Copyright Notice: I don't own Neon Genesis Evangelion or any related
characters, GAINAX does.
Quick Notes: You're probably wondering what's going on with an S2 Organ in Rei? After looking at a few S/R fics and reviews it seems what I'm going to do hasn't exactly been done much before which is a good thing for me. And about how Asuka was sort of bashed in Chapter 2, it's not going to be done any more, and I never planned for there to be any more. It gets old. The reason I threw it in Chapter 2 was for a little thing called foreshadowing. You know, we begin with a small problem with will foreshadow a much bigger problem that Shinji and Rei have to over come. I don't want to spoil any more of the plot, so just read.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Misato, Maya, and Hyuga all walked into a small shop. Hyuga immediately went over to the counter and bought a drink. "It's great for the Commander to give us a break."
"I don't think it's for our convenience."
"What do you mean, Maya?"
"Ritsuko-san has been acting a little strange. Something might be going on,"
Misato lazily walked over to the counter. "Has the Yebisu come in yet?"
"I'm sorry."
"Why did the machines have to go boom?"
Hyuga looked over at Misato. 'The Major sounds drunk even after she hasn't had any beer for the past week.'
Misato sighed. "Let me get a lottery ticket then . . . one of those where you scratch 'em with a coin." Misato paid the man and took the ticket. 'God is in heaven, but he can't fix the beer factory . . . all's wrong with the World . . .' She began scratching the card with a coin.
"Hey, Hyuga."
"Yeah?"
"What do you think of Rei?"
"She's been acting a little different lately. I guess it's because she's been hanging around Shinji so much."
"WOW!" Misato screamed.
Both Hyuga and Maya turned their attention to the Major, who was running around in circles with her hands in the air.
"Look at this number, Maya! Bigger condo here I come!"
* * * * *
"Report, Doctor." Gendou folded his hands.
Ritsuko lifted her documents and quickly scanned them. "We've examined Rei. It's an S2 Organ all right. We're not sure how it got there but we're investigating."
"Does this have any effect on her lost eyesight?"
"None that we've noticed."
"So the First Child will not be regaining her eyesight?"
"We don't think so, sir. We've also found out something else. It seems the S2 Organ isn't the type we placed in any of the Rei clones."
Gendou nodded his head. "Anything else, Doctor?"
"Two reports. One, is that the removal of Rei's S2 Organ and it fusing with Unit 00 may have been due to tampered LCL. We're unsure of how it ended up that way, but that's the most likely answer. Two, is that Rei has . . ."
"Yes, Doctor?"
"She's . . . ill."
"Ill? Influenza?"
"It's a little more dire than that . . ."
". . ."
"A LOT more dire. This threatens her . . ."
"Quickly, Doctor."
"Just read this." She threw the document onto Gendou's desk.
Gendou read the document. After, he took off his glasses and wiped them. He put his glasses back on and read it again. "I thought that when Rei was created that we made sure this could not occur."
"I thought so too. But, it looks like the problem may have to do with the S2 Organ. It's growing at a faster rate than in a normal human because it's connected to the S2 Organ . . . as odd as that really sounds."
"Doctor . . ."
"Investigating ." Ritsuko said as she turned around and headed toward the door.
* * * * *
Shinji opened the fridge and grabbed something to drink. "Wow, only 10 pounds of beer left." He turned around and took a seat on the couch. He pressed "5" on the controller and Asuka pressed "8" - Channel 58. Shinji sighed.
"Damn." Asuka whispered to herself.
She pressed "8" and Shinji pressed "5" - Channel 85. Shinji sighed again.
Misato now came in, dancing in joy. "Pack your stuff up, we're moving out!"
"Moving out?" they both asked in unison.
"A bigger condo! I've already gotten clearance from Nerv and got the apartment! Here's the address!" She threw a piece of paper and it landed on Shinji's face. He took it off and was going to read it before Asuka snatched it away.
"Looks like the walk to wonder girl's place isn't as far as before."
Misato looked at Shinji. "How cute, you and Rei."
Shinji blushed. Asuka found everything sickening but decided it wasn't her place to comment about anything . . . especially after what she did yesterday.
"Well, gather all of your stuff. And . . . do you think you could help me transporting the beer?"
* * * * *
Rei walked around her apartment room like she usually did. Being blind didn't bother her much anymore, thanks to Maya, she'd learned brail. Randomly, every few hours she would walk near the window and extended her hands. She could tell if it was sunlight or moonlight shining on her hands as if it were some sort of sixth sense. She did this right then and there. It was about 4:13 PM, but she really didn't care what time it was. She continued to feel the sunlight. She liked the warmth, it reminded her of Shinji. 'Would he want to . . .' Rei's thought process suddenly ended. She shot back around and had a odd look on her face. ". . . ?"
Rei took a few steps. "Who is there?" She shook her head. The voices were gone. Then, she heard it again. She walked up to the door and opened it and continued walking. "Closet . . . I must remember this." She closed the door and walked toward her correct door - the front door. She opened it. She could usually. "Who is there?" There was no answer. This was a bad time not to have your eyesight.
She stepped back into her apartment and closed the door. She began to hear the voices again. She couldn't tell where they were coming from. She walked into her bedroom and heard the lyrics of "Fly Me to the Moon". "Shinji's tape recorder." Rei knelt down and had her hands search for Shinji's SDAT. He must've left it there. She turned it off and placed the SDAT on her bed. She stepped out of her bedroom and heard the voices once again. "Who is there?"
Then, she realized it. The voice was come from within her. "Who are you? Why are you in me?"
"I didn't have a choice. This was the only body I knew how to survive in. I jumped from body to body. I even picked up an illness but fought on to survive."
"How? How is it possible that you are capable of surviving after what I had did?"
"Are you angered? This is our body."
"No, it is my body."
"If a lilum owns a body because he is in it, then this body belongs to both of us because we are both in it."
"N-No. It is my body alone."
"Ha. Your feelings have manifested. You should thank me. You are feeling a new feeling as we speak."
Rei was feeling feelings over time. When she was the first she was as emotionless as a "doll" as Asuka would say. During her reawakening as the second, she had begun to feel these feelings. Shinji felt love toward her, Asuka felt anger, Ritsuko was jealousy, and the list went on. But the one she was feeling now was . . .
"I think it's called greed. You want that boy all to yourself with no one in the way. That's love. I learn much from you lilum . . . especially you, this is rather enjoying."
"I still do not understand how you were capable of surviving and if you are really who I think you may be."
"It is I, the 16th, Armisael. Arael warned me telepathically of the will of the blue, red, and purple ones just before she died. Amazing . . . you almost got us both. Your self-destruction incinerated my entire body but barely but did not wipe out my S2 Organ. I survived by jumping from body to body as I said before. And now, I am in a body that I know I can take care of myself in."
"But this is my body. My personal anatomy that I may exist in. It is the image that represent that it is I. It belongs to no one but myself."
"But I like this body."
"Do you wish to stay in this body for your eternity?"
"Yes."
She immediately got up and ran out the door.
* * * * *
"Well, that's it. If you want you can check your room out later and go see Rei and tell her the good news."
"Okay, goodbye, Misato-san."
"And don't do anything too naughty, okay?"
"Misato-san . . ."
"I'm kidding."
Shinji got into the apartment elevator. He listened to the elevator music. (Rei's theme) He now just realized he left his SDAT at her apartment. The elevator got to the lobby. He stepped out and walked over to the apartment complex entrance and left. As soon as he got out, something flew into his hands.
Rei felt the hands around her. The hands wrapped around her were familiar. "Shinji?"
"Uh . . . Rei?"
"May I ask you a question?"
"Okay."
"If . . . I was I, but another entity wanted my body, and I did not have a choice but to share my body, would you still love me?"
Shinji was totally confused, but put in a somewhat confident answer. "Sure."
She looked down at her documents and sighed. She had no choice but to interrupt them. She couldn't believe what she was about to do was part of her job. "Hello, Shinji, Rei."
"Oh, hello Ritsuko-san."
"I need to talk to both of you and Misato right now. Is this your new apartment building?"
"This is it."
"Let's go."
* * * * *
"I think you should take a seat." Ritsuko said. "I thought this would be important for both you and Shinji to know if you really are in a relationship with him."
Rei nodded.
"Should I stay?" Misato asked.
"If you want. Asuka could stay too . . . though I don't advise it." Misato stayed and Asuka stayed anyway. Rei sat down next to Shinji.
Ritsuko quickly flipped through her documents. "Well . . . we've been investigating Rei's organs and anatomy for some time now."
After she had said that, she remained silent for a few seconds. Misato got a little impatient. "And?"
"We've found . . . a few things that are . . . interesting." 'God I shouldn't say interesting.' "We've also found a few things that may endanger her . . ."
Shinji immediately jumped. "W-What do you mean?!"
"Rei, well . . ."
"Can you get to the point?" asked the overly impatient Misato.
"Rei has a form of cancer that may have somehow been gained through her Angel DNA."
Rei felt something new - fear. Shinji looked at Rei with fear in his eyes. He turned back to Ritsuko. "Is there a - "
"As I said, it's an unknown form. We're not sure if a cure exists or if there's a way to remove it." 'I wish I could tell them about Rei's S2 Organ, the tumor is coming from it. The reason it's growing so rapidly is because of that . . . '
"T-This can't be right. There's no way."
"I'm sorry, Shinji."
"How long does she have to live?"
"We're not sure of that as well. It could be a few years or she could drop de - " She stopped in the middle of her words and was about to smack herself. Now wasn't the time for humor. "I think I should go now." Ritsuko got up, handed a document in brail to Rei, and left. She was going to compliment Misato on the larger condo, but knew it wasn't the time for that either. She just let herself out.
Asuka shot up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did Ritsuko-san say Angel DNA?" Rei turned her head toward where she had heard Asuka's voice. Asuka walked over to her. "You're an Angel?!" She turned her head to Shinji. "Did you know this?"'
Shinji was lost in his confusion. He was starring at the ground and didn't want to look at the fear that might be imploding in Rei's face. He finally raised his head. "What did you say?"
"Did you know she was an Angel?!"
Shinji was now angry. Rei was in danger of dying and she was worried about what Rei was. He rose from his chair in screamed at Asuka in the face. "Yes, I did know!"
"Oh . . . then . . ."
"Just back off, Asuka."
She really didn't have a choice. She backed away and walked into her new room. Shinji sat back down next to Rei. He really didn't know what to say to her. He saw the confused looks in her face.
Misato rose from her seat. "Rei . . . I'm just, real sorry. If I can do anything just ask."
". . ."
"I'm going to be in the kitchen if anybody needs me . . ."
Shinji looked at Rei. Everything seemed to be going so well . . . then it drops down to hell. 'Why did it have to be like this?' Shinji thought to himself. 'WHY?' Shinji slowly worked up some courage to speak. "Rei, are . . . do . . . you need anything?"
Rei nodded.
"What is it that you need?"
She was afraid to answer.
"Rei?"
She was too afraid of what his response might be.
"Rei, I'll give you anything."
"I want . . ."
"Go ahead."
Rei turned her head to the left. "I supposed you would know."
"Oh, Rei, I know that, I just that that wanted something else at this time. There's a chance that you might not live much longer . . ." The idea of Rei not living longer hurt them both.
"Nothing else," Rei replied. "I only wish to be with you."
"Well you know," Misato said stepping into the main room of their new apartment. "This is actually a four bedroom apartment. We were going to turn the fourth bedroom into a bar room but I guess it could wait."
"So you're saying Rei can stay?" Shinji asked.
Misato nodded. "Yeah, it would be alright."
Rei smiled. "Thank you, Major Katsuragi."
"Just please call me, "Misato"."
Shinji smiled as well. "I'll get your things from your apartment, Rei?"
"Thank you, Shinji."
Shinji left the apartment. Rei heard the door swing open and close. She then held tightly on to the documents Ritsuko had handed to her.
* * * * *
Misato directed Rei to her room. Rei wanted a little privacy now. She placed her fingers on the document and guided them across the document. She understood the brail. When she had finished, she placed the document at the foot of the bed. "It . . . it is unfair," Rei slowly said. A tear escaped her permanently closed eyelids. She slowly fell back onto her pillow. The bed was a little stiff since it was new. Rei didn't care. It was just unfair. This was the first time Rei had ever considered something unfair to herself. The first ever "conceited" thought. She hated it. She hated it more than anything else. Then she knew this could probably be her first and last "conceited" thought. She was in danger of dying. Everything was hurting her mentally.
There was now a knock on the door.
Rei didn't answer. It wasn't Shinji's knock.
The knocking continued.
"You may come in."
"It's me, Asuka."
"Acknowledged."
'She's so weird,' Asuka thought to herself. "Well, wond - . . . I mean, Ayanami. I . . . I just want to say . . ." Asuka stopped for a few seconds.
"What is your purpose here, Soryu?"
"I know we really don't get along often, but I just wanted to say that I'm . . . I'm just really, really sorry."
". . ."
"And about yesterday, I was just blowing off steam. A lot of steam. I really didn't mean a lot of things. And I didn't mean to hurt you. I was, well . . ."
"Jealous?"
'Mein gott . . . she read me just like a book.' "Yeah, I was jealous. I just sort of miss having Kaji around because I considered him a . . . a . . ."
"A lover?"
"Yeah, a lover."
"Your apology is accepted, Soryu."
"Umm . . . then, thanks, Ayanami. I guess I'll be going now."
Asuka turned around, but before she left the room, Rei called her back. "Soryu."
"Yeah?"
"Why did you hesitate to call Ryouji-san your lover?"
"I hesitated?"
"Is it because you are . . .scared because he had rejected you?"
"Kaji didn't reject . . ." She stopped.
"Jealousy?"
"Yes, Ayanami. Jealousy that you were accepted by Shinji and Kaji had rejected me."
"Is your life always this miserable?"
Asuka didn't get angry, she knew it was a pretty innocent question. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. "Not really."
"You are a bad liar, Soryu."
'Can she read everyone this easily?'
"Soryu, may I ask you a question?"
"I guess so."
"What if Shinji wishes to leave me?"
"Leave you? Hell no. If I've learned anything from the past few days, that's the last thing he'll do."
'I hope you are correct.'
"I'm going to go now. I guess we'll talk later." She turned around.
"Soryu."
Asuka turned toward Rei once again. "What is it?"
"Does this make us . . . friends?"
"I . . . umm . . .well . . . yeah, I guess that makes us friends. See you later, Ayanami."
"Goodbye, Soryu."
Asuka left the room. "That wasn't so bad. That was actually pretty normal of wonder girl."
* * * * *
Rei was lying down. She now heard a call from within her. "What do you wish to achieve by using my body?"
Armisael didn't answer.
"What is your goal?"
Still no answer.
"Why do you torment me?"
"I am not tormenting you."
"Can you not see the pain I have? I am going to die."
"Die? Because of the disease I am harboring? I never knew lilum diseases could be so deadly."
"This is your fault? I am going to perish because of your greed?"
"But isn't death part of life?"
"And what is death if you die at the beginning of your true life."
Armisael didn't know how to answer. He was speechless. "Then, forgive me."
"Forgive you? Even though you continue to torment me even after I have asked you to leave me be?"
"I am sorry. I cannot survive any other way."
"But why me?"
No answer.
"Why? For what purpose?"
Rei heard no response.
* * * * *
Shinji was now walking back to the apartment with most of Rei's stuff stuffed into a baggage Misato had lent him. Beginning about 23 minutes ago when Ritsuko addressed them of Rei's condition, he was thinking about Rei. It all hit him just as hard as it hit Rei. He was so close to Rei now. Was she going to act distant again? "No way," he said to himself. Rei said herself that she what she wanted was Shinji - nothing else. "Me," Shinji said. "All she wants is me. Just me." No one has ever felt this way toward Shinji the same way before. Most of the females in Shinji's life were either weird, misunderstood, or at the extreme, paranoid. Rei was no exception she had all three of these traits. But she had so much of each that she was different. Different to the point she actually understood Shinji. And now, there is the chance that he is going to lose her. He had everything to lose now. Shinji fell to his knees. "Everything is what I'm going to lose," Shinji whispered to himself. He rose back up and continued down the street. He entered the apartment building and got into an elevator. Soon, he was in his new apartment. He rolled the luggage into Rei's room.
"Hello, Shinji."
"Hi, Rei." His voice was slightly depressing.
"Shinji. Come here."
He walked over to the bed and knelt down.
"If you wish to leave me to end your pain, it would not hurt me."
"I'm not going to leave you, Rei! Where did you get an idea like that!"
She sat up now. "Wouldn't it ease your pain just to let go?"
"Sure, maybe, but I'm not. It just wouldn't be right."
"But am I going to die. It would damage you too much."
"Then I . . . I'll live with that. I'm not going to run away. Besides, I bet Ritsuko-san can find some sort of way to remove this tumor."
"Then you suppose everything will be alright?"
He nodded.
Rei didn't say anything.
"Rei? Something wrong?"
"I am awaiting your answer."
'Stupid. Keep on forgetting that she's blind.' "Yes, Rei, everything is just going to be alright."
"Thank you, Shinji."
"You should get some rest."
She nodded, and lied back.
"Goodnight, Rei."
Rei didn't respond. Shinji figured she was asleep already. He got up and gave her a light kiss on the cheek, and left the room. But Rei wasn't asleep. She didn't answer because she felt a nudge from within her. It was that S2 Organ. It was Armisael. Rei didn't answer because she was incredibly disturbed. She sacrificed her life before to save the one she loved and destroy Armisael. Now she was paying the ultimate price.
Quick Notes: You're probably wondering what's going on with an S2 Organ in Rei? After looking at a few S/R fics and reviews it seems what I'm going to do hasn't exactly been done much before which is a good thing for me. And about how Asuka was sort of bashed in Chapter 2, it's not going to be done any more, and I never planned for there to be any more. It gets old. The reason I threw it in Chapter 2 was for a little thing called foreshadowing. You know, we begin with a small problem with will foreshadow a much bigger problem that Shinji and Rei have to over come. I don't want to spoil any more of the plot, so just read.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Misato, Maya, and Hyuga all walked into a small shop. Hyuga immediately went over to the counter and bought a drink. "It's great for the Commander to give us a break."
"I don't think it's for our convenience."
"What do you mean, Maya?"
"Ritsuko-san has been acting a little strange. Something might be going on,"
Misato lazily walked over to the counter. "Has the Yebisu come in yet?"
"I'm sorry."
"Why did the machines have to go boom?"
Hyuga looked over at Misato. 'The Major sounds drunk even after she hasn't had any beer for the past week.'
Misato sighed. "Let me get a lottery ticket then . . . one of those where you scratch 'em with a coin." Misato paid the man and took the ticket. 'God is in heaven, but he can't fix the beer factory . . . all's wrong with the World . . .' She began scratching the card with a coin.
"Hey, Hyuga."
"Yeah?"
"What do you think of Rei?"
"She's been acting a little different lately. I guess it's because she's been hanging around Shinji so much."
"WOW!" Misato screamed.
Both Hyuga and Maya turned their attention to the Major, who was running around in circles with her hands in the air.
"Look at this number, Maya! Bigger condo here I come!"
* * * * *
"Report, Doctor." Gendou folded his hands.
Ritsuko lifted her documents and quickly scanned them. "We've examined Rei. It's an S2 Organ all right. We're not sure how it got there but we're investigating."
"Does this have any effect on her lost eyesight?"
"None that we've noticed."
"So the First Child will not be regaining her eyesight?"
"We don't think so, sir. We've also found out something else. It seems the S2 Organ isn't the type we placed in any of the Rei clones."
Gendou nodded his head. "Anything else, Doctor?"
"Two reports. One, is that the removal of Rei's S2 Organ and it fusing with Unit 00 may have been due to tampered LCL. We're unsure of how it ended up that way, but that's the most likely answer. Two, is that Rei has . . ."
"Yes, Doctor?"
"She's . . . ill."
"Ill? Influenza?"
"It's a little more dire than that . . ."
". . ."
"A LOT more dire. This threatens her . . ."
"Quickly, Doctor."
"Just read this." She threw the document onto Gendou's desk.
Gendou read the document. After, he took off his glasses and wiped them. He put his glasses back on and read it again. "I thought that when Rei was created that we made sure this could not occur."
"I thought so too. But, it looks like the problem may have to do with the S2 Organ. It's growing at a faster rate than in a normal human because it's connected to the S2 Organ . . . as odd as that really sounds."
"Doctor . . ."
"Investigating ." Ritsuko said as she turned around and headed toward the door.
* * * * *
Shinji opened the fridge and grabbed something to drink. "Wow, only 10 pounds of beer left." He turned around and took a seat on the couch. He pressed "5" on the controller and Asuka pressed "8" - Channel 58. Shinji sighed.
"Damn." Asuka whispered to herself.
She pressed "8" and Shinji pressed "5" - Channel 85. Shinji sighed again.
Misato now came in, dancing in joy. "Pack your stuff up, we're moving out!"
"Moving out?" they both asked in unison.
"A bigger condo! I've already gotten clearance from Nerv and got the apartment! Here's the address!" She threw a piece of paper and it landed on Shinji's face. He took it off and was going to read it before Asuka snatched it away.
"Looks like the walk to wonder girl's place isn't as far as before."
Misato looked at Shinji. "How cute, you and Rei."
Shinji blushed. Asuka found everything sickening but decided it wasn't her place to comment about anything . . . especially after what she did yesterday.
"Well, gather all of your stuff. And . . . do you think you could help me transporting the beer?"
* * * * *
Rei walked around her apartment room like she usually did. Being blind didn't bother her much anymore, thanks to Maya, she'd learned brail. Randomly, every few hours she would walk near the window and extended her hands. She could tell if it was sunlight or moonlight shining on her hands as if it were some sort of sixth sense. She did this right then and there. It was about 4:13 PM, but she really didn't care what time it was. She continued to feel the sunlight. She liked the warmth, it reminded her of Shinji. 'Would he want to . . .' Rei's thought process suddenly ended. She shot back around and had a odd look on her face. ". . . ?"
Rei took a few steps. "Who is there?" She shook her head. The voices were gone. Then, she heard it again. She walked up to the door and opened it and continued walking. "Closet . . . I must remember this." She closed the door and walked toward her correct door - the front door. She opened it. She could usually. "Who is there?" There was no answer. This was a bad time not to have your eyesight.
She stepped back into her apartment and closed the door. She began to hear the voices again. She couldn't tell where they were coming from. She walked into her bedroom and heard the lyrics of "Fly Me to the Moon". "Shinji's tape recorder." Rei knelt down and had her hands search for Shinji's SDAT. He must've left it there. She turned it off and placed the SDAT on her bed. She stepped out of her bedroom and heard the voices once again. "Who is there?"
Then, she realized it. The voice was come from within her. "Who are you? Why are you in me?"
"I didn't have a choice. This was the only body I knew how to survive in. I jumped from body to body. I even picked up an illness but fought on to survive."
"How? How is it possible that you are capable of surviving after what I had did?"
"Are you angered? This is our body."
"No, it is my body."
"If a lilum owns a body because he is in it, then this body belongs to both of us because we are both in it."
"N-No. It is my body alone."
"Ha. Your feelings have manifested. You should thank me. You are feeling a new feeling as we speak."
Rei was feeling feelings over time. When she was the first she was as emotionless as a "doll" as Asuka would say. During her reawakening as the second, she had begun to feel these feelings. Shinji felt love toward her, Asuka felt anger, Ritsuko was jealousy, and the list went on. But the one she was feeling now was . . .
"I think it's called greed. You want that boy all to yourself with no one in the way. That's love. I learn much from you lilum . . . especially you, this is rather enjoying."
"I still do not understand how you were capable of surviving and if you are really who I think you may be."
"It is I, the 16th, Armisael. Arael warned me telepathically of the will of the blue, red, and purple ones just before she died. Amazing . . . you almost got us both. Your self-destruction incinerated my entire body but barely but did not wipe out my S2 Organ. I survived by jumping from body to body as I said before. And now, I am in a body that I know I can take care of myself in."
"But this is my body. My personal anatomy that I may exist in. It is the image that represent that it is I. It belongs to no one but myself."
"But I like this body."
"Do you wish to stay in this body for your eternity?"
"Yes."
She immediately got up and ran out the door.
* * * * *
"Well, that's it. If you want you can check your room out later and go see Rei and tell her the good news."
"Okay, goodbye, Misato-san."
"And don't do anything too naughty, okay?"
"Misato-san . . ."
"I'm kidding."
Shinji got into the apartment elevator. He listened to the elevator music. (Rei's theme) He now just realized he left his SDAT at her apartment. The elevator got to the lobby. He stepped out and walked over to the apartment complex entrance and left. As soon as he got out, something flew into his hands.
Rei felt the hands around her. The hands wrapped around her were familiar. "Shinji?"
"Uh . . . Rei?"
"May I ask you a question?"
"Okay."
"If . . . I was I, but another entity wanted my body, and I did not have a choice but to share my body, would you still love me?"
Shinji was totally confused, but put in a somewhat confident answer. "Sure."
She looked down at her documents and sighed. She had no choice but to interrupt them. She couldn't believe what she was about to do was part of her job. "Hello, Shinji, Rei."
"Oh, hello Ritsuko-san."
"I need to talk to both of you and Misato right now. Is this your new apartment building?"
"This is it."
"Let's go."
* * * * *
"I think you should take a seat." Ritsuko said. "I thought this would be important for both you and Shinji to know if you really are in a relationship with him."
Rei nodded.
"Should I stay?" Misato asked.
"If you want. Asuka could stay too . . . though I don't advise it." Misato stayed and Asuka stayed anyway. Rei sat down next to Shinji.
Ritsuko quickly flipped through her documents. "Well . . . we've been investigating Rei's organs and anatomy for some time now."
After she had said that, she remained silent for a few seconds. Misato got a little impatient. "And?"
"We've found . . . a few things that are . . . interesting." 'God I shouldn't say interesting.' "We've also found a few things that may endanger her . . ."
Shinji immediately jumped. "W-What do you mean?!"
"Rei, well . . ."
"Can you get to the point?" asked the overly impatient Misato.
"Rei has a form of cancer that may have somehow been gained through her Angel DNA."
Rei felt something new - fear. Shinji looked at Rei with fear in his eyes. He turned back to Ritsuko. "Is there a - "
"As I said, it's an unknown form. We're not sure if a cure exists or if there's a way to remove it." 'I wish I could tell them about Rei's S2 Organ, the tumor is coming from it. The reason it's growing so rapidly is because of that . . . '
"T-This can't be right. There's no way."
"I'm sorry, Shinji."
"How long does she have to live?"
"We're not sure of that as well. It could be a few years or she could drop de - " She stopped in the middle of her words and was about to smack herself. Now wasn't the time for humor. "I think I should go now." Ritsuko got up, handed a document in brail to Rei, and left. She was going to compliment Misato on the larger condo, but knew it wasn't the time for that either. She just let herself out.
Asuka shot up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did Ritsuko-san say Angel DNA?" Rei turned her head toward where she had heard Asuka's voice. Asuka walked over to her. "You're an Angel?!" She turned her head to Shinji. "Did you know this?"'
Shinji was lost in his confusion. He was starring at the ground and didn't want to look at the fear that might be imploding in Rei's face. He finally raised his head. "What did you say?"
"Did you know she was an Angel?!"
Shinji was now angry. Rei was in danger of dying and she was worried about what Rei was. He rose from his chair in screamed at Asuka in the face. "Yes, I did know!"
"Oh . . . then . . ."
"Just back off, Asuka."
She really didn't have a choice. She backed away and walked into her new room. Shinji sat back down next to Rei. He really didn't know what to say to her. He saw the confused looks in her face.
Misato rose from her seat. "Rei . . . I'm just, real sorry. If I can do anything just ask."
". . ."
"I'm going to be in the kitchen if anybody needs me . . ."
Shinji looked at Rei. Everything seemed to be going so well . . . then it drops down to hell. 'Why did it have to be like this?' Shinji thought to himself. 'WHY?' Shinji slowly worked up some courage to speak. "Rei, are . . . do . . . you need anything?"
Rei nodded.
"What is it that you need?"
She was afraid to answer.
"Rei?"
She was too afraid of what his response might be.
"Rei, I'll give you anything."
"I want . . ."
"Go ahead."
Rei turned her head to the left. "I supposed you would know."
"Oh, Rei, I know that, I just that that wanted something else at this time. There's a chance that you might not live much longer . . ." The idea of Rei not living longer hurt them both.
"Nothing else," Rei replied. "I only wish to be with you."
"Well you know," Misato said stepping into the main room of their new apartment. "This is actually a four bedroom apartment. We were going to turn the fourth bedroom into a bar room but I guess it could wait."
"So you're saying Rei can stay?" Shinji asked.
Misato nodded. "Yeah, it would be alright."
Rei smiled. "Thank you, Major Katsuragi."
"Just please call me, "Misato"."
Shinji smiled as well. "I'll get your things from your apartment, Rei?"
"Thank you, Shinji."
Shinji left the apartment. Rei heard the door swing open and close. She then held tightly on to the documents Ritsuko had handed to her.
* * * * *
Misato directed Rei to her room. Rei wanted a little privacy now. She placed her fingers on the document and guided them across the document. She understood the brail. When she had finished, she placed the document at the foot of the bed. "It . . . it is unfair," Rei slowly said. A tear escaped her permanently closed eyelids. She slowly fell back onto her pillow. The bed was a little stiff since it was new. Rei didn't care. It was just unfair. This was the first time Rei had ever considered something unfair to herself. The first ever "conceited" thought. She hated it. She hated it more than anything else. Then she knew this could probably be her first and last "conceited" thought. She was in danger of dying. Everything was hurting her mentally.
There was now a knock on the door.
Rei didn't answer. It wasn't Shinji's knock.
The knocking continued.
"You may come in."
"It's me, Asuka."
"Acknowledged."
'She's so weird,' Asuka thought to herself. "Well, wond - . . . I mean, Ayanami. I . . . I just want to say . . ." Asuka stopped for a few seconds.
"What is your purpose here, Soryu?"
"I know we really don't get along often, but I just wanted to say that I'm . . . I'm just really, really sorry."
". . ."
"And about yesterday, I was just blowing off steam. A lot of steam. I really didn't mean a lot of things. And I didn't mean to hurt you. I was, well . . ."
"Jealous?"
'Mein gott . . . she read me just like a book.' "Yeah, I was jealous. I just sort of miss having Kaji around because I considered him a . . . a . . ."
"A lover?"
"Yeah, a lover."
"Your apology is accepted, Soryu."
"Umm . . . then, thanks, Ayanami. I guess I'll be going now."
Asuka turned around, but before she left the room, Rei called her back. "Soryu."
"Yeah?"
"Why did you hesitate to call Ryouji-san your lover?"
"I hesitated?"
"Is it because you are . . .scared because he had rejected you?"
"Kaji didn't reject . . ." She stopped.
"Jealousy?"
"Yes, Ayanami. Jealousy that you were accepted by Shinji and Kaji had rejected me."
"Is your life always this miserable?"
Asuka didn't get angry, she knew it was a pretty innocent question. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. "Not really."
"You are a bad liar, Soryu."
'Can she read everyone this easily?'
"Soryu, may I ask you a question?"
"I guess so."
"What if Shinji wishes to leave me?"
"Leave you? Hell no. If I've learned anything from the past few days, that's the last thing he'll do."
'I hope you are correct.'
"I'm going to go now. I guess we'll talk later." She turned around.
"Soryu."
Asuka turned toward Rei once again. "What is it?"
"Does this make us . . . friends?"
"I . . . umm . . .well . . . yeah, I guess that makes us friends. See you later, Ayanami."
"Goodbye, Soryu."
Asuka left the room. "That wasn't so bad. That was actually pretty normal of wonder girl."
* * * * *
Rei was lying down. She now heard a call from within her. "What do you wish to achieve by using my body?"
Armisael didn't answer.
"What is your goal?"
Still no answer.
"Why do you torment me?"
"I am not tormenting you."
"Can you not see the pain I have? I am going to die."
"Die? Because of the disease I am harboring? I never knew lilum diseases could be so deadly."
"This is your fault? I am going to perish because of your greed?"
"But isn't death part of life?"
"And what is death if you die at the beginning of your true life."
Armisael didn't know how to answer. He was speechless. "Then, forgive me."
"Forgive you? Even though you continue to torment me even after I have asked you to leave me be?"
"I am sorry. I cannot survive any other way."
"But why me?"
No answer.
"Why? For what purpose?"
Rei heard no response.
* * * * *
Shinji was now walking back to the apartment with most of Rei's stuff stuffed into a baggage Misato had lent him. Beginning about 23 minutes ago when Ritsuko addressed them of Rei's condition, he was thinking about Rei. It all hit him just as hard as it hit Rei. He was so close to Rei now. Was she going to act distant again? "No way," he said to himself. Rei said herself that she what she wanted was Shinji - nothing else. "Me," Shinji said. "All she wants is me. Just me." No one has ever felt this way toward Shinji the same way before. Most of the females in Shinji's life were either weird, misunderstood, or at the extreme, paranoid. Rei was no exception she had all three of these traits. But she had so much of each that she was different. Different to the point she actually understood Shinji. And now, there is the chance that he is going to lose her. He had everything to lose now. Shinji fell to his knees. "Everything is what I'm going to lose," Shinji whispered to himself. He rose back up and continued down the street. He entered the apartment building and got into an elevator. Soon, he was in his new apartment. He rolled the luggage into Rei's room.
"Hello, Shinji."
"Hi, Rei." His voice was slightly depressing.
"Shinji. Come here."
He walked over to the bed and knelt down.
"If you wish to leave me to end your pain, it would not hurt me."
"I'm not going to leave you, Rei! Where did you get an idea like that!"
She sat up now. "Wouldn't it ease your pain just to let go?"
"Sure, maybe, but I'm not. It just wouldn't be right."
"But am I going to die. It would damage you too much."
"Then I . . . I'll live with that. I'm not going to run away. Besides, I bet Ritsuko-san can find some sort of way to remove this tumor."
"Then you suppose everything will be alright?"
He nodded.
Rei didn't say anything.
"Rei? Something wrong?"
"I am awaiting your answer."
'Stupid. Keep on forgetting that she's blind.' "Yes, Rei, everything is just going to be alright."
"Thank you, Shinji."
"You should get some rest."
She nodded, and lied back.
"Goodnight, Rei."
Rei didn't respond. Shinji figured she was asleep already. He got up and gave her a light kiss on the cheek, and left the room. But Rei wasn't asleep. She didn't answer because she felt a nudge from within her. It was that S2 Organ. It was Armisael. Rei didn't answer because she was incredibly disturbed. She sacrificed her life before to save the one she loved and destroy Armisael. Now she was paying the ultimate price.
