Disclaimer: I don't own the Inuyasha characters. I don't make money off of this, so don't even bother suing. I also would be grateful if no one used Sakura without my permission: that's the only character that I am the owner of.
Chapter 2: Remembrance
Darkness encompassed the camp and the fire crackled and popped. Sakura sat just outside of the ring of light that it provided, tending to her wounds. She wrapped bandages securely around the gashes on her side. The woman shook her head disapprovingly, knotting the strips of gossamer fabric tightly together.
"Damn him…" Sakura growled, beginning to bind her arm with the gauze. She finished the job, ripping the fabric with her teeth and tying it tightly around her arm. "He'll pay for what he did…"
Darkness. Silence. The rocking of a cradle can be heard. Footsteps drum through the quiet dark, stopping abruptly. The creak of door hinges. Silence. A child cries, the sound echoing sharply through the stillness of night. The sound of a cold steel blade scraping against its sheath reverberates through the air. The crying continues. Silence once again. Silence…
"Sakura." A sharp voice snapped her out of her reverie. She stared up, seeing Inuyasha hovering over her. "Are you hungry? Kagome's made supper."
"No…thank you," Sakura said, again turning away from Inuyasha's steady gaze. "I'm not hungry…" She fidgeted with the gauze on her arm.
"Well, would you like to come and sit with us?"
Sakura raised to her feet, walking over to the fire and sitting down. The two other women, Sango and Kagome smiled sweetly, though Miroku watched Sakura cautiously. The monk shifted uncomfortably when she moved towards him. Sakura stared into the fire, not daring to look at the faces of the others.
"Forgive me, Miroku." She said distantly, still not removing her intense gaze from the flames. "I had no right to snap at you like that. It is not you that I do not trust specifically…I just don't trust anyone." She explained.
"There is nothing to forgive. It's perfectly alright." Miroku said pleasantly, laying a hand on her shoulder. Sakura flinched at his touch.
"So, where are you from?" Sango asked. Sakura was less than happy to answer any questions about her past, but she did, keeping her responses simple and evasive.
"I'm not from around here…"Sakura said, glaring at the glowing fire. She crossed her arms.
"Oh, well…do you have any relatives that we might know?" Kagome asked.
"I'm the last of my line. All the others have departed this world." Sakura said simply, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Kagome said sympathetically.
"If you knew them you wouldn't be…" Sakura thought maliciously. Despite her grim thought, she forced a fake smile in Kagome's direction. "I'm going to bed now…it's been a long day…"
Sakura tore her eyes away from the dancing flames and walked into the darkness. She lay herself down at the roots of a mighty oak, curling her legs under her. "Aggravating mortals…" She scoffed, laying her head on her right arm, which was outstretched on the ground. "My past is not their concern." She sighed exasperatedly. Darkness and mist engulfed Sakura's mind, lulling her into an uneasy sleep. Somewhere in the depths of Sakura's subconscious, the memory of a child, long departed from the realm of the living, cried out.
"Mommy! Mommy, please help…don't leave me…"
Author's Note: Sorry if the chapters are a bit short. I'm busy being bugged by my mom to participate in Easter-like activities and what not…I despise Easter…Anyway, please review, I need the motivation! The next chapter's coming soon! …NO, MOM! I DON'T WANNA COLOR EGGS! HELP!
