Disclaimer: I don't have Inuyasha here, but I do have two other ridiculously cute puppies. I'm satisfied.
A/N Alright, my damn bus was cancelled, bumping my exams back a day! Waaah, that means my trip to go visit my brother is also delayed and shortened. No fair! They couldn't seem to cancel them last week. Argh! But, I guess it does mean that I'm updating sooner (I don't feel like studying anymore, my brain hurts).
What I'd like to say first is that I'm sorry, Daggerpoint, that you felt categorized with my snowboarders from last chapter. I tried to explain in my A/N last chapter, but I guess it didn't come out quite the way I wanted (I was rushing to get it out so I could go to my race). I really have no beef with any snowboarders except the ones like in the last chapter (trust me, they are out there!). I wasn't trying to imply that all snowboarders are like that, only a select few. I quite agree that snowboarding attracts many different kinds of people; I've met a lot of very nice ones myself. I mean, the sport of skiing attracts a lot of different kinds of people as well (there are some real jackass skiers out there!). I chose to put the annoying snowboarders in 'cause I figured our lovable group needed some arch-nemeses, and it wouldn't quite work if they were skiers too. If you still don't like to think of them as 'the annoying snowboarders', think of them as... well, I already gave two descriptions of them in the last chapter, you guys figure it out! (KagomeHigurashi66, you got it right! Yay!) And finally, if it makes you feel better, I was considering for a brief moment whether or not to make Miroku a snowboarder, but I just couldn't see it. It doesn't really fit his character.
Whoo, that was long, but I had to get that out. I really don't want anyone to take offense or anything. I'm not trying to insult anyone, I'm only trying to maximize the humour and amusement. As I said before, I'm going to have fun with these guys, so please keep in mind I know not all snowboarders are like this, and I'm just adding them to add another aspect to this fic.
We won our race, by the way! Yay, us! I got fifth, and was 0.06 seconds away from fourth. Isn't that a kick in the pants? Alright, I really will shut up now. Here's your chapter!
"Why did you do that again?!" Kagome panted, glaring at Inuyasha as she leaned on the doorframe leading into the lodge.
Inuyasha shrugged. "It seemed like the thing to do at the time. I mean, at least they got off the hill and put out their cigarettes."
"Yeah," Kagome agreed sarcastically. "We won a battle today, so we can stand proud and run away!" she said with false pride.
"Would you have rather gotten mauled by the snowboarders, my dear Kagome?" Miroku asked, coming up behind her.
Kagome shot him a nervous glance before scooting inside the lodge after Inuyasha. "What'd I say?" Miroku asked dazedly as Sango walked up to him after having deposited her skis on the rack.
"Hmmm, lemme think," Sango said slowly and thoughtfully. "It probably has something to do with being the biggest, creepiest pervert she's ever had the displeasure of encountering." She shrugged. "At least, that's my opinion."
Miroku turned to her with a pained expression and grasped both her hands in his. "Dearest Sango, do you truly think so ill of me?"
Sango looked at him speculatively and thought for a moment. "Actually... Yes; yes I do."
Miroku flung the back of his hand to his forehead in a dramatic fashion. "Oh, the cruel fate I bear to be thus prejudiced!"
Sango rolled her eyes and pried her hands from his grip. "At least I'm not alone in this assumption. Right, guys?" she asked Kouga and Ayame who were about to walk past them and into the lodge.
Kouga stopped and turned to them. "I don't have to assume, I know. It's kinda hard not to after knowing the guy for ten years."
Sango peered at Miroku suspiciously. "Just how long have you been a pervert?" When Miroku opened his mouth to reply, she cut him off. "Never mind, I really don't want to know."
"In that case, ladies first," Miroku said, gesturing to the lodge doors.
Sango eyed Miroku warily. "Actually, I believe it's perverts first," she said. Ayame nodded and Miroku sighed.
Trudging in, the four waylaid companions found Kagome and Inuyasha still bickering about the snowboarder incident.
"If you hadn't provoked them, my morning wouldn't have been wasted skiing around with you, trying to escape them!" Kagome was saying.
"Keh. I suppose I shoulda just have let them carry on smoking and blocking the hill. You make it sound like I'm the bad guy here," Inuyasha retorted. "Besides, a little exercise never hurt anyone and I'm not that bad of company."
"Shows what you know," Kagome muttered, crossing her arms and shooting him a defiant look.
"Righty then; moving on!" Ayame said, cutting in between the two. "Lunch time!"
Everyone scrambled to grab trays and get in the lunch line before it got too long. When they finally got their chance to order, Sango first, and then Ayame, ordered poutine, as usual.
When the lunch lady asked Kagome what she would like, she cried out desperately, "Poutine! Most definitely poutine! In fact... two poutines!"
The lunch lady gave Kagome an odd look, but prepared the food nonetheless. At this point, Inuyasha skipped out of the line to go prepare himself a hot chocolate as Miroku and Kouga also ordered poutine.
Paying for their lunches, the six companions sat down at a corner table; Ayame smiling brightly at Kouga who smiled brightly at Kagome whilst she scowled at a smirking Inuyasha who sat beside a dreamy looking Miroku who was gazing into the deadly glare that Sango was shooting at him from across the table.
The tension was broken when the aroma wafting from Kagome's poutine met her nostrils, causing her to break eye contact with Inuyasha and gaze lovingly down at it. "Ah, my glorious poutine," she sighed, stroking it with her fork. "I'll never brush you off again, I swear! I'll be forever faithful from now on and I'll never ever forsake you for another!" She smiled blissfully as she popped the first gravy and cheese covered fry into her mouth. "Mmmm..."
Meanwhile, the males of the group were looking on with blank expressions. "Ummm..." Inuyasha began. "Wha-?"
"You don't want to know," Sango interrupted. "Let's just say she cheated on poutine and her infidelity led to what happened last night."
"Oh," Inuyasha said in understanding, although his facial expression was just as confused as before.
"So, my lovely ladies, what brings you to this stupendous mountain?" Miroku questioned. "Do you here come here often?" he continued with a devilish grin.
Inuyasha and Kouga groaned while Sango and Ayame glared at the perverted boy, and Kagome remained oblivious, intent on fawning over her delicious poutine.
"Oh, like that wasn't the lamest and oldest pick-up line in the entire wor-" Sango cut off abruptly as she realized something. "Miroku! Are you trying to play footsies with me?!" she screeched, kicking his wandering feet under the table.
At this, the other boys and even Ayame burst out laughing while Miroku managed to somehow look abashed. Meanwhile, Kagome looked up blankly from her lunch. "Tootsie rolls?" she asked distractedly.
"Eh, heh... You just go back to eating your poutine, Kagome," Ayame said, patting Kagome on the head like a puppy. "I mean, you wouldn't want the poutine gods to think you've forgotten them so quickly after making up; and for tootsie rolls of all things!" Ayame managed to say in an astonished and scandalized way.
Kagome shook her head furiously and dove back into her poutine as Inuyasha reached over the table to grab a fry from her second one. She smacked his hand and cradled her poutines protectively in front of her. "No touchie!" she snapped. "Go order your own!"
"Why, Kagome!" Inuyasha said, feigning hurt. "I only figured that you ordered the second one for me. I mean it's not like you're going to be able to eat both of them; might as well accept my generosity and allow me to help you."
Kagome scoffed. "Yeah, right. You help me. That's a good one. You only want to cash in on a free lunch. Moocher!" she said accusingly. "Besides, you can't eat them. They're my offering to appease the poutine gods."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he said as he deftly swiped a fry before she could stop him.
"Hey!" Kagome protested as he ate his stolen goods.
"Erm, anyway..." Ayame said, turning back to Miroku. "We just came up here Friday, and we're staying for the next two weeks. It's Kagome's birthday present," she explained.
Miroku brightened. "It's the lovely Kagome's birthday? When? And how old will she be?"
Kagome glanced nervously at Miroku's lecherous grin. "Uh, Saturday...? Seventeen...?" Kagome responded with a slight squeak in her voice.
Miroku's grin grew. "Will you be wearing your birthday suit?"
Kagome's cheeks flushed a deep red in embarrassment as Inuyasha and Sango, being the closest, smacked Miroku as hard as they could.
"Stupid pervert," Sango muttered.
"Damn lech," Inuyasha agreed.
"Ow... Inuyasha, I thought you were supposed to be my friend!" Miroku said in a whiny voice as if he were a six year old.
"Keh. What ever gave you that idea?" Inuyasha snorted.
Miroku looked at him with teary eyes. "Did all those years of friendship mean nothing? Were they all just a lie?" He sniffed loudly and Ayame stifled a giggle.
Kagome looked from one boy to the other. "How long have you two known each other?" she asked curiously.
Inuyasha glared at Miroku who was still looking at him as if he had committed the deepest, most unforgivable betrayal. "Too long," he muttered. "I met him at our local ski hill when we were five. He knocked me over while attempting to chase after a crying girl. He told me he was trying to comfort her about getting separated from her mother..." Inuyasha shot Miroku a suspicious glance. "I still don't believe him. But he seemed like good enough company and so we started skiing together."
"And we've been best friends ever since," Miroku said in a quavering voice as he wiped away a fake tear. "At least, that's what I thought! Oh, Sango, comfort me in my time of need!" he cried, flinging himself on the unsuspecting girl.
Sango froze for the split second it took for Miroku's hand to connect with her butt. "Pervert!!" she screamed as she shoved him off of her and slapped him.
As other skiers in the lodge turned to look over at what the commotion was, Kagome, Inuyasha, Kouga and Ayame found other fixtures in the room that seemed of great interest and songs that when whistled the right way were quite catchy.
Once the onlookers had lost interest in the little group, Kouga snapped, "Look, Miroku, would you just lay off for once? You repel more girls that way than attract them!"
"He's attracted girls at all?" Ayame asked blankly.
Kouga thought for a moment. "Hmmm... I guess not... See, Miroku? It doesn't pay off! You'd think you might get a clue..."
"When did you meet Inuyasha and Miroku, Kouga?" Kagome asked him.
"Oh, when we were seven, I moved to Rhalston-" Kouga began.
"Rhalston?!" Kagome cut in. "You did not just say that; did you?"
"Yeah..." Kouga said slowly. "It's where we live..."
"Oh, for the love of...!" Kagome cried, throwing her hands up in the air.
"That's not possible..." Sango said in disbelief.
"Hey, what's your problem?!" Inuyasha snapped.
"Rhalston is where we live too!" Kagome wailed. "How could you?!"
"You make it sound like a crime..." Inuyasha muttered.
"Hey, it's not that bad!" Ayame chimed.
"Yes, I quite agree," Miroku said. "I can come visit all you lovely ladies at your houses now."
Sango blanched. "This is horrible!" she sobbed as Miroku just grinned at her like an idiot.
"How come we've never seen you?" Kagome asked the guys suspiciously.
"Uh, I dunno," Kouga responded. "But we live on the east side and we go to Durkson High."
"At least we don't go to the same high school!" Kagome said exasperated. "I think I'd have to kill myself!"
"We live on the west side and go to Torke High," Ayame explained. "Rhalston's a pretty big city, though, so it's probably no surprise we've never run into each other. Plus you guys have probably been away a lot for racing things... but, still...what are the chances?"
"Not slim enough, apparently," Sango gritted through her teeth as she watched Miroku shift closer to her. "Don't even think about it, Miroku!" she said, glaring at him for all she was worth.
He gave her the most innocent look he could muster and asked, "Think about what, dearest Sango?"
"You know what, pervert, and if 'what' happens, I swear your life will be mine!" Sango threatened.
"But, Sango, my life already belongs to you. You have but to ask and I will comply to your every whim," Miroku declared.
"Well, in that case," Sango said, her eyebrow twitching. "Would you mind getting your hand away from my ass!?"
Miroku obediently whipped his hand back to his side and allowed his innocent façade to beam back at her.
Ayame sighed and looked around at her friends. Everyone seemed to have finished eating; Inuyasha having periodically stolen fries from Kagome's poutines enough so that both were polished off. "You guys done?" she asked for confirmation. When everyone nodded, she said, "Well, then, let's hit the slopes again!"
The group stood up from the table, grabbing their trays and garbage. Dumping the garbage in the trash can and laying the trays on top of it, they reapplied all of their skiing gear and trudged out of the lodge.
After riding up as far as the middle of the mountain via the chairlift, the group looked around. "Where to now?" Kagome asked.
"Jump park!" Miroku suggested. Kouga and Inuyasha nodded in agreement.
The girls sighed. "Fine," Sango consented. "But don't think we're going to do some crazy jumps at velocities high enough to break our backs if we screw something up!"
Miroku held his hands up in front of him in a defensive position. "You can just ski around the jumps if you want," he informed them.
"That's what Kouga'll be doin' anyway," Inuyasha said.
"Hey, dog-turd, I'm a hell of a better jumper than you!" Kouga shot back.
"In your dreams," Inuyasha snorted, skiing towards the jump hill. The others soon followed and they shortly arrived at their destination. "You go first, Miroku," Inuyasha said.
Miroku shrugged. "Okay." He pushed off and built up as much speed as he could before arriving at the first jump. Going airborne, he crossed his skis twice in the air before landing perfectly and stopping a bit farther on down the hill.
"I'll go next," Kouga spoke up. He sped down the hill, pushing with his poles to give him more momentum for the upcoming jump. When he flew into the air, he crossed the back of his skis and reached behind himself to grab their tips before straightening out, landing, and joining Miroku.
The girls were looking on in awe. "Wow..." Ayame said quietly in amazement. "That's crazy cool..."
"Yeah..." Kagome agreed breathlessly.
Inuyasha flipped his long ponytail over his shoulder. "Keh. That's nothing."
Kagome looked at him speculatively. "Really?" she asked, a high note of suspicion in her voice. "I bet you can't do better."
"I'll take you up on that bet," Inuyasha said smugly. "What are the stakes?"
Kagome felt doubtful for a second, but knew she couldn't back down now. He couldn't actually best them, could he?
"Uhhh... I dunno," Kagome said uncertainly. "A penny?"
Inuyasha laughed. "Yeah, right, like you're getting off that easily. How about if I win, you have to cook my breakfast for the next three days."
Kagome considered it. It wasn't too bad except for the fact that she'd have to be in his insufferable presence. "And if I win?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "I'll buy your lunch tomorrow."
Kagome shook her head. "That'd just be making up for how you swiped half my lunch today. Besides, my side of the bet is three days. You've got to meet that."
Inuyasha sighed. "Fine, stupid, I'll buy your lunch three days in a row. Happy now?"
Kagome nodded. "Off you go," she said, making a shooing motion with her hands.
Just as Inuyasha was about to perform his 'stunning stunt', a boy streaked past them, effectively cutting Inuyasha off as he headed for the jump. His black locks flowed out behind him as he flew off the end of the jump and twisted so he could grab the side of one of his skis with his hand. As he straightened out and landed, he stopped abruptly near Miroku and Kouga, showering them with snow.
Inuyasha glared at the offending boy. "I'll show him," he muttered as he raced down towards the jump. Flying into the air, Inuyasha imitated the boy by grabbing the side of one of his skis, but improved the jump as he spun around in a complete three-sixty. Landing gracefully, Inuyasha quickly stopped just short of the other boy, flinging snow at him like he had at his friends. The girls quickly skied down to join them, ignoring the jump.
"Nice jump," the boy with the long, black hair said, though the way he said it made it seem more like an insult than anything else.
"Who're you?" Inuyasha asked rudely.
"I'm surprised you don't know your competition, Inuyasha," the guy stated. "The name's Naraku, and I'm taking first next week."
"Yeah, right," Kouga spat. "I'd like to see you try. I'll be the one wearing the gold."
Naraku glanced at him. "Ah, Kouga, I presume. But what you don't understand, Kouga, is that I have more FIS points than you, which obviously makes it clear who the better racer is."
"Hey, buddy!" Ayame said, poking Naraku in the chest with her pole. "You don't have to be so cutthroat about it! It's just a little competition! You could lighten up a little and try to have some fun with it instead of being so mean and nasty!"
Naraku chuckled. "It's a little bit more serious than a little competition, girl. At this level, everyone's mean and nasty. And whoever's the meanest and the nastiest will come out on top."
"Moron," Inuyasha muttered. "Who do you think you are, anyway? Some sort of god?"
"No, just the future gold medalist," Naraku replied. "And someone who will leave you behind in my-er-snow."
"Keh. You wish!" Inuyasha retorted. "I'm the one that's gonna win, kicking your sorry ass back to wherever it came from!"
"Okay, okay, time to break it up," Kagome interjected, trying to break the tension. "You guys will have enough time to deal death threats to one another next week at the competition; no need to start now. Let's just go our separate ways, 'kay?"
Inuyasha and Kouga each shot a last glare at Naraku before turning away. "Yeah..." said Kouga slowly. "Let's go... away from this scum."
"See ya later, dirtbags!" Naraku called after the group as they skied down the rest of the hill, dodging the jumps.
~*~
"Whoa, what a long day," Kagome said, flopping back on the couch in the girls' condo.
"Yeah, tell me about it," Sango agreed. "Who knew Miroku could continuously recover so quickly after every time I smacked him for groping me."
A twinkle appeared in Kagome's eyes. "Oh, all you have to do is wiggle your butt at him and he'll recover from a coma. C'mon, Sango, he's got the hots for you and there's no use denying it. In fact, you should embrace it and nab the guy. I mean, like Ayame said this morning, he's kinda hot and just think; he could be all yours," Kagome finished with a giggle.
Sango glared at her friend. "Kagome," she gritted out between clenched teeth. "I suggest you run."
"Eeep!" Kagome squeaked as Sango made a mad dash at her with her hands outstretched as if to strangle her. She sprung off the couch and started running around it in circles as Sango pursued her closely.
"Isn't he totally hot?" Ayame asked dreamily to no one in particular as she stared down at a notebook she had taken out of her suitcase.
Kagome stopped running to peer over Ayame's shoulder. Seeing that she had drawn a fairly accurate picture of Kouga, she said, "Hey, that's pretty go-" She was cut off when Sango's arm wrapped around her neck from behind and dragged her backwards. "Ack!"
As Kagome was struggling to break Sango's hold, Ayame continued, "Yeah, he's so hot and nice and cool and... Oh, but I don't think he really notices me. I think he kinda likes you, Kagome."
She heard a crash behind her and turned around to see that Kagome had finally broken Sango's grip and had somehow flung her to the ground. Her friend's expression was a mixture between shocked and frightened. "Eh, heh, what?" Kagome asked in a high voice.
"You can kinda tell he's got a bit of a crush on you, Kagome," Sango said, kicking Kagome's legs out from underneath her.
As Kagome hit the ground, she moaned, "No fair..."
"No fair about Kouga or no fair about me knocking you down?" Sango questioned.
"Both," Kagome grumbled. "Kouga's nice, but, but..."
"But what?" Ayame asked in a tone that told Kagome she'd be dead if she insulted her new crush.
"But he's not my, uh, type," Kagome said, laughing nervously. "Unlike how Miroku is Sango's exact ty-eek!" she cried as Sango pounced on her. "Ayame, heeeeelp!"
Ayame looked at her thoughtfully. "Oh, I dunno..."
"I'll-I'll help you get Kouga!" Kagome bribed, trying to throw the homicidal Sango off of her.
"How?" Ayame asked shrewdly.
"I'll, um, use my influence on him! I'll give you strategically placed opportunities! I'll do everything in my power to get his affection transferred from me to you, I swear! Just help!" she pleaded.
Ayame sighed. "Fine," she said as she pried Sango off of her breathless friend. "But, don't force it, okay? If he truly doesn't like me, then fine. I just want him to have a chance to notice me and get to know me, 'kay?"
Kagome rubbed her neck where Sango had been trying to wring the life out of it. "Will do," she agreed. "There will be no forcing on my part. The whole relationship will happen naturally. Just like Sango and Miroku's relationship is happening so natu-ahhhhhh!"
A/N Oh, boy, that was long... way longer than I had originally intended... But that's okay, 'cause it means a longer chapter for you guys to read! ^_^ I hope it makes up for my absence and I hope you liked it! I still have two exams to go so I'm not quite on my break yet, but I decided to sneak out this chapter anyway. Grrrr... I should only have one exam left if it wasn't for those damn bus cancellations...
Okay, I'm not a ski jumper, so I just kinda made up those jumps... I think a couple of them might have been real, but I can't remember their names... Oh, the city they live in and the schools they go to aren't real either... I made them up (I know the names suck, but they get the point across, right?)
Okey dokey, I don't really have anything else to say, so I hope to hear what you thought of my super duperly long chapter and I'll talk to ya later!