Note: When I wrote this scene I was listening to a beautiful piece of music on Youtube, It's called Japanese Cherry Blossom Meditation and uploaded by Zen Ambience. I felt it fitted the scene perfectly!

Chapter Fifty-Two

A Place of Peace

Meanwhile back in Japan, Leonardo and Kemeko had been travelling for several days, and they had barely stopped unless they had to, either to rest for a short while or make camp.

All the while, Leonardo had remembered everything on his previous journeys to the home of the Ancient One and he felt excited as they were starting to get closer to where they wanted to be.

He could sense they were getting closer as he could feel a warmth within his soul, almost like it was calming as if the weight was being lifted off his shoulders, like he had entered paradise, or heaven to some, or to Tyroth, Valhalla.

Behind him, Kemeko saw her father's demeaner and she looked ahead.

"Father?" she asked "Are…are we almost there?"

Leonardo turned to her, a warm smile on his face as well as watery eyes.

"We are Lotus." He said softly "We are less than a few miles away, and I can already feel it, come, we mustn't linger!" he began to walk further ahead and Kemeko blinked in confusion and hurried behind him.

They walked further until Kemeko soon began to smell something on the air, like the fresh scent of flowers yet she couldn't see any since they were still in the bare lands, but the scent was so strong, it was like it was only a few feet ahead.

"Dad?" she asked.

Leonardo looked over at her.

"What is it, Turtle Child?" he asked.

"I…I'm not sure, but I can smell something on the wind." Kemeko confessed "Like the most beautiful smell, almost like Cherry blossoms, or Jasmine…."

A smile spread over Leonardo's face.

"My daughter." He said, "You're starting to feel it, you can sense that we are getting closer, and the home of the Ancient One is reaching to you, along with Hamato Yoshi, Tang Shen, and your parents, they can sense you're coming, and they are welcoming you."

Kemeko's eyes widened.

"They are?" she asked, "You can smell it too?"

Leonardo nodded.

Kemeko felt an overwhelming feeling swell within her, like all her emotions were ready to spill, almost like she wanted to follow that smell, and she started to walk more quickly and then she broke into a run.

Leonardo saw her go then started to run with her.

"You can sense it Lotus!" he thought "Run! Go to it! Do not hesitate!"

Kemeko ran on, Leonardo following behind until they reached an area of forest with some snow-capped mountains in the distance, Kemeko slowed down as she looked at it.

After travelling in the isolated deserts, she and Leonardo had made it to a beautiful area of greenery mixed with red leaves and pink and rose-coloured blossoms, and the scent was even stronger now.

"Is this it?" she asked looking at Leonardo who didn't look back at her but nodded with tears in his eyes.

"It is Lotus." He said, "I remember it all so well, and I remember the feelings I felt when I arrived here."

Kemeko walked closer to the greenery, she could see the trees rustling and the blossoms flying off the trees then she saw an opening in the middle with a path, almost like it was opening to her like a doorway.

She looked back at Leonardo who nodded at her.

"Go." He said, "I'm right behind you." He assured her and Kemeko licked her lips nervously before walking into the forest area.

As the young Asian girl approached the woods, she saw the trees rustle and move their branches and she could have sworn that they were beckoning to her.

Her heart was pounding, and her stomach was in knots, but she walked closer to the woods and soon she entered, a cool soft breeze flew over her and through her hair cooling the sweat that ran down her forehead and she smiled in relief.

She could still smell the scent from earlier and it got stronger as she got closer, and before long, she got to the end of the forest area and found herself in a beautiful garden.

Kemeko gasped as she looked upon it, it was a traditional Japanese garden with streams flowing through it and wooden bridges along with many blossom trees and many flowers that stood out like jewels.

As she walked closer, the wind blew, and the blossoms flew towards her and Kemeko swore she felt them stroking her gently.

Kemeko smiled and she dropped her rucksack for it was so heavy on her back, and she walked a little further into the garden and over one of the wooden bridges to get further into the garden.

As she did, she saw a beautiful Japanese style house before her, and she saw the steps leading to the front entrance.

As she approached, she saw the blossoms fly around her again and the breeze and she felt as if it was pushing her forward.

No sooner did she do so than she saw a figure at the top of the steps.

She got closer and saw it was an overweight man with a straw hat and long white beard.

Kemeko's eyes widened as she saw him, and she recognised him as the Ancient One as she had seen photos of him her father and grandfather had shown her.

"No way…" she whispered "You're…you're…"

She paused as she didn't know what to say, but the old man just smiled at her, and as he did, Kemeko felt a warmth in her soul, and she felt almost honoured to be there before him.

The Ancient One smiled then placed his fist against his palm and bowed to Kemeko.

Kemeko placed her fist and palm together and bowed back, then as she stood up straight, she felt the freedom to lift her arms and close her eyes, feeling the serenity and peace of the place.

The Ancient One didn't speak but merely smiled and nodded at Kemeko and the blossoms continued to fly around her and Kemeko felt her herself spinning around and dancing with freedom and joy, as if she had entered heaven.

"This garden…" she whispered as she spun around with happiness "I…I've seen it in my dreams, it's as if I belong her, that I am home…. almost."

A tearful chuckle came from her mouth as she felt the blossoms stroke her skin and fly around and the scent of the flowers flowed around her.

She spun for a few seconds then she stopped and opened her eyes only to see the steps were empty and the old man was gone.

Kemeko blinked and she lowered her arms.

"Huh?" she asked "Where…where did he go?"

"Lotus?"

Kemeko jumped and she saw Leonardo appear behind her.

"I saw you dancing there, turtle child." He said with a small smile, "I saw you full of joy, the first time I've seen you show true happiness since after the Battle at the Foot Headquarters."

Kemeko looked up at the turtle.

"Dad, on the steps there." She pointed to them "I saw him, the Ancient One, he was right there!"

Leonardo looked up at the steps and the memories came back to him as he thought of when he met the wise Sensei for the second time after he fled New York to seek peace.

"You saw him there?" he asked.

Kemeko nodded.

"He was there, clear as day! I saw him just as I see you before me!" she insisted.

"I believe you." Leonardo smiled "Now, let us go up to the house and get settled, it's been a long day."

He took Kemeko's hand, and they walked up the steps together and to the house, Leonardo could feel the memories returning to him and tears welled in his eyes as he did.

He felt sad that the Ancient One was no longer there in body to see him again or meet Kemeko, but he could tell that his spirit was around and that he must have appeared to Kemeko to guide her forward and to welcome her.

When they approached the door, Leonardo opened it and ushered Kemeko inside to a warm living area along with several sliding doors leading to different bedrooms and it smelt of warm incense, reminding Kemeko of Master Splinter's quarters in New York or his own scent on his robes when she hugged him.

"This is wonderful dad." She said looking around "It's like we're in our own paradise."

Leonardo smiled at Kemeko.

"That it is sweetheart," he said, "And here we will rest, and have some tea, then tomorrow I will show you where your parents rest, along with your grandfather's sensei and his sensei."

"Why not tonight?" Kemeko asked yet she regretted asking as she knew she shouldn't be so impatient, yet Leonardo's warm smile didn't fade.

"Rest first child." He said stroking Kemeko's cheek gently, "Then we will begin what I plan to show you."

He leaned down and kissed Kemeko's forehead.

"Take our sacks into the bedroom, then we shall have some tea, and relax, then tomorrow, I will show you everything, and you will know peace again, I promise."

Kemeko bowed to Leonardo in respect and agreement, and she took their rucksacks into one of the bedrooms where she found two beds for them.

She placed a rucksack each next to the beds and she looked back at her father through the open door.

"I can only be honest when I say I cannot wait to see what you have to show me father." She said "I cannot lie, I felt the same feelings you must have felt when you came here, and I know I wasn't imagining things when I saw that man on the steps! He was the Ancient One! He was there! He knew we were coming! I knew why we were here!"

So Leonardo and Kemeko have made it to the home of the Ancient One, and Kemeko has seen him! If not in body but spirit!

Now they are in their place of paradise and peace, how will Kemeko's healing go? Well you'll just have to stay tuned to find out!