A Sense of Family

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

Chapter Five: Suspicions Rising

Ramiela:

I felt almost claustrophobic at times when I was confined within the sewers, sooner or later the dark tunnels, eerie echoes, sound of dripping or running water, the smell and the utter filth of the place would send me topside.

I secretly hoped that Kaliann would come back to visit, she sounded like she might. I knew from the time I spent at the ryu in Japan, that I enjoyed young children, helping them with their lessons, just watching them but I didn't get a chance to play children's games in any way, for my father was very strict with how I ought to spend my waking hours. I was to become his deadly weapon, his powerful kunoichi. So due to being in constant training I often felt that I was far older, even older then my own peers.

I didn't blame Kaliann for her trepidation, I had given her numerous reasons to both fear and loathe me, I couldn't deny that, so I had to hope that what was in the past could somehow, be put behind us and she could learn to trust me. As I hoped the rest of Mike's family would eventually do.

Trust, it seemed very few people could trust me here, and I wished for the clan to show me that they could accept me. I wanted to know I belonged, that the choice I had made to spare their lives had not been the gravest mistake on my part. At least I had spared Mike's life and he had at least shown that I hadn't been wrong in that. He had promised that if I helped them escape he would be with me, fight with me and stand against his own family on my behalf. So, far he had been as good as his word.

But I was at a loss on how I was to gain the trust of other's when they kept me forever at arm's length. I often got the feeling that Leonardo and Karena didn't want me near their precious children.

I gritted my teeth at the thought. Leonardo had originally spoken of giving us all a chance, time, to accept one another, and yet he constantly locked me out of their lives by laying down certain rules.

For the most part we didn't see each other or even associate with one another, I lived on the outskirts of their immediate territory and the only time they saw me, really, was at practice. They never came to my home, and I felt very on edge and uncomfortable in their home because I sensed, knew in my heart, that most of the family didn't even want me there. Don of course was the exception to that rule. He made me feel welcome, provided a safe enough spot where I could relax and he would visit Mike and I about twice a week, if only for a cup of tea. Mike himself would visit with his family during the day or evenings.

Kaliann's visit meant there now might be hope to bridge the gap yet. Though I had been startled when she accepted my offer to spar, I felt for sure she would turn me down; telling me quite bluntly that she would never practice with anyone as dangerously insane as I was.

The girl did have courage, as well as common sense something that might help her in bringing balance to her far more impulsive brother. I wondered if she would be able to get Ryu to visit with me as well, or at the very least get the impertinent baka to stop calling me a Foot Soldier.

I am not a Foot anymore. I threw that all way, my heritage everything tossed down into a rubbish heap, but it seemed to some of the turtle clan that I was and would always be nothing more than a Foot and Kirra for the rest of my life no matter what I did.

I believe that I had made the worst error of my life ever. I had lost everything and gained nothing for it, and I was labeled a suspect, in spite of everything I had done. I was no more than an enemy in their eyes.

How would they, how could they, ever accept me, if in their mind I was one and the same as those they fought against and opposed?

Somehow I had to find a way to prove to them, that I wasn't a Foot.

Hadn't I accepted the name Rama that seemed as strange and unfamiliar to me as they were? I felt so much like I didn't belong.

It was this that drove me now for the upper levels of the world, the streets and rooftops constantly beckoned and called to me.

I ought to kill them, destroy them all. I hate them. Why not live up to their expectations of me? Kill them all and be done with it. They all deserved to die, except for Mike and Don. I would enjoy it, watching as I made their blood flow.

These thoughts swam into my mind and I willingly answered to their siren call and hold, I wanted to do it. I longed to do it, and yet some childhood memories came reminding me of all that I had virtually lost when I had been stolen from them in the first place.

Along with these memories were images of father and what he had done to the seven year old child, I had once been when he had me in his grasp. I could see him in the dojo towering over me, scowling down at the turtle child I had been, her head bowed she did her best to stand straight, without fidgeting in any way.

" Kirra you have disappointed me yet again" he hissed vehemently, a dark foreboding look on his face, " You are supposed to obey your Masters not avoid your lessons. How will you ever become the powerful kunoichi that you are meant to be? That I expect you to be" he snapped sharply.

I looked up fighting back useless tears, trying not to tremble in fear as I swallowed hard, I bowed my head again as I whispered in reply " I'm sorry. I'll try harder" I vowed.

" That is always your excuse, it is your constant apology, which means nothing but then you forget or you disobey in some other fashion" he flared, then his eyes seemed to grow harder, " Perhaps I ought to return you to the lab from, which you came, and be done with you." He fumed.

I felt a cold chill, I knew the lab was a terrible place, I didn't want to return there not for anything, and I had to blink my eyes and my breath came fast as I tried to keep the tears from falling now, for I knew tears would anger him. I fell to the ground lowering myself completely to the floor in total submission as I begged " No don't. I promise I will be good Master. I'll do what you ask. I'll do anything just don't send me back there."

He seemed to consider for a moment his head cocked to one side a sneer crossed his face, " Because you are my daughter, more is expected from you Kirra, and because of that bond I won't send you to the lab" he declared, but then he gave a small thin smile, " But you will have to be lessoned so you may never forget the expectations you must meet as my daughter."

I shuddered, hating lessons, or at least the type he gave, but having a lesson from him was far better then being returned to that lab.

I nodded humbly accepting my fate.

" You will learn Kirra to do exactly as I say. You will not disobey me in any matter, or even think of it" father declared sharply, " I spared your life so now you owe me your life. Everything you do you will do for me, willingly giving me nothing but your best. I will not tolerate one smidgen of obstinance or disobedience in you."

" I know I deserve to be punished" I agreed fully " For I have been a willful and disobedient child."

I knew I had been badly hurt form the lesson that followed the harsh reprimand, but for the life of me I couldn't remember what lesson was given, or for how long, that part was a complete and utter blank.

Pain from lessons had been a great part of my growing years in the Ryu, I often felt that father went out of his way to find things to discipline me for, he often threatened to return me to the lab and I was always grateful when he didn't carry through on it but opted to lesson me instead. Though the lessons that followed such threats were usually the worst lessons I received from him. I knew it, I felt it but the memory of those lessons were nothing more then a void, no confirmation or denial of those feelings.

Once I was older and knew what was expected of me then I didn't have to worry about lessons, in fact if anything I set about trying to prove to my father that there was no need for me to be lessoned or worse yet returned to the lab where he had found me. I became all he wanted me to be, his powerful kunoichi, using my mind, my skills and sometimes my body to achieve whatever he needed of me.

Yes, Father had all the control and the power, and I suppose that I was his most obedient servant, all right, I was his slave I realized and acknowledged it on some plane of existence and yet I couldn't fully accept it either.

I was fully torn between what I once had been and what I now longed to be.

My exercises had not managed to purge the demons that pestered me, so I came to rest leaning against a retaining wall around a rooftop, staring down at the city below, deep in my own thoughts, reflections of both past and future, that I failed to notice the approaching danger.

Still a scratching at the edge of my mind, some instinct that caused alarm bells to ring suddenly went off growing more urgent and demanding by the moment, caused me to whirl around pulling my katana simultaneously.

I glanced quickly around the rooftop seeing shadows where there should be none, and knew the Foot were active again, as at least twelve members were there.

The Foot despised the turtle clan, they had a long history of such hatred that flowed over the years, with the turtles adding fuel to the raging fire, with each setback they had caused. Still I was the greater prize for them.

The Ronin who had betrayed them, stealing their chance to be rid of the turtle clan once and for all, and then I had killed Yukio, leaving them leaderless and lost. The fact I hadn't mean to kill Yukio meant nothing, most of the Foot clan knew my expertise in weapons, they would never accept that Yukio's death had been accidental on my part.

I braced myself taking a deep breath and relaxing my stance slightly, waiting for them to make the first move. To bring the battle to me, since the odds were against me, it would be foolish to do it any other way.

" Kirra" one hissed.

" Ramiela!" I shot back. Clearly this soldier knew me from before and was not a new recruit to the Foot.

" Traitor" he growled.

" Want to make something of it?" I sneered.

He lunged at me quickly with the others just moments behind, it took me but a minute or two to realize that these soldiers were far better then average, for they attacked quickly and efficiently leaving me few opportunities to counter attack, in fact I was hard pressed to maintain the ground I stood on, and I would have retreated a step or two if my back hadn't been, quite literally pressed against the retaining wall around the roof top edge.

I knew I had been distracted by my thoughts, allowing them to close in and take me by surprise, but to further complicate matters, they were wearing merely the simple uniform of the initiate foot soldier, not revealing the true rank of the soldiers I now fought against.

So I pushed these errors to the back of my mind knowing to dwell on it at this moment could mean death. Instead I allowed instinct and years of training to come to the forefront allowing me to know not just when to block, but also when to strike full force.

Suddenly as quickly as they had started the attack the Foot Soldiers withdrew backing up out of range of my weapons, they lowered their weapons and stood waiting as if for some signal.

I stood my ground uncertain and wary, I sensed some trap but wasn't quite sure where or when it would be sprung and was not eager to rush into it. I scowled trying to make sense of what was going on, figuring out the game they seemed so intent on playing. I couldn't figure out why they would back off when they clearly had me at their mercy.

I shook my head as I tried to fathom their actions, and while I turned these thoughts over in my mind, he showed up.

Raphael:

I was getting some fresh air, which I desperately needed. It was amazing how quickly I fell back into old habits, especially now that I had lost Sara and my children. My own family, the woman I loved, the children I had fathered meant everything to me. Only the Foot had stolen those precious items and I was determined to make them pay. I was going get my revenge, I would make them pay one way or another.

I was jumping rooftops, when I saw a Foot soldier, I smiled to myself, and it was time for payback. Since our escape they had been laying low hardly showing themselves so I figured catching this soldier out was a stroke of luck, for me it was good luck, for the Foot well he would get the bad end of the stick.

I followed him, noting that he joined a few companions and they were all making good time, paying little attention to anything but their own destination, which just happened to be a rooftop of some upper scale apartments, Ramiela was there she had her katana out and a dozen Foot stood nearby, the Foot looked as if they were ready to get down to a friendly chat.

Damn it! I knew it. I knew all along that she was talking with the Foot, she hadn't severed ties, only made it look that way. Hell she had probably wanted to rule the Foot Clan and hoped we'd dispose of Yukio for her or something. No, all along she had been Foot she hadn't switched allegiance yet and was just waiting for the opportunity to stab us all in the back.

I knew she couldn't be trusted, now I had her caught right in the act, just let her try and talk her way out of this.

" We look forward to doing business with you Kirra" one of the Foot stated bowing slightly before he and the other Foot in the area vanished.

Normally, I would have gone after them but I had my own business to attend to and it concerned confronting that two faced back stabbing witch Kirra, about her loyalties.

I jumped landing down near Kirra " What's up Kirra?" I spat out.

" I am not Kirra, they attacked me" she flared sharply glowering at me.

" Sure, they really looked like they were going for blood" I snarled.

" Look at me, I've been hurt" she gestured at her injuries.

" Nothing more than flesh wounds" I contradicted, " You were shooting the breeze, got in over your head and sold us out. Trust me the last thing those Foot wanted was blood."

" I didn't betray you, what would I gain by that Raphael?" she asked.

" Why don't you tell me what the deal was? Either that or you can confess to Leo."

Her eyes blazed " I don't have to confirm anything with you!"

" Listen up Kirra I don't give a damn what you do but I'm telling you now that I want you as far away from my family as possible, in other words get lost and don't come back" I ordered, " That includes Mike. I don't want you around him."

" What right have you to dictate to me what I should or shouldn't do?" she hissed, " You are not the Jonin to make such decisions."

" I have two things you will never have Kirra" I retorted with a smirk, " I have honour and I have a clan."

She curled her lip and charged, I ducked stepping a bit to one side as I grabbed her tossing her over my shoulders. I spun around and withdrew my sai, knowing how wise it was to keep my eye on her.

She stood with her own sais in her hands, as my toss had disarmed her of her swords.

" Bring it on Kirra, I win you leave." I declared.

" I am not Kirra but you are right about something Raphael, and that is that I am going kill you, and I will do it here and now or die trying" she threatened darkly.

We met part way our weapons ringing together there was clearly equal amounts of anger and hatred on both sides, after all I had goaded her into the first attack but had kept my wits to outthink her, but she knew now that she couldn't allow that anger she felt to consume her.

She tried to sweep me off of my feet with a kick but I jumped over it with ease, back flipping out of the way as I did so. She quickly closed in but moving with caution, both of us knew what was at stake and neither of us were willing to throw this match.

Still my family's safety meant everything and I knew I couldn't let her win.

She was damned good at anticipating her opponent's moves and I knew there were times a person could unconsciously telegraph their intents through body language. I also knew in a sparring match Kirra could easily take two of us with ease, three caused her a harder work out and four of us against her was a down right challenge. But there was plenty at stake here for both of us.

Suddenly she seemed to go from calculating to whirling dervish, her sudden vicious attack caused me to be disarmed and to collapse under her, she was quick to seize the advantage, I was down and she was going make sure I stayed that way.

Her sai was poised to kill, and I was aware that this time she wouldn't stop because no one was there to prevent it, but in the end she would still lose because with my death, my family would know her for what she truly was. She would not have a chance and if I knew Leo he'd kill her himself, if she hadn't committed seppuku by then.

Ramiela:

I had the over confident turtle in my grasp and at my whim, I could finally kill him and silence his mouth and wipe that smirk from his face forever. I longed to plunge my sai deep into his throat to claim the victory that was mine. I could see it, I wanted it.

I felt my body trembling violently as I tried to accomplish that which came so easily to mind.

If I killed him I would gain the honour that I had lost, but in that same sense and instance I knew that by killing him I would lose far more than honour.

It was this conflict of mind, and honour that stayed my hand. I felt a low whimper escape my throat and growled instead of letting that whimper escape. I would not look weak now, I couldn't afford such loss of face.

I tossed my sais far away from him before my mind overcame this hurdle and I did kill him, even though killing him is what I wanted the most.

I had won this challenge, and perhaps out of honour he would now let me live because I had spared his life again, though I doubted the arrogant turtle would see it that way.

" Get the hell out and leave me alone you baka!" I yelled at him, as I cautiously backed off.

He gave me a cold sneer as he gained his feet and for a moment, I thought he would come after me for a second time, if he did I could not promise to be lenient.

However he only gathered his weapons and left me alone. I knew without a doubt he would tell the others, and they would listen to him, believe his words, because he was one of them, and I wasn't.

I shook my head miserably as I realized that my life would be in anger from now on, the Foot were back in action and I was still a lowly ronin with no help from any quarter. That bitter realization was enough for me to crumple in defeat and let loose the flood of tears that fought for release.

TBC