Hey! This is chapter 8 of this fic. At first I have no intention of putting up a chapter 8 that's why it took so long before I added a chapter 8. Thanks for the review asking for a chapter 8 so I decided to finally make it. Why do I babble? Enough! Proceed to reading.
Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion and SailorMoon. I'm just borrowing them. (Do readers have to be reminded of that always?)
Chapter 8
Time refused to move for Misato as the screen showed the great destruction of the cruel angel and the Evangelion…no one dared to accept the death of the pilot herself. The destruction created a large explosion that it never stopped blazing with fire. The crew in NERV HQ stared in disbelief. They could clearly see that at the center of the fire and smoke are two robots and there was no getting out of it.
No sound was heard, no tears fell. Gendou watched, having just arrived at the headquarters. His heart sank, though he doesn't show it, for the excellent pilot and the girl who stood up to him to make him have time with his son.
Shinji, Rei and Asuka never knew that a pilot could go as far as this. They silently blamed themselves for being weak and believed that her death was their fault. If they fought and held their stand, if Asuka used her training essentially, if Shinji had calmed and concentrated on the battle rather than being stupid…they could have saved Serena. They wouldn't be seeing an end like this.
Gendou took the chance to break the ice, "Would you just stand there? Move! Send rescue teams for all the pilots. Make sure the three pilots are safe, quick!"
The crew responded in silent reply. Each need not be ordered for they knew exactly what to do. For the past days, those few days that they have been with Serena, they have been greeted with a cheerful face and there were times that seeing two golden buns hoping up and down the corridors and hearing her hymn of delightful music could make them smile.
Maya remembered Serena lecturing Asuka about being strong in facing the Angels, "Asuka, when you see an Angel ready to clobber you and smash you in the face, you have to be strong and face it."
Asuka made face, "You don't need to tell me that. I'm strong and I'm the strongest of the silent types and cowards like Rei and Shinji. Actually, you really need to lecture Shinji about that not me." Maya chuckled at that.
"I know, I know," Serena gave way, knowing she could never beat Asuka's pride,"but still let me remind you still to just be strong. No matter what happens just be strong."
Now Maya remembered those words and realized that those words were meant at this time, "Be strong, whatever happens, just be strong."
Misato turned silently, tears rolled unconsciously. Ritsuko watched in sympathy, knowing well that this is really hard for her. Misato walked straight, one by one dropping her NERV badge, her guns, and all those watching felt sympathy. Now that they know that Serena is her daughter, the feeling is great. They watched her stride with a heavy heart until she disappeared through the dark corridors of NERV.
***
Faults searched
Guilts taken
Mixed emotions play
In the hearts of men
***
The perfect scenery of sunset that afternoon was the last thing that the pilots could notice. They lie at the headquarters infirmary, doing nothing but breath and wait for news from the rescue teams who haven't come back in search of Serena. No word from anyone came. Each is scared, tense with every second of thinking that Serena might be dead.
"She made me laugh…" Rei uttered more to herself. She remembered the day when she had dinner with Serena. They laughed together. She laughed the very first time without holding anything back. From the first time that she met her, she knew that Serena would make a change.
"It's our fault," Shinji lied on the bed of guilt once again. He should have protected her and the others. "Father's right, I'm weak. I have no right to be an Evangelion pilot. How can I save the people if I could not even save my friend?"
"It's nobody's fault Shinji! It's nobody's fault!" Asuka sat up right from her bed, shouting at Shinji, "It's nobody's fault!" Her eyes are full of anger, guilt, sorrow…mixed emotions that resulted to confused feelings.
"How can you say that Asuka? If we were just tougher…" Shinji said in calm sorrow.
Asuka's eyes burned with tears, "She chose to self-destruct! She chose it! No one forced her to do it!"
"It's our entire fault. We have more experience with Angels. We should be stronger…"
"Shimeru!" Asuka wouldn't take anymore of Shinji's guilt babbles.
"You cannot hide it Asuka," Rei said as she stared at the ceiling, "deep inside, you are blaming yourself too." Asuka could have retorted but stopped when the door of the infirmary opened. Their hearts skipped a beat and all sat up with only one facial expression directed to the one who came in, 'How's Sere?'
Ritsuko breathed deeply at the site of the three pilots, large question marks drawn on their faces. She knew exactly what they want to hear but she, herself, doesn't know where to start. She brings neither good nor bad news, or at least she thought it is neither. "The body or any sign of her hasn't been found yet," she paused to see any reaction and was surprised with Shinji's.
"That stupid Sere!" Shinji laughed in mixed sorrow and gladness. "She's just lost not dead! Ha!Ha! Ha! Ha! That tough lady!" he doubled over, "She's not—"
"Shut up!" Rei shouted loud enough to cut Shinji's sentence, "You couldn't cheer unless you see Serena in person. You may not know but in that explosion, there could be a possibility that remains would not survive." In that instant, silence started all over again.
Ritsuko cleared her throat, "The search team would begin again tomorrow morning. If you would be strong enough, you could come with them."
"Where's Misato?" Asuka inquired in remembrance to Misato's relationship with Serena.
"I'm not sure but I think she left the headquarters. Do not worry about her, she would be okay."
***
Skies listen to eerie silence
The wind could but wipe away tears
Crushed hearts lay in sweet embrace
In the hands of sorrow and of fear
***
She sits on a hill, overlooking the battle site. Once again, visions of the battle ran flashing from her mind. Those last 30 seconds was wasted, watching the death… no, she wouldn't digest that word.
"Why Masaki? Why made me realize my wrong when it would be too late? Why didn't you just make me hate her so I'll not be mourning like this, or do you want me to suffer or my sins?"
"Why God? Why are you taking away everyone from me? If you're really there answer me!" she talked to the heavens, to the unloving sky.
The sky darkens gradually, the full moon taking the place of the bright but mourning sky.
Misato sat miserably, "If I have the power in my hands, I will turn back the time. I will love you Serena, more than my life. I will protect you with my own hands. We would laugh together, sing together, eat together…" Misato began to cry again. "God, if you're listening, if you can fell my sufferings, bring my Serena back." Though she knew it would just be plain impossible, hoping is what she can only do.
Tears ran from her cheeks, rolling, dropping to her treasured relic, her cross hanging around her neck to her chest. The glisten of the tear on the cross reflected the moon's light and a powerful light surrounded Misato.
"What is it? Who are you?!" she protected her eyes from the sharp brightness. And when it finally faded, she saw above her, a figure of a person, shining like an angel.
***
You call
You ask
You shouted
Yes, God listens…
***
"Masaki?" the figure went down until it faces Misato. She was right. It was Masaki, the father of Serena.
"It can never be too late for you, Misato," he smiles and another light surrounded them but this time, it didn't blind Misato as before. She saw rainbows and small butterflies around. On Masaki's arms appeared a baby clothed in pink linen.
Smiling, he offered the child to Misato, Our child my sweet Misato, Serena."
Misato stared in disbelief and accepted the child in her arms, "Serena…" she doesn't know how things are happening but is happy that they are.
"She needs mother like you. She needs you. Love her…" with that, the light disappeared and Masaki faded with it.
"God is there and is listening," she gently kissed the baby Sere on her forehead. "I will love you and protect you, my daughter. We will start all over again."
***
Open you eyes
Wake from your deep slumber
Morning is there, the world is waiting
For you to stand and start
All over again
All over again
***
Above them, seven shadows watched in silence. The tallest of them declared, "We're done putting her soul to peace. Now is the start of putting her on the line of her true destiny." The others nodded and in a snap of a finger, the shadows disappeared through the dark shadows of the night…
******************************************************
Yehey! I'm done with it! I'm done with it! This is the end my dear readers… Comments are accepted through review, questions can be asked by review or by e-mail. They would be promptly answered by e-mail or review, wherever you placed your questions. Pardon me for bad poetry. Yehey! Ja! ^_^