The Legacy

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

Chapter Twenty Nine – Back home.

Michaelangelo

Today was our last day out on the farm, April and Casey were coming to collect us sometime around lunch, as always the time on the farm had passed all too quickly, but at least it had given us all a chance to relax.

Rama was back to her old lively self again, Don was eager to get back home and back to his inventions, and Leo, well, there was no denying he enjoyed the last few days on the farm. One thing for sure I had never seen Leo so calm or relaxed in my life before.

I was gathering the last of Rama's stuff up to insure nothing important was left behind, while she sat on her bed and sulked.

" I don't wants to go daddy, I like it here." She announced firmly.

" I don't blame you Rama, we all enjoy our time here," I agreed.

" Then why can't we stay here, where we can play outside. I like it when Uncle Donatello and Leonardo play with me, they don't play at home" She moped.

I smiled at her, " That is because Leo and Don have more important things to do at home, here they have more time to play" I explained patiently, " We can't stay out here Rama it isn't our home. It belongs to April and Casey we only get to visit and use it once in a while. Besides we'll come back again one day" I assured her as I walked over to sit beside her.

" When daddy?" Rama pleaded quickly.

" I don't know maybe later this year, we ought to come out a little more often, give you a chance to have some more sunshine and grass" I said, as I stroked her hair.

" I don't wants to go home. I wanna stay" Rama whined.

" I know you do Rama, but whining won't change matters. Look it is very special coming out here, but it is also a lot like Christmas, if you were to have this all the time, it wouldn't be special" I informed her, " Special things are that way because they only happen once in a while, when it does happen it just makes the day and time better then any other day or time."

Rama sighed and gave a faint smile as she realized her arguments were getting her nowhere.

" I promise Ramiela we will come back maybe over Christmas, spend it in a heated house might be fun, and you can go out and play in the snow."

Rama smiled, " Christmas here?"

" Maybe, I don't know if we can just yet, but if we can then we will" I assured her. I gave her a peck on the cheek, " Now why don't you help me round up the last of your stuff and we will go for one last walk."

" Okay daddy, but what about Baka?" Rama asked a worried scowl on her face.

I grinned, " Baka is family now, and we don't leave any family member behind, so he will be coming home with us" I told her.

….

Once we got home and settled back in Leo sought out Splinter in the living room, he gazed at Rama who was sitting on Splinter's lap telling him all about the wonderful things Splinter had missed, showing off tiny scrapes and cuts she had received while climbing trees and general roughhousing.

" I hate to interrupt Master, but I was wondering if you could do something for us." Leo wondered.

Splinter looked up " It depends on what it is my son' he replied.

" Well, it is quite simple, I was hoping you'd show Ramiela a sai demonstration" Leo began.

" I am sure Raphael is capable of performing such a duty for you" Splinter insisted.

Don snickered, " Well he could but I doubt it would work as well, Master."

Raph chuckled " Yeah, I don't have too many fingers, her whole sai stealing problem was caused by her trying to figure out where to put her two extra fingers."

Leo nodded " We figured you have the same amount of fingers as Ramiela has, and since you taught us, you might be able to ease her fears, so there is less chance of her breaking her promise to me."

Splinter smiled as he heard this, he then glanced down at Rama, "Do you think you have too many fingers?" he inquired arching his eyebrows.

Rama nodded " I do Master" she declared.

Splinter nodded " Ah yes, I see now. You have two more than your father or uncles have. But see here Ramiela, how many fingers do I have?" Splinter held out his hand.

Rama counted each finger out loud when she got to Splinter's pinkie finger she giggled and said " we, we, we all the way home."

I knew she was relating his fingers to the, this little pig nursery rhyme.

She then looked up into Splinter's furry face " Master Splinter have five, like Rama." She finally answered.

" Exactly child, very good counting. Now why don't we go to the dojo and I will show you something." Splinter encouraged her.

Rama slid off his lap and stood to one side to take his hand as they walked into the dojo.

Don arched an eye ridge " This will be good to see." He stated as he followed along with the rest of us.

In a few minutes all of us were settled in the dojo while Splinter went and picked a spare set of sai from our small collection of weapons. Splinter then went to the centre of the training mats.

With a twinkle in his eyes he remarked, " I hope I can still do this, it has been a while."

" You can do it Master" Raph encouraged his mentor.

" Go for it Splinter" I yelled.

Splinter took a deep breath and bowed before starting with simple wrist exercises and slow moves to insure he was comfortable with the weapons. Then after he had warmed up he started a series of katas, going from the simple early stuff to extremely advanced moves.

The sais moved in an easy blur of motion, and yet each move was made with precision and stunning grace.

Rama sat on my lap watching the show, her mouth agape and her eyes wide in amazement as Splinter continued his impressive sai display. Rama had seen Splinter instruct us, but since her birth Splinter rarely joined us in our work outs so she had never seen how skilled he was with weapons, in fact the only thing she had seen him handle till now was his walking stick, so it was obvious that this demonstration would have a large impact on her.

Rama watched as Splinter finished a long kata with a flourish of sai spinning that might put Raph to shame, course from the look of Raph he didn't seem too ashamed of the Master, if any thing he was enjoying the work out as much as Rama was.

" WOW!" Rama gasped breathlessly, " Master Splinter is awesome daddy"

" He sure is Rama. Now you know why we call him, the Master." I agreed.

Rama giggled.

…

The next few days saw us getting back into the daily routine that was life at home. Leo went back to being serious and applying himself to his usual duties around the lair. Of course he did make time to be with Karena, the two of them going for long walks around New York, or spending a bit of private time on the rooftops together.

Splinter of course seemed to approve of their relationship, not that there had ever been any doubt on that count.

Meanwhile Rama took time to adjust to being back in the lair, she longed to go topside, would give wistful looks Don or Leo's way and then give a wistful sigh. Once in a while she would sneak into Don's lab to try and convince him to come play, Don of course then settled on locking the lab door to keep her out, there was far too much for Rama to get into in his lab and it wasn't a safe place for her.

Baka being an easy going sort made himself right at home, acting for all the world, like there was no place he'd rather be then in the New York sewer system. The kitten loved to climb on the overhead pipes, or run along behind Splinter pouncing on the ninja Master's tail. Splinter seemed to allow the cat the game, at least to a certain extent.

….

About a week or so after we came home I just happened to overhear Leo talking on the phone, and while I wasn't normally one to pry, this end of the conversation sounded far too intriguing to pass up on.

" So you think something can be done April?" Leo asked there was a long pause before he continued, " Uh-huh. Okay then. Just let me know what you find out. Thanks April."

I waited until he hung up, " What is April finding out for you Leo?" I asked sneaking up on him from behind.

Leo shook his head, " Nothing to concern you Mike." He insisted flatly.

" What you up to Leo, come on Leo give. Give, give, give, give!" I wheedled, " You know I can keep a secret but I hate being left out of the loop, so I'll bug you until you tell me. I didn't let any one know that I was teaching Karena Japanese" I continued to badger him.

" That reminds me Mike, why did you teach Karena Japanese?" Leo countered arching an eye ridge.

" I was bored" I replied, " Just like I am now."

" Right you were. I have a feeling there was more to it then you were bored and had nothing better to do" Leo muttered, " I on the other hand do have something else to do at the moment" Leo stated as he turned and walked away.

" Leo does this have any thing at all to do with Karena?" I wondered, as I chased after him.

" If it does what business is it of yours Mike?"

" I don't know Leo, just curious. Have you asked her to marry you yet?" I asked.

" Mike, goes to show you have no brains, how in the world can we get married? Where would we even find anyone to marry us?" Leo demanded to know, sounding just a tad irritated.

I knew it couldn't be at me though.

" Splinter could do it right here. It might not be totally legal Leo but it would be better then nothing, wouldn't you agree?" I pressed.

Leo gave a shake of his head, partly in frustration and partly in surrender, " Mike not now, okay? Just…" Leo sighed, " Forget it all right?" He gave me one of his hard pointed stares.

" Fine. Be that way then Leo, but I am telling you she'll say yes, if you ever do decide to pop the question to her, well I did tell her the Japanese proposal just in case you decided to ask her in that way" I urged him, " Go ahead Leo ask Karena to yui gon kekkon ka."

" I am not interested in marrying you Mike, you aren't my type" He deadpanned.

He was up to something, but he wasn't about to tell anyone just what it was, or perhaps he had only told a privileged few and those ones had been sworn to secrecy.

I was willing to wait however, because sooner or later I knew I'd learn what Leo had planned.

TBC

Lady of Randomness: For Rama a very serious problem. As for Leo he can't always be all good in spite of his reputation. A gratitude for your insight.

Reinbeauchaser: Ah, yes poor Rama stuck between a rock and a hard place as she deals with an uncle who is acting far more the sensei/chunin then friendly relative. Once he realizes his error he is quick to make it up to Rama, and considering how long Rama had been carrying on breaking that rule what other choice did Leo have? Your hinting at a wedding and Karena news next chapter I promise, and it is a longer chapter. A gratitude for your insight.

Chibi Rose Angel: Sometimes a sensei must be mean and in these circumstances, Leo felt it was called for. Remember Rama has been breaking this rule, and a very important rule it is, for quite some time. Don is still there, he just wasn't part of the confrontation scene. You want marriage do you? Possibly a wedding, maybe next chapter. A gratitude for your insight.