Disclaimer:
I do not own any characters in this fic except for Ryugi Kazamaru and his Eva, Unit-0X (If I did own Evangelion, Shinji would have gotten Rei, but he had to choose Asuka… At least as far as the original series! Much love for Rebuild 2.0!). Evangelion and all related articles are property of GAINAX.
'This stands for a thought'
"This for said dialog"
This for written or typed text
\\ This equals a flashback/
Italics are for radio dialogue or other such disembodied voices
(And this for sound effects, author's comments, or physical noises or actions)
So, after rewriting a vast portion of my previous chapters, we come to a milestone, Chapter 10. The Sub-Commander wishes to speak to Pilot Kazamaru. Ryugi has confessed his love to Rei, and effectively become a second Angel of Free Will. Shinji and Asuka continue to grow closer, but Asuka feels dejected. And despite all that is happening at Nerv, Seele and Commander Ikari seem to have their own plans placed in jeopardy due to the behavior of Rei and the White Eva. How much longer can things continue as they are? Plots twist and turn in Chapter 10 of Destiny's Power: Strength of the Heart – Unrequited. If you've read this far, I beg of you to review. I can't stress enough how much they mean to me.
- Pilot Ikari-Kun
Chapter 10: Unrequited
The whole day seemed to be a blur to Ryugi Kazamaru. Time was strange when you didn't have to eat or sleep. You had more time to think things over, which in the case of Ryugi meant more worrying about the meeting he would soon have. It had been a week since he had defeated the black Angel, and since he had been discharged from the hospital with a clean bill of health after just two days. The doctors were amazed at the speed of his recovery, calling it a miracle, but nonetheless, they hadn't asked any questions.
Most of the time after his discharge was spent with Rei. Her injuries were more severe than the injuries of the others, and there was no place he wanted to be more than at her side. He'd even stayed at her side while she slept, holding her hand in his as nurses would come by and comment on how cute it was as they changed her bandages or brought her meals. If he was not at her side in her room, he walked with her to the garden and around the hospital itself, always holding her hand.
They would talk about many things. It didn't matter what the subject was. The thing that really mattered was being close to her rather than the topic of conversation itself. She smiled at him more freely and openly now. It was such a stark contrast to the lonely girl that he had met just a few months ago when he first came to Tokyo-III. Rei was a happy girl now, full of warmth and kindness. Her gentle way of speaking or squeezing his hand softly when they were alone showed her affection as plain as day, and any time he wished Ryugi could feel her love and trust in him.
The last few days had truly been wonderful, beautiful times of which Ryugi had enjoyed every moment. But now, as he stood at the gate of the Sub-Commander's home just outside Tokyo-III, all he could feel was anxiety. He glanced once more at the strip of paper in his hand where Misato had scribbled the address of Sub-Command Fuyutsuki's home. The house in front of him was small, but nothing like his or Rei's apartment. Green trees lined the short walkway, and the house itself, despite a semi-traditional design, was also quite modern. Despite his age, it seemed the Sub-Commander had a taste for the future as well. Ryugi leaned forward and tapped the buzzer, waiting a moment before a voice came over the speaker, obviously not the Sub-Commander's.
"State your business and identity."
"Uh…I'm Pilot Kazamaru, I was told I was to meet the Sub-Commander at this address." The speaker was silent for a time before the same voice replied back.
"The Sub-Commander has been expecting you. Someone shall escort you shortly."
The speaker went silent once again and Ryugi continued to stand around, waiting. The summer heat was starting to get to him as he spied a man in a black suit and sunglasses, obviously one of Nerv's personal security agents from its Department of Security Intelligence, walking along the path as two more took up positions on either side of the main entrance into the house itself. The agent paused on the other side of the gate.
"Your Identification card, Pilot Kazamaru." Ryugi noticed that it wasn't a question. He slipped his hand into his book bag and he noticed the agent's hand casually lift up his jacket and place his hand on his waist, clearly showing his sidearm. They were nothing if not on task. After a few more seconds Ryugi pulled out his wallet and offered his ID Card to the agent. The agent took the card and examined it visually, before reaching to his interior jacket pocket and grabbing a small pen-sized object, swiping the card through a small slot in it. A clear plastic circle near the top of the device blinked green and the agent handed the card back to Ryugi.
As Ryugi placed the card back in his wallet and placed his wallet back into his bag, the gate opened and the agent motioned for Ryugi to follow him up the path towards the front of the house. Ryugi spied a small rock garden in front of the house as he was lead up the stairs, and remarked at how clean it seemed to be. Despite the chaos that everyone in Tokyo-III dealt with, the Sub-Commander's home was surprisingly calm and tranquil. As he reached the front door, one of the agents opened it, the other having fallen behind, while the third off to the side placed his hand out in the way of Ryugi.
"Your bag, Pilot Kazamaru."
As he offered the bag to the agent, the one who had opened the front door of the house waved a wand up and down, checking Ryugi for any sign of metallic objects, giving an affirmative signal to the one who held Ryugi's bag. The agent then allowed Ryugi to enter the house, the other continuing to follow behind him. The house, though on the outside was very tranquil and calm, was quite different on the inside. Bookshelves lined the walls with titles ranging across a variety of different subjects. Papers and files seemed strewn across the main table, and file cabinets were open, some with files sticking up, lines of red tape marking important entries.
"Ah, Pilot Kazamaru..."
Ryugi turned to spy the Sub-Commander walking through a door off to the right, spying an office crammed with even more paperwork and file cabinets. The older man was wearing a white buttoned shirt with the sleeves unbuttoned and rolled up to his biceps. The collar was devoid of a tie, and he wore dark green slacks with white socks. It was fairly strange to see one of his commanding officers in such a relaxed and unofficial getup.
"Yes, Sir. I was told you had wished to see me."
"Of course, please, follow me."
Ryugi moved to follow the Sub-Commander, the agent still following behind Ryugi as he moved. However, the Sub-Commander stopped and spoke to the trailing agent.
"It's alright. I'm quite certain the young man isn't going to kidnap me. You may wait here."
"Yes, Sub-Commander."
The agent then took up a position on the inside of the door and Fuyutsuki motioned for Ryugi to follow him into the room off to the side. Ryugi walked into the room and saw that it was indeed just as crammed with papers and books as he'd originally seen. A computer was on the desk as well, the logo of Kyoto University acting as a screensaver. On the walls were various framed degrees, the most prominent showing a doctorate in Metaphysical Biology. Another included an award of some kind for teacher of the year presented to "Professor Kozo Fuyutsuki" some number of years ago. So he had been a Professor at some point. Ryugi hadn't been aware. Regardless, another door was slid open and the Sub-Commander walked out into a sitting room, motioning for Ryugi to enter ahead of him.
"Please, take a seat."
The sitting room was pleasant. A table with a pitcher of something sitting on top complete with glasses and a few chairs sat upon a worn outdoor rug, and a large screened-in section overlooked the mountains and red sea beyond Tokyo-III. Before Second Impact the view was likely quite lovely, Ryugi thought. Even with a red sea, the mountain view was still a nice change of pace from the muted grays and darker colors of the city. Ryugi moved and took a seat on the opposite side of the main table, spying a small table with a few more books placed on it, with one book sitting on top of the piece of furniture, sitting next to the chair that the Sub-Commander settled into.
"You'll have to forgive the security, but ever since my kidnapping I've taken extra precautions to ensure my safety."
"Of course, Sub-Comma—" The older man raised a hand.
"Please, outside of duties and obligations, 'Professor' will do. It's always been a title that suited me the best."
"Of course, Professor."
"That's better. Would you care for something to drink?"
"No thank you, Sir, I'm not thirsty."
"I see." The older man sighed and shrugged, picking up the pitcher and pouring two glasses, one for Ryugi anyway and one for himself, of what appeared to be iced tea. "No sense in it going to waste, then." He took a sip and leaned back in his chair, noticing that the young man before him was still incredibly tense, and understandably so.
"Well, then, let me start by saying that you can relax, Pilot Kazamaru. I called you here specifically because I wished to speak with you about something of a personal nature." Ryugi relaxed a bit, but looked confused
"Personal nature, Sir?"
"Yes." The older man took another sip of his iced tea and looked to Ryugi once more, setting the glass down on the table, crossing his legs, and interlacing his fingers. "I'll be honest with you, Pilot Kazamaru. I called you here because I wanted to get a feel for the kind of person you are. Since you came to us you've performed several…incredible feats, easily on par with those of your fellow pilots, and some even surpassing them"
Ryugi bristled a bit at the mention of his exploits. Normally such comments from a superior officer would have made one swell with pride and gratitude, but with Ryugi, all it did was make him feel nervous. However, as the "Professor" spoke, Ryugi felt a sense not of suspicious inquisition, but a feeling of honest curiosity, and even more strangely, a sense of anxiety. He silently wondered what the Sub-Commander of Nerv's First Branch could possibly be anxious about, but he shook the thought from his head as the man continued to speak.
"Not only that, but your drive for these feats has been consistent and has almost always involved one of your fellow pilots, Rei Ayanami." Ryugi grew noticeably pale and even blushed slightly at the mention of his motivation, as the Professor had called it. However, the man simply chuckled and continued. "Don't worry, I'm not going to go around talking to anyone about your living arrangement, and in fact, I've gone out of my way to try and hide it from the Security Department."
That caused Ryugi to really become confused. Why would the second in command go out of his way to hide such a strange and personal thing? It wasn't adding up to him at all. "But, Sir, if I may… Why would you do that?"
The older man sighed and lowered his tone, his face becoming more serious. "Because, Pilot Kazamaru, there are things going on inside Nerv, things so secretive and under wraps that only a select few know them, and that does not include even some of the command staff." Ryugi looked taken aback and stood from his chair, worried. But the older man raised a hand and continued.
"Sit down, Pilot Kazamaru. The only reason I'm even discussing this with you is because I feel that you and I, ultimately, want the same things out of life. If you want to learn what is going on, I will tell you, but once you know, there is no going back. Despite what I think on our views, the bigger reason is that you, whether you realize it or not, are also involved, and have been before you even set foot in Tokyo-III."
It was too much. Ryugi could hardly contain his thoughts. He simply didn't understand what was going on. The, arguably, second most powerful man in the world was talking to him about secret dealings, and that he was somehow involved in them.
"So, you effectively have two choices, Kazamaru. The first is the most obvious. You can leave now, I will not report any of this to Commander Ikari or anyone else, and you may go on living your life as you see fit, no worse or better off than you are now." He took another sip of the iced tea before continuing. "I won't lie, Kazamaru. It is very possible that route is the safest course of action you could take, but you don't strike me as the kind of person to leave their fate in the hands of another."
Ryugi nodded.
"The second course of action is that we sit here for a while, drink some iced tea, and I tell you exactly what's going on behind the scenes at Nerv. It is the choice that may very well place your life at risk, and possibly my life as well. It is also possible that you could pick the first choice, but decide that the desire to know is unbearable. That could cause you to start asking questions on your own, and that, most certainly, will get you erased. At least if you choose the second option, you will have me working for you as best as I can."
Ryugi simply stared in shock at the Professor as the older man looked at him, sizing him up, before continuing once again.
"So, the choice is yours, Kazamaru."
As the older man simply looked to Ryugi, patiently awaiting his response, Ryugi quietly considered his options. He knew that the Sub-Commander had placed a huge amount of trust in him. No doubt he would be risking his own safety to even tell Ryugi this much, especially if anyone found out. He had mentioned the possibility of being erased, not killed, erased. And the word carried with it an entirely different meaning. But, he thought back to the initial comments made by the man. He thought the both of them were similar, and that they both wanted the same things out of life. Not only that, but he'd gone out of his way to hide the fact that he and Rei had been living together, something that, while odd, spoke volumes about how much this man obviously wanted to protect something. Putting that much on the line for something, no matter what it was, showed the strength of the man's resolve, but still, Ryugi had one question for him.
"If I may, Professor… Why are you even offering me this?" The older man huffed and a grin appeared on his face as he took another sip of his tea, leaning back in his chair and staring up at the ceiling of the sitting room as he responded.
"Because, Kazamaru, I've been trapped into this downward spiral for far too long, and while it may seem terribly selfish of me, you might just be the one thing that may yet set all of this right."
That hadn't been at all what Ryugi had been expecting, but he felt nothing from the Professor that made him doubt the legitimacy of the man's answer. For better or for worse, the man was putting his life on the line for his beliefs, and that was something that Ryugi could understand, and get behind. He knew that his decision here would completely change events in his life, but if he was already involved, then he at least deserved the right to know all the information, and so, he spoke.
"Alright…" He sighed and sat back in the chair, steeling himself for whatever the older man was about to say. "I'm listening. For better or for worse, I'll listen." The Sub-Commander gave a genuine smile and sighed in what Ryugi felt was likely relief.
"I'm glad to hear you say that, Kazamaru. But before we start, I must ask you a serious question. If you could have anything in the world, anything at all, what would it be?" Ryugi seemed puzzled by the question. It was certainly odd to ask such a thing after the seemingly dire circumstances that the man had spoken of earlier.
"Well…" Ryugi fidgeted for a moment before speaking. "I guess… I guess I'd want a world were everyone could be happy, or have a chance at being happy, and…where I could live together with Ayanami…" Fuyutsuki smiled.
"Then I was right, we're both similar in that regard. I prefer a world where people continue to live, even if it is filled with sin. As long as humankind continues to live and strive towards tomorrow, they have a chance to be happy. That was her wish as well…"
"Sir?" Ryugi looked confused once again, and Fuyutsuki reached for the book on top of the table at his side. He flipped through a few pages until something caught Ryugi's eye. It was a photograph, obviously aged, but in good condition. Fuyutsuki looked at it a moment before passing it to Ryugi.
"Her name was Yui. Yui Ikari." Ryugi paused before he could glance at the picture, looking to the elder man again.
"Ikari? Isn't that—"
"Yes, it is. She was Shinji's mother, and she is also the late wife of Commander Gendo Ikari." He sighed. "She was also…one of my students."
Ryugi looked at the image. The woman in the photo was beautiful. She couldn't have been older than about her mid twenties in the picture. Next to her was quite clearly Commander Gendo Ikari, and in her arms was a baby, probably no more than a few months old. Several things struck him instantly in the picture. The first was that the Commander was smiling, something Ryugi had never seen him do, and the second was an almost instant recognition of the woman's face. She looked strangely familiar, even though Ryugi had never seen her before. But as he looked at her smile, it struck him. He'd seen that smile before…
"She… She looks just like…"
"Just like Ayanami, correct?" Ryugi nodded and handed the picture back to Fuyutsuki, who took it for a moment and admired it, before slipping it back into the pages of the book and set it back on the small table. "As far as I am aware, that is the only surviving photograph of Yui Ikari, taken very shortly after Shinji's birth. After her death, her husband, Gendo Ikari, burned every photograph of her that he owned."
"But, why would he do that?"
"I've never been quite sure of that myself, but I can imagine it was because he did not want to be reminded of his loss of her. It was too painful for his heart to bear." Fuyutsuki sighed. "How would you react if Ayanami was suddenly taken from you?" Ryugi looked away for a moment. "It's alright, you don't have to answer, but I'm certain it would be the single most crushing thing you would ever experience, and my guess is that your life would never be the same afterwards, correct?" Ryugi nodded.
"But…I don't see how this has anything to do with that is going on behind the scenes at Nerv, or how I'm related." Fuyutsuki nodded, taking another sip of his iced tea.
"You'd be surprised to know that Yui Ikari is the single biggest reason that I called you here today, on multiple fronts. Quite honestly, none of this would be happening the same way if she were not involved."
Ryugi couldn't understand how one woman could be the biggest player in any of this. How did she at all relate to Nerv fighting Angels? How did she relate to him being involved in anything? And he still didn't understand why she looked so much like Rei.
"I can see you're still puzzled, and rightfully so." Fuyutsuki adjusted his position by switching the direction of his crossed legs and shifting slightly in his seat, and his face became more serious. "Kazamaru, what I'm about to tell you is beyond top-secret. It may all together shock you, anger you, and completely change your perception of Nerv. After my telling you this, only four people inside Nerv will know the full truth. I apologize in advance, because this is not easy to accept, even for those who know. But before I start, I want you to tell me what you already know… And I assume you already know a great deal from two very recent experiences…"
Ryugi was unsure about how the Sub-Commander had known about his experiences, or what exactly he already knew, but Ryugi had no reason to hide them after what had already been discussed.
"…I know about Adam and Lilith. I know that the soul of Kaworu Nagisa is inside my Evangelion. I know about a forbidden union of some sort, and I know that I'm effectively an offspring of a similar forbidden union, although Nagisa said that I wasn't exactly complete..." Ryugi looked noticeably worried as he began his final statement. "And…after my previous experience inside the Eva…he effectively made me like him… A Child of Adam."
Fuyutsuki was noticeably shocked by the final admission, and Ryugi could sense that he was somewhat frightened, but he soon calmed himself and spoke once more.
"Believe it or not, Kazamaru, you being as such might just give you the ability to protect yourself in the future, but… For now, it seems that your discussions with the soul of Nagisa have informed you of what has transpired to a degree. However, what you do not know is that, in effect, the Fifth Child's soul is in fact the soul of Adam, the First Angel. What you also may not know is that, ultimately, Angels, humans, Evas, we're all the same. Angels are humans that have given up a human form, and Evas are simply Angels given a human form and combined with a human soul. All Evangelion units are born from Adam's DNA, except for Evangelion Unit 01, which was born from the DNA of Lili-." Ryugi stood, shocked and stopped the Professor as he spoke.
"Wait… Hold on a second! You're telling me that my Evangelion is really an Angel, which is really a human, born from the DNA of Adam, and, with the inclusion of Nagisa's soul, which is really Adam's, that my Eva unit is effectively Adam reincarnated, and under the control of a human pilot?" Fuyutsuki sighed and took yet another sip of his tea, which was beginning to run low by now. As he reached for the pitcher and poured himself another glass, he replied.
"You catch on quickly, Kazamaru. But that isn't the half of it. Not only is your Unit effectively Adam reincarnated, but currently, Nerv has the capability to perform a 'Forbidden Union' as you've come to know it, between Adam, and Lilith were all the cards arranged in just such a way. And thus, by doing so, would effectively unleash Third Impact upon the world." Ryugi blinked, and the realization that Nerv effectively held the keys to the very thing that the Eva Pilots were fighting to protect sank in.
"But… But why…? Why would they want to do that?"
"Not they, Kazamaru, them."
"Them? With all due respect, Professor, you're not making any sense…"
"Them, Kazamaru. It is all to satisfy two different wishes by two separate entities, both of which know the plans of the other, and who are only holding a temporary cease-fire while they attempt to secretly out-do the other. And this silent feud, all of it, has effectively come about because of the actions of one person. And that person, Kazamaru, is Yui Ikari." Ryugi slumped back into his chair.
"This is the information that places your life at risk, Kazamaru, and mine as well, as it has for so long. One of those entities is a secretive group calling themselves Seele. This group of secretive men plan to perform the Forbidden Union in order to bring all of Mankind together in what they believe is the final phase of its evolution, something called Instrumentality, where all life, all the souls of the life on earth are together in one collective existence. Here all human life would live together, each person completely a part of the other with no secrets and no mental walls dividing us. To know about this plan and to go against it, will eventually lead to one's death if they do not submit, or have the power to go against it."
Ryugi simply could not respond, he sat listening, taking it all in, as the Professor continued after another sip of his tea.
"Several years ago, a young woman, the daughter of one of Seele's members, decided that she had her own plans for Mankind, and decided that she would try and act on them. Seele caught wind of her plan, and decided that they would remove her. However, the woman was a step ahead, and before she could be erased, sealed herself in a place where Seele's far-reaching influences could not reach her, inside Evangelion Unit 01, and that woman was Yui Ikari."
"So…Shinji's mother…"
"Yes. Shinji's mother did not truly die, but was absorbed into Unit 01 much as you were into your own Evangelion. But, you were able to escape because you wanted to. Yui did not want to leave, and instead chose to remain inside Unit 01 to this day."
"But why would she do that? Why would she leave behind her son and her husband like that? I don't understand…" Fuyutsuki smiled faintly and took a few long gulps of his tea, sighing afterward.
"Yui believed in a world where humans could keep living and be happy, where their existence would be validated for all time. Seele would not allow her to see that goal. In order to create a bold new future for Mankind, she sacrificed her life, and her own happiness for what she saw as the best for Mankind itself, so that Seele would not be able to prevent her directly, and by placing her soul into Unit 01, she assured herself her existence for the foreseeable future. But, before she died, she confided in one person. To this day I don't fully understand her choice or reasoning behind doing so." Fuyutsuki took another long sip of his tea while Ryugi spoke up.
"It was you, wasn't it?"
"Instead of choosing her husband, the man she seemed to love more than anyone else, except her son, she confided in me. I've spent long nights just trying to think of why she would do such a thing. But I can only imagine that she must have foreseen that I would someday be in a position of power within Nerv, and knowing about her plans, and knowing that I agreed with her ideals, I would try and do all I could to help her achieve them from the outside. However, her actions have brought forth the current state of affairs. Her husband, so traumatized by her loss, set into motion his own plan. Commander Ikari would do the same as Seele, but under his control, he would seek to get his beloved wife back, at the cost of life itself."
Ryugi sat and thought for a moment. The Commander would sacrifice the entire world, everyone he knew, and everything in his life, simply to be together with his wife again. In a twisted way, Ryugi saw it as surprisingly romantic, but at the same time, he found it completely reckless and selfish. However, Ryugi realized that not long after losing his family, he might have done the exact same thing just to see them again, had he the power. But, he never would have come to Nerv, nor would he have met Ayanami, the one person in the world that he loved more than anything or anyone else. He still missed his family, even on a daily basis, but he had moved on, with Ayanami's help, and continued to hope for something better. To stay stranded in the past, unable or unwilling to move on, Ryugi realized now was hopeless.
"And that brings me to the present situation, Kazamaru. Having brought a second Adam into this world, Nerv now effectively has two. And trust me when I say that Nerv also has two of Lilith. Two bodies for each and one soul among both. Your Eva is the vessel for the soul of Adam, Kazamaru, but the vessel for the soul of Lilith…" Fuyutsuki hesitated. The boy deserved to know the truth, but could he accept it? He had to be told. His understanding of the situation depended on it. "When his wife died, Commander Ikari brought together the DNA of his wife, and the DNA of Lilith to create an artificial life form, a clone of both, and he placed the soul of Lilith within this vessel."
"No. No, she's more than that… That's not her." Ryugi began to deny it even as the Sub-Commander continued.
"That's the reason she looks so much like Yui, Kazamaru. The vessel for the soul of Lilith is Rei Ayanami, a clone created from both to serve the needs of Commander Gendo Ikari. Raised to be close to him, so that when the proper time came, the Commander could use her as a key to begin Third Impact, and get his wife back."
"I won't accept that!" Ryugi stood and angrily pointed a finger at the Sub-Commander. "She's…she's more than just a clone with someone else's soul! She has feelings and wants and desires! She's her own person…" Ryugi's voice broke and he fell to his knees, tears welling up in his eyes. He heard and irritated huff as a moment later he was dragged to his feet and the Sub-Commander stared straight at him.
"Pull yourself together! I told you this would be difficult. The First Child may have been intended for one purpose, but because of you, she's become something else. She HAS become her own person. Even with a soul that is not entirely her own, she has come to understand herself as an individual, and what's more is that before you even set foot in this city, she has known and understood her so-called purpose in life."
"W…What?" Ryugi was gently pushed backwards into his seat and the Sub-Commander took his once again.
"Ikari raised Rei to believe that her purpose in life was to be used for his goals. And he showed her enough compassion to allow her to believe that he honestly cared about her safety more than just as a tool. At one time, there were copies of Rei, replacement vessels for her soul if she were to be killed, but those vessels were destroyed before you arrived here. That leaves only one Rei Ayanami left if Ikari is to follow through with his plan, however, things have changed."
Ryugi wiped his eyes. No wonder Rei felt her life had no meaning. She had felt lonely because no one had shown her true compassion, and the only one who did never gave her enough to feel loved or wanted. Ryugi didn't care who's soul or DNA Rei was created from… The girl he loved was more than that, and he would continue to love her despite knowing. She had told him she would accept him even if he were different because he was still himself. If Ryugi could not accept Rei for who she was, then he had no business telling her he loved her. Rei Ayanami was still the same beautiful girl he'd loved since the moment he'd set eyes on her. This information, really, made no difference.
"Because of you, Commander Ikari's plan is beginning to fall apart. His control over the situation is slipping because Rei is no longer aligned with him. Instead of believing he cares for her, she is now completely and totally devoted to you. Were the Commander to see your living arrangement, he would have known much sooner. But the events of your last battle made it abundantly clear that Ayanami is devoted to you, Kazamaru, and the Commander can not allow that to happen." Ryugi sighed and leaned forward, taking a drink of the iced tea that had been sitting in front of him the whole time. The cool beverage gave him a moment of calm before the Sub-Commander continued once more.
"Because he knows, your life is in danger, much like mine was when I threatened to go against Seele's plans years ago... The Commander and Seele both will not hesitate to act if their plans are threatened. As I said before, I've been a part of this for too long, my life has always been hanging in the balance. But, now that I've placed this knowledge in your hands you and I both are in a position to work for the right future for Mankind, the one that Yui Ikari believed in, and the one that you and I both believe in." Ryugi sipped his drink as the Professor sighed and leaned back against his chair once more.
"I loved her, Kazamaru… But Yui chose a different path in life down which I could not follow. More than anything I wish I could see her again, or hear the sound of her voice, but those are the dreams of a foolish and selfish man. Yui gave her life up for what she believed in, and as it effectively became her last dying wish, I feel obligated to try and make it come true. So, Kazamaru, can I ask for your help?"
"You don't have to ask, Professor." Ryugi set his tea back down on the table and stood, brushing himself off. "My life is already in danger because of all this, and what kind of person would I be if I denied my own beliefs even knowing what it could mean for humanity." Fuyutsuki stood and smiled.
"You're a brave and mature young man, Kazamaru. If we'd had someone like you ten years ago, perhaps this whole situation could have been avoided. But going forward, I'm glad I can count on your support." He extended his hand as Ryugi took it. "Together, we'll set this right."
XxXxXxX
Ryugi headed back to the hospital after the meeting. It was dark by now, as it had nearly been sunset when he'd arrived at the Sub-Commander's home. His mind raced with unanswered questions. He understood so much, but still, there was plenty he didn't understand. But in the end, that didn't matter. Things would get harder before they got easier. The enormity of the situation was upon him, and he felt the weight of all of it quite readily. But as he climbed the steps to the hospital and spied a slightly lesser bandaged Rei waiting at the top, her face brightening as she spotted him, he couldn't help but feel his troubles melt away. As long as he had Rei, and as long as the Sub-Commander was true to his word, he could keep fighting no matter what came at him. As he pulled Rei into his arms and embraced her, he knew that everything would be all right.
XxXxXxX
Across the city two teens lay in separate beds, separated by a wall and the uneasy feelings of acceptance they had come to share between one another. Ever since his confession, Asuka had opened up to Shinji, and as a result, Shinji had more and more surprised her. She lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling, a multitude of thoughts running through her head. Virtually all of them had to do with the young man on the other side of the wall. She remembered their first meeting and the time they spent together inside Unit 02, the time she tried to get him to react when she was at the pool, and even the kiss she had given him. To think back and remember all the heartache she had suffered simply because he did not understand her advances made her uneasy.
She rolled over and faced the wall that separated the two rooms. Despite her newfound trust in him, and her understanding that he really did care for her a great deal, she still felt somehow alone. He still refused to take the lead, and she felt as if she had to take all the initiative. It was nice to have him react a little, to know he only had eyes for her, and to know he'd fight to help her be strong, and for him to be strong for her sake, but still. During her time in the hospital, whenever they could, she and Shinji would spend time together. He would hold her, and she would feel relaxed and wanted, desired, but when she saw Ryugi and Rei, they were always holding hands, and Asuka would always pull away, dejected, leaving Shinji mystified.
The night Shinji had come around, she had waited for him, and when he cried for her, she couldn't help but feel even more wanted. Shinji had cried for several minutes as she placed a hand on him, and after he'd calmed down, they had talked. Shinji had explained how losing her, or apparently losing her, had completely crushed him, but that her drive not to give up or give in kept him going, and inspired him to fight harder. She had been his inspiration, and that had brightened her spirits.
After Shinji said that he was tired and needed his rest, Asuka had left him while she walked outside to get some fresh air, the hospital being stuffy and too sterile for her. There, she had spotted Ryugi and Rei locked in an embrace, and her stomach churned as she witnessed his confession, the light in her rival's eyes, and their passionate kiss as he pulled Rei to him. She felt sick, angry, dejected, and turned away. Once more, the little blue-haired bitch had gotten what she'd always wanted. It had crushed her. She had inspired Shinji to fight, but Rei got the man that confessed his love for her openly. She had even rescued her from danger in a fit of compassion, but to see that…
It burned. The dejection that she felt burned. Even though she'd sworn off ever crying again, she'd even broken that promise to herself around him. And she had nothing to show for it, nothing really. As much as she wished she could live without anyone else, be strong, she realized that despite all of her wants, she wanted Shinji more than anything else. She wanted him to love her completely. But he continued to miss her flirtations, and misunderstand her signals, even the other night when they had talked…
She had teased him in the bath, flustered him, and even put herself right in his face, and he didn't understand. That night, she had stared at the ceiling, her thoughts, wants and desires pouring through her mind when she heard him stir, walking past her door. As he had passed she sighed, he was getting a drink of water. She'd flopped over on her bed and huffed in dejection, but as she did, she heard him stop, right outside her door. Her heart pounded, was he finally going to ask her? But nothing happened. Her heart sank and she huffed again, calling out to him.
She remembered laying there, just talking, when she finally decided to ask him directly. He reacted by blushing and being awkward, and she knew something was going on in his head, and so she had pushed the question further. When he asked her if she meant right now, her heart started beating again, and she put on her best flirtatious face and replied. All he needed to do was ask at this point… And then, his response shattered her hopes once more. To cover her sadness she drew attention to waking Misato. She'd argued with him, trying to fight back her frustration until it just became too much.
She broke down. She whimpered. She cried. And as she spoke her weak and feeble desires to him, he'd reacted. He'd desired her, and only her. He'd reassured her that he did still care for her, and she realized that his sweet nothings were all she was going to get from him that evening. It hurt, but she smiled, fighting back her tears with all the strength she could muster, thanked him for his honesty, and kissed him. He'd held her, kissed her back, and left shortly after that.
She'd cried for a long time after that, but eventually, she'd taken a deep breath and relaxed. She knew he was behind her, that he supported her, and that he would fight for her and with her. The fight with the Angel came next, and using that belief in her she had performed admirably. She had even assisted Rei, all for it to come back and haunt her again. She sighed and picked herself up off her bed. Remaining here was bringing her no comfort. She straightened her sleeping shirt and headed out into the hallway, passing Shinji's door, and moving to the kitchen.
The refrigerator was crammed full of beer and little else at the moment. With Misato away on a graveyard shift, the teens had needed to forage for themselves, and since both were still tired from their hospital stay even a day after being released, they had ordered out. There were no leftovers. Asuka closed the door to the fridge and checked the freezer for anything, finding some popsicles that Shinji had purchased some time ago for a party, but that had gone uneaten. It wasn't chocolate, but it would do. She pulled one out of the container and flopped down on the couch to eat it when she heard Shinji's door slide open and the sleepy young man wandered like a mole into the light of the kitchen, SDAT at his side, earphones still sticking in his ears.
"Asuka? What are you still doing up?"
"What's it matter to you?" She pulled apart the wrapper and pulled the strawberry-flavored treat out of the package, tossing the trash behind her carelessly.
"I just saw the light on and wondered if Misato had come home."
"No, just me. We're alone together again." She paused. "Misato shouldn't be back until tomorrow morning some time… She left a message." Asuka sighed and took a bite of the popsicle, glancing over at him again.
"Oh. I see…" Shinji glanced at Asuka. Her eyes met his and he blushed, looking away. She felt her heart starting to beat in her chest again. Something had crossed his mind again and she could see it in his eyes. She steeled herself. They were alone again for the first time in a long time. Misato wouldn't be back until morning. She could still try, couldn't she? Maybe he would notice…
"Hey…Shinji?" The young man looked over to her again, his face only slightly flushed now. She turned her head to the side and placed the popsicle on her tongue. "Do you think if I put it in my mouth, it would expand, or contract?" As expected, the young man's face turned very, very red. She could see him swallow and look nervous, stammering.
"I-I don't… I don't know…"
"Sure you do. Think about it…" She slipped the popsicle into her mouth and popped it out again, standing and looking right at him. "We've been over this already…" At this point it was impossible for Shinji to get any redder, and Asuka could feel her heart going in her chest. Even as Shinji fidgeted with his shirt, looking around nervously, she knew he was reaching his limit.
"I-I…Well…right… I'm gonna let you finish… I'm going to go back to bed…" He looked down to his side and fumbled with his SDAT, trying to get the music to play. But Asuka wasn't going to have it. Not tonight, not again. She wasn't going to go to bed with her eyes stinging again because of his awkwardness. As Shinji looked down, Asuka jumped over the couch and grabbed hold of the small tape player. Shinji looked up and grabbed it back, his face still flushed.
"Why won't you just listen to me, damn it!"
"Let go, Asuka! You're going to break it!"
"Not until you listen to me!"
Asuka yanked the tape player hard, Shinji following. The tug of war continued until Asuka's foot struck the discarded wrapper on the floor and she tripped backward, pulling Shinji with her as both teens slammed into the ground in a heap, the SDAT sliding across the floor. Both collected themselves as Shinji blinked, rubbing his head and looking down. Instantly, he stopped. Asuka was below him, looking up at him, her hair splayed across the floor, her nightshirt pulled down and hanging loosely off her right shoulder, revealing her breast, or at least it would be if Shinji's hand weren't placed over it. Neither of them moved or said anything for nearly half a minute. He could feel her heart pounding in her chest through his hand, and she could see his eyes twitching as his mind tried to make heads or tails of the situation.
Finally, things snapped into focus, and Asuka saw his face flush as he closed his eyes and looked away. He moved his hand off of her breast, his warmth leaving her chest and he stuttered. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean t—" But, as he pulled away, he felt a trembling hand grip his wrist.
"…Please…"
He heard a faint whimper.
"…Please don't…make me ask…"
His heart beat in his chest, and she could feel it through his wrist. Shinji could feel her grip continuing to tremble. He thought she was teasing him. All these times he thought she was playing with him, flustering him, just trying to make him feel uncomfortable for her own amusement. But her grip was solid, and her words seemed…desperate and honest. Was she simply picking him because she had no one else? He turned back to her and looked into her eyes.
Her eyes looked into his as he turned, her lip trembling and her eyes threatening to betray her tears and defeat if he pulled away again. She studied his eyes as they studied hers, and then, she saw him blush and felt his arm go slack against her grip as he looked away, unable to look her in the eye. Asuka didn't understand. Was he-?
"…Asuka… I-I just… The floor…isn't the best place…"
Asuka continued to tremble as he pulled her up onto her feet, still not looking at her, but she felt his arm shaking too, and at that moment, she knew. A warm feeling spread across her body as she continued to tremble in his grasp, the two of them heading for his room. He was finally doing it, taking initiative, and she could hardly contain her tears as they threatened to burst forth from her eyes. The door shut behind them as she looked at him, his head still turned down as he tenderly asked her a question.
"Asuka… You… Are you serious…?"
As he finished, he looked up to her, his eyes showing his embarrassment and worry, not running away from it, but trying to fight it as she continued to hold his wrist. At that moment, she couldn't contain it anymore, and she began to cry with a smile on her face. Right there, Shinji had to admit that she looked like the single most beautiful thing he had ever seen, and when he thought it couldn't get any more so, she managed to speak.
"…You idiot." And she kissed him.
XxXxXxX
Asuka lay against Shinji's chest and off to his right side, simply listening to his breathing. It was slow and rhythmic, and his heart thumped quietly in her ear. She smiled and stirred, nuzzling closer to him and pulling the blanket up over her more. The silence and stillness of the room was nice after everything that had happened. She'd imagined it when she was alone several times, but it was never like that. Everything was so gentle and tender, every new experience making her feel more alive than the last, and through it all he had tentatively taken the lead, lavishing her with soft caresses and a sweet trembling touch. No part of her was left feeling uncherished or unappreciated, and when it finally came to a head, she felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders, as if she was seeing him for the first time, her eyes unclouded by pride or grief. They'd collapsed on top of one another, panting, out of breath, but as she lay there next to him, she'd admitted it for the first time. She'd told him she loved him. It seemed like they'd been there for over an hour, clinging to one another and just feeling the presence of their being, the physicality of another against their bare skin. Asuka sighed. She finally felt truly happy, wanted, needed, desired, and respected. Everything she ever could have hoped for, she'd found this night in Shinji Ikari.
"…Asuka…?"
Asuka looked up from his chest and her thoughts and shuffled to look him in the eye, only to find he was staring at his ceiling, apparently lost in thought as well. She smiled and kissed his chest before answering.
"Yeah…?"
"What you said earlier… Did you really mean it?"
He looked down to meet her gaze, his eyes showing slight uneasiness. He was afraid of getting hurt, even after everything. Asuka closed her eyes and nuzzled against his chest with a sigh. She lifted her body up along his so her chest sat on top of him and leaned down to kiss him, feeling his warmth against her body.
"Idiot… Promise me…"
"What?"
"Promise me you meant what you said the other night…about only having eyes for me." She opened her eyes and looked into his. "Promise me that you'll love me and only me…"
"Asuka… I promise…"
The young man smiled and Asuka did so as well, moving in to kiss him again and laying atop him once more, her head off to the side, her arm wrapped around his chest as she spoke softly into his ear.
"Yes… I love you, Shinji Ikari…" She sat up, pulling herself up so she could look at him laying there on his back, the sheets pooling around her waist, her golden red hair flowing across her shoulders and down her back and chest "I am yours…all of me, from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet…"
Shinji rose up off his back and pulled her to him, embracing her, holding her tight as she did the same as she heard him sniffle and felt wetness along her shoulder. "I promise you, Asuka, I'll never let you go… I'll be yours, all of me, only yours…and no one else's…until the day I die…only yours…" He sniffled again before speaking the words Asuka had wanted him to say for a long time, and as he did, she felt something inside her melt away and break. "I love you, Asuka. I love you."
"You…you idiot…"
Shinji loosened his grip on Asuka to find her looking at him, tears pouring from her eyes. He looked at her, worried. "Asuka…?"
"Only you… I swore I'd never cry again, that I'd be strong… But only you…" She sniffled and gripped him, her tears falling warm and wet against his chest. "Only you…can make me cry, and remind me that I have a heart…"
"Asuka… It's your heart that I love, more than anything…"
A final whimper and the two of them collapsed back onto Shinji's bed, Asuka kissing him, wiping her eyes, and just crying as he held her. She cried for her happiness, she cried for his love and devotion, and she cried simply because she knew she could be herself around him, and he would never judge her as anything but herself, but strong, but beautiful and determined. They stayed like that until Asuka had stopped crying, and until the small fingers of blue light began to sneak through the blinds of Shinji's room, marking the arrival of dawn and the start of a new day.
"I think… I think I'd better wash the sheets before Misato comes home…"
"I don't think she'd understand seeing us in the same bed, naked, either."
"I think the problem is that she would…"
Asuka laughed and kissed him, slipping out of the covers and moving to gather her things, pulling on her underwear and shirt while Shinji did the same and pulled the sheets off his bed. As he gathered them up, Asuka walked over to the wall that separated their two rooms and pulled it open, a soft chuckle coming from her as she remembered a time long ago.
"…I guess the wall finally fell…"
"Asuka?"
"Nothing. It's nothing… Ancient history." She smiled back at him. "Good night, Shinji."
"Good night, Asuka."
She slipped into her room and slid the wall back into its closed position, once again separating them, but Asuka knew that it wasn't the same as it had been before. Her bed felt cool against her skin as she covered herself and closed her eyes. As sleep enveloped her, she smiled, genuinely happy for the first time in a long time.
XxXxXxX
It had been a long shift, but Misato Katsuragi was finally finished. She yawned and gathered her things out of her locker. The graveyard shift sucked. It was always so hard to fall asleep when the light of the day was pouring in on you, and it was even worse when Shinji and Asuka were away from classes because of all their distractions as well. But at least they seemed to be getting along well. She yawned again, closed her locker door, and slipped out of the room.
It was a long walk and a ride up and down the various elevators and escalators throughout the Geofront complex before she would reach her car, but that was all right. It gave her time to decompress after a long shift and various research work. With a grumble, her stomach registered that she hadn't eaten anything in several hours, and so she decided she'd take a quick detour to the food court. The pickings were slim this early in the morning, but she settled on a bowl of miso soup and a drink to tide her over till she could get a real meal.
"Good morning, Major Katsuragi. You're here early."
Misato turned her head to spy Maya Ibuki coming up from one of the escalators, a cheerful smile on her face, an orange envelope tucked under her arm, waving. Misato yawned and replied back to her.
"Not here early, Lieutenant. Still here…"
"Oh, I'm sorry… Do you mind if I join you? I haven't had anything to eat yet this morning, and my shift doesn't start for another thirty minutes or so."
"Oh, sure thing I suppose."
"Thank you."
The young Nerv Tech pulled up a chair and set her envelope down on the table before heading off to one of the several vending machines to purchase something. Maya was a nice girl, Misato thought. She couldn't understand how the girl seemed so terribly interested in everything Doctor Akagi did. She practically worshiped the woman. Maya was like Ritsuko's shadow, following her everywhere when she could. It borderlined on creepy, however, she was always determined at her post, and seemed to feel the most whenever the pilots were injured. Despite her apparent awkwardness, Maya was a good person. Misato popped the top and took a sip of her drink as Maya came back, a coffee drink and a pastry being placed down on the table.
"So, how was your shift, Major?" Maya began opening the seal on her coffee drink as she looked to Misato.
"Oh, you know, this and that… The Commander placed Unit 0X into quarantine again and had the core unit removed. It's going into cryostasis until further analysis can be done on its strange behavior."
"Oh, I see…" Maya looked upset for a moment. "It's really a shame… I mean, all Ryugi-kun and that unit have done is save everyone, and yet there's so much caution over it." The top of her drink made a sucking popping sound as the cap released and she took a drink. Misato sighed and leaned back in her chair, glancing out the window into the blue-but-quickly-turning-orange Geofront.
"I guess so… And other than the R and D Department finishing a few more Progressive Weapons, and placing the final touches on the F-Type and S-Type Equipment, not much else has really happened."
"Seems strange that heavier armor and flight type equipment is being put into active duty so soon after freezing Unit 0X, don't you think?" Maya sipped her drink again before turning on her pastry, trying to open the plastic wrapper.
"Well, international law prohibits a country from operating more than three active Evangelion Units at the same time. The fact that we've been able to skate by with four for so long is due to the negotiation skills of the Commanders I would assume. Of course, designating Unit 0X as a Test-Type may have assisted with that. It's been a test bed for a multitude of technologies." Misato sighed again. "But with the F-Type and S-Type equipment coming into play, the flight capability and offensive measures of Unit 0X must be seen as irrelevant according to the other controlling nations. Plus, sealing it away gives your department plenty of time to study its behavior."
"I guess you're right…" Maya finally opened her pastry and took a bite, following it with a drink of her coffee.
"So then, how are things with you and Ritsuko?"
"What?" Maya looked up, blushing and taking another drink of her coffee drink. Misato raised an eyebrow, but didn't read much more into anything.
"You know, how's your data coming?"
"Oh! Of course…" Once again Misato gave the woman a strange look. Maya took another bite of her breakfast and continued to speak. "Well, there have been multiple analyses done of the data collected during the times of transformation and activation, but none of the numbers seem to add up. Everything points to it being similar to the berserk functions of Unit 01, but at the same time, it seems far more random and sporadic. The energy manipulation it showcased last battle, though, is like nothing Sensei or I have ever seen before. Unit 01 has showed some similar abilities, but never anything of that scope… It's still a mystery to us." Maya frowned. "All this technology and science and still the answers elude us."
"Sometimes that's just the way things go. Sometimes science doesn't have all the answers." Misato yawned and took another drink of her drink, followed by a drink of her soup. "So, other than that, how's the love life? Last I heard a guy from the Public Relations Bureau had showed some interest in you."
"Oh, yeah… He's a nice guy, likes to write. He wanted to be an author, but most people didn't read paper literature too much after Second Impact, so instead he wound up here. He seems nice enough, he even brought me flowers once, but, despite all that, I don't know if he's really my type…"
"You sure are a strange one, Lieutenant… Would be nice if a guy brought me flowers once in a while. Those one's are the ones you want to keep around."
"Maybe…" Maya glanced at a clock at the corner of the food court and jumped up out of her seat, grabbing her coffee in her hands. "Oh no! It's nearly time for my shift. I'm sorry, Major, but I really need to go!" The young woman bowed and ran off.
"Lieutenant! You forgot your…" But the young woman was already gone. She'd left both the remains of her pastry and her envelope behind. Misato shook her head. Maya was a nice girl, but she was too single-minded at times it seemed. Misato finished her small meal and tossed the rest of Maya's pastry in a nearby trashcan. She looked at the envelope. She was too tired to give it back to her now. It could wait until tonight's shift. She grabbed it and headed to her car.
XxXxXxX
The drive home had been uneventful, except nearly passing out at the wheel and almost running into a telephone pole. Despite the close brush with death, Misato made it home as the sun was rising steadily into the sky. These night shifts were brutal, but at least Shinji and Asuka seemed to still be asleep. Actually, that was odd, she thought. Generally when she arrived home at least one of them was awake. But perhaps they'd just decided to sleep in. Lucky her. A faint sound caught her attention and the clack-clack of claws on floorboards signaled the arrival of a good friend.
"Always a gentlemen, Pen Pen. Good morning to you too." The warm water penguin said hello to his roommate and owner by squawking faintly and nodding his head. He blinked a few more times before simply staring at Misato as she sat flopped down across the kitchen table. "Oh, right…" She sighed and pulled herself up, wobbling to the fridge where she popped it open and pulled out a tin of sardines and a can of beer. She placed a straw in the beer and placed both items next to the smaller fridge in the corner of the kitchen. "Breakfast is served." The penguin waddled to the fridge and sat down to enjoy his breakfast while Misato picked up her things and headed for her room.
As she headed back towards the hallway she stepped on something and looked down. "What's this doing here?" She bent down and picked up Shinji's SDAT. It was strange for him to just leave his things lying around, but Misato shrugged and made a quick detour to Shinji's room to return the device. She slid the door open and walked inside, placing the device on a box near his bed. She smiled and watched the boy sleep for a moment. He looked so peaceful and adorable sleeping there. He was cuddling with his pillow and he had a small smile on his face. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen him sleep that calmly, or look so happy. She bent down and pulled the sheets up over him and watched as he snuggled against the pillow more. "Must be the clean sheets…"
She left Shinji to his dreams and walked down the hallway to her room. It looked like a bomb had gone off…just the way she'd left it. She yawned again and set the envelope down next to her bed, pulling off her jacket and the rest of her uniform. She paused for a moment, debating whether or not to get a bath, but with another yawn she decided it could wait until later. She pulled on her sleeping shirt and short shorts and flopped herself down, her eyes catching the envelope. "I guess it couldn't hurt to see what Maya left behind, maybe she's worried she's lost it."
She reached out and grabbed the envelope, but when she looked at the front, she noticed someone had written "To Katsuragi" on it. That, she thought, was both very strange, and entirely too convenient. She slipped open the envelope and pulled out the contents. A stack of several papers, obviously photocopies of various things, spilled out of the envelope as she spotted a letter…
Katsuragi
I'm sorry I had to give this to you so strangely, but it's the only way I could think of to get it to you without a hassle. The other day Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki approached me, and he requested I send this to you with the utmost secrecy. When I asked him why, he told me it was because I had a good heart and hope for the future. I must admit I looked at a few of the documents and, well, I don't even know what to think anymore.
I don't know how to tell you this, but I helped Mister Kaji get some of his information back then, because I was close to Ritsuko. When he was killed…I feared for my own safety, but nothing ever came of it. I knew you were close to him, Major, and I'm sorry, but I know that he would have also wanted you to have this information too. The Sub-Commander is a good man, and I trust in him fully, and that's why I've given this to you.
The last thing the Sub-Commander said to me before I left was that he knew you were a good person too. I don't know why he's doing what he's doing, Major, or why he's choosing now to give this information to you, or to me, but I know that I trust him, and I think that you should too.
Maya
Misato couldn't believe it. All this time she thought Maya was just another one of the Nerv Techs assigned to the bridge, but in reality she had been a player in Kaji's plans. Not only that, it seemed the Sub-Commander was up to something that he desperately didn't want the Commander to know about. "Wait… Then that means…" The Sub-Commander had wanted to speak to Ryugi at his home rather than his private office on base. He must have known his office would be monitored, and at home, he likely knew where the safe spots were. If that was the case, then the Sub-Commander had likely spoken to Ryugi about his plans as well. Why involve one of the Eva Pilots unless… Unless he was expecting he was going to need one of them to be on his side in whatever was being planned. Rei was too close to the Commander, as was Shinji. And Asuka didn't seem to be the type that exuded an air of secrecy, and that left only Ryugi. It was a logical choice.
Misato began to look through the papers and placed her hand over her mouth. This was everything. There was data pertaining to the experiments done in Antarctica that ultimately initiated Second Impact. Papers detailing the construction method of the Eva Units down to the last scrap of DNA were included as well. But the most disturbing were the papers detailing something known as the Human Instrumentality Project, a plan brining together all of Mankind into a single organism by combining the beings known as Adam and Lilith after starting Third Impact.
"This is… This is what you worked so hard to find, isn't it…?"
Kaji had dug too deep and had been erased, killed, for his efforts. Only the Sub-Commander himself could gain access to these documents and no one would bat an eye in his direction, and no one would ever suspect he was doing something on his own with a small group of people. Since the Sub-Commander virtually ran Nerv outside of battle situations and dealt with a vast majority of the paperwork involved, his access to restricted files would be nothing suspicious. He was in the perfect position.
Misato quickly gathered the papers and placed them and the letter back into the envelope, placing the entire thing under her mat and under her pillow. She had nowhere else to hide it or keep it safe. She'd look over it more when she woke up, but for now, she needed her rest. Pen Pen waddled in as she began to drift off to sleep and flopped down next to her. Misato smiled and placed an arm around her hot springs pet. Pen Pen didn't seem to mind, and together the two of them drifted off to sleep.
XxXxXxX