Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I know, what a shame. I do, however, own Sakura and Itsuki, and would appreciate it if no one would use them without my permission.

Chapter 7: The Prophecy and the Past of an Angel

Sakura sat in front of the fire, the light from the flickering flames dancing off of her face. Her hands were folded gently in her lap and her eyes were downcast. She was silent.

The others stared intently at the young woman, pondering the many questions about her past. Sango finally spoke up.

"Sakura? What exactly happened to make Naraku possess you?" the demon slayer asked, a concerned edge in her usually calm voice.

"I suppose you must know…though it is not your business…" Sakura muttered the last part, though it was obvious that Sango heard from the hurt look on her face. Sakura heaved a great sigh. Mortals could be such a pain…such nosy creatures…

Everyone awaited her answer eagerly. Sakura closed her eyes, mulling the information over in her mind. So much to tell, so little time…

"Well, as you all know by now, Inuyasha's brother, Sesshomaru, and I had a child together. I brought Itsuki, our daughter, to Kikyo" Sakura began, before being interrupted by Inuyasha's slight outburst. "Yes, yes, I know the story of you and Kikyo, Inuyasha. I know it well." Sakura stated.

Inuyasha smiled slightly, gazing into the fire to avoid Sakura's piercing stare. Kagome glared at him. "Anyway, I brought Itsuki to Kikyo for her blessing, seeing that she was one of my best friends. While I was there, a vision came to her…a vision that I was all too familiar with. She prophesied that an angel would come to destroy Naraku and restore order to Japan. Now, I had, of course, heard this story before I was sent here…what I did not know was that, though Itsuki was born an angel like me, it was not my daughter that was destined to fulfill that prophecy: it was me." Sakura grew silent once again.

The others stared on in wonder at the woman in front of them. "Naraku caught wind of the prophecy and of my daughter's position…he did not know who or what I was, of course. One day, when Itsuki was about two, I left on a short trip home…to Heaven. When I came back…" the young woman paused. "Well, you know the rest…" Sakura said quietly. "Naraku had possessed Sesshomaru, I'm sure of it…though I cannot forgive or forget what he did…"

Sakura turned away from everyone, gazing into the flames once more. "He's doing the same to me. He wants me to murder your brother, Inuyasha…and I can't…I-I still…" Sakura couldn't seem to get the words out. She hesitated for a long moment, searching for the right words to say. "…I still…love him…" Tears welled up in her golden eyes. "He'll have me kill myself too, I know it…" Sakura shook her head, growing silent once more. Anger and fear reflected in her ocher orbs, enhanced by the flickering flames.

"Naraku has been the bane of our existences for far too long." Miroku growled, his silky, seductive voice rising slightly in anger. "He must be stopped."

"I agree." Inuyasha declared, ripping his golden eyes from the dancing flames to rest on Sakura.

"The prophecy shall be fulfilled, and Naraku will be destroyed." Sakura said, vehemently. "But," she said, "I cannot do this alone."

"We are behind you all the way." Miroku said, laying a hand on her shoulder. This time, though, Sakura did not recoil from his touch. She sat tall, her back straight, and her bright eyes boring into his own violet orbs. She raised her hand up to grasp his.

"Thank you." Sakura said, smiling slightly for the first time in long, long years. "You should not risk your own lives for my sake." She said, releasing his hand from her grasp, and looking away from Miroku.

"We all have our reasons, Sakura." Kagome said, shooting Miroku a revealing look. Sakura looked beside her to see a slight blush on the monk's face, as he tried to avoid Kagome's eyes.

"I see." Sakura's answer came slowly, slurred by drowsiness.

"I suggest you get some sleep, Sakura." Miroku said, a slight smile on his handsome face. "You've had a long day."

"Yes…" the young woman said, rising to leave. "Sleep well, my friends. Oh, and Miroku: thank you." She said, smiling once again.

Miroku smiled widely, the blush on his cheeks escalating. "I…well…I" Miroku stuttered. He finally snapped out of it, regaining his composure. "Sure." Was his simple answer. Sakura smiled once more, vanishing into the shadows of the room that they were in. Miroku stared after her, eyes shining brightly.

"Unbelievable!" Inuyasha said, shaking his head. "You're such a suck up, Miroku!" he teased.

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Miroku said innocently. "I'm just looking out for her own well-being."

"Sure you are…" Sango said sarcastically. "You're just looking for someone to grope!"

Miroku sighed deeply, running a gentle hand through his ebony hair. "You always think the worst of me…" he grumbled. He rose to his feet, shuffling to the other side of the room to sleep. Everyone stared after him.

"He couldn't possibly actually have feelings for her, could he?" Kagome asked Sango, as she stared into the darkness.

"I don't know." Sango said, uncertainty filling her voice. "Miroku's confusing sometimes."

"That he is." Inuyasha said, shaking his head. "That he is…"

In the darkness of the room, Miroku sat by himself, thinking. "It is foolish of me to think that Sakura could possibly have feelings for me…though I love her so. She's so beautiful…And damn this curse! Damn Naraku! He'll pay for putting this curse on my family and me! I'll never be able to love anyone until this is over…how can I love if I don't even know if I'll live to see the dawn? It'll be over soon…then I'll be able to get on with my life…It'll be over soon…I'll just tough it out until then…I'll just hide my feelings for Sakura…"

With that final thought, Miroku turned over towards the wall, falling asleep. From a little way away, Sakura could just make out Miroku's figure through the dark. She smiled slightly. "Someday, Miroku, we will be together…someday…" she thought to herself. She too turned over onto her side, falling into a restless sleep.