A Sense of Family

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

Chapter Eleven: Body guard

Donatello:

Mike had called me, early the other morning, even before he called Leo to back out of practice for the day, to inform me of Ramiela's break through in attacking the dummy in their dojo. From the report Mike had given me; I was just as glad that Rama had lashed out at it instead of releasing that pent up rage and anger upon one of us. It proved that she was capable of dealing with her anger appropriately, now if we could continue her along that path causing her attacks on others in the family to recede it ought to help matters immensely.

Oh I wasn't so optimistic to believe that she wouldn't continue to vent some of her outburst upon us, I just hoped that they would slowly dwindle and become less of a problem in the future. She at least knew now that it had been Yukio who deserved that anger, at least for that one moment and I had held to that, as the tiny glimmer of light promises that the night has finally come to an end.

Leo had talked Raph into joining us for practice with Rama, in spite of his many complaints and protest about it. Leo insisted that we had to start working together as a team, and Raph missing out of sparring sessions with Rama due to her volatile nature was not acceptable. Typically it had ended in a large battle between the two, and Raph was sullenly glowering at Leo now as he leaned against the far wall, waiting for Mike and Rama to arrive.

Finally the two showed up, Mike had a wide grin on his face and the air of a little kid who had a secret and wouldn't divulge it easily, though he might be tempted into revealing the tidbit if the price was right. I sensed he was excited, not really big news I know, it was Mike after all, but I hadn't sensed this air of hope or cheerfulness about him for some time. I smiled secretly to myself knowing that Rama's break through the previous morning must have improved matters further then I could have hoped for. I made a mental note to discuss with Mike about what really had happened yesterday, especially after his phone call to me.

Rama contrary to Mike's jubilant expression and emotions, had her normal stern, hardened look on her face that just didn't seem to suit one who was so young. A certain bitter sadness that clung to her, was also detectable and yet she refused to show anything then her trademark steely glare.

Leo smiled as he saw them arrive "Let's break into groups for weapons sparring. Mike; Raph and you together, while Don, Rama and I spar against each other." He ordered briskly.

I knew that Leo was probably opting to keep Raph away from Rama for at least a few sessions. My thoughts quickly turned to musing over what weapon Rama would pick for sparring against us, even though Leo and I would not be working together, for that is what Leo meant about us going against each other. Rama's best bet was the katana it gave her the extra length to strike against another long sword or strike from my staff. She could, I knew, use one of each, but normally she wouldn't when up against Leo in any way, it took great concentration to use two very different weapons at the same time and a person could easily become distracted.

Rama surprised me by pulling her sai from her belt and spinning them, she arched an eye ridge ever so slightly our way as she calmly waited for one of us to make the first move. I sighed, losing my own silent bet with myself that Rama would take her katana. It just went to show exactly how far I had to go before I fully figured out how she worked and why.

Rama moved with fluid ease, showing no sign of going on the war path against Leo. Her thoughts were for the most part focused upon our match against each other, if anything Rama seemed slightly calmer then she had been before. I began to relax feeling that she wouldn't cause problems today. As we sparred though I began to notice Rama making subtle moves or gestures that betrayed her, she was focused on her own battle to an extent. She was paying attention to our moves, but she was also distracted by the sparring match between Raph and Mike.

Leo gritted his teeth and began to push the advantage, forcing Rama to focus more on his actions. He was going take advantage of her distraction and show her that it wasn't a wise choice.

I heard a thud and a soft groan from Mike. I noticed Rama scowl and her body tense up, she hesitated momentarily, allowing me just enough time to close in to do a dragon kick followed by a low sweep of my staff to further knock her off balance. Rama leaped over both my outstretched leg and my staff and quickly refocused her attention on where it needed to be.

A few minutes later there was the unmistakable sound of a body hitting the mats again.

"You aren't even trying Mike" Raph snorted devilishly.

I saw Rama stiffen up, her eyes narrowed and she glanced a bit over one shoulder, seeming suddenly agitated. I give her credit though she held her spot by us, course Leo and I weren't giving her much chance for anything else. The metal tines of her sai caught Leo's blade, she twisted her arm to one side and away from herself. In a few minutes she was again relaxed as she continued to attack or counter attack as necessary. She was settling into the flow and gentle quiet one could achieve in sparring.

Raph hit the mats next and I smiled inwardly, knowing that this would probably start Raph and Mike's game of turning practice into a wrestling match.

It was shortly after Raph had regained his feet that he managed to throw Mike hard enough, that it caused the air to be knocked out of him, stunning Mike to the point he just lay still for a bit. Before Leo could begin to reprimand them about getting carried away, amongst other things, Rama had lunged towards Raph. Mike, who was still trying to get his second wind must have seen it for he gasped slightly but it was about all he could manage at the moment, he definitely wasn't up to putting a halt to Rama's present course of action.

"Sheseiji" Rama snapped at Raph contemptuously ( Bastard)

"Bring it on Ashi Ama" Raph goaded as he spun his sais, not caring what his words might do to further aggravate her when it was clear she all ready wasn't happy with him. ( Foot Bitch)

As expected Rama had Raph down in a heart beat, before Leo or I could even lay a hand on her she had him pinned.

"Rama leave Raph alone. Mike isn't hurt" I pleaded with her, hoping she'd listen to me.

"He won't get a chance to hurt him because I won't let him" Rama hissed, while Raph struggled under her trying to throw her off.

Leo and I managed to grab an arm each as she fought to keep Raph pinned under her, we dragged her back and off, then had to hang on for dear life as she began using every trick she knew to pull free from our hold and get back at Raph. She screamed and raged at Leo and I, for holding her back.

"I can't let him get away with this! Let me go!" She snarled as she fought to break loose.

"Not until you calm down and leave Raph alone" I warned her as I tightened my hold on her, realizing she had almost slipped free.

Mike had managed to gain his feet "Rama calm down now. I'm all right" he assured her a bit weakly.

"No he hurt you. And he is going pay for that one way or another" Rama vowed not even looking at Mike as she spoke.

"Rama we were practicing and Raph and I just got a little carried away. We were playing a little nothing more, he didn't do much to me other then knock the wind out of me. Just let it go now" Mike begged.

Rama turned her head and I could see the look of hatred in her eyes as she continued to try and break the hold Leo and I continued to keep on her. Mike planted himself directly in front of Raph and stood looking Rama right in the eye, undaunted by her anger and her threats to get even. he reached out and tenderly caressed a cheek with one finger "Forget it Rama, Let it go" he advised kindly but firmly.

Rama slumped and sighed bowing her head slightly. Mike nodded towards us as we loosened our hold on her arms allowing her to pull free, but we stayed close just in case Rama decided it wasn't over yet, in spite of her acceptance at the present moment.

"Why don't you go meditate for a bit instead?" Mike suggested, he knew that if Rama stayed things might blow up again so if he could convince her to leave things would end on a fairly good note, if not exactly the best one.

She nodded agreement and shot a dark ominous look Raph's way, as if warning him that this wasn't over yet, not by a long shot, before she acquiesced. "Okay dad."

She left the dojo allowing the rest of us to finally relax and breath sighs of relief that it hadn't deteriorated to the point where she had drawn blood or viciously attacked one of us at any rate. Only then did I realize that Rama had just called Mike dad, the smile on Mike's face confirmed he was fully aware of what she had said to him.

Raph glowered as he stood up "Someone mind telling me why the psycho went berserk on us this time?" he demanded abruptly, "Don't tell me crazy lady actually believed I was attackin' Mike."

Mike turned on Raph "She might not have gone after you, if you hadn't called her a Foot Raph" he accused.

"Hey she was after me long before that point" Raph defended himself.

"You made it worse though by provoking her" Mike protested unwilling to give in on the matter.

"Quit both of you" Leo ordered, "I agree there was something," he paused, "Different this time, like she was trying to protect Mike but why?" Leo asked as he looked between Mike and I.

"I think I may know part of the reason" I admitted.

Leo raised an eye ridge and stated "Are you going to tell us or do you plan on keeping us in suspense Don?"

"Well I noticed that Rama just called Mike, not by his given name, but dad" I remarked casually.

Mike beamed "Yeah Rama started calling me dad last night" he announced with an ear-to-ear grin.

"So that explains why you weren't concentrating today" Leo declared.

I nodded "Even more importantly Leo, Rama is starting to accept Mike as her dad not a stranger. She is, I believe starting to switch her allegiance from Yukio to Mike" I continued, "it is a big step for her but now that she accepts the fact Yukio was not the saint she viewed him to be, it will help her along in the rest of her recovery. In reality Leo, Rama was stagnating she couldn't really go further in her recovery process until she could acknowledge that Yukio hurt her and it wasn't simply because she was a bad child either." I explained.

Leo beamed as he clapped Mike on the shoulders "Why that is good news though, isn't it Don. I mean we do want her to accept us right?" He gave me a quizzical look suddenly realizing that there was something I hadn't said, "what aren't you saying Don?" he demanded.

"Leo it is all good that she accepts Mike as her true dad, she knows it from her memories. The problem is she is transferring what she did for Yukio onto Mike, maybe because she was trained to protect her pseudo father's life at all costs. She must feel that she must play body guard for her real father as well." I informed them.

"You mean Rama actually thinks I need her to protect me?" Mike inquired, "But I can look after myself."

"Want to try to convince Rama of that fact Mike?" Raph quipped, he snorted a bit as he crossed his arms over his plastron, "Then again after seeing you spar today you can use all the help you can get."

"Har, de har har Raph very funny" Mike retorted making a face at him.

"So now we have to convince her, that any injury to Mike is not necessarily grounds for attack or retribution" Leo muttered as he shook his head in frustration.

"Leo remember while she was trained to guard Yukio with her life, she would know any injury, no matter how slight, meant she had lapsed and knowing Yukio he probably lessoned her for it" I grumbled, "She might feel it is required of her. In time Mike can let her know it isn't necessary but it is going take Mike continuing to tell her she doesn't have to do this for him. Hopefully in time she will accept it" I theorized," In the mean time we have to be careful how we treat Mike in Rama's presence, if she didn't care to hear Yukio being insulted by us then it is a good chance she won't put up with it for Mike either, not even in a joking fashion." I cautioned my brothers.

Raph grunted then smiled "Does this mean we can now call Yukio every well deserved name in the book, and a few new ones too?" He asked quickly.

I gave a negative shake of my head "I'd hold off on that Raph. Rama might be starting to view Yukio in a different light but her training is still very much in tact and she might take offense" I warned him, "Mike might be the only one to get away with that at the moment"

I saw Mike grin and quickly amended that statement "Though I wouldn't test that theory too far."

Raph sulked "Great now I can't bug Yukio, Rama or Mike without being attacked. She sure takes the fun out of things" he complained bitterly.

I sighed it was the same old story: Any sign of improvement in her behaviour brought about another problem that had to be dealt with leaving me wondering if Rama could ever be fully free of the chains that bound her to the past and to Yukio.

TBC