Hello guys ! I'm back ;D *chirp chirp* lol yeah I though so :p

So I finally got around updating this story. Honestly, I almost forgot it existed but because it is still getting a few reviews, I became motivated to continue on with the story. The following chapter may be a little bit fluffy but trust me, you'll need fluffy once you get to the next chapter which is one of the HEAVIEST.

Disclaimer: Don't own the turtles...YET

Thank you for all of you guys who reviewed and favourited my story !

Chapter 9: Memory

Memory:

the mental capacity or faculty of retaining and reviving facts, events, and impressions, or of reflecting or recognizing previous experiences. The recollection of particular instances throughout a man's life is the ruling force that grounds him to the present while allowing him to build towards a future. For some, the past is a chest filled with joy while for others, it is a road signifying life's endless little twists and turns. For a distinct few, the past is a palate of colours; colours in various shades and hues, darks and lights that have been mixed and combined to form a delicate picture on a canvas called life. What if the once bold and bright colours combine to form a grotesque image of pain, sorrow, and loss? Can the canvas be wiped clean? Is there a way to reshape this tragically beautiful mirage?

The sounds of laughter...

The sensation of cold water beneath his feet...

"You can't catch me !"

A voice.

Eight-year old Hamato Leonardo was ecstatic as he ran after his hotheaded little brother in the narrow tunnels of the sewers.

His heart was pounding as adrenaline surged through his veins. He let out a carefree chuckle "You're too fast Raphie! I can't keep up with you!"

That was a lie. Leonardo had started training with his master and adopted father for a few months now; meditating, weight lifting, tracking...almost everything. He didn't want to think about training though. He could beat his brother when it came to speed anytime. Leo didn't want to do that either.

He wasn't sure if that was more for Raph's sake, or for his own.

Breaking out of his thoughts, he called after his brother when he stopped hearing his footsteps "Come on ! At least tell me where you're taking m-"

His heels dug into the ground to prevent himself from bumping into Raph's shell head-first. His brother had stopped running and was standing in front of him; his shoulders moving as he took deep breaths. The red-banded turtle slowly turned around and faced him. His face beaming with excitement and something akin to anticipation.

"You ready for this?"

"For what?"

"Look up"

Leo tilted his head up in confusion. His brother had dragged him out of bed that morning before sunrise and had demanded Leo to follow him into the swears. They were standing below a metallic sewer door. He saw Raph reach up and open the manhole cover; allowing the bright rays of sun inside.

"Raph what-" The red-banded turtle held up a hand to silence him and slowly moved aside.

A gasp erupted from Leo's mouth and his eyes went wide.

Beneath the sewer hole was a giant ball of crystal. Pieces of glass from empty coke bottles, light bulbs, plates and broken jewelry seemed to have been glued around it. Leo looked around in amazement as he saw various bright colours, parts of a rainbow being reflected on the walls; covering the entire tunnel in bits of red, violet, yellow, greens, and blues.

Like a canvas. Leo thought.

"Happy Birthday Leo."

Leo looked back and what he saw would be etched into his memories forever. His little brother, standing beneath the sunlight, surrounded by multiple rays of colour. His face radiating with happiness, pride, and hope. His mouth stretched into a wide grin, reminding Leo of when he was only three-years old. Innocent and pliant within his big brother's arms.

Indeed a beautiful canvas.

"Did you...did you make this?" He had a hard time forming words.

Raph shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck; a sign of bashfulness.

"Yeah...it wasn't a big deal. Just collected a few pieces of scrap here and there."

Leo smiled knowingly. It probably had taken Raph months to put that crystal ball together but he wasn't going to point that out. Instead the blue-banded turtle reached out and pulled his brother into a tight embrace.

Raph's body tensed for a second before relaxing and circling his arms around his brother's shoulder. Hugs like this became less and less frequent as the four of them grew up. They were supposed to be warriors...too much attachment just wouldn't do.

Sometime later, the two turtles were sitting at the edge of a sewage waterway. Their toes splashing on the surface, making ripples in the murky water.

"I can't believe I almost forgot my own birthday!" Leo exclaimed. Sighing contently for the first time after what seemed like a long time.

Raph looked up from where he was making little circles on the water. "You were too stressed recently. With all the training and all, it's like we rarely ever have time to hang out anymore I..." He suddenly looked down. His expression more somber. " I hate it when master splinter takes you away from us...from me."

Leo frowned. A pang of guilt forming deep inside him. "It's ...I can't do anything about that and you know it Raphie. The world out there is hostile towards things like us and it is my job as the eldest brother to be prepared, to train and work hard so I can protect all of you."

Raph stood up abruptly. His hands were formed into fists and his expression had turned sullen, accusing. "No it's not ! It's not your job to protect all of us, we're not some kind of cult Leo ! We don't have a leader... You're our brother and as much as I respect father, I can't understand why he purposely shoves all these new responsibilities on you like you're destined for it !"

Halfway through his brother's speech, Leo had also stood up and the two turtles were now facing each other " I don't know why Splinter is giving me extra training ! He tells me he senses something bad coming...a great evil as he puts it and that I have to be ready to face it."

"But you can't do it alone" Raph yelled.

"I have to. It might be dangerous."

"Like I care !"

"Well you should !"

" I need to be beside you !"

"And why is that ?!" Leo was yelling as well. Confused by his brother's desire to stand beside him at all cost.

"Because-" Raph cut himself off mid-sentence and turned around; facing away from his brother.

Leo walked around him and put his hand on Raph's shoulder; all the fight slowly draining out of him. " Why Raph?"

His little brother sighed and turned to face him. His eyes glittering with a mix of emotions Leo couldn't decipher.

"I need to keep you beside me because...because you make me into the very person I've always wanted to be...Braver, smarter, more patie-"

"Same." Leo replied. He had felt this way long before his younger sibling had.

It was In that moment, that the two turtles stood in front of each other with nothing but honesty and a raw longing to be with one another as brothers, and as a family. To fight side by side in battle, and to live life in each other's company; learning, dreaming, and sharing with the same passion as that of boisterous eight-year-olds.

That was a long time ago...and those who knew their tale, know that things didn't quite work out as they had envisioned it. Not long after, Leonardo became the team leader and earned the position of master Splinter's second in command. Training day and night in preparation for a long-awaited enemy. Raphael hardened himself both internally, and externally. He built himself up like a true warrior and gradually learned to conceal his emotions. His childlike admiration for his big brother gradually gave its way to annoyance, and resentment instead.

And as time went by, their canvas that was once painted with the colours of that distant rainbow in the past, slowly yet surely transformed into a tragic blend of black and red as the turtles lost Donatello, Michelangelo, and Hamato Splinter-their family-one by one.

That was a long time ago...

"Blue is finally waking up"

Leonardo blinked. His sight was blurry and his head throbbed. The smell of something foul filled his nostrils.

It was blood.

Where was he? What happened to him?

"Should I bandage his wounds master Takeo?"

Master Takeo...Leo closed his eyes shut and let out a pained groan as memories of the past eight hours flashed through his mind like thunder.

"Nah, let him bleed out for a little bit."

"But..."

"He should've known better then to insult me as he did."

He remembered the battle on that rooftop, he remembered being captured, tied up and chained to the wall. He recalled all the things he said to his captor and felt the after effects of being tortured and beaten repeatedly by his attacker in every fractured bone and torn flesh.

"Is my brother done with the red one?"

Raph ! Where was he? What had they done to him?! He tried to move his body but he felt his restrains like a brand on his muscles, preventing him from moving.

"He should be done in half-an-hour master. I have not received the details of his interrogation yet but I'll have Red moved to this compound as soon as master Satoshi is finished."

"Good. Now go request a meeting with my father." Takeo ordered.

"I have to discuss our next move regarding these monsters." His voice was low, dangerous, and filled with malice and pure hatred.

Leonardo couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even think properly. He felt pain all over. He realized that he had been dreaming. Dreaming of a distant memory in the past that had stayed with him throughout these years. That one memory that he swore never to forget as he grew, changed, and evolved into who he is now. That one distinct moment where he felt utterly and completely whole, standing in front of his little brother's adoring gaze; knowing that he needs to carve every detail in his memory...because moments, instances, and impressions are fragile. They come and go without people fully realizing it and before they know it, they have painted a canvas...in the colours of a rainbow.