Chapter Twenty
Spotted!
Unaware that Pandora was following her, Kemeko found the first set of rungs, and climbed up them to get to the surface.
She lifted the manhole and looked out to see an alleyway that was deserted yet large trash bins lined the walls as well as graffiti, she recognised them as Gang signs, many from the well-known Purple Dragons, as well as rival gangs.
She could also hear the traffic as well as the sounds of passers-by and dogs barking.
Standing still in the alleyway, she thought of her options and wondered what to do.
After a few minutes, Kemeko decided to walk into the city and think.
Putting her weapons into her backpack before putting it on her shoulders, she walked towards the city and out into the streets before strolling along the pavement.
As she did, she gazed at the city and the way the sun beamed down on her and bounced off the windows of the houses as well as the vehicles.
She had never been topside during the daytime, and it was interesting to see how the city looked under the sun.
The smells of hot dogs and pretzels from the many stands filled her nose and she looked at the windows of the displays, many shops selling merchandise of New York.
As the Asian girl walked a little further, she saw a market selling jewellery, flowers, and sweets, and she went over to observe.
As she gazed at the stalls, she temporarily forgot about her troubles below and admired the many goods.
"Seen anything you like?" a voice called over from behind a Semi precious Stones stall she was admiring.
Kemeko looked up to see a plump woman with jet black hair in an updo and wearing hippie style clothes.
"You know, stones like these have meanings as well as healing properties!" the woman smiled.
"Oh?" Kemeko asked.
The woman nodded.
"Many people wear them sometimes, I've had students buy stones to help them focus in exams, I've had people going to interviews and taken a stone for luck" she said, "And some even carry them to give them soothing vibes when they feel negative."
Kemeko looked at the stones and ran her fingers over them, admiring the colours as well as the feel of them.
As the Asian Girl was observing the stones, she was unaware that standing near the flower stall, a tall willowy woman with long black hair dressed in a smart business suit and wearing sunglasses was watching her.
She had been looking at the display of flowers when she caught sight of Kemeko and as she did, she took out her phone, discreetly took a photo then sent it in a text message with the words 'She's here!'
After a couple of minutes her phone began to buzz, and she answered it.
"Arashi." She said in a soft voice.
"You're serious right now? Kemeko is topside? Right now, and in broad daylight?"
"Yes Arashi, the photo does not lie, and I am looking at her right now!"
"That's my girl." Arashi's syrupy tone came from the phone at the woman smiled and chuckled.
"Hanako, my Cherry Blossom." Arashi's same voice came again "Follow her, and don't let her out of your sight! For now, it's unclear why she is topside at this time, but whilst she is here and those turtles can't come topside due to the daytime hours, now is the best time to strike!"
"I will follow her; you can rely on me honey." Hanako replied "I'll alert the others and we will have her cornered and brought to Headquarters within the hour!"
"Good girl!" Arashi purred "And when you return, I will have a reward for you."
"I can't wait baby." Hanako whispered "See you soon." She then hung up the phone and continued to watch Kemeko from behind her sunglasses as she sent several messages to any nearby Foot Ninja.
"Nowhere to run, little girl!" she smirked.
Meanwhile, Pandora had seen Kemeko leave the sewer, yet because of her mutant features and the fact it was the daytime hours, the hybrid knew she had to be very careful if she was going to keep up with her cousin and bring her home.
"This is gonna be difficult!" she thought as she leapt onto a fire escape to get to the rooftops and she began to run across them as well as leap from building to building, all the while keeping Kemeko in her sights until she saw her human cousin arrive at a Market.
When she saw Kemeko had stopped, the hybrid watched from the rooftop and wondered how to get to her.
"I guess I'll just have to wait this out." She thought to herself "I also hope that no-one in the sewers has noticed we're missing!"
She chewed her lip nervously as she continued to watch Kemeko.
Back in the market, Kemeko continued to observe the stones, then she purchased some healing beaded bracelets.
One was turquoise, the gem of protection and friendship.
One was blue topaz, for forgiveness and trust.
One was Green Peridot for healing and study.
One was Jade for security and self-healing.
One was moonstone for love and belonging.
One was rose quartz for dedication and love.
One was blue tanzanite for truth and understanding.
One was Black Onyx for self-control.
And the last one was Topaz for sympathy and comfort.
After paying the lady behind the stall and saying thank you, the Asian girl walked off to look at the other stalls, purchasing some candy then she walked back to the pavements.
At the same time, Hanako started to follow her from a safe distance so as not to draw attention or make is obvious that she was following a teenage girl.
She smirked as she watched Kemeko and licked her lips as she thought about Arashi back at headquarters and what his reward for her was.
"Mmmm," she mused "I hope he delivers what he promises, he always does!" she stroked the side of her neck and ran her fingers through her hair.
Blissfully unaware she was being followed, Kemeko looked at the beaded bracelets and rattled them as well as put them on her wrists.
She still wasn't sure of what to do, or where to go, even though it had been a peaceful and rather exciting experience in the market, she knew she had to decide what to do next, whether it was to either run away, or go back to the lair.
Neither option was good, part of her wanted to go home and face the consequences of her actions, but the other half still wanted to run away.
But if she did run away, where would she go?
As she was a human living in the sewers with mutants, she had no documents, no birth certificate, or passport, so to the human world, and the government, she didn't exist.
Kemeko also thought of Diablo and his Disciples, even though she was only a small child when Diablo the Raven betrayed Mutopia and ran off on his own and gathered new followers with the water he stole from the magical well.
She had no idea where they were, nor what they were doing presently, and in truth, she didn't want to be a Disciple, even though she was sure they would welcome her, and more than likely mutate her.
As the Asian girl was lost in these thoughts, she passed a dark alleyway, and she felt a hand grab her wrist!
Kemeko was shocked but before she could react or even scream, she was yanked into the alleyway and thrown to the ground!
The Japanese girl shook off her shock and looked up to face her attacker only to see her lizard/turtle hybrid cousin looking down at her.
"Pandora!?" Kemeko gasped.
"Hello to you too Kem!" Pandora replied before grabbing Kemeko by the arm and yanking her up.
"What the shell are you doing!?" she shouted.
"What the shell are you doing here following me?!" Kemeko demanded.
"To make sure you don't get into trouble!" Pandora retorted angrily "Are you out of your mind Kemeko? Leaving the lair? And during the daylight?"
"So?" Kemeko replied "I'm human, I can blend in!"
"No difference to night!" Pandora spat "It's dangerous either way! Even though the Venomous Five aren't out, the city is still full of Shredder's Spies! You shouldn't be out here! Me neither for that matter, do you know how much I'm risking finding you to bring you back before you do something you regret!?"
"This is a first for you!" Kemeko growled "Showing maturity! Who are you?"
"You're my cousin Kemeko!" Pandora barked "And my honoured sister! I don't want you to get hurt! And I sure as shell don't want to lose you! You're my best friend! I love you! I want you to come home!"
"Why?" Kemeko asked "I did a terrible thing! I don't deserve to be there! I hurt dad! I dishonoured the family! I disgraced them! You lot would be better off without me!"
"No fucking way Kem!" Pandora said "We need you! No-one's mad at you! We're just concerned! We know you've been told something big as well as life changing, and it wasn't what anyone would want to hear, but we love you! We all love you!"
Tears started to form in Pandora's eyes.
"Please Kemeko!" she begged "Please come home! If we're quick, we'll make it back to the lair before the grown-ups wake up and we won't speak of this to anyone!"
Kemeko stared at Pandora and blinked.
"Please!" Pandora pleaded "Trust me when I say nothing bad will happen, we all love you, and Uncle Leo loves you, what happened was an accident, we all know it was not intentional what happened, you're angry and hurt, and we want to help you! Not condemn you! You're a Hamato! Not a Saki!"
The hybrid was all full of emotion and she leapt at Kemeko and pulled her close sobbing.
"I love you Kem! I'm lost without you, I'm lost without my best friend, my fighting partner, my calming yin against my raging yang."
As Pandora pulled Kemeko close to her, the Japanese girl felt tears of her own come to her eyes and she hugged Pandora back.
All the emotions she had come back to her, and she began to regret leaving the lair and risking capture all because of a stupid decision to go topside.
She had been worried, and she was still scared of the consequences of her actions for what she did, but she trusted Pandora's word.
Although her cousin could be reckless and aggressive as well as not thinking before acting, she would never lie to her.
"I'm still loved?" she asked as she looked at her cousin.
"Of course, Kem!" Pandora replied "That will never change! Never! Mark my words! Trust me when I say that despite what's happened, everything will be alright!"
Kemeko felt a small smile curl on her lips and Pandora felt a ray of hope rising in her belly that she had convinced Kemeko to come with her.
And her guess was correct when Kemeko's smile got bigger, and she looked at the beaded bracelets on her wrists.
"Okay!" she said, "Let's go home!"
Pandora smiled and hugged Kemeko again.
"Sure, thing Kemi! Come on! The nearest manhole is this way!"
She took Kemeko's hand and was about to lead her down the alleyway when a voice was heard making them both freeze.
"Leaving so soon?"
So Kemeko has visited a market and has purchased some semi precious stone beaded bracelets, and Pandora has caught up with her and luckily managed to convince her to return home!
But Kemeko was spotted by a Foot Spy! And not just any spy! A female one, and from the sounds of it, Izo Arashi's lover! Oh boy...
P.S. The Character Diablo and his Disciples appear in my Fanfics 'Falling inside the Black', 'United by Fate' and most recently 'My Saviour'.