Another Alternate Dimension TMNT (I like those.) ;)

This time it takes place in ancient times, somewhere around the Edo period in Japan, 1673 to be exact. But before we begin I'd like to give a shout-out to CharmyPI-5 the VIII for helping me riddle out ancient Japanese details and making this story more legit.

(Thanks Charmy, you're the greatest … ;D)

Now then

On with the show...

Legend of the Yōkai

Prologue: Waters of Spirit

Within the walls of a large Japanese complex built directly into the side of a mountain; the sounds of fighting rang out from the east wing dojo. Inside two brothers seemed far more engaged in their battle then what was usually seen of them.

Servants of the house hoped they would soon discover their differences and move past them, but it seemed as though they intended to continue with their war; until a voice finally broke the tension.

"Ya-me." An old man called as he opened the doors to the dojo and stared at the two younger men sternly causing them to immediately kneel before him. "Why do fight my sons?" The man demanded, but the only answer he received was for them to look away from each other.

Letting out a tired sigh the father took a few steps into the room before speaking again. "This is about Tang Shen." He stated more than asked as he focused on his taller children. "Saki?" He demanded seriously finally forcing the brother to look at him.

"Love is a powerful thing; it can cause both great happiness and great pain." The man continued kindly as he laid a hand on his son's shoulder. "It is unfortunate that you must suffer while your brother prospers. But if you truly love her – you will accept her choice."

Saki only sighed loudly, clearly not seeing it that way.

"Please brother." The other son proclaimed genuinely, truly wanting nothing more than to put this behind them. "We cannot continue fighting like this." He added causing Saki to glare at him before jumping to his feet and stormed out of the room.

"Saki." His brother called trying to follow but was held back by a hand on his shoulder.

"Give him time Yoshi." His father declared softly. "You know better than any how he feels."

"Yes father." Yoshi acknowledged with a bow before leaving the dojo as well, where he sighed dejectedly and turned to walk in the opposite direction that his sibling had gone.

…

Saki angrily marched through the complex, causing servants to avoid him and ninja to stand to the side so as not to be in his way. However even in his rage Saki still stopped when he heard a tiny laugh that he recognized and carefully made his way to the inner most section of the home.

Protected by three separate walls; the beauty of the small area at the center of the complex was only enhanced by the large cliff that lay behind it where a small waterfall misted the area with a quite calm.

It was here, behind the round impression of a stone door that lay just on the other side of this certain of rain that a power lay, and had much to due for the majesty of the place around it.

The evergreen of plants contrasted beautifully with the multi-colors of their many flowers as well as the whites, blacks and gold's of the koi fish that called the place home, and the many smoothed stones that had been placed meticulously around a garden of carefully raked sand ranged in sizes as they displayed mystic Japanese writing carved from into polished surfaces.

A bridge of red-wood sat perfectly to one side, crossing a thinner portion of the pond as its shores condensed and then enlarged again to form two pools, both of which featured water as clear as crystal which simmered in a rainbow of soft colors from the colorfully allege that decorated its floor.

But even through all the wonder on the ground still more could be seen above, in the form of a large wisteria tree that gently covered the area with its strong arms, draping the view in a curtain of pure white flowers as it arched across the sky.

The pond had indeed earned its name as the Waters of Spirit and was spoken of by their father as a sacred place.

Its surface would often shine like diamond even on the cloudiest of days and its water was said to be fed by an ancient underground spring deep within a maze of caves that crisscrossed below the complex and the surrounding area in so many passages that not even the old man himself knew them all.

However it was not the sight that Saki found himself smiling at, it was the small child who played near its waters, humming to herself while gently tending to the flowers as her mother had taught her.

She laughed again as if sharing an inside joked and whispered something into the water, causing the man to push away from his position and walk to her.

"Who are you talking to Miwa?" He asked of his niece, causing her to turn to him with a smile that lit up the world.

"Oji." She proclaimed in excitement, getting up to throw her little arms around his leg, leaving him to gently lean down to return the hug. "I was talking to my Oniisan." She answered turning to look at the pond again.

"Your brothers?" He repeated in confusion knowing very well that she was an only child. "Where?"

"They're shy." She said with a little giggle and he smiled again, chalking it up to her vast imagination. It wouldn't be the first time she had made up her own friends. "They said I should bring Oka-san one of these flowers." She continued excitedly, holding up a lovely little blue plant. "It will help her not to be so tired."

Saki's smiled faltered a bit as she said this, for he knew perfectly well why Tang Shen was tired.

"Why don't we go see her together?" He asked and she nodded excitedly as she took his hand and begin to lead him through the home.

…

Oji ~ Uncle

Oniisan ~ Big Brothers

Oka-san ~ Mother

…

"Oka-san." Miwa called out as they entered the room and Saki frowned as he watched the woman push herself up in the bed so she could hug her daughter. "I bought you a flower." She proclaimed causing her mother to smile.

"Oh Miwa, it is beautiful." Shen cooed as she hugged the little girl again before looking up at him. "Hello Saki-kun." She greeted and he bowed. "Would you get me the vase out of the wash room please?" She requested.

"Of course." He answered before going to retrieve the thing in question, filling it with water as he did so.

"Thank you." She offered once he had returned to set it on her dresser and she carefully reached over to place the stem of the blossom through the top.

"My Oniisan said it would help you breath better, and give you energy." Miwa crowed causing Shen to smile at her again.

"Did they?" She asked gently. "Well, will you make sure to thank them for me?" She added and the little girl quickly nodded. "Would you go find your father?" She requested next and Miwa promptly nodded again before climbing off the bed and left the room.

"Shen –" Saki stated kindly as she turned to him again. "Please allow me to take you to a better doctor?" He pleaded but she only smiled and shook her head.

"It would not help Saki." She told him, but he refused to listen to her.

"Yoshi cannot see what must be done, a larger city would have –" He tried again but she interrupted him.

"Saki, you know it is not Yoshi." She told him seriously before adopting a softer expression as she reached out to take his hand. "He would do anything in his power to help. But a larger city or a better doctor will do nothing if there is no cure."

"No!" He demanded. "They can help you, they must."

"Saki." She proclaimed again, weakly but sternly. "I will not have you threatening people. Especially people who have done nothing but help others." She announced before rubbing his hand as he looked at the floor. "Saki, I know it is hard, but I want to be here."

"Shen." He tried again but she would hear none of it.

"This is my home, this is where my family is." She continued. "I do not want to die in a hospital far from everything I love."

"You will not die." He ordered. "I will not let you die."

"Saki." She berated him again. "Even you do not have the power to stop death."

"I will find it." He stated anyway causing her to smile sadly.

"Shen?" A new voice asked at that moment and they both turned to find Yoshi walking to the other side of the bed so he could see his wife. "Are you alright?" He asked as she reached up to cup his face lovingly.

"I'm fine." She told him. "Saki has been keeping me company, and Miwa has brought me a flower from the Waters."

"Do you need anything else?" He asked causing his brother to scoff and Yoshi looked up momentarily to meet his eyes.

"No." She answered lying back against her pillow again. "Just a little rest."

"Then you shall have it." Yoshi informed her as he leaned forward to kiss her forehead causing Saki to storm from the room.

"Yoshi." She said when he was gone causing her husband to turn back to her. "Saki needs you now, far more than I do."

"I don't know about that." Yoshi admitted sadly. "He has pushed me so far away that I cannot see the path back."

"He is your brother." She told him sternly. "You will find a way."

…

"Where have you gone?" Yoshi asked no one in particular as he searched the complex for his brother, but could only sigh as he came up empty handed. He was about to return to Shen's room when crying caught his attention and he immediately recognized it as Miwa.

His fatherly instincts kicked in as he quickly tracked her down to insure she was alright, though he already knew why she was so sad. Even at the tender age of four she was already as smart and as capable as her mother, he had no doubt that she knew exactly what was happening.

However when he finally rounded a corner to arrive at the Waters of Spirit and was about to call her name; the word became stuck in his throat as he discovered that she was not alone.

He stopped in shock as he took in the four small creatures with her, all obviously trying to sooth her as she wept. However before he could recover or get a better look, they all became privy to his arrival and bolted for the water, disappearing below the surface like ghosts and leaving Miwa to look around for the reason of their departure as Yoshi spoke a single word in astonishment.

"Yōkai!"

Sorry, it's a little … "unrefined"… Bear with me. ;)

lol

Chapter 1: Keepers of Knowledge {Coming Next Monday}