Chapter One: Arrivals

She saw him across the room and questioned if she should approach them. She pondered how many years had passed since the last time she saw him and his family. Silently she giggled to herself because she knew these were not the type of affairs that he would attend willingly, so she knew his wife must have dragged him here. Saiyan men are always so orne! Her husband had to be dragged here as well.

Her husband approached her, startling her out of her daze.

"What are you looking at?" He asked.

She turned around and noticed that he was looking at her with a large smile. She smiled back and leaned into him a kiss.

"I thought I saw someone…" she trailed off as she tried to look for the couple she had been staring at.

He giggled. "Well that WOULD be a sight. Who do you know?"

Her smile started to fade as she took in his words. Does she even mention it to him? She brushed it off and said to him, "You're right."

He grabbed and squeezed her hand. "I am going to grab a drink and the food looks incredible, and you know me! Would you like me to get you a drink? The regular?"

Her lip turned up and she nodded slightly. He smiled back and then turned to walk away.

She turned back to the subject that caught her attention and noticed he was now there with his wife. She knew it wouldn't be long before she came into view.

She turned away to look at her husband for a brief moment and then turned back just to make eye contact with him. As they stared at each other from across the room, it felt as time had suddenly stopped. She froze as she was trying to be inconspicuous and fail. As if he knew what she was trying to do, he winked and nodded to her and gave her what felt like a rare smile.

Her thoughts were flashing through all they had been through together and the situation they led them to be apart. She fought back the bottled up emotions that were screaming to be released. She wondered if these wounds could ever be healed.

She snapped out of her fog just in time to see him gliding his wife out of view but not before he gave her a quick nod. She acknowledged this grin and started to walk over to the bar where her husband was.

Little did they know this would be the last time they would see each other.

Incinerator on the Fritz for a Fortnight; Was it Worth the Money?…Incinerator Costs as much as 10 Billion Zeni Sources Report…Brand New West City Incinerator Inoperable; Jobs at Risk!…The frontpage headlines from the various newspapers scattered on his desk jumped out at Goten as he was trying to escape the scene that was in front of him. He picked up what he considered the most respectable paper on his desk, the West City Journal, which read Frieza Iceberg Out as West City Public Works Director; Capsule Corp Successfully Repairs Incinerator.

I wish they would stop talking about this damn Incinerator, it is like it is the only thing that seems to be happening in this city! Goten thought in utter frustration. But true to form, his loyal West City Journal had the best and most accurate news in regard to the matter. It cut straight to the chase and explained how much the Clean West City Initiative cost and how Capsule Corp was brought in as a consultant and was thought to build and contract with the city regarding the Incinerator and various green projects .

The article read like a page turning book. It described the inner workings of the city and Goten's attention was captured. To the average person, part of the fallout might have been because Frieza Eisberg was a huge critic and not a fan of Capsule Corp; however, his failings had nothing to do with the money spent on the project or who produced the incinerator. In fact, it turned out that he was contracting his cousin, Frost Chilblain, brother, Cooler Eisberg, and son, Kuriza Eisberg, through Eiszeit Kraft Solutions to work on various projects within the Department of Public Works without disclosing this information. Because Frieza owns most of the family business, Eiszeit Kraft Solutions, he had to disclose such information, which he did not do. This created a big scandal much to the delight of the Director of Finance, who was not a fan of the Eisberg family who brought it to the West City Ethics Committee. After that the Mayor Shin Hart relieved him of his duties. It is yet to be revealed if Frieza will be facing any formal charges from the Government.

"What a crook," Goten mumbled to himself.

He peered back to the disaster in front of him and which he was trying to avoid. What is it about the color blue? Goten pondered to himself as he stared at the women's cobalt cardigan.

Here he was in his office watching a repeated scenario. He was bored and frustrated, yet he knew he put himself in this position. I need to remember to meet in a public place the next time and make sure I am paid first before I start talking about my findings. He was getting lost in his thoughts while the couple in front of him argued, laughed, cried, then argued some more. Let me stop staring at them while they figure this out...I need to start charging for marriage counselling as well at this rate. He let out a sigh and glanced back to his newspaper on his desk. He absentmindedly flipped through the pages of the periodical summarizing the various headlines Dead at Age 46...Estate Still in Probate...Still Reeling Over … Benefit a Success…Wedding Bells on the Horizon?...What is Next…Where has...

"MISTER SON!" The woman screeched snapping Goten out of his current activity and back to the clients before him.

"Yes, Misses Rocin?" He responded as he looked directly at her.

"Please tell my husband, that only reason I hired you is because I thought he was still seeing the woman we had the threesome with!" She demanded.

"Uh…," Goten was a little flustered because she initially came in to find out what the woman from their dalliance had been up to. He was shocked to find a meek man in front of him chatting up with their paramour. He really wanted out of this situation

"Damnit Mora will you just please just listen to me!" Mr. Rocin exclaimed.

Both Goten and Mrs. Rocin shot their attention over the timid man's unexpected outburst.

"The only reason I was speaking to Treilea is to see how she felt about you. I wanted to see if she wanted to move in with us. I know you really enjoyed spending time with her, as did I, and you really blossomed. I just wanted to keep you happy."

"Really?!"

"Yes really," he replied. "She really enjoyed our company as well, especially you, and has been very shy about admitting it because she didn't want to have her heart broken."

Mrs. Rocin was taken aback by the declaration and started to blush. Mrs. Rocin peered over to Goten smiling and with tears in her eyes.

"How much do I owe you Mister Son?" She asked

Goten slid over the invoice and replied stoically, "One-hundred fifty thousand zeni."

"Very well then," she responded as she grabbed her purse and pulled out her wallet. "Will a check do?"

Goten nodded.

Mrs. Rocin wrote the check, thanked Goten for his service, and gleefully pranced out of his office with her husband leaving a dumbfounded Goten in her wake.

Goten leaned back in his chart and looked at the ceiling fan and said to himself aloud, "The ones involving sex are always harder in the morning."

Goten looked over to the clock on his wall and realized it was not even ten o'clock.

It feels like I already worked a full days' worth of work. Maybe I should call it a day and join dad at the bar before we go say goodbye to Pan and Uub, I don't have anyone else coming in today.

Goten shook the notion out of his head. He told himself that when he started his company that he would try and be as professional as possible. Which he has succeeded at. He was trying to just keep his mind off of the shifting family dynamic that he has been dealing with over the past few years. This latest one being that his niece and her husband were moving back to his village of Wiji Gedhang in the most remote part of the Papaya Islands to open a hospital, school, and a few other humanitarian efforts to help the struggling village.

Well I should at least sweep and organize these files, Goten thought as he looked around his surroundings. Work had been good for him recently and he had a bunch of what he considered "babysitting-esque" cases that did not take a bunch of energy, yet yielded an incredible return. These were cases that he could knock out with a few hours of work at most, such as equipment missing, kids or spouses coming home in a timely fashion, missing money, and so forth. Most clients did not want to get law enforcement involved and go through the legal process and open themselves up to more scrutiny.

As he thumbed through the various files, he was inspecting them to make sure that he did his follow up notes on each case. Mrs. Rocin's case just needed to be finalized but he was not in much of a hurry as this was the last case he had on his docate. Even though work was good, Goten saw that he needed a break. Not necessarily a break from work per se, but a break from the mundane investigations he had been plagued with. If he had to be honest with himself, Mrs. Rocin's case was the most interesting and captivating one he had for a while and he might have been sad to see it end. The key word being might.

As he started to rearrange so items he stopped to look at the various pictures of his family on his desk. When he got to the photo of his niece and her husband, Pan and Uub a smile crept on his face.

You've come a long way kid.

The phone rang incessantly as Goten hobbled over to get it.

"Please don't hang up!" Goten said aloud as he grabbed the receiver.

"GOTEN!" The voice on the other end cheered.

"Hey Pan!" Goten responded with the same Vigor. "How are you doing? How are your practical exams and the externship going? Everything!"

"Great! Practicals are done and my last externship is tomorrow believe. I have one more written exam and currently my thesis is being reviewed by my advisor." She explained.

"That must make you feel like you are in the driver's seat when it comes to graduation." He responded.

"It certainly does. I cannot wait to get that pin!"

Goten chuckled. "That is why I haven't called you because I know you have been busy, so I am pleased to hear from you. I am guessing you are calling to talk about your graduation details. Am I right?"

Pan giggled.

"Well?" Goten pushed.

After a few more moments of awkward silence from his niece, she responded with, "Actually, I am calling l to let you know that Uub and I are engaged. He proposed last night and we are hoping to get married before I move to Gingertown"

Goten was stunned and somberly responded, "Congratulations Pan. I am happy for you."

"Thank you Uncle Ten. It means a lot because I know things have not been easy for you."

"Panny, don't worry about me, I will be okay. I will be okay." He reassured her.

He could tell there was a hesitation in her voice but she finally spoke up and said, "I can't help but worry about you. Also, if it were for you, I don't know if I would be where I am today."

Goten smiled.

"Seriously Goten, thank you for everything." She emphasized. "I have to go but let's chat later this week. Okay?"

"Of course. Take care." With that Goten slowly placed the phone down and let out a sigh.

Left with his thoughts and a pang in his heart he reminded himself: It had been a rough few years.

Goten looked at the clock and saw that it was two-thirty. He was taken aback by the time as even though he had his housekeeping project done, yet was impressed that he killed most of his time by cleaning and doing his administrative duties as he was able to finish his wrap up regarding the Rocins.

We need to leave by four to get to Gingertown by five-thirty. He pondered. Well maybe I should just relax for the time being. But suddenly he remembered he needed to pick up items before he left and quickly started to close up shop.

Before he left he picked up his phone to call his father when all of a sudden he heard his door open and slam.

Damn it I forgot to put the close sign up. Oh well I am just going to have to tell them I am unavailable.

Goten began to limp over to the entrance but before he could see the new occupant he was greeted by a voice.

"SORRY! I didn't mean to slam the door." A reserved female voice called out.

Caught off guard Goten responded gently, "It always happens."

Once he got into view he saw a woman, who was trying to hide her appearance. She was wearing a trenchcoat, sunglasses, and a hat, which may not be so suspicious in his line of work; however, it was what else that she was wearing that peaked his interest. She had on expensive shoes and tailored pants. The perfume she was wearing did not smell artificial, it smelled like freshly picked flowers. Then there was her" disguise", the hat, sunglasses, and trenchcoat were crisp and clean as though they were just purchased for this outing. He was now intrigued.

"Mister Son?" She said.

Goten nodded as he still looked at his subject.

"I am in desperate need of your services and money is no object." She said as she began to remove her sunglasses and hat.

Goten was caught off guard, out of the hat fell these cerulean locks and her removal of her sunglasses exposed the bright blue eyes he had ever seen. For him it was as if he was looking into a lagoon. He slowly started to speak and noticed she was looking at him for a while.

"How can I help you? Miss…" He began to trail realizing he did get her name.

"Briefs. My name is Bra Briefs." She assisted

"Ah, thank you." He replied then asked, "How can I assist you Miss Briefs?"

"Mister Son…'" she was nervous.

Goten was looking at her to figure out how he could reassure her. Realizing he was a little tense he began to relax his body and offered her seat. She gave a faint smile and followed his lead.

"Please Miss Briefs, how may I assist you?" He asked again in a more relaxed state.

"Mister Son, I told you were the best and this is why I came to you."

Goten smirked at her comment and nodded.

She hesitated for a moment and turned to Goten before she blurted out her purpose.

"Mister Son, my father is missing and I need your help finding him."

Little did Goten know that this solicitation was about to change his life forever.