Chapter 32

'Ding!' Sakura scarcely noticed the sound of a customer entering her shop as absorbed as she was in her novel. This was one of the downsides of owning a book store; she ate up most of the stock herself. Usually from the section that catered to a purely civilian setting. It seemed like a step back somehow to read the fantasies that she had believed about ninja as a child. She had to go the whole way with this transformation.

There was no sense in an addict stopping marijuana and carrying on with the cigarettes.

"Good book." Sakura started at the once too-familiar voice that she now couldn't get used to. She wasn't sure what he wanted from her, and that put her on edge but she felt wary of asking. She didn't want to lead him to questions that she felt no desire whatsoever to answer.

"You've read it?" She asked tersely, her eyes flicking up for a fraction of a second before focusing solely on the page in front of her without registering a single word.

He nodded out of habit, despite knowing that she could not see it. "Multiple times. The thing that I always find astounding is how forgiving she is. She'd rather be happy than keep on holding it against him."

Sakura looked up and sharply, but the silver haired man had already turned away from her, begining his perusal of a newly stocked shelf. Unsure of how to respond, Sakura remained silent, watching him discreetly as she attempted to push down her feelings of guilt, need and unease.

Several minutes later a small stack of books appeared neatly in front of her and she struggled to drag her eyes away from them to make eye contact with her customer.

"Wanna grab a coffee?"

"What?" He said the words so casualyl that he caught her off guard.

"I asked if you would like to grab a coffee with me." He repeated smoothly. "Or something else if you have developed a deep hatred for caffeine." He nodded towards the smoothie beside her that had become a healthy coffee replacement. She wasn't going to admit it to him, but she was finding it difficult to stay in shape with her new civilian lifestyle. She was going to the gym twice a week, and also went for a run on Sunday mornings. but it simply wasn't the training that he was accustomed to.

Although, by the way that Kakashi eyed her up when he stopped by, she wasn't doing THAT badly.

"Um, okay." She whispered, and he smiled in response. Sakura wasn't sure if it was because she had agreed of because she was staring at him as if he had grown an extra head.

"What time can you slack off? Now by any chance?" Sakura smiled slowly, a small happy smile that only Kakashi could induce, but shook her head.

"I finish up at five-thirty."

"Five fifteen it is then. Now ring up my books, you are by far the worst till worker I have ever seen."

"Here you go, asshole-chan!" Sakura sang happily, fixing a sticker bearing the legend 'I'm a wonderful reader' to the wrapped package.

"I knew you thought I was wonderful."

"I also think you're an asshole. Now leave."

"'Till Five-fifteen!"

"Five-thirty!"

The sound of the door opening and closing again fully hit her for the first time that day.

Why had she agreed? This was ridiculous and he'd end up hurt somehow and she wouldn't be able to take it. Why couldn't she just find a civilian to be interested in? Civilians didn't get hurt. They got ninja to do their dirty work for them.

That was probably the reason why civilians quite simply just didn't get it.

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It was long past dark when they left, around ten minutes before closing time. As a weekday in a civilian area, the streets were mainly empty, the only sounds being the low thud of music emanating from one of the pubs or the occasional car driving past to some late night destination.

This wouldn't have been late in her old home. A ninja's life was a constant battlefield, and there would be ninja everywhere, catching up with each other outside of missions, being able to see perfectly well in the dark. Being able to sense an approaching person long before they were in sight.

She still could. She could feel the erratic chakra of a mid level ninja in the home directly across from them as he made love to his civilian girlfriend. She could feel Kakashi's body heat even though they were no where close to touching.

She could feel the fear of a girl in an alley five blocks away. She could feel her own need to help her. She knew Kakashi felt it too. Their eyes met. They ran.

Her clothes were ripped and her skin grazed and in places shredded from her thrashing and lashing out against the rough brick wall behind her. It was amazing how quickly her tear streaked face relaxed into a mixture of relief and astonishment at the sight of her attacker, slumped against a couple of rubbish bins with a slit throat.

Maybe civilians did get hurt after all.

Kakashi made quick work of the body, sending it straight to Tsunade with a message telling her to do what she wished with the corpse.

He doubted that anyone would miss it.

Sakura walked over to the girl slowly, uncertainly pulling her into her arms. "Do you have anyone to stay with? Where would you like us to take you?"

"Home. I want to go home."

A/N - Well that was chapter 31! The next chapter is likely going to be about Sakura's mother but I shall try to update Taboo before that. I put up a one shot this morning as well - thank you to those of you who have already reviewed. You are the best! My next one is going to have something to do with a cupboard.

Thank you to: Laurie, Mina Luriya, jen and Temarilyn for reviewing the last chapter. I said I'd be quicker about updates and I sure as hell am! I have to say, I too am quite sad about this coming to an end; this fic has been my baby for over a year now... ah well. Onto the next!

Kashi-Cookie-Monster

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