Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. Enough said.

Author's Note: The main character of this is going to be the 18-year-old cat hanyou, Taneko, but the Inuyasha cast will be involved in it as well. I know this chapter is a little short and dark, but it'll hopefully get better! This is just an experiment, so if someone reviews and likes it I'll continue. ( Chapter 2 will hopefully be much longer!!

Chapter 1: Trapped As A Cat

A low branch appeared from nowhere, slapping him across the face when the boy still continued forward. Leaves scattered behind him as he ran barefooted, at an impossibly fast pace for a human. It was an impossibly fast pace for even a half demon, too, considering the extent of his injuries. Fear and adrenaline kept him running, and his terrified thoughts kept the pain at bay.

-He'll catch me soon, I can't keep this up!- Taneko thought desperately, looking over his shoulder as he ran. Nothing was there but darkness.

"You took your time getting here." A familiar voice said forebodingly, ending with a chuckle. "But that can be expected of a halfbreed. Now, where is it?"

Taneko froze at the words of his father, stopping to bow his head shamefully. Now that he had at last stopped running, pain began shooting throughout his body, threatening to bring him down. "Father, I will not give you the shard. I'm sorry."

Without a word, the man ahead of the boy looked behind him. A well was just nearby-how perfect. He laughed cruelly, turning back to face his son. The boy's sharp, cat-like ears lowered in submission, and he waited patiently to be beaten. His father was not in his true, cat demon form, but he still had the upper hand over the boy. When his father did nothing, Taneko looked up cautiously.

"Half demons. scum of the earth. But now, you'll shame me with your presence no more." The cat demon smiled, delighted with his plan.

A hand shot out and grabbed Taneko roughly by the neck, but the boy did nothing more than flinch and look hopelessly at the hand around his throat. -Kill me. please, just do it.- He pleaded quietly, waiting.

But instead of choking him, changes suddenly began to occur. A bright flash of light blinded him for an instant, and then a strange feeling overcame him. Taneko thought the light had made him see things, but even when his eyes cleared, he still saw the same thing; his human hands had turned into paws. The world seemed much smaller, too, and his father much taller.

Taneko attempted to ask what his father had done to him, but instead of words, an odd sort of meowing emerged from his throat. The cat demon tightened his grasp on his son, and walked slowly towards the well. When he reached it, he held the 'cat' in his grasp over the top. "Now, where's the shard? Or will it take a dip in the well to change your mind?"

Panicked and confused, Taneko avoided his father's eyes and looked into the black void beneath him. Even if he could swim, it would be impossible to escape that well in this form. But he couldn't give up the shard, either. Taneko hung there limply, still avoiding the demon's eyes. The jewel shard in his shoulder began to ache, and he feared his father would somehow spot it.

"So you choose to die over a shard? Pathetic, as always." The cat demon loosened his grip, looking disgusted at Taneko. "Die."

Finally, Taneko looked up incredulously at his father. Would he really drown him, or was this just another threat? He was answered when the grip around his throat disappeared, and he fell into the blackness. His back hit against the well wall, and his injured arm seared with agony at the impact. No amount of clawing at the walls slowed his descent, and he knew it would be a matter of time before the water in the wall would come.

-I'll just let myself drown. At least then I won't have to deal with Father anymore. or Mother, for that matter.- But the water never came, nor did the bottom of the well. Taneko cautiously opened his eyes, surprised to see himself lying on the bottom. He hadn't felt the impact at all; and where was the water in the well?

Taneko tried getting up, but his body would not respond to the attempt, and he just lay there. -Perfect. Instead of drowning in a few minutes, I'll be down here for days before I die. Just my luck that this well is dry.-

He somehow managed to move his head, to look up at the top of the well, expecting to see the cat demon waiting at the top. Instead, he saw a significantly different cat face staring down curiously at him. This new cat meowed questioningly, looking down curiously at this strange cat at the bottom of the well. Taneko blinked for a moment, realizing other differences- such as the lack of daylight, and the wooden ceiling above the well.

Footsteps approached, and a boy appeared beside the cat.

"Buyo, there you are!"