It’s with nervous footsteps that Sakura paces the house’s front yard. The estate felt so empty, with most of it’s residents being dead or away. It was rare she got a moment to herself, and it was fueling her anxiety. What could she do right now? There had to be something she could do to help. Maybe if she got someone else, they could...
But what could she do? Would anyone even listen, if she told them what horrors lurked in the Matou residence’s basement? She could hardly believe it herself, still.
She pauses in place, turning to look at the window of her uncle’s bedroom. He was up there, in far too much pain for her to comprehend. If her own training was bad, his must be so much worse.
“... M... Maybe if I find a doctor, he can rest...”
She mutters to herself, trailing off into her thoughts.
She shouldn’t be outside, at least not at this hour. Sakura was well aware of how dangerous Fuyuki was becoming; members of the family had already been sent away for their own safety.
... Not her, of course...
Shivering in the early-spring air, she turns her attention back to the house. It’s windows glow warmly, tricking any passersby into thinking it was an inviting space. But she was outside for a reason, after all; that house was anything but safe.
... A noise catches the young girl’s attention; the snap of a twig, maybe? Nervously, she turns to look towards it. In her young heart, she hopes it’s a cute animal. Anything to ease her nerves.
“... You must be a fool to have wandered into this place.” Her voice echoes against the wall of the cavern. “Or, perhaps you just have a death wish...?”
As the greater grail begins it’s manifestation behind her, tendrils of shadow form in the center of the room to give her physical form. She turns to the other girl, corrupted red eyes glinting in the low light.
“... A child...? Here?”
As the smallest of her shadow giants dance around the girl’s feet, Sakura stares in shock. How had she not considered this...?
“... Y... You should go back up. It’s too dangerous for you down here...!”
It’s only with the swirls and cries of her paper-thin giants that she even turns her attention to the cave’s entrance. The smallest ones chitter, seeming delighted to lead a new soul to her. While she appreciates the effort, she’s less than enthused about an unfamiliar face. Darkness bleeds into bright pink light, with a lone girl in the center of it all.
“... Unexpected guests are so rude.” The shadow says, the tendrils of her dress flicking around her in annoyance. It wasn’t even either of the faces she’d hoped for-. No, no. Neither of the faces she’d dreaded entering her lair.
“Who sent you.” Sakura speaks, more of a demand than a question. “You should be furious, they sent you into a death trap.”
Empty eyes stare dully out the window; more focused on her own reflection than the dark world outside. Western style hallways wind like a labyrinth behind her; the secrets they withhold leaving stains on her psyche.
She turns to the hallway as a scream echoes down it. She can hear him struggling in his room; enduing torture that was intended for her. As a numb anxiety beats in her chest, she turns her attention back to the window-
And pauses. There was someone outside.
... Sakura nods, turning and hurrying down the steps to let the stranger inside. She isn’t sure why, but something tells her this will be fine; that this person means her and her uncle no harm.
“... I’m sorry it’s so dark.” She starts softly, averting her eyes.
OKAY! So, Sakura has two people missing from her memories, and two major events from very different points in her life in relation to them!
To avoid confusion, please reply to this as opposed to liking it with a 💜 for Baby Sakura, or a 🖤 for Dark Sakura! If you like you’re gettin’ one at random. 🔫
Capping this at like, 4 for now?
Details under the readmore!
It’ll either be;
Actual Baby Mode (Sakura at approx. 6 years old) and her memories of her late Uncle Kariya,
OR
[Anime Girl Eating Sound] (Sakura at 16 and being a literal beacon of destruction) and her memories of her sister Rin,
Either way, helping Sakura with this will solidify you as a connection for her, so if you’d like an easy one, here’s a good way to get it!
BOTH OF THESE MEMORIES WILL HAVE VERY HEAVY FATE/ZERO AND FATE/STAY NIGHT SPOILERS SO. UH. KEEP THAT IN MIND.
Her arms tighten around her; hands shaking as they grip at white fabric. Something was wrong, that much was obvious by the change in the city’s atmosphere, but that wasn’t what had tipped her off. As her shadow puppet tried in vein to comfort her, an unsettling pit was forming in her core.
Two faces seemed to have all but vanished from her memory, leaving empty words behind. Promises never fulfilled, or maybe even promises kept that are long gone? Her heart pounds with it’s ache; fuzzy recollections of lost conversations haunting her, like ghosts in an empty house.
Two people, standing in the dim light of the Matou household. She can’t remember much beyond a disfigured face and a gentle smile. The conversation plays out like a distorted movie in her heart, with far too much missing to solidify her memory.
Her own words exit her mouth, but for the life of her she can’t recall what she said.
His mouth moves; but the words that come out are distorted beyond recognition. An explanation, but it’s unclear what for.
Her mouth moves, but nothing comes out.
He smiles at her again, asking a question this time. Certain words hurt her head more than others, even as she can’t make out what any of them are.
Her gaze is averted from his comforting smile, more silent words attempting a response. Her heart ache pulses through her body, even now. How does she remember that, but not who this man is?!
He frowns, more in concern that disappointment. Why?! Why is he worried about her?!
Like a ruined film role, the scene cuts suddenly; he’s now far closer, the only clear thing being is his embrace of her with one arm. She was surprised, but the reason why is long gone.
An alternate suggestion seems to leave his mouth. Several words hurt again, but he seems to be wording them differently. He’s sure of his resolve, all of a sudden, but what for is lost to her.
The hope in her voice still resonates within her, even as the words are blocked out.
“... Yeah, you will. You have my word on that.”
The rest blurs into the same mass, as a pained sob shakes through her chest. Who was he, and why is she so pained by such a vague memory? Why were his words the only thing she truly recalls...?
And why does she feel so disgusting for forgetting in the first place? Her embrace of her own arms loosens, just enough for her to raise a hand to her eyes; wiping away tears she couldn’t bring herself to stop.
... Why does she seem to think he was safe...?
With tears staining her face, she picks up her small companion; and hurries to the door. She has to get to the bottom of this, before it drives her to something far worse. She can’t risk disappointing Shirou, or...
Halfway out the front door, Sakura freezes.
Or... who...?
Her guilt overwhelms her again; collapsing to her knees just a few steps from her front door. The echoes of an apology she’d always wanted were too faint to make out, but for some reason she knows it was important to her. Who did she even want the apology from, and why was her face obscured as well?!
All that stood clear was her own shadow; the evidence of her true nature as a disgusting waste of space... Why was that girl there? Why did Shirou come with her, despite Sakura’s warnings for them both to stay away?!
“No... No, not two people...! W-Why them...?”
She curls in on herself, ignoring the sting of scraped knees. Her arms find their ways back around herself, in a pathetic attempt to ground her thoughts before they got away from her.
There had to be a solution. She just had to be a big girl and figure it out, right...? With a choked back sob, she gets back to her feet. She’d have to get to town and see what other people were saying, before she panicked. It can’t just be her, it can’t just be her.
Slowly, she starts to walk. Keep calm, Sakura... If he were here, he’d find the solution first. Be strong, for once.
