Callista's Pov..
I have been through a lot my whole life. It's because I lost my parents when I was only 4 years old when our home was invaded and destroyed by ninjas and their master, The Shredder. I thought my future was bleak, but my adoptive father Yani Shen saved me from the clutches of The Shredder. My life got better for me, because he had trained me to become a kunoichi. My adoptive father is a Ninjitsu master from Tokyo, Japan and he taught me the ways of a ninja, so in the future I could protect myself and the citizens of New York.
On a warm Saturday evening in May, just a week after I graduated from high school and enjoying my summer break, I was going off to patrol the east side of Manhattan. I got dressed in a red Japanese Shirt with gold threads, black silk pants, and my favorite black Japanese sandals. I tied a black belt around my waist and I sheathed my katana in its hold. I walked downstairs as I finished tying my hair into a low ponytail, to see my adoptive father Yani was sitting on the floor in lotus position, drinking green tea and surrounded by small lit candles. He had long black and gray hair in a half ponytail with a short gray and black mustache and goatee, with warm chocolate brown eyes and wearing a black and blue traditional Japanese robe.
"Yani, I'm leaving for patrol for tonight", I said "I'll be back in a few hours"
"Alright and be careful my dear child, the city is dangerous, especially at night", Yani said
"Don't worry sensei, I will be careful", I said, gently
He gave me a gentle smile. I smiled back and I walked out of my home, closing the door and I walked towards the fire escape across from home and I started climbing up it to the rooftop. I got up to the top and started to run across the rooftop and I jumped to the other rooftop across from me and started running east. I kept looking down to the quiet and empty streets to spot any kind of trouble and so far there was nothing, but the sounds of a few cars going down the streets. After about three hours of patrolling the streets, I took a break on the edge of a music shop rooftop catching my breath. I looked out towards the lighted city in the west seeing it all bright and flashing like a Christmas tree.
I smiled at the sight and I looked up to see the moon had rose high into the sky with a few stars surrounding it, twinkling beautifully. I knew it was late in the night and I decided to go back home to Yani. I stood up from the ledge of the rooftop and just as I was about to leave, I heard the sound of metal crashing against metal. I gasped softly and I ran quickly back over to the edge and I looked over and saw five Foot Ninjas stealing electronics from a store across from me, loading them on to a truck.
I sighed annoyed since I have faced them many times before and they just won't stop causing trouble. I knew action had to be made before they would get away with the goods and leave without a trace. I climbed over the edge and snuck quietly down the fire escape and landed softly on the ground in the shadows, then I reveal myself to the unsuspecting thieves.
"Hey!", I said
They stopped what they were doing and they looked at me with glares as they knew who I was.
"I reckon you should return for what you have stolen or you will have to pay the price", I said, seriously walking over to them
The ninjas dropped for whatever electronics on the ground and they jumped and surrounded me in a circle in fighting stances. I stayed calmed not wanting to show any fear to them and I let out a quiet breath and I reached behind me and I pulled out my gleaming katana, that my master Yani had given to me that has been passed on from many generations of students and masters, and I held it out in front of me with both hands with my eyes closed. I waited to sense for one of the ninjas to attack and I felt it when I sensed a ninja coming out at me from the front and my eyes shot open and I spun low to avoid his high kick to my head and as I finished my spin, I kicked him in the chest sending him back. Just then the other ninjas surrounding me started coming out at me from all different directions.
I used my katana to block their weapons from attacking me. One tried to stab me with a dagger but I spun my katana around the knife and it flew up in the air and I jumped and flipped and kicked the handle and it struck the wall in front of me, then I punched the ninja in the face, knocking him out. Two came charging out at me from the front and behind, so I sheathed my katana in its hold again and I jumped and split kicked them both in the faces. One jumped out in front of me and he tried to attack me with ridge hands, but I was able to block each one. I did a pretend roundhouse kick to his head, but then I ducked down and I swept kick him off his feet. The ninjas stumbled out of the alley and ran off into the night. I smiled as I placed my katana in its hold as I watched the ninjas flee the scene and that I stopped them from committing another crime.
I heard dark laughing behind me and I quickly turned and got into a fighting stance seeing that I actually missed one Foot Ninja. He was at least 6'7 with strong muscles with the Foot Clan symbol on his chest. He looked at me with a devious smirk and he cracked his knuckles as he held his fists out at me. "Looks like its just you and me little girl", he said
I gave him a glare and I waved my fingers towards me challenging him. "Come at me then!", I said
He yelled and started to run at me, but I jumped in the air before he can swing at me and I roundhouse kicked him in the head, but he blocked it and I landed blocking an attack from behind. I somersaulted backwards between his legs as he tried to kick me from the side and I stood up in a fighting stance and he started attacking me with punches but I was able to dodge and block each one. When he tried to punch me again in the face, I leaned back to where my head was nearly touching the ground and I grabbed a hold of his wrist and I twisted it, pulling him to me as I stood up. I took his twisted wrist behind his back and I kicked him in the back. He crashed into the wall, looking dazed and dizzy coming at me again. I knelt down and I swept kick his ankles making him go in the air, then I jumped and kicked down on his chest slamming him to the ground with a thud.
I jumped back in a fighting stance catching my breath and I heard him groaning in pain. I walked slowly over to him, looking at him with victory, but then out of nowhere he suddenly swept me off my feet with his huge arm and I fell to the ground hitting my head hard. He took a hold of my shirt and threw me against the brick wall and I groaned in pain as my head and body hurt from the blow. I shook off the pain and I started to go at him, but then he pinned me to the wall and I struggled to get loose grunting, but then he pulled out a knife and held it close to my throat. "We have been dealing with you for far too long", he said, darkly "And it's about time we got rid of you..for good"
He pressed the knife closer into my throat. I gasped and closed my eyes tightly feeling the blade almost cutting my skin and I heard the ninja laugh evilly and just as I felt him about to slice my neck. I felt the pressure of the knife off of my neck and I heard grunting and the sound of something crashing. I took a huge breath of relief as I gripped my neck with my hands as I feel against the wall.
I opened my eyes to see the ninja had gotten knocked back by something. I turned to the direction he was looking at and I saw this mysterious shadow figure with a sword in his hand, looking at the ninja, in a strong and brave stance. The ninja ignored trying to kill me and left to deal with the figure. I watched from a distance as the ninja came at the figure with fast punches but the figure was quick to dodge each one and it did attacks back knocking him backwards. I gasped amazed as I crawled a little closer to get a better look at the action and I saw the figure take a trash can lid and he threw it at the ninja knocking him in the face. The lid came flying out towards me and I shrieked as I barely avoided it by jumping back against the wall. I saw the ninja get back up and he ran at the figure once more with a metal pole, but the figure used his sword the block the attacks and did a few slices to the pole, causing it to fall apart. The figure then jumped and roundhouse kicked him in the face, causing him to fly across the alley and he landed on the sidewalk.
He looked up at the figure with fear and he backed up and went running out of the alley and into the night. I watched the ninja run down the street disappearing from my sight. I looked back at the figure and I saw it limping a little bit as it walked towards the wall across from me. I stood up from my spot as I watched it leaned against the wall. I walked a little closer towards it, showing a look of concern.
"Are you alright miss?", he asked
"Yes. Yes I am, thank you for helping me, I would have been a goner if you hadn't shown up", I said "Why don't you come out so I can see who saved me?"
"I don't know if that is a good idea", he said, uneasily
"Why?", I asked, curiously
"It's because I'm not human like you and you would probably freak out and run away", he said
"It's okay, I wont, trust me", I said
I held out my hand gesturing him to come out. I then saw and felt a soft, huge green three fingered hand taking my hand gently. I curiously looked at his hand, how I have never seen anything like it before. I looked up towards the figure and I walked back a bit, taking his hand with me and I pulled him out to where he was now under the light under a lamppost. My eyes went a bit wide as I gasped softly seeing who the mysterious shadow figure was. He was a huge turtle, that was just a little taller than me, with chocolate brown eyes, wearing a dark blue bandanna that covered half his head, with a brown belt, blue elbow and knee pads, and white linen bandage wrappings around his arms and legs, and a sword was sheathed behind his shell.
I just couldn't believe that this was actually happening, a turtle who could walk, talk and surprisingly do Ninjistu like me in front of me. He looked at me with uneasiness fearing that I would do something he wouldn't like. But all that I did was just smile up to him with praise and thankfulness for what he has done for me.
"Its alright, I'm not afraid of you", I said, gently "And you don't need to be afraid of me"
He looked at me with shock, like he had never heard someone say that to him before.
"You mean you are not scared of me?", he asked
"Of course not", I said, smiling "I wouldn't be afraid of the one who saved me from an enemy, and let alone who nearly killed me in cold blood. And besides you don't look terrifying, not to me you don't"
"Oh..well this is really quite a surprise for me", he said "I have never met someone who actually doesn't fear me before"
I smiled and giggled. "Well I guess this considers you lucky tonight", I said, giggling
He smiled and but as I looked to my left a little I saw that the turtle was bleeding from his arm from an open wound. "Oh my!", I said, shocked "You are bleeding on your arm"
He looked to where I was pointing and he looked at the wound with wide eyes. "Oh I didn't even feel that till now", he said
"Oh dear he must of got you with that knife", I said, touching his arm
He winced a little bit with pain as I touched it along the edge. "Oh I'm so sorry", I said "Here let me take care of that"
I took behind my back, a small black bag and I unzipped it to reveal medical supplies that I take with me in case I get hurt on patrol. "Here sit, I'll have that healed in no time", I said
The turtle sat against the wall and I took out some pesticide, aloe vera, and linen bandages and went to work on the wound. I took some of the pesticide and poured some on a little towel and jabbed it gently on the wound. The turtle winced in pain and I blew on the wound to stop the stinging and he let out a sigh of relief. "I know it always feels better if someone blows on it", I said, smiling
"Oh yeah you got that right", he said, smiling
I smiled and I dabbed on some aloe vera on it and rubbed it gently. After that I wrapped some linen bandages around his wound and I tied it just tight enough to where it would stay in place. I rubbed it gently as I smiled up to the turtle. "There that should do it", I said "I think with a few days of cleaning and disinfecting it and with new bandages that should be healed in a week"
"Thank you", he said, smiling up to me
I smiled and blushed a little pink in my cheeks. "Well its my debt to you for saving me", I said
"What is your name?", he asked
"Oh my goodness, I'm sorry my name is Callista. Callista Sorento, but you may call me Calli", I said, shyly "Do you have a name?"
"I do I'm Leonardo. Leonardo Hamato, but everyone calls me Leo", he said
"Leonardo? Very interesting", I said, fascinated "Like Leonardo da Vinci"
"Yes exactly, I was named after him", he said, smiling
"Oh wow that is quite unique!", I said
"Well yours is quite unique itself", he said "It means most beautiful in Italian and I think it fits you well"
I suddenly blushed red in my cheeks at his compliment and I hid it with my hand, giggling. "Oh...thank you", I said, blushing "My I'm sorry"
He chuckled and smiled. "So anyways", I said, trying to get rid of my blush "Are you a ninja?"
"Well yes I am", he said "I have been one for at least 14 years now"
"Oh wow I have been a kunoichi for 14 years too!", I said, smiling
"No way! That is awesome!", he said "Did you learn the Diamond Finger yet?"
"Oh yes! I learned how to do that when I was 13", I said, excitedly
"Awesome! I mastered it when I was 15", he said, excitedly
"Way cool!", I said
"So do you go on patrols?", he asked
"Yes I do every night", I said "I believe that it's my honor and duty to protect the citizens of New York from all dangers"
"I think the same way", he said "I believe its my job to protect the people of New York from the Foot Ninja Clan"
"Oh the Foot Ninjas, not an easy adversary", I said, shaking my head
"Faced them before?", he asked
"Yes many times", I said "I have actually lost track of how many. They are noting but trouble and a menace"
"Well at least you were able to stop them from causing another crime", he said
I smiled. "Well you did help too you know", I said "You helped stopped that one ninja from killing me"
He smiled and I saw him blush a little in his cheek and I giggled. "So do you live around here?", he asked
"Well I live out west of Manhattan near Central Park", I said "Actually I live just across from it, what about you?"
"Well I sort of...live in the sewers", he said, embarrassed
I smiled and I placed my hand on his shoulder and he looked up to me. "Hey that's okay, that's nothing to be ashamed of", I said "A home is a home"
He managed to smile. "So do you live with anyone or are you living on your own?", he asked
"Oh I'm living with my adoptive father Yani Shen", I said "What about you? Do you have anyone? Friends? Family?"
"Well I just have my family", he said "No one really else for obvious reasons"
"Oh you have a family?", I asked
"Yes I do, I have three younger brothers and our father is our sensei who taught us Ninjitsu", Leo said
"So are your family members turtles like you?", I asked
"Well just my brothers and I, my sensei and father is a rat", he said
"Oh well that is rather interesting", I said
He chuckled. "So let me guess you are the oldest and the leader?", I asked
"Yes, I take my ninja training seriously, I try to lead my brothers to victory and I try to protect the innocent", Leo said
"Well I think you do a very good job at it", I said "Since you did save me"
Leo blushed pink. "Oh thank…you", he said "It was nothing"
"You saved me from death, that is something Leo", I said, placing a hand on his shoulder
Leo smiled at me and I smiled back, then we heard a ring go off. He pulled out a cell phone from his belt and he opened it up and put it to the side of his head.
"Hello", he said
After a few moments of listening to who was one the phone, he was nodding his head of who he listening to on the other end. I watched with curiosity of who could be talking to him.
"Alright, I'm on my way", Leo said
He hung up his phone and before he placed it back in his belt. "Who was that?", I asked
"Oh it was my younger brother Raph", he said, disappointed "I have to get going now"
"Oh you do?", I asked
"Yeah my father wants me to come home", Leo said
"I understand, will I ever see you again?", I asked
"Yeah I can meet you again tomorrow night, I don't have patrol tomorrow", he said
"Awesome! That sounds great!", I said, happily
"Great! Meet me at Central Park tomorrow night at eight, by the big oak tree", Leo said
"Okay! It was nice meeting you Leonardo", I said, smiling
"And you too Callista", Leo said
He smiled and I helped him up from the ground. "And thank you for healing my wound", he said, thankfully
"Anything for a friend", I said, smiling
He smiled and walked towards the fire escape next to us and just as he was about to climb the fire escape ladder, I grabbed his arm gently and he looked down at me.
"And Leo don't worry, I won't tell anyone of you or your family's existence, I promise", I said, honestly
"Thank you", Leo said
We gave each other a smile, then he continued climbing up the fire escape. He climbed on top of the building and he looked back down at me. He gave me a smile and a little wave. I blushed pink and I waved and smiled back, then he ran off, disappearing into the night.
"I think I'm really going to like this guy", I said, to myself