Chapter 16

Everyone turned around and saw a short old man with a long white beard.

"Hey Inuyasha doesn't he look a lot like a minutes version of the monkey god?" Shippo whispered to Inuyasha from the hanyou's shoulder. Inuyasha nodded in agreement.

"Oh.....ojii-san, can you tell us about this maze and that tree?" Kagome ran up tot he old man and questioned him.

"Well this is the Maze of Eternal Devotion. Years ago, engaged couples would venture into the maze. If they made it to the center, the enchanted tree would grant them a wish. They would then spend the night in the cabin and the next morning upon exiting, they were considered married." The old man told them as he walked over and took a seat on a near by log. "But a giant monster has been spotted inside and couples refuse to come anymore."

"We'll kill it!" Shouted Shippo, full of confidence.

"I'm sorry child, only engaged couples can enter. Plus there are other trials they must go through and succeed in order to reach the center. If one does not past a trial they can't continue and their love was false."

"Ojii-san what kind of wishes does this tree grant." asked Sango.

"Well it can't kill anybody, or make you wealthy, or grant more wishes. Most people wish for a house, a horse, healthy children, to make some illness go away. Simple stuff."

"Oi.....Jiji, do you think it would grant us a way to deal with my meddling brother, trap him somehow." Inuyasha questioned from his position against the wall.

"Maybe, it's possible. There's only one way to find out." The old man raised an eyebrow at the silver haired hanyou.

Kagome looked at the old man then to the enormous three that spread out over the maze. "Is it possible that, that tree can call out to someone?"

"Call out? I don't think so, but anything is possible. It's full of spiritual energy so it's hard to say."

"Ok....it's settled......Let's go Kagome." Inuyasha grabbed Kagome by the wrist and started to pull her toward the maze.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing, we can't......"

"What's it look like I'm doing? I'm taking you into the maze so we can get to that tree." Inuyasha continued to pull Kagome with him.

"We can't, we'll be married afterwards."

"So!" Inuyasha stopped and looked at her.

"What so you mean "So"? Don't you realize I'll be your wife and you'll be my husband."

"I'm failing to see the problem."

Miroku, Sango, and Shippo watched intensely as the two hanyous argued.

"Your failing....your....We need to be engaged to enter remember."

"WE ARE ENGAGED!" Inuyasha yelled back at her.

"........................."

"................"

"Oh ya, huh! I guess I'm so used to fighting with you, I forgot Gomen ne!" Kagome scratched an ear in embarrassment.

"You FORGOT! I put my soul out on the line to prove to you that I love you and not Kikyo and you FORGOT!" Inuyasha looked more hurt then mad as he blew up at Kagome.

"I said I was sorry. But think about it, we've spent the last 2 1/2 years fighting, it's become a habit. Gomen nasei, Gomen." Kagome down cast her face so she wouldn't have to look at him. 'How could I have forgotten, it was so sweet and out of character.....maybe that's why I forgot. I'm not use to it. But now he's really hurt, how can I fix this....I got it.' Kagome slowly lifted her head to look at him. She then freed her wrist from his grasp and took his hand in hers. "Well should we go?" She smiled up at him.

"Yes." they then entered the maze together.

"Ano....." Sango started to question her two hanyou friends but they had already rounded the corner. She then looked at Miroku and they smiled at each other. They then hugged, laughing and techniquely dancing as they cheered for their friends.

"Sango? Miroku?" Shippo spoke to them, a little bit confused by their actions.

The two humans separated quickly and blushed. Miroku said something about nice weather while Sango went over to talk to the old man.

"Was it something I said?" Shippo asked himself, then shrugged.

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