A/N: I do not own any Ninja turtles or mutated rats – honest. I do own the ideas and creativity that has developed this story, though. Unless someone out there has already written something about 'pink sais', computer viruses, and CD's/DVD's being used as shurikens into their TMNT stories. I claim no responsibility for inconsistencies with any Brooklyn accents. I'll do my best to remain true to it, but don't flame me if I fail…and I WILL fail! It's just one of those nuances of speech that I find hard to write out!
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CHAPTER 7 – Food For Thought
The music from the CD player was calming to me. It was mostly an instrumental by some artist that I didn't recognize. The sound of violins and flutes floated lightly around my room as I sat on my bed listening and enjoying the number. I had to admit that I rather liked the scant assortment of CD's that were available to me. Whoever this Kira really was must have needed the soothing sounds to quiet the din of discontent that she obviously must have felt inside of her. It certainly was helping me that was for sure.
I was still holding the mirror that Father had given to me earlier. I didn't want to put it down for some reason. I looked at it and felt a swelling in my heart for the care and love that he had expressed when he made it. Did he smile during the process? What kind of response did Mei Pei give him when he presented it to her? Was it for her birthday, their anniversary, or just because he wanted to give her something? I guess these were questions I could ask him later, but for now I just wanted to hold the mirror.
While I basked in the composition I pondered all of what Father had shared with me earlier. Thinking about the trouble the clan went through with whatever rebellion I supposedly had thrown upon them shocked and amused me all at the same time.
I was amused by the measure this Kira took to behave so poorly. I was even more shocked that a stricter response hadn't been implemented by the clan. Of course, considering the clout that Splinter exercised within the family and his genteel manner, he more than any of them probably influenced what was to be done and how. For that I was grateful. Considering what I was and that I had found myself suddenly in this existence, had they banished me who knows where I would have ended up! That thought was frightful and it sobered me to the amount of patience that everyone had obviously shown towards this Kira. Since I was now 'her', maybe I could improve upon the reputation that she had so expertly tarnished.
While the music played on with another selection I took note of some of the other furniture in my room. Seeing a lone dresser opposite from where I sat out of curiosity I went over to inspect it. Checking the top drawer, I saw that there were a couple of pink bandannas like what I was wearing. I figured they must be extras just incase the one I wore became soiled. Several pairs of elbow and knee pads were along the opposite side of the drawer as well. I wasn't currently wearing any so I figured that when and if I did work in the dojo that was when I would put them on. Funny thing was I noticed that Father and his brothers wore theirs all the time. At least it seemed that way. I hadn't been here very long so maybe they did take them off occasionally.
Satisfied with that drawer, I closed it and opened the next one beneath it. Right away I saw a dark coat that was neatly folded up. I took it out and shook it to release the wrinkles that had formed in it. It hung almost to the floor when I measured it up to my own shoulders. It was long enough to cover my torso and feet completely. I tried it on and found that it hid my form pretty well. Looking back into the drawer I discovered a hat with a wide brim. It was somewhat squashed from resting under the heavier coat, but once I had it on its true shape could be seen. In a darkened alley or deep shadows it would have been difficult at best for anyone to see who and what I was. The sleeves of the coat hung past my fingertips so for the sake of concealing me, the entire 'costume' did the job. I had to laugh at the cleverness of it all; wondering if I actually did go outside of the lair looking this way. I had to admit that it certainly was lacking in style. But the purpose for it was clearly discernable. For any of us to walk among the human population above it would require a covering of sorts just so we would keep our identity and our existence a secret.
Just then there was a knock at my bedroom door and then it opened up. I found myself staring at Raphael. He looked at me impassively.
"Goin' sumwheres?" he asked derisively. No expression, just a flat un-amused look to his face. It made me uncomfortable, to say the least.
"Ah…no…just trying it on, is all." I replied meekly.
"Good, cuz din'rs ready. Yer dad told me t'get ya." He stated flatly. Then he closed the door without another word, leaving me alone in my room, red-faced and mortified.
I managed to get my self undressed from the coat and hat, have them both put away in the drawer, and yet be at the dinner table about the same time that everyone else had arrived. The last thing I wanted to do was to be late. I figured that if I could at least be punctual it would show obedience and compliance. Yes, there were times in my human existence when I was stubborn and rebellious, too. But those were my teen years and certainly I was never as bad then as Leo a while ago had described me as being here in this life. I figured that though I was sixteen by his account, mentally I knew I was twenty-two! With that I had an edge and I was going to use it to my advantage one way or the other.
As I sat down at my place I noticed that Raph and Don again book-ended me. Raph sat to my left while Donatello took the seat on my right. What was with that anyway? Maybe my 'punishment' was to always be between them for what I had done to their personal property? Possibly it was just the way the seating arrangements were, but I was highly doubtful of that. Then again from my own experience with being part of a large family with an older brother and sister, pretty much everyone took a hand in raising the younger siblings. More than likely that might be the case with this group. For just one person to raise the only child, the balance in their upbringing would be difficult. Having the rest of the family involved in some fashion would lighten the load. Considering how much fun I brought to that venture, it seemed logical that everyone would have a hand in my life. That thought alone depressed me.
I knew then I was going to have to work doubly hard to pay attention to their different personalities and nuances and what they tolerated verses what they didn't.
The food on the table smelled wonderful. I saw a rather large roast that steamed as if it had just been taken out of the oven. Several large bowls of varying colors and overall condition littered the central area of the table. Each of us had plates that differed from one another with a few chips here and there as if they had been rescued from a dumpster. Yeah, I doubted very much that we obtained the necessities of life from our local department store. It seemed safer to just harvest the discards that people threw out for one reason or another. Fortunately, the need to have perfect things allowed humans to throw out still usable items that were in less than sterling condition.
I noticed that Splinter eyed each one of us, beginning with Father and making his way to Raphael. Then Donatello was next to hold his gaze with Michelangelo following. Finally, he rested his sights on me and smiled. I smiled back and then he closed his eyes. I found that everyone else had done the same thing so I followed suit. I soon heard the rat speaking in Japanese as if he were praying a prayer of thanksgiving. It was not long, fortunately, and I was glad for it. I was starting to realize just how very hungry I was.
I noticed that Father sliced the meat himself and then served Splinter first. Then he took his own serving and when he was done, passed the plate with the roast on it around to the other members. When Raph received it, he took four slices for himself. However, when he passed it my way, Don retrieved it instead, reaching over before I could even bring my arms up to take the plate.
Okay, ah…did I miss something here? I was already to grab that plate when the turtle to my right intercepted me. I looked at him in surprise with my mouth slightly opened. I squinted and wondered what was going on. Then a movement to my left caught my attention and I noticed that Raph had one of the bowls that was now uncovered. It was mashed potatoes. How I loved mashed potatoes. But, just like with the meat plate, that bowl made it to Donatello's hand before I could even blink. This scenario was played out with all the other bowls and before too long everyone at the table had food on their plate but me!
"Excuse me, but – ah – why am I not allowed to have food? " I asked softly, puzzled at my predicament.
Splinter finished his bite and looked at me quizzically. He seemed perplexed at my question.
Finally, Father spoke up. "You know, Kira, that when you are out late past curfew and break the rules about going topside during the day, that you do not get dinner." He then took a bit of roast and chewed thoughtfully as he watched me.
I sat there in my seat, stunned. I couldn't believe this. I was half starved and here they were implementing some cruel form of punishment with food.
"Then why have me at the table if I'm not going to eat!" I said, trying to control my annoyance.
Raph snickered to himself, but not too quietly. Obviously he thought my response was quite funny. I did not!
"Part of that punishment is to watch the rest of us eat!" Donatello allowed.
"No food at all?" I restated.
"Nope!" Raph expressed, taking a huge bit of those delectable potatoes; never once looking at me.
I cringed inside. This 'getting along with everyone' was going to be more work than I thought.
It was in that moment, however, that I remembered what I had observed only a while ago back in my room. At the time I had been surprised that there hadn't been a more forceful rebuttal to my proposed bad behavior that Father told me about. With painting Raph's sais pink, ruining Mike's CD collection, and then bombarding Don's computer with a virus, I truly believed they had under-reacted to my disobedience. Of course, having actually been aware of them for less than a day, what did I know?
However, as I watched everyone eat and enjoy their meal, I realized right then that I was starting to know a little bit more than before. Though they could have punished me more severely, denying me food for one meal was certainly an attention getter. Still, I figured they were working on the belief that I was the Kira of old. Though my stomach rumbled and protested angrily for being ignored, I made up my mind right then and there that I was going to create a new Kira. I may temporarily starve before I had a chance to do that, but it would not be forever. I could survive this. I really could.
If only I was able to convince my stomach of that fact!