Disclaimer: I wonder if I could remove the 'dis' from disclaimer and make it into a claimer...

A/N Yay! Over 200 reviews! 0_o Not expected by my 14th chapter, but very welcome! ^_^ Thank you baby-fanfiction for being my 200th reviewer! But I love you all!

Well, I'm glad most of you liked the last chapter; it was fun thinking up those tabloids. Most of you think you know what Inuyasha's planning and the consequences and I'll only say that you're half right; about the planning, not the consequences. Those'll be far greater than you can imagine. Mwuahahahaha...

Okay, I'm really sad and sorry you didn't like the last chapter Fiery Love... I actually have been planning on trying to get Miroku back in character; I'd realized a bit myself that he was losing some of his serious side. But for Kouga; well, I haven't seen that much of him myself. The showing of Inuyasha where I live is behind even whatever Adult Swim in the Stats has gotten to. Which also means I haven't even seen or heard of Ayame yet; much less seen Kouga's reaction to her. The fact that readers believe I have those two in character at all is a miracle for me. Heck, I haven't even seen a decent picture of Ayame; it was a total leap of faith when I said she had red hair and green eyes. So I'm basically making up their relationship as I go along; and it's gonna be different than the one in the show. Otherwise I'd have to bring in all this love drama and these love triangles which I really don't want to have to deal with in my fun loving humour fic. So please excuse the way their relationship will head 'cause if I changed it now to him hating her...well, it would just be weird with the way he's been treating her lately. Plus, him going along with the relationship scam WILL help him with the reporters because they'll be following what they think is his private life but isn't really, if that makes any sense. That way his actual private life will stay fairly private. Plus it'll just be a trick and he'll have fun doing it instead of feeling annoyed at their pushiness. But, anyways, I'll try to get Miroku a little less perverted, but the Kouga/Ayame thing'll have to stay the same. Sorry!

I'm all sad now...I think I'll go...I dunno, eat some lemon cake or something...enjoy the chapter...

~*~

"Duh! Ninja Turtles! The original Power Rangers were okay, but they still had nothing on the Turtles. Especially Leonardo."

"Hey! It was all about Michelangelo!"

"Raphael! He was the best!"

"You guys have it all wrong. Donatello was the way to be."

"We're obviously not gonna come to a conclusion. Someone else ask."

"Okay...Captain Planet or Bucky O'Hare?"

"Bucky O'Hare was pretty sweet...but Captain Planet had that awesome theme song!"

"Aww, no! Bucky O'Hare was so cute!"

"The theme song! Think of the theme song!"

"The cuteness! He was a bunny!"

"Oi...girls..."

"What?!"

"Nothing, nothing!"

"Why you-"

"Hey! I've got one! The Pillsbury Dough Boy or the Staypuff Marshmallow Man?"

There was silence as the four other teenagers glanced at each other in indecision.

"That's a tough one!"

"I'm out!"

"How can you decide?!"

"This is too hard! My head hurts..."

"Babies..." Sango muttered.

"Then you decide!" Kouga snapped.

"Uh...they're equal?"

"Not an option!" Ayame said firmly. "See? You can't decide either."

"Yeah, okay, so what?" Sango said. "At least it was a good question."

"Too good," Kagome agreed.

"Will you guys shut up?!" Inuyasha barked. "I'm trying to think over here!"

"Oh...so THAT'S what that creaky, groaning sound is," Kagome said in sudden enlightenment. "And here I was thinking it was the chairlift or something."

Kouga snorted and Inuyasha glared.

"It IS a plausible explanation," Miroku said thoughtfully, scrutinizing Inuyasha.

"Do you want to shut up now or suffer a long fall down to the lovely hill below?" Inuyasha asked venomously.

"Touchy, touchy," Miroku muttered.

"Time to get off!" Kagome said cheerily.

The six passengers hopped off the chairlift they had been recently occupying and began searching for a new hill.

"Aha!" Ayame cried, pointing at a blue square. "Let's try that one!"

Kagome shrugged. "Sure. Let's go."

"See ya, guys!" Sango called as she and Miroku headed off in the opposite direction.

The four others looked at them blankly. "Uh...where are you going, exactly?" Kouga asked.

Sango grinned. "Miroku's gonna teach me how to jump." She suddenly turned and glared at the boy. "Without being perverted."

Miroku smiled placidly at her. "Would I ever do such a thing?"

Sango didn't bother answering him, but instead turned and started skiing for the jump park, Miroku trailing after her.

"Well, then," Ayame said uncertainly. "I guess we'd best be going..."

The four remaining teens shrugged at each other and proceeded down the previously indicated hill. Upon reaching the bottom, they quickly boarded the chairlift and settled down to wait out the ride to the top. A few minutes into their ride, Kagome began to consider what skiing would be like with their reduced numbers.

Well, we can still have fun with four peop...wait a minute... Kagome thought to herself and looked around in confusion. "Where'd Inuyasha go?"

Kouga looked somewhat uncomfortable. "Uh, well, he said he had to go take care of something."

Kagome frowned. "Really? When'd he say that? And what'd he have to take care of?"

Kouga coughed. "Well, you see... he mentioned it this morning to Miroku and I... um, something about, uh... running a workshop?"

"A workshop?" Kagome looked sceptical. Ayame also looked somewhat miffed.

Kouga looked really nervous now. "Yeah, a workshop...for kids. Uh, paper maché."

"Paper maché," Kagome said in a flat voice. The way it came out made it sound more like a statement than a question.

"Y-yes...but I've already said too much. The workshop was supposed to be top secret." Kouga's eyes flickered back and forth between the two girls on either side of him, looking as if he were crazy. "Don't give me that look; it's true!"

Kagome shook her head. "Let me get this straight. Inuyasha left in the middle of one of our runs without warning to go off somewhere to run a top secret paper maché workshop for kids?!" There was more than a little incredulity in Kagome's voice.

Kouga nodded. "Yep. Strange guy, eh?"

Kagome stared at him wordlessly.

"He didn't really come across as a kid person to me," Ayame said thoughtfully. "Are you sure?" she asked Kouga.

"Positive. Oh, look, it's time to get off! Better get going!" Kouga said as he practically leapt off the chairlift and skied frantically away.

"Hey, Kouga! Come back here! Ayame and I still have a few questions for you!"

~*~

"Okay, pretty good," Miroku said, smiling genuinely at Sango. "Used to jumping now? We can put in a few 'moves' now?"

Sango grinned. "I guess so. But let me warn you. Once you show me these 'moves,' I'm gonna be blowing you away."

Miroku snapped his fingers. "Well, there goes all my titles. I guess I should just hand over all my medals to you right now."

Sango stared at him. "You've gotten medals? You compete?"

Miroku shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. "Uh, here and there; yeah."

"Cool!" Her face brightened appreciatively. She then turned back to the jump they were facing. "Alright, show me the 'moves!'"

"Certainly," Miroku said.

Sango caught the suggestive tone in his voice and looked sharply at him. "Not THOSE moves," she said, glaring.

Miroku held up his hands. "Okay, okay."

For the next few jumps, they went over techniques and a few of the simpler jumps to master. By the time they reached the bottom, Sango was ready to go up again for more, but Miroku held her back. She looked questioningly at him.

"Dear Sango, I'd love to continue skiing with you, but I was wondering instead if I could enlist your help in picking out a birthday present for the lovely Kagome," Miroku explained.

Sango gave him a wry look. "Knowing you, I'd have thought you would go off and buy your own perverted gift for her."

"Yes, well," Miroku replied blandly. "Kouga and Inuyasha didn't seem to think that was such a good idea."

"Wonder why?" she asked dryly. "Alright, well, let's go hunting now so we can get back by lunch."

Miroku beamed at her. "I knew you wouldn't let me down. Okay, I think we can make it to my car without being ambushed by the reporters. They won't be as interested in us as they would be with Inuyasha and Kagome, and Kouga and Ayame, but they're still intrigued by us if those tabloids are anything to go by...not that I mind or anything."

Sango smacked him. "Bad thoughts!" she admonished him. "Just lead the way."

Miroku gave her a suffering look before turning and skiing back towards the condos. Once they'd gone to their respective condos and changed into normal clothes, they headed out to Miroku's car.

Glancing around to make sure no reporters were spying on them, Sango slipped into the passenger seat beside Miroku and they set out. Driving down into the town, they quickly found the mall and parked outside it.

As they looked up at the large complex before them, Sango warned ominously, "You'd better not make this difficult..."

~*~

"Jeez, do they not like us or something?" Kagome asked in exasperation. "Or is it a case of them liking each other too much?"

"Those comments are going to get you killed someday," Ayame warned. She shrugged. "I'm sure Sango and Miroku just found a new jump hill somewhere and are enjoying themselves. No biggie. They'll show up eventually."

"Meanwhile, I smell something pungent... and look! Speak of the devil, there's Dogstink there!" Kouga said, pointing towards an approaching Inuyasha who had a very displeased look on his face.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome said, spotting him. When he skied up to them, and she saw his expression, she added, "Who ate your 'cheery'os (cheerios) this morning?"

Inuyasha didn't respond but boarded the chairlift silently with the three of them.

"Oookay," Kagome said. "Workshop didn't go so well, huh?" She saw Kouga making a cutting motion across his neck. Right...it was supposed to be top secret...oh well.

Inuyasha looked up at her sharply and then saw Kouga's desperate look. He gritted his teeth and ground through them, "What workshop exactly?"

"Okay, I'm sorry. I know it was supposed to be top secret; but don't blame Kouga for telling. It was me who was wondering where you were so he couldn't really lie to me," Kagome said.

"Of course not," Inuyasha said, his voice still sounding a bit strained.

"But were the kids that bad? You seem to be in a fairly foul mood. They didn't try to paper maché you instead of their own projects, did they?" Kagome asked.

Inuyasha made a sound akin to choking and he glared at Kouga for reasons other than what Kagome believed. "Oh, no," he spat. "It was their big mouths I had a bit of trouble with. You know they just didn't seem to know when to keep their traps shut." A meaningful glare was sent Kouga's way. "And they came up with the most insane, idiotic ideas," he ground out between clenched teeth.

"Well, too bad you didn't enjoy it," Kagome said, patting him comfortingly on the arm. "But at least you're out and skiing again."

"Yes, at least I have that. Now maybe I can TRY to regain a bit of my dignity..."

Kouga coughed and shifted in his seat. When they disembarked from the chairlift, he turned to Ayame. "What say you and I, uh, go in for lunch?"

"Already?" Kagome asked in surprise. "But it's only ten o'clock."

"I'm, um, suddenly ravenous, though," Kouga said uncomfortably.

"You're hungry, too, Ayame?" Kagome questioned.

"Uh, not particularly," Ayame responded.

"But you see," Kouga said, tugging discreetly on Ayame's arm. "I need some help picking something out to eat. I need her advice."

"Poutine," Ayame said instantaneously.

"Ah, I was thinking of something a bit more nutritious," Kouga replied quickly.

Ayame shrugged. "A small poutine."

"Something with less calories," Kouga said, trying not to get annoyed. Couldn't she get a clue? "The athlete's body needs quality food and a healthy diet."

"Am I supposed to be your nutritionist now or something?" Ayame joked.

Kouga sighed in exasperation before a thought hit him. "What would it look like to the public, Ayame, if we didn't show up together?"

A devilish grin spread across her face. "Oh, well, we wouldn't want them thinking that, now would we? Alright let's go."

"Finally," Kouga muttered, dragging her off and leaving two very bewildered people behind. "Okay, now let's head back to the condos."

"Huh?" Ayame asked, confused. "What for?"

"The reason I wanted you to 'pick out my lunch' was so that you could come and help me pick out a gift for Kagome's birthday," Kouga exploded exasperatingly. "That's why Inuyasha left, too, by the way. There was no top secret paper maché workshop for kids!"

Ayame was silent for a few moments and she followed slowly behind him. Then, "Kouga?"

"Yeah?"

"You're a REALLY bad liar."

~*~

"That was...an experience," Sango said carefully as she flopped on the couch in the boys' condo.

"I thought it was interesting, to say the least," Miroku said, sitting down heavily in an armchair.

"You would," Sango muttered. "Why'd do buy that staff anyway?"

"I told you. My grandfather likes antiques. When I saw it, there was no way I couldn't get it for him."

"But did you have to try and trip that old lady with it?"

"I didn't mean to! I didn't realize that it was sticking out so far! And what about that makeup scenario, huh, Sango?"

"That lady made me trip! You honestly can't blame that on me. That lady was out to get me, I tell you. I mean, why else would've she tried to stuff that stuff up my nose?!"

"Uh, I believe she was trying to show you her product, dear Sango."

"Still... What about in the food court? How could you?!"

"It was nothing, my sweet Sango. I simply asked the girl to supersize my meal."

"Yeah, right!" Sango scoffed. "Try her asking to supersize your meal and you saying, and I quote, 'Everything before me is already quite supersized, thank you.' I don't suppose you'd mind explaining that, eh?!"

"Am I detecting jealously, lovely Sango?"

"On your life! And if you ever tell anyone that, I won't hesitate to also tell them of the incident in the golf store!"

"Sango!" Miroku cried in a very indignant and shocked voice. "I thought we'd agreed we'd never mention that again!"

Sango sighed. "You're right. That's just too cruel. But you can be sure I won't hesitate to hit you. Hard."

"I suppose this is what they mean when they say love hurts," Miroku said with a suffering sigh.

Sango's scoff was his reply.

~*~

"Well, now that that's out of the way," Kouga said, driving Inuyasha's car into a parking spot. "Lunch?"

"How could I refuse?" Ayame asked. "I'm starving."

They walked into the fast food restaurant and immediately had all eyes on them.

"Oh, right!" Ayame muttered under her breath as she and Kouga quickly linked arms and smiled sweetly at the onlookers.

They made their way to the counter to order, smiles still plastered on their faces. The woman at the cash register gaped at them for a moment before straightening and asking for their order.

"Uh...two orders of the number one classic combos and...a chocolate milkshake," Kouga said, gazing up at the meal option slate.

"With two straws no doubt," the lady said, winking at them.

Kouga almost choked for a split second before regaining control of himself. "No doubt," he agreed in a strained voice.

After a few moments, their order was ready and they carried it to a table against a window. As they sat down, they noticed everyone in the restaurant still staring at them.

"Uh..."

They glanced nervously down at the milkshake between them sporting two straws. They looked up at each other and then at their audience who was watching expectantly.

"Heh, heh...okay, um..."

They started leaning down towards the drink and heard a shift of chairs as if the onlookers had leaned forward to get a better look.

"This is humiliating," Ayame said quietly. They suddenly collided heads. "Ow...how is this supposed to work anyway? There is not room for two heads down here."

"I don't know. Maybe if we just kinda...twist...or something?"

"Yeah...twist. That might work. Okay, I'll twist this way, you twist that way...good, good."

"You don't backwash or anything, do you?" Kouga asked, his mouth a centimetre away from his straw.

"No; you?" Ayame asked, frozen the same way.

"No. Okay, uh...let's get this over with."

"Right... But you know? Everyone's got to backwash at least somewhat. I mean, without even realizing it."

"Ayame," Kouga said in a warning tone. "You're making this harder than it has to be."

"Sorry! Sorry!"

"Ugh... How do people find this romantic?"

Ayame shrugged. "Beats me. Alright; one...two...three...drink!"

They both quickly took a sip before bolting upright in their seats, a cheer rising up in the background from their audience.

"Doesn't take much to amuse them, does it?" Ayame commented dryly.

"Apparently not," Kouga agreed. "Okay, from now on we alternate. That was way too awkward."

"Agreed," Ayame said. "Who knew drinking a milkshake took such intense strategic planning?"

Kouga shook his head. "I'll never underestimate one again."

~*~

"What's got you so grumpy?" Kagome pressed.

"Nothing," Inuyasha replied shortly. "Nothing is wrong. I'm just as cheery as before."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Oh, right. I forgot how cheery a guy you were. ...The workshop really wasn't that bad, was it?"

Inuyasha made a noise in his throat that sounded suspiciously like a growl. "It was just fine," he spat. "Simply peachy. Couldn't have found greater people to waste my time on."

"Wow." Kagome blinked. "They really got to you, didn't they? Well, cheer up! You're in better company now."

"That could be debated," Inuyasha muttered.

Kagome heard him, however, and smacked him on the arm. "Jeez, don't take your problems out on me. I wasn't the reason you had to go to that thing."

Inuyasha looked like he wanted to say something to contradict her, but held his tongue. Instead, he gazed down at the snowy hill below the chairlift they were sitting in.

"I know what will get you out of your blues!" Kagome suddenly said. "Want to hear it?"

"Not particularly."

"A movie!"

"Joy."

"You guys can come over to our condo and we can watch one of the movies Ayame said she'd bring. Isn't that brilliant? Aren't you excited now?"

"Ecstatic."

"Me too! This is gonna be great!"

"Undoubtably."

~*~

Mrs. Higurashi hummed to herself as she wheeled her grocery cart down the aisle. Then she saw some microwavable dinners which reminded her of her daughter and her trip.

"Hmmm... I wonder how Kagome's making out? She hasn't phoned or anything, like she said she would. I wonder if she's even having a good time... If she doesn't phone me by the time her birthday comes around, that girl's going to get a serious talking to."

She continued muttering to herself as she grabbed her last item, a tub of ice cream, and started for the check out counter.

"It sure is lonely without her around and Souta constantly running off to Kohaku's. And she doesn't even phone...!"

She wheeled her cart into the check out aisle and began depositing her items on the counter. She glanced over at the tabloid selection before turning back to her task. Then she froze and her eyes darted back to stare blankly at a picture of her Kagome and a strange boy together. She reached a shaky hand out and grasped the offending tabloid and read the heading; 'Is this a match made in heaven?'

Mrs. Higurashi rubbed her eyes. They must be seeing things. She looked closer and distinctly read at the bottom of the page, 'Inuyasha Dareshi and Kagome Higurashi.'

A loud and shocked voice rang throughout the entire store.

"Kagome!?"

~*~

A/N Alrighty then, another chappie for ya.

I do realize Kagome was acting slightly dense in this one, but we can't have her figuring it out, can we? Plus it made for a funny and awkward scenario for Inu and Kouga. ^_^

Whew, 200 reviews. I still can't believe it. You guys really don't know how much I love ya. I'd cook a whole bunch of cookies for you, but I don't think you'd be able to eat them over the internet. ^_~ And I'd invite you to my birthday party (yes, I know, a little late, but my knee was hurt! Still is...a bit.), but I don't think you'd exactly be able to get rides here. So sadly, all I can do is tell you how much I appreciate your reviews and thoughts, and shower you with more chapters. ^_^ So tell me your thoughts on this one, and don't forget to tell me your favourite parts! I love hearing from you guys. You brighten my day so much! ^_____^

Wow...I was sad at the top and now I'm happy at the bottom. Guess that lemon cake worked... Or maybe it's 'cause I just got my G1 yesterday. I can drive! (With a parent in the car, but we'll disregard that fact) I'm coming for pedestrians first! Mwuahahahahaha!!!!

Oi...I'm a little too happy. Okay I'm gonna go before I turn into a rambling freak. What? Too late? Oh, well! Catch ya later! ^_~