Chapter 29 – Changes, or not
Miroku and Inuyasha stood off to the side and watched as Kikyo and Sango tried to put a kimono on Otome over top of the modified slayer outfit. As was to be expected, the girl hated it. She squirmed and struggled to get out of their grasp. Inuyasha smirked to think that the girl could take down two eagle demons, but couldn't defeat two determined women.
While Inuyasha pondered those thoughts, Miroku noticed something else. He crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples. "Inuyasha, have you noticed that our little Otome seems to be developing into a woman?"
The white head spun to scowl at his perverted best friend and growled, "So help me monk, if you are thinking perverted thoughts about that girl, I'll…"
Miroku interrupted him. "I assure you, my feelings and thoughts towards Otome are the same as I would have towards my own daughters." The monk opened his eyes and gestured with his head towards the women, "What I am referring to is her shape is becoming more womanly in the… um… chest area. It makes sense that she couldn't develop with that horrible metal corset on. I wonder how long it will be before she outgrows that demon slayer outfit."
Inuyasha frowned and sputtered, "Wait. But I thought she was just a kid? Didn't you say she seemed to be about fifteen?"
The monk turned his head to scan the cloudless sky, "My estimation was only an educated guess. There is no way to know how old she truly is since we still don't know exactly what she is. And I'm sure demons or partial demons age at a different rate than we simple humans."
Inuyasha snorted, "Ain't nothing simple about you humans. Still…" he paused, "if she's growing into a woman, that means it won't be long before men start sniffing around her. How you gonna protect her when she doesn't understand what we're saying?"
Miroku frowned, "What do you mean, how am I going to protect her? Aren't you going to help? You're the only one who she can communicate with. Besides, you are quite a bit more intimidating in the 'chasing men away with a big sword' department than I am."
Inuyasha smirked, "Hey, I'll gladly lend you the big sword. Besides, you've got more experience since you have six daughters. All I've ever had was Shippo, and trust me, ain't no one sniffin around him. Least we don't have to worry about Koga. She made sure he wouldn't be interested." The conversation was interrupted by some distressed shouting from Kikyo and giggling from Sango. The men turned back to look and found a nearly naked Otome streaking towards them with the Kimono hanging in her mouth.
Miroku tried to avert his eyes and not laugh, but Inuyasha simply lunged to intercept the girl. At the last minute, she dodged his movement, and he came away with a handful of silk. She didn't try to escape. She simply turned slightly and dug her arms into the dirt and pulled backwards. A tug of war ensued which had everyone laughing.
The girl growled challengingly at the dominant male. Inuyasha's eyes widened, "Oh, no you didn't. You didn't just growl at me did you, missy!" The giggling on the porch escalated. Inuyasha grabbed the scrap of silk with both hands and started to shake it back and forth. A smile cracked his face as Otome proceeded to shake her head violently back and forth in an attempt to dislodge his hands. He growled playfully and her movements froze. For just a moment, her eyes clouded with concern. Then a hint of a grin curved her lips around the red silk. With all the strength she could muster, Otome resumed shaking her head back and forth and managed to pull Inuyasha off balance.
Inuyasha was forced to release the kimono in order to prevent a face-plant into the ground; something that had not happened in decades. In triumph, Otome trotted around him, just out of lunging reach, and continued to shake the kimono at him. Miroku covered his mouth to keep from laughing in his friend's face and commented, "Well, Inuyasha, I think she learned how to gloat over a victory from you."
The dog-eared boy slowly stood and brushed off any dirt. He looked around and commented, "Nope. That's strictly a Sesshomaru move. She must have learned it from his stuffiness." He watched her antics for a bit more and remarked, "I don't think we have to worry about her growing up any time soon. She's still a puppy."
