A/N Ok Everyone here's the sequel to my story "Life of a Leader" hope you all enjoy it and as usual I don't own TMNT or its characters. Here's ch 1 for you and English is in parenthesis. Enjoy.

Life of a Leader 2: Family Matters

Ch 1 Old Fears Resurface

Leonardo awoke with a start, the swear pouring down his face. Panting the oldest turtle sat up and looked at his clock beside his bed, which read 2:22 am. "I've gotta stop doing this," Leonardo muttered as he layed back down and tried to go back to sleep. But the vision of his nightmare, which involved his brothers getting killed, kept going through his head. After tossing and turning for what seam like hours Leonardo finally gave up on sleep and walked out to the dojo, being careful not to make to much noise. Leonardo began to punch at the punching bag but his heart wasn't in it and after only a few minutes the blue masked turtle let out a sigh and sat on the ground, putting his face in his hands. Just then Leonardo felt a hand on his shoulder and he jumped, startled by the sudden touch. Turning he found himself looking into the concerned face of Splinter.

"I am sorry for startling you Leonardo," the wise old rat said softly. "I heard you get up and I wanted to see if you were alright."

"I'm fine Sensei," Leonardo declared, trying to sound as convincing as possible.

"I think that if one is up in the middle of the night they are not fine," Splinter said with a smile. "And I know that this is not the first time you have had trouble sleeping Leonardo. I am here if you would like to talk about it."

"Sensei I.." Leonardo began, fully prepared to say he was fine again. But the concerned look on Splinter's face made the blue eyed turtle rethink that. "You always could see right through me," he said with a smile. Then he let out a sigh saying, "You're right. I have been having trouble sleeping. I..I keep having nightmares. You know about failing my family and my brothers getting hurt because I made a mistake. And they keep getting worse and I don't know what to do about them."

"Dream are not real Leonardo," Splinter said. "They cannot harm you unless you allow them to. I know that you have been having great difficulty ever since Raphael nearly died saving you but you have been doing a great job. I am very proud of you my son."

"Thanks Sensei," Leonardo said with another smile. "But I still can't help but worry. What if I screw up again and my brothers get hurt or..or worse. I..I don't think I could handle that."

"No one is perfect Leonardo," Splinter pointed out. "I have made more than my fair share of mistakes. But I try not to let them deter me. You will make mistakes, that is a part of life, but you will learn from your mistakes. Just as I have. And they will make you stronger. And as for your brothers, they will also learn from their mistakes and become stronger from them. But you four are so strong I know that you can overcome anything. That is why I do not let my fear of something happening to you boys deter me from allowing you to go to the surface. I know you boys can handle it. I have faith in you all. And you must also have faith Leonardo. Not only in your brothers but in yourself as well. You are stronger than you realize."

"Thanks Sensei," Leonardo said, giving his father and master a hug. "I feel a lot better."

"I am glad my son," Splinter said with a smile. "Now you must try and get some sleep."

"I will Sensei," Leonardo said with a yawn. With that the father and son bid each other goodnight and headed to their bedrooms to get some much need rest.

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Meanwhile back in Japan Keno and Kito were getting anxious. "Kono Keno ni tsuite nanika shinakereba naranai (We must do something about this Keno,)" Kito was saying as he caught his breath. He and the rest of the Elite Guards had just returned from breaking up a gang of thieves that were stealing electronics. "Kore wa te ni oenaku natte imasu (This is getting out of hand.)"

"Sore ga wakatte iru (I know it is,)" Keno said as he too panted for breath. "Soshite watashi wa sudeni Amerika no Hiro ni renraku shimashita. Kare wa masutā yoshi ni renraku surudeshou. Masutā yoshi wa nani o subeki ka shitte irudeshou. (And I have already contacted Hiro in America. He will contact Master Yoshi. Master Yoshi will know what to do.)"

"Teokure ni naranai koto o negaimasu. (I just hope it will not be too late,)" Kito whispered as he looked out at the city of Tokyo, which had sirens blaring and fires burning all through out. With that the two men went to help the others in their current battle with a group of muggers.

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The next day all four brothers were in the dojo training, along with April and Casey. Just then they heard the lair door open and Karai came in along with Hiro. "Sis!" Michelangelo said, running over to Karai and hugging her. "Long time no see!" Karai smiled at her youngest brother's enthusiasm.

"Ugh Mikey you act like its been years since we saw her," Raphael said, not moving from his spot by the punching bag.

"Nice to see you to Raph," Karai said, rolling her brown eyes.

"Raph be nice," Donatello said, after giving his sister a hug.

"Yeah whatever," Raphael said, rolling his green eyes. "What do you want anyway Karai?"

"Jitsuwa watashi wa enjo ga hitsuyōna nodesu (Actually I am the one that is need of assistance,)" Hiro said, causing everyone to give him their full attention.

"Hiro wa dō shita no? (What's wrong Hiro?)" Leonardo asked.

"Kito kara watashi ni Nihon kara no messēji ga todokimashita (Kito has sent me word from Japan,)" Hiro said. "Kare no shussho wa shureddā o hakken shita to kare wa itta, soshite sore wa kare ga ikutsu ka no hijō ni fukaina dōmei-sha o boshū shita yō ni mieru (He said his sources there have spotted the Shredder and it looks like he has recruited some very unsavory allies.)"

"Dare? (Who?)" Donatello asked. "Watashi wa kare no shita koto ni wa hiretsuna kotoba ga hiromatte imasu. Tadashī kokoro no naka de dare ga kare to dōmei suru nodeshou ka? (I mean surly word has spread of what he did. Who in their right minds would ally themselves with him?)"

"Wakaranai (We do not know for sure,") Hiro admitted. "Shikashi, Kito to Keno no ryōhō ga itta koto kara, inperiaru gādo ga hataraite iru yō ni miemasu. (But from what both Kito and Keno have said it looks like the Imperial Guards are at work.)"

"O tsu? (Whoa say what?)" Michelangelo asked, his blue eyes wide. "Inperiarugādo wa daredesu ka? (Who are the Imperial Guards?)"

"Karera wa erītogādo no moto menbādesu (They are former members of the Elite Guards,)" Karai explained. "Erīto to sonomichi ni tachimukatta rōgugādo. (Rogue guards that have gone against the Elite and their ways.)"

"Soshite ima shureddā wa kare no soba ni sorera o motte iru? (And now Shredder's got them on his side?)" Raphael asked. Hiro nodded and Raphael scoffed, causing everyone to look over at him with surprise. "Mōshiwakearimasenga, shureddā ga Nihon ni kite irai, kore ga watashitachi todo no yōna kankei ni aru no ka wakarimasen. (Sorry but I don't see what this has to do with us since Shredder's in Japan.)"

"Kare wa nyūyōku ni modotte kite imasu (He is coming back to New York,)" Hiro informed the group. The group gasped and their eyes went wide.

"Hey what's going on?" Casey asked.

"Yeah fill us in," April chimed in.

"Ok here goes," Donatello said. Then he proceeded to tell his friends what they had just learned.

"This is not good," April said, her blue eyes wide with worry.

"No it is not," Splinter said. "I fear that if Shredder has indeed allied himself with the Imperial Guard we are in grave danger."

"Like how bad are these dudes?" Michelangelo asked, although he wasn't quite sure he wanted the answer.

"Very bad," Karai responded. "The Imperial Guard have no honor code. They do whatever they want without consequences. And that includes killing."

"And that's why you need our help," Leonardo finished.

"Hai, sonotōridesu. (Yes that is exactly the case,)" Hiro said. "Watashitachi wa anata no tasuke o tokuni hitsuyō to shimasu. Nihonde wa jōkyō wa haruka ni waruidesu. Kino wa kore made ijō ni tasuke o hitsuyō to shite imasu (We especially need your help Master Yoshi. Things are far worse in Japan. Keno needs help more than ever.)"

"Anata ga watashitachi kara hitsuyōnamono wa nandemo (Whatever you need from us Hiro,)" Splinter said without hesitation.

"Watashitachi wa sugu ni Nihon ni modotte kuru hitsuyō ga arimasu (We need to to come back with us to Japan at once,)" Hiro said.

"Watashi wa tasukete shiawase ijō ni narudeshou (I would be more than happy to help,)" Splinter said. "Monogoto ga soko ni ochitsuku made watashi wa ikimasu. (I will go until things settle down there.)"

"Goshujinsama ga wakaranai (You do not understand Master Yoshi,)" Hiro said. "Kore wa ichiji-tekina kotode wa arimasen. Nihon ni taizai shite hoshī. Kōkyū-teki ni (This would not be temporary. We want you to stay in Japan. Permanently.)"

A/N well folks there you have it ch 1 complete. Review please and thank you