Chapter 10 -Suspicions-

The relative peace lasted most of the day. I sensed Raphael's presence before I heard his footsteps approaching. "Michelangelo, your brothers are returning," I said fearfully.

"Oh good. Leo was gonna pick up some pizza while they were out scouting around for Hakari. I'm starving," said Michelangelo. He grinned as the others entered the Lair. "Dudes, I hope you remembered the extra cheese."

"Michelangelo, you're supposed to be watching Saishi!" Raphael's voice rose with anger. I wanted to run away, to hide, but I forced myself to sit up. As my master came into the room, I stood to face him.

"I am here, Master. Michelangelo has not neglected his duty." Raphael stared at me, anger glittering in his dark eyes. His hands rested on the sais tucked in his belt. I trembled, but did not move.

"Saishi, you're awake!" Leonardo came to stand beside his brother. He touched Raphael's shoulder. Raphael glanced at him, and shrugged him off, but he let his hands fall away from the deadly sais.

"What's goin' on, Mikey?" he asked, still watching me. "I thought he was still too sick to get outta bed."

"He woke up, and Splinter said he could watch Wrestle Mania Four with me. Relax, Raph, he hasn't been outta my sight the whole time, just like you said. Chill, Dude."

"How are you feeling, Saishi?" asked Leonardo. He knelt, bringing his eyes level with mine. I took an involuntary step back, though his tone was gentle.

"I… I am better, Sir, thank you. Michelangelo and Splinter have been most kind."

"Did Michelangelo tell ya where we were?" Raphael's tone was sharp, suspicious.

I glanced at him, fearful. "No, Sir."

"We were lookin' for your Master. Hakari."

"B… b… but… why, Sir?" I stammered. I wasn't sure I wanted to hear the answer.

"To find out what his game is. But the address Don dug up for him is an empty apartment. Any idea where he might be hiding out? Or what he's plannin'?"

"No! No, Sir." I felt myself beginning to tremble with a familiar panic. My Master was angry, which could only mean one thing; I would be punished.

Raphael said he wouldn't hurt me, I reminded myself. He has not hurt me yet. And Michelangelo said I was his friend. He said he would protect me. But how can he protect me from my own Master?

"Saishi," said Leonardo, "We won't let this Hakari guy hurt you, not ever again. But you have to help us. Are you sure you don't know where he could be? Or what he might be planning?" I swallowed hard, and forced myself to meet his gaze steadily.

"I swear, Sir, I don't know where he is."

Raphael snorted, and turned away. I drew a deep breath of relief. I was safe for the moment. At least until Hakari came for me.

"I believe you, Saishi," said Leonardo. "Raph, I think he's telling the truth." I burned with shame. Leonardo had been kind to me, and now he was standing up for me.

"Leo, I'm tellin' ya, this is nuts. Somethin's not right. We've got to get rid of this kid before Hakari and half the Foot come storming in here." Raphael's voice was sharp with irritation.

I sank to my knees and hid my face in my hands in terror. "Mercy," I whispered. "Please, Raphael, do not kill me!"

"Raph, stop it. You're scaring him," said Leonardo, standing and turning to his brother.

"Dude, uncool," said Michelangelo. I felt a hand touch my back, and I cringed, pressing myself to the floor. "Saishi, little Dude, relax. Raph's not gonna hurt you. I won't let him. I said I'd protect you. We're buds, remember?"

"Oh yeah, like you could stop me." Raphael snorted. Michelangelo's hand left my shoulder. He stood beside me. I heard the rattle of his nunchucks.

"Bring it on, Dude."

"No!" I scrambled to my feet. "Please, don't!" Michelangelo stood facing his brother, his fists tight on his weapons. Raphael was glaring at him, but his sais were still in his belt. "Please, don't do this," I pleaded, catching Michelangelo's arm. "Please…"

"Don't be stupid, Mikey. I ain't gonna hurt the kid," said Raphael.

Michelangelo lowered his nunchucks. "I know, Raph, but you're scaring the little dude. Chill out, can't ya?"

"He's a threat to our safety, Mike. What do ya think will happen if he tells this Hakari guy where the Lair is? He could bring the whole Foot clan down on us."

"No, Master, I swear," I stepped forward, holding my hands out to Raphael. "Please, Sir, I beg of you." I sank to my knees in front of him. "I do not wish to cause your family trouble. Please just let me go, Sir. I will take my bottle and go away. Please! I am no threat to you. I do not know where I am. I can not lead Hakari to you, Sir."

"Stop calling me 'Sir'!" shouted Raphael. I ducked my head, cringing. I felt the ground shake as he stalked off. Tears slid down my cheeks. I knelt there for what seemed like a long time. A hand touched my shoulder, and I flinched.

"Get up Saishi. It's ok." Leonardo caught my arm, and pulled me up gently. "Do you need help? How are your ribs?"

"I… I can stand," I said shakily. "My ribs are healed, thanks to your kind care."

"Really?" Leonardo looked surprised. "They can't be fully healed already."

"They are, Sir. It's part of my magic. I am as fragile as any mortal, but I heal quickly," I explained.

"He's half human," said Michelangelo. "He told Splinter."

"Is that true, Saishi?" asked Leonardo, sitting down on the couch. He gestured with his hand. "Here, sit down."

I joined him reluctantly, sitting as far away as I dared. "Yes, Leonardo. My father was human. My mother was Jin. The master Jin is my mother's father."

"Wow," said Leonardo. "But how did you become a genie?"

"The Jin took me away from her. He put me in the bottle, and made me a genie. He gave me to my first Master, a thief in ancient Baghdad. When he was captured, my bottle was lost for almost a thousand years."

"How did you come to America, Saishi? And how did you come to have a Japanese name?"

"I had no name for many years. My next master was an archeologist. He found my bottle digging in the sands for ancient treasures. It was he who brought me to America."

"What happened to him?" Leonardo asked.

"I served him for a few years, but he was greedy. He made too many wishes for ancient treasures… People noticed, and began to wonder how he came to own so many rare and precious antiques. I tried to warn him… But he would not listen to me. Finally, his home was broken into. The thief stole several small treasures, including my bottle. When the stopper was removed, and I came out, I was facing Richard Hakari."

"So Hakari is just a petty thief?"

I nodded. "He was, when he found me. He was afraid at first, but soon he learned to use my magic carefully. He wasn't too greedy; he made small wishes, building his wealth slowly. That way, no one suspected his secret. He named me 'Saishi'."

"So why does Hakari have it in for us?" asked Leonardo.

"Dudes, can't you, like, keep it down? I'm tryin' to watch Wrestle Mania here." Michelangelo waved his hands. "Besides, Sensei says Saishi's supposed to be resting, not playing 20 questions." Michelangelo came to sit beside me on the couch. "You ok, little Dude?"

"Yes, Michelangelo." I shifted a little closer, feeling slightly safer nearer to him.

"Mikey's right. I'm sorry, Saishi. It doesn't sound as if this Hakari is a serious threat. We can talk about this later, when you're feeling better." Leonardo got up. "I'm going to get a slice of pizza. You guys want some?"

"Dude, you know the answer to that," said Michelangelo. "Extra cheese, extra mushroom, extra pepperoni. You did remember the extra pepperoni, right?"

"Of course, Michelangelo. How could I forget? Would you like some, Saishi?"

I shook my head. "Your Sensei very kindly gave me some broth, Sir."

"Ok. Pizza'd probably upset your stomach anyway. And don't call me 'Sir'."

He was gone before I could answer. I sat quietly on the couch next to Michelangelo, listening to him cheer on his favorite wrestler. Soon Leonardo came back with pizza on paper plates, and cans of soda. He sat in the chair to watch the wrestling match, leaving me room to lean against the arm of the couch. Michelangelo was as rowdy as ever, shouting when his favorite wrestler did something he approved of. He jumped up, shouting, and nearly spilled his soda when a man with a large gold belt came into the ring.

"So, the one with the belt is the winner?" I asked.

Michelangelo nodded. "Yeah, that's the Punisher. He's a good guy."

I shivered. "I do not like his name."

"It's just his wrestling name, Dude."

Leonardo snorted. "These guys are really just actors, Saishi."

"Yeah," said Michelangelo, "But they sure put on a great show. The Punisher protects his friends. See, that's his girlfriend, Lady Silvia. I'd like to protect her."

"You protected Master Hakari's friend once," I said without thinking.

"What?" Michelangelo took his eyes off Lady Silvia long enough to look at me.

"Oh! I… Well…" I stuttered, nervous.

"What do you mean, Saishi?" asked Leonardo, leaning forward.

"My Master… that is, my former Master, Hakari, he told me…" I stopped. I was afraid to reveal too much, but they were watching me now, the television forgotten.

"It's ok, little Dude. You can tell us." Michelangelo put his arm around my shoulders. "What happened?"

"Master Hakari…his friend Janice used to live with us, but she was unhappy. She wanted to leave, but Hakari wouldn't let her. One night she snuck out. Master Hakari was going to get her back, but he told me you and your brothers stopped him. You hit him, and his friend ran away."

"So that's why Hikari has it in for us," said Leonardo. "He's mad because we stopped him from hurting that woman. I remember him now. Mikey knocked him around pretty good."

I shrank away from Michelangelo. "You hurt Master Hakari!"

"Hey, little Dude, we had to stop him. He wouldn't let go of her arm. He was gonna hurt her. We're the good guys, remember?"

Panic squeezed my chest. What would they do now? "Master Hakari made me use my magic to keep her from leaving, but she was unhappy. I… I disobeyed my Master and let her go. I never meant for him to harm her."

"Relax, Saishi, it's not your fault your master was a slimeball." Michelangelo put his hand on my arm.

"Michelangelo's right, Saishi, you're not our enemy," said Leonardo. "You're safe here with us. We'll protect you. You don't ever have to face Hakari again."

"What about Master Raphael?" I sniffed. I felt relieved; they weren't angry with me. "He wants to get rid of me. What will he do with me?"

"Don't worry about Raphael, Saishi." Leonardo sounded so confident, so firm, I almost wanted to believe him. "He'll come around. Just give him time."

"Would you really let me stay? Even though my Master was… a slimeball?"

Michelangelo's laugh was explosive. I cringed, ducking. "Little Dude, you can stay with us, like, forever." I looked up. Michelangelo was smiling. I looked at Leonardo.

He nodded. "Sure, Saishi. You can stay."

Tears burned my eyes. I blinked them away. If only I could stay, I thought. If only Master Hakari would give up his plan for revenge and let me stay here with you.

But I knew it was not to be. Hakari would be coming soon, any time now. He would find the turtles' lair, and betray them to their enemies. I curled up near the end of the couch as Michelangelo and Leonardo went back to watching their wrestling match.

They have been kind to me. Even Raphael. He is angry, but he does not hit me. And Splinter would be so sad if Hakari harms them. I can't let him hurt the turtles. Michelangelo is my friend, he said we are 'buds'. If only there were a way to stop him… but the amulet will lead him straight to my bottle. In an instant, I knew what I had to do. I had to get the bottle out of the Lair, away from the turtles. Then Hakari would not be able to find them. I closed my eyes. I would have to wait for just the right time to put my own plan into action.