Time to say Goodbye
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Author's Note: Well I am still enjoying my vacation, writing lots and since I am at my sister's place decided to post this. R.
Chapter Six: Dropping the Bomb.
Rama sensed the deep melancholy that hung over her family, but while there was still a great deal of pain and sorrow, now there seemed to be a brief hint of light, a subtle easing of the burden as it were, now that the Master had finally been laid to rest.
They wouldn't be trapped under the shroud of death forever even though it seemed to persist in clinging to them now.
Rama took a deep breath of air as she glanced subtly around as if to verify where the entire family was before she silently slipped off the back porch, using her ninja skills, she moved quickly and quietly away from the others, entering the long grass of the meadow that was only seven feet or so from the porch. She crouched down, continuing to move with extreme stealth putting distance between herself and her family.
She wanted to be alone and meditate, to find her bearings, and more importantly she longed to be alone in hopes of being able to connect with Devon, maybe not to teleport to him but perhaps, talk to him as she had when she had first returned home.
The odds were it probably wouldn't work but she quickly shoved those negative thoughts aside, to the nether regions of her mind.
She missed Devon, more then she thought was humanly possible to miss anyone, and now that the teleporting thing was coming together she could easily envision her patience paying off in the ultimate reward, she could finally be with Devon the same way her dad was with her step mom. She felt that she had more then earned her chance to be with her beloved for a few days.'I mean we are on the farm for awhile now, there won't even be lessons for the next few days so it really wouldn't hurt if I did go see Dev,' She mused to herself, knowing Leo had called for three days of no lesons so everyone could finally reach full acceptance and be better prepared when they moved back into their regular routine, he knew this break was necessary.
Rama finally stood up glancing carefully around to ensure no one had spotted her or had followed her, before she turned and walked towards the forest, her stride was confident.
She didn't seem to see or notice Leo standing up behind her watching her carefully move through the grass, being careful to leave no visible path behind her, once he was sure of where she was heading Leo moved quickly to go around and intercept the kunoichi. As he moved he kept his senses alert and did his best to make sure Rama was not aware of him, at least not until he was ready for her to be aware of his presence.
He made it a few feet into the woods and leaned against a tree waiting for his student to arrive, and giving the casual air that he had been in the woods and was, just now,returning to the farm.
He saw Rama draw closer, about five feet away she became alert, pausing she saw him against the tree, and the briefest of scowls crossed her face, she had been sure that he had been at the farmhouse. Ramiela kicked at a loose rock in her path feeling more then slightly irritated that he was here, and then she heaved a resigned sigh and gave a shrug.'All right I must have been mistaken about where he was.' She told herself kindly, 'It isn't the end of the world, making that sort of error especially recently.'
Still another part of her chided her for making such a mistake as she moved forward, soothing her upset with the knowledge that while she had waited a long time for this day a few more minutes wouldn't make that big of a difference.
She bowed as she drew near to Leo awarding him the proper respect he deserved, "Master Leonardo" she spoke sincerely.
"Ramiela we need to talk" Leo said gently.
Rama nodded willingly "Of course my time is yours Master" she agreed fully, while inwardly she wondered what it was that he wanted to talk about.
Leo sensed that it was true though he had also felt her first bit of reluctance when she had realized he was there, but she was now obedient and willing to listen.
"I'm glad to hear that Ramiela," He assured her, "Now come walk with me for a bit." Leo gestured to the wooded path beyond as he turned to head down the path.
Rama fell into step beside him taking a deep calming breath of the scent of the trees and the dirt, hoping whatever it was Leo had to say that it wouldn't take too long. She really wanted some private time.
"How are you doing?" Leo inquired.
"You mean with Splinter's passing?" Rama wondered seeking clarification, "Or just about everything?"
"Splinter's passing" Leo answered simply.
"All right I guess. It still hurts but I'm starting to accept it" Rama murmured, though she knew that with Splinter, The Master, gone there was bound to be many changes coming. Things Leo might not have been willing to implement while Splinter lived, now may come to pass.
Life was change, and change was inevitable and the fact of the matter was Leo was not the person Splinter was, he was his own person, so it was only natural for Leo to change things that he felt might justify the clan better. It was part of the burden of leadership, and one day it would be her burden.
Leo probed his student carefully, trying to get a mental picture of where she was at emotionally, for he knew that what he had to say would affect her on a far more emotional sense. His feet easily dodging the roots of the trees that had heaved up from the ground, trying to entangle toes of the unwary hiker.
"Ramiela this ability to teleport is very useful, and I want everyone in the clan able to use it, who knows it might come in handy if our home is ever infiltrated." Leo began.
"That is why we have been working to perfect it for the past year right Master?"
"Yes," Leo agreed, "But also I have to know its limits how far can it be used before it becomes dangerous." Leo explained, "Even you know that just about any move in battle can be pushed to the point where it leaves you open and defenceless. So I have to wonder what or where is the weak point in teleporting."
Rama nodded "Like building immunities to poison if you aren't careful you could kill yourself."
"Exactly!" Leo declared., " There ought to be a point where we say no, we can't go beyond this, due to the extreme danger involved." Leo stated, "Teleporting can lead us to safety but I also firmly believe that it could kill us. We shouldn't rely on it too much or we could grow lazy and not focus on where we need to be."
Rama felt a sharp sinking in the pit of her belly "You're saying what?" she demanded in a sharper tone then she had intended, not even sure she wanted to hear the answer.
" Ramiela I know you wanted to use this skill to the point where hopefully you could use it to return to that alternate world" Leo kept his voice calm soothing, hoping to comfort Rama.
Rama shook her head, she knew where he was going, but she didn't want to believe it, or even hear it. Not now, not when she was so close.
" Ramiela it is too dangerous touse for that, we could lose you." Leo concluded as he rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Rama sidled to one side, sidestepping and brushing his arm away.
" Don't try and sugar coat it Master!" she sneered, " It won't go down any easier. You want me to forget about Devon and I can tell you it won't happen because I love him." her hands tightened into fists by her side, and her eyes narrowed into slits.
" Ramiela I am sorry but you can't be with him," Leo insisted feeling the turmoil starting to churn inside of her, " You will be endangering your life when it isn't necessary and we need you here."
Rama's jaw clenched, she stood up straighter as she felt the sudden pent up rage at this unfair piece of news, she fought to gain control of her emotions, to act and not react.
Yet at the same time her mind reeled.
Everyone else was entitled to have the one they loved near them, to have the support of the ones they cared for the most, but she could not have it. After all her hard work she was out right denied the chance to return to her beloved, her fiancée, and her betrothed.
To come so close and then to have it ripped from her, not just ripped but viciously snapped out from underneath her, leaving a gaping hole behind.
" Ramiela as Jonin of the clan. I can not permit you to use the teleporting technique to reach Devon."
Rama glared hard at Leo, not quite sure she was hearing him right, she found it hard to believe that this was her Sensei, and she couldn't recall a time when she felt so angry at him, or longed to go against him, not just for mere principle but because this was more then that.
" So you want me to just forget about him?" She demanded in a biting tone, " To walk away and continue my life as if he never existed?" Rama ranted, " I dare you to walk away from Karena and pretend she doesn't exist then tell me that I ought to give up on Devon simply because it is dangerous."
" Ramiela!" Leo spoke sharply his tone growing hard, but his look was sympathetic, he wished that Rama had managed to keep control, at least this once, even though he knew it was asking rather a lot of her.
" I love him and I want to be with him. I waited a long time for this day, you won't take it from me or from Devon." Rama flared ignoring Leo.
Leo took hold of her shoulders, gripping her firmly " It is forbidden Ramiela. I can't allow it. You are needed here" Leo stressed, " You will obey for as chunin you must uphold the ruling of the jonin."
" What will you do if I oppose your ruling? Banish me?" Rama asked cynically, a smirk crossed her face " You can't keep tabs on me all the time to ensure I obey!" She challenged, throwing down her trump card.
" Ramiela for your safety and for those of us who love you…" Leo began.
Rama cut him off with a slash of her hand " What about the man who loves me? Why is it I can be kept from him but not from you?" Rama demanded, " It is hypocritical of you is what it is." She paused taking a breath, " Please don't do this to me. Don't ask it of me. Let me go to him, let me explain at least or…"
" No Ramiela. You don't even know if you can reach him, perhaps there is no way for you to get back to him but you will continue to endanger yourself to achieve what is impossible." Leo insisted.
" It is not impossible I reached Devon's world and returned. I communicated with him, he was here" Rama stubbornly pointed out.
" I know but you haven't reached him since" Leo stated the obvious.
Rama glared not wanting to accept this verdict.
It wasn't that she wanted to put Devon ahead of her own family.
But a part of her knew like change itself, it was almost inevitable to put her beloved first. She was after all nineteen years old and yearned for more then the love of her family. It wasn't that she loved her family less. It was just the love she had for Devon was different from any love she had before.
In short she wanted a spouse someone to share her life with.
Yet now it seemed as if her Sensei, her Master the jonin himself wanted to take her dreams from her and leave her with nothing.
" Ramiela I know you are hurting. I will forgive you your outbursts but the ruling will stand" Leo informed her firmly, he could allow her the disrespect she had shown him as no one else had been witness to it.
Normally he could not allow an underling to go against him in the way Rama had, for she was fully aware that she would be severely punished for such transgressions, and it was up to her to set the example of obedience to the Jonin.
Leo was warning her not to push her luck, at the moment he could be forgiving, but she would still have to consider the consequences.
" You have a duty to your clan Chunin" Leo reminded her.
Rama's animosity was clear, she didn't want nor care to be reminded of her duty at this moment, she owed him far more than to forget him and pretend he didn't exist.
" Master Splinter would have never made such a decree, he allowed you to be with the one you loved, even though there was danger in that too." Rama fumed crossing her arms over her plastron.
Leo sighed as he tried to pull the girl into his arms to reassure her with a hug, but she resisted and he let her go.
" Think about it Ramiela. You'll understand why I ask this of you. Besides if you want what I or even your father has you won't get it."
Rama shook her head " You think Devon is unworthy? He is a ninja and a future jonin, no one is better suited for me then him" she declared.
" No he is not unworthy Ramiela," Leo admitted, " it is the time you must find to be with him."
Rama jerked her head back scowling in confusion, as she didn't understand what Leo meant, nor could she understand why he suddenly opposed their relationship.
" Think about it Ramiela" Leo implored as he turned and walked away.
Rama stood firm watching him leave, her chest was heaving and she had no desire to return to her family when it seemed they didn't want her near the one she loved. She just wanted to be alone, she might as well get use to it after all, for without Devon she'd probably be alone for the remainder of her life.
" I knew I was going die a virgin" she grumbled bitterly to herself.
She considered the idea of disobeying this unjust ruling, it might be worth the consequences, if only she could be with Devon, feel his arms around her, and be his wife as she had promised him.
TBC
Lunar Ninja:Yes it would be interesting to see,but I don't think Rma is returning to Devon anytime soon. Thanks for the review.
Reinbeauchaser:Oh yes, Rama is not amused to put it simply and you are right even if Leo wanted to pass the task off he wouldn't be able to. Thnaks for your review.
Jessiy: It won't beeasy for Rama that is true, you are also correct that the story is winding down. Thanks for your review.
Pretender Fanatic:Splinter had he been alive, may or may not have agreed with Leo, but then again the aged rat's mental capacities were not at their greatest by that point. Thanks for your review.
Chibi Rose Angel: Well this is as soon as I could get it up. Hope you enjoy. Thanks for your review.
Lenni:You were correct about it being Devon and now I think Rama is going blow. Thanks for your review.