You might want to break out the tissues for this one. This is a mixture of anger, hurt, tears and angst in this part.

Chapter 4: Frustration

A few hours after the conflict argument between Mikey and his brothers and revealing his true feelings towards Leo and Raph, Mikey was sitting in his bed, sulking about his resentment and thinking about everything he said to them and it seems like there's a hidden amount of betrayal towards one of them.

His thoughts about Leo being gone for a year has left Mikey full of complete depression and betrayal inside of him, like he didn't want to be around his brothers anymore or that he needs to leave them for some unknown reasons, just to better himself for being a better leader, because Raph thinks he's seriously lacking on being a reasonable leader.

He suddenly realizes that it became the reason for Leo's departure; Raph thinking that he should be a better leader and take over Leo's duty as leader and shove him off to the side. Just the thought of Leo out of the way wanted him to just ate him alive and it consumed him in so many unknown ways.

But his resentment was headed towards Leo for leaving him, Donny, Raph and Splinter for a full year to Central America to become an efficent leader and to better himself, when he knows that he is already a better leader than he was before he left and Raph's resentment towards him has made him a little bit furious.

He sighed heavily and he feels as though Raph hates Leo for his leadership skills and thinks that Splinter is favoring him for that, because Leo spends the most time Splinter and Mikey never sees Splinter favoring his brothers, but Raph feels that way and it made him kinda want to ask him several questions about his deep resentment.

It hurts him to know that Raph wanted to accuse Splinter for constantly favoring Leo rather than the others and that Raph feels jealous for that and the fact that he feels that way made him a lot frustrated at both Raph and Leo. It's like a ginormous wound that shot him straight on his insides and it feels as though no one will understand what it did to him that damaged him deep inside.

'Why did Leo have to leave us behind for a full year? It feels as though I'm not wanted around them, because of the tensions between him and Raph. Why do they act like they hate each other so much? I'm so confused on why did Leo left us behind and Raph thinking that we would be better off without him. I can't stand this tension for so long. I have no choice, but to tell them my own feelings.' Mikey thought.

Mikey sighed frustratedly and got up from his bed and went out of his room, but as soon as he got out, he sees Raph standing in his door and looking in his eyes made him feel petrified. He asked, "How long have you been standing there, Raph?"

"Long enough, Mikey. Long enough." he replied.

Then, he went into Mikey's room and slammed the door, like he's ready to attack him. Mikey stepped back and Raph got in his face and said, "Why do you think I came back here?"

Mikey looked nervous and replied, "T-to kill me?"

"Nah, too brutal. I just came to ask you why did you say all the things about me."

"Well, you always take out your anger on Donny and show a little bit of resentment and jealousy towards Leo spending more time with Splinter, thinking that he likes him more, but it's not true. He doesn't favor one of us. You know Splinter's not like that." Mikey explained.

"In your eyes he's not. In mine, he is. It's like you three are the most important to him and I'm stuck with nothing."

"Splinter is not like that!" Mikey shouted.

"He is!"

"Splinter has always appreciated us and we appreciate him! So what if he spends more time with Leo? That's not the cause of this situation! The problem is that you always blame everyone but yourself!"

"Take that back!"

"Look, Raph. You always feel like Leo isn't cut out for being leader of this brotherhood. He's a good leader and no one should replace both you or him!"

"Why should I take notice of what you just said?! Splinter likes Leo better than me!"

"No, he doesn't! He loves all of us!"

Raph growls in frustration and said, "You just don't get it!"

"No! YOU don't get it! In fact, you NEVER get it at all! You just can't accept the fact that Leo spends more time with Splinter, but not because he abandoned you. Because he sees him as a brilliant leader with a personality who has a need for us to be a better team."

"When Leo left, we got along just fine without him, right?! Am I right, Michaelangelo?!"

Mikey looked into his brown eyes and sees a big gamut of rage and jealousy towards Leo and Mikey responds, "Not really."

Raph seethed deeply and told him, "I cannot believe you would be this selfish!"

"Someone's selfish all right, but it's not me. It's YOU!!"

Raph froze for a bit and Mikey thinks that he's selfish and Mikey continued to tell him, "You just don't care about nobody but yourself!"

"It's all Leo's fault for leaving us behind! What did I ever to do to you?"

"You show no sign of remorse or that you even care about Leo and the others, me included."

"Are you saying that the way I treated him is my fault?"

"Pretty much."

"I think both of you are right."

They turned around and saw Leo standing there. He said, "I can hear you guys arguing when I got past Mikey's door. But Splinter doesn't favor me. He treats us all the same."

"That's what I'm trying to get Raph to understand." Mikey said.

"Splinter shouldn't have to treat you like he's wrapped you around his little finger whenever he wants." Raph said.

Leo stands up and tells Raph, "You're wrong about what you said."

"Excuse me? A few minutes ago, you said that I'm right. So, why am I wrong now?"

"Splinter does not play favorites. Just because I spend more time wirh Splinter doesn't mean he's leaving you to the side."

"You are SO wrong and you know it!"

"If I'm wrong, then who's right?"

"I am! Whatever I say, it's always right!"

"And also the opposite." Mikey muttered.

"I heard that!"

"Don't take it out on Mikey!" Leo shouted.

"I can take my anger out on anyone I want."

"Can we stop the drama, please? I don't want to come between you and you!"

"You shut up!" Raph shouted.

"Don't tell him to shut up!"

"You don't tell me when to shut up! I can tell anyone to shut up whenever I want!"

"WHY DON'T YOU BOTH SHUT UP?!!!" Mikey shouted.

They both looked at Mikey in silence and he felt like he's shaking a bit. Mikey lowered his head down and told him softly, "It doesn't matter who's right or wrong. The fact is that I can't stand seeing you like this. In fact, I never liked seeing you guys like this and I'm always worried that I'm gonna be in the middle of this. Leo, I admire you a lot, but it feels like you left us behind for a year and it feels as though I haven't got the most attention to you as I thought and it just feels like you're kinda...ashamed of us and don't like to be around us and for some reason, it just feels like we're constantly disappointing you, but I would never disappoint you, though. And Raph, you're kinda being, as I said, a jerk and sometimes a bit stubborn and like to lash out at Leo and Donny more often than me. You think Splinter likes Leo better than you, but he would never do that."

"Sometimes it feels that way." Raph said.

"It doesn't have to be that way, Raph. Splinter admires me a lot, but he admires all of us as well." Leo said.

Raph scoffed at him and turned the other way around and said, "What's the point in talking to you guys at all?"

Leo sighed heavily and felt like this is going nowhere, so he left Mikey's room without another word, leaving Raph and Mikey standing there, and Mikey felt a bit nervous about what Raph will say. Raph turned to Mikey and said, "Sometimes, you always take sides. You're supposed to be on MY side, Mikey."

"Well, I don't take sides from anyone."

Raph fumes a little and storms out of his room in a huff and shouts, "I WISH YOU WOULD DIE, MICHAELANGELO!!!"

Then, he slams the door as loud as he could and Mikey felt like he was stabbed in the heart when Raph said that. It really tore Mikey up and he kneeled down to the floor, lowered his head and started crying. Tears were already streaming down his face and they fell down to the floor. Already, he was sobbing uncontrollably and it felt like for the first time in his life, he was starting to become mistreated by both Leo and Raph, though Leo never mistreats Mikey.

"Michaelangelo..."

Then, he rose his head and sees Master Splinter in his room. Tears were already coming from his teary blue eyes and asked, "Yes, Sensei?"

"Something has been troubling you, my son."

Mikey didn't say anything, so he just nodded his head slowly. Splinter came towards him and puts his hand on his shell to know that Splinter is keeping Mikey comforted. He looked up at him and asked, "How much did you hear?"

"All of it. You know I never favor you all, right?" asked Splinter.

"Of course not, master."

"I understand that you have been feeling some resentment towards both Leonardo and Raphael."

"How'd you know that?"

"I can tell from your eyes."

Mikey rubbed his eyes gently and sighed heavily and said, "I don't know what to do, Master Splinter."

Splinter sighed and told him, "I would never favor you over your brothers."

"What's the point, Master Splinter? No matter what I do or think on this situation, it's never gonna be good enough."

"Do not say that, are good enough."

Splinter came to him and hugged him tightly. Mikey was crying softly on Splinter's shoulders and tears were streaking through his robe. Splinter whispered to him, "It's gonna be okay. I'm here, my son....and I always will be."

"Thanks, Sensei. You're the only one who understands me."

"Don't I always? You're always the one that lightens my day and it is my turn to lightne yours as well. Maybe I should have a little talk with Leonardo and Raphael about this situation that you are in, but cannot get yourself out of."

Mikey nodded his head and said, "Yes, Sensei."

Is that sweet or what? The next chapter...definitely a moment where Mikey plans to end his life because of the resentment. Bring on the reviews!