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Ch 4 Memories of War.

Leo quickly went about cleaning the dojo, he worked hard and diligently. As he handled each weapon, his thoughts wandered off to a time far away. The words Master Splinter spoke haunted him. Thinking about the attack on the terrapin village. Remembering all that had happened and why. His brother, so tiny, helpless and innocent, newly hatched when their village was attacked and destroyed.

He sighed as he remembered that day. He had not yet turned four but he remembered it as though it were yesterday. The night itself had told them everything. His parents so afraid; his mother crying when Mikey's egg began to hatch. She had so hoped it would not happen that night. But when it did, his parents knew they had to take action. They tried to get them away before the attack came. They gathered others in their village, they tried to get them out, but it was too late.

Leo put the weapon he was currently working on back in it's rack and walked over to the window. He sighed heavily as he looked up at the bright sun. The warm air temporarily making him forget all that he and his brother had recently gone through. A nice change from the cold they had to endure during the month they spent in that building.

'Five more days.' He thought to himself, allowing himself a moment to bask in the warmth of the sun before going back to his task. 'Five more days before Mikey turns fourteen.' He shook his head, remembering the words his father spoke to his mother when the Foot entered their village. They were so willing to die to make sure no one hurt his baby brother. So willing, because they knew what he was.

To this very day, the battle still sounded loud in his head. Weapons being drawn, explosions going off everywhere, terrapins screaming as they fought to ward off the enemy. Confusion and chaos erupting around him as women and children from his clan ran to try and get away. He fought back tears as he remembered his parents telling him to take his baby brother to safety and doing everything he could to protect him. No matter what, he had to make sure Mikey was safe and kept away from the Foot. He shook his head, the anger within him raising up from the very bottom of his soul. He had failed his parents, he had failed his brother. He had allowed the Foot to capture them and allow Saki to try and force him to be one of them, to be as evil as them and to destroy what Mikey was.

Leo gritted his teeth and walked over to another weapons rack. 'Never again'. He told himself, picking up a sai. Never again would he allow Saki and his Foot clan to try and manipulate him to take his brother's power away. He had to get Mikey away from here and get him to the Daimyo's home. He would know what to do, he would know how to help. And in exchange for the knowledge he had of the traitors in the Hamato kingdom and to the Daimyo himself, he would be able to train his brother and finally, the prophecy would be fulfilled and the Terrapin Nation would be whole once again. Leo nodded as he placed the sai back in its rack. Yes, he told himself, everything would be alright once they got to the Daimyo's stronghold. He had heard the Daimyo was a good and gentle human and would want peace between all species. He nodded to himself once again as he confirmed his plans.

Leo was so engrossed with his thoughts and musings, he failed to notice a pair of green eyes watching him with amusement. "You really know how to handle those weapons." Raph's voice cut through Leo's thought's and the turtle whirled around with a yelp, causing him to hit the rack and make the weapons fall to the floor.

"Oops, sorry Leo." Raph said with a chuckle. " I didn't mean to startle you." He made his way into the dojo and assisted him in putting the weapons back on the rack. "You were handling these things like an expert." He noted. "Where did you learn how to handle weapons?"

"I do not know anything about these weapons." Leo told him, putting away a bo staff and picking up a nun-chuck. "I only know about these from how I see others handle them."

"Sure Leo." Raph said, clearly not believing him. "So which clan were you part of? The Northern or Southern Clan?" He watched Leo's face as he asked the question.

Leo's eyes widen in surprise and he turned away from him. "We were of the Northern Clan." He whispered. "You?"

"The Southern." Raph said, nonchalantly. "I was just over three years old when the attack happened. Donnie barely two. I hardly remember it." Raph picked up his other sai and began twirling them. "How bout you?" He walked around to look at Leo. "Do you remember it?"

"I have vague memories of it." Leo responded. He sat on the floor and continued to polish the nun-chuck.

Raph nodded and sliced his sais through the air. "Where have you and your brother been all this time?"

Leo sighed in annoyance and looked up at him warily. "I would rather not speak about it." He told him rather hotly. He finished his task and placed the weapon back in it's spot on the rack. He was just about to pick up another one when Raph's hand grabbed his arm. Leo looked at him in surprise before looking down at the firm yet gentle hand that held his arm.

"I know you've been through a lot." Raph told him, his hand still holding Leo's arm. Leo looked away from him but did not push his hand off. "We have all been through a lot." He was saying as he placed his hand under Leo's chin and forced his head to turn toward him. "I would like it if you would trust in me and tell me what it is your afraid of."

"I…"Leo looked at Raph and the two stared at each other, green eyes were stern and intent while blue eyes were fearful and uncertain. Leo finally shook his head and took his arm away. "There is nothing I am afraid of." He told him. He moved himself away from Raph and picked up a spear. He sat down to polish it when April stuck her head in.

"Excuse me Leo." She called him. Leo looked up at her and stood. "I'm ready to go over things with you now if you would allow me to." He nodded and, with a quick look at Raph, made his way out of the dojo and followed April toward the kitchen.

Raph shook his head. "Damn stubborn turtle." He muttered while putting his sai back in it's spot on the rack. "I know your hiding something, and I will find out what that is."

Leo followed April into the kitchen where he saw Donnie and Mikey sitting and enjoying a small snack of pork dumplings. The odor wafted up to Leo's nose and it made his mouth drool. But right now, he had to pay attention to April's instructions.

She began with the basics of keeping the kitchen and the rest of the house clean; dusting and picking up after the brothers and Master Splinter. But, she noted, Splinter was much cleaner then the turtles and tended to pick up after himself. Splinter was also the one who kept the dojo clean, he did not usually want anyone else to do it, she advised him. There was the washing that had to be done as well as the cooking. But aside from that, she told him, nothing else was expected of him.

"You want me to cook?" Leo asked her, nervously.

"Sure." She told him with a smile. "You can cook can't you?"

A loud laugh from behind them cause them to turn around and April saw a deep blush cross Leo's cheeks.

"My brother is not the best at cooking." Mikey told her, swallowing a dumpling. "Leo would rather fight off a thousand warthogs then deal with a stove." He laughed. "He swears the stove at…."A look from Leo caused Mikey to stop speaking and look back at his plate nervously.

"At where?" Donnie asked.

"Uh..no..nowhere." Mikey said nervously.

April and Donnie exchanged looks before Leo stepped forward. "At the house where you found us." He said quickly.

"I didn't see a stove." Donnie muttered.

"It was outback." Leo said then turned toward April. "So do you have recipes I should follow?"

"Um…yeah." April pulled out a book of recipes and gave it to him to follow. "Also, I usually go out to the village to pick up groceries. Raph and Donnie escort me so they'll be able to take you to the market place and the various stalls I usually visit."

"The village?" Leo muttered nervously.

"Sure." April, oblivious to Leo's apprehension, gave him a quick list." You'll want to get it done tomorrow so you can have what you need for the rest of the week."

"Can't you do that before you leave?" He asked her, suddenly feeling a growing anxiety within his stomach.

April shook her head. "Sorry, but certain food doesn't come into the village till the middle of the week in the early morning, which is why you should do it first thing." She smiled at him and turned to leave the kitchen. "I was told you'll be with us for at least a month and I could that much time off but I should be back within three days." She told him. "If you need anything, Casey, Raph or Donnie can assist." She bent down by the door to the kitchen and picked up a bucket with gardening tools. "I'll be out in the garden if you have any questions for me before I leave."

Leo looked down at the list and sighed. He decided he would go back to the dojo to continue cleaning and if he should think of anything he would speak to her later. As he crossed the hallway, he bumbed into Master Splinter walking toward the tea room. "Oh, there you are Leonardo." The rat said with a smile. "I noticed the weapons you did. A job well done." He complimented. "I have not seen my weapons looking so pristine in quite sometime." He gestured toward the tea room. "Would you care to join me for a cup of tea?"

Leo smiled at the large rat. "Thank you Sensei." He bowed. "But I was just about to get back to cleaning the rest of the weapons as well as the dojo."

"The cleaning will be there when you are done eating and I can tell you are hungry." He told him sternly. "Please…"He made a motion for the turtle to follow him. "Join me."

Leo followed Splinter into the tea room and swallowed hard when he saw more pork dumplings along with a porcelain tea cup set sitting on the little table. He blushed slightly when his stomach growled loud and Master Splinter looked at him with a knowing smile. Splinter sat at one end of the table and motioned for Leo to sit across from him. Leo sat down across from Splinter and waited till he had finished preparing the tea. Splinter handed him a cup then raised his cup toward the young turtle, the two bowed their heads to each other then slowly sipped their tea.

"My sons do not care for tea." Splinter explained, putting his cup on the little table. "I often find myself drinking alone and wishing I had someone to share this time with." He said smiling. "You enjoy tea, yes?"

"I do Master Splinter." Leo told him. He sipped his tea and reached for a dumpling. "I was told you usually clean the dojo." He said as Splinter nodded. "I'm surprised you wish for me to do it then." He looked up shyly at the large rat. "May I ask why?"

Splinter smiled at the young turtle. "That was the only job I could think of to give you." He answered with a chuckle.

Leo let out a small chuckle as he brought the tea cup to his lips. "Well I am honored you choose the dojo for me to clean."

"Raphael tells me you seem to know how to handle weapons Leonardo."

Leo shook his head slightly. "It seems Raphael likes to tell you a lot of things about your guest Master Splinter."

"He is only concerned." Splinter watched Leo with a bemused smile.

"Maybe he just doesn't trust me." Leo stated with a mater-of-fact tone.

"I would like for you to trust us."

"I trust you Master Splinter." Leo said.

Splinter couldn't help but notice Leo's eyes looking away from him when he spoke. "Something tells me you want to trust Leonardo, but you do not."

Leo lowered his eyes and sighed deeply. "There is just so much I need to deal with before I can open up to anyone." He finally admitted. Splinter reached over and placed his paw on his hand. Leo looked up at him.

"When you are ready then." He smiled gently and plopped a dumpling into his mouth. Leo smiled at him, bowed his head and continued to enjoy his tea.

The two sat in the tea room for several minutes enjoying their tea time. Together, they talked about the history of weapons and how Splinter came to be the peacemaker of the Hamato village. After, Leo went back to his cleaning, his stomach full and his body warm. He picked up another weapon and as he cleaned, he glanced around the room and wished, not for the first time, he could trust in the family that lived there.