Hey everybody. Sorry for the delay. School has been going full force. I have a few class clowns and a Sophmore asked me out on a date, but other than that it's gonna be a great school year. I forgot to put up at the beginning of this that this story takes place after the third movie. The guys travel back to feudal Japan and Raph makes friends with a little boy named Yoshi.

Anyway, enjoy and please review. Thanks!

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Raphael woke up and looked at the clock. 2:30 Am. He moaned to himself. I gotta' get going. Raphael grabbed his duffel bag and began to pack. He grabbed a set of winter clothes and thought for a moment before stuffing them in. Donnie said I'm not affected by the cold but I'd better not take any chances. Raphael looked at the end table by his bed, Never know. I might get a chance. A small sketch pad and pen went into the duffel bag.

He went into the kitchen to pack some food. Upon opening the cabinets, he found them stuffed with goodies from April and Casey's last shopping trip. He read off the names of the packages as he threw them into his bag,"Oatmeal cream pies, cereal bars, bottled water, craisins…… What the!" He picked the bag up and eyed it suspiciously. "Craisins," he read. "Dried cranberries, helps to promote …. Urinary… tract… health? EEEEEWWWWW!" He scrunched his face up and stuck his tongue out in disgust. "I'll leave those for Leo," he said to himself and tossed the bag back into the cabinet. He continued rummaging and tossed a few more items into his bag.

"Are you planning on leaving any food for the rest of us my son?" Raphael jumped and turned quickly to see his sensei smiling at him.

"Sensei, you startled me. What are you doing up this time of night?"

Splinter pointed to his son's bag and spoke. "I was about to ask you the same thing Raphael. Where are you planning on going?" Splinter's whiskers twitched a bit.

Raphael looked at the floor and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Raphael?"

Splinter asked again.

"I don't know where." He whispered.

"Raphael," Splinter spoke. "If you do not know where you are going, then why must you leave? You did not argue with your brother again did you?"

"No Splinter," he replied. "It's just…… well……" Raphael paused. Great. He's gonna' think I'm nuts. You see Sensei, I heard voices and they're telling me I have to leave and, Oh Yeah, I'm gonna' be the new God of Fire.

"Ahem"

"Sorry Splinter. It's just that I had that same dream again only it was different this time" Yeah Raph that makes sense."

"Please explain."

"Well, I um…" he stammered. "I saw who's been calling me in my dreams and, well, they need me to help someone." Raphael shrugged. He didn't know how else to explain it without sounding completely insane.

"Raphael," Splinter placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "If you feel the need to leave because you believe someone requires your help, I will not prevent you from going."

Raphael eyed his father quizzically. "You don't think I'm nuts?"

Splinter stifled a laugh and patted his son's shoulder. "Raphael, you are stubborn, obstinate, and very skilled at testing my patience. But I have faith in you. If anything, your past actions have earned my trust. You should learn to trust your family in return."

Ouch! I can't believe they think I don't trust them. I just keep screwin' things up.

Splinter saw the guilty look on his son's face. "It is alright Raphael. Trust comes in stages. I do not expect you to completely open up all at once. Things will change with time." Splinter handed him his bag and continued to talk. "I am assuming you are leaving at a strange hour because you do not wish for your brother's to go."

"Hai, Sensei." Raphael nodded his head in agreement. "It's too cold for them. I'm afraid they wouldn't be able to keep up and the cold could make them sick." Really, I just want to do this alone.

"That is understandable." Splinter stepped forward and hugged his son. "Return safely and swiftly Raphael."

Raphael returned the gesture and whispered, "Thanks dad." Then he quickly turned and left. Running through the sewers, he had Kagu to guide him, urging Raphael in the right direction. If Raphael had not been so focused on where he was heading, he might have realized something in the sewers was following him.