Chapter 1- Change of Heat- Nagato's Resolve!

Disclaimer: I do not own any Naruto Shippuden.

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Past Speech"

FINALLY! THE TIME HAD FINALLY COME! TODAY, THE FIRST CHAPTER OF "A New Path at Life" HAD BEEN UPLOADED, AND WITH IT BEGINS THE NEW, FIRST FIXER FIC IN ALL OF THE PAIN/NAGATO CATEGORY!

You are free to read this first chapter, and I will see you again at the bottom of this chapter, where I will tell you everything you need to know.

So…without any further speech, and further tempting which may cause frustration, enjoy Chapter 1- Change of Heart- Nagato's Resolve!

Warning: This chapter may contain heavily emotional content, that may make it embarrassing and awkward for the serious readers who are looking for plot. It will include heavily-emotional reactions of certain characters, but those reactions will be explained in later chapters to fill in gaps of logic.

It was rainy day in Amegakure…it was always a rainy day at Amegakure, rain, rain, rain and more rain, the dark-grey clouds forcefully pushing the sun away, subduing her and ruling over the skies of the industrial and poor town of Amegakure.

Amegakure wasn't quite the village one can claim to be 'peaceful'; it was a rainy, cold, and gloomy village that the only music played are the taps of the rain on the rooftops. Aside from the facts that it's an industrial village, it was located in a completely unfertilized country (even though it's the rainiest place in the world).

On the highest western tower in Ame, which would resemble the sewer system's headquarters that had pipes throughout the village, one could claim that is where god lives, and others would just treat it as rumors.

Amegakure's villagers believed in god- the leader of Akatsuki- Nagato, and in his Angel- Konan. No one had ever seen Pain, Nagato's 'second' body in person, they have all heard rumors of him and seen Konan appearing before them at best, so over the time people grew to doubt his existence, just like a real belief in god.

Konan and Nagato weren't like the other Akatsuki members who were just joining the organization for their own, crazy reasons. They have passed the trauma of a lifetime- the loss of family, and loss of their friend. When they were young, their parents were killed; they were both left to fend for themselves in the cruel world.

By the hand of fate, the three were united- a completely random trio found each other in a crossroad rainy country and turned into a family upon meeting each other. They have survived together from hilarious pranks to gain food to crying together from hunger and cold. They had grown up and eventually founded Akatsuki to bring peace to the world. But they were naïve and were tricked. As a result, one of them sacrificed his life and killed himself so the other two could continue living. But the one who had sacrificed himself never expected from one of the two to turn emotionless because of the trauma, and as a result, for the youngest, and most kind member of the trio to be left all alone with no love or attention.

Konan didn't want to, she didn't want to become so emotionless like Nagato did and to let Yahiko's death get the best of her, no, she didn't. She didn't want to become a shell filled with no emotions, no love, because the one thing she knew is that if Yahiko was hear, he wouldn't want her or Nagato to cry over his death.

Konan just wished Nagato would turn back to the Nagato she loved, so she will be able to get out of that living hell, of that nightmare, but she knew it can't happen. Nagato had turned so emotionless and was blinded with darkness so much that he hadn't even considered her feelings towards him, let alone gave her any kind of attention.

She decided to fulfill his requests and follow him wholeheartedly, for the hope that one day, perhaps one single day, he will look at her with a curious expression, his sad eyes melting down through her, filled with emotions, and all at once, he will open his mouth and say-

"Konan, my Angel, are you sad?"

Unfortunately for her, it never happened.

Konan had obeyed Pain's bidding and followed through each one of his requests without questioning, without hesitating, no matter how hard it was. She never once got the courage to tell him that she missed her old, warm, sensitive Nagato.

And what does Nagato do to reward her for all she had done to him? Nothing! Not a single smile, not a single hug, let alone a single kiss, not even a single "thank you"…no, he was too emotionless for that, what only broke Konan down even more.

He treated her as nothing; he referred to her as nothing. He had forgotten who she once was to him, he had forgotten she was the one to save him, he had forgotten she was his childhood friend who would cry with him when they were both cold and hungry while Yahiko went out to search for food. He had forgotten her.

It was always "silence Konan", and "keep it down, I am concentrating, I do not have time to be distracted by anything", and what annoyed the most was his "god" speeches, treating himself like he is immortal…but for her, he was not a mortal as he described…not even close to a mortal being.

She received no love, no attention, and not even comfort from her emotional-deadened partner, who once used to be her childhood friend, her ambition for peace, and her hope.

She felt ashamed, she felt so ashamed to cry infront of him, she felt ashamed to beg for his shoulder, to show weakness, to show any kind of emotions whatsoever- her Nagato had treated emotions as shows of weakness…as 'inferior' and 'unnecessary', and most of all- as 'a burden'. Showing any kind of emotions infront of him will only anger him and disgust him, even if she were to crumble down and pour down her heart, the warm shoulder of her Nagato will never be there to comfort her tears.

Nagato was always hidden under the emotionless, iron-covered shell of 'Pain', and alias he chose to himself, and since that horrible name, her Nagato was taken away from her, as if that name was imprisoning Nagato in a steel-made cage, not letting him out for even the briefest second.

The lack of emotional treatment from Nagato had forced Konan to slowly lock up all of her emotions, to stop that increasing emotional toll on her from interrupting with her duties- there was so much that needed to be done, treating Nagato, sorting out the files about latest covert missions by the Akatsuki, often patrolling through the village…her emotions had to be locked up, if not, at some point they would've digested her heart…but unlike her emotionless comrade, Konan's heart was never built to restrain her emotions, no heart was.

There were those deep hours of the nights, when Konan would just snap her amber eyes open, awaking from yet another terrifying nightmare, cold sweat running through her expression, panting, shivering from the icy air around her. She would move away the bed sheet from her body, as thin as it was, not helping to fight off the cold at all.

She would then exit their bedroom, but not before giving a single glance at the one who was sleeping right next to her with tear-filled, amber eyes, realizing how much everything had changed. She would then go far, as far as she could go in the freezing rain, a place where no one could hear her "shameful" display of weakness, especially not Nagato.

She would collapse from stress and would just sit and cry, cry as loud as she could, shivering from the freezing rain as her tears began mixing with the raindrops, tapping on the stoned floor from her cheeks.

She was all alone in this world. If Kami really existed, and she knew for sure it wasn't her Nagato, how could he be so cruel? How could he take away her only love, her only source of happiness remained, the only one left for her in this world- her Nagato, and just easily replace him with an emotionless creature that doesn't even bother to notice how sad she had become?

Her life was just one, big, endless nightmare, which once used to be a beautiful, endless dream.

When she had finished pouring down her delicate, fragile heart in the night sky, she would get up and take the journey back to their bedroom on wings of paper. Once she had returned, only ten minutes had passed, and so she would rest her head on the uncomfortable pillow, covering herself with the bed sheets, which were probably not warm enough to protect her from the cold, they were never enough…

And resume the horrible nightmare she woke up from.

And in the next day, no one would know, no one would notice, no one would even come close to finding out, that in a small alley behind the highest tower in Amegakure, mixed with the rain of last night, were the tears of a fallen Angel.

And so a new day will arise.

Waking up from yet another terrifying nightmare by the sound of the endless rain, tapping outside, to the feeling of the cold air filling the room, to the sight of the messed bed sheets next to her motioning her past love had already woken up and brought himself out of the room, not wanting to bother himself with waking her up, nor even caring.

She would then get out of the bed and dress up, putting up fake makeup to hide her exhaustion and tiredness from the last night, to hide her sorrow, her despair, her hatred, to hide everything from Nagato, not wanting to bother him, not even wanting to think that he might won't even care if she showed up with the sadness and sorrow of last night, not caring what she's going through.

She would exit the bedroom and walk tiredly through the hallways of the tower, struggling not to fall from all the exhaustion as she headed towards the top of the tower, towards her Nagato, to be greeted like always by nothing, only by his emotionless look, which would remind her how warm he used to be. She would mentally beg for him to say "good morning", just once, was it too much? Apparently it was, because she was only greeted by that emotionless look, and had to settle for it, thinking that it was better than nothing.

She would then receive orders, emotionless commands over commands, requests and duties from Nagato, with an emotionless tone, a careless, cold tone. If she was able to shut her ears just so this tone wouldn't tear her apart she would've, but she couldn't bring herself, it would've been rude.

She would then say- "yes, Nagato." with all of the respect she could stiff into her voice, just so he will know that she will follow him everywhere, that she will always be by his side…but he doesn't reply, he doesn't answer, he doesn't even both to show that he noticed her answer, let alone say a "thank you"…and so she will exit the room and walk through the hallways, her heart being shattered once more, only to slowly start repairing himself for the rest of the day.

She will start take care of his commands and requests, standing on her poor, fragile legs all day and tiring herself to the point where her body needs to hold onto the nearby wall in order to continue standing- filling and signing his documents for funding various actions of Akatsuki, cleaning the entire tower from inside out, cooking meals once her Nagato became hungry, and take care of everything that he didn't have the time to bother himself with.

And so, they day would pass slowly, each hour feeling like forever, the sound of the endless rain only making it worse on Konan. She will be tired by that point and would want to take a rest. All of Nagato's requests were taken care of by her with full attention and devotion, every single one them.

She will begin to struggle herself through the pipe-filled hallways, her hands clinging to the wall to support the weight for her body, her legs exhausted and weak at that point. She will begin searcher for her emotionless partner, the one who she loved the most no matter how much he ignored her, to tell him that she took care of every single request completely, and even hope that it would trigger even the most silent "thank you" from him, the best reward she can get for her work, a reward that she would appreciate so much.

She would then spot him, in the dead, pierced corpse of her beloved Yahiko, the corpse which was never laid to rest so it could be used as Nagato's second body, as he sat on that same ugly, golden-colored statue, watching over the gloomy, industrial village.

She hated it- she hated the fact that those piles of hideous, pipe-filled buildings are getting more attention than her from her beloved Nagato, a thing! A lifeless object receiving more attention than her from him!

Like always, once she had made sure to make her presence known to him, she would expect him to look over his shoulder at her, to be happy to see her after all that entire day…she would expect him to motion her to come and sit next to him, to tell him what's wrong with her, she would expect him to say "thank you" for the unstopped work she had been doing, she would expect him to urge her to take a rest, to show how much he worried for her, to show that he wanted her to rest her stressed, sore, knotted muscles.

She would expect the unexpected.

He did not glance at her, not even a single peek to confirm it was her. He knew too-well it would be her. He didn't ask or say anything, no hand movements, as if he was frozen from the inside. He would just sit there, without moving, the rain washing his hair, his Rinnegan eyes locked on the view of the village…only the village, not her.

And the day would continue passing slowly, and she would just stare at him from inside the building, her heart longing for the time he would turn around and lock his eyes with her, making her delicate body writhe and freeze under his eyes, to feel like she had made herself useful, but it will not happen.

When Pain finally turns around, deciding that it's enough for today, that he had stared at that dead collection of bad architecture that he called a village, Konan could see his emotionless face again, the face that would remind her of her now-emotionless Nagato, of her nightmare. His eyes wouldn't be locked with hers, with the amber eyes she wants so much for him to look at. She would only see death and emotionlessness in his eyes, the only two things she doesn't want to see…she wanted to see emotions storming through his eyes, she want more than anything to see love towards her in his eyes…she always wanted him to love her, to give her at least a little bit from the attention he gives to that dead village.

He would begin walking slowly across the stoned bridge towards the entrance to the tower, towards her direction, every single step he took bringing him closer to her, and Konan could be feeling her heart beating faster, louder, as if she could almost hear it. She would be happy to know that he's walking towards her. She would even expect him to say something while he walks towards her…but when he had reached so close, making her heart nearly stop from anticipation, he would just bypass her slowly, not even glancing at her, not even a single peek. It would be going in slow motion, breaking Konan's heart into pieces very often when he passed her and continued deeper into the darkness of the tower.

When he was finally out of sight, and Konan's heartbeats would return to normal, the Angel would drop to her knees and slam both of her fists at the stoned floor with a weak wail of despair and sorrow. When she saw it hasn't made her calm, she would do it again, and again, and again and again and again, to take out all the anger, all of that stabbing and freezing despair and sorrow. At some point she would just shatter a small part of the floor…together with her hand very often, her poor, weak hands which were working all day.

She would hold her hands with each other tightly, grinding her teeth from the pain, her body trembling from the cold, and then, without anything left to do, she would just hold her head in both of her hands, the rain tapping on her body, washing her, and would just cry.

Cry on how she had gotten completely no love, affection, let alone attention from her emotionally-deadened partner, her Nagato, her love.

The night would then drop over the industrial village painting the sky with deep blue color, no stars visible in the sky because of the clouds, just like her body, which would drop on the mat of their bed, not able to withstand the exhaustion and sadness which were forced onto her that day, like every day.

Nagato's voice would then call her, making the Angel's heart ache and arch as if it wants to get out from her chest in happiness. He was standing outside the bedroom, embed to his mechanical walker, an emotionless, dark expression plastered on his face. He wants to go to sleep as well, but will have difficulty to stand on his own, let alone walk since his legs were burned by explosive tags and cannot support whichever little weight his body had, combined with the weight of those horrible chakra rods impaled to his back, a horrible remain of his anger and pain. would then call for her help, standing outside of the room, embed to his mechanical walker. What would sadden her more than most would be the tone of the question, always hearing that it does not resemble the tone of a question, but a command.

"Konan, come here and help me."

Hearing those words, realizing her emotionally-deadened Nagato needs her, Konan would barely lift herself off the mat as she would struggle herself towards the entrance to the bedroom, towards him, half-awake. She would help him get out of that horrible machine and would wrap his thin arm around her weak shoulders, the only physical contact she could have with him, which would be enough of a reward to end this horrible nightmare. She would begin helping him walk towards the bed, every step she made with him making her heart beat in happiness, a mental smile plastered on her soul as she would help him rest his body on the mat.

Having ended the physical contact with him for the day, Konan would be dropped from cloud nine right back into the hard reality as she would walk to her side of the bed and drop exhaustingly on the soft mat, only to receive a "keep it down" hiss from her Nagato, which would only make the crumbled Angel even sadder.

He will not say anything else or bother himself with her, he would just stare blankly at the wall of the bedroom, their bodies covered with a single bed sheet, backs turned against each other, not facing each other, no, like if they will ever..

After having a good amount of shivers sent through her body from the coldness of the room, Konan would then assume her sleeping position- resting on the side of her body with the side of her head resting on the soft pillow and both of her arms folded infront of her, one of her hand resting on the pillow while the other one would just rest on the mat.

She will then close her amber eyes, a few tears rolling down her cheeks as the dark melody of the rain wouldn't leave her ears, and would just fade away from shivering into her dreams…into her cold, endless nightmares.

And that is how each day was for the poor Angel. That is what she had to go through every single day from the moment 'Pain' emerged from the endless abyss of sadness, despair and sorrow…

Eight years ago.

It was currently a gloomy, sad morning in Amegakure, the clock pointing the exact hour since the skies always looked the same- the warm, shining sun hidden behind grey, dark clouds, blocking its heat, its warmth. There was no difference between day and night except from the temperature, which was around fifteen Celsius at day and could be dropped in extreme conditions to below zero at night.

Pain was currently sitting on that same, ugly statue, which was connected to Amegakure's highest tower by a large, stoned bridge, his eyes locked with the village, quietly watching at Amegakure, gazing emotionlessly at the industrial village.

The endless, icy rain was tapping endlessly on his orange hair, petting his scalp as it washed away to his face and caressed his emotionally-dead expression.

Konan was standing behind him…way behind him, back inside the tower, the stoned ceiling providing her a shelter. She did not want to go out to that cold, freezing rain; it symbolized so many negative emotions, so many tragedies. She was rather amazed on how Pain could just sit in that rain, in that cold, on that pathetic, 'artistic' statue and watch over that horrible, industrial village.

She always hated that rain, since she was born. It reminded her about so many past tragedies. She had grown to detest it, especially after Yahiko died, not to mention after Nagato became nothing but an emotionless shell. The rain would always smack reality in her face, shattering her fragile hopes, reminding her of her miserable life, of those hours in the nights in which she would crumble and cry…it would remind her of her deadened love, of her Nagato.

She just gazed at Pain's back deeply, amazed at how he was able to keep that level of concentration for so long, without speaking, without even glancing away from that horrible view, without even looking back at her, the endless rain dropping all over his body, in that cold weather…to just sit there and watch that gloomy village all day long!

She wants to confess, to tell him how unhappy she is, how ruined and devastated she has become thanks to his cold heart! She wants to voice her opinions, to tell him what she thinks about his ways to get 'peace' and 'justice', which are so wrong and twisted. She wants to tell him how she misses his warm touch, those comforting, tight hugs, how she misses his handsome smile back when they were young, when it was still the three of them, and the world seemed to be such a wonderful place to live in.

None of those things were left, not a single one, they were torn apart from her life, together with her Nagato, and were all locked up ruthlessly in that unbreakable cage, together with her warm Nagato, which has become to be the person who she was looking at, that twisted being.

But how will she? How can she let herself? How can she let herself confess so heavily right now? After all those years she kept her voice silent, after all those years in which she showed no protest of his actions, how can she tell him now that she thinks his ways are so wrong? How can she tell him that she wants him back, and yet think that it will all go smoothly? He is so, so stubborn, it is not the first time she thinks about pouring down her heart infront of him, to confess like that, to tell him what she feels…but looking at him like that, she couldn't help but see that there is nothing left of her Nagato, that her voice will go on unheard by that self-proclaimed god known as 'Pain'.

Her trail of thoughts was suddenly cut off, her eyes slightly widening when Pain perked up and looked at her from over his shoulder, freezing her in her tracks, shock filling her body. He actually looked at her, her Nagato looked at her. He actually lost interest in looking at that horrible village and turned his eyes to her instead, his emotionless eyes…those horrible, dead eyes, which are now the best she can get. "Konan…" He started emotionlessly, his voice deep, dead of any warmth, the rain caressing his face as a few raindrops clung ferociously to his various piercings.

"Something is on your mind…it was like that for rather some time. Is something bothering you? Is it something I should know?"

Konan just stood there, making sure that Pain will not notice the drastic change in her expression, the dropped jaw, the shocked, widened eyes, it has been so long since she was this surprised. Did she hear it right? Did her Nagato possibly show the slightest concern to her being? Is it possible that finally, after eight, long years, his shell is finally falling apart?

She knew one thing- she had learned to live that routine since six years ago, when the new, dead Akatsuki was formed to life. She spent years standing in that same spot, watching the same man, that emotionless leader of the Akatsuki…and him, turning his look to her, actually taking interest in her instead of that village…this was a first, it never happened before.

The Angel just looked away instantly, despair filling her eyes, saddened. No, she cannot do it, it wasn't true that he's taking interest to her well-being. Her performance during her duties must've gone down enough to frustrate and irritate him, and he was only worried that it will cause disturbances in the flow of the organization.

It was all professional.

But the Angel knew, she couldn't help but knowing that deep inside, under all of that emotionless iron, that unbreakable barrier surrounding his heart, he had always worried for her happiness, for her safety. Even when in the middle of a battle, those rare occasions when they were engaged by enemies together, his attention would've always been divided on her more than anything.

When there are those moments, when she needs something so much that she finally gets the immense amount of courage to actually request it from him, her Nagato is the one making sure that it gets to her in a moment's notice.

But right now, since forever, she wants one thing more than anything, something that she doubts her Nagato would have enough influence and power to be able to retrieve her desired item- she wants her old love back, she wants her Nagato.

But maybe…maybe there is still a chance, even the slightest bit of a chance that her Nagato might be able to see and hear her right now, that maybe all that he needs is motivation, a mental push from her to burst free of that presumably-crumbling cage.

Maybe she would actually be able to…bring him back.

She had decided, if there is the slightest bit of a chance to bring him back, if there is that slightest bit of a chance to end this endless nightmare called 'reality'…then she would risk everything, even put her own life on the line.

"Y-Yes…" Konan finally answered, nervously, her head slightly lowered, making sure that her voice was blunt enough to prevent Pain from suspecting the presence of leaking emotions. "W-Where is Nagato?"

Pain raised his eyebrow at Konan's question, suspicious. She never asked for his location, she always knew every single place he would be in every single minute, it was something she developed throughout those years. "I am at the top floor, three floors above us currently." He answered calmly, the same, deep, emotionless tone as before. She was, after all, a mortal being, she can make her mistakes.

"N-No, that's not what I meant…" Konan countered weakly, her words a mutter, her hands clenching into weak fists, trying to comprehend and predict what will come after her second question. Her heart was beating erratically, her stomach clenching. "Where is Nagato?"

Pain's expression was genuinely confused, plastering suspicion on his face. Konan frowned, confusion is not an emotion, no, it wasn't enough, she needs more. "What do you mean by that?" He asked, confused at Konan's question, not understanding what she was referring to.

Konan knew that this is not the time to be philosophical.

The Angel closed her amber eyes, taking a deep breath, gathering every single bit of courage she managed to bring up throughout those horrible years, thinking about that endless nightmare which can now come to an end, here, now. She then opened her eyes, surprising Pain when her expression turned into a motivated glare…one of the first emotions she showed infront of him- anger, mixed with desperation.

"Nagato, my Nagato!" She said loudly, slight anger in her voice, perking up Pain heavily, his brain realizing what she was referring to, the bomb dropped on him confusing him for only the split second. The Angel was determined than ever, downright exhausted f that pathetic façade which is called 'Pain' that Nagato had adopted. She can use his confusion and shock to her advantage, time to put it all on the line!

"Where is my Nagato? The Nagato who turned into you! The Nagato who could love, who could cry, who could laugh…where is he?"

Konan could hear her own heartbeats at this point, her body trembling slightly from anticipation and fear, knowing that this is the moment in which she will decide her fate, the moment which will bring a conclusion to those eight, horrible years. She will find out if it's truly possible to save her Nagato from the clutches of Pain, to bring him back from the darkness.

Her heart suddenly ached and clenched as Pain narrowed his ringed eyes, the pieces of confusion finally coming in together, the Rinnegan slightly angered. Irritated with her question, Pain turned around slowly, turning his back to Konan as he continued overlooking Amegakure, the city he has taken over and raised to become one of the most guarded and strict villages, by killing Hanzo and avenging Yahiko's death.

Her voice went unheard, and as the rain continued pouring down, Konan could now feel the same feelings of despair taking over her heart, losing her motivation, losing her desire to continue this conversation. But she can't step down, she won't, her Nagato would never forgive her. "That Nagato is no more…he was replaced by Pain." The Rinnegan wielder suddenly answered, his voice cold and emotionless, not even the slightest pang of guilt and regret in his voice, only making the edge in Konan's heart deeper.

"Well, I am not satisfied with you, Pain…" Konan muttered, looking on the floor slightly before returning her amber eyes to look at his back, knowing that he could see her determined expression even without looking at her physically, a result of living with her for so long. "I want my Nagato back!"

Pain growled in frustration at Konan's words, but was not surprised at them nevertheless. He had known that this day would come eventually, the day in which Konan won't be able to take him anymore and start this conversation. "I have already told you many times, Konan…" Pain began his voice deep, emotionless even more than before, but slightly filled with frustration. He knew that he already told her how it's going to be the moment he formed the new Akatsuki, after Yahiko's death. "Once I bring forth pain and create peace upon this cursed shinobi world…that Nagato may return. But for now…he is no more! The hatred of this shinobi world took him away and the only thing which will be able to get him back is peace…my peace."

"Don't you…realize?" Konan asked weakly, enraged. She felt like she was getting more and more desperate to bring her Nagato back, to open his eyes, with each passing heartbeat, with each passing second. She was angered- how can her Nagato possible think that his method to acquire peace will actually work? "Don't you realize that no real peace can be brought from such a horrible method? It will only be an illusion, a fake!"

It was the first time that Pain, the leader of the Akatsuki, was caught off guard, causing his eyes to harden and turn colder, slight anger filling his expression. He didn't take kindly to people who thought that they knew what was best for the world, who lectured him about his ideals, who told him that his ways to get peace are wrong…every single Jinchuriki he sealed away lectured him about his 'twisted' ideals when he told them of his plans…but to receive that lecture from his own Angel? He never really saw it coming, and never knew how to confront with such a comment, mainly because it came from the mouth of the only one who was always there, by his side. "My ways will bring about true peace!" The Rinnegan wielder protested, slight anger and shock filling his voice, in an amount that Konan was actually able to sense them, shocking her completely.

Now? Now he's showing his emotions towards her? Only now when she's mocking his twisted ways for peace?

"I have already told you…the Bijuu weapon will bring pain and loss upon the world, and force the people to fear, to cower…upon that feeling of loss, people will know what true pain is! That pain will force the people to change and grow!"

Konan's expression hardened into a glare, a near snarl, angered at Pain's words. "Change and grow into what?" She raged, awestruck and amazed by Pain's logic behind his ideals, thinking that forcing pain upon the world will make it a better place. "Into more people like you? Who would want to force their own pain on others? Who would chase and do anything to realize their revenge? Who would…lock every single emotion they have inside of them, and severe whichever ties they have to do so?"

Pain's eyes hardened at Konan's words, rage now clearly visible on his face, thinking this entire argument to be futile. It angered him that Konan, his most trusted follower, turned out to be one of the beings who resist his ways.

Konan felt enraged, enraged that the only emotion that this Pain could reveal to her eyes was only anger. Why not love? Why not happiness? Why must he show her the exact opposite emotions?

"You had better be careful with what you are saying, Konan…" Pain growled in frustration, getting too angered at her nerve to talk to him like that, to mock him and the ways he embraced. He would not agree to such things, not even by his own Angel.

Konan perked up at Pain's reaction, her amber eyes widening in awe as the realization struck her down. She had forgotten that she is not talking to her Nagato, that the one facing her is nothing but an emotionless beast who only see her as a mere tool…she's facing a merciless heart of steel, which will not go down so easily, especially not infront of lectures and enraged claims. Her attitude isn't working…it's only making it worse. Perhaps she needs to act on a different scale…something which will rather trigger guilt and remorse inside that emotionless leader's heart, if there is such a thing.

"It's not too late to turn back…" Konan pleaded kindly as she walked towards the stoned bridge, a soft, begging smile on her face. She slowly stoop outside of the building and into the icy, cold rain, letting the raindrops wash her hair, wash her fake eye makeup, the makeup she has been putting for so long in order to hide her tiredness and devastation. She can, and she will do anything in order to have her Nagato back, she will beg for his emotions if she must, she will show him that she's still there for him, she will show her emotions to him as much as required…after all, there is no humiliation nor weakness in showing emotions. "It's not too late, there's still time to turn back! You can still stop! Please…give me back the Nagato I love…I will help you change everything…I'm here for my Nagato…then please…please!"

Pain was silent for a few seconds, trying to digest his Angel's words, trying his best to not show any kind of emotion to her, no, he had no emotions! He was Pain! Then…what is that strange feeling in his chest? What are those pangs which make his body trembling slightly?

The Rinnegan wielder closed his eyes, this is the power of the old, warm Nagato, trying to break free…he cannot allow it. Everything he had accomplished, how close he has become to his ideal dream of forcing peace on the world…he cannot let it all fall apart, he cannot agree to comply. "This…cursed shinobi world had brought this upon itself…" He muttered emotionlessly, unable to prevent the minor guilt and sadness in his voice from leaking, trying to deny his urges, his thoughts. "I cannot let it all fall apart…this is the only peace we can afford now…this is the only peace the world can afford now…as Kami, this is the only peace I can bring upon the world…Konan…you must understand that! You know that!"

Konan's face hardened into a cold glare at Pain's words, unable to treat that monster before her like she plans to treat her Nagato, unable to show him the warm, delicate side of her, a side only her Nagato is allowed to see. Here is another one of his "Kami" excuses for him to deny himself and justify his ways…what does he get from considering himself the god of this world? He can't be god, no one who began from a mortal being can become god, god is the epitome of hope and belief, revealing himself when humanity itself is at stake, helping those in need, making the poor rich, making the starved full…the one who is standing infront of her cannot possibly become close to the ankle of god.

The realization struck Konan again, this is now or never, she is the only one who is able to open her Nagato's eyes and bring him back from the abyss, she is the only one who can make him realize the errors in his ways. This is her last chance to open his eyes…because if she fails to do so now, if she fails to open her Nagato's eyes…then no one will be able to do so.

Pain perked up, his eyes widening in alarm as he tilted his head slightly to the left, a split second before a paper arrow pierced the air, cutting a single, orange hair from his head. The speed of the slash was so vicious and swift the Rinnegan wielder could actually hear it in his ears, it was so close to him, filled with intentions to cut and destroy.

Upon missing its target, the paper arrow dove down towards the village, disappearing from Pain's sight as the rain slowly hid it away.

The Rinnegan wielder instantly stood upwards and swiftly turned around, watching Konan assuming her fighting stance, crossing her arms vertically, her deep, purple eye shadow rolling down her cheeks, as if they are black tears of rage and anger, only adding to the Angel's enraged expression.

Her fighting stance was one of despair, of last resort, this is the only way in which she would be able to bring back her Nagato. A portion of Konan's body, mainly her blue, smooth hair, her soft skin, her Akatsuki cloak and her sleeves began cracking slightly, the cracks forming geometric shapes of rectangles as some of them gave birth to many paper sheets. The paper sheets slowly hovered around her, ready to fold themselves into deadly weapons and charge at the Rinnegan wielder at her mind's command.

"Konan, I do not understand," Pain muttered weakly, surprised, awestruck, not believing his sight as his jaw dropped slightly. He could not believe that Konan, his own Angel, will go to such drastic actions because of something so minor, so futile and unnecessary. He was confused, what was that expression she bore? What was appearing on her face that made his heart tremble? The warm Nagato was getting enraged, trying to resist him as much as he could, trying to break free viciously. Pain could not allow him to do as he wished, he cannot feel emotions, not anymore. He was born to make peace, the only peace it can make, the only peace he will make. Emotions are just a burden, forcing beings from their current path and causing them to stray away slowly…but…that didn't prevent the immense shock he was going through. "Why…why are you doing all of this? What makes you so drastic and determined? What have I done to anger you like that, Konan? Why do you oppose my ideals? Why do you oppose my ways for peace? Why do you decide to do it now, when I'm…when we're so close to achieving our goal?"

Konan glared at the Rinnegan wielder, disgusted by his courage to stick her into his questions. There were never "we" here, only him, him, and his cursed ideals for fake peace. There is no turning back now, this is the only chance, and probably the best chance she will ever get. He can now hear her words, her Nagato can now hear her words, and he can also comprehend and understand them, nothing she says now will go unheard by him, he was forced to listen. She must confess, she must pour down her heart…this is the only solution. "Because…I…I…love you!" Konan announced angrily before some of the paper sheets surrounding her folded into razor-sharp, deadly paper arrows and charged at the Rinnegan wielder, causing him to dodge her extremely fast arrows with effortless elegance, the inhuman speed of those arrows seemingly no match for his skill. His shocked, awed Rinnegan eyes were nevertheless still locked with hers…her eyes…those amber eyes, what was in them that made his head ache, that made his body slowly sink down into them? What was in that angry, cold expression that made his gut clench horribly? That made his body heavy?

"Because you are the only one I have left in this world! Because you are the only one I have ever had!" Konan yelled as she swung her arms rapidly, sending waves of paper arrows towards the Rinnegan wielder with blinding speed. Pain dodged each arrow effortlessly, but his emotionless shell was heavily struck by every single arrow. "I was an ignorant, standing all this time as I watched you falling into darkness...I was afraid...I didn't say a thing...and it was a terrible mistake! I cannot let this nightmare continue…because…because I want to see your smile again! Because I want to feel your touch again! Because I want my Nagato back! This is why…if you are not willing to open your eyes and admit your mistakes out of your free will…then…then…I will make your eyes open, even if I end up hurting you!"

Pain's eyes widened in shock at Konan's words, he had indeed once thought that she felt like that towards him, and he had once felt like that towards her…felt…he began dwelling on thoughts of the past, only to shake his head violently. No, he will not give up to those emotions!

He could then see Konan charging at him viciously, her expression turning into a snarl as she roared weakly from anger. Countless of paper sheets began climbing down her forelimbs and leak from her hands, pilling up on one another as they turned them into sharp, long, white paper blade, resembling Pain's infamous chakra blades.

"Because I do not want to experience the pain of losing someone so important to me ever again!"

And there she was, an inch away from him, ready to strike him down, and at the last second, Pain's expression turned into a frown, and from there into a glare.

And at the endless, raining skies of the village, filled with gray, thick clouds which gave the industrial Amegakure such a gloomy touch, a loud clash could be heard, echoing through the village, as it slowly dimmed down into silence.

The rain was only getting stronger and stronger, turning into a barrage of merciless teardrops, tapping on Konan's shocked, horrified expression. The Angel was pinned down to the floor by Pain, who held her tightly, making sure she won't try anything in attempt to escape or hurt him, knowing exactly how experienced and unpredictable she can be. Each of his hands were pinning down her beautiful, feminine arms by holding down her wrists mercilessly. And Pain himself was using his body to pin her down to the floor completely, sitting on her abdomen with his legs spread, so it was now between his inner thighs.

Konan was panting and gasping viciously, her amber eyes squinted. Her Akatsuki cloak was slightly torn and her body was horribly trembling, being damaged by Pain in order for him to be able to restrain her successfully. But the physical damage she was experiencing was nowhere near the mental devastation which soon followed it. The Angel couldn't believe her eyes…until she finally manages to make him touch her…touch the body she has reserved only for him throughout all those years…it's coming out like that?

The Angel could not take the emotional toll of the realization that she was hurt by her Nagato only because she tried her best for him- to change him, to open his eyes and bring him back, as if he liked sinking down into darkness, into his slow, emotionless death. She always wanted him to touch her, that was no secret that those many years in which she only stared at him eventually got her needy to his touch, a need which she was forced to tug into the corner of her heart, knowing it will not happen.

She wanted him to touch her…but not like this.

Konan began struggling violently to break free out of Pain's grasp, but soon she was proven that it was in vain as her delicate body slowly subdued into Pain's weight, the Rinnegan wielder activating more physical force to restrain her…he was way heavier than her. In physical struggle, she was doomed to lose.

Konan's struggle ceased and she stayed still, her body tearing itself apart, not wanting to doubt and think what would happen if she kept struggling. When faced with this beast, Konan indeed realized that Pain would be able to bring himself to hurt her much more with no remorse whatsoever.

And the vicious, endless rain was tapping her, each tap becoming heavier and heavier, as if they were countless stabs of despair and sorrow, impaling down her body…washing her…washing her blue hair…washing her hope…washing her heart…

Washing her dreams…washing her dreams of seeing her Nagato finally smiling.

"You are…not my…my Nagato…" Konan mattered sadly, weakly, her voice shaking from sadness and devastation, her scared, amber eyes hiding themselves from his, knowing that if she ever looked at his Rinnegan, she will lose the last shackles of hope holding her up. "My Nagato…my Nagato would've never hurt me…my Nagato would've realized something is wrong here…my Nagato would've listened to me…and you…you are not anywhere near my Nagato…"

"You have finally understood…I am Nagato no more…" Pain retorted emotionlessly; a slight frustration in his heart when he saw that she does not look at him, does not bother herself with his presence, triggering something in his heart. What was it? What was that longing feeling inside him when her eyes are turned away from his? "Nagato's emotions made him weak…they were a burden in his path, merely obstacles…he was inferior to me…and I was stronger than him…because Pain has no emotions to create obstacles before him. Pain is stronger."

With those last, completely idiotic, last words, which now seemed to be clearer to her more than ever before, Konan's despair and devastation were flung away from her heart by uncontrollable rage and anger. "Then…I HATE PAIN!" She roared, her heart filled with rage as she snarled at him, her anger-filled, amber eyes surprising the Rinnegan wielder even more. What was that strange, gapping feelings that sore through his body when watching her so angry?

Konan began struggling against his hold, not willing to give up as she used all of her remaining power, all the last bits of her hope she could gather, deciding to take out some of the rage she was keeping inside her all those years. Her arms were now moving on their own, as if they were machines, slowly overpowering Pain's hold, slowly breaking from his grasp. He attempted to struggle, but something was preventing him from doing so, shackling down his body as his eyes widened in shock, watching Konan's upper body slowly rising from the cold floor, forcing him backwards, her hands clenched into fists. "Pain doesn't smile! Pain doesn't cry! Pain doesn't laugh! Pain doesn't love! You think that Nagato is "inferior" to you because he had emotions? Because he had a heart? That is BULLSHIT!" Konan roared, squeezing her eyes shut as she put in more power, seeing that she is so close to break out of his grasp, out of that chain of despair and sorrow, so angry that she didn't care that she cursed, remembering Nagato had told her that it is a disgrace to curse when being gifted with such great mental features that she had. She then snapped her eyes opened once more, rage and hatred now filling her amber irises. "That "inferior" Nagato is the one I love! He is my world! He offered me his shoulders to cry on whenever I needed him! He hugged me and comforted when I cried! That Nagato was superior to you in ways you will never be able to even imagine! You are nothing but a fake! A counterfeit! A shadow compared to that "inferior" Nagato! In fact, you are nothing but a shell in Yahiko's image filled with absolutely nothing aside from pathetic desire for revenge! You are a mons-"

Pain's eyes eventually hardened, deciding to put out all of his strength as he tightened his hold around Konan's wrist, making the enraged Angel's expression instantly change into a painful one as she chocked back a scream, feeling her wrists nearly shattered by the clutch. With that merciless force, Pain slammed down Konan's upper body on the stoned floor once more, causing Konan's eyes to widen completely in utter shock and despair, watching her last bits of hope getting shattered, seeing that her last effort was in vain, and was unable to defeat this monster.

Konan looked away, all hopes, dreams and positive emotions being washed away from her heart like the rain washed her body. She was never brought into such an emotional situation throughout her entire life…her heart was breaking apart, much like her hope that Pain would return being the warm Nagato she loved.

There was a long, deadly silence, only the sound of the rain tapping on Konan's and Pain's bodies could be heard. Pain didn't say a word, he remained speechless, something gripping tightly in his mind, making his consciousness scream for it to let go.

"I want him back…" Konan sobbed quietly, giving up all hopes of seeing her warm Nagato again, giving up all dreams, she didn't need those anymore, not now when she had seen how low Pain had sunk, she doesn't care to let her weak, shattered heart pour down.

Pain's eyes widened in shock as Konan's eyes squinted, amber irises blurred by countless tears, similar to the rain, only that they could be clearly seen by the Rinnegan wielder. Pain felt that feeling…that feeling from before, that strange squeeze around his heart, making it ache…was that what Konan would call "sadness"? He doesn't remember…it had been so long…

Konan began sniffing repeatedly, her sniffs getting heavier and heavier as she tried her best to hold it all in, deciding that she doesn't want to let Pain have the pleasure of watching her fall. The tears eventually escaped her amber eyes, rolling down her cheeks like rivers, and when the Angel realized she could do nothing at the matter, she just allowed even more tears to surface.

She was crying, she was breaking apart, falling, dying…it all felt like one, big nightmare…a nightmare where she is falling into an endless, dark abyss, knowing that Nagato will not be there to catch her and prevent her fall.

Pain was shocked to the very core by that heartbreaking sight. He had never thought that he will get to see Konan crying again…but the fact that he did make his heart ache once more. He realized what he had done to her, for so many years, the innocent Angel endured all of this physical and mental torture that he, himself, had brought upon her.

Hurting her was the last thing he wanted to do, on the contrary, Pain thought that upon giving up every single emotion in his heart, it would prevent him from causing further pain to Konan…but in the end…he was doing the exact opposite. He was blinded, a downright fool, he finally realized that he was proven wrong by his Angel…learning it the hard way as the sight of her tearful, amber eyes carved itself viciously into his mind.

He wanted to speak…but something didn't let him to…someone didn't let him to…as if his body wanted him to suffer endlessly at that sight, to see for himself what he had done.

To see for himself the sight of his Angel breaking down.

"I want the inferior Nagato back…" Konan sobbed, squeezing her eyes shut and snarling in sadness, sobbing slightly as her heart was so close to the breakdown, trying to hold onto the last bits of consciousness inside her. "Without him, I have nothing left to live for in this world…all I ever wanted is to see his smile again…all I ever wanted is to feel his touch again…all I ever wanted is him to be with me…him to comforted me…because I cannot live without him…I never could. I want him…I need him back…Nagato…Nagato…"

Pain closed his eyes and groaned mentally, looking away in slight guilt. He had never seen her like this, even when Yahiko died…how long had she been feeling like this? How long was she keeping it inside? How long was she feeling like this towards him? Maybe ever since he began torturing her like this, for eight, whole years.

"When…when was the last time you said "good morning, Konan"?" The Angel suddenly questioned quietly the self-proclaimed god of Ame, not expecting an answer, because she didn't get one. All Pain did was looking at her blankly, unable to find the courage to speak directly to her, unable to even answer her question. "When was the last time you said "thank you, Konan", for all the hard work I do for you? For all the hard work I've been doing constantly for you throughout these years? When was the last time you said "good night, Konan"…so I won't have those horrible nightmares each time I fell asleep? When was the last time you did all the things my Nagato had? When?"

Pain sighed sadly at the Angel's depressed questions, watching her cry, watching her breaking down…he had finally realized that she was right, that each of her claims were accurate and correct. She was always taking care of his requests and putting her own health second to his, she always neglected herself for him. She always takes care of his body and needs, and in return, he gives her nothing…no, he takes from her all she ever had- her Nagato.

"Konan…I…" For the first time ever, Pain felt his mind shattering with every single word he managed to squeeze down, unable to find the strength to talk…to speak to her…his heart was cowering to face his sin. "I'm so close…Konan…I'm so close…I can finally bring peace upon…upon this world…like a true god…forgive for being unable to oblige to your…commands…not when I'm so close…after peace is-"

Pain's eyes slowly widened in horror at the last sentence which emerged from his lips, knowing that this last sentence wasn't intended, wasn't expressed correctly, but Pain could only drop his jaw in disbelief at Konan's expression, seeing the impact those words had on her.

She looked at him, her eyes fully widened in deep terror, her pupils viciously shrunk, filled with devastation and destruction. Her jaw dropped completely, tears rolling uncontrollably from her eyes, yet she stayed dead silent, and did nothing at that matter, the rain only tapping on her face, emphasizing the trails of her washed eye-shadowing.

She realized what he had just said, she now realized that her demands, her needs, she was second to his fake, pathetic peace, that he will not bother to change himself for her, that he will not let himself be dragged away from the darkness which is engulfing him now…all she said, all she showed him, all she did for him throughout those years…all her hopes and all her dreams, the only thing she ever wanted- being with her Nagato…was now nothing but a shattered lie.

"K-Konan," Pain started, his face shocked, his voice slightly frantic and deep, still lacking any kind of emotions. He could still fix all of this, there was still a point of return, he could gather back all the pieces of her heart. "Y-You misundersto-"

Before the Rinnegan wielder even managed to get close to finishing his sentence, Konan's body was instantly divided into countless of paper sheets. The paper sheets scattered across the bridge, escaping Pain's grasp, showing him that she was always able to escape his hold as the paper sheets buzzed angrily like a vortex of mixed, devastated emotions.

All Pain could do was to stare with widened eyes as the paper sheets slowly glided into the entrance of the building, where they slowly piled up on one another and took the shape of Konan's body, hidden by the shadows of the hall leading to the bridge. She was hiding from the rain, hiding from him, but she was ever so close, and ever so far. She was shaking in sorrow and despair, looking at Pain with tear-filled, devastated amber eyes, sobbing, giving up everything she ever hoped for. "You're…you're not…a god…" She sobbed, her voice shaking in the rhythm of her tremble from the utter, devastating emotional stress slowly squeezing down her heart as her tears hit the stoned floor. "You…YOU ARE A MONSTER!"

That was it, that was when it all broke apart, all of her memories, all of her most cherished moments, her entire childhood, her past, her present, and her future…her emotions and her body…that was when her delicate, innocent heart could not carry the emotional torture forced on it all those years, all of those negative emotions and that horrible emotional stress gathering up inside of it…and it just…broke down.

Konan could feel her heart starting to beat erratically, screaming from agony. She then burst into sheer, vicious crying, wailing and screaming in sorrow as she turned around and ran as fast as she could deeper into the tower.

And Pain was left alone, outside, in the freezing rain, which only now felt so cold and unforgiving for him. His jaw was completely dropped, his eyes widened in disbelief, he was still able to pick up the traces of her almost visible image. He sent out his hand, attempting to reach her with his palm, but the distance was so tremendous. 'Ba-Bansho Tenin…'

The rain just continued tapping loudly, Pain slowly lowering his head, the tears of the skies crying for his pathetic image, crying in sadness for all he had brought on his Angel. His face slowly frowned, and from that frowned slowly emerged a saddened expression, or however Konan would call it.

He wished for a U turn point…he wished for a second chance…he wished for anything that will make his Angel reappear on this bridge. The rain slowly sank into his Akatsuki cloak, into his figure, slowly wetting him down, the first time it actually managed to make true contact with him.

And the Rinnegan wielder's ears could still hear the screams and wails of his Angel, echoing through the entire tower, the echoes getting weaker and weaker as the Angel headed deeper and deeper into it. Her screams echoed through his heart, crushing it with a powerful, feral grip.

The Rinnegan wielder slammed his head violently on the stoned floor, closing his eyes and bringing up a snarl, the first snarl he had in years. He hoped for the horrible pain echoing through his body to stop when the floor tore apart his head…it did not. Pain's head remained whole, feeling no pain, no ache.

The pain only became stronger and stronger, causing his body to tremble as he could feel his consciousness slipping away. He began slamming his right fist on the floor, again, and again, and again, and again and again and again, unable to take the sheer mental pain, yet feeling no physical pain which would nullify the mental one and distract him from all of this.

He buried his head into the stoned floor, blood covering his right palm as he barely sprawled on the bride, his body on its knees, the screams of his Angel echoing in his mind, digesting it, tearing it apart.

The rain was slowly tapping his body into submission, his figure devastated in the rain as it tapped in louder, sinking into his hair, reducing it from its spiky form, his body trembling viciously. His hair was now covering his face, so no being would be able to see that sliding down the Rinnegan wielder's nose and tapping onto the stoned floor were rivers of tears, accompanying a slight sob.

Just at that moment, as if his breakdown wasn't enough, the memories of his first meeting with Konan tore apart his mind as it appeared and danced along to his endless, vicious mental pain, letting him know that it was his Angel who allowed him to continue living, it was her who saved his life when he needed an Angel to save him.

"Here…eat this…"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah…"

At that point, countless of tears were gushing down Pain's eyes, soft sobs echoing from his snarl, the tears slowly gliding through the cracks between the stoned tiles of the bridge, mixing with the countless of raindrops travelling across it. 'Konan…' Pain thought, his devastated mind and torn soul now realizing how horrible he had acted towards his beloved Angel all those years, and how he rewarded her with everything he had done.

If something or someone would come now and attempt to kill the one controlling him, he would be grateful, if his Angel would appear before the devil which was manipulating his body from the top of the tower and impale his throat with her paper blades…he would be grateful.

If his existence will come to end right now…he would be grateful.

'I am so sorry….what have I become?' Pain thought, his eyes squinting slightly, the tears burning down his Rinnegan as his Angel's words echoed through his heart. 'You are right…my Angel…I am…I am…'

On a certain, pitch-black room at the summit of the tower, the sound of countless of teardrops tapping on the stoned floor could be heard, echoing through the chamber.

Connected to a mechanical walker which had granted him the ability to travel great distances with minimal effort, the mechanical walker Konan spent months on top of months torturing herself to construct, to the point the remaining members of the Akatsuki would just beg for her to lie down and rest, to take a break, Nagato was crying uncontrollably, his tears escaping his squeezed eyes and tapping on the stoned floor, the endless feelings of guilt, remorse and despair growing bigger and bigger inside his heart.

He began looking backwards, at his old self, at the warm Nagato, the one Konan loved, back when Yahiko was alive…when he could see and feel Konan's smile whenever he said something to her, or if he just plainly asked her to smile, where everything was innocent and peaceful…he now looked at himself, the emotionless monster which brought pain and mental torture upon his innocent Angel throughout eight years, the monster who emerged from the endless abyss of Yahiko's death and brought itself to be the epitome of hatred and revenge, the one who was able to bring pain upon his Angel and attack her mercilessly when she attempted to open his eyes with force, to reflect him upon his mistakes, to shoulder him from that hatred and vengeance engulfing his body.

'A monster…a horrible monster.'

Konan continued crying and wailing heavily as she ran as fast as she could through the dark, pipe-filled hallways, searching for her bedroom, remembering every turn she must take. Her fast steps echoed through the tower when colliding with the stoned floor, forming a melody of sorrow together with her sobbing.

That's it, she had taken the last turn and was now looking at a wooden door, amber eyes filled with enraged and devastated tears. Hers and Nagato's bedroom, the place where they were the closest to each other, even if it was only physically, a place well suited so somber her hopes, her sadness, and her sorrow.

The Angel charged at the door and broke it open angrily, roaring as she did so. She entered the bedroom, slamming the door behind her as hard as she could, hoping it would shatter with the rest of her world. She had spotted it, in the center of the room against the opposite wall, a large, double bed, the bed where she and Nagato were sleeping in.

The endless barrage of raindrops could still be heard tapping outside, just like her ruined tears, she could hear the rain whispering in her ears, to let it enter the room.

Konan sent her hand and clutched the collar of her Akatsuki cloak angrily, throwing it away from her body and on the stoned floor in rage, hearing the sound that it made upon resting on in softly. She untied the bun ponytail angrily, causing the blue, smooth locks trapped inside to break free and take their position on her head, making her hair slightly longer until it almost reached her shoulders. She then reached towards the paper flower she had been making every day since Yahiko died, resting peacefully on her blue hair, taking it off her head and squeezing it tightly in her hand, crushing and tearing the poor flower apart as the water soaked in it from the rain climbed down her forelimb, causing her to shiver even more.

The Angel cried as she swung her arm and tossed what once used to be a beautiful paper flower wildly on the floor…it was now a wet, crumbled, crushed piece of paper sheet that had once signified her hopes, her dreams, the dreams to be in Nagato's arms…a dream she knew that was now just a dream, a dream that no longer existed.

She slammed her front body on the mat and instantly slammed her face in her soft, white pillow, crying heavily into it as she repeatedly slammed her enraged fists and kicks on the innocent mat, hoping that it would help calming her down, pretending that it was the one who was pinning her to the stoned floor, hurting her, crushing her mind and dreams just a few moments ago.

And even though it was so far away from feeling like it, the Angel could only pretend that the soft pillow is the shoulder of her beloved Nagato, coming to comfort her. She could imagine his smile in her mind…only to be saddened and devastated even more when she realize that it was the smile she will never get to see anymore.

The atmosphere around the dark room was freezing, caressing her body softly, each caress ruining her, hoping that she will finally lose the slight remnants of sanity which were clinging into her soul. She could still hear the raindrops outside, the rain just getting heavier and heavier, as if it was happy, as if it laughed at her, as if it was begging to enter the room and play with her mind together with the atmosphere.

Those thoughts didn't help supporting her emotional, devastated crumble. She hated that village, despised it with her very soul- what a horrible place to live, what a cold place to live. She wanted to leave that village and never, ever return. But deep in herself she realized, she realized Nagato needs her by his side, to take care of him. Without her, how will he be able to walk? How will he be able to eat? How will he be able to continue that daily, emotionless, horrible routine of his without her help? If not as his friends, it is her duty as his partner to help him in every way she could…to help that emotionless monster to continue living and plunging itself further into darkness.

'IT'S NOT FAIR! IT'S NOT FAIR!' Konan roared mentally as she grabbed the blanket and tossed it over her in rage, assuming her sleeping position, her body shivering from the cold as she hugged the pillow and squeezed it against her face, hearing how it swallowed her cries and screams and only got soaked with her tears. 'I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!'

He was her love, her dreams…he was her happiness, her hope…her Nagato was that eternal light which surrounded her with warmth, he was that light at the end of that deep, long tunnel she was walking through, running towards him, the tunnel which had not a single flicker of light and hope.

Now…he is her hatred, her nightmares, her sorrow, her despair, he is that creeping darkness snaking around her body, surrounding her with shivers and tears, he is that darkness of the abyss she was falling through, diving towards, with no one to catch her, just falling and falling.

He was once called her beloved Nagato…Now, all she can call him is her hatred, Pain.

And so passed the first ten minutes of her emotional crumble, and the Angel's screams and wails hasn't weakened the slightest bit. She began thinking on what could've happened if Yahiko was here, she began thinking on how he will beat up Nagato to the point he was begging for his life, to rage at him on how deep he had fallen, that he was once the savior of this world, the one she loved, to end his life with a single impalement of her blades, of her deadly paper arrows, which were recruited by him to pass down judgment upon the ones who were polluting peace, the arrows who were supposed to slice his head down so many years ago…

There was a gentle knock on the wooden door, soft, slow, lingering, a knock which echoed through the dark room and cut off Konan's trail of thoughts. Even if she denied it in every way possible, she knew who was the one knocking, who was the one behind the door, waiting for a response. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?" She screamed in rage, enraged that he still has the nerve to come before her after all he had done, enraged that he made her recall all those wonderful moments she had with him in their childhood.

Behind the wooden door, Pain squeezed his eyes shut and flinched at Konan's outburst. He couldn't believe how angry she was, to think that his calm, kind Angel could reach such levels of anger and despair...no, not the calm, kind Angel- the ruined, devastated Angel that he had turned her to…that his inhuman treatment and emotionless eyes turned her to. "K-Konan, my Angel," He started softly, hesitatingly, afraid, trying to stiff in as much positive emotions as he could- comfort, softness, warmth, hoping that his voice would be able to melt through the walls of iron separating between them, the walls which looked like a wooden door, a door he could not allow himself to open on his own…A door he could open at all without her permission. "May I come in, please?"

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HERE!"

Pain's eyes completely widened in disbelief, the sheer, enraged, vicious roar filled with devastation and despair, accompanied by uncontrollable rage that tore apart through the door and knocked his hand from the handle.

"DON'T…DON'T EVEN DARE TO CALL ME YOUR ANGEL EVER AGAIN!"

The Rinnegan wielder's eyes were now completely widen in awe and shock, to actually reach such a point when his Angel even makes such a claim, for him to never call her "his Angel"…he had realized, there is no turning point from what he had done.

Not even caring about his reaction, Konan resumed crying her heart out, remembering all she had been through with her warm Nagato…

The time when she first met him completely by coincidence, a devastated orphan, dying in the middle of nowhere.

How satisfied she had felt when she gave him food, seeing him eating that bread as fast as he could as if he hasn't eaten for ages, the smile that spread on his face when he looked at her, seeing her smiling at him innocently.

How she had brought him to Yahiko, and Yahiko allowed him to join the family, the three's bond tightening to the point they felt like a real family.

How they had all worked on schemes and missions to acquire food, even if it was illegal. How they often succeeded and managed to steal something they could eat, sharing it between them no matter it's' size.

How often they were hurt when discovered, only to laugh at the expressions of the ones they were about to steal from when they managed to get away.

How it had all turned to the time Nagato and her were crying from hunger, hugging each other, giving Yahiko the determination to go and seek food from them like a big brother.

How they met Jiraiya and their family expanded, a father being added to it. How he trained them all, and how they continued training with each other as time passed.

How they had all formed Akatsuki to bring peace, going on various of dangerous mission. How often both of Nagato and Yahiko were hurt, and she was the one to treat them while scolding them not to hurt themselves like a mother.

How she was grabbed hostage by Hanzo's scheme, and how Yahiko had sacrificed himself…how Nagato didn't even hesitate for a second and managed to save her, even at the cost of his own legs.

How from there on, her life began slowly turning into a nightmare as the compassionate, warm Nagato she had known was locked away by Pain, and all of her memories were now just memories of the past.

That was it, that was when those thoughts crushed the Angel's mind and she collapsed in sheer crying, screaming and wailing as loud as she could, slamming her fists repeatedly on the mat as hard as she could, hoping that all of that would just prove to be what it is- a long, endless nightmare.

No one will come to comfort her anymore, from here on out, she is on her own.

Outside the room, Pain turned around with his back against the walls, closing his eyes sadly and listening to the horrible thing he had done to his Angel, her screams and shrieks of agony screaming at him, making him realize that he had crossed the line so long ago.

And that is how the next hour had passed, Pain sitting next to the door outside the room, his back against the wall and his face buried in his hands, forcing himself to listen to the screams of sorrow and despair erupting from the room, regretting every single thing he had done to her, wishing that all of this could've gone differently, that he could've seen through her calm, serious silhouette sooner, and react properly…wishing that he could've said something different and react differently when she told him she wants her Nagato back this morning.

He had never thought such a thing was emotionally-possible, for a person to scream and cry for a whole hour without running out of tears, without running out of hatred and despair, without running out of devastation. It had only showed him how much she was holding inside her, the fact that she didn't even got close to that when she was mourning Yahiko's death.

He finally understood what it means to understand the true value of something only when it was taken away from you, to never take anything for granted…because nothing lasts forever.

The resolve and realization suddenly hit the Rinnegan wielder in his head, causing him to remove it from his hands instantly, wiping away the tears as he stood up as quick as he could, a determined expression on his face. It was all because of him, he was the one to do this to her, maybe, somehow, even if he cannot give her back those lost, horrible years, maybe he could undo the damage, maybe he can make sure it stops right here…he must apologize, he must face the epitome of his mistakes, he must face his Angel, he must beg for her forgiveness, he must offer her whatever she wants, emotions are the least he could give her…perhaps then, perhaps then she will forgive his pleas and sobs, and then he would be at least able to call himself a human.

Not caring that she clarified to him not to enter the room, Pain turned around and opened the door cautiously, slowly, not wanting to startle what was inside there…he did not know how much his Angel's emotional crumble had affected her behavior…what it turned her into.

Her screams were beginning to sound more like feral roars throughout this hour.

The light which came into the room lightened it a bit, allowing Pain so peek from outside the room at the bed. He could still hear her cry, he could still hear her scream, the pain tearing him apart as he cautiously opened the door completely.

He took a single step cautiously into the room, entering the darkness, entering the epitome of his Angel's despair, a place he felt so unworthy to be in currently…he was suddenly forced back when something soft charged at his face with a thud, the power of the throw so powerful and unexpected that it took him all his power not to lose balance from the surprise.

The Rinnegan wielder grabbed what was now glued to his face and removed it from his eyes, looking at it with an awestruck expression- a pillow…a single pillow, a pillow soaked to the core with tears, tearing apart his heart as he realized that those tears were his Angel's. He then looked at the bed, his eyes widening as a terrified expression appeared on his face upon seeing the horrifying sight.

Konan was in the back of the room, the blanket was wrapped around her delicate body, completely terrified and scared, devastated and shaking to the bone, crying heavily, tears rolling from her fully widened, red eyes.

That sight tore him apart so much, to the point the Rinnegan wielder could feel tears rolling from his eyes again…he just wanted to charge at her and hug her as tight as he could, to tell her how much he was sorry and just cry with her until the end of the world…but that won't do any good, he must act correctly, he must not do anything drastic at this point.

The emotionally-collapsed Angel instantly tucked herself to the end of the bed, curling up into a ball, the blanket still wrapped around her, not supplying enough warmth as she continued shivering heavily, burying her face in her knees, crying uncontrollably, wailing and sobbing.

Pain's eyes widened in horror, his jaw dropping again, he recognized that, he recognized that curled form, those tears and sobs, yes, he had recognized those features so well. 'She's traumatized…she's hypertilating as well…' He concluded in disbelief, unable to face what he had done to her as he took a cautious stance, not exactly knowing how to face the traumatized Angel. 'I-I must do something!'

He took a single, almost microscopic step towards the bed, and Konan lifted her head from her knees instantly, shooting him a horrible snarl that the Rinnegan wielder never thought could be formed, her eyes completely widened in rage, tears still flowing, sobbing. "GET AWAY FROM ME!" She screamed in despair, freezing Pain in his tracks. "I TOLD YOU TO GO AWAY!"

Pain felt deep empathy and compassion again climbing up from the depths of his body, yet somehow managed to force them back. He had then realized- no one could battle emotions, they were too powerful, no one could have enough strength to defeat them, they can only be stalled, but then return with even greater power…and he, too, will eventually lose to his emotions and collapse just like her…but not now, he cannot allow himself to collapse now, he must stay cool and act fast, to prevent Konan from being traumatized any further or there really be no return point for him…for him…and her.

He took another slight step, tears rolling from his eyes as he expected her to react, and so she did, launching another pillow at his face with the force of a bullet, forcing him backwards again to where he started. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" Konan screamed before pressing herself against the bed's headboard, shaking and crying heavily, her palms clutching to her shoulders beneath the wrapped blanket.

Pain's eyes hardened as he grabbed the pillow and threw it away as hard as he could, not wanting anything to prevent him from looking at her. He scanned the bed cautiously, noting that there is nothing left that the Angel could throw at him…yet in such situations, he had learn that it is when he must expect the unexpected, to think about the worst case scenario. 'I must stop this…it won't be long before the trauma will increase…and if it does…Kami…' He thought frantically, the image of his beautiful Angel putting herself out of his misery trying to flash through his mind. 'Thank god there is nothing she can use here to injure herself…'

Pain took a defensive and cautious stance, his eyes locked with Konan's deeply, looking at her enraged, amber irises and black pupils. He had first seen in eight years how beautiful her eyes were, and with that thought he began taking another cautious step, doing it as slow as he can, the dead silence only making room for Konan's sobs and wails.

"YOU MONSTER, WHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?" Konan roared in rage as she swung her upper body forward, trying to intimidate him, thinking that maybe her rage will make this monster disappear. "YOU RUINED MY ENTIRE LIFE! I DESPISE YOU! STAY BACK!"

Pain's eyes widened again at Konan's ruined roars, maybe it is the punishment given upon him for what he had done, for how deep he had sunk, for treating her like nothing all those years…but why it must be her? Why does she need to pay for it all, to pay for his mistakes? What had she done to deserve this?

Pain's eyes again narrowed, knowing what the answer is- she does not deserve this, she doesn't deserve to be in such condition because of him, he is the one who must undergo what she's going, not the opposite.

He must do it, he must beg for her forgiveness…and he must do it now…now or never.

With a move Konan could have never predicted, Pain lunged forward as fast as he could and grabbed both of her wrists in his strong hands before launching backwards, pulling her unwillingly out of the bed, as much as she tried to resist, into a…

Konan's rage heightened beyond limits as she began repeatedly hitting Pain, who wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and his left arm around her waist, pulling her into a tight, one-sided hug. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" The Angel roared as loud as she could as she swung her forelimbs backwards and forwards, hitting the Rinnegan wielder's waist and back with her fists, roaring, grunting, and wailing with each blow.

She struggled against his hug, swinging her body any direction while hitting him, hoping he would just break and let go of her so she can run away and put an end to all of this, to just break from the hug of the monster which ruined her life. "LET THE FUCK GO!" She roared, frustrated and even more enraged at the Rinnegan wielder's stubbornness.

Why didn't he let go of her?

It didn't happen, Pain did not let go of her…how could he? How could he let go of his beloved Angel after all he had done to her? Never, he will never let go of her, not until he quells down her anger and her despair, until he brings back his beloved Angel, and begs for her forgiveness.

Each hit the enraged Angel gave him felt like a stab of negative, devastated emotions, packing so much emotional power like he had never seen before. He had never thought that it would hurt so much, that such weak, exhausted hits would hurt his heart and mind so much…he thanked himself for being able to feel mental pain, now he knows how much she was holding back, how much she wanted her Nagato back, how much she hated him…him…not her Nagato, he was not her Nagato, not yet.

With every single hit, even though the Angel was too enraged to be aware of it, she was shattering Pain's emotionless shell, which was already so close to collapsing, her beloved, warm Nagato looking through the cracks in the cage, enraged at what that monster had brought upon his Angel.

Getting hit like that continuously by her, by his Angel, by the one who had meant everything to him, the only one who ever showed affection to him, the one who was tortured for years on top of years by him and was hurt ruthlessly by him when she tried to open his eyes and save him, the Rinnegan wielder could not withstand such immense, mental damage.

He had realized all of that was a result of Konan keeping it all inside her, all these years, gathering her sadness and despair into a tight bubble, a bubble that was burst mercilessly by him.

He closed his eyes shut, flinching heavily by every single punch from his Angel, not physically, but mentally, getting as far as wincing by the mental damage and pain he was receiving from Konan. He felt like not much time will pass before he collapses, like every hit was speaking on its own, cursing him, calling him a monster, reflecting upon what he had done to her…he was slowly losing it.

Konan began feeling that her shoulder was getting wet by Pain's tears, which rolled down his cheeks as he buried his head in her shoulder, only angering her more. She couldn't care the less about him crying, she didn't refrain from hitting that monster which was hugging her, touching her, touching her body, the body she had reserved and flourished for the warm touch of her Nagato for so long, to kiss, hug, and do anything with her to his heart's desire…she wanted to be his, she wanted Nagato to take her in his embrace, she wanted him to be the one touching her, not anyone else.

But that monster which was hugging her wasn't her Nagato, he couldn't have been her Nagato, he didn't even feel like him. His body was cold, she could even feel his piercings under his Akatsuki cloak while hitting him. His body wasn't comforting at all, it just sent chills and shivers through her body…it wasn't Nagato, Nagato didn't feel like it at all.

"K-Konan, my Angel," Pain sobbed weakly into her shoulder as the Angel doubled the emotional strength of her blows, knowing that his emotionless shell was shattered and his heart was exposed, the heart which was now being shattered slowly by the blows of his enraged Angel. "Please stop! I will not be able to endure much longer! I-I just want to talk!"

He hoped for her to stop, for his words to get into her heart, for her to listen to reason and realize that he isn't going to cause her any more harm, but to his misfortune, it did not happen…Konan didn't refrain from hitting him, hitting that monster, as if his words didn't mean anything to her, as if she couldn't hear him.

Seeing that his words didn't affect the enraged Angel the slightest bit, Pain decided to rotate quickly, surprising Konan when he dropped on the bed, lying on his back and hugging her on top of him, hoping that the change of position will tire her down, together with her rage, together with her devastation…together with her hits which were shattering him.

It didn't happen, Konan only continued hitting him with everything her body could use to cause him physical and mental damage, even more violently than before, angrier. The Rinnegan wielder saw that changing the position to a more intimate one had only made his Angel more enraged.

Deciding to do one last gamble, Pain swung his body to the side, flipping both of them over so Konan was now the one pinned against the mat with Pain on top of her, still hugging her tightly, knowing that the weight of his body against her delicate, feminine one must tire her down eventually.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" Konan screamed in rage, now hitting the Rinnegan wielder beastly, losing control. That monster had touched her way too much, that monster felt her up way too much, she doesn't want this feeling of coldness around her anymore, she just wants to be alone, to somber herself, is that too much to ask?

"GET OFF ME!"

Seeing that he can't take any more hits, and that the next one will shatter him completely, Pain quickly lifted his upper body upwards and caught the hand Konan was about to hit him with. Konan instantly tried to hit him with her other hand, only for Pain to catch it with his other free hand. Having caught both of her hands, Pain quickly pushed his Angel's arms away, pinning them against the mat and so preventing her from hitting him any further. He then proceeded to sit on her beautiful, feminine abdomen so it was now between his thighs, pinning her body on the mat completely, just like before…when all of it began.

Not having anything to distract nor block his sight, Pain was now gazing deeply at the enraged, devastated eyes of his Angel. Having coming in contact with his eyes, Konan began swinging his legs backwards and forwards as hard as she could, hoping it would distort his balance and causing him to flip over, but it was in vain, Pain's legs were on the mat firmly as if they were glued to it.

"Konan…" Pain sobbed softly, quietly, his tears falling from his face and softly tapping on hers, unable to see such an expression on the face of his beautiful Angel. She was snarling at him heavily, her amber eyes filled with everlasting rage and devastation while tears were rolling down her cheeks in great amounts, indicating there is a fair part of sadness and despair inside her as well. She was panting and gasping heavily, her body exhausted to the core by the struggle, by the rapid blows she was giving to him, the weight of his body on her abdomen only weakening her more. "I…"

There was a long silence, Pain again losing his courage to talk, not knowing how to continue the sentence in a way that will make Konan understand how much he's sorry, besides, he doubts that she can even hear him. Only the rain could be heard tapping outside when Pain decided to stay in the current position until Konan calms down, and it wasn't as if he could move, his body was held captivate by the enraged, sobbing amber eyes of Konan, by her vicious snarl, by the sound of her breathing, drawing even more tears from his ringed eyes when he couldn't look away from hers, the deep contact between their locked eyes tearing his heart apart.

As time passed, Pain was still dead silent, listening to Konan's weak breathing, his tears tapping on her face, mixing with her own tears, as if they were dancing together in an endless dance. That is how half an hour passed, half an hour in which Konan struggled from time to time, proving herself way stronger than Pain could've imagined. Nevertheless, the Rinnegan wielder didn't give up and managed to restrain her back each time, weakening her down as a result.

Seeing that Konan's snarl was now rather soft, her breathing slowly stabilizing, Pain decided to carefully soften his grasp around her wrists, wanting to see how she would react for a chance to actually break out of his hold.

Konan did nothing, seemingly not caring, the rage in her eyes only penetrated Pain's eyes and tore apart his body, melting him down to the point he begged her mentally not to look at him like that. He was paying for it, he was paying for all of his mistakes with that, with that horrible feeling of guilt and pain, his emotions have now surfaced, Konan had managed to open his eyes, Konan had managed to change him…but at what cost?

He waited a few good minutes, and then, the Rinnegan wielder cautiously and slowly removed his hands from Konan's wrists, wanting to see how she would react for a chance to send her hand forward and rip his pierced face apart with her rage, to incapacitate his body.

Konan did nothing, the sadness in her amber eyes melting down Pain's heart, drawing a sheer amount of guilt, regret, compassion and love from the self-proclaimed monster of Amegakure, as if her eyes were subduing him, taming him to her will.

That was it, there was nothing holding her, there was nothing preventing from his Angel to attack him, there was nothing restraining her, and yet she did nothing, only staring at him, shattering him apart and torturing him mentally.

He again did something Konan could never predict, something that melted down through her anger, something that had broken the walls of iron separating between them. His hand rested softly on her smooth, soft cheek, wiping away and purging her tears, along with his rage, a soft, sad smile tugging his lips for the first time in so many years when he saw her expression was turning shocked and disbelieved, her jaw dropping slightly and the rage just disappearing from her eyes.

"Have you calmed down?" Pain asked, trying not to make his voice shake from the endless tears which were rolling down his cheek, a loving tone filling his voice when he looked deeply into her amber eyes, looking how beautiful they were.

Konan didn't say anything, too shocked to actually move herself, her disbelieved expression plastered on her face, only giving Pain the approval he needed. Without hesitating, Pain collapsed on top of her, lifeless as a corpse.

Konan's eyes widened even more in shock, remembering what it meant. Just then, the bedroom's door was burst open, causing her to yelp when she looked towards the entrance to the bedroom, at the shadowy figure which was barely standing at the door, holding onto the wall…the shape of it resembling the one of…

Konan's eyes widened in disbelief, seeing Nagato standing at the door, panting, grunting in pain, seeing that he was not connected to his mechanical walker, that he was standing on his own. Her eyes were completely widened when Nagato took a single step, grunting loudly in pain as his burnt legs couldn't support the weight of his body. He instantly grabbed the nearby wall and leaned on it, motioning his Angel not to move when she threw Pain's lifeless body from on top of her to stand up and help him…he would do it on his own…he must, for her.

One slow step after another, one loud grunt after another, the hand holding onto the wall wobbling in pain and exhaustion as it could barely support his weight, and Nagato slowly sat on the bed, right next to a very shocked, astonished Konan.

"N-Nagato…why did yo-"

Everything was going in slow motion for the Angel, the background turning white as Nagato wrapped his weak, thin arms around her delicate, warm body, wailing and crying in agony into her shoulder, whispering something under his breath.

One of his hands traveled to her upper back, folding so he was now clutching her blue hair in his shaking hand, crying uncontrollably, noting that Konan didn't react from the amount of shock and happiness that was put upon her, her mind failing to realize what was now going on. He then parted from the hug, grabbing both of her cheeks softly so their faces were inches away from each other.

He looked deeply into her amber eyes, the eyes which were now filled with even more tears, snarling in agony; eyes squinted with countless of tears flowing from his eyes like waterfalls as he wailed repeatedly. "My Angel…" He sobbed heavily, eyes still locked with her, trying his best not to collapse in sorrow. He pulled her into another hug, another tight, warm, comfortable hug, pressing herself against him as much as he could, feeling the warmth of her body after so many years, feeling her cheek against his, feeling her blue, smooth hair, feeling her tears wetting his naked shoulder blade as he only cried harder. "My Angel…my Angel…my Angel…it's me…it's me…Nagato…I'm Nagato…I'm your Nagato…I wish words…I wish words could describe…how sorry I am!"

He had then collapsed, sobbing and wailing just like she had a few moments ago, letting everything out, pouring down his heart, unable to hold himself bottled up anymore, unable to restrained all of those held-back emotions. For the first time he felt powerful, more powerful than he had ever imagined. "I want to tell you how guilty I feel…how devastated I am…I deserved it all…everything you have done to me…I only now realized how much I have tortured you over the years…my Angel…my beautiful Angel…my Konan…I will never forgive myself…I will never forget how horrible I am…" Nagato sobbed heavily, remembering all those years, how he had treated her like crap, how he had never considered her, never looked at her and gave her any attention. "You were always by my side…you always followed me no matter how deep I sunk…you always took care of me and did everything you could for me even when I treated you like…like nothing…I wasn't smart enough and pure enough to see how sad and devastated you were…I forced you to kill, to taint your hands with blood for my corrupted ideals…I tried to grab your legs and sink you into darkness with me…but I could never reached you…the darkness could never reach you…you were still pure…still filled with light…you have not been influenced the slightest bit…you are still innocent, still kind, still loving…just like you used to be…but me…I had embraced that darkness…I had corrupted myself…I locked away my emotions…I was engulfed with darkness, but you were still holding my hand from the light…I turned into a monster…and as a result, I ended up hurting the one I have never wanted to hurt…never imagined to hurt…you, my gorgeous Angel…my Konan…"

Nagato's crying strengthened, clutching Konan's back with all the strength he could put, wanting her to know that he's hear, that he's with her. She was still so shocked, she thought it was a dream, she hadn't returned the hug, she was still traumatized and disbelieved…in the good meaning of the word. "Konan…" Nagato sobbed, knowing that she hears him, knowing that he must pour down everything before begging for her forgiveness. "Do you know why the title "my Angel" was bestowed upon you by a monster like me? It's because you're beautiful, because you're compassionate, because you're kind, so delicate and lovely, because no one else will never be able to possess what you do, no one in the world, not even Kami. You are the reason that I am here right now, that I am alive, because back then…when I was still a child, when I was dying from hunger, collapsed, thinking I will go to the afterlife to meet my parents, you appeared out of nowhere to the middle of nowhere and saved my life…like you were my Angel…it has nothing to do with your role and your duties…the torture I brought upon you…it has everything to do with you…my Angel…you are my happiness…my love…you are my world…you are everything to me, and I only realize this after I had brought so much suffering upon you…"

He had now said everything he could think of, he had apologized as much as he could. All he could do now now is beg to her forgiveness, hoping he would get it from her, the simple thought of earning back her emotions and trust bringing out only more hope and empathy from the redhead. "My Konan, my Angel, I beg of you…" Nagato sobbed again, pressing Konan closer to him, loving the addicting feeling of her warm, smooth, feminine body, feeling more and more comforted as they grew closer. "I beg of you, my Angel…from now on, I will do anything I can to satisfy you- I will once again return to my pure ideals, I will love you forever, give you every last bit of my attention, will take care of you and undo the damage and torture that I brought upon you…I swear…I will make you smile no matter if I have to go to hell and beyond…then please, I beg for you, find that charming kindness in your heart…to forgive me, to forgive me for what I have brought upon a pure, delicate Angel like you…please give a monster like me a second chance, I swear I will change! I make an oath to you! I swear to Kami, wherever he is! Please allow me to call myself a human, I do not want to be a monster…I do not want to continue living without your forgiveness…I will not be able to…I know what I have done to you was horrible…but I can undo the damage…I can return everything to the way it used to be, and I will, no matter what! I am back now! I am emotional now, and it is all thanks to you, my Angel! Then please, I will fall at your feet if you refuse to forgive me, I will do anything! Please my Angel, please forgive a monster like me! I beg of you!"

The rain outside got stronger, the bedroom was dead-silent, nothing was heard aside from Nagato's sobs, each passing minute making Nagato more and more eager to know his Angel's answer, to know which judgment will be brought upon him by her words. Such irony, only two hours ago he was proclaiming himself god and brought judgment upon thousands, unaware that he was actually a monster. And now, he was patiently waiting for the judgment of his Angel, her words, which will decide his fate and his value- an emotionless, ruthless monster that ruthlessly attacked its Angel and tortured her both mentally and physically for so many years…or a human, filled with emotions and love, who will do anything to make up for his utter mistakes to earn back his Angel's love.

That is it, the silence was broken when Konan finally reacted, wrapping both of her arms around Nagato's shoulder, finally believing all if this wasn't a dream, finally starting to sob heavily into his thin shoulder blade, finally believing that it was him, his warmth, his tears, his eyes, his voice…it was her Nagato.

She removed her head from his shoulder blade and grabbed both of his cheeks, wanting to see this isn't a dream forced upon her by her breakdown, to play with her mind and severe her from her last hopes. She brought his face an inch away from hers, both of them snarling in agony, tears rolling down their shattered eyes.

It took the Rinnegan wielder all his willpower not to collapse again when he saw his Angel's expression, looking deeply into her amber eyes, losing himself as he didn't refrain from hugging her, one hand removing from her body to rest itself on one of her wrists, feeling the touch of her warm, smooth palm…such a soft touch.

"Idiot…"

"…of course…I will…"

Nagato's eyes widened completely, even more than they widened when Yahiko had died in his arms, thinking he might've misheard what his Angel had said. Konan then tackled him in a tight hug, wrapping her arms around the middle of his back from his underarms, trying to make her way through all of those horrible rods which were embed into the body of her beloved as she buried her chin in his shoulder, their cheeks touching, and cried heavily, sobbing, pulling himself closer to her, not minding that all she felt was just skin and bones…he was warm…she could smell his scent, she could hear his heartbeats, the heartbeats of her beloved Nagato…he actually hadn't lost his heart, it was always there, locked away.

"Of course I will forgive you!" Konan wailed viciously, the tears still flowing down her eyes as she closed them shut. "I will forgive you for everything, my Nagato! I'm sorry for losing control like that! I was so angered and despaired I just…didn't know what to do with myself! Just…I just want for you to never leave me again…to stay with me forever! Believe in your ideals! Do what you want! Yahiko had his own ideals…and you had your own, that was what made you different from each other. That was what brought him to believe you are the savior of this world! That is what brought me to believe that as well! Promise me you will be you!Promise me you will never hold grudge, resolve things peacefully…do anything you see fit, but don't let hatred and revenge blind you like that ever again! I want you to promise me, promise me that you will stay the Nagato I love forever!"

"I give you my word…" Nagato sobbed, not believing that this is all that he had to do in order to bring her back to him. His Angel was so kind, more kind than he had imagined. "I will do anything you wish for, anything! The only thing I wish is for you to be happy! I will never do anything that will make you sad from here on, I give you my oath as a human! Just…never hold in your emotions, tell me if something is on your mind, so I can fix it and make you smile…tell me anything you think I should know…this is all I ask from you…I can never let myself ask anything more than that."

"Yes, yes!" Konan sobbed in happiness, both of them tightening the hug, getting more and more comforted. Konan began feeling hope and happiness returning to her, mental wounds slowly healing as her world turned brighter and brighter, as she felt her Nagato, against all odds, catching her right before she hit the bottom of that dark abyss, which was now beginning to fill up with bright, white light. "I will do anything you want!"

"Thank you, my Angel…" Nagato breathed and sobbed into her shoulder repeatedly, caressing her hair, feeling his own shoulder getting wet with her tears. "These are the least I can ask from you…thank you so much…"

Having poured down both of their hearts, both of Nagato and Konan didn't say a word, knowing that there is no need for them, there is no need for word since they could understand each other so much better through acts, and the comfortable, tight, warm hug they were both locked in delivered the same message to both of them- the significant change that they have made within those few hours, and how they will be now moving towards the light.

They were caressing each other, each of them listening to the other's breathing, to the other's heartbeat, feeling their warmth, their scent, their happiness and love…the words could go to hell right now for all they cared.

Nagato was happy, he was happy more than he had been in his entire life, tears of happiness rolling down his thin cheeks, so glad, relieved and happy to have received the forgiveness of his Angel, he was so happy about her kind, warm heart, he was happy that she forgiven him for everything he had done to her…yet knew that he will never forgive himself, he will never forgive himself for torturing his Angel like that, for hurting her ruthlessly, for making her cry and scream in agony…it will be a well-worth scar which he will have to bare for the rest of his life, and that scar was worth it. From now on, he would do anything he can to make sure his Angel will always remain happy, will always remain pure no matter what. He will kill anyone who brings pain and suffering upon her, anyone who threatens her with no exception, no matter who they are, they will die by his hands.

Konan just couldn't believe it, she could not believe that she had managed to bring back her Nagato, she couldn't believe that all these horrible years now have come to an end, she just couldn't believe it. She thought she was dreaming, because something like that now felt too good for her to be true, but no, she could feel the warmth of her Nagato's body, she could smell his scent for the first time after all these years, she missed that scent so much, more than she could describe with words…nothing the two felt right now could be described with words…

Not even Nagato's sudden growl which was filled with hatred and anger, a growl which caused Konan to perk up and remove her face from his shoulder, feeling that he had removed his from hers. She looked deeply into his glaring expression, a glare that wasn't directed towards her, a glare that wasn't directed anywhere.

She gave a thoughtful expression, a little disappointed that Nagato's second display of emotions came so quickly, and an emotion she hated to see in him so much- anger, anger was plastered on his face.

"Uchiha Madara…has entered the village…" Nagato hissed lowly, feeling Madara's chakra in his rain, recognizing that cold, dark, twisted chakra.

The former-leader of the Uchiha, the one he had now seen was manipulating him with because of his hatred, a thing that was revealed to him thanks to his Angel, who opened his eyes. That bastard was the last thing he wanted to interfere with that cherished, dream-like, beautiful moment with his Angel, his Konan.

"Nagato…" Konan muttered worryingly, realizing what his expression meant. He had finally realized Madara was manipulating him, as if Nagato's eyes were blindfolded, and Madara was the one guiding him into darkness, whispering fake directions towards the path of light while leading him deeper into darkness. Now she had managed to open his eyes, and Madara's deceiving was the second thing that was revealed to him, the first one being her crumbled personality which was now nearly healed. "I know that you realized that, I know that you realized Madara is manipulating you…here is my first request…don't follow his orders anymore, please, don't continue collaborating with him! He's using you for something, I can feel it!"

Nagato began caressing Konan's hair again, knowing that she's right, seeing that her voice was starting to fill up with anger and hatred towards the mastermind of Akatsuki. "My Angel…you are correct," He said comfortingly, his voice assuring her. He was no longer crying, his voice was so warm, overfilled with love and peacefulness towards her. The sound of his voice was so wonderful that it made Konan wanting to cry again, wanting to cry from happiness into his shoulder again, so happy that this isn't a dream after all. "I have already understood that I am being manipulated by Madara thanks to you…every fact you claim is correct. I cannot let Madara deceive me anymore, I cannot let this continue, I shall regain my place as the leader of Akatsuki, with you, my Angel, by my side, and change its reputation for the better…because that is what I had promised you…because if you think that I must take Akatsuki from Madara and become its leader…then this is what I shall do, this is what I will do if it will make you smile..."

Konan now began sniffing repeatedly, as much as she could, trying to hold back the tears which were now rolling from her eyes again, not running out apparently. Nagato then held both of her cheeks, his arms nearly shaking as he wiped away her tears before bringing out his own. "Everything is alright…" He breathed before pulling her into another warm, tight hug, hearing her cry into his shoulder again from happiness and shock. "You can cry…you can cry…I'm here, my Angel…I'm here for you."

Those words only made Konan cry harder into his shoulder blade, clutching both of his shoulders with her hands, feeling Nagato caressing her blue hair softly, brushing his fingers through it.

'Nagato, Where are you? We must speak at once!'

Nagato's eyes hardened upon hearing Madara's words in his head. Sometimes that telepathy technique he had performed to allow Akatsuki members to communicate with their minds really seemed like he was kicking his own face.

'You must learn to wait, Madara! Your uninvited presence has angered me enough, do not rush me! You are my last priority now!'

'Very well, I understand that my uninvited and rude behavior was really unjustified…I am waiting for you and Konan in the lobby, come when you're ready, but make it quick, we have urgent things to discuss about and I do not have all day.'

Nagato could feel Madara's presence leaving his mind, and with that, he resumed concentrating the warm hug he shared with his Angel, caressing her hair, letting her cry on his shoulder, knowing how much she had missed that comfort. "You will no longer have to cry alone…you will no longer have to hide your emotions from me…" He whispered in Konan's ear, their cheeks touching, their chests against each other, hearts pounding closer and closer. "Because I will always be here for you, my Angel, to the end of time…because I love you, my Angel…because I love you so much…"

Konan's eyes snapped open and widened heavily before Nagato removed her face from his shoulder and pressed his forehead against hers, looking deeply into her eyes, losing himself in her amber irises. Her expression was so shocked; her jaw was dropped in disbelief, tears rolling from her amber eyes, which were now horribly red-colored, having cried so much. "You heard me, my Angel, haven't you?" Nagato whispered softly, warmly, his voice filled with love, seeing Konan didn't react to his question. "I…love…you…Konan."

Konan began sniffing again, hearing her Nagato's words rocking her heart, now knowing for sure that it wasn't a dream. "I love you…too, my Nagato…" She sobbed from happiness, squeezing her eyes shut, lowering her head. "I love you…so much…"

'Nagato, what is taking you so long?'

Nagato growled in anger as his comforting, loving smile was switched with cold frown, feeling Madara's words again echoing through his mind. Konan perked up, opening her eyes in concern, seeing his expression.

'Be patient Madara! I have already told you I am busy! Do not interfere!'

Nagato could feel Madara leaving yet again, quite startled at his outburst, knowing that it was a bad idea to anger his collaborator. "I'm so sorry, my Angel…" He whispered comfortingly, the same, soft, loving smile again tugging his lips, knowing that his Angel is now mentally fragile because of the trauma she had gone through almost an hour ago. His hand rested softly on her smooth chick, not wiping away her tears, knowing that those were tears of happiness. "Madara keeps interrupting…do you want to stay here while I'm going down to the lobby to discuss with him about some urgent subjects? You don't have to…I will never again force you to do anything against your own will. You have endured enough suffering…please…just get some sleep…"

Konan shook her head, a few tears escaping her face as she did so. "No, I want to go down there with you…" She said, her voice filled with concern of some sort which was brought to Nagato's awareness. She didn't want to tell him that she could never sleep alone in this room from here on out, she attempted to do so while having her emotional breakdown, but only found herself collapsed even more.

"Is something on your mind, my Angel?" Nagato whispered comfortingly, lovingly, his voice filled with love towards her, wanting to tell him everything that is on her mind. "Is something worrying you? Please, tell me what's wrong."

Konan remembered what she had promised to Nagato, to tell him anything that is on her mind and anything she thinks that he must know. She nodded, confirming Nagato's suspicions. "I-I'm just…worried of Madara's reaction when you…when you tell him you no longer want to collaborate…" Konan muttered worryingly, looking at Nagato with concerned and loving amber eyes. "What if he won't cooperate? You know how extreme he can be…"

Nagato hugged her tightly, comforting her as he caressed her blue hair again, feeling his Angel hugging him as well. "If Madara decides to attack…then you must go as far from us as you can…" Nagato said comfortingly, a soft smile on his face, shocking Konan with his words. "I don't want anything bad to happen to you, my Angel…I won't be able to withstand you being hurt after…after this. If you're hurt…I swear that I will lose it…please my Angel, promise me you'll stay away if Madara decides to attack."

"I promise…" Konan whispered, feeling Nagato caressing her back, his thin, warm hands sending warm shivers through her body, making her gasp and pant. She didn't feel his touch for so long…she was so happy it wasn't a dream, because she knew she will never be able to dream something like that. "But promise me you won't exhaust yourself…I don't want you to suffer chakra exhaustions…I don't want to see you hurt as well…please promise me!"

"I give you my word, my Angel…" Nagato replied softly, warmly, caressing her hair. With that, Konan parted from the hug and slowly stood up, her amber, hope-filled eyes never parting with his. She sent her hand towards him with a soft, loving smile, the first smile that tugged her lips in eight years, a smile she could not bring up until now.

Her smile sent shivers and warm feelings through Nagato's body, his eyes deeply locked with hers, disbelieved that such a beautiful sight could exist. Her smile…her smile sent rays of light into his body, piercing everything dark in their way, healing mental scars and shattering the darkness inside him. At that moment, Nagato had found his answer, he had found how to bring true peace to the world…he will bring peace to the world by following his Angel's smile, by doing anything that would make her happy, that would make her smile, that would make her love him.

Her smile was his answer…no, she was his answer, she was his answer to finding peace and growing up, the answer Jiraiya had requested him to find so long ago.

Konan raised her eyebrow when Nagato looked at the floor, causing her to look to where he was looking, and her eyes widened. He was staring deeply at her wrinkled, ruined paper flower, that didn't resemble one at all. He sent his hand and aimed it at the wrinkled piece of paper, and as if by magic, the paper sheet hovered and was pulled into his hand.

"There is one thing left to do now…" Nagato said warmly, turning his look to the shocking Konan when he unfolded and unwrinkled the paper with his thin fingers so it was now back to its basic form- a white paper sheet.

Konan's eyes widened even more when Nagato's fingers began folding the paper sheet slowly, a slight fold there, a flip around the corner of the paper sheet. He had watched her making her paper flower so many times he was sure that he remembered it enough to perform it on his own.

Nagato then froze in his tracks, humming, causing Konan to smile softly again, seeing that he had forgotten what to do now. The Rinnegan wielder perked up when he saw Konan's soft, warm palms resting on the back of his hands, her feminine, delicate fingers resting on the back of his as she sat next to him, resting her head on his shoulder and looking at the folded paper sheet. "Here, we'll do it together…" She whispered lovingly into his ear, causing him to smile and look at her.

Smiling...how long has it been since he smiled? Eight years? No, it has been longer. He lost his desire to smile from the moment they formed the Akatsuki, seeing how tainted and impure the world they lived in was. Smiling...if his pure smile, if that twitch of his cheek-muscles was the simple thing that made his Angel smile so lovingly and form tears in her eyes as she folded the paper with him...if that smile made her feel the same way he felt when seeing her lips curving upwards...then he will smile for her...every single second...for the rest of his life.

And so, Konan began instructing Nagato's fingers softly with hers, whispering instructions in his ears softly, warmly, lovingly. As the two folded the paper sheet together, each of them could feel warmth growing inside him, their hearts beating in unison as they looked at each other, a soft flush appearing on both of their faces, the first time they felt that shared, warm feeling in their heads, the feeling of love, of sheer, endless love.

And soon enough, the paper sheet in both of their hands took the form of a unique, beautiful paper flower- the prettiest and most unique paper flower that was even made. It was white, beautiful, sending warmth throughout both of their bodies as Nagato's fingers softly took the paper flower and slowly rested it on Konan's hair, smiling in love and warmth.

As soon as the paper flower was resting softly on her blue, smooth hair, Konan tackled her Nagato in the tightest hug she could make, feeling him again wrapping his arms around her neck and waist, closing his eyes as their cheeks touched each other. "I love you!" Konan cried into Nagato's shoulder, clutching his red hair, tears of happiness almost rolling from her eyes again.

"I love you too, my Angel…"

Nagato parted from the hug after a few minutes and looked at Konan with that same smile. "I will remain here, my Angel…and use the Deva path's body to speak with Madara…and battle him, if it will ever arise." Nagato said, seeing how Konan's expression saddened upon him mentioning Pain, who was now slowly standing up, his eyes opening as he regained his stance.

Konan perked up and turned around instantly, seeing the Deva path's…Pain's figure. She sat on the bed and pressed herself against Nagato in fear, her completely widened eyes locked with Pain's shocked ones.

"My Angel…" Pain muttered, in a voice that was way different than Nagato's…the same voice that reminded the afraid Angel about all that torture which was brought upon her by him, slowly reopening that too-fresh, enormous wound. He slowly leaned forward and grabbed both of her cheeks, making sure that she was now staring deeply into his loving, warm eyes…Nagato's eyes. "Do not worry, it's me…it's Nagato…from now on I want you to call me Nagato when using this body, not Pain! Enough with this horrible name. I don't want to hear that word leaving your lips ever again..."

Pain then cautiously leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the trembling Angel, hugging her close to him, smiling when he felt her returning the hug. The same feeling of warmth was gone, he could no longer feel the warmth of her skin…but it was alright, he didn't need to. "That's it…you don't need to be afraid of me anymore…" He breathed in her ear, his breath cold, yet comforting, filled with love, the same love Nagato showed.

"Nagato…"

"That's right…I'm Nagato…not Pain…"

Konan nodded as she parted from the hug and stood up, looking at Pain with that same, light-bringing smile, freezing the Rinnegan wielder in his tracks. "I love you…Nagato." She said again, those same words bringing the same, warm, rocking feeling through Pain's body.

Pain slowly walked towards Konan's Akatsuki cloak, which was tossed on the floor, and picked it up. Wiping away the raindrops from it, hitting it again and again with his palm, as if he was banishing and purging the remains of despair and agony left on it. He then unbuttoned the removed cloak, noting that Konan just removed it from its collar instead of unbuttoning regularly.

He turned to her, a warm smile on his face despite the fact his skin was cold, as he spread the Akatsuki cloak to both sides, allowing Konan to turn around as he gently and softly pulled its sleeves on her arms and then proceeded to button it down.

When Konan was already dressed with her Akatsuki cloak, instead of hugging Pain, she just happily ran to Nagato and tackled him in a hug, knowing that he was the one controlling Pain, he was the one she should hug.

After a few, long seconds, Konan parted from her hug with the unconscious, sitting Nagato and looked at Pain, who already opened the door and was standing at the hallway. She ran to him, ran to her Nagato, not caring in which shape he was in, he was still her Nagato. Pain's eyes were deeply locked with her happy smile as she reached him and tackled him in a hug, so happy to have him back, surprising him that she managed to recover from her trauma so quickly, yet knowing it was him who helped her recover. "Let us go then," He said, bringing his own warm, loving smile.

Konan nodded as she wrapped her arm around Pain's shoulder, not caring she didn't feel the warmth of his body. When she touched him, it was like she was touching her Nagato. When she looked into his eyes, it was like she was looking in the warm, loving eyes of her Nagato…he was her Nagato, no matter what his physical appearance was, there was no mistaking with his eyes.

And so, the two began walking through the maze-like hallways of the tower, Pain seeing that it was as if those hallways were now filled with light, showing him the way…the various windows allowing the few sunrays peeking through the clouds to enter the building and perish the darkness.

And the light itself, together with the warm, loving escort of his Angel, was showing Pain the way...

Showing him the way towards the lobby...

Towards Madara...

And so, a new adventure begins, a story which is called- A New Path at Life.

I have made that story with a few reasons on my mind…the main reason was to revive the Pain/NagatoxKonan fanfic category, to show all authors and readers out there the true potential of Nagato and Konan, to put an end to all of those discontinued stories and inspire readers and authors alike to start writing their own Pain/NagatoxKonan stories.

The reason I refer to this story as Pain/NagatoxKonan is because in this story, Pain is Nagato, unlike almost every story out there where Nagato and Pain are treated as different beings. Let me make it clear- Pain is Nagato in the body of Yahiko, Nagato manipulates Pain using his piercings, which means Pain's eyes are Nagato's eyes, Pain's feelings are Nagato's feelings, and Pain's acts are Nagato's acts.

Now, the reasons which motivated me to start this story were many…

When I had first seen Nagato and Konan in the anime…at first, I didn't really found interest in those two…but then I heard their story, the sacrifice Nagato had made, how Yahiko sacrificed himself, how Nagato had turned to be so emotionless and affected Konan in the process…and that was one I got related to their sad history so much. The straw which almost broke my back was when I have witnessed Konan dying in the anime, by the hands of Madara, after she had lost both Yahiko and Nagato! It was then I realized that I must do something to fix this, to fix and fill those feelings of emptiness and sorrow inside me after relating to Nagato and Konan so much.

At first, I began searching for Pain/NagatoxKonan fanfics on , and that had only made my situation worse. I only saw sad poetries filled with despair which related to Konan's and Nagato's sadness and emotionlessness…I had seen lemons which were filled with nothing but sadness, no love, no happiness, as if they weren't making love but were just…making sex. Some of the stories were downright horrible, describing Pain as a psycho who tortures Konan, describing Konan as a smoking, sadistic bitch, describing both of them so horribly…some of them impacted me so much that I had to stop reading them before I lose it, some were holding great potential but were either discontinued or ended with the authors not realizing their potential. From emotion-filled, beautiful poems that almost made me cry, love-filled lemons which made me laugh and shiver from happiness…to torture darkfics filled with tragedy and horrors…none of them seemed like their authors had realized their potential.

But the real reason which motivated me to write this story was an argument I had with a friend and a now-fellow author…ARCEUS-Master, the famous Pokemon Author who had revived his own category- AshxLatias by writing his own, famous story- "A New Chance at Life" (you can find it in my favorite list). That story got so many authors motivated that it revived the AshxLatias category when readers and authors began writing stories in the same way ARCEUS-Master did.

At first, we had both argued about which path would be better for Nagato and Konan to walk in- to change their path and walk in the good path (which I knew would be a lot better for the both of them) or stay in the current, bad path (which had its own result in the Anime/Manga- Nagato dies, Konan is left alone and then killed horribly by Madara, and having her own body left in the water without even buried). As you can see by my description of the bad path, I had truly preferred for both of Nagato and Konan to walk in the good path…but ARCEUS-Master confirmed my thoughts and claimed that Nagato will not be changed so easily…now, let us take a look at what happened in this chapter which will make this story so much different than other stories in this category-

Of course, as you can see, this is a HEAVY "Fixer Fic"- a fanfiction where some moment is altered or deleted to influence the chain of events or rather a new moment is stiffed into the story by the mind off the author. As you can see, Konan was the one to change Nagato, changing the entire story as a result- she was the "Fixer Sue"…and a really fitting one- Nagato was the only person left in the world for her, and I really saw how Konan was sad deep inside of her about the emotionless change of her beloved in the Anime…I could still see those emotions of cheerfulness and compassion being held inside her willingly, wanting to follow Nagato no matter what…and so, I had brought my own solutions to trigger Nagato's change.

Following Nagato's and Konan's change, I can now say truly that a lot of things will be changed as well…I have my own, solid plot already, but like every decent author, I will be opened to suggestions and constructive critique and will even appreciate it.

You, the readers of this story, are free to voice your own thoughts and suggestions on this story, it would help me improve and hone my skills while learning where I did wrong. Of course, if some of you are angered and wish to voice your own thoughts, I will not stop you nor be mad at you, you are free to speak your mind as you see fit. Of course, reasonless flames and anger reasons will not be ignored, nor will be fought back with even more anger and flames. I will try to find out and see if I can understand your anger.

I have big plans ahead for the next chapter, which will be the one to actually put Nagato's and Konan's change into effect.

A few questions to keep you busy for the next weeks- What will Nagato decide to tell Madara? Will he even be willing to face the mastermind of Akatsuki to fulfill his promise to Konan? How would Madara react if Nagato decides to tell him that he is no longer willing to collaborate with him?

Tune in for Chapter 2, which will arrive in around a week to two weeks to a month, depends on how busy I will be with high school and more important stuff (not that there is something more important than expressing your emotions and thoughts by writing a story).

Here comes "A New Path at Life"!

Oh, of course, I forgot to mention- don't forget to REVIEW and CRITIQUE.