A/N: Happy Mother's Day~
03: Mother
Kagome took the time to have Shippo learn. Whether it was to use his natural senses or to read and write, both could aid him in times of need.
She did not want Shippo to learn the atrocious survival behavior of Inuyasha. Even if Inuyasha was still alive after all his centuries of rushing in without thinking and provoking battles on purpose.
She knew Inuyasha was probably only still alive because of both his father's and his brother's protection. His father's fang and blood, and his brother's claim that only he would kill the whelp, protected Inuyasha from being hunted and slaughtered.
Shippo, however, had neither of these, and would thus have to survive as normal people did, with wits and will and proper use of power and knowledge. Inuyasha could do with more of all of those survival skills. Not to mention some manners. Shippo would know how to mind his manners, thank goodness. Shippo would also, hopefully, understand the uselessness of excess pride and provoking death battles while dragging everyone else in. Shippo would learn that to protect was the hardest and that honor and emotions would make him a better person.
Of course, Shippo would always be the fox he was, with the joys of tricks and taunting as base characteristics. She didn't mind, it was his personality to do so. As long as Shippo understood the merits of seriousness in dire times, drawing the line between taunting and killed, and planned his actions, he could have all the fun he wished.
He had a wonderful teacher after all.
Kagome often toed the line between outspoken and killed.
She ignored the little part of her that told her she did so perhaps, a little too often.