A Sacrificing Heart.
Ch 1 The Arrival.
The Daimyo walked the village streets smiling and nodding at the various species of animals and humans that bowed respectfully to him as he walked. He was making his way over to the edge of the village in anticipation of an arrival of some special guests for the festival that was to be held in the village that month.
When he arrived at a spot by a tall tree, he played his hands in the air while he muttered words that caused a portal to appear in front of him. A few seconds later, a rather large grey rat wearing a red kimono walked through the portal followed by four large terrapins wearing different color masks, each carrying their own weapons. The four turtles looked about in wonder as the large rat bowed respectfully to the Daimyo before giving him a warm embrace.
"My good friend Splinter-san." Lord Mifune said as he warmly shook the rats hand. "It has been too long since we have spent time together."
"Yes my lord." Splinter said as he stepped back and made a sweeping motion with his hand. "You remember my sons." He motioned to them as they followed their Sensei's example and bowed in respect to the Daimyo.
"Yes, they have grown some since we last saw each other." He told him as he bowed to them in return. "Please, follow me and I will show you where you will be staying while you are here."
As they walked toward the other side of the village, following the Daimyo, both he and Splinter noticed his sons all looking around curiously at the work that was going on. "Have your sons ever been to a festival Spinter-san?" He asked.
"No lord Mifune." Splinter responded. "As we tend to hide from the outside world in our dimension, they have not had the opportunity or the freedom to see what a festival is all about." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw three of his sons walk toward a booth that was being set up to sell a variety of fabrics.
"That reminds me," Splinter told the son that remained behind, "We must buy you boys some kimonos to wear while we are here."
"Yes father." The turtle in blue answered him as he watched his brothers finger the various silks and woolens that were being brought out for display.
"So Raph." Michelangelo leaned over to his brother in red. "Have you figured out what your going to do to get Leo to come over to the fun side of the group?" He asked with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Eh. that's none of your business bro." Raph pushed his face away from him. "And for your information, I'm not trying to get him over ta tha group, I just want him for maself."
Donnie and Mikey looked at Raph in both curiosity and anger. For the last year, the three of them have been dealing with their heat cycles and enjoying each other's company to relive the aches and needs that went along with it. They were all surprised when their fearless leader and supposedly oldest of the group did not need to, or want to, join in, not that they had not tried to encourage him.
"Wait," Donnie said, sliding up to Raph. "What do you mean 'for yourself''?" He asked.
"Look, ya two have each other." Raph looked away almost forlornly. "I'm just beginning ta feel like a third wheel and like your giving me what I need more outta pity then anything else."
The other two stared at each other. "Gee Raphie," Mikey looked at him feeling rather shamed. "We never meant to make you feel like that." He and Donnie exchanged looks. "It's just Donnie and I really seem to enjoy each other's company more often now and you only seem to come to us when you need to."
"I know Mike." Raph smiled at him. "And while I appreciate ya both being there, I'm beginning ta really want just one mate in ma life." He looked over at Leo, who was with their father and the Daimyo looking over some weapons at a booth still being set up. "And I think it's about time fearless gave inta his urges."
Donnie nodded as he too looked over toward him before turning to look back at his other brothers. "Yes, it is rather strange that Leo has yet to feel the 'need' and come to any of us." He said using air quotation marks. "I'm beginning to think he is either fighting his heat cycles or he's much younger then any of us realized."
"Well, if you're going to court our fearless leader Raph," Mikey nodded back toward Leo, "I suggest you hurry cause it looks like your going to have competition."
The other two turtles looked back over to Leo who was now shaking hands with another turtle. A slightly larger looking turtle who seemed to also be somewhat older and very handsome. He was smiling at Leo and the way Leo smiled and laughed made the red banded turtle growl.
"Uh oh Donnie." Mikey whispered. "looks like someone's getting jealous." He sang as he tried to hide his laughter.
Donnie put a fist to his mouth as he tried to hide the snicker, but after a glare from Raph, it was obvious he, as well as Mikey, had failed miserably. As the three turtles walked over to Leo and the other turtle, they noticed both Splinter and the Daimyo had continued to walk down the street while Leo and the new turtle were both engaged in a rather intriguing conversation on the art of weapon making. It took a few seconds before Leo finally noticed his other brothers had joined them.
"Hi guys, find anything over there you liked?" He asked.
"Uh, no not really Leo." Raph asked as he nodded toward the other turtle.
"Oh sorry, guys this is Tinnison, he's here for the festival, he's also an acquaintance of the Daimyo." Leo said as he bowed respectfully to his new friend. "Tennison, these are my brothers," He pointed to each one. " Raphael, Donatello and..."
"Name's Michelangelo, Battle Nexus Champion." Mikey quickly interrupted and shook, rather roughly, Tennison's hand before Leo could introduce him.
"Um yes," The new turtle smiled at them as he took Mikey's hand off his. "Your brother was just telling me about your world and the various weapons you use." He said as he turned to the other turtles. "I am very impressed with his knowledge of them." He turned back to Leo, "Perhaps you and I could maybe discuss your weapons some more over dinner?" He took Leo's arm as they walked toward the home of the Daimyo, the other three trailing behind and feeling like they had just been deliberately snubbed.