Timbers & Rivers (Leorai)

Prologue

"LAME-O-NARDO!"
"SPLINTER JUNIOR!"
"FEARLESS LEADER!"
"WORTHLESS!"
"YOU MESS UP EVERYTHING!"
"I HATE YOU!"
"MOTHER-HEN!"
"UNWORTHY!"

The insults kept on throwing at him. He merely stood there, taking it. He never did react to insults, always putting on emotionless masks to hide his hurt. They never knew that he always took their words to heart. Raph, Donnie, Mikey, April, Casey, even Splinter were angry at him for an unknown reason.

While the emotional weapons rained down upon him, he thought of the only one who understood him, cared for him: Karai, or Miwa. She always understood his spiritual and emotional pain, she always treated him as a younger brother, almost like a mother! Only she was able to see the true, fun side of him; behind that emotionless mask that he had hated with all his heart.

He couldn't help but feel a spark of his own hatred towards them all; he was the one who did everything for them all their lives. He was the one who took the blame for everything, strained himself for them, because he loved them. Even then. HE was the one who had used the healing hands the day before, and saved them ALL. No heart-felt thank you's, no sympathy because he had to HURT his sister in order to save them.

"YOU ARE NOTHING BUT AN IMPUDENT CHILD!"
"ALL YOU DO IS LECTURE US!"
"I GET IT, YOU'RE JUST TOO GOOD FOR US!"
"WHY DON'T YOU KILL YOURSELF!"
"ALL YOU EVER DID IS LAUGH AT ME OR ARGUE WITH ME!"
"LAST YEAR, WHEN MY FATHER WAS MUTATED, IT WAS YOUR FAULT!"

That was it. He couldn't take it anymore. The tiny bottle inside his soul that he hid all negative emotions and thoughts inside, it began to crack.

Leonardo Hamato ran out of his 'home'. He didn't care where he was going, he only knew that Karai was waiting for him, somewhere. He could feel it: a mental connection.

Leo, come quick

The last word he had heard before climbing to the surface was the dreaded "COWARD!"