Chapter Five: Anger Issues

"It is good to see you awake, young one."

The Daimyo approached the turtles and their father after he finished his conversation with the guards. Speaking of which, Master Splinter decided to ask about that.

"Is there something wrong? You seem upset."

The old man shook his head.

"It seems that Jei is here. But…we are unable to capture him right now."

The turtles all turned to the Daimyo with wide eyes, but Raphael's eyes were filled with anger as he stood from the floor.

"What'd ya mean you can't get him? He's here, right!? Aren't you some kind of king or something? Well, go get some of your soldiers and-!?"

"Raphael."

Raph then turned to his father, who was shaking his head.

"You will speak to the Daimyo with respect. I am sure he cannot act for a good reason."

Raphael gritted his teeth and clenched his hands into fists, but he said no more to the Daimyo. Instead, the turtle stomped past the old man and headed to the doors.

"Something about this ain't right."

Raph mumbled to himself as he grabbed the doorknob. Master Splinter opened his mouth to stop his son, but he decided against it. Whenever he got like this, Raphael just needed to blow off some steam. Splinter just hoped that the turtle would not get into any trouble. As if reading the rat's mind, the Daimyo placed his hand on Splinter's shoulder to try and comfort him.

"He will be fine. My palace is the safest place you and your sons can be. I have already informed my guards of your presence and they will protect you all. That I swear."

Master Splinter nodded, but he still could not help but worry. He was not the only one. Michelangelo sighed as he turned to Donatello with a concerned look.

"Think we should go after him, Don?"

Donnie placed his hand under his chin.

"You know how Raph gets. When he's upset, it's best that we leave him be. Besides, I doubt he'll talk to us."

"I'll get him to talk."

The youngest brothers turned to Leonardo, who was getting up from his mat. Splinter was immediately by his eldest son's side.

"My son, please, stay…"

"I know, I know. I should stay here and rest. And I will once I talk to Raph. Don't worry, sensei."

Leo gently pushed his father to the side so he could walk past him.

"We're just talking. Nothing more."

Both Donatello and Michelangelo shook their heads and whispered to each other at the same time.

"Which usually leads to fighting."

Raphael twirled one of his sais in his hand as he walked around the palace. He had to admit, the palace was incredible. The landscape itself reminded the turtle of medieval Japan. The hills, the forests, the structure of the palace. It was both familiar and foreign to Raph.

The teen stopped in a nearby courtyard and took a seat on the stone bench in the center of it. He leaned forward with his hands on his knees and let out a deep breath.

"Why do we always get dragged into this crap?"

It may have seemed that Raphael was talking to no one, but he knew there was someone else with him. And he knew exactly who it was.

"Perks of being a hero, I guess."

"Then maybe I should turn to the dark side."

Raph heard a chuckle and from the shadows, he could see Leonardo approach him with his arms crossed. The elder turtle was smiling.

"You know you would never do that."

"Yeah, yeah."

Leo sat next to his brother on the bench. It was fortunate that it was big enough to support both mutant turtles.

"You okay, Raph?"

"I should be asking you that, Fearless. Was the Healer able to get rid of that psycho's magic?"

"Well…not completely."

Turning to Leonardo, Raphael stare at his elder brother with wide eyes.

"Then what the hell are you doing here? You should go back and-!"

"Raph, there was nothing else he could do. He basically said that the rest is up to me."

"He said that? When?"

"It's, uh…it's complicated."

"Simplify it for me, then. What exactly did he say? What did he do?"

Leo sighed.

"He…he linked his soul with mine and…entered my mind to speak to me. And…"

"And?"

"Well…he also said-"

"Greetings, young ones!"

Both turtles immediately stood up from the bench and pulled out their weapons. And to think, Leonardo had told Master Splinter that he was not going to fight. Well technically, he said that he was not going to fight Raphael. He did not account for anyone else. Leo and Raph stood back-to-back as they tried to locate the source of that voice, but the courtyard appeared empty except for the turtles.

"Oh my, this will not do."

The brothers were suddenly being pulled forward by an invisible force. They felt their grips on their weapons loosening until both Leonardo's katanas and Raphael's sais were taken out of their hands. Their weapons were now mysteriously floating in the air.

"Children should not be in possession of such dangerous tools."

Leo and Raph jerked their heads up and saw someone standing on a balcony above them. Or rather something. Whoever or whatever it was, the turtles knew it was not human. Maybe another mutant? While Leonardo thought over those questions, Raphael scowled and shouted at the newcomer.

"Hey! I don't know who the hell you are, but you better give us back our stuff before I show you just how dangerous I can be!"

"Throwing a tantrum, are you? How amusing."

Raph growled.

"I'll show you a tantrum…"

Before he could do anything however, Leo grabbed his younger brother and held him still.

"Raph, don't. He's just trying to provoke you so you'll do something rash."

"That's his mistake. Cause now I'm gonna beat his face into the ground!"

"Bro, wait-!"

But it was no use. Raphael shook the elder turtle off him and leapt towards the balcony. Here he was able to get a better look at the stranger. His attire was similar to that of a shinshoku, a Japanese priest, and they too wore a white mask. While it was interesting to see that everything and everyone around here had taken a liking to the Land of the Rising Sun, that was not what really caught Raph's attention. It was the stranger's weapon.

"Oh sh-!"

The teen could not even finish his sentence before his face collided with a wooden paddle and he began to fall back to the earth below. Leonardo shook his head, but he quickly moved and caught his brother before he could hit the ground. They tumbled back a few feet until the two turtles stopped with Leo landing on his back and Raph on top of him.

"Okay, I admit it. We should think of a plan."

"You think!?"

As he said that, the burning sensation flared up in Leonardo's chest again. This time, however, it was more annoying than it was painful. An annoying reminder that Jei's dark magic was still within the turtle.

"Right. Gotta think positive."

A shadow suddenly appeared over the two brothers and Leo and Raph looked up to see the priest had leapt into the air and he planned to land right on top of them. Leonardo instantly grabbed his younger brother and scrambled out of the way just before the stranger could hit them. Which was fortunate because by the way the priest crashed into the ground and created a huge crater, the turtles would have been crushed. They both were amazed by their opponent's power, and they felt that they were far outmatched by this mysterious being.

"Not outmatched. Outwitted."

The brothers' eyes widened. Did the priest just read their minds? Leonardo and Raphael had no time to contemplate this before the stranger charged at them again. Leo pushed Raph out of the way and raised his arms to try and block the incoming blow, squeezing his eyes shut as he did so…but it never came. The eldest turtle slowly opened one eye and then the other and he lowered his arms to see what had happened. Leonardo was surprised when he felt a light tap on his forehead by the priest's war paddle.

"You must think before you act, young one."

Leo let his arms settle at his sides and he gave the stranger a stern look.

"I did think. I thought about my brother's safety and acted so he would be safe."

The priest chuckled and lowered his weapon.

"Family is important. Your heart is in the right place, Leonardo."

"How do you know my name?"

"Everyone around the palace knows of you all. And Raphael?"

Raph was already by his brother's side, and he scowled at the stranger when he called the turtle's name.

"You must learn to control that temper of yours. You may be skilled, but it is vital that you remain calm and focused."

"Well, I was CALMLY talking to my brother before you got FOCUSED on us. What's your problem?"

"Gyoji!"

Both the turtles and the priest, Gyoji, turned and saw the red-haired samurai that had approached Leo, Raph, and their family in the forest. Ue-sama. This time, however, was not wearing his mask, so Leonardo and Raphael could finally see what he looked like. He appeared to be human, but something about his radiant green eyes told the turtles otherwise.

"Please take your childish behavior elsewhere. I shall speak to the ka…turtles alone."

Ue-sama had to stop himself from calling "kappa" since his father insisted he call them by the proper name for their species. And they did not exactly look like the demons he had heard tales of since he was a child. Hearing the redhead's command, Gyoji bowed.

"Of course, my lord."

But before he could leave, Raph cleared his throat loud enough to grab Gyoji's attention and pointed upwards.

"I think you're forgetting something."

Sighing, Gyoji waved his hand and the turtle's weapons came floating down back into their hands. Leo gave the priest a small bow.

"Thank you."

Gyoji nodded.

"You are welcome, Leonardo. But again, do be careful with those. I do hope that during your stay in the palace that will not have to use them."

With that, Gyoji disappeared in a flash of light, leaving the turtles and Ue-sama alone in the courtyard. Once he was sure no one else was around, the red-haired samurai turned to Leo and Raph and bowed.

"I must apologize for my behavior before. I was rash and allowed my emotions to control my actions. I hope you can forgive me overtime."

Raphael scoffed.

"That's gonna be pretty hard after you held a sword to our master's throat."

Ue-sama stood up and nodded his head.

"I know. I am glad my father stopped me when he did."

"You know…"

Ue-sama's attention was now drawn to Leonardo.

"I was actually wondering what you were talking about earlier. About a "Battle Nexus," I think it was."

The redhead smirked.

"You wish to know about the Battle Nexus tournament?"

"A tournament?"

"Indeed. Let me show you. Please follow me."

Ue-sama spun around, his purple cape flying in the sir as he did so, and began to walk away with Leonardo close behind him. Raphael hesitated for a moment, his mind still telling him not to trust the Daimyo's son, but he was also curious. In the end, his curiosity got the better of him and he followed after his brother and Ue-sama. Hopefully, it will be worth it.

The redhead led the turtles to down another hallway and as they reached the end of it, they could see two huge doors blocking the way. Ue-sama simply waved his hand in the air and the doors slowly opened before the trio. The scene that greeted them was truly a sight to behold to Leo and Raph, their mouths hanging open as they both uttered one simple word.

"Wow."

On the ground below the balcony they stood on, a huge ring-shaped arena was filled with fighters from different places. Different worlds. The turtles saw beings that looked very much like triceratops. Beings that looked like anthropomorphic tigers. Basically, everyone in the fighting ring looked as though they were created from a child's imagination. Well…the turtles themselves looked like something from a child's imagination.

"For now, the arena is being used for training. But once the tournament starts, it is every man for themselves."

"They aren't…fighting to the death or anything, right?"

The red-haired man could hear how Leonardo's voice slightly shook as he asked that question. Ue-sama shook his head.

"Of course not. This tournament is simply for sport. Nothing more. Besides, my father saw to it that no one shall kill anyone as long as they are participating in the tournament."

"How so?"

"Did you see the staff my father was carrying.

Leo nodded.

"That is where his true power lies. Using the war staff, my father was able to create a barrier that makes it impossible for any fatalities to take place."

"So..."

Placing a hand under his chin, Raphael finally decided to join in the conversation.

"Without that fancy stick of his, your dad's not that much of a threat, huh?"

The redhead crossed his arms and shook his head.

"Do not be fooled by his frail appearance. He is a formidable foe even without his weapon."

Leonardo put a hand on his forehead, trying his best to process this information.

"So who…is he? Who are you? Are you guys even human? Mutants? What about this world? Is this really-?"

Ue-sama quickly held up his hand to stop the elder turtle's barrage of questions.

"I understand you have many questions. I do. And will answer them to the best of my ability, but-"

"That son of a-!"

Leo and Ue-sama jerked their heads in Raph's direction when they heard the younger turtle's outburst. They were even more surprised when Raphael jumped over the railing of the balcony and fell to the arena. Probably not as surprised as the people who were already down there.

"Raph, wh-DIDN'T WE JUST TALK ABOUT THIS!?"

Knowing he could not afford to let his own emotions get the better of him, Leonardo took a deep breath and followed his brother with Ue-sama right behind him. Landing on the ground, Leonardo sprinted in the direction he had seen his brother run off to, pushing others out of his way as he did so with quick apologies and receiving a few glares in return. When he finally reached the younger turtle, Leo froze.

"Oh no."

Leonardo froze in place as he watched Raphael holding someone by the collar of their shirt with a sai aimed for their throat.

"You messed with the wrong family, asshole!"

"ENOUGH!"

Appearing from thin air, the Daimyo emerged between Raph and the other fighter and used his war staff to forcibly push the two apart. Leo caught his younger brother and he instinctively stepped in front of Raphael in a protective manner. But once he saw Master Splinter, Donatello, and Michelangelo with the Daimyo, he calmed down a little. The old man quickly held up his hand.

"I understand your anger, Raphael, but under these circumstances, I cannot allow you to unleash your rage upon this contestant."

Leo and Raph shared a look before turning back to the old man
"Contestant!?"

The Daimyo slowly nodded his head and then Splinter approached his two oldest sons with a look of concern on his face.

"That is what the Daimyo was trying to explain. We are bound by the rules of this nexus."

"What rules!?"

Adjusting his glasses, Donatello felt he should be the one to explain the situation to his brothers.

"You see guys, a nexus is a connection or connections to other things. In this case, we are in the nexus of other dimensions. It is the central point of our universes."

Now Raphael was really getting irritated. He did not the time nor the patience to listen to his genius brother's little science rants. The turtle threw his hands into the air in exasperation.

"Just get to the point, Don!"

Despite his older brother's booming voice and angry appearance, Donnie was not at all intimidated by Raph. After all, they were brothers and Donatello was used to seeing the second-oldest turtle upset. The genius sighed, but his darkened as he turned around to face the cause of his family's worry.

"As long as we're here…as long as HE'S here…he is free to do as he pleases. All of his past crimes mean nothing here. His slate is clean."

Raphael let out a low growl and Leonardo clenched his hands into fists. Their anger rose when they heard a deep laugh from behind them and Leo and Raph along with the rest of their family all turned to face its source. The black wolf straightened his shirt before he began to walk forward.

"I stand before you now, free of your judgement."

The wolf walked past Master Splinter.

"But you are not yet free of mine."

He then walked past Donnie and Mikey.

"I have a mission to complete. I was chosen by the gods to cleanse the world of evil. And your souls reek of it."

The wolf stopped in front of Leonardo and Raphael was about to step up to his brother's side. But Leo quickly held up his hand to stop the younger turtle. Even as the wolf stepped closer to him, their faces only an inch apart.

"You will see. You will soon see."

"All I'm seeing right now is how much of a monster you are, Jei."

Smirking, Jei backed away from the eldest turtle and walked past him and Raph.

"You will learn, Leonardo. The true monsters are the ones that lie within us. Within you. Mark my words, young one."