Chapter 11

In the next morning brothers got in the helicopter what flied them back to New York and right on top of Foot’s building. After entering inside the place they both sensed it right away that something wasn’t right. The place was… too quiet in very uncomfortable way. When they came in this long main hallway it was shocking what they saw; bloody dead bodies all over the place. In shock Raphael walked in the middle of the room looking all around.

“What the hell is this?!”

There were bodies hanging on the walls, laying on the floor and blood literally everywhere. Gathering his thoughts together Raph turned to look his general with serious eyes.

“Let’s split up and look for survivors. You go look for Mikey and Donnie at first. When you find them, dead or alive, come to my office.”

Leonardo nodded once spinning around and he ran, he ran as fast as he could entering in Mikey’s training dojo where few bodies also laid dead on the floor.

“Mikey?!” He walked over the bodies calling his little brother but no, he heard no answer. Damn it, perhaps he had go to Donnie in the lab. It was Leo’s next destination but he found it empty as well and it caused tightness appear around his throat and heart. Squeezing his hands into tight fists he swore he would make, whoever did this, pay dearly for causing any harm to his brothers. Before going back to Raphael’s office Leonardo made fast running tour around the area calling if anyone would hear him but no, all the bodies were dead. Whoever had done this had made sure to kill everyone.

Opening the door to his brother’s office revealed his brother standing there in front of his desk. The more closer Leo came to Raph, the more easily he heard his angry breathing. Suddenly spinning around with raging flame in his eyes, Raphael’s low voice growled.

“Found anything?”

“No, nothing. You?”

“Only this.” Stepping aside Leo saw Hun’s head placed on his brother’s table and it was quite a shock. Who…? And why? All kind of questions started to run in Leo’s mind before they were interrupted with Raph’s voice.

“Whoever it was knew we were after Hun. And now they know we want our little brothers back.”

Handing a note to Leonardo Raphael walked past him to wait him at the door way while Leo’s eyes scanned letters. There was no hint who was behind this but the message was clear; “Come on the roof.”

Wasting no time Leo rustled note and pushed it inside of his pocket walking toward Raph who took the lead when they went back to roof but saw no one there. They both stood silently still, allowing their senses scan the area.

“Show yourselves! I can sense you idiots!”

Raphael’s voice was loud and commanding and surely, soon enough, 4 figures landed in front of them and neither one of them couldn’t believe their eyes. The elite! Raphael growled as he took step closer but his senses yelled him to stop there.

“What’s the meaning of this?! What the hell happened here?!”

He got no answer by words but when all 4 of them pulled their weapons, everything became clear to him. Taking deep inhale to calm himself Raphael moved his hands to his sais, pulling them out of his belt and Leonardo took his katanas in his hands.

“I thought so. You 4 just waited a chance to turn your backs to me and betray me.”

Leo gave fast a bit worried look to Raphael who showed no fear or hesitation. He was more than ready to kick those elites asses. He knew his own skills and Raphael’s skills but those were the elite and the past fights between the turtles and elites hadn’t been easy ones…

“Hold it!”

They all turned to look 2 figures who appeared on the scene as well and both big brothers felt instant relief in their hearts when their younger brothers showed up taking their weapons in their hands.

“It’s not fair if there’s 4 against 2, don’t you think?” Mikey asked smiling while swinging his nunchakus. Don smiled a bit next to him while walking next to Leo and Raph, keeping his gaze on 4 enemies.

“Were you guys were? I looked everywhere for you two.”

“Sorry. We followed these guys here on the roof after you guys arrived.”

“Enough talking!” Anger burned in his eyes and he couldn’t wait to beat those bastards anymore. “We will beat the shit out of you all and teach not to mess with me! Pick your guys, boys, and kill them! Show no mercy!”

“Yes!”

Raph launched himself forward taking his man while Don and Mike chose theirs. Leonardo had nailed his gaze on his target who was none other than Goro. Weapons classing together Leo brought his face right in front of Goro’s growling. “Why?! Why you decided to betray our Master?! I thought you were on the same side with us!”

“Forgive me, Leonardo, but serving good isn’t that what I have been trained to do my whole life. I always have been loyal to real Master Shredder. I only played along to reach my goal!”

“You fucking liar! I should had kill you back in Japan when I had a chance!”

“Yes, you should had but you didn’t ‘cause you’re weak!”

“I AM NOT!” Pushing Goro hard away from him Leo panted with rage, looking in Goro’s eyes. “You know what pisses me off the most? The fact I started to love you like a brother, to keep you as a member of our family.”

To this Goro said nothing but came after Leo with speed who answered on attack with his own speed. Despite the fact he was fighting his own fight, Leo managed to take a peek of Don and Mike, seeing how they were doing with their fights and for his horror he saw both of his younger brothers on the ground motionless. Cold inhale turned his inner side colder but his heart soon burst out with flames and his will to go to see his little brothers took over. Dodging Goro’s attack Leonardo gave as hard punch in Goro’s guts with fist as he could, leaving the guy breathless. Giving his back to Goro, ready to leave, he felt stinging pain at his calf. Falling on his right knee Leo took support from the ground looking over his shoulder to see gasping Goro there with blood on his weapon.

This made Leo’s rage raise even more. Taking tight hold on his katana Leo turned around on his knee, thrusting his blade through Goro’s body. To make it even more painful Leonardo twisted his sword in his Goro’s body before pulling his katana out, watching how body fell on its side in front of his eyes. Turning around and running as fast and good as he could to his brothers, Leonardo knelt down to check them. They both were breathing and there was only small among of blood so they weren’t dead. Silent whimper from Don was very good sign and it made Leo gave his attention to his second youngest brother.

“R… Raph… Help R-Raph...”

Looking over at Raph Leo saw how his hot-head brother was fighting with 3 elite members. Standing up and walking past Goro’s body, Leonardo heard his name being called. Stopping against his will, he still had a duty to listen dying man’s last words. Looking down at his ex-friend he saw pain in Goro’s eyes.

“L-Leonardo… *cough* I’m sorry… For all of this… I want you to know that I t-too… Started to love you… a-and keep you as my brother and family. Thank you...”

Touched by Goro’s words Leo couldn’t do more than watch how that body took its last breath and eyes shut for the last time. Feeling respect toward this man Leonardo bowed once to him, retreating to help his master but he came too late. Just few feet away from his master, Raphael let out painful scream and blood was spread everywhere around him, his legs instantly giving in as his body slammed against the cold floor. Seeing everything as slow motion freaked Leonardo out as his eyes grew wider in horror.

“NO!”

Seeing his brother’s body on the ground, surrounded by massive among of blood, snapped something in Leonardo’s mind. He no longer gave a fuck about anything. All what he wanted was pain and blood to those who dared to hurt his master. His heart became cold while his soul was burning with rage. Donatello had managed to crawl closer to Mikey, getting him open his eyes and together they both witnessed how their, always so calm and cool, big brother went into berserk mode. His speed was incredible, that bright anger in his eyes, those teeth grinning in anger, those battle yells full of hate and rage, all moves so strong and solid. Neither of them had never seen Leonardo like this but when their eyes spotted Raphael on the ground, they were filled with worry and understanding about Leo’s reaction. As fascinating as it was to see their brother fight like that against elite, it was also very scary.

Even those elite ninjas had start to show fear since Leo’s skills had gone beyond theirs easily with his emotions and it didn’t take long before all 3 of them were on the ground either dead or dying slowly and painfully, just how Leo liked. They needed to pay for betraying them and hurting them. Making sure none of them wouldn’t be able to do any harm Leonardo walked to them, who were still alive, cutting their whole arms off leaving them bleed to death.

Now that everything was secured and his berserk rage had turn more calm, he rushed to his brother, lifting his upper body gently in his lap and arms, seeing so many deadly wounds all around his body, his old scar had been opened and deepened with ax’s blade which had made it deadly. There also was middle sized sword stabbed deep in Raphael’s stomach. Leonardo moved his hand to the sword in order to pull it out, but Raph lifted his hand on Leo’s with raspy and light breathing.

“Don’t… Hng, leave it...”

“Master… I...”

“M-my brothers…?”

Looking over his shoulder Leonardo saw how Don and Mikey were supporting each other while slowly coming to them, kneeling down beside Leonardo. Taking slow looks at his brothers small smile of relief appeared on Raphael’s lips.

“You okay.. Good… Very good… *cough*”

“Please, don’t talk, Master. Save your strength. Donny, help him, please!” Looking his medic brother with pleading look in his sorrowful eyes... It broke Don’s heart since they all knew there was nothing what he could do. Raphael was… too badly injured… Turning his head away from his brother’s gaze told Leo it all what he already knew deep inside. Trembling he turned to look Mikey who already had tears in his eyes and he did try to wipe them away but the darn things came back right away.

“My brothers… D-don’t worry… I have had t-the most best life w-with you g-guys… *cough cough* I regret nothing… except being so mean, angry, difficult and total jerk to you guys… *pant pant*”

“It’s okay, Raph. You were just yourself and we loved you that way.”

Don’s voice was slightly trembling but his words made Raphael sigh gently with a small smile. “Yeah, I know. D-despite the fact y-you all were p-pain in my a-ass at times… *pant* I still l-loved every moment with you all… just like I love you all.”
Mikey and Don couldn’t hold it anymore as they started to cry silently holding Raph’s hands in theirs while Leo still kept Raphael’s upper body and head in his lap, stroking gently that emerald green cheek. Slowly raising his golden eyes to meet fresh blue eyes, his own gaze filled with warmth at first before slight fear and worry took over them.

“T-tell me, Leo… W-will I meet him? W-will he forgive me?” During the last sentence Raph’s lips started to tremble as well as his voice and his eyes started to shine with tears.

Sniffing and sobbing Leonardo forced small smile on his lips while stroking Raph’s cheek more firmly in comforting way.

“Yes, you will see him. And he has forgive you for sure. He always did, always will. He loves you very much even that there were times when you didn’t see or believed it. I’m sure he’s there waiting you when you go.”

“Really…? You really think so…?”

“He was our father so of course. Or have you forgot his kindness?”

“N-no… Just… afraid to face him. I never wasn’t his best son...” 

Shaking his head Leonardo bend down pressing his face and forehead gently against Raphael’s still keeping that small smile on.

“Idiot. We all were his best sons, always, in our own unique ways. Think back, you know the answer yourself too.”

With short sigh Raphael turned to look past Leo’s eyes and after few short moments he nodded few times with small movement.

“Y-yes… I remember now.” Closing his eyes tears rolled down the sides of his face as his lips turned into big relieved smile. “I was loved after all.”

“Of course you were. Always was, always will be.”

Opening his eyes slowly for the last time Raphael looked into those blue eyes with loving smile. “Just so you know… You’re the master now. This all… is yours. T-take good care of it… And you two...” Looking at his youngest brothers Raphael shared his most loving smile to them too. “Watch after Leonardo for me… He can’t fall back… into being that c-cold dick what h-he was… O-otherwise my t-training with him was in vain.”

“Don’t worry, we will watch after him.”

“Yeah, we will. You can trust on us.”

Smiling to them, Raphael sighed slow and deep, slowly starting to close his eyes whispering; “I love you boys.”

He felt Mike’s and Don’s lips on the backside of his hands, hearing their whispers of “I love you”. Lastly he felt Leonardo’s lips on his lips and then on his forehead, hearing his lover’s voice the last; “I love you.”

Suddenly his eyelids stopped closing and his chest landed down but never rose again. Mikey burst out to cry hard while Don crawled next to his little brother, pulling him in his arms, starting to swing him gently side to side, letting his silent tears roll down on his cheeks. Listening his brothers cries behind him Leo let his silent tears roll down on his cheeks, falling down on Raphael’s face as he gently closed those eyelids with his fingertips. Pulling that still warm body more closer and kissing that forehead once more Leo stood up, lifting Raph’s body in his arms.

Turning to look down his crying brothers Leonardo cleared his voice; “Come, guys. We need to bury him and I know the place.”

–---

This place was familiar to Leonardo but this was first visit to Mikey and Don who both stood in front of Splinter’s old grave. Only sign about Splinter’s grave was his old walking stick and right next to his grave was fresh grave with stick and red bandanna tied around it. 3 brothers stood side by side looking at the graves before bowing and leaving back to their new home, The Foot building. Not all foot ninjas had been lost during the attack on elite ninjas and they all had give helping had to clean the place and fix whatever had been broke during the fight.

Leonardo stood in this familiar office what now was his but he had kept everything the same. To feel Raphael there near him and even more near he felt Raphael to be when he was in that secret room. It was his treasure chamber since it held so many stuffs from their old home and about Raphael. Of course Leonardo allowed Don and Mikey in the room whenever they felt they needed some comfort.

Looking at the city behind the window Leonardo took deep inhale, releasing it slow and steady. In his mind he had decide to become the best master and rule the street as good as he could, making them safe to everyone, just like Raph had did and wanted. In this moment he suddenly felt all warm and light, feeling love surrounding him and he could easily sense his father’s and brother’s spirits around him. He knew he was blessed and that those two would look after him from another world while Mike and Don would watch after him here on Earth.

Despite the fact he couldn’t see his father or Raphael anymore, he knew they were there since he could sense them. Death had not tear them apart and someday, they all would be united once again.

The end!