Alrighty, time to start another journey. Or rather continue off of where The Classic Deception left off. Well, close to where it left off anyway. This chapter isn't very long and half of it is from the preview I gave you all, but I will be updating this every other day. So chapter 2 will come on Tuesday. :) Side note, I don't own any of the Turtles or their allies. Pretty sure I own Dark Angel, but no other characters.Hope you enjoy this! Reviews are always appreciated!

Chapter 1 – The Note

A year has passed. Leo has never felt so alive running free along the rooftops of New York City. The wind rushing past him, lifting up his bandana tails behind him. He ran on for miles, maybe hours alone in the dark of the night. Breathless, he came to a stop over the corner of Third and Main. He let his gaze drift over the bright lights as his breath slowly returned to normal. He sighed in contentment. It felt good to just get out on his own once and awhile. He looked downward at the few people still milling about below him, some holding hands, other walking alone. His eye caught a glimpse of his left wrist, the scar from that horrid night standing out against his green skin. It had healed nicely, almost invisible. But he could still see it. He knew his family could still see it. Though now, he didn't feel any of the old feelings he had when he had given himself that cut. He was glad to be alive, happy to be around his family. He would never try to kill himself again. Ever.

With a sigh, he turned to go back home. It had been hours since he left and he didn't want his family to worry about him. Sometimes he could still see that horror in Mikey's eyes when ever his baby brother's gaze landed on his scar. He caught Donatello cringing every once and awhile at the memory it brought, not as often as before, but still there all the same. Raphael didn't show it in his eyes or even in his body language, but he knew the red banded turtle still worried once and awhile when he was gone alone too long. Leo wasn't hurt that their trust had been a little broken from that night, but tonight as he looked up into the stars that he could see, he wasn't bothered by that fact anymore. The trust was nearly rebuilt, the memories nearly put to rest. They were moving on and he couldn't ask for it to be turning out better.

Leo climbed down the fire escape and lifted the lid to the man hole in the alley. Slipping underground, he put the lid back and dropped down into the sewers. His walk started out slow, but before he knew it he couldn't help running again. The feeling of freedom flowing through him once more. The feeling of no worries, no burdens, and no dark thoughts. Without realizing it, he had taken the long way home instead of the shorter route. It didn't take him that much longer, but he hoped his family wasn't too worried about him. Stopping at the lair door, he froze, his eyes going wide. A white note was taped to the door, written out in newspaper cutouts. He slowly reached up and pulled the note down. He paled reading the note before tucking it in his belt determined to not let his brothers or father read it. He didn't want them to worry. He would fix this before they even knew anything about it.

"I know you were Shade. Saki knows you were Shade. Does your family know? That doesn't matter. What matters is your family's safety. Saki has placed a bounty on your head. If you don't want any harm to come to your family after I collect that bounty, meet me at Market and South Street. Maybe we can work out a deal. See you two nights from now Leonardo."

-Dark Angel

Leo strode into the lair once the lair door opened, intending to head straight for the shower.

Raph quickly jumped in his way, arms crossing. "Where've ya been?"

Leo stopped before running into Raph and sighed. He really didn't want to talk right now, the note weighing heavily on his mind. "Topside Raph."

"No duh Fearless."

Leo frowned really not wanting to deal with this now. "You don't have to worry bro."

"Worry? Me? You must be thinking of Mikey."

He shook his head. "Don't think I don't still see it."

Raph blinked then let his gaze become hard once more.

"It's been a year Raph. I'm not going to off myself."

Raph's arms uncrossed, hanging by his sides. "I know…" he murmured.

"Then what's this about?"

"Nothin'. Just take care o' yourself."

Leo nodded, watching as his brother shuffled off to his room. He bit his lip as the door shut behind him. He knew Raphael had an occasional nightmare about the issue whenever this came up. He'd have to talk to him more about it soon. With a sigh, he continued on towards the bathroom. Passing by Mikey's door, he couldn't help but stop and peek into his brother's room.

Mikey was sprawled sideways on his bed, half of him hanging off as his left hand lay on the floor. It never ceased to amaze him how Michelangelo could sleep that way.

Leo shook his head and continued onto Don's room. Opening the door slightly, he was surprised to actually see his brother in bed. He could've sworn Don would never make it to bed tonight with the intense attention Don had been giving whatever it was he was researching. Relieved that Don was sleeping soundly as well, he continued on to the bathroom, swiping a towel just before shutting himself in.

The hot water pouring over his skin was both refreshing and relaxing, untangling wound muscles that had tightened when he first found the note. The note didn't necessarily scare him and neither did the thought of his death should this Dark Angel collect this bounty of Saki's. What scared him was the fact that the note had been taped to their front door. This Dark Angel knew where they lived. If Leo didn't meet him, then this person would no doubt come here knowing exactly where to find Leo and his family. He couldn't let his family be harmed because of his stupid amnesia forcing him to become Shade. "Who is he?" he wondered aloud about the mysterious note sender.

Another half hour went by before Leo left the shower feeling better at least physically. Mentally though… He was still concerned about this Dark Angel he would be meeting in two nights. With a sigh, he collapsed into bed worry keeping him from restful sleep.