Chapter 133: Splitting

After finishing their frozen desserts, the four pilots left the shop. Still heading in the direction for their apartments, mild conversation occurred between them. Reaching an intersection, Kaworu pointed out where he was living currently.

"It's two blocks in that direction," he stated looking across the street.

"That is relatively close to where we are. Our apartment complex is about five minutes down this way," Rana stated pointing to the right.

"You all live together?"

"Miss Rana and I live next door to Miss Ayanami," Shinji stated with a blink.

"You live by yourself?" he asked turning toward First Child.

"No. I live with Major Katsuragi. Pilot Souryu is the other resident in the apartment," she stated.

"I see."

"Is there anything else we can do for you Mr. Kaworu?"

"…" the Sixth Child said having a few thoughts swimming in his mind. Resisting them to ask for another day, he gave a friendly smile and shook his head.

"I'm good for today. Thank you for the treat Ikari."

"Welcome," the Third Child said with a small bow. "Until we meet again. Good day."

"See you tomorrow," Rana said a small smile.

"…" Ayanami said giving a small wave to him.

"Yes. See you all tomorrow," he said waving back.

Watching the three go down a different street, he turned around and crossed the street. Reaching the other side, a feeling went through him that took him by surprise.

'…this is what the First Child was supposed to have during the mind merge…' Kaworu thought placing a hand on his chest. Though there was nothing physically wrong with him, an achy feeling came to him. Pinpointing of where it was resonating from, it seemed to be from where the heart was.

'…so…this is what loneliness feels like,' he thought.

Moving his hand off his chest, he looked at it. Seeing nothing different about it, he stopped walking. Glancing back at the three, they were still walking down the sidewalk together. Looking at the twins, the achy feeling in his chest grew a little. An impulse of going to them came.

"…no…" the Sixth Child said out loud and shook his head a little. Looking back forward and walking, he continued to resist the urges that were coming at him.

'I still have more time…unless those old men are desperate…no…I will make more time,' he thought determined. Smiling a little to himself and placing his hands in his pocket, he continued to walk to his apartment.

After departing with Kaworu and walking a bit, Rana became more talkative. Regardless of the small worded answers that both Ayanami and Shinji gave, the female twin continued talk. Her expressions and mannerisms seemed more relaxed as if she was enjoying herself. In looking at the Third Child, he continued to have a stoic face; however, of the times Rana became expressive and using her hands, his expression would soften a little. A mild smile would appear followed by his eyes closing.

"…" Ayanami said.

'…I feel…strange,' she thought blinking and continuing to stare at him. 'Part of me…enjoys what happened. Going to the ice cream shop…having a treat…together…it felt pleasant.'

'Another part of me…cannot relax,' she thought following both Rana and Shinji in front of her. 'An anxiety that won't go away…I cannot state why…nor can I state that Ikari's behavior is cause of concern.'

'…yet…he doesn't seem the same…I do not understand.'

In the SEELE underground facility, alarms were not going off. There were many shouts down the hallways as no red lights were flashing. In a holding cell, Ritsuko was still holding onto the Third Child's back as she shook from what was happening. The background noise of distant shouts and gunfire were heard.

"Dr. Akagi?"

"…" she said flinching but not moving from her position.

"It would be wise to leave this room."

"W-W-Why?"

"Probability of being shot is higher if we remain."

"…won't that thing…kill us first?"

"…" Shinji thought with a blink. "…that is a possibility. Can you stand and walk Dr. Akagi?"

"…" Ritsuko said opening her eyes slowly.

Breathing deeply, she moved her hands to his shoulders. Pulling down on them, she tried to get her feet on the ground. Feeling them not respond well, she stopped pushing down on his shoulders. Hearing him pump the shotgun again made her more alert. Looking at him, he slowly looked behind to stare face to face with her.

"Excuse me Dr. Akagi…someone is at the door," he whispered without blinking at her.

"…!?" she said with an alarmed expression.

Still feeling her legs not responding, he turned around and kneeled in front of her. Moving closer till he was in her personal space, he moved his arms around her to hold the shotgun behind her. In seeing his black-red eyes up close, she could see the faint red veins in the scleras. Each individual one seemed to sway slightly by themselves as if they were alive. Too transfixed on the demonic looking eyes, she failed to hear the cell door open behind her.

"Pardon me Dr. Akagi," Shinji breathed softly with a stoic expression.

Staring at her, the shotgun went off followed by the sound of a pistol firing wildly. By the time another pump of the shotgun sounded, she jumped from hearing it go off again. The sound of two bodies hit the floor behind her followed by one gurgling out in pain.

"…!?" Ritsuko said cringing. Despite hearing someone dying, she did not move from her position. He still hadn't blinked or broke staring at her.

"Would you like help in standing Dr. Akagi?" the Third Child asked quietly. He still had a stoic voice and expression.

"…" she said swallowing. The thought of seeing a true face of a cold-blooded killer came to mind. Based on his actions so far and how he has conducted himself, it made her only apprehensive of him more. Carefully nodding her head slightly, she saw him blink slowly.

"Very well."

Watching him, she heard the shotgun being placed beside them. Feeling him place his hands under her shoulders, she placed hers on his shoulders. Slowly standing to his height with his support, she was able to place her feet on the ground. Trying to move her legs around, they responded weakly. Feeling him push her up more, she tried pushing down with her legs to stand. Able to reach her standing height, he lessened his support of holding her up. Her knees instantly gave where she held hard onto his shoulders. Feeling his hold strengthen, they lowered back to the floor.

"…guess my legs are not there yet."

"Apparently so," he said letting go and turning around. He was in a crouch position.

"…you…are going to carry me?"

"Yes, if you do not mind Dr. Akagi. If this carry position is not acceptable, I can change to another type."

"…" Ritsuko said.

She was about to respond when distant gunfire was heard. Blinking, she slowly climbed onto his back. Placing her head beside his, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Looking down, she saw him reach toward the pistol of one of the headless SEELE agents. Grabbing it, his head slightly turned to her.

"May I ask if you could hold this Dr. Akagi?"

"…" she said reaching and grabbing the gun. "Will I need to use it?"

"If you can Dr. Akagi, I would appreciate it. If not, that is alright," he said.

Feeling his arms wrap under her knees, he stood up without much effort. Surprised, she could feel the contractions of his muscles from carrying her. About to comment, she remembered the time when she visited his home out in the grass fields. Recalling the event, he broke her thoughts.

"Are you comfortable Dr. Akagi?"

"…I'm not heavy…am I?"

"…" Shinji said slowly turning around.

Slowly walking to the door frame, he peered out of the doorway. Ritsuko did the same. There were operatives running down the hallway and going in different directions. However, none of them were heading to where they were. Taking the sight as a cue, the Third Child walked in the opposite direction down the hallway.

"If I recall Dr. Akagi, you are about the same as Miss Misato."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"Directly…no."

"Which is it? Was she heavy?"

"I have carried a corpse in a bed mattress across Neo-Tokyo Dr. Akagi," he stated walking normally. "I believe you were watching…at the time."

"…" Ritsuko said feeling goosebumps flare up her arms and legs. Remembering that day, she could recall how out of sorts she became. Shaking her head a little and thinking about his statement plainly, it answered her question. However, it did not give her any comfort. Deciding to push through the murkiness that she was feeling, she tried to push the subject a little further.

"…I see…since you answered the first question, what about my other question?"

"…you are a little lighter Dr. Akagi," he said still with an impassive tone.

"Really? How so?"

"…" he said blinking slowly.

Seeing the hallway turn to the right, he walked down that way. Hearing a sharp inhale from the scientist, he ignored what was on the ground and kept walking forward. Dead agents were seen near and far with various fatal wounds. Chests ripped open, throats slashed and open, limbs pulled off from their bodies, and numerous head wounds. Walking through the carnage, gore splattered all over the floor and walls.

"Do you still wish me to answer your question Dr. Akagi?"

'…did…did he do all this?' she pondered seeing more than a handful of operatives dead. Strangely, none of them had shotgun wounds.

"Did you do this?"

"Yes."

'I have heard and seen what he can do…so it isn't too surprising…but still,' she thought having mixed feelings from the sight.

Moving toward another hallway, the scent of gore and defecation slowly started to wane. Trying to figure out what was happening so far, it got her thinking about her current position. Though the aspect of being rescued did feel rejuvenating, she was now in a bigger troublesome hole than before.

"Despite who asked you to get me out, what would be the point now?" Ritsuko stated with a small sigh. "Being sent here as an escape goat will not change things. I will be imprisoned if I go back to NERV. If you did not come, then I would have most likely be held her for who knows how long."

"…" Shinji says with a blink and sees a large door up ahead. "I believe the ones close to you will be sad Dr. Akagi. Spending a perceived endless days in a cell…is not pleasant."

"Are you saying you'd be sad if I was locked up in a cell for a long time?" she asked with a smirk on her face. Seeing a door nearby, she reached forward and hit the panel. The door slide open and they went in the room.

"…In a way Dr. Akagi…yes."

"…" she said blinking in surprise as they entered into a storage room area. "…why?"

"I am…not exactly sure on why," he said hearing the door close by itself. Adjusting his hold, he walked deeper into the room.

"Other than being asked to, a part of me wanted to as well…it feels…odd...to be vague."

"…I…see…" she said in response.

Thinking about what he said, it made her remember back when she was feeling desperate after Yui came out of Unit-01. As much as she would like to enjoy his statement, the current situation brought her back. Shaking her head and looking his face profile. Bloodstained and having black-red eyes helped suppress the desperate thoughts. Seeing an elevator up ahead, they went to it. Pressing the call button, he spoke out loud.

"Please point and aim the gun in front of me Dr. Akagi."

"…" Ritsuko said blinking.

Putting both hands on the pistol and pointing forward, he moved to the side. Waiting, the elevator dinged and opened. Hearing him whisper to fire, she pulled the trigger. Just as she did, two Agents came forward right in the line of sight. With the handgun going off, the bullet went through the first one's head and entered the second's. Both fell lifeless to the floor with blood oozing out their bullet wounds.

"Quite impressive Dr. Akagi," Shinji remarked.

Walking forward and over the dead agents, they entered the lift. Pressing the surface button, the doors started to close. The Third Child looked forward stoically while Dr. Akagi held the pistol with shaking hands. Her face looked shocked while looking at the two people she just killed.

In the large empty room, the monoliths had appeared and were waiting for the arrival of their recent captive. About to call and ask what was taking so long for the operatives to retrieve the scientist, there seemed to be a small commotion occurring out in the hallway. It was followed by lights flickering a little until they remained on. About to summon an Agent, the sound of the double sliding doors unlocking occurred.

Of the monoliths that were facing the doors, they saw a lone figure entering. The silhouette walked toward them with bare footsteps getting louder. When the individual passed the circle they made and headed toward the center, they could see that it was the person they were waiting for. And to the NERV Commander's consent, his words seemed to bare weight, power, and control.

[Greetings Dr. Akagi. We were worried that there had been some delay in summoning you] 01 stated facing her directly.

"Not at all…my apologies for the delay."

[Believe us. It is not our attempt to insult by bring you here.]

"I am not insulted," she said. Placing one hand on her hip, she lifted her chin a little. The little action followed by other body movements caused a murmur from the other monoliths.

[Strong-tempered you are. I can see why Commander Ikari keeps you within arm's reach.]

"Was that a compliment?" Ritsuko said with a smirk and narrowing her eyes.

[Given your willingness to follow orders, it is. But let it be clear, it was the Commander's willingness to let this discussion and condition to take place.]

"I see," Ritsuko said giving a small chuckle. "Given that you all have morals and ethics, you have no qualm of subjecting a woman to this state to just have…a "discussion"."

[Rather bold of you to question us given your position]

"From what I am seeing, you all are just stiff to see me. Am I that desirable given my age?" she said smirking a little more. It caused another round of murmurs of the monoliths.

[Not only are you the leading scientist at that NERV branch, but you act as Commander Ikari's play thing.]

"Given the power this committee has given Commander Ikari, I am sure he sees you all the same way."

[…] all said seething a little under their breaths. Seeing that the scientist still had on the same smirk on made others agitated.

[We are getting off topic] 01 stated and caused the room to quiet down. [Dr. Akagi, we have specific questions about what the recent Angel battles. It coincides with a couple of your experiments and developments.]

"…" Ritsuko said. Her expression changed quickly to where she was grinning evilly at them for a second. Blinking, she relaxed her face going back to a small smile.

"Of course…ask away…gentlemen."

Back in the city, the three Eva pilots reached their apartment complex. Going up to their level, they headed toward Misato's apartment. Parting ways in front of the Major's entrance door, Rei watches Shinji and Rana head toward their apartment down the walkway. In viewing them, Rana was still chatty and in high spirits. Looking at him, he had gone back to being stoic again. Tilting her head in confusion, she decided to enter her apartment.

"…I'm home…" she said quietly before closing the door. Going to take her school shoes off, she could detect something different.

'…the tension…it is going away…so that means,' she thought turning her head back to the front door.

"Is that you Rei?" Misato called from inside the apartment.

"…" Ayanami said shaking her head. Taking her shoes off and placing her bag down, she walked down the hallway to get into the living room. Once there, she saw the Major watching TV. She turned her head around and greeted her.

"Hi Rei. How was school?"

"It was…fine to say the least."

"You are a little late coming home," Misato said turning more to face the First child.

"Yes…I had after school cleaning duty."

"That sucks. Was it a lot of cleaning?"

"No…Ikari, Pilot Nagisa, and Rana helped with the cleaning."

"Oh? That would make it a quick cleaning."

"It did…then Ikari…treated us to an ice cream…as thanks for helping," she said giving a small smile remembering the event.

"Really?" Misato said surprised. Seeing the smile on the female pilot's face, it made her smile as well.

"That was nice of him…rather out of the blue for him."

"Yes," Rei said then dropped her smile and blinked. "He was showing expressions as well."

"What? No way!?" she said moving a bit. Leaning on the back rest of the couch, she placed her arms on the top portion of the furniture.

"It was…different."

"I would have paid money to see him smile…was he acting different or strange on the way home?"

"…" Ayanami said thinking about it. "From his normal mannerisms…no. However, his face seemed more at ease and had a tendency to smile. Overall though, his face did not change much."

"…" Misato said still not believing what her ward said. Getting off the couch, she walked around heading toward the entrance hallway.

"Major?"

"I'm curious. I have to see this," she said going toward the front door.

"…" the First Child said blinking and wondering why she was so eager to see him.

Remembering times when she was flirty with him, it convinced her to tag along. At the same time, she felt anxious about going over to the neighboring apartment. Leaving the apartment, both walked over to the twin's place. Knocking on the door, both could hear soft and small stride footsteps coming closer. Thinking it would be Rana as the door unlocked, both saw that it was the Third Child.

"Greetings madams," he said with a bow. Standing up, he had his stoic face on.

"Hi Shinji. Could we intrude in your place for a little bit?" Misato asked with her hands pressed together in front of her chest.

"…" he said with a slow blink. "Very well…please come in."

Opening the door more, he stepped out of the way. Giving a hand gesture to enter, both stepped into the apartment. Closing the door behind him, he led the two to the living room. Once there, Misato and Rei could smell something in the air. Recognizing the aroma of being tea, they heard sounds from the kitchen followed by footsteps. Rana walked into the living room with a tray of tea and turned to toward them.

"…" she said. The pleasant look on her face slowly went to a neutral look. Feeling irritation grow inside of her, she unconsciously held the tray firmer. Blinking and sighing internally, she put on a small smile.

"Hello. If I knew more would be joining us, I would have made more. I will get more cups," she said. Placing the tray on the dining table, she gave a small bow and turned around. Seeing her enter the kitchen again, Misato and Rei heard him speak.

"Please, have a seat and some tea if you wish. I will retrieve more chairs," Shinji said. He turned around and walked to the opposite side of the living room. Taking their seats, Rana came back with two more cups. The Third Child came back with more chairs. Sitting around the table, everyone had a cup of tea.

'…its back…' Ayanami thought looking at her tea then glancing at the male pilot. Watching him take a sip of the tea, his face seemed to be at ease again. However, something was tensing her insides more than she remembered.

"How have things been here?" Misato said deciding to break the ice.

"They have been good," Rana said politely. "What do you think Shinji?"

"Things have been well. How about you Miss Misato?" he said blinking and looking up at her.

'…he does seem…relaxed…that is different,' the Major thought seeing that the First Child was not kidding.

"Pretty much the same I guess…hey," she said leaning forward a little. "Rei told me about you actually took her, Rana, and the new pilot out for ice cream."

"…" he said nodding. "I asked if they would not mind me treating them for helping with the after school cleaning."

"Which one did you take them to?"

"It was the shop five blocks south-west from here."

"…" Misato said looking up and thinking. Snapping her fingers with a smile on her face, she responded.

"I know where that is though I haven't been there for a while. Was it good?"

"I believe everyone enjoyed it one way or another," he said taking a sip of his tea. His statement made all three blink while Rei and Rana looked at the table.

"Rei also said you were making more expressions," the Major said leaning back and putting an arm over the chair. "You rarely do so I didn't believe her at first."

"Yes…I can see how that the sudden change would be unbelievable."

"May I see a couple?"

"…" the Third Child said with a slow blink and looked at the Major. "Is there an expression you would like to see Miss Misato?"

"Hmm," she said thinking about it before answering. "How about something simple…like a smile."

"…" he said. As he stared with a neutral expression, his mouth slowly changed to a calm smile.

"So you can," Misato said smiling at him. "It looks nice on you!"

"…" Shinji said keeping the small smile; however, he did not move or blink.

'…despite just doing a simple request…' Rana thought glancing at the Major with jealously. 'Why does he smile for her after all that she did to him?'

"…" Rei said staring hard at him. Feeling a sensation run through her, it seemed familiar. Thinking if it was jealousy based on Misato getting him to smile, she didn't feel frustrated or emotional. Instead, an icy cold chill went down her spine. It made her think it was something else.

"…heh heh…" the Third Child said giggling a little. It took the three by surprise.

"My apologizes madams," he said holding up a hand still smiling. "Something amusing came to mind…I couldn't help…hee hee hee…myself."

"Alright Shinji. Spill it! What's the joke?" Misato thought smiling more and leaning forward. Rana did the same with a surprised expression. Both enjoyed seeing him act more normal for a change. However, one person was not feeling the same as them.

'…this feels…wrong…' Ayanami thought leaning back away from him a little. 'this can't…be…'

"…you want to…heh heh…hear it?" Shinji stated with a soft chuckle lifting his head back.

"…it's…heh heh…aha haha…" he laughed harder and threw his face forward. The women's eyes widen seeing him smiling innocently as if he was being tickled from everywhere.

"…i…t…s…y…o…u…r…f…a…c…e…s…" he whispered before exploding viciously in front of them.

"Does that answer your questions gentlemen?"

[It does Dr. Akagi. You have given us valuable information. Given how this meeting has been most productive, we will end it now. An Agent will escort you back to your cell. We will see it that you are also escorted back to NERV.]

"…hee hee…escorting gentlemen…such polarizing memories…" Ritsuko said with a downcast head and gave a small laughter.

[Is something the matter Dr. Akagi? Was this too much for you?]

"…too much?…heh heh aha ha…HAHAHAHAHA!" she said busting up laughing and doubling over. Unable to stop, she continued to express mirth sounding more and more vicious.

"Can you imagine the selfishness!? A world of reuniting with a loved one and creating a perfect world in his own image. Is that an act of playing God? Or is that a devil?"

[Why aren't any of the operatives responding?]

"And all of you," Ritsuko said standing up and leaning back a little. Her arms hanged loosely as a wicked grin was on her face.

"…heeeeee…crucified in a belief…thinking in one direction…deciding and forcing a fate on others…sounds…hahahaha…sounds no different from little men playing with their toys."

[You are out of line Dr. Akagi…where are them!?]

"…heh heh heh heh…you want to know where they went," she said standing up straight and looking down at herself. Grabbing both of her breasts, the wicked grin grew more. It ripped the corners of her mouth and continued to make her grin impossibly wide.

"LETMESHOWYOUTHEUTOPIATHEYTRANSENDEDTOO!" she said malicious and evilly.

Pulling her breasts apart, a ripping split down the middle of her body occurred. A powerful explosion of gore and bloodshed flooded the entire large room. The black monoliths instantly became crimson as the splash of gore smacked them brutally. Only uttering a sound of surprise, the last thing the committee saw was a hideous black-red amorphous figure that screamed, laughed, cackled, cried in suffering, and grinned evilly at them. Within a blink, all of the red and the figure shook hypnotically before slowly fading away.

Reaching the top level, the elevator stopped. Seeing the doors slide open, both individuals inside saw what was on the other side. Feeling the person that he was carrying cling to him firmer, goosebumps were seen on her arms.

"Are you feeling alright Dr. Akagi?" Shinji asked with a stoic tone.

"…what…what is going on?" Ritsuko asked quietly.

Staring at what she was in front of her with high apprehension, she blinked. On the other side of the lift doors, there was a wall of blood. As if it was suspended and not flowing into the elevator, the smell of iron was strong. Feeling him adjust a little, she became alarmed.

"Y-You aren't going to walk into that, are you!?"

"…" the Third Child said turning his head toward her. Blinking in surprise, his eyes were back to being his dark magenta color. His black scleras turned back to being white.

"Walk into what Dr. Akagi?"

"…!?" she said firmly holding the pistol in her hands. "That wall of red…don't you see it?"

"Yes."

"…you were going to walk through it anyway?" the scientist asked even quieter.

"Yes…do you object to it?"

"…I…" Ritsuko said moving her face closer to his. "Will I…or we be fine?"

"…" he said blinking slowly. "Unless reinforcements have arrived, then we should be able to escape."

"…alright…g-go ahead…"

"Very well," Shinji said turning back forward.

Instead of walking into the wall of crimson, he turned around. Facing the back wall of the elevator, he walked closer toward it. About to speak in protest, both went through the wall. An overwhelming sensation of oddity and creepiness washed over her. Despite clinging onto him harder, she could not see him. Her sight became blurred as all she could see was grayish metal. Even sound became muted as hearing her own heartbeat was gone.

'…what the…' she pondered seeing her vision slowly become micro.

The sight of the grayish metal started to magnify. The feeling of moving stopped as her sight was slowly focusing more to a point. Like the vision was that of a microscope, she began seeing the surface of a type of metal. Looking like the telescope images of a moon's surface, there were a couple of scratches and divots. Magnification continued further as the focal point started to slowly show the cell structure. Jagged edges came into view until the magnification stopped.

Blinking, the cell structure began to warp on each other. A hypnotic effect began to affect her as the gray cell structure started to bleed into crimson. When her entire sight became a swaying of bending cells of red, she felt something warm behind her eyes and from her sinuses. Closing her eyes and cringing, runny warm liquid came out of her nose and trickle out of her eyes.

'…w…e…l…c…o…m…e…'

'…no…'

'WeLcOmE…wElCoMe'

'…no…stay away…'

'WELCOME-WELCOME!'

'NO!'

'WWWEEELLLLCCC#$%^#$%#$OOOOMMMMEEEEE!' an evil voice shouted in both excitement and pain.