Summary: A day in the life of a Foot Clan nanny. Takes place the morning after Scars. Raphael is 6 and Karai is 7.

Rated: K

Word count: 1,211

INTUITION

Takara added wakame and tofu to the broth heating on the stove, stirring it distractedly. Usually cooking was a pleasant and relaxing task, especially in a kitchen as large and beautiful as this one, but she'd felt a slight unease since the moment she had crossed the threshold into the estate this morning. It didn't help matters when she peripherally caught sight of a man standing in the kitchen with her, either.

She started, almost dropping the piece of fish she was tending through the grill. Even after all these years she wasn't used to it. He was clad in the basic black garb of the Foot with red flame insignias on either shoulder. "Good morning," she said, inclining her head politely.

He returned the greeting but waited to speak further until she was able to turn away from the stove. "I am Soshi. Apologies for disrupting your breakfast, but I have a message for you."

"Yes?" she asked, trying to hide her concern.

"Not to alarm you, but the Yakuza have been getting more hostile towards the Foot's presence. The incidents have mostly been within Tokyo Metropolis," he informed her as casually as he one might remark on the weather. "As a precaution, Master Oroku has requested that Karai no longer accompany you to the market until further notice, and that she is not to be out of your immediate sight while playing on the grounds."

"Of course," Takara answered, her voice calm despite the cold sliver in her chest.

Soshi handed her a small piece of paper with his cell phone number scrawled across it. "If you are required to leave for a time, please call me and I will be happy to assist you."

It was an order, not a friendly offer, but she wasn't going to refuse protection. She tucked his number into her apron and smiled graciously. "Thank you, Soshi-san, I will be sure to do that."

He smiled back, eyes sweeping the kitchen quickly. "I trained under your husband for a time. He was a great swordsman."

"Yes, he was," she agreed wistfully.

"And between us," Soshi added, his voice dropping lower, "I wouldn't seek out Master Oroku today unless it's an emergency."

Takara nodded in understanding and the young shinobi took his leave of her as silently as he had appeared.

She worried at her lip as she finished preparing breakfast for her charges, setting their places at the table and wondering briefly if her own daughters might be at risk. She knew very little of the illicit business of the clan, and if an enemy tried to use her as leverage she was sure that Saki would cut his losses. Really, she was barely worth the trouble of watching over. Her daughters should be safe.

Not for the first time, she wondered how she had gotten into such a position. Reminding herself that she was lucky to have it, even at the cost of turning a blind eye to some questionable happenings, she tried to push it from her mind. There were not many other ways for an older widow to sustain even a humble apartment in Tokyo and support two grown children though university.

When Karai and Raphael turned up for breakfast and greeted her woodenly, she put a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp. They had never been a sorrier pair. Karai's eyes were puffy and red as she sullenly took her place, poking at her food with chopsticks. She stole a guilty glance over at Raphael, the left side of his jaw bruised and his plastron scratched.

"What happened? I tucked you both into bed myself last night!" Takara exclaimed.

"We snuck into the main dojo last night," Karai blurted. "Father caught us in there and it was all my fault! But Raph..."

"Karai!" Raphael snapped, cutting her off. Elbow resting by his plate, he tucked his face into his hand in exasperation. "Just...please stop."

Takara frowned and looked between two, mentally chiding them for their particularly ill-timed disobedience. Raph started to pick at his food, looking uncomfortable and even a bit embarrassed. The picture became clear to Takara. He had taken all the blame and punishment, or so he thought. In his mood Saki wasn't going to ask questions and had likely dealt with them quickly, knowing either way he would get his point across. Karai was unharmed if she was innocent, or guilt-stricken by Raphael's steep punishment if she wasn't. Raphael was a fiery but sensitive soul, and the attention and apologies Karai was trying to shower him with were wearing down his temper.

Pursing her lips, Takara served herself a bowl of miso soup and joined them at the table. She sighed and took a sip of the warm broth, letting it soothe her from the inside out. Karai was biting her lower lip and looked like she was about to speak once more, despite the fact that Raphael was pointedly ignoring her.

"Karai-san," Takara interjected. "Eat your breakfast or you will be late for your homeschool teacher. Raphael-san, elbow off the table."

Pleased when both children did as she asked and calmed into their morning routine, Takara decided to hold Raphael back from classes for the day. Some time apart would do them good, and she wanted to keep him close for the day. He would never seek out comfort, but he wouldn't refuse it either...if it was presented in the proper way.

They ate in relative peace and Takara cleared their dishes away, then retrieved an ice pack from the freezer which she passed to Raphael. "I'd like you to stay with me for a while longer," she told him.

He looked torn between arguing or enjoying any excuse to miss school.

"Karai-san, come out of the kitchen and let me fix your hair," she added, not waiting for Raphael's response. "Don't worry, he will be with me all day," she assured Karai quietly once they were out of earshot. Takara's weathered hands deftly smoothed over and retied Karai's haphazard ponytail, making sure she was presentable for her tutor.

"But Uba," she whined, clearly still conflicted.

Takara shushed her gently. "Even a gift that is unwanted should be accepted with grace." She placed a hand on the girl's shoulder and smiled. "Do not make your tutor wait. We'll see you for lunch."

"Okay," Karai answered, giving her nanny a quick hug before running off to the study.

Takara returned to the kitchen where Raphael was holding the ice pack to his face gingerly. He eyed her pensively from his chair as she pulled up another to sit directly across from him.

"Ryota-sensei is going to be expecting you at training this afternoon," she said matter-of-factly. She examined the lacerations on his shell and kept her face neutral. "After you ice your jaw I will take care of the scratches. You must keep them very clean until they heal."

Raphael perked up at the mention of training. "Yes, Takara-san."

"After, if you would like to join Karai for class you are welcome to, but I could really use some help cleaning up," she said, smiling softly. "These old hands are very sore today."

He lowered the ice pack and grinned. "I'll help you, Uba."