Moonlight glints off the ocean. It shines in my eyes but it doesn't deter my steps. Our feet pound the sand and kicks it up around us. His brothers, April, Casey and Karai all yell for one of us.

I pump my arms harder, wind tugging at my ears. Leonardo laughs and mimics my movement.

My heart pounds harder as I stretch my capacity. Leonardo keeps pace though and I know that this is going to end in a tie.

Our footsteps match. We hit the sand at the same time. It's mazing to just run and for once…not run alone.

It hits me then as we cross the made-up finish line. I'm not alone anymore. I really let these animals into my life. These creatures from another time and place have become my family. And as Leonardo and I collapse on the sand, faces toward the stars…I bask in it.

I'm not alone anymore.

I never have to be again.

Sunsets, sun rises

Living the dream, watching the leaves

Changing the seasons

The memory gets interrupted as Jotaro streaks around the building to where I sit, standing under me with wide eyes. His eyes twinkle as fireworks explode. I hope mine are not as obvious.

Jotaro smiles and waves. It's a pained one. Then I see the tears that mark his face. "I love you." He calls before charging back from where he came from. I spy the stone turtles in his hand before he disappears. He wants to open the portal. He wants to see him.

One tear slides from my eye. I wipe it away. No. No weakness.

The next memory catches me off guard and I know I won't be able to hold up much longer.

Oh, Jotaro…

The kids stop when they see me and Leonardo enter the square, beelining for Kenichi's place. They are scared of him. Of the Kappa ninja that their parents no doubt warned them about. Leonardo either doesn't acknowledge the looks or doesn't notice.

The first person I see is Mariko gardening. Then Jotaro comes barreling out of the house, tripping over his shoes in an urgency to get to me. The boy stops the second he sees my companion.

"That's your son," Leonardo asks.

I nod. I have no idea if he sees it.

Mariko turns at Jotaro's sudden stop. The second she sees Leonardo she screams," USAGI, WHAT IS THAT!?"

I flinch. I eye Leonardo quickly. I barley catch the shock and hurt pass before his eyes before it disappears.

I quickly say, "Mariko, it's okay, he's-"

Kenichi runs out next, also tripping over shoes only to stop when he sees us. His face contorts into fury, raising his sword to attack," You really are possessed, aren't you!? How could you bring a Kappa here!"

I try to explain again, "Kenichi, please, stand down-"

Mariko grabs a still stunned Jotaro and shuffles to Kenichi. "We heard you were traveling with a Kappa, Usagi, but we had prayed it was just a rumor."

"Please," I repeat," Let me explain-"

"Wait." We all stiffen as Leonardo's word. "I mean no harm. See."

Leonardo removes his katanas. He keeps his head down in a respectful fashion. He bows, kneels then lays the swords at Kenichis feet. That doesn't seem to satisfy because Kenichi moves to strike. I reach for my sword, ready to defend.

"Wait!"

We all pause in shock as Jotaro holds up an arm. The boy gazes at Leonardo intently. The Kappa returns the gaze. Then Jotaro says, "He's good."

"What?" Kenichi snaps.

"He's good." Jotaro says, then pulls away from his mother and hugs Leonardo. We're all taken back by the gesture. Slowly Leonardo reaches up to hug him back. Jotaro whispers something in his ear and my friend jerks back in surprise. The boy smiles then turns to Kenichi, "Can we have dinner now?"

The simple statement makes me and Mariko snicker. Kenichi surprisingly lets his guard down, but eyes Leonardo the rest of the night. Jotaro skips into the house. I sadle up next to Leonardo and whisper," What did he say?"

Leonardo's smile appears, that shine in his eyes holding," Oh, Usagi, nothing important. Though I gotta say," he winks, "he's smarter than you all think he is."

It took a long while before I realized what Jotaro had told him. The boy had known all along that I was his father. He's very good at acting. When I confronted Leonardo about it, he simply said that the boy had said, "Thank you for protecting my father." He implied he knew. And when asking Jotaro why he told the Kappa, the little one smirked and said Leonardo changed me. He could see it in my eyes.

Leonardo became an uncle to Jotaro. And Jotaro adored Leonardo. He sword fought, played and talked with the Kappa. Mariko would come to me a many a time and asked why Jotaro opened up to Leonardo. I could only shrug and say my brother had three brothers he was in charge of. He was a good listener.

The day I had to tell Jotaro the news, the boy was excited. Leonardo had promised him a real sword fight the next time he came. Jotaro expected him to be with me. He wasn't.

It took a day to get Jotaro out of his room. Even then he said he wouldn't do anything until he could come with me to Lord Noriyukis palace. Kenichi was livid but allowed it, seeing Jotaro wouldn't cooperate.

I glance back behind me, shuffling so I can see my allies. Jotaro sits on the steps to the entrance, a piece of parchment in his hand.

I sigh. Raphael didn't want that picture. Said it would do more for Jotaro then it would him. The photo is of Leonardo and Jotaro, one in front of the other, arms crossed and smirks on their faces. They both hold their poses proudly.

They loved each other immensely.

Some nights I think of you

Return to the past, wishin it last

Wishen and dreamin

"How'd you find two horses?"

I look to Leonardo. It's his first official trip to this world without the abduction part. I wanted him to see it without all the anger and the malice. It's my first time back in two months.

I sneer, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I mean you barley have enough money as it is, let alone enough to buy two horses."

"Are you calling me poor?"

"I'm calling you Robin Hood, not that you know what that means."

I frown. He talks in these riddles sometimes and it infuriates me. I look away and decide to ignore his statement. "People are going to look at you funny, Leonardo. They will not trust you easily."

"Believe me, Usagi, I know the feeling. Don't worry about it."

I look at him. Leonardo returns the look, a small smile on his face a now familiar light in his eye. It comes when he's happy. It's rare, which I also find interesting. I wonder what his mind holds that I can't understand.

I find myself smiling as well. The look between us dwindles long after it's done. The trip goes smoothly much to my surprise. We sleep under the stars and I reminisce of our days at the farmhouse. He shared his world with me, now I can do the same.

That look happens again and again. I've never had a close a friend as Leonardo. Maybe that's just what happens when you are friends with someone. Gen finds it hilarious but disturbing. I find it comforting. But in this moment, it is just a new beginning.

Seasons they will change

Life will make you grow

Death can make you hard, hard, hard

That trip was years ago. So much has happened since then. We grew up. I learned what depression and PTSD were. I learned why the light in Leonardo's eyes rarely stayed. I helped him cope.

I fought battles. So did he. We've scared each other, ticked the other off, spend weeks together and then months apart. I learned what family was again.

I came to value that look that Leonardo always shared with me. There would be days I would go through the portal and Leonardo would be to dead to even smile. Those days I dreaded the most. I feared I'd never see his smile again.

It always did.

That look. It filled me with hope and strength. It reminded me that who I was before was gone. I am not the same ronin I was all those years ago.

Then that look is gone. Just like that. And a memory I can't push away comes flooding in. And as it comes, I cry.