A dark figure slipped silently through the massive green gates that marked the entrance to Konoha. The red clouds on her cloak were barely visible in the all consuming gloom, and the dim lights coming from the windows of those few villagers who were still awake cast a yellow sheen on her deep blue hair, causing it to look almost green.
Konan slipped silently towards the apartment she knew belonged to her former sensei. Pein had told her to let go of him, to forget about him, to hate him, but that simply wouldn't suffice for her. Once Konan got an idea in her head, she held on to it…
She'd hate to find out what would happen if Pein found out she would come here on occasion and spy on Jiraiya…for her to say that Pein was possessive would have been an understatement…
The blue haired Kunoichi froze upon hearing a noise, preparing to transform or fight, depending on the situation. She turned her head slowly to the alley, relaxing slightly upon seeing a cat leap down from a garbage can.
"What have we here?"
Konan's blood ran cold and she turned her heavy-lidded grey eyes to see a man with silver hair inches away from her, standing with his hands in his pockets.
"Hatake Kakashi, The Copy Nin…" Konan breathed, remembering something she'd heard Itachi say once.
"Hmm, you seem to know me…but I cant seem to figure out who you might be…and why you might be here. I'm sure you are aware that we don't take kindly to Akatsuki members…" He said almost lazily. Konan narrowed her eyes, standing up a little straighter.
"I am Akatsuki no Konan, and I am here to see Jiraiya-sensei…" She said, readying her right hand for her transformation jutsu.
"Hmm….I don't think that would be such a good idea…" Kakashi said, suddenly pinning the young woman to the wall. Konan blushed for a second, before a smile crossed her face.
"Farewell, Hatake Kakashi…" She muttered, transforming into paper and fluttering away beneath his fingertips. At the last moment, Kakashi's fingers closed around one of the thin pieces of paper.
Konan froze, pain shooting through her chest as she recomposed in a heap on the ground.
"My…my heart! Let go of me!" She gasped, putting her hand to her chest. Kakashi kept his grip tight on the paper as he looked at it.
"So this is your heart? It's rather frail and thin…almost fragile…"
"Give it back!" Konan shrieked, her voice faltering in a manner that made it sound almost pleading.
"No. I can't let you get away…" Kakashi said with a sigh. "But the problem is, it's too late in the day for me to take you to the Hokage…I'm sure she'd skin me alive if I brought you in right now…so I guess you're coming with me for now…."
"That'll be the last mistake you make!" Konan hissed, standing up. Kakashi tightened his grip on the piece of paper and Konan gasped again.
"You…"
"Well, come on, there's not much else we can do…"
Konan glared, but followed him grudgingly. He seemed to weave in and out of random streets, twisting and turning again and again until Konan was utterly confused to where they were.
"In here, come on, before someone sees you…" He said, opening a red door and stepping out of they way.
Konan gave him a look that would peel paint as she walked slowly inside, habitually removing her shoes upon entering.
"Please, take off your cloak…sit down. I have many questions to ask you…" Kakashi said, leaning against the door and watching her.
"No…"
She saw his hand move and heard the paper crinkle before another shooting pain filled her chest.
"Fine…" She hissed, popping the snaps on the front and sliding it slowly off of her shoulders. She could feel his eyes on her, making her face red as she exposed the long blue halter dress. Kakashi was polite enough to refrain from comment as he led her into the living room and motioned for her to sit.
"As you can tell, if you try anything I'll tear your heart apart…" Kakashi began, sitting down on the coffee table in front of her. Konan looked away, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Now, tell me why you are here? You said you were here to see Jiraiya-sama, but you referred to him as sensei, why?"
"Tear my heart apart, I'm fine with that…" She said coldly.
Kakashi sighed, looking at the piece of paper.
"No…I think that I'm going to hang onto it for a while…It's not often such a beautiful kunoichi drifts into the Village…"
Konan continued to glare at the carpet, her grey eyes wandering to a picture of Kakashi when he was younger with his two other teammates and his sensei. She stared in silence at the picture, unaware of the slow smile crossing her face. This Kakashi, he'd been such a cute kid…
"Akatsuki-chan…" Kakashi muttered, jerking her mind back to reality. "You're smiling, I don't like that."
Konan's face fell and she looked at him with wide eyes.
"What are you up to?" Kakashi said, crossing his arms. "Why are you here?"
Konan frowned, looking almost as she were pouting.
"What does it matter to you, you were in no danger…"
"No, but someone very dear to me might have been…"
Konan sighed, folding her hands in her lap.
"Someone dear to you? I came to see someone dear to me…"
"Jiraiya-sama? You came to see Jiraiya-sama? He's dear to you? Are you his lover?"
Konan blushed upon hearing the word 'lover', staring at Kakashi intensely.
"Of course not! He was my sensei when I was younger. I…" Konan fell silent, narrowing her eyes as Kakashi leaned back with a grin.
"See, now that wasn't so hard…but that doesn't explain things enough for my taste…why were you coming to see your sensei? Were you sent here to kill him?"
Konan pressed her lips together and Kakashi sighed.
"Fine, since you're going to be stubborn…" He said, standing up and taking the piece of paper out and crumpling it slightly yet again. Konan gasped, trying to block out the pain. She wouldn't give him the pleasure of seeing her break…
In the back of her mind, she kind of hoped he would just do it already, because this was nothing to what Pein would do when she got back…
Much to her surprise, though, Kakashi stopped.
"I've never really been a big fan of torture, that's not my department…" He said with a sigh, offering her his hand. "Come on, you're staying here tonight…"
Konan blinked at his display of trust. He obviously knew she could be trouble, but why was he being so nice? She was the enemy, any trained shinobi would have killed her without hesitation…
"But remember, if you try to escape, I'll kill you."
Konan nodded slowly, calculating her escape route carefully.
OOO
