Reiko stood up, and started looking around for a way to enter the factory unnoticed. "Hiroshi-san, I believe that if we go to the next corner, we'll be able to climb up the stairs and enter." "Reiko, look. You're staying here. I'm going to check." His answer was something she had never expected to hear. "What?" She was too stunned to say anything else. "You're not coming. It's too dangerous." "Too dangerous? Are you out of your mind?" "No. I'm serious, you're not going." Reiko stopped her listening, and moved closer to him. She stood by his side, with all her 16 years of living irradiating experience and a bit of annoyance. "Why? You think I'm not good enough?" Hiroshi was completely serious, his forehead showing a deep concern. "You're excellent. But this isn't for you." "Not for me? Are you crazy? You trained me. I suffered. I graduated. And now, when we're about to be accepted into the elite group, you want me to stay behind because you think it's too dangerous?"

As she talked, her voice was becoming louder, her annoyance being replaced with anger. Hiroshi quickly brought a hand to her mouth, and another to her shoulder, and forced her to sank back into the floor. He sat down too. Reiko's eyes were flaring, and had Hiroshi not being better trained than she was, he surely would have felt fear. "Reiko. Listen. As your sensei, I'm ordering you to stay here." She yanked his hand off her mouth violently, and said, her cheeks wearing a bit of flush because of her excitement. "You're not my sensei anymore, remember?" Because she couldn't yell, her voice was a sizzling whisper, the one we only use when we're really angry, but can't let that feeling free.

He was beginning to get annoyed too. He never thought she would put up such a fight. He knew she was as stubborn as a mule, but she had never used it against him. "Reiko, stop it. You_are_not_coming." "Wanna fight for it?" she answered, ready to fight with her own teacher if necessary, to prove him she was worth. Hiroshi then lost his patience, and didn't even think of what he was saying. "Don't you see I care too much about you to put you in certain death?" He's voice and statement hit Reiko hard, making her open her eyes widely and loose her concentration completely. Was it her imagination or Hiroshi had just said he loved her? She supported herself on the wall, pressing her back on it. I care too much... I care about you... care too much to put you in danger..., his voice echoed in her head over and over again, every time awakening feelings she had kept hidden for so long

Meanwhile, Hiroshi was trying to deal with his own feelings. Please God, tell me I didn't say what I think I said. Please. I can't have told her I loved her. Not here. Not now. Pity for him, the startled look on Reiko's face was unmistakable. "I... I... Oh, God, I can't handle it anymore! I don't care about the consequences!" his voice was low, but loud enough for anyone in a radium of three meters to hear. He stood up and grabbed Reiko's hand. He lifted her, and ended staring at each other. "Listen Reiko, I know that what I am about to do goes against every rule we've learnt, but I don't care anymore. I... - he hesitated, not knowing how to say. Then, he decided for the simplest way - I love you, Reiko-chan!!"

His voice died, and silence set it's heavy presence on them. A weird thought crossed Reiko's head. Silence can be very uncomfortable. Love? That was something she had almost forgotten about. Though sometimes at night, she would sigh and hug her pillow, as her heart begged for comfort on a firm chest it had rested on once... His hope was slowly dissolving into despair, as he saw Reiko wasn't answering. She just kept staring at him, eyes open wide. God, I knew I should've stayed quiet. I'm a fool. But, I feel much better now. A weight in my heart has just been lifted. At last I'm free. I've ruined the mission, but I'm happy anyhow. A light movement by his side made him turn around. Reiko was trying to speak. Her mouth was moving up and down, but no sound came from her lips. The surprise had closed her mind, and with that, her ability to talk.

Hiroshi leaned closer, but she just kept staring at him. She looked into his eyes, not knowing what to say. At last, she found her brains, and managed to utter some words. "I... I...," her words were incoherent. She was clearly too surprised to speak. Hiroshi loved her? It seemed like one of those dreams she had had lately, where she saw herself and him married, with kids, or just walking around a park as an engaged couple. It just couldn't be! All these years, crying because of the fate she had chosen, because the man she loved didn't feel for her anymore than he felt for the friends he didn't have, had been a complete loss of time? The thought caused her to feel the uncontrollable urge to laugh. It was hard to hold, and she couldn't. A giggle left her mouth, and her body was shook by the energy she couldn't let go on her laughing.

She giggled more and more, tears starting to form on her eyes, as the result of how funny it felt, and how happy she was. Hiroshi just stared at her wide eyed. Was she really laughing about him? It just seemed so alien... she was laughing, just when he had just (by mistake, but anyhow, he had done it) declared his love for her? Annoyance, mixed with a bit of anger boiled in him. She was about to scold her right there and then when she stopped. Just like that. Everything was silent, as both of them remained quiet. A strange thought crossed Reiko's mind. It amazes me on how uncomfortable silence can be sometimes. So, she kept thinking, it's true that your mind doesn't work well when you need it the most, specially if you've just received an emotional shock. She couldn't think of what to say. Declare to him? It was so... she couldn't think of a word that could explain how she felt about telling him bluntly about her feelings. Play the all stuffed up and offended girl? It just didn't go with her, and besides, Hiroshi already knew how to see through her acting. What choice did that leave her? Nothing else but to show her surprise.

And that came out with a: "I never knew...." Her voice trailed off, as she couldn't think of anything else to say. Everything she was feeling right now was represented in those three simple words. Funny, she thought. Poets and men in general say a girl's heart is the most mysterious of all mysteries, and that no one can understand it, but I've been able to express everything I'm going through using three simple every-day use words. Meanwhile, Hiroshi was thinking about what she had just said. He whispered: "Never? I thought I was pretty obvious some times." Though this was said more to him than to her, she heard it anyway. "Yeah. Several times I was sure you had feelings for me, but I thought they were tricks of my mind. That I was seeing what I wanted to see...." Immediately, he snapped out of his reverie, as her words sank deeply into his heart. "Reiko... that means....". She smiled sadly at him, and said, nodding: "Yes. You silly man. You never noticed how much I love you? Why do you think I didn't quit? Because I liked this? Fool. It was because of you. Seeing you always makes my day shine, no matter how many dark clouds are there in the sky. Every night, I would think of you... of your beautiful eyes, your silky hair... doing that helped me to sleep... your image always hunted my demons away. But now... it's too late for us. We can't. Not now." She quieted, leaving a bittersweet taste in Hiroshi's mouth. She had said she loved him, but had declared with such a final voice that there was no chance for them that he couldn't help but to grab her shoulders and say, a little louder that he would've liked to: "Reiko, don't tell me you'll just give up! Of course we can do something!"

"What? They'll never let us be together. You know that a situation like that could jeopardize any mission. And I can't continue hiding my emotions... not now that I've told you how I feel...." She looked at the floor, hiding her gaze from him. Hiroshi was stunned. Was this the girl he knew? The one he loved? The one who had saved his life countless times? He was about to make her see that they could find a way out, when he noticed something that almost stopped his heart from beating. While she still looked to the floor, a tear of shinning crystal was falling to the ground, wetting it with its precious load. That single tear, the one she had shed for them, although just been one, was enough for Hiroshi to realize that she was sad enough to cry... to cry for real... and to cry for them.

A plan began forming on his mind. It was almost crazy, but that was their specialty... to make out of this world looking plans to work... and to work well. He knew that what he was thinking was unfair, but if it could make her happy, it was enough for him. He now understood that Reiko hated this way of living. That she would give anything to get out of it... anything but what he was thinking. So, he left her out of the decision. He took it by himself. He would go all the way with his plan, and at last, he would make her happy. It would hurt, but she would be free. Though that couldn't be said for him... but that was a matter he didn't care about at this time. He was completely overloaded with love-emotions, and they were controlling his body, and his mind. He would do anything for her, and was about to prove it.

Slowly, he reached for her cheeks, and made her look up. She didn't put any resistance up, she just let him do whatever he pleased. Her eyes were teary and glassy, and she was biting her lip, in vain trying to avoid her tears from falling. Her lips quivered, and sadness was so evident on her face, Hiroshi's heart ached in need to help her. His voice became softer, and very tender, and while he spoke, he was brushing her tears away with his finger tips: "Reiko-chan, listen. Don't worry. Please don't cry. We'll find a way out of this. Trust me, Ok?" She sniffled, and moved her face up and down, as a sad smile reappeared in her lips. "What? Why are you smiling?" asked him, wondering if he had said something foolish. "It's just that... Reiko-chan... sounds so good on your lips... much better that the -san you always called me... . besides, that's something I have always wanted you to say...."

He smiled too, and leaned closer to her, until their noses were touching. He whispered, looking at her straight into her eyes: "Reiko-chan, I love you." Her eyes immediately lighted up, and a grin, this time of happiness, formed on her mouth. "Hiroshi-chan, I love you too," she whispered back, gently rubbing their noses together. He felt so relieved of hearing her happy again that his resolution almost vanished from his mind, but the soft weight the needle he was carrying on his arm was enough for him to remain set on his decision. Hiroshi then closed the gap that separated them, and kissed her softly on the lips. Reiko immediately closed her eyes, as the gentle pressure of Hiroshi's lips completely invaded her. This was the moment she had always expected to experience. The one she had always dreamt about... the one she had wished so much for... and to her complete happiness, it was happening just now. She was in heaven, as she let her hands roam on his hair, ruffling it, and the moving down to massage his neck. This was her first kiss, and for her was a new and thrilling event. He wasn't much behind of entering heaven too. Ever since she had met her, he had longed to kiss those butterfly pink rose lips, and now he was doing it. As he had expected, they were as soft as petals, and his own lips lingered to stay there forever.

He felt her hands on his neck, and couldn't avoid to reflex her actions. He caressed her back, slowly but firmly bringing her to him. Through the cloth fabric he felt her back, and wondered how soft her skin was, and if it was as marvelous as the kiss he was feeling. But, he also felt her hidden muscles, the ones he had helped to develop, and the ones responsible of her being there now, and not inside a coffin. He wondered how could he had lived for over 19 years without her. She was so... so perfect. She was perfect made for him. As if they were the sea... water can't move without the wind... and that was what she was... the water.... He smiled for himself, as he thought about the comparison he had just made. She was a lot like water, now that he thought of it. Apart from the natural hair color, she was impulsive, sudden and most of all, never dominated. He had seen as she disliked the orders they were given, but accepted them anyway. He had discovered long ago she preferred acting by her own orders, not the one others gave her.

Orders? That word brought his train of thought to an abrupt halt. What had he been doing? He was such a fool. He had forgotten all about his plan. And he needed to act quick, because she would never be as distracted as now. His heart ached, as he made himself contract his arm, so that the syringe he had there went to his right hand. Reiko was oblivious to all of this, literally walking on a cloud field. He closed his eyes tighter, and slowly brought the needle up. I'm sorry, Reiko, but I'm doing this for you, was what he thought, while he quickly brought the needle down, and stabbed it in her back. Since he was hugging her, he immediately felt as she stiffened when the tip entered her. He stopped kissing her, and brought his mouth to her ear, where he whispered: "I'm so sorry, Reiko-chan. I told you, this is too dangerous for you. I don't want you to die. Please forgive me."

He couldn't bare to look at her in the eyes, he feared he would repent of what he had just done. Reiko's hands were tense on his neck, and he heard a low croak leaving her lips: "Wh... why?" The sedative was acting quickly, but she was fighting it's effects with everything she had. Even Hiroshi, knowing how strong and how much she could bear was surprised to see she still hadn't fallen unconscious. Apart from the question her tone carried, it also had something, a plea. She was pleading him to look at her. He knew that this maybe was the last time he could see her, so he retreated from her shoulder, and supported her with his arms, as he looked at her right into those bottomless pits of blue she had for eyes

"Because this is the best for you. I know that inside the building there's a trap, a deadly one, and I don't want you to die. If I go alone, and they catch me, you'll be able to escape while I'm there. Besides, if the agency finds a body and a few ashes around, they'll suppose it was both of us, and they'll leave you alone." Reiko's hazed eyes flared to life as her clouded mind understood what he meant. "Hi... Hiroshi... don't... don't go... ple... please." Her voice was subsiding more and more, as the sedative was at last taking it's toll. "I'm sorry, love, but I can't let you go with me. The sedative I gave you will put you unconscious for three or four hours. I'm sorry, you don't know how much. It's just too dangerous." "Don't... die... I... I love... I love you... please... stay... with...." Her eyes kept closing and re-opening again, as she fought with all her strength the urge to sleep she was feeling. She lazily shook her head, as her senses were now completely clouded and almost gone by the effects of the sedative. This seemed to give her a bit more of power, and she opened her eyes fully and looked at him straight: "Stay with me. Don't... go... We'll return... some other time... we'll hide this... no one will know... please... stay Hi... Hiroshi."

Hiroshi was still supporting her, and as she heard her pleas, he felt an uncontrollable need of hugging her one last time. He did, embracing her inside his strong arms. She spoke again, this time, her voice trembling as she realized she was going to loose him. "You... you smell... smell like... like the forest... have I ever told you that, Red Lightning?" He smiled, and brought her head to his own. "No. It's the first time, but I'll remember it forever, Blue Thunder." She smiled sadly, her lips barely forming a crescent moon. "Si... silly. Ta... take care. I... I lo... I love you." The battle was already lost, but she kept fighting, not ready yet to fall into unconsciousness, and to let him leave without a final look. Her eyelids moved quickly, as she tried to clear her view, which was by seconds coming cloudier and cloudier, by the effect of the sedative and the tears coming out of them.

She looked at him deeply, memorizing every inch of his face... his hair, his loose bangs caressing her face, bringing to her a bit of comfort, his eyes... full of sadness and love... his mouth... (at this point she lifted a very weak hand, and caressed his lips with trembling fingers)... his lips, which she had kissed just some moments ago... his cheeks, his nose, everything was recorded into her mind. He then brushed his nose with hers, as she had previously done, and whispered: "I love you too, Reiko-chan. Never forget that." He kissed her again, this time more fiercely; he kissed her with everything he could... he kissed her with the need of never leaving her, of the sorrow he felt, of the despair he tried to deny... and then, with a low sigh, Reiko's hand fell to her side, and her head left Hiroshi's tender grip, and finished hanging to his left, in an arc which if it wasn't such a bad moment, Hiroshi's heart would've had melt.

His heart and whole body screamed in pain, as he felt an emptiness he had only felt when he hadn't met Reiko, and that she had filled since he met her... Reiko... Reiko... I'm sorry. I love you. I'll never forget you. Then, he picked her up, carried her some meters away, and hid her behind a semi-fallen wall. He put her delicately on the floor, and arranged her clothes carefully. He looked at her, and marveled at her beauty. I've never watched her sleep before. She looks so peaceful... she's like an angel... my angel. He leaned forward, and kissed her again, softly this time. He longed so much for her eyes to open, for her to look at him lovingly as she had done before... for her to touch his hair... with just one last look at her sky-blue eyes would be enough... one last look... just one... He snapped out of his thinking, as he realized he was being a fool.

Reiko was safe, and that was what mattered. Nothing else. He stood up, and gave one last look at his beloved, sleeping peacefully on the floor, her chest going up and down, as her breathing was constant and precise. Good-bye, Reiko-chan. I love you, my darling angel.... He walked away, leaving everything he cared for behind...