Author's Note! Here comes the surprise! Better prepare yourself. *evil smirk*

Disclaimer Notice! I disclaim the franchise Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, they belong to its respective owner. What I do own on the other hand, was the story twist I made. That's all.

BLAMES, TEARS, AND REGRETS

A Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fan Fiction

Chapter Six

Playing Against the Rules

The door to the lair was wide open when Casey arrived. In his shoulders was the lump form of the eldest turtle that goes by the name of Leonardo.

He was falling from his grip - Casey noticed - and with a push, he shifted his body to support his weight. A large groan escapes the turtle's lips as he felt the sudden movement. Leo slowly opened his eyes to peek. But, the pain in his body forced him to shut it again.

Casey smiled as he saw the turtle fell to his slumber once more. He looked back at the door, his senses doubled. If ever that an enemy would appear, he would let his body control him and ran wild. Pfft, spending time with a hothead sure has its perks. He just hopes he doesn't have to risk it.

As if the Heavens had heard his plea, Splinter appeared. His left hand was on his back, while the other on his crane, giving him support as he walk. He noticed the human, and his eyes widened momentarily, before falling back to its normal neutral look.

"Splinter!" Casey called out. Filled with hope and happiness, he rushed inside, the turtle's body dangling as he went.

Splinter remained his stance and pointed at the sofa. Casey nodded at him, silently thanking him before settling the turtle in the couch.

Splinter placed his hand on his shoulders. Casey turned his gaze at the rat and saw him shaking his head. What is it that his eyes shown? Casey swore he saw some disappointments in it. Why would the father be disappointed with his eldest son?

Splinter walked away and headed for the kitchen, probably to acquire something for him to drink.

Casey's gazed followed the ninjutsu master as he walked casually towards his destination. His eyebrow rose as he remembered one of his friend's reminders.

He gulped. 'He's right...' He thought before settling himself in the couch.

"Um...master splinter, where is Raph?" He asked. Master Splinter was pouring liquids in a cup when he heard the question. He shifted his gaze and turned at the human. "You speak as if you do not know...Casey" master Splinter said, his back still faced on the visitor.

"Um..actually, I had not been informed of what happen" Casey said, still on doubt if what he's doing was right. He heard the rat chuckled before walking to his direction, a cup of tea in his hands.

He sat on the couch, opposite of where Casey lies and on the right side of the middle one, where Leonardo laid sleepily.

He placed the cup down on the table and started gazing at the visitor. "Casey, what is it that you want?" He asked in a threatening tone.

"I...don't know...what you're talking about" Casey could hear himself hesitating on each word. Sure, he trusted the words of his friend, but still, fear is not something he could easily control.

"If you do not wish to speak, I shall let you" his words broke Casey out of his thoughts. "But, I won't assure you that it would be at your advantage..." The rat spoke as he slipped some of his tea.

Casey was debating with himself. Surely, there was a way out of this situation right?

"M..master splinter -" before he even got to finish what he has to say, he was interrupted by a loud clacking sound. He saw the teacup shattered on the ground.

Splinter dodged at an invisible attack he sensed at his back, dropping his cup in the process. Casey saw as Splinter suddenly ducked his head as if protecting him from thin air.

He suddenly heard a chuckle. He turned around and saw Donnie emerged from behind his cushion. He then clapped his hands as he glared at their father.

"Good job, Master Splinter..." He stated, emphasizing their father's title.

"Good job providing us evidence..." He added. Casey heard some shuffling and his eyes darted towards the youngest - Michaelangelo - as he leaned against Leo's cushion, staring in his brother's form.

"Clearly, what was your reason?" We all knew who's person Mikey is addressing to.

Casey gazed towards the rat, whose gaze was glued at the shattered pieces of the cup. A long sighed escapes his lips.

"Damn. I gave myself away, didn't I?" The rat said as he looked passed Casey and into the blazing eyes of the purple turtle.

Donnie has his fist clenched. "How could you?!" He snarled at the now stranger to his eyes. He was not their father. Surely not the one who taught them how to fight and the one who gave them the parental love any animal nor person needs.

"When had this started?!" Raph pressed as he clenched his knuckles. The rat chuckled as he glared at the red-banded turtle standing behind him. He could safely say that Raph was the one who attacked him. "As if your threats could harm me. You can't attack me. None of you!" He taunted.

"Bastard!" Raph yelled as he aimed to punch the fake on his head. But his fist only managed to touch his, and as predicted no damage was inflicted. Raph cursed under his breath.

"You're in no position to threaten me with anything. Cause' there's nothing you could do..." He said as he stood up.

Casey gritted his teeth and attacked the rat. But, he was no match for his skills. The rat had him flipped him with one swift move. Casey was thrown back down on the sofa he once sat on. He growl as he rubbed his aching head and neck.

"I could practically remove those IV's - or whatever else you call them - just so it would end your life sooner," he said as he walked casually toward their sleeping eldest brother.

"No!" Mikey yelled as he stood in between them. "Cute..." The rat whispered as he stared at the turtle. "As if it could stop me..." He taunted as he tried to push the turtle away. But, Mikey stood firm and stand in the middle of his brother.

Fortunately for him, the rules still applies for the both of them. The rat cannot harm him, and in back, he cannot harm the rat either.

Mikey smirked as rat placed some amount of force unto him. The attack does nothing, and he was thankful for that.

Suddenly, the rat's eyes turned grim as he looked pass through him. Mikey's eyes widened as he tried to guess the enemy's next step. The rat turned his back, and started heading for Donatello's room.

"Tss...tss...it seems like you boys are forgetting your place" he teased as he waggled his tail on them. Donnie's eyes widened in fear, already predicted what was the rat's next move.

He ran fast, trying to stop him but to no vain. Before he could reach him, the rat had stood with all glory on the doorway. His right hand grips the knob, threatening to close it in front of the turtle's face.

Donnie growled, glaring daggers at the fake rat. Seeing the tension, Mikey tries to wake his eldest brother up. He knew that if anyone could save them now for their worst faith, it would be him. Yet, fate must have something against him for he was yet again reminded that to their eldest brother, he was still a ghost. A ghost who couldn't touch, nor shake his brother awake.

The fake Master Splinter grinned as he saw the despair flashed evidently on the turtle's eyes. It was fascinating to see. Seeing their enemy's eyes turned to hopeless was something that greatly pumped his veins with excitement.

Even though, this wasn't a part of their original plan, he knows that his master would understand. After all, it was only a slight change. He turned around, a large grin on his face. Tonight would be the death of the turtles.

He was stopped however when he heard a gasped coming from the doorway. His eyes turned dark as he recognized who that was.

God, why did he forget about that annoying human! Surely he had been part of that.

"Master...?" He heard the soft voice of one of 'his' students. "Ah...Leonardo!" He said, his back still faced on the newly awaken turtle.

He could practically feel the glare radiating from one of the participants in that room, probably from the human named Casey Jones. Note to self, kill that man later and murder his beloved as a bonus.

"Glad you're awake" he turned back, flashing his most innocent and happy grin. "Yeah, guess so. I was awoken by my body's need for water. I was heading to the kitchen to serve myself some..." He reasoned out, scratching the back of his head in the process.

This cause the rat to doubt himself - well, his reasoning ability to be precise. Had he been wrong when he taught that the human was the one who woke the eldest up? That was a HUGE possibility since other than him, the human was the only one who could saw the three. He knew that Leo could not, unlike what others thought, he was listening to their master as he rolled out his plans.

"Ah..yes..yes...do help yourself" he said as he gesture for the kitchen. Leo stood just a few meters away from the door. His eyes lingered for a second to see if the human was still them.

To say he was simply shock was an understatement, he was boiling with anger inside. Where was that puny human?!

"Master, are you alright?" Leo asked, his voice sounded worried. He shook his head and focus himself to the turtle only. It will do him no good if the turtle raised suspicion, again.

"Oh, it was nothing my son...anyway, weren't you heading for the kitchen? Go there now..." He suddenly found himself lost for words. Leo stared at him questionably. "Are you sure you're alright. You don't act like yourself, Master Splinter..." He swore he heard a hint of a threat in that statement.

"I am alright. What makes you think otherwise?" He asked back, masking his suspicions.

"Oh nothing. I just...well, this had not been the first time I saw you inside the lab. Were you trying to do something besides checking my brothers' health, Master?" Leonardo asked.

The rat was lost. Had he gave himself away, again? He could feel the calculating glare of the blue-banded turtle. He growled inside. Oh, this is bad. Very bad.

"Is it not normal for a father to worry about his sons?" He answered back, silently praising himself for putting up his act until now.

Leo shook his head.

'Finally...he'll accept his defeat!' He smirked inside, predicting his triumph. Alas, it was too early to celebrate anything.

"I had always admired you, Master Splinter. For your talent...for your skills" he suddenly had a bad feeling about where this was going.

"Too bad, you don't deserve any of those admirations..." He said as he launched himself towards him. The rat acted on his instincts and closed the door. It was, in his disappointment remained agape. He saw Donnie standing in the gap, a triumph smirk on his face.

As if not noticing something amiss, Leo passed through his brother and swings his katana, hoping to slice the rat into two. The rat dodged his blow, now standing beside Mikey's bed while Leo stood on the other site.

The beeping noise was the only sound hat could be heard in the tense and silent room.

"I was hoping we could make this act lasted for another week" the rat said as they both circled around the bed.

Leo hissed as he unsheathes his other katana.

"It was pretty interesting you know..." The rat talked as if they were having a friendly conversation.

"I had my suspicions since the beginning," Leo said as he glared at him. "Oh? Surely you had. But it wasn't the beginning" he replied, emphasizing the word beginning.

"Enlighten me then, how long had you've been hiding behind that mask?" Leo asked, confident in his words and his memory.

"Ever since the rat left..." He trailed off.

Leo shook his head. "No. Master Splinter never left this lair in the first place, hasn't he?" Leo said.

The rat's eyes widened momentarily.

"The night when Mikey asked us to go topside, you had been the one who gave us permission, right?" Leo said.

The rat hissed. "How could you know?" However, his taunting voice did not falter.

"Because the 'real' Master Splinter would never support Mikey's pleas, or any of my brothers, if I told him my hunch," Leo said, a smirk on his face.

"You mean to tell me, he favors you more than your brothers?" He asked. If he would be discovered now, might as well break their trust too. Leo might not know that his brothers were listening to their conversation, but he knew.

"No. Our father never favors any of us. He just likes to hear what my instincts tell me. After all, my instinct was never wrong," Leo said as he launched himself again, pushing their enemy out of the room.

The rat stumbled a few meters away.

"So, that's why you were hesitant at that night..." He said, putting the puzzle on its place. Leo merely nodded.

"Though, why did you still agreed to my terms? Why did you went topside even though you had your suspicions on me" the rat said, hoping that Leo might chose the wrong set of words.

"It's because my instincts were mostly warnings for the safety of my brothers" he said as he swing his katana on the rat.

As Leo attacks, the rat does nothing but dodges. The rat kept on dodging the turtle's attacks hoping that he would fall into exhaustion.

All of a sudden, their battle was interrupted by a sudden cry. One filled the other's ears with hope, the other with despair.

"Leo! We found Splinter!"

Wait a second....WE?

Author's Note! Seriously, if I was the original creator of TMNT, it would contain too much drama. Darn, Leo. He's life was so appealing to the genre called angst. And I looovveedd reading those.