Shin Seiki EVANGELION: Tamashi no Refuran/ Neon Genesis EVANGELION: Soul Refrain
Episode 1- Saisei(Rebirth)
Shinji looked all about taking in his surroundings, he could hear the aircraft approaching in the background, no doubt engaged in battle with the Third Angel. Remembering that an incredibly loud sonic boom was about to shred through the air, Shinji quickly threw his hands over his ears. It didn't help much, but it was better than nothing.
'Why the hell isn't Misato here yet?'
A screaming tone could be heard echoing in the distance followed by dozens of explosions. Shinji recognized it as missle fire. Right now the United Nations Aerial Forces were enaged with the being known to NERV as the Third Angel. As if the very thought of the monstrosity had summoned it, the Angel stomped into view, heralded by the attacking VTOLs.
"Damn, that thing is still so ugly."
Shinji looked to the air to see the UN VTOLs futilely engaging the Angel, the hundreds of thousand rounds impacting uselessly against its A.T Field. He grimaced knowing that men and women were about to lose their lives combatting an enemy they knew nothing about.
After another useless hail of missiles exploded against its A.T Field, Sachiel swatted one of the VTOLs out of the air, the plummeting aircraft nearly crushing Shinji. He scambled away from the wreckage, just as he saw the Angel leap into the air.
"Of all the things I should have remembered, I didn't remember that."
Luckily he knew that it meant that the arrival of one Katsurai Misato was imminent. He could hear the roaring engine of her Renault Alpine, getting closer moments before the Angel of Water landed on the VTOL hulk, causing an explosion that knocked Shinji off his feet. A blue sports car screeched to a halt right in front of him, and Shinji couldn't imagine a more welcome sight at that moment.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting!"
Shinji nodded and scrambled into the car. When they were a safe distance away from the combat zone, Misato pulled over and pulled out a pair of binoculars. Shinji remembered the last time; Misato had thrown herself over him to protect him for the blast of the incoming N^2 mine. Shinji decided to return the favor.
"Wait... Don't tell me they're going to use an N^2 mine?!"
"GET DOWN!" Shinji threw himself over her to cover her from the initial blast. The shock wave flipped the blue Renault Alpine on its side. Its occupants poked their heads out and stared at the mushroom cloud.
When the sky returned to normal, Shinji leapt from the car, Misato climbing out after him, falling flat on her rear end. Shinji extended a hand to her with a friendly smile.
"Are you alright, Katsuragi-san?"
Misato accepted the hand and Shinji lifted her to her feet, causing the young woman to blush and giving her a weird feeling of deja vu.
"Misato is fine... You know, I feel like we've known each other for a long time..."
Shinji smiled at the notion.
"Perhaps we knew each other in a past life."
'Which is technically true. So far so good... I'll try to stick close to what happened originally as I can, for now.'
Shinji looked over to the flipped car, before proceeding to attempt flipping the vehicle back on its wheels. Misato was shaken from her reverie, running over to assist the young boy. After a good two or three shoves the Alpine landed back on its wheels with a thud.
"Thank you, Shinji-kun."
Misato looked at her car, the rollover had caused significant damage. There were dents all over the body and she didn't dare look under the hood to what kind of damage the mechanisms within had endured.
"What a mess... I don't think it'll get us back to headquarters."
"Will these do the trick, Misato-san?"
Misato turned to her right and saw Shinji carrying several batteries. It appeared that while Misato had been grieving the damage to her car, Shinji had walked to the nearby auto shop and grabbed the batteries.
"Yeah! You're pretty innovative."
Shinji blushed slightly as he helped the violet haired woman connect the batteries to her car.
"We might need a few more than this though, can you show me where you found these?"
"Sure, follow me."
Soon they were again zooming toward NERV HQ. Shinji heard Misato requesting a direct train line to HQ, and ensuring his safe arrival. After getting off the phone, Misato was uncharacteristically quiet, and if Shinji didn't know better, he would swear that she was holding an internal monologue.
"Misato-san? They won't mind if we use these will they?"
"Of course they won't. Besides I'm an international government agent."
Shinji laughed, remembering the first time he asked that question and she had given him that answer. But like a few other minor details so far, Shinji decided to go a different path.
"I suppose that's true."
'Phew, at least she didn't fishtail the car this time...'
Within a half hour they had finally arrived at the track where the train would take them to the Geofront, and the True beginning of Shinji's own scenario. Even as Misato pulled the car onto the train, Shinji was mentally setting his stage.
'Probably best to act like I don't know what's going on...'
"Special Duty Organization NERV?"
Shinji's question referred to the insignia of NERV emblazoned on the bulkhead of the railway, or so Misato assumed. His file said he had no previous connection to NERV, so such curiosity was only natural.
"Its a secret organization under the control of the United Nations."
"That's where Father is, right?"
Ikari Gendou's menacing figure flashed through the younger Ikari's mind, but he knew that things would be different this time around, he would make sure of it.
"Well yea. Do you know what he does?"
"My teacher told me his work is vital for the protection of the human race. So, you're taking me to Father."
"Pretty much."
A few minutes of silence passed. In the Original Timeline, Shinji had been gripped with apprehension. This time his silence was contemplative, as he prepared the first act to commence. Not to say he still wasn't nervous, indeed it was a grand undertaking he was about to embark upon, and he had to do so without arousing suspiscion.
"That reminds me, did you get an ID from your father?"
"Yeah."
Shinji dug the slip of paper out of his briefcase and presented it to Misato.
"Here it is."
"Thanks."
Misato took the piece of paper and inspected it before handing him a book.
"Then read this."
Shinji accepted the NERV Orientation Booklet. Though he knew its contents by heart, he feigned reading it anyway.
"Am I going to work for them too?"
Misato was silent. Shinji continued
"Of course, he wouldn't have sent me a letter unless he needed me for something."
"I see, so you don't get along with your father, I was the same way."
A moment later the tunnel opened into the Geofront, still beautiful, and Shinji once again feigned ignorance. Not that the Geofront wasn't a breathtaking sight everytime he saw it.
"Wow a real Geofront!"
"Yes, this is our secret base; NERV HQ, the key to rebuilding our world and a fortress for all mankind."
The Geofront disappeared from sight as the transport entered yet another tunnel, finally delivering them to the their destination. They began walking toward headquarters and rather than suffer Misato's lack of direction, Shinji immediately asked to see the interior map once they had entered the building.
Where are we going?"
Of course Shinji knew exactly where. But acted like he was looking to make sure the directions were right. When they reached the elevator, they bumped into Akagi Ritsuko, whom was genuinely shocked that she didn't have to wait for her old college friend to call her to help her find her way.
"Misato? Well this is a surprise, you didn't get lost for once?"
"All thanks to Shinji-kun here. His first time here, and he can read that damn map better than me. Shinji-kun this is Akagi Ritsuko-hakase, Head of Project E and the Beureau of Technologies here at NERV."
"So this is him?"
"Yes, I'm Ikari Shinji. I am honored to meet you Akagi-hakase."
"The Third Children according to the Marduk Report."
"He's quite unlike his father."
'And to think, last time they said you were just like him. You must be doing something right, Ikari.'
"Shinji-kun, I'd like to show you something, please come with me."
As if to answer Ritsuko's statement, the P.A began issuing an order to assume battle stations level one.
While Misato discussed the upcoming confrontation and the odds of EVA Unit 01's Activation. Shinji was preparing to put on the biggest act of his young life.
They entered the pitch black holding bay for EVA Unit 01.
"Its completely dark in here."
The lights activated on cue. And thus the act began.
Feigning shock, Shinji jumped at the sight of Evangelion Unit 01.
"A face?! A giant robot?!"
Shinji flipped through the manual, acting like he had the first time he was standing before Unit-01. Once again on cue, Ritsuko spoke.
"You won't find this in the manual. This is mankind's ultimate multipurpose Decisive Weapon; Synthetic Human EVANGELION: Unit-01. Built in absolute secrecy, its mankind's trump card.
"Is this part of what my father's been doing?"
"Correct."
The booming voice that had once intimidated Shinji echoed from above.
"Its been a while."
"Father..."
As he feigned fear, Shinji saw his father smirk.
"We're moving out!"
Misato was shocked by the commander's order.
"Moving out?! Unit-00 is still in cryo-stasis, isn't it?"
Misato glanced over at Evangelion Unit-01 and realized the game plan.
"You're not planning to use Unit 01?!"
"There's no other way."
Ritsuko's response only seemed to make Misato even more debative.
"Hold on! Rei can't do it yet, can she? We've got no pilot!"
"One has just been delivered."
"Are you serious?"
Ritsuko turned her attention to Shinji.
"Ikari Shinji."
"Yes?"
"You will pilot it."
Misato interjected quickly.
"But even Ayanami Rei took seven months to synch with her EVA. Its impossible for him to do it, he just got here!"
"He just has to sit in the seat. We don't expect more than that."
"But..."
"Repelling that Angel is our ultimate priority. To do that we have no choice but to put aboard the EVA whomever has the chance to synchronize with it, no matter how slight. I believe you know that, Katsuragi-ichii."
"I suppose..."
Now that Misato and Ritsuko were done bickering, Shinji once again spoke, he knew the answers to the questions he was about to ask, but forced the words out.
"Father, why did you send for me?"
"You know exactly why."
"So you want me to take THIS thing and fight THAT thing?"
"That's right."
"No way. Why now? I thought you didn't need me!"
"I called you because I have a need for you"
"Why?"
"Because no one else can."
"I can't... I've never seen anything like this before! I can't do this!"
'Okay, so I just lied my ass off.'
"You will be instructed."
"But there's no way I can do this! I can't pilot it!"
"If you're going to pilot do it now, and quickly, if not, Leave!"
Everyone stared at him as the hanger began rumbling from the angel's rampage above. Staring upward, Gendou commented aloud.
"It must have detected our location."
Ritsuko, not knowing Shinji's act, pleaded with him once more.
"Shinji-kun, we don't have the time."
Now it was Misato's turn.
"Get into it."
'Thanks a lot, Misato-san...traitor.'
"No! I didn't come for this! It isn't fair!"
"Why exactly did you come, Shinji-kun? You mustn't run! Not from your father, and most of all, not from yourself."
"I know that! But there's no way I can do it!"
High above the Third Children, Shinji heard his father give the order to wake the First Children, and bring her to the hanger to pilot Unit-01. Ritsuko in turn ordered the system to be reconfigured to the First Children and prepped for reactivation an order with which the various technicians quickly complied.
'Its go time.'
Shinji's ears picked up the sound of the gurney wheels and foot steps before they even brought Rei into the hanger. Shinji watched as they pulled her by him, eyes meeting for but a moment. Rei struggled to sit up, and the sight of her in pain almost made Shinji rethink his strategy, but he held. The next blast from the angel caused the hanger to rock so hard that Rei's gurney toppled over. Had anyone paid close attention to Shinji's feet, they'd have seen him begin his sprint split seconds before the gurney began to tip. Shinji caught Rei in his Arms, and Unit 01's Arm moved to protect Shinji from the falling debris. Amongst the commotion, Shinji whispered something into Rei's ear
"I'll protect you."
Shinji glared up at his father, Rei still in his arms.
"You have a pilot, Father! I'll do it!"
Shinji used his leg to right the gurney before placing Rei upon it. Rei opened her good eye and could hazily make out the form of her savior.
Shinji was escorted by Ritsuko and several of her techs as he made his way up to the Entry plug if Unit-01. She was running down a list of procedures that Shinji already knew by heart. She left him half way to his destination to join the crew on the bridge. He made the rest of the climb flanked by technicians.
As soon as Shinji climbed into the entry plug, the activations checklist was run through. As LCL filled the plug, Shinji closed his eyes and steeled his nerves for battle. He wasn't looking forward to this, but he was the only one who could defeat the Angel.
'Let's do this, mother.'
Back in the Central Dogma, Ibuki Maya received a shock as Shinji synched with his EVA.
"Amazing, Sempai, His synch ratio is hold at an even 85%!"
"There must be an error."
"Negative, everything checks out! The MAGI confirm there are no errors present in the system"
"Its almost as if he's done this before."
Misato's voice echoed through the Central Dogma
"Prepare for Launch!"
All around Shinji, Locks and braces were moving away from his EVA, and it was being moved to the ejector pad. His hands flexed around the control yokes, he breathed in deep even breaths, his mind clearing with every exhale.
"Launch path is clear. All systems; Green."
Even as the EVA rocketed up ward, Shinji maintained his calm. Only when he reached the surface of Tokyo-3 did Shinji open his eyes; looking square at the Angel.
"Are you ready, Shinji-kun?"
"Yeah."
"Release safety locks! EVA Unit 01, Lift off!"
Ritsuko's voice replaced Misato's on the comm.
"Shinji-kun, just concentrate on walking right now."
'Alright, lets give it a little shake, make it look like I'm trying .'
Unit-01 took a step forward, trembling slightly, and then another step, trembling less.
"It walked! He's doing it!"
Shinji noticed the Angel in front of him tense up as it prepared to attack.
At the Very Beginning
We Were Created
'Oh Ritsuko-san, I'll do more than walk.'
Unit-01 leapt into the air, flipping in mid-air to land heel first in what appeared to be Sachiel's face, propelling the Third Angel backward.
"I need to finish you quick."
To Live Together But Soon
We Hated
Sachiel lunged for Unit-01's arms which Shinji deftly avoided, remembering all too well his first run in with the Angel of Water. Instead Shinji grabbed Sachiel and began to pull its arms in opposite directions before head butting the beast. Sachiel made several more attempts to grapple EVA 01, which earned it several punches to the face.
'Not this time! '
Within NERV HQ, everyone from Gendou and Fuyutsuki, to Misato and Ritsuko watched in silent awe, every mouth on the bridge hanging open. Shinji booted the angel a clear hundred yards. Unit-01 charged at Sachiel only to collide with its A.T. Field. Shinji chuckled spreading his own A.T. Field and using it to tear through his opponent's A.T. Field.
"It's neutralizing the phase space."
"No, its eroding it!"
In Greed and Selfishness We,
Could Never Prosper
"It's over."
"Yes, it seems so."
Created Enemies
Against God's Will
EVA 01 hoisted Sachiel and German Suplexed it into the street. The EVA followed the attack with a punt to the Angel's core, followed by several successive kicks. The Evangelion stomped down on the Angel's Core, Shinji shouting his rage with each blow.
For an instant the Angel managed to knock Unit-01 back into a building and recover its footing.
At the Very Beginning
We Were Created
To Live Together But Soon
We Hated
The advantage was short lived as Unit-01 charged the wounded Angel down. The EVAs fists rained down on the monstrous creature, its mask-like face cracking more with each blow.
Shinji picked the beast up and began hammering the EVA's fists into Sachiel's core. Cracks began to for all over the red orb. Shinji backed the EVA up for a moment, unfortunately this gave the Angel time to maneuver, and it went for the EVA's arms. Shinji countered immediately grabbing both the Angel's arms in one hand, and with an effortless twist of the wrist, snapped them like twigs.
In Greed and Selfishness We,
Could Never Prosper
Created Enemies
God's Will
EVA 01 deployed its Progressive Knife from its right shoulder pylon. Shinji grabbed the Angel by what appeared to be eye sockets and forced it against a building. Fir the next several seconds the prog knife was driven into the Angel's Core over and over, sparks flying as Shinji drove the blade in once more and twisted it sideways as if to drive the point home. A Fierce Red light began to glow from Sachiel's core. Misato panicked
"Its going to use the last of its energy to self-destruct?!"
"Oh no you don't!"
At the Very Beginning
We Were Created
To Live Together But Soon,
We Hated
In Greed and Selfishness We
Could Never Prosper
Created Enemies Against
God's Will
Shinji pulled the Prog-knife free of Sachiel's core, then proceeded to slice the angel in half starting at its crotch, through its core, and all the way through its head. The Angel slid into two halves smearing purple blood all over the building as it slid down. Labored, exhausted breathing from the pilot was the only sound for a minute before anyone spoke. The voice of Aoba Shigeru shattered the silence.
"T-target has gone silent."
Cheers exploded within the Central Dogma. Ritsuko was beyond impressed with the EVA and its pilot.
"He did it! Unbelievable! What skill!"
Despite everyone's excited chatter, Misato's concern was for the young pilot.
"Shinji-kun, are you alright?"
Silence once again reigned, broken only by more exhausted breathing.
"I'm fine, Misato-san... I'm just so damn tired..."
On screen Shinji-slumped backward.
"Shinji-kun!"
Inspecting brain wave patterns of the pilot, Ritsuko assured the purple-haired captain.
"Calm down, Katsuragi-ichii, he just fell asleep."
-NERV Infirmary Wing-
Shinji awoke in a hospital bed. The same hospital bed he had been in time and time again.
'You know, they should just call this the 'Ikari Room'... Man. I don't think I've ever concentrated on defeating an Angel that hard before, I wonder how synchronized with Unit-01 I was.'
Shinji sat up and slipped off the bed. He had been successful in destroying the Third Angel, albeit causing a lot more damage than he would have liked. But that Angel was just the first of many obstacles to come. In three weeks, The Fourth Angel would appear. In that minute amount of time, Shinji had quite a few things to accomplish.
'Damn, this saving the world shit still sucks.'
Shinji stopped walking realizing he'd traveled quite a distance from his room. He peered inside the room to his right, and saw a girl with blue hair and alabaster skin.
"Rei."
'Am I ready for this?'
Swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat.
'No, I can't think like that. Kaworu said it was up to me to overcome my demons'
Shinji opened the hospital room door and slipped into the room unnoticed. He had some time before Misato showed up, if his memory served him correctly. The albino girl noticed Shinji enter the room and turned her head enough to see him out of her good eye. He smiled at her as he grabbed a chair nearby and set it beside her bed, on her left side.
"Hello."
"You are Commander Ikari's son, correct?"
"Yep. I am the Third Children, designated pilot of EVANGELION Unit 01; Ikari Shinji. And you are Ayanami Rei, right?"
Rei looked at Shinji a moment, he had a gentle smile on his face.
'Ikari-kun's smile... it makes me feel warm... It is a pleasant feeling, an almost...familiar feeling.'
"Yes. I am the First Children, Ayanami Rei. Ikari-kun, why are you in my hospital room?"
"I wanted to make sure you were alright, you took a pretty nasty tumble, Ayanami."
" I have received no further injuries. Ikari-kun."
"Shinji."
"What?"
"Call me Shinji. Ikari sounds too formal. I hope I can call you Rei."
Rei felt the warmth again.
"That would be acceptable, Ika...Shinji-kun."
Shinji smiled even wider, this might be easier than he had originally thought.
"I'm glad, Rei-san. But if I may ask, why would you climb into Unit-01 in your condition."
"I was ordered to."
Shinji frowned.
"So, you'd kill yourself if he ordered you to?"
"Yes."
"What about what you want? Doesn't that matter?"
"I-"
The two were interrupted by a nurse that had come to check up on Rei. Shinji stood up and prepared to leave, but turned to Rei one last time.
"Get better soon, Rei-san. Bandages don't suit pretty girls like you."
Shinji leaned over and kissed Rei's forehead, causing her to blush, before picking up the chair and placing it by the wall, then leaving the room. The nurse turned to Rei.
"Your boyfriend?"
"Boyfriend?"
"You know, someone who cares for you with all his heart, someone who loves you."
The nurse went about checking things as she spoke.
"No. I do not have...a boyfriend."
"Well my advice is to not let that one get away. He's the kind that'll make you happy."
Shinji was sitting in the waiting room when Misato finally arrived.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, that fight just really wore me out, that's all."
Misato smiled.
"Well come on"
"Yeah."
Misato's Renault Alpine sped away from NERV. Shinji once again had played his part to perfection, he was assigned to live Misato, who was now insisting on a welcoming party. Knowing Misato's penchant for instant ramen with her possibly toxic curry, Shinji volunteered to cook.
"Do you mind if we make a small detour?"
"Where?"
"Some place really cool."
She stopped at the lookout point overlooking most of Tokyo-3. No matter how many times Shinji saw this place, it was always beautiful. As the buildings rose out from the ground Shinji said only one word;
"Beautiful."
"You can say that again, Shinji-kun. This is our city, New Tokyo-3. Its the city you saved."
Shinji nodded quietly.
'And I'll save it again.'
-Katsuragi Residence-
Shinji followed behind Misato with a grocery bag in his arms. She unlocked the door and entered, Shinji following. The chaos that was Misato's apartment nearly sent Shinji into cardiac arrest.
'I'd forgotten this hell. No. I blocked it out. Oh man...'
Shinji went about cleaning up Misato's apartment, then preparing dinner. He put a fish and a can of Yebisu down for Penpen, knocking on his fridge to notify the warm water penguin. He set Misato's beer down beside her place at the Table. As he finished up in the kitchen, Shinji heard Misato gasp.
"Shinji-kun... this is... amazing."
"It was the least I could do, Misato-san."
Shinji squatted and patted Penpen on his head, the Penguin squawking happily. Misato watched the scene, once again seized by that feeling of familiarity.
"Let's Eat!"
"Yeah. Let's Eat !"
After eating the miniature feast that Shinji had prepared, Shinji cleaned up the table and washed the dishes. It was then that Misato spotted a folded up peice of paper. She opened it up and saw it was a chart of chores. See that she had found his chart Shinji spoke as he dried the dishes.
"I took the liberty of drawing up a chart of chores. That's alright isn't it?"
"But, Shinji-kun, you've taken on so many."
"That's alright, it helps me keep my mind busy."
Shinji finished drying the dishes and putting them away. When he turned around, Misato was right behind him.
"Misato-san?"
Misato didn't reply, instead opting to pull Shinji into a tight hug.
"You sweet, sweet man."
The use of the term man hadn't been lost on the young Ikari. He also couldn't help blushing as Misato practically smothered him with her breasts.
"Misato-san...Can't breathe..."
When Misato released him from her death grip of a hug. Shinji inhaled a deep breath. While death by breast would have been a great way to go, Shinji had opted to continue living, and take care of his critical mission.
"Sorry about that, Shinji-kun. I know! Why don't you take a bath and relax. Everything in the last couple of days must have really worn you out."
"Yeah. that sounds like a good idea."
As Shinji headed toward the bathroom, it didn't even occur to the NERV Operations Director to ask how Shinji knew that Penpen liked Yebisu and fish.
Shinji soaked in the bath, the warm water massaging away his stress. Staring up at the ceiling, Shinji found himself lost in thought. He rolled the changes in his personality around in his head, trying to figure out the cause. Then his thoughts drifted to Ayanami Rei.
'Rei. I won't let Father treat you like a puppet this time. You deserve so much better. Even if it kills me, I'll protect you. And Father, I'll save you from yourself.'
Shinji got out of the tub and dried himself off as the water drained. A soft knock on the door alerted him. Wrapping the towel around his waist, Shinji slid the door open expecting the warm water penguin, but was instead face to face with the busty ops director wearing naught but a green towel.
"Mi-mi-mi-Misato-san!"
'Oh man! What the hell's going on here?! Pull yourself together Ikari! She wouldn't try anything...would she?!'
Giggling slightly at Shinji's beet red face and panicked expression, Misato ruffled the teen's hair.
"You did a very praiseworthy thing today."
Visibly calming, Shinji replied.
"I did what I had to do. If I didn't do it, Father would have made her do it, even in the condition she was in."
"Ritsuko's right, you and your father are practically different species."
Shinji nodded. Still aware of both of their lack of clothing, Shinji decided he'd best move to his room, lest he get flustered once again.
"I'm going to bed now, Misato-san"
"Alright, Shinji-kun, see you in the morning."
Shinji walked past Misato and was halfway down the hall when an idea struck him.
"Misato-san, if you have some free time, Could you...teach me how to swim?"
Misato stared at him a moment, then smiled.
"Sure thing. Shinji-kun, I have some time off coming."
"Arigatou, Misato-san."
With that out of the way, Shinji continue to his room.
"You should have seen him Ritsuko! He cleaned the entire place, he's an amazing cook, and he took most of the chores on himself! I tell ya, I think I'm in love."
"Oh come on now, Misato. He's only fourteen."
"I know! I Know! Geez, can't you take a joke?!"
"Of course I can, yours just aren't funny"
"Ah, shut up. Anyway, get this; he asked me to teach him how to swim, isn't that the sweetest thing?"
"It did mention in his profile that he did not know how to swim. But, yes, that is touching."
Misato shifted her position in the tub slightly.
"Well, Misato, I have a lot of work tonight. So I'll talk to you later."
"Alright, talk to ya later, Ritchan."
After hanging up the phone, Misato sat in the tub a while longer, thinking to herself.
'Not that I'd tell Ritsuko, but something feels right about that kid, like I couldn't imagine him not being here... Penpen warmed up to him right away too. Ah maybe I'm thinking too much on this.'
Shinji lie in bed staring at the cieling. Once upon a time, he had laid here, and was haunted by his first battle. Now, unfortunately, a seasoned veteran who remembered every strategy used to defeat the Angels, Shinji just stared at the ceiling, mulling over his "scenario." He would have been fifteen soon, But such things were irrelevant, he had a mission to fulfill.
'I will defeat the Angels and save Rei without fail.'
Shinji settled into sleep still contemplating his scenario.
Little did Shinji know, a certain EVA pilot was thinking about him across the city; in the NERV infirmary.
The Third Children had been so kind to her, even though they had just met. She wished to learn more about this boy.
'Ikari Shinji-kun... You...intrigue me. I wish to learn more about you. Why do I feel... comfortable, around you, yet uncomfortable when you are not here. Also, this feeling of familiarity; why does it grip me so? What should I do?'
Rei closed her eyes and saw a partial image in the depths of her mind. She heard but one phrase;
"You can just smile."
Continued...
Next Chapter- Shinji starts school! (Again) Touji beats him up. (Again.) Shamshel attacks (AGAIN! Jesus Christ! Do I see a pattern here or what?!) But before that, dreams haunt the First and Third Children and NERV Ops. Director. Gendou goes "WTF, mate" about Shinji's mysterious personality shift. Shinji plots and Rei wants to learn more about him.
Next Chapter- Yume (Dream)
HONORIFICS
{I won't cover -san, -kun, or -sama here, I know you guys know these ones}
-hakase: Used for PhDs and professors
-ichii: Captain, Military Rank.
Song: "At The Very Beginning" -Sagisu Shiro
A/N: Addressing the problem with Asuka that one of my reviewers brought up, I do have something special planned for her in the rough drafts, but I am curious of your opinions, barring Shinji and Rei, who would you pair Asuka with?
EDIT: 01/27/2015
Well, two episodes tidied up and reuploaded, this one was considerably easier than the Prologue overhaul, I plan to continue through the first five episodes.
EDIT 01/29/2015
I believe I've brought this Chapter to its final form, and barring people complaining about the song in middle of the battle, I believe that its going to stay this way.