Here's my new chapter. I guess this is my Christmas present to you guys. It's the first chapter I've managed t write within a day instead of a week since over a year ago. Be gentle on me I'm trying to get used to writing the characters agaon. Hope you like it.

Chained: In More Ways Than One

Hide Me

…

"Do you think they'll be back soon?" Miroku asked, as he looked anxiously at the well. The whole clearing was full to the brim with demons. They had no choice but to use the well clearing. If he had his choice he would have kept them far away to they wouldn't witness their friends return.

"They better be! I don't think the armies will be distracted much longer with setting up their camps." Inuyasha snapped. He walked forward and leaned over the lip of the well. Starring hard into its depths with his brow furrowed.

"What are you doing?" Miroku asked.

"Trying to send a signal with my mind for them to come back already." Inuyasha explained.

Moooing could be heard behind them. They both turned to see Totosai making his way through the crowds on his flying cow.

"What are you doing here old man?!" Inuyasha asked as the sword smith arrived in front of him.

"You don't think I'd be any help. I'll have you know I was a great warrior in my day." Totosai exclaimed in his raspy voice. Flexing his imaginary muscle.

"Yeah right, when you're not being a coward." Inuyasha grumbled to him self. "How'd you even hear about this? Aren't you a hermit that lives in a mountain?" He asked mockingly. The dog demon smacked his neck when he felt something bite him. Pulling his hand away he wasn't really surprised to see Myoga the flea demon. "Should have known."

"Good to see you too master Inuyasha." Myoga said through a flattened mouth. He took in a great breath to resume his natural form and popped back onto his feet. " I told him of course. You don't think I wouldn't hear about something as big as three of the lands joining together to go to war against the east."

"Of course you know everything. You spying on people for information is the only use you have." Inuyasha mocked the little demon.

"Glad to see you finally admit that." Myoga said like he was really proud of it.

"What, that's the only use you have?" Inuyasha asked confused why he'd be happy about that.

"No, that I know everything." Myoga smiled as he replied back.

"Oh no." Totosai suddenly said in dread. Grabbing his hair as if to pull it out.

"What is it?" Miroku asked since the sword smith looked so worried he thought it was something serious.

"No one told me she'd be here. You got to hide me." The sword smith looked frantically around before bounding passed Inuyasha and jumping into the well. There was a delay in any sound as he descended; the noise he made when he hit the bottom didn't sound like he'd landed gracefully.

"Who's her?" Miroku asked Inuyasha but the dog demon shrugged his shoulders.

Suddenly a women appeared from the crowd and made a beeline for them. She had a large staff that looked like it was made from a piece of driftwood, he guessed she need it for her hunched back. She was short and stout in stature and had large eyes. The old women reminded Inuyasha of the witch that tried to bring Kikyo back to life.

"Where's Sesshoumaru?" The old croon demanded once she'd reached their position.

'Oh no, it's started.' Inuyasha thought with dread. Where was that bastard when you actually needed him. Inuyasha hated formalities. He always showed up when you didn't want him but when you actually needed him he was nowhere in sight.

Miroku stepped forward to handle the situation. Inuyasha had no form of negotiation skills. "He's busy at the moment." The monk made an excuse. "Are you an envoy of one of the armies?"

"No, I'm his babysitter." The old croon said before letting of a cackle. The monk and dog demon shared a confused look.

Totosai let of a whimper at the familiar laugh.

The old women stopped when she heard the sound. She became very alert like she was hunting for something. Her large eyes locked on the cow. Pushing the monk and dog demon out of the way she leant over the lip of well to see her prey. "Totosai."

"Maryaku." Totosai said like he was happy to see the old women and not terrified.

"Hn." The old women said like she was unimpressed.

"How do you two know each other?" Miroku asked. Confused with what was happening here.

"Old girl friend." Totosai admitted still at the bottom of the well.

"Not just that. I was good friends with your father when he was still alive." Maryaku pointed at Inuyasha with one of he old wrinkled fingers.

"Why are all my fathers friends old and crazy?" Inuyasha mumbled to himself.

"What'd you say boy? My hearing isn't what it used to be." The old croon asked while cupping her ear.

"Nothing." Inuyasha replied with a fake smile. "So that babysitter thing wasn't a lie?"

"Nope. When Sesshoumaru was a young pup Inu Taisho would leave him with me when he went out to battle. I enjoyed embarrassing him by telling stories when Kagome and him dropped by." Maryaku confirmed.

"When'd they drop by?" Miroku asked.

"Less than a week ago." Maryaku answered. "Didn't Sesshoumaru and Kagome tell you I was coming?" The old women asked.

"I don't think so." Miroku replied.

"Who or What exactly are you?" Inuyasha asked while looking at her appearance.

"A bitch." Totosai mumbled under his breath.

"No a witch." Maryaku said with glee like what the sword smith said didn't offend her. "An all powerful one at that."

"Wait, you're the women that separated Kagome and Sesshoumaru. She did actually tell us you'd be coming." Miroku made the connection.

"That's right." Maryaku answered cheekily.

"So you can perform magic right?" Inuyasha asked, his interest peaked.

"Of course that is what a witch does." Maryaku looked at the boy like he was dumb.

"So you might be able to get this well to work?" Inuyasha asked in excitement.

"Let me have a look and see." The witch said before making her way over. She leant over and started to whisper to the wood. The old women looked like she was a complete nut case and she turned her head as if to listen for a reply. Inuyasha's excitement withered and died. Maryaku nodded in understanding before standing up again. "So Sesshoumaru and Kagome are on the other side. That well isn't going to be bugging. It's very old magic and shouldn't be tampered with even by the likes of me."

"I thought you said you were all powerful?" Inuyasha snapped.

"I am but there is just some things that shouldn't be touched when it's working just fine. Sesshoumaru and Kagome will return any time now be patient." Maryaku scolded like he was just a young child.

"How do I know you can actually talk to it and aren't just crazy." Inuyasha asked suspiciously.

Maryaku leant back down to the well to asked a question. After hearing an answer she stood back up. "The last time you went through the well was 3 weeks and 2 days ago." Inuyasha had a surprised look on his face because the old croon was right.

Inuyasha sniffed at the air. This was bad. He shouldn't have been surprised that she was there. He looked around panicked for a second before jumping into the well.

"This is my hiding spot. Get out." Totosai demanded, could be heard coming from within the well.

"Oh shut up old man, you've already been found anyway. Now be quite, you don't want her to find us." Inuyasha commanded.

Miroku was confused until he saw a bunch of dog demon soldiers escorting a high lady to their mists. "It looks like Sesshoumaru in a dress." He whispered under his breath.

"I hope I look far more feminine than that." The lady exclaimed with narrowed eyes once she'd reached the monk.

"Of course you do, you're actually very lovely. I just meant that I could see the resemblance between you." Miroku babbled out trying to fix his folly. He hadn't expected the lady to be able to hear him. "You're the picture of feminine beauty." Suddenly he was hit in the head. "Sango I didn't see you there. "He said in pain as he rubbed his head.

"Of course not." Sango had rushed over when she saw the lady, that was un-mistakenly Sesshoumaru's mother in the monk's versinaty. Miroku could hit on her and have Sesshoumaru find out. "I'm sorry for his behaviour." She apologized for the monk.

"I find him entertaining, now I see why my son wanted to keep one for a pet. Now where's my son? We have business to get to?" The lady of the west commanded.

…

…TBC