Time to Say Goodbye

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

Author's Note: I will be sending my comments to reviewers separately as long as I know your e-mails. Ramica.

Chapter Seven: Champions for broken Hearted.

Leo headed back to the farmhouse, wisely keeping mental tabs on his student, knowing that it was possible for her to rebel in the worst way, and that Rama had a long history of breaking rules when she felt that they were not justified.

At the age of three she had started breaking the weapon rule, by forever stealing Raph's sais, a trick that she maintained no matter how often she was punished for the infraction.

At the age of seven she had broken the top side rule, for the sake of friendship, and while things had ended far better then any of them could have hoped, things could just as easily gone the wrong way.

At thirteen she had broken the guest rule, by trying to drive Cathy out of their home through a series of practical jokes; the fact that Cathy had been under the clan's protection at the time hadn't done a thing to curtail her shenanigans.

So, Leo was fully aware of what Ramiela's response might be under this situation. Though he knew she was far more responsible then in her youth and she did take her chunin responsibilities quite seriously, but he also knew his student and her ways. In short he wasn't going expect any obedience from her, at least not this soon in the game.

Karena spotted Leo him, and went to hug him as she pressed her body close she whispered softly. "You tell her?"

Leo nodded as he kept an arm around his wife and they both walked toward the house "She is upset which is to be expected, but I believe she will obey" Leo paused giving a wry grin, "eventually that is." he amended.

"Maybe I ought to go talk to her Leo" Karena suggested.

"No leave her be for now Karena" Leo decided.

"Leo she will be heart broken and…" Karena began her compassion and concern filling her voice as she gently pleaded with him.

Leo stopped and cupped her face in his hands, tilting her chin back, "I know she is hurting Karena, but right now she probably won't be into listening to reason" Leo explained, "She needs time to adjust and accept the decision. We can't afford to lose her Karena. If I felt it was safe to do so I would permit it."

Karena bowed her head, nodding slightly in understanding, she knew that her husband's choice was made to protect Rama, but she also was aware that the girl would be devastated, her hopes for the future crushed and she wanted a chance to speak with Ramiela to ease some of that heartache and longing, to make the loss bearable.

Leo looked toward the house and saw Cathy and Mike sitting on the porch enjoying a drink of lemon aide, he smiled as he guided his wife towards the porch.

…

Rama left the trail heading deep into the woods, she started to run, her legs rising and falling at a fast, steady pace. She left the path twisting and winding her way through the trees, her feet falling rapidly but quietly on the ground.

She knew what Leo was asking, no demanding, of her but she didn't know if she ever could, or would, comply for that matter. For what he wanted came with such a high price.

To give up on Devon, to turn her back on him and walk away as if he had never existed, when she loved him was something she didn't even want to consider, not for one second. But more then that was the fact, Leo just wanted her to forget him, not even give her a chance to try and reach him so she could say goodbye, or give an explanation. She wasn't given a chance to be near him, so that the two of them together might come up with a plan that would suffice so they could be together.

Ramiela had no doubts that between her and Devon they could come up with an alternative plan to achieve their desires. She recalled the gentle assurance he had given her the night she had teleported to his room, all unknowing, together the two had realized what had happened and it was most likely the key to returning her home, but Rama suddenly wasn't sure about going back because she was afraid to lose him.

She recalled Devon coming on Valentine's night fulfilling her dreams to be with him again, and the wonderful night they had shared together. How Devon had disappeared so abruptly making her wonder if it was perhaps only a dream, but it had been Sensei and the Master who made her see that their love helped them to connect to one another. They also explained that Devon's need to know an answer to a burning question might have provided a vital link between the two.

Rama's vision blurred from tears and her chest heaved, from her exertion, combined with deep wracking sobs. She loved Devon, she couldn't possibly just let him go, and she was almost surprised to even realize she was crying because she had cried so much the last few days that she felt crying anymore would be almost impossible. She bashed a hand against the rough bark of a large tree in sudden fury, scraping and injuring her hand but doing nothing to the tree.

It all came down to the simple fact that Leo's decision, nay demand, just didn't sit well with her.

'What right has he to keep me away from Devon? How dare he, even, assume that I would just walk away from the one I love without a fight. Love is worth fighting for. Devon is worth fighting for' her mind ranted and raged.

She was very aware of her Sensei's connection to her, knowing he was ensuring that she obeyed him and this further riled her, for she knew the slightest attempt to disobey would mean repercussions. Still if she was careful she could do it, she could achieve her plans to connect with Devon and have him none the wiser and of course she was very tempted to do just that.

Rama knew all she had to do was come up with a plan, and keep her scheme from her mentor, which wasn't easy, but considering the many practical jokes she had pulled off over the years against trained ninja warriors, she was sure she could manage.

What right did he have to keep her from her beloved any ways, or take away every opportunity to speak with him?

A part of her tried to warn her that the path of disobedience she was contemplating wasn't that safe and she was asking for trouble, as chunin she had to accept the Master's rulings, no matter how unfair they might seem to be.

"Humph just when does the Master get to rule on who I may love and who I may not? What does he tend to do, plot an arranged marriage for me, like they do in some countries?" She snorted contemptuously as she leaned against a tree, her left hand stung and was bleeding a bit from where she had smashed it against the bark, but she welcomed the pain for it matched the hurt and aching in her heart.

…

Night closed in, with the sun going down the early twilight cool hours with the chorus of crickets and frogs singing settled in around the farm. There was also the echo of the children playing games in the meadow grass their calls, and laughter drifting in the night air, the younger ones playing hide and seek, the older ones in a game of capture the flag.

Yet Rama had not returned, she hadn't arrived for dinner, nor did she appear now to join in with one group or another. Cathy chewed at her bottom lip as she looked over the grass for some sign that her step daughter would arrive.

Cathy was concerned and deeply worried over Ramiela's continued absence, she knew that Splinter's death while expected to some extent, was still a harsh blow to all and then to compound it by telling Ramiela she could not be with the man she loved was bound to cause trouble.

"Stupid," Cathy murmured under her breath as she stared at Leo, while leaning on the porch railing she added a few more insults to describe her brother in law and his insensitivity.

She decided she had maintained her silence long enough and strode over to where Leo and Karena were currently sitting under the shade of a tree.

Leo looked up a questioning look on his face, one eye ridge raised he expected problems especially as Cathy's mood was not that pleasant, and he also knew that Cathy had never been one to abide or simply accept the whole clan business routine.

"I know about your talk with Rama, Leo and the fact nobody has seen her since says a great deal," Cathy declared quickly getting straight to the point.

"It doesn't concern you Catherine. Ramiela is all right" Leo replied simply as he stood up.

Karena stayed sitting, silently wishing that Cathy would back down, but knowing that she wasn't going to.

Cathy shook her head, "it does concern me Leo, because I care for her, and I won't ignore my feelings for her simply because you feel I ought to and that you have the right to decide it." Cathy huffed, crossing her arms over her chest, "Leo clan business, is also family business. What happens in the clan can affect separate families in the clan." She explained her eyes glaring sharply at him, "Just because you sense her, you feel that she is 'all right' but it isn't because her continued absence says it isn't all right Leo" Cathy growled, "Rama is not a loner like Raph's children tend to be. Yes she does go off independently now and again but for the most part she is happy to stay in the group, and she has been gone too long."

Leo gave her a sharp withering stare "This is clan business you have no right to interfere or tell me how to run things" Leo stated sharply, as he straightened his stance and gave her an imposing look.

"Oh quite with your posturing and intimidation tactics Leo, I can read them a mile off and they don't bother me" Cathy retorted, "You fail to see that this isn't about your clan it is about her feelings," Cathy corrected sharply, "and you are being too obtuse to realize that. Well I am not and I am going to look for her Leo, because right now I think ignoring her, under these circumstances, is the worst possible thing."

"Catherine leave Ramiela alone" Leo ordered, "if you sympathize with her it won't help." Leo's tone was sharp and commanding.

"And I'll be undermining your authority again" Cathy concluded as she turned to walk off, glancing over her shoulder toglare at Leo, "It would be far better to leave her upset and miserable in your eyes then to give her some advice or help" she turned giving Leo an icy stare "You are the most…" Cathy gritted her teeth as her lips clenched into a tight grim line, "Forget it I'm looking for her."

Leo fumed as he watched her leave, he knew he could stop her, but there was a good bet she wouldn't find Rama before dark, and therefore would give up her search quickly so he let her be.

Leo just couldn't figure out why it was that Cathy of all the wives could not accept or give into Clan ruling, if any of the women opposed the clan's rules or punishment then one could expect it to be Cathy.

It was normal for all of the women to speak up at first but Cathy had never stopped speaking up for what she felt was right, and often undermined his orders causing conflict. True Cathy didn't just speak up for her family, but for any member who she felt was being handled badly.

Leo found this rather irksome and yet he hadn't been able to get her to stop either, he had often discussed with Mike the importance of letting her know why she had to bow to clan jurisdiction

Mike's answer remained the same "Cathy cares for the individual as well as the group bro, and that's a good thing because if she didn't think or feel like that, well Rama might still be an experiment in a laboratory."

Mike accepted that Leo as jonin had certain rights, and he would stand by his brother and back him up on any ruling and punishment. But Mike also knew that his wife would not change who she was, and to tell the truth he didn't want that part of her to change.

As an animal behaviourist Cathy had learned to study, not only group or herd dynamics but to also watch the individual and how that being found its place in the family unit, this was such an ingrained skill that by now, Cathy couldn't just drop it. She could probably cease breathing easier then using her skills in every facet of life.

So in this area, as in many others in Mike's life, caused Mike to walk a fine borderline of placating both sides while remaining cheerfully neutral.

Karena looked up at her husband's sour displeased glare, and grimaced knowing she'd have to reassure Leo that Cathy's views and opinions was not an attempt to overthrow his command in any way. It was a talk she often had to have with her mate, whenever the two choose to butt heads.

Karena sighed inwardly, though she was actually glad because she knew that once Leo was able to calm down he often considered her words. Besides Cathy often said the very things that Karena didn't dare say.

…

Cathy was irked that Leo had acted so well, like a jonin. Typical male he probably had no idea what Devon truly meant to Rama, or how badly he might have hurt her with his orders.

A girl's first love was always special and not one that was easily cast aside or forgotten.

Cathy smiled reflectively as she thought of her own first love, and how her family had moved away so that she wouldn't see him again. Sure she had been young but at that time she had felt he would be the only love of her world.

She glanced around wondering where to look for Rama, knowing full well the girl would hide so no one would see her crying, or upset. Rama strived to be ninja in all things, and so would long for control in all things.

Rama though a ninja was sensitive and caring, and like any young girl losing her first love was probably a tragedy of epic proportions.

Cathy knew it would soon be dark, so her best chance to find Rama was to do it quickly, as she neared the woods she paused looking into the dark trails beyond. She took a deep steadying breath, "It comes down to this how well do I know Rama, and where do I think she will be?"

Cathy stood considering her options before heading down a dirt path, she hadn't gone too far when she heard a noise, the slight movement of branches and snapping of twigs under foot, caused her to stop.

"Probably just a deer or some other creature" she told herself pushing onward.

Though whatever it was seemed to be heading her direction and closing in fast, making her wonder if it was a deer, for most animals would have caught her scent and moved away.

She turned towards the noise and saw Mike emerging and smiled at him.

"I uh, saw you having words with Leo, but I wanted to let you know I was coming" Mike explained with a shrug, "So what were you and Leo, having problems with now?" he asked delicately.

"Rama she hasn't come home yet and…"

"She's upset, the last few days have been hard on all of us Cathy" Mike said as he slipped an arm around her, "I sense her and know she is hurting but sometimes it is better for people to work things out for themselves."

"Mike it isn't just that. Leo told her something that he labels as clan business, but it really tore at her feelings and he didn't even consider how it would hurt her" Cathy grumped.

"Mmh, uh yeah" Mike mumbled, knowing he'd have to be careful now, "So uh, what was it Leo told her?" he wondered.

"Basically he doesn't want her teleporting to see Devon" Cathy replied, " Karena warned me he was going do it."

Mike fought to hide his smile from his wife, he hadn't really liked the idea of Rama being involved with a Raphael child to begin with, and her Uncle was a bad enough influence on her, without a husband who might be equally incorrigible. Of course he wasn't too sure of the teleporting bit either, it was dangerous and he was unnerved with it, probably more due to watching her float up into the air and disappear before his eyes on her first trip, but he still didn't like the idea.

However, he was aware of Rama's attachment to the boy, she talked with such warmth of him and had even done a few sketches of her lizard boy, which she had put up in her room, plus he recalled the deep longing and misery when Rama had returned to them. Mike was fully aware then, that Leo's order was a harsh blow, and made even worse by the timing of the news.

"Well Leo sure picked a convenient time to drop this on her didn't he?" Mike allowed, "Come on Cathy I have a few ideas of where Rama may be hiding."

"Mike right now she needs compassion, understanding, you know a woman to woman talk, mother to daughter sort of thing" Cathy explained, her tone apologetic.

"Fine, I understand and trust me I don't want to hang around" Mike agreed, "I'll help you look, if we find her and Rama is willing to talk then I'll be on my way and if she isn't then we just have to let her be for now, okay Cathy?"

Cathy nodded as she hugged Mike giving him a long kiss "Thank you."

Mike's only response was to hold his wife closer to him.

TBC