Fan Fiction ❯ Shadowdancer ❯ Work and Friends ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 5

 

~*~

 

There was clapping from doorway. It was Master Splinter with Rose in tow. “My dear child that was very impressive,” he said as he came further in. Adrian and Leo got up and bowed to him as he came closer.

 

“Thank ya Master Splinter. I have been training fer a long time ta get where I am today.”

 

“How old are you my child?”

 

“I just turned 29. I have been training since I was five.”

 

“Wow you don't look 29,” commented Mikey.

 

“That's because of my mutation. I don't really age.”

 

“Did Mistress Rose teach you everything you know or did you have more than one teacher?” he asked as he came in further.

 

“Actually Rose-san was my primary teacher, but I picked up a few things after I left home.” Adrian said as she looked down briefly. She had never really told Rose about her years before the institute. As far as Rose knew she had been there the whole time.

 

“You must have Koneko because I never taught you how to use the Tessen like that. We always used the wooden ones.”

 

Adrian was startled but hid it well. “Yes well I traveled in Japan for a time. I picked it up there. Rose-san I must be going. My roommate is expecting me back pretty soon. And I have classes ta teach in the morning.”

 

“Of course Koneko. Do not forget to pick up your package before you leave.”

 

“Of course Rose-san,” Adrian bowed to Rose and then the others before swiftly going out the other doorway. Upstairs she swiftly dressed in her street clothes and picked up her package. Downstairs she could hear the turtles talking to their master and her own. The tinkling of the bell on the door gave her away, but she was gone before anyone came out of the shrine.

 

Back at her apartment she found her roommate fast asleep. “Mrow.” Adrian looked over to the window seat as she entered her room. Her black cat Shiva sat on the cushioned seat. Adrian laid her package down before getting ready for bed. She only wore a tank top and her thongs to bed usually. Tonight was no different. It had started to rain when she got back so she went to sit on the window seat and watch it. On another wall was a set of bay windows leading out onto a balcony.

 

Idly she petted Shiva. The cat's purring was a soothing background noise as Adrian sat and thought. It had been a long time since she had seen her friends at the institute. Maybe she should go for a visit. They would like that and she sorely missed everyone. Especially the gruff instructor Logan. She may like the turtle Donatello, but she had fallen in love with Logan. He had saved her and taught her how to use her powers. He had understood all she had gone through and had helped her when depression had set in.

 

Her musings were interrupted by a tapping sound at hey balcony window. Looking up she spotted a familiar green face with a purple bandana. She smiled as her cat laid across her shoulders like a furry collar when she got up to let Don in. She stepped aside and was amused when he blushed furiously at what she wore.

 

As he looked away she snatched her robe and wrapped it around herself before going to sit on the window seat again. Don sat on the other end. “So what brings ya here?” she asked him as she leaned back.

 

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You seemed a little upset.”

 

She smiled a little, “Not really upset. I was startled ya might say. Rose-san doesn't know about everything I've been through. And I want ta keep it that way. Some of the things that happened ta me she doesn't need ta know about.”

 

“What about us? Do we need to know?”

 

“Ya don't need ta, but I have a feeling ya want ta. Right now I don't want ta tell ya everything. Although I will tell ya about my training. That's what got me back at the dojo. I had forgotten momentarily that Rose did not know about that.”

 

He idly petted Shiva who had transferred herself to his lap. “Know about what?”

 

She sighed. She didn't belong to any particular section she had only been trained so they could use her for their own purposes. She knew the code but she didn't go by it since none recognized her. “The fact that after I left here I was trained as an assassin. That's why I used the metal tessen as well as the wooden one and how I beat ya all. Ya may be ninja, but I am assassin. I'm not recognized by any particular sect or clan so ya don't have ta worry about that.”

 

“If you're not recognized then how did you learn?” he asked curiously. He was very intrigued by the whole thing.

 

“I was kidnapped when I was fifteen by some men from the government. I was ta be one of their super soldier projects. They had access ta men who could teach me the skills of the assassin without me having ta join a clan or anything. That's how I learned. I was their best.” She stared out the window as she remembered the training and the pain she'd had to go through before they deemed her good enough.

 

“Wow, I can't believe that. Why'd they kidnap you?”

 

“The long and the short of it was that no one would miss me and I was a mutant. My accelerated healing helped me stay alive throughout what they did to me. That's all there really was ta it. They wanted someone expendable in case what they wanted ta do didn't work.”

 

Donnie saw the pain that filled her eyes briefly before passing. “For what its worth I'm sorry. I'm sorry they did that to you.”

 

“Hey it's not your fault. Ya should probably go. I really do need ta go ta bed and I'm sure yer brothers are worrying about ya.”

 

“Actually I didn't tell them I was coming here. They think I'm at another friends place.”

 

She was surprised. She didn't think he had it in him to lie to his brothers and his sensei. “I'm surprised, but I guess I shouldn't be. If ya want ta come over tomorrow night you'll have ta wait until I get in from work. It'll be about 2:30 when I get in. If ya want I can leave my window unlocked in case it rains again.”

 

“Sure I'd like that. I'd really like to get to know you better.”

 

She smiled, “And I you. Now shoo I need ta get ta sleep.”

 

He chuckled at her words, “Okay I'm going. Goodnight Adrian and if you ever want to tell me more I'm all ears.” He set Shiva down and then hesitantly hugged Adrian. She hugged him back and then watched as he left off the balcony. With a sigh she got up and went to bed. Shiva nestled against her side and purred her to blissful sleep.

 

~*~

 

“Koneko have you bottled Splinter's Lotus Blossom Extract yet?”

 

“Hai Rose-san. I just finished with it. When is one of his son's coming in for it?”

 

“Probably after dark my dear. When will you be leaving?”

 

Adrian thought about it for a minute as she marked the bottle she had finished filling. “Well I have to be at the bar by four so I'll actually be leaving in a few minutes so I can go home and get ready for work.”

 

“Alright then. Oh and we're getting a new student Monday. Her name is Amy. She'll be a one on one student you'll have to work with in the afternoon. In the morning she has a job so I told her the afternoon would be fine.”

 

“Hai, Rose-san. Will you tell whoever comes in for Splinter's Lotus Blossom that I'm sorry I missed them? I really must be going.”

 

“Of course Koneko.”

 

Adrian arrived at her apartment within moments after she left. She had used the shadows to travel. She appeared in her bedroom from the deep shadows created by the heavy curtains that surrounded her bed. It was an antique four poster with curtains on each side that one of her mentors had given her for her birthday. The curtains were a deep blue that reminded her of a certain gruff Canadians eyes.

 

She quickly got dressed in her outfit for work. Each of the bartenders and waitresses had a theme. Adrian was a neko chick. She dressed in tight black leather pants that hung low on her hips. Her top tied around her neck and across her back just covering from her neck to a couple of inches above her navel. Her back was left uncovered to show off her wings on her shoulder blades. The kanji on each shoulder and the black sun around her navel was visible as well.

 

She paused in her dressing to shift slightly. A fluffy white Persians tail grew just above her low pants and fell to sweep the floor. Her ears grew into white cats ears and traveled to the top of her head. Her eyes slitted like a cats and stayed that way. Petite fangs peeked over her bottom lip and her nails turned into claws. She slipped a black headband to cover where her ears normally would be and to hold her hair back while she was at work.

 

She donned her boots and long trench coat before she hustled herself downstairs to where she had parked her bike. The cherry red racing bike brought a smile to her face. Black flames began at the front and ran down the sides. Shadowdancer was written in black, cursive script on one side. A pair of crossed sai's tied together by a trailing black ribbon was painted beside it.

 

Fifteen minutes later she pulled into a space behind the bar where her boss had set aside some places for his employees to park. Inside she greeted one of the other girls she was working the bar with tonight. Lisa was dressed all in white with a pair of small, white and fluffy angel's wings on her back. A gold halo was suspended just above her honey gold hair by a white headband.

 

JT came in just as she was setting up her half of the bar. He was dressed all in black. Tight black pants and a tight black shirt that covered a lean and toned torso. Chains hung from his pants and jingled as he walked. Red devils horns rested atop his head. His long black hair was tied at the nape of his heck with a red ribbon and a red devils tail swung behind him.

 

These costumes were a part of their job. What no one knew, however, were that these costumes were real to some extent. Lisa's wings may have been small but when she fully shifted she had a twelve foot wingspan. JT's tail and horns were real and when he took off his boots he had clawed feet.

 

Their boss had hired them specifically for these features. He himself looked like a giant tiger on two legs normally. Somehow he always knew who was a mutant and who wasn't. He hired you dependant on what you could do and whether you could shift. If you couldn't he referred you to someone else who would more than likely hire you. In addition to Lisa, JT and Adrian there were five waiters and waitresses with various `costumes'.

 

Adrian and Lisa spent the night side by side filling drinks and providing entertainment. They tossed bottles and glasses and performed many tricks that had the patrons cheering. They danced on the bar as the night wore on and a couple of times JT came up to perform his fire spitting trick between CD's at the DJ booth he was working. Little did they know that the fire he was spitting wasn't lit by the torch he held or caused by the alcohol he drank.

 

At two they closed. Adrian and Lisa talked and flirted with JT as they counted their tips.

 

“Oh my god where did you get that hundred?” Lisa gushed when one came up as Adrian counted.

 

Adrian's eyes lit up, “Oh it was this cute blond guy. I was dancing on the bar and ya know how I ended laid out on the bar? Well, he came up as I was getting off and tucked it under the string of my thong. Then some of his friends dragged him off.”

 

“Wow that is so cool. I wish someone would do that to me,” she said as she pouted. She was really cute when she did that.

 

She jumped a little when JT slid his arms around her from behind. It was common knowledge he had a huge crush on her. She liked him too but was playing hard to get. He placed a feather soft kiss on her neck as his tail came up and wrapped itself around her waist.

 

Would you finally say yes to dating me if I did that?” he asked half teasingly.

 

She smiled back up at him. He towered over her by almost a foot easily. They looked so cute together. She was a petite five two and he was a slim six foot. “Oh JT you don't have to do that.”

 

“So what do ya say anyway? Will you go out with me?”

 

Adrian watched with a half smile as Lisa turned in his arms and proceeded to kiss him senseless. He had a goofy grin on his face when she was done. “I take that as a yes,” he whispered before picking her up and hugging her.

 

Adrian sighed as she gathered her things. This just reminded her of what she left behind. She looked up when a hand was placed on her shoulder. JT and Lisa both looked at her with sympathy in their eyes.

 

“You're thinkin' of him again aren't you?” JT asked softly.

 

Adrian half smiled as she turned to lean back against the counter. “Yeah I guess I am.”

 

“If you miss him that much you need to go see him,” Lisa advised her.

 

Adrian sighed, “I can't Lisa.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“I just can't Lisa. Listen I'm gonna go. Ya guys got everything?”

 

“Yeah we'll finish up what needs to be done. Just toss your till in the safe before you go,” JT assured her as she gathered her things. They watched silently as she left. JT sighed as he put his arm around Lisa's shoulders. They could only hope she would take their advice. They had talked to her about the guy she had left behind, but she never listened.

 

Back at her apartment she numbly went about getting something to eat before she went to her room to get ready for bed. She ate only half of the sandwich before tossing the rest and finally making her way to her room. She barely registered the breeze that blew through her room. Silently she got ready for bed. She didn't even bother to shift her more feline features back to normal.

 

She sat on her bed and stared off into space thinking. Thinking of her previous home and the friends she had left behind. Tears slipped down her face as she remembered. Remembered all the fun she'd had and the man she had fallen in love with.

 

“Adrian?” A soft voice whispered from the balcony.

 

Her head jerked around to see Donnie standing there in the moonlight. Hastily she wiped her eyes. “How long have ya been standing there?”

 

“Not very long,” he answered as he came in to sit across from her on her bed. “Are you alright?”

 

She forced a wavering smile, “Yeah of course why wouldn't I be.”

 

Hesitantly his hand came up to stroke her cheek. “Because you were crying and because you didn't hear me. I made noise on purpose and you still didn't hear me. Something's on your mind.”

 

She leaned into his touch with a sigh. “I'm sorry. Nothing's wrong. I was just . . . remembering.”

 

She shifted so he could sit beside her. “Remembering what?”

 

“Just the place I was in before I came back. I left some people behind when I came back here.” She was startled when he slipped his arm around her shoulders but leaned into the warmth he offered her.

 

He sensed that she didn't really want to talk so he just held her. She didn't cry anymore. Just took comfort in his presence. After a few minutes he got up his courage to run his fingers through her silky hair. He was startled to hear her emit a short purr at the contact. Puzzled and intrigued eh did it again. Again she purred. Emboldened by this he continued to stroke her hair until she blissfully laid her head in his lap. He blushed slightly at the position but said nothing.

 

Her eyes had already slid shut and her tail tip flicked a little where it lay over her legs. He marveled at her dainty cat like features. The fuzzy ears perched atop her head were adorable. The long fluffy tail she bore was exactly like a Persian's. It was long and fluffy, but prehensile. He found this out when it slid up to wrap around his waist.

 

“I guess you don't want to talk about it.”

 

She sighed before turning to look up at him, “Not really. I'm sorry. It's just a touchy subject.”

 

“It's okay. I know how that can be. Listen the guys want to know if you want to come over and visit for a while.”

 

“Mmmmmm. I can, but not tomorrow. I have ta work. But I can come over Sunday. I don't have ta work or go ta the Dojo.”

 

He smiled as he idly petted her hair. “That would be great. I'll tell them. About when do you think you'll be over?”

 

“Probably about dusk. I'll get in pretty late and I'll more than likely sleep in. Then I have some things ta do.”

 

“Okay. They'll be happy to see you.”

 

She smiled before yawning. “I'm sorry. I'm just so tired.”

 

He sighed, “Then I'd better go.” He hugged her when she sat back up and boldly gave her a quick peck on the cheek. He blushed before saying goodbye and exiting her window.

 

Shiva mewed from beside her. She smiled before drawing her curtains and settling down to sleep. Again she fell asleep to Shiva's nightly symphony of purrs. Her dreams were vivid and centered around one man. One with a rugged face and hair so black it was almost blue. His piercing blue eyes captivated her throughout the night.

 

A/N: Yeah I know. Long chapter. Hope you guys liked it. It's taken me a bit to get this going again. Work kinda got in the way and then the infernal writer's block struck. *sigh* Oh well. Have fun reading. Ja ne.