Ibiki snorted at Pein's sudden fire. "A god, huh? Honey, I think you were dropped on your head as a child." He amped up the electricity coursing through Pein's body again, sending the Ame-nin into another spasming fit of pain and terror. Still, Pein held on-he couldn't afford to give anything away! If these interrogators didn't kill him, Madara would!

"Come on!" Ibiki yelled, dulling the pain for a moment to speak. "Who are you working for?!"

Pein grit his teeth, trying not to bite his tongue. The least he could do was hang on…for Konan. He couldn't let his lover down! Even so, Pein was considering suiciding, as not to give up anything regarding Akatsuki. The combination of the drugs they had given him and the electricity was going to wear him down fast. Pein felt the metal heat up a split second before the shock hit him, and his entire body arched in pain. It was as if an explosion had taken place inside his chest, and spread to the rest of his body.

Pein fell unconscious, hanging from his bonds and crying.

Ibiki turned on his heel, powering down the electricity. "Let's go," he said. "Not even water is going to wake him up. Get Otoha in here; we don't want him to die."

OOOOOOOOOO

Konan felt sick to her stomach as she materialized in the Konoha dungeons. She had dispersed into paper and flown into Pein's cell, sheet by sheet. He was unconscious; she could see that as her eyes formed. But the good news was, there was no one else in the room. She had been taking a risk with her technique, because she couldn't be sure of anyone's presence but Pein's. But she was third time lucky, and now, she could rescue Pein. She could feel her mouth fall open at the sight before her: tears streaked Pein's face, turned upwards and twisted in pain and fear. He was naked, and bruises, cuts, burns, and brands littered his flesh like smallpox. Her heart leapt to her throat at the sight, and nausea took over. Konan turned away, crying out in pain and fear at the sight of Pein kneeling there, held up only by his bonds and his torn-up wrists. Finally, after several heaves and a few deep breaths, Konan had calmed herself enough to allow anger to take over. Konoha…Konoha could not live another day for this! There was no excuse; there was no taking this back. Konan knelt down next to Pein and, with only her bare hands, twisted away the metal tying him to the gate behind him. Pein fell into her arms, whimpering subconsciously with the pain. Konan felt a momentary soft spot grow in her heart-

And immediately crushed it.

There could be no emotions as of now-save them for later. Konan couldn't afford to falter in her need to kill the people who had done this to her beloved Pein. Damn them! Damn them all to the darkest depths of hell! Damn them all-!

A gasp drew Konan's attention to the doorway.

There-standing there, in the doorway, with a backpack over one shoulder was a slight girl in the uniform of one of Konoha's medics. Konan's eyes narrowed, and she turned around to face the girl. "Stand down," she ordered, "Or you will be standing in my way. And then, I will be forced to kill you."

Otoha swallowed hard. "I-I'm sorry," she said. "But I can't let you take him."

Konan slowly lowered Pein to the ground, feeling every ounce of his pain on her own heart. "Calm down, love," she whispered. "I promise, I'll get you out of here in a moment."

Pein shifted and stirred, but did not wake. Konan turned around, glaring living daggers at the girl who dared to stand in her way. Her body began to shift and rustle, and paper suddenly burst off of her in torrents and waves. Konan was turning into paper, right before their eyes.

"Konan. Stop."

Konan's transformation stopped cold at the sound of Pein's voice. She slowly came back together, turning around to stare at him. "Pein!" she whispered, immediately rushing over to him and cradling him in her arms. "I'm sorry," she continued, still glaring at Otoha. "I'll finish this up quickly."

"Otoha, you can either move, or I let her loose on you," Pein whispered, voice hoarse and weak from crying out fruitlessly. Otoha swallowed hard and looked around, trying to assess the situation. The metal that had been twisted around Pein's wrists and ankles lay mangled on the floor, at the far end of the cell. Konan was kneeling with Pein across her lap on the left wall; the left when one walked into the room. Pein was naked and shivering, whether from blood loss, pain, cold, or fear, no one had any idea Konan was about to burst into flames, her temper and body being made of paper not going very well together, and Otoha was standing in the doorway, stuck in the middle of it all. She had Konan staring at her like the devil herself, Pein giving her the benefit of the doubt, and here she was, just standing there like a dumbshit. Otoha sighed and lowered her head.

"Pein…" she whispered. "I can buy you five minutes."

Paper flew everywhere, and the next second, both Konan and Pein were gone.

OOOOOOOOOOO

"Jiraiya-sama!"

Otoha flew into Tsunade's office, searching for Jiraiya. Sure enough, the big, white-haired man was there, standing in front of Tsunade. The Hokage was sitting behind her desk, hands folded and propped up on her elbows in front of the lower half of her face. Jiraiya whipped around at Otoha's desperate call; Tsunade stood up. Both knew she was the medic in charge of Pein; anything that caused her to cry out so was cause for concern.

"What?" Jiraiya asked. "What happened? Something with Pein?"

"His partner came and took him!" Otoha cried. "She-she knocked me out, and when I woke up, Pein was gone!"

Jiraiya's eyes widened. Konan! She had come back for Pein! But…who else had she brought with her? Jiraiya knew Konan would not take kindly to her lifetime friend being stolen from her and treated so harshly, and also that she wielded power to be feared. Both as a politician with a sharp tongue and a ninja with a sharp spear, Konan was known around most of the world and lauded as the most powerful kunoichi ever to live, second not even to Tsunade. "Did she have blue hair with a flower in it?" Jiraiya asked. If this was Konan, he wanted to be sure!

"Yes," Otoha gasped. "And her body exploded into paper when she disappeared!"

Jiraiya's heart leapt to his throat. So it was her! "Did she have anyone with her?" he questioned. Otoha shook her head, and Jiraiya breathed a sigh of relief. So she hadn't-!

A crash brought Jiraiya's attention outwards.

All three rushed to Tsunade's window, staring down at the source of the noise. A wall had been breached, and Ame ninja were swarming through. Tsunade gasped and stepped back, reeling. Jiraiya caught her and sat her down, telling her to stay put, and he would handle it. Then, he rushed out of the room, yelling over his shoulder to Otoha to stay with Tsunade. Otoha nodded wordlessly, frightened for both herself and Pein. She had always seen him as untouchable, noble, proud, and beautiful-and here he was, running from an entire village, wounded and weak, with only a handful of ninja actively protecting him. She knew the Akatsuki's numbers were small, and that the rest of Ame was attacking Konoha as punishment for taking Pein. Could Konoha hold out? Konan was furious; Pein was unconscious, but would be outraged when he woke up; the rest of the Akatsuki was livid. At the moment, it was not looking good.

"Stay," Tsunade said, standing up. "I'm going to help. As Hokage, it's my duty. And, no matter what happens, I have to adhere to that. Go to the hospital and help everyone there. You're a good medical ninja, Otoha: use yours skills."

Otoha nodded, in a fog of shock. She took off for the hospital, taking orders from Tsunade. She couldn't go against her Kage. Otoha also doubted her own skills in battle; as a medical ninja, she had none of the powerful jutsu of another jounin. Tsunade rushed out to meet the Ame ninja, unsure of how to proceed. Diplomacy, or violence?

Or better yet, what would get them out alive?

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Pein woke up seeing black and red.

Flinching, he tried to turn or sit up to see what was going on, but a gentle hand on his shoulder stopped him. Pein immediately panicked, and lashed out at the person holding him down. His chance to escape-gone. Konan had come and helped him, and now he was back where he started-the captive of another. Pein could hear a fog of voices, each and every one penetrating his brain and bouncing around maddeningly.

But one stood out.

It was a female voice, light and soft, and yet firm in its discipline. And almost pleading, telling him to quiet down, he was safe…Pein managed to loose himself from the person's grip, and he rolled off to the side, landing on his knees with his legs spread and arms wrapped around his middle with the pain. Pein just knelt for a moment, breathing hard and trying to get his bearings. Someone had wrapped an Akatsuki cloak around him…whose hands was he in? Pein looked up, attempting to find out. His eyes finally came into contact with-

Konan's.

Pein gasped and did a double-take, disbelieving. Still, the Rinnegan did not lie. Pein slowly lowered his head again, biting his lip. Everything from the past few days came pouring out in an onslaught of emotions, and Pein found himself restraining tears. Several deep breaths did him wonders, and Pein felt gentle arms wrap around him.

"Pein," Konan whispered, pulling him into her shoulder, "you're safe…calm down…" As she spoke, Pein could feel her hand running through his hair in a soothing gesture, and Pein felt himself gradually winding down. Finally, he was breathing normally again and his heart wasn't in danger of exploding. Konan continued to stroke his hair, though, still trying to alleviate at least a little bit of his pain. And strangely…Pein was alright with the sudden weakness he felt. If it earned him this kind of attention from Konan, he would be content for a good, long, time.

"Leader-sama."

Itachi had approached, and now knelt at Pein's side. "We need to get out of here. I apologize for the rush, and to push you so soon, but the battle draws ever closer to us. Can you move?"

Pein hesitantly sat up, flinched, and then sank back into Konan's arms, shaking his head. Itachi sighed and turned around.

"Kisame-you're the strongest physically of us all. Carry him."

Pein sighed and buried his face in Konan's shoulder. Well, shit happens to the best of us…he quietly submitted as Kisame's arms wound around his shoulders and knees, slowly and carefully lifting him up and into Kisame's arms. It seemed the shark was being gentle with him: he was moving slowly, and was trying not avoid sudden motion or movement that would jar Pein too much. Konan stood up and motioned to Kisame, and the entire Akatsuki moved off as one, Kisame carrying Pein in the middle and the rest of the Akatsuki surrounding him. Pein was humiliated-clothed only in a cloak, which seemed to be Itachi's, due the Uchiha's lack of such, carried by an enormous, blue man with gills in his cheeks, and flanked by a plant, a hyper active child, a stoic parricidal maniac, and a woman who was practically a mother to them all. But…he was alive. But why was that? A skittish little girl had spared him. Granted, Konan could have massacred her easily, but still…she had even gone as far as to buy them time! Why? Pein suspected foul play, but they had gotten out of the village flawlessly, as Otoha had told them they would…

"Leader-sama? Ten yen for your thoughts."

Pein almost smiled at Zetsu's question. "Just pondering where this is going," he murmured. "Now hand it over."

Zetsu's white half smiled, and he turned away, leaving Pein to his thoughts. Konan had to admit she was curious, but knew better than to push Pein. He would probably hole up for a few days until he sorted himself out, and then resume life as normal. But still, she couldn't help but be concerned. What lasting trauma would this leave? Would Pein's body have new scars? Would his mind? Would be behave any differently on account of this trauma?

Would Pein be the same Nagato Konan knew as a child?

A/N: Can you spell "angst?" : ) Review, please!!