God, it has been so long since I've done this!

First off, I deeply apologize to all my readers out their who I've held in suspense for so long (prostrates self at feet). PLEASE HAVE MERCY ON MY OVERWHELMINGLY BUSY SOUL!

Secondly, just as an update, I've been doing what most of us writers do after durations of writers' block: going back through my previous chapters and wincing at the typos and errors. Between that and some of the constructive criticism (which I appreciate very much - absolutely no sarcasm intended) I've received from all you lovely people, I've decided to REPOST MY CHAPTERS WITH MINOR CHANGES.

I will make sure to post a list of the changes I make in my Chapter 13 update for those of you who still remember the main plot events of this story and don't want to have to reread previous entries.

For the rest of you who're scratching you're head, wondering what this story's about: Leo-Raph fight, Raph chases after Leo, finds him dead from stab wound caused by Dire, everyone finds out Leo has heart cancer, Leo dies...?

Mwahaha...I'm so evil! Enjoy!

"LEOOOOOO!" A faint cry ripped through the air.

"Raph?" My eyelids fluttered, allowing faint shafts of light to peek through my pupils.

That voice…it sounded so… anguished…so scared…Raph's voice…

"RAPH!" My body immediately snapped into a sitting position only to collide with what felt like a massive wall of pain.

SMACK.

"OW!"

THUMP.

"Ugh…" I groaned and rubbed my now throbbing forehead. OK, definitely won't be trying that again…

Slowly I forced my eyelids open again and instinctively tried to scan my surroundings through pain-scrunched eyes. Blurred shapes of light blue and brown seemed to blend together like a Van Gogh painting until my brain finally managed to mold them into a bright sky obscured by a rather large tree branch.

Ah, massive wall of pain, identified…

My forehead throbbed in remembrance and I groaned again as I slowly pushed myself back up into a sitting position, making sure to put at least three feet between my head and said pain-inflicting branch.

From what I could tell through my possibly concussed gaze, I was sitting in what looked like a sort of meadow, with proud pale-pink cherry blossom trees bordering the clearing, one of which I was currently shaded under.

A gentle breeze blew through the branches and scattered small petals spiraling down and coating the green grass in shades of pink. All in all, it honestly looked like the picture of paradise.

What the shell? I put one hand on the closest tree trunk's rough bark and painstakingly pushed myself up on to my feet. Where am I? Ugh, my body feels like a horde of Foot ninjas ran me down and then backed over me...twice…

I put a hand to my aching forehead as I struggled to piece my foggy memory back together. The last thing I remember was the Foot and that creepy scientist and...Raph...Donnie…Mikey…Sensei...ice cream pizza…what's going on?

"Ah, you have awoken." A soft but firm voice spoke from behind me.

I spun around quickly, an action to which my head of course chose at that moment to violently protest. I groaned as my brain exploded in pain once again and stumbled back before a strong hand caught my shoulder and pulled me upright.

"Rest easy, young one. The journey always leaves most travelers worse for wear. Truthfully, I am surprised that you are able to even stand after so recently regaining consciousness."

He gently tugged my shoulder. "Come."

That voice...I thought as I stumbled along with the hand still gripping my shoulder. I've heard that voice before...

The voice's owner quickly guided me through the veil of cherry blossoms and into a picturesque Japanese garden that seemingly stretched on forever. Rock gardens extended on either side of the path I found us on, which stretched towards a bridge that twisted and turned at 90 degree angles over a broadly expanded pond.

"This way." He carefully directed me over the bridge while keeping me in front of him. I was glad for the support just in case my body decided to give out and take a swim with the 2-foot long koi lazily gliding just below the pond's surface.

After another minute of walking, we soon reached a small wooden house with a low-hanging roof and paper doors typical of feudal Japanese design. A broad wooden patio opened out to the pond where the sun shown down and illuminated the water's surface like a thousand crystals.

Under normal conditions I would have been drooling at the opportunity to see such a sight I'd only dreamed of through history books if not under such…well, to put it bluntly, kinda weird and creepy circumstances…

I felt the hand leave my shoulder as we slowly walked up the steps and onto the patio. "Sit." The voice said and I gratefully sank down onto one of the pillows without hesitation. My vision was still fuzzy, but I could just make out the figure of my companion as he knelt down next to me.

He was human, as far as I could tell, tall and broad with a pale complexion and matching dark hair and eyes. He was clothed in a simple brown tunic with black pants tucked into soft leather boots and a vest draped over his shoulders. His features seemed harsh but his eyes were soft and kind…it was almost like he had a golden aura of light surrounding him that practically projected chi. It made me feel safe and warm, but at the same time something tugged at the back of my mind, a far off memory that was attempting to resurface.

"Do … do I know you?" I felt kinda ridiculous asking, but I could feel a vague sense of familiarity nagging at me that I just couldn't place.

The corners of his mouth tipped upward as his hands deftly lifted a teakettle sitting atop a small table placed between us and poured two small cups. Wait, where'd that come from?

"You may not recognize my appearance, Leonardo, but you do know me. I have been watching over you and your family for a long time, and while you have never seen me, I know you have sensed my presence." He carefully poured the second cup and pushed it into my hand. "But I am afraid that we do not have much time for questions."

He again nudged the cup towards me. "For now, you must drink."

I carefully wrapped both my hands around the warm wooden mug and let the warmth seep into my cold, numb fingers. I discreetly sniffed for any sort of drugs as Master Splinter had taught us, but honestly the way my head was still spinning there could have been cyanide in that tea for all I could tell.

Finding nothing seemingly wrong I gratefully gulped down the tea and sighed as I felt the smooth bitterness cut through the cottony feel coating my tongue and throat. The warmth spread down my throat and to all my limbs and I immediately felt my energy beginning to return.

"Well," my rescuer smiled, "I am glad that Splinter has passed down the enjoyment of tea drinking to his students. But again, I'm afraid I must come straight to the point."

He studied me intently, "Leonardo, I represent a concerned party who has felt an upcoming disturbance in the balance of this universe. This ripple could potentially cause more damage than even the Shredder dared to accomplish. I am telling you this because I want you to understand the gravity of the situation."

I nodded slowly, feeling a sense of dread curl in my belly. Why do I have a feeling that I'm not going to like this?

"Which brings me to the second point I must address." He sighed, closing his eyes briefly as if in self-debate about something before they flickered open again.

Oh, I so knew I wasn't going to like this.

I took my own deep, steadying breath. Alright, just remember what Splinter always says. Calm, cool, and collected…

"I'm afraid, young one, that you have left the living world."

"PFFFFFFT" *cough cough cough* I doubled over wrapping one arm around my waist and holding the other over my mouth as I choked on the tea I'd just drunk.

Well, that went well.

Left? I thought as I struggled to control my hacking. How could I leave the living unless I'm…

*cough* "Dead?" *cough cough* I barked the word out through my closed throat.

He shook his head. "No Leonardo, you are not dead, rather you have entered a realm that bridges the living and those who have passed on…I believe the modern phrase calls it 'in limbo.'"

I was so shocked I stopped coughing altogether.

"In…limbo." I dumbly repeated. I apologize to all of Mikey's supernatural movies that I have…had ever insulted in my life.

I took another deep breath to steady myself before continuing. "Do…I have unfinished business then that I need to attend to?" Other than the whole obvious "dead as a teenager" sort of thing.

The familiar stranger regarded me carefully. "I imagine that would be quite obvious, Leonardo. Do you not want to find your killers and avenge your death? After all, you had a loving family and your whole life ahead of you only to have it ripped away from you by some madman."

Now I studied him. Yes, as much as I wanted to go kick some shell, there were higher priorities to consider than some stupid revenge. Like my brothers, of course.

"If you send me back, can I see my family again?" I simply asked. "I need to warn them about Dire and the threat he poses to them." Not to mention Angel, and Leatherhead, and Casey and April on their honeymoon...God, there's no telling what he could do to them...I winced.

The stranger remained silent as he stared at me and simply narrowed his eyes in thought. It reminded me of how Dire looked at me before, but it didn't feel as malignant, but more…questioning and inquisitive.

Not that it didn't make me feel any less weirded out.

His lips suddenly quirked upwards and I narrowed my eyes at him. Don't tell me he can read minds or something. I shook off my lingering headache and hastily built up a mental wall of defense as I lobbed out one last open thought at him. I don't care how familiar you seem to me, I don't take kindly to telepathic intrusions.

The smile on his face thinned into an amused smirk as he continued to regard me. We simply stared at each other for another few minutes and I realized I hadn't seen him blink yet.

"Well, I believe it's settled then." He said and uncrossed his legs before backflipping into a standing position. The sudden movement caught me by surprise and I instinctively copied the action while fingering the sheaths of my beloved katanas.

"The fates have decreed that you play an essential role in stopping Professor Dire from carrying out his mission. We have the power to send you back to the living world, but you must decide the rest for yourself." He swiftly strode back across the bridge and I hastened my own steps to keep myself within hearing distance.

"While my…constituents have this power, they cannot interfere in any other way. Once you complete this task, you can never fully pass on. Once your family dies you will not be able to join them or contact them…for eternity."

He stopped suddenly like he'd run into a brick wall. If not for my ninja agility I would have crashed right into him. Suddenly his face was in front of mine and his hands on my shoulders. Those piercing black eyes searched mine and there was no doubt in my mind that this…man was definitely a mind reader.

"Are you willing to accept this grave sacrifice, Hamato Leonardo?" He said slowly and carefully like he was trying to engrave the words into my mind. I could feel my heart squeeze as the question ran over and over in my head again. I'd always thought our family would remain together forever even beyond our current lives and onto whatever the fates held for us. But my brothers were in danger and as the eldest and the leader, who was I to deny an opportunity to save them all?

I stepped out of his grip and bowed deeply to him. "Toki, watashi wa nokoshite imasu ka?" When do I leave?

His mouth curved into a grim smile I felt was as much comforting as foreboding. "As soon as you wish, Leonardo. You're 'ride' is already here." He quickly untucked a round, golden medallion from under his vest and held it out towards the nearest cherry tree. A swirling golden vortex quickly opened in front of the trunk. I could feel its pull drawing me forward and quickly strode towards it. I'm going to see my brothers again.

"Oh, and one more thing, Leonardo." I turned just in front of the portal towards the familiar stranger.

"Remember that he who lives without honor will end without honor. But he who carries true honor will never truly end."

My eyes widened in sudden recognition. "WAIT, YOU'RE…!"

Shhppp. The portal sucked me into oblivion.

GAHHH, I know! I feel the suspense even when I know what's going to happen next! But I won't tell...at least not yet...

Let your lovely author hear your thoughts after such a long absence. Love you all, mwah!