The Legacy

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

Chapter twenty Seven - The Winner is...

Karena:

After all the time and effort I had put into the idea of trying to get Leo's attention, and now Mike felt sure that he was mine. While I myself, had doubts, I couldn't be sure if he really was or wasn't as of yet, I only had Mike's words to go on, as well as his personal knowledge of who Leo was.

Of course Mike's knowledge of Leo hadn't failed me yet, he had been right about the question, and he had been right about learning Japanese too, so if Mike felt I truly had Leo but ought to give the leader more time to accept it, then I was willing to give Mike the benefit of the doubt.

Funny, how Mike had once said he wouldn't play cupid for me, but in his own way Mike seemed determined to get us together, it seemed he had been working towards it, ever since he had found out I liked Leo.

The boys at the moment were playing their version of 'hot potato' by using apples for the target, they tossed an apple between one another, whoever caught it had to fend off his three brothers attacks, while taking a bite from the apple before sending it on.

Rama thought that it looked like a very fun game and she had wanted to play too, but due to the use of weapons, Leo told her she'd have to watch instead. Rama had started to sulk a bit at his words.

" I promise Ramiela, that if you be good while we play this one game, I will come up with a Ramiela version of the game, perhaps where you have to fend off tickles, instead of weapons. Right now, however, your dad and the rest of us need a work out." He assured her.

Rama had accepted things then, watching the first apple go through play, and then another apple magically seemed to appear to replace the discarded apple core.

Bored with watching Rama began pulling her jump rope for Baka to chase and pounce on Rama giggled at his antics, she had then sat down to blow bubbles to watch Baka jump into the air and pop them. Baka purred with delight.

I smiled " Rama"

She glanced my way not bothering to correct me; she skipped over and nestled down into my lap as if by my saying her name I had invited her over. I kissed her and hugged her close.

" One day you are going be as good as your dad and Uncles are." I whispered to her.

" Maybe" Rama replied she seemed to be paying attention to Raph at the moment, as he deftly spun his sais, Rama twiddled her fingers.

" When you get to have a weapon Rama which one will you chose?"

She smiled up at me " Sais maybe. Dunno" she shrugged.

" You aren't going chuck like your dad?" I asked.

She shook her head " Like sais and ka-tanas." She made the word katana sound like two words.

I laughed, " You like the katanas too do you?"

" Uh huh Karena, sais short, ka-tanas long both good" She replied simply, as if she had put a great deal of consideration into the matter and knowing this precocious child, she probably had.

" But no nunchucks?" I asked her.

" Daddy don't mind. He says I can do any weapon I wants." Rama informed me.

The game of hot potato drew to an end when the last apple had been chomped down to the core; Leo sheathed his swords and started to wander our way.

" What do you guys say about playing a game Ramiela can join in on?" Leo asked.

" I'm for that," Mike agreed.

" I gets to play now? Karena too?" Rama asked as she bounced up off my lap.

" I'm not a ninja" I protested quickly, knowing many of the games the boys played with Ramiela was to train her further in ninjitsu, in other words some, actually a lot of it was beyond me.

" It won't be a ninja game Karena" Leo said innocently, " it is just an old fashioned water balloon fight." He smirked a bit, " I got them ready this morning. I figured last few days had been pretty hot and a water balloon fight would be a welcome change."

I shook my head, " Look Leo I am not that stupid, playing such a game with ninja means, you boys will be able to dodge anything flung near you and your accuracy is pretty dead on" I pointed out, " I am going be the one drenched from head to toe."

" Why not Karena? It fun" Rama pleaded taking my hand and tugging on it, " Plllleeeease play with us."

As far as I knew she had never participated in such an event before but she was all ready determined that it would be fun, of course almost every thing she had done on the farm gave her some sort of pleasure.

" I'm not into wet t-shirt contests," I muttered.

Raph snickered, " You'd win by default Karena, simply because you are the only one wearing any clothes."

He must have overheard me, though he was far enough off he shouldn't have heard my low complaint, then again he might have just picked up on my thought. This was exactly why; I knew I didn't stand a chance against these four trained ninja.

" Please Karena" Rama goaded gently giving me her best lost puppy dog look that was almost impossible to resist.

" Oh, all right! It is a hot day after all but I still say I am going regret this," I reluctantly agreed.

Rama cheered my decision.

I knew I should have played it safe and headed for the house, in much the same way Baka did at incredibly fast speed, when the first water balloon bursted open splashing and startling the animal.

However I had committed myself to this insanity, and I had by no means been prepared for how many water bombs Leo had made up, for this special occasion, there was at least three large laundry hampers full of the things.

Rama enjoyed holding the balloons in her hand feeling the way it moved and jiggled as if alive, then lobbing it towards one of her family, or worse yet me. I was kind of hoping for a, boys against girls thing, though even Rama wasn't much security as of yet.

Leo had made the bombs just perfectly so they burst on contact with anything though, the boys often showed that, they, at least, were fully capable of catching the items without popping the balloon.

By the time the last balloon had burst, I was pretty much soaked through all over, Rama was also fairly drenched, but then again she had enjoyed running into the balloons and stomping on them to make them go off. As for the boys, well they had allowed themselves to get wet, which I supposed was something, but they were only as wet as they wanted to be.

Leo came over and hugged me from behind nuzzling my neck a bit, " You'll dry quickly out here Karena" He murmured in my ear.

I turned in the circle of his arm and kissed him.

Rama typically stuck out her tongue and wrinkled up her muzzle " Ewww, yuck, smooching, kissy faces, Gross!"

Leo laughed at her and arched an eye ridge " I don't know Ramiela, you don't seem to mind when I kissy face and smooch with you."

" Bleack!" was Rama's quick response.

Leo rolled his eyes " Excuse me a moment Karena" Leo said in a hurry.

I had to laugh as Leo took off chasing his niece through the long grass, to the sound of her delighted squeals and mock screams of terror.

Finally Leo grabbed hold of her and started to land quick little kisses all over Rama's face, causing her to squirm in his arms and laugh.

I smiled as I casually strolled their way, as I passed them by I couldn't resist saying " Kissy facing, gross!" in a joking way.

Rama looked up at her Uncle, she was laughing so hard and trying to stop, without much success, however through her chuckles she did manage to say, " Gits her Uncle Leonardo."

" Gits her. Okay I can do that!" Leo agreed enthusiastically, as he nodded his head vigorously.

Oh- oh looked like I was the one in trouble now.

I took off running, not that I expected to get very far, I knew Leo would catch up to me whenever he wanted to, but they do say the thrill is in the chase, and Leo seemed quite happy to let me run instead of catching up to me.

In fact her let me get further then I expected before he snared me, pulling me into his arms, his blue eyes sparkled with joy, as he placed one hand behind my head, the other arm went around my waist bending me over his arm to kiss me.

….

It was late in the evening; late enough that Rama was all ready in bed, in spite of her protest to stay up just " five more minute daddy" or when that was turned down, " One more minute please!"

We were sitting outside in the cool of the evening, sipping drinks and talking around the picnic table, a few citronella candles burning to keep the blasted mosquitoes away from me, they didn't bother the boys any.

" There are advantages to being cold blooded" Don declared cheerfully, " Mosquitoes prefer warm blood."

" I'm getting sick of these guys coming after me" I grouched. " They can bite someone else for a change."

" Girls" Don said.

" What?" I asked.

" The male mosquito is harmless, it is actually a vegetarian, and only the female mosquito needs blood." He replied.

" That sounds bout right" Raph guffawed.

Don looked at him " Of course it is right."

" Naw I mean females going after blood." Raph drawled.

I rolled my eyes, " I think I am going in the house to freshen my drink," I muttered as I stood up.

I was aware that Leo had gone into the house a while ago to do some reading. I also figured the boys had, had enough fun at my expense for one day.

I saw Leo absorbed in a book at the kitchen table, I carefully sat my glass on the counter top, and tiptoed behind him, I reached out to massage his neck and shoulders.

He gave a contented sigh, laid the book face down and lowered his head a bit more to give me better access.

" That feels good Karena," he whispered.

" I thought I would be able to surprise you," I murmured softly.

" Surprise me with the massage, yes" he agreed, " But by catching me unawares, not likely. I heard you coming in by the front door, I recognized your footsteps and I sensed you watching me" he informed me, chuckling a little, " Sorry it is, hard work sneaking up on a ninja."

" I guess it is at that" I admitted, realizing that surprising Leo in any way in the future might take a lot more work, just my luck to fall in love with a ninja I guess. I trailed one hand down his arms as I sat down beside him.

Leo gave me a small smile and took my hand in his, " I'm glad you are here Karena we really need to talk."

I felt a sinking sensation in my belly, these weren't exactly the four little words I was expecting to hear from Leo, and I hated any talk that started that way, it usually went downhill from there.

I mean, we have to talk, usually preceded the quick brush off, or old excuse of ' lets just be friends' bit. Neither of those things were what I wanted to hear from Leo but I knew if his mind was made up there was little else.

Mike had been so sure, I had felt so confident, and yet Leo had just pulled the rug out from under me with those words of his. I didn't understand how Leo could speak in Japanese in that fashion towards me, just a couple nights ago, and now do this to me.

I tried to focus on what he was saying, hoping his words would provide me with some clue because I felt very sure that I had missed the point somewhere along the line, and now had to pay strict attention to what was going on, like entering a movie half way through.

" People are often willing to sacrifice a great deal in words alone, but when the time comes to do so, they realize how much of their life they have lost" Leo looked deep into my eyes, " You say that just being with me is enough for now, right now it most likely is, but over time you will need more" He insisted.

I tried to interrupt but he shushed me overriding me with ease.

" Karena I know things can not be one sided. I can't give you a great deal in return but what I have to give you is yours, my heart and soul, my free time it is all yours Karena."

I smiled suddenly relieved because I knew this wasn't the big brush off. I squeezed his hand.

" I will do all that I can to make you happy Karena, I love you" he gave his head a tiny shake " I don't know quite when or where it happened, I only know I need you with me Karena."

His eyes locked on mine and he stared right at me, not just at me, but it seemed, into me, as if he was trying to decipher and judge my inner being.

" I've said it before Leo, and I will say it again I want to stay with you and there is no place I would rather be then beside you."

He smiled at me, " Don't you understand my darling Karena, I feel the same for you, I want you to be a part of my life, and I want you to be mine. I am willing to do whatever it takes for our relationship to work." Leo vowed.

I felt a large smile cross my face, as the two of us stood up and embraced, I felt Leo rain small kisses over my face nuzzling my neck in a wave of passion.

" You have become very dear to me Karena in a very short time" Leo whispered as I clung to him.

I knew now that Mike was right, I had won Leo he was as much mine as I was his.

The passion and intensity of our kisses seemed to echo our longing for each other. I felt Leo bend down to scoop me into his arms, and then he headed for the stairs and the bedrooms.

Michaelangelo:

Leo hadn't bothered to join us for our evening talk session, and he had blocked off all mental communications between us, and him. That was a clear signal to all of us, that he had come to his decision and, what he really needed was to see Karena alone.

So when Karena entered the farm house we didn't follow, rather we stayed outside to BS and listen to the crickets chirping, while Don told us the fascinating fact, of you could tell the temperature by how many times a cricket chirped in a specified time divided by…

I looked his way " I can tell the temperature a lot easier then that bro, just find a thermometer." I declared.

I returned my thoughts to what must be going on in the house, we all sort of knew what had to be said, and what was going be said, maybe not in so many words, but we knew. We just didn't want to say anything for fear of jinxing it.

I knew what Leo had supposedly said to Karena, in Japanese, that he wouldn't be able to say no to her but did Karena know and accept that?

I wouldn't put it past Leo to try and push her away, much as he loved her and wanted her for himself, he wouldn't want Karena giving so much up for him.
It was a rather new and scary thought for Leo, that someone would sacrifice so much of their own life for him out of love, and Leo would have a hard time accepting it.

I just hoped Karena wouldn't let Leo chase her off, course she hadn't run from him yet, so odds were she would stand up to him and make him accept what he felt for her.

When we finally entered the house and slipped with ninja stealth to our bedrooms, we neither saw nor heard either of them.

…

I woke early in the morning and sensed a subtle shift and I sat for a moment on the edge of my bed trying to get a fix on it. Mental exercises weren't my thing to begin with, so they weren't that easy to perform on first waking up.

I smiled then, as I realized where the shift had come from. Tension and uncertainty were gone. Leo was back in control again. His mind was open once more and he was in a rather uncommon good mood. It seemed our calm rational leader had returned, but with a difference, as if he was more sure and confident then ever.

' She'll be good for you Leo.' I told him.

' I know, I love her dearly Mike.' He replied simply.

' Ani no watashe kame unno ka' I asked giving him the older brother status as a sign more of respect then true age, as we were all the same age. ( My brother are you a lucky turtle?)

' Hai. Kame ne sekai unno katta ototo.' ( Yes the luckiest turtle in the world brother.) Leo answered using the younger brother version, something he did whenever any of us called him the older brother or Ani.

I smiled to myself, chuckling softly as I heard his thoughts turn to Karena before adeptly blocking me from his mind. I had a feeling he was going be occupied for a while.

Leo was lucky, all right, in every sense of the word, but at this moment, I think it might be hard to judge, which of us truly was the luckiest of all.

I figured all along that if those two got together Leo wouldn't be letting her go, not once he came to love her. The hard part was getting him to love her.

Karena suited him in many ways, I knew that early on, and more importantly I knew she would never hurt him, and so, I confess I did everything I could to help Karena get Leo.

The trick was, I had to be careful how I did it, for Leo wouldn't accept Karena until he was ready, but hopefully I could help Karena bring about his acceptance a lot quicker.

Now that I knew the two were together, I could relax; I didn't have to worry so much about Rama being alone in the future.

I mean sooner or later Leo and Karena had to consider the possibility of having their own children right?

Yes, I was aware that they would be younger then Rama, but they'd provide companionship and help in battle, most important though was they could look out for each other.

I had played the game well and in the end I had won.

TBC

Digimon Girl: Raph asked if Leo was still a virgin, a very embarrassing question to ask especially with the lady so close by. A gratitude for your insight.

Anonymous: Actually there is a bunch of stories about Rama, a whole series in fact. Click on to my name that will take you to my bio, in my bio I list all the Rama stories in chronological order. You can click on any Rama story easily from there. I am glad you are enjoying it. A gratitude for your insight.

Lady of Randomness: Oh gee I saved you some trouble did I? I'll have to remember that, it could be useful later. Here's the next chapter to enjoy. A gratitude for your insight.

Southernlady: I e-mailed you on what Raph said if you did not receive that e-mail read Digimon girls comment. I have one more chapter to write up, chapter thirty then it is a matter of typing up on the computer and posting. A gratitude for your insight.

Chibi Rose Angel: Do you always speak of yourself in the third person chibi? LOL. I think Leo and Karena's relationship has just taken another little step forward, don't you think? Unfrotunatly in real life there are plenty of people with ulterior motives. A gratitude for your insight.

Mikaela's Spade: Yes plot bunnies, don't care when or where they pop up but then they will disappear and not show so much as a whisker when we are really desperate for an idea. Ah the question is coming very soon now. Thank you so much for the offer of beta reading, I appreciate that, I know I have said as much privately but I am saying it again. Glad we could work out something agreeable. A gratitude for your insight.

Lunar Ninja: LOL your long review and many comments about pirates, tomatoes, and sly dogs. Pretty soon you may find out, which of the turtles happens to be the crafty fox, that is if you haven't figured it out all ready. If Leo learns where you live he may come get you, but I doubt he'd kill you, probably just intimidate you and that can be bad enough. A gratitude for your insight.

Reinbeauchaser: Oh no I can't pop the question yet! Chapter thirty is the big pop the question chapter and I refuse to change that. Ah yes, of and have. I have often mistaken those two before, I believe I have that changed now, I think. Thanks for warning of that little goof. Leo hasn't been in love before so you have to forgive him, but I think all his uncertainty is rather cute. LOL! A gratitude for your insight.