A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews! It's so nice to come back to open arms! I'm semi intoxicated right now and this chapter is on the shorter end of the spectrum (I didn't notice until now since I cut out a scene) but it's an early update so I'm sure you'll appreciate it either way.
:*: The Fight has Just Begun :*:
"All rise for the case of Briefs-Karuben versus Son."
Clad in his orange jumpsuit along with nine other men in the suspect row of the court room, Goten rose to his feet as directed by the bailiff. The buff man led him to the defendant's table where two well-dressed males stood to their feet, extending their hands one at a time towards Goten's front-cuffed hands.
"Mr. Son, my name is Kao Tsoga. This is my associate, Nel Ohashi. We have been made aware of your unfortunate situation by your brother and a close family friend of yours, Mr. Gohan Son and Mr. Vegeta Briefs. We have been brought on to win your case. Like you, we have yet to see the evidence until they reveal what they have against you any moment now. Afterwards, we will go to a designated room, discuss what we can with the time alotted to us. After our time here today, we," he gestured at himself and his associate, "do not stop working. We will perform investigations, interviews, spying if needed, whatever it takes to set you free. Any questions?"
Goten was taken aback by the confidence these men emitted. He almost believed they could get him out just in this bail hearing alone.
Before he could think of anything in response, the judge was announced and the room was instructed to be seated.
"The case of Briefs-Karuben versus Goten Son-"
Goten's eyes narrowed in confusion as he caught the introduction of his case once more. Briefs-Karuben? Valese? And... Bra?
"...21 years old. Charged with two accounts of sexual assault, as well as two accounts of administering an illegal sedative commonly known as roofies to noncensenting persons. The court has the following evidence against you: Exhibit A: A bottle of Rohypnol retrieved by police from underneath your mattress." The bailiff lifted the clear zip-lock bag from the judge's stand and held it in front of Goten's bewildered eyes, as well as his two attornies who scribbled down notes.
"Exhibit B: Numerous photographs also retrieved in the same manner, all of which portray the victims and the accused." The stacked photos were held in front of the defense table, only revealing the top photo to the three males eyes. Goten couldn't believe what he was seeing or hearing.
"Exhibit C: Phone records from one of the victims, where the accused texted more lewd photos and expressed how hard the accused penetrated her. Exhibit D: A victim's hospital records revealing high doses of Rohypnol the day after the incident was claimed to have happened. Mr. Son, your first hearing will begin one week from today. Bail is set at $60,000." The single malet pound against the desk echoed in Goten's ears. He was in absolute disbelief, so much so that the bailiff had to physically lift him from his seat and threaten him with a more severe bail if he continued to ignore him.
Gohan, Videl, Goku, ChiChi, Trunks, and Pan all watched from a nearby spectator row, all sharing Goten's reaction. They briefly met with the attornies in the hall before the men rushed away to meet with Goten himself in private.
"They're the best. Vegeta assured me of that. He'll be okay." Gohan said aloud to nobody in particular as they all watched the two men walk away. "He's going to be okay..."
Pan clutched the back of Trunks' jacket tighter. Her father sounded as if he was trying to convince himself more than any of them.
Briefs... Karuben... What do they have to do with this? Trunks repeated over and over to himself, not able to make any sense of it. The others had the same question on their minds.
Goku suggested the group go up to his place for lunch to mull things over, Trunks politely turned down the offer. He had a certain Briefs relative to speak to.
xXxXxXx
The first week of school had been absolute hell. The more days that passed, the more whispers and dirty glares Bra received from passing students. It was apparent that rumors were already throuhout campus about Goten's arrest. Everybody knew. How they knew and what they were being told, she didn't know.
"Bra! Bra, wait up!" She recognized his voice, but didn't bother to even give him a backwards glance. He would approach her whether she wanted him to or not.
She had been avoiding his calls, texts, visits, all to avoid the inevitable explanation.
"Bra, it's important." Ryo ran to the front of her, stopping her in her steps. "Come on, let's go talk in private."
He allowed her to sit in silence as he drove them to the nearest park. They remained in the car since it was too cold to sit outside. "You've been ignoring any form of communication from me. I had to hear through various sources what you've been through. Bra, what's going on?"
She hesitated, reluctant to say anything. "What have you heard?"
"Mainly that you got super drunk at some New Years Eve party and had sex with Goten, then you turned him in for rape. This can't be true though... or is it?" He didn't believe the stories himself, but based on how she's been acting, he had to consider it.
Bra began sobbing into her palms. That explained the dirty glares she's been receiving. People were blaming her for Goten's arrest. Ryo leaned over the center console to embrace her in a consoling manner. "So it is true." Ryo whispered, shocked that Goten would do such a thing.
"No!" She pushed him away, piercing him with angered eyes. "It's not true! Goten would never do that! I never did any of that! I... I don't know what happened Ryo... I don't know..." She finally opened up to him about the text message, the hospital visit, the results stating she had not been raped, how disoriented he was before they both passed out in the hall, and meeting her mother and Valese at the police station. "It doesn't makes sense, Ryo! Help me." She sobbed heavily once more, feeling completely helpless and at fault. "Help me save him!"
Ryo had never seen her so distraught. His heart ached for her.
"He didn't do it... I need to save him..." She repeated over and over again, clasping the necklace around her neck.
Marron's head shot up from her textbook as three sequential bangs came from her dorm room door. It sounded urgent. Easing it open, she was pleased to see a familiar face. "Hey, Trunks. How are you?"
"I'm fine. Where's my sister?" He was short with her, scanning the room for his sibling.
"She hasn't come back from school yet. Is something wrong? There are rumors, Trunks... I've been trying to call Goten, you, Pan, but nobody responds. Even Bra won't talk to me."
"What have you heard?" Like Gohan said, he had to keep his eyes and ears open.
"People are upset. Really upset. They're saying Goten was arrested for rape. And that Bra turned him in. I have no idea if it's true or not. Is it?"
Trunks relaxed onto the nearest bed, which happened to be Marron's. She stood in front of him, arms crossed. The atmosphere was much too dense for her to sit.
"Goten was arrested about a week ago."
She threw her hands over her mouth as a gasp escpaped her lips.
"He had his bail hearing today. We are going to keep what we know as private as possible. You and I both know Goten wouldn't do anything so vicious. That's why I'm here, I need to talk to-"
Their attention turned to the room door opening.
A red-eyed Bra, with Ryo in company, teared up at the sight of her brother.
"Bra." He exhaled, rushing to his tearful sister to pull her into a comforting embrace. He could feel her chest heaving against him as she tried to fight back more sobs.
Ryo caught Marron's eye gesturing that the two of them leave them in private. She followed suit.
Finally alone, Trunks sat her on the bed he was once on. "What's going on?" His words were heavy with concern. "There's no time to feel ashamed, embarrassed, angry. Just tell me the truth. Goten's my friend, but you're my sister. I'll always believe you more than anybody else." He didn't want to believe that Goten was capable of such a thing, but if he was, he had to be there for his sister and make sure he got the appropriate punishment.
For the second time that day, she opened up once more, telling him everything.
"Valese... She said he did rape both of you. Hospital says he didn't. You got a text from him saying he did. Did Valese say whether or not she was drugged?"
Bra shrugged. "She didn't say."
"You didn't agree to testify against him, did you?"
"Of course not! He didn't do it, Trunks. I know he didn't. There has to be some way we can prove he's innocent... I don't understand what's happening. Look at this. I'm getting all these calls from Mom and Valese, two people I havent's spoken to for months until this happened." She skimmed through her phone notifications, tossing it to the side in annoyance.
"Valese? Why is she calling you?"
"I have no idea! The last I spoke to her was at the police station with Mom. I never liked her before. Now she thinks we both got raped and she wants to blow up my phone?"
Trunks thought on this for a moment. "Bra. Call her back."
"Are you kidding me? No way, I'm in no mood for seeing that snobby-"
"Bra, do it for Goten."
Her tensed face softened at the sound of his name, her eyes growing pained once again. Her blue orbs urged him to elaborate.
"Something's not right here. Maybe it is. Maybe Goten is capable of something like this. Call her and find out what she wants. Maybe she remembers more from that night, this could help Goten."
Bra took in a slow, deep breath, followed by a long exhale. "You're right. I'll do it."
"And no more being MIA. Dad's been trying to get a hold of you, so have I. This case involces you. We need you. Goten needs you."
xXxXxXx
"Enough!" Goten swatted the photos from the table top in one clean swipe, unable to take another glance at them. There must have been over twenty photos with him, Valese, and Bra in numerous poses, naked, his hands and fingers in various orifices.
"Mr. Son, I cannot even begin to imagine the anger you are feeling right now, but one good thing about these photos is that your face is hidden in every single one. You say you might have been drugged as well? Perhaps you were passed out during this photo shoot, so the real suspect had to hide your face." Mr. Tsoga pointed out, his associate in full agreement.
"You weren't tested at the hospital, however, correct?" Mr. Ohashi inquired. "Rohypnol remains in the urinary tract for up to twenty-four hours. A hair follicle test can be done within three months. If the dosage was high enough, it should test positive. We will order a test for you as soon as possible. The results won't be in for your first hearing, but for sure by your second hearing."
A guard waiting outside the room gave three taps, their brief session was over.
"We will see you in three days. Think about anybody who may dislike you, any visitors you may have had that stashed evidence under your bed. Good day, Mr. Son. The fight has just begun. Stay strong."
The guard entered the room, cuffed Goten, and led him away. The images on those photographs forever scarring his mind. How could somebody do that to three people? And why? For all he knew, everyone liked him. He got along with everybody, didn't fight over girls. Last girlfriend he had was Valese and that was a good year past. He had no problems with his teammates.
Maybe Valese and Bra actually do believe he is responsible for this.
All he could pray for now was a positive hair follicle test. That could be his only dent to put into the plaintiff's story. That could be his only chance of retaining his youthful years.