Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.


Chapter 8-Not Weakness, But Strength

The two warriors rode side by side along the dirt road. Leonardo palmed the sack of ryo. The bag of coins was more money than he had ever held before. As Leo squeezed the bag, the coins clinked against each other. It was the first time he had worked for money. The first time he had actually been paid for his ninja skills. A smile crossed Leo's face. It felt good to help people. Leo's grin grew wider. And it felt even better, to be compensated for it.

Usagi couldn't help but chuckle at the young teen's antics. Leonardo was acting like it was his first paying job. The young ninja met his friend's amused gaze. As if reading his mind, Leonardo admitted. "It's the first time I've been paid to work a job."

Usagi's raised eyebrow of surprise, prompted Leonardo to continue. "Back home, well, my family and I. We are so different from the outside world. That was why we showed you and Gennosuke the city at night. The humans on the surface, would never accept us. We can't go out and get paying jobs. So we scavenge for food and supplies. April and Casey try to help us when they can. And recently Donnie took up an online computer tech job, to help bring in some cash."

Usagi recalled his visit to Leonardo's world. The cries from the humans before they rescued Gen from the city's streets. The Ronin looked at his young friend. "I mean no disrespect Leonardo-san, but perhaps your family would like to move to my world? Here you would not be viewed as the outcasts of society."

The Ronin's eyes fell upon Leonardo's blue mask. A constant reminder that the turtle was a ninja, and not a samurai. "Well, at least not for your looks anyway."

Leo chuckled as he followed his friend's train of thought. "I won't lie Usagi, the opportunity to walk freely among your world is a tempting offer. But New York City, it's the only home my brothers' and I have ever known. And we do real good there. We help keep the city and its inhabitants safe. Even if the one's we are saving, would run away in fear of us."

Usagi nodded as he listened. If there was one thing the rabbit samurai understood well, it was loyalty. A samurai was loyal to his lord, Leonardo and his brothers', to their city of stone. "I understand, my brother."

With a squeeze of his heels, Usagi urged his horse to move faster. "Come, let us celebrate. I know the inn keeper at the next town. With our good fortune, our next meal will be a treat."

Leo's eyes sparkled with joy. "What kind of treat?"

Usagi smiled. "Sushi."


Usagi and Leonardo had arrived at the village just before nightfall. The samurai walked away from the stables where their horses would spend the night. Usagi squeezed Leonardo's shoulder. "Come, we will be staying with a friend of mine."

The two warriors had not walked more than two feet before a child's voice called out.

"Usagi!"

The Ronin knelt down, giving the excited youth a hug. "Daichi-san."

The young rabbit pulled out of the embrace, speaking fast. "Sohowlongareyoustaying? Whoisyourfriend? Whyishewearingamask? Isheaninja? DidyouhearthatI'mgoingtobeabigbrother?"

Leonardo's eyes widened in surprise. Even Michelangelo on a sugar high never had this much energy.

The gentle rumble of a woman's laugh reached the group. The female rabbit smiled as she looked at Usagi fondly. "Usagi."

Standing, Usagi smiled as he embraced the newcomer in a hug. "Harumi, it is good to see you."

Harumi graciously accepted the hug. "And you as well. Tell me Usagi, who is your kame friend?"

Usagi introduced his quiet friend. "Leonardo-san, he is th-."

Harumi interrupted. "The kame ninja responsible for Kojima's capture." The female rabbit bowed. "We are in your debt, Leonardo-san."

Leo felt heat rising to his cheeks as he began to blush.

Harumi grabbed Leo's arm and began leading him towards her inn. "Come, let's get you two warriors fed."


It was a slow night. Harumi closed the inn early to spend more time with her guests. After a delicious meal, Daichi climbed into his mother's lap. Well, the youth tried to anyway. As soon as he climbed aboard, he promptly slid off. In the last days of pregnancy, Harumi's stomach was too big to accommodate her young son's attempt to sit on her lap.

Usagi chuckled as he picked the child up off of the floor. "How about you sit here instead?"

Delighted, Daichi wiggled into Usagi's lap. Leonardo rose and began clearing the table.

Harumi gave the turtle ninja a grateful smile. "Thank you Leonardo-san." She ran a hand fondly over her large belly. "Only a couple more days. Then Daichi is going to become a big brother."

Rising from his seat, Usagi placed Daichi onto his shoulders. The samurai began walking towards the bedrooms. "It's time for you to go to bed, young one."

Daichi began to beg. "Please tell me a story Usagi? Please?"

Usagi chuckled as he carried the youth to his room. "Alright. But just one."


With Daichi and Harumi already asleep, Usagi searched for his ninja friend. The samurai found Leonardo sitting outside, enjoying the night air and a cup of tea. Hearing Usagi's approach, the blue masked turtle placed his empty tea cup on the tray. Leo let out a sigh as he looked up at the stars. "I take it Daichi finally fell asleep."

Usagi followed Leonardo's gaze as he answered. "Indeed. The young lad has quite a reserve of energy."

Placing his weight on his hands, Leonardo leaned back. "More than Mikey on a sugar high."

Usagi chuckled. "Perhaps. Daichi brings great joy to everyone he sees. Children are always full of laughter. Their innocence becomes lost as we age. Spending time with a child, reminds us never to forget that there are many wonders to be discovered in this world."

At dinner, Leonardo was shown a different side of his samurai friend. Usagi's adoration for the young boy was on full display all evening. Usagi was older than Leo, yet despite his obvious affection for children, Usagi never once mentioned if he had any of his own. Leonardo gaze fell upon his samurai friend. Leo realized that there were many things about Usagi that he still did not know.

Leonardo asked. "Do you have any children of your own?"

Usagi shook his head. "No." A look of sadness crossed the rabbit's face. "The life of a Ronin is not suitable for a family."

Leonardo had never seen his friend look so sad before. Leo probed. "That wasn't always the case though was it?"

Usagi held Leonardo's gaze for a moment. Sometimes the young ninja was too observant. "No Leonardo-san. It was not. There was someone. Once. But now, I walk alone."


The two warriors sat in silence for a while, enjoying the calm evening. Their recent victory at the ghost mine, along with Leonardo's early admission about his guilt, had the turtle feeling like a small weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Leonardo glanced at the rabbit out of the corner of his eye. Leo had always felt comfortable around Usagi. Maybe talking again wouldn't hurt?

Leonardo kept his gaze on the stars, his voice soft.

"I know he's up there, somewhere. Every time I look at the stars, I wonder which one is the ice asteroid, Mor Gal Tol. That's where the Utroms sent Ch'rell, to eternal exile."

Usagi looked over at Leonardo, unable to interpret the young teen's feelings about Ch'rell's sentence. He watched Leonardo rub at the damage to his shell.

"Does it still hurt?"

Leo's turned his head, looking at his fried with a puzzled expression. "What?"

Usagi clarified. "Your shell. You were rubbing at the damage. Are you in any pain?"

Leo shook his head. "No, not anymore. Donnie says that it's fully healed, although the shell probably won't ever grow back. But sometimes, when something rubs up against it, it gets caught on the edges. It's a scar that I'll always carry, a reminder of my failure to protect my family."

Usagi frowned, ready to argue against the leader turtle. Leonardo beat him to it.

"No Usagi. I know what you are going to say. But Master Splinter made me the leader. If something happens, it's my fault. I hurt them Usagi. I hurt my own family back on that ship. And then when we returned, I had to look at my brothers, at my father. At their stitches, at their bandages, at their casts, at their pain. Every day I had to look at them, and know that I was the one that had caused their suffering. That I was the one responsible. Because I was too weak to stop it. Because I had failed."

Usagi knew that he was walking on thin ice, and had to choose his next words carefully. He slowly slipped his left shoulder out from underneath his kimono. Leo's eyes widened at the sight. Although the skin had long since healed, fur no longer grew in the spot of one very nasty looking scar.

Meeting Leonardo's eyes, Usagi pointed at his shoulder. "It was my first battle with Lord Mifune. I was young and foolish. I went into combat, thinking I was invulnerable. A soldier leapt into Lord Mifune's path, and I followed, determined to protect my lord."

Usagi shrugged as he continued. "It turned out that Lord Mifune had not needed my help. The soldier was already dead, having been hit from behind by another one of Mifune's soldiers. Having witnessed the killing blow, Mifune knew that he was not in any danger, and he didn't move to defend himself. When I stepped forward, he yelled at me to stop. But I was too headstrong to listen. I leapt into the path of the oncoming kanabō (mace), for nothing."

Usagi began to readjust his clothing. "My brother, as warriors, scars are not the signs of our failures. Cuts, bruises, bandages, scars, they are the signs of our survival." Usagi touched his shoulder, once again hidden beneath the silk of his kimono. "Marks such as these, they act as reminders that we can survive, that we have not failed."

With a gentle smile, Usagi rose from the ground, signaling an end to the discussion. "Come, the hour is late. We should both get some rest."

Leonardo rose to his feet as Usagi continued speaking.

"One never knows what adventures the new day will bring."


A/N: Oh yes Usagi, I wonder what new adventure is coming up next? Another ghost? Lord Hebi? Or something else entirely, hmm...To those who have reviewed, thank you! They are the fuel for my plot bunny. And for those who have not yet, please do. Virtual chocolate chip muffins to those who do.