Disclaimer: They're not mine, I get it already! If there are any names you don't recognize, then those are probably mine, but for more of an explanation on this, please read the end note. Thanks and enjoy!

A Little Misunderstanding

Chapter One:

Malfunction

Life sucked.

Well, that's what he guessed Kagome would say at a time like this.

"Give His Lordship the Tetsusaiga and we may let you live, you filthy runt!"

As if Sesshomaru's presence weren't bad enough, Jaken just had to squeak out his own taunts and ravings while doing nothing. His 'Lord', however, was all action and very little small talk. It was the same old stuff anyway, "Give me Tetsusaiga or die,". Couldn't he think of anything else to say? They both knew that Sesshomaru's whole intention was to kill him anyway…

Then there was Rin, who was now looking for Kagome — weren't they all? — to show her a garland she'd woven earlier that day when Mr. Pole-Up-His-Ass hadn't been trying to kill his younger half brother.

"Oi! Mutt! Where'd you go off hiding?"

Sighing from his hiding place, Inu-Yasha had to stifle a groan lest anyone hear him. Yep, even Kouga had seen fit to come by on this particular night to try and take Kagome from him, er, them… as in the group… yes, that was what he'd meant.

To top it all off, he was human tonight.

Thus, he'd been sealed near the Bone Eater's Well just in case anyone got too close and he needed to make a quick escape. Kaede and Miroku had devised a way for the spell to break only when his unnerving human adrenaline rose to a point of fleeing… or some sort. They'd explained it to him — numerous times, he was sure — but he'd been too busy complaining to himself as they'd made the final preparations.

As usual, Kagome was nowhere to be seen. She'd stormed off to the well two days ago, with nary a peep… unless one counted the shouting match they'd had about twenty minutes prior to her leaving. That might have had something to do with it. There was just no telling with that girl. One minute he thought he had her figured out, the next she was like a completely different person. He even had to confirm her human scent on occasion, just to make sure. There were days she was more of a demon than he was.

Attempting to stretch his aching muscles for the umpteenth time, Inu-Yasha listened with dulled hearing as footsteps were coming too close to his hiding place…prison was more like it. He readied himself to run to the well… the old hag had made him swear he'd run and return in three days' time, so he had to honor it or else the hag would give Kagome permission to 'sit' him as many times as the girl saw fit… not quite his favorite pastime.

Glad to see it was only Kouga's two lackeys, Inu-Yasha knew the wolf wasn't too far behind, probably bringing Sesshomaru and everyone else along with him. Great, that was all he needed was for everyone to be right in front of him and be able to do nothing about it but sit in his own little… bespelled bubble.

A whirlwind was the only indication of Kouga's arrival, and Inu-Yasha was glad he couldn't catch the scent of the scrawny wolf at that moment. He'd much rather smell a distinct floral scent drifting from the well…

Ready to smack his head against the nearest hard surface, Inu-Yasha reasoned that such thoughts were only signs of weakness from his human body. Had to be. No way he'd ever think such thoughts on his own.

Except for that one time…

And the time after that… and…

Clutching his head in his hands, he dug his ridiculously-short nails into his scalp as deeply as he could stand it, suddenly catching a familiar scent, despite his weakened mortal senses. He'd know that scent anywhere, for it had followed him all throughout his life. Countless years had been spent trying to elude the scent on nights like this, while on all other nights he sought the scent, to better himself.

Danger.

Something bad was going to happen, but he couldn't let anyone know for at least two reasons:

1. he'd give up his hiding place and be sat

2. he didn't know what the danger was or where it came from

Sure, either Sesshomaru or Kouga was a danger at this point, but the feeling wasn't the same. He couldn't have explained it if he'd tried, and he wasn't sure he wanted to.

Chancing an upward glance, Inu-Yasha saw all the players in place, as though he'd left his body and were seeing it all from a bird's eye view. Miroku, Sango, and Kirara were gathered about the well, creating a sort of safe passage for him in case he felt he needed to run… tch, as if he'd be stupid enough to run from his hiding place in human form in front of Sesshomaru.

Fat chance. Just because Kouga had seen him didn't mean the whole damn world had to know, thank you very much.

Taking a closer look, Inu-Yasha took note that Shippo was hiding on Kirara's back. He also saw that Rin was seated behind Jaken, looking bored and ready to trip the toad or at least hit him in the head with the slingshot Kagome had shown her how to make… the toad would never know what hit him. Of course, Inu-Yasha had no idea how in the world the girl had learned how to make such a thing. Kagome was like… purity. Watching her make a weapon — even something so small as a slingshot — surprised and confused him. Who had taught pure, innocent Kagome how to make such a thing?

Having no time to think on it further, Inu-Yasha was still in his out-of-body feeling. He could see everyone beneath him, and even saw himself crouched beneath a clump a bushes. There were the three about the well, Sesshomaru stood with his golden eyes glaring as Kouga scented the air, stumped when Kagome's scent disappeared at the well. They were all there, and the air seemed to hum with excitement at the combination of their auras plus that of the well itself.

Then it happened.

The danger struck like lightning, forcing Inu-Yasha's vision back to his own perspective from beneath the brush. It was only after a moment that he realized the spell about him had been broken, and he was free to move… and be seen. Still, no one had caught sight of him yet, nor had they scented him… which worried him to no end. Certainly someone had to have scented him.

Until he noticed he wasn't under the bush anymore. In fact it was very dark and the scents that assaulted his nose were too familiar for comfort, for even without his superior hanyou senses did he know where he was.

He was in Kagome's family's well house…

And he was not alone.

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((19.3.07)) A/N: For the love of Loki I am not dead and this is a rewrite of a rewrite! There, now that I have that out of the way, on to business.

My original 'A Little Misunderstanding' got no reviews, and as I was rereading it, it didn't take me all that long to figure out why…

It sucked. You don't have to tell me. Sometimes it hurts more not to.

So, I've decided to revamp the whole thing and make life fun… either for you or for me I have not yet decided. Please excuse/tolerate my getting back into fanfic mode… it's been a while. And yes, the perverted Tora is coming back to taunt you with random sexual references… but I have a new OC to accompany him! A nice hard-ass guy to compliment — not Leota, I dumped that name — but Lilaya. Whose past is slightly modified from 'Friendly Persuasion' and 'A Little Misunderstanding' 1.

Thanks for reading!

O-chan