Disclaimer: I do not own the TMNT only plot and original characters are mine.

A/N: Once again late on updating. Now we're getting to more complicated parts of the story though. The actual meeting is coming up shortly. When that will be you'll just have to read to see. Thank you guys so much for your support, despite how late I am with this, it really means a lot to me. Thank you so much. You guys rock. Well please enjoy for that is why we write…

Storm clouds moved in and darkness had well settled over the city as Raphael made his way down a street, head tucked into his chest, hands in pockets and a large fedora over his head. He wasn't trying to keep warm at moment, the storm was still a ways off and despite the rain he knew from the weather it would be a warm one anyways. It was just a habit he'd never been able to break.

Ever since they were teens and aloud to the surface, keeping their heads low and everything concealed had been drilled into them. He knew he didn't have to fear humans anymore, well most of them. But a part of him was still…uncomfortable at times with them. Especially at night. Why that was he couldn't pinpoint. Perhaps it was due to the fact that it was night when they lost their brother to a human's blade. Ever since then, the red turtle had found even though he had grown in shadows, there was a part of him that despised them. If they had just been born normal…they might still have him there.

But they weren't. They were born into the way of the ninja, in war with another clan and knew the ways of the shadows better than they knew the ways of the light. He just hadn't expected those shadows to claim his brother. Him, perhaps, he always jumped into things without looking. But his brother…his brother was so cautious when it came to fighting others, he always had a plan if they he could see winning wasn't an option. He always had a back up plan for the plan…and yet it had been him that fell first.

Raphael squeezed his eyes shut as a bitter memory swept over him, he could still remember that night. It was clear, and the beauty of it mocked the situation. A week after their own brother had killed her, an assassin had been sent after him. He died then two days later. He could still feel the blood on the cloth of his brother's jacket. He had worn it that night when he went out to see the moon. Ever since he had made the kill, he had been going out more and more to see the moon.

They couldn't figure out why it effected him so much, perhaps he had believed there was a chance…and then he had been forced to end it. But whatever it was that kept him outside, it did…and only two hours later, his jacket was found bloody and shredded on a rooftop, with streaks and pools of blood all around. They never found his body and for awhile they hoped that meant he was alive…but after ten years, what was the point? He was gone. No one stayed gone for ten years. No one deserted their family when they had loved them like Leonardo had.

No one.

The thirty two year old, shook his head with a sigh, finally raising it to watch the sky as tiny droplets began to come down with a steady plop, plop. He hated nights. He had lived in them but he hated them! They always brought back memories of that time. Raph didn't fight them though, not anymore, fighting them only made them harder to get rid of because it made him realize there was something bitter to fight against. If he could just forget things would be better…

The turtle growled at himself, never! He would never forget what happened to his brother. He might want to, the memory might be crushing him inside and raking at his soul with fresh wounds, but he would never forget. He couldn't. If they forgot…who would remember…Leo had died. He had died saving them and now when the pain got to unbearable his brothers would forget him? Distance themselves from it?

The turtle was angry he even let himself entertain that notion for a moment. He wouldn't run from the memory, he would embrace it. He would relive it in his mind, over and over again. He would remind himself why they fought! Why each time what Leonardo had done, what he'd given up that night.

He hadn't wanted to kill. That was obvious…but he had to. In order to save his brothers he had. And for that…for saving them he paid with his own life. He fell because he loved them.

By now the rain was coming down faster and faster, and despite the warmth, Raphael felt cold as he took a turn and leaned up against the brick wall of a small alley, breathing heavily. Resting his head on the rough structure he took in a shuddering breath. Nights always held pain, he had once loved the shadows…now he hated them. They took his brother and his family was left alone to remember. To grieve. There were nights he would come outside, despite his hate for the shadows, find the building where they had found what remained of Leonardo…and break down.

No one knew he did that. And that was the way he wanted to keep it. No one knew how bad it still hurt when he thought of it….then again, they hadn't been the first one to find the blood…

Shaking his head, Raph sighed, sliding down the wall, and resting his head between his knees. For a normal person that was a dangerous place to be, out in the night, in that city, but for Raphael it was different. He wasn't scared of anything, he could take care of himself well enough and any would be attacker…what he couldn't fight was the pain inside his chest that swelled up and threatened to consume him. Locking a gaze with the cement ground he let out a shuddering sigh.

Why did he do this to himself? Night after night he did this and nothing changed. The fact that he was punishing himself for what happened wouldn't change anything…leaning his head back he looked up, trying to block out everything, the sounds, the drops of water that trickled down his face, taking the salt tears with them, even the fact he was supposed to meet his brothers that night.

He just wanted it to go away. For the pain to break and let him breathe again, and function how he once had. But it wouldn't…not while it was night.

But it had to. Just for tonight he had to push through the pain and force himself up and onward as he reached a manhole, uncovered and slid down it. Once out of the sewers he never thought he'd return. But then again neither did anyone else and that was what made it the safest meeting place for him and his brothers.

The odor that came from the sewer never bothered him, and the light splash around his feet felt oddly familiar as he dropped in. Wiping away his tears, that he would claim was only rain, he headed towards the meeting place, all the while listening to the rush of the sea sooth him as he walked near their very fist home that had been closest to it.

X

A soft rain had started fifteen minutes ago and now was turning into a torrent of water in the warm winds as Leonardo secured his swords to his side one more time and nodded to his student. Their boat was closer now, so they'd have to be cautious, but they could do it.

All it would take was a little rope and a scale down the side into the water. His student had learned to swim earlier in her training, but whether she was a strong swimmer or not had yet to be seen. It didn't matter though, more than once he had told her if she had problems grab onto his back.

Ry had nodded and bowed, but at the same time, seemed more determined than ever to prove she could swim just as well as he taught her to! Though she'd never swam quite a distance before. Or if she had, she couldn't remember.

"Alright. You read?" Leo asked attaching a rope around the mast and lowering the slack over the side and into the water. He smiled inwardly, not a sound. That was good at least.

Ry nodded, keeping low. "Hai Sensei."

He nodded. "Alright. I'll go first, you follow right behind me, and don't make a noise." Leonardo knew she had no intention to, but he just wanted to make sure she understood how critical it was.

Again she nodded. "Hai Sensei."

Without another word, Leonardo slipped over the side, swords strapped tight and looked up nodding to her with an encouraging look. It would be alright. Everything would be alright. As if time lost meaning in stillness, Leonardo continued downward, until he was up to his shoulders in the water. Letting go of the rope he swam a foot away and beckoned her downward.

Ry nodded, her bo staff strapped to her back as she lowered herself over the side in the exact same fashion. Her foot almost slipped and she cringed looking at her Sensei at the small scuffling noise.

He nodded. It was alright, it was small enough they couldn't hear it. She nodded, sucking in a deep breath and going the rest of the way down.

"Watch out for the bottom, Ry." He whispered, his own foot having nearly been cut from the sharp barnacles that ebbed the bottom and sides.

Ry nodded, more to herself though than Leo as she concentrated all her will on simply making it down the rope with no more noise. Finally she made it and settled into the water shoulder deep, just as Leonardo had without a sound.

Leo smiled. "Remember, if you need help, just grab on, alright?"

Ry smiled and nodded her thanks, though as much as he was concerned about her swimming, she was equally concerned with his shoulder. What if it gave out in the water? What if the pain made him pass out again under the waves? She wasn't strong enough to save him. She knew that…but there was little time for questions as they both took deep breaths and then dove under the waves without a sound, leaving an empty boat to meet the foot.

x

The water was warm as it swirled around them blocking out anything else despite its darkness as they swam through it.

Leonardo cringed inwardly looking down at the endless shadows. It was almost like looking inside himself, he wasn't sure what was there anymore or what would come out. Only that there darkness reigned with little light.

Turning his head slightly he smiled in relief. At least his student was keeping up, her long legs enabling powerful kicks as well her arms for strokes. There was a look of determination on her face that even in dark waters he could see. He smirked slightly, how often in his teenage years had that look crossed his face? It was the look that spoke louder than any words on what needed doing, and was simply doing it.

Perhaps it was that looked that had helped gain him the name of fearless leader. From the way Ry refused to look down however, he wondered if perhaps she wasn't frightened by the unknown just as he was? Still the pride in his chest remained. She wasn't going to be the best ninja that had ever lived, but she was still going to become a ninja. His ninja.

He shook his head slightly under the waves. Yes she would be a ninja, just as he was a ninja and his father was a ninja. Though he could only hope that life did not string together the bitterness for her as it had for him. Then again…he wouldn't let that happen. Even if that happened, she wouldn't face it alone. He had promised never to leave her and he meant it.

Shwoop!

A sudden sound pierced the waves and before either could blink, Leonardo had grabbed Ry's arm and pulled her out of the way just in time as an arrow skidded by her arm and into the dark waters below. Both shot a look at each other and Leonardo turned his glance upwards, only to widen at what he saw.

Just above them what looked like tiny dots in the darkness began to grow bigger and longer in size as more and more arrows began to pierce the water. Leo growled, and kicked faster while diving lower and motioning for Ry to do the same. The boat had no doubt reached a point the foot could see it was empty, and now they were turning to the only place that could have held them.

There was a way out, Leonardo knew there was. By the docks there was an entrance into the sewers. If they could just get there, than get topside they would be safe! All they had to do was swim a little deeper and avoid the arrows. Fortuantely as the arrows pierced the water they lost some of their speed.

It was common knowledge this could happen, but it didn't seem to deter the numbers that flew down.

Leo looked over at Ry and noticed that despite deremination a more visible fear was taking place on her face as well as her limbs were slowing down some. They needed more air!

By now even Leonardo could feel his lungs begin to cry out with a burning sensation. But they couldn't surface yet! Not yet, or they'd surely be killed. They weren't that far from the entrance now, if they could just hold on…

"Ry!?" He mouthed under water noticing her limbs again loose speed, her face was turning the slightest shade of blue. They needed air, and they needed it now.

Without much thinking, Leonardo reached over and grabbed her shoulders holding him under him as more and more arrows flew. It would be alright, they would make it! It would be fine…

Pain swept through him suddenly as he looked to see an arrow right in his shoulder. He kept swimming but the blood that was rising to the surface told the attackers where to hit. Ry was still conscious, though her lungs were feeling as if they would burst at any minute and it was slowly draining her. She didn't miss the expression nor the blood that flowed upward.

She screamed inwardly as more and more arrows flew down and struck her Sensei in the shell as well as the arms.

How he was still swimming through all of this and helping her was beyond her comprehension of ability. Turning her head slightly she saw as another arrow pierced his arm, where they were going.

It was a small tunnel…and they were close…so close. Finally though another arrow hit Leonardo near the top of his shell and his eyes widened at the definite nerve hit. Gasping he opened his mouth and water shot in, gagging him as they neared it the entrance. They were five feet away…

Ry's eyes widened in terror at her master who by now looked like a green puppet attached to fine red strings. Her lungs were burning, but she had at least one idea. The arrows were slowing down now, she had to try.

Turning over in her Sensei's grasp she grapped his arm, and swam with him as they supported each other into the tunnel, the water that streaked by washed most of blood away as they swam through what was left of the water…and finally broke out into the air.

To be continued…

A/N: Well hoped you liked it. Thanks for reading. And have a great Resurection Weekend! Remember, Jesus loves you! He is risen indeed! ( I know this is good friday, but he's still risen. (smiles happily) )

Take care

Be blessed

your friend

innocent-rebel