A Heart's Recompense
Chapter 21
The car came to a stop a few yards from where Naraku waited. The two men who had brought Sango to him stood by his side.
Miroku turned off the engine and adjusted his cap lower to hide his face. It was dark and he had stopped far enough away that he was confident that Naraku would not recognize him. Without turning, he gave his final instructions and hoped that Sesshoumaru would cooperate.
"The two humans you see are not his only employees present. Please remember that. We don't know yet where he is holding your son. Please control yourself until we find him and secure his safety. That is our primary objective."
Sesshoumaru growled.
"I will not endanger my son. But once he is safe, all bets are off. Naraku is mine."
Miroku sighed.
"Let's concentrate on one thing at a time."
Kagome reached for Sesshoumaru's hand. He looked at her and wrapped his large hand around her small one giving it a reassuring squeeze. His eyes reminded her of his promise. She knew in that instance that he would get Kazuki back for her. She had faith in him.
Miroku got slowly out of the car and walked around to the passenger side making sure he made no suspicious movements. He opened the door and stood back as Sesshoumaru got out and then helped Kagome out.
Sesshoumaru put a hand on Kagome's waist and gave her a gentle push forward. Then he let her go and put some space between them. Just in case he needed to be free to fight. Miroku stood next to the car, all senses on alert.
Naraku watched the little miko and the dog approach. She was not at all what he expected. She was quite pretty for a human. Much too pretty to be his enemy. He decided to alter his plans a bit.
"That's far enough. You were instructed to come alone."
"You are the one who requested her presence."
"I didn't mean her. I meant the other human. Did you think you could get away with slipping one of your security people in?"
Sesshoumaru feigned confusion.
"My driver? You didn't seriously think I would drive myself?"
Naraku laughed.
"I suppose not."
"Where is my son?"
"What? No pleasant conversation before we conduct our business?"
"There is nothing pleasant about a conversation with you. Where is my son?"
"You are so impatient. Won't you at least introduce me to your lovely miko?"
"There is no need for introductions. You will never see again."
"My, my. So confident." He sneered. "Have you forgotten I hold your heir?"
"That is the only reason you are still among the living. Now where is he?"
"He's in good hands."
Sesshoumaru knew that if he could make him bring Kazuki out into the open their chances would be better. They couldn't move until they knew where he was.
"Show me."
"If you insist."
He gestured to one of his men. The man opened the car door and stepped back with a screaming Kazuki in his arms. Kagome started forward only to meet with a strong barrier in the form of Sesshoumaru's arm.
"Kazuki!"
Hearing his mother's voice only increased the pup's distress.
"Mama!"
Sesshoumaru issued a low growl from his throat. The pup ceased his whining almost at once. He didn't know the man next to his mother but he recognized the soothing growl of an alpha male. It reminded him of his grandfather.
Now that they knew where Kazuki was and that he was unharmed, Miroku was ready to act. He spoke low enough that only his people wearing the wires could hear.
"Get ready to move in. Take out any of his people in the vicinity. Quietly. Don't converge on the target until I give the signal. We have to get the child away from him."
He knew they had to exercise extreme caution. Anything could set the hanyou off. He would not hesitate to kill the child first.
Kagome struggled to get past Sesshoumaru.
"Give me my son!"
Naraku chuckled as his lewd gaze slid down the miko's body. Something that Sesshoumaru did not miss.
"And what, my dear, would you be willing to exchange for him?"
"Anything! Anything I have is yours. Just give him to me. Please!"
Inside the car, Sango cringed at the desperation in her friend's voice. How had her friend, a miko, fallen so low as to beg for a hanyou's life? She supposed that a mother's instinct to protect really didn't differentiate. This is why she'd had to act when she did. Before Kagome was completely lost to her.
Naraku nodded at her answer. Perfect. She would be compliant as long as she thought it would gain her son's release. The dog would not act if it would endanger his son. He would savor his memories of this night for a very long time.
"Very well. We shall adjourn to a more private setting."
He indicated the ship behind them.
"So thoughtful of you to dock one of your ships here while it is being refitted. It will do quite nicely as the setting to conclude our business transaction."
Sesshoumaru was aware that the ship belonged to Taisho shipping. What he didn't know was why it was deserted. There should be a crew and maintenance personnel present. But he could sense no one.
"What did you do with the crew?"
Naraku smirked.
"They are having a well deserved night on the town. At my expense of course. You really should treat your employees better."
Sesshoumaru seethed. He would treat them all right. Once this was over. They would learn the price of their disloyalty and incompetence.
Naraku gestured to the man holding Kazuki.
"Give him back to the slayer. I need you to entertain the driver."
"Understood."
"Come out my dear. There really is no reason to hide. I have need of you."
Sango closed her eyes as she realized the hanyou had no intention of allowing her to hide her involvement. She had hoped to avoid a confrontation with Kagome. Once everything was over, she had intended to be there to help her grieve for her child. All the while pointing out that his being the son of such a powerful demon was the reason for his death. After a reasonable amount of time she would set her up with a human. Then she could be truly happy. With her own kind.
There was no avoiding it now that the hanyou had called her out. She slid out of the car only to have the child shoved into her arms almost before she could stand. Naraku strolled to her side and handed her a long bladed knife.
"I'm sure you know how to use this. As a slayer you should have been trained to wield many weapons. If the dog or your little miko friend fail to cooperate, kill the child."
Kagome was stunned. She had begun to believe that Sango had been the one who caused Sesshoumaru to abandon her and Kazuki. She had a much harder time believing that she had anything to do with Kazuki's kidnapping. She couldn't deny the evidence of her own eyes.
"Why Sango? Tell me why!"
Sango turned her saddened gaze to her friend in time to see Sesshoumaru pull her into his arms. She narrowed her eyes. Her face was a mask of hatred.
"Someone had to stop you from betraying your heritage. To think that a miko, from a long line of mikos and priests, would lay with a demon. Have a half-breed child. You are a traitor to humanity. I have to help you reclaim your honor."
Kagome pushed herself free of Sesshoumaru's hold. She didn't want his comfort. She was furious. The anger welled up until she couldn't contain it any longer.
"Honor? What would you know about honor? Was it honorable to lie to my child's father? You know what I went through after he left. Thanks to you. Was it honorable to have my child kidnapped? Is it honorable to threaten my child with a weapon? You betrayed me! You are a traitor to our friendship. A friendship I now doubt ever existed. You don't hurt your friends. If you ever considered yourself my friend, you will give me my son."
"No. I can't do that. Don't you see? He's a demon. You are a human. The two should never mix. You're a miko. You know this. You were raised with the same beliefs that I was. Your grandfather disowned you. Doesn't that tell you it's wrong?"
"Yes. It tells me it's wrong. Wrong for small minded people to cling to the old prejudices. How can you look at that beautiful child you hold and tell me he shouldn't exist? You are the one who is wrong, Sango. You're just too blind to see it."
"Enough!"
Naraku's patience was at an end.
"While your little argument is entertaining, I have other things to do. Come with me. It's time to conclude our business."
He pushed Sango ahead of him and walked toward the ship. Two demons met him there as his human lackeys strolled to where Miroku waited with the car. Sesshoumaru and Kagome followed Naraku.
They had just gained the ships deck when they heard two shots. Naraku shook his head. Trust the incompetent humans to not get it done with one.
Sesshoumaru stiffened at the sound of the gunshots. Kagome jerked in his hold.
"No. Miroku."
The tears she had been holding back began to fall unchecked. Fear took over. Would any of them leave here alive?
To be continued…