It's Not Wasy Being Me It's Not Easy Being Me
by Natsumi

Author's Note: Oiya! This is my fourth self-perspective fic! I thought it was high time Ishijima Domon was featured in a fic other than the idiot he is ALWAYS portrayed as. I'm sorry everyone but I just HATE how people underrate him. They only see him as an idiot, someone who is a big show off. They neglect the other qualities that make him so special. I don't understand how people can be that blind. If you dislike Domon, then I apologize if you are offended by my statement. Far be it for me to attempt to enlighten you on what I believe is Domon's true self. He is so much more than an unpopular idiot. I'm not his fan because I pity him. No I'm his fan because I love him. Yes I know in this current state the fic sucks oranges. I'll rewrite it one day too. I'll probably rewrite it earlier than "Don't Call Me Hime." Argh, I'll stop now before I start ranting and REALLY offend people.

They call me a gorilla. Lacking brains, or even the slightest bit of common sense.

They call me a pervert, an idiot, of absolutely no use to anyone but to amuse them.

They call me an ox, all strength nothing else.

They hate me, dislike me, make fun of me.

I'm not as smart and as good-looking as Mikagami.

Not as powerful as Recca.

Not as resourceful and quick as Fuuko.

Not as clever as Koganei.

I'm the weakest of Team Hokage. The one everyone believes is the stupidest and dumbest of all.

Sure, I have my fans... the kind people who claim they appreciate me. But I know... that it is mostly out of pity.

They pity me. Do they see past the front I put up, the almost stupidly confident charade I play? I pretend to be arrogant... because underneath... underneath... I know, I know that I'm not as strong as I pretend to be.

I am the weakest of them. The one that needs to be saved. The stupid one. And it hurts me because I know it to be true. Even my victories... my victory against Noroi... was a fluke. I needed help. So... who am I to be a member of Team Hokage?

I can pretend that I am strong, that I am so confident in my strength that I strut around, posing and showing off.

No, they don't see it. They only see me... as a buffoon. An idiot. Who thinks he's so strong but just a complete ass.

Well screw them. If they can't see the truth of my feelings then I won't tell them. If they can't see that my strutting around is a form of strengthening my belief in myself then I won't show them.

They should never know. Because if they knew... how weak I was on the inside. They would never stop picking on me.

Me Domon Ishijima. I used to be strongest, now I know I'm not. Now I'm the weakest. The pathetic one.

Sometimes I wonder... why do I put up with this? Surely, surely I deserve better. Deserve better than being disdained by everyone.

But then I look at her, at them... and I know.

They believe in me. They have all put their faith in me. They have the highest risks... and they made me one of them.

And because of that... I go up on that arena. And I fight.

My strength... my determination... comes from their belief in me.

No, it's not easy being me. But I will hold on and continue fighting... for the sake of my friends.

I am Domon Ishijima, the weakest member of team Hokage.

But still I am one of the Hokage.

Because they believe...

then so do I.

~OWARI~