Packing my clothes into a bag I'd purchased with the extra money from the tin, I look across to him, his eyeglasses catching the morning light. He looks so different now than the week before when he had kissed me, a small, soft glow surrounding him. I know it's just a trick of the light, but it gives him an appeal I cannot accurately describe.
"How are you doing over there?" I ask him. He looks up from his own packing, neatly folding his clothes and gently sliding them into the bag he bought with his portion of the money, and smiles warmly.
"I like the way you're wearing your hair," he tells me, voice stronger but still shaky. I reach with my left hand and touch the barrettes holding the hair away from my ears, then gently brush the bangs upward. Ever since I came out of the coma I've let my hair grow out to my shoulders, and it seems strangely comfortable.
The night before, when we had finished looking through the photographs sent to us, all my depictions are with short hair, my gaze detached and face expressionless. Whenever I ask him why, he only shrugs. Why do I see in those photos, a ghost staring back at me, an indifferent phantom of my past? He tells me I think too much about it, and that everything will be better explained later by our "benefactors".
I stop where I have resumed, sliding my last pair of panties into the bag and reaching to my back pocket for the tickets and letters. I bring them forward, looking at them for considerable time, studying the creases I have deepened into the letters; I must have read them a hundred times since they arrived a week earlier. And still, despite my best efforts, I fail to draw any old memories from the corner of my mind.
I feel his hand on my shoulder, and I bring my eyes to meet his. He's concerned about me, and I know he wants to ask me what's going on. Taking a deep breath in my mind, I manage a smile.
"Are you sure about this, I can unpack us right now?" He shakes his head, wrapping his arms around me and hugging me close. I can feel his breath against the back of my neck, and I lift my hand up to touch his face, smooth and soft, warm and comforting. So understanding, so patient with me, and willing to put his own visions on hold to help me: I don't deserve someone this wonderful.
"Come on, let's get out of here and get on that train." He says, gently patting me on the head and running his fingers through my hair. I feel a tingle, a sensation delightful and tender all at once coursing through my body. I enjoy the feel of his touch, how it makes me feel like I exist, that someone outside of me recognizes that I am real. I nod, and he pulls away, giving my hip an affectionate squeeze before he crosses the room to his bag. My face grows hot, and I cast my eyes to the floor
A moment later, I feel his hand on my shoulder. He is carrying his own bag as well as my own. Why did I just stand there, not aware of anything except his last action, like a puppet without its strings? Did I know what to do? I am not sure.
"You ready?" He smiles despite the weight of both bags. I nod, and he crosses to the door. I follow, opening the door for him, and I stand in the doorway, blocking his path.
"What's wrong?" he asks, his voice dropping in concern. Once again I feel paralyzed, unable to put into words what I want to say, to express how much thanks and affection I have for him.
Thinking back, my mind returns to an American movie from months earlier, and how the lead female had handled her situation with the boy. But, I was pretty sure I didn't want to push it too far. Oh well, here I go.
Looking into his eyes, I feel the strain against my heart and throat. Am I too scared to say what I want to him? I steady my resolve, swallow hard, and open my already drying mouth.
"Thank you. I really appreciate all you have done for me."
"Only for you, Rei."
I gasp. He is doing this all because of me and only for me! I don't fully understand what makes him act that way, but I do realize that I would do the same for him. Without hesitating, I lean forward, pressing my lips against his. The tenderness of the kiss excites me, and from the sound of the duffle bags hitting the floor I believe he is excited as well, the sensation rolling through my body and warming my veins.
We pull from the kiss slowly, neither really eager to pull away, and he swallows hard, then bends down to grab the bags again. This time I let him through, following close behind him as we make our way to the elevator.
I press the button to descend to the lobby, and I smile at him as the doors close. Soon we will gone from here, and once we get to the train station we will be that much closer to finding my past, and will be able to plan for our future together.
The elevator opens, and the two of us proceed to the street, where a taxi we had called earlier waited for us. The fresh air feels good as the wind pushes it across my cheeks. The taxi driver loads our bags and opens the back door for us, and we climb inside quietly.
"Train station?" he asks, his voice thick with the native accent. I nod, and he starts up the taxi, slowly pulling away from the hospital. I give one final look at our rapidly disappearing home, but find a comfort in the answers that await us. I look to Kensuke, and he smiles back at me, gently reaching over and holding my hand.
"Things are going to work out Rei; I'd bet my life on it." His eyes are so gentle and caring. It makes my heart ache with delight, a feeling I can't quite understand. Is this love?
We ride for what seems like an hour, the world outside our windows little more than a dull roar and an even duller blur. Rain is starting to fall, and its gentle pattering on the taxi's roof relaxes me and lets me drift to sleep.
Unit 02 is in danger. I emerge into the stormy day with the Lance of Longinus. Unit 02 cannot reach the target. Commander Ikari has given me orders to use the lance. Rearing back, and hurl the Lance toward its target. The clouds part as the Lance plunges through them.
"Rei, we're here," Kensuke says, nudging me gently. My eyes open, and I see the rain is falling harder than before. The train station is bustling, people walking quickly under umbrellas, businessmen talking into their cellular phones, and the cleaning staff sweeping up the mess from a knocked over garbage can.
Kensuke paid the taxi cab driver, and we got out. The driver got our bags from the trunk and deposited them at our feet, climbed back into the cab, and drove away. For a moment, I froze, unsure of what to do next. After being in the hospital for so long, it felt alien to be here. Yet somehow this feeling is not new to me, the sensation of being separate from everything, yet somehow connected.
"Rei, our train is leaving in fifteen minutes, we should probably find it." I nod, and we pick up our bags and head into the station. We check the schedule boards, and see that our train is on time, Platform 9. Paying close attention to the signs, we navigate the station's halls and onto the track platforms.
Number 6.
I look ahead and see someone that stands out from the regular crowd. He is tall, with jet-black hair and is dressed in a single-breasted black dress coat and matching pants. His skin is pallid, almost sickly in appearance, and a pair of dark eyes seems to lock on to me. He begins his advance, slow and measured.
Number 7.
I wonder if he's with the benefactors. I don't remember seeing his face in any of the photographs. His stare is making me uncomfortable, and I move in closer to Kensuke, who looks to me in surprise.
"Rei?"
"That man, Kensuke. He's staring at me."
Number 8.
The man stops in front of us, his dark eyes fixed on me. With a large, toothy smile, he speaks slowly, "Rei Ayanami and Kensuke Aida?"
"We are," Kensuke, responds, his voice shaking slightly, "And you are?"
"Dimitri Ivanostra. I have been sent to pick the two of you up."
Though his tone was friendly, Rei did not trust him. Of all things, she knew what was familiar, and this man was not.
"If we don't hurry Kensuke, we'll miss the train." I take his arm, ready to walk away, when I notice the gun in Mr. Ivanostra's hand.
"I think not, Ms. Ayanami." He motions with his gun, and we begin walking ahead of him. He presses the barrel against my lower back, and adds, "If you do anything out of line, I'll shoot you where you stand.
Number 9.
Out of the corner of my left eye, someone dressed in gray coveralls charges us with a trash cart, slamming head on into Mr. Ivanostra and sending him sprawling. The figure in gray levels a gun at Mr. Ivanostra, and he smiles, his rough-shaven face and long, dark brown ponytail bringing a photograph into my mind, connecting with a name.
"Mr. Rioji?" I ask.
"You've got it, sweetheart," his eyes never leaving his target, "Aida, get over to the train. I wouldn't blink funny, Mr. Ivanostra."
"Gavril," a female voice called from behind us, "I've called for backup." I turn, and another familiar face comes into focus. Short purple hair and kindly brown eyes meet my vision, and relief washes over me.
"Major Katsuragi."
She nods and goes over to Mr. Ivanostra, picking up his gun, "Kaji, let's go. Rei, Kensuke, follow me." She turns around and walks toward the train on track 9, and we follow wordlessly. I cast one glance back at Mr. Ivanostra, but his attention is on Kaji, who is backing up after us.
Once around the corner, I see several of the station guards advancing towards our position. I feel my pace quicken: what if they stop us?
Major Katsuragi ushers us onto the train. I look to her, and her eyes meet mine. Though fierce, they hold a special softness that I believe is directed at Kensuke and me.
The guards speak to her, their Russian strong and curt. They seize Mr. Rioji, but she stops them with a few phrases of her own, pulling out her identification and showing it to them. They hesitate for a moment and then release him, and Major Katsuragi speaks some more with the guards. Within moments they have left, and the two of them climb aboard with us.
Major Katsuragi begins to speak with us, but we can't understand her Russian. She stops in mid-phrase, clears her throat, and starts over.
"Hello Rei, Kensuke. We're both glad to see you two here, safe and sound".
"Indeed," Mr. Rioji adds as he unzips his coveralls, "And you don't need to be so formal, Kaji works." Stepping out of the coveralls I see he is dressed in suit, looking like one of those famous actors I'd seen in a magazine, black suit jacket open, white dress shirt open at the top two buttons without a tie and untucked from the black dress pants. He tucked the pistol he had back into a leg holster just under his left leg, and as his jacket draped open further I could see a second pistol in a shoulder holster.
"Kaji, get on the line and let the others know we have Rei and Kensuke," Major Katsuragi says as she turns to us, "Once again, I'm glad to see the two of you, safe and sound. You've grown your hair out Rei; it looks good on you. And Kensuke, you've gotten taller, and certainly more handsome. Rei, I am jealous."
I feel my face grow hot again, and I turn my eyes to Kensuke, who is blushing horribly. I can hear Major Katsuragi laugh, but it seems distant as I stare at him.
"Yes sir, we have both of them, and we're on the train. Yes sir, I understand," Kaji finishes as he clicks his cell phone closed, "Well, we had best get to our boxcar before the train seriously gets moving. You two must be exhausted and probably have a thousand questions to ask."
I nod, picking up my bag and following Kaji and Major Katsuragi deeper into the train. Three boxcars down they open the door for Kensuke and me, letting us choose which beds we'd like first. The boxcar is roomy, obviously an expensive car, with four beds bunked and a bench for looking out the window at the countryside.
A question comes to my mind, "Major Katsuragi…"
"Misato," she politely corrects, "We no longer work for Nerv."
"At least we're no longer official," Kaji adds.
I take a deep breath, "I don't remember much of Nerv, but I do have a question: Who was that man at the station?"
"Mr. Ivanostra? Most likely an agent of Seele."
Seele!
The name rings in my head, a certain chill finding its way down my spine, cold enough to hurt. Seven eyes in a symbol stare at me, and I remember something…
Lilith?
A dying child…It's me! Why is she choking me?
"Rei, Rei," Kensuke's voice calls me back, his eyes concerned, "Are you alright?"
I don't want him to be concerned, so I nod. The train is moving now, and I lay down on the bed, my mind drifting away, swept along by the moving countryside. More questions float across my thoughts, but I am suddenly tired and want to sleep. Pulling the blanket over my body, the sudden weakness washes over me my eyelids fall heavily closed.
Someone climbing into the bunk wakes me, startling at first. A pair of arms wrap around my waist and pull me close. I can smell him, clean laundry filling my senses. I open my eyes. The night has come, and my eyes adjust. Misato and Kaji are laying together, quiet and tucked into each other, looks of satisfaction on their faces.
"I couldn't sleep. I think it's because it is the first time we've been out of the hospital, and I was lonely looking at Misato and Kaji. Can I spend the night with you?"
I smile to myself. I admit that it does feel more comfortable having him next to me, and I know that he is only lonely. And it feels natural having him here with me, by my side, holding me in his protection. My sudden vulnerability surprises me, but I accept it and strangely desire it, not wanting him to leave.
"Stay with me."
I can't see him, yet I know he's smiling. I let him settle in and reposition myself so that he's cradling me. I can feel his breath on the back of my neck, and though it tickles I relax, my eyelids getting heavy.
Before I fade out, I feel a delight come over me, and I whisper the words that have long evaded my thoughts.
"Goodnight Kensuke. I...love…you."