Chapter 26

The next day Leo called a meeting with his brothers to discuss their options for taking the Foot Clan. They determined that, while it wasn't possible at the moment, there certainly had to be a way to do so in the future. And that was all Kayla could ask for.

After lunch, the guys all split up to do whatever they did in the afternoons. Donnie vanished into his lab, Leo into the dojo for meditation, and Mikey and Raph walked over to the pinball machine.

Kayla sighed contentedly as she headed to her room. Her stomach was full, she had a nice place to call home, and there was a possibility of reclaiming her father's legacy. A pleasant smile was on her face when she approached her door, fully intending on getting a nap.

Her plan was stalled, however, when she discovered Master Splinter sitting on her bed. "Sensei!" she gasped. "What are you doing in here?"

"There is something I wish to show you," the aging rat said cryptically. "Please, follow me."

Abandoning the thought of her blankets and pillows, the brunette bit her lip and did as requested. But when they arrived at the dojo, she was surprised to see all four turtles kneeling on the mats as if it was training time.

Splinter cleared his throat, drawing Kayla's attention. She knelt immediately, in deference to the ninja master. "Miss Brent, during the course of the past nine months, you have accomplished much. You have exceeded my hopes in your training, and you have proven yourself to be a brave and noble ally - one who is willing to stand up for what you believe in, even when others tell you it is wrong." At his words, Leo and the others flushed a little in embarrassment, but he ignored them. "You have risen above every challenge thrust towards you, and so I would like to present you with this."

Leo's eyes shone with pride as his father brought forth a carved wooden box. Splinter nodded to his eldest son and the blue-banded turtle rose, opening the box and pulling out brightly colored fabric.

Kayla inhaled sharply. It was a mask cut from a bolt of striking electric purple satin. "It's beautiful," she whispered, bowing from the waist. Leo oh-so-gently tied the mask around her head, adjusting it so that it framed her eyes.

"You are now a kunoichi, and a full member of the Hamato Clan," Splinter announced. "Rise, my daughter, and embrace your new life."

Mikey got up from his kneeling position as soon as she stood, throwing his arms around her. "Congrats!" he cheered.

"Thanks, Mikester," the newly graduated kunoichi replied, beaming. Her eyes watered with tears of happiness as she turned to look at her boyfriend. Leo smiled softly, his expression full of a thousand things words just couldn't say.

He kissed her then, slowly and tenderly, as the others laughed. "You know what time it is?" Mikey asked when the two broke apart. Before anyone could answer, he was already speaking again. "It's PIZZA TIME, BOI!"

As Mikey, Donnie, and Raph left the room to make dinner and Splinter went into his sleeping quarters, Kayla stayed behind, feeling the tails of her new mask. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind and she leaned into Leo's touch, closing her eyes.

"I'm so proud of you," he whispered. His deep voice made her shiver a little.

"You are?"

"I'm so proud that I'd go shout it to the world. If they wouldn't freak out as soon as they saw me, that is."

Kayla chuckled a little. "Come on, Casanardo. We'd better go before all the pizza is gone." She headed to the kitchen, pulling the leader along with her.

Once everyone was seated and had full plates, Raph cleared his throat and stood, raising his glass. "I'd like to make a toast. To Kayla. No matter what clan she decides to call her own, may she never forget that she is always welcome here. And may she always know that if she ever needs anything, we'll be here for her."

The brunette's eyes teared up again and she raised her glass with the others.

"To Kayla!"