Reflected Future

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Part Six

Michaelangelo:

I was enjoying watching Rama do what all children were meant to do, in other words play. She was keeping herself amused as she played on the playground equipment, which we had originally set up for her when she was two years old.

The playground had been built from scraps and things we had hauled home from the scrap yards many of it reflecting the sort of thing you might find at any playground, swings, slide, sandbox but there was plenty of equipment in that playground, which seemed normal enough was actually used as training for ninjitsu.

The platforms a good five feet or more off the ground with planks between them for walking on, ropes for swinging and climbing, rings and bars for gymnastic work and other elements, which looked perfectly harmless yet had deeper meaning to it.

At the moment Rama was sneaking up on Baka who was lounging on one of the higher boardwalks between platforms, typical cat he loved to climb up high and look down at the rest of us, and while it wasn't a comfortable sleeping spot the cat had learned it was one of the few places he could go where Aiden couldn't reach him to yank on his crooked tail.

Rama ducked down into a shadow peeking out and up at her cat she giggled a bit then clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter.

She looked at the chain ladder that lead up to the cat's position, Rama knew coming from the other side would have been much easier, but she had only started to stalk the cat and probably figured going down and around the other way would have been too much like work.

She was fully aware that the metal chains rattled and made a lot of noise, in fact she often delighted in just climbing on it and shaking it to see what kind of noise she could make. Her intentions this time was to keep silent, so she cautiously started to climb trying to keep the noise of the chains down.

I glanced at Baka and even from the ground I noticed an ear and tail twitch assuring me that he had heard. He knew he was being stalked but he was content to stay right where he was for the moment.

I was sure that cat was probably laughing to himself with every rattle of the chain that gave his mistress's actions away.

Finally Rama reached the board and began making her way across it, Baka waited until she had come halfway to him before he got up turned on the board and walked towards Rama with his tail in the air, he rubbed up against her leg meowing once before starting his signature rumbling purr.

Rama scowled as she bent down picking her cat up to cuddle and scratch him " Hows you knows I was here Baka?"

" He heard you Rama," I told her kindly.

" Uh-uh daddy I was reallllly quiets" she insisted, " I made sure I ninja quiet even."

Baka leapt from her arms and began making his own way back down Rama watched her pet giving a longing sigh, I had no doubt that she longed to be like her cat able to balance, jump great distances and land safely. Rama ran cross the board with out showing a hint of fear and began scampering down the equipment towards me.

" How did Baka know Dad? Is Baka ninja likes the rest of the family?"

" No Baka isn't a ninja. He is just a cat and I guess all cats have some things in common to us ninja but cats are born knowing what they do. Ninja have to learn." I answered as I smiled at her.

I couldn't blame Rama for thinking that cats did seem to have something of a ninja in them cats loved to hide in shadow, climb up in high places or find some out of the way spot to pounce on unsuspecting passer bys and of course cats could jump well, were graceful and mysterious.

Rama stomped her foot " If he nots ninja how he knows?"

" Baka has very good hearing honey, he heard the chain on the ladder rattling and he probably felt your footsteps as you walked towards him," I answered simply.

Rama skipped over to me " If I cans sneaks up on Bakas without him knowing will I be a ninja then dad?"

I looked down into her eager face so young and full of innocence, she really didn't know what she was asking. To be a ninja meant so much more and she wasn't going be an ordinary ninja. She was to be a leader one day, meaning a lot more trouble and responsibility in the years to come.

" Rama why do you even want to be a ninja?"

" Cause" Rama said simply in reply.

" Cause why Rama?" I persisted.

" It fun" Rama replied with a big grin across her face.

" It isn't always fun and games being a ninja Rama sometimes you can get hurt. You've seen us when we've come back from fights with the Foot."

A year ago Rama didn't even know who the Foot were, she had only learned of our age old enemies recently and she still didn't everything about the Foot but we could no longer keep our enemies a secret from her, for with her dealings with Jessie she had learned about the Foot.

Raph had seen Rama and her friend surrounded by a few Foot on a rooftop he had gotten them both free and clear. Then disobeying orders the two friends snuck together to play in the sewers not knowing the Foot were scanning the sewers for signs of us.

" Sensei says that honourable. I wants to be honourable too," Rama claimed quickly.

" Let me tell you something honey honour hurts" I told her honestly enough. " See these scars each of them were caused in battle and they are marks of honour." I told her pointing out a few of my numerous scars.

Rama nodded as if she had all ready figured this out " It hurts and it is scary but it bring honour. I don't wants to be a ninja with no honour that might hurts more dad."

I chuckled a bit " How could it possibly hurt you more Rama?"

Rama put on a very serious expression " A ninja gots no honour, not ninja, not clan. I cant's be clan if I nots ninja. I want to be a good ninja like you dad."

I felt a catch in my breath at her words and felt a few tears come to my eyes, out of the mouth of babes indeed.

" Rama honey if you want to be a good ninja you best try and follow your sensei's lead he's better ninja then I am," I said knowing even as I said it what I was pushing her towards. I kneeled in front of her pulling her into my arms hugging her tight to me " Leo can teach you all you need to know so pay attention to him you hear me?"

Rma nodded " Yeah daddy." She paused then very quietly asked " Did you wants me to be a ninja?"

Oh gods, I was still so torn for I knew where her path was taking her even if she didn't but I also knew her best chance of survival rested on the fact that she had to be a ninja. It wasn't really a choice or an option with us but she wanted it so badly.

Perhaps because it was all she knew and what had been instilled in her but I sensed I felt that there was something more.

" Of course Rama I want you to be the best ninja you can be. I want you to bring the clan great honour." I assured her.

Rama threw her arms around my neck " Okay daddy I do that" she agreed " and don't be sad cause when I bring the clan honour I bring you honour too."

I sighed as she loosened her grip and turned back to the playground.

I couldn't stop the world from turning, couldn't keep the tide from coming in, couldn't stop the seasons from changing and it seemed I couldn't stop my daughter from being a ninja or a future jonin for that matter.

Later that night I sat and reflected in our favourite rooftop garden thinking about my life and my daughter's life. When none to surprisingly Leo showed up he came over and sat beside me near the koi pool.

" I know Leo I've been a pain recently with Rama and being against things if you are coming to reprimand me it isn't necessary okay?" I told him lightly.

Leo rested a hand on my shoulder " I don't think a reprimand is really necessary Mike you didn't cause that much problems with her training, at least not yet at any rate." Leo corrected smiling a little, " What made you change your mind Mike?"

" Rama herself talking about how she wanted to be a ninja and bring the clan honour even if it hurts. She knew I was sad but she still asked me if I wanted her to be a ninja. Suddenly Leo I felt as if our roles had been switched and I was the little kid afraid to let go and she was the one to give it her all." I explained wistfully.

" Rama is very perspective for her age Mike very little gets past her I think that is part of the reason Splinter choose her in the first place. He sees in her great potential."

" What do you, her Sensei see in her Leo?"

Leo shook his head " I see many things and I know some of them are good, some bad and I have the difficult task of taking what I see and molding it shaping it and trying to make it into what others all ready seem to see in her."

I raised an eye ridge " You telling me that you don't think she is capable of it?" I challenged him in a half joking way.

" It isn't that I fear she isn't capable Mike. Its trying to find the right ways to make it into what can be seen by others. It is like the artist starting with a fresh canvas or sculptor with a large chunk of stone. They use the inner eye and see what they want to be there." Leo explained, " but if they make a mistake it could cause the project to be less then what they envisioned it to be."

I nodded Leo truly had a daunting task before him to make Ramiela into what others viewed her to be. One mistake one error in training could mean the final results weren't as polished as they ought to be.

I couldn't help but chuckle a bit as I realized the position Leo was in " Well gee Leo no one expects to much from you. Just remember while you train her, that the fate, of the future of our clan rests in your hands and the knowledge you impart."

" Thanks a lot Mike you are a big help" Leo grouched.

" Hey Leo you really are the best out of all of us and Rama will learn a bit from everyone Raph can teach her about picking locks, Don can teach her the high security systems and all the poisons, potions and powders. You can teach her the fighting and warfare, though I'm sure Splinter will help."

" And what will you do Mike?" Leo retorted.

" Me, hey I am her father isn't it traditional in a ninja clan once the training starts to lose all contact with your kid?" I teased, " No I am going teach her to hold on to that sense of humour lord knows the kid is going to need it Leo."

Leo smiled " Yeah the clan isn't going let you get off that easy Mike" he snorted a bit " I'm sure you will have other things to instruct her in. Such as practical jokes, how to stay young and playful in spite of the problems that might weigh her down."

" Mike Ramiela is the future of the clan problem is we don't know when or where her time will come but she ought to have plenty of time to still be your little girl too."

" I know that Leo but, you know all she wants is to be ninja. Even the games she often plays when she is alone are things to do with being a ninja. She was trying to sneak up on Baka without him knowing about it, doing her best to be so very quiet and not alert him to her being there. She doesn't play like that when Aiden and Kali are around, then she plays with them." I told Leo but even as I said this I realized how true it all was. "When Jessie is around she plays rough and tumble and she does things that I know Jessie doesn't want any part of and she can't understand why Jessie doesn't want to play like that. But she is willing to play his games."

" Of course Mike. Ramiela grew up watching us for the first four years of her life she was immersed in being a ninja and surrounded by ninja. Remember the assignment I gave her when she was four I wanted to know what she knew about respect and honour what those words meant." Leo laughed.

I nodded chuckling " How could I forget I was the one who was stuck writing down everything as she thought of it. You know if I recall that she forgot one of the easy ones though. Bowing to show respect."

Leo smirked " Your daughter has never done things the easy way Mike" he chided gently.

" Don't remind me," I groaned.

" Mike we both have to realize that there is a great deal more to Ramiela then she often shows or lets on. She knows so much about ninja that I think Splinter couldn't just pass her by. He knows that what she has could be useful to the whole clan one day."

" I realize that now Leo" I agreed " I have accepted the Master's decision for her. It still isn't easy though," I admitted.

"Accepting is a start Mike. I just hope that Ramiela proves to continue in her life, as she has to this point. For if she does I wouldn't be too surprised at any changes she makes for the better."

I smiled at Leo feeling close to him as I clapped my hand on his shoulder " You have to do your work and do it well first bro. I know you can do it and remember you have the clan behind you in this, including me."

Leo grinned and nodded as we sat back to look up at the stars above.

TBC

Thanks for the reviews my friends.

Lenni: Yes Karena is in this story or there wouldn't be the twins. This story takes place when Rama is seven and Karena came when Rama was four. I couldn't have Leo being strict and firm all the time.

Reinbeauchaser: You never did e-mail me your random thoughts on the rope game. And I forgot to ask you about them so by now they are probably long gone. Ah well maybe next time. As for Leo I just had to give a bit of a softer touch to the strict demanding taskmaster of a Sensei and I thought that scene did the trick nicely.