A Sense of Family

Chapter Four: Passing Judgement

Kaliann:

I was heading over to visit with Uncle Mike, I sort of missed having him around the rest of the family so much, I missed the way he used to joke with Aiden and I, or played certain tricks, the magic shows and numerous other ways he had of entertaining us. Most of all, I missed having Uncle Mike's cooking, not that mom was a bad cook, but she couldn't compare to what Uncle Mike could do in a kitchen.

All of that was gone now though, because he wanted to be with Rama, I guess it was sort of understandable, I mean she was his daughter, but after the way she treated us, well I know they say blood is thicker then water but she sure didn't deserve to have someone as nice as Uncle Mike around her twenty four seven.

Aiden and I both agreed that Rama was no good; we hated her because she was so mean. We knew deep down inside she was really a Foot Soldier and she would prove it one day. The way she was forever going after dad and Uncle Raph seemed only to verify in our minds that we were right about her. We thought it was such a pity that Uncle Mike spent all his time living with the enemy.

Plain and simple Aiden and I knew that Rama couldn't be trusted.

So I was very uncomfortable with the idea of going to visit Uncle Mike, but I missed having him around I wanted to see him, and he had promised me that if I came to visit he would teach me to make his famous double chocolate chip cookies.

Mom, of course wasn't too sure about letting me go over there, but after consulting with dad they finally agreed I could go over there on the condition that if Rama was there and started to act aggressive or bad tempered I was to leave immediately.

I hastened to agree, because, truth be told, I was terrified of Rama, there was something in the way she moved, the very way that she acted, that filled me with a bone chilling fear.

Aiden was scared of Rama too, but he didn't show it, not him. He was forever going up and sassing off at her. He even did it when we were captive in Yukio's prison. Aiden was like that, he was bolder then I was. I was far more willing to stick to the shadows.

Even though Aiden and I were twins there were quite a few differences between us, I had blond curly hair, and dad's blue eyes, but I also had eye lashes, I had a more human looking nose and mouth then my brother had. I enjoyed my ninja lessons, though only recently had I started practicing them with any earnestness on my part. I was younger then Aiden by a few minutes and he was the first to walk, talk and all the rest of it. I was the quiet more reflective one.

Perhaps because I didn't feel the need to be the centre of attention, I was easy to overlook, so I often saw or heard things that mom and dad might not want us 'kids' knowing about. Between Aiden and I we usually managed to learn everything that we really needed to know.

Of course Aiden and I had grown up hearing stories about our older cousin Rama, who had disappeared one day. I think our parents tended to watch the rest of us, a bit more, closely because of it, and we didn't have as much freedom as Rama had been given. A bit of information we had learned and Aiden had chafed at.

" Just cause Rama was stupid enough to get lost doesn't mean the rest of us will. Besides dad there is two of us, Kali and I can look out for one another" he protested, more than once, to no avail.

Neither Aiden nor I really remembered Rama being in our family. We had seen a few pictures of the older girl, holding or playing with us. Mom told us that when she had first vanished we had asked for her continually, as she was our playmate, in spite of the five-year age difference between us.

What we knew about Rama was based more on the here and now, from the time we were captured to the present day, not even a year I know, but close to it. We knew Rama was cruel we had seen how she had taken Uncle Mike or Raph during our captivity and brought them back injured and bleeding. We had seen her threaten mom back in the prison. Of course we had seen her go after dad and Uncle Raph a few times since our escape and we felt for sure one day she would kill them. Worst of all though I think was the day she almost killed me. It was a day that I couldn't forget or forgive on.

Yes, she did help us escape, but that didn't mean she was a friend, or deserved to be a part of our family again. Uncle Raph was right she was a Foot and the Foot were our sworn enemies.

I had tried to talk Aiden into coming with me, as I really didn't want to go alone but he refused.

" I don't want any part of the stinking good for nothing Foot" he ranted in his churlish, way pouting a bit, " You ought to stay away from her too Kali."

" I don't want to be with her Aiden. I just miss Uncle Mike and it seems we don't get enough time with him anymore. It is like she's stealing him away from us, and we've all ready lost enough family to her, I don't want to lose Uncle Mike too." I complained.

I paused at the door and took a deep breath before reaching out to tap on the door very softly and waited nervously for a reply, wondering and worrying on what I would do if Rama answered the door.

I was relieved to see that it was Uncle Mike who swung the door wide open and greeted me with his friendly smile.

" Hi Kali, come on in" he invited cheerfully stepping to one side and gesturing me in.

I entered glancing around uneasily " Rama isn't here is she?" I asked hesitantly.

" Not at the moment Kali, she went for a walk topside but even if she was here she wouldn't do anything to you." Uncle Mike insisted.

" She tried hurting all of us before" I countered unable to suppress a shudder at the memories that were brewing inside of me.

" Well, that was sort of to be expected. Rama was Foot then, if only because she didn't know better. She went through a great deal Kali." He assured me.

I rolled my eyes, " So did we!" I reminded him.

" Yes we did but we were only there a little over a week. Rama dealt with it for nine years." Uncle Mike pointed out.

" I just want to forget all about it" I grumped a bit.

I still had nightmares about that one-week, it was a whole lifetime in a little over a week. Aiden often heard me crying in the night and would come to comfort me. Being my twin we were naturally connected to each other and we often felt when the other needed us the most.

" You just want to make excuses for her, just like Uncle Don does" I accused him.

" Excuses no, I don't make excuses for anyone but myself Kali," Uncle Mike corrected me, " But look at it this way, after nine years of living under extreme conditions she is now trying to live and fit in with people that she has seen as her enemies for all those years. It is a hard change to go through Kali, and she needs help if she is ever going to accept us."

As he talked he guided me through the small living room area, and into the kitchen, " I bet if you gave Rama a fair chance you may find she isn't what you think, as most of your views of her are based upon, the time of our capture onward." Uncle Mike insisted he smiled down at me, " If you are going judge at least look at the whole picture and not a portion of it" he chided, " After all, you will need to do that, as the Jonin of the clan."

I grinned I actually liked the idea of being Jonin, course at the moment it didn't have the responsibility it once had, as the only one I'd be leading was my brother and sister, that is unless things changed between now and when I took over.

The kitchen like the living room was small and cozy, there was only a few cupboards over and under the sink and around the stove, so there wasn't a great deal of counter space, but there was a round table with three chairs, a few steps away. Beyond that there was a long table that was very low to the ground, your legs couldn't even fit under it, but there were pillows and cushions all around it.

" What is that for?" I wondered.

Uncle Mike laughed, " That is a proper Japanese table Kali, Rama and I eat our meals there and this table is mostly used for preparing meals." He smiled, " Rama also prefers to eat all her meals using chopsticks, she claims it keeps her fingers dexterous."

" She's big on Japanese stuff ain't she?" I muttered.

" Rama considers Japan her home, so for her these are mementoes of the place she grew up, it makes her feel a little more comfortable," Uncle Mike replied, " Not only that but since our Master originally came from Japan, these items remind me of our ninja heritage and pay tribute to Splinter."

I smiled at that answer; it was so like Uncle Mike.

We started to mix up the cookies with us laughing and joking about all sorts of things, and as the cookies started to bake, I began to hope that I might actually get out of here before Rama knew I had been here. You know play the ninja and vanish quickly without a trace.

It wasn't to be however as my hopes were quickly dashed as Rama entered the kitchen, I hadn't even heard her come in but seeing her appear so suddenly startled me into hiding behind Uncle Mike.

Rama reached into the mixing bowl and snatched some of the dough out and ate it.

Uncle Mike glowered at her " Get out of it girl," He made a slap towards her fingers; " raw cookie dough isn't good for you," he scolded.

She sneered at him " Look at all that fat greasy food you are so fond of eating. But you want to tell me what is good to eat?" she remarked.

" Hey, I get bored of rice, noodles, salad and sushi" Uncle Mike shot back.

" It is a wonder you aren't the size of a blimp or died of a heart attack by now from all that sickening stuff you shove in your face."

They continued to trade insults back and forth ignoring me, but as they did so I realized Uncle Mike was teasing Rama, and she didn't seem insulted, or upset by the fact if anything she was joking right back.

Rama could joke?

Sure, she was suppose to be Uncle Mike's daughter but somehow I really didn't expect someone like her to have a sense of humour, unless it involved laughing at someone else getting hurt.

Their playful banter died down and Rama turned her head towards me giving me a small smile that looked awful sinister to me. I felt my heart begin to race and I swallowed quickly trying to hold my ground, which wasn't hard because I was frozen to the spot, as I wondered what she was going do with me.

" Hello Kaliann welcome to our home" she spoke softly and bowed towards me.

I knew I ought to bow back in response but I was scared and uncertain, and I sort of forgot that bit of etiquette. My dad had taught me the importance of manners so I knew my lapse now might seem like the height of rudeness. Instead my fingers raised up to trace the scar along my neck.

" Your not afraid of me, are you?" Rama asked.

I gulped and trembled a bit " Yes" I managed to whisper, the word coming out in a soft hiss.

" You don't have to be I won't hurt you." She assured me.

" You wanted to before, you almost killed me" I accused her sharply.

Oh crap, tell me I didn't say that, why did I say that? Now she will kill me for sure. I thought to myself.

Rama nodded slightly " I did" she admitted, " But only because my father the Jonin of my clan ordered it. A ninja must obey the Jonin" she acknowledged, " Now I am a ronin, which means I can decide what I will or won't do, and I absolutely refuse to do anything that I feel holds little or no honour" she declared, " I never did care for execution killings so I won't be doing them anymore. I prefer giving death in battle, matching my skills and abilities against others in a game of life or death" she smiled, " Besides that Kaliann you are a guest in my home and it would not be right to injure you here." She explained.

" See Kali, Rama does hold to her Japanese training she is very polite and proper that way," Uncle Mike said as he dropped a hand on my shoulder and stepped around me to remove the cookies from the oven

I took a deep breath realizing that Rama really didn't seem so bad here, in her own place. It was like she was suddenly someone totally different; this just wasn't a part of her that I had seen before now.

Rama scooped up some of the cooling cookies " I'm going to the garden to meditate" she announced, though I had a feeling she was doing so for my benefit. She paused in the doorway " What poison are we eating tonight?"

" Steamed veggies, wild rice, salad and meat simmered in a barbeque sauce" Uncle Mike answered.

She nodded " That I might be able to manage" she grinned.

I went over to the table to help remove the treats from off the pans " Uh what does she mean by that poison bit? Your cooking is great!" I insisted, heck if Rama didn't appreciate it Uncle Mike could always cook for those of us who did like it.

" Oh Rama and I have different opinions on what good food is, so we tend to alternate days, so that we each have a chance to get something we like. Tonight is my night but I decided to make something she'll enjoy" Uncle Mike explained, " Rama doesn't care for the fattening greasy food, she says she can taste the grease, so when I make pizza, hamburgers anything like that she prepares herself something more pleasing to her taste." Uncle Mike smiled at me as he started to drop the last of the dough onto the metal baking sheets, " She insists all that stuff is poison."

The last of the cookies had been removed from the oven when Rama came back into the kitchen, with Baka riding on her shoulders, " Baka is in a true baka type mood, he keeps wanting me to pay attention to him instead of meditating." She said as she rubbed the cat's neck with her fingers, causing Baka to purr with delight.

Rama looked at me then towards Mike, he smiled at her, and she sighed a little before turning back to me. I had a feeling the two of them had just communicated in the silent ninja way.

Rama sat down at the large table, " So what weapon do you favour Kaliann?"

" I prefer the art of bojitsu." I replied, seeing no harm in answering that question.

" What of your brother Ryu?"

" Aiden is into kenpo." I said as I picked up a cookie to nibble on.

" How is his arm, it is healed well from where father broke it?" Rama inquired.

" It seems okay, he has fairly good movement of it but he says it pains him now and again." I answered, wondering if she was just trying to make polite conversation, or if she was fishing for information.

" Are you any good?" She wondered, "As I recalled during our escape you did better at fighting then your brother did, and you handled the staff quite well, but considering all you'd been through, I don't think what I saw then was a true example of your skill."

I ducked my head biting my lip a bit as I considered her words " I'm okay I guess. Aiden doesn't like to practice ninjitsu too much, even after everything we have been through" I confessed.

Rama smiled " Ryu is very stubborn. Would you care to practice with me a little?"

I didn't know how to answer this one, mom and dad didn't want us sparring with Rama, due to the fact she was so unpredictable.

I recalled one night wanting to see my parents about something and as I neared our living room I could hear dad talking to mom.

" Ramiela is still too volatile in practise Karena, the least little thing seems to set her off. I keep hoping she can calm down but I don't see it happening" he gave a frustrated sigh, " I want to give her every chance I can for Mike's sake but…" he shook his head, " I don't see it happening she has been trained to be a ninja warrior full time and trained to hate us, perhaps it has just been too much time away."

I had slunk back to my bedroom knowing that it was one of those things I probably shouldn't have heard. Still those words and my father's warning now rang in my head, and I knew practicing with Rama was a very bad idea.

I just didn't know how I could tell her that. I mean how was I suppose to refuse her and not get her upset or angry with me, how could I save face? How was I supposed to obey my parent's wants and yet not offer a figurative slap in the face to Rama.

I looked at Uncle Mike hoping he'd offer some sort of excuse, or reply for me, but he just looked at me and arched an eye ridge at me.

" Uh, I don't know" I began, then somehow I was blurting out " I suppose it will be all right if Uncle Mike is there to watch."

I didn't know where that had come from, I was going tell her that my father wouldn't permit it but somehow that isn't what came out, and suddenly I had agreed to spar with her.

Course I knew that Uncle Mike would prevent any trouble, hopefully before it started. Besides dad was always saying that a ninja had to move beyond fear, and maybe if I sparred with her I'd be able to do just that.

Uncle Mike nodded " All right I will spot you, but don't expect me to join in. I am getting much too old for more practices then I have fingers."

" Too fat and lazy for it too" Rama scoffed.

Rama lead me out of the kitchen and past a section of pipe where I heard the unmistakable sound of water running, a not uncommon sound for down in the sewers but this was different, and there was also the sound of birds so I knew where the garden had to be. Just beyond the garden was another pipe that Rama lead me into and it was set up as a dojo, with various weapons, mats on the floor, weights and some exercise equipment.

" Where did you get all this stuff?" I asked curiously. I knew for a fact that these weapons hadn't come from our home or from any of our private stash. For one thing I could tell some of them looked to be of good quality, the sort of thing we could rarely afford.

Rama smirked " The old Foot headquarters, before the remnant could remove what was useable. I figured I was entitled to it since a great deal of the stuff father paid for." She shrugged slightly.

I went over to check out the staffs she had appropriated, while Ramiela leaned against a wall and watched me, as I picked up one and then placed it back in favour of another, checking the weight and feel in my hand. Finally after careful consideration I opted for a four foot jo staff. Rama nodded as if she approved my choice.

She then came forward onto the mat and we did the preliminary bow, before she pulled her katana, I felt a strange churning in my belly and my legs suddenly felt weak for I knew in my heart that, Rama could still defeat me with ease.

Rama started to test my skill level by starting slow, steady easy moves that were easy for me to block and as she saw what I was capable of she went further. I relaxed as I fell into the rhythm of the basic moves, and could almost guess what she was going to do next.

I realized now that Ramiela wasn't trying to go for a quick and easy defeat, nor was she trying to humiliate me, rather she was feeling me out, learning just how good I was, and then finally she settled into a level that was just enough to challenge me, without degrading me, by clobbering me continually on the mat. So she was helping me get better, as a good instructor would do.

At one point I swung my staff in a wide arc, but before I could bring it around for the blow she had allowed her katana blade to strike my shoulder, in what would have been a very bad wound, possibly even a life threatening one.

" Never leave yourself open like that Kaliann. You must keep your staff close where it can protect you" Rama told me kindly, " You must either swing faster then my sword can drop, or you can swing while you crouch down low, so you aren't in harms way" she informed me.

" If I crouch down won't I just be in harm's way? I mean I'm down there and you are above." I reasoned, as I scrunched up my face in confusion. " I wouldn't be able to dodge the blows as quickly from that vantage point."

Rama smiled at me, " Perhaps if we trade I can demonstrate what I mean Kaliann" she handed me her katana.

I took it and offered my staff.

" Now if you stand as I was and I take the swing you did, but instead drop down low, the katana must drop further to hit me, or I would have to compensate by coming in closer, not a good idea with a staff being swung at you." She explained picking her words carefully, " therefore the katana might make a small wound but not life threatening or dangerous wound compared to what I could have scored" her tone grew slightly sharp, " The katana must then be raised for another attack, by then it would have to be moved to block or counter attack the staff."

I giggled as she talked, and Rama glowered at me.

" Did I say something amusing?" She growled a bit.

" No it just you sound a bit like dad when he gives lessons" I remarked.

She gave a shake of her head, "Do you care to listen or ignore me then?" she demanded.

" I am listening" I assured her quickly.

" The staff is swung to hit behind the knees knocking your opponent off balance, now if you can shift the staff in your hand quickly you can cause a jab at the side or in the stomach," She instructed " if you are really good you might even be able to disarm your opponent as he struggles to regain his balance."

With that said she demonstrated what she meant moving faster than lightening could strike, she had dropped low and hit out. She was so fast I didn't even have a chance to defend myself. I found myself falling back onto the mats and Rama disarming me as I toppled to the protected floor.

" Wicked cool move!" I crowed, " Can you teach me it please," I begged suddenly, " I'd love to do this on Aiden."

Rama nodded, " Sure I can do that, some times my instructors at the ryu in Japan would let me help teach the younger ninja," she said reflectively.

For the next few minutes she let me practice correcting me here or there, until I had the moves down, now it was just a matter of speed. When we finished practice we bowed to one another.

" Thank you for joining me Kaliann, I sensed your fear and hesitation in doing so but you showed great courage" She complimented me.

" It is getting late though and Kali best be getting home or her dad and mom will be worried about her, and I've got to start dinner" Uncle Mike announced, " Come on we'll get you a bag of cookies to take home with you."

Rama and Mike both saw me to the door, to say goodbye to me.

" We'd be honoured if you would come to visit with us again Kaliann, for I would appreciate the chance to get to know you better" Rama said.

I smiled " I promise I will come visit you again" I vowed as I said my goodbys to them before ducking out the door.

I didn't know if I like Rama or not, but I think Uncle Mike was right she was different now, she didn't seem so mean or harsh as I recalled her being, and I felt maybe I did owe her another chance, I mean she could have hurt me in sparring and she hadn't so perhaps she wasn't even as bad as dad thought.

TBC