Winds of Change

Disclaimer: I don't want to owe, the TMNT are borrowed don't you know. Please don't sue I don't have the dough.

Chapter Twenty One - The Competitions.

They had arrived early to scope out the competitions, the Martial Art Expo, had been hyped up on radio, TV and all over town. Even as the turtle family crowded together and were pushed against, in the crunch of the early morning line ups,which proved if nothing else, that the event would be popular for the city. Three people wearing tags, to claim they were part of the show were doing a demonstration of tai chi, while a spokesperson explained the moves through a microphone, so those in line had something to watch while they sipped their morning coffee and waited to get in.

Raphael yawned as he leaned on his crutches, "If they want to wake us up and get us excited about Martial Arts tai chi is the wrong way to do it."

Mark glanced at Raph, " I don't know seems to me, that one can see the moves a bit better in tai chi when you..." suddenly Mark found Kali's elbow digging him into the ribs.

"It is very poetic and peaceful I agree," Kaliann confirmed, " But it does seem as if it is in slow motion compared to some of the other martial arts."

"That was exactly what I was going say when you..." Mark began to protest.

Ramiela snickered a little as she watched Kaliann grab her boyfriend for a kiss. She sidled up to the couple as the line began to inch slowly forward, "Mark, get the hint we aren't suppose to talk much about what we do, or how we do it. If Kali can not keep your mouth in check the rest of us will and we won't be so gentle." She warned.

Ramiela was trying her best to sense the nearby crowd for anyone who would be against them. Earlier a few comments had been flung at them by some disgruntled people who still viewed the turtles as Freaks, or some type of terrorist but the security for the Martial arts Expo had quickly taken care of the problem without it having to escalate too far. In fact Rama had been rather surprised that her Uncle hadn't decided to cause further trouble with the loud mouth people who were voicing their prejudice loudly.

Uncle Raph could be quiet but Ramiela knew that being called a freak by prejudiced people was a good way to push his buttons. She slipped her hand into Jessie's, he gently took it and squeezed it back as they continued to move slowly forward.

The line now was moving steadily, and soon they were nearing the doors of the building and paying their way in, collecting programs of the exhibits, demonstration times and competition rings. Aiden opened his program and moved through the turnstile.

" I can think of better ways to spend my day then around here, I could have spent the entire day in the dojo if this sort of thing appealed to me." He grumped rolling his eyes. " I think I'll find a quiet corner near the food booths and park it for awhile."

Raph shook his head, " Aiden you are going about it all wrong, this dear boy is a fine opportunity for you. It is the golden ticket." Raph promised, "to be let into the candy store and the pickings are sweet. I mean I wish we could have done this at your age, or any age." He pointed out.

Aiden turned and gave his Uncle his best stare that clearly said, Do you think I care?

Raph sighed, realizing he'd have to spell it out to his nephew, "Aiden we have guys working out and girls of all types here to drool over guys working out. Aiden if you can't get a girls number in here I will be sorely disappointed."

"Uncle," Aiden said tightly, " I have girl's numbers at home, remember? They send them and pictures in the fan mail."

Raph wiggled his eye ridges, "Some very nice pictures in them." He remarked cheerfully, "But writing is not a guy thing. Here you can look around, see what you like and maybe go over and talk a little, bump into them, offer to buy a soda whatever works."

Kali bit her bottom lip trying not to laugh, knowing Aiden was only putting up with their Uncle because, he did like Uncle Raph and because they were out in public. She mentally reached out to her twin, 'Uncle Raph is right, it is a good place to get numbers. Think of all the guys you can meet here Aiden.'

Aiden suddenly grinned as if that thought hadn't occurred to him, suddenly he looked around with a little more interest, "You know Uncle you are right this could be a good place to get numbers. But I'd rather work alone and not around the family. I'll catch ya later."

With that said Aiden quickly vanished into the crowds heading towards some of the booths. Raph nodded, "That is more like it. I knew Aiden would see the value of coming here."

"Oh yes, lots of nice eye candy." Rama agreed.

Jessie gave his wife a sour look, "Hey, you are with me today."

" Nothing wrong with looking Jessie." Rama retorted, "So what should we see first?"

"I'd like to check out some of the weapons booth before it gets crowded around them, the competition rings and demonstration areas ought to have plenty of places to sit and watch when we are ready for it." Jessie replied as he glanced through his program.

"Yeah, you kids have fun." Raph said "I'll stay off my foot and rest watching the competitions that is if I can find something a little more appealing then tai chi," he muttered quickly scanning the program reading through the competition and demonstration rings and finding something that he felt would be acceptable.

Ramiela nodded and looked at Mark, "Watch your mouth. If I hear Kali had to correct you too many times..." She let the threat dangle in the air. Before Jessie pulled his wife away.

Kali giggled, "It might be easier when the family becomes citizens." She soothed.

Mark sighed, "Somehow I have a feeling being around your family can never get that easy." Mark had still not forgotten meeting Kali's dad, Master Leonardo had made him rather uncomfortable a better part of the night, and had even sat polishing one of his long swords at the end of their rooftop meal.

If Mark hadn't been so smitten with Kali he would have packed it in there.

XXX

A while later after scanning booths and checking out various things to do with Martial arts - martial art schools, weapons, videos, books, and anything that could possibly be related such as meditation books, candles and power crystals, though Kali wasn't quite sure where power crystals fit in - they went to watch the competitions.

Mark and Kali found a seat to observe some weapon matches, after watching a couple of them Kali often seeing where those in the ring had made a mistake or had moved to take advantage of an opening grinned wide at the latest match that was ongoing in the ring. The two fighters were both of Asian descent and neither seemed to give ground or leave any opening, their strikes were hard and fast.

Someone sitting a few rows over grouched that they couldn't see what was happening and couldn't they slow things down. Kali did her best to stifle a giggle, and glanced at Mark, " This will be a close one who, do you think will take it?"

Mark shrugged, "Uh the bigger of the two, Huan Yang."

Kali arched an eye ridge, "Then I'll go for the other guy, Yan Cho." She knew size wasn't always a factor, but the two were evenly matched and Yang, was only about three inches taller then Cho. Course Cho was better looking then the other guy but Kali wasn't going say that to Mark.

A girl sitting near them smiled at Kali, her dark hair, done up in a bun and deep dark eyes, as well as skin tone and accent spoke of Asian descent. She was wearing a red dress. " Excuse me, you are one of turtles, yes?" she asked hesitantly.

Kali turned and nodded, " I am my name is Kali, and this is my boyfriend Mark."

" I am Emiko Cho," she glanced at a male beside her who was keeping a close eye on the ring, "My brother and I came to watch my brother Yan."

"Your brother has some impressive moves," Kali admitted.

" He has trained hard and he brings us much honor." Emiko said, " Yan want to have school of own one day, he is hoping to get ah... what say uh..." Emiko scrunched up her face, " step up here."

" It is a good place for it." Kali agreed suddenly she turned her head back to the ring as she thought she saw a slight blur of movement in the ring, she barely caught the move that sent Yang down but that was it and with that down, Yang got to his feet determined not to go down again, the ring matches were best two out of three.

Aiden emerged and seeing his sister headed towards her, emiko looked at him and grinned but Aiden turned and acted like he didn't see her.

" Hey Aiden sit down." Mark grouched, " I have to hope Yang can get back on top."

Aiden plunked down near his sister, "Hmmm. Don't count on it," he muttered.

Emiko looked at Aiden, " You think my brother win too?"

Aiden looked at the girl, then looked at his sister as if to ask 'Whose she and do we know her?'

Kali chuckled, "Aiden this is Emiko, her brother Yan Cho is in the match."

"Nice ta meet ya." Aiden drawled, he sat back to watch and admire, if not the moves at least the bodies in the ring Yan got his opponent down for a second time. "That what one heck of a match, but I knew Yan would do it."

" Really," Emiko asked,"how you so uh sure?"

"Easy he got the first blow in setting off the confidence in the other guy, suddenly he tries harder, psyches himself out. Your brother just had to wait and bide his time." Aiden replied with a casual shrug.

Emiko gasped, " You know such tactics?"

"Well uh, yeah kinda." Aiden admitted. Suddenly he felt a hand drop on his shoulder, even in a crowd and on his crutches his uncle could still move in stealth mode.

"Got her number yet?" Raph whispered to Aiden, then he smiled wide to Emiko, "We know a little of that stuff, have to you know. Aiden is good but your brother he is probably better."

"You not in the competitions?" Emiko wondered.

"Nah, not this year, maybe another year." Raph said, "Or maybe Aiden could arrange to see if your brother could teach him anything. Course he'd need a number to reach your brother."

Emiko quickly wrote out a number on part of her program ripped it off and gave it to Aiden. "I must go now."

"Bye it was nice talking to you Emiko." Kali called cheerfully.

Aiden rolled his eyes and glowered at his uncle, "Do you mind?" He snapped.

" What I got you her number, saved you the bother. She is a nice one Aiden." Raph declared, " If I was younger and wasn't married I'd go after her."

Aiden growled, " I ought to tell Aunt Sara you were getting girl's numbers here." Aiden handed Emiko's number to his uncle, "You want it you have it." He snapped rising moving into the crowd at top pace. He moved into the people wanting to disappear, wanting to vanish, wanting to get away from his Uncle.

He was in such a hurry, he headed towards the food booths to grab a drink unaware that there was a group of four guys sitting at a table watching him. A hurried conversational buzz happened between the four youths as they spotted the mutant turtle. Their conversation one of 'You think that's him?' " Yeah, that's him what do ya think?"

One of the four leaned back a little in his chair, " I'd like to get to know him."

"Forget it, John!" His buddy stopped and blinked as he recognized the sly grin on John's face, " You can't be serious."

John laughed, " You know might be nice to see." John rose from his chair seeing Aiden with his drink made a move to intercept and bump into the turtle but was shocked when the mutant seemed aware of the move and sidled easily to one side and avoided the contact of casually bumping into him.

John grinned wider, 'It's a challenge good I prefer it that way.' He thought as he watched the turtle melt into the crowd of people.

TBC