Evangelion Ultimate

Prologue Pt. 01

Hello all. This is something I've put some thought into for awhile and I really wanted to give it a shot. It's nothing special, just a continuation of Evangelion with a bit more fluff, some more plot, and the possibility for our our beloved characters to discover a bit more about themselves. That being said, just enjoy!

Shinji x Asuka is our pairing here, don't worry, it'll be here soon enough!

Shinji Ikari and Mari Makinami Illustrious ran as fast as their eight year old bodies would allow, their pockets stuffed full of their spoils from a day of petty theft and pickpocketing. Both laughed gingerly the pair stopping in a nearby alley, quietly giggling. Dumping their pockets, a pile of money, snack food and various curios poured onto the ground in a magnificent pile. While the snacks were great, and a little souvenir looked good every now and then, the real prize was the wads of money the had come back with. Mari gingerly started counting what they had, while Shinji pulled the rest into a plastic shopping bag.

"We did great!" She declared, smiling at Shinji, "You're actually really good at this!"

Shinji smiled back, "I just hope they don't realize anytime soon."

"YOU LITTLE SHITS! GET BACK HERE!" A voice rang out in the distance. Mari and Shinji immediately bolted from their alleyway, flying through the small desolate town at a breakneck pace. Shinji didn't turn to look, he just kept running, fairly certain someone had just tried to clobber him with a rock. Mari sprinted just behind him, " Slow down...I can't...keep up!" She huffed. Fear was one of Shinji's biggest motivators, and right now he was afraid of what his mama would do if she found out. With that in mind, he bolted even faster through the cool evening air. The sun was quickly setting on the mountainside village, and the pair was counting on the darkness of night to come soon and let them whisk away undetected. Shinji had turned from the path and darted into trees, Mari barely catching up as the shadowy figures of their pursuers followed in the distance.

"God dammit!", Young Shinji cursed, "Why did I have to open my mouth..."

They found cover in thick foliage, carefully watching their pursuers in the distance as the group searched for the two kids, while the steady approach of night turned the world into a comforting twilight. Soon the group gave up and began to disperse, and the pair assumed they were alone.

"Shinji..." Mari panted, "...How the hell do you run so fast?"

Shinji shrugged, mildly winded. Even without fear, running had never really been a chore for him, and he guessed his own endurance was mostly natural. He grimaced, realizing that in the process of diving into the brush, he had scratched and scuffed himself up, and his clothing was littered with grass and mud stains. Mari hadn't fared any better. Her red glasses sat crooked on her nose while her hair was full of leaves and dirt. Her attire was pretty much destroyed as she had dove in and ripped her shirt on a branch. He could see the distinct sign of a poison ivy rash beginning on her arms, but said anything. Mari wouldn't let him tend to it either way. The two caught their breath and begin to leave, but soon realized they were not alone.

"Well, well..." A man's voice rumbled, " So you two are the one's that have been robbing this town blind."

"K-Kaji..." Shinji barely got out, "Please don't tell anyone!"

"Y-yea, please!", Mari dove on her knees and begin to grovel.

Kaji looked the two over with a smile. The dark haired man had a cigarette between his lips, and was dressed casually. They had known him loosely for awhile now as he was a frequenter of the local bar, and they had seen him sitting out many times with friends or shopping at the local grocery store. They had held conversations with him, and for awhile had been the bane of his existence with their nonstop stalking of him, both agreeing that he was interesting for an adult.

"What are you doing out here?" Shinji asked, realizing that his presence was even stranger than there own.

"A little star gazing." He replied, gesturing to the telescope set up on a tripod beside him, however the telescope was not pointed at the sky, however pointed downwards from the tree covered hill they now stood pointing at the military installation sitting at the base of the mountain. Shinji and Mari both noticed this, and were both beginning to feel wary of Kaji. "Why don't you two help me pack up and I'll give you a ride home?", he asked.

Mari and Shinji could tell by the tone of his voice that this wasn't a suggestion, it was more of an order. He was a kind man, but they could tell he wasn't going to let them just walk away. Reluctantly the two assisted him and soon the three were walking down the hill, carrying various bags. Kaji's car was parked on the side of the road nearby, and the three soon entered and were on there way. It was mostly a silent trip as both children weren't entirely sure that whether or not he was going to divulge to their guardian the details of their evening.

Soon they pulled up in front of a derelict Japanese temple, their mother standing at the gates, her arms crossed. Shinji was sure he and Mari were in trouble. The two children reluctantly exited along with Kaji, the three walking up to the gate slowly, the two children slowing their gate intentionally, hoping to prolong the inevitable.

"Nancy." Kaji greeted, giving her a smile, "I found these two in the middle of nowhere."

"I wonder what they were doing there." The blonde haired woman frowned, "Hiding no doubt."

"M-Mama..." Shinji started, but was quickly cut off by the blue eyed woman.

"And what do we have here?" Nancy walked up to Shinji plucking the bag out of his hands and inspecting the contents.

"Junk food?" She smirked, "Nothing but sweets and fat filled treats. I'll take these."

Shinji didn't protest, letting her confiscate their stolen goods. He gulped knowing that his mama's punishment would be swift and devastating. The blonde stepped over to little Mari and swiftly reached in her pockets, pulling a rather generous wad of money out, " I think I'll keep this too."

"W-What?!" Mari cried trying to grab it back out of the woman's hand, " Give it back!"

Shinji could have sworn he heard Kaji chuckle lightly behind them.

"Both of you should clean up and get to bed. We're getting up bright and early tomorrow." Shinji and Mari both gulped. They knew what was coming, and there wasn't anyone in heaven or hell that could intervene. Slowly both children walked past her into their home. Kaji and Nancy were left, both giving a smile to each other.

"How's he doing?" Kaji asked quietly.

"Who? Shinji?" Nancy replied, "Well enough. Mari being around has helped him loads, even if it isn't in the most morally 'correct' ways."

"How have you gotten around his father?" Kaji produced a cigarette, soon lighting it, then passing one to Nancy.

"We've been creative." Nancy replied between puffs, " It's just a matter of getting that old man to report to his bastard of a father every now and then. No chance in hell his father's precious little 'scenario' is going to happen again."

"And what does Shinji know?" The dark haired man glanced towards the sky as the smoke disappeared into the darkness.

"He knows enough. I don't think he wants to be a messiah, I just think he wants to be happy, and that's exactly what we need.", Nancy puffed briskly, also giving the dark star filled sky above them a quick glance.

"You believe that striving for his own happiness will save us all?"

"He's kind hearted. He cares about others. When he has the tools and abilities along with the drive, he'll see this through to the end and stop this endless, pointless war."

"Does Mari have anything to do with that drive?" Kaji jokingly asked, referring to the obvious little stunt the two had pulled.

"A bit, but I they're definitely not going to get married or anything. His little heart is tied to another."

"And who would that be?" Kaji glanced back to her giving a smile. He was indeed curious.

"A fiery little German redhead. Trust me, you'll know her when you see her." Nancy nearly laughed, "She's a real firecracker, not the kind you'd expect our little Shinji to go for, but trust me, they're meant for each other."

"Destiny is a strange, strange thing." Kaji whisped as he finished his cigarette, turning to leave.

Shinji was woken by the loud crack of his door being slid open. Nancy stood before him and he dashed to get dressed. Morning had finally come, and with the crack of the sun, also came the crack of the proverbial whip that she was about to beat him with. He soon exited his room, the blonde haired, blue eyed woman walking briskly behind him as they stepped out into the courtyard where Mari was already waiting. The two knew what was coming. In addition to their normal school routine, to which Nancy served as their instructor, they would also have an insane amount of physical drilling ahead of them, on top of their normal lessons in martial arts.

Silence descended as the two awaited for their guardian to start talking. The morning air was cool, the sun barely peeking over the horizon as bugs danced across the garden in the courtyard, various botanical in bright and vivid summer bloom all centered around several small ponds. It was part of Mari and Shinji's chores to tend to the garden and courtyard, and they had quickly become well versed in gardening and landscaping, all under the careful instruction of their blonde guardian. The woman was a bit rough around the edges, but genuinely kind. She pushed them in ways both found a bit odd, but neither thought of it too much. In many ways the structure that she had given them was in stark contrast to the states of their previous lives, and both had accepted it happily. But now both wished that they could be anywhere else but here. Nancy's retribution was swift and just, and both were well aware of the hell this woman could bring down on them.

"I'm not angry, I'm disappointed." Nancy started, "You robbed everyone blind, and you nearly got away with it."

"We'll never do it again!" Shinji and Mari cried in unison.

"No." Nancy said flatly, "You're going to learn to be better."

Both children looked absolutely flabbergasted. The pair looked at each other and back to their guardian, neither sure if they had heard her correctly.

"Yup, you heard right." She smiled back, " Now we're going to work on the most important part of performing a successful heist, cardio! Now run!"

Shinji and Mari couldn't in their lives recall running as much as they had. It had been at least four hours, from the crack of dawn to almost the afternoon. Nancy had called the two back finally as they had done lap after lap around the large estate, the cool morning air quickly heating up and becoming the searing summer heat the two were all too familiar with. Shinji and Mari had set to preparing lunch as Nancy set out their lessons for the day. While resting the two would be tutored, work on their daily schoolwork, and finally rise again to begin physical training. Today proved to be merciless, for as soon as they had completed all of their school work, Nancy ordered the pair to follow, she herself now wearing a casual outfit perfect for a daily workout. Shinji's head had began to spin as he was sure he had been thrown more times than he wanted to count. Mari, on the other hand, began to protest, unable to lift her arms anymore.

"Please stop!" Mari began, " My arms feel like noodles!"

Nancy turned to her, falling out of her offensive stance, Shinji once more on the ground behind her, " I suppose that is enough for today..." She smiled once more, "But don't think you're done quite yet, expect the same thing tomorrow."

"Please, no!" Shinji cried as he picked himself up.

Neither of the two enjoyed combat practice, but that seemed to be what most of their day was made of. As night came once more the air began to cool again, and both children were more than happy to sit on the porch and have dinner. Nancy patted the two on the head as they wolfed down their rice and vegetables, giving them a reassuring look as they glanced up on her. They both smiled back, knowing that someone cared about them.

Nancy soon took a seat beside them, the three conversing happily as they sat. At first, when she had received Shinji, this had been nothing but another assignment for this woman. She had left her own family, something that she was fully prepared to do, and expected to play babysitter for almost ten years, but as she found herself reading her briefing packet, she couldn't help but feel pity for the child. Almost immediately she had bonded with Shinji, and found herself absolutely in love with the four year old. She frowned at herself for letting him slip under her business facade so easily, but after a few months, she embraced it. Mari had come as a surprise, the orphan of a family killed just after second impact, her only remaining relative an older sister and co-worker of Nancy, who needed to leave on an extended assignment as well. Nancy had pulled some strings, and convinced her superiors of the positive effects a playmate would have on her charge, Shinji. At the age of five, Mari had moved in with them, and the woman was truly happy how the three of them had bonded.

'Mama' was a word that she was shocked to hear from Shinji's mouth when he was six. She had panicked at first, unsure of how to react. He had lost his mother only two years ago, and she hid in the bathroom, tears escaping her eyes. She had sat and thought for awhile, unsure of how to proceed. It wasn't supposed to be like this, she had her own family that she had to leave, and here she was with virtually another of her own. She had cried and sobbed, wanting so badly to accept it, but knowing that she was betraying her own family, forced to forsake her own children. Clarity had come when Mari had knocked on the door, asking if 'mama' was alright.

It was not their fault, neither of them asked for this, nor did she. It was the situation they were all stuck in, and they had to make the best of it. Collecting herself, she had rushed out, embracing the two children, scooping them up into her arms, tightly hugging the two as though they were her own children. They were indeed hers, she was increasingly becoming more sure of this.

"Love is going to save us all."

Yuuko Yagami sighed as she patted her dark hair down once more. The smell of burning hair lingered in the room, and she cursed silently, certain that she was going to have to chop off her hair a little below her shoulders in order not to look like a freak. She was in charge of the second child chosen by NERV, Asuka Langley Soryu, and the young girl was more excitable than any other child she had ever encountered.

"Where did you go, you little shit?" She cursed at the child who had hidden somewhere in the apartment the two occupied.

"Ooooh Asuka!", She mocked as she searched for the little red devil. Cunning was the best description of her charge, the eight year old redhead more than a handful. Entering their small kitchen, she carefully surveyed the area, knowing the child had probably hidden under the sink. She swiftly reached for the handle, pulling the small cupboard open, revealing the young girl. She tried to grab for her, but Asuka, with all her determination, dove at the woman, slipping through her arms and slipping away, running out of the kitchen and down the hall.

"GET BACK HERE!" Yuuko cried, lifting herself off the ground and giving chase.

"Kiss my ass!" Asuka cried as she slammed the door to her room. The sound of furniture being moved could be heard, no doubt the girl planned to barricade herself in. Yuuko sprinted through the hall, slamming into the door. On the other side Asuka had used a chair propped against the handle to buy time while she pushed her dresser up to the door.

"Fuck it!" Yuuko cried, the Japanese woman rearing her arm back and striking clean through the door. Asuka jumped as a hand exploded through the flimsy door, pushed the chair aside and turned the handle.

"Holy shit!" Asuka screamed, quickly diving for cover on the other side of her bed.

"Gotcha!", Yuuko dove towards her, catching Asuka by the neck of her shirt. Asuka didn't fight this time, still in shock that her guardian had just destroyed a door with a single stroke. Yuuko wasn't sure what to do as the expression on the little girl's face changed from shock to amusement.

"That was awesome!" The redhead exploded in excitement, her blue crystal eyes lighting up, "How did you do that?"

"Oh well...umm...I just punched it as hard as I could.", Yuuko rolled her eyes.

"Does it hurt?" Asuka asked, a tinge of worry evident in her voice.

"Oh like you wouldn't believe." Yuuko said with a hint of sarcasm. Both of them had lost their anger, and she let go of Asuka's collar, and sat on the child's bed, looking at the redhead with an exasperated expression.

"I-I really didn't mean to." Asuka started, looking at the ground, "I'm sorry."

"Why were you playing with fire in the first place, Asuka?" Yuuko replied, deep concern in her voice, " Where did you get the idea?"

"Some of the boys were talking about it. They said that you could make a flamethrower with a can of deodorant and a lighter!" Asuka cried back. It was clear she was just trying it out of curiosity. Yuuko let out a deep sigh. She took Asuka into her arms, holding the girl as strongly as she could.

"Asuka, that was dangerous. You could have set the apartment on fire, or worse, blown off your hand." She said, pulling the redhead out of her arms, looking her dead in the face as she held the girl in front of her. Asuka's bright blue eyes were too beautiful for words. Yuuko had been blown away by how cute the girl she'd been given was. It was evident that in less than four or five years she would have much more to worry about than just mothers pouring over her cuteness. Yuuko had let Asuka's auburn hair grow out, reaching almost past her waist. She kept it back in two red ribbons, her wild bangs hanging just above her eyes in a stylish but disheveled mess, contrasted with her alabaster skin, the girls cute appearance hid an explosive personality underneath that sometimes had to be kept in check. Yuuko sighed.

"Can you punch through the wall?" Asuka asked, her excitement mounting once more. She looked up at her caretaker expectantly. Yuuko could only sigh. The dark haired woman didn't even look towards the wall nearest the bed, her fist striking through the wall with ease, the drywall giving way easily.

"YAY!" Asuka cried, throwing her arms in the air, "Can I try?!"

"Why the hell not?" Yuuko replied, "The walls her are paper thin, and we're going to have to call maintenance to fix the door anyways..."

At this Asuka went up to the wall nearest the bed and reared her arm back. Unfortunately she chose wall nearest to the headboard of the bed, completely missing the wall and striking the infinitely more solid headboard.

"AAAAAAHHHH!" Asuka cried as her fist bounced off the headboard. She grabbed her hand, beginning to writhe in pain, tears forming as she clenched her eyes shut.

"GOD DAMMIT ASUKA!" Yuuko cried as she once again scooped up the girl in her arms.

Several hours later, along with a trip to the Hospital, the pair entered the apartment, fast food in hand, Yuuko giving an exasperated sigh. Asuka was a handful, but then again so was Yuuko herself. She remembered more than one time she had pissed her own mother off and the woman had chased them through their summer home, determined to catch and destroy her own child. Honestly Asuka had a good heart, and while she was a bit self absorbed, she could be kind and considerate.

"What did we learn today?" Yuuko asked as the two plopped on the couch.

"Don't do stupid shit." Asuka replied flatly. Her right arm was now bound to a bright red brace, the doctor caring for her having found the redhead to have cracked her wrist only slightly. Asuka had cried for a bit, but was mostly alright once they had arrived at the hospital. It had been a rather typical ordeal between the two, as Asuka seemed to have a penchant for trouble. Deeming that the pain the young girl had experienced was more than enough punishment, she had taken the young girl to her favorite fast food restaurant, hoping a cheeseburger and a shake would make up for Yuuko's own sub-par parenting. Yuuko considered herself in no way qualified to take care of a child, but she doubted any normal or sane person could handle Asuka. She had on multiple occasions had to stop the redhead from attempting to drive their car, and she had been called to Asuka's school on more than one occasion when Asuka had beaten up kids almost two years older than herself. On one occasion Asuka had actually managed to tie one of her classmates up in the women's restroom and was intent on torturing her victim. It didn't help that Yuuko's orders were to keep this child in top physical shape as well as supplement her school education with a ridiculous amount martial arts and defensive training. It was a wonder that Asuka hadn't killed anyone yet.

"So have you ever killed anyone?" Yuuko asked, glancing to the girl sitting next to her.

"Not yet." Asuka replied, "But I came close a few times." Yuuko could only smirked at the casual response the Asuka replied with.

"Any boys ask you out yet?"

"Boys are gross." Asuka spat, "They're good for nothing liars, Mama."

"You're going to be saying the exact opposite once you're a teenager." Yuuko smiled back.

"Never." The redhead replied, "I'm going to beat all of them until they're black and blue. There's a reason the only two Eva pilots are girls, because we're the best."

"Oh? Is that so?" Yuuko chucked, "I can tell you a little secret. The third pilot is a boy."

At this Asuka's eyes snapped to her guardian, "What? They chose a boy?" Asuka was entirely blown away.

"It's a secret, so don't tell anyone, but I know who it is."

"Really?" Asuka leaned close, forgetting about her meal, "Where is he? What does he look like?"

"He lives in Japan. And he's really nice, and cute, and I bet he'll really like you." Yuuko flicked Asuka's nose playfully, having the girl's attention entirely, " He plays the guitar and the cello, and he's a bit of a little shit, just like you. In fact, I think you may have met him already when you were younger."

"I have?" Young Asuka thought for a moment, "When?"

"Do you remember Miss Ikari?" The lady your mom worked with on Eva?" Yuuko replied, glancing up to the ceiling as she was thinking, "Her kid, Shinji?"

"Oh yea!" Asuka's eyes snapped back to Yuuko, " He was so mean! He took away my toys away when we used to play. But he liked me, just a little bit."

Yuuko gave a smile as the eight year old beside her started again on her burger. She seemed to be caught up in thought, no doubt thrilled that there was another pilot. She hadn't seemed that interested when Yuuko had told her about the first child, Rei Ayanami, but this was different, she seemed enthralled even more that it was someone that she knew. Yukko absolutely loved it when she could delight the child, as it would always divert Asuka's devious and a headstrong personality, and her true innocence would pour through.

"Mama? Can I sleep with you tonight?" Asuka asked, breaking Yuuko's thought process, " You kinda destroyed my room..."

"Of course." Yuuko nearly giggled.

To Be Continued...

Well, let me know what you think! I always appreciate input! More will follow soon, I promise. The Prologue parts are going to be short, but the actual chapters are looking a bit beefier. I'm writing this in pieces and stringing them together because they're are so many events and characters going around!