I wish to thank all of you who have persevered through The Yosutebito Daughter, thus far. I truly appreciate your faithfulness and especially your words of wisdom to help me improve my writing skills. I am not too sure if I can have any more chapters up before Christmas, so this may be the last one until after that time. I wish all of you Happy Holidays and oodles of blessings. ^i^ 's watching over you! - Reinbeauchaser.

Now, on to more training for our hapless heroine! :0)

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Because she was over an hour late to her first training, Leo told Gabby that she would be working an additional hour each day until she was out of basic training. "When that will happen will be entirely up to you and how well you cooperate and follow direction!" he told her. He didn't have any intention of being easy on his niece as she was smart enough to have remembered the rule. For every minute late, she was expected to work an additional thirty minutes. That meant she would have to make up nearly 900 hours of work based on those mathematics! Rather than extend her training after she had satisfied the basics, Leo decided to just extend her day in the gym by sixty minutes. In Gabby's opinion, it didn't really matter. What's another hour when she was already in the gym for ten?

By the end of her first training day, Gabby had a comfortable relationship with the Sais. Her proficiency at learning impressed Leo, but there was more to learning martial arts than just the physical aspect of it. The mental training was probably more important as it controlled how the student used what was learned with the kicks, jabs, and with the equipment. He informed her that the next session after dinner would involve this aspect of ninjitsu.

Gabby seemed more upbeat about the next lesson. Once she started making progress and earning some measure of affirmation from Leo, her outlook about her forced training schedule improved. One thing that she loved more than singing was learning!

At five, Leo released her, but warned her to be on time the next morning or he would cut her additional daily time down to thirty minutes. Then she would have ten weeks of make-up rather than five! She understood, promised to arrive early, and then she went and replaced the sai in its receptacle. She turned back to him and bowed, receiving in turn the same sign of respect from him. Then, Gabby was excused.

The next stage of her training wouldn't happen until after the evening meal. However, as she trudged up the stairs to her room, Gabby was starting to realize how tired she felt.

Having Leo as her sensei gave new meaning to the word 'obsessive perfectionist'! He had been adamant that she manipulates each move with the sais exactly as he had directed her. Fortunately, she appreciated his need to do things the right way; but it was still daunting overall. After cleaning the floor three times and then working all afternoon with the Sais, she was completely spent. She was hungry, too! Gabby was looking forward to having dinner.

The professor joined them at the table. Again, there was the cacophony of noise from the varied conversations strewn around the dinner table. The professor asked Gabby how things went and she nodded, saying, "Good." She was tired and even with her surrogate father she didn't feel like conversing. Gabby apologized quietly, " I'm sorry, Father, but I'm a bit tired." and that's all she said.

"Maybe later during your one hour of free time, then?" he asked, clearly interested in all that went on with her training.

"Maybe!" and she smiled at him.

Gabby finished her meal quietly amidst the banter of the rest of her family. She felt eyes upon her but chose to ignore it. It could have been Devon or Raph, or even Leo! Don was already gone, having flown out of San Jose for Europe. Amazingly, Gabby missed him! He had been a powerful force in her life for the previous week. Yet, she had developed closeness to him, despite the fact that he could put the fear of death in her.

She stood up from her chair and was about to excuse her self, when Leo said, " I didn't say you could leave, Gabriella."

She hesitated, not quite believing what she had just heard. She looked over at Leo and his stern determined expression told her he was quite serious. She slowly sat back down and waited, looking at him. She was a bit confused since her session with Leo was over until later on that evening. Maybe whose turn it was to train her had authority over her from the time she hit the gym in the morning until she went to bed! Realizing this possibility, she took the side of caution and sat there. It was very uncomfortable, too, because the conversation level had dropped considerably. Gabby knew she was now the focus of everyone's attention. However, she could care less at that point mainly because she was exhausted. Finally, after a minute or two, the rest picked up on where they had left off in their conversations.

Gabby sat at the table for nearly an hour after everyone else had left. She was compliant, though it was mainly because she was tired. She allowed the silence to envelope her. Gabby actually enjoyed the peace! But, finally, she just couldn't hold herself up anymore. She decided to just rest her head a moment on the table in front of her. She used her arms as a pillow. Soon, she was fast asleep.

At around seven in the evening, Leo came to get her. He stood at the opposite side of the table and saw that she was resting. He studied her for a moment, noticing the depth of her breathing and figured she was pretty well into it.

Gabriella nearly jumped out of her skin! She flew up onto her feet in total surprise, eliciting a scream! There was Leo, standing directly across the table from her! Slamming the flat of his hand hard against the table, he had jarred her right out of a deep sleep.

Gabby's heart was racing nearly uncontrollably from the shock. Her eyes wide in anticipation, she just stared at him.

"Time for lessons, Gabby!" and Leo beckoned her to follow him.

Her feet were practically frozen to the floor. She gathered her thoughts and frantically tried to push the sleepiness from her head. Finally, she found her legs and moved in the direction that Leo was heading - which was back down the gym stairs. Gabby grumbled to herself; she was pretty tired of the gym by now and would have liked to see something different for a change.

Leo disappeared down the dark staircase. Gabby started to follow, but then realized the lights were still off. She waited. Her fear of the dark was deeply imbedded within her. So, she stood there at the top of the stairs, anticipating the lights to come on. She noticed, though, that there was a light switch right where the door jam was. She waited, though, thinking that there was probably a switch downstairs and it was only a matter of time before Leo turned the lights on.

The darkness in the stairwell continued. Gabby was puzzled. "Maybe he expects me to turn the lights on?" she wondered. So, she flipped the switch. Nothing! The stairwell remained pitch black.

"Gabby? Are you coming?" Leo asked, obviously deep into the gym.

"Um...yeah. But, the light switch isn't working?" she asked.

" The circuit breaker to the gym has been turned off. Come on down." Leo replied.

"Hmmm....why?" Gabby asked weakly, her fear rising.

" Because they are. Now, come on down!" Leo was getting impatient.

"But, I don't like the dark, Sensei. Can't we turn the breaker back on? Please?" she begged.

"No, we can't. I want you to obey me. There's nothing to be afraid of; it'll just be you and me in the gym. Come on down – NOW!" Leo commanded, obviously getting impatient with her.

Gabby's breathing became quick and panicky. She was starting to shake, her anxiety nearing its zenith. She thought about running up the stairs to her room and locking the door behind her, but it would have drawn too much attention to her from the rest of the family. Some were in the living room, including the professor, while a few others were outside on the patio. Yet, she just couldn't imagine herself walking down into total darkness. Gabby knew she had to make a decision fast, before Leo – her Sensei – trudged up the stairs after her.

Close to hysteria, Gabby decided that there wasn't any way she was going down into a pitch-black room like the gym. Leaving no other course of action, she charged in an all out run for the stairs. Blast anyone who even notices her or tries to stop her! As she hit the first step of the stairs, she could hear someone – Leo – coming through the doorway of the gym. As if the devil were right behind her, she charged up the steps, making the top of the staircase in two leaps! She was in her room before she even realized it and had all the locks on the doors in place. She looked frantically around, trying to find a place to hide that Leo wouldn't think of. There wasn't any. She was nearly hysterical!

"GABBY! Open the door!" Leo demanded. He had just missed making it to the door before she had locked it.

"I'm sorry, I really am! " she cried, " I can't go down there, I just can't...." She ran around the room, hobbling a bit on her lame foot, trying to find a way to hide. Her foot was hurting her but she was too worked up to even notice it.

"Don't waste the entire day! You've been doing so well. GABBY, open the door!" Leo insisted.

"NO!" she was getting angry, now. Her fear was still there, but she had turned it into rage. No one would make her do something that terrified her so badly. The closet was out since Leo would probably look there. What about the bathroom? No, it would be a dead end. Maybe she could climb out the window? She went over and, even though it wasn't locked, it wouldn't open. But, she knew that trick! She felt around the edges and found the button. Pressing it, she released the security latch, pushing the window up and open.

However, there wasn't anything outside the window that she could find purchase. It would have been impossible for her to climb out. She would have fallen straight down. However, Raph was out there down at the patio and had heard the commotion. He looked back and saw the window open and then he saw Gabby. He started to get up but Mike said something to him, and then her father sat back down. Still, he watched her, probably wondering what she was going to do.

"Gabby, I'm capable of opening this door - with or without the locks - but I want you to. Please open it!" Leo was unusually calm now, considering his student was being outright insubordinate.

"Turn the lights on in the gym and I will!" she protested loud enough for the entire household to hear her.

" Not going to happen. You need to face this!" Leo insisted. He could sense her panic and he truly felt compassionate towards her. But, this fear of hers would be a hindrance to her training. The sooner she dealt with it, the easier things would be for her.

"Not today - not ever. Not the dark. No way!!" Gabby said, almost crying. In a panic, she looked at her bed and wondered if she could fit underneath it. Pulling the bed skirt up, she realized it wouldn't have given her much room. She looked back at the window and decided she would rather risk injury than go down into a dark room - especially one that seemed like a dungeon!

Gabby turned back towards the bedroom door and there was Leo! "How'd he unlock the door?" she thought, alarmed. She remembered how Raphael had done the same trick back in Connecticut. "Must be something about ninjitsu." She moaned. Gabby ran to the window and partially climbed out, straddling the dash, " I'll jump - I really will!" she threatened, crying.

Leo was mildly concerned, but he knew his brothers were just outside. Gabby might jump and if she did, there would be at least one turtle down below to catch her. "Gabby, don't be ridiculous! You could get hurt!"

" I don't care! I'd rather risk that than the dark!" she replied hoarsely. Gabby was trying to swallow back the sobs that threatened to explode out of her.

Raph was down below. He yelled at her, "GABRIELLA, GET BACK INSIDE!" Mike waited next to him, ready - if need be - to catch her. With Raph's one arm in a sling, his brother couldn't do it by himself.

Momentarily, she was distracted. Gabby looked quickly down at her father - and that was when Leo made his move. In an instant, he was by her side, pulling her back in from the window.

Gabby screamed and flailed. Losing her senses out of sheer panic, she elbowed Leo hard on his plastron, her eyes wide in terror. She kicked him hard in the legs and he flinched backwards, surprised by her strength. Hissing, she kicked some more and squirmed violently, trying to twist her way out of his grip, screaming all the while in full blown hysteria!

Leo was impressed with Gabby's reaction. He knew about her fear of the dark, but was not at all prepared for how violent she would become. Soon, though, he prevailed and had his strong arms around her, holding on to Gabby as she tried to wrestle away. She protested loudly. "NO!!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. The room seemed to shake from the force of her voice.

Leo was not going to let up and he could tell that neither was Gabby. The tighter he held onto her, the more she fought. She was clearly out of control. "Gabby, you're not going to be alone down there; I'll be with you. Calm down." He pleaded with her.

"NO!" she screamed yet again, "Don't make me – PLEASE don't make me!" she wailed some more. Her struggle seemed to intensify with each passing second.

He had to make a decision and fast. When he saw his chance, he swiftly reached up and over with one hand, quickly squeezing the muscles between the base of her neck and her shoulder. She was out in an instant!

Leo held her limp body and sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was to render her unconscious, but Gabby was just too much out of control. He was hoping that her near-perfect attempt at being cooperative and respectful earlier would help her to descend the stairs as she had been requested. But, it was obvious this fear of hers was deeply seated; proving the need to get her passed it.

He carried Gabby from the room and down the stairs. Raph met him and, seeing that his daughter was out, commented, " Sounded pretty bad up there. Guess you had to do that."

"Never would have thought her this strong or afraid. I was almost tempted to let this one go. But after how she reacted up there, I knew she had to see it through. It's going to be more work than I anticipated!" Leo conceded.

Then, Raph asked Leo, "You goin'a need help down there? I can barricade the stairwell."

Leo replied, " Might be a good idea. She's amazingly strong!" He saw Mike coming in from the living room, "Mike, get us some blankets and a pillow. Some food supplies, too. This could take a while." and then Raph and Leo, with Gabby in his arms, made for the stairwell.

Rahab came in and gasped at the limp form of her niece as Leo carried her through the family room, " What happened? Is Gabby all right?" Devon had been watching the event unfold from the pool and had just walked in as well.

Mike replied, " Well, right now she's fine. When she wakes up and sees nothing but dark.... not so sure about that!"

Rahab complained, "Seems kind of cruel, don't you think?" She was visibly upset over Gabby's limp form.

"Look, Babe," Mike explained as he wrapped his arms around her waist, looking at her, " better that she conquer her fear early on than to drag it out forever. The sooner she beats it, the better her training will be!"

Devon commented, " She freaked when Seth went out into the surf at Carmel! Thought you'd like to know that, too." and he started to go back outside.

Rahab glared after her son and shook her head, "You just had to tell him that!"

Devon chuckled, clearly amused.

Mike looked at his wife and smiled, " One fear at a time, my dear! But, it may mean a little trip to the beach in her near future, that's for sure!" He then turned to go up stairs to get the blankets and pillow. Rahab went into the kitchen and filled a basket with food and bottles of water. She hated what they were putting Gabby through, but she knew they were right. Fear was the number one stumbling block to learning what her husband and his brothers did.



Gabby moaned and shifted her shoulders. Her right one hurt like the dickens. She opened her eyes and saw - darkness! She saw nothing but inky black. She closed her eyes again, thinking she must not have opened them quite right or maybe she was dreaming. Her eyes opened and she still saw nothing. There was a pillow under her head and she felt like she had a blanket over her. Terrified, she lay there trying to be as still as possible. Gabby thought over what had happened before she fell asleep. The darkness made it difficult to think, her fear of it nearly overpowering her, but gradually her memory came back.

Leo had wanted her to come down into the darkened gym area. She had refused and Gabby remembered that. She remembered running towards the stairs and taking them eight steps at a time. She didn't know how she was able to do that with a bum foot, but she did. She distinctly remembered Leo coming into her room and the window opening. From that point on, her memory was fuzzy. Then, it hit her - she was in the gym!

She sat straight up, taking gasping breaths. Her panic attack started again and she froze. Clutching herself tight and then taking the blanket and wrapping it around her, she huddled in abject fear. She blinked, hoping to see some vague light somewhere, but everything was pitch black. She held her hand out in front of her, hoping to at least see a slight outline of it - but she couldn't! Her panic increased.

"Gabby?"

It was Leo's voice. She stifled a scream from the abruptness of hearing him. Then, she stood up, but she felt nauseous and dizzy. Someone grabbed her to steady her, but she pulled frantically away, running but not knowing where she was running. She ran into someone and fell to the floor. They tried to steady her, but she recoiled frantically, scooting away on her backside.

"Gabby?" It was Leo, no, it wasn't Leo. Who was that? The darkness and her hysteria were turning the voices into strange sounds and she couldn't tell whom they belonged to. "I WANT OUT!!" she screamed.

Another hand touched her gently, and she bolted, but -as before - someone was in her way and she bounced back. " LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" she yelled.

"Not going to." it was Raphael! She felt him touch her shoulder, to steady her.

"YOU! You're in on this? " Gabby strangled out the words, unable to fathom her own father putting her in this hell. " Please, turn on a light, any light. I don't care!! " She pleaded, moaning.

" Sorry, Gabs. But you're staying down here until you overcome this fear of yours!" Raph replied. There was tenderness in her father's voice, but Gabby could also hear a stubborn resolve that he was not going to give in to her.

Gabby fought back the sobs; she was not going to cry. She still had the blanket and held onto it as if for dear life. But, just as she was trying to grab more of it to wrap around her, it was yanked away. She sat down, drawing her knees up close to her body and hugged herself, moaning. A gentle hand caressed her back and Gabby tried to bolt up, but another hand on the opposite side of her pushed her back down. She heard Raph speak to her softly as he sat to her left, telling her that there was nothing in the room that could hurt her. " Gabby, except for us, it's empty! You're not alone, we're here with you!" her father gently implored.

"I want out...please! I can't breath down here!" she choked.

"You can breath just fine, Gabby; you were just in here a few hours ago." Leo assured her. She could feel his presence as he sat down next to her on the opposite side from where Raph was. They were book-ending her; trying to give her some measure of security.

"I want OUT!" she demanded earnestly.

Quietly, Leo told her, "No. You have to stay down here."

She was compliant, then, realizing the tone of Leo's voice was determined. The tears started to fall. As she cried silently, she shivered from the coolness of the room. One sob escaped and wracked her body, intensifying her reaction to the cold. The blanket was back on her again and she grabbed it hastily, determined not to let them take it from her this time.

Raph gently embraced his daughter, letting her rest against his plastron, feeling her shudder as she cried. He tried to comfort her, " You're going to be fine, Gabs. It's just the dark, that's all."

Gabby didn't say anything. She just sat there, crying in her father's embrace for a long, long while.