Disclaimer: Who me? Own Inuyasha? Whatever possessed you to have that idea?

A/N Okay, folks, I am back! And with tons to say, I might add.

One, yeah, I don't know if anyone noticed in the last chapter, but somehow I managed to type the word cooker instead of the word cook. When I read it over after I had posted it, I smacked myself. Physically. I don't know where it came from, and I'm honestly not that dumb... usually. Just wanted to clear that up.

Second thing. Ack! I injured my knee ski racing Sunday! I had to miss the last level of my school ski race team's competition and I'll have to miss the finals of my local ski team's competition. How crappy a birthday present can you get?

This isn't meant to discourage you guys in any way about skiing, though. It happens in every sport. I was so glad to receive reviews from you guys saying how you went skiing or snowboarding and how much you enjoyed it. Especially about how you discovered a new fav. food in poutine, sleepwalking chicken and HAP. ^_^

But you know, I-Like-Sesshomaru, I find that Inuyasha and Kagome do get along together a lot better when they're alone in the show. Not a whole ton better, perhaps, but I guess they can just be more open with each other when no one else is around. ^_^

And on a last note, heh, heh, heh... Oh, Sesshoumaru and Rin have already been planned for a cameo in this fic. *Insert evil laughter here* RogueSummers, fear not, it's all taken care off...

I was so happy with all the reviews I got for the last chapter! I know it was slightly on the short side, but I actually got 25 reviews for it alone! I love you guys oh so very much, you're all super nice! They really helped me get out of my birthday blues and now here's another fun-filled chapter for all you awesome people to enjoy!

~*~

"What took you guys so long?" Sango asked Inuyasha and Kagome as they skied up to them.

Inuyasha and Kagome shared a look and Kagome said, "You don't want to know."

They had spent all morning cleaning up the mess in the condo and had ended up eating no breakfast at all. It was late in the morning, approaching noon, before they were able to rejoin their friends.

"Having a bit too much fun alone together?" Miroku said, wiggling his eyebrows at them.

"Miroku..." Inuyasha said in warning as he raised his fist.

"Kidding! Kidding...! I'm always joking around with you; you should know that by now!" Miroku said somewhat nervously while patting his friend on the back.

"You'd better be kidding," Kagome threatened. "Because you know what you'll be kissing if you aren't, and it won't be Sango!"

Sango, who had been vaguely nodding to Inuyasha and Kagome's threats, suddenly straightened up and shot her friend a glare. "Excuse me, Kagome!? Care to repeat that?!"

"Uh, no, I don't think so," Kagome said, trying to inch away from the group without Sango noticing.

Her plan proved unsuccessful, however, as Sango shot her another glare and started towards her.

"Eep!" Kagome squeaked and began skiing full-out for the chairlifts.

"Get back here!"

"Think I'll pass!" Kagome called back over her shoulder as she skated* frantically for her survival.

"Are you slow at everything?" Inuyasha asked her innocently as he effortlessly skated past her on his flashy red skis.

"Are you a jerk about everything?" Kagome shot back as she struggled to catch up with him.

"Now, now, you two! Stop fighting!" Ayame chided them jokingly as she and Kouga slid up with them to board the chairlift. The four of them sat down on it, leaving Sango and Miroku alone on the chairlift behind them.

"Don't think you've gotten away!" Sango called up to Kagome. "You're gonna re-eeaahh! Get your hands offa me, lech!" This was followed by a sickening whacking sound.

"So what were you guys doing this morning?" Kouga asked Kagome and Inuyasha.

"Um, cooking?" Kagome responded innocently.

"Cooking?" Ayame asked incredulously.

"Uh, messy cooking?" Inuyasha supplied.

"Uh, huh..." Kouga said in disbelief.

"You guys have a pancake batter fight and see what it does to your kitchen!" Kagome blurted out in a huff.

"A pancake batter fight?!"

"Uh..." Kagome's eyes grew shifty. "Perhaps I've said too much..." she said, sinking further into the seat as Inuyasha glared at her.

~*~

"No, Miroku."

"Not even just a little bit?"

"No."

"Come, now. Admit your true feelings."

"Miroku...! I am not attracted to you in any way, shape or form!"

"How 'bout personality wise?"

"Personality?! You grope every girl you see!" Sango burst out in frustration.

"Ah, but that's not true, my dear, lovely Sango. I only grope every beautiful girl I see," Miroku answered back proudly.

"Oh, well, my mistake," Sango said sarcastically. After a few minutes of silence, she asked in exasperation, "When is this chairlift ride ever going to end?!"

Miroku gave her a hurt expression. "Are you not enjoying my company?"

Sango eyed him from the other end of the chairlift. "I might enjoy it more if you weren't being perverted half the time," she informed him.

"Really?" Miroku said in a hopeful tone. "Then I solemnly swear not to stick my hands where they don't belong for the rest of the chairlift ride."

"I find two things wrong with that statement," Sango said. "One, what about after the chairlift ride?"

Miroku shrugged. "I don't think I'll be able to restrain them that long."

"Two, how can I trust you? You haven't exactly given me the best impression," Sango told him.

"Hmmm, good question." Miroku thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I really have nothing to offer you; except that if I break my promise, I'll let you call on Inuyasha to help you beat me up." With that thought, he shuddered.

Sango looked at him speculatively. "I guess..."

"Splendid! Now what shall we talk about?" Miroku asked eagerly.

"Um..." Sango, not used to having Miroku not acting lecherously towards her, was at a loss as to what to say.

"Anything at all," Miroku said, swinging his skis back and forth.

"Okay, well, um... you like skiing a lot, right?" Sango asked, groping for a subject.

"Yeah..."

"And you're really good, right? Like, as good as Inuyasha and Kouga?" she pressed.

"I guess so... Is this going somewhere, my dear Sango?" Miroku questioned, puzzled.

"Well, I've just been wondering why you don't race and compete like them," Sango said. "I mean, if you've got the skill, and your friends do it, why not you?"

Miroku shrugged. "I tried it when I was younger, but I never really was that interested in it. Plus I injured myself once in a race and it kinda left a bad feeling with me, ya know? I mean, I got over it and I know that it shouldn't keep me from continuing, but thinking about it's kind of like a bad taste in my mouth, if that makes any sense. Anyways, like I said, it never really appealed that much to me in the first place so it's not that great a loss. Plus, I'm more of a jumper, myself. That's where my true passion lies."

"That's neat," Sango said in awe. "I've always thought jumping looked kinda neat. Do you think you might be able to give me some lessons?"

Miroku smiled at her. "Sure. It'd be my pleasure, lovely Sango."

Despite her aversion to him, Sango felt a light pink colour touch her cheeks. Miroku could be kind of sweet when he wasn't being a pervert.

They disembarked from the chairlift, Sango still on her little high. She plummeted back down to Earth, however, as soon as she felt a now familiar pressure on her backside. Fuming she twisted around in her skis and delivered a powerful hit to her companion's head with her pole.

"You-you creep!" she yelled, angry at herself for ever letting her guard down because he had shown a glimpse of decency.

"I'm truly sorry, dear Sango!" Miroku said earnestly. "But I did warn you that I couldn't restrain them. You're just too beautiful to resist!"

"Awww, how cute," Kagome's voice reached Sango's ears. "Go on, Sango, give him a kiss."

Sango turned to face Kagome with what could only have been described as pure fury blazing in her brown eyes. "Kagome...!!!"

"Okay, okay!" Ayame broke in wearily. "Calm down, Sango. And stop provoking her, Kagome, 'cause I don't think anyone'll be responsible for the consequences if you continue."

With great effort, Sango relaxed and lowered her raised pole.

"I'm hungry," Inuyasha suddenly spoke up.

"You're always hungry, dog-crap," Kouga informed him.

"Why don't you go shove your head down a toilet?" Inuyasha shot back. "It might actually clean your hair up a bit."

"I'm hungry, too," Kagome said.

"You guys just got out here, though," Ayame said.

"Yeah, but we didn't eat anything for breakfast," Kagome protested. "I'm starved."

"I have a novel idea!" Miroku said cheerfully. He had obviously already recovered from Sango's abuse. "Why don't we go back to our condo and prepare a lunch-feast thingy!"

Kouga shook his head in wonder. "Your grammatical skills never cease to amaze me."

"I'm in as long as I don't have to cook," Kagome said instantly.

"I'm in as long as Kagome doesn't have to cook," Inuyasha said in agreement a split second later. Kagome shot him a dirty look to which he shrugged.

"Alright, then, I guess it's settled," Ayame said. "Let's head back."

"Swee-ahhh! Miroku!" Kagome squealed, trying desperately to get away from the skier's hands as Inuyasha clobbered him over the head.

"I swear, lech," Inuyasha began threateningly, "one day I'm gonna chop off those hands of yours."

"Preferably sooner than later!" Kagome said from behind the silver-haired racer.

Sango sighed in irritation. "Down you go, pervert," she said pulling Miroku away from the pair and shoving him down the hill they were standing in front of."

The others quickly followed suit and skied down towards the boys' condo as soon as it came into view. Popping out of their skis, they hauled them over their shoulders and quickly ascended the inside stairs to reach the boys' assigned living area.

"Mmmm, food; I can't wait!" Inuyasha exclaimed as soon as he stepped into the room.

"Uh, I hate to say this, Inuyasha, ol' pal, but there's no food yet. We have to make it," Miroku told him as if he were trying to break some bad news to him in the gentlest way possible.

Inuyasha looked at him, nonplussed. "Well, what are you waiting for, then? Start cooking!"

Miroku opened his mouth as if to reply, but then thought better of it and shut it, shaking his head. Everyone removed their equipment and he walked into the kitchen, Kouga, Ayame and Sango following him. Inuyasha and Kagome went over and sat on the couch, waiting to be served.

"What would you like for lunch, O mighty one?" Miroku called from the kitchen to Inuyasha.

Inuyasha thought for less than a second, then called back, "Something with noodles!"

"Mmmm, yeah, pasta!" Kagome agreed. "But no spiciness!"

"Will do, ma'am,"Ayame said, shoving a chef's hat she'd found down on her red locks. "One lunch of non-spicy pasta coming right up!"

"And, while we're waiting," Inuyasha said, grabbing the TV remote and flicking it on, "we'll just check out what's on."

As the screen faded into colour from its dormant black, the sound of high-pitched, annoying voices reached their ears.

"Uh oh, Nunu, the tele-toast maker's broken!"

"Big hug!"

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!" Kagome and Inuyasha screamed in unison as the image of teletubbies prancing across the screen came into view.

"Change it! Change it! Change it! Change it!" Kagome yelled at him, trying to cover her eyes while bouncing frantically, causing her to fall off the front of the couch with a thud.

"Eeeaargh!" Inuyasha gave his last desperate cry as he leaned forward violently, pressing the button on the remote. The channel switched as he, too, fell forward off of the couch and onto Kagome. After a few moments of their frantic and heavy panting...

"Inuyasha, could you get off me, please?" Kagome voice was muffled from having her face stuffed into the carpet.

"Everything alright out there?" Sango's voice called out from the kitchen.

There were some footsteps and Miroku's voice said, "Oh, everything's peachy. They're just spending some quality time alone together."

The perverted grin could practically be heard in Miroku's tone, and Inuyasha tried desperately get himself up from where he had landed on Kagome. This proved more difficult than he'd originally thought, however, seeing as their arms and legs had somehow gotten tangled. After a few minutes of groans and grumbled protests, though, they had successfully untangled themselves and risen to their feet to face Miroku who had a knowing smile on his face.

"Miroku..." Inuyasha began, and Miroku felt he was going to now receive a most harmful beating for uttering his insinuating comment.

"Yes...?"

"What were you doing watching Playhouse TV?" Inuyasha finished, referring to the channel that had been playing the Teletubbies.

"Uhhh... no comment?" Miroku replied uneasily.

Inuyasha nodded in sudden understanding. "That's what I thought. Your true colours are starting to shine through. Is your favourite one the fat purple one with the upside down triangle on its head?"

Kagome nudged him. "They're all fat."

Inuyasha nodded thoughtfully as Miroku sputtered. "True. But the purple upside down triangle speaks loud enough on its own."

They both turned to regard Miroku speculatively.

"I, uh, I must return to the kitchen and, um, assist with the, er, cooking," Miroku said, edging his way back to the kitchen under their intense gazes.

Once he'd broken eye contact and fled, Inuyasha and Kagome laughed and flopped back onto the couch to see what decent TV was on. After about a half an hour of scintillating scents wafting from the busy kitchen, they were called into the kitchen and to the table for some mouth-watering fettucine alfredo. Devouring his heaping share in less than five minutes, Inuyasha retrieved another and finished it too before everyone else was even done their first.

"Told you he was always hungry," Kouga said. The others nodded in agreement.

Inuyasha was able to finish one more helping, finishing off the humongous bowl the others had prepared, before everyone else declared themselves stuffed after their first shares.

"Let's go!" he said impatiently as the others slowly rose to their feet. "I want to get some more skiing in before the day's over."

"Uh, there's a little issue about cleaning up the mess," Sango said. Grasping one of his ears and tugging him towards the sink, she continued. "And since you didn't help with the cooking, you're sure as hell gonna help us clean up."

"Hmph," Inuyasha said, trying to ignore the pain coming from the ear she was using as a handle. "Don't see why after that huge mess Kagome and I cleaned up this morning."

"That's your and Kagome's problem, not mine," she said, smiling sweetly.

After the mess was cleared away and the ingredients put back in their respective places, the group was ready to head out. They reapplied their gear and trooped downstairs. Almost as soon as Kagome stepped outside the condo, however, she was half-blinded by a flash. She stumbled backwards into Inuyasha who steadied her and then pushed her behind himself as if in protection.

"What's your name, miss?"

"What's your affiliation to Inuyasha and Kouga?"

"Inuyasha! If you could date one celebrity girl, who would it be?"

"What's your favourite colour?"

"Kouga, what kind of shampoo do you use?"

"Miroku, have any dirty secrets to spill about your two friends here?"

"Inuyasha, how do you get that teased and wild look in your hair?"

"Are these your girlfriends?"

As soon as he had registered what was going on, Kouga let out a high pitched squeal, turned tail and ran as fast as he could back into the condominium. His friends and the reporters that had just intercepted them watched him go in awe.

"That's got to be the fastest boy I've ever seen!" one of the reporters exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango and Ayame tried to slowly follow suit, but were thwarted when the reporters swarmed in behind them and cut off their exit.

"Who are these girls?"

"Um... friends..." Inuyasha responded.

"How'd you meet?"

"Skiing..." Miroku said, being deliberately vague.

"Are you ready for the competition next week, Inuyasha?"

"Yes," Inuyasha said, resigning himself to the endless questioning period.

"What do you think of Naraku who has an equal number of FIS points as you?"

"Keh. Naraku's got nothing on me."

"What about Kouga?"

"I'll be the one taking the gold home next week," Inuyasha grated. "But, otherwise, Kouga'll beat Naraku's sorry ass too."

"How are you preparing for the race?" The reporters were all starting to press up close to the group, especially Inuyasha, holding out their microphones and continuing to blind them with their flashing cameras.

"Taking it easy and doing some basic but effective drills," Inuyasha said, beginning to bore.

"What do you eat for breakfast to keep your energy up?"

At this, Inuyasha glanced at Kagome and something akin to amusement flickered in his golden eyes. "Whatever I can," he drawled.

"What would you like to say to younger skiers that look up to you?"

"Stay true to the sport, stay healthy, and stay in school," Inuyasha replied in a monotone voice, testimony that he'd answered that type of question more times than once before.

"What's your aspiring goal?"

Inuyasha began to really resent Kouga for escaping this torture. "To set a new world record in ski racing."

"Whose your favourite celebrity?"

"Myself," Inuyasha responded, eliciting a few chuckles from the reporters as Kagome rolled her eyes.

"What's your greatest desire?"

"To get away from you and continue skiing," he declared, grasping Kagome's hand and beginning to drag her through the sea of reporters.

He heard the others following and the flashes from the cameras increase in frequency. He heard of few bewildered mutters of, "Holding hands," and "My, my," causing him to hastily release Kagome from his grip and grit his teeth. Once they had escaped the crowd, they stepped into their skis and started desperately towards the chairlift. Unfortunately, the reporters followed on foot. This time, Inuyasha was most definitely less accommodating.

"What type of cologne do you use?"

"Go away!"

"Where do you shop for the latest style?"

"I'm not a freakin' valley girl!"

"What do you do in your spare time?"

"Are you retarded?! What do you think I do?! Ski, of course!"

"Do you prefer women's shampoo to men's?"

"What the hell kind of question is that?! And what are you on?! Shampoo is shampoo!"

"Are you seeing anyone presently?"

"Yeah, a bunch of goddamn annoying people who can't mind their own business and so stick their noses into mine!"

"What kind of underwear brand do you wear?"

"Leave me ALONE!!"

~*~

*I'm not referring to skating here as if they suddenly strapped on skates. It's a term used 'cause what they do is very similar to skating, but in skis, if that makes any sense. They do it on flat ground to get some momentum and move around. Once you get enough speed, it's kinda like skating, but with a lot more friction. Hope that clears it up a bit; it's kinda hard to explain! ^_^'

A/N There ya go, a longer chapter this time. Hope it makes up for the delay. ^_^ Damn, I hate reporters. They're so annoying! I can't even really read tabloids and such on true celebrities 'cause I pity them too much.

Oh, boy, I can't wait to write the next chapter. These Wednesday chapters are gonna be the death of me... But then there's Thursday... and Friday... and Saturday... and... oh, heck! There all gonna kill me! Hopefully not before I post them, though! ^_~

Ooooh, my knee is practically back to normal now; I just can't quite stretch or bend it to its full extent. Almost, though! And just after one week! ^_^ I still have to miss my ski race tomorrow at the same wicked hill my school race was held at, though... bummer...

Well, I hoped you liked this chapter and be sure to look out for the next one when it comes out... sometime in the near future. ^_^' Can't really predict these things, but rest assured it'll be no later than next weekend! I love hearing from all you guys, new and old reviewers, and knowing what you thought of the different aspects of the chapter. Hope to hear your thoughts and I'll catch you all later! ^_~