A/N ~ You guys asked for a sequel? I'll give you a sequel! Darn you guys messing up my heart! XD

I OWN NOTHING!

Enjoy!

As Sakura Blossoms Fall

Donatello jumped awake with a strangled gasp, heart thumping against his rib-cage as he bolted upright from his slouch against the tree. He blinked rapidly as he gasped for air, one shaking three-fingered hand coming to rest against his chipped plastron as he attempted – with some success, he realized with a strange sort of satisfaction considering his current predicament – to quell the remnants of his fear, to slow his rapid heart rate. Soon enough, he let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes, letting himself slump back against the tree.

It was just a dream. Just a dream…

He scoffed aloud. A dream? Please. Calling such a heinous vision, recalling those horrible events…and those last, agonizing minutes…one could hardly call that a dream. Hell, calling it a nightmare would be generous.

Donnie shook his head, exhaling heavily through his nose and nearly sneezing when a petal from the tree currently serving as his resting place tickled the bridge of his snout. He opened his eyes and lifted his gaze upwards, a smile touching his lips as he watched the Sakura blossoms flutter from the branches, lifting his hand and catching a few in his calloused palm.

Now more than ever, after nearly fourteen years, Donnie was immensely grateful that he'd let Michelangelo plant this particular tree. Despite how nice it would've been to have grown a tree similar to the one they'd had in their beloved dojo, his baby brother had insisted that the Sakura would've been more fitting sat on the small hill by the O'Neil farmhouse. And how right he'd been.

"The blossoms look beautiful this year."

Donnie barely flinched at the new arrival. Instead, as the figure came to a stop in front of Donnie's feet, the purple clad turtle's smile only grew with fondness as he looked up at the other turtle. "They do, don't they?" he said, letting his hand flop onto his lap – though he kept hold of the blossoms he'd caught; the petals felt nice against his scales, like a soft blanket. "Michelangelo's no gardener, but he's doing a pretty damn good job."

Leonardo snickered. "I have to agree. Who knew our baby brother had a knack for this sort of thing? Then again, he's always been full of surprises; he's never ceased to amaze me."

He moved around to sit beside Donnie, purposefully avoiding the decorated stone arrangement as he flopped lazily onto the grass, legs stretched out before him. The blue clad turtle let out a long sigh, happy and content, and he closed his eyes as he leaned back on his hands, soaking up the sun's beautiful rays. "He's not a baby anymore though, is he?" he whispered, his tone doting if not wistful.

Donnie chuckled, shifting slightly to get more comfortable against the trunk of the tree. "That's debatable. He's still kind of a goofball, but he has grown up a lot over the years. It's…it's good, to see him take things more seriously nowadays. But…"

"It's not the same, is it?"

His smile falling somewhat, Donnie sighed heavily, really feeling the weight of his years as if it were a literal burden on his shell. "…I miss the old Mikey sometimes. I miss how freaking crazy he used to be, with all the pranks and the naming stuff and constantly shouting 'Booyakasha!' or 'Cowabunga!' –"

"Or 'Booyakabunga'?"

Donnie smirked loudly at that. "Oh yeah, can't forget that one. My god, that was horrible."

The other turtle chortled in agreement. "Not as bad as my old puns though, right?"

That time Donnie nearly choked, and he turned to face a blushing blue clad turtle with a manic, teasing grin. "Oh my god how could I forget those? 'Let's put Old Mother Hubbard back in her cupboard'? The heck was that?!" He then fell into a fit of uncontrollable giggles that not even he could smother with his own hand slapped over his mouth.

"Shut up, I was fifteen!" Leo pouted, but Donnie's grin was infectious and the former leader was soon doubled over with his own laughter at the memories.

Their laughter soon subsided, and the brothers lapsed into a peaceful, comfortable silence. Winds swept through the branches of the Sakura, sending baby pink blossoms drifting to the ground like soft rainfall over the turtle's heads.

Donnie snuck a glance over at Leonardo, taking in every detail; the former leader had his hands folded atop each other on his lap, legs stretched out, head tipped back against the tree and a smile on his face as he closed his eyes, letting the blossoms cascade about him, fluttering like butterflies. Donnie smiled. He'd never seen his big brother so lax, so at peace, not even when they were younger and freer, turtle tots with no burdens to bear…

"Love the arrangement, by the way."

Donnie blinked out of his daze. "Huh?"

Without opening his eyes, Leo nodded his head to the decorated stones that lay between them, resting against the bark of the tree much like they were. "The stones. They're beautiful. Did Raphael do it? Only his steady hand could've carved such delicate designs into solid rock."

Fondness once again took over Donnie's features as he transferred his gaze to the gravestones beside him; they were only three large stones they'd managed to haul from the river, but the family had done their damn hardest to make turn them into something more, spending precious hours crafting them to perfection before laying them down beside the newly dug grave. "I'm glad you like it," Donnie said after a moment. "Raph knew you would, I knew you would, but it's still good to hear."

"Who chose the flowers this time? Was it April or Karai? Or was it Mikey again? Ah, I've lost count."

"It was Casey this time. He thought you'd like the Buttercups. You do, right?"

Leo's smile widened. "Of course I do. They're lovely, Donnie."

"Good. Casey'll be so glad to hear it."

They fell into silence again, the sound of the wind and of nearby chickens a soothing ambience, as nature often proved to be, unlike the ungodly roar of the city they'd left behind. However, after a moment, Donnie could no longer hold back…

"You've aged well, Leo."

Of course Donnie had been teasing, because what was the point of being a brother if you couldn't tease? But when Leo smirked, the sound was almost bitter as he opened his eyes and looked at Donnie, blue eyes taking him in as Donnie had done before. When he smiled, it was laced with a sad sort of acceptance.

"So have you. Not looking too shabby for thirty, eh Donatello?"

Donnie shrugged casually, forcefully swallowing the large lump that had formed in his throat. "I try. April's skin cream does only so much to hide the wrinkles, y'know? Especially on a mutant turtle," he joked, even as his eyes started to water against his adamant will. "But you, Leo…you…"

"Don't do this to yourself, Donnie," Leo said softly, his smile all but fading. "Don't…"

Sniffling, Donnie fought back the tears dangerously close to spilling over, keeping his smile firmly fixed across his face as he gazed at his older brother. "…You haven't aged a day."

And it was true. Next to Donatello who'd grown tremendously over the last few years, Leo stood the same at 5''6; nary had a wrinkle touched his youthful mutant features, and aside from the few nicks and scars he and all his siblings had acquired during the course of their training and battles against their foes, he had nowhere near as much as Donatello had gained.

Indeed, Leonardo was still as young and healthy as he'd been at seventeen. He truly hadn't aged a day.

And he never will.

Donnie's lip quivered, his control weakening as the tears slipped unbidden down his cheeks. "…it's…it's not…" His voice cracked, and he angrily scrubbed his arm over his face to banish the tears only for more to follow. "…it's not fair."

Leonardo sighed, casting his eyes down to the hands on his lap. "I know, Donnie."

The tears wouldn't stop, they refused to stop, falling like the petals of the Sakura tree above them, and Donnie clenched his fists tight. "It's not fair. You didn't…you didn't deserve it, to…to die like that. You…you were supposed to live. You wanted to live, dammit."

Leo tensed, his breath hitching. "I did. I wanted to live. No matter how many times I put myself on the line, how many times I sacrificed myself for your sakes, how often I thought of just…ending it all myself, deep down…" He clenched his fists, his frown deepening in what Donnie could only assume was shame.

"Deep down, I wanted to live. I was afraid to die, to leave you all on your own without a leader, without an older brother. But that night…that night, for the first time, I wasn't afraid. I wasn't thinking of death, of anything other than making sure you didn't get hurt."

He turned back to Donatello, and the purple clad turtle felt his heart break to see the unshed tears springing in those blue eyes he'd missed so desperately. But despite the sorrow, there was warmth in those eyes that regarded him. There was warmth, there was light, there was love, shining in the young eyes of his beloved big brother that it tore at Donnie…

"Do you remember what I said that night, Donnie?"

Donnie choked on a sob, shaking hands covering his mouth as he nodded his head, more tears dripping onto the grass. "I do, Leo. I do, I remember," he wept. "I-I've…I've never stopped thinking…a-about…"

"Thank you, for following me…fighting alongside me…even though…I wasn't the leader…you deserved. Thank you…for caring so much…about this dumb older brother."

"…aishite kurete…arigatō!"

His control finally shattering, Donnie began to sob openly, covering his face with his hands as he released his anguish. He'd never forgotten Leonardo's final words to him, his final request, his final sacrifice for the sake of an undeserving little brother. Even after fourteen years the memories hadn't faded, the wounds hadn't fully healed. Not for him, not for his brothers, his sisters and friends…not even for Splinter, who'd passed not long after Leo did. He'd died peacefully, surrounded by family, but his heart had still ached for the loss of his eldest son. They'd buried him next to Leo, Raph was still working on finishing his own gravestone…

"I'm s-so sorry, Leo!" Donnie wailed into his palms futilely, knowing that nothing he said to the brother in his dream – because of course this was a dream, the universe would never be so kind as to allow Leo a second chance – would change what had happened, or bring back what he'd lost. "I'm sorry I'm so sorry! Y-you…y-you would've lived – you'd still b-be h-here if I – if I –"

He heard Leo's watery laugh over his helpless sobs. "Come on, Donnie, I thought your memory was better than that," he said. "You remember what I told you?"

Donnie froze.

"…promise me…that you won't blame yourself…for this. Don't – don't let…a-anyone blame themselves…for my own stupid mistakes…for my own recklessness..."

"I know, Leo," he snivelled, wiping the tears from his puffy eyes and reddened cheeks with the backs of his hands. "I know you didn't want me to b-blame myself…b-but –"

"But nothing, Donatello," Leo interrupted, his firm tone leaving no room for argument as he abruptly rose, moving to stand directly in front of Donnie. When Donnie refused to meet his eyes – how could he face him the way he was, still crying, still ridden with the unbearable weight of his guilt? – the 'older' turtle crouched down and grasped his chin, gently, forcing their eyes to meet. Tear filled ocean blue stared deep into reddish brown, and despite the pain within those younger eyes, despite Donnie having done nothing to deserve it, to deserve anything but retribution for what he'd done all those years ago, what he'd cost his family…

Leonardo smiled at him.

"I meant every word I said back then, Donnie," he said, his voice trembling, barely above a whisper. "I still have so many regrets from when I was alive…hell, I have more now that I'm dead." He chuckled humorlessly, shaking his head, before pinning Donnie down with a look full of resolve, a look Donnie had missed so terribly as Leo pressed their foreheads together, blue and purple meeting in the middle, and released his chin to lay his hand against his cheek.

Donnie was a genius; he knew the difference between a dream and reality. But Leo's touch, the tears soaking his mask, dripping drown his chin…it felt real. It all felt so real…

"But making sure you were safe," Leo continued, "making sure you lived, that our family and friends all lived…I could never – will never – regret that. You guys are my world, my reason…and without any of you, I would've been gone a lot sooner."

Donnie had been certain his heart couldn't have broken any more at Leo's words. But as usual, his brother managed to achieve the impossible as more fat tears followed, and Donnie bit his lip against a furious sob that threatened to burst from his very soul. "L-Leo…"

The dead turtle drew in a shaking breath, allowing his own tears to fall even as his eyes shone with a tender yet unyielding love for the brother he'd saved, the brother he'd died to protect. "I…I have to go now, Donnie," he croaked. "I…I won't be able to see you again, not like this…but…I'll still be hanging around the farmhouse, watching over you guys…"

"Leo."

"Mom and Dad said for me to tell you all 'hi' by the way." Leo's smile was dwindling, tears dripping freely down his face, but he just kept talking, like this wasn't the end, like Donnie was actually going to see his big brother again, talk to him again like this. "Sensei hasn't quite gotten the hang of the whole 'going into people's dreams' thing yet, so I don't know if you'll be seeing him any time soon –"

"Leo please –"

"Don't let Casey and Raph get into too much trouble, you know how they are. And make sure Karai doesn't run herself into the ground looking after both the Neo Foot Clan and the Hamato Clan; help her out, okay? She's great but even she can only take so much pressure –"

"You can't leave me –"

"I don't have a damn choice, Donnie –"

"I don't want you to leave -!"

"Thank you!"

Donnie froze, any further words – any more begging, any more prayers for this dream to continue until the end of time – promptly dying in his throat. Instead he stared, eyes wide and unbelieving, as Leo drew back and beamed.

Through all the pain and regret, through the sorrow and the river of tears streaking down his face Leonardo beamed, his smile shining brighter than any star, warmer than any summer's day, and wide enough to rival even Michelangelo's back when the freckled turtle could still smile like that, before he'd had to force the smiles and laughter for the sake of his brothers.

"Thank you…f-for being there for everyone now that I can't be," Leo stammered, wiping his tears away with the heel of his free hand. "Thank you for not…resenting me, for what I've done."

Leo slowly withdrew his hand from Donnie's cheek, and Donnie immediately missed its warmth, wanted to reach out and snatch his hand back and never let go, but he was frozen where he sat, unable to speak let alone move, eyes transfixed on the grinning, crying turtle before him as Leo reluctantly stood up. Then, so quietly Donnie almost missed it over the rapid beating of his heart, Leo said –

"Thank you for loving me."

Donnie blinked, and then he blanched.

"…aishite kurete…arigatō!"

The spell broken, only then did Donnie realize the Sakura petals were falling faster from the branches, more and impossibly more surrounding him, surrounding his brother, in a blanket of faded pink. Leo was fading. The dream was fading.

I'm waking up.

"Leo, no!" Donnie cried, surging to his feet and nearly careening onto his face as he stumbled over his own feet, a hand reaching out in a final desperate attempt to reach his brother. "Leo please, don't go! Leonardo!"

The petals were falling faster, the wind blowing harder, and Donnie almost couldn't see Leonardo's shining smile through the haze of pink that began to consume him, drawing him away from Donatello, away from their family, away from the life he deserved to live, he was fading he was leaving he couldn't leave Leo COME BACK –

"Donnie!"

Donatello jumped awake with a strangled gasp, heart thumping against his rib-cage as he bolted upright from his slouch against the tree. And he nearly butted heads with Michelangelo in the process, but over thirty years of ninja training had prepared him for that as the freckled turtle drew back just in time with a startled cry of his own.

Donnie blinked rapidly, meeting Michelangelo's curious and worried gaze as the younger fell to his knees and itched closer once he was certain it was safe to do so – no one wanted to suffer a headache due to dream spasms, thank you very much.

"Donnie?" Mike reached out, laying a hand on Donnie's trembling shoulder, baby blue eyes wide and searching. "Are you okay? You've been out here for a while and you were crying in your sleep. What happened?"

Donnie stared uncomprehendingly for a moment, and then blinked hard again to snap himself out of his stupor. Wiping the remnants of dampness from his face with a muffled curse, he let out a heavy sigh, placing his hand over Mike's and giving it a reassuring squeeze. Then he lifted his head and smiled.

"It was just a dream, Mike," he said, both his gaze and Mike's moving to the arrangement of stones and buttercups beside them. His smile broadened, even as his eyes once again welled up with tears.

"Just a dream."

A/N ~ You see what you made me do?! Why do you guys like suffering so much?! DX I hope you enjoyed that, and more are on the way :)