Chapter 15

After a day and a half of walking, they came across a large village. The streets were alive with vendors and merchants peddling their wares and there were three times those many of the customers.

Kagome, Shippo and Inuyasha stood staring nervously into the city. The large number of people had them on edge, along with the many smells and loud sounds. The three thought about running in the opposite direction.

Miroku and Sango watched their three friends attempt to cover their ears and noses. It was pretty funny in their opinion and yet they pitied them, not having the powerful senses, the two humans were fine.

Not being able to conceal the sounds and smells was driving Kagome crazy. She scanned her surroundings quickly for a way out. She spied a two-story building near by. In one quick motion, she leapt up and landed on the roof. She was relieved to find the sounds muffled and the smells fainter. Kagome leaned over the edge of the building and hollered at Inuyasha and Shippo. They soon joined her on the roof. Sango and Miroku used Kirara to reach them.

"So now what Kagome?" asked Shippo sweetly.

"Ya, you're the one who dragged us out here with no reason, so now what.....where do we go from here." Inuyasha practically yelled his words at her.

Kagome glared at him then went about looking over the city. Her eyes lingered on a large tree in the middle of what looked like a maze. It was on the opposite side of the town and back a ways. Kagome felt drawn to it. 'That must be the place. But why a maze and why was I called here.' Kagome raised her hand and pointed to the maze. "That's where we need to go."

"Ok well let's go already," shouted Inuyasha.

Kagome readied herself to leap onto the next roof but found herself pulled onto her fiancé's back by the hanyou himself. Before she could protest, he leapt into the air and headed for the giant tree. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his back, rubbing her cheek against the silkiness of his hair. She had always wondered, how after a huge battle and running through the forest, it would remain soft. Sometimes it would need washing, but other then that, women in her time would kill for hair as perfect as his. Kagome let out a heavy sigh as she breathed in his scent. She then spoke softly, for his ears only. "Inuyasha....what are you doing? Have you forgotten already that I'm now a hanyou and can keep up with you."

"No....I haven't forgotten. With the others around, we don't get much time alone together, let alone be close enough to touch. I figured this way we could steal a few minutes and if they ask, I'll tell them it was a lapse.....force of habit." Inuyasha continued in the direction of the tree, but slowed his pace down a bit, letting Kirara with her three riders go on ahead.

"So the thorny rose has a soft side." Kagome stated with a touch of humor in her voice.

Inuyasha tilted his head to look at her, "Did you just call me 'horny'?"

Kagome looked at his face and her own went beet red. "Nonononononono......I said 'thorny' as in spikes......thorns!" She turned her face from his and buried it in his hair, mumbling something about being embarrassed.

He smiled slightly at her actions. "You embarrass easily, you know that."

"Ya....well most girls embarrass easily so....nhuuuhh" Kagome stuck her tongue out at him defiantly and was rewarded by an arched eyebrow. She then went back to nuzzling his hair. But instead of being at his back, she settled her face next to his neck. She took a few deep breaths of his scent and was content to stay where she was for the next month. Kagome felt him shiver a couple times and she began to wonder. 'Is he cold, did he get a bad feeling, did he.....did he...?' She narrowed her eyes as a sinister idea came to her. She let out a heavy breath and felt him shiver again. With an evil grin she lightly kissed his neck, she was rewarded with a quiet moan.

Inuyasha was relieved when his feet touched the ground. He released his hold on Kagome and she would have fallen to the ground on her bottom, if she hadn't moved quickly, instead she landed on her knees.

"Hey....why did you do that? It was soooo mean!" Kagome crossed her arms across her chest and looked toward the sky, ignoring him.

Inuyasha grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "Ok we'll call what I did mean and we'll call what you did a second ago 'Torture'!" He was more-or-less teasing her. Inuyasha watched in wonder as Kagome's eyes softened and slid closed, she pursed her lips slightly in a silent invitation.

"INUYASHAAAAA!WHAT ARE YO DOING TO KAGOME?!" The little fox youkai bounded up to the two hanyous and leapt on to the taller one's head and proceeded to hit and pull. "Let her go! Let her go you jerk! Let her- AACCKKKK!"

Inuyasha grabbed the kit by the tail and proceeded to reprimand the child. "Look here runt! I didn't hurt her and I never will! Doe she look hurt...or even mad?"

Shippo turned from the glaring dog boy to look at Kagome. 'She looks happy...Did Inuyasha cause her to be like this....That's odd, usually they're fighting. Maybe the dog boy is finally growing up....NAH!' He then returned his gaze tot he waiting hanyou who held him by the tail. "I guess not!...Oh ya, I almost forgot. Miroku and Sango are waiting for you two at the entrance. It's over there." Shippo pointed to his right as he looked in the same direction. "They told me, to tell you two to hurry up."

With his free hand, Inuyasha helped Kagome to her feet then headed for the entrance, still holding Shippo by the tail.

"OI! Inuyasha! Let me go all ready!"

"KEH! Why should I? You hurt my ears." Inuyasha held up the kitsune and flicked his nose.

Kagome sighed and shook her head. "Hey you guys ..... I have an idea." She stopped walking and turned to face the fox and dog. "Both of you, raise your right hand." Kagome smiled as they obeyed. "Now, Shippo you will not pull, hit, kick, or bit Inuyasha. You will not annoy him or be a nuscience in any way to him if you disobey, you will be punished accordingly...... Inuyasha, you will not punch, kick, throw, step on, or squash Shippo. You will not encourage him to fight. If you disobey, you will be punished, most likely with being 'sat'. Understood." Both boys nodded quickly, afraid to do much else. "Good, now lets get going." Kagome proceeded down the path toward her friends, leaving Inuyasha and Shippo behind.

Inuyasha and Shippo watched Kagome leave. Both boys bewildered at what had just taken place. They shrugged their shoulders then followed after the young miko.

It didn't take them long to find the two humans standing at what appeared to be the entrance.

"So Kagome what is it about this maze that you dragged us here." asked Inuyasha as he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

"I'm not sure, some kind of spiritual energy is inside. Something is drawing me inside." Kagome stared at he entrance as if hypnotized. She then started to take small steps toward the start of the maze.

"Oh I see the maze has some guest."

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