The Enemy

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

Chapter twelve - Hope fading

Michaelangelo:

All of us were still, silent numb, the only sounds coming from across the way Karena's unrelenting sobbing, not that I could blame her for her tears or her hurt at this moment in time.

I couldn't believe, couldn't accept what I had seen and yet I knew now that I had to face facts and accept what the others had accepted long ago. I had truly lost my daughter.

My brothers had been right she was the Enemy, a Foot Soldier through and through and there really was no hope for escape. She wouldn't help us, no she'd just speed us on our way to meet death.

Rama could kill any one of us, I had to keep that in mind now, forget about everything else.

I'd always been the optimistic one of the bunch the one able to see the silver lining and who believed in that old adage of when life hands you lemons make lemon aid. No problem ever seemed impossible to solve. Until now that is.

It was clear by her present actions, that any part of Rama was dead. She looked like Rama but that was all for Yukio had claimed her for himself and moulded her into his own.

After watching the events that unfolded, unable to stop or prevent the inevitable outcome I could quite honestly say that I was afraid for my life. I was afraid my daughter was going kill me, especially as Yukio had given me to her as a gift.

I meant nothing to her. None of us meant a damn thing to her.

That was a hard and bitter pill to swallow, for it meant we had nothing really left to live for. All we had was whatever was left of our pathetic lives and I knew Yukio would make our lives terrible indeed.

I knew the rest of the family had to hate Rama now, not that I blamed them. I knew by her actions alone that the clan would now never accept her as part of our family or clan even if she did come around to help us, which was highly doubtful, she would be a lone ninja without a clan. She could not be trusted not now.

I sensed the family's anger and hatred but try as I might I couldn't feel any hatred or anger towards Rama. Hating Yukio was very easy, I never knew I could hate so much, as I hated him. I felt that I could literally kill him with my bare hands if given a chance, but I couldn't feel even a hint of anger for Rama.

I pitied her and I loved her. I felt great empathy for her and knew even in her obedience to Yukio that it was not really something that she might choose to do if she was really free to make a choice for herself.

How I longed to say or do something to stop her from committing that unspeakable crime of killing her cousin but she wouldn't listen to me. Wouldn't hear what I had to say. Rama didn't need us or our clan she had Yukio and the Foot.

I bit my lip until I felt blood and stopped, opened my eyes and stared at the red mark on the concrete floor, the blood had been left there as a warning to us all. It was starting to thicken and congeal, it was an awful sight to see and somehow it managed to continually draw the eye no matter where you tried to look.

A warning, a blood red warning, the blood of family spilled. Yet a warning was all that whole charade had turned out to be.

It had been another display of Yukio's hold over Rama, proof of how willing and obedient she was to him, how loyal she remained to his programming.

I had watched as she started her down ward swing, putting full force and weight into it for the killing blow. Hardly had she started down then Yukio almost whisper bid her to stop.

In an instant Ramiela shifted the grip of her katana so that it went and pointed upward but the quick counter movement caused the sword to keep heading in the new direction and her hands and body shifted to keep control of the weapon. The katana swung down again but its movement were starting to decrease the katana sliced a bit into the side of Kali's neck.

Kali had howled at the pain and the sight of her own blood spilling from the fresh wound.

It was a mark of Rama's skill with the katana that she had been able to turn a killing blow into one that left a bad but none life threatening injury.

Rama turned her body a bit and I saw her raise an eye ridge as if questioning Yukio's sudden change of heart but she didn't say a word, just stood waiting for his next order as if not sure what to do.

" Back down Kirra. Let the child go back for now. Let this be a warning to them, next time it shall be for real" Yukio stated calmly " The girl will have to die if the turtles try to steal you from me again" he declared sharply his eyes boring into mine.

Then Yukio looked at the injury and " Bandage that up for her Kirra so she doesn't make an absolute mess of the place." He muttered as he stood up and prepared to leave.

" Yes Master" Rama intoned as she sheathed her katana giving him a puzzled look as if she still didn't understand.

Kali of course kept squirming and wanted back with her mother and brother desperately not wanting anything to do with Rama, who was being very thorough with the cleaning and care of the wound.

Rama informed Kali rather sharply to stop acting like a baby and act like a kunoichi. " You ought to be thankful you are still alive stead of bleating like a sheep" She scolded before returning her to the cell.

Then Rama came into our cell and plucked her shuriken from out of me and smirked my way before she left us alone with the guards.

Kali was wrapped in Karena's arms and the poor girl was shaking uncontrollable as a delayed reaction to the shock and stress. Karena of course was so worked up with what had seemed like the imminent death of her child, followed by the child's release was unable to stop her tears just yet, though they did seem to be dying down now.

Leo looked my direction " Mike from now on forget getting her back. She is Yukio's daughter. Her name is Kirra and she is our enemy." He insisted, " She would have killed Kali. Open your eyes and accept the truth. Do nothing to aggravate her or Yukio." He demanded.

His very words made me want to yell at him, how could he be so insensitive, so foolish. Did he really believe that Yukio would let any of us live forever, just by complying with Sekora's rules?

Before I could respond to my brother though Raph was doing it for me.

" Lay off Leo" Raph barked, " I don't see you doing a damn thing to get us out of here. You just want to wait around here until Yukio decides to kill us off." He fumed and I could tell he was in the mood to continue his rant.

Only Don cut it off right then and there " All of you don't" Don snapped sharply.

It grabbed all of our attention because Don wasn't normally one for yelling or shouting he was usually so quiet.

" This isn't the time for us to start fighting amongst ourselves. By doing that we are playing right into Yukio's hands. He wants us to hate her."

" You told us that before." Raph muttered.

" You all seemed to have forgotten it" Don retorted, " Yukio is doing his best to cut ties between our clan and her. Stop and think why would he do that unless he was afraid that she might do something against his training?" Don asked, he obviously all ready knew the answer he just wanted to see if we knew.

Silence however greeted him, we were still pretty much in shock so we weren't exactly thinking all that clearly.

" I was probing her mind a bit" Don confessed, " She didn't seem to notice the intrusion, under her compliance to Yukio is confusion. I think she is starting to remember things and question her training, perhaps it is only on a subconscious level at the moment." Don explained, " But if I sense it then Yukio must as well."

" So?" Raph demanded curtly.

" So Yukio must know she is starting to recall certain things, he knows it has to happen with her just being around us. He knows she is questioning things but he still wants her torturing us, or more importantly Mike." Don pointed out " Which means Ramiela is about to suffer even more as her training comes into conflict with her past."

I jerked my head up at his words unable to comprehend the why of it all.

" Why Don?" I gasped suddenly fearing for Rama even more then for myself.

" He wants her to suffer Mike. She is as much a victim of this as we are. If Yukio is able to confuse her enough it could result in a mental breakdown. It is as if he wants to drive her insane. If he does that she'll be no good to anyone and he might even kill her then."

I closed my eyes not wanting to see or hear any more.

What kind of crazy world had we entered when a psychopath like Yukio could roam free have the world at his feet and get away with such devious plots to his fellow man?

All I knew was I was flooded by a wealth of memories of a time when Rama had truly been my daughter.

I saw her stealing Raph's sais on him, saw her in lessons with Leo, saw ones of Karena teaching her to read and print, and ones of us playing on the playground or cooking in the kitchen. There seemed to be a flood of memories. Reminding me what a bright and intelligent child she had been back then, and how spirited she was.

I knew Yukio had to be doing this for a reason. He was playing his game and by his rules. But I was tired of this game and I knew time was running out.

My daughter, my enemy.

The two things just didn't make any sense to me. I wanted to help her but I knew Rama wouldn't accept my help.

I also had to be careful because I didn't want my family suffering the consequences.

I knew for the good of the clan I had to forget her, drop the faith and belief I had maintained in her up to this point. After seeing how willing she was to hurt and destroy us you would think that it would be easy to do.

It wasn't. I couldn't let my faith in her just wither and die inside me.

I wished there was someone I could go to and seek advice or help, I really needed it now, but I knew what my brother's decision was. Leo had made that very clear that as jonin he was not going to accept any more talk about 'Rama.'

I knew that he had the right of it, he was making the best decision for the clan. But I also knew that halting all talk about Rama and how she might help us wasn't going change the outcome any.

I felt a few tears slip from my eyes for I wasn't ready yet to give up on my daughter. I had to try and help her even if it did nothing for us. I would do my best to abide by Leo's orders but I could not just forget Rama all together, not with Don's grim opinion of what lay ahead for her.

I knew things were fast coming to a point where I might have to make a choice of my long lost daughter or my family.

I had never gone against the jonin order's before I knew by doing so I could be banished, so banish me, it wasn't like they could send me to a different cell, they couldn't do that but they would stop talking to me. They would act as if I didn't exist to them.

I knew that I might have to make my final choice on that matter soon, I was also aware that my choice either way might not amount to a big deal. It might not change the path we were on, or the one Rama travelled that was parallel to our own.

I sighed heavily as I realized hope was fading fast and we were caught between the proverbial frying pan and the fire.

TBC

Rat Queen Valarian: A new reader or possibly an old one by a different name I'm not sure, which, either way glad to have you aboard. I think I might be able to handle a rat better then I can Lunar Ninja's dragons. At least you seem to like the story thus far, though the last chapter might have left you in some suspense. Hopefully this chapter can put you at ease. A gratitude for your insight.

Reinbeauchaser: rat queen agreed for you for what it is worth. Meanwhile I said it before I will say it again evil? I am evil? Bwahahahahahaha! Well now that that is over with, this may not be an Abraham and Issac but hopefully is sufficient. Hope this also ends your personal torture for now. I would have had this chapter up sooner but our internet was down. A gratitude for your insight.