DISCLAIMER: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!

Empty Threats

By MissKatt

Goals

"Where are yah takin' me?" Kagome asked quietly, her nerves tight with dread. Why was he pulling her further and further away from the saloon? Her eyes widened slightly when she realized they were nearing the bank. "Mr Naraku?"

He dropped his disguise as he looked at her, blood red eyes staring down at her cruelly. "I am taking you somewhere where we can be alone."

She clenched her fist and started to pull her arm from his hold. "I-I don't want to go anywhere with yah. Take me back to the saloon." She commanded, but her voice wavered as he glared at her.

He tightened his hold on her frail wrist. "Too bad, little human. You are going to help me when the Moon Bandits come."

Her heart fluttered at the thought of Sesshoumaru coming to save her. However, a small part of her hated the thought of being saved. She always considered herself somewhat strong and she didn't want to be a damsel in distress. She relaxed her arm in his grasp and waited until his hand loosened slightly before swiftly kicking her foot up between his legs. Instantly, his grip vanished from her arm as he cupped his precious loins.

She quickly turned and bolted away from him, but only made it a few feet before and impossibly tight grip grabbed the bun on the back of her head. She winced as she felt a few hairs get pulled from her scalp as she was violently jerked back. With a pained cry, she landed hard on her back, her lacerations splitting back open.

Naraku pounced on the woman, his hand enclosing around her throat and applying enough pressure that she choked. "Do not test me, human. I may want you alive when the bandits come, but I do not need you to be. I can easily kill them on my own. Do you understand?"

She couldn't answer him, she was too busy trying to gulp in air and claw at his vice-like grip. When his grip eased up a little, she inhaled sharply. She glared at him and rasped out, "You'll be dying by Sesshoumaru's hand, and there ain't no doubt in my mind." Another cry escaped her when his fist connected with the side of her face, her vision blurring from the force.

"Know your place, whore!" He spat and stood up from her. Taking in her disoriented state, he easily hoisted her light body over his shoulder and made his way to his bank.

~*ET*~

Following the scent of her blood, Sesshoumaru stalked down the dirt street, amber eyes darting between each alleyway to make sure he wasn't missing anything. He suddenly stopped when he saw the dark smear of blood on the gravel in front of him. He kneeled down on one knee and touched his fingertips to it. He didn't have to raise it to his nose to know it was hers.

"They were just here, it is still warm." He commented darkly, eyes narrowing in hate. He would make the half-demon suffer for drawing Kagome's blood.

"He must be taking her to the bank." Touga replied, the scent of her blood heavy in the air. He looked straight down the road to where the bank stood, a single candle light flickering in the window.

He was taunting them.

"Inuyasha," His father began. "Stay out here and secure the perimeter. Your brother and I will go inside and handle Naraku. Make sure to take heed of any innocent people; I do not want them getting caught up in any crossfire."

He nodded and cracked his knuckles. "I got it covered!"

He nodded once and then turned towards Sesshoumaru. "Try to stay rational, Sesshoumaru. This is not the time to be brash."

Sesshoumaru ignored him as they approached the entrance to the bank. The two pressed their backs against the walls next to the door and each peered in carefully, making sure there were no visible threats or traps. Once deeming the area was safe, they both stepped into the bank, amber eyes darting around the wooden building for any sign of Naraku.

The younger moon bandit suddenly stiffened when a pained groan reached his ears. Eyes set into a firm glare he stepped closer to the counter. As soon as he was close enough, Naraku sprang up from behind the counter, a battered-looking Kagome held in front of him. His lips lifted in a snarl as the barrel of a pistol was pressed to her temple.

"Coward." He growled, molten honey eyes glaring holes into the half-demon. His harlot was sporting a very swollen cheek, the faint traces of her eye socket turning purple, and finger-like bruises on her neck. Her cerulean eyes were half-open as they stared at him, fear and pain shining within their depths.

Guilt attacked his gut. She was only in this predicament because of him.

"I prefer to think of it as reassurance," He laughed and pressed the barrel harder against her temple, making her head jerk to the side. "I must say, I can see why you Taisho men like your human women. She is quite lovely, Izayoi as well. I wonder how Hakudoushi is fairing with her?"

Touga growled at the mention of his wife. What was that supposed to mean? They had left the broken and battered demon tied up to a chair in their home. Surely he didn't pose a threat? Still, fear coursed through him. If he somehow got loose and attacked her…he paled. Had that been his plan all along? To get them away so he could hit him where it hurt the most?

Sesshoumaru growled low. "Does your pathetic existence know no bounds?" He glanced at his father. "Go."

He kept his eyes on Naraku's confident form. "Are you certain?" He asked quietly as his instincts screamed at him to go to his wife.

"Yes, I will handle this." He spoke low, eyes focusing on the spot where the tip of the barrel disappeared in Kagome's dark locks. He watched his father disappear out of the corner of his eye, but paid it no mind. "Release her; she has nothing to do with this, Naraku."

"No, she does not," He agreed. "But she is the ticket to my safety. You will not dare to attack me when your precious whore is so close to death."

Kagome's haze began to clear slightly as she listened to them talk, the ringing in her ears finally dying out from the blow to the face she received earlier. She stared at Sesshoumaru and could see then tension on his face as he gazed back at her. She couldn't believe she was being used as a shield against him. It wasn't fair that she was the one standing in his way from achieving his goal.

No, she wouldn't be hindrance to him.

Fluttering her eyelids shut, she forced her knees to give out, a groan humming in her throat.

Naraku cursed as she suddenly turned to deadweight in his arms. Perhaps he had hit her a bit too hard. As he bent down slightly to readjust his hold on her, he was taken off guard when she suddenly straightened back up, the top of her head slamming up into his jaw. He howled as he nearly bit his own tongue in half, blood spewing from his lips. He couldn't believe he had fallen for her trick for a second time!

Ignoring the pain in her head, pulled away from him to put distance between them so Sesshoumaru could strike. Almost immediately she saw Sesshoumaru attack Naraku, tackling the half-demon to the ground. She gave a small smile and slumped to the ground behind the counter.

After he killed Naraku and ended the vile half-breed's life, he would scold Kagome for doing something so absolutely foolish. She could have died right then and there and he wouldn't have been able to do anything to stop it. Still, he was grateful that it had happened differently and gave an opportunity to attack Naraku.

Knocking the gun from the half-breed's hand, he punched him hard in the face. Naraku snarled and had his wooden tentacles sprout from his back to lurch at the demon. Sesshoumaru swiped his poison claws at them, cutting them off and melting them as they came, but missed the one that stabbed into his gut from behind. He let a slight wince contort his face, but otherwise ignored it. He stabbed his poison-laced claws into Naraku's neck, but instantly closed his eyes with a growl when a black cloud of miasma engulfed him.

"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome cried as two more of the wooden tentacles imbedded himself in her demon's body. Fear plunged itself deep in her chest as the half-demon flung Sesshoumaru's body over the counter towards the middle of the bank, Naraku following him. She stood up on her knees and peered over the counter to watch. She let out a slight sigh of relief when she saw him land lightly on his feet, but tears filled her eyes when she saw blood pool onto the ground by his feet. "Sessh…"

Ignoring her cries, Sesshoumaru lunged at Naraku again, swinging his acid whip at the half-breed, slicing through the tentacles as they swarmed at him. He growled when he saw his vision blur slightly, his wounds sizzling with the miasma. Damn, he needed to focus his own poison onto his wounds to counter act Naraku's, but it was difficult when he was too busy trying to keep Naraku's attention on him so he didn't threaten Kagome's life again.

Her brow furrowed when she saw that his wounds were steaming, his chest heaving slightly as he continued to attack Naraku and defend himself. His blood continued to pour out of his wounds, making her worry more and more for him. What would happen if he became too weak to fight the half-demon off?

She glanced over at Naraku and saw his breath coming out ragged as well, the pale veins on his neck throbbing green. He was also weakening, but she didn't want him to last longer than Sesshoumaru. She needed to help her bandit. She dipped back down behind the counter and glanced around for anything she could use to help him. She blinked when she saw the pistol laying innocently on the floor in front of her.

Crawling on her hands and knees, she approached the deadly weapon and picked it up. She had never fired one of these before, but she only had one chance. She briefly remembered Kouga showing her his gun when he bragged to her about how perfect his aim was. Naturally, she had been curious and asked how it worked. He had gladly shown her how to work one without letting her actually pull the trigger.

So, after making sure the bullet was in the barrel and ready to fire, she stood up on shaky legs and held the gun out straight in front of her, her aim on the back of Naraku's head. Thankfully, his back was to her, his attention focused on Sesshoumaru. She briefly flashed Sesshoumaru a smile when he glanced at her, and pulled the trigger. She wasn't prepared for the kickback that came with the fire and fell back, her already weak legs not being able to keep her balanced.

Naraku's eyes widened as pain lodged itself into his neck. He turned and fixed his enraged eyes on the whore. With a snarl he readied his tentacles to attack her, ending her filthy existence once and for all, but he never reached his target.

Kagome let out a scream when Naraku's head was dislodged from his body, a spray of blood covering her. She stared down in horror as the head rolled towards her, hitting her booted foot. Instantly her stomach churned in disgust and the blood left her face in a rush. Still holding onto the gun with one hand, she turned to the side, her gloved hand pressed firmly to her mouth to prevent her from vomiting.

Hearing her scream, he hurried towards the counter to check on her, fearing the worst. He peered over the edge at her and felt his stomach twist in disgust. Disgust at himself. She met his stare with wide eyes, her face pale with the exception of the bruise. Naraku's blood was splattered against her, almost covering her completely. Her shaking hands clutched the gun to her chest, her bottom lip trembling in fear.

Gods, what did he do to this poor woman?

"Yo! Sess! We gotta get goin'! The Sheriff is comin'!" Inuyasha shouted as he ran into the bank. He put his hand on his brother's shoulder and jerked him towards the door. "Let's go!"

Amber pools held deep blue for a second longer. "I am sorry, Kagome."

She blinked when he disappeared from her view, but she couldn't bring herself to move. Her mind was in too much of shock. She was too stuck in her own mind, her brain wracking over the events she just witnessed, to pay any mind to the now-sober Kouga as he approached her. She was vaguely aware of him asking her questions, but she remained silent. Her hands tightened around the gun briefly as Kouga tried to remove it, but finally relinquished it as he put his hand on her shoulder.

"Miss Kagome," He said softly yet firmly. "Yah have to tell me what happened or I'm goin' to have to lock yah up." When she shook her head, he sighed and handed the gun to Ginta before scooping the woman up in his arms. Just because she was under arrest didn't mean he was going to treat her like a criminal. It was clear she had witnessed something horrific.

~*ET*~

Kagome wrapped her dirty arms around her filthy knees as she sat on the floor of her jail cell for the third day. She closed her eyes in irritation when Kouga sighed for the tenth time and leaned against the bars of her cell. "I already dun told yah everything." She murmured.

"Stop lyin' to me!" He suddenly snarled, slamming his hand against the metal. "I can't help yah, Miss Kagome, if yah don't tell me anythin'! Tell me the truth!"

"Mr Naraku was molestin' me and I wouldn't have none of it. I finally snapped and shot him." She repeated for the umpteenth time. That was her story and she was sticking to it.

He rubbed his face in frustration. "There be too many holes in yer story and yah know it. A gun wouldn't go and blow his head off! It was cut clean off his body! I know there was someone else there, Miss Kagome. Just tell me who." His voice softened towards the end. She had to tell him, if not, he would have to sentence her to a public hanging. The town's people wanted her dead for the banker's death, most of them already hating her because of her profession.

Kagome opened her eyes and looked at him with a distrusting look. "And how exactly would yah know somethin' like that, Sheriff Kouga? Could yah smell them?" She asked seriously, no longer trusting anyone to be who they say they were.

He flushed. How had she known? Did she know he was demon? But how? "W-what do yah mean, Miss Kagome?"

Her face softened for a second as she recalled her bandit's words. "Do not be so quick to trust others. There are things in the world you cannot even begin to comprehend." She quoted and then pressed her forehead to her knees as tears filled her eyes. She wanted Sesshoumaru. Remembering the last time she saw him, his face filled with loathing and his tone sad as he apologized, hurt her heart.

He furrowed a brow and kneeled down outside the cell so he was parallel with her. "Who told you that?" He asked, his words suddenly accent free and spoken perfectly.

So, he was a demon. She knew it. She knew it the night he smelled the blood on her glove. "I don't know who to trust anymore," She murmured against her knees and flinched when Kouga reached through the cell to touch her matted hair. Two of the three demons who touched her last had hurt her physically, one hurting her emotionally. Her tone turned bitter when she once again felt her heart clench when she remembered Sesshoumaru. "Don't yah touch me, demon." She whispered.

Kouga quickly drew his hand back from her, his face falling in sadness. "I would never hurt you, Miss Kagome. I want you to be my wife."

She shook her head. "Yah lied to me all these years and yet yah want me to be yer bride?" She gave a snort. "Why? So yah can just leave me after yah finish yer goal?"

"Goal? What are you talking about?" He asked, brows furrowing.

"Just leave me be, Sheriff." She breathed and sunk deeper into herself, her still-blood splattered arms wrapping tighter around herself. She hadn't been able to bathe since she was arrested, her clothes the same as that night. The only thing that had changed was the bandages on her back, and Kouga had the town's doctor do that while she was still out of it.

He frowned and stood up. Someone had told her about demons, most probably the one who killed Naraku. Where was this demon? Who were they? And, most importantly, would they really let her take the fall for them?

A/N: I'm pretty sure the next chapter is the last (: