The Legacy

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

Author's Note: Leo's talk on Ninja and clan life was researched from the book Ninja; Spirit of the shadow warrior by Stephen K. Hayes. Some people loved this chapter last time, others hated it.

Chapter Ten - Ninja Life

Leonardo:

Ramiela was doing well in her lessons, all things considered, she was doing her best to concentrate on the lesson plan. Of course the card game was helpful in that area, but it also laid the groundwork for mental abilities later on, children were quite psychic on their own as they grew older they often lost the ability, but by encouraging her to maintain it, the ability would grow.

However she seemed far more interested in weapons and the use of them. I knew as she grew older I would have to instruct her in the use of many traditional ninja weapons, so that she could know the strengths and weaknesses of each, and handle a wide assortment with skill, only after she had gained a vast knowledge and proven her efficiency with various weapons, would she be allowed to pick a weapon for her self.

I held back on her lessons on weapons though, simply because she seemed to show little or no respect for the weapon rule.

I often reflected on if I did bother to teach her more on weapons would she learn to respect them, or would it only encourage her to continue breaking the rules?

Of course, I fully realized that it wasn't all Ramiela's fault a great deal of the problem lay with Raphael. Raph was a trained ninja, or should be, therefore there was no excuse for how a child continually got the better of my brother on a regular basis. He ought to be able to pick up her intent feel her removing the weapon, some sort of warning bell ought to go off to clue him in to Ramiela's stealing his weapons out from under his beak.

Since we were a little older now, Raph and I didn't battle as often as we had a few years back in our teens, our age old rivalry had died down somewhat with time and maturity.

There were a few things I would go after Raph on and Ramiela's weapon stealing was one of the things I opted to lecture Raphael over.

I derided his skill as a ninja and informed him quite bluntly that I would insist that he practiced more often if he could not keep his weapon from out of Ramiela's hands.

Of course Raph did not take this well and it ended up in quite the argument between us.

Even Splinter could not understand Ramiela's fascination with Raph's sais, she never bothered to go into the dojo after the spare sais; Perhaps like her father she preferred to avoid the dojo at all costs. Or maybe she realized sneaking in and stealing a sai from the dojo wouldn't be half as easy as taking one from my inept brother.

Splinter didn't seem to see it that way though.

At the moment he and I were sitting across from one another playing a game of wei chi or go, in his quarters. The game was one of strategy played on a large table with intersecting lines, which became territory or ground the playing pieces held.

Splinter's room was small but always in order, he had his bed along a side wall, a bookshelf along the end wall that held favourite books and scrolls, a comfortable chair and lamp near the bookshelf. The go-ban table and two straight backed chairs near it were placed near the entry, there was a bedside stand, and woven grass mats on the floor. He was continually burning incense in his room as well as candles as he preferred their light to the harsh light given by light bulbs.

As usual we were discussing Rama's obstinacy over the weapon rule.

" I do not understand it Leonardo, children usually do not test adults to the extent that Ramiela continues to do over this rule."

" Yes but Raphael makes it too easy for her I think and she has turned it into a game Master." I pointed out " If he would just start taking notice of what she is doing, I doubt we'd have this problem."

" Do not be too hard on Raphael my son, he is not in ninja mode when he is with her. Even so a ninja can be caught unaware." Splinter refuted gently.

" I realize that Master" I admitted, " I know Ramiela has done a great deal in her own way of getting Raph calmed down temperament wise, he isn't as angry as he used to be." I agreed acknowledging the change that had come over Raph that the clan could only attribute to Rama. " But for her to catch him off guard so frequently as she seems able to do, doesn't add up."

Splinter scowled as he considered my words and the table " Perhaps she has learned to be sneaky my son" He suggested, " it is very troubling yes but I have a feeling Raphael does not wish to be in ninja mode to stop her." He smiled as he placed his black stone down " He would need to be constantly alert, on guard relying heavily on his instincts and acting quickly." Splinter shook his head " To do that might cost both of them more in the long run. In many ways Ramiela has made Raphael a better ninja my son, not a worst one."

" She is still only four. It shouldn't be all that difficult to keep her from his weapons" I refuted.

Splinter nodded " Perhaps. Michaelangelo informed me a while back that she preformed a jump kick in your class, which she had learned only through observation." He gave me a sharp pointed look " Having only adult ninja in the clan, means that she is possibly capable of doing ninja skills without having been taught, because she has watched all of you." He chuckled, " She could be more of a ninja at the age of four then you were at that age. An average four year old child would not be able to take a ninja's weapon from him."

" What are you suggesting?" I asked, though I had an idea.

" Play a ninja game of stealth, during the game she may reveal how she is able to relieve the weapon from Raphael."

I knew just the game that would easily put that theory to the test and answer that question once and for all.

It was a ninja game usually played with older children who had learned some stealth routines and how to move cautiously, Ramiela had no such lessons as of yet. The best one of those games was rigging up a dummy with bells near what was often known as trigger items, one had to remove the item without triggering the bell. If a bell rang the game was over. There were different levels of the game including removing the bells themselves without making a noise but the very early first stage ought to be sufficient.

" I think I might do that Master."

" Very well but when you test her I wish to be there and see it for myself." Splinter declared.

" I will make it her next lesson, which is fairly soon" I remarked playing my last stone and winning the game by surrounding the last area his stones occupied.

" Humph! Such insolence I get" he huffed but his eyes sparkled in a teasing fashion as I stood and bowed to him before leaving the room.

…

I said nothing to the others of what I had planned to do, and yet somehow the whole clan was aware of it.

Our whole family was highly intuitive, so Don and Raph might have sensed something of importance going on and materialized into the dojo before the start of Rama's lesson. Usually the only one to observe her lessons was Mike, Splinter on occasions would come and see how she was progressing, while Karena also seemed to be interested in watching the instructions. I assumed it was the school teacher in her that caused her to be so interested, after all she hadn't been after me to teach her a few lessons. As long as she didn't interfere with Rama's instructions she was welcome to watch.

Rama was sitting in the lotus position on the mats, she could hardly sit still and was practically bouncing on her seat as her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

She didn't know what was going on but she had clearly picked up on the excitement in the air, and the added spectators seemed to be a dead give away and cause for more fidgeting on her part. She might fail the test simply because she was so wound up.

Raph had grinned wide when he saw the dummy rigged up to go, he knew then what was planned.

" Ramiela we are going do something a little different today. It is a whole new game" I winked at her and walked over to the dummy. " My friend here, has three of your practice weapons in pockets, but near the pockets are bells. The object is to remove the practice weapons without ringing the bells" I explained, " It is very difficult to do Ramiela. You must move carefully to remove all three of the weapons without sending out an alarm."

I had purposely placed the bells at a spot where they would ring if jarred too much, but at the same time, give Ramiela a chance to hopefully draw one of the triggers without an alarm going off to betray her.

Though judging from her excitement alone chances were it was going be a challenge for her even with how simple I had made the task for her.

" You may start whenever you are ready." I informed her kindly as I stepped back and away from the dummy to watch how she went about the task before her.

She jumped up to her feet and ran towards the dummy stopping mere inches from it, then she paused cocking her head to one side, a scowl on her face as she took a good long look at the dummy. It was obvious to me that she was thinking about her next move.

She took a slow step forward her eye on one practice weapon, with extreme care she reached up a hand and grasped the handle pulling it from the pocket, the bell made not a sound.

I arched an eye ridge in surprise, how had she done that?

Perhaps it was only a fluke but she repeated it twice more without even a faint tingling from the bells to betray her moves.

I heard Splinter give a soft " As I expected."

It seemed I owed Raphael an apology. I had never expected Ramiela to do as well as she had, I was even ready to make allowances for her by saying if the bell didn't ring too loudly I would permit it. This was mind boggling.

Rama turned " Can we do it again Sensay Please?" She begged as she smiled impishly my way.

" All right, that was obviously far too easy for you. I think I will make it harder for you." I announced.

She grinned wide and cheekily at me as if to say, " Bring it on!"

I set the dummy up again this time I used three extra triggers and I moved the bells a lot closer, she would still have a chance to remove the triggers, but the margin for error was a lot smaller now, as the bell placement wouldn't allow much room for mistake.

I stepped back " Whenever you are ready Ramiela."

Rama once again paused to take a good long look at the triggers and bells before making her first move, two she removed with ease, two came out with only the faintest of sounds hardly even noticeable but the last two were the hardest and the bells rang loud enough to insure that she was caught.

Rama pouted and stomped her foot at the last two bells " Stupid bells!" she snapped at them.

" You did a wonderful job Ramiela, very few people could play the game the way you have proven that you can." I assured her.

" You wouldn't make the bell ring Sensay. Daddy wouldn't either" She retorted, " I not so good." She sniffed.

Her words proved to me that she had learned some ninja stealth by watching, she knew we could do it, or at least felt we could and thought that she was lacking. I gave her a compassionate smile.

" We have been at it for many years Ramiela, you have only been at it a short time and look how incredible you are at it. So tell me is this how you sneak Raphael's sais?"

Her only reply was to giggle behind a hand her eyes sparkling in amusement.

" How did you learn to get so sneaky Ramiela?" I inquired.

" Uncle Raphiel catches me if I not sneaky Sensay. I gots to be real sneaky wit him." She explained herself.

I nodded understanding now before Rama had turned three she had started trying to steal Raph's weapons, but in those early days Raph had always caught her and snapped at her for it. Telling her no and not to touch them. She had learned then to get his weapons she would have to try to get them without alerting him to her intentions. Her desire to get his weapon had taught her to use stealth.

" Why do you want his sai so badly?" I then asked curious.

Rama shrugged in response.

I nodded she wasn't going to reveal that, just yet. While I could push the issue with her I knew that by doing so I might make her feel that she was in trouble and the lesson she had would become tainted. As her Sensei, I had to decide what was of more value at the moment, so I let her sai stealing drop.

She had done as I had asked, she revealed her secret and she hadn't taken Raph's weapon so getting angry would only be counterproductive at best. I had to encourage ninja skills and training in her.

" Very well Ramiela you have done an exceptional job in your lesson and I think I will let you leave early."

She beamed and turned back towards the dummy, still wanting to play with it. As I turned and walked over to see Raph

" I'm sorry Raph, the thought that she was actually using stealth didn't cross my mind. I didn't think she was able to use such a thing this well at her age." I admitted.

Raph smirked " Apology accepted Leo. Kinda nice knowin' you don't know everythin'" he drawled.

I knew Raph just loved it when I was wrong and he was right. I let it go, knowing he would manage to hold it over my head for a while at any rate.

" Now we know how she does it we just have to figure out why" Mike declared. He was keeping a close and loving eye on Rama as she continued to play with the dummy trying not to ring the bells, or in some instances I think she purposely sent the bells pealing loud and clear.

" Maybe she does it just to be difficult," Raph suggested.

" No that is your style" Don corrected him.

Mike laughed at Don's sudden joke " I think Don has a point Rama really doesn't like being punished so she wouldn't go putting herself through all that. She has to have a reason, she just won't tell us what her problem is either because she can't or she won't."

Karena was staring at us with a look that was cross between contempt and confusion. She gave her head a brisk shake as if trying to clear it.

I understood what her problem was and understood the emotions she was giving off, like most outsiders she didn't understand about ninja and was probably trying to figure out why we bothered to teach, never mind approve a child using pickpocket skills, when most adults would, if they were proper citizens, instil into the child the fact that stealing was wrong.

Rama didn't spend a great deal of time near or around our guests, in fact most previous guest didn't even know Rama existed for the most part, but Karena was not as much of a threat as our usual guest and Rama was old enough to allow her some exposure to other humans.

Finally Karena spoke her mind unwilling to keep her unvoiced thoughts to herself any longer, and I had to smile just a bit when she did speak.

" Do you always teach children to be thieves? Have I perhaps fallen into the artful Dodger's lair where children are taught to steal?" She demanded sharply her displeasure thick and heavy.

Mike grinned, " Of course not, we'd treat Oliver right none of that gruel for breakfast and he would always be given a little bit more from us."

Don smacked Mike playfully for his comment " We are honourable Karena and would never stoop to steal to ease our own hunger." He remarked his tone though gentle seemed a bit pained as if her accusation had bothered him.

Knowing Don, it probably could have.

" Sometimes Karena it is necessary that a ninja remove information or something of use off another person without them being aware of it." I explained, " We do not condone stealing for that might lead authorities to our existence, which could mean trouble for our family."

" That brings conflict though, it has to. You can't just teach a child to steal in some instances and not in others," She snapped glaring hard at us.

I noted Rama looked up in her direction and knew that I might have to try and stop Karena from watching our lessons if she insisted on keeping to this disagreement of hers. Ramiela's training was more important.

" There is no conflict" Raph flatly denied, " Stealing is wrong appropriating information when needed is the difference between life and death."

Don scowled a bit " Karena you are privileged because most ninja clans would never allow an outsider to watch how they trained a student. Ninja are very secretive and they guard their secrets well."

Raph chuckled " We are worse then magicians that way."

" And way better" Mike boasted proudly as the three of them exchanged high threes.

I sensed their words had not appeased her for she still disagreed, but she had the look of one who realized that very little she said or did would cause us to change our minds. Nor was she willing to let the matter slide for her own morals clearly informed her we were in the wrong.

In other words she might not fight all of us on this detail, but she might try working on us, on a one on one principal. The old divide and conquer routine. Either that or she could try to tell Ramiela that such behaviour was bad and make her question her training.

Karena glanced over to Rama who had returned to her game with the dummy, she turned back switching the subject.

" Why not just let her use one of those toys to play with as a substitute so she doesn't go after Raph's weapon?" she suggested.

" Those are not considered toys to be played with" I corrected her, " they are practice weapons, meant to be handled and treated as if they were the real thing. Toys are not supposed to harm children, weapons can cause serious injury to a child" I pointed out, " If we permit her to play with her practice weapons like a toy she might never learn to respect the real thing."

" Why not?" Karena asked.

Raph went and retrieved a practice sai, it was a wooden one with a bit of paint on the grip and on the tines of the practice weapon. He returned handing Karena both the practice sai and one of his own. " See if you can figure it out."

" The wood one isn't as heavy and the paint also doesn't look the same." She murmured.

" Exactly and Rama knows that."

" Ramie-la!" Rama snapped sharply, " Uncle Raphiel's sais are better then mine" she grumped.

I heard Karena heave a sigh of frustration; obviously she was hoping to trick us into going down that path so perhaps she could pounce on our training methods later. She was becoming more resistant by the moment and I could sense a determination to stop us once and for all, if only because she didn't approve.

Of course a ninja didn't need the approval of an outsider. If the clan approved, especially the jonin himself, then that was far more important.

However Karena was a guest, which meant to bar her from lessons now would be considered rude, and would only cement, for her at least, our desire to teach Rama criminal or improper activities.

I weighed my options quickly " Karena I sense that you disagree with our training methods and I understand you disapproval. The way you were raised in, the moral and ethics you have come to believe in and accept are causing you some distress in how we teach."

" Darn right it is! You don't teach a child to be a thief Leonardo!" she claimed quickly. " It doesn't make sense."

" It doesn't make sense because you don't understand ninja or ninjitsu. Being a ninja means accepting a different way of life or culture then what is found here in the west." I agreed, " Perhaps if I told you a bit more about ninja and their life you might be able to understand better. Either way I ask that you at least, reserve judgment until you have more information on the subject." I made it sound like a question, " to be open minded means that you look at both sides of the coin."

" Oh no" Raph moaned, " Leo's going give his ninja speech."

" We are doomed, run Karena" Mike advised in similar fashion

" I just remembered that I have a project to attend to in my lab" Don declared preparing to beat a hasty retreat.

I turned glaring at them, speaking volumes without saying a word and my brothers lapsed into silence holding their ground before I turned to face Karena again.

" When you first met me, you made a remark about my manners. Ramiela will learn about manners, respect and honour" I assured her, " If she learns to respect and honour her elders and her teachings then she will accept the fact that some forms of theft could mean a loss of honour, while others will result in none." I shook my head, " Too many people stealing food when you are hungry is not a crime, but it is still stealing and there are other means of getting food so stealing is not necessary therefore it is wrong." I paused " In the same instance if she was held captive somewhere, by some person and she stole a set of keys to free herself. That would not be wrong or frowned upon."

Karena pursed her lips " All right you might have a bit of a point there" she hedged.

" Ninja teach many things to students that an outsider might view as criminal activity." I remarked casually.

Karena pounced on the bait " You mean more then just stealing, and you justify it?"

" Much more" I confessed, " A ninja born into the clan starts training at a very young age, they continue to learn and grow throughout their lives, because for most ninja there is always something else to learn" I took a deep breath " Training can be demanding but in the guise of games the young students are eager to play and pit themselves against one another. But the young students need to relax as well so are taught other art forms."

" Art?" Karena asked.

I nodded " Painting, sculpting, writing, acting, music or dance or other ceremonial procedures were used to help the ninja on missions for often they could disguise themselves as a travelling musician making a few coins for their journey, while checking a place out." I explained " However ninja are also taught first aid, survival training, demolitions and any number of other things along with the art training and fighting skills."

Karena gulped as she suddenly realized how much training could involve.

" A ninja never knew what task might be assigned but the more training and versatile he was the more chance he had of being picked for an assignment." I continued, " In the old days Ninja were trained for two things espionage and assassination."

" The worst kind of thieves then spies and criminals" Karena hissed looking as if she was suddenly ready to flee for her life.

" Now Ninja use their skills and training for other purposes Karena, in fact many ninja are simple farmers living simple lives, they prefer to live in harmony with the world, and all though they could kill with ease, they value life so much that they would never take a life." I smiled, " A ninja is full of contradictions as you are learning Karena. A ninja is greatly feared by his enemies because of the chaos that a lone ninja can spread from the shadows. In fact many enemies of ninja call them the coward warriors." I smiled and chuckled " Some actually thought the ninja was capable of transforming himself into an animal."

" How could they get that notion?" Karena almost scoffed.

" Easy the ninja would hide a caged animal in the bush near an attack site, he would allow the enemies to follow him to the bushes staying just enough ahead to avoid being caught. Once in the bush the ninja could free the animal and hide in the shadows."

" Sheer trickery" Karena murmured.

" I nodded many of the ninja's tricks are just that," I confessed, " However ninja also build mental abilities so we can speak telepathically with those in our clan, or sense emotions or intentions of others." I explained. " One test a ninja must pass at some point is to sit in meditation, at some point their sensei will come at them with a weapon raised to strike. The student must be aware of their sensei or clan member approaching and move quickly before they are injured."

" You are going do that to Ramiela?" She demanded in shock.

" One day she will have to pass the test. It helps to know that a ninja can't be snuck up on very easily. After all we would not harm her, an enemy might kill her if they could sneak up and strike." I explained. " With the use of mental abilities the ninja would often be able to influence the mind and thinking of others. Have you ever seen the Star Wars movies with the Jedi Knights?"

Karena laughed " You are telling me you are the Jedi then who are the Sith?" She quipped.

" There is no turning to the dark side when you are ninja." Mike crowed proudly.

" Exactly you see for a ninja there is no black or white, it is all grey. We are trained to use our bodies and our minds more then any other weapon at our disposal and to not believe in the word impossible."

" Only because the word impossible doesn't exist in the ninja dictionary" Mike insisted.

" Everything in life is interrelated Karena. Everything is connected. For every negative there must be a positive to bring balance."

" Yin and Yang" Karena replied quickly.

" Yes, precisely but the Japanese go by in and yo, but they are much the same as yin and yang." I gestured towards Splinter, " At the head of each clan is the jonin or director. It was the jonin's decision to decide who the clan would help, and only a child of the jonin could hope to be a jonin one day." I started to explain the clan hierarchy " To the ninja in the clan the jonin was usually unknown a faceless entity. It was the chunin or second in commands task to deal with the jonin and bring the missions to the ninja." Our clan was far too small to stick to such traditional methods and I much preferred the jonin being available to all in our clan I was determined that, was one thing that would never change. " The chunin had to be trained in both conventional and unconventional warfare, and he had to know everything about the ninja at his command. He had to know all the strengths and weaknesses to determine who was best for each mission given." I gestured towards my brothers " The jenins were the lowly but highly respected field operatives. Without them there would be no clan and no honour. For a ninja honour is everything. Everything they do is done in hopes of bringing honour to the clan."

Karena shook her head and sighed, " Even if it is wrong to others?"

I chuckled " You are all ready forgetting the balance of life. The clan is the ninja's family, and a student would come to love and accept their sensei often to the point that the sensei was considered more important then the parents themselves." I informed her gently, " If a ninja brought too much dishonour to his clan he was often thrown out, banished from the family. No other ninja clan would take him in because if he dishonoured his first family he could not be trusted. Once in a while a banished ninja could regain honour but it took a great deal to do so."

I wasn't about to tell her how a ninja could regain honour, she had a hard enough time dealing with our criminal aspect I doubted she would accept seppuku as a form of honour, most people believed suicide was not the right thing to do. Besides ritual suicide was not called for in our family.

" A ninja could suffer many punishments for losing honour but banishment was one of the worst. However if a ninja felt their brother had not acted that badly they could stand by him in hopes of gaining a lighter sentence for their comrade. A ninja would lay down their life to help a brother or sister within the clan. They were loyal to their family and had strong bonds."

I paused and took a deep breath and probed Karena's mind ever so gently she did not seem as resistant or opposed as she had at first, which was in itself a promising sign.
I couldn't help but smile " To be a ninja, is to be part of something ancient. It brings up the past and heightens the senses but it fills you with a sense of pride." I knew that much was true for I was aware how much pride all of us had in our training and skill " For a ninja there was but one way to be invisible by moving with wind and shadow, stilling emotions and doing what had to be done for the good of all." I stood up straighter " A ninja first defends his country, next his family and lastly himself for by giving of our strength to protect meaningful places and loving faces we serve our own hearts." I stared into Karena's eyes " The ninja was truly at heart, a pacifist aware of the environment and when the ninja took on a mission it was to aid the balance, even if others saw that the mission was wrong or unlawful." I paused briefly " Our Master taught us the art of ninjitsu so that we may live on the fringes of society without having to worry about becoming a circus animal, or lab animal. In return he has only asked us once to kill for him, it was an old enemy who acted dishonourably and he brought much suffering not only to our Master but other's as well."

I sensed my own brothers standing straighter taller as I spoke, pride and defiance was in their stance as they took place behind me. I didn't have to turn to see it I felt it.

Rama must have sensed it too for she paused in her play and went running over to Mike he bent down to scoop her up in one arm and she herself sat straight and tall being very still.

It was as if she sensed our pride in our Master's legacy to us. It was right and fitting that she was here for she was the next generation.

" We are trained in the old way Karena, what we choose to use or how we use it even will bring honour to our clan. At one time we thought our clan and our traditions would die with us." I turned and walked towards Mike.

Rama saw me coming practically sprang from her father's arms into mine.

" Sensay!" she cheered as her arms wrapped tight around my neck and I held her close before bringing her with me to my place.

" Our tradition, our clan has new hope, or so it seems. It may not be much but as a ninja I know there is hope. Ramiela is the youngest of our clan but in many ways she is the most important because she is our future."

" Loves you Sensay" Rama whispered as she laid her cheek against mine.

I pulled away and kissed the top of her forehead " Now that you understand a bit about ninja and our way of life perhaps you might see that the only things we teach her is the skills to survive in a world that might cause her great harm." I placed her down.

I knew Mike's fears for her and I hoped the clan would increase one day for her sake, but we had to be so careful about who we trusted.

I sensed that her feelings had been soothed a great deal and I felt that she would at least be taking what I had said into some sort of consideration. I was glad for it mean that I hadn't wasted my time and I might not have to ban her from watching. If it came to that though then I would do so.

I had a far greater priority to the clan's future then to her feelings.

It was part of my job as chunin after all.

TBC

Kitty-Katty-Blu: Well noticing things randomly works well too. Yes Karena and Leo do get together in this story though it takes some time for the ninja leader to get on the same page, so to speak as Karena. A gratitude for your insight.

Lenni: Shay returns next chapter. You have a very good memory for one who remembers so little. I don't want to answer too many of your questions or I will be giving the story away. A gratitude for your insight.