Sneak Peek at the Springs Day- (Early Morning) November 22. Kagome tells me that she won't be seeing us for a while. She has a big break coming up, and she wants to spend a couple days with her family and then she'll come and visit us. Inuyasha doesn't seem too happy about it, but their love quarrels are none of my business nor concern. The only things they bring me are a headache or smug happiness. Besides, I'm grateful my own happiness isn't dependent on someone so prone to mood swings as both of them are. However, I don't know if being dependent on someone I can never have is any better. But on with the story.

Since the weather has gotten so cold around here, it seemed natural to everyone to try and have one last dip in the hot springs before they froze over. If they froze over. No one was really sure if they would, but then again, no one really wanted to take the chance. Besides, unlike Kagome who can have a hot bath whenever she wants in the future, we cannot. And as used to freezing cold water as I am, since meditating under rushing waterfalls is something that I was often subjected to when I was young, I can't say I'm particularly fond of the temperature. Besides, when you're cold, things tend not to be so interesting. And like I've said before, it makes me sluggish. And if there's anything that both Inuyasha and I detest is being sluggish.

So, loaded down with Kagome's exotic and not to mention somewhat bizarre bathing kit, that consists of multi-fruited tubes and square soaps that reek of flowers backed away in boxes that are not supposed to be wet, and a strange device in the shape of some foreign animal that Kagome says is called a 'float tube' and the animal is called a 'giraffe'. Of course, most of these fun things are for the girls, and the float tube is for Shippou, since the young fox demon is utterly terrified of swimming by himself and because he's the only one who fits in the small thing. And since Shippou is still technically young, he's allowed to bathe with the girls, which I don't see as fair.

Shippou is only young in age, since he has already fallen in love with a woman (well, close enough to one anyway…), and has already had female trouble. He also has proven himself in many battles, and sometimes makes decisions and comments that show how insightful he is. So how come he gets to bathe with two perfectly beautiful maidens?

I have discussed this with Inuyasha, and even though he dislikes the fact to admitting he likes Kagome, he really can't deny it much anymore. Especially not after they've started holding hands at night, and I've stayed up plenty of nights just to amuse myself with this prospect. Anyway, Inuyasha agrees with me that this is very unfair, so we have both decided since this is going to be one of the last occasions we will get to be able to um, watch over the girls, we will take full advantage.

But of course, matters like this must be handled delicately. No doubt that the girls will be on high alert, but I figure from prior experience that they will let their guards down right in the middle of their soak. That way, Inuyasha and I simply can't be called perverts for we didn't see anything, but will see enough skin to satisfy our...curiosity. Yes, that's the word.

"Hey Miroku," Inuyasha whispers rather loudly to me as he comes up by my side, "you sure this is a good idea? I mean, you've done this a lot, and it's never turned out well…" Obviously he's thinking about the slaps. Well, all I have to say is that they're worth it. Besides, if Sango really disliked it, I have a feeling that I would not be standing next to Inuyasha today. Still, she does pack a punch, and there's always the fact that Kagome might run off to the future and not come back for weeks. But then again, Inuyasha can always go to the future and drag her back. She seems to like it when Inuyasha goes to fetch her, so perhaps things wouldn't be too catastrophic.

"Yes." I say firmly, and move away from him before I become plagued with doubts. Besides, if Shippou gets to play with the girls in the hot springs, why can't we have a quick peek? It's not like we'll do anything else. I hear Inuyasha sigh loudly behind me, but he makes no objections. Sango glances at us suspiciously, as if she knows what we're plotting, but says nothing before turning back and talking to Kagome.

Suddenly they get very quiet and random bouts of hysterical laughter ensue, and Inuyasha shoots a look at me. Obviously he's suspicious, and doesn't think it's a good idea. How sad. And to think that Inuyasha was actually the one that suggested we do this in the first place.

By the time we've gotten to the hot springs, one would think that Inuyasha had ant demons in his big billowy clothes of his, the way he's always twitching. Kagome's stopped more than once to ask him if he's okay and what's the matter, but every time he answers, his voice seems a pitch higher than normal, and his face perpetually wears an alert and jumpy look. In fact, the first time she asked, he jumped up and hit his head on a tree branch and then was promptly buried in a mini-avalanche of snow. Smooth Inuyasha, way to not arouse their suspicion.

Finally Inuyasha points out (with his newly higher pitched voice) that we've reached the hot springs.

The girls only stick around long enough to help us build a fire and to settle their stuff down. Then in very serious voices, coupled with very serious death glares, they tell us not to peek in. And then without a second thought or word, they grab all their things and Shippou, heading to the hot springs giggling loudly. Inuyasha once again tries to send me a look, though I ignore it until they're out of hearing range.

"Look Miroku, I have a really bad feeling about this. Why don't we just call it off? I can smell the mischief those two are brewing." Inuyasha says, frowning as he leans back against a tree. Distantly, I hear the loud shrieks of the girls as they jump into the hot springs, and Shippou's weaker one a few moments later. He doesn't get in unless both girls have tightly secured their towels around themselves and are already in the hot springs. Then he puts on these things called swim trunks, which are water resistant and have pictures of bubbles on them, and then his float tube and then is in.

From the constant splashing and laughter, it sounded like fun. Perhaps Shippou was even doing some fox magic and making sharks in the water. The first time that had happened, Kagome had come back shrieking in her towel, launched herself at Inuyasha while we could all hear Sango pick up her huge weapon and the horrendous sound of a lot of water being displaced. A few moments later, Shippou flew through the trees and hit one of them, landing on my lap, dazed. Sango stomped back a few moments later, also clad only in a towel (how divine), surveyed her handy work and explained to us what had happened. It was quite entertaining, though I doubt Shippou would do magic like that anymore. Nobody likes to get hit with Sango's weapon, even if there was a large barrier of water to cushion the blow.

A few moments later, Inuyasha and I were sneaking closer, listening intently to the content sighs and the occasional splashing sounds. There was a convenient boulder placed right in front of the path that Inuyasha and I were creeping up on, large enough to conceal both of us with some space. I took the right side, while Inuyasha snuck to the left. And then with a small nod to each other, we both peeked around the corner.

And received the biggest shock of our lives.

There sat Kaede, in all of her ancient glory, scrubbing her arms and humming some screechy old tune. So shocked and horrified at all the wrinkles, the eye patch, and all the gray hairs, Inuyasha and I sat there and gaped, instead of taking the sensible route and running. Kaede soon looked up and saw us, and let out a girly little shriek, which would have been humorous had she not loaded her bow with arrows and shot at us with deadly aim.

And if that hadn't been enough, Sango, Kagome, and Shippou came tearing out of nowhere (it soon became apparent there was more than one hot spring, and we had just picked the wrong one to sneak up to), all ready to fight. When they saw how many arrows had painfully pierced our hides, they all dropped to the ground laughing, unable to even get up from the ground, their laughter was so great.

It wouldn't have been as embarrassing if Kaede hadn't added in an indignant old voice, "If ye wanted to see me like this so badly, ye should have at least should have asked and joined me!"

It took the others hours to stop from laughing.

Author's Notes Next chapter is the last one. Sorry. Thank you to all who have supported this and found it just as amusing as it was to write!