"Ikari."Fuyutsuki said as he approached the man in question. "There are matters we must discuss."
Gendo rose a tired eyebrow but acquiesced. "Speak."
"The committee are growing weary of you,you know as much,the delays within the project are lowering their opinion of you to a large extent."Fuyutsuki said.
"We cannot afford to let the project proceed at the pace they expect." Gendo said as he entered his office. "They will not risk disposing off me this late Fuyutsuki, be calm."
"Whether or not they will risk it is irrelevant, they might pawn off the mass production series to the lowest bidder if this goes on." Fuyutsuki said.
"That is not a worry."Gendo said as he sat down and turned on his holographic projector with a click.
"How can it not be a worry Gendo!?"The vice-commander nearly shouted "Don't you realize the foolishness in your own words?"
With a click the holographic projector was quickly showing an image,that of a large white object or rather,creature with very defined features. Fuyutsuki's eyes widened. "That is..."
"The satellite photos from the deal we arranged with Drache's organization. It appears that the mass production series is already under construction."Gendo spoke.
"Outside of our supervision?"Fuyutsuki asked,before realization dawned on him. "No..it couldn't be,could it?"
"It appears so,in the end,it was the council who planned to betray us in the first place." Gendo said." Even so, this is less of an issue than it might appear."
"How can it possibly be,if the full mass production series is completed,we are doomed!"The Vice-commander asked.
"Have some faith professor." Gendo said. " In the end the final hurdle would be difficult to overcome none the less,this simply aids us once it has been passed. The first play is reaching it's final, triumphant act."
"For once while watching a play unfold I hopped it's end would have been more anticlimactic." The older man said with bitter sarcasm.
"This does mean we must accelerate our plans, the Major and her boytoy..."Fuyutsuki nearly choked in his own spit at the 'nickname' Gendo gave Ryoji. "...will have to be integrated within the 'round table',sooner rather than not."
The oldest of the two sighed,his shoulders dropping. "I had hopped that our plans would not have had to change once again."
"It is simply the nature of waging war on many fronts,the only good plan is one that can adapt on the fly." Gendo said. "Onto other matters,i will be leaving the base to you tomorrow."
"It has been another year since that day already.."Fuyutsuki commented.
The soft hum of the ode de joy could be heard through the luxurious halls of a villa in western Germany. And though such music was to his liking Keel Lorenz was getting quite tired of it already,thankfully it did eventually stop,if only for a question to be made.
"Music truly is the greatest achievement of Lilim culture is it not?"Kaworu Nagisa or,better said, Tabris,spoke.
"Do not speak foolish and poisoned words,the greatest achievement of we Lilim is yet to come,the elimination of our primordial sin." Keel said.
"Are you so sure of your own dogma that you will not even accept such a small compliment to your kind?"Kaworu asked. "Well,i suppose it is not my place to intervene,not yet at the very least."
"Your time will come soon enough, last herald, for now your duty is simply to continue hidden,is it not?" The boy in question mused at this question.
"Perhaps,but even I may feel boredom Keel Lorenz."
"Your 'boredom' as you may call it,is none of my concern,i provided you with a piano as per your request did I not? Entertain yourself with it."The man said, a shake of the head from the white haired boy as his response.
"I find it greatly ironic that you would deny me a human pleasure like entertainment when it was you in the first place that made me in your image." Kaworu answered.
"You were made in the image of man for our sake,not yours. Remember that." Keel spoke,his tone threatening and dark.
A vase exploded seemingly from nowhere. "And remember that the chains that bind me are very loose indeed." The Angel answered. You scum. He thought
Keel,for his part,merely scoffed.
You don't realize how far from reality your plans are do you old fool?
"You've reached Ryoji Kaji's phone,i'm currently not avaible,leave a message with your name after the signal, arigato!" Kaji's automated voice answered from the other end.
"HEY HELP ME KAJI. PERVERT,GET OFF ME AGHHHHH!" Asuka screamed before clicking the 'off' button in her phone. "That should do it."
Horaki peeked in. "Hello, is something going on?"
Asuka shook her head. "It's nothing. I wanted to go out tomorrow so I was asking Kaji-san but he hasn't been responding to my calls at all lately."
"Oh,so you're free tomorrow?"The class representative asked with a hopeful tone.
"Unfortunately I am,why?"Asuka asked.
"Well,i was hopping that maybe you could go out on a date." Horaki said,giving the completely wrong impression in the process.
"W-what?! A date?! I don't swing that way,not to say that I thought you liked that idiot Suzuhara!"Asuka said,Hikari laughing as she realized her own mistake.
"Oh,no! Not with me,with a friend of my older sister,he's been dying to meet you and just keeps begging for me to convince you to go on a date with him. I could really use this,i beg you. A-and it's not like that with Suzuhara and I!"
"Hmmm..."Asuka hummed. "Fine! But you better make up for it if he's boring"
"I will,thank you so much!"
Shinji and Kensuke were stuck with bathroom clean up duty,it wasn't as if Shinji was opposed to cleaning,he was quite used to it in fact,but cleaning up the boy's bathrooms? That was hell on earth.
"This really is a bother." Shinji moaned as he started scrubbing a weird substance whose true nature he didn't care to know off the walls.
"Yeah, but you're actually pretty good at cleaning."Kensuke commented as he swiped up a bit of trash.
"It's me who has to clean for everyone's sake around the house, you should have seen how things became the month I wasn't doing so good." Shinji commented.
"Yeah,you're the kind of dependable guy girls like you know?" Kensuke joked.
"As if, the only girls in class who have any interest in me do so because I'm the 'invincible' first child." Shinji said.
"Is that so bad?"Kensuke asked,Shinji shook his head.
"They wouldn't understand,you are my friend and you barely do. My troubles aren't something I want to burden anyone with." Shinji said.
"Asuka would understand,so would Ayanami." His friend said.
"Ayanami is like a sister and Asuka's isn't a possibility." Shinji said.
"Why's that?" Kensuke asked inquisitively.
"Have you met either of us?We're rivals,pretty much enemies. She hates my guts." Shinji said.
"I don't think that's true,it's like Touji says,you guys are like a married couple." Kensuke joked, Shinji shook his head once again.
"Well,there's no point in thinking about things that will never happen" Shinji said.
"You'd be happier if only you could accept your own worth more,you know that buddy?"Kensuke asked.
Easier said than done. You are not burdened with the curse of Eva,Aida Kensuke. And I hope you never will.
"Tomorrow's another wedding,isn't it?" Ritsuko commented as she idly looked at her coffee,her eyes turning toward her friend,who had one leg crossed over the other as she ate some frozen yogurt,a scene that was somewhat nostalgic in fact.
"Yes,and I'm out of dresses to wear,the pink one for Kiyo's wedding,the black one for Dasara's and I'm already out of dresses."
"What about that orange one?"Ritsuko asked. "I haven't seen you use it in a while."
"Well..."Misato said,her spoon stopping as she gave a guilty look at the yogurt she was eating. "There's a reason for that."
"It's become too tight?"Ritsuko joked, Misato looked away with an angered face.
"It's not my fault are our girl talk is in places that sell good pastries!"Misato said. "Anyway,it's not just the dresses that are the problem,it's costing tons of my hard earned Yen just to buy the presents!"
"Yes,it seems like everyone's been getting married lately." Ritsuko said.
"It's because we're getting near our thirties."Misato complained.
"No one wants to be the last one to get married." Ritsuko joked.
"I'm guessing that particular title might end up being ours." Misato joked slightly as she ate another spoonful.
"I wouldn't be so sure,didn't you invite Kaji to the wedding as well?"Ritsuko asked.
"He'll be late as always."Misato said with a sourly pout.
"You'll feel guilty if that's not the case."Ritsuko said in jest.
"That's has less of a probability of happening then my plan against the 11th angel." Misato replied.
"And yet we succeed against it despite all odds,didn't we?" Ritsuko shot back with a sly smile.
Rei and Shinji were both in an elevator within the headquarters,slowly descending into the level at which they lived.
"It's tomorrow."Shinji said.
"Indeed, your mother's death." Rei answered.
"I don't know how to feel...i resent her somewhat,for not acting." He spoke with downcast eyes.
"I do not know how to advise on that matter,i will simply say that you should follow your heart brother." Rei said.
"I suppose I should go,if only to speak to father." Shinji said.
"The commander enjoys your presence,i can tell as much." Rei said.
"Maybe he does,but he's the kind of person who keeps his heart very closed, those glasses of his might as well be walls closing off his emotions."Shinji joked.
"Even so,in my heart. I know it to be true,your father enjoys your presence." She said.
"Thank you, Rei." Shinji smiled.
"Afternoon."Asuka greeted as she sat laying on the ground while reading a book.
"Afternoon Soh- Asuka." He replied. "I heard you were going on a date tomorrow?"
"Yeah,with a hunk. What's it got to do with you?" She asked with a pointed glare.
"Nothing,i would just like to wish you luck."Shinji said.
"That's it?" Asuka asked with a curious raise of the eyebrow.
"Of course, you helped me when I was feeling down so I hope things with this guy go well." Shinji replied,putting down his bag. "I'm happy if you're happy."
Before she could even react to the words spoken to her Shinji had already closed the door to his room,leaning against it with a sad look on his face.
"So...now I'm a liar as well,uh?" He whispered to himself.
A land devoid of anything but death, filled with nothing but graves as far as the eye could see. The inevitable results of attempting to control a god, the mark of second impact on Japan, a field of the dead that could belong to no one else, a symbol of the failure of not just one nation but all of mankind.
Among such a land of death there were few that visited,those that did would often only do so in the anniversary of the death of those who there lay,among them now was Shinji Ikari,eyes downcast at the grave of the one who had given him life.
Ikari Yui
1977-2004
Shinji's fist clenched,whether in anger or frustration not even he could truly tell. His view on his mother,such a paradoxical thing. It was much like his view on his father,in equal parts he resented her and yet he loved her, it frustrated him to no end.
"Shinji." A familiar voice spoke from behind him, Shinji turned to face it,giving a nod as he did.
"Father, you're early." Shinji said,his father giving him a nod in response as he lowered a lone rose at his late wife's grave.
"Fuyutsuki dealt with matters at the base for me,i managed to arrive early." His father said.
"I see." Shinji said,looking back down at his mother's grave. "I can't remember her voice."
"Perhaps that's for the best."Gendo said. "Man lives by forgetting his memories."
Shinji chuckled at that,a dry chuckle devoid of any joy. " Aren't you the one who says there are some things you just cannot forget?"
A nod. "Of course,but in the end such things depend solely on your own self, your mother is no great part of your past,it would not be a surprise if you choose to simply ignore her very existence."
Shinji gave his father a sideways look,sadness clear in his eyes. "I know I should...it would be the best to simply move on after she abandoned us both,but I know I can't ,not as long as so many questions are unanswered."
"Some questions simply do not have answers worth knowing." Gendo said. "Perhaps there was a reason such questions were left unanswered in the first place."
Shinji pondered on it. Perhaps his father was right,perhaps there was a reason he shouldn't know the answers to such questions, his mother's motives had been made clear in her last letter toward him. 'To become the very symbol of human existence, an eternal monument to outlast both the sun and the moon for all of eternity.' She'd known he wouldn't understand, that he wouldn't accept it, yet she had gone and died all the same.
"I know...but there are also some questions that will haunt you for the rest of your life,especially for me. You say man lives by forgetting his memories but..i can't accept it,i can't live a lie. Not after so many."Shinji said.
"That is because you are stronger man than I."Gendo said.
"I wouldn't say so,I'm just an idiot who can't accept being lied to." Shinji said,a hint of dry humor in his voice. Gendo shook his head.
"As things go you must be more willing to believe in your own worth,in time it will be your strength only that will carry you forward." His father said,Shinji nodding in response.
"I know as much...but it's still hard." Shinji admitted.
"All worthwhile things life are hard,son, it is the sad nature of human existence." Gendo said. "But in a way,one would not be able to appreciate the joys of life as much if it were not for the hardships as well."
"I see...you're right." Shinji said.
The ear-rupturing sound of a VTOL landing nearby could be heard as the massive vehicle came to a stop behind his father. "It's time."
Shinji nodded"Let's go."
Ryoji Kaji, to most people's surprise,was actually on time for once.
"Hello girls,my apologies if I'm late again."He said,his usual half-smile half-smirk plastered onto his face.
"Actually,for once you're not. But of course you didn't shave,don't you see that awful stubble?!"Misato complained before leaning in to correct his tie. "Your tie is crooked as well."
Ritsuko laughed. "You two act like a married couple you know?"
Misato turned away from him with a slight red tint to her cheeks.
"Who would want to marry a guy like this?"Misato said as she crossed her arms
Shinji was once more playing the cello, such a thing not having become so uncommon after the last time he'd played for Asuka. He was getting better, closer to perfection. He knew he couldn't reach it,that he never would,but he still sought it none the less. It brought him comfort.
Once he stopped he could hear soft clapping coming from behind him. "You're getting better first."
Shinji smiled at the sight of his redheaded roommate. "Thank you."
"See,i told you that you're not bad at all,all you did need was a little rusting off."Asuka said.
"I guess you're right."Shinji replied smiling.
"Of course I am,that much is obvious!"
Misato,Kaji and Ritsuko all sat by the bar,a drink in their hands.
"Well,i'm going to the bathroom."Misato said,causing Kaji to look at her.
"Trying to run away from me already Katsuragi?"He asked, his response being the major sticking out her tongue. As she left Kaji took notice of something.
"High-heels, uh?" He asked. "I guess we're no longer kids anymore."
"No,we aren't. Things have changed a lot since then." Ritsuko said.
"But some things do say the same." Kaji commented.
"Like what if you won't mind me asking?"
"Like Katsuragi using alcohol to try and escape her problems." Kaji commented as he took a sip of his drink.
"That's true but,then again. If you take everything into consideration it's a miracle she's still as talkative as she is today." The doctor said.
"Yeah...in those days I suppose we were both just trying to use each-other for our own gain, but I can't say I was unhappy." Kaji admitted. "It's shameful,i know."
"In my eyes at least,staying with someone you love can never be shameful"She said as Misato approached. "Well,i'll be taking my leave. I've got work to do."
"Is that so..."Kaji said as he dwelled on her past words.
"Indeed it is, I'll see you both tomorrow."
You're a tortured soul,aren't you rits?
"Drinking so much you throw up like a kid. How old are you?"Kaji asked with a hint of humor as he carried Misato on his shoulders.
"I know,but I'm not a kid."She said in a sickly tone.
"Neither of us have been for quite a while."Kaji agreed.
"Damn right." She mumbled.
"It's still hard to believe you wear high-heels Katsuragi."He commented. "Time really has flown."
"Your face is rough,you need to shave."
A few more minutes passed.
"I can walk now,thank you."Misato said,Kaji putting her down as they proceeded walked together.
"Kaji,do you think I've changed?"She asked.
"In some ways,you've certainly grown more beautiful." He said.
"I'm sorry I insisted on breaking up with you,when I said I had someone else,you knew it was a lie right?"He shook his head.
"If I had known things would have been simpler."
"It's that I realized,that you were so much like my father." Misato said. "And when I realized I wanted someone like my father...i felt so scared,that what happened to mother would happen again."
Kaji stayed silent.
"But then today,you arrived in time,even thought you normally never did for our dates,i guess I realized that in the end it was my own fault,that I was the one who was afraid,afraid of being with you,of being a woman...I hated my father and I yet I fell in love with someone like him,I choose to break off everything and join NERV only to realize my father had been there as well. Of course at that point I tried to bury my feelings,i tried to bury my feelings by declaring my vengeance against the angels."
They both came to a stop under the soft glow of a light.
"It was your decision Katsuragi,so there's no need to apologize for anything." Kaji said.
"No,that's the issue!"Misato said,her voice nearly breaking down into tears. "It wasn't a choice!It was just an attempt at escaping from reality,escaping from the reality I called my father,I'm no different from him,escaping from those I love because I'm afraid! I'm such a coward I even had to get drunk to tell you all of this."
"That's enough..."he said.
"I'm just a child,a child who couldn't even understand her own feelings and ran away from them!"
"That's enough!"
"I'm a coward who only uses men when I need to and throws them away when I don't." Misato said. "In the past I was just using you to fill a hole in my heart! I'm pathetic!"
"That's enough!Stop it!"Kaji said,his voice rough and worried.
"I'm trash,i can't stand myself!" Misato declared moments before she was pulled into a kiss.
And there they stood,lips locked,as long as they could.
"Hey Shinji...do you want to kiss me?"Asuka asked. The boy in question not having heard her over the sound of the music in his ears. As such he turned off his SDAT and removed his earbuds.
"Did you say something Asuka?"He asked.
"A kiss,have you ever kissed a girl?"She asked,Shinji going red at the question.
"W-what kind of question is that? Of course not!" Shinji said.
"Then let's do it." Shinji blanked,blinking a few times to ensure he wasn't in a dream.
"w-why?"Shinji stammered out,sounding quite a lot like the school boy he really was.
"Because I'm bored."Was her response.
"That's hardly a reason..."Shinji said.
"Are you afraid of kissing a girl on the anniversary of your mom's death?" She said in a mocking tone. Now it was personal.
"As if I'd be scared of a little kiss!"Shinji said,rising up to meet her challenge.
"You brushed your teeth,didn't you?" He nodded,she advanced. "Then here I go."
What weird dream is this,this is a dream right?Asuka didn't just ask me to kiss her in this kind of bizarre situation.
As her lips approached him he froze, years of his life flashed before him and he was pretty sure this was the closest he'd ever been to a girl.
"Stop breathing,it tickles me."She demanded, suddenly putting her fingers in his nose and pushing her lips onto his.
Shinji's heart hammered in his chest, as if it wanted to rip itself off it from sheer force of beating alone. His mind was for once blank. No,not quite blank,it was filled with the thought of how soft Asuka's lips were and of the fact that they were kissing,kissing.
Kissing,yes,that was something that was happening,why was he feeling dizzy?...right Oxygen,humans need that.
Shinji knew he needed to do something,he couldn't let the moment end,he'd rather choke to death but he also needed to breathe. So he did what,in his mind,was the most sensible option. He reached his good arm around Asuka,wrapping it around her as he pushed forward his feet to trip her. These actions caused them both,lips still interlocked,to fall into the safety of the couch,Asuka having instinctual let go off his nose.
Of course he'd forgotten that it would probably also mean she would stop kissing him, suddenly he felt very stupid. But even as their lips parted they were still close,so very close. Two blue eyes gazing at each-other like twin oceans.
"Shinji..."She whispered.
"Asuka..."He did so back.
And,against all of his expectations she leaned in once again,locking her lips to his for a second time. This time felt no less exhilarating than the first but with oxygen in his lungs it did last a lot longer.
As they broke apart, looking each-other in the eyes they stayed,for a few precious moments,utterly still.
"Asuka."He whispered,any masks he might have kept around his heart broken in an instant as he looked at her with nothing but pure affection in his eyes.
"Shinji."She whispered back, once again pushing her lips onto his. This time when they both broke apart there was no sweet whispering of each-other's name,just Asuka snuggling herself into Shinji.
Minutes passed,or perhaps hours,neither kept track.
"First.."She said,still in a whisper.
"Yes..Asuka?"He asked still in disbelief that this was not a dream.
"What...just happened?" She asked.
"I don't know..."He admitted. "..but it was good."
"Yes it was."Asuka said,suddenly at a loss for words and so for once in her life she just spoke the truth. "Can we stay like this..for a bit longer."
"Of course..."
A few minutes passed,but for the both of them it felt more like a second,Shinji's eyes trailed to the clock.
"We have school tomorrow."He commented.
"I don't care." She said,her grip on him tightening.
"We need to move eventually...but maybe we could..share a bed?" Shinji asked,a blush spreading itself across his cheeks.
"We just kissed and you already want me to get me into bed..pervert."She said,a warmth and friendliness to her voice he simply didn't think was possible for her. No,that wasn't quite right,it was that way she'd spoken with him back at the hotel,as well as when he was feeling down.
"Your room or mine?"Shinji asked. "And I'm not a pervert,I'm a perfectly respectable gentleman!"
"Mine is fine."Asuka said. "And that's what a pervert would say." She joked.
They were both laying in bed. Asuka's bed. Shinji reminded himself as his heart jumped with happiness. Yes,they were both laying in Asuka's bed,foreheads lightly touching as they looked into each-other's eyes.
"I'm feeling sleepy."Asuka said,Shinji hummed in agreement.
"So am I."
"Goodnight,Shinji."She said.
"Goodnight,Asuka."
And thus they drifted to peaceful sleep together,for once not assaulted by the dreams and nightmares of old.
"Here we are."Kaji said softly as they reached the door to Misato's apartment,the woman in question now back on his shoulders.
"Don't come in...it's a mess."Misato mumbled drunkenly.
"I lived with you for an year Katsuragi,I'm quite accustomed to your messes."Kaji replied in a joking yet reassuring tone, Misato just gave soft hum of acknowledgment as he opened the door. Giving a soft nostalgic smile at the mess the apartment was in. "Somethings never change indeed."
"I'm sorry"She said.
"No need,in a way it's comforting." Kaji said as he entered into the living room. "Want me to take you to your bedroom?"
"The couch is fine." Misato said. Kaji lowering her into it gently. "I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologize Katsuragi."Kaji said as he lowered himself to be at eye level with her
"I..I'm sorry I left you." She said.
"It's alright." Kaji assured her. "Well,i should be leaving."
"Wait.."Misato said,reaching out to grab the sleeve of his shirt. "I said..that I might give you a second chance,didn't I?"
Kaji shook his head. "That's not the kind of decision you can make while drunk Katsuragi, but if you're still wanting to give it to me while sober...well,i wouldn't be opposed."
"Fine.."She relented,slowly approaching him and placing her lips In his,as they broke apart he had a goofy smile on his face. "I'll give you this for now."
"See you tomorrow Misato." He said.
"Have a good night Ryoji."She replied.
AN:no longer must we wait,the SS Asushin has sailed boys!
And now,for an Omake.
Why are all these from Rei's perspective anyway?
Rei walked into the living room to pick up some cereal,having felt a certain craving for it whilst trying to sleep. As she walked into the living room she was immediately confronted with an odd situation.
Pilots Shoryu and Ikari were kissing...rather passionately at that. They also seemed not have noticed her presence.
Slowly,she inched toward the fridge,took out milk and looked back at her fellow pilots. no..they are still kissing. Rei then prooceded to remove the cereal from it's cupboard and pour it onto a bowl,pouring milk in afterword as was the way it had to be done.
She looked at the two love birds. "...are you really just going to ignore me?"
The answer to her question,by the looks of it, was yes. As they simply continued to kiss while Rei looked onward with a poker-face.
".-."
"This is why i hate humanity"