Evangelion: Tale of Ono
Chapter 1: The Girl on the Train
It would never not seem strange to Shinji how everyone was able to return to their normal lives after an Angel attack. The city was as bustling as ever the day he returned to school. Sure his friends spoke of what occurred, Kensuke Aida vowing to never miss a single second of an attack now that his friend hacked Nerv's street surveillance a week ago, but their conversations never felt genuinely enthusiastic. Ken and Toji Suzuhara would never understand the weight on Shinji's shoulders despite their time in the cockpit against the Angel Shamshel. Shinji, again as with Asuka, described the inside of the Angel called Leliel as an insufferable heat to cover for his sudden bouts of nervous twitching when he believed no one was looking. The notion that the voice in the hospital may return with its promised punishment at any time visibly unnerved the poor boy. Worse yet he still hadn't the slightest idea how to search for the supposed surviving Angel.
A few days later during Shinji's morning class in which the teacher droned as usual the bored pilot fell asleep chin in palm. The dream was bizarre for Shinji found the place he sat was none other than the train car where his father abandoned him at the tender age of four. The sun was setting on the horizon which sent orange light across the cabin causing Shinji to be blinded. A figure sat opposite the blinded teen in the shadows created by the glaring sunbeam. The dark silhouette gave the impression of slim girl his age wearing his school's uniform with long black hair flowing down to the shoulders. The mysterious person's voice also sounded like a girl.
"Hello Shinji Ikari," spoke the figure in a calm voice. "My name is Sachiko Sugawara."
"He-hello...," stuttered Shinji clearly lost for words.
"I know you have a lot of questions, but those will have to wait until you've answered mine," spoke the shadow again this time sounding nervous. "Understand?"
"Yes," answered the confused boy.
"Now, tell me what you think of your father…" inquired the specter.
"I-well-um," began Shinji until he realized he was dreaming and his anger for the first time took control. "My father is a cold hearted bastard! If he wasn't Commander of Nerv and I didn't need to be an Eva Pilot I would tell him how much I hate him then never see the man again!"
"Do you know how he became Nerv Japan's Commander?" asked the apparition
"He probably used my mother's position as scientist," sneered Shinji as he cast a glare towards the door on his left.
"Do you believe he has mistreated people other than yourself?"
"Most people make him out as a sort of dictator so probably."
"Do you believe he has ordered someone to be killed before?"
"Yes," answered Shinji after a moment of deep thought causing the shadow to clench her skirt.
Before the now irritated boy could start his own inquisition the apparition stood and sat next to him revealing that it was indeed a girl sporting black hime styled hair. Her eyes were such a dark shade of brown they appeared to be the color of obsidian. Shinji noticed she was a few centimeters shorter than him and her face was pallid, narrow, and wore a grim expression. Her breathe hitched as she touched his shoulder. The boy was immobilized allowing the girl called Sachiko to whisper into his ear in a disheveled tone.
"Meet me in the park at the corner of Kurosawa Avenue and Kambei Boulevard after school," spoke Sachiko. "All your questions will be answered."
The awakening of Shinji Ikari was abrupt due to the friendly intervention of Toji pulling the unconscious boy's hand out from under his head causing him to slump into his desk. It was lunch time and Toji, being the good pal he is, proceeded to warn Shinji that the Red Demon was on a fast approach and looking terribly hungry. Shinji immediately scrambled for his bag and pulled out Asuka's lunch that sat atop his own. Already sporting a dirty look the German girl scoffed as her lunch was hastily pawed into her waiting palm. Thankfully Toji felt generous enough not to make a scene and the rest of the day went about as normal. Shinji was not surprised he felt guilty as he lied to his friends that he wasn't able to spend time with them that afternoon due to Nerv related business.
The park as mentioned by the girl in his dream turned out to exist much to Shinji's unease. He was hoping the vision was all a product of his imagination. Within the center of the small woodland area there was a lone cement bench. Sitting upon the right side of the bench facing Shinji was, unfortunately, a familiar face. Sachiko Sugawara looked as if an Angel was about to step on her in that she did not look terrified, but rather accepted her fate. She sat as still as possible with a perturbed expression until Shinji came into her line of sight. The distraught girl blinked twice as her gaze followed every movement Shinji took toward sitting on the far left side of the bench.
"Nerv can't hear us here," muttered Sachiko suddenly, "Ask me anything you want."
"How did put yourself in my head," bumbled Shinji as he looked straight forward refusing to look at the girl.
"I-I-um-I'm a psychic," responded the girl in a dejected tone, "I know it sounds absurd."
"Not really," said Shinji unsurely, "I mean with Angels existing the power to read minds doesn't sound unbelievable."
"You…you believe me?" gasped Sachiko as she scooted closer to the boy. "I never thought anyone would…wow…"
"Can I ask another question," asked Shinji who glanced sideways for a moment to see her nod. "If you can read my mind why did you even ask me questions?"
"I don't read minds like that," answered Sachiko enthusiastically as if she was talking about her favorite food. "I guess you could say I can project myself into the minds of others."
"I see, so why are you interested in my father?"
"He murdered my parents."
A strong gust of wind blew through the park as Shinji tried to imagine how he would feel if he discovered his mother was murdered. He imagined the hatred, hot and sharp, pouring into him and never subsiding until he found the identity of her murderer. Once that was done he would attempt to find this person. A horrible thought burbled to the surface. Shinji, just for a moment, believed he was capable of murdering another person. Rather than consult himself on the idea he returned to the reality and chose his next words carefully.
"You don't have to talk about-," Shinji started to say but was immediately cut off by Sachiko's past erupting out of her mouth as if she was about to die and Shinji was entrusted as the one to tell her story.
"My father worked for Nerv as a scientist. He held various positions involving the Evangelions and worked alongside both your mother and father. One night he decided that what Nerv was doing outside the public view needed to be revealed to the world. He told me that crimes against humanity were being committed and he wouldn't stand for it. Mother and I tried to hide off the grid after father was…was killed when I was six. Nerv got her too seven years later, but I was saved by my uncle who works for Nerv Intelligence here in Tokyo 3. He wants to kill Gendo Ikari, but I don't believe we should kill him. It'd be better if we do what dad wanted: just reveal the crimes committed by Nerv to public. That's all!"
"Why risk telling me all this?" asked Shinji as the girl suddenly clenched her face and bawled into her palms. "Hey, calm down please just-"
Shinji, having never been in a position to comfort someone else, shakily placed his hand on Sachiko's shoulder. Interpreting the action wrong, the sobbing girl frantically wrapped her arms underneath the boy's and proceeded to bury her damp face into his chest. The front of Shinji's shirt within seconds was soaked, but he didn't mind. What he did mind was someone embracing him after not knowing the sensation for years. Despite his discomfort Shinji decided he would not ruin the opportunity to ask this poor girl just what exactly she wanted from him. Weakly one hand touched Sachiko's shoulder blade as he waited for her to stop crying. Shinji could at least understand the feeling of breaking down and how it would eventually subside. For what felt like hours but was most likely only several minutes Sachiko sobbed into Shinji's torso. Eventually the pure emotion flowing out of the girl's eyes and mouth she began to dry up into quiet sniffles while still not meeting Shinji's eyes.
"Feeling b-b-better?" stuttered the now soggy boy sporting blue eyes filled with concern.
"Y-yes," murmured the girl. "I'm sorry, I just…"
"I-I think I understand," stated Shinji as the two pulled apart in embarrassment.
"I wanted someone to trust. Someone like me."
"What about your uncle?"
"He wants to kill Gendo Ikari and I just want the killing to end."
"What makes you think you can trust me?"
"Because of how you feel about your father."
"I don't understand…"
"He ruined your life just like mine and yet you're able go on and protect this city under his orders anyway."
"It's what I'd like to think, but deep down I'll never let go how much I hate him."
"Maybe punishing him will make you feel better."
"Maybe…what did you have in mind?"
"I can look and sound like anyone when projecting inside someone's mind"
"How do you know how to do that?
"I tested it on my uncle."
"What about range?"
"I can only reach out ten meters."
"Who would my father tell all his secrets?"
"Your moth-"
Shinji looked away from Sachiko as though she blinded him. The notion of using his dead mother was sickening, but he knew that would work best. Sachiko for her part simply frowned for she quickly realized that the subject of Yui Ikari was still taboo to Shinji. It hurt him and she imagined the word "mother" felt like salt on an open wound even if someone mentioned it out of context. The two decided that since they didn't know what Yui Ikari looked nor sounded like another person needed to be considered. It was theorized that perhaps Doctor Ritsuko Akagi or Vice Commander Kozo Fuyutsuki were more viable, but Shinji still needed a photo and recording of their voice. That would be his task when called to Nerv for Sync Tests.
"I'm in your debt Shinji Ikari," said Sachiko as they both stood up to leave.
"I owe you just as much for letting me strike back at my father," replied Shinji who was tersely pulled into another tight hug.
The emotionally damaged teen that was Shinji Ikari reveled in the warmth, but at the same time frowned and blushed as he still wasn't use to such direct contact. His hands awkwardly raised to cup Sachiko's elbows as she whispered something inaudible into his chest. The moment ended as quickly as it began and the two conspirators said their goodbyes. The walk home for the young man was a noisy affair as he whistled Beethoven's 5th Symphony well into the apartment. Inside Misato smugly watched her Little Shinji waltz in looking on cloud nine. Rather than speak to him while he prepared dinner the sly woman drank her beer while waiting till the table was laden with food and her two wards were properly seated.
"Sooo I hear from Intelligence that Shinji met a girl at the park today," stated Misato rolling the "r" in girl.
Shinji nearly choked on his noodles and broke out into a coughing fit while Asuka did a spit take into her cup of juice. A blush and exasperated expression came over Third Child's face for a moment. Asuka scowled at the drunk across the table then the sputtering heap of a boy on her right and proceeded to continue eating as if her cup wasn't filled with backwash. Somehow Shinji regained his composure and in his head hastily rehearsed the lie Sachiko had provided. Taking on a sour scowl rivaling the redhead Shinji felt he was ready only to glance at his guardian's cheshire grin and nearly lose his composure again.
"That true Shinji?" inquired Misato after witnessing Shinji struggle to say something.
"Yes, Misato, there was a girl at the park I went to," answered the Third Child dryly eliciting his guardian to turn her head and put her hand to her ear. "She wanted to meet so she could tell of how much she hates me for piloting."
At the end of his statement Asuka burst into laughter much to Misato's disappointment and Shinji's relief. The rest of dinner that night was quiet other than a reprimand by Misato towards the Second Child for her continuous sniggering. Misato was beside herself after hearing how cruel the girl was and suddenly felt extremely guilty for bringing up the subject. She assumed Shinji must have tried to forget what the girl said by acting happy and she just had go and ruin his night. Shinji went to bed early and could think of nothing save for his next meeting with a real psychic.