Chapter Text
When he awoke, a suffocating dread engulfed him, as if he were drowning. His white hair floated alongside the river’s flowing waters as he gazed upward at the sky, defeated. Was this truly the end? Was he about to die? He hadn’t even told Leo how much he mattered—
A sudden gasp, ragged breaths escaping—he was alive. How? How was he alive? His tent had been ambushed, and he had just left Leo’s world. Then it hit him: this wasn't his tent. It was Leo’s bedroom. He had gone back—returned to that moment before the ambush. As he took in his surroundings, a familiar, comforting warmth sat beside him. “Leo...” he whispered, a sigh of relief slipping from his lips. It had to be a dream—an awful nightmare—but at least it wasn't real. He wasn’t bleeding out in the river from that arrow.
He should feel relief, but instead, a strange unease settled deep within. As if that nightmare was a warning—a dark shadow looming just beyond the horizon.
Usagi had always believed dreams could be messages or warnings about what might happen in the future. He felt this one shouldn't be any different. Suddenly, Leo stirred beside him, rubbing the sleep from his eyes with a curious expression. “Usagi? What's wrong? Your skin feels all clammy...” Usagi frowned slightly as he softly murmured, “It was a terrible nightmare… but there's no need to worry. I have them often...”
Even later that morning, his mind remained unsettled. He couldn't shake the feeling of dread and that numbing, floating sensation—the way he imagined his life slipping away, flowing down the river with his blood. Leo didn't seem to notice, or if he did, he chose not to pry. It had been a few months since they started dating, and slowly, Leo was beginning to chip away at Usagi’s walls. He knew the older boy came from a samurai lineage, still practiced their traditions, and was extremely sensitive about questions regarding his family history. He also knew that Splinter had sensed their bond long before they themselves understood what it was.
Usagi sat at the kitchen table, fiddling with his pancakes, lost in thought. He had died. He felt himself die. Could that mean something? His dreams had never felt that vivid before, so maybe it was a glimpse of an unexpected future… but to have his life end at twenty… that didn't seem fair. He still had so much left to do. He hadn't even avenged Mifune yet. If this dream was a warning of what’s to come, he was determined to find a way to stop it at all costs.
He was pulled abruptly from his ruminations when Leo gently tugged on his hair, his brow furrowing in concern. “You've been sitting here for twenty minutes just glaring at your pancakes. Did I get the recipe wrong again?” Usagi chuckled dryly, shook his head slowly, and let out a heavy sigh that escaped his lips audibly. “No, no… it’s not the food I'm thinking about.” Leo tilted his head slightly, rubbed the other boy’s cheek with a tender touch, and asked softly, “That dream? Why don't you just tell me what it was? Maybe I can comfort you...” His cheeks flushed faintly as he spoke, showing a rare vulnerability. Usagi appreciated the gesture but hesitated, unsure about burdening Leo with his worries. “It’s fine, Leonardo...” Leo disliked the vague answer but accepted it, preferring to let the matter rest as he started tidying up the small, cluttered kitchen area, stacking plates and wiping down counters carefully. “Sure…” he replied quietly, though his eyes lingered on Usagi, full of concern.
After this conversation, Usagi decided to distract himself by calling Raph for some company. His gaze was fixed on the ground as he slowly dialed the number and left Leo’s apartment, his heart heavy with uncertainty. As soon as Raph answered the phone, his usual rough and loud voice was heard, accompanied by faint baby noises in the background. (In this AU, Raph is with Mona, and they already have a baby named Koi.) “What’s up, Usagi? Is something wrong with Leo?” Raph asked, concern evident in his tone. Usagi let out a hesitant breath and attempted to sound upbeat. “No, not at all. I was just wondering if you’re free for some kickboxing,” he replied, trying to keep his tone casual. However, he immediately heard a burst of yelling from the other end and felt a wave of shame wash over him. “Sorry! Dumb question; I should've considered Koi—” he started to say. Raph cut him off gently but firmly, “Nah, man, you’re good! I can't today because Koi might have colic, and Mona is freaking out—” Raph’s voice trailed off as he urgently added, “Oh shit—sorry, Usagi, I’ve got to go!” The call ended abruptly, leaving Usagi standing there with a sigh, walking slowly with his hands tucked into his pockets. He contemplated opening a portal, convincing himself that maybe he’d survive the ambush and that nothing terrible would happen—yet a deep, persistent fear held him back from leaving Leo’s dimension altogether.
Fear shouldn't be stopping him. He is a seasoned samurai, a lone ronin who has traveled countless treacherous paths. He shouldn't let some fleeting dream distract him from his unwavering duties in his world. What would his sensei’s think of him if they were alive today? He can't shame his noble lineage because of some foolish fear of death. His entire life has always been a constant dance with mortality, and he wasn't about to let this be the first time he ran from it. “You are a warrior...” he murmured to himself as he pulled out his chalk with determined fingers. “You do not run from a challenge.” He carefully drew the precise symbols along a weathered brick wall bordering his secret hideout and stepped through the shimmering portal back into his world.
He felt a profound sense of peace as he heard the familiar calming breezes, the rustling of leaves, and the distant sounds of livestock in the fields. “Home…” he whispered softly. He loved visiting Leo in New York, but the city's relentless noise was always overwhelming for his sensitive ears. Here, amidst nature’s tranquility, he didn't have to guess the right approach—he knew it instinctively.
He returned to his usual routine by then—performing chores around the house and practicing his training drills—though his thoughts wandered occasionally. As he executed his katas with disciplined focus, a sudden, sharp pain flared in his stomach. There was no visible wound, yet he recognized this sensation—an arrow lodged deep within his body. He struggled to breathe, collapsing to his knees in alarm, and frantically tugged at his kimono to examine himself. “Get it together. You are a warrior,” he muttered calming himself.
Closing his eyes, he tried to ignore the relentless stabbing pain. Suddenly, a razor-sharp arrow grazed his cheek, drawing blood. Instantly, he straightened and spun around to confront his assailant. “Who dares?” he demanded, voice trembling. Before he could finish, another arrow struck him from behind, forcing him to stumble. A cruel, glinting blade had punctured his side, and he fell to the ground, gasping. “Leo—...” he whispered hoarsely, struggle evident in his voice, just before he lost consciousness and collapsed completely.
Dying twice from the same wounds was a harrowing experience. Even less bearable was the sensation of his life ebbing away again, leaving him numb and hollow as his attackers forcefully threw him into the cold, rushing river. His eyes struggled to focus and barely registered any distinct features of his assailants before he succumbed to death once more. Perhaps he should have been more prepared for this. Suddenly, he found himself floating across a vast, featureless white void—no pain lingered, and he almost mistook it for the afterlife. That illusion shattered when he abruptly woke up again. “What is this trickery?” he grunted, pushing himself up from Leo’s bed. Leo stirred and sat upright, rubbing his eyes sleepily, confusion evident on his face. “Usa? What's going on with you—” Leo’s concern deepened as he noticed the stressed expression on Usagi’s pale, trembling face. “I—I was-…” he stammered, struggling to find words.
He shook his head vigorously, his fingers tangling in his hair as he tugged anxiously. “I died. Again. In my dreams… but it feels so real I—…Leo, I don't understand what's happening…” Leo stepped out of bed swiftly, gripping Usagi’s wrists gently yet firmly to steady the trembling boy. “Calm down, Usagi… I'm sure it's just a dream… you're alive right here with me,” he reassured softly. Usagi desperately wanted to believe him, clinging to Leo's words, but that piercing sensation of death lingered—it was undeniable, hauntingly real.