Hey end of Volume 9 here. hope you enjoy

Chapter Thirty-Seven

A Final Goodbye

Rei opened her eyes… a bright white light was there to greet her, making her blink as an image swam into focus…a dark haired figure.

"Elena," she breathed.

"If this is the name of one of your many lovers you have in the past, then you're dead wrong," Gendo Ikari said.

Rei blinked again. The image had transformed into Gendo's face, looking down at her without his red tinted glasses. His black eyes were analyzing her.

"You look pale…no pun intended," he said.

Rei chuckled.

"Surviving after being poisoned will do that to you," she said, "How did you find me?"

"Well, your apartment building blew up," Gendo said, shrugging his shoulders, "and a lot of damage was done to the surrounding ones...it didn't take me a while to figure you had something to do with it."

He refocused his attention back to her.

"You said you were poisoned?" You mean…"

"Vamridic," Re concluded for him, "Yeah…thought not a whole lot of it…and I was already weakened after…"

She trailed off as an image of Elena swam before her eyes, unconsciously clenching her fists. Gendo must have noticed the sudden change as he slowly approach, putting something on the bed table.

"Found this in your hand," he said, "I presume it means a lot to you."

Rei turned her eyes toward the object which was the Eagle necklace.

"I'll leave you alone now."

Gendo walks out of the room and slid the door close behind him. Silence reigned within the room as Rei simply seated there as she watched then necklace on the table. It looked old with age, but it was also in perfect condition as if someone had been taking care of it. She couldn't believe that Elena had kept this even when she had told her that she hated her.

Rei, however, knew different.

Elena had loved her…even thought she had said the opposite. She had hated yet loved her. Maybe that's what caused Elena to be so…uncontrolled in her rage.

Rei leaned over, taking the necklace within her fingers, feeling the familiar weight on them. She brought it close to her, looking down at the eagle that was branded there, her eyes glazing over slightly as memories brushed within her mind.

"You're giving this to me?"

"I made it myself long ago. At least, I'll know you'll always carry it close to your heart."

"Forever Rei, I'll hold on to it forever."

Something wet landed on Rei's hand, snapping her out of her thought. A crystal clear drop of water had landed there. It was warm against her skin...then another fell and Rei realized that she was crying.

That was when the door opened, letting Lilly in.

"You're finally awake."

Rei nodded wiping her face.

"It was only a small dose of Vamridic," she said, "It couldn't keep me down for long."

"That is without the many bullets that Hunter girl got into you," Lilly spat.

That brought something to Rei's attention.

"Asuka?"

"She'll be fine," Lilly told her, 'You sucked the poison out of her didn't you? Worry about yourself for once in your immortal life Rei."

Rei chuckles a little turning the necklace into her hands, she knew she had something to do before.

"I'm going to leave town for a while."

Lilly blinked.

"Why?"

"Funeral," she said, looking up at the blonde.

Lilly's eyes found the necklace in her hands, and understood.

"Oh…okay."

"I…I'm just wondering," Rei started, "Since the town was burned…what would be left."

"You can go and see," Lilly told her, "I see this is something you will have to do alone."

She put a small container in Rei's hand.

"This is as much as I can do for you," she said.

Rei smiled gratefully at her.

It took Rei about a week to return to the place where she and Elena had first met. The place was almost unrecognizable with the many trees that had been cut down, but of the rest of the forest stayed. A small town had been built there, within many buildings and cars. She walked through it, drawing many attentions, maybe because she was a foreigner…heading straight toward the river.

A small wooden bridge had been built over the water which was clear enough to see to the bottom of it as she crossed it. the river was much smaller than she remembered, must be because of natural changes and then she was on the other side looking out at the modern town..

But Rei wasn't seeing that. She was seeing the village that Elena had grew up in…the wooden buildings with chickens running around. The large horses that were being tended in the stables…

A peaceful village…a Human village with no trouble of the war going on around them in the World…

Blinking herself out of her daze, she seated down beside the river, putting the effects she needed out of her bag. A hand drawn portrait of Elena's smiling face, putting it against the tree. Then she lit up some scented candles around it. then the last one was a container containing Elena's ashes. Taking off her boots, Rei walked toward the river…entering the cool water. Then she opened it pulling the ashes in her hand and letting it fly with the win that was blowing…

W…Who are you?

I'm Elena, I have been taking care of you.

Feelings clogging in her throat, Rei let more ashes fly…

C'mon Rei, dance with me…

I…I don't know how…

Don't worry…I'll teach you…

The gray clouds flew above the clear water…

Can you teach me how to wield a sword?

Why?

So I can protect you, if you're hurt again…

Rei could hear her own laughter echoing through the memory.

Don't go…please Rei.

You knew I would have to someday…

But not this soon. I want you to stay with me…as you lover. I felt so much feelings when I'm with you…feelings I do not yet understand…but I do know I want to be with you.

Rei glanced at the girl, "Do you know…what you're asking?"

"I do," Elena answered, "I know what you are but I have kept my silence for it wasn't my secret to tell, but there is goodness within you Rei. I have seen it…felt it…even touch it."

Rei kissed her right then and there and Elena returned it. They embraced each other, putting all of their love and feelings for each other into this single kiss. When they parted, Rei had put the Eagle necklace in Elena's palm.

"Here is my most treasured object…It had always been near my heart…even to this day, and it is my gift to you."

"You're…giving this to me?"

"I've made it myself long ago. At least, I'll know you'll always carry it close to your heart."

Elena took the necklace pulling it closer to her chest.

"Forever Rei," she said, tears falling from her eyes, "I'll hold on to it forever."

Rei Ayanami reopened her eyes, as she stood in the river, the container she was carrying empty in her hands. Her eyes were filled with tears as her body trembled with the emotions that she was feeling inside. Letting all of it out was the best way she could deal with it, in this final goodbye she was giving Elena.

"Sayonara, Elena," she whispered as the wind rustle the trees.

Long after Rei had left, at the bottom of the tree with Elena's picture, a single white feather had lowered itself by the picture as the candle flames danced in the wind…

End of Volume 9

AN: Vamridic is a deadly poison created for Vampires. it weakens them to their post pathetic states leaving them vulnerable to anything. ONLY Non-pureblood when infected instantly burn in the sunlight if they are exposed to it.

So that's it for now. See you guys in VOLUME 10 when it's updated...wow, can't believe i got this far with this story.

Jacques0 out.

R&R.