Coming Of Age

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

Chapter Seven- Discussions.

Mike left Rama's bedroom, by rights he knew that he ought to inform Leo that it was time to intensify Rama's training, that is, once she was up for it.

However Mike was at present, reluctant to do so.

' Rama is still a little girl. It is dangerous out there, especially at her age.' Mike mused with great trepidation. He tried to suppress a shudder as he recalled any number of things that Rama might now have to face, and it did little to set him at ease.

' Damn it Rama. Why did you have to do this now? Couldn't you have waited just a few more years at least.' Mike wondered inwardly as he sank into an armchair in the living room.

He knew Leo would not purposely put Rama's life into danger. No if Leo felt that for any reason they were due for some intense or long battle Rama would be ordered to stay at home, her inexperience was too much of a threat, to everyone to allow that.

Yet Mike was also fully aware of how quickly things could get out of hand and how easily a situation that one expected to have fully under control could fall apart in mere seconds. He had seen it, often enough, where things were going their way, then the tides of war would change and they were forced to beat a retreat before the Foot.

This was the sort of situation he didn't want to see Rama face. That or one where, she might have to dodge a bullet from some gun toting idiot.

Mike sank his head into his hands and gave a wearied sigh, for just one brief moment he entertained the idea of not letting the others know about Rama's secret and thereby he would keep her safe from such situations. He quickly dismissed that brief thought, for the insanity it was.

Rama was to be the future jonin and as such she would have to learn to handle all sorts of situations. The sooner she learned what to do, how and when the better for everyone. That plus the fact that by holding her back he might be causing more harm for her, not to mention the future of the clan itself. Of course there was also the fact that Splinter would not be amused with his deceit and repercussions would be fully expected.

Simply put it just wasn't worth it.

" Michaelangelo are you all right my son?"

Mike raised and turned his head slightly, a little startled to see his father/mentor standing just behind the couch. He hadn't even heard Splinter, or sensed him for that matter. Then again Splinter wasn't a ninja Master for nothing.

" Oh, hi Master, I was just sort of lost in my own thoughts" Mike admitted.

Splinter nodded " So I see. I take it these thoughts rest upon Ramiela?"

Mike saw no reason to lie to Splinter about that, " Yeah" he confessed simply.

Splinter smiled a bit, " She has suffered no lasting harm from her accident. If anything she will learn to be more careful because of it." He announced as he moved around the couch to sit in an armchair across from where Mike sat. " She will become a strong kunoichi of the clan."

" I know unfortunately though that is what I am afraid of" Mike admitted.

" Afraid?" Splinter repeated. He narrowed his eyes slightly as he closely scrutinized his son. The tip of his tail began to tap a slow beat on the floor. " Why should Ramiela's trainings cause you fear now?"

Mike gulped as he looked up into Splinter's kind and knowing face " Because all of a sudden that one day in the distant future seems all too close for comfort," Mike said ruefully, " I know I can't keep Rama from going out and dealing with the situations we often find ourselves in." Mike began trying to explain his concerns " I'm not sure how I myself would function in a group, if Rama is also there. I think I would want to protect her first."

Splinter smiled " Ah being her father you would protect her whether she needed it or not. Are your abilities so lacking?"

" My abilities maybe not, but she is my daughter and I…" Mike shifted in his chair. He gave Splinter a pained and uncertain look.

Splinter took on a deep thoughtful look and his dark eyes became serious " I think that you are too well trained for those fears to find bearing." Splinter insisted kindly as he arched an eye brow then laughed a little " Besides Ramiela is not ninja yet so you are worrying needlessly my son."

Mike gulped slightly as he looked his Master full in the face " That is where you are wrong Master" he corrected, " she saved a little boy's life last night."

Splinter sat up straighter, his whiskers twitched and the hair on his neck bristled ever so slightly at this amazing tidbit. Something sparked deep in the ninja Master and Mike sensed it.

Mike wished he could take back those words but he knew there was no turning back now. So instead Mike began to fill his Mentor in on the details, before he was pressed into doing so.

" The truck that hit Rama, should have killed the boy. She didn't tell us because she was afraid that we'd be mad at her for exposing herself to humans." Mike shrugged slightly " After that she vanished into the night."

Pride shown in Splinter's eyes. He was well pleased and it showed in almost every whisker and hair.

" All of Ramiela's life she has been trained with the knowledge that one day she might need that knowledge." Splinter said, softly.

" I'm fully aware of that Master. As a future Jonin I also know the whole clan will one day look to her to keep them safe from harm."

Splinter gave his son a very deep and penetrating gaze " All of her life she has trained for this, sought our approval and we have confirmed always, that she would be a kunoichi of the clan." Splinter declared, he huffed a bit " Now though you wish to take that from her Michaeleangelo. You long to keep her from it."

Mike gave his father a pained look and shook his head in denial " I don't want to keep her entirely from it. I just don't think she is up for that sort of challenge yet." Mike corrected lamely.

Splinter scoffed a bit " She can't go forward while you continue to hold her back my son. In time Ramiela may come to resent that and you." Splinter's gaze grew firm and hard " You would rather have her believe that she has wasted her life until now. All because you don't wish to permit her into the clan she was born to."

" It isn't that Sensei" Mike moaned.

Splinter sensed the conflict within Mike and he softened slightly. " I was not sure of letting you or your brothers travel topside at first" he confessed, " I did not know if perhaps my training might actually be lacking in some small way, or if in spite of all I had taught you that it would not be sufficient." Splinter nodded his head a bit at that memory " I feared I would lose one or all of you."

Mike looked up at Splinter suddenly realizing that Splinter had, at one time wanted to protect them, just as he longed to keep Rama safe now.

" Then why did you let us go topside if you were so afraid for us?"

" I had taken you as far as I could except in some of the mental aspects. To hone your skills, I had to let you go topside." Splinter explained simply.

Mike nodded understanding, there was only so much sparring, katas and lessons could do. Some times the real lessons, the best lessons, were given when you put all that training to use in a battle of life and death. " We improved and got better bringing that into our training."

" You improved and you went beyond it my son, thus making you true ninja." Splinter declared proudly.

" We were thirteen though when we made that choice. Rama isn't even ten yet." Mike protested quickly though he knew such an excuse was nothing more then kindling for the fire.

" Did she make the choice for the right reason?" Splinter barked slapping his tail hard on to the concrete floor of the sewer pipe.

" Sure she did." Mike said honestly enough in the face of his Master's anger.

" Then she is ready to move on. Ramiela wants to be ninja" Splinter declared sharply, " You have no right to deny her that."

Mike sighed knowing Splinter was right. As a child at the age of four Rama had often asked if she would be " kuiochi daddy." Always she would play games of stealth trying to sneak up on people or her cat Baka. Often pretending in her games on the playground that she was ninja as she moved about the shadows in a strange game of hide and seek.

Splinter saw Mike's reflective look and nodded wisely " I have always said that Ramiela is more of a ninja at her age then any of you were, at her stage of growth."

Mike smiled, " Yeah well she grew up around a ninja family."

" That and being an only child she was around us far more then other children. Ramiela does know a great deal more then she lets on. She has a very soul in side her." Splinter spoke with great assurance on that count. He then looked at his son giving Mike a tender smile " The hardest part for any parent is knowing when to let go, until now you could keep her safe and protect her" Splinter agreed, " but no longer my son for Ramiela now must learn to stand on her own. If you don't allow her that she might seek it herself." He advised.

Mike scowled he could easily see Rama doing that, slipping off one night topside to prove herself and then she could very easily, end up in a situation where her family and friends were not near by to protect her from her own folly.

" The one thing I don't seem to want for her could be the only thing to protect her." Mike mumbled as he realized that fact.

" Now you understand my son" Splinter concurred.

Mike gave a small smile Splinter's way " You are right Master and I know I shouldn't dishonour the clan, or Rama for that matter." Mike admitted " But I still think it is going take me a few days to get used to and accept this fully."

Splinter sat back in his chair content he crossed his hands over his lap, as he smiled, " It might not be easy my son, but acceptance comes much easier with understanding my son. Do you wish me to inform Leonardo for you?"

" No I can do it Master" Mike insisted as he got up from his chair and went in search of his brother.

Splinter sighed with deep pleasure, he might not see his other grandchildren reach ninja status but he would see the first born accept her jenin role and place in the clan.

Mike knew that Leo would be spending time with his family in their own section of rooms. Leo always reserved, at his wife's insistence of course, the time from dinner to bed to spend time with his own family.

By now Jeff, Leo's and Karena's two year old would probably be in bed by now sleeping, while Aiden and Kali would soon be tucked into bed.

Karena answered Mike's gentle rapping on the door.

" Sorry Karena, I have to see Leo for a moment" Mike apologized putting on the sweetest pleading look he had at his disposal.

Karena gave him a sour look, and Mike gave her a deep sad look in return and whispered " Pretty please, I won't keep him long I promise." He cajoled.

Karena rolled her eyes, and then laughed, " Mike you fool you know I can't turn you down."

" You did it often enough when I taught you Japanese." Mike retorted. He knew as Karena did that while Leo set aside time for his family, clan business could intercede or take precedent.

Mike waited until Leo arrived at the door and ducked out in the hallway with him.

" Sorry if I got you in any trouble with Karena there Leo."

" It won't be a problem Mike" Leo assured him " What's up?" he inquired arching an eye ridge slightly as he got down to business.

Leo listened carefully as Mike filled him in on the most recent news, he rubbed his chin with one hand as Mike concluded his story.

" If she vanished that well I don't think we have to concern ourselves with visitors. There has been no alarms since the one Ramiela, herself, tripped off" Leo confirmed, " I think we are safe on that count. You can tell April that she can discreetly relay the message that Ramiela is well to those who are concerned but we don't wish to make a big deal out of it."

" All right Leo I'll phone her." Mike said.

" Good" Leo paused and gave a rueful shake of his head " I was sure she'd be twelve before she was up to something like this. Even with us doing a lot of her exercises topside. Splinter felt she would be eleven." Leo was clearly impressed by this information.

Mike tried not to even think of that fact as he turned to Leo, unable to help himself when he asked " You'll be careful with her won't you Leo?"

Leo sensed his brothers concerns and fears, he reached out and placed a comforting hand on Mike's arm " You know I will Mike. She won't be alone at any time. It just means Ramiela will be taking on more responsibilities."

" I know that Leo" Mike agreed but his tone wasn't so sure.

Leo considered realizing that Mike could probably need something to occupy himself as he grew used to the idea of Rama becoming an official member of their team. " This should be a happy occasion Mike" Leo insisted slapping his brother on the back.

" It also means she is leaving her childhood behind Leo" Mike moped.

" True" Leo admitted, he scowled slightly " You know something of this importance ought to be marked with some form of celebration." Leo said casually.

" Like a party Leo?" Mike asked, " I might be able to do something like that." Mike grinned at the prospect.

" Sure a party is just what we need. I leave the planning to you Mike" Leo stated as if this was of utmost importance.
Leo didn't really blame his brother for his protectiveness of Rama. Mike was very sensitive and caring for years, Rama had been his reason for many things. Being her only parent it was natural for him to feel he had to look out for her. Once she had proven her worth on the team then Mike would ease up and things would fall into place.

It was to be expected. Leo watched Mike head down the hall before turning back to his set of rooms to be with his own family. Leo smiled as he rubbed his hands slightly together.

No longer would he and his brothers fight alone for now on for all intent and purposes they had added a kunoichi to their team.

TBC