A Father's Lament
Set after the events of 'Karai's Legacy' and 'Return of the Monster Hunter' The turtles, Mona, Splinter and the children visit Mutopia to warn their friends of the return of their old enemies, and Leonardo opens up to Tyroth about all that has transpired and his role as a father to Kemeko.
Author's Note: To read the story 'Karai's Legacy' that occur before this one, please see my page to access them or you might not understand certain parts in this chapter and throughout the rest of the fic!
Chapter One
Sitting in the back of the Battle shell, the turtles, Splinter and Mona relaxed in silence whilst their human friends April and Casey sat in the front taking turns in driving.
Raphael and Mona's young daughter Pandora was curled up in her father's arms hugging one of her teddies and dozing.
Leonardo meanwhile was holding Kemeko in his arms as the young girl was sucking her thumb and curling her fingers on his plastron.
They were driving the long journey to Mutopia, the underground mutant sanctuary hidden under the city of Chicago where their friends and fellow mutants lived, two of which included their closest friends Tyroth the Dragon and Sephie the Gecko.
Looking down at the small Japanese girl resting on him sucking her thumb, Leonardo sighed. It had been several months since she had come into his life.
Last year, his long time rival and daughter of the Shredder, Karai had come to him, pregnant and begging him for protection as the Shredder had returned, after being freed from his Icy Prison in Space, and was after her blood for leaving the Foot and betraying him, at least in his eyes, she had betrayed him.
Leonardo had granted her sanctuary and with the help of the other turtles, Mona, Master Splinter, April and Casey, they had protected her until she gave birth to her baby daughter which she named Kemeko translated from Japanese 'Turtle Child' in honour of the turtles who had protected her.
Leonardo closed his eyes as he remembered how he had bonded with Karai and Kemeko, and how he had gotten to know Karai now she was no longer part of the Foot.
After a few weeks from giving birth, Karai decided to confront the Shredder for killing her husband Dr Chaplin, as well as protect her daughter, but that had ended in her meeting her death, and Leonardo could only comfort Karai as she succumbed to her fatal wounds, and she had begged him before she took her last breath, to care for Kemeko and raise her to be a great warrior, and give her the chance she never had, to follow the true path of honour.
Leonardo had promised he would, despite his broken heart at losing Karai so cruelly, and the fact Kemeko would grow up without her mother.
With help from his family, especially Raphael and Mona being parents themselves to Pandora and Master Splinter, having raised him and his brothers, he had done everything he could for Kemeko, feeding her, putting her to bed at night, and doing everything Karai and Dr Chaplin would have done.
There were times it wasn't easy, but he did everything, and he never complained, in fact, he felt honoured to do it, and he wouldn't swap it for the world, yet he dreaded the day that he would have to tell Kemeko of her true origins and he wondered how she would take it? Knowing she was the granddaughter of the most evil man in the world, the ruthless, murderess dishonourable Shredder, Oroku Saki.
Leonardo stroked Kemeko's soft ebony hair and looked up at his family.
Michaelangelo was sleeping on Donatello's shoulder, whilst the purple masked turtle rested on his head on his younger brother's whilst staring into space.
Monalisa was watching Pandora doze in her father's arms whilst Raphael was asleep himself with his arms around his daughter and Master Splinter was sitting deep in thought.
The old rat looked towards Leonardo and gave him a small smile to which Leonardo smiled softly back.
"I know you are nervous my son." he said softly.
Leonardo sighed and looked down at Kemeko.
"I'm just nervous of how I'm going to tell Tyroth about Shredder's return." he said "And how the rest of Mutopia will take it, knowing there's another threat to them, not just us."
"I understand my son." said Splinter softly placing his paw on Leonardo's "Knowing our greatest enemy is back was a shock to all of us, but we must focus on surviving, and making sure our friends are aware, and that we have them to stand with us, if we are to face extreme danger."
Leonardo nodded in agreement.
"Try to rest my son." Splinter said "Both of you, we still have a long way to go before we reach Mutopia."
Leonardo stroked Kemeko's hair, the little girl was no sleeping peacefully as she continued to suck her thumb and her warmth from her tiny body was making him sleepy as well, and before long he slowly began to nod off and slipped into a dreamless sleep.
Some time later, April and Casey knocked on the side of the battle shell reminding the mutants that they had arrived in Mutopia.
They then had began the trek down the tunnels towards the underground village, Pandora had been chattering excitedly in her father's arms to which her parents had to calm her.
Kemeko meanwhile just gurgled as she was carried by Leonardo and before long they made it to the entrance.
Waiting for them was George the Turtle along with Tyroth and Sephie who were overjoyed to see them.
"Welcome back my dear friends!" said George "I trust you had a safe journey?"
"We did thanks!" said Casey.
"It was long though." said April who was rubbing her backside slightly making the hosts laugh softly.
"Been a while guys!" said Tyroth "Started to wonder when you'd come back!"
"Uncle Tyroth! Aunt Sephie!" Pandora squealed running to the Dragon and Gecko as soon as Raphael put her down.
"Heya Little Geisha!" Tyroth said kneeling down and scooping Pandora up.
"Dino!" Pandora cried happily "Hi Big Dino!"
"That's right!" chuckled Tyroth "It's big Dino!"
Sephie laughed and pinched Pandora's cheek "You looking forward to playing with Freya and Loki?" she asked.
"Yeah! Yeah!" Pandora laughed as Tyroth placed her down and Pandora went to hug Sephie "Fun! Fun!"
"So much has happened since we saw you last." said Splinter stepping forward and sighing "So much indeed."
George, Tyroth and Sephie observed the looks on their friends faces and they saw they looked rather solemn.
"What exactly has happened?" asked Sephie "When you said you couldn't join us for Christmas or New Year, you said it was because there was a lot going on, yet you never told us exactly what."
"Yeah!" said Tyroth "Wasn't like you."
"There was a lot we couldn't explain." said Splinter "But now we are here, we can show you, as well as explain."
He then stepped to the side and the others followed suite revealing Leonardo who stepped forward and he showed George, Tyroth and Sephie the small Japanese child in his arms.
As soon as they laid eyes on her, Sephie, Tyroth and George stared in shock!
"Oh my!" George exclaimed.
"By the Gods!" Tyroth breathed as he studied Kemeko.
"Leo..." Sephie whispered "Who...how...?"
"It's a long story..." Michaelangelo began but Donatello and Mona placed her hands over his mouth.
Leonardo looked up at the hosts.
"Mikey's right." he said "It is a long story, and there is so much behind it."
"How did you come to adopt a human girl?" asked George.
"We will explain everything." said Splinter "But not right this second, the children are tired."
Sephie then came to her senses.
"Yes of course!" she said quickly "We better get you all settled!"
"Indeed yes!" George said "Your rooms have been allocated, same places as before!"
"That's great to know!" said Raphael as he picked up bags containing belongings of his, Mona and Pandora.
The gang soon made it to the residential areas where they made it to their rooms, Pandora had been excited when she arrived but she was now yawning as she walked with Sephie.
"Aww, tired sweetie?" asked the Gecko.
Pandora nodded as she rested against Sephie.
Mona looked at her shell cell seeing the time and nodded.
"Normally it's bedtime for Little Geisha." she said "And it's been a long journey!"
"That it has!" said Sephie "Freya and Loki are already asleep, as is Sonia, so it's best Pandora get some rest now, and they can all play tomorrow!"
"Sounds like a plan!" said Mona as she scooped a sleepy Pandora up into her arms.
"Louie also prepared some food for you in your rooms." Tyroth informed "As he knew it would be late when you arrived."
"Wow! Thanks!" said Michaelangelo "Boy am I famished!"
"You're always famished." Donatello remarked then yawned.
"Get some rest." said George "And you can tell us everything in the morning."
"Thank you my friend." said Splinter "It is best we get a good night's sleep."
Leonardo however was still wide awake despite the long journey, and he looked up at Tyroth.
"Tyroth." he said "May I speak with you in my allocated room before we settle, there are some things we need to discuss, in private."
The dragon was a little surprised that Leonardo wanted to speak with him so aruptly but he nodded all the same.
"Sure thing!" he said, he looked across to Sephie who gave him a nod and the Gecko followed Mona and Raphael into their room to talk as well as help settle Pandora and the other turtles and Splinter went into their own respected rooms.
"I'll be with you later okay hun?" he said.
"No problem baby." said Sephie "Take your time."
Tyroth winked at Sephie then followed Leonardo to his room, his eyes still fixed on the little Japanese girl in the blue masked turtle's arms and he wondered what events had transpired to see Leonardo in possession of her which he hoped would be explained once they began talking.