• Chapter 3:
    Settling In

    “Curses!” Oroku Saki shouted, sending his large punching bag flying across the room as he hit it. The Foot soldiers winced, having just told their leader that they could not find their escaped weapon. His dark eyes flared with frustration and anger. “Why haven’t you found her?!”

    Khan bowed, his red hair sweeping across his shoulders. “I apologize Master, but it’s such a large city.”

    “How hard is it to find a girl in our uniform?”

    Khan stood up straight. “I’ll double the search party. We’ll comb-”

    Shredder held up his hand. “Enough. Obviously this job is too difficult for you, Khan. I’ll be sending out Karai in your place, she is much more qualified to do this simple task.”

    A young woman with short black hair walked to the Shedder’s side, a smug grin on her face and her blue eyes pierced through Khan. “I am honored, Master Shredder. I will not let you down.”

    “I’ll hold you to that Karai.” Saki said gruffly, leaving the room.

    Miki jumped back as a large green fist came at her, Splinter easily catching it in his paw. With a slight movement of his wrist he had the red masked turtle on the ground. “What the shell is she doing here?” Raphael shouted, getting back to his feet.

    “She’s staying with us.” Leonardo said coolly. “Sensei took her in.” Master Splinter walked off to prepare a room for their new resident, Leo followed.

    “Something is troubling you my son.” Splinter said as they walked.

    “I’m not sure if it’s a god idea to have her stay with us, Sensei. There must be a reason why the Foot was after her.” The old rat nodded stopping in his room to get some spare blankets and pillows. “Don’t mean to go against you.”

    “I know, Leonardo. Now come, let’s set up her room.”

    Raphael and Miki stared each other down, neither of them moving. Raph started to become uneasy after a while; the girl’s blank face began to bother him. He grunted and walked off, heading for the training room. Miki looked around the lair, taking interest in the computer screens that glowed. She walked over to it, interested in the key board and mouse. She hit random keys, clicking the mouse.

    “What are you doing?!” Donatello shouted as he ran over; not paying attention to who he was yelling at. He sighed after a few minutes of trying to undo what she did. “Great, now I have to start all over again.”

    Miki felt bad. “S…orry…” She struggled to say. She heard the word several times before, but this was her first time to ever speak.

    Don looked at her. “It’s you. What are you doing here?”

    “She’s staying with us.” Leonardo said as he walked over. “Your room is ready Miki. I’ll take you to it.” Miki nodded and followed Leo to her room. Splinter was finishing putting her bed together. “It’s not much, but it should do.” Miki looked around, the room at the aged, blank brick walls.

    “I will ask April to bring down some clothes the next time she comes down, which should be soon.” Splinter said. Miki only nodded. He did not know what it was, but something about her seemed familiar. “Please do not leave the lair.”

    Miki stayed in the room for a while, but she left to explore the lair more. She walked a bit, looking around.

    “Watch it, dude.” Michelangelo said as Miki nearly stepped on a small pile of his comic books.

    “Sorry.”

    “It’s alright, just be more careful next time.” Mikey smiled, standing up with his comic books in his arms. “You’re a good fighter, you should train with us.” Miki didn’t say anything. “Something wrong?” She shook her head. “What Klunk got your tongue?” She raised an eyebrow, confused. Mikey gave an uneasy chuckle, uncomfortable with the silence. “Can you say anything, other than ‘Sorry’?” Miki shook her head, her brown hair sweeping across her back and shoulders. Michelangelo put his hand on her shoulder, smiling his goofy grin. “I’ll help you learn some more words, Ok?” The gray eyed girl only nodded, smiling a bit.

    A few days later April came down into their sewer home, Casey was with her. The two of them carried large boxes filled with old, but gently used clothes. By now Miki was changed out of her Foot uniform and was wearing some of Splinter’s old robes. The red haired woman smiled, setting the boxes down by where Miki was sitting. “Look through it and try on anything you like.”

    “Ok.” Miki said, looking through the several articles of clothing. Many hours passed as she picked out several outfits with April’s help.

    “You look great.” April said as she finished tying off the blue-green tie around the white sash that was wrapped around Miki’s abdomen region. “Let’s go show everybody.” Miki smiled and nodded, leaving the privacy of her room with April.

    “Look good?” Miki asked as she walked out to the main part of the lair. Her brown hair was brushed and tied back into a low pony tail, only two long strands of hair were loose, draping over her shoulders. She turned around, showing off her bright green tunic with blue-green lining that overlaid her white shirt, she also wore mid thigh high white socking. She fell backward, her foot slipping out of her sandal as she turned. April caught her and helped her back up.

    “You look nice, Miki.” Splinter said with a smile. “The color suits you.”

    “Thank you, Sensei.” She said, bowing respectfully.

    Splinter chuckled. “You are welcome Miki-Chan, but I am not your sensei unless you want me to teach you.”

    “I learn ninjutsu.” She said.

    “Very well. You will begin training tomorrow.”

    Miki’s gray eyes lit up with excitement and determination, eager to learn.