TMNT characters are copyrighted by Mirage studios and were created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. And this is a non-profit fanfic.
"Don't be mistaken we are enemies, will probably will always be," the tall slim creature to the Utrom said.
The samurai and the shinobi
(The Ronin & the kunoichi)
The blue bandanna turtle knelt before her master.
"Leonardo, what is the last you remember?" he asked, concerned about what he could rescue from his other son's erratic mumbling.
Leonardo sighed. Wasn't he supposed to leave today? "Packing everything and cleaning the room after yesterday's..." she stopped she did not want to go on the discussion that had taken place the previous night.
The rat looked at her confused. There was something remarkably different about this Leonardo: as though the confusion had vanished, the turmoil remained and he could not tell if that was good or bad.
The date worried him quite a bit. He would have understood if Leonardo had chosen to retreat his mind to the previous night, or maybe a week or a month ago, but 2 years and a half was a very long time.
Had his son been unwell that long? Had he been blind not to see it until it exploded in his face with yesterday incident, for Leonardo to choose to position himself in the day before her departure, fully knowing it had not been a particularly pleasant day must have significance. He sighed. But given the disturbing information Leonardo had given him the previous day, he could not leave him on that safe spot he had chosen for he could not endanger them all.
"Leonardo, why are you hiding?" he said looking at her straight in the eyes hoping Leonardo might shake it off. "You mentioned the Shredder was back yesterday when you attacked your brothers…"
Leonardo gave him a confused and ashamed look and answered. "I did? I am sorry father I don't..." She could not remember. "Am I responsible for Mikey's injured foot?..." she wondered with horror and then the first part got to her. 'Wait Shredder... Karai?'
"In a sense you are, but we are not sure what you meant. You did not provide us with any information except the codes," Splinter said. "You were out of control. You know that it is..."
"Unacceptable" she finished.
"I need to relieve you of your duties for now, as you see..." Splinter said reluctantly.
"I understand I will be a liability. I would try to remember, Father, or at least piece the facts together." she said a bit uncertain. Had her blunder been so great that her father no longer trusted her? Well, if she had hurt Mike, she would not trust herself either, Had she... wait since when he refer to himself as a she? She thought, even more confused, 'Must have hit my head harder than I thought.' deciding to check his head for bruises, The one he could feel on his neck actually worried her, 'Again!' for HE knew Karai was not that strong. But her father was in exile right? The Utroms had him somewhere secure far away and why would he come back to Earth? It would make no sense considering that that creature had made a great effort to escape from this wretched rock, as he called it. He would not be as petty as to return for a simple vendetta right? For some odd reason she did not want to know. 'Now I am confused.'
"Very well my child," Splinter said. "Remember, that is of out most importance..."
Leonardo raised deciding to spend some time on meditation she... he or whatever really… needed some time alone.
"Leonardo is you... happy?" Splinter asked unsure, remembering the things he had heard yesterday.
"Yes, Father." She replied. "As happy as I have always been," she added almost automatically.
"I know I don't tell you this often, but I am proud of you, you know that?" the rat told her almost reluctantly.
'Great now he is using reverse psychology,' she thought bitterly."I am only doing my duty master." 'Not really that well if I did all those things.' "And I will strive to earn that undeserved honor." she said taking her leave.
Splinter sighed as she saw her leave.
She headed out to find Mikey. If she had hurt him, she was going to apologize immediately. 'Ok brain, have it your way.' she thought in defeat.
She found Mikey in the couch watching TV and eating some chips silently with a miserable look on his face.
Leonardo could mirror the look as she crouched in front of him. "Mikey I am awfully sorry. Master Splinter told me what happened," she said, putting her hand on Mikey's shoulder.
Mikey was now having chills: Leo had stopped touching them for a while now as if she had been purposely avoiding contact and having her so near made his mind go AWOL, with odd thoughts plaguing his mind. He blushed deeply no even understanding what she was saying and he instinctively just gave her a strong hug.
The heartwarming scene was interrupted by Don's arrival who upon seeing the scene blasted at Mike. "I told you to give Leo space!" he yelled.
Leo turned her eyes to Don. "I was just apologizing." she stood and went to Don.
"Leo, come here," he called, whispering to her ear. "I told you the season is still up and is not convenient."
"What are you talking about Don?" she asked confused.
"Well about what you know…" Don said, trying to avoid Mikey's inquisitive stare also starting to get a waft of Leo's scent. "Leo you need a shower now and a deodorant." he continued pulling her towards the bathroom.
She took it as a game and used his force to flip him. "Never thought you would like to spar with me." she said pushing him to the ground. Don was now beet red with Leo over him it was then that Raphael stormed in followed by a hakama wearing rabbit. Not sure why but he suddenly felt terribly envious of Don and also yelled. 'That definitely had not come from him.' "What the hell are you doing?"
Leonardo rose quickly. "Usagi-san. What a pleasure to have you honors us with your visit." she greeted, bowing slightly.
"My friend?" Usagi bowed noticing the glares he was receiving from the rest of the turtles.
"Am I interrupting...? Your master requested me to talk to you."
'There goes my meditation time,' she thought. "No. Just three turtles acting really weird," she answered, considering how they had behaved around her lately. "Let's head out, it might be contagious."
"Your master told me you might have had a traumatic experience."
"Well, apparently my brothers and I... and one of our allies were deactivating explosive devices all around the city yesterday and I was the one providing the numbers for reason I can not even phantom, and Don apparently heard a voice that reminded him of an enemy of ours and they were obviously worried about me and the catch is I don't remember a thing of the last 2 and so years."
"Sometimes the mind protects itself from the darkness," Usagi said noticing the bruise on her neck.
"Yeah, we call it post-traumatic something… The odd part is that I should be concerned but..." to tell the truth she felt fine.
"Maybe your mind needs time to heal," Usagi offered. "After I lost my Lord, I could not remember the details for a long time."
"Yes, but no one died here, fortunately. I just have some bruises and that is it, had I really faced the Shredder I know I would have more evidence." she explained pointing at her shell. "And somehow I lost my swords… Again." she added, annoyed.
"You have not used the sword I gave you."
"It is a good sword but..." Why had not she used it? It looked cool on her room! 'Yes that was it.'
"Yes. It is not your style. I have always wondered about your weapons" Usagi said.
"Twin ninjaken."
"It requires a lot of energy to fight in that style, doesn't it? But you are quite proficient with the one sword too."
"I have trained since I could walk. It's like a second nature."
"For a samurai, the sword is his soul, so I have always wondered how two swords work. I don't think I am comfortable with the duality it implies." Usagi said noticing something about Leonardo had changed since their last meeting.
"I am not a samurai Usagi, I do what I can," she said a bit dejected. "My swords are a proof of that."
"Yes but a sword is…" Usagi started.
"Just as good as its wielder I know... but sometimes…" she replied pouring more tea.
"Leonardo, you are one of the most impressive warriors I have ever met, despite you being shinobi," Usagi said, unconsciously rubbing his left arm.
"You got injured?" Leonardo exclaimed, surprised.
"Yes, a devil kunoichi of the Cat Clan. I certainly wish to never face her again." Usagi said.
'Kunoichi? For some odd reason, Leonardo had some interest on the topic. "Hard to fight?" she asked.
"They use deception as a second nature and that makes them both adorable and unpredictable creatures in a sense they remind me of you a bit."
"I am... adorable?" Leo said defensively.
"No…Unpredictable. Who would have thought I would enjoy spending time with a shinobi? In a sense, you are lucky you don't have females in your ranks, they can be pretty distracting." Usagi said.
"Like certain Noriyuki retainer that makes a samurai blush." Leo joked getting back at Usagi's comment.
"Tomoe-san, yes, but I don't indulge myself on empty fantasies. I already did that once and I am still paying the price" Usagi answered, remembering his first love now married to an adversary of his.
"But she does like you and you behave oddly around her," Leonardo said.
"Ame-san will marry whomever her Lord and family deem worthy, in the way of my world. A Ronin is hardly an appropriate suitor," Usagi said.
"You could join Noriyuki's service anytime,"
"So could you my friend. Why you remain in a world that would never accept you is other great mystery. My offer still stands." Usagi reminded the turtle, referring to an invitation he had made Leonardo of visiting his world. "I met a two sword master who would gladly take you as a pupil so you can improve your skill."
Leonardo sighed. "A samurai and a shinobi causing havoc, I don't think your world is prepared for that" Leonardo said, then after a short pause, she added: "I never did ask you, why you became a samurai?"
"As you say, we do what we can with what is given. I am from a samurai family as you are from a shinobi family. We never got to choose the way of the sword, but I don't see myself planting field or you as a merchant." Usagi said. "But you probably meant Ronin. I guess I am not ready to swear my allegiance to another Lord just yet. Politics can be a really tricky issue."
'Way of the sword… interesting.' Leonardo felt those words had a new significance but could not remember.
Usagi noticed Leonardo had spaced out and tried to regain his attention when a harsh voice interrupted.
"Master Splinter sends some sweets for your friend here," Raphael said glaring at Usagi and dropping the tray on the table brusquely.
"Thanks, Raph," Leonardo said regaining her sense, a bit disconcerted, the words 'Not the way of the sword' resounding in her head.
"Your brother seems quite...protective of you lately." Usagi said once Raphael had left remembering the veiled warning Raphael had made to not 'tangle his brother in odd samurai stuff'.
"Yes. So I am not imagining things. "Leonardo said. "I guess I did worry them."
"Yes but they are acting like..." Usagi stopped dismissing it as absurd. 'They are courting you'… It would be inappropriate to mention it.
"I guess not remembering what happened for the last 2 years does give them a reason as apparently, I sort of lashed at them yesterday or the day before. It's confusing." Leo explained almost painfully.
"Maybe you need some time for yourself?" Usagi suggested. "Consider my offer. At times having some moment away might help you clear your mind and heal your memory."
"Can't do that. Last time Karai nearly killed them, and if Ch'r... Ch'…" For some reason she could not pronounce it… "If the Shredder is back I cannot exactly take a vacation."
"A hero shinobi, unheard of," Usagi said worrying about a few quirks and details he had noticed on Leonardo's behavior. He then noticed the scroll on the wall. "What does that mean?" he said, suddenly interested.
"My name," she replied looking at the only evidence of her name in the room.
"Shouldn't it be reason… merciful… come next… leader" Usagi read, trying to remember his knowledge of Japanese spoken in these lands.
"Now that you mention it, I think master Splinter was not really that good with kanji back then, can't blame him though he did learn a lot in a short period of time," Leonardo said looking at it.
"But still, the choice of kanji is not really... that is for a slave?" Usagi said concerned as he recognized the others.
"Yes, imperial tomb... nothing... halt... slave or guy is weird, but I rarely use it as my name is not Japanese, so..."
"Odd indeed, my friend. Well, I shall take my leave. I think you should rest for a while before attempting to face that enemy of yours again."
"Yes, nothing is worst that rush into battle unprepared. Thanks for your visit Usagi-san. It is always a pleasure to talk to you." Leonardo said.
"It is always a pleasurable stay but I will bid my farewells to your father, he said he wanted to talk to me."
"Anytime, I will be in the dojo meditating for a moment" she said.
Author's notes:
Once again thanks to Lady-Kassy for her beta of this chapter.
Thanks again for your reviews.
Turtlegirl I will consider it but Mikey if kind of hard to write about so if get an idea I will work with it
Dozer I agree they did had birthdays and different dates however it was impossible for them to know the actual date, in any case would be the date of the mutation. However in the 2003 series they are more Japanese oriented and the birthday party concept is relatively alien Shredder was still alive by the end of the 2003 series just in exile and considering he had escaped more times than Napoleon it is interesting what the Utroms thought about it.
They will find out eventually that Leo is a girl but that's the main awkward argument and right now only Don knows.
I got a review from a Leo girlfriend I am honored, been there girl Leonardo is cool anyway.
I took the information of Usagi from the Wikipedia so if I made a mistake please correct me. I tried to make it as vague as possible. I don't know the exact matching of the time compared to the ninja turtles universe. Please let me know if I portrayed Usagi somehow accurate I only know him from the series but it seems like an interesting story.