~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
CHAPTER 10 – Caught!
"Stay here!" Father instructed firmly.
"But, what if…" I began but the look he shot at me forced me to remain silent.
"Just stay here, okay? I'll be right back." He repeated softly. He cupped my face with one of his hands and smiled. Then, he moved away from me.
I watched as he walked towards the expanse of the tunnel, taking note of his progress. Not a sound did he make, not even when he crossed through the sewer water to the other side from where I stood. He quietly removed both his swords from their scabbards on his back and held them at the ready. Father slowly and cautiously moved like the shadows that he passed through – silent, yet imposing. His posture had changed from an alert sentry to that of a dangerous protector as he stepped purposefully. Whatever it was that was lurking further up into the sewer system would not be doing so for too much longer. Soon, he disappeared around a bend in the tunnel, leaving me alone and pretty much unprotected.
My back hugged the sewer wall that was cloaked in the deep shadows of the tunnel. I held my bo-staff close to me; wondering if I would need to use it. I hoped I wouldn't have to.
I was just a little bit nervous.
There was the occasional ceiling fixture every fifty feet or so whose light fingered its way along the tunnels. But it was too small to adequately illuminate the area I was currently standing in. In fact, the light that should have been closest to me was broken. I hated the dark, yet in that moment I knew very well it could save my life.
The only sounds that came to my ears were the occasional water drip and the scurry of rats that inhabited the sewers. I was frightened and I desperately wanted to be back in the comforting embrace of the lair. I was also colder where I was and noticed the difference right away. In that defining moment I realized something quite profound. My time with the turtles had been short, not even a full day and yet because of my circumstances I was finding a desire to return to them. I found it amazingly weird.
I didn't have any idea what or who Father was going to be up against and I truly wanted to alert the clan. But in all honesty I hadn't been paying attention to where I was in the sewer with relationship to the lair.
I looked back from where I had come and realized that there had been a split in the tunnel I hadn't been aware of. The lighting at that end showed two veins of the sewer system; one splitting off to my right while the other one ran straight. Which one had I come out of? I was immediately thrown into a silent state of panic. What if I had to run back for reinforcements? What if Father returned to me injured and I had to get him back to the lair?
I had a lot of these 'what if' scenarios going around in my head, which wasn't helping my anxiety any that was certain. I closed my eyes and mentally backtracked, trying to remember how I had come to this spot. But, I had been so focused at the time about trying to stay quiet, fully aware of what a disappointment I had been to Father, that I hadn't been paying attention. My eyes brimmed with tears as I realized how foolish I had been, but I refused them release. The last thing I needed to happen was to be crying if an attack came. Not that I could do much about it, but at least I would be aware of whatever fate handed me.
Minutes passed without much more than what I had already heard. I wondered if there had been anything to be alarmed about in the first place. Possibly it was just a cat or a dog that had wandered into the sewers and maybe they had killed a rat to feed on? I didn't really remember hearing anything, but it was quite obvious that Father had.
I sat down in a huddle, shaking from both the tension as well as the temperature in the sewer. As I heard a new sound, I hugged the bo-staff closer to me. It was different; not quite like a scurry nor did it remind me of dripping water. I held my breath as I looked towards where Father had gone. As I focused on it I realized that the sound wasn't advancing any further. It was more like the last remnants of an echo. I strained my ears to discern what it was. But the sound was too diffused. Plus the acoustics in the sewer confused me. Not having any success, I tried to ignore it.
However, Father had been gone for quite a while, maybe ten minutes or so. It seemed like hours to me and I was getting a little antsy. Had he met up with whatever danger he had suspected? Was a fight now brewing deeper into the sewer and that sound I heard a moment ago a reverberation from it? Too many questions and not enough answers. I held the staff tighter against me. I wanted to go back to the lair, but I also wanted to find out what was happening up ahead.
While I crouched there and contemplated my next move I thought back to when Donatallo was showing me how to do a kata. Though I was a pretty fast learner for most things, the movements for the Bassai-sho were complex. It had been quite frustrating for me. But Don had said the katas were a way to keep sharp in case of battle. So, I mentally practiced what little I had learned, not wanting to be caught unable to defend my self if it came down to that here in the sewers.
Then I remembered when I announced to Father about my lapse in memory. His comment about how I had known the advanced kata for years stuck with me. The key word there was 'advanced'. Maybe what I needed to learn was the beginner's kata – if there was such a thing. If one kata was advanced then it stands to reason that there were less complex versions of it as well. Still, I was considered an established member of the clan and was certain that taking me back to square one would not be Father's first choice.
What was taking him so long, anyway? Did something happen? Worried, I stood up and noticed the ache and stiffness in my legs. I worked out the kinks and shook them to get the circulation moving again. Rolling my shoulders to release the stress felt good, too. It was about then I thought maybe I could at least inch my way to where the sewer took a turn. That was where I had last seen Father.
"It couldn't hurt to peep around the corner to see what was there, could it?" I wondered to myself.
Well, I was getting bored and less fearful anyway. So I decided to change my scenery a little bit. When Father told me to stay 'here', he probably meant for me to not follow him. Staying in the general vicinity to my current position would still be obeying his request. Those were my thoughts, anyway.
Looking in both directions to make sure that there wasn't anyone or anything lurking around I quietly walked up towards the bend. I stayed close to the wall and the shadows afforded there. I stopped at a point before I reached my destination, fully aware that the lighting at that end had become brighter.
I saw that there were darker areas on the other side of the culvert. They seemed to be inviting me over with promises of concealment. I watched the water as it flowed lazily down the middle of the pipe and wondered what exactly was in it. Father didn't seem to mind it much so I decided to just do it and venture across.
Good golly the water was cold! I nearly gasped out loud from the shock of it. Unable to control myself and desperate to get to dry land, I sloshed through quickly to the other side. I cringed from the echoing sound of splashing water that was made as a result. Why hadn't I assumed the water's temperature? It was just plain stupid of me to think that it wouldn't be cold. After all, the sewer itself was chilled just short of the interior of a refrigerator, why wouldn't the water be likewise!
Grumbling to myself about how stupid I was, I pressed up against the sewer wall to regain my composure. I knew that I had made a lot of noise. Considering that I didn't know what was happening beyond the bend, my anxieties resurfaced. Still, I had come this far so what was done was done.
Regaining my courage once again I inched along the sewer. I kept as close to the wall as I could. But I soon noticed, however, that my feet dragged a little more than normal. I was getting pretty tired all of a sudden, too. My legs were now chilled from being wet and cold and I shivered just a little as a slight breeze floated by. I really didn't pay much attention to it since my brain was starting to get a little foggy. I thought it odd, though.
I shook my head to clear it and moved my shoulders a little more to awaken the stiffening muscles. That seemed to help some. I then brought each knee up high to stretch my legs, but they seemed unusually sluggish in response. And then a thought came to me. I recognized in that moment that if I was reptilian, then the chill of the sewer and the frigid water were probably putting me into hypothermia. Maybe I needed to stop and just stay put?
But then the memory of that breeze came back to me. It was rather strange that down here there would even be something like that. Crossing into a shadow, I stopped my advance on the bend in the sewer and flattened up against the wall again. I looked around but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
"Must be my imagination playing tricks on me." I said to myself. I kind of chuckled a little at how silly it was. What could be down here except the rats, the water, and Father?
The Foot?
That thought sobered me a little. What if the noise Father heard had been someone from that organization? What if the noise I had heard earlier had been from a battle between them and him? I noticed that the silence I had enjoyed earlier had returned, so my next thought was, what if they defeated him and were now looking for the lair? They may have had scouts in the area that saw what direction Father had come from, so maybe they were now backtracking to this point in the sewer?
I was working my self up to a good intense level, looking nervously at the bend up ahead when a touch suddenly graced my shoulder.
I screamed! Jumping high and swinging around fast, I took the bo-staff with me. Without thinking and purely on instinct alone, I violently brought the staff down swift and hard over my head and slammed it up against - two pair of swords that were crossed in front of each other. The weapons caught the bo and held it fast! I then recognized them. They belonged to Father – and the glare from his face said that he was not at all pleased with me.
I had to also realize the obvious fact that he was the 'breeze' that I had felt only moments before. I was caught!
I cringed at what he said to me, his voice hard and stern, "Why didn't you stay put?"
I thought about a variety of answers, but none of them would have appeased him. So, I went with the truth.
"I was concerned. You were – ah - taking so long and I was getting worried … and bored … an - and restless." My words trailed off as I recognized that even the truth didn't sound good. I tried to look away from him, but it was pretty clear by his posturing and his penetrating stare that I dare not!
"I see…" he stated flatly. He looked at me as he replaced his swords behind him and back into their scabbards. Once they were secure, he relaxed a little and leaned up against the wall of the sewer, crossing his arms in front of him. "So, tell me again about forgetting how to do katas?" he asked me derisively. He had one eye ridge cocked in expectation.
"What? What do you mean?" I asked in confusion, setting the bo-staff end down beside me. "I forgot how to do them. That's it."
"Really?" he said mockingly. "Then explain to me how you could remember so quickly about using the bo-staff like you just did?" Father nodded towards the implement in my right hand.
"Huh?" I replied in surprise, looking at my weapon. Going back to Father, "I only reacted; purely on instinct. I – I thought you were someone else is all…" I was not feeling too comfortable right about then. "I don't know how to use this…" I said defensively as I held up the staff, "But a stick's a stick in my book. Anyone can throw a stick around."
"Not the way you just used it, they don't!" Father seethed. "Kira, I'm tired of these games. Earlier you had me almost convinced that you were telling the truth. But just a moment ago you tripped yourself up." He smiled, "And I knew you would, too!"
I cocked my head and thought about what he had just said. Then, the light turned on.
"You – never did hear any sound, did you?" I asked hesitatingly, trepidation starting to roost in my heart.
Father smiled triumphantly. He was still leaning against the sewer wall with his arms folded in front of him.
"You deliberately acted like there was something going on, just to force me to react?" I asked in disbelief. I stood there clearly irked.
No answer came from him. All he gave back to me was that cocky and annoying, rod up the butt smile. I was peeved!
"WHAT if something had come along? What then?" I complained, my temper now coming to the fore. I was livid. I did not take kindly to being set up; no not at all. Never did. Maybe it was because of being the middle child in my other life and having both my older and younger siblings to tease me my resiliency to such behavior was limited.
"Nothing would have come along. And even if it had, I was close by. Plus, you would have done what you were trained to do – despite your insistence of forgetting how to." Father replied confidently. "Now, shall we begin our patrol?"
And with that he pulled away from the wall and nudged me as he passed by, nodding his head in the direction of the bend in the sewer.
I grumbled irritably. But I was also perplexed. How could I not know how to do something one moment and then, when push came to shove, manage to do it in the next? I walked along behind my antagonist, puzzling over the recent set of events. Whatever the reason and answer, I was now even more out of sorts with the turtle that walked smugly in front of me. I could only imagine what kind of katas I would be doing once we returned home.
"Could my life get any worse?" I seethed under my breath.
Father sniggered as I followed him around the bend, "We have four hours to find out, Kira; just be patient!"
I could only groan in frustration.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
LADY VENOM2: Re: Chapter 8 - Thanks so much for reading and reviewing! Yes, I always felt that Don could be written more aggressively, too. However I think it's true with all of us that as we get older, so does our attitude. Confidence usually follows maturity. The TMNT's in this universe are not teenagers. If Leo had Kira at – say – 18, then with her being nearly 16 in this story that would make him around 34. Raph would be a little older (or younger, depending on who you talked to) and the others following suit. In this fic, they are full fledged adults, another words. I mention this because I think Don would develop more attitude as he aged. I haven't even touched on Mikey, yet! Bwahahaha! Any more Rowan stories??? I like her!
RAMICA – Re: Chapter 8 & 9 - Poor Kira can't convince anyone, can she? No matter how close she comes to it, something always happens. She is befuddled and confused at this point – which will only get worse, I think, as the story progresses. Her angst has only yet begun! Once she returns to the lair and Leo informs Don of how she handled the bo, me thinks her life will probably begin and end in the dojo! Could her life get any worse? Probably! Thanks for reading and reviewing, of course! Looking for more updates on your stories, too!
JO DAWN – Yeah, it was nice while it lasted. Oh well. Hard to say what torture I'll put her through in the next installment, but I promise I won't have Don or Leo kill her – not quite yet, anyway! LOL Warm fuzzies have a tendency to fizzle away, don't they? Thanks for reading and reviewing! BTW, where's your next chapter in What the Heart Wants? I'm getting gray hairs wondering what's gonna happen next!!
BUSLADY OF SOCAL: re: chapter 7. Ah, yeah, Kira probably wanted to cry, but what good would it have done her? Same with throwing a chair – or banging pots and slamming cupboards! She would have lost breakfast and possibly lunch, too. Knowing the clan the way I've crafted them here, anyway. She's up that proverbial creek without a paddle and should be grateful she even has a boat! LOL Thanks a bunch for reading and reviewing! Ah, re: your story - Raph needs to find a new friend who can help keep the zookeepers off their backs!
PRETENDER FANATIC – re: Chapter 8 – 0-o you signed in? How – strange of you….hmmm… is this REALLY you or did some alien take over your account? Hmmm…okay, assuming you are you….I'm glad you liked chapter 8! I had fun writing it. I mean, this poor girl is being tossed emotionally from one spectrum to the other, trying to adjust, getting 'banged' around by this rule and that, not having a clue. What's a poor girl to do? Cry…yep, I sure would! I just write the way I would react is all. Sort of gives you a bit of insight to my own schizophrenia, huh? LOL Thanks for reading and reviewing! Hey, when are you gonna write a TMNT story??? I bet it'd be good!
KUROI NEKO-kun – Cool!!! You're gonna write something! Let me know, pweety pweeze, when you upload it!! I'd love to read and review!! Ah, poor Kira…Leo will have a hard time after chapter 10 of believing ANYTHING she has to say now. Peace can last just so long. Yes, Leo can be an idiot, but at least he's an honest one! He can only go by what he sees and senses about his daughter. He has a history with her that we do not know fully and can only assume based on how he and the rest of the clan react to her. It's quite possible that given their experiences, we would probably treat her the same way! Until such time she proves she has changed, that is! I think a lot of teenagers who have made mistakes and their parents – who also make mistakes, as well – have a hard time coming to terms and making peace. It all just sort of builds on itself until one or the other or both take the initiative to do it! :0) Often not until that teen becomes an adult and has kids, themselves! Then, sweet justice for their parents! HA! Only kidding. Thanks for reading and reviewing!