Thanks for the enormous amount of reviews from the last chapter! Thank you for the beta offers, but I've found help already. Thanks anyways though, I really appreciated it! Your reviews brought me great pleasure btw, I was so happy with all those reviews! Anyways, enjoy this chapter!

Within her Shell: chapter 3

Sakura wouldn't have mind if he no longer had any other part of his body, but his eyes. His eyes were part of his being. Whenever he fought, he always used those eyes, the gifted eyes he was born with. The Uchiha's bloodline flowed within him like a blazing fire, growing fiercer as he grew, but now, it was dimmed and soon to be completely fade from view. Whenever he talked to her, he would use those eyes to show his annoyance towards her bothersome attempts to win his heart. It was those eyes that told her his story.

She didn't need to ask him, didn't need a confirmation. Sakura had been a medical-nin long enough to distinguish the blind from the norm. It was easy, the way his eyes wander back and forth, unable to focus at one point. Even if one took that away, one would still see the doubt that seemed to scream out from those onyx orbs. Those eyes were the ones that had cast her into a spell of undying love. Ones that made it last even up to now, even if she has been hiding it all these years. It has emerged at the mere sight of him, sitting there right next to her in the ramen stand. Her love revived and awakened. Sakura's heart had quivered instantly when he had walked in, and it didn't seem to want to settle any time soon. The years of accumulated shells shook tremendously and threaten to collapse. Sakura wished to drown her feelings, to harden herself, but it was as if she was asking for the sky to remain blue, even when the sun was setting.

Sasuke stopped searching for the owner of the voice and resumed to the ramen bowl given to him by the owner only moments before. Sakura left hers untouched as she gazed at Sasuke.

Sasuke must have sense her stare for he tensed and turned once again in her direction. His eyes held a cold glare while the rest of his face showed minor hints of his irritation. He resumed yet again to his ramen but this time, quickening his speed to finish the meal earlier.

Once done, he stood up to leave while leaving an ungenerous tip on the table. The owner frowned at the rude gesture and looked over to Sakura who still hadn't touched her meal.

"Miss, you should eat it before your meal gets cold," suggested the owner.

Sakura saw Sasuke pause at the door but then disappeared out of the shop. Sakura continued to dwell her eyes at the place where she last saw him but then, as if snapped out of a dream, she turned back to the bartender and smiled.

"May I have this to go please?"

As soon as the owner wrapped the meal up, Sakura thanked him quickly and ran in Sasuke's direction.

He couldn't be far… could he?

Sakura increased her pace and her eyes darted around to try to locate the sightless ninja. It took her half a day to finally find him, deep within the forest, collapsed on the ground.

Panic stricken, she hurried over to his fallen body and saw that it hadn't been long since he collapsed. His skin was covered with sweat and his chest heaved up and down, panting a great deal.

The kunoichi glanced quickly at his neck and saw that the cursed seal she's loathed all her life was ablaze and burning red.

"You still use it, even if it means your body will one day erode…" The tears were coming but she held them back determinedly.

Suddenly he jerked awake and she withdrew from him as quickly as she could. Sasuke adjusted into an offense stance and she could see his seal already starting to glow.

"Who sent you here? Orochimaru?" His voice was filled with spite and fury. Like a beast cornered and confronted by threatening men, it bared its teeth and growled a hostile sound to preserve its existence. That was what she saw as she watched Sasuke.

"No one." She replied calmly.

Sasuke's face did not twitch at hearing a woman's voice but he did indicate his surprise subtly. His lips turned into an amused grin, his fear and anger forgotten. His grin made her shudder and wonder why she loved such a twisted man. She had bad taste.

His stance changed and he seemed to have drop his guard as quickly as it was formed. Sakura felt anger tug at her when she realized he was underestimating her skills as soon as he found out she was a woman. His grin still unmoving, turned into a wider smirk and his eyes hinted something Sakura felt a sudden revolt to.

"Come, woman." His voice, firm and filled with disturbing delight.

When she hesitated, his grin grew even wider. He wanted something else from her. Disgusting.

"I understand what you want, now come." Sasuke continued, his voice still holding the amusement she so detested.

"Sasuke, I'm not a cheap prostitute." She had dropped the prefix from her lack of respect towards Sasuke.

"Sakura." He recognized her.

"Hn."

"Looks like you've found me." Why can't he just drop that stupid act of his?

"You're blind." Sakura stated. Sasuke scowled.

"Why?" she asked evenly.

"Its none of your business." Sasuke snapped.

"Tell me." Sakura continued.

Sasuke did not reply but turned around to disappear but she stopped him easily by throwing a kunai in front of him. Sasuke let out an irritated growl and kicked the kunai. Sasuke was silent.

"I might be able to help you gain back your sight, but first I want to know what happened."

Sakura was greeted by nothing other than mere silence from the young man.

"Wouldn't it give you twice as much power as what you have now, to regain your eyesight?"

Sakura saw Sasuke's face change slightly but she was able to tell that her words were beginning to take effect. Her analyzing skills have improved. Good, she'll have to use that alot with this one.

"You've walked away from me when I was offering you love. You've rejected it. Fine. But I'm offering you power right now, knowing you, I don't understand why you will turn it away."

"I don't need help."

"Would you just open your god damn eyes, Sasuke, and look at yourself? You are handicapped! And because of what? Because you chose the wrong path!" Sakura screamed, fury suddenly grasping her under its control. The years of pain and loneliness erupted and morphed into anger.

"I'm blind remember?" his voice bitter and deadly calm.

"You know exactly what I mean, Sasuke. You wanted to seek power to avenge your clan right, that life long goal of yours? Well how are you going to defeat Itachi when you have no sight and he has his mangekyou? Never mind he has sight and you don't but he has the mangekyou! If you can answer me that, then I'll leave you alone."

"Don't you dare talk about my clan like that, as if its some stupid goal that isn't worth accomplishing!" His hands were clenched tightly into a ball, his knuckles growing white.

Sakura calmed and her expression soften. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way."

"What does it matter to you what happens to me, and whether or not I manage to avenge my clan?"

"You've left me for that goal so I want to at least see you complete it."

He's silent once again. She could tell that Sasuke was reflecting over his decision. She knew he would take the bait. He was too predictable. Completely obsessed with revenge and power.

Sakura advanced closer to him so that she was inches away from his face, yet he did not budge. She knew he could sense her near him, but he didn't seem to bother or just plainly ignore her proximity. He was evidently undecided and still thinking.

Sakura's index finger brushed his bangs from his sightless eyes and she saw him recoil at her touch. She smiled softly and turned around.

"Think about it. I'll find you tomorrow morning."

Just when she was about to leave, his arm grabbed hers.

"You don't need to. I've decided." Sakura smiled and with arms folded across her chest she waited.

"I'll let you…" he paused briefly, "help me."

Ahem. any ooc? please tell me, I tried my best but yeah, I'm not too good in finding mistakes in my own writing ; Btw, one of my betas asked when she read this chapter: the mangekyou of itachi wouldn't have any affect on Sasuke since hes blind. Note that even though he can't do tsukiyomi on Sasuke, his ability to read movements are two times better than what a normal sharingan would be able to read, and that would just mean that he is VERY VERY good at reading movements while Sasuke can't even see normal movements. Does that clarify any confusion? well I hope so. Review please! xxxx ppiglette.