Authors Note: I've had to re-write this THREE TIMES because of my mothers crappy computer D: But yeah My first SakuXTsu fanfiction! ' And a BIIGGGGG Thankyou to Georgie-Pop for helping me :D ...Lou x]

Chapter 1: 'Waking Hours'

6 am sharp and the alarm goes off. Sakura Haruno slips into the waking world, leaving a dreamless sleep behind her. When she opens her eyes her vision is blurred and she blinks. Early morning training was not her specialty. Never the less, she sighed and hauled herself from the warmth of her bed, embracing the cold. 30 minutes later and she'd showered, dressed and packed most of her equipment.

By 6.35 am Sakura was out of the door (after being coddled by her mother and force fed cereal, of course). The weather outside was bitter. The icy wind nipped at her face and blew her candyfloss pink bangs from her eyes. Grey clouds hung overhead, daring to spill at any second. Fumbling through her leg pouch with numbed fingers, she grasped at her iPod and flicked the power switch. Earphones in, world out. The last song playing was When It Rains by Paramore. The irony of that. She sighed as she walked, kicking the dirt before her feet.

As the first drops of rain began to fall, the next song My Immortal by Evanescence began to play. It had been many years since Sasuke left the village and she still thought of him every day without fail. But on cold days, days when it rained, and especially when she listened to songs like this, she mourned him. She mourned the loss of the bond they had once shared.

"I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone, but though you're still with me, I've been alone all along..."

Sure enough, that familiar pang of guilt and sadness grabbed hold of her stomach and squeezed tight, as it always did. Tears forced themselves upon her, but she wouldn't let herself cry. The Hokage's mansion was gradually appearing on the bleak horizon, she would not have her master see her so weak. When Sasuke left nobody talked about it. It was as if he'd never existed, and she hated it. Since he had left she'd just been that little bit more insecure around everyone else. He didn't know it, but as long as he was with her, she opened up. She found that she could relate to him in so many ways, without even exchanging a single word with him. So when he left it was like she was alone in the world.

That's when Sakura had met Tsunade. She had offered her a place to go and a shoulder to cry on ever since he had left. She was not only Sakura's Sensei and Hokage, but her best friend. Tsunade could never replace Sasuke, but she made the void he left seem less ...empty. Not that they had a romantic relationship. No, the feelings they shared for one another were purely platonic.. at least for now.

By the time the young ninja had reached the domain of the Hokage she was a full thirteen minutes late for her training. She wasn't one to be late usually, but today she had walked that bit slower.

Before she could even knock, the sannin had swung the door open and was stood, hand on hip with an almighty scowl on her face. Sakura hated when Tsunade made faces like that. It made her look older, less beautiful.

"You're..." the blonde glanced at her watch "fifteen minutes late."
Sakura gave an appologetic smile and chuckled some excuse about her mother making her clean her room. Tsunade knew straight away something was bothering her student. It was the girls eyes, there was a look in them Tsunade didn't like much.

Insted of giving her the bolocking she would have any other day, she stepped aside and asked her to come in. Sakura must have scenced that her sensei was on to her because for a few moments her eyes opened wide and she hesitated to enter. Fearing rousing Tsunade's suspicion more, she quickly corrected herself and stepped inside.

The older woman smirked seeing that her pupil was seated comfortably in the lounge and closed the door. "Would you like a mug of tea, Sakura?"
Sakura smiled and nodded her aproval through fear of impoliteness but knew through the simple fact that Tsunade had even asked such a thing that her teacher had picked up on her mood. Equally, the fact the Sakura hadn't questioned her meant to Tsunade that there was indeed something wrong.

Whilst the tea was brewing Tsunade sat opposite Sakura and offered her a knowing yet sympathetic smile."Sakura... " The girl looked towards her, startled. "...Those eyes of yours... I saw that same look in the mirror for years after Dan died..." Her pupils expression changed from startled to shocked. "It's Sasuke is-" Before she could even finish her question Sakura had burst into tears.

Tsunade was at her side in a heartbeat, firmly embracing her and shushing her woeful sobs. They remained this way for a good 15 minutes before Sakura pulled back, sniffling and ridding her cheeks of stray tears. Her master took her hands gently between her own. "I didn't know he hurt you so badly, Sakura..." The older woman averted her gaze for a moment, then returned to looking at the younger. "... And I hope you know that I'm always going to be here if you need me. No matter what time, what day, you come find me... Got it?"

Smiling, Sakura sniffed again then nodded, the look in her eyes now one of admiration and happiness. Returning the girls smile, Tsunade let go of her hands and rose to her feet. "Good." Then, surprising both Sakura and herself, she stooped and bestowed a gentle kiss upon the girls forehead. As quickly as she had stooped, she was back to her full height and was back tending to the tea. Sakura touched her forehead breifly and thought of how Tsunades lips had felt there.

This be the end of Chapter 1! I hope you enjoyed reading xD.. And, as ever, Reviews are sex! Sex me up, you sexy people! ...Auntie Lou x