Disclaimer: Nemoa do not own either the Avengers or InuYasha. She wouldn't be writing here if she did!

Oh, I was an idiot. With a capital I. The urge to smash my head repeatedly against either the expensive tapestried wall or the high-tech equipment was quite irresistible. But somehow I got the strength to restrain myself from doing so, as I stared gloomily at me feet, not daring to meet the eyes of the other occupants in the room.

Had I been myself, I would have been in awe over the beautiful house I had been brought to; old and built in a classic gothic style; it was just as lovely as it was intimidating, with its high windows and entrance, crested with thorns and figures in the marble.

Inside was just a blur, as I was flown through many of them, down something that resembled stairs, before I had gently been let down. But then I was lifted again as my knees went out under me – if it was from fear or weariness, I didn't know.

Thor had lifted me when I had fallen, holding me bridal style as I was shown to another room. I had protested, said that I could walk on my own, but one look from the large blonde had shut me up quite nicely. It was yet another look that didn't belong on his kind face.

"You didn't realize it?" Bruce Banner asked, his face as unreadable as ever, while his aura was everything but. "That one call without the right code before calling would lead them right to you?"

To say I was confused was an understatement. "What 'code'? Who are 'they'? What are you talking about?"

Tony, standing slightly by Bruce's side, laid a calming hand on the other male's shoulder. It was strange, seeing only Tony's head, while the rest of him was hidden under a metallic armor, that seemed to have a life of its own. Even weirder to realize it was the same robot that had found me in Tony's cellar a few days ago.

"My friend, she didn't know anything about it," he said lightly, though with an apprehensive edge in it revealed just how ashamed he was. I actually felt a tiny bit bad for the billionaire.

"You didn't tell her then?"

Tony smiled brightly, clapped Bruce's shoulder twice before taking two short steps back. "No, it seemed to have slipped my mind." Hands behind his back, he rocked on his heels. The perfect picture of an innocent child.

The other male glowered at the billionaire, raising a fist as if thinking of hitting him, but then sighed harshly and brought the hand through his thick bangs. "Damn it, Tony – can't you ever take anything seriously for once?"

"Like you do? Please, Bruce, you have to let loose sometimes," Tony huffed, though he seemed like a kicked puppy, all big eyes and slightly bowed head. "If I did take everything seriously I wouldn't be as fun, don't you think?"

I looked up from my seat on the counter for the matter of a second, glanced at Bruce who was staring at Tony with a murderous expression, before I let my chin met my chest once more. Where was that wall to pound my head into?

A slight pressure rested on my shoulder, and had done so for quite some time since I had been brought here, crying and trembling. Thor hadn't left my side, worrying about me like a hen would her chicks. It was sweet, sure, but it was a bit endearing to never get the chance to be by myself, either it was because I was 'strange' or because of my raging moods. Still with my head bowed, I shrugged his hand off my shoulder.

"I-I'm fine," I mumbled.

The hand returned, this time to rub my back. "No, you're not," he muttered back, mindful of the other bickering males before us. "Otherwise you would have been thrashing Tony's head through a wall."

Involuntarily I giggled at the amusing picture, but unfortunately I got Bruce's and Tony's attention focused on me.

"See? She isn't even taking this seriously!" Bruce exclaimed, gesturing to me with a shaking hand. I flinched at the accusing gesture and the slightly growing aura building up around the man. Why was he so angry? Well, I knew why – it was hard to miss with the amount of times he repeated himself. Still, was it really that horrible of a fact that I had called my family, letting them know that I was alive? Then with a start I realized something else; Bruce was seriously angry, not just his aura, but his face had taken on such an expression that could rival InuYasha's – a thought that, literally, scared the living crap out of me.

"I'm taking it," I whispered, my momentarily glee blown away. Nibbling my bottom lip I bowed my head lower, "Gomenasai…"

None said anything for a full minute. I was glad for the silence, but now I was suddenly feeling utterly nervous instead, having used my language from birth. Somehow it felt misplaced, so out in the open that someone could cut it down as improper. Slowly, deliberately, I lifted my head, chancing a peek through my bangs. Bruce had lifted a hand to rest on the side of his face, and said face was holding a tired and sad expression.

"No," he said, sighing heavily, "it's I who am sorry. I shouldn't have let my… temper get ahead of me." He let his hand travel down to massage his neck, another sigh escaping his mouth. "For that, I'm very sorry for lashing out at you."

I am not used to being apologized to. For, yes, that was common with the klutz I was. InuYasha certainly never apologizes to me, and when he does it is for the most stupid thing. Like that alarm clock one year prior. So to say that I was surprised was an understatement.

I was horrified.

But before I could even attempt any form of a dogeza, Tony beat me to it. "Bruce, you're full of surprises, aren't you?" he questioned, eyebrows lifted in mock-exasperation. "And here I thought you were quite predictable. How mean of you to extinguish my means of fun!"

*Apparently not the thing to say,' I thought with a sigh, relief at not being on Bruce's receiving end. Bruce threw his hands in the air and snorted loudly before he turned on his heel and headed for the door. However he stopped just outside it, glancing at the three of us.

"Kagome," Bruce murmured, waiting until I met his eyes. "Just… be careful in the future." The man then looked at Thor and Tony before he huffed and shook his head, finally leaving the room.

I glanced back at Thor who was gazing at the door with a thoughtful expression. "What was that all about?" I asked timidly. It felt as though that look had included both Thor and Tony. And me too for that matter, but why he would shake his head at us, I had no idea.

"Beats me," Thor murmured, frowning slightly. He blinked and whatever that seemed to have occupied his mind returned to wherever it came from, as he turned and smiled lightly at me. "Want to have a look around? It's pretty impressive here – but much more comfortable without all those robots at Tony's," he whispered the last part, his breath causing a light shiver travel down my back and another giggle to leave my lips.

"Sure!" I smiled back at him happily, my earlier gloomy mood forgotten. Thor sure seemed to have a good eye to making me feel better, no matter what. As I looked up at him, the blond locks tumbling down around his shoulders and twinkling blue eyes laughing at me, I couldn't help but think he looked-

"Not to ruin your happy moment, but as we can recall from the Drama Queen's overly dramatic withdrawal, we have a situation." The voice nearly made me jump out of my skin, and blushing madly I looked apologetically at the forgotten Tony. He stood with his arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed, an unhappy look on his face. It didn't suit him to look so serious, no matter if it was a dire situation or some random conversation. I doubted this occurrence had anything to do with his mood though, seeing has he had been joking around happily with Bruce less than five minutes ago.

"Right." Thor jumped down onto the floor beside me, turned to look at me and held out a hand, making a little chivalrous bow. "Shall we?"

I smiled at him and was just about to take his hand when a stampede of high heels came our way. Suddenly I found myself crushed against a very feminine chest, and a high-pitched squeal vibrated through that chest.

"Kagoooomeee!" Janet squealed, rubbing her cheek against the top of my head as she pressed said head close to her chest. "I'm so glad to see yooou!"

"H-hi," I gasped, struggling to find enough air through the bosom suffocating me. "Nice to see your – you – again." The arms around me loosened somewhat, and I looked up into Janet's face, blinking at the tight look on her face. Was she alright?

"Still. So. Cute!" Janet tittered heartily, her face expanding from the broad grin, and crushed me to her small body even harder, now making it absolutely impossible to breath. She didn't look like it, but this girl had muscles. A small thread of jealousy wound its way into my heart, but shook it of the best I could, feeling shame pour down my back. As her bosom pressed impossibly closer to and around my face, I thought with a flush how Miroku would have reacted to this situation. Janet wouldn't have thought him as 'cute' then.

"H-help!"

Instead of being rescued from the severe hug – however nice it was to be hugged – I heard two very male chuckles rise behind me, both Tony and Thor laughing at my expense, while I flailed my arms around like a skittering bug.

-ooo-

I didn't get a tour around the house by Thor. Instead I was dragged into Janet's personal lair, a crossover between Spartan and girlish. A single, plain bed with a pinkish cover, a window facing the park across the street and a writing desk opposite the door by the window.

The most impressive – and apparently what Janet had dragged me there for – where her walk-in closet.

"My Henry built it for me," she said, stroking the doorknob lovingly. "Foolish man, doing everything he can for my happiness."

I glanced at her, weighing my feet. "Is he truly foolish if he loves you?" I asked. Crossed my arms as I watched her turn the knob and opening the closet.

She laughed, showing me through first. "Every man is foolish when it comes to love. You will do well to remember that," Janet murmured behind me, humor lacing her words as I took in the huge room of a closet. Damn, her Henry didn't just love her – he was buried over his head and miles over in love with her, for no one would build a room large enough for a couple of elephants just to put away some clothes.

Or maybe some would; if they had the money to cover it.

"All of this?" I breathed, thumbing a gorgeous dark blue gown that seemed to ripple through my fingers. I glanced back at her to comment on the amount of love he clearly held for her, but stopped as I saw the tender and loving expression on her face as she gazed at everything in the room, her eyes never stopping for longer than a few seconds. Janet sighed happily and fingered a ring on her left hand. I smiled. "Seems like you are just as foolish as him then."

"Oh, I am, aren't I?" she sighed as she held a hand to her forehead in exasperation. "And it's bad to love someone whose IQ are higher than normal geniuses – it feels like he knows what you're thinking. It makes it impossible to cheat on him!"

I stared hard at her. "I have never tried to cheat on him," Janet continued, not realizing what she had said, "He is that wonderful you see – it's impossible to even try to cheat on him, since there's no one more wonderful than him."

I thought of InuYasha. It was impossible not to, when she talked about her man with such adoration and longing – I couldn't help but think of my own relationship with the half demon. He always whined, if we walked too slow or were too human, that he was hungry and wanted ramen eventhough we had none. InuYasha had never showed how much he cared, for any of us – the closest he had come to show it was his failed attempt at fixing my bike, which ended up worse than before.

In my opinion, InuYasha was not wonderful.

"I envy you," I sighed and let go of the blue dress, only to let my hand travel to a feathery one.

She tilted her head at me, leaning against the doorway. "How so? I thought you had a boyfriend." Janet then gasped, grasping my shoulder tightly. "He isn't cheating on you, is he? Oh, the nerve!"

I shook my head and giggled sadly. "No, no, nothing like that. Or, well…"

Janet grasped both of my shoulders and turned me so I was staring into her narrowed eyes. The feeling of staring at a raging tiger before it bounced struck me as a bucket of ice-cold water. " Don't tell me that it is you who are cheating on him."

My jaw dropped open, whereas Janet chuckled and tucked one finger under my chin, gently guiding my mouth closed. "Just kidding. I may not know you that well yet, Kagome, but a cheater you aren't." She winked. "Now, why don't we get down to business, hm? Wouldn't want to keep the males waiting for us, now would we?"

With my mouth still slightly ajar, I watched Janet as she took out one piece of clothing, looked down at herself and frowned. She shook her head and then glanced over at me, assessing me as she looked me up and down, very much as if contemplating if she should buy this extra meat or not.

"Say, you wouldn't happen to have this size, would you?" she asked innocently. I gulped as I took in the twinkling eyes and the way she was biting her lip slightly in apprehension. The image of an tiger seemed more accurate now than ever as I watched her eyes roam over my body.

-ooo-

"Janet! This- this is- please, isn't this too much?" Or too little, I added to myself, feeling slightly panicked as Janet ushered me down the stairs in the shorter-than-normal-dress she had made me wear. I swear, this woman must have been crazy about dress-up games when she was little – she had made me feel all dolled up as she fluttered about me earlier, peppered me with eyeliner, rouge and perfumes. Currently I scented of lilies and roses, a match that somehow worked.

It made me wonder what such a talented woman as Janet – who certainly was fit enough to be a makeover artist – was doing with this weird bunch of guys. Was it only because she was married to one of them, or was there something else?

I stumbled over my high heels and almost managed to roll down the remaining steps. Right now I didn't care much for who or what Janet hanged out with – all my energy went to keeping me on my feet, a feat that was harder than usual.

"Nonsense!" She exclaimed right behind me, one hand on the railing as she without any effort strode down the stairs. Her heels certainly weren't playing deathtrap with her, and she had at least two centimeter higher than mine. "It is perfect – you are super gorgeous, and had I been a guy and not married, I would have gone for you!"

Losing my balance for a moment, I grabbed the railing tightly, glancing back at her bewildered for a moment. Janet winked at me, her short brown hair standing around her head like a crown. Not only was her makeup perfect, she did wonders with hair too. Mine had gotten acquainted to a curling iron, and was now lying lazily over my right shoulder. To hold it in place Janet had offered a headband, a thin thing with one large rhinestone on the side. Pretty cute, if I dared say so myself. But the dress…

"But- But Janet! Tony will be there!" I all but shrieked, trying in vain to put my foot softly on the next step. It sounded like a horse was making its way down, and not just any breed of horse. No, a damn draft horse on 732 kilos was bombarding its way down.

"So? He will be delighted to se you," she said.

I gulped, taking another tentative step, careful to keep my legs as close as possible. "That's what I'm afraid of."

For the dress was in fact shorter than what my school uniform had been – and that's saying a lot. Not by much, but enough so I would feel awkward and not know how to move in it without revealing too much of myself. How Janet had managed to get me this far was a wonder.

Sure, the thing did look good on me somehow – hugged the right curves and hid most of what I wanted hidden. Even so, I was used to long sleeves or a kimono on some occasions, and not something that would have Miroku's nose bleeding twenty-four seven. Worrisome, indeed, when the possible reincarnation of Miroku was sitting only some meters away.

"Janet, why did you doll me up?" I asked in an attempt to distract myself. The railing was dangerously close to bend in on itself with the force my hands were having on it. "Not that it wasn't fun, just, you know, I don't see the point really. Are we meeting someone?"

She patted my shoulder, which only managed to rock me of my newfound balance. "Not really, no. It's just rare for me to be around another female, and quite frankly – we both needed to be out of the male-den."

True. The past few days I had only seen men, except for Janet that is. Every teenage girl's dream, I'm sure, to be surrounded by some of the most handsome men they'd ever seen. For humans, I can admit that they do reach the handsome scale quite high.

But I had seen Sesshomaru, Kouga and several other demons in full battle – I had had my share of handsomeness, so I was pretty much immune.

Not that I thought of any of them as handsome though.

Finally at the end of the stairs I breathed a sigh of relief, my tensed shoulders relaxing at the feel of safe ground. The relief was short however as Janet grabbed my hand and whirled down the corridor, me tripping behind her.

"Here we are," she said, a huge smile lit up her face. "Dining hall, conference room, party-chamber, etcetera." With that she pushed the huge double doors open and stepped inside.

"Darling!" I heard a male – presumably Henry – exclaim, and in the next second Janet was enveloped in kisses and hugs. I felt like a pervert staring at them exchanging saliva, with which I choose to show my shoes my undivided attention.

A hand took mine which hung loosely by my side. Looking up I saw Tony staring intently into my own orbs as he lifted my hand to his mouth, giving it a feather-light kiss. That kiss electrocuted the butterflies that had taken residence in my stomach as of late.

"Exquisite," he murmured against my hand, still staring intently as his mouth ghosted over my hand. I blushed and tried in vain to take my hand back – boy, Tony did have muscles even without his Iron Man suit. Who would have known?

"Thank you," I murmured, tugging on my hand. "You can let go now."

Tony flashed a wolf grin, not unlike Kouga I noticed to my dismay. His eyes twinkled dangerously as he tugged me closer. "Now, why would I do that, Kitten?"

I lifted an eyebrow, ignoring the butterflies flying around madly in my stomach. "Because you are supposed to be… Iron Man, was it? You aren't supposed to be holding anyone against their will, are you, hero?"

I had found out through Janet that Iron Man was a big-shot in the Big Apple and the rest of the world – his name was on everyone's lips, in newspapers, on the Internet – apparently there was also a fan-site, sporting all sort of things from detailed articles, to fan girl photos. When acquiring use of one, under Janet's watchful eyes, I even found a Japanese one. I, jumping back and forth between my era and the Feudal one, had never heard of him but that wasn't that much of a surprise – he had appeared the same year I turned fifteen and fell down the well.

I never really listened to the chatter when I was in school either, so yeah. I was totally oblivious to the fact that Tony Stark was famous – something that he took offense in, I suspected.

Staring at the wearer of Iron Man intently, I frowned darkly. "Or are you one of those that gets obsessed over an item just because it's pretty?"

He twirled me and tugged, so I was suddenly crushed against him with my back to his chest. He lowered his mouth and whispered, "You hurt me, mademoiselle – why call yourself an item?"

I ignored the feeling of suddenly being called pretty – even I am not immune to sweet words – and the sensation of his breath on my ear and neck. "I never thought of myself as an item," I murmured, wrestling against the arm around me waist holding me pinned against him. "You on the other hand can be thought of as one, mister Iron Man." Irritated and blushing madly, I stomped – hard – on his not-Iron-Man-clad foot, earning a yelp to my satisfaction.

I took the chance given to me and knocked the arm away from me, taking a leap away from him, and on high heels it would have been glorious. Being me it resulted in a fast approaching kiss to the floor as I fell headfirst.

With a huff I landed heavily, legs and arms sprawled in a failed attempt to smother my landing, kind of like a cat would do. I waited for the pain to come. A slight throbbing from a knee, but that was also all, which surprised me immensely. I felt that I had fallen on something pretty hard – not the floor, for this was slightly softer than it – so I should at least have a hurting shoulder. Rubbing my head – which should have been pounding like a rave party – I opened my eyes.

"Huh?" I said intelligently and blinked.

Sky blue hues blinked back at me, a smile giving them a beautiful scarring. "Couldn't let you fall and soil that dress, my lady," Thor murmured.

I blinked again and – not surprisingly – blushed. Some other girl would have squealed over being draped over Thor's – or Tony's, I imagined – chest and being held up by a hand on her lower back. Me, in my short dress which left little to imagination and that seemed more interested in gliding higher up my ass, I wanted to jump up and run. Which I couldn't, as I was being held down by the large male under me, and for the possibility that I would fall flat again.

"I- I'm so sorry," I shrieked, crawling off him and ignoring the chorus of laughter coming from the other side of the room. I situated myself on the floor beside him, carefully arranging myself so the dress didn't hike to high north. "Are you alright?"

He smiled again and stood, reaching out for me to grab onto his hand. "Of course. And you?"

I blushed for what felt like the tenth time those five minutes, but composed myself enough to muster up some sort of smile. It must have been a grimace by the look on Thor's face, but he didn't say anything as he pulled me on my own two feet. When I felt the stable ground under my feet, and not feeling the room sway before my vision, I took the opportunity to gaze around the room.

Or room. Ballroom was more appropriate. Large and spaced, with a large hearth in the end of the room. A long, round table in the middle with seats for at least ten people, and a beautiful chandelier hanged over it, its crystals twinkling from the candlelight.

Janet and Henry still stood by the door, pressed against each other as they smothered each other with love, Tony stood some ways off looking like he owned the place – although he did seem a little lost and flustered. He covered it up well though with a playboy smirk.

Gazing further into the room I saw Bruce staring straight at Janet and Henry. If he could I was sure he would be taking notes right now – but for what, I wasn't quite sure, nor would I like to know if he did. Right then, as if sensing my gaze, he jerked his intense eyes to stare at me, not moving anything other than breathing. It was so eerie that my heart stopped for a second, before it frantically began beating at an uneven pace. Bruce's dark eyes stared across the room into mine, nothing in them betraying what he was thinking. But that wasn't what I was so afraid about – his aura had grown again, and this time I could sense an immense power and anger emitting from it, enveloping the room in a green sheen as Bruce continued to stare at me, apparently oblivious to what was happening.

"Kagome?" Thor's voice inquired, jerking me from the intense staring contest. I was breathing hard all of a sudden, one hand clutching tightly onto Thor's and the other on my chest as my heart tried to tear its way out. I shivered as a cold sweat broke out onto my brow. What the hell was that? "Are you alright?"

I looked up into Thor's kind but worried blue hues, and for the first time I noticed a pulsating sensation around him – like warm air over asphalt. It simmered around his features and when I looked down at our joined hands I saw the heated air travel from his arm to mine. Calming pulses of warmth spread from my arm and to the rest of my body, calming my heart and cooling the fear that still was screaming hysterically, What the hell is going on?!

Awed I gazed into Thor's eyes, silently voicing my confusion and fear. He smiled gently and raised his head, looking at the others.

"Maybe," he said with the same calm I had received from him, "it is time to invite Miss Higurashi on our secret, and maybe ask her to join it, seeing as she is posing no threat to us or to our city." His voice gathered the loving couple's attention as they broke free from each other with another heated kiss, Janet smiling brightly at me with slightly flushed cheeks. Henry was also flushed and seemed to shine with pure male pride.

"Of course," Henry said, hugging his loved one close to his side, "she has my vote."

"Mine too! God knows we need more females around," Janet chirped.

Thor turned to look at Tony. After a brief silence and a hard stare from Thor, Tony broke out into a large grin. "Why are you even asking? She was living with me for all but a few hours prior – of course I want to keep my wild little kitten for some more." He winked at me, which I ignored due to my confusion as to what was going on.

Thor snorted. It wasn't just me who was bewildered at the action coming from the tall blonde – even Tony had raised his eyebrows. The large male beside me huffed and sent me a reassuring smile, before he turned to lock eyes with Bruce. With some hesitation I joined him, scared of what I would see.

Bruce had done a 180 turn – smiling at Thor he inclined his head. "I see no problem with her. She is welcome," he said softly, turning that smile to me. Nothing of what had happened before remained with him – his aura was calm, and he didn't have that hard look in his eyes anymore. If I hadn't been confused before, I would have been now. Did he have a dual personality?

"Then it is decided!" Tony exclaimed, striding forward and standing by my side. He slung an arm around my shoulders and brightly cheered, "Welcome to the Avengers!"

I wouldn't have felt more bewildered had he said the males would perform a lap dance wearing bunny suites. "Eh?"

Yi-ay. So. A delayed update. Again. Sorry 'bout that, school and all is wearing me thin. Then again, I've been battling a cold for the last two weeks - this snotty nose did nothing to help when writing.

However, I did somehow get this chapter as I wanted it - knowledge about the Avengers! And hopefully I answered one of your reviews about why Kagome didn't know anything about Iron Man or such before.

That, for those who didn't fully grasp it, is because she was busy jumping in and out of the well, only being in school for the matter of days. When she actually was in school, she never listened to her friends - all they ever gushed about was Hojo after all, right?

Hah~ Oh, well. Some girl-to-girl talk, a little fluff with both Tony and Thor, and a mystery on its way! A cookie to those who can guess who that mystery involves!

Please review!