Inuyasha:

Lost Hearts and Stormy Nights

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

Story and OCs © Me

Summary- Tsukihime decides to go home on her own on the night of a storm, and Ichiro goes out in search of her in concern, but the two wind up getting lost and must find their way back to their families and avoid danger the whole way.

Ch. 1- The Storm

It was nearly sunset in the month of May. The cherry blossoms were beginning to stop falling, and instead of a rain of petals, the villagers were being met with an onslaught of rain, more so than it did at the start of spring. It got to be so bad, that lately, the local rivers had swollen up and travelling around was considered unsafe, given the change in terrain.

There had even been warnings of mudslides, as of late.

At Inuyasha and Kagome's house, Miroku, Sango, and their children were all heading back home for the day.

"Have a safe trip!" called Kagome.

"We will!" Sango called back as she walked alongside her husband while carrying little Shio in a pouch on her front. Shiratsuki and Haruhana walked alongside their father while Roku walked beside his mother.

"Thank you for the lovely dinner, Kagome!" Miroku complimented.

"Bye, Auntie Kagome!" Shiratsuki waved.

"Bye Uncle Inuyasha!" called Roku. "And you, too, Ichi!"

"Bye!" Ichiro waved as he watched them leave.

"Well, they're gone," said Kagome.

"Yeah," Inuyasha nodded, "except for one."

Ichiro blinked up at his father before he glanced over at the far end of the porch, where he saw Tsukihime sitting while staring out to the hillside. She looked up at the orange sky and could barely make out the stars, just starting to come out before she sighed and looked to the hillside, once again.

Her parents were late.

"Tsuki?"

Tsukihime glanced up at Kagome.

"I'm sure your mother and father are on their way," she assured. "In the meantime, why don't you come inside?"

"Yeah, there's some leftover tea," said Ichiro.

"No thanks," said Tsukihime. "I'll just keep waiting for them."

"Hmm..." Inuyasha hummed as he looked up to the sky and spotted the clouds that were beginning to form overhead. "I don't think they'll be coming down here anytime soon. If I saw those storm clouds, I'd take shelter, too."

"Those do look pretty big," said Kagome. "I don't think going out right now is a good idea."

"Yeah, Tsuki," said Ichiro. "Maybe you should spend the night. Your parents will probably be here in the morning."

"...I guess," said Tsukihime. "Or maybe I should try and go home on my own."

"Whoa, wait a minute there!" Inuyasha exclaimed. "I don't think that's such a bright idea, there, Tsuki."

"He's right," said Kagome. "If you go out there, you could get caught in the rain. Plus, there have been mudslides, too. You could slip and hurt yourself like you did when you and Ichi met."

"This isn't gonna be like last time," said Tsukihime, subconsciously rubbing the scar on her forehead. "I'll probably be home before the rain starts! Honest!"

"Well, let me at least go with you," said Inuyasha.

"No thanks," said Tsukihime. "I've been here so many times, I should know the way back home on my own! And besides, if I run into any demons, I'll just fight 'em off!"

"...Are you sure you're gonna be okay?" Kagome asked.

"Yep!" Tsukihime replied before she turned and ran off on all fours. "Buh-bye! Thanks for dinner!"

"Bye, Tsukihime!" Kagome called before she sighed and entered the house. "I hope she knows what she's doing..."

"Me, too," said Inuyasha. "She tends to be a bit like Koga, sometimes."

Ichiro stared at the hillside as Tsukihime disappeared beyond the bushes, then hesitantly followed after his parents. As he did, worry began to settle into his stomach. Lately, Tsukihime started coming back to visit him, again, ever since the tragic death of her infant sister, Keiko, but...he couldn't help noticing that she seemed a bit distant. Sure, she would smile, but...he noticed that something didn't seem quite right about it. Her eyes didn't have that usual gleam about them and the smile she made would look like she was forcing it.

Why? Why would she do something like that?

"Ichi?"

Ichiro looked up to see his father, who looked at him in concern as he kneeled down to his height level.

"Everything okay, pal?" Inuyasha asked.

"...Tsuki...Tsuki didn't seem like herself," said Ichiro. "I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm glad she finally came to see me again! But..."

"...I know, son," said Inuyasha as he gently ruffled the quarter-demon's hair and ears. "I guess she's still pretty sad about what happened to Keiko."

"But...it's been nearly a month now," said Ichiro. "Why would she still be sad?"

"Ichi, losses like the kind that Tsuki's been through are very hard," said Kagome as she held Ichiro's baby brother, Yamako, and baby sister, Sanka. "Plus, Keiko was just a baby. It just seemed so sudden that she was born and then she dies a few days, later. What if it were Yama or San that died? I'm sure you'd still be pretty sad about it, too."

"...Well...yeah, I would be," said Ichiro. "But...I'm worried about her going home on her own...do you really think she'll be okay? Especially when you consider how she's feeling?"

"She seems to know her way home on her own," said Kagome. "Maybe she'll run into her parents on her way back."

"...I hope so," said Ichiro.

"Okay, come on, Ichiro," said Inuyasha. "It's time for a bath, and then it's bedtime."

"Okay, Dad," Ichiro replied as he was led into the bathhouse.

XXX

That night, the rain pattered against the rooftops, lulling the villagers inside into slumber. However, not everyone was asleep this night, for inside Inuyasha and Kagome's house, Ichiro lied on his futon, wide awake. The thunder rumbled and shook the sky, and lightning flashed as it cracked through the clouds, and meanwhile, his parents remained sound asleep along with his younger siblings. At that moment, Ichiro pushed the covers off before he took a peek outside the window. The wind was blowing so wildly, that it shook the trees and practically ripped the flowers from the ground.

'Something isn't right,' he thought. 'Tsuki could be in trouble...I just know it!' He then shut the window before proceeded to head out the door, but not without glancing to his parents' bedroom, where he could hear his father snoring.

'If I'm real quiet,' he thought, 'then Mom and Dad won't wake up. I'll find Tsukihime and bring her back here, then we'll take her home in the morning if her parents don't show up.'

Quietly, he tiptoed toward the stairs, being careful to avoid any creaky floorboards. Every once in a while, he'd look back to make sure that neither Inuyasha, Kagome, or Yamako and Sanka didn't stir, especially the latter two. They can cry REALLY loudly when they're disturbed from their sleep.

Once he had assured himself that his family was still sleeping, Ichiro quietly made his way to the door and opened it, only for his face to get pelted with raindrops. The wind almost pushed him back, too, but he managed to make it outside and shut the door behind him. Then, using his arm to brace himself against the wind and rain, Ichiro ventured out into Inuyasha's Forest, alone.

"Tsuki~!" he called out. "Tsukihime, can you hear me?!"

No answer.

"Tsuki~!" Ichiro called out, once more as he went deeper into the woods. "Tsuki, if you can hear me, call out to me!"

Still no answer.

"...Maybe she did make it home on her own," said Ichiro. "...But then...why do I have this feeling?"

Suddenly, lightning flashed, causing Ichiro to yelp in fright before he bolted into the shrubs. As he did, he suddenly tripped on a tree root, causing him to fall into a mud puddle.

"Ugh..." he groaned as he stood up with mud dripping off of him. "Just great...what am I gonna tell Mom?" Just then, he spotted something on the ground: little bunches of white fur.

'Tsukihime wears white fur!' thought Ichiro. 'She must be nearby!'

"Tsuki~!" he called out. "Are you there?!"

He waited, ears pricked up and tuned...when suddenly...

"I-Ichi? Is that you?"

Ichiro gasped before he ran over to some bushes, which he parted to reveal Tsukihime, who was holding her ankle as she leaned against a tree

"Tsuki! I found you!" Ichiro exclaimed as he ran to her side. "W-what happened? Are you okay?"

"I slipped and I fell in the mud," said Tsukihime, "and I ended up twisting my ankle...your dad was right. I should have let him walk me home."

"It's okay," said Ichiro as he helped her to stand. "Come on, I'll take you back to my place."

"You don't have to do that," said Tsukihime. "Besides, my ankle will heal by tomorrow! I'm a demon, remember?"

"Don't be dumb," said Ichiro. "You're my friend, Tsuki. I can't just let you lie here, all alone."

"...Thanks, Ichi," said Tsuki, "but...do you know the way back from here?"

"Uhh...I think so," said Ichiro as he looked around. "Umm...I think my house is this way."

"Wait, you think?" Tsukihime asked, worriedly. "Ichi, you do know the way back?"

"Uhh...it's hard to tell," said Ichiro. "There's so much rain."

"Well, we can't just stand here," said Tsukihime.

"Uhh..." Ichiro muttered as he looked around, then spotted an empty burrow nearby. "Over there! We can hide in there until the rain stops!"

Tsukihime nodded as she leaned on Ichiro, who led her into the burrow. It was pretty dry, but still quite cold and dark...but it was better than being outside, right now. The two children soon shook off the rainwater from their wet clothes like a pair of puppies, and while it did help dry them off, they were still quite cold.

"...My Mom and Dad must be so worried, right now," said Tsukihime.

"I think you'll get off lucky," said Ichiro. "My Mom and Dad are gonna give me an earful."

"...Well...there is one good thing that came out of this," said Tsukihime. "At least you and I are together."

"...Yeah," Ichiro smiled as the two friends huddled up together to stave off the cold. "Hopefully, the rain will stop in the morning."

"Yeah...I hope so," replied Tsukihime as exhaustion began to overtake her, and Ichiro gave a yawn as he leaned on her head. Soon, the two of them drifted off into slumber. However, as they slept...a pair of glowing red eyes glared at them through the shadows...growling deeply like the rumbling thunder in the clouds.

It seemed these two were not alone, tonight.

Yeah, probably not the best title.

This is just a tiny side-project I started on. It'll probably be about four or five chapters long. Not gonna be updated very much, though. Just sayin'.

Review, please!