Disclaimer: I do not own the TMNT only plot and original characters are mine.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys. I hope this chapter is worth your guys time. Also BubblyShell22 brought up a good point. The title kind of makes it sound like Leo's blind when in all actuality he's not. I think what I was trying to do with it was really was say he as trying to turn a blind eye in a sense to his past and he's running from it. But you know what she really made me think. So I decided to change the title from Running Blind to now Beseeching Past. It fits the story a lot more actually and so yeah Thanks chica for helping me out with that. I owe you one. Also I don't know about the genre its weird like I know the story but I'm not sure what genre it should be under like should it be under mystery/action/adventure considering its got that in it or angst/suspense since it has mounds of that…or should it be under drama/mystery or drama/general. eh. Don't know. But it has a lot of stuff in here. Wow rant. Sorry. Once again thanks for the reviews guys. And onto the story! Please enjoy for that is why we write…
The mountains this time of year, Leonardo mused in silence sucking in a long breath that reverberated throughout his lungs until released slowly; the cool air tingling inside his throat. Were among the most beautiful he had ever seen throughout his long travels. Or ever would see he concluded titling his head to give another wistful glance towards the snow covered peaks.
A light dew from the early morning was still sprinkling the grass blades of the plain on which he stood. He sighed a bit closing his eyes and taking in more air through his nostrils and the peace that lingered with it. The turtle smiled inwardly, for that's what the entire morning had been, simply peace…
CRASH!!!
Or at least it was until a loud sound behind him snapped him away from his thoughts and back to reality as he turned around with a sigh. This time though, it was one of almost parental anxiety.
Leo shook his head and a half cocked smile lined the turtles lips as he took in the scene before him and with another shake of his head began to walk back down to his little camp.
The camp was small, modest and consisted of very few things if any. A small tent, a few small bundles of clothes with tins tied to them with cooking utensils attached. And of course at the very end of this small camp two bamboo poles that had been mounted up with a tight rope in between them that now wasn't so tight and held his young student up by her ankle as she dangled there buckets of water and her Bo staff now littering the ground.
Desperately the girl tried in vain to free herself working against the tangled knot her foot was now in. She could feel her entire face flushing red, but whether it was more from the fact that blood was rushing to her head or the embarrassment of her master catching her in another one of these predicaments; couldn't be told.
"Ehh!! Don't come closer! Don't help me! I can do it!!" she gasped out repeatedly trying to unknot herself again from the rope only to fall back and hang there in desperation. Still she insisted all the more fervently as Leonardo approached sword drawn to cut her down. "Please don't help me master! I can do it!!" she pleaded as he got closer.
"Ry…" he began lightly mulling over this was something he needed to do or something she had to learn on her own. His student was a gangly girl, no more than 5'6' making her slightly taller now than her master, almost as thin as one of the bamboo reeds that were being used. Her hair was a dark jet black outlined at times with seeds of what looked brown and her skin was a murky tanned color with hints of discoloration around her elbows and upper forearms. She usually kept them fairly well concealed with white gauzed bandages or black strips of cloth. The thing Leo had noticed most about her though when they first met were her hands. It seemed as if she had five fingers but one of her hands had been deformed to the point were two of them had grown together giving her the appearance of three.
She had operated just fine with them like that, but at the same time they always made her a bit self conscious. It wasn't until Leo was forced to separate the skin from each other that they looked normal. He hadn't wanted to do that. But considering it was either that or…well the situation was something he didn't truly want to think about.
It had been a grim matter that day and considering how Ry was now hanging upside down looking almost like his younger brother might have at times…well he thought it was a bit inappropriate to laugh with such a memory in his head. And also because he didn't want to cause her any further discomfort than she was already in.
Finally after a few more moments struggling the blood rushing to the girls head was more than enough and she stopped, turning desperate almost ashamed eyes to her master. He smiled lightly slinging his blades up and across the line barely catching her before she made head first contact with the ground below.
"Now Ry. What were you doing up there? Didn't I tell you to wait until I got back from meditation to try that exercise?" he sighed lightly chastising her. Now he was going to have to find a new rope that they weren't already using. It had been the third that week.
The turtle tapped his foot a bit looking at her expectantly where he had sat her on the ground.
Ry looked up, then down at the ground searching for the right words that would please her master. Her brow furrowed as she fought to compose her thoughts, though the tapping of his foot let her know that her time to answer was getting close to being over. Keeping her head down the girl muttered something.
"What?" Leo prompted
"I…I'm sorry Master Leonardo. It's just that I…well you were taking so long and I thought I could surprise you if I tried hard enough! I even got up on it with pales of water!" She spoke quietly her eyes pleading her case against the turtle, while mentally she berated herself.
It had only been from what she could tell half a year since she had met her master. And it had only been three months since he deemed he strong enough to begin training and already she was screwing it up. "I'm sorry." Ry added again this time quieter
Leonardo didn't speak immediately instead he took in a few silent breaths and counted to ten. He was just lucky the girl hadn't chosen to use anything other than a staff weapon while on that thing. The turtle didn't even want to think about how bad that could have been had it happened. A large bruise on her arm told him that she had already managed to inflict herself a wound with the Bo staff. The poles had been set up last night when they had made camp, he had promised that they would work on her balance a bit more in the morning after his meditation, but considering how long he must have been away it was no surprise to him anymore that this over energized girl at times would have gone ahead without him. Or at least it shouldn't have been.
The first time he found her like that, going ahead without him to supervise, he'd spent an entire hour trying to calm her down and get the bleeding to stop from a leg wound. Ry had inflicted it in an accident while practicing a kata with a sword. After that Leonardo decided that if trained with swords she would only be allowed to touch the wooden one he carved, that and also that maybe her weapon of choice should be something that didn't contain sharp edges. Or anything metal at all actually.
"Ry. Listen, the fact that your so much into training is surprising to me enough, but there is no need to…" He thought for a moment trying to find the right word in order not to seem hypocritical. After all she wasn't the one who had passed out at two in the morning from practicing katas all night in the cold whether and wound up with a case of phenomena. "…Err…to well make…" he could see the look of a grin trying to spread on her face. Finally he just sighed and said it even though he could read her thoughts of look who's talking; At least though she was respectful enough to never voice her observation. "There's no need to over do it throw away caution and over work yourself" he paused before adding with emphasis. "Especially when I told you to wait."
She nodded a bit, hugging her knees tighter to her though she said nothing. "Did you want to say something?" he asked concerned, his student had been known to injure herself and then try to hide it.
Ry shifted nervously a bit before Leo prompted again and she was forced to respond. "You just…you were just taking so long." She spoke trying to keep any whine out of her voice
Leo rolled his eyes a bit humored. "Yes I suppose I do take to long at times…"
"What do you think about?" Her eyes widened instantly as the question left her mouth and her hands were clamped firmly on her lips. "I'm sorry, Master." She squeaked out biting her tongue at how terribly rude and intruding that must have sounded. But she couldn't help it, it was a question that was dieing to be asked and burning in her mind every time she saw him stand or sit alone for hours, just breathing.
The turtle blinked a bit, trying to force himself not to take a step back from the girl as if she had dealt him a blow. Her question had more than caught him off guard….truly what did he think about that even tried to hide from himself by observing scenery and finding a false peace. What indeed… "Nothing really." He said simply trying to let his voice contain the tone it had only seconds ago "Just surroundings, positions you know. The stuff we reflect on together." He spoke once again masking the truth.
She nodded though it was obvious she wasn't fully convinced yes, they did meditate on stuff together. But that was different, then they were actually open to each other, and his expression was different, but when he went alone…it was different. Ry had caught a glimpse of his stone like face once when he was out alone. It had been an accident of course that was one privacy she never dared intrude on was his alone time. She had been gathering food at the time and caught a glimpse. At first it seemed as though his face had been stone but then as apparently more thoughts that he needed to reflect on came to his mind. His expression had changed drawing his mouth into a line of grief and pain. While his eyes furrowed in what she suspected would have looked like a blind rage had his eyes been open.
It hadn't scared her, but for the first time since she had known him she felt nervous being around him. She wasn't sure if he knew she saw him or not, but didn't waste time not announcing her presence to him before she had hugged the supply tighter and stole away among the trees.
That had happened only three weeks ago. But she was more than sure thinking about angles of trees wouldn't do that to him.
Leo saw the flash of disbelief on her face, but he didn't even consider telling her the truth. Not only were they both to new to each other…but also the burden of speaking the words would have been more than he could have bared. Even telling his own family had been to much…to much for anyone really. Giving what felt like his hundredth sigh and thousands shake of his head Leonardo spoke softly "Why don't you get yourself cleaned up and meet me back out here in a half an hour. I'll find another rope and get the poles reset. Alright?"
"Hai Sensei!" Ry spoke picking herself up and giving a respectful bow before walking away and realizing for the first time she had gotten soaked. Once she reached the tent she turned towards her master only to be cut off again.
"Apology accepted, Ry." He chuckled a bit.
She smiled and disappeared into the tent, her brown garments had left a trail of water behind.
"Alright then…" Leo said turning away from the view and towards the poles, his kimono fluttering a bit in the cool breeze. "Now to get some new rope." He groaned a bit heading over to the place they had their bundles tied, hoping they didn't have to leave in a hurry before he had time to get the rope back down.
To Be Continued…
A/N: Yeah I definitely got to say I think I'm better at third person than first. XD Please review. Also anything that doesn't make sense at a first eyes glance I can almost guarantee will be cleared up very soon. thanks for reading.
take care
Be blessed
innocent-rebel
