Note: Some parts in this chapter refer to one of my earlier Christmas story 'A Christmas Surprise'
Also the character Kate mentioned at the end belongs to my dear friend Tyroth Darkstorm's stories, check out his stories on my page!
Chapter Five
"But how will you help me father?" Kemeko asked "How will you help me overcome my fear?"
"I can only do so much Kemeko." Leonardo said "But you will need to do the work to reach your goals, and I know you can do it!"
Stroking Kemeko's hair, Leonardo coaxed her to stand up and her produced a black piece of fabric.
Kemeko stared at it for a while then Leonardo told her to turn around which she did, then he held up the fabric and placed it over her eyes.
Kemeko was slightly surprised.
"Is this a game?" she asked.
"Sort of." Leonardo said "Remember when you, Pandora, Sonia and the Geckolings would play 'Pin the Tail on the Donkey?' or 'Blind Man's Bluff?'"
"Yes?" Kemeko said.
"Well this is a different type of game." Leonardo said "You need to see the world in darkness, and imagine you are in a safe place, you must think good, positive thoughts as you wear the blindfold."
"Okay…." Kemeko said "I don't know though…"
"Listen to me Lotus Blossom." Leonardo said "I know you can do this, you are a clever, strong and brave child, and with the right mind, you can do anything if you focus on the task ahead."
"Okay." Kemeko said unsure, yet she stood tall and strong.
Leonardo stood behind Kemeko and after putting on the blindfold, rested his hands on her shoulders.
"Relax my turtle child." Leonardo soothed "Think of nothing, imagine nothing, just see the darkness, feel the darkness, listen to the silence."
Kemeko took a few deep breaths, and she observed the darkness behind her blindfold.
It was just an inky blackness before her, and she thought of the times she was in her room scared and alone, and all the dark shadows around her and her imagination about monsters and demons that would be hiding and ready to spring out on her as she lay in her bed vulnerable to the dangers.
She tried to push them away, yet she could still see the darkness being an enemy and the monsters that hid from her in her room.
She could see her dark room clearly in her mind, her room which was friendly and welcoming during the waking hours, now seemed like a dungeon and the many shadows on the wall formed into gnarly monsters with glowing eyes, all staring at her and glowing with hunger.
She felt Leonardo's hands on her shoulders and his fingers squeezed her shoulders, and she started to tense as her imagination began to run wild.
She could see the eyes glowing brighter, the shadows becoming more menacing and the feeling of Leonardo's hands didn't feel like those of her beloved father protecting her, but those of a creature who had formed behind her and was holding her up like some sort of sacrifice to the shadows as they leered towards her!
Unable to take anymore Kemeko screamed, and she ripped the blindfold off her eyes and fell on her knees before sobbing.
Leonardo was shocked and he let go of Kemeko as she fell, yet he too dropped to his knees and hugged his daughter close pulling her to his plastron and placed one hand behind her back, and the other on her head.
"I can't do it father!" Kemeko sobbed as she clawed at his chest with the tips of her fingers "I saw the demons in the darkness! I can't do it! They were going to eat me!"
"Shh shhh." Leonardo soothed as he held Kemeko close "It's okay baby, it's okay."
He kissed the top of Kemeko's head and nuzzled her.
"It wasn't real Lotus." He soothed "The Monsters can't get you! I won't let them hurt you!"
Kemeko sniffled and shook and snuggled closer to her father.
"I can't do it daddy!" she wept "I'll never be a good ninja if I can't stand the dark!"
Leonardo looked down.
"Kemeko…" he started.
"I'll never be a ninja!" Kemeko said "You must be so disappointed in me! I'll never get over my fear! I'm too cowardly!"
"Kemeko…" Leonardo spoke again yet Kemeko kept sobbing she was so scared of the dark it would stop her becoming a ninja.
Leonardo shook his head, and he took Kemeko's shoulders and shook her slightly.
"That's enough!" he said firmly to which Kemeko stopped and looked at him surprised as well as shocked he had spoken to her so firmly.
"It's okay Kemeko!" Leonardo said sternly yet softly then cupped Kemeko's cheeks in his hands "There is no way in a million years I would be disappointed in you!"
"But…" Kemeko started.
"No!" Leonardo stated, "You're still young Kemeko, and you're learning, and like everything, you need to grow and adapt to life."
Kemeko chewed her lip as she looked at her father.
"I wasn't expecting you to get this the first time, I didn't get over my fear of heights quickly, Master Splinter knew it would take time, and I know this fear of the dark you have will take a while, but we will get there! And one day, you will see the darkness as a friend, rather than something to fear!"
"I'm still worried daddy." Kemeko said.
"I know sweetheart." Leonardo replied "But we will get there! I promise, if not today, or tomorrow, but one day! It's not if, it's when!"
He then flicked Kemeko's cheek and nuzzled her nose making the child giggle and laugh.
"We will show that dark whose boss!" he chuckled "I bet my katana on it!"
Kemeko giggled and kissed Leonardo's beak lovingly.
Just then, Leonardo's watch bleeped, and he looked at Kemeko.
"Come on sweetheart." He said, "We better get back to the lair, it'll be lunchtime soon, we'll do some more training later okay?"
"Okay daddy." Kemeko agreed, standing up and Leonardo lowered himself down to pick her up and place her on his shoulders so they could go back to the lair.
As soon as Leonardo and Kemeko arrived back at the lair, both of them were shocked at what they saw in the middle of the main area!
Sitting on the floor, Michelangelo was wearing a pink tutu around his middle as well as a large pink tee-shirt with a daisy pattern on the front, and a pink Mickey House hat with black ears on his head, and standing in front of him was Pandora who was painting his face!
She had painted red lipstick on his mouth, as well as circled his eyes with blue and red on his cheeks and orange lines over his eyebrows!
At the same time, Raphael was taking pictures of his younger brother and laughing so hard tears rolled down his cheeks.
"He's looking stylish!" Pandora grinned as she looked at her father who continued to take pictures
"Don't you look pretty Uncle Mikey?" she asked looking at Michelangelo who grinned as he looked into a mirror Pandora held up before him.
"I sure do, Little Geisha!" he said in a high voice "I'm the most beautiful Gender Bender Turtle in the whole Sewer!"
Leonardo opened his mouth with horror at the sight yet Kemeko laughed hard.
"Hamato Pandora!" Leonardo cried 'What have you done to poor Michelangelo?"
Raphael looked across to Leonardo and laughed harder whilst Pandora grinned wider.
"I was making him look Pretty Uncle Leo!" she laughed.
At the same time, Splinter came out of his quarters, Monalisa had come out of the shower room after washing her hair, and Donatello had emerged from his workshop holding a toaster he had been tinkering with and they all stood in shock as they saw Michelangelo all dressed up.
"What in the world?" Splinter asked.
"Mikey?!" Mona cried.
"What happened to you bro?" Donatello asked, his eyes wide with amazement but he soon started to laugh, and everyone else joined in.
Kemeko pointed at Michelangelo and laughed hard.
"He looks funny daddy!" she spluttered.
"That he does Lotus!" Leonardo agreed "As well as totally ridiculous!" he added under his breath "Still, he's so good with Pandora, no matter what she puts him through!"
"Alright Pandora, you little Imp!" said Mona putting her hands on her hips, "What did you do to your poor Uncle Mike?"
"I made him look pretty!" Pandora laughed.
"And he sure does look great!" Raphael chortled then he smirked evilly as he looked at the photos.
"I wonder what Kate will think of these?" the red masked turtle asked as he smirked harder.
"She'll think he's pretty!" Pandora grinned, then looked at Michelangelo who looked slightly worried, but he grinned thinking that his rather tense viper girlfriend would see the funny side, especially since she loved the fact he was so good with Pandora and Kemeko as well as the Geckolings when they came over to Mutopia.
"Alright my children." Splinter clapped his hands then looked at the grandchild, "And my grandchildren."
Everyone looked to the old rat.
"I believe it is time for lunch, then the children need to do their afternoon schooling before you five need to go on patrol."
"Lunch! Sounds good to me!" Michelangelo said then turned to Pandora "Can I clean up please? I can't exactly go on patrol like this can I?"
Pandora nodded and Michelangelo struck a funny yet sexy pose before tottering off to the bathroom to wash off the make up making everyone laugh harder.
"I've never seen him act that effeminate since that Pantomime we put on years ago in Mutopia!" Leonardo commented as he walked over to the others and Kemeko went over to Pandora who was still laughing.
"Fond memories that was!" Mona smiled.
Leonardo chuckled again then looked at Kemeko who laughed along with Pandora, feeling pleased she was no longer upset like she had been earlier.
It always saddened him seeing his adopted daughter so upset, and seeing her smile again brightened his soul, so he decided to let Kemeko relax until he found the next right time to help her tackle her issues with the darkness.
Awww, poor Kemeko, still fearful of the darkness, yet Leonardo is still determined to help her!
Lol! Hope you enjoyed that funny part at the end! Poor Michelangelo being dressed up and painted on by Pandora! Shows how dedicated our favourite orange masked turtle is to keeping his niece entertained!
P.S. Good news on the front! I got my house back as the plumber has fixed the leak and the walls have been re-plastered! It's so good to be home again! See you soon!