Author notes: This is an AU where the turtles are part of a race of turtles that reside in Italy. Usagi's mammalian people live in Japan.

Contains sexual content.

Contains TMNT are not brothers in this - Tcest

Pairings: Usagi/Donatello, Leonardo/Donatello, Raphael/Michelangelo

Alpha/Omega story!

Period piece.

Ninshin are what Usagi's people call Omegas.

Bearers are what Turtles' people call Omegas.

The paint was always cold. The flow of the brush tickled leaving behind a slight itch on his eyelids. He held still as the purple mask was tied tightly over his eyes, the tails pulled up into intricate knots that would hold the headdress in place. His obi was layered and tightened until it was uncomfortable forcing his back as straight as it could be. As usual the people dressing him had to layer the back piece with different colored cloths with their unusual patterns trying to cover up his "shame" as they had put it. His husband had loved his "shame", ran his fingers over the scoots of his shell following the swirling rivers of patterns. But his husband was dead, killed in the very war that had taken him to this foreign land, forced into an unsavory business of slavery.

The tall mammal behind him reached around to pinch his cheeks hard enough to bruise, trying to get some red onto his olive colored skin. He didn't flinch, used to the physical abuse. He stared back at the small mirror nailed to the wooden wall of the large cart he was in. The emotionless gaze that he saw would have broken his husband's heart, broken him as much as Donatello was broken. Everything taken from him, so much pain inflicted, violently robbed of everything, even his dignity. All he had left were his memories of a happier time, memories that he rarely touched upon. They held no refuge for him, only reminded him of how cruel fate can be. By this time he had learned that this country were full of people that cared for nothing but themselves, atrocities were common place, and no matter where he went pain would pelt down on him like hail from a vicious storm. It resulted in Donatello not caring if he was sold to a new master or not. It wouldn't change the fact that his life was completely ruined. He had no family, his husband murdered on the battlefield, his best friend sold months ago. His treatment under these foreigners had broken him completely. There were no more tears to shed over the pain and humiliation. No more anger to rage against the violations and shame. There was nothing more left in him, he was hollow.

The back of the wagon opened up, he was ushered out with others of his kind, turtle Bearers that were stolen from their homes, raped and beaten into submission just like himself. They lined up in the early morning light, straw woven mats were laid down in front of them. They knelt, arranging their kimono sleeves to rest carefully at their sides. Their geta slippers were taken away to discourage them from running. Now all he had to do was wait for potential buyers to come.

The Previous Day

Usagi wasn't pleased by Lord Yamato's move. Directly gifting him a Lantern only because he was a good blade on the battlefield. It wasn't as if he had been deliberately trying to get praise. He was only doing his duty to his Lord Mifune. When his master had fallen in battle, like many other samurai, Usagi had decided to dedicate himself to the art of betterment, his Musha Shugyo, or warrior's pilgrimage. Without a family to return home to, no Ninshin to comfort his woes or a child to focus his attention on he found it best to become a Ronin. This, in itself, had created a problem. It would seem that word of his bravery on the battlefield had spread farther than he had anticipated, especially the Battle of Moss River in particular. He could still remember the green skin of his enemies, split open and bleeding painting the ground red. When he closed his eyes at night he could still see the hard gaze of one warrior in particular. He could still remember his voice. Usagi shifted where he sat. That battle held great shame for him though it perked the ears of many Lords and gained him much prestige. If they could have him among their ranks it would give much to their power. Usagi was thankful that many of their previous lords that he had encountered simply did not know who he was. This made his travels easier but now… Yamato, the rotund bear, sat lazily his uchwa fanning his round face. He had somehow heard of Usagi's approach to the lands that he owned. Arranged for his guards to intercept the wanderer so that he would be brought to the man's mansion.

He had politely refused the hospitality of the Lord until he was certain there would be a problem of insult unless he accepted. During his stay he was introduced to Hanako, Yamato's Ninshin child. He was small, petite, with pretty black fur that matched his dark alluring eyes. He was polite at the beginning, quiet and oddly attentive. The action had made Usagi suspicious. It only solidified his doubts of the Lord's "good intentions" when his Ninishon son was left unattended, alone with Usagi. This action would easily bring forth rumors of illicit affairs. To prevent this the samurai would quickly remove himself from any private setting as to preserve not only his own but Hanako's honor. At these times, when they were alone, he would catch a true glimpse of Hanako's true persona. A snappish, needy creature that wanted things his way. He had no qualms with slapping a servant in front of Usagi.

The crime? Being late to serve tea.

"Why would you do that?" Usagi glared at the small bear.

"People like that are not sophisticated like you or I. They act and think like beasts, it is only appropriate that we treat them the same as a lame mule. Wouldn't you agree?"

Usagi had tried to leave after that. He didn't want to deal with the mistreatment of others unless he could stop it. As it was he could not. He was within a Lord's manor, surrounded by those loyal to him. If Usagi spoke out and tried to interfere with the workings of those that owned these lands, he could easily find himself in jail or worse. Telling the Lord that his hospitality was most gracious and how he had to leave for a prior engagement allowed him to slip away. Though he had spoken a little white lie as he was not expected by anyone, Usagi found it to be a forgivable one and was glad to be back on the road.

Mysteriously, when he had reached the outskirts of one of the farms that Yamato owned there had been an attack back at the town he had just been staying in. A large scale of bandits had come rushing in, robbing shops, killing any who stood in their way. The Lord's men were holding them back but they needed help. A messenger had been sent to find him and bring him to help with the battle. Of course he hurried back, mounting onto the horse behind the messenger. At the time it had seemed the right thing to do. After all, he had an obligation to help those who could not help themselves and there were many innocent people back in that town.

When he arrived he jumped off the horse, unsheathed his sword and went forth into the frey. Something about the battle seemed off. It was too large of scale for such little damage. Then there were how the bandits fought it made everything clear to the samurai. These "bandits" were either hired farmers or hired thugs. There were few casualties for something that he was told was brutal which had resulted in him coming in the first place.

Now, now he was properly seated across from Yamato. The man had his Ninishin child properly seated to his side and his heir on the other, who had a striking similarity to his father with rich brown fur and golden eyes. Hanako must have taken after their Ninshin parent who was not present.

Yamato made a powerful move. It was forcing Usagi into a corner.

The gift of a Lantern for his heroism.

It would be dishonorable for him to refuse such an expensive gift. It would be dishonorable to accept it. He was single, it would be dishonorable to have a Lantern without having a Ninshin sibling or a wife present in order to keep one's reputation good. Him, without either, word would spread. Lies would be seeded that he was having improper relations with the Lantern. It would rob him of all honor he had worked hard for. Which placed him into a predicament. Dishonor himself by accepting the gift and continuing on as he had intended. Risk execution for the great insult to this Lord by refusing the gift. Sentence himself to an unhappy life of service to Yamoto in exchange for the gift. Or… get married. Unfortunately he couldn't go and find some random Ninshin to wed. If he did then everything could be even worse for him. That left him with two options: accept the gift or take the hint and marry Hanako. Or… maybe there was one way out of all of this. It was a gambit but… no, running away as he "thought over" the gift was cowardice. His hands were tied.

He felt his freedom slip away as he bowed down, fingers placed on the polished floor in front of him.

"I am humbled by your gift. It is most gracious."

"I am glad that you have accepted this. Please, stay one more night. The Lantern Market will be coming at dawn. In the morning you may collect your gift, perhaps Hanako could accompany you as well. He has excellent judgement on these sort of things."

"I thank you for your generous offer but I fear I cannot take advantage of your hospitality. You have already done so much for me, I feel it would not be fight if I stayed another night under your grand roof. I would not want to impose on Hanako-san either, the Market only opens at dawn. After such a stressful event, it would be best to let someone as delicate as Hanako-san to rest."

Yamato grumbled before working his large stomach to center himself. He paused himself up onto his feet.

"You are right. Hanako is very sensitive to these sort of things… Very well you may be on your way, but we would enjoy the pleasure of seeing what Lantern you had chosen. Bring it here for midday meal."

"I shall. Thank you."

Usagi waited patiently until he was allowed to leave. Once he was escorted off of the property through the main wooden gates he allowed himself a sigh. His situation was now compromised. He didn't want to do any of this. He didn't approve of the Lantern Market. He didn't approve of slaves. Let alone ones that were stolen from their home land and forced into a life of pleasure giving. He knew that Lanterns were meant for the affection that his society frowned upon. To hold their masters, to tend to children, but he would be a fool if he assumed that the masters do not have sex with them, cheating on their wives, forcing themselves on the others, raping them. The whole business was disgusting and here he was honor bound to do business with them.

He slowed in his steps. Children laughed and ran past as a Lantern sat to the side a patient, neutral expression on his face. His jade colored skin had been marred by a dark tattoo of his master on his jaw. The samurai stopped, his inner spirit going silent in shame as he recalled how he had helped with war that had torn this individual from his home, from his family only to be placed into a foreign land with a language so different that most Lanterns could not speak it, rendering them mute in fear of being beaten by their masters for uttering words in their "bastard tongue". A part of him worried over the implications of having a Lantern so damaged that death would be better but in comparison to his personal shame it was a very quiet portion.

He bowed slightly to the Lantern. Automatically the turtle bowed back, the large decorate obi that flared over his shell was fixed tightly by rings pierced into the edge of his scutes. Another barbaric practice subjugated up on them by Usagi's people, a forcing to covering their shells in which the mammals had found distasteful and some would go as far as saying that they were "marks of shame."

The samurai steeled himself to prevent staring. He moved forward, forcing one foot in front of the other. Despite not seeing the Lantern anymore he couldn't help the feeling to want to turn and look back. His pushed his mind into thinking about what will come tomorrow. A Lantern of his own. What would he find in the Market? A reptile half fed, prettied up with fancy clothes and too much makeup to attract customers? If he tried to find the most desperate looking one then maybe he could let it free and make up a story about how bandits had jumped them and in the struggle it had perished. So far, it was his best course of action, but what if someone had come across it?… Rape, murder, recapture, sold to a brothel… countless bad outcomes would happen to his charge.

When he came to an inn his feet felt as heavy as his mind. What was he to do? He had only one option. To preserve his honor, to make certain his charge was safe… what else could he do?

That night he didn't sleep. Only laid awake upon a futon. Too soon did the early rays of the sun raise. Too soon did he leave the warm comforts of the inn to step out into the cold, golden morning. The Lantern Market was too close for him. Each step felt heavier than the last. He could see the covered carts that were used to transport the Lanterns from village to village. He tilted his straw hat, his kasa, to try to prevent him from seeing the bright colors of obi and kimono that the Lanterns wore as he got closer. They were properly seated on little mats, tabi socks were the only foot protection they were allowed as shoes would give them an option to run if they ever dared.

The merchant was adjusting one of the Lantern's kimonos to lay properly around him. The merchant was a brown rabbit with two dark spots on his face, one on his left eye the other just off the edge of his nose on the same side. His floppy ears were scraggly but picked up on the sound of a customer quickly enough. His teeth were yellowed from tobacco and tea and didn't sit right in his head.

"Good morning!" He greeted Usagi before the samurai could approach all the way. "Come look, come take a gander at my pretty stones, Samurai."

Stones. He hated that term already. It was a slang term to describe the hard shelled backs and the empty emotions. It also meant that they were lower than dirt as stones were usually found within the ground.

"I was sent here by Lord Yamato." Usagi kept his voice low.

He hated this. Hated it.

"Ah! The noble samurai Miyamoto Usagi! I was sent word of your deeds two days ago. Only the finest for you, my dear friend."

"Two days?"

"Yes, a messenger from Lord Yamato himself sought me out. Rerouted my course just for you!"

And a fat coin purse no doubt. Especially since the attack was only yesterday and he was "awarded" a Lanter late afternoon. An anger seeded in Usagi's stomach. Yamato really had planned everything just as he had suspected. That little seed quickly grew into a thistely weed of spite. There was no way he was going to let this underhanded Lord use him again. It made his course of action very clear.

"Please, show me your Lanterns." Usagi tried to sound like an interested buyer.

The Merchant eagerly did so. Taking hold of chin and cheek of each one down the line. Tilting their heads to the right then the left to show off their features. He encouraged Usagi to touch them. Their skin being unique with smooth soft scales almost like bare skin. There had been one in particular that felt like silk.

He passed by so many all painted with makeup, colored bands of cloth tied around their eyes, done up in the back with pins, fans, and other decorate objects. He had noticed that the "masks" were deliberately chosen colors that would compliment their eyes. It was saddening that many of those eyes were red from crying, some were still wet with tears.

It made it hard to look at them. He wished he could do something, anything, to help them. As it was, he could only choose one. He pushed on, he had to see them all before he could make a decision.

Then he came upon one that seemed… perfect. His kimono was a pastel pink with white peacocks sitting in flowers patterned over it. A matching fan was fixed in his purple mask as a head dress with decorative golden chopsticks held up a matching crescent moon shape. He sat perfectly still eyes fix forward. Usagi had spotted him two Lanterns down. Without thinking the samurai walked away from the merchant coming straight to the pretty Lantern. He knelt down to look at the lovely olive colored face. He felt hesitant to touch the other as if he did then something would happen to take this vision away from him. This turtle was… he was breathtaking.

"Mr. Samurai, do you like this one?" The merchant rubbed his hands together. "A very good choice."

Usagi held out his hand and waited patiently until the Lantern calmly reached out to place his hand in Usagi's. The rabbit looked at the stark color difference of their skin, or fur, or scales? He wasn't sure, his mind was muddled with the beauty of it, with the colors, the texture of the palm and how easily it seemed to hold this hand that had only three fingers instead of four. It felt… right to hold this hand. He looked back at the eyes staring straight forward. Such a strange color, green but also brown. He hadn't seen eyes like that before.

"What is your name?" Usagi inquired gently.

The merchant quickly spoke up, "This is Tamara. A very pretty little stone, Had a nice and long polishing."

Polished; It was a term used to describe submissiveness. Polished meant broken to the long eared samurai, it was nothing to be proud of. While others may think that the turtles with the shells on their backs to be nothing more than creatures, he found that what is done to their Ninshin was the real atrocity.

"How long did it take to polish him?" Usagi tried to sound like a buyer and not one that was looking at the most exquisite person that made his heart pitter patter.

"It took some time. My associates and I had to work hard, had to use some tools of the trade."

Good, that meant that this one had spirit. It meant that with a little work of his own he may be able to bring to the surface a glimpse of the true Tamara.

"I would like to add that this one is fluent in our language, he can do more than just basic commands."

"Does he speak it?" Usagi took the other hand of the Lantern and guided the Ninshin up onto his feet. Tamara was half a head shorter than Usagi. The golden crescent moon on the head dress glinted in the early morning light catching his eye.

"Oh very well, very well. Are you interested in purchasing this one? He is currently one of my most expensive."

Usagi had to take a moment to bite down on his tongue. Selling people as if they were objects… he had to keep himself calm or he would end up doing something he would regret. He had to try hard not to make a scene.

"Lord Yamato will take the bill, but make sure you sign the certificate of ownership over to me."

"Of course, of course!" The greed merchant raced off to get what the sale ready.

While the dark haired rabbit was gone Usagi turned to the Lantern. His thumbs rubbed over the hands in his. Things were changing for him, changing drastically and at a fast pace.

"I… I intend to marry you… for a selfish reason." He said quietly.

Tamara closed his eyes taking a deep breath through his beak. Usagi felt the other quiver, hands shaking. The samurai held tight as the other opened those pretty eyes, looking at him with recognition before nodding.

"It would be quick, no true ceremony, only a service at the local temple… and I will take you to an inn to consumate. It will be the only time I will expect sex from you." Usagi reached up taking hold of the other's arm to show his sincerity.

The other nodded again.

Usagi slipped his hand up from arm to olive colored cheek. "I am sorry."