Chapter four:
It's been years
Asuka Langley Soryu dragged Shinji Ikari from his room, as usual. She was irritated, and beyond that, she was fed up.
"Who cares what I am anyway? I'll do as they ask, and when I have cleared all the debts I owe, I'm getting outta here. It's killing me to even breathe the same air as those jerks, why can't they just shut up…"
"Asuka, just let it be. You know that it isn't possible for them to trust us, given our nature. We'll be able to leave soon."
"You don't understand anything at all. Have you ever suffered for your heritage? You're the son of Gendo Ikari. No one ever blames you for anything. Most of the time they're wondering about why they put up with a lowly creature such as I." She scowled, but spoke no more.
The two of them now stood in front of a door framed with black crystal shards and carvings. It looked ancient and felt out of place, in comparison to the modern, clean facilities of their base. But Asuka was familiar with it, as it was her method of travel.
Screw all of their opinions. I'll make this my last mission.
"Hold tight, Baka," she grinned. "You're in for a ride."
Without hesitation, she jumped through the darkness.
"Someone's here." Both of them said simultaneously, sensing the presence of others. As if on cue, Asuka and Shinji tumbled out of the shadow on the ground. The two glanced around for a moment before jumping backwards at the sight of Kaworu and Rei.
"You… you two are the…" Shinji stammers, before Asuka impatiently brushed him aside.
"Are you two the Angels-" and then she gasped. "Nagisa? I never thought it would be you? And Ayanami… you're that Ayanami who won all the battling championships in Japan!"
Kaworu and Rei looked at each other, both amused and confused at the same time.
"It's been a long time, Asuka," he said warily. "How are you doing? Have you decided to leave those Lilin yet? Are you still working for them?"
"Well, it's not like I have a lot of money, and I don't really have anywhere to go, so yeah. Besides, I have to keep this Baka Shinji alive."
"Please come inside if there is much you wish to say." Rei spoke quietly, and in turn Kawor and her held hands, returning into their abode. Asuka huffed, annoyed. "Who do you think you are? I'm the one asking the questions, and doing things on my own terms! Don't you try to order me around!"
"You are causing a lot of noise and disturbing everyone. Please, come in." Rei tilted her head, uninclined to give in. Shinji gazed worriedly, not knowing what sort of relationship there was between Nagisa and Asuka, but entered anyways. Muttering 'Baka', she entered the place.
The interior of the home was unlike what the outside suggested. While the exterior of the place was dark and decayed, the inside was made of glass and marble, clean and a beautiful, natural fusion of old and new. She couldn't help but gasp at the cleverly planned design of the room.
There was no other escape path than the front door.
Ayanami Rei was quite perturbed by the intrusion of these two. She could feel, somehow, that something was off with them. She trusted the girl even less when Kaworu revealed that they knew each other. The reaction seemed to suggest it was not a good relationship. Nonetheless, she was courteous in her manner, inviting them in. Kaworu smiled at her gently, and she took his hand and entered their home.
Taking a seat on the rich sofa, she glanced at the intruders. Armisael appeared from the corner of the room, about to offer her a cup of tea when the girl-Asuka,that was her name-spoke.
"So, are you the Angels who survived the war and the secret organisations Seele and Nerv?"
Surprised by her presence, Armisael ran off. Asuka stared after her, irritated. "Well?"
"This is really not a proper way to speak, Asuka," chided Kaworu. "When we have just reunited."
"You don't get it. This is a job. I'm here to get information, and nothing else. Your way of speaking is the one that's improper."
"Um...can we just discuss about the current situation?" Shinji asked quietly.
Rei gave Kaworu another glance. He nodded, and so she spoke.
"We did not survive the war. We weren't born then. But we are Angels, just as you are not human either." Both Asuka and Shinji's eyes widened.
"How did you know? How did you-" before she could continue, Asuka pulled out a Magnum and pointed it at her. "What are you? There are no more Angels after the war! Unless what Katsuragi-san said is true...I don't believe it."
Rei blinked indifferently, and immediately there was a sword at Asuka's neck.
"Please, Let us resolve this without the use of unnecessary violence." Her voice came out like a whisper, soft yet powerful. "We can explain to you many things, should you put your trust in us."
Asuka humphed, but put down her gun. In turn, the hidden Angels retreated behind.
"Asuka, we are the result of the experiments of Seele and Nerv. Somehow, the DNA of Adam and Lilith melded with us perfectly without trouble. Your birth was not as smooth, I believe?" Kaworu smiled, while Asuka glared at him.
"Do not mention anything about me again. This is irrelevant." Her hard words would have scared away many, but it was of no use against them.
"As you wish, Asuka-san. You work for the organisation called Wille, fighting against remnants of Nephilim and Demons, and all those that came through the Divine Barrier torn apart by the First and Second Angel Wars, right? So I believe the question you really have in mind is whether or not we will start another one."
"You didn't need to state the overly obvious," Asuka raised her eyebrows. "So your answer is…"
"Why would we wish to start a war?" Rei smiled faintly. "There is no such need. Besides, there aren't any Angels left."
"You could have just said that and save all this trouble," Asuka frowned. "I'm leaving."
"I'll lead you out then," Kaworu smiled. "And I think I need to return something to you."
Rei wondered at that, but said nothing. It had been three years, after all.
Asuka let Kaworu lead her out, and Shinji followed her faithfully. She glanced at Kaworu, then Shinji, then back to Kaworu.
It's been two years.
As they stood at the door, somehow she felt something tugging inside her. The way he smelled… it hasn't changed at all.
"Here," Kaworu said, breaking the silence. "Something I believe I should return to you now."
Asuka took the package from him, and opened it. Inside was a pile of letters, with her elegant handwriting on it. Flipping through them carefully, she sighed. "I can't believe you actually kept them."
"Asuka…" Shinji gazed at her worriedly.
"Give me a moment, Baka!" She scowled at him, then turned back to Kaworu. "Well, what's in the past should be left alone."
"With this, anything there was between us is over. We have our own lives now. Go in peace." Kaworu smiled one last time before turning back and heading inside the house. Asuka gazed after him for one more moment, then turned, her hair soaring behind her.
"Let's go, Shinji," She says, with a small peck on his cheek. His eyes widened, before a smile formed on his face. She held him tight, and formed a shadow beneath them.
When she gets back to Wille, she's definitely resigning.