A/N: Well, I have had this idea in my head for awhile now. I finally decided to put it down on paper. This is only the pilot (that is if I decide to continue this). I know that Sakura being the the Akatsuki is an overused story line but I couldn't help myself. Anyways, enjoy.
Two figures jump from tree to tree in a quick attempt to escape. They have been running for a while now, both exhausted beyond belief. Over time their movements have become sluggish – it was truly careless of them to be this way. It was a supposed to be a simple mercenary mission, yet here they are running through the Land of Fire trying to dodge Konohagakure ninjas. It was quite pathetic really. The highest ranked ninjas in the ruthless mercenary group – Akatsuki – to be fleeing from battle. However, Konan had used almost of her chakra and Nagato (or better known as Pein) was not doing too much better himself.
Sighing from his thoughts, Nagato spots a small little hut-like house up head on the edge of the previous town they had run through. He throws a questioning glance to Konan and she nods. In a blink of an eye the two jump down from the trees and enter the house.
"That was careless," Konan says. "We should have known better than to run through the Land of Fire in such condition."
Wordlessly, Nagato agrees. But what is done is done.
Everything is still inside the house. Until a small thump is heard behind the pair of Akatsuki. Without even sparing a second thought, Nagato flicks his hand up and kills what appears to be two townsfolk. Blood splashes over the walls and a short scream escapes one of them. Grimacing at what he had just done, Nagato stalks up to the pair and inspects them. To his horror, he finds that he had just slaughtered two innocent civilians – a man and a woman – in their own home. By the rings on their fingers, he infers that they were married. Nagato starts to violently shake; horrified by what he had just done. Hadn't the same thing happened to him? He cursed. How could he let such a thing happen again? Konan placed a hand on his shoulder in silent reassurance.
"W-what ha..have I done?" Nagato sputters. "I am just like them. H-how could I just…"
"What's done is done… there is nothing left we can do for them." Konan whispers, silently apologizing to the pair.
At that moment an ear splitting cry is heard. Nagato and Konan's heads snap toward the sound. They each spare a glance at the other. Another cry echoes through the empty corridor. Subconsciously, Konan and Nagato float toward to cry, ever so curious. Every step the pair takes forward, the louder the cry gets. Until finally the cries lead them in front of a slightly ajar pink door covered in cherry blossoms petals. Sparing another glance at Konan, Nagato opens the door. Inside there stands a white crib which holds the source of the cries. Nagato freezes. I killed her parents. I truly am no better than those scum. Konan pushes past him and reaches down into the crib only to pull out a plump, pink haired girl no older than two or three. The child, finally realizing that someone had come to her cries, immediately quiets down and stairs into cool, blue eyes. A staring contest emerges between the emerald green and the sapphire blue, only to end with the child cooing happily and reaching out to hug the woman. Konan, quite pleased that the girl had taken a liking to her so soon, smiles and allows the girl to pull on her hair ever so slightly.
"She is quite loveable, ne?" Konan smiles. At this the girl giggles and claps.
The scene before Nagato is heartwarming. However, he still feels a nagging sense of guilt. This girl has no idea that her parents lie slaughtered in the next room and here she is laughing and making friends. "Konan, what are we to do with her? She is too young to fend for herself."
Konan is too preoccupied with the girl to acknowledge that Nagato even spoke to her. "Ahaha, ne, little one that is not for you to pull on." Konan giggles, pulling the cherry haired girl away from her hair ordainment. "Here, let me make you one of your own." Freeing up her left hand, Konan creates a paper origami cherry blossom and presents it the glowing child. Pleased by the gift, the girl grabs it and smiles more brightly than before.
Nagato cannot help to think that the two of them together is the most adorable thing he had ever seen. However, time is of the essence. Though he makes sure to take a mental image of what is before him. He clears his throat. Konan stops playing with the girl and raises her eyebrow in question. Aah, how cute. It looks like the child raised her eyebrow too~ Nagato clears his throat again.
"The girl, Konan. What are we to with her?"
"Ahh…" Konan frowns at their sudden predicament. It is not like they could just leave her here. There is no telling when someone may come and check up on the house or whether or not the young child would be able to survive until that happenBut it is not like it is reasonable to take a two or three year old back to Ame. I mean, they are mercenaries after all. That is not the most stable career for a child. But Konan wouldn't mind bringing the girl back with her. She has already stolen her heart. However, Nagato would never allow such a thing…
The young child seemingly sensing the growing tension in the room, grabs Konan's cheeks with her chubby fingers and forces the origami woman to smile. At this, both Nagato and Konan couldn't help to laugh.
"I feel obligated to bring her back with us." Nagato said, looking away from the cute duo.
"Oh?" Konan is surprised. So he is a softy after all. Who knew?
"Afterall, I did kill her parents. It is only fair I repay that debt." Nagato says with a blush flickering across his cheeks. Konan is baffled.
"Really? We can take her?"
"Aah."
At this, Konan hugged the pink hair girl to her chest and spun around the room, causing the young child to laugh uncontrollably.
"Ready to see your new home, Sakura-chan?"
They both had no idea what they had just gotten themselves into.
A/N: That is all for now. I am still not sure if I am going to continue this. Anyways, thanks for reading!