Summary: The inner musings of Raph and Karai's sensei. Takes place immediately after Hands. Raphael is 5 and Karai is 6.
Word Count: 692
Rated: K
SENSEI
Ryota-Sensei awaited the strange pair in the dojo, pinning them to the spot with a harsh glare after they breezed in with silly smiles and rushed bows. They stood still and exaggeratedly straight, Karai abruptly dropping Raphael's hand when his eyes narrowed at them further. There was no hand-holding in the dojo, literally or figuratively. He made them leave and re-enter properly before acknowledging them as pupils.
The dojos of the Saki estate were well-known as the top martial arts training center in Tokyo, attracting students from all over Japan and even abroad. The facility also served as a legitimate business front and offered a wealth of talented fighters for consideration. Only the very best students were courted for entry into the Foot Clan to specialize in the style of ninjitsu that had been passed down through the shinobi lineage of the Foot for generations. Clan members used one of the three private dojos in the main buildings, which also housed Saki's private residence and the secretive hub of Foot activity, all off-limits to the public.
Ryota was one of Saki's most trusted soldiers and the head instructor for new Foot Initiates. In his late thirties and part of an influential political family, he understood the importance of appearances and manipulation. He turned crops of hopefuls into obedient weapons so gradually and masterfully that his students didn't even realize how he stripped away the mundane, leaving their lives consumed by the way of shadows. Finding themselves eventually alienated from civilian life, Shredder employed them as thieves, spies, assassins and soldiers for his underground crime empire. Those ambitious enough furthered their training and their rank.
As the daughter and ward of the Shredder, Karai and Raphael received world-class tutelage. They were on a rigid routine, and always came to Ryota for training directly after their private tutoring, brimming with pent up energy after having to sit still for hours. When they re-entered the dojo respectfully, he ran them through a challenging warmup so they would be able to focus on forms and kata exercises, then he had them spar. Though their growing co-dependence made him a bit uncomfortable, he had to admit that Raphael made the perfect sparring partner for Karai and had helped her progress by leaps and bounds in the last year. He was about her size but stronger; she was faster and knew more techniques. She pushed Raphael hard when they fought, forcing him to think quickly to defend. In return Raphael didn't hold back, giving Karai her first real challenge as they practiced the strikes, holds and blocks they had learned.
Oroku Saki himself personally took over their lessons at least twice a month, as time allowed. He wanted to test them, to make sure that they were progressing as planned along their fast-tracked regiment. Shredder intended to initiate them into the Foot Clan at twelve years old, the youngest a member could be accepted. Not only that, but he fully expected them to be at the top of their class among other Initiates of all ages. The potential was there, and Ryota would be handsomely rewarded for bringing it out in them.
In Karai he saw a future kunoichi, sly, swift and deadly; an honor to her family name.
As for Raphael, Ryota's first impression had been revulsion followed by carefully hidden skepticism that a mutant turtle could be agile or flexible enough for ninjitsu. How wrong he had been. Raphael learned quickly, lived and breathed for training and was deceptively powerful for his size.
Ryota smiled to himself as he watched Raphael rail on a punching bag. He had dismissed them and Karai had been eager to leave and bathe, but Raphael begged him in broken Japanese to wrap his hands and let him stay a while longer. Ryota's grin deepened as the 100lb bag meant for adults started to rock gently under Raphael's barrage. They were going to make a monster out of him.