Rin was almost completely physically incapable of containing her excitement, bouncing exuberantly around the snug carriage that she and the five other passengers had crammed into. She was going on her first vacation ever. She was surrounded by incredibly nice people. And, to her delight, she was learning so much about pregnancy from the helpful stack of textbooks Inuyasha was reading out loud to them as entertainment. Currently he was going through a list of possible pregnancy symptoms.

"Kagome, are your feet bigger? This says that feet can grow a whole size during pregnancy."

"I wouldn't know, Inuyasha. I can't actually see my feet. I am smuggling a freaking watermelon under my shirt."

"I'll check later; don't worry. Do you pee when you laugh? Has that been an issue?"

"Can't help you there, either. There hasn't been any cause for laughter or merriment in the oppressive regime you've instituted, so I haven't giggled in months."

"Ok. Glad I don't have to worry about that. Are you getting facial hair?"

"Yes, bushels of it. It's just invisible."

"Hm. What about your sense of smell? Has it gotten stronger?"

"I don't know that it's stronger, but it has gotten more developed."

"What do you mean?"

"I can smell fear now. And lies."

"Cool!" Rin interjected. Sesshoumaru took a break from staring out the window sullenly to toss her a withering stare. She smiled back at him brightly.

Kagome nodded sagely. "It is cool," she mused. "It's how I found out that your mother told you a bit of a fib earlier today, Inuyasha."

"You did?" Inuyasha asked, scrunching up his face as he turned to his mother.

"Oh, yes, dear," she admitted easily. "Hot springs are terrible for unborn babies. It's like putting the fetus in a pressure cooker. Very bad idea. But I had to get you to come somehow, didn't I?"

Inuyasha's mouth dropped open in horror. "Wh!? But you . . . We have to go back! Immediately!" He pressed both hands to the ceiling of the carriage as if he could make it change direction by sheer force of will alone.

"Oh, darn; it's too late! We're already here!" Kagome chirped excitedly as the carriage ground to a halt. She tried to launch herself out the door before Inuyasha could stop her, but it took a couple tries to stand. When she finally did, though, she set off at a very brisk waddle.

"Kagome, get back here!" Inuyasha yelled, immediately giving chase. "Don't you care about our baby?"

"Of course I care about our baby!" she screeched, still power-walking with all her might. "But I am so sick of staying in our bedroom and doing nothing that I want to puke!"

"That's just morning sickness, love. Despite the name, it can come at any time of day, you know."

Their voices faded as Kagome shoved her way into the impressive-looking spa in front of them, taking the comically slow chase indoors.

There was silence for a couple seconds.

Finally, Sesshoumaru cleared his throat. "Well, then," he announced. "I trust that you will take care of our accommodations. Rin and I will meet you back here later."

This time, Rin expected his tackle before it happened. She happily lifted her arms and braced herself for the impact of his body covering hers as he lifted her up and out the open carriage door. As he sprinted up the mountain the lodge was built into, she grinned and buried her face in his shirt, content to trust that wherever he took her would be fun. Izayoi's screamed implorations that they come back immediately and spend time with the family were quickly left behind.

The scenery rushed by in a blur, and Rin was vaguely aware of the air growing colder. Finally, Sesshoumaru set her purposefully on her feet and methodically wrapped his fur around her before taking a step back, crossing his arms over his chest, and waiting for her reaction.

But for a few moments, she didn't know how to react. They were in a forest, yet everything was covered with crystals. There were powdery, undisturbed crystals on the ground, strings of crystals dangling from trees, and even soft, puffy crystals falling from the sky. Was this . . . snow?

"I've never seen snow before," she whispered reverently.

"I assumed as much."

"I love snow!" she squealed delightedly.

"I assumed that as well."

Not needing further permission, Rin dove eagerly into a nearby snowbank, rolling around and letting the white powder coat her thoroughly before shaking it off like a dog. Then she spent several minutes pushing all the snow she could into a giant pile before diving into it again.

Sesshoumaru pulled her out and pressed her to his chest, wrapping his arms around her. He was frowning. It was then Rin realized she was shivering.

"Snow is cold," she remarked, somewhat surprised. With a grunt, Sesshoumaru untied his half-kimono and gathered her into it, retying it around them both. Parts of her face and hair were touching the skin of his throat, and she knew it must have been freezing for him, but he didn't flinch and she didn't pull away. Instead, she nuzzled a little closer, wrapping her arms around his waist as well. After all, he was so warm . . .

They stood like that, watching the snow together for several heartbeats before Sesshoumaru finally spoke.

"We'll come back tomorrow with thicker clothing."

Rin nodded and took the hint, raising her arms to his shoulders and jumping so that he could sweep her legs out from under her and start the descent.

The way down seemed longer than the way up, but finally they reached the spa again and were directed to their room. Upon entering, they were greeted by an interesting sight. As usual, Izayoi had set up a tea table out of nowhere for herself and her husband and sat sipping her Earl Grey serenely. Kagome, on the other hand, was extremely grumpy. She was decked out in waterproof clothing from head to toe. A rain hat, a rain jacket, rain pants, and boots. Inuyasha was trying to force a poncho over her head as well, but she was firmly resisting.

"For the last time, it's not that getting wet is bad for me, it's that immersing myself in hot water completely is unwise!"

"I know, but the hot springs are all around us! There's danger from every side! Someone could get in one and then get out and drip on you!"

"I'm not going to freaking melt if someone drips on me!"

"I can't take any chances! All water is the enemy, Kagome! All of it!"

Sesshoumaru snapped the door shut again before they were noticed.

"On second thought, I'm not sure I'm done spending time alone with you," he commented wryly. "Would you care to try out the hot springs with me?"

"Sure!" Rin grinned. "I think they're that way. . ."

A/N: MWAHAHA, what's going to happen!? You might have to wait to find out. But maybe not, because you guys are the best readers ever. Your reviews make me so happy, and when I'm happy I tend to write more. So, really, the power is in your hands. Also, I would like to thank kittykritik for pointing out to me how terrible hot springs are for pregnant women so that I could correct that and not cause harm to any readers that happen to be growing a human life inside of them. LIFE-GROWERS: DO NOT PUT YOUR UNBORN BABIES IN HOT WATER. IT IS A BAD IDEA. Fortunately my (and Inuyasha's) ignorance led to some comedy opportunities, so I'm pretty happy about that. Stay tuned, because things are about to heat up (HA! Puns. I kill me.) See you next time. ;)