Another missing scene from the "Big Brawl" storyline from the 2003 TMNT show. This chapter also draws from the episodes "Return to New York Part 3," "The Ultimate Ninja," and the "City at War" episodes. I own nothing that involves any of these episodes. I make no money from this, so, please enjoy, and don't 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 noticed someone he thought he recognized from the halls of the Daimyo's home running toward their table.

Within a stride or so of their table's edge, the servant stopped and bowed. Usagi sat up in his seat. 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 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 was one of the final four competitors of today's tournament, both eat at his own table tonight!"

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

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 his guests, especially you who protected him, and your friend who battled with so much honor, for so long before being beaten in the second-to-last heat of the tournament."

Usagi glanced with some doubt at his bounty-hunter friend. Gennesuke, though, rose to his feet and looked back at him with a grin. "What are we waiting for Usagi? One rule of honor even I always follow is 'never turn down an invitation to a feast!'"

Usagi gave his friend a small, weary smile. Then he rose to his feet and followed the rhino, 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. However, he did not feel like hurrying, and the servant was going slow as if to assure they did not lose sight of him and thus their way. It was kind of him.

Usagi, however, did not look forward to arriving at the house of the Daimyo. The latter must likely felt like mourning now, yet must also be determined to be a bright and cheerful host for his guests. It felt like he was intruding on the ruler's privacy, even if he had been invited. Usagi also did not feel like celebrating right then. Finally, he did not wish to run into Leonardo or his family tonight.

Still, Gennesuke would not be kept away from a table full of free food. It would be rude and ungrateful to turn away from the Daimyo's invitation. Doing so would also hint at bad feelings on his part toward his competitors. Feasting together in peace after the tournament was proof their participation had been about bloodlessly testing their skills against warriors, whom they otherwise would not meet.

As soon as he'd completed his duties as an honorable guest, fellow competitor, and friend, though he could leave without guilt. Whether or not he could attend without running into Splinter and his family again preoccupied Usagi's thinking for part of the journey. He could think of no way to do so without becoming a ninja. Mingling with his host and other, fellow competitors while also avoiding the kame and nezumi seemed next to impossible. So, he began to think of things to say to them when he inevitably did meet them. This also preoccupied his thoughts for some time. In the end, he was glad of the servant's guidance to the banquet hall.

As they approached the gate of the Daimyo's palace 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 tonight?"

The guard gave Usagi a slight bow as he answered. "No, honored warrior, none since the one you defended him from this afternoon."

Usagi kept his stare intent and voice hard as he continued his questioning. "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 my master."

Usagi nodded. His hard expression and voice finally softened. "And the Gyoji? Has there been any sign of him since the hole in the sky was closed?"

The guard's face 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, and then said, "He was a faithful servant."

"He was. He also 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 Daimyo's son, after the attack on the Daimyo, commanded him to instead concentrate on judging the continuing tournament."

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

"All should go well now with those foes 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. When the guard had straightened, 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. "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 as well, but the guard continued, "as do you, honored Samurai."

Usagi shut his mouth with a click of teeth. He took a moment to force civility and calm into his voice before replying. "Thank you." He continued his walk up to the Daimyo's banquet hall.

He was half way up a long, yet shallow, flight of steps up to it when he heard a shout. "Usagi!"

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

The kame came to a stop right in front of him with a flutter of blue ribbons 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 if I am to sit at his table."

Leonardo's grin widened. "Yeah, your seat is next to mine."

Usagi's eyes widened and ears went up straighter. Even his fur stood on end. Leonardo missed this as he spoke on while staring up at the ceiling above them. "Father is sitting on his immediate right, with me beside him, then you, then Donatello, and then Raph and Traximus. Everyone who helped save him and got him to the War Staff or the War Staff back to him will be seated on his right. I think Mikey 'would' have sat with us his family. But, since he won the tournament, he's got the winner's seat at the Daimyo's immediate left. The person he beat to win is next to him, then the person who came third in the tounrament, and so on until they've filled up the table's other side, so the last six warriors in the competition basically." Leonardo's face fell. "I guess the Gyoji used to sit on the end opposite the Daimyo, but …" Leo's head bowed.

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

Leonardo raised his head and then tilted it a 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. You?"

Leo smiled a little sadly. "I think the soreness from being poisoned, the fight with the assassins, and holding on, so I didn't fly off into space, is wearing off, but I am a little tired. I have to stay awake a little longer though, to honor the Daimyo and my brother. This is his big night. Family, you know? What would we do without them?"

Leonardo's smile suddenly fell away. His head lowered. A pinching sensation made itself known in Usagi's heart. He lifted a paw and touched Leonardo's forearm. "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. It wasn't your fault. He poisoned you. He meant to kill his father and become a tyrant in the Battle Nexsus. You did no wrong. But instead he said, "I heard from your brother, Donatello that you beat him in mortal combat, and yet did not exercise your right to kill him."

Leonardo looked up and met his gaze. "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. I just …" Leonardo paused and froze staring off into the shadows behind the Samurai. Usagi remained standing where he was, studying Leonardo's face, not glaring or putting any demand into his gaze. Finally, Leonardo said … "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 that. The city seemed to grow worse. See … he was sort of a dictator. Everyone in the crime world in my city did as he said. So, when I killed him, or seemed to, everyone in the crime world wanted to be the boss. They 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. If I'd just left things alone … maybe …"

Leonardo turned his head. He, therefore, got closer to looking into Usagi's face, but still didn't meet his gaze. The kame shrugged. "I guess I thought if killing 'the Shredder' hadn't turned out so well, maybe killing 'the Ultimate Ninja' wouldn't either. Maybe I could just scare him off, show him I wasn't afraid of him, could beat him, and things would turn out alright." Leonardo sighed. His shoulders sagged. "I guess that didn't work out did it?"

Usagi looked up with wide eyes to stare into the face of the tall kame before him. "I think, Leonardo san, you are very wise." Leo finally met Usagi's gaze and gave him a weak smile. The Samurai sighed. "Come, my friend, let us go up and 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. Usagi followed just a little behind and to Leonardo's right. So, they both entered the banquet hall together.

What do you think?

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes