Sense of Family

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

Chapter Twelve - Reaching Understanding

Karena:

Kali had badgered me, or was it conned, whatever, into going with her to visit with Ramiela. I had my doubts about it, especially now as we neared their home. It was just that I didn't know what to make of Ramiela, I was so uncomfortable around her.

Kali must have sensed my hesitation "It's all right mom" she assured me resting her hand on my arm, "Rama likes you, she just doesn't feel very, at ease in our home so she is always on edge and doesn't really relax" Kali hastened to inform me, "You'll see she is a lot different in here."

"Honey Rama liked me, when she was a little girl, long before Yukio got a hold of her to warp her. Now she is so changed" I murmured as I cuddled Hei close, wondering if I ought to have left her at home.

"Mom Rama remembers you. She told me that she wanted you to be her mom" Kali declared.

"Be that as it may Kali, those memories don't seem to slow her down any when she gets an idea in mind to hurt one of us" I pointed out. Hei fussed a bit, probably picking up on my own jitters, I calmed her and thought about how often I knew that Rama had gone after Raph or Leo, I recalled the look on her face when Aiden had tossed the shuriken. There was no doubt that she meant to do bodily harm, that she had little control over these passing fits that made her see those I loved as her enemy. Now, it seemed as if Rama was ready to protect Mike from the rest of us.

My mind drifted even further back, to when we were nothing more than prisoners. Yukio had me brought to him and he had made an offer dangling it in front of me. He was willing to deal, and allow my family to go free if I stayed with him, but I knew that Yukio would not uphold the bargain, the only freedom he might spare my family was to kill them quickly then keep me as his slave. The thought was repulsive to me, even then. I had ended up placing my knee right where it mattered. Rama had been ready to kill me right then and there for hurting her father.

Kali looked up at me "It will be all right mom. I promise" she soothed.

I almost laughed at the sudden reversal in roles, as I watched Kali tap lightly at the door.

Rama opened it giving us both a warm friendly smile, the same smile she had inherited from Mike, a smile that could put a person at ease.

"I asked mom and Hei to join us today, you don't mind do you Rama?" Kali asked quickly

If Rama was surprised to see me, she hid it well, about the only thing I noticed was her eye ridge arched slightly, "Of course it is Kali, they are most welcome in our home, please come in" Rama stepped back gesturing us in, "Take your mom into the garden Kali, and see that she feels at home. I will go get the tea." Rama bowed slightly before us.

I thought of Raph and Aiden figuring that Rama's generous welcome would never be extended to them, "I suppose there are a few who would not be welcomed here" I mumbled under my breath, hardly realizing the words had escaped me.

"I can not deny that" Rama smirked, "But they are not members in your family, any of your family are welcome here"Ramiela smiled, "Even Raphael and Aiden would be welcomed in our home, though they have much animosity towards me they still have ties to dad and deserve the chance to visit with him as they please."

I was shocked at her words giving her a strange look "You would put up with them here even though..."

"Uh" Rama held up one finger, "Allow me to clarify Karena, I wouldn't put up with them" she corrected with a trace of a smile playing about her face, "I would leave here so they could better enjoy their time with dad. I must respect any guest who enters my home, but Raphael and Ryu would not be coming here to see me, so I can make myself absent and not appear rude, or cause offense." She explained, "Follow Kali and I will join you momentarily," she stated, before she slipped silently off to the kitchen to get the supplies.

I was stunned at how polite and respectful she was Kali grinned my way bobbing her eye ridges up and down a smug look on her face that said 'See didn't I tell you?'

"That is enough out of you Kali."

"What mom I didn't say anything" She protested, "The day I was here she came back from being out earlier then expected, and she tried not to get too close, gave me my space. But Uncle Mike said she was interested in me and had to try come and break the ice." Kali lead the way through the living area towards the garden, "What Aiden did was a big insult mom. Rama knows the whole family doesn't agree on her being with us, that's why when she comes over she hides in Uncle Don's lab she feels safer in there." Kali passed through an archway festooned with vines as she entered the garden area "Isn't it beautiful mom?"

I inhaled the scent of dirt and green growing things, the faint scent of lilies, and violets, took in the multi coloured flowers, that added to the many shades of green on the leaves, the finches hopped about in the cage and made soft beeping noises,

"It is gorgeous, I haven't seen it since we first put it in here for Ramiela" I sighed, and moved around taking a closer inspection of the plants and how they had grown,as well as other things.

Rama came in carrying the heavily burdened tray, she moved to the table to place the tray down, I started to come towards the table, "No there is no rush feel free to look around to enjoy the scenery " She urged kindly.

"I don't know I really don't want to intrude, and it seems rather impolite dropping in unannounced as I have," I started.

"Nonsense, you are not intruding Karena, you are most welcome in my home any time you care to visit" Rama declared sincerely.

I knew enough about Japanese customs, to know that it was probably still very impolite to show up unannounced but the host would refuse to turn away a person for seeming to be more rude, "You are saying that to be polite" I said.

Rama shook her head, " I say it because it is true, you are welcome here. Besides I think, I'd enjoy your company Karena, I would like to get to know you, at least better than I do now" she confessed her head bowed.

I moved over to the table to take a seat Rama smiled tenderly at Heiwa, I saw her affectionate look and knew that her gentleness towards Heiwa was making me soften up towards her, "I am sorry about Aiden's behaviour the other day, it was unacceptable on many levels, not to mention that he might have harmed Heiwa."

"I would not permit the shuriken to enter Heiwa."Rama declared firmly, then in a softer tone "It is not fully your fault that Aiden doesn't respect, fully, your wishes. He is very head strong" Rama pointed out, "Hopefully your lessons will get through in time. Ryu could be a great fighter if he could only learn to channel the fire that burns so strongly within him" Rama smiled as she began to pour the tea, "I admire how you treat him, but you as his parents, can only be responsible for so much of his behaviour."

I took the proffered tea cup from her hands "Admire how we treat him?" I echoed slightly puzzled.

"Of course" Rama nodded, "How you treat all your children really" Rama corrected, as Kali finished feeding the fish in the tank before coming to the table to sit down. "I was never given that sort of choice or freedom while I was with Yukio" Rama spoke the name with hatred and revulsion making it clear that she despised him, at least now.

"Yukio was a horrible monster of a man, and it is past time you learned that" Kali interjected as she took a couple slices of loaf cake from off a plate.

Rama gave her a wan smile "He was not pleasant to be with, and he hurt me frequently that is true. I can not recall a time when he was kind or overly generous towards me" she admitted, "But his actions helped me to grow stronger, as a whole. I know what I endured at his hands and it surprises me that I am still here to speak of such things" Rama shrugged as she took a slice of the loaf cake and nibbled it, "Then there are times that I feel, I have done him a grave dishonour and I am truly an ungrateful child as he often said" she sighed and gazed at her hands, that were now clasped around her tea cup. " I wanted to believe his lies and that I would truly be his heir, that is, until I learned he had a flesh and blood son hidden among the Elite" Rama scowled at the memory, "Those who sought to usurp my father, would try to attack him or I, but his son was kept safe because the Foot Clan wasn't aware of who he was."

I knew how ruthless Yukio was, the thought of him having a son, that might now still be alive frightened me. "Could his son be the leader now?" I asked trying to keep the fear and dread from my voice.

Rama shook her head quickly "No Karena he was killed by Raphael when we escaped. It was quite fitting really" she gave a small smile, "Kuma killed Raph's child and wife when the Foot invaded, and so Raph killed Yukio's son."

I breathed out a sigh of relief at her words.

" No one of the Elite will have taken command now, knowing what I do of the possibilities, I have my ideas of who may now be in charge, though still it is one of about five, and I may be mistaken on it" She admitted, "However what I know of the five that I assume would try for command, is that they are all ruthless sorts having learned well from my father, they don't have my father's money to pay bribes or to cover things up as well, so they must plan their moves carefully and be more subtle." She explained, " The Foot Clan in Japan will most likely be cutting ties with the American clan because of the reputation the American branch is getting, especially here in New York. The turtle clan has caused such a loss in business and other endeavors that the American Foot Clan makes their native parent clan lose a great deal of honour. It is incomprehensible to the Foot in Japan how this can be so."

"Because the Foot can't fight for one thing" Kali chortled.

Rama glowered at her for a moment "To a point you are correct, but do not forget the Foot in Japan train true Ninja in every possible way. You know how hard it is to beat me, that is partly due to my training and partly due to the time I devouted to my studies" She correct, "The Foot in America relies on people with some martial arts training and two bit hoods, using large numbers to overpower, this happens to be their downfall. They are not ninja, and never have or will be, though they know some of the skills, they are merely skilled assassins."

"They can fight but don't have the skills or stamina to prove it to hold their own" I agreed.

Rama nodded "You have it exactly Karena."

"You said the Foot Clan in Japan might cut ties but wouldn't they try to do something to change, possibly, turn things around before giving up?" I wondered curiously.

"They all ready have Karena. Yukio Sekora was to do two things while leading the Foot here in New York, he was to bring the American Foot Clan back up to something of worth and he was to destroy the turtle clan. He was incapable of doing both so the Foot Clan in Japan are going sever the tie, anyone who might asks will be told there is no association with them, the American's Foot disgrace and dishonour is theirs alone." Rama replied.

I gasped as I realized the implication of those words, the Foot Clan had always been large, Leo had always been very aware that killing the leader did not mean the end of things, for phoenix like the Foot would rise again. However now that the Foot Clan in Japan would no longer aide the American Foot, then there might come a time for this to end. This was the very same information Leo had always been hoping Rama would eventually divulge to him once she felt comfortable to do so.

Leo knew that Ramiela would have a wealth of Foot information, that could be used against the enemy, information that she had obtained by growing up amongst the Foot Clan, by being Yukio's surrogate daughter. Yet at the same time Leo knew he could not push her to reveal this information, for she might only see it as him wanting her to betray the only clan she really knew. Leo was willing to wait, until she was ready, he already had gained some information through Don's friendship with Ramiela, and I knew that if he found out that Rama easily gave up these facts to me he would try to push me into seeing her more often. I glanced Kali's way wondering how much Rama may have told her about the Foot Clan.

I was sure Ramiela was fully aware I would relay this information to Leo, but suddenly I decided that I was not going be a pawn or a spy for my mate, no matter how I loved him, I was not going visit Rama on the pretense of being her friend just to gain the knowledge Leo hungered for. I took a sip from my tea cup and shifted Heiwa.

Rama glanced my way and gave a slight nod of her head, as if she knew what I was thinking "Enough talk about the Foot" She declared, "Karena, I have often wanted to talk to you, maybe because I recall so much about you, but in your home I can never seem to find the chance to do so. I just feel so out of place there, I know I don't belong...I..." She sighed a bit.

I looked her way knowing she wanted to tell me something and yet, now here, she didn't seem too sure how to approach it. While in our home there were certain deterrents named Aiden and Raphael that kept her from talking to me, and I had to admit that I myself, wasn't all that friendly towards her, often doing my best to avoid her as I saw her as a threat to my family. In our home she could probably pick up a bit on those negative emotions and such feelings wouldn't help the girl in coming clean, especially as she was normally on edge in our home any way.

I wasn't about to forget that she had threatened the life of my husband and brother in law numerous times, but talking to her here made me realize, there were reasons and she didn't seem as terrible or intimidating either. Kali had been right she was a different person in her own home.

"When I was first taken from here I cried for you to come and get me, but it never happened and in time I was forced to forget you Karena" Rama finally said with great reluctance, "That is until the day I saw you during the invasion."

"But Rama you may have had to forget us but we never forgot you!" I stressed, "Especially Mike, he looked everywhere for you, every spare second he had he devouted to finding you. Any rumour or lead he'd follow to the bitter end, hoping that just this once it would pay off for him," I assured her, I recalled the frantic time that Mike had spent foregoing sleep and food to find her. "Leo, Raph, Don and Splinter they all came to the point where they felt you had met a terrible fate somewhere or been captured by someone but we had nothing to go on."

"Why can't we find her Karena, she can't have fallen off the face of the Earth?" Mike sobbed as his fist banged the table in frustration.

"I don't know Mike, I keep hoping and praying that something will turn up" I replied turning to look at the twins, with desperation and fear.

"Yeah you and me the only ones who keep believing" Mike snorted a bit as he wiped his hand over his face, wiping tears from his face and heaved a sigh, "Sometimes I wonder though. I can't help but wonder..." he choked out.

I wrapped my arms around him seeking to comfort but at the same time gain comfort because I had loved her so.

I shook my head as I pushed the memory back " Mike and I always believed you were alive somewhere. We just never, well none of us really, figured that Yukio had you."

"It couldn't be helped, I suppose" Rama murmured.

"When Yukio had me alone. He showed me a tape of when he had broken you down, to accept him totally. I knew then how much you had to have suffered and I felt that we truly had failed you, even though I knew we had done everything possible to find you" I wiped at some tears that had strayed out.

Rama reached out touching the back of my hand "I didn't mean to distress you Karena, forgive me. I..." She paused, "I know now it couldn't be helped. I was hidden away so far..." Rama licked her lips, "I think I was taken to Japan or at least part way there,because when Yukio took me to the Ryu in Japan, it didn't seem to be a very long flight, of course he could have drugged me so I'm not sure. I only know wherever he took me is where Yukio brainwashed me. I don't think any of you could have reached me or changed matters much." Rama insisted, "I'm not sure really, so much that I recall; I have no way of knowing if it is an actual memory or my mind conjuring up things in some way" She explained, a bit sadly with a small shrug of her shoulders.

I saw Kali out of the corner of my eye, she had a smug knowing expression on her face. She could probably sense that I was starting to come to a new understanding of who Rama was, and that understanding was giving me the objective to look at this emotionally disturbed teenager in a whole new light, easing some of my fears and uncertainties.

Perhaps Mike was right, under the hard battle scarred Ronin Warrior, who had learned to hate, despise, and longed to destroy us was a confused, distraught girl who longed for love, affection, understanding, not to mention any number of things that only a real family could give to her. Under the bitter hate filled warrior was the girl who had been stolen from our family, somewhere hidden under all the hatred, pain and longing was Rama. She knew what she searched for might be attainable through us but was uncertain how to get it, especially under her circumstances.

Deep inside she wasn't bad or evil, and somehow Kali, like Mike and Don before her had come to see it.

I realized then what a fool I had been. For I could have, no I should have been willing to meet her , here much sooner. I resolved then and there to waste no more time.

TBC

Author's Note: Next chapter the fun begins and Rama very soon will be showing her true colours. I know it has been a bit slow but things are going start picking up. Ramica