A Sense Of Family
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Chapter Seven: What to do.
Michaelangelo:
I watched as Don fiddled with his computer, not understanding a damn bit of what he was doing, but that was okay by me, I hardly understood the things Don did anyways. I mean none of us understood the things Don did, or how he did them, we were just grateful he was able to do what he did.
I perched on the edge of the desk listening to him mumble and mutter to himself. "So what have you and Rama been doing besides talking business of poisons and remedies, useful explosions and all that other good stuff?" I asked interrupting his rambling.
Don looked up and smiled a bit "We talk about whatever she wants to talk about and is comfortable with telling me" He scowled a bit as he looked at some wires in his hand "I keep hoping she will start putting some of her displaced anger out on Yukio instead of on us." He turned his concentration back to the task he was in the midst of, then after a few minutes silence continued "If we can get her to do that, then it might help her in a lot of other problem areas."
"Rama doesn't have any problems Don" I corrected.
"No. She just has numerous issues that I am not about to get into at this particular time Mike" Don growled sourly.
"Rama likes you and Kali" I pointed out, I was impressed with how well those two had hit it off, especially after Kali got over her fears about Rama. Kali unlike her brother seemed to be quite willing to put the past where it belonged and give Rama the second chance she so deserved.
" I know and that is good Mike, but she still has to accept the rest of the family and we, as a clan, have to accept her too. She doesn't trust Leo, she loathes Raph though he brings a lot of that on himself, and Aiden isn't exactly helping matters by sitting in Raph's camp" Don gave a frustrated sigh, as one hand reached up to rub his brow with one hand "If she is going to get better Mike she is going need the whole family supporting and helping her. She has to feel like she belongs." he gave a shake of his head, "Instead she is given the impression that she must prove to us that she is worthy and she's got enough to deal with after everything Yukio did to her. Damn it!" Don growled, " If we wanted to really help her we wouldn't be drawing all these imaginary lines between her and us. I know Leo feels he doesn't have any choice that is part of what is so frustrating in this whole situation" Don ranted he took a deep breath, "Mike do you realize all of us who trust and believe in her, she doesn't have a problem with. It started with you, trusting and believing in her, showing her that you cared about her! She returned it. Then I started to accept her in after we got home, and she slowly let me in. I haven't had any problems with her. Kali the same thing."
I nodded it was true enough. We had been the ones to reach out to her first, and she had greedily accepted it. Reminding me all too much of an abused animal who is so leery, to the point of aggression, of people because it has learned the law of hurt or be hurt. But if someone is able to reach out and work on that animal showing it, that there is no reason to fear then the animal might learn certain people can be trusted and their touch is good. The abused animal might not trust everyone but it will know who to turn to for kindness and affection.
"To put it simply Don we are between a rock and a hard place. Or if you prefer we are damned if we do and damned if we don't" I agreed with him, "Rama herself is getting tired of being on the fringes and it worries me how she may react" I confessed, "Now with that Foot attack."
"What Foot attack? I know her and Raph tangled the other day" Don demanded to know, "I guess that means the Foot has their new leader, whoever it may be now, hopefully they aren't as bad as Yukio was."
"Yeah they are back, the proverbial bad smell that you can't get rid of. Rama as a ronin knows she can't expect help from our clan if the Foot catches her out. While the Foot was disorganized it didn't matter, she was fairly safe then, but now that they are organized they'll be after her as well as us. She needs to be sure of help" I picked up a screwdriver tossing it in the air watching it as it flipped end over end before coming down and I caught it in my hand. I didn't want to say it, but I was afraid for Rama too, and wondering how to keep her safe now "She is scared Don but she won't admit to it."
Don cursed softly "Great! Just what we don't need. Couldn't they have given her just a little more time?" Don grumbled, "she still hasn't even adjusted and this will put more pressure on her which will cause us more trouble making Leo keep her away longer."
I knew what he was saying, this was one thing I didn't need explained "Can we step her therapy up a bit Don?" I hinted hopefully.
"No Mike it doesn't work like that. If I try to move her too fast, before she is ready then I might lose her trust. She has to be ready. It is her decision to get the help, not ours to force it down her throat." He glared at the computer parts "If we push she will reject it. She has to want our help, and she has to see that what we offer is the truth and accept it as well," Don explained through gritted teeth.
"Then what are we supposed to do Don? Nothing!" I wondered in exasperation.
Don stood up and snatched the screwdriver from out of the air, "No of course not Mike, we aren't going abandon her now." he gave a tight smile, "I don't even know what I'm doing with her half the time, or if what I am doing is helping" he groaned.
I realized then that Don was nearing the end of the rope. He knew her problems and some of the things she was forced to face, but in trying to help her get better he didn't know if what he was doing was right or not. Now there was the added tension and uncertainty to add to the rest of it. It was a wonder he didn't just throw his hands up in the air and say 'I quit. I've had it.'
"Don don't give up on Rama. You are helping her. I can see it bit by bit. It is just taking time. You love a challenge Don, and she needs you" I pleaded with him, doing my best to placate and reassure him.
Don gave a weary half smile "I'm not about to give up on her Mike. You should know that." he soothed, "There is one thing we can try I have been holding off on it because I didn't know if she was ready for it." Don declared, "I made a practice dummy for your little dojo Mike. Put it up leave it alone and see how she reacts to it." Don informed me as he went off to a corner of his work shop and dug into a locked cabinet.
"Your hoping for what Don?" I asked curiously not knowing how a dummy for the dojo would help Rama in any way.
Don shrugged "Call it anger therapy"
"She already has anger. We know that" I insisted.
Don turned "Yes this will hopefully channel her anger, that is with luck." he held up the dummy.
Most dummies for dojos were nothing more then punching bags, the one Don had made was a large sturdy looking soft doll, complete with arms, legs, a face, a wig and dressed in a black shirt and black pants. it was built in proportion and the dummy had Asian features to it.
"You want Rama to get angry at this?" I asked puzzled. " Is it supposed to be Yukio?"
Don nodded "Or a reasonable facsimile thereof" he admitted, " Just hang it up in the dojo and ignore it Mike, though you might want to hit it once while your working out just to see how she reacts, other wise no more." Don suggested, "Be very careful if Rama feels that this is Yukio she won't like it being used for the purpose of a punching bag. take your cue from her" Don instructed.
I looked at the dummy "You know Yukio never looked so good but boy do I have an urge to smack it around."
Don laughed as he clapped me on the shoulder "Maybe you need the therapy then Mike. Anyway maybe with this hanging around she might get mad at it, and hopefully if she can allow herself to be angry at the dummy she can then transfer that to Yukio." Don nodded a pleased smile on his face. "So I know Kali told me that she enjoys spending time with Rama."
"Rama enjoys Kali's company. She invited Kali over for lunch to be followed by a very traditional tea ceremony in the garden." I informed him.
"I know Leo doesn't mind Kali visiting but I wonder if he is aware that Kali is sparring with her, I don't think he'd care for that Mike." Don cautioned.
"Look I've watched them. Rama sparring with Kali is like Leo sparring with her. She instructs she points things out to help Kali, why would Leo be against that Don?" I demanded.
"Because of the way Rama can get when she's sparring. When she seems to forget that we are her friends, not her enemies to be destroyed." Don answered sharply crossing his arms over his plastron.
"Rama won't hurt Kali!" I snapped, "Look Don, I thought you were the one preaching about trusting Rama and..." I began suddenly furious that it seemed he was against Rama.
"Mike how can you be sure of that? When she wants to bring one of us down she can. She is the ultimate ninja warrior Mike, she has threatened the life of Leo and Raph enough," he pointed out, "Yes I know Raph brings a great deal of that on himself but still if she can turn on us, what is to stop her from hurting Kali, if she hurts Kali Leo will never allow her in the clan." Don insisted, "Not only that Leo ought to be told that she is sparring with Rama."
I shook my head " How is the family ever going know or trust her while we keep her at arm's length Don? No wonder Rama feels Leo is nothing but a hypocrite." I grouched, " Look Don I understand why Leo is doing it but it doesn't help Rama any. She hasn't hurt us sparring Don and she won't hurt Kali, not even to get back at Leo who she hates. If she wants Leo she will go for him, not his children."
I realized now why Rama had such trouble being accepted. Right now acceptance was vital, she needed clan protection, her days as a ronin were numbered with the Foot back in action, and she knew her life was dangling by a thread.
Aiden:
I liked my sister, she had always been my best friend, we'd share secrets with one another and she'd help me with schoolwork in the subjects she was good at but I had problems with, while I did the same for her in subjects she wasn't good at. Due to the fact I was older, even if it was only by a few minutes, I figured I had to look out for my sister. I didn't want to see her hurt or lose her, because to lose her would mean I had lost a part of myself.
Sure Kali was better at fighting then I was, she paid more attention to her ninja lessons. Me I figured there had to be more to life then just ninjitsu. Besides Kali was a lot like Uncle Don kinda quiet and passive, not one to make waves or get into trouble. She had the sort of personality that would easily allow others to walk all over her. She gave in easily and go along with things she really shouldn't, I ought to know I talked her into a lot of the mischief she got in as a kid,but that was also why I felt I had to look out for her.
The only time she seemed to stand up for herself was against me, but that was different I was her brother after all.
I didn't care one bit for all the time she spent hangin' around Rama lately then coming home and spouting off to me, at least, about Rama this or Rama that, how Rama wasn't so bad. Hell I knew she had been scared of Rama before. I knew she hated her. then all of a sudden it was like Rama became her hero. I bet Rama used some sort of Foot trick to make Kali like her.
I mean missing cousin or not, it wasn't that easy forgetting what she had gone and done to us. One of the things I hated her for was the time Rama almost killed Kali.
I didn't care what dad said I couldn't close out the image of the katana blade swinging down hard and fast towards Kali's neck. In that one heart stopping moment I was sure that I would lose my sister and there was nothing I could do to prevent it, or to protect her in any way. I had stared at Kirra then with all the hatred I felt, I knew then in that instance, that if I got the chance I would kill her.
Kali had told me about sparring with Rama and all the neat tricks she was learning from her. I begged her to stop these sparring sessions before she got hurt. To not trust Rama not for one second.
Kali laughed "Aiden you are being so silly. You know, I know you are afraid of her."
"Am not! Who said I was?"
Kali snorted, "Look I was afraid of her at first too. But now I realize Aiden she isn't as bad as all that. She is really trying to be our friend, she doesn't know how to make friends very well. You gotta remember this is as hard on her as it on us." She insisted "Rama isn't hurting me. She is teaching me."
"Teachin' ya what to be a stupid Foot maybe?" I growled.
Kali didn't listen then. I felt I had no other resource then to tell mom and dad. Not that I wanted to tell them. I mean usually I have no problems with breaking rules. I break enough of them. Normally I am anything but a snitch. I knew Kali kept a lot of my secrets that she shouldn't so you might say I really owed her this one, but I was scared of what might happen if I didn't say anything at all. I still felt guilty as I went and knocked on my parent's door waiting for them to call me in.
When I was invited in I went and stood at the foot of their bed. I glanced up at my parents, lying under the covers. Dad was looking over a scroll while mom had a book that she had sprawled open on the bedsheet. Feeling very much a traitor I muttered "I have to tell you something."
"What is it Aiden?" Mom asked gently leaning forward.
Dad's eyes narrowed maybe picking up a little on what I was going to say.
I took a deep breath "Kali has told me the last few times she's been visiting Uncle Mike that" I paused taking a deep breath before blurting out "She spars with Rama."
"WHAT?" Dad snapped suddenly his head shooting up. I sensed he wasn't pleased with the news. He didn't normally show how angry or upset he was about things, so the news really had startled him.
Mom visibly paled and trembled as she looked at dad "Leo."
Dad cast a quick glance her way and wrapped an arm around her pulling her close to him " Its all right Karena" he soothed, "Are you sure about this Aiden?"
"Kali told me about it" I confessed, " I know you told us both that you don't want us practicing with her because she flips out and might try to hurt us"
Dad nodded but gave me a stern look "She looses control Aiden" he corrected, " That is why she can be dangerous. The programming Yukio engrained into her hasn't been totally disabled and when the adrenaline starts to flow...well...let's just say that she has problems recalling what she is supposed to do. That is why I don't want you sparring with her." He explained. "We will talk with Kaliann about it. I don't mind her visiting Rama, there is nothing wrong with that. You ought to visit her too." he urged
" I don't want to visit with her. I want nothing to do with her. I hate her!" I yelled at dad.
" You are going have to get used to her son. One day Ramiela will be a part of our clan."
" I don't want her in our clan. She isn't one of us" I fumed.
Dad shook his head "Aiden." He began.
" No dad. I don't care what you say or do. I'll never accept her as one of us. She is evil and she deserves to die as much as Yukio." I ranted, " You should have let her go off and commit seppuku instead of convincing her to come back with you." My hands clenched in tight balls at my side, as my rage subsided I whirled and left their bedroom. I didn't want to hear anything they had to say in favour of Rama.
TBC