Heya readers, and welcome to another chapter, this time focused on Kemeko and Leonardo.
Again, as I wrote this, I was listening to the beautiful piece of music on Youtube, Japanese Cherry Blossom Meditation by Zen Ambiance.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Heaven is a Place on Earth
Back in Japan, Kemeko slowly awoke to feel the warm sun on her face, for a moment she wasn't sure where she was as she felt her bed was very low and the carpets felt strange.
Sitting up, she found herself in a plain room with painted paper walls and sliding doors.
It was then she remembered where she was.
"The home of the Ancient One!" she whispered and laying on her back and staring at the ceiling, it all started to come back to her.
After they had arrived, she and Leonardo had settled into their room and they had shared some Jasmine tea as well as some of their food left over from when they travelled, and had settled to sleep, which wasn't hard as it was nice to be sleeping indoors again rather than under the stars and at risk of the elements or wild animals.
She also found herself able to sleep without feeling scared, and she felt safe, like that night that Leonardo and Tyroth had used their combined abilities to protect her from her nightmares.
She had felt it here in her dreams.
After they had finished their tea, Kemeko had felt the need to rest, and Leonardo had gladly laid her down to sleep and sat next to her stroking her forehead and her hair.
"Trust me Lotus." He said as he sat there and Kemeko gazed up at him as well as at the ceiling, seeing the shadows dance.
"This is the most sacred place I know, and when I stayed here, all my worries and fears vanished, and so will yours, your nightmares will never touch you."
He had then leaned down and kissed his daughter's forehead and continued to stroke her hair until she fell asleep.
It was then she had never been plagued by the nightmares she had feared back in Mutopia, but she had slept better than she had before, and in this place of serenity, she felt truly safe.
Rolling over to see where Leonardo was, Kemeko saw it was empty.
Guessing he was already awake, Kemeko sat up and stretched then reached for her white and blue robe.
Pulling it around herself, she walked to the sliding doors and pulled them open.
The Hallway was clear and empty and Kemeko walked through it, silently and carefully, she breathed slowly and quietly, feeling the need to keep the place as sacred as possible.
Last night, when she and her father had shared their tea, they had only spoken in whispers and murmurs as if the spirits were listening in and she was determined to do the same.
She walked through the hallway and saw the front doors were open.
A cool breeze was flowing into the room, and she could smell that sweet scent of the flowers on it, very much the same smell she had smelt the day before when she and Leonardo had arrived.
As she opened the doors fully, she saw the garden all in bloom and the sun was shining brightly.
Stepping out, she felt the cool stones of the outside on her feet, and she smiled at how nice it felt.
As the gentle wind blew, the blossoms from the trees flew about and she watched them as they created swirls in the air.
Stepping down into the garden, Kemeko looked around for Leonardo, yet she couldn't see him near the house, she then caught sight of a lake just a few feet away and a large blossom tree next to it.
It was then she saw him, meditating under it as the blossoms flew around him and onto the lake.
Kemeko wanted to go over, yet she wasn't sure if she wished to disturb his peace and she turned to walk back to the house.
"Why do you hesitate child?"
Kemeko almost jumped out of her skin as she heard that voice.
"Who said that?" she asked.
"Don't be scared." The same voice said again, it was a male voice, he spoke English with a strong Japanese accent.
Kemeko looked around, almost feeling slightly scared, wondering if it was in her head, until she looked down into the lower garden and saw the same man from yesterday when she arrived.
"Ancient One?" she asked.
She walked to the steps and walked down them towards the overweight man in the straw hat.
The Man looked up at her, his eyes peeping from under the hat.
"Good morning Kemeko-Chan." He said, "It is an honour to see you here, and at the right time too."
Kemeko walked closer then lowered herself to her knees and bowed to him.
"Ancient One." She whispered, "My Father, my grandfather has spoken of you, I have heard many stories."
The Ancient One nodded his head.
"Yet…" Kemeko whispered "Why are you here? I was told you departed from this world?"
The Ancient One nodded.
"I may have passed beyond this world." He said, "But I am still here in spirit, along with others here."
"Others?" Kemeko asked "Like Hamato Yoshi? Tang Shen? My parents?"
"And others." The Ancient One replied "But I have lingered here since I learnt of Leonardo-san's desire to bring you here, and he has,"
Kemeko then felt a hand under her chin and the old man brought her face up to look at him.
"Such a beautiful and bright child." The Ancient One smiled "The face and eyes of your mother, as well as the brains of your father."
"Is it true?" Kemeko asked tears welling in her eyes "Are they here? With you?"
The Ancient One didn't answer her yet he continued to analyse her.
"So beautiful." He said, "Yet you carry a heavy weight in your heart, which is plain to see."
He lifted his other hand and stroked the white streak in Kemeko's black hair.
"You were shocked to learn the truth, and it now lingers in your soul."
Kemeko could tell exactly what the Ancient One was speaking about and she sighed sadly.
"I suppose I'll never fully be free of it." She said "I learnt the truth, and I know Shredder will not give up, no matter what I say or do to get away from him, but I know who I am, and what I am."
"And what is that child?" The Ancient One asked.
"I am Hamato." Kemeko said "Hamato Kemeko, and I always will be."
The Ancient One smiled and stroked Kemeko's cheek.
"You believe it so, despite the nightmares that plagued you." He said, "You might have been born connected to the Oruko Clan, but your heart and honour is with the Hamato Clan, and it always will be."
Kemeko closed her eyes as tears fell and she smiled softly.
She then opened her eyes and she gasped to see that the Ancient One was gone, and the garden was empty, as if no-one other than herself had never stepped in it.
"Ancient One?" she asked "Where? Where did you go?"
She stood up and looked around the garden, yet she couldn't see the old man she had been speaking to.
All she saw was the rustling trees in the wind, the blossoms flying around her and the sweet smell in the air.
"Lotus?"
Kemeko looked behind her to see Leonardo walking over.
"Dad?"
Leonardo walked over to Kemeko with a smile on his face.
"Hey sweetheart." He said, "You're finally awake."
"Finally awake?" Kemeko asked.
"You slept in child." Leonardo said, "I awoke early and saw you laying there, you looked so peaceful, and I believed you needed the sleep after all the travelling we did."
Kemeko bit her lip.
"I overslept?" she asked "Oh, I didn't mean to."
"it's not an issue Lotus." Leonardo assured his daughter "You needed to sleep, and I took the liberty to enjoy the gardens and meditate under the tree near the lake."
Kemeko smiled softly then she felt Leonardo's finger on her cheek.
"I can see though." He said, "Your emotions have surfaced, and from what I gather, something happened…I can feel it."
Kemeko blinked in amazement.
"Do you feel his presence dad?" she asked "The Ancient One? I saw him yesterday on the steps, and just now I saw him! He came to me!"
Leonardo smiled a soft knowing smile.
"He did?" he asked to which Kemeko nodded.
"I saw him as clear as I see you." She said, "And he told me that he was here, with others, and they were here in spirit."
Leonardo stroked Kemeko's cheek.
"That is right my Lotus." He said, "And I promised you I would show you where your parents are rested."
"Where are they?" Kemeko asked desperately "Please! Can I see them?"
Leonardo nodded.
"We shall." He said, "But first, you must dress and be ready for the occasion."
Kemeko looked a little confused, but Leonardo took her hand and began to lead her to the house.
"We must get you washed, and your hair done, and dressed in your best." He said as he led her inside and to the washroom.
Kemeko was confused but she decided to go along with Leonardo's plan, and she went into the washroom to clean up whilst Leonardo went into the bedroom to prepare some clothes.
After twenty minutes, Kemeko emerged from the washroom wrapped in white towels and she sat down, and Leonardo stood behind her and helped her dry her hair and comb it whilst she held up a handheld mirror.
"Your mother always loved to touch your hair, or what little you had of it when you were just a tiny baby." Leonardo said dreamily as he stroked Kemeko's damp hair "I often thought of what she would be doing now with you, if she lived?"
Kemeko looked at Leonardo through her mirror.
"I wish I could think of that too." She said, "But all I've known is with you, and I'm happy."
Leonardo smiled then walked over to a beautifully decorated screen and towards a beautiful pink and purple kimono.
"I believe you will impress your parents with this?" he suggested.
Kemeko's eyes widened as she looked at it.
"Oh wow," she said, "it's beautiful."
Leonardo took it down and brought it over before laying it before Kemeko.
"This was a special Kimono that your mother had planned to give you, she had it in her belongings when she fled to me and my family in the lair, and I kept it hidden until the time was right, and I believe now is the right time."
Kemeko stroked the material and looked up at Leonardo.
"When your hair is dry, we shall get you dressed and ready to meet your family, they will be so happy to see you!"
He winked at his daughter and Kemeko felt confused.
"If my parents are dead?" she asked herself "How will they see me in this kimono? But then again, the Ancient One saw me, and I saw him, has father got something to show me? Rather than just a grave?"
She looked at the kimono then out of the window at the blue sky and the sun shining in.
"Is there something else I shall see?" she thought "Like I saw the Ancient One? Will I see my parents? My parents who I have heard so much about, yet never met?"
Kemeko has awakened in Japan, and she feels safe and comforted, and she had encountered the Spirit of the Ancient One who had assured her that those who have passed, himself included are there in spirit.
Now Leonardo has arranged for Kemeko to meet her parents and be dressed for the occassion, and how will that go? Again, keep checking back to find out!