Author's Note: Before you read this fan-fic, check my last one, The Last
Gift She Expected. See that note up the top of every chapter? That bit
that says "I do not own Gainax or any of its creations"? You don't? Ah
well.anyway, I didn't then, and since then I haven't suddenly inherited a
small mint, so I don't now, either.
This is my second fic, Where Am I?. If I can think of a better title then I will, but until then it won't change unless I say so. Before we begin, it's a self-insert, which means I'm putting myself into the Evangelion universe. If you don't like this kind of story, don't fret, because my psyche is about as screwed up as any other regular Eva cast member, so hopefully I'll fit right in! Okay, enough talk, let's get this story going!
Where Am I?, Chapter 1: Surviving the End
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The radio blared incoherently in the background as the bus ploughed on through the rain. The incessant radio chatter made way for a song as the boy went over the coming classes in his head. A sudden noise made him flick his head, in turn causing his longish brown hair to flick over his shoulder. His friend had attracted his attention from across the aisle.
"You alright?" Benk asked, his face etched with concern. He'd seen his friend like this before, and last time.
"Yeah, I'm fine," the boy told his buddy. He turned away, looking out the window. The vast rural landscape would soon make way for the town where he went to school. Because his parents wanted him to go to a private school, he had to take a two-and-a-half-hour bus ride every morning just to get to school. Benk had stayed at his place for the weekend, his bags packed to go home after school. The boy hated living so damn far away from most of his friends, but it couldn't really help it. The bus rounded a corner, barely staying on the road due to the heavy wind and rain. Just then, not by fault of the cold winds outside the bus, the long haired adolescent's spine shivered in a subconscious form of surprise. [Something's wrong.]
Shrugging the feeling, he reached into his school bag, pulling out a large chunk of chocolate. Taking a bite, he glanced to a mirror, reflecting the face of the bus driver. He calmed down briefly, at least until the driver dissolved. The boy watched in horror as the driver seemingly melted into a translucent liquid. Almost instantly, the bus lost control, swerving off the road, the long haired boy's mind still in a spin after what he saw. [What the hell happened to him!?]
The bus rolled, sending its passengers into the air, almost like a giant tumble-dry. The boy's eyes were still transfixed to the front of the bus, where a girl stood. Not thrown, not bounced, but just standing there, as if a rolling bus was completely normal. But who was it? He would've automatically said she was from the tech school a few blocks from theirs, but she had a different uniform.and his school and the tech school both had very strict hair regulations, so she wouldn't get very far with that light blue hair of hers.and those eyes.
The bus came to a rest, his airborne body slumping to the bus floor with a splash. [Wait a minute.why is there water in the bus!? Sure a little because of the rain, but not this much.] He looked down, noticing the floor was covered with a strange orange liquid. Lifting himself up, the smell of blood wafted into his face. [Blood! This orange crap is blood!?] He looked to the front of the bus, to find that the strange girl had moved to a few seats in front of him.
"Who are - !?" The boy's sentence was cut short, as the girl held Benk against the bus wall, brushing her hand against his cheek. Benk smiled.
"Amy." he said, a smile crossing his face. This would turn out to be the last words he would say, as his flesh melted, flowing down into the orange puddle.
"NOOOOO!" The long haired boy realized that he had just been laying in what remained of people he knew. He looked up, only to see the seemingly towering figure of the girl above him. The boy stumbled away from the girl, who was holding one hand out, as if she was beckoning him forward.
"No.stay away from me." The girl continued her march toward the boy. "What are you?"
The boy fumbled with the emergency exit device, opening the hatch and jumping from the bus, just before the girl reached for him. The boy ran as fast as possible away from the bus as possible, until he noticed his surroundings. The dark rain clouds ran only a short distance into the horizon, the rest glowing a deep shade of red, the front rapidly approaching.
A hand clamped onto his shoulder, pulling him around to face.the girl. Her eyes seemed to be the same color as the clouds he just saw.or was that an optical illusion? He had little time to check, as the girl leaned forward, planting her lips against his. The boy was paralyzed with fear, a million questions ran though his head, so many he barely realized that his surroundings were becoming increasingly unclear, as was himself.
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The radio blared crystal-clear inside the car as it sped through the city streets. The rain bounced off the windshield as the woman planted her foot on the gas.
"Damn! They're gonna be pissed! I hope they found some shelter." The blue car powerslid around a corner, a very dangerous move in the rain. Releasing the necessary brake, she stomped the accelerator once more, her destination in sight. A few blocks later, the brake, handbrake and clutch were all used in unison, bringing the car to a hydroplaning, then screeching halt. Two figured were waiting at the curb, rushing toward the car as it stopped. A brown haired boy got in the front seat, next to the driver, while a striking redhead slumped into the backseat.
"Hey guys," the driver said cheerfully, "How was school today?"
The redhead growled. "What the hell were you doing, Misato!? We've been standing out there for almost half and hour!"
"I'm sorry, Asuka," the woman said, brushing a clump of purple hair out of her face, "I was tied up at work." The redhead seethed with anger, then looked at the occupant of the front seat.
"Hey, idiot!" Asuka shouted at Shinji, "Aren't you gonna say something about waiting in the rain for that long!? You're such a wimp!"
"Sure, I'm pissed!" he shouted, in an attempt to raise his voice above the German girl's, "It's just that she looks like she's got enough to deal with without us hassling her."
Misato smiled. "Why, Shinji, that's very considerate of you."
"SUCK-UP!"
"By the way, how was Rei getting home?"
"Oh, Wondergirl? She walked."
"Alright then. Seatbelts, people."
Shinji and Asuka wisely buckled up as Misato stomped the gas again.
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"Cyan."
The long haired boy turned at the mention of that name. He opened his eyes, finding himself in.complete darkness. The boy turned around, trying to find the source of the voice. Somehow, it seemed familiar.
"How do you know that name?" the long haired boy said aloud, to no one in particular.
The voice spoke again. "Is that not your name?"
"No, my name's Ro."
"No, it can't be. That person just died."
The long haired boy was startled by the statement. "What!? I can't be.or am I?" Memories of the bus ride flooded back. The rain, the bus crash, that strange orange liquid, the girl.
"What happened? Who was that girl.?"
The voice suddenly had a source: a young child, of about six or eight. His short cropped blond hair stood in a fringe on the front of his head, above a strikingly familiar smile.
[I know that face.] The long-haired teen gasped. "You.you're me."
"Right," the child said, "My name is Cyan Monteru. I don't know what yours is, but seeing as you're me, or I'm you, or however you want to see it, I guess your name is Cyan Monteru as well."
"What do you mean, I'm you? You're me? What do you mean, I'm DEAD!?"
The child laughed. "Ooh, a little temperamental, are we? So much aggression, so many questions.and all eternity for answers."
"Eternity? What do you."
".mean?" The child let out another laugh. "Let me fill you in on a little secret. You are dead. Benk is dead. Your friends are dead. Your entire world is dead. D, E, A, D, dead."
"Then why am I here?"
"I don't know. Maybe she liked you."
"She? You mean the blue haired girl?" Cyan approached the child. "Who is she?"
"I don't know that, either," Chibi-Cyan said, "All I know is that there is only one way for you to get back to life."
"Really? How?"
"Defeat me." Those words were music to Cyan's ears. [It's that easy? Just beat the crap outta this kid?!] Cyan grinned, cracking his knuckles.
Chibi-Cyan snorted. "You think that'll work? This'll be interesting."
Cyan charged, leaping into the air and executing a textbook flying kick, dead leveled at the boy's face. To his surprise, however, his foot, leg and entire body passed through the child as if he weren't there. Falling to the ground, he grimaced in pain as he landed awkwardly in his ankle.
Chibi-Cyan laughed. "Pathetic," he murmured, "Forgotten where you are already, meathead?"
"My mind." Cyan realized the truth. "If I'm dead, then this place must be my mind.if that's so, then who are you?"
"I'm the side of you that you don't let out too often," Chibi-Cyan began, "The side you keep bottled up, so that the rest of the world.sorry, former world.doesn't see it.Cyan, I am the manifestations of your weaknesses, your pain."
"My weaknesses.But I don't."
"Think again." The boy made a gesture with his hand. Images of Cyan's former life flashed before him, all images that Cyan wanted to forget: his first school crush, who shot him down; his worst enemies, and moments where they had prevailed over him; and many other things, last of all being a grave, which he recognized as his mother's.
"No." Tears welled in Cyan's eyes as more images flicked through his mind like a picture book. His family, friends, all people he knew he would never see again. Tears flowed freely now, Cyan's mind twisted like a pretzel.
"No.they can't be dead.they just can't be.I won't believe it!"
The pictures of his friends in his mind shattered like glass, one by one. Chibi-Cyan's voice reached him. "But they are.they're probably experiencing the same thing you're going through.but with one exception."
Cyan's head turned toward his former self. "You have been given the chance to move on. She gave you that choice."
"That girl." Cyan wondered, "Is she.the Angel of Death?"
"Hmm.maybe.I never thought of that.it's possible." A low rumble began to reverberate throughout the open space. "It must be starting."
"What's starting?" Cyan looked around, noticing some dull lights beginning to shine faintly. A horn faintly sounded, as Cyan felt it begin to rain.
"You're entering a new world." Chibi-Cyan started to fade from existence. "I can't provide you with anymore answers. You have to find them for yourself."
"Wait! What about." Cyan began, before stopping. "Alright." He steeled himself for whatever was going to come at him. Two lights grew stronger right in front of him, a strange noise began to grow louder. Suddenly, the world around him was complete.
Cyan twisted around to see where he was. [Huh? Where's the ground!?] Cyan shouted in surprise as he plummeted to the ground, about four feet below his body.
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Shinji and Asuka clenched the sides of the car as Misato hit another high gear. The g-force pinned the two teenagers in their seats as Misato's gas foot were once again planted onto the ground.
Asuka stared at the road in shock. "Oh mein gott, Misato, watch out!"
"Oh shit!" Suddenly, a bright light shone through the sheets of rain. The light seemed to darken, but it was only the light being obscured.by a person!
Misato slammed on the brake, handbrake, clutch, locked the wheel over to the left, did everything she possibly could to avoid the body. Luckily, the car found traction against the road, and turned, braking all the time.
-----------
Cyan moaned in pain as he lay on the wet street, hearing a screeching sound behind him. He rolled over, only to see the front wheel of a car close in on his head.
"Aaaaaah!" he screamed, rolling over as far as he could from the approaching car.
Cyan's head connected to the bumper. "Oof!" The fairly solid impact knocked him out shortly before the car stopped, the wheel inches from his chest.
The car door opened. "Holy shit!" Misato cried as she ran toward the young man. Blood gushed from a small wound on the corner of his head, washing out of his long hair due to the rain. The clothing was a little strange, like a uniform, but she'd never seen anything like it before.
Asuka got out of the car. "Oh, my god, Is he alright?"
Misato planted two fingers onto the boy's throat. "Still has a pulse.breathing steady.he's alive.Shinji, help me get him in the car."
Shinji nodded, and grabbed the boy by the arms. Misato grabbed the body by the legs and helped Shinji haul it into the back of the car. Asuka got back into the car, followed by Shinji and Misato.
"We need to get him to a hospital," Misato said, concerned for the person she had just flattened. "You don't mind a slight detour on the way home, do you?"
The two kids nodded. Misato stepped on the gas once again, pinning the unrestrained body to the back seat.
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"Gaah!" Cyan sat up with a start, eyes wide open, but still not sending anything to the brain. [Oh, thank god.it was all a dream.] He fell back into the bed with a thud. [Hm.bed feels different.maybe the bus crash actually happened.]
His eyes started to register vision again. The room was entire windows on one side, his bed facing a wall with a TV, wall cabinet, and a vase with chrysanthemums. The wall to his right had access to a hallway via a sliding door.
[Huh? This isn't the hospital.] Cyan looked up. [At least one I've ever been in. mmm. unfamiliar ceiling.]
Cyan's eyes focused on a poster on the far wall. It displayed a picture of a guy running. Although it was obvious that it was a sort of motivational poster, he couldn't understand any of the words, just that the letters they were in.
[Japanese!?] Cyan straightened up in bed. [I'm in Japan!? How the hell.]
Just then, the door opened. A woman stood in the doorway, her long purple hair flowing down behind the official looking red leather jacket, over a dark skirt. The woman's eyes were fixated on him.
"Anata wa nemurimasen ka?," she said, letting herself in and sitting down.
"Huh?"
She sighed, then repeated herself. Cyan was lost.
"You speak-ah any Engrish?"
"Eh?" The woman had a puzzled face, which immediately left her as the truth dawned. "Nihon-ga arimasen?" She handed him a small device, sort of like a Walkman. Cyan took it and placed the earphones in his ears. The woman smiled, and pinned one of his arms to the bed while using the other to shoot some sedative into Cyan's arm.
"What the.!" Cyan felt his mind sway once more, drifting off to sleep again.
--------------
Misato pressed "Play" on the boy's new SDAT, letting the "Learn Japanese Now!" tape play in a constant loop into his subconscious. After she left the room, she got on her mobile.
"Ritsuko?" Misato said after dialing.
Misato sighed. "Yes, you were right, Ritsuko. Then again, you could probably tell that by looking at him."
Ritsuko lectured,
"Well, he will when he wakes up. I better tell Shinji and Asuka he's alright. Any clues as to who he is?"
"Yeah, right under my wheels." Misato frowned. "Something weird is going on."
"Yeah, I've got enough things to worry about without this kid," Misato replied, "like trying to get Asuka and Shinji to work together."
I
"Okay, I'll let you know how they do on that dance mat thingy you shipped in."
----------------
Days later, Cyan's body stirred into consciousness again. [Hmm.same place as before.who was that woman? And what did she shoot me up with?]
Cyan thought about saying aloud, "Where am I?", but instead the words "Koko desu ka?"
"I see that we can speak Japanese now." Cyan turned to the voice, and saw the purple haired woman again, this time sitting beside the bed.
"You.what did you do to me? Unh, I feel like I got hit by a two by four." For some reason, Cyan could suddenly speak in perfect Japanese.
"Actually," Misato laughed, "you got hit by a car. My car. I'm sorry."
"Oh." Cyan looked up at the woman. "Who are you anyway?"
"Major Misato Katsuragi, Operations Planning manager at NERV."
"NERV?" That one word cut short Misato's introduction very suddenly.
"You've never heard of NERV?" Cyan shook his head. "You mustn't be from Japan, then. What's your name?"
"Ro." Cyan stopped. [No.I'm not him anymore.] "Cyan.Cyan Monteru."
Misato remained silent for a while. Cyan spoke again. "Thanks, for getting me to hospital, Ms. Katsuragi."
"Ah, Misato's fine," she said. "Um.you don't have a place to stay, do you?"
[No, duh. I only just got here myself.] "No."
"That's alright, you can crash at my place!" Misato smiled brightly. [The more the merrier! I wonder how Shinji and Asuka will take this? He better be able to cook.]
"Your place!? Are you sure, Misato?" Cyan was a little apprehensive about being such an inconvenience.
"Nah, it'll be fine," Misato reassured him, "It's the least I can do after running you down like that."
Cyan lay his head back as Misato stood up. "I'll come and pick you up in the afternoon. You got any money?"
"Um." Cyan realized that he only had his old Australian money. [Wait a minute.If I'm in Japan now, then.when am I?] He glanced across at a calendar on the wall. [2015!? What the hell?]
"I don't have any Japanese money, but I might have something just as good." [I wonder how much my 'vintage' money would fetch.}
"Alright, I'll come and pick you up later. Don't die on me, okay?" Misato smiled.
Cyan gave her a thumbs-up as she left. Misato walked to the door, the electronic sensors automatically making it open. Outside stood someone else, but Cyan couldn't make out who it was. Cyan laid back down.
[So.what the hell's up with this world, anyway?] He paused, then reached for the TV remote. He aimed it at the TV, and pressed a button.
The TV came to life, displaying a news program. ".UN officials announced an increase in NERV funding due to the failure of the JA project. NERV spokeswoman Misato Katsuragi was quoted saying that the support of the UN and other organizations were vital in maintaining the Evangelions."
[What's an Evangelion?] Almost as if to answer his question, footage of giant biomechanical robots battling even more bizarre creatures played on the screen. A close-up of one of the robots (a purple and green one) revealed the characters "EVA 01" on its arm. [EVA.is that Evangelion?]
Cyan got up and turned off the TV. He stood at the window for a short while, placing one hand on the glass.
[Okay.Cyan.} he told himself, still coming to grips with his first waking hours in this new world, [Let's take stock of the situation.you're halfway across the world, you're just over a decade into the future, you've got no cash, no contacts, except this Katsuragi woman.] Rage built inside him, bringing his thoughts into speech.
"No home, no friends, no family, no God-DAMNED LIFE!!!" Cyan's fist slammed against the window-frame, luckily missing the glass. "Dammit."
---------------
Cyan waved as he left the hospital reception, and walked outside to the street. Looking around, he spotted a blue Peugeot parked on his side of the street.
[Is this her car?] Looking closer, he saw a medium sized, head-shaped dent on the front spoiler. [Yep, that's hers.]
Walking toward it, he spotted the Major sitting at the wheel, watching him. Cyan glanced down the road, and spotted a black stock model Ford, parked in front of another just like it. [Secret service? This NERV organization must be pretty important.] Reaching the front passenger door, he entered the car.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Katsuragi."
"As to you, Mr. Monteru," Misato laughed, "Just call me Misato, okay? Everyone else does."
Cyan nodded as Misato started the car. "Seatbelt, kiddo." Cyan got it on just in time as Misato's natural driving behavior kicked in. Cyan was pinned to the back of his seat by the Gs.
"God! No wonder you hit me!" Cyan commented. Misato took this insult to heart, swerving across the road, scaring her new roomie. Cyan's shouts of surprise and fear didn't stop Misato from driving like a bat out of hell until they reached the city outskirts. After a few minutes of regular driving, Misato decided to strike up a conversation.
"So, Cyan," Misato began, "where you from?"
"Australia," he replied, "I only just arrived in the country."
Something seemed wrong to Misato. "Wait a minute.isn't Australia underwater?"
[Underwater!?] "Underwater?"
"Yeah, ever since the Second Impact."
"Second Impact?" Misato brought the car to a screeching stop, looking at Cyan as if he had suddenly sprouted a second head.
"You haven't heard of the Second Impact before?!" Misato almost shouted in disbelief, "You don't know much, do you?"
"Uh, no." Cyan turned his head.
"Where did you really come from?" Misato reached for her handbag. Cyan raised his arms, knowing what she was reaching for.
"Please," he begged with the Major, "I can explain.just keep an open mind, alright? Even I don't know what really happened. I can prove I'm from Australia, though." He pulled out his wallet, opening its contents into Misato's lap.
"This is all real Australian legal tender cash," Cyan explained, "From before whatever the hell your Second Impact was. I don't know how much proof it can offer, but what I tell you will be everything I know."
Misato held her hand still for a while, then pulled it from her handbag, not holding a gun. "Okay."
Cyan then proceeded to explain what had happened to him, using everything he had to back up his story. ".and then, I appeared in the middle of the road and you ran me down."
Misato sat there, listening to everything that the mysterious stranger had to say. Cyan looked up. "You don't believe me, do you?"
"I don't know.if you knew the kind of work I'm in, you'd think anything's possible. And no one lies about not knowing about Second Impact."
"Uh."
"Fifteen years ago, in the year 2000, a giant." [Wait, he's a civilian. Better use the cover story.] ".meteor crashed into Antarctica, melting the southern ice caps."
"That's what you meant about Australia being underwater. Australia's the flattest country in the world.wait, that means."
"Yeah, the time in your story's screwy." Cyan looked at Misato, waiting for a gun to be leveled at his head. Fortunately for him, it never came.
"Don't worry. I can tell you're not lying. I'm trained to tell if someone's lying, but you.I still don't know what to think." Misato turned back to the road, restarting the car. "Maybe I'll find out what really happened to you some day, and maybe I won't, but either way, you're still welcome at my place. I mean, if you are telling the truth, you literally have no one else to turn."
[God, yeah, thanks for really drilling it home, Misato.] Cyan and Misato barely shared a word for the rest of the car ride. Looking out over the hood of the car, he noticed something gleam irregularly near the nose of the car. [Is that.sticky tape?]
----------------
"Alright, we're almost there," Misato told Cyan, "Okay, there're two other kids staying with me. You should get along with one of them, he's pretty quiet, a bit shy.the other one you might want to watch out for."
"Um." Cyan wasn't too confident in Misato's advice.
"Just don't show her any kind of weakness," Misato explained, "And for God's sake, she might be a bombshell, but don't try and get a perv. She'll never let you forget it."
"Ah, okay." [Man.what kind of people does this woman live with? She's not old enough for them to be her kids.maybe they're just flatmates or something?]
The car stopped outside a giant apartment building. Misato and Cyan exited the car, the former leading Cyan into the elevator.
"You said you had money?" Misato asked.
"Well, I don't know what the going rate is on currency for a nonexistent country."
"Aaah.you could try taking it to an antique dealer, might get a fair price there." Misato suggested.
"Thanks," Cyan replied, "I'll try that in the morning."
The elevator dinged, opening to a corridor. Misato walked to a corner of the square shaped room, and stood in front of a door with the name "M. KATSURAGI" on a small plaque.
"Well, this is it," Misato said, sliding a keycard through a slit beside the door. The door opened, leading Cyan into an apartment.
"Tada-ima!" Misato called out. Cyan stayed silent, merely entering the apartment. The pair kicked off their shoes at the door, and walked inside. [I wonder what kind of person Misato is.]
Cyan immediately got a good idea. Beer cans littered the dining table, as well as empty cups of instant noodles, ramen and other two-minute crap. [God, she's worse than my dad.]
A female shout came from appeared to be the living room. "Hey, Misato!" A tallish red-haired girl walked into the room, wearing a loosely fitting T- shirt and shorts. She looked at Cyan, and stopped.
"Oh.it's you." The girl's eyes stayed transfixed on him. [This is the guy from the street? He sure looks a lot better now.]
"Ah, Cyan, this is Asuka Langley-Sohryu," Misato introduced his to the girl, "Asuka, this is Cyan Monteru."
Cyan offered a hand. Asuka, a little slower, raised a hand, the pair shaking hands politely. Asuka still wouldn't say a word. Misato noticed the uncomfortable silence.
"Cyan, you want a drink?" Cyan nodded, and Misato went into the fridge. "What do you want?"
"Just a Coke, thanks." Misato gave Cyan another strange look. [What, doesn't this world have Coke or something?] "Pepsi?" Another strange look. [Shit! What's with this world!?] "Just a coffee, then." Misato's head ducked back into the fridge pulling out a can and tossing it to Cyan.
[Canned coffee?] Cyan pulled the tab, and took a sip. [Hmm. Not bad.]
Misato turned to Asuka. "Is Shinji about?"
"Yeah, he's doing homework. Goody-two-shoes dumbkopf."
Misato walked over to a door that displayed a heart-shaped plaque, reading "Shinji's Lovely Suite" in Japanese. Knocking on the door, Misato shouted, "Shinji, you in there?"
"Yes?"
"Come out here for a sec. There's someone I want you to meet."
The door opened, a fairly bedraggled boy popped his head out, wearing what looked uncannily like Cyan's school uniform.
"Shinji, this is Cyan Monteru, the kid I ran over. Cyan, meet Shinji Ikari."
Cyan offered a hand out as he did before. Shinji shook it, a lot more timidly than Asuka did. Misato looked at Cyan, as if anticipating something. [Come on, everyone knows who Shinji Ikari is...] Cyan's face remained one of total irrecognition. [Ah crap.]
"So, Cyan, where you from?" Asuka asked the newcomer.
"Uh."
"He can't remember," Misato covered for Cyan, "I did hit his head pretty hard." Misato looked at Cyan.
Cyan nodded in thanks. "All I know is that I'm not Japanese. When I woke up, I didn't have any idea what anyone was saying."
Asuka utilized her knowledge of German. "Sprechen Deutsch?"
"Huh?"
"Never mind." Asuka smiled. [Ooh, I'll have fun with him.]
Cyan realized what Asuka was saying. Speaking in English, "I only understand a little, but I can speak in this, though. Yourself?"
Asuka was surprised. "Only a little." she smiled, replying in English.
Misato spoke up, still in English. "Well I can understand every word the both of you say, so watch it!"
Poor Shinji, stood there listening to the foreign tongues. "What are you guys talking about?"
Three heads turned to Shinji. "Uh, nothing, Shinji," Misato said.
Asuka piped up. "Now that the introductions are out of the way, how about some food, Shinji?"
Shinji obediently nodded, heading for the kitchen. Cyan watched Shinji dejectedly walk away. [Poor kid, he's so henpecked.]
Asuka sat down on the ground, Misato following her. Cyan sat down as well, visibly unsettled out by the absence of chairs. Asuka smiled.
"Freaked by the absence of chairs?" Cyan looked up at Asuka, with a how- did-you-know expression. "Same thing happened to me. I was brought up in Germany."
"Really? What brought you here?"
"I pil-" Asuka received a quick kick to the leg from Misato. "Uh.lost my parents here, and I'm, uh, Misato adopted me."
Cyan grew suspicious. [Pile.pilot?] His mind began to unravel the wool that Katsuragi-san was trying to pull over his eyes. [She works for NERV.Evangelion.she pilots EVA?]
"Say, you."
"Geez, you figured it out a lot quicker than I thought." Misato said. "I suppose Asuka helped you a bit. Yes, Asuka pilots an Evangelion. So does Shinji. They're here in protective custody. That's all I'm permitted to tell you, for now."
Cyan was silent. ".don't look German, Asuka." he finished what he was going to say.
Asuka turned on Misato. "Good one, Misato! He didn't know yet! Dumbkopf!" She calmly turned to Cyan. "And my parents are Japanese, but they moved to Germany to bring me up."
"Oh." Cyan lowered his head. He turned to Misato. "What's an Evangelion?"
Asuka growled at Misato, and walked off. Misato smiled to Cyan. "See what I mean?"
Cyan stifled a laugh. Misato continued. "You know how I said anything could happen in my line of work? Well, maybe I should fill you in. Just keep an open mind."
Misato proceeded to explain to the newcomer the details of the Angels, their will to destroy the planet, and about the Evangelions, and that they were designed to fight them.
Cyan gave Misato a lunatic look. "Hey, I believed you," Misato retorted, "And plus, if you don't believe me, the day after tomorrow, you'll see them in combat."
"What, the Angels?" Cyan laughed, "What have we got to fear from Angels?"
Misato bashed her fist down on the table in front of her, scaring Cyan to no end. "You want to know what we have to fear of the Angels, do you!? How about this: Second Impact wasn't a meteor, it was the first Angel, Adam. Since then, another seven have turned up. You saw what they did to the city when they arrived, and you know what happened when one blew itself up! It took out your family, your friends, your LIFE!" Misato screamed at Cyan. "I was there when it blew. My father put me in the last escape pod to save my life. He died so that I could live! Don't you dare say the Angels aren't a threat! I know first hand how terrifying they are!"
Cyan was overcome by Misato's sudden change of mood. "O.kay."
Misato's face faded. "I'm.sorry, Cyan," she muttered.
"It's okay," Cyan apologized himself, "I had no idea."
Misato sat down. "Tomorrow, you'll go to school with Shinji and Asuka. I know that you can't understand Japanese text, even with your audio tape, so if you're willing, there's this new subconscious DVD set you can hook up to yourself with pressure sensors while you sleep. That's about as much as I can do."
"That's okay," Cyan said, "It's only fifteen years into the future after all."
Misato smiled, and went away to tell off Asuka. Cyan reached for the remote, and flicked on the TV.
------------------
Cyan's eyes flicked open. The same nightmare repeated in his mind, watching all his friends dissolve into an orange goo, and that strange blue- haired girl, laughing maniacally. He sat up from his makeshift bed in the middle of the living room, shaking off the image projector pads from his head.
[Dammit, can't get to sleep.] Cyan moved silently into the corner of the room, sitting in front of a computer. He pressed the power button, a little conscious of the noise a computer can generate. Once the OS had loaded, Cyan immediately connected to the Internet. Something had been driving him mad ever since he got to this new world. He went to the web site for the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and typed in his name. [So, let's see if I exist or not.]
The search results page loaded. Cyan gasped, staring horrified at the letters displayed on the page. His name was there, followed by the chilling words, "17-05-86 to 31-05-00. Missing, presumed dead during Second Impact." [Well at least I did exist.what the hell am I thinking? The world thinks I'm dead.]
Tears sprung into his eyes as he typed in the names of his friends, all with the same response. "29-05-85 - 31-05-00. Missing, presumed dead during Second Impact."."04-07-85 - 31-05-00. Missing, presumed dead during Second Impact.".He typed in one more name, with the same result: "31-08-54 - 31-05-00. Missing, presumed dead during Second Impact."
"Father." Cyan turned off the computer, sobbing softly. He didn't like his father all that much, but at that time, he didn't care. His father was the last bastion, the last possible thing he had to link himself back to his previous life. And now, even that was gone. He went back to his bed, trying to get to sleep.
----------------
It wasn't much longer until the first rays of light crept into the lounge room. Cyan's eyes fluttered open, once again shedding the pads attached to his head before getting up. He stood up and walked to the kitchen, at least he would've until he noticed a glint in the corner of the room. He looked across and saw a strange stand, with three notches in the vertical bases of it, holding.
"Katana." Cyan muttered as he walked over to the swords on display. Kneeling down, he picked up the long one, the actual katana. The one above it he knew was called the wakizashi, and he couldn't name the smallest one at the top of the stand. He stood up with the katana in hand, drawing it slowly from the sheath it was held in. Cyan dropped the sheath, and fell into an offensive stance with the sword. He cut the air around him several times, as if invisible enemies were circled around him. Cyan struck with the skill of a master, using an incredible amount of control so as to avoid slashing any of Misato's belongings. Cyan went from foe to imaginary foe, slash, parry, slice, thrust, sidestep, slash.
Cyan heard a creak behind him. He twisted his legs around on the spot, pivoting his upper half around, and leveled the sword at neck height.
Shinji froze in position, quivering in fear, before raising his arms in surrender.
"Gaah! I'm sorry!" Shinji stammered. Cyan smiled before lowering the weapon.
"Huh What are you apologizing for? Getting in the way of my sword?" Cyan said jokingly. Shinji failed to notice the jokey tone behind it, and nodded.
Cyan face-faltered. [Jeez, Asuka and Misato must keep this kid really tightly reined.] He walked to the sheath, returning the katana to its home.
"Shinji, I was joking." Cyan turned to the pilot and smiled.
"Oh.sorry."
Cyan felt like slapping the kid. [What is this kid's problem?] "Look, you don't have to apologize so much all the time. Not everything's your fault."
"Oh, I know." Shinji turned around. ".So-"
"Don't say it!" Cyan shouted in an emphatic tone. Shinji looked across at Cyan, who grinned at the boy. Shinji smiled back, and went into the kitchen. "You want breakfast?"
"Oh, thanks, Shinji," Cyan said, "Just some toast."
"White bread?"
"Uh, do you have wholemeal?"
"Sure." Shinji walked over to the breadbox as Cyan walked into the kitchen. It was then that Cyan saw it for the first time. Across the room from the fridge was another fridge.
"Uh, why are there two fridges here?" Cyan asked Shinji.
"Oh, that's strange," Shinji commented, "I would've thought Misato would've introduced you to him yet."
"Introduced?" Just as Cyan said that, the fridge opened, letting out a three-foot high emperor penguin, with a clump of its feathers dyed red, and a futuristic looking console on its back.
Cyan watched dumbfoundedly as the penguin walked out of the kitchen toward the shower. He gave a short laugh. "Heh, now I've seen everything."
"That's Pen-Pen, Misato's pet penguin," Shinji explained.
"Pet penguin, huh?" Cyan smirked, incredulous at the sight that played out before him. Just then, a door at the end of the hall opened up, revealing an apparently hung over Misato, going about her regular morning routine. Cyan watched as their guardian set a good example to the boys by reaching into the fridge, while scratching her ass, and pulling out a can of beer, sculling it down quicker than Cyan had ever seen done before. Misato let out a cry of joy as the alcohol shot straight to her brain, relieving her of the aches and pains associated with waking up.
"And good morning to you too, Misato," Cyan said, in a sarcastic tone.
"And what's that supposed to mean, newcomer?" Misato retaliated strongly.
Cyan continued to sip at his coffee while investigating Misato's beer can. "Hmm.100% alcohol!? They make beer like that!? That can't be healthy in the morning!"
"Uh, Cyan," Shinji corrected, "That's '100% Taste'."
"Oh." That silenced Cyan for a second. "Well, beer still isn't healthy in the morning."
"Oh, shut up and get ready for school," Misato growled, "I'll drive you in." This caused Cyan to face-falter again.
[She wants to drive me in straight after a beer? With her driving habits?] "Can't I just walk?"
"Do you know the way?" Misato smiled.
"Touché." Cyan looked across at Shinji. "Why isn't he going today? Something to do with the Evas?"
"Tomorrow, I have to make an assault against the Angel with Asuka, in perfect sync. It's gonna kill me."
Misato smirked. "Are you talking about the Angel, or Asuka?"
Shinji laughed at the small joke. "Either way."
At this time, Asuka emerged. Cyan turned to Misato. "I guess that's what those dance mats in the lounge room were for?"
"Uh, yeah," Misato said, "They'll be on that for most of the day, hopefully by tomorrow, they'll be ready to take on the Angel."
Cyan thought for a while. "Something tells me that this Angel wasn't a regular one."
"You can say that again!" Asuka joined the conversation, in her pyjamas. "As soon as I killed it, it split in half, and both halves kicked our asses!"
"Hmm.so what's gonna be so different this time around?"
Misato explained her tactics. "We figured that if two Evas made a pinpoint, perfectly synchronized attack on both halves of the Angel, it would make them vulnerable enough to penetrate their respective cores."
"Okay, sounds good," Cyan muttered to himself, "Where would be the best vantage point?"
Misato smiled. "Well, as Operations Manager of NERV, I have to prohibit you from being within a kilometer from the battle."
"Oh, man! You mean I need to get a nosebleed seat?"
"But, as your guardian, Misato Katsuragi, I recommend you find one of Shinji's friends, a Mr. Kensuke Aida. He'll probably have a better vantage point than us at NERV."
Cyan grinned. "Thanks, Misato!"
-------------
"Shinji's big day tomorrow," Toji started a discussion with Kensuke, while waiting for the teacher to arrive.
"Yeah, I hope he can put up with the Devil and an Angel at the same time." At that moment, the door to the classroom slid open. Across the classroom, the class rep, Hikari Horaki stood at attention.
"Stand up!" the rest of the class obeyed her command. "Bow!" Twenty-odd heads nodded toward the teacher, already halfway through the room. "Sit!" The class sat down, awaiting the start of the lesson.
"Good morning class," the elderly man said. "We have a new student here."
Kensuke's eyes flickered open. [Another gaijin? Maybe he's another pilot.]
"Cyan, if you could come in." The teacher beckoned to a figure outside the room. Cyan walked into the room, drawing a collective gasp from a few of the girls, spotting the new prospective boyfriend. Kensuke immediately made a connection.
[Is he the guy Shinji was talking about? The guy Misato ran over?] Kensuke looked on as the teacher introduced Cyan to the class.
"Class, this is Cyan Monteru," he told them, "He's in this class for remedial studies in Kanji and History."
Cyan nodded, saying a short "G'day" before he went to a spare seat, on the far left row, between a short kid with glasses, and.
Cyan gasped audibly. "You!" he said softly, looking at the familiar blue- haired girl. [It's her! The girl from the bus!]
Cyan regained his composure, and sat down. Only when he sat down did he realise that he was given his own laptop, apparently bolted down to the desk. [Well, this is something new.] Cyan started it up, and checked out its contents. After a few minutes, he began to think. [Maybe these computers are all linked.] He looked ahead of him, at the computer of the boy with glasses. Sure enough, the IP of the laptop was pasted along the top of the screen. Typing this into his own computer, Cyan established a communications link with the boy in front of him. He typed a message.
CyanChosis: Hey, kid.
The boy looked around, then typed a reply.
0taku: Hm. So finally someone who's leet has joined the class. CyanChosis: Oh, u better believe it, kid. Listen, which one of u guyz is Kensuke Aida? 0taku: You're chatting with him. CyanChosis: Even better. Listen, I guess u figured out who I am by now. 0taku: You're that guy Misato hit, right? CyanChosis: Yeah. Neway, word has it u know where the best view of the Evas will be 2morrow? 0taku: Yeah. I'll talk to u 2night. I have Misato's phone no. I'll be in touch. + 0taku has signed out. +
Cyan sat up a bit, and then tuned in to the lesson. A minute later.
0taku: Oh, Cyan? CyanChosis: yeah what? 0taku: u met Asuka yet? CyanChosis: uh, yeah 0taku: well, what do u think of her? CyanChosis: hot body, could do with some relax-o-pills or something. 0taku: haha, lol. CyanChosis: why do u ask? 0taku: nevermind. + 0taku has signed out. +
Cyan looked at the screen, shook his head, and began to listen to the teacher. [I've missed out on the past decade of history, I'd better bring myself back to speed.]
Across the room, a pair of girls were typing furiously at their keyboards. Seconds later, Cyan was interrupted by two new messages. He clicked on the first one.
CyanChosis: what's up? QTPie17: hey, where'd u come from?
Cyan thought of a fake answer.
CyanChosis: I honestly dunno. QTPie17: wtf? CyanChosis: U no a Misato Katsuragi? QTPie17: yeah, she's Shinji and Asuka's guardian, right? CyanChosis: yeah. She ran me down a few days ago. QTPie17: oh, im sorry. CyanChosis: no harm done. + QTPie17 has signed out. +
Cyan clicked on the other message.
Blue: You're Monteru? CyanChosis: um, yes, last time I checked. Blue: Do I know you from somewhere? CyanChosis: if I knew who you were, I could tell you. Blue: Look to your rear.
Cyan turned his head. The only person behind him was.the blue-haired girl. [It's her! Does she remember me? Better play it safe.]
CyanChosis: im not sure. Blue: Do you know me from somewhere? CyanChosis: um.im not sure.i do remember u from somewhere. Blue: Your face is familiar, but I am not sure from where. CyanChosis: ill keep in touch, maybe ill remember something. Blue: We already do stay in regular contact. My name is Rei Ayanami. I pilot the Eva, just like Shinji and Asuka.
Cyan had to double check what he was reading.
CyanChosis: u pilot the eva as well? Why don't u live with misato? Blue: I was not ordered to.farewell, Monteru. + Blue has signed out. +
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
Well, that's the end of the first chapter. Please let me know what you think. Chapter 2 coming soon.
This is my second fic, Where Am I?. If I can think of a better title then I will, but until then it won't change unless I say so. Before we begin, it's a self-insert, which means I'm putting myself into the Evangelion universe. If you don't like this kind of story, don't fret, because my psyche is about as screwed up as any other regular Eva cast member, so hopefully I'll fit right in! Okay, enough talk, let's get this story going!
Where Am I?, Chapter 1: Surviving the End
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The radio blared incoherently in the background as the bus ploughed on through the rain. The incessant radio chatter made way for a song as the boy went over the coming classes in his head. A sudden noise made him flick his head, in turn causing his longish brown hair to flick over his shoulder. His friend had attracted his attention from across the aisle.
"You alright?" Benk asked, his face etched with concern. He'd seen his friend like this before, and last time.
"Yeah, I'm fine," the boy told his buddy. He turned away, looking out the window. The vast rural landscape would soon make way for the town where he went to school. Because his parents wanted him to go to a private school, he had to take a two-and-a-half-hour bus ride every morning just to get to school. Benk had stayed at his place for the weekend, his bags packed to go home after school. The boy hated living so damn far away from most of his friends, but it couldn't really help it. The bus rounded a corner, barely staying on the road due to the heavy wind and rain. Just then, not by fault of the cold winds outside the bus, the long haired adolescent's spine shivered in a subconscious form of surprise. [Something's wrong.]
Shrugging the feeling, he reached into his school bag, pulling out a large chunk of chocolate. Taking a bite, he glanced to a mirror, reflecting the face of the bus driver. He calmed down briefly, at least until the driver dissolved. The boy watched in horror as the driver seemingly melted into a translucent liquid. Almost instantly, the bus lost control, swerving off the road, the long haired boy's mind still in a spin after what he saw. [What the hell happened to him!?]
The bus rolled, sending its passengers into the air, almost like a giant tumble-dry. The boy's eyes were still transfixed to the front of the bus, where a girl stood. Not thrown, not bounced, but just standing there, as if a rolling bus was completely normal. But who was it? He would've automatically said she was from the tech school a few blocks from theirs, but she had a different uniform.and his school and the tech school both had very strict hair regulations, so she wouldn't get very far with that light blue hair of hers.and those eyes.
The bus came to a rest, his airborne body slumping to the bus floor with a splash. [Wait a minute.why is there water in the bus!? Sure a little because of the rain, but not this much.] He looked down, noticing the floor was covered with a strange orange liquid. Lifting himself up, the smell of blood wafted into his face. [Blood! This orange crap is blood!?] He looked to the front of the bus, to find that the strange girl had moved to a few seats in front of him.
"Who are - !?" The boy's sentence was cut short, as the girl held Benk against the bus wall, brushing her hand against his cheek. Benk smiled.
"Amy." he said, a smile crossing his face. This would turn out to be the last words he would say, as his flesh melted, flowing down into the orange puddle.
"NOOOOO!" The long haired boy realized that he had just been laying in what remained of people he knew. He looked up, only to see the seemingly towering figure of the girl above him. The boy stumbled away from the girl, who was holding one hand out, as if she was beckoning him forward.
"No.stay away from me." The girl continued her march toward the boy. "What are you?"
The boy fumbled with the emergency exit device, opening the hatch and jumping from the bus, just before the girl reached for him. The boy ran as fast as possible away from the bus as possible, until he noticed his surroundings. The dark rain clouds ran only a short distance into the horizon, the rest glowing a deep shade of red, the front rapidly approaching.
A hand clamped onto his shoulder, pulling him around to face.the girl. Her eyes seemed to be the same color as the clouds he just saw.or was that an optical illusion? He had little time to check, as the girl leaned forward, planting her lips against his. The boy was paralyzed with fear, a million questions ran though his head, so many he barely realized that his surroundings were becoming increasingly unclear, as was himself.
--------------
The radio blared crystal-clear inside the car as it sped through the city streets. The rain bounced off the windshield as the woman planted her foot on the gas.
"Damn! They're gonna be pissed! I hope they found some shelter." The blue car powerslid around a corner, a very dangerous move in the rain. Releasing the necessary brake, she stomped the accelerator once more, her destination in sight. A few blocks later, the brake, handbrake and clutch were all used in unison, bringing the car to a hydroplaning, then screeching halt. Two figured were waiting at the curb, rushing toward the car as it stopped. A brown haired boy got in the front seat, next to the driver, while a striking redhead slumped into the backseat.
"Hey guys," the driver said cheerfully, "How was school today?"
The redhead growled. "What the hell were you doing, Misato!? We've been standing out there for almost half and hour!"
"I'm sorry, Asuka," the woman said, brushing a clump of purple hair out of her face, "I was tied up at work." The redhead seethed with anger, then looked at the occupant of the front seat.
"Hey, idiot!" Asuka shouted at Shinji, "Aren't you gonna say something about waiting in the rain for that long!? You're such a wimp!"
"Sure, I'm pissed!" he shouted, in an attempt to raise his voice above the German girl's, "It's just that she looks like she's got enough to deal with without us hassling her."
Misato smiled. "Why, Shinji, that's very considerate of you."
"SUCK-UP!"
"By the way, how was Rei getting home?"
"Oh, Wondergirl? She walked."
"Alright then. Seatbelts, people."
Shinji and Asuka wisely buckled up as Misato stomped the gas again.
-----------------
"Cyan."
The long haired boy turned at the mention of that name. He opened his eyes, finding himself in.complete darkness. The boy turned around, trying to find the source of the voice. Somehow, it seemed familiar.
"How do you know that name?" the long haired boy said aloud, to no one in particular.
The voice spoke again. "Is that not your name?"
"No, my name's Ro."
"No, it can't be. That person just died."
The long haired boy was startled by the statement. "What!? I can't be.or am I?" Memories of the bus ride flooded back. The rain, the bus crash, that strange orange liquid, the girl.
"What happened? Who was that girl.?"
The voice suddenly had a source: a young child, of about six or eight. His short cropped blond hair stood in a fringe on the front of his head, above a strikingly familiar smile.
[I know that face.] The long-haired teen gasped. "You.you're me."
"Right," the child said, "My name is Cyan Monteru. I don't know what yours is, but seeing as you're me, or I'm you, or however you want to see it, I guess your name is Cyan Monteru as well."
"What do you mean, I'm you? You're me? What do you mean, I'm DEAD!?"
The child laughed. "Ooh, a little temperamental, are we? So much aggression, so many questions.and all eternity for answers."
"Eternity? What do you."
".mean?" The child let out another laugh. "Let me fill you in on a little secret. You are dead. Benk is dead. Your friends are dead. Your entire world is dead. D, E, A, D, dead."
"Then why am I here?"
"I don't know. Maybe she liked you."
"She? You mean the blue haired girl?" Cyan approached the child. "Who is she?"
"I don't know that, either," Chibi-Cyan said, "All I know is that there is only one way for you to get back to life."
"Really? How?"
"Defeat me." Those words were music to Cyan's ears. [It's that easy? Just beat the crap outta this kid?!] Cyan grinned, cracking his knuckles.
Chibi-Cyan snorted. "You think that'll work? This'll be interesting."
Cyan charged, leaping into the air and executing a textbook flying kick, dead leveled at the boy's face. To his surprise, however, his foot, leg and entire body passed through the child as if he weren't there. Falling to the ground, he grimaced in pain as he landed awkwardly in his ankle.
Chibi-Cyan laughed. "Pathetic," he murmured, "Forgotten where you are already, meathead?"
"My mind." Cyan realized the truth. "If I'm dead, then this place must be my mind.if that's so, then who are you?"
"I'm the side of you that you don't let out too often," Chibi-Cyan began, "The side you keep bottled up, so that the rest of the world.sorry, former world.doesn't see it.Cyan, I am the manifestations of your weaknesses, your pain."
"My weaknesses.But I don't."
"Think again." The boy made a gesture with his hand. Images of Cyan's former life flashed before him, all images that Cyan wanted to forget: his first school crush, who shot him down; his worst enemies, and moments where they had prevailed over him; and many other things, last of all being a grave, which he recognized as his mother's.
"No." Tears welled in Cyan's eyes as more images flicked through his mind like a picture book. His family, friends, all people he knew he would never see again. Tears flowed freely now, Cyan's mind twisted like a pretzel.
"No.they can't be dead.they just can't be.I won't believe it!"
The pictures of his friends in his mind shattered like glass, one by one. Chibi-Cyan's voice reached him. "But they are.they're probably experiencing the same thing you're going through.but with one exception."
Cyan's head turned toward his former self. "You have been given the chance to move on. She gave you that choice."
"That girl." Cyan wondered, "Is she.the Angel of Death?"
"Hmm.maybe.I never thought of that.it's possible." A low rumble began to reverberate throughout the open space. "It must be starting."
"What's starting?" Cyan looked around, noticing some dull lights beginning to shine faintly. A horn faintly sounded, as Cyan felt it begin to rain.
"You're entering a new world." Chibi-Cyan started to fade from existence. "I can't provide you with anymore answers. You have to find them for yourself."
"Wait! What about." Cyan began, before stopping. "Alright." He steeled himself for whatever was going to come at him. Two lights grew stronger right in front of him, a strange noise began to grow louder. Suddenly, the world around him was complete.
Cyan twisted around to see where he was. [Huh? Where's the ground!?] Cyan shouted in surprise as he plummeted to the ground, about four feet below his body.
-------------
Shinji and Asuka clenched the sides of the car as Misato hit another high gear. The g-force pinned the two teenagers in their seats as Misato's gas foot were once again planted onto the ground.
Asuka stared at the road in shock. "Oh mein gott, Misato, watch out!"
"Oh shit!" Suddenly, a bright light shone through the sheets of rain. The light seemed to darken, but it was only the light being obscured.by a person!
Misato slammed on the brake, handbrake, clutch, locked the wheel over to the left, did everything she possibly could to avoid the body. Luckily, the car found traction against the road, and turned, braking all the time.
-----------
Cyan moaned in pain as he lay on the wet street, hearing a screeching sound behind him. He rolled over, only to see the front wheel of a car close in on his head.
"Aaaaaah!" he screamed, rolling over as far as he could from the approaching car.
Cyan's head connected to the bumper. "Oof!" The fairly solid impact knocked him out shortly before the car stopped, the wheel inches from his chest.
The car door opened. "Holy shit!" Misato cried as she ran toward the young man. Blood gushed from a small wound on the corner of his head, washing out of his long hair due to the rain. The clothing was a little strange, like a uniform, but she'd never seen anything like it before.
Asuka got out of the car. "Oh, my god, Is he alright?"
Misato planted two fingers onto the boy's throat. "Still has a pulse.breathing steady.he's alive.Shinji, help me get him in the car."
Shinji nodded, and grabbed the boy by the arms. Misato grabbed the body by the legs and helped Shinji haul it into the back of the car. Asuka got back into the car, followed by Shinji and Misato.
"We need to get him to a hospital," Misato said, concerned for the person she had just flattened. "You don't mind a slight detour on the way home, do you?"
The two kids nodded. Misato stepped on the gas once again, pinning the unrestrained body to the back seat.
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"Gaah!" Cyan sat up with a start, eyes wide open, but still not sending anything to the brain. [Oh, thank god.it was all a dream.] He fell back into the bed with a thud. [Hm.bed feels different.maybe the bus crash actually happened.]
His eyes started to register vision again. The room was entire windows on one side, his bed facing a wall with a TV, wall cabinet, and a vase with chrysanthemums. The wall to his right had access to a hallway via a sliding door.
[Huh? This isn't the hospital.] Cyan looked up. [At least one I've ever been in. mmm. unfamiliar ceiling.]
Cyan's eyes focused on a poster on the far wall. It displayed a picture of a guy running. Although it was obvious that it was a sort of motivational poster, he couldn't understand any of the words, just that the letters they were in.
[Japanese!?] Cyan straightened up in bed. [I'm in Japan!? How the hell.]
Just then, the door opened. A woman stood in the doorway, her long purple hair flowing down behind the official looking red leather jacket, over a dark skirt. The woman's eyes were fixated on him.
"Anata wa nemurimasen ka?," she said, letting herself in and sitting down.
"Huh?"
She sighed, then repeated herself. Cyan was lost.
"You speak-ah any Engrish?"
"Eh?" The woman had a puzzled face, which immediately left her as the truth dawned. "Nihon-ga arimasen?" She handed him a small device, sort of like a Walkman. Cyan took it and placed the earphones in his ears. The woman smiled, and pinned one of his arms to the bed while using the other to shoot some sedative into Cyan's arm.
"What the.!" Cyan felt his mind sway once more, drifting off to sleep again.
--------------
Misato pressed "Play" on the boy's new SDAT, letting the "Learn Japanese Now!" tape play in a constant loop into his subconscious. After she left the room, she got on her mobile.
"Ritsuko?" Misato said after dialing.
Misato sighed. "Yes, you were right, Ritsuko. Then again, you could probably tell that by looking at him."
Ritsuko lectured,
"Well, he will when he wakes up. I better tell Shinji and Asuka he's alright. Any clues as to who he is?"
"Yeah, right under my wheels." Misato frowned. "Something weird is going on."
"Yeah, I've got enough things to worry about without this kid," Misato replied, "like trying to get Asuka and Shinji to work together."
I
"Okay, I'll let you know how they do on that dance mat thingy you shipped in."
----------------
Days later, Cyan's body stirred into consciousness again. [Hmm.same place as before.who was that woman? And what did she shoot me up with?]
Cyan thought about saying aloud, "Where am I?", but instead the words "Koko desu ka?"
"I see that we can speak Japanese now." Cyan turned to the voice, and saw the purple haired woman again, this time sitting beside the bed.
"You.what did you do to me? Unh, I feel like I got hit by a two by four." For some reason, Cyan could suddenly speak in perfect Japanese.
"Actually," Misato laughed, "you got hit by a car. My car. I'm sorry."
"Oh." Cyan looked up at the woman. "Who are you anyway?"
"Major Misato Katsuragi, Operations Planning manager at NERV."
"NERV?" That one word cut short Misato's introduction very suddenly.
"You've never heard of NERV?" Cyan shook his head. "You mustn't be from Japan, then. What's your name?"
"Ro." Cyan stopped. [No.I'm not him anymore.] "Cyan.Cyan Monteru."
Misato remained silent for a while. Cyan spoke again. "Thanks, for getting me to hospital, Ms. Katsuragi."
"Ah, Misato's fine," she said. "Um.you don't have a place to stay, do you?"
[No, duh. I only just got here myself.] "No."
"That's alright, you can crash at my place!" Misato smiled brightly. [The more the merrier! I wonder how Shinji and Asuka will take this? He better be able to cook.]
"Your place!? Are you sure, Misato?" Cyan was a little apprehensive about being such an inconvenience.
"Nah, it'll be fine," Misato reassured him, "It's the least I can do after running you down like that."
Cyan lay his head back as Misato stood up. "I'll come and pick you up in the afternoon. You got any money?"
"Um." Cyan realized that he only had his old Australian money. [Wait a minute.If I'm in Japan now, then.when am I?] He glanced across at a calendar on the wall. [2015!? What the hell?]
"I don't have any Japanese money, but I might have something just as good." [I wonder how much my 'vintage' money would fetch.}
"Alright, I'll come and pick you up later. Don't die on me, okay?" Misato smiled.
Cyan gave her a thumbs-up as she left. Misato walked to the door, the electronic sensors automatically making it open. Outside stood someone else, but Cyan couldn't make out who it was. Cyan laid back down.
[So.what the hell's up with this world, anyway?] He paused, then reached for the TV remote. He aimed it at the TV, and pressed a button.
The TV came to life, displaying a news program. ".UN officials announced an increase in NERV funding due to the failure of the JA project. NERV spokeswoman Misato Katsuragi was quoted saying that the support of the UN and other organizations were vital in maintaining the Evangelions."
[What's an Evangelion?] Almost as if to answer his question, footage of giant biomechanical robots battling even more bizarre creatures played on the screen. A close-up of one of the robots (a purple and green one) revealed the characters "EVA 01" on its arm. [EVA.is that Evangelion?]
Cyan got up and turned off the TV. He stood at the window for a short while, placing one hand on the glass.
[Okay.Cyan.} he told himself, still coming to grips with his first waking hours in this new world, [Let's take stock of the situation.you're halfway across the world, you're just over a decade into the future, you've got no cash, no contacts, except this Katsuragi woman.] Rage built inside him, bringing his thoughts into speech.
"No home, no friends, no family, no God-DAMNED LIFE!!!" Cyan's fist slammed against the window-frame, luckily missing the glass. "Dammit."
---------------
Cyan waved as he left the hospital reception, and walked outside to the street. Looking around, he spotted a blue Peugeot parked on his side of the street.
[Is this her car?] Looking closer, he saw a medium sized, head-shaped dent on the front spoiler. [Yep, that's hers.]
Walking toward it, he spotted the Major sitting at the wheel, watching him. Cyan glanced down the road, and spotted a black stock model Ford, parked in front of another just like it. [Secret service? This NERV organization must be pretty important.] Reaching the front passenger door, he entered the car.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Katsuragi."
"As to you, Mr. Monteru," Misato laughed, "Just call me Misato, okay? Everyone else does."
Cyan nodded as Misato started the car. "Seatbelt, kiddo." Cyan got it on just in time as Misato's natural driving behavior kicked in. Cyan was pinned to the back of his seat by the Gs.
"God! No wonder you hit me!" Cyan commented. Misato took this insult to heart, swerving across the road, scaring her new roomie. Cyan's shouts of surprise and fear didn't stop Misato from driving like a bat out of hell until they reached the city outskirts. After a few minutes of regular driving, Misato decided to strike up a conversation.
"So, Cyan," Misato began, "where you from?"
"Australia," he replied, "I only just arrived in the country."
Something seemed wrong to Misato. "Wait a minute.isn't Australia underwater?"
[Underwater!?] "Underwater?"
"Yeah, ever since the Second Impact."
"Second Impact?" Misato brought the car to a screeching stop, looking at Cyan as if he had suddenly sprouted a second head.
"You haven't heard of the Second Impact before?!" Misato almost shouted in disbelief, "You don't know much, do you?"
"Uh, no." Cyan turned his head.
"Where did you really come from?" Misato reached for her handbag. Cyan raised his arms, knowing what she was reaching for.
"Please," he begged with the Major, "I can explain.just keep an open mind, alright? Even I don't know what really happened. I can prove I'm from Australia, though." He pulled out his wallet, opening its contents into Misato's lap.
"This is all real Australian legal tender cash," Cyan explained, "From before whatever the hell your Second Impact was. I don't know how much proof it can offer, but what I tell you will be everything I know."
Misato held her hand still for a while, then pulled it from her handbag, not holding a gun. "Okay."
Cyan then proceeded to explain what had happened to him, using everything he had to back up his story. ".and then, I appeared in the middle of the road and you ran me down."
Misato sat there, listening to everything that the mysterious stranger had to say. Cyan looked up. "You don't believe me, do you?"
"I don't know.if you knew the kind of work I'm in, you'd think anything's possible. And no one lies about not knowing about Second Impact."
"Uh."
"Fifteen years ago, in the year 2000, a giant." [Wait, he's a civilian. Better use the cover story.] ".meteor crashed into Antarctica, melting the southern ice caps."
"That's what you meant about Australia being underwater. Australia's the flattest country in the world.wait, that means."
"Yeah, the time in your story's screwy." Cyan looked at Misato, waiting for a gun to be leveled at his head. Fortunately for him, it never came.
"Don't worry. I can tell you're not lying. I'm trained to tell if someone's lying, but you.I still don't know what to think." Misato turned back to the road, restarting the car. "Maybe I'll find out what really happened to you some day, and maybe I won't, but either way, you're still welcome at my place. I mean, if you are telling the truth, you literally have no one else to turn."
[God, yeah, thanks for really drilling it home, Misato.] Cyan and Misato barely shared a word for the rest of the car ride. Looking out over the hood of the car, he noticed something gleam irregularly near the nose of the car. [Is that.sticky tape?]
----------------
"Alright, we're almost there," Misato told Cyan, "Okay, there're two other kids staying with me. You should get along with one of them, he's pretty quiet, a bit shy.the other one you might want to watch out for."
"Um." Cyan wasn't too confident in Misato's advice.
"Just don't show her any kind of weakness," Misato explained, "And for God's sake, she might be a bombshell, but don't try and get a perv. She'll never let you forget it."
"Ah, okay." [Man.what kind of people does this woman live with? She's not old enough for them to be her kids.maybe they're just flatmates or something?]
The car stopped outside a giant apartment building. Misato and Cyan exited the car, the former leading Cyan into the elevator.
"You said you had money?" Misato asked.
"Well, I don't know what the going rate is on currency for a nonexistent country."
"Aaah.you could try taking it to an antique dealer, might get a fair price there." Misato suggested.
"Thanks," Cyan replied, "I'll try that in the morning."
The elevator dinged, opening to a corridor. Misato walked to a corner of the square shaped room, and stood in front of a door with the name "M. KATSURAGI" on a small plaque.
"Well, this is it," Misato said, sliding a keycard through a slit beside the door. The door opened, leading Cyan into an apartment.
"Tada-ima!" Misato called out. Cyan stayed silent, merely entering the apartment. The pair kicked off their shoes at the door, and walked inside. [I wonder what kind of person Misato is.]
Cyan immediately got a good idea. Beer cans littered the dining table, as well as empty cups of instant noodles, ramen and other two-minute crap. [God, she's worse than my dad.]
A female shout came from appeared to be the living room. "Hey, Misato!" A tallish red-haired girl walked into the room, wearing a loosely fitting T- shirt and shorts. She looked at Cyan, and stopped.
"Oh.it's you." The girl's eyes stayed transfixed on him. [This is the guy from the street? He sure looks a lot better now.]
"Ah, Cyan, this is Asuka Langley-Sohryu," Misato introduced his to the girl, "Asuka, this is Cyan Monteru."
Cyan offered a hand. Asuka, a little slower, raised a hand, the pair shaking hands politely. Asuka still wouldn't say a word. Misato noticed the uncomfortable silence.
"Cyan, you want a drink?" Cyan nodded, and Misato went into the fridge. "What do you want?"
"Just a Coke, thanks." Misato gave Cyan another strange look. [What, doesn't this world have Coke or something?] "Pepsi?" Another strange look. [Shit! What's with this world!?] "Just a coffee, then." Misato's head ducked back into the fridge pulling out a can and tossing it to Cyan.
[Canned coffee?] Cyan pulled the tab, and took a sip. [Hmm. Not bad.]
Misato turned to Asuka. "Is Shinji about?"
"Yeah, he's doing homework. Goody-two-shoes dumbkopf."
Misato walked over to a door that displayed a heart-shaped plaque, reading "Shinji's Lovely Suite" in Japanese. Knocking on the door, Misato shouted, "Shinji, you in there?"
"Yes?"
"Come out here for a sec. There's someone I want you to meet."
The door opened, a fairly bedraggled boy popped his head out, wearing what looked uncannily like Cyan's school uniform.
"Shinji, this is Cyan Monteru, the kid I ran over. Cyan, meet Shinji Ikari."
Cyan offered a hand out as he did before. Shinji shook it, a lot more timidly than Asuka did. Misato looked at Cyan, as if anticipating something. [Come on, everyone knows who Shinji Ikari is...] Cyan's face remained one of total irrecognition. [Ah crap.]
"So, Cyan, where you from?" Asuka asked the newcomer.
"Uh."
"He can't remember," Misato covered for Cyan, "I did hit his head pretty hard." Misato looked at Cyan.
Cyan nodded in thanks. "All I know is that I'm not Japanese. When I woke up, I didn't have any idea what anyone was saying."
Asuka utilized her knowledge of German. "Sprechen Deutsch?"
"Huh?"
"Never mind." Asuka smiled. [Ooh, I'll have fun with him.]
Cyan realized what Asuka was saying. Speaking in English, "I only understand a little, but I can speak in this, though. Yourself?"
Asuka was surprised. "Only a little." she smiled, replying in English.
Misato spoke up, still in English. "Well I can understand every word the both of you say, so watch it!"
Poor Shinji, stood there listening to the foreign tongues. "What are you guys talking about?"
Three heads turned to Shinji. "Uh, nothing, Shinji," Misato said.
Asuka piped up. "Now that the introductions are out of the way, how about some food, Shinji?"
Shinji obediently nodded, heading for the kitchen. Cyan watched Shinji dejectedly walk away. [Poor kid, he's so henpecked.]
Asuka sat down on the ground, Misato following her. Cyan sat down as well, visibly unsettled out by the absence of chairs. Asuka smiled.
"Freaked by the absence of chairs?" Cyan looked up at Asuka, with a how- did-you-know expression. "Same thing happened to me. I was brought up in Germany."
"Really? What brought you here?"
"I pil-" Asuka received a quick kick to the leg from Misato. "Uh.lost my parents here, and I'm, uh, Misato adopted me."
Cyan grew suspicious. [Pile.pilot?] His mind began to unravel the wool that Katsuragi-san was trying to pull over his eyes. [She works for NERV.Evangelion.she pilots EVA?]
"Say, you."
"Geez, you figured it out a lot quicker than I thought." Misato said. "I suppose Asuka helped you a bit. Yes, Asuka pilots an Evangelion. So does Shinji. They're here in protective custody. That's all I'm permitted to tell you, for now."
Cyan was silent. ".don't look German, Asuka." he finished what he was going to say.
Asuka turned on Misato. "Good one, Misato! He didn't know yet! Dumbkopf!" She calmly turned to Cyan. "And my parents are Japanese, but they moved to Germany to bring me up."
"Oh." Cyan lowered his head. He turned to Misato. "What's an Evangelion?"
Asuka growled at Misato, and walked off. Misato smiled to Cyan. "See what I mean?"
Cyan stifled a laugh. Misato continued. "You know how I said anything could happen in my line of work? Well, maybe I should fill you in. Just keep an open mind."
Misato proceeded to explain to the newcomer the details of the Angels, their will to destroy the planet, and about the Evangelions, and that they were designed to fight them.
Cyan gave Misato a lunatic look. "Hey, I believed you," Misato retorted, "And plus, if you don't believe me, the day after tomorrow, you'll see them in combat."
"What, the Angels?" Cyan laughed, "What have we got to fear from Angels?"
Misato bashed her fist down on the table in front of her, scaring Cyan to no end. "You want to know what we have to fear of the Angels, do you!? How about this: Second Impact wasn't a meteor, it was the first Angel, Adam. Since then, another seven have turned up. You saw what they did to the city when they arrived, and you know what happened when one blew itself up! It took out your family, your friends, your LIFE!" Misato screamed at Cyan. "I was there when it blew. My father put me in the last escape pod to save my life. He died so that I could live! Don't you dare say the Angels aren't a threat! I know first hand how terrifying they are!"
Cyan was overcome by Misato's sudden change of mood. "O.kay."
Misato's face faded. "I'm.sorry, Cyan," she muttered.
"It's okay," Cyan apologized himself, "I had no idea."
Misato sat down. "Tomorrow, you'll go to school with Shinji and Asuka. I know that you can't understand Japanese text, even with your audio tape, so if you're willing, there's this new subconscious DVD set you can hook up to yourself with pressure sensors while you sleep. That's about as much as I can do."
"That's okay," Cyan said, "It's only fifteen years into the future after all."
Misato smiled, and went away to tell off Asuka. Cyan reached for the remote, and flicked on the TV.
------------------
Cyan's eyes flicked open. The same nightmare repeated in his mind, watching all his friends dissolve into an orange goo, and that strange blue- haired girl, laughing maniacally. He sat up from his makeshift bed in the middle of the living room, shaking off the image projector pads from his head.
[Dammit, can't get to sleep.] Cyan moved silently into the corner of the room, sitting in front of a computer. He pressed the power button, a little conscious of the noise a computer can generate. Once the OS had loaded, Cyan immediately connected to the Internet. Something had been driving him mad ever since he got to this new world. He went to the web site for the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and typed in his name. [So, let's see if I exist or not.]
The search results page loaded. Cyan gasped, staring horrified at the letters displayed on the page. His name was there, followed by the chilling words, "17-05-86 to 31-05-00. Missing, presumed dead during Second Impact." [Well at least I did exist.what the hell am I thinking? The world thinks I'm dead.]
Tears sprung into his eyes as he typed in the names of his friends, all with the same response. "29-05-85 - 31-05-00. Missing, presumed dead during Second Impact."."04-07-85 - 31-05-00. Missing, presumed dead during Second Impact.".He typed in one more name, with the same result: "31-08-54 - 31-05-00. Missing, presumed dead during Second Impact."
"Father." Cyan turned off the computer, sobbing softly. He didn't like his father all that much, but at that time, he didn't care. His father was the last bastion, the last possible thing he had to link himself back to his previous life. And now, even that was gone. He went back to his bed, trying to get to sleep.
----------------
It wasn't much longer until the first rays of light crept into the lounge room. Cyan's eyes fluttered open, once again shedding the pads attached to his head before getting up. He stood up and walked to the kitchen, at least he would've until he noticed a glint in the corner of the room. He looked across and saw a strange stand, with three notches in the vertical bases of it, holding.
"Katana." Cyan muttered as he walked over to the swords on display. Kneeling down, he picked up the long one, the actual katana. The one above it he knew was called the wakizashi, and he couldn't name the smallest one at the top of the stand. He stood up with the katana in hand, drawing it slowly from the sheath it was held in. Cyan dropped the sheath, and fell into an offensive stance with the sword. He cut the air around him several times, as if invisible enemies were circled around him. Cyan struck with the skill of a master, using an incredible amount of control so as to avoid slashing any of Misato's belongings. Cyan went from foe to imaginary foe, slash, parry, slice, thrust, sidestep, slash.
Cyan heard a creak behind him. He twisted his legs around on the spot, pivoting his upper half around, and leveled the sword at neck height.
Shinji froze in position, quivering in fear, before raising his arms in surrender.
"Gaah! I'm sorry!" Shinji stammered. Cyan smiled before lowering the weapon.
"Huh What are you apologizing for? Getting in the way of my sword?" Cyan said jokingly. Shinji failed to notice the jokey tone behind it, and nodded.
Cyan face-faltered. [Jeez, Asuka and Misato must keep this kid really tightly reined.] He walked to the sheath, returning the katana to its home.
"Shinji, I was joking." Cyan turned to the pilot and smiled.
"Oh.sorry."
Cyan felt like slapping the kid. [What is this kid's problem?] "Look, you don't have to apologize so much all the time. Not everything's your fault."
"Oh, I know." Shinji turned around. ".So-"
"Don't say it!" Cyan shouted in an emphatic tone. Shinji looked across at Cyan, who grinned at the boy. Shinji smiled back, and went into the kitchen. "You want breakfast?"
"Oh, thanks, Shinji," Cyan said, "Just some toast."
"White bread?"
"Uh, do you have wholemeal?"
"Sure." Shinji walked over to the breadbox as Cyan walked into the kitchen. It was then that Cyan saw it for the first time. Across the room from the fridge was another fridge.
"Uh, why are there two fridges here?" Cyan asked Shinji.
"Oh, that's strange," Shinji commented, "I would've thought Misato would've introduced you to him yet."
"Introduced?" Just as Cyan said that, the fridge opened, letting out a three-foot high emperor penguin, with a clump of its feathers dyed red, and a futuristic looking console on its back.
Cyan watched dumbfoundedly as the penguin walked out of the kitchen toward the shower. He gave a short laugh. "Heh, now I've seen everything."
"That's Pen-Pen, Misato's pet penguin," Shinji explained.
"Pet penguin, huh?" Cyan smirked, incredulous at the sight that played out before him. Just then, a door at the end of the hall opened up, revealing an apparently hung over Misato, going about her regular morning routine. Cyan watched as their guardian set a good example to the boys by reaching into the fridge, while scratching her ass, and pulling out a can of beer, sculling it down quicker than Cyan had ever seen done before. Misato let out a cry of joy as the alcohol shot straight to her brain, relieving her of the aches and pains associated with waking up.
"And good morning to you too, Misato," Cyan said, in a sarcastic tone.
"And what's that supposed to mean, newcomer?" Misato retaliated strongly.
Cyan continued to sip at his coffee while investigating Misato's beer can. "Hmm.100% alcohol!? They make beer like that!? That can't be healthy in the morning!"
"Uh, Cyan," Shinji corrected, "That's '100% Taste'."
"Oh." That silenced Cyan for a second. "Well, beer still isn't healthy in the morning."
"Oh, shut up and get ready for school," Misato growled, "I'll drive you in." This caused Cyan to face-falter again.
[She wants to drive me in straight after a beer? With her driving habits?] "Can't I just walk?"
"Do you know the way?" Misato smiled.
"Touché." Cyan looked across at Shinji. "Why isn't he going today? Something to do with the Evas?"
"Tomorrow, I have to make an assault against the Angel with Asuka, in perfect sync. It's gonna kill me."
Misato smirked. "Are you talking about the Angel, or Asuka?"
Shinji laughed at the small joke. "Either way."
At this time, Asuka emerged. Cyan turned to Misato. "I guess that's what those dance mats in the lounge room were for?"
"Uh, yeah," Misato said, "They'll be on that for most of the day, hopefully by tomorrow, they'll be ready to take on the Angel."
Cyan thought for a while. "Something tells me that this Angel wasn't a regular one."
"You can say that again!" Asuka joined the conversation, in her pyjamas. "As soon as I killed it, it split in half, and both halves kicked our asses!"
"Hmm.so what's gonna be so different this time around?"
Misato explained her tactics. "We figured that if two Evas made a pinpoint, perfectly synchronized attack on both halves of the Angel, it would make them vulnerable enough to penetrate their respective cores."
"Okay, sounds good," Cyan muttered to himself, "Where would be the best vantage point?"
Misato smiled. "Well, as Operations Manager of NERV, I have to prohibit you from being within a kilometer from the battle."
"Oh, man! You mean I need to get a nosebleed seat?"
"But, as your guardian, Misato Katsuragi, I recommend you find one of Shinji's friends, a Mr. Kensuke Aida. He'll probably have a better vantage point than us at NERV."
Cyan grinned. "Thanks, Misato!"
-------------
"Shinji's big day tomorrow," Toji started a discussion with Kensuke, while waiting for the teacher to arrive.
"Yeah, I hope he can put up with the Devil and an Angel at the same time." At that moment, the door to the classroom slid open. Across the classroom, the class rep, Hikari Horaki stood at attention.
"Stand up!" the rest of the class obeyed her command. "Bow!" Twenty-odd heads nodded toward the teacher, already halfway through the room. "Sit!" The class sat down, awaiting the start of the lesson.
"Good morning class," the elderly man said. "We have a new student here."
Kensuke's eyes flickered open. [Another gaijin? Maybe he's another pilot.]
"Cyan, if you could come in." The teacher beckoned to a figure outside the room. Cyan walked into the room, drawing a collective gasp from a few of the girls, spotting the new prospective boyfriend. Kensuke immediately made a connection.
[Is he the guy Shinji was talking about? The guy Misato ran over?] Kensuke looked on as the teacher introduced Cyan to the class.
"Class, this is Cyan Monteru," he told them, "He's in this class for remedial studies in Kanji and History."
Cyan nodded, saying a short "G'day" before he went to a spare seat, on the far left row, between a short kid with glasses, and.
Cyan gasped audibly. "You!" he said softly, looking at the familiar blue- haired girl. [It's her! The girl from the bus!]
Cyan regained his composure, and sat down. Only when he sat down did he realise that he was given his own laptop, apparently bolted down to the desk. [Well, this is something new.] Cyan started it up, and checked out its contents. After a few minutes, he began to think. [Maybe these computers are all linked.] He looked ahead of him, at the computer of the boy with glasses. Sure enough, the IP of the laptop was pasted along the top of the screen. Typing this into his own computer, Cyan established a communications link with the boy in front of him. He typed a message.
CyanChosis: Hey, kid.
The boy looked around, then typed a reply.
0taku: Hm. So finally someone who's leet has joined the class. CyanChosis: Oh, u better believe it, kid. Listen, which one of u guyz is Kensuke Aida? 0taku: You're chatting with him. CyanChosis: Even better. Listen, I guess u figured out who I am by now. 0taku: You're that guy Misato hit, right? CyanChosis: Yeah. Neway, word has it u know where the best view of the Evas will be 2morrow? 0taku: Yeah. I'll talk to u 2night. I have Misato's phone no. I'll be in touch. + 0taku has signed out. +
Cyan sat up a bit, and then tuned in to the lesson. A minute later.
0taku: Oh, Cyan? CyanChosis: yeah what? 0taku: u met Asuka yet? CyanChosis: uh, yeah 0taku: well, what do u think of her? CyanChosis: hot body, could do with some relax-o-pills or something. 0taku: haha, lol. CyanChosis: why do u ask? 0taku: nevermind. + 0taku has signed out. +
Cyan looked at the screen, shook his head, and began to listen to the teacher. [I've missed out on the past decade of history, I'd better bring myself back to speed.]
Across the room, a pair of girls were typing furiously at their keyboards. Seconds later, Cyan was interrupted by two new messages. He clicked on the first one.
CyanChosis: what's up? QTPie17: hey, where'd u come from?
Cyan thought of a fake answer.
CyanChosis: I honestly dunno. QTPie17: wtf? CyanChosis: U no a Misato Katsuragi? QTPie17: yeah, she's Shinji and Asuka's guardian, right? CyanChosis: yeah. She ran me down a few days ago. QTPie17: oh, im sorry. CyanChosis: no harm done. + QTPie17 has signed out. +
Cyan clicked on the other message.
Blue: You're Monteru? CyanChosis: um, yes, last time I checked. Blue: Do I know you from somewhere? CyanChosis: if I knew who you were, I could tell you. Blue: Look to your rear.
Cyan turned his head. The only person behind him was.the blue-haired girl. [It's her! Does she remember me? Better play it safe.]
CyanChosis: im not sure. Blue: Do you know me from somewhere? CyanChosis: um.im not sure.i do remember u from somewhere. Blue: Your face is familiar, but I am not sure from where. CyanChosis: ill keep in touch, maybe ill remember something. Blue: We already do stay in regular contact. My name is Rei Ayanami. I pilot the Eva, just like Shinji and Asuka.
Cyan had to double check what he was reading.
CyanChosis: u pilot the eva as well? Why don't u live with misato? Blue: I was not ordered to.farewell, Monteru. + Blue has signed out. +
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Well, that's the end of the first chapter. Please let me know what you think. Chapter 2 coming soon.