Rei's POV:

For the first time in my life, I woke up to the calm morning with someone gently holding me. It felt so warm and comfortable, from both inside and out. Subconsciously, my body snuggled closer to him as his breath blew softly on my hair.

So much had changed since that day when Shinji had found out. The memory was still vivid but at the same time it felt so distant. I just wanted to be like this, close to him, for eternity, but a part of me was forcing me to think about the future and what it held. Things would start to change with the new revelation, for Shinji and his father. I hate changes, because it forces me to think about things I can't understand.

I watched Shinji as his eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the morning sunlight. When he saw me, his hand reached up to brush my face. It felt like water...or light...I can't decide.

"Good morning. Did you sleep well?" He asked.

"Yes I did. Thank you." I answered. Why did I say thank you? Changes...things are changing inside me. Has it always been changing? Or have I only just started noticing it?

"Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?" He asked again.

"......" I kept silent because I was not hungry.

"Rei?" Shinji put an arm around my shoulder. Changes...things are changing inside him too.

"I just want to stay close to you..." I said finally.

Shinji smiled and hugged me closer to him. We stayed like that in contentment. It felt so right...It felt so pleasant being loved. I wonder when I should tell him the truth. Revealing my origin would bring changes...I don't want things to change now...

"Rei, there is a place where I would like to go with you today." Shinji broke the silence.

"Where?" I asked. Shinji smiled back at me.

"Our...our special place..." He blushed as he said that.

"......" I didn't understand what he meant.

"Come on, you need some fresh air too. It will help you relax and forget about...things." He continued. I was still confused about what Shinji had just told me. But I got up from bed to ready myself as he had asked. Shinji left the room. I went to the washroom to clean myself.

I stopped when I saw the mirror. The girl inside was staring back at me. The red eyes, the blue hair, the pale skin...strange...I felt different. The eyes looked sparkling; the hair looked natural; and the skin looked healthy...Everything seemed so perfect. Is this...is this how it feels being loved?

When I returned to Shinji's room, he was there waiting with a yellow dress in his hands.

"I found this in Asuka's room. I think it will fit you well." Shinji said as he walked towards me, giving me the dress and motioning me to put it on.

I received the dress and nodded my head. As I started to undress, Shinji stumbled out of the room quickly, but clumsily, knocking over the alarm clock and a book. He must have forgotten the fried rice he had been cooking in the kitchen. The dress didn't fit very well. I found it loose on my chest, but that didn't bother me much. Bending downwards, I picked up the clock and the book and put them back on the desk.

It was then I noticed the cover of the book. I opened it and flipped over the pages until I came to where I had drawn Shinji's picture when I had been day dreaming about him during class. Shinji had kept my book all this time. My cheeks started to heat up as I recalled the incidents that morning and how I was told to carry the buckets outside the classroom.

Asuka had been there with me...where is she now?

"Rei, are you ready?" Shinji asked from outside the door.

"Yes I am." I said as I walked over and opened it, revealing Shinji, his face telling me that he was surprised. He took my hand and looked at my arms with a concerned look.

"I think we may have to cover your bruises." He said finally. His words saddened me, although I didn't understand why. He looked at my face and suddenly started to stumble on words. "I...I didn't mean...I mean your arms! I mean they're...they're beautiful! We don't have to cover them! We...I..."

"I should hide them." I said. Shinji was right; I didn't want to attract attention either. He let out a deep breath and smiled as he walked over to the cupboard and took out a white jacket.

"Here, take this. It will keep you warm." He said as he handed me the jacket. I put it on and we left the apartment after that.

We brought some food with us and boarded the monorail train. As it carried us to the city outskirt, I began to realise where Shinji had been talking about. It was the meadow plain that we were heading to. There was a twinkle of warmth spreading inside me. Shinji had said this was our special place, something that we shared.

I had difficulties climbing up the hill, as would be expected. Shinji offered to carry me on his back again, but I refused. The injuries from yesterday had not healed yet, but somehow they did not feel as bad as they looked. Shinji was very patient with me. He carried the food on his back and supported me as we slowly walked towards the field.

When we reached the top, a gentle wind caressed my face. I closed my eyes and took in the pure breeze. This place had not changed at all since we had last come here. The birds were still flying happily in the magnificent blue sky. The grass danced to the wind, accompanied by the natural melody created by the running stream. The apple tree we had sat under during my tutorial with Shinji was still standing there, waving its branches and welcoming us.

This is our special place. It symbolises the spiritual bond I share with Shinji...

I kept thinking as we strolled towards the tree and sat down.

We unloaded our food and ate the sandwiches. Shinji offered to feed me again, but I wanted to do it myself. When I noticed the slightly dejected look on his face, my heart softened. Maybe he was trying too hard, but I didn't want to feel useless. However, this didn't stop Shinji. Apparently, he was in a good mood today. I ate silently, but he never stopped talking.

Shinji obviously wanted me to forget about certain things. He continued to flood me with the jokes he usually shared with Suzuhara and Aida. I couldn't understand most of their meanings, so very often Shinji had to explain to me what they meant. Still, I didn't find them very amusing, but I appreciated Shinji's efforts. So I tried to smile.

"Rei, do you remember what I told you that night?" He asked when he could no longer think of silly anymore jokes.

"Which night?"

"The night when we...when we slept together...before you disappeared..." He stammered, blushing slightly.

"Oh..."

"I told you that you are beautiful and kind, and that you should not look down on yourself." Shinji continued. There was another fairly new feeling washing over me as he said this. It was as if I was scared of other people finding out and knowing what he had said. Am I embarrassed? But it felt so pleasant at the same time...

These past few days had been so strange. So many emotions were felt. Blushing; crying; longing; desperate; loving. I had begun to feel like a human. Most of these feelings were not new, but I had just begun to notice them...

"But that's before I know your true identity." Shinji continued when I said nothing.

The meadow plain suddenly felt cold and my body felt as if it was hanging by a thread. So he had found out about my origin? What was he thinking about me now? No...I shouldn't be worried. I must believe in him...

Because there was no one else I could trust...

"I feel that I must tell you properly again this time." Shinji cleared his throat before continuing. "I love you for who you are, and...and there are no boundaries which my love cannot cross. It doesn't matter where you come from. Your...your past doesn't concern me. I like being with you, and if you feel the same about me, accept my love and tell me...tell me how you feel."

The words felt fresh coming from him. Still, it gave no hints as to whether he knew of my origin or not. Once again, I snuggled close to him and whispered in his ears.

"I love you too, Shinji."

I couldn't see the reaction on his face, but I had a feeling that he had smiled. Shinji trusted me, and I didn't want him to feel betrayed. I had to tell him the truth soon. We stayed like that in contentment, with Shinji caressing my hair and me breathing close to his neck, inhaling his sweet aroma. That was, until a melodious humming came streaming through our ears and brought us out of trance.

At first, it was very tiny, with a tinkling quality, just loud enough for us to hear, but never really catching our attention. And then it gradually grew louder until, finally, we were able to identify the source.

The humming was coming from a small old man standing in the middle of the stream. It amazed me that neither of us had noticed him there before. The old man had his back turned towards us. His grey hair was topped by a fisherman's hat. Dressed in simple farmer's clothes, his body was slightly bent forward, with his hand slowly dancing in the water. I tilted my head and looked at Shinji. He looked back at me curiously.

His music then leisurely became softer and when he finished his tune, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. It had been so smooth. It was pure and sweet at the same time. I secretly long for him to sing some more. Somehow, he must have noticed us, for he started speaking.

"Music is amazing, isn't it? I find it the most wonderful creation...simply fascinating..."

Before I could marvel at his angelic voice, he turned around and looked straight at us, forcing a gasp to escape from our mouths. He was not an old man at all. His hair may be grey, but his face told us that he was just around our age. Even from this distance, I could tell how stunningly beautiful he looked. The air around him burnt with an aura of confidence and strength.

And his eyes...they were...they were as red as mine...

He stood straight up and shook his hand as if to dry them. Slowly, he walked towards us with a warm smile on his face. Subconsciously, my grip on Shinji's hand tightened. He felt it and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. It calmed my heart. Shinji was just beside me. I need not be afraid.

"A song supplies us with joy and emotions. It's spiritual, the highest culture Lilums developed. Don't you think so, Ikari Shinji-kun? Ayanami Rei-san?" The boy said, standing just in front of us. It felt as if he was saying those words right beside my ears.

"You know our names?" Shinji asked.

"Everyone knows your names. Excuse me, but you'd better know your own standpoint."

"Oh..." Shinji's and my eyes met before turning towards the grey haired boy again. "Well, who are you?"

"Does my name really matter?" He asked back. It felt awkward. When we kept silent, he turned towards me and looked up and down my body. "The First Child, you are the same as me."

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Just a music lover, but you'll find out soon, I'm sure." He smiled and walked away, humming the tune again. We watched as he climbed over the hill and disappeared from our sight.

Shinji and I sat back down, the image of the boy still fresh in my mind. After a few quiet minutes, Shinji broke the silence as he chewed on an apple.

"What do you think of him?" He asked. His question sounded casual, but there was a slight tremble to the tone. Shinji's eyes were fixed on the patch of grass in front of us. A droplet of sweat rolled down his sideburn, as his hands played curiously with a button on his shirt.

"I do not know." I answered after giving some thoughts. "But his eyes are red."

"I noticed that." Shinji said. "Why...why are your eyes red, Rei?"

Why were the boy's eyes red? What did he mean by saying that I was the same as him? Was he another half-angel? I felt uneasy in his presence, and yet pleasant. It felt as if I had found something long lost. Instead of fear, there was a sense of being protected, being watched. It was totally different from what I felt towards Shinji or Asuka.

"Rei?" Shinji's voice interrupted my thoughts.

Should I tell him the reason for my eyes colour? Yes...but not now...

I leaned over and rested my head on his shoulder.

"Does it matter?"

"No! I mean no...They...they're beautiful! It doesn't matter...I-I-" Shinji continued to stutter. His explanations were amusing...more amusing than his previous jokes. They included how much he admired red roses, how valuable ruby stones were and how he had bought a pair of red underwear. I just stayed quiet and listened...

Because right now...I just wanted to stay close to Shinji...