The day had started just like all the others; Tsunade was awoken shortly after 2 am by shooting herself up in a panic. Nightmares of war and pain continued to plague her every dream. Her forehead dripped with sweat, and her hair and clothes were damp as well. Sitting up quickly, Tsunade began gasping as she held her hands to her chest. Her heart was racing. Her heart thumped in her chest like wild horses galloping across the dirt. Catching her breath Tsunade swung her legs over the side of her bed, her feet lightly hitting the cherry wood flooring. A long sigh escaped her lips as she hoisted herself up from the bed, her palms pressed firmly to the damp silk sheets. Tsunade's hips popped in place as she stood, standing up straight which caused her lower back to pull and eventually pop, this act made Tsunade realize just how hunched over she had been lately, walking towards the full-length mirror situated in the corner of her room by the window making sure to avoid the many bottles of Sake that littered the floor.
The dark emerald curtains were drawn to allow maximum darkness and privacy, as she walked Tsunade allowed a soft sigh to escape her chapped lips. Turning to look in the mirror she gasped. When did she start to appear so frail? When was the last time she took a good look at herself?
Her face looked sunk in. If she wasn't a natural blonde one would think she had bleached her hair one too many times. Her hair was a pale yellow and was lacking in its natural bounce. Once filled with such a strong will of fire, her chocolate eyes now held only sadness. This was evident from the massive bags that clung to her lids. Internally, she would make a joke about how she had enough bags for a family vacation. The thought of family made her sigh. What family? They were all dead. Her clothes practically fell off her. It wasn't until the sound of laughing children outside her bedroom window, that she woke her from her inner thoughts. How had she been staring at herself for more than 4 hours already? Tsunade laughed to herself. A foreign sound these days. Who looks at themselves for 4 hours? Tsunade turned from the mirror as she grabbed a fresh towel off her dresser.
When she walked into the attached bathroom, Tsunade took that moment to allow herself to stare at herself in the mirror again, truly looking at the reflection that stared back at her. She really needed to get a grip. Something about this day and this moment made Tsunade realize just how depressed she had gotten, and just how lost she was, something about this moment made her wake up. She needed to be strong, she needed to get help. Tsunade vowed to herself and to the memories of her fallen comrades that today would be the day she got help, the day she moved forward.
After what felt like a long shower, Tsunade got out from behind the curtain, the steam filling the room and fogging the mirror. As she wiped the condensation from the mirror with a nearby hand towel she smiled, how odd she felt she looked, a frown that she usually wore was replaced with a smile… Tsunade noted how her hair soaked up the leave in conditioner – she joked how her hair was thirstier than someone lost in the Sunagakure desert. Brushing her teeth and doing general skin care she took a deep breath, reminding herself that she needed to stop feeling guilty for the fact that she survived when many others didn't.
Getting dressed wasn't an easy task for Tsunade, she had to tie her shirt smaller and roll the waist band of her pants, so they sat on her hips a little neater. Grabbing a trash bag from a drawer inside her night stand she stared at all the empty Sake bottles, she sure loved her alcohol, but did she truly let it get this bad? Tsunade couldn't help but hum a tune she heard during her sleep in the Infinite Tsukiyomi, a tune she couldn't quite recognize where it was from. Once the room was cleaned Tsunade opened her curtains, squinting at the sudden assault on her eyes. This was it; this was the day. The day she got her mental health in order.
