Charcoal Feather Federation (2002)

Erika Lenhart: Reki

Quotes 

• [Rakka has fallen asleep. Reki has just realized that Rakka is no longer sin bound] 

  Reki : You're free, and now I'm alone.

• Reki : This town is my prison. The walls are a symbol of my death.

• Reki : This is my cocoon dream. The nightmare that has been tormenting my existence in this world. I was walking along this path. I remember cold winds stinging my cheecks that were wet from tears. I heard a sound from far away. But I was too tired to think. I remember wanting to become a stone. A stone that doesn't feel pain. Or sorrow.

• Reki : They'll never know how very dark and very cold my heart is.

  Rakka : STOP that! There's no way I can believe that! You've always been so kind!

  Reki : Rakka, I guess you never really understood. You never saw how jealous I was of you.

  Rakka : No...

  Reki : Both of us sin bound. But in the end, only you were forgiven. Everyone leaves me eventually. When Kuu took her Day of Flight, part of me was jealous of her. And I hate myself for it.

  Rakka : THAT'S NOT TRUE! YOU CAME LOOKING FOR ME WHEN I FELL INTO THE WELL! YOU TOOK CARE OF ME, WENT TO GET MEDICINE FOR ME! WHENEVER I WAS IN PAIN YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME!

  Reki : THAT's RIGHT! And why'de I do it? I was LOOKING for my salvation! I can only forget about my sin when I'm being useful to someone! And the only thought that I had the whole time I was helping you... was that maybe God would come down and FINALLY forgive me!

  Rakka : [crying]  Stop it! Stop it!

  Reki : [coldly]  Rakka... for what I needed, you could've been anybody.

• Rakka : Reki, will we see each other again?

  Reki : Well, yeah, I think we will. Now, close your eyes. It's the custom of a Haibane to disappear without notice when the Day of Flight comes.

  Rakka : Reki will be Reki till the very end, right?

• Rakka : We're not human, are we?

  Reki : Nobody knows exactly what we are... if we're human or not. We call ourselves the Haibane, which means 'charcoal feathers'.

  Rakka : I wanna go home!

  Reki : The Haibane are not allowed to go outside of town. It is our most sacred law. Besides, even if your family were somewhere in this world, they wouldn't recognize you if they saw you now.

  Rakka : But why?

  Reki : Just as you cannot remember the world that you used to be in, there is nobody in this world who can remember you.

• Rakka : I still wonder... what the Haibane are. Everyone says that both the walls and this town exist for the Haibane. But, the charcoal feathers are born into this world suddenly, and just as suddenly they disappear. I don't know the reason why I became a Haibane. I'm here, I can't remember anything about who I was. And if I am to disappear someday without accomplishing anything, what's the meaning of my existence?

  Reki : You know, at one time, I felt the same way as you. I think there is a meaning, but only YOU can find it.

• Reki : I'll be by your side. I went down the wrong path because I lost Kunamori. But no matter what happens, Rakka, I will always be by your side.

• Reki : Rakka, what are you doing here?

  Rakka : I'm really sorry, I let myself in.

  Reki : Look at you... you'll be Rakka to the very end.