✰♡✰ Beautiful Boy ✰♡✰

▼ Chapter 8 ▼

"First order of business, we need to know how that Yokai came to New York in the first place." Raph said, sitting down with the rest of the guys at a table. Usagi nodded. "Kagehito is it's name. I had accidentally freed him from the Ki-stone that he was trapped in, almost like it was his prison cell or a cage. Before he could get me, my friends hid me away and told me to get out of the city, knowing that I was connected to the reason he was there."

Mikey raised his hand. "Why is he looking for your ancestor?" The rabbit shrugged. "That's the thing I need to figure out, and especially the reason why everyone thinks he's some sort of villain! If I don't corner this situation, millions of people could suffer the consequences."

Everyone fell quiet, his words starting to sink in. Leo looked at everyone's worried expressions and glanced at Usagi. He hadn't seen them this serious since their fight with the Kraang. He reached for the boy's hand and flashed a confident smile. "I don't know what's up with those guys, but I know full well that we're more than capable of helping you! If the world needed saving from anyone, which it does, it'd be all of us."

Usagi blushed softly and smiled. "You guys don't have to help me defeat Kagehito, but I need your guys' assistance when it comes to finding out why Miyamoto Usagi has been accused of murder and treason. Will you?"

Mikey's eyes were bright with excitement. "Yes! You're a friend of the family!"

Raph nodded. "As a Hamato, it's our duty to help a friend in need. But first, we need permission from Dad..."

"Oh, don't worry..." Leo stood up and grabbed his swords. "Dad's gonna love this-!"

~

"The answer is no."

The turtles were shocked at their father's reaction. Leo took a step forward. "B-but Dad, what about him being a Usagi? He's a friend, and we help our allies!"

Splinter shook his head. "This is too dangerous for you all! As if fighting the Kraang wasn't a big enough lesson for you all. I'm sorry, but if you joined in everybody else's problems and battles, you'd never stop! Where do you children draw the line?"

Raph, Donnie and Mikey all lowered their gaze, flashes of Leo in the prison dimension fresh in their minds. They knew exactly what their father meant, but Leo was oblivious to what he was implying.

"But I'm not asking them to fight for me or even with me, I just need to get some answers! Miyamoto Usagi was a great samurai, and if being his descendant is a bad thing, I take full responsibility and credit! He's my ancestor, not theirs. If anyone is going to be fighting the battles..." Yuichi got on his knees and lowered his head to the floor, bowing to him. "It should be me...Master Splinter."

'This guy knows respect...' Leo thought.

The rat man's gaze softened ever so slightly before hardening once again. "My answer. Is. No."

Usagi stood up and nodded. "I respect your decision, Master." He pushed away feelings of defeat and began to walk out of the room. Leo looked over to his brothers and saw that they felt the same, and any urges to help Usagi were replaced by fear and hesitation. But Leo couldn't let this go. He grabbed Yuichi by the arm. "S-so that's it? You're just gonna go do this on your own?!"

Usagi gave him a small smile. "I'll just have to go back to the city and figure something out. I'm sure my friends back at Neo Edo would've loved to meet you." Leo's face fell and let go of his arm, turning back to Splinter. "You...You just turn him away like that! How could you think about what happened with the Kraang when that's done and over with, we're ready to move on and-"

"No, Nardo."

Donnie's face was dark as he looked to his brother solemnly. "Not everyone has just gotten over what happened." Raph reached out to Leo but he jerked away. Yuichi put a hand on his shoulder. "Leo, it's okay..."

"No! Why has no one said this to me before? You guys acted like you were ready with a helping hand when Usagi explained his situation, but now because Dad is scared, you guys are, too?!"

Everyone got silent again. Leo knew that their answer was final, and he huffed in anger. "I'm not giving up..." A huge flash of blue intruded everyone's eyesight. In the blink of an eye, he and Usagi had landed in the middle of a grassy field. Yuichi stood up in surprise and confusion. In the distance was a bustling city, but it wasn't New York. "Neo Edo??"

Leo sat up and felt his swords next to him, they were glowing with a bright shade of blue. "Leo, how did we get here? Neo Edo is hundreds of miles away from New York!" The rabbit asked. The turtle picked up his swords and stood up, taking in the sights of the city. "I think I...Teleported us here..."