~ Family Obligations (Inuyasha) Read full
The bells tolled midnight.
“He’s dead.”
A sob escaped from one of the corners of the tiny room.
“What’s to be done with his assets?” the doctor coldly inquired.
“They go to pay his bills, I ‘spose” a women replied with a shrug. “Yer medicine and ‘is lodgin’ for ‘is room.” She looked over at the young girl who still lay in the corner crying her misery. “Won’t be too much left for ‘er” she commented with a shake of her head.
“Perhaps I may have a use for her” the doctor spoke up as he cast a lustful gaze on her full but thin figure.
Hard as she was with life’s misery, even the woman bristled at such a suggestion.
“There’ll be no ‘aggling here for a young girl’s life” the landlady growled at the doctor. “Especially not when they be one of me own boarders.”
“I was merely making a suggestion for her to, ahem, assist me in my work” he replied without shame.
“I know what ‘assistin’ you were referrin’ to” she returned with contempt. “There’ll be none of that ‘ere, so you may as well take yer pay and leave.”
The doctor bowed his head with a grin on his face, picked up a small purse beside the bed as payment, and stood to his feet. The young girl in the corner seemed not to notice as he left her company, nor did she object to the last interested gaze he gave before shutting the door.
“Now there!” the landlady shouted as the young girl’s attention was finally caught.
The orphan, for she was indeed now without a parent, lifted her strawberry-blond head and through her blue tear-stained eyes looked in confusion at the call.
“There’s no use cryin’ for ‘im now, missy” the housekeeper scolded. “There’ll be plenty of time to do that later as soon as he’s done and buried.”
A few loose, silent tears fell across her cheeks, but the girl nodded her head and stood to her feet.
“Thatta girl!” the older woman exclaimed in approval. “Now fetch the priest and wake the gravedigger. Fall is coming and he’ll charge more if the ground freezes afore we get yer father buried.”
“Yes, ma’am” the girl replied as she shuffled out the door to care for her errands.
“Poor child” the lady commented as she looked back at the shrouded body in the bed. “You up and die without leavin’ her more than a few cents and no one to call family.” She sighed heavily as she sat down upon the bed. “But I’ll do ya some good by gettin’ her a good home to tend, by my word I will.”
The deed was done.
The weather kept it’s dreary atmosphere as the two lone occupants stood over the freshly dug grave. The young girl couldn’t hold back a few loose tears as she bent down and placed some worn flowers over the unmarked plot of dirt. A headstone cost more than she could afford.
“He would’ve liked those” the landlady tried to cheer.
“I know” the girl softly replied as she stood up.
They both watched as the raindrops settled softly upon the wilted flowers, giving them a second chance at life before they succumbed to death. The woman coughed before she spoke again.
“Ah’ve found you a place to work” she bluntly informed.
“What?” the girl asked in confusion as she looked up at the landlady.
“Now don’t go givin’ me that face” she scolded with a scowl. “Yer father would’ve wanted you ta find a place to keep yerself.”
“I can’t stay with you?” the young woman replied.
“I haven’t the room” the landlady explained, but her temper cooled as she noticed the saddened eyes of the girl at the thought of leaving. “Yer father-”
“My father’s dead” the girl quietly interrupted as she turned her face away.
The older woman looked at her thoughtfully before sighing.
“Yer right, Seras” she agreed as she wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders. “So there’s nothin’ fer you to do but go on living without, wherever that may take ya.” She looked down at the simple grave. “Perhaps you will meet yer end here, for all God gives us, but ah’ve given ya a good start at somethin’ better.”
“Where is it?” Seras softly inquired.
“A small village called Cheddar” the landlady explained. “Some fifty miles from here.”
“Fifty miles?” the young girl repeated in disbelief. “But that means I can’t visit papa...”
“Mayhaps you can some day” the older woman tried to cheer as she suddenly shivered. “But we won’t do nothin’ but catch a cold standin’ in this blasted rain!” she advised as she turned away toward the grimy city below the graveyard hill.
She noticed Seras had not followed, and she turned to see the young woman looking down upon the grave one last time. The landlady placed a heavy hand upon her shoulder and slowly led the girl away to the small comfort their home would bring.
And even that would not last long for the girl known as Seras Victoria.
“Come on, come on!” a man harshly yelled at his passengers as he threw their luggage on top of the carriage. “‘urry up! We don’t have all day, ya know!”
“Sir?” Seras tried to ask as she was jostled about by the people around her. “Sir!”
“What is it?” he growled at the young girl amid the noise.
“Is this the coach to Cheddar?” she timidly questioned.
“Yeah, who wants to know?” the coachman replied.
“I have a ticket here for your coach” Seras explained as she rummaged through her dirty bag to find the paper.
She soon found the slip among her few belongings and held out the ticked to the man, who quickly snatched it from her hand. He perused the contents and grumbled as he tore off a corner with his mouth for proof of purchase and handed her the remains.
“We leave in five minutes” he grudgingly explained. “Got any luggage to be packed?”
“No, sir, only this bag” she said as she held up her worn bag made of miscellaneous cloth.
“Keep it” he scoffed as he waved it away. “Just make sure yer inside before we take off. Ah make good time no matter who’s left behind” he warned as he began strapping down the luggage.
“All right” Seras quietly agreed as she turned away to look at the large crowd at the coach station.
Seras looked about the bustling throngs of people in the early morning hour going at their business, each to his own accord. Fisherman and vegetable carts wheeled past showing off the last of the old year’s bounty as elegant women and smartly dressed men held their heads high and roundly ignored the beggars taking alms along the corners.
Pickpockets made their rounds while bobbies watched for the usual suspects. Women with children in tow traveled through on their way to shopping or the visiting of friends. All in all the place was crowded with those people most accustomed to making their own way, and Seras felt sorely out of place in this area she did not know.
Suddenly she felt someone violently smash into her from behind and she fell to the ground amid a puddle of murky water.
“Blast it all” she muttered as she struggled to her feet and looked at her once suitable dress.
The fabric was ruined and she could feel the water slowing soaking through to her undergarments. Seras looked up to her offender and scowled at a middle aged gentleman who wore a plain suit. He wore a top hat above his sandy short hair and his blue eyes looked at her with an interested gaze.
“Sorry about that” the man apologized. “In this crowd I’m afraid my footing gave way and you caught me” he explained, not without a little mirth in his eyes. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
“I believe you’ve done enough” she muttered as she tried her best to wipe away the chunks of mud and other unmentionables.
“Perhaps I can pay the price of your ticket?” he suggested as he noticed the stub in her muddy hand. “Where are you headed?”
“Cheddar” Seras replied, and she was surprised when he raised a brow.
“What a chance” he commented. His lips turned up in a friendly smile. “The very place I am headed.” Seras was more bewildered as he took her filthy hand and planted a kiss on her skin. “The name is Harry Anders. And yours?” he gallantly asked.
“S-seras...Seras Victoria” she replied amid her shock.
“A pleasure” he complimented as he tilted his head at the call of their coachman. “I believe it’s time for us to depart” he assumed.
“Yeah” Seras weakly replied as he released her hand and offered his arm.
“May I?” Harry asked.
“I-I guess” she accepted as she wrapped her arm around his own.
He escorted her the short distance to their carriage and opened the door.
“Allow me” he requested as he helped her up the rickety step and into the dark interior.
Seras, used to the stench of the slums, found the close confines wreaking of an odor even she could barely stand. She covered her nose with a hand and sat down on the worn cushion which faced the front of the carriage.
Harry soon entered and, at a single whiff, promptly threw open all the windows he could pry down off their rusty tracks.
“What a smell, eh?” he commented with a smile as he plopped himself down opposite his new acquaintance.
“Yes” Seras sheepishly replied as she turned her head away and out the nearest window.
Their coachman made one final call before they suddenly felt the horses jump forward and jerkily pull the coach with them. The speed of the vehicle shifted up and down as they wound their way through the maze of streets and throngs of people.
“So why are you traveling to Cheddar?” Harry nonchalantly asked. “Visiting?”
“Actually, I have a job waiting for me” Seras explained.
His interest peeked at her words.
“And where perhaps might be your place of employment?” he questioned. “Certainly not one of the local bars, I hope.”
“No, no” she affirmed with a laugh and a shake of her head. “I’ve been employed as a maid to one of the older families there. There name is...um.” Seras looked down and rummaged through her bag for the letter which had been sent from her new employer. “Ah!” she exclaimed as she brought out the large envelope.
“Quite a seal” Mr. Anders noted as he glimpsed the red waxed emblem.
“It is, isn’t it?” she agreed as she opened the letter and looked down at the fancy scrawling. “A gentleman by the name of Hellsing.”
“Hellsing?!” Harry exclaimed so suddenly that Seras looked up in surprise.
“You know them?” she inquired.
“Well, no, that is, not personally” he explained as he settled back into the moth-ridden cushion. “I’ve merely heard the name.”
“Then do you know what sort of family they are?” Seras curiously asked. “I’m afraid I don’t know any more than the letter I’ve received.”
“And yet you’re traveling across half the countryside to work as a maid?” Harry noted with both disapproval and a slightly favorable impression. “May I ask how you came to know about such a position so far from the city?”
“From an ad in the paper” she informed.
“Then you can read?” he asked in open amazement.
“A little” Seras admitted as she nervously scratched the back of her head. “My father taught me...”
Poor memories surfaced with her single admission, and Harry noted the change.
“Well, you seem to have impressed your new employer enough to acquire the position” he stated. “I congratulate you on your skill, and your good luck.”
“Thank you” she accepted. “But what about you?” she asked. “What brings you to Cheddar?”
“Merely for the weather” he explained. “My health is not very well suited to the city and my doctor advised the fresh air of the countryside.”
Seras looked at his robust figure and strong manner in which he spoke and would have doubted his words had she any reason. For now she merely accepted his story and turned to watch as the scenery changed from the drab and filthy narrow streets to the open pastures of the farms.
The carriage drove down many lonely roads and over many hills before it reached the first of many stops for the travelers and coachman. The journey was too far to make in a single day, and would require the span of several to reach the small village amidst the rolling mountains.
Fortunately Seras’ travel expenses had been generously paid by her employer, and she had no need to worry about her food nor lodgings. Harry was again surprised to hear all had been taken care of for the young new servant, but he again congratulated her on the fine new position and the care her new employer apparently felt should be taken for her.
The days passed with the coachman keeping to himself, only announcing arrivals and departures. The two travelers entertained one another with stories of their lives and praise for the beautiful scenery they traveled through.
Then the time of final destination arrived and the coachman atop the bench called their attention to the approaching village.
Seras stuck her head out the window and, against a soft wind and the encroaching dusk, viewed a small town nestled at the base of several small hills. She could see a large church and a cemetery in the distance, along with a few shops and houses which lined the main thoroughfare. The citizens appeared to be closing their businesses as the lights were blown out and windows were shut as they passed through.
The coach itself drew up to a small building at the end of the main road, and the coachman dropped off his box and opened the door. His face held a large, toothless smile as he gestured extravagantly for them to step down.
“Welcome to Cheddar” the coachman announced with a strange glint in his eyes. “‘ope ya like it ‘ere.”