Growing Stronger

Okay, so this is my first fanfic. Yeah, it's kinda a crack pairing, and it's probably going to be pretty long, but please bear with me. I'm not sure how far I'm going to go with this, or even if I should continue very long with it – feedback and reviews would be appreciated, even if it's just something small! I hope you enjoy ;D

Chapter One

The wind blew through the trees of the peaceful garden, shaking the pink blossoms from their branches. They drifted on the breeze, causing ripples as they touched the still surface of the pond, distorting the reflection of the darkening early evening sky. A girl sat at the water's edge, watching as her image wavered with the landing of the small flowers, her sea green eyes staring blankly into its depths.

Empty.

Her hair blew in the now fading breeze, the tangled pink strands shifting slightly before they settled, falling past her shoulders. Above her, grey clouds were starting to roll in, further darkening the sky and carrying the promise of rain. The girl saw their wavering reflection on the rippling water, yet didn't show any signs of moving to leave. Her still-blank eyes never left the surface of the pond, her mind distant.

Broken.

Dark spots speckled the rocks surrounding the pond as rain began to fall, lightly at first but steadily getting heavier. Still the girl did not move, her gaze locked on the broken surface of the water. She felt the raindrops begin to soak through her clothes, the sharp cold piercing her skin. She knew she should get up, head inside and find shelter as the sky continued to release its onslaught of heavy wet needles. But she found she could only bring herself to lift her head, feeling the rain as it travelled in cold pathways across her skin.

Weak.

The girl closed her eyes as the unrelenting whispers continued to gnaw at the edges of her mind. She allowed the rain to soak through her clothes, causing them to cling to her skin with numbing cold.

'If only it could numb these thoughts as well.'

She focused on the feeling of the rain hitting her face, stinging slightly with the cold of the impact. She ignored the warm watery streaks that had begun running down her cheeks and mixing with the rain. She was better off pretending they weren't there. The contrast of temperatures caused her to shiver, a chill tingling down her spine.

"S-Sakura-sama…"

A quiet, stuttering voice broke through the pattering of water, a shadow falling over her and cutting off the downpour of water.

Sakura opened her eyes to see the worried face of her maid looking down on her, the umbrella she was holding protecting both girls from the rain. It looked like she had hurried over to the pond, as she was slightly out of breath and her standard black and white uniform a little dishevelled.

"Y-you should come inside… You'll catch a cold out here…"

Sakura plastered a fake smile on her face, trying to convince the other girl that she shouldn't look so concerned. Neither of them bought it, and it quickly faded.

"Sorry, Hinata. I guess I lost track of time."

It had been weeks since the incident that had left Sakura broken and lifeless, and it had pained the maid girl to see her friend so distant and withdrawn. The pink-haired girl who was once so full of life and happiness now went through each day with a mechanical stiffness, barely eating and often just sitting and blankly staring into the distance.

The violet-haired maid held out her hand to help Sakura up, but quickly took it back when she ignored it and got up by herself. Sakura felt her joints click after staying in the same position for so long, and stretching only earned more pops and clicks. Hinata looked away with reddened cheeks, made seemingly uncomfortable by these noises. Sakura turned to leave, the servant-girl hurrying after her with the umbrella.

They walked up the dirt path leading to Sakura's house in silence. Hinata kept fidgeting, sensing the awkward silence but not knowing what to do to break it. The familiar walk that had often been full of animated conversations and light hearted jokes and laughter was now empty and followed by an atmosphere of heavy, suffocating quiet. The only sound was the steady pattering of rain and their footsteps crunching against the gravel as they walked. At last they came to the sheltered veranda at the back of the house, lights glowing yellow in the near-darkness. Hinata closed her umbrella, shaking it to rid it of water.

Sakura paused, staring up at the looming shadow of her house. She supposed she couldn't really call it just a house – it was more of a mansion, made up of too many rooms to count, the windows all made of the finest glass and fanciest frames. Most of the elegant curtains were pulled, a job done by the many servants that were employed by her father. Some light escaped from the cracks, cutting through the evening's darkness and falling on the neatly-cut grass. The bright flowers in the beds surrounding the house shook as they were hit by falling raindrops, their colours muted in the darkness.

Noticing that Sakura had stopped, Hinata also paused, unsure whether she should wait with her or continue to lead her inside.

"S-Sakura-sama?" The maid said uncertainly, snapping Sakura's thoughts back to the waiting maid.

"Sorry. Let's go."

Hinata nodded and opened the elegant glass doors, holding them for Sakura as she headed inside. Sakura's soaked clothes and tangled wet hair dripped rainwater all over the expensive cream carpet, earning more concerned glances from her maid.

"I'll g-go get you some towels…" Hinata trailed off, leaving Sakura alone so she could hurry away through the corridors of the mansion in search of towels.

Sakura watched her go, the maid's violet hair swishing gracefully as she walked. Sakura glanced at her own tangled pink locks, neglected and knotted. She hadn't brushed it for days, and even then it was one of her maids who had fought with the matted strands, not her.

She walked through the halls, heading up stairs and through lushly carpeted corridors. She stopped outside her room, the simple white door seeming plain in contrast with the surrounding extravagance. Sakura remembered how her mother had tried to install the most beautiful and expensive door she could find - ones made of rare and sought-after wood, ones carved with intricate designs and swirling patterns. But Sakura wouldn't have it, and settled for one that was plain and simple. She had said that it suited her needs, and that it was only a door. Her mother had gone off in a huff, but had ordered it anyway.

'After all, the only child of the Haruno family would inevitably be spoiled.' Sakura thought darkly, twisting the door handle and walking inside. She glanced briefly at her hairbrush, before dismissing it and falling onto her bed. She felt the rainwater from her clothes seep into the soft bed sheets beneath her, but didn't shift to remove them. The feeling of damp clothes clinging to her skin helped to keep her mind distracted. She needed distractions. She wanted to delay her thoughts from repeating the memories.

She had tried to make them stop, to break the unending cycle that always caused her mind to snap back to that time. But all her efforts were in vain, so in the end Sakura had just stopped fighting. She closed her eyes, the damp clothes beginning to itch as they stuck to her body.

The door opened as Hinata entered, carrying with her the high quality towels the Haruno family kept stored away in some highly expensive cupboard. She paused as she realised Sakura had not changed from her rain-soaked clothes. Hinata should have been used to it by now, but she still couldn't bring herself to expect the girl who was once her friend - and not much older than herself - looking so distant and lifeless.

"Sakura-sama, I brought y-you some t-towels…" She said, her soft voice stumbling slightly as she offered the fluffy white material to the pink-haired girl. When Sakura didn't move or reply, she walked over to the bed and awkwardly set them down next to her.

For a moment, the girls' gazes met. Hinata's pale eyes filled with pity when she saw that Sakura's sea-green ones were glazed over, dull. Then the moment passed, and Hinata quickly glanced away, an unsettling chill making its way down her spine. She felt as if she had seen something she shouldn't have. Those eyes looked as if they were haunted, the person inside broken and empty. It didn't feel right to see such a look on a girl like Sakura, who used to be filled with so much life and had a tendency to burst with fiery anger when provoked.

"S-Sakura…" She stammered quietly, unsure of what to say. "Um… W-Would you like me to brush your h-hair?"

The pink-haired girl's only reply was to nod stiffly, her eyes continuing to stare at the ceiling. Just when Hinata was thinking she would have to ask or help Sakura to get up, the rain-soaked girl sat up, and walked mechanically over to the plain vanity table. She pulled out the chair and sat down, her gaze unfocused when she looked in the mirror. Hinata quickly followed, and picked up the brush left neglected on the vanity. She raised it hesitantly, not certain of where to start. Sakura's once flowing locks of long and beautiful pink hair were now matted and tangled, their sheen dulled. Hinata tried to hide how her lips curved down in sad frown. It was upsetting to see the girl that had been her close friend let herself become so detached and cut off from her – from everything.

Attempting to set those thoughts aside, Hinata began to brush the knots, trying as hard as she could to work out all of the tangles. Time seemed to pass slower than usual in the awkward and unsettling silence, but Hinata couldn't overcome her shyness and break through it.

Minutes turned into almost an hour, and eventually having done what she could, Hinata set the brush down. The pale-eyed girl glanced at Sakura, who had sat almost unmoving for the entire time, the same glazed look in her eyes.

"I have to g-go home now, Sakura-sama… My father won't be h-happy if I work too late…"

At first Hinata got no reply, then a slow blink and slight nod of the head.

"That's okay. Thank you, Hinata. See you tomorrow." Sakura's voice was flat and emotionless, her short sentences mechanical. Giving one last look at the other girl, Hinata nodded and left, quietly shutting the door behind her.

For a while, Sakura didn't move. She just stared at her reflection in the mirror. She almost didn't recognise herself anymore. The girl that stared back at her had her pink locks, reaching past her shoulders to stop at her mid-back, her green eyes, her face… But that girl wasn't her anymore – her hair was dull, her eyes lifeless, her face pale and slightly reddened from being out in the rain too long.

This girl was weak.

No, you've always been weak. You just didn't see it.

"Weak… No…" She whispered. The girl's reflection suddenly became fuzzy and distorted. Sakura realised she was crying, the hot tears trailing down her cheeks.

"No…" She whispered again, holding her head in her hands as flashes from that day began to resurface. She knew she couldn't stop them, so she just waited for them to be over - the memories tormenting her and reminding her that she was useless, pathetic, weak.

Sneering, hungry faces.

Rough and forceful hands, grabbing at her and leaving bruises.

The sharp sound of ripping material.

Shame at being unable to fight back.

She stumbled over to her bed, not bothering to change, and curled up on the sheets. Her mind tortured her, forcing her to relive her very real nightmare. She wrapped her arms around her thin body, as if attempting to shield herself from her inward torment. Eventually everything else was blocked out and she fell into a dreamless and empty sleep, the sheets damp from rainwater and tears.

Hinata finished changing, placing her uniform back into one of the lockers that all employees of the Haruno family were assigned. She smoothened out her black jeans and adjusted the zip on her purple and white hoodie before turning to leave.

"Hinata-sama."

Hinata jumped and let out a squeak, her face blushing red with the embarrassment of making such a sound.

"I-Ino… I didn't hear you come into the changing room!" She squeaked, her cheeks still blushing and impressive shade of red.

"Sorry 'bout that. I guess I can't help the natural elegance that causes my movements to be silent…" The busty platinum-haired girl made a dramatic gesture, emphasising her supposed 'natural elegance'. Seeing that the smaller girl hadn't gotten her joke, she sighed.

"My excellent wit is lost in this place. Good thing I'm only here temporarily. Whatever. The Boss needs to see you – he's in his office." Ino made another gesture, this time in the direction of the door.

"Oh. Okay. Um, thanks Ino." Hinata replied, grabbing her bag and hurrying off into the hallway.

"Jeez, that girl is like a mouse." Ino said to herself, raising perfectly plucked eyebrow and shaking her head.

Hinata paused outside the large oak door leading into the office of the Boss, the golden placard displaying his name - Kizashi Haruno.

This was a name well known all throughout the country. He was a successful businessman surrounded by exquisite riches, and head of Konoha Industries. His privately owned company sold the latest and highest quality medicines, and researched new cures and treatments. People jokingly said that if you felt ill, walk within one mile of the company and you'd immediately recover.

But to those who knew him better and asked around in the right places, he also sold more dubious wares, supplying guns, drugs and the like to his own and other gangs. Of course, his gang was one of the most powerful in the country, in control of wide expanses of territory and having the most influence. His 'business' went mostly unnoticed – it's funny how a little bit of money here and there can get you friends in high places. But then again, this was a little unnecessary as he was in one of those high places, so few dared to bother him.

Some called him a thug, a crook - but he preferred to be referred to as 'the Boss'. Sure, it was an overused name, but it was simple and practical.

Hinata didn't like to pry though, so kept her nose out of the dubious and almost certainly illegal business of her employer.

Raising her fist to knock, she heard the volume of noise inside the office raise to an impressive level, the door handle seeming to almost shake with the force. Hinata became increasingly more nervous with every passing second, unable to bring herself to knock. The Boss was a very powerful man – everything about him produced an aura of wealth and a kind of majesty only achieved by a rare few. He was refined in a way that made everyone around him know he was a no-nonsense man, and no one wanted to get on the wrong side of him.

Most people didn't want to know about what happened to people who did. Those who knew wished they didn't.

And right now, the sound level in the office of this notoriously powerful man was getting to a worryingly violent level. Nobody wanted to be called to the Boss's office when he was in this mood. Unfortunately for Hinata, she was that unlucky person today.

Hinata gathered what little courage she had and knocked on the door, three light taps announcing her presence. She was hoping they would be heard over all the commotion.

Things went suddenly silent in the office, followed by a booming and slightly irritated voice –

"What is it?"

Hinata went an impressive and worrying shade of red with nervousness, and opened the heavy oak door hurriedly.

"Y-You wanted t-to see m-me?" She squeaked, stumbling over her words more than usual as her nerves got to her.

Kizashi Haruno stood behind his desk, dressed in a finely tailored and clearly very expensive suit. His expression was midway between angry and furious as he processed the small figure standing in his office doorway. It didn't help with Hinata's confidence.

Then a sudden change overcame him, his aura shifting from a ruthless and violent gang leader to a kind and friendly employer. His stormy expression broke into a welcoming smile.

"Ah, of course. Come in, Hinata! This matter will only take a few minutes, I promise."

Taking a few uncertain steps into the spacious room, the servant girl noticed that they were not alone. A woman sat in one of the designer leather chairs occupying the office, her legs elegantly crossed and her delicate hands rested on her lap.

Her features were sharp and striking, but not by any means unattractive, her piercing forest-green eyes fixed on Hinata. She was wearing an expensive white Chinese cheongsam dress, the single item of clothing probably costing more than Hinata would earn in a year – and that was saying something, considering she was employed by one of the wealthiest families in the country. It hugged her slim form; making it obvious that time had not marred her figure. The maid didn't even want to think about the price tag attached to the beautiful jewellery the woman wore, which sparkled in the lights of the office.

This lady was Mebuki Haruno, wife of the Boss. In her prime she had been a model, gracing many a catwalk with her majestic elegance. Contrary to popular belief when it came to supermodels, she had an intelligent gleam in her eyes, almost cunning. As her younger days were behind her, she had used her experience in the fashion industry to produce several stunning clothing collections, becoming increasingly well-known around the world. Like her husband, she had an air of refined majesty about her that few managed to achieve.

The Boss sat down at his desk, placing his elbows on the surface and resting his head on his hands, his expression now serious.

"I understand that you have been working for me for some time now, and are a personal maid to my daughter, Sakura."

Hinata nodded quickly, feeling Mebuki's eyes still locked on her.

"You will know, then, about the… incident… that occurred a few weeks ago."

Hinata nodded again, noticing how both the Haruno's expressions turned stormy and somewhat pained. She tried not to fidget with nerves.

Mebuki spoke up from her place in the chair, seemingly impatient.

"What my husband means to say is that we wish to know how our daughter is getting on. We would see for ourselves, but we have been somewhat… busy… with matters concerning this situation. Though it pains me to say this, you spend more time with Sakura than we have been able to. How would you say she is coping?"

Hinata considered this, her eyes downcast.

"W-Well, I don't think she's d-doing very w-well…"

The Boss sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly.

"Could you expand on that a little?" He asked.

"O-Oh, um, yes. She still isn't e-eating very much; she isn't r-really taking proper care of herself… She b-barely lets anyone touch her. She hasn't returned to school yet…" She looked up. "In all h-honesty, Boss, I'm worried about h-her…"

Both of the Harunos' expressions grew increasingly troubled. It reassured Hinata a little to know that at least Sakura's parents really did care about their daughter's condition, but it still didn't deal with the situation.

"I see," Kizashi said, glancing at his wife before returning to the maid, "You have been most helpful. Thank you, Hinata. You may go now."

"W-Whatever I can do to h-help, Boss." She bowed to both him and Mebuki before wishing them a good evening and beating a hasty retreat.

The door clicked shut and Kizashi turned to his wife.

"Things can't keep going on like this. I'm doing the best I can to find the bastards that did this to our daughter, but we need to do something about Sakura. We can't just leave her like this."

Mebuki looked at her husband, her eyes cold.

"We can't let this happen again. Our daughter…" She sighed and closed her eyes, hesitating before opening them again. "She needs protecting. She can't defend herself – she's weak."

Weak.

Kizashi sighed as well. He knew it was true. Sakura had never learned any form of self-defence, and being the daughter of a man as well-known and influential as he was, he should have known better. He was a fool to think that his only child wouldn't be targeted. Both he and Mebuki had tried to protect Sakura, to allow her to have as normal a life as someone as privileged as her could. They had wanted to assign more bodyguards to her, but Sakura wouldn't hear of it. She refused to be followed around by "a bunch of creepy, suspicious-looking men who wear sunglasses inside", as Sakura had put it in one of her fiery outbursts. And so, tired of fighting with her, the Haruno couple assigned only two guards to watch over their daughter from a distance.

But it was these two guards who had delivered their daughter right into the hands of their enemies.

"We should have been more careful." He said massaging his temples as he felt a stress headache coming on.

"I know. But there's nothing we can do to change the past." Mebuki replied, rising from her chair and gliding over to her husband's desk to stand beside him. "But we can stop it from happening again."

Kizashi looked up at his wife.

"You sound like you have something in mind."

"Another bodyguard. Sakura needs another bodyguard."

"What do you mean? Only one bodyguard?" Kizashi frowned, gazing questioningly at Mebuki.

"I know of someone who should work well. She's someone we can trust, and has many talents besides just protection."

"She…?" Kizashi raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Her name is Tsunade."

To be continued…

If you got this far, I am truly proud of you. Okay, so not a lot happened in this chapter, but I'm building up to stuff – I promise! If you liked it, please let me know. I have plans for certain characters, but if you think I should include any others, tell me and I'll think about adding them :)

Oh and btw, just in case you don't know what a cheongsam is, it's a Chinese dress. It's really pretty, you should go Google it :D

Thanks again!

~Cirquelights