Late night about 2 in the morning, Kojiro came to the room where Leo and Don were captive as he had promised. Both turtles were still asleep.
"Psst ... Donatello." Kojiro called him in a very low voice as he entered into the room.
"Eh? Kojiro?" Don said groggily as he woke up without waking up Leo.
"Seems like your brother had a hard time." Kojiro said with some guilt in his voice.
"Yeah, he's been sleeping all day."
"You know tomorrow you will have to leave him, right?"
"Do I need to?" Don complained like a child who doesn't wanna go to school… or something like that.
"I do not make the rules, Donatello." Kojiro affirmed.
"Yeah, I know. But I really don't wanna leave him… not like this." Don said, looking at Leo.
"I am sorry Donatello, but they will come for you tomorrow morning, whether you like it or not." Kojiro said, seriously scaring Don a little.
"I did not want to be harsh. I am sorry." Kojiro apologized.
"I'm ok, don't worry. It's just that… he's so… weak now. I know he needs me as much as I need him."
"I understand how you feel."
"What, about my… surgery?" Don asked with a little fear.
"They are planning to do it tomorrow once your brother is out of the room."
"I don't have any idea of what kind of pain Leo went through but I know one thing… it's not gonna be pleasant." Don said sadly.
"Perhaps I could help you with that. They are going to feed you again tomorrow and that will be perfect for the plan I have in mind."
"What kind of plan?" Don asked hesitantly.
"You will see it tomorrow, now I will leave you before the guards come. Remember Donatello, cooperate with the ninjas when they come here for you. They could hurt you or your brother if you don't. Good night." Kojiro said and left the room just in time before two ninjas appeared.
"Donnie?" Leo moaned, yawning.
"Hey bro, how are you feeling?"
"Better… a little. I heard voices." Leo said, still laying on the floor.
"Kojiro was here." Don said, sitting beside Leo and helping him to sit up.
"What did he say?" Leo winced as he sat up. His stomach still hurt.
"You're leaving tomorrow to your room and they're planning to dissect me tomorrow too." Don said sadly.
"Hmm… I wish I could do something" Leo sighed.
"Nah! It's ok, I'm not scared anymore thanks to you." Don said, smirking a little.
"Glad to hear it."
"Leo, you said you would be there with me, right?"
"Yeah."
"How exactly are you gonna do that?" Don asked in confusion.
"Don't you have any idea?" Leo asked with a smug smile on his face.
"Er…" Don was now more confused (kinda weird for the genius of the family, huh?)
"You're the genius, Don. I thought you knew it already." Leo teased Don, but the genius was not in the mood for jokes now.
"Well, sorry. But I can't think too much with all this pressure if you haven't noticed!" Don said, getting a little angry.
"Hey! I was just kidding." Leo said, smiling friendly, trying to calm down his brother.
"It's not funny. Now, are you gonna tell me or what?" Don asked again, now a little angrier.
"Ok, ok. Knock off the Raph attitude." Leo said chuckling.
"I know, I know. I'm sorry… I'm just… overreacting or something; but seriously, how are you gonna…" Don said, trying to cool down his temper.
"The word 'mediation' ring a bell?"
"Oh… I got it. Do you think you can do it, you know, with your strength levels so…" Don reminded him; he knew Leo was too tired now for doing a meditation session.
"I said I'm better than a few hours, Donnie. And if it doesn't work you can always call for Splinter. I know he'll be trying to reach our spirits now; you must focus on him when you can't feel me, ok?"
"I'll try." Don answered, but he wasn't so sure about Leo's idea.
"Well, anything else you wanna say to me before…"
"Why are you saying good bye so early?" Don asked with a puzzled face.
"I'm feeling kinda dizzy and I guess that if I go to sleep now I won't wake up until tomorrow morning." Leo said, yawning again.
"Ok, well… it was nice having you here, it gave me the strength and confidence I need for… you know… my test. Thanks for that and… sorry for the hotheaded moment." Don said, rubbing the back of his neck, feeling kinda ashamed for his lack of patience.
"Don't worry, I understand. Remember to stay calm and breathe deeply. Don't let them see you're scared and focus on your thoughts." Leo reminded him.
After that, both turtles laid down again; Leo was asleep immediately but Don was still insecure, he didn't want his brother to be taken away. What if The Foot was planning to hurt him more while Don was being opened! Or worse…
"I don't wanna leave you, Leo." Don muttered as he grabbed his brother's arm. He had felt a bit braver, but was still very much afraid about the 'surgery.'
The next day came for Don's disgrace. Three ninjas entered into Don's room. Both turtles were still deeply asleep.
"Grab him and take him to his room!" A ninja ordered. The others started to move Leo, making Don wake up.
"W…wha…? What's… what are you doing here?"
Don asked."The deal was for one day only, Turtle." A familiar voice said.
"You can't do this!" Don shouted, recognizing the voice behind the dark mask.
"Orders are orders, Turtle." Kojiro insisted. Don was still grabbing Leo's arm, refusing to let him go.
"You two, wait outside. I will solve this… my way." Kojiro hissed malevolently as he took out his katana.
"Master Shredder said…" One of the ninjas replied, but was cut off by an angry Kojiro.
"I TOLD YOU TO WAIT OUTSIDE!" Kojiro yelled angrily and the ninjas left the room immediately.
"Donatello, do not make this more difficult!" Kojiro said, placing the sword in its place again.
"But I… what if they… and I…" Don stuttered.
"The others could harm Leonardo if you do not cooperate… please." Kojiro insisted. Don looked at his still sleeping brother with glassy eyes.
"I know it hurts… I know how it feels! But you have to trust me; I will not let them hurt your brother. I promise." Kojiro said, trying to comfort Don. The purple masked ninja lost the grip on his brother's arm.
"Ninjas!" Kojiro called the others. "Take the one called Leonardo to his room," he ordered. The ninjas carried the body and left; another ninja came with a tray of food in his hands. He placed it near Don and left.
"Now, here's the plan."
"Another pain killer?" Don asked in confusion as he saw the pill in Kojiro's hand.
"Better, it's Valium: a sedative; you will feel sleepy and kinda dizzy after you take this, so you better eat all the food and after that, you will take the pill. It's better to have food in your stomach first when you take this."
"You sure it's safe?" Don asked in disbelief.
"Trust me, if I wanted to kill you I would have given you poison instead." Kojiro said teasingly, causing Don to open his eyes widely in fear and surprise.
"Just kidding!"
"And I thought Foot ninjas didn't have a sense of humor… a dark humor though." Don said, taking the pill.
"They will come for you in a few hours." Kojiro said and left the room. Don started to eat his breakfast and once he was done he looked at the pill one last time.
"Ok, here goes nothing." Don sighed, popping the pill into his mouth and using his water to swallow it down. Kojiro was so right. The genius started to feel the dizziness surrounding him but… would this be enough to dull the incoming pain?