Disclaimer: Yes, I own Inuyasha. On another note, did you know that gullible isn't in the dictionary?

A/N Whoo, ff.net wasn't being too nice this week, was it? I couldn't see my reviews until Wednesday night, and then the log in busted down after that. Oh, well, it's back up and running now.

To clarify what Teletubbies are, Cindy, well, they're a kids' TV show. A very SCARY kids' TV show, in my opinion. They're like, I dunno, fat aliens or something and there's four of them. Each of them are different colours and each have a different symbol on their head. Now, there just so happens to be a purple one with an upside down triangle on its head. Many people had fun joking about the implications of that...

Okay, I'll just say that I've been working on this chapter all week and I'm really pleased about how it turned out, so I hope you like it too! Voilà!

~*~

After being endlessly harassed by the reporters every time they arrived at the bottom of the hill, the group decided to switch to the other side of the mountain until the pesky individuals caught on that they weren't wanted. Kouga had yet to make an appearance.

"Do you think they're gone yet?" Ayame asked the others as they stood at the top of the mountain. "Think it's safe?"

"Well, unless they're a bunch of annoying fools who have no lives and so must delve into those of others and recount to the world all their personal and private secrets and matters, I think we'll be perfectly fine," Miroku stated.

Everyone glanced uneasily at one another. "Perhaps we should stay away a little longer," Kagome said.

"Oh, come on, you chickens," Sango said. "What are you all so afraid of, anyway? They're just a bunch of people, armed with nothing more than microphones and cameras."

Inuyasha looked at her blankly. "Obviously, you've never been asked what brand of underwear YOU wear."

"Okay, good point," Sango admitted. "But still, we have to go in sometime. I mean, if nothing else, the lifts will close while we're on the other side of the mountain, and we'll have to walk back, or wait until they open up again for night-skiing. Might as well face the music now."

Inuyasha scowled. "It's a lot less like music, and a lot more like rap."

"Cheer up, Inuyasha, my friend," Miroku said. "I hear there's an awesome swimming pool at the resort and some splashing around might be the thing for getting your mind off the reporters who've found us much sooner than we would have hoped. You ladies are most welcome to join us, of course. I'm sure we'll be able to scrounge Kouga up from somewhere, too," he added thoughtfully.

Ayame's eyes brightened. "Swimming? Can't wait! We're definitely gonna be there; right, girls?"

"Wouldn't miss it!" Kagome said enthusiastically.

"Oh, yeah!" Sango agreed fervently.

Inuyasha shrugged. "Fine by me."

"Perfect!" Miroku said, as if sealing a deal. "Then let's head back so we can get ready. Remember, against their microphones and cameras, we've got long metal poles that could very easily be classified as beating sticks."

A sadistic grin slowly crept over Inuyasha's face. "We do, don't we?" he said in a very thoughtful tone.

"Down, boy," Kagome said. "I don't think it would help your ski racing ambitions if you were placed in prison for murdering a few reporters-no matter how much they deserved it."

Inuyasha mock pouted. "Awww, well, you're no fun."

Sango sighed. "Let's just go already," she said, giving herself a push to start off down the hill. The others soon followed and then split directions to head to their respective condos once they neared the bottom. Thankfully, the reporters were nowhere in sight.

~*~

"What do you think; the blue one or the red one?" Ayame asked her two friends, holding up two different bathing suits.

"Why'd you bring more than one bathing suit in the first place?" Kagome asked in confusion.

"Well, I couldn't decide on either one at home, so I was hoping you two could help me out if I just brought both," Ayame answered awkwardly.

"Ah," Sango said in understanding. "The red, of course. It matches your hair."

Ayame beamed at her. "Thanks! I'll go change right away!"

Kagome looked at Sango after Ayame had dashed off to her room. "Why didn't she just use the foolproof method of solving any problem?" she asked as if it were obvious. "Eenie-meenie-minie-moe?"

Sango shrugged. "Beats me. I'm gonna go change too."

Kagome gave her a sly look. "Wearing a bikini?"

Sango looked at her as if she were crazy. "Are you insane? Around Miroku? That's just asking for it. Nope, I'm wearing a one piece. Still can't believe you're gonna wear a two piece, though; even if it isn't a bikini. Have you no self-conscience?"

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Not that again. You've only been bugging me about that since the day I bought it. Besides, Ayame has a two piece suit, too."

Sango shook her head. "Can't believe her, either," she said, walking out.

Kagome shrugged and quickly slipped on her green bathing suit. The top half resembled a sports bra and the bottom half short bicycle shorts. She saw nothing wrong with it. Doubtless, it would attract Miroku's attention, but she had a feeling he'd be slightly more interested in Sango, one piece bathing suit or two. She grinned evilly, knowing if Sango knew her thoughts, she'd already be beyond dead. Putting on a baggy shirt and track pants, she tied her hair back in a high ponytail and then fished her towel out of her suitcase. Humming, she slung it over her shoulder and headed out of her room to see if her two friends were ready yet.

Once Sango and Ayame had emerged from their rooms, they put on their ski jackets and some normal boots, then headed out towards the main resort complex. After meeting the boys outside, they followed a few directions, then headed into the women's change rooms as the guys headed into the men's. After removing their outer clothing, the girls grabbed their towels and dashed for the door leading to the pool.

Once in the pool area, which was surprisingly empty, however, they all skidded to a halt at the sight of the boys emerging from the men's change rooms nearby.

As the boys noticed them, they too, stopped in their tracks to appraise the new arrivals.

Kagome couldn't help but stare at the guys before her who wore nothing more than swimming trunks. It wasn't everyday that you were presented three very built and hot shirtless boys, so she figured she might as well get her eyeful while she could. It wasn't like she could tear her gaze away anyway...

Despite being an arrogant rude jerk, Kagome could definitely not dock marks for Inuyasha's looks...chest...whatever. He obviously worked out, judging by the muscles built up on his arms and chest. Not to mention his muscled legs; those would be from skiing so much. But, damn, how could she have ever denied to Ayame that he was hot?

~*~

Inuyasha was in somewhat of a similar state when presented with a scantily clad Kagome. Some girls looked atrocious in two piece suits, some looked decent, and then there were those who looked, well, a lot better than decent. He was opting for the last category in Kagome's case. He couldn't rip his eyes away and he vaguely noticed that his jaw was not as closed as it used to be.

~*~

Ayame had already seen Kouga that morning when he lacked most of his clothing, but this second time didn't make him any less of an eye candy. Her eyes roamed over his arms and chest as a slight blush warmed her cheeks.

~*~

While looking at Ayame, Kouga couldn't help but be thankful that she'd worn a two piece bathing suit. It not only fitted and accented her curves perfectly, but made her look damn fine. He would be content to forgo swimming for the night if he could just stay there and enjoy the view.

~*~

Miroku grinned. He loved himself at that moment. Suggesting swimming was the best and most brilliant thing he could have done! Now he was presented with three beautiful girls clad in nothing but small swimsuits. Did life get any better than this? Well, Sango answered the question for him by just being there, clad in a bathing suit herself. Gazing at her, Miroku forgot about Kagome and Ayame, even though they were both wearing two piece suits and Sango was only wearing a one piece.

~*~

Sango stared at Miroku in amazement. Who know he would be so well built? It was almost enough to make up for his lechery...almost. Reminding herself of this, she was brought back to herself and tore her eyes away from the hot boy before her.

Glancing around at her friends, an amused smile found its way to her lips. Inuyasha and Kagome, and Kouga and Ayame were all gaping at each other like they'd never seen a member of the opposite sex before; especially none quite so clothed.

"Kagome, you're drooling," Sango whispered to her friend beside her. She was hoping to embarrass her enough to get back at her for all the comments at her and Miroku.

Instead, Kagome just brought a hand up to her mouth and wiped at the imaginary drool, never taking her eyes off of the hunk in front of her.

Sango rolled her eyes, but stopped abruptly when she noticed Miroku staring at her, a strange gleam in his eyes.

"Miroku! Quit staring! What do you think this is, an all you can see modelling show?"

At the sound of her voice, everyone seemed to snap out of their dazes and, upon realizing what they'd been doing, proceeded to blush profusely. Everyone, of course, except Miroku, who felt no shame whatsoever.

"Yes...well, erm..." Kouga stammered, trying to break through the thick silence that had ensued.

"Eh heh, right...um..." Kagome added intelligently.

"Pool!" Inuyasha said, pointing. Everyone nodded like he'd just said the smartest thing they'd heard all day.

Stuttering like idiots, they all went to hang up their towels, avoiding eye contact the whole time.

~*~

Looking anywhere but at Inuyasha, Kagome suddenly spotted a smaller body of water not too far from the main pool. Seeing the bubbles shoot out of jets on the sides, she squealed, "Hot tub!" and darted towards it. Sango soon followed suit.

Ayame took some goggles she had brought with her and strapped them on. Heading towards the main pool, she did a perfect shallow dive into it and began the front crawl to the other end.

Kouga and Inuyasha jumped in the pool as well as Miroku headed towards the hot tub.

Upon his arrival, Sango shook her head vehemently. "Oh, no, you don't," she said to him. "You are not allowed in here no matter what. Hot tubs are off limits to perverts."

Miroku pouted, but knew if he were to try anything now, he'd be beaten to a pulp before his efforts could be rewarded. He headed back to the main pool, his shoulders slouched.

"Mmmm, so relaxing," Kagome murmured as she sunk up to her neck in the warm water. She sighed and closed her eyes as the jets shot out water that massaged her back.

"So nice," Sango agreed. "Especially without unwanted leches."

Kagome opened one eye to look at her. "I'd say something, but I have a feeling I'd be in much pain before I finished the sentence."

"Well, at least you're finally starting to get some good sense," Sango said. "A little late, perhaps, but better late than never."

"Well, if you must know, I don't think teasing you would be worth the bruises that would mar my skin. They'd show up a lot better with what I've got on," Kagome said, indicating her two piece bathing suit that did, in fact, reveal quite a bit of flesh.

"Oh, I see," Sango said as if in sudden understanding. "You want to look good for Inuyasha." She raised her voice slightly while uttering his name; enough that he looked over at them from where he'd been presently treading water and trying to dunk Miroku.

Kagome blushed by the fact that Inuyasha was staring at them now and she couldn't defend herself against Sango's comment. "I'll get you back," she warned threateningly in a low voice. "Just you wait, I've got tons more to say about you and the lech."

Sango leaned back with a smug expression on her face. "And when that time comes, I'll be more than happy to pound you mercilessly. But, for now, I think I'll just revel in my little victory."

Kagome huffed and closed her eyes once more, letting her muscles relax and the tension in her body wash away with the churning water. Her mind wandered off for a while, thinking about nothing in particular, while she momentarily forgot about the rest of the world. She was on verge of actually falling asleep when two strong arms encircled the backs of her knees and her back and lifted her effortlessly out of the warm water.

She squeaked and her eyes flung open to see that Inuyasha had picked her up out of the hot tub and was now carrying her away from it.

"I-Inuyasha?" she asked uncertainly, trying desperately to ignore that she was pressed up against his firm chest. She fought the blush that threatened to heat her cheeks.

At the sound of her voice, Inuyasha glanced down at her and smiled gently. Kagome swore her heart skipped a beat at his unusual display of affection. Wait... VERY unusual display of affection. Just what was he up to?

Kagome's eyes narrowed in suspicion a split second before she was tossed unceremoniously from his arms into the main pool. After just been soaking in the nice warm hot tub, the pool felt ice cold, and so Kagome came to the surface, sputtering and shivering. "I-Inuyash-ha, I-I'm gon-na kill y-you!" she yelled, teeth chattering, at the boy laughing at her plight.

She lunged forward and grabbed his wrist, pulling him into the pool beside her. Then she proceeded to splash and dunk him the best she could. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Kouga had gotten Ayame to stop swimming lengths and had managed to engage her in a water fight as well.

Kagome shoved Inuyasha's head beneath the water and he sunk down into the depths of the pool, disappearing momentarily. Kouga dove down as well, and she vaguely saw the two boys swimming underwater to a shallower part of the pool. She and Ayame gave chase, but when they had swum three quarters length of the pool, they realized they had lost their prey. They stopped and looked around in confusion.

Two surprised squeaks escaped the girls as they suddenly rose out of the water, now perched on Inuyasha and Kouga's shoulders.

"Chicken fight!" the two boys yelled and slowly waded towards each other.

Kagome hung on to Inuyasha's head for dear life. "Don't you dare drop me, Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha snorted. "Like I was planning on it. How would we win the chicken fight then?"

Ayame, who had quickly gotten over her surprise, grinned. "Bring it on, Kagome! Let's see what you've got! Kouga and I could take you and Inuyasha on any day!"

"Oh, well, that's it," Kagome muttered, rolling up imaginary sleeves. "Let's take 'em down, Inuyasha."

The two boys slowly circled each other, while the girls they were carrying on their shoulders periodically pushed and pulled the other pair. At one point, Ayame looked over at Sango, who was still relaxing in the hot tub, and at Miroku, who was moping at the edge of the pool.

"Come on, Sango! Come and join us! Miroku can be your partner!"

Sango looked over at her with a horrified expression. "M-me?! On that pervert's SHOULDERS?! Not on your life!" she said emphatically.

Ayame shrugged. "Suit yourself."

"Ah hah!" Kagome's voice came to her. "You never should have let your guard down!"

Ayame turned in time to see that Kagome and Inuyasha had gotten a lot closer in the time she been talking to Sango. Kagome started pushing at her and Ayame was hard pressed to cling to Kouga for support. She finally let go, however, when her insistent tugging pulled Kouga off balance and caused them both to fall backwards into the water.

Kagome and Inuyasha cheered and started their slow victory lap of the shallow end as Kouga and Ayame came, sputtering, to the surface.

"Yeah, yeah," Ayame said, climbing out of the pool and heading for the diving board. As she passed the pair still in the pool, however, she pushed Kagome off of Inuyasha's shoulders and into the water. Gloating in her spiteful act, she continued on, her head held high. When she reached her destination, she called out, "Hey! Let's have a jumping contest!"

Everyone shrugged and made their way to where she was waiting, Kagome and Inuyasha with identical scowls on their faces.

Ayame started by performing a deep dive and coming to the surface half the pool's length away. Kouga followed suit with another deep dive, as if challenging Ayame's. Once he had swum out of the way, Sango sprung off the diving board, did a front flip and dove into the pool's depths. As she came to the surface near the side of the pool, Miroku attempted to shallow dive, but ended up accomplishing a belly flop. A loud smack resounded when he hit the water and everyone winced.

Groaning and clutching his side, Miroku clambered out of the pool where Sango was standing with a worried expression.

"Miroku, are you alright?" she asked as soon as he stood up beside her.

Miroku instantly stopped moaning and released his grip on his reddened side. "Dear Sango, were you truly concerned for me?" he asked eagerly while grasping one of her hands in both of his.

Sango's eyes narrowed. "I'll take that as a yes," she said as she pushed him back into the pool with her free hand.

Unfortunately for her, however, her other hand was still being grasped tightly by Miroku and so with an "oomph!" and a splash, she fell forward with him into the pool and landed on his chest. A blinding flash ensued and when Sango and Miroku managed to regain their composure and breach the surface, they saw their four friends glaring suspiciously at a large potted plant that resided in the corner of the pool area.

"Damn reporters," Inuyasha muttered under his breath. Silence greeted him.

After a moment, they heard a muttering voice coming from the direction of the plant. "Oh, I hope they didn't see me... Now, to get out of here..."

The six companions looked on in disbelief as two hands wrapped around the pot from both sides and lifted the pot a little ways off the ground. Two feet could be seen peeking out from underneath the said pot. Slowly the potted plant started to scuttle across the floor, sticking out like a sore thumb.

"Okay... nice and easy, don't go too fast," they heard the voice mutter again as the plant slowly made some progress across the pool deck. "Nice and slow, gotta look inconspicuous..." The feet stumbled a bit and some dirt spilled on the deck. "Crap...okay, just ignore it, management'll get it. Mingle, mingle..." The voice continued muttering as it reached the next corner over from where it had previously been residing. "Okay, corner, corner...take it slow... That's it. Alright, almost there... hope they haven't noticed me..." The potted plant progressed across the next wall towards the next corner, where the double doors leading outside the pool area were. "Almost there... gotta be subtle... these doors are gonna be a challenge..." As the plant reached the doors, they heard the voice mutter a final, "Mission accomplished!" before scooting backwards out them.

The group still in the pool area stared after the potted plant a full minute in incredulity before anyone could bring themselves to speak.

"You know, I'd ask," Kagome began, "but I'm really afraid I'd get an answer."

"There are no words," Kouga said, gaping.

"I never knew a reporter would go so far," Ayame said in an equally shocked voice.

"Keh. Reporters'll go to any lengths to get a 'good shot,'" Inuyasha scoffed. "Shows how annoying they are. Still, that must've been an amateur or something. His escape was brutal!"

"Speaking of that shot," Kagome said slyly, turning to Sango and Miroku.

"Don't even think about saying anything, Kagome!" Sango shouted, her face visibly red.

Kagome smirked. "In this case, I really don't think I have to."

"Your turn to jump, Kagome!" Inuyasha said, pushing her towards the diving board as if nothing had ever happened.

Kagome shot him a miffed look before performing a pencil jump that carried her to the very bottom of the pool. When she came to the surface a little distance away, she saw Inuyasha preparing to jump. He locked eyes with her a second before he jumped, and his lips turned up into a mischievous grin. Before Kagome could react, Inuyasha sprung off the diving board and curled into a ball. His cannonball displaced massive amounts of water, effectively splashing everyone nearby; but most of all, Kagome.

He came, laughing, to the surface as Kagome coughed and sputtered. "Rrgh! Inuyasha!" she cried, lunging for him. He continued laughing, however, as she splashed him and soon his good mood spread to her, and she found herself laughing with him.

He dunked her, then swam to the side of the pool, scrambling out. Kagome soon followed, once she had recovered, and gave chase. Their other four companions were climbing out of the pool, too, in order to continue jumping. Everyone was laughing about one thing or another, but the good mood was quickly dispersed with the opening of the men's change room door.

Everyone's head swivelled to look at the new arrival; everyone, of course, but Kagome, who had just collided with Inuyasha's back when he stopped so abruptly.

There, framed in the men's change room doorway, was none other than Naraku, with a fluffy white towel wrapped around his waist. With a good natured smile, he sauntered in, and said jovially, "Mind if I join you, ol' chaps?"

Kouga gave him a disgusted look. "Actually, you wouldn't BELIEVE how much we mind."

"Get outta here, Naraku," Inuyasha said in disdain.

"You're not exactly wanted," Sango said pointedly, before turning her back on him.

Naraku's grin didn't waver as he slowly started to walk towards them. "Oh, come now," he said, beginning to remove his towel. "Surely there's room for one more." He completely removed his towel and hung it up on a towel rack nearby.

Kagome yelped and leaped into Inuyasha's arms in a style similar to that of Scooby-Doo.

Ayame fainted dead away and Kouga just barely caught her.

Sango, who still had her back to Naraku, saw her friends' unusual reactions and spoke, slowly turning around. "What're you all...ahhh!"

Naraku was standing there, towel gone, and nothing on but a tiny black speedo concealing the bare minimum.

With a strangled cry, Sango spun back around and buried her face in the shoulder of the person closest to her, which just so happened to be Miroku.

"Egad, man!" Miroku uttered, too disgusted with the sight before him to take pleasure in the fact Sango was in his arms. "That's just indecent!"

Naraku chuckled. "I think we could have a great time together," he said, walking towards the pool, the others quickly scuttling out of his way. As he passed, they noticed he had a tattoo of a spider across the entirety of his back. As creepy as that was, the idea of sharing a pool with him was more so.

"Pool's all yours!" Inuyasha shouted, running with Kagome still in his arms towards the change room doors. Kouga and Miroku picked up Ayame and Sango and quickly followed suit.

"Not there! Not there!" Kagome shouted as Inuyasha started running towards the men's change room.

He quickly changed directions and burst into the women's change room door, Kouga and Miroku behind him. Seeing a few girls in towels staring at the intruders wide-eyed, the boys realized what they'd just done. "Shit!" they uttered. They set down the girls; Ayame had thankfully regained consciousness by this time; and then dashed back out of the door.

Skidding to a halt outside, Inuyasha and Kouga looked at each other. "Shit!" they said again, then ran back in. Grabbing the drooling Miroku by the arms, they began dragging him out.

"Noooooo!" Miroku cried out in anguish, reaching a hand back towards the thoroughly startled girls. "I wanna staaay!"

Inuyasha and Kouga rolled their eyes and dragged him all the way out and into the men's change room, pointedly ignoring the sight of Naraku who was dipping his toes into the pool.

Collapsing in the change room, Inuyasha proclaimed, "That was the scariest sight I have ever seen in my entire existence and never do I wish to repeat it!"

The other two boys nodded their heads fervently in agreement.

~*~

Back in the pool area, Naraku reflected on the chaotic reaction to his attire. A slow, malevolent grin crept across his face. "Works every time..." he chuckled.

~*~

A/N Okay, extra long chapter for you to enjoy this time; I think the longest one I've written so far. I really hope you liked it and I hope I didn't leave you with a horrifying visual image of Naraku in a speedo imprinted on your mind that will give you nightmares for weeks to come! Hope to hear your thoughts and favourite parts and now I must go and quickly post! Talk to ya next chapter!