InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Egypt Bound ❯ How Much Is A Life Worth? ( Chapter 5 )

How Much Is A Life Worth?

The two women descended into the bowels of the ship to find the office of the head of staff, who was not known for her benevolence-that is, if she heard you with her "good" ear. Kagome pounded on the metal door three times, but no one answered. She tried again. Not a peep. So Sango decided to take control of the situation and screamed at the tops of her lungs,"OY! YA' OLD BAG OPEN THIS BLOODY DOOR! WE AIN'T GOT ALL FECKIN' DAY FER CHRISSAKE!!" Suddenly, she heard a lock turn, then the door creaked open revealing a short and stumpy old woman with hair that birds could nest in. She sneered at Sango and her obviously wealthy companion.

"Come'n," grunted the old woman. Kagome stepped into the "office", which really was no more than a glorified broom closet with stack upon messy stack of paperwork. The old bag plopped her fat bum on a swiveling stool and picked at her teeth with one of her many hairpins; "this is not a good sign" thought Kagome.

"Well, speak yer piece an' gettouttahere. I gots things ta do ye know. I got me `ousekeepin' ta do," the old bag spat. Kagome mustered up some resolve she had hidden somewhere deep down, and decided that if she wanted to be perceived as upper class, she had to do what they do best-talk down to others.

"I understand that there has been a problem with my maid, Miss..err.."

"Kaede."

"…Miss Kaede."

"Yes'm."

"Please enlighten me, Miss Kaede, I do not see what the problem is," Kagome looked down her nose at Kaede, who had started snorting. Kagome had no idea that she was a regular comedienne and began to unleash her inner snob. "What are you laughing at? Tell me why my servant cannot leave this boat!" Kaede settled down to a low chuckle and glared at Kagome, then Sango.

"'Cuz she ain't yers, lady. She's belonged ta me since she was fourteen, sold into my service when `er Da hit the sod. Mum di'int want no part o' her, since they was hard-press'd fer cash, an' tha bugga left `em not even a bleedin' cent." Sango got up in the woman's wrinkled face.

"Don't you dare talk about me Da like that! `e was a good man!" she protested.

"Siddown! Yer "master" wants ta speak ta me bizness like, so mind yer trap!" Kaede turned to Kagome as Sango went to stand beside her. " So ye think she's yers eh? Name yer price," wrinkles cheekbones rose to reveal rotted teeth as the decrepit one sneered.

" You can NOT place a price on a person's life! That's ludicrous! "

"Keh! Ya don't get out much do ya? Everything `as a price, luv. Sango is very valuable ta me, so she's gonna cost ya." Kagome knew what "valuable" meant; Sango knew too much about important people to be let go, and the more she knew, the more those people would pay to keep their secrets under wraps.

"Two-hundred pounds."

"Oy, ya gotta do better than that sweet'eart,"

"Three hundred,"

"You couldn't make me fart for three hundred,"

"Fine! Five hundred pounds,"

"Piss on that! That wouldn't feed the feckin'rats!"

"Six hundred, final offer!" Kagome stood steadfast as the witch pondered the heady sum. Kagome knew full well that not even the maids in the Queen's palace garnered a wage that high-but Sango was no ordinary maid. Kaede scratched her tit and popped her knuckles as she leaned forward. The girls nearly died from her breath.

"Six-an' a half or she stays put."

"Six and a quarter or you get nothing!" Kaede thought for a second, then stood up and put forward a stained hand.

"Yer a hard bargainer, me dear. I `ate ta see tha lil' wench go, she was like a daughter ta me, but `opefully she'll do well by ya." Kagome reluctantly took the woman's hand at Sango's silent urging and handed over the promised amount.

"Come on Sango, my luggage is waiting," Kagome said as snootily as she could.

"Oy, let `er say goo'bye ta me one last time, eh?" the old one pleaded.

"Fine, I'll wait outside for her," she said to Kaede. "And Sango, collect your effects quickly," Kagome ordered. Sango shook her head yes. Kagome promptly left and shut the door behind her. Once she was gone, Kaede shuffled closer to Sango and said softly,

"'ave you told `er yet?"

"No, "

"You better tell `er soon if ya wants ta save yer skins,"

"I'll do it soon,"

"Good. Keep yer chin up girl, yer on yer own now," Kaede said sweetly.

"Thanks Kaede,"

"Just be glad I didn't tell her the whole story, an' thank God fer givin ya another

chance."

"I will. Thanks Auntie. I'll miss you." Sango turned before she touched the door handle.

"You too luv, you too." Sango smiled and walked into her new life.

*****A/N: Ok, I know Kaede is not how she's depicted in normal fanfics, but I'm trying to go for character here, since in the series Inuyasha always calls her an old bag ( or at least it's equivalent). If the dialogue sounds weird, it's because I'm attempting to write cockney English, which is obviously waaayy different from the polished English of the upper crust. Just try and bear with me here, and if you like, REVIEW! I only do stuff if someone is on my back about it, so if you want more, drop me a line (or 2). No flaming please!