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Watching Talia and April's faces was commendable. You could think of any plot twist, any shocking revelation you had uncovered in your life, and yet no reaction was comparable to the ones Talia and April expressed right now.

I had been speaking to ninjas all this time? Talia's eyebrows and forehead were pulled up as much as was humanely possible.

A thick layer of silence smothers the atmosphere. The girls still had their mouths wide open. The Sato siblings had no idea what to say, so they only stood there awkwardly. No doubt this would be the part in every movie where the crickets would be chirping.

After much awkwardness and staring at each other, Mikey said, "Nice to see you again, girls," he sheepishly chuckled.

The clad who was in possession of the twin katanas sheathed them behind his back and stepped forward. He cleared his throat and said, "Me and my siblings apologize if we hurt you and April during the fight. Luckily, we managed to get here before the assassin could finish you off. Donnie was able to find out where you were."

Talia sized up this young man. There was refinement and elegance in his posture and features. He bore some resemblance to the kunoichi (who she assumed was related to him) and Raphael, but when she looked into his eyes, they were as limpid as a lake underneath the moonlight. His eyes had just as much seriousness as they had friendliness.

She somehow got the feeling he was the leader of his siblings.

"I am Leonardo," the leader introduced himself. "And these are my brothers and sister-"

"We've already met." Talia cut his sentence off. "Sorry for interrupting, but I met Raph and Mikey on the first day of school; for Donnie, it was prior. I believe the only one I have not had the pleasure of meeting is your sister."

"It's Miwa," Miwa said, tightening the elastic band around her ponytail.

"Nice to meet you."

"Adding to what Leo said, I was only able to locate you guys thanks to hacking April's GPS rigged into her phone," Donnie described accurately. Talia noticed he did not have his glasses on. "It was heading here, which was when I pulled all of the records of every listed apartment to see if I could get a hit with a name. And low and behold, this apartment is listed under Seth Elbaz, which was when I deduced that April was on her way to see Talia. Or both were on their way here."

"Also what was the deal with that son of a bitch?" Raph frowned, his arms crossed with a sai in each hand. "Up until today, I thought we were the only ninjas living in New York City."

"Yeah, whoever they were, they definitely aren't one of us," Miwa confirmed. Talia saw how her eyelids were deeply coated in dark eyeshadow; her eyeliner was perfectly even on both sides, something Talia thought was impossible.

"They belong to The Foot Clan," Talia spoke up. The siblings turned their attention to her. "You know, they and your clan—The Hamato Clan— have been enemies for centuries. Always threatening each other. Always threatening war."

The quintet furrowed their brows and squinted their eyes. Foot Clan? Enemies? For centuries? As far as they were concerned, their clan was the last of its kind. The only ones who knew the ancient Japanese battle art.

"Foot Clan? Kind of sounds like a cult, but for feet." Mikey cracked a smile because of how funny it sounded in his head.

"Why would anyone want to worship feet?" Raph rolled his eyes.

"I dunno. People like weird things."

"Oh, just like you, then."

Leo pondered over what Talia had said deeply. "We don't know anything about a Foot Clan. In fact, we've never even heard about them before you told us," he looked over at Talia.

Now Talia was confused. How could they not know?

"We can ask dad about it when we get back," Miwa said. "What I want to know-" she stared at Talia in puzzlement, -"how do you even know about our clan?"

"Research," Talia answered. "Some of your ninja clan's and the Foot Clan's history are transcribed in some of the books I've read in the library. But no one had any reason to believe any of the ancient ninja clans existed, seeing as how they went extinct a long time ago. I believed that, at least until a few days ago."

"If I may ask," Leo said, "why were you researching The Hamato and Foot Clan?"

Talia sighed. "Your clans were things of interest in my investigation."

"What investigation?"

Talia went quiet, looking slightly downward. Should I tell them?

"It's alright. You don't have to answer."

"I can't believe this." April held up a hand as if she were taking a minute. This was the first time she had spoken since the Sato siblings revealed themselves. She almost felt like laughing. "You're telling me that you guys-" she pointed at the quintet, -"are ninjas? You? All this time? And I never knew about it? Oh my god!"

She grabbed ahold of Talia's shoulders. Hysteria swelled up in the redhead's throat. "Taly, members of the Hamato Clan have been under our noses this entire time! Hol-y shit!" She laughed sharply. Was she losing it? Yes, yes she was.

"Maybe we should call the nurse," Raph opted.

"No one is going to come here at this hour," Donnie shook his head.

"Batman would," Mikey shrugged.

"Do you have Batman's phone number?" Raph asked sarcastically.

"You know he would never give that out, Raph!" Mikey slapped his brother's arm.

"Then there is no way to call Batman."

"I know," Mikey sighed, dejected.

Raph muttered something no one else could hear but him.

"Sorry we had to keep it from you, April." Leo scratched his head. "It was a family secret."

"Any more surprises I should be aware of?" April frowned.

"Our last name isn't 'Sato'," Mikey revealed. "It's Hamato."

April blinked. Her brain had officially stopped working.

"It's a long story."

"Indeed it is, but it is not one that we have time to share," Leo said. "We have to go. It's not safe being here."

"Wait." Talia suddenly remembered her father. "What about my father? He'll be back soon and will wonder where I am if he does not see me. Not to mention he will no doubt question why the apartment is a mess."

The siblings observed the apartment. It looked like a tornado had hit here.

"Oops." Raph looked at his feet.

"Like I always say, you can't always pick the ballroom, but you can pick what song you dance to," Mikey chuckled.

"I don't know if that makes any sense," Donnie frowned.

"It most certainly does."

"Text your father. Tell him that he can't return to the apartment, but assure him that you're alright," Leo advised Talia. He then frowned, hearing something the others could not. "More are coming."

"What do you mean 'more are coming'?" April questioned, but was cut off with the leader's hand gesture.

"We need something black. Hurry!"

Talia was way ahead of him. She opened one of the cardboard boxes and grabbed a long black tablecloth from inside.

"Now take off your shoes," Leo ordered. "Both you and April."

Talia and April raised an eyebrow, but hearing the urgency in his voice, did what they were told.

"Follow us." Leo put his mask on again. His siblings did the same. "Step where we step."

The quintet lead the girls down the stairwell. Talia and April made sure they duplicated their steps. Suddenly, the girls are pulled into the corner of the doorway. Wrapping the tablecloth around them, they camouflage with the darkness.

Beneath the tablecloth, the leader covered Talia's mouth and nose to stop her breathing. Donnie copied his brother's movements with April.

After a long beat, the group saw a ninja's foot silently glide past, climbing up the stairs. They did not seem to notice anything.

Leo and Donnie finally released Talia and April's noses. Before the girls could finish taking a full breath, they are yanked up and quickly descend down the remaining flight of stairs.

Inside Talia's apartment, the shadows sprung back to life. Four figures emerged, born from total darkness.

One of the ninjas surveyed the room, taking in the myriad signs of the fight: the turned over furniture, footprints, shattered lights, and slash indents on the walls. His dark eyes flashed.

Another ninja, a tad bit on the shorter side than her comrade, leaned forward and closed her eyes, allowing her nose to taste the air. Like a bloodhound tracking someone's scent, she inhaled slowly before whispering something: "They've taken the girls. Do you want us to track them?"

The first ninja turned to the windows and smiled. A hunter knows when the hunt was about to be over. "No. We're not following them to their little hideout. Let's report to the master."

***

As quickly as the siblings could, they traveled back to their home with Talia and April. They were not sure if they were being followed, but it couldn't be ruled out.

"I've never realized how weird it is being barefoot," April commented, wiggling her toes. "Or rather, sockfoot."

Leo opened the side door, allowing everyone to get in. He was the last to enter, so he locked it shut.

"You and your friend can borrow some slippers of mine," Miwa offered.

"Thanks Miwa," April thanked.

"Also, D, you must've been a fashion designer in a past life, because these clothes feel a-maz-ing!" Mikey gushed, pointing at his ninja suit. "Seriously, man, I don't think I want to take this off."

Donnie smiled. "The fabric is not only sturdy, but comfortable— perfect for free movement and sensitive skin. I will also add that the fabric I used is actually called 'Smart Fabric'. Imagine pants that alert you when you're starting to pack the pounds; shirts that keep track of your arm movements when you're playing sports; and underwear that tracks your-"

Mikey laughed when he imagined the next bit.

"Gross!" Miwa exclaimed.

"-Heart rate," Donnie finished, deadpanned.

"Oh, that doesn't sound so disgusting," Miwa said.

"Or funny," Mikey grumped.

"Some extra features I added include water & heat resistance," Donnie continued, "I'm also on the way to adding 'bulletproof' to the list."

Mikey gasped, his innocent doe blue eyes sparkled. "You mean to tell us that bullets can't hurt us?! ALRIGHT! We're going to be just like Superman!"

"That's only when you have the suit on, genius," Raph reminded.

"I still wouldn't let myself get shot by bullets," April frowned. "No matter how 'invincible' I am in a suit."

"Donnie, you're a genius, man." Mikey grinned.

"I know," Donnie said smugly.

"Watashi-no kodomotachi." Everyone turned to the source of the voice. The siblings addressed their father in Japanese. April gave a small wave. Talia only stood there, unsure of what to do.

He has to be the one who taught his children how to fight, right? And if that is true, then is he the leader of The Hamato Clan? Talia took all kinds of guesses internally.

Yoshi stroked his stubble as he observed Talia. He could come up with a thousand reasons over why she was targeted, and no reason would be a good one. Knowing the person who was pulling the strings, it had nothing to do with her, and everything to do with her mother (based on the confirmations that she was indeed involved with a criminal organization). While he was not certain Genesis told her daughter what she was up to, he would not put it past him that curiosity got the better of Talia and she went to search for answers.

"Are you Talia Elbaz?" Yoshi asked, linking his hands behind his back.

Talia nodded. "Your children saved me and April's lives. I don't know I can ever thank them."

"There is no need. You and April are alive, and that is what matters. However, I fear the assassin who attacked you will return. They see you as a threat."

"A threat? Why?"

"They must think you know too much. They are determined to silence anyone who know of their existence."

Leo looked at his father and asked if he could talk. Yoshi granted it. "Father, Talia said the one who tried to kill her and April is a ninja from The Foot Clan— supposedly our greatest enemy. But you've told us The Hamato Clan is the only living ninja clan. Unless. . ." he saw how his father avoided eye contact, ". . .you withheld something from us?"

Yoshi pursed his lips. He had been dreading this moment for many, many years. All he wanted was for his children to lead a peaceful life as much as they could, but he was only delaying the inevitable. He wished he could have it another way.

"Come to the dojo," Yoshi said. "It is time I tell you everything."

The siblings linger behind just a little longer to create some distance between them and their father.

"What do you think he's going to say?" Mikey nudged Raph.

"Probably explain why he was acting weird earlier," Raph guessed.

Everyone followed Yoshi. The quintet eyed Talia with curiosity, trying to figure out what to make of her. Talia had no idea how her life went from ordinary to messed-up. One minute she was getting ready for her junior year and had both parents, and the next she lost her mother, got evicted from the home she grew up in when she first moved here, and if that were not stressful enough, she had found out that an evil ninja clan thought to be extinct was behind her mother's murder.

All she wanted was for things to go back to the way they were.

She and the others were led down a hallway, where Talia noticed the many abstract paintings on the walls. When they reached the end of the hallway, Yoshi unhooked a painting that showcased cherry blossoms blooming during the spring. He pressed his hand against the area where the painting was, with a whirring sound following right after. The area seamed to split and break apart- like something out of a spy movie. Underneath the revelation was a security door access control keypad.

"I definitely didn't know that," April remarked.

After Yoshi entered the code, the dead end, much like the portrait, revealed a secret doorway. He went in, with his children on his tail.

"When I get my own place, remind me to install one of those," April whispered to Talia. The two girls followed after them down a winding flight of metal stairs. Once everyone was standing on flat ground, the staircase folded itself back up— something April and Talia found to be cool.

The room Talia and April were led into was guarded by door consisting of translucent sheets on a lattice frame— otherwise known as a shoji. The room captivated their attention as they saw the framed Japanese calligraphy on one side of the wall, versus the other which was home to several weapons racks and a mounted bamboo sword holder. The ceiling was supported by wooden columns lathered in tree oil, with the flooring composed of tatami mats. But what really caught Talia's eye was the painted screen doors located on the other side— strokes of oil-based paint depicting hauntingly beautiful ninjas lunging for a demon in metal armor. Seeing it made Talia feel like she was there there.

Yoshi's children were already on the mat kneeling before their father, so Talia and April sat down next to them.

Yoshi sighed deeply, gazing at everyone. "This is something I should have said long ago."

Everyone was all ears, getting as comfortable as they could get.

"During feudal Japan, no ninja clan was more well-known than The Hamato Clan. However, if there is anything I've learned in all my years of living, is that even where there is great good, there is always the possibility of great evil. . ."