Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, but I don't particularly want to right now. He's being a jerk in the episodes I'm watching. Sheesh, choosing Kikyo...what IS he thinking?

A/N Hey, hey, peoples! I am back with yet another chappie! Yay!

Okay, a few things to say today.

Casavenna and Shiny Lights, yes, people in thrillers can be VERY stupid sometimes. *shakes head* It's like an art, really.

Rogue Taiji-ya, I pity you. I had to dissect a rat this year, which I thought I would NEVER do in a million years. In a way, I kept that policy, because I got my partner to do all the dissecting as I did the written work. Great things, partners are. ^_~

Yes, Skiddy16, I am indeed Canadian, and proud of it. And I see the episodes 'cause they play them on the YTV channel. Do you get that one?

Angel of Joy, I actually think that the fact some people believe we live in igloos is quite hilarious. Because, then, if you meet one, you can say something like, "Yes, we're in the middle of renovating our two story igloo." Then, if they actually believe you, you're in for some fun. ^_~

It is now Friday, story wise, and, yes, the day of Inu's great gift, Inukagonly.

I actually own October Sky, lilacks. I agree with you; it's a great movie.

Yes, bonessasan, the fun begins this chapter. Mwuahahahahaha.....

Ah, THAT'S why it felt so familiar to me as I was writing it, sleepwalking chicken and HAP. I was, like, I've heard this dialogue somewhere before, but where...? Not really intentional, but I'll give The Lion King the credit for it. ^_~

And this goes for everyone! I now have AIM as well. My screen name is...Super Ceech! (Surprise, surprise) Just add me to your list and then give me a shout when I'm on; I love talking to you guys. And Kogi Chan, I have an MSN account, but I can't yet run it on my computer, so until I can, I probably won't be online with it. But, for reference, it's satanika66@hotmail.com.

Alright, lots of babbling; wasn't that fun? I'd just like to dish out some credit to my friend Spacewolf for helping me develop some events in this chapter and in the next one. She's got some pretty funny fics, too, if you want to go check them out (I recommend it!). Now on with the chapter!

~*~

Kagome rubbed her eyes sleepily and headed downstairs to see what all the noise was that had woken her up. She had been happily asleep when the sound of voices had roused her out of her slumber. She stumbled out of bed in her baggy pajama bottoms and tank top. Then she groggily made her way towards the source of the disturbance, noting the time of 8:30am on the watch still around her wrist from the night before. She continued on her way.

She came to a full stop, however, when she reached the bottom of the stairs. Before her were Sango and Ayame, also in their pajamas, talking to Inuyasha, Miroku and Kouga, who were fully dressed in normal clothes.

"Hey, Kagome!" Kouga greeted her upon noticing her arrival.

"Uh..." Kagome said in complete and utter confusion. "Wha...?" She looked to Sango and Ayame for an explanation.

Sango shrugged. "Don't ask me. They just showed up a few minutes ago. They won't explain anything."

"Oh..." Kagome said, just as confused as ever. She looked at the boys.

Miroku and Kouga seemed to nudge Inuyasha forward, who looked somewhat embarrassed.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, perplexed.

"Uh...well, you see..." Inuyasha stuttered as he approached. "Well, it's your birthday tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah..." Kagome replied, not seeing where he was going with this.

"Well...here," he said shortly, shoving a small box towards her. It was crudely wrapped in wrapping paper, with a small red bow perched on top. Once it was safely within her grasp, he pointedly turned his head away from her and refused to meet her gaze.

"For me?!" Kagome asked incredulously. When Inuyasha nodded, still without looking at her, she said the only thing she could think of with her jumbled thoughts, "But...it's a day early."

"Just open it already," Inuyasha grumbled.

"Okay..." Kagome said, tearing off the bow and wrapping paper. She opened the box and then almost dropped it in surprise. "Inu...Inu...yasha..."

Inuyasha snapped his head back around to look at her with almost a panicked expression on his face. "What?! Don't you like it?!" he asked almost frantically.

"Oh...my...gosh!! Inuyasha!" Kagome cried out in shock "Six tickets to the ice dance competition today!? And two passes to go in behind the arena to meet the skaters...?!"

"Yeah..." Inuyasha responded, rubbing the back of his neck. "I could only manage to get two..."

"This is incredible! I love you!" Kagome squealed, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him for all she was worth. Once he'd recovered from the shock, Inuyasha hesitantly returned the hug.

"It's a Kodak moment," Miroku said, wiping a fake tear away from his eye. Sango snorted as Inuyasha and Kagome jumped apart quickly. Kouga and Ayame chuckled.

"Shut up," Inuyasha snapped, a faint pink staining his cheeks.

"So when are we going?" Kagome asked, excited once more as she turned to him.

"Well...as soon as you're ready, I guess," Inuyasha responded.

Kagome squealed once again, then grabbed Ayame and Sango to drag them upstairs. "Come on, guys! There's no time to lose!"

The guys looked at each other as the girls disappeared from view. "So..." Kouga started. "What do we do while we wait?"

Miroku shrugged. "TV?"

"TV," Inuyasha agreed.

The three boys went over to one of the couches in front of the television and flopped down on it. They flicked it on and waited for the girls to finish getting ready.

About half an hour later, the girls flounced down, clad in jeans and long sleeved shirts. They went into the kitchen and began to grab simple breakfasts of cereal and toast.

As soon as they finished up and brushed their teeth, the girls grabbed their purses, and the guys, and they all headed out the door.

"Let's take my van," Kagome suggested. "It'll fit all of us in it."

Inuyasha shrugged. "Sure, if I get to drive."

"What makes you so special?" Kagome asked defensively.

"Do you know how to get there?" Inuyasha asked pointedly.

"Oh...well...whatever," Kagome replied, shoving her keys towards him.

They all hopped into van and Inuyasha started the engine. They drove out of the ski resort and off to what Kagome assumed was the direction of the ice arena.

Kagome was practically bouncing in her seat the whole way there. "Ooooh, I can't wait, I can't wait! This is the awesomest present ever, Inuyasha! ...But how did you manage to pay for six tickets PLUS passes to go to the back of the arena?"

Inuyasha assumed an uncomfortable expression mixed with one of distaste. "Uh...let's just say I have...uh, connections..." Inuyasha said, his eyes shifty.

Kagome regarded him a moment longer before turning back to the road ahead of her. "What kind of connections?" she asked innocently.

Inuyasha didn't respond, but kept his eyes on the road ahead, his jaw clenched tightly.

"Fine, then," Kagome huffed. A moment later, however, she sighed and said dreamily, "I love ice dancing. This is so awesome! This is gonna be great! It's the best birthday present ever!"

"I though your family's gift of sending you up here for two weeks was the best birthday present ever," Sango reminded her.

"Oh...well...they're kinda equal," Kagome said awkwardly.

Inuyasha grinned in spite of himself.

"Are we there yet?" Kagome demanded impatiently.

"Yep," Inuyasha said, pulling into the parking lot of an enormous arena.

"Wow," Kagome breathed.

They all clambered out of the van and Inuyasha passed the keys back to Kagome. She automatically locked it, then turned back to him. Grabbing his hand, she exclaimed, "Come on! Let's go!"

"Hey! I'm coming!" Inuyasha replied irritably, though he didn't pull his hand away from hers. The four others followed behind, amused.

They entered the arena and presented their tickets to the door man. They were ushered towards the ice rink and they quickly searched for a suitable spot to sit. Finding a few empty seats in the middle, they squeezed through the already present crowds to reach their destination. Sitting down, they noticed a few skaters practising and warming up out on the ice. After a few minutes, however, they all cleared away to prepare for the competition.

Kagome squirmed in her seat and poked Inuyasha's arm. "This is so exciting! Thank you sooo much, Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha felt his cheeks warm slightly, but tossed his head and said, "Keh. It was nothing," in an uncaring tone.

Kagome smiled at his reaction, but said nothing. She turned back to the rink as the competition started.

The first pair to skate were decent, but nothing spectacular. The music was somewhat dull, and Kagome wished it would speed up, or their dance would become more interesting. When they finished, they were judged; okay marks, but it was obvious they wouldn't be taking home the gold that day.

The next pair had a jazzier tune, and they're dance was more upbeat. Kagome soon found her head bobbing to the music and her eyes rivetted on the couple. They finished in a spectacular pose and the crowds cheered their approval.

After a few more numbers, Kagome glanced down at her pass, then nudged Inuyasha. "Hey, when are we gonna be able to use these?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Whenever you want. We can go now if you'd like."

"Really?! Oh, oh, let's go now! Pleeeease?" she pleaded.

"Sure," Inuyasha responded. "Come on." He grabbed her hand and lead her out of the mass of fans, pausing only to inform their friends where they were going.

When they finally pushed their way out of the rink and past the security guards, they began walking down the empty corridor towards the change rooms.

"Wow, you sure seem to know where you're going," Kagome commented to Inuyasha as he led her along.

"Yeah, well, you get used to it after a while," was his curt response.

"Huh?" Kagome asked in confusion. Inuyasha didn't say anything more, but stopped before a large green door. Pushing it open, he beckoned her inside.

"You sure we're allowed to just barge in like this?" Kagome asked as she tentatively entered. She noticed no one seemed to be in the room.

Inuyasha smirked. "Positive."

"This is so neat," Kagome said, taking in all the costumes hung up on various racks in the room. There was a table with makeup, brushes and hair accessories scattered all over it and benches hugging the walls all around the room.

"Yeah, just magnificent." Kagome noticed that Inuyasha's bitter tone was back again.

"Brother! Pass me my eyeshadow!"

Kagome spun around at the sound of the new masculine voice. In the entrance of an adjoining room stood a tall man of about twenty years of age. He had silver hair, similar to Inuyasha's, bound up behind his head by chopsticks and his piercing golden eyes, almost identical to Inuyasha's, were fixed on the skier. He was garbed in an outfit that appeared to be a replica of one worn in the feudal era of Japan, and a gigantic white, fluffy...thing...was draped over his right shoulder.

Kagome tried to move her mouth, but no sound came out except a small squeak. "B-brother?"

The man turned his gaze upon her and commented nonchalantly, "Oh, I see you brought the girl after all."

"I-Inuyasha?" Kagome asked uncertainly.

Inuyasha was glaring daggers at the man before them and explained tightly, "This, Kagome, is my half-brother, Sesshoumaru."

"Good to see you too, HALF-brother," Sesshoumaru replied scathingly.

Kagome could feel the tension rise as the half-brothers glared at each other. She was at a loss as to what to do when all of a sudden, a bubbly voice piped up from behind Sesshoumaru. "Is that Inuyasha, Fluffy? Let me see him!"

Sesshoumaru stepped out of the doorway to allow a girl about Kagome's age to race through and trap Inuyasha in a tight embrace. When she pulled back, Kagome noticed she was clothed in a kimono of feudal Japan, although it ended as a miniskirt instead of being full length. Her shoulder length brown hair was tied up in a high ponytail and she had a smile spread across her features.

"Uh, Rin," Inuyasha said, clearly uncomfortable from the hug. "You saw me yesterday."

Rin shrugged. "So? Can't I hug a friend once in a while?"

"I suppose..." Inuyasha said, shifting his weight from foot to foot.

Suddenly, Rin noticed Kagome standing somewhat to the side. "Hi! I'm Rin!" she said, sticking her hand out towards the startled girl.

"Uh, hey," Kagome said, extending her own hand to grip and shake the girl's. "I'm Kagome."

"Oh, so you're the friend Inuyasha was talking about yesterday," the girl said in understanding.

"Uh..." Kagome looked at Inuyasha uncertainly.

"They're my 'connections.' I came here to get the tickets yesterday," Inuyasha explained. Then he sneered. "Not to some stupid 'top secret paper maché workshop for kids!'"

"Oh...this is weird," Kagome stated. She turned to Sesshoumaru. "You're his brother?"

"Half-brother," Sesshoumaru confirmed.

"Right, whatever. And...oh!" Kagome exclaimed, taking in the new arrivals' peculiar outfits. "You two," Kagome indicated Sesshoumaru and Rin, "are competing today, aren't you?!"

"Yes..." Sesshoumaru said.

"Yeah," Inuyasha cut in tauntingly. "He's here for his nice little ice ballet."

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at his half-brother. "By the way, brother, how's your spandex sport coming along?"

Inuyasha grabbed the previously asked for eyeshadow and chucked it at his brother's head in anger. Sesshoumaru calmly caught it, however, and sauntered back out the doorway from which he'd entered.

Rin smiled at Kagome. "We're up soon so we're just finishing getting ready," she said.

Kagome noted her undisturbed reaction. "Are they like this all the time?" she asked, referring to Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru.

Rin nodded cheerfully. "Yup! Every single time they meet. But you can tell they're really close," she said, winking at Kagome.

"Take that back, Rin!" the two brothers growled simultaneously, Sesshoumaru's voice carrying in from the other room.

Rin laughed as she got the reaction she'd intended and she flounced over to a pair of discarded skates. She tugged them on her feet and began tying up the laces. When she finished, she staggered out to the adjoining room where Sesshoumaru was.

Kagome's eyes brightened as yet another realization dawned on her. "Oh! This is why you were in such a bad mood yesterday!" Kagome said accusingly to Inuyasha. "Because of your brother! And you took it out on me!"

"Wouldn't you be in a bad mood if you had to deal with that guy?!" Inuyasha snapped. "Asking him for a favour, no less."

He expected her to become angry at how he had treated her the day before, but instead, her face lit up. "And you went to him anyway? Even though you hate him? You put up with him for me?" Kagome asked happily.

Inuyasha blanched. "What?! Uh, no! Keh, I had to come anyway! I just wanted some company, that's all! Why would I go through all that trouble just for you?!"

Kagome stepped back as if she'd been slapped and her lip began to tremble. As tears brimmed in her eyes at the harsh comment, Inuyasha grew panicked.

"Hey...hey! Don't go cry on me!" he said, a horrified expression on his face.

Kagome turned from him and her shoulders began to shake.

Inuyasha couldn't take it any longer. "Okay, okay! ...I did do it for you. It was gonna be your birthday and I noticed how excited you were when you saw that poster so I came here to bug Sesshoumaru for a discount on some tickets. Now will you please stop crying...?" he asked desperately.

Kagome slowly turned towards him, brushing a few stray tears from her face. "Do you really mean that?" she asked weakly.

"...Yes," Inuyasha said quietly.

Kagome smiled brilliantly at him through her tears. "Thank you," she said, going up and hugging him for the second time that day. He relaxed and returned the embrace less hesitantly than he had that morning.

When she pulled back, Inuyasha grasped her hand. "Come on. Let's go back to the rink to see their number."

Kagome nodded and allowed him to lead her out the door and back towards their friends. When they reached them, Miroku opened his mouth to comment on their joined hands, but was clobbered by Sango before a word escaped his lips.

"Don't ruin it, moron," she whispered fiercely. "Besides," she said, grinning evilly. "There'll be plenty of time to tease them about it later." She let out a dark chuckle.

Meanwhile, a small portion of the crowd around Kouga and Ayame had ripped their eyes away from the ice dancing to stare at the "couple."

"Oh, Kouga!" Ayame sighed blissfully. "It was sooo nice of you to bring me here! You're too good to me!"

"Anything for you, my sweet Ayame," Kouga replied, taking a page out of Miroku's book. "I would go to the ends of the earth and back again just to see your smile!"

The crowd cooed and purred appreciatively as Ayame and Kouga stared into each other's eyes, trying with all their will power not to laugh.

"What exactly is the definition of 'the ends of the earth and back again?'" Ayame asked quietly through her sappy smile.

"Beats me," Kouga replied, his lips hardly moving. "But it sounded impressive, didn't it?"

"Oooh, look, guys! Inuyasha's brother, Sesshoumaru, and Rin are up next!" Kagome's voice broke through their moment.

Sango and Ayame looked over at her in shock. "Inuyasha's brother?!"

They were hardly heard, however, as the roar of the crowd increased to deafening heights. They all looked over to see Sesshoumaru and Rin skating into the arena and assuming their beginning pose. The music of "Butterfly," started up, and Sesshoumaru and Rin sprang into action.

The woman singing of searching all across Japan for her samurai complimented their costumes perfectly and their dance was amazing.

They nailed all of their axles, sow cows and toe loops, and their lifts were perfect. It was a comical piece and entrancing at the same time. They ended the dance in the very center of the rink, embracing.

The crowds screamed their approval, especially any female teenagers in the audience. The roar doubled, however, when Rin reached up and plucked the chopsticks out of Sesshoumaru's hair. His long silver hair flowed down his back and billowed out behind him. There were a few thuds heard throughout the arena as several girls fainted, including one of the judges.

"You better not be falling for him, too," Kouga grumbled loudly to Ayame.

"You know there could never be anyone for me but you!" Ayame declared, placing her head on his shoulder and gazing up at him. Anyone who wasn't completely distracted by the recently finished ice dancing pair cooed at the devoted and loving couple.

After the overwhelmed judge recovered, their marks were announced; top marks across the board. Roses and other types of flowers were thrown down to the pair as they bowed and curtseyed. A pair of panties even landed at Sesshoumaru's feet, and, even paler than normal, he grabbed Rin by the elbow and skated as quickly as he could out of the rink.

Sango, Kagome and Miroku burst out laughing at this, and even Inuyasha had to smirk. "Sucker," he muttered. "Glad it's not me down there."

"Do you get that type of thing too?" Kagome asked him, trying not to laugh.

"Sometimes worse," Inuyasha shuddered. "Why don't people just keep their underwear and declarations of their undying love to you to themselves?!" he asked despairingly to no one in particular. "Stupid rabid fangirls..."

Kagome couldn't help herself and began to laugh.

"Hey! I thought you were on my side! It's not funny! It's scary!" Inuyasha snapped grumpily.

Kagome laughed harder. "Oooh, big, brave, tough Inuyasha's all afraid of the little teenage girls!"

"If you were me, you would be too! There not girls, I tell you; they're monsters! And they outnumber me..." He crossed his arms and glared down at the rink where a new ice dance pair began their number.

"The whole world's against you, huh?" Kagome said teasingly.

"No. Just the female half of the population," Inuyasha retorted.

"Even the senior portion of females?" Kagome chortled.

Inuyasha shuddered again. "Don't remind me!"

Kagome giggled and turned back to the performance. There were a few more numbers, but none matched up to Sesshoumaru and Rin's amazing dance.

At the end, the top places were announced, and Sesshoumaru and Rin inevitably won gold. The skated out and mounted the podium, receiving the medals around their necks. The crowd cheered and even more odds and ends were thrown at them, most of which they dodged or didn't pick up. They saluted the crowd and bowed before skating back out of the arena.

The mass of people in the rows of seats began to stand, if they weren't already standing, and shift towards the exit.

"You guys go out to the front and wait," Inuyasha informed Sango, Ayame, Miroku and Kouga. "Kagome and I'll go meet Sesshoumaru and Rin."

They nodded and joined the flow of people. Inuyasha and Kagome, meanwhile, headed towards the passage they'd gone through before. Upon going through the green door, they found Sesshoumaru and Rin, looking mildly flustered, and with a short, toad-like man who was babbling at them non-stop.

"That was truly wonderful, Sesshoumaru. A more excellent performance you could not have pulled off. Magnificent, and may I say that that second lift was bang on-"

"Jaken, shut up," Sesshoumaru said in a monotone voice.

"Right you are, Sesshoumaru. Shutting up," the man responded quickly.

"Who's that?" Kagome whispered to Inuyasha.

"He's Jaken; their coach," he whispered back.

"Uh...isn't the coach supposed to be the one giving the orders?" Kagome asked, confused.

"Their's is a...peculiar situation," Inuyasha said. "Sesshoumaru only allows him to give his opinion when he wants it. Otherwise, Jaken pretty much just watches and does whatever Sesshoumaru wants. My brother's too conceited for his own good."

Kagome gave him a funny look.

"What?!" Inuyasha snapped under her gaze.

"Oh, nothing," Kagome said offhandedly. "I was just wondering if you took criticism very well from your own coach." She looked at him pointedly.

Inuyasha coughed and sputtered before muttering, "Keh!" and turning back to the three individuals before them, who were all looking at them curiously.

"What are you guys looking at?!" Inuyasha yelled.

"Nothing much, obviously," Sesshoumaru said with an expressionless face.

Inuyasha growled and was about to say something when Rin jumped between the two.

"Well, we won!" she said cheerfully. "And you know what that means!"

"What?" Kagome asked in confusion.

"Victory dinner!" Rin cheered. "All on Fluffy!"

"Fluffy...?"

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "The things I do for you, Rin..."

~*~

A/N Uhn...it's over...*collapses* That was my hardest chapter to write yet! Took me all day! But all for you guys, 'cause I love you!

Yay, Fluffy and Rin have entered the picture! Can you see Sesshy as an ice dancer, lol? It was too funny an idea to pass up! I couldn't believe you guessed it, Liza-Lizo! I couldn't confirm your guess before, though, or it would have given it away! Have a virtual donut as your prize! ^_~

And, yes, I advanced Rin's age. Hope you guys don't mind! ^_^' Otherwise she couldn't be Fluffy's ice dance partner and we can't leave Rin out of the picture! Wherever there's Sesshoumaru, there's Rin! ^_^

Thanks to those of you who went to check out my Ultimate Ending one-shot. Everyone else, I'd love it if you would! I really like the way it came out and it's the only way I can see all the problems in Inuyasha being resolved (in a really funny way). Pwwease? If you don't, that's fine 'cause, as I said before, I'm not a review Nazi; I just like to share the humour! ^________^

I think that's all I have to say today, so I hope you enjoyed my latest chapter and I'd love to hear your thoughts/comments/fav. parts! Next chapter we have the fun victory dinner. ^_^ Stay tuned!