I own nothing.

Leo led Usagi up to the table. The other guests already standing nearby turned their eyes upon the rabbit Ronin, Gennosuke, and the Daimyo. Leonardo's father spoke. "My friends already gathered here on this special occasion, these are my newest arrived guests: one of my oldest friend's, the Daimyo, and Leonardo's new friend Miyamoto Usagi, and his friend and traveling companion Murakami Gennosuke. Both of the latter are Samurai and wanderers in their homeland and great enough warriors to compete with us in the Battle Nexus Tournament the Daimyo himself graciously holds in his home, The Battle Nexus."

Splinter turned back to them, "My friends, these are April O'Neil," Splinter looked to a red-headed human who reminded Usagi astoundingly little of the one who had ripped apart his life once. Her wide smile, laughing eyes, bright red hair, and warmth put him at ease rather than reminded him of sad things. He smiled back at her.

"Casey Jones ..." This human reminded Usagi more physically of Hikiji, but while that man radiated cold and had a face like ice if not in battle, during which it was carved into a sneer behind his mask while his eyes burned with hate, this human's wide grin had mischief in it. His taller, muscled body radiated with pent up energy. He waved a hand at them. "Yo!" While he seemed a formidable warrior, Usagi found himself not afraid of this friend of his friend's family.

"Angel," Usagi looked next to a girl shorter than April O'Neil with purple hair and some muscle on her lean build. She had a look of both defiance and friendliness about her. She reminded him of Casey Jones with the sense of pent up energy looking for mischief or a fight as well.

"The professor," A shorter man with extra flesh, worn and patched clothing, and a dark complexion, who radiated as much calm and satisfaction as Casey Jones and Angel did eagerness and energy bowed a little when he was introduced, "Good evening fellow guests."

Two more men who had rather blank expressions and stained and patched clothing like the professor were introduced next, Usagi was trying to place them in what he'd heard from the Daimyo, Donatello, and Leonardo's words about their friends at home, when he was distracted by the next figure introduced.

"And the Silver Sentry." A very tall men with muscles bigger than Casey Jones, a like complexion to the professor's, and a mask over half his face like a ninja was nonetheless dressed in gleaming white, rather than black, that covered most of him. A cape fell from his shoulders. Usagi's eyes widened.

This was the famous hero he had noticed flying through the sky during a peek into his friend's world the Daimyo gave him and Gennosuke. Then it was time to bow and say how glad he was to be there. He thought he got it all out without stammering. April broke the silence that followed. "Well, let's have some more fun while we wait for Mikey and the food to be ready."

. . .

Leo got more worried about Mikey as dinner got closer and the biggest eater in the family didn't show up. Usagi seemed to be having fun, though. Dinner wasn't quite ready yet, but it was close enough they decided to do an activity that would keep everyone around the dinner table while they waited for it. It was Raph who'd suggested arm wrestling, but it was Casey and the Silver Sentry who went first. Casey really wanted a go at the Superhero. As Mikey likely would have guessed, Silver Sentry sent Casey Jones literally flying into a column. He then did the same to both Raph and Casey at the same time. But April sent the Silver Sentry flying into the column. That really sent Leo's head for a loop. Fortunately, everyone else seemed to feel the same. Even Usagi's mouth hung open.

. . .

Usagi had a sneaking suspicion. He drew near the kitchen where the friendly red-head and warrior of amazing strength in white had both gone after her stunning victory over him. The Samurai stood just outside the room's door and listened.

April thanked the warrior and offered him a reward. He declared the looks on the others' faces were reward enough, and then changed his mind when he learned the reward was double-chocolate cookies. For a moment, the honorable hero reminded the Yojimbo of Gennosuke. The long-eared Ronin grinned and walked back to the dinner table.

. . .

Soon after that shock to everyone's systems, except those of the conspirators, the food was being put out on the table. Usagi's eyes widened. He was not used to seeing so much food at anyone's table save that of the Battle Nexus' Daimyo's. Gennosuke was openly licking his lips. Usagi turned to Leonardo. "Allow me to apologize for my companion's lack of discretion, Leonardo san."

The kame grinned. "If Mikey was here, he'd be doing worse." Then the kame frowned.

Usagi's own brow furrowed slightly. "Is there something wrong with the Battle Nexus Champion?"

"I don't know. He always looses track of time when he's having fun, and he loves being around lots of people, especially when they're having fun too."

Usagi glanced around. In the room were the Battle Nexus Daimyo, seven humans, three kame, one rat, and Gennosuke. He didn't see a single face that wasn't smiling other than Leonardo's. "Then he should be here."

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes