Chapter Text
Usagi giggled, running through the patches of grass with a wide smile. He yelped as he tripped, rolling down a small hill and landing at the bottom with a thud. He groaned, rubbing his aching forehead. He fluttered his eyes, staring in awe at a small butterfly landing on his nose.
The small insect stared at Usagi blankly, while he stared back curiously. It left as fast as it came when Usagi jumped up upon hearing a voice shout not too far away.
“Usagi! Come back here!”
Usagi screamed joyful, running as fast as his little legs could carry him. He looked over his shoulder to see if he was followed, only to be swept off his feet and tossed in the air.
He laughed, his heart racing and cheeks flushed, landing back into the arms of his guardian “Karasu!” He cheered “You found me!”
Karasu-Tengu stared back at him, unimpressed, but a smile gracing her beak “Usagi, so young but so stubborn.” She poked his said, earning a giggle from the squirming rabbit “It’s time to come inside for your bath.”
“I hate baths! I wanna play with you instead!” Usagi pouted, crossing his little arms.
Karasu-Tengu chuckled, cradling Usagi in her arms as she made her way back to their him “There will be many things in your life that you will not want to do, young snow, but it’s not about the need to do it. It’s about how right it will feel afterwards.”
Usagi uncrossed his arms to fiddle with his gi, looking down at his lap in thought “So, even if I don’t wanna defend someone cuz they were a meanie, it will feel right?”
“Absolutely.”
“And even when I don’t want to take a bath, it will feel right?”
Karasu-Tengu chuckled, climbing the stairs of their house and onto the porch “That’s correct. You learn quickly.”
Usagi beamed at the compliment but paused, pouting again “My fur’s gonna be all heavy and that never feels good.”
His guardian let out a small laugh, opening the door “Maybe so, but you will be clean. And when you’re clean—”
Usagi gasped “I can play in dirt again!”
Karasu-Tengu let out another laugh “Yes, I suppose it does.”
“Please?”
”No.”
”Pretty please?”
”No.”
“Pretty pretty pleeeeeeeeease.”
Usagi let out a tired sigh, rubbing his temple “Auntie please. We’re supposed to be meditating.”
His aunt leaned forward, her leg bouncing in excitement at her recent thought “But Yuyu-chan! I’m stiff! I can’t go into the village with my old bones–“
“You literally lived here longer than I have and it’s been two days.”
“Taking care of children is exhausting.” Auntie pouted.
Usagi scoffed “Do you not remember two days ago when they tried to murder me?”
“You can wear a hat!”
“No.”
“Fine!” Auntie stood abruptly and marched through the back door.
Usagi deflated in guilt. He didn’t mean to annoy her like that. He understood her worry but being up in the mountains away from civilization is what’s best. He’s done it for his whole life, he could do it again. He sighed again. Spot nudged his leg with a sad chirp. Usagi rubbed his head before he stood.
“Auntie, I’m sorry. I’ll go if you want me to–“
She slammed the door open with a loud crack. Spot his behind Usagi who jumped back, startled, and got pulled into a side hug “That’s great news Yuyu-chan!”
Usagi gave her a deadpanned look and facepalmed “Dang it, I got played.” He groaned “Fine! But when I’m facing the end of the world and I’m useless cuz your crazy town beat me up, I’m blaming you!”
“That’s the spirit, kid!” She patted his back and pushed him inside “Now, go change! You can’t go out there looking like that.”
Usagi eyed his normal attire “But this is how I always look.”
“That purple and black and depressing.”
“I’m a depressed teenager, what don’t you get?”
Auntie shooed him away “Not in my house. Now go change, there’s some spare clothes on your bed.”
Spot climbed on her shoulder and let out a cheery chirp, purring as Auntie scratched her chin. Usagi glared at his pet “Traitor.” And slammed the door.
He came back out a few minutes later in a cropped blue jacket and beige cardigan with high waisted black pants and purple boots. His ears were covered a big sun hat. Usagi gave his overly excited aunt an unimpressed look.
“I’m not wearing this.” He said blankly “This is ugly as hell.”
Auntie grinned, clapping “You look great, Yuyu-chan! Don’t be so modest.”
“I’m not! I just hate everything about this.” Usagi sighed.
Auntie waved him off “I’ll have something better for you when you get home.” Spot jumping from her shoulder and into Usagi’s arms, chirping.
“Now, here’s the list. Oh! I have another surprise for my nephew!” Auntie shoved the list to his chest, squealing as she ran off.
Usagi gave Spot a disbelief look, raising his eyebrow “She’s excited.” He mumbled.
“Found it!” Usagi turned around, and almost dropped Spot and the list in shock.
He gasped, jaw hanging low at the beautiful vehicle in front of him. It was a low rider motorcycle, shiny and smooth and blue. Auntie leaned against with a pride smile, tossing him the keys which he caught with one hand, still looking at the bike. She rubbed the headlight with her elbow as he slowly approached.
“It’s my old bike! I’ve been saving and cleaning it for the day I ever find you again.” Her excitement dimmed into nervous anticipation “I hope you—oh!”
Usagi had already launched himself at her, quickly placing Spot and the list down “I love it, Auntie! Holy shit, this is so cool!” He let her go to inspect the bike not noticing the look his aunt gave him “The guys and April are gonna be soooo jealous!”
Usagi paused, deflating a little at the mention of his friends. He didn’t have nor remember any of their number and couldn’t leave. Not when he had a mission. He just wished he left on a better note.
Auntie place a hand on his shoulder, a comfort smile gracing her tired face “You will see them again, Usagi. Until then, you will endure and grow stronger.”
Usagi nodded, hopping on the bike. Spot picked the note up in her jaws, whimpering when she couldn’t find a place to sit.
“Oh yeah. What about Spot? I don’t want her to sit on my lap and then fall.” Usagi frowned.
Auntie grinned, pressing a button on the control panel. A small cart flipped out on the sit, matching the motorcycle. Usagi stared in awe, watching Spot happily climb in.
“This is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me.” Auntie laughed at his bluntness, but it was true.
“Now, don’t forget your sword and be back by sundown or I’ll come looking for you.” Auntie said firmly, handing him his hilt.
Usagi rolled his eyes with a smile “Yes, Auntie.”
He turned the key, a giddy feeling crawling up his throat that turned into a small squeal. Usagi pressed his foot a little hard on the gas, yelping as he took off. He shouted in excitement as he drove around the house and garden. Spot squealed as he picked up the pace. As he got on the road, he turned back to his auntie and waved.
“I’ll be back soon, Auntie!” With a wide smile, Usagi sped down the road with an excited shout.
Auntie stood in front of her house, wiping a tear from her burning eyes. Her proud smile grew wider “That’s my nephew.” She chuckled, heading back in to start dinner.
He would be fine.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN’T!”
“Easy, Lee, let’s just hear the lady out.” Ralph said, holding a rage filled Leo to his chest.
Donnie held the phone in his hands on speaker, looking grim. The rest of the clan surrounded him as well, either about to cry or burst in anger (or for Mikey, both). April held Casey Jr’s hands to stop the shaking, looking pissed off. Splinter and Draxum glanced at once another from the couch, saying nothing but their faces said all they needed.
After trying and failing to enter the Hidden City, they called for a family meeting and even inviting Draxum (much to Leo’s reluctance) to shine some insight. But because the old goat was so busy with them, he had no idea either.
Big Mama simply smiled, though it did not reach her eyes “I’m sorry my turtly-boos but this is out of Mama’s hands.”
“Why not?!” Mikey huffed “If you want a deal—“
“No deal, darling. I promised your father and Draxum to be…easy, on you four. But even if I wanted to, the whole city is shut down from the upstairs, at least until the city is safe. There is no way in and no way out.”
“But we were just there! How’d the city even close so fast?!” Mikey exclaimed.
“The counsel, probably.” Donnie shrugged.
“Big Mama, do you know how long the city will be locked for?” Splinter asked.
There was a pause, before she spoke with a hint of sadness in her voice “In about 6 months.”
“WHAT?! ”
“Are you sure?!”
“USAGI CAN’T WAIT TO AT LONG?! WHAT IF HE’S—“
“DON’T EVEN FINISH THAT DUDE!”
“This isn’t fair!”
“Enough!” Draxum shouted, silencing them in an instant “Shouting and anger will not help the rabbit.”
“How are we even supposed to help if we have no powers and no way to get to him!” Leo ripped himself away from Ralph and glared at Draxum “Usagi is in trouble! We’ve gotta do something!”
“What do you suppose we do?” Draxum snapped back “You are all injured and exhausted to your core, and yet you want to go out and fight? For someone you don’t even know all that well?”
“So, what, you want us to just leave him stranded?!”
“I’m saying you should think about yourselves first before running into another adventure to save someone we barely know! He’s hid things, what he’s capable of—”
“You don’t get to say that.” Leo snarled “Usagi is family. If it were any of us, I would be reacting the same way I am now, because we don’t leave family behind.”
“Leo’s right, Drax.” Raph said, laying a hand on the leader “How can we even call ourselves hero’s if we can’t save our whole family.”
“Yeah!” Mikey protested “Usagi helped us when he didn’t need to. He was there! Now it’s our turn!”
Donnie stared blankly at them “As much of a nuisance the rabbit is,” he ignored Leo’s glared and sighed, his eyebrow furrowed “The clan wouldn’t be the same.”
“Splinter, you’ve been quiet dear. What do you think?” Big Mama asked, no teasing or attempt of flirting in her tone.
Splinter hummed, staring down at his lap “My sons are correct. Though we’ve only known Usagi for a few months, he makes us happy and whole, as a family.”
Leo and his brothers beamed with pride, but it was soon extinguished by the grim lines that increased on their father’s face “But Draxum is also correct, boys. You are too exhausted and injured to use your nimpo, let alone fight. If we managed to find Usagi, you would risk him to be in more danger than he already might be.”
Splinter stood up straighter “So, until you all are medically and mentally ready for this, until me and Draxum can clear you, you four will stay in this lair and that is final.”
“Excuse me?!”
“Are you joking?!”
“Pops, that’s not fair!”
“Hell no!”
“Guys!” April shouted “As much as I hate to disagree, Splints and Draxy make a good point.”
“Usagi is the reason I’m even standing here right now!” Leo argued “If he didn’t do whatever he did, I would still be in the medical cot! We can’t just leave him!”
“I’m not saying that, Lee.” April replied calmly “But if we go in like this, we’ll just end up getting him in more danger. Usagi might’ve healed you, but he didn’t heal Raph, Don, or Mike. And mentally, we’re all a mess.”
“But we’re fine!” Mikey growled “We can’t just—“
“Mike, you’re shaking.” April said deadpanned.
Leo turned to his little brother’s hands, and his determined glare dropped into something soft, sad. Mikey’s arms, which were still wrapped up, shook enough for them all to pause. Raph scooped up Mikey, holding him close before he could collapse.
“We’re not abandoning Usagi.” Casey Jr said firmly, for the first time since they all gathered “But we can’t get him while we’re all like this, either.”
“So let’s get our nimpo back.” Leo replied, turning to Draxum “Uhh, how do we do that?”
“Your nimpo isn’t gone, blue one. It’s just eradicated.” Draxum grumbled “It was under a powerful lockdown before you all came together and unlocked it. But with such a powerful usage, it exhausted your ability and disconnected from your spiritual cores.”
“So in other words…”
“We used our nimpo too much that’s it’s overflowing and not connecting to our souls.” Donnie huffed “HOW did you not get that?!”
“Not all of us can speak geek, Don.” Leo rolled his eyes.
Raph grumbled at both of them “So all we need to do is not use our nimpo for a while?”
“On the contrary, Raphael.” Draxum hummed “I can make a serum to stabilize your nimpo but it’ll take some time from the lack of entry to the city.”
“We can help though, right?” Mikey asked, giving Draxum his best puppy eyes.
Draxum stared back blankly “No.”
The four groaned, flipping on the couch “Great. So we’re figuratively grounded.” Donnie grumbled, folding his arms “Not cool, Daddy-o.”
“We can help Draxum look for the things he needs around the city during the day.” Casey Jr. said, smiling sheepishly.
“And I will help during the night. We will not stop until goat man has everything he needs.” Splinter said before pointing to his sons “But you four are to stay. Here. I’m looking at you, Blue!”
Leo huffed “I wasn’t!” he retorted.
He took out Usagi’s phone from his hoodie, staring at the lock screen, a deep frown planted on his lips. Waiting was never his strong suit, especially now more than ever. That thing they saw in Usagi’s house, the way it was trashed, it didn’t make any of his nerves relax.
Leo had so much to say to the rabbit. So much to apologize and talk about. But he was too late. And Leo wasn’t going to make that mistake again.
A hand gripped his shoulder gently. Leo looked up to see his family staring back, and he hated the sympathetic looks on their faces. Because Usagi needed their help and Leo was just making this about himself.
Again.
“Hey, we’ll get him back.” Raph said gently.
Leo nodded. He turned back to the phone, clicking it on and staring at the picture, wanting nothing more than to have Usagi in his arms again.