I don't own TMNT or Usagi Yojimbo

Xxxxx

Man what a night! Crazy stuff am I right? The minute my head hit the pillow I was out. Too much stuff for me to try and deal with all at once. I had some pretty screwed up dreams but then what else is new. At least I got some sleep, I didn't know if the others got any at all.

I woke up the next morning around 7. We usually got up pretty early around here unless some bad stuff went down the night before and we needed extra rest. I wasn't tired so I got up and decided to make some breakfast. I like making breakfast. Donny never gets my eggs the way I like them, Raph's not that good with breakfast foods and Leo, well, Leo's hopeless when it comes to cooking.

I opened the door to my room and looked around outside but it didn't look like any-one else was up yet. I slipped out and carefully snuck across the lair to the kitchen. I gave the couch a quick glance and was happy to see Leo was fast asleep on it. So he'd managed to get some rest after all. I was glad.

I stopped and watched him for a few seconds. He didn't move so he wasn't dreaming, or if he was it was nothing bad. He was using an extra blanket we had which he'd wrapped himself in, not too tightly though since it wasn't that cold yet. He seemed warm enough and quite comfortable so I left him alone and kept going to the kitchen.

No-one was in there which suited me fine. Means I could make what I want and not have some-one back-seat cook. What to make though? Eggs, sure but what else? I mean, we have a guest which is always fun but I had no idea what kinda breakfast he likes. Probably something super sophisticated I had no idea how to make. I shrugged; too bad. He's gonna have to settle for eggs and pancakes. I opened the fridge, suddenly realising I was gonna need a lot of eggs for this. There seemed to be enough though so I just took them all and got to work.

A little while later I had just about finished when Leo stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing an eye. He seemed to have just woken up but he had his mask on so he must've already showered and brushed his teeth. Either that or he skipped it, but knowing Leo I really don't think so. He walked over to the table and dropped himself into a chair.

"'Morning!" I greeted him with a smile.

"Are you sure?" He said, resting his elbows on the table to rub at his face. "Still feels like the middle of the night to me."

I laughed a little at this. "What's the matter Leo? Didn't you sleep well?"

He shook his head. "Not enough. I had trouble falling asleep, I was trying to figure out what the heck we're gonna do next."

I didn't say anything to this, focusing on the eggs and scraping them out of the frying pan and into some plates. I felt bad for Leo but I didn't know what to say so I kept quiet, turning and instead putting his plate in front of him. Maybe some food would make him feel better. I gave him a slight bow.

"Your food sir, and may I suggest looking at the wine list?"

He just gave me a sideways look. Damn, I was hoping that'd get a smile from him. No problemo. I'll get him next time.

I turned and went back to the stove as he started to eat. There wasn't gonna be enough eggs for pancakes too. Oh well.

"How d'you sleep Mike?" Leo asked.

I turned to look over my shoulder at him. "I slept fine!" I said brightly.

Leo nodded, going back to his food.

I finished putting eggs in the remaining 5 plates and piled them on my arms, carefully making my way to the table and putting the plates in various spots. I managed to put everything down without breaking something which was good. I know I shouldn't try carrying everything at once but I hate making two trips for something. I looked up at Leo again. He was kinda quiet, more so than usual I mean.

"Does Usagi like eggs?" I asked as a way to break the silence.

Leo looked up at me again and gave a small shrug. "I dunno."

Well, that conversation went nowhere.

"What do they eat for breakfast where he's from anyway? Rice?" I said instead.

"Yeah." Was all Leo answered.

I didn't know what else I could say. I was obviously talking to myself here.

I sat down and started working on my own plate of eggs. Not bad if I say so myself. Nothing fancy but good food all the same, and I knew the smell would attract the others soon, or at least Raph. I didn't want it getting cold and going to waste. We can't afford to waste any food in this house-hold. Come to think of it:

"D'you think Usagi's gonna eat anything? He seemed kinda uptight last night," I asked Leo.

Leo looked up at this. "I don't know."

I made a noise and sulked a little at this. My food! "He should."

Leo nodded softly. "Yeah."

He sighed and pushed back from the table a little. "He really should. He probably didn't eat anything yesterday at all."

I realised me and Leo were focusing on two different things, and Leo was doing what I should've been doing myself; thinking about a friend.

I felt guilty but I didn't show it.

"Pretty intense stuff enh?" I grinned at him

He gave me a rather disapproving look. I don't like it when he does that.

"I just mean all this... this stuff. Really heavy huh?" I gave a chuckle. "Our lives seem pretty normal right now don't they?"

He nodded. "Mmm."

My smile dropped. I rested my head on my hands, still looking at him.

"What's the matter Leo? You seem kinda down."

He was silent for a few moments, staring off before he shook his head. "I'm just tired."

He was lying, but I let him lie. If he didn't wanna talk about it he didn't wanna talk about it. I knew better than to push him. Best I can do is try to cheer him up and maybe he'll tell me himself a little later.

"You should try to take a nap later or something," I said

Leo nodded, getting up and going to the kettle. "Yeah... yeah that sounds like a good idea."

"I smell eggs!"

I turned to see Raph coming into the kitchen, stretching an arm over his head.

"It's what's for breakfast!" I said happily, giving him a grin.

He came over and sat down, pulling a plate closer and immediately starting to eat. I heard the clink of coffee mugs behind me as the kettle started to heat itself up.

"Bunny-boy up yet?" Raph asked with his mouth full.

"Don't call him that," Leo said irritably.

Raph shrugged and took another spoonful. "Whatever. Is he up yet?"

I shook my head. "Dunno, but I haven't seen 'im yet."

"He's probably gonna sleep in," Leo said, coming back with a mug of coffee in each hand. "I mean he was worn-out last night."

He put the second mug in front of Raph without a word, Raph not even acknowledging him doing so. It was so second nature neither of them were even thinking about the action.

"Poor guy," Raph said plainly. He was being serious though, I could see it.

"Coffee Mikey?" Leo asked.

I pulled a disgusted face and shook my head. "Nu uh."

Finally Leo cracked a smile. "Alright, just checking."

"I'll have some if you're offering," Donny said as he walked into the room.

We turned to look at him as Leo nodded. "Ok," He then frowned lightly but his smile stayed. "Were you up the whole night Don?"

"No," Donny said pulling a face at Leo as he sat down. "Only most of the night."

Leo shook his head as he went back to the kettle.

"Oh like you're one ta talk Leo!" I said, giving him the cheekiest smile I could. "You weren't exactly in bed by 10 yourself you know!"

I heard Raph snicker at this, giving me confidence to tease Leo some more.

Leo turned and gave me a look of mock annoyance, but I had made him smile once again. Hah! Victory! I was getting to him.

"Don't gimme that look you know it's true!" I said sticking my tongue out at him.

"It's way too early for this." Donny said before taking a bite of the eggs.

"Early? It's like 9 in the morning already!" I said, turning my attention to him instead.

"Some-one obviously slept well," He replied.

I was about to say something back when Master Splinter came into the room.

He was carrying the morning paper under one arm. I still have no idea how he gets his hands on it, but to be honest I don't really care. I don't read the paper, not even the comics any more. They weren't as funny as they use to be and the rest of it? Boooooring. Besides I see enough gloom and doom on a daily basis, I don't need to read about it in my free time as well.

"Good morning my sons." He greeted us.

We all gave a nod an a unified "Good morning Sensei" in reply as he sat down in one of the open places at the table.

"Has our guest risen yet?" He asked as he started to eat as well, although with far less vigour than the rest of us. Always refined and well-mannered our sensei.

"No Master Splinter." Leo answered.

"Should we go wake him or something?" I asked.

Master Splinter shook his head. "No. Let him sleep."

I started to work on my eggs again. I looked over to the last empty spot as I finished. I guess he wasn't gonna have breakfast with us after all. Somehow though the idea didn't irritate me as much as it did a few minutes ago.

"So what're we gonna do now?" Raph asked, finish his plate and pushing it away.

"We start by trying to discern if this demon and Miyamoto-san's son is in our city. Once we know this we then must try and locate them. But we begin by looking, asking questions, and listening for any strange rumours," Master Splinter replied.

Donny sat up quickly. "We should scan the police's radio frequencies. And I can also probably hack into their database to find any strange reports or complaints."

Leo nodded. "Good idea Don. Scan their frequencies first, their databases aren't gonna go anywhere but you never know what they might be gossiping about over their radios. We should ask around the vagrant circles if they've seen anything strange anywhere in the city as well. They often see things other's don't and they don't file police reports."

"Which works for us," Raph grinned.

"I think I should speak to them though," Leo said when Raph started to get up. "No offence Raph."

Raph shrugged. "Hey whatever floats your boat."

"We're still gonna need you. I was thinking perhaps you could ask some of the... less co-operative groups of the city some questions about anything strange they might've seen... or done."

Raph gave a wicked laugh and a nod, slapping the table as he got up properly this time. "Now you're talkin' my language bro!"

"Oh! Me, me! What about me?!" I said, bouncing on the chair. I was eager to help. Besides this was something we hardly ever did, a day mission! I'll grab any chance to get out into the sun.

"You stay here and make sure Usagi doesn't run off and do something stupid by himself." Leo said.

I let out a very long, drawn out whine at this. No fair! They got to run around outside and I have to sit home and baby-sit! No fair!

"Don't make that noise Mike. When Usagi wakes up get him to eat something and then the two of you can do a thorough search of the sewers around Brooklyn."

"But I checked them last night!" I moaned. This seriously sucked!

"Last night you were looking for Usagi, now we are looking for clues. Different objectives, different methods Mike. Besides Usagi knows what this demon and his son looks like and'll have a better idea of what to keep an eye out for."

"Jotaro" I said sharply, angry at being cast aside like this.

"What?" Leo said, his own voice starting to sound annoyed.

"Jotaro." I repeated, turning to look at him. "The kid's name is Jotaro. Can we please stop just calling him "Usagi's son"?"

There was a pause before Leo nodded, his voice calmer. "Ok. You're right Mike."

"Michelangelo." Master Splinter spoke up. "I know you are anxious to do your part, but you should not see this task as any less important than the others. He hides it, but Miyamoto-san is almost certainly in great anguish. He has been robbed of his child. I can think of nothing worse." He turned to look at me straight-on. "He is in need of a friend, but he also needs to feel productive in his search. It would be best if we respect his feelings and aid him with emotional support as well as helping him search. Will you not do this?"

I felt my cheeks burn in shame and I nodded dumbly. I couldn't think of anything to say out loud.

Master Splinter turned his gaze away from me and addressed all of us.

"If we are dealing with dimensional shifting, I believe we should ask the Daimyo if he has any knowledge of how two persons may enter the same portal and yet exit through two different means. I will go to him. I may not be back till late tonight, so I urge you not to do anything rashly if you are able to help it. Look after our guest and remain calm and act within reason."

My brothers nodded, I agreed but I didn't say or do anything myself. I could still feel my heart beating harder than usual and the flush in my face from Sensei's reprimanding. I was still irritated at not getting to out with the others but at the same time Master Splinter's lecture had hit me rather hard. I really don't like getting lectured, especially not by him.

My brothers finished their coffee, we cleared away the plates putting the left-over eggs in the fridge and then they all left, each taking a separate route. I remained alone in the lair. I collapsed on the couch and proceeded to sulk now that no-one was around. I knew what Master Splinter said was true and I understood everything he'd said but I still felt like I'd been given a raw deal. It's not that I didn't wanna hang out with Usagi or anything but I felt as if they were all out doing important stuff and I was left to watch the house. What am I a housewife?! So unfair.

Xxxxx

This was the true test for me XD; writing for Mikey.

The next 2 chapters are a little slow but the story really picks up from there. Just bare with me, and all things in good time.

P.S. Thank you so much to every-one whose been leaving me comments and feedback~! You're the ones motivating me to keep going! 3