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Chapter Forty-Three

A reason why

Misato was worried.

Asuka was supposed to be back nearly an hour ago, and as she sat watching TV waiting as the tick-tock of the clock echoed within the silent apartment.

Why is she so late? Misato thought.

"She is still not back," Hikari asked.

The Hunter had stepped back into the room, dressed in her Hunter outfit.

"We're going out to get her then," she continued when Misato shook his head.

The purple haired woman stood up.

"Where do you think we should start looking?"

"Let's start by the fireworks area," Hikari told her, "Maybe we can start there."

"Maybe," the woman said, her worry still evident on her face.

Meanwhile

Rei had lead Asuka toward where her blue Porsche was parked. The rain was coming into a light drizzle now as the two girls entered inside. Rei seating behind the wheels, she glanced toward her passenger taking Asuka in.

The girl looked oddly pale in the moonlight, her kimono which had clung to her body because of the rain and now see through as Rei's red eyes took in the creamy white skin underneath it, and her hand twitched slightly to touch her…

Get a grip on yourself, she thought shaking her head.

"Rei," Asuka asked, drawing her attention, "What are you doing?"

"Just thinking," Rei said, before she started the car, "I'll give you a ride home."

The Porsche drove through the streets and Rei had turned on the heater, so that Asuka could be warm and the redhead thanked her. The moments passed in complete silence. Then Asuka decided to break it.

"Are you going to tell me?"

Rei glanced toward her.

"What do you want to know Asuka?"

The redhead's blue eyes shone.

"About what's going on between us, and why that is my feelings for you are changing?" she asked.

Rei's hand tightens on the wheel, but didn't answer. Noticing this, Asuka's face slightly fell.

"Don't…don't you want to tell me?"

"It's…It's not like I don't want to tell you Asuka," Rei said softly.

The redhead leaned her head to the side, looking at the vampire.

"Then what's stopping you?"

"I don't want to take your future away alright?" Rei said quickly.

Asuka blinked in confusion.

"My future?"

Rei sighed.

"If I told you anything," Rei continued, "It will be your entire life in a nutshell…, but I don't want this future…not for you. I don't want to turn you into what I am."

Asuka eyes widened slightly.

"Rei…Rei listen to me," she said, cutting off the vampire, "What is it? What do you mean 'turn me'?"

Rei's hand tightened even more on the wheel and any stronger she could rip it off from its position.

"You…You're my mate Asuka," Rei said in a small voice.

The redhead froze in her seat. Mate?

"In mate you mean…"

"My other half…soul mate, whatever Humans call it," Rei said lowering her face, as her blue hair shadowed it.

"A…Are you serious?"

Rei nodded.

"How…How did you know?"

Rei chuckled softly. She had expected Asuka to start freaking out, but the redhead surprised her a little by this.

"I…I didn't realize it at first," she said, "But…I noticed I was getting awfully protective of you…Lilly was the one to tell me what was really happening. I never expected a Hunter to be my mate."

Asuka stayed silent and Rei swallowed heavily, thinking the worse.

"I…I'm sorry…I shouldn't have said anything…"

"What's so bad about it?"

Rei turned her crimson eyes toward Asuka.

"What?"

"What's so bad about being a Vampire's mate?"

Rei looked at the redhead beside her. Is she serious? Don't she see the danger?

"Asuka, our kind are enemies," she said, explaining it, "Do you realize what would happen if either side found out? I'm already widely known by the entire Vampire Community and a dangerous enemy to them and the Hunters. If they find out that you're mated to me, you'll be in danger for the rest of your life."

Asuka glanced downward.

"You see…this is why I didn't wanted to tell you," Rei told her, "I don't want you to become a target because of me."

A few seconds of silence passed, as Rei was reminded once again that Kaworu was aware of Asuka being her mate and secretly planned to do something about it. As she thought about the mate thing with Asuka, she knew that her and Asuka could never actually be together at least, she'll be happy to know that the redhead is safe from harm…

"What if I don't care?"

Rei snapped her head toward Asuka, her mouth actually hanging open.

"What if I don't care about all of this," Asuka said her blue eyes piercing the vampire's crimson ones.

"Asuka…"

"I'm already considered an outcast by the Hunters because I saved your life remembers," the redhead continued, before sighing, "Rei, this concerns me also for it is my feelings for you that are involved in this…and, I don't want any secret between us…not after today."

Rei glanced at the redhead.

"You sure you don't want to have at least a normal life?" she asked, "with Shinji and your friends."

Asuka shook her head.

"All of this would have caught up with me," she said, "one way or another. Normal is overrated anyway…thought I have no idea what I'm going to say to Shinji tomorrow at school."

Rei chuckled a little.

"Just don't tell him anything that had to do with any of this," she said, "technically speaking, you are still his girlfriend."

Asuka sighed, "Do you think…I should break up with him?"

Rei remembered what Toji had told her about Shinji back at the Festival an hour ago.

He had been in love with Asuka since forever now.

"Don't," she said, "This boy truly loves you…just stay with him…at least for a little while longer. It will be suspicious if you suddenly broke it off with him after only one week."

Asuka gives her a nod.

"I guess you're right," she said, and then she hesitate a light blush on her cheeks, drawing Rei's attention.

"What is it?"

"Do you…Do you think I could kiss you?"

Rei's eyes widened to dinner plate sizes, as her jaw dropped slightly.

"Are…Are you sure?" the vampire asked, "I mean…you just found out about all of this a few minutes ago…"

"Please Rei," Asuka whispered.

Rei watched her for a few moments, battling herself into accepting or not, but for once in her life, gives in into the temptation as she nodded faintly.

Asuka couldn't believe she was actually going to do this. It was more surprising since Rei had agreed and concluded that the vampire must have wanted this as much as she does. Asuka wanted to feel those lips on her skin again…so much that it hurt. Leaning forward, she got closer to the vampire's beautiful face, seeing Rei doing the same. She can feel her heart hammering into her chest as the vampire's alluring scent invaded her nose as she reached closer…

Then she feel them, pressing softly against hers in an almost timid way. It was a strange experience to be kissing another girl but the strangeness was the farthest thing from Asuka's mind at this point. Rei's lips tasted so good, that all she wanted was to have more, and felt Rei's body move slightly as she leaned even more toward the vampire who had a strange purring noise coming from its throat…

Then the ringing of a cell phone broke the two girls from their kiss-which-turned-make-out session, and Asuka gasped seeing that Rei's eyes were as black as night.

I'm pretty sure some of you are saying "about damn time" or other saying "What the hell am i reading?" If you're the second one. Try starting at Volume One Kay.

Jacques0 out.

R&R.