Another chapter, huh? You know the routine, I don't own this. It's fan fiction for crying out loud.

------

Part 3 - "I Don't Fear"

------

Usually Konan tended to her injuries alone, shutting herself up in a vacant room for the entire day, licking her wounds like the proud dog she was. Today, her wounds were still too severe for her to even move, much less retreat. She had barely made it to the couch before collapsing on it and giving up. Pein approached her with an absurd amount of caution, but when Konan was this badly injured, even he didn't take risks!

"Konan... do you need anything?" He wasn't exactly being attentive or kind. She was more or less completely laid up for who knows how long. And the sooner he could help, the sooner she would improve. Even though these were his main reasons, there was nothing saying that he didn't care to some degree about her personally. They were partners, after all.

She glared at him viciously, but decided to let him help. "Water?" Her toxic gaze didn't leave him for long, her pride holding up even in this state of helplessness. She couldn't lose face in front of him. She wanted to improve, to show him that she was worth just as much as he was. She wanted his attention, his smile, his... anything.

He nodded silently, staying out of her glare as much as possible. She was scary when she was like this! But he stuck to the plan to stay out of sight and not move unless it was absolutely necessary. A female's radar, based on movement, was a formidable thing. He brought out a glass of water for her and retreated just outside her blind spot, waiting silently. Would she lash out anyway? Maybe she would just go back to sleep. And then, her hand went to the dish of chocolates, and his eyes widened. Oh no. No no no...! She couldn't be... He backed away slowly, dreading the consequences of staying here any longer. What he had was a severely injured, PMS-ing kunoichi with an unpredictable temper on his hands, and he didn't want to end up like Hidan after he hid her flower.

He had almost made it into the bathroom to hide for the rest of the day, but she suddenly turned to look at him. "Pein, do we have any more of these?"

His eyes wandered to the now-empty bowl, and he gulped with dismay. Wait, what did he have to fear, really? He was the Akatsuki leader, he couldn't fear his subordinates! So what if they didn't have any more? "N-No... we don't."

Her glare went from ice to fire instantly, and he backed away suddenly, his back now against the wall in a vain hope to get away from this hormonal demon. "There... aren't any?"

Oh yes. He was definitely afraid of this. But he had to overcome it, he had to prove that he could master his own emotions and stand up to this! "Er... No." Right now, he was SO glad that she was too injured to move. But that glare... he knew very well what she would do to him once she could move. His eye twitched as she somehow, in all her rage-filled glory, she managed to get up from the couch, staggering over to look him in the eye.

"Why... didn't you get more earlier?"

He really wished he could morph through walls right now. Anything to escape this inevitable verbal (and probably physical) beating. But he must have had someone looking out for him, because the one person that COULD morph through walls suddenly rose up from the floor, and he glanced over at Zetsu with desperate thanks. "Zetsu! Ah... Do... do you have something to report?"

The black half grinned, knowing that he had interrupted at just the right time. "Yes, Itachi has encountered his brother. IT'S ABOUT TIME HE DID SOMETHING ABOUT HIS LITTLE PROBLEM, DON'T YOU THINK?"

"Yes, right. Thank you for telling me." Saved by Zetsu! Saved by this wonderful two-toned man that forced him to take their discussion into the conference room! If anyone would ever question if he feared Konan, he would outright deny it, but deep down, he knew just how scary she was. He knew what kind of fear she could induce!

------

Second Part: "Compassion is a Weakness"

------

It had been about a week that Pein stayed out of her way, knowing her moods all too well during that cycle. They had been together for practically forever, after all, and he had gotten into the habit of making himself scarce. But finally, her mood broke, and he was able to come within ten feet of her. And just about time too, as her wounds were almost completely healed, and she even let him take a look.

She also smiled up at him apologetically. "Sorry Pein. I've been acting up again."

But he stared back with his usual calm gaze, nodding slightly. "After all these years, I've gotten used to it. Don't even think about it, alright?"

She sat up on the couch, and shook her head. "No, I feel really bad about it. At least let me make it up to you."

His eyebrow raised slightly. "Make it up to me...?"

"Right, maybe I should be the one to go into the streets today?"

"No, no." He shook his head; he really did like going out and making sure the rain country was still faring well. "I'd much rather go with you."

She nodded slightly, shifting to sit up, and her trademark flower fell to the ground in the process. Her nimble fingers retrieved it swiftly, not wanting to be without it for long. "If that is what you wish, then we shall go together."

------

To his people, he was their god, their only salvation in this land. They looked upon him with admiration and trust, knowing that he was the only one who ever dared do anything for their sakes. To them, he was an example of what they could to if they tried their hardest. To himself, he was disgusting. They had taken far too much time to collect all the Bijuu, taken too much time to settle scores with their pasts. Even too much time answering the questions and pleas of his recovering nation. When the two stopped in the afternoon at a small tea house, Konan recognized his sulking mood.

"What's wrong? I thought you wanted to come."

He shook his head quickly. "I did. I was just thinking."

"You're angry again." She glanced up from her tea, her ever perceptive eyes reading him perfectly. After all this time, she knew all of his moods. Angry, sulking, relieved, and impatient. Those were his basic moods, and that was all. Or so she thought.

"Disgusted," he corrected. Somehow he never felt reluctant about sharing his thoughts openly with her, since she knew so well how to react and how to listen.

And as predicted, she just smiled up serenely. "Learning a new mood again?"

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly with amusement, but he suppressed it. "I wasn't satisfied with just four."

"Trying to make an even six, hm?" Her grin hinted that she had seen his amusement, as much as he wished to hide it. "I wonder how many you'll resort to slipping into by the time the day is over."

Amused again, he wondered how shocked she would be if he started making faces at her. It was tempting, just to get a rise out of this woman. "No, I think I'll just keep what I have."

Briefly, Konan wondered what it would be like to see other emotions on his face. "Such a shame, you're letting all the entertaining ones go to waste."

His eyebrow raised slightly, but before he could answer, another figure came up near their table. The young girl gazed up at them with an open mouth, shocked to see everyone's "god" sitting here so close to her reach. Pein glanced down at her absently, but Konan swore she saw just a hint of a smile as he patted the young girl's head. "Are you being a good girl?" She nodded energetically, and he released his hand, pressing a coin into her hand. "Good. Run along now."

Konan didn't watch after the running girl, but watched his face. Something was different about it. It had an odd look... what was it? Her eyes stared carefully, trying to identify whatever it could have been. Compassion. Taking care of others. Even if he was a cold, calculating, ruthless murderer, he still took the time now and then to walk the streets, inquiring about the health and well-being of his subjects. She smiled to herself, wondering very much how many emotions he really had.

------

A/N: Gah, sorry about the little delay. School's tough, yeah? I'll get the next chapter up when I can. Thanks for the reviews, they really keep me smiling!