Chapter Forty-Four
The Journey Begins
Meanwhile back in Japan, Leonardo and Kemeko were continuing their journey to the place of the Ancient One.
They had made it out of Tokyo without being seen on a truck which they had climbed into the back and rode out of the city towards the towered mountain of Mount Fuji.
As they travelled, Kemeko looked out the back and watched the city disappear then see the countryside.
Leonardo watched her as he did, making sure she didn't fall out.
"This is a beautiful place dad." Kemeko said as she watched the many trees speed past against the sky which was blue and the mist that surrounded the mountains "So much different from home."
"I know." Leonardo said, "The city of Tokyo is huge, and the countryside is different from what we have seen at Casey's Farmhouse."
Kemeko smiled as she felt the wind in her hair then pulled herself back in before looking to Leonardo.
"How much longer now?" she asked.
"We still need to travel a few miles more, until we get to the outside borders." Leonardo explained "Once we do, we will need to walk, as where we are going is sacred and far away from modern society."
"It is?" Kemeko asked.
Leonardo nodded and beckoned Kemeko to him.
"We will be walking for miles, so I suggest you rest now, and save your energy, I will wake you when we are close."
Kemeko moved closer to her father and lay her head on his lap and Leonardo stroked her hair.
"Trust me Lotus." He said, "Rest now."
Kemeko nodded and curled up as she rested on Leonardo's lap and before long the motion of the truck and the feel of Leonardo stroking her hair lulled her to sleep.
Kemeko wasn't sure how long she had been asleep before she gently felt Leonardo shaking her awake.
"Lotus? Lotus Blossom?" Leonardo called softly to her "We're here."
Kemeko blinked and opened her eyes, and she looked up at Leonardo who was smiling and there was an excited twinkle in his eyes.
"We're ready to start the long walk?" she asked.
Leonardo nodded.
"That we are." He said as he helped Kemeko stand up and he looked out the back of the truck to see where it had stopped.
As he looked out, he saw it had stopped at a small shop on a lonely road.
He could see no-one about, and he guessed that the driver was inside the shop, so he decided they best move quickly.
He jumped out of the back of the truck, and he helped Kemeko out along with their rucksacks.
He then pulled her into the wooded area behind the shop and pointed to a path leading upwards.
"This way." He said, "We'll be out of sight and sound of anyone else here, this is where I started my journey on Foot on both journeys towards the home of the Ancient One."
Kemeko followed Leonardo closely although she almost tripped on the rocky terrain despite the walking boots she wore especially for this journey.
As they climbed higher, Kemeko couldn't help but look at the horizon and see the beautiful Japanese countryside which consisted of greens and blues as well as some splashes of pink of the pink blossom trees.
Before long they made it to the higher parts and where the land was flatter, so they were able to rest for a moment.
Kemeko wiped her brow and took a few deep breaths.
"Rather a steep climb." She commented.
"I told you it would be tough." Leonardo said as he took out a bottle of water from his back back and handed it to Kemeko "But we'll have a short rest then we'll carry on before it gets dark."
"Okay." Kemeko agreed as she took a quick sip from the bottle and handed it back to Leonardo.
She looked out at the horizon again, taking in it's many colours.
The mist swirled around the mountains and the cool breeze blew through her hair.
She could remember the books she looked at as a child with her grandfather Splinter when he looked after her and Pandora when her father, Aunt and Uncles were training topside, and it brought back memories.
Flashback
Three-year-old Kemeko sat in Splinter's lap as he sat cross legged on the floor of the quiet room, and he pointed at the many colourful photographs of Rural Japan.
The Turtles and Monalisa were topside doing patrol as usual and six-year-old Pandora was laying on her stomach the floor nearby colouring in a book with crayons.
Kemeko stared at the pictures and placed her fingers on them as if trying to touch the many images that decorated them.
"This my turtle child." Splinter said softly "Is the country of your origins, Japan, it was my home for a very long time before I came to the United States."
He then placed his paw on a large photo of Mount Fuji with a large lake in front of it and purple flowers in the foreground.
"There is so much history of this sacred land." Splinter said gently as he nuzzled Kemeko's soft ebony hair "It has a very colourful history, possibly more so than any nation on this planet."
Kemeko blinked at her grandfather, she wasn't so sure what he was saying since she was still too young to fully understand, but she smiled either way and lifted her tiny hand to his muzzle and gently pulled on his whiskers making the old rat chuckle as well as pat her hands reminding her not to pull too hard.
"You are too young to learn the history and it's origins for now." Splinter said, "But all I can say is I hope that myself and your father can take you to this beautiful land so you can see it for yourself, rather than in pictures and illustrations, or hearing it in stories."
Kemeko looked at the photo of Mount Fuji along with the other photos.
"Ja..Ja…" she said "Japan…"
Splinter smiled.
"That's right sweetheart." He said "Japan, it's in your blood, your spirit." He nuzzled Kemeko again and smiled.
"Your mother was Japanese, your father, Your real father." He added under his breath "was American, but you have very close roots to Japan, and one day you will visit it when you are old enough and when the time is right."
Kemeko looked up at Splinter and giggled and gripped his fur making the rat laugh and tickle her gently.
End Flashback
Kemeko smiled softly as she remembered that moment, even if it was brief, one of the moments she had spent time with her grandad Splinter, she missed him, along with the rest of the turtles, Monalisa, and Pandora.
She started to wonder how the young Hybrid was coping without her.
She knew how upset she was, and how angry she was after the battle at the Foot Headquarters, and the guilty pang came back to her, as she knew it was because of her that Monalisa had almost died by Black Mamba's hand, and Raphael had been rendered mute by Hanako.
Kemeko squeezed her eyes shut as she remembered, and Leonardo noticed her discomfort.
"Lotus?" he asked making Kemeko look at him.
Kemeko looked at Leonardo.
"Sorry Dad." She said, "I was just thinking."
"About what?" Leonardo asked.
"How things are back home." She said "Especially with Pandora…"
Leonardo also thought of his niece, knowing her pain, and he sighed.
"I can understand your concern." He said, "She suffered a nasty fright, almost losing both her parents. I understand her fear, as I too have felt the same."
Kemeko chewed her lip as she listened and she knew how deeply troubled her father got when it came to the welfare of his family, but then another thought came to her.
"Dad?" she asked.
"Yes?" Leonardo looked at his daughter.
"Do…you think Uncle Raph will get his voice back?"
Leonardo looked to the ground then up at Kemeko.
"I hope so." He said, "With Devina's magic and James and Dahlia's help, Raphael will be speaking when we return to the United States."
"You think that?" Kemeko asked.
Leonardo sighed.
"I can only hope so, I can't promise anything, but I hope to all the powers that be that Raphael will speak again."
Kemeko looked back at the horizon and Leonardo saw a couple of tears fall.
"Lotus?" he asked.
Kemeko pulled her knees up to her chest and bit her lip.
"I miss them dad." She said, "When we were saying goodbye, I knew I would miss them greatly, we've never been apart."
"That is true." Leonardo agreed "When I first left my family, I never felt so lonely and I wondered when I would see them again, counting the days until we would meet again."
Kemeko looked at her father with curious eyes.
"You never told me in full detail what happened when you left for Japan those years back."
Leonardo looked back at her.
"No, I didn't." he said, "But I will tell you soon." He stood up.
"If you're ready Lotus?" he said "Shall we press on? It will be getting dark in just over an hour and we need to find a place to make camp."
"Okay dad." Kemeko agreed as she stood up and picked up her rucksack.
Leonardo did the same and lead the way up the hill.
"We'll go as far as we can, then we'll make camp." He said, "Then I can tell you more stories then."
Kemeko nodded then looked back at the view before following Leonardo, wondering what he would tell her when they settled for the night.
So Leonardo and Kemeko are on their way to the home of the Ancient One, yet they still have a long way to go, and Kemeko still has her memories and haunted thoughts.