Hairstyles

Shippou was an observant kid. It was a kitsune thing to notice all the little details he could later use in his tricks or in transformation. What he was focusing now. as he was riding on Inuyasha's shoulder, was the different hairstyles his friends wore and how they fit their personality.

There was Sango with her high ponytail. It wasn't a traditional look for a woman, but she looked pretty with her wavy tail and it was keeping her hair out of her face when she fought. A neat, practical and pretty look for her.

There was Kagome with her soft wavy hair loosely falling on her back. It was also an unorthodox look, for priestesses usually wore low tails. But it made her look warmer and softer, less strict than a traditional miko.

Inuyasha, he had his hair wind blown and untamed, just like his personality. Oh, sometimes when he thought no one saw, he let Kagome comb his mane, but it was just showing how much trust and affection he had for her. Long hair for most youkai were a show of health and power, so it didn't surprise Shippou that despite living in a forest and fighting a lot Inuyasha refused all ties and hair cuts. He hoped to get his own hair as long or even longer than Inuyasha's, but he planned to tie it up just like his dad had done.

And there was Miroku, the monk who didn't shave his hair. On the contrary, he let it grow a bit, so he could tie it back to make a little rat's tail. Shippou looked back at the monk talking with the girls behind them. He couldn't remember Miroku undoing his tail, ever.

That was odd, the rest sometimes did their hair differently (he could remember Inuyasha once letting Kagome pulling his mane in a braid because of working in a muddy rice field) but Miroku always had the tail, even while bathing.

The little kitsune wondered how actually Miroku would look with his hair falling on his shoulders freely. And, because otherwise he was rather bored, he decided to ask Miroku about it.

He started by leaping to Miroku's shoulder and sitting there, flashing the surprised monk a brilliant smile. Inuyasha cocked an ear back towards the rest of his group and it was the only sign that he noticed the abrupt disappearance of the kitsune from his shoulder.

"Miroku? Why do you always keep your hair in a tail?" the kit asked bluntly, like his (very secret) role model.

"Ah, it's simple, young Shippou," Miroku grinned. Kagome and Sango both looked at him in interest and even Kirara opened an eye from where she napped in Sango's arms. "The tie I wear is a seal."

"A seal? What for you need a seal?" Kagome asked.

"Glad you asked, sweet Lady Kagome!" Miroku lifted his right hand. "See, it's like the beads sealing my Wind Tunnel, but it's a far more serious thing."

"What can be more serious than a black hole in your hand, monk?" Sango raised an eyebrow. Shippou looked hopefully at the man.

"It's so delightful that you have so many questions!" Miroku grabbed Kagome's hand. "If you wish I can show you what the tie is sealing... If the rest just agrees to wait an hour or so here..."

"Over my dead body!" Inuyasha practically materialized between the two reiki users and removed Kagome's hand from Miroku's.

"No, Inuyasha, over his dead body," Sango growled from behind the chuckling monk.

"Oh, hush, I was just jesting!" Shippou shook his head at the adults, who as usual got sidetracked. "The lovely Sango is the only one I want to show anything. And besides it'd be unwise to reveal what is sealed by the famous dragon whisker tie!"

"A dragon whisker tie? What do you mean?" Shippou asked, hoping to bring the discussion to the important stuff. Miroku nodded, ignoring the glaring trio.

"Yes, young Shippou. This tie I wear is not an ordinary one. In fact it is a whisker of a dragon that lives in the northern mountains."

"Alright," Kagome said from behind Inuyasha. "So can't you tell us what it is that is sealed bu that whisker?"

Miroku grinned.

"That is a secret I prefer to keep to myself. But if you wish to know it so much, just lay a gentle caress of your lips on mine and- Aah!"

"Stupid monk," Inuyasha grumbled and glanced over the collapsed man to Sango brandishing her boomerang. "So what, we leave him to catch up t us?"

"Sure we do," Sango stepped over the fallen man and went to walk with Kagome. Inuyasha glared once more at Miroku before walking after them. Shippou, who had barely dodged the hit of Sango's weapon, walked to stand over the monk. His fingers twitched when the thought about revealing Miroku's secret, but sadly the man was laying facing upwards and he could hear Inuyasha calling his name.

Maybe next time...

A/N: Yeah, I know, I didn't post for a while and the first thing I put here is not great, but bear with me, I need to get to writing after almost a month of not writing.