I do not own the TMNT.

Just a little warning for those who are starting to read this story first. This is the third part to my three-part saga. The first part is called "Lost," the second part is "The Finding." "Decisions" will not make a lot of sense if you don't read the first two parts of the saga.

Quick recap:

We ended with Leo, Donnie, and Raph finding Mikey in Japan. The brothers had made up their differences, but Mikey had to decide what he was planning on doing next. Would he go home or stay and finish his Jinchuu training? Katsuro kidnaps Mikey before he has decided.

So on with the story!

TTFN

Decisions

Chapter 1

Bedlam broke out at my brother's and my own screams of intermingled grief and fury. Jinchuu poured into the garden. They too had felt Katsuro's presence. But they were too late. We were too late!

"What has happened?" Master Makota demanded pushing himself forcefully through the crowd, "What is the meaning of this?"

"He took him!" I gasped completely stunned.

God! Katsuro had my little brother. I had failed again! I had failed to keep Mikey safe.

"Leonardo. Leonardo! Snap out of it!" Master Makota snapped, "Who has who?"

"Katsuro kidnapped Mikey," Donnie said answering for me, "He abducted Mikey and then disappeared again."

Gasps sounded out from the crowd surrounding us. Many surged forward to give comfort, but we just couldn't be comforted at the moment.

"That #$#$in' pervert took my brother!" Raph growled pacing back and forth, "I'll kill em! I'll rip him apart with my barehands!"

"Oh dear. This is not good," Master Makota murmured, "Not good at all."

"Your goddamned right this ain't good!" Raph raged, "If you hadn't of taught Kitty Kat all his hocus pocus then none of this woulda happened!"

"Raphael!" Donnie gasped.

"Stop it Raph!" I ordered putting the mantle of leader back on, "This is not helping anything. Remember what Sensei always says, 'Saru mo ki kara ochiru.'"

"Wha?" he said confused.

"Even monkeys fall from trees." I said, "Even experts can make mistakes or misjudgments. At the time, Katsuro may have joined the Jinchuu for noble reasons, but things must have changed. Power went to his head and he turned on the Jinchuu."

"Exactly!" Master Makota said, "Katsuro is the descendant of an ancient warlord. He came to learn so as to protect his lands that are located in Hyogo. Magic can be addictive and he carries the flaw of enjoying power. He abandoned the Jinchuu ways of peace and sought out more powerful means to get what he wants."

"How so?" I said, "We must know how to stop Katsuro. It is no telling what he will do to Mikey. He wants to bind his soul!"

"Then we have some time," Master Makota said thoughtfully, "Katsuro cannot bind a soul until the full moon. That is in two weeks time. Come. Let me tell you what I know."

Master Makota ordered the Jinchuu to disperse and gather supplies for my brothers and I to go after Katsuro. He led us to his study and sat facing us grimly.

"Katsuro has gone to an ancient fort that once belonged to his ancestor," Master Makota said, "It was there that the sweet child I knew became what he is today."

"How?" Donnie said, "What happened?"

"On a visit to his family, Katsuro discovered a journal from his ancestor. The journal explained that the warlord was unable to defend his lands thoroughly enough to protect all of his serfs. The warlord searched for the one person or thing that would give him greater prowess in battle. He found and acquired a ring that enhanced the wearer's strengths. He was able to protect his lands, but became addicted to the power. The warlord discovered his addiction in time and hid the ring away. Katsuro found the ring hidden in an ancient vault in the fort and discovered that the ring enhanced not only physical strength, but magical strength as well. That is where Katsuro's power source comes from now."

"That's it!" Donnie crowed.

"What?" I said confused, "What's it?"

"Remember when Mikey hit Katsuro in the hand on the roof?" Donnie asked, "Katsuro acted as if he was in agony!"

"So?" Raph said irritably.

"Don't you get it? Mikey hit the ring! If we can get close enough to get the ring off of Katsuro or hit it to demobilize him, then we can defeat him."

"But this will be a very difficult task to do," Master Makota warned, "Katsuro will not go down without a fight."

"Bring it own!" Raph growled.

"If we can get the ring and defeat Katsuro, will we be able to get Mikey back to normal?" I asked.

"Yes. Once the ring is removed then Katsuro's taint will vanish from Michelangelo's aura. I will then be able to return the child to his original form if he so wishes." Master Makota said, "But Katsuro will throw many obstacles at you to try to stop you from getting to Michelangelo and the Jinchuu will not be able to help you since most do not have my skills. If I leave the valley then I leave my clan defenseless. I'm sorry."

"That is okay Master Makota," I said bowing in appreciation, "I feel that it is our responsibility and destiny to bring Mikey home. We appreciate all that you have done for us."

"The clan has packed supplies for your journey. Be safe and bring your brother back safely. Good luck."

My brothers and I quickly donned the packs that contained our supplies and set out to reach Hyogo. The clan said their good-byes and accompanied us as far as the edge of the valley. Many of Mikey's young protégé begged us to bring their teacher back safely. I placed all thoughts of guilt from my mind. Now was not the time to dwell on what could not be changed. Now was the time to take action. Katsuro was going down once way or another. I swear it on my own blood.

To be continued.