After I finished typing this up I thought about making it two separate chapters, but decided against it. They're more powerful together I think. You can tell me what you think after you've read them.

Even I wasn't planning to examine Midori's reaction quite this way, but I had this fantastic idea and it worked out so much better than what I had originally planned. The result is a chapter twice as impacting. Not to mention the fact that it fits Midori's character much better.

As for the second part…so far Leo and Splinter are both aware of Raph's intentions, but what about the two younger turtles?

Ch. 30-Leave

It was about one o'clock in the morning when Raphael decided it was time to go. Midori had asked to join him yet again. Raph, unable to refuse her anything, had agreed. The turtle had waited patiently until he was certain that she was sound asleep, then he carefully eased his way out of her grasp.

Midori let out a small sound of protest and stirred, her arms reaching out for him. Raphael quickly handed her one of the pillows, which she quickly latched on to. Raph let out a sigh of relief, picked up the weapons that he had already set aside earlier, and proceeded to the main room.

The red masked ninja was about two steps from the door when…

"You really thought it would be that simple?"

Raphael froze in his tracks. Damn. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and turned around slowly.

Amber eyes glared narrowly at him. "You thought you could just leave? Sneak away while I'm asleep and abandon me? Without a word? Without a confrontation?" By this point, she was absolutely livid.

Raph's reply was calm and level, "I…had hoped…to avoid it."

"I won't let you do this." She whispered.

The turtle's jaw clenched. "That's why I knew I couldn't tell you I was going. I knew this would happen."

"I mean it, Raphael. I will not allow you to go out there and—"

"There's nothing you can do. I'm going. I have to do this." He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her close. "For you." Raphael held her chin tightly, forcefully, but not enough to hurt her. "I won't condemn you to a life down here in the dark. It's bad enough for us, being mutants. But you're human. You deserve to live your life up there in the sunlight. I want you to be able to live without that constant fear, without always having to look back over your shoulder." Raph's voice dropped to a whisper, "It's no less than you deserve."

Midori yanked her head away. "Oh, and revenge has nothing to do with it?!"

Raph's neon green eyes narrowed before looking down and away from her honey-colored stare. "No one hurts you like that and lives to get away with it." He muttered, finally meeting her gaze. The irises glowed with barely suppressed anger. "But anger clouds the mind and justice and revenge are two totally different things."

"I don't believe that crap for one second!"

"You should. It's the truth." Raph murmured, his eyes glowing in earnest.

"Go." Midori murmured. Her voice was barely audible.

Raphael took hold of her hands.

"Let go of my hands." She stated, but Raphael refused to budge. She squirmed, trying to free herself, but Raph's grip tightened. Midori glared at him. "You said what you had to! Now go ahead, leave!"

Raph brought her hands up to his lips and kissed each of them gently. Midori looked away, refusing to meet his gaze. "I love you." He murmured.

Finally Raphael allowed Midori to pull her hands away. She staggered backward, stunned.

Midori could hardly believe her ears. Honey-colored eyes softened and she stepped towards him, reaching out tentatively, her long, thin fingers brushing affectionately against the side of his face. Her heart swelled with emotion.

Her eyes flashed like lightning and she turned her back to him. "If you loved me you wouldn't be doing this."

Raph sighed and reached out, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I have to do this. I don't expect you to accept it." He turned her around gently and his shoulders drooped as he saw the pain in her eyes. "I can only tell you how deeply I care about you."

"You say you're doing this for me." She said, clinging to his shoulders. Midori's eyes gleamed with desperation, "But you don't have to." The young woman reached out and pressed her hand against his face. "You already have me. You've already won my love. We can live together in peace for the rest of our lives! Please, don't do this."

Raphael scoffed. "Peace? Living in hiding? Always having to look back over our shoulders? Living in fear that Dragon will catch up to one or both of us at any moment? You call that peace? What kind of life is that?"

Midori shook her head. "It may not be the best we could wish for, but we could be happy! We'd be together, that's what matters."

Neon green eyes hardened. "Maybe you can live like that, Midori. I can't."

Tears clouded the desperate amber orbs. "Then go ahead and leave. Just leave. I release you. Go on. Free yourself from your obligations…from me."

Raphael's eyes were still rock hard, but they deepened in intensity. "I may free myself from you physically, but you will always hold my heart in your hands. I'm not complete without you. I can't promise you that I'll return, but I will never truly leave you. Do you love me?"

Honey smothered Raph's neon green gaze as their eyes met.

Midori's mouth was taught with seriousness. "You know I do."

Raph smile was grim. He reached out, grabbed her hand, and pulled it close to his chest. "Then I'll always be with you."

"And what if you get taken from me?" Midori's voice was hushed as she went on, "What if Dragon takes you from me?"

Raph pulled her close and wrapped her in his arms. He pressed a hand to her chest and looked her in the eyes. Their lips were only inches away from each other.

"No one will ever be able to take away the part of me that you hold in here." He stated, his hand pressing softly against where her heart was located. His emerald green hands cupped her face softly as he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "Promise me that you will never forget that."

Midori's body shook as she fought to hold back the tears. She threw herself into his arms and cried, burying her face in his shoulder. Midori didn't want his last memory of her to one of her in tears. Raph held her close, his muscular arms softly encircling her frame.

They remained that way until finally Raphael couldn't afford to wait any longer. The red-masked turtle clung tightly to her for what could very well be their last moments together. He tore himself away with his heart aching in his chest. "I love you." Raph whispered as he headed out the door and was gone.

Midori watched him go with vacant eyes. The silence that followed Raphael's departure seeped into her very soul, making her heart feel ten pounds heavier. "I love you too." Even though the words were whispered they crashed through the air like waves on the sand. She toppled to knees as a sole tear caressed her cheek.

Raphael was her best friend, her confidant. He meant everything to her. And they had only just become something more. If she were being honest with herself, somewhere deep down inside her heart, Midori had always known that their bond was greater than any between friends.

She stared in the direction Raphael had gone. "You mean everything to me. I don't care how hotheaded you are, you better be careful. You'll be back, and when you are I expect you be in one piece. Yes, you'll be back. You'll come back to me." The silence returned and Midori felt as though she had been swallowed into a giant void. When she spoke again her voice was hushed and airy, as though she were trying to reassure herself. "You'll be back."

Part Two: Gone

Michelangelo was the first one up. With a happy whistle and a spring his step, the youngest turtle moved swiftly down the hall and straight to the kitchen.

Midori, completely unable to sleep after Raph left, had stayed in the main room the remainder of the night, stretched out on one of the couches. At the sound of light whistling she sat up, her heart feeling heavy once again. This wasn't going to be easy for Raph's brothers.

Growing up in the sewers with only each other had led to the development of incredibly strong bonds between the four turtle siblings. From what little they had told her, Midori had gathered that the other turtles had been devastated when Raph had been away for three days following the Shell Cycle incident. Knowing that he was out there, out of their reach, in danger, was going to be a very trying experience for them.

Midori was yanked from her thoughts as she registered the bright, smiling, orange-masked face staring down at her.

"Hey little sis!" Mikey greeted enthusiastically.

Midori frowned up at him. "Michelangelo, I hope you realize that I am, in fact, older than you."

Mikey rolled his eyes, "Technicalities."

She grinned a little, but even that was forced.

The youngest turtle's smile melted into a frown. "Hey what's up, sis?"

Black hair fell in her face, graciously hiding her tears from Mikey's curious, blue gaze. "Not now. I'll tell you later when everyone is here."

Mikey's frown failed to dissipate, but he nodded and headed back to the kitchen. Midori was relieved that he hadn't asked her any further questions.

Donnie was the next one to wake up. The brainiac noticed Midori laying on the couch staring blankly at the ceiling, but he said nothing. Instead the purple-masked turtle treaded softly into the kitchen where he and Michelangelo began to converse in hushed tones.

Leonardo was the last of the turtles to enter the main room. As soon as he did so, Midori sat up and met his gaze. In place of his usually proud posture, Leonardo's shoulders were bowed. His eyes sported dark rings, as though he hadn't slept at all. The moment his eyes met hers, Midori knew Leonardo had already known. The blue masked turtle sat beside her on the couch and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. When he spoke, he purposely lowered his voice so that they wouldn't be overheard. "You okay?"

"As I can be." She answered grimly.

"He told you, then?"

Midori lowered her eyes, "I caught him just as he was leaving. Leo, I—" She couldn't say any more. All the words she knew slipped her mind and her mouth opened and closed aimlessly.

Leonardo's exhausted eyes glowed sympathetically. As tears came to her eyes, the eldest turtle pulled her close and rubbed her back gently. "Sh…It's okay. He'll come back."

Midori nodded and pushed away gently. Leonardo allowed her to do so, his eyes filled with concern. Midori smiled sadly and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Thanks Leo."

The eldest turtle's only reply was a solemn nod.

At that moment the dojo doors opened. Both Leo and Midori glanced over at the old rat. Master Splinter's face was grave, and worn. He looked and walked like he was ten years older. When he finally registered their presence the old rat looked up at them with dull brown eyes. Splinter saw in their young faces a reflection of the pain in his. He approached the couch where they sat and placed a hand on Leonardo's head. The old, tired eyes glazed over and he stared wistfully at his eldest son. Then Splinter turned to Midori. He undoubtedly noted the redness of her eyes, for the old rat reached out and traced a gentle finger over a recent tear trail.

As Master Splinter made his way to their side of the couch he motioned them to stand and they did so. Both Midori and Leonardo looked down, expecting the old rat to offer some sort of proverb or profound lesson. Both of them stared in shock as Master Splinter reached out and pulled them tightly to his chest.

Leonardo lightly hugged back, but stepped out of the hug as soon as Master Splinter's arms fell. Midori, on the other hand, clung desperately to the old rat's robes. Splinter seemed surprised by the young woman's actions, but he was a father first, sensei second, so the old rat gently rubbed her shoulders and allowed her to cling to him.

Donatello and Michelangelo poked their heads in and as soon as they saw what was going on they both came running. Donnie drew close to Midori, "What happened?"

One of Master Splinter's hands reached out and gestured Donatello not to come any further.

Michelangelo frowned deeply. "Is she okay?" He took another look at Midori and tensed nervously. "Do you want me to get Raph?" He asked her.

Tears burned in her eyes as shook her head and pulled away from Master Splinter. Mikey's eyes narrowed as both Leonardo and Sensei tensed at his question. After Midori started crying he knew he was missing something. The youngest glanced at Donatello questioningly, but Donnie looked as lost as he was.

Midori's voice shook as she spoke, "Raphael is gone."

Donatello's eyes widened in shock and then narrowed. "Gone? Gone where?"

The young woman's shoulders shook. Leo frowned and went to her side, placing his hands on her shoulders. She turned and thanked him with a nod. The eldest turtle pulled his hands away. Midori straightened and glanced over at the blue-masked turtle, her eyes signaling him to go ahead.

Leo nodded. His dark, blue eyes fell to the floor as his younger brothers glanced innocently from their father, to Midori, to Leo and back again. "Raph's gone to face Dragon."

Leo's words chimed through the lair like the chilling bong of a death toll.

Mikey had tears in his eyes. "No. Raphie—why would he go alone? He'll get hurt! We can't let him get hurt, we have to do something!" Leo and Splinter avoided the youngest turtle's desperate stare.

"There's nothing we can do, Michelangelo. Raphael is determined to do this alone." Leo stated solemnly.

"That was why he spent the afternoon with me…" Everyone turned to Donatello. The brainiac's voice sounded strained, and almost all the color had drained from his face. As Donnie fell weakly backwards onto the couch, Midori sat beside him and rubbed his carapace comfortingly. The brainiac began to hyperventilate and Midori did her best to calm him down.

Michelangelo couldn't take it anymore, and the next thing they knew, the youngest was balling his eyes out. Midori opened her arms and Mikey barreled into the couch, leaning heavily against her. Midori did her best to comfort both of the younger turtles. Leonardo sat on the arm of the couch and pulled Donnie into a tight hug.

Midori smiled sadly and did the same with Michelangelo. She kissed the youngest turtle's forehead in a very motherly-like fashion. Mikey stared up at her with wide eyes. "Raph will come back…right?"

Midori hugged Mikey even tighter and murmured. "Yes he will, Mikey."

"Indeed. We must believe in that, my sons. Never give up hope in your brother's abilities. He will return to us." Splinter stated, his voice soft and comforting.

Leonardo muttered under his breath, not knowing his rat father's sensitive ears caught his words: "He better."

I decided to save the Raph Dragon fight for next chapter. I expect to have two or three more chapters in this story. After that…we'll see.

But back to the chapter you've just read…. Well, how was it? Was the altercation between Raph and Midori believable? What about Mikey and Donnie's reactions? Review Please!