Title: I Am Not Alone
This was written for a community challenge. The prompt was the quote below. Read, Enjoy, Review! - Ima
Quote: "We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs more." - Madame Swetchime
I do not own Inuyasha. I do not make money writing this, nor do I intend to. It's all in fun.
I am alone in this world.
I need no one.
No one needs me.
These were the lies that Inuyasha had told himself for years. Yet, looking down from the tree to the camp fire below, he wondered if these beliefs were really a part of him anymore.
Silently he counted off the members of his pack:
Kagome is always getting into trouble.
Shippo is a rambunctious kit who tried his last nerve.
Sango has a jealous streak.
Miroku is a hopeless pervert.
Inuyasha watched as Sango stirred in her sleep. Was she having the dreams again? He knew she cried when she thought no one was looking. Holding his breath briefly, he let it out when Kagome, also asleep, touched the slayers' arm, calming her back to her slumber. Shippo cuddled closer to Kagome's neck, and Miroku, who had been sleeping with his back to the other three, turned in his sleep to face the girls and kit. Seeing that all was well, Inuyasha slowly let out his breath and looked to the clear night sky.
He is their leader. He is their protector. He must not fail.
Inuyasha knew that was not the entire truth. He counted off the members of his pack again:
Kagome conqures her trials without losing her optimism and with a fierce love and loyalty.
Shippo fights bravely in the face of danger and never shows sorrow for the family he lost so early in his life.
Sango holds on to hope that she will save her brother, Kohaku, even though the odds are clearly stacked against him.
Miroku uses his greatest weakness, his cursed hand, as his strongest weapon in the face of self-obliteration.
Although he may never say it, Inuyasha knew the truth. His beliefs were forever changed, and all because he had the love of a pack and a goal to fulfill.
I am not alone in this world.
I need my friends.
My friends need me.
And Inuyasha felt all the stronger for it. His ears twitched as the first noises of dawn drifted up into the tree. Silently dropping down to the group below, Inuyasha put another log on the waning fire. After all, spring mornings are quite cold.