Note: Be prepared for some emotion in this chapter, last place we left off Leonardo and Splinter had left Kemeko to cry in her room after they told her the truth about her origins.
Chapter Thirteen
A Mother's Message
Back in her bedroom, Kemeko lay on the floor sobbing and weeping still shaken at the news Leonardo and Splinter had told her.
She never thought that in a million years she would be told that she was the granddaughter of the Shredder.
She wasn't sure how she was going to recover from this shocking revelation, especially since she couldn't deny the truth that Leonardo had told her, she knew he would never tell a lie, especially nothing as serious as this.
After a long time, she wasn't sure how long she had been on the floor, but the Asian girl picked herself up and went over to the bed and she soon saw the photobook, DVD and the letter Leonardo had left there.
The photobook was light brown leather and there was a pocket at the front showing a photograph of a Japanese baby girl in white swaddling which she could only guess was her as a new-born.
The DVD was in a clear case marked with the words 'For Kemeko' on it and she recognised the handwriting as Leonardo's.
Wiping her eyes and blowing her nose, Kemeko read the letter.
'Dear Kemeko, my Lotus Blossom, my Turtle Child,
Telling you the truth has been the hardest thing I've had to do, but your mother made me promise before she died, to tell you when you were old enough to know and understand.
I know my words aren't enough when it comes to knowing the full story, and your mother wanted to tell you herself, but of course she has been unable to.
But the items with this letter were done by her, if the Shredder did take her life as she feared, and she didn't want to leave without letting you know how much you meant to her and what life was like for her before she married your father and got pregnant with you.
If you want to know the truth, then please watch the DVD.
Remember, you have every right to feel the feelings you feel, and I am always here for you, me, your uncles and aunt, grandfather, Pandora and of course everyone in Mutopia.
I love you so much.
Your affectionate father
Leonardo'
Kemeko sniffed then put the letter down before looking at the photo album.
As she opened it, she saw photos of her mother and father getting married in Japan, as well as their honeymoon pictures and many other moments along with a little note underneath saying where and when the picture was taken and the story behind it.
When she got to the third page, Kemeko saw a couple of photos of Karai and Chaplin holding up ultrasound pictures as well as a couple of Karai with a slight baby bump and Chaplin stroking it and nuzzling it.
A small smile crept on the Asian girl's face as she looked at the photos seeing how happy her parents looked but then it faded when she realised what the Shredder had taken away.
After a couple of pages, Kemeko came across a few photos of Karai in the turtle's lair after fleeing to them for sanctuary, some of her sitting on the sofa or doing other things, looking rather content as she looked at the camera, but she could see even in the photos that her eyes showed great sadness at the fact Chaplin was not with her and that Shredder was hunting her.
She then found pictures of her socialising with the turtles, Monalisa, Splinter and even Pandora which shocked her.
"Pandora met my mother?" she asked as she looked at a photo of a three-year-old Pandora sitting at the dining room table drawing with Karai watching her.
She made up her mind to confront her cousin about it, but for the time being she decided to keep reading the album.
She soon came across photos of Karai at Casey's Farmhouse, her bump showing and looking excited and happy, but still having the same sad look in her eyes.
She then came across the photos of an exhausted but very happy Karai with baby Kemeko in her arms as well as Leonardo at her side.
Kemeko also saw a photo of Leonardo holding her as a baby and cooing at her and she saw the love in his eyes for her as well as her reaching her tiny arms up to him, imprinting on him.
She then looked at a solo photo of her as a baby in her Moses basket, her eyes open and curious as well as the note at the bottom.
'My Precious Turtle Child'
Kemeko felt the tears fall again and she continued to look through the photo album and she saw many photos of Karai and her as a baby, as well as the Hamato Clan joining in holding her and she saw another photo of Karai and Monalisa sitting together with Pandora on Monalisa's lap reaching over to stroke Kemeko.
'Two mothers comparing babies' the note said underneath.
Looking at the other, Kemeko gave a a small chuckle at a photo of Pandora holding her as a baby on her lap and grinning.
'Forming a Bond' the note said underneath.
Before long, Kemeko came to the end of the album where the last photo showed Karai in her full Ninja outfit holding her as a baby close and kissing her, it was the last photo of her mother alive before she went to confront the Shredder and, in a way, she was savouring the time she had left with her baby daughter.
The note underneath said, almost heartbreakingly.
'Mummy loves you so much'.
Kemeko looked through the album several times, then decided to look at the DVD.
She opened the case, studied the disk then walked over to the TV she had in the corner facing her bed which had a built in DVD player.
She wasn't sure what she was going to see, and she felt nervous, but she wanted to know more so she gathered her courage and turned on the TV and placed the DVD in the player then went to sit on the bed, picking up a stuffed Panda and cuddling it close for comfort and security.
Before long, the screen came to life, and it showed Karai sitting on the edge of a bed in her ninja clothes in the turtle's lair looking at the camera and Kemeko almost felt like she was looking at her directly through the screen.
She then flinched as Karai began to speak.
"My beautiful Kemeko, if you're watching this, then I believe you are old enough and mature enough to understand why I am not here, I was hoping that this wouldn't be the case, and I could be in your life as I wanted to, but sadly, that wasn't my destiny, this is my message to you as a young woman, and I can only pray that you take this to heart and not hate me."
Kemeko swallowed hard and her heartbeat faster as she watched the screen.
"I am your mother, Oruku Karai, and I fool you not, yes, I am the daughter of Oruku Saki, the Shredder, the enemy of the turtles, and the one you call father, Leonardo.
I was second in command to the Foot, and I fought and worked alongside my father to commit bad deeds and I was always loyal to him.
That all changed when I met the turtles and Leonardo, and despite everything that happened between us, I admired him and had respect for him, I was always torn between my loyalty to my father as well as following Leonardo's ways of honour.
I made many mistakes in my life, and if I could turn back the clock, I would never have crossed paths with Shredder, I wished I had met Leonardo's sensei's sensei Hamato Yoshi and learnt from him.
But there is no good on dwelling on what could have been, what happened, happened and I cannot change it.
When I finally left the Foot with Chaplin, I hoped that we could forget everything and make a fresh start, but we were wrong, it seemed that the Foot would never forgive us or leave us alone, and your father paid the price with his life…."
Karai gave a sob as she mentioned her husband and Kemeko's father and Kemeko swallowed hard.
"Even though the Shredder and his evil followers had taken my husband, I was not going to allow him to take me, or you, my precious child, so I fled to the Turtles, and they took me in, and I am forever grateful they did, just so I could protect you.
But now, because I'm no longer here, I entrusted Leonardo, his brothers, Monalisa, Splinter, April, and Casey to protect you, I made Leonardo your Godfather and asked him that if anything happened to me, that he could look after you as well as tell you the whole truth about me, and your connection to the Foot.
This is my witness statement and my message to you from the grave.
My darling Kemeko, it kills me that I may be watching you from afar along with your father, but I feel comfort in knowing you are safe and prepared for whatever life is thrown at you.
No matter what, my Lotus, I love you, and I will be with you always, goodbye my beautiful turtle child…."
Karai blew a kiss at the camera then the screen faded to black before returning to the main menu.
Kemeko had been silent but then she felt her heart break and she lowered her head and cried.
"It's true…" she wept "It's all true…Shredder is my grandfather, and he killed my mother, his own daughter, all because she didn't want to follow him and continue the evil deeds of the Foot, how could he? How could he?"
She clutched her stuffed Panda and lay on her bed sobbing.
Meanwhile in her room, Pandora was laying on her bed staring at the ceiling and wondering what was going on outside with Leonardo and how Kemeko was doing.
As she lay there pondering there was a knock at her door.
"Come in!" she called, and she saw Raphael and Monalisa walk in.
"Hey sweetheart." Monalisa said.
Pandora instantly sat bolt upright and looked at her parents.
"What happened mum?" she asked anxiously, "Why was Uncle Leo so upset and where's Kemeko?"
"Calm down kiddo." Raphael said as he walked over and almost tripped on some dirty laundry Pandora had dumped near the door.
He grunted in annoyance at the fact his daughter hadn't put the dirty clothes in the laundry basket but decided to let it go for now as there was more important matters to discuss.
He sat on the bed next to Pandora and Monalisa sat on the other side.
"Pandora." Monalisa said "We're sorry we didn't tell you earlier but we're going to tell you now, and it is important that you keep this to yourself for now."
Pandora nodded understanding.
Monalisa and Raphael then began to tell Pandora about why Leonardo was upset and what had taken place, and about Karai.
As they talked, Pandora was silent and was shocked.
Monalisa then showed Pandora a photograph of her with Karai and Kemeko as a baby.
"You were only three-years-old Pandora." The lizard lady said.
Pandora looked at the photo then thought hard as she tried to remember.
"I got a couple of memories." She said, "I think I remember her."
Raphael sighed as the memories came back, both good and bad.
"I still remember it all like yesterday." He said, "I wasn't too pleased about her being in the lair around you."
Monalisa nodded sympathetically.
"You had your reasons darling, and I understand why." She said then looked at Pandora.
She and Raphael then went on to explain Karai's past and her connection with the Foot and the Shredder.
"…. And so, you see, the Shredder is Kemeko's Grandfather!"
"What the Fuck!?" Pandora shrieked is disbelief "You're kidding right?!"
Normally her parents would call her out for swearing but they let it slide as they would have reacted the same way if they were in her shoes.
Both the turtle and lizard shook their heads.
"It's all true Little Geisha." Raphael said.
"Yes." Monalisa agreed "And we all need to support Leonardo and Kemeko at this difficult time, and we both know how good you are with Kemeko at looking after her when she's in her darkest moments."
Pandora felt a sense of pride well up in her and she smiled at her parents.
"I do my best!" she said.
Monalisa and Raphael smiled at Pandora.
"She's not just my cousin, but my honoured sister." Pandora stated "And I will be there for her! No matter what!"
"So proud of you!" Raphael chuckled as he hugged his daughter close and Monalisa did the same.
So Kemeko has looked at the photo album and watched the DVD, yet she is still heartbroken about the revelation. I admit I was inspired by the scene in the movie Sonic the Hedgehog 2 when Longclaw delivers her message to Sonic.
Meanwhile Raphael and Monalisa have filled Pandora in on the details.
But again, where will all this lead everyone? Well, until I update again, you'll have to wait to find out!