Konbanwa, minna! Hahaha! I have finished another one. This would have been finished two days ago, but my boyfriend was over and it would have been finished yesterday, but I spent all day reformatting and editing "Love's Trials" so I could repost it (which I did last night). But, I finally finished this one today and I'm oh so happy! I bet you all are too!
Um...I have some warnings, but it's nothing bad. As you read from the previous chapter, this takes place in 18th century England. There are some things written in this chapter that, since I'm not an expert of 18th century English culture and history, I may have screwed up. So, if you're an expert on that certain topic and you've seen that I've made (I almost typed "maken" instead of "made"...whoops) a mistake, I apologize and would you please let me know! I got one review from someone who said they were British, so if there are any British people out there who are reading this and see that dumb FateChica has made a mistake, I'm sorry for my lack of knowledge. I just had this idea to write this during 18th century England and my lack of knowledge wasn't going to change my mind. So, once again, sorry!
Disclaimer: Silly FateChica only dreams of owning Dragonball Z and has managed to delude herself a couple of times into believing that she actually does when she knows full well that she doesn't. Yes, I am aware that I am talking about myself in the third person. I don't own Dragonball Z and I think we all know who does and that it's not me.
---------Judgment of the Heavens-----------
They moved quietly as to not disturb their master. The maids moved about the room with the silence and swiftness that one who hired them expected. One of them moved across the room from the door, crossing over the exotic Persian rug in the center of the room and over to the fireplace, using the materials nearby to start the fire and stoked it until it reached its full potential, casting heat all over the room. Another one stood by an armchair that rested next to the fire, placing a breakfast tray on the polished, wood table. One more stood in front of an open armoire, picking out several pieces of clothing that a man of the upper class would wear.
The maid preparing the fire finished her job and stood up, brushing her hands off on her full skirts. Shaking her blonde hair out of her eyes, she quickly looked over at the jobs the others were doing. Satisfied that the others were doing their job well enough, she went over to the large canopy bed that was flush up against the far wall of the room and pushed the canopy curtains again, setting her gaze down on the bed's sleeping occupant. Laying a hand on the sleeping person's shoulder, she shook him gently.
"Master, it's morning. It's time to get up and start the day." The person groaned as he began to stir, as if trying to fight the urge to wake up. She saw his hesitation and had to smile. He is so funny when he first wakes up in the morning, like he used to be before… she thought, her smile turning wistful.
"You know it's time to wake up," she said, humor in her voice. The now awake occupant of the bed groaned one last time and sat up. Gohan, the Duke of Chatham, was finally awake, but reluctantly so. He turned his head to look out the window.
"Eraser, what time is it?" Eraser looked over at her lord and smiled slightly.
"It's 9 o'clock, sir," Eraser stated. Gohan grumbled and stood up from bed, forcing Eraser to move aside. Eraser picked up a dressing gown from the chair next to the bed and held it up to him. Gohan allowed her to slip it onto his arms and up onto his shoulders. Gohan tied the dressing gown together and went over to the armchair to begin his breakfast. Sighing, Gohan picked up the teacup in front of him and sipped the hot liquid inside, thankful for its ability to help wake him up. He looked over at Eraser, who shivered slightly at the cold, unwelcoming look in his eyes.
"Is there anything happening today, Eraser?" Gohan asked, his voice none to pleasant.
"Your parents sent a note," Eraser said, "They sent it this morning. They'll be coming by for dinner tonight with your little brother." Gohan sighed in annoyance.
"What else?" Gohan asked, but didn't listen as Eraser told him the schedule of events he had lined up for the day. Just what I need. My parents coming over and telling me to move on with my life, find another Duchess of Chatham. I don't want another one. I just want her… Gohan thought, tears springing to his eyes, It's been two years since I lost her. Two years since she died. What I wouldn't give to get her back. Eraser saw the tears in his eyes, figuring that he was thinking about his late wife again.
Poor man. To lose a wife at so early an age. He's not even 25 years of age yet. What a shame, Eraser thought, looking down at him with sympathy. Eraser saw Gohan steel himself against the tears threatening to spill and hid his emotions behind a mask of bitterness.
"You all may leave," Gohan barked, "I would like to eat my breakfast in peace." The maids all curtsied and exited the room. Eraser closed the bedroom doors behind her before she and the other maids went back to the servant's quarters.
"Poor master," one of the maids, Alison, said, "He still hasn't gotten over her death, has he?"
"No, he hasn't," Eraser said. The third maid, Elizabeth, let a scowl take over her features.
"But he's turned so bitter and cold. I almost wished he had gone with his late wife." Eraser shot Elizabeth a warning look.
"Elizabeth! How dare you say something like that about our master! You're lucky he keeps us around. We would be on the streets if it weren't for him! If he didn't need us to help him keep order around here, he would get rid of us. And you know the master has a hard time dealing with his feelings. He was very in love with his wife. It's only expected that he would be grieving for her still after all of this time," Eraser lectured, causing Elizabeth to bow her head in shame.
"Sorry, Miss Eraser. I meant no offence towards our master. It's just I don't like how he treats us sometimes. On a good day, he can be barely civil to us. I guess I'm just wishing for the days when the mistress was still alive," Elizabeth said, her face red with her shame. Eraser sighed.
"It's alright. We've all been fed up with everything today," Eraser resigned, "Well, we better get down to the kitchens. We have Lord Gohan's family coming over tonight. We need to help prepare for the dinner and clean up the dining room. It hasn't been used in ages and I'm sure it's covered in dust." The other two maids nodded and headed down to the kitchens, changing their destination due to Eraser's words, knowing that there was much to be done that day.
They easily navigated their way through the large estate to the ground floor where the kitchens were located. Once they got there, Eraser spotted her husband, Sharpener, instructing all of the cooks on what to make for dinner that evening. She approached him once he finished speaking and smiled up at him.
"Hello, dear," Eraser said, "Everything going well down here?" Sharpener nodded.
"Yes, they are. The cooks seem to understand what needs to be made for dinner." Eraser smiled again.
"Is there anything else that needs to be done besides cleaning the dining room?" she asked. Sharpener shook his head.
"Not that I can think of. I think we've got everything under control."
"Good," Eraser said, "The rest of the manor needs tidying up, so I'll instruct more of the maids to clean it up, as per their usual jobs." Eraser and Sharpener continued to talk about what work was needed around the manor; being the head caretakers of Gohan's estate, they were very involved in the upkeep of the pristine conditions that surrounded their lord. Once they were finished discussing what work needed to be done, both husband and wife went off to assign people to certain jobs to make sure that everything, as always, was perfect.
***
Gohan took his time in finishing his breakfast, not noticing that his final piece of bacon was cold when he put it in his mouth. He sat staring at the fire for several moments, allowing himself to be calmed down by the hypnotic motions of the flames. No emotion existed in his eyes as he stared at the flames. He simply didn't allow it to be there. His bitterness at the world for taking away his beloved wife had turned him cold-hearted, a change that worried his family greatly. Gohan didn't care what his family thought of him. He only wanted things to go back to the way things were when she was alive.
Shoving the thoughts aside, Gohan stood up and walked away from the fire, leaving his plates from breakfast for the maid to clean up. He dressed, putting on the outfit that had been picked out for him before he woke up. Finally dressed in tan breeches, a white dress shirt, a deep blue overcoat, and his black boots, Gohan was ready to leave his room and begin work on managing his estate. Not bothering to tame his rebellious black, spiky hair (which was very unusual for a Duke to possess), Gohan left the sanctuary of his room and proceeded to his study, his gait purposeful and his strides wide.
He passed many of the manor servants on his way, all of them who bowed to him as he walked by. Gohan didn't even give them a second glance as he continued on his journey to his study. Every once in a while, though, Gohan's gaze would stray from straight ahead, catching a painting or two that hung from the wood-paneled walls. Gohan allowed a microscopic smile to appear on his face at the thought of the artwork that he possessed. One of Gohan's main interests was art and he had taken a great deal of effort (and money) into expanding his art collection, buying rare and expensive pieces from dealers who worked in London. It was part of Gohan's life that he wasn't afraid to brag about to others when social duty forced him to attend royal social functions and the like.
I do hope I don't have to attend another one of those for a long while, Gohan thought to himself as he rounded a large corner and stopped, the large door to his study right in front of him. He swiftly opened the doors and entered, closing them behind him gently, as to not cause a lot of noise. He passed both the built-in bookshelves and the fireplace as he crossed the room to sit at his large, oak desk, covered with papers and books that Gohan dealt with every day.
Sitting down in his chair, he noticed the day's press was sitting atop of his pile of business papers, most likely put there by the maid who started the fire. As per usual, Gohan set aside business for pleasure, opening the paper and reading what happened in the world lately.
After taking about an hour out of his time reading the paper, Gohan finished it and set it aside, sighing to himself as he realized he should get down to work on his monthly job of balancing his accounts, adding up his income and subtracting his expenses from the last month's total. Gohan was pleased to see that, although a lot of money was invested in art, his total gain was more than his total expenses, giving him more money than the last month.
He was thankful for the fact that he had inherited all of his money, and that his status earned him a significant amount of money each year. If he couldn't live his privileged lifestyle, there wouldn't be anything left for him. His art and pursuit for knowledge were the only things keeping him interested in life and his money was keeping him supplied with new pieces of art and new books, quenching his thirst for both of his main hobbies.
Gohan continued to work for several more hours, doing paperwork, drawing up contracts, and, in general, managing the general affairs of his estate. Gohan put his quill down and sighed, rubbing his eyes out of exhaustion. He had been at work all day and had even worked through lunch. Deciding that it was time to take a break, Gohan got up and stretched, loosening up the muscles in his neck that had cramped up due to hours of bending over papers.
Something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and Gohan slowly walked over to the fireplace, looking at the mantle above it. With one slow, shaky movement, Gohan grabbed the small portrait that adorned the center of the mantle and sighed sadly.
"Oh, Isabel…" he breathed, looking down at the portrait in his hands. A small gold frame, beautifully setting off the woman who was portrayed in the painting, surrounded the hand-sized portrait. The young woman was a devastating beauty, with rich, dark brown hair and startling green eyes. A Mona Lisa smile rested on her face, Gohan's heart clenching as he looked at a wonderful likeness of his late wife.
"My English queen with a Spanish name. Why did you have to leave me?" Gohan asked the picture, tears springing to his eyes as he remembered her, remembering all of the happy times he spent with her. He remembered the first time he laid eyes on her. Meeting her at a ball thrown by a distant cousin of his, he fell in love with her at first sight, taken away by her beauty and charm. Isabel, the daughter of a lesser lord, was as taken with him as he was with her. The two continued to meet, Gohan, despite his gentlemanly nature, a nervous wreck each time they met.
He eventually gathered up the courage to propose to her. Once she happily accepted, arrangements were made between the two families and Gohan's family was happy to take Isabel in as one of them, approving of her at Gohan's side. Gohan had been so happy. Too bad it wasn't to last. I only had her in my life for 3 years before she passed away. Why must life be so unfair? Gohan thought, tears now running freely down his face.
"My dearest, I miss you so much," Gohan murmured, putting down the portrait as he laid his head in his hands, sobs coming freely to him as he lamented over the death of his beloved Isabel.
***
In the early evening, the rickety sounds of a carriage being pulled by two purebred horses filled the air, mixing with the sounds that nature was making around them. It one were close enough to the carriage, one would be able to hear the sounds of family conversation accompanied by the occasional occurrence of a mother issuing a scolding in a loud voice. The driver of the carriage simply shook his head in disbelief at the behaviors of his passengers as he continued to guide the carriage towards its destination.
The carriage rode over a hill, a large edifice slowly being revealed as the carriage ascended up the hill. The driver smiled. He was almost there. Then, he could drop off his passengers and be rid of their loud conversation for a few hours while he joined the servants of the household and partook in the evening meal. It wasn't much longer until the carriage reached the manor, slowing to a stop as the driver led the horses to the front entrance. A doorman approached the halted carriage and opened the door, letting the occupants step out into the evening air.
"It was a scandal, I tell you," a gossipy female exclaimed as she exited, "She made such a spectacle of herself that I don't think she'll ever be able to show herself in the public sphere again." (AN: ::FateChica rolls her eyes:: I bet you all can't guess who's talking…).
"Hmm," a man said, absently listening to his wife's chatter. As a young man of about 14 stepped out of the carriage, the woman turned to her husband and shot a glare at him.
"Goku, are you even listening to me?" she demanded. Goku flinched at his wife's tone and nodded.
"Yes, Chi-Chi, I am listening to you. I'm just excited at seeing Gohan again," Goku said as he and his family walked up the steps to the front door, walking through the front door that had been opened for them, "It's been so long since we've visited him." Chi-Chi nodded, resting her hand on Goten's shoulder as the door shut behind them, only having to remove it as a butler removed her cloak.
"I know. He doesn't really like it when we visit, but he's my son and I love him," Chi-Chi said. Goten sighed and decided to enter the conversation.
"I wish Gohan was the way he used to be, mother," Goten said softly. Chi-Chi smiled down at her youngest son.
"We all do, Goten," Chi-Chi said tenderly as they were led to the sitting room, where Gohan was waiting for them. He was staring at the fire, leaning against the mantle and looked almost as if the flames entranced him. Hearing movement, Gohan turned his head and looked towards the entrance of the room. The butler announced them and then left, leaving the small family to reunite. Chi-Chi rushed forward and embraced her son, who embraced her back. Goku, however, hung back for a couple of moments, inspecting his son.
The older Duke of Chatham looked deep in thought about his son, noticing the sadness behind his semi-happy gaze. I can remember when he was so happy. We used to be here all the time, dining with him and Isabel. How different times were back when she was alive, Goku thought, looking at the young man who he had passed his responsibilities down to. Although born into the status of Duke of Chatham, Goku had never wanted the responsibilities that the title held. He was a much simpler man, preferring to spend his time with his family instead of managing estates.
Business and finance wasn't Goku's forte and, since Gohan was much better suited for the job, so to speak, when Gohan was of proper age, Goku handed over his responsibilities to Gohan, almost like an unofficial retirement. Gohan took up his father's position with no complaints, knowing he was doing a much better job than his father had done previously. Goku shook his thoughts aside and also moved to greet his oldest son.
"Good evening, son," Goku said, giving Gohan a firm hug. Gohan allowed a small smile to creep its way onto his face.
"Hello, father. It's good to see you," Gohan answered, sincere for the moment, knowing that once his parents started bugging him about moving on with his life, he would want them gone. Goten approached from the side.
"What about me, Gohan?" Goten asked, 14 years old and still acting like he was 7. Gohan had to chuckle as he mussed Goten's hair.
"It's good to see you too," Gohan stated. He turned and looked at all of his family members.
"Shall we head off to dinner?" Gohan continued, looking at his family expectantly. The other three nodded and, as a group, headed off in the direction of the dining room, Gohan at the head, leading his family down the long hallway.
"So," Chi-Chi began, "how is everything over here?"
"It's fine," Gohan said, letting his detached tone of voice creep back into his words. Chi-Chi looked sullen at Gohan's tone, but refrained from remarking. The four arrived at the large dining room, walking over to the other end of the long table and sitting down. Gohan sat at the head of the table with Chi-Chi and Goku on his right and Goten at his left. The servants, who had been waiting patiently in the dining room for Gohan and his family to arrive, immediately scurried off to the kitchens to fetch the food that had been prepared for them.
It was a short wait for the food and, once it arrived, the small family began eating in earnest, except for Chi-Chi who retained her ladylike manners as she ate, eating delicately in comparison to her husband and her sons. The only conversation at the table was provided by Goten, reciting to Gohan all the recent events that had occurred, down to every little detail. Gohan merely nodded to show that he was paying attention and Goten, encouraged by his brother's motions, kept on talking. Goku was fairly concentrated on his food, focusing on it as if it were his last meal. Chi-Chi, while she ate, focused her attentions on Gohan, eating mechanically as her son came to the forefront of her mind.
Although Gohan was paying attention to what Goten was saying, Chi-Chi could still see the cold look in his eyes and a small shiver traveled down her spine. She vainly wished for things to be the way they were before Isabel died.
My son wouldn't be like this now if it weren't for her death, Chi-Chi thought, What an unfortunate accident. Chi-Chi frowned slightly as she thought about the details of Isabel's death. He lost his wife and his son in the same day, the son he never got to know. Such a shame she died in childbirth. We thought she would be able to handle it; her body seemed able enough to handle the pains that came with childbirth. But, it wasn't meant to be. The child had turned inside her body, with no way of righting it. She had died from pain while the child, Gohan's son, my grandchild, died from suffocation, Chi-Chi thought sadly, pain stabbing at her heart.
Isabel had been like a daughter to her and her grandson would have become one of the most precious things in her life. It pained Chi-Chi even more to know that her son had been living a miserable existence since Isabel's death. She wasn't fooled; Chi-Chi knew the coldness was all a mask to cover his immense grief, that he wasn't able to handle the emotions coursing through him so, instead of dealing with them, he chose to lock them away. The feelings of sadness for her son grew so great inside of her that they just burst, causing her to interrupt the conversation at hand.
"Gohan," she said softly and firmly, "I have been thinking. I think you should remarry." Gohan shot his mother a glance.
"Mother, I don't want to remarry. How many times have I had to tell you?" Gohan barked, angry that, once again, his mother had brought up the topic. Tears shimmered in Chi-Chi's eyes as she looked at Gohan.
"I only want you to be happy again," Chi-Chi exclaimed, "I hate seeing you this way. Ever since Isabel died, you've shut yourself off. What happened to the sweet little boy I raised?" Gohan sighed and looked at his mother.
"He died two years ago, mother. The man before you know is not the son you remember," Gohan forced out, his voice low due to the effort of containing his anger.
"But why can't he come back? I know that if you opened yourself up again, you'd be able to find someone who would make you happy!" Chi-Chi cried. Gohan glared at his mother, a silent sign that the conversation was just about over.
"I don't want somebody else," Gohan stated, "All I want is to have Isabel back and for you to stop meddling in my life. You have no business in how I live my life or what I do with it. Just keep to yourself and stop bothering me." Chi-Chi was taken aback by her son's words, hurt at the disrespect and loathing in them. She visibly shrank back into her chair, picking up her fork once more.
"I'm sorry Gohan. I won't meddle in your life anymore," Chi-Chi said, her voice scantly higher than a whisper.
"Good," Gohan said, his tone curt. With sullen looks apparent on every face, the small family began to eat again. No one dared to speak after the sudden outburst that had just occurred; they were all too afraid that any talking would only result in another argument.
--------------
Well, what did we think? Pretty different from a lot of other G/V fics, eh? Well, I think so, at any rate. I bet you all thought that Videl had been Gohan's first wife and that she had been the one who died, didn't ya? Well...maybe some of you didn't. Hehe...just wait until you read about Videl in the next chapter. I can guarantee it that you're going to be surprised. I feel like a genius (and I know that's just my ego talking, so don't worry). Hopefully the next chapter will be up by the weekend. I have a pretty busy week up ahead, but hopefully I'll have some time to write.
Um...I have some warnings, but it's nothing bad. As you read from the previous chapter, this takes place in 18th century England. There are some things written in this chapter that, since I'm not an expert of 18th century English culture and history, I may have screwed up. So, if you're an expert on that certain topic and you've seen that I've made (I almost typed "maken" instead of "made"...whoops) a mistake, I apologize and would you please let me know! I got one review from someone who said they were British, so if there are any British people out there who are reading this and see that dumb FateChica has made a mistake, I'm sorry for my lack of knowledge. I just had this idea to write this during 18th century England and my lack of knowledge wasn't going to change my mind. So, once again, sorry!
Disclaimer: Silly FateChica only dreams of owning Dragonball Z and has managed to delude herself a couple of times into believing that she actually does when she knows full well that she doesn't. Yes, I am aware that I am talking about myself in the third person. I don't own Dragonball Z and I think we all know who does and that it's not me.
---------Judgment of the Heavens-----------
They moved quietly as to not disturb their master. The maids moved about the room with the silence and swiftness that one who hired them expected. One of them moved across the room from the door, crossing over the exotic Persian rug in the center of the room and over to the fireplace, using the materials nearby to start the fire and stoked it until it reached its full potential, casting heat all over the room. Another one stood by an armchair that rested next to the fire, placing a breakfast tray on the polished, wood table. One more stood in front of an open armoire, picking out several pieces of clothing that a man of the upper class would wear.
The maid preparing the fire finished her job and stood up, brushing her hands off on her full skirts. Shaking her blonde hair out of her eyes, she quickly looked over at the jobs the others were doing. Satisfied that the others were doing their job well enough, she went over to the large canopy bed that was flush up against the far wall of the room and pushed the canopy curtains again, setting her gaze down on the bed's sleeping occupant. Laying a hand on the sleeping person's shoulder, she shook him gently.
"Master, it's morning. It's time to get up and start the day." The person groaned as he began to stir, as if trying to fight the urge to wake up. She saw his hesitation and had to smile. He is so funny when he first wakes up in the morning, like he used to be before… she thought, her smile turning wistful.
"You know it's time to wake up," she said, humor in her voice. The now awake occupant of the bed groaned one last time and sat up. Gohan, the Duke of Chatham, was finally awake, but reluctantly so. He turned his head to look out the window.
"Eraser, what time is it?" Eraser looked over at her lord and smiled slightly.
"It's 9 o'clock, sir," Eraser stated. Gohan grumbled and stood up from bed, forcing Eraser to move aside. Eraser picked up a dressing gown from the chair next to the bed and held it up to him. Gohan allowed her to slip it onto his arms and up onto his shoulders. Gohan tied the dressing gown together and went over to the armchair to begin his breakfast. Sighing, Gohan picked up the teacup in front of him and sipped the hot liquid inside, thankful for its ability to help wake him up. He looked over at Eraser, who shivered slightly at the cold, unwelcoming look in his eyes.
"Is there anything happening today, Eraser?" Gohan asked, his voice none to pleasant.
"Your parents sent a note," Eraser said, "They sent it this morning. They'll be coming by for dinner tonight with your little brother." Gohan sighed in annoyance.
"What else?" Gohan asked, but didn't listen as Eraser told him the schedule of events he had lined up for the day. Just what I need. My parents coming over and telling me to move on with my life, find another Duchess of Chatham. I don't want another one. I just want her… Gohan thought, tears springing to his eyes, It's been two years since I lost her. Two years since she died. What I wouldn't give to get her back. Eraser saw the tears in his eyes, figuring that he was thinking about his late wife again.
Poor man. To lose a wife at so early an age. He's not even 25 years of age yet. What a shame, Eraser thought, looking down at him with sympathy. Eraser saw Gohan steel himself against the tears threatening to spill and hid his emotions behind a mask of bitterness.
"You all may leave," Gohan barked, "I would like to eat my breakfast in peace." The maids all curtsied and exited the room. Eraser closed the bedroom doors behind her before she and the other maids went back to the servant's quarters.
"Poor master," one of the maids, Alison, said, "He still hasn't gotten over her death, has he?"
"No, he hasn't," Eraser said. The third maid, Elizabeth, let a scowl take over her features.
"But he's turned so bitter and cold. I almost wished he had gone with his late wife." Eraser shot Elizabeth a warning look.
"Elizabeth! How dare you say something like that about our master! You're lucky he keeps us around. We would be on the streets if it weren't for him! If he didn't need us to help him keep order around here, he would get rid of us. And you know the master has a hard time dealing with his feelings. He was very in love with his wife. It's only expected that he would be grieving for her still after all of this time," Eraser lectured, causing Elizabeth to bow her head in shame.
"Sorry, Miss Eraser. I meant no offence towards our master. It's just I don't like how he treats us sometimes. On a good day, he can be barely civil to us. I guess I'm just wishing for the days when the mistress was still alive," Elizabeth said, her face red with her shame. Eraser sighed.
"It's alright. We've all been fed up with everything today," Eraser resigned, "Well, we better get down to the kitchens. We have Lord Gohan's family coming over tonight. We need to help prepare for the dinner and clean up the dining room. It hasn't been used in ages and I'm sure it's covered in dust." The other two maids nodded and headed down to the kitchens, changing their destination due to Eraser's words, knowing that there was much to be done that day.
They easily navigated their way through the large estate to the ground floor where the kitchens were located. Once they got there, Eraser spotted her husband, Sharpener, instructing all of the cooks on what to make for dinner that evening. She approached him once he finished speaking and smiled up at him.
"Hello, dear," Eraser said, "Everything going well down here?" Sharpener nodded.
"Yes, they are. The cooks seem to understand what needs to be made for dinner." Eraser smiled again.
"Is there anything else that needs to be done besides cleaning the dining room?" she asked. Sharpener shook his head.
"Not that I can think of. I think we've got everything under control."
"Good," Eraser said, "The rest of the manor needs tidying up, so I'll instruct more of the maids to clean it up, as per their usual jobs." Eraser and Sharpener continued to talk about what work was needed around the manor; being the head caretakers of Gohan's estate, they were very involved in the upkeep of the pristine conditions that surrounded their lord. Once they were finished discussing what work needed to be done, both husband and wife went off to assign people to certain jobs to make sure that everything, as always, was perfect.
***
Gohan took his time in finishing his breakfast, not noticing that his final piece of bacon was cold when he put it in his mouth. He sat staring at the fire for several moments, allowing himself to be calmed down by the hypnotic motions of the flames. No emotion existed in his eyes as he stared at the flames. He simply didn't allow it to be there. His bitterness at the world for taking away his beloved wife had turned him cold-hearted, a change that worried his family greatly. Gohan didn't care what his family thought of him. He only wanted things to go back to the way things were when she was alive.
Shoving the thoughts aside, Gohan stood up and walked away from the fire, leaving his plates from breakfast for the maid to clean up. He dressed, putting on the outfit that had been picked out for him before he woke up. Finally dressed in tan breeches, a white dress shirt, a deep blue overcoat, and his black boots, Gohan was ready to leave his room and begin work on managing his estate. Not bothering to tame his rebellious black, spiky hair (which was very unusual for a Duke to possess), Gohan left the sanctuary of his room and proceeded to his study, his gait purposeful and his strides wide.
He passed many of the manor servants on his way, all of them who bowed to him as he walked by. Gohan didn't even give them a second glance as he continued on his journey to his study. Every once in a while, though, Gohan's gaze would stray from straight ahead, catching a painting or two that hung from the wood-paneled walls. Gohan allowed a microscopic smile to appear on his face at the thought of the artwork that he possessed. One of Gohan's main interests was art and he had taken a great deal of effort (and money) into expanding his art collection, buying rare and expensive pieces from dealers who worked in London. It was part of Gohan's life that he wasn't afraid to brag about to others when social duty forced him to attend royal social functions and the like.
I do hope I don't have to attend another one of those for a long while, Gohan thought to himself as he rounded a large corner and stopped, the large door to his study right in front of him. He swiftly opened the doors and entered, closing them behind him gently, as to not cause a lot of noise. He passed both the built-in bookshelves and the fireplace as he crossed the room to sit at his large, oak desk, covered with papers and books that Gohan dealt with every day.
Sitting down in his chair, he noticed the day's press was sitting atop of his pile of business papers, most likely put there by the maid who started the fire. As per usual, Gohan set aside business for pleasure, opening the paper and reading what happened in the world lately.
After taking about an hour out of his time reading the paper, Gohan finished it and set it aside, sighing to himself as he realized he should get down to work on his monthly job of balancing his accounts, adding up his income and subtracting his expenses from the last month's total. Gohan was pleased to see that, although a lot of money was invested in art, his total gain was more than his total expenses, giving him more money than the last month.
He was thankful for the fact that he had inherited all of his money, and that his status earned him a significant amount of money each year. If he couldn't live his privileged lifestyle, there wouldn't be anything left for him. His art and pursuit for knowledge were the only things keeping him interested in life and his money was keeping him supplied with new pieces of art and new books, quenching his thirst for both of his main hobbies.
Gohan continued to work for several more hours, doing paperwork, drawing up contracts, and, in general, managing the general affairs of his estate. Gohan put his quill down and sighed, rubbing his eyes out of exhaustion. He had been at work all day and had even worked through lunch. Deciding that it was time to take a break, Gohan got up and stretched, loosening up the muscles in his neck that had cramped up due to hours of bending over papers.
Something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and Gohan slowly walked over to the fireplace, looking at the mantle above it. With one slow, shaky movement, Gohan grabbed the small portrait that adorned the center of the mantle and sighed sadly.
"Oh, Isabel…" he breathed, looking down at the portrait in his hands. A small gold frame, beautifully setting off the woman who was portrayed in the painting, surrounded the hand-sized portrait. The young woman was a devastating beauty, with rich, dark brown hair and startling green eyes. A Mona Lisa smile rested on her face, Gohan's heart clenching as he looked at a wonderful likeness of his late wife.
"My English queen with a Spanish name. Why did you have to leave me?" Gohan asked the picture, tears springing to his eyes as he remembered her, remembering all of the happy times he spent with her. He remembered the first time he laid eyes on her. Meeting her at a ball thrown by a distant cousin of his, he fell in love with her at first sight, taken away by her beauty and charm. Isabel, the daughter of a lesser lord, was as taken with him as he was with her. The two continued to meet, Gohan, despite his gentlemanly nature, a nervous wreck each time they met.
He eventually gathered up the courage to propose to her. Once she happily accepted, arrangements were made between the two families and Gohan's family was happy to take Isabel in as one of them, approving of her at Gohan's side. Gohan had been so happy. Too bad it wasn't to last. I only had her in my life for 3 years before she passed away. Why must life be so unfair? Gohan thought, tears now running freely down his face.
"My dearest, I miss you so much," Gohan murmured, putting down the portrait as he laid his head in his hands, sobs coming freely to him as he lamented over the death of his beloved Isabel.
***
In the early evening, the rickety sounds of a carriage being pulled by two purebred horses filled the air, mixing with the sounds that nature was making around them. It one were close enough to the carriage, one would be able to hear the sounds of family conversation accompanied by the occasional occurrence of a mother issuing a scolding in a loud voice. The driver of the carriage simply shook his head in disbelief at the behaviors of his passengers as he continued to guide the carriage towards its destination.
The carriage rode over a hill, a large edifice slowly being revealed as the carriage ascended up the hill. The driver smiled. He was almost there. Then, he could drop off his passengers and be rid of their loud conversation for a few hours while he joined the servants of the household and partook in the evening meal. It wasn't much longer until the carriage reached the manor, slowing to a stop as the driver led the horses to the front entrance. A doorman approached the halted carriage and opened the door, letting the occupants step out into the evening air.
"It was a scandal, I tell you," a gossipy female exclaimed as she exited, "She made such a spectacle of herself that I don't think she'll ever be able to show herself in the public sphere again." (AN: ::FateChica rolls her eyes:: I bet you all can't guess who's talking…).
"Hmm," a man said, absently listening to his wife's chatter. As a young man of about 14 stepped out of the carriage, the woman turned to her husband and shot a glare at him.
"Goku, are you even listening to me?" she demanded. Goku flinched at his wife's tone and nodded.
"Yes, Chi-Chi, I am listening to you. I'm just excited at seeing Gohan again," Goku said as he and his family walked up the steps to the front door, walking through the front door that had been opened for them, "It's been so long since we've visited him." Chi-Chi nodded, resting her hand on Goten's shoulder as the door shut behind them, only having to remove it as a butler removed her cloak.
"I know. He doesn't really like it when we visit, but he's my son and I love him," Chi-Chi said. Goten sighed and decided to enter the conversation.
"I wish Gohan was the way he used to be, mother," Goten said softly. Chi-Chi smiled down at her youngest son.
"We all do, Goten," Chi-Chi said tenderly as they were led to the sitting room, where Gohan was waiting for them. He was staring at the fire, leaning against the mantle and looked almost as if the flames entranced him. Hearing movement, Gohan turned his head and looked towards the entrance of the room. The butler announced them and then left, leaving the small family to reunite. Chi-Chi rushed forward and embraced her son, who embraced her back. Goku, however, hung back for a couple of moments, inspecting his son.
The older Duke of Chatham looked deep in thought about his son, noticing the sadness behind his semi-happy gaze. I can remember when he was so happy. We used to be here all the time, dining with him and Isabel. How different times were back when she was alive, Goku thought, looking at the young man who he had passed his responsibilities down to. Although born into the status of Duke of Chatham, Goku had never wanted the responsibilities that the title held. He was a much simpler man, preferring to spend his time with his family instead of managing estates.
Business and finance wasn't Goku's forte and, since Gohan was much better suited for the job, so to speak, when Gohan was of proper age, Goku handed over his responsibilities to Gohan, almost like an unofficial retirement. Gohan took up his father's position with no complaints, knowing he was doing a much better job than his father had done previously. Goku shook his thoughts aside and also moved to greet his oldest son.
"Good evening, son," Goku said, giving Gohan a firm hug. Gohan allowed a small smile to creep its way onto his face.
"Hello, father. It's good to see you," Gohan answered, sincere for the moment, knowing that once his parents started bugging him about moving on with his life, he would want them gone. Goten approached from the side.
"What about me, Gohan?" Goten asked, 14 years old and still acting like he was 7. Gohan had to chuckle as he mussed Goten's hair.
"It's good to see you too," Gohan stated. He turned and looked at all of his family members.
"Shall we head off to dinner?" Gohan continued, looking at his family expectantly. The other three nodded and, as a group, headed off in the direction of the dining room, Gohan at the head, leading his family down the long hallway.
"So," Chi-Chi began, "how is everything over here?"
"It's fine," Gohan said, letting his detached tone of voice creep back into his words. Chi-Chi looked sullen at Gohan's tone, but refrained from remarking. The four arrived at the large dining room, walking over to the other end of the long table and sitting down. Gohan sat at the head of the table with Chi-Chi and Goku on his right and Goten at his left. The servants, who had been waiting patiently in the dining room for Gohan and his family to arrive, immediately scurried off to the kitchens to fetch the food that had been prepared for them.
It was a short wait for the food and, once it arrived, the small family began eating in earnest, except for Chi-Chi who retained her ladylike manners as she ate, eating delicately in comparison to her husband and her sons. The only conversation at the table was provided by Goten, reciting to Gohan all the recent events that had occurred, down to every little detail. Gohan merely nodded to show that he was paying attention and Goten, encouraged by his brother's motions, kept on talking. Goku was fairly concentrated on his food, focusing on it as if it were his last meal. Chi-Chi, while she ate, focused her attentions on Gohan, eating mechanically as her son came to the forefront of her mind.
Although Gohan was paying attention to what Goten was saying, Chi-Chi could still see the cold look in his eyes and a small shiver traveled down her spine. She vainly wished for things to be the way they were before Isabel died.
My son wouldn't be like this now if it weren't for her death, Chi-Chi thought, What an unfortunate accident. Chi-Chi frowned slightly as she thought about the details of Isabel's death. He lost his wife and his son in the same day, the son he never got to know. Such a shame she died in childbirth. We thought she would be able to handle it; her body seemed able enough to handle the pains that came with childbirth. But, it wasn't meant to be. The child had turned inside her body, with no way of righting it. She had died from pain while the child, Gohan's son, my grandchild, died from suffocation, Chi-Chi thought sadly, pain stabbing at her heart.
Isabel had been like a daughter to her and her grandson would have become one of the most precious things in her life. It pained Chi-Chi even more to know that her son had been living a miserable existence since Isabel's death. She wasn't fooled; Chi-Chi knew the coldness was all a mask to cover his immense grief, that he wasn't able to handle the emotions coursing through him so, instead of dealing with them, he chose to lock them away. The feelings of sadness for her son grew so great inside of her that they just burst, causing her to interrupt the conversation at hand.
"Gohan," she said softly and firmly, "I have been thinking. I think you should remarry." Gohan shot his mother a glance.
"Mother, I don't want to remarry. How many times have I had to tell you?" Gohan barked, angry that, once again, his mother had brought up the topic. Tears shimmered in Chi-Chi's eyes as she looked at Gohan.
"I only want you to be happy again," Chi-Chi exclaimed, "I hate seeing you this way. Ever since Isabel died, you've shut yourself off. What happened to the sweet little boy I raised?" Gohan sighed and looked at his mother.
"He died two years ago, mother. The man before you know is not the son you remember," Gohan forced out, his voice low due to the effort of containing his anger.
"But why can't he come back? I know that if you opened yourself up again, you'd be able to find someone who would make you happy!" Chi-Chi cried. Gohan glared at his mother, a silent sign that the conversation was just about over.
"I don't want somebody else," Gohan stated, "All I want is to have Isabel back and for you to stop meddling in my life. You have no business in how I live my life or what I do with it. Just keep to yourself and stop bothering me." Chi-Chi was taken aback by her son's words, hurt at the disrespect and loathing in them. She visibly shrank back into her chair, picking up her fork once more.
"I'm sorry Gohan. I won't meddle in your life anymore," Chi-Chi said, her voice scantly higher than a whisper.
"Good," Gohan said, his tone curt. With sullen looks apparent on every face, the small family began to eat again. No one dared to speak after the sudden outburst that had just occurred; they were all too afraid that any talking would only result in another argument.
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Well, what did we think? Pretty different from a lot of other G/V fics, eh? Well, I think so, at any rate. I bet you all thought that Videl had been Gohan's first wife and that she had been the one who died, didn't ya? Well...maybe some of you didn't. Hehe...just wait until you read about Videl in the next chapter. I can guarantee it that you're going to be surprised. I feel like a genius (and I know that's just my ego talking, so don't worry). Hopefully the next chapter will be up by the weekend. I have a pretty busy week up ahead, but hopefully I'll have some time to write.