~ Hi. I am currently working on Mysteries and will have the next chapter ready soon. But I figured since this one was ready I should go ahead and post it up. Here goes :o)
Ch2 Shouldn't be seen
Down in the lair, Leonardo was practicing his kata's while the rest of his brothers were else where. Master Splinter came in watching Leonardo for a moment. When Leonardo realized that he was being watched, he stopped and turned to his Sensei.
"Is something wrong, Master Splinter?" Leonardo asked. He wiped the sweat from his brow and walked over. Master Splinter shook his head and mentioned that he just wanted to check up on him.
"You have been here for several hours, my son." Master Splinter said. "I am concerned for you, over the years you have practice more and more. You withdraw from everyone, including me. Raphael is who asked me to check on you, we are all worried." Leonardo bowed his head, feeling bad for putting everyone through so much.
"I'm sorry Sensei, It's just…" Leonardo paused not knowing where to begin. He was sure that Master Splinter knew what was going on, but was waiting for him to say it. When Melody moved, Leonardo was completely unprepared. So he went to ask April for help in finding her but April was gone. The only way to find Melody was to follow her from the theater. The new apartment complex was farther away from the theater than her first one and she still walked to and from. Leonardo found that Melody left for a short time then had some friends when she returned.
"You're mind and heart is troubled, my son," Master Splinter said distracting Leonardo from his thoughts. "You have much inside that you must sort out. But if you ever need someone to talk to, you know that I am always here for you." Over the years, Master Splinter had gray fur now instead of the brown and had a little harder time moving, but his eyes, his spirit was as bright as ever. Leonardo bowed to his Sensei.
"Thank you Master," was all Leonardo could find to say. As Master Splinter left, Leonardo came out of the dojo and sat next to Michelangelo on the couch.
"Hey dude," Michelangelo greeted. "You feeling okay?" Leonardo gave his brother a smile and nodded.
"Yeah, I just got things on my mind," Leonardo said. "I still think of Melody." Michelangelo nodded wishing that Leonardo would just go and talk to her, but he would never push him to do so.
"It still bothers me that April just disappeared like she never existed," Michelangelo added in.
"That too has been on my mind, I mean her apartment was just cleaned out," Leonardo shrugged. "I don't know what to make of that, that was four years ago."
"Yeah, creepy," Michelangelo said.
"What's creepy," Donatello asked joining the two.
"Just talking about April," Leonardo said quickly. Donatello nodded. Leonardo stood up and stretch. "I'm going to go out."
"Want someone to go with you?" Donatello asked. Leonardo shook his head.
"You know Leo," Raphael came up behind him. "You really should accept our company, it isn't good that you go out by yourself all the time." Raphael paused realizing what he had just said. "See, I listened to you back when you use to nag on me all the time." Leonardo smiled and gently shook his head.
"I'll be fine, I just need to think," Leonardo said and left.
"Yeah," Raphael said once Leonardo was gone. "Think and see and hear a certain some body, that I'm sure."
"You mean that he's still watching Melody?" Donatello asked looking where Leonardo just stepped out of the lair.
"Yeah, I thought you would have figured that out by now," Raphael said.
"I was actually thinking he would have talked with her by now," Donatello shrugged.
"Well, not until Master Splinter gives him the okay or someone knocks some sense into him," Raphael commented.
"I hope one of the two happens soon," Michelangelo chimed in. "It's just been too weird these last few years, Leo becomes more withdrawn every year." All brothers nodded in agreement and thought of what they could do to help their brother.
Time for the play to start. My mind raced over my lines as the music cued up. We were doing Man of La Mancha, I'm playing Leigh. In this musical, it is a play within a play. Cervantes and an associate are brought to prison to await a hearing with the Inquisition. The prisoners, who decide to hold a mock trial in order to find him guilty and steal all his possessions, set him upon. Cervantes presents a play as his defense, to give the "jury" insight into the "crimes" of which they accuse him. They agree and become actors in his play. Cervantes plays Alhonso Quiana, a man who has set his own reality aside and become Don Quixote De La Mancha. Man of La Mancha simultaneously tracks the experiences of the three men (Cervantes, Quiana, and Quixote), focusing mostly upon Quixote. You can almost forget when watching it, that it's a play with in a play.
The curtain opens in the jail scene. Prisoners, me included, are scattered around. There are few women and a lot of men. Everyone looks up as they hear the gates open and see Cervantes thrown in with his possessions. Now the fun begins.
Up in the balcony, the light of the stage reflected in his eyes. No one was permitted up here but that didn't matter to him. When a mutant turtle with ninjitsu training wanted in somewhere, this one could get in. Leonardo was sure Master Splinter knew that he was still tailing Melody after all these years. Even after she made her new friends, he still couldn't let go. Movement in the audience caught his attention for a moment. A man, in the third row, for a minute looked like he was something else. Leonardo rubbed his eyes and looked back down again. It was only a man, in a suit. Looking back to the stage, Leonardo felt that he could understand a little why Melody loved the lifestyle so. You could be someone else for a while and forget your pain.
At the end of the show, after curtain call, and everyone was all cleaned up, I was getting ready to head home. I bundled up tight as I stepped into the chill of the December air outside. Walking down the street, most people were indoors or in taxi's. A few blocks away from my home I glanced behind me. There was a prickling sensation on the back of my neck and it has been growing with every step I took. I froze when I heard a growl coming from behind.
Turning I was thinking that some ones dog must be loose. A shape made its way towards me, big and menacing. Let's change my thought to some ones very big, big dog was loose. I knew there was no way to outrun it and stood my ground hoping it would go away. The animal sprang towards me and I turned in terror to flee. I was tackled from behind and had lost my breath for a moment. Looking up I saw the animal running across the street. When I turned to thank my rescuer I came face to face Leonardo.
I shrieked and threw my arms around him. Peeling me off he held a finger to his lips, indicating that I should be quiet. I nodded and he helped me up. Looking around the animal was no where in sight. Whatever it was ran far away, thank goodness. Leonardo walked with me the rest of the way home. I kept glancing over to make sure that he was there and sure enough he was. A couple steps away from my apartment I stopped.
"Leo," I whispered. "You won't be able to come up with me. There's a guard and you're not wearing a disguise."
"That's okay Melody," Leonardo said. "I won't be going up with you."
"But Leo, you have you. You…"
"Shouldn't have been seen," Leonardo finished quietly. I sighed and nodded. With out a back ward glance, I ran to the door and was let in by the guard. Leonardo watched and faded into the shadows
Leonardo walked home with his head hanging low. Whatever attacked Melody, he didn't get a good look at it. It was good to talk to her again, even if it was for a very short time. Master Splinter had him initially cut contact, thinking she would be able to lead a normal life. But Leonardo wouldn't let that stop him from watching over her.
~ Good chapter? Hope so. I got so buoyed from reading all the reviews I got and been plunking away at the computer. I want snow, why can't I have snow? Oh and sorry Daydream about calling Fanboy Eric. That was my blond side making an appearance… wait a minute, my blonde side is always there… I can't win! :o)