Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this 'instructive' adventure… especially for the one who comes by his unique charms honestly. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.

A Debt of Gratitude: With thanks to Fenikkusuken, who hit upon the perfect name for the pack's bakery while we were lobbing ideas forth and back.

This drabble was originally posted to Live Journal on July 1, 2009.

Nature and Nurture

"Oi, Shippo! Give Miroku a hand; he needs to make a run to Peep's."

Before the kitsune could draw breath to complain, Sesshoumaru quietly interjected, "Send Sango." Miroku immediately brightened, but Inuyasha visibly balked. "I believe she will find the experience… instructive," the tall youkai calmly opined, giving the young woman a measuring look. "Are you willing?"

Sango glanced between the brothers, not sure whose cues to trust. Shippo elbowed her in a friendly way and loudly whispered, "If you're smart, you humor the alpha." Two pairs of golden eyes narrowed at the mischievous kitsune, who grinned unrepentantly and wheedled, "Bring me some of Ginta's cookies?"

"Miroku's on his way," Kouga announced. "And he's bringing that girl."

"What girl?" asked Ginta, glancing up from the tray of cupcakes he was icing.

"The one Mutt-face hired," smirked the wolf-youkai. "By the look of things, our boy's pretty attached."

"Isn't he too young to be thinking about mates?" protested Hakkaku.

"Nah," Kouga scoffed. "His father was this age when Miroku was born."

Hakkaku sighed into his bread bowl. "He grew up so fast!"

"Humans'll do that," Kouga shrugged.

Sango stared at the storefront in complete disbelief. "This is Peep's?"

"Yes."

"Your family's bakery is called Peeping Tom's?"

"Yes," he repeated, sounding mildly apologetic. She fought it, but to Miroku's surprise and delight, Sango began to giggle. "Hey!" he protested. "Don't get the wrong idea! It's not named after me!"

"Are you sure? Because it's unbelievably appropriate!" she countered, eyes sparkling.

"Yes!" Miroku retorted, although he sheepishly added, "It's named for my grandfather, Tomeo. He was a close friend of Kouga's father, and by all accounts, he deserved the nickname."

"You come from a long line of perverts?"

"Monks, actually," he corrected, trying to muster some dignity.

Sango snorted and said, "Perverted monks."

Miroku held the door, winking cheerfully as he gestured for her to precede him. "I prefer… amorous."

End Note: A judiciously-pruned, 250-word version of this ficlet was entered in a drabble contest at the Live Journal community mirsan(underscore)fics, Prompt #9, Father. This uncut version is 317 words. For those who enjoy such things, Tomeo apparently means 'cautious'… and it doesn't rhyme with Romeo. ::twinkle::