CHAPTER 6: THE TRIAL.

"Ouch! It hurts!" Julie said sticking her tongue out.

"I know, but with this the wound will heal faster…" Splinter said mortified. He was treating the wound on her arm. No one had talked about what happened at the temple. Leo was sitting by Julie's side on the sofa, holding her hand. He felt guilty because he weren't able to protect her. Raph was looking at the sky from the window without saying anything. April rested her head on Donnie's shoulder and he had his arm round her shoulder. Suddenly the door opened and a messenger entered and said:

"You're called to the Hall Of Trials." Everyone looked at each other with big, surprised eyes but rose and followed him. Whose trial were they going to see? They entered the hall and saw the Ninja Tribunal sitting on four thrones.

"We are here to open the trial of Raphael. Can you please step forward?"

"WHAT?! Why?!" Splinter said chocked. Raph didn't say anything and obeyed. Chikara continued, answering Splinter's question.

"Raphael is responsible for the death of the guards that came to help you and he almost killed two of you…" She looked at Julie and Leo.

"But he was controlled by Kazan!" Mikey said furious. "Why do you say that he's responsible?"

"Because he didn't reject Kazan when he entered his body. If he had reacted, none of the guards had been dead."

"But it's absurd! You already did nothing when Shredder killed my beloved wife and my daughter, now I won't let you have my son!" Splinter shouted angrily.

"Silence! Or you'll be executed for your insolence!" Kan said. Splinter was going to answer, but Raph stopped him.

"Enough Sensei! They're right…" Everyone looked chocked at him.

"I was too weak. I wasn't strong enough to reject Kazan completely and because of that many innocent people has died. It's my entire fault. I've failed you all."

"But…Raph…" Mikey said sadly.

"So you admit yourself guilty?" Yuto asked.

"Yes."

"Then your punishment shall be death!" Kan decided. Donnie tried intervening, but some guards stopped him...

"Raph! Don't let them kill you!" Other guards took Raph by the arms, ready to take him away. No one could do something now.

"NO! STOP!" Julie ran in front of the Tribunal. "Let me talk, I have some good reasons to say why Raph should not die!" The guards walked to Julie to take her away, but Chikara stopped them.

"Stop! Let her talk, I want to hear what she has to say." Julie started talking:

"I understand that you're angry because Raph has 'killed' innocent people. But it's important to remind that he was possessed by Kazan, so he didn't know what he was doing. Do you really think that Raph would have killed those guards if he had been himself? Raph is innocent! I beg you! Let him go!" Julie looked at them with eyes filled with hope. The Ninja Tribunal gathered to decide what to do. After 10 minutes, Yuto said:

"We have decided to release Raphael!" Everyone shouted happily and gave each others 'gimme five'

"But remember: next time we won't be so generous!" Julie thanked them and they all went to the living room.

"You're awesome Julie! You convinced them!" Mikey said joyfully, hugging her.

"Now it's time for a movie!" Donnie said. They all went to him to see which films he had brought form their dimension along with his small TV with incorporated DVD. Julie saw that Raph was out in the balcony and went out to him.

He was silently watching the stars.

"What is it Raph?" He turned towards her and said disgusted:

"I feel ashamed for myself, I feel like shit…"

"Raph, you know that it was not your fault!"

"But deep inside I feel that I could have done more! If I only had reacted, been much stronger, these people wouldn't be dead!" He hided his face in his hands.

"Instead I let Kazan take over my body and my souls, letting him almost kill Leo…the man that you love! Why aren't you mad?"

"Because I know that it wasn't you..."

"I almost killed you!" DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?!" He took her by the arms and shook her hard. He had furious eyes. It hurt, but Julie didn't say anything. She just looked at him with sad eyes. Raph let her go and walked away.

"Sorry…"Julie ran to him and hugged him tight. Raph was surprised and turned towards her again.

"Whatever happened, I and the other know that you haven't done anything…" Raph hugged her back. That hug comforted him. It said that he wasn't alone. His family and friends would have helped him.

"And when you have any problem, don't hesitate to come to me to talk!" She smiled.

"Thanks Julie. I understand why Leo loves you so much. You're an amazing girl." He smiled back and went back inside. Julie blushed but felt happy that she helped Raph. She went back inside too, with a big smile on her face.