That's MY Book!

Disclaimer: I.DO.Not.Own.Naruto.
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Sakura blinked. Kakashi mimicked the movement. But then again, they were less than a centimeter apart, so it was hard to tell who started it. Sakura felt her face start to flush. They were so close. Shouldn't she push him away?

Lowering her still pointing finger, the chuunin placed it slowly on Kakashi's shoulder.

'Oh, this is it,' Kakashi fixed his black orb on her wide green ones, 'she's gonna start screaming bloody murder.'

Her green orbs searched his. Her voice was soft, "Kakashi...?"

The jounin would've understood if she shouted. He was ready for violence. A punch in the eye. A smack on the cheek. This... this he was not so ready for. What had he done in his past life to deserve this? As he straightened from his slouched posture, his eye no longer met hers. But he needed to clear his mind. He breathed deeply and nearly melted right there. Her scent was here as well. Faintly, Kakashi shook his head. How could he clear it when he was this close to her?

"Damn...." He looked straight into her eyes, refusing to turn away, "Damn strawberries."

Sakura blinked. It took a while for his words to register. But when it did, she couldn't help but smile.

'What am I doing? I'm not acting like myself.' Kakashi sighed, 'Stupid. Stupid shampoo.'

'This... can't be right. He can't be...' Sakura's thoughts did an abrupt flip, sounding more cheerful and less confused, 'It's that damn book again. He really wants it back, doesn't he? Jeeze, I still have to find it.'

It took all her conscious effort, but the chuunin managed to step back from the silver haired man, her hand lifting from his shoulder. Her body wailed at the instant loss of warmth. But she defiantly ignored it and placed a smile on her face. Kakashi felt an urge to just grab her arm and hug her. Anything to get some physical contact. So he settled for brushing her bangs out of her face. His touch was soft. Warm. Gentle.

'Snap out of, Sakura.' She berated herself, holding back from leaning into his hand. She was glad and sad at the same time when he eventually drew his hand back. Smiling sweetly, a damn contradiction to the loss she felt inside, Sakura said, "I'm not throwing the shampoo away. I know you're not the one who gave it to me. Besides, I was thinking of maybe sporting a bald look. Whaddya think, Kakashi?"

A shocked and horrified jounin felt the rare experience of his jaw dropping right off its hinges, "Sakura... you can't mean that... can you?"

Pivoting, Sakura shot a smile over her shoulder as she walked daintily away, "I've been thinking about it..."

Snapping out of his daze, the jounin rushed to catch up. "You shouldn't cut your hair, you know. It just... wouldn't be as symbolic as last time."

"What do you mean?" Sakura gave him a sidelong glance.

He returned it, before carefully inspecting the sky, "You know. That last time your hair was cut. You were finally stepping out of Sasuke's shadow."

"Huh." Sakura breathed out. She hadn't thought anyone else would notice. Then again, Kakashi did have his deep moments.

Which he promptly ruined by adding, "Unless, of course, you were just thinking about saving your own hide at the moment. Which I wouldn't be too surprised at. I mean, you guys were still genin at the time."

The little chuunin growled beneath her breath.

'Kakashi... is such... an IDIOT.'

"Heeeyyy! Sakura! Kakashi-sensei!" An extremely delighted kitsune greeted from atop a tree. Leaping down, he raced towards them. Stopping before them, Naruto grinned, "What were you guys talking about? You looked constipated or something."

"We were deep in thought, BAKA!" Sakura shouted, making sure the words got to him with the help of a fist to his head. Deep down she knew she probably shouldn't take out all her anger on the little guy, but hey. What could you do when Naruto was practically asking for it?

"Oowww. Sakura, what didja do that for?" Naruto whined, rubbing around the hurting lump on the back of his head.

"For being such a Dobe. Dobe." Sasuke remained leaning against the tree.

"Bastard!" Naruto shook his fist as he whirled around, current injury forgotten, "Say that to my face."

Sasuke smirked. Naruto was so easy to mess with. Sakura usually was, too. But lately, she seemed to be a little... distracted. The Uchiha boy turned his glance pointedly at the jounin at her side. Catching the glance instantly, Kakashi returned it. The gaze wasn't demanding. But it wasn't inquisitive, either. He was just returning the distant look Sasuke was giving him.

Snorting, Sasuke shifted his gaze away. Kakashi's brow lifted before he turned to everyone, "Being the nice guy I am, I've decided to cancel today's practice."

Knowing Naruto was about to butt in with his usual whine of protest, Kakashi considered it perfect timing when he spotted a certain someone walking out of the dense foilage into the clearing. Continuing without missing a beat, the jounin added, "Because Iruka has agreed to take you all out for lunch."

His ears perking at the sound of his name, the unknown victim turned slowly to the small group of people, "Eh? I agreed to what?"

"Oh, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto whooped happily, "I knew you wouldn't forget!! Ramen is my favorite!!"

Unable to turn down that cheerful look on Naruto's face, Iruka conceded. Though he could already feel the weight of his wallet decreasing even more, "Of course not, Naruto. How could I forget."

Over the blonde's head, Iruka sent a glare at our favorite jounin. Who just returned it with a shrug. Before anything else could be said, an unkown chakra presence was detected. Approaching fast. All in the clearing tensed in anticipation. All but Kakashi, who had recognized the signature easily.

"Izumo, what brings you out on this fine day?" Kakashi inquired before the chuunin had even appeared before them.

The top of his head was covered with the extendable headgear from the forehead protectors, the rest of his short dark hair concealing his right eye. He glanced at the silver haired jounin in greeting, "Kakashi. The hokage would like a word."

"Tsunade?" Sakura perked up at the mention of her sensei.

"Of course." Kakashi nodded.

As they left in a poof of smoke, Sasuke nearly sighed in relief, 'I thought he'd never leave.'

As Iruka and Naruto headed off towards Ichiraku Ramen, Sasuke grabbed Sakura's arm.

"Sasuke?" Sakura frowned at the grip, "What is it?"

"Let's go talk." The black haired chuunin nudged his chin towards the edge of the clearing.

^-^

"You wanted to talk?" Kakashi asked once he was inside the hokage's room.

Looking up from her desk, the fifth hokage nodded, "I'm surprised. You didn't take the couple of hours it usually takes to drag you here."

"I didn't feel like getting too dirty today." Kakashi grinned sheepishly.

Tsunade sighed. It seems Kakashi would never be separated from his lame excuses.

"It's... about the next mission." The hokage stood from the desk, "And I want you to hear me out before you disagree. That's all I ask, Kakashi. Hear me out first."

"As if I could stop the mission from going on without me." Kakashi smiled grimly.

"True. But I'd rather it'd be you that I send."

"Just me?" Kakashi joked.

But the next words issued from the Hokage's mouth were reluctant, yet serious nonetheless, "You and... one.. other..."

Kakashi's instantly raised his brow. A co-op mission? He was used to going solo.

"What rank?"

"A-class."

"Who's my partner?"

"... That is what I wished to speak to you about, Kakashi."

The silver haired jounin suddenly got a bad feeling

^-^

'Huh, must be important.' Sakura thought to herself, nodding in consent as she headed off with him.

The dark haired boy leaned comfortably against the trunk, arms crossed against his chest, "What would you do if you lost Kakashi's book."

Surprised at the sudden question, about THAT subject of all things, Sakura took a moment to answer. Stretching her arms before her, she replied nonchalantly, "I guess I'd go buy another one."

"Try again."

"Huh?" Sakura's face scrunched into a frown, confused.

"Jiraiya ran out."

"HUH?" How would he know that?

"I checked. The old man doesn't have a single copy on him. It sold out."

"No way..." Sakura's frown turned to one of despair, "I need to get that book back."

"What would you do...?"

Having enough of... well, just about everything, Sakura stomped closer, "What would I what?"

Suddenly, she found Sasuke moving in lightening speeds. She found the smooth trunk against her back, Sasuke before her.

'WHAT THE HELL?!?!' Inner Sakura raged, utterly astounded.

Sasuke's voice was soft. Demanding, "What would you do... if I said I had the book. What would you do to get it back?"

"W-what...? Sasuke, it's just a book." Her voice was just as soft.

But her traiterous thoughts pointed out, 'Not just A book. KAKASHI'S book.'

"Yeah, but it mean's a lot to the perverted jounin. We all know that."

"Yeah... SO? Why should I care?" Sakura hated the way her voice sounded small. She cared. She KNEW she cared.

"I was just wondering... what you'd be willing to do to get it back." Sasuke's face hovered near hers, his dark orbs piercing her green ones.