Chapter 8

Once again, Sakura found herself awake strangely early. InuYasha was still sleeping upright against a tree and so was Miroku. Sango and Kagome were still fast asleep next to Sakura and Shippou had squeezed himself between Sakura and Kagome.

Sakura lay on her back for sometime, simply staring at the clouds. But just as she did during school, she soon got bored. She rose from her bed and leaving a quick note to the others telling them not to worry and that she had Kurouma with her, she made her way through the trees, Kurouma right behind her.

A couple hours had passed by the time Sakura had had enough. She turned around but suddenly realized she had no way of knowing how to get back.

"Figures…" she muttered to herself, "I forget to mark a trail back." Kurouma let out a snort and shook his head.

A couple more hours passed, and then another, and another. Sakura was certain it had to be sometime past noon.

Sakura walked through the maze of trees, thinking she had found her way out but she only came to a small clearing. She was shocked to see a small girl in an orange and white kimono cowering up against a large tree, a small dragon demon towering over her, teeth and claws bared. Sakura immediately reached to her side, pulling her chakrams from her side.

"Get away from her!" she shouted and as she did so, the circular blades became came up to a defensive position, but the demon refused to budge. "Fine, it's your funeral." Sakura threatened under her breath. She charged at him and just as he was about to close his jaws around the girl, Sakura had slit him in half. The last cry of the beast died away as the girl opened her eyes again.

Sakura sighed and replaced the blades at her side. "That takes care of him. Are you ok?" she said crouching down. The young girl jumped up and flung her arms around Sakura's neck, giggling and thanking her multiple times. "Thank you! Thank you! I thought that demon would eat me for sure! I'm Rin." She finally said, letting go and picking up the basket of berries she had obviously been collecting.

"Well Rin, I'm Sakura. Now what are you doing out here all alone?"

"Lord Sesshoumaru told me to find some food for myself, but Master Jaken was asleep so I went by myself."

Sakura froze for a moment. Sesshoumaru, huh? So this was the little girl who was always with him. At least that's what the others had told her. Sakura knew she couldn't just leave the girl alone in these woods so she stood up and motioned to Rin.

"Come on Rin. We're going to find your camp site and get you back to safety."

Rin simply smiled and walked along Sakura. "Ok Lady Sakura!"

'Lady?' she thought. Sakura shrugged it off and continued walking, every once in a while, looking down and smiling at Rin. The demon horse behind her walked quietly behind them.

The sun was low on the horizon when Sakura along with Rin and Kurouma had finally found the campsite. No one was there accept for the two-headed dragon, Ah-Un, who simply looked up uninterestedly and then fell back asleep. A fire was burning brightly and since Sakura's conscience wouldn't let her leave Rin all by herself, she decided to entertain the girl until someone arrived.

The two girls sat in front of the fire and Sakura began to teach her the hand games she had played so many times while with her friends.

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About an hour later Sakura noticed footsteps headed their way but before she could react, a very short toad demon had appeared over the hill just feet away. He spotted Rin and turned around to shout "Lord Sesshoumaru! She's here my Lord!" but after he did he twisted back around and saw that Sakura was there. She gave him a very unfriendly look just as Sesshoumaru appeared as well. Rin stood up and ran over to the dog demon.

"Oh Lord Sesshoumaru! I was almost eaten but Lady Sakura saved me!"

Sakura stood as well but simply stood there, unafraid of the demon lord. Sesshoumaru eyed her warily and seemed to suck up his pride.

"Thank you for saving Rin. You are free to go now." But Rin didn't want Sakura to leave.

"Can't she stay for a little while longer, Lord Sesshoumaru?"

"Oh Rin," Sakura said, placing a hand on the girls head, "I should probably go. Kagome and the others are probably worried about me."

"Kagome? So," Sesshoumaru said, sounding a little more interested, "You are the new girl who is traveling with my half-brother, InuYasha."

Sakura nodded and straightened back up. Rin once again begged Sakura to stay and begged Sesshoumaru to let her stay.

"It amazing you are still so powerful considering you are missing an arm. Haven't you thought of using the Tenseiga to reattach it?"

Sesshoumaru looked up slightly surprised. Why would she suggest something like that? He dismissed it and didn't respond.

Sakura shrugged. "Now don't get the idea that just because I saved Rin I wont kick you ass if I have to." Once again, Sesshoumaru was taken aback. Sakura reached down and picked up her chakrams, tying them to her side. She also pulled her hair up into a messy bun before leaving Rin with a pat on the head.

"Good bye Sesshoumaru. Maybe we'll meet again." She said as she headed off in the direction she was sure InuYasha and the gang were camping.

Strangely enough, Sesshoumaru found himself still thinking about Sakura even after she had left. Something about the human girl was extremely intriguing to him. He wanted to know more about her and he too secretly wished to meet her again.