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"Unforgettable Memories"
A fanfic written by Rei-chan
All characters, scenes, and special moves appearing in this fanfic belong to their copyright owners, which I do not have any association with. Please enjoy this first chapter of my very first fanfic entitled "Unforgettable Memories."
I like to dedicate this fanfic to a love I lost on Thursday May 4, 2000.
Thanks for reading, and please e-mail me and tell me what you think.
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It is quite a beautiful Sunday morning where the sun is glistening onto the tall buildings of Tokyo-3. Just outside of Rei's apartment, Shinji and Asuka waits for the appearance of First Child from her room, and the appearance of their superior, Major Misato Katsuragi, a 29-year-old wild gal, who is the head of defense for NERV.
"It's so hot today! Thank goodness, I'm wearing a sundress. Too bad you're stuck in that dull and hot school outfit Shinji," Asuka said.
She starts to twirl slowly around the apartment steps in her breezy, light yellow sundress with her fiery red hair waving behind her as though she is a ballerina.
"It's not so bad. I'm all right with this," answers Shinji as he looks down the street.
A slight breeze blows through just as Rei appears from the murky gray building. She is wearing her usual school uniform consisting of a white shirt, blue vest/skirt, and her signature black socks with white shoes. There is just something about this girl, which everyone marvels at. Rei Ayanami, with her silent and serene quality, could stop anyone it their tracks.
"Good morning, Ayanami," said Shinji trying to sound upbeat.
Rei walks right past him and sits down on a secluded section of the staircase with a book in her hand. The sun glistens off her light blue hair and her shiny blood red eyes. There is a moment of silence as Asuka and Shinji watch the First Child get comfortable on the staircase with her book.
"Didn't you hear Shinji say good morning to you, Wondergirl? You think you're too good to say good morning to us? You think you're all that," Asuka starts with a speech.
"Leave her alone Asuka. Ayanami is…Ayanami," Shinji interrupts.
This little comment of Ikari's makes Asuka just a bit more enraged because Shinji is taking Rei's side this time. Asuka has always been the one to have things her way. She will not settle for second best. She will always be the best, and if anyone tries to take that away from her, they better watch out. Asuka feels that First Child is a threat. She's not sure what to make of that mysterious blue-haired girl, which is supposed to be on her side.
Rei Ayanami, 14 years of age, a petite girl with light blue hair, beautiful blood red eyes, and a mysterious personality, did not seem to be bothered with Asuka's little hissy-fit. No, she's too good to sink down to Asuka's level. What does she have to prove? Opening her book, she begins reading. She is sitting as still as the wind...
It is very calm outside. Nature is not disturbed by the breezes from the trees. All is quiet and still. Not a creature is stirring; the whole street is desolate. Shinji sits on the top step staring down at the hot concrete sidewalk down below as Asuka, standing poised and ready to attack, glares angrily across to Ayanami, who doesn't seem to notice her or just plain out don't care.
Taking out his SDAT player, Shinji listens to music - tracks 25 and 26. Asuka on the other hand, rummages through her red sportsbag, which she has brought along with a gift for Kaji Ryoji, her infatuation and Misato's first and true love.
"When is Misato gonna get here? I'm gonna melt like ice cream in a minute! That woman is never on time. She's already…15 minutes late," Asuka whines as she looks at her watch.
"It's not so bad Asuka. Why don't you just sit down and enjoy nature," Shinji replies to her whining.
"Nature! You can enjoy nature all you want Shinji. I have an appointment with Kaji!" she says.
She takes out the gift she got for him and smiles lovingly at it.
"It's not everyday that Kaji stops by for a visit. I want to look my best for him and I can't wait until he sees what I got him. Don't you like it Shinji? It's so artistic. Look at all the neat little curves and colors…it's a bit heavy though, but like that really matters! I just knew I had to get it for Kaji the moment I first saw it…" Asuka continues to ramble.
Picking up the odd piece of artwork from Asuka's hands, Shinji examines it from all angles. The lines are definitely interesting. It makes lots of loops and turns, and colored in more colors imaginable. It has a hole here and there, but it is as smooth as silk. After 5 minutes of staring at the thing, Shinji puts it back into her hand.
He looks Asuka straight in the eyes and asks in a serious, but calm tone of voice.
"Do you know what it is Asuka?"
"Not really…I just think it looks way cool and he loves neat little gadgets and…" Asuka trails off.
"This is a small doorstop Asuka," he says, again interrupting her thoughts.
"A what? This can't be a doorstop! It looks too good to be one, dummkopf!" Asuka screams in disgust.
"It's a doorstop. Didn't you read the little sticker on the bottom of the thing?"
"Do I look like someone who would read such trivial things?" Asuka reply hastily.
Shinji snickers at Asuka's little gift to Kaji, and sets his mind on Misato. Where that woman is, nobody knows. Misato is a big girl now. She doesn't need looking after these days…well maybe once in a while she does, but she can handle things on her own. She's been late a lot these past few weeks. She's a Major now; she has a lot more responsibilities. She probably just got…
The screeching of tires from the opposite end of the desolate street interrupts his thoughts. Even before seeing whom it was, Shinji already know that it was Misato.
"She's here," he said to Asuka who has her hands on her hips.
"It's about time! I feel like a flaming hot pepper out here!" Asuka screams.
"Uh…okay," Shinji replies, not knowing what to make of Asuka's outburst.
Rei, who has been forgotten by Asuka and Shinji for the short moment when they inspected Asuka's 'interesting' gift to Kaji, closes her book as quietly and as softly as a feather floating through the air, and stands up. Looking down the street, the Children see a dark purple car swerving down the empty street. They can hear nothing except for the sound of the screeching tires and the voice of a wild woman. It is indeed the intoxicated Major Misato Katsuragi.
The sun shines brightly in back of the car. A shadow can be seen inside the vehicle. Misato is not alone. A silhouette of a small creature is waving its wings uncontrollably while being stuck on the back windshield inside the car. The Children can hear a faint "wark!" There is only one thing, which could make that noise. It has to be PenPen, Misato's beloved pet penguin, which lives in one of her refrigerators.
Asuka steps up onto the curb on the street so Misato cannot miss her in her sight. With one hand on the steering wheel, and one hand out the car window holding a beer, Misato swerves the dainty little car left and right uncontrollably down the street. She is only a few feet away from Asuka now. The screams of Misato can be heard clearly. Shinji and Rei steps up behind Asuka.
The car, still speeding along, almost hit a utility pole. Misato jerks the car back into the middle of the road, her beer spilling out of the can. PenPen, grasping for air, tries to get Misato's attention any way it can, but it was no use. Misato is out of control, and she has to be the one who must take the Children to Nerv Headquarters.
Oh, how wonderful and safe this ride will be
…Asuka ponders sarcastically, taking note that this may be the last car ride of her life.The car screeches to a swift halt, jerking Misato back and forth twice. PenPen, the poor thing, slid slowly off the back windshield and onto the back seat.
"Oh geez! Look what you did to PenPen, Misato!" Asuka screams as she flings open the car door, and takes the penguin out of the car.
It gasps for clean fresh air and "warks" at Asuka, who is staring down at it. Shinji pats the little thing on the head gently, and they all climb into the back seat of the drunken Misato's car.
"Buckle up people! You're gonna be in for the ride of your life! Now onto Nerv Headquarters!" Misato screams into the air as she steps on the petal.
The car races forward with the passenger seat door still swinging wide open.
Steering out of control through the streets of Tokyo-3, Misato just got plain out crazy. Stopping abruptly before a car at a stoplight, she climbs halfway out of her car. She screams and waves her beer can at the car in front of her, telling the old man to move it or she will drive over his car.
This is a huge embarrassment for the Children, although Ayanami does not look like she cares too much. Shinji's SDAT is just hanging from his pockets, ready to drop at any moment. He is gripping the seat of the car as tightly as possible. Asuka is holding onto PenPen who look like it is gonna faint from the lack of oxygen. Asuka braces herself with her feet holding on tightly to the back of Misato's seat.
Rei is sitting between Second and Third Child. She stares straight ahead with an empty expression. She did not look frightened or surprised. She is neither happy nor sad. She is just Rei Ayanami. A normal person would rather jump out the car window than be in a car with a drunk Misato, but she did not seem to mind. Her hands are placed calmly on top of her book in her lap.
"Misato! Are you crazy! You just threatened an officer of the military!" Shinji screams.
"Now what the heck are YOU talking about? He is nothing but an old man who can't drive his own stinking car. I should have his license revoked because he truly cannot drive. Did you see how slow he was driving? An ant could have passed him. My driving is excellent can't you see? I think he needs to take a lesson from me once in a while…Look! The light is green…GREEN! Go already mister! Do not make me have to run into you. People have places to go and people to see ya know…" Misato continues on with her drunken speech.
She totally forgot that she is talking to Shinji. She continues to scream at the car in front of her, which got the attention of other drivers around her. They are all very confused, and try their best to avoid Misato at all cost (which definitely is not a bad idea).
Asuka can not take it any more. It is obvious that Shinji cannot do anything, and Wondergirl over there cares nothing about her own life or others. It is all up to her. She is strong, she is a leader, and she must take a stand.
"Misato-san. Pull over to the side of the road, and get out of the car…" Asuka says calmly.
"You want me to do what? Hey back there! Just sit quietly already. Such noise can distract a driver and cause an acci…dent," Misato states as she blanks out for a second.
Asuka jumps from the back seat to the front seat, and took the wheel. Misato tries to push Asuka back into the passenger seat, but it is no good. Misato does not have any energy left. She is going in and out of consciousness. Asuka slowly steers the car to the side of an empty street. She and Shinji attempts and succeeds in moving Misato into the back seat. They are only a few streets from Nerv Headquarters anyway, so Asuka decides to drive the rest of the way.
"Now this is how a person SHOULD drive…" says Asuka at the wheel.
"Maybe you shouldn't Asuka. You are underage, you know. We could just call Headquarters and ask someone to come get us" replies Shinji.
"Oh! Be quiet already. We can handle this on our own. If we can pilot EVAs, we can drive a stupid car. What is more dangerous? Driving a car or piloting an EVA? You tell me Shinji," Asuka says in annoyance.
"There's Nerv Headquarters! We've made it Asuka," says Shinji in excitement.
"I dunno what you're so enthusiastic about Ikari. Of course, we have made it. Do you doubt my abilities? Heck I dunno if we would even survive this ride if Misato there…" Asuka retorts, looking back at the slightly conscious Misato.
"…If Misato there have been driving us the rest of the way here. She is just so dangerous when she has had beer before driving. This should teach us a lesson never to drink and drive…heck don't drink at all or you'll be as crazy as THAT woman!" continues Second Child.
Asuka carefully pulls up to NERV's secret stop. There she contacts NERV Headquarters with Misato's cellular phone, and starts to explain the situation to Maya Hibiki.
Maya tells Asuka that she will send Kaji down to take them in. Asuka hangs up; she clasps her hands to her heart, and sighs happily.
Both Shinji and Rei look at her. They do not have to guess why Asuka is so happy. They already know why. Only one person can make her this happy, and that is Kaji. They sit in the car patiently, waiting for the handsome Kaji to come to their rescue…or just to Asuka's rescue…
"I can't wait to give Kaji his nifty present!" Asuka gleams with joy.
"Did you forget it's a doorstop?" Shinji asks.
Asuka gives Shinji a nasty look before replying to his crude comment.
"It's a doorstop to YOU, Ikari…It's a work of art to us normal people."
"Now wait a minute here. What do you mean "us normal people?" I'm normal, and I see it as a doorstop because it IS a doorstop," retorts Shinji.
"Why are you two talking about a doorstop? Are doorstops that interesting to talk about?" said a familiar voice.
No doubt, it belongs to the one and only Kaji Ryoji. Dressed in a gray-blue dress shirt and black dress pants, he looks stunning. His hair is pulled back into a little ponytail, and it looks as though he hasn't shaved for days. He looks into the car and sees Asuka in the front seat, Shinji and Rei in the back with a half conscious Misato in between the two.
"Oh boy. She is drunk again. I wonder how much she has had to drink this time," he says as he let Shinji get out of the car so he can get Misato out.
"You should've seen the way she was driving to come pick us up! We thought we were going to die just getting here," Shinji tells him.
"Well let's get you guys inside now. I think you've had enough excitement in that car to last you a lifetime," Kaji answers with a smile as he lifts Misato out of the car.
"Kaji-kun! I got you a wonderful present. When I saw it for the first time, I knew that it would be a perfect present for you!" Asuka says excitedly, grasping onto his arm, totally ignoring Misato.
"Oh! Asuka, don't you look nice today" responds Kaji.
He's looking down at the Second Child as she holds him tightly.
"Do you like my new sundress? I think yellow looks very good on me. This one has little tiny pale yellow flowers on it. It is so breezy and light. Which one do you like better, Kaji? The plain yellow one or this one with the pale yellow flowers?" Asuka asks, anxious for a reply.
"I like both Asuka…" Kaji replies trying to get the fiery girl to loosen her grip before he drops Misato.
Asuka is smarter than that. She knows what he is trying to do. She will not lose Kaji to Misato. Misato is not a fit woman for him. She is loose and unwise. Kaji needs someone who is very intelligent, someone who knows how to take care of him. All Misato would do is get drunk. Asuka will get Kaji's attention. She will not stop until she does.
"Kaji-kun, I got you such a great gift! Please take a look at it now. It is just so interesting. Even boring Ikari here said it was an excellent piece of artwork."
"Hey, I never said it was an excellent piece of artwork, I said it was mmph!" Shinji tries to finish.
Asuka covers up his mouth and pretends to have hit him accidentally in the mouth.
"I'll take a look at it a little later, Asuka. Right now Commander Fuyutski would like to speak with you all. He says it is very urgent so we must not keep him waiting," Kaji responds as he picks up his pace with Misato in his arms, leaving the Children standing behind.
Asuka stumps off behind Kaji, determined not to lose him to Misato no matter what. Shinji glances over at Rei, who in turn, glances back. It is an awkward moment for Shinji.
There is something about Rei…just something that is so attractive to him. What is about this mysterious girl that he finds so interesting? She is…mother-like. He did not know what it is but there is a motherly sense to her. She can comfort without saying a word. She is more mature than others are. She understands what people feel. How can she? What is she really?
Feeling the heat rise up to his face, he quickly turns back toward the direction that Kaji and Asuka headed in, and brakes out into a fast stride, leaving Rei standing next to the car.
What am I doing…why am I running away from Ayanami.
Shinji wonders as he try to catch up with his fellow pilot.Walking alone to Terminal Dogma, Rei meets up with Shinji and Asuka. Misato is put into a chair and is sleeping noisily. Fuyutski approaches the Children, who is standing in a row - Shinji separating Asuka and Rei.
"I will be the one to inform you of the situation we currently have on our hands. It seems that Major Katsuragi…is not available at the moment. An Angel is presently in Tokyo-2. The Magi has picked it up a couple of hours ago and recommends that we clear out at least 100km of Tokyo-2 surrounding the Angel. We have not been able to approach the Angel. It knows that we are coming and jams the frequencies of all the equipments that we have already sent out to gather information on it," Fuyutski informs them calmly.
"A new Angel? I thought we took care of all of them!" Asuka screams.
"We are not sure if it is an Angel at all. The MAGI did not say that the pattern is blue or orange, which usually signifies an Angel. We need you Children to go out there and gather information at the time being, but do not hesitate to fight if the enemy attacks. Will you do this?" he asks strongly.
"Well…I guess so," replies Shinji uncertainly.
"Understood…" Rei replies as she usually does.
"We're pilots, we're not information gatherers! Shouldn't we just go out there and kill it?" Asuka asks forcefully.
"Can you really just go an attack something you know nothing about?" answers Fuyutski.
"All right already! I will do it! Just because the information will benefit me when I kill the Angel…" she replies.
With that, she stumps off to the dressing area to change into her plugsuit. Her mind is definitely not on Kaji at this time. Shinji and Rei follows silently behind.
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Who or what is this new Angel? Is it more powerful than all of the previous ones? What are the Children getting into this time?
Find out in the next chapter of "Unforgettable Memories."
May our unforgettable memories live on forever
…Aishiteru.