Nothing Will Ever Change That
Disclaimer- I do not own any of the NGE characters or the NGE story-line, I do however own the characters I introduce to the story.
Chapter 36: What Happened?
"Asuka, wake up," I woke her in a very sharp tone. She lugged out of bed, obviously an affect of a hangover.
"Huh? Oh… sorry…" she was still slightly slurring her words. I could tell she was feeling her beer from last night.
"Its three already. I tried to wake you, but I just gave up after the tenth time. Sleep well?" I knew she could hear exactly how I felt. Asuka just moaned and went to take a shower. I finished making the instant noodles I was heating up, and waited. She was in the shower for awhile now, about twenty minutes. Even though a she did take her time, she has never taken this long. I waited ten more minutes, while eating my noodles, and I knocked on the door. "Asuka, come on," no reply, "fine, I'm coming in. cover up if you're out." I walk in to see the curtain closed, and the bathroom steamed so thickly, it looked like a swamp fog. "Asuka?" I see her clothes on the counter-top. "Come on Asuka, this isn't funny," the only thing I could hear was the constant beating of the water. "Asuka? Are you okay? If you don't answer, I will open the curtain! Come on!" now I was worried. I swing open the curtain to see her on the laying in the bath tub, eyes closed, and body cherry-red. She was obviously naked, but it didn't affect me much, knowing that I needed to help her. "Ah crap! Asuka!" I reach for the knob to turn off the water. As I do, some water splashes on me… it's hot as hell! I pick her up as fast as I can and put her on the bed. Her skin is even hot enough to leave red marks on my arms. I call Dr. Akagi through the intercom and she comes running.
"What happened to Asuka!" she runs over and covers her up with the blanket, "Shinji, what happened?"
"I don't know! She was in the shower for awhile so I called her, but she didn't answer, so I went in and saw this!" my heart was pounding so hard, I could hear it. Ritsuko gets her cell phone and calls for a stretcher.
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NERV Hospital
"Shinji, we know you know what happened. Tell us. We found a trace of alcohol on her breath. I will NOT hesitate to call security if you don't tell us the truth," what did she think I did?
"Rits', you know me! What would I do? What COULD I do? You know damn well Asuka could out power me. Are you implying that I did this? If you want to know what happened, ask Misato!" I point at Misato, now wide-eyed, "Misato was the one that pushed the beer on ALL of us! She saw Asuka getting drunk and just sat back!"
"I… I… didn't…" I knew Misato would deny it.
"Misato! Is this true? Did you push drugs on kids? Did you push drugs on PILOTS!" Misato just bowed her head and nodded. "Well I'll have you know that Asuka has burns on ALL of her body! The least damaged is her back, but it has first degree burns!" was she that bad?
"Ritsuko, can I see her? Is she even awake?" Ritsuko just points to a room across the hall, all the while staring at Misato with a glare from hell. I walk in to see Asuka, red at the face and neck.
"Asuka?" she looks over at me and breaks a faint smile.
"Hey… Akagi told me. Thanks," she looks back out the window and just stares. I take a seat I the chair next to her.
"Asuka, I know that this is a bad time, but you have to tell me. What happened to you?"
"I was taking a shower and fell, then I…" I cut her off.
"Not that. I know why it happened; it was because you got drunk last night. What I want to know is why you feel compelled to prove yourself, even to people you don't like. Why?" this caught her off guard.
"Like I said before, there are some things you don't want to know about me," I wasn't going to take that as an answer. I shoot up out of the chair.
"Bullshit Asuka! You know damn well that it doesn't matter to me what has happened to you! So yes, I DO want to know! Why do you care? Why do you try to impress? Tell me, or I won't leave!" she stared at me with wide eyes, then smiles.
"You really want to know? Fine. Take a seat, Mr. Ikari," I take a seat as I was told, "I grew up in Germany, as you know. While there, I lived my whole life without my father, only my mother was there for me. Soon enough, the stress of being a single parent got to her mind. At first, it just started with a few anti-depressant pills, but then it got more serious. She was soon put into an asylum for – quote – severe mental stress. I went to live in a foster home, where – a few days later – I was picked up from NERV. I would visit my mother every week, still being very dependant on her. I was only seven. It went on like this for awhile, about a year I would say, and one day, I was running to her room. I open the door to see her hanging from the ceiling with a doll with red hair next to her, also hanging. The guards said that she saw the doll as me, always talking to it. I was obviously upset by this, but a few days later, I over-hear a few NERV employees talking. 'Now that she doesn't have a family, it doesn't matter if she dies in battle.' I would later find out that my mother was also an Eva pilot. I took this to heart. From that point on, I made myself two promises; to never let anyone love me or for me to love back, and to prove that I AM worth the time NERV spent training with me. When I finally got used to this fact, about seven years later, I was thrown into this hell-hole called Japan. That's about it. You broke one of my promises, so now answer one question for me; why the fuck do you care? Cause' I sure as hell don't." I had no idea she went through all of that.
"Asuka…" was all I could mutter.
"Just forget it. Leave… now." I walk out of the room, almost in tears. Misato and Ritsuko were gone. I slowly walk back to our room. When I was in there – trying to avoid my own thoughts – I clean the room. I fold and put away her clothes that were still on the counter. When I had nothing else to do, I just laid down on my bed, staring at the ceiling. After a few minutes, I realized I couldn't just wait for her. I walk back to her room to see her sleeping. I take the chair next to her like last time and fall asleep myself.
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Same Place – 7:00
"I'm fine, just leave me alone! I don't need your help!" I woke up to Asuka struggling with Ritsuko. The doctor had a bowl of this clear liquid.
"I will do this, by force if I have to! Bring it in here!" I see a stretcher with leather straps on it being rolled in by a guy, he soon left. "Shinji, help me lift her up!" I just stand there. "Shinji!"
"What are you trying to do to her?"
"We need to put on her medicine for her burns," she holds out the bowl.
"Then what's all the fuss about? And why do you have that?" I point to the stretcher.
"This will speed up her healing, but it hurts like hell. It's to restrain her. You don't have a choice Asuka, it's a direct order from Gendo!"
"I said no! Your not putting that crap on me!" Ritsuko grabs her arm, and Asuka yells, "Ah! What the hell?" Akagi quickly let go to reveal Asuka's arm throbbing in pain.
"Fine, if you won't help, I'll call for it," she does so and two large men come walking in. they prove to be too much for her, they slam Asuka on the stretcher, and apply the straps.
"Shinji, you might want to leave," I'm trying to get to her, but I can't due to one of the guys holding me. "Take him out!" they carry me out of the room, and slam the door. I try to get back in, but it was locked. I suddenly hear Asuka screaming.
"Let me in! Come on! Open the door!" she is still screaming and cursing at them. Not being able to do anything, I just slide down the back of the door and onto the ground. I started to cry, hearing her like that.
"She'll be fine, Come on, there's nothing you can do." I look up to see Misato holding out her hand. I deny the offer.
"This is all your fault. Asuka is in there suffering and you act like it's nothing!" get up to look at her in the eyes, "first, you drive us both insane, then you hold us up at gun point, causing me to kill my own child, then you embarrass the hell out of both of us intently, and then you get Asuka drunk, causing this!" I point to the door where Asuka was still screaming, "How the HELL do justify this? Look, just stay out of our lives! All you do is cause pain for both of us! Do you hear her! God, I never thought you of all people would act like this! Weren't you the one that said you saw me and Asuka as your children? What parent treats there child like this? Not even Gendo is this bad!" she just stares at me, "That's what I thought, that's your answer for everything. Just go home and get wasted like always, it's all you're good for!" I see a few tears form in the corners of her eyes, "No! Not this time! You are not going to make me feel bad about this!" I start to walk away.
"Shin… ji…" she said between breaths.
"WHAT! What the hell do you want!"
"I'm… sorry…" forget it; I'm so sick of her.
"Whatever."
A/N- I didn't mean for Shinji to get that mad, I got a little carried away! How will Shinji deal with his new discoveries? Will Asuka and Shinji's relationship suffer? Find out in the next chapter; My Limits, until then, keep on keepin' on!
A/A/N- I need some of your help, I feel like Asuka is getting out of character (OOC), do you feel this way if so, tell me what I can do to change it. Thanks in advance.