Another update! I'm like 4 chapters ahead of myself which is why they're coming so fast at the moment. I'll slow down again after a while, but in the meantime I'm keeping the uploads to 1 a day so as not to swamp you guys with text.

I dunno what's happening! I've never written so much so fast! XD You guys must just be awesome.

I don't own TMNT or Usagi Yojimbo.

Xxxxx

I know I should've waited until every-one had come home before I told them what I'd learned from the homeless man, but I felt it would've been cruel to keep the info from Usagi. I told him how I had asked around before eventually finding Jim and how he had told me of the portal appearing in the park and the man in the blue suit stepping out of it. I was very clear about the description of the man as I had heard it from Jim.

I gotta hand it to Usagi, he didn't interrupt me once except when I used a word he didn't completely understand like "warehouse" and, surprisingly, "park". He listened patiently and quietly as I gave my recount and only when I was finished did he speak.

"A man in a blue suit with a red neck-tie." He repeated. I'd had to explain to him what was meant by "suit and tie" exactly but it didn't take long at all before he was following me.

He nodded "It is the same as the one who attacked us."

I frowned at this. "But, I thought you said you were attacked by a monster. A Bakemono."

Usagi nodded again. "It was. I cannot explain it exactly but there was something otherworldly about it. Of course it was one of your saru creatures-" Mikey chuckled at this, amused by how Usagi always referred to humans as 'monkeys' "-in appearance but that was not what I found unearthly about it. It had a strange presence about it, and when it moved it was strange in its evasiveness. Not that it was evasive due to skill or training, it was as if it could move like liquid." He gave an aggravated sigh. "I do not know how to properly word it. It is something one has to see to fully understand."

I nodded, taking his word for it. "Alright. But I wish you'd told us this guy looked like a human earlier. I could've given a better description to the people I was questioning. When you said he was a monster I was kinda expecting something different."

"Are you saying that is not what it is?" My friend asked in a tone of voice with an unfamiliar edge to it.

I blinked at him, a little unnerved. "That's not what I meant."

"Hey if the guy can do the whole Twilight Zone thing there's gotta be something bizzaro going on with him right?" Mikey spoke up. "Who cares what he is! He's obviously creepy and that's all I gotta know!"

Usagi and I had both turned to look at him. The two of us had sat down on the couch while Mikey had for some reason chosen the floor and not the armchair.

I nodded and turned back to Usagi. "It doesn't matter. Point is we're on the same page now. Besides," I gave the samurai a smile. "I did leave before you woke up and could give me a proper description."

Usagi sat still for a moment before he nodded too. "Yes."

He smiled back but it wasn't the friendly smile I had given him, his was sadder. "I am sorry. I did not mean to sound so accusing."

I shook my head and got up. "Don't worry about it. Do you want something to drink?" I hadn't gotten myself anything yet since I arrived home, having been side-tracked.

"Oh!" Mikey put his hand in the air. "Pepsi! Pepsi!!"

I couldn't help but laugh at him. "Ok Mikey keep your bandanna on!" I turned to Usagi to hear if he wanted anything.

I saw him think for a few moments before he shook his head. "No thank you, I am alright."

I nodded and turned to get Mikey and myself a soda. I half wondered if I should get Usagi one as well despite his refusal but decided against it. I didn't think he'd like a fizzy drink very much.

I heard footsteps and saw Raphael walk into the lair, his thumbs hooked in his belt and looking rather pleased with himself. I stopped and cocked a brow at him.

"You're looking very smug," I commented.

He stopped and smirked at me when he saw who I was. "Had a good day."

I looked him up and down critically, not missing his bruised knuckles or the blood on one of his knee-guards. I didn't say anything about it though, after all I was the one who'd sent him to go question the small-time gangs, what did I expect?

"Did you learn anything?" I asked instead.

His grin widened at this and I knew the answer was yes. "Heard some pretty interesting rumours floatin' around. Some sounded pretty damn close ta what we're lookin' for too."

I smiled and gave a nod. "Go get cleaned up. Once Don gets home we'll talk about what we gotta do next. You want a drink?" I added, turning to walk to the kitchen again.

"Beer if ya got it. Coke if ya don't." He called back, continuing to the bathroom.

I returned with the drinks a little later and after he'd cleaned himself up Raph joined us. While we waited for Don to come home I took the opportunity to tell Usagi what has happened in our lives since we last saw him and he in turn told us of some of the things he'd gotten up to himself. I found his stories much more interesting than ours personally but I guess we were pretty equal in terms of adventure. It's just having lived our own stories which mostly happened in New York made his which all took place in a mirror-world of feudal Japan seem a lot more epic in scale. Then again perhaps he felt the same way about ours. I was careful not to go into the subject of this son of his and I was relieved that Raph and Mikey were following my lead. I didn't want to bring up anything that might depress the samurai.

It didn't seem that long before Don wandered into the lair, acting completely opposite to how Raph had come home. He looked kinda glum, staring at the floor as he walked.

"'Bout time ya got home Braniac!" Raph said once Don noticed the rest of us and came over.

He gave Raph a half-smile as he sat down. "Sorry. I was just worried I might miss something from the police scanners if I came back too early."

"Any luck Don?" I asked despite knowing the answers.

He shook his head with a sigh, looking miserable. "I'm really sorry guys. Not even a passing mention of anything that could be useful to us."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Usagi sink very slightly, but not enough to be obvious about it. I straightened slightly and put on a reassuring smile, putting a hand on Donny's shoulder in what I hoped was a light-hearted way. "Don't worry about it Don. Mikey and Usagi didn't get any clues either, but me and Raph got something to go on."

It seemed to help a little and Don nodded. "Well that's good news at least. What did you find?"

I repeated what I'd already told Usagi and Mikey earlier, about the portal appearing in the park and the man in the blue suit and red tie.

"I got somethin' similar," Raph said once I'd finished. "Word among the local thugs is there's this weird guy wanderin' around the park some nights who don't look like he should be there. He's all dressed up and clean cut but he's only around late at night. They said they pretty much leave him alone 'cause they figured any-one who can walk around Central park at night and not get killed is not a guy they wanna mess with. From what I heard this guy's never seen durin' the day."

"But yesterday when I arrived it was not even mid-day yet," Usagi said. "How is that possible?"

"Well," Donny said in a voice which meant a lesson was coming up, "Portals bend time as well as space and dimension. If this guy could manipulate a portal so he warps to a different place than you did it's possible that he can exit during a different period of time as well."

Usagi swallowed, his eyes widening. "You mean that it could have arrived an entire day before I did?"

Donny nodded. "He could've arrived later too."

Usagi's shoulders stiffened. "But if it arrived sooner than I did, it means that Jotaro-kun has been alone much longer than I previously thought."

He made a noise and pushed himself to his feet abruptly. "I cannot stand this!"

"Hey waoh! Easy!" I said, startled.

I found myself getting up as well. "Look we don't know anything yet-"

"But that is just it!" He said in an exasperated tone. "We do not know anything and time marches on!"

"I know I know." I said, trying to calm him down. "But we gotta be smart about this. Nothing good will come from losing our heads."

Usagi flexed his fingers before clenching his hands into fists again, he lowered his gaze but said nothing.

"I could be wrong," Donny spoke up in a rather small voice. "It's just a theory after all."

Usagi took a deep breath and let it out shakily, forcing himself to relax.

"I am sorry I..." He pressed a hand to his head for a moment. "It is just difficult..."

All I could do in response was nod. "It'll be ok."

"The guys I talked to, they said they've only seen this creep hangin' around the park," Raph interrupted. It was hard to hear but I noticed he was using a more sympathetic tone of voice. For Raph anyway. "I bet ya anythin' if we find him anywhere it'll be there."

I nodded, quickly forming a plan of action. "We'll need to keep a constant look out. The second this guy shows his face again we need to follow him and find out where he could've taken the boy. Don, can you hook up some sort of sentry-system in the park?"

Donny looked at me with a troubled expression but nodded. "It may take a while but it's possible."

I nodded. "In the meantime we can take turns to scout out the park ourselves. If you see anything suspicious use your shell-cell and call the rest of us right away. Starting tonight."

"I'll go first!" Mikey said eagerly, scrambling to his feet. "Leo lemme go first! Please?!"

I stared at him, not sure what to make of his enthusiasm. I gave him a suspicious look. "Why?"

Mikey threw a pout at me, apparently insulted. "'Cause you guys were running around all day and I had to stay at home! Come on you owe me!"

I sighed. "You realise you're just gonna be in the park keeping a look out right? No rooftop acrobatics and no harassing the fast-food drive-thrus."

He nodded and gave me one of his widest smiles. I also noticed that he was using the 'Bambi-eyes' offence on me. "I know. But I really, really wanna do this! Come on, pleeease?"

Raph gave a snicker. "Better let 'im do it Leo or he'll never shut up."

I gave in and nodded. "Alright, but this is serious Mikey. No goofing around."

He made a high-pitched noise and proceeded to give me a squeeze before he turned to run out of the lair. "Thanks Leo!"

"Remember no goofing around!" I called after him but I had a feeling it was useless.

"Do you think he will find anything?" I heard Usagi ask, using a more normal tone of voice again.

I turned to face him. He was staring at me with a barely controlled expression.

"If he doesn't Usagi-san, I will." I promised him, secretly promising myself the same thing.

Xxxxx

This chapter was kinda slow, but I'm very excited for the next one!