So redundant, but I do not own the TMNT's.  I only own Kira, but don't tell her, okay?  She's stressed enough as it is.  Poor girl.  ~~weeps for Kira, but then laughs wickedly~~

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CHAPTER 12 – Integrity

I assumed that when I told Father about the extra food that he was going to be livid.  The fact that his bedtime was late due to overseeing my punishment was one reason.  The other was going to be, of course, about the new hoard of food that made the size of the first stash pale in comparison.  Considering how things worked here in the lair, I was certain breakfast and maybe even lunch would not be on the menu for tomorrow.  At least for me, that is!

Of course, my stomach was not the least bit thrilled with that news!  But I was determined to see my plan through.  I headed out my bedroom door determined to get it over with.  If I tarried too long thinking about it, I was afraid my courage would fail me!

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I was standing outside Father's door ready to knock on it when it suddenly opened.

"What?" he asked irritably. 

"How did he know I was standing here?" I asked myself worriedly. "Must be that 'ninja' sense he has.  Great…." I muttered to myself.

It was obvious that Father had been sleeping; his mask and pads were off and his eyes were a bit blurry.  I had to suppress a chuckle, however.  He did not look at all like the imposing figure earlier that tried his best to give me repeated heart attacks! 

Yet, I was right about one thing; he was grumpy! 

Despite my initial reaction to him, I was intimidated by the expression that was now starting to form on his face.  It was not at all friendly.  I really did not expect it to be, but if looks could kill, I would have already been six feet under.

"Kira, I'm tired.  It is two-thirty in the morning. If you have something to say please say it!" he demanded wearily.  He suppressed a yawn while I fumbled for the right words.

I took a deep breath and began with an apology, "I'm really sorry about the – ah – food in the drawer.  I had kind of forgotten about it, actually." 

Oh man, what is it about me with lame excuses?  I could see that Father agreed with me whole-heartedly on that one.  He rolled his eyes and shook his head at me.

"Okay, fine.  I accept it.  Now can I go back to sleep?" He began to close the door, but I quickly put my hand out to prevent it.

"Ah, there's one more thing.  It's – ah – kind of important."

Father did not say anything but waited.  He tapped his foot impatiently and he held onto the door protectively, ready to close it at the first opportunity.

"Well – it's sort of embarrassing.  I – ah – foundsomemorefood." I rushed, my voice trailing off as my confidence tanked.

"You found what?" he asked me, furrowing his eye ridges together.

Ah, man, he's going to be pissed.  I could tell it already.

"More food." I nodded quickly and nervously. "Under – my bed – sort of.  No, it was under my bed; there is no sort of.  I…."

Father interrupted, "I know, so…just go back to bed, Kira.  We'll talk about it tomorrow.  No, we'll talk about it later this morning because it's already tomorrow.  G'night!" and with that Father shut the door. 

I just stood there in shock.

He knew?  Father knew about the extra food?  But…why didn't he make a big fuss about ...  Before I could finish that thought, however, I heard him one more time through his bedroom door.

"Kira if you want to stay up that's entirely up to you.  But, please do so in your own room and NOT outside my door!  G'NIGHT!"

I was furious! 

I turned around and stomped back to my own room, muttering complaints under my breath, "All that stress, all that worry, wondering how many more times I was going to have to clean the weapons, go without food, be a pariah in my own home."….and then I stopped right there.

I was standing in the doorway of my bedroom and repeated to myself the last three words I had just said. 

"My own home?  Now when and where did I start thinking about this place as being 'my own home'?" I muttered irritably to myself.

The transformation of my heart and the memory of my previous life had just suddenly switched places.  I wasn't too sure how to react to that.  I did know that I wanted my old life back.  I didn't want to worry about katas, sewers, Foot soldiers, or hoarding food to make up for not getting dinner.  The experiences from the previous day certainly didn't endear to me my current reality that was certain. 

Yet for reasons that I could not understand I was starting to accommodate myself to this life – albeit, rather reluctantly and not with out a few choice words along the way! 

I looked back towards Father's bedroom door and scowled.  He KNEW! 

What would make him not mention something about the extra food?  Why would he miss a chance to punish me more by ignoring this latest fact?  I pondered that for a while as I resumed my position cross-legged on my bed.  I was staring angrily down at the pile that now occupied the middle of my room. 

Maybe, just maybe…he was testing me?  That gave me 'food for thought' you can be sure!

Well, now what was I going to do about it? 

I stood up and picked up one package and looked at it.  Granola bars weren't high on my list of munchies, but considering how famished I was feeling, it looked like a seven course meal to me.  I thought of ripping into it and devouring every bar to my hearts content – just to spite the one who KNEW about it!  But I was smart enough to realize that unless I could conceal the empty box and the torn open wrappers, Father would know I had violated my punishment.  Maybe the real Kira would have flipped him off and gone ahead with it anyway; throwing all caution to the wind.  But I had something to prove and prove it I was going to do!

I looked around my room to see what I could use in order to cart the food back to the kitchen.  I did not want any of it staying in my room, not for one minute longer than necessary.  I didn't care if it took me the remainder of the night – or morning as the case may be.  I was going to return every packet, bag, can, and container to the pantry.  I'd let Mike determine what had expired – if any – and then deal with whatever confrontation I might have to face later with Father.  At this point in the deal, I was toast anyway. 

Deciding on using my blanket, I piled the stash into the middle of it and then pulled up all four corners of the covering.  Twisting the material so that I wouldn't lose any of its contents, I pulled the 'bag' towards my now opened door.  Unfortunately, the blanket-bag was so wide it would not go through the opening easily.  I pulled and jostled, manipulating the contents up and over each other, until finally I had it into the corridor.  Then, I dragged it – rather noisily, too – down the hall and into the living room towards the kitchen. 

I didn't care who I woke up at that point.  I was still fuming about the fact that Father KNEW! 

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I had tried to get every item back into the pantry.  But there was just so much stuff!  Running out of room in the cabinet, I settled some of it onto the counter.  Yet despite how I was feeling earlier, currently I felt great.  I was rather smug with me, in fact, for my self-control and determination to do what I knew I had to.   I stood back to survey my handiwork and then looked up at the kitchen clock and saw that it read three-fifteen.  Not knowing what time 'wake-up' call was, I turned around to head back out of the room and to bed.

However, the moment I did I came almost face to face with Mike.  He was leaning against the doorframe; his nunchukus clenched in his right fist while his left shoulder firm against the doorjamb.  It was obvious that he had just finished doing the patrol that followed Father's and mine.  He 'smelled' of the sewer.

"What are you doing up and in the kitchen, no less?" he asked me sternly.

Mike's countenance was devoid of the cheerful expression that he had on earlier before I left with Father to do our watch.

But I was tired.  No excuse for what came out of my mouth next, but that was the truth.

"What's it to you?" I muttered.  Because he had surprised me, my good mood was gone right along with my common sense.  Plus, I had yet to get to know Mike like I had with Don, Raphael, and Father.  In fact, my only recollection of him was how he had been portrayed in the comics and cartoons from my old life. 

However, the next few moments would educate me quite a bit about how insufficient that information really was.

Before I realized it, Mike had grabbed me by one arm and forced me back against the kitchen cabinets; now littered with the cartons of food that I had put there only moments before.  I heard the shell on my back clang loudly against the edge of the tile counter as I hit it; my eyes going wide since his reaction to my comment was not expected. 

Wasn't Mike the fun-loving guy?  Didn't he do all the joking around and didn't he try to get along with everyone?  I was shocked and completely unprepared for his response.

In a voice that chilled me to the bone, Mike seethed, "Do NOT talk to me that way, Kira!  I will not stand for it!" He glared menacingly at me and it was then that I noticed a bleeding cut along the upper portion of his right arm.

"Y- you're hurt!" I exclaimed worriedly.

"Don't change the subject!  What were you doing in the kitchen!" he barked. 

"I wasn't trying to change the subject," I came back saying, "But to answer your question…I was putting things away!" My voice went soft, not knowing if he would believe me. 

He didn't.

"Yeah?" he asked, his left eye ridge shooting up in suspicion, "Then open your mouth!" he demanded.

"Huh?" I asked, "Why?"

Mike glared at me and it was then that I complied.  It was so embarrassing while he visually checked my teeth and gums.  To be honest I felt somewhat violated.

"Put your tongue up, Kira!" he ordered next.  Not wanting anymore of his glares, I cooperated.  I couldn't help but roll my eyes in frustration.  He caught it and shot me look that said to 'knock it off'.  I sighed deeply in resignation.

Finally convinced that I had been telling the truth, Mike released his hold on my arm.  It ached from his grip and I honestly felt that he had bruised me.  But when I looked, not even a fingerprint was noticeable. I found that completely odd.  How had he inflicted such pain in my arm and yet not leave a mark?  I reasoned that it must have been yet one more technique that only ninjitsu could teach.  Acupressure?   Well, it was certainly effective.

"Why were you putting 'away'?" Mike asked me, relaxing now that he was sure of my sincerity.  He placed his nunchukus on the kitchen table and went over to a cupboard.  He came back to the sink with a glass and filled it to the brim with tap water.  He drank deeply, wiping his mouth afterwards with the back of his left hand.  He then looked at me.

"I asked you a question.  You gonna answer?" He asked.  Mike's expression had softened a little bit, but the attitude was still there.

"I found some boxed food in my bedroom and I was putting it away.  Didn't want to get into any more trouble, is all." I explained simply. 

Mike looked at me and nodded his head, "Good for you. 'Bout time, too!" and then he turned to exit the kitchen.  But he stopped and then looked back at me.  More to the point, he looked at the littered counter. "All of that was in your room?" he asked, now staring intently at me. 

I blushed, replying, "Guess so…yeah."

He came back over to inspect the hoard.  Then, noticing that the pantry cabinet wasn't quite closed he opened it.  His eyes nearly bugged out of his face as he stared at the now well-stocked food closet.  "What the?" he muttered.  Looking back at me he asked, "This cabinet was nearly empty, Kira.  You mean to tell me that you had ALL of this in your room?" 

The look that started to grow on his face did not fill me with warm fuzzies.  In fact, I seriously thought about running to my room and barricading myself in.  However, I knew I wouldn't have even made it out the kitchen, not with how fast I knew they could be.

I could only hang my head in shame.  Mike then took my chin and lifted it up so he could look at me eye to eye.  But my eyes were brimming.  I was tired, previously chastised and punished, overwhelmed with the whole ordeal, and completely at a loss for words.  But I did manage a weak, "I'm sorry".

I noticed a softening in Mike right about then, an understanding that I was truly sincere with my apology.  His eyes misted over just slightly as he sensed my turmoil, then he let go of my face and gently patted my flushed cheek.

"Well, tomorrow we'll talk about this, 'kay?  Right now, I'm tired and it's plain to see you are, too.  'Sides, I need to tend to my arm." And with that, he turned away from me and headed for the kitchen door.

Sobered by my new respect for Mike, I asked him as I sucked back a sob, "Do you need help with that cut?"

Mike turned back and smiled, "Sure." Then he nodded towards the living room as if to beckon me to follow him. 

Well, one thing was certain.  Mike might have been the easygoing guy that enjoyed a good joke – or watch someone, like myself, get chewed out – but he was no pushover.  I was beginning to realize that whatever preconceived notion I had originally about these turtles was going to have to be pushed aside. 

Since I didn't know how long I would be living here in this reality, my acceptance for the way things were was going to have to happen - one way or the other.

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DANCINGFAE: Yeah, I'm sure those reading this are picking up the frustration level that Kira is feeling.  My exact purpose, in fact!  :0) Possibly, now, with what happened in chapter 12, Kira/Alicia can start making some headway.  You know how it is when you take over a 'job' that someone else has trashed?  It takes a moment or more to pick up the pieces.  Hopefully I can write some progress into the next chapter or two.  I think I've angst this girl to death as it is!  Thanks for reading and reviewing!  Be blessed.

KUROI NEKO-KUN: Hey, take your time with the writing.  No hurry here; I'm patient!  :0) Well, ignorance aside, I think Kira has turned a 'bend' in her present reality to maybe start with some progress?  Tough times are still ahead, though.  Bwahahaha!  Don believing her?  With what Leo found out while on patrol and then discovering the food-stash in her bedroom?  Would you?  Hmmm….  Thanks for reading and reviewing!  Be blessed.

RAMICA: Yeah, the food in the drawers was a 'spur of the moment' addition that took over the entire chapter.  I figured, the 'other' Kira would have been crafty and defiant enough to make sure she would never go hungry regardless of the imposed restrictions of her clan.  Can't say that I blame her, but I can't say that I blame them, either.  However, Kira/Alicia did have to pay the price.  However, I do want her to have some integrity – even though she would have probably hoarded food in her own world.  She's completely out of her comfort zone with this one, though, so extreme measures are called for.  Oh, and I was originally going to have her meet up with the Foot while on patrol until I wrote in 'the breeze'.  That inspired me to change the course of that chapter!  I think having Leo forcing her to dig deep to rediscover what her 'body' obviously knows how to do was more important.  She can meet the Foot later…if I decide to write that in.   And, yes, I had a great time with it, too!  Thanks for reading and reviewing.  Be blessed.

LADY VENOM2: Yeah, the comment Kira made about the bed spawned that idea, too.  I was just going to leave it as a comment and then have maybe a granola bar sitting in the drawer where she keeps her extra bandannas and pads.  Then I'd have her take the bar to Leo and have him say something about her keeping it for doing such a good job on patrol.  But, I couldn't resist writing this chapter the way that I did.  Glad to see you are doing up another Rowan fic!!  Can't wait!!  Thanks for reading and reviewing!  Be blessed.