Ch 21 Facing the Past.
Splinter watched his three sons and April spar. He had decided that since they were now back home and all seemed quiet, he and his sons needed to get back to every day life. It was hard, but he was determined to get them through the pain they all still felt. But, his mind was still plagued by the memories of the voice that had come to him the other day while meditating. He sighed and attempted once again to focus on his students.
"Very good April." He complimented. "You are becoming more and more like a true kunoichi every day."
April turned and smiled at him. "Thank you Sensei."
"Focus Donatello." He turned toward his son. "Watch your form."
"Hai Sensei." He replied.
"Bring your hand up more Raphael." He cautioned. "You must block where your enemy thrust."
Raphael rolled his eyes but bowed in respect none-the-less.
"Stop your foolishness Michelangelo." He came over to him and rapped him on his head. "Now is not the time for games."
"Sorry Sensei." He responded and rubbed his head.
An hour later, Splinter ended practice and dismissed his pupils. While he went to his room to meditate, they went to the kitchen and got a snack.
"Man, Splinter is just not himself these days." Mikey shook his head.
"Can you blame him?" Donnie looked at his bother. "After everything that's happened, I'm surprised we all haven't started to just wither away."
"That's not going to happen." April told him. "I know what it's like to lose a loved one, and at some point you come to accept what happened and move on." She looked at them with sympathy. "It takes time...but it will happen."
"Your right April." Donnie smiled at her. He was happy she was still in their lives, she was something he needed a lot right now. As was the rest of their friends. Without them, he knew he and his family would not be able to move on like they had.
"Yeah, give Splinter time, he'll be okay." Raph sighed and got up from his seat, he made his way out of the kitchen and to his room. The others watched him leave, wondering when he would be okay.
"We'll go on patrol tonight and that will cheer Raph up." Donnie said.
"Yeah, Raph's been brooding a lot too." Mikey said.
April and Donnie nodded and finished their snacks. Eventually, April went home and the others got ready to go on patrol.
Later that night, the three turtles jumped from one rooftop to another, keeping their eyes opened and their hearing alert. But truth be told, their hearts had not been into it. As of late, the only thing they could think of was Leo.
"I still feel like something out there is telling me he's still alive." Raph admitted to them while they had stopped by the water tower to rest.
"I know what you mean." Donnie replied. "I half expect to turn around and see him standing behind me."
"Yeah." Mikey responded, on a hunch, he turned to look behind him and a sudden shout from the young turtle caused the other two to turn around and look behind them to see Mikey pointing to something in the distance.
"What the...?" Raph began as his eyes also took in the sight his brother saw.
"No way." Donnie breathed.
The three turtles stared off into the distance. Several rooftops away, stood a large dark figure staring back at them. It was hard to tell in the darkness but from what they could tell, the figure looked to be a rather large turtle.
"It can't be him." Raph breath. He quickly took out his t-phone and dialed a number. A few seconds later he was speaking into it. "Slash?" Raph asked. "Are you by any chance out on patrol tonight?" A few seconds later he hung up and turned to his brothers who were still watching the figure looking at them.
"Slash is home." He informed them.
"Okay." Donnie said, uncertain as to what they should do. "So who is that?"
"Do you think...?" Mikey began. "Maybe...?"
They broke into a run toward the roof the figure stood on when the figure suddenly turned and ran. They chased after him, determined to catch up to him, but after several minutes the figure eventually jumped down in between buildings and seemed to disappear.
"If that was him." Donnie panted, "Why would he run away from us?"
"I don't know...but do you notice where we are?" Raph pointed out. The others looked around and noticed that they were only a block away from Shredder's old hideout.
They looked at each other, fear seeping into their bodies and each wondering the same thing. "I think we better get outta here." Mikey said, his voice getting very nervous. "It could be a trap."
The other two agreed and they quickly made their way back to the lair. Upon walking in, Splinter, noticing their distress, came over to them quickly.
"Is everything alright my sons?"
"We're not sure Sensei." Donnie said as he walked over to the couch. "We think we may have seen something..."
"Or someone..." Mikey interrupted. "Someone that we know."
"What do you mean?" Splinter looked at his sons curiously and stroking his long beard.
"While we were out on patrol, we saw a figure on a rooftop over by the water tower. " Raph told him. "It looked like a turtle."
"Sensei." Donnie looked up at him. "Could Leo still be...?"
"Is it a possibility Sensei?" Mikey asked his eyes filled with hope.
Splinter sighed and sat down opposite of them on the couch. "I too have been having doubts of what the Shredder has told us. " He confessed. "Ever since we arrived back in New York, I have felt a presence, something familiar yet...not familiar." He looked away from his sons, shame filling his eyes. "I have wondered if this presence is possibly...your brother."
"Sensei?" Raph stood and walked over to him. "If it is Leo, why would his presence feel familiar and yet not familiar?"
"I fear his soul has long been possessed by the demon that took him so many years ago." Splinter looked down and rubbed his tired eyes. "I think he still fights the demon but I fear he is fading fast."
"Why didn't you tell us Sensei?" Donnie asked, surprised his father would keep this from them.
"I was not sure of what I was feeling." He answered. "What if it was just a father hoping his son was still alive and trying to get back to him?"
His sons looked at each other, suddenly realizing Splinter had been going through his own personal hell and blaming himself for what Leo had gone through.
"But if Leo is alive and back, then we need to go and free him from this demon's control." Raph said. He looked at his brothers. "We infiltrate the foot headquarters tomorrow night."
"Yeah!" The others agreed. But Splinter shook his head.
"If your brother is alive and at the lair of the Shredder, then it is a trap." He stood and began to walk to the kitchen in need of his tea. "I will not permit you to go."
"You don't have a choice Sensei." All eyes turned to look at Raph as he stood and walked over toward his father. "We're going with or without your permission."
They stared at each other, father and son determined not to back down. Finally, Splinter hung his head and turned away from them, shame seemed to fill his very soul, knowing that he would not fight to get his son back like they would.
"Go then." He told them. "Find your brother, but please..." He turned back to them. His eyes pleading with them. "Please be careful."
"We will Sensei." Raph assured him. He turned to his brothers. "We need to make a plan."
Splinter watched with a heavy heart as his three remaining sons ran to the Donatello's lab to make the necessary arrangements.