The Legacy

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

Chapter Twelve - Ninja Princess

Michaelangelo:

I watched Rama snuggled up on Karena's lap as they both read from the wonderful, At book. Rama all ready knew all of the words but I had to wonder how much was she really reading the words as opposed to having memorized them or relied on the pictures to tell her what the word was.

Either way I felt that Rama was doing quite well at it.

In a bit of time I would have to go topside and pick up Shay for her visit with Rama, but I had some time to kill before I needed to leave so I strolled over to the back of the couch, placed my hands on the back of the sofa and leaned over a bit.

" So how is the reading coming?" I wondered aloud.

" We are getting there, in fact Ramiela is a very good reader for her age, she sure catches on quickly. Course it is just the same old story" Karena admitted, " But children do learn a great deal from repetition."

I nodded " By the time Karena leaves Rama you can read Franklin books to daddy for a change." I suggested.

" Franklin gots lots of words though daddy" Rama protested.

" I know but once you learn what those words are Rama, it won't take much to read it all" I assured her. I smiled and winked " Don't worry because I will still want to read to you."

Rama grinned as if relieved about that then she glanced up at Karena " I go play?"

" Sure we can do more reading later if you like" Karena permitted.

Rama got off her lap and headed merrily off to the playground. I watched her leave as I came around to sit down beside Karena " Careful there, teacher, you don't want to let children decide how long they will learn for" I scolded gently.

" I'm not really her teacher though am I?" Karena murmured wistfully, " I mean Leo is her sensei right? I'm just doing this for fun." She insisted.

I laughed, " You and Leo have to be perfect for each other" I teased her, " You are both married to your work."

A small smile played about her face. She was silent for a moment or two before turning to face me " Clan life is different isn't it Mike?"

" I don't know. I suppose" I shrugged, " It is the only life that I have ever known so it is kind of hard for me to really say." I smiled, " Our clan isn't even big enough to allow for the proper set up either. I mean we shouldn't even see Splinter or know who he is even, but he wouldn't have been able to teach us that way," I shook my head slightly, " Then there is Leo as chunin he shouldn't be going into battle with us, but he can't afford to leave us alone. We need him."

" Are all clans the same Mike?" Karena asked then.

" No, each clan had specific requirements or certain areas they excelled at, some went for physical skill, others mental, others were more into political contacts." I explained. I knew ninja history but I usually allowed Splinter or Leo relate the clan's history or answer any questions about it to curious guests.

I took a breath " All ninja though no matter what learned eight fundamental areas which are," I paused for a moment " Ki-ai, tai- jutsu, Ken-po, Yari-jutsu, shuriken jutsu, ka-jutsu, yu-gei and kyo mon."

Which means what exactly?" Karena demanded.

" Ki-ai is personal harmony with the total scheme of things knowing your strengths and weaknesses and using them against an enemy to obtain desired results" I explained cryptically, " tai- jutsu is unarmed fighting, Ken-po is sword handling, Yari jutsu is spear or lance fighting, shuriken jutsu is smaller throwing weapons, that includes daggers, knives and so on."

" What about nunchuks?" Karena asked.

I grinned at her " They happen to be a specialty" I informed her seriously before going back to our fundamental list, " Ka-jutsu is the use of fire or explosives. Yu-gei is traditional or cultural arts. Our classical education so to speak, which includes reading, writing, other languages, painting" I raised an eye ridge " And my personal favourite telling jokes. That sort of thing." I grinned, " Kyo-mon is practical education things you can't learn from a book but it is handed down as word of mouth."

" Then Splinter focused on the fundamentals, physical and mental aspects I take it?" Karena wondered.

" Exactly" I confirmed. Out of curiosity I switched the subject " So inquiring minds want to know, are you still after Leo, or did he scare you off with one of his famous lectures?"

" No he hasn't scared me off. He gave me plenty to think about but I am still after him" Karena admitted.

" Well, you have plenty of time to change your mind on both counts" I assured her.

" Why would I want to?" She demanded giving me a perplexed look.

" Karena, Leo just happens to be far more ninja then the rest of us are. He takes it all very much to heart. So if you don't approve of what we do. Then in essence, you are saying that you don't approve of Leo himself" I pointed out, " Not that Leo really cares one way or another what an outsider thinks about him but you won't earn his love that way. Face it if you don't approve of what he does, why would he give his heart to you?"

Karena nodded as she bit her lip slightly. I could tell I had given her some food for thought and I decided to give her some more to chew upon, not that I wanted to scare her away but more to ensure she knew what she was getting into by staking a claim on Leo.

" Another thing you have to consider is everything you have to give up to be with him. He isn't exactly the sort that you can bring home to your parents."

" Actually Mike I don't know who my parents are, I was raised by my grandmother who was very strict and proper. She died a few years back" Karena interjected.

" Oh, I'm sorry Karena" I apologized quickly.

" You didn't know Mike but I see what you are getting at. I wouldn't be able to go out or do much with Leo as a couple not the way I would with a human. I wouldn't even be able to show pictures of my husband and children around friends, or co-workers because they shouldn't know." She stated soberly.

" True" I admitted, " But you can still go topside to see movies or theatrical productions, walks together that sort of thing" I insisted, " It is just you would have to be more careful. We don't have a choice we have to hide for our safety." I pointed out kindly, " You do have a choice Karena. You are not even use to this sort of quiet reflective life or the battles we often fight. Being with ninja can make an outsider reflect on themselves" I remarked " Shay was our longest guest but even she left eventually."

" Why are you saying all this Mike, what are you trying to warn me of?" Karena inquired.

" If Leo ever asks you where you want to be ten years from now, you might want to have an honest answer ready for him" I replied casually.

" Leo would ask that?" Karena demanded sounding slightly surprised.

" Yeah he would, he has of others" I chuckled, " We had this one girl stay with us before Shay's time she flirted with Leo, hung around him wouldn't leave him alone" I shook my head at the memory, " Leo finally had enough and asked her where she saw herself ten years from now. Her answer was along the lines of a nice job a home of her own that kind of thing. Leo stared at her dead on and informed her that she wouldn't find her dreams here and perhaps if that is what she wanted she ought to seek her goals elsewhere." I paused, " She left the next day. Figure it out Karena, in ten fifteen years or more down the road are you still going want to be in a place like this?" I gestured around the sewer pipes.

No matter how homey we tried to make the place there was no denying we lived in a sewer and we didn't have a lot, most of our furniture was in pretty poor condition. It was a dive and not the sort of place a sane person would accept for a home, except perhaps on a short term basis.

I didn't even know why I was bothering to warn her, answers that you had time to think about weren't always all that honest as one that was given on the spot. Still I kind of liked Karena and I truly had a feeling that she would be good for Leo. I wasn't about to play match maker for her though, because Leo would know right off for one thing, but I wasn't opposed to giving her a few pointers to help her along the way.

Karena at least had some brains to her, to stop and figure out who Leo was without chasing after him blindly.

" Is that strictly a Leo question?" Karena asked innocently.

" Well, mostly" I confessed, " But when Shay was here I asked her if she was happy and I guess that boils down to about the same thing. I guess she found out what it took to make her happy" I replied, " She seems more at peace, more mature then she did when she was last here." I murmured.

" How could any mother turn away…" Karena grumbled a bit.

" Karena I don't blame Shay, she was just fourteen after all. She made the choice that she thought was the best thing for her it helped set her on the path to where she is today" I said kindly, " if she stayed here she might never have rose above that ex-street kid label that she bore while with us."

" No hard feelings huh Mike?" Karena heaved a heavy sigh, " I guess if you feel that way I ought to accept it but I don't know how a mother could just turn her back on a child and just never look back" Karena moaned, " Do you think you will get back together Mike?"

I shook my head startled by such a question " No Shay and I are now travelling on two different paths, we have both changed but because of Rama we will always be a part of each others lives" I admitted as I stood up to fetch my coat and hat.

…

I met Shay at our prearranged meeting spot, she was packing a couple of large bags that seemed full of items.

" What is all that stuff Shay?" I wondered

" Things for Ramiela to play with Mike I have to catch up after all."

" Translation I have to spoil her rotten, not that she doesn't have enough people doing that for her." I claimed as I took the bags from her.

" I can spoil her if I want I don't get many chances to" Shay retorted giving a fake pout.

" All right" I relented, " I hope you got her something fun to play with" I murmured.

I loved playing with some of Rama's toys, she really had some of the neatest things, and I could play with her and my brothers felt that I was being such a wonderful father to her, instead of calling me immature for playing with toys.

" I got her some clothes to play dress up in and a tea party set" Shay replied.

I nudged her and whispered " Shay we run around naked most the time."

Shay sniffed, " Every little girl I have ever known loves to play dress up, tea party and beauty parlour," Shay announced.

" Oh no Shay don't do that to me" I wailed as we headed down a back alley.

" Do what Michael?"

" Turn my daughter into a girl!" I snapped.

" Michael, Ramiela just happens to be a girl," she reminded me tactfully as I glanced around.

I snorted softly as I lifted the sewer lid " Yeah but Rama isn't a sissy type girl" I objected.

Shay waited until we were both in the sewer tunnels before replying, " Watch it Mike I used to be a sissy type girl. Poor Ramiela needs more female influence in her life, stuck with all men!"

" She has her Aunt April" I declared.

" Thank goodness for that, and at the moment she also has the poor girl who is interested in old stick in the mud Leo" Shay grinned, " I can't imagine what Raph and Casey could teach her between the two of them."

I smirked " Trust me you don't want to know."

" Oh no, it started all ready hasn't it?" Shay moaned arching an eyebrow at me.

" A long time ago in fact, Rama didn't stand a chance. She is going be the roughest, toughest tomboy in all New York City," I boasted proudly.

Shay sighed " And you like that?" She shook her head.

" Well sure why not?" I demanded.

" I am going have to visit more often," Shay muttered.

" You should Shay for Rama's sake at least" I encouraged.

" Michael why do you call her Rama while everyone else calls her Ramiela?" She wondered.

" It is just a short version of her name. Rama prefers her whole name though and the family respects her wishes but she lets me call her Rama. I also have her nick name of Rama llama ding dong, after the old fifties song" I explained.

" There are a few songs that use that phrase" Shay commented.

" Yeah I know but the one I got it from was off the Edsels, goes I have a girl named Ramaa llama ding dong she is everything to me…"

Shay laughed, " I know that one," She joined in " my Rama llama, llama ding dong and I'll never set her free because she is mine all mine."

I smiled recalling how I used to like hearing Shay sing lullabies to a fussy baby Rama, it had been the first time I had heard her sing.

" I figure it suits her, she is so silly at times that Raph claims she has daddy's brains and mommy's looks" I laughed a little, " When she was a year old Raph had taught her to say it too he'd ask her whose brains she had and she'd reply daddy, then he'd say whose looks ya got and she reply mommy." I rolled my eyes " I got him to cut it out before she asked who a mommy was."

Shay smiled " Only thing is she has a lot of daddy's looks in her too" Shay decided.

" True and she has her mom stubbornness I will have problems with that girl when she reaches her teens, I just know it." I said.

" Or pre teens especially if she takes after me that way" Shay chuckled, a little evilly I thought.

" You are truly vicious wishing that on me" I complained.

…

We returned home and Rama came running to greet us both and in a few moments she was digging in the bags of goodies Shay had brought. She pulled out a few pretty dresses, a fake crown with gems in it, a few fancy ladies hats and all kinds of jewellery cheap bracelets, rings and necklaces, which Rama had to ooh and aww over. She also loved the tea set with its tiny pot, plates cups and other things.

I knew that Rama often tried to play dress up in our coats and hats but she now had clothes suited to her size and style not to mention all the accessories Shay had brought to go with it.

Rama tried on a pretty aqua dress put on the crown and all the jewellery before looking my way " I pretty daddy?"

" You are beautiful just like a fairy tale princess," I agreed.

Rama beamed at the compliment.

" The Princess needs one final touch though" Shay announced digging into her purse to bring out a bottle of nail polish, " Come here and I will put some pretty colour onto your nails too."

Rama grinned and went over offering her hand and watching with rapt amazement as Shay applied the polish with the brush and blew on the nails to dry them.

" There now you are all set" Shay assured her.

" I very pretty princess now. Tank you Shay."

" You are welcome Princess Ramiela".

I noticed it was almost time for Rama's lesson and while I hated to break up Rama's fun I knew I didn't have a choice " You might be a pretty Princess Rama but you are going have to get out of your dress and become a ninja for a bit."

" Don't wanna daddy. Don't like icky ninja" she stomped her foot and pouted a bit.

" How can you not like ninja?" I demanded, " Your whole family are ninja that includes your dad, sensei Master Splinter and your uncles."

" Not a day I princess" Rama retorted firmly, " Shay comes have tea wit Princess Ramiela."

" Of course" Shay agreed readily.

I glowered at her.

She smiled my way in return " You know Princess I used to watch your dad and Uncles practice they moved so fast, and were incredible to watch it was amazing. Can you really do that?"

" Uh-huh" Rama nodded her head.

" Really?" Shay sounded dubious.

" Really, Really Shay I can. Now comes tea" Rama insisted reminding Shay that it was tea party time.

" All right I'm coming but I think you are too little to be a ninja. I don't think you can kick or move like your daddy can, that is why you want to be a princess because you aren't a ninja like daddy."

" Am not too little" Rama grumped glaring at Shay.

" I think you are, you are just a little princess. Not a strong powerful ninja."

" Am too ninja Shay. I kuochi" Rama practically yelled this at Shay.

Shay looked at her then shook her head " No, you just can't be ninja but that is okay lets have our tea party" Shay announced as if ready to shrug the whole thing off, " I'd have to see you be ninja Ramiela before I could believe it."

" I shows you then Shay. I shows you I ninja like daddy" Rama insisted.

I tried to keep from laughing, knowing Shay had used some reverse psychology on Rama that had worked like a charm, if I had tried that she probably wouldn't have fallen for it.

" Honey if you are going be a ninja you best get out of that dress so you don't wreck it" I reminded my pretty princess kindly.

Then Shay and I both helped get her out of that stuff and to the dojo just in time for her lesson and I had a feeling Rama would be good for Leo if only to prove to Shay what a good ninja she was.

TBC

Mikaela's Spade: Wow sounds like interesting art work and fun. Stationed in Japan huh? Well if you have any understanding of the Japanese language you might have some fun with a few up coming chapters as I try to use some Japanese problem is, I don't know how to speak it and have only an English- Japanese dictionary for translations so I probably don't do a great job of it. Understand nerves about posting first stories, it is often like that but most reviewers on fanfiction are very nice and fair. A gratitude for your insight.

Kitty-Katty-Blu: Let me get this straight, I'm not entirely sure I know what you want. You would like Shay to die right? I know the answer to that, a resounding yes but as you pointed out it happens in a different story. A gratitude for your insight.

ChibiRoseAngel: Thanks for all the info and read the series at your leisure. The trials and tribulations of being an author not to mention all the joy as well, sometimes the muses just don't want to stop, they sidetrack easily. I know mine do. A gratitude for your insight.

Reinbeauchaser: Times changes things doesn't it? Meanwhile Raph can't be anyone but Raph. As for Karena is that really what she is doing trying to get to Leo through Rama, possibly only time itself will tell. A gratitude for your insight.