A.N:

I was going to pick off right after the last chapter but when I began writing it sort of didn't make sense so I'm going to do a Leo thought P.O.V then go back to the battle. Also I will tell you what is thoughts and what is a conversation in his head. Fair warning, I'm taking Splinter out of context as a Splinter that only cares for the younger brothers. Sorry if you don't like it but a lovey dovey Splinter didn't work for this chapter or AU story.

I am also asking everyone about how they would like the next chapter to be. Leo dying, living, captured, entire family dead or just Raph, etc. I'm going to give it about a week to see what you would like in the next chapter then either finish it off depending on the response or continue for a bit longer.

Chapter 9:

~Astral Place~

Leo's Thoughts:

What am I going to do? The Shredder is having me choose between my brother's freedom or their deaths. Wait a minute, why am I thinking about this, of course I'll choose my brothers over myself.

No matter what, I choose my family over myself. But… what Raph was talking about earlier worries me more than anything. If I agree to go with the Shredder then he will try to recuse me again. We already lost our father and friends, I can't live with the thought that Raph once again tried to recuse me and died at the hands of the foot.

And what about Mikey and Donnie? They already demonstrated their hatred to me because I'm not the eldest anymore. Placing all the responsibilities that I carried on my own two shoulders are now on all my brothers. The heavy load is starting to get weigh too heavy for them and as soon as it became too heavy for them to bear, they just started to hate me.

But on the other hand, I carried that weight and more at a younger age than they are now and never once complained about it. I took the hits, I took the criticisms, I took all the blame for over a decade. Why should I care about what they think about me and my decision? They didn't when I first was changed into a toddler and then started to blame me for my neglects for not thinking ahead and taking a hit for my brother. Both father and my two brothers never once loved me once I changed into a toddler and took it out on both me and Raph.

"Because they are your brothers, Leonardo."

~Leo's conversation~

Leo turned around, covering his eyes a bright light enter the astral plane he was in. The big light started to dim and a figure appeared in front of him.

"Father" Leo muttered under his breathe.

Splinter was still wearing his red wore kimono but his hands and legs bore the wounds from his attack from the foot. Light was shining through his palms, feet, and chest. Leo looked at his father and back at the ground. He knew his father would disapprove of all his thoughts about what to do about the Shredder and his brothers. Leo stood up and walked over to his father, Leo wanted to run over and hug him but he knew that his father would disapprove of his touch.

Leo didn't want to look Splinter in the eye because he knew that Splinter would see the disgrace he had brought onto himself.

"Leonardo you must choose to either stay and leave your brothers to live another day or stay with them and possibly lose your life in the process." Splinter said in a calm voice.

"I know Father it's just…" Leo continued to look at the ground near his feet, he didn't want to but he needed answers to the two questions that continued to put in and out of his thoughts.

"What is it Leonardo?" Splinter asked.

"What Raph said about living for him and that I needed to live for the both of us, if I choose to stay with the Shredder than Raph will more than likely act on his own to come and recuse me, killing himself in the process and maybe Donnie and Mikey, if they choose to come." Leo stated.

Splinter sighed, "Yes, I have watched over you four ever since my death and overheard your brother's speech to you. Remember that it is your choose and your choose alone. Both answers will tip the scales and neither outcome is good. There is a chance that some or all of you will perish today, tomorrow, next month, or next year. We do not know nor will me know until it is time."

"So you are saying that no matter what I say someone is going to die tonight?" Leo said gripping his left forearm tightly so that he could stop the trembling and shivers that continued to go in and out of his body.

"Yes, Leonardo someone will die tonight and I pray that no blood is spilt on our family's hands." Splinter said. Leo looked up from the ground to finally look Splinter in the eye.

"There's just another thing, can you tell me what I am to you." Leo asked.

Splinter cocked his head to side in wonder asking, "What do you mean Leonardo?"

Leo took a deep breath and said,

"For starters never once have you called me your son since we met up in this astral plane. Also in the beginning of my transformation of being a toddler you looked and treated me differently. Yes, both Donnie and Mikey did their share of alienating me but after time they sort of came to an understanding that I can't be changed back.

Then when I was changed into a human and started to live a life I never had, you did everything you could not to talk or even see me. I lived in the lair as a human child with something I never had when I was growing up. Never did I have to get up early in the morning to train before my brothers or leave and stay up late because I had to watch out for my brothers. No adult responsibilities for a child to take on. For once in my life I was happy. So I want to know is what am I, your son or your student." Leo was breathing heavily, he got everything he wanted off his chest and was waiting for Splinter's response.

Splinter closed his eyes and thought for a few moments.

"Leonardo you are my student. You always were. Yes you were my son but when you were turned into a child I saw you nothing but that a child that could no longer protect neither his family nor his brothers. You could try all you might but when you can't do the one thing you devoted your entire life to do.

I saw you nothing more than a student of mine. If you want a clearer explanation then you are a used weapon that has dulled and broken over the years. I have taken all my time and effort to keep you clean and together but when you took that hit for your brother then my once proud weapon shatter into a million pieces." Splinter stated.

Leo did all he could to stay standing, he knew Splinter didn't love him like he used to but never once did it cross his mind that his love for him was only there because of his devotion to protecting his younger brothers. Now Splinter has not only confirmed this but also shown him that he was never once a part of the family. A weapon used until it was finally broken.

Splinter started to walk back into the afterlife. Leo on the other hand sat on the ground with his knees against his chest, rocking himself back and forth as darkness started to develop and surround Leo in a deep dark abyss.

~Leo's thoughts:~

I knew it, I just knew it. Father- not Master Splinter never loved me. Hell he just loved me when I was useful and when I wasn't I was just a torn in his side. He hates me so much now that he casted me aside.

Wait a minute, Donnie and Mikey did the same thing twice. Once when I was first turned into a child in my mutant form and then when they found a clone version of my teenage mutant self. So really no one loves me. Raph said he does but I bet its just a ploy to get me to come back home so that I can learn to be an adult again so I can protect the family.

Sorry to break it to you guys but the weapon of the family is completely broken and can't be repaired. Years of training and devoting myself to the arts of ninjutsu and learning to be a better leader for my family in turned alienated me from my brothers and turned them against me. Now even father probably doesn't want to see me on the other side. I might as well go to hell, at least there my family won't have to spend an eternity looking at me and taking care of me. All they have to do is take care of themselves and father.

Maybe I should choose the Shredder, after all he is the devil incarnated and maybe I can die not a merciless death but one suited for a broken weapon like me.

Father, Raph, Don, Mikey I hope you are happy now. My family will always come first because a weapon needs to protect its Master's no matter what. No matter the enemy or the condition this weapon has to protect its Master even in the bitter end.

I wish I could tell you this Raph but I will hope that someday you will find out my last words to you maybe the Shredder will give me a chance to say my finally words. I will still love you, my hot head big brother. Continue to live not for me but yourself.

Dear Raph,

I know that you will try something to get revenge for what the Shredder will do to me but I need you to live to help Don and Mikey. I hate to see you like this but I am choosing to protect what I love and have devoted my entire life to. Goodbye big brother I will continue to watch you from the stars.

Signed

Leonardo the weapon of the Hamato family.

A.N:

Don't worry there might be a chance for Leo to change his mind but I can't decision on this. Like I said at the beginning I'm not choosing what to write for the next chapter and maybe the one after that. You need to give me your thoughts about what I should do about the next chapter and maybe the next one that I will turn into an AU ending. Tell me your thoughts, and until then SSH is out.