~~Brief Warning: I think I get a little heated and slam Bill Clinton in here… don't hate me for it, just understand I'm a HUGE REPUBLICAN! GO BUSH! (Done now.) Oh, that and Darien is portrayed as a really evil and sick/twisted hentai in this one, so be prepared. Here we go!
Chapter Sixteen: Florida is Not Repeated
*"I would like to call my last and final witness, Mr. Chiba to the stand." Apolis stated calmly, though inside he was in turmoil. Winner had gotten the better of him. Some how, Winner had been able to turn the tide of the court case to his favor. Curse that damned boy! Apolis had never lost a case, but it looked like this was it.
Darien stood to take the stand. He snarled slightly, knowing they were losing. How could he be losing to his measly and pathetic ex girlfriend? All he wanted was his blasted son. Then he could put the boy to work. He thought back to his last mistress, who had adored children. If women liked children so much, Ben would be a definite help in his quest for whores. And as for the rest of the time he had the boy, he would make him wash the dishes and do the other meaningless chores. And when the child got old enough, he was sure he would have a great body, better than his mother's every was, and perfect for any dirty 'favors' Darien was in the mood for. Plus, he would win money at the same time. Yes, Darien thought he had to win this case; to ensure his 'fun' future. He took his oath.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"Yes." He snapped all too quickly. Then he sat and smirked.
"Now Darien. You are the father of Ms. Tsukino's son Benjamin, is this true?" Apolis began small. He wanted to build to his climax. He thought it might give him an edge over the jury.
"That is right."
"Tell me, how did you find out Serena was pregnant with him?"
"She walked in and gave me a home pregnancy test. It was positive."
"She didn't warn you she hadn't been on the pill?"
"That's right. I thought she had been."
"Now Darien, did you ever promise to love her?"
"Of course. I did love her at one time. But everyone grows out of love eventually. I never gave her any indication we were going to be married. She assumed that on her own." It was only a little fib. What harm could it do if it helped him to win the trial? Besides, who really took all that "I love you, let's get married" jargon seriously anyway? Serena apparently.
" Could you please tell me how you broke up with her?"
"Well, I did know she was pregnant, but I was gentle about it. I didn't think I was ready to be a father. Now I'm positive I am and would love my son very much if I had custody of him."
"Then why didn't you contact Serena all these years?"
"I didn't know she was still here in the states. That, and I thought she would have given the baby up for adoption, or gotten an abortion or something. I never expected her to keep it."
"Why not?"
"Serena isn't what I would call responsible. She's rather klutzy and acts childish most of the time." Serena was livid with rage. But under the heat of her anger, she was bleeding inside. It hurt to hear Darien, the one she had loved for so very long, out right telling a group of people that he disliked her and that she wasn't worth a dime to him. It was an insult to her as a woman and as a person, but all she could think about was how much it hurt her to know he felt this way about her. Had he always thought this way? He was mentally sick…
"But when you saw her at the strip club, you realized differently?" Apolis questioned Darien. Darien's testimony might actually do the trick and give them the edge they needed to win!
"Right. I confronted her about it after her 'show' and asked to see my son. She denied me and finally, when I threatened to sue, she let me see him."
"What environment does she live in?"
"She lives in a filthy and messy apartment. It's poorly lit and has very little furniture."
"Objection!" Quatre cried out. This time Darien had gone too far. He was lying under oath! He reminded Quatre of that god-awful President the U.S. had had only a few years back- Bill Clinton. Clinton had lied to the American people to save his sorry ass, and now Darien was doing just the same. Lying under oath to save his argument. Well, Clinton may have gotten away with it, but Darien Chiba wouldn't.
"And you object to?" Apolis sneered.
"Darien's… err, Mr. Chiba is lying under oath! I know it for a fact. I would like to submit these pictures as evidence." Quatre, silently praising Trowa for suggesting they take pictures of Serena's apartment, took out the pictures and brought them to the judge. The judge began to look at them, but was cut short by another yell.
"Objection! Your Honor, the prosecution had no prior knowledge of these pictures and asks that they be thrown out as insufficient evidence." Apolis cried, trying to stop Quatre's new information before it did more damage to their argument.
"Objection overruled. Mr. Winner, these pictures do prove that the living conditions are better than Mr. Chiba states they are, but they do not prove enough to suggest he is lying. The prosecution may resume the questioning." Quatre, only half satisfied, sat down slightly put out. He felt a warm hand gently come to rest on his shoulder. Turning to see who it was, he found Serena staring back at him with happy eyes, though they were slightly red and puffy.
"It's alright Quatre, Thank you for objecting though. I really appreciate it." She told him. He blushed slightly.
"That's my job Ms. Serena, don't worry about it." She smiled but said nothing in reply.
"Well then, Darien. Now you say you believe Serena is unfit to be mother, so you simply want to do what's best for your son?"
"That's right." Darien nodded, trying to look innocent.
"That'll be all Mr. Chiba. Council, your witness." Apolis sat down with a smug grin. Winner's team no longer had a lead.
"Thank you. Now then, Mr. Chiba. When you broke up with Serena, hoe much money did you give her?" Quatre began.
"Oh, a hundred dollars or so. You see, I was poor myself at the time."
"Hmm. Would you say Serena is a liar?"
"No, not really. She's pretty good about that sort of thing."
"Then repeat for me, how much money did you give her when you threw her out?"
"Uh, eighty bucks?"
"Try again Mr. Chiba." Quatre pressed.
"Fifty."
"Hmm."
"Twenty?" By this time Apolis had his head in his hands and was practically crying. Damnit, Darien had just sealed the fate of the trial. They were sure to lose now.
"One more time Mr. Chiba. How much did you give her?" Quatre badgered him.
"Ok, I gave her nothing. No money, no job, no home, food, clothes, nothing! Are you happy now? Are you?" Darien cracked. Then, realizing what he had just said, he shook his head and buried it in his arms. It was game over now, Serena win, Darien lose. Why fight it any longer?
"Only one more question for you Darien. The night you made Serena show you Ben; did you try to touch her in any way? And I do mean any?" Quatre breathed silently and Serena felt herself hold her breath. In fact, she could have sworn that at that very second her heart beat had stopped so she could listen to Darien's answer.
"No." Quatre stared hard at him. Darien simply averted his gaze to some where else. Somewhere he should not have. His eyes landed on icy deep blue eyes; eyes with such hatred in their glare that he gulped and had to blink back tears. Hiiro had perfected that death glare of his in the short time the trial had started. Suddenly Darien's demons began eating at his insides and his psyche unlocked the skeletons in his closet.
"Ok, I confess! I tried to touch her! Yes! God I wanted her so bad! But then her stupid boyfriend pulled me away and threatened to kill me with a gun. I don't think that's a very good environment for a child! Alright, I've confessed! Can I go now?"
"Yes. No further questions." Darien's face was beat red with embarrassment and tears as he stepped form the witness stand back to his seat. Quatre, on the other hand, was jumping inside for joy. They had this one bagged! He turned to look at Darien's to lawyers who were conversing with him quietly. Soon, the one who had been quiet the whole trial stood, gathered his papers, and walked out of the room. Apolis soon followed. Darien sat alone, his demeanor back to it's unfeeling heartless version.
"Those were the last of our witnesses your Honor." Darien told the judge uncertainly.
"Where did your lawyers go?" The judge asked Darien.
"They quit. I will be continuing in their place." Darien told him snobbishly.
"Very well. Defense? Your witnesses?" The judge said, tuning to Quatre. Quatre stopped to converse with Serena, Hiiro, and Trowa and Wufei. Then he stood.
"In light of the direction this trial has taken, we have decided to forgo our witnesses and are ready for the jury to begin their decision making." Quatre said, gulping mildly and hoping his decision was the best one possible. After all, they only had one more witness than those already called- did Hiiro really need to testify? Quatre thought it wouldn't matter. By now Darien had dug himself a hole so deep that he had no chance of getting out of it in time to win the trial.
"Very well, and does the prosecution agree to the defense's request for the jury to begin coming to their verdict?" Darien looked stupefied. He had no idea what was going on or what to say in defense of himself. He had no choice.
"The prosecution agrees." He gulped and Hiiro could see him visibly begin to shake.
"Very well then. Court is adjourned for one hour. The jury will give their verdict at that point in time." The Judge pounded him mallet on his desk and stood to leave the room. Well, this was it. In one hour they would find out who was the innocent and who was the guilt party.
"Well, while we're all waiting, why don't we go out for lunch?" Quatre suggested, trying to brighten the mood of their group.
"Duo already took Ben out to lunch." Trowa informed him.
"Great. Then the two kids are taken care. Now us adults can have some peace and quiet." Quatre joked. Everyone stared at him.
"Quatre? Making fun of Duo? I thought I'd never be so happy." Wufei remarked and smirked. Everyone else began to laugh.
"I try, I try." Quatre said, causing everyone to laugh harder.
"Then let's go for food." Trowa stated warmly as he lead Serena out of the courtroom. He also took the time to note the wonderful expression on Hiiro's face when he looped his arm through Serena's. So the Perfect Soldier could be jealous. This was new information. Fun, blackmail information.
The group headed towards the small sandwich restaurant across the street form the courthouse. When they entered the café, Serena slightly shied back. There were so many people, most of them lawyer-looking businessmen, pushing and shoving. She wasn't sure if this was such a good idea. She had never been one to like crowds. She somehow lost Trowa's arm and found herself alone in the giant crowd. Looking around frantically, she couldn't see anyone she knew, not Quatre, Trowa, Wufei, or…
"You look lost angel. Heaven's above you, but I wish you'd stay on earth." A giant burly man with greasy slicked back hair and a blue business suit on put his hands around her waist. While she had been looking for her friends, some guys at a nearby table had spotted her and her worried expression. They had dared each other to make a move on her, and one of the actually had enough courage to do so.
"The only one who's lost around here is you. Heck's straight down for you information." She told him bluntly. She may be scared, but she did have her dignity. The guys from the man's table laughed. She shrugged the man's hands off from around her waist and continued looking for the guys.
"Hey baby, no need to be so harsh. Heck wasn't hot enough without a chick like yourself down there." He tried to smile handsomely and failed miserably. The only thing Serena saw was the disgusting fakeness that oozed form every pore on the man.
"Look, You want some one hot, go to the equator. I'm from Alaska. Now get lost." She flipped around and ignored him once more.
"Now, now baby, is that anyway to treat a guy who's just trying to compliment the only angel he's ever seen on earth?" Serena balked. Was this guy ever going to take the hint and get his pathetic face out of hers?
" Look, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Get lost." He made a grab for her wrist.
"Come on baby, don't play mean. How about we go grab a bite to eat, somewhere where we can alone?"
"She said no. More than once in fact. Get lost." A dark voice came form behind the man. The man, still holding Serena's wrist, flipped around to face the person behind him, dragging Serena along with him.
"Hey buddy, it's none of your business what she said or what she didn't say, so get lost! And if I ev-er…" The man stopped mid sentence and looked up into the flaming with rage icy blue eyes.
"Let her go." Hiiro commanded.
"Yes sir. As I was just saying, she's not really my type, and uh, here you go." He flung Serena around at Hiiro.
"Serry?" Hiiro asked her, ignoring the gawking man before them.
"I'm fine Hiiro, thanks." She gave him her one hundred watt smile, and he smiled as well.
"You know this guy?" The stunned businessman asked Serena.
"Yeah." She paused. She winked at Hiiro and turned back to the creep. "He's my boyfriend." The man's jaw dropped to the floor and he stuttered and backed away.
"Boy, boy, boyfriend? See you!" With that the man stumbled back to his table, still keeping a close and wary eye on Hiiro. When he was out of sight, Hiiro and Serena laughed.
"Sorry I wasn't here earlier." He told her.
"It's alright. Thanks for getting rid of him for me."
"No problem." They both paused for a minute. "Serry, would you like to go somewhere else? With me? For lunch?" Her breath caught. What could she say? He was so innocent looking, so sweet.
"Yeah." She told him breathlessly. Let's get out of here." They both smiled lightly and turned to the door. Just then a cop entered.
"All people from the Yui/ Tsukino case please return to the court room, the verdict is in." The cop announced. Serena and Hiiro looked at each other.
"So much for lunch." She said.
"Hnn." Was his response. She grinned. So he was back to the grunting, huh? Well, she was only slightly nervous. But he was tense. What would the verdict be?*
Ready to kill me yet? I just LOVE dragging things out… I know what happens, I know what happens… ;P
