A Sense of Family

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

Chapter Eight: Teenage Troubles

Karena:

I glanced down at Heiwa, or Hei as we called her, she was the only child I had given birth to who had inherited my green eyes, but she was bald with five fingers on one hand and three on the other. She was a turtle in form complete with shell but her skin was white. She was far more of a mixture then any other hybrid child born into our clan. Typical of the turtle human hybrid children she was all ready crawling quite well and getting into things that she shouldn't. I often wondered how peaceful it would be to have a child that wasn't so mobile so early on.

There had been a time that I could rely on Mike or Raph to take on a few of my children to give Leo and I a much needed break without children, we of course would return the favour later on, but now Mike was kept busy with Rama, and Raph after losing his wife and children didn't seem too interested in looking after Hei for extended periods, so about the only break I got was when I convinced Kali and Aiden to watch out for their younger sister.

I picked Heiwa off the change table and carried her toward the kitchen to prepare some breakfast for her. Leo was all ready there sitting at the table across from Kali.

"I told you I don't want you sparring with Rama" Leo declared as I entered the room.

"But what if Uncle Mike is there, to supervise couldn't I then..." Kali began her protest.

"No Kaliann," Leo insisted, "No sparring means none whatsoever with Ramiela. I will also be talking to Mike, because he shouldn't have allowed this in the first place."

"Dad don't you say that we should learn from as many people as possible to broaden our..." Kaliann tried again.

Leo raised one hand and narrowed his eyes, "Kaliann," His tone was firm, soft and had the tone I recognized as, this is not debatable, "You must not feel that Ramiela is safe to spar with simply because she hasn't hurt you in the sessions you have done to this point. You could have been seriously hurt by her. She is not a safe sparring partner for you at this time." Leo ordered, "Now I want you to stop it and that is final!"

Kali sat back on the chair scowling darkly at her father then she noticed me, casting her blue eyes my way, the children had learned that though I could be strict with them, I was not as firm as Leo was, and they often used this to their advantage, not really playing both ends against the middle but walking a line near it, such as asking me to talk to their father about some restriction they felt was not necessary.

I gave a negative shake of my head to show her she wouldn't be so lucky in this matter.

I placed Heiwa into her high chair before glancing Kali's way "Perhaps when Rama settles down we can reconsider. It just isn't that simple right now. Yes, Rama seems all right for the most part, but at any given time she goes off for inexplicable reasons and when she does she can be extremely dangerous Kali. You don't have enough training yet to protect yourself from that sort of situation." I explained kindly.

I turned and left the table to make some baby cereal for Heiwa, digging the jar of cream of wheat out of the cupboard and the pot to make the soft porridge in. I set the water to boil on the stove then got out a bread stick and went back to the table to hand the treat to Heiwa to play and slobber on until her real breakfast was ready. I tried to ignore Kali's venomous looks, while I thought about how Rama had once been, when she had been a child.

In her childhood Rama had been so sweet, she would tell jokes and play games, her high cheerful laughter was infectious and oh that wide disarming mischievous grin tugged at my heart continually. I adored her own special way of talking, like how she insisted on adding the letter s to things that didn't need it. She was a bright precocious child, but she wasn't a child anymore. That thought was enough to upset me, because the change from child to adult was so drastic, it was truly the other end of the scale from where she had been.

Now she was a dark, moody adult. There was something ominous about her, and I didn't know how to approach her when, in truth, I was scared to death of her. She frightened me in so many ways, the predatory way she had of moving, the sudden mood changes and most of all the way she could all of a sudden drop everything and go after Leo with murder in her eyes. She hated and despised my husband and I knew she wanted him dead, naturally I feared for his life, almost as much, if not more so, then when he went into battle. I didn't want to lose the man I loved to her.

I dished up a bowl of the hot cereal and set it in the freezer for a bit to take the heat out, so heiwa wouldn't be burned dulling listening to Leo talk with Kali.

Kali stood up pushing her chair back abruptly "Fine then" She huffed, "I won't practice with Rama. But I'm not afraid of her" she announced as she gave her dad, then me, a rather hard glare before leaving the kitchen quickly.

I glanced at Leo as I sat down, he arched an eye ridge at me.

"Teenagers are never boring" he remarked casually, "Don't worry Karena, I'm sure Kali will respect our wishes." He assured me gently.

"Yes, I'm sure she will." I admitted, I knew Kali normally accepted such verdicts, but she had put up, for her quite a fight and I had to wonder if she would abide by the rule this time, after all she had broken it to begin with and she was getting to the stage where she might be more willing to rebel.

"I'll talk to you later Karena" Leo said as he bent to give me a kiss, then kissed Heiwa tickling her toes, she laughed dribbling the porridge out of her mouth.

Once Heiwa was finished I cleaned her up at the kitchen sink before carrying her into the living room setting her down near a few toys to keep her from straying too far, and amuse her for a bit. Don came into the living room and he stooped down to swing Heiwa up into his arms, he tickled her under the arms and on the legs, causing her to giggle and smile. He cooed at her, fussing over the baby in his own way, he missed his own children and liked to spend some time each day playing with Heiwa.

He sat down on an armchair to further entertain his niece and himself, at least until he heard a knock on the door announcing a visitor, I was pretty sure who that person was going to be too. If it was family they walked in, only Rama knocked she was probably coming over to spend time with Don in his lab. Don headed over to the front door with Heiwa in his arms, for a moment I felt a bit of trepidation but I shook it off, I knew Don would not let Rama do anything to hurt Heiwa.

However when Rama entered the living room with Don, she was packing my daughter and that small hint of trepidation rose. I got up and took a step toward her, meaning to snatch my daughter out of Ramiela's arms. I know it was silly, absolutely ridiculous to feel this way, and yet I had seen what she could do to my husband and I didn't believe that Heiwa could be safe in her arms, the girl was unpredictable and she was holding my baby, the very baby she had threatened when we had been captive, though Heiwa had still been in my womb at that time. I wanted to yell at her to put my daughter down and leave us alone.

Rama raised her head and she smiled, a gentle warm contented smile, that caused me to relax a little, as I realized her gentle hold and adoring looks towards Hei were not in any way cause for alarm.

"Kawaii osani no heiwa kodome" Rama murmured softly,as she gently caressed Heiwa's cheek with her fingertips. ( Cute little child. Your a peaceful child.)

I smiled breathing deeply and saw Don nod once ever so subtly my way, Rama was at peace and showing a softer gentle side that I had not seen in her before. I sank down to the armchair realizing all was well, and my motherly instincts could calm down now. I closed my eyes for a moment then all hell seemed to break loose.

I heard Aiden yell "Let my sister go Foot!" I whirled about standing to face him, then thinking what his comment about Rama's allegiance might due to the volatile ninja I snapped around to see her leap back, jostling Heiwa and causing Hei to cry. Her lip curled into a sneer and all peace left her face as her body tensed, I knew in that instant that Aiden was in danger, and he might have jeopardized Heiwa's safety as well.

"Aiden get to your room now!" I barked at him.

"Only when Kirra the Foot lets go of my sister" Aiden retorted sharply, "I'm not going let her hurt Heiwa."

As if on cue, but more likely due to the rising tensions in the room, Heiwa began to cry louder her wails full of fear and uncertainty, she began to squirm in Ramiela's arms. While she seemed to wish to restrain her, causing Hei to flail around all the more.

"Heiwa doesn't like you. Put her down" Aiden ordered Rama sharply glaring at her as he stalked forward.

It was clear even to me, that Rama didn't feel secure in bending down to put Heiwa onto the ground, no she kept her eyes fixed on Aiden, instead she handed the howling struggling infant to Don.

"I would not be so rude Ryu, as to harm that child. You do me a great dishonour" Rama replied in her cold clipped way.

"Your my enemy Kirra, ask me if I care about dishonouring you?" he sneered.

Rama's eyes suddenly flashed with a cold vicious light I knew all too well, in one fluid move she reached back withdrawing a katana from its scabbard, I could hear the sound of metal faintly singing as it was pulled, she did it quickly and effortlessly.

"Aiden get to your room and stay there" I screamed at my son, suddenly I was very afraid I would see my first born chopped down in front of me. Aiden glowered my way then glanced towards Don who had a hard disproving look on his face. I could tell Don was angry and upset at Aiden, Aiden probably knew it too, for he quickly left the room, either that or he sensed his father's rapid approach our way, either way Aiden was gone by the time Leo arrived.

Leo cast a look at the present situation, Rama with her weapon drawn and the desire for blood running high, Don holding the screaming Heiwa in his arms moving to stand between Rama and Leo, not that I didn't want Don protecting Leo from Rama's wrath but, not when Hei might get caught in the middle and of course Leo being there seemed to only agitate Ramiela further.

Don reached me and handed the screaming baby into my arms before turning with palms up in the general, I surrender pose "Rama please calm down now" he entreated her.

I wished Mike was here, he could defuse this lit bomb that was now bent on destruction, far quicker then Don could. At the moment and knowing how Rama was I wasn't sure Don could do anything to prevent the situation.

"Karena stay back" Leo whispered as he took a position between Don and myself.

"Why afraid I might hurt your darling wife and baby?" Rama hissed sharply, she took a few purposeful strides but Don intervened standing between her and staying in her way no matter how she tried to get around him.

Kali entered the room and her eyes grew large and round then she went towards Rama walking with comfort and assurance "Rama please don't do this. Aiden didn't mean to insult you. He dishonours the rest of the family by doing so, and he has given you many insults this day compounding his crime. Truly we must seem almost unworthy to the ronin you are" she confessed, "If you hurt anyone though in your need to gain honour that was taken so rudely you will only hurt yourself. Please Ramiela don't do it." Kali didn't beg or plead she just spoke softly entreating.

Rama turned her eyes on Kali and I was sure she was going attack right then and there, strike Kali down for her impudence.

Kali bowed low "Allow me to make up for my boorish brother's transgressions towards you, and welcome you to our home."

Rama gave a faint smile and a soft snort as she replaced her katana into the sheath, "I doubt I will ever be fully welcomed here" she stated with just a touch of humour, as she cast her baleful eyes at the rest of us. She then returned Kali's bow "Hanasu to bakudai chie ga."

Kali smiled at her words and blushed a bit.

I looked at Don then towards Leo, I had never fully picked up on the Japanese language though I knew a bit of it, I was not as adept in it as my children or their blood relatives were.

"Arigato gozaimasu. Ryok ucha ikuraku no ge hoshii ka?" Kali said after she composed herself a bit. ( Thank you. Would you like some green tea?)

Rama nodded "Dozo." ( Please.)

"I'll bring it to Uncle Don's lab when it is ready then" Kali informed her pleasantly.

Rama cast a scornful look our way "You Leonardo could learn much from your golden tongued daughter" she then looked my way, I don't know what she saw in my face at that moment she only gave a trembling smile as she spoke "I'm sorry if I frightened you Karena it wasn't my intent."

I didn't know how to respond to that, she had gone almost ballistic over Aiden's name calling and while Aiden should not have acted that way towards her, she didn't have to bite the bait he offered her. Not only that she was willing to kill over it.

"Go on ahead Rama" Don murmured he then turned to Leo, "Leo Aiden made the first move..."

"With name calling and she was going finish it by turning lethal" I spat, my body was shaking and I made my way over to the battered armchair sinking into it before I collapsed.

"It was more then that Leo" Don interjected, "You didn't see him throw this did you Karena?" Don held up a shuriken. "He attacked her first in our home. She would have been in her rights to fight. She jumped back startling Hei to avoid getting hit by it Leo."

"Aiden wouldn't throw a shuriken with Hei so close" I protested weakly, I shook all over and laid Hei on my lap afraid to hold her, "What was he thinking he could have hurt her."

Leo gave a tight grim smile that told me Aiden would be in trouble for some time to come, "Thanks Don, you better go see to Rama make sure she is calmed down." He then turned kneeling by my chair.

I looked up into his blue eyes "Tell me Leo what did Rama say to Kali?" I asked flustered not knowing quite what else to say or think at the present moment.

"You mean Hanasu to bakudai chie ga." He repeated the words, "Rama complimented Kali," He smiled, " He told her she spoke with great wisdom. What went on Karena?"

I took a few shaky breaths as I sought to calm myself down "I think World War three was declared and averted. I know Aiden started it Leo, but I was so afraid it was going be Rama who finished it. That is until Kali came in and talked to her." I spoke quietly and was doing my best to calm my heart which seemed to be beating four times as fast as normal.

"You mean Rama is willing to listen to her, the way she does with Mike?" He inquired arching an eye ridge, "If that is so I could stand to learn how it is she does it. Course some of it seems to be playing to the ninja honour bit." He took my hand in his rubbing it gently "I would like to believe that Ramiela is causing our children to misbehave but they are teenagers now, which means such attitude is almost to be expected. Which do you think will be the worst of the two?" He asked casually.

I sighed as I shut my eyes for a moment "Hard to say Aiden has always been the rebel but Kaliann might surprise us, simply because we don't normally get it or expect it from her." I replied amazed I could speak about something so mundane and trivial after the events that had just transpired, I sighed and shook me head "What are we going do about Aiden Leo?"

"I promise Karena I will take care of it" Leo announced, " We really do have to do something about that boy. I just wish I knew exactly what would work best" Leo muttered grimly.

TBC