A Bond Of Friendship

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Chapter Fourteen - Sticking together.

Ramiela:

I laid on my bed my face buried in my pillows, doin' my best not to cry. I sniffed and wiped at a few tears that had come out anyways, before heaving a sigh and sitting up, lookin' at my feet. I chewed on my lip wonderin' why dad hadn't come in to punish me for bein bad. I hadn't meant ta be bad. I just wanted a friend. I slid off my bed and slipped out of my bedroom walking very quietly back towards the living room. I heard all the adults talkin about what we were gonna have to do, and about those Foot ninja.

If there are foot ninja are there arm ninja and toe ninja and finger ninja and... I wondered to myself. It was a pretty funny thought and I almost laughed and if I had daddy really would have given me what for. I had to hold both hands tight over my mouth to keep from laughing. I heard Sensei say that it was a bad thing that the Foot knew about me. I didn't understand it.

I turned and crept back to my room for someone caught me disobeyin' agin. I hadn't thought there'd be this kind of problems.

I returned to my bedroom and sat on my bed with my arms over my plastron, scowlin at the bedspread, ignoring my toys and books. All I had wanted was a friend. I didn't want to cause trouble, not for me or my family or anyone. I never knew me having a friend would end up like this. That having a friend like Jessie was a bad thing. I rubbed at my eyes again.

After a while my stomach started to complain, I thought it might be dinner time, but daddy hadn't come yet, so maybe I wasn't gonna get dinner tonight.But I was so hungry...I was starvin. Didn't daddy know how hungry I was? Yep. He probably did and he was probably gonna keep me hungry too. Might never feed me again. Instead I'd just sit here for the rest of my life waitin' for him to come ...only he wouldn't. By the time he came to find me I'd be just a shell nothing left of me but my shell. Then he'd be sorry.

I hung my head, bored and tired of waiting all ready. I raised my head and saw my zai sitting on the bedside table, just in front of my lamp. I reached out and gripped them took one in each hand and did my best to spin just one of them but I still couldn't get it right. I kept trying and working at it and I knew one day I'd get it, I just wished I knew when. Don't know why twirling them was so hard, just knew that it was. I could do all kinds of other ninja stuff real easy.

I puffed out some air and a bit of my bangs flew up and waved in front of my face. It seemed funny, so I did it again. Then I thought about Jessie. Suddenly blowin my hair didn't seem so funny and I laid my zai back on the nightstand and flopped on my back to stare at the ceiling, wondering if Jessie were okay.

What if the bad ninja went after him, what if the bad ninja tried to hurt Jessie? Jess couldn't fight like I could. He weren't ninja and those Foot ninja were bad enough they might try to hurt Jessie bad. I mean they didn't like us right? But I didn't know why. I didn't like the idea of the bad ninja gettin a hold of Jessie.

Finally, I heard the door click softly open and I sat up to see dad coming in my room. He looked really mad, and I didn't want to look him in the face.

"Ramiela" he said.

I winced, he only used my full name when he was very upset and angry with me. I whispered "yes daddy?"

"You know you should never have gone topside for any reason right? We have told you numerous times that it is dangerous up there, and that the only time you can go up there is when you are with us during training correct?"

I nodded.

"I can't hear your head rattle Ramiela." He snapped.

"Yes, daddy." I said.

"Yes, what?" he asked.

I gulped "Yes, I knew what was said and I wasn't spos'ta." I sniffed and bit my lip coz those tears wanted to come again.

"You kept secrets, you were disobedient and you ended up putting yourself and many others in danger as well. Raph has all ready told you your friendship with that boy is over, and trust me he is right on that count." Dad said. He talked calmly but I could tell he was mad, I could see it in his face, and how stiff he stood, I could sense his anger and most of all I could hear it in his voice and how he spoke to me. "Now you are going find out what I have to say about it. First off you are grounded for a whole month."

I looked at him full on my mouth hanging open in surprise at his words.

He nodded, "That is right Ramiela, no TV, no video games, no movies, no privileges. You are not allowed to leave the lair for any reason. You will be expected to do extra chores and an extra hour or so of exercises in the dojo, supervised by me, and trust me girl I'll make Leo's lessons seem like a walk in the park. Perhaps that will keep you out of trouble. Understood?"

"Yes daddy." I answered. I had a sinking feeling in my belly. Suddenly I was glad I hadn't eaten coz I wasn't so sure my stomach wanted food now.

"I'm very disappointed in you Ramiela. You were not brought up to act like this." Dad gave me a dirty dark look, "Oh and Ramiela one more thing you will write fifty lines of ' I will obey all of my rules,' as well."

I groaned a little and saw dad give an evil grin.

"What you think I'm being hard on you? Just wait honey, it will get much worse. Do we understand each other?"

"Yes daddy" I repeated again. I wanted to tell him that I didn't wanna write a bunch of lines, but I had tried tellin daddy no when he was punishing me once before and well, I really didn't want to do that again.

I wanted to ask him bout those Foot ninja but I didn't want to ask him now. I had a feeling it was better left alone.

Dad nodded his head "Good now come out and you can have some dinner and then you can go straight to bed."

I wasn't so sure I wanted to eat now but I followed dad out to the kitchen.

XXX

I woke early in the morning and got up to find some scrap paper and a pen. I had a small round table in one corner of my room near my book case, it was my art table, and there were a couple of chairs around the table I sat down at one of the chairs and began to work on the lines of I will obey all my rules. Writing it out that many times sure did hurt my hand.

I sighed, I really didn't know if I could obey all my rules or not. I had lots of rules and some of them didn't make a lot of sense to me. Baka came in and jumped up on my lap nudging my arm and purring loudly.

I smiled as I scratched his head "You are lucky you are a cat and don't gots so many rules." I told him.

I thought about Jessie again, and those bad ninja. I missed Jessie all ready. I was worried bout him, and scared the bad ninja would get him. I wanted to talk to Jessie. But I knew gettin to see Jessie wouldn't be easy, not now at least.

It was Sateday too, and I couldn't even watch cartoons. Maybe I could sneak and watch some TV when the twins were watchin. Nah they watched stupid things like Barney, not the cool stuff I liked watchin. It weren't fair that I had to go a whole month with no TV or fun. Dad must really hate me.

I picked up my zai and played with them, it was still early. We always had sleep in Sateday and Sunday and I knew I had woken up far too early for the family. They might get up soon though. Jessie and I liked to play on Sateday morning. I wondered if he were thinkin' of playin with me.

I knew I wasn't spose'ta leave the lair. I knew daddy would be super angry if I did. But the thought of Jessie maybe comin' to play with me and not listening to Uncle Raphael just got to me. He'd be all alone and those bad ninja might hurt him.

I couldn't let the bad ninja get Jessie. he was my friend. Friends are like family, you stick together good or bad. You didn't give up on 'em. I couldn't give up on Jessie either. Sides he said he still wanted to be my friend and I wanted to be his. As his friend and a ninja myself I had to look out for Jessie.

I left my table and my unfinished lines, I went over to my nightstand and opened the drawer to dig out my belt. I strapped it on and tucked my zai into the belt. I knew I wasn't spose to take my weapons out of the lair. But I might need them, specially if any bad Foot ninja were sneakin about.

I knew dad would be mad if and when he found out, but my friend was worth it. I had to think of my friend first. I had to do what was right!

Don't know how breakin' the rules could be right but it felt right somehow. Just like being Jessie's friend was right. Seeing my friend was safe was far more right then staying here and doing what daddy said. Hopefully I could go and get back fore anyone knew I was gone.

I felt that going to see Jessie was sort of an honour thing. Ninja knew about honour. I was Kunoichi I had honour and knew what it was, and what I had to do for the sake of honour. So I slipped out of my room and out of the lair.

I went to the man hole cover. I went up and lifted on the manhole cover just a bit to peek out, cause I didn't have my disguise. Dad had taken it and probably burned it for all I knew.

"R...rr ...Rama?"

Darn it! I knew I was right Jessie were here. He hadn't listened to Uncle Raphael, he didn't know what he were messin with. I pushed the cover aside and stepped out into the dark alley, "Jessie you shouldn't be here those bad ninja might come." I told him, "Now go home Jess, I don't want ya gettin hurt by them ninja." I turned to go down again.

"I wwww...wwa..waa...wanted to sssss...see yo.you. Let mmmmme kkk..ko..come down." he pleaded.

I shrugged "Okay for a bit but then ya gotta go." I said. I thought if maybe he were in the sewer with me at least those Foot guys wouldn't get him.

Jessie jumped down some of the rungs and splashed into a puddle he grinned at me "I th...th...thought mama...maybe we kkkk...ko..could sssst..stay fr..fr..friends and pl..pl..play ddddd...down here." he said.

I shook my head "I don't think your mom would like that Jessie."

"We're fffff...fr..friends rrrr..ri..right Rama?" he asked his grin growing.

I nodded, "Sure we are Jess, and your gonna get in so much trouble with your mom" I hinted.

"Y...yo...yo..You ggg...ge..get in tt..tr..to..trouble" he reminded me.

I laughed, "yeah and I'll be in it again when my dad finds out I'm not at home." I complained, "Listen Jessie I want to stay your friend. I really do but those bad Foot ninja are mean and they could cause you and I all kinds of trouble that we don't need." I wasn't sure how they could do it, but after listening to my family talk I was sure that the Foot could indeed do it.

"Dddd...do the Ffff..fo..foo..foo..foot come dddd..do..do...down here?" Jessie wondered.

I shrugged, "I dunno Jessie. Never even heard of them ninja till yesterday. You best go home Jessie it isn't safe now. Maybe later."

"K...ko...Come on Rrrr...Ra...Rama let's pl...play. We ddddiiddid...didn't get to ye...yes..yesterday." Jessie begged.

I sighed, I wanted to play with him.

Then Jessie gave a large grin and hit my arm lightly "T..t...tag R...Rrra...Rama" he called as he took off down and into the sewer pipes.

Dang it all! Just what were he tryin' to do? He could get lost or hurt down here. He didn't know the tunnels or his way bout the sewer. I sighed rolled my eyes and replaced the cover before going to chase after Jessie. Luckily with his splashing I managed to catch up with him pretty quick.

"Mmmmmy ttt...turn to catch you." he beamed happily.

"No Jessie" I began.

C...kkk...Co...Come on Ra...Rama. Jjjjjj...juju...just ffff...fo..for a littttt...little while" he pleaded.

I smiled. I did want to play with him, and it was hard saying no to Jessie, especially when all I really wanted to do was play with my friend. "Okay just for a bit" I gave in, "Promise?"

He nodded eagerly "Pppp...Promise." he agreed.

We looked at one another and started to laugh together before we began to play.

TBC