The Page Thief

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, I just like sandbox games...

Summary: Sakura has been lonely. Kakashi has been indifferent, at least until someone starts to steal pages from his favorite books...

Chapter One

The fabric was soft against her fingers as she began to lean in. The sad scent of blood touched her nose. Her face wrinkled, but her intent was strong and unwavering. Their lips touched, soft and foreign, a coppery tinge flowed through her senses. She licked her lips and stared at this mask of this man.

Sakura awoke with a start, frustration laced her pink eyebrows and sweat covered her brow.

"Did I really just dream about that?" The words came quietly out of her mouth, as she sat on the edge of her bed and put her head in her hands. "This cannot keep happening to me. . ."

She glanced at the clock on the bedside table, only three hours till she was to be at the hospital for her shift. She walked into the bathroom, shrugging out of her nightwear, and stepped into the shower. The water was warm against her recently frustrated body, and she sank into relaxation.

It was about an hour before sunrise when she left the apartment. She still had two hours to kill before she had to head in for her shift and decided to walk aimlessly around. It was still dark outside, and she paid little attention to where she was going.

Sakura passed the entrance to the town and began to turn around until she heard a soft hum from outside the gate. She turned around to look at the approaching man. At first all she saw was white hair, tucked behind the green cover a book. A smile crossed her lips.

"Hello, Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi kept walking and pulled his right hand out of his pocket and jerked his hand into a 'wave'. "Hello, Sakura," came muffled from behind the book as he kept walking.

An exasperated sigh left her lips as she turned back to catch up with him. "Is that all you can spare for your former student, Kakashi-sensei? Not a 'how are you today?' or a 'what have you been up to?' We haven't talked in two months and all you can say is 'hello, Sakura'?' The pink-haired ninja was beginning to boil over the top at this point, and her hands began to clench into fists.

A few moments later, Kakashi snapped his book shut and tucked it away. He glanced a look at her with his eye, sighed, ran his hand through his hair, and sighed again. "Sakura, it's been a long day, I'd rather you didn't try to hit me."

This comment only managed to add to her frustration, her fists clenching tighter. "Why do I even bother to try to keep in touch with any of you?! All you three have ever done is run off the first chance you get. Sauske's gone. I know that and I understand that. Naruto's busy. He's fulfilling his life long dream. But you, you're the worst. You have no reason to ignore us, to ignore me. I guess you've just moved on from Team 7, and maybe we should move on from you!" Tears began to form in her eyes, and she darted off in an angry blur.

"Sakura…" the copy-ninja said softly. "You take everything way to hard on yourself." He pulled out his book and began to read again.

Kakashi went about his morning, as he normally would have. He stopped for some ramen, and then headed back to his apartment. He took the stairs slowly, his book back in his hands.

Once inside, he tossed his things carelessly on the table, and then wandered back towards his bedroom. He shut his book and slid it back onto the shelf. Lovingly, he eyed his collection as he chose another book. Stripping down to his boxers, Kakashi fell back onto his beds. Opening his book, he began to read once more.

A few moments later, he was asleep, his beloved Icha-Icha book tucked beneath his chin.

Sakura was finishing her last chart of the day. She'd been on a 12 hour shift and was ready to get out of the hospital.

"Sakura," a voice came from over her shoulder. "Want to slow down a bit, can't read a damn thing you just wrote."

"Hrm? Oh sorry… I guess I just got in a hurry."

"Alright, hun. I'll take care of this for you, go get some rest."

"Thanks," Sakura smiled at the elderly nurse. She headed out the front door and headed out into the crisp fall air. A rumble escaped her stomach, reminding her that she had skipped lunch. She decided to head to a small restaurant on the corner just across from the hospital.

It was crowded, and there wasn't a spare table in the room, but she headed for the counter nonetheless. Just then, a familiar book caught her eye. A mangled copy of Icha-Icha.

Sakura sighed, "Well, at least I'll have somewhere to sit. . ."

"Hello, Sakura," the ninja said, without looking up from his book.

"Hi, Kakashi-sensei," she mumbled out, staring down at the table. "Sorry about earlier, I . . . "

"It's fine."

"So… uhm…" She was stumbling, looking for something to say. "Where were you coming back from."

"A mission." He flipped the page of his book.

Sakura nodded. "I take it that it went well."

"Mmhmm."

Flip. Pause.

"Were you gone for a long time?"

"Only a day."

"What did you spend the day doing?"

"Sleeping."

Flip. Pause.

Sakura bit her lower lip in a show of defeat and began to stir her food around in the bowl. People were starting to trickle out of the restaurant now, and there were only a few people left. She wanted to get up and take one of the spare tables, but she wouldn't, couldn't even.

Flip.

"About earlier, I had just slept poorly, and I was just angry at everyone being so busy. . ."

"I said it was fine, Sakura."

Flip. Pause.

"I just think we should spend more time together. Keep in touch, you know?"

Flip. Pause.

Sakura drummed her fingers on the table. It took every fiber in her body not to reach out and knock that book out of his hands. How could he just sit there and read while she was trying to apologize and explain her actions to him. Could he really be that indifferent?

Flip. Pause.

"Well thanks for letting me sit here, Kakashi-sensei." She stood up from the table and bit her lip again. "I'll see you later."

"Bye, Sakura."

Flip. Pause.

Her shoes felt like led as she walked away from the table. Her chest felt weak and irritated. Her breathing was exasperated as she came out onto the street. All she needed was a good nights sleep.

If only, if only.