I do not own TMNT or Usagi Yojimbo. Also, I have never been to New York so please forgive any strangeness I might write regarding the city as I can only go on what I've read and can find online.

xxxxx

I don't think we've gotten out this early before. Well ok we have but it's been a while. I guess the news report's really made Leo twitchy if he's jumping the gun like this. Not that I'm complaining! Hell no! I've been wanting to get outside all evening. I need to stretch my legs and get some blood flowing. 'Course it's kinda bullshit the early night comes at Usagi's expense. Don't really know the guy that well personally, but Leo likes him and he's saved our butts more than once. He's alright by me. Even if the whole "honourable Samurai" shtick makes me wanna yack after a while.

However if I didn't know any better I'd say he's more ninja than samurai! We've been out here for hours looking for him! Eventually Leo told us to split up; Mikey doing a sewer run, Donny scouting out from the rooftops around the construction yard, Leo checking out the Waterfront and me left to run around like an idiot on street-level. I didn't see the point as Usagi wouldn't be dumb enough to go walking down the sidewalk if you know what I mean. Also, there weren't a lot of alleys and hiding places in this part of Brooklyn. It kinda bugged me. I feel better downtown where the buildings are big and there are lots of places to hide. On the other hand I guess bunny-boy would be more freaked out if he got lost there, I dunno. The whole thing is just a big mess.

I'd been running down the street when I noticed the park and skidded to a stop. Now if I were an old-school warrior fresh from Feudal Japan a park with trees and grass is exactly what I'd head for! I turned and made my way towards it.

Prospect Park is pretty ok as far as parks go, but we generally stayed away from them as parks mean people. There are always tourists, joggers, families and all kinds of people wandering around. Probably not any more than there are on the streets, but with the only cover being trees and some bushes it's not somewhere you wanna be caught wandering around. Prospect Park wasn't nearly as big as Central Park but it was on the larger scale. Mostly made up of trees but it also had two meadows and a small lake. Not bad for a city park.

It was pretty late by now. I dunno what time exactly, I don't wear a watch, but whatever time it was it was late enough for the park to be pretty deserted except for a few bums and some stray cats. I tried to stay hidden anyway in case someone more observant was hanging around. After climbing the first big tree I could find and staying above ground as much as I could, I started scoping out the ground below me as I moved from branch to branch. No sign of any 5 foot rabbit anywhere, I couldn't help but grumble at this. Jumping around treetops was not exactly my idea of a good time. I'd wanted to get out and clobber a few heads not play hide and seek! Getting out was my way of blowing off steam and trying to find someone with no success was very frustrating. I know we're supposed to be looking for Usagi but I swear, if I see so much as a pick-pocket I'm jumping in and doing some damage.

I sat still for a few moments to access my shell-cell's headset.

"Anyone find this guy yet?"

"Nothing around the construction yard, but I'll keep looking," Don's voice spoke in my ear.

"Nothing in the sewers," Mikey's added.

I heard Leo's voice give a sigh, "Nothing along the waterfront."

I pulled a face. I didn't want Leo to hear how useless I thought this was. Normally I wouldn't care but he sounded down already and I know he's worried. I didn't wanna push him or something ugly would come of it. But I didn't wanna run around all night either.

"How long are we gonna keep doing this?! I haven't found so much as a footprint and we can't do this all night!"

"Come on Raph! Usagi's lost out here, we can't just forget about him!" Mikey piped up; concern heavy in his voice.

I rolled my eyes. Mikey was so deluded sometimes with his whole 'Bleeding-heart' attitude. I didn't say anything though, instead I waited to hear what Leo thinks cause he's gonna have the last say.

There was a pause before he spoke up.

"Let's keep searching for another hour. If we don't find anything we'll call it a night and head home."

"But Leo..." Mikey whined

"Once we get home I'll see if we can get a hold of the Battle Nexus and get in contact with him through that to see if he's ok; but Raph's right, we can't keep running around till daybreak."

"I'm gonna scope the perimeter of the yard then if that's ok. I can honestly say he's nowhere in the yard itself."

"Alright Don, you do that. Where are you Mike?"

"Dude where do you think? I'm underground!"

"Yes, but where Mikey?"

"Uhm.... I'm close to the sea-drain on the South side."

"Alright, keep looking. What about you Raph?"

"Prospect Park."

"Ok. Keep searching and we'll contact each other again in an hour."

"Ten-four!"

"Okedokee!"

"Whatever." I hung up and put the headset away.

I kept going, heading for the lake. I stuck to the trees and avoided the meadows, going down the Peninsula till I reached the water. I climbed down from the tree I was in and took a look around. I didn't think he'd hide under one of the bridges cause the bums used those for shelter when the water was low, and when the water was high there'd be nowhere to shelter. I made a noise in the back of my throat. Prospect Park was a big place and I hadn't covered all of it, but a lot of it was kinda public and no place to be hiding out. The area around the lake was mostly wooded apart from the few paths that led to it; and of course, it's water right? Everybody gets thirsty and if he'd gotten hurt he'd have to clean his wounds.

I stopped that line of thought immediately. Me and Usagi ain't exactly close but I didn't like the idea of him being injured. I dunno why but the idea of him getting hurt by something in our city bugged me, almost like it made us responsible for it somehow. I dunno. It wouldn't be our fault I know that, but it just didn't seem right.

I suddenly felt kinda ashamed for being so pissy about looking for the guy. I mean if it were me or one of my bros lost in his dimension he'd come after us in a heartbeat, and here I was complaining cause I wanted to go off and have some fun. Jackass.

I started pacing along the edge of the lake, looking around for any hiding places, tracks, or something. I really didn't wanna go home empty handed because Leo'd be hell to live with till he found out what happened to the rabbit and Mikey'd be damn miserable at having failed a friend. I don't like that.

I'd rounded the tip of the peninsula and was about to start going up the other side when I spotted the small land-mass in the centre of the lake creatively named "Duck Island." It was hardly anything. A miniscule island with no more than 4 or 5 trees growing on it and mostly consisting of tangled reeds and thick bushes. There were no bridges connected to it and the only way to reach it was either to use one of the paddle-boats you could hire or to swim. 'Course swimming wasn't allowed in the lake and there was no reason to go to the island, unless you were looking for somewhere to hide.

All the paddle-boats were locked away by park maintenance in case people stole them, and even if they weren't I'd be damned if I ever sink low enough to use one of them. There were little row-boats you could rent too but they were also stored away for the night. No choice but to swim then.

I looked again to make sure nobody was around to hear me before I waded into the water. Holy crap it was cold! I kept going till the water was up to my chest before I started to swim the rest of the way, making sure to keep as silent as possible. I didn't wanna splash around and get any-one's attention. I dove once to cross the rest of the distance underwater to stay out of sight but that turned out to be a bad idea. The water was already muddy and murky, but the fact that it was the middle of the night made it impossible to see anything. I broke the surface again and reluctantly swam the rest of the way, completely in the open for any sucker to spot me. I was starting to wonder if the rabbit would really have risked going out to the small land-mass. Heck, I wasn't even sure he was in the damn park! This was a dumb idea, but it's too late to turn back now.

I reached the island without anyone ratting me out. Getting onto actual land was kinda tricky as the reeds and water-plants were thick and woven. This island wasn't meant for anyone but ducks, geese, and pigeons; it was obvious the park maintenance didn't see any point in clearing the stuff. Maybe some crack-heads would come out here to shoot up away from their yuppie parents or something, but I wasn't even sure they'd see it worth the trouble. There were a lot of other places you could go to get high that didn't involve a midnight swim in a cold lake.

I found an area where I could tear myself through the plants and get up onto the bank. I could feel the uncomfortable itch on my arms and legs from nicks and scratches caused by the foliage. On top of this I was freezing and really getting sick of this little game. I was in a very bad mood. I didn't even wanna run around and have fun anymore. I just wanted to get home, take a shower, and watch some TV or something.

I looked around the small island. The trees and undergrowth made it so you couldn't see the other side of it from here, forcing me to wander in between the patch of trees. I took a few steps deeper before stopping and standing still for a moment, listening for any sounds out of place that could mean someone was close. I could hear the water of the lake lapping at the banks, and the leaves high in the tree as a light wind brushed past me, sending an icy chill over my soaked arms and legs. I made a disgusted noise, there was nobody here. I'd had enough. I was going back and getting the hell out this stupid park and meeting up with the others. This was pointless.

I turned to get back in the frigid water, cold and fed up I slammed a fist against one of the tree trunks as I passed it in aggravation. The tree shivered slightly and I could hear its leaves shake and rustle at the impact. I hadn't even stopped walking when I heard the snap of a branch from somewhere above me. I froze in my tracks and immediately twisted my head in the direction of the noise. I frowned, listening intently. Branches don't break themselves no matter how hard you smacked a tree-trunk. Something must be up there.

I squinted my eyes, trying to discern any strange shadows from the dark branches and twigs. I took a step closer and thought I could see something, but I wasn't sure if it was a figure or just a large bird of some kind. I gritted my teeth, I was in no mood for this.

"Hey! Anyone up there?!"

I thought I saw a shadow move and took another step closer.

There was a swish of a branch and suddenly a black figure was dropping out of the sky right at me. I evaded the sudden attack with a quick jump to the side and turned to face whoever or whatever had decided to try and jump me. No sooner did I do so when I needed to dodge another attack as the figure came at me with a growl. I slid to the side, my hands gripping my sai and pulling them from my belt. This guy meant business, and he was fast. Skilfully fast. I didn't dare strike though.

"Hey! Hang on a second!"

The figure didn't listen and lunged at me again. I saw the glint of steel as I jumped out the way, barely preventing myself from ending up on the wrong side of whatever weapon my attacker was using. At first I thought it was a katana like Leo's but it seemed smaller.

"Look would ya hold it for one second?!"

Another strike but this time I was ready for it and shot out my sai, catching the blade between the prongs and twisting my wrists to lock my weapons around it.

"Hey! I said Hold it! I ain't gonna hurt ya!"

I could feel the attacker yank on his blade, only to find it trapped. Master Splinter once told me that the sai were designed specifically to counter the Japanese katana in combat and they sure were doing their job tonight.

"Cool it will ya?! It's me! Raphael! I ain't here ta hurt ya!"

The attacker tugged on his blade again but less enthusiastically before going still. I could hear him pant slightly before softly saying. "Raphael-san?"

I took a long breath and unlocked my sai, allowing him to take back his weapon.

"I'm guessing that's you, Usagi. Do you have any idea how long I've been out here trying to find you?!"

I couldn't help it. This had been a very frustrating night, and to find Usagi only to have him attack me for my trouble really got under my shell.

I couldn't make out his face in the poor light but now that he was standing still I could make out his basic silhouette and recognised his tied back ears and slender build. I saw him replace the blade he had tried to stab me with at his side before bowing his head to me.

"I apologise my friend. I did not recognise you and mistook you for a threat. I am afraid today's events have me rather strained and I acted rashly."

I gave a sigh with a drawn out noise. This was exactly the overly polite samurai crap that got on my nerves.

"Look, don't sweat it ok? Point is I found ya. We've been combing all of Brooklyn looking for ya, Leo's practically goin' out of his mind."

"I am grateful my friend." I couldn't see it but I heard the relieved smile in his voice. "I was at a loss for what to do in this strange place. I was hoping to try and locate you and your family once it was safe, but I was not sure how I would do this." I saw him tilt his head slightly, "But how did you know I was here?"

"Look it's a long story" I waved the issue aside. "I'll explain it later, right now we gotta let the others know you're ok and then get back to the lair," I stopped. "You are ok right?"

He nodded. "I am not badly hurt."

I frowned at this, "not badly hurt" was code for 'I'm hurt but I'll be alright'. Usagi was made of tough stuff though and I decided not to bring it up. Instead, I nodded before pulling out my shell-cell. Waterproofing these things was one of the smartest things Donny ever did.

I opened it and called Leo.

"Raph. Any luck?"

"Yeah, I got him." I answered. "We're still in Prospect Park, d'you wanna meet us or should we head for the Battle shell?"

I could almost hear Leo's shoulders drop in relief. "Better head for the Battle shell and meet up there; we don't want to risk anybody seeing you guys. Raph... is he ok?"

I couldn't help but smirk at this slightly; typical Leo, making himself sick with worry.

"He nearly killed me so I think he'll survive."

"Good to hear. I'll call the others and let them know we're done. Oh and Raph... good job bud."

I made a noise, feigning disgust but I felt the smile spread on my face anyway. I turned back to the rabbit.

"Alright, let's get out of here and somewhere less wet."

He nodded. I could tell from the angle of his head he was eyeing the shell cell as he did so, probably intrigued by the device. I couldn't remember if he'd seen us use it before or not but I suppose the thing was still pretty weird to him either way.

"If we swim from here we'll reach the other side easier and we can make our way out through the trees to the street. The Battle shell ain't that far from there, think you can make it?"

I heard him give a tired sounding chuckle. "You underestimate me Raphael-san."

"Glad ta hear it," I said, turning back to the water, relieved to finally be heading home and more importantly, heading home successfully.

Xxxxx

This chapter was getting too long so it has been split into 2. Next part to be uploaded once I finish writing the chapter after that as I try to stay ahead of myself.

Thank you Rika24 for BETAing!