The Legacy

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

Author's Note: I will be using some Japanese in this and some following chapters, however I do not speak the language and only use a Japanese – English dictionary so I am sure that it isn't fully correct in sentence structure or proper Japanese language. Forgive me for any errors and if you speak the language I will be glad to know the proper form. Nor do I wish to insult those who do know or speak the language. My apologies to them as I am sure I mangle it atrociously. Ramica

Chapter Thirteen - Learning Japanese

Karena:

Since Shay was spending most of her time in the sewers visiting with Rama it didn't take long for the family, minus Raph, to convince her to give up the hotel room and stay underground. I had the only spare bedroom so Mike gave up his bedroom to Shay and opted to sleep on the couch, that is if he could manage to sleep on the sofa.

Shay seemed to enjoy spending time with Rama and every day she would go buy Rama some treat. Possibly Shay wanted to make up for lost time by showering her daughter with gifts as a token of her love but I saw it as Shay trying to buy the child's love.

Then again Shay was Rama's mother and would only be here about a week, then she would be gone again and poor Rama, adorable hellion, wouldn't learn until years down the road that Shay was far more then a family friend.

I wished I could be far more then just a friend of the family.

Funny a few months back I probably would never have found myself attracted to someone like Leo or any of his family for that matter if I had known they had existed. I didn't feel I was that hard up for a man.

But after being with them, spending time in their home I just couldn't see myself going for anyone but Leo. His gentle nature, his concern for those in his family were qualities that were hard to find in this day and age.

I longed to give Leo the option of making the first move but I doubted he would, after all as Mike had pointed out Leo's first priorities were his family and his duties. I didn't want to come on aggressively for I had a feeling Leo wouldn't put up with that sort of behaviour and in the end I would only make him hate or resent me.

No, if I wanted Leo, and I did, I would have to think of another way to get to him in hopes of opening his eyes to see what was under his beak. I knew I would have to be very subtle about it all.

I heard someone clear their throat behind me, I turned on the couch to see Mike watching me.

" You look lost in thought Karena am I disturbing you?"

" No" I replied simply.

With Shay keeping Rama occupied Mike now had a lot more free time, which he was enjoying.

I patted the couch " Come keep me company Mike" I invited cheerily.

Mike jumped over the back of the couch to plop down beside me " Still thinking about Leo or given up yet?"

I smiled " I like the challenge Leo is presenting me. He might not be easy to win but I think he will be worth it when and if I do manage to do it."

" Ah, a girl who loves the thrill of the chase" Mike purred then his face became more serious " I take it you have considered everything, including the part of accepting Leo for who he is and all those sacrifices you will have to make on his behalf?" Mike probed.

" All right Mike I have to admit when I came here I knew next to nothing about ninja and I probably have a great deal to learn on that subject yet" I admitted readily, " I also didn't care for seeing Rama in that pick pocketing lesson it disturbed me" I fiddled with my fingers then took a deep breath, " But after hearing what Leo had to say and doing a lot of soul searching I realized that you guys really do need these ninja skills to survive" I smiled a bit " Also it helps seeing the way you guys all are right now, in some ways I think that has helped more, because I see you for what you are and I know your training has made you that, and Ramiela will follow in your footsteps and should turn out as decent."

Mike smiled and nodded his head as I said those words.

I hung my head " It might take some time to totally change my views and come to grips with the ninja way of life…"

" You are willing to try though Karena, you aren't just going shut down and say ' no you are wrong.' You want to keep an open mind and give it a chance." Mike said " So what about all you will be sacrificing for Leo?"

" Forget sacrifice Mike what will I gain?" I shot back, " I weighed out my options. It seems I have been waiting for Prince Charming all of my life and I think I have found him."

Mike laughed, " Prince Charming? I have heard of kissing a frog to get a Prince but never a turtle!" he whooped slapping a hand on a leg.

I should have known that only Mike would make a connection like that!

" I kissed a lot of frogs in my time that is why I am moving on to turtles" I kidded him, " In all seriousness I do want to be in his life. If he would only find the means to open his heart and let me in."

Mike gazed at me in silence " You really do love him" he whispered softly.

" I do," I stated.

Mike shook his head " You know all of our previous guest would have all ready given up on Leo as a lost cause. Watch it Karena if I can sense your emotions concerning Leo he will be able to read you too."

" I don't care if Leo does find out how I feel about him that way, at least then he will know without me having to throw myself at his feet every where he goes." I fumed slightly irritated.

" Yeah and he appreciates that. It is different from what he is use to" Mike shrugged his shoulders leaning back on the couch, he looked as if he might fall asleep at any given moment " Do you know any Japanese Karena?"

" Not a word unless you count Sensei and Sushi." I replied honestly, though with some curiosity.

" Only Master Splinter, counts sushi as a word in this house" Mike joked, " Would you be interested in learning Japanese?"

I furrowed my brow " I don't know. Why are you asking me this Mike?"

" I'm bored, so it will give me something to do" Mike answered then grinned, " Besides we are basically bilingual in this house though we do know some German, and French as well but we basically speak Japanese and English the most" Mike explained, " When we have a guest though we try to refrain from using Japanese unless they are Japanese. A lot of our guests get offended easily and we don't want to speak a language they aren't familiar with for fear of them believing that we are insulting them." Mike opened his eyes " We haven't taught Rama too much Japanese as of yet, but she probably knows quite a bit of the language simply because she has heard us speaking it so often."

I scowled " I don't know."

" Aw come on Karena you will be learning another language, which is always useful and besides maybe you can say something nice to Leo in Japanese and take him by surprise." Mike hinted, " Even if you aren't able to carry on too much of a conversation if you can just get his interest would be enough, after that the rest would be up to you. What do you say?"

" Why are you helping me?" I asked suspiciously.

Mike sat up and smiled " I like you, I think you would be good for Leo, if he even gets around to it that is" Mike gave a light chuckle " Besides the important thing is while you like Leo you respect him enough to stay out of his way. Your tenacious, open minded, friendly and honest all good qualities."

I smiled at his compliment.

" I won't smack Leo around for you or tell him that you want to hook up for that matter, but I am willing to help you to a certain extent." Mike paused and gave a negative shake of his head, " Don't get me wrong Leo is great but he can be such a turtle at times." He visibly brightened " Ready to speak Japanese?"

" All right but just promise me that you won't teach me anything that might offend Leo" I pleaded giving in, which I suppose only showed how desperate I was to try getting Leo if I was trusting Mike.

I could just see Mike playing some practical joke on me by teaching me a Japanese phrase that would turn Leo off me forever.

A hand came down from behind his head and rested flat against his plastron " Karena you have wounded me deeply and I am insulted, especially after all the nice things I have said about you" he spoke in a slightly pained way but I knew it was just a ruse.

I gave him a knowing smile " Come on Mike I know you better then that" I insisted.

" I wouldn't do that to you" Mike vowed, " Some of our other guests yes, but I promise on my word of honour that I wouldn't do that to you." He claimed, " According to Raph one of the best Japanese phrases to use with Leo is this one, Sonna kotto shitta kotto ja nai."

I furrowed my brow " And that means what?" I inquired.

" I don't give a damn. It sounds much prettier in Japanese don't it?" Mike smiled " Or there is honeru ren'ai meaning falling in romantic love."

I blushed a bit " Stop teasing me all ready."

Mike held up a hand " That wasn't part of our agreement Karena, now to be in love is…" Mike began.

" Wait how many ways is there…" I interrupted him only for him to cut me off.

" I thought you said you wanted to learn this, and if Leo ever slips up and says utsukushi-sa you best know what he is saying to you. You could make him and unno kame."

" All right Mike but please, just slow down and at least tell me what utsuk…and unno kame are?" I pleaded.

" Utsukushi-sa is beauty like that of a sunset or a woman" He arched his eye ridge as he said woman, " Unno is lucky, kame is turtle" he explained as he jumped off the couch, " Come on Karena I have my work cut out for me, even teaching you a few phrases. I know you are a teacher girl, but it is time to see just how well you learn."

I hoped I wasn't going to regret this decision of mine, I knew for a fact with Mike teaching me that I'd be kept on all of my toes. I was starting to see how well he could speak the language as he seemed to interchange both languages with ease, even though I had never heard him use Japanese on a daily basis before now.

" First thing you must learn is there is no word in Japanese for the, a or an. So a lucky or the lucky turtle is still the same thing" Mike explained.

" Unno Kame right?"

" Yeah you catch on fast girl, your all ready learning" Mike announced cheerfully.

So it seemed my first lesson had begun and Mike wasn't wasting any time.

He found a private area, or as private as could be expected in their lair, where he could instruct me without any one interrupting or disturbing us.

Every once in a while he would say something and when I asked him what he had said he would only smile give a negative shake of his head and claim " Forgive me, I'm a naughty turtle" in Japanese.

I think that was a phrase that I learned the quickest " Yurusu. Gyogi no warui kame."

It seemed that since I had asked him not to teach me anything that might offend Leo, he was still throwing them in and refusing to tell me what he was saying, which was frustrating to no end.

" Come off it Mike stop with that naughty turtle bit" I finally scolded, " Or at the very least tell me what you are saying."

" Not now Karena maybe one day when you have Leo's love come back and I will teach you those phrases then. They won't offend Leo at that point but right now he would think you were being more then a bit forward" Mike smiled as he explained himself, " I know I am teasing you and it isn't really fair but we are talking me here Karena."

" It wasn't part of our agreement either was it?" I asked in exasperation.

" Exactly" Mike agreed amiably " I get to tease you but I won't teach you anything that might offend Leo. As for what I am saying ask someone else" he grinned, " Or use your imagination girl."

" Suddenly I'm not so sure I want to know," I muttered.

Mike laughed a bit " Just practice what I have taught you so far today and I'm going spend a bit of time with Shay and Rama" Mike declared before dismissing me.

I smiled I didn't know if this would really help me in getting Leo or not but it couldn't hurt and I must say Mike made learning the language fun and entertaining, to say the least, with all his jokes and game playing. I guess I would just have to wait and see if it would help in getting Leo or not.

TBC

Lenni: Glad you caught up. Here is one of the chapters you have been looking for while more sai stealing will have to wait for a bit. Happy Easter to you as well. A gratitude for your insight.

Kitty- Katty- Blu: Very sweet indeed Shay was different back then. Time can change people. Well here is your update and hoppy Easter to you. A gratitude for your insight.

Chibi Rose Angel: Glad to hear your muses are back at work, I know I am enjoying your stories. Have a great Easter. A gratitude for your insight.