A/n

This story is taking ALOT of research. Seriously. I have to make sure that certain things weren't invented, what the cities would of looked like, what would of been acceptable and a lot of Japanese etiquette. A word I couldn't even spell before this story. And i still can't.

Also, I know a lot of you have questions, and judging from what I've seen they will all be answered with time, oh yes they will *insert wheezing laugh*

Chapter 9

Kuma-ni

Anyway, enjoy!

Leonardo didn't know how long he stood hugging his newly discovered little brother, but it was quite some time. Long enough he heard someone come in (a customer maybe) pause and leave. Mikey probably would have thought it was funny. Others might think it was ridicules to hold a complete stranger for so long. But Donatello wasn't a stranger. He was his 2nd youngest brother. The little kame, no, not so little anymore. A teenager. Barely even that. His clever little brother. His little brother that was probably loosing feeling in his arms and having difficulty to breath with Leo shoving his face into his chest.

So, regretfully, Leo gave him one last squeeze before letting him go slowly. Even though he was able to release him, he wasn't able to take his hands off of Donatello's shoulders. His small shoulders. As crazy as it sounded, he was honestly afraid that the younger kame would disappear the instant he let him go. And that having a grip on his shoulders would keep that from happening.. Even though Mikey loved being hugged, Donatello's face was red from embarrassment (there was a imprint from Leo's horo on his face). Leo took another moment to take him in, his alive healthy little brother. Who could talk! He was talking! Well, not now but he had been. Leo swallowed slightly before speaking finally, "Look at you." he said lightly, raising his hands to take Donatello's face in his hands lightly, his thumbs running over the corners fo the child's eyes. A small shy smile going over his face'You've gotten so big," his bottom lip trembled lightly. His little brother. He forced the tears out of his eyes, but evident in his voice slowly he took his hands off of Donatello's face, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to squeeze you for so long."

"D-don't worry about it." He didn't know if his mind was playing games on him. But to him it seemed that Donatello stuttered just like he did when Leo was younger. Chances were he was stuttering because he was just as nervous as Leonardo. Probably more. At least Leo had been prepared for this confrontation. Donatello probably woke up this morning wondering how he was going to spend his birthday working. Donatello rubbed the back of his head again,' I just, I didn't really expect. I-I mean of all th-things. I d-did-didn't even know. I mean Raphael didn't ev-vv-ven. But I es-especially didn't." Already the younger turtle was beginning to shake again. Leo didn't' realize it at the time but he HAD been shaking when he was hugging him. "I know Raphael didn't know, but=but I should of. I should of known. I-I'm sos-s-so sorry." Looking up at Leo Whether it was from excitement or what, his guilt ridden brown eyes sent Leo into his own guilt trip. He gripped Donatello's' shoulders gently, the younger kame stopped talking and looked back up him.

"it's not your fault, I promise you. You and Raphael were just," he paused. How could he explain it how could he reassure him, "you were so young, I didn't even remember you or Raphael till a few weeks ago when our father came to my village-"

"Father?" the young turtles eyes widen with shock and Leo realized he hadn't really brought up the fact their father was still alive. So it was probably why Donatello's eyes shrank to needle points, "Father?! As in ALIVE." Donatello had already began to shake again, obviously tried to hid it by pressing his hands against his leather suit and rubbing his palms against it.

Leo realized he was piling A LOT of information that could wait. He didn't want his little brother to suffer from a heart attack (or, more likely, panic attack). He bent over slightly to catch Donatello's attention again," its ok, don't worry about it. We'll talk about that later." but how was he supposed to explain that? He didn't even know Splinters full story. But Donatello's face began to soften as he nodded," he offered a smile. Anything to help him. Slowly Donatello's breath began to slow back down. Leo looked around, "Is there anywhere we can talk?" Maybe if his little brother was in a familiar place it'd be easier for him to calm down.

"Uh yeah," Donatello nodded looking around quickly, "Just let me lock up." with that he hurried to the front door. He reached inside a doorway and pulled hard. A loud scraping sound of metal against wood. Leo watched in amazement as a metal door was pulled out from inside the wall (instead of a wooden one) and slid over the opening. And pushed it further till it slid into the hollow of the door wary. He reached over behind the curtain that was draped over the wall. The sound of grinding stone filled the air and Leo could of swore he saw the walls contract slightly. But it didn't seem to concern the younger kame as Donatello turned around and smiled at him, "this way." and began to head for the back, around the counter

Leo looked back at the now latched front and walked after him, when he went past the first curtain, he saw a raised up table with a blanket on it and a cabinet against the opposite wall. Probably a screening room. He thought as he watched Don duck out of a smaller sliding door. Leo followed and stepped into a small backyard surrounded with high fences and a strange stout building against the back fence. What was even stranger was the cage of white birds that sat next to it. Chirping and pecking at the food provided in hanging baskets. At first maybe he was seeing things, "um, Donatello? Why is there a cage of birds in the backyard?" the cold drove him to pull his hood up again.

The sound of scrapping metal filled the air again and Leo knew he was locking up again, but he spoke still, "They're messenger birds. I train them."

"You train them?" he poked inside the cage slightly, only to have one of the more

aggressive tan birds peck at his finger.

"Yeah, I like to keep them close."

"No kidding." then it hit him when he turned back around to see Donatello puling back a curtain he had overlooked. He moved closer to see a staircase running up inside the wall. How did he miss the wall jutting out so much? "You live here?"

"No, why?"

"No reason." He followed Donatello up the stairs, watching him duck under another curtain before it occurred to him that he didn't hear anyone else nearby, "Hey is Raphael here?"

"Nope,, sorry he'll be back soon though. Promise."

Leo smiled slightly at the added 'promise'. It was kind of cute. He ducked under the curtain into a small apartment. A wooden boxes were stacked up against the wall along with a low table and several cushions. He could feel the coldness through his straw sandals. But he tried to not let it bother him or let it show. Leo glanced around for some sight of a adult living there. But either the adult was just as immature as 2 teenage boys or they lived alone. Leo would never admit later that that thought made him slightly happy. If Donatello and Raphael had never been adopted , then it might be easier to convince them to come with him. But he noticed that, despite the Kamodo there wasn't sign of a place to make food or sleep. Donnie did say they didn't live there. Where did they live?

"are you cold?"

Leo looked around to see Donatello looking at him. He'd been watching him since Leo stepped into the room. Probably studying him. There was definitely a look of curiosity in his eyes. But Leo found himself unsurprised. He could now vaguely remember that Mikey and Donatello had been a very tight team when they were babies (they were the closest in age out of all of them). For some reason when he thought of their age, (even for a moment) it downed the exhilaration he had felt upon finding his brother.

But he tried to ignore it and put on a smile, "I'm fine,"

"Forgive me if I don't' believe you." Donatello put on a meek smile and walked on over to ,what looked like, a old fashion fire pit. Right in the corner of the room, with a metal tube above it that seemed to run right into the ceiling. Leo didn't know if he should feel embarrassed or grateful. Probably embarrassed. He tried to keep from looking at Donatello, who had retracted his arms into the weird black sack he had been wearing, but he felt like he had to, just to be sure it was him. But it was clear as day. Even just from the mannerisms, Leo could see the shy little brother that used to depend on him.

Used to.

Leo tried to push that thought away but caught glance of something metal against the wall next to the fire pit and walked on over, it seemed like an excuse enough to get close. He could see Donatello struggling against the strange black thing he had been wearing. barely getting it over his head since the sack suddenly bent in the middle throwing off Donatello's' balance and sending him stumbling to the side before he was able to get his balance backup. For some reason Leo found himself choking on a small laugh, "do you need help?"

"no, I got it." Came the muffled response but after a few seconds the large sack slid off of Donatello and fell with a heavy thump, stretching out his arms and rolling down his sleeves, "I hate wearing that thing."

"Then why do you? I thought you were a mutant tokage' when I first saw you." It felt nice to talk about something lighthearted after dealing with so heaviness in the last few weeks. Not only that, but he didn't have to give Donatello a heart attack, one was bad enough.

"I deal with a lot of dangerous work. Blacksmithing, repair, you name it. I kept getting hurt so Kuma-ni made me make protective suit to keep safe. " despite his words towards the garb, Donatello picked the 'sack' off the floor and folded it up the best he could setting it on top a random cabinet.

Leo smiled slightly till he frowned at the name, "Whose Kuma-ni?" he couldn't' help but think it ironic if Donatello befriended a savage best known for its inhospilitle attitude and merciless nature.

"Oh sorry, I call Raphael that sometimes. it's a old nickname for him." He smiled sheepishly before turning back to start up the fire again. Leo smiled again, and looked back over at the wall of items. Out of the corner of his eye he studied his little brothers appearance, even with the darkness that came from the room. Seriously he could barley see

Donatello definitely wasn't taller then Mikey, and his clothes seemed to be too big for him. His black hakamas seemed to be rolled up. A purple samue was barely visible under his brown happi with three strange width buttons n the front that held the happi firmly in place. White loose sleeves (probably from a undershirt sticking out barely past his hands.).

Definitely someone wanted him to stay warm.

Maybe that was Raphael doing. When they were all children he could barely remember Raph taking good care of Mikey (often over bundling him unless Leo showed him how to dress him). His hand brushed against something cold. He drew his hand back in shock till he saw a strange leather strap with two metal cylinders on it. Leo picked it up and looked it over before pressing the metal cylinders against his eyes only to have his visions distorted. He pulled his eye away. Was that some kind of broken glass? "What's this?" he called over to Donatello

"Protective eyewear" Leo had a feeling Donatello wasn't looking, "I made them after I almost burned my eyes out."

Leo paused, waiting for Donatello to tell him he was joking, but nothing came. He carefully set the goggles back in place. He began to hear the sound of scraping metal coming from his left. He turned t look at Donatello, "What's that sound-"

Donatello was holding something metal in his hand, after one last 'click' and a flair of orange sparked in Donatello's hands

Spark?

FIRE!

Panic shot through Leo as he ran forward and grabbed Donatello, yanking him back by the shoulders and ran out in front of him ready to stomp on it. But the fire he ad seen was it nowhere in sight. He looked around confused, till he saw the strange metal square hinged at top lying on his feet. Was-

He heard a moan behind him and turned to see Donatello sitting up from when Leo shoved him back. The younger kame was cradling his hands to his chest with his head ducked down. Leo's eyes widen and hurried over and knelt by him, "Are you ok? Are you in pain?"

"I-I'm fine-" his voice was strained and tight. Definitely not fine. Leo reached forward and pulled his hands away from his chest. Already he could see the blood pooling in the palms of Donatello's hands. Guilt already began to swell in his throat, "I-I'm so sorry I didn't know, I-I thought you were-" Enough. Enough excuses. He took a deep breath he couldn't panic he had to help Donatello, "Tell me what to do."

"R-reed pollen. Red B=Box"

Leo glanced around frantically till he saw the small black sack hanging conviently by his head. He pulled it down and pulled it open dumping the yellow powder into his palms. He used his fingertips to spread it around and cover the entire burn and trying to ignore the blood even though there was quite a bit of it. "Oh man, I-I'm so sorry. I-I-I u-u-used to have a fear of fire, I th-thought I was over it." Great, now he was stuttering. Babbling AND stuttering "I didn't travel for 2 months just to burn my little brother. I-I wanted to make sure you and Raphael were safe," he shook his head to the side furiously as though physically punishing himself, "I'm sorry Donatello, so sorry-"

"Donnie."

Leo blinked, unsure of what had just happened only that something had stopped his insane ramble "What?"

"You can call me Don. Or Donnie. Everyone who knows me does."

Leo looked up at him and saw that, despite the look of pain on his face he was doing his best to smile at Leo sympathetically. As though HE was the one in need. Leo realized that his hands had stopped shaking and his breathing regulated.

Dam Don was good. "Thanks, Don." that was new. Leo still didn't remember a lot but he knew he never called his Otouto Don. Donnie would work for now. His mouth twitched slightly in a smile "You can call me Leo."

"Is that what I called you before?" there was a tinge of hope in Don's voice. Leo knew he was fishing for details. But obviously Donnie had been too young to remember his mute years. And he didn't want to lie to him.

"I'm sorry, you didn't talk when we lived together."

"I didn't?" Donnie looked surprised .That meant either Raphael didn't tell him or he didn't remember. There was obvious confusion on Don's face.

"don't worry about it too much, its ok?"

But the look on Donatello's face said otherwise. Even at the smile the younger kame tried to give him. Rather awkwardly Donnie rolled onto his feet, pulling his hands out of Leo's gently, "I'm going to go wash my hands off before I apply the rest of the medicine. I'll be back in bit." he offered Leo a meek smile before ducking out of the curtain.

Leo sighed heavily, moving his legs around so that he was on his knees. He had only found Don a half hour ago and he had already given him a panic attack, and burnt his hands. But he didn't seem to hate Leo yet. That was a good thing. Leo closed his eyes briefly. The room was so dark that he couldn't really see anyway. But he noticed the strange shimmer on his hand before he realized it was Dons blood.

Nausea immediately took over him as he looked around for a place to get the blood off.

Something grabbed him by the horo and yanked him back and slammed him onto the ground, before he could react a large weight appeared on his chest and Leo found himself face to face with a familiar triangle shaped helmet. Even if Leo didn't see the rough leather garb he wore Leo would of recognized him from earlier that day.

"Where is he?" came the gruff thick voice. Dripping with malice. It was the kind of voice you would think belonged to someone so violent.

The NightWatcher

Leo blinked dazed from the impact, but he felt a leather hand grip his jugular, "Tell me where he is right now and I might not stab your jugular and watch you die very slowly and very very painfully."

But it didn't make sense. He reached up and grabbed the wrist that was currently binding his throat in a meager attempt to relieve the pressure. Why was the NightWatcher here? From what Leo saw The NightWatcher was a bounty hunter. Taking people for money. So who was 'he'?

Don. His Otouto.

It hit him with such force that rage filled his chest. His knee shot out and slammed into the NightWatcher's chest with such force the creature pole-vaulted over Leo's head and against the nearest wall. The sound of breaking wood filled the air. Leo swung his legs around and twisted onto his feet in standing position. All apprehension or qualms gone. If the NightWatcher was after Donatello then he was going to get a fight.

Cause there was no way in hell that Leo would let anyone hurt Donatello.

The NightWatcher got to his feet, without a moments hesitation a chain fell from inside of his sleeve, with a flick of his wrist it began spinning it. Taking little notice of the smallness of the room.

But Leo had, and he knew that the room was too small for him to fully use his swords. And he hadn't been in a fight since the fatal encounter with Kojima. A disadvantage. But not a impossible one

The NightWatcher slug the chain forward, Leo stepped to the side and ran forward shooting out his elbow to catch him in the throat but the NightWatcher twisted his arm at the last minute and caught his fist in the crook of his elbow. Leo twisted in time to avoid the incoming chain. His foot shooting out to catch NightWatcher but found his knee colliding with his. IN unison they slammed their feet back down and Leo slammed his fist out but the NightWatcher ducked his head to the side and Leo's face exploded in pain, warm blood flowing down his face and the world spinning around him. His back collided with a support beam. This definitely wasn't' going well, all he could do was hope that Don didn't hear the ruckus and come running-

He heard the switching of curtain and knew his worst dream had come true. Leo could see the outline of the NightWatcher turn towards where the noise had come from and his instincts exploded again. He lunged and tackled NightWatcher around the stomach, slamming the brute against the nearest wall. The NightWatcher's arms suddenly grabbed him around the stomach, flipping him upside down.

Leo moved his legs to grab the NightWatcher around the neck. He grabbed the ground and literally flipped the NightWatcher over him and threw him across the room. The sound of him colliding with the wall was oddly satisfying. Leo moved back to his feet, but the blood loss was getting to him. And head almost lost feeling in his left arm. His vision blurring in the already dark room. Trying to focus.

He saw two figures standing together, one was kneeling with a grip on the figure standing by him. It took a bit for Leo to realize the NightWatcher had grabbed Don by the wrist. Panic shot through him and sent him charging forward again. The NightWatcher must of seen him coming because he leapt back up and stepped out, blocked Donatello from his vision.

A dangerous mistake

Leo yanked his swords free of its sheath. It no longer mattered about the space. This brute was getting in between him and his brother. A mistake that would NOT be forgiven. Not in a million years. From behind NightWatcher, he saw Don try to push out from around him, "WAIT! HE'S NOT-"

But the last of his sentence was caught off from the NightWatcher putting his arm up and aiming at Leo. Something shot out and caught Leo in the cheek but it didn't faze him. Leo twisted around his foot catching the NightWatcher around the knee and sent him flying across the room again and began to bring down the Niten Ryu as NightWatcher raised his arms.

The hilts of his swords were caught by a bo-staff. Even though they strained, the tip of the staff had caught onto the ground at a angle to keep it firmly in place. Leo blinked in confusion till he saw Donnie was the one holding on to it. Needles to say he was confused,

"Don what are you-"

But Don was obviously upset. Looking at Leo was desperation on his face, as he opened his mouth to speak but the NightWatcher grabbed Don by the bandana and yanked him back away from Leo and his out stretching hand. A thick muscular arm caught him around the throat and slammed him right back again into the beam. He reached up to try to alleviate the pain and open his blocked windpipe but the pressure was too great. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a sai flying up to his face. Btu Donnie suddenly grabbed the NightWatcher's assailing arm and yanked on it, stopping the life-ending sai mo from Leos' face. It took several seconds for him to realize that he hadn't met his death and sigh in relief. He was about to start his counter assault when the NightWatcher turned his helmet head to look at Don. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"don't hurt him! He's our-"

The sound of splintering wood suddenly filled the air and obscured the rest of Don's sentence from Leos' ears. The beam that the NightWatcher had been holding him up against suddenly broke down the middle and Leo fell away, immediately dust filled the room, obscuring Leo's vision away from his little brother, "Donate-" but the sound of tearing metal filled the air dust collapsing causing him to collapse back against the wall. He threw his arms over his face but no pain came.

Slowly Leo uncovered his face to see the part of the ceiling had collapsed allowing in bright moonlight drowning the room in black and white image, lying over where he had been. At first he tried to feel relieved when he couldn't see the NightWatcher. But then he realized that Don was no where to be seen either and he looked at the fallen roof again as his heart stopped in terror, "OTOUTO!" he ran forward but the sheet of metal began to quiver. Slightly at first but then A gloved hand appeared around the edge and pushed it off.

NightWatcher heaved the metal sheet off of his back. Sighing heavily with one arm tucked under his body. At first Leo thought that he was hurt but then saw the NightWatcher grunt and brace himself back onto the heel of his feet with something braced against his chest. Then realized what it was and it froze him in his steps.

The NightWatcher gently lower Donatello away from his chest. The young kame's eyes were closed shut as the brute's helmet looked him over. If Leo didn't know better, he'd think the person he had just been fighting was concerned. Maybe even checking for injury. The NightWatcher moved so that he was Supporting Donnie against his knee using one arm to hold him up and using his hand to tap his face, "Come on baby bro, open your eyes." his voice (which had just been threatening and hateful) was concerned and even frantic. "don't do this to me ,Don." Definitely not the voice a bounty hunter used on a target. It had dropped to almost painful gentleness.

Bro?

He called Donnie bro.

The kame groaned slightly, rubbing his head. His eyes opening slowly. When his eyes fell on the one holding him up he smiled meekly. If not sadly, "I'm alright, sorry-"

The NightWatcher sighed before wrapping his other arm around him, hugging Donatello tightly to him his chest, hand pressed against the back of the younger kame's head. Almost as though he really had been as scared as Leo had been "don't scare me like that Don, seriously-"

Don, not Donatello. Only people who knew Don called him that.

Baby bro,

Not a term used by enemies.

Not even by best friends

The NightWatcher looked over at him for a sec as though just realizing he was there like

passerby , only slightly at first before jerking his head around again to look at him again. S though he had never seen anything like Leo before.

Leo didn't understand why, but he couldn't' bring himself to go towards them. But he felt as though his entire body was made of rock. The feeling of terror over the threat to his little brother vanished. But he realized that the NightWatcher wasn't going to hurt Donnie. Leo didn't know how he knew that, but it was as primal as his own instinct to protect his little brother.

Something was defiantly wrong here.

"Is, is this a joke?" the NightWatcher's angry voice was back. Confused but definitely angry, he looked back at Don lowering him out of his hug slightly. Leo almost got the impression he was glaring at him, "Is this a sick joke?! Cause it aint-"

"I kept trying to tell you." Don looked over between the two meekly. His voice was thick and scratchy.

His little brother had risked his life to protect the bounty hunter. He had risked his life to protect Leo FROM the bounty hunter too. Leo could vaguely hear his little brother's voice from the fight. Struggling to tell him, THEM , something.

A cold stone began to fill his gut, it couldn't' be-

The NightWatcher looked back at Leo to "glare", "It- no. It cant-" then glared back at Don again, "No."

But Leo was struggling with the same idea. Could it be? Unlike last time, he didn't feel thrill at the thought, this time he was horrified. This was someone he had raised his swords against.

It couldn't be.

Donatello must of seen (or sensed) the horror on either fighters face. Because he reached up with both hands and placed his hands on either side of the NightWatchers helmet. Slowly lifting it up away from its place. Revealing a green chin, a thick neck. Red mask trails falling from the helmet. Then the amber eyes. The same angry amber eyes that always questioned his authority. Now looked at him with a spiral of hatred, anger, and confusion. Leo couldn't even deny if the same emotions weren't on his face.

Raphael

And the ruined apartment turned quiet. Devastated from a fight between two brothers who didn't even know each others identity. Who were both so intent on protecting the little brother they didn't know they shared. And it was all wrapped up by a sentence spoken by Raphael that took the words right out of Leo's mouth.

"What the hell"

Tokage': Lizards. the creatures that run around in 2nd Earth. Yes, ALOT of research.

Kuma-ni. Literally means, "big brother bear" and there's a reason Donnie calls Raph that.

Hakama's: Japanese pants

Samue: work clothing worn by Buddhist or monks. I think Donnie would of gotten it as a

gift

Happi: a Japanese straight-sleeved coat

I hope I'm getting SOME of these right