~~~~Cat~~~~
Goten was next to speak against Piccolo. I watched as the young boy took his place in the witness chair, sending a nervous and yet determined glance in Piccolo's direction. What the hell is going on here, I thought Pic had raised Goten like a son; so, why has this kid turned against him all of a sudden?
I ventured a peek in Piccolo's direction and noticed that he was grinding his teeth, his jaw muscles clenching and unclenching with obvious irritation.
"Piccolo, why is Goten up there?"
He had just turned to me when the judge's gavel rapped on his desk, "Order, order!"
Piccolo rolled his eyes before looking straight ahead... Great, this sucks! I have no idea what the hell is going on anymore..
If I hadn't been familiar with the art of telepathy, I would have leapt right out of my chair!
I shot back, only to be patronized by his amused chuckle.
he was still laughing at me.
I elbowed him under the table,
"GOTEN!" Mr. Kris' voice pierced through our quiet conversation, his lethal glare directed at Piccolo and I. "Please tell the court, in your own words, what you think of Mr. Daimaou and what has happened between him and your mother."
"Yes, sir," came his meek reply. "I think what Piccolo did was wrong, no man should ever hit a woman. I don't know all the facts regarding my mother and Son Goku's relationship but I think Piccolo's prolonged absences from home made the temptation to commit adultery all the more promising. My mom was lonely and Goku was always there for her; so, I don't blame her for going back to him."
"Now, Goten, is it true that Mr. Son had been around before?"
"Yes, he came back home when Cat showed up and stayed with my mom even after Cat took off."
"What kind of relationship would you say your mother and biological father had before Mr. Daimaou began making trips to Miss. McDroogal's bar?" The look Mr. Kris sent my way was enough to make my blood boil! Son of a-- --
"They were friends, I think they got along better than they did when they were married." Goten looked over at Piccolo again.... There's something in his eye that seems out of place.....
"OBJECTION!" Powers was on Kris in a second. "The facts state that Chichi Daimaou admitted to the act of adultery for the past two years! Asking Goten if the relationship between his mother and biological father appeared only friendly is totally irrelevant to the case!"
Judge Haynes sighed in exhaustion, "Objection sustained.. Mr. Kris, let's stick to the facts, alright?"
Mr. Kris glared at Mr. Powers, "Yes, Your Honor."
"Any further questions, Kris?" Powers received a dirty look from the judge for his mockery but he sat down with a satisfied smirk on his face.
I watched in amazement as Kris puffed his chest out, much like a pissed off pigeon, and huffed a "No further questions, Your Honor," before taking his seat! Still awestruck, I watched as Powers went up to Goten and began the cross-examination.
"Now Goten, Mr. Daimaou raised you like a son, did he not?"
"Yes, he did."
"Had he ever shown an inclination toward violence before the incident between himself and your mother?"
"No, sir."
"Would it be safe to say that Mr. Daimaou is actually quite a disciplined man; he isn't one to act irrational, is he?"
"No, sir."
"So, why have you suddenly decided to speak against him, if all he has ever done before this random violent incident was treat you and your family with respect?"
Goten's Adam's apple disappeared as he visibly gulped in air. He's nervous about something...
"Do you honestly believe that Mr, Daimaou would ever sleep around when there are children to take care of?"
"No." Goten's eyes couldn't seem to focus on anything, they were darting all over the court room.
"When Mr. Daimaou did leave, didn't he make sure that the children were in someone's care?"
"Yes."
"Did Mrs. Daimaou take those same precautions?"
"No."
"So, Goten, if you admit that Mr. Daimaou was much more responsible than Mrs. Daimaou, why in the world are you arguing against him?"
"Because... because...." Goten squeezed his eyes shut and balled his hands into fists. "Because I don't want to be a bastard anymore!"
My eyes practically shot out of their sockets! What the hell?!
Mr. Powers looked a bit surprised himself before he regained his composure, "You don't want to be a bastard?"
"No, I don't!" Goten ground his teeth, he was pissed. "I'm sick of being taunted by my peers! I just want to have a real surname!"
"Goten, this never bothered you before did it?" Mr. Powers seemed hesitant.. What's going on?
"It did, kinda...."
"Goten, did something happen to change your mind about how you felt regarding your background?"
Goten lowered his head, totally defeated. I looked over to my left and saw Chichi and Goku on the edge of their seats... I think I smell a rat!
"Kinda..." Goten looked over to his parents, desperation practically stamped across his forehead.
"Goten, might I remind you that you are in a court of law and under oath? Answer my question."
Goten gnawed on his lower lip before slamming his fists onto the table, "My parents said I'd be able to take my real father's surname if they got custody of the children!!!"
"And you went along with this?!" Mr. Powers stalked toward the witness stand.
"Yes."
"Goten, what do you really think about Mrs. Daimaou and I want the truth!"
"She's guilty..."
"And what about Mr. Daimaou?"
"I never thought he'd have been cheating... he didn't seem like that kinda guy..."
Mr. Powers turned and faced the court with a victorious smirk, "No further questions, Your Honor!"
Judge Haynes sat back in his chair, "Then with that, we will take a short break and hear the results of the trial, thank you."
~~~~Piccolo~~~~
The minute we exited the courtroom, I grabbed Cat into my arms and swung her around in a full circle, before setting her down.
"On my Kami-sama, this case is ours!"
I saw Mr. Powers walk by with a calm smile on his face.
"Mr. Kris had me so worried before Goten spilled his guts!" Cat smiled up at me.
"That's so great, he had NOTHING on us, he thought he'd get away with some random sob story from Goten; yeah, like that kinda thing would make hearts bleed if it's coming from a full-grown man!"
"Piccolo?"
"Hm?"
"Are you okay? I mean.... Goten ditched you just to get a proper surname...."
I had to admit it did hurt that the kid would bail on me just to get better social recognition but I was more upset with the fact that he actually did bail on me just for that specific purpose. Goten is wimp and I have no respect for wimps!
"I'll be fine, my ego isn't made of glass. Goten on the other hand needs some serious therapy!" I smirked down at Cat until I won a smile from her.
"You better not be hiding anything from me, you big green dork!"
"I'm not! I swear!"
Cat crossed her arms over her breasts and shot me a daring smirk, "Okay mister... I trust you."
"Good," was my only reply. Damn she looked good today....
We were called back from break quicker than I anticipated. Good, I want to know if this case really was gift wrapped for us.
Judge Haynes shifted in his chair before rapping the desk for silence, "After careful speculation and analysis of the facts laid before me today, I have decided to grant Piccolo Daimaou Majunia full custody of Flute and Angie Daimaou and the proper surname of Son Goten and Son Gohan will remain legally as 'Daimaou.' It is now legally known that Piccolo and Chichi Daimaou are no longer considered a married couple. Court is dismissed but I would like to see a certain Daimaou Goten regarding his infraction of the oath."
A/N: Yay! The court scene is oooover! And now some good stuff will begin! Please review!
Goten was next to speak against Piccolo. I watched as the young boy took his place in the witness chair, sending a nervous and yet determined glance in Piccolo's direction. What the hell is going on here, I thought Pic had raised Goten like a son; so, why has this kid turned against him all of a sudden?
I ventured a peek in Piccolo's direction and noticed that he was grinding his teeth, his jaw muscles clenching and unclenching with obvious irritation.
"Piccolo, why is Goten up there?"
He had just turned to me when the judge's gavel rapped on his desk, "Order, order!"
Piccolo rolled his eyes before looking straight ahead... Great, this sucks! I have no idea what the hell is going on anymore..
If I hadn't been familiar with the art of telepathy, I would have leapt right out of my chair!
I shot back, only to be patronized by his amused chuckle.
he was still laughing at me.
I elbowed him under the table,
"GOTEN!" Mr. Kris' voice pierced through our quiet conversation, his lethal glare directed at Piccolo and I. "Please tell the court, in your own words, what you think of Mr. Daimaou and what has happened between him and your mother."
"Yes, sir," came his meek reply. "I think what Piccolo did was wrong, no man should ever hit a woman. I don't know all the facts regarding my mother and Son Goku's relationship but I think Piccolo's prolonged absences from home made the temptation to commit adultery all the more promising. My mom was lonely and Goku was always there for her; so, I don't blame her for going back to him."
"Now, Goten, is it true that Mr. Son had been around before?"
"Yes, he came back home when Cat showed up and stayed with my mom even after Cat took off."
"What kind of relationship would you say your mother and biological father had before Mr. Daimaou began making trips to Miss. McDroogal's bar?" The look Mr. Kris sent my way was enough to make my blood boil! Son of a-- --
"They were friends, I think they got along better than they did when they were married." Goten looked over at Piccolo again.... There's something in his eye that seems out of place.....
"OBJECTION!" Powers was on Kris in a second. "The facts state that Chichi Daimaou admitted to the act of adultery for the past two years! Asking Goten if the relationship between his mother and biological father appeared only friendly is totally irrelevant to the case!"
Judge Haynes sighed in exhaustion, "Objection sustained.. Mr. Kris, let's stick to the facts, alright?"
Mr. Kris glared at Mr. Powers, "Yes, Your Honor."
"Any further questions, Kris?" Powers received a dirty look from the judge for his mockery but he sat down with a satisfied smirk on his face.
I watched in amazement as Kris puffed his chest out, much like a pissed off pigeon, and huffed a "No further questions, Your Honor," before taking his seat! Still awestruck, I watched as Powers went up to Goten and began the cross-examination.
"Now Goten, Mr. Daimaou raised you like a son, did he not?"
"Yes, he did."
"Had he ever shown an inclination toward violence before the incident between himself and your mother?"
"No, sir."
"Would it be safe to say that Mr. Daimaou is actually quite a disciplined man; he isn't one to act irrational, is he?"
"No, sir."
"So, why have you suddenly decided to speak against him, if all he has ever done before this random violent incident was treat you and your family with respect?"
Goten's Adam's apple disappeared as he visibly gulped in air. He's nervous about something...
"Do you honestly believe that Mr, Daimaou would ever sleep around when there are children to take care of?"
"No." Goten's eyes couldn't seem to focus on anything, they were darting all over the court room.
"When Mr. Daimaou did leave, didn't he make sure that the children were in someone's care?"
"Yes."
"Did Mrs. Daimaou take those same precautions?"
"No."
"So, Goten, if you admit that Mr. Daimaou was much more responsible than Mrs. Daimaou, why in the world are you arguing against him?"
"Because... because...." Goten squeezed his eyes shut and balled his hands into fists. "Because I don't want to be a bastard anymore!"
My eyes practically shot out of their sockets! What the hell?!
Mr. Powers looked a bit surprised himself before he regained his composure, "You don't want to be a bastard?"
"No, I don't!" Goten ground his teeth, he was pissed. "I'm sick of being taunted by my peers! I just want to have a real surname!"
"Goten, this never bothered you before did it?" Mr. Powers seemed hesitant.. What's going on?
"It did, kinda...."
"Goten, did something happen to change your mind about how you felt regarding your background?"
Goten lowered his head, totally defeated. I looked over to my left and saw Chichi and Goku on the edge of their seats... I think I smell a rat!
"Kinda..." Goten looked over to his parents, desperation practically stamped across his forehead.
"Goten, might I remind you that you are in a court of law and under oath? Answer my question."
Goten gnawed on his lower lip before slamming his fists onto the table, "My parents said I'd be able to take my real father's surname if they got custody of the children!!!"
"And you went along with this?!" Mr. Powers stalked toward the witness stand.
"Yes."
"Goten, what do you really think about Mrs. Daimaou and I want the truth!"
"She's guilty..."
"And what about Mr. Daimaou?"
"I never thought he'd have been cheating... he didn't seem like that kinda guy..."
Mr. Powers turned and faced the court with a victorious smirk, "No further questions, Your Honor!"
Judge Haynes sat back in his chair, "Then with that, we will take a short break and hear the results of the trial, thank you."
~~~~Piccolo~~~~
The minute we exited the courtroom, I grabbed Cat into my arms and swung her around in a full circle, before setting her down.
"On my Kami-sama, this case is ours!"
I saw Mr. Powers walk by with a calm smile on his face.
"Mr. Kris had me so worried before Goten spilled his guts!" Cat smiled up at me.
"That's so great, he had NOTHING on us, he thought he'd get away with some random sob story from Goten; yeah, like that kinda thing would make hearts bleed if it's coming from a full-grown man!"
"Piccolo?"
"Hm?"
"Are you okay? I mean.... Goten ditched you just to get a proper surname...."
I had to admit it did hurt that the kid would bail on me just to get better social recognition but I was more upset with the fact that he actually did bail on me just for that specific purpose. Goten is wimp and I have no respect for wimps!
"I'll be fine, my ego isn't made of glass. Goten on the other hand needs some serious therapy!" I smirked down at Cat until I won a smile from her.
"You better not be hiding anything from me, you big green dork!"
"I'm not! I swear!"
Cat crossed her arms over her breasts and shot me a daring smirk, "Okay mister... I trust you."
"Good," was my only reply. Damn she looked good today....
We were called back from break quicker than I anticipated. Good, I want to know if this case really was gift wrapped for us.
Judge Haynes shifted in his chair before rapping the desk for silence, "After careful speculation and analysis of the facts laid before me today, I have decided to grant Piccolo Daimaou Majunia full custody of Flute and Angie Daimaou and the proper surname of Son Goten and Son Gohan will remain legally as 'Daimaou.' It is now legally known that Piccolo and Chichi Daimaou are no longer considered a married couple. Court is dismissed but I would like to see a certain Daimaou Goten regarding his infraction of the oath."
A/N: Yay! The court scene is oooover! And now some good stuff will begin! Please review!