Wow, Chapter 10! How exciting! This is a chapter of letters! Yay! The first two are the other letters sent from Raph to his brothers. And the last one, well...you'll see.

Donnie glanced down at the paper in his hands for almost a minute before he finally gathered the strength to open it. His eyes darted across it at a lightning speed.

Hey Donnie,

How's it going, brainiac? Bet yur probably not too thrilled about the fact that I'm sick. I guess I just caught a bug or somethin' like that. But don't worry, I'm through the worst of it. I was delirious for a couple a days but I got through that.

I know you love to overwork yourself and all that, but just because I'm not there to go in yur lab and force you to come out and socialize doesn't mean that you can just spend the next six months in there, okay? Leo and Mikey need ya bro. So get up off your butt and start takin' care of yourself, alright? Look, Don...I'm sorry 'bout the way I walked out on you bro. I know you were upset and I kinda just left you hangin'. But you wouldn't have let me go if you knew...

Donnie...ya know, I've been thinking a lot about that night. You remember? Back when we were eleven? I'm sure you do. I don't think either of us will ever forget it. But you know...we never really...talked about it, did we?

On a lighter note, Master Adachi's got this real old truck. The most useless pile of rusted junk I've ever seen, yet somehow it still runs due to some miracle. It's ancient. Well, I guess compared to a lot of historical stuff in Japan it ain't that ancient. But still, ya'd think a ninja master who depends on this car to get him up and down the mountain would take better care of it. Anyway, I'm gonna fix it up as best I can, which given the circumstances, ain't too good. I know that you'd be able to make into some kind of awesome turtle-truck or somethin' but I'm not nearly as good as you when it comes to upgrading vehicles.

Say hi to Mikey for me...oh wait, I'm gonna write him a letter too, so scratch that. I'll tell him myself. But you can give him hug for me. I'm not one for hugs, mailed or otherwise, but I got a feeling he'll appreciate it no matter what the form.

I thought being stuck in the sewers all day was bad, try being stuck on top of a mountain with no city within range. Ugh, it's pure torture. You wouldn't believe the air up here! It's so clean.

I kinda like the little critters and birds. They're pretty cool. But the bugs!!Don't get me started on the bugs! They're horrible! They're hideous! And they're everywhere! You'd probably be going to town trapping 'em in those little containers o' yurs to add to yur ent-o-mo-logical collection or whatever. Yeah, I can spell entomological. I just had to sound it out a little. You should just be happy I know the difference between entomology and etymology.

P.S. I miss you guys.

-Raph

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Mikey tore his letter open giddly and giggled as soon as he read the first line. He was relieved to hear from his brother so soon. He was afraid that Raphael wouldn't write at all.

Ey Goofball!

What's up, Mikey? Knowing you, you probably have a thousand questions you wanna ask me so let me deal with the biggest of them right now. Yes, it's beautiful up here and no, I won't bring you any souvenirs! What is with you and souvenirs anyway, Mikey? I'm here for training not shopping. Besides, what on earth do ya expect me ta bring ya back, a snow globe that says 'I went to Japan and lived'? Yur a mystery to me, little brother. Oh no...Don't make the face Mikey. Goddamn it I know you're gonna make the face. I'm suddenly feeling guilty just writing this.

Look...

I promise that if Master Adachi says it's okay I'll pick something out and bring you back a souvenir. But beggars can't be choosers, got that Mikey? So you better like whatever I bring back for you, cause it ain't like I'm gonna swap it out or anything.

Oh, right. Master Adachi. Ya probably got a million questions about him too, don't ya? Well, before ya ask, he knew Splinter's Master Hamato Yoshi back in the days before Shredder became such a big problem. He has a great accent when he speaks English. You'd probably spend a whole day just trying to emulate him, knowing you. (If ya don't know what emulate means ask Don.) He's been making me speak Japanese like every day. And those lessons Master Splinter gave us when we were eight don't really help much. My Japanese is really rusty. But all this practice is definitely helping me improve. I bet I'll be fluent by the time my training is up.

And don't you complain about how Leo's so hard on you guys in training. When it comes to training regimes this guy is like Master Splinter on steroids. He wakes me up real early and we train nonstop all morning. Then he expects me to practice and meditate all afternoon in order to improve my skills.

Speaking of Leo...you make sure that you and Donnie don't give him too much crap, okay? I mean, I know he's a jerk sometimes. Trust me, I know that better than anyone else. But he does what he does because he loves us and he wants to protect us. So go easy on him. And I know that you and Don rely heavily on each other because of the time you spent together while Leo was away, but don't forget about Fearless. He'll need comfort and reassurance too. Remember, he hasn't been on this end of the 'sent away for training' thing. He's gonna need yur help.

And yes, you have my permission to prank him every once-in-a-while while I'm away, but don't overdo it. I still want him to be in one piece when I get back.

P.S. Love ya, little brother. (If you tell the others I said that I will smack the green off you.)

-Raph

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Was going to make this two separate chapters but I decided at the last minute to put them all in one. So here you have an added bonus.

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Part 2: Leonardo's Reply

Dear Raph,

I've always found it hard to write down what I really feel. This time is no different. It's so difficult to write letters when you're in a strange place far from home. I understand that completely. I'm relieved to know that you're alright. We were all very worried. As for this mountain sanctuary you wrote about, it sounds absolutely beautiful. You're right; I'd probably love it up there if your vague descriptions were anything to go by.

So...tell me more about your new Sensei. What's he like? Is he strict like Master Splinter? You said that he has a crazy training schedule and that he's making you practice your Japanese. That's a wonder in and of itself. I didn't think anyone could make you do anything. Maybe this 'Master Adachi could teach me a thing or two.

Raph...there are several things that you wrote in your last letter I'm going to call you out on here. First of all, no more of this 'don't give me that look—you know what look' stuff. It's so horrifyingly accurate it's spooky.

Moving on, it is amazing how important one person can be to their loved ones. In a family of five, four children being raised by a single parent, that importance is only further exacerbated. I know, I know. You're probably telling me to 'stop pretending I'm smart like Donnie', but my choice of vocabulary is beside the point. I love my little brothers more than anything else in the whole world. And whether you acknowledge it or not, Raph, that includes you.

It's so quiet here without you. Probably about as quiet as your mountain sanctuary. Even Mikey's been quiet. Yep. Mikey and quiet in the same sentence, who'd have thought? Honestly...I'm not sure I can stand to wait until you get back. I miss you so much. We all do. But, just so you know, Donatello's been especially affected by your absence. You might want to write some more letter to him, even if he doesn't reply to yours. I think he'll need all the reassurance he can get from you.

Raph...we've always been close. A lot closer than even our brothers realize. You're my best friend, my confidant and my favorite first mate. ...Do you remember that? When we used to play pirates? I was the pirate captain and you were my first mate. You were always at my side. We'd explore the sewers together, fighting off danger and finding 'treasure'. Remember the time you and I were gone too long and Master Splinter came out to get us? We were grounded for a week. But after two days, you came over to my room in the middle of the night and convinced me to go and play with you. We spent two hours out in the sewers every night for a whole month afterwards. Those two hours meant so much to me, Raph. I shared more moments with you in that month than I had ever before, and I loved every second of it. Maybe...when you come home...we can do that again. Well—uh—not playing pirates, obviously...I think we're both a little too old for that. But maybe we could go bust some heads or something. Just you and me. If you want, that is. I know that I would really enjoy it, but it's up to you.

On a more solemn note, some of the things you said in your letter both puzzled and intrigued me, particularly that comment about me replying to your letters. What did you mean by that Raphael? Don't answer. It was a rhetorical question.

I think I know, but I'm not certain. I'm guessing that you said-er-wrote that because I never answered the letters that you sent me while I was away. If that hurt you, I'm sorry. I realize now that I should have written to you. Though, to be completely straightforward with you, some of the things you said in those letters really burned. Especially the insinuation that I didn't care about my family anymore. I care about all of you. I care so much about each and every one of you. I'm sorry, but they seemed so much like rants that I figured no reply was needed. I realize now that that was a horrid mistake on my part. Did it...hurt you...when I didn't reply?

In retrospect I've realized that I wrote to Michelangelo and Donatello constantly, but never wrote a single letter to you. I can't apologize enough to make it up to you, Raphael. I know that. After all, didn't you once say that apologies are just empty words? I wonder...was that part of the reason you were so distanced from me when I returned?

This is starting to sound more like a narrative than a letter. Haha.

Just so you know I sat staring at this paper for almost half an hour before I actually wrote anything.

I really miss you, Raph. I really do. I know that's probably not what you expected me to say.

Not much has happened here since you left. Though...I grow increasingly concerned about Donatello. He has withdrawn from both me and Michelangelo. He talks to Mikey, so at least that's good. But he's barely spoken to me since you left. And he's grown increasingly hostile towards me. We haven't been out on patrol since we found out you were sick or injured or whatever. But when we were out on patrol, Donnie actually cussed me out. He was mad that I didn't share the fact that you were leaving. Yep, Donnie even dropped the f-bomb on me. Don't mention this to Don or Mikey, but I actually had to bite my tongue because I almost called him Raph. I swear he was acting more like you than you were the night you left.

Mikey keeps asking me about what really happened during my time in the jungle. I—I don't really know if I'm ready to tell him yet. But Raph...I've trusted you with some of my most guarded secrets over the years. And so...I'm going to tell you now.

During my time in the jungle, I felt so alone. I couldn't think clearly without the rest of you around and I quickly grew frustrated. I had no idea how training alone in the jungle was supposed to transform me into a better leader. I meditated for days on end, I toned my muscles, honed my reflexes, did everything I could to enhance my abilities, but none of it worked. I felt like such a failure. And as my one-year deadline came to a close I suddenly found myself unable to turn back. Because I dreaded returning to the four of you as anything less than a great leader. I was scared, Raph. I was afraid that you all would be disappointed in me. I didn't want to let you down. So I decided to stay as long as it took for me to become a better leader. And you know something, little brother? It never happened. Now that I reflect on it, I see that Master Splinter was trying to teach me that I have to have confidence in myself and my abilities. Why he felt he needed to send me all the way to the southern hemisphere to do that...I have no idea.

P.S. I know I really chewed you out on the whole Night Watcher thing, but just so you know you weren't the only one doing a little vigilante-ing in your spare time. Let's just say that the Ghost of the Jungle has passed his cloak on to the next generation. I'm by no means encouraging that kind of behavior...but you did say you had free time...And I promise I won't tell Master Splinter.

Love,

Leo

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Well, how was it? What was your favorite part? Just out of curiosity, which letter did you like the most?