Chain Lightning Studios Presents
Together We Stand: Book Two
Divided We Fall
By T. L. Webb
I am just a new boy,
Stranger in this town,
Where we have all the good times,
Who's gonna show this stranger around?
Young Lust
Pink Floyd, The Wall
[]========================[]
Book Two: Part One
[]========================[]
Hikari stepped outside the girl's locker room and tried to resist the urge to
scream. She had just spent the last five minutes listening to Asuka complaining
about an incident at work. While she did feel sorry for the girl's predicament,
Hikari was _seriously_ developing a problem with Nerv's lack of discretion. It
had started with them forcing Shinji to share an apartment with the German, and
had only gotten more frustrating as time passed. Asuka vehemently denied
_any_ romantic link to her fellow pilot--or any other boy in the city for that
mater. But as much as Hikari believed this to be true, it was maddening that a
girl as pretty as Asuka was sleeping less than ten feet from her boyfriend. It
made her feel a little better to remember that Shinji had little interest in Asuka.
Almost from the moment the two had met she'd done little more than belittle
him.
Hikari wasn't petty enough that it was something she could take comfort in. It
was all made even more complicated by the fact that Asuka was still her friend,
and she wasn't really a bad person... just maddeningly thoughtless sometimes.
After a while of knowing her, Hikari had grown to respect the girl's
determination and drive. Asuka had an undeniable passion for whatever she
focused her attention on, and once she selected a target she refused to let go.
That had been how she'd accomplished the startling task of graduating collage
before her thirteenth birthday. It was also apparently what made her such an
outstanding Eva Pilot.
Another side of Asuka that Hikari had quickly picked up on, however, was
that she was a very private person... despite her apparent outgoing nature. She
straight up refused to discuss some things about herself. Hikari'd quickly picked
up on subtle turns of phrases and taboo subjects when speaking with Asuka.
From what she could piece together, something had happened to Asuka as a kid
concerning her family, and she still hadn't gotten over it. Hikari didn't know
what this event was, and felt it would be a bad idea to broach the topic without
some advice from either Misato or Mr. Kaji ... and even then, she had _no_ idea
how to ask about _that_ kind of thing.
For now it seemed that she would just have to keep skirting those subjects
with Asuka.
Stepping back into the locker room Hikari was annoyed to find Asuka still on
the same subject. She didn't really mind the girl's rants; in fact she often found
them very amusing. In this case, however, she could live without hearing every
possible detail.
"So there I am, bare-butt-nekid, freezing my _ass_ off in that damn entry
plug and _finally_ they get the radios back on, "Asuka told her other classmates-
- she had only mentioned being naked a few hundred times at this point, "and
what do I discover? Was it that we would be rescued in short order? Nope.
Whatever the problem was knocked out a lot of the systems, and apparently
whatever happened in there is so damn classified that they won't even tell _us_!
I don't know what kind of damn fool organization they think they're running
down there, but it sure as hell isn't efficient! We had to swim, _swim_! To shore,
and that lump Shinji had to be dragged all the way by Wondergirl because the
little twit _still_ hasn't gotten off his lazy ass and learned to swim."
"Hey Hikari," Yume called from where she and the others were listening to
Asuka's rant, "weren't you going to teach Ikari how to swim?"
"We haven't had time," Hikari said truthfully, "between all his makeup work
and the tests they do at Nerv, we barely have time to talk, much less hike all the
way to a pool."
"Humph, well you do have a point," Asuka conceded, "I mean even if he had
just started earlier we still would've had to look at his scrawny butt when we
walked the whole way back to HQ. You'd think they would have had spare
plugsuits or _something_ in the entry plugs. I for one could have lived without
him peeking at me and Rei for an hour and a half."
Hikari was mostly dressed by now, and decided to take a cue from Rei.
Without so much as a wave goodbye, she stepped out of the locker room and
left.... It felt surprisingly satisfying.
[]====[]
[]====[]
Just after school that same day, she, Shinji, Touji, and Kensuke were sitting
in the small restaurant that they'd been frequenting as of late. It was the same
place She and Shinji had gone for breakfast shortly after the fourth Angel's
attack. It was beginning to become their unofficial hangout. As she and Shinji
listened and tried not to sneak too many smiles at each other, Touji was telling
them about the latest tournament at the entertainment district's VR center.
Kensuke wasn't paying much attention... seeing as how he was fast asleep.
"So Kensuke's three points away from matching the high score when the
other team's blocker appears out of nowhere in the main tunnel. We all think he's
a goner cuz you know that those Tarantulas are like three times the size of the
bug class. Anyway _somehow_ Ken manages to pop a double boost straight past
him with, like, one point of armor left, and zips right into the score zone."
"You guys won again huh?" Shinji asked, smiling.
"Better believe it! Japan-- 30,425, FSA-- 29,804, Japan wins it's fifth straight
game!"
"Winner and still champion," Hikari said with a laugh as she noticed
Kensuke was drooling against the window, "I see your victory party wore him
out."
"Huh?" Touji said as he looked to where his friend was sleeping, "no, we
didn't even go. I think he was online all night, again."
"That's what?" Shinji asked, "the third time this month?"
"Fourth," Hikari corrected, "and that's just the falling asleep... its going to
start affecting his grades if he's not careful."
"I'll talk to him," Touji said, "Shinji's got that thing coming up."
"I wish you'd quit reminding me..." Shinji said with a moan, "it's not
something I'm looking forward to."
"I don't understand...you don't _want_ to visit your mom's grave?"
"That's not it at all, Touji," Shinji replied, "I do _want_ to go--at least for
that. It's just the company I'll be keeping... isn't exactly thrilling me."
Shinji let out a sigh and shook his head. It had been three years since he had
last gone, and he still wasn't ready. That last time had been hard on him-- he had
tried to talk to his father and it had blown up in his face.
"You never really told us what happened, " Hikari said, reading his mind
again. Shinji took a breath, let it out, and decided it was as good a time to as any
to get it off his chest.
"There isn't really that much to tell," Shinji said, "I was eleven and my Uncle
had dropped me off for the yearly visit. Father arrived and after a couple to
times trying to start a conversation he began talking about how 'no two people
could ever really understand on another', and that I should stop trying to
understand him. I started getting angry...more because I hadn't seen him since
the previous year than what he'd just said. He always sent a card on my birthday
but that was about the only time I ever heard from him... Anyway, he stopped
talking and stood there behind me for what felt like an hour, then I got fed up
and started yelling at him. The sad part was that every time I accused him of
something, he'd shoot me right down in five words or less. It was... like he'd
read the script ahead of time or something. I finally just got fed up and told him
I never wanted to see him again. And until I came here... that was what I did."
"Did he still send cards?" Touji asked.
"Huh?"
"Birthday cards. Did he still send them?"
"Not exactly, I still got a card every year, but it wasn't the same signature.
After that year I think it was his secretary or something signing his name and
sending them."
"That sucks..."
"So now I get to go through it all again," Shinji said as he slumped back in his
seat, "and I don't think getting into the Eva for the first time had me this
frightened."
"You'll do fine Shinji," Hikari said as she gave his hand a squeeze.
"Thanks... um, maybe we ought to wake up Kensuke? I don't think he wants
that ant crawling into his mouth..."
The others followed his gaze to their sleeping comrade, and sure enough, an
ant was following the thin trail of drool from the windowsill upward to Aida's
open maw. As inspiration struck him, Touji told the others he would handle it,
and reached for his glass of water.
Once the situation was explained to him a few moments later, all the soaking
wet Kensuke had to say was that Touji could have picked a much better method
of waking him.
[]====[]
[]====[]
"Whatcha moping about this time?" Nozomi asked as she sat down next to
Hikari.
It was later that evening and Hikari had been thinking about Shinji's
roommate situation again. Not that she'd really _stopped_ thinking about it. In
the back of her mind it was always there... nagging at her. Whenever Shinji went
home she wondered if he was looking forward to being alone with the redhead.
At the same time she hated herself for thinking that. She didn't want to be
jealous-- especially of one of her best friends. She got angry at _herself_ when
she started doing this, and that just made it all worse. The only thing that she
could really use to keep herself from going overboard with it was that she
trusted Shinji to behave.
Of course, Asuka's constant accusations that Shinji (and all men) were
perverts didn't help that much...
She was about to tell her sister that nothing was wrong when she remembered
whom she was talking to. Somehow Nozomi had turned out to be one of those
people who learned from example before experience caught up to them. It was a
rare trait in itself, but was made all the more impressive by her willingness to
help her sisters do the same when possible.
It wouldn't hurt to see if she could help.
About half an hour later she finished telling the younger girl her long list of
problems and troubles. Nozomi had listened carefully, and once Hikari was
done-- made a show of pondering the situation-- scratching her chin in a sage-
like manner.
"So you're worried that Soryu might suddenly see something in Shinji that
she isn't now, right?"
"Right."
"And Asuka says she hates boys, correct?"
"Correct."
"But she's constantly glomping all over this Kaji guy?"
"Constantly."
"The answer is simple; find her an older guy that's within a reasonable dating
age and hook them up."
"That's a great idea!" Hikari started to say excitedly... then she realized the
downside to that plan, "um... I don't know any older guys..."
"I'm not going to handle this whole thing for you," Nozomi said with a grin--
as she turned over in the chair she was in to hang upside down, "but I will give
you one final clue."
"Don't get the idea I'm not grateful sis, its just this whole thing has me on
edge."
"Fair enough. Anyway, you might want to ask Kodama if she knows anyone
who's available."
"That's a good idea!" Hikari said as her eyes lit up again, "thanks runt!" she
gave Nozomi a kiss on the forehead and hurried upstairs to Kodama's room.
"I swear," Nozomi said with a sigh -- once she was alone, "those two would
forget how to tie their shoes if I wasn't around...."
[]====[]
[]====[]
At one AM the following morning, despite Touji's advice, Hikari's
complaints, and his own better judgment, Kensuke was still wide-awake and
online.
[TetsuShojo] I'm sorry I got you in trouble with your
friends.
[TheMechSage] it' not your fault, and they do have a
point. I have been staying up pretty late the past
few weeks.
[TetsuShojo] I gotta admit I'm a bit flattered that
someone is putting themselves under such stress just
to talk with me ^_^
[TheMechSage] What was it you were telling me just
last night about swelling Egos? *LoL*
[TetsuShojo] There's a big difference. You're a boy
who'd just won a sports event, I'm a cute lil girl
who's being flattered-- I'm allowed to let my ego
swell a bit. =D
[TheMechSage] You _sure_ you're not American? =/
[TetsuShojo] *LoL* Quite sure-- I'm as Japanese as
you are.
[TheMechSage] Sorry, it's just that I still don't
know that much about you.
[TetsuShojo] And you're worried I might be some fat,
balding guy from Hong Kong IRL?
[TheMechSage] Its not that, I do believe you... but
it's been a couple of months now and Touji is starting
to think I'm making you up.
[TetsuShojo] Ken, I'd send you a pic if I could, but
the computers here are all monitored and if any graphics
go out it triggers an alert, then shuts down the
connection.
[TheMechSage] I understand. I get exposed to enough
security measures from my dad, and just being in such
close proximity to Nerv that I'd have to be crazy _not_
to understand.
[TetsuShojo] It's hard on me too Ken... I mean, I want
to meet you, but they won't let us kids travel too far
from here.
[TheMechSage] It's not that I'm getting impatient, its
just Touji was driving me crazy with all those questions
that I didn't have answers for. I can wait, don't worry
about me.
[TetsuShojo] Have I mentioned lately that you're a sweetie?
[TheMechSage] Yes, but I could always use some more ego-
swelling praise ^_^
[TetsuShojo] Silly =P
[]====[]
[]====[]
A few days later as the class was cleaning up the school, Hikari decided it
was time to put her plan into action. She left the others in their classroom and
went out into the hall where Asuka was supposed to be mopping the floor. She
found the redhead standing near a corner with her cell phone, and a determined
look on her face.
As she stepped closer, Asuka suddenly began to scream into the receiver.
"Eeeeeeek! Help me Kaji, no-NO! Don't touch me you pervert! Heeeeeelp!"
Asuka deactivated the phone and a satisfied grin crossed her face, "that ought
to do it," she said.
"What was _that_ all about?" Hikari asked as she reached the German girl.
"Oh, I was trying to get a hold of Kaji, I wanted him to take me out
tomorrow," Asuka let out a frustrated sigh, "I keep calling and calling him, but
he's always out these days."
"Then you're going to be free tomorrow?"
"_Un_fortunately, that seems to be the case..."
"Then I have a favor to ask of you"
"Hmm? What is it?"
Hikari leaned in and whispered the question in Asuka's ear. Hopefully if no
one knew about it she would have an easier time convincing the redhead to
accept the invitation. Unfortunately that plan was tossed out the window.
"What? A _date_?" Asuka cried out, causing half the people in the hall to
look at them like they were crazy.
Struggling to keep a straight face, Hikari smiled and pressed her luck. "He's a
friend of my sister Kodama, and he asked if one of us could introduce him to
you... it would at least help if you'd meet him. Pretty please?"
Keeping her fingers crossed, she left Asuka alone to think it over.
[]====[]
[]====[]
It was a shock Shinji never saw coming, and one that triggered so many
memories that it left him not only speechless, but unable to move as well. The
crazy thing was that the shock's trigger was something so seemingly trivial--
nothing that anyone would believe if he tried to explain.
He had been cleaning the classrooms with the others when he'd seen it out of
the corner of his eye. Rei had been scrubbing the floor when she'd stopped to
wring out her rag, and that had been what caught his attention. Something about
the way she was wringing out the washcloth had reminded him of... it was crazy
but it reminded him of the way that... his mother?
As he watched the water drip from the cloth he could almost see an image in
his mind's eye overlapping Rei, and that was what had frozen him. The face...
their faces were--
His train of thought didn't so much get derailed as demolished by the broom
smacking him upside the head.
"HEY!" Touji yelled cheerfully, "Get back to work ya lazy slug!"
"Why don't _you_ get back to work," came Hikari's voice from across the
room, "in fact, why don't you get to _his_ work while you're at it."
Touji wasn't an idiot. He got decent grades and did fairly well on tests, but he
could be a little slow sometimes. One thing he'd never quite gotten the hang of
was _not_ teasing Shinji when Hikari was within earshot. As he groaned and
resumed sweeping the floor, he cussed himself out for that oversight.
[]====[]
[]====[]
"Is something the matter Shinji?" Hikari asked as they stepped out onto the
roof, You look like you just saw a ghost."
The rest of the class was done cleaning and they had stayed behind to lock
everything back up before they went home.
"I... I dunno," Shinji replied, "I think maybe I just did..."
"What are you talking about? That was a joke."
"It's hard to describe but... do you believe in ghosts?"
"I dunno, maybe... who knows, I mean we have angels and giant robots, why
not ghosts?"
"I'm serious."
Hikari sighed, "I don't know, Shinji... no one's been able to prove anything so
I don't want to just say 'sure', but I do like to believe something happens when
we die."
" . . . "
"What did you see?"
"I'm really sure," he said softly, "I think I might need to think about it some
more before I try to describe it."
"Okay... oh, by the way, are you _sure_ that you're going to be free for our
date next week?"
"Yeah," Shinji said-- brightening up, "I went ahead and got Misato to help, so
unless we get attacked I have a three day window."
"That great!" Hikari said as she kissed him, "everything seems to be falling
into place, I have a really good feeling about this."
[]====[]
[]====[]
The elevator down to the lab was faster than the escalator, but it still seemed
to take forever sometimes. It seemed even longer when you were stuck with
someone who, by her nature, wasn't very talkative. As Shinji stood awkwardly
in the small room with Rei, he wondered if anyone had found _him_ that
annoyingly quiet when he'd first arrived in Tokyo Three.
Finally he decided to ask something that had been on his mind for a long
time.
"I...I'm going to be seeing my father tomorrow... um, what do you think I
should talk about with him?"
"Why would you ask me about something like that?" Rei replied without
turning to face him.
"Because," he swallowed and decided just to come out and say it, "because
you're the only one I've seen talk to my father... and actually enjoy it."
She didn't reply for awhile and Shinji realized that he hadn't really asked her
anything, "So... what kind of person is my father?" he asked hesitantly.
"I do not know," Rei answered softly-- had there been a touch of regret in her
voice?
"I see..." Shinji said. It looked like no one knew what the man was like... not
even the person who had seemed closest to him.
"Is that why you have been watching me so intently since this afternoon?"
Rei asked, surprising him a bit, "because you wanted to ask me that?"
"It was one of the reasons"
"And the other?"
"Well... when we were cleaning the classroom-- when you were wringing out
that cloth? It reminded me of something."
"Of what?"
"This is going to sound silly, but it reminded me of my mother."
"Y--your mother?"
"Yeah, that was usually how my mom would wring out water, it's no big deal
though, It was just something that caught my eye. Sorry to bore you with it."
Rei wasn't facing him, so he didn't see her. Had he looked, he would have
seen a small, confused frown cross her face.
[]====[]
[]====[]
'Just like last time...' Shinji thought as Gendou Ikari stepped out of the VTOL
and walked toward the grave where he was already waiting.
The memorial was huge, stretching across the dry lakebed as far as the eye
could see. It had started as a project to honor all those that had died during
second impact, but had grown as the repercussions from the catastrophe began
to take their toll as well. Starvation, aftershocks, and war had increased the
already horrific numbers. All to soon the monument was growing. Finally in
2004 they stopped construction. Not because the deaths had ceased, but because
they were running out of land. Yui Ikari's had been one of the final headstones in
the memorial.
Shinji had never asked as to why his mother's headstone had been placed
there, he didn't really remember just how she had died-- mostly because he
didn't like to think about it. Visiting the memorial had always bothered him a bit,
because it was just that-- a memorial. She wasn't there; none of the dead were
actually there. All he was really seeing before him was a stone with her name.
Commander Ikari drew closer and Shinji had to struggle not to get up and
leave. He hadn't even seen his father in person since just after he'd first arrived,
once he'd moved in with Misato, it seemed that the Commander had left it
completely up to her to deal with him. In a way he was glad of that, and in
another it angered him.
The Commander stood beside him for a long time before finally speaking.
"It's been three years since we were both here together."
Shinji nodded, "that was when I ran away," he said, admitting it between
them, "I never did come back you know... I just never felt like mother really
rests here."
He was quiet for several moments, then spoke again, "I don't even remember
her face clearly."
"People go on living by forgetting the pain of the past. Nevertheless, there are
some things we have that we must not forget. Yui once taught me that one
indispensable thing, and I come here each year to confirm that.
"Do-- do you have anything of her left? A photo?"
"Nothing is left, even this grave is an artifice. You were right in that regard.
Nothing remains."
"So what Uncle said was true," Shinji said sadly, "you cast everything
away..."
"What does remain is in my mind... I'm satisfied with that."
There was another long stretch of silence, then finally Gendou turned, and
began to walk back to where the VTOL would pick him up.
"Father?" Shinji said suddenly.
Gendou stopped and turned back to face his son.
"I don't know if that's really true..." Shinji said suddenly.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not sure I can explain it..."
"You would do well not to waste my time."
Shinji closed his eyes; mentally preparing himself to ask what he'd been
wondering for the past day.
"Who is Rei?" he asked quickly, forcing the words out before he could freeze
up.
Gendou was silent for a long time, even if Shinji had found the courage to
look up; he would have read nothing in the man's expression.
"I-um... its just that people keep commenting on us being alike somehow and
the other day when we were cleaning I saw-"
"Enough."
Shinji turned and found the stone face of Gendou Ikari had hardened even
further.
"You will discontinue this line of questioning and never bring the subject up
again--either with myself or with others. Do you understand?"
"Father I'm sorry if I was out of line to ask that but lately when I-"
"I said that is _enough_. Any more questions on this subject, and you will be
restricted to Central Dogma at all times save that of attack. Any information you
have about the First Child is as of now to be considered top secret. Anyone
outside this organization you discuss it with will be penalized," Gendou paused
and the two locked eyes for a brief moment before Shinji tuned away, "The
subject of Rei Ayanami's origins are something you will desist in pursuing. I
would advise you to leave such things alone for the good of yourself, and the
good of those you care for."
With that, Commander Ikari turned and began walking off to the arriving
transport. As he walked into the rising cloud of dust, Shinji fought down the
urge to scream after him.
[]====[]
[]====[]
The VTOL lifted off and Rei sat quietly as the commander watched the city
from the window.
She knew that this was a special day for the commander and his son. The loss
of Pilot Ikari's birthmother was a cusp event that had indirectly sped the
transformation of Gehirn into Nerv. The full transfer of personal and resources
had taken years, as the proper political strings were still in the process of being
attached and pulled worldwide, but that date had been the flashpoint.
She had spied the angry exchange between father and son, and was confused
that the Commander wasn't displaying any of the emotion she associated with
such arguments. True, the Commander had always acted differently than other people.
Until recently, she had always assumed that such emotions were simply something that
neither of them possessed. She had rarely felt anything for anyone other than him,
and had always thought that to be perfectly normal. She was changing, however, and
so was her opinion on that matter.
Shinji had asked her what kind of man his father was. She had realized then,
that she honestly did not know the answer to that. She had never thought of these
things. She'd never a reason to until Pilot Ikari had arrived in Tokyo Three, she
had not sought any personal contacts with either her classmates or the members of
Nerv. His arrival had become as much of a cusp event for her as his mother's death
had for Nerv.
It had started with Miss Horaki asking about him during school. She'd at first
ignored the girl, but something had caught in her mind that day. Something in
Miss Horaki's tone. A fondness in the girl's voice towards Pilot Ikari that had
stirred something within her. She'd felt a fondness like it before when she'd lived
with the commander. Nostalgia was something new to Rei. Dwelling in the past
was something that she did seldom save for when a task required it. She didn't
have much to dwell on, save the day that she had nearly died in Unit Zero.
She thought to the scene she'd spied before the VTOL had taken off. Both
Ikari's had saved her life; both had risked danger for her. She was still unsure
why the Commander's actions had impacted her so much more than his son's. Or why
she hadn't paid him much attention until after he had done so.
It confused her. She felt the growing fondness towards pilot Ikari. A kinship
was the closest she could define it. She did not believe these feelings were lust.
She'd witnessed lust among her classmates and this did not resemble that. Until
she could further understand it, she would have to observe people who were
more accustomed to emotional interaction. Ideally, she should to observe Pilot
Ikari's interactions with his girlfriend. They were a convenient and ready source
of information on that subject, and perhaps the answer to her questions would lie
therein.
[]====[]
[]====[]
Asuka was royally pissed off.
Her date had started fairly well, the guy was handsome and when Kodama
had introduced them he'd seemed charming enough. Granted he was no where
close to matching Kaji in that department, but few mortals were. She'd been
expecting at least a fun afternoon.
They had gone to the entertainment district's amusement park, and that _had_
been fun at first. She enjoyed roller coasters and other exciting rides, and made
no excuses for being an adrenaline junkie. She even enjoyed some of the theme
rides that moved slower as long as they had something interesting to look at. She
did _not_ however, like being pawed during them.
When the guy had put his arm around her she hadn't minded-- that's what
guys on dates did in all the movies, so no big deal there. On one of the slower
rides, however, the jackass had crossed the line-- figuratively and literally. A
hand on her shoulder was one thing, when it had moved to her side she'd decided
to elbow him in the ribs to get the point across. That had worked until the
following ride.
She'd wanted to go on another roller coaster; he'd wanted to take another
slow ride. After a bit of arguing that came a hairs breath of turning into an
argument he had promised that she could pick the rides for the rest of the day if
she'd let him have one more pick.
In hindsight, she should have argued further.
He'd behaved for the first half, but once they'd gone into the cave portion, the
hand had gone rogue again. She was about to elbow him for the _second_ time
when the hand slid from her side, into her jacket and over her chest. She didn't
waste time letting him know her opinion on such petting, and a half a second
later the older boy's hand was cupping his nose and lip instead of her clevace.
Once they were outside again Asuka had told him to meet her at the next ride
while she went to the ladies room. Either the guy was dumber than she thought,
or he wanted to ditch her as much as she wanted to ditch him because he'd
agreed and they had split up.
She'd headed straight home from there and was looking forward to yelling at
someone and blowing off some steam. When she reached the door of the
apartment however she was a bit surprised to hear classical music drifting out
from behind the door. To her knowledge Misato never listened to that kind of
stuff, and Shinji didn't even have a stereo.
Her curiosity overcoming her annoyance at the day's events she quietly
opened and shut the door and slipped inside. Once the door was open, she could
hear the music much clearer-- and was a little surprised that she recognized the
tune. She made a mental note to ask him where he'd learned to play Wagner. It
was the first sign that he had _any_ taste.
She turned the corner and found Shinji sitting at the kitchen table with a
cello, playing like he was possessed. His body was tense, and his shirt soaked
with sweat, it was far too cool in the house for him to be hot... just how long
_had_ he been playing?
He reached the end of the song and as the last cord was played-- just as she
thought he would relax and let out a breath-- he started to play the tune again
from the beginning. She hadn't even known he played an instrument at all, much
less this well and Asuka stood there transfixed by the tune as he flew through it
with expert precision.
When he again reached the end of the tune, she couldn't help but applaud.
Shinji hadn't a clue that he had gained an audience, and nearly jumped out of
his skin at the sound, and he came a hair's breath from dropping his cello.
"A-Asuka? Um... I didn't expect you back till later..." he told her as she
walked through the kitchen to the living room.
"Plans change sometimes-- fact of life y'know," she dropped down to the
floor in the living room, "so when did you start playing? I didn't see a cello
when we moved your stuff to the closet, er, I mean your room..."
"I never had a chance to pack it when I came here," Shinji said absently,
"they sent it a while back and its been in storage... I didn't pick it up until today."
"Well, its not like there's much space in these little shoeboxes you people call
bedrooms over here," she said with a sigh, forgetting that she had twice as much
space than he did.
"So did your date go well?" he asked, ignoring the cheep shot at his culture.
"Not really," Asuka said with a frown that Shinji couldn't see, "my date
turned out to have even less of a personality than you, so I ditched him and came
back."
"Isn't that a little cold?"
"You didn't meet the dork, so don't make any assumptions, Third Child," she
let out a wistful sigh, "Kaji's the only _real_ man in my life Shinji, it's a pity he's
so hung up on Misato."
"Don't look at me to explain, I don't think I'll ever understand adults."
"What's with you anyway? You look terrible... is the Commander really
_that_ scary?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Suit yourself, I'm going to take a shower."
[]====[]
[]====[]
"Hello, this is the Horaki residence, we can't come to the phone right now,
but if you'll leave a name and number we will get back to you as soon as
possible. Thank you!"
Shinji sighed and hung up the phone, that was the tenth time he'd called that
evening and Hikari still wasn't home. He knew that she might not be back till
late that night, but he needed to talk with someone soon. Touji was out at a game
and Kensuke must have been online... Misato was at that wedding... and he
couldn't talk to Rei, not about this.
As he paced the living room for the nine-hundredth time, the phone rang and
he almost tripped over a cushion trying to reach it.
"Katsuragi residence," he said, praying that it was Hikari...
"Hi, Shinji? Its me"
"Oh hi Misato..."
"I'm goona be ut drinking wit kaggi, don't wait up for me 'k?"
'She sounds like she's already plastered, what's the point of adding to that?' he
wondered privately as he thanked her for letting them know. He didn't
understand the whole alcohol thing; particularly Misato's take on it... but people
seemed to enjoy it so he didn't say anything.
As he hung up the phone Asuka stepped out of the bathroom, "was that
Misato?"
"Yeah, she said she won't be back till late... I think."
"Drinking again huh?"
"Yeah... I just wish Hikari would get home soon, I need to talk to someone."
"Oh, and what am I? Birdcrap?"
" . . . No offence Asuka, but is something wrong?"
"What makes you say that?" she responded indignantly
"Well its not like you ever show much interest in others..."
"Well maybe no one around here ever does anything interesting."
"Nevermind," he said as he turned to go to his room. He didn't know why he
even bothered sometimes.
"Come on, I'll listen, I won't even laugh--much, promise."
"I don't know..."
"Stop being a wuss and spill."
"It's about my father..."
"OK. I'm with you so far," Asuka said flippantly, "creepy guy, wears glasses,
our commanding officer, go on"
"Stop that, this isn't funny."
"Jeez, okay already... you were saying?"
"I asked him about something and he...he..."
"He what?"
"He said that if I ever bring it up again anyone who I'm talking about it with
will get in more trouble than me."
"So?"
"What do you mean 'so'?" Shinji practically growled, "He threatened my
friends! He threatened Hikari, and there's nothing I can do about it!"
"If it was classified information, that's how it always goes. I'm sorry you're
all strung out and everything but there's not much you or I can really do about
it."
"That's exactly why I'm strung out damnit!" he yelled suddenly, "you asked
me awhile back why I pilot? It's to protect my friends, to protect Hikari, and if I
can't _do_ that then what's the damn point? I start thinking I finally have _some_
measure of control in my life then... then my...my _father_ shoots it all down,
and shows me just how helpless I really am."
He tuned on his heel and stormed out to the patio, and shut the glass behind
him--leaving Asuka standing in the kitchen with a very surprised look on her
face.
[]====[]
[]====[]
About half an hour later Asuka stepped outside and found Shinji leaning
against the balcony, looking out at the city. It wasn't as if she was worried about
him, he might be a dork, but he was still a pilot and was therefore tougher than
even he thought he was. It was more that he had confused her tonight.
Ever since she'd met him he had annoyed her-- mostly because he seemed to
refuse to do anything for himself. He would sit there in his room like a lump
until someone told him to do something, and she'd gotten the impression that he
_liked_ it that way. She didn't know exactly why that kind of personality had
always angered her, but it did.
Asuka had been running under the impression that Shinji had stayed and
continued to pilot just because people wanted him to, and that had been-- in her
mind--the worst reason he could have picked. Even if he hadn't been sure _why_
he piloted she would've had more respect for him, but to just do it just because
someone said so? That was a high crime in her book... and until a little while
ago, she had thought that to be Shinji's reason.
Maybe that was why his constant politeness gotten on her nerves... she'd
believed he was just trying to get her to be nice to him. It was something she
hadn't thought about much.
Asuka wasn't so caught up in herself that she wasn't aware that she tended not
to think things though sometimes. She did pride herself on her instincts, but she
knew that while they were superior to _some_ people's, they were not totally
infallible. She didn't like to admit being wrong, but sometimes she knew you
just had to bite the bullet and fess up.
Right now she was re-evaluating her initial impression of one Shinji Ikari.
"Hey stupid," she said as she stepped out onto the patio, "you gonna sit out
here all night?"
"Maybe..." he replied as she joined him at the ledge.
"Look, sorry I gave you a hard time back there, I... I kinda had a crappy day."
"Don't worry about it," he replied dismissivlly.
"Look moron," she said hotly, "if you don't want to hear this that's fine, but
don't you expect me to make the effort again if you're going to be
unappreciative."
"I'm sorry..."
"That's better. Now look, Shinji, we're working for an agency so top secret that
until the Angels attacked no one even knew it existed. I grew up around all this,
and sometimes I forget that you didn't. It might take some getting used to, but
the whole 'top secret' thing is important. Did you know that there are people who
want to stop Nerv from doing its job?"
"Really?" Shinji asked-- surprised not only at that idea, but that Asuka was
trying to have a civilized conversation, "but who would want to do something
like that?"
"There are some nutty fringe groups who didn't take kindly to the English
translation of what we call the Angels, some countries who are pissed at how
much funding Nerv gets, and a few others, you'd be surprised."
"Surprised is one word..."
"My point is that if your dad told you something is off limits to talk about
then there's probably a damn good reason, I doubt he did it just to piss you off."
" . . . "
"Look, I'm not saying he isn't an asshole, from what I hear, he is-- and then
some. But he's also the supreme Commander of Nerv and I doubt he got the job
by accident."
"I... thanks Asuka."
"Don't sweat it," she replied as she turned to walk back inside, "I mean,
_someone_ had to set you straight."
Asuka closed the door and Shinji looked back out at the skyline of Tokyo
Three, lost in thought.
[]====[]
[]====[]
"I can't believe the kept us waiting that long," Kodama said as she and her
sisters arrived back at their home, "you'd think they could have gotten a repair
crew out there faster than that."
"Well, at least we made it home in time to get some sleep. I don't know about
you, but I'm beat. See you in the morning," Hikari said as she climbed upstairs
to her room with Nozomi already asleep in her arms.
They had been on what was supposed to have been a short trip to Kyoto for
one of Kodama's friend's wedding. It had been an enjoyable trip until a rockslide
had blocked their way home. The location was as such that it had taken about
four hours to clear the obstruction.
They were all exhausted and Kodama didn't blame her sister at all for
wanting to go straight to bed-- she intended to do so herself once she checked
the messages.
There was one from their father letting them know he was sleeping at the
office again, two from various classmates asking for advice on schoolwork, and
five from Shinji asking Hikari to call when she got in.
Kodama went upstairs and one glance told her that Hikari was out until
morning-- she hadn't even undressed fully. Leaving a note for her sister about
the message, she closed the door and went to bed.
She hoped whatever Shinji needed could wait till morning.
[]====[]
[]====[]
Shinji didn't hear the doorbell, or even know anyone was there until Asuka
shouted Kaji's name. He had been listening to his SDAT in the living room,
while Asuka was fiddling around the kitchen making a snack. When Asuka
shouted out he looked up and saw Kaji walk in to the kitchen supporting Misato
over his shoulder.
He dropped his music and hurried over immediately to assist. A few
moments later when they had deposited the intoxicated Misato in her room Kaji
thanked him and bade them both good night. Asuka wasn't so eager to let him
out the door however.
"You could spend the night here Kaji," she said as she turned her puppydog
eyes up to maximum force.
Kaji smiled and shook his head "I'd never live it down if I went to work
dressed like this," he hooked a thumb at his suit to emphasize the point.
Asuka either didn't hear him or didn't care because she immediately glomped
him and smiled sweetly, "that doesn't matter, I mean...." something caused her to
trail off as Kaji headed for the door, leaving her standing behind him.
"Take care of Misato for me ok?" he asked Shinji as the younger boy walked
him to the door.
"I'll try, but as drunk as she looks I don't know if I want to be here in the
morning..."
"Misato will be fine, I've never known anyone who could shake off a
hangover like her."
"Ok, I'll try. Goodnight Kaji."
"Night Shinji," Kaji said cheerfully as the door shut behind him.
Shinji walked back into the kitchen and found Asuka was still standing in the
same place looking from the hall where he stood to the door of Misato's room.
Her face was blank, but if Shinji had to guess he would say something had
shocked her.
"Asuka?" he asked as he stepped closer, "what is it?"
" . . . "
"Are you okay? Is something wrong?"
"Lavdr pfume" she mumbled, barely loud enough for him to hear anything at
all, much less make sense of it.
"Asuka?"
"I need... I need to go," she said suddenly, as she pushed past him and walked
to her room. A few seconds later she reappeared wearing warm-ups and jogging
shoes. Again, she pushed past him to the kitchen.
"Asuka, what happened?"
"Nothing."
"Asuka something is wrong, please tell me!" he insisted as he followed her to
the hall.
"Leave me alone third child."
"Not while you're acting like this," Shinji said with a frown.
"Ok... then you better keep up because I'm not going to stop for anyone,
especially you."
[]====[]
[]====[]
About an hour later they both nearly passed out on the grass of a nearby park.
Asuka had intended to loose Shinji early on, but hadn't counted on him being
able to keep up with her. They had run to the school at first, then down to the
cliffs and back before finishing with several laps around the local park. Finally
they'd pushed themselves too far and had stopped for a well-earned rest.
"I... don't th--think I can move my arms," Shinji panted as he lay back and
hoped he didn't cramp up.
"At least you... can move your head, I... don't think I can even turn mine,"
Asuka replied as she fought to catch her breath, "and since... since when can you
run... like that?"
"A couple months of tra--of track will do wonders for you, sometimes I'll put
on... my headphones and just go till I run out of steam."
"That sounds like you."
"So what?"
"Sorry," She said as she looked at the moon above them.
"Its ok... um, are you going to tell me why we just ran across Tokyo Three?"
" . . . "
"I don't mean to be rude... sorry."
Asuka was quiet for awhile. Finally she turned to look at him and he could
see her fighting back tears
"Have you ever been in love with someone you knew you could never have?"
she asked him.
"What?"
"Unrequited love, ever been there?"
"I don't know... I guess not."
"Then don't ask me to explain it," she said sadly, "I didn't know just how far
out of reach he was... till tonight"
"You mean Kaji?"
"Not too much of a stretch to guess that, was it?"
"Oh... I'm sorry."
"Don't be. You know what? I hate Misato sometimes, Asuka said, "she just
waltzed back into his life and stole him away..."
"I don't think that's exactly how it happened," Shinji pointed out.
"Doesn't matter, its close enough."
"You know... he is a little old for you..."
Asuka smirked at that; she had been waiting for him to bring that one up
"And just exactly how much older was your father when he married your
mom? Don't know? Try like ten years."
"Oh...I didn't know that."
Asuka leaned up on her elbows to a sitting position; "I know all the
arguments why I shouldn't be chasing after him Shinji, don't think you can say
anything I haven't heard."
"I see..."
"Don't worry about it, " she said as they got to their feet, "remind me to thank
you for running with me sometime, it helped to have someone to race."
"You're welcome," he told her as they started walking back to the apartment.
"Asuka, I--" he started to say as he turned to find her face suddenly in his.
Something warm and soft pressed against his lips and his eyes went wide. A
second passed, then three, and without realizing it he found himself returning the
kiss. Finally she backed away with a playful smile.
"On second thought," she said as she walked on ahead, "no need to remind
me... hmm so _that's_ what Hikari sees in you."
Shinji didn't quite know what to say, so he wisely kept his mouth shut for the
duration of their trip back.
[]====[]
[]====[]
"You moron!" he muttered to himself as he stared at his ceiling later that
morning, "what the _hell_ was I doing?"
He didn't know. He had gone over it again and again and he still had no idea
why he had returned the kiss. It had been a stupid move; made even worse by
the fact he had enjoyed it.
He wanted to scream. He was incredibly angry with himself and with Asuka.
Perhaps less so with Asuka, after all, he was the one who'd stood there like an
idiot and let her do it instead of breaking it off.
He decided the best thing he could do was to forget about it. It wasn't as if
that had been a serious kiss anyway.
He would just pretend it never happened.
[]==================[]
To be Continued...
[]==================[]
Authors Incoherent Babbling:
Well that's part one. When I decided to go ahead and use the kiss, I realized
that things were too different for it to work as it originally had, so I changed up
the reasons and motivations behind it. Why did Asuka kiss Shinji after declaring
her undying love for Kaji? Well, She'll explain herself somewhere down the
line, just be patient. ^_^
Those of you who've written in to complain about Shinji growing a spine... I
want to remind y'all; love makes you do the wacky. Having a girlfriend has
boosted his self-esteem a great deal... I dunno, people seem to hate changes to a
character, but I think that in this case it's at least a _little_ justified. I've always
said that if a story has a character acting differently then there better be a darn
good reason for it. Otherwise, it's Out Of Character and it's annoying. Also, I'd
like to point out that the Shinji in this story is an amalgam of the TV and the
manga. In the manga, Shinji was a bit more decisive than he was in the TV... not
to a huge extent, but enough so that some people actually complained about it.
Lets see, what else... things are going to start to get rough on the kids from
here out... I was going back over my episodes and I realized that the whole
'report to Seele/11th angel' was more or less the turning point in the series. From
there people started to get royally screwed up emotionally.
Incidentally, I'm kind of disappointed in the readers so far... no one has
guessed who Kensuke's internet friend is, I thought it was kind of obvious.
*shrug* Well, she wont be back for a couple of chapters so you have awhile to
figure it out. ^_^
Btw, does anyone know a way to order things out of this E-mono book I
picked up? All kinds of Eva goodies, pages and PAGES of Eva goodies, but I
can't read the Kanji so I don't know if this is something I could order from here
in the states or if you can only order them in Japan.
Anyway I'm outta here,
Stay cool y'all!
Hotwire
Chain Lightning Studios
http://www.chainlightningstudios.com