Splinter's Tale
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians and their rodent Master.
To Lenni: Splinter has not seen his sons die, but they have gone off to battle Shredder and he doesn't know if they will live or die at this point. Causing him some angst as well as the reflections that brought about the need to restore honour.
Raphaella: Never underestimate how much mere thoughts can hold you or grip you I have read many short stories driven simply by a characters thought though this won't be one of them.
Thanks for all the reviews greatly appreciated. Now on with the story.
~*~
Chapter One: Early days
I was young and inquisitive about life with a strong sense of hearing, smell and sight. Yet I could not say that I was any different from any of the other rats that were kept in the large open aquarium in the store I was in.
I recall very little of my life in the store far away in Japan, back twenty or more years now but I did remember the day my Master came into the store.
He was small and slender of build but well muscled with a kind gentle face. I caught a scent of incense, soap and a faint underlying scent of sweat. I watched as he strolled past telling the shopkeeper that he was looking for a simple pet.
I followed him as far as I could standing up on hind legs to get a better view, something about the way he moved his very scent had caught my interest. He returned moments later his dark kind eyes glancing quickly into the tank coming to rest on me.
I recalled squeaking with delight, as he seemed to watch me for a moment.
He moved a bit one way and I did my best to keep pace with him watching him with keen interest, he kept moving a few steps this way and a few back and I followed as best I could.
He chuckled slightly and lowered a hand palm up into the cage, the rest of the rats scattered wary of the intrusion but I took it as an invitation and scampered without fear into the open hand.
" You are very watchful and show no fear. The rat is known to be a cunning animal both bold and quick. Spending much of its time keeping to the shadows as it goes about its business, they are thieves at heart. Hai we have much in common all ready Haken. You would make a proper pet for me I think" he murmured softly in Japanese. His voice low soft and mannerly as he reached to stroke me with his free hand. ( A/N Haken is Japanese for Splinter.)
There was a calm peaceful gentle way about him and I liked him a great deal, though I did not fully understand all the words he spoke.
So it was that he bought a suitable cage and me and brought me to my new home.
It turned out my new home was a dojo where students learned the art of ninjitsu, though in the early days I had no knowledge of what ninjitsu was but I was soon to learn.
My Master spent a great deal of time instructing students of all ages and often would spend more time in the dojo before and after lessons. He was more in the dojo then he was out of it so having me in the school was a way of being able to spend a great deal of time with me even when he was otherwise occupied.
The first time I had seen Hamato Yoshi, for that was my Master's name, practice his katas I was surprised at how quick he could move, he moved so fast that it was startling to me for it seemed so different from the calm quiet contained being he had first appeared to be. Then the katas over he relaxed falling easily back to the quiet man that he was.
I often watched the lessons he gave to his students, he was firm and quick with any student that stepped out of line demanding discipline and respect from his students, but offering them gentle encouragement and help when needed.
One day some other people came they wore black clothing and bandanas with a strange mark on them. My Master I noticed seemed to hold these people with much respect, deferring to them. I realized with some uncanny instinct of my own that these people might be above my Master in some way.
These people asked my Master to arrange a competition of sorts between my Master's class and one other class in the school for the next day.
The day of the competitions there was much excitement that filled the air. I took a good look at the other teacher and his students as they arrived. I heard some people say that his name was Oroku Nagi. Nagi was taller then my Master and I sensed something from him that I didn't like or care for.
As Nagi's students went up against Yoshi I could see that though his students did well, my Master's students usually prevailed and won. Out of thirty students Yoshi's students won twenty of the matches.
I could sense that Nagi was not amused by his defeat and the praise the others gave to Yoshi only seemed to increase Nagi's irritation.
Nagi turned to the high Master's and spoke " Of course Master's that is merely student against student a true measure of worth might be gained by watching Yoshi and I compete to the first killing blow."
The high Masters talked quickly amongst themselves then nodded agreement.
I didn't like the idea of my Master going against Nagi I could tell that Nagi did not like Yoshi. I sensed that Yoshi really had no quarrel with Nagi. I was disturbed that none of the others seemed to notice the undercurrents of emotion that Nagi seemed capable of hiding but I could pick up on so clearly.
Each of them picked katanas and then bowed to each other, barely was the bow over when Nagi rushed Yoshi; Yoshi raised his blade parrying the blow. Then my heart seemed to stop all together as the two combatants moved almost faster then I could register.
It was clear they were both skilled warriors, everyone watched them with bated and still breath, the only noise in the room seemed to be the clanging of the swords.
Finally my Master, after a great deal of time managed to disarmed Nagi. Then my Master held the blade of his sword in such a way as to show a killing blow, craftily defeating his opponent.
Only then could I breath with ease but as I saw Nagi rise from his bow to my Master I saw a flicker of hatred flash in his ebony eyes. His face twisted with rage for just a split second and I squeaked at the way he seemed to hide his emotions so well from others.
I truly sensed that he was no friend of my Master's and I felt my hair bristle and my whiskers twitch with rage.
That night after the high Masters departed Nagi came into our part of the dojo glaring hard at Yoshi's back " So you managed to curry their favour again Yoshi" he growled.
Yoshi turned and gave Nagi a steady gaze " It would be wrong of me Nagi to do anything less then the very best that I am capable of. I did not ask to be one of Japan's finest shadow warriors but I have earned that title, as have you. One should give there all in all that they do and I was honoured to have some of the greatest Master's instruct me." Yoshi replied simply giving an indifferent shrug.
Nagi sneered at his words " Easy for you to say Yoshi, shadow warrior I might be but I am tired of being in your shadow. Sooner or later I will make you fall from the pedestal you are on, and I will be the one come out on top." He threatened in an ominous way.
Yoshi only laughed at his arrogance causing something fleeting quick and dark to pass over Nagi's face.
Nagi strode quickly effortlessly closer and I could see then the rage that burned in his eyes. Nagi scowled contemptuously into my cage and I bared my teeth " A lowly rat for a pet" Nagi scoffed " How appropriate Yoshi."
My fur bristled at this insult to my Master but Yoshi seemed unmoved by Nagi's words as if he was above them. Yoshi gave a tender smile my way " I thought so" he said and I sensed his pride.
Nagi let off a loud volley of curses before departing.
I felt my body trembling never before had I felt such anger.
Yoshi made a soft clicking noise with his tongue as he reached in my cage to stroke me and calm me down.
" He could be a fine fighter. A better ninja then perhaps even I myself if only he could get past his anger and jealousy. He has not learned to still his emotions in the ninja way.
Anger clouds the mind Haken. It can be an unconquerable enemy when it is turned inwards. I have learned to be a good ninja, to be the best that I truly can be I had to live without such emotions.
Still Nagi and I have always competed in all things since our early days of training I would find it rather suspicious for him to drop it all of a sudden."
I cocked my head listening very carefully trying to learn what he said and meant there were times I thought I could almost grasp what he was telling me, and as time went on I did learn more of his words and their meaning.
While I was mostly confined to my cage while Yoshi instructed during free time he would let me out to run around for a bit of exercise. Sometimes he would carry me in a pocket or I would ride on his shoulder out around the gardens near the school. I started to look forward to those special times in the day when Yoshi and I were alone together.
Sometimes Nagi would come and make some snide comment or Yoshi and he would spar together for practice. I did not care for Nagi for he always seemed to be filled with anger and hatred towards Yoshi and I feared that one day he would hurt my beloved Master.
Still the long days in the cage was boring with little to do to keep me occupied or entertained.
I would watch intently the lesson Yoshi gave throughout what seemed to be endlessly tedious long days.
One day while watching Yoshi teach a novice class I sat up on my hindquarters and began to mimic the move he was drilling the students in.
One sharp-eyed boy had seen me and he nudged a companion whispering to him, and gesturing slightly towards my cage. Both boys started to laugh at me.
Yoshi rounded on him " Why do you disturb my instructions? Are you now good enough to be Sensei? Tell me what is the meaning of your disrespect?"
I immediately felt sorry for I knew I was the one to blame for the boy's distraction and I knew how strict Yoshi was with students who didn't pay attention to lessons.
" Sensei it is your pet. He copies your moves as if he wants to be a ninja too" the child replied humbly hanging his head all laughter gone now that he realized the trouble he might be in.
My Master stared at my cage before coming over and looking at me his gaze deep and penetrating.
" You wish to learn Haken?"
He made a quick strike with one arm and watched I stood still wondering if I ought to repeat it. Yoshi scowled and shook his head. He repeated the move.
I had time to consider and I knew the boy might be severely punished by Yoshi if my Master thought his student was lying. So I rose again to my hindquarters and as carefully as I could thrust out my paw in much the same way.
Yoshi did a few more slow moves and I did my very best to follow them.
Yoshi chuckled then " Being a rat is not enough for you. You wish to better yourself do you Haken? I have heard that rats are extremely intelligent. Good enough, try to be a ninja Haken for that will better you in all ways."
My whiskers twitched with pleasure at his amused words and his smile. I could see the laughter shining in his eyes.
That was when I started my own training learning from one of Japan's finest shadow warriors. I knew I could have no better teacher then Yoshi. Yoshi was amused by my antics but he didn't know that I was not just mimicking what I saw I actually was learning it. I would often practice the moves I learned at night when all others had left the school.
~*~
Those had been easy wonderful and peaceful days the only dark spot being Nagi. Things would change though when my Master met Tang Shen.
I wondered if there was a part in my Master's life that might not have ended with his death?
Of course if Yoshi had not died as he had I would not have had the turtles to raise as my family.
I would not now be sitting here wondering how they could face this old enemy of the past and prevail, when they were only four and Shredder had an army at his command ready to do his bidding.
How could I have let my own desires to restore honour get in the way of what was truly important?
I might lose my family yet again, when I could have prevented it all.
Yet the very thought of how I loved my Master and all that I knew he had suffered at the hands of the Oroku family was enough to fill my heart with an anger as deep as if I was facing Nagi once more.
Honoured had to be restored there was no other choice!
Or was there?
TBC