Another missing scene from the "Big Brawl" storyline from the 2003 TMNT. This chapter also draws heavily from the episodes "Return to New York Part 3," "The Ultimate Ninja," and "City at War" storyline episodes. I own nothing that involves any of the above.

Please enjoy anyway. I make no money from this. So, please, enjoy instead of sue.

For some time after Traximus left, Usagi stared at the bottom of his empty cup. Gennesuke, meanwhile, leaned back in his chair. Then, Usagi saw someone he thought he recognized from the halls of the Daimyo's house running toward their table.

Within a stride or so of their table's edge, the servant stopped and bowed to them. Usagi sat up in his seat while Gennesuke sat forward in his. When the servant of the Daimyo had straightened again, he spoke, "Honorable Usagi san, honorable Gennesuke san, I am glad to have found you. I come with a message from the Daimyo himself. You are both welcome to the feast he holds this night for all of the Battle Nexus Tournament participants. In fact, he has asked that you, Usagi from second earth, who protected him from assassination this day, and you, Gennesuke from second earth, who made it all the way to the final four competitors, come and eat at his own table this night!"

Usagi blinked. "I am sorry for making you run all this way, servant of the honorable and generous Daimyo of the Battle Nexus. I had thought with all that happened today, the after-tournament feast might not be held this night."

The servant bowed to them a second time. "The Daimyo thought this might be part of the reason for your absence. However, despite the … tragedies and near tragedies of this day, the Daimyo still wishes to honor all his guests especially you who protected him this day, and your friend who battled with so much honor so long before being beaten in the second-to-last heat of the tournament."

Gennesuke rose to his feet and looked to his friend. "What are we waiting for Usagi? One rule of honor I 'never' break is to turn down a sincere invitation to another's feast!"

Usagi gave his friend a small smile. Then he rose to his own feet. He followed the bounty hunter who in turn followed the Daimyo's servant. Usagi contemplated telling the servant to run on ahead and assure his master of their imminent arrival. He thought he could find his and Gennesuke's way to the banquet hall with ease. However, he did not feel like hurrying to the Daimyo's house.

He did not look forward to arriving at the house of one who probably felt like beginning the process of mourning yet was determined to be bright and joyful for the sake of tradition and being a good host. Also, Usagi did not feel like celebrating himself right then. Finally, he did not wish to run into and face Leonardo or his family tonight.

Still, Gennesuke would not be kept away from a table full of free food. It would be rude to simply turn away from the Daimyo's invitation and the chance to socialize in peace with his fellow contestants, showing the tournament was about peaceful and bloodless competition not war. Lastly, as soon as he'd completed these duties of an honorable guest, fellow competitor, friend, he would feel right about going home. Whether or not he could do so without running into Splinter and his family again, though, preoccupied his thinking. He could find no way without becoming a ninja to both mingle with his host and other fellow competitors while also avoiding them. So, he began to think of things to say to them and that also preoccupied his thoughts. In the end, he was glad of the servant's guidance.

As they approached the gate of the Daimyo's presence and were allowed in, Usagi paused to speak to one of the guard's on duty. "Have there been any more attacks or attempted attacks on the Daimyo's life?"

The guard gave Usagi a slight bow as he answered. "No, honored warrior."

Usagi kept his stare intent and voice hard. "Any sign of the shadow assassins who attacked him, or even of Draco or …"

"None who have attempted to murder my master or steal his War-staff this day, have been seen since the hole in the sky was closed by him with his War Staff."

Usagi nodded this time. His hard expression and voice both softened and wavered, "The Gyoji? Has there been any sign of him either since the hole in the sky was closed?"

The guard's face also softened and sagged. "No, the Gyoji has also vanished into the sky and not appeared since."

Usagi looked down to the ground behind the guard for a moment then said, "He was a faithful servant."

"He was. He did not suspect you of causing the collapse of the kame Leonardo, son of Splinter, for long. He had begun looking into others when the command came from the daimyo's son, after the attack on the Daimyo, to concentrate on judging the continuing tournament rather than investigating Leonardo san's collapse."

A wry, half-smile curved up Usagi's face. "I think I understand the reasoning behind those commands."

"All should go well now with those foes now so far away."

Usagi's gaze grew hard and focused on the guard's face. "Do not take that too much for granted."

The guard gave another bow to Usagi. The Samurai took a step forward before pausing. "Have the kame and their nezumi father already left?"

The guard's eyes widened and mouth fell open a little. "Why no, Michelangelo son of Splinter is to receive the Battle Nexus Trophy tomorrow, for winning the tournament, and all members of that family have honored seats at the Daimyo's table tonight …" Usagi had opened his mouth, but the guard continued, "as do you, honored Samurai."

Usagi shut his mouth. He took a moment to force civility and calm into his tone before replying. "Thank you." After all, it was not the guard's fault. He continued his walk up to the Daimyo's banquet hall. He was half way up the long, yet shallow flight of steps when he heard the shout.

"Usagi!"

The rabbit froze. If there had been a column nearby, he'd have been sorely pressed not to hide behind it despite his courage. As it was, he slowly lifted his gaze.

The kame came to a stop right in front of him with a flutter of blue ribbon and a grin. "Usagi! I was afraid you'd already left for your home world!"

First the rabbit's ears and then his head perked up slightly. "I could not lightly dismiss the Daimyo's invitation to the feast for all Battle Nexus Tournament participants especially since I am to sit at his table."

Leonardo's grin widened. "Yeah, you're going to sit right next to me."

Usagi's eyes widened and ears went even straighter. Even his fur stood more on end. Leonardo spoke on looking up to the ceiling as he explained. "Father is supposed to sit on his right, with me beside him and then you, then Donatello, and then Raph and Traximus so everyone who helped save him and got him to the War Staff or the War Staff back to him is together. I think Mickey would have sat with us, since he won the tournament though he's got the winner's seat at the Daimyo's left hand and then it will be the person who came in second (Kluh's awake now) and then third and so on until they've filled up the table's other side, so the last six warriors in the competition." Leonardo's face fell. "I guess the Gyoji used to sit on the end, but …" Leo's head bowed.

Usagi's gaze softened. "He was a good servant. It is a terrible lose."

Leonardo raised his head and then tilted it a little bit as he met the Samurai's gaze. "Are you okay, Usagi?"

The ronin paused trying to think of a polite and truthful answer to that. "I am … unharmed, Leonardo san if that is what you mean. And you?"

Leo smiled again a little sadly. "Better … I think the soreness and exhaustion from the being poisoned, the fight with the assassins, and holding on so I didn't fly off into space is wearing off."

Leonardo's smile suddenly fell away and his head lowered. A pinching sensation made itself known in Usagi's heart. He lifted a paw and touched Leonardo's forearm. "I know you did your best to keep a grip on the Daimyo son's hands, Leonardo san."

"I failed …"

Many things fluttered through Usagi's mind to say aloud in comfort. It wasn't your fault. He poisoned you. He meant to kill his father and become a tyrant of the Battle Nexsus. You did no wrong. But instead … "I heard from your brother, Donatello, you beat him in mortal combat, and yet did not exercise your right to kill him."

Leonardo looked up at him. "Yeah, I guess."

"Why did you not exercise that right? The challenge entailed threatening your family did it not?"

Leonardo raised his hand to rub the back of his head. "Yeah, I guess I should have protected them and my family better. I just …" Leonardo paused and froze staring off into a shadow behind the Samurai before him. Usagi remained standing where he was, studying Leonardo's face, but not glaring or putting any demand into the stare. Finally, Leonardo continued … "I guess … I just … I'd already killed an enemy earlier, or thought I had."

Usagi's ears and spine straightened at this revelation, but he remained quiet. Leonardo went on in a slightly stronger voice. "And things hadn't gone as I thought they would after. The city seemed to grow worse. See … he was sort of a dictator. Everyone in crime did as he said in our city. So, when I killed him, or seemed to, everyone in crime who thought they could take his place, fought over our city, like Draco and … 'the Ultimate Ninja' did over the War Staff. Besides, the Ultimate Ninja had come to kill the Shredder, not me. So, if I'd just left things alone … maybe …"

Leonardo turned his head more to get closer to facing Usagi, but still did not meet his gaze. He shrugged. "I guess I thought if killing 'him' hadn't turned out so well, then maybe killing 'the Ultimate Ninja' wouldn't turn out so well either. Maybe I could just scare him off, impress him, show him I wasn't afraid of and could beat him, and things would be alright." Leonardo sighed. "I guess that didn't work out either, huh?"

Usagi looked up with wide eyes at the tall kame before him. "I think, Leonardo san, you are very wise." Leo finally met his gaze and gave him a weak smile. Usagi sighed. "Come, my friend, let us go in to join the feast."

Usagi waited and watched to see if the title he'd used would cause the kame to bristle or object. Leonardo only grinned and nodded before turning to lead the way. So Usagi followed ending up walking just a little behind and to Leonardo's right. And they both entered the hall together.

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes