AN: short one, mostly filler but yay for POV change. They aren't in first person but they are centered from one person's viewpoint every time. I try to only show one person's thought in each chapter, to avoid confusion. This time, it's Kakashi. I decided that he should be just as observant as Sakura, so that they really are equal in nearly everything. This is a mega guilt trip for him and may sound slightly angsty, but it's only so that it doesn't end up too one sided. It will get better, I promise. I can't even read the next chapter without giggling. I do begin to wonder if I'm mentally stable.

863 words in this chapter

Missing in Action

Chapter nine- Her precious youth

Though there were no windows, it was easy to tell that it was getting late. Kakashi looked over at Sakura from his seat in the corner of the room, curious as to what she was thinking. He had been told by Tsunade that the women were supposed to be practicing their interrogation skills, but he didn't see anything of the sort from Sakura.

She didn't seem even slightly uncomfortable being trapped in a room with him, not like the Sakura he knew would have been. She seemed to be content, if she wasn't un-aware of the fact that they would inevitably have to share a bed. It didn't seem like she was even trying with her mission, and that would make his mission very difficult.

She had also, quite surprisingly, made no move since they first arrived here to prevent him from reading his Icha Icha, or even commented on it, managing to find other things to occupy her time. When she wasn't cooking meals for them in the somewhat infinitely full kitchen, she was writing in a small pink book with flowers around the outside of the page.

It amazed him how she managed to write endlessly for pages and pages and couldn't help but wonder how many books she must have like that one, pages full of her little, neat handwriting.

"Sakura-chan?" he ventured.

She put the pen down and sat up "Yes Kakashi?" He flinched again. Whatever happened to sensei? Then again… whatever happened to Sakura?

"What is it you're writing?"

"My diary" she smiled "Why? Does it look more interesting than reading that book of yours for the hundredth time?"

"Oh, I'm sure it is." He admitted, putting the little orange book down on the table. "How can you write so much?"

"I've been far too busy lately to write in it. When I have so much paper work to complete, this just doesn't seem that fun. Now I'm writing to catch up"

"Really? How long…?"

"Too long..." She sighed, then closed the book and put it into her bag "But work is work. I'm on holiday now"

"This is your holiday, missions?" he was completely shocked. He knew Tsunade worked her hard but…

"Ah ha. Why? What do you do on holidays?"

"Anything but. Usually sit around reading all day in bed." He frowned at her. As Gai would say, she's wasting her precious youth. "Talking of which…" he signaled towards the bed.

"You want to go to bed?" she asked without a drop of unease in her voice "well, I guess it is late. Alright, I'll go and get dressed in the bathroom so you can change out here. Call me when you're done and we can switch, Ok?"

He couldn't help but to stare as she collected together some items from her bag and disappeared into the bathroom. He had to admit, she had him completely flustered. He had never been treated like that by anyone. People only ever went to change in separate rooms with him because he was viewed as a pervert, not so that he could change in peace.

Was this her plan? To be so nice to me I am charmed into giving her the key? No. it can't be. She's not being nice she just, isn't being herself. But then again… I'm not exactly an expert on herself. The last time I actually took an active interest in her was at least two years ago, if that. This might well be who she is now.

I don't know why it's bothering me so much. It's only natural that she's grown up a bit from the little girl I knew, and this new attitude… well it's not exactly repulsive. It's not nice, but it's intelligent, mature. She's given the chance to be very close to me and she isn't taking advantage at all. She's respecting my personal space and not trying to ask too many questions. I'm trapped here like her, with no jutsu abilities and she hasn't tried to take my mask off or steal my book or anything.

Was she just trying to create a false sense of security? Would she start her interrogation techniques tomorrow? Words said to him by Tsunade ran through his mind through his jumble of thoughts as he went to get dressed "Just let it happen for a day or two. Resist but don't show any signs of making it stop"

So that's what he'd do. He'd go along with any of Sakura's little plans until they got out of hand. Then, with Shikamaru's cue they'd put phase two into action. Tsunade had said that she wanted merely to observe the girl's abilities for the first two days. Then it was up to the guys to do whatever they wanted.

Once he had finished getting dressed, he called out to Sakura, who walked out in a conservative vest-top and pants set of pajamas that weren't too dissimilar from her chunin uniform. She let him into the bathroom with a sweet smile while letting him know that she was going to bed.

He locked the door behind him, thinking too hard to answer her and reached forward for the spot Tsunade had told him about.