Chapter Eight: Home
Back with Venus, she ran out of the sewer, and she climbed on top of a high building, where it seemed like a very quiet space for her to be alone, so nobody could hear her. She collapsed on all fours, and cries uncontrollable, with sad tears flowing out of her eyes.
"Why did I leave home?! Why did it have to be me that left home?! I should have been there to protect him! It was my fault!" Venus sobbed.
Without noticing, Leo was following her. He also climbed on top of the building, as he just saw Venus making her way to the top of this building. After he finished climbing to the very top, he say Venus on all fours, crying heavily.
All Leo could do was approach her. He walked over towards her ever so slowly, didn't want to startle her. And as he got closer, he put his hand up, and reached towards her. Now that he was close, he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Venus?" Leo called.
"Please, leave me alone, Leo! I have lost my father!" Venus cried.
"Venus, I know you're hurting, and I'm sorry. Nobody knew that Shredder would have came back, nor did we know he'd be there." Leo stated.
"I know, it's just...why did he send me here?! I should have been there, at home, to save him, and my people! Now I have nothing to come home to! My home is destroyed!" Venus cries.
"I'm very sorry, Venus. I only wish I knew what to do to help, but I guess, I just never have been good with words, especially about things like this. I wouldn't know what losing anybody would be like, I could only imagine it." Leo stated sadly.
"Why are you even here? Why did you chase after me?" Venus asked, teary eyed.
"Because, being a leader my whole life, it is my sword duty to look out for others. Like, I have been round my brothers for so long, I guess I am just use to being protective." Leo stated.
"But I don't understand why he brought ME here! If I had been home, I could have saved him! It was my fault!" Venus cries again.
Leo dropped to his knees, and he took a hold of Venus's hand, and when Venus felt his hand on hers, she turned to look at Leo in the eyes.
"Venus, don't ever blame yourself. Like you, I have no idea why he brought you here. But by my knowledge, he must have brought you here for a good reason." Leo mentioned.
"What do you mean by that?" Venus asked with concern.
"Well, he must have saw bigger potential in you, that he wanted to send his best student to do what was probably needed here. I'm no good with guessing, and I know nothing of Shinobi magic, but I have a feeling there's a magic within you that he knows that you only have. What that is, I have no idea, but that's why I think he brought you here. And even if you were there, Shredder is a dangerous man. You may not have stood a chance. So in a way, you're probably, and I don't wanna sound like a jerk saying this, it's not my intention, but you may probably have been very lucky to even be alive here. Because if you hadn't, you too would have been gone." Leo explained.
"You're probably right. But I still should have been there." Venus sobbed.
Leo suddenly grabbed the other hand gently, and Venus' teary eyes opened wide with shock. She continued to look into Leo's eyes.
"I know you do, and I know you're gonna be hurting for a very long time. But what we need to worry about now, if to prepare for this fight against The Shredder in the morning. Defeating him, would be the best way to get retribution." Leo stated.
"And revenge is definitely what I will go for, once I see that bastard come here to New York!" Venus snarled.
"And you will. For now, you need to stay strong, for him. And once you defeat Shredder, it won't turn back the clock, but you'll be happy once you have avenged Master Chung I." Leo told her.
"But even so, even if we do defeat him, what am I gonna do? I can't travel home to Shanghai! I have no home now! My home has been destroyed!" Venus sobs uncontrollably.
Leo without a care in the world suddenly wraps both his arms around Venus's waist in comfort. Venus couldn't help but gasp in surprise, but the feeling of being in Leo's arms was very comforting for her.
"You have a home now. This will be your home now. And no matter what happens, by the memory of Chung I, and I swear by the blades on my swords, I promise you, I will keep you safe, no matter what. Whether I survive tomorrow or not, I will always be around to protect you. Count on it." Leo told Venus warmly.
Venus eye's shed with happy tears. then she wraps her arms around Leo's head for a warm hug.
"Leonardo." Venus sobbed.
"I mean it as well, and I am not just saying that for comfort. No matter what it takes, I will always be here to protect you." Leo told her.
They break the hug, and Venus wipes the tears from her eyes, and she stares at Leo with a warm smile on her face, and Leo smiles back.
"The moon is very beautiful tonight, you know?" Venus mentioned.
"It sure is." Leo responded.
"Can we stay here a bit longer?" Venus asked, as she rested her head on Leo's shoulder. Leo then wrapped one arm around her shoulders.
"Of course we can, Venus. We can stay as long as we want, even if it takes all night." Leo replied, happily.
Without knowing, the two were actually being watched by Splinter. He wanted to check up on them to see how things were going. He smiled as he watched on.
"Wonderful. Leonardo is close to finding that missing after all." Splinter thought to himself.
What he meant by that, still remains unknown.