Chapter 8
Shinji, after putting his pajamas back on, laid back down and dozed for the remaining hours of the night. He couldn't completely fall back asleep for several reasons: One, his sore throat kept throbbing painfully. Two, the sounds and smells of the hospital were unfamiliar to him, so they kept him awake. But third, and most distracting, was the fact that he couldn't guide his thoughts to any subject other than what he had just done with Asuka.
That's twice in as many days, he thought during one of his many awake periods, I wonder…will this become a regular part of our workouts together? That wouldn't be so bad.
Asuka went back over along the wall and stretched out on the line of chairs to sleep. She did it reluctantly, because she and Shinji had both wanted to share the bed. When Gendo returned in the morning to sign Shinji out, he brought a pad of lined paper and a mechanical pencil. Shinji was repulsed by the idea of having to write what he wanted to say, but he had to respect what the doctor ordered.
"Feeling any better today?" Gendo asked when they got out to the car.
"Much," Shinji wrote.
"Is your throat still bothering you?" Gendo asked.
"Some," wrote Shinji in response.
While Gendo was driving, he couldn't look over to read the pad, so Shinji had Asuka read aloud what he was writing. When the trio got back to Shinji's house, Asuka got out of the car and began to head home. Gendo stopped her.
"Asuka, wait a moment," Gendo said, "You can't go home. The police have it taped off as a crime scene. I knew Shinji would want it, so I suggested to your mother that she and you stay with us for a while until this mess gets sorted out."
"Danke shoen!" Asuka exclaimed happily. What she said was German for "thank you very much".
Shinji wished he could speak to express his excitement. He couldn't agree with his father more. He couldn't think of any place where he'd rather see Asuka than in his house, where he could be with her all the time. However, Shinji was confined to his muteness. Right from the first hour, Shinji began to get increasingly more frustrated.
If Shinji thought trying to function at home was difficult, it was nothing to what he would endure trying to last through school the next day. Word had spread like wildfire of Shinji and Asuka's romance. But these rumors traveled at a snail's pace compared to the tale of Shinji's heroic rescue and harrowing near-death experience.
People were coming up to Shinji left and right, asking him questions about what happened, and how he survived a strangle-hold. Obviously, Shinji wasn't really able to talk about it, due to the fact that he wasn't able to talk, but Asuka stuck with him and acted as a sort of publicist for Shinji. Not only did she shoo away hecklers and pesky repeat questioners, but she also drove off several girls who were fawning over "Shinji the Hero".
"Asuka," Shinji wrote, "there's no need for you to be so protective."
"Well, I don't want anyone stealing you away," Asuka responded.
"Don't be so paranoid," Shinji wrote, "you know you're the only girl for me."
"I know," Asuka replied, "but I also know that desire is a funny thing. Besides, I'd rather not see my boyfriend with a group of strange girls hanging on him. I mean, how would that look?"
"How do you think I'd feel?" Shinji scribbled, "A guy with a beautiful girl that he loves more than his own life, surrounded by a group of strange girls that hero-worship him, but probably don't care anything for him? I'd feel like a trophy being put on display."
"I guess it would be kind of awkward," Asuka admitted, "Still, it makes me uncomfortable seeing you around so many other girls like that."
"Don't worry," Shinji reassured her, "I only have eyes for you."
Asuka smiled and gave Shinji a quick kiss.
Shinji's laryngitis persisted for another day before he was finally able to use his voice. He woke up in the morning and gave an experimental cough. His throat didn't hurt. He tried speaking softly.
"Hello," he said softly. He didn't whisper, he merely spoke in a low voice. His voice gargled, but it didn't hurt. He cleared his throat and tried again. His voice sounded creaky, but not overly so.
Good, Shinji thought, I can finally ditch that stupid pad of paper.
Shinji walked out to the kitchen where everyone was sitting down for Saturday breakfast. Asuka noticed him first.
"Guten morgan, Shinji-kun," she said brightly. Up until that morning, Shinji had only smiled and made an acknowledgement with his hand. This morning, however, Shinji smiled and said:
"'Morning."
A shocked look crossed every face at the table. After a few moments, Gendo spoke. He sounded amused.
"He speaks," he said.
"Yes, I speak again, finally," Shinji said.
"Well, there goes our peace and quiet," Gendo joked.
"Thanks, dad," Shinji said sarcastically.
"Do you have plans for today?" Asuka's mother asked.
"Since we didn't make it out yesterday—" Shinji started.
"—we thought we'd go out running today," Asuka finished.
"So, you're completing each other's sentences now, are you?" Gendo asked.
"Not all the time—" Shinji said.
"—just this time," Asuka said.
"Uh-huh…Okay," Gendo said, "Well, have fun, stay out of trouble, be safe, and all that 'blah, blah, blah, father stuff.'"
"Thanks, dad," Shinji replied.
Breakfast passed quickly and soon Shinji and Asuka were gearing up for a morning run. Shinji donned a pair of running shorts and a plain T-shirt. Asuka selected a pair of short athletic shorts and a sports bra. Before they made it out the door, the running pair had to hear their parents' comments.
"Asuka, libeling, you're not wearing that out in public, are you? It's very suggestive," Asuka's mother complained.
"Momma," Asuka said, frustrated, "we aren't going to go through this again are we? This is what I run in because it's comfortable and it keeps me cool.
"Let's go, Shinji," she added forcefully, turning to her boyfriend. Then, Asuka headed quickly out the door before her mother could respond further. Once Asuka and Shinji were out on the sidewalk, Shinji set his watch into stopwatch mode and got ready.
"On your mark," he said, "get set. Go!"
On the word "go", Shinji started his watch. He and Asuka set off at a run towards the park. When they got to the park, they stopped, and Shinji checked their time.
"Five minutes, thirty seconds," he read off, "Not too bad."
"How far did we come?" Asuka asked. She was breathing a little harder than Shinji was.
"Almost three-quarters of a mile," Shinji replied, "We still have room to improve, but this is a good start."
The next several days passed in this manner. Each day, Shinji and Asuka would push themselves a little bit harder. Slowly and surely, their times began to improve and their stamina increased. One day at school, though, Shinji and Asuka were both called to the principal's office.
"But we didn't do anything," Asuka complained as they walked down the hall.
"I don't think we're in trouble," Shinji reassured her. His assumptions were verified by the principal.
"You two aren't here because you've broken any rules," he said seriously, looking over his desk at them, "You're here because we've just been informed that Miss Soryu's father has escaped from police and is on the loose. We feel you two might be in danger."
"Might be?!" Shinji demanded.
"Mein gott!" Asuka gasped, panic rising in her voice.
"What's being done?" Shinji asked.
"Mr. Ikari is going to take you both home at once," the principal answered, "After that, you'll have to decide for yourselves what course of action is best. The police are already engaged in a massive man-hunt for him. Please be safe, children. I will inform your teachers of your excusal."
"Thank you, sir," Shinji and Asuka replied simultaneously. Then, they got up and headed for the lobby, where they found Gendo waiting for them.
"Let's go," Gendo said intensely.
"Where's momma?" Asuka asked frantically as they headed for the car.
"She's waiting for us at the house, which is where we're headed right now," Gendo responded.
The trio piled into the car. Shinji sat in the back seat with Asuka. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Asuka was one of the toughest people that Shinji knew, but she was terrified of her father. The whole trip home, she trembled uncontrollably.
"Shinji take the bat," Gendo said, indicating a Louisville Slugger that was sitting in the front seat. When they reached the house, Shinji and Gendo got out of the car and walked up the walk to the front door.
"Be ready, Shinji," Gendo said. Then, he pushed open the door.
"Momma?" Asuka called.
"I'm here, libeling," she replied, "Gendo, I kept the door locked like you told me to. I unlocked it when I saw you coming up the walk, and then hid until I heard Asuka's voice."
Gendo nodded grimly. He turned to Shinji.
"Shinji, listen carefully," he said, "I know that track season is about to start, but I'd feel more comfortable if you and Asuka didn't go out running until the police recapture him."
"But, dad!" Shinji protested immediately, "We've got to train!"
"I sympathize, son," Gendo said, "really I do. But as your father, I have to insist that you stay here."
"Dad, no," Shinji argued rebelliously, "I don't care if you want to ground me. I'm not afraid, and making the team is all that matters to me right now. I'm going to train. Let him catch me if he can!"
There was an awkwardly long pause. Then Asuka spoke.
"I'm going with him," she said bravely.
"Over mein dead body!" Asuka's mother said hotly.
"Momma, I agree with Shinji," Asuka said, "I'm not going to give up training and sit at home scared because I might run into my papa."
"I still don't think it's a good idea," Gendo said, "He's still a dangerous man."
"You think I don't know this?" Shinji demanded, "Jesus, dad, I spent a night in the hospital. The man nearly strangled me!"
"And yet you still don't have the brains to realize that you should be afraid of him," Gendo said heatedly.
"That's right, dad," Shinji retorted, "I guess I'm that stupid, because I only have brains enough to realize that the park is a public place where there would be too many witnesses! Nobody, not even a vengeful psychopath, would try to murder someone in those kinds of surroundings."
Gendo was silent, though his eyes burned hot with anger at his son's insolence. However, his ire was stifled and silenced by his son's ingenuity. He was proud of Shinji's dedication and his courage. Slowly, Gendo's anger dissipated.
"Shinji," he said, "I still don't like it, but you have my permission to continue training."
"Thank you, father," Shinji said.
"I have only three conditions," Gendo continued, "One, you must not be out alone. You must have someone with you, for safety's sake."
"Asuka will go with me," said Shinji. Asuka nodded in agreement.
"That brings me to my second condition," Gendo said, "I can only give you permission to go, Shinji. Asuka has to get permission from her mother in order to go."
"Please momma?" Asuka implored, "If I can't go, then neither can Shinji, and we'll both be cut from the team. We'll look out for each other, I promise."
Asuka's mother was silent for several long, tension-filled minutes. Then, she looked hard at Shinji. Her eyes were the same piercing shade of blue that Asuka's were.
"Do I have your promise that you'll protect my Asuka?" she asked, still staring Shinji in the eye.
"I would die for her," Shinji swore resolutely.
"Then, she has my permission to go," Asuka's mother said.
With an exclamation of relief, Asuka threw her arms around Shinji and hugged him tightly.
"Thirdly," Gendo said, drawing their attention back, "I want the two of you back in this house absolutely before dark. Are we clear on this?"
"Yes sir," Asuka replied.
"Crystal," Shinji answered.
"Good luck," Gendo said.
Three tense days went by. There was no sign or word on the whereabouts of Asuka's father. Everyone in the Ikari household grew tenser by the day. Shinji and Asuka managed to stay calm by concentrating on their running. Soon, the track season would start, and they would test their mettle against other competitors.
On the fourth day, Shinji and Asuka went out after school to run, like they had been doing. They had taken nearly two full minutes off of their run-time for a mile. Shinji was confident that he and Asuka would both be able to do well in their events.
"Hey, Asuka," he said while they were taking a break, "how about a race?"
"I don't know, Shinji-kun," Asuka replied, "Do you really think you stand a chance of winning?"
"'Do I stand a chance?'" Shinji snorted, "That's not the question. The question is: How badly am I going to beat you?"
"Ho ho, we'll see, won't we?"
"Yes, we will," Shinji said. Then, he scratched a line in the gravel across the width of the trail.
"Once around the main trail," Shinji said, "First one across the line wins."
"Sounds easy," said Asuka, "How about we make it more interesting? How about the winner gets a kiss from the loser?"
"You're on," Shinji said with a grin, "Ready? On your mark, get set, GO!"
Shinji and Asuka dashed off the mark. The course Shinji had selected was a mile and a half long. Shinji estimated that their race would last for about eight minutes. Asuka's lighter frame gave her the edge off the start. Shinji, however, quickly settled into a rhythm and began to overtake her. It was clear that Shinji was a long-distance runner while Asuka was a sprinter. Shinji passed Asuka and put on a little extra speed. The distance between them began to widen. Shinji kept his concentration on the path in front of him. Thus, he didn't see the man who jumped out and grabbed Asuka.
"Shinji!" she screamed.
Shinji heard the terror in her voice and skidded to a halt, turning as he did so. He saw Asuka being held down by a large man in a military uniform. It was her father. He had been hiding in the woods the whole time. Shinji didn't know what to do, but then Asuka screamed:
"Shinji, help me!"
Any trace of fear was instantly erased from Shinji's mind. Asuka needed him; that was all that mattered. The same protective instinct that had gripped him the first time took over again. Shinji charged full-tilt at the murderous man. Shinji took a wild chance and leaped into the air, intending to drop kick Asuka's father. Unexpectedly, Asuka's father caught Shinji by one of his ankles and executed a judo throw. Shinji was sent sprawling onto the gravel. Shinji heard a strangulated scream. Asuka was being throttled by her father.
I can't handle this alone, Shinji realized.
"Help!" he yelled, scrambling to his feet, "Anybody! We're being attacked!"
After he finished shouting, Shinji bellowed a war cry and leaped at Asuka's father again. He wrapped his arms around the man's trunk-like neck and attempted to put him in a headlock.
"Let—her—go!" Shinji grunted, trying to wrestle Asuka's father away, "I'm the one you want! I'm the bastard boyfriend, remember?"
Shinji felt a powerful hand grip his arm and pull. At the same time, Asuka's father threw his shoulders forward. The combination of these two motions sent Shinji flying through the air again. Shinji landed hard on his face. Despite the pain, Shinji crawled back to his feet.
"Come on!" Shinji taunted, "Is that the best you can do? Come and get me!"
"Wait your turn, kid," the criminal replied, "There's plenty of death to go around."
He turned his attention back to Asuka. She was still trying vainly to escape from her father's clutches. Shinji thought fast.
"Are you scared of me?" Shinji taunted, "Is that why you're picking on a girl? Because you're too scared to try and kill a man?"
That last taunt did the trick. With a snarl of rage, Asuka's father released her and leapt to his feet.
"Asuka, run!" Shinji yelled.
Before her father could grab her again, Asuka scrambled out of his reach and raced down the path. Her father started to chase her, but quickly gave up when he realized that he couldn't catch her. She was too fast. He turned his rage on Shinji.
"You're history you little bastard!" he yelled. Then, he charged full-tilt at Shinji.
Great work, genius, Shinji thought as he turned to run, you've got him supremely pissed off and there's no one for him to take it out on but you. Oh, I hope I'm faster than he is.
Shinji sprinted for his life. Close on his heels was an enraged psychopath intent on murdering him. Shinji's panic lent him speed and stamina, but the madman's longer legs gave him the advantage of stride length. Suddenly, a branch on the path became ensnarled between Shinji's fast-pumping legs.
Oh, shit, Shinji thought as he flew through the air again, I'm really fucked now. He's not going to get me without a fight!
Shinji hit the ground and tucked into a roll. He came up just in time to see Asuka's father throw himself at Shinji. Shinji didn't think. He grabbed the man's wrists, put his feet into the man's chest and fell backwards, rolling with the large man's momentum. This move surprised Asuka's father as much as it sent him flying through the air. He landed with and audible "thud".
Shinji did a kip-up and wheeled to face the man. He had also recovered and had picked up a broken tree branch, which he was wielding like a club. He aimed swing after swing at Shinji. Shinji ducked and dodged, narrowly avoiding the rough, wooden weapon.
Shinji was caught unawares by a powerful side kick to his ribs. He was stunned and breathless, and Asuka's father took full advantage. He swung savagely with his cudgel, scoring hit after bruising hit. Shinji rapidly succumbed to this punishment and collapsed to the ground, awaiting the welcome relief of oblivion. Just before he started to black out, Shinji heard a man's voice.
"Get away from my son!"
Dad?
"Dad!" Shinji shouted.
Gendo rushed down the path wielding his Louisville Slugger. Asuka was hot on his heels. Asuka's father looked up just in time to see the bat swinging towards his face. He tried to avoid it, but the hard, wooden bat smashed into his right shoulder. The wild man howled with pain and rage. He and Gendo engaged in a strange duel. The two men swung and parried, blocked and attacked. If their weapons had been made of metal instead of wood, they might have looked like Samurai warriors locked in mortal combat.
Asuka's father scored a hit on Gendo's right knee; the formerly injured right knee. Gendo dropped to the ground, dropping the bat and clutching his knee. Asuka's father laughed triumphantly and aimed a crushing blow at Gendo's head.
"Dad!" Shinji shouted. He dove for the bat, bringing it over his head just in time. With a crack that resounded through the trees and the sound of splintering wood, the flimsy club shattered against the hardened wood of the baseball bat.
"Shit," swore the maddened criminal.
"Oh, yeah," Shinji said, climbing to his feet, "you're in trouble now."
Shinji hefted the Slugger menacingly. Asuka's father narrowed his eyes. Shinji slowly stalked toward the man. Despite the pain in his legs from the beating, Shinji forced himself to walk without a limp. Asuka's father took an involuntary step back.
"Y-you're crazy, kid," he said, "You've got no hope of beating me, even with you're silly little bat. I was trained by the army."
"Then why are you backing away?" Shinji asked, "Why do I see fear behind your eyes? Why don't you just come and get me?"
"You're…not worth it," Asuka's father said hesitantly.
"Oh, I'm not?" Shinji asked, "You came close to killing me when you were drunk, was I worth it then? Or is it that you've lost your stomach for it?"
Shinji was deliberately baiting Asuka's father. He knew how unbalanced the man was and he knew that sooner or later, he would snap. Shinji was ready, every muscle in his body tensed to spring. A second voice joined Shinji's. It was Asuka's.
"You're pathetic, papa," she said, "I hate you."
"You hear that?" Shinji asked, "You've lost the love and respect of your only child. How much more are you willing to lose?"
"S-stop it!" the father yelled, "Shut up!"
"No, papa," Asuka said, gaining strength, "I won't shut up ever again, not unless I choose to. I'm not afraid of you any more! You have no more hold over me!"
As Asuka unleashed 17 years of torment and abuse back on its source, Shinji stood and watched. Asuka was finally fighting back. He admired her rising courage and mounting strength. As she unloaded, Shinji heard sirens approaching. Asuka heard them as well.
"Hear that, papa?" she asked, "The police are here to capture you. They're going to put you away for a long time."
Asuka's father broke down completely. He collapsed to his knees and stared blankly at the ground. His jaw went slack, and then began to move. His mouth formed noiseless words. Shinji found himself feeling a small amount of pity for the broken man. The police came bursting through the trees, guns drawn.
"No!" Shinji said, throwing out his arms, "No! Don't rile him. He's docile now. I think he'll go without a fight."
"Keep your guns ready," one officer ordered, "but hold your fire unless forced to defend yourself."
The officer who spoke holstered his pistol and produced his handcuffs. He approached Asuka's father and reached for his wrist. The criminal's face suddenly snapped back to taut madness. In a blur of motion, almost too fast for the eye to follow, he stole the officer's pistol, grabbed his daughter, and held her in front of him with the gun under her chin. The other officers raised their guns, but couldn't risk a shot because of Asuka. Asuka was shaking with fear. She was beginning to hyperventilate in panic.
"Sh-Shinji-k-kun, h-help me," she whimpered.
"Shut up, bitch!" her father barked, "Drop your guns! Now! Throw them towards me and step back!"
The policemen didn't move.
"I'll kill her!" the criminal shouted, digging the barrel harder into Asuka's chin, "I swear, she'll die! Drop your fucking guns!"
"Please," Asuka begged, beginning to cry, "d-do as he says."
Shinji's thoughts raced.
Okay, he thought, now we've got problems. He'll do it, too. There's going to be no reasoning with him, but I've got to try to get Asuka out of danger.
"Take me, instead!" he shouted.
Asuka and her father both looked at Shinji. Asuka tried to shake her head, but her father's grip on her hair prevented her from doing that.
"You want to be a hero and take her place?" the father laughed mockingly, "All right, Mr. Hero, you got yourself a deal. You take her place, and I'll point my gun at your head, instead."
"Give me your word that you won't harm Asuka," Shinji said.
"You got it," her father said.
Shinji dropped his bat and began to walk slowly towards Asuka's father. As soon as Shinji was close enough, the man pistol whipped Asuka, knocking her out, and grabbed Shinji's left arm in a chicken-wing hold. Shinji ground his teeth and growled with pain and anger.
"You—ahg—said you wouldn't hurt her," Shinji grunted.
"I lied," the man chuckled.
Shinji grunted with rage and tried to struggle. Asuka's father twisted harder on Shinji's arm. Shinji felt his shoulder hyper extending. Bone grated against bone. Shinji yelled in pain.
"You shouldn't have volunteered to take her place," Asuka's father growled in Shinji's ear, "You could have stayed clear and stayed alive for a little while longer. Now, I'm going to kill you. But first, I think I'll shoot my bitch of a daughter and make you watch!"
"Not—uhhn—today!" Shinji growled.
Before Asuka's father realized what happened, Shinji brought his leg up behind him and kicked the criminal right in the balls. At the same time, Shinji reached up and quickly grabbed the wrist of the gun-hand and pulled it away from his chin. As the gun moved away from Shinji's head, the man's hand tightened, and the weapon discharged. Shinji kept a tight grip on the man's wrist and swept his legs sideways, kicking Asuka's father's feet off balance. Shinji thrust his hip into the man's gut and pulled on his arm, executing a brilliant throw.
Asuka's father rolled with the throw and came up shooting. He fired wildly, catching one of the officers in his arm. The police returned fire. Asuka's father was riddled with 9mm slugs. He fell to the ground, dead as a doornail.
