Of Ninja and Samurai
Summary: Four young turtles put on a play for Splinter about a story he once told them.
Rated: K+
Splinter looked at his four eight year old sons, "Your lesson today is learning how to act, I wish you four to do a story of your choosing as a play."
"Cool, we get to play!" Mike beamed at the thought the boy seemed very impressed at the idea.
Splinter chuckled, "Yes and no," he replied kindly his dark eyes sparkling, "This is not play like hide and seek Michelangelo, rather you are each to take a part of the story and act it out. You can use some of the clothes I have found topside and even use the practice weapons if you need to for your story."
Leo looked towards his father, "What story do we have to tell Sensei?" he wondered.
"Any story of your choosing but you must all agree upon it. It is up to you who will play what role and how you will tell the story. However, it should be a story you know quite well for I want to see it in about an hour." Splinter looked at each of the four boys. "I want to see how well you know the story and can act it out for me."
After a few more questions from his sons and some answers Splinter left the four to come to their decision.
"We could do the three little pigs." Mike suggested.
"You're the only pig around here," Raph retorted. "If we play that I wanna be the wolf."
Don nodded "We could do that story but I'd like somethin' different …"
Leo shook his head. "A wolf trying to eat pigs, nah it's an okay story but Donny is right we ought to try something a little more, like the other stories Splinter tells us about Ninja and Samrai."
"Samurai" Don corrected, "but yeah, I mean he's ninja I think Splinter would like it better then one about pigs and a bad wolf because wolves aren't bad. They have to hunt and eat."
Raph grinned wide, "I love those stories."
"They are the best stories of all!" Mike crowed, "But which of them will we do?"
"Well, we could do Death By Sword, The Warning, The Trap or The Appa…appa'riton in white." Leo suggested. He like all of his brothers had heard all these Ninja stories often and the boys loved hearing them over and over again.
"The Apparition in White" Don smiled "that one is so freaky very ghost like."
"If we do that one I want to be the Ninja." Raph insisted.
Leo grinned, " Maybe we can all take turns at being Ninja and Samurai," he suggested, "We could do a play for Splinter each night and we all take turns."
The others quickly agreed rather liking the idea of Leo's plan and all of them getting the chance to play the sneaky ninja that was always found in these stories.
After a little more talk and some idea of who would be playing what role in the story they spent a little time practicing what to say or do as well as getting together what they felt might be good costumes for it.
Just before the hour was up Leo went out to the living room to see Splinter in his favourite chair a cup of tea, near by. Leo bowed, "Master Splinter we are gonna do not one but four stories. One each day for you." Leo announced proudly puffing out his chest a little.
Splinter raised his bushy eyebrows, "Oh really? That sounds very interesting my son, and what will tonight's story be?" He wondered.
"We're doing the Warning." Leo replied.
Splinter smiled, "That sounds wonderful. I can't wait to see how you perform the play."
Leo grinned wide and scampered off to inform his brothers that Splinter was ready.
Don came out and he was dressed in a large purple shirt that hung down past his knees and the arms dangled past his hands but the boy had bunched the sleeves up his arms as much as possible.
"I'm the damiyo Hide Yoshi."
Splinter felt a large smile cross his whiskery face at that, it was suppose to be Hideyoshi. But Don had it more or less correct.
Don grinned a little, the young shy turtle did his best to command "Samurai come to me, you must do something for your Master." But his voice didn't carry that far.
Raph came out he had a red sheet dangling like a cape from his shoulders and a belt with a wooden sword he bowed to Don, "What do ya want of me?"
"I wish you to go find Hiratta the Ninja who has hidden from us for so long the one we were at war with until we made peace." Don whispered, "an uneasy peace true but my soldiers must fight elsewhere and we will get that terrible Ninja later."
"Hirratta?" Raph said, "The one who has caused so many of our men to die, what do you want of him Master?"
"I do NOT want him I want his daughter. He is to give her as a gift to me, and she will bring me much favour for she is beautiful." Don replied, firmly as he could, though, his beak scrunched up a little at the word beautiful. He took a deep breath and continued "If you fail me oh trusted Samurai you will not die an honourable death rather you will go to Korea and become a low soldier in my army there you will die a suffering death."
"I will not fail you Master for Hiratta must be old by now and time may have slowed him down."
Don turned away from Raph "So the Samurai left in search of Hirratta."
Splinter was impressed the boys so far had the story correct though the ninja in the story was actually Hirata.
Don disappeared and Raph left to grab a hat and then returned. He began to walk back and forth for a bit making it seem like he was traveling. Then Raph spoke "I come to the village Hiratta lives in and it is a poor village. I go to get a drink and learn where Hiratta may be found."
Don appeared again dressed in a stained dirty torn t-shirt and dirt smudged on his face.
Raph the samurai shares a drink with the lowly merchant. "Tell me Merchant do you know of Hiratta, where he lives and his habits? What powers might the old man hold?"
"I do not want to know why you look for Hiratta that knowledge could be dangerous, as evil and dangerous as Hiratta himself. Do not be fooled by his age or calm manner for he is a ninja and all ninja are tricky. He knows many poisons so do not eat or drink while you are with him." Don looked around, "It is said that in his hands he holds needles of deadly poison. He lives on the edge of the village with his daughter Okane and she treats him like a lord. If you seek him for an enemy he will be that and more for he is dangerous and deadly."
"I thank you for your help, and your words." Raph as the samurai stated.
Raph and Don left the room and Leo came in he sat in lotus position near the coffee table in the lair, he set a scroll before himself and pretended to be working on it.
Raph looked in on the scene "I seek the Man called Hiratta." He practically yelled.
Leo looked up "I am Hiratta, how can I help you?"
Raph stepped in further, trying to walk with much bravado and confidence but then he tripped on his cape and fell. Causing a bit of laughing from Mike off to the side line of where the action was taking place.
Raph looked flustered for a moment.
Splinter smiled, "Carry on you are doing quite well my sons," He encouraged them with his words.
"I am from Mioto and I bring an offer to honour your house." Raph said uneasily as if by tripping as he had he had forgotten where he was at.
Leo nodded, and smiled at his brother "Why Samurai you do me a great honour by entering my humble home." He rose from his position and bowed respectfully.
Raph snorted and crossed his arms, not bowing back.
Splinter nodded his head, 'Ah they even remember this small detail, that the samurai wanted to prove who was superior even though he saw that Hirata in spite of his age seemed youthful and had the hands of a warrior not an artist. So, the Samurai did not bow back and Hirata claimed no offence to the rudeness of his guest.' The rat mused.
"I offer you tea or maybe sake?" Leo gestured a little.
"No I am eager to return to my home and Master taking with me only the gift you will give to Lord Hide Yoshi." Raph pushed his hat back.
"I am flattered you think I have something worthy to gift Hide Yoshi but my house is simple, my belongings few and my art is better for burning than a gift to a great Damiyo." Leo protested. Leo turned and whispered, "I see by the scars on his face this Samurai is a great warrior who has killed often and will kill again with ease."
Raph withdrew his sword and placed it on Leo's cheek, "I do not want your art. The gift I come for is your daughter. Bring her to me."
Raph raised his sword slightly and Leo clapped his hands twice but otherwise remained still.
Mike appeared wearing an orange sheet much like a dress.
Splinter's eyes sparkled and the old rat had trouble keeping a straight face, in the story the Samurai had pierced Hirata's cheek drawing blood. His daughter was described as small delicate with perfect features a worthy prize for a king.
"You have no honour or courage," The samurai Raph mocked. "I pay for your gift with your life. Come Okane you go to a better life. A life of service to our lord Hide Yoshi."
With that Raph grabbed Mike's wrist with one free hand keeping his wooden sword out he headed away from Leo, "Now is a good time for you to enjoy your sake and tea Hiratta."
Raph then dragged his prize for his lord with him once again walking back and forth and going into a place to rest. In a corner sat Don the merchant pretending to eat some food.
Don waved the samurai over. Samurai Raph went to join him and Okane sat with head bowed sniffing every now and again as if upset.
"I thank you for your help and your information before it was of use to me." The samurai admitted.
"It is good to know, I'm glad to have helped here have some sake." Don offered.
The samurai nodded, "Your words were useful. I toast your health and future." He pretended to down the drink and then another. Then Raph yawned and his eyes drooped he sat but swayed a little.
Don nodded, "Hiratta thanks you for his gift of life. To repay you he will now take his unworthy daughter from your tired shoulders. He is sorry you did not accept his offer of drinks at his home, and so he sent his favourite sake on to soothe and warm you."
Don rose and took Okane by the hand while the samurai fell onto his back and stayed there unmoving. "I warned you, Hiratta is a tricky man. All of us ninja are tricky men."
Splinter applauded, "You did that very well my sons. I am very impressed, in fact I could not be prouder that you opted to use this story over other tales you might have told.
TBC.
Author's Note: These stories are actually a few ninja legends or stories that I've read and decided to pass on in the way of the turtles performing plays for Splinter. There are a couple of these stories that might not make it here as they are…well a little more adult, and not for young turtles to perform. Ramica