Luckily none of the other turtles had heard the commotion in Splinter's room. Leonardo was almost finished with his first cup of tee, before Master Splinter came into the kitchen. Leo watched as his sensei poured himself a cup of tee and came to sit down across from Leonardo. For a moment they studied each other. Leonardo could not remember Splinter ever throwing him as he had today. In practice of course, but that was another matter completely. There he expected the throws. This morning's had come completely unexpected. Leo sipped the last of his tee and go up to pour himself another. He desperately wanted to ask how Splinter was doing, but at the same time he didn't want to pry. "Leonardo, I fear yesterday was the beginning." Leo nearly poured the hot water over his fingers. Turning around he tried to maintain his calm aura of command. Sitting across from Splinter Leo waited for his sensei to continue.

In the few minutes that he had been alone after Leonardo's unfortunate airborne flight. Splinter had meditated. It was in those few moments that he had understood what had taken place. Or he had begun too at least. He had also had a small fight with himself about talking to Leonardo about this. Logic had won over feeling. If his health was failing, Leonardo and the rest had to know. Their life could at times depend on it. Yes he had to tell, but what words would he choose?

"I feel that yesterday was the beginning of the end." Splinter watched as his eldest pupil immediately knew of what his sensei was talking about. Before Leonardo could protest Splinter continued, "Do not waste your breath on asking me not to talk like this. You know it well get you no-where, my son. You must listen to me. You and your brothers are quickly nearing the age of adulthood. Your childhood years are long past and your teenage years are nearing the end of their time. You shall go boldly to face adulthood. As we are one of a kind, the life expectancy of you and your brothers should be that of a human or a turtle. Some species of turtle can outlive humans by decades, my son. There will be many more adventures for you and your brothers. My time for such adventures is nearing an end. Different challenges await me." Splinter smiled at Leonardo's obvious horror. "I am not writing my own obituary, Leonardo. But I am growing old. The attacks of fatigue will continue. I know this. I have had a good life and I hope I have taught you well, my son. But it is time I stand aside. As my condition deteriorates, I would become a liability to you and your brothers. I cannot allow that. There is too much at stake."

"You could never be a liability to us, master." Both Leonardo and Splinter jumped lightly at Donatello's quietly spoken statement. Neither had heard the quiet turtle come in. "Master. What's wrong with you? Maybe I can help." Donatello was fighting a loosing battle with tears. He had heard Splinter and Leonardo talking and had heard Splinter explain the future to Leonardo. His innate curiosity did get the better of him. He could fix things. Make things right. He'd make this right again. Splinter only smiled. "I'm afraid this isn't something you can fix, Donatello. The illness that pledges me would not most certainly be in any book. How could anyone have studied something that is not supposed to exist?" Donatello knew that his sensei was right. Even if he were to draw blood from Splinter, he would have no healthy sample to compare it too. He made a mental note to take samples from his brothers and himself if something like this were to happen to one of them. "So that's it then, you're just going to give up and die?" Donnie's question was spoken with a hint of uncharacteristic anger.

"WHAT?!?" Raphael and Michelangelo were standing in the doorway looking shell-shocked.

Motioning for his sons to gather around him, Splinter began firmly, "That is NOT what I said, Donatello. Do not make assumptions. You most of all should know not to jump to conclusions." Donatello withered visibly under Splinter's gaze. "Sumimasen, sensei." Donatello's shaky Japanese caused a chuckle from Splinter. The child tries. "Now, there will be differences from now on. I shall no longer lead dojo practice. That task will fall on Leonardo. I expect all of you to respect him as you do me. In the dojo, there has not been, nor shall there be any bickering, even though I won't be there to supervise. For the time being I shall still lead daily meditation, when I am physically able to. Otherwise I now trust you to take care of that important task on your own. You are old enough, to learn such discipline. I shall no longer accompany you to the surface. As I said, there I will a liability. But I will not leave you, my sons, until I am called. I shall just fall back somewhat. When I am finally called away I want you to promise me something, my children." All the turtles had to lean closer to hear their sensei's whispered words, "Follow what I have taught you, if need be fight with honour and obey the laws. Do not grieve for my, for through my teachings, I will always be with you, my sons."

With that, Splinter got up and retreated to his room to meditate. Though it had seemed easy for him to speak those words. It had not been. Once inside his sanctum. Splinter focused his attention onto one of the symbols on the wall. It had almost felt like he was saying good bye to his sons forever. Illogical as it was, Splinter allowed himself the feeling for just a moment.

It felt like he had said good-bye to them. The turtles sat around the table stunned. It seemed funny, but before yesterday all of them had seen their sensei as unbeatable and one could even say undying. One of them sniffed but no one looked to see who it had been. The turtles sat around the table, each in his own thoughts, for many hours that day.