Hello everyone! Thank you again for sticking by me and this story. Every review means so much to me and are very helpful believe it or not. However, I know I'm always saying I love any kind of review because it motivates me to write better, I have received some very nasty Guest reviews.

If you're upset about the direction I've taken with this story, I am very sorry and all I can do is suggest you read something else. Writing me hateful messages won't change anything. Had you asked me nicely, I would have had no problem uploading the old version of this story. Writing fanfiction is something that I do for fun, that being said I am not paid to do this, I don't owe anyone anything; you are not entitled to anything that I write.

I do, however, appreciate how many people read and love this story as much as I do. Your support means a lot to me.

Enough of this message, lets get to the fun part =]

Cover My Eyes

by, Rampantt

Chapter Nine: "What Love Has Done To Me" Part One

Uchiha Sasuke's patience was wearing thin.

He sat at his desk in his home office, looking over the blue prints of his dream hotel. His left thumb was caught between his lips and he found himself trying desperately not to bite into his own flesh until he drew blood.

"So I went back to Trish and Taylor the other day, you know, to see if the beige finally came in," Sakura was rambling.

How Sasuke got himself into such conversations he had no clue. Then again, he supposed his first mistake was asking his girlfriend about her day, his second was actually paying attention to the first half of her nonsense. Sasuke didn't know what to do, honestly, he was trying to do the right thing. Do right by Sakura, give her more than just half-hearted attempts at romance but it was becoming more and more difficult by the day.

He didn't understand it. It hadn't been this difficult to be with her up until this point. There was a time when he really did enjoy her company and didn't need to pretend to be interested in their relationship; where the spark had disappeared to Sasuke wasn't sure. What he was sure about was that he wanted more and what he wanted Sakura could no longer offer. But how was he supposed to tell her what he was feeling?

"Sakura... I think I want to be with Hinata."

"My best friend?" she'd ask, bewildered by his sudden confession.

"Ah."

Then, from her Louis Vuitton pouch she'd pull out a rather menacing looking blade and with it, she'd plunge deep into the cavity of his chest, piercing the selfish organ that beat below.

Sasuke doubted that would be her exact reaction however, knowing how dramatic the bubble gum princess could be, anything was possible.

"They were out, surprise surprise, once again so I ended up purchasing the brown one after all. You know, it's not that bad really. I think it'd look really cute with –"

"Sakura, please, could we talk about something else?" Sasuke nearly begged, running a pale set of fingers through his dark locks, pushing the rebel tresses away from his face.

Her emerald gaze widened just a bit, shocked by his sudden annoyance. She nodded however, pushing her slightly bruised ego aside.

There was silence between the two of them for a while, a silence Sasuke took refuge in. He sat back in his chair, focusing on the blue prints in front of him once again. Production was starting next week and nothing could stop the nerves that bubbled in his belly. He felt like he might throw up. The weight of his success was still hard for him to grasp. Sometimes he woke up in the middle of the night, wondering if the previous day had been a dream and if he was still in his bedroom on the Uchiha compound. But everyday, he got out of bed and faced himself in the mirror – faced his future. He told himself there was no reason to back away now; he finally had everything he worked hard for and he did it without them.

"There is something else I want to talk to you about actually," Sakura said, taking the love seat by the wall.

He looked up from the blueprints to her. "Hn."

The pinkette was hesitant for a few moments. From what Sasuke could tell, she seemed to be having an internal struggle with whatever it was she wanted to talk about. He wasn't going to push it however, he honestly didn't care. Before him was his future, what was more interesting to him than that?

He glanced down at the blueprints again.

Only then, when he was no longer boring into her with those onyx hues could Sakura find the courage to say what was on her mind.

"What if we got married?"

Sasuke didn't look up from his blueprints at first. For a while, he wondered if he had heard her wrong and simply waited for her to repeat herself. However, when the silence stretched on he had no other choice but to accept that she was serious. He looked up at her.

Sakura was smiling nervously, her heart beating at the speed of light and she was so certain that it would give out on her at any second. "I was...talking to my father and he seems to think it's a good idea."

Sasuke ran both hands through his hair, his fingers intertwining in the back of his head as he rested his elbows on his desk. "Marriage?" he almost whispered.

Could he marry Sakura? He looked up at her once again to find her fidgeting nervously; readjusting herself in the love seat over and over again. The action made him think of a certain woman with eyes of opal and hair of obsidian.

"You don't have to answer now, you know," she said nervously, disrupting his thoughts. "Obviously I couldn't expect you to know right away. I just... didn't want to wait...anymore..." her voice broke apart at the end.

He hated her in that moment for making him feel like such an asshole. How was he supposed to tell her how he really felt and what he really wanted when she was visibly falling apart. Sasuke wasn't a fool; he knew Sakura well enough to know she dreamed of the perfect marriage, the perfect wedding and the perfect husband. Sakura deserved all of that, despite how he felt about her. Actually, how he felt about her was reason enough for Sasuke to believe he wasn't the one who could give that sort of thing to her. So if he knew that all along then why had he wasted so much of her time? Of his time?

"Sakura I –"

"Don't answer now," she cut him off, standing up abruptly. "You should take some time to think about it, honestly think about it."

That was the problem, he didn't need to think about it at all. He already knew his answer. Telling Sakura the truth was another problem however.

He stood slowly from his seat, watching as she gathered up her things; sliding her arms into her forest green winter coat and sliding her Louis Vuitton wristlet into place.

"I can't marry you, Sakura," he told her gently.

She eyes widened at his rejection and her heart clenched immediately. The pinkette turned from him, giving him her back so he wouldn't see the water that bubbled up in the corners of her eyes.

Sasuke understood what the trembling of her shoulders meant and guilt like none other boiled in his chest. He had been the reason for so much of Sakura's pain before but it never fazed him like it did now. Sasuke wondered if it was because now he had someone he never wanted to see like that and he could see her in Sakura at that moment? He wondered how he'd feel if Hinata was the one crying because some jerk had broken her heart.

He walked slowly from behind the desk and Sakura counted each foot step in her head. Why hadn't she seen this coming? What had she honestly expected from him? "Don't come any closer... p-please..." she whispered, the first tear spilling down her cheek.

He obeyed, pausing mid step to allow her the space she requested. What was he supposed to say now? They were breaking up now, weren't they?

"This is it...isn't it, Sasuke?" she asked him, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand forcing her eyes not to betray her anymore. She cried enough over Sasuke over the years and she wasn't going to allow him to see her cry anymore.

Sasuke was quiet, not sure what to say. But here was his chance at last, his chance to be free of the cage he felt he was trapped in. Free to breathe after years of suffocating. Free of any more guilt. Sasuke had never felt like more of a bastard than he did in those few silent moments but he had to let her go. "Yeah."

Hinata rushed over to Sakura's place as soon as she got off work. Traffic had seemed to be more hectic than usual and Hinata found herself becoming frustrated on more than one occasion. When she reached the apartment building she took the fancy gold elevator by the end of the hall all the way to the east penthouse. She spilled out into the hall just before Sakura's door and hesitated.

What was she supposed to say to Sakura?

Hinata stared at the chestnut door for answers. The heiress felt like she shouldn't even have been the one to come see her. How could she when secretly, deep deep down in the pit of her heart, was relieved to hear that she and Sasuke had broken up?

Her opal gaze found her feet the moment the truth surfaced in her mind. She was glad they were no longer together. She was afraid of ask herself why she was so glad however. Was she glad because now there was no reason for her to run into Sasuke and she could keep her secret from Sakura much better without Sasuke around to cloud up her thoughts? Or, was it because Sasuke could cloud up her thoughts why she was glad? Now that they were broken up was she free to explore something with him? Is that why her heart beat so fast when she was around him now? Because she wanted him? Was that why her heart was beating so fast now? Hinata prayed it was the first option.

She drummed her fist lightly against the door. "Sakura, it's me," she said when she heard feet pattering towards the door.

It swung open and she was faced with the sight of a very broken pinkette.

"Sakura..." she breathed, taking in the sight of her distraught best friend.

Before she even realized it, she was wrapping herself around her, crushing her friend into her and holding her tightly. "God, I'm so sorry I didn't get here sooner."

Sakura sniffled, allowing the smaller woman to comfort her. "You're here now," she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks unrestrained.

The two of them disappeared into the penthouse after a few moments of shared comfort. They wound up in Sakura's bed room, wrapped up in the white comforter of her bed.

"He said he couldn't marry me," Sakura said softly, snuggling into her pillow, her eyes shutting against her tears.

Hinata lay beside her, running her finger through her glossy pink locks. "Why would he say that? You two have been together for almost four years now..."

Sakura shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, Hinata, I really don't.

He's been acting so weird lately, you know?" she said, opening her eyes finally, but her gaze was lost somewhere. "At first was distant and cold and I thought it was because things were difficult for him since he was p-preparing for that hotel thingy..." she whispered. "But then, out of nowhere, he starts acting all affectionate and attentive and I really thought things were getting better; that we were better. I don't know, Hinata... It was like, finally I was loved again."

"And now?" Hinata asked.

"And now... nothing. We're done," she breathed. "Sasuke and I are over."

Hinata continued to toy with her rosy tresses, twirling them about her fingers. She did notice the switch in him actually, more than she would have liked to have noticed. There was no way Hinata could tell her best friend she thought he only changed his attitude because he was upset with her, but it was true. At least, it was the only thing that made sense to her.

"What do you want to do now?" Hinata asked. "You can't lay here in bed anymore."

"Why can't I?" Sakura asked, sucking back tears.

"It's been three days now, you've had plenty of time to feel sorry for yourself."

Sakura supposed Hinata was right but she didn't want to leave her bed just yet. She and Sasuke had broken up days ago but she couldn't bring herself to tell anyone just yet. Perhaps because in her head it wasn't really over. Couples fight; they break up and make up. However, as the sun rolled in that morning, she had to admit that it really was over. Sasuke hadn't so much as texted her to make up; that must have meant he was serious. So here she was, still in bed, crying her eyes out to her best friend who clearly felt it was time for her to move on as well.

"I don't know what to do, Hinata... Who am I without Sasuke?" she whispered, searching her opal eyes for an answer.

"Are you kidding? You're Haruno Sakura. Girls kill to be you," Hinata assured her. "Do you know how many girls have pink hair now because of you? I'm telling you, as I was picking up Hanabi from school the other day, there had to be at least seven girls with your infamous pink locks. Of course not quite as good as the real thing, however."

The corners of her lips turned up just slightly. "Really?"

"Hn. How do you think those girls would feel if they knew their idol was locked up in her house for three days, crying over some boy who wasn't even that great to begin with?" Hinata asked.

"You don't think Sasuke's that great?"

"Hell no."

Sakura laughed. "He is kind of grumpy...and pale, in a sickly kind of way."

"Yeah, gross," Hinata chimed. "I imagine him being quite slimy."

"It's his hair gel," she giggled.

Hinata smiled. "I bet."

"Thank you so much for coming to take care of me," Sakura said softly, sitting up. "I don't know what I would have done without you."

"Hmm... probably would have skipped another shower, I'm guessing," the heiress answered.

"Oh God. I don't stink do I?" Sakura asked, mortified.

"Just a little," Hinata said, smiling sympathetically.

Sakura sniffed at her pits and recoiled at what she smelled there, groaning in the process. "God, look what love's done to me."

Hinata watched as the pinkette hopped out of bed and pranced over to her en suite bathroom, the door shutting behind her.

The heiress sat up and looked around.

Opal and onyx clashed,both sets of eyes wide with wonder, for very different reasons however. That was the first time Hinata had ever noticed how attractive Uchiha Sasuke really was. She got why other girls found him attractive, it was the obvious 'bad boy' quality to him, a quality she herself had never desired. His nose was straight and his jaw bone made her wonder what it might look like as he did other things... Like eat.

She watched as his head tilted slightly and his dark gaze skirted over her. Her body reacted in a way that surprised her. Her nipples hardened and a part of her she rarely paid attention to warmed. Uchiha Sasuke was looking at her as if he had never seen her before and for reasons she couldn't explain, this excited her.

She only realized a few moments later why he was looking at her the way he was. The heiress was bent over just slightly, pulling a pair of panties up over her calves, her black t-shirt a few sizes too small. The heat she felt before paled in comparison to the heat that rushed to her face. She screamed, startling the both of them.

Hinata stumbled around awkwardly, pulling up her panties with the speed of light and praying that he didn't see too much of her. Why wasn't he looking away? That bastard just kept staring at her, making her even more nervous. She cleared the distance from where she stood by the en suite bathroom to the bed in record time, but things only got worse from there. Her feet betrayed her and crossed with one another, bringing her down instantly. Naturally, her arms flared, seeking anything to cling to to save her from falling but things just didn't seem to work out in her favor.

One hand reached for the bed and the other wrapped around a lamp, bringing them both down with her, crystal shattering the moment it hit the ground. The heiress laid there for a while, her eyes squeezed shut. Maybe if she wished hard enough, she would wake up in her bed and this would all be some awkward nightmare. Despite her efforts, she was already awake; she hadn't been, then she was sure Sasuke's laughing would have been enough to wake her.

"At l-least... don't l-laugh s-so...hard..." she groaned, a few stray tears slipping down her cheeks.

Sasuke laughed even harder then, much to her dismay.

Hinata shuttered and forced the memory away. She had never been more embarrassed in her entire life. What she wouldn't have gave to never have to see him again after that day. That day changed everything...

Now she couldn't even fully feel sorry for her best friend and lost of the most important relationship she had. Hinata couldn't shake the feeling that she had more than something to do with their break up. Sure, Sakura and Sasuke had their problems, but what couple didn't? Hinata might have just been the icing on the cake that did them in. Guilt swelled in her chest.

She ruined Sakura's relationship.

The heiress laid back once again and stared up at the ceiling. If she were to go to hell, she was sure it would be for the feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Hinata was torn.

On the one hand, she was glad they broke up – for various reasons. (1) She no longer had to suffer through any more awkward exchanges with Sasuke. (2) She could finally put what happened between them behind her. (3) Sasuke was a jerk who didn't deserve someone as amazing as Sakura to begin with and (4) … She didn't even want to think about the fourth reason she was glad.

So there was that.

But how glad could she really be happy that this toxic relationship Sakura had with Sasuke was over when another more toxic relationship had formed between Sasuke and herself?

Hinata couldn't remember the last time her personal life had been so conflicted. She supposed she did need a distraction from the major problems in her life but this sort of distraction required a good deal of her attention as well and worst of all they were beginning to overlap. She had a business trip coming up in a few days to oversee the first few stages of developing the project in the Hot Springs Country – she would be there with the main architect to make sure nothing deviates from his blueprints.

The heiress sighed. Why was nothing ever easy?

The door to the bathroom opened and the heiress turned to spot the pinkette emerging, a devious smile stretching her lips apart. "What do you say we get out of here? Make every boy who ever rejected us wish he had a second chance?"

Hinata smiled at her best friend. Clearly she was ready to move forward. Hinata only wished it were that easy for her to do the same. "Let's do it."

The sun was late, Sasuke observed. It was well past 7 am and the star had yet to appear. The early morning air was frigid and Sasuke felt certain his fingers would have fallen off had it not been for the gloves he wore. His face however, didn't have the same protection; his cheeks were as stiff as ice.

"I'm so excited," Karin exclaimed beside him.

The Uchiha turned to find the red-head bouncing her weight from one foot to the other, a wide smile stretched across her face. "It's like nothing was real until this moment."

Sasuke knew exactly what she meant. Truthfully, everything felt like a dream – he'd never admit that to anyone of course – and he found himself waiting to wake up at any moment. Not too long ago was he struggling to even pay his staff, now they were watching as their design became one of the biggest hotels the Hot Spring Country had ever seen; plus a major company's name was on it. Sasuke was never the type to be modest but it was still hard for him to believe that he had really done it.

Just for a moment did pride swell in his chest.

"Good morning, everyone," a soft voice called from behind them.

The trio – Sasuke, Karin and Suigetsu – all turned to spy a small statured woman behind them.

Sasuke looked over her once, taking in every detail.

Her long, black hair was pulled away from her face and tied into a low pony tail, a white headband holding back her bangs. She donned a pink The North Face ski jacket and a purple scarf tucked away behind the zipper. A pair of dark blue jeans hugged her hips and thighs tightly and tucked neatly into what Sasuke assumed were UGG boots.

She looked... casual.

Sasuke had never seen her so dressed down. Sure, she by no means dressed as fancy as her pink companion did but she always held an air of regality about her. Now, she looked like one of the common folk. Sasuke had to admit, he preferred her like this.

"Good morning," Karin beamed.

Hinata returned her smile, stuffing her hands into her pockets.

"I'm Hyuuga Hinata, I'm not sure if anyone informed you all yet but I'm the VP in charge of operations for the The Lily project. Any questions or concerns you all have you can report to me," she said.

The group nodded in unison.

"Would you all like to get inside and get some coffee?" Hinata asked, in desperate need of caffeine herself.

"God, I would love that," Karin answered for the team, taking the few steps that separated them from the heiress. "It's freezing out here."

"How long have you all been here?" Hinata asked, leading them away from the construction site.

"We just got here," Suigetsu chimed, cutting Karin off before she had the chance to answer.

The red head frowned at him, sensing what he was up to. "Yeah, not too long ago," she added.

Sasuke remained silent. He was never one for small talk so his silence was not out of the ordinary. He stared at the back of her head, studying her long black hair. He found himself wondering what it might feel like between his fingers, what she might feel like. His eyes skated down, ogling at her in a way that he had not allowed himself to freely do, not ever. His onyx gaze rested on her derriere, taking pleasure in what he found there. Sasuke decided he liked the way her hips wiggled when she walked.

He felt a quick nudge at his arm, forcing his gaze to the source of the blow. There he found Suigetsu, smiling knowingly at him, one brow cocked.

"What?" he asked.

The toothy side kick grinned. "You know what."

Sasuke ignored him.

Suigetsu chuckled. "I mean... I get why..." he said, stealing more than a glance at the Hyuuga heiress. "Too bad she's the boss."

"Huh?" a confused Sasuke asked, looking to his employee.

Suigetsu shrugged a bit, his grin stretching wider. "Too bad she's the boss," he reiterated. "I wouldn't mind finding out –"

"Enough," Sasuke cut him off before he could say what was really on his mind. "You're right. She's the boss so that means I don't want to see you sniffing around her."

"Well, I planned to do a bit more than sniffing..." Suigetsu suggested, ogling the heiress once again.

"As if you'd even have a chance with her," Sasuke responded, shoving his hands into his coat pockets.

Suigetsu scoffed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Whatever you want it to mean."

"You want to bet on it?"

"Don't be disgusting Suigetsu," Sasuke said, tossing the male a glance. "That'll get you nowhere with women."

"And you know everything about them?"

"Obviously more than you do," he answered, earning himself another nudge.

"I could get her if I wanted," Suigetsu argued.

"I doubt that. You're better off trying it with Karin."

"You've got to be joking," Suigetsu replied, eyes wide. "She'd kill me if I even hinted."

"Shows how much you know about women," said Sasuke, catching the door Karin was holding open for the two of them.

Suigetsu was silent for a while as the two followed behind the women, obviously thinking over what Sasuke said.

"You think I'd have a shot with Karin?" he asked, his voice hushed.

Sasuke shrugged. He honestly didn't know – but if throwing that bone out there would keep Suigetsu distracted and away from Hinata, then why not? "I'm just saying you ought to stay in your league."

Pausing, Suigetsu frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Whatever you want it to mean," was Sasuke's response once again, leaving his friend to wonder over his words.

Sasuke quickly caught up to the girls, joining them at a table in the café not to far from the construction site.

"Sasuke, Hinata-chan was just telling – "

"-chan?" Sasuke asked, cocking a brow as he looked over the menu. "I guess not all of us were raised with manners."

Karin swatted at his arm, her cheeks flaring up. "She said it was alright. Don't be such a jerk all the time."

"Hn. It's quite alright, Uchiha-san," Hinata said, smiling that smile he hated so much.

Always with the façade...

"I guess you won't mind me calling you 'Hinata-chan' either..." he asked, looking up from his menu and into her airy orbs.

Hinata did her best not to frown. He was testing her again. How was she supposed to spend the next week here with him when he seemed determined to get under her skin every chance he got? "Of course not," she responded simply, offering him the same smile she offered Karin.

"Then I guess you'll have to call me Sasuke-kun..." he said, barely containing his smile.

The heiress's fist balled beneath the table. If she could have slapped him she would have. Uchiha Sasuke was the same jerk she had always remembered him to be. He broke her best friend's heart and here was, less than a week later, flirting with her so openly. "Hn.. I guess so..." she said, her gaze never leaving his.

Hinata wasn't going to let him get the best of her. If he wanted to play games that was fine, she'd let him. She only needed to tolerate him for the next few days and then she was out of there. By the time they met again, if they met again, whatever fascination he had with her – and her with him – would be long over.

"Oh. Suigetsu, over here!" Karin called, noticing the male before the two of them had.

It wasn't long before he pulled up the chair beside Hinata, a different look in his eyes. Sasuke wondered...

"Everyone ordered already?" he asked, glancing down at the menu.

"Nope, not yet," Karin said.

"Ah. You know what you want yet?" he asked the heiress.

Hinata glanced down at the menu once again. "I think I'm just gonna get a caramel macchiato and a banana muffin."

"Sounds pretty good. Guess I'll get the same thing," he said smiling and shutting his menu.

Sasuke stared at him, Suigetsu ignored him however, he seemed more interesting in whatever minor conversation he and the heiress had moved on to.

Sasuke returned his gaze to his menu. Suigetsu didn't know what kind of trouble he was getting himself into. If Suigetsu wanted to fuck with him, fine, Sasuke would let him, but that didn't mean he was going to hold back. A tiny smirk curved his lips. Hinata was his.

I can't remember if I told you all this already or not but if I didn't, there will be a sequel to this story. Spoiler Alert! Lol

It won't be coming any time soon of course, there are at least ten more chapters left in this fic. Too many ends left untied. But don't worry, it really picks up after this chapter. I promise! ... Or after the next chapter, whatever, the point is lol, that the story is picking up its pacing and reaching its climax within the next few chapters. Yay for Hinata and Sasuke!

Anyway, reviews, reviews, reviews cause I love em

Until next time,

- Rampantt