Chapter Text
‘I can’t believe it. I can’t.’ Karai thought in horror as TigerClaw dragged her forcefully by the arm as he led her towards the throne room. ‘My father betrayed me. And I betrayed them… The turtles… My actual father……. My brother.’ She couldn’t lift her gaze from the floor as they walked, her mind being a mess. She couldn’t stop frowning from guilt. She had just found out the truth… And so did her brother… And now they are in a new mess. She couldn’t stop thinking about what is going to happen to her now. How far will the Shredder go in her punishment? Maybe he wouldn’t mind being extreme since she isn’t his daughter after all? ‘This can’t be right.’ Karai thought to herself as she remembered her conversation with Splinter.
‘Saki took you because he wanted to claim what he believes belongs to him.’
That’s what he told her as an explanation for why the Shredder had deceived her for so long. ‘So it probably means he still considers me as his daughter, regardless of genetics.’ She thought to herself.
Tigerclaw stopped in his tracks, causing Karai to bump her head onto his back. She shook her head, rubbing it in surprise as she saw the reason that Tigerclaw had stopped walking.
They have arrived at the entrance to the throne room.
Karai could feel a shudder going through her body as her shoulders tensed in horror.
She didn’t notice that she stopped breathing for a moment.
She wasn’t sure if she’s scared because of the punishment that is awaiting her, or because she has to confront the Shredder so soon and finally admit that this is her reality. That she was living a lie.
Tigerclaw let go of her arm as he straightened his back, causing her to snap out of her thoughts with a flinch. Then, before she was ready, the footbots from inside the room opened the door for them to enter.
Tigerclaw grabbed her arm harshly again as he walked her to stand before the Shredder, who sat on the throne with a menacing look.
Tigerclaw made her sit on her knees, as if kneeling, on the floor in front of the stairs that led to the throne. Her gaze was stuck on her knees as Tigerclaw spoke.
“Master. I have brought her as ordered.” Tigerclaw declared with a slight bow.
“And she betrayed you?” The Shredder asked as his frown hardened under his mask, glaring at Karai.
“Yes, master. She teamed up with the Hamatos. I did not manage to get the location of the lair.” Tigerclaw slightly growled as Karai kept silently looking at the floor.
The Shredder took a few calming breaths as he contemplated on what to do.
“Leave, Tigerclaw.” He finally ordered.
Tigerclaw bowed silently and left the room, leaving Karai alone with “her father”.
“So. I assume that you’ve found out their perspective of the story?” He asked directly.
She lifted her gaze from the floor to the Shredder in surprise. She did not expect him to be this straightforward.
Her frown hardened as she simply mumbled; “Yes”.
In a slight moment of hope that it was all the Hamatos’ lies, she finally got to her knees and asked.
“Is it true? Am I really Yoshi’s daughter?” She basically pleaded for him to tell her that it’s not true.
“...It is.” He replied with a sigh after a few seconds of silence.
Her eyes widened as she fell to her knees again.
“Then… What’s the point? Of all this? Of getting Donatello? Of everything!” She exclaimed in confusion, as she wanted to cry from the feeling of betrayal, and the heartbreak that she didn’t ever expect to experience.
“The point is setting everything as it should be. I will get Donatello back, and then we can lead the clan together. Live as a… Family.” The Shredder said, feeling the desire of the life that he could have slowly grow inside him. This is the closest thing he will ever get to having a family with Shen.
Karai had just stared at him in shock with her mouth agape.
“Are you… Serious?” She gasped out as she stared at him with wide eyes. “He’s from the Hamato clan! He will never agree!” She exclaimed, trying to get the Shredder to see some sense.
“Which is why I will make sure that he agrees, myself.” He responded with a growl as he clenched his fists. With a flick of his hand, Tigerclaw entered the room again, striding towards Karai and grabbing her by the arm.
“No- Wait!” She cried out as Tigerclaw started to drag her out of the room.
“You can’t do this! ‘Father!’” She yelled, as the door slammed behind her.
Tigerclaw locked her in a cell in the dungeon under “her father’s” orders. She still couldn’t believe it. She grabbed the metal bars, yelling at Tigerclaw in rage and panic as he walked away. But no matter how much she demanded, she was still left in the cell.