-Karai's POV-

It's been two days since the Shredder had lashed out at Leo for the first time. Leo had healed somewhat since then and was doing better than I thought he would. I have heard absolutely nothing from his brothers and I hope that they will finish whatever it is they were doing quickly. I don't know how much longer I could take of the love of my life being tortured without me being able to do anything about it...but I've learned to hide my emotions and suck it up like the emotionless kunoichi I've been raised to be. Yet still I feel my patience withering away and I know I must have my own vengeance on the man I once called my father.

-Normal POV-

"You've got to stop worrying so much" Leo whispered to Karai. She was currently sitting on his lap in the cell he has called home for nearly 5 days and they were talking quietly about anything that really came to mind. "How do you expect me to do that when all you do is sit in this cell only to be tortured later by the most evil spirit on the planet?" she whispered back as she looked at the ground. Leo tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear "Because you know in the end we'll be together and it will all have been worth the pain I'm given" he whispered planting a small, lingering kiss to her cheek. She let out a sigh and turned her head to face him "How can you be so calm about this?" He let a small smile split his face "Because I'm not worried about anything, I know that everything is going to be okay." Karai leaned her forehead against his "You can't know that" she whispered. "Stop trying to convince me we aren't going to be okay...we will...we'll make it through this" he whispered as he brought his hand up behind her neck and brought their faces closer together so their noses were touching. She sighed once again "I hope your right." "Aren't I always?" he asked with a small smirk. "Shut up" she said playfully as she brought their mouths together. After a few moments, Leo's t-phone, that Karai now carried with her, went off. They pulled away as Karai reached for it. She opened the text message that had been sent by Donnie and it had two words written in it 'We're ready'. Karai felt her heart skip a beat "It's finally time" she whispered. Leo smiled "Seems like the day is here...we're going to take down that son of a bitch then we...are going to be together again"

-Shredder's Lair (Main Room)-

Karai kneeled down in front of Shredder and bowed her head. "Karai...Leonardo has grown weaker and weaker over these 3 days and I want you to have a chance to lash out upon him" Shredder said in his deep, dark voice. Karai felt her eyes widen as she stared at the floor. "Father what is the point...I'm weaker than you why don't you continue to do it?" she asked. "You must be able to do these things when you take over the Foot Clan...do you understand me daughter?" Karai took a deep breath "Yes Father"

-A Few Hours Later (Dungeon)-

Karai opened the door to the dungeon with her Juji-ken in hand. She took a deep breath and held the blade downward in her hand as she walked to Leo's cell and opened it to find Leo asleep on the stone cold floor. She looked at him and then brought the blade up so she was holding it in both of her hands. She couldn't do it, she knew she couldn't. Back when they first had met, and even up to a year ago, she would have had no problem lashing out at Leo and would've actually enjoyed it...but now her heart wouldn't let her do this to the only person who had ever showed her love and kindness. Leo opened his eyes when he felt a presence while he was asleep. He sat up and saw Karai with her blade in hand. "Karai? What are you doing?" he asked. "I can't do it...I just can't" she whispered. He stood up and walked to her "Can't do what? What's wrong?" "I'm supposed to come in here and torture you but...I can't do that to you" she said as she shook her head. Leo looked at her with understanding and nodded. "Just do it" he said. "What?" "I said just do it...hurt me...Shredder can't know your not loyal" he said. She looked at him in disbelief " No...I can't...I rather he find out then hurt you...ever" she said. "You need to...tomorrow we're taking down Shredder and he needs to think that your against us and with him" he explained. "I'll never forgive myself I hurt you anymore than I have in the past" Karai whispered. "If you can do it to Raphael you can do it to me...just do what you must" he said worry free. She took a deep breath "Fine...but only because we need to take down Shredder" she said. He nodded and stood in front of her. Karai felt really bad inside and she didn't want to hurt him at all so she thought of a way to lessen the pain, or at least distract him from it. She walked up to him and used her free hand to put behind his neck and pulled her lips to his. Leo was shocked at first been then started to kiss back. Karai hesitantly brought the blade up and slashed across his arm, just enough to break the skin but not deep in the least. Leo hissed in pain and attempted to pull away but Karai kept their mouths together while slipping her tongue in his mouth and backed into the wall of the dungeon. She let her thumb move in a comforting motion and any other way she could possibly ease his pain. She slashed his leg he let out another muffled hiss of pain. She slashed once again across his plastron and that's when his body shook ever so slightly and he let out a low growl of pain as he braced both of his hands on either side of her body. Karai could tell that the plastron was probably more sensitive then his actual skin. When Karai slashed him a few more times she finally pulled away. "I'm sorry" she whispered as she immediately let the blade fall to the floor. "It's ok...you did what you had to" he whispered back. "It's not okay..." She said as she shook her head. Leo leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. Karai wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged back just as tight. Karai took a deep breath. "You okay?" Leo asked. She slowly nodded her head into the crook of his neck as if she was unsure of her answer. "We're going to be ok" he whispered into her ear "we're going to be ok"

-Tomorrow (Noon)-

Karai slowly made her way down to the dungeon. She didn't know wether she was excited or terrified of the events that would take place in a little less than 8 hours. She knew that she would be overjoyed when Shredder was gone for good but couldn't quite shake off a feeling of uneasiness about the plan. She walked into the dungeon and saw Leo sitting in the center of his cell, lotus style, meditating. She let a half smile split onto her face. She loved to watch him meditate, he looked so at ease and peaceful and it made him look even more adorable. "Are you just going to stand there and watch me? I know I'm irresistible and all but you don't need to keep staring" Leo said without even opening his eyes as a small smirk graced his lips. She let a faint blush cross her cheeks "You know if you don't want me staring I'll just go" she smirked. He opened one eye "But you won't" he remarked with a sly grin. "What makes you think so" she said as she put her hands on her hips. "For one...you love me too much and want to spend time with me and two you want to know what your role is in the plan tonight" he said with a triumphant grin as he closed his eye again. Karai gave him a playful glare "So you can sense presences and you can read minds now" she said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice "Sounds about right" he responded with a faint smile. She rolled her eyes "Whatever you say oh powerful one...so what is my role in the plan exactly?" she asked. "Your role is to stay out of harms way" he said as he took a deep breath while still trying to maintain focus on his meditating. "What! No way! I'm not sitting around while you guys take down Shredder by yourselves" she said firmly. "Karai I know you can handle yourself but it's us four against Shredder while his minions are already sent on a scouting mission in Japan, he's one man and without his minions he's reduced to almost nothing...I don't need you to get in between anything and end up hurt" he said taking another deep breath, eyes still closed. "Leonardo I will not stand by and watch! I will take down Shredder with you wether it's part of the plan or not!" Leo automatically opened his eyes at the use of his full name. She usually only said his full name during their more intimate moments, and hearing her yell it at him was surprising. "Fine...you can help but you leave Shredder to me" he whispered. "Deal" she said with seriousness.

-Roof of Shredders Lair (10
minutes before plan begins)-

Karai stood on the roof quietly leaning against the glass waiting for the three clad brothers. She had been longing for this day for months now. She could see it happening already in her head. She would be free. They would be free. She was pulled from her thoughts as she saw three shadows appear before her. She looked up to see them with the most serious expressions she'd ever seen, even Mikey. She looked to Donnie and saw that he was carrying a long katana in his hands. It was covered with a cloth over the blade however. "What's this?" she whispered. "It's the weapon Leo's going to use, it's coated with the deadliest poison and the sharpest steel...will kill Shredder within seconds" he said. She nodded, she had to admit it was kind of genius. "Is he doing ok?" Raph asked. "Yeah...he hasn't gotten too weak and he's definitely ready to go" she answered. "The plan is about to begin...let's take down Shred-head once and for all" Mikey said playfully yet serious at the same time. Above them the clock on the front of Shredders lair began to ring lowly signaling that it was eight o'clock. They looked at each other and nodded and went their separate ways as the plan began to take action.

-Dungeon-

Leo heard the clock go off. He knew it was time and there was no going back. He saw Karai open the door to the dungeon and unlock his cell. "You ready?" he asked as he grabbed both of her hands so she was looking at him. "More than" she replied with a small smirk. He smiled and took a deep breath through his nose. "Good luck" he whispered as he leaned forward and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "You too" she whispered as she quickly wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug then quickly retreated in the other direction.

-The Main Room-

Karai walked in to the main room and kneeled in front of Shredder. "Karai...are you ready to start your scouting mission for tonight?" he asked. "Yes Father" she said as she smirked at the ground. "Very good I need you to-" he was interrupted when the doors to the main room opened and revealed the turtles standing there ready for battle as they walked forward. "Karai! Get over here at once so we may dispose if the turtles together!" He said in a dark voice. Karai stood but backed up so she was standing beside the turtles. "Sorry 'Father' but I've decided that this is where I belong" she said with a sly smirk on her face. "What is the meaning of this!" "Well you see Orku Saki...you've treated us all like shit over your asinine vendetta with our Sensei...you've taken our freedom and our choices and now...it's over" Leo said. "You think you can take me turtles...so be it" he chuckled lowly as he leapt forward going for Mikey first. Mikey blocked the move and continued to fend off Shredder. "Why do the bad guys always go after me!" Mikey yelped as he desperately tried to hold off Shredders every blow. Raph growled and rushed in to help his baby brother. He fended off Shredders attacks and got one hit to Shredder. Donnie came in and took over for his brother. Donnie actually got a couple kicks in but got a couple scratches, nothing too dire. "I've had enough of this" Karai said as she ran up and took over Donnie's place. She dodged every blow that came her way. She brought her Juki-ken up when Shredder brought his blades down and they stayed like that starring up at each other. "Why do you do this to me daughter" he asked in a dark voice that dripped with disappointment and anger. "I am not your daughter...I don't belong here with you...I belong with Leo" she answered with hatred in her voice. "So you do share affections for the turtle...your a disappointment" he said and brought a hidden blade and stabbed her side. "Ahh!" She yelled in pain as she clenched her teeth and backed away as Raph and Donnie took over for her. Leo rushed to her "Are you ok?" he asked with severe worry. "Yeah I'm fine he didn't get too deep...I can handle this you go and finish him" she said. He nodded hesitantly and went forward for his turn with the Shredder. He took out the long katana and immediately started swinging at him. "You can not defeat me turtle" he said as he glared at Leo. "I think you underestimate me" he said as he kicked Shredder back and thrust the katana forward and it cut right through his armor and Leo left it there. The Shredder fell to the ground and glared up at Leo as he said his last words "I might have lost this battle but you have not won this war without a loss" he said as he breathed his last breath. Leo furrowed his eyebrows at what the Shredder had said, for he did not know what he meant. "Leo..." Mikey said quietly from behind him. Leo turned around to see his baby brother motioning to Donnie who seemed to be checking something on the floor. Karai. Leo felt his heart sink. 'She said she'd been fine...she's ok Donnie's just checking that she patched herself up correctly' he thought to himself. He rushed over to where Donnie was and saw a fair amount of blood surrounding Karai. "How is she Don?" he asked in a worried tone. "It...it doesn't look good Leo" Donnie said taking out a cloth he kept in his obi at all times, for when his brothers got injured, and placed it to Karai's side. She gave out a low hiss of pain before whispering "Leo..." "I'll give you two a minute but we need to get to the lab and I can try and do all that I can to save her" Donnie whispered looking down and walking away. Leo placed his hand over the cloth Don had been holding over her side "I'm right here...everything's going to be-" but he was cut off by Karai opening her eyes and speaking "Don't tell me it's all going to be ok...I'm already 99% sure it's not..." She whispered to him. Tears started to form in his eyes "No...you can't go...not now." "Leo...I'm not going to leave without a fight...you know that" she whispered and brought her hand up to his cheek. He let a tear slide down his face as he turned his head slightly and kissed her hand lightly. "Leonardo look at me" she whispered. "I don't want to leave anything unresolved if worst comes to worst...I love you...no matter what happens." Leo let more tears stain his face "Stop sounding like your saying goodbye" he whispered. She sighed "Just come here you idiot" she whispered as she leaned forward. He leaned down the rest of the way and their lips met. It was a short but passionate kiss in which Karai tried to tell Leo all she wanted to say. They pulled away and stayed close as Karai now struggled I stay conscious. "Leo we gotta go now!" Donnie said. Leo nodded and picked Karai up bridal style and they headed towards the lair as they all prepared for the worst emotional roller coaster they will ever experience.

-Epilogue-
-Leo's POV-

After Karai was rushed to the lab Don had worked for hours trying his best to make sure her heart kept beating. After a few days he had succeed and after a few weeks she had recovered. I guess you could say things are "normal" now. For me...life is perfect. Karai and I still maintain a close and intimate relationship, I'm closer to my brothers more than ever, and we still get to protect the city from the Kraang and Foot Clan since Tigerclaw took over. I wouldn't say we lived happily ever after but, maybe one day, we could.