Chapter Text
As much as the samurai wanted to beg and plead that the prophecy that jei had engraved in their minds all those years ago were false, in his mind deep down he knew that they were true. And damnit. Now he paid the price for trying to believe such false fantasies. Kitsune was taken. The black cat that he was supposed to hunt down was the kidnapper. Internally he cursed his every being as he ran across the new york rooftops, he hasn't been topside in so long, the air up here was polluted with smoke, it irritated his nose, but he couldn't give his attention to the air quality, his heart pounded in time with his steps as they carelessly traversed the apartment buildings, people waking up was the last thing on his mind right now, the fox’s gps signal was in the city. He couldn't wait to wait for Gennosuke to make a portal to New York, instead he went up ahead, he knew this damn town. And when he heard what sounded like a window breaking and he turned to look at what the culprit was he saw the yokai who took kitsune. If looks could kill she would have been shot with deadly aim.
Sure usagi was tired. But that drowsiness had long disappeared after he had gotten that text, he bent down low to the ground as he watched the black cat and an older white cat yokai start what seemed to be a yelling match from what he could hear before the younger one slumped her shoulders and entered the building.
The same building that kitsune’s tracker slowly blinked at. And from what he could see, she was located in the back of the shop, most likely the meat freezer, the shop he slowly realized was a butcher shop, his nose scrunched in disgust, seriously? Out of all the shops they could have chosen..
-
Those who know the hamato brothers at school can tell that they are inseparable even when apart, although, it seems that nowadays it was the opposite. Ever since Leonardo was made leader the slider has tried everything in his power to get it revoked, although splinter was as stubborn as he was and never wavered, the fighting with raph only got worse as time went on, to the point where he at one point had punched the slider out of anger, he quickly regretted it but it wasnt the act that scared raphael, it was leo’s face after the fact that did. The turtle looked at him with a stone face and eyes that stared right back at him, ‘this is nothing new’ those were one of the many times Ralph thought if he even knew the slider at all, or if this whole thing was a play. And act on stage.
It frightened him that he might not have even seen who this boisterous and loud slider truly was.
Tonight was proof of that.
As they stood at the edge of one of the many New York rooftops right above where Donatello got the signal of a break in at a butcher shop raph breathed in, looking to the leader in blue, "alright what's the plan?” he stated, he was worn out from football practice but missions always came first, the analyzing look in Leo's eyes showed that he was thinking but in a flash he stood up and shrugged, face completely morphed into a bland ‘i dont wanna be here’ look that irritated the snapper, “i dunno you tell me big guy.” he muttered, if it was any other day Raphael might have taken the bait and fought back, the tension shown on Michelangelo and donnie showed that this was nothing new to them, they already braced for the shouting of the older two, but this time Raphael didn't. A break in the system that Leo didn't expect, “alright well first we need to scan the area, find the culprits and figure out the reason behind the break in” raph ordered, shocking the others for a minute before they shook out of hit, donatello on his gadgets taking a scan leo looked away and mikey gave a smile, as if he was hoping that this would be their first change.
Raphael was quick to anger, not a thing he was most proud of, but something he's learned to deal with as it festered and grew into an ugly entity in his gut over the years, when he first heard about the switch after the battle of shredder he was too tired to pay attention, but after he got some rest it clicked, he wont lie, at first he felt rejected, replaced. Until he spoke with his father and understood, raph was never meant to be the leader, he was the biggest brother, the brother who was the biggest, but no one ever said he was to lead, it was a role he carried until the change, he couldn't help but feel a bit of relief in the early days after that, until his worry started to mix in with his anger, the first fall in the domino effect was when a mission went poorly, Leonardo didn't pay attention, didn't care. And in the process, Michelangelo was flung out the store window in an explosion, thankfully he was not majorly injured but it still frightened the snapper, leo needed to act right. To get his shit together and be the leader he knew the slider could be. He was willing to give Leo time but not at the cost of another brother becoming injured.
It was a landslide after that first crack, and it only got worse from there, Leonardo wanted nothing to do with leading. And it was clear. But the hamatos were stubborn, and sometimes that stubbornness could blind them from the truth.
“My scan seems to have picked up three figures below, two whom seem to be the culprit and one that is not moving and seems to be restricted or tied up.” donatello chimed in a stern look crossed raph’s face as his worrylines begun to show, he turned to leonardo, “they’ve got a hostage nardo. You need to focus. We can't risk any lives here.” raph said bluntly, a flash of what seemed to be pain glinted in Leonardo's eyes before he rolled them, “yeah okay lets go” he said jumping off the building and into a portal, landing in the streets below, one by one they followed him effortlessly, although, sounds of what seemed to be fighting could be heard from inside, drawing the attention of the brothers.
-
Sweat clung to his white fur stubbornly mixed with the dirt and grime, his katana clashed against his attackers own dashio as she let out a grunt as he kicked her away, he was too tired for this, but hell be damned if they laid another furry paw on his friend, he didn't even ask them why they are doing this, just jumping headfirst at the first one he saw, and that seemed to be his mistake. Damnit he should have used his brain before attempting to attack them, because now it seemed the neko ninja yokai’s doubled and it took everything in his power to stay upright, he could smell the faint iron scent of blood from where they nicked him, eventually he was able to take a pause, shoulders moving up and down in time with every heavy pant, he adjusted his stance and stared at the leader just waiting for her to make her next move, “tell me where you put kitsune and you can leave with minimal injuries.” his baritone voice rung through the butcher parlor, his tone deep and sharp, he watched as the white elderly cat adjusted her stance, others circling the rabbit in time, out of the corner of his eyes he watched his first attacker make their move, the same tuxedo cat from the bar, immediately he turned to parry off the fatal blow, a sharp clang of sword hitting sword rung through the room again, but usagi didn't feel the force of the yokai on him, he blinked, taking a second to realize that someone else had jumped in front of her offense, he looked up and immediately was met with the familiar striped turtle, except this time wearing a blue bandana over his face, “what are you doing!?” usagi shouted angrily as he parried off a different attacker, now noticing that it wasn't just Leonardo here, but all of his brothers, why were they here? “Uh saving your ass what does it look like!?” leonardo bantered back, eyes piercing the rabbit for a quick second before looking back at his opponent,
“Does it look like I need saving kappa!?” usagi’s tone struck the turtle with bite, not that he cared, he was too tired for this and was running on pure adrenaline at this point,
“Yes! It does! You were literally surrounded by these guys!” Leo snapped back, if usagi wanted to fight he'd fight.
“That's where I wanted them!!” usagi shouted breathlessly, the audacity of this turtle! He's not a damsel in distress!
“Guys! Stop fighting, we need to get the hostage out!” raphael’s voice broke through their bickering, the rabbit and slider shot each other a dirty look before shutting up,
Quickly the three finished with the kidnappers when mikey chimed in from the other room,
“Uh guys.. Donnie found something-” his head popped out of the doorway to the meat locker, the softshell appearing behind him, goggles down as he analyzed the object in his hand, "I've never seen anything like it but it seems important…” the purple twin rambled on but when usagi looked down to what he was holding his eyes widened with fear.
“DONATELLO DROP THAT NOW!” he yelled running up the the turtle and knocking the tampered key out of his hands, “hey what-” leo tried defensive, but was cut off, “ITS A FUCKING BOMB.” the rabbit shouted as he threw himself into the meat locker, imminently noticing the unconscious fox and flinging his body over her when the explosion hit, knocking the wind out of him, his ears rang and body seared with white hot pain.
He thought he was gonna die. It felt like the fire all over again.
.
.
“Us….gi”
voices mumbled into the background, faint, as if underwater, it was hard to make out over the ringing in his ears, he coughed and immediately regretted it, wincing at the most likely broken rib,
“Agi!”
There was that voice again. What were they saying? Hell if he knew. He was so tired. Can't he rest? Surely they could wait right?
“Usagi!”
Huh that's his name, who's calling him? He couldn't see over the blurry haze, there were lights shining in his eyes, flashes of colors someone was trying to pick him up, no he couldn't be picked up he needs to stay. He was faintly aware that he was holding something, whatever it was it was important that he didn't let them go. He could feel the wet hot liquid trailing down his head right above his eye, did he scratch himself? He's so tired. He can't sleep yet though. Where was he?
“USAGI!”
The voice came clearer, the ringing faded, he knew that voice, he tried to speak but only let out a groan in response as he shifted his legs in order to find some purchase, everything hurts.
“GUYS USAGI”S OVER HERE! HE’S GOT THE HOSTAGE” mikey shouted, what's mikey doing here? Oh yeah the mission- wait kitsune-
Reality seeped into his mind again, he pried open his eyes pain was a passing thought, he knew who he was protecting under him, quickly, or well as quickly as he could he pushed the slab of meat that was pinning him down off of him as he grabbed kitsunes face, the other groaning in response, the rabbit let out a breath of relief, ‘thank god she’s okay..’
“Kit. kit im here, its yuichi, you're alright.” usagi doesnt know when he had grabbed and held the fox in his arms or when he started crying in relief,
“Sagi? What..?” the yokai was waking up, the rabbit could hear the turtles around him, donatello trying to reach out for the fox to check injuries, something in Usagi's mind was still in fight or flight, he did not recognize the hand until his prey mind registered it as a threat, almost immediately like a frightened injured animal he was he jolted back, ears pinned and teeth bared in a hiss, one sharp kick pushed the softshell away as he recoiled further into himself holding his now awake friend in his arm, it all happened so fast, one moment he was fine the second the softshell was on his back wincing and the other brothers took a step away in shock,
Leo was the first to speak from where he was helping donatello back up, “HEY WHAT THE FUCK? HE WAS TRYING TO HELP YOU” leonardo snapped in defense, “leo wait he clearly is out of it yelling isnt going to help-” mikey tried but the slider had ignored him, storming towards the rabbit who stood quickly, stepping over the fox who was also trying to deescalate the situation, usagi crossed his arms, claws digging into his bicep,
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU DON WAS TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOU WERNT SEVERLY INJURED OR SOMETHING-” the turtle spat now up in the rabbits face and pressing a finger to his chest, usagi felt like it was middle school all over again, the high stress situation and the ringing in his ears made it harder to think. He was so damn tired. Can this kappa shut the fuck up already??
He did not register the contact his fist made with the slider’s beak until he swung, Leonardo reeled back by the force of it, in one moment he was angry trying to defend his twin the next everything was silent, reality struck the rabbit his eyes widened the same time the slider’s narrowed, “leo stop-” Raphael's hand was on his shoulder grounding him in the moment,
Instead of striking back the turtle spat, blood mixed in with it,
“I. hate. You.” Leo whispered with venom, stinging the rabbit as he took a defensive stance, kitsune had grabbed his shoulder the same way raph had grabbed the slider’s.
“Why don't you go die already?” usagi hissed back with the same force,
“Go kill yourself.” Leo scoffed.
Usagi snorted, “oh my god you are so self absorbed, who are you Leonardo hamato? No seriously. Who the fuck do you think you are?’ usagi paused before taking a stance that mocked the slider, ‘Oh hi my name is Leo. I'm so rich and cool and everybody loves me except actually they don't. I have no true true talent but i sure know what nepotism means’ the rabbit spat, Leo opened his mouth to speak but was cut off but usagi again, “you always gotta be in everyone else’s business and yet hide behind an empty shell because you know if everybody saw who you truly are they would be disgusted-”
“USAGI STOP” kitsune’s voice shouted as she turned to stand in between the boys,
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU??” the fox demanded,
“What's wrong with me? WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?? THIS WHOLE THING COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF HE JUST STAYED OUT OF IT!” usagi turned his anger onto kitsune, the girl winced at his tone,
“You know that's not true. Jei had already told us this would happen. Even if they got involved or not.” kitsune mumbled, crossing her arms and looking away, the mention of jei made every ounce of fight the rabbit melt, he slumped his shoulders, he was so tired. And his body hurt like hell.
It was quiet after the fox had spoke, until michelangelo broke through the silence,
“Jei?..” he asked, both the fox and rabbit noticeably winced at the name,
Usagi sighed. “I used to live in Japan before I moved here. You all know this, Kitsune is one of my friends from my hometown. Jei was.. Our teacher..” the rabbit avoided the piercing gaze of the brothers, Leo was yet to speak,
Raphael looked between the fox and the samurai before sighing,
“Let's talk about this later. But for now let's just drop it and go home. It's late. We’ll pick this up again tomorrow.” the eldest supplied, everyone nodded except the two boys who refused to acknowledge the other’s existence.
Sure enough the brothers had all but faded, leaving the fox and the rabbit standing, faintly they could hear the sirens, how long has it been? Not having anything else to focus on usagi became aware of the pain on his sides, kitsune noticed almost immediately,
“Lets go to your apartment and bandage you up. We need to tell Gen about this.”
“Gen already knows, he had made a portal to New York but it was taking too long.” the rabbit muttered, kitsune flicked an ear at his response,
“So you mean that gen. Genosuke. Is somewhere in the hidden city BY HIMSELF.” now that usagi heard it from someone else it dawned on him in horror,
“Holy shit we need to go find him now.”
-
Unbeknownst to the two groups, in an alleyway a few blocks away chizu sat against the wall nursing her injuries when a bright orange ball of light emitted in the small area, drawing the attention of the cat yokai as it grew bigger and bigger, her jade eyes watched in amazement as what seemed to be a portal of fire grew as tall as her, spitting out a human boy before flickering out.