Red has a hard time differentiating one day from another. She wakes up every morning, not knowing if it's a Wednesday or a Sunday, or if it's even actually morning. There aren't really anything for her to do, no schoolwork to finish or social life to maintain, but she still keeps busy, catching up with all the things she should have had sixteen years to do.

To her surprise Karai seems to cling to her mundane activities just as much as Red does. They start out with the basic things. The Oroku family has no shortage in money, and Karai has no problem sharing it. By the time they're done shopping Red's feet ache, but her eyes sparkle. She has her own wardrobe now, and there isn't a single yellow garment in there. She has discovered that she is especially fond of purple, black and red, with the occasional pink accessory. Karai wrinkles her nose at the pink boots and the practically luminescent handbag, but shrugs and hands over the money.

"As long as you don't make me wear it", she had said, and then they bought ice cream.

They buy tiny packages of black hair dye and several multicolored hair extensions. The dye worked perfectly on the tips of Red's hair, making her look rebellious and stylish. The extensions had the opposite result. They had a good laugh about it, and then threw the horrible things away.

They stay up at night having movie marathons, watching all the things April hates and that Red have decided to love. Karai has a huge collection of Japanese horror movies, mixed up with some b-films from the 80's. The effects are horrible and the plots mostly nonexistent, but the more she watches the more Red finds herself wanting more.

When they have watched all of Karai's movies two times over, and downloaded some new ones, they start doing it for real. Red's hands trembled the first time she walked into the movie theatre. She didn't know why; it wasn't like the other movie were going to see through her façade and start screaming about alien invasion. They watched some thriller that left no real memory in Red's mind. She loved it, though. not as much for the movie as for the experience itself. She was doing things. Real things. People things. It made her feel giddy inside.

The one not so normal thing Red and Karai spend their time doing is ninjitsu. Red has a hard time imagining that as someting a typical sixteen year old girl does.

No one knows about Red's presence in the Foot headquartres, so they only use the practice areas when everone else is away. No mutants, no Foot Bots, and most definitely no Shredder. Karai might be accepting, but Red doesn't have as high hopes about her father. She has yet to meet him herself, but April's memories and Splinter's stories are still fresh in her mind.

Red is a good fighter. Karai is better. She likes the bruises she gets, though. They are the proof of actual pain and hard work, not at all like April's flimsy psychic powers that can not be either practiced nor controlled. Red has none of the sixth sense that makes April so special. She can't read minds or shove things with her mind, although she's quite good at physical shoving. Her extra clone strength makes sure of that.

Red doesn't know how much time has passed. It's dark out, and she and Karai have taken to the rooftops to watch the illuminated city from above. It's beautiful, but Red's growing weary of it. New York is the only real memory she has, and the past weeks' many movie marathons has left her longing for more.

"Could I ever come with you to Tokyo?" she asks, not looking at Karai.

"Tokyo? Why? Don't you like it here?"

Red grimaces. "I guess. But I don't want to stay here for too long. I want to see the world, you know. I figured Tokyo could be as good a place as any to start. Besides, it's your home, so I wouldn't have to be alone."

"It is rather awesome", Karai admits. "Lots cooler than here. No weird alien brains on the streets, no mutant turtles. Lots of weird people though." She flashes a smile. "We'll fit in perfectly."

Red laughs, but then stops herself hastily. "Why are you doing this?" she asks. She doesn't even know why she lets the words slip. Maybe it's the sudden prospect of an actual future that makes her forget what she's saying.

"Oh, you are such a sorry creature. It's not like I could just leave you on the streets." Karai taps a finger to her chin, pondering. "Pity, I guess."

Red turns to her, rage suddenly churning inside her. "No," she says. "Give me the truth."

Karai hesitates and drops her poker face. Red can see a mixture of fear and anger on her face, perfectly blended. People like Karai aren't used to having to voice their emotions. Then she gets a hold of herself and stashes away both the fear and the anger where no one can find it.

"I... it gets kind of lonely, being the only child of a vengeful crime lord." She laughs, but it is a bit too shrill. "I've never had a friend to whom I don't have to hide anything. It's... nice." She grimaces. "That's mushy enough. Want to go turtle hunting?"

They wander the city, hopping from rooftop to rooftop. Red has no hopes about finding the turtles tonight. They are ninja, after all. But it doesn't matter. She can't remember the last time she was this happy. Was it that time Donnie rescued her father from the Kraang? Or when Leo helped her perfect a move she had been working on for weeks? Or possibly that time she teamed up with Mikey to play the perfect prank on Raph?

No. She pushes the images away. Not my memories. They aren't real.

That settles it then. This is the happiest she has ever been.

One day she will travel to Tokyo with her friend, and they will go shopping, and watch ridiculously violent movies, and eat junk food, and then they will travel the world, raising hell wherever they go. First they'll just have to settle this whole business with the Hamatos.

Not tonight though. Tonight they are having fun.

At least that was her plan. The whole thing shatters beautifully when Karai spots a green shadow move on a neighbouring roof.

Some ninjas, getting spotted without even noticing it.

Red sighs, abandons her plans for the night, and unsheets the sword Karai loaned her earlier.

That's when she notices the red haired girl straining to keep up with the turtles, and her heart drops.

April.