Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.
A Parent's Job
"Here. Let's keep your ears warm."
"Keh," Inuyasha mumbled, but let Mama wind the scarf about his head. Catching one end between his gnarled fingers, he frowned a little, for it looked vaguely familiar.
She chuckled. "This isn't the first time I've put this scarf on you."
"Eh?" He cocked his head.
"Three years ago," she supplied. "Your last visit through the well, when Kagome went to take her high school entrance exams. We both went after her: she'd left her exam ticket at home. You rescued her backpack."
The elderly hanyo thought. "I thought she was supposed to come back that morning; I chased after her, she sat me, then I helped her find her backpack. She hugged me. And then, you decided my ears needed covering."
Eyes twinkled. "I daresay you received fewer second looks on the way home."
Inuyasha snorted. "You noticed? You chattered the entire trip back about the exams, and how you were confident that Kagome would pass."
"That's me," she said lightly. "'Optimism' is my middle name."
Inuyasha eyed her. "You didn't smell confident. You smelled worried."
Her smile vanished. Looking away, she touched his chest. "That's a parent's job, isn't it? We have to show our children that we believe in them, that we believe they will succeed. No matter what we really feel."
He remembered his own days as a parent. Swallowing hard, Inuyasha reached up to clasp her hand, before folding her into his arms.
"Yes. We do."
Author's Note: This piece was written for the prompt "Optimism" for the LiveJournal community "Inuyasha Fanfiction Contest." It was originally posted on June 28, 2011. It placed second. It takes place several weeks after Inuyasha's return, and just before the next chapter, which was actually written 22 months ago! (10/1/2011)