Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah…Evangelion is not mine…it belongs to Gainax.
Chapter Three: Trust"Rei," Gendo Ikari spoke slowly. "It's good to see you again." Rei smiled at the man she respected and admired the most. He was her master.
"It's good to see you too Commander Ikari," the blue-haired girl answered formally. Rei Ayanami was always one to formalize conversations. It wasn't that she was a deadpan personality; she was just completely ignorant of the world around her. The sordid details she managed to obtain were from television. Rei watched television to learn more about the world. She had a small tv in her apartment so it was possible to do so.
"Are you wondering why I asked you here?" He stared at her with the trademark blue eyes that were found in Shinji. Those very eyes were beautiful.
"No," she answered simply. "I am here to do what is asked of me." Gendo chuckled at her loyalty to him. Rei certainly was his most prized pilot, next to Shinji. Shinji's EVA was a blessing to NERV. Its berserk mode made it the reining champion.
"Good," he chuckled. "I'm glad you're loyal to me. You should be." Rei bowed her head.
"What is it that you want me to do?" she asked. Gendo got up from his chair and put his hand on her shoulder. His mouth was just inches from her ear.
The entire room looked a lot like a prison.
There were bars on the windows, and the room smelt of death. Apparently Gendo Ikari liked it that way. It wasn't surprising. That man was full of mysteries.
Rei didn't mind the musty room. She was used to places like that.
Rei Ayanami lived in a tiny apartment that looked extremely organized. Even though that was the case, there was barely enough room for her to move, let alone function. Her clothes were always neatly placed in the drawer and her bed on the floor was almost too small for her. These clearly weren't good living conditions, but Rei didn't mind.
"I need you to get that bitch Asuka out of NERV," he whispered. Rei taken aback, but she didn't look it. She never looked like any of the emotions she felt.
"Why do you want pilot Soryu to leave? I find her a very acceptable pilot," she questioned his authority. Gendo removed his hand from her shoulder, his fingertips grazing her bare skin. This was the first time she had ever questioned his authority.
"Why are you questioning my authority," he asked quiety with his back turnd to her. Rei could tell he was silently glaring.
"Pilot Soryu is my friend," Rei explained in a monotone voice. "I don't want here to leave." Gendo smirked at the confession. Rei had feelings for the hormonal redhead. He would have laughed if he wasn't ready to kill someone.
"Your friend," he asked inquisitively and turned to look her straight in the eye. "She treats you worse than dirt and never even tries to be friendly with you." Rei looked at the ground.
He was trying to make her feel worthless.
She wasn't going to fight it…because she agreed with him. She was worthless. She didn't deserve the gift of life.
"Still, she is my friend," Rei repeated, some emotion straining in her voice. "I don't want her to leave." Gendo sighed. Rei was being defiant. What was he going to do with her?
It was like her to rebel; usually she followed orders without question. She had an emotional attachment to Asuka.
"Have you seen her seen her sync ratio? It's lower than ever! She's been nothing but trouble, I want her gone," he snapped. Rei stood her ground. She wasn't afraid.
"Then I will go comfort her," she said softly. "I am her friend." She walked away from Gendo. It was strange. She defied her master for a girl who probably hated her.
Asuka collapsed onto her bed in pain. Something was not right; but she didn't know what it was.
"Mama," she whispered. "Help me."
The sick feeling she had felt in the bathroom had not ceased when she left with Hikari. If anything, it intensified. She didn't know what was wrong with her. She thought it was something to do with her period, but that couldn't be right. They weren't cramps; it was a sick feeling in her stomach and mind. Was she going to die?
"I hope not," she muttered to herself. She didn't exactly want to die now; she was only 14 years old. She was too young to die.
Yes, there were times when Asuka wished she would die, but now was not one of those times. She needed to be alive; something told her to be alive.
What? What told her to be alive? It surely wasn't a voice; Asuka wasn't a schizophrenic. Perhaps it was a feeling?
"Asuka," a voice called out to her. She pulled her head out of the pillow. It was Misato's voice.
Asuka's room was dirty. She didn't care about where she threw her stuff. She hated having her room as clean as a pin.
Asuka got out of bed, stepped over some dirty underwear and bras, and went to the door. Misato's worried face greeted her.
"What," she asked with an irritated growl. It was obvious she was in a bad mood. She wasn't cheerful, or even trying to be friendly.
"I'm just checking to see if you're okay," Misato asked. "I was worried about you." Asuka laughed at Misato's attempt at trying to be civil.
"You were worried? That's a load of crap Misato and you know it!" Misato glared at the young redhead. She could be a huge bitch sometimes.
"Excuse me for trying to be nice to you," she spat. "I though you would at least appreciate someone being nice to you. Especially with your fragile standing with NERV!" Asuka froze. She was in trouble with NERV? What was Misato talking about?
"What do you mean 'my fragile standing with NERV," Asuka advanced on the purple haired woman. "Is there something I should know?" Misato sighed. It was going to be hard telling Asuka the bad news. Who knew if Asuka would become violent?
"Your sync ratio is down and you haven't really been part of the team," Misato solemnly explained. "If you keep screwing up, if you mess up one more time, you won't be piloting anymore." Asuka's eyes widened in shock after she heard that.
"WHAT," she yelled. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN I WON'T BE PILOTING ANYMORE? YOU NEED ME TO FIGHT THE ANGELS," she huffed. "Without me you're nothing…NOTHING!" Misato stepped back a little. Asuka was steamed. She had expected it nonetheless. Asuka was moody. There were times when she was afraid to talk to her for fear of getting beaten.
"Asuka calm down," Misato lowered her voice and kept her distance. She didn't want to get slapped.
"I WILL NOT CALM DOWN!" Asuka raised her voice to an almost screeching level, and then started to cry. "I'm going to lose the only thing I'm good at. How could you?" She slammed the door in Misato's face. Misato sighed. There goes Asuka again. There really wasn't anything she could do about that. Asuka was as unpredictable as the weather.
Misato went back into the kitchen and sat down. The kitchen was a mess, as usual. There were a few beer cans littered on the floor; from last night no doubt.
If there was one thing Misato loved more than men, it was alchohol. Just the taste of it had her yearning for more. She was a self-admitted alcoholic.
Why was she an alcoholic? Misato never had the best childhood. Her father was almost never around, and when she was, it was never heart warming.
Her mother cried every time her father didn't come home. This invoked a deep hatred for that man. She loathed seeing her mother cry. That beautiful pale face, stained with tears, her brown eyes puffy and red. She tried comforting her mother, but it never worked. She never could take away the pain.
Don't miss understand, her father wasn't a bad man; he was just too wrapped up in his work. His missed out on his family-life and didn't get to see Misato grow up.
She grabbed a beer from the fridge and set it down on the table. She raised the can to her lips and sipped the bitter beverage. Ah…the cold taste of alcohol, her escape from pain.
She heard a knock on the door. Sensing it was Shinji or someone else, she got up and answered it. She never expected to see the small blue-haired, albino girl standing there. It was odd.
Rei almost never came to Misato's apartment. Why was she here now?
Rei was on odd child; that much was certain. She almost never talked, and when she did, Misato wished she hadn't. The girl's voice was a chilling one. She almost sounded like a hurt child.
Rei was so quiet. Why was she so quiet?
"Major Katsuragi," the quiet voice spoke. Misato gave the albino a small smile. She was really a sweet girl, even if she was a little weird.
"Yes Rei," she asked cheerfully. She wanted to make the girl feel at home, since Rei practically had no warm home.
Rei was created in a test tube. According to Ritsuke, she was made through the salvaged remains of Yui Ikari. She technically could be considered Shinji's half mother. It was probably awkward for Shinji. Misato had noticed he wasn't spending as much time with Rei. It was sad.
"Is pilot Soryu here?" she asked meekly. Misato turned in the direction in the direction of Asuka's room. Would she want Rei to be there?
"Umm…yeah she is," she answered.
"May I see her?" Rei asked. Misato nodded and opened the door all the way, allowing Rei to come in. Somehow Misato knew she had just made a huge mistake. It was obvious Asuka didn't like Rei very much. Why did Rei want to see Asuka of all people?
Rei went up to Asuka's door and knocked softly. She didn't want to disturb the redhead's slumber, if she was sleeping.
"Go away," came the boisterous reply from Asuka who had been crying on her bed for some time. Whoever it was, she didn't want to deal with him or her.
"Pilot Soryu," Rei called. Asuka got up from her bed and opened the door.
"What do you want wondergirl?"she spat in the albino's face.
"I heard about your fragile standing with NERV, and I wanted to comfort you," she answered. Asuka raised her eyebrow.
"Huh?" she gasped. "Why do you wanna help me all of a sudden? Do I look like I need saving? Huh…wondergirl?" Rei seemed unaffected by all this. She could deal with Asuka's violence and rage where most couldn't. How and why? She didn't know. She just didn't let it bother her.
"Well?" Asuka questioned Rei again. "What do you have to say for yourself?" Again, Rei continued to do nothing.
"You worthless doll," Asuka hissed and shut the door in Rei's face. Misato came down the hall, wearing an expression of worry.
"Oh," she grimaced. "Sorry Rei. Asuka's not exactly the best person to talk to." She took Rei's arm and guided her to the door.
"Come on, let me get you something to eat."
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing!