Chapter 14

Onward part I

"-according to my calculations, if we stop only two times we can make it back to your village by nightfall."

Leo nodded, unable to believe the conversation going on. He was actually talking to his Otouto, Donatello, about going back to his village. And now they were pouring over a map that Don's old sensei (Leatherhead) had made with Kaede and Donnie kneeling on one side and Leo on the other (Raph was doing something else). It was definitely more up-to-date, (in his map, Dorinbo had to draw a x where their village was.). Leos' eyes moved from Horyu City to Murakami Village. They were so close, so freaking close. If Leo had known his brothers location he would of gotten there WEEKS ago. Not that he was complaining, frankly he was grateful to have even found them at all. And now he was heading home.

Home. Even with word sent comfort through him and he struggled to keep the smile off his face, home. To his family. To his fathers, adoptive and birth. And brothers! To his brothers, Usagi and Michel-. Leo paused in mid-thought

Mikey. His aka-chan

He was going home to his baby brother, well now he had two baby brothers. Donnie too. He'd never consider Raph a 'baby brother though (he feared the imprint in his face that would be left from Raph punching him so hard). Leo's eyes followed the Raisuhowaito River all the way down to the Akai forest. Somewhere between there was his (correction THEIR) grandfather. There was barely a day that had gone by where he didn't mentally beat himself up for not remembering the village name. And he was sure he wouldn't be able to go their on his way home, not without Raph and Donnie finding out about Kojima.

NO, He'd find a way back. He had to.

Leo looked up to glance at Kaede and Donnie. He wasn't' sure if it was because Donnie would be leaving soon, but Kaede's arm was wrapped around Don's shoulders tightly, while the young kame had his head resting on his mothers shoulders. Any time Leo tried to make eyes contact and smile, Don could only give him a half-hearted twitch. Leo could only pray that Donnie wouldn't resent him, Raph he could probably handle hating him, but not his Otouto.

Donnie reached up and rubbed his throat lightly, something Leo didn't overlook. He could already hear the coughs in the back of his head, "Are you ok?" he asked without thinking.

Donnie game him the same 'sad half twitch smile', "I feel fine, its just itchy."

Leo didn't believe him, he looked over at Kaede. Judging by the small frown on her face, he knew his worries were based on fact. Her hand (resting on his opposite shoulder) slowly slid up his shoulders and rested on the side of his neck lightly, her scowl relaxing slightly before turning to Leo , "I believe some tea would be good right now, would you like to get some Leonardo?'"

Leo nodded, hurrying out of the room and almost running into Raph, who glared at him, "What the hell's your problem?!

"S-sorry." well, he wasn't' really. But it sounded better then 'shut your hot headed arrogant mouth up' good thing he had a mountain of patience. He had to remember to thank Mikey for that later. He put on a smile, "Sorry I was just getting tea-'"

"Whatever." Raph rolled his eyes. If Leo had known , as a child, that Raph's' tempter would get THIS bad he definitely would of done something about it. He didn't know what, but he'd do SOMETHING. Leo caught a glimpse at the stack of clothes bundled under Raph's arms, "Are those yours? Are you packing?"

"Nah I stole it. don't be stupid."

Leo gritted his teeth, reminding himself to keep pleasant and be the better man. He then saw the familiar black leather stuck between the clothes, "Is that your Nightw-"

"LOOK." Raph shoved a finger into his chest angrily, the force (despite coming from one finger) sent him stumbling back into the hallway wall, amber eyes blazing in his face, "I don't need you to peck at me like a awkward snail, I might be going with you but that sure as hell doesn't mean I like you-"

"RAPHAEL."

Raph flinched at the sound of his mothers loud angry voice (Leo hated how much satisfaction that gave him. Then the following 'satisfaction took that away) , "Yeah Mom?" his voice considerably softer and meeker

"Act more HUMANE towards your big brother. Or I'll revoke your rank and let Donnie ground you."

"What?! Ma-"

"APOLOGIZE."

Raph growled heavily, glaring at Leo as though wondering how to get out of it.

"I don't hear you apologizing."

"ALRIGHT! Alright. I'm sorry. But I still don't' think you're older then me you freaking-"

"Raph."

Raph growled again before storming away, cursing under his breath and stormed back down the hall. Disappearing with a loud BANG into the room that he shared with Donnie. Leo wanted to feel concerned, and his did, but it was hard to deal with that attitude all the time. He hurried and prepared the tea and came back with the tray.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw Don quickly wipe his eyes with his sleeves . Leo was confused for a moment before he saw dampness on Kaede's shoulder. His stomach turning cold when he realized what Don had been doing, he quickly rounded the map and knelt by him" are you ="

"Thanks for the tea Leo!" Donnie smiled, quickly taking the yunomi,

Leo was about to ask him bout his crying but he got a small glare from Kaede. Trying to look inconspicuous ,handing Kaede a yunomi, "What was that about 'rank?"

Kaede smiled, "well, the rule we set up for when I was the NightWatcher and Leatherhead would babysit. Except he never had the heart to ground them so I gave Raph the power to ground if he saw fit. That only lasted a hour cause Raph started to ground Donnie for everything. So i gave Donnie the same power. They could ground each-other and when I came home they'd tell me why they had and why it should be sustained. if it wasn't a good reason then I would revoke the grounding and the grounder would get grounded."

"what seriously?!" oh man he'd love to see that, he smiled over at Donnie who kept his eyes fully focused on his tea. Leo tried not to look too sad, but the fact he couldn't get eye contact almost broke his heart, he didn't want his brothers to go with them if it meant they'd end up hating him, he paused before reaching out and laying his hand on Dons shoulder, finally getting the smaller kame's attention, "Are you ok? I'm sorry if this is putting a lot of pressure on you."

Donnie face dawned with realization, "N-No I'm fine! I'm sorry-"

"You don't have to lie me-"

"B- but I'm ok," he looked over at Kaede, "Mom I'm fine-"

Kaede reached over and stroked her sons face, "I know baby I know, why don't' you go and help Raph pack?"

Don looked between them and nodded sadly, getting up and walking out of the room. Leo looked over at Kaede, "What-"

"There's something you need to understand about my son, my youngest son." Leo acknowledged the intense emphasis on 'my, "he is used to being treated, 'differently' because of his health. Even by strangers, so he tends to not keep his emotions 'open' and the more you try to get him to tell you what's wrong, the more he'll shut you out. You have to be patient with him."

"But, he used to always come with me, everywhere. We never left the house but he always depended on me, I was practically his mother-"

"That was ten years ago gakusei, he was just a baby at the time. How can you expect him to remember that?"

"I-I- are you telling me that Raph's' always patient? That he waits around-"

"Hell no, but HE took care of Donnie HE helped raise him. He has been here for ten years so he can get away with it."

Leo found his energy draining, trying to take in her words, "I-I just wish that we could pick off when I lost them."

"Are you telling me that you would rather he was the shy baby that couldn't' talk or go through a day without falling ill?"

Ok when she put it like that-, "No."

"Donatello will learn to trust you again, as long as you are deserving of it."

Despite the fact Leo wished for nothing less then to have his little brother back, he knew she was right. He wanted so badly wanted for his little brother to depend on him. But that was selfish, and he hated that.

Leo had to be patient.

(#)(#)(#)(#)

"Dam it, I sure don't see how hes older then me Don. I don't believe it, He's a freaking scrawny rat."

"Raph-"

"I mean just look at him, his clothes! They HANG off him, "

"He's built differently. He is taller then you."

"by a millimeter-"

Leo took a deep breath, running his hand down Kaze's neck. The fields around them were rolling with hills and large stones tall sturdy trees spread out sparesely, and because he had such a good vantage poin the wasn't' as worried about being jumped. He tried to calm himself down, which did help a little bit. He glanced behind him at the borrowed horse and its riders. Raph sat up on front while Donnie sat behind him. It had a been a bit of a roller coaster of emotions, between watching Donnie and Raph say goodbye to their mother and watching Kaede hug her boys, pruning over Don's happi and making sure that his three buttons were secure. Reminding her boys to look out for each other. Handing Raph a water flask and a rather large box that she said, 'always keep it full, you never know when a bad day will come around'. It was hard to watch her wrap her arms around her small son and her 'kuma son'. Leo had been hoping that Raph might groan and mumble something on the lines of 'too old to be hugged' or 'dam it don't put me on the same level as Donnie.' but instead he lowered his head to rest his chin on his mothers shoulder. IT was only then Leo realized that Raph was taller then his adopted mother. Leo didn't know why he didn't realize it before, maybe it was the way Kaede carried herself. In confidence, the same confidence that Raph exhume. For a moment Leo felt a little sad as he still struggled to remember his own mother. He just wanted her to be just like Kaede.

That would be a mother to be proud of.

Of course, a hour into the trip Raph was already grinding his nerves. He'd like to think that he was trying to distract Donnie, but Leo knew by now that Raph wanted nothing more then to drive Leo crazy.

And he was succeeding

"He's a freaking runt-"

"He's still taller then me."

"That's because you're the runtiest runt of the runts. "

"Runtiest' isn't a word."

"how would you know-"

"PARDON ME." Leo growled back at them "But are you going to spend this entire trip insulting my height?"

"Maybe." Raph smirked.

Already Leo was forming the words that was CLEANLY show his feelings towards Raph. But he caught a glimpse of Donnie smiling at him sympathetically. It was the first time anything short to a smile Don had given him in since last night, "If you're bored, then we can play the riddle game."

"Riddle Game?" Raph moaned, " Ah hell Donnie that's the stupidest game in history."

"You're only saying that because you always loose."

"That's YOUR problem-"

Leo glanced back again, it was a little funny to se the two stuck on the same horse. Since was so big and since Donnie was too small for his own, Leo offered to let him ride on his. But as expected, Raph had insulted him and refused. Leo couldn't expect a less pleasant situation, but Donnie seemed to be more tolerant then he was.

And he was pretty dam sure that RPAH didn't teach him that.

Leo pulled on his reins to slow down slightly and pull up beside Raph and Donnie, Raph gave him a irritated look but Donnie smiled, "Yeah Leo?"

"how does the riddle game work?"

Don's eyes lit up, "We tell each other riddles

"Sounds like fun. Do you want to go first?"

"Sure!"

(#)(#)(#)(#)

Leo had to admit, he really didn't know what he was getting into when he accepted the challenge. As fun as it was, there was no doubt that if this were a real competition he would of lost, " OK, What is it that you can keep after giving it to someone else?" it was Don's turn again, he never knew someone knew so many riddles. He had to make up some, but when he wasn't trying to make up ones, he was trying to sort through Don's impossible ones.

"Your fist." Raph concluded, " Or rather the imprint." as was his usual pattern of purposely stupid answers over the past 4 hours which included answers such as 'fart' 'burp' 'ass'. which allowed Leo reason to glare at him before realizing Don was already smiling , dam it. Leo had to think, he knew he had heard this one before, Usagi had told it to him, it wasn't a object, he sighed heavily and rolled his head back. Think Leo think Leo! He thought back to Usagi, so what kind of riddle did Usagi know-then it hit him and sent a smile across his face, "Its your word!"

"Right-o Leo-" he grinned. Even though he hated loosing, he loved the sight of Don lighting up at the challenge of a new riddle. It did very little to help the numbness in his legs. Hell, he looked up at the sky, they had made good time. And Donnie did say they could have two breaks, "I think its time for a break guys,"

"Dam straight' Raph stretched, the first time they agreed EVER. Leo decided not to party in celebration

"WE are pretty close to Akai Forest, we could stop there-" he realized the sound of echoing hoof-beats had already stopped. He pulled on the reins and glanced back. Raph was already off the horse (which was now eating grass in peace) and sitting against a boulder eyes closed. A tall tree by him giving the hot-head comfortable shade Leo growled slightly and turned the reins and rode back. He slid off the horse onto jelly legs, grateful that his knees didn't sent him falling on his face (he didn't want Raph laughing at him even if he was asleep). "Hey Don, "he called, arm over his neck as he stretched out, "I think I have a good one-" he waited a bit for his riddle (he normally had them on the edge ready to fire) so when he didn't get a response he turned around, "Do-" the realization hit him in the face.

Don was gone.

He looked around once then twice, hoping that Donnie was just be out of sight, maybe resting behind the tree, but the sight of his purple masked little brother was no where in sight. NO. This couldn't be happening, he had just reunited with Donnie he couldn't loose him again , he cupped his hands around his mouth, "DONNIE!" he shouted

"what?"

Leo blinked for a moment before realizing that the voice had come from ABOVE. He looked up and was a bit surprised to see Donnie standing on one of the branches, his weird tube shaped bag at his side and his light brown eyes looking down on him as though he were nuts, his hand resting against the trunk with a knife in the bark (the same look he was probably getting from Raph, if the sounds of growling was anything to go by).

"What are you doing?" He called

"Getting bark and Iyokan. The bark is suspected to be good for helping people sleep and everyone likes Iyokan."

Leo could barely acknowledge his words (or Raph glaring at him for waking him up) all he could acknowledge was the TREE the freaking tree that seemed to be growing by the second. Taking his little brother higher and higher limiting his chances of surviving the fall. He felt his knees shaking uncontrollably and a deep sweat sinking in, "Get down!"

"why?" he asked nonchalant, as though Leo was asking him to take his shell off and use it to grind rice, the small kame reached over and snatched another plant,

"Please ! Just please do as I say!"

Donnie gave him a quizzical look before putting the knife back into his bag and taking step off the branch gravity immediately taking over and all Leo knew was that Donnie was falling

FALLING

Leo ran forward with his arms out but a hand shot out grabbed him by the back of the leg, the weight displacement sent him falling flat on is face, "DON_'

"What?"

Leo blinked in shock before looking up to see Donnie kneeling in front of him a concerned look on his face. Leo kicked the hand off his calf before getting on his knees and grabbing Don's confused face, "re you ok?! Did you get hurt?! "

"Why would I be hurt-"

"You fell out of the tree-"

"No I dropped out of the tree, I didn't mean to scare you."

Dropped? Was their a difference?! He glanced back at Raph. Why the hell didn't he do anything?! He glared back At Raph, realizing he had been the one who had tripped him. But instead of looking concerned, Raph looked rather annoyed '"What? Don climbs trees better then anyone. If you had tried to catch him he probably would of broken his neck."

That did make sense, he looked at Don who looked rather amused, "I appreciate the effort. "

Leo sighed in relief. But he still felt sick to his stomach ,

"Uh Leo?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want some cold tea?"

"No, NO I don't." he just wanted to curl under a rock, far away from trees.

FAR away

"You sure? The tea I make is great for calming people down.'

Leo gave a small laugh, "Is it that obvious?"

"Yeah, but it really does help people with intense phobias. Raph told me so when I made it help to help him combat his fear of bu-"

"SHUT IT DONNIE."

Donnie flinches heavily, head twitching as though expecting a a blow to hit him. Leo fought the urge to turn and glare at Raph. But judging by the snoring Raph had fallen asleep. Leo looked over at Don again. He could remember Dorinbo taking him aside and reminding him not to be strict with Mikey, it was during a time when Mikey had gotten an bad infection he had cut his foot by the river. And after he had gotten better Leo couldn't let him leave his side (and when he left the house he had to wear 4 pairs of socks). Leo raised his hand and placed it on Don' shoulder, rubbing it lightly So Leo understood the urge to protect your siblings. There did seem to be a pattern though, as though Raph knew when to step in and when to stay calm. Like when Donnie was up in that tree, Raph knew immediately that Donnie would be fine up there, but when Leo tried to catch him, he seemed to know to intervene. Instincts. But even he thought Raph was a bit excessive. He was more 'controlling' then protective. More bossy, "Does it bother you when he bosses you around?"

"no, why would it?" Already Don was smiling as though it never happened. But Leo knew this wasn't the truth, since he knew that Mikey didn't like it when Leo bossed (well, Mikey's definition of bossing) him around. Maybe Donnie was mature enough to just deal with it (then again, he wasn't much older then Mikey). Leo remembered what Kaede had said, he had to be patient, he rubbed his thumb into Don's shoulder lightly, "I didn't mean to overreact, I tend to do that with Mikey sometimes when I think he's in danger."

"Can you tell me more about him?"

"Mikey?" Leo smiled lightly at the curious look on Donnie's face, "well, he's very, creative. He spends all his allowance on either art stuff or sweets . But overall he's the best little brother anyone could want,."

"He sounds really nice. I wish I could remember him." he shifted around so he was sitting cross-legged, smiling sadly

Leo didn't know why he was surprised, Don really had been just been a baby when this all happened, barely a toddler just like Mikey. He looked around for a moment before it occurred to him

, "you know, we're really close to Akai Forest."

"So?"

Leo blinked a bit in confusion, "That's where your boat is, the one you arrived on."

"It was?"

"How do you not know that?"

"Raph doesn't like talking about it, I never asked because it always looked like it upset him. "he

shrugged, "SO the boat is still there?'

"What do you remember? About anything?"

"Nothing really, I don't even remember the Forest. I remember mother and Kuma-ni, he was the one who told me about the boat. I didn't' even know the name of the forest till you told me just now."

That had to be eating him, from what he had seen Donnie was a pretty curious boy, that wasn't fair to him. Leo stood up and walked over, looking at the horizon, he could see the tops of the trees. A 2 minute walk at most, looked over to make sure Raph was still asleep before looking over at Don before gesturing to him. Don gave him a confused look before getting up and hurrying over, Leo smiled down at him for a moment before reaching his arm out and around Don's shoulders pointing with his free hand, "That's the forest right there, and the boats still there if you want to go see it."

Don's eyes widen in shock, looking up at him, "But-but what about Raph?"

"Its not too far, we'll still be within shouting distance and it wont take too long-"

"NO."

Leo wondered why Donnie head suddenly shouted before (and why his voice had become so deep and hateful) before turning around and realizing that Raph was wide awake and on his feet, tense. While Leo had never seen that expression on his face before, he could easily say that it could of easily been the same as when he had first seen Leo in the apartment as the NightWatcher, "You are NOT going there-"

Leo pulled Donnie closer "I- I just thought I'd show him where the boat is, he said he doesn't remember the forest or anything and you haven't told him about it-"

"Did you ever think there was a REASON for that?! Me and Ma and Don travel everywhere, we could have been here any time we wanted. I WE chose not to go back."

"We were just-"

"do you think that because you were there for 4 seconds you know it?! Akai forest isn't' a HOME it was a place WE survived. I'll never set foot in that hell hole again. And if you even TRY to make my little brother go there I"ll tear your-"

"RAPH!" Don ran forward before Leo could grab him, like when he trie do stop Mikey to from running up to one of Dorinbo's' old war buddies one with eyes that screamed 'crazy.' Except now his fingers barely missed Dons shoulders as the small kame ran forward and grabbed Raph by the forearms. Leo took a step forward before realizing that Don wasn't in danger, the younger kame had gotten eye contact with Raph. Leo realized that Raph's' hands were shaking, not in the rage that seemed ok over take his entire body when ever he lost his top, but this was different. This with combination with the look in Raph's eyes as he looked down on the purple masked kame. Despair, sadness.

Fear

So he found himself drawing his hand away from his blade (horrified when he realized it had been there to being with) when Raph raised his hands to place them on either side of Don's face, not as though he was going to crush his head, but like Leo did when he wanted Mikey's' undivided attention, "

"Donnie." his voice even shook, a struggle , "Please promise me that you'll NEVER go to Akai Forest."

"I-I just wanted to see it-"

"I know I know, but you can never go back there WE." he shook him lightly with emphasis, "can never go back there again, I don't care what you have to do, I don't care who you're with but NEVER go back their Donnie, PLEASE."

It would be at this point that Mikey would bombard Leo with questions like WHY he couldn't do that, or if LEO could do it why couldn't' he? Or if he couldn't do it because he wasn't old enough and if he could do it later or what he wasn't supposed to be doing anyway-

But Donnie gave him a small nod, the best he could "I swear Kuma-ni, I swear on my honor."

That must have been what Raph wanted to hear because he sighed heavily, the shaking finally subsiding. He released Donnie's head and pulled him into a one arm hug, his free hand rubbing the younger kame's scalp, Leo could see Raph whisper something but he couldn't hear it. Tell the truth, this was one of the times since he met Raph and dealt with his temper that he really blamed himself, of course Donnie wouldn't know about the Forest. Raph was the only one old enough to remember it at the time and if he didn't tell Donnie-

"We leaving or not Fearless? I want to reach your stupid village this year."

"right." Leo hurried over and ignored the fact that Raph and Donnie had already set off. Right now he was just grateful that Raph didn't demand they go home right then. He wasn't sure who that was for though. Leo couldn't help but cast a guilty glance in Don's direction, he didn't mean to get his younger brother in trouble. The worst part was that Don was the only one who seemed to like him (ugh, it seemed so school). And now he probably wasn't going to forgive him or talk to him.

"OK, so its my turn right?"

"Huh?" Leo looked over to see Don smiling at him, realizing that Don didn't' seem to hold any resentment for getting him in trouble. He could of hugged him grateful he hadn't lost his Otouto, 'Oh right, I got a good one. 'I bind it and it walks. I loose it -"

"A sandal."

"Dam it!"

a/n

Iyokan: Oranges, a Japanese orange. Luckily the terms in this one were minimal