Hi everyone, thank you for the continuing reviews. They keep my fingers typing. And to guest, if you wish to read 'the travelers series' that would be great and although it might give you a clue as to what is really happening to Leo it is not necessary. But if you do, let me know what you think. So on to the next chapter.

Ch 4 Secrets.

Leo made his way to the library and found Donnie, Raph and April waiting for him by the entrance. "Hey Leo," Raph greeted him. "Everything okay?"

Leo nodded and explained all that had taken place. "I just don't think my dad will let me join." He said sadly.

"Why?" Donnie asked as they all took seats and pulled out their books. "Doesn't he want you to do sports?"

Leo shook his head in uncertainty. "Well, It's just that….." Leo took a breath and looked down at his books in thought. "My dad has other ideas for me." He told them as he flipped through the pages of his math book. "Even though my dad works for TCRI he's a master at the art of ninjutsu and wants me to follow in his footsteps." He let out a sad sigh. "I'm an expert with the Katana and I've participated in several competitions winning almost all of them."

"No way," Raph's eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked over at Donnie then back to Leo. "Our father, Yoshi Hamato, is a master at ninjutsu too."

Donnie nodded. "He teaches classes and we're all experts at a particular weapon as well." He boasted. "Mine is the bo staff."

"I do the Sais," Raph said. "And our brother Mikey is an expert at the nun-chucks."

"Master Splinter, that's what his students call him," April explained, "has been teaching me ninjutsu too." She smiled proudly. "My weapon of choice is the Tesin."

"Wow, that's pretty impressive." Leo looked from one to the other. "So I take it your father doesn't let you do anything outside of martial arts either huh?"

The two turtles looked at each other. "Actually Leo," Raph started, "Our dad practically encourages us to do other things." He told them. "I've been doing football every year." He puffed out his chest proudly. "I'm the quarterback."

"And I'm the president of both the science and math club." Donnie said. "I also do chess."

"And even Mikey does extra things outside of school and ninjutsu," April explained. "He's practically a track star."

"Pretty cool," Leo said then smiled widely. "I'll talk to my dad and see if he'll give me permission to join the basketball team."

"You have until Halloween to try and convince him." April reminded him. "When do you need to turn in your permission slip?"

Leo pulled out the paper and looked it over. "October 22nd." He told her.

"Hey that's my birthday!" Donnie exclaimed excitedly.

"Yeah we know Donnie." Raph scoffed at him. He then turned to Leo. "Talk your dad and see if he'll let you join." He implored. "Slash and Spike are great athletes and would really love for you to be on their team." He flipped through his books. "Besides, all you dad can do is say 'no,'" He looked up at Leo. "Right?"

Leo nodded and absentmindedly rubbed his chest as he thought back on the beating he had received by his father. He forced himself to push away the memory and focus on his homework. "Well," Leo looked at the books in front of him. "I can't believe how much homework I have." He smiled nervously at the others who were staring back at him curiously. "It seems like every one of my teachers decided to give me something to do so what say we get to studying?"

For the rest of the time, the four teens studied and Donnie tutored Leo with his math and by the end of the period, Leo felt sure he was ready for tomorrow's test. Just before the bell rang, Irma walked up to the group.

"Hi kids," She greeted after they had acknowledge her. She then turned her attention to Leo. "How is everything going Leonardo?"

"Just great Auntie," He waved his hand at the other. "They're helping me get ready for my math test."He said then giggled when he saw the others looking at him with surprise faces. "Oh, uh Ms. Langinstein is my aunt." He explained.

"Leonardo's mother is…." Her smile disappeared and she looked away sadly as she swallowed hard. "Was…my half-sister," She told them. She took a breath and smiled at them. "I told his dad I'd keep an eye on him."

"Oh, now that makes sense." Raph said with a slightly nervous chuckle. "Cause no offense Leo, the two of you look nothing alike."

Donnie shook his head at his slightly older brother. "We look nothing like our dad Raph."

"Yeah but we're adopted." Raph reminded him.

Leo shrugged. "I look nothing like my dad." He told them. "And I was not adopted." He then looked up at his aunt. "Will you still be taking me home auntie?"

"Yes, I just wanted to make sure you would be here at three."

Leo nodded. "I'll be here."

The bell rang and Irma went back to her desk while the group got ready to go to their next class. "Say Leo," Raph took his arm and nodded to Donnie and April to go on ahead.

Leo turned and smiled at Raph. "Yeah?"

"Are you busy this Saturday?"

He held up his English book. "I still have my book report to do." He reminded him. "Why?"

"There's a concert in the park." Raph asked as he looked away rather bashfully. "Thought maybe you might like to join us?"

"What time?"

"Say about noon."

Leo nodded. "I'll let you know." The two stared at each other and Leo turned away. Raph smiled when he saw a blush crossing the other turtle's cheeks.

He went on to his last class, which was Japanese class, and he was disappointed to see Fong and one other member of his gang in the class with him, but happy to see April sitting next to an empty desk at the front of the room. He sighed heavily as he sat down next to her and smiled.

"I didn't know you had this class." He whispered to her.

"I didn't think to ask you either." She told him with a chuckle.

"Well," A sultry voice spoke behind Leo. He turned to see Karai standing behind him. "I was hoping to have you in at least one of my classes."

Leo smiled nervously up at Leo. "Oh, uh hi….Karai." He stammered as the pretty girl smiled down at him.

"How's the day going so far Leo?" She asked.

"Okay I guess," He said as he rubbed the back of his neck. She gave him a wink and walked away.

April leaned over to Leo and touched his arm. "I wouldn't get too friendly with her Leo." She warned. Leo looked at her in bewilderment as April nodded over to Fong. "She's Fong's girlfriend."

Leo looked over toward the purple dragon and watched as Karai took the seat next to him. She smiled over at Leo as she leaned in close to Fong.

Leo turned back to April. "No worries April," He told her. "She's not really my type."

Before April could press further, the bell rang and the two looked up to see a tall white rabbit in a blue suit walking into the room. "Yoi gogo no kurasu." The rabbit said. "Watashi wa anata no senseidesu Miyamoto Usagi." (Good afternoon students, I am your teacher Miyamoto Usagi).

"Gogo Misutausagi." (Good afternoon Mr. Usagi). Leo responded.

Usagi turned in surprise as only one voice responded to his greeting. He smiled upon seeing Leo's face turning red as every student looked at him. "Well," The tall rabbit stated as he turned away from the black board. "It's good to see someone knows this language." He looked at Leo and nodded to him. "Anata wa yoku nihongo o hanasu." (You speak Japanese well.)

"Arigato Sensei." Leo smiled.

Usagi looked at the rest of the class, "Your teacher is taking a leave of absence for the rest of this year." He told them. "I will be taking over for her till she returns." He nodded as the students pulled out their books. "Let's begin with the basics and work our way from there."

Leo enjoyed the class and caught up quickly to where the rest of the students were. When the bell rang, he stood and walked over to the teacher. "Watashi wa anata no kurasu no usagi o tanoshinda, arigatō." (I enjoyed your class Mr. Usagi, Thank you.)

Usagi smiled at him. "Anata o oshieru no wa tanoshī kotodeshita." (It was a pleasure teaching you). They bowed to each other and Leo followed April out into the hallway.

"Sweet," Leo looked at her. "No homework in this class."

April laughed as she walked him to his locker. "I guess our substitute teacher likes you."

Leo blushed slightly and the two walked to their lockers where the rest of their friends were waiting. He said goodnight to them and after getting the books he needed, met up with his aunt. "Busy day Hon?" She asked as they walked to her car. She watched him place an overfilled backpack into the backseat.

"Yeah," He said dejectedly. "I have homework in every one of my classes expect my language class."

"Well," She said with a chuckle. "At least the day's over and you can go home, relax, have some supper and then get your homework done."

Leo nodded. "Auntie?" He looked over at her as she drove. "Do you think my dad will let me join the basketball team?"

Irma shrugged. "I don't know sweetie." She told him with a slight glance in his direction. "You know he only wants to do what's best for you especially since you may also be suffering from the same disease your mom had."

"My mom died of cancer." Leo muttered.

"Yes but you know the type of cancer she had is one that can be inherited by her offspring." Irma reminded her. "And your father is doing everything he can to make sure you don't have it."

Leo stroked his right arm. "Is that why he has Dr. Stockman giving me so many shots as well as taking so much blood out of me?"

Irma looked away from him so he couldn't see the shame that filled her eyes. She took a deep breath and nodded toward him. "He just wants to make sure Leonardo." She assured him. "That's all." They sat in silence for the rest of the way and several minutes later, Irma drove up to a large mansion in the middle of New York City and maneuvered the car onto a driveway with a large gate.

Leo stepped out of the car and nodded to her. "My first day went okay." He said as he grabbed his backpack. "So I think I can take the bus now."

"I don't mind giving you a ride for the rest of the week." Irma looked at him with tenderness in her eyes.

"It's okay Auntie." He said with a smile. "I know it is a bit of inconvenience for you and I have to do it eventually so I'll start tomorrow."

She nodded at him and put her car in reverse. They said their goodbyes and Leo watched as she carefully maneuvered her car out into the busy street of New York and drive away. He turned back and stared mournfully at the large mansion in front of him. With a heavy sigh, he walked over to the gate and punched in numbers on the key pad. The gate slowly swung open and the turtle made his way down long the driveway.

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For those of you who can read/understand Japanese, I am doing the English to Japanese translator so I can only hope the info is correct. And to all my readers, let me know if you see any of the coding errors. I am trying my hardest to go through and find them all but after a while my eyes go cross-eyed. Thanks again to all Peace ):