one.

"You are stronger than you think."


Weakness.

Four.

Five.

Six.

She had lost count after that. They just kept coming, one after another. She wasn't sure when exactly she fell to the ground, but she could feel blades of grass brushing up against her bare calf.

Again.

And again.

She was sure she was dying.

"Next time shut your stupid mouth Forehead Girl!" said a voice followed by a chorus of abhorrent laughter. And then something wet and sticky landed on her face.

Spit.

Sakura cringed and tried to wipe her face. At that moment something hard and sharp whizzed

past her cheek slicing deep enough to draw blood.

The group of kids broke out in obnoxious laughter as Sakura seemed to crumple in on herself.

"Ami come ooon it's getting dark. We gotta go home. And my mum's making tempura tonight. "

Said a voice from the back of the group.

"I know, I know Kimi, let's go." said Ami. With that, she threw one last glance over her shoulder and laughed at Sakura's crumpled form. "Stupid Forehead Girl." She then lead the group of kids out of the park and back towards the neighborhood entrance.

Sakura laid there for what seemed like a lifetime. She probably had a few bruised -if not broken- ribs and her parents were no doubt worried and looking for her. Sakura didn't want to move, but she new she had to get home before it got completely dark. Slowly, she moved herself in an upright position, and winced once she made it to her feet. She counted 11 bruises and 16 cuts and scrapes. Her dress was ripped and her lip was bleeding.

She started to cry then. Sakura turned to face the park exit and slowly made her way back home.

-xxxxxxx-

"Sakura!"

She heard her mom shouting her name from the porch as she limped her way toward the house. Sakura's mother flew down the steps and ran towards her daughter, Sakura's father not far behind.

"What happened? What -are you bleeding?" her mother was near hysterics.

"Mebuki? What is it? Is-" as soon as he caught sight of his daughter, Kizashi Haruno's whole demeanor changed.

"Get inside." He said, eyes narrowing on the multiple bruises on her arms and legs. "Now."

-xxxxxxx-

"What," Kizashi gritted out. "Happened." It wasn't a question.

"I-I fell at the p-park!" Sakura began.

She knew he wasn't buying it. But if she told the truth about what really happened, she knew it would just make things worse.

Kizashi's eyes narrowed. "Who." Again, not a question.

"Nobody Daddy! I-I just fell." She stuttered. "I was playing outside with some girls from school and I tripped and fell. That's all."

Kizashi's nostrils flared. He wasn't mad at Sakura, no, not at all, but she was his only daughter, his only child and he'd be damned if he let some snot nosed kid knock his little girl around.

-xxxxxxx-

Later that evening while Sakura was getting ready for bed she heard a soft knock on her door.

She sighed and uttered a soft "Come in" just loud enough for the person on the other side to hear.

"Sakura?" her mother said as she cracked open the door.

Sakura sighed and got into bed pulling the cover up to her chin.

"Come in." she said.

Silently, Sakura's mother opened the door and slid through. Mebuki then padded over to Sakura's bed and sat down on the edge near her feet.

"Your father just needs time to calm down." She said with a sigh.

Silence.

"You didn't eat dinner Sakura, are you hungry?"

Silence.

"Sakura…" she began, "I know you're covering for them."

Sakura's breath hitched.

"I know. But what I don't understand is why? They treat you so poorly," she placed a gentle hand on her daughters cheek, where her skin should have been rosy there was a thin cut. Mebuki's eyes narrowed slightly. "And yet you still find the need to lie for them." She moved her hand to bring an unruly strand of Sakura's pale pink hair behind her ear.

"If I tattle Mommy, they'll just make it worse." Sakura said with a frustrated sigh.

"So, what? You're just going to let them? Sakura you need to stand up for yourself."

Sakura sniffed and turned over to her side so that her back was facing her mother.

"What was it this time?" her mother asked, after a moment.

Sakura started crying at that.

"M-my f-forehead, a-and my h-hair!"

Mebuki was silent as she let Sakura shed her tears.

"Sakura," Mebuki began after a moment. "You are the only person who can make yourself feel inferior. No one but you. If you feel upset because of how they treat you it's because you let them. They can't hurt you if you show them that they can't." With that Mebuki bent down and kissed Sakura on the forehead.

Mebuki was nearly out the door when she said over her shoulder to Sakura's still form, "You are stronger than you think." She said. "Show them."


A/N: First chap up! The first and second chapters were originally supposed to be one chapter but I decided to split them up. Intro chapters are always the hardest to write. With that said, PLEASE EXCUSE ANY AND ALL TYPOS. Thank ya kindly.

Anyway I would LOVE to hear constructive feedback from you all. This is only my second Chapterfic and I would be grateful for any helpful criticism.

I'll be posting Chapter 2 later on tonight hopefully if all goes well. So look forward to that.

Please Review if you liked this chapter and even if you didn't. I know it was a bit short, but I do plan on making them longer in the future.

-Wisty

EDIT: Just fixed some minor typos.