Reunion of Angels

Disclaimer: I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion. Someone beardy does.

Chapter two: Reawakened feelings, revisited past

Rei Ayanami opened her eyes, her crimson pupils reflected in the glass ceiling. She sat up in shock, trying to make sense of her surroundings. It was rarely that she woke in somewhere she does not know.

"You're awake." He walks over casually, a smile as usual on his pale face. "How do you like my home?"

She blinked, then looked around. Everything was made of glass, or marble. The silvery chandelier swayed lazily to the winds that followed Nagisa as he walked in, almost matching the rhythm of her heart, her inhuman heart.

"It is… different. But acceptable." She would never admit she liked it. Not yet, at least.

"That is well." He replies.

Then she turned and looked at him. His hands in his pockets, he was in his usual attire, comprising of what looked like a school uniform. And somehow, unable to control herself, she smiled.

He watches her intently, as if fearing that had he looked away, she would disappear. Then easily, he spread his wings.

They were different from how she remembered them to be. Instead of the dark black feathers that radiated power and death, they were now a bright crimson. A scarlet that glinted under the sun, prove of the blood he had spilled, but spilled justly. A ferocity that was shown, the beauty of his soul evident, as wings don't lie.

"You changed."

"Of course, Ayanami-san. And it was all because of and for you. My memories of you reminded me of the true way I should be. You saved me from falling and became my redemption. More so, I thought if I changed, you would come back to me…" his voice faltered. They both know she didn't, and neither wanted to mention that.

There was so much that happened before. A twinge of guilt hit her in the gut. He had hoped for so long, when she was trying to forget him. But she couldn't, however much she tried. What they endured together was what forged their relationship in the first place, and there are still some truths yet to be found.

Rei stood up, gazing into the sun, perhaps remembering their pasts. Kaworu looked down, seemingly to have expected something else from this meeting. But he hid his chagrin with a smile. As he always does. She knows, but she doesn't say anything about it. He held out his hand.

"Let's have breakfast, shall we?"

—-

It was a salad. The type with the vegetables freshly picked and the sweetest tomatoes. Rei must had to admit that she quite enjoyed it, with it being her favourite dish, and he must remember that too. They ate in silence, each deep in thought. Rei extended her wings gently, glad that she can have them out. They have been hidden for far too long, and it was tiring. The feathers were white, and unlike Kaworu's wings of light, hers were rather real. You could touch those large wings, feeling the softness of their parts. It was a stark contrast to Kaworu's, and such was the irony that Kaworu's power was of the Light, while Rei's was of the Dark.

Finally, as both stared at their empty dishes blankly, he spoke up. As he always did. "I believe you may want to learn about everything concerning the Seeds of Life, and what is happening to you."

"That is correct."

"Let us pay a visit, then, to the past, and of course, Terminal Dogma."

She shook upon hearing that name. She doesn't forget, what Ikari Gendo tried to do to her on that fateful day. The day she fought back along with Kaworu and the two found their freedom and their followers. Their Angels.

But she must. Kaworu was her only chance of finding out what is happening, and the whole truth. She gazed upwards, into his deep bloodred eyes, then nodded.

"Let us go."

Their steps were silent. Downwards in a spiral they went, and it reminded her of Dante's Inferno. Neither needed lights, as Kaworu could see perfectly well in the dark as demonstrated, while Rei was basically a beacon herself. She glowed. Her wings stretched out behind her, the light seeping into every corridor.

They descended down, until they stopped before a door. The door she was unable to leave years ago. On it it said, 'Gehirn Artificial Human Evolution Laboratory'. More like a containment centre, she thought. Without hesitation Kaworu pushed the door open.

Rei stared at it. The two glass tubes in the middle of the room, where she was kept. All the tests they ran on her, the endless pain. He was her only solace, the prove that she wasn't alone. She wasn't lonely. And this was where she was created, the orange liquid what formed her, but not what she is now.

She was called. Gendo Ikari told her to follow. And so she did. They went all the way down. To the place. The floor as they stood before Lilith. She already had Lilith implanted within her then, and so she felt the call. But Ikari didn't let her. He tried to keep her away. He tried to make her a doll of his. She wasn't a doll. She was an Angel, even if she was artificial. She wouldn't just follow a mortal's will.

She cried for help. To free her from the shackles of such mortals with ill will.

And so the other Angels came to her. Armisael was the first. She led the others as they tore Ikari to shreds. They shielded her with their wings. They treated her as one of their own.

They made her feel warm.

And Kaworu came soon after, apologising for not being quick enough. But the Angels, some of them seemed to approve, or even be proud of what he did, but others said his path is falling through the night. She realised what they meant when she walked past the many dying along the corridors.

For a few years they stayed together. They went to Evangelion Combat School together. They took both classes. But he was so, so cruel. He changed. He found the joy in bringing pain to what he considered a lesser race who wronged them. She couldn't really deny it, she was afraid. And so she left. After a while, He returned to Berlin by himself, and occasionally she would hear of massacres there. She wondered if it was her fault.

She returned to the school. She enjoyed it there, she pretended to. It reminded her of the good times, when Kaworu would smile at her, his eyes untainted by the blood and violence. And there she stayed. For so many years. She couldn't believe it was only eight.

Blinking, she turned towards Kaworu, who was also deep in thought. He tilts his head, then gestured for her to enter. Without further ado, he took out a pile of documents for her to examine. She took a seat at what was Dr Ritsuko Akagi's table, and started reading.

-—-—

Meanwhile, the thoughts Kaworu had were different. It was also the day of their freedom that he thought of, but he remembers it as the day he changed. The day they made him an Angel.

He stood before the Seele council. They surround him, the monoliths floating in the air.

"The time has come to bring about the evolution of mankind," Said Seele 09.

"And through the power of the union of the mysterious beings, known as Adam and Lilith," Said Seele 07.

"Our wishes shall be fulfilled. Mankind will take a step towards purification and paradise." Said Seele 11.

"The chosen children, created through our efforts will be the guide to the new world." Said Seele 04.

"Today we will bestow upon them the power of those above. They will set us free." Said Seele 10.

Kaworu smiled inwardly. They were fools to believe that once he received such power he would remain a puppet of theirs. He will take Rei along with him and leave behind this forsaken place.

"Nagisa Kaworu, you were made to receive the soul and power of Adam. You shall become what is known as an Angel." Said Seele 03.

"Through you, our artificial Angel, we will achieve instrumentality." Said Seele 12.

"And now you stand a perfect example of mankind's strength and power, the power of creation." Said Seele 08.

"Ayanami Rei, your counterpart, is now receiving the power of Lilith. Your joining with her is what is required." Said Seele 06.

"So step forward and ready yourself as you are the key to the future of our kind." Said Seele 05.

He complied.

"The plan of ours have finally came to fruition, with this day."

The monolith of Seele 01 disappeared, and instead Keel Lorenz sat before him. In his hands he held a bright crimson orb with deference. Without warning, he shoved it into Kaworu's chest, the orb entering into the very 'core' of his being. He winced slightly in pain, as the fibre of his being changed into something else. Something different. Something higher.

He hears voices. Beautiful voices welcoming him, calling him by the name of Tabris. They tell him he is the Angel of Free Will, and he is given such the power to choose. And he did. At that very moment, he did.

He chose Rei.

Adam was from then on a part of him, and as he opens his eyes again, he saw his pale skin glowing, and his eyes, his eyes saw so much more. The souls of Seele, he could see so clearly. And in his hand, he held a twisted Spear, which turned into a katana at his silent command. He realises what they deserved. And years of being at their beck and call had filled him with an inhuman hatred for Lilin, as he calls them now.

So he became the punishment. The judgement. He killed them all. Strangely, you could kill monoliths. You can destroy their souls. They seemed joyful to see him awaken, but their faces turned to those of horror as he began his purge, an insane smile on his face as he stained the room with their blood.

And he saved Keel for last. His death was ritual-like, as he tore out his very heart, and showed Lorenz himself how twisted it was.

He then proceeded on to everyone else, sparing no one. He brought pain and death, becoming an Angel of Death. And yet, he suddenly heard Ayanami's call. He rushed there, afraid to see her hurt, but was relieved to see that his fellow Angels had protected her. And they left this place behind. This past, this pain.

Until now.

Far away, in the operations base of Antarctica, a purple-haired woman received a call.

"Hey Katsuragi-san, missed me?"

"Shut up, Kaji Ryoji. Just tell me what I need to know."

"As you wish. You remember I used to be a spy for your organisation at Seele?"

"What about it?" If it concerns that dead organisations, it was bad.

"They tried to create Angels, eight years ago, remember? It ended badly, as the whole place was wrecked for no particular reason. We thought no one survived. But apparently the victims did. I did a bit of research, and all I got was that there was a grey haired boy and a blue haired girl. Couldn't find their names. They were both albinos with red eyes. I asked the JSSDF, who actually had been pursuing the girl, as the boy disappeared. They were discovered near Evangelion Combat School in Tokyo-3. And worst of all, a Sea Of Dirac was found."

"That is bad. They must have really became Angels, and with what Seele does, they must hate mankind. Do you think they will lead the Angels in another war against us?"

"I worry about that also. I will try to investigate more into this. I'll give you whatever I have, and that goes beyond information…"

"Stop flirting Ryoji."

Misato Katsuragi hung up. Her organisation, Wille was dedicated to preventing another war with Angels as the last had caused Second Impact. As if they haven't had enough trouble with demons, nephilim and others. Perhaps she needs to send out her best two agents after all.

Retrieving Kaji Ryoji's files from the computer, she turned to the penguin next to her.

"Hey Pen-pen, can you fetch me Asuka and Shinji?"

Pen pen nods, before shifting into a human form and walking out the door.