Gasp! It is an update earlier than taking an entire mouth also XD Anyways I hope you all enjoy this.

Chapter 8 – Reflections of the Past

Dreams – Leonardo had once remembered being told they were a reflection of your inner self, an extension of one's own feelings. But this one was different...much different...it was not the erotic kind he would dream of with Raphael and it was not his usual nightmare of losing his family. No, it was not a typical dream. It felt real. It felt as if he had lived it once before. And he could not wake up from it. He could not force himself to open his eyes like he normally could during a dream. That to the leader was frightening.

Leonardo sighed as he sat cross legged in the middle of the room. Candles were burning, casting a faint glow along the foreign walls. The flames were dancing along to the faint breeze that was coming from the slightly opened window to let in the midnight air. It had been weeks since he last saw his brother, and when Raphael had returned injured last night – all his master had to say was that he was glad Raphael was back. No asking questions. That was it! As if Raphael had went out for only a night!

He took a deep breath – if his father was not worried about it then he shouldn't be either. Casting those thoughts out he tried once again as he had so many times to meditate.

Inhale. Clear mind. Exhale. One, two, three – the pain on his face...No! Inhale. Clear mind. Exhale. One – those wounds looked serious. Leonardo shook his head in frustration. He couldn't even go a minute without thinking of the hot-head!

It angered the young turtle as he thought about the worry that it had placed on his father's shoulders. The worry that it placed on him! And that was all his Master could say to his hot-headed brother? After the panic that overcame his family!

Leo grumbled in anger and stretched, his legs aching from the stance he had sat in for hours. Maybe it was best if he went to do some training, busy his body to stop his mind from thinking, and at least it could dwell that anger of his. The young thirteen year old stood only to get dived on by a certain orange banded turtle, "Leo!" Mikey yelled only to have his mouth covered by his older brother.

"Quiet!" Leo hissed, "Do you really want to wake everyone up?"

The sound of footsteps caused both Leo and Mikey to look up; standing holding a cup of coffee as if it was heaven itself Donnie gave both his brothers an annoyed look, "I think everyone is still awake anyways...and if they weren't you made sure they are awake now Mikey."

Mikey shoved Leo away from him, "Donnie!" Mikey yelled as he went to dive on his other older brother.

Don held out the cup of coffee as if it was a dangerous weapon, "don't make me use this Mikey!"

"But Donnie! I was only showing my love for you!" Mikey complained.

"How about you show it in a less random way? Specifically when I am not holding a hot cup of coffee," Don pointed out gently.

Pouting Mikey sat down on the ground, "fine!" His tail started wagging which earned both a strange look from Leo and Don, "isn't it great Raphie is finally back! I miss home! It has my comics, my video games, my action heroes..."

"Yeah, just great," Leo muttered his tone strained.

Don and Mikey turned to look at Leo, "is something wrong with Raph being back Leo?" Don asked.

"It is just...I mean Raph and Sensei they are acting like nothing happened. Raphael was gone for two weeks! A week ago the Ancient One had returned without him and no word on why! Then he comes back injured and our Master only says welcome home," Leo blurted out, golden browns glancing at the ground. His hands curled in fists.

"Are you mad at Raphael Leo? Or is there more to this?" Don pries as gently as he could.

Leonardo smiled at his younger brother. Donatello was a genius, even at the age of thirteen he knew so much more that Leo could not even begin to understand, for that reason he took great pride in calling Donnie his brother. But there was just one problem with having a genius of a brother – Don could read him like an open book. He was getting better at hiding his emotions but as Master Splinter always told Leo it takes time and lots of training. "No," Leo answered quickly, trying his best to avoid those all knowing ambers.

In truth there was much more to this. He was not angry at Raphael. He was not even angry at his Master for forgiving his brother so easily. No, what Leo was angry about was not directed at anyone else but himself. Angry, that he, the leader had failed to protect his younger brother.

"Raphie looked hurt bad," Mikey muttered as he started playing with his bandanna. Twirling the ends around his sea-green fingers, "Master Splinter and Raphie have been in that room since he came home. Wonder why?"

"I know," Don muttered, putting his fingers under his chin, "it is kind of fishy, those two seem to be hiding something." Donnie then leaned against the wall taking another sip from his coffee mug, "but like Mikey says it does mean we will be returning home soon. How much I wish to see my computer again..." Don said trialing off. Ever since they had come here, the lack of technology in the Ancient One's place was getting on the genius' nerves.

There was silence. As the three young turtles reflected on the night that Master Splinter had dragged them out of their beds, telling them they were leaving. Raphael had been sick the past few days, and despite the care of his brothers and his master he had not approved in health. Come to think of it, Leo quickly realized, Raphael had been sick a lot lately – weaken for some strange reason – a reason that Leo was dying to know.

"You know..." Mikey said, breaking the silence. The youngest of the turtles could never handle silence for too long. A grin was on his face the one that Michelangelo would usually have when he was planning something mischievous. "We could eavesdrop!"

"No! It is not honourable to eavesdrop, we need to show respect to our Sensei and our brother," Leo said instantly.

"Come on Leo!" Mikey whined, "I know your dying to know, and what Master doesn't know won't hurt him! I mean I totally got away from eavesdropping when you and Master were talking..."

"What?" Leo interrupted.

"Umm...I mean!" Mikey looked around trying to find a way to stir the subject away from the crime he just admitted, "you wanna know why Raphie's hurt right?"

There was silence as Leonardo paused to consider Mikey's idea. He knew it was wrong to listen in on his Master but he was worried. Not only about Raphael but about the secrets that had started to surround both his master and younger brother. Something was amiss and Leo did not like being kept in the dark. He was the oldest, he was being trained as the leader shouldn't he have the right to know?

Donnie watched Leo's browns narrowing, "you're not seriously considering this are you?"

"What Master Splinter has taught me is that nothing is more important than family and if anything threatens that bond we have as brothers I should take the steps to prevent it," Leonardo said, finally deciding mentally that eavesdropping was probably the only way.

"Yeah but also Master Splinter has taught us to respect our master..." Donnie trailed off and sighed, "who am I kidding? I am just as curious as you two."

"So in agreement then?" Mikey asked smirking at his two older brothers. It was not every day that he is able to convince them to go behind their father's back.

"I guess I agree," Don said lightly, Leo just nodded.

Smirking they approached the door, Mikey pressing his ear against it just as Raphael opened it, "I told you I was FINE!" He yelled back at his father as Mikey fell flat down on his plastron. Raph glared down at his brother, bandages decorated his arms and legs. "Well, well what do we have here, a couple of eavesdroppers? Maybe I should teach you both a lesson." Raph growled.

Mikey yelped and hid behind Donnie, because Leo was suddenly nowhere to be found. "Raphie we were just worried..."

"What the shell is up with everyone worrying about me, just bug off already!" Raphael said raising his fist.

A hand grabbed his wrist, "Raphael that is enough," Leonardo said. "What is up with you? You know never to hit your brothers!"

Pulling away from Leo, Raph heard Master Splinter telling him to come back. "Maybe I am sick and tired of being treated like a child, now bug off Leo or you will meet my fist!"

Leonardo watched his younger brother storm off, a cloud of anger seeming to be swarming around him. A hand was placed on his shoulder, turning around to look up he'd glance into the sad fatherly brown eyes of Master Splinter. "Just leave him be my son." His master said, seeming to know what his oldest son was thinking. Leo watched Master Splinter walk off, something about the way his sensei held himself Leonardo was suddenly reminded how old his master was. He had never witness his shoulders so slumped before.

Once Master Splinter had disappeared behind the doors, Don turned towards Leo, "nice job letting us get caught Leo!"

"Yeah! Seriously, dude why the shell did you bail on us like that?" Mikey grumbled, poking his head out from behind Donnie as if double checking if Raphael was really gone.

"I'm sorry we are going to have to continue this fight later," Leo said running off, leaving a grumbling Mikey and an angry Donnie behind.

Leonardo knew he probably should have listened to Master Splinter. He knew that Raphael was angry. Filled with a rage that the leader could barely even comprehend but he knew his brother – possibly even better than his own father.

Those eyes, something in them, something dark – his brother was injured in a way Leonardo did not understand. And it was his job, as leader, and as an older brother to be there even if his brothers pretend they did not want him around. Leo had dedicated his life years ago to his family and he was not about to turn his back on that silent promise he had made.

He made his way outside in the backyard of the Ancient Ones property. As Leo walked down the walkway, his highly trained golden brown eyes picked up moment outside the fence. Thinking it was Raphael he ran out, "Raph!" He called out as he stepped outside the fence – forgetting about the warning his sensei had given him and his brothers earlier. No one, I repeat no one, is to step outside the fence!

A flash of movement among the trees made Leonardo move forward, until he felt something. A foreboding presence, turning around he pulled out his swords and used them to block the creature that dived on him. The thing was black almost four times his height; a snarling mouth that could swallow him whole with razor sharp teeth, the only thing preventing the creature from biting him was the blade Leo was using to block the mouth.

He could feel the cold steel of his sword digging into his hand, note to self a katana is not meant to be used like a bow staff. The creature yelped as Leo pressed the blade harder into its open mouth, moving back Leo stood. He felt a burning sensation on his hand and hissed in pain as Leo noticed the green saliva had dripped on his hand – melting his green flesh. The katana was covered in it and the saliva burnt through the steel as if it was nothing.

Dropping his now useless weapon, Leonardo felt fear grip his very soul as he stared into the crimson glowing red eyes of the beast. Pushing away that fear he grabbed his other katana using it to slice at the piece of skin that was burning his hand. The pain was unbearable as the air made his open wound sting but he held his other katana at the ready – Leo was not going down without a fight.

The creature growled at Leo, the wound he made with his katana healing instantly, as it went to jump at Leonardo again..."Duck!" As if it was second nature Leo had ducked, he heard a loud thud as he looked up. Standing in front of him was Raphael, glowing. His sais appearing as if they were on fire. "Geez you really are something Leo," Raphael grumbled.

"Nice of you to finally show up," Leonardo replied running to stand beside his brother. It was obvious that Raph had kicked the beast, as the creature stood up growling, many trees knocked down around it. The area that Raphael had kicked the skin was bubbling as if was melting at that very spot.

The creature dived at them again, this time knocking Leo back with its claws and hitting Raphael against a tree with its tail. Leo dazed sat up rubbing his head. "Raph!" He yelled, watching his brother stand there, fear shimmering in those golden orbs, the creature swung its mighty fist – a blow that close would surely kill his younger brother!

Leo threw his katana, his trained eyes aimed at only one area, the place between those crimson eyes bubbling from Raphael's attack earlier. It hit, sinking deep into the beasts flesh. The creature whimpered in pain as its claws rubbed at the katana, using this time Leo jumped beside Raph, "what were you thinking! Snap out of it!"

The sound of Leonardo's calm voice seemed to bring Raphael back to his senses, just as the beast went to bite down on Leo. Grabbing his older brother Raphael moved as quickly as he could only to have the arm he held out to protect them nipped by the beast. Ignoring the intense pain, Raphael threw his glowing sais at the creature hitting the same area as the katana, "no one messes with my bro!" Raph yelled as the sais glowed the beast burning in agony. The creature had managed to rub the sais off to the ground – sadly the last of Leo's katana was nothing more than a burnt mess. Its skin was boiling, bubbling, giving one last growl the thing ran into the forest – fading.

The brothers moved into the backyard taking a seat at the bench. Without saying a word Leo took Raphael's arm, using one of his sai which was back to normal, he scraped off the burning flesh. After that he untied his bandanna and tied it around Raphael's wound.

"You are something else Leo," Raph muttered, now taking Leo's arm ripping a piece of his belt to tie up the wound.

"Something else? How so Raph? You're obviously something special – how did you do that anyways? And what the shell was that thing?"

"Heh, I think from now on I am going to call you Fearless!" Raphael said with a small laugh, "you faced that thing with such determination – "

"Raph, this is not about me..." Leonardo interrupted looking at his brother and the bandages. "Tell me."

Raphael was silent, he then took a deep breath, and "it was a Soul Devourer – a creature from a realm that is cursed to hunger for the souls of the innocent."

"What happened to you?" Leo asked.

"What no? How did you do that? What the heck is the realm?"

"Because, that is not what you want to talk about," Leonardo muttered.

Raphael looked down swinging his legs on the bench, "things..." he grumbled.

"Raphael..." Leo said placing his hands on either side of his cheeks, forcing his younger brother to face him. "Will you be alright?"

Leonardo watched slowly as those eyes soften, the darkness seeming to leave them. Slowly a weak smile spread on the darker turtles face, "ya know what Leo, I think I'll do just fine."

"That is all I need to know," Leo said pulling his brother into a hug.

"Tell Mikey about this and your dead," Raph grumbled.

Leonardo pulled back a smirk on his face, "but this will be a good laugh for our family – Raphael allowing me to hug him just priceless!" Noticing the expression on Raph's face Leo shook his head, "don't worry Raph it will be our little secret."

"Good, here." Raphael muttered putting something in Leo's hand he had pulled out from his belt.

Looking down Leo traced his fingers over the trinket. It was a necklace, the string was simple enough. Leo was more drawn in what was at the end of that string. A black rune, he rubbed his fingers over it, it felt like it was made of stone. Soft and smooth, and there was something else Leo sensed as he held it – an aura of power, "What is it?"

"Protection rune or something like that," Raphael quietly whispered, "a person who died helping me out gave this to me..."

Leonardo looked at Raphael in shock, "then why give this to me? Isn't it important to you?" Leo asked trying to give it back to Raph.

"That is why I am giving it to you, idiot," Raph pushed Leo's hand away and then stood up, "just don't lose it okay. I'll have to talk to Master Splinter." Before Leo could say anything else Raphael had ran back towards the house.

Glancing down at the small gift Leo gave a light smile, "thank you Raphael." He whispered as he put the necklace away in his belt.

"My son," Splinter said behind Leonardo causing the young pre-teen to jump in surprise.

"Sensei, I didn't hear you," Leo blinked as Master Splinter studied his arm. "What attacked you my son?"

"Raphael said a Soul Devourer – "

"Raphael, you saw him then?" Splinter sounded sad almost. When Leo nodded, Splinter gave a sad sigh. "Come with me, we must discuss this with the Ancient One..."

As Leonardo followed his sensei he had no idea what was waiting for him. Leo had no clue that everything he just witness, everything that he and Raphael had said to each other – even the very item he kept hidden in his belt – all of it was to be erased. His mind blanked by the Ancient One under the approval of his master.

Leonardo would not remember Raphael protecting him. He would not remember the reason why he was suddenly called fearless. He would not remember those soften golden orbs, and that sad smile. And most of all, he would not remember the greatest gift he had ever been given.

These treasured moments would forever be lost to the leader.

The mysterious rune that he carried with him, unknowing why it was special and dear to his heart.

Until this very night...six years later...

Well there we have it ^^ I hope you all enjoyed it ^^ Next chapter is already in the works XD So I may be getting an update up early again.