Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of the Blessed Flowers. Enjoy the 1200-word chapter. I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto and a few others do.

Konan had found out the shinobi was named Aoki. She knew well enough that her friend… Ally or whatever moniker she could bestow him, was concerned more with her safety then his own. That was still logically somewhat making sense considering that she was still the leader of the village as far as Aoki had informed her.

"I wouldn't pull at those bandages; you're just unravel them." Aoki said while washing the dried crimson liquid from his hands. "Why are you so eager to get back out there? Whoever that was almost killed you." Aoki said which got a mere shrug from Konan.

Pain lanced up her shoulder. She had forgotten that Aoki had also informed her she was sporting multiple cuts which he had barely managed to keep from falling apart.

"You do not need to know that." Konan said as Aoki blinked, still aware of what was happening.

He didn't need to know much considering this was something that concerned him as a medic. You couldn't simply ask a medic to not involve themselves in such affairs considering that to him?

"It is, actually." Aoki said while he cracked his fingers and cracked his fingers. "Do you know how bad the medical situation is here? Do you know how bad things would be if you died?" Aoki questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Konan was silent. Aoki could only point out that things would be frustrating. He was going to point out that Rain couldn't survive without Konan at the end of the day. They had no infrastructure which could sustain itself, they were also constantly struggling with outside issues.

"And you saved me because I'm the leader?" Konan questioned while Aoki shook his head. "Then what do you want to be doing?" Konan asked as she could only question.

"Do you want me to explain how bad Rain was before?" Aoki questioned as he cracked his fingers. "I've seen you fighting that masked man. You almost killed him, but he used a technique that almost killed you… Do you REALLY want to go back and fight someone who you barely survived? When your too injured to do more than sit up?" Aoki asked as he crossed his arms and frowned towards the woman in question.

She was silent as she reflected upon her condition. She had almost killed her assailant in her trap, but now? She was wounded, out of resources currently which meant she couldn't fight… And whoever had attacked her? They were as strong as Pain, perhaps even stronger…

Billions of exploding tags couldn't kill him, Konan only had ONE idea of someone who had the power to stop him… And yet Naruto was far away, whoever this was going to be? Konan was not going to stop them, not in her current state. The best she could do was ensure the town survived. Pain wouldn't want her to throw her life away so recklessly.

"You have a valid concern." Konan stated while slowly sitting up as Aiko walked towards her.

"There's better ways to help people then constantly fighting people who are too powerful." Aiko said while he shook his head. "Long as we have something good to protect? Then you just keep fighting… But now you're fighting someone who's too strong to be beaten." Aiko muttered as he turned towards the rest of the house.

"You do not know who that was." Aiko heard from Konan which made him nod as he turned to walk away a moment later.

"You are right, but I do understand you." Aiko said as he walked to the sink. "Whoever that was wanted you dead. You survived and if you went back? He'd murder you again. He'd also kill me so I wouldn't have a chance in hell of trying to save you. Do you want to die for nothing?" Aiko questioned, raising an eyebrow as he did so.

Konan was silent, she had nothing to really live for after Pein's death. His legacy was her, but she could not uphold it alone. Konan had tried to burn down the evils within the Akatsuki, but they were too large for her to prune.

"No…" Konan said, aiming a look at Aiko who simply nodded and dusted his hands off. "Then you suppose I should stay here, taking to looking after the village?" Konan questioned to which Aiko shrugged.

"I do not know, but I do know your wounds are far from healed." Aiko said, crossing his arms as he thought about the situation at hand.

If he told Konan that the best thing to do was let her wounds heal? He doubted she'd do that at all, her will seemed as indomitable as everything else about her. This woman was not human, he surmised… Then again? He supposed surviving what she had made her that by default.

"How is the longest I would be out with these injuries to begin with?" Konan questioned as she sat up slowly.

"A few weeks to a month. Your cuts almost went to your spinal cord." Aiko said as he rubbed at his temples. "Any further and you wouldn't be walking currently. I'm well aware of how badly you want revenge." Aiko said to which Konan was silent, aware of how this looked.

"This has nothing to do with simple revenge, Aiko." Konan said as she brushed her robes off. "It is far beyond that. That person who attempted to kill me will plant an evil upon this planet. One worse than the rest of the planet has seen. I swore to bring peace to every land, I intend to uphold that promise to my friend. Would you not honor a promise made to someone close to you?" Konan questioned, pausing to make sure her stitches didn't tear.

The pain helped her remember she was still alive. It helped push her forward to a degree. If she could take flight again? She would, but she doubted that was within the cards currently.

"You will not abandon my side, even under threat of death, yes?" Konan asked to which she gained a nod. "Very well. I shall stay for the duration of my healing, but I must warn someone before I fully heal. That danger I speak of is also a danger to your home as much as the others." Konan said, crossing her arms a moment later.

Aiko said nothing, well aware of how stubborn Konan would end up being. It was something that he was used to around the area. Aiko could only point out that her wounds would continue to get better.

'This is going to be a long day. Isn't it?' Aiko thought.

Author Notes

Phew. Another chapter done! I want to point out that next chapter will be longer and such. Next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will be much longer and such. Next chapter will be 900-3500 words and such at the moment. Next chapter will show both Konan and Aiko talking and such. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

P.S: Next chapter might be delayed.