Earning Her Wings

A/N: First I like to say 'Yay' to all the people who figured out the Akatsuki was going to be introduced. Sure it wasn't that heard to figure out; I mean Konan belongs there it would've of only been a matter of time before they showed up. Oh and about Pein being Yahiko and not Nagoto; it was totally accidental. I wasn't actually thinking about that detail when I introduced him. So sorry for that. But that's that.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Akatsuki.

Warning: Language, crack, OOCness.

~4:05~

Konan had been standing outside for almost an half an hour. Pein had told her to meet him outside by the gate when school ended. Well school ended around 3:30 and she had been standing here waiting for that long.

She let out a sigh, no she wasn't disappointed. After all she was used to being lied to and hurt to. Konan whipped her eyes, 'why are they tearing' she thought to herself. 'What did you expected Konan' she hissed angrily to herself. 'What would someone like him want with something like you?'

She grabbed her things and prepared to leave. There would be all sorts of hell to pay when she got home, but she was ready for all that. After all this day already was turning out to be a disappointment, like the rest of her miserable life.

"Konan!" the voice startled her; so much she dropped her bag. Konan turned around to see Pein. He smiled at her, "look I'm real sorry I'm late. You must of been waiting for a while, huh." She smiled at him; of course she had been waiting for so long but seeing him made her forget.

"No, it's okay" she said seeing Pein smile at her. The moment was perfect. They sat by one of the tables in the school courtyard. Konan didn't know what they were suppose to be doing, but she could just sit by Pein all day. He was talking about something but she wasn't paying attention to it. And by the time she blinked back into reality, 8 other people were sitting by them.

She looked around, confused. Five on one side, and five on the side she was one. There was a blonde sitting next to her and on the other side a red head; not to mention the 2 others; one having an orange hat and the other having greenish hair. On Pein's side there now sat a tall guy with bluish hair, one with sliver hair, another with black hair and the other tan with brown hair. There was a long silence between them 'til the redhead spoke up.

"Sasori." Before Konan could comprehend what that was suppose to mean they all started talking.

"Deidara"

"Tobi"

"Zetsu"

"Kisame"

"Itachi"

"Kakuzu"

"Hidan"

"Um," she paused were they saying their names; should she. Might as well. "Konan"

Tobi gave a dramatic gasp, "Oh Tobi's god, you're Konan?" Nothing would make her understand that sentence. "So you actually exist," Sasori said. They all turned to Pein, and he looked at them with a smug look "told you I knew someone."

Hidan laughed, "gotta hand it to you man. She actually real, thought you were getting desperate and created an imaginary girlfriend." Konan nearly blushed at the sound girlfriend; despite her sheltered life she knew what those were. "Least she's not ugly," Itachi added as a final statement. They all nodded in agreement.

Tobi jumped up, "Tobi know, we should celebrate. To the mall" He was standing on the table yelling to the top of his lungs. "Tobi sit the fuck down," Zetsu growled and pointed towards Konan "you're scaring her." Tobi sat down, "sorry." He turned to Konan, "you're Tobi's new friend." He moved fast cause now Konan was being squeezed in a tight hug. Zetsu pulled Tobi off of her, "don't mind him. Didn't get enough oxygen at birth, kind of mental."

Pein grabbed her hand, "come on Konan. We're going to the mall." She, along with the others followed Pein to this truck; which they all piled in. Pulling out the school driveway Pein looked over at Konan and smiled, "you good." She nodded and smiled back; this was nothing compared to going out with her family, there was barely breathing room the way they would be piled up.

Speaking of family, she wondered how they were taking her absence. She had never been away from home, especially not without permission. But she didn't have much time to worry about it cause the drive to the mall didn't take that long. They all stepped out the car and Konan stared out in awe.

She had never been to a mall before; as a matter of fact she had never seen one. "Come on, un" she blinked in confusion when Deidara called out. They were all ahead of her; she must have been zoning out. Making it up to them she stopped in the front lobby of the mall. Hidan scoffed "don't tell me you never been into a mall."

Konan paused, could she explain to them about her life. She did a quick look around at them; they were Pein's friends, and if he trusted them she would to. So she shook her head, "my parents don't like me or any of my siblings doing these types of things. They say they're too worldly, because we're Mormon and all." She hoped they wouldn't look at her weirdly, but it soon became apparent half of them didn't even pay attention to what she had just said.

"Well come on Konan," Tobi yelled grabbing her arm and dragging her along with the others. Her feet slide against the floor, "you're going to fast" she shrieked half out of breath. Tobi let go of her, "Tobi's sorry." She smiled at him, "don't worry Tobi, its okay." His eyes lit up , "yay, Konan's not mad at Tobi." He looked around, "shit. Where everybody go."

Konan looked around, they were gone. "Um, should we find them." "Yeah, Tobi thinks Tobi knows where they're at. To the food court." He ran off down the other side of the mall. "Uh, wait," Konan yelled after him. She wanted to find the rest of them, mostly Pein but she had no idea where Tobi was heading. The only thing should could do was follow behind.

She ran down the stairs, made a few turns, getting completely lost in the process. But it was somehow fun, doing something on her own with no supervision. It made her feel, alive.

"Konan", she heard Pein yell from above. She looked up to see them all above leaning over the banister. "Come on up, we're about to eat." Pein shouted motioning her up. "Take the escalator, it's faster."

"Kay, I coming" she shouted to them; something she never done before. Raising her voice that is, it was always clear to remain quiet and 'humble' at all time. She was so exited, she ran up the stairs.

"Well gangs all here," Deidara shouted while Konan made her way towards them. "To the food court, un" And with that they headed towards the court. Pein stayed behind to walk with Konan, "they're taking a better liking to you than I expected."

Konan didn't realize it at first; but being with, with Pein made her feel different. Made her feel something she had never felt before. Made her feel alive. "Well come, they're waiting for us" Pein said bringing her back to reality.

What happen next she didn't know what it was. Nerves, bravery, or something more but she looked at Pein and said "race ya." And before she knew it, they were both running down the hall to catch up with the rest of them. She had never felt so free.

"There you two are. The fuck were you guys doing, making out" Hidan said, getting punched in the arm by Kakuzu, "the hell man. That hurt." Kakuzu rolled his eyes, "consider it punishment for being such an ass." "Man, fuck you" Hidan retorted as a final statement; which Kakuzu ignored all together.

"Itachi and Kisame are coming with the food," Sasori said, breaking the tension that was forming. They had brought noodles, fried rice and vegetables, sweet and sour chicken, drinks, cakes, and some other stuff. It was brought in on a cart, so they had to place everything on the table. But before they pushed nearly 5 tables together.

They all sat down, "well let's eat" Tobi said as he reached for a bowl. Konan looked around to see what she should eat first, and a small cake caught her attention. "I wouldn't touch that if I were you," Pein warned seeing she was about to reach for it. Konan stopped, disappoint but she wouldn't touch it if Pein asked her not to. "No, it's fine. She can have it" Itachi said.

"Wow, Itachi sharing his sweets. This is new" Hidan mocked and almost immediately flinched when Kakuzu's fist came into view again. Pein laughed and turned to Konan, "oh in that case. Guess you can have it." She was completely confused, so she cautiously reached for the cake. "Don't take it the wrong way" Sasori said. "It's just that Itachi has a major thing for sweets and doesn't like people touching his, but since he said he doesn't mind then go ahead eat up."

Tobi clapped, "yay. Konan's family now." He raised his glass up, "we have to cheers to this. She like the only girl in here. That's like a major change." Konan felt her self overflowing with joy, so much she wanted to cry. Matter of fact she did start crying. "Uh," Hidan groaned "Tobi your idiotic voice made her cry. Don't blame her though."

"You okay," Pein asked placing his hands on her shoulder. She shook her head yes, "then why are you crying,un?" Deidara huffed sipping his drink. "I've never felt this way before. I'm just so happy" her voice cracked slightly. "Well then stop crying," Pein extended his hand and lifted her up "come on. It's like almost 5, the day's still young. Let's buy some stuff."

"Yay," Tobi shouted "shopping" Hidan rolled his eyes, "quit being so fucking gay Tobi" Kakuzu punched him in the back, "quit being such an asshole, Hidan" Sasori through his tray away while Deidara stuffed about three bread rolls in his mouth. Itachi took the tray of cookies he was eating and Zetsu grabbed his drink. "Everyone ready," Pein questioned. "Ready" they replied back.

...

Shopping was something Konan never had done. All her clothes were hand made or hand-me-downs from her sisters. Her whole wardrobe consisted of long sleeved shirts, dresses, dark clothing and no pants and short sleeved or short skirts and dresses. Basically it looked like it belonged to a forty year old widow rather an almost 16 year old girl.

But in the mall there were so many options and styles. Everywhere she looked clothes, shoes, dresses, and more. It was breath-taking. "How am I suppose to afford anything here," she meant to say that to herself but it was said out loud. Her father didn't give out allowances, at least not to the girls. Woman shouldn't be made to handle money, he would say. So she was pretty much broke. "Don't worry about it" Pein said "get whatever you want."

Konan's face beamed, she was about to get so many different things. Almost running she went over towards the clothing section. They were so nice looking and pretty she didn't know what to do. Like a little kid in a candy store, something she had never to, Konan started grabbing things off the shelf. Would they all fit her? she wondered. "Um excuse me," she said to a near by person "how would I know if these all fit." The woman pointed to a door, "try them on in the dressing room. And you'll find out."

Going into the room Konan began trying on clothes. She had never even thought of trying this stuff before. But there were so many things here she had to tried. It was like this would be her first and last time doing something so daring. She settled on a couple outfits;5 shirts, short sleeved, some pants and shorts and skirts, 2 spring dresses, a tank top and as daring as it would be a swim suit.

She meet back up with the guys with all the clothes piled in her hand. "Looks like someone had fun?" Pein said laughingly as she tried to walk with a pile of clothes blocking her view. Kisame gave her a cart to put them in as they stood in line to pay for them. The price came up to $750.78 and Konan felt sort of guilty. She didn't want them to waste all that money on her, that wasn't right.

"Uh, wait. I can put some of the stuff back if it's too much." she bargained. "Don't sweat it" Pein said nonchalantly; using that phase again. "I said you could get whatever you liked. And don't worry that's not a lot." He said as he paid for the items most of them being hers.

...

Soon they were back into the car driving away. All the bags were squished in the back and they were in the front. Pein was driving and Konan sat in the front seat. And soon after a few stops of dropping the others of it was only them two. "So had fun today?" Pein asked breaking the silence in the car. "Uh huh" Konan nodded happily. She had the best time of her life.

They pulled up to her house and thank whatever god was out there that it was Friday which meant the family was at the 2nd Bible Study. Meaning she could get in the house with any one saying anything to her. She had never missed a Bible study before or been out this late. But she was more then happy that today happened.

Pein walked her to the door, holding her bags. He helped her bring them inside placing them in the front of the living room. "Thank you for today. And tell the rest of them thank you as well." Konan said smiling at the ground trying not to look at him. Pein place a hand on her chin lifting her head up slighty. Their eyes met, her golden eyes meeting his amber firey eyes. Their gaze held for a few seconds until Pein enclose the gap between them with a kiss. He kissed her, Konan nearly passed out from the shock. Her first kiss ever and not from a guy she didn't know or was forced to be with.

Pein pulled away and looked at her blushing face. "We can always go out again if you want and next time in could be just us. " He began walking towards the door, "good night Konan" was the last thing she remembered him saying as he pulled out the driveway. Her mind was clouded with so much joy and happiness. This day was beyond perfect. She went to a mall, made some new friends, got clothes, and was kissed. It was as if god was watching over her and actually making her life worth living.

She put her clothes in the back of her closet and some under her bed, before lying down. Nothing would ruin this day, nothing. Not even her family could make her feel down anymore, now that she was seeing the world for the first time ever. And she was loving at bit of it.

A/N: So if you're reading this that meant you stayed long enough to read the senseless rambling I did in this chapter. But it was all worth it, hopefully. Anyways it had to be this way since from Konan's perspective the world is a interesting and unknown place. But seriously please review and tell me what you thought.