Disclaimer: Read the other chapters disclaimers!
A/N: Well, after some time the next chapter is out, this is starting to take too long to publish with work and the other fanfic to write its getting difficult to keep up with. Several people have asked if this story will focus on Rei and Kaworu, that is not that case people! They are also the main characters in the story so they are having their shot at the spotlight for now until the story develops around Shinji and Asuka for those fans. Well the next chapter is here, enjoy! Just to say there is lemon in this chapter.
Chapter 36 – A Dance with Death
Shinji sat at his desk at school drifting his pen back and forth, side to side, with not much enthusiasm of the lesson he was currently undertaking. All he could think about was how the situation was now then it was back before Third Impact. How much people have changed and how new allies had formed. Areal, Kaworu's older sister had joined NERV in a bid against the other brothers and sisters that served Lilith, Rei was his sister by legal rights, Kaworu and Rei were in a great relationship which he was happy for the both of them, and him and Asuka were together.
It seemed all too strange for the young Angel half breed. But he accepted it and enjoyed its radiance. He looked over to his right and saw Asuka paying not much attention to the teacher either. She seemed to be daydreaming, and Shinji sniggered at that.
"Is something funny Mr. Ikari?" asked the teacher annoyed.
Shinji snapped his head up and gulped. "N-no sir. I was just...thinking of something funny some time ago" lied Shinji to his best. But everyone knew Shinji was a terrible lair, even the teacher.
The teacher just smiled faintly. "Alright Mr. Ikari. Just keep moments like that to another time understand?" asked the teacher in a tone that seemed like an order.
"I will sir" replied Shinji lowering his head.
"Now, the Christian Religion states that the messiah, Jesus..." went on the teacher to the lesson.
Shinji went back to doodling, still not looking at it. He saw out of the corner of his eye that Asuka was looking at him from the corner from her eye, holding a small smile. Shinji could only smile back.
After a while which the lesson dragged on, which even the young teacher found quite boring. Most of the excitement the teacher had was kids were arguing or throwing punches at each or when the NERV kids had an Angel fight to get too. The teacher himself wasn't even scared of the fact that he had four Angels in his class. As they seemed to kind, and good kids, defending the human race from evil Angels, he felt safer around them. He was also shocked to know what great knowledge Kaworu and Areal had on history and other subjects such as other languages and maths. However they seemed to be poor when it came to science, in fact he seemed to guess that they didn't like the prospect of science, why not? They are holy beings, and people always use science as an answer for everything, some things in life aren't always explained well in science.
As the story went on about Jesus, and the children were slipping into the realm of their emerald dreams. Especially Shinji. He tried his best to stay awake but to no avail. The boringness of subject was too much. He closed his eyes. Shinji dreamt as many would, which he stood in the place he least wanted to be in. His eyes were wide with shock and horror to where he stood. He was in Heaven, and if he was in Heaven...there was Lilith around the corner somewhere.
"Shinji" said the charming but cold and powerful voice behind him. He turned his head slowly to see the woman known to Lilith. "You always seem to drift yourself into this don't you?" she said as she jumped off the death tree that had a family of hanged people on it. She changed a lot since Shinji remembering her last time. Her icy blue hair was longer and her figure was showing even more. She giggled as she approached him, which Shinji fell backwards as he feared the woman. "You're too easy to scare Ikari"
"And there is a right to be around you" shot back Shinji.
Lilith laughs, "Just because you have Angel powers doesn't mean that you're strong Ikari!" She reappears in front of Shinji and lifts him off the ground with her hand, strangling him. "You're only a useless hybrid! Nothing similar to Adam at all as I thought!"
"I'm sorry to disappoint you" muttered Shinji with his shorten breaths.
Lilith laughs again. "Shinji Ikari growing a spine?! This is wondrous! But pathetic in the long run"
The grip on Shinji's throat tightened and he felt himself losing the will. Then the world was engulfed in a bright light and Shinji awakened back in his class. His vision was blurred at first but slowly regained it which he had blurry images of people...above him?
An image of a redhead was nearest to him. "Shinji! Shinji wake up you baka!" screamed Asuka voice then a blurry image of someone's hand striking him.
Shinji bolted up with the feeling someone had poured water over him, but it was him covered in a cold sweat. Then he felt something in his throat, he thought he was going to be sick, which he coughed it up. Much to his horror it was blood, did that dream actually effect him in reality?
--
Kaworu sat up in his hospital bed and listened to everything that Shinji had to say what occurred during eariler in the day. Kaworu's eyebrow perked up hearing that damage Lilith was inflicting on Shinji in Heaven effected him on Earth. Kaworu heavily feared this, Lilith was getting stronger but somehow not as strong as he thought still.
Areal observed the story with her injured brother and realised why she hasn't her full strength yet if she can cause Shinji harm in reality. She turned to the Senior Ikari, "Commander, have you people heard the of the Balance of Azreal?"
Gendo looked at the 15th with curious look. "In fact no I haven't" he replied.
"I see. Well I'll explain. I believe it is the reason why Lilith hasn't fully recovered yet despite that little trick she pulled on Shinji. The Balance of Azreal is law and object that helps us Angels regenerate in the afterlife. You see the Balance is something that is like a valve to the energies to us. To Lilith its the valve to what Lilim flow back to her when they die"
Asuka looked at the pink haired Angel with some shock. Even though the Angel has a childish attitude to her, she sometimes can come through with a serious adult like talk. "So your saying that the people that die flow into her, giving her more powers? If thats the case can't you shut off that valve off, or something to that wording?"
Areal looked Asuka with her red orbs and smiled. "If only that was easy" she replied. "Its not that simple, it just happens. You can't control it"
"Then how do you explain the power she has now?" asked Fuyutsuki.
Kaworu thought about the Balance of Azreal. And he remembered what his father had told him about it. "From what father told me..." he began rethinking what Adam said. "The Balance works that every life that is taken from the human world, there is always a new one to replace it. Something like balancing out the equation as the theory states"
"So the reason she hasn't reached her full potential is because there is new life that enters this world" Rei said, reiterating what Kaworu said. She looked at Asuka and then smiled faintly. She sensed it, but disregarded it, surely they played it safe...
"Yes. The problem is she's still growing stronger than I expected. If my other brothers and sisters are going to take their time to get here. Then I suggest that we destroy the Balance of Azreal" suggested Kaworu.
Areal bolted up and looked at her younger brother. "You can't be serious! That will halt the flow of life! Are you mad Tabris?!"
Kaworu looked back at his sister. "Do you think we have anymore options? Lilith will grow in strength quicker than we can manage a counter attack on her before she arrives to earth"
Areal looked down knowing her brother was right, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this would also be their undoing.
"I know its not the most smartest idea Areal. But in order to halt her powers before she completely recovers them, we must destroy the Balance. Do you understand?"
"Yes Kaworu. I understand"
To what Shinji understood so far that the Balance was an important object to life. But if they didn't destroy it, there might be any life left after Lilith invades. "So Kaworu. How do we destroy it?"
"The 17th thought about that question. How do we get the Balance to come to us?, he thought deeply. That's it!
Noticing the look on her brothers face, Areal thought the worse. "No Kaworu. You can't serious if I'm thinking what you're thinking"
Kaworu held a small smile. "I'm afraid you're thinking what I'm thinking dear sister"
--
The whole of NERV Headquarters were summoned to the command planning room where Kaworu had asked them all to be when he asked Gendo to give out the word. Everybody sat impatiently as many thought this was a waste of their time. Epically Ritsuko as she had important work to be on.
"Settle down Ritsuko. You're too tense" said her friend siting next to her.
"How can I?" she replied rubbing her temples. "Commander Ikari wanted me to get this research underway ASAP. Otherwise we'll have a difficult time to get it done when the next Angel appears"
"What is this 'big' research that he has you doing now?" Misato asked out of curiosity.
"Its a weapon that penetrate AT-Fields for none Angel beings such as yourself. It could be useful if the next Angel infiltrates NERV again"
"Any successful results yet?" Misato dug deeper as she was interested to get her own back on the last Angel that got into NERV.
Ritsuko sighed. "Nope. The results are inconclusive. The variables are all over the place. It will take a while to get the weapon to be prefect unless another Angel strikes, which we can get some important data on them"
"Why not test it on Kaworu? Or Shinji? Or even Rei or Areal?"
Ritsuko almost fell off her chair at her friends remark. "You want me to fire that weapon at them?! What if it actually works and kills them?!"
"Jeez. I'm sorry alright. I thought you just need them to project an AT-Field or something like that"
"No. Its not that simple. Even if it does penetrate the AT-Field, we wouldn't know if it can puncture the skin of these Angels, by the time it gets through. The round would lose a lot of velocity then and could maybe only give them minor damage"
"I see. Give me the heads up when you get something alright?" Misato requested as she intended to be the first one to test it out.
"Alright" the scientist shrugged.
After a few more minutes. Kaworu made it in front of everyone. He saw all their gazes at him, but thats really nothing to him, as long as he had their attention that is what mattered. "Everyone, I know some of you are busy but this is quite important"
"More important than our work?!" shouted one technician from the crowd.
"SILENCE!!" shouted back Gendo from the front. Which the man then cowered.
"Thank you Commander Ikari. Now to the matter I got you all here. As some of you are aware, Lilith has grown in power. Faster than we'd expected. So in order halt or slow her recovery, we need to destroy an object called the Balance of Azreal" The screen behind him flashed showing the artists impression of Azreal.
Areal then took to the stage and looked at the painting. "This painting illustration is what Azreal is. Well he's not far off. Azreal is the Angel of Death. Yes the one that takes your souls and sends you to Heaven. We can't see him as because he hides in the shadows. He carries the Balance that we need"
"In order to get Azreal to come here. We need to have a volunteer to get him here"
"Wait!" shouted out Asuka. "You mean we need someone willing to give their life to bring the Angel of Death here?!"
"Yes" replied Kaworu.
"Who in their right mind would do that?!"
"I do" said Shinji with a shaky voice.
Asuka looked at her boyfriend with shock and horror across her face. He was willing to do that? "Are you mad?!" screamed Asuka as she gripped onto his shirt, tears were falling from her eyes. The thought of losing him was too much. "What should anything happen?! What if it goes wrong?! Why do you have to?!"
"Because he's the right specimen" replied Kaworu.
"What the fuck does that mean?! HE COULD NEVER COME BACK!!"
Misato had to hold the hysterical redhead as she was losing it. The thought of losing Shinji would devastate her.
"Because if it was me or Areal we would automatically go to Heaven without the need to Azreal. If it was a human soul he was taking he would be incredibly difficult to sense due to the amount of soul force a human has. A hybrid however is a balance of both. So hopefully if Azreal appeared he would give off a stronger pulse due to be dealing with a strong soul force"
"THAT'S THE MOST STUPID PLAN I EVER HEARD!!" Asuka continued to scream even though Kaworu had explained it quite well.
Shinji wanted to calm her down. She was so upset with it. But there was no other way. He stood up and held her face in his hands. "Asuka listen to me" he said softly to her. The German girl looked into Shinji's red eyes, with tears still streaming down her face. "No one else could do it. I have to"
"But! But Rei is one too!" she complained still.
"I know but she's my sister. I would prefer to do over her. She isn't as strong as me remember?" He rested his head on hers. "Listen. Nothing is going to happen to me okay?" Asuka didn't look at him, she starred at the ground still not believing his words. "Asuka! Look at me!" he shouted at her. She moved her eyes back to his. "Nothing is going to happen to me, okay?"
Asuka nodded. The mood in the room was completely low. Kaworu had enough to say as he made his way out of the room as quickly as possible. Rei who saw this followed him out.
--
Kaworu walked into the hallway of the base and down it to one of the many other corridors. He stopped after some time. He rested his only hand on the wall and took deep breaths. He was losing it. The plan was indeed dangerous. If fact it was suicide! And he was going to feed Shinji to the loins. "Dammit!" he hissed. His anger grew as he thought about it more. "DAMMIT!!" He swung his fist onto the wall making a dent in the metal and concrete structure.
"Kaworu..." Rei's soft echoed after the thunderous sound that filled the corridor. "Are you okay?"
Kaworu rested his head on the wall. He was trying to hold back the tears. The thought of losing his best friend was becoming too great. "I...I don't...to mess this up Rei" he said in between sobs.
Rei embraced the 17th from behind him. "It won't mess up Kaworu. We will succeed"
"You sure?" he said closing his eyes trying to hold back the tears as the last barrier.
"I'm positive" she replied what sounded like she was holding it back too. Kaworu turned around to see her releasing her tears. Kaworu couldn't hold his anymore. He broke down and held onto her, which she tightened her hold on him as they fell to their knees.
I'm so weak
--
The Commander thought it would be a good idea if everyone went back to their homes or quarters and rested before the operation tomorrow. And everyone decided that that was the best yet.
Asuka and Shinji laid on the sofa together with Asuka resting her head on his chest. She still shivered as the thoughts of Shinji not coming back kept running around her mind. Shinji even himself couldn't shake off the idea of this going bad tomorrow. He ran his fingers through her red silky hair, hoping that he would touch her hair again after tomorrow.
Misato was with Kaji tonight, she maybe thought it was a good idea that the two were alone for tonight, which thanks to some brilliant covering up, she still was unaware that the two young adults under her roof where now sexually active. The plan was preposterous for Misato too but could she complain? It was decided by the Commander after much thought and hesitation that the plan should go ahead.
Asuka ran her finger around in circles on Shinji's chest. He had grown more muscular since becoming an hybrid Angel. He grown a little taller too, just taller than her. Because Asuka couldn't shake the thought that this was going to be their last night together, she rose her head up which the hybrid looked into her cerulean eyes. "Shinji, I can't get this feeling out of my head that tonight might be our last night together..."
"Asuka..." interrupted Shinji as he didn't want her talking such things now.
"Shinji just listen! I believe just in case that you don't make it back...that can you spend the night with me in my bed again?"
Shinji couldn't refuse this offer. Not just because it was sex, but this meant a lot to Asuka. He nodded, in which she stood up and pulled on his hand, which she lead him into her room. Closing the door behind her after Shinji came in, she dimmed the lights.
Shinji stood before the mirror that Asuka had in her room. He overlooked his appearance. His hair was strangely a white colour but at some angle you could see the reminiscence of his original hair colour. His crimson orbs glared at his slightly paled skin. He had grown taller, that he could notice as well as how much more he was built, than before. In fact all of the children had grown taller since Shinji could last remember, it must have been a growth spurt or something. His eyes drifted off himself onto Asuka in the background as he removed the last remaining bit of clothing. The soft sound of her bra fallen to the ground made a slight tingle in Shinji's body. Shinji then thought back to where Asuka had asked him to learn some moves of Kaworu somehow.
--Flashback--
Kaworu, Shinji and Toji were in the hospital wing where Kaworu still sat in bed after losing his arm. Shinji and Toji explained to their friend, how Rei somehow became athletic more and when they played softball Rei made the ball explode when striking it with her bat.
Kaworu laughed with his friends. He was glad to here on Earth with them. It made him feel better than staying in the blood stained world above that he and the rest of his family came to hate.
The two further explained that when she destroyed the softball all the material inside had also imploded making white dust go everywhere, making the already pale Rei completely white like a ghost. Kaworu laughed some more as he couldn't believe how Rei had changed. This was most likely due to Resurrection or because of him.
After the trio went silent, Shinji had gone slightly red, which the other two friends noticed. "What is it Shin-man! You look like you're blushing! Are you thinking of dirty things with the red-devil?!" joked Toji.
"Toji! Please don't call Asuka that! She has changed remember?" Shinji went defensively on his girlfriend.
"Alright! Alright! Jeez Shinji, I was joking okay? Besides she has changed a bit I guess. So anyway..." Toji said the last two words slow as to carry on his interrogation. "Why were you blushing then?" he asked with a large smirk on his face.
The hybrid's blush deepened. "I...I..." Shinji was searching for his words. "I want to know Kaworu..."
Kaworu picked up his glass of water and began drinking it.
"I want to know how you do foreplay with my sister!" he babbled it out.
Kaworu spat out his water like a burst fire hose, and Toji fell backwards off his stool.
"Did...did that come out wrong?"
"Oh, did it!" Toji remarked as he stood himself back up to sit down again. Kaworu had water dripping from his chin after emptying his mouth of water.
"I think you better re-word that Shinji..." said Kaworu wiping the water off his face with the bed cover. "That sounds incredibly wrong"
"Oh sorry. I just wanted to know the different kinds of foreplay that you use" Shinji asked with a proper sentence this time.
"Why you ask?" asked Kaworu.
"Because Asuka wants me to learn the secrets off you. Well you're more experienced at this than me. And I can't ask Misato, you know what she'll do?!"
"Okay, okay" Kaworu reassured his best friend. "I'll tell you" He looked at Toji who's face was like a plump tomato. "Toji, listen in too. This could be useful to you too"
Toji took a deeper shade of red. "What you mean by that?!"
"Well, if you do eventually do it Hikari, at least you have an idea in how to make it special for her"
Toji thought about it. And thought that maybe it would be good advise. "Alright. Spill the beans!"
Kaworu then went into depth on how various ways of foreplay and make them feel special before actually sticking thetr dick in.
--End of Flashback--
Since Shinji was looking back to what Kaworu told him Asuka walked behind him and wrapped her arms around him, it wasn't tight enough as Shinji managed to turn around in her arms. She looked up to his eyes which tears ran down her face. Shinji slowly drifted his lips to hers and they connected, tongues encircled each other and Shinji picked her up placing her down on her bed.
He drifted away from her lips and sucked and kissed on her nipples whilst rubbing her citrous. Slowly and softly at first before picking speed, making her moan loudly. He moved to the next nipple and worked on that one, during a year since resurrection Asuka's body had also changed a lot which Shinji noticed easily. Her breasts were bigger and her figure was more slim, he also noticed her butt shaped itself well too.
Still rubbing her, Shinji removed his lips. Asuka was in such pleasure that she didn't notice that Shinji's tongue was at work not his hand any more. When looking down she saw Shinji sucking and licking her out. "Shinji!" she cried through her moans, "Don't do that! Its dirty-" before she could finish Shinji had used his already wet hand from her juices and squeezed his finger up her ass. She gasped heavily and he moved up and down with his tongue still at work.
Asuka was gasping and moaning so loud that neighbours would be thinking that Misato was having 'one of her nights' again. Shinji stopped, unbuttoned his shirt, discarding it and unzipped his trousers and removed them along with his boxer shorts. He was already fully erect, which Asuka quickly got up and started to rub his manhood before taking it into her mouth. She was sucking on it so hard that she was starting to deep throat. Shinji had held onto the curtain near him to stay upright. She was feisty tonight and he knew it, it fitted along with her personality.
She removed herself from his thick cock and gasped for air. She laid back whilst Shinji now held his cock outside her vagina. He noticed that she was completely flustered, making this time round quick on her behalf. But Shinji thought he would continue until he released his load. He quickly thrusted his cock in making her yelp slightly as he already started to bang her hard. She gripped onto he the mattress covers and moaned passionately as this by far was the best Shinji has performed.
After a while Asuka was reaching limits, she tried to fight back the temptation to come but she couldn't it was too good. She let go and she came violently as her juices sprayed over Shinji. He pulled out and drank some of her juices. Before repositioning himself for another go. What Asuka was expecting wasn't exactly she thought Shinji was going to do. Shinji had made her go into the doggy position, which Asuka then felt tremendous pain in her ass. She looked back to see Shinji getting some of his cock in her. "Shinji what the fuck are you doing?!" she screamed half due to the pain. Shinji cursed and pulled out, which Asuka moaned. W-was that pleasurable?, she questioned herself, she couldn't tell as it just as well as painful.
Shinji stormed out in a huff, Dammit, she's incredibly tight! Now what was it that Kaworu said if this was the case? Shinji remembered and headed into the bathroom.
"Shinji! Where have you gone?!" shouted Asuka annoyed that Shinji had left the room.
"Give me a minute!" he shouted back. He opened the cabinet to the sink and searched through to find something he needed. "Here we are" he mumbled to himself. He pulled out a bottle of Baby Oil, that he looked quizzically at it first. "Why do we actually have this?" said Shinji to no one in particular. He walked back into her room which she huffed in impatience. "I know" he said as he got back onto her bed. "Hold still" he said as he straightened her up again and opened the bottle.
"What is that?" she asked curious. How far is going with this?
Shinji didn't reply but poured the cool oil on her backside. The coolness of the oil dripped onto Asuka's hot pussy which she moaned. Shinji rubbed the oil into her hole and onto his cock before getting ready to penetrate her again.
"Shinji I hope you aren't going to do that ag-" Asuka was interrupted with a scream of pain as Shinji had pushed his large cock in her ass again but this time she was getting the full treatment. He completely went in which Asuka grabbed hold of the bed post and squeezed tightly as the pain was great. Shinji then started to thrust which after some time the pain slowly became strangely to her moans of pleasure. She was actually enjoying it.
He thrusted faster which Asuka moaned even louder and squeezed her breasts in pleasure, Shinji made Asuka turn onto her back so he could see her face as he fucked her. She was all flustered by all this. Shinji then rubbed her clit as he continued to pound away. The heat and love made Asuka lost track of time, but did she really? No. She was with Shinji, the boy who was once timid, cowardly, spineless boy she ever knew, but she felt something about him, a hidden part of him that she loved. His kindness, and well caring for others beside himself.
Shinji was loving this all too much however he wasn't going to last now as he couldn't hold on anymore for the duration, he had to come. Luckly for him that Asuka needed to as well. They reached their limits together which Asuka made uncontrollable shivers as she screamed in pleasure as Shinji shot his load into her. Asuka leaped into him and wrapped her arms around him as she was now being held off the ground, biting into his neck lightly.
He looked into her eyes once more before they decided to go to sleep. Asuka got up, with herself feeling weak and uncomfortable around the pelvis. But she managed to get out off the bed and removed the sheets whilst Shinji went to shower. Afterwards he lightly slapped Asuka backside just as she went in, she glared but smiled afterwards which he returned the smile. He only got changed into his boxer shorts, looked out out the window. Feeling a little hot still he stepped out. Leaned against the railing, and looked up to the dark sky where the stars twinkled with their brightness. Shinji only hoped that the heavens would help him for tomorrow.
--
Kaworu laid in his bed with Rei sleeping soundly next to him, unlike her he couldn't get to sleep. He couldn't stop thinking on how bad this might end up. If Azreal was too quick for them then Shinji's soul might get taken into Heaven. He crawled out of his bed and stood in front of the window of the city before him. He rested his head on the cold plain glass that separated him from cool breeze. He felt increasingly warm reaching to the point where he started sweating. He opened it and stood outside, wearing only his boxer shorts. The cold air was refreshing but not comforting.
He ran his hand through his long hair before looking up to see Shinji at his balcony looking up to the stars. Shinji noticed his friend but neither wanted to speak a word. They both could only guess that they were worried about tomorrow.
Shinji smiled and spoke to the 17th. "Kaworu...do you think we'll do it? Destroying the Balance?"
Kaworu looked away, "It's a dangerous game that we will have to play. We may have little success"
Those words didn't reassure Shinji. But he already knew that considering that they were dealing with the Angel of Death. "If it goes wrong..." began Shinji swallowing hard for his words. "I want you to look after everyone for me...okay?"
Kaworu only nodded.
"Thanks Kaworu, and goodnight" Shinji then retired to the apartment, leaving Kaworu alone.
Dammit! I...I could have thought of something else, but...there isn't any other way...right father? Kaworu looked up to the heavens even though he can't see it, he knew his father was watching.
Then a pair of warm hands wrapped around him, which it had to be no other than Rei. "Come back inside Kaworu, its too cold"
The 17th realised that he left the door to the balcony open making her wake due to the cold. "I'm sorry" he replied quietly and went back to bed with Rei. Rei wore little clothing herself but her underwear. They sat there for a while.
Rei couldn't stop worrying for her lover, he was too worried for Shinji's sake. "If you're that worried for Shinji, why not let me do it?" said Rei.
Kaworu looked at her with his eyes widened in disbelief. "No" he replied with slight anger.
"Why not? I'm like Shinji, I'm half an Angel and half human. Remember I was made from Yui and Lilith"
"I said no. And that's final!"
"You don't control me!" she shouted back at him.
Kaworu was no longer looking at her, he stared at the wall in front of him with deathly eyes. "I said no Rei"
Rei didn't want to hear this. She turned around to leave but she was pulled back and forced onto the bed. Kaworu looked down at her. "Let go of me! I am my own self! I don't obey anyone's orders anymore! And I won't start with you!" She continued to slap Kaworu in the face and then scratched him on his left cheek with her nails.
Making that the last straw, Kaworu smacked her back on the face. He couldn't believe himself for doing that. He was told by many people that he was exactly like his father, but he actually hit the woman he loved whilst Adam didn't. Kaworu got off the bed and marched himself into the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror and hated the person that was in front of him, himself. He head butted the mirror shattering it, with a large cut to his forehead, blood ran down his face and dripped off his nose. He looked at the remaining pieces of the mirror seeing many images of his injured self. An Angel with no right arm and now a cut to his head.
Rei strolled in which he turned around to her. "You're injured..." she said with tears in her eyes. "And...you're suffering!" She leaps into his chest and he held her tightly. "You don't need to suffer alone...Kaworu..."
Had she forgiven him? He didn't know but all he cared was to be with her, and get some sleep. Tomorrow was judgement day.
--
Misato laid in Kaji's bed still couldn't shake the feeling that it was going to go bad tomorrow. She looked at the digital clock next to her, it was 6 minutes past midnight, it was today where they will see if they could destroy the Balance of Azreal. She took out a cigrette and lighted it, taking a large drag on it and puffed it all out.
"You know that's bad for you" teased Kaji.
"Kaji, now isn't the time" she replied not taking the bite.
"Its about today isn't it?" he said sitting up. She looked at him with her worrying look and nodded. "I know, I'm worried about the kid too. But it needs to be done"
"But Kaji this is dangerous"
"Wasn't sending him out in an Eva just as dangerous?"
Kaji had his point but this was when Shinji's soul could be taken forever. "I...I just don't know what to do if anything should happpen-"
Kaji wrapped his arms around her and stroked her lavender hair. "Nothing will happen to him" he said reassuringly. Let's not hope that anything does happen to him.
--
Gendo and Fuyutsuki sat in the Commander's office going through the bottle whiskey that laid on Ikari's table. "I didn't know you drank this sorta stuff" remarked Kozo as he finished his glass.
"Well there's many things you don't know about me then" replied Gendo pouring himself one then topping up his old friend's glass.
"That's my point though. I don't know much about you really" he took a quick sip before carrying on his sentence. "The things about you I only know from Yui or when I seen you at work"
Yui's name made Gendo lower his glass onto the table. "Let me tell you something" he began, "Yui had the hots for you, you dirty old man!"
Kozo laughed as he honestly didn't believe what the half drunken Commander was saying. "You must be pulling my leg Gendo! No way did she ever think of me like that!"
Gendo smiled before downing his glass quickly and settling it down. "Oh! But you're so wrong! She was saying stuff like how smart and brave and collective you were. She made me seriously jealous of you"
"Brave? When was I ever brave?" Kozo asked by the remark.
"Oh when you stood up to me after you found out the cover up on Second Impact and threatened me that you would go public with this. You actually had me worried as SEELE would have you killed even before you got to the press" Gendi then poured himself another.
"Well, that was before I decided to join"
"True..." Gendo went to take another sip but lowered the glass and sighed. "Kozo, I miss her"
Kozo knew that same feeling. "I do too Gendo, but I'm afraid that she is bound to that Eva for eternity"
"Yes" came back Gendo's slight sadden tone. "What makes me wonder is why did Eva Unit 01 return to Earth before the Angels showed up?"
"Who knows, it's just another mystery I guess"
"Maybe, but I think its something more"
Kozo took a large gulp of the alcoholic drink before raising an eyebrow to him. "Really?"
"Yes. I believe that it returned on its own behalf. It returned because Yui knew that Shinji would once again need the power of Eva against Lilith. And that my old friend, is my theory. A theory but I believe it, and I can bet that on the other bottle I have stashed away in my drawer" smiled Gendo.
Kozo also smiled. "You're on" He drank the remainder of the glass before going on other matters. "What do you think about this operation thats going to happen today?"
Gendo went silent. He held his glass against his forehead, letting the coolness of the glass calm his mind a little. "To be honest Kozo, I have no idea. It could go wrong either way" Kozo nodded to his reply. "Let's just hope to God ourselves that it doesn't. After all God is in his Heaven, and all is fine on Earth...it is said"
--
Ritsuko was in her lab still going over the latest results for the Anti-AT Field weapon. It was still unsuccessful. She sighed and slammed her hand on the table in defeat...for today. The problem isn't the weapon itself...its the ammo that it uses. It can't be fired with enough propulsion to penetrate the AT Field. It would be more useful if I had an AT Field to use it on. Maybe I could use it on the Eva's? I better seek permission first.
Ritsuko opened her drawer to see a pack of cigarettes in them. She tapped nervously on the desk as her mind battled to use them or not. She got so far, will she spoil it now? She picked them up. Thinking of having a quick drag and it'll be over. She lit it and placed it in her mouth, slowly taking in the fumes, which she exhaled it slowly. She sighed happily as it relaxed her slightly. "Sensai!" cried Maya as she caught her teacher smoking.
Ritsuko fell off the chair in shock and butted out the death stick. She got up annoyed that Maya had caught her.
"Sensai. You promised not to smoke again, as you but it as starting over" Maya said sounding like she had caught her own daughter doing it.
"Maya, it was only a quick one" replied Ritsuko not bothered to what her assistant had to say.
"But Sensai!" whined Maya further.
Ritsuko just waved her off and stood up. "Its getting late isn't?" she said through her yawn as she stretched and looked at the clock. "We better get some rest" she carried on as she started to make her way out.
"Don't change the subject!" Maya still going on. They had walked the many corridors of the underground base which Ritsuko decided to give her last report to the Commander before going to bed. Maya was curious why Ritsuko had actually came back to NERV. She thought she hated it. But still she returned. Why? "Um, Sensai?"
"Yes Maya?"
"Why did you come back to NERV?" she asked which she got a look from Ritsuko as to why she asked. "Well didn't you hate this job? And the Commander?"
Ritsuko nodded and turned to her assistant. "Well that is true but, I thought that considering that there can't be anyone else to replace me in that line of work, I came back. With a higher pay rise too" laughed Ritsuko as she managed to get the Commander to eventually pay her more.
"Is there anything else?"
Ritsuko went quiet a bit before speaking again. "My mother" she replied. Maya looked curiously at her. "My mother's legacy was built right here. I couldn't just leave it here. She did so much for her work and yet not much for me. But that is life, parents will work and work only to have their children brought up themselves in this strange and cruel world as we see it"
"I see. And you wanted to carry on the burden that she had?"
"Not really. She died because she was weak and stupid, but I learned that off my mother and I no longer am that. Strange isn't it? The only thing I learned importantly off her was her weakness"
"What about the Commander" Maya asked quietly as he might even be listening to them now, through the many surveillance devices in the base.
"Well, I still...well have something for him. But he would never accept it. He still loves his dead wife, and he will love for eternity even in death. As I see it, he is going to die alone. But he was waiting for that, wasn't he?"
--
It was a Kaworu put it, Judgement Day. The day that they find out if the almighty powerful Azreal, the Angel of Death will appear before their bait and they would destroy the Balance that he holds. The area that they were going to hold the bait was within the base itself. The idea was brought forward by Areal as she said he would be in a confined space and within ease of access to catch him if he tried to escape.
Kaworu and Shinji stood in Terminal Dogma. Where it should be begin, the idea was that Azreal could only go one way, up. The red and black scenery hadn't changed as Shinji thought it wouldn't, it looked too similar to when Third Impact occurred. The black sky with the red scar illuminating itself in the dark abyss. However that time was gone and now they must deal with Lilith.
"Are you ready Shinji?" asked Kaworu nervously, which didn't make Shinji any better considering that Kaworu always seemed to confident in battles.
"I-I'm ready" he replied nervously also.
"I see" Kaworu replied solemnly. "Then we should start. When I begin your soul will linger for a while until Azreal shows. Until then he will try and remain undetectable, however because of your unique abilities as a hybrid he should release some of his power considering you have Angel blood in you. That is when we will strike. Understood?"
Shinji nodded, sweat crept down him as his body temperature rose.
"When we defeated him, and obtained the Balance I will then transfer your soul back to your body. Okay?"
Shinji nodded again. "I'm ready"
"Then I hope that my father watches over you like he has before" Kaworu said. The two looked at each other, whilst the spectators such as Rei and Areal were close whilst the other non-Angel beings were in the Command Center waiting for it to happen. Everyone was tense, Asuka seemed to be ready to have a nervous breakdown if this did fuck up. Kaworu rose his only arm, and grabbed Shinji by the throat, lifting him up. Kaworu kept his head down as he didn't want to see his own hand killing his friend. He now knew how Shinji felt as he asked him to kill him, the worst feeling someone could ever feel.
Everyone didn't want to see it so they looked away. Shinji felt the lack of oxygen reaching to his blood, his body tensed and was about to give up the ghost.
Kaworu held in up for a few more seconds which he looked at his best friend seeing that he was close to death and Azreal should show himself soon. Just then a massive powerful AT Field boomed in his senses, it had to be Azreal. He released his friend as soon as he confirmed that the Angel of Death was in this very room.
The rush of rich oxygen reached to his lungs and he escaped death. But why? Kaworu said he needed him dead.
Kaworu made a spin kick and for some strange reason he hit something invisible, which went into one of the many pillars and then the one after it and the one after that.
"Kaworu!..." Shinji sputtered for air still, "I thought-"
"In truth I didn't need you dead, I needed you close to death so he took the bait. Sorry"
Everyone who heard that sighed a breath of relief as they thought it was a ridiculous plan. For Asuka, she fumed as he actually lied. "That bastard is really gonna get when this is over!" she growled.
"Then why lie?" asked Shinji now getting his breath back.
"It is because if the soul close to death doesn't wish to die it would be harder for Azreal to take the bait" replied Kaworu smiling helping his friend up. "Now that is past us. The real problem starts now" He looked in the direction where Azreal had apparently been kicked over there.
Then out of the smoke that covered that area three giant pieces of rubble shot through which the two teen Angels jumped out of the way. "So..." said a deep menacing voice, "Tabris, you shouldn't be playing dangerous games like this" What came out of the smoke was a black robed figure but with some modern style black clothing under his garments.
"This ain't some childish game that I brought you here Azreal!" Kaworu retorted in a authority style tone. "We want the Balance"
Azreal had brushed off the remaining dust from his jet black hair, he looked at Kaworu with his red piercing eyes. He looked more adult like then the other Angels they encountered besides Adam and Lilith. "That has to be a joke Tabris! You cannot have the Balance! Do you know what it does little fool!"
"I ain't a fool to realise that the Balance is the reason for Lilith's growing strength!" Kaworu shouted at the adult Angel.
Azreal sighed as he brushed off more dust from his robe. "I understand your worries but nothing can be done for that"
"There is!" shouted Areal, "We destroy it!"
Azreal looked at her with wide eyes, then suddenly they change to as if he was about to laugh. Which he did with his deep bellow. "Destroy it?!" he said through his laughing. "You really are fools! You cannot destroy the Balance!"
Everyone looked at the Angel with shocked expressions. "You...you mean it couldn't be destroyed?!"
"Of course! Such as precious item couldn't be destroyed! Only the creator himself can do that!"
"Then..." Shinji muttered, "Then we can't stop Lilith..."
Hope seemed to flee the faces of the young Angels. And Azreal saw it. He sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "I know what she is doing. And the creator isn't too pleased with it either" said Azreal.
"Then why can't he sort her out then!" shouted Shinji.
"Who said that it was a he?" retorted Azreal.
"You mean that the creator is a she?"
Azreal laughed. "You know I'll tell you what. I'll tell the little secret, and I'll cut off the supply to Lilith through the pact she has with me if...you defeat me"
Everyone's faces lightened up in hope once again, except Kaworu's and Areal's. "You can't be serious Azreal!" Areal cried out in disbelief.
"What's wrong with that?" asked Rei to her sister in law, as so to speak.
"Azreal is a higher ranking Angel and ever fight I heard he got into. He always wins"
"But I'll let all you four take me on. How about that?" said Azreal to make the fight a little interesting after all.
"I guess we don't have a choice really, do we?" Shinji sighed.
"Nope. Now come on! Bring some life into my miserable job!"
--
Lilith sat down next to the stream of souls as she watched all those souls in the red stream, flow past her. She smiled. Her powers were growing and she loved it. Soon she knew she could enter the Lilith world. And establish her own paradise there.
"Lilith" said a strong firm voice behind her. She twisted her head to see who it was. It was Zeruel, with his long bright golden hair flapping in the cool wind.
"What is it Zeruel? You seem, distracted with something" she said to the 14th Angel. She liked Zeruel out of the rest, he was loyal, only to their cause and to bring his father back.
"Haven't you sensed it?" he asked with no emotion on his face.
"Sense what?"
"Azreal...on Earth. With Tabris and the rest of those so called Angels"
Lilith's eyes widened. "No. NO!!" she was shaking and screaming out of control. She unleashed her power which caused the stream to explode and cause the ground to shake violently. She was then breathing heavily, until she relaxed and brushed her hair. "No matter. Azreal has never been defeated before"
"Besides you and father" said Zeruel.
"Do you believe that they can?" she asked curious to their abilities, she was running her fingers through her long icy blue hair to straighten it.
"It is hard to tell"
"Well" she said before turning her whole body to him. Her body was magnificent, it was no wonder why Adam had fallen for the Second, and Zeruel couldn't blame him. "I believe we just have to wait and see"
--
Azreal spread his orange wings and flew up. An orange outline of some weapon formed in his hand which it then formed itself into matter, it was his scythe. "Let us begin!" cried as he flew at impossible speeds towards Shinji and Kaworu.
"Shinji move! That scythe can cut through our AT Fields!" cried Kaworu as he was ready to jump.
The two teens jumped which Kaworu flew over Azreal and Shinji went past Azreal, missing the attack just slightly. Azreal didn't stop as he went for the two girls who were astonished by the aggressive nature of the Angel of Death. Areal leaps out of the large attack that emitted from the scythe. Whilst Rei spreads his wings and flies up. Azreal stops and looks up at Rei, smiling devilishly. "Bad move" he mutters.
"Rei!" screams Kaworu seeing her in the air. "Get back on the ground! He's faster in the air!"
Rei looked down to see Azreal, but he wasn't there, "You should had listened to him" said Azreal's voice behind her. Rei spun around and gasped as the man had his scythe in the air. He slashed at her cutting her side, which she fell to the ground with a thunderous bang. The sound of bones snapping too.
"Rei!" cried Kaworu as he ran to her picking her up slightly.
Shinji looked at his sister with wide eyes of horror. She had her side ripped by the deadly weapon. She looked as if she had her dislocated. "You bastard! You hurt my sister!"
Azreal looked at Shinji with dark eyes. "You boy should mind your language"
Shinji growled, "Go fuck yourself!"
"Tut, tut, tut. I guess I have to teach you about manners" sighed Azreal as he charged at Shinji. He was within striking distance of his scythe that was until Shinji ducked under the scythe and appeared in front of Azreal again inches from his face. "What?!" Shinji then head butted the Angel of Death, knocking unbalance and then kicking him in the ribs, sending him back more into a wall.
"That's for my sister you bastard" snarled Shinji.
There was deep laughter from Azreal as he stood up again, spitting out blood from his mouth. "Pretty good Shinji! I never thought that you could actually do that, epically me!" He started to walk casually to Shinji bearing no serious damage to himself. "But thats the best you can do" The weapon that Azreal held turned black and materialized into a black misty orb in his hand.
No...is that...the Reaper's Orb?!, screamed Kaworu in his mind. If he gets hit by that, its all over!
Azreal ran into a sprint towards Shinji which he didn't have a clue what to expect. Kaworu had to think fast, he gathered his strength and unleashed it, but it was uncontrollable...Kaworu still couldn't control the unlimited power within him. From Azreal's view he saw a bright orange colour closing into him which he evaded the light and watched it explode as it struck the wall, tearing metal and concrete apart.
"W-" Azreal was shocked to see that so much he couldn't muster his words. "W-what the hell was that?!"
Even Kaworu didn't know personally himself, Areal dropped next to Kaworu shocked to what she saw but she had to get Rei out of here. She was struck with a single blow and she was losing blood fast. "Kaworu, you and Shinji will have to deal with Azreal, I got to get Rei out of here!"
Kaworu nodded as he watched his sister pick Rei up and flew away. "So only two of you left...shame" Azreal spread his wings and in a blink of an eye he caught Kaworu by his throat and slammed him against the wall. He also grabbed his only arm, stopping him from performing any attacks.
Kaworu was gasping for breath, he was soon panicking as he knew Azreal would rip his throat out. He powers mustered again and this time an unexpected turn of events happened. A arm shot out of Kaworu's cut limb and with that he pushed a AT-Field into Azreal's face forcing him away.
Shinji spread his wings and charged at Azreal with his back to the young Angel which Shinji focused his AT-Field around his hand and thrusted it into Azreal's back. Blood gushed out as Shinji made the blow on the Angel of Death.
Azreal looked back and saw the Angel teenager smirking at him. "I got you"
"You little punk-" he cut off with another blow into his chest this time with Kaworu thrusting his hand into Azreal's chest where his heart was gripped by Kaworu's hand.
"Now Azreal..." Kaworu was recovering his breath still. "...you are defeated...accept or die"
Azreal grunted as he was in a difficult situation, his reputation or his life.
"It would be ironic if the Angel of Death would die wouldn't it?"
"FINE!! I accept defeat Tabris"
Although they were miles underground, the cheers of all the NERV personnel within the base rang through, which Rei who was been flown up to sick bay, heard them, she smiled faintly.
--
"Well Tabris I am impressed. You show the courage and loyalty like your father" praised Azreal to the young 17th.
"Thank you Azreal. But remember, you kept your word?" said Kaworu.
"Yes, yes. I kept my word. I will sever the link to Lilith to prevent her growing powers. She will still recover her powers due to regeneration but the link will greatly decrease the the amount she came recover" Azreal went into his black robe and pulled out a what looked like a sand timer, with white ghostly beings running through the hole. He then tensed his hand around the timer until it shattered, and the piercing screams and howls of ghosts screeched so loud that it felt like it could rip apart the thin tissues of ear drums. They soon faded and disappeared. "There the pact is now broken, she won't be able to receive any additional power now"
"Thank you Azreal you are a great help to the Lilim culture" said Kaworu pleased.
"No problem. I didn't think I would be much help considering I take their souls to the afterlife" Azreal spread his wings wide and started to drift up. "Now if you excuse me, I got another soul to pass on" Azreal set himself off but stopped and looked back at Shinji. "Oh and Mr. Ikari, I have a reward to you also as you were the first one that made the serious blow to me. I hope you enjoy!" And like that he blended into the darkness and disappeared, to his duties as Death.
"A reward? For me? What is it?" he asked Kaworu, but neither did Kaworu knew as he shook his head in confusion.
--
Lilith starred angrily at the crimson water before her and she shook violently with it. "Those!..." she gritted her teeth and shook even more. "Those bastards! They defeated Azreal! THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE!!" she screamed and the river of souls shot up with her beckoning power. Soon it came down like a shower of rain. "They severed my resource for power! They shall never be forgiven!"
"It appears that your losing this Lilith"
"Shut up Gabriel! I don't need you babbling around me right now!"
"But my dear, it is the truth"
"SHUT UP!!" she screamed again and threw her power to him. It had ill effect to him. But Gabriel stood there calm and collective.
"That wasn't nice Lilith"
"SO?! What are you going to do about it?!"
He can't. Like her his AT Field would have no effect on her. She was a high ranking Angel now, and their powers wouldn't have any effect. "Your lucky that the Creator likes to stay out of Lilim problems Lilith"
She grunts angrily. "I guess I should consider myself lucky"
"Not really, because at the moment I think that those Angels on Earth are ruining your luck"
"Why don't you get out of here. Your holiness is ruining this world enough" And like that Gabriel left. "Dammit, they are thrashing my plans aside one by one. I guess I need someone to sort this out once and for all. She looked up gazing at the blacken sky. " Israfel...get the job done, now!"
"As you wish Lilith" replied the female Angel, flocking her cream hair aside and walked away happily.
--
Shinji and Kaworu were in sick bay along with Asuka, watching Rei sleep soundly in the bed. "She was lucky she received that hit, otherwise she would be far worse than she is now" said Kaworu watching her carefully sleep in her emerald dream.
"Yeah" replied Asuka, then something clicked in, she reminded herself something that she had to get Kaworu back. She Tapped him on the shoulder which he turned to have a fist in his face. He staggered back, extremely annoyed. "That was for lying to us about letting Shinji almost die" she said defiantly.
Kaworu took the hit as his punishment for his lie, but did she actually have to hit him? "I understand" he moaned.
"So Kaworu I wonder what that reward that Shinji should get from Azreal was?" asked Asuka.
"Who knows? I don't think that he could actually give such a great reward considering he's the Angel of Death"
--
Back in the Command Center, Ritsuko was just finishing briefing Gendo and Fuyutsuki on Rei's condition when the alarms in the room went off. "What is that? Another Angel?!" demanded Kozo, as an Angel now wasn't exactly great in timing.
"Negative sir! Its not an Angel we're picking up! Its coming from the Evangelion cages!" shouted back Aoba.
"What?!"
--
Shinji and Kaworu perked their heads in the direction towards the Eva cages. They knew something was going on but what. They darted off with Asuka following behind them. "Wait up baka! What the hell are you running for?!"
--
The three children stood before Evangelion Unit 01. What they saw got them completely nervous. "It's...its moving by itself..." muttered Asuka.
"But it looks like its in pain..." observed Shinji at the sight of his unit squirming in pain as it clasped onto his head them chest as it looked like it was being stabbed.
Then after a while the Eva collapsed breaking the platforms around it which Shinji had grabbed onto Asuka in mid air as the platform below her was broken off too. They looked at the silent form of Eva unit 01. The technicians along with the two Commander's arrived with Ritsuko, Misato and Kaji.
"What the hell happened to it?" asked Kozo stumped.
"I don't know" replied Ritsuko also confused.
"It moved by itself, in pain. Something must have attacked it" Misato answered trying to figure out herself of this obscure act of the legendary Eva.
"Something...is in there..." said Kaworu looking at it. "I can sense it..." he approached it and opened the hatch manually to gasp what laid in stall for him. "Commander..." The middle aged man tilted his shades to the Angel as he was called by him. "I think you should have a look at this..."
The Commander climbed onto the Eva with Shinji following close behind. They peered in and gasp as well. "Father is that..." Shinji couldn't believe his eyes, were they lying to him? Was he seeing things?
"Yes Shinji" replied Gendo shocked beyond words. "That is Yui. Your mother" He said looking at the form of his long lost wife inside the cockpit, stirring in her unconsciousness.
To Be Continued...
A/N: Well that is it! End of Chapter 10, with Yui returning by the power of Azreal. From here I don't know how the relationship will be with her return to everyone else but I'll figure something out. Besides that what do you think?
The plan now is to bring Yui into the story quickly and have more scenes with Misato and Kaji, as I noticed myself that they are sorta left out. There will be more Shinji and Asuka but the other two at the moment is a priority. Also Israfel starts to show herself, maybe in this one or the next one...I'm not sure! We'll see.
Thanks for reading, please wait for the next installment of Angel's Empathy.