The Legacy

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

Chapter Fourteen - Looking for trouble

Raphael:

I don't care if the rest of the family did want to welcome Shay back with open hearts and open arms. I didn't want her here, that was all there was to it.

To have Shay living with us again, even on a short term basis just felt too weird to me, but my family was too used to me complaining to pay much mind to my complaints about Shay back in our home.

I sensed nothing to tell me that Shay was up to trouble but still I couldn't help but believe that she was here to cause trouble some where some how.

Then again maybe having her here wouldn't be all that bad, after all if she started coming up with some scheme one of us ought to be able to pick up on it fairly quickly and nip it in the bud before she got a chance to do much damage.

Having her here was too much like having a fox guard a hen house. No matter how much you may want to, you just can't trust the fox to behave, and I had a feeling Shay couldn't be trusted either.

Maybe it was due to the way she had left last time.

Sure at one time she had been my girlfriend but our relationship had been short lived and with plenty of fireworks. We had one of those love hate relationships, we just loved to hate one another and spent more time arguing and fighting then we did anything else really.

When we broke up Shay went to Mike and it didn't bother me, mainly because while I liked her I don't think I really loved her, not the way Mike did. Shay and Mike seemed meant for one another.

That was until Shay left leaving a five month old Rama behind, not even saying goodbye, just leaving a note to explain why she felt she had to up and fly the coop.

Mike had been pretty torn up for awhile without her and everyone kept saying how young Shay was as if that gave her an excuse. Mike wasn't that much older but he was the one trying to raise a kid and save a city on top of that, damn good thing he had the family's help in looking after Rama or he'd never have made it.

It wasn't Mike's way to look for trouble, or bear a grudge he wanted to believe in the best of people, the cheerful optimist.

That is what I liked about Mike, but it also is why I often felt protective of him because I knew people would take advantage of him, walk all over him and Mike would let it.

I was sure that Shay was only back in our lives because she wanted to hurt Mike. I had nothing to base these feelings on, other then what Shay had done before, her previous record and behaviour, and I knew people could change. Still it wasn't easy for a leopard to change his spots and it seemed strange having Shay showing up here after so much time had passed.

Mike felt that Rama should 'know' her mother. Hell, we hadn't known our mothers and we turned out okay, so I don't know why Mike felt that Shay had any rights to Rama for any given reason.

As I told Shay she had given up all rights to Rama when she turned and walked out of our lives last time.

Still it was Mike's choice, but that didn't mean that I had to be happy about it mind ya. Cause I wasn't an I let Shay know that by trading insults with her in Japanese, something she had picked up last time she had been around us.

" Kutabatchimae" ( Go to hell) was one of my favourites with her. Or " Majo" ( Witch) another and that was just for starters. Course she would call me a few things too like freak (kikei) just because she knew I loathed that word.

When I got bored of cursing her out in Japanese I switched to one of the other languages I could curse in, I didn't swear in English due to Rama picking up a lot of my swear words but I had learned swear words for many other languages and used them.

Mike loved to tease me that I could curse anyone out in their native tongue, I wasn't quite that good yet but I am working on it.

The most I could do was wait and watch for Shay to make a move and hope like hell that this time when Shay left she would do so without hurting any body.

…

I sat down at the table with my third cup of morning coffee, though breakfast was over I was still waiting to really wake up and get with it, almost immediately I had Rama climbing onto my lap she balled up a fist and chucked me under the chin.

" Careful you'll k.o. me" I laughed a bit

She gave me a playful grin and slobbery kiss.

I wiped a hand across my cheek scowling in disgust " You are going have to start giving towels with those kid" I grumbled.

" Tickle Uncle Raphiel" she sang out cheerfully.

" Not if I tickle you first" I grabbed her with one arm and tickled her under the shell with my free hand. She screeched and squirmed in my grasp sliding off my lap and onto the floor.

She turned around " I gonna get you" she growled trying to sound scary.

Then Don came into the kitchen, he had missed out on breakfast due to the fact he was working on some new project and even now he seemed more or less lost in thought, he went over and poured himself what was left in the coffeepot, the dregs, which no one else would touch, and took a swallow.

He gave a startled look and gazed into his mug as if surprised at the contents. Oh yeah the absent minded professor was at work.

" Uncle Donatello morning" Rama greeted him as she turned from me.

Don smiled and set his cup down on the counter and squatted down to say hello. " Hi Ramiela."

Rama seeing him in that position did what came natural to her, she went around behind his back and climbed onto his carapace clinging to his shell tightly.

Don stood up " Careful Ramiela I just might mistake you for my bo staff."

" ' Istake me for a bo" Rama replied promptly.

I laughed this was one game that Don had played with Rama since the time she first started to walk.

Don hunched over just a bit then reached his hands up and over his shoulder getting a firm grip on Rama, then with a quick pull he sent her flying over his shoulder, only to be caught in his out stretched arms.

" You're not my bo! What happened to my staff?" Don demanded this time looking rather astonished as he looked around for his weapon.

" I dunno!" Rama chortled merrily.

Then he set her back down only for Rama to beg for him to do it again and the game started over.

After five more turns of mistaking her for his weapon Don had enough, Rama of course could have gone on all day, but Don told her firmly that it was quite enough and no more.

He tousled her hair then headed off back to his lab.

Rama sighed as she watched him go she shrugged a bit then skipped over towards me.

" What do you want now Rama?" I asked as I swallowed the last bit of coffee.

" Ramie-LA" she yelled at me in a huffy tone.

I just loved the attitude this kid got when you called her Rama, one thing for sure she knew what she wanted to be called and you best not be calling her anything but.

" Your daddy can call you Rama how come he can do it?" I protested.

" He daddy" Rama replied in a matter of fact way.

" She has a point Raph" Mike cut in.

" Uncle Raphiel?" Rama patted my leg to get my attention as she spoke.

" Yeah Ramiela?" I asked deciding to behave myself by calling her by her full name. When I really wanted to rile her up I would continue calling her Rama.

" Spin sai please."

My response was to withdraw my weapons and send them spinning deftly about my fingers. Rama watched with rapt fascination, her eyes large and mouth forming a small circle.

For some reason the kid loved to watch all the little tricks and moves I pulled with my sai, she never seemed to get enough of it.

Leo entered the kitchen to get some tea, after his morning meditation, and he scowled my direction " No wonder she feels that your weapons are meant to play with Raph. Look at how often she sees you messing with yours."

" Damaru subarashii rida." ( Shut up great leader.)

Leo shot a scathing look first my way then a concerned glance to Karena who was finishing up her own breakfast after sleeping in.

" Raph you know it is impolite to speak Japanese when Karena does not understand it and might take offence to it." He berated me instantly.

I glanced towards Karena " Do you feel insulted in any way shape or form?" I asked her.

" No" She admitted.

" Good you shouldn't be. I was insulting him" I jerked my thumb back towards Leo, then smiled at Leo " See Leo she wasn't offended by my lapse so there is no problem. I even explained myself, so you ought to consider it a good day bro," I mocked him.

" No problem except for you" Leo glowered at me as he crossed his arms over his plastron.

I shrugged sheathing my sai before bending low to whisper in Rama's ear. She gave me a puzzled look but I nodded and urged her on.

" Uncle Leonardo?" She asked sweetly.

" Yes?" Leo gazed down at her his expression softening.

" Wha baka?"

I started to laugh as Leo groaned and rolled his eyes in exasperation.

" Now you are trying to get Rama into trouble. As if she can't manage to do that by her self." He accused

" What baka?" Rama demanded again a bit louder this time.

" Leo," I told her, " is a baka."

" Sensay Baka" Rama cheered.

" That is it!" I laughed, " Now you got it."

" Wonderful Raphael go ahead and teach her to disrespect her teacher" Leo hissed at me his eyes narrowing.

Mike turned from doing the dishes giving me a sour look and a silent message to stop being a bad influence on Rama. " Rama enough of that baka word I don't want to hear you saying that word" Mike said laying down the law.

Rama scowled " Baka bad daddy?"

" Baka is not a bad word Rama, but it isn't a nice word either. Nor is it a word to be used on your Sensei, trust me hon, you don't want to go there."

I couldn't help it I really started to laugh then, because I recalled a time when we had been younger when Mike had called Splinter a baka, he only did it once, mind you. " I forgot about that!"

" I didn't, you dared me to do it Raph" Mike fumed " I was the one who got into trouble for it. I was so mad at you Raph."

Leonardo:

I sighed wearily, sometimes Raph could be far more trying then he was worth, especially when he encouraged Rama to say or do things that he knew she shouldn't be doing.

Raph had always felt that rules were made to be broken or for other people to follow, but they didn't really apply to him.

Rama was attached enough to her uncle that it was far too easy for him to convince her to cut loose and have fun.

Raph I think had always felt a little put out that he had not been picked by Splinter to train Rama in her lessons. He had loved her and had boasted that he would teach her all she needed to know about fighting.

Rama listened to him, quite willingly and was ready to do just about anything that Raph said. Then again Raph spent a great deal of time playing with her and didn't care to discipline her when he should, it was that on top of his total disrespect that had lost Raph the position to be Rama's Sensei.

Instead Splinter had advised me that it was up to me to instruct Ramiela about the art of ninjitsu, as if I needed an extra task or duty to do on top of all the other stuff I was expected to do.

I did my best to keep Ramiela's lessons interesting as well as enjoyable for her but there was no possible way that I could keep all of her lessons fun, there was just too much and learning some times had to be serious.

I saw Rama go back over to Raph and stand beside him quietly then from the corner of my eye I saw her hand sneaking towards the hilt of one of Raph's sais.

" Ramiela what are you doing?" I barked at her.

She turned my way smiling at me very innocently not even a hint of guilt or any type of suspicion about her as she replied " Nuttin'"

" You weren't trying to take Raph's sais were you?" I accused.

" No Sensay I good girl." She responded.

Problem was I had spoken too soon, her moves had seemed to hint of her intentions and I had spoken too soon, I should have waited until she had grabbed hold of the weapon, in essence I had stopped the deed before I had proof and could not go after her for breaking the weapon rule.

" Rama what is the rule?" Mike demanded.

" I no touch weapon less Sensay say so" She answered promptly, " But I not touch weapon daddy." She protested.

" Make sure you don't or I just might have to touch my weapon on you." Mike gave a mock growl.

Rama snickered " Gonna chuck me out of my shell" She piped up cheerfully.

" Yep just touch Raph's sai and find out" Mike threatened her, " Come on little Miss Chief let us play at the playground until your lesson."

Rama took Mike's hand and left skipping by his side.

" She is getting bolder Raph she has never tried to take your weapon before with me in the room before."

" Maybe she wasn't going for it Leo" Raph suggested.

" Maybe it is possible" I permitted, " However if she keeps breaking the weapon rule then, I as her sensei will have to deal with her and see if I can't convince her to stop."

" Leo she is a little kid" Raph stated his eyes narrowing.

" I know I don't want to do it Raph, but I can't continue to ignore it or turn a blind eye to it." I pointed out.

" Mike won't like it" He snapped in return.

" Mike doesn't have a choice and you know it Raph." I retorted.

Raph gave a slow menacing growl before getting up from the table and stomping off.

I watched him leave knowing he wasn't happy about it but also knowing that as Rama's sensei, I had the right to enforce the weapon rule because I was the one expected to train her. I needed to know Rama would, in deed, respect the weapons she was going be handling. If worse came to worse and she continued to steal Raph's sai in spite of being told not to and all her punishments, then she would have to face the wrath and discipline of her teacher.

I wasn't really looking forward to it and I kept hoping that she would stop so I wouldn't have to take those measures against her.

TBC

Reinbeauchaser: Well here is chapter fourteen, took a bit to upload it so I do hope it was worth the wait and I didn't keep you waiting for it for too long. I pity Karena having to learn from Mike. A gratitude for your insight.

Mikaela's Spade: Well all I can say is don't say I didn't warn you about my Japanese. I'm sure I will mangle the language yet. Ah Karena does indeed have her heart set on Leo, pity of it is, Leo just doesn't seem to notice it at the moment. A gratitude for your insight.

Lenni: Ah, Lenni your memory serves you well. In fact I have a feeling you could almost write this story you know it that well. It seems to me that you have quite a few favourite chapters in this story. A gratitude for your insight.