Nagato's POV:
I blink a few times, trying to pull myself out of the weird haziness the scene put me in. I sigh and lower my head. You're welcome, kid…
My legs feel cramped and pained from all the running I've done within the past 24 hours, but I still get up to shut the door. That storm was getting water inside. I can feel Tsunade and Jiraiya's eyes on my back, but I brush it off. I shut the door with a click and look at my pale hand wrapped around the knob. Dang. I'm so pale, it's not even funny. I look sick. My heart feels heavy.
"So….now we wait…." Even my voice sounds sick. I turn and begin to walk back to my seat on the coffee table, flexing my numb fingers. Tsunade steps around to my side of the couch to see Konan more clearly. I glance up at Konan as well.
My Angel. You're safe now, but…
I swallow thickly.
I haven't helped you at all. You look purple in too many places to count. Your chest….Your broken rib….I can practically SEE it protruding through your milky skin. I feel a small growl bubble up out of my throat. God dammit. Why hadn't I seen this sooner….? Why didn't I notice? A familiar pain flicks against my skull and I sigh, lifting my tired arms to my pounding head.
"Tsunade…." I hear the youthful-looking woman sigh heavily and crouch beside me, resting a warm hand on my soaked shoulder. I open my eyes a bit more, still clutching my forehead. "..I think I did this to her…" I should have spoken out sooner. I should have called her out on it sooner! I should have been a best friend…
"What are you talking about?" I perk my head up at the sound of her aggravated voice, and glance her way. Tsunade removes her hand from my shoulder and stands, placing her hands on her hips instead. My heart drops just a bit when my eyes meet her face. Uh-oh. Did I make her mad..?
"How could any of this be your fault? You didn't beat her, did you? You didn't whore her out and drug her up! If anything, you're her savior! You went through all that you did just for her." I swallow down my anxiousness. I hear some shuffling and my eyes switch to Jiraiya, who slides up beside Tsunade, also taking Konan's position in. "You probably mean everything to that girl." I've been trying to avoid looking at Konan's broken body, but I glance up at her passed-out state anyway, feeling a sting in my eyes. Konan….
"And it's sweet that you have a soft side." What? I quickly reach up and wipe at my wet eyes, my face turning red. You'd think I'd be more manly after everything I've done so far, but no. I'm prone to crying. I sniffle, and try to pull it together, but then I catch another glance at Konan's cuts and bruises. I can't control the burn at the back of my throat as a sob escapes my lips.
"I-I'm sorry…." I turn away from them and listen as Tsunade quietly leaves the room. I bend at my waist and lean against my knees with my shaking hands. Why must all of this happen now? I watch as my tears leave dark dots on the carpet. Konan….Yahiko…. I feel too helpless.
"You know….." I jump at the sound of Jiraiya's voice, and sniffle some more. He sighs and sits beside me on the coffee table. I feel a warm arm wrap around my shoulders. I wipe at my face, my hair sticking to my tear-stricken cheeks. "It's good to let it out at some point, Nagato." I feel another sob rack out of my chest as I listen to his calm voice. "You've proven to be quite the man tonight, in my opinion. Tears don't mean you're weak. They mean you care." More tears escape my eyes, and my shoulders begin to shiver. I feel Jiraiya tighten his grip around me and sigh. "Pain…in a weird way…allows people to be kind. People like you…and Konan…." I sniffle and try to get a hold of myself.
"I-I left Y-Yahiko alone…" My chest crushes under the guilt. Why did I leave him alone with those evil bastards? I should've stayed…helped him. I could have protected both of them… "I just wanted to protect them…."
Jiraiya pats my cold shoulder, and stands. I lift my head to look at him. He turns his head toward me, a solemn smile on his face. "Yahiko has been searching for Konan practically his whole life. I bet he wanted you to go. He knew you could get Konan out of there. He trusted you." He chuckles a bit, and I feel my brows furrow. "And getting his trust isn't an easy thing to do." I rub my eyes a bit more, my tears slowing. "He could see you cared a lot about her." Jiraiya's eyes lighten up when Tsunade enters the room again, a towel in hand. "And we can see that too." I turn and look at the two of them as Jiraiya walks back over to Tsunade. There's definitely gotta be something between those two. The way Jiraiya looks at her (aside from his perverted stares of course)….
I'm brought back to reality when I hear Tsunade clear her throat. "H-huh?" She rolls her eyes at me, and my face heats up a bit.
"Here," She shoves the towel into my arms. "You should take a warm shower. Don't want TWO of you ending up in the hospital."
Despite the reminder of my poor Angel's condition, I feel a slight smile tug at my lips. I'm really glad I got meet these people. I wrap my fingers around the bright yellow cloth and stand, my legs burning. I nod my head embarrassedly at Tsunade and she chuckles. "Well, get a move on!"
I feel my face drop blank and I hurriedly slide pass the two and walk into the bathroom. I like Tsunade, but I'm also slightly afraid of her. Heh. I guess that's how Jiraiya and Yahiko always feel. I crack a small smile. Those three seem perfect for a family.
I slide the bathroom door shut, and carefully peel off my freezing, soaked shirt. I feel the goose bumps spread across my torso as I hang my shirt on a hook behind me. I run my numb fingers through my wet hair, and I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I turn fully toward it. My chest looks like a white-board. My face gets a bit red. I wonder if Konan really does like me….
If she does, then I can't see HOW. I look like a blank billboard with white sticks coming out the top, and a dripping tomato placed on the surface. Now don't get me wrong – I'm the most fit in my gym class at school, and I wouldn't say I don't have any muscle. It's just….
I let out a sigh. I just look WEIRD. Plain and Simple. My hair and eyes don't help either. I shake my head as a chill runs up my spine. Right – back to the shower, Nagato. I strip off the rest of my clothing and shakily reach for the hot water nob. Damn, it's cold! I pull it out and turn it, quickly jumping into the scalding water.
"Ahhh…." Scaling doesn't feel so bad when you're an ice block. The steam quickly fills the small space, and I breathe it in welcomingly. This is nice. I feel the water massage my tense muscles and I decide, just for a moment, to forget about everything. The shower is soothing, and I swear I could probably fall asleep standing up. How long have I been up…? I'm not even sure what time it is, let alone what day. I sigh. No matter. I'll find out soon enough. I grab the soap and massage my hair. As the water rinses my red locks, I begin to wash my body. Wow… I got a lot more mud on myself than I had thought. That's Amegakure, for ya. I stand a while longer, enjoying the warmth, before my mind starts to get the best of me. I hope Konan hasn't woken up yet. I wanna be right beside her….
And with that thought, I shut off the water and quickly grab the towel. She can't wake up without me there! I practically ghost over myself with the towel and shake my hair like crazy. Please don't be up yet! I wrap the towel around my waist and thrust open the door. I step out, and rush forward.
"Is she awake?!" At right about the same time the cold air hits me like a brick, both the eyes of Tsunade and Jiraiya stare at me wide-eyed. I stare back at them, a little confused. Jiraiya then bursts out laughing. What?
Tsunade launches herself out of her chair. "Why aren't you wearing any clothes?!" Wha…? Come to think of it, it is pretty chilly out here…
I glance down at myself and remember I'm only in a towel. My face flushes insanely and I slowly return my gaze to the angered woman. "Uh… I…" Jiraiya chuckles and stands up.
"Boy, you just couldn't wait, could you? Haha, go grab some of Yahiko's clothes and put something on, red-head!" I looked down in shame, my face flaming as I walk toward the door Tsunade – rather angrily – pointed toward.
"R-right…Excuse me…" I swing open his door and enter his room. What the heck is wrong with me?! I smack myself in the forehead. I swear, I'm losing it! I sigh and tug open Yahiko's drawers. I grab a black, long-sleeved shirt and grey sweat pants. These should work. They look warm, too. I quickly drop my towel –dear god, don't let anyone walk in- and I dress myself in his clothes. Wait a minute…
My face blushes more when I realize I have no underwear on. My underwear in the bathroom is soaked….but…. My face cringes. Do I have to wear YAHIKO's….? I sigh, a little annoyed, and shove open his top drawer. Time to swallow my shame. No one… will know….right? I close my eyes, reach in, and grab a pair of boxers.
Just put them on, just put them on, don't think about it, Nagato. I remove the pants, shove on the boxers and pull on the sweats again. There….. not so bad…. I guess. I shiver uncomfortably and shake my head. Just get over it, you wuss! I open his bedroom door, and step out. I stare at the floor, and make my way back to the coffee table. My face is still warm, damnit. I hear someone enter the living room, and glance up to see Tsunade with a mug in her hand. She purses her lips and hands it out to me.
"Here. You looked cold earlier, and I don't think some nerve-relaxing tea is going to hurt you at the moment." I give her a thankful smile, and take the warm cup out of her hands.
"Thank you, Tsunade. For everything." I see her nod before turning around and walking back into the kitchen. Jiraiya must be in there, too. I smirk a bit before raising the mug to my lips. I sip some of the tea and relish the feeling of it traveling down my throat. "Hmm~" I love tea. I sigh and set the cup down, slowly bringing my gaze back up to Konan. My eyes skim across her arms. She's got puffy lined skin and freshly cut skin as well. What do you get out of slicing someone's arm? I feel a burning in my chest again. You don't get anything but pain and suffering. Why would they give you those bruises, Konan…..? Why do bastards like them get away with whoring out their daughters? Get away with breaking their ribs, and ruining them mentally for the rest of their lives?! I growl and grab my tea. I take a few more gulps. Come on, nerve relaxers, any day now. I look up at her closed eyes and wet, tangled hair. They don't matter anymore, anyway. I've got you, my Angel, and I'm never letting anyone hurt you ever again. I take another sip of tea, and grab a blanket. I lay it across her body and watch it gently contour to her form.
"You're safe now, Konan. I love you…" I lower my lips gently onto her forehead, and kiss her there softly. I raise my head away from her and stare at her depressingly beautiful face. A vision of those red and black eyes appears in my mind and I quickly push it away. I gaze at her long, black lashes. "Show me those beautiful amber irises, my Angel…" The silence around me feels weird. I close my eyes and sigh. It's no use. She probably won't wake up for a while. I lean back and finish off my tea, standing to bring it back to the kitchen. I glance down at Konan again before I begin walking toward the kitchen door on my right. I reach out to open the door.
"N…Nagato….?"
My brows furrow. Did I just…? I shake my head. It couldn't have been….I turn, rushing back to the couch. I lean over the arm rest and stare down at the angel in front of me. Her eyes are still closed, but she looks to be…..
"K…..Konan….?" I barely get the whisper out, but it did manage to escape my lips. I stare at her pale eyelids, and my heart nearly drops when they twitch. Then, her long eye lashes rise just a bit. You're awake. My breathing picks up and my throat closes shut in pure happiness.
And I think I die for a split second when I finally see a pair of amber gently squinting up at me.