Answers:
ANON: Sarcastic Shinji is Fun Shinji
Elemental: I completly agree, I love Mari.
Fanus: Sorry! Kaworu's creepyness is what makes him so fun!


Disclaimer: See Prologue
Chapter 27: Recovery


After his clever plan to reunite Rei, Shinji discreetly saw her back to her apartment and returned to NERV's holding cells, going to sleep there and acting like nothing ever happened. Several bewildered Section 2 agents found him there. Why would anybody bust out of jail and just walk back into their cell? He woke up and greeted them before willingly going with them.

Shinji was seated in NERV's assembly room for the second day, arriving before his father. When the stern man finally arrived, the news Shinji received was shocking.

"Shinji Ikari, your charges have been dropped due to mistrial via terrorist attack. Yesterday, explosive charges were set in NERV's research sublevels, destroying equipment necessary for research into the Evangelion Autopilot. The suspect has been identified and is in custody."

Shinji feigned ignorance. "That's certainly a relief for me, father, but how does somebody break into NERV? Aren't we like the most secure facility on the planet?"

"Internal Sabotage, Shinji. Now, please excuse yourself so the suspect can be brought in."

"...Okay...This last week has been nothing but weirdness..." He left the room and several guards brought Ritsuko in. She doctored the video recordings in the room to wipe Shinji and Rei's appearances from the video and only showed herself.

"Ritsuko Akagi. I'm going to ask simply. Why did you destroy the dummy system?"

She looked up to him, disgusted. "I had a realization, Gendo. Rei Ayanami is a human, teenage, girl. Nobody in their lives at this pathetic place has ever treated her like that. You only pretended to, and you know it! So what if she wasn't squeezed out in a hospital?! She can still feel. She can still hurt."

"She was our key to success. You have destroyed that."

"You destroyed it, Gendo. You did. Every time you treated those below you like disposable tools, every time you treated those close to you like disposable toys. You only used me to contain your suppressed ache for your dead wife. Every time a hint of passion would appear in you, you used me to pluck it out, always leaving the room afterwards and refusing to include me, satisfy me, or even acknowledge me. It really was a clever way to keep up your cold, professional appearance, and not look or act...human. At the time, it was enough, but then I saw that I wasn't the only person you treated that way.

Rei has a chance to feel human happiness, now. With the death of her replacements, she's just as fragile and valuable as you are. You wouldn't dare take that away from her, now. Do you know why she loves your son? He treats her with simple kindness and concern. Something I never did for her, and something you conditioned her to be blind to. Shinji changed her, and he changed me, too. Do whatever you want with me. You've already lost."

"You're going to spend the rest of your career in a cell, one that you don't have the power to break out of."

"I've been a prisoner my entire life. I welcome it."


"DAMMIT WHERE IS SHE!?"

"Ma'am, she's escaped psychological treatment. We don't know how or when."

= Dammit, where would Asuka go if she wanted to run away...! = "Send agents to my apartment, her high school, Unit-02's cage, and the Horaki family's household."

"The Horaki apartment was destoryed, Colonel."

"What!?"

"It was in Unit-00's blast. The father and two daughters made it to their shelter. The third was here with a guest pass to visit a...Mr. Suzuhara."

"...Check the building and look over Captain Soryu's profile. Send agents anywhere she's likely to go."

"Yes, Ma'am."


= I spend more time over here than I do at home...I wonder how Misato would react if I told her I should just move in; I bet it'd freak her and Asuka out really bad! = He knocked on the dilapidated apartment door to no answer. He slowly opened it and walked in to the darkened room; Rei was still asleep, this time actually looking like a person in bed. = God she's cute when she sleeps... = He sat beside her and slowly stroked her hair until she stirred and her eyes fluttered open.

"...Go away...I still feel weak...Yesterday didn't do me any favors..."

"Rei...you're sounding like a...teenager?" He was in awe. Maybe a couple of days in his head did work out for her.

"Not...funny, Shinji...What are you doing here?"

"Is that any way to talk to somebody that just got out of prison?"

"What happened?"

"It's not good. Ritsuko took the fall for us...I can't believe she did it."

"...I can. You changed her, Shinji, like you changed me. You showed her real humanity. Perhaps she has a plan? She isn't stupid." She moved and rested her head on his lap, rustling her blanket enough to show Shinji her lack of outerwear. He forced his eyes away from her bra and well-developed bust.

= NO! Not while her head's there! Think about disgusting things! School! Our Teacher! The Angels! Ritsuko and my dad! = That last one solved his problem.

"Shinji...You know the truth about me..."

"Yeah, Rei, we've been over this..."

"I am still unsure...A normal person's reaction would be disgust or hatred...Why are you not repulsed by me?"

"Rei, every time I think about you, all I can see are the things my father used you for. I think about my mother, the dummy plugs...the clones...and I blame him. You never had any power to resist your creation or your uses...What kind of person would run away from you for that?"

"Do I remind you of your mother, Shinji?"

"...Umm...not really, now that I think about it...She definitely didn't have your hair or eyes." He smiled down at the blue and red. "And now that I remember her...She's kind of energetic and intense; you're so subtle and reserved...I don't think I could keep up with a person like my mom...or Asuka for that matter.

Besides, it's your fault anyway. If you're so worried, you shouldn't have made me fall head over heels for you." He stated, rather succinctly. Rei started giggling. Shinji's eyes widened. "You're laughing."

"You're funny...

About the Second Angel, Shinji..."

"I don't understand the Angels at all, Rei. I see no reason to care if they used you for one of them."

"They plan to use me to cause-"

"I've seen your thoughts, Rei. You don't plan on letting my father go through with it."

"I fear that I'll be forced to."

"If we fail to stop my father, Rei, my mom won't. She told me that herself." His cell phone rang.

"Misato?...She's where?!...You can probably guess where I'm at...Misato, stop that! I wouldn't do that!...We'll be over there really soon." = Why is she incapable of believing that I respect Rei?! =

"...Rei, Asuka's back in intensive care...They found her at the remains of Hikari's place. Apparently you blew the apartments up. Misato wants everybody at the hospital."

"I am not sure if Soryu would be happy to see me."

"That's why we're going. We need to be there."

"Shinji, if she begins to mistreat you or me-"

"Then we'll leave."

Rei started to get out of bed. Shinji freaked out and clenched his eyes shut, only for Rei to open them with her hands. "Shinji, why do you panic when you see me like this? You didn't act concerned yesterday, and I know from your memory that you think about me in various states of dress and intimacy."

"Yesterday I wasn't thinking about 'us', I was too busy hating my dad. Today...I just respect you and your body too much, whichever one you're using right now."

She stepped back and smiled as his jaw hung slightly open. "I want you to see me, Shinji. My soul has belonged to you, I want to have yours...This way I know you belong to me."

"...Fair enough. Wait what am I thinking?!...Rei we shouldn't."

"Do two people who are in love not-"

"Yes. But not out of jealousy or obligation. Rei, I'm thrilled that you want this, but I'm not getting you pregnant, or doing anything ridiculous, because I love you."

"I'm not capable of having children."

"You aren't?"

"My body is synthetic, Shinji, it is...imperfect. The process left me with conditions such as my hair and eye pigmentation, my history of anemia, and my sterility."

"...Your hair and eyes are the most beautiful things about you. Anemia can be treated with medication and therapy- which you've received. The war has created millions of orphans and babies without mothers. I'm sure we could adopt after we're married or whatever..."

= Wait.

...Ohh, shit! =

Rei's eyes moistened. "With me, Shinji? A life together...A real life?"

= I can either panic and run or keep digging...Her eyes are so beautiful... = "Um...The future's a long way away, Rei...We have plenty of time to plan for whatever happens-" He saw her running...his general direction. = HELP! =

She tackled him to the bed, lips locked. "Rei! We...have to...go...get dressed!" He managed to say between gasps of air.


Mari and Kaworu were looking over Asuka's unconscious form, Kaworu considering his position because of her.

"...I was ordered by the UN to replace the Second Child. I fear for her condition. If she does not recover, Unit-02 will either be taken out of service or permanently placed under your control, Mari."

"I don't like seeing her like this, even if it means getting her job...I wouldn't wish this on anybody. She hasn't eaten since the Fifteenth attacked and she's dehydrated. I guess she was trying to commit suicide via hunger strike...What could possibly drive her to that point?"

"Years of psychological damage and an inferiority complex bigger than Napoleon, Mari." Misato walked into the room. "Her mother killed herself right in front of Asuka's eyes. If I had been able to read this report a little sooner, maybe I could have done something about this...I'll kill whoever decided that this file was too confidential for me. She's one of MY pilots!"

"She has not responded to us, Colonel. Do you wish for us to remain and wait for her?"

"No, we'll be watching her in shifts. Shinji and Rei are due next."

Mari was beaming with excitement. "Puppy and Watergirl are-"

"They're both okay, Mari, they just had to clear their heads after the Fifteenth fought them both."

"I am sure that it was harrowing for them. I'm glad to know they're safe. I'm sure we'll have much to talk about."

Mari raised one eyebrow towards Kaworu and whispered into his ear. "Not this time, Angel Boy. You're all mine." He paled slightly. Sure, he had the makings of a god in him, but Mari was...Mari.

"Misato," Mari said. "Take this, I got a message from Kaji saying he'd be at his garden and he'd like to see you there, later." She gave Misato a briefcase she was carrying. "He said you'd know what to do with that."

Misato looked at the case, stepped out of the room and waited in the hall. = Those two had better not be...oh hell, I don't even care anymore. If Shinji were 17 I'm sure he'd already be saving up for the ring...Rei...God, I wish I knew about her before now...She was a strange girl, sure, but that? I'll never forgive Shinji if he leaves her...she needs him so much...I'm not sure who's going to kill Ritsuko first. =

When the pair arrived, Misato stopped them and squeezed Rei in a hug. "Even if you keep living across town, I want you to know that you're mine, just like Shinji and Asuka are!" Her face turned serious. "Rei, I'm sorry for never finding out about you. I'll do whatever-"

"Nothing is necessary, Colonel. I'm fine, now, and the dummy plugs have failed, completely. All I need to be safe and content is Shinji's company." The boy holding her hand was practically glowing.

"I completely approve, you two. Now, take some stress off Mari and Kaworu. I'm sure they're hungry. I'll be back after going over some defense modifications. Call me and the nurses if anything happens." She left and Shinji and Rei entered the room. Rei looked and saw Kaworu's pale skin, soft face and red eyes. Shinji thought that he...recognized him?

They couldn't think for long because Mari crushed them both in a hug. "Ohmygosh I'msohappy youtwoareokay! Watergirl I haven't seen you since the Fourteenth attacked! Why would you blow yourself up like that!? What would your boyfriend think if you damn near killed yourself?!"

"I'd be...pretty pissed...Mari." He answered, choking in her hold.

"I'm sorry...'Watergirl'?" Rei asked, squeezing out of the hug. Mari answered her by rubbing her cheek all over the crown of Rei's head, illustrating their height difference and Mari's disregard for personal space.

"Your hair! I love it! It's so pretty and blue! It reminds me of the ocean before the Second Impact!"

"You were alive then?"

"I was one year old. My parents died in the flooding in England. Don't feel sorry for me, their sacrifice allowed me to join the UN and fight the Angels!"

Kaworu approached Shinji during the Mari-created chaos. "I'm certain you don't remember me, Shinji Ikari."

"I...know we've met before, somewhere..."

"Not somewhere, somewhen. We knew each other in the distant past. I was glad to receive this commission."

"Why's that?"

"Because it allowed me to thank you for your friendship. You taught me a great deal back then; you could say that I was ignorant of my own humanity."

"...I know someone a lot like that..."

"Yes, and there are times that I envy your closeness. Living in scientific isolation can either harden a person, or weaken them. You see examples of both in this very room."

"You don't come across as weak, and I know that Rei definitely isn't-"

"If Miss Soryu awakens, talk to her. If she emotionally attacks you, press on. You must know her past to save her-" His cryptic wisdom was cut off by Mari grabbing his ear.

"Come on handsome! We're getting dinner, these two can take care of themselves...Not like that!" She literally dragged Kaworu along.

As the two made themselves scarce, Shinji sat down, very close to Rei, in the guest chairs. She molded into his side and pulled one of his arms around her.

"I guess you're still tired, right?"

"In one word? Yes. We can cuddle later, Shinji, just keep me warm and let me sleep. You can watch for Soryu, can't you?"

"Of course I can. If there's anybody that needs this time off, it's you, Rei." He watched as she drifted off. = Yes. She's cute when she sleeps. = He held her closer and waited.


"To what do I owe the pleasure, Commander?" Ritsuko asked from her cell.

"You are the most fortunate woman to ever live. You're getting an assignment. SEELE somehow knows that the First Child is still alive; they are demanding an interview with her. You are to go in her stead. While they are confusedly interrogating you, you will learn what they know of the dummy system and how they know about Rei. Bring us back a definitive report and you might not be put back in this room."

"...I'm sure SEELE is going to recognize my 14 year old body and blue hair."

"Hence the word 'confusedly'."


Mama! I got it! I get to pilot the Eva! It's gonna be so cool!

Mama? Are you home? Do you think daddy already heard? Maybe we can get him to visit!

Mama? Where are you?

Asuka opened the door to her mother's room. Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu hung from a rope, one of Asuka's ragdolls, her name stitched to the front, was dangling beside her.

MAMA! NO! MAMA! Don't leave me!


"MAMA!" Asuka shot up in the bed to see a startled Idiot and Wondergirl looking at her.

"What...what are you two doing in here!?"

"We wanted to be here when you woke up, Asuka." Shinji answered.

"I don't want to see either of you."

"We are here to watch over you, Pilot Soryu." Rei stated.

"Don't call me 'Pilot'. You're just doing it to mock me, now!"

"Why would I mock you?"

"Because you win! You're the best! You have the friends, the power, you've got everything!"

"I am no longer a pilot, either, then."

"What?!"

"Unit-00 was destroyed."

"Then you-"

"I survived."

"You still have him."

"Asuka, why are you so jealous of Rei?"

"Because you never gave me a chance!"

"You never acted like you wanted one."

"I've been degrading myself ever since we met just to get your attention!"

"And you could've had it, if you hadn't physically and verbally abused me. I refused to defend myself from your taunts and attacks because I don't see them as worth the effort of a fight. I could, however, choose to ignore you."

"Ever heard of 'hard to get'? Competition?"

"Only an idiot would need his lack of self-worth validated by an abusive partner, Asuka. Rei and I are together because we make each other into better people by spending time together."

"She's a doll!"

"You're right." Rei stated, entering the conversation.

"What!? Hey Idiot, this is the part where you defend your emotionless girlfriend!"

"Rei can defend herself, believe me." He answered, thinking of the times she'd killed him in training.

"What's she going to do, analyze me?"

"Yes." Rei answered. "Why do you let your anger and hate control you?"

"Because I can't stand people who stick their noses into other people's business!"

"Is it your business how I express myself?"

"That's just it! You don't express yourself!"

"If that were true, I'm certain Shinji wouldn't be attracted to me."

"Sure he would! He's a sleazy pervert and you're easy!"

"Why is Shinji a 'sleazy pervert'?"

"All nerdy, scrawny boys are! Because they can't get a real girlfriend, they have to act out their sick fantasies on their own!"

"Based on the discussions we've had, Shinji's 'fantasies' were rather uninteresting."

"Rei, the term is 'vanilla'!" Shinji whispered to her.

"Oh! So he's a boring boyfriend, that's even better!"

"I am not 'easy', as you stated. I am involved in an uplifting physical and personal relationship. Does the fact that you desire a 'boyfriend' with fantasies that aren't 'boring' make you a 'sleazy pervert', Soryu?"

"No! I'm-"

"Losing the argument." Shinji smirked, offering his commentary.

"Shut up Third!"

"Tell me, Soryu, why do you only act on negative emotion?"

"Who are you to ask that?! You don't even have emotions!"

"You are correct."

"What? You won't even defend yourself from that one?"

"There is no need to. The open expression of emotion was conditioned away from me. I envy your readiness to express yourself, Soryu. Your emotions are part of what makes you who you are. I don't have that trait; it was stolen from me."

"You can't 'steal' emotions!"

"Yes you can. Did you know that 'The First Child' was an orphan?" Rei half-lied. "Raised by Commander Ikari himself after he abandoned his own son?" Rei took Shinji's hand as he cringed at the memory.

"Shinji is who he is today because he was raised with positive intervention in his father's absence. I am who I am because Commander Ikari conditioned my feelings away from me. 'They would only inhibit my ability to pilot'. He was right, in a way. My negative emotions- and yours, for that matter -weaken our skills. NERV did not teach us that our positive emotions would give us strength at the controls. Unit-00 was at its strongest when I was acting on my desire to protect Shinji-"

"And Unit-01 was strongest when I was trying to protect Rei, Asuka." Shinji cut in. "Unit-02 was at its most powerful when you felt valued. You wanted other people's approval when you piloted. I can't understand why. You have value even if you weren't a pilot."

"No I don't! You can't just try to make me feel better by complimenting me when it's a lie! You don't understand a thing about me-"

"Your mother killed herself to save you." Shinji guessed, acting on his own experience inside Unit-01.

"DON'T YOU DARE ACT LIKE YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MY MOTHER!"

"That's exactly what she did, Asuka."

"SHUT UP!"

"If Yui Ikari or Kyoko Soryu were here, they would explain it to you." Rei cut in.

"I can explain it to her, Rei. Asuka is just too afraid to listen. It's really something to be afraid. It's the human brain's natural response to the unknown. In prehistoric times, being afraid is what protected people from danger. Nowadays it prevents people from being their best. Being afraid might stop a strong, independent girl from standing up for herself when the man who raised her conditioned her to be a doll. Being afraid might prevent a boy from telling a girl that she makes him happy until after he nearly died in a fathomless black space." Rei blushed at that memory, Shinji spilling his heart to her in the hospital.

"Being afraid might also prevent a different girl from hearing the truth." She finished for him.

"Alright! I get it! I'm a coward! I'm pathetic! You two are the great Shinji and Rei-"

"No Asuka, we aren't. We were just as afraid as you were. We forced ourselves to grow past that point. We want you to grow as well."

"Fine then! Educate me! It's not like you'll change anything! I still can't sync with Unit-02!"

"Maybe it's because Unit-02 doesn't like all the anger and hate you exude from inside it."

"Why would a robot-"

"It isn't a robot. It's a living being regulated by a human soul. The Eva Core matches the Pilot for a reason."

"Oh, sure, what is it now, the pilot's mother?" She asked, sarcastically.

"Yes." Shinji conjectured. "Unit-01 contains the Soul of Yui Ikari. Unit-02 contains the Soul of Kyoko Soryu. What was your mother working on before you were selected to pilot, Asuka?"

"She was working on Unit-02's control system. She entered me in the roster for pilot candidates herself."

"Did she ever...maybe...go off to work one day for a 'test pilot' experiment?"

"How did you know she did that?"

"Because my mom did the exact same thing for me. She entered Unit-01 before she 'died' in order to set Unit-01 up to protect me. Your mother did the exact same thing for you."

"You expect me to believe that?!"

"I want you to try. You can get yourself checked and cleared to attempt to reactivate Unit-02. Sync as closely to it as you can and think about your mother. Tell me if anything happens."

"What about Unit-00, Wondergirl?"

"I have a hypothesis about Unit-00, but I cannot say, yet. I am an orphan. I never knew my mother." Rei lied, again. She knew Asuka couldn't handle the truth about her.

"That's certainly convenient, now isn't it-"

"Why do you always act on negative thoughts and feelings?"

"Because my life was SHIT before I was an Eva pilot! It didn't get much better afterwards, either."

"Would you bet that I was the one with the most normal life, Asuka?" Shinij asked. "My dad may be Commander of NERV, but I all but gave up on him when he sent me away. I didn't know he worked for NERV until sometime last year. He and I didn't have a relationship...we still don't. I used to envy Rei for that...it was kind of a rough point when we first met."

"I have since apologized for that event, Shinji."

"All right! All our lives suck! Is that what you're trying to get at?"

"We're trying to become friends, Asuka. We need you to let go of your hate, hating us, hating your mom and dad for leaving you, and hating yourself doesn't make you more powerful. Hate leads to suffering."

"We both wish to become friends, Asuka." Rei answered, addressing her by name.

"Why would you want to become friends with me? All I do is insult you..."

"Because I don't hold on to hate, Asuka. If I did, there are many people who have done much worse than 'insult' me. I don't hate any of them."

"...You have every reason in the world to hate me-"

"No we do not, Asuka; and we do not." Shinji interrupted. Asuka's eyes watered.

"Stop it! Stop this! I don't want-"

Shinji walked up to the hospital bed and hugged her while she was sitting up. She collapsed and cried in his arms.

"I'm Sorry!" She sobbed. "Shinji's the only...person to act...like this to me! I was so...afraid to be vulnerable! To be happy...I hated Wondergirl from...the moment that I saw...you and Shinji being friends-"

Rei walked up and kneeled to Asuka's eye level. "Is that really true? Did Misato and Inspector Kaji not treat you like you wanted them to?"

"They were assigned to take care of me!"

"No, they were priveleged to take care of you. You refused to allow yourself to see that."

"And what do I do about it, then? Do you have the answer for that?"

"Tell them. Thank them. Stop attempting to seduce Inspector Kaji, he has the principles to refuse you, but you degrade yourself by acting like a skank towards him."

"...I do, don't I? I don't really know how to make friends-"

"Neither do I, Shinji barged into my life anyway." = Literally. =

"That didn't happen for me-"

"Shinji and I met several months before the two of us met you, Asuka. That was just time and distance, not some conspiracy to force you to be alone."

"...I know that, I blamed you two anyway. I should-"

"Don't apologize, let's just be friends from here on out."


Ritsuko found herself standing, stark naked, amongst the SEELE Representatives. Well, she was visible, standing under a bright white light at some military location. The representatives? They were all concealed behind bright, color-coded glowing stations that obscured their appearances fom Ritsuko. She knew they could see her, but the glare blocked her vision. This was a mockery of a medical examination. Ritsuko knew that they would have wanted to examine Rei thoroughly, to determine the cause of her survival. In Gendo's ploy to defy SEELE, he also saved Rei's identity.

"And what do you hope to accomplish by mocking us this way?"

"Look, I don't know! Gendo ordered me to come out here. He refused to send the First!"

"Then it would appear that Ikari's treachery is complete. We have nothing to gain by interrogating you. You may be dismissed."

"...Thank you?" Ritsuko practically ran out of the room.

After she left, the representatives began to converse amongst themselves, until Chariman Lorenz finally spoke.

"It would appear that the time has come. Japan has been led to believe that NERV has been betrayed them. Their forces are being assembled as we speak. We only need to eliminate our turncoat and there will be no way for Ikari to predict our attack."

"An agent has already been sent to intercept him, Chairman."


Kaji was watering his melons when he heard rustling behind him. He turned around and spoke to the man who approached him.

"It's about time. Were you really so dumb as to come alone?"

"You are the only target. My employers saw no need to spare the expense." He raised his weapon and a shot rang out.

Misato walked up, carrying Mari's SCAR. "Why did Mari say you need me to save you, Kaji? You can take care of yourself."

"I wanted to show you where my loyalty was. I have too much to live for to let my past mistakes drag me down. Misato, I don't work to earn NERV or SEELE's trust, I did it for yours. I need to call in a few favors from some friends, but I wanted you to have this before I left."

He produced a small box and handed it to her. She opened it to see...A ring with a penguin holding a diamond.


A/N: I want you guys to notice that the only real difference between the 'End of 2.22' scene and this plotline is that I DIDN'T use an idiotic 14 year time skip. How many problems would they have solved if they didn't wait that long to get Shinji out of Unit-01?