Number 48-'Childhood'

      In all his years of teaching, of living, of training, never had the old master found a more greater joy then raising a certain red panda cub.
     The moment Oogway had come to know the child as a tiny newborn; he knew that training Shifu as a student would be far different than when he trained all his others.
     So it had. Since the very first moment the fragile six year old was given to him, the cub had officially taken over Oogway's life.
     Even when living at the palace for four months as a baby, Shifu was always on Oogway's clock demanding constant attention. Crying to be fed, changed, bathed, and rocked to sleep. Although Kohaii and Shei were wonderful parents, Oogway always seemed to be the baby's main caretaker; not that he minded.
     But now, -as he filled his position as the godfather-Oogway had noticed something. His parental instincts were always strong. Way stronger than any others. It seemed important to him that he broke the “rule” and fill in as Shifu's parent more than a teacher.
     Though the elderly master loved Shifu as a student, he loved him way more similar to the way a parent loves a child. It was a joy and honor to fill the role as the “father”.
     The cub was no more than a little energetic ball of fluff; constantly moving about and seeming to demand attention around the clock.
     The child depended on Oogway more than anyone. He'd be the one that always wanted to play with him, begging with that terrible puppy face for yuan, jumping into Oogway's bed in the midst of the night after being woken up by a crash of thunder or a nightmare, to always claim he thought of him way more than a teacher, and the only student that Oogway had actually told he loved. The old tortoise forbid any harm to come to the child, and he would do anything to make sure Shifu was safe. Whether it was suffering agonizing pain, sacrifice,..anything.
     Shifu had grown from a feeble and fragile child that was scared stiff of the giant turtle that had saved him; to a strong, bold, young master-to-be.
     In a mater of three years the six year old-altered to a nine year old-had come to show great skill and determination that exceeded beyond his age.
     Oogway knew it. He would be a wonderful teacher one day.
     Until that day was to come, Oogway was concentrating on meeting the child's daily needs. Guiding him, disciplining him, loving, caring, doing all he could to ensure that his wish of seeing the cub happy and healthy came true.