Breaking and Mending

Breaking

By Michaela Wills

"Sakura-chan, Sakura-chan." Her head popped up to meet the fifth Hokage's' gaze. She blinked a few times to get her bearings. Tsunade smiled gently at her student. "I think you've studied enough today, Sakura-chan. You may go home."

She nodded dumbly as the vibrant woman hummed, putting away vials and sorting needles. Clearly, there was something satisfying the new Hokage, but Sakura was damned if she knew what it was. Maybe she just enjoyed wearing out her students. She wouldn't be the first teacher Sakura had who viscerally enjoyed the process of pushing students past their limits. Even as she thought it she knew that was untrue, and unfair to Tsunade.

Sakura dragged herself off the books she was reading. With Tsunade's help, she somehow managed to get them all put away before trudging home.

The streets of Kohona were deadly quiet as Sakura made her way to the Haruno house. Even with new security measures in place and patrols of the Kohana Police force, it was uncommon to see anyone out much after dark right now. The dark was broken only by the light of the moon, well into its nightly trek across the sky. She had stayed late again, later than she was supposed to. As she turned the final corner, she noted that there was a small light on at the Haruno house: the only light on the street. Even from half a block away Sakura knew it was the faint light was from the lamp on her bedside table.

Sakura tried to yawn as she entered her room, but movement and the cool night air had woken her completely. Her bed was turned down and pajamas laid out for her on the covers. On the chair next to the bed there was a clean set of clothes for the next day. Her mother was clearly trying to send a message, one Sakura read as "You aren't taking care of yourself." With a sigh Sakura changed and then sat at her mirror to comb her hair.

It was short now and Sakura had become accustomed. What she had not become accustomed to was all the other changes. She watched her face and brushed her hair to soothe her nerves, but it all started to surface all over again: The loss of Sasuke, the damage to Kohana, the constant absence of her father, her mother's sudden intensity with the overbearing mother hen act, the pressures of the medical-ninja trade, Kakashi's missions, the constant injuries, the fearful, tearful reunion and departures, Naruto's absence, the end of Team 7.

Sakura drew in a sniffle and set her quivering mouth in a firm line. Resolutely, she put down the hairbrush and went to the bookshelf. She firmly took a borrowed anatomy book off the shelf and opened it at her desk. She began to read again, making notes, her pencil making firm, deep scratches against the paper. It was a good thing that the text would probably remain in her hands, the marks were so deep they nearly tore the paper.

Her mother found her in her nightclothes on top of the book the next morning, bed untouched, for the third time that week.

Okay, this is my first time trying a multi-part when I'm not finished writing. This is also my first shot at writing for Naruto, so it's a experiment of sorts. I imagine this can go on endlessly, or end anytime, based on feedback and what time I have to write. I have something for parts 3-5, so let me know if you want to see it.

-Michaela