The Brothers Dread

Anger

Anguish

The emotion shot through Leo like adrenaline from the moment the symbol on the cave wall lit up. Instincts that had been worn into him from the battlefield sent his hands flying forwards, hooking Donatello around the waist, turning his body and all but throwing his small brother over his hip and to his chest, knees meeting hard jagged stone and brother tight in his arms. Leo's chin catching Don's scalp under his chin. The light burning the back of his scalp, but he was ready. His body prepared to take any sacrifice to protect his Donatello-

Then he felt it

The instability running over Donatello, like a drop of water. The panic shooting through him, heart beating so wildly in his chest that he could feel it pounding against the skin of wrists. HIs arms tightening, if Don had been solid, he probably would of been crushed by the sheer force of his arms, "DONNIE!" his hand going up to tap his face. If only to see him react to his presence slowly the color of Don's form began to fade. The dark purple of his samue disappearing, the light of his flesh turning transparent under the light.

He wasn't' being destroyed.

He was being taken

"LEO! ANIKI!' Don's voice passing his ear like a ghost of the ear. So desperate, so scared

Terrified.

"I'LL FIND YOU!" the scream tore through his lips before he could stop himself. Unable to contain his own desperation, "I SWEAR ON THE FREAKIGN SPIRITS I'LL FIND YOU! I'LL FIND YOU!"

The last trace of his brother vanished. With nothing to hold, his arms folded over his chest. Light fading. Revealing his dread

Gone.

His brother was gone.

TAKEN.

A powerful grip took his gut like a fist twisting his organs and sending him doubled over, arm tight around his stomach as he heaved heavily, the contents burning the lining of his throat. His forehead resting on the floor.

STOLEN

Leo forced his head off of his shaking cold hand, grabbing onto the stone wall and dragging himself to his feet.

Sohei

Don had said that name. The monks that had trained him when Don had saved him from the Red River Virus.

His only hope.

Leo's feet met slid ground, all but charging out of the dark cave. Bright light stinging his sensitive eyes. His hand going up for just a moment to wipe the sting from them. Away from the cave that had cruelly taken his brother. Barely acknowledging the village around him. But the sight of his home reaching his sight. He could see Usagi standing just outside of the home he shared with his brothers. , Mikey was watching with smile on his face. Splinter with his arm wrapped around his youngest son. Leo was sure that Lorenzo was inside the house, resting his aged body. Raphael sitting on the walkway with a heavily casted leg

How was Leo supposed to tell him?

How was he supposed to tell Raphael he had lost the little brother he had helped raise?

How could he face any of them?

He could see the friendly hand of Mikey that had risen to greet him. But he also saw Raph lean forward more in his seat. Usagi's sword lowering and Splinter rising to his feet. Acknowledging the one prescnce theyf noticed was missing

How could he tell them-?

"Leonardo-"
It hurt him to ignore Usagi, but he jumped right onto the walkway, past where his brothers sat and into the house.

"Leo-"

Leo grabbed his bed roll, "Donnie was taken." his throat squeezing tight as to choke the words off. AS though keeping from saying the truth would keep it from solidifying. His hands stopped their frantic packing. Hands drawing to his chest as he leaned forward onto his elbows his fingers finding their place against his face. If only to hold his grie-

A fist collided with the back of his skull, red consuming his vision and his face meeting the tatami floors. A hand grabbing his shoulder, flipping him over as though he were a blanket. Through his pain filled vision he could see amber eyes glaring at him like torches

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN DON'S GONE!?" Raph screamed in his face. But before the explanation could come, the first flew again, making contact with face again, warm blood filling his mouth-

Fat blue sleeved arm caught Raph around the shoulder. Despite the red masked kame's strength, Usagi and Splinters combined weight was able to send him falling off of Leos' chest, freeing his choked airway. He rolled over to his side, hand to try and clear out his vision, "Kuso..."his honesty wasn't sure if was surprised to be awake or surprised to still have a head-

Speaking of which, a clawed hand ran over his scalp, going to the back of his head to support it off the floor, a separate hand going to the gash in his face, "My son-"

"I'm alright." Leo's hand went up to push the hand away from his injury. Forcing himself back up to his feet in time to see Usagi on his knees, Raph tight against his chest with an arm tight around his neck in a choke hold. Raph's normally emerald skin was blazed and eye burning like torches.

Not that Leo didn't deserve being attacked-

"Tell me what happened,"

Nor did he have time to think back to the last 4 minutes. But his father's eyes looked at him so patiently, torn with anxiety. Leo took several deep breaths in a meditative state he had learned from his adopted father. He could just feel a small hand take his.

Aka-chan

Leo squeezed his eyes shut; he couldn't look at his younger brother. Mikey had been the who had told Leo were Don had gone. Bribing him with the ability to stay up later that night.

He didn't want Mikey to blame himself

"I went to get Donnie out of the cave; I thought it was too cold for him to be in." Leo could still remember running his hand over Don's forehead. Feeling the cold of his skin, the irritated frown on Dons face that always formed when Leo got too 'motherly'.

Kaede

How was he going to tell Kaede-?

NO.

He couldn't think about that right now

Leo took another breath, "We were getting ready to leave, but the symbol on the wall had started glowing. I grabbed Donnie and tried to protect him. I held on to him as tight as I could." he looked back over to Raph, "I did, but he started to fade away. I couldn't stop it-'

"Couldn't or didn't try hard enough you weak ass shit face-"

"Sairensu!"

The word shot through the small room. Voices and movement falling and ceasing. Leo could see that Raph had even stopped fighting against Usagi's' restraint (also that Usagi looked quite relieved for the break).

Over the course of the short time they had been reunited, Leo often forgot that his birthfather had once been a prisoner. Or even that he was a hardened warrior ninja. Especially when he would see Splinter telling Mikey stories, or laying a cold cloth over Dons' often fevered brow.

Except in moments like this.

When the old rat stood tall. Dark eyes shooting over every occupant. Staff firm in his hands and stature straight.

"What do you have planned, my chonan?"

Despite the title it took Leo a few seconds to realize Splinter had started talking to him. Leo drew himself onto his knees, careful not to pull his hand free of Mikey's trembling ones, "Before the symbols began to glow, Don said he recognized them. That he had seen them at the Sohei temple. I'm going to go there and find a way to get our brother back." His head lowering till his chin met his chest, sliding down till it met the floor.

Kenkyo

"Usagi, go gather food for your brother's journey." Splinters voice rang out, "Raphael, you are the only here who has been to the temple. Mark out a path for your older brother. If you cannot do that than do not hinder our attempts to bring your brother back."

Splinters words must have gotten to him, Leo could just the shadow of his brothers moving (Raph hobbling) and their shadows leaving his sight.

"Prepare for your journey Leonardo."

He wasn't' sure how he felt in that moment. Leo knew that Splinter wouldn't have hindered his journey o reattempts to save Don. But at the same time it was hard to ignore ether relief that had filled his chest. Leo's hand pulling from Mikey's' ever so gently, but found no fight. So he turned back to his bed roll, moving it back into a tight wrap before trying it off.

"TH-this is a dream right?"

Leo's fingers stopped in mid knot to raise his head. Mikey had not moved from his spot. Even though Splinter was no longer in sight. His eyes looking down his fingers as though he didn't know what to do with them, "Th-this is a n-nightmare. I=I'I'm going to wake up a-any moment. D-Donnie is goi-going to be r-right next to me." Mikey's eyes closed over palms going up to block the light to his eyes. Leo's fingers fell from his bed roll. His own grief and situation prevented him from helping Don in whatever hell he had been taken too. But there was nothing in that moment to keep him from his Aka-chan, "Mikey-"

"I'm-I'm asleep. I'm going to wake up. Any moment-"

"Mikey I'm sorry-"

"Any-moment-"

Leo felt the bite of anguish return to his eyes, his fingers going to touch Mikey's' shoulder ever so lightly.

Suddenly the hands flew from Mikey's face, a fist shooting out and catching Leo in the jaw. Though not nearly as powerful as Raph's 'bone crushing' punch. IT was enough to jerk his head back. Leo's pride would have been wounded, had his fist not shot up and caught Mikey by the shoulder, yanking him over and wrapping his arms tightly around him. Mikey's form thrashing back and forth in his grip before Leo felt his face press against his shoulder, deep sobs bursting and warm tears staining his blue kimono. Leo's free hand pressing against the back of Mikey's scalp, "I'm so sorry-"

"I-I-I th-t-though-t su-such ho-horri-ble th-things." came the barley coherent sentence, "I-I-I wan-wanted t-to g—go t-to the c-cave. H-h-he ma—made me go h-home-"

"I know." Leo could still remember seeing Mikey storming towards the house, arms crossed and steaming about 'stupid brother.' And it was that very thought that brought the tears from Mikey's eyes.

"Wh-why di-dn't it take you too?"

That question. That very question. That had been racking in his mind, buzzing around like a swarm of bees

WHY DIDN'T IT TAKE HIM?
Perhaps the situation would not seem so dire if he had been taken too. TO be allowed to watch over and protect their brother. Maybe it was the uncertainty that was making his head unbearable to even think. What ifs pounding around in his mind desperate for answers

What if he got hurt?

Who would tend his injuries?

What if he got sick?

Who would keep him warm

What if he lost his medicine?

Who would take care of him?

What if he woke screaming? Scared and trapped in his own mind

Who would hold him?

What if someone grabbed him?

Who would protect him?

What if he became a prisoner again?

Who would free him?

What if he wasn't alive?

A gut wrenching shudder shot over Leos' flesh, his grip around Mikey tightening, "I'm going to find him." he whispered to his sobbing baby brother, "I'm going to find him. I'm going to bring him home."

"I-I wanna go with you."
"No." He wasn't even going to think about it, "I need you to stay here. For Raph. I don't trust him to be alone right now. And he and Usagi aren't very close, so you have to keep an eye on him. Ok?"

He could just feel his brother nod into his shoulder. Leo closed his eyes, if only to relish in the fact that Mikey was still safe. That Usagi was safe. That, even though he was pissed, Raph was still safe.

IT was about the only thing keeping him together in that moment.

"Leonardo."

His birthfathers voice was just behind the 'good' side of his head. Soft to not break the womb of comfort that Leo had been trying to create for Mikey. Without looking he nodded, showing his father he understood. Leo could just feel Mikey's fingers dig tighter into his clothes. With a small nuzzle to the side of Mikey's face, he drew away slowly, hands running down Mikey's' arms. Raising his head ever so slightly if only to make eye contact with him one more time

"I'll be back as soon as I can."

Leo turned, grabbing the bag of food from Usagi's' hand and climbed to his feet, "And Raph?" he asked. Looking from father to adopted brother. But the look Usagi gave him told him everything.

He had gone to the cave.

And he knew better than anyone to try and drag him out, "Make sure he gets food and water alright? And don't leave him alone for too long." keeping his tone hushed to keep Mikey from hearing, "And send out Don's bird to Mother and Father. They need to know what happened."

"Already sent."

Leo tried to smile at Usagi in gratefulness. But his 'mask' had been all but used on Mikey. His hand went up to rest on Usagi's' shoulder before grabbing his bed roll and running out the door.

He tried to ignore the sound of Mikey bursting out sobbing again. Leo kept the pace all the way to the stable, ignoring the villager's inquiries and calling his name. Going right to Kaze and grabbing his saddle. All set up before he even had the horse out. Swinging on and clicking his heels with a loud shout. Sending him flying, set on his path. One name in his mind repeating over and over again to keep him powered.

DONATELLO.

A/n

Translations

Kuso!-Damn!

Sairensu!-Silence!

Chonan-oldest son

Watashi ni, Otosan o motte iru- I have to, father

Kenkyo- Humility