Chapter 108: Finding Commonality
Asuka's outburst surprised the female twin making her jump a little. Stepping next to Rei and turning around, she saw irritation on the redhead's face. Without waiting for his reply, she pulled his arm and started turning around. Immediately, she felt a hand grabbed her wrist. Turning around with narrow eyes, narrowed crimson eyes stared back.
"Back off Wondergirl."
"Why?"
"I have a bone to pick with him."
"What has he done?"
"Ain't none of your business."
"I will make it my business Pilot Souryu," Ayanami said gripping her wrist firmer. The redhead got into the First Child's face while still holding onto Shinji's wrist.
"If you want a fight Wondergirl, I'll do it after dealing with this idiot first."
"If you explain yourself, then we do not have to fight," Rei said not breaking face or flinching from having the other pilot's face in front of hers.
"I don't have to explain anything to you. Just stay out of my way like an obedient doll you are," the redhead said irritated with a small growl in her voice. It only made the First Child clench her free hand into a fist as her face became annoyed.
"Miss Souryu?" Shinji asked stoically.
"Shut up and be quiet!" the Second Child barked at him.
"I am willing to go with you to what you want to discuss," he said without flinching from her outburst or expression. "Could you please let go of me?"
"I said shut up!" she said then pointed at him with her free hand. "Don't play innocent here, because you are not! Gah! Get your hand off me!"
Letting go and swatting his hand free, Ayanami let go of her grip on the Second Child's wrist. Hikari moved to be on standing next to both Shinji and her friend. Gritting her teeth at the Third Child, his expression did not change as he slowly blinked at her. It made her madder from his indifference.
"You forged the card with Kaji's handwriting and name on it! Didn't you!"
"Yes," he replied feeling nothing from the accusation.
"…?!" Asuka said blinking and feeling caught off guard a little. No words were coming out as if her mind had to revamp to get back to where it was.
"Forged?" Hikari said blinking and turning to him.
"Yes. I reproduced Special Investigator Kaji's handwriting and signature as part of the get well package for Miss Souryu."
"…why…" Asuka said with her head lowered and making her hands into fists. "Why did you do that you jerk!?"
"…" the Third Child said tilting his head a little. "I believe you would not favor a card or present from me Miss Souryu. Is that correct?"
"That does not matter now! You played with my feelings making me believe that Kaji wrote that card."
"In what aspect did I play with your feelings Miss Souryu?" he asked immediately getting his collar gripped by an angry Second Child.
"You've got balls for playing dumb jackass!"
"Miss Souryu…did what I wrote not reflect who Mr. Kaji is?"
"Don't you dare try to say that you know him or how I feel about him. Because you don't!"
"…very well Miss Souryu," he said stoically not even fazed by her hostility.
Hikari felt conflicted of who was the victim. Both Rana and Rei watched attentively waiting for the moment that Asuka would attack him. The aspect that the male pilot would play with her feelings seemed out of character. The female twin had a suspicion that it was the dark clone's doing. It was more of its character and want for something like this to happen.
"That is all you got to say you piece of shit!?"
"…" he said not blinking at her. She got in his face.
"You got three seconds to explain yourself before I beat you up."
"…" Shinji said with a slow blink.
Remembering the visit yesterday at NERV, he had a mental conversation with the evil voice. It explained its enjoyment of what it did while appearing in various places. Acknowledging that it did what it did, no feeling came to him from its actions toward others. However, the feeling of disapproval came to his mind based on the actions done. Letting that pass by in his head, the dark clone was pleased by what he did with the card. As a reward, it informed him of the small intimacy that the Second Child caught when no one was looking.
"Did seeing them help validate your feelings Miss Souryu?"
"…" Asuka said blinking a little then gripped him harder. "Who are you talking about idiot?"
"The two individuals in the hallway yesterday."
"I said I don't know you are talking about!" she said though started to feel her face cringe more.
"Do you wish for me to say who Miss Souryu?"
"I said shut up!" she shouted feeling her vision become come blurry.
"In previous letters sent to you, was the wording similar?"
"I don't know," she immediately stated loosening her grip on him.
"Was the phrasing similar?"
"I don't remember."
"Was the insinuations similar?"
"…stop it…" Asuka said feeling water falling out of her eyes. Instead of gripping him with anger, it was in denial.
"When confronted with the card, was it disputed with half-heartedness?"
"…!?" she said looking up at him to see his stoic stare back at her.
The aspect that it seemed like he was there watching everything started to take hold. A small part of her felt angry while at the same time, she became frightened. Almost like a physical conscious of herself staring back at her and judging her actions and thoughts. It made her think and reflect of what denial she was doing. Blinking, she felt a finger poke her in the center of the chest. Seeing that it was his, she stared at him.
"The breaking and shattering of the central piece Miss Souryu is a painful experience. Once a limit is reached and overflows, its emotional framework starts to fragment. If repeated over extended periods of time, it becomes harder and more difficult to reassemble," Shinji said removing his finger back to his side.
"The denial of truth is a strain on the central piece as well. It can only take a limit before it caves in…If what I have done has destroyed what you hold onto as your happiness, I apologize and can only ask for forgiveness. If you wish to fight me due to my offense, I will comply."
"…" Asuka replied. Letting her hands fall to her side, her head slowly became downcast. Emotions and thoughts were swimming around her head as she felt unable to control herself.
"…get…get away from me…you jerk," she whispered trying hard not to run away and cry.
"Very well Miss Souryu," he said stoically with a small bow.
Turning to his desk, he saw a crowd of students that were standing at the doorways and classroom walls. Seeing that Toji and Kensuke were among the masses, he gave a slight nod to them. Moving to his desk, he slowly sat down without a sound. The other three females standing near the redhead were silent as well.
Ayanami recognized the phrasing and body language that the Second Child was showing. It felt similar given that an older man was involved and feelings were not given back in return. Despite having an understanding of what Asuka was going through, she just turned around. Not saying a word and not feeling hostility any more, she walked toward her desk.
"Asuka?" Hikari asked softly getting out her handkerchief. "I haven't used this if you like to."
"…" she said sniveling a little and wiping her eyes. "Thanks…I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"Y-yeah!" Asuka said trying to sound like her normal perky self. Looking up, she saw the line of students staring around.
"What are you all looking at?" she demanded putting her hands on her hips. A couple of students flinched while everyone unfroze themselves.
"I know Shinji comes off cold Asuka," Rana said with her hands at her side and looking down. "But…he isn't a bad person."
"He is cold," the Second Child said putting on a fake smile looking at her. "and a jerk."
"…okay…" the female twin said quietly with a tense face. Instead of continuing, she just slightly bowed then went to her seat.
"If you'd like to be alone Asuka, I can make an excuse for you to miss 1st period?" the Class Rep spoke quietly.
"What? Over this little spat? I'm not weak," Asuka said flinging a couple of locks over her shoulder and giving her usual confident smile. "I'm Asuka Langley Souryu. I have a name and title to live up to."
'Sounds like she is back to normal,' Hikari thought with an unconvinced face. '…if just dropping that much emotion is considered normal.'
"Third," the Second Child said after walking and standing in front of his desk.
"Yes Miss Souryu?" he said with only his eyes looking up. Nearby students glanced over and quieted down while the students on the other side of the classroom chose to ignore what was going on.
"I showed you a weak side of me just to show you that I am human," she said with a hand on her hip and pointing at him with her other hand at him. "However when it comes to piloting, I'm still the ace pilot of the rest."
"Based on the previous synch tests Miss Souryu, you have the highest synch ratio amongst the other pilots."
"Not only the highest, but the best pilot there is."
"…" Shinji said with a slow blink then tilting his head a little. "If you say so Miss Souryu."
"I know so," she said placing her pointer hand on the table and leaning forward to be face to face with him. "I will make you say that I am the best pilot and I'll prove it."
"…" he said tilting his head back straight. "If you don't mind me asking Miss Souryu, how will you prove it?"
"So glad you asked," she said standing back up straight and placing both hands on her hips. Sticking out her chest a little, she looked down at him.
"The next Angel attack. I will defeat it single handedly. No support. Just me, my Eva, and the Angel. If I beat this one, you will have to say I am the best."
"…" the Third Child said staring at her a little before closing his eyes.
Several visions passed through his mind as the dark clone hyperventilated. Between his wheezing, fits of shrills and screeches filled the background. Filling the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, the evil voice made a high pitch gasp before exploding. Feeling his mind become a train wreck of emotions, sensations, pain, morbid and demented thoughts, he slowly opened his eyes. Seeing that his vision did not get tainted red, he answered.
"Very well"/'…v…E…r…Y…w…E…l…L…!# $! #$RRAAAAAHHHHHH)(*%*&'YES!YES!YYYYEEEEE# $% #$SSSSSSS!'
"Hmph," Asuka said with a bigger smirk and walked away. Hikari watched her slowly walk back to her desk having her usual expression on her face. Looking back at the Third Child, he closed his eyes again. Glancing at Rana, she just waited quietly not staring at anything. Even the First Child was doing what she normally does of staring out the window.
'Talk about a rollercoaster way to start the morning,' the Class Rep thought with a sigh and walked back to her desk. The school day went on relatively normal as any other day. At the last bell, everyone went their way home. Getting to their apartment complex, both Rei and Asuka went to their home while Shinji and Rana went into theirs.
"Finally back at home," the female twin said with a happy sigh. After entering the apartment, she began to take her shoes off.
"Indeed," Shinji said taking off his shoes.
"I'll go make us some tea!" she said smiling at him.
"Thank you Miss Rana. I will join you shortly," he said stoically staring back at her. He watched her get closer to him and used two fingers to poke the corners of his mouth.
"Someday, I will see you smile," the female twin stated looking tenderly at him. She pushed the corners up a little to get his mouth to have a goofy small smile.
"It will be like a new day when that happens."
"Iaw-assume-ith-werll-be," he said not able to annunciate properly. It caused her to giggle and let go.
"It will be. Now, off to make tea," Rana said happily heading down the hallway toward the kitchen.
"…" Shinji said rubbing the corners of his mouth. Feeling no after effect, he walked toward the living room. Entering and reaching the dining table, the apartment phone started to ring. Heading toward it, he picked it up and answered it.
"Hello, Ikari residence…greetings Dr. Ik…mother…my apologies for not adjusting fully," he said seeing Rana quickly look around the corner with an annoyed expression.
"…I am fine. How are you?…I see…" he said seeing the female twin disappear into the kitchen then came back out. Placing her ear next to his, she felt the cell phone turned a little bit. A corner of it was touching her ear and could hear what was being said.
"A dinner invitation…I have not been there…I do not like or dislike them…if ordered to, I will comply…very well…then see you at that time. Good day Dr…mother," he said pulling the phone in front of him to end the call.
"What does she want?" Rana asked knowing what the answer was.
"Dr. Ikari invited the Eva pilots to a dinner. It will be within an hour or so to meet there."
"You are going?" she asked seeing him turn to his room.
"I am ordered to," he said walking toward his room. Once he reached it, he opened the door.
"Why did you call her by that name?" Rana asked with a downcast head and hands in fists.
"I was ordered to," he said entering his room. Clenching her teeth together in irritation, she turned around and headed for her room.
"I'm home," Asuka stated kicking off her shoes and walking down the entrance hallway.
"I'm home," Rei stated quieter removing her shoes as well and heading toward the living room as well. Upon reaching it, Misato was sitting down at the dining table.
"Hey you two! How was school?" she asked with a smile.
"…" both said giving her a neutral stare.
"It was fine," Asuka said blinking and turning to her room.
"There were no problems," Rei said turning to her room.
"W-Wait you two. I got something good to tell you," the Major said seeing both stop and turn to her. Their expressions did not change.
"I got a call from Dr. Ikari about wanting to do dinner with all the Eva pilots," she said seeing both blinked without a reaction. "It will be at that fancy place called the Sakura Palace."
"That place!?" Asuka said breaking her expression with surprised. "That's a top-tier restaurant."
"Mmm-hmm. She already made reservation and the bill will be paid for. You just have to show up to eat and be social," Misato said with a small smile. "What do you two say?"
"No thank you Major," Rei said turning back to head toward her room.
"I know Shinji is going," the Major said with a sly smile.
"Was he ordered to?" the teen asked stopping again. She didn't turn around to see the lavender hair woman's smile falter a little being surprised from her response.
"I don't know off the top of my head. I just received Dr. Ikari's text regarding on who was going."
"…" Rei said stoically staring at her door before turning her head toward the Major. "If I am ordered to, I will comply."
"He must be rubbing off on you," Misato said with a small smile and looked at the dining table. "It would make me feel better if you just went to the dinner with others without me ordering you to."
"Who else is going?" Asuka asked with a neutral expression turning toward the Major a little.
"Just Dr. Ikari and Eva pilots."
"Are you driving us there?"
"No, Section-2 will pick you guys up here then go pickup Toji and Rayne before dropping you off at the restaurant."
"What will you be doing?" Asuka asked narrowing her eyes and staring at her.
"Oh, I will be doing an errand while you guys are out. Just go have a nice time and relax a little," Misato said smiling at them. Rei never turned toward her as she entered her room. Asuka blinked at her before turning toward her room. Her expression was more or less the same. Hearing the doors close, she sighed out loud.
'Wonder what is with Asuka?' she thought looking at her drink on the table. 'Almost like she has a small change…maybe it just one of those off days.'
After waiting for a little bit, the front door bell ringed. Getting up and walking toward it, she thought it would be a salesperson or something. Opening it, two teens stood there being dressed up. One gave a small bow while the other stared neutrally at her.
"Greetings Miss Misato. How are you?" Shinji said after his bow.
"Hi, I'm doing good," she said blinking and noticing he did small changes. "Well look at you…combed your hair back, dressed in your suit, and looking sharp. I'll have to get you to take me on a date Shinji."
"Thank you Miss Misato," he said giving a small bow again. "I will keep the date aspect in mind for a future outing."
"…" the Major smiled then looked at the female twin. "You look nice too Rana. Is that a new dress?"
"Yes," she said slowly turning around 360 degrees. It was a short sleeve pencil dress with a simple design and purple color. Though it didn't match the Third Child's eye color, it wasn't obvious at a glance.
"I went with Asuka and her friends for shopping in general. Ended up getting this out of Asuka's suggestion more than once."
"Sounds like her. The girls should be getting ready soon. Come in. Come in," Misato said moving out of the way. Seeing both nod at the same time, they entered. Following her out to the living room, the twins saw that the place was still relatively clean.
"I'll go check on them. Make yourselves comfortable," Misato said heading over to Asuka's room.
"You know," Rana whispered standing next to him behind the couch. "You look rather dashing with the hair change and suit."
"Thank you Miss Rana," he said turning toward her to see her smiling pleasantly at him.
"Too bad you know how to fix your tie," she said moving it a little. "It would have made us look like we were going out on a date if I was fixing it."
"It would have appeared that way," he said as both heard a door open to their right. Turning toward it, Rei stepped out with a dark blue sleeveless sheath dress and black low profile heels. A black slipon sweater was in her hands as she saw the two standing there. Her light skin was a notable contrast to the dark color of her dress. Walking toward them, she noticed small changes in both.
"Good evening Miss Ayanami," he said nodding his head to her.
"Good evening Ikari…Rana," Rei said stopping near them.
"Good evening…that dress really suits you," Rana said giving a small smile.
"…you think so?" Ayanami asked looking down at it. "The Major insisted that I should have one dress for special occasions."
"It suits you very well," Shinji said with a small nod.
"…thank you…" she said looking down a little feeling embarrassed. Looking back up at the two, she felt his attire and small changes made it harder to not stare at him.
"You two look…nice."
"Thanks," both twins said and blinked at the same time.
Despite the synchronized part, the female twin smiled while the Third Child remained stoic. All three heard another door open followed by Asuka coming out of her room. She was in a bright red halter dress. It was sleeveless with the dress looping around the neck to hold the top portion up. The Second Child's hair was done up in a bun with bangs down her forehead. Light makeup was put on as well as earrings.
"Well look at us," she said with her confident smile. "Definitely look like the important people we should be for a change."
"Wow, you all look like you are going to prom!" Misato said with a smirk and whipped out her camera. "Let me take a picture of you four. This is a rare opportunity to see you all stepping forward into adulthood."
After the series of photos of individuals and combined were taken, Misato caught wind of Section-2 was in the lobby.
"Alright. You all have fun and don't stay out too late. You got school in the morning tomorrow," she said standing at the doorframe.
"Yes yes. We got it Misato! Come on you slow pokes. Move it!" Asuka said pushing the other three to walk faster. Waving at them and seeing them all enter the elevator, she put her hand down and closed the apartment door. Heading back to the living room, she went back to sitting at the end of the dining table. Feeling her phone vibrate, she got out her cell and looked at the text message.
"…" she said seeing who it was from and the address. Closing it and pocketing it, she grabbed stuff that she needed. Remembering the last item, she went back into her room. Coming back out and heading toward the front door, there was a slight cylinder shaped bulge in a breast pocket of the red jacket she had on.
'He'll tell me everything,' she thought exiting and locking the apartment door. Turning around, she walked toward the elevators.
'I'll finally be able to understand what dark secrets NERV has been hiding.'
The four teens saw the two Section-2 agents in the lobby as they escorted them into the unmarked black limo. Once inside and strapped in, they drove on to pick up the remaining two pilots. After some distance, the Fourth Child was seen standing on the curb in a blazer and dress pants. Stopping the vehicle next to him, the Agent motioned him to the back side passenger door. Nodding, he opened the door. Upon entering, the jock froze from the sight in the cabin.
'...damn...those two live up to their title as the school idols,' he thought seeing what both Rei and Asuka were wearing.
"Good evening Mr. Suzuhara. Please have a seat," Shinji stated as the other male pilot entered. Closing the door, Toji sit on the bench that the Third Child was on. Asuka knocked on the glass window that separated the passenger and driver compartments. The vehicle began moving to the next stop.
"I'm surprise you actually dressed up stooge," the Second Child said with one leg over the other and smirking.
"You have to goin' to the Sakura Palace. I still can't believe that your mom was able to get a table reservation for us on short notice man!"
"Indeed," the Third Child said blinking.
"Probably pulled a lot of strings. That place is booked months in advance," Asuka stated. "Must be nice to have parents that are the head of a secret government organization."
"..." Shinji said not saying anything as he stared at nothing.
"What do you think Rana?"
"...I can imagine it would be nice..." she said softly while staring at the floor. The expression on her face was not of enjoyment.
"Hey First Child," the Second Child stated. Ayanami did not reply but turned her attention to her.
"Being that you use to be the Commander's favorite pet, I bet you were pampered. You probably had dinner nights like this every week huh?"
"I did not," Rei replied quietly.
"Oh come on. We all know here that isn't true. Be honest, you got the spoils of his riches."
"I did not receive those treatments Pilot Souryu," the First Child said evenly with a stoic face.
"...so...what did you get with him?" Toji asked seeing her turn her attention to him. "I-I mean, if ya will to talk about it or not."
"...I rather not..." Rei said quietly and stared at the floor with her hands on her lap.
"Gah! You guys are so boring and depressing! Hey driver! Put on the radio or something," the redhead said turning her attention to the glass separation window. After a brief moment of silence, the limo slowed down to a stop. The back side passenger door opened up and Rayne stepped into the cabin. With her hair pinned up a little, she wore a navy blue off the shoulder ruched gown. Sitting down on the bench backseat bench, the others looked at her.
"Greetings Miss Rayne."
"Evening," she said moving a strain of hair over her ear. Shinji closed the door and the limo eventually started moving again.
"I don't look too weird in this, do I?"
"...ya look good," Toji said staring. Glancing at him, the female pilot teens knew what he was looking at. Looking at the Third Child, he returned to staring at the floor.
"To be honest, I hardly go out in a dress. When getting wind of going out to the Sakura Palace, I had to scramble to find a dress that fit me on short notice," the Fifth Child stated adjusting the off the shoulder straps.
"Tch," Asuka said frowning and disliking Toji's gawking.
Biting her tongue down, she engaged in conversation with the ex-officer. To her relief, the older pilot engaged in topics that she wanted to gossip about until they reached the top-tier restaurant. While Rana and the Fourth Child participated in the discussions, Rei and Shinji did not speak or voice anything. In the midst of the driving to the restaurant, the First Child moved to sit next to the Third Child.
"Ikari?" she asked while the others continued to talk.
"Yes Miss Ayanami?"
'...can...you hear them...my seed?' the dark clone whispered in fit of giggles. Two adults were talking to each other using a bedroom voice in the background of his mind. Multiple flashbacks from certain years flooded him. It forced him to remain in a neutral position to focus on not reacting to them.
"Are you feeling...alright?"
'#$%#$...tttthhhheeeeessssmmmmeeeelllll...tttthhhheeeessswweeeaaaattttt...ttttthhhheeeeerrreeelllleeeeaaasssseeeeee!# $%' it spoke in long hisses as the soft talk between the male and female adults continued till it became physical.
"Mostly yes Miss Ayanami," Shinji said feeling his left eye twitch.
'SOOOO#$% #$#MUUUCCCHHHHHH$%#$%SEROTONIN. DON'TYOUFEELITCOURSINGTHROUGHYOURBEINGMYSEED!?'
"Are you uncomfortable with this outing Ikari?" she asked wondering if he felt the same as her.
'FEELTHEIRDOPAMINEFLOWOUTINGUSHES...THENEGLECTOFINTIMACY...THELONGINGFORRELEASE' the evil voice shouted in viciousness and violence ripping pieces of itself off. Goosebumps flared on the Third Child's skin from feeling the same pain and hatred as the dark clone did.
'ALLINTHENAMEOFINFORMATION #$% #$ #$EXCHANGING #$ #$STABING #$RIPPING #$% #RAPING #$ABUSING...AAAAAAALLLLLLLL FOR THEIR ENTERTAINMENT #$THEIRENJOYMENT# $THEIREXPERIMENTING!THEIRTORTURING!' it screamed so loud that Shinji could not hear anything anymore. All of his senses were in ablaze of a thousand of needles stabbing repeatedly.
"...Ikari?" Rei asked seeing his skin tone pale quickly to her tone.
'THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE-THEY-WILL-DIE' Sid shrilled faster and faster till it was nothing but a constant wall of verbiage filling and engulfing the Third Child's mind.
"...you could say...I am a little uncomfortable," he said quietly closing his eyes as blood started tearing out.
In a remote place in Neo-Tokyo, a blue sports car was parked alongside a curb. Inside a nearby building, two people occupied a room. Laying on top of him, both Misato and Kaji were sweating and breathing a little heavy. Naked and lost in their moment of heat, he stared at the blank ceiling.
"What...what is NERV and Commander Ikari planning all along?" the Major asked in a hushed voice.
"You just wanted to do this to learn that?" the special investigator asked in a whisper.
"Well...it is one of the reasons," she stated interlacing her hands with his.
"...well...I am still trying to put together the last pieces."
"I know I am left in the dark...I just want to...h-hey, don't put that in strange places. Geez."
"This might be one of the last presents I can give you," Kaji said with a neutral expression.
"...?" Misato said looking up at him with a questionable. Before she could ask, he pulled her down and kissed her. Getting lost in their heat again, the soft yellow light in the room flickered a couple of times. In each flicker, it illuminated the room for a split second. In those brief lights, it showed the entire room was covered with bloody words.