Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

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Sakura leaned forward precariously on the arm of the couch to get a better view of the bookcase. Every time she was sure that the books on the shelves had found their proper place there was something off about the overall look.

It never occurred to her before that the placement of books on a shelf was a tedious task. They could be arranged by height, alphabetically, topic, and in Sakura's case practicality.

Practicality seemed an awfully strange way of organizing them but she figured any other way would have the owner of said bookshelf complaining. But it was a difficult task to add her medical textbooks to the already carefully housed Icha Icha novels.

And contrary to what most believed, Kakashi did read more than his porn, although that never happened in the public eye. But here in his apartment there was homage to many different authors that spanned a variety of different genres. Another reason the job was exceedingly difficult.

Sakura sighed in annoyance but carried on pulling certain books and replacing others. One of her own texts she pulled off the shelf and placed on her lap. Without thinking she flipped through the pages and soon was engrossed.

She smiled fondly at her own writing in the margins of the pages. Small notes dotted the sides about interesting facts or important things to remember. She realized this must have been one of the early medical textbooks she studied since there were a lot more questions around the printed words. Things she had not understood at the time but could now recite in her sleep.

She closed the textbook and placed it aside, taking up a small picture book instead. The first time Sakura had seen this she was shocked. The great Copy nin owned a children's nursery book. Turns out it was one of the last mementos of his mother that Kakashi owned. The book had been read to him as a child by his mother, making it quite worthy of the middle shelf, front and center. Delicately, she put the book back in its place.

Maybe it would be better to buy another bookcase.

Looking around, Sakura knew that was impossible with the limited space. She lovingly ran her hand across the spines of the books already shelved. It wasn't about getting rid of books, how could she when each one had been much loved and enjoyed by herself or Kakashi? Once more she sighed.

Hearing that sign for the umpteenth time, said man poked his head out from the kitchen where he resigned to finish late mission reports.

"Sakura, are you finished?" He asked.

She looked up from another book she had pulled from the shelf. Kakashi stood there waiting for her response. Tilting her head in his direction she had to smile at his casual pose against the door jam made better by his maskless glory that included slight stubble on his jaw. But Sakura soon remembered why she had sentenced him to the kitchen in the first place.

"Are you?" She retorted back. He turned sheepish knowing she meant his overdue work. One look at him sent Sakura into a tirade.

"KA-KA-SHI. If you don't finish those reports today, who do you think the Hokage will come and pester? 'Sakura-chaaaaan make Kakashi-sensei do his work, stooooop distracting hiiiiim!'" Sakura mimicked Naruto's nagging voice and directed a glare at the lazy man.

"But I was only-"

He stopped mid-sentence as a kunai hurtled through the air and landed with a thunk in the door jam splintering the wood. He glanced at the kunai a hairs breadth from his cheek and back to the kunoichi sitting on the arm of the couch.

Sakura had her attention directed on the bookcase and it seemed as if she never moved to throw the deadly weapon. Of course Kakashi knew better. He also knew when to retreat, so he returned to the kitchen table without another word and hunkered down, intent on finishing the mess of paper before him.

Sakura looked at her handiwork on the middle shelf. There was his favourite Icha Icha unfortunately displayed. Next to that were two medical tomes that she had received as gifts from a daimyo after doing an important ANBU mission for him and the other was from Tsunade after her apprenticeship had concluded. Both were very old and bound by leather.

Next to that was a sort of suturing for idiots book Sakura had bought as a joke, just so Kakashi would see it and maybe think to improve his basic medical training since he liked to come home hurt after every mission.

A spot had been left empty for the book she was currently flipping through. It was the Konoha Shinobi Rule Book. This was a staple at the beginning and throughout each shinobi's career and it was equally up to that person whether or not to adhere to it.

The first rule, considered most important by being listed first out of hundreds was: a shinobi must always put the mission first.

If you were able to do this then all the other rules could technically be bent.

Sakura always wondered what effect having that as an unbreakable rule would have on her fellow brethren. Surely Itachi Uchiha could testify that this had been the one and only constant in his life. But just as surely, the man in the kitchen right now would add the amendment that the mission came first but you should never abandon teammates to complete it. Then Naruto would undoubtedly believe that the first rule should be never give up on your mission, regardless of how difficult it might be.

Even Sasuke would have changed the rule, his would've been absolutely complete the mission of the heart, no matter how destructive or harmful it may be.

But what was her so called 'way of the ninja'? When she first read the rule book everything was taken at face value in her childish mind but now with all the experiences and years behind her, did she really see the same thing as written on those pages?

With that thought Sakura flopped backwards onto the couch in annoyance. She grasped the manual close to her chest and turned her head to the right. In her line of sight was a mantle filled with framed photos accumulated by Kakashi over his lifetime. Among them were the three teams Kakashi had been a member of. The oldest was of his genin team that Sakura had never known and included Naruto's father.

Then there was the original team seven in all their glory. Only the second the camera shutter clicked would they ever be considered a whole or successful squad. The photo always made her melancholy despite the time and grief that had long since passed.

Finally, was a photo of team Kakashi; Naruto, Sai, Yamato, Kakashi, and she had smiled magnificently that day as Tsunade snapped the picture of them. Immediately after, Sai had made a rude comment about Naruto which led to a brawl that Yamato found himself caught in the middle of. The rest of them just stood to the side and placed bets on the boys antics which Tsunade inevitably lost.

Sakura smiled to herself at the fond memory. Among those three photos were numerous others of friends. One contained the entirety of the Jonin senseis sitting around a table probably at Elements; Asuma had his arm slung around Kurenai and Gai was in the back giving a pose probably to show his "youthful" personality.

The first time Sakura had visited Kakashi's home she was surprised that he was the sentimental type to keep photos. But at the same time she was already planning to make the mantle. That's why on his thirty-seventh birthday she gave him a silver framed photo of the two of them taken by Yamato. In the photo Kakashi had wrapped his arms snuggly around Sakura's front while his head rested in the crook of her neck. Both had smiled like idiots at the camera.

By far it was her favourite photograph and although Kakashi wasn't one to actually show big displays of affection, he had rearranged the mantle and placed their picture right in the middle.

Sakura sighed happily this time.

She looked once more at the rule book in her hands and thought of one particular rule, something Kakashi was quite fond of; the underneath the underneath.

The bookcase should've been easier to arrange but it wasn't about organizing things into a proper manner. Every single book they owned told a story of the person it belonged to and putting those books together on a shelf was trying to join two completely different people on one plane.

She wasn't afraid of the commitment but it a precious process that could not be rushed.

There was a shuffling of feet on the floor and Sakura turned to the back of the couch. Four paws and a small tail hovered above her head in the form of Pakkun. Two hands curled around his body, preventing the pup from falling directly on Sakura's face. She could just see the points of silver hair around the pug's unhappy face.

"If he doesn't put me down, I'll start biting." Pakkun said not at all amused at his current position.

Sakura gently took the dog from Kakashi's hands and set him on the floor.

"Sorry Pakkun, he's bored. You can go now."

"I thought when he's bored you're supposed to play with him, not me?" The pug inquired.

Sakura blushed at the insinuation.

"Doesn't exactly work that way." She managed to spit out. Pakkun shrugged his shoulders and poofed away.

Sakura, still lying on part of the couch, looked up at an expression of extreme happiness. Which meant Kakashi was trying to distract her from the fact he was still not finished his work. He continued to stare down at her without saying anything.

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"How's it going?" He gestured with his head to the bookcase.

Sakura groaned and turned away from his face and back to the mantle. Those pictures mixed together effortlessly despite the different people and atmosphere of each one, why couldn't she do it as easily?

"It's not." She finally replied after a minute.

Kakashi was instantly alerted to the glumness in her voice. He had known her a long time and he was familiar with that tone. It was one of extreme frustration and only used when Sakura was struggling to comprehend something. Usually it was reserved for jutsus or complicated medical procedures but there had been a few times when it related to something else.

He made his way around to the front of the couch and sat down on the edge in front of her legs, looking over at the mantle. Over the years Kakashi had managed to catch glimpses of happiness in this life. It wasn't such an easy task considering their ways but he had done it.

However, the best addition to his collection was strangely not taken by him. The photo of Sakura and himself was by far his favourite. He and Sakura did not seem like an obvious combination but as ninjas, being unassuming worked just fine for the pair.

Having prompted Sakura to bring some of her books over was an attempt on his part to somehow increase the degree of their relationship. He worried that she would be unhappy without a substantial commitment or offering on his part to integrate her more into his life. Having her with him day by day didn't seem like such a crazy idea anymore.

"You could always move in."

Sakura's head whipped up so fast it was a miracle it didn't strain. She balked at his overly calm form. Legs shoulder length apart, arms resting on each thigh, and hands clasped together. They had never broached the subject of living together. Naturally nights were spent at each other's places or days off like this and there was an accumulation of Sakura's things at his place, hence the bookcase. But beyond that it hadn't been a consideration. Something so normal, moving in together, had never crossed her mind before.

Why hadn't it?

It was most certainly an option and would save time to only have to keep up one home instead of dividing her time between two. But if the bookcase was any indication, how could she possibly integrate herself fully into Kakashi's life?

"I can't even mix our books properly, fat chance anything else will be easier." She muttered more to herself than him.

Silently, Kakashi grasped her small hand in his. Her skin was rough and calloused much like his own and he thought how sad that it wasn't smooth and blemish free as she deserved flawless skin. But that wasn't his Sakura, she was a fighter until the end and would bear the marks of that proudly.

Sakura looked at their hands and then sought out his face. His eyes met hers and like countless times before, his stare seemed to say he knew there was more to it than that and whatever she was trying to hide he would understand. Kakashi gave her hand a reassuring squeeze to say whatever it was.

She conceded to his prompting. "I think it would be too painful. More than ever there is a chance when we leave home we won't be coming back. I-I couldn't bear to live in a home that we both shared, had created unforgettable memories in if you weren't here to make more. It would feel empty and every day would be a constant reminder to that loss of you."

Sakura's eyes began to pool with tears. Kakashi immediately gathered her up in his arms and held her close. They couldn't have a relationship like everyone else because they are shinobi first and in love second, she realized.

"I don't think you could bear it either." She whispered into his chest.

He held her tighter and thought clearly about those words.

"I couldn't." He said resolutely.

He knew she was right, absolutely. It would be beyond torture to live here with her every day and then suddenly be left all alone. The years had hardened Sakura but for Kakashi she was the only brightness in his life and if she were gone there was little doubt that the darkness would creep back in.

Immediately, she regretted mentioning the possibility of losing each other. The look on Kakashi's face was enough to make her heart clench painfully. He was trying to imagine this entirely possible future. How Naruto would pay him a personal visit and try to say in the simplest words that she had died and knowing Kakashi's response Naruto would bring ANBU with him to subdue the distressed Copy nin. But it would not be enough and his unbelievably sad face said it never would be.

Gingerly, Sakura brushed her thumb over his scrunched forehead. Kakashi looked at her and smiled sadly at her attempt to bring him back to reality.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up." She bowed her head in apology and wiped away the last of her tears.

She felt Kakashi shift underneath her and was shortly placed off to the side of the couch. Sakura watched him move away from her and stand in front of the bookcase she had spent the greater part of the day organizing.

With his back to her she couldn't see his expression but Sakura saw him slowly trail his fingers over each book on the middle shelf. His hand stilled over one book.

"Suturing for dummies?" He asked coolly without looking over his shoulder.

Sakura's eyes widened in surprise and unable to help it, a small giggle left her lips. She stood up and went to Kakashi's side.

"Don't take it to heart. I just think your skill needs improvement." Sakura teased.

His arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer.

"I thought that's why I have you?"

Sakura poked his side playfully and let his rebuttal go unanswered.

The couple lapsed into silence as they both stared at the books on the shelf. Sakura couldn't help but remember the first time she saw the man next to her hidden behind that orange cover. If only she knew then that she would become romantically involved with her perverted sensei.

Kakashi thoughts followed the same tangent. When he was twenty-six there was no indication or want for what he and Sakura would become, what they are now. But time had passed rapidly and the woman he kept close to his side had managed to be on equal levels with him and completely surpass him on others.

Sakura was not weak; in fact she is probably the best study of ninjutsu in Konoha and could copy anyone's technique with her expert chakra control. That had long since earned her the name Neo-Copy nin. But perhaps the greatest show of strength was her ability to heal. Sakura had a tendency to mend the people around her and Kakashi knew she did it in more than one way.

"It looks good." He settled on saying.

"Yeah it does, kind of like a marriage in books." Sakura responded and looked up at him smiling.

Kakashi returned her smile and dipped his head down to meet hers. He kissed her deeply and both felt perfectly content with this cover to cover relationship they had created.

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