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Chapter 20

Mikey couldn't believe his eyes. He wanted to scream, shake, run, hide. Anything. Anything to make this horrible apparition go away. This wasn't Leo. Leo was dead. Dead people don't just appear in a poof of smoke when you least expect it. It was impossible. It didn't happen. This was not Leo!

Leo eyed him with wide eyes. "Mikey..."

"I thought you said he was dead?!" Shredder bellowed.

Mikey averted his gaze from the figure that he knew wasn't Leo and stared at Shredder and all the ninjas that had gone quiet in seeing Leo. They were just as surprised.

"He was... he is..." one elite ninja stuttered. "It's just one of their tricks!"

Leo turned around. "It's no trick. I'm very much real. Alive and kicking."

The Elite guard seemed to be frozen in their tracks. They didn't move, only stared. And why shouldn't they. They were sure they had killed Leonardo. Even told their master so.

"Well what are you waiting for?!" Shredder bellowed. "Attack him! Kill him! Now! Do something you incompetent fools!!"

The Elite jerked themselves out of their stupefied stare and jumped forward, weapons aimed at Leo, death in their eyes.

The rest of the Foot army dove for the rest of Leonardo's family. Mikey stood frozen where he stood, still not believing what he was seeing. But if this wasn't Leo... If Leo was dead... why attack this whatever it was if it wasn't Leo? A little hope rose up inside him. The ninjas surrounding them though quickly caught his attention, forcing him to defend himself or die. He didn't feel like dying. Not today.

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Leo caught two blades with his swords as he caught sight of his family grouping together to hold off the ninjas. He redirected his attention back to the elite just in time to dodge the blade aimed to slice his head off. He ducked and rolled to the left, coming up on one knee, one katana pointed up, the other pointed down. He narrowed his gaze on the elite rushing him from the left. He stood and spun to the right, slipping out of the elite's path and clashing weapons with another. Their weapons clanged again and again, both pulling back then swinging again hoping to make contact. The other three Elite had stopped and just seemed to be watching Leo and this one elite. Not that Leo didn't mind, but he couldn't help but thinking they were just waiting to wear him down one at a time. Well he wouldn't let that happen. He leaped over the elite he was fighting and spun, raising his leg up and catching the elite unaware with a kick to the back that sent him soaring into a wall. He turned to the other three to find two of them also flying into the wall where the first one had crashed.

"Fighting alone are we?" Raph asked, arching an eyeridge.

Leo shrugged. "You were busy." He caught the weapon of the fourth. "Shouldn't you be helping the others."

"They're fine. Rai's a little upset right now from being strangled and is taking it out on the ninjas," Raph chuckled. "Reminds me of... well me."

Leo kicked the Elite in front of him to Raph, who in turn slammed him against a wall. The elite sank to the ground. Leo glanced over at the others to find that Raph was right. Rai was doing just as Raph had said. Helping the others take down the army of ninjas. And he didn't look too happy, not staying in one place for too long, letting loose a punch and a kick while sliding into another with ease. "Well he looks more controlled than you," Leo remarked straightening.

Raph snorted. "I can control myself."

Leo shook his head. "Come on." He started toward the others to help them.

"Keith!" Shredder yelled.

Leo swiveled, glaring at Shredder who stood by the door with his arms crossed. The tin man seemed content to watch the fight. For the time being.

Raph stopped at Leo's side, keeping an eye on Keith. No one could escape that look of hate in his eyes toward Keith, who had started all of this.

"Finish Leonardo. Now!" Shredder ordered.

Leo spun to Keith, who smirked drawing his sword. Leo tightened his grip on his own blades.

Raph jumped at Keith, leaping into the air and thrusting his leg out aimed at Keith's head.

Keith smirked wider and stepped to the right, letting Raph leap right past him. "I don't think so Raphael. That was impulse driven. Won't work."

Raph landed and growled lowly. "Well try this!" He flung his sai at Keith, eyes flaring his anger.

Keith jumped up and flipped.

Leo's eyes widened, his brother's sai hurling straight at him. He darted to the left, just barely missing the blades. "Raph!"

Raph glared at Keith. "Sorry Leo," he muttered. He lunged forward, throwing his fist out at Keith's head.

Keith smirked and leaned backwards, shaking his head. "You're letting your anger drive and control you." He threw a punch of his own, a right hook that connected with Raph's jaw. He spun and landed a kick to Raph's chest, then slashed at his leg.

Raph fell backwards and rolled, Keith's blade nicking his skin. He jumped up and growled, tackling Keith and pinning him to the ground. What he didn't see was that Leo had been knocked over and was now under Keith as well. "I am controlled and will finish you off," Raph growled at Keith, venom in his voice.

Leo tried to wiggle free, but Raph had them both pinned down pretty well. Keith's weight pushed down harder on him. "Raph..." Leo croaked out, getting smooshed harder against the floor. Keith growled above him and the load on Leo lightened a little, then a lot. Keith was off and a loud thud echoed through the room. Raph! Leo thought.

Keith turned around and picked up his fallen sword, glaring down at Leo.

Leo slowly picked himself up off the floor. His whole body ached. He could feel the bruises from being chased and fought by the Elite earlier on the rooftops. His arm ached, starting to scream at him from being slashed on the rooftop. He ignored the pain and focused on Keith. He collected his katana from the floor. This was ending now. And then they would find themselves a new home. One where Keith would never again step foot inside as long as Leo lived.