_
Anyone who knew Hamato Yoshi knew he was not the type to panic. Even in the most drastic and mind-numbing situations, he was always the one to count on, always the man with a plan, always the least likely to lose his head in a crisis. Once, when a rival ninja gang had threatened to destroy his family and his clan, but it was a combination of his brother's finesse and his own level-headedness that prevented the attempted hostile takeover. Truly, there wasn't any situation too overwhelming or too hard for him to handle.
Up until now.
Currently, he was pacing back and forth in the cool night, his sandals lightly smoothing the grass-lined pathways, wearing a dark red robe with the Hamato clan symbol embroidered on it and his hands stiffly behind his back, as he had been for the last thirty minutes. Even with foreseeing this day and knowing it was inevitable, even with the 9 months of preparations (and adding a week for lateness), it hadn't made his fears, his nerves, his pessimistic thoughts, any easier to block or placate. Nevertheless, here it was, after all this time. The day he became a father.
He paused to flinch as he heard another agonized and strangled shriek emitting from within the dojo. Shen must be feeling the contractions more frequently. He had tried to stay at first, for support, but that had done more harm than good; every time she had felt the pain of labor (or more accurately, the contractions), she would start using every curse in both the English and Japanese language, then anger and resentment would flare up towards him for what he was putting her through. Eventually (or after the fourth time it happened), it was decided it would be better for all members of the party, especially the father of the baby, if he waited to see her after the birth of his child. He still remembered his last memory of her, her beautiful black hair stuck to her forehead due to her sweating and her labored breathing following him out of the dojo. Yoshi resumed his pacing; giving a little prayer that this day would not end in tragedy.
For months, he and Tang Shen had been filled with anticipation, murmuring sweet words and lullabies to their long-awaited baby. And now that the moment had arrived, Yoshi had another set of mixed feelings, as well as concerns about the matter. Months of waiting for new life can really make you meditate on your life. He would risk going back into the room, just to assure himself that Shen and his future child were indeed all right, but hearing another scream as the pain of the contractions strengthened, he decided that he would be better off outside, working off any excess energy all the worrying had given him.
At least, he would have followed that course of action had he not heard the rough and raspy sound of his father screaming and the usually melodious sound of his wife screaming, "YOSHI!"
He was racing back inside, vault over the rail and rushing through the door to the main room. He was welcomed to the sight of his wife laid down on the floor, cushioned by a thick blanket and fluffy pillows with her nightgown drenched with sweat. Kneeling by her was his father, his wrinkly face furrowed intensely and the dojo physician, a middle-aged woman with grey hair and a grandmotherly face and attitude. He quickly made his way over, grasping his wife's hand and smoothing her hair back. "What is it, Shen? What's wrong?" he asked as soothingly as possible.
"It's hurts, Yoshi, it hurts…" Tang Shen whimpered, her eyes scrunched shut. "Can't…take much… MOOOORE!" She suddenly yelled, sitting up as the pain of a new contraction struck her. Her hand squeezing his enough for him, a ninja master, to feel his bones break.
"What's wrong?" Yoshi asked his father, a worried expression on his face. Shen seemed more or less delirious with pain and spoke as if giving birth to one child was too much.
His father gave off a sharp cough, and then answered, "It seems that there is more at stake here than we thought. As we have been preparing for one new life to join us, it appears that there are two lives coming to join us now."
Yoshi visibly paled. "We're having—"
"Twins." His father gravely confirmed. "And they will be here any moment now."
Shen arched her back slightly, another pained scream rushing out of her throat as another contraction came. Then she laid back down, breathing heavily and eyes slightly dazed. "Yoshi…"
Hearing her, her scared and worried whisper, immediately sprang Hamato Yoshi into action. His wife, the love of his life, needed him, needed his strength and his reassurance that everything would be okay. That all this pain would worth it, that they would finally be parents. "You can do this, Shen. Our child—our children will be here soon and we will finally have the life we have always wanted. Together."
A faint smile appeared on Tang Shen's face at his strong promise, her hope and tears swimming in her eyes. "Promise?"
Yoshi gave a slight squeeze to her hand. "Promise."
"Okay, Tang Shen." The physician spoke gently, "Now push!"
Moreover, a shrill scream of a woman in labor spread throughout the forest.
_
He heard them before he saw them. Their cries echoed throughout the dojo and made his heart melt. His children, his…daughters, safely nestled in Tang Shen's arms as she calmed them down. They were different in appearance, which he could already tell. One had hair as black as his own and Shen's, small light brown eyes and slightly tanned skin. The other child's skin was pale as snow with ginger-red hair and big blue eyes.
"My children…so…so beautiful." Shen said, wonder in her voice. She looked at the red head, a soft smile on her face, "This little one has hair like I once did." She said.
Yoshi gave a small laugh at her reference to the ginger hair she once had before she dyed it to her midnight black. Then he reached his arms out to take the black haired infant, carefully cradling her in his arms. She looked as though she would fall asleep any moment, her eyes blinking rapidly. "What…what shall we call them? We had agreed that if we had a girl, Miwa would be her name, but what of the other?" He asked, speaking softly as to not disturb the child in his grasp.
"Well…" Tang Shen took a moment to stare at the red-haired girl in her arms, who was precociously staring back up at her, her arms moving around. She looked at her baby's blue eyes, seemingly mesmerized by her cool and intelligent look. "I think I like…April."
"April?" Yoshi asked, surprise saturating his voice. "But that isn't a typical Japanese name. All those born in the dojo are—"
"We had agreed for Miwa, yes. However, we had also agreed that we would go with whatever instinct tells us when it comes to our child. Miwa is in regards to Harmony, expressing our desire for our child to grow to become an intelligent and peace-bring women. That fits the child laying in your arms." She said, nodding to her black-haired daughter before looking back down at her twin. "But this child…she radiates a sensitively I've never seen before. She is unique and exhibits traits of a knife in the shadows, ever watching until it is time to act. In addition, she is so beautiful…I want to name her something that will highlight all that, uniqueness and all. And she looks like an April." She teasingly added, rocking her arms slowly as her baby started to fall asleep.
Yoshi took the time to study his red-haired and he could sense that Tang Shen was right. Besides, some traditions could be broken or adapted for the current century.
"Very well," he chuckled, kneeling down in order to bring his black-haired daughter closer to his sister. "Hamato Miwa and April."
"Our daughters," Tang Shen weakly added, leaning heavily against the pillows to fall into a light slumber, baby still held tightly in her grasp. _
2 months later…
"Please, Shen, be reasonable."
"Oh, and your blind obsession with the dojo and your ninja ways? Is that reasonable, Yoshi?"
Yoshi sighed, trying desperately to keep his emotions under control so they could have a rational debate together, although it was rapidly turning into a fight. Tang Shen had come to meet him tonight on the bridge overhanging the creek, bringing along his little angels wrapped in gray blankets. He had made a habit of making time to come to see his wife and kids every evening. As he had talked about his gratefulness for his family, Tang Shen had again inquired about possibly moving to New York. About starting a new life, a better life for the two of them and their children. He took a moment to glance at them now. Miwa was sucking on a pacifier and waving her arms around, while April was staring up at him, looking inquisitive and imploring. They had grown enough to start picking and pulling on things, as well as making sounds that were more coherent. He smiled at them, and then sighed again to make his points to Shen.
"Shen, I can't just abandon my responsibilities here. While my father grows weaker and frailer, Saki and I have to duty to keep our clan in order and the dojo—"
"The dojo," She interrupted, sounding slightly annoyed and bitter. "The dojo, this life, we should leave it behind. You should leave it behind. This clan is slowly dying. It is the last of its kind and will eventually wither away. When will you realize there is more to life than ninjustu and clans?"
"It will not die. My father, my brother and myself must help it to endure. Invite others and teach them the traditions that have been in my family for centuries. Why can't you understand that? Understand how important our clan and it's histories are to me?"
"Ninjas and clans like these have no more place in this world," Tang Shen raised her voice to say, "This isn't a life for our daughters. Miwa and April should have a chance at a life without strict traditions and training. I…I refuse for them to follow your path. It's as though you are too dedicated to ninjustu to raise a family. Our family." She turned from him, sounding passionate and unmoving.
"Shen," Yoshi said, reaching out to grasp her shoulder gently. "Please."
Shen turned around, looking sad but speaking loud and clearly. "You must decide, Yoshi. What is more important to you, our family or the dojo? If you can leave, we can have a wonderful life in New York City, exploring new traditions and responsibilities. If you can't…then I'm sorry." She finished quietly, stating to walk away.
"Shen…" When she turned again to look at him, Yoshi faltered, unsure of how he could end this argument. "Let me walk you home. I want to make sure you and the children are safe. "
Tang Shen turned again. "I can take care of myself," she said harshly, walking away again. "I always have. And it seems I always will have to." And Hamato Yoshi watched as his wife disappeared into the forest.
_
Hamato Yoshi was looking up from the porch connected to the dojo the next day, watching the sky and seemingly looking to the stars for answers. Father had finally succumbed to his age and weakened state that afternoon. He hadn't seen his brother since and Shen has not come to see him since the day before, still angry from their disagreement. It seemed as though everything he held precious in his life was being taken from him and he wasn't sure how to proceed.
"Yoshi." He started, hearing his wife's soft voice calling his name. He turned to see her climbing the steps of the dojo to stand by him, cradling a sleeping Miwa and April in her arms and looking somber. He reached his hand to touch her cheek, giving a breath of relief when she leaned into the gesture, a smile of contentment appearing on her face.
"Shen, I am sorry. You and our children are my life. Without you, I am but a shadow. And with father gone…the dojo is all the clan has left." He vowed, speaking softly.
She sighed and moved from his hand, looking into the forest. "I understand your loyalty to the clan. But you have so much more than just the dojo." She finished, turning to smile at him and offering a fallen cheery blossom to him. They leaned forward to touch their foreheads together, careful as to not rouse their napping daughters. "Oh Shen," Yoshi sighed, a smile gracing his face. "My love for you and our children burns inside my heart. Brighter than all the stars in the universe. If leaving the clan and the dojo is what you desire, than I will follow you. Always." And, for one beautiful moment, it seemed as though the future was bright, a new life in New York City beaconing to them. Then—
"Pathetic." They heard a harsh sounding voice spit out. They looked up to see his brother, Saki, coming up the stairs, wearing claws on his hands and a disgusted look on his face. "I will not abide by this dishonor."
The husband and wife abruptly moved from each other. "Saki," Shen said in acknowledgement, a slight edge in her voice projecting her worry. If looks could kill, Saki would have incinerated his older sibling. "Shen," he replied, eyes sifting from Yoshi to her but not softening, "I ask you one last time. Make the right choice." He implored.
Tang Shen said stiffly yet firmly, "I've already made it." She moved closer to her husband to clarify her decision. They both watched as Saki grew angrier, hostility extended to them both. "Please, Saki, don't do something you'll regret. You are brothers—"
"Wrong," he snapped. "We have never been blood. I was adopted into the Hamato clan, raised by my enemy in ignorance. This dishonor is something that must be purged at the source. I am Oroku Saki, only true member of the Foot clan. I will destroy what's left of the Hamato clan and rebuild my clan with honor. And I will start by finishing my so-called brother." He made a stance, claws out and ready to kill his once-beloved family member.
"Shen," Yoshi said solemnly, never taking his eyes of the current threat. "Take April and Miwa and go. Quickly."
Shen gravely closed her eyes and obeyed, gripping her children tightly to her chest as she hurried away. She took a moment to look back at her love. Yoshi gave her a reassuring smile and she returned it before disappearing into the forest.
_
He had watched it happened as though it was in slow motion. He wanted to beg, to plead that this wasn't real. That it was simply a nightmare, a nightly reenactment of his worse fear.
Hamato Yoshi had been down, a cleverly placed kick to the stomach had shortly deteriorated him. Fire was all around them, the smoke intoxicating the atmosphere and the heat somewhat disabling them. He heard Saki roar as he leaped into the air, his claws raise as he prepared to permanently finish him. He felt the air pass him as he heard her—standing bravely in front of him, trying so hard to protect him. "Please, stop."
They were both unprepared. Perhaps, if he'd seen it coming, he could have saved her and defeated his former brother once and for all. Perhaps, if he had not let his family affections for Saki cloud his judgment, he could have defeated him sooner and escaped to his family. Perhaps, perhaps…He never thought he would outlive her. He had never considered the possibility that his daughters, his April and Miwa…would be motherless.
He watched the dojo burn, his wife's body with it, agony and heartbreak coursing in his veins. He wasn't sure if he was the only survivor of this fight or if his traitorous brother had made it out as well. But he wouldn't, couldn't, concern himself with that. His wife, the love of his life—was gone. The only thing that made his life worth living—was gone.
Then he heard a small cry. He turned towards the bridge and saw his black-haired daughter laying there, a blanket covering her body and earnestly crying. He quickly went to her and cradled her delicately in his arms. His Miwa was okay. He soothed her, trying to calm himself as well. But, if Miwa was her, were was—
"April!" He cried, looking frantically searching for his red-haired baby. He couldn't see her and he knew Tang Shen hadn't and wouldn't run into a burning building with a baby. So where was she— Then he saw that the fire had spread, reaching into the forest.
"April!" he cried desperately, laying Miwa gently to the ground before running into the trees. He could see the fire had hit a number of plant life and didn't look as if it was close to stopping. He searched diligently, looking for her and straining his ears to hear her cries.
"Apri—" He prepared to cry out again, despite knowing she couldn't talk, much less reply, when he saw something in a burning section in the forest and abruptly stopped. He walked forward, praying and hoping his eyes were deceiving him, that it wasn't true. He dropped to his knees at the object before him, burned but distinguishable: a small gray blanket. His daughter's gray blanket, the one his wife had made especially for their children. And it was here, discarded and badly burned, meaning—
"No, no, no, no, NO!" He cried, clutching his hair as he desperately wished this wasn't so. That he hadn't lost his wife and one of his children in one night. And, before the burning forest, Hamato Yoshi let out an agonized scream. _
A year later…
Hamato Yoshi—now renamed Splinter—gave a grave sigh as he reentered the slightly crowded streets of New York City from within the pet store. He threw a small smile at his purchase—four baby turtles in a glass fishbowl. He wondered offhandedly if Miwa would love his little surprise. Since moving to America nine months ago, he has done his best to give his daughter the life he knew Tang Shen had hoped for her. He changed his name and identity, hoping to leave the tragedies of home behind them both. However, Miwa had seemed a little colicky as of late, and he had read that pets could help kids accept change. And when he saw the four babies, obviously siblings, in their little home together—well, he couldn't resist.
He began to walk home, eager to see his daughter's expression at their new addition, when he felt someone bump into him. He looked up to see a pale man with a stoic expression and who wore a black suit passing him. He opened his mouth to apology when he sensed something…off about him. He gave no indication that he was hit, despite the bump being a little rough, but continued walking as though nothing had happened. Splinter decided to follow him, sure he was up to no good.
He quietly shadowed the stranger, ducking behind alleyways and narrow doorways, while making sure not to jolt and jerk his tiny accomplices. He saw the man walk into a dark alley and carefully moved towards it, sticking his head to see what was transpiring. He saw two men quietly conversing, the shadows of the building between them cloaking them from any other pedestrians. The man he had originally followed was now holding a canister of glowing, emerald-aqua liquid.
He strained his ears to hear what they were saying, when he started as he felt something run over his feet. He looked down just in time to see a brown rat skitter away. Splinter gave a sigh in relief, then froze as he realized that he made enough noise to be discovered. The two mysterious men quickly advanced.
"Go no further. This place is a place you are not allowed to be in this place." One mechanically said.
"We have been seen in this place by you. So this is a place that will not be left by you." Splinter heard behind him as two more strangers crept behind him with hostile intent. But after all he had been through, Splinter refused to lose any sort of fight, especially with these men.
It was a surprisingly short battle, but with unforeseen results. The minute he knocked the canister out of his opponent's hand, they had left rather quickly. He saw the canister break in half, covering him and causing him to drop the fishbowl in shock. He watched his pets fall into the liquid, then was overcome with pain as he felt parts of his body be twisted as he changed. He saw brown fur growing rapidly on his skin and can feel his clothes rip as he grew slightly. He gave a scream of terror as he watched and felt his transformation into a giant rat. When it finally ended, he panted heavily as he tried to calm himself down. He looked at his hands, now shriveled and pink with small claws for fingertips.
Then he heard a slight cry behind him and he turned. He felt as though he couldn't be surprised by anything anymore and he successfully proved that little speculation when he barely batted an eye at the four turtles the size of toddlers that were loitered around him. They were carefully examining themselves and seemed confused and mystified with their change. Then, they slowly turned to him, eyes imploring and wanting answers.
Well, he idly thought to himself, at least Miwa will have a bigger surprise to get look forward to. _
Sooooo…what did you think? I hope to have the next chapter out soon, but it would really motivate me if you would review, favorite and follow. Any questions, feel free to ask.