A Sense Of Family

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

Chapter Nineteen: Coming Together

MIchaelangelo:

We put the Foot on the run, all of them scrambling for topside as fast as they could go, showing the wide yellow streak one found on cowards like them. I waved a fist after them and yelled at their departing figures "You chickens! Next time just stay out of our way!"

True the battle had been long and hard, we were all injured, but none of us had suffered broken bones or had fallen, which was to my mind cause for celebration. We had survived once again. We were all standing, including Rama, who I was starting to believe she had more lives then a cat. That thought caused me to turn and head towards her "Ramiela if you ever do that to me again..." I began.

"I'm sorry Dad" she apologized bowing her head humbly, "As a ronin I knew my life was expendable it was far more important to keep you free and save Ryu."

Her words told me that she knew her place, and her duty to the Clan that had not accepted her fully. I was about to speak up and tell her what a load of fertilizer that was when Leo spoke up in a firm but gentle voice.

"Ramiela you might not be a part of our clan due to certain issues that make it difficult to have you in, at the moment. But you are still family, and no one in our family is ever expendable." he assured her, "Perhaps Yukio taught you to sacrifice your self for him, but that is not a requirement as far as we are concerned." Leo smiled, "Not that I don't appreciate your willingness to do so for us, to help others, but many times there are other ways of getting the same means without the need to sacrifice." He explained gently, "Now come on it's been a long night let's go home."

Rama nodded her head in obedience but I saw a puzzled look on her face as if she didn't fully understand Leo's words.

"Leo's right Rama." I agreed.

I saw her shake her head slightly, not so much in rejection or denial, but more as if she was trying to sort out and absorb what Leo had just told her. She had always had animosity towards Leo, a lot of it stemming from Yukio's training and brainwashing, so I knew Leo's words were probably not fitting in with how she viewed Leo, and she was trying to make it fit. Before she could though I saw Raph edging his way this way, Rama was too deep in her thoughts to notice him drawing closer.

"Rama looks like someone wants to see you." I murmured gesturing slightly towards Raph's direction. Rama tensed up a bit as she saw Raph, I knew she figured he was coming to hurt her, but I was also aware that wasn't Raph's intentions, "Hear him out Rama, he had a change of view with what you did" I whispered to her.

She looked at me nervously, as if she wasn't so sure, but she had learned Raph was quick to insult and berate her. He treated her like an enemy and she was willing to play the part because she felt it was better that way then let her guard down against one who was so opposed to her. I recalled one talk we had about it some time back.

" I know when I was a child, he meant everything to me. He was my best friend and so much more. Now I don't think he will ever accept me."

"He will Rama it just takes a long time for Raph to come around, to forgive and forget. If you stopped acting like you were going kill him every time he ends up riling you..." I hinted.

" He thinks I am the enemy out to kill him. He treats me like it, how can I trust that he will not try attacking me first? No if he gets violent with me then he deserves whatever may come his way." She snarled sharply.

"But that just feeds into the vicious circle Rama."

I couldn't get her to see that then, or another time. For her it was truly a matter of hurt before being hurt. She wanted to teach Raph to back off and leave her alone, never accepting that Raph was too stubborn to give in to that.

Raph came up near us keeping me between him and Rama, yet he looked towards her as he spoke "Ramiela I'm sorry. I know I thought of and treated ya like you were still a Foot Soldier. Your not I realize that now and I hope you can forgive me." He muttered a little.

Raph had never been all that good at apologizing. He didn't even like to admit that he was wrong. I knew he wouldn't repeat his apology and I also was aware that if Rama rejected it that we could be back at square one with these two thick shelled turtles. Mentally I urged Rama to accept his words, that awkward as he was, Raph was sincere.

"What made you change your mind?" Rama asked suspiciously.

Raph smiled a little, "I knew the Foot would nevah of taken you as our leader if you were playin' traitor and trying to sell us out" Raph confessed.

A small flicker of a smile creased Rama's face "I understood your anger towards me at first. I expected it to some extent. I just hoped that it would drop soon, and I was starting to believe nothing I could say or do could change your mind." Then she did smile, "I accept your apology, Uncle Raphael." she bowed towards him.

I beamed it seemed the two of them were on their way to burying the hatchet and becoming friends again. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Aiden trudging along behind us, the look on his face said the only hatchet he'd bury with Rama would be the one he'd love to plant in her back. I saw him mutter softly " Stinkin' Foot."

I shook my head in disgust and turned to Rama, "All right Rama, I'm curious how did you manage to escape and kill Washi to boot?" I inquired.

"The far seeing eagle was blinded by greed" she answered casually.

"Greed?" Don echoed stopping to look at her.

"You offered him money?" Raph wondered, probably thinking much as I was, what sort of money Rama could have to distract him.

Rama shrugged and shifted uneasily in nervousness "It isn't my money. Just money I knew of that was sort of obtainable. I know few people who would turn down the chance of having a few million dollars."

"It is Yukio's money" I stated.

Rama nodded her head at my words "It is not mine to touch, or give away, but I felt under the circumstances..."

I knew what Yukio had put Rama through, more so then any one else except, maybe, for Don. Rama probably felt she'd be in trouble for using Yukio's money to buy her freedom. "Rama, Yukio is dead. He can't use or touch that money. So you might as well have it if you can get at it." I assured her.

"I can't I wouldn't know what to do with that kind of money." Rama protested, "I prefer simple things anyways."

"Allow us to help show ya what to do with it" Raph offered a wide grin on his face.

"No Raph, that money is Rama's to use as she pleases. It's her compensation for all Yukio put her through," I declared emphatically.

Leo nodded "Mike is right Raph. If it is Yukio's money then Rama is the heir of it."

"But Leo" Raph began.

"NO!" Leo snapped.

"Leo!"

"Forget it Raph."

"Aw damn it Leo!"

I chuckled "It is your money Rama" I assured her, "Maybe one day you can use it to go visit Japan." I hinted.

I saw her eyes glow at that suggestion. Rama of course would find a visit to Japan tempting, especially since she loved it and considered it her home. "I guess if it is mine I ought to have it in one place instead of scattered."

Don grinned "You can use my computer for it" He offered before she could ask for it.

I could see Rama was in deep thought and left her to contemplate without disturbing her. I knew the thought of having this money for hers was quite a shock to her and she needed to mull it over. Just as we were nearing the lair I looked back and noticed Rama had disappeared slipping away at some point.

"Leo go on ahead. Rama's missing I"m going looking for her." I informed him.

"Do you want help Mike?"

"No Leo, I have a pretty good idea where I'll find her." I replied, "Besides Karena will be worried about you."

"Alright Mike but be careful there could be some stragglers hanging around." Leo acknowledged.

I headed back to a sewer junction and turned to the right a few more turns and I was soon emerging into Central Park. I inhaled the scent of trees, earth and dampness. I went towards the turtle pond and found Rama, as I expected sitting hunched on a park bench.

"Rama what's the matter, talk to me girl?" I urged kindly.

"I just...I felt I needed a little space and time to myself. So much seems to be going on right now. It's kinda scary." She admitted.

"Scary?" I was puzzled over that choice word.

"I've never felt like this before. I don't understand why Leo didn't just leave me. I'm no one to him. I'm not part of his Clan a..." she sighed and glanced away

"You are feeling overwhelmed huh?" I asked kindly as I rested a hand on her leg. "You never knew what it was like to be part of a caring, loving family. Yukio taught you to be self reliant and look out for yourself but he didn't care about you, or love you. To Yukio your life was expendable and I suppose you must feel that being Ronin in our Clan means your life is also expendable."

She bowed her head.

"Rama why did you choose to help Leo tonight?"

"I didn't do it for him. I did it for Kaliann and Karena" She corrected.

I nodded "You like them and so were willing to help Leo because of it."

"Leo is an arrogant, pompous, hypocritical baka" Rama growled, "He shouldn't have waited for me."

I smiled a little "That bothers you doesn't it, because you can't make that piece fit into the puzzle. Leo waited for you because you are family" I stressed.

"How can I be family and not Clan?"

I chuckled for a ninja family wasn't necessarily your flesh and blood, it was the Clan that you were part of. Your Clan was your family. "Rama Karena is not ninja but she is part of our family and part of our Clan. Karena ain't much of a fighter, though I admit her and Leo have had a few good battles over the years. You Ramiela are my daughter, and you are family. " I soothed her, "Leo was willing to disown you totally when we were captive and you seemed bent on destroying us. But that changed when you helped us escape." I explained, "Leo appreciated what you did so much he was willing to take you back. One day hopefully soon you will be back in our Clan too, but no matter when that may be, you will always be family."

Rama looked up and I saw ears traveling from her eyes down her cheeks "As a child in Japan I wanted to know someone out there cared for and loved me. I wanted to know I mattered to somebody." She sniffed and wiped at her eyes.

"It may take time for you to fully accept that fact that we all care about you Rama, even Leo. I know Leo hasn't shown it but well...Leo is the Jonin and he tends to keep a lot to himself you know. Maybe your dreams in Japan about having someone love you was a vague memory of what you had with us, because you were loved and cared for so much with us. I could see how you'd miss it, even if all else had been banished from your thoughts." I said.

"I know. I can feel it, and I know I almost have it in my grasp. I'm afraid of losing it though." She confessed through her sobs.

"Rama you never lost it. It was in your heart and mind all along. It has also been here waiting for you" I told her gently

Rama looked up at me "I wish I knew I could trust in it and believe in it being there" she murmured.

I smiled at her "How should we be able to forget the ancient myths that are the beginning of all peoples. The myths about dragons that at the last moment turn into princesses;Perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave." I saw her give a trembling smile at my words, "Perhaps everything terrible is in it's deepest being something helpless that wants help from us. So you must not be frightened if a sadness rises up before you larger than any you have ever seen; If a restiveness like light and shadow passes over your hands and over all you do. You must think that something is happening with you. That life has not forgotten you, that it holds you it's hand and it will not let you fall."

Rama hugged me "Did you come up with that just now?"

"No it's something I've seen before. It just seemed suiting" I confessed returning her hug, "We are not going let you fall Rama, you are letting go of the dragon slowly and there are times I see the princess shining through, doing it's best to break free of the dragon."

"Thanks dad" Rama took a trembling breath.

"Your welcome. Now lets go home and will take care of those wounds and join the family" I offered standing up and holding my hand out to her.

Hesitantly she took my hand and stood up, squeezing my hand ever so slightly. "No falling right?"

"Our family won't let you fall. You are in our hands. I know it isn't easy for you, but it is true and we are here." I leaned over and kissed her forehead, hugging her close to me.

I didn't blame her for her doubts, she did have lots to learn and understand. She had been alone so long in her life the realization that she could rely on someone other then herself had to be an earth shattering revelation and one that would do quite a bit to demolish some of the remaining programming inside of her.

I knew the gap was closing, now if only Aiden could accept Rama then we'd truly get some where.

TBC