Disclaimer: Do I really have to say I don't own them for the 41st time? ::sigh::

"Spoken"

Thoughts

Chapter 9: Proposition

"Besides, I have a proposition for you," Naraku laughed.

Inuyasha had a sinking feeling that he wasn't going to like whatever Naraku was going to say.

Naraku stepped back between the two bound women.

"It's simple. I will let you leave here, alive and with those two," he pointed at Sango and Miroku, "All you have to do is choose which woman goes with you." He gestured to Kagome, "Your lover or your cousin," he nodded in Nekoyasha's direction. "You can only have one. Which one is it?"

"What will happen to the other one?" Sango screamed.

Naraku grinned evilly. "She will be mine. The question is, Inuyasha, which one do you least want to see me absorb?"

Inuyasha looked between the two girls. Each had a horrified look on her face due to Naraku's statement. The dog hanyou could not make a decision, for if Naraku had either one of them…

If he absorbs Kagome then he will be able to sense jewel shards. I can't let that happen. If I leave Nekoyasha then he will know my secrets. But Kagome knows some of them as well.

I am bound to Nekoyasha. Will that mean that some of me will be absorbed, too?

Miroku could see that for once Inuyasha was lost in thought. He took matters in his own hands and stepped forward.

"Naraku, we claim Kagome as she is our friend and traveling companion as well. Let Inuyasha have his cousin back. Sango and I will take Kagome!"

Naraku laughed. "It doesn't work that way. You have no say in the matter. Besides, their deaths will not affect you as much as it will affect him."

Inuyasha was growing angry. Naraku had planned it this way so that he would make Inuyasha weaker. The truth of the matter was there was no choice between the girls. Inuyasha needed both of the girls that Naraku had in his grasp. To lose either one of them would cost them all their lives.

"They are both mine!"

Naraku shook his finger. "You can only have one. The question is which?"

Inuyasha looked back at his traveling companions. They nodded their support. He faced Naraku again.

"I told you… both!" He leapt forward with Tetsusiaga in his hands. Sango threw her boomerang as Miroku released various sutras.

This was what Kagura was waiting for. She swept the sutras aside with her fan and sent fan blades back at them. The group had become use to her tricks though, and was able to dodge well enough.

However the miasma was wearing on the traveling companions and they fell back to regroup after a few minutes. Kagura smiled. As she was about to throw more wind blades at them, her master stopped her.

"Even though you attacked me, I'll give you one more chance. Choose which girl you want to leave here alive."

xxxxx

A/N: Wow, that was a short chapter. Sorry, but it just happened that way.

Let's see, what is new? I have a new story posted. Not involved in the Nekoyasha arc. It's called "I'll Come For You." Also I would like to recommend Minuet-love's story, "Faerie's Mate". It's really good and exciting.

Saw the third Inuyasha movie a little while back. Good animation, good story, horrible subtitles (unfortunately Catleana doesn't speak Japanese). They were almost comical at points. Which confuses me since the subs for the other two movies were decent. Oh well.

Animeinsomniac – Thank you. I hope this one was worth the wait as well.

Henrika – Yep, you got it.

Ryguy – Sesshomaru will make his appearance next chapter.

BeccaPatty - ::Does happy dance:: New reviewer! New reviewer!… Okay, I'm done. Welcome to my crazy little world. Thank you for the review. Yeah, the fluff is a little ways off yet. We have to get the girls rescued first. And I don't know, but Inu/Kag fluff is hard for me to write in this story arc. My new story is a WAFF story. Thanks.

Minuet-love: Thanks. Well, the plan is to weaken Inuyasha, then it will be the usual "Die Inuyasha." Like I said Sesshomaru next chapter.

Later!