Fandom: Inuyasha

Disclaimer: For here on out, I am in no way affiliated with Inuyasha or Rumiko Takahashi. I am not making any money off of this story.

Pairing: Sesshomaru/Kagome, Koga/Kagome (eventually), Koga/Ayame, Sango/Miroku,

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Romance/Humor/Angst

Warning: Language,

Summary: It all started out innocent enough, a little slip of paper with big, bold words on the front. A break before college at a Hot Spring Resort. Or so she thought. Of course it couldn't be that easy. It never was when he was involved.

Beta: None

A/N: This takes place a year and a half after "The Nudist Resort" It's been awhile since that story and it makes me cringe to go back and read it, so there may be some small differences here and there. Rating and Warnings subject to change. At this point Kagome would be 19, almost 20, and Koga would be 23.

Hot Spring Houdini

SilverYoko

Prologue

"Kagome! Kagome Higurashi!"

"Mmmm…whaaa?"

The words were thick, laden with sleep as the raven haired teen clutched the comforter tighter about herself and rolled to face the wall. It was Saturday morning. It was her day to sleep in, wake up around noon-ish, and enjoy her bowl of cereal and vegetating on the couch.

So, what the hell did Sango want this early in the morning?

There was a heavy sigh before she felt the comforter yanked from her body, propelling her to the floor to land in an undignified heap at Sango's feet. Blinking furiously Kagome dragged herself to her knees, glaring through her bangs at the grinning slayer above her. Of all the things that 

could've started her day, this was not how she would've pictured it.

"We've big plans, m'dear! Don't tell me you forgot already! We only have a month left of break before we head back to college, and we must make the best of it! No more of this sitting around doing nothing but work work work. It's time we take life by the horns and enjoy what little time we have left before we become slaves to school once more!"

With flourish that only Sango could pull off the older girl shoved the little coupon in Kagome's face, waving it around so much that Kagome had to take hold of her hand to read it.

The little slip of paper set off warning bells, Kagome remembered that little slip of paper. Kagome's mother had gotten it for Sango on the girl's birthday. She said Sango looked like she needed a break, as she took care of her father and brother so much. Those two were enough to drive anyone crazy. To this day Kagome absolutely refused to enter the house unless she knew it was in decent condition.

The coupon was for a half off deal at the new hot spring hotel slash resort three hours away, it was the "best of the best" as the coupon wrote in big bold letters. It was for one person and "guest" and Kagome could only venture a guess as to who Sango wanted her guest to be.

"No."

"Sorry Kag, there is no getting out of this one. I already made all the preparations. I called the Pet Shop and told them you were going on this little vacation with me and the old couple said it was okay. Don't give me that look, those two managed long before you came along. They will be fine.

This is our time to enjoy! We are still young, and we worked our asses off last quarter. We did absolutely nothing but work and go to school. It's time for us. We need to relax and take a break before we head back so we don't burn out. So just try to enjoy it, okay? For me?"

Sighing in defeat Kagome shuffled to the bathroom and turned the shower on to cold, she was going to need a jump start to get up at seven on a Saturday morning. Sango prattled away behind her, clearly enjoying the prospect of getting treated like a princess for the next three weeks.

Sighing again she lamented the thought of what this was going to do to her checking account. Places like that weren't cheap, even with the half off coupon. She rummaged through the towel cabinet, chucked the nearest one at Sango's head to make her shut up, and hopped into the shower.

"Ahhh! This is going to be great! Just the two of us and all the possibilities! I've heard these places are amazing. We can get massages, fantastic food, schmooze with new people, and relax in the springs – which I hear is great for your skin. And there are even outside springs so we can work on getting you a tan!"

Kagome shot her a sideways glare at her last comment. She was rather fond of her milky white skin. Sango, on the other hand, had caramel colored skin from all the time she spent out in the sun. She was always on the move, always active. It made Kagome nervous, Sango could never sit still and she was too fidgety.

Laying her head against the window Kagome let her eyes slip shut. The beginning of this trip was all too familiar and a small smile curved her lips. How did she let herself get in these situations? Only a year or more ago she had failed at getting out of a similar trip, and that had been a trip in itself.

She had made friends, met a boy she knew she should've had nothing to do with, lost a part of herself, gained a new part, learned more than she wanted and came out unscathed. She worried the edge of her shirt between her thumb and forefinger. It still hurt to think about Koga, she had lost all contact with him after the resort.

It is better this way. No strings attached. After all, I still have Jakotsu, Inuyasha, and Shippo. They are all the ones I need after all. I have my hands full with them as it is.

More often than she liked she had to keep reminding herself that cutting all ties with Koga was a good thing. It was like pulling off a band aid. Quick, pain filled for a couple seconds, but the pain faded as quickly as it came.

She still remembered standing there that last day, the feel of his hands in her hair, the musky smell of his skin, the taste of his lips. The wound was still raw, and she grew angry at herself more and more for being such a fool. She hadn't even known him that long and she had grown infatuated with him.

She knew that was what it was. Infatuation. Not love. She couldn't love someone like him. She wouldn't. After all, she was nothing but another name to him.

"And here we are!"

Kagome lurched forward, the seatbelt digging into her shoulder as Sango slammed on the breaks. Sango's driving skills were seriously lacking but she adamantly refused to let Kagome drive anywhere. In her mind, Sango was the best damn driver there was.



Rubbing at her collarbone absently Kagome mouthed a silent, "ow" before making sure it was safe to get out of the car. Sango liked to stop in random spots too, so if she didn't make sure they were in a parking spot Kagome could walk out of a moving car. Which, she had done before.

All things go she leapt out onto the pavement, raised her arms above her head and reached towards the sky. Her back popped pleasantly and she had to admit that so far so good. The place was beautiful. Mountains on every side, forests before that, the air smelled clean and pine fresh. There weren't that many people, at least it didn't look like it, so it wouldn't be over crowded and as long as Sango stuck to the plan of "just the two of us" things couldn't go wrong.

"Long time no see, Kagome."

The words slid over her like a cotton blanket, suffocating her and making her choke on saliva. It was a voice she hadn't heard in awhile. A voice she really didn't want to hear again. It was just as she had remembered.

Arrogant. Pompous. Narcissistic.

She wondered if she didn't turn around how long she could pretend she didn't hear him before he'd walk away.