The moment Leonardo had agreed to work for the Shredder, his foe immediately began filling him in with what to do. "Every night from now on. You will wait on the rooftops of the old apartment buildings downtown and await further instructions from either a foot ninja, me, or an arrow-gram." He ordered, undoing the restraints that kept Leo bounded to the pipe.

Leonardo nodded, indicating he understood. There was a moment when Shredder had freed him that he considered making a run for it, but he knew he wouldn't dare. He was out numbered for a starters; as there were probably hundreds of foot ninjas outside that door. He was also unarmed. Shredder must have taken away his swords when he had been unconscious...

The list was endless in the turtle's mind, but the reason that stuck out the most to him was that Master Splinter had taught him to live with honour. To fight with honour. He knew he has lost most of the honour he had earned by agreeing to help Shredder, but he wasn't going to lose even more by trying to escape a deal he had attached himself to. Shredder knew this only too well. That is the reason he had taken Leonardo instead of another, like Raphael, as he knew honour meant a lot to the blue-masked amphibian. That, and he knew he would suffer the most out of the turtles mentally, by working for him.

Leonardo quickly go to his feet and Shredder tossed him his precious swords. Leonardo examined them for any damage, before putting them in the quiver on his back

Leo was just about to walk out the door, when Shredder placed his hand on his shoulder. "By the way Leonardo, I think it's best if we leave this little meeting between us. We don't want your brothers to be a distraction now, do we?" Leo shook his head slowly.

Shredder smiled at his new accomplice, "Good, now be on your way!"

X-X-X

Leonardo arrived back at the sewer right at the crack of dawn. This would normally be the time he would go out for his morning training on the rooftops of the city, but he felt too defeated and tired to even bother with that today. He hadn't slept all night. Unless if you count being knocked out for two hours as sleeping.

Leonardo slipped through the manhole and made sure he secured the top correctly, before setting off. As he walked through the maze of filthy, sewage tunnels. He thought of what he had gotten himself into...

One thing that was clear, was that the blue turtle's guilt for what he had done was slowly, eating him alive. He was the eldest and he felt he had betrayed his brothers and master. He felt he should have done something besides surrender to the Shredder, he told himself he could have done something... anything... Yet. Leonardo couldn't think of anything he could have done. It wasn't like he could fight and if he refused, his brothers and sensei would be harmed.

That was one thing he didn't regret about his decision. Leonardo knew he had done the right thing by choosing crime (nevermind how much he hated the thought) over his families death. They were all he had after all and they meant the world to him! They were the things that kept him fighting, both in combat and through life, and vice-versa. He would never do anything to harm him and would even work for the Shredder if it would keep them safe. But the idea of working for Shredder still sent chills down his spine.

Leonardo eventually reached the part of the sewer pipes where he and his family lived and he swiftly walked through the door. Using his ninja-like reflexes to quietly close the door, Leonardo turned and began to head back to where he normally slept. But he wasn't the only one up at that early hour.

"My son. Have you been for you morning exercises already?" Shell!

Leonardo turned and saw his master, Splinter, sitting on a small square mat in the middle of the room with his legs crossed. He seemed to have just woke up from some sort of relaxed state. Of course! Splinter always mediates in the morning! Leonardo quickly realised he hadn't replied to his master yet so he bowed.

"Yes, Sensei." Leonardo lied; feeling the guilt treble inside of him for lying to his master.

Splinter looked up at his student. "I suggest you go back to bed, Leonardo. You look like you could do with a little more rest." Wow! was it that obvious he hadn't slept? Leo nodded towards his master shortly, before he quickly rushed off to his room. He fell asleep the second his head hit the pillow.