Pain's eyes watered again, unable to wipe the past memory from his mind that refused to recede. The razor blade dropped to the ground, clean. No, he would not resort to the tactics of the weak. Not yet. Still, the blood and his namesake tugged at him like a persistent toddler,refusing to let go until it got what it wanted. His tortured scream threatened to wake the entire forest, but he was able to hold it in. This time. He had to get himself together. He muttered to himself,
"I still have a team to lead." A hand touched his shoulder, gently. Pain shouted in surprise, then glared at the lone Akatsuki female who stood several steps back, knowing he could be violent at the drop of a hat.
"What are you doing out here, Konan?" She noticed the discarded the blade on the ground.
" I could ask you the same thing, Pain." He sighed, knowing that a lecture from his old friend was imminent. But it didn't happen. Instead, she merely drew him into a caring embrace. When he pushed her away, she whispered to him, " I've helped you with this before. Why won't you let me now?"
"I must deal with my past on my own. There's nothing there to concern you." Konan angrily cut him off.
"Bullshit! I know you, Mr. High and Mighty and Mr. Poor Me but Leave Me Alone. I hope you haven't forgotten that all of this happened to me too!" Tears brimmed in her eyes, and Pain was intensely studying the ground. Before Pain could apologize, Konan was gone in a flutter of paper.
"I don't want to play God anymore..."
A/N: This one will go awhile! I'll keep the chapters coming, and stick around for the first part of the final battle between The Angelic Winchesters and The Zombie Combo, coming very soon!