A/N: Okay, I'm just gonna admit it. I have been completely not in the mood to write lately, which is odd considering I started two new fics last week *rolls eyes* I really didn't want to post this until I had gotten the next few chapters finished and tucked away, but that's just not gonna happen. Worse, not sure if I should post my next fic, which also isn't completed. Just know that RL is kinda bringing me down and I'm finding it hard to concentrate, focus, and making myself get with it. Apologies in advance if this fic goes without a quick update. :(

運命が割り当てれば

Yuku Sue Unmei

CHAPTER EIGHT

Leo woke slightly before his alarm went off, turning it off and just laying back to stare at the ceiling. The elder turtle usually spent this time meditating and clearing his mind before going down and starting a routine before their daily practice sessions. Today however, he continued to lay in bed and think about what Renet had told them, what Donnie had said, and what Raph had told him. His immediate younger brother was correct; the mystery surrounding Nick just seemed to grow, with no possible answers in their grasp.

Once again, Leo found himself with more questions than he had answered. But with the knowledge he now possessed, he would not take no for an answer. Not today. Getting out of bed, he quickly made it and prepared for his meditations. He breathed deeply and cleared his mind, wanting to have clarity for what lay ahead for him. He somehow felt that Nick was dropping clues for them to follow, trying to let them know without knowing, but it wasn't working. It only left them confused.

His meditation didn't last as long as it usually did, pulling himself out of it after only about twenty minutes. Leo had hoped to gain some insight, but as everything else, it wasn't forthcoming. Looking at the clock, the elder turtle wondered if perhaps Nick was up, remembering that the young kame tended to wake even before him sometimes. Standing, Leo made his way downstairs. He wasn't at all surprised to just seeing Mikey still laid out on the couch. He looked around, seeing the room he occupied was still dark and unmoving.

Darting his eyes to the side, he could see the light was on in the lab and he knew that's where he needed to be. He only took him a few srides to reach the half closed door; he didn't need to peek in, he already knew who he would find inside. Slipping inside, he watched the young kame stand at one of the counters, seemingly working on something. As though his presence was sensed, he watched as the kame's head popped up. "Leonardo," he said, without turning. "Nani kangaeten-no?"

"Kangae-goto shiteta," the eldest replied.

"Di-iu imi?"

"I've come to some conclusions about you, Nick," the elder whispered. "And I've come to ask you about them, to at least confirm if my suspicions are correct."

"You're asking me, aren't you?" the teenager asked.

"I know I'm your father," Leo stated. "Just as I know that's the reason you've come to this time, to prevent our deaths, just as I know that you've been lying to us about Lord Hebi and his forces. I've spoken to the Daimyo, Nick, and I've spoken to the ruler who knows the most about Hebi and Lord Hikiji."

The teenager gave a big sigh, as though defeated, but then he turned a thoughtful look upon Leo. "Of course," he whispered. "That's where you went, the first night I was here. You went to see Usagi." Nick chuckled. "Even though I prepared for anything, I did not prepare for everything. I've been stymied at every turn, as though the fates are guiding me along this path without my consent."

Looking at the turtle in front of him, he again sighed, chuckling. "You are not my father, Leo," he said, causing a bit of shock to cross the elder's face. "As much as I would have the honor, it is a fact that is untrue."

"Then you were being truthful when you said that we were only family friends."

"No," Nick said. "You are indeed family. You are biologically my uncle." Turning slightly, he continued. "When my father died, I wasn't even a year old. You and ojiisan took me in, knowing the death of my father hurt my mother deeply, as it hurt all of you. I have no memory of my father; just what you and others have told me. I have been to the lair before, because I've lived here when I was smaller. You and my other uncles took care of me and helped me grow.

"Mikey taught me how to have fun, even when I knew it killed him to look at me, because I look a bit like him," he whispered. "My father, I mean. Uncle Mike taught me everything I really ever needed to know about TV shows, comics, and video games. He made me laugh when I got so sad because my dad couldn't be there. Uncle Raph taught me how to protect the others, my cousins. Did you know I was the oldest?" Leo shook his head. "He told me I needed to watch out for them. I always had the sense he felt guilty over what happened, as though he wasn't quick enough or strong enough, I've never known.

Turning, he looked at Leo with a small smile. "And you, Sensei," he continued. "You and ojiisan taught me about honor and honesty, though I have brought shame to both of you for not telling you this from the beginning. I only wanted to make sure that you were safe, that he was safe, and would be until I left."

Leo looked at this stranger and listened to his words. He could see the signs that he didn't really look like Raph or have Mikey's laugh or even have his own eyes…the eyes. Of course! He had been so blind, so stupid. Nick did indeed have his father's eyes and when Leo recalled, he had his father's laugh as well.

"Donnie," he whispered. "Donnie's your father." Nick nodded. "This was not a chance meeting," Leo continued. "You are aware of this, as a student of Bushido, nothing is ever to chance. If the fates guide you as you've suggested, then they have guided this meeting between us."

"You want me to tell everyone, don't you?"

"My brother has the right to know he has a son," the elder stated. "And truly, isn't that why you waited for us? Why you've stayed with us? I don't doubt your story, that you want to protect us, but you're wasting time. If nothing else, the Foot seem to be up to their old tricks and anything can happen regarding them. You…you can't stay, Nick, even if you do manage to save us one day. There's still the next one and then the next one. Isn't it better to…"

"Live like you're dying," the teen whispered.

"What?"

"It's what Raph says sometimes," he amended. "That life's too short. And sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. That's the reason I decided now was the time, the time to stop this from ever happening."

"Why am I not surprised Raph somehow put you up to this?"

Nick shook his head. "Raph didn't put this idea into my head," he defended. "It's always been there, ever since I was a boy. I just…I needed to be older to implement it."

Leo looked at him coolly. "You mean old enough to be able to understand Donnie's notes and things."

"Exactly," he whispered. "Old enough to be able to visit the Utroms, old enough to sit and talk with Leatherhead…old enough to be able to figure out how to make a dimensional transporter travel back to the past." Staring at his uncle, Nick said, "I didn't just inherit my father's eyes, Uncle."

"No," Leo whispered, a small smile on his face. "You did not. You need to tell us everything."

"Do you think he'll come back?"

Renet sighed, leaning back against the warm body that sat behind her, kneeding her shoulders in a much needed massage. "If he's anything like your brother," she replied. "And he is, he'll probably just ignore you."

There was a soft chuckle in her ear. "You don't think the bros will get through to him?" the voice asked.

Smiling softly, she turned to look at the figure that spoke. "Would you listen to you at that age?"

The figure laughed, letting his three fingered hand grab a small strip of her hair. "You must have me confused with Raph," he said.

Renet also laughed, standing and strentching her arms above her head. "I could never," she giggled, placing a kiss on his domed head. "You're the cute one." Walking over to a large pink orb, she waved her hand to show the darkened city of Manhattan, New York.

"For someone who couldn't care less," the voice said. "You do take an active interest in what he's doing."

"He's my nephew, too."

"No doubt, babe," whispered the voice, this time seemingly closer to her than before. He stood behind, resting his hands on her shoulders. "You're worried."

The time mistress didn't answer, only continued to stare at the orb, waving her hand and bringing about a change of scenery. Onscreen was the same warehouse that the turtles had been at the other night. Going in closer, the two watched as several members of the Foot and the one known as Karai were working on something. Upon closer inspection, Renet can see this warehouse used to belong to an old fashioned blacksmith, the former offices of a family of them, who show off their work at various carnivals and circuses that came to the city. For whatever reason, the business had gone sour and they had needed to shut down everything.

But why was the Foot there? What could they possibly be using an abandoned warehouse for?

"What're they doing?" asked the voice.

It was still dark, obvious to conceal anything that might be happening, but…there! There seemed to be glint of something, of metal. "Are they…forging something?" the voice asked. "I didn't know anyone in the Foot knew how to blacksmith."

Renet just stared at the scene, a scene that she had seen before. Many times before. "They're making some sort of…sword…" The two could see the glint become stranger, a flash of silver, a flash of gold. "Oh no…"

"Shit."

"Ren…"

Renet was silent. She had hoped…still hoped that she could do what she could, to stop this. "He needs to come back," she whispered. "I need to bring him back. This ends tonight. There is no other choice." She began to turn to leave, but strong hands stopped her.

"There are several hours before tonight."

Turning to face him, she was slightly taken aback. "Mike," she said, an urgency in her voice. "You know what's going to happen, you know what'll happen if Nick doesn't come back."

"Yeah," whispered the turtle, pulling the woman closer. "That's why I'd like to spend my moments with my wife and children. You and I both know making him see reason, making him return is going to be harder than Raph's head. Why waste the time?"

"I can't rewind this."

"I don't want you to," he said. "It's destiny and fate and all that jive. Don't waste this, Rennie. Don't waste time."

Nick and Leo left the lab, not surprised to see Mikey already awake and watching TV. "Hey yos!" he called, smiling at them. "What's up?"

"Where is everyone?" Leo asked, giving Nick a side look.

"Um…" Mike began, tilting his back in thought. "Master Splinter and I think Raph are in the kitchen having some eats and Don Don is quanentined in his room."

As though being summoned, both the rat master and the red banded turtle emerged from the kitchen and saw the others in the living room. "Good morning, my sons," replied the ninja, bowing before them.

"Good morning, Sensei."

"I sense a discussion is about to commence," Master Splinter said, his keen eyes focusing on Nick. The younger turtle sighed and gave a slight nod. "Raphael, please go retrieve Donatello," he continued. "I believe our guest has something he would like to tell us."

Nick waited until the occupants were seated before him on the couch or for Master Splinter, his favorite arm chair that sat to the left of the couch. He stood before them, the room silent save for the occupants' breathing. "I suppose…" the teenager began. "I suppose it's time I tell you my story, the whole story as…I know it. As I…as I told you, it is not my desire to deceive you and I am ashamed to say that I have brought dishonor upon us all. Again, it was not my intention. I'm…not even sure where to start."

"I have often said," whispered Splinter. "That the beginning is the usual place to start one's tale."

"You're right," the teenager chuckled. "As always, ojii."

While they all knew the truth to some degree, it was still a bit of a shock to hear the informal and friendly title. "I did not lie when I said that I was here to save you," the teen continued. "In reality, I'm here to save the life of my father."

"One of us," Donnie concluded.

"Correct," Nick responded.

"So…" Mikey asked. "Is…your name really Nick? Or is that like an alias or something?"

Nick chuckled. "No, Mike," he said. "Nick really is my name, nickname I guess. Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Prince Niccolo of the Roshi lands of Edo."

The four were shocked, hearing that this teenager was the heir to those lands they had once visited. "That means…" Donnie whispered, his face not only registering shock, but an intense look of hurt. "That means you're Princess Dellandra's son."

"Well," Nick replied. "Technically, she's queen now, but yes. I am Dellandra's son."

Don stood and began to pace. He couldn't believe it. To think…to think that Dell had obviously moved on, but to one of his brothers!? While it wasn't unheard of, he just…then of course, he wondered just which of them was Nick's father. He still hadn't been able to find definite proof that would state who Nick's parents were and it had driven him to slight distraction. And now…to know the teen's mother and still not his father, but to know that one of his brothers had…it was the thought he was trying to stop.

Raph's eyes had widened slightly. The kid was Dell's son? Then that meant his father could be no one else, but…turning, he looked to his older brother for confirmation. Leo looked at him sharply, his eyes telling his younger brother all he needed to know. "What about Lord Hebi's threat to us?" Splinter asked.

Nick blushed slightly. "I did add in some parts to that," he said. "The threat of Hebi is as it always..has been, though it is much greater now, though more to my family than I care to admit."

"What do you mean?" asked Mikey.

"Lord Hebi was able to send one of his men into my grandfather's kingdom," Nick began. "He married my mother and succeeded in blinding the court to his will and thus, that of Hebi. When the deception was discovered, it was nearly too late. By then, our land was overrun. The…four of you came to try and save us, but there were casualities on both sides, though ours suffered more. That was how I lost my father."

"So…then…" Mikey started, confused. "You're the son of the goon Hebi sent?"

"Don't ever say that," Nick exclaimed. "My father was a great man. I am Hamato Niccolo di Roshi and I have never and will never be connected to such a dog as my step-father." The outburst was unexpected and certinaly it created a rise in tension that hadn't been present. Mikey's eyes widened and his mouth opened to say something, but the hand of his brother quickly clamped itself over it, keeping his speech to himself. Raph gave him a look, before turning his attention back to the teen, who's eyes had strayed to the one turtle that wasn't siting.

Don had stopped his pacing, his mind utterly blank. Turning his head slightly, he whispered, "You're named after your father."

"Yes, sir."

The world and time had stopped around the brainy turtle. When it sped back up, the questions were buzzing around him like bees in a hive. "That…" he stuttered. "Doesn't make any sense. Your…your step-father married your mother when she was pregnant?"

The anger at the previous insult still lingered as Nick addressed the turtle. "My parents were happily married until my father's murder."

"But that doesn't make any sense!" Donnie cried. "Dell and I haven't been together for months! She broke up with me!"

TRANSLATION:

Nick: What's on your mind?

Leo: I was just thinking

Nick: What do you mean?