Disclaimer- I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or anything affiliated with it so please for the love of Gebus don't sue me!
Author's Note: I am currently looking for a proof reader so if you're interested please e-mail me!
Evangelion Redux: Eden of Eve
Episode 4: Hedgehog's Dilemma?
"It's been two days already," Reia griped as she stared blankly at the pure white ceiling above her. Not only had she been in the sterile room longer than she had expected, but now she was starting to get a serious migraine due to lying in the same position on the same bed for so long. 'I'm surprised that I haven't developed bed sores,' Reia thought to herself as she cupped her bottom lip and exhaled sharply trying to get a stray strand of her ebony locks out of her face. "This is really starting to get ridiculous," she said as she tried to reach down and scratch underneath her cast using her left hand. Her left leg was still elevated which caused it to feel slightly numb at times, but after the first day or so she had grown use to the strange sensation.
As she strained to reach underneath her wrappings she slowly became aggravated as a scowl found its way upon her face. "Stupid cast," Reia stated as she allowed her arm to fall limply at her side, "What I wouldn't give for a pencil or something right about now."
"Here ya' go," Mikiba stated as he walked into the room tossing a long canary yellow number 2 pencil onto Reia's tone stomach. He looked slightly disheveled due to the fact that his lab coat was still incredibly wrinkled and that his tie was still crooked, but he had been decent enough to shave off all of his unsightly facial hair which had made him look ten years older than he was. In his hands he carried a blue school uniform, which was likely meant for Reia as soon as she finished recovering, and a pair of black leather dress shoes.
"Thank you Mikiba-san," Reia stated as she scooped the pencil off of her stomach and into her slender hand.
"No problem, how are you feeling today Reia-chan?" Mikiba questioned as he pulled up a chair and sat with his arms resting on the back of the seat.
"I'm doing okay I guess, but if it's not too much trouble I would like to know when I can go home," Reia stated as she licked her full lips and furrowed her brow in intense concentration as she poked and prodded her leg with the pencil trying to scratch away to annoying itch.
Watching this display made Mikiba chuckle lightly to himself as he watched the girl's facial expressions change repeatedly, one second after another. "Well I wish I could tell you, but it shouldn't be too much longer. Like I said they just have to ask you a few questions and then you'll be good to go. That's why I brought you a new uniform. Oh yeah, I also put the money that Mishido-san told me to give you the skirt pocket." Reia simply nodded in response as a euphoric smile graced her lips. She had finally scratched the itch.
"Well I'll see you later then, Dr. Mikiba?" Reia inquired with a smile as she turned to face the man who was currently digging a bent cigarette out of his lab coat's pocket. 'Hurry up and leave so I can escape please!' Reia internally begged as she continued to force a smile despite the fact that her lips had begun to quiver slightly.
Dr. Mikiba stuck the cancer stick between his lips and smirked at Reia. "Sure thing kiddo, besides it's not like I can smoke in here anyway! I'll just leave your cloths on the chair since it looks kind of weird for a man my age to be holding a high school girl's school uniform," Mikiba stated with a snort as he got up and pushed the chair back under the desk and hung the uniform on the back while placing the shoes under the chair.
"Thank you," Reia said with a small smile as she watched the man walk to the door and exit, but not before giving her a friendly wink. Reia simply chuckled nervously in response while thinking, 'Thank God! I thought he'd never leave!' After waiting a minute to make sure he was gone for good Reia slowly got out of the bed and limped over to the window. 'Well see you guys later, it's been nice knowing ya'!" Reia stated with a smirk as she tried several times to force open the window only to find that it was bolted shut.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Reia hissed underneath her breath as she glared at the window in disbelief while balling up her fist trying to suppress her anger. 'There has got to be a way out of here!' Reia thought as she looked around the room for a way out. Walking toward the plastic door she cupped her hand over her ear and pressed it to the door listening for activity in the hallway.
"It seems like everyone's gone to lunch," the gruff voice of a male voice noted as he and another figure walked past the door.
"Yeah, but if we go then there will be no one to look after the patients!" a female nurse cried indignantly.
"Come on, are you telling me you really don't want to?" the male nurse inquired as he seemed to stop walking due to the fact that the sound of his voice remained constant and close.
"No it's not that," the female nurse started nervously.
"Come on, no one will know. This is the perfect time!" the male nurse pleaded.
"Okay, but lets not take too long. We're still on the clock remember?" the female nurse reminded him with a girlish giggle.
"Yeah, yeah," the male nurse stated nonchalantly as they started to walk down the hall again.
'I don't even want to know,' Reia thought with a shudder as she slowly slid the door open and poked her head out just enough to get a good look around. Peering down the hall she noticed that they were completely barren. 'It can't get any easier then this!' Reia thought giddily as limped over to the chair and ripped her school uniform out of the bag.
Slipping off her hospital gown she shivered slightly as the cool wind brushed against her bare skin causing her nipples to harden and become painfully erect. "Brrr, what happened to the heat?" Reia asked aloud as she slipped a plain black bra carefully over her nipples as to avoid agitating them further. After that she slipped the matching panties over her womanhood with a bit of trouble as she struggled to get it over the bulky cast. She then decided it would be easier to slip on her white undershirt and blue top before she wrestled with getting the skirt over the cast. After putting on the aforementioned items she slipped part of the skirt onto her cast and then proceeded to slowly pull it over the bulky mass.
'Thank God I wear skirts instead of pants, otherwise this would be hell," Reia thought to herself as she finally pulled the skirt onto her waist and slipped on her right shoe while carrying the other in her hand as she turned and limped out the door. Making her way down the hall she made sure to peer around corners just incase there was someone still standing around. After making her way to the elevator she pressed the down button a patiently waited for the elevator to arrive. In the meantime she preoccupied herself with thoughts concerning the strangeness of the good doctor and the nurses. They all seemed to look at her as though she was some kind of anomaly and, while they were nice enough, it kind of freaked her out a bit.
'Something really fishy is going on here, and I'm not going to stick around long enough to get caught up in whatever it is,' Reia thought with a worried expression on her face as she pushed the down button on the elevator. As she waited for the elevator to reach her floor she continued to think. 'Alright I know my leg is completely healed because he made the mistake of saying so when he stopped outside the door to talk to that nurse,' Reia thought as she glared down at the obstruction with a scowl on her delicate features. 'So the question is, why would they want to keep my any longer then they had to? Granted I did recover rather quickly, but that's beside the point,' Reia continued to think before a loud ding interrupted her train of thought and signaled that the elevator had arrived.
Limping on she selected the first floor button and then lend against the silver railing folding her arms over her chest. 'Something is really wrong with this NERV organization, but to be honest I really don't want to know what,' Reia thought as the elevator reached her destination and she limped off.
Gazing around the lobby she noticed a young woman with light blue hair wearing a green school uniform and covered in bandages head toward the exit. Suddenly a sense of déjà vu washed over Reia as she watched the young woman turn around and look at her with her only crimson orb, the other still being bandaged.
'I can, I can feel something….I think I know her?' Reia thought to herself with uncertainty working itself into her mind as she stared intensely at the young woman ahead of her who did the same.
"Leave," the young woman stated softly in a deadpan tone of voice after a little more then minute had passed. Despite the fact that she had spoken so softly Reia was not blind to the intense hatred that shone in the young woman's red orb.
"What?" Reia asked as she raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Leave, you do not belong here. You should not be," the young woman stated once again in an emotionless voice, although the look in her eyes clearly showed that she was annoyed.
'Wow, what a weirdo,' Reia thought to herself as she approached the automatic door and the girl. "Okay look, while I may not even know you, if I did something to offend you I would like to apologize. Now if you'll excuse me, could you move out of the way so I can go home?" Reia inquired with small bow as she stopped just short of the girl and the door. 'I really don't have time for this, the staff could be back at any moment,' Reia thought to herself as she began to tap her good foot impatiently.
The soft spoken young woman moved to the side and allowed the girl to approach the automatic door causing it to slide open.
"Um, one quick question. Why did you say I don't belong here?" Reia inquired with a look of puzzlement adorning her soft features, and befuddlement evident in her crimson eyes.
"I do not know, it is simply a feeling that I have. That is all," the young woman stated dispassionately as she walked out the door without another word. 'Why am I responding, and why do I feel like I know her…but that's not possible,' Rei thought to herself with a look of puzzlement playing in her crimson eyes as she navigated her way down the side walk toward an unknown destination.
"Wow, while I normally try not to judge people, she certainly is a crazy one," Reia said to herself as raised an eyebrow while she ran a hand through her silky raven hair and watched the young woman make her way down the street. 'Even so I can't help but feel like what she said was right. This is so weird,' Reia thought to herself with a frown as she walked through the door and headed in the opposite direction. 'Well now, it's time to catch a train and head home!' Reia thought to herself giddily as she made her way down the street lit by the setting sun. She was so happy she was going home that she didn't even notice the bizarre looks she was getting from the passers by who wondered how anyone would be happy with a cast on their leg.
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'I wonder if I can really run away,' Shinji thought dejectedly as he sat on the train listening to his SDAT player. 'It's just…I can't pilot that thing anymore. I do want to do it if all I do is cause people pain,' Shinji continued to think to himself as the train pulled into another station. 'I'm a coward and possibly a murder,' Shinji thought to himself as he thought about the young woman he had seen in the hospital, 'They still haven't told me if she's conscious yet.'
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Upon reaching the train station and boarding the train she noticed a young man wearing a middle school uniform seemingly lost in his own world. She also noticed that he was a cradling an SDAT player in his hands and seemed to have a forlorn expression on his face which was barely visible through his messy light brown hair.
"Poor guy, looks like he could use some cheering up," Reia mumbled to herself with a frown as she moved past and old man wearing a dingy white tee-shirt with large sweat stains adorning the armpits. "Now that's just wrong!" Reia stated as she struggled not to vomit as she ducked under his arm and inhaled a good whiff of must. 'Dear God I swear I'm going to die!' Reia thought to herself as she took the empty seat next to the blue eyed boy. Gasping for air she noticed that he looked up from his player to see what was wrong with her.
"Um, are you okay?" Shinji asked nervously as a blush crept onto his cheeks. 'Wow she's so beautiful and she looks familiar, kind of like the girl in the hospital…wait a minute!' Shinji thought as his eyes went wide with fright and his mouth hung slack jaw.
Reia chuckled nervously as she looked at the young man's expression. "A better question is whether or not you're okay," Reia stated softly as she cupped a smooth hand under Shinji's chin as gently forced his mouth close.
After a moment of staring at her Shinji finally found the words he had been searching for. "Um, excuse me but you wouldn't happen to have a sister in the hospital would you?" Shinji inquired nervously as he desperately hoped that this young woman was simply related to, or better yet had no idea who the young woman he injured was.
"Um no, but I was just in the hospital," Reia stated as a thoughtful expression found it's way onto her features.
The blue eyed boy's eyes went wide with terror but he muttered his mantra, "I mustn't run away, I mustn't run away." Finding his courage he pressed forward and asked, "What happened?"
"Huh?" Reia asked slightly taken off guard by the question before she simply shrugged and said, "I got caught up in an Angel attack while trying to save one of my students's little sister."
"So what exactly happened to you?" Shinji asked nervously as he stared at the girl with uncertainty in his eyes.
Reia shrugged and said, "I don't really remember much, but I they say I was crushed under some debris and that it was a miracle that I was still alive. To be honest I thought it would have taken me longer to recuperate, but then again I've always been a quick healer."
"But if you were crushed during the last angel attack that means you've only been in the hospital three weeks! There's no way you could have recovered that quickly, is there!?" Shinji exclaimed in shock as his eyes went wide.
"You know you're starting to sound like my doctor and I just met you," Reia pointed out in a faux sour tone of voice as she narrowed her eyes playfully.
Shinji immediately felt that he had truly offended the young woman and began apologizing profusely. "Sorry, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude!" Shinji cried out while bowing several times and failing to notice the people staring at the strange couple.
Reia, however, did notice the attention the young man was garnering. "It's okay, I was just joking with you! Jeez!" Reia stated as she caught his shoulder in her hand and pressed down gently in order to keep him from bowing again.
"Sorry," Shinji mumbled sheepishly as he nervously raised his head to look the young woman in her blood red eyes. 'Those eyes, they look like Ayanami's,' Shinji thought to himself as he continued to gaze into Reia's eyes, completely oblivious to the fact that she was actually talking to him.
"Um, are you okay? Hello!" Reia called out as she waved a hand in front of Shinji's face in order to snap him out of his trance.
Shinji snapped out of his trance with a jump and then he realized that he had been staring at the young woman. His face immediately became flushed and he muttered a small apology as he looked down at his lap sheepishly.
"Why are you apologizing?" Reia inquired as she watched the last of commuters exit the train. Suddenly she realized that she missed her stop while talking to the strange young man she was currently sitting by. "Oh no!" Reia cried out indignantly as her mouth hung agape in horror and she watched the train continue on toward the end of the line.
"What's wrong?" Shinji inquired with a look of concern evident on his face as he looked up from his lap at the young woman.
"I just missed my stop!" Reia whined with a cute pout as she folded her arms over her chest. "And this is the last train all night too! Now I'm going to have to walk home!" Reia exclaimed with a deep sigh as she shook her head solemnly.
Upon hearing her statement Shinji noticed the large cast on her leg. "I knew it! You're definitely her!" Shinji cried out in pure terror as his eyes went wide with terror and he slowly started to back away from the woman.
"Um, what are you talking about?" Reia inquired as she raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Shinji cried out as frantically grabbed his belongings and the train came to a screeching halt allowing him to make a mad dash for the door.
"Wait a minute!" Reia cried out as she watched Shinji bolt off of the train while she desperately hobbled after him down the neon light lit streets. "What's wrong with you, and what are you talking about!?" Reia cried out as she struggled to keep up with the distraught young man. 'I'm going to lose him because of this cast!' Reia thought as she looked down at the cast and then noticed the shoe in her left hand. 'Wait a minute!" Reia thought with an evil smirk as her eyes went wide as a brilliant idea dawned on her.
'Well if he doesn't want to wait on his own, I'll just have to make him," Reia mumbled to herself as she reached her arm back and then flung her shoe at Shinji's head. Her aim was on the mark as the shoe clunked loudly against Shinji's head as he stumbled a little before passing out.
"Oops," Reia muttered while grimacing as she quickly hobbled over to the semi-unconscious young man, completely ignoring the bewildered and shocked stares she was receiving from people who were passing by. "I'm really sorry," Reia stated as she bent down and inspected the young man who was gently clutching his aching head.
"What on earth did you just hit me with!?" Shinji cried out indignantly as he gawked up at the young woman with a look of disbelief etched on his face.
"My shoe, sorry," Reia stated apologetically as she grimaced again while she helped Shinji to his feet. "We'll just call ourselves even, because apparently you did something to me at some point in my life despite the fact that I don't think I've ever met you before," Reia stated as she scooped up her shoe.
"I did do something awful, and I'm sorry," Shinji muttered as he stared down at the concrete at his feet. 'No matter what I do I just can't seem to get away from it all,' Shinji thought solemnly, 'I'm so pathetic.'
"What's wrong now?" Reia inquired with a look of concern as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Nothing," Shinji muttered with a sigh as he began walking again.
'It's gonna be a long night,' Reia thought to herself with an exasperated sigh as she rolled her eyes. "Hey wait up!" Reia called out as she hobbled over to the young man. "What do you say we see a movie together, huh? I know I could go for a good sci-fi flick right about now!" Reia stated with a broad grin on her face as she pulled out a wad of money from her skirt pocket. "Don' worry it'll be my treat. By the way my name is Reia Washington, and yours?"
Shinji simply stared at the young woman skeptically for a moment before he nervously responded, "I'm Shinji Ikari." 'I wonder why she's so persistent; I mean what could she possibly want from a loser like me?' Shinji thought to himself as frown found it's way onto his face.
"Well Ikari-kun, what do you say to a date with an older woman you just met?" Reia asked with wink and a cute smile causing Shinji's cheeks to flush.
"Um, okay I guess," Shinji mumbled nervously as Reia beamed at him while grabbing his arm and dragging him toward the closet movie theater.
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"So she's disappeared has she?" Gendo stated in a voice laced with irritation although his expression remained unreadable and dispassionate as he looked down at the empty bed. "At least tell me you did the blood work," Gendo stated as he turned around to face Doctor Mikiba.
"Yes s-s-sir," Dr. Mikiba stuttered out nervously as he presented the forms. "We were just about to send the paper work off to NERV along with the samples," Mikiba stated as he handed the forms to Gendo who simply leafed through them without actually looking at them.
"Very good, although I'm surprised that a someone with her injuries could have possibly made it out of here without being in an incredible amount of pain," Gendo stated with a smirk as he tucked the forms under his arms and gazed at the doctor with cold eyes.
"Well the thing is sir, she has completely recovered! I don't think I've seen someone recover that quickly since Ayanami, and she was even quicker than her!" Mikiba exclaimed. "On top of that, seeing as how we tested it due to the similarities, their genetic make up is almost identical, as if they were half siblings so to speak!" Mikiba stated excitedly as he pointed to the forms.
"I see, so you kept the cast on in order to make her believe that her leg was still broken you kept the cast on in an attempt to keep her here until I got back. It seems, however, that she knew what you had planned and used it against you. Apparently you should have taken the guards I sent over here to watch her," Gendo stated sourly despite the fact that his face still remained unreadable.
"But that's beside the point, NERV agents are already working to intercept both her and my son. I am more interested in the information concerning her genetics. You did say that she seemed to be related to Rei did you not?" Gendo inquired as he adjusted his glasses with his gloved thumb and index finger.
"Yes, it's incredible really. Is it possible that Rei actually has living relatives?" Mikiba asked as Gendo simply shook his head in response. "Well then what could it be? They have to be related in some way," Mikiba argued, his voice clearly indicating that he was quickly becoming frustrated with the current turn of events.
"Mikiba-san I would think you, one of the few people privy to what Rei really is, would know how the two are related," Gendo stated as he brushed back the doctor whose mouth now hung slack jaw.
"But that's not possible; her personal data clearly indicates that her mother gave birth to her! There is no evidence of cloning, and to top it off she nearly lost her life trying to protect a human being instead of trying to kill one!" Mikiba cried out indignantly as he whirled around to face the commander, his eyes wide in disbelief. "It just doesn't make sense sir! Could she really be one of those things can she!?"
"I do not believe so, but there is no way for us to be sure. We must have her brought back to NERV in order for Professor Akagi to run some test," Gendo stated in a deadpan tone of voice as he slid open the door and walked out without another word.
"What is going on? Is Reia really one of them?" Mikiba asked the empty room, which of course had no response for him.
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"Hey," Reia whispered into Shinji's ear as they continued to watch a B rated sci-fi film.
"Mmmm," was Shinji's mumbled response as he continued to munch on a buttery handful popcorn.
"Is it just me or is no one actually watching this movie?" Reia asked as she pointed out an old man sprawled out asleep on the theater filthy theater floor ahead of them, as well as a couple that was one article of clothing away from actually having sex instead of grinding against one another.
"I guess not," Shinji mumbled as he dug into the tub to get another handful accidentally brushing against Reia's as she tried to grab a handful as well. Shinji immediately recoiled with a blush and audibly gulped as he turned his attention back to the movie.
Shinji's response elicited a girlish giggle from Reia who simply shook her head as she picked up the bucket and placed it in front of Shinji so he could get a handful. "It's okay, I won't bite. I promise," Reia whispered with a wink causing Shinji to blush even more as he simply nodded in response.
'You know this isn't too bad,' Shinji thought to himself with a smile as he dipped a shaky hand into bucket a retrieved another buttery handful of popcorn and popped a few pieces into his mouth.
"So where were you headed to?" Reia asked as she popped a few pieces of pop corn in her mouth and munched on them slowly as she continued to watch the screen with a intense fascination.
Shinji visibly stiffened upon hearing the woman's question before releasing a beleaguered sigh. "Home I guess," Shinji stated in a dejected tone of voice as he looked down at his off-white tennis shoes with a solemn expression on his face.
"Doesn't sound like you're too excited about it, you having problems at home or something?" Reia inquired as she turned away from the screen and looked at Shinji, her eyes full of concern.
"I guess you could say that," Shinji stated dejectedly as he simply shrugged his shoulders. 'Why did this have to come up? I had almost forgotten about it, but I guess it's no use. It's not like I can really run away,' Shinji thought to himself before he felt a hand gently rest on his shoulder.
"That's terrible!" Reia cried out interrupting the couple below, only briefly, as she grabbed Shinji's shoulders and gazed upon him with sympathetic eyes. It was also at that moment that she got an idea. "Hey, why don't you come home with me for tonight then? I know we just met and all, but you don't seem like you want to go back home. Plus we have a guest bedroom that we never use, and my parents wont be home for another 12 hours at least," Reia stated as she brushed off some of the salt from the popcorn and stood up.
Shinji looked at Reia with a worried expression on his face for a moment before he whipped his head down to look at his feet. "I don't want to intrude," Shinji began before he was cut off.
"What are you talking about? I just invited you, and I already told you we have a guest room that we don't even use," Reia stated as she gently yanked the young man up from the plushy red cushion of the folding theater seats. "So, yes or no Ikari-kun? In fact if you want to stop by the police department on the way home we can do that too," Reia stated as she gazed into Shinji's eyes, hope evident in hers.
As Shinji gazed into the young woman's eyes he felt a sense of warmth and comfort wash over him. It was almost euphoric and he questioned whether or not he felt this same feeling on the train. 'I think I did, otherwise I don't think I would have ended up talking to her,' Shinji thought to himself as he nodded in response to Reia's question.
"Great!" Reia beamed as she and Shinji exited the theater and walked out onto the busy neon lit streets. "Okay, it's a three mile hike back so I'm going to apologize before hand about me moving at a snails pace. This cast is a little restricting after all," Reia stated as she began to chuckle nervously.
"Why do you still have a cast on anyway?" Shinji inquired as they began their long trek towards Reia's home.
"Well I noticed that my bones had completely fused together on some of the x-rays that the doctor had shown me. I guess it was by accident because his eyes went wide and he immediately covered them up and tried to tell me that those were the old x-rays of my right leg," Reia stated as she gazed down at her left leg.
"Of course I didn't believe him because the folder in his hand clearly read left leg x-rays, so that's when I got to thinking that something was off," Reia stated as she and Shinji walked around a puddle and down a dark alley way. "Well a few days after that I heard the doctor talking to someone on his cell phone about test and to detain me despite the fact that I had completely recovered. Needless to say, these two absent minded events lead me to discover that he simply kept the cast on to detour me from leaving the hospital before his superiors arrived," Reia finished with a deep sigh.
"Wow," was all Shinji could muster by way of a response.
"Yep," was Reia's response before three figures approached them from the dark corners of the alley.
"Hey boys look what we've got here," a tall muscular thug wearing a black leather biker jacket, baggy ripped jeans, and a pair of black leather boots stated with a perverted grin.
"Looks like we've hit the jackpot tonight boss," a short pudgy thug wearing a white tee-shirt and baggy jeans stated with a maniacal grin as he corrected his sunglasses with his index finger. Beside him stood a giant of a man wearing a black leather biker jacket, white tee-shirt, and tight black jeans.
"So what do you boys think? Beat up her little boy friend and have a little fun? Doesn't look like she'll be able to runaway either" the head thug stated as he sauntered over to a quivering Shinji and a slightly perturbed Reia.
'We've got to run away, we've got to runaway, we've got to runaway!' Shinji thought to himself but he couldn't will his violently shaking legs to move.
"Sounds good boss, she is a nice little piece," the pudgy thug stated as he followed the head thugs lead.
"Okay guys, before this situation gets out of control, do you think I could convince you to leave me and my friend alone?" Reia asked with a sigh as she placed a hand on her hips and frowned at the thugs.
"Aww, don't worry sweetheart we'll take it nice and slow. Let me guess you're still a virgin right?" the pudgy thug asked with a horse chuckle.
"That's none of your business," Reia stated simply with an impish grin as she got into a fighting stance.
"Oh look out boys, she might do some kung fu on us!" the leader stated sarcastically as he dug into his jacket pocket and fished out a switch blade. "Don't make me cut up that pretty little face of yours sweetheart," the thug stated a dark voice as he drew closer.
'What am I going to do!?' Shinji thought to himself as he stared at the knife, his eyes wide in terror and his mouth agape in horror.
"Do worry Ikari-kun, I won't let them lay a hand on you," Reia stated with a confident smirk.
The head thug chuckled darkly as he shook his head. "You must really think you're something special bitch. I'm definitely going to have some fun with you!" the thug stated as he charged Reia with his knife drawn back.
"Idiot," Reia muttered as she side stepped the thugs attack and allowed the knife to narrowly pass by her nose. The thug stumbled once his feet hit the ground affording Reia the chance to put her foot out and trip the man causing him to fall flat on his face.
"Bitch! You're gonna pay for that!" the thug snapped as he got up and tried to charged her again. This time Reia did not side step the attack, and instead caught the knife between her thumb and index finger. "Wha!?" the thug gasped in shock as he gazed down at Reia who simply smirked in response.
"Incredible," Shinji muttered to himself in disbelief as he dropped his duffel bag and watched Reia wag a finger in front of the thugs face.
"Don't tell me that's the best you've got," Reia stated with a smirk as pulled back and drove a fist into the thugs gut causing him to immediately black out. She let the thug hand on her fist for a moment before she removed it and allowed him to fall on the concert with a muffled thud.
"So who's next?" Reia inquired with a beleaguered sigh as she turned to face the shocked pudgy thug and the stone face taller thug.
"Me," the giant stated as he calmly stepped forward and assumed a boxers stance.
"Well this should be fun," Reia drawled sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.
The thug hollered a loud battle cry as he charge Reia and swung a right hook down at her. His fist went over her head as she bent down. She then back flipped hitting the thug in his jaw and causing him to stagger back in pain.
"Looks like gymnastics paid off after all," Reia mused to herself as she assumed a relaxed stance.
"Damn," the thug muttered to himself as he spit out blood from the side of his mouth.
'She's amazing!' Shinji thought to himself as he continued to watch the spectacle, his eyes wide in amazement.
"Well I don't have all night ya' know!" Reia snapped as she waited for the thug to recover.
"Shut up the thug snapped," as he tried to Reia with a round house kick which she effortlessly blocked with her arm. She then countered with a high kick that connected with thug's jaw causing his head to snap back violently. A loud snapping sound could be heard and the thug fell back unconscious with a loud thud.
"I'm outta here!" the little thug cried out as he ran down the alleyway terrified.
"Oh no!" Reia cried out as she inspected the down thug placing her index finger and middle fingers on his neck checking for a pulse. After a few seconds she finally got one and breathed a sigh of relief.
"What's wrong?" Shinji inquired with concern evident in his voice as he walked over and bent down to join her.
"Nothing, I thought I killed him," Reia stated with a weary grin. "Thankfully I didn't though," Reia stated as she slowly got up and brushed off her hands on her skirt.
"Why, didn't he just try to rape you?" Shinji asked with confusion evident in his eyes.
Reia chuckled nervously before she responded saying, "Even so, if I could avoid killing him it would be for the best. I don't think anyone or anything deserves to be killed no matter what acts they commit against others."
"I guess your right," Shinji said with a sigh as he stood up.
"OK! Now that that's over with what do you say we keep going, we're only about a block away," Reia stated as she beamed at Shinji.
"Um, I guess," Shinji stated nervously as he looked at the downed thug again.
"Great!" Reia cried out as she grabbed his arm and lead him down the rest of the alleyway and out onto the streets.
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"Alright! Here we are, home sweet home!" Reia exclaimed as they approached the gate of an old Japanese style house completely with a creepy looking Sakura tree on the front lawn. Even so, it was still bathed in an ethereal glow as the morning sun rose over it.
"Wow, I didn't know these kinds of houses still existed in Tokyo 3," Shinji stated in amazement as he gazed at the ancient architecture.
"Neither did my parents until they found it. And it's so roomy inside too!" Reia exclaimed as she grabbed Shinji's hand and led him through the gate toward the front door.
"Stop right where you are!" a deep male voice rang across the property.
Whipping around Reia saw five men who looked to be part of some type of secret service approaching Shinji and herself. "Forgive me if this sounds rude, but who the hell are you!" Reia snapped as she got into a defensive stance.
The man in the middle drew a standard issue pistol out of his blazer and aimed it directly at Reia's head. "Washington-san it is in your best interest to relax. We are NERV agents and we have been ordered to retrieve you and Ikari-san," the agent stated as he watched Reia visibly stiffen while getting out of her stance.
'They've come for me and her!?' Shinji thought to himself slightly confused. 'I can understand them coming for me, but why Reia-san?' Shinji thought to himself as his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Why do you want Ikari-kun!?" Reia snapped, "He's got nothing to do with you, does he? I mean it's not like he's pilot or something."
"Ma'am please try to calm down or we will be forced to take action and restrain you with force," an agent to the left stated as he drew out his pistol.
"Damn it!" Reia hissed as she backed up in front of Shinji, blocking him with her body just incase something happened.
"Washington-san I-I-I….I am a pilot," Shinji whispered into Reia's ear sheepishly.
Needless to say Shinji's confession floored Reia. 'Wait that means that he was the one in the purple Eva…he's the one who almost killed me!' Reia thought to herself as her eyes went wide, her mouth went dry, and her body stood limp. 'So that's why he kept apologizing!' Reia thought to herself as two agents guided her two a black Sudan and forced Shinji in with her.
"I'm sorry Washington-san," Shinji whispered dejectedly as he looked over toward the shell shocked young woman who said nothing in response. 'Now she hates me, but who could blame her. I mean I almost killed her for God's sake! I'm so pathetic,' Shinji thought to himself as he looked down at his feet in shame. The rest of the ride toward NERV was a quite one.
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"So Shinji-kun hasn't come back yet?" Ritsuko asked as she ran test on Rei who was currently resting on an examination table.
"No," Misato stated with an exasperated sigh as she slumped over her swivel chair and closed her eyes. "I think it may have had something to do with the conversation we had," Misato stated with a frown.
"And what prey tell did you say to him?" Ritsuko inquired not even bothering to look up from the screen.
"Well we got into it over him not following my orders. Of course he admitted that he had been in the wrong, but then he had the nerve to say that he had won and that he didn't understand what the big deal was!" Misato exclaimed with another sigh. "After that I kinda chewed him out, and well I guess I took it a little too far," Misato stated as she looked up to see her friend's response.
"That's nice," Ritsuko responded after a long pause as she continued to type.
"You didn't hear a word I said did you?" Misato inquired as she raised an eyebrow in skepticism.
"Nope," Ristuko stated with a chuckle.
"That's why you have to deal with international affairs and I don't! Nahh!" Misato stated sticking her tongue out and scrunching up her face.
"Touché," Ritsuko stated, "But I didn't lose a valuable pilot."
"Damn you," Misato muttered underneath her breath. Just then a male NERV scientist walked in with a case of blood samples and several files which he promptly handed to Ritsuko.
"What's this?" Ritsuko inquired as she set down the case and examined the files. "Reia Washington?" Ritusko questioned as she looked up at the scientist who simply shrugged in response.
"Commander Ikari wants you to run some test on her once they apprehend her and the third child," the scientist stated as he turned and left without another word.
"Well this is strange," Ristuko stated as she ran a hand through her blond locks and furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. 'Why would he want me to run test on her?' Ristuko thought to herself until she came to a page with a comparison analysis of Ayanami, Rei and Washington, Reia.
"This can't be!" Ritsuko exclaimed as her eyes went wide and she frantically scanned the data.
"What's up?" Misato asked as she got up and walked over looking down at the file in Ritsuko's hand.
"It's nothing!" Ritsuko snapped as she immediately closed the files and tucked them under her left arm while grabbing the case and heading toward the door. "We're done Rei, you can go home now," Ritsuko stated as she left.
"I wonder what got her so flustered," Misato said to no one in particular as she stared at the door her friend had just exited.
"It may have been the file she was looking at," Rei deadpanned as she finished putting on her school uniform and exited the lab.
"Rei too huh?" Misato grumbled to herself as she puffed out her cheeks in frustration and exited the lab. Just as she exited the lab a male guard approached her with a salute.
"Major Katsuragi, the Third Child has been found and is currently being detained cell block b," the guard stated with another salute as Misato did the same.
"Thank you, I'll go see him right now," Misato stated barely concealing her relief as she turned down the hall and walked toward the elevator. 'Finally, that idiot had me worried!' Misato thought to herself as she pressed the button and waited impatiently.
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"Well at least I finally got that cast off," Reia deadpanned as she looked down at her newly freed leg.
"I'm really sorry Washington-san," Shinji repeated for what must have been the sixteenth time since they had arrived at NERV head quarters.
"Please quit apologizing Ikari-kun. It was an accident so it wasn't your fault, in fact if you hadn't acted everyone would have died," Reia stated as she took the boys hand into her own causing him to blush.
"Washington-san?" Shinji questioned as he looked at the young woman who simply smiled back in response.
"Reia," Reia corrected, "Don't stress yourself so much Ikari-kun, it doesn't matter to me that you were the pilot. The only reason I responded the way I did was because I it was a shock to me. I'm not angry at you for doing your job."
"Reia-san," Shinji whispered to himself before he smiled back. "Thank you Reia-san," Shinji stated as he gazed into her crimson eyes.
"My pleasure Ikari-kun," Reia stated with a wink. A few seconds later the door to the cell they were currently placed in opened up to reveal a busty violet haired woman with a neutral expression on her face.
"Long time no see Shinji-kun, do you feel better after bumming around yesterday?" Misato inquired as she placed her hands on her hips and looked down at Reia and Shinji. "Ah, I see that you got to meet that young woman you wanted to apologize to. Anyway, Eva is ready for you to pilot it, so are you going to?" Misato asked as she stared intently at the blue eyed boy.
"Misato-san are you going to scold me?" Shinji asked as he turned his gaze toward the floor. After a moment of no response Shinji spoke up again and said, "Of course not, you're of no relation to me after all so what does it matter to you?" The cell grew quite for a moment as Reia watched the exchange with minimal fascination.
"What if I say that I don't want to pilot Eva?" Shinji asked as he continued to stare at the floor. 'Why do I have to be the one to pilot it, I'm not cut out for this kind of thing,' Shinji thought dejectedly.
"Then Rei will pilot it," Misato stated simply, "Why? Won't you pilot it Shinji-kun?" Despite the fact that she was trying her absolute hardest not to, Misato felt herself becoming increasingly irritated with the young man's attitude.
"Well then I guess I have no choice. It's not fair to force all of it on Ayanami-san," Shinji stated with a sigh. "Besides you and Ritsuko are counting," Shinji started before he was cut off.
"Cut the crap Shinji!" Misato snapped, her eyes filled with rage. "If you don't want to pilot Unit 01 then say so! That kind of attitude will get you nowhere!"
"Hey!" Reia snapped drawing Misato's fury to her. "Who are you to judge what kind of attitude makes an adequate pilot? From what I've heard only children can pilot the Evas, so I doubt you've ever piloted one. How would you know what it took to be a good pilot! Ikari-kun went up against two of those Angels and defeated them and all you give him is a little praise here and there if that!? That's bullshit! He puts his life on the line every time he gets into that thing, and all you can do is bitch about his attitude!? You're pathetic!" Reia hissed as she finished her tirade gasping for air, although she was still snarling at a shocked Misato.
"Reia-san," Shinji whispered as he watched the young woman whipping around and look at him with eyes full of resentment and rage. 'Wow, she's scary when she gets mad,' Shinji thought to himself as he nervously backed up.
"Don't let her berate you Ikari-kun, she has no right no matter who she is!" Reia snapped again as she turned her attention back toward Misato who was still recovering from the effect of the young woman's words.
After a moment of silence Misato finally decided to speak up again. "You're right, I have no idea what it takes in order to pilot the Eva. However, I do know that the kind of attitude that Shinji-kun has is not adequate because he's liable to give up at any point when things start to get difficult. Shinji has to learn to value himself before he can value others," Misato hissed at Reia with a scowl on her face before she stomped out of the cell.
"She's right, I'll just go home," Shinji whispered as he slowly rose to his feet ignoring the look of rage, confusion, and sorrow mixed into Reia's delicate features.
"Ikari-kun you can't be serious!" Reia exclaimed as her crimson eyes went wide with shock.
"I am….I've got no reason to pilot Eva anymore," Shinji stated as he headed out of the cell and down the hall.
"Ikari-kun wait!" Reia called out as she tried to follow after the blue eyed boy before two burly hands clamped down on her shoulders and forcefully dragged her back. "Get your hands off of me!" Reia hissed as she grasped one of the hands ready to flip over whoever was holding her until she heard the click of a gun.
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"Did you hear? Shinji-kun is leaving," Ritsuko stated as she rode on the tram with Gendo and Rei behind them.
"Yes, we'll just have to reconfigure Unit 01 for Rei in that case," Gendo stated simply as he corrected his glasses.
"I suppose, considering how we haven't found the Fourth Child," Ritsuko stated as she gazed back at Rei who looked past her into space.
"By the way did you look at the files that were delivered, about Washington, Reia?" Gendo inquired as he continued to stare ahead.
"Yes, but do you really think it's possible?" Ritsuko asked as she shook her head in disbelief.
"Well we're about to find out, she's here," Gendo stated cryptically as they approached the lab and testing center.
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'So I'm really free to go,' Shinji thought dejectedly as he held his destroyed NERV id card. "Excuse me, do you know where Major Katsuragi is? I would like to say goodbye," Shinji asked the guard at the entrance to NERV head quarters.
"You no longer work for us so I can no longer disclose that information," the guard answered gruffly as he pointed to the black convertible that appeared in front of the entrance. "Looks like your ride is here," the guard stated with scowl on his face as he muttered something about failing and worthless.
"Alright, but where is Reia-san?" Shinji inquired as he scooped up his duffle bag, "Shouldn't she be joining me?"
"Like I told you before you no longer work for us so I can no longer disclose that information to you," the guard hissed.
Shinji was about to ask how Reia could possibly be involved with NERV but he feared the guards temper and what he might do to him if he didn't get going. "Okay then," Shinji stated dejectedly as he turned and made his way toward the car.
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"We're here," one of the NERV agents stated as he opened the door and allowed Shinji to exit the vehicle.
Shinji started to make his way over toward the train platform while being escorted by the two agents before two people came running down the street toward him.
"Hey Ikari-kun!" Kensuke called out, "We heard you were leaving so we just wanted to say goodbye!"
"Yeah!" Toji chimed in as the duo came to a stop in front of Shinji.
"Well isn't there something you want to say to him?" Kensuke asked pushing Toji forward.
Shinji and Toji stared at one another for a moment with an uncomfortable silence hanging in the air.
"Hurry up would ya'? He doesn't have much time ya' know!" Kensuke stated causing Toji to ball up his fist and audibly gulp.
"Hey Ikari-san, I just wanted to apologize for trying to punch," Toji stated sheepishly. "If you hate me that's okay, because I would understand if you did."
"I don't hate you," Shinji stated with a smile, "There's no reason for me to."
"Ikari," Toji stated as he stared in disbelief before he started to chuckle lightly. "You know you sound just like she does," Toji stated with a smirk, "Both you are big peace lovers or sumthin'."
"Are you talking about Reia?" Shinji inquired. His statement made both Kensuke's and Toji's mouths hang open in shock.
"Wait you know Reia!?" Toji exclaimed in shock as he continued to stare at Shinji.
"It's a long story," Shinji stated sheepishly as the two agents moved behind him signaling it was time for him to get moving.
"Well I hope to see you again some day Ikari-kun," Kensuke stated as he pushed his glasses back and smiled.
"Yeah, me too," Toji stated with a smirk.
"You guys…" Shinji stated as he looked at them in shock for a moment before he simply smiled back and nodded. He then continued on his way up the stairs, the agents and the two other teens following behind him.
"Hey Ikari, don't worry about anyone talking about you either! We saw how you suffered when you fought that Angel, so don't worry! If anyone badmouths you I'll punch 'em right in their mouth," Toji stated as he punched his palm and smirked.
Toji's statement caused Shinji to stop mid-stride and whip around to face him. "Please do try to make me seem like I'm something I'm not!" Shinji cried out as he struggled against the agents' grasp. "I'm nothing but a coward, a weakling, and a wimp! I run away from everything that scares me," Shinji cried out as tears started to streak down his face.
"That's enough!" one of the agents snapped as he forced the boy up the stairs and onto the platform.
After a few minutes Shinji barely heard the sound of an announcement stating that the approaching train was for government use only. 'I'm so pathetic, but what else can I do?' Shinji thought to himself with a sigh as he continued to look down at his feet. 'Well at least Reia-san was able to forgive, so things aren't so bad…she was even kind of nice to be with. I do wonder what happened to her, and why NERV has detained her though,' Shinji continued to think to himself as the train came to a stop in front of him.
Shinji stared at the train for a moment considering whether or not to get on. 'She believed in me, and even appreciated what I did…so did Kensuke and Toji. Maybe Eva is a way for me to find some type of self worth,' Shinji thought to himself as the train signaled the door was about to close. 'I won't runaway, I won't runaway,' Shinji thought to himself as the door closed and the train pulled off.
As the train pulled out Shinji looked down out onto the street to see a distressed Misato leaning against her blue convertible with her head in her hands. "Misato-san?" Shinji called out as he stared down in disbelief.
Misato jumped at the sound of her name being called as she whipped around daring to hope. Fortunately for her there he stood, duffle bag in hand, and staring intently at her. "Shinji-kun," Misato stated with a small smile.
They stared at each other for what seemed to be an eternity before Shiji spoke up. "I'm back," Shinji stated with a warm smile as he watched Misato give him one in return.
"Welcome home, Shinji-kun."
TO BE CONTINUED
Next Episode: The Fourth Child
Author's Note: Okay I'm still trying to regain my creative spark, and no I didn't just write this. It's been done for awhile, I just kinda forgot about it. Anyway, I am currently working on chapters 5 and 6 so those should be done along with the rest of my stuff when I finally come out of my funk. Until then I hope this chapter is long enough to keep you interested until I get the chance to post more. As always PLEASE REVIEW AND FEEL FREE TO FLAME!