A Sense Of Family

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

Chapter Sixteen:Bargain Struck

RAMIELA:

I knew he wouldn't be able to pass up such an offer Washi, might be named the far seeing eagle, but he was very much controlled by his vices, and I had a feeling he had won leadership of the Clan, through some gambling.

"There is no challenge or honour in killing us as we stand here that we know. Nor is there honour for anyone who breaks our agreement, one who breaks our pact brings great dishonour for their entire clan." I pointed out, " So, first off a trade of prisoners is in order. You will release the Yoji to the turtle Clan and in exchange the leader of the turtle Clan will come to you unarmed, and when the agreed upon time for the leader to die, comes the turtle leader will not fight you in any way." I declared firmly.

"She's selling you out Leo!" Raph barked.

I ignored his words for now, for he had no idea how his words helped my plan along.

"Kill the leader and you will devastate the rest of the Clan for the Foot are aware of the close bond within their family. The death of their leader may lead them to fight better for a short time; But without their great leader they are bound to falter and make foolish mistakes," I pointed out, "To make the battle more of a challenge for all involved, once the prisoners are exchanged you will give a certain amount of time, that both parties will agree upon, for the turtles to try to escape or get to safer ground. During that time no Foot soldier must harass them in any way, for they will be disgracing their clan and proving to all, that turtle clan has far more honour."

I heard grumbles and complaints from the Foot gathered, none of them wanted to believe that the freaks could be better then them in any fashion, it irked them enough how often they were bested by the turtles tricks. The Foot truly believed the turtles didn't fight fair, or honourably in the first place, they could never admit that it was lack of training that made them lose face so often.

"Once that window of time is over, it is open season. The momentary truce will be ended." I laughed a bit, "The remaining turtles won't go far without their leader, whose life hangs by a mere thread. No this Clan will risk all odds to save one. So half a minute before the agreed upon time is over, the leader of the turtle Clan will die by your hand Washi." I really had to sweeten the pot to make him agree to this.

"WHAT?" Raph raged glaring my way, he looked as if he was ready to attack me for my betrayal.

I gave him a warning look to keep away for I wasn't going suffer at his hands, I would lesson him properly if he broke now, for he'd be throwing everything away and I would not have it! True, even Leonardo didn't look too pleased or amused but I silently told him to be still until negotiations were over at least.

I quickly hurried on, "The rest of the turtle Clan will be close by, you can over power them easily, and even if one or two managed to survive," I did my best to make this sound trivial at best, "They would be devastated weak and easy pickings." I concluded.

Washi laughed "A very interesting proposal. I might even accept it based upon this time frame. Two minutes" he decided.

"Two minutes?" I echoed snorting, "They wouldn't even get out of the building. Eight minutes" I shot back.

" Be reasonable. They'd be long gone in that time. Three minutes" he countered.

"You want us to be reasonable? Just listen to yourself. Six and a half minutes"

" Four minutes" Washi stated simply.

I laughed "I know the Foot Clan better then that. I'm sure that five and a half minutes head start is nothing , especially when you consider you have the sentries posted in the sewers around the area." I didn't know if this was true or not, it was only a guess but I heard a few chuckles confirming my suspicions, "Five and a half minutes, no less Washi" I declared quickly.

"Five minutes" Washi shot back.

I pondered this but finally accepted the offer "Done!"

Five minutes, wasn't a lot in the grand scheme of things, but it ought to see the turtles back onto familiar territory, and even if they were surrounded they had survived worse, besides it was far more time then I had really been hoping to get.

"Washi do you accept this proposal as it stands then or not?" I asked sweetly, "For if you are willing then we must exchange prisoners then the five minute count down begins." I insisted.

"I accept" Washi flashed a sinister smile as he released Ryu, who staggered a bit before scuttling off the platform. Washi smirked "Leonardo best start disarming himself."

I shook my head at his audacity "Fool!" I scoffed, we agreed the leader of the Turtle Clan was to be your prisoner." I reminded him.

"Leonardo is the leader Kirra." Washi snapped quickly in reply.

I arched an eye ridge " You are behind the times Washi. Leonardo was the leader but I took leadership from him, and I have been trying to whip their sorry butts into shape ever since." I stated. It was mostly true, I was the leader for this mission, and I ha been kicking Raphael's butt often enough. "I can't help it if you assumed the leader of the Clan was Leonardo. We bargained for the leader and you got her."

Washi shot a venomous glare my way, I could almost see the steam rising from his ears and nostrils he was that enraged at my deception. I knew he wasn't going take things easy on me no he was going make me suffer if he could. The sheer hatred he gave off was enough to cause a smaller, lesser person to shrink, or hide away. But Ronin though I was, I had never cowed to him as Yukio's daughter, and I wasn't going to start now.

Besides Washi had made a bargain and he was honour bound to keep it or else make the entire Foot Clan lose honour and prove that the turtle Clan was better.

"You aren't doing this to protect him are you?" Washi growled through gritted teeth.

" Why would I want to protect him?" I snorted in disdain, " I have little or no feeling for him beyond the fact he is a chunin." I gave an indifferent shrug, as I began to disarm myself. I was more then ready for death, because I knew I didn't really fit in anywhere within their family, so little sacrifice on my part. I looked at Leo keeping my voice very low so there was no way for even the rest of the turtle clan to hear what I had to say, never mind the Foot over hearing it. " Go to the main floor, into the second left hand side room, just outside of it is the fire escape climb up and go by rooftop, then from there get to the sewers." I handed him my weapons, "I relinquish command to you now Leonardo, see them safe." I gave him a small smile.

Leo looked deep into my eyes, and I saw that he understood everything what had transpired, he grasped my arm and gave it a squeeze.

"Rama don't do this" Mike pleaded with me, his eyes filled with anguish and tears.

I didn't look at him, I couldn't. I didn't wish to appear weak before my enemies. "Too late dad, it's done. Don't come back or wait for me because I'll already be dead. It is what a leader must do, sacrifice themselves for the good of the Clan. Besides the Foot want this Ronin for her crimes." I remarked bitterly.

I sensed he didn't want me to go, but he had to let this happen. I turned and walked slowly towards the platform and Washi, allowing Ryu time to get to his family safely. While Washi had agreed it didn't stop a lone Foot soldier from acting on his own.

MICHAELANGELO:

I watched Rama walk, with her head up high, her back straight, not even looking behind her, just keeping a careful watch as she moved towards the platform.

'Oh gods Rama did you truly feel this was the only, the best way to help us all?' I didn't think the Foot could be trusted to keep their end of the bargain, for Washi hadn't done anything to communicate with the soldiers outside of this room, and I had heard Rama's whispered advice to Leo, though I know she meant it only for him, so I knew she didn't trust the Foot beyond this room either, and she would have good reason to be suspicious. Basically, she just wanted to buy us time to get to familiar territory and away from the main crush, and by doing so she could have saved our lives.

We would probably all managed to see a new day, thanks to all her wheeling and dealing, but Rama herself wouldn't be so lucky. She was going to die and she accepted that. I couldn't though. All I could think of was how Leo had accused her about having no sense of family, and yet it was Rama who was giving herself up, so Leo, his son and the rest of us could all live. Rama had a strong sense of family and Clan.

Aiden came up hugging his dad tight and Leo grabbed him starting to move us towards the door, so when it came time to move we could do so quickly.

I wanted to stay, to help Rama, and even as Raph grabbed hold of me and dragged me backwards, I watched Rama step up onto the platform. Washi pointed his katana towards her.

"Get down on your knees, hands behind your back, and keep them there" he ordered briskly.

Rama obliged dropping smoothly to her knees, and she allowed the Elite to bind her in chains, but not once did she bow her head in submission, and defiance was clear in her posture.

Washi turned "You have five minutes turtles," Washi sneered, "But trust me it won't be enough."

"Mike move" Leo barked, grabbing hold of my shoulder and propelling me out of the door, with Raph on the other side also forcing me to come along in spite of what I wanted.

My mind screamed at me to go back, to help Rama, to stand by her and do whatever it took to help her, and if I died trying to do it then it would be worth it. But trying to turn around was like a salmon swimming the wrong way against the rest of the school. This was my daughter, I was turning my back on, and it irked me to no ends that no one seemed too concerned that we were just abandoning her to her fate. I suddenly hated my brothers.

We paused outside the room and Don tossed a bomb that would render any Foot unconscious, while Raph blocked my path, he looked into my eyes "She knew what she was doing Mike. She wants it this way. If you waste it ya ain't giving her any credit." he told me simply.

"We have to help her Raph," I protested bitterly.

Don signaled all clear and we dived into the room, towards the window and the fire escape towards freedom.

"Mike we have to leave now, we can't fight all the soldiers here, we have to use the time Rama bought us" Leo informed me quickly, "Now get to the rooftop."

I balked at his order "I'm not going lose Rama again" I declared jerking away from my brothers and glaring at them.

Leo caught my eye giving me a sympathetic look "Mike you have to trust Ramiela now, as well as myself. You have to believe she can get out of this, because she obviously knows Washi enough to know, both who he was and that she could possibly pull off this foolish bargaining bit" Leo assured me, "Anyone who has that information probably has a back up plan. She wanted us to avoid the upper floors, most likely assumed that we'd be delayed. She doesn't want us going back for her, and we will honour that" he declared a small twist of a smile played about his face, "However she didn't say anything about waiting for her. We can do that in the sewers."

I realized then that I had to follow along, I couldn't endanger myself or the others further, and yet I was still very much afraid for Rama. I knew best made plans could go awry and I couldn't help but forget the part of the bargain that said at four and a half minutes she would die without a fight. I numbly traveled along and headed down into the sewers.

Leo handed one of Rama's katana to Aiden for his use. I knew Aiden would need a weapon for battle, and I could sense the Foot close by waiting for reinforcements before they jumped us, but it seemed so wrong for Leo to hand over Rama's cherished weapon to Aiden who despised her so.

Aiden glowered at the sword "Let's just go home" he grumbled, "She's a Foot they won't hurt her." he muttered belligerently.

Raph turned on Aiden before I could speak my mind, not to mention tear a chunk off that nephew of mine for such words.

"You're not up on current events are ya kid?" Raph sneered, "If Ramiela was playing spy, then the Foot wouldn't have accepted her as the leader of our Clan, They'd take only your father and then Rama could insure our capture later making things look like a trap. It doesn't make sense for the Foot to accept her as Leader if they knew she was a spy." Raph summarized, "In other words they felt what she said was true, and in a way it was." Raph realized. he shook his head and heaved a sigh, "I've been a fool and let my hatred for her blind me to it." He admitted.

I snorted a bit at the irony of his words "Finally now the light comes oh, shell for brains." I shook my head in disgust, " Rama knows you used to be her favourite Uncle, but all this time you treated her like dirt. Telling her that it was a case of hurt or be hurt. Rama knows that game well, Yukio taught her how to play it. You never once realized that Rama never hurt anyone who treated her with kindness and understanding" I ranted a bit.

"I was wrong Mike and I realize that, and if I get the chance I will make it up to her. I promise you that." He vowed.

I sensed he meant it, but I felt it might be too late, no matter what his intentions might be.

"None of us will get the chance to make up with her if we don't start acting like ninja" Leo hissed warning us to be silent.

We didn't have much time left, the attack would come any second now and Rama...I swallowed hard, and blocked those thoughts and feelings from my mind knowing it would hinder me in the battle. In the mean time I made a promise of my own, if Rama was going to die today then so was I.

TBC