Shippou Education Day- (Mid Afternoon) Kagome says that she has some big test week coming up, and that it starts on September 26, so I have made sure to note that it is September 22. Shippou is also very pleased that I have kept my promise and has included his name in the day title, though he is curious to know if any day will be just 'Shippou' day. I have informed him that if I gave him three days, I would have to give everyone else the same amount, including perhaps, the green trees. Shippou seemed a bit saddened that he would not be special if this was to occur, and agreed to be content with only two days, as I have promised I would not give anyone else two days.

It was one of those long time since I sat down to write in this journal, and for that I apologize. Not much has been happening these past few days, except for the occasional interference of Naraku and his pets. Fortunately, I didn't get ill having to use the curse Naraku inflicted on me… but I will save that entry for another day.

Still, I shall start with why this day was named after Shippou, or more likely, his antics. We met with another one of Naraku's incarnations, children, toys, organs (quite possibly they are kidneys), eyebrow hairs, or modes of transportation (or whatever they really are), Kagura. Of course, because of my battle and poweress (with a little help from Inuyasha and Sango), we ultimately succeeded with no real mishap. As soon as she fled, however, I cracked a rather witty joke concerning Naraku and how he could possibly birth a demon such as she when there was no real place for her to come out (or was there?), which left most everyone in stitches. Except for Shippou.

Now, it is very easy to forget that even though Shippou is perhaps older than most of us, that he is still, in human years, still only five. And Shippou, even though he is about only five, is a very intelligent being, and in years to come I am sure that he will be a genius or something of that nature. But right now, he is only five, no matter how well he has us fooled. So we were all a bit startled and shocked when Shippou asked in a loud voice, "Where do babies come from?"

We all glanced uneasily at each other, and this is the basic conversation that followed:

Irritated Inuyasha: You don't know where babies come from?

Small Shippou: Would I ask if I did?

Keen Kagome (as in eager, though sometimes she is very sharp. This is not one of those times) What!

Small Shippou: Where do babies come from?

Irritated Inuyasha: Yeah Miroku, where do babies come from?

DHUIM: Excuse me? I think it was to you whom Shippou was addressing the question to.

Irritated Inuyasha: Well you were the one who brought it up!

DHUIM: It is not my responsibility to educate demons on the workings of mating. You would be much more suited for doing the job Inuyasha, seeing as you are more near his species anyway.

Irritated Inuyasha: Aren't you the one who's always asking every women we come across to bear his child? You'd probably know more about this than me!

Small Shippou: Kagome, where do babies come from?

Keen Kagome: (turning several different interesting shades of red) Um… well… ah… you see… they um… when two people…

Irritated Inuyasha: You should just spit it out Miroku! You brought it up and you're always talking about it. What's so bad about telling it to a little kid?

DHUIM: It's different when your audience is a small child who is only hearing this information for the first time and is neither your child nor your woman's.

Irritated Inuyasha: What do you mean 'your woman's'? Shouldn't it be yours in the first place?

DHUIM: Yes well, there are instances when a husband cannot properly provide his wife the materials to procreate, or the instance that the wife is infertile.

Small Shippou: What's infertile? And were do babies come from!

Keen Kagome: (has settled for the very dashing shade of tomato red) Shippou, this really isn't the question to be asking right now. Especially out in the open. Could we wait until we get to a village or set up camp?

Small Shippou: (looking as irritated as Inuyasha) What's the big deal? Where do babies come from and what is infertile! Huh!

Irritated Inuyasha: Now look what you've done! You got the kid asking more stupid questions! Why don't you just tell him and we can get on with our lives?

DHUIM: It is not a subject I feel free to discuss with Shippou of all people. Besides, he seems to like you best.

Irritated Inuyasha (simultaneously Shippou) with He does not!

Small Shippou (simultaneously with Inuyasha) I do not!

Keen Kagome: (has now changed to crab apple red) Can't we just talk about this later?

Small Shippou: Where do babies come from!

Irritated Inuyasha: C'mon Miroku, where do babies come from?

DHUIM: I refuse to rise to your bait.

Irritated Inuyasha: You'll rise to it if I toss you in the air Miroku! Just tell the kid about the birds and the bees and we'll be fine!

Small Shippou: WHERE DO BABIES COME FROM?

Sexy Sango: Enough!

Now, no one had really noticed that Sango had been quiet throughout our stuttering, and to tell you the truth it was quite odd. Sango usually interjects a word or two about any subject, and I would think she would at least hit me for Inuyasha bringing up the fact that I am a shameless flirt (and a very good one at that), but she had not. Now that I recall the event, she had even looked a bit sad.

Still, her raised voice (which I have mentioned does not happen often, though if we were to spend a night together… hehe…) had the desired affect and all of us were effectively silenced, even Inuyasha. Now that we were all staring attentively at Sango, who had a hand rubbing her temples, as if she was going to have a major headache.

Sexy Sango: Shippou, babies come from a man and a woman, or a female demon and a male demon, or a female/male demon and a human male/female. And a baby is created from them because…

And we all listened rapt, as if this was the first time we heard it, as Sango explained in a gentle and matter of factly voice about how a man and a woman got together and gave birth to a baby. I never knew that Sango knew so many words to simply describe procreation. Still, she explained it rather well, with tact, her face not at all red as she stopped occasionally to listen to Shippou's questions. Even though she didn't go into fine detail or answer every question Shippou had (a few of them made even Inuyasha's ears turn red), it was obvious Shippou was satisfied with her explanation.

Amazed and a bit interested in how Sango explained this delicate subject so well where the rest of us faltered, I waited until Shippou had skipped ahead with Inuyasha and Kagome (pestering them, no doubt, about if Inuyasha ever poked Kagome with his 'baby maker'), I slowed to talk to Sango. I was impressed with Sango, and decided right away that if I had my children (the progress for which has been slow mostly because we have not been to a village in weeks), Sango would be allowed to point out to them the finer details of child bearing.

Note to self: The fact that Sango can talk to Shippou about these things adds to her tremendous appeal. If I find out any more of Sango's hidden talents, I might just have to kiss her or perhaps practice some of the activities Sango described. Hehe.

"My Sango," I said, "it was absolutely brilliant the way you handled Shippou. However did you manage such a feat?" Sango flushed, something she had not done during the uncomfortable talk with Shippou, and I prided myself on that fact. Proof that I was utterly irresistible.

"I… had to explain it to Kohaku. About the birds and the bees as Inuyasha put it. Father… he was uncomfortable with the subject and my mother…" I said nothing, not wanting to make Sango go any place in her past she did not wish to go.

I put a comforting hand on her shoulder, and startled, she looked up at my touch, searching my face for any sign that I was comforting her for any physical reasons. When she found none, her face softened, and she smiled hesitantly at me. But a hesitant smile from Sango is more beautiful than a village full of village girls. Hmm… well, as long as they're not scantily clad village girls anyway.