Halo's Arrival

By Sonic Angel

Disclaimer: Don't own NGE!

SA: All righty then! Time for my second EVA fic! And this time… It's based on the real series!

Asuka: Took ya long enough, you BAKA author!

SA: Now I know what Shinji has to go through…

Episode 5: Rei, beyond her heart

After the discovery of the enemy, and Shinji's explanation of why his father's hands were burnt, Shinji then said, "You know, Ritsuko, Rei kind of reminds me of an old friend I used to know. But now, I don't know what happened to him."

That got Ritsuko's mind geared up. She was suddenly interested. She inquired, "An old friend? Tell me, Shinji, who was it?"

He said, "His name is Daisuke Ishida."

Ritsuko, and Misato looked shocked. Ritsuko asked, "You know Daisuke Ishida as a friend?"

Shinji quipped, "I don't see what the big deal is. He's just my friend."

Misato grinned, "Then, you don't know him very well, do you, Shinji?"

Shinji asked, "Wha… What do you mean?"

Ritsuko explained, "At age 5, he was a black belt at ninjutsu. As you know, Daisuke was born after the Second Impact."

Shinji nodded.

Misato grinned, "What you didn't know, is that by age 10, he served two terms being the Ambassador to Japan of the U.N."

Shinji looked shocked. He said, "I knew he was serving the U.N, but Ambassador? You've got to be kidding me!"

Ritsuko said, "As strange as it can sounds, Shinji, I can assure you, that's true."

Misato said, "He also went to London."

Shinji nodded. He said, "I knew that."

Ritsuko quipped, "But he didn't tell you the real reason. He went to London to develop his highly advanced HALO technology, and, served as a 00 agent in MI6." Then, she sighed, "He was at the age of 14, and Misato tried to seduce him."

Shinji rolled his eyes, "Misato…"

At the school, Touji and Kensuke were accusing him, of ogling at Rei. Shinji sighed, "That's not it!" He turned away at the pool and sighed sadly, "I… I was thinking of an old friend of mine."

Kensuke asked, "Who?"

He sighed, "Daisuke Ishida."

That got all the of the students' attention. Including Rei's. Touji asked, "Dude! No way. You were friends with the Daisuke Ishida?"

Shinji sighed, "Yeah. It just so happens that Rei reminds me of him. Before I met him, he was aloof, in his own little world. He didn't laugh, didn't smile. He didn't grin one bit. He was morose."

Touji said, "Morose? Uh, Shin-man, could you please put that in plain Japanese?"

Hikari, at the pool yelled, "You're such an idiot, Touji Suzahara! Morose means, miserable, gloomy, and depressed! Got that, you perverted moron!"

Shinji sighed, "After I met him, he was still morose, but, he was more open, happy, he was smiling, even."

That's when a man wearing a white trench coat walked to the track and spotted Shinji.

Touji said, "What do you want?"

The man in the white trench coat stated, "Shinji Ikari, I've come for you."

Shinji spoke his little mantra; "Mustn't run away, mustn't run away…"

That's when the figure laughed, "Man, and I thought I had it bad, Shinji!"

Shinji asked, "Who are you?"

The man sighed, "I'm hurt, Shinji. You don't remember…"

The man suddenly removed his trench coat to reveal a Japanese man, with white hair, red eyes, wearing white pants, and a shirt with pocket, with the design of a heart, enclosed by a zero, and almost encompassing the zero, was a halo.

The young man completed his sentence, "…Your old friend, Daisuke Ishida?"

That's when Shinji slapped him on the cheeks. Hard.

Shinji yelled, "THAT WAS FOR MAKING ME BELIEVE THAT YOU WERE DEAD!"

Daisuke laughed, "You know, Shinji, if we live through the Angel attacks, I'm going to laugh at this moment, like I am doing now." Then his face got a serious attitude. He put his hands together and said, "Sumimasen, old friend."

Shinji's face also took a serious expression. "You'd better be." Then, they looked at each other and laughed.

Shinji said, "Welcome back, old friend."

Daisuke grinned, "Glad to be back."

Then, Daisuke said, "I've been shadowing you, Shinji. Nice work, if I do say so myself. Good job."

Shinji said, "You've… Been … Spying on me?"

Daisuke looked at Kensuke. He said, "Kensuke Aida, military fanatic, I believe." He put his hand out and Kensuke said, "It's… It's an honor meeting you, Mr. Ishida!"

Daisuke said, "Call me Daisuke. All my friends do."

Kensuke yelled, "I am never going to wash this hand ever AGAIN!"

Daisuke grinned, "Hold on there, bucko! Before you do that, here's my autograph."

Kensuke held Daisuke's autographed picture. He said, "Now I know… There really is a god! Thank you, thank you, thank YOU!"

Daisuke looked at Touji. He said, "Touji Suzahara, the perverted idiot, right?"

Touji yelled, "I am not idiotic, and I am not perverted!"

Daisuke smiled, "Not with the intel Hikari gave to me." He then turned to the pool and yelled, "Thank you, Hikari!"

Hikari yelled back, "Not a problem, Daisuke!"

It was then, at this moment, Shinji paid very close attention to the pattern on his chest pocket.

Daisuke then, once again, has turned his attention to his friend, Shinji. He asked, "Why do you pilot them?"

Shinji asked, "How do you know about them?"

Daisuke grinned, "I have my ways."

Shinji said, "I guess… I have no choice."

Daisuke sighed, "Everyone has a choice."

Shinji asked, "Why do you live?"

Daisuke said, 'I want to live because I want to live with my friends…" Then he turned his eyes on Rei, "…And, I want to see someone out there, smile."

That's when it hit Shinji, like a pile of bricks. Daisuke turned to see Shinji, strangely enough, grinning very evilly. He grinned, "You like her, don't you?"

Daisuke stammered, "What… What do you mean?"

Shinji grinned like a very evil chibi. He said, "Rei."

Daisuke regained his composure and sighed, "I have my own reasons for liking Rei." Then, he glared at Touji, "And, they're not perverted."

He looked at the track, and, as the wind made his white hair flow like the waves, he sighed, "Why do us boys have to be a bunch of perverted shimatta baka ne?"

Shinji said, "Not all of us are like that."

Then, he asked, "Why are so morose?"

Daisuke turned to see Shinji. He said, "You want to know, Shinji. I'll tell you. My family wasn't perfect. I had an abusive uncle."

Shinji asked, "Did he…"

Daisuke shook his head. He replied, "No, he didn't. But he was a drunkard, and was always angry. He took his outrage unto me."

Unbeknownst to Shinji, except for Daisuke, Rei was hearing their conversation. She gasped, "So, that is why Ishida never talks about his past."

Shinji asked, "Does… Does Ritsuko know about this?"

Daisuke nodded.

Shinji asked, "What about…"

Daisuke said, "I think she knows now."

Shinji thought, 'No wonder he's so morose. The Daisuke that I know is hidden behind strong emotional walls, and, he hopes Ayanami and I are the ones that can help him break down the walls.'

He started walking back to the way he came.

Shinji yelled, "How will I find you, Dai kun?"

Daisuke laughed, "You won't find me. I'll find you. And, by the way, isn't that some sort of vegetable?"

Shinji laughed, "You're still the same old Daisuke." Then, he asked, "Hey, Daisuke! Do you have a job?"

Daisuke laughed, "Yup!"

Shinji asked, "Whre are you working at?"

Daisuke gave Shinji one of his mysterious smiles. He said, "I work for NERV."

Later that night, while Ritsuko was having dinner with Misato, the doorbell rung. Misato asked, "Who is it?"

The voice answered, "Ritsuko. It is I. Agent X."

Ritsuko smiled, "Come in, Agent X."

The figure known as Agent X came into the apartment. He was wearing a black trench coat, a black hat, and black sunglasses. The figure winked at Shinji. Shinji then knew at once that Agent X was Daisuke's alias.

While eating, Shinji said, "You know, I ran into Daisuke at school today."

Misato yelled, "NO WAY! HE'S STILL ALIVE?!"

Shinji nodded.

When Ritsuko mentioned that she forgot to give Rei her new security card, the duo looked at her picture.

Misato teased, "You two are looking at Rei's picture,"

Shinji yelled, "I AM NOT!"

Agent X said, "Well, I am!"

Shinji whispered, "Okay, who are you, and what have you done to Daisuke Ishida?"

After the teasing, Ritsuko said, "All right then. Agent X, your mission is to escort Shinji to Rei's place and give her the new security card I've authorized for her."

Agent X said, "Mission accepted."

Agent X left the apartment and jumped off the ledge, and to their surprise, he landed on a HALO bike.

Misato yelled, "DAISUKE ISHIDA, I KNOW THAT'S YOU!"

Shinji yelled, "What does HALO mean?"

Agent X grinned, "Human Action Life Orb."

At the day they were going to deliver Rei's new security card, once again, Shinji ran into Daisuke.

He smiled, "Fancy meeting you here."

Daisuke said, "From this moment on, this will be known as Operation: Ayanami!"

Shinji grinned, "You do like her."

Daisuke gave Shinji one of his enigmatic smiles yet again. "Perhaps."

They courageously went in and Daisuke said, "Place the card on the desk."

He murmered, "Understood." And he did as he was ordered.

Daisuke placed a note beside the card.

Shinji sneered, "Is that a love note?"

Daisuke put his Agent X disguise and said, "No. It's a note introducing ourselves."

The duo started leaving and Shinji asked, "What job do you have at NERV?"

Agent X said, "Let's just say, it's the same as yours."

The duo left in their separate ways, and Shinji started to remember the strange white colored EVA unit that he saw. He gasped, "Daisuke… You couldn't be… An EVA pilot?"

When Shinji arrived at NERV HQ, Shinji met Agent X. All the while, Rei was finished with her shower and she saw her new secruity card. She picked up the card, and began to read the note. It read:

Rei,

Here is your new security card. Ritsuko sent us to impart you with your new gift. Oh, and if you are wondering who 'we' are, I am Daisuke Ishida, the newly discovered Seventh Child, Pilot of the Test Type EVA Unit 07. And, as you may know, Shinji Ikari, the son of Gendo Ikari and the Third Child; Pilot of the Test Type EVA Unit 01. I hope we can meet in person, and know more about each other.

See you at NERV HQ,

Daisuke Ishida

Shinji Ikari

Meanwhile, on the way to Ritsuko's office to let her know of the success of the mission, Shinji asked, "Why did we leave?"

Daisuke said, with a slight blush shining from his cheeks, "She was probably in the shower. We… didn't want her to see us as pervs."

Shinji said, "You didn't want her to see you as a perv." Once again, he grinned like an evil chibi. He sneered, "You're blushing, aren't you?"

Agent X kept his refined posture, but was blushing. He regained his stance and said, "Shinji, the day you catch me blushing, is the day I fall in LOVE!"

Shinji smiled to himself, "I don't know, but I think that day's coming pretty fast."

The duo arrived at Ritsuko's office and Ritsuko asked, "Was the mission a success?"

Agent X nodded. Shinji grinned, "He called it Operation: Ayanami,"

Ritsuko smiled, "Oh, did he?"

Agent X flustered, "I felt that it was the correct name for this mission."

Just then, a very angry Misato came in. Agent X yelled, "MISATO?!"

Misato snarled, "I know about the cover up. I know who you are, Daisuke Ishida, Seventh CHILD!"

Daisuke took off the disguise and sighed, "Yeah, I am the Seventh Child. And no, Misato, you're not my type."

Misato closed the door and grumbled, "You don't know what you're missing."

Daisuke grinned, "No, I probabbly don't."

Just then, Rei appeared at the doorway, wearing her school uniform.

Shinji gasped, "Ayanami…"

It was Daisuke who spoke her first name. He gasped, "Rei…"

It was then, at that moment, she spoke. She said, "Hello Ritsuko."

Ritsuko replied, "Hello, Rei."

Rei turned to Shinji and Daisuke. She said, "Thank you for delivering my new security card, Pilots Ikari and Ishida."

Shinji said, "You don't have to be formal…"

Daisuke quipped, "You can call us by our first name. I would feel much better if you did that."

Then, Daisuke's watch beeped. He said, "Time to check up on Unit 07."

Ritsuko sighed, "I checked on Unit 07 already. It looks fine."

Daisuke replied, "It needs to be working on optimum efficiency."

Shinji sneered, "What, so you can show off to her?"

First, Daisuke bushed again, the regained his composure. He said, "That too, but to really kick the crap out of the Angels!"

Shinji rolled his eyes, "Right…"

Daisuke left Ritsuko's office and headed for Cange 5, where Unit 07 was held.

Ritsuko smiled, "You two seem to know each other."

Shinji stated, "We're pals, so of course, Ritsuko, we know each other."

Rei stated, "Even though you two are friends, I see him, sometimes, showing emotions of anger, sadness."

Shinji said, "Knowing him, and the 'Incident', I bet that the real Daisuke Ishida is trapped in emotional walls, and his heart is as cold as ice."

Ritsuko said, "You're right. Does this mean…"

Shinji said, "I think it does. I bet he's only letting me, and Rei, and you, Ritsuko, in for one reason. To break down his emotional walls, and defrost his heart of ice."

Rei stated, "It is going to be difficult breaking Pilot Ishida's barriers…"

Ritsuko said, "But if he's letting us in, we have only but one choice but to try!"

Just then, an Angel arrived on the streets of Tokyo 2.

Daisuke said, "So, Angel responsible for destroying my body, you've returned. It's payback time."

When Unit 01 launched, Maya said, "Unit 07's launching!"

Misato said, "What? What's Daisuke's planning?"

Ritsuko said, "The only thing he can do. Save his friend."

Then as the Angel attacked, Misato yelled, "Shinji, DUCK!"

Just as the high-energy beam was about to hit Unit 01, Unit 07 blocked the attack with its HALO field.

Daisuke said, "Didn't I say I'd always have your back, Shinji?"

Misato: Now that Unit 07 has made its premiere, how will it combat the Angel? Next time, Daisuke shows NERV the strong points and weak points of this Angel, and, what's this? Shinji and Rei have succeeded in breakng two of Daisuke's emotional walls, and Daisuke shows off one of Unit 07's most powerful but embarrasing attacks in all of it's arsenal? Next time… "Showdown on Tokyo 3!"