Rising of the Moon

Chapter 12-
	Leonardo slowly started to improve to the point the stinging pain in his chest that would no longer appear when he exercise roughly. Which was such a relief for him, he missed the training and work outs he used to do. Though he didn't enjoy the fact he had to now get back into shape. He lost so much of his ability's during the months he was resting. He would lift weights even if his doctor told him to not lift anything above a certain amount, and-of course-he would not listen. But if Mikey caught him he would make sure he got his fair share of punishments. Much to Leonardo's discomfort.
	The past two weeks has been nothing but light duty. His actions were limited but that was only because Leo hasn't fought off vampires for days at a time. He would occasionally find a large group tucked away in an alley way but they would usually flee before he could get to them. In total he has slaughtered only two a week. 
	Now it seemed like a routine; sitting on a rooftop, sharpening and shining his swords with absolutely nothing to do. 
	With a sigh, the leaf green turtle put down the sword he was recently working on. He has never felt so bored in his life. He was actually wondering if he had to retire early as the vampire hunter. As much as it pleases him that no one else has gotten eaten lately. It left him by himself, his plate fully opened with no one to fill it. 
	A smirk formed on Leonardo’s face as his mind started to wonder to the emerald terrapin. Even when he himself, though it was a bad idea to think about it. He couldn’t help it, and besides; he had nothing else to do anyway. If Raphael was anywhere near this area he would have guessed he would be here. Teasing him about the stuff he was missing out on. Trying to convince him to follow and listen to him. His normal response would be, “I don’t have the time, Raphael.” Now where was Raphael when he has the time to goof around? He’s gone. Ran away outside of the city and has no way of contacting him. He wondered how Raph was doing. If he was captured. Or is in some other city. 
	Leo soon started thinking if Raph even thought about him anymore. If he already had forgotten about him and if off living the free life. 
	The sapphire eyed turtle didn’t know why, but there was a small bit of jealousy sitting in the bottom of his gut. Living a free life. . . Not having a care in the world. Being able to see things you couldn’t even imagine in your dreams. Leo had never gone anywhere but New York. This was the only place he spent his life, and all through his life all he’s ever seen was buildings. Hundreds and hundreds of skyscrapers towering way over him. Large crowds with numerous of people in them. Walking to different places, and all having unique intentions. Buses and cars constantly bumper to bumper, making driving seem impossible. 
	Then there was the sounds. During the day; Traffic and honks of horns. People talking right by your apartment building. Then by night; screams. Leo grew up with that sound. People screaming for help and growls of monsters that haunt children’s dreams. Drunk men falling over the streets and laughing of people having parties. Crashing of beer bottles and cats howling and whimpering their pitiful meow noises echoing in the night. 
This was the world Leonardo had to grow up in. With the surrounding he lived in, and without the slightest sight of what life could be like outside of the city. It turned him into this. Strict, serious, heartless, murder. Just so he could protect his family, and to protect others. It was something he thought about for years before setting his heart on it. He would give up his life for others. 
Now Leonardo wasn’t really as fond of the idea as much. He thought of what it would be like, to get out of this pocket of pollution and see what the world actually has in store once you get past the sins. 
The leaf green turtle shook his head. There was no way. He was stuck like this. People depended on him, even if they couldn’t care less of what he did, and what happened to him. They depend on him to keep their lives from ending each night. 
It was an overwhelming task for just one person; now that he thinks about it. Having to carry the responsibility of protecting the place he calls home, and the people that lived in it as well. 
What he would consider luxurious, is being able to dump the weight of that role and task, leave everything he ever worried about, and run. He wouldn’t know where to but he wouldn’t care. He would just run.
Leo’s head dropped as he stared at the streets below him. His legs dangling from the roofs edge. 
Would it be so bad if he didn’t want to run by himself?
Sharing his freedom and happiness with someone else. Being able to fall asleep with that person he feels safe with, and wake up the next morning with that same person. 
Leonardo shook his head of that thought. 
There was no possible way anyone could love him in that fashion. His past filled with nothing but fear and sin. No one could trust him and no one would want to. It was a fact he had to face sooner or later. When he gave up himself for others, he gave up everything else. What could have been a life for him, consisting of a family, a job, and a house-was just a fairy tale for him.

Leonardo sighed and laid back against that wall. He trained for some hours. Cleaned his weapons for another, and walked around for God only knows how long. Alone with just him and his uncontrollable thoughts. 
‘Why couldn’t there just be one vampire!? Just one would be enough to distract me.’ 
He grumbled, grabbing a piece of broken glass from the concrete ground. Clenching it tight in his fist as he felt it cut into his flesh. With a growl he threw it far. Landing somewhere on the other side of the street. He was lucky enough no one was walking there at the time. 
Suddenly a shout echoed through the night. He nearly jumped out of his shell. Unsheathing the sword and holding it, ready for any unexpected attack.
There was a dark image in the night. He narrowed his eyes, trying to focus on it. 
It was running, that much he knew. Running . . . away from something. Two more figures showed up behind it. Their eyes shined from the city lights enough that Leo could see easily. They were a couple of vampires. With a smirk, he clenched his sword tightly. This was the break he was looking for. He was just about to take off towards them till the one in front eyes shined. Well . . . eye?
Leo stopped in his tracks. The figure looked like it was running towards him. There was smothered noises coming out of him and he concentrated hard.
“. . eo. . ! Le. . !” 
As the figure came closer, its image grew clearer. It was a dark green, and it wore something brown. Its red eyed flashed in the light. Realization hit Leonardo hard like a punch to the gut.
“Raph!?” 
“Leo! Run!” He shouted. 
Leo stood in his place, confused and shocked. He must have been dazed for quite a few minutes, because all of a sudden what Raph should have been a few buildings away was now. . . Right next to him!
He was practically knocked off his feet when Raph’s hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him with him. The sudden tug must of snapped him back into his right mind and he jerked back his arm. 
“Raph, what the hell is going on!? What happened!? What are you doing here!?” The emerald turtle stared at Leo before he shook his head.
“I didn’t leave on time like I should have. Word has spread that your back and I got caught.” He explained quickly. “Let’s go. They’re going to kill you to.” Right before Raph could take off again Leo yanked him back again.
“We can deal with them easy.” Raph shook his head. 
“Not a chance. We don’t have time. More of them are coming. More than we can deal with.” Leo studied him for a few moments before the growling sounds behind him got closer. Raph cupped his cheeks with his hands to force him to look at him. 
“Leo, please. We’ll discuss this later. Let’s go.” He demanded. The sapphire eyed terrapin was just about to say something till he was immediately tackled down. 
“Leo!” He could hear Raphael call out. Leonardo had luckily got a grip on the vampire’s shoulders, enough to save him from his face getting eaten off. The monsters fangs were fully grown out, snapping and drooling. His eyes flashing with anger and hunger. Leo tried his best to buck the blood thirsty creature off of him but it failed badly as he still found himself pinned.
Instantly the vampire was thrown off of him right when he felt his arms weakening. Raph had his own fangs out but not quite as long. He snarled at the creature before he bit his neck. Blood poured out heavily and he dropped to the ground like his legs were noodles. 
Raph ran by Leo’s side and helped him up. “You okay?” He asked. The leaf green turtle nodded and rubbed off the spit and blood off of him.
“Yeah, just really grossed out now.” Raph chuckled halfheartedly before helping Leo back on his feet. The two looked up and found there was tons of pairs of red eyes glowing in the dark. 
“Can we go now?”
“Yeah. Run!” Leo shouted with a nod. Grabbing ahold of Raph’s hand. The two ran as fast as their legs could carry them. They hid in the shadows for most of the run. Leo was leading most of the way.
“Where are we going?” Raph asked curiously. Leonardo glanced back at him before sighing.
“There’s one place you can hide that no vampire will fine you.” The emerald eyed terrapin cocked his head in confusion.
“Where’s that?” 
“My home.”