The World Without Pein

NOTE:

Okay, so before we start, I want to say that the story is mine, but I used some parts of it from the original anime. The characters are made by Masashi Kishimoto.

CHAPTER 1:

NIGHTMARE

NORMAL POV

It was a dark night. Konan's Akatsuki partner, who was also her childhood friend stood next to her as they and the rest of the Akatsuki group faced a nine-tailed fox, the Kyuubi. Just a few minutes ago, the Kyuubi was a blonde-hair boy, whom everyone called Uzumaki Naruto. Now he was the real Kyuubi.

"Konan, be careful. The Kyuubi is the strongest Bijuu of all. If you get it angry, it will simply kill you." Pein warned, not taking his eyes off the Kyuubi.

Konan nodded cautiously. Her heart tingled and she wondered why. Every time Pein cared for her, she felt that. Konan had no idea what it meant though.

"Everyone, stand back, I'm going to take care of this once and for all. Be prepared to run." Pein ordered, getting ready to fight the monster.

The Akatsuki group moved back, but Konan stayed put. No way she was letting Pein fight this thing all by himself.

"Konan, stand back. I have no time for this. Please, don't make me worry about you. D…don't be a burden to me." Pein said, having no expression at all.

"I'm a burden to you! How can I be a burden to you? I've been your friend since we were five! And no…I am not letting you fight this monster alone. Never in my life." She protested, still shocked after he called her a burden.

"Konan, please. I want to get this over with and deliver pain to the world. Move aside." Pein went on. "Please Konan, move back."

The Kyuubi sure didn't have any time to just sit around and watch us argue, so it attacked the weaker person, Konan. It jumped at her and she would have been dead if it weren't for Pein. He stepped in front Konan and blocked the attack. She closed her eyes in surprise and instinctively put her arms up in front of her face. When Konan opened her eyes, it looked like the world had ended right in front of her. She looked around for Pein, but he was nowhere to be found. The Kyuubi was gone too.

"Pein!" Konan screamed, hoping to find him. Did he take the attack for her? Why would he protect her? She was a burden to him. People don't protect their burdens. Konan felt a hand on her shoulder as she thought about this.

"Look, Konan. Leader-sama is over there." Itachi-kun told her, pointing to the place he was talking about.

However, all Konan saw were boulders piled up into a small hill.

"Pein's down there!" She gasped and fell over, Konan hated being extremely weak when it came to her friends being hurt, especially when it's Pein .

Deidara-san caught her by the arm.

"Are you okay, Konan-chan?" Deidara-san asked, a worried look on his face.

Shaking off his arm, Konan nodded. She ran over to the boulders and started digging around, looking for Pein. Konan made a hand sign and turned to paper. Then, she moved the rocks out of the way. Finally, everything was moved aside. She made myself my own body again. What Konan saw almost made her die.

Pein was dead, at least she thought so.

Konan kneeled down next to Pein and took his hand. He had blood dripping from his head and his mouth. His Akatsuki cloak was torn to shreds, revealing his inner fishnet-like shirt that everyone except Hidan wore under their Akatsuki cloak. Even the fishnet-like shirt that Pein wore was torn.

"Pein, why? I thought I was a burden to you. Why?" Konan whispered, hot tears streaming down her cheeks. This was the first time she had cried in years.

Pein stirred to the sound of Konan's voice. He opened his eyes and she could see the layers from his beautiful Rinnegan. Konan held his hand tighter and put it to her cheek.

"Konan…are you hurt? Don't worry about me, I'm fine." Pein spoke softly.

"Pein! Look at you! You are not fine!" Her voice softened. "But why, Pein? Why did you take the attack? If I died, you wouldn't have a burden anymore."

"You're not a burden to me, Konan. I said that because I was afraid you would get hurt." Pein explained, pain in his eyes. " I shouldn't have said that, forgive me"

"There is nothing to forgive. The only thing that you did wrong was standing in front of me, I will never forgive you for that, Pein." Konan sobbed, taking his hand with both of hers.

"Konan, don't cry. I'm sorry I hurt you so much. If I die, then I will end all your pain." Pein murmured, she could tell his life was running out.

Konan shook her head and sobbed harder. Soon, it started raining, like it always did when someone died. This rain wasn't Pein's rain, it was softer, but Konan always preferred Pein's more than any other weather in the world. Pein squeezed her hand and she squeezed back, still sobbing. The rest of the Akatsuki group just stood back and watched silently.

"I love you, Konan." Pein whispered as he closed his eyes and his hand went limp.

Her eyes went wide at what he said and him being dead.

"Peeeiiinnnn!" Konan screamed.

And after that, everything went black.