Secrets should never be forgotten…
Chapter 10
The build up to greater things…
A few minutes later
Outside school grounds
"Well, be seeing you Shinji, we live over in this direction." Touji and Kensuke waved goodbye and walked in the opposite direction.
"I can walk with you for a short while." Hikari said as she walked beside Asuka.
Shinji and Rei walked in front of the two and said nothing to one another.
"So, you going to explain what those looks were at Touji, Hikari?" She looked suggestively at her old friend.
Hikari blushed furiously, "I… I… I think I love him…" Asuka was astonished.
"You're sure about this?" She asked tentatively.
"Yes, he's become stronger since being a pilot, not only outside but inside, he's had to cope with losing a leg." She looked sad, "True, he has the new leg, but he can't run about like he used to. I just want to be there for him…"
Hikari began to well up with tears before Asuka placed an arm around her, "If you feel that way, why don't you tell him?"
"I'm afraid of rejection…" Sniffed Hikari.
"I don't think he will…" Asuka said teasingly, "He likes you also, but he's too proud to say it."
Hikari wiped her eyes with her hankie, "Arigatou Asuka, now…" She had a mischievous gleam in her eyes, "What's happened between you and Shinji?"
"What?!" Asuka replied guiltily, as if found out, her face turning bright red.
"Well, you act differently around him all the time, you're even being nice to Rei…" Hikari said, still smiling.
Asuka lowered her face, strands of hair covering her face, "We just talked and he helped me through some things, that's all…" She said unwilling to go any further.
"Asuka, it's not shameful to say that you like him," Hikari said, "I mean who wouldn't fall for Shinji…"
Asuka looked at her friend curiously, "I mean look at him, he's a pilot, he's quite handsome for his age… Look at those arms…"
"Hikari?!?" Asuka almost yelled, then became infuriated when she noticed her giggling.
"I was leading you on Asuka. You're jealous if even one girl focuses on him too much, why not claim him for yourself?" Hikari said kindly.
Asuka looked at Shinji in front of them, oblivious to their conversation, "Now is not the right time… Too many things are happening right now."
"Well," Hikari said hefting her satchel on her shoulder again, "don't leave it too long or you might never get the chance, who knows what the future might hold?" She stopped walking, "I have to go this way." The others stopped also, "I'll see you all soon." Hikari smiled and walked away after they said their goodbyes.
Asuka walked up to the other two children, "Asuka, what were you talking about back there? It seemed like a pretty deep conversation…"
Managing to stop the blood from rushing to her cheeks she said, "It was nothing! Don't poke your nose into other peoples business Shinji."
Reverting back to his old habit, he lowered his head, "Sorry Asuka…"
"Baka Shinji!" She said giving him a light slap around the back of his head, "Don't say sorry! There's nothing wrong with asking me a question."
Shinji held his head where she slapped him and smiled a little, "I guess you're right…"
"Of course I am!" She stated. She then nudged him slyly, "So what were you and Wondergirl talking about?" Her eyes were suggestive.
"Wh… What are you saying Asuka?" Shinji panicked predictably, "We weren't talking, really!"
"Is that true Wondergirl?" Asuka said, turning to Rei.
"Ikari-kun is correct, we have not been conversing with one another." She replied glancing at Asuka.
"Okay then, so all is well." Asuka smirked, hands on hips.
At that moment the Medical Mechanica plant began to leak steam at its usual time.
A few minutes later
Misato's apartment
They had returned to their new home and tired from the day, flipped off their shoes and went straight to their rooms after noticing that Misato wasn't back yet. Rei retired to her room in silence and the other two pilots went to theirs, surprised that their possessions were all there and unpacked.
"Sorry Asuka, but I need a nap." Yawned Shinji, "Today's been a long day…"
Asuka felt tired also, "I think I'll rest as well…"
Climbing into their respective bunks they laid their heads back and fell straight to sleep, the exhaustion finally catching up with them.
Meanwhile
Elsewhere in Mabase
"You okay Gaku?" Masashi asked.
"Y… Yeah…" His mouth was bruised and a tooth had fallen out, "How am I going to explain this to my parents?"
"Tell the truth." Ninamori said, "They'll laugh at you but it will only last for a short while."
"I told you not to bother with either of them." Naota stated, "They're on a different level to us. I can't explain it, but somehow they've experienced more of the world than we have."
"In what way Naota?" Asked Masashi.
"I don't know…" He replied honestly.
Meanwhile
A few streets away a NERV van was racing through the streets, an unusual antenna on the roof of it.
"Are you sure the source is moving?" Misato yelled.
"Y… Yes ma-am," Maya replied, "We're following it closely."
"Intensity of the signal?" Misato asked whilst looking outside the windscreen. A Section 2 agent was driving following a computerised map near the dashboard.
"Same as before." Confirmed Maya.
Turning a final street they were approaching a group of four children walking on the pavement.
"So Naota, are you going to see Mamimi again?" Gaku asked.
Naota kept quiet, his fury rising.
"Well, are you? Huh? Is she going to give you a kiss eh? Kiss!" Gaku persisted.
Naota turned around in anger, "I told you. I DON'T WANT TO SEE MAMIMI AGAIN!!" He yelled so loud that it echoed throughout the street.
A few seconds of silence passed. The horn at the Medical Mechanica plant suddenly activated, and Naota felt something, a familiar thump. An explosion happened in his head. Oh no! Not again… Another one, this time louder and more forceful.
The NERV van skidded to a halt, the passengers looking on in surprise.
"What the…" Misato began.
"Get away from me!" Naota yelled to his friends.
The lump exploded out of his cap and grew exponentially. I became so heavy that it fell forward, the umbrella shape opening out in full.
"Naota!" Ninamori was concerned for his safety and ran towards him.
"No! Stay aw…!" They both screamed as they were flung up into the air, the robot still growing out of Naota's head as Ninamori held onto his arm.
The NERV watchers were beyond astonishment, they had never seen anything like this in their lives. Misato noticed in the middle of the umbrella where the peak should be, that the familiar insignia, two M's one on top of the other, was there.
Misato spoke, "Take me to my house, we need to get the children to the Evangelions."
As the van sped off her expression changed to one of fear. She looked up at the massive object in awe, and at the tiny specks of the two children still stuck on it.
"It seems Medical Mechanica has made their next move…"
The bridge
Mabase
Across the city, people everywhere could see the rising handle of the umbrella shaped robot. One person in particular cooed admirably.
"Ooh, that one looks big."
The lavender haired girl, still in her school uniform stopped kicking stones into the river to look at the Medical Mechanica robot. Mamimi kept looking on neutrally as another person moved next to her. The boy, wearing dark trousers and a pale white shirt almost as white as his skin, looked at the robot also, but in utter disgust. He looked to the girl with his burning red eyes, his grey hair moving in the gentle breeze.
"You are Lilim, but not like ordinary Lilim."
The girl frowned at him, "What are you talking about?"
His expression changed to one of disdain, "You wish to destroy the Earth, the Lilim, for your own plans." He moved closer, his eyes piercing hers, "I won't allow it to happen. Even we don't wish to destroy the Lilim. They are a part of us."
He moved away from her, turning slowly, "We shall meet again, Mamimi." He said without looking at her.
Mamimi frowned again, "What a weird guy…"
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Author's Notes
In a moment of inspiration, I decided to write out 21 sides of this fic. Splitting them up to make 5 new chapters I thought it would be time for the action to get started.
I must admit, I'm taking liberties with Asuka here, she seems to have gone through a massive catharsis during this fic, being mentally disturbed, to vaguely normal. I know most of you (especially the hardcore NGE fans who wish for nothing to change the plot and characters) might object to this, but I thought it was the only way in which the fic could move forward.
I really enjoyed writing the part when the children finally met one another. I can't wait to write the meeting of Kitsurubami and Katsuragi (who hold similar positions) as well as Gendo and Amarao. The SEELE and MM monoliths should be interesting also.
The action chapter should come next, don't know when I plan on writing that one, but who knows?
Let me know what you think via reviews, criticisms and flames. Thank you for you time.
Until then
- Jason