Hello my totally awesome ninjas! A special thanks to my reviewers: Sharneemonster, dondena, Ariddle-Ascare, k0k02417, NJ7009, mukuto, NinjaWolf10, SharneeRawson102 and Sharnee101101010. Also another special thanks to my followers and favouriters: Ariddle-Ascare, Draconia Snowmantle-Snape, Haoyoh Asakura, NJ7009, NinjaWolf10, Yuna Kei, dani-curtis-16, jade4563, mukuto, raph'sgirl4ever, Koutei's Empress and cook563 ! Loving it! Thank you sooooo much guys, you give me so much inspiration! :')

This chapter is one of the longest so far, so I hope you like heartfelt conversations, long chapters and a little revealing of the mystery. And also another problem or two and a bit of a break down with one of the brothers in particular. Thanks again guys and happy reading!

Donnys POV

Bolt after bolt of electrifying pain came. I tried to stand and fight them all back but my dream body wouldn't allow it.

To be honest I wasn't sure what was real. It all felt real, but in the same sense it didn't.

"What do you want?" I begged, tears welling in my eyes; both dream and reality.

The room got cold and my eyes shot open. I blinked a few times, keeping my tears controlled as I noticed my brothers staring at me.

"Are you okay Donatello?" Leo asked, sitting down on the bed beside me and gently placing his left hand on my shoulder.

"I'm fine..." I sighed silently, knowing too well that I had been screaming which had drawn my brothers attention towards me.

"Dude, you were full on screaming" Mikey exclaimed. "That's NOT fine"

"Don, Mikey's right. What happened?" Leo asked. My brothers watched me with anticipation, observing everything I did.

"I uh... I don't really know..."

Raph rolled his eyes. "Don't be a little smart ass, spill the juice or I'll force it outta ya" he hissed, pointing a sai at my head.

I gulped.

Thank fully Leo came to my rescue, as always. "Raphael! Settle" he never did appreciate Raph's language, but wasn't usually one to bring him up on it either. "Donny just needs time. If he feels the need to tell us, he will. Let him rest." He glared daggers at our hotheaded brother. My two immediate brothers left the room.

"Donatello," Leo spoke sternly but softly. He only ever said my full name when he was serious about something. "I forbid you from training for a week, I need you to heal up properly. You must stay up here in your room and rest. If you need anything, text and we will come straight up here."

I opened my mouth to speak. "But Leo-"

"No buts Donatello. Rest up little brother" he planted a kiss on my forehead and gave me a brotherly hug; cautious of my wounds.

"Okay Leo..." I sighed.

He left the room and I was left alone in the cold with my head buried deep in my pillow.

That dream was unlike any of my past dreams. But I couldn't exactly tell what was going on; other than the fact I was being tortured with something. Something truly shocking.

"It was just a dream, just a dream" I told myself, taking deep shaky breaths and closing my eyes again. I very quickly fell into another deep sleep.

Leo's POV

It's been 3 whole weeks since I left the coffin.

Raph just walked into the lair, he was late home again, and he won't tell me where he had been. He's acting so strange. He can look me in the eye and tell me what's wrong, but he won't.

I sighed and pressed my face into my palms as I sat on the lounge.

Raph and Donny have been ignoring me like the plague, and doing the same to Mikey. Mikey is the only one of my brothers that will actually talk or even look at me. Master Splinter hasn't said much, and I can't work out why. And then there's April and Casey who just haven't had the time to come around and visit or anything because of work reasons.

I still feel empty and I occasionally get that churning in my stomach when I ask myself what to do. It makes me sick, the fact that I'm useless against everything. I can't help; I just continue to get in the way.

Every morning I wake up with a fresh rose on the bedside table, its petals reminding me of the blood that I still to this day, don't have much of. I figured last night that I'm still technically dead until my blood levels return to normal and I get my soul back. Mind you, it's harder than it sounds!

"They get worse don't they..." Mikey spoke, more as a statement than a question.

I looked up at my little brother who was looking down at me as he stood in front of the chair. He really could amaze me with the seriousness of situations sometimes.

"Yeah..." I answered quietly.

Mikey sat down beside me. "We will get them back Leo. Even if it kills me"

I shuddered "No Mikey. You WON'T die, I'll make sure of that. I know what it's like in there, you wouldn't cope. If anyone dies its me...again."

I watched as tears welled in my brothers eyes. "Or master Splinter..." he mumbled.

"What?" I asked, completely shocked. "What's wrong with father?"

Mikey looked gloomily at me, his eyes full of sorrow. "Leo, Master Splinter is dying."

I froze. It couldn't be true. It just couldn't. 'Crap, im not breathing' i thought after about a minute of faster breaths. 'Take a breath... Pull myself together.'

"He doesn't have much longer Leo... Donny was trying to work on something for him, to try and give him more time, but I don't know if he ever started it, let alone finished it"

"What's wrong with him Mike?" I asked.

Suddenly I heard slow footsteps behind me.

"Cholesterol levels are too high my son. Donatello also said stress plays a large part and just old age too." I heard the familiar voice say. I spun around, tears stinging my eyes.

"It's true father?" I whispered.

Master Splinter nodded sadly. "I'm afraid so Leonardo. This old rats train is about to stop at the last station."

I let a tear fall down my cheek. "Sensei... Father...why?" I sobbed. Master Splinter took me in a warm hug, embracing me as I cried.

"Oh Leonardo, Michelangelo, my sons. You are all at the end of your training now, Leonardo, being a ninjitsu master now, you can teach your brother's the rest." he coughed. "I am trusting you my sons, to get this family back together. Even when I am not here any longer. That is my last order for each of you."

Sensei summoned Mikey over and he too joined the hug.

"Are you okay Michelangelo?" Sensei asked after we both noticed how quiet he was.

"I've cried too much Father, to cry now. I'm sorry." he said, standing up and walking to the kitchen.

I sniffled and wiped my eyes. "I love you Father" I said, finally stepping out of our hug.

"I love you too Leonardo." His fragile frame gave out and he collapsed into my arms.

"Father! Are you alright?" I asked, worried. He wrapped an arm around me and I walked him to his room and laid him on his bed.

"Just... Tired..." he answered, forcing a smile. I stroked his forehead as his eyes closed and he drifted to sleep. I silently left the room and walked into the kitchen. Mikey was standing at the sink, a knife over his left wrist.

"Michelangelo, what the hell are you doing?!" I cried. I raced forward and snatched the knife from his grasp; he was crying.

"I can't take it Leo..." he sobbed. I tossed the knife into the sink and hugged my baby brother so tight that I was doing a better job at holding him than super glue. He sobbed on my shoulder.

"I'm scared Leo... I'm scared." he whimpered.

"Of what?" I asked, not letting go of the hug.

"I'm scared I'm gunna lose you all" he breathed, coughing and splattering his words.

I hugged him tighter, continuing to allow him to cry on my shoulder. I gripped his left wrist and felt warm liquid between my fingers. He had cut himself, but it wasn't deep. Only really a scratch.

'I'll bandage it soon' I thought.

"I-I thought that I could rid myself of some pain." he sobbed.

I held his head to my chest and rested my chin on his head. "It's going to be okay Michelangelo."

"I know you're hiding something too Leo..."

I looked down at him as he looked up at me.

"It's my fault..." I whispered.

"For what?"

"It's my fault Raph and Don are like this..."

I suddenly had a stinging sensation on my left cheek then I realized Mikey had slapped me. I held my stinging cheek and cringed.

"If you keep talking like that Leo, you're gunna get hit with the force of these guns" he smirked, flexing his arm muscles.

I smirked and rolled my eyes. "Let's get you cleaned up"

After I bandaged his wrist, he cuddled up against me, resting his head on my plastron as we sat together on the lounge in silence. The TV wasn't on and again, there wasn't a single 'clink' of one of Donny's experiments as he worked, because he wasn't there.

Raph walked stiffly down the stairs and headed for the door.

"Where are you going Raph?" I asked softy, glancing at him.

'Can we work this out, can we be a family?' I begged silently. At that exact moment, Raph twitched, as if he had heard my thoughts. He turned his head towards Mikey and I; his eyes were stone grey. He looked partly drained.

After a few quiet minutes I repeated the question. "Where are you going?"

He turned his head and spoke the first word he had said directly at me since the night I died, almost 7 months ago. "Top"

He opened the door and stepped outside. A few seconds after the door was closed again, Mikey looked up at me.

"I think now's your chance to talk to Raphy."

I nodded, stood up and walked out the door also. The door closed again.

I look to the left just in time to see my brothers bandanna tails vanish from sight. I started at an even run, then got faster and faster with each step. I skidded the corner and looked up to see the drain cover being closed.

I hurriedly climbed the ladder and propped the lid open as I glanced outside. It was dark but I knew my way around pretty well. I climbed out of the man hole and ran into the shadows. If Raph was going to be found tonight, I would need to check the rooftops.

'He's already gone...' the ghost hissed at me. 'Give up terrapin. You lose'

I froze. "No."

The ghost cackled, sending shivers up my spine. A few seconds later my female ghost friend was by my side.

"Oh Leonardo, I'm so sorry!" she cooed. She showed great sorrow.

I leapt between buildings, running as fast as my legs would allow. "How's things?" I asked without pausing my run.

"Terrible" she replied.

"No different to before then"

"Not a bit... Your brothers are a bit of a mess aren't they?"

I sighed and stopped running. "Yeah... Any idea what's happening with them?"

"No, sorry. There seems to be some sort of force field in Raphael's room, and a less powerful field in Donatello's. However, I can sense ther distress...Raphael is under pressure and Donatello is fighting himself. That's all I know."

"anything from the land of the dead?"

She shook her almost transparent head. "Again, I apologize. There is only so many things a single girl can do."

I was about to start running again in search for my hothead brother when I remembered something. I turned back to my friendly ghost girl. "What about the roses?"

She tilted her head to the side. "roses?"

"yes, roses. I wake up every morning and there are fresh new roses by my bed..."

"I didn't know" she said, sounding genuinely surprised. "But that other ghost woman has been roaming your home since she arrived there with Raphael. I wouldn't trust her."

"Dont worry, I don't." I turned and walked over to a gargoyle, peering over the view of the city.

I sat down and hugged my knees.

"You know Leonardo, death wasn't like it is now. We used to be able to live in peace, without the torture. One dead day, the king and queen arranged to meet us all, so that we could express our feelings on what we thought needed changing. When the time came, we were lined up. We spoke casualy, but when it was Ori's turn to speak, he spoke of such horrid things. Torture, death money, hell, and evil powers. The King and Queen banished him and told him never to return. But one night, a week before your own death, Ori found a way into the palace and while the King and Queen slept, he killed her"

"Wait... He killed her? I thought she was already dead?"

She nodded sadly. "Yes, but when you die, you still have one more life in this world. After that, you're gone for ever. Didn't use to be like that either"

"So... What happened then?" I asked curiously, watching the cars below.

"He wanted the King to suffer for his decision, so he left the dead Queen in a pool of her own blood next to her husband. When he woke up, Ori was watching him. The king was banished from his own kingdom and Ori took charge. Our rightful king hasn't been seen since, but rumor has it that he's hiding out in the human world."

I glance up at her. "What was death like before Ori?"

She smiled at me. "Oh Leonardo, it was wonderful! It was literally a free world. There are honestly no words to describe how wonderful it was. If I could go back there, I would." the last bit, she had said sadly.

"Come here" I told her, opening my arms. She hesitated but came and sat next to me. I put my right arm around her; I could feel her translucent flesh on mine. She rested her head on my shoulder. I figured that I could feel her ghostly flesh, because I wasn't exactly 100% living.

"It will be okay..." I comforted. I lightly kissed her forehead. "I'll help you get back your King"

"Thank you" she whispered.

After a few minutes I began to wonder again. I looked at her; she looked at me. "So, you know my story, what's yours?"

She moved back a little.

"I mean, if that's okay with you?" I said quickly. I didn't want to offend her.

"It's okay Leonardo. Well... I can't remember my name, I think I had 3 siblings; 2 brothers and a sister. I think my last name might have been Mckenzie... That's um... That's all I really know about myself"

"I guess it's better than nothing"

"Yeah... I guess"

"Look I uh... I just want to thank you for helping me out. You didn't have to, and you still don't. But I really appreciate it" I said awkwardly, looking into her hollow eyes.

"I know that Leonardo." she smiled. "I take great pleasure in helping you and your family out. You are the closest I can get to family. I will care for you each until my time is done. It is you that I must thank. Not the other way around. I thank you for making me feel wanted. Giving me a place to go. A home."

I gave her a light squeeze on the shoulder. A tear rolled down my cheek.

"Please don't cry Leonardo. What is wrong?" she asked worriedly.

I smiled and wiped the tear. "Nothing is wrong. I'm just... Astounded and full of pride by the fact that you will protect my brothers. I have never had such kindness showed to me by a human in my whole life. Not even from April and Casey." I looked up at the stars. "I know, that one day soon, I will return to your world. I often fear for my brothers, not for me. I don't want to leave them again." I felt extreme sadness fill me. I moved my arm away and went back to hugging my knees.

"It will be okay Leonardo. It will"

A few more silent seconds passed. I stood up on my feet and glanced over the rooftops as I heard a loud cry. An all to familiar cry. My eyes widened.

"Raph..." I whispered. I looked back towards the ghost, but she wasn't there.

I took a few steps back from the edge before running and front flipping to the next. I began pumping my arms and legs, picking up speed and jumping between buildings.

The air was cold and sharp against my skin. I took deep breaths, trying to contain my adrenaline as I raced towards where my brothers cry had sounded.

I didn't even slow down when I came to a too far a jump, instead I gripped my Katanas and used them as a sort of slide, helping to move me down the thick power line to the next building. I front flipped onto the roof and sheathed my Katanas. I was getting closer, much closer.

I could only just make out a dark figure surrounded by bright gold and red lights. The cry came again and I watched the figure drop to his knees. I gulped and pushed on, running as hard as I could.

In a matter of seconds I was on the same rooftop. I stood behind my brother, watching the same red dust I had spotted before, dance around him as he cried.

"Raph?" I whispered, cautiously taking another step closer. He seemed to be in pain. The dust was heavy and spun circles around him.

"Raphael?" I said a little louder. I placed a hand on his shoulder and he collapsed, panting madly and completely exhausted. The dust dissolved.

"L-Leo...?" he whispered. His eyes weren't grey like they were before. They were dark green, almost his normal eye colour.

"I'm here Raph... What happened?" I asked, crouching down next to him.

He groaned softly and tried to push me away. "Go away..."

I frowned. "Look Raph, I didn't come back to get this. I'm sorry I left. I'm sorry okay? What do I have to do to get you to know how sorry I am?!" I cried, throwing my hands in the air with frustration.

I watched him force him self to stand up. He spat to the side and eyed me angrily. "Oh yeah? Dat right aye Fearless? You think you can just come home twice and think things will instantly go back to normal? You," he hissed, his words like venom. He pointed at me, getting right up in my face. "Thought wrong!"

I wiped my cheek and stepped back. "Ugh, Raph, I don't even know what I did wrong other than leaving and staying in Central America for longer than I was told to! You tell me, what did I do wrong?!" I shouted.

He glared knives at me. "You left! You left us alone. Completely vulnerable! TWICE! We weren't ready! You didn't even say g'bye! Shell, the second time Mikey and Don didn't even get ta see your face before you left! How about you try lookin' into ya brothers eyes as he dies? How do you think I feel?!"

I forced down my tears. "Yeah well Raph, you weren't the one staring into your younger brothers eyes, silently begging for him to forgive you, wondering if he really did hate you. Wondering if all the things he had said were true or not. Looking up at the stars, knowing you were going to die. Feeling your life drain away as you bled on the roof. Knowing you failed your family..."

Raph's glare softened. "I never did mean all those things I said about you" he said softly.

"Yeah well it felt like you did" I said painfully, placing my hands over my heart. "You were going to kill me that night. It wouldn't have been any different" I muttered.

He fixed his glare again. Then let it drop. He stared at me. "I-I-I'm sorry Leo..."

He took a step towards me and I flinched. "I'm sorry too Raph" I closed my eyes and breathed out for a second.

I suddenly felt two strong arms wrap around me. I opened my eyes.

"I love you Leo" Raph whispered. I embraced him in return, taking in this moment as it was extremely rare. "I'm sorry,"

I stepped back. "You have nothing to apologize for. Save your breath" I told him.

He sighed and shook his head. "That's where you're wrong big brotha, if it weren't for me, we never would have fought and you never would have died. This is all my fault."

I lightly touched his shoulder again. "Raph, although I can't disagree with that, I must admit that I think it's taught us all a new lesson; something we never would have learnt if it didn't happen"

He gulped. "I feel so bad about it"

I sighed and shifted my footing. "Let it loose Raph. Get rid of it now."

He flinched and looked down at his feet. "I was so hurt when you left for da jungle. When you stopped writin' to us, I got worried. As the months passed I started to feel like you were never comin' back. We didn't know if you were dead. Bein' Night Watcher gave me a chance to drain some of my anger. When ya finally came home I was too caught up in my own world that I didn't realize what I was missing out on"

I smirked. "Reminds me of someone" I mumbled. He looked at me; dumbfounded.

"I got sick of all the orders and people thinkin' all I did was lounge around. I chose to take it out on you without thinkin'. I didn't mean it when I said I hated you. God damn it Leo, I love you, you're my big bro! I can't bloody cope without you!"

I forced a faint smile and he continued.

"Dat night, I just lost control of myself. After I pinned you down, I got so scared of myself and what would happen next that I didn't even notice we had an audience... I-I heard you call Leo, and I ran back as fast as I could. I watched you die in my arms. I see it over and over in my dreams. It haunts me. 'Nd den dis ghost chick turns up sayin' your life depends on a game of hide 'n seek?" he laughed coldly. "I knew it had a catch" he hissed. "Few nights later, she turns up in my room. Says she got somethin' to say. The little brat pins me against the wall, bloody strong des ghost guys, and kisses me. Ha, what a joke. I remember her mutterin' some crap bout a master of hers and ultimate power, den I get dis massive headache! Sheez, it hurts just thinkin' bout it!"

I listened intensively. He continued.

"Dat kiss wasn't just any ol' kiss. Some sort of spell. Bloody painful one too. Arg the brat makes me so mad! Dis pixie dust crap ya been seeing, its all because of her."

"What does the spell do?" I asked, knowing too well that I wasn't going to like the answer.

"Weakens me. Drains me. She stabs me with some sort of needle crap after. Get knocked out for hours. 'M tellin' ya, I never feel like m'self after. Des ghosts are bad news"

"Not all spirits are bad news Raph..."

He raised a brow. "Oh yea?"

"Yeah..." I whispered. "The bad ones are controlled by a spirit called Ori. He's after revenge on the King."

"King?" he screwed up his face with confusion.

I sighed. "Long story"

"'K Leo, tell me later. Dis ain't da best time for a story" he said, scanning the rooftops. A large group of Foot ninja were in sight. "We should probably go in 5, 4, 3, 2-"

Quick as a flash the two of us were off into the shadows of the rooftops. We leapt over the traffic below, front flipping and leaping around in the air.

As we ran Raph glanced over at me. "Never repeat what I said back der"

I smirked. "Okay Raph"

He frowned. "Serious Leo"

I laughed. "Relax Raphy Boy, I'm not going to tell on you!"

"Ugh, sometimes I wonder where Mikey gets dos names from"

I back flipped to the next building. "I think it would be better not to wonder"

"Good point. That mind of his is a bomb"

The two of us laughed and started an unofficial race.

All of a sudden we both skidded to a halt. This place... Too many... Memories. I glanced at my brother who had gone pale. Being here reminded me of reality. I was dead. Well... Technically. I'm not living yet.

I felt extreme pain in my left hand and my upper arm went numb. I glanced down at my hand, it was faded. Completely transparent. I freaked, hiding my hand behind my back. Almost as soon as I did that, I felt a light tingling in my hand and the numbness left. I brought my hand back into view; it looked normal again. 'Not yet' I begged silently. 'We aren't ready'

The two of us walked silently, lost in our memories. I crouched down and stared at the faint blood stains on the cement. My blood stains.

"You were too young..." Raph mumbled clear enough for me to hear. I looked up at him. I felt like I was reliving that moment where I was slowly dying in my brothers arms. But only this time I didn't feel the pain, the blood, the loss. Only the memories remained, leaving scars on all of us.

I stood back up and faintly smiled at Raph. Without hesitation, I hugged him. He returned it. "Let's go home" I said softy.

Yay another chapter down! What do you think? Did you like the Raph and Leo scenes because I know I did! They can't be mad at each other all the time :) Poor Mikey. AND Master Splinter finally told Leo he was dying :( Now Leo has to try work out how to defeat Ori and the reason behind his fading hand. Not to mention the fact that he still has to finish collecting the rest of his soul and get through to Donny again. Can the guys do it?

Please review, favourite and follow! They inspire my muses and in return they inspire me to continue writing! Oh and a little heads up, since it is nearing Christmas, I have decided to try to get a TMNT Christmas story published in December. It's going to be completely random so hopefully you will like it :) I also have other stories you could read while waiting for updates on this one and I know a lot of great stories by other users if you are interested. Like TmntEmi'sLeo the Zodiac Lion. That is a mad story and I highly recommend it as well as many more. If you wanted the story names, PM me and I would be happy to guide you to them :)

For the meantime, stay safe and stay tuned for the next update!

missymousemonster Xx