AN: To the Guest: I'm glad you do! Thanks for your review! :D

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Know Your Enemy

Is he... gone? Mikey asked as soon as he had recovered from his shock.

Leo tried to figure out an answer. Now that he knew he was still connected to his body, he could feel it if he focused - and said body was still there, somewhere.

I don't think so.

I felt you leave, Mikey whispered. It was scary. Please don't do it again.

Leo coiled his thoughts around Mikey's in the spiritual equivalent of a hug.

I'm sorry, Mikey. He didn't add that he would do it again without a second of hesitation if he deemed it necessary, but his brother must have understood it because he sighed deeply.

Next to Mikey, Raph was inspecting the remnants of the wall in search of his missing sai. He picked them up and put them back in his belt with a frown.

"What the shell just happened?"

Donnie leaned on his bō staff, his expression dreamy.

"I don't know exactly..."

Raph and Mikey both turned to him.

"Then tell us what you think, bro," Mikey encouraged him.

Donnie sighed. "Well, the few stories and rumors I've been able to find describe the existence of mischievous spirits whose only goal is to steal a body and have fun with it. They…" Donnie coughed. "They get rid of the right owner of the body and take his place. They keep a low profile for a few days - maybe to adjust to their new environment. Then they begin to use their own powers, and…" Donnie swallowed hard. "To sum it up, they wreak havoc on the world."

Raph raised an eye ridge.

"Tell me there is something we can do about it."

"Well, making them leave is always… complicated," Donnie answered. "But they remain limited by the body they use - they still have to cater to its needs, to eat and sleep. And they can be banished."

How? Leo wondered.

"How?" Both Raph and Mikey asked.

"I don't know, guys, I'm no expert," Donnie replied with irritation, although it was more because of his own lack of knowledge than because of his brothers' question. "The stories just say it depends on the way they arrived on this world - so I guess the scroll Leo used in the first place would help us to find answers."

"Why can't we ask Master Splinter?" Mikey tilted his head.

"Because, depending on the spirit… There is a chance he could attack Sensei on the spiritual plane."

"But Splinter is a master," Raph objected.

Donnie threw up his hands. "It makes him more vulnerable. By turning his focus on the spirit, he would allow him to attack, and to… to feed on his energy."

His brothers looked at him, appalled.

"At least that's what I think," Donnie whispered.

At that instant, Leo felt immensely grateful that he had listened to his brother's advice and not tried to contact his father.

"And what about the original spirit?" Mikey asked. "What if he's still there?"

Donnie shook his head. "There is no mention of that."

Probably because you can't survive for long without a body, Leo mused. He was lucky Mikey had been there that first night to collect him.

Sure thing, bro, Mikey whispered, as ever receptive to his thoughts. You're always welcome.

Thank you, Mikey. I highly appreciate that.

Raph crossed his arms. "Speaking of which…"He turned to Mikey, hands on his hips. "You know, it's really creepy to imagine Leo being in your head. He's probably not going to stay sane for long."

"Hey! For your information, he just said that he highly appreciated me."

"Anyways, I have something to tell him," Raph said, coming closer so he could look Mikey in the eye. "And this is not for you, Mikey, so don't listen." He ignored Mikey's glare as much as Donnie's skeptical expression - after all, if Mikey didn't listen then Leo wouldn't either - and went on. "I've tried to tell you yesterday, but I want to make sure that the message got through."

Raph took a deep breath and on intuition, Mikey covered his ears.

"IT WAS STUPID AND FOOLISH AND DANGEROUS AND WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, LEO?"

That it would be helpful, Leo grumbled. You really don't need to rub it in.

Oh, I don't know, Mikey inserted. I think he does.

Donnie tapped his fingers together. "Not that I disagree with you, Raph, but could we please focus on the matter at hand? We need to bring Leo his body back."

Yes, please. Leo was welcoming the change of topic.

"We're not done," Raph whispered, pointing a vengeful finger at Mikey, and thus, Leo. "Where do you think that thing went, Donnie?"

Donnie shrugged. "He could be anywhere."

I don't think so. He won't leave too far away as long as I'm still there, Leo mused.

The imposter would probably try to get rid of him again. Not that it was a pretty thought, but at least it guaranteed that they would have another chance to stop him.

"I suggest we go back to the lair," Donnie said. "It's useless to stay here, and I would like to do some more research."

"What are we going to tell Splinter?" Raph crossed his arms. "I don't think we'll be able to hide the fact that Leo is missing."

"I don't know, Raph," Donnie answered. "Leo?" he asked, turning to Mikey.

I'll think about it.

"He'll think about it," Mikey said. "And he also says to carry me, because I'm tired and he can't focus if I'm tired."

Mikey!

What? Mikey said innocently.

What are you doing?

I'm lightening the atmosphere, bro.

Raph narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Is it true?"

Mikey nodded, an angel made turtle.

"I'm unwilling to take the risk," Donnie said, managing to keep his voice level as Mikey winked at him behind Raph's back.

Raph sighed.

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As Raph carried Mikey through the sewers for the second time in two days, Leo tried to decide what the best course of action was. If they went back to the lair, Splinter was going to demand the truth - and he knew none of his brothers could lie to him. If only he could locate Leonardo…

Maybe he could. After all, he was the true owner of that body. He could feel it at the edge of his consciousness. If anyone could figure out where exactly it was, it was him.

Mikey?

Yes?

I'm going to try to locate my body. Can you keep a thought on me?

Sure thing, bro.

Carefully, Leo focused again on the connection he had felt earlier. He allowed Raph's light footsteps to lull him, falling back into a trance…

There. There it was. Much closer to him than he would have thought. In fact, it was almost as if…

Leo's sudden realization snapped him out of his meditating state.

He's in the lair!

What? But what would he be doing there? Mikey asked.

I… Leo thought about the possibilities. Maybe the imposter needed something that he had left in the lair, like the scroll - but somehow, Leo had a feeling that it was way, way worse than that.

He hadn't even finished formulating his thought that Mikey jumped from a surprised Raph and began racing towards their home.

"He's after Sensei!"