The Enemy

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

Chapter Thirty – Possibilities.

Michaelangelo:

I had watched Rama leave, wishing that I could keep her here with us, instead of letting her go back. I knew what could happen to her and I was afraid that, I'd never see her again.

Raph had been all set to follow after her, simply because he didn't trust her or her intentions, but Don somehow managed to convince Raph that he was in no condition to handle much more intense fighting. The fact Don was able to talk sense to Raph was proof in itself what sort of shape our hotheaded brother was in.

Besides we all knew that Leo had been quite willing to sacrifice his life to get us free, he wanted Rama with us, simply because he knew she was more able to handle any other battles that might come our way. It was a simple trade his life for all of ours and while we didn't care for it, we accepted it, though we didn't speak of it aloud. Karena was also very much aware of what Leo had done and it was clear she didn't accept it; she didn't want to lose Leo, not now. But if Raph was to head back it would make Leo's sacrifice meaningless.

I think that was probably the main reason for Raph to stay was because he wasn't going make Leo's death mean nothing. So instead he stayed he cursed and he fumed, snarling and growling and gnashing his teeth in irritation.

Karena was a very good match for him as she paced continually and glancing around anxiously for any sign of Leo reappearing.

Don sighed wearily as he sat down in the small emergency room " Relax Karena all the stress and strain isn't good for you or the baby you are carrying at the moment" he reminded her.

" Relax? How am I suppose to relax?" she shot out glaring at all of us, " My husband is out there and he might…" her voice choked up and she swallowed quickly blinking her eyes rapidly to stop the tears from falling " Oh gods, please Leo." She whispered as she wrung her hands.

" I knew I should have gone with that…" Raph began crossing his arms over his plastron. " Bet you anything she'll finish him off."

" Raphael!" Don and I both snapped in unison, though probably for different reasons.

Don rolled his eyes shaking his head in frustration; he was fairly tired after having all ready treated everyone's injuries with the medical supplies we had stashed here.

We had numerous emergency stashes throughout the city; all of them had some spare weapons, a bit of food, bottled water and a full emergency kit.

Don had done his best in fixing Aiden's arm, but due to the time involved between when it had been broken and now, he couldn't be sure that it would heal properly or how much use Aiden might have of his arm in the future.

After Aiden had been treated, I was feeling very ill Don judged my symptoms and gave me an antidote for the poison, which had entered my system, via the arrowhead. We knew the Foot favoured rare poisons and kept the antidotes on hand at all times.

Rule number one in war know your enemy, and that included knowing what they loved to use and how to prevent or deter it where you could.

Now all we could do was wait, but Raph had never been very good when it came to playing the waiting game.

" That's it. I am going after her," Raph decided smacking a balled fist into the palm of his hand.

"That won't be necessary Raph" Leo insisted as he came around the corner and entered the small room, he looked physically dead on his feet, like it was taking all he had to stand before us.

Karena ran up and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him " Oh Leo, you made it. I was so worried," she sobbed, then she gave him a frantic concerned look " You ever do that to me again Leonardo, I'll kill you."

Leo just smiled and pulled her closer to him kissing her firmly. Aiden and kali waited until they broke off the kiss before running to hug their father.

I was glad for all of them that Leo had made it, but I quickly looked around for Rama, I didn't see her. I was about to ask Leo where she was when I saw her round the corner a blank look on her face.

Her arm was bleeding badly not to mention the numerous smaller injuries on her body and she seemed agitated to be around us, which was understandable.

" Rama want Don to look after that arm? He's real good at doctoring."

She looked at her arm as if she didn't know she was hurt and then shrugged, " He can if he wants to. I don't really care." She mumbled.

" Rama it's all right now" I hastened to assure her.

" All right? All right! Father is dead and the Foot once they regroup will come after you and I both. I have no place to go, no place to be, and I have no one" She ranted, " But it is all right!" she sneered the last in a menacing way.

" You killed Yukio way to go Leo?" Raph cheered as he clapped our leader across the back.

" Yukio's death was more of an accident then anything Raph and I wasn't the one who did it." Leo corrected, " Ramiela tossed a dagger I don't think she intended it to hurt anybody, but by fluke it did kill Yukio." He explained.

I winced and looked back towards Rama, no wonder she looked so stressed. It had been hard enough for her to just make the decision to help us, it had been difficult for her to fight beside and aid us, especially when confronted by her adopted father, it had been a challenge to go against him and now on top of everything else she had killed Yukio. I gave a pitying shake of my head, realizing if Rama hadn't been messed up before, she sure would be when the shock wore off.

I hoped Leo wouldn't turn her away, she needed love support and understanding, most of all she needed help and she couldn't get it out on her own.

I went over to her and pulled her into my arms at first she struggled, but it wasn't that strong of a fight or long of one before she wrapped her arms around me and began to bawl.

" Holy shit!" Raph gasped behind me, " tell me I ain't seein' this."

Don shook his head, " It is impossible Mike shouldn't even be able to touch her."

Leo intense stare was on us but he just watched in silence. Aiden and Kali were unimpressed by the event.

Aiden growled, " What is she doing here? She doesn't belong with us. She isn't family she's Foot!"

" Dad she helped kill everyone" Kali protested staying close to Leo's side.

Leo kept one arm around Karena as he turned to address his children " Hold it right there you two. Ramiela didn't kill any of our family; she was too busy capturing us when the Foot infiltrated our home. The Elite killed our family members." Leo stressed, " Yes, I know she has threatened and has hurt us all but she was acting on orders from her Clan leader, doing only what she had been taught to do, and trained for" Leo paused giving a stern look to the children and Raph, " All she did was obey her jonin's commands. Thirdly, Ramiela used to be a member of our family before she was kidnapped by the Foot and forced to turn against us." Leo reminded them, " Yes we all suffered at Yukio's hands but it was only for a little over a week, she has lived through years" Leo shook his head and gave Rama a gentle smile, " Last but not least she saved all of our lives tonight, at great expense to herself. She returned to help me, even though she didn't need to, nor did I expect her to. She is going to need our help now" Leo declared.

I smiled gratefully, because I knew with those words that Leo might actually try to get her back into the family again, if not fully a clan member.

" As a family we are going have to discuss how much we can offer her." Leo declared.

Rama raised her head " Talk what good is that? Even I know I could never be welcomed in your pathetic clan."

" Be open to alternatives Ramiela" Leo chided.

She scowled darkly at him and pushed me away abruptly.

I shook my head realizing the way Leo was, and the way Rama was might make for some interesting problems and battles, simply because I could tell Rama didn't care for Leo. I could sense her hatred and animosity of him.

"Lets go home for now, and rest before we talk" Leo suggested.

Rama gave a short sharp barking laugh " You have no home, the Foot know about your place" she remarked her voice thick with scorn.

" That isn't the only place, there is a smaller area in the sewers that we have set up and it ought to suffice for now though the quarters will be tight until we find something else."

Don smiled as he stood up gesturing at Rama " Will you let me stitch up and bandage your arm before we go?"
Rama shrugged, " Suit yourself" she mumbled.

….

It was some hours later we had all had a nice breakfast, well food wise that is, and were now sitting in the small living room area waiting to talk over what might come next.

Rama hadn't taken anything nor did she speak much to us, she acted more like a condemned prisoner waiting for the execution to be carried out. The only time she spoke was to hurl insults and veiled threats at family members, usually Raph who seemed quite willing to goad and provoke her with snide comments.

Now she was so agitated and so tightly strung that she plucked a sai from her belt to begin playing with it. The twins grew nervous and huddled closer together keeping a wary eye on her.

" We have had more then enough of weapons. Put it away, now!" Leo ordered her.

Rama's lip curled into a sneer " Make me!" she challenged.

" Let it be Leo, she isn't going hurt anyone with it, she is just nervous." I informed my brother, pleading with him, I knew if Raph had his weapon out to fiddle with Leo wouldn't have said a thing to him.

" I understand her fears and anxieties at the moment Mike but we all have a right to be comfortable right now." Leo stated, " For now though I will let it go" his tone had a slight threatening tone to it, implying that if she made a move to harm any one she would regret it. Leo turned to stare at her " I'd like to know what made you decide to help us?"

" I didn't want to help all of you" she retorted.

"Then, I take it there was at least one of us, that you wanted to help, right?"

She nodded slightly " Michaelangelo, if I could have got only him out, I would have done it. But I didn't think he would leave without the rest of you. Foot information told me that all of you would risk everything for the sake of one." She snorted and shook her head in disbelief at the prospect.

I smiled realizing I had somehow made a bigger impression on her then I had thought.

Leo grinned and nodded; I think he was pleased to hear that as well.

" So what made you decide to help Mike?" he inquired.

Rama grimaced and glanced down at her sai in her hand, " I remember a few things about all of you. I guess they are memories of my childhood, when I lived with you, but the one I remember most is Michaelangelo" She replied hesitantly, " Father wanted me to kill him and I didn't think I could do it. Father would have been very angry with me, so I…I don't really know why I did it. It just sort of happened" Rama spoke quietly.

" What do you remember about us?" Leo inquired.

Rama made a face and her fingers twiddled sending the sai spinning " I …I know Karena taught me to read and write, you were my sensei, Donatello taught me all kinds of things and Raphael he used to play fight with me" her fingers caressed her weapon, " He got me, my first sais." She brushed back a lock of hair and shifted in her chair, " It was just little bits here or there about all of you, but there was so much on Michaelangelo a great deal more. I can't explain it so please don't ask" She insisted shaking her head negatively.

" All right fair enough. But how do you feel about the rest of us then?"

" You are my enemies and you all deserve to die" Rama hissed suddenly her face contorting, " You most of all." She snapped pointing a finger at him.

Leo arched an eye ridge trying not to be disturbed by her venomous remark never mind the threat she had left hanging between them.

Instead he calmly turned to Don "What can you tell us Don? I know you believed that she should never have helped us, are you able to give us some insight on what we might expect from Ramiela, or if it is possible to bring her out of her Foot training?"

Don scowled, " I don't specialize in mental or psychological problems, but I'd say it is safe to assume that until Rama learns to trust and accept us, she will have relapses where she may try to hurt or kill any one of us." Don explained in his usual didactic way, " We have to try and change the programming of her brainwashing and that won't be easy to do, she has followed it for so long that we might never be able to clear it from her. There is also only two possible ways to break or over ride it" Don leaned forward in his chair as he warmed to the subject, " Either we allow her time to adjust and learn for herself, or we try to brainwash her. Being as she is older, and trained ninja now the latter is highly unlikely. However the former isn't as trustworthy."

Rama growled in irritation, " Stop speaking over me and around me like I don't exist. I'm right here!" she snapped.

Don gave a tiny apologetic smile " Sorry."

I nodded laughing " Don gets like that Rama don't take it too personally."

Don gave a small cough " I think for Rama's sake the best thing we can do is slowly build up her trust and give her a chance to see what she thinks she knows about us, and what is real about us are two different things. However Leo, in all honesty I think Ramiela will be a big problem to us because she can revert and attack us at any given moment until sufficient time has past to break that" Don insisted, " Remember what Raph was like in his teens? Well I can almost promise you Rama is bound to be worse, because when she goes after our blood in anger, she'll mean it."

" Any good news?" Leo asked simply showing no outward sign of what that information had given him.

" Well for some reason Rama does seem to trust Mike, so it could be that Mike can help make the adjustment and deprogramming period easier on everyone. Also we all know for a fact that Rama has broken it once, which means it is possible for her to continue to do so. It will just take time Leo."

Leo bowed his head and was silent for a bit as he contemplated the information, " Very well based on the information we have and on everything I have heard, this is my decision as Jonin of the clan" He turned his stare on Ramiela, " we need time to grieve those who have gone and to recuperate so during that time you will not be a member of our clan or our family" He declared sharply, " We will set you up a place in the sewers, you can join us for work outs sessions if you please or for meals, but how much time you will have with us and the period of separation will be based upon your behaviour towards all of us" Leo insisted sharply, " If you become too much of a threat then we will run you out and banish you from us. Is that understood?"

She nodded as if she expected that much.

" If you behave well in time a year or two down the road we can see where we are at and make any changes from there, I am hoping that somehow we can bring you back into this family again, though I don't know if you will ever be clan." He smiled trying to ease the strictness of his words, "After all to be clan you must not only be willing and able to fight the Foot."
Rama stiffened as if the thought was impossible, that she would not fight the Foot Clan for us anymore, and she gave a baleful glare Leo's way.

" There are things you know about the Foot that I would dearly love to learn, and you must know for you to become one of our clan, I as your Jonin would have a right to that information."

Rama's body tensed in anger she gritted her teeth and sneered at Leo.

" Your skills as a ninja are superb and I could use you as one of my jenin. However in our clan we must trust each other implicitly, we are a small clan and therefore need to rely on each other far more then in a larger organization. Therefore you will not be allowed to become a clan member until you have more of a chance to become integrated as a family member, thus giving us all a chance to get to know you. Clan membership is only a possibility based in the future depending on many contingencies." Leo smiled, kindly, "Until that time I won't ask you for anything that you are not able or willing to give and that includes information regarding the Foot."

" Leo I'm going stay with Rama," I told him, " I don't think it is a good idea for her to be alone right now."

Leo looked my way " That is your choice Mike, judging from what I have seen and all that I know, I sorted of expected you to say that," he grinned, " And out of all of us I believe you stand the best chance of being around her and not being killed by her. After all if she was going to kill you she would have done it for Yukio." He turned back to Ramiela, " Do you accept this offer?"

Rama shrugged uncertainly.

" You have time to consider it but I would like an answer in twenty four hours. One more thing what name do you wish to go by? We know you better as Ramiela, but it is understandable that after so many years you would prefer Kirra."

" Kirra is a lie, I have no need to continue living a lie. I am Ramiela" Rama declared quickly.

Leo gave a large smile as if relieved to hear her say that, I could tell he was pleased by her choice, as if by accepting our name over her Foot name she was all ready trying to find her way home. " Good choice. Very well Ramiela it is."

I sensed his approval and I knew what Leo had offered Rama had been more then fair, in fact it had been better then I had hoped for. Now it remained to be seen if Rama would accept it.

TBC

Reinbeauchaser: Only an epilogue left. Rama used one of her specialty bombs that bring down a certain amount of debris and stuff from around you, but doesn't cause a great deal of structural damage. Similar to what she used in the chapter " Returning home" when she buried the dead turtle members. Leo of course has no idea that it was one of her specialty bombs, he was expecting the building to collapse, it didn't, and it wasn't suppose to. A gratitude for your insight

Lunar Ninja: I maybe old but I am not old enough to be senile, in other words yes I remember quite well the Wizard of Oz bit ( grins wickedly in return) Ugh thing? Now for a ninja seppuku is not an ugh thing. Seppuku is a way of restoring lost honour and is totally acceptable in certain situations. As a ninja Rama knows it would be cowardly to not commit seppuku in this instance. Only an epi to go. A gratitude for your insight.