~ Years after that day ~
Leonardo writes, "I turned 20 today. My brothers had planned a well-executed surprise party for me in the evening. But I received a much bigger surprise first thing in the morning of my birthday. The clock had just hit 5:30 when I was woken by a very powerful fragrance of Japanese tee. I woke to the sight of my sensei pushing a trolley (where had he gotten a trolley?!?) towards me. I was surprised to see Master Splinter up, since his health had deteriorated rapidly in the past few weeks. Anyhow he walked over to my bed and honoured me with a bow of respect. I was speechless when he unwound his own Ninjitsu master's belt and laid it by my feet. 'Happy Birthday, ako Leonardo. MASTER Leonardo.' With that he bowed deeply. He then picked up a long slim package and gave it to me. It was skilfully wrapped in Japanese paper. I still couldn't get one word out, but I opened the gift anyway. Inside, wrapped in silk were two of the finest Katanas that I had ever held. Their balance was perfect and blades shined brightly even in the dim light of the lair. As I turned them around I noticed an engraftment in both handles: Hamato Yoshi. I looked up into the kind eyes of Master Splinter in awe. 'Use them with thought, Leonardo. And yes, before you even have to ask, they ARE yours now. Consider them a gift from both myself and Master Yoshi.' I think I whispered thank you to Splinter when he left, though I really can't recall. The blades were heavier then my old ones, but more refined. To think, these had belonged to Hamato himself. I can't believe the honour! I turned towards the trolley and the tee and sipped it. Like always it was perfect. Splinter had bowed to me, called ME master. Our sensei had made his decision, when he no longer could, I would lead. If I only knew who would lead ME if I need it, when he no longer can."
As Splinter closed the door and left Leonardo alone with his gifts, he chuckled lightly. Well, his surprise had worked. Leonardo had always been the leader of the group; it had just never been official. The other turtles had accepted it and hardly ever questioned it. Now it was official. It had seemed right, handing over the Katanas that had belonged to Yoshi. It was the right time to move on. Splinter coughed hoarsely as he made his way to the kitchen, he had had trouble breathing lately.
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Splinter's coughing made Donatello leave his lab and come to check on his sensei. Though the other turtles seemed to want to forget about Splinter's illness and did not mention it to him, Donatello was the exception. Bowing slightly he asked, "How are you feeling this morning, Sensei?" When most people would tell a white lie at a question like this, respond with a "Fine", Master Splinter responded with the truth. "This is one of the better days, Donatello. Though it is getting quite difficult to catch my breath. The pain has lessened somewhat since April was able to provide some medication." However, Splinter was not beyond changing the subject. "What have you been working on lately, my son?" Donatello glanced back to his lab, then shifted his gaze quickly to the floor, "Um, well this and that. Umm, nothing interesting really. But I am kinda in the middle of something or other…" With that he made a hasty retreat back to his lab. Splinter only shook his head.
As Donatello closed the door of his lab, he leaned back against it. Though it might have seemed like Donnie had told Master Splinter a lie, he hadn't. Well not really. He had just left some things unsaid. Even through the think door of his lab, he could hear his sensei's troubled breathing. The truth was, that he was working on this and that, just not getting any real work done. Every fibre in his body told him to help his sensei. But this was one thing that he really couldn't fix. Ever since that day in the alley, Donatello had been keeping a very close eye on Master Splinter. Donnie had always been able to talk to his sensei. Even in these times he tried, but like the guys, he found it harder and harder to look into the eyes of whom he considered his father. Frustrated he clicked open his computer. Staring at the MAC's screen gave him no answers. "I'm being silly." He told his reflection on the screen. "No. You are merely being realistic." Donnie jumped at Splinter's gentle voice. Instead of turning and looking at his sensei, Donnie pretended to work at something on the computer.
Splinter walked up to his quietest son. Laying a hand on Donatello's shoulder Splinter remarked lightly, "I am mostly unfamiliar with computers, but even I know this much: word processors aren't made for writing program code." Snapping out of his thoughts and really looked at the screen. Splinter was right. The Word-screen was filled with coding language that was useless. Blushing visibly, Donnie turned and met his sensei's eyes. "Still can't fool you can I, master?" Turning around, Splinter motioned for Donatello to follow, "No, so you may quit trying. For there is no need to hide your true feelings from me." Donatello moved up to Splinter's side, "I'm not hiding my feelings. I'm not even clear on what I'm feeling. Sad, distraught, afraid and angry." He finished lamely. Splinter glanced up sharply at the last word. Oh Ooo, thought Donnie, that had been the wrong thing to say. "Do not give in to anger, Donatello. It will eat you alive. Focus instead on the positive things. I have had a good life. I regret few things in my time here. I am justly proud of some things as well. You are one of them."
Donatello almost tripped at that! Wow, Splinter had cut right to the point, hadn't he? As Leonardo had been, just some time ago, Donatello found himself speechless. They had moved into Splinter's library. At Splinter's insistence Donatello sat down at one of the tables. Shifting his cane to the other hand, Splinter made his way to one of the many cabinets and began to hunt around for something. "You are most unlike your brothers. Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael do tend to rush in, and then think. You, my son, are different." Not finding what he was looking for in there, Splinter made his way to another and continued his search. "Donatello, tell me. Are you content with life?" Not quite sure what answer was expected of him, Donatello responded, "Umm, sure sensei. I've got a family, a home, things to do…" "That is not quite what I meant, Donatello. I shall rephrase. Are you satisfied with your life as a ninja?" Splinter caught Donatello's slight fidgeting at his question. "It's an honourable profession, sensei. But to be honest… sometimes… well lately most of the time, I haven't wanted to fight. Sometimes I think we could talk our way out of battle if we really tried."
Ah, such as he had thought. Leonardo had complained that Donatello was getting harder and harder to get to join in the extra practices that he held. Leo and even gone as far as to tell Splinter one day that he thought that Donnie had lost the will to fight. Aha, he found the envelope he was looking for. Turning, he made his way over to the desk where Donatello sat, looking guilty at his own words.
Setting the envelope in front of Donatello, Splinter spoke softly. "Look up my son. And don't be ashamed. I have trained you for the life of ninja, but I do not require you to continue in its existence. Donatello, if you no longer wish to follow the ways of ninja, I will not condemn you. Here, open the envelope." Donatello turned the brown envelope over in his hands. It was addressed to him! The address was Casey's but that wasn't out of the ordinary. Casey had allowed the guys to use his address for the few official letters that they got. Donnie had not been expecting a letter.
Splinter seamed to want him to open it quickly so Donnie tore it open. He skim-read it, and then studied each word again. It was a letter from the esteemed university of Cambridge. It was a letter stating that Donatello had been accepted to study engineering. He did not have to move to the campus. It was a program meant for students from abroad. Exceptionally talented students that could study over the Internet. Students like Donatello. After reading it for the third time, Donatello met his sensei's eyes. "What, how, when…"
Splinter turned to leave. "I have given you an opportunity. What you should decide to do with it is up to you. Do not ask me how or even when, let us say, that I have used some connections. Think about it Donatello. Life has much to offer. Choose well my son." With those words Master Splinter stood up and walked out of the library leaving behind a very stunned Donatello.
