You're Just Fine by The Creepy-Psycho-Loner
Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't bother me.
AN: Warnings: Very little "abuse", and maybe some language. Also if Genderbent turtles as humans aren't your cup of tea, go back (but please give me a chance!)
"Winged horse kick!"
"Hyaaa!" two girls yelled in unison.
"Iron fist punch!"
"Kyaaa!"
"Leaping tiger kick!"
"Raaa-"
"Wooah, omph!" fell one of the two girls.
"Finisshu..."
There wasn't anything in the dojo to break the poor girl's fall. She laid on the concrete ground for a few moments before quickly kneeling in front of her master, despite the pain. The other girl joined her and the two kneeled, heads bowed.
"Oroku Mikeru Angelo," their master said in a calm dark tone. His eyes were abysmal, his shoulders broad and authoritative. His black yukata, which fit perfectly around his muscular chest, sported the white foot emblem. His sleek gray keisaku was snuggly held between his fingers.
"Hai sensei." Mikeru knew what was coming next.
"You lack concentration, as usual. I'm very disappointed with you. Of course punishment must entail."
Mikeru was stoic as she bent over and gave access to her back and shoulders. It's been protocol for 14 years now (since she was the one who always messed up.)
The master held the keisaku up over his head. "This will hurt me more than it will you."
Mikeru didn't dare look up but couldn't help but to hear the smugness in his voice and could easily picture his twisted sharp grin. The master brought the stick down with brute force.
Mikeru sat leaned forward in her bed, a bag of melted peas on her back. There were two knocks at her door and the girl from earlier opened the door. Actually, the proper term for this 'girl' would be woman, since she was 23 years old. Her hair was black and blonde (she was naturally brown haired.) Her ears lacked the usual piercings in them and her usually red painted face was washed clean. She walked over to Mikeru and handed her a frozen bag of carrots.
"Thanks Karai," Mikeru sqeaked as they exchanged melted-to-frozen bags of veggies. Karai shrugged and sat on Mikeru's bed, door closed behind them. Their father almost always prohibited them from bonding together, as family were only "assets", but the girls found a way to talk together in their own silent way that not even their guards could understand. Fortunately the guards were not permitted upstairs, so Karai always snuck in Mikeru's room. Karai lifted her left arm and lowered it slowly. Signing 'Are you okay?'
Mikeru shrugged and poked her stomach. 'I'm used to it. But why don't you ever get in trouble?'
Karai smiled softly. She tilted her heard slightly, balling a tight fist. 'I do. But waaay worse than the way you get in trouble.' Mikeru thought her punishments alone were brutal. And when Karai came home with bruises, Mikeru always assumed it was because she fought or something. She gave Karai a pointed look, which Karai placed a comforting hand on her knee. 'I'm fine though.'
Mikeru sighed quietly. She blinked then put her hand to her chest. 'Not the point I'm saying, sister.' Mikeru ran a stressed hand through her messy neck length, dirty blonde hair. With her hands, she motioned putting on a backpack and running. 'I want to get us out of here.'
Karai lowered her gaze twiddling her fingers. She looked back up with tears in her eyes. She made a symbol for pain, and crossed her fingers. 'No one can escape Oroku Saki and live.'
He was tall, yet gracefully so. He had on a blue yukata and plain sugegasa. There was a small tanto in his sock, only known if one looked carefully. However, Mikeru was a ninja, so she knew those kinds of things. However, as he picked up an apple and examined it, she found him no threat. Mikeru walked past him and towards the vegetables. It was her responsibility to gather the food each month even if she was very young. She picked up a lettuce head, then another. She placed them into her bag and moved on. Once finished, she was rung up and Mikeru was ready to leave. Curiosity got the best of her and she called out to the ninja man.
He patiently turned around with soft brown eyes. Mikeru stopped for a moment, regretted her choice, and blurted out, "How come you wear your yukata in the american public?"
Before Mikeru could apologize, the man chuckled. "Well I do see you know your clothing well."
The two walked together. "Well of course, I'm from Japan." Mikeru leaned in closer with a whisper. "By the way, aren't ninjas supposed to blend in with their surroundings?"
The man gave this thought, to humor her. "I suppose so little one. But there is much more to being a ninja than that."
"I guess so... My name's Mikeru. Yours?"
"Yoshi. Nice to meet you Mikeru. Funny, that I have three daughters with names as unique as yours."
"Really?" Mikeru asked, curiosity peaked. Yoshi smiled and pulled out his wallet. He gave Mikeru a small photo. In the picture was a girl with very long, sleek black hair with deep blue eyes. The girl next to her had a shaved red mohawk and bright green eyes. At the end was a girl with fluffy brown hair in a bun with brown eyes just like Yoshi. The three were hugging each other and smiling widely.
"This is Reonaru or Leo as they love to call her. Then her twin sister Rafae (raf-ey) or Raph. Last but not least, Donna or Donnie. They are 18 except Donna who is 17 now."
"Wow... They look so cool! I'm only 14 but still... I wish I knew them..."
Yoshi was at his car and unlocked it. After putting his groceries in, he gave Mikeru another smile.
"My daughters would be blessed to know you, Mikeru," Yoshi said with a doleful smile. The statement that was full of so much emotion flew over the young one's head. With that (and without taking the picture back) Yoshi got in his car and drove off, leaving Mikeru in the dust staring at the photo of a family she's always yearned for. Then Mikeru remembered that she forgot to ask for their information and had the burning question of why Yoshi had opened up to her so quickly.
Mikeru gave one last longing look to the blazing horizon before heading home.