Another "missing scene" from the "Big Brawl" storyline from the 2003 TMNT universe. From Usagi's POV again.

I own nothing, but please enjoy anyway. It costs you nothing. I also gain nothing monetarily, so please don't sue. :)

Donatello and Usagi had barely time to drop down to the floor again, with the plan of checking on Leo's recovery and finding even more strategic spots to guard him and the Daimyo from, when the four guards who'd accompanied the Daimyo behind the screen came out. Two left the healer's pavilion entirely, the other two stood guard at the doorway through the silk screens. Usagi approached them. "How is the Daimyo?"

The guards scowled at him. One answered. "We are not permitted to say."

Donatello approached them also stopping at Usagi's side. "Who attacked him?"

The guards gave him far deeper scowls than they had the Samurai. The one who answered him did so in an even deeper and stiffer voice than he'd used to answer Usagi. "We are not allowed to say."

Usagi and Donatello exchanged a glance. Usagi thought he saw the same fear in Donatello's eyes, he'd felt in his own heart by being the one with Leonardo, when he fell. Usagi tried to give the kame a slight smile. I know you are trustworthy, Donatello.

The Samurai looked back to the guards and bowed. "With your permission, we would also like to stand guard over the Daimyo 'and' Leonardo as well. Perhaps in places we are less likely to be seen by any who enter here?"

The guards exchanged a glance before looking back to them. "As long as 'we' know where you are, and we three know where 'that' one is." He pointed to Donatello.

The kame in purple flinched back at the words and gesture. Usagi reached out and laid a paw on Donatello's arm. "Yes, it is good to know where one's fellow guards are, so you can coordinate your attacks."

Usagi then gently pulled Donatello away and over to his brother's side, where they both knelt and checked on him. Leonardo's breathing and pulse were stronger. Upon realizing this, Donatello looked up at Usagi, and then glanced over his shoulder at the guards before looking back to Usagi. "What was that about?"

Usagi also looked at the guards before returning the turtle's gaze. "Perhaps our mutual enemy has already cast suspicion on those he wishes harm to." The rabbit then looked back down at Leonardo still lying on his mat.

Donatello followed his gaze. Usagi saw the other warrior slump. "Greeeaaat …"

Usagi reached up and placed his paw on Donatello's shoulder. "Do not worry, Donatello san. Spotless honor is like a spotless sword." He smiled at the kame looking at him quizzically. "They both shine out to reveal themselves in even the least ray of light."

Donatello gave Usagi a warm smile. Then he looked up and around at their surroundings. "The light 'here' …" He raised his bow staff to gesture to the windows, "comes from there, there." He then turned and pointed toward the door with his weapon. "And there. So, we should watch from places out of their sightlines and where the reflected light from them least reaches."

Usagi raised his eyebrows at the kame. "You seem to know a great deal about this."

Donatello looked back down at him. His mouth twisted in discomfort. "We've had a lot of practice, my brothers, father, and I."

Usagi felt the hard stares of the guards behind them even before he glanced back and saw them too. He looked to the warrior in purple and placed a paw on his arm. He met the kame's gaze steadily. "Then, I will follow your expertise."

Donatello gave him the widest, warmest smile Usagi had yet seen from him. The Samurai found himself smiling back. Donatello looked around and pointed out a few likely hiding places before looking back to Usagi, "But, one of us should be looking out for the Daimyo directly," he glanced over at the guards. "And it shouldn't be me."

Usagi patted his arm. "You, look after your brother then, Donatello san, and I shall keep an eye on our host." He glanced back at the guards again, but neither seemed moved by this. It was just Donatello they treated in this manner.

Usagi frowned. His ears went back slightly. Then the rabbit who felt a hand on his arm. He looked up.

The kame was giving him an even gentler smile. "Thank you, Usagi." Donatello squeezed before letting go. "Keep a good eye on him. I just recently learned he's a good friend of my sensei's, and …" Donatello looked away to the floor. "Our father doesn't have many of those." He shrugged, "Barely any."

Usagi raised his head, eyes wide. "Then I shall be even more motivated to guard well our good host."

Donatello looked back to him, smiled, and then leapt up into the rafters again. Usagi raised his gaze to watch him. The kame jumped about like a grasshopper through undergrowth before finding a shaded corner from which he had a clear view of his brother, a slightly less clear view of the sliding door to the Daimyo's private area of the healer's pavilion, and quick access to rafters that would lead him to both patient's sides in a hurry.

Yes, he's definitely done this before, Usagi thought to himself. However, this ninja-like knowledge didn't bother him much somehow. He'd seen Donatello's reactions to him when he thought he'd harmed Leonardo and might harm him again, yet he had not killed him, or even injured him. He'd also barely left his brother's side.

Usagi had also seen this kame's teacher and brother in action. They both fought with great honor, determination, and the skill of both talent and the discipline to train many hours over many days. Besides, he had little reason "not" to believe Donatello's story about the Ultimate Ninja initiating a mortal duel with Leonardo. It felt very "in spirit" of the Daimyo's son to him. Yet, said Daimyo's son still lived.

"That" was a whole other layer of honor Usagi was not sure even "he'd" attained to let live one who appeared out of another world with the sole purpose to kill you in order to gain a greater reputation for himself. Usagi frowned as he made his way to a spot nearly over the Daimyo's head. He looked down at the old host of the Battle Nexus Championship. His gaze softened.

Still … could the Daimyo's own son truly be the one trying to kill the Daimyo? Would a son go that far … to kill a father? How little honor could one have?

Usagi thought of how Splinter had reacted to Leonardo's poisoning. He wondered how his talk …

Usagi's eyes widened. Where was Splinter? He had gone to speak to the Daimyo, and now here was the Daimyo in the Healer's Pavilion. The thought the old nezumi had harmed their host seemed absurd to the Yojimbo.

Why? What reason would there be? What would he have to gain? He'd have to fight many, many others in order to stage a coup of this place.

There was also the timing. The Battle Nexus was flooded with skilled warriors of all different kinds, from many different worlds, but all owing the Daimyo something for giving them this place to test their skills and gain renown. It was an "awful" time and place to start a war with the Daimyo.

Certainly, the tournament would give one an excuse to "be" here in the first place before making one's move, but Usagi thought the Daimyo and Splinter's friendship was such that would be unnecessary. He had seen the nezumi sitting next to the Daimyo as they both observed the competition. Other than that, he saw no advantage in the timing at all for any coming from far away. For the Daimyo's own son though … as long as he was not caught, this was a perfect time for him to try such a thing. So many others, including the father of the warrior who'd beaten him, were now here to frame for his crime. Not to mention the warrior who'd beaten him was now here to kill. It all made more and more sense to the Samurai as he thought about it and his heart was heavy as he stared down at his host, perhaps even now so unaware of how deeply he had likely been betrayed.

What did you think?

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes