder, staring at the reflection of himself. He seemed surprised, or something.
"When my feline eyes show, they allow me to see in the dark. But when I see in the dark, all I see is green and grey," she explained.
"That's gotta be hard," I replied. I mentally slapped myself. What kind of response was that?!
She laughed and handed me Spike back. He squirmed, trying to get back on her shoulder. He wanted me to take him off her shoulder.
"What types of leaves?" I asked. Spike gave me an annoyed look. Only he and I knew what we were thinking. No changes in leaves.
Kitanna smiled and gave me a random hug. "Thank you Raphael. Your humor has healed me."
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*Splinter's POV*
Calm thoughts. Clear mind, open soul. I repeated in my head.
But the visions, they wouldn't stop. Yukiko lying in the hospital crib, barely breathing because she was so delicate. Tang Shen weeping as we left the hospital and our firstborn behind. Tears escaping my eyes as well.
But then the visions changed drastically. I ran back into the hospital to see my nemesis holding my child, claws extended. He turned, holding the moaning girl. "You left her for dead. You never were her father, so I took that job from you! As well as more," then he disappeared.
I ran up to the place he had been standing. I fell to the ground as I saw the hospital change into my burning house. Instead of crying I heard my wife screaming, Miwa wailing. But this time I had the front row seat to the torture. Shredder's claws extended and...
I opened my eyes. My breaths were in short gasps and my thoughts in a flurry. But one question stood steady in the snow. Why would he take one of my children but kill the other? It didn't make sense.
I had to know. A sign, a picture... the cloak and birthmark were enough, but I had to be sure.
The fighting stance. Of course! Children always inherit their parents fighting techniques, even if they were raised by another. Kitanna had been trained to kill, but she knew it was wrong. It was about time she had a new Sensei.
***End One***
