I want to thank everyone for waiting this long sorry it took awhile to get this chapter done. On a more happier note I will be able to write more soon, one more week of school left ^^

Chapter 5 – A Bond Deeper Than Blood

Drip, drip, drip.

Raphael...

Drip, drip, drip.

Demons...

Drip, drip, drip.

Powers....how can this have happened?

Slowly Leo began to open his eyes; he felt he was waking up from a heavy dream. His mind was a daze, not even able to form proper sentences within his own thoughts. He struggled just to open those eyelids of his.

Once Leo was able to open his eyes all he saw was just darkness; he could see small silhouettes but not enough to be able to determined where he was. Blinking his eyes, Leo felt he was fighting just to stay awake. He never felt this exhausted before, as if he somehow went through Master Splinter's intense training three times that day.

He used his hands to prop his body up. The sound of metal scraping against stone made him flinch. It took Leo a few minutes to realize it was his chains around his wrists that had made the noise. Sitting up Leo found his eyes were finally adjusted to the darkness. The feel of cold wet stone against his green flesh was enough to tell him he was in a cell. But his golden browns were able to take in the bars before him and as he looked down he stared at the chains binding his wrists and ankles.

A sharp stabbing pain was felt in the back of his head. Leo went to feel it only to come away with what appear to be dried blood on his hands. Slowly what had happened was coming back to him, piece by piece – like a jigsaw puzzle.

Leo remembered the fight him and Raphael got into, how his little brother was starting to appear so weak and fragile. As if Raph was fading away and there was nothing he could do about it. For some reason those very thoughts were more alarming to the young ninja then the very chains on his wrists.

Leo remembered heading back and that strange man, and then the blow to the back of his head....and something important. Something that he needed to remember.

That something was itching his memory, tugging at his mind, begging to come out. Something so important that even thinking about it was sending a feeling of panic throughout his entire body. But what could it have been? The throbbing feeling in his head was not helping much and soon Leo was ready to scream out in frustration.

Here he was; trapped, chained, his entire body aching and instead of trying to find a way out – he was busy trying to dig inside his head for that one memory.

So, why the hell can't I remember?! Leo screamed in his head and punched the ground in frustration.

Then it came –through an image. A memory that Leo had implanted in his mind years ago – a mental picture he would never forget. It was of Raphael on the day his brother had first beaten him in a fight. At first Leo was frustrated, he was angry that he had lost to his younger brother. But when Leo had looked up he saw that smile, he saw the twinkle of happiness shimmer in those golden eyes. To Leonardo, that was a special moment for it was not the fake smiles that Raphael hid behind, it was a true smile – a smile that Leo could never forget.

Something fluttered in his stomach drawing Leo away from his own thoughts. He instantly knew what it was his mind was trying to tell him, the last words he heard before he was knocked out, "my pets kill the red one."

"Raph!" Leo suddenly yelled, getting to his feet. Ignoring the pain and how his body felt like lead. Leo grabbed a hold of the bars and begun tugging at them, "let me out of here!" He yelled shaking them with all the strength he had left.

Leo had yelled and tugged and pull for what felt like hours, but there was no answer. No sign of any living creature other than himself.

Sinking to the ground, Leo drew his knees to his chest and closed his eyes.

"Remember Leonardo. The best way to find the answer to a situation is to clear your mind, rest your spirit, and become one within yourself. Then the answer should just stand before you as clear as a picture." Remembering these words of Master Splinter, Leo took a few calming breaths and started to clear his mind.

But despite how close to meditating he got he kept thinking of Raphael. He wondered if his brother would be alright. He had remember how weak Raph look for it seemed keeping that shield up was draining him. And those tired lines that were appearing around those beautiful pools of sparkling gold. Then there was that weak sad smile that Raphael had started to give to Leo. This was a lone battle that was destroying Raphael and now....now he was trapped here!

"Dammit!" Leo yelled, finding anger rise within him. "Why are you so stupid Leonardo! Why did you get yourself capture! You need to be by his side! You need to help him fight! Why are YOU SO USELESS!" His voice echo down along the walls and he felt different somehow.

Looking around Leo had soon realized the place had become brighter – a bluish glow that was dancing along the walls. He felt stronger, as if his energy was returned to him. He felt revitalized and more alive than ever. He could feel there was people above him, people below him, he could hear the whispers of voices and feel the power around them. It was like a veil had been lifted.

Glancing at his hands he realized it was himself that was glowing. He reached out, Leo did not know what he was doing but he needed to do something to say something. "Raphael be safe..." he whispered. And suddenly he felt heavy again, the light faded and he collapsed on the ground, weaker than ever.

Leo heard the sound of footsteps, and a voice, the same voice of his kidnapper, "well it seems he had some fight left in him."

"Next time Derius, be more careful, we do not want him somehow telling the rat where we are..." The reply was that of a female voice, soft and almost seductive but there was a tone in her voice the kind that could cut your heart in half.

"Don't worry," the man replied which Leo now knew as Derius, "as long as we keep draining his spiritual energy Leonardo won't even be able to bat away a fly." With that Leo heard the steps move away from him, weakly he reached out for anything. His mind was a blur...but all he could think of was Raphael and his family.

Please be safe. He thought as he reached out towards the bars, but eventually even exhaustion had beaten the dedicated leader.

It was a nightmare. At least that was what Raphael felt as he found himself huffing and puffing, his weakened injured body only seeming to give the shadow hounds an even hungrier glint in those crimson orbs. He had no idea where they all came from, all he knew something was not right. And the fact that he was going to come out of this alive no matter what.

Raphael was covered in claw marks and bite marks. Areas of his skin burning from the acidic like saliva that the shadow hounds possessed. But despite that he gripped harder upon his burning sais, shimmering with the golden red light of his powers.

He sliced across the exposed belly of one of the hounds that was brave enough to attack him. The creature writhed on the ground whimpering in pain as it burn into the ground becoming part of the shadows once again. Another one went to bite Raphael's tail, only to have it kicked in the face and a sai stabbed into its left eye. The creature yelped and hit the ground disappearing within the darkness.

More surrounded Raphael, biting and growling. Each one wanting a piece of him. The ninja knew that these were just minor demons, useless since they really only had one purpose and that is to serve a master. But to be able to summon this many Raphael had a feeling there was someone powerful behind these creatures. That made the turtle uneasy inside.

One went to dive at him again. They did not attack at once afraid of the light that surrounded Raphael. He went to slice at the creature only to notice his sais were no longer glowing as bright. "Shit!" He yelled as he stabbed the creature with both sais. The creature now injured slinked back to his companions. This time not disappearing like the others.

Raphael now knew he was in trouble. The shield he worked so hard to keep up over the years was weakening and his own spiritual energy was like a flickering candle light, ready to be put out for good any minute. This is bad. Raphael thought as he stabbed one more hound before escaping down the path Leo went. He needed to get to Master Splinter. It was the only way he was getting out of this alive.

Raphael kept on running ignoring the puddles of sewer water before him, the sting of his many scratches and cuts. He had been fighting for hours and he was exhausted. But he kept going determined to protect his family, determined to live.

He was almost there, so close. Heh, another time I cheated death, Raphael thought. But then Raphael tripped over something feeling a sharp pain in his foot. Gritting his teeth to stop himself from screaming he glanced at the object that even dare to trip him. Only to find....Leo's katanas. One of them was now stained with blood from his foot.

"Leo?" Raph called out. He flinched at the sound of his voice. The shrill tone of panic and the depression mix together made his voice sound so meek, something that was not like him. Taking a deep breath he told himself everything was alright he just needed to call out again – calmer this time. Before he could even call out for his brother a second time, a hound dived on him sinking teeth into Raph's right shoulder.

Raphael felt the saliva begin to burn through his flesh, eating away, causing even more agony. Before he could even react and try to get the hound off him. Another had grabbed his leg and glancing in front of him Raph saw as more was approaching.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Like the movies. He watched as his demise approached closer and struggled to get the two hounds off him. But Raphael knew...he did not stand a chance.

It can't be...he thought through gritted teeth as he tried to shake the dogs off him, I am going to die here, and Leo....who is going to save Leo!

Then as if his thoughts were the same he heard a voice in his head, but not any voice, a voice that Raph would always secretly treasure – Leo's. "Raphael be safe..." Those words were enough. He could feel Leo as if he was standing before him.

He could tell Leo was scared but determined, he could feel how weak Leo was....then he felt nothing. Well, except a sudden burst of energy unlike any other. Closing his eyes Raphael called upon his powers, drawing upon his chi. His spiritual energy! He had never felt this much power ever before. It felt so strange! He felt more alive than ever before.

The hounds on him yelped as they burnt alive. He then turned towards the shadow hounds coming towards him. Anger rising up as Raphael thought about Leo, whoever took Leonardo was going to pay!

Then his body felt like it was on fire! It was burning! It was agony! He fell to the ground writhing in pain! Screaming for it to stop! Then he felt nothing...opening his eyes he weakly looked at Leo's katana the one that had cut his foot.

Leo....Raphael thought...then he noticed ashes falling on the blade, many ashes dancing as they made their way to the ground.

What.....but the thought had never finished as Raphael collapsed.

This one is much shorter but I hope everyone enjoys this! Please review ^^