…..

Chapter 12: Fever Dream

…..

Once a crease in a paper was made, it can't be undone. The fibers that have been pressed with applied pressure become irreversibly crushed or broken. No matter how much a person might desperately smooth the paper out, the crease will remain like a faded scar.

The crease in Obito and Konan's page had been pressed neatly, carefully, so delicately between them that it made Konan hold her breath as if she was working on what will become a complicated origami form. The once clean page now had a mark, a fold, and it was starting to become something.

What that something was, Konan wasn't sure about. She'd be lying if she said she didn't let the worry set in, making her stomach turn as she weighed the risks of being distracted with the shadowed leader of the Akatsuki. Though, that worry was short-lived every time she recalled removing the lost Uchiha's mask from his face. The soft moment made her heart feel full. Obito had successfully proven himself of being a threat to the barriers around her dumb heart. How many years had it been that she was close to someone else other than Nagato? That she kissed someone since Yahiko? Way too many. There was no going back, Konan was in uncharted territory.

They hadn't talked since it happened. Everyday Konan secretly yearned to see his face once more, to be alone with him, but their agreement was unspoken-it was better for them to lay low. This time around, his distance didn't cause her too much stress. She knew their encounters were far from over now that she carefully held his identity, that she agreed to let him touch her and kiss her. He yearned for her, enough to reveal his face. It felt like a dirty secret. One she reveled in. The thought of his scarred cheek and deep black eyes made her heart pound furiously. Konan supposed she was selfish in that way, allowing herself to forgo her sensibilities for him.

Despite their distance, there were traces of warmth. It's as if a bond manifested between them, a silver lining made of secrecy. She could feel the long looks from his direction, and every so often, a ghost touch of his hand on her back as he brushed past her in the hall or during a meeting. Their tender moments were stealthily stolen, as expected from highly ranked shinobi.

The other underlying issue, that driven them both away from each other with feelings of uncertainty, was Nagato. He under all circumstances could not catch on. No one in the Akatsuki could ever know that the two of them had been intimate, especially with Obito's identity on the line.

"I don't get it!" Hidan angrily yelled out, disrupting Konan's deep thought. She looked up to see him pointing to her orange manicure "How do you apply it so perfectly?!"

"You can't just pour on nail polish and then try to it paint it." Konan said squarely. "You keep blobbing-here take this, wipe it off, and start again." She handed him a tissue and a bottle of polish remover. He grumbled to himself as he cleaned the goop of polish that spilled over his fingers.

"I don't know why you think this is hard." Sasori interjected, busy painting his toenails with careful precision on the other side of the table. "It's rather self-explanatory."

"Your polish is looking a little thin, Danna. You need two coats." Instructed Deidara from his side, wiggling his fingers in Sasori's face for an example.

"Didn't ask for your critique. Besides, three of your nails are already chipped." Sasori retorted tightly without glancing up.

"Hmmm? What?!" He swore as he examined his fingers and turned around in his chair to face the only kunoichi in the Akatsuki. "You taught me wrong!"

"No, I didn't." Konan tried to prevent herself from looking exasperated. She capped her polish. "You must've touched something while they were still drying. Here, give your hands."

"Why do we paint our nails anyway?" Deidara mumbled as he moved over by Konan, glancing over at Sasori's toes enviously.

"Told you it's a part of Akatsuki identification," Konan explained, carefully locating and fixing Deidara's chipped spots. "Pein-sama's method of having us wear unique nail colors has proven inconsequential to making sure we can identify each other from imposters."

"Should be thankful." Said Kakuzu across the table, dipping his wand into his nail polish. "We used to all just wear black. Now we can choose our own colors."

"But your color is still black." Observed Deidara, looking unimpressed.

"It represents his colorful personality." Konan said with a smirk, earning a glare from Kakuzu.

"It's economical. I never have to buy it since we have a lot of stock left over." He gruffed defensively.

"I don't want the black anyways." Sasori said haughtily waving his hands. "The teal compliments my hair color."

"It's a nice contrast." Konan agreed. She looked down, pleased with her work on the clay ninja's fingers. "There Deidara-san, now seal it with some chakra-it will prevent chipping. It's a special formula. And don't touch anything!"

His fingers tips glowed blue for a moment, then he nodded with approval. "Thank you Lady Konan, your work is amazing as always!"

She chuckled. "It's just painting nails, I'm sure you'll be good at it in no time."

With Konan being open again Hidan made his way to the chair across from her when out of nowhere Tobi appeared, beating him to it. She looked up, startled to see him appear in the Tower's common room, and even more surprised to see Itachi walk in right after him. Her eyes flickered between both of the Uchihas. Huh, they arrived at the same time. Interesting.

"Hey! It's my turn!" Hidan exclaimed, his neck turning red as his eyes made daggers as Tobi.

"When did you get here?" Piped up Sasori.

Itachi silently took a seat next to him, observing the nail polishing session. "We arrived a bit ago. Ah, I should have brought my nail polish." He said thoughtfully, though his expression was impassive.

"Do mine Konan-chan!" Exclaimed Tobi cheerfully. Even though it was "Tobi", Konan couldn't help but feel a butterfly or two. He had not interacted directly with her in a while.

"You wear gloves." Observed Deidara. He then paused as he thought about it. "Have I ever even seen you without them?"

"I meant my toes, Senpai!" He kicked off a sandal and plunked his foot on the table with a thud.

"Disgusting!" Noises of disgust emanated from several of the Akatsuki members.

Konan pressed her lips into a thin line, attempting to conceal the threat of laughter as she took a look at his foot in front of her. She then made a face of confusion. "Your pedicure is immaculate?" She leaned forward to observe his paint job more closely. "You don't need my help."

"Wait what?" Exclaimed Deidara and Hidan at the same time.

She supposed it made sense more for Obito than Tobi. From what little she saw of him, he was pretty well kept as far as male grooming went, much to her delight. "O-" She started then paused as she noticed they all looked at her, expecting the Lady Angel to be greatly offended.

She grew flustered. She almost said his name! "Oaf!" She exclaimed. "Y-You oaf! Get your feet off of my table!" She leaned forward and flicked his mask with chakra-powered force, making him comically bend backward in his chair, nearly falling over, but just enough to make him remove his foot to regain balance.

"Sorry, Konan-chan!" He rang out, holding his mask as if it actually hurt him.

"Wow. Will you look at that." Hidan said ruefully, looking down at Tobi's feet as he awkwardly shoved his sandal back on, still holding his mask. "Every little piggy is painted the perfect shade of blue. I knew you had to be good at something. Now since you don't need help get the fuck out of my seat."

Tobi scrambled before Hidan could get a hold of him, his beefy arm reached out to swipe at Tobi but just as Konan thought his hand passed through his shoulder. Obito still kept his reputation of being impossible to catch.

Hidan claimed his new territory by slamming down his dark green nail polish and flattening his bare fingers. "C'mon Lady, let's do this before I beat the shit out that orange head."

"You're lucky I don't charge you money." Konan announced, shaking up Hidan's bottle.

"Can you do my feet next?" Asked Deidara urgently. "I didn't know we had to paint our toes too!"

"No amount of money in the world would get me to paint any of your feet." Konan said calmly as she daintily began to apply paint to Hidan's fingers. "Get Tobi to do it, he's an expert."

"Did you hear that?" Said Tobi, clapping excitedly. "Please allow me the honor Deidara-senpai! Give me your polish and remove your shoes!"

"What? No Tobi! H-Hey get away from me or else I'll kill you! TOBI!"

Konan couldn't help but smile as chaos ensued around her. It's so easy to be an instigator.

…..

The next day, Konan moved about the kitchen. It was gloomy and grey but the morning light began to filter in. She had to rise early to get her food before the men devoured it all. The Akatsuki members have been coming back into the tower to reconvene before they were sent off again to continue fulfilling their quotas…and god knows what else.

Konan was scouring the fridge for breakfast when the doors opened.

She looked up in surprise, not expecting anyone to be around, to see Kisame. She frowned. Great.

He wasn't necessarily the worst of the members, not by a long shot, in fact, the former Mist shinobi could be charming and easy going. Sometimes. Most times though he just came off as…well, sharky.

"Lady Konan." He greeted with a sharp smile.

"You're back in town." She observed as she closed the fridge door, balancing a small selection of fruits.

"Yes, Itachi and I just completed an operative mission. Madara-sama will be pleased with our intel."

"Excellent." She said, avoiding awkward eye contact as she began to chop away at her breakfast.

He made his way to the sink, where he refilled his water canister. She could feel his beady eyes on her.

"I have to say, you look good these days."

She inwardly cringed. Without giving away dismay, she turned away, her voice devoid of emotion as she said, "Keep it professional, Kisame-san."

He chuckled. "Apologies, it's been a long time since I've been around a woman."

She wanted to roll her eyes. She quickly assembled her breakfast so she could retreat to her office to start the day.

"I'm never here anymore, you know, it was interesting when I was speaking to Zetsu the other day…he tells me you've been working very closely with Lord Madara."

For a second her knife paused. Meddling assholes. She thought with vice.

"It's expected I work closely with Lord Madara and Pein-sama as our success grows." She said, glancing over at him.

"And what do you exactly do for him?"

She narrowed her eyes and stabbed the knife into the cutting board with a resounding thwack. Taking her bowl of fruit gently into her hands Konan turned around. "What exactly do you think I am doing?"

Her threatening tone made him step backward. The men of the Akatsuki knew better than to overstep their boundaries with Konan. Especially considering her long-standing position in the organization. She was only a step down from a god-like shinobi.

"I don't mean to insinuate anything." His confident smile widened once more. "If you'd ever like to be wine and dined by a man your age, know I'm around."

There were abhorrence and revulsion in Konan's gaze. He's got some fucking nerve to suggest I'd cuddle up to some old man and then ask me-ME of all women-on a date!

She spun on her foot, flipping her hair while giving him one last dirty look. "Don't say things you'll regret, Kisame."

Now in a foul mood, she made her way to her office, hoping to see Zetsu so she could wring his pale, soggy looking neck. He witnessed her and Obito together in his office. Now he was planting seeds of information with other members. Why on earth would that spore be so interested in exposing his boss's secret relationship? She almost stopped in her tracks. Zetsu was the only other one that knew Obito's true identity. Did he even know that now Konan was privy to this secret?

Zetsu could tell Nagato just like that. Or worse, he could blackmail her. Perhaps it had been some sort of diabolical plan all along.

Konan. Stop thinking these thoughts. She swore under her breath.

She needed to see Obito soon. But not in her room. Someplace more neutral.

Konan wandered into her office and set down her bowl. She looked out the window into the hazy morning of Ame. He had to be upstairs by now.

She decided against her better judgment to step out again. The lavender kunoichi was about to take a left when she heard the rumble of men's' voices. She peeked around the corner and saw Pein talking with Kisame and Itachi.

Shit, how did he get up here so fast?

She veered right back around, not wanting to be seen by the men. Just her luck trying to get to Obito's office.

Suddenly Konan is pulled into an embrace and yanked away. Before she can make a noise she gets a whiff of smoke and the citrus soap. He pulls her to the balcony just on the other side of the hallway, pressing them against the outside wall. She could see her breath in the winter air.

"What are you doing?" She hissed angrily looking up at Obito's orange mask. Despite the surprise, her heart skipped a beat.

"I haven't said good morning to you." He slid his mask to the side, gently tilting her head to place a kiss on her cheek.

His wicked mouth kissing her so faintly drowned out her logical thoughts. A desire pulsed through Konan's veins, his lips warmed against her skin in the cold wind.

"Rather impetuous of you." She said coldly. "Someone will see us."

He pressed his mouth to her neck. "Beautiful Angel, you worry too much."

For someone as cautious as he was, he seemed unbothered to boldly gift affection outside the safety of her room. Especially with Akatsuki just around the corner. It felt all too uncharacteristic. Part of her wanted to bury her lingering suspicions, but she clung to them after her morning rendezvous with shark man about the mushroom man. She quickly formulated a strategy to talk to him.

She placed her palms against his chest and pushed away from him. "Train with me."

"What?" There was a trace of confusion in his voice.

"Train with me." She said again quietly. "This afternoon. Training vaults downstairs."

"I don't think that's a good idea." He replied huskily, his hands resting on her waist.

She narrowed her copper eyes accusingly at him. "Fine. I'll ask Sasori or Hidan. Maybe Kisame, he asked me out on a date this morning."

"Did you accept him?"

She had to pause and wonder if he was serious. She scoffed. "What do you think?"

He let go of her form. "Fine. I'll train with you If you wish. I won't hold back though."

She flicked his mask. "Neither will I." And collapsed into sheets of paper.

…..

"Konan are you well?"

She turned around to see Pein in her office. She had been eating her breakfast as she observed the cityscape. "Nagato! Aren't you leaving for the border surveillance mission today with some of the others?"

"I am, but I needed to check in with you before I left. I feel like you've been hiding. And I see the bags under your eyes." He studied her with his infinite stare. Even after all these years, it still felt unsettling to see his Rinnegan in Yahiko's body.

"I just haven't been very social." She replied with ease. "And the cold has been keeping me awake at night."

"I can send people out to buy more heaters." He offered.

The warmth of a hot-blooded Uchiha would work better.

Stop it! She gritted her teeth, turning away from him so she could hide her blush. "That would be nice, thank you. Anything else?"

"I noticed something the other night." He said flatly.

She stared down into her bowl, her stomach clenching. She suddenly wasn't hungry. "Oh?"

"Tobi-sama. He visited your room." There it was, always without preamble.

She wanted to throw up. Without hesitating, she said, "His eyes have been hurting."

He went silent for a moment, she glanced at him, it was as if he was deep in thought as he contemplated her.

"His eyes have been hurting." He repeated with skepticism.

"Yes." She double-downed, moving to place her half-eaten fruit bowl on the desk. "It seems I'm the only one to provide him some pain relief. He is an Uchiha after all."

"Frankly, I'm surprised he trusts you enough to let you near his eyes."

"You know I've been healing the Akatsuki for years." She shot back.

"And how exactly are you healing his eyes?"

"He doesn't remove his mask if that's what you want to know." She said cooly, crossing her arms defiantly. "I place my fingers at his temples, similar to what I've done with you."

He could read her all too well. Especially after experiencing the death of Yahiko together. She prayed he could not see through her lie.

"If that's the case then why didn't he leave until morning?"

Shit. "He fell asleep and I didn't want to wake him. He hadn't been sleeping that well either."

"I warned you not to get too close to him." Pein uttered, his tone stern.

Now she was annoyed. "I'm not up to anything, he only needed my healing abilities post-mission. If anyone knows about eyeball fatigue, it's you."

"He is our shadow leader, we have a vow of loyalty with him."

"Then why are you concerned? He's been our comrade for over ten years. You trust him, no?"

His eyes narrowed. "Do you trust him? Enough to let him into your rooms late at night?"

"Frankly, it's not your business." She said boldly.

Wrong move, his pierced expression grew more displeased. "Everything involving keeping you safe is my business. I'm not going to resort to spying on you, but I warn you to tread carefully."

"Isn't it too late? You saw him didn't you?"

"I saw him leave your room in the morning, but Zetsu had mentioned it the night before when they returned from their mission. I was trying to meet up with them to touch base, and he informed me Tobi-sama was with you. I decided not to think much of it until I noticed he remained with you the whole night."

Her grip on her arms tightened. That fucking mushroom is at it again.

"You have to stop fretting over me. Trust me Nagato, it's nothing but me taking care of things, as always. You know it's not uncommon for members to seek out my aid."

"You've expressed you were interested in his identity. Have you been plotting despite my warning?" His questions, always so swift and direct.

"No." She said resoundingly. "While I'd admit that I still want him to reveal his identity, you'd really think I'd have the ability to convince him?"

His mouth pressed in a firm line. That was a no, to her immense relief. Finally, he let out a deep breath. "Be careful Konan. That man has a reason for his secrets, and the potential costs of knowing that reason isn't worth it."

"I will. Don't worry about me." She assured him, feeling some semblance of reprieve that he didn't catch on. "Isn't it good that he's finally relying on me anyway? After all, we've known him for years."

"I suppose so." He said slowly, unconvinced.

"We're training together this afternoon. Thought you should know before Zetsu makes any more observations." She added.

"Training?" That piqued his interest. "You haven't trained with anyone since Yahiko."

"Correction, I still train with you." She retorted.

"That doesn't count." He countered, his expression looking less concerned. "But I'll leave you to it." He opened the door. "Let me know who wins alright?"

She smiled. "Sake on you if I managed to lay a blow on him."

His lips quirked into a small smile. "Deal."

After the door closed, Konan clutched her heart and sank into her chair. That was too close.

Way too close.

…..

Underground, through a tunnel, Akatsuki had two arenas for training. The structures were engineered to be virtually indestructible, though Deidara managed to make some buildings above shake with a massive explosion about a month ago. Konan and Pein had to do damage control in the village. Lethal blows were naturally forbidden, but most Akatsuki men couldn't control their bravado. Thinking with their dicks, as Konan liked to put it. Too much testosterone.

The dome-like caverns were brightly lit with industrial lights embedded in the rock and steel, broken pipes that had been semi-dismantled in construction still poked through the foundation. The wide expanse of the floor was padded appropriately-although there were some patches from past blows that exposed the stone underneath.

Konan stood at the center of the massive arena, stretching. She anxiously waited, wondering if he'd even show up to such a ridiculous request.

Konan was relieved when the man manifested in front of her, his form swirling into existence.

"Nice outfit." He said as a greeting.

She merely gave him a sidelong glance. It was a pair of black leggings and a sports bra, a get up not very different from her trainings with Nagato. Though she supposed he had never really been around when she trained down in the caverns. "Admiring my form, Uchiha?" She said with attitude.

"Yes, it's very distracting." He said, making her face burn. Not the answer she expected. "Well? How should we train?"

She put her hands on her hips. "Taijutsu mostly. I don't feel like dealing with your Sharingan tricks."

He removed his Akatsuki cloak, donning his usual all-black ensemble. She imagined he was smiling under his mask. "Very well, Lady Konan."

They circled each other. Prey to prey. Usually, in combat, they moved seamlessly-having spent years understanding subtle body language and expression to communicate their next moves. Between her evasive yet aggressive paper jutsus and his impenetrable defense combined with his terrifyingly powerful Sharingan, they were unstoppable. Against each other? She didn't want to push their limitations, although it intrigued her to find a weak point within him, knowledge to store away for the future, in case something got out of hand. In this session however, she mostly wanted the time to confront him about Zetsu.

"How does it feel to be discovered as the best nail painter of the Akatsuki?" She teased lightly.

"I rather enjoy it." He replied, playing along. "Takes the pressure off being the best shinobi."

"Do you feel the pressure now?" She asked.

"No. Never from you. Although, that face flick from earlier today almost hurt, makes me wonder if you can even try to fight me."

"That's concerning." The Paper Angel laughed. "Doesn't make for an interesting fight."

"Well, I suppose we mostly work together." He said, echoing her thoughts. He procured a shuriken, spinning it in his palm. "Weapons?"

She smirked. "If you need them."

He attacked, sending several shuriken her way. The confrontation was met with a flurry of her paper-engineered kunai.

"So much for taijutsu!"

Her heart stammered when he appeared in front of her, his weapon against hers as they danced. She had to admit, she was incredibly intimated to go up against him. Especially now that she knew Madara had passed on the entirety of his knowledge to his loyal pupil.

That, and, she swung-her kunai and arm passing straight through him-he had his insanely annoying defense.

"Must be nice to be transparent!" She exclaimed, swinging again through his ghostly side.

"Mostly." He responded, their kunai clashing with a satisfying ring that echoed on the cavern's walls.

He caught her wrist, pushing her arm upwards, flinging her kunai from her grasp. She attempted to raise her leg to kick him. She grunted as he met her kick with a vice grip. He used his immense strength to fling her across the arena. Konan tumbled onto the firm surface of the arena, quickly leaping upwards to gain traction on the floor.

He appeared in front of her again. Their quick reflexes were strategic, every move anticipated between them. Konan flipped up into the air gracefully, evading his attack.

Then one of his powerful fists impacted her side. Her form exploded into sheets of paper, flying around him as he turned around to pinpoint her source of chakra. She could see the red glow of his Sharingan. The copy wheel always equally stuck fear and fascination within her.

"You aren't the only one who can evade." She said in the void of air.

She appeared above him, flying downward to perform a barrage. To her surprise he was able to grab hold of her side, pulling her down midair and onto the ground.

Konan lost control, she didn't have enough time to perform a substitution jutsu. She fell to the ground, hard, eliciting a yelp.

Her body ached in pain. Obito pressed her to the floor. He was not even breathing heavy, despite their quick sequence of attacks, while she was winded and sweaty. He was unstoppable. She looked anywhere but his face, afraid to look at his red eye and be sucked into his concrete world again. She couldn't help but be in awe of his power, it stirred something within her, to be so close to the razor's edge of danger.

He pinned her down, his arm pressing against her neck. He was the winner of their spar. "I'm still confused about why you wanted to train with me." He said. "Clearly you'd lose."

Her fear dissipated a bit at the confused tone in his voice, irritating her. He hadn't meant to harm her. She squirmed under his weight, he caught on to the fact his large body was crushing her so he eased up and removed his arm against her neck, repositioning himself to hover over her.

Teasing him a little, perhaps out of spite, she lifted her legs and hooked them on his sides. The action made him freeze up, and she blushed, wondering if she just made a mistake, but she didn't let her embarrassment break her temporary hold over him.

"Because I need to speak with you." Konan said, her copper eyes roving his masked face.

"You could have just asked me to your room." He said lowly.

She began to lazily trace the stitching running down his side. "Except we can't, because it appears Nagato has caught on to us."

She could see his eye in the oculus squint at her. It was back to its inky color "Are you sure?"

"He saw you enter my room late at night and leave in the morning." She hissed, tugging at his shirt. "Though the reason was that he was tipped off by Zetsu."

"Ah yes, Nagato was looking for me the night I returned from the mission." Obito replied without missing a beat.

"So you knew?!" Konan said, looking perturbed.

"I did instruct Zetsu to tell Nagato of my whereabouts, if that's what you're getting at."

She gaped. "You knew that he knew? Did it ever occur to you that Nagato would figure out you stayed the night?"

"I wasn't too concerned about it." He admitted. "Because Nagato respects your privacy."

"It seems your loyal assistant had also hinted to Kisame of all people that you and I work closely together."

"But that's just a fact." He said flatly. "We do work closely."

She rolled her eyes, frowning. "That's not was Kisame was implying! Zetsu is planting seeds, for reasons I can't figure out. I need to know if you have some ulterior motive. Or if he does."

"Zetsu serves Madara first and foremost, I doubt he would do anything to jeopardize my position." He deflected.

"You know, you don't seem concerned." She snapped back. "You know the risk if other members caught on."

"Don't worry." Said Obito lowly. "I'll speak to Zetsu. He's mischievous sometimes, but he won't do anything out of line. It's in your head Konan."

Konan eyed him suspiciously. "I don't exactly trust Zetsu, nor you in these regards. How do I know that he isn't plotting to blackmail me, or use this information for ulterior motives against us?"

"You're imaginative." He sniffed. "But there are no ulterior motives on my part. Everything I've told you is true. Our agreement still holds it's place. Zetsu knows it's of utter secrecy. He would have nothing to gain against your or Nagato. He is only here because of me."

"Are you sure?"

"It's fine." He reassured her. "More urgently, I'd like to know what you said to Nagato?"

"I told him I was healing your eyes. I think he bought it, but now I'm sure he'll be warier about people who walk near my room. It might be safer for you to refrain from visiting me." Even though she regretted the words she was too fearful otherwise.

"I'll just enter another way." He said as if it was the most obvious solution in the world.

"Did you not understand me? Don't underestimate Nagato's protectiveness over me."

"I know that," He said, one of his hands taking hold of her thigh. Her heart jumped into her throat. "We'll have be to extra discreet then."

"You know, you seem awfully reckless in your definition of discreet." She managed to say, now distracted by his hand on her leg, realizing how compromising her position felt and looked.

"What can I say? I like an element of danger when it comes to you."

At that moment Konan pushed as hard as she could against his chest, using the entirety of her weight to flip him over. He allowed her to. Now she sat atop him, straddling him. She leaned forward, pressing her hands on his shoulders, peering down at him, mustering her sweetest demeanor. "If we are going to do this, you also have to play by my rules, Obito-kun."

"Oh, so it's like that now?" He scoffed at the affectionate name.

Not wanting to entertain any other heated thoughts that might be festering between them, she lifted herself off of him, standing up. She held out her hand, which he took, and rose with ease.

"I'll let you win this time, Konan." He announced, dusting off his pants.

She deadpanned. "How gracious of you."

…..

Obito blinked. The first thing he noticed was that he wasn't cold, despite being outside in winter. He was in a field with rolling hills blanketed in fresh snow. By the looks of the landscape, he was near Fire Country. He could see the thick forest in the distance. If he went through that it would eventually lead him to his former home, Konoha.

More interestingly, giant white forms were disrupting the landscape. He stood about twenty feet away from one. Upon closer inspection it looked like origami, sheets of paper creating some abstract shape. It reminded him of Konan.

"She's such a talent, isn't she?"

He jumped in out of his skin, how did he not notice someone else was there?

He whipped his head around, coming face to face with Pein.

Except it wasn't him. While he wore the Akatsuki cloak, his rows of studs and rings were gone, and the endless swirl of the Rinnegan had been replaced with glimmering dark eyes.

Yahiko.

"You're supposed to be dead." He muttered.

He laughed at that. "I am."

"Then what are you do doing here?" He retorted.

"That could be my question for you." Yahiko suddenly frowned, his brows narrowing. "I know what you did to me."

Obito felt as if ice overcame his insides. He quickly inhaled the freezing air. "I don't know what you mean."

Yahiko stepped closer, clenching his jaw as he looked at him head-on. "You let them take her. You put her in danger to kill me."

Obito's hands made into fists, his eyes shifting to Sharingan. He scanned Yahiko's form, surprise to see an absence of chakra. Was this a dream?

"I had no choice." He said tightly.

"You had no choice?" Yahiko repeated as if it was the most ludicrous thing in the world.

"I can't do anything when he takes over. I have a mission to follow, just like you did."

"No." He said swiftly. "I had a dream. A dream for the Akatsuki. And you demolished it."

"I don't owe you anything." Obito snapped. "It simply was meant to be."

"Yes you do, Obito Uchiha." Yahiko bellowed, looking at him with fearlessness in his eyes. Obito forgot how spirited Yahiko had been, how passionate in comparison to himself. Obito felt like a candle being extinguished as he stood toe to toe with the bright light that was Yahiko.

"All you're going to do is put her in danger. And for what?"

"She can take care of herself."

"Is that what you said about Rin?" Yahiko's eyes fell downwards. Obito followed, feeling his knees buckled at the sight of Rin's body, bloodied and crumpled in the snow.

"That's how Konan feels about me. Every day. And you selfishly exploit her." Yahiko snarled.

"How did you know about Rin?" Obito demanded, looking up at the Hidden Rain shinobi.

"I know everything about you Obito Uchiha." His voice was not his own anymore. Obito fell backward in the snow, recognizing the voice of Madara.

"I'm only going to warn you once. Be careful. You are walking away from your path."

"I haven't lost sight of what you promised." Obito, stood up, brushing off his pants. He looked at Rin once more, to find her body had vanished, the snow left untouched.

"Haven't you?" He remarked dryly. Behind him one of the paper forms caught fire, in it he saw the shadow of a figure and scream he recognized.

The ghost of Yahiko was forgotten and Obito scrambled towards the burning origami. He ignored the heat on his hands and smoke in his face as he tore apart the paper. At its center was Konan.

"Obito!" She cried. She had looked the same as the night of their mission, wearing the fancy silk dress with the long hair and glimmering jewelry. He was relieved to see she wasn't burned as he lifted her from the fiery paper.

"Are you ok?" He rasped.

"Well well well…" Yahiko neared them, smiling coldly as he scrutinized them. Obito glowered at him, holding Konan in closely. "This isn't in Madara's plan."

"It's my job to protect the Akatsuki!" His blood burned in anger. "And that includes her!"

"You've become foolish." Once again, Yahiko's voice overlapped with Madara's.

"Did you kill him?" Obito looked down, finding Konan staring at him, her make up running down her face. She was crying.

He opened his mouth but no words came out.

"Did you?!" She said again, her expression hardening.

"It wasn't me! I promised I'd protect you!" His voice cracked, his eyes burned. He was looking at Rin, and then Konan..and then…some sick combination of her, with the purple paint and hair.

"No!" He yelled against the chasm of his nightmare.

…..

Obito sprang up in his bed. "Fuck me!" He snarled, finding his body was slick with sweat. He dragged his hands down his face, trying to gather his wits. In a fury he tore his blankets away, stumbling in the dark to his bathroom. He needed to put the fire out. He found his shower, turning the handle until ice-cold water poured over his body, extinguishing his burning vice. His body shuddered from the impact of the water. He sank to the floor, wrapping his arms around his legs as he breathed deeply, the sensation of the freezing water washing away his nightmare.

At last, he turned off the water. He stayed on the floor of his bathroom, pressing his face against the cool tiling. He closed his eyes, trying to chase warmer thoughts.

Konan is ok, she's sleeping in her bed safely. Rang Rin's voice of reason.

He pictured Konan in her bed, under layers of blankets, only able to glimpse her glossy lavender hair. He wondered what it would feel like if he was right next to her. He wondered what she would think of his partially white-colored flesh, and how on earth he could explain the mismatched skin without revealing Madara's powers.

Had it all been a mistake? He ran a hand through his damp hair. He lamented how his whole life had pivoted around loss, despite all the ways he avoids it.

Obito suddenly felt very sick. His body burned, nausea came over him. He scrambled out of his bathroom, finding his mind going light as a feather. Too dizzy and weakened to make it to his bed he collapsed to the floor. Within minutes his body grew heavy. He closed his eyes as darkness subsided over him.

…..

"Obito!"

"Obito, come on."

His vision blurred. Then he felt a hand at his jaw and a rush of water. He sputtered and choked as water forcefully went down the wrong pipe.

Then his stomach revulsed. Obito leaned over, finding a bucket being shoved into his face, and he began vomiting. A hand gripped his shoulder.

"Let it all out, My Lord." Came White Zetsu's voice.

Once Obito finished vomiting the entirety of his insides he laid back down, realizing he was in his bed. His eyes drifted close. His body tremored.

"Here." Said another voice, more feminine. He felt a warm cloth on his forehead. "This will help his fever. Zetsu can you bring him water?"

Obito struggled to grasp his consciousness, trying to understand what was happening to him. He felt the presence of someone leaning over him, and then a minty sensation at his pounding temple, cascading into his body with sweet relief. He inhaled a nice floral scent. One he recognized.

Obito opened his eyes slightly, finding Konan with a concentrated look on her face, her hands lit green with her healing energies. She noticed he awakened. "You'll be ok." She said soothingly, looking down in concern.

"Wha..what happ.." He gasped, but couldn't find the energy to finish his sentence.

"Zetsu found you collapsed on your floor. You were naked and the shower was still running. It looks like you came down with a sudden fever." She explained gently. "I'm relieved to see that you've stabilized." She gave him a bashful look. "And despite the circumstances, it's nice to see your face again."

"D-Did you find me?" He had to ask, feeling mortified.

Her faced flushed a pleasant pink. "No! Zetsu did and called for me."

"You seemed perfectly fine earlier, Obito." Konan's concern returned in her voice. "Is there something else going on?"

At that point, Zetsu reappeared. "Ah, the Prince has awakened." Grumbled Black Zetsu.

"He has terrible nightmares." Explained White Zetsu, handing her a jug of water."I'm guessing his fever is related to that."

"So you still are having trouble with sleep…" Konan gently patted his head. "I'm sorry Obito, I should've known."

"Next time My Lord I suggest you just take the sleeping pills instead of an ice shower and passing out on the cold stone floor in the middle of winter." White Zest said with his sly grin.

"I don't even remember doing that." He groaned.

"Here, drink this." Konan instructed, bringing water to his lips. He drank deeply, feeling thankful even with the hazy edges on his mind.

"Thank you….Konan. You didn't have to do this for me."

"Shhh, of course, I did. Didn't I say comrades stick together? Go back to sleep." She whispered, smiling. "You can make it up to me later."

…..

Author's Note: Readers! Hello, I've missed you all! Thank you kindly for your patience…it's been busy for me between work and other projects. I also needed to hit pause and sit with the story for a bit. I used the past few weeks to jump ahead and map out / rework some of the plot lines going forward-all in all I'm excited with where the story is going!

And shout out to artist Steoh ( steohsama on twitter) for the BEAUTIFUL Fire & Paper fan art! Steoh illustrated some ICONIC scenery that has happened thus far *chef's kiss* Please go check it out, it will melt your heart like it did mine :')

-LL