The Legacy

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

Chapter Twenty Six – How Bad is he?

Michaelangelo: ( what you were expecting Leo or Karena?)

Karena had gone and done it to him again, I sensed that right off back at camp, drat that woman, she sure had a knack of turning Leo's life upside down, mixing him up and confusing the hell out of him. Then she left us to clean up the mess of his emotions, I was starting to wonder how good she would be for Leo if this was all she was going do for him.

Of course I knew it wasn't just her fault. Leo did have his part in it, which consisted of wanting her in his life and feeling like he could never really have her for himself. Torn between his feelings for her and his duties towards his family and clan.

It was no wonder Leo was having a hard time coming to accept his good luck, knowing Leo he was probably coming up with a hundred reasons or more why it wouldn't work out between the two of them, even though he longed for the dream.

Of course we could only offer him what comfort, support and reassurance that he was willing to allow.

Sometimes being able to pick up on each other's thoughts was more of a pain then anything, but we also had learned to block our thoughts and feelings from each other, because if we could communicate that way, it was also possible for others to pick up on our silent communications.

Raph was very good at blocking things out when he and Leo fought.
At the moment though Leo seemed to welcome our mental support.

' Mike she wants to stay with me.' His mental tone was surprised as if such a thing hadn't occurred to him.

' Aren't you the lucky turtle bro' I replied.

' Why me Mike? She could have any one.' He responded sounding very unsure.

So much for our fearless leader, ' You think Karena isn't aware of that fact Leo?' I almost laughed, 'She knows she can have her pick of guys topside but in spite of all that she chose you. Now that ought to be boosting your ego somewhat, there, Leo.'

' I don't know.' Leo responded, ' I just feel very humbled by it all. Why'd you teach her Japanese Mike?' the last sounded almost accusing.

I laughed inwardly as I relaxed on my sleeping bag, ah, Karena had to have spoken Japanese to him, no wonder he was so flustered.

…

I didn't see Leo or Karena until the next morning and Leo wasn't much better by then. Basically we all knew Leo's choice had been made, it was just that Leo, now had to come to accept it for himself, and that would be quite the hurdle for him to overcome, once he realized he could have Karena and maintain his duties as well he'd be fine.

…

I was getting dinner ready when Karena entered the kitchen, " Need some help Mike?" she offered generously.

" No I think I have it under control, corn is boiling and I was just going make a salad to go with our steaks, which Raph better not burn." I muttered then grinned, " Actually Raph is very trustworthy when it comes to barbequing it is just general cooking he can't handle." I looked at her " So you felt a little romantic last night and spoke some Japanese to him just to confound the poor boy." I teased.

" Actually to be honest, he spoke it to me first" She shrugged casually, " I just responded."

Now that sort of surprised me, I know I had teased Karena numerous times about Leo forgetting himself and speaking Japanese to her, but I never thought for one second even, that he would go and forget his manners long enough to actually do it.

" He spoke it to you?" I echoed enunciating each word, hoping to clarify this, just to make sure I had heard her correctly.

" Yes" She confirmed with a nod of her head, " he spoke about two or three sentences in Japanese to me and he was so quick I didn't catch all that he said, so I asked him to talk slower or to repeat what he said in English." She gave me an amused look as she explained, " Before you ask Mike, yes I did it in Japanese."

I turned my concentration to the salad " Bet that shocked Leo" I laughed, " Man I would have loved to have seen his face." I gave a last little chuckle as I realized Leo really had to have it bad for Karena if he was forgetting his manners. I started to chop the tomatoes up, glancing up at her " Sooo, did he translate for you what he said?" I pried.

Karena made a snorting noise, " Eventually yes, but I'm sure he didn't tell me all of it." Karena sat down on a chair.

I quickly heightened my senses to alert me to anyone coming into the house, because by now I was as curious as a cat to figure out what Leo had said, it might give me an idea on how bad our noble leader had it for this school teacher. Yet I also knew if Leo didn't translate all of it, it was because he didn't want her to know what he had said.

" What did Leo admit to then?" I asked trying to keep my tone casual.

" He said he thought he was falling in love with me, and he'd ask me to stay but he felt that it would be selfish to do so" Karena smiled as she said this, a small scowl graced her features, " I'm sure there was something else he said though, something he didn't translate." She insisted.

I ran through what she had told me converted it to Japanese with ease, and then said it to Karena.

" That was the last bit all right or close to it but you have a different word in there Mike." Karena declared.

I dumped the tomato into the bowl and started on chopping cucumber " Maybe he used a different word for falling, there are three ways to say falling, the one I used is a person falling, tento suru. Then there is the word used for government falling" I shook my head, " Which isn't appropriate for this sentence or situation, which leaves," I paused, " Leo is being romantic with you in Japanese, ohhh, the sly dog." I laughed.

" What?" Karena pleaded.

" Tenraku Suru means falling from great height." I chortled merrily.

" Tenraku sounds right, he is falling in love with me from a great height?" Karena wondered, smiling at the thought, " Is that how I can expect him to be romantic, in Japanese?"

" He thought he could get away with it Karena." I stated, " Due to the Japanese not using the rise and fall in vocal expressions that others may use, he felt that maybe, he could get away with telling you how he felt and you'd be none the wiser." I explained, " When you in turn spoke Japanese, which he wasn't expecting he realized that you might have actually understood everything he said, in other words he was caught."

" I didn't understand half of what he said though," Karena protested.

" That Karena happens to be the beauty of it all. You know enough Japanese to obviously put sentences together, you might not know everything he said but you could guess and then of course, you might be able to figure out the rest later." I informed her, " Either way you caught Leo in a trap that he wasn't even expecting. If it is one thing Leo knows it is traps and how to avoid them." I smiled, " Leo figured he could get away with telling you how he felt and you would be none the wiser." I winked at her.

Things were working just great!

" Is that why you started me on Japanese?" Karena asked.

I smiled nodding my head " Yeah, but I wasn't really expecting him to say it to you." I confessed, " Nor did I expect him to come out with sentences like that, still teaching you couldn't hurt none." I insisted.

Karena sat back in her chair as I started on cutting up celery.

" Now I am really curios to figure out what Leo said before that, the part I'm sure he didn't translate Mike. I know with what you said that there was definitely a part Leo said that came before that." Karena glanced at me.

" Forget it Karena he didn't want to tell you, and I shouldn't tell you if he doesn't want you to know it." I declared.

Karena pursed her lips together, " I can't recall much of what he said anyways. I'm pretty sure the words I think were in there, and there was a word mo as well." She was clearly trying to think of what Leo had said.

I shook my head " Mo means also" I was willing to give her that much.

" Then that means there was something before hand otherwise the also wouldn't make much sense." Karena gloated pouncing on that tidbit.

" Probably there was something Karena but Leo didn't feel comfortable telling you it."

I could tell by the expression on her face that she wasn't about to give up on it just yet.

I heard her mumble something ever so softly.

" What was that Karena?" I asked.

" he said Kangaeru which is think and then I am sure he said something along the line of yui gon shinu, what…"

I gasped shaking my head, Leo couldn't have possibly said that, and yet it was the only thing to make sense with everything else.

" Damn, Leo really is being romantic" I muttered.

" What Mike you know, or you think you know at least, you have an idea at any rate?" Karena half asked half begged.

" Yeah I do have an idea, and I still don't think I ought to tell you. Suffice to say that you got him Karena. Leo is yours trust me on that count" I declared hoping it would put her fears to rest.

" How can you be sure Mike, what did he say?" Karena inquired.

I looked into her green eyes and saw her desire to know, she really deserved to know, but I also had a loyalty to my brother and I knew Leo didn't want her knowing what he said, at least not yet.

" Mike please tell me" Karena insisted.

I rolled my eyes wondering why she just couldn't be happy with the knowledge that she had won Leo. Besides I was a little curious on if what I believed was actually true, I wanted to see if I was right about Leo truly being Karena's guy, whether he was willing to admit to it or not.

I groaned and tossed my hands up in frustration " All right but just don't tell Leo that I told you all this, he is going be wanting my shell on the wall for teaching you Japanese as it is" I gave a mock growl, " Alright did Leo say something like this kangaeru yui gon shinu nashi di." I spoke the words slowly.

" I think that was it yes." Karena affirmed.

I sat down in a chair beside her leaning close to her, while praying we wouldn't be interrupted, " Keep very still and very calm Karena breath deep and stay at peace, I don't want you warning Leo you might be on to what he said because he will put two and two together very quickly." I warned her.

I waited until she nodded.

" Leo didn't translate that for you, because if he had you might have ended up staying for all the wrong reasons, and Leo really doesn't want that," I explained.

" Are you going tell me Mike," She whispered.

" Yeah but keep it calm girl" I reminded her waiting until I felt she was ready.

" Basically, Leo told you he would die without you, and he meant that both figuratively and literally because he knows he isn't really going die if you leave him."

Karena inhaled her eyes growing round as she heard.

" Watch it," I muttered, " But a part of his spirit will die, and he knows it." I concluded.

Karena raised her hands to her mouth and I saw tears fill her eyes; she slowly lowered her hands to show a beautiful smile.

I grinned, " That is why I am sure he is yours Karena. You don't have to worry about getting Leo because you all ready have him" I concluded sitting back, " I guess when Leo fell for you he fell hard and fast" I smiled, " As if from a great height."

Karena sat up straighter and dabbed at her eyes, a grateful expression on her face.

" He loves you more right now, then anything he might have for us because what he feels for you is different from any thing he has known before. I mean we all sensed that he cared about you, was crazy about you, but I don't think anyone really expected this from him." I stood up and arched an eye ridge her way before giving her some friendly advice, " Give him some time and space Karena, he feels very strongly for you and that means he will come around on his own." I sighed, " Now lets get supper out to the picnic table before the others come in to find us" I stated as I picked up the salad bowl and handed it to her.

I knew Karena hadn't been able to hide all of her emotions but I had used my ninja skills to cover them up as best I could so there was less chance of Leo knowing, I turned to get the pot of corn.

I wondered how Karena had managed to snare Leo so quickly, whatever it was I knew without a doubt that she wouldn't hurt Leo, not knowingly at any rate. She loved him and had fought hard to win his love in return.

One thing I was very much aware of, was whether Leo was ready to accept it or not, I all ready knew we had a new member to our family, and that made me smile.

TBC

Lenni: Yes, more updates and at least one of them will have some sai stealing. A gratitude for your insight.

Entropymage: Thanks; I did win best Mike scenes and best series for this in the annual TMNT competition the year before last, so hopefully it makes for good reading. Glad you are enjoying what I do for Leo. I couldn't find your e-mail so what Raph said was he wanted to know if Leo had lost his virginity yet, he was being just slightly bad. A gratitude for your insight.

Chibi Rose Angel: Feeling sick is no fun hope you are feeling better soon. Being without a computer is also no fun, especially when you want to read or update stories. I know I have been there. Yes this one is coming to an end, but there are other Rama stories, some of which I will be rewriting. So glad you have come to accept the Leo and Karena couple they are cute. A gratitude for your insight.

Lunar Ninja: Okay I won't ask and I won't go there, but soon you will see just how sneaky Mike has been. Deer in the headlights, got to love that expression and that truly sums it up for our poor blithering idiot. A gratitude for your insight.

Mikaela's Spade: Oh boy don't think I have heard of that song and you are more then welcome to that plot bunny you hatched. I have enough of the blasted plot bunnies hopping around here as it is. With rewrite stories to do, and at the moment three original stories on the go and more hatching all the time, I don't need any more of those silly rabbits, thanks. A gratitude for your insight.

Reinbeauchaser: Chapter thirty is the pop the question and I am debating about writing an all new original scene for thirty, a wedding ceremony, as I never did give Leo and Karena a wedding in the original there was just engaged at the end of the story before. I'm not afraid of dark scary places. Now water deeper then a bathtub and spiders, the really big ugly spiders, are what scare the what ever out of me! Ewww! Just the thought!

A gratitude for your insight.