Chapter 7: Suffering Soul

A/n if you don't like notes then go ahead and skip to the bottom! There is a chapter here but someone asked a good question that I thought deserved an a/n

Anonymous asked (seriously, are all these guests the same person?) anyway, she asked "I do have one question about this one. How does li'l Donnie know what potatoes are? Potatoes originated in the Americas, and didn't get exported to Europe until the early 1800's. If his Japan is still in the Edo period (that's what I'm assuming, anyway), then how did potatoes get there?"

I was actually impressed with this question, so I decided to do a small an when I point out differences between my AU and Usagi's' world (and our world for that matter)

First THE POTATO!

This helps to go to history, Unbreakable and Unyielding both take place during a point in Edo Japan known as "Sakoku" the point in Japanese History also known as Isolationism. It's when Japan got sick of the Christians and European degradation of their people and closed off its port to all Europeans. This Isolation lasted for about 200 years. IN my version of Isolationism, the Western also allowed traders and travelers into Edo, and gave many gifts. But when "Sakoku" took effect, some European families stayed behind in (finding more home in Edo then in their homeland) one of these families was Leatherheads family. Because his family was so rich, he had many European luxuries like bounded books and his chess set. And his 'pygmy coffee tree' (my invention, cause I can't imagine Donnie being in a world without coffee XD) that he would eventually give to Donnie. And I imagine he grew potatoes from some seeds he brought from Europe

And also, you know sweet potatoes. (My simplest excuse)

2nd Difference, the village was named Mutsu in the Usagi Yojimbo comics (but I literally couldn't find the name of the village till two seconds ago, so I changed it to Murakami) THEN I realized that Gennosuke's last name was Murakami (after face bashing myself against a wall for hours) I made up a story about how Gens' family helped founded the village (I wasn't going to be able to sleep at night until I had an excuse)

3rd Difference, Usagi's' father. I could only find a tiny bit of information on his dead toher then a) he was dead) and b he never smiled (and he was really stocky). I didn't like him at all to be honest and I didn't think Leo would of turned out so well with such a miserable looking dad. So upon doing researched and Miyamoto Musashi (who they based Usagi on) I discovered he was raised by his uncle, Dorinbo. SO I tossed "Magistrate Miyamto" out the window and brought in the "uncle" to take the place of the biological father. I honestly thought I would regret it, but I actually really REALLY loved Dorinbo (I was even surprised when he and Kaede got married, I didn't see that coming)

4th difference NO HUMANS. Yeah, we see no human's in Usagi's' world in the episode they go to Usagi's' world in TMNT 2003 (THE BEST SERIES BY FAR just saying, thought 2012 is pretty good). But there is a human in Usagi's world (not sure if they're others. But seeing as he's a richy richy villain, I can assume not). So in this world absolutely no humans live (hence, 'pig skinned creatures)

5th difference Akai, remember? They haven't been in Unyielding (yet?) these creatures the Akai disease is a form of 'rabies' I invented that ravages a person's body and makes them into an animal.

6th difference Usagi's' age, I was never sure how old Usagi was in the TMNT series, but I was looking at a picture online and it made me realize I didn't know how old Usagi was. (Old enough to already have witnessed his lord's death) SO in my series, Usagi and Leo are the same age, and Usagi and Leo were both trained by his father rather than Katsuichi. And he and Gennosuke's aren't friends (Yet?)

7th difference Murakami village, normally samurai serve under lords and masters. But , though most of them are just warriors and samurai, it goes under a code of the village where 'we serve each other' where samurai will even do 'lower' jobs around the village so long as it helps the hole. This is the reason why they have more surplus and more 'prosperous' then other small villages (also why they get attacked by bandits so often, they be jelly) so when a samurai from Murakami is asked "who do you serve?" they answer 'we serve Murakami village"

I think I really like answering questions, so I wouldn't mind answering more up here if you guys ask them.

Chapter 7

Suffering soul

Leo cupped his hands into the icy river water. Most people might have reacted badly to such a cold substance against their hot boiling skin. But right now Leo didn't care and it took a considerable amount of self-restraint to not dip his arms into the water entirely. But due to the fact there had not been a sunny day in the three days he had left home and he did not want to risk falling ill. He could not return home without his brother. He tilted his head back allowing the savory drink to run down his throat, barely acknowledging the extra run off of water that ran down the sides of his mouth. The bliss of old water against hot skin, through his remaining hearing he could just hear his horse Kaze grinding grass between his teeth.

Whenever Leo even considered pitying himself for his lack of sleep and heavy body, his thoughts returned to his steed of burden. Who had been carrying his weight through his journey, That's why, when Leo decided on a break, he pushed off his bodies desires long enough to rub and wash down Kaze and relieve him of his burden.

It had been three days since Leo had set off. He had tried to keep his mind as focused as possible on reaching his goal. But he couldn't help but compare this journey to the one he took so long ago. When he had been naïve, when he thought all the pain of the journey would end when he found his lost brothers.

He would neverforget or regret that moment when he had found Donnie. When he had held him in his arms for the first time in so many years.

But it didnj't end his troubles.

And he wasn't a 'child' anymore. Not like he had been.

He took several minutes allowing the cold water down his throat, after several moments of contemplation he took his arms out of his dark blue sleeves to wash off his chest, neck and arms of the sweat that almost entirely encompassed his smell. He pulled out a piece of torn cloth to dip in the water before pressing it against his face. A deep breath shuddering through him

He was tired

So tired

(#)(#)(#)(#)

Leo leaned his forehead against his forearms body gasping uncontrollably, his steely persona shaken and his stomach wrenching uncontrollably. The shadow of his home obscured his shame and wracking body. Away from eyes of those who might be concerned about him, it was better to hide in the shadows and emulate the ninja he hated so much then to reveal himself to others.

He could still see that komori

Standing over Usagi, his brothers blood covering his knife.

The rage that had consumed him, raising his blade.

it had been so short.

It had taken longer to watch the life drain out of his enemies.

Upon realizing his brothers safety the fact he was alive had almost fcrippled him in relief. But he was forced to throw Usagi onto a horse and ride back to the village.

That's when the horror sank in.

The horror of what he had done

Hiding his shame

Choking on the smell of blood-

"Gakusie?"

His tight body flinched, all but jerking in the opposite direction of the voice. His heart hammering in his chest and red to his face, Oh Spirits, he didn't want anyone to see him. His humiliation was crippling enough-

A hand gripped his shoulder, all but jerking him away from the wall. Before he could react or run arms wrapped around him, despite the obvious height difference, he felt a hand reach up to rest against the back of his neck He knew these arms.

There was only one person who called him Gakusie-

Kaede

A tremble went through him, though he couldn't tell if it came from shame or from his body's weakness. But Kaede's' soft hand had barely fell on his neck before Leo's head dropped, face pressing into her shoulder as deeper trembles shot through him. Eyes burning as he struggled against his very breath, "Mother I'm sorry-"

"Sssh, it's alright son" her voice was soft "You saved your brothers life.", finger tips just barely running over his neck in the same hypnotic manner he had seen her use on Raphael in his temper spells, and Mikey hurrying his hyperactive ones. He was pretty sure he had seen Kaede instructing Usagi on her methods on a sleeping Donnie (which had almost disturbed him at the time till he realized they were helping him out of a nightmare). He fought the degrading pride that normally powered every step of his life and allowed him to sob weakly in her arms, giving him a rare moment of vulnerability. In his role as older brother, role model, samurai

He allowed himself this vulnerability.

He wasn't even sure how long he stood there sobbing into his mother shoulder .But it was long enough for his knees to ache. But he couldn't stop himself from hugging the woman who named herself his mother back.

"I know its hard Leonardo, it's alright you're' feeling like this."

"But I can't, everyone's depending on me-"

"You're not the only one though, there are other samurai in this village who carry your same burden. They fear their failure or wavering of courage will lead to anguish for their families and their fellow ronin. Your job doesn't make it any easier."

"I-I know had to do it, he was going to kill Usagi. "

"No one blames you. You acted nobly and saved your brothers life. And no one would blame you for what you for how you feel .Taking life is never easy, and it never GETS easier."

"Then what do I do mother?" how was he going to deal with the crushing weight of having so much blood on his hands? The hand on his neck slipped up to cup his face, lifting his head away from her shoulder, his eyes meeting her black soft eyes. Always an instant from blazing one moment and to the eyes of a mother in any moment

"Endure. And remember who you want to protect."

Leo closed his eyes allowing his heavy head to drop in a nod. The hand slid back to the back of his scalp to tip his head down ever so slightly to press a kiss to his scalp. Leo only had a few blurry memories of his birth mother and since he and Mikey had come to this village, on the brink of death. He had been raised by Dorinbo by himself. Mikey used to joke that Leo was the only mother he ever had but Kaede's presence in their life.

Honesty

Leo thought their birth mother would allow a new mother into their lives.

He was drawn into another hug before Kaede pulled away, her fingers tracing down the side of his face, "Go on inside, dinner will be ready soon."

Leo nodded again before drawing away. He put a smile to his face but it barely reached his eyes (he knew that it didn't reach his their eyes.

He pulled away from Kaede's embrace. He was grateful for the low sun so no one could see him. The village was that , by this point, that everyone one would know of his 'heroics' s at this point and would shower him in praise. He could just hear their whispers in his ear. Congratulating him, praising him.

He honestly didn't think his stomach could handle that right now.

But the comfort of his home allowed him to let out a long overdue breath and it helped to walk into an empty room. Usagi was probably getting help from the village I-sha (Don had to take a break from I-sha'ing due to his latest ill spell) and Mikey was over at Master Splinter's house to spend time with their Grandfather.

Leo lowered himself onto the ground the soft tatami floors was heaven against his heavy body. A breath blowing between his lips as he closed his eyes

He did what he had to do.

He did what he had to do

He did what he had to do-

"You're really leaving Kuma-ni-"

Leo's eyes opened, Donnie? That was Donnie's voice. Well dam, of course. He had just told himself that Donnie was sick so of COURSE he'd be here. And if Donnie was here then that meant the only other person was-

"It'll Just for a little bit, there's a bounty heading our way that s' pretty good. It'd be a hell of a pay day."

"How long would you be gone?" Leo's heart ached at such a soft voice. Unsure of anything else, but he knew the voice belong to his second youngest though smallest brother. If he looked into their shared rom, he would see Don piled under mounds of blanket, Raphael at his side. Course, whenever Don fell ill, you could always depend on that. Especially with Raph's' protectiveness.

"A bit, maybe a week." by this point Raph would have probably rested his hand on his brother's scalp,

"You haven't been after a bounty in a while."

"You calling me out of shape?" despite his words, Leo could hear a murmur of humor in his voice. But the truth was Raph had gone from 'bounty hunting every day' (as he did in Horyu City) to virtually unemployed (though he did do repair jobs and grunt work around the village (molding his lifestyle to the 'collective living' they used in Murakami village). Despite training every day and still working out, Leo had begun to fear himself that his hotheaded brother had begun to lose his advantage.

"Maybe Mama should go with you."

There was a small pause. Leo wondered if the same thoughts were going through Raph's' head.

"I don't think that's a good idea little man." Raph's normally gravelly voice (capable of shaking houses in a shout) was doused in concern. See? Leo knew they were thinking the same thing despite their polar opposite thoughts.

"I think it'll be ok. I won't be alone remembering? I have Leo, Usagi, Dorinbo, Maybe even Ojison. And Mikey if he annoys Leo enough."

"and Master Splinter."

A pause filled the house. Leo couldn't help but let out a sad sigh. He had thought when Splinter finally woke up and when their Ojison Lorenzo came to live with them maybe Donnie wouldn't be so nervous around their father. But it still seemed like Don would cling to his brothers whenever Don was stuck in a room with Splinter. He could still remember when he had begun to realize this 'shyness' when Donnie had fallen ill (honestly, it would be easier to mention the times when he wasn't' sick). He remembered sitting with Donnie and talking to him when Splinter had entered the room with a tray of food. Leo had almost instantly felt relieved at his brother's presence but he remembered feeling arms wrap around his. If only to escape for a second from his father's sight.

Honestly?

Leo didn't know of a worse irony

"You have to talk to him eventually baby bro." When did Raph start talking again? "He aint all bad."

"I'm trying Raphie I really am." Don's voice strained lightly," I'm trying really had. But I can't stand to be around him."

"I know I know." a tired sigh reached Leos' ears. It was nice to know Leo wasn't the only one concerned about Don's fear of their father, "You really want Ma to come with me?"

"I'd feel better if you did. Like I said, Leo won't let anything happen to me while you're gone." the next sentence made Leo close his eyes, if only to keep the tears from finding their way down his face

"He would never let anything happen to me."

(#)(#)(#)(#)

Leo drew in a shuddering breath, stuffing the wet rag back into his bed roll; he slipped his arms back into his kimono tap to dap at his face before snatching up the saddle. Because of his years being a stable boy, it didn't take long to clip the saddle into place. Reins in his hands he pulled Kaze after him. He had already memorized the map to the Sohei Temple. His only chance of getting his brother back.

It would help if he wasn't being followed.

Despite his hearing handicap, he had realized his followers a while ago. Not so much in the physical sense in his bones. He had his doubts a first and shrugged it off to paranoia. But the feeling hadn't left him; it loomed over him like a dark cloud of dread.'

Someone was following him.

He knew it wasn't' Mikey, (the combination of Usagi and Splinter would never of allowed him to leave or follow Leo) and Raph had barley been able to walk (though he wouldn't put it past Raph to grunt past his own pain)

NO.

Whoever was following, he wasn't going to play it down to a family member. He reached to his hip to run his fingers over his worn sworn hilt.

No one was going to get in between him and his little brother.

No matter what he had to do

translation/

gakusei: student

Donnie: oK I stole the laptop for a moment, listen to me reader of fanfiction! I am not that small!DX I'm NOT adorable, I'm not a bag of cuteness either! I know I am not exactly tall, or muscular, and I fall alsseep at a drop of a hat, but I'm not little! I'm not! Oh crap, Charmy's ba-