Chapter 3

Hours went by as slow as they could in the silence of their empty lair while Leo laid on his father's bed sideways, his back turned to his father's body. He knew he had to go and bury him somewhere... But part of him didn't want to do it. Not yet. It was way too soon but still. Slowly turning to look that lifeless body and sitting up, he made up his mind. He had no other choice, he had to do it tonight.

But there was one thing what he had to do first...

--

At the safety of night 2 eyes looked this view in front of him at the edge of the city and forest, before daring to come out from huge sewer pipe carrying wooden coffin in his arms and shovel on his back. He knew night would be long but he was willing to do anything to get his father buried.

After walking for so long in the forest he finally spotted a place what would be perfect to his father. Small area of beautiful green grass right next to small fresh creek and under this tall tree. Perfect. Just perfect.

Leonardo slowly landed his father, inside the coffin, on the ground taking firm hold on his shovel, starting to dig, dig, dig, dig and dig. He was done only then when the morning sun started to show signs of its arise so Leo hurried up moving next to coffin, opening it one last time. Tears started to gather in his eyes instantly but he leaned down placing deep, long and gentle kiss on Splinter's forehead. As he pulled away, he removed Splinter's walking stick from his body dropping it on the ground, closing that coffin, carefully placing it in the grave. One last look before sand started to fill this hole and his father and with each throw of sand, his tears rolled more and more down on his cheeks. For Leo's luck filling that grave was faster than digging it and he was done sooner than he realized.

Tapping the sand few times making the grave look better before placing his father's walking stick on the grave, Leo stood up taking few steps back staying still and silent for many minute, listening only the sound of gentle morning wind and creek's murmur. He would had stay there longer but he didn't dare to. It wasn't safe to move around under the sunlight. He would had been seen easily so against his will he retreated back into the safety and darkness of sewers and their... his lair. Looking around it felt so cold, empty and lonely place. All the warmth of home and life had left the place with his family members.

Walking slowly to couch and laying down on it, Leo hugged himself feeling so hollow inside. All alone. So this is how it feels like... Now he understood a lot better those humans who had none in their lives.

--

Months later Leo was still in the lair, sitting on that safe couch rubbing himself to keep himself warm. Cool autumn had come already and much for Leo's stress, lair's heater had broke and he had no idea how to fix it. He had no one who could had come to see and fix it. Closing his eyes while sighing deeply misty cloud, he laid himself on the side curling into a small ball, pulling a rug over himself. It wasn't much but better than nothing. Soon his eyelids were starting to force themselves closed, no matter how hard fight Leo tried to make up with them, he lost.

Soon his eyes snapped open and he jumped up seeing his father standing there in front of him. In disbelief he smiled a bit breathing sharply sitting straight.

"Fa-father... You... You're--!"

But his father stopped him by lifting his hand as a sign of silence.

"Listen carefully, my son. You have mourn my death long enough. Now it's time to stand up and be strong and go look for your brothers."

"But, master... I have been doing that too. Not so actively but still. I have search the whole city and there's no sign of them." He looked down in defeat. "They are either dead or have left the city. But why? Why they all left me behind? Was... was I really that horrible of a big brother?" Raising his hands on his eyes to cover his fleeing tears he felt gentle and loving hand landing on his head.

"My son. Your brothers are still in this city and they haven't abandon you."

Slowly his head and gaze rose up to meet his father's loving gaze and smile.

"You have done excellent job while trying to find your brothers, but there's still small little traits what you haven't follow."

"What do you mean? Like I said, I have search the whole city."

"Not fully, my son. Go up there, keep your eyes open as well as your mind and remember, follow every lead what you might see or hear, even the most unexpected one."

"F-father, I don't --"

"Trust on me like I trust on you, Leonardo. You're the leader. Now go!"

Leo's eyes opened again as he jumped up panting hard, looking all around but he couldn't see his father anywhere. A... A dream? Sitting still and rolling his conversation with Splinter in his mind, he suddenly and slowly started to get the confidence and trust back on himself. Standing up all tall and assertive Leo's steps took him to weapon wall where he kept his lonely katanas alone, placing them slowly on his back walking to the door. Turning around taking the last gaze of their lair, what once was full of warm, love and life, he knew this was the last time he would ever see it.

Taking deep inhale Leo bowed deeply to his home before exiting, climbing on top using the closest ladders. First snow was falling down and it had been snowing quite a while already since roofs and streets were slightly covered by snow already. That would be a little problem since his foot print could be seen but then again, only ones who would see it would be Foot for sure but they hadn't been so active lately.

Getting on the nearest roof Leo looked his surrounding wondering what parts he hadn't checked yet and when he came up with nothing, he decided to just randomly go look around - once again. After hours and hours of searching Leo's hope and confidence were fading away fast and he fell on his knees, slowly turning to sit against the wall of this small 'building' on top of the roof. Pulling his knees against his chest, hugging them gently he sighed deeply closing his eyes.

"It's no use. I can't find them... I'm sorry, father, I just can't..."

Right after that Leo hear sound of movement and few Foot soldiers ran past him. Staring after them slightly surprised his father's words echoed in his mind;

"Follow every lead what you might see or hear, even the most unexpected one."

It was like someone had turn the lights on in his mind as he jumped up and ran after those ninjas. Of course! Foot! It was the only lead what he hadn't even think of! As secretly as Leo tried to follow his enemies, they spotted him flipping around in the air, pulling out their weapons.

Leo stopped breathing heavily raising his hands up in the air.

"I'm not here to fight! I just want to ta--- Aaahh!"

He was caught by a surprise when someone kicked him hard on the back, making Leo fall on the snow face first. Shaking his head and rolling on his carapace his gasp got stuck in his throat. Shredder's elite forces! Standing up, pulling his swords in his hands, Leo knew he wouldn't had a change against them but he wasn't gonna give up.

"Listen to me! I'm not here to fight! I just want to talk!"

But they didn't listen. All 4 of them attacked on Leo at once, giving Leo the beating of his life, his painful cries buried in the sounds of the city.

"Halt!"

--

His body was trembling as his eyes stared eight pairs of feet in front of him, slowly starting to hear the sound of metal. Metal... Does that sound mean that...

"What do we have here? A turtle?"

That echoing and raspy voice was so familiar that it sting his heart. How come he was alive?! Leo had saw it with his own eyes how Raph had killed Shredder! Unless... Foot has something what revived dead person...I-If that was true, he must get that and revive Splinter! ... No. No! That would be wrong and against the laws of nature.

Those spiky boots came right in front of his view and he was moved to sit up from the neck and that amused silent laugh sent chills down to his spine.

"You really got a beating, Leonardo."

"T-thanks to y-your men... Even that I d-didn't come here to f-fight."

Shredder's hold left his throat as he stepped back keeping his red eyes on Leo.

"Then what do you want, turtle?"

"Talk *cough cough* I have been s-searching my brothers a-and... I have look through the whole city a-and there's no sign of t-them." Leo's blue eyes rose up to meet red glowing orbs before he continued. "You and your Foot clan is the only thing what I haven't investigate."

There was a long silent moment before Shredder's loud laugh echoed in the air as his Foot soldiers with elite ones laughed with him.

"Don't tell me you think I have something to do with your brothers being missing?"

"I have to check every lead."

"Hmph, you're only wasting your time, Leonardo. But..." Shredder's sudden silence gave bad feeling to Leo who started to even feel sick but he held himself together, ready to hear whatever Shredder was going to say next. "... I can give you an offer. I might know something about your brothers BUT..."

"... But what? What's your offer?"

Despite the fact Leo couldn't see the face behind the mask, he could feel how this wide smirk spread on those lips.

"... But you must join me. Join the Foot and swear your loyalty!"

"W-WHAT?! I could never do that!"

"No? Shame. You would had been a great addition to Foot. Lets go, soldiers. We have no more time to waste on this poor excuse of a turtle."

As Shredder turned and walked away, Leo stood up trembling, fire burning in his eyes. No, if this was his last lead, his last chance to find his brothers...

"Shredder!"

His enemy stopped and turned to face him, seeing that strong will and determination written all over Leo's face who trembled slightly before bowing down as deep as he could from his sore body.

"Please, Master! Let me join the Foot! Accept my apology for being so rude before! My life, for now on, will only be to serve you! But you must promise me something..." Leo raised his head enough to have eye contact with his new Master. "Promise me you will share all the info with me what you have about my brothers and if you know where they are."

"... As you wish, turtle, but I'm not giving any information to you yet. You have to prove your loyalty to me. Then, and ONLY then, I will share my information with you."

Taking a hold of his cape and turning around, Shredder jumped down from the roof giving a command to his men to help Leonardo with them back to Foot's building. His stomach was twisting since he felt he had done the worst thing in his life but at the same time Leonardo was willing to do anything and everything to find the truth about his brothers. Even if it meant of becoming Shredder's lap dog.