Disclaimer: I can barely draw stick figures! So that leads to the deduction that I do not own any of the Inuayasha characters. Only Nekoyasha lives in my head.

Chapter 10: A Little Unexpected Help

He had watched the small battle take place. Sesshomaru was impressed that his half-brother and friends had been able to hold up an attack for so long in the miasma.

Now, though, was time for him to get what he came for. He stepped out into the room.

"Naraku," he stated. The simple name drew everyone's attention to his presence. Some looked more relieved to see him than others.

Naraku raised an eyebrow at this unexpected guest.

Sesshomaru did not waste time on niceties. "Give me the healer."

"No," came the curt reply. "It is Inuyasha's choice."

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. "Inuyasha will end up picking his miko. I believe everyone here other than himself knows that."

Miroku and Sango nodded at each other as Inuyasha gave his brother a scornful look. The older dog ignored it and continued on. "However, I can not let you have the cat. So I am here to speak for her."

Naraku laughed. "You just missed the conversation I had with the monk and the demon slayer. They tried to save their friend, but the game does not work that way."

Sesshomaru glanced at the young couple. Had he really spent a week in their presence at one time? At least they were loyal to their friends and true loyalty was hard to find in this day and age.

"I have more of a claim on the cat than they did on the miko. She. Is. Family."

Naraku's grin widen. "Not the way I have heard it. Had she been a dog like you, I might have considered what you are saying. However, seeing that she is a cat, I do not believe she shares any of your blood."

Seshomaru gripped his sword. The traveling companions noticed this and readied themselves for another (and hopefully better) attack.

"So, you have no claim either. It's still Inuyasha's choice."

Sesshomaru decided to give this insolent hanyou one more chance. "Hand her over and you will not have to deal with me."

"Are you threatening me?" He stepped back to the cat and traced his finger along her chin. She hissed at him. "Does she really mean that much to you?"

The response was not of one but two growls coming from both the brothers.

Quickly Sesshomaru pulled the Tokijin and shot it at Naraku. Everyone held their collected breaths. Perhaps this would end it?

Naraku did not seem phased at all that he was being shot at. In fact he did not even step out of the way. Calmly he held up his hand…

The energy went sailing back towards the demon lord. Sesshomaru held his sword up and the attack went around him, his sword creating a barrier against its own power. Inuyasha ducked behind his own sword while Miroku protected Sango with his religious powers.

Naraku laughed. "Did you really think you could harm me with a sword that was created from my own offspring? I did not think that you were that foolish."

Sesshomaru growled. "I am the owner of this sword. It chose me."

"It has merely allowed you to use it, because like Goshinki you wish to see your brother dead. As for not using it against me, Goshinki never once thought about betraying me." He gave a pointed glance to Kagura.

Sesshomaru pondered over his sword. Goshinki was created to kill Inuyasha and also broke the Tetsusaiga. I wonder…

He looked up at the demon that was holding the healer hostage. "Are you saying that Goshinki's only purpose was to kill Inuyasha?"

"Of course."

Sesshomaru shot a glance at his brother. Inuyasha just glared back at him. Again Sesshomaru pondered his sword…

Well, he had always said that he was going to be the one to kill his brother.

xxxxx

A/N: I bet you had thought that I had forgotten about this story didn't you?

Nekoyasha: She did.

Catleana: No, I didn't.

Nekoyasha: Ok, she didn't. She was just too busy working on the story without me. And she cheating on Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sesshomaru with some blond gunslinger and his priest friend.

Catleana: ::dreamy look in her eyes:: Mmmmm… Vash and Wolfwood… ::shakes head to come out of her daze.:: I have not! Besides, Wolfwood's in Texas. (Don't ask.) I just had a bit of writer's block with this one, that's all. And I did update the other story for them. Plus I can't drag my computer with me on an airplane.

So I hope this chapter was worth the wait. Next chapter is going to be lots of fun, I think.

Animeinsomniac – In answer to your question, they will get out of this. I have my own little thought of how to do it. You just have to wait and see. You really don't want me to tell you, do you?

BeccaPatty – What do you mean by how long? Do you mean the story or the entire arc? As for this particular story, I don't know. I have a loose outline in my head of all the things that need to go into the story but it just goes its own way. I mean "Healer" was 97 pages and I didn't think it would be that long. For the whole Nekoyasha arc, if I decide to write all of them, it will be about 6 stories long (and this is story #2). I hope this helps in some way.

Thank you to all my reviewers. Hope you enjoyed this one! Later!