Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasa or The Avengers

Falling again. The water closing around my head, shutting all sounds out – the only ones registering in my mind being the ones the sea was whispering sweetly and my own rapidly beating heart. My vision got blurry, seeing nothing but the scarred surface of the sea's skin and a red dot far, far away, constantly getting darker as I sank further to the bottom.

Unconsciously I reached out, as a child begging for someone to pick it up, but all it did was claw at the never ending resource of water, that quickly took the place of its brethren as I pushed it away.

Colors and light faded as I sank deeper into the ocean, my eyelids growing heavy.

Hands holding me gently…

I bolted awake, gasping for air and staring at the wall opposite me with wide eyes. For a few moments I sat there panting and gulping air, one hand reaching out as if waiting for someone to grasp it. A cough to my right made me flinch and jerk my head so fast toward the noise I swear I could hear my neck pop.

Sky blue eyes blinked back at me, wide with surprise and worry. A pretty pink was adorning the male's cheeks as he stared back at me.

"Thor…" I murmured slowly, still feeling quite bleary. Then I jerked and pulled my covers closer to me in realization. "What are you doing in here?!"

The large male flinched at my high note and actually took a few steps back, his blush growing darker. "I- I didn't mean to just- I was only-"he stammered. He ran one large hand through his rich blond tresses in distress, locking pleading blue eyes with mine. "I didn't mean to barge in here."

I stared at him with narrowed eyes filled with suspicion. He may be the nicest male of the four so far, but still – I hadn't even known the man for a whole day! However, I decided to humor him. Thus, I relaxed slightly though still keeping a good grip on the covers around my body. I raised an eyebrow at him with silent questioning, whereas he swallowed. Oh dear.

"I- I heard you… from downstairs. Bad dream?" he stammered, still keeping one hand in his wild mane.

I blushed. Had I really been that loud? "Y-yeah."

"Oh. I-I see." He, too, was blushing.

We both grew quiet, each squirming with embarrassment. I didn't look at him, and I was pretty sure he was gazing out of the window to avoid my gaze, which I was grateful for.

"T-thank you," I mumbled and glanced shyly at him from the corner of my eye. When he turned to look back at me his blue eyes were so wide that I had to fight down the giggles suddenly fluttering in my throat. So cute! "Hrm, for, you know. Coming to see if I was alright, I mean."

"O-oh. Yes, erm." He cleared his throat and smiled timidly at me. It made the skin around his eyes crinkle slightly. "You're welcome, miss Kagome."

I smiled more comfortably to him now. He was such a kind giant – it was impossible to stay mad at him for anything, really. Not even the fact that he had barged into my bedroom could make me retaliate at him. A comfortable silence ensued between us.

"Good morning, kitten! Oh Thor, old chap, what are you doing in her bedroom, naughty boy?"

And just like that the moment broke, as Thor flew up from his chair and waved his arms around, trying to explain why he was in a maiden's bedroom, while the high and mighty ass himself, also known as Tony, laughed at the poor giant's expense. Quite nerve-wrecking.

I grabbed one of the many pillows behind me and threw it as hard and far as I could; only letting a small amount of my reki into the soft object. It flew past Thor's head and smacked heavily into Tony's laughing face. It stayed planted for a few moments, as the men's squabble died down, before slowly inching down and then falling straight down to reveal a dumbstruck Tony. His mouth was still slightly agape from laughter. I silently hoped there was flies in this house that would take up residence in the man's mouth.

Thor turned to look at me over his shoulder, his mouth also open. Then he narrowed his eyes and turned around fully, staring at me thoughtfully. His eyes had lost their laugh wrinkles, I noticed with a sad feeling. I frowned and tightened my grip on my covers, hunching forward slightly under his gaze. Why was he staring at me like that?

"If both of you don't mind," I said sharply to get their attention, "I would like to get dressed."

They stared blankly at me; Thor with a thoughtful expression and Tony still with that open, fly-attracting mouth of his.

"You know – alone?" I hinted.

Thor lost his thoughtful expression as a red tint ran up his neck and across his cheeks. "Oh! Yes, of course! E-excuse me." Then he turned for the door, found it blocked by a certain Tony Stark. For a few moments the man with a God's name waited for the other male to move, but Tony still had that dumbstruck expression. Was he really that surprised that I threw a pillow at him?

Thor glanced back at me, still blushing, before he reached out and grabbed the billionaire by the collar, and just like that lifted the man over his shoulder and left without another word. I snickered quietly to myself at the hilarious scene, but quickly sobered up as a new quest begun; clothing.

I glanced at the still open door that Thor had forgotten to close, took a deep breath and hurried over and slammed the door closed. I made a mental note to not sleep in only my underwear and sweater when sleeping over at a place that I don't know. Really, habits were hard to break.

I looked over the wardrobe and bit my lip. I could change out of whatever I was wearing, or I could get downstairs and get this whole business over with. Tentatively I took a sniff from my armpit, scrunching my nose as I did. Alright – new clothes it is.

-ooo-

Tony must either have many mistresses coming over, or he was a transvestite in secret. How else would all the women clothing I found explain the strange occurrence? Then again he could be married, but so far I hadn't noticed any ring on his finger. Well – that finger, at least.

I sighed into my cup of tea, enjoying the sweet scent and calming aroma as it tickled my nose. This time we – Tony, Thor and I – was seated in the over-luxurious kitchen; me on a barstool, Thor sitting beside me , and Tony lounging on the counter. The males were both having cups of coffee in their hands, but neither had yet to touch the delicious looking food set on the table. I huffed and reached across to take a piece of toast.

"So," Tony said. I glanced at him suspiciously from the corner of my eye, but soon closed my eyes in bliss. If J.A.R.V.I.S had been a person standing right there, I would have hugged him… it.

"So?" Thor inquired.

"Where is Miss Janet? She wasn't on the 'meeting' yesterday, so I was positive that she would come rushing her little wings here today," Tony said, taking a sip from his cup. "J.A.R.V.I.S, this mocha is simply amazing!"

"Thank you, sir."

I shuddered as that metallic and empty voice resounded around us. "May I ask what the heck kind of club you guys have?" Both of them stared at me; Tony with eyebrows raised and Thor with a blank expression. "You're just such an odd group of people – it's like having a book club or something. All books, with different stories and covers," I mumbled, quickly taking another sip of tea.

"That… was a very interesting theory," Tony said and smiled at me. I didn't return it. "But alas, no – no book club."

"Hmm…"

"You could say we are in a club," Thor intertwined quickly, smiling at me when I glanced over at him. "It isn't a very… usual club, you see."

"Thor," Tony murmured warningly. I narrowed my eyes at the two males. What was up with them that was so secret?

Thor glanced at Tony, offering him a kind smile. "I believe it is alright, Tony. After all, she knows the other you and also my name – anyone would have made that conclusion."

His words made me feel stupid. Not that they confined in me by giving away whatever it was they gave away. But for the life of me, I couldn't understand what he was going on about. I was, per se, not anyone.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, genuinely curios.

Thor directed his smile at me this time, though I noticed his eyes were a little narrowed. "Ah. Well, you see, we're-"

"Hello!" All three of us jumped at the high-pitched feminine voice, and turned to see a young woman come crashing into the kitchen, breathing heavily. "Hi! I'm here now!" She glanced at me and suddenly her eyes seemed to grow enough to bulge out of her sockets. "Oh, so this is her? So cute," she mumbled, looking me up and down.

I blushed darkly and squirmed, suddenly feeling self-conscious. The jittery woman swarmed around me, gushing about my hair and bright blue eyes, and where had I attained such a great bosom and where was she when they were handed out. Hearing the sharp intake of breath from the male beside me and the billionaire's muffled laughter didn't help my heated cheeks much.

"Janet, dear, this is the little kitten Kagome that suddenly appeared out of nowhere in my lab," Tony introduced lightly, fully ignoring the glare I shot him.

She glanced over at Tony for a second, before she waved her hand dismissively and continued her scrutinizing. "Yeah, yeah, Henry told me so." She looked me in the eye and winked. "Besides, I know of no women you've had over that have stayed the whole night."

He coughed. "Yes, well, Kagome here is none of those "women". She's just a kid."

I glared at Tony and pouted. "For the last time, I'm not a kid. I'm already seventeen."

The billionaire completely ignored me, as he waved his hand in the air as if he was swatting away flies. "She keeps insisting that! Almost as if she wants me to molest her!"

I gripped Thor's arm and buried my face in it. How can that guy be such a blockhead? I took a deep breath of forest and rain, which made me open my eyes wide, only now realizing what I was holding.

"Whoa!" I exclaimed excitedly, as I squeezed the arm with one of my hands, the other rubbing up and down the bulging bicep. "You must be really strong!" I said and looked up into Thor's blue eyes. Amusedly I noticed red creep up his neck once again. His muscle twitched under my arm, which almost made me jump.

"A-ah. Thank you," he mumbled, raising a hand up to cover his face. I tilted my head as I contemplated the action. Had I upset him somehow?

"So," Janet said, effectively breaking me out of my thoughts. "Kagome, right? Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you come from? Family? Friends?" She leaned closer across the counter, giving me a scheming look that immediately made me raise my shackles. "Any boyfriend we should know about?"

I blushed even darker, though I was tempted to tell her the truth; I didn't have anyone, but was chased around by one. A look at the billionaire watching the two of us intensely made me think otherwise.

"I – I do, actually." Not necessarily a lie, after all, and what was a white lie in the company of strangers?

"Really now?" Tony asked. I blushed, but managed to give him another glare. "Sorry, kitten, but you simply don't… look the type."

I narrowed my eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, that feisty temper of yours, for starters. How in the world have you managed to snag a man that can stand it? And from what I can tell," he continued," you are quite oblivious to certain things and oversensitive about others."

I gaped as he went on, insulting me further without any remorse whatsoever. Insults about his personality and actions formed on my tongue to be spit back, but I managed to swallow all of them. Except one.

"You think I'm oversensitive?" I asked, whereas the bastard nodded. Taking a deep breath to calm my raging feelings, I grounded my teeth together. "So you think I, a seventeen year old girl, are oversensitive with finding a stranger standing in only a towel, in a house that I don't recognize? You think I'm oversensitive?"

Tony only shrugged and smiled back at me. "What can I say; there are so many different kinds of flowers."

I snorted, relishing in how alike Miroku he was, when suddenly I was being hauled of the barstool. I flailed for a second, seeing Tony's eyes go large and Janet's mouth drop open, before I was let down with a huff – in someone's lap. And since we were only four people in the kitchen, and J.A.R.V.I.S was a machine, I already knew who it was. Leaning back I stared up into Thor's face, which was set with hard lines and such an expression you could practically feel the air crackling.

"How dare you?" His voice was low and eerily calm. It sent shivers up my back, alongside the low rumbling from his chest. Was he growling? "Tony – how disgusting can you get?"

I heard Janet gasp. Apparently Thor isn't usually this scary. I leaned back into Thor's chest, reached up with one hand slowly and patted his cheek. It sent a jolt through my hand, almost as if I had been electrocuted. Still, I bit my lip and kept my hand there, sending a tiny bit of my reki into my touch, hoping it would calm him.

The action made the male glance down at me, staring into my own blue orbs. The anger and scariness had etched lines into his face, but as I watched – carefully keeping a calm expression on my own face – I saw the emotions slowly bleed out until there was only the kind and slightly flustered Thor. The only thing that remained was his narrowed eyes.

"You alright?" I asked gently, giving his cheek several strokes before lowering my hand.

He stared at me for a few more seconds, before slowly smiling. "Yes. I'm sorry if I frightened you."

I returned the smile. "Not at all – kinda remind me of mom when she gets angry at me and my little brother."

Thor's face froze, which seemed rather comical – if not for the scary alikeness to a clown. I heard suspicious sounds coming from Tony's direction, but paid him no heed as I turned to look at Janet. Her intense eyes gawked at me, which also made me realize in just what kind of situation I had suddenly gotten myself into. Hurriedly I scrambled out of the large male's lap, tripped over my – and probably his, too – feet, apologized to him, shut up, and then heavily plopped down onto my own stool. My cheeks burned with embarrassment and other horrible, unnameable feelings. Not only had I been sitting in a complete stranger's lap, I had done so after saying I had a boyfriend. What would they think of me now? I groaned and grabbed another sandwich, stuffing it into my mouth.

All the while listening to the muffled laughter of a certain billionaire. Bastard.

-ooo-

"… and then, this one time, he thinks he will repair my bike!" I was excited as I talked, waving with my hands as my story exhilarated. Janet was a really good listener, and could put in questions without interrupting, although she could get quite chatty and excited at times. We girls had moved to the living room to get some girl-time, which in reality means history telling and gossiping.

"What did he do?" Janet asked, sitting in the armchair with her legs under her comfortably.

I grinned and laughed before answering. "The idiot broke it even more! I couldn't even recognize it after he was done!" Of course, I didn't tell her everything; what about demons, half-demons and such. Would she even believe me? Nah.

She laughed heartily. I smiled and then feigned thoughtfulness. "Maybe I could have sold it; I could probably have gotten a pretty neat price from a modern artist."

The comment made her guffaw. "Oh God, that would have been priceless! Not technically, but you get the idea."

We laughed together, and it felt good. It felt like it had been ages since I last opened my mouth and used those muscles, and I had only been here… wherever here is, for less than two days. That I know of at least. I stiffened, and my laughter dried out. Had I been asleep for a long time since I appeared in Tony's lab? What could have gone by me in that amount of time? Then I wanted to snort. Please, I've been gone for practically five hundred years; I've missed plenty.

Janet dried some stray tears, and sighed contently. "Alright," she said after a while, looking at me with sudden seriousness. "Now, what do you want to know?"

My eyes widened. My jaw dropped. Whatever I thought she was going to say, it certainly wasn't this. I said the most intellectual I could for the moment. "Huh?"

She raised her eyebrows at me. "Last I checked, those thickheaded weasels didn't tell you a thing, while they interrogated you to tears." A soft look tock over her features. "Are you alright? I can imagine it isn't the most comfy to just end up at a strange place. And in Tony's lab no less," she muttered the last part to herself.

I cleared my throat and began twiddling my fingers together nervously. "Well, yes. I mean, I'm fine, just a little shaken over it all." I glanced up at her and smiled tentaivily. "Can I ask a rather… weird thing?"

Janet smiled gently and fingered the ring on her left hand. Huh. As horrible as it was, I couldn't imagine this woman to be married. She was just so… blunt and down-straight honest with things, that it could be hard to grasp her. Then again, I myself aren't really the "marriage"-material.

"Um," I mumbled, staring down at my fingers fencing at eachother. Taking a deep breath, I looked up and stared the suddenly surprised woman straight in the eye. "What year is it now?"

A long second ticked by, which felt to me like an hour as a blush immediately began creeping over my cheeks. Then Janet burst out laughing.

"That's your weird question?" she laughed, once more wiping away tears. "Hate to break it to you hon, but I've a friend who asked the same thing. Poor thing, he had it hard." She sobered up and took a deep breath before continuing. "It's 2012, summer, right now. Want to know the date too?"

I shook my head, too relieved to utter another word. I hadn't vanquished from time completely, probably only been gone for a few days, or a week tops.

"Excuse me, ladies." Looking up I scowled the second I heard his voice. Damn rich bastard, still looking like he would burst out laughing at any second. He had probably been listening in too.

"What do you want, eavesdropper?" Janet asked.

"My dear, you wound me," Tony sounded exasperated as he took hold of his chest as if hurting, but the smirk took of the dramatic effect. To say he was like Miroku would be an insult to the amorous monk. "I simply came to tell you, little kitten, that Thor wishes to speak with you."

"Don't call me that," I muttered on autopilot as I stood from my seat.

"A-ah, seems like that's my cue to get going," Janet sighed as she too hopped up on her feet, wobbling a little as she did. "Damn, my legs and ass has fallen asleep."

I glanced at Tony, sensing the smirk before it came. "Little butterfly, want me to wake it up for you?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows at us.

She gave me a gentle pat on the cheek. "Stay strong. God knows you need it with that perv." She brushed past Tony, who still was leering, and shot him a nasty look. "Want me to tell my Henry what you just said?"

Tony raised his hands in defeat, but was still smiling lecherously. "No, no, please. He will only get jealous."

Janet snorted, smiled at me and left. I stared after her, still not quite believing what she had said. Was she married to that man? He just seemed so… so… not like her! Too serious, too nerdy for someone like her. Then again, maybe it is as they say; counterparts match.

Then Tony, unfortunately returned his gaze to me, that blasted smirk of his still not falling of his face. Damn it, where is Sesshomaru's poison claws when you need them?

"What?" I asked rudely, before remembering what he really came for. "Where's Thor?"

His smirk grew. That couldn't be good. "Oh, he decided to wait in your room, kitten. Wanting some privacy for the two of you, I'm sure."

I glared at him as I wafted by him. "Can't breathe without voicing your naughty thoughts, can you?" Looking down the corridor, and without waiting for him to retaliate, I continued. "Where is my room again?"

His voice practically dripped with glee as he responded, "Up the stairs, straight forward, turn left, the second door on the right." After a brief pause I felt his breath brush against the side of my head, making a few strands of hair fly into my face. "Dear kitten, you could almost think you wanted me to know where you'll be sleeping."

I refrained from turning on my and retort harshly to the gleeful pervert, and continued down the hall, and up the stairs.

-ooo-

"Thor?" I pushed the door open and peeked into my overly large bedroom, seeing nothing except a large window showing buildings and gray structures in the distance. Staring for a while I noticed rain trickling down the window's surface, almost as if crying. Shaking of unbidden thoughts – I didn't need another reason to cry – I padded into the room, looking down into one corner and then the other.

"Thor!" I called louder. Maybe he had borrowed the toilet or something. Who knows how long Tony had been holding this information in?

Suddenly the door slammed shut behind me. I jumped and whirled in place, diving as an object swished by my head. Glancing in the direction the danger had been coming from I had to roll and jump to avoid new ones. One graced my cheek, drawing blood that I didn't care to flinch at. Another upside with being in the Feudal Era – small cuts don't matter.

I dived behind the bed, panting slightly. What the hell was this all about? Had I dislodged some security of Tony's? Or was it a demon?

My mind blanched. Demon? Where was the Shikon Fragments that I had had on me before falling into the sea?

Another projectile soared over the bed, grazed the top of my head and zinged into the wall. As I stared I saw a hole crackling intensely, before the small bolts of lightning slowly dissipated, leaving only a smoking hole. I could be wrong, but humans don't normally create such things. But maybe America is different.

More came, but by now, I was pretty pissed off. It was quite cowardly of this - whomever it was – to attack a girl out of the blue, and then not even give her a chance at defending herself. Heard of sportsmanship?

I closed my hand into a tight fist, closed my eyes and channeled my reki just as old Kaede had taught me, letting my birthright power flow through my veins, down my arm and form into my hand. I waited for the exact moment where it seemed my attacker took a few seconds to create new lightning to leap out of my hiding place, and threw out my hand in the demon's direction. It was like throwing a pebble on water, watching my light pink orb fly from my hand.

When it hit there was a sound of crystal breaking, a grunt and a thud. Then it all cleared as my adrenaline and rapidly beating heart slowed down a fraction. The demon made another noise and upon seeing the creature I had to collect my dropped jaw from the ground.

"The hell?" I shrieked, pointing accusingly at the being. "What do you think you are doing?"

Thor rubbed his chest with a grimace, but didn't look at me in anger or pain. The emotions his eyes shined with made me blanch and want to stay back; trust my mistrust when someone I had brought to his or her knees are looking at me with admiration and awe.

"Miss Kagome, you're a priestess?" he breathed.

Well. Crap.

Holy mother of God, and Sweet baby Jesus! I didn't think this kind of fanfic would get this kind of response! Thousands thanks, hugs and kisses to all who reviewed, story followed and such! And thank you guys who asked questions; it made me think through the story and what to do. Some of them inspired this very chapter 8D

Since I myself aren't a huge Avengers; Earth's mightiest Heroes watcher, the characters from there will probably... not be exactly as they are in the "real" stories. Not all are gonna be in this fic; heaven, no. Too many.

No. I'm going to continue writing this in first person's point of view, since I want to and because I haven't done it before and want to experience it. Want third or second person's point of view instead? Then ignore this fanfic, 'cause it isn't gonna change.

Ahem. Sorry. Either way, many thanks again, and boy am I tired! *glare at clock* stupid day that's too short... three in the freaking morning... *grumbles*

Please continue to follow! ^w^