Shinji's Reason

Part 2 - Version 1 completed 26/6/99

Version 2 completed 31/10/2001

By Jeff Mullier

Email: jmullier@idl.net.au

Copyright notice

Neon Genesis Evangelion and associated characters are copyright Gainax and associated companies.

Author Notes

Well this is part 2. I hope you like it, any comments would be appreciated. I hope I haven't made any of the characters act wildly out of character. This fic contains spoilers. It takes place after episode 24 and ignores events in episodes 25,26 & the movies. I have also rearranged and added to some of the events as shown in the series.

Further notes for version 2

Well version 2 is totally reformatted in prose format instead of script. I have also added to the battle scenes.

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Shinji's Reason

Part Two - Finding Peace /Angel attack

Next morning - Misato's apartment

Shinji is sitting down at the kitchen table having breakfast. He has also prepared a breakfast for Misato which he has placed in front of Misato's seat at the table. Misato walks into the kitchen and grabs her usual morning can of beer from the fridge. She greats Shinji, "Good morning Shinji."

To Misato's surprise Shinji looks up from his food and replies in a civil tone of voice, "Good morning Misato."

Surprised by Shinji's manner this morning Misato asks herself, 'What's wrong? Shinji is actually acting normal this morning, well normal for Shinji.'

Misato sits down and joins Shinji in eating breakfast. Shinji soon finishes and nervously asks Misato, "Umm Misato. Could you tell me where Touji is staying in hospital please?"

'Mmm He has finally gathered the courage to go and see him.' Misato then answers, "Yes he is in room 201 of the Nerv hospital. He will be pleased to see you, he has had no visitors since..... the 16th angel."

'But how will he react to me?' "Thanks, I will probably go and see him today."

"Good. But why has it taken you so long to decide to see him Shinji?"

"Umm well he is probably the only friend that I have left in Tokyo 3, Kensuke left when his house got destroyed. I need to talk to him about something. That is if he is still my friend after .......what happened."

Misato gives Shinji a reassuring smile as she tells him, "Don't worry Shinji. He knows the full story of what actually happened and I am sure that he doesn't blame you."

Shinji nervously says, "Ok. Um Misato, I am sorry if I have been a little hard to get along with the last couple of days. A lot of things have happened and I did not know what to do about them."

Surprised by what Shinji has just said to her, Misato replies, "...Oh that is all right, I realise that you have been through a lot lately." 'And that is a understatement.'

"Bye then. I am going to see Touji," replies Shinji as he gets up to leave.

"Bye." Misato then asks herself, 'Why the sudden change Shinji? What has made you change? You still seem a little subdued though, almost resigned to something, though you seem to have made a decision about something. I hope that you are not going to do anything stupid.'

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Nerv Hospital room 201

Touji is sitting up in bed reading, the door slides open and Shinji sheepishly looks through the open door. He then knocks on the door frame and nervously asks, "Ummm, can I come in Touji?"

Touji looks at the door in surprise and answers, "Shinji! I thought you would never come and see me, of course you can come in. I have had no visitors since that big explosion destroyed most of Tokyo 3. Everyone has left, Kensuke and the class rep have moved to a safer area. Especially since their homes were destroyed in the explosion, not that having that happen would worry Kensuke."

Shinji walks in and sits in a chair next to the bed, looks at Touji and with his head bowed slightly he nervously starts to say something to Touji, " ........Uh."

Touji looks at Shinji with an annoyed expression on his face and interrupts , "Shinji, get this into that thick skull of yours or do I have to beat it into you. I know what happened. What happened to me is not your fault. Misato came and explained everything to me. I know that you were not in control of your Eva when it did this to me."

"....!! But, but........"

Touji grabs Shinji with his good arm & pulls him close to his face and angrily tells Shinji, "Look I told you I know it wasn't your fault. Ok."

"Ok."

The room then falls silent until Touji decides to break the silence by asking, "Shinji, just what was cause of that big explosion. I have guessed that it was probably an angel attack."

"Well um," 'How do I explain this?'

Touji asks impatiently, "Well are you going to tell me or what?"

"Well Rei's Eva got infected by a angel & she self destructed it to save me."

"I'm sorry to hear that. So it's just you and the she devil left then?"

Shinji looks down at the floor with an anguished look and answers, "......umm, that's not entirely true."

Puzzled by Shinji's answer Touji asks, "Huh, what do you mean?"

"Well Rei died, but there is another Rei."

A confused Touji manages to ask, "What do you mean Shinji. I know that you have feelings for Ayanami, but what exactly do you mean by that?"

'How in the world do I explain this?' "Umm. Well, Rei is a clone........ A clone made using mostly my mother's DNA. They just made another Rei."

Touji's eyes widen in shock and he stares at Shinji stunned by what he has just heard, "A WHAT!!!!"

"A clone...of my mother."

Shaking his head Touji tells Shinji, "Well that does explain a few things."

"Yeah. I don't know what to say or how to act towards her at the moment."

"Do you still have feelings for her?"

"Yes, but not like before. Its almost like she is my sister now."

"Considering everything I would suppose that would be the best way to think of her now."

"Yes, it probably would be."

"So what happened to the she devil then?"

"Well she is actually in this hospital."

"Is she hurt or what?"

"Well not physically."

"What do you mean Shinji?"

"The 15th angel attacked, Asuka went to stop it and it did something to her mind."

"What happened then? How did you stop it?"

Shinji frowns at this and yells, "I didn't do a thing. My father didn't let me do a thing, I was useless. That was the second time he sat back and listened to me begging him to do something to stop one of my friends being hurt and what does he do? He ignores me, he didn't trust me."

Touji is surprised at the ferocity of Shinji's outburst, 'It looks like you really loathe your father Shinji. It would also appear that you do care for the she devil. I knew that there was something between you two.' "Have you seen Asuka since?"

Shinji answers, his voice almost a whisper, "Not really. I saw her not long after they got her out of the entry plug. She was in an extremely foul mood and still recovering from what the angel did to her, as you could expect she wasn't feeling the best. She avoided Misato and myself as much as she could after that and spent most of her time at Hikari's. Apparently she ran way not after the next angel attack, they found her nearly a week latter in a daze. She has been in hospital in a coma since."

"Shinji, you do really care for her don't you?"

"Ummmmm I suppose so. Even when she yells at me, calls me baka, and hits me, I sometimes see a funny look in her eyes. I suppose I felt for her probably from the time she came to live with me and Misato. I guess I have only just realised it though. How did you know?"

"Everybody knows Shinji. The only people who don't know are Asuka and yourself."

Shinji looks surprised at hearing this and comments, "We were that obvious?"

"Yes. Why do you think that everyone calls you two the newlyweds?"

Shinji blushes after hearing this. He then asks Touji, "If we were that obvious, why didn't you say something before?"

"Well you probably would have denied it and the she devil would have most likely tried to kill me."

Shinji gives an awkward grin as he replies, "Yeah you are right there." He then retaliates by asking Touji, "So what about you and the class rep then?"

"Like I said before, she hasn't visited me since the big explosion. She did give me a quick phone call afterwards to tell me that she was alright though. I really wish that she would come and see me again, I miss her. Shinji, go and see Asuka and Rei while you can."

"Well I suppose I might. Goodbye Touji."

Touji replies, "See you later Shinji," as Shinji leaves the hospital room. 'He said goodbye almost like he was saying it for the last time. What are you going to do Shinji?'

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Rei Ayanami's apartment

Shinji nervously walks up to the door and notices that the mail slot in the door is still overflowing with mail. He presses the intercom button which still doesn't work so he knocks at the door and nervously asks, "Um Hello. Rei are you home?"

The door soon opens revealing Rei dressed in her school uniform. Rei has some small cuts on her hands, she greets Shinji, "Ikari."

"Umm Rei, I need to talk to you about something. May I come in?"

"Yes."

Shinji walks in. Rei's apartment is in its usual state of disarray. Gendo's pair of glasses lies smashed and are lying in a garbage bin

"Rei, um I am sorry if I have offended you by the way I have been acting towards you lately."

"Why what do you mean?"

"I have been avoiding you and trying to ignore you."

"I did not notice."

Shinji gulps and nervously continues, "Umm Rei its because Ritsuko told me the truth behind you and the dummy plugs."

"What do you mean?"

"She showed me the dummy plug room......the.....the.... The room with the clones ....of ....you. She said that you were the third and last clone."

Rei just stands there with a stunned expression on her face while she thinks, 'I am a clone that would explain the strange feelings and incomplete memories that I have been experiencing. It also explains why I have always felt that I am replaceable.'

"Umm. Rei, I really don't know how to say this, but she also told me what you were cloned from...... from....... Um.....Rei.. you. ....are a clone using mostly my...my....my mother's DNA and partly using angel DNA."

".....I did not know this. I had a feeling that I was the third but did not know why."

"If you doubt me look at this photo that Ritsuko gave me." Shinji gives Rei the photo that Ritsuko gave him in the dummy plug room. "It is a photo of Ritsuko's mother and my father and mother."

Rei's eyes widen in surprise as she studies the photo. 'I can now see why Shinji has had feelings towards me, it is like looking at a photo of an older version of me with blue eyes and brown hair. Is this the reason why commander Ikari has always shown more interest in me than Shinji his son? Or is it for other reasons?'

"Um, Rei....after Ritsuko showed me this she then destroyed the rest of the clones. So Rei, there is no need for you to act like you are replaceable. You are unique now Rei"

'I am free. I can no longer be replaced.'

"Rei, you may not like what I am about to say next, as last time I said something bad about my father, you slapped me."

"I did? I do not remember."

"Yes you did Rei. Now please think before blindly following anything that my so called father orders you to do. Considering your origins and his actions towards you so far he probably has some hidden purpose for you."

"Yes, I have decided that much myself."

"Rei, um well, um ...I still care for you ...but since I now know where you came from, well...I think it would be better if I consider you at least as a close friend, I could even call you my sister as in a way you are partly related to me."

Rei blushes as she replies, ".....A close friend, .........something that I have never had."

"I have always been your friend Rei. I just never had the courage to actually tell you."

"T...thank you. Thank you for telling .me all of this Shinji."

"No problems Rei, I needed to do it, I felt bad about the way I have been treating you recently. I better be going now."

"Goodbye Shinji."

"Goodbye Rei."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

A florist shop in the surviving section of Tokyo 3.

After looking around the shop Shinji walks up to the shopkeeper and asks, "Can I have that bunch of bright red roses please."

The shopkeeper looks at Shinji and questions him, "They are expensive. Have you got the money kid?"

Shinji pulls out his wallet which is bugling with yen notes, he looks at it and thinks 'Not that I have needed to spend it on anything else.' Handing over the money to the shopkeeper, "Yes. Here is the money."

"Oh. Do you want a message card to go with them?"

"Yes thanks." Shinji takes the flowers & steps out of the shop. There are dark clouds building in the distance in the eastern sky, 'It looks like we might get a storm later.'

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Nerv Hospital Room 303

Shinji nervously sticks his head into the room & sees Asuka lying there and nervously says, "Um hello Asuka, I know that you probably can't hear me but I'm coming in ok." He then walks in carrying the bunch of roses that he bought earlier.

Shinji looks at the bunch of roses he is holding as he says to the comatose Asuka, "Umm Asuka these are for you." Asuka doesn't respond she just continues lying motionless, deep in her coma. Shinji places the roses in a vase on a set of drawers next to the bed and starts talking to the comatose Asuka. "Well Asuka I know that you can't hear me but I will talk to you anyway. I need someone to talk to. There is no one else. I can't really talk to Touji about this. Misato, well....... The only other person I could talk to was Kaji and he is dead. I think Misato killed him, although she seems rather heartbroken over his death. And well Rei, she is part of the problem. I suppose you were right in thinking that there was something strange about her Asuka. Umm Asuka well I do care for you. I wish it was me that got hurt by that angel. I wanted to save you but my father wouldn't let me."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile in the Command Centre - Nerv Headquarters

Shigeru takes a break from imagining that he is playing a guitar at a rock concert and comments to the other members of the bridge crew, "Well it getting rather quiet in here."

Maya looks up from the novel that she was reading and replies annoyed, "Be careful of what you say."

"Why? All that is out there on the radar is a rather bad storm. Anyway isn't there only supposed to be 17 angels and the 17th was killed last week."

Suddenly the control room shakes and the rumble of an explosion can be heard. Alarm bells start ringing and Misato comes running into the command center, turning to the bridge crew she asks, "What the......?"

A startled Makoto replies, "An energy beam from an unknown source has hit the armour plating, it has broken through the first three layers!"

"What is it? Analyse the source of the beam." Misato then realises the only possible reason for what is going on, 'It couldn't be another angel could it? There were only supposed to be 17.'

Shocked by what his readouts say, Shigeru turns from his console and faces Misato, "Angel detected, blood type blue!!!!"

"An angel.......the 18th. Status of Eva units?"

Maya quickly replies, "Unit 01 is ready. Repairs have been completed to Unit 02, but we have no one capable of piloting it. "

'Oh no, we only have Shinji in Unit 01 to fight it. I hope that he hasn't run away or done anything stupid, he seemed a little different this morning.' Misato turns to Makoto and asks, "Where is Shinji?"

Makoto enters some commands into his terminal and he soon replies, "Found him, putting him on a screen now."

The image of Shinji standing next to Asuka's hospital bed comes up on one of the auxiliary screens. Misato immediately recognises where Shinji is and she is surprised by him being there. In a shocked tone of voice she asks, "What? That's Asuka's hospital room."

"Confirmed."

Misato shakes her head and thinks, 'What are you doing seeing her Shinji? Were you saying goodbye?'

Misato picks up a phone & starts dialling the number of Shinji's mobile phone.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile back in Asuka's hospital room

Shinji's mobile phone rings, he reaches into a pocket and answers it. "Yes. An angel! Ok I will be there right away. Yes I will fight in Unit 01." He hangs up, looks at Asuka and thinks to himself, 'An angel...........another one. I have a bad feeling about this. I don't think I will survive this one. There is no one else left to fight it so I will have to pilot Unit 01 and kill it.' He then turns and looks at Asuka, "Um Asuka I am going now. There is another angel. I want you to know I am only doing this for you."

Shinji then gets a piece of paper and a pen out of his pocket and writes a message on the piece of paper. Once he as finished writing he then places the piece of paper on top of the set of drawers, he then also places his SDAT player beside the note. Shinji walks towards the door, as he reaches the door he turns to face Asuka and tells her. "Bye Asuka. I hope you get well. I may not be around when you do, at least you will be number one pilot again."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Pilots Change room/ Unit 01/ Command Centre

Shinji still deep in thought is slowly putting on his plug suit, 'Here I am getting into Unit 01 to kill once more. But if don't I everyone I care about will die.' He finishes putting on his plug suit and then leaves the change room and walks towards Unit 01's cage. 'What will this one look like I wounder and will I be able to defeat it on my own?'

He then reaches Unit 01's cage and climbs into the entry plug. Unit 01 is soon activated and awaiting the order to launch.

Maya reports to Misato, "Synchronisation ratio is stable at 75%."

Hearing this Misato thinks, 'Why are you so different today Shinji?' She then switches on the communications channel to Unit 01. "Shinji, we are not sure what this angel looks like. The storm seams to be part of the angel's defence, the MAGI have analysed what data we have been able to get. The angel appears to be a spherical ball of energy, and attacks with some form of energy blast, that's all we know. Keep clear of it and gather data first off, if it attacks use the guns, avoid close combat." Misato then glances up towards Commander Ikari, who nods. Misato then yells the order, "Launch Eva."

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Remains of Tokyo 3/Unit 01/Command Centre

Unit 01 emerges from one of the surviving elevators and then walks over to a nearby weapons building and retrieves a pistol. The weather in Tokyo 3 by this stage has reached severe storm status, with hurricane force winds, torrential rain and large hailstones. Despite the sun being blocked out by the dark clouds and heavy rain, Tokyo 3 is bathed in light almost as bright normal sunlight due to the constant large bolts of lightning flashing between the clouds and towards the ground. Shinji notices an area of storm cloud that is glowing brighter than the surrounding clouds and cautiously moves Unit 01 towards this point of the storm.

In a worried tone of voice Misato orders, "Shinji, that will be close enough."

"Ok," but before either Shinji or Misato can say anything further the clouds part at the glowing area of the storm. Revealing a large ball of light, the light that it gives off is almost blinding in its intensity. A bolt of energy snakes from the sphere towards Unit 01. Shinji sees this just in time and rolls Unit 01 to one side causing the energy bolt to narrowly miss Unit 01.

Misato seeing that a different approach will be needed to defeat this angel. Especially if only an already damaged Unit 01 is all that is available, she orders, "Shinji! Pull back, we will try a different approach."

Shinji determinately replies, "No, I can't run away. I must stand & fight."

Another bolt of energy strikes out at Unit 01 this time, hitting it & nearly blowing the left arm off at the elbow. This causes Shinji to scream in pain and grip his left arm which is hanging by his side and is bent at a strange angle. Seeing Shinji's reaction Misato yells over the intercom, "Shinji! Remember it's not your real arm." She then sees that his arm does indeed look like it is actually broken and cries out over the comm line to Unit 01, "Shinji!" She then turns to Maya and asks, "How can this happen?"

Maya studies her display screen and answers, "It may have something to do with the type of energy blast the angel is using."

"Pilot's heart and respiration rates have increased dramatically."

"Control the feedback, cut the synchronisation ratio by 15%."

"Unit 01 is not receiving the command! The signals to Eva seem to be blocked by the interference from the angel."

Unit 01 jumps to one side to avoid being struck by another bolt of energy that the angel sends towards it. Unit 01 right arm reaches and gets its progressive knife out of the shoulder casing.

Concerned by Shinji's actions Misato demands, "What the hell are you doing Shinji?" 'Yesterday I thought that we would be lucky to just to get you back into Unit 01 again, with next to no chance that you would fight in it again. What changed you Shinji, this is the most determined I have seen you.' Worried by Shinji's injuries plus what he may be going to do next, she orders, "Shinji get out of there, you can not win with one arm."

Panting through clenched teeth due to the pain Shinji determinedly replies, "No. How else are you going to attack it? Remember that I am the only pilot left with an Eva. I have to do this Misato, it is something that only I can do and I have to do it. It is the only way I can make a difference." Unit 01 then runs towards the angel with the progressive knife held single handedly out in front. The angel sends an energy bolt towards Unit 01 hitting it in the chest. Unit 01 stumbles back due to the impact of the beam and drops the progressive knife while struggling to remain standing. Shinji screams, "ARRRGH," he then places his good hand on his chest. He soon pulls it away and stares at it in shock when he realises that it is covered in his blood.

Misato franticly yells, "Shinji!!!!! Get out of there NOW." 'Shinji you still manage to surprise me. You always say that you are a coward, but when you are fighting in your Eva you can be so incredibly brave.'

Unit 01 slowly staggers towards an armament building, the angel ignores the retreating Unit 01 and returns to attacking the Geofront amour plating. Makoto reports the damage to Misato, "It has blasted through another layer!"

Unit 01 reaches the armament building and retrieves a progressive lance. Seeing this Misato orders Shinji, "Shinji, don't do it. Get to a retrieval shaft and get back here."

"And what will stop the angel while I do that?"

Unit 01 starts running towards the angel with the lance held in the right hand like a spear. Both Shinji and Unit 01 roar in anger, Unit 01 then throws the lance at the angel like a spear. Seeing this what Unit 01 is going to do the angel sends several energy bolts in its direction. The lance hits the angel's AT field and falls uselessly to the ground. The blasts narrowly miss Unit 01 but the resulting explosion still throws Unit 01 back into the remains of a building which then collapses burying Unit 01.

"Do we have any communication with Unit 01?"

"Negative."

The angel returns its attention to the Geofront.

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Nerv Hospital room 303/Asuka's mind

In Asuka's mind the image of an old train carriage appears, she is sitting with her head bowed on one side of the carriage. Seated on the opposite side silhouetted by the bright light coming in through the window is a younger version of herself. Asuka sadly mumbles, "No one cares for me. Nobody cares for me since I can't pilot anymore. No one has ever cared for me, they have only cared for me because I am a pilot."

The younger version of herself replies, "They do care for you as a person. It's just that they aren't very good at saying it and you don't want to recognise it."

Asuka looks up and snaps at the younger version of herself, "What do you mean?"

"I will show you. Do you remember this?"

The memory of the aftermath of the attack of the 8th angel at Mt. Asamayama flashes through Asuka's mind.

Shinji has just taken an unprotected Unit 01 into the lava to rescue Unit 02. Both units are powered down just beside the mouth of the volcano. Unit 02's D type equipment is crushed, Unit 01's exterior armour is partly melted. A rather hot Shinji has just been recovered from his entry plug, Asuka had been recovered earlier. Shinji walks into the room and wipes his hand across his forehead and comments, "Phew, that was hot."

With a hint of anger in her voice Asuka asks him, "And why did you do that you show off?"

Before Shinji can answer Misato storms in and angrily asks Shinji, "Shinji! And just what were you thinking when you jumped in there unprotected? I gave you a direct order not to."

Shinji calmly replies, "I told you Misato I couldn't just stand there and let Asuka die."

Asuka's eyes widen at hearing this, 'He went in there against orders! Maybe the baka isn't a spineless wimp after all.'

END FLASHBACK

Once the memory fades the younger Asuka tells Asuka, "See Shinji cares, but you never wanted to see it, and how you treat him, he does genuinely care for you."

Asuka angrily replies, "Bullshit!"

"He does. It's just that he isn't very good at expressing his emotions and you don't want to recognise it."

FLASHBACK

Just after the attack of the 15th angel, Asuka is sitting down trying to come to terms with what the angel's invasion of her mind has made her remember. She hears Shinji's voice, "I am glad as you're ok, Asuka."

Asuka angrily snaps back at him, "Shut up! Who are you calling ok? It's the worst; I was rescued by that doll! Rescued by that damned doll! I would rather die than that. I hate, hate, you, everyone, everything!"

After a moments hesitation Shinji tells her, "Well I am still glad that you are uninjured then." Asuka quickly turns around and gives him a rather dark and angry look. A worried look appears on Shinji's face before he makes a quick retreat.

END FLASHBACK

The younger Asuka then tells her, "See, Shinji does care for you but he does not express himself very well."

Asuka angrily snaps back, "Yeah so what. Who would be interested in a dork like him?"

"You. You deny it but you feel for him in return. Don't you remember what you did after the twelfth angel?"

FLASHBACK

Outside Shinji's Hospital room after the attack of the 12th angel

Asuka is walking towards Shinji's hospital room when she sees Rei approach from the opposite direction and enter the room. After seeing this Asuka mutters to herself, "I should have known, wondergirl. Trust you to get to the baka first. Just what is it between you two?" Asuka then reaches the door to Shinji's hospital room, 'I will wait out here until wondergirl is gone.'

After fifteen minutes Asuka can hear voices coming from inside the room so she places her ear against the door. She then hears Rei say to Shinji, "Well that's good for you." Almost too late Asuka notices that the door is opening and jumps back away from it. Despite this she is still caught in an awkward position by Rei. Shinji sees this and starts sniggering. Asuka's expression darkens and she then storms off muttering, "Damn you wondergirl."

END FLASHBACK

The younger Asuka then asks her, "If you don't care for him why were you waiting outside of his hospital room? And why were you so worried about Rei getting there first?"

Asuka hesitates in replying, ".........Well......"

"And admit it you wanted him to kiss you that night when you were pretending to be asleep weren't you?"



"Umm well........"

"Well then are you going to answer me or what?"

Asuka angrily replies, "YES, I did want him to kiss me."

"You may have been angry towards Shinji for defeating the 14th angel on his own after you had been defeated by it, but you were also amazed that he had come back and piloted again weren't you?"

"Well ..............."

FLASHBACK

Nerv hospital after the 14th angel had been defeated

Asuka is having a check up after Unit 02's defeat by the 14th angel. Misato walks in to the room, she has a rather worried look on her face. She asks, "So how are you Asuka?"

Asuka still fuming at her defeat sarcastically replies, "Fine just fine. What do you expect Misato?" 'I can't believe it, I lost again.'

Concerned at Asuka's state Misato carefully answers, "Calm down Asuka, that angel was the toughest that we have faced so far."

Asuka spitefully asks, "So with the invincible Shinji deciding to run away, what at has happened to the angel? Did wondergirl destroy it?"

"No. Rei is in a serious condition in this hospital. She had no more success against the angel than you did."

Puzzled by what could have happened Asuka asks, "Well what happened then? Did the commander use the dummy plug in Unit 01 again?"

"No."

Her irritation increasing Asuka angrily asks, "Well, are you going to tell me or what?"

Misato calmly replies, "It was Shinji in Unit 01."

Amazed by what Misato has just told her, "........You mean that he actually came back and piloted again? I thought that the baka said he wasn't going to pilot again and was leaving for good this time."

"Yes he did. He came back without being asked and piloted Unit 01 again. He saved us all as the angel was actually inside of central dogma. In fact it was probably the most ferocious I have seen him fight in his Eva."

Asuka rolls her eyes and says in a scathing tone, "So the invincible Shinji saves the day once again."

Asuka's reaction angers Misato and she angrily snaps back at Asuka. "I can't believe you Asuka. Shinji came back and piloted Unit 01 and fought the angel, destroying it, all without being asked, he did it of his own free will. What would you have preferred that he didn't and the angel won and killed everyone?"

Shamed by what Misato has just said Asuka quietly replies, ".......No. So where is the baka then?"

"Well Unit 01 suffered some damage and Shinji was ....... um injured. He wasn't hurt to badly though but the injuries are awkward and he needs to be kept in isolation."

END FLASHBACK

The younger Asuka declares, "See you were amazed and proud of him because he came back."

Asuka hesitantly answers, "Y....yes. The confident invincible Shinji is......"

"Go on."

".....Is the Shinji that I .....I ......... love. .............. and I though that I lost him that time."

FLASHBACK

Misato's apartment 1 day after the attack of the 14th angel

A tired and worried looking Misato walks into the lounge room. Asuka is sitting on the lounge idly watching television in an attempt to take her mind off the previous days events. Seeing Misato enter she asks, "Misato where is that baka Shinji? Is he still hiding in hospital? I thought you said that he wasn't hurt that badly."

Misato snaps at her, "ASUKA. ENOUGH OF THAT."

Asuka is shocked at Misato's reaction, "......... Is Shinji's condition worse than everyone first thought?"

Misato sadly replies, "Yes, you could say that........"

"So is he in hospital or what?"

"..........No he isn't."

Puzzled by Misato's answer Asuka asks, "So where is he then?"

"I shouldn't be telling you this Asuka, but he still is in Unit 01."

"WHAT!!! HOW? Aren't the eject codes working? Or is the damage worse than you first thought?'

"No, they are being blocked by the Eva. But when we eventually managed to get the video circuit to work we saw , or should I say we didn't see a thing?"

"What do you mean?"

"All that we could see in Unit 01's entry plug was Shinji's plug suit floating in the LCL."

"WHAT? Where is he then?"

"Apparently when Unit 01 went berserk, Shinji reached 400% synchronisation. The result of this was that he was taken into Unit 01."

Asuka's eyes widen in amazement at hearing this, "400%!!!!!!"

Misato sadly answers, "Yes. And we are not sure if we are going to be able to get him back."

Asuka is shocked at Misato's answer, "What!!!! You mean that the invincible Shinji is gone?............... 'He can't be gone...... not now....'

END FLASHBACK

Once the memory fades away, her younger self asks Asuka, "Yes you were worried that you had lost him weren't you?"

Asuka softly answers, "......Yes......."

"So are you going to let yourself lose him for good by just laying here? You should face reality and acknowledge that your friends care for you and that deep down you don't want to be alone or are you just going to lie here wanting to die?"

Asuka awakens screaming, "I don't want to die! I don't want to live alone! I am tried of being alone." Asuka then lies still in bed as she fully awakens. She blinks several times as the hospital room slowly comes into focus. "I though that someone was in this room visiting me. Who could it have been?" She turns & notices the flowers, card & note. "Flowers, red roses, my favourite. Who would have brought them?" Asuka picks up the card and reads 'To Asuka. Get well soon from Shinji'. Her eyes widen in surprise after seeing who the flowers are from, "He does care."

An explosion shakes the hospital, Asuka looks around startled, "What in the world?? Could it be an angel?"

Asuka then notices the note and Shinji's SDAT. Puzzled why he would leave his SDAT there she asks, "What's this? That's his most valued possession, he goes no where without it. Baka Shinji." She then starts to read the note

Dear Asuka

I am sorry it took this to happen for me to admit that I care for you. I have felt this way towards you probably since we piloted unit 02 together that time. You probably don't feel the same for me but I can understand that. Much has happened since you were well. I have found out that Rei is actually a clone using mostly my mother's DNA. I am not sure of how I feel towards her now. The fifth child came to replace you, he even became my friend, but he turned out to be the 17th angel. I had to chase him down right to the very heart of Nerv. He was very close to starting third impact, I had to kill him.

Well Asuka, Misato just called & there is another angel. I am the only one left that can pilot. I am not afraid to pilot any more, I am only doing this for you and the others that I care for. I don't think that I am coming back this time. So please accept the roses & my SDAT, as I won't be needing it any more.

Love Shinji

"Sniff. Baka Shinji. She's a what!!!!! I always knew there was something different about wondergirl."

Another explosion rocks the hospital and Asuka grits her teeth in determination, ".......An angel. Lets see where am I? I will teach them for trying to replace me. I will show them that I can still pilot Unit 02." Asuka then gets out of bed and grabs some clothes out of the bedside set of drawers. She changes as quick as her weakened state will let her, she then turns towards the door, walking a little shaky at first, but she quickly gets into her usual confident stride.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Command Centre - Nerv Headquarters

A grim Misato is studying the main screen thinking, 'It's not looking good. Shinji on his own can not stop this angel. That's if he is still alive, where ever he is out there.'

A new alarm starts to sound inside the control room.

Startled Shigeru announces, "Unit 02 just activated!!"

Misato's eyes widen in surprise when she hears this unexpected news, "........Impossible. Status."

Maya replies, "Entry plug is inserted and manned."

"Asuka??? Get me a visual on the entry plug."

The video screen shows Asuka in her plug suit with a rather determined and wild look on her face. "Immmmmm BAAAAAACCCCCKKKKK."

"Asuka. How?"

In her once usual cocky tone Asuka replies, "Of course its me! Who else would you expect. I will show you for trying to replace me."

Misato glances towards Maya, who immediately answers Misato's unspoken question, "Synchronisation ratio for unit 02 is steady at 75%."

'What has happened to you Asuka?'

Asuka asks with in an irritated tone, "Well are you going to launch Unit 02 or what?"

"Launch Unit 02!"

Unit 02 then shoots up to the surface.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Command Centre/ Unit 01/ Unit 02/ Tokyo 3

Unit 02 appears out from a launch building, neither Unit 01 nor the angel can be seen in the driving rain. Asuka does a quick scan of the immediate area, but fails to locate the angel she then asks Misato, "Where is this angel?"

"It should be half a kilometre to the east of your position. We are not getting very good readings as what sensors we have left are being jammed by the angel."

While this conversation is going on, unseen by either Asuka or Misato. Unit 01 frees itself from the rubble of the building.

"Asuka, don't try close combat with it. Unit 01 has virtually lost an arm and has leg and chest wounds from close combat. Use the guns or throw the lance."

"How is Shinji?"

"Um as far as we know he is still alive, he was getting a little knocked about though. Like I said the sensors & telemetry from Eva are getting jammed close to the angel." Puzzled by Asuka's question Misato thinks, 'She actually asked about Shinji like she actually cared for him. Just what has happened to these two?'

Unit 02 walks slowly towards the probable location of the angel and Unit 01. Anxious to find Shinji Asuka opens a communications channel to Unit 01 and asks, "Where are you Shinji? I have two things to give you when we finish here."

The communications screen on Unit 01 crackles into life once more allowing Shinji to hear this comment. This causes him to ponder, 'Two things to give me?' He then smiles at the communications screen and answers Asuka, "Asuka you are all right!"

Asuka grins at this and replies, "Of course I am."

"I am glad to hear it."

Unit 01 comes into view of Unit 02, its left arm is hanging at an awkward angle. It is bleeding LCL from both legs and from the chest, and large areas of its armour are covered by dents and gouges. As Unit 01 slowly approaches Unit 02, the static on the view screen for the communications system on Unit 02 clears. The image shows Shinji in Unit 01's entry plug, with his left arm still hanging at an awkward angle, both legs are bleeding and he is bleeding from the chest as well. Upon seeing the image of Shinji on her view screen, Asuka gasps in shock, "Oh my god you are a mess!"

Shinji gives a small tried smile and replies, "Yeah, Unit 01 is in a bit of a mess. Isn't it?"

"No I mean you. Baka Shinji."

Shinji then coughs up some blood and wearily replies, "Unfortunately you are right Asuka."

"Well how are we going to stop this one?"

Shinji starts to reply but he coughs up some more blood. Once the coughing has stopped he continues, "I don't know, it has pretty well knocked me around. We will only have any success if we act together."

"Do you have a plan? You are in no state to attack it."

"I have sort of a plan. I will distract it, while you sneak around attack it from another angle. When you are close enough to attack we will both try to neutralise its AT field, you can then destroy its core."

"You call that a plan?"

"You come up with a better one then! You get to kill the angel if we succeed."

"No, your plan is fine, lets start."

Shinji gets a pistol from an armaments building and starts firing at the angel while running, while he is doing this Unit 02 sneaks around behind the angel.

"Ok Shinji, ready."

"Right, lets go then."

Both units approach the angel and deploy their AT fields to try to neutralise that angel's AT field. Just before the angel's AT field is neutralised it sends out an energy blast which breaks Unit 01's leg and throws it back several hundred meters onto the ground. This causes Shinji to scream in pain, "ARRRGGGHHH. "

"What the? Shinji!!!!"

Unit 01's head falls onto its chest and its eyes stop glowing. Unit 02 stops the attack and starts to withdraw before the angel can launch another attack. The angel ignores the silent form of Unit 01 and the retreating Unit 02 and returns to blasting at the layers of armour protecting the Geofront.

Maya reports, "We are receiving telemetry from Unit 01 again.............it does not look good."

"Pilots life signs are wildly fluctuating."

"Unit 01 has ceased activation!"

Misato orders, "Asuka, if you can hear me go and save Shinji and Unit 01."

"Roger."

As soon as Asuka gets close to Unit 01 the angel starts heading towards her. It sends out several energy blasts one of which clips Unit 02's shoulder. Inside the entry plug Asuka screams in pain and grips her shoulder as it starts to bleed.

Meanwhile in the silent Unit 01, Shinji hears Asuka's scream through his own haze of pain and yells, "Asuka!!! Come on you useless piece of junk start, start, start, start, start, start, start, start, start. Come on I need you to get up again, I have something and someone to fight for." Unit 01 eyes then light up and its head lifts up off its chest and it roars in anger.

"Unit 01 has reactivated!"

"Pilot's life signs are still erratic." Maya then further studies the new readouts on her screen, worried by what she sees, "Oh no!............ look at his synchronisation ratio."

Concerned Misato asks, "What is it? Is Unit 01 going berserk again?"

"No the pilot is in full control! Sync ratio passing the 250% mark."

"Unit 01's arm and leg are regenerating! It is restarting the attack!"

Unit 01 roars and stands up and picks up the fallen progressive knife. It then starts walking towards Unit 02 and the angel.

Worried about Asuka's injury, Shinji asks her, "Asuka are you alight?"

Asuka has a rather determined look in her eyes that becomes one of wonder and horror when she sees the battered Unit 01 walking towards her. Once she overcomes the initial shock of seeing the battered Unit 01 she replies, "Yes I am, it will take more than a flesh wound to stop me."

"Lets start again shall we?"

"Say when."

"NOW!"

Both units move as quick as they can towards the angel and start deploying their AT fields.

Surprised by the sync levels being displayed on her screen Maya informs Misato, "Uh major, look at their synchronisation ratios!"

Knowing what a high synchronisation ratio can lead to a worried Misato asks, "What are they?"

"Unit 01 is currently 350% and unit 02 is currently 92%."

"Is the pilot still with us in Unit 01?"

"Yes the pilot is still in full control and still physically intact."

Up on the command level of the bridge Gendo comments to Fuyutsuki, "It looks like my son has finally grown a backbone."

Fuyutsuki replies, "It would appear so." He then thinks, 'Yui, what would you think of how your husband uses your son?'

The angel's AT field starts to weaken.

A tired Shinji orders, "Asuka, now! I will finish this, you get ready to destroy its core."

Unit 01 then rips apart the AT field, unit 02 then launches an attack on the angel's exposed core with its progressive lance. Asuka screams in anger at the angel, "COME ON, DAMN YOU DIE."

Shinji struggling to stay conscious manages to say, "Asuka hurry, I don't know how much more of this I can take."

Unit 02 increases the pressure of the lance against the core, and the angel soon explodes in a large cross shaped explosion. Unit 01's eyes stop glowing and the evangelion unit slumps to the ground once more.

Both Asuka and Misato scream out at the same time, "Shinji!!!!!!"

"We are getting no life signs from the pilot."

Maya looks at the last synchronisation ratio readout for Unit 01 and says, "Oh no look at his synchronisation ratio right at the end."

" .......No. Don't tell me its over 400%."

"Yes. 437%"

"Will we be able to get him back again?" '.........That is if he wants to come back.'

"Once we recover Unit 01 we should be ready in 2 days. We still have all the results and procedures from last time."

Up on the command level of the bridge Fuyutsuki comments to Gendo, "It would appear that Unit 01 has claimed him again."

Gendo calmly replies, "Yes, it has again"

Unable to contact Shinji herself, Asuka decides to ask, "Misato, how is Shinji?"

"........Umm Asuka......well....Unit 01 ....has....has."

Asuka groans and says, "Oh no, not again."

"Um, yes he reached 437% and Unit 01 has absorbed him again."

"Will we be able to get him back?"

"We think so. Now return Unit 02 to its cage. We need to get your wound seen to."

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Well there ends the second part of the story.

Stay tuned for Part Three - The Return/ Reunions