The Legacy
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Chapter Sixteen - In trouble
Michaelangelo:
Karena was coming along nicely in her language lessons, she was a good student, even if she didn't care for that 'naughty turtle' bit I gave her with every lesson. I think she had a fair idea of what I was saying but because she really deep down inside didn't want to know for sure, she continued to ignore it and let me get away with it.
As far as I knew Leo was still more or less clueless where Karena was concerned, course he knew about Karena's feelings his ninja instincts would have alert him to it long ago, but he continued to ignore her in the hope that she might go away.
Karena however, was willing to bide her time waiting for that perfect opportunity to show itself. She had a plan, she knew what she wanted and just because Leo wouldn't acknowledge her feelings didn't mean she was going turn and high tail it.
Either way I had a feeling that Rama might just get her wish, at least where Karena was concerned.
Raph got up in a not so normal foul mood, thanks to one of Rama's presents to him, pepper sprinkled liberally amongst the bed sheets. He spent most the night sneezing even after he stripped his bed down.
Splinter also received a present of melted cheese in his bedding and Splinter wasn't that impressed.
Rama cheerily told him " It for snack."
Splinter glowered, his tail thumping and lashing the floor in irritation " Michaelangelo you must do something about Ramiela and her presents. I have no idea why the child can't draw a picture instead" Splinter fumed.
I had a feeling that only because she was his granddaughter that he didn't get too harsh.
I was almost tempted to remind him about his line of 'children are individuals' and all that sort of stuff that he spouted, but you didn't sass off to a ninja Master, at least not one, who is all ready pissed at you both you and your daughter.
" Ramiela has a great deal of creativity and you must help her channel it Michaelangelo" Splinter insisted.
" Hai Sensei" I agreed humbly, reverting to Japanese, as I often did when Splinter lectured me.
Splinter tended to keep his lectures more formal and to the point then a Leo lecture.
I glanced at Raph who was red eyed and sneezing violently and then towards Rama who had a confused expression on her face, as if she couldn't quite understand why her gifts had not been well received.
After Splinter was finished with me and went off to meditate, I went to sit beside Rama as she pulled Franklin close to her.
" Rama I know you love giving presents and you want to do something nice when you give your presents. So honey can you do some art work for them instead?" I suggested.
Rama furrowed her brow as she looked up at me, " They not like presents daddy?"
" Not that type Rama but there are things you can do that they will love" I replied.
" Not like jokes?" Rama asked puzzled.
" Your presents are jokes?" I asked, " oooh boy!"
" Jokes funny daddy." Rama insisted.
Yep, she was my kid all right.
" Rama babe, jokes are funny, they are meant to make people laugh. If Raph and Splinter aren't laughing then it is not funny." I explained patiently, " They don't want you putting things in their bed. Presents Rama are something very special to treasure and enjoy." I bent down and kissed her forehead " You're my special present."
" Daddy how I know joke funny or present right?" Rama asked looking so distraught that I couldn't help but ease her worries. I guess it had never occurred to her that some presents fell more in the category of practical jokes, which was usually fun for the person doing, but not so amusing to the one receiving. I'd have to help her with that.
" Tell you what Rama, you tell me your jokes or show me, and if it is good, I'll let you know if you can give it all right?"
She nodded.
" You have a wonderful sense of humour babe, but you got to learn how to use it and develop it correctly," I told her.
She smiled before hugging me tight. I hoped this would curb her need to give 'presents.'
….
That morning after Rama's lesson Don and Raph appeared in the dojo Leo nodded a greeting to them and I knew what was up.
" Karena, Shay I would appreciate it very much if you took Ramiela to the playground, or kept her suitably occupied elsewhere for the time being" Leo explained, " We have some business to discuss between us."
In other words there was increased Foot activity and Leo needed to talk to us about his suspicions and plan of action. Leo always did his best to ensure Rama was not part of 'war talks,' usually Splinter would amuse Rama but having the girls here meant they could do that task.
Leo waited patiently to make sure Karena, Shay and Ramiela were well out of ear shot before he looked at each of us.
" For the next few nights, weeks, whatever it takes, we will be patrolling together as Foot Soldier presence is increasing. I don't want anyone caught by surprise or unaware" His gaze fell on Raph.
Raph snorted and crossed his arms over his plastron, while Don tried to hide a grin.
" I'm hoping to learn what they are up to before it escalates beyond our control. We will leave around eleven each night and remain topside till about four in the morning depending on activity topside." Leo informed us.
I tried not to groan. I wasn't going get much sleep then, with Rama waking so early in the morning, unless of course I could convince Karena to watch Rama for a few hours.
Shay would be leaving in three more days, so she wouldn't be of much use in that area. She had bought herself a bus ticket yesterday.
'Good luck to Karena making her move on Leo with all this going on, she ought to consider herself lucky if Leo even said hi to her in passing.' I mused.
Leo would be kept busy planning out strategy, doing his best to out think the enemy and putting whatever clues we could find together to meet a solid conclusion along with all his regular duties.
This is what we have been trained for and since I became a father I hated it.
Hated it because I knew what could happen in battle. Hated it because I was tired of fighting. Hated it because nothing was really solved, it just went a vicious circle. Hated it for too many reasons to mention.
Yet for those very same reasons, I had practiced and honed my skills to the point I was far better then I had ever been. I had perfected my skills, so I stood a chance of surviving major skirmishes, so that my brothers wouldn't have to find a way to tell Rama, why her daddy wasn't going be coming home any more.
Now that we all knew what the plans were for night time patrols Leo dismissed us with the usual warning of an extra hour and a half practice session added to our schedule just before we left in the evening.
It was time to go back to work.
I left the dojo and headed back to the playground Rama came running to meet me yelling loudly " Daddy!"
" Hey Rama I wasn't gone all that long honey." I smiled as I hugged her tight to me.
" You do ninja stuff daddy?" she inquired.
" Tonight after you are in bed, but how did you know that I would be ninja stuff Rama?" I wondered, course a part of me never wanted to see her going out to do 'ninja stuff.'
" I never get to be ninja" Rama sulked " I kuochi daddy." She reminded me as if hoping that would help matters.
" Yes you are a wonderful kunoichi baby but, you still have a lot of training before you can join us" I smiled, " When you are ready for a mission Leo will let you know."
" Okay" she sighed reluctantly.
" Like that again is it Michael?" Shay asked as she walked towards me from the swings.
" Oh yeah, you remember the drills don't you Shay?"
Shay nodded giving a grim smile " The after part always bugged me the most" She grumbled.
Karena arched an eyebrow " The after part?"
" Battles with the enemy Karena." I replied simply. She was smart enough she ought to be able to figure out from that alone what was insinuated.
Coming home battered, bruised, bleeding, having to tend to numerous injuries before cleaning weapons even though our bodies ached and we felt drained, longing only to sleep.
I saw Karena tremble as realization sunk in, this too was a part of Leo's life and something she would have to accept if she was serious about him.
Now wasn't that just the perfect reason to give up an ordinary life topside?
" How long will it continue?" Karena asked softly.
" Until it isn't necessary any more" I replied.
I glanced down at Rama who, was silently watching and listening, being an effective sponge soaking it all up.
I smiled " Come on Rama llama ding dong lets play tag. Better run before I tag you it."
She beamed " Daddy can't catch me" she yelled running off, " Hurry Karena, Hurry Shay don't be it."
….
So we settled back into business extra training, a few hours of sleep and spending our nights patrolling the city watching for signs of the Foot or ending up fighting them.
Today was Shay's last day with us, her bus had an early morning departure, around three in the morning I think, and then she would be gone for who knows how long.
Rama woke in one of her real grouchy miserable moods. She didn't get them often but every once in a while she'd wake up on the wrong side of the bed and be a real terror all day long. We called these her 'bad days' sometimes better known as 'brat days.'
Leo hated trying to teach her lessons when she was like this for he knew that Rama would not be very receptive. In fact Leo, ever a stickler for rules, routine and practice was all for skipping lessons on Rama's bad days, which I think proved what a terror Rama could get.
I told my brother " No, you are her sensei, besides you have to take her Leo, because if you don't I might kill her."
What can I say misery loves company, and I felt I shouldn't have to be the only one handling Rama on her bad days.
I wasn't that fond of them to begin with. I loved Rama dearly but I often found myself contemplating strangling her because her whole attitude and behaviour really wore on my patience and left me, both figuratively and literally, at the end of my rope.
Rama on her bad days would throw temper tantrums, break rules right left and centre, everything was " No!" or " Don't wanna."
She was on her bad days, a sulky miserable pain in the lower shell.
It was a pity that Shay's last day with Rama was going be not that enjoyable for all involved.
This was going to be one hell of a very long day, I thought to myself knowing full well I'd be spending my time either counting for her or myself, as I mentally reminded myself that I really did love my daughter.
Rama screamed, she ran around the lair. I went to punish her she yelled and kicked at me, so I took her to her room for time out. While she was in there she coloured on her walls and ripped up a couple of books she didn't like. I took some favourite things away from her and she threw a fit.
That was just the start of our morning.
Rama continued to break rules refusing to pick up after herself, wouldn't make her bed.
Kept yelling " NO!" at Leo during her lessons , while she did as she pleased and ignored him.
She didn't like what I prepared for lunch tossing it to the floor.
" Yucky. Don't like it. Don't want it!" She snapped.
" Fine but you are getting nothing else to eat until dinner." I replied.
She then tried to steal cookies and had another temper tantrum when I caught her.
Finally she went for broke and settled on breaking the BIG rule.
Yep managed to steal Raph's sai again and then lead us all on a merry chase through the lair as we tried to catch and disarm her.
I was sure after all of that, that Leo would be ready to uphold his threat of disciplining Rama. However Leo either wasn't that brave or stupid to deal with her when she was like this. He decided that I could punish her this time.
I made her spend the rest of the day in her room.
Shay went in to talk to her, but knowing Rama's present mood I doubted that she was able to get much out of the kid.
I was glad when the time came to tuck her into bed for the night, Rama was getting an early bedtime after her day of trouble making and in her usual grumpy mood refused to talk to me.
I knew in the morning that she would wake up more like her usual self, Rama's bad days were only one day's worth of terror, and then she would go a long time before another came along.
I wished her good night told her I love her and gave her a kiss before I left her for the night.
For once though I had to admit that I was looking forward to leaving on patrol, it had to be quieter and far more relaxing then the day I had just put in.
TBC
Reinbeauchaser: Yes, Rama's views of Shay are going to change very quickly, as I am sure you can tell by this chapter. You are also very right about how Shay looks at and feels towards her daughter, somehow she can't see Rama as the mutant that she is, perhaps later she'd realize the truth but for the moment we are blind to it, which sets things up rather nicely for things to come. A gratitude for your insight.
Lunar Ninja: Another burst of speed reading to play catch up. I don't know much about children as I don't have any of my own, however I did use my nieces and nephews early years to give me an idea of a young child and a great deal of imagination helps a bit too. After all Rama had to start somewhere. In my author's bio you can find all Rama stories listed in order if you are interested in reading others. Ah yes, little Rama worked very hard to get their names all right. A gratitude for your insight.
Chibi Rose Angel: Those who read the original story know what is coming and it is all about to hit the fan real soon. So stick around for some fun. A gratitude for your insight.
Kat-Kit: I am rewriting this story and others in hopes of improving them, adding a bit more detail or taking certain things out. Only the readers and my own sense of satisfaction can tell me if I got it right. A gratitude for your insight.