Author's Note: Well, thank you for the NO REVIEWS that I received. If a review for the previous chapter comes out after this is updated and I don't know about it, then I apologize.

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Pein, who'd only arrived at the scene moments ago, couldn't believe what he saw. Konan looked helpless leaning up against that tree, bleeding. She had tears running down her pale cheeks and her eyes were closed in both embarrassment and pain.

Her beautiful kimono was ruined. It had somehow been ripped at the knees, completely tearing off in some place that they weren't around. Her pale, cold knees glowed in the moonlight. Her flower had fallen out somewhere, her feet were bear, and her makeup, excluding whatever was on her eyes, had washed off from the rain and the tears.

Her kimono was open, her obi ripped and lying on the ground. She had a black shirt and black shorts underneath it, knowing that this might happen. She had a small injury on her hip, from where the kunai had stabbed her and ripped open most of the stitches that had originally been there. She had blood running down her side, dripping all the way to her leg.

"Konan!" said Pein, running to her side. He took her by the shoulders, looking down at her. He hugged her tightly, breathing in the smell of lavender mixed with blood and tears.

He wiped a tear from her mascara-smudged eye with his thumb. Even this badly hurt and upset, she was still an angel. This was all his fault and he'd almost gotten there too late.

He looked back up at her. "How badly are you hurt?" he asked.

Konan backed away. "I'm fine; it's not as bad as it looks. I won't need immediate medical attention, just a few bandages to hold me until we make our trip back to Amegakure." she assured him.

Pein looked her over. She had taken a beating and nearly lost her pride, and it was all because of a reckless strategy that he'd ordered. He had a feeling that she was lying about the pain, but he decided not to test her patience.

For the next seven minutes, Pein rested against a tree as Konan wrapped special gauze around her stomach and hip. "Are you sure you don't need help?" asked Pein, avoiding to look in her direction so that she knew that he was respecting her privacy.

Konan winced as she tied the knot that she'd just made, temporarily securing the wrappings. "No, I just finished." she said, dusting herself off. "You can look now."

Pein got up from his leaning position, walking over to her. She looked up at him, bright-golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "What happened to the other two you were left with?" she asked, rubbing the gauze to assure secure protection from the environment until further notice.

Pein looked up at the stars, pretty neon ones that were shining brightly in the midnight sky. "I killed them quickly, knowing that I needed to get to you. We obviously won't be able to ask any questions, but the murders will end now." he said.

Konan nodded. "Good. At least something good came from this mission." she said.

Pein sighed, a hand on her shoulder. He didn't have to speak a word to tell her that he was terribly sorry, and that he blamed himself entirely. After a few minutes, he spoke again. "We should be leaving soon, but first, we need to inform Deidara about what has happened. Do you think you could . . .?" he asked.

Konan raised a hand, nodding. She formed a hand jutsu, and then watched as a bit of her shoulder peeled off, being replaced with more paper. She handed it to Pein, who made a hand sign of his own. A pen appeared.

Konan turned around as Pein used her back as a writing board. He wrote a note to Deidara, telling him about their mission. He then handed the paper to Konan, using a hand sign to take the pen away.

Pein watched as Konan folded the paper into a bird, and then threw it into the cold night air. It flew off, as if a regular bird. It was astounding, he thought, that she could make things do that.

_ _ _

Deidara's POV

I sat in an empty performance room, well, almost empty. I sat with many geisha, each anxiously biting their nails or quietly speaking with another. I yawned, only to be interrupted by a tapping coming at the room's window. There, I saw a paper bird tapping on the glass with its elegant beak.

A geisha opened the window, letting the bird fly in. It immediately came to me, sitting on the palm of my hand. I unfolded it, the life of the bird slowly draining out. There, on the paper, was a message from Pein.

Dear Deidara,

Konan and I are currently on the north-eastern side of the forest surrounding the village. All six men have been killed, but I was unable to get any information out of them, because of an ordeal with Konan and I being temporarily separated. The battle is over now, but Konan has a wound in her side that we need to get attention to. This village has no medical center, so I would prefer that we go back to Amegakure. Tell the geisha that their problem is solved.

Pein

_ _ _

Konan's POV

Deidara arrived within a few minutes, using the speed of a clay bird. Pein and I stepped onto the beast, nearly being knocked off when it took off. As cold wind hit us, we attempted to stay calm and sat down.

"Don't you think that we should take care of those bodies, un?" Deidara asked to Pein.

Pein shook his head. "Someone will find them soon enough. I've left a note attached to each body, so that the village will understand. It shouldn't be a problem." he said.

Silence

I shivered under my tattered kimono, rubbing my legs. It would snow soon, not tonight though. I imagined what another December in Amegakure would be like.

Pein took off his Akatsuki robe, handing it to me. I gladly accepted it, putting it on and sitting cross-legged in order to keep myself warm. I ignored the burning sensation in my side, not wanting to look weak.

End of Chapter Quote:

I don't mind spending every day,

Out on your corner in the pouring rain,

Look for a girl with a broken smile,

Ask her if she wants to stay a while,

And she will be loved,

And she will be loved.

-She Will Be Loved, Maroon 5