Hey guys! Welcome back!
Hope you're all well and staying safe since we're still in a scary and uncertain time, trying to get through this Covid-19 Pandemic!
Wherever you are, I hope you're being sensible, wearing your masks, social distancing and helping others who need it! I hope one day we can return to where we were and hopefully learn from our experience here, but only time will tell!
Anyway, as much as I'm trying to get through United by Fate, I managed to cook up another fic for you to enjoy which focuses on Kemeko and Leonardo!
I'm sure a lot of you were afraid of the dark as kids! I know I was, yet now as an adult I enjoy the darkness and am more than happy to sit in it or with candles and let my imagination run away with me. Maybe you can relate to this in a way!
Anyway! Hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think!
I'm Scared
Chapter One
It was the middle of the day in the city of New York during the month of September, the city that never slept bustled as it always did whatever the time of day or season.
Though many humans on the surface went about their business, down below in the sewers, in a hidden lair, Leonardo, the oldest sibling and the leader of the Ninja Turtles slept peacefully in his bed.
He lay on his side, his head just peeking over the top of the duvet and snored softly.
Yet his slumber didn't last for long as he soon felt a small hand gently patting him on the shoulder.
Leonardo sucked in a breath as he was pulled from his sleep and he opened one eye to see a young Japanese girl no older than six years old, looking scared.
"Daddy…" she whimpered.
"Huh, whazzat? What?" Leonardo blinked and lifted his head and observing his adopted daughter "Kemeko? What are you doing up?"
The little girl dressed in light blue silk pyjamas stood before him with teary red eyes and her skin was pale.
"Daddy…I'm scared." She said.
"Scared?" Leonardo asked "What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"
"It's the dark." Kemeko said "I'm scared of the dark."
"The dark?" Leonardo asked as he sat up in bed "Aww, sweetheart, there's nothing to be scared of," he stroked her cheek "The dark can't hurt you!"
"Can I sleep with you?" Kemeko asked as she placed a hand on his "Please!"
Leonardo looked at Kemeko's eyes, they were filled with pleading tears and there was no way he could refuse her request, especially since she really looked so worried and ready to burst into tears again.
"Come here Lotus." He said holding out his hands "Of course you can stay here tonight, I'll look after you!"
At once, Kemeko smiled and wiped her tears, then she climbed into his bed and snuggled up next to him before Leonardo pulled the duvet over them both.
"Thanks daddy." Kemeko whispered as she lay on the pillow and her eyes began to flutter closed.
"No worries baby." Leonardo said with a reassuring smile and wrapping his arms around her protectively "You know I'm here to protect you, no matter what."
"And I will always continue to." Leonardo thought to himself "I promised your mother I would."
So, saying he looked up at a framed picture of Kemeko's parents that hung on the wall just above his bed, Karai and Dr Chaplin, both smiling radiantly on their wedding day.
Even though it had been years since their deaths, Leonardo never forgot his promise to them, especially to Karai that Kemeko would be safe with him, and he vowed to protect her until his death.
Holding Kemeko close, Leonardo stared at the wall.
As much as he was happy that his adopted daughter trusted him enough to climb into his bed when she felt scared, he knew he would have to get her confident enough to the darkness.
As a ninja, he along with his brothers and adopted sister Mona, had to embrace the darkness as a friend, as it always worked to their advantage.
Ninjas had to love the darkness, heights and many other things people were afraid of, and he only knew too well he had to overcome his fear of heights as a child if he was to become a ninja.
Holding the sleeping Kemeko close, Leonardo decided to have a talk with her in the morning about her fear and see what they could do about it.
He lay there for a long time wondering how to approach the subject, but before long, the scent of Kemeko's hair along with her warmth soon got him drifting off to a peaceful sleep.
A loud buzzing of the alarm clock soon awoke Leonardo and he opened his eyes, placing his hand on the clock to stop the noise, and he saw Kemeko stirring next to him.
As she sat up and pushed her long black hair out of her face, the little girl looked rather bewildered as she briefly wondered why she was in bed with her adopted father, but she soon remembered and smiled at him.
'Morning daddy." She said.
"Morning Lotus." Leonardo smiled back "You feeling okay? Feeling better after last night's little scare?"
"Yes daddy." Kemeko said, "I felt safe with you, I'm sorry I woke you last night."
"Aww, don't fret baby." Leonardo soothed as he flicked Kemeko under the chin "There's nothing to be sorry about, I felt honoured to know you still trust me to take care of you when you're afraid, or worried."
Kemeko smiled back and was about to say something else when the smell of a cooked breakfast wafted up to the room and Kemeko licked her lips.
"I think Uncle Mikey has started preparing breakfast!" she said.
"I think he has Lotus!" Leonardo grinned "Knowing your Uncle Michelangelo, he always likes to prepare the full works! Come on!"
Kemeko slid out of bed and sat on the edge and Leonardo got up and stretched before reaching for his blue mask, pads, wrists bands and belt along with his katana as he knew Master Splinter would want to start training after they had eaten.
Before long he was dressed and he and Kemeko walked out of his bedroom to join the rest of the family.
As they exited, they both saw Raphael and Monalisa's daughter, Pandora doing some tumbling in the middle of the lair, standing on her hands then flipping forward onto her feet then jumping up triumphantly.
"Looks like your cousin/sister has been up early." Leonardo commented "Full of beans as usual."
Kemeko scoffed as she saw Pandora do another couple of tumbles then a mid-air flip then a one-handed cartwheel before doing several cartwheels towards the kitchen/dining area.
"Show-Off." She muttered before following her inside, the smell of bacon and eggs filling her nose and making her mouth water.
Michelangelo was standing at the cooker counter wearing an apron and watching pans as the contents sizzled and fried, as well as arranged some plates with toast.
"Morning Mike!" Leonardo called cheerfully.
"Oh, hey Leo!" Michelangelo turned to face his older brother "Hope you're hungry! I got a mean feast here for you all to enjoy! Tomatoes, sausages, bacon, eggs, fried bread, pancakes!"
"Sweet!" Pandora cheered "I want all of it!"
"Please Uncle Mikey!" Leonardo reminded.
"Please Uncle Mikey." Pandora quickly added to which Leonardo gave his niece a knowing look.
"Thanks Leo!" Raphael's approving voice was heard as he entered the kitchen area 'Remember your manners Little Geisha! Even if it is your Uncle Mikey!"
"Hey!" Michelangelo shot back in mock offence making the girls and Leonardo laugh.
"Something smells good!" Donatello called as he walked in, soon followed by the Lizard Lady Monalisa.
"Oh yeah." Mona agreed inhaling then turning to see their elderly father and Sensei, Master Splinter who was running his paws over his silvery grey fur and adjusting his burgundy ninja robe.
"Good morning my children." The old rat greeted to which the turtles and Mona greeted him back and bowed.
"And my grandchildren." He smiled at Pandora and Kemeko who both bowed in respect "Good morning Granddad Splinter." They said together making the old rat smile.
Michelangelo soon spooned up everyone's breakfasts on plates to their liking and handed them all out.
"You sure know how to make a good spread Mikey!" Donatello praised as he licked his lips looking at the well-presented plate of poached eggs, fried bread and sausages on his plate.
"Just call me MasterChef bro!" Michelangelo beamed as he took a seat next to Pandora who seemed eager to tuck into her bacon, pancakes and maple syrup before Raphael told her to wait till everyone was seated much to her chagrin.
As soon as Michelangelo was seated everyone tucked in.
Master Splinter was speaking about how they were going to start the day with training for the adults followed by free time, then more training, then outdoor patrol and so on, which was the norm for most days.
For the children it was schooling and basic training, to which Donatello looked rather excited as he enjoyed being the girl's tutor when he wasn't training or doing another of his engineering or experiments in his lab.
"When do I get to do what the grown-ups do?" Pandora had asked with a mouthful of pancakes to which Raphael told her not to talk with her mouth full then add that she still had a while to wait till she was to join him, her mother and uncles in what they did, to which Pandora pouted making the adults laugh.
"Look at that bottom lip!" Donatello teased "Sorry kiddo, that won't change anything!"
"You'll be grown up soon enough sweetheart." Splinter smiled "But you should enjoy being young while you can, it won't last forever."
"Listen to your wise grandpa sweetie." Mona advised "He knows best!"
Kemeko meanwhile had said nothing all through the meal as she dreamily ate her poached eggs on toast and kippers.
Leonardo cut into his sausage and he looked over at his adopted daughter wondering how she was feeling and how to talk to her about why she felt so scared last night of the dark.
"If you're gonna be a ninja Lotus." He thought to himself "You will need to learn to embrace the darkness, and like I got over my fear of heights, I'm sure you will too, even if it takes time, you will get there, but we will talk about it."
And that's the first chapter!
I got some inspiration both from experiences I had as a kid as well as from the episode 'Tales of Leo' where Leonardo's fear of heights was brought up!
Stay tuned for more coming soon!
Stay safe ya'll!