Chapter 15
A Great Majority of the rest of the day had been about talking to Unjin, A very old female turtle who had become too thin for her shell, and had more wrinkles than the surface area of her skin should have allowed. But she was soft spoken and kind and set Donatello's many worries at ease.
Leonardo had watched his brother and his brother's betrothed as they very slowly left the kitchen carrying a warmly bundled baby and asking the poor old woman a million and one questions. He had then lost track of raphael, again, but at least he was accompanied by a couple of the chaperones, one meant for Donatello but was unsure what else to do, and perhaps Octavian and Tonyee. And he hadn't seen Usagi all day. Granted he hadn't really been looking for his friend. And then there was tea with Michelangelo and the girls…
Now Leo let out a long breath as he frowned deeply, looking out the window of the random hall he was standing in. he had needed some quiet.
A light afternoon breeze was causing some unseen wind chimes to tinkle together melodically as colorful leaves floated absently to the ground. It was a welcome respite from Michelangelo's incessant chatter and flirting. Emry seemed to find him amusing, but he couldn't tell if Rayen was actually interested in whatever Mikey was going on about, or just too polite to find something else to hold her interest. Which honestly surprised him given her bruised up state from her apparent run in with the guard captain. Leo had tuned Mikey out some time before he excused himself and had the sudden realization that Lyra had long since slipped away from their garden tea. No need to be polite if you could be sneaky. He was a little surprised that he was out of it enough that he hadn't noticed her slip away. Maybe this was stressing him out more that he had expected and lord knows he is waaay out of his element…
"Are you alright?"
Leo probably jumped three feet in the air from the surprise the feminine voice had caused him.
"I don't think you need those right now." Lyra said as she gestured to his drawn swords.
Leonardo blinked at her for a moment then, in sudden horrified realization that instinct had kicked in before his brain, he quickly put his Ninjago away. "Shit, are you ok?" He said as he began looking her over. His hands moving her chin and arms then running over her head and sides looking for some mortal wound he had caused. He didn't think he had struck her but a bit of PTSD from too many near death experiences caused him to doubt himself.
"Fine. Fine! I'm fine." Lyra caught his hands in hers and took a step back as Leo's chaperone cleared his throat and gave Leo a meaningful glare.
Leonardo was confused for a moment, then remembering himself and his surroundings took a step back, clearing his throat in an attempt to squash the rising blush in his face.
Lyra turning toward the window to hide her own blushing state.
Leo watched the breeze dance delicately through the fabric of Lyra's dress, and for a moment he envied both the breeze and the dress, and in the next he was chiding himself for being jealous of such things.
"Sorry if I startled you." He said softly
"I think it is obvious that it was I who startled you." Lyra stated with out looking at him. Her blush washing from her face as she took on a sterner expression.
Leo watched the twirling leaves for a second clearing his mind of all caresses. "In all fairness you really shouldn't sneak up on a ninja."
Lyra looked sideways at him, a small smirk playing at her lips. "Honestly, I thought it would be harder."
"What?" Leo's head snapped around as he took full personal offence to her statement.
"I wasn't exactly trying. Though you did seem to be…elsewhere mentally."
Leo opened and shut his mouth as he sputtered. "Irrelevant. My brothers can't sneak up on me even when I am meditating…usually… and they are trained ninja as well… you… you are…" He waved his hands around as he tried to think of an excuse for his lack of awareness, "Just very soft…" He gestured to her in general as he landed on, "footed."
She looked up at him as if she was looking through eye lashes she didn't have. "hmm. And you," she gestured to all of him. "are better at some ninja things then others, apparently…" She stopped her dramatic gesturing. "like your swords. You are very good with those."
"Well, a man should be good with his swords."
Lyra raised an eye ridge.
"I mean," Leo sputtered some more. "I am good at all ninja… stuff. I'm just…" Exasperated, frustrated, tired, overwhelmed, out of my element, "I wasn't trained for any of this, ok."
A heavy look of confusion settled on Lyra's face.
Leo sighed. "Never mind. I'm sorry. You just caught me off guard. which doesn't usually happen."
"It's a bit over whelming, isn't it?" Lyra tried to read the obviously upset leader.
"Ya." He agreed with a sigh as he leaned forward on the windowsill. "Do they train you for it?"
Now she was definitely lost. "I'm sorry. Train me for what?"
Leaning against the wall a chameleon rolled his eyes in all directions. And he wondered if he was this lost when he was introduced to his wife. And honestly he supposed he was, but it was so long ago he couldn't really remember, which was perhaps a little sad.
"You know… this whole courting, relationship thing." Leonardo offered.
"No." Lyra smiled. "The powers that be arrange our marriages. This courting thing was your idea."
Leo frowned. "Oh, ya. Remind me why I though it was a good idea to attempt that while trying to keep my brothers somewhat rained in and keeping your father happy by obeying a rule book I still haven't been handed."
Lyra leaned onto the windowsill next to Leonardo. "You wanted us to have a choice. Which Min very much exercised today."
"Ya, she did." Leo chuckled. "I thought your dad was going to have an aneurism."
"Me too." Lyra laughed. "Is your brother going to keep the baby?"
"I have no idea." Leonardo stated honestly. "Where did you disappear to during tea? Even Rayen was managing well despite that impressive black eye and fat lip. I am surprised Raphael didn't kill the bastard."
Lyra frowned. "Raphael wanted to. Rayen wouldn't let him. He is a bit of a brute isn't he?"
Leo shrugged. "Ya. But his heart is in the right place. Usually."
"hmmm." Lyra hummed. "I apologize for leaving with out saying anything. My ears were tired and I couldn't bring myself to make Michelangelo feel…"
"Exasperating." Leo offered.
Layra smiled. "I was trying to find a softer word. He seems sweet but is very high energy. I am sure people love him."
"But…"
"He will take some getting used to. I feel like he is the type to have his feelings easily hurt."
"Mikey is pretty thick skinned. But yes, he can be a bit sensitive."
The two of them stood there leaning against the windowsill listening to the wind chimes as they contemplated what had just been shared. Leo smiled at the idea that he was currently at the top of Lyra's likability list. And though he couldn't say there was anything particularly wrong with Emry or Rayen, matter of fact he was fond of both. But he did rather enjoy Lyra's company. And there was something that seemed to draw him to her to cause him to envy the wind's touch on her. But he wasn't sure what.
"For what it's worth. I think you are doing fairly well." Lyra offered.
"At?"
"This whole courting thing. The rest not so much. But, I have never found iron fists good for allowing free will and inspirational thought." Lyra smiled at the handsome man that was now smiling back. The worry seeming to leave his body as he held her gaze. She felt her cheeks start to warm again and looked out across one of the many gardens.
"Thank you. And true." He said with a chuckle as he stood and turned to greet Lord Maru as he approached. The man looked… grumpy and frazzled. "Hello, sir."
"Leonardo." Lord Maru greeted his guest quickly then turned to his daughter. "Lyra, fetch Rayen and meet me in my office. I have a matter to discuss with you both."
"Yes, sir." Lyra hurried off to fetch her sister but not with out a confused backward glance.
"Is this in regards to one of my brothers or…" Leo began, concern finding it's way back into his mind and tensing his body.
"No. This does not concern your family Mr. Hamato. However, I do need the rest of your family to make their decisions quickly. You are running out of time."
"We agreed to two weeks. It has only been a couple of days."
"Two weeks before a wedding is to take place. so far only one of you has… been betrothed." Lord Maru frowned. "My wife is holding a ball in two days to celebrate the engagement and the hopefully impending ones. If any one can make all the necessary arrangements it is Ming ming." He seemed to trail into his own worried thoughts for a moment before making eye contact with Leonardo again. "My wife will want you and your brothers to wear your best. If you failed to bring it then she will insist you are fitted for a suit first thing after breakfast."
"Of course." Leo assured.
And with a nod Lord Maru left Leo wondering exactly what the details of their agreement had been. Had he agreed to a wedding in two weeks or just a decision? For the life of him he couldn't remember. "Shit." He needed to go meditate and clear his head.
Michelangelo was in heaven. Eating yummy things, drinking…tea…and enjoying the company of a set of twins! Never mind one looked like she was taking a break from World War III. They were both sweet and good company. And he was glad to have them to himself. Really, when did anything like this ever happen for him?
"So," Emry treated Michelangelo to a sweet smile. "What so you do when Leonardo doesn't have you busy doing ninja things?"
Mike washed his bite of peach bun down with some tea. "Oh you know, skate boarding, gaming, T.V., comic books, writing..."
"You write?" Rayen asked about the only thing he had said that she knew anything about. "What kind of books?"
"Books? Umm… well comic strips and short stories mostly." Mikey shrugged. "Not really books. But I did send a couple into a newspaper. And they got published, which is pretty cool!" A proud grin spread across his face.
Emry leaned her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands. "What are your stories about?"
Mike gobbled down another peach bun. "Action mostly. I will not confirm or deny that they might be loosely based on the exploits of four totally awesome brothers. Sometimes I like to give at least one super powers." He finished with a wink.
Emry giggled. "Super powers? Like magic?"
"no no. not like magic… like… super powers. Being able to fly with out wings or super strength. You know?
Rayen stuffed a small joint as she listened to her sister and Michelangelo chatter. Smiling with soar lips and twisting the ends of the joint paper with aching fingers. Hearing her sister laugh at Michelangelo's spirted conversation honestly eased her pains. Leaning into a sweet-smelling candle on the table she lit her joint and took a long slow toke.
"Yo. Is that what I think it is?" Mike pointed at Rayen's joint and smiled. "It smells like it is."
Rayen looked down at the burning bundle of weed, took another quick hit, then offered it over to Michelangelo who took it eagerly.
He paused with the joint to his lips then looked between the twins. "Don't tell Leo."
Emry opened her mouth to affirm the secret was safe with them but was interrupted by little Esra running into the garden yelling.
"Emwry! Emwry! Emwry!"
Mikey crushed the cherry of the joint and discreetly slipped it back to Rayen who pocketed it.
"Whatty, Whatty, Whatty?" Emery asked as she scooped her little sister into her lap.
"The luska! I saws it again!"
"Saw." Rayen corrected.
"Luska? Is that the crazy monster we were chasing out the other night?" Mikey asked.
Esra nodded. "I saw it." She turned back to Emry. "I really did."
"Where? Did you see it sweety?" Emry asked trying not to giggle at her little sister's over active imagination.
"In the guarden…. The other guarden.. by the fishy pond." Ezra turned to Rayen. "You gotta catch Ray, It's scary!"
"I will definitely take a look."
"You know." Mikey chimed in. "If you name him, he will be less scary."
"Really?" Ezra scrunched up her cute little face.
Mikey chuckled. "Totally! When I was little and cute, like you, I named all the scary bad guys and monsters. Made them like a whole like…70% less scary. And I would feed them…"
"You would feed your…monsters?" Rayen questioned.
"Totally. I mean, if they are full, they won't eat me… some even became friends." Mikey shrugged.
Rayen lifted her non-swollen eye ridge.
"Really?!" Esra asked. She looked around as if trying to decide something. "What should I name him?"
"Hmmm." Mikey tapped his chin. "I think Jeffrey is a good name for a luska."
"Hmmm…" Ezra mimicked Mikey's chin tapping. "I like it. What does a luska eat?"
"Fish mostly and occasionally sailors." Rayen answered.
"Ok!" Esra Jumped from Emry's lap and took off running back to whence she had come.
"Seriously?!" Emry exclaimed.
"What?" Rayen asked.
"Now she is going to through dead fish into the pond." Emry frowned at her sister.
"And occasionally sailors."
The twins looked at Mikey and considered the possibility of a six year old luring a sailor into the pond unnoticed.
Emery started with a nervous laugh, followed by her sister.
"That would be crazy." Michelangelo chuckled.
"I hate to interrupt." Lyra brought the nervous laughter to an end with her entrance. "Rayen, Dad wants to talk to us. He seems…upset."
"Great." Rayen frowned. "Till later." She rose, gave Michelangelo a sore smile and quick bow, then followed her sister. "Did her say what it's about?"
"No. but I bet it has to do with what happened at the training grounds." Lyra frowned.
"Wonderful. I was hoping news wouldn't get to him till tomorrow."
"Have you looked in a mirror?" Lyra shook her head at her sister. "If nothing else he probably wants to know why you look all beat up."
Rayen responded with a sigh. "I am entirely to sober for this."
Lyra and Rayen stood in their father's office yet again. With all the other excitement the two had hoped their tiff in the training grounds had been over looked.
It had not been.
Lord Maru sat at his desk frowning. He was not looking forward to this. But Jayden was right. He needed to get control of his daughters. "I am not speaking to you as a father. I am speaking to you as the lord of this territory and head of this town." He took a slow deep breath.
There was a look shared between the sisters before they stood to attention.
Their father slowly stood and stepped around his desk. "Today you two left your designated training ground and entered the men's."
"Father, our training grounds are…" Lyra started.
"Your argument is irrelevant. As the behavior after entering the training grounds was in excusable."
"But,"
"Lyra, enough!" Lord Maru frowned.
Lyra glared but shut her mouth.
Rayen shot a worried glance between the two.
"You both overstepped, drew swords against your commanding officer, and I am told that one of the Hamato clan intervened in the captain's dealing with you. I should have you both lashed, disbanded and the Hamato clan thrown out for interfering in a guard affair."
Rayen's eyes widened. This wasn't' right. Their treatment wasn't right. Jayden's cowardice wasn't right. And her lack of justice wasn't right. "Raphael was defending me."
"Rayen, you will not interrupt me." Lord Maru stated firmly.
"Yes, I will." Rayen staired down her Lord Maru. Not as the father she loved, but as the head of the city she had spent years protecting. "Jayden stru
ck me after I had defeated him. He dishonored himself and acted as a coward. Raphael was with in his*/ right."
Lord Maru staired down his daughter till she stepped back into full attention. He sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Girl's, I am sorry. But your behavior has left me with little choice." Turning to the table he lifted two scrolls from the table. Then turning back to his daughters, he held them out. "As of this moment you are disbanded from the guard."
"Both of us?" Rayen asked as she took her discharge papers in hand.
"Yes." Answered her father.
Rayen gave her sister a crest fallen look.
But Lyra held her stern expression. Nothing more to say and no more to fight for. She had let her temper get the best of her. She had led her sister into a fight to end their couriers and for what? Because some man looked her in the eye and spoke to her like an equal. She let out a slow sigh.
"Lyra I am so sorry.." Rayen started.
"Enough of that." Lyra stated. "Is there anything else Lord?"
Lord Maru frowned. "It is time for you two to start acting like women."
The two women gave their father a heart broken look. Then bowed hoping for permission to leave.
Their father let out a deep breath, then taking pity on the girls, he bowed and dismissed his daughters.
