A/N: Alright guys I can tell that these updates are slow, and they're getting annoying. Well I have another story at the moment as I mentioned before that is in the works. I have to say that I am trying to write these up quickly, but that causes faults such as misspelling or grammar problems. I like to say thanks to the new proof reader who actually picked up a hell of a lot of mistakes in chapters so far...If he is reading this...English isn't really my only language, and I am dyslexic. (Thank you spellchecker for correcting that!)
So, lets get on with the chapter!
Chapter 37 – Walking in their Shoes - Part 1 Gendo
Death, it was so short and yet so painful. I never imagined it to be like that. For it to end and yet begin again. I laid there on the hospital bed starring at the same ceiling that I have been starring at ever since I was brought into this cursed room. Doctors and nurses checked me to see if I was in a fit condition. Well, if I wasn't I would argue or they would have found something by now.
But the thing that always played over and over in my brilliant mind was that small time I had with Yui before I was thrown back here into this dying world. That conversion I had with my beloved wife was short, but it was worth to die to see her again. But the talk we had...it wasn't what I expected. It was about our son, Shinji. She said, go back to reality and look after our son, until the day that I die. That was a promise I made but, why did she leave me? Why did she chose Shinji over me? It doesn't make sense Yui.
--
It had been two days since my resurrection now. And I got a visitor, an unexpected one of that. I laid in that bed as usual and looked to see that old man, the man who stood by me since the beginning of the darkness, that we shrouded over humanity. At first I wasn't in the mood to see him. That man was special to Yui, special in a way that I couldn't be. I was still rethinking that promise, it stuck with me like a shadow.
"I finally found you Ikari" said Fuyutsuki smiling at me. That smile really pissed me off. Was he smiling to say that he's happy to see me failed to be reunited with my wife?
"Why are you here Fuyutsuki?" I said venomously. "Shouldn't you be helping re-building the world right now?"
That wiped the smile from his face. "Your still a cold bastard even after death" he retorted at me.
"If you got nothing interesting to say to me Fuyutsuki then get out"
"Oh but there is something. You know when SEELE made everyone turn against us? Well me and you are responsible for war crimes, and other heavy charges. They want our heads Gendo, the blame is placed on us"
Fuyutsuki as always worried about the consequences when we carried out our scenario, and now he was fearing it. Funny to face a death sentence when we were resurrected just a few days ago. But as always, when you run a organisation based on conspiracies and a few murders, you must a have a backup plan. And of course I had one just in case those bastards did actually tried something. I smiled as the thought went through my head.
"Why are you smiling at a time like this Ikari? We need to figure out what to do" the old professor questioned me. Obviously I was irritating him.
I asked him, "Fuyutsuki, do you remember all the meetings we had with the old men?" He nodded slowly as to what I was getting at. "Well, what would you do I told you that all those meetings were recorded?"
As I expected, his eyes widened. "You serious Ikari? You have them?"
I nodded. "They're stored in the MAGI system. All we need to do is edit the stuff out we don't need the UN to know from our behalf and we should be in the clear"
"Ikari! You're a genius!" Fuyutsuki was more than relived at this point.
"Of course. How did you think I made Commander?" I replied smiling.
--
When Fuyutsuki left me, he went to collect 'our' evidence against SEELE and flew to the UN to present it to the council there. I didn't know what was going on at this point when he was over there. But I got my answer when he returned smiling happily. They took it. SEELE was the one's to blame and we were in the clear. But what he told me next caught me by total surprise.
"The UN has demanded that we re-establish NERV and provide help to neighbouring countries badly effected by Third Impact. Since we survived the actual blast itself" he explained to me.
I sat up, and I couldn't believe the order we received. Well it was an order if you thought about it, the UN does own us now since SEELE is gone. "What of the Chinese Branch? Or the German Branch of that matter?"
"The Chinese branch has collapsed Ikari. The Chinese Communist Republic is in a revolution over who controls the state. The German branch is in a mess as it is at the moment. The other branches are the same, except the American one"
"Figures..." The American branch, I really don't know how they do it but they pulled it off. Well they're nation is the richest. "So who's leading the branches at the moment? The Americans?"
"No. The Americans have asked us to lead"
"What? Don't they know we are in a worse state as it is? Half of our base and even the city is destroyed! Sometimes I think they ask too much from us" Indeed I did believe that. They have the resources to help the others.
"They know Ikari. And thats why the Americans are sending construction workers and engineers to help us rebuild the city and the base"
I looked at him quizzically as I didn't know why they were so insisting that we do the job.
"They think because we led the defence against the Angels and defeated them, that we can do this job"
"But they're entirely different"
"I know. But that's what they said"
"Well we've been through worst" I said sitting up.
"That's true"
I pulled the covers off me and stepped out of the bed. Fuyutsuki tried to stop me but I waved him off. Just because I was resurrected doesn't mean I feel weak or suffer the side-effects that some people had. However I felt around my neck where I saw the last images of life before Eva Unit 01 bit my head off. I also looked at where Rei had taken my right arm, it was there still. Paranoia was something that ended up suffering through after that.
"What now Ikari?" the old professor asked me.
I simply looked back at him, "Well first, get me some clothes and we can discuss what do"
The smile on his face appeared again. He knew I was back now. "After that. There's something I need you to see"
--
After I required some doctor's clothing I followed Fuyutsuki. And what he showed me that day was what I never believed to see. He took me down to the chamber we had kept Lilith in Terminal Dogma. We entered the room itself but the door only opened slightly due to the blast of Third Impact it had effected a lot of the doors and hatches in the base. Those would have to be rectified when the Americans arrived. The chamber itself was well a mess as I could probably guessed, the lights were also faulty. They didn't turn on when we needed them to. Normally they were left on regardless, but due to the blast the electrical equipment had to be restarted, excepted the MAGI of course.
Eventually light shone into the room again and what I saw was indeed shocking. There on the crimson floor, the place where I laid after Rei took my arm was two children, laying there unconscious. Those two I could definite identify them. One child was a boy with bright grey/brown hair, white skin, in a school uniform. The girl was somewhat similar, but ice blue hair, same colour skin, but unlike the other she laid there naked. The same as she was when she left me. Those two were Angel's, well one was.
Kaworu Nagisa, properly know as Tabris, the 17th Angel. And Rei Ayamani, the clone of my deceased wife and Lilith.
"We didn't want them to be moved to awakened as we didn't know how they would react after Third Impact" explained Fuyutsuki. "But what bothers me is Tabris. He was the Angel who attacked us and yet when we killed him he returns after Third Impact. It doesn't make sense"
"I know. Perhaps we will get answers when he wakes up. For now lets let them sleep, when they wake, inform me ASAP" I told him.
"Okay. But there's another person I want you to meet"
I rose an eyebrow to him as to what other surprises I could be confronted today.
He led me back to the hospital...well the temporary hospital. I had people look and gasp at the sight of me as I walked past them. It seemed that they thought or believed that a bastard I was known on this base, had cheated death or something like that. However I didn't care, I followed the old man to a room where he opened it and we stepped in. And in the hospital beds were people I knew, they laid asleep due to the energies that must have been drained from them when they forced themselves back into reality.
The one's I knew were the Second Child, Asuka Langley Soryu. She seemed to have been bandaged up heavily, I wouldn't blame her after the reception she got when the Eva Series reactivated. I knew she had lost when on the speakers throughout the base, the tech crew in the Command Centre, Maya had cried out her name when she lost.
The other was Major Misato, she also seemed to be bandaged up as well around her torso. I didn't know what became of the Major, but it mustn't have been good.
In another was Doctor Ritsuko Akagi, if she woke up now I bet she wouldn't be exactly happy seeing me again.
Then there was my son, Shinji. The one I treated badly and abandoned him when he was just a toddler. Yui's voice echoed in my mind of that promise. I approached him and went to touch his hair. But I had a bad feeling, the kind I had when I was around him all the time. I was scared of him. Strange isn't it? Scared of my son when he's at this age. He seemed to not sustained any injuries, but the mental state he must be at, must not be great. He foresaw everything when taken into Lilith.
"Greeting Commander Ikari" said a voice I never thought to hear ever again. But was it my mind playing tricks on me? How could it, when I already seen the impossible? I turned to see that man sitting up in his bed, the double agent that helped against and for us. Rouji Kaji. "I never thought to see you again" he said with his usual smile.
"The feelings neutral" I replied trying not to sound too shocked.
"That's a fair point" he replied.
"I thought you were shot in the head by SEELE's men?"
"I was. But it seems that I got a free ticket of life again like you" the agent explained to me.
I heard one of the patients stir in their sleep, which I knew if they woke to see me now, it wouldn't be good. I left with Fuyutsuki following me out. I turned to him which we decided to head somewhere, which we could discuss the current matters private.
We headed to a disused laboratory, and entered it to see it in emaciate condition. We sat down which silence loomed over us. Eventually Fuyutsuki broke it. "What's the plan now Ikari?"
"To be honest with you I have some idea's but they aren't smart" I replied as I put my mind through the possibilities. "I could show myself to them and we could probably resume where we left off. Or I could stay in the shadows and watch everything from there. That why I could see what I have done and watch my son"
"Ikari, I was told by doctors that when you were found you mumbled about watching over your son. What was that about? A change of heart?" he smiled at me hoping Third Impact might have made a change on me.
"No. When I was taken into the black moon, I saw Yui" I explained and saw his reaction, priceless, it was the sort of the one that was shocked and jealous. "She told me to do her a favour, and look after Shinji for her. Although that is difficult enough, due to what we've been through. We don't exactly have the best father and son relationship"
"That's true" Fuyutsuki said in honestly to me. But it was fine, it was the truth. "So how are you going to help him through this life when you know he'll reject you?"
"Simple. I will have to make it look like I never returned. And all the things I decide for him, it will look like you done them"
Fuyutsuki looked unsure at the choice but he knew better than to argue with them. "So..." he began. "Who's going to be Commander?"
"That should be obvious Fuyutsuki, it will be you"
--
A few days have past and the plan was sorted. I was in hiding, so to speak and Fuyutsuki took responsibilities as Commander of NERV. I sorted out a job for myself in NERV to keep myself busy as Leading Science and Development Director, something similar to my old job but not as technical. I was being updated all the time on how the others were doing, it interfered with my work but I didn't care. Knowing what they were up to was something of my concern, and amusement.
But that day I was informed of two children that were finally awake in Terminal Dogma. And Fuyutsuki had invited them into my office. Great for telling me beforehand. I saw the two look at me, Rei had a shocked expression, but I was even more shocked, she actually had a different expression! Something is wrong with her, or something changed her for the better...The 17th however didn't show any shock, he had his smile that he had even before he died in Unit 01's hand.
"Hello again Rei" I said to her which she didn't reply. I then turned my attention to the 17th, "Tabris, its somewhat strange to see you again"
"Likewise Gendo Ikari" he replied. I was getting a lot of people saying to me in that sort of line.
"I believe Tabris, that you aren't here to exact revenge on us Lilim I hope" I said leaning into my usual pose I do when talking to people behind a desk.
"You expect too much Gendo" Tabris said closing his crimson eyes to me. Why he was calling me by my first name? It was really strange.
"Really? Then what is the reason of your existence in this world then after Third Impact?" I placed the main question at him.
He simply shrugged at me. "To be honest. I don't even know myself"
I rose my eyebrow to him. But I guess his existence is a mystery. "And you Rei?" Again she remained quiet. "Well the question now is what to do with you two"
"What do you mean Ikari?" Fuyutsuki decided to speak up to this point.
"Well we can't have them wondering around. Think about it. Rei was seen by a lot of people when she was transformed in that demi-god form. And Kaworu was identified as the 17th and final Angel. They would cause panic if this ain't handled properly" I explained to him, which all of us pondered. Even though Tabris was a threat, he let Shinji kill him. And I bet Shinji would brightened up if he met his friend again. But on other hand if he was to show up in front of the Major, serious problems will erupt. The same with Rei.
"Then what do you suggest Ikari?" Fuyutsuki asked.
"We keep them out of people's way for now. They'll be kept in the base until we think people we trust could see them"
"I understand" replied Fuyutsuki as he was unsure how things could fold out. He was always like that but it did have it's qualities. "What about you two?"
The 17th simply nodded at Fuyutsuki and Rei followed but in a slower manner. What is wrong with her? Did she suffer the trauma of Third Impact more than Shinji? As they were being led out, as I had nothing else to say to them at that point, Rei suddenly turned around and came to me. I was to be honest scared, she did take my arm, will she she harm me again? I came out of my pose and looked at her puzzlingly.
She stared at me as she waned to say something to me, that she did eventually after a while. "Commander..."
"I am not the Commander anymore Rei. Fuyutsuki is now" I retorted at her, she slightly flinched and looked at the old man behind her. She then looked back at me. "You may call me by my first name Rei, as so can you Tabris" I said to the two.
"Then call me by my Lilim name" replied the 17th smiling. That smile was seriously spooky but in a different look it was somewhat warm and comforting.
"Fine" I shot back. Why was I so aggressive when near these two was not me at all. Usually I keep my cool on things especially when the situation wasn't going right.
"G-Gendo..." Rei managed to push out my name from her thin lips. I imagined that it was difficult for her to call people by their first names. She was completely accustomed to their surnames or rank. That has to change if she has to fit in to this new world.
"Go on" I said to her.
"I...want to apologise" she said to me. Of course I was taken back a little by her words, after all she took my arm and turned to world into what it is now. "I only wanted to help Ikari-"
"You mean Shinji correct?" I interrupted her.
Like I said, she isn't used to first names. "Correct" she replied.
The thought why Rei was resurrected along with T-, I mean Kaworu, was like I said, a mystery. However if they returned for some reason then they must have been given a second chance. Like a fool as myself. So in order to let her have a proper chance at life, she must act more...human. I suppose that is the right word for it.
"I wanted-" she began again with her explanation but I stopped her there.
"No need to explain nor apologise Rei. You disobeyed me. I must congratulate you there, you have started your independence" I said to her which she looked confused at me.
"Independence?" she replied. I guess that was the wrong word for her, but I'll work with it.
"You don't need orders from me to live your new life now"
"New life?"
"What I am saying Rei is, to make the most of yourself. Go to school, make more friends, go to a collage, get a job, and start a family. Some things like that" I explained things like that but I remembered that she couldn't conceive children. There was a problem when we cloned her, the ovaries became defective when we crossed the genes of my wife with Lilith's. We actually didn't care at that moment in time as we didn't need to have children as it also would effect her piloting skills or sync ratio.
Rei nodded uneasily at me and followed the 17th and Fuyutsuki out. I was left with my thoughts on how I could now solve the problem we had with Shinji.
--
As the days grew to weeks, I was given reports upon the children and Major. Kaji was very happily to give these reports in to help us solve their problems. And what I meant was their past. We knew about it, but at the time when you fight a war against supernatural beings, there was no room to solve them.
But the day I was working for once in my white cold office I was given a report from our agent, it was apparent that Shinji and the German girl Asuka, had fought again, but this time it caused the German to have a massive breakdown. Immediately me and Fuyutsuki decided to send her to our top psychologists at Okinawa II. Hopefully she would recover and conquer her problems there. But now it was the situation with Shinji. We could have sent him as well but that wouldn't help. No psychologist could help him after what he'd been through at Third Impact. That was my fault. I could have let him get over it by time, but there was something deep down inside me, eating at me about actually helping him. But how?
--
Two days have passed and I switched my attention from my son back to the Angel children we kept, as I was getting no real progress with Shinji. It was that I was told of a latest discovery from them. It appears that Rei had a check up and they discovered her body was...corrected as the doctor told me. I was confused by his words but after reading the file, it made sense. Like I said she had defective ovaries, but they somehow were corrected. That was behind science itself. But like science it would find a way of explaining it, however it wouldn't make sense still.
I invited Nagisa to talk with me, to find if he got some answers to why he placed back on this planet. He came in a white shirt, long black coat and trousers and white trainers. I wasn't taken back this latest change in fashion, let's face it, he was more human than Rei, so to speak.
"So Kaworu how are you finding the Lilim world?" I began with my first question.
The 17th shrugged at me. "Well, it's not exactly the same before I left" he replied.
That was true. Most of Japan's landscape was now covered in as barren land. I was surprised to find out myself that some of Japan's buildings remained standing. I guess it had to do with something how sturdy they were built. Japan always had sudden earthquakes that the buildings had to be built to last. But I never imagined them to survive a blast from Third Impact.
"But I guess its good to be back in the Lilim world. Its better than mine" he continued.
I looked puzzled at him as he said that. 'His world?' I will have to question that later. "Is everything at your satisfying needs?" I threw another question at him.
His face seem to drop a little, "Well, being stuck underground isn't exactly what I thought I would be doing in my new freedom"
"I'm sorry that it like that. But we need to make sure people above could accept you for what you are first"
"I understand but the only one's who know for who I am, are you, Kozo, Rei, members of NERV and Shinji" he replied sighing.
Then a thought came into my head. Shinji and Kaworu got along quite well, in fact Kaworu was the only person who helped Shinji during that time when he discovered the horrible truth about NERV dark secrets.
"Gendo?" the 17th snapped me from my brilliant thinking.
I had a plan, a cunning plan.
--
At the end of the day me and Fuyutsuki went about our business about discussing the situation with NERV and our 'favourite' personnel.
"Dr. Akagi wants to be a doctor" began Fuyutsuki.
I blinked at him in confusion.
"She wants to be a normal doctor. Such as help patients heal their injured legs in civilian life" he explained his previous remark.
"Well her mother actually wanted her to do that before she decided to join GERIN. I'm happy she decided to do that" I said flipping over a page on a document.
"Yes" replied Fuyutsuki simply.
I then started to discuss my plan with the old teacher. "I believe that I should met her"
He almost fell from his chair in shock to what I said. Another priceless look I got from him. "You serious Ikari? She'll fucking kill you!"
"That is fate to decide" I said shrugging his comment off.
"Fate will get you killed you idiot! You have to be nuts, to go through with that!"
"Then I'm crazy. Also I decided that the 17th should live up at the surface now" I threw another part of the plan at him. His face grew more concerned and shocked. "And I think Rei should live with Akagi in the base"
"You haven't been drinking again have you Ikari?" asked the worried professor.
"Of course I haven't. But I believe this is the best path to chose" I said. Looking at him made me feel he wasn't so sure with it. "Come on Fuyutsuki, if we can get Akagi to accept I'm alive again, and for her to get over Rei. Then we made the first push for them to have a different life"
"I going to check from now on if your hiding bottles in your drawer" said Fuyutsuki, obviously he got the picture now I was serious. "What about the 17th-"
"Kaworu will start a new life up top and keeps his original job in NERV" I answered for him.
"You're calling him by his first name?" Fuyutsuki asked smiling.
"Yes. Why are you asking?"
"Then call me by my first name you fool" he requested in a strange way of asking.
"Fine Kozo"
--
Today was the day I met Akagi for the first time since resurrection. I didn't know how this would play out, but I bet it wasn't going to be good. To play it safe I had Section 2 watching, armed with drugged darts. It was simple, Fuyutsuki would guide the kind doctor to me and I will discuss the proposal I have for her.
It was time, I heard Kozo heading this way with Akagi. The door opened, at first she wasn't looking in the general direction of myself but once she saw Kozo looking at me, she turned her head. Instantly I saw the rage in her eyes and she charged at me, screaming like a berserk Eva unit. Then a silent pop was heard which the doctor fell to the ground, with a dart in her neck.
Take two. The fake blonde doctor woke up woozy from the dart but it seemed she snapped back to what happened before being knocked out. She went for me again but found herself handcuffed to a pipe.
"Gendo! You wished you never came back when I get this handcuff off me!" she snarled at me. I laughed inside as I never imagined her to be so, fierce.
"I don't understand why you're so upset Ritsuko. You came back to life didn't you?" I said to her, remembering that day when I put a bullet through her chest.
"After you shot me!" she screamed. Of course I remained calm due to her rambling.
"Well, you wanted to blow us all up remember?" I reminded her.
She stopped, and frowned. "Well we were done for. And that crazy plan of yours had to stop"
"It did, didn't it?" I said which she took into account.
"So what do you want Gendo. I doubt you have any use for a washed up doctor, who wanted to find out why her mother fell in love with you" she wanted to get to the point to why she was brought to me. And boy, was she in for a surprise.
"In fact Ritsuko, that's where you're wrong" that caught her attention. "I want you to look after someone" I then gestured for Rei to come out of the shadows which Ritsuko's eyes widen.
"You can't be serious Gendo" she said in shock.
"Oh I am. I have decided to place you as Rei's guardian. To teach her to be human, and normal if that fits you better" I explained to her.
"I need a smoke" the doctor muttered.
"You really want to be doing that? I doubt you'll be that stressed partaking your new job, over your old one"
"You have no idea what I'll be like with her around" she muttered, but I could hear.
"If you take this up. I'll move you to one of the luxury rooms in the base, until we have an apartment ready for you. You'll get paid extra and you can teach her anything that isn't going to mess her up. So..." I prepared the ultimate question. "Will you take the job?"
I guess a long silence loomed in the dark room until the young Akagi spoke up. "Fine"
"Good. But you cannot discuss of keeping Rei with anyone until the time is right, understand?"
"Yeah, yeah. But I want something from this" she said.
"That being?"
"Get me out of these cuffs, and let me hit you. For old times sake?"
That I couldn't hold the laughter. "Okay fine. Its a deal"
The Section 2 agent removed the cuffs as she requested and made her way to me. She was within striking distance now, but she waited for a while, before slapping me. It was hard, but I had felt much harder than that. I guess she held back for some reason that was abysmal to me.
She turned and started to leave. "Come on Rei" she called out.
Rei looked between me and Ritsuko for a bit before she headed off with the doctor. "Oh and Ritsuko one more thing" I called out which she turned her head a little to me. "Don't mention we met at all. I'm just a shadow"
Ritsuko smiled. "You always were though" she said as she left.
Kozo then walked up to me. "Well to be truly honest, I thought that was going to be a lot worse" he said.
"So did I" I replied rubbing where she struck me.
"How do you know that she'll not kill Rei?" Kozo asked me.
"Because of one simple fact. She doesn't want to be like her mother. She wants to be better than her" I explained.
"I guess you can read people better than I thought" he replied tapping me on the shoulder.
"Not really. I can't read the patterns of my very own son" I replied. True, I never thought about Shinji as much as I hoped to. But that was for another day. "Come on. Let's drink that bottle of whisky in that drawer" I said smiling as I walked off.
"You mean you actually have one in your drawer?!"
--
That night, I had a dream. It was a strange one. It was about her, it was about Yui. I was standing where we used to take Shinji when we had time off work from that underground complex. It was the view of the lakes outside Tokyo 3, the one under that huge tree. It was also the place that Kozo went with her when I was too busy. I looked around to see Yui leaning herself against the tree, with a small smile on her face.
I walked towards her, my breathing was irregular as I felt nervous. Why I was in front of my own wife was unexplainable but I wanted to hold her again. But then again, last time I tried my hand straight through her.
"Hello again Gendo" she said softly to me. Damn that voice, I missed that a lot.
"Yui, why am I here? Is there something wrong?" I asked unsure why I was brought here.
"Something along the lines. Gendo, do you remember what I asked for you when you return to earth?" Her expression changed to disappointment. I knew remember what she asked.. It was about Shinji. I haven't helped him or even tried to see how well he was.
"Yes, I remember" I replied to the ghostly figure of my wife.
"Then what's stopping you?" she asked.
I walked to the stone wall that presented the view of the crystal lakes. The sun was bright and it gleamed on the water's surface. I really missed this, it was beautiful. Back then the part of me wanted to protect this as much as possible, but the other knew that this was going to be destroyed.
"I guess, I'm afraid of my own son. He is so mentally messed up that something could make him snap any time" I explained but knowing Yui, she would say I was silly and I should ignore the type of thought.
"Gendo, you know then that you need to do. Ignore those thoughts and help him, he's your son" she said top me as she floated next to me.
"...Alright"
I looked at her now which she smiled slightly at me. "Just keep watch over him for me okay? He needs your help, either if he wants it or not. Can you do that for me, please?"
I hated it when she used that tone on me. It was soft and pleading. "Alright" I replied to her.
She then wrapped her phantom arms me, they went through a little but that didn't matter. At least she wanted to hold me.
Then I woke up in my room, it was early still. The moon was still in the cold sky. I looked at the digital clock next to me. I sighed heavily as it was 2:56am. I closed my eyes again, saying to myself that I will help my son. My Shinji.
--
It was a couple of weeks past the day when Shinji was accidentally shot by his guardian and had the Blood Pact with Nagisa. The relationship between him and Soryu had deteriorated badly as she was taken in 'Heaven' I suppose and tortured and raped by the Angels. I was in disbelief but not as much as when I heard that Lilith was planning on making a comeback against us. I thought the Angels were finished but that wasn't the case anymore, we would have to fight them again. Also to add to the drama I came from the shadows with the Major and everyone else believing I hadn't returned, to find out that wasn't true.
Whilst in LCL chamber, I looked at the sleeping form of Kaworu Nagisa. I had to find out how to revive the Angel. He was another hope in our fight against his brothers and sisters. During my thoughts Kozo came to me. He said Shinji was in hospital, maybe because of the pact. My heart sank, the promise I made to Yui, to look after him. I was not to fail. I insisted to see him despite the old man's rants saying it 'wasn't a good idea'. But after a little convincing we went. I met doctor Akagi and said to her to see my son. She agreed that I can tell she'd was a little shocked by. I then sat next to my son, his sleeping form was a slow painful reminder on the terrible things I had done to him.
When I left him as an infant, then not talking to him for ten years then called him to Tokyo 3 to pilot Eva Unit 01. We hadn't talked throughout that time then and the orders I gave him, to attack Unit 04 when it was possessed with the Four Child inside it still. I really guess he suffered a lot, like myself. Huh, I do believe the phrase 'Like Father, like Son' plays well into this.
Shinji stirred and looked at me, and said something I expected him to say. "Father...why are you here?"
I was a little taken back by his words, it sounded like he knew I was already back, that was something to the report that stated that Shinji had seen all the scene's behind the curtain I had made to his eyes. I thought about my words. I didn't want to be the same to him as I was before. I faintly smiled and said, "To...see you my son"
"You have...a lot of work to do...don't you?" came his weary question to me. Of course there was a lot of work to be done. But now I placed my son before that. I must keep that promise to Yui and be a proper father.
Shinji then said he felt different, that was quite true. I went to get the mirror from the bathroom, I ripped it off the wall and showed him. He was as to be expected, shocked at this 'new' him. I couldn't blame him, changing your appearance whilst sleeping wasn't exactly good news to wake up to. He was gaining the characteristics like Kaworu and Rei, lighter skin and hair, and his eyes seen to go to a purplish color, soon to red. He also explained his shoulders hurt, I didn't have the answer to that but hopefully when Kaworu woke up we'd find out.
Then for sudden Shinji fell back, most likely blanked out. I called his name and for help, after a short while he shot back up and screaming no. He then insisted that he'd get to school, and explained something was wrong, saying that he's going to kill, a child different from the others. I instantly knew it was an Angel, we needed a VTOL, fast.
We soon got there after me, Shinji and Kozo rushed towards it. It was strange, Shinji for some reason was moving faster than us, it must have something to do with the Blood Pact. As we got to the school, I noticed a girl fighting someone her age in a gray raincoat. I noticed the blue hair had to be Rei, she stood no chance against the Angel. But what shocked me the most was Shinji, he jumped out of the VTOL and kicked the Angel, which he smacked into a wall. Increadible power. That also must have something to do with the Blood Pact, I then concluded that Shinji was becoming an Angel himself.
Me and Kozo watched from a distance and saw him win, despite thw wounds he received he made it. I couldn't believe it myself but I saw it with my own eyes. We took him back to the hospital due to his injuries as well as the others and soon he was up again. It was then his request that he saw Kaworu's body. We allowed it and he muttered about holding onto Kaworu's soul. I was unsure but that answered by the 17th's AT Field rising causing the chamber's glass to shatter as Kaworu awakened. We now had three Angels on our side, but would that be enough?
--
After a few more months, Kaworu had lost his Lilim love. Then he grew a strong bond with Rei, soon to be in a relationship with her. Something even I never expected to happen. With that they both defeated the next Angel, Ireul.
I had reviewed over everything about Rei during my time. She shared DNA with Yui, and she was great with Shinji, not in love kind of way. So I decided to adopt Rei into the Ikari family. That day I called relations and orgainised it. Soon with this I went to Shinji with it and presented him the proof, the reaction I got was more than thought. He was overjoyed.
That night after a hard day, I went to bed to find myself not alone that night when I slept. I dreamt of her again, and this time, a saw that beautiful smile she had. That smile made me weak but happy, I wished her to be with me again. But that wasn't going to happen, she chose that path and I chosen mine. I had to protect humanity and help raise my son, as per my promise and duty as the rightful father of Shinji Ikari. I, Gendo Ikari, will protect this world, even with my own life if needs be. That was another promise I made with Yui, and no way in the world will I break it!
A/N: Something different. Gendo's thoughts as well as filling in the blanks on some of the other characters, such as Ristuko for instance. Next one will be Rei's, hope you enjoyed it and can't wait to see those reviews!