A short fanfic. I can't seem to finish my long ones, and I have all kinds of ideas for them, so I figured I would do this short one first. Let me know what you think!

LOST AND FOUND

Chapter One

The stars twinkled lightly in the dark sky. A slight breeze occasionly brushed by making the trees branches sway lazily. The nearby village slept. Crickets chirped rythmicly as crickets tend to do.

Inuyasha sat, like he had been for several hours, on the lip of a magic well peering into it's depths. Worry was evident on his face as he drummed his fingers lightly. Kagome had left early that morning to celebrate her 18th birthday with her family. She said she would return no later than sunset. It was well after dark now and Inuyasha was seriously considering hopping on in to see what the hold up was. He stood up to do just that, but then decided that he should probably wait just a little longer. He jumped off the edge of the well and began to pace slowly. He wasn't really one for gatherings, and Kagome had informed him that her three annoying friends would be attending as well. He sighed. He hadn't spoken a word aloud since Kagome had left. Kaede was visiting a neighboring village to help that village's midwife with the birth of her first child. Sango, Shippou, and Kirara had decided to accompany Miroku to his home to have a small tear in his Kazanaa repaired. Sango went because she was asked to, Shippou followed to make sure that Miroku's motives were nothing but of the purest intent. Stupid leacherous monk.

Inuyasha finally saw a familiar light shining from the well. His first thought was to yell about her taking so long, but decided against it. Today was her birthday, and he was pretty lonely. He wasn't really in the mood to fight tonight. Besides, she would be expecting him to yell at her, anyway. He smiled at the thought. He had to keep her guessing, didn't he?

The light stopped shining and Inuyasha looked down. There stood Kagome and up rose the overwhelming scent of tears. She had been crying. On her birthday. Worry hit him hard, though he didn't show it. She started her climb to the top, her backpack on her shoulders. She reached the top, climbed over the side and sat on the edge. Her eyes were nearly dry now, and she had yet to look or speak to him. He waited for an explaination, or a greeting, or sit, or something, but nothing came. She slowly rose and started to walk, but not towards the village as usual. She was heading into his forest. Confused and slightly annoyed, Inuyasha followed her.

She made her way to the clearing where he had last embraced Kikyo. Where Kagome had watched him embrace Kikyo. Why was she going here? To his knowledge, she had never been back here. She didn't speak of what happened here. She stopped, sat, and sighed. She took her backpack off and opened it, taking out 3 bottles of dark liquid and a small glass.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha said finally, sitting across from her on the cold ground. The crickets were louder now, and the breeze a little less evident. She said nothing. "Why were you crying?", he tried again. She was really worrying him now.

She stopped at the question, but didn't look up. Inuyasha waited.

"Grampa died today, Inuyasha."

It was spoken so coldly. So emotionless. So not Kagome. He scooted closer to her. She finally looked at him. Tears were in her eyes, ready to fall, but yet the help a strange far away light.

"I went to wake him for breakfast when I got home, and he was dead. I tried so hard, but he just wouldn't wake up."

Inuyasha couldn't say anything. There was nothing to say. Kagome hadn't been home for three months. Inuyasha knew how much the old man had meant to her. She had told him how he had come down with a cold recently and couldn't help around the shrine as much as he used to. She had took some medicine from Kaede with her today for him, and he was dead before she could give it to him. Before she could say goodbye.

Kagome went back to her task. She took out her propane lantern and lit it. She then took one of the bottles and unscrewed the cap. Suddenly the strong odor of alcohol hit Inuyasha's nose. He watched as she poured the small glass full, drank it in one glup, make a terrible face and then poured another.

"Kagome? What the hell are you doing?", Inuyasha asked. He was almost sure of what she was doing, and would have been sure of what it was if it had been anyone else other than Kagome.

Kagome finished the second glassful in one glup as well. Without looking up as she poured another helping, she stated plainly,"I'm getting drunk, Inuyasha. I going to get so drunk that it doesn't hurt anymore. So that nothing hurts anymore." The third glass went down smoother that the first two had.

He didn't have anything to say to this one, either. So much had changed in a span of 15 minutes. So much had turned upside down. He couldn't let her do this to herself. He watched as she dug further into her bag and pulled out a small box with writing on it. She opened it, took out a long white object and lit the end with a match. She breathed in on the other end and started coughing immediately.

Kagome had told him about cigarettes. She had told him of lung cancer and how they stained your teeth yellow. He also knew that she had never tried one and didn't plan on trying one. He watched as she puffed on it yet again. She still coughed, but a little less this time. She held it awkwardly between to fingers and proceeded to pour another glass.

"Kagome, don't do this to yourself." Inuyasha said quietly. She held the glass in one hand and the cigarette in the other. She was looking out into the forest, staring into nothing. A tear escaped and trailed slowly down her face.

"I have to, Inuyasha. I don't know what else to do. I have to stop hurting, if just for alittle while." She looked up at the starry sky through the trees. "I lost my father, my normal life, the only man I'll ever love, and now Grampa." She looked at Inuyasha and smiled through her tears now flowing freely. "My wonderful Grampa who always helped me lie so I could keep coming to help you." She looked back up at the sky.

Inuyasha was taken aback. The only man she would ever love? Did someone he didn't know about die? Or did she mean him? He looked down at her hand, her shaking hand, still hold the full glass. He gently took to from her, earning a puzzled look. He turned it back and swallowed, trying not to make a face but failing miserably. What awful stuff! He sat the glass down next to the bottle and took her hand in his.

"I guess I'll just have to join you then". He smiled at her, earning a smile in return. A thankful smile.