Not Without My Shinji
Chapter 4: Perspective
Evangelion and Eva concepts are copyright © 1995-1999 GAINAX and Project Eva.
Not Without my Shinji original fanfiction written and owned by David Hutchings. Any reproduction of this work, in whole or in part, without express permission is strictly prohibited.


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*It has been several days since the first Angel attack. Since then, live in Tokyo-3 has returned to normal. NERV is rebuilding some of the more heavily damaged parts of the city, citizens go about their daily business, students return to school, and everything hsa a general air of tranquility around it. Shinji has been training very hard with Unit 01 and has been making considerable progress. The only problem is that he hasn't said a word since that night.*



Ritsuko: Ready for your next training sim, Shinji?

Shinji: ........

Ritsuko: *sighs* I guess so...

*Ritsuko begins the simulation*

Misato: He's been like that ever since the battle... I wish we had never pushed him like that.

Ritsuko: I know how you feel, but I don't think that our pushing had anything to do with his current condition. Something happened to him inside that plug.

Misato: What do you mean?

Ritsuko: *Hands Misato a printout* Here. See for yourself.

*Misato skims the data for aa few moments*

Misato: So? This looks normal to me.

Ritsuko: It is. At least untill you read the part where Unit 01 went silent... Then the values change dramaticly.

Misato: You're right! This looks more like Rei's Synchro pattern!

Ritsuko: It's close, but it's not an exact match.

Misato: Could it be a leftover from Rei's core data in the EVA? You were trying to switch over so Rei could battle that night.

Ritsuko: Anything's possible. We still don't have enough information to make a judgement yet.

Misato: When will we know for sure?

Ritsuko: *sighs* When our silent witness in there decides to talk about what really happened in there.



*After his training session, Shinji quickly retires to the locker room. There he spends several minutes trying to cough up the last remnents of LCL. Afterwards Shinji tries to wash the vile stuff out of his hair.*

Shinji: *thinking to himself* What in the world is this stuff anyway? As soon as I get out of the plug, it starts to harden. Mother might know...

Shinji: Mother... She said she was my mother... But my mother died when I was really little. I don't even really remember what she looked like...

*Shinji sighs, and steps out of the shower, having washed most of the LCL off.*

Shinji: *thinking* I have to tell someone, but who can I tell? They'll all think I'm crazy.

*Shinji spends the next few minutes in silence, gathering up his things, and wondering who he can turn to.*

Shinji: *Aloud* I just don't know anymore...



*Alone in a conference room, five men are discussing recent events regarding Unit 01 and the EVA project.*

White member: Are you certain that he has completed Malkuth?

Red member: All the signs are present. It has to be him.

Green member: What a cumbersome way of doing things. Why must we rely on this boy?

White member: Because he is the on e the prophecy spoke of. This is the task he was born to.

Yellow member: But are you certain? You have been known to...make mistakes...from time to time.

Blue member: It has to be him. No one else could have controlled the EVA like that.

Green: Hmph...EVA...It's as unreliable as the boy.

Red: True enough. But it is the only tool we have.

Green: Perhaps you're right...

White: Then it's settled. He is the boy we have been looking for, is'nt he?

*All are silent*

White: Fine. We shall see how this plays out. Until then, we are adjourned.

*All the council members fade out, except for white.*

White: Ikari...I pray you taught your boy well...

*White dissapears, Leaving the empy conference room.*



*Misato is taking Shinji to her apartment after his training session. Shinji has been quiet the whole time, and Misato wonders about him.*

Misato: *thinking* Weird kid...he hasn't said anything since the battle with the Angel. I guess he just needs some time to work out his problems by himself...

*Misato looks over at Shinji, who is just staringout the window.*

Misato: *thinking* Come to think about it, there hasn't been much that has made much sense about that battle... I mean, he shouldn't have been able to just hop in an EVA and start kicking butt like that! Rei had several months of experience, and even she couldn't do the things that Shinji did!

*Misato glances over at Shinji, still silent*

Misato: *thinking* I'll bet anything that Shinji's skill has something to do with that synchro abnormality that Ritsu showed me. Something happened in there that gave Shinji incredible control over the EVA. That's the only thing that could account for it all.

*Again, Misato glances at Shinji.*

Misato: *thinking* He'll tell me when he's ready.



*Gendo is reading some of the day's reports, when Fuyutsuki enters. The door makes a faint whooshing sound as it opnes and closes. as Fuyutsuki draws near, his footsteps echo throughout the spacious but bare office.*

Gendo: Ahh...Fuyutsuki...I've been meaning to speak with you. *puts reports down*

Fuyutsuki: Hmm...It's about the old man, isn't it?

Gendo: Yes. It seems that he believes Shinji is the key to our problems.

Fuyutsuki: Well, with his performance the other day, it's hard not to believe.

Gendo: It is indeed.

Fuyutsuki: He even showed up your prize pupil.

Gendo: Don't discount Rei yet...

Fuyutsuki: I wouldn't dream of it. She's important to this as well...

Gendo: Indeed.

Fuyutsuki: You're very proud of them, aren't you?

Gendo: *leans back in his chair* I have always been proud of them. Especially Shinji.

Fuyutsuki: You could try telling him...

Gendo: *sighs* We...haven't been on very good terms...since...

Fuyutsuki: I know. But she's not gone. She now protects your son. The incident in the cage showed us that.

Gendo: It's been so hard...on all of us. *sighs* Do you think that he will ever understand?

Fuyutsuki: Maybe. *chuckles* Maybe he feels her presence even now.

Gendo: Perhaps. You will watch for me?

Fuyutsuki: Of course.

Gendo: Thank you, old friend.

Fuyutsuki: Anytime.

*With that, Fuyutsuki walks out of Gendo's office, his footsteps echoing behind him. Gendo is left to ponder his friend's words, and the fate of his son and wife.*

Gendo: Yui...Wait for me...