Neon Genesis Evangelion and all related characters, concepts, etc., are
property of ADVision and Gainax. I only *wish* they were mine.
This is a Re-write of my first stab at an Evangelion Fic. Let me tell you that up to chapter 24,
I loved this anime, then as so many others it turned dark and
painful, Though I didn't disagree with who Shinji ended up with, I still didn't like how the others were treated.
So, this and my other Eva stories to come will focus on giving those characters a fair chance at a happy ending.
So this is fair warning to a good amount of Waff, romance, and character development!
So I am writing this story to show what I thought would be an alternate ending to the series
where Rei and Asuka lived!
Hopefully the creator of the series will make more movies and hopefully
they will give us a more hopeful ending. Thanks to Andre Laval, ForbiddenExodia,
and Ryan Xavier for prereading this revision!
Bonds of Love and Survival
Chapter 5: Nightmares!
Author's Note: Due to my Pre-readers being unavailable, this chapter
will be the Beta version until I can get it
pre-read. If you want to help me with pre-reading my chapters, e-mail
me! dennis_d@popmail.firn.edu>
" "=Dialogue
( )= Character's thoughts!
Cold Memories
Asuka's POV:
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOD IT HURTS SO MUCH!
THE LANCES!
THEIR CLAWS ARE TEARING ME APAAAART!!!
I CAN'T TAKE THE PAINNNN!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Oh God what happened?" I bolted up off the bed I was in!
I was confused, scared for a few moments before a pair of warm and
loving hands drew me back down towards an embrace.
I had another nightmare, the same dream I have had nightly since we
left Tokyo-3.
Being in his arms comforted me so much, though I didn't always tell
him that much, damn my fool pride!
I was trying not to cry, and not suceeding very well.
It now had become a nightly occurrence as he held me rocking me back
and forth,not saying a word, while soothing my frazzled nerves. Then another
hand rested itself on my shoulder.
I lifted up my tear stained face to see my former rival, and now friend
also trying to alleviate my fear.
I smiled at the sympathetic look on her face as she squeezed my shoulder.
How could I keep having these nightmares knowing that I was with those
who cared so much about me?
I just couldn't understand it!
I had finally started to calm down when Rei went to the one of the
trailers and came back with some water.
I took it, drank it, and thanked her.
We laid back down on the makeshift bed in the tent we were in to try
to get some more sleep.
But, as I was afflicted by these terrible dreams, so were my companions.
our newfound closeness and caring have helped us all through
these sleep deprived nights.
I finally laid back down and fell back to sleep in the arms of my love
and the comfort of my friend.
I tired not to think of the images, and frightening memories that bonbarded my mind as I had dreamt earlier, then the realization that I was inhis arma allieviated those thoughts again. I alo knew that that comfort would be recipricated, as I knew that like a clock, I would be there for them.
*******************************************************************************************************
Rei's POV:
The Angel was infecting Unit-00, and my body proper, now up through
my abdomen.
I was screaming with pain afflicted by the Angel's effort in attempting
to merge with me, and take control of Unit-00
... and myself.
In my final desperate attempt, to save my love, and the rest of humanity,
I hit the auto-destruct button,
and murmured my final words to my love; I love you!!
Within one hour since Asuka's nightmare, was in tears and confusively
crying.
Ever since I was brought back by Shinji, I was acting much more like
a human than I ever did before third impact.
One of those all too human traits was having these horrible nightmares
of my death play over again and again,
every night since we left Tokyo-3. I didn't have the same self control
I had before.
Having all my memories restored as not help me cope withi this nightly
torment, if not for him ... and her.
Shinji and Asuka have been there for me to comfort me in their own
ways, to explain things I do not understand, and to simply be there for
me since we came back. They were here now.
Especially in the nights when we all suffer through our own nightmares
about how we died.
Even though I merged with Lillith and helped Shinji in his decision
to return. And though I was one an angel, I am human now, so open to human
frailties, one being the ability to dream.
To have pleasant and kind dreams, to have also the opposite as I am
having now, ... is quite disheartening.
I have not been able to stop these dreams, but I am fortunate to have
them here.
Shinji is my one reason to have returned, and the one I carish above
all others.
Asuka has made such a change, from the belligerant and violent person
she was, to a caring and confident person she was becoming,
I have also changed though not as obvious. I have begun to, how does
Asuka put it, oh yes,
"I have begun to open up!" my personality. But I can't seehow I have
changed that much. I have to take the word of Shinji and Asuka on that.
What had significantly changed is that we simply, ... have started to become
... friends
though it is difficult for me to understand the concept.
I have had Asuka's help in other areas of my emotional development.
I am grateful for her help.
If that is so, why do we still dream about our deaths? I am trying
to ascertain this now.
There may be some outside influence, maybe connected to the reappearence,
and dissappearence of the Evas.
I will try to find out more about these strange events when we come
close to a community with a working computer network. But, until I have
an answer, it is comforting to have both of them here. They give
me a sense of ...hope.
Hope that we can start our new lives, without such matters as the Evas,
and those who have taken them. I know Shinji is worried of how they will
be used, and After he briefed us of his concerns, Asuka and I affirmed
our support for his efforts to find out their intentions.
I would like to stay with Shinji, and Asuka for what I hope will be
for my lifetime. Whether we are friends, or more, I want to stay with them.
I hope this will never change.
*********************************************************************************************************
Shinji's POV:
Oh no not again! I can't keep going like this. Like clockwork, Asuka
has her nightmare.
Then after calming her down, an hour later Rei has hers. Then after
calming her down, I get mine as well.
It is so hard to get through the next day with this nightly grind.
But, then I think of all that's happened,
and all those who haven't come back. I didn't startle the two girls
I chaerish, when I awoke from my disturbing dream,
still having them here in my arms asleep helped me to live through
this nightly sacrifice.
I then pray to myself, hoping that whomever is influencing our subconscious
to end these nightmares.
"To whomever is taunting us with these nightmares,I plead that you
stop and leave us to live out our lives,
or if you are trying to manipulate us towards a goal, then be up front
and reveal it to us!
We can't take much more of this."
I then remember seeing the tired eyes of my two angels as we try to
get through the day following those sleepless nights.
I hope that this will end soon, as it will eventually brake us whereever
we end up.
"So, please at least tell to us what you want. Because I can't take
much more and neither can the girls."
I know what I have decided, and the girls have agreed to living on,
but why do these dreams haunt us?
Maybe when we get to meet the people who live on the outskirts of Okoyama,
These dreams will end.
Maybe they might have a doctor to help us.I hope they do! I am going
to make a new life for me and the girls,
so no bloody nightmares are going to stop me from our chance at happiness,
NOTHING!"
Author's Notes:
(I put this as an addendum to chapter 4, simply because it did happen
the night they slept in the tent
outside of Kyoto-2. But it was separate from chapter 4's main story
line.
So here it is as a separate chapter, I will add a chapter to compensate.)
Now Back to Kyoto-2 and Our tired Trio!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hot Springs Layover! (Shinji's POV)
After breaking camp, I observed Rei and Asuka looking very tired and
weary just as I was feeling.
The Nightmares were darining our energies, and we had slowed down considerably
Since we left Kyoto-2.
I decided we needed a breather, a place to stay and rest. I then remembered
when I had last been to a place
where all I did was relax. Then it hit me, of course where else but
there!
I then look at the map and scanned it for a place to allow us to relax.
We all needed a place to just chill for a day or two. I finally spotted
the Awara Onsen outside of Kyoto-2.
Now it was not on the way to Okoyama, but with the way I felt,and the
girls looked, we needed it.
So I suggested my idea to back track a bit and head by Gifu (We had
passed it by 2 days ago),
and see if the Awara Onsen was still viable.
Asuka almost rammed me with a hug with glee, which landed us on the
ground as Rei simply smiled
and shook her head slightly enough to approve of my idea. She then
helped us to our feet.
We headed back by Gifu, and got to the hot springs (onsen) by night
fall.
We of course cased the compound and secured the area around the main
pools and
set up a room to put our supplies and also one for us to sleep in.
We then just stood there, taking in the sight of the pools and spa.
It was seemingly untouched as if no one had been there st all. but we knew
that Third Impact had reached even this isolated spot.
With a sqeeze of our hands we then bagan to unpack.
We found a fireplace and had a good dinner of canned vegetables, with
some ramen, and some hot tea.
We had located enough supplies to keep us for a few weeks, and we decided
to sat a few more days hopefully to allieviate the nightmares with using
the hotsprings in the day.
We finally decided on a week's stay and then we'd double our efforts
to get to Okayama.
Then we located the nearest pool to the room we were sleeping in.
We decided that I would have a towel on my more private parts, while
the girls used larger towels to cover theirs.
I also located a smaller pool out of eye sight, where I would go when
the girls wanted to wash themselves.
Now even though we had pledged friendship to ourselves to each other,
we where fifteen years old, so modesty,
and my chance for a huge blood loss had to be accommodated.
As we finally stepped into the heated and pure water, we had to get
used to the temperature.
We had brought with us some sake we had found in the hot springs hotel
kitchen.
Though lukewarm, it still gave us a warm feeling and though we got
friendly,
Rei stayed sober enough to keep us ... decent. (Sorry you hentais!)
We did kiss and cuddle some, but eventually, the girls and I separated
and used the soap available to wash ourselves.
Since they had started to work together due to the injuries they woke
up with a month back,
they washed each other as they had done before we left Tokyo-3.
I stayed in the other pool and washed myself.
But within 5 minutes the girls asked me back and wanted to wash my
back.
So, keeping the towel in front of me and sitting on a stool, the girls
washed my back
and sides as this seem to satisfy their washing of me. What took longer
and had me lose a little blood,
as they asked me to wash their backs. I was hesitant to answer until
they said that all they wanted was a massage.
So as Rei took to soak back in the pool, I rubbed the kinks out of
Asuka's back and shoulders.
My aunt whom I had stayed with before I piloted Eva, had shown me how
to massage someone
because my uncle had wrenched his back in an accident and needed daily
massages.
I was used as a back-up for my aunt to help my uncle through most of
his painful recovery.
Now I was using those skills to help the girls I cared for.
Within 10 minutes Asuka had fallen asleep with a smile on her face.
It felt really good that I could give her some comfort without having
to have the threat of a slap as a reward.
I had Rei help me get her to the bedroom we shared, and I went back
to the pool area as Rei helped a groggy Asuka to bed.
I repeated the process again wmassaging Rei and though she never fell
asleep there on the pool's deck,
like Asuka, Rei also became tired and sleepy.
I felt a great deal of satisfaction as I then led Rei to our bedroom.
Asuka was fast asleep, and didn't seem to be having her nightly nightmare.
That alone made this trip worthwhile.
As Rei dressed in the bedroom, I secured the onsen building, putting
up a Laser security net we procured From Nerv
to give us at least a 20 second warning, enough time to grab our weapons
and be ready for anything, or anyone!
When I got back, I had a wonderful sight in front of me. Now normally
I usually when we slept,
and At Asuka's insistance, I occupied the middle, between the girls
when we slept,
more for the girls being able to both be next to me,and having the
advantage of them getting to the bathroom easier.
I had no real problem with this as I noted both seem to do a once a
night bathroom run.
But tonight, it seemed that Asuka will be in the center, because when
Rei had fallen asleep,
Asuka had turned around and slept behind Rei in a spooning position.
Since Asuka took up the middle of the futon we where using, I laid
down and spooned in behind Asuka,
and felt that for at least tonight, we could have a good night's sleep.
We did!
But ... it would be the last for awhile. Even after we arrived in Okoyama,
and had our new neighbors, the nightmares continued, until a fateful
day in our near future,
When they became Real!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
A Mad Scientist's Lab
She was perplexed, confused and somewhat ticked off.
The diminutive scientist that had taken the Evas, and had anticipated
the pilots arrival that morning
was thwarted by the fact that the pilots had back tracked to an Onsen
between Gifu and Kyoto-2.
"Why did they go there? What would be there that they would need?"
She questioned herself as she then had a spark of realization.
"Of course, They need to relax, especially with what they had gone
through."
You see Washu had not only procured the three Evas, she had down loaded
the whole contents of
the Magi computers into her computer core.
She had read what she could about NERV, The "E" project, and the Human
Instrumentality project,
as well as the psychological profiles of all three pilots.
But, there was a gaping hole in the data when it came to the first
and second angels that she knew to have been there.
Plus the lack of background on the first child, Pilot Rei Ayanami.
She decided that she'd do a battery of tests and question them when
they arrived.
She then decided to go and continue her work with her three new toys.
Then an alarm went off. She had designated this particular alarm for
when all the MP Evas
... were activated!
"Damn it's too soon, even if they are moving as slow as molasses."
Then, the scientist made a decision. She would have to go and
meet the pilots
who were now at an onsen between Gifu, and Kyoto-2.
As she brought up her holopad, then typed in the coordinates for the
Awara onsen,
a sub-space portal appeared and she stepped in and disappeared into
it.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Well what we have here is a meeting of the ex-Eva pilots, and a diminutive
red headed scientist.
But that is in the next chapter: A New Family
A.N.- Some will argue that the pilots, especially Asuka is a bit OOC.
Well I see the events of the Third Impact as a change.
Not only the obvious changes on earth, but the views of the pilots
in their trek to a new and better life.
Now I can say you'll see more of the "Old" Asuka in the future chapters,
but her feelings for Shinji, as well as Rei's will become very apparent
and open! Why, Well All I'll say i that they will have an excellent example.
Nuff said!
