Hey everyone, this is my first time writing an NGE fanfic and I realise there will be a lot of kinks to work out. But hey, if you like it, that's great.
Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion, never will.
Revised - There were a few mistakes that needed to changed.


Chapter 1: Old Friends


Shinji Ikari,

You are once again needed to defend Humanity. NERV has been reinstituted by the UN to ensure that a Fourth Impact doesn't occur. Intel suggests terrorists are manufacturing replica EVAs. You are needed in Tokyo 3 immediately.

Gendou Ikari

Shinji ripped the letter up with a sigh, Again...father expects me to come running again. Why would I even want to go back to Japan. There's nothing for me there. A brief image of Asuka flashed through his head. Asuka...She probably hates me still. I ran away before I even said goodbye to her...ran away again. Shinji shook his head, and stood up from the park bench.

"Well? Are you going to go back to Japan now?"

Shinji looked to his left and half-smiled at his English friend. "I'm done with all that. I live my own life now" he muttered. His friend frowned at him in confusion, "but if you don't go back, then...won't life on earth be destroyed?" Shinji didn't reply. They don't need me...

"Shinji, Shinji, jeez man, quit daydreaming we're going to miss the train!"
Shinji jerked out of his reverie and nodded and broke out into a jog towards the train station.
"You know, it's been just about a year that we've been travelling together and you've never been this out of it. 'Cept that first time I met you of course"
Shinji simply smiled absently.

***FLASHBACK***

Shinji was having trouble reading the English directions in Heathrow airport. When a man tapped his shoulder and bowed to him in true Japanese fashion and said it heavily accented Japanese. "Greetings, Are you having trouble?" Shinji looked over the new comer carefully. The man was probably about 19 year old with shaggy brown hair and casual clothes, the man had kind brown eyes and a wide smile. "Yes, I'm meant to be getting on a flight to Germany" Shinji replied in Japanese. The newcomer raised an eyebrow "Aren't you a bit young to be travelling by yourself?" Shinji didn't reply. "But I'm not one to judge, luckily I'm heading to Europe as well to travel. The name's Clive Finegan"

**END FLASHBACK****

Scenery flashed past the train windows as Shinji leant his forehead on the window, they had just made it onto the train on time.
"You were travelling around Asia for the first year right? NERV generously paid for all your expenses isn't that nice enough for you to go back and help them?" Clive asked, from his chair opposite Shinji. The young Japanese male glared at Clive from his seat and Clive clearly back peddled with his words. "Of course..um I mean since you brought everyone back to life...ttt-they should be grateful. But I mean...you've been gone for two years. I'm sure everyone would love to see you again"
Shinji didn't reply.

Tokyo 3- Japan

One 16 year old German girl was upset, and it made her guardian nervous. No one could really tell what would happen when this person became angry.
"So is that baka going to come back or not?!" Asuka demanded, hands on hips, in front of Misato. The Major couldn't help but sigh and run a hand through her hair.
"I don't know Asuka, he's been gone two years. He wanted to get away from all thoughts of EVA when he left...I'm not sure if he can handle coming back here again after...after what happened"
Who cares if that baka comes back or not. I can handle it by myself, I don't even need Wondergirl!
"Why Asuka? Keen to makeup with Shinji" Misato said slyly, winking lustily at Asuka. The redhead balled her fists and took a deep breath before screaming,
"There is no way! That baka left us all here with the cleanup while he went and enjoyed himself around the world! I HATE HIM!!!"

Shinji had finally made it back onto Japanese soil after numerous hours of connecting flights and train rides. After one final train ride he was once again in the very place he had run from 2 years ago, Tokyo 3.
I'm back here again, because my father called me back...I wonder if anyone missed me.
Shinji looked at the photo of Misato in his hands. Just like old times Shinji thought with a smile. A screech of tyres indicated his old guardian's imminent approach,
"SHINJI!!!" Misato's scream almost pierced his eardrums. Shinji attempted to greet her as well but was interrupted by an enveloping hug that had him pressed up against Misato's considerable bust. A blush spread across Shinji's cheeks and an uneasy grin erupted on his face as the hug continued for more than 10 seconds, but his expression faded as he felt tear drops fall on the top of his head. The young man broke the hug and looked Misato in the eyes with a crooked smile,
"Hey Misato-san, please don't cry. I didn't mean to upset you". She seemed kind of surprised at the way Shinji communicated with her. She stepped back and glanced at him, head to toe. "You're so grown up now Shinjjjiii!!! Just wait till the girls see you now!!" Misato giggled. Shinji blushed horribly and attempted to stutter out some sort of comeback but it only came as a muttered
"C'mon Misato.....dont...think that that....bear....been travelling...muffins". Misato quirked an eyebrow and didn't reply but just motioned to the car with a smile. Shinji's eyes widened Misato's driving...oh god

After 2 years without Misato's driving Shinji was shell shocked after the ride from the train station. So he barely noticed before they stopped in front of a very familiar door.
"Well Shinji, does this bring back any memories?" Misato smiled, and opened the door to their old apartment gestured grandly towards the small apartment. Shinji smiled in remembrance and slipped his shoes off and stepped over the threshold. So many memories Shinji thought absently as he walked into his old room in a daze.
"So, are you going to ignore me forever Third Child?" Asuka screeched at him. Shinji looked up surprised, "Sorry Asuka, I was...reminiscing about...the past".
Asuka balled up her fists and said "So, you finally came back did you?! Well, I could've handled it just fine!!"
Shinji sighed, "Fine, sorry for coming back Asuka" and with that the downcast teenager closed his bedroom door in her face. Why would I expect any different from her He thought sadly as he closed the door.

"Way to welcome him back Asuka" Misato said quietly from the table. The red head turned and glared at her guardian. If Misato saw the tears in the young girl's eyes she didn't pay it any heed.
"He hasn't even been here for more than 5 minutes and you're already upsetting him. Way to go Asuka" The purple haired Major stood and moved into her room and left the German girl standing by herself with tears streaming down her cheeks in the living room.

I guess she didn't miss me. Not like how I thought of her when I was away... Shinji thought sadly.

The next morning at breakfast a predominantly silent affair, like every family that has an argument, it was politely ignored as if it never happened.
"So, Misato, Rei is still here?" Shinji asked over the breakfast table. Misato grinned and nodded, "she's going to be piloting again as well".
Shinji nodded and continued eating before stopping once more,
"How come the EVAs are back here? I thought there were destroyed...back then". Silence met his words as Misato silently watched him.
"I don't know Shinji, when you caused everyone to come back into this world, the EVAs were found in their cages at the remains of NERV HQ"

Asuka remained silent, wrapped up in her own thoughts Why did I do that...get angry like that when he just arrived. Because he's a idiot! He could of stayed hidden away from here, it would have been just fine! Asuka silently fumed.
But I missed him....wait, no I didn't! He's just some idiot, I don't need him! I don't need anyone.

In the eerily silent halls of NERV HQ, a lone teenager wandered the halls in a daze and before he even realised it he was on the gangway in front of the blank stare of Unit 01. Shinji looked up at EVA unit 01 silently,
"Greetings Pilot Ikari, I'm glad you came back"
Shinji turned to those familiar red eyes, blue hair, and pale skin that characterised Rei Ayanami.
"Call me Shinji, I'm not sure I made the right choice in returning. It seems as if there was no point" he replied quietly.
"Shinji...This is your home, the people here wanted you to come home. And you did, and I personally want to thank you for letting me come back to this world...after...after what I did" Rei told him very intently, gazing deeply into his eyes. Shinji stumbled back as she saw the depth of emotion in her eyes.
"Rei, it's fine, I didn't do all that much. I'm sure no one blames you anyway".
"You don't understand Shinji. You've given me a new start, I no longer am a clone of Lilith and Yui. I'm my own person...I have my own blood...I'm a new person"
Shinji struggled to find the right words "I didn't realise...um...yo-you're welcome Ayanami"
The young girl lunged forward and wrapped him in a hug, "call me Rei" and she gave him a chaste kiss on the lips.
Shinji's eyes widened in shock at the change in Rei's demeanour, he heard a loud gasp from down the gangway and he looked up above Rei's head as a blur of red ran away sobbing.
"Asuka! I'll talk to you later Rei" Shinji exclaimed as he took off after Asuka down the hallway.

How could he just go running straight into wondergirl's arms like that. What am I to him!?!? Asuka mentally screamed at herself, Wait, why do I care what that idiot does. I don't care. I don't like him.
"Asuka..." Shinji ventured quietly, walking towards the fiery red head slowly. She was sitting in the corner of a hallway.

"What do you want Third Child? Come here to tell me about your new relationship with wonder girl? Because I already saw you two" She replied coldly.
"No, no..it's nothing like that. She was just thanking me for...saving her...I'm not in any relationship with her" Shinji said, sitting down next to the German girl.
"I don't even care. It's not like you mean anything to me" Asuka muttered. Shinji felt a stab of rage go through him, She's been insulting me and belittling me for as long as I've known her! Why do I keep trying to be friends with her
"Right" Shinji muttered angrily and stood up quickly and began to walk away when Asuka grabbed his wrist.
"Don't leave...I'm sorry...sit with me for a minute" Asuka whispered
Shinji looked back with a surprised look on his face, he turned back and sat down without replying. They sat in silence for what seemed like an age. I don't know what she wants me to say.

"You've grown" Asuka said quietly. Shinji smiled slightly, "Um yeah...puberty I guess"
Silence descended once more, they say next to each other in silence for another minute before they both tried to speak at the same time.
"Sorry, you go first" Shinji said, motioning for her to go. Asuka took a deep breath before starting to talk,
"I just wanted to say that I'm..um..thankful that you made everyone come back...I don't want to die. You left just as everyone was coming back and...I just didn't understand...I don't know why I'm telling this to you baka...but I just want to tell you.....um...thanks Shinji..I...did miss you" Asuka didn't once look up from her lap. Shinji beamed at her, even though she couldn't see it.
"Thank you for telling me that Asuka...it means a lot. But...I thought about you a lot when I was gone...but I was scared what you thought of me, so I stayed away...and months turned into two years...I just wasn't sure if you were going to hate me or not" Asuka took this moment to interject with a playful "idiot Shinji". He smiled before continuing "I know that you think I'm a coward for running away but...but I'd like to think that I'm not the spineless wimp that went away...I learnt things when I was gone...came back with a spine...maybe" Shinji trailed off into a whisper. Asuka giggled at him and hesitantly interlaced her fingers with his. They sat in the corner in comfortable silence until they heard their names over the PA system calling them to the Commander's a word they stood and walked in silence towards the Commander's office.

They were let into the Commander's office by two stern faced Section 2 agents to find that Misato and Rei were already there standing at attention in front of Commander Ikari's desk.
"Intel suggests that these terrorists have completed at least 4 replica EVA units. We have been assigned to protect Lilith...that is what we assume their objective is" Gendou spoke, pushing his tinted glasses further up the bridge of his nose. Shinji glared at his father as he interjected, "And you...don't want that to happen again".

Commander Ikari gazed over his interlocked fingers at his son in silence,
"I believe now...that...it would not be...advantageous for mankind...I made a mistake" Shinji's father broke the silence with that uncharacteristic comment. Everyone in the office was stunned by the emotional confession, especially his son.
"Commander...Are you suggesting that their objective could be something other than causing instrumentality" Misato spoke, breaking the stunned silence.
"Correct Major" Commander Ikari replied, "Dismissed"
Shinji frowned and went to say something to his father but thought better of it and left the office with the everyone else.

Shinji was so deep in thought over dinner that he didn't realise how bad Misato's cooking was. A point of interest that Misato noticed with glee, though she didn't bring any attention to it.
"Shinji...are you going to pilot again?" Misato asked over a dinner of instant ramen and instant curry. Asuka stopped eating and glanced at him sidelong, waiting for him to answer. "I-I don't...I never wanted to...come back...Yes, yes I will" Shinji replied quietly with stammering of words. Asuka smiled slightly and started eating again Welcome back Shinji
"Well, Asuka, I guess it's just like old times huh?" Misato said giggling slightly at the two young EVA pilots.
"Hopefully this time, it won't turn out like last time" Shinji said chuckling slightly as he rose and cleaned his plate in the sink.
"I'm going to have a shower" He called out over his shoulder as he entered the bathroom.
Misato looked at Asuka with a raised eye brow,
"Well, he seems different...a bit more confident now isn't. Maybe that travelling helped him more than we realised"
Yeah, he could be a bit charming with a bit of spine Asuka blushed at her own thought, something that her guardian didn't fail to pick up on.
"oooooh, Asuka has a thing of little Shinji!!!!" Misato exclaimed as Asuka's blush deepened as she stood up and screamed at the laughing Major.

Those two are so loud Shinji mused as he stood under the hot water raining down on him.
Asuka has a thing for me?...Shinji blushed as he smiled at the thought. If only


Shinji finished his shower to find Asuka and Misato in a huff and not looking at each other, they both glared his way when he had the nerve to chuckle at the scene he was confronted with.
"Um...I'm going to bed" Shinji said, slowly backing away from the two angry ladies.
"Goodnight Shinji" The two girls chorused before glaring at one another. Shinji just shook his head and entered his room.


'No one likes you! You're just a spineless little wimp!! You only came back because you want people to adore you' The voices of everyone he has every known shouted at him. Shinji shook his head violently. 'No! I came back to help people! To protect the world! What's so wrong about that!!' he shouted at the dream versions of his friends.
Asuka appeared before him, 'You left me Shinji....you left me all alone...you should never have come back, I wish you had stayed away...I don't need you'
Shinji felt his tears welling up his eyes, 'I wanted to protect you! I wanted to be there for you!'
Asuka glared at him, 'I don't need you to protect me. You couldn't protect me before, what makes you think you can now!!!?!? I DON'T NEED YOU!!!'

Shinji woke with a start, panting heavily and tears on his cheeks. Just a dream...it was just a dream. His bedroom door slide open silently as a familiar redhead padded inside.
"Shinji...? Are you all right" she whispered. What am I doing in here?!! She silently screamed at herself.
"Asuka? I-I'm fine...just a bad dream...just a dream" Shinji muttered, hurriedly wiping his tears away as the red head came and sat down near his feet.
"You were talking in your sleep...I heard a few things" she said, not making eye contact with the boy.
"You heard me?!!...um..what did you hear" Shinji stammered, Oh god...I'm dead
"Just some things..." She replied indifferently, inching closer to Shinji.
They sat in silence for a couple minutes before Asuka spoke again,
"I just want you to know...I am glad you are back...I did miss you" Shinji wasn't sure if she heard her correctly but didn't want to ruin the mood by asking her for confirmation. Asuka reached and squeezed his hand briefly before getting to her feet.
"Get some sleep idiot, we start sync tests tomorrow" she said, slightly back to her normal attitude.
"Night Asuka" Shinji said, leaning back on his pillow with a contented smile, So far so good.


A/N : Well, that's the first chapter. I realise that several characters are OOC but I figured having a second chance at life would give people a new outlook on life. Let me know what you think! Please RnR