Hey guys!

The number of people reading this fanfic is amazing! I'm so, absolutely grateful! XD And apologies for the long wait and for the possibility of you waiting some more for the next one, especially as it might take a chapter or two more before the action starts picking up. Again. Still, this chapter does provide some necessary groundwork. I assure you, there is a method to my madness. Most of the time. :P

Thanks again to everyone especially for the reviewers! You guys are awesome beyond words!

御輿を上げる -To Raise the Palanquin

Was it odd that it was while pan frying French toast and bacon that it occurred to Mikey that he never appreciated the people around him enough?

Splinter, for instance.

He wasn't the closest to the wizened rat, but that was no excuse to not realize how much a help Splinter was to him over the years. Now, more than ever, he was Mikey's greatest source of strength and guidance, even when it must be Splinter who is hurting the most over this ordeal.

He really should spend more time with his father, Mikey realized. There was so much more he could learn from him than just ninjutsu. Besides, it did feel quite good to be around someone who verbally expressed, over and over, that he believed in the potential you possessed.

And Splinter wasn't the only one.

Mikey cast a quick glance to his left at April who was whisking eggs while scolding Casey for getting eggshells in the mixture. The light expressions on their faces didn't betray how panicked they were earlier when Mikey first saw them again because he suddenly disappeared from under their watch.

The turtle had apologized, but he still felt immensely guilty that he worried two of his dearest friends so much. The two humans have become part of his extended family as well. It must have hurt them to lose Leo, Raph and Donnie to their worst enemy as much as it hurt him.

It must have been harder for them because they weren't in the heat of the action, but Splinter said that it was for the best, that it will be worse for his friends to have been there yet not been able to do anything at all.

That point made Mikey agree quickly.

But he also knew how hard it must feel to be on the sidelines, so he also thought about how he could involve his friends more. He discussed it with Splinter before and the rat conceded that it was a fine point and even had an idea that can work.

Speaking of friends…

Mikey grinned as he piled the next strips of cooked bacon and slices of French toast on their respective plates, already piled high for the huge appetites he expected his friends would have on waking up. He could never be grateful enough to the Mighty Mutanimals who risked their very lives to save his brothers and support the Hamatos in the fight against the Shredder.

He wasn't that close to most of them, and Mikey made it clear that he wasn't exactly the best leader out there, but they were still willing to put their trust in him. Even after the botched attempt to save his brothers, all of them made it perfectly clear that they still did.

"If there's anyone who can pull it together and save Raphael and the others," Slash had said the night before. "It will be you, Michelangelo."

"Duuude, is that bacon?" Mikey's grin stretched when he heard Mondo before he saw him and the other Mutanimals enter the kitchen.

"Morning, Mondo!" The orange masked turtle greeted. "Even got some French toast on the side too if you want it."

"Totally radical! Don't mind if I do!" Mondo declared as he and Pigeon Pete made a beeline for the bread. Behind the two, Dr. Rockwell shook his head.

"Honestly, you would think their brain cells are made solely for their stomachs!" The chimpanzee scientists turned to Mikey. "Though I must say, I'm glad to see you doing better now, Michelangelo. Are you certain that you do not need more rest?"

"Fit as a turtle do, Dr. Rockwell, thanks to you and Leatherhead." Mikey winked. "And thanks to all of you for helping me out back with the Shredder. I—I know we technically lost, but it was really big for me that you guys were there to help."

"Heh, don't worry about it." Muckman waved with a smile. "You turtles did a lot for everyone in this city. It's the least we could do."

"Truly, my friend." Leatherhead added. "And we know that the struggle is far from over. If it will be of any help, you have all of our support."

"I know, Leatherhead." Mikey nodded before sharing a look with Slash. "And we're going to get them back, one way or another."

He will make this work. Because, with so much people on Mikey's corner, there was no way he was letting any of them down.

After almost three years of hanging out with the ninja turtles, despite not being with them from the start, Casey Jones could say that he knew all of them pretty well: strengths, weaknesses, interests, the whole enchilada. He also knew which turtle fit what role and as far as he knew, everyone was fine with where they were.

But during the past few days, nearly all of that got kicked out the proverbial window.

Casey was used to seeing the brothers fight together so well that he never really thought about how the ninja turtles can cope if they had to fight while missing members for the long term. He wasn't exaggerating when he said it was weird to see the turtles team incomplete, because seeing them like that through the eyes of someone who knew them so well, it's easy to see that they weren't missing just a teammate—they were missing a limb.

He couldn't imagine what it was like to fight while missing an arm, let alone three. So forgive him if he is beyond surprised to see Mikey handling it far better than he could have ever expected.

In fact, Mikey was coping brilliantly!

Never had Casey seen the youngest turtle look so focused and determined when he stood in front of them after breakfast, baby blue eyes sharp and voice firm in a way that reminded him of Leo when the oldest turtle would go over a team meeting.

The small turtle jumped right into it. "I asked sensei about it and he agreed that we should lay low for a while."

Casey was on his feet before the statement registered completely. "What? Mikey, are you serious?!" The black haired boy was vaguely aware of some of the Mutanimals protesting in the background as well. "Are we really just going to let the Shredder get away with having Leo, Raph and Donnie under his control?"

"Hey, I never said that!" Mikey pouted, vaguely ill-fitting with the persona he was trying to project right now. "I know we all want to jump at the next chance we can get to save my brothers. But running headfirst into Shredder's lair desperately trying to get them back won't get us anywhere. Getting rid of those brain worms won't be as easy as the last time."

Mikey cleared his throat. "But don't worry dudes, it doesn't mean we'll just be sitting around either. We're gonna do something I'd like to call Operation Recon!"

"Operation Recon?" April asked, clearly confused.

"It means we will focus less on engaging and more on intelligence gathering, espionage if you will." Splinter explained. "Ninja work is not just about fighting. In ancient times, ninjas are also sent to spy on their enemies and gather helpful information. The old Hamato clan back in Japan used to conduct reconnaissance missions for some of our benefactors several times, a number of which I have participated in myself."

"Long story short, we gotta squeeze some dirt out of the Foot first about anything you guys think is important: the brain worms, Shredder's plan for my brothers, everything else in between. I don't know about you, but I don't want another nasty surprise from the Shredhead." Mikey added. "Sensei and I haven't gotten the details in yet. I just need to know first if you guys are still in on this."

As if Mikey had to ask!

But even while surrounded by the cheers of support for the youngest turtle, including his own, Casey's mind remained mostly boggled by the way Mikey handled the whole situation. To be frank, Mikey definitely pulled a Leo and Casey was ashamed to admit that he never thought Mikey had it in him.

To the vigilante's further surprise, however, that was just the tip of Mt. Everest.

When Mikey said he didn't have the detail of his plan yet, what he meant was the finer parts. As soon as everyone declared that they were all in with Mikey's plan, the turtle begun explaining the rough draft of it. And Casey gave it to Mikey, the half-baked plan was already, mostly pretty much thought out.

It was hard to believe that it was Mikey who made the most of the planning.

As Casey just said, he had faith in all four of the ninja turtles, but it never came to him that the turtles could break past the mold that was their roles in the ninja team.

Who knew Mikey a little of what made each of his brothers so damn kickass inside him? By the looks on everyone else's faces, apparently most of them didn't either. That didn't lessen the amazement or the respect that came rolling off of them in waves however.

"Mikey, I gotta say, you did a real awesome job back there!" Casey greeted once Splinter dismissed all of them.

The small turtle beamed at him. "Thanks, dude. Still think my big time inspiring leader speech skills need working, but I'm just so glad you guys got what I was trying to say! Sometimes, I get so scrambled brained that I confuse even myself at times!"

Casey laughed in amusement but also in relief. While Casey found a newfound respect for Mikey's never before seen side, it really eased him to see the shy smiles, twinkling mischief behind sky blues and flighty fidgeting that told him that the baby of the family was still there deep down.

"Relax, Mikey, we all got it. And it's no big deal for us to bring you back to topic every once in a while." April said confidently. "I also agree with Casey. You were amazing, like a true leader earlier! I always knew you could do it!"

"Wow, thanks, guys! I mean, eh, it's really, err, something that you think that of me. And, I really don't know what to say," The little turtle blushed. "Anyway, I wanted to talk to you guys about something else. Not that I want to force you into anything but I just thought it would help."

April and Casey traded a look before the human boy prompted. "Fire away, Mikey."

"OK, dudes, don't take this the wrong way, but you guys aren't, well, you're not that great at fighting bad guys," The shock on Casey's face must have been really out there, because Mikey quickly added. "Not that I think you aren't a big help, because trust me you do more than that, and I know you guys can handle yourselves but this, this is on a whole new different playing field, y'know? And…" Mikey paused before smacking his forehead. "I didn't make it any better, huh?"

No, duh.

Hearing that sort of assessment really hurt, and if it came from someone else, Casey would have punched the living daylights out of him. Then wake him up and beat the ever loving crap out of him some more because of the devastated expression on April's face.

"H-hey, it's OK, Mikey," April tried to ease the charged air around them. "We know you won't say something like that just to be mean. And it's true that we're not really much use when it comes to fighting and—"

"No, that's not it at all! Aww, man, how do I say it?" Mikey mumbled something along the lines of 'must be how my bros felt' before starting. "OK, look at it this way. You guys ever play any RPGs?"

Casey frowned, not really getting the connection, but humored Mikey anyway. "'Course I did." Right after him, April tapped her chin thoughtfully before shrugging. "What, like a Final Fantasy game? I may have played one way back when. Why?"

"Say our lives are a video game, the most awesome ninja RPG ever, and our RPG has six characters. But since in the game, only four ninjas, like my bros and I, can make a party at a time, we're the ones getting all the adventure and the experience in fighting enemies. But that also left the two other characters really under leveled."

Mikey gestured to his friends. "And that doesn't make them bad characters! It's just that the party is so focused on leveling up just the four always being used that the other two aren't getting the experience they need. Not a hot idea when three of the four party dudes get knocked out and we're on our way to the big boss, right?

"Right now, our ninja RPG party isn't strong enough to beat the boss yet because you guys weren't given enough chances to really level up. So here's what I think we should do: I talked it over with Master Splinter, and he said that starting ASAP we'll all start training together, regularly. You guys said something about being free for a few weeks, right?"

"Holiday break, yeah." That was Casey.

"So we're all gonna practice together. I know you're not exactly training to be a ninja, Casey, but Sensei said our exercises can make you stronger, help you dodge better, that sort of stuff. Sensei also said it may get a little rough, because we really need to get better faster."

Mikey's eyes lit excitedly throughout his explanation until he suddenly sobered up. "Oh but it's not really man, me, er, mambantory, or anything like that. It's still your call and I still think you're the coolest friends ever whatever you pick."

The explanation was a bit longer than what Casey was used to, but boy if it didn't make a whole damn lot of sense. While he cared deeply for all the turtles as friends, he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel a teensy bit bitter about being upstaged by them most of the time. But it's not the turtles' fault either because, hey, they had the skills to play heroes, skills that are far better than Casey's own.

At some point, the young vigilante thought about coming to accept that he's probably not cut out to be the main character in his story after all. He wasn't anything remotely hero material anyway.

But here was Mikey saying that Casey and April had the potential to better, strong enough to be in the main character's party for once and be part of the adventure without staying at the backseat or not being much help. Mikey and Splinter believed in them and it was one of the most amazing feelings he had ever experienced ever.

He was jolted back to reality when he heard April's reply.

"Oh, Mikey, you don't need to ask!" The red head girl's voice still quite choked, but anyone can tell this time it was because of being incredibly touched. "If you're going to give it your all to help save your brothers, then I'm in on it too!"

"Yeah, Mikey. You think Red and I are gonna chicken out because of a little pain?" Casey finally added his two cents. "How are we supposed to 'level up' if we'll quit before we've even started? I don't know about you, Red, but I'm tired of warming the bench."

"You guys have no idea." April smirked while brining out her tessen.

"So I don't care what else you gonna say, dude, you're gonna be stuck with April and I all the damn way." Casey concluded, slinging an arm across Mikey's shoulder.

"Really? You guys mean it?" The small turtle looked surprised for a moment—really, Mikey, Casey absentmindedly thougth, you really should have more faith in your family—before grinning broadly. "Awesome! Oh I bet you will be so cool when you get leveled up! Maybe you guys will go through character class changes when you do. Oooh, that'll be hard though, what will Casey's character class change be like? Is there something like a cross between vigilante and a ninja? Like a—"

April and Casey sweatdropped before the latter laughed out loudly. "One step at a time, dude! Let's get past level 2 first, OK, Mikey?"

"Ah yeah, baby! Oh, this is going to be so sweet!" Mikey held his hand up. "Welcome to the Ninja RPG party, dudes! High threes, come on!"

The two humans grinned just as widely as the smallest turtle, joining their hands in.

And somewhere in an unseen corner in the Lair, Splinter smiled proudly at his children who just grew up a little more.

Well, at least Mikey's learning to get his point across? Kinda? Hey, give him some credit! He's learning! (And so am I!)

See you in the next one!

Chuchi's Cultural Corner!

御輿を上げる - I know I translated mikoshi as palanquin but mikoshi specifically refers to the divine palanquin meant to carry a Shinto god from the main shrine to another temporary location and vice versa. The carrying of the mikoshi is done during festivals, carried around by several bearers followed by a parade of devotees as they traverse the neighborhood.

Today's quote means to get started on something. This, I believe, is based on the fact that raising the mikoshi and carrying around is usually the way to start most Shinto festivals involving a mikoshi parade.

Headcanons and Other Extras:

-Casey and April have played RPGs before. However, April only played one (it's a Final Fantasy game) in passing and never really completed it. Casey is the more passionate platform game player, having completed at least nine Final Fantasy titles, Baldur's Gate, three Elder Scrolls and four Tales series games (to name a few). While not out playing vigilante with the turtles, he is currently trying to finish a Dark Souls title with a modicum of success.

-Mikey does come up with good ideas and is more perceptive/understanding/knowledgeable than he appears. He just has a hard time expressing and/or proving that he does. And sometimes, he himself doesn't see that his ideas can be good, mainly because his brothers have shot down many of his suggestions so many times in the past that he subconsciously believes that he can't come up with viable ones.

(One good example: the way Leo handled explaining why Mikey's plan won't work back in Parasitica. So not cool, leader in blue.)

In the end, Mikey would just fire off suggestions as if they're passing thoughts to play it safe.

Not that his bros mean to put him down, mind you. But in a family, sometimes your words and actions can affect one of the members significantly, negatively, even if you don't mean them to at all. It's sad, it's painful, it's unavoidable, and it's just how it is.

-One of Mikey's obvious ADHD traits is his rather short attention span, which gets worse when he is distracted or stressed. In fact, if he is in a stressful situation, he tends to ramble or talk about something off topic even in the middle of an important situation. Fortunately, he is never out of good friends to steer him back to the right direction.