Kagome stared at herself in the mirror, turning this way and that to make sure she wasn't imagining anything. She was changing. "Izayoi!" she whispered, aware of the ever-present youkai ears focused on them. "Izayoi, come here!"

Izayoi looked up from the scroll of battle strategy she was reading and glanced at her friend across the tent. Kagome stood only in her sleeping yukata, the material pulled snug across her form as she stared into the mirror. "What is it?"

"I don't want to say it too loudly! You know we don't have any privacy. Just come here!" Laughter danced in the blue of Kagome's eyes, a jubilant echo of her feet as she shifted from foot to foot.

Amused despite herself, Izayoi set the scroll aside and wandered over until both of them were visible in the tall mirror. "What is it?" she said again.

"We're getting older!" Kagome answered, and setting her hands on her hips, stood up straight. "Look!" she said, and dragged her hands down from her shoulders to her hips. "Look look!"

Humoring Kagome, Izayoi's gaze rozed over her body. It took her a moment to see the change, as they spent so much time together—but those were definite curves that hadn't been there before. If she'd had it in her to be jealous, she might have been. She didn't have any curves yet, or at least, not as much as Kagome.

"Look how much taller you are!" The order, though insistent, was amused.

"I've always been taller than you though," Izayoi pointed out.

"Yeah, but look how much taller you are now! Stand up straight!"

Izayoi did as she was bid, straightening her shoulders and raising her chin—and was stunned to find she was almost a full head taller than Kagome. When had that happened?

"You look so elegant," Kagome breathed, looping an arm through Izayoi's. "Just like a hime."

"I am a hime," Izayoi laughed, but found the compliment soothed an ache she hadn't been aware of. They were both growing, even if the changes were different.

"We have breasts and hips, Izayoi!"

A choked laugh issued from the entrance of the tent.

Color flamed over both girl's cheeks before Kagome marched over to the tent flaps and whipped them open. "Kosuke!" she bit out as the warmer of the two twins shook with restrained laughter. "You're not supposed to be listening!" Embarrassment was a sting at the back of her tongue, strangling coherent insults. "You're…you're the worst!"

A snort from behind her drew her attention to her own guard. Horuto stared straight ahead, seemingly unbothered by the scene unfolding next to him—but she could see the faintest of smirks at the corner of his lips. "You're both horrible!"

Hurrying back inside, cheeks as colorful as the magenta crest that represented the West, Kagome cast furtive glances over her shoulder. "They're incorrigible!"

As another chuckle issued at the tent entrance, Izayoi's cheeks grew even brighter. "I don't know why you had to say anything," she murmured.

Kagome, despite the mortification, grinned at her friend. They'd only had their guards for three months, but she could tell Izayoi had feelings for hers. Maybe it had been inevitable, since Kosuke was so charming and amusing. He always managed to pull a smile out of the reticent Izayoi.

There was a part of Kagome, the part scared of facing such loss again, that wanted to warn Izayoi of the perils of falling for someone who would give their life for yours—but she didn't have the heart to issue that warning.

"I was just excited," she murmured and flopped down onto the pallet they shared. "It's been so long since we aged the last time…"

Izayoi sank down next to her. "I know. Trust me."

"Oh Izayoi I wasn't thinking!" Kagome rolled over and wrapped her arms around Izayoi's waist. "I know how hard it's been for you, aging like this." She remembered many a night curling up with Izayoi after they'd learned about the death of one family member or another over the years.

"I'm almost used to it," she lied.

Kagome held on tighter. "Don't do that. Please. You can pretend with everyone else, but not with me. Please."

Izayoi ran her fingers through the loose locks of Kagome's hair. "It's a habit," she said. "It seems safer sometimes to hide the truth. But…I will try not to when we are alone." A pointed glance to the tent entrance. "Now. We should hurry and get dressed before those scurrilous guards come in here and drag us to our training matches."

"I take offense at that!" Kosuke chuckled again and poked his head inside. "I would never do something as scandalous as drag you away."

A tanned hand laced through Kosuke's white locks and tugged him back out between the tent flaps. "How many times must I remind you that your place is outside the tent unless our charges are in imminent danger?"

Both girls burst into laughter as Kosuke yelped.

o.O.o

Word Count – 840

a/n – a few shorter, fluffier, chapters coming up to lighten the mood a bit as the girls adjust to the war camp. Hope you all enjoy it!