One Tail at a Time

The Art of Subtle

Three months have gone by, yet there has been no word from the Demon Lands as to how they are faring or even if they are on the move, and though Shifu has been called to the Celestial Palace for several meetings, he always returns at the end of the day looking like his normal self and this day, he brought me back a present because I completed my punishment for leaving the mountain without permission which he did say I would receive.

And rather than sit with Buddha for several hours a day, I instead had to write out the entire book on the Demon Wars three hundred times for two months straight.  This is the hardest punishment I have ever received and no amount of tears and childish tantrums were going to sway him this time, though I do have an inkling that he wanted me to learn everything there is to know about that war should they raise their heads again.

And so here I am in his study on the cushions wearing a new dress which he said I could wear for the rest of the day which I am admiring with a bright sparkling smile.  It is not the usual colour or style of dress that he has bought me in the past, instead this one is a deep shade of green silk and lace with dainty little roses edging the sleeves which I think is most beautiful.  It is very similar to the dresses that the Celestial Goddesses wear in that it is a lot more figure hugging that I feel rather grown up wearing it.

"Shifu, why did you buy me this dress?" I ask as he quietly scribbles away on his scroll at his desk.

"Because you earned it." he replies quietly.

"What did I do to earn it?" I ask lightly fluffing up the lace tassels and making them sparkle a little in the candlelight.

Stopping the brush in mid stroke, Shifu turns to look at me.  He has barely paid me any attention since entering even though he asked that I come and show off the dress for him but there is a soft glint in his eye now as he eyes me from head to toe.

"Come here." he orders in that super soft tone of his which instantly sets my face ablaze with shyness as I stand and make my way towards his outstretched hand.  I really do melt when he looks at me like that, and I know my shyness affects him too, because his eyes are caught between laughter and something I have no idea what, but his own cheeks are gaining a little more colour as he takes in the way I am swaying towards him.

Im not trying to walk this way, but this dress really does hug my hips and everything else, so I'm only swaying like this because the dress does not allow for a much fuller stride like my Disciple robe does, only Shifus gaze is looking far too gooey that by the time I reach him, Im positive my cheeks are on fire  I mean, I might be young and all, but even I know what that kind of look means because those magazines talked alot on how a woman can attract a man without even trying, and this kind of walk is definitely a part of it.  Not that I think Shifu is acting or thinking  untoward thoughts or anything, it's just that it's a little unexpected so, I try not look at him.

I am about to take hold of his outstretched hand, only he reaches up to pull my Disciple ribbon from my hair which I m still wearing.  I did consider removing it, only I thought he just wanted to see me wearing the dress to make sure it fit me properly.  To be honest, I think this dress fits a little too well, because my breasts are now full and rather big, so the bust of the dress is sticking out a mile, or thats what I think, but his eyes are not on my bust, but my hair which he is now shaking loose before lightly gathering up the sides to pin it back behind me while the rest is left to lightly flow down the sides of my face.

"You are a Disciple when in your Disciple dress.  In any other, there is no need for the Disciple ribbon, it does not match the loveliness of your figure when in this dress." he says quietly admiring me from head to toe.  

My knees are so weak, that I think I just lost several feet in height, I have shrunk to the size of a bean beause comments like that are not only far too forward for a young mind like mine to cope with, but if anyone is thinking untoward thoughts right now, it is me!  I mean, how can a man I deem a spiritual father and the most respected man in the world be looking at me like that and it not mean something?