Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Author's Notes: I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. As it turned out, it still wound up shorter than the subsequent chapters but not nearly as short as it use to be. I'm sure one of the changes you must have notice is the use Japanese honorifics. I decided to include them because they help establish the nature of relationships. For example, the way Mitsuki Rara calls Mitsuki Sanada, Mitsuki-sama but M. Sanada calls M. Rara, Mitsuki-san. And how Kazuki uses the overly familiar Mitsuki, without the honorific when addressing M. Sanada and gets scolded for it. Hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
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Chapter Two: Two Worlds
At Kazuki's apartment
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Mitsuki Rara unlocked the door to their apartment and pushed it open with her hip. In one hand she held the nearly empty picnic basket with only a few dishes and two bottles of raw milk in it, and in the other hand she held the blanket they used during lunch. She kept the door open while her fiancé made his way through with a large basket of assorted fruits and vegetables.
Struggling for air, Kazuki asked, "Where do you want this?"
"The kitchen please," she replied.
Sighing audibly, he started to make his way to the kitchen.
"Shoes!" Mitsuki lifted her hand to her mouth and in the process concealed her face with the blanket. Slowly, she lowered her hand, exposing her flushed expression.
Kazuki would have laughed if his arms weren't burning so much. Instead, he sighed and awkwardly kicked off one shoe. Stepping up from the foyer, he started working the other shoe off when he lost his balance and started falling back. Mitsuki yelped and dropped the blanket just in time to support Kazuki from behind.
"Ah, thanks." Kazuki regained his balance and quickly kicked off his other shoe, then made his way to the kitchen.
Mitsuki smiled as she slipped her shoes off then pushed the door closed with her backside. Bending over, she picked up the blanket and suddenly felt a twinge in her wrist. She looked at her hand and flexed it a few time, rotated her wrist around. She felt something, not exactly pain, but something. "Probably twisted it," she whispered to herself.
"Did you say something?" Kazuki called from the kitchen.
Mitsuki looked up. "No, nothing." She quickly picked up the blanket and dropped it off in the closet before bringing the picnic basket to the kitchen.
"Man, vegetables are heavier than you'd think." Kazuki started pulling items out of the basket.
"What, after all the training you've been through, you mean to tell me that carrying one basket of vegetables is enough to wear you out?" she asked suspiciously.
"I think I'm cramping up." He flexed his arms, letting out a fake groan each time.
"Oh, and here I thought I was marrying a real man." Mitsuki teased.
Kazuki frowned for a moment, and then replied, "You are marrying a real man, just not a really strong man." He flexed his arm while squeezing his bicep with his other hand. "But I dare anyone to try and challenge me and Zinv when we're together."
Mitsuki tried to stifle a snicker. "Here, let me kiss it and make it feel better." Mitsuki ran her hands over his arms and pressed her lips to his lips.
A minute later as they drew apart, Kazuki asked, "Aren't you supposed to kiss the part that hurts in order to make it feel better?"
"Do your arms still hurt?" Mitsuki asked.
He thought for a moment and grinned. "You're right. It's a miracle." He leaned in to kiss her again, wrapping his arms around her and drawing her close until her body was pressed up next to his.
After another minute, Mitsuki reluctantly broke the kiss. "Why don't you go take a shower and I'll get dinner started."
Kazuki sighed sadly and leaned in to kiss Mitsuki on the neck. She moaned and her eyes fluttered close. "Mmm… K-Kazuki, please… don't." But her fiancé ignored her plea and continued caressing her neck with his lips. The pleasure was too much to resist and Mitsuki surrendered to it, pulling Kazuki towards the front of her neck while running her fingers through his hair. Just then, a sharp twinge shot through her hand and she pulled away from him. "Please, go take a shower."
Kazuki wondered if she really knew what she was telling him to do. Giving up on trying to read Mitsuki's mind, he grudgingly nodded and gave her one last kiss on the nose, then he retreated to his bedroom to get some clean cloths. "Are you sure you don't want my help." He hoped she would say yes, and allow him to flirt with her some more.
"No, I'm fine, take your shower," she replied, taking several deep breaths in an effort to regain her composure as she stared at her hand. Thank goodness for small accidents.
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"I can't believe how much food all those farmers gave us." Kazuki put another leek in his mouth. "Mmm, farm fresh is so much better tasting than store bought."
"Mmm," Mitsuki nodded in agreement as she finished her serving of peapod, leek and carrot stir fry with ginger sauce over rice noodles.
"And I can't believe they wouldn't allow us to pay for any of it. They were way too generous."
"Well, you better get accustom to it. After Saturday, you'll not only be a regional hero but a national hero too, international hero probably." She served him a second helping.
"You think so?" He shoveled a large helping of the stir fry into his mouth.
Nodding to the affirmative, she went on. "After Saturday, you'll never have to worry about where your next meal will come from. People will be lining up to buy you lunch and dinner. Well, at least people away from the base, that is." She giggled.
"Well, that may be so but no meal can ever compare to the ones you make for me, Mitsuki-chan." He smiled.
"Oh, Kazuki-kun." She blushed and turned away.
His smile grew seeing her turn red with embarrassment. I love how a simple compliment like that still makes you blush. You're so adorable, Mitsuki-chan.
"Are you finished? Would you like some more?" she asked.
"Ah…" He looked down at his empty plate and bowl. "Ah, no, thirds are my limit, thanks."
"Okay." Smiled Mitsuki, then she stood up and gathered up the dishes. "Why don't you watch some TV while I take care of the dishes? I'll be there in just a minute."
"All right." Her fiancé got up and walked over to her. "By the way, thanks for dinner." He kissed her on the cheek. "It was delicious." He smiled at her.
"Oh, silly." She blushed again and kissed him back on the cheek. "Go on, I'll join you in a little bit.
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After watching a forgettable movie, they turned the channel to catch the local news. Halfway into the program the anchor started the People and Places segment.
"And with only two days before the historic launch of the giant mecha, Zinv, it appears its pilot was getting a little R and R." The screen changed to show two young people following a farmer around his field.
"It appears Lieutenant Kazuki Yotsuga-san, the pilot of Zinv, and his lovely fiancée, Mitsuki Rara-san, were taking in the sights of the Saitama countryside. Here our camera caught them getting a tour of a local cucumber farm."
The two people in question sat up and stared at the TV intently. "That's us!" Kazuki yelped.
"Oh my goodness." Mitsuki placed her hand over her mouth.
"And here at this pear farm we can see them trying to pay the farmer for a bag full of pears. Our reporter on the spot, Yurika Misumaru-san spoke to the farmer afterwards."
"Seiya Uribatake-san, what was the young couple like?" The reporter held the microphone in front of the farmer's face.
"Oh please, call me Seiya. The young couple, very nice, very good people. For a hero, Kazuki-kun, that's what he told me to call him. Kazuki-kun was very humble and polite. And Mitsuki-chan, she insisted I call her that." The old man smiled. "Mitsuki-chan was so proper and sweet, a real lady. So refreshing to see these days."
"And did they pay for the items you gave them?"
"No, oh no, of course not. They were a gift. He tried to pay but I wouldn't hear of it. They were a gift. It is the least I could do for such a brave young man. And I told them they were welcomed to return to my farm anytime and have all the pears they want." He nodded. "Would you like a pear?" He held one out for the young woman.
"No, thank you though." Turning towards the camera, she continued. "From Seiya Uribatake-san's pear farm in south Saitama Prefecture, this is Yurika Misumaru reporting."
"I can't believe it. We were followed by reports." Kazuki scratched the back of his head. "Thank goodness I didn't take a leak behind that tree while I was out there."
Mitsuki chuckled as her cheeks turned a gentle shade of pink. "Well, I guess that's the price of fame."
Then the anchor continued his report. "As you all know, Kazuki Yotsuga-san is the seventeen year old boy who is the only person capable of piloting Zinv."
His co-anchor added, "And a remarkable young man, he is. In the past nine months, he completed both his junior and senior year of high school AND passed the entrance exams for Tokyo University. He starts there as a freshman in the fall, after his third scheduled space mission with Zinv."
"A space pilot and a Tokyo U student, truly a remarkable young man, indeed. And he hardly looks old enough to even be in high school, let alone college."
Mitsuki looked over at her fiancé proudly as it was his turn to blush in embarrassment.
Then the co-anchor added, "It seems the only place he's gone wrong is his choice in women."
Mitsuki gasped.
"What!" Kazuki jumped to his feet.
"What do you mean Erina-san? Rara-san is a perfectly lovely young woman. By all accounts, she is any man's ideal choice for a bride." The anchor countered.
"But she's his cousin Nagare-san and is almost five years older than him," the co-anchor replied. "You'd think she'd have more self-respect."
Rolling his eyes at Erina, the chief anchor continued, "Well, I for one think they make a lovely couple. And we here at Channel 12 News wish Lieutenant Yotsuga-san good luck on his maiden launch this Saturday. And on a personal note, I wish Kazuki Yotsuga-san and Mitsuki Rara-san all the happiness in the world together."
"Now in sports…"
Mitsuki picked up the remote and turned the TV off.
"Why that unbelievable bi-"
"Kazuki!"
"Sorry." He dropped back down on the sofa next to her. It took a moment for his adrenalin to work its way out of his system. When it did, he sat back and turned to her. "I'm sorry you had to hear that,"
"It's all right. It's not the first time I've heard it. I just wasn't expecting to hear it on the nightly news is all." She gave him a weak smile.
"Does it bother you?"
"What, that they say we're cousins so we shouldn't marry, or that they say I'm too old for you?"
He thought for a minute then replied, "Both, either."
"Not really." Her gentle smile was genuine this time. "You and I know we're not really related. So what others may think doesn't bother me. And as for being too old for you, well, do you think I'm too old for you?" she asked.
He looked deeply into her soft brown eyes and studied her perfectly flawless face, then answered, "No, not at all."
"I feel the same way. My heart went out to you the first time I ever saw you and I've grown to love you more and more every day since. I can't imagine ever loving anyone else, Kazuki-kun. I don't care what people may say. I love you and that's all that matters to me." She rested her cheek on his chest and breathed in his clean sweet scent.
"I feel the same way, Mitsuki-chan. I don't care what other people may think or say. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you." He wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
After a few minutes, the young pilot realized his shirt was quite wet and sticking to his chest.
"Mitsuki-chan, are you crying?"
She just nodded her head without looking up.
"What's wrong?"
After a few silent moments, she finally looked up at him. "It's nothing Kazuki-kun, really. I'm just being silly."
"No, tell me, please." He insisted as he tenderly caressed her cheek.
"It's just that, it's finally hit me. You're really going into space on Saturday."
"Yeeaaaahhh." He smiled.
"I know you've been working towards this for nine months now, but for the first time it's really hit me. This is real. You're actually going into space. So many things could go wrong."
"Mitsuki-chan, don't worry. I'll be in Zinv. Nothing will go wrong. He won't let anything bad happen to me." Kazuki ran his fingers through her hair.
"But I can't escape this feeling that maybe; just maybe, I'll never see you again after Saturday."
"That's not going to happen. I promise you." Kazuki tilted her head back slightly and stared into her eyes. "I promise."
She gave a faint nod and pressed her cheek against his chest, wrapping her arms around him tightly, as if holding on for dear life.
They remained in a silent embrace for several minutes till finally Mitsuki looked up and with a serious expression on her face. "Make love to me."
Kazuki's eyes went wide for a moment, and he was about to ask her if she was serious, but looking into her shimmering brown eyes, he know she was completely serious. Fear filled his brain for an instant. Can I do this? What if I'm awful at it? What if I hurt her? Do I have any condoms? What if I don't live up to her expectations? But seeing the look on her face chased away all his fears. Slowly, he gently moved her aside and stood up, and as usual, she reached out her hand to him to help her off the sofa, but instead he bent over and picked her up in his arms.
Mitsuki let out a soft gasp. For a brief moment they simply stared at each other, then she rested her head on his shoulder and whispered, "I love you, Kazuki-kun."
"I love you more, Mitsuki-chan." her fiancé carrying her to the bedroom.
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DATE: June 10th, 2015
Location: Test Center, NERV Headquarters, Geofront under Tokyo3
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"All preliminary tests on Unit Zero show green across the board, ma'am," a junior tech informed Doctor Akagi.
"Is Rei ready to enter the entry plug?" The doctor crossed her arms beneath her chest.
Maya's fingers few over her control panel. "She is still in the locker room, her E.T.A is three minutes, 22 seconds."
"Prepare the entry plug for the pilot."
At that moment Commander Gendo Ikari entered the control room. "What is the delay?"
"We are still waiting for the pilot," Ritsuko answered aloud. As if you didn't already know.
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DATE: July 1st, 2001
Location: Launch Center in the southern end of Saitama Prefecture north of Tokyo
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"Okay Kazuki-kun, this is the final run-through, let's do it right and call it a day," Captain Yayoi Schwael said from her post at the launch control center. Behind her on the other side of the observation window stood Commanders Sanada and Rara as well as First Lieutenant Mitsuki Sanada, each watching intently.
"Yes, Captain-san," Kazuki replied from the cockpit within Zinv. "Activating Zinv, in 3, 2, 1, now." And the eyes of the giant mecha lit up as a low roar came from it.
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DATE: June 11th, 2015
Location: At the rail station, just inside Tokyo3
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"Today at 12:30, a state of special emergency has been declared within the Kanto and Chubu districts, around the Tokai district. Please take refuge in the designated shelters." The announcement came over the public radio emergency broadcast.
Shinji Ikari looked around the train platform and saw no one else there. All destination panels at the station showed, 'All lines are out of service'. "Mmm, guess I'll have to walk the rest of the way." He picked up his bag and made his way into the city.
Captain Misato Katsuragi raced down the deserted streets of Tokyo3. "Why, of all times, have I missed him now?! What am I going to do?"
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Location: Launch Center in the southern end of Saitama Prefecture north of Tokyo
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"Countdown, T-minus 200 seconds and counting." A mechanical voice echoed.
"Has it started?"
Looking over to see who was asking, Mitsuki Sanada's eyes grew large with surprise. "Mitsuki-san? Why are you here? This is just a run-through. The launch isn't till tomorrow."
"I know, but… I can't explain it, I just felt like I needed to be here," the pilot's fiancée replied while never taking her eyes off the monitors that showed Zinv on the launch pad and her fiancé inside its cockpit.
"Don't worry, my dear," Commander Rara exclaimed. "Everything is proceeding exactly as planned." He wrapped her arm around her shoulders and gave her a reassuring squeeze.
She gave her father a gracious smile, but quickly looked back at the monitors.
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Location: Test Center, NERV Headquarters
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"Pilot has entered the entry plug," stated Maya.
"Good, insert entry plug into Unit Zero." The doctor ordered as she stole a glance over at the observation windows to see Gendo looking on, intently.
A moment later, a technician reported, "Entry plug inserted into unit. Commencing to fill plug with LCL."
After a minute, the same tech added, "Plug filled."
"Rei, how do you feel?" the doctor asked.
A barely audible voice replied, "Fine."
"Activate," Gendo commanded.
"Connect the main power supply and all circuits together." Ritsuko's eyes never left the control panel displayed on the main screen.
"The main power supply is connected. Starting the activation system," Maya reported. "Voltage increasing to the critical point: 0.5, 0.2, rising!"
"Start the second phase of the activation system," the doctor ordered.
Shigeru complied. "The pilot has commenced the joining."
"Start System Phase II." Confidence in the test's successful outcome filled the doctor.
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Location: In Tokyo3
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Shinji had walked over two miles in the direction of the downtown region of the city; he searched in vain for a public phone in an effort to contact the woman who was supposed to pick him up. He glanced at the picture she sent him one more time as he walked. 'Man, she's awfully pretty. I wonder what she does for my father. Does she work for him, or…? My father… why after all this time, does he want to see me now?'
He put the picture back in his shirt pocket and continued walking.
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Location: Launch Center
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On the launch pad, Zinv stood on a platform with the booster rocket system secured around its waist. The booster rocket system had two stages. The first stage would fire at takeoff and burn for 15 seconds, long enough for Zinv to reach an altitude of 5,000 meters. The secondary stage was intended to help it break out of earth's orbit. While Kazuki and Commander Sanada were confident that Zinv could reach outer space without any help, it was decided that for its initial launch it would be best not to overstress the mecha.
Tomorrow when the zero hour approached, coolant would be released to prevent the rockets from overheating and the first stage would fire with five seconds to the zero hour. But today, with the exception of the activation of Zinv and the spreading of its light-hawk wings, all other operations were bypassed.
"T-minus 10, 9, 8, 7…"
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Location: Test Center, NERV Headquarters
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Shigeru reported, "Synapses inserted. Junction started."
Maya continued. "Pulses transmitted."
The male tech followed. "All circuits are operational."
Gendo stood by the observation window, watching Unit 00 during the entire test. Kouzou and Ritsuko stood over by the control systems observing the displays and readouts.
The female tech continued to report, "The initial contact has no problems."
"Power has been transmitted up to the brachial muscle in both arms. There are no problems with the nerve links," the male tech announced.
"Checked," Maya replied, "up to 2550 on the list satisfied."
"Arrange for the third connection," Ritsuko commanded.
"Up to 2580 satisfied. Until the absolute borderline, 0.9, 0.7, 0.5, 0.4, 0.3, pulses are beginning to flow back!" the female tech yelled.
"Problems encountered on the third stage. Rejection is setting in on the nerve center elements," the male tech screamed.
"Stop the contacts. Break the circuits up to the 6th," Ritsuko ordered without hesitation.
"Negative!" Maya's fingers working frantically over the controls. "The signal is not being received! Unit Zero is out of control!"
Gendo yelled fiercely. "Stop the experiment. Shut off the power supply."
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Location: Launch Center
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"5, 4, 3, 2,"
Suddenly a blinding flash of light engulfed the launch pad and everyone in the command center turned away to protect their eyes. Seconds later, automatic filters helped dim the light that continued to shine from where the giant mecha stood.
A technician monitoring the pilot's life sympathy readings exclaimed. "Captain, the pilot's life sympathy ratio… it's fluctuating."
"Fluctuating? How?" Yayoi inquired.
"It's jumping from negative 200 to positive 200 and back."
"WHAT!" Everyone in the observation booth yelled.
"Show me the pilot," Yayoi ordered, seeing the monitor that had been showing him was blank now.
"Internal cameras not functioning," the male tech informed her.
"Report on the current state of the pilot." Yayoi rushed over to the control console station.
Another tech ran her fingers over the control panel furiously. "Pilot's life signs are… it can't be …"
"What? What is it?" the captain yelled.
"The pilot's life signs are non-existent," she reported.
"NO!" Mitsuki Rara screamed from behind the observation window.
"Are you saying he's dead?" the captain asked.
"No ma'am, I'm saying there's no one in Zinv." the technician clarified.
"I concur, ma'am." the other tech reported. "Life sympathy has gone to absolute zero. If the pilot was unconscious or even, even dead, there would still be some minor fluctuations, some noise because of an organic presence."
Yayoi nodded her understanding. "Absolute zero means an empty cockpit."
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Location: Downtown Tokyo3
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Shinji held the receiver to his ear as he listened to the recorded message.
"All normal lines are out of order due to the state of special emergency."
Shinji hung up the phone in disgust. "Out of order... I shouldn't have come... "
Pulling out the picture once more, Shinji read what Misato had written on it again, for the hundredth time. "Dear Shinji-kun. I'm coming to meet you, so please wait for me." A faint smile crossed his face at the last comment on the picture. "Attention to here!" with an arrow pointing to her breasts.
Shinji sighed, "I may not be able to meet her. Can't be helped--I'll head to the shelter."
Suddenly a strong wind blew causing the power lines to vibrate so hard they emitted an audible sound. Shinji covered his ears to protect them from the noise. Without warning, two UN forces attack helicopters appeared between the buildings. Shinji gaped at the sight, when suddenly a large arm swatted one of the crafts out of the air. Then in an instant, he was engulfed in a blinding light. "Ahhh!" He screamed but his scream died within seconds, replaced by total silence. The light continued as another slightly deeper scream emanated from it.
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Location: Launch Center
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"Ma'am, I'm detecting a faint life sign," the tech reported. "It appears the pilot is alive, but barely."
"Dispatch emergency vehicles to the launch pad, immediately!" Yayoi ordered. "And open Zinv's hatch!"
Mitsuki Rara and the others all breathed a sigh of relief at the news that the pilot was present in the mecha and apparently alive, though barely. But that relief disappeared when the hatch opened, revealing who was inside. An external camera zoomed in on the person in the flight suit.
"What the…" Yayoi's jaw dropped, as her eyes grew as large as saucers.
"Oh, my god." Mitsuki Sanada yelped as she slapped her hands over her mouth.
"Who on earth is that?" The two commanders said in unison.
Kazuki's fiancée simply stared at the person in the cockpit of Zinv for a few moments before collapsing to the floor. Everyone in the observation room rushed around her.
Thinking quickly, Yayoi commanded, "Dispatch a security team to take that person into protective custody as soon as he is checked out by the medical unit." Zinv, what on earth did you do with our Kazuki?
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Location: Downtown Tokyo3
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As the light dissipated, Kazuki found himself standing in the middle of what looked something like a futuristic version of Tokyo. He looked down at himself to see that he was no longer in his flight suit but rather was in a plain white dress shirt and dark slacks that were about a size or two too small. He stood there in shock, covered in sweat, his limbs shaking uncontrollably. Realizing he had something in his hands, he finally shifted his gaze to it. In one hand he had a picture of a young woman and in the other hand, an over sized duffle bag. The added weight and pressure on his back and around his shoulders told him he was also carrying a backpack. "What the hell is this?" He looked around. "Where the hell am I?"
He received something of an answer as the UN forces attacked the Angel, which struck another one of their aircraft and sent it crashing to the ground, no more than 20 meters from him. Kazuki screamed as debris flow in every direction. Seeing the giant creature for the first time, one thought came to his mind. "No, not again!"
Just then, Misato came skidding to a stop in her car and opened the passenger door. "Sorry to have kept you waiting..."
Not hesitating for introductions, Kazuki jumped in and slammed the door shut. "Go! Go! Go! Go!" He yelled as the purple haired woman in a mini-dress sped off.
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Streets of Tokyo3
---
As Misato Katsuragi and Kazuki Yotsuga sped away, Kazuki spun around in his seat to look out the rear window and see the giant monster continue to make short work of the UN aircraft.
"What on earth is that thing, some kind of giant robot?" he asked. Did I leap into another parallel world? Wait, that doesn't look anything like the artifact robots I battled before. Hmm, honestly, it doesn't even look metal. He continued to stare at the mammoth creature.
"No, no robot. And it's not of this earth either. It's an angel," replied Misato.
He turned around in his seat and secured his seat belt. "An angel?" He glanced back once more. "I thought angels were benevolent beings sent from God. What kind of angel looks like that?" He stared skeptically at her.
"There are god-sent angels, and demon-sent angels as well. What these are, I'm not sure but they are definitely angels, or at least that's what the Dead Sea Scrolls call them."
"But why are they here?"
They are here to destroy mankind." Misato's eyes never left the road as they zoomed around abandoned cars and construction sights.
"Destroy mankind?" Kazuki whispered to himself, looking down at his lap. Glancing to his right he noticed a folder with a picture paper clipped to it. He picked it up and read the name across the top. "Shinji Ikari."
Misato snickered. "Must be an old picture, ay Shinji-kun."
He stared wide-eyed at her. "Excuse me?"
"You look much more mature in person; I'm guessing that picture was taken, what two, three years ago?"
"Ahh" He stared at the picture. She thinks I'm this, Shinji Ikari person. But I don't look anything like this boy. Do I? He opened the folder and began reading it. Born June 6th, 2001 … what! That's impossible. That would make him just over a month old. He closed the folder and stared at the picture. This boy's got to be like 14 or 15 years old. Turning back to the driver, he asked, "Excuse me… Ka.." He quickly pulled the picture out of his pocket and read the name on it again, then just as quickly placed it back in his pocket. "Katsuragi-san-"
"Oh please, call me, Misato," she said with a smile.
"Ah, okay, M…Misato-san… this is going to sound strange but, what's the date?"
"The date?" She shot him a questioning glance.
"Yes, please, what is today's date?" A measure of insistence resonated in his voice.
"Today is June 11th, of course. Did you hit your head on something out there, Shinji-kun?"
"And the year, what's the year?" Small droplets of sweat started to bead up on his forehead.
"Year? Are you joking?" the driver asked, and started to laugh. "What, did seeing that angel scare you so much you're now suffering from amnesia?"
"Please! Misato-san, I know it sounds crazy but… what year is it?" he pleaded.
"It's 2015, of course." She gave him another confused glance.
"2015?" Kazuki's eyes glazed over. 2015, how is that even possible? I've lost up to a month before, leaping from universe to universe but… but not 14 years. He stared out the front windshield, his eyes unfocused. Commander Sanada would be 65 now. And Mitsuki, oh my god! My Mitsuki would be 35! This realization brought him out of his stupor as his eyes darted around in search of something, anything to be able to see his own reflection. Finally, he grabbed the rearview mirror and turned it to look at himself.
"Hey, I need that!" Misato yelled but Kazuki paid no attention. He studied the face that was staring back at him. I haven't aged a day. No wonder she thinks I'm this, Shinji-kun character.
He let go of the mirror and she quickly readjusted it for herself while shooting him a stern look. "What? Was a hair out of place?"
"Sorry… it's just that…" He trailed off. I need to tell her I'm not Shinji-kun, who ever he is. He looked at his form-fitting outfit. Probably the owner of these clothes. He looked over at Misato. "Katsu… I mean Misato-san. There's something I have to tell you."
"Hold that thought, Shinji-kun," she said as she slammed on the brakes and turned the wheel hard causing the car to spin to the right 120 degrees. Coming to a stop, she pulled out a pair of field binoculars and looked out at the distant mountain peak. "Hey! It can't be... Are they going to use an N2-mine?! Lie down!" She grabbed Kazuki and pulled him down, covering him with her body.
Though face down with his eyes squeezed shut and Misato lying on top of him; the brightness of the explosion filled his eyes with light. A moment later the force of the shockwave from the explosion invaded his senses as the car was flipped over numerous times, finally coming to rest on its side.
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Room 303, Saitama General Hospital, Saitama Prefecture
---
After checking the patient's vitals one more time, the doctor walked up to Commander Sanada and Captain Schwael. "Well, the worst is over. He should be alright, considering. His brainwaves look good so I suspect there won't be any brain damage or long term memory loss, but only time will tell."
"Is he in a coma?" Yayoi looked at the motionless boy.
"No, just sleeping. The sedatives we gave him should keep him out for at least 3 or 4 hours." The doctor glanced back at his patient before returning his attention to them.
"But doctor, we need to question him, we need to find you who he is and where he's from, not to mention find out what happened to Kazuki-kun?" she insisted.
"That boy's been through a lot already. He nearly died. I suggest you wait till the morning to ask your questions."
"But doctor-" the captain continued to protest but was cut short by her commander.
"Very well doctor, but you won't mind if we post a guard at the door over night? Just as a precaution." The commander smiled.
After thinking about it for a minute, the doctor nodded. "I don't suspect the boy will be going anywhere anytime soon, but if you insist."
"I do." The commander assured him.
"Then be my guest. If you have no further questions for me, I still have other patients to see." The doctor nodded.
"Yes, of course, thank you for your time." The commander concluded and stepped aside to allow the man to pass.
Once the doctor was out the door, Yayoi addressed her boss. "Commander, I can get a base doctor to authorize reviving this boy now…"
"That won't be necessary, Captain."
"But Commander, Kazuki-kun might be …"
"In danger?"
She nodded.
"The thought occurred to me as well, but if there's anyone I have confidence in, to be able to handle any emergency, it's Kazuki-kun." He smiled. "Don't worry Yayoi-kun, our young pilot will be just fine. I'm sure of it." He patted her on she shoulder. "Let's go see how Rara-chan is doing."
She nodded again and walked out the patient's room, holding the door open for the commander. As he walked out, Sanada glanced back at the occupant of the sole bed in the room. "I hope you can answer our questions… and soon."
Getting off the elevator on the seventh floor, Commander Sanada and Captain Schwael spotted Mitsuki Sanada heading their way.
"Mitsuki, how is Rara-san's daughter doing?" asked Ken Sanada.
"She's resting peacefully now. They gave her something to relax her nerves, so she's been about to get some sleep. She woke up just now. She wanted to talk to her father. That's why I left the room. I was just heading down to see if there was any news about our visitor."
"Well, he's out of intensive care and is sleeping now. They say we should be able to question him in the morning," Ken Sanada answered.
Mitsuki sighed. "That may not be soon enough for Mitsuki-san. She keeps asking about Kazuki-kun." She rubbed her temples. "Daddy, do you have any idea what could have happened?"
"Hmm," he glanced up and down the hallway and gestured for the two of them to move over by the window with him. "I suspect that somehow the activation of Zinv along with the recent electro-magnetic disturbances may have caused a doorway in the space-time continuum, which sent Kazuki-kun elsewhere and brought this boy here."
"But sent Kazuki-kun where?" Yayoi asked.
"That we won't know until we can talk to our visitor. And even then we may not find out." Ken Sanada ran his finger and thumb along his chin.
"What do you mean?" his daughter asked.
"Well, I'm assuming that Kazuki-kun and this boy switched places in space-time but that may not be the case. It is possible that a chain in the space-time continuum was opened, sending Kazuki-kun to one alternate universe while sending an inhabitant from that universe to yet another alternate universe, and so on, until finally, this boy turned up in our universe. In addition, it's entirely possible that the chain may have looped back onto itself multiple times. In which case, Kazuki-kun may have leaped to multiple universes."
"If that happened, how on earth are we ever going to find him?" Yayoi managed to say what Mitsuki was thinking but was too afraid to put into words.
"All we can do is hope for the best." Ken Sanada scratched the top of his head and grinned.
"And what could that be?" Mitsuki finally spoke.
"That it was a simple one for one exchange, our Kazuki-kun for that boy downstairs."
They all nodded and prayed silently that that was the case.
.
.
"Daddy, how could this have happened?" Mitsuki Rara asked with tears in her eyes as she clung to her father's hand as if it were a lifeline preventing her from falling completely into despair.
"Don't worry, my little Mitsuki. We'll find him, I'm sure of it." The stout man smiled. "We have two of the greatest minds in the world of physics to solve this mystery and Kazuki-kun is a most resourceful and capable young man. I'm sure he's working on getting back home even as we speak."
"Oh Daddy, I hope you're right." She tried to smile but failed miserably as the tears streamed down the sides of her face. "I love him, Daddy. I love him so much it hurts."
Struggling to keep a strong front for his daughter, Commander Rara blinked his own tears way and leaned forward to give his only child a comforting hug. "There-there, my dear. I know, I know. And it's that love and Kazuki-kun's love for you that will bring him back to you. You'll see." Slowly, she began to settle down again. Her father brushed a few stray hairs from her face and smiled down at her again. "Try and get some sleep now. You'll need to be well rested if you want the doctors to let you out tomorrow."
She nodded. "Okay." As he let go of her hand, she asked. "Will you stay with my, Daddy?"
"Of course, Mitsuki. I was just going to move this chair closer." He gestured to a chair that was against the wall. He walked over to it and slid it next to the bed. "I'm not a young man. I can't stand all day long, anymore." He joked, giving her another reassuring smile.
This time she managed to smile back just for a moment before it slipped away and her eyes drifted shut.
Rara sat down on the chair and took his daughter's hand into his once again. Staring at her face, seeing lines of concern slowly fade away as she swiftly drifted off to sleep; he made a vow to her and to himself. "I'll bring your love back to you, Mitsuki. I promise, if I have to journey to hell and back myself, I will bring him back to you. Of this you can be sure." Now, with his daughter asleep, he allowed his own tears to fall; tears of a father agonizing over the pain his precious child was forced to endure.
.
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In Tokyo3
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Misato and Kazuki slowly climbed out of the car which lay on its side. Looking around Kazuki was amazed that they and the car survived the blast. The ground all around them had been laid to waste; even parts of the road asphalt crumbled and blew away.
Misato asked, "Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine," he said in between spitting sand and dirt from his mouth.
"That's fine! Are you ready?" She smiled and leaned against the hood of her car.
"Oh, yeah." The other world visitor duplicated her actions.
Misato strained. "Here goes!" And they turned the car back on its wheels.
"Thanks a lot. Good job." She grinned, dusting off her hands and her jacket.
"Misato-san… I feel there's something I should tell you," Kazuki started to say.
"I know; you're nervous about meeting your father," she interrupted.
"My father?" The teen gave her a confused look.
"I suppose three years is a long time to go without seeing your own father. But you must understand Shinji-kun; your father is a very important man. His work takes up all his time." She reasoned with him.
"What work?" he asked.
"Well, commanding NERV, of course," she said, getting back in the car.
"NERV, what's NERV?"
"NERV is a secret organization under U.N. control whose sole purpose is to defeat the angels," she explained.
"Angels? Like that giant monster-thing we saw earlier?" He continued his line of questioning.
"Mmm hmm." She nodded.
Okay, so she thinks I'm this Shinji Ikari, and his father is the commander of an organization called NERV, and he hasn't seen his son in three years. How very convenient. Kazuki sighed.
"Are you waiting for an invitation?" Misato teased.
"Oh, sorry." He jumped in the car and they sped off.
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Author's Notes: I thought I posted this chapter already. If fact I know I did since I even got a review for not, but was rather disappointed when I only got one review. Then I saw it was not posted anymore. Hopefully, it stays up this time. Please review. Let me know what you think of the changes and of the story in general.
Thanks,
A. Amishi
To Be Continued…
