Hello everyone, Calborghete here, did you miss me?
Today begins another story and translation project, I hope I can please everyone and that we can spend some more time together in this new journey that we are starting today.
As always I ask for a little patience, my English is far from perfect, but I hope the translation will be at satisfactory levels, with time my English will be improved and I will come back to edit the flaws that for sure will have hahahah.
Don't forget to like the page on Facebook, the direct link can be found on my Fanfiction profile page, or if you prefer search for "Calborghete" and locate an image of Shinji and Asuka. On this page I will post updates and it will also be easier for you to contact me.
Since both take place post-Rebuild 3.33, there may be some confusion about unconnecting them with my previous story (Errors and Successes), but I want you to know that there is NO connection between the two, this is a completely new story.
There are a few things you will need to know before reading, as I have made some modifications to the story of 3.33 for these ideas to make sense:
1) There is no curse of EVE, the characters age and grow up normally, so imagine Shinji, Asuka, Rei and Mari in their 28 to 30 year old range.
2) Gendo did not pull SEELE out of the socket, they are standing firm and strong in this story.
So now without further ado, enjoy your reading.
"Dialogues"
- Thoughts -
"Radio Talk"
"Self talk."
Liability Note:
Evangelion, its characters and setting are the property of Hideaki Anno. Any brands, movies and series mentioned in this Fanfic are the property of their creators.
(*)
Chapter 01 - Nobody Cares.
Gendo Ikari, once the most powerful man in the world, the man who had all the resources to do whatever activities he wanted to do to his liking, the man who ran an organization that fought colossal monsters using biomechanical machines.
Walking with accelerated steps, the man was gasping heavily due to his age and sedentary way of life, but this time this was not the case, feeling the effort with every step he took, feeling the wound on his leg screaming in pain as he supported his weight.
"Gendo!" A shout came through the halls of the old NERV headquarters, Gendo felt his blood freeze, hearing that voice in the intensity that was making the man once the most powerful man in the world feel fear, something he hadn't experienced in a long time.
"Open damn door." Gendo growled as he swiped his access card, seeing the door emit a small beep and a green light signaling that it was now open, immediately treating himself to enter.
Limping to his old desk, Gendo was searching for something to defend himself with, frantically looking for anything he could use against the invader, feeling the adrenaline rush invade his blood vessels, the man didn't like it when he wasn't in control of things around him.
"What the fuck, wher is my weapon?!" Gendo growled as he opened and closed the drawers of his old desk in search of his defense, but the only objects he could find were sheets of paper, closing the drawer tightly and feeling his hands shaking with his possible fate.
Her train of thought was broken by a loud thud coming from the door, taking him gaze to the metal door that was now separating him from him opponent, hearing another thud and then another.
"You will not escape today!" A thick voice shouted from the other side, even the heavy metal doors were not able to silence the invader who was promptly kicking his barrier.
Gendo didn't take his eyes off the door, swallowing dryly when the sounds stopped his eyes were fixed on the metal door that was saving his life right now.
Feeling the ground shake, Gendo turned around and could get a glimpse of the mighty Wunder appearing in the background of Tokyo 3, the day was rainy and overcast, making the scenery around WILLE's mighty war machine make it more intimidating.
(*)
A heavy rain was falling on Tokyo 3, heavy lightning was tearing through the skies of the old headquarters city, Misato Katsuragi's eyes were firmly fixed on the scene in front of her, feeling her hand shaking with the carnage of fallen EVA unit bodies.
Looking at how they were slaughtered by a single enemy with their final attempts to defend their boss in NERV, parts of EVAS could be seen scattered across the red ground, all of them making a beeline for their attacker.
"Approaching ma'am." Hyuga spoke cautiously from his seat, he was wary since the incidents of the previous days, everyone on the ship was, they couldn't imagine that something like this could happen.
"Zoom in, find him." Ritsuko spoke as she stood beside Misato, both women were looking at the carnage.
"How can a single person do such a thing? Even we with the Wunder can't do it." Ritsuko spoke as she looked off the bridge, seeing the mighty Wunder flying over the bodies of hundreds of Mark 6s, some were without heads, some without upper limbs, some broken in half.
Misato sighed as she lowered her head, remembering the words spoken by the person in charge and the words of the mysterious person who appeared in her dreams showing her things.
"This is our fault."
Ritsuko turned around and faced her old friend with controlled shock.
"How can this be our fault?"
Misato turned her head and faced Ritsuko with a cold, fierce stare, she knew they had made a mistake.
"We have created a monster."
- I just hope it's not too late to help him, please forgive me. - Misato thought as she lowered her gaze and closed her eyes to control the emotions that were threatening to fall.
"We have vision of the Evangelion Unit." Tama spoke as he zoomed in on the image of the bridge, revealing the now decommissioned unit.
Misato's eyes burned at the sight of that piece of metal, with his armor heavily damaged from his invasion, shaking her head so she could focus, Misato spoke determined.
"Get an assault team ready, we're going into NERV."
Everyone on the bridge turned to look at their commander. "Ma'am?" Shigeru asked cautiously.
"Did I stutter Lieutenant?" Misato retorted as she faced his former NERV colleague fiercely, her gaze caused Shigeru to swallow dry, Misato was speaking with a level and calm voice, further increasing her menacing posture.
"No ma'am." Shigeru soon turned to start ordering an assault team as per the orders received, no one dared to contradict Misato at this time, they knew the moment was delicate.
"Do you think you can convince him?" Ritsuko asked trying her best to stay calm, she didn't want to get in Misato's line of fire.
"I hope so, he's not like that." Misato replied without looking at the fake blonde. "He's not a monster."
(*)
On the hull of the Wunder, the Evangelion Unit 2 + 8 was looking out over the landscape, Asuka had a downcast look on her face, she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
"Princess, are we late?" Mari asked with dejection in her voice, she didn't expect this to happen.
Asuka let out a sigh into the intake plug, seeing air bubbles coming out of her mouth the redhead thought, "I don't know Four-Eyes."
- Please don't do this. - Asuka thought darkly as she zoomed her vision to the cause, seeing an Evangelion Unit standing on the horizon in the disabled position, its input plug exposed revealing that its pilot was already inside NERV.
(*)
Gendo again looked at the door that was silent for a few minutes, knowing that his invader would not give up because of a door, the minutes seemed like hours to the man who had dreamed of becoming a God.
The silence of the room was replaced by a loud explosion that tore the metal door from its place, leaving only a large cloud of dust.
Swallowing hard as a male silhouette stopped at the door, knowing that no words of his would be able to stop this person, seeing his heavy breathing and broad shoulders starting to walk into the room, in one hand was a Beretta 9 mm and the other was holding his wounded abdomen, but this didn't seem to faze the man in his thirties.
"So here we are old man." The man spoke as he approached slowly, his wounds did not seem to be hindering his judgment.
"Listen, let's talk." Gendo tried to start talking, only his glasses were causing the man to show no fear.
"Cut that old talk." The mystery man spoke strongly, finally emerging from the cloud of dust and raising his gun now pointing it at Gendo's face. "Didn't I warn you that your turn was coming? "
"But..." Gendo began to speak, fear could be felt in his voice, but he was soon cut off with a gunshot, the same one passing inches from his head, precisely intended to make him stop talking.
"You have nothing to talk about." The man spoke menacingly. "The only thing that will come out of your mouth will be the flies from your rotting body."
Gendo was now looking at the face of the person who was swearing to kill him, unable to believe that this person could take such an attitude, raising his hands to signal that he was not a threat.
"Please, just listen to me." Gendo began to feel that his time was beginning to run out.
"It's no use." The man spoke still keeping his posture strong, not wavering for anything, briefly looking out, seeing Wunder now approaching quickly, the man could see a small ship coming out, knowing he would not have much time to complete his plan, which he christened himself as plan E.
At this distance he could see Unit 2 + 8 on the hull of the Wunder, soon memories of his pilots came into his mind, feeling a twinge of hesitation begin to arise with the new experiences and feelings that were brought to him in his stay on the Wunder.
Shaking your head to get back to your goal. - Focus, this is no time to turn back. - The man thought as he returned to his posture, walking until he felt the barrel of the gun meet Gendo's head, the man spoke coldly as he faced him in the eyes.
Gendo's eyes widened as he felt the barrel of the gun on his head, feeling the cold sweat pouring down his forehead and his insides melting, the man now could only wait for the end, when the person pulled the trigger and everything he had worked for would be over.
"Time to say goodbye. " The man spoke as he engaged a round in his gun, looking at the man in front of him coldly, without a shred of remorse for the activity he was about to do.
"See you in hell, Dad."
(*)
Before - Somewhere in Tokyo 3.
Shinji to the red earth that had once been Tokyo 3, the city he had sworn to protect, the city where he had a home.
"Company." Shinji spoke to himself as he walked, his mind was screaming for his loneliness to end, not caring one bit that he was talking to himself, he had no one around to judge him, but even if he did, he didn't care.
"You know you miss them." Shinji's consciousness began to speak to him.
"Shut up." Shinji retorted to his own mind, feeling images of Misato, Asuka, Rei, and everyone he had met in his stay in normal times, ducking his head to try to control his emotions.
"No." Shinji growled to himself as he felt the tears wanting to come out, having his worst nightmare being realized, that of disappointing the people he loved, even though he knew he was now hated by everyone, despised and hated, he still thought of these people.
"You know you will meet them again one day." Rebutted the inner voice, maintaining the accusatory tone.
"I know." Shinji replied dryly as he walked, keeping a steady pace toward somewhere, he could still remember being walking in this exact spot, being dragged along by Asuka after the battle while piloting the EVA 13.
Shaking her head as she remembered Asuka's words when she was trying to find her way back to Wunder after she had done her biggest dumb thing of her life.
"That was over two years ago." The voice spoke in a mocking tone.
"It doesn't matter, they never cared." Shinji retorted to his mind that was again trying to come back. "I won't fall for this again, they only care as long as you are useful." Clenching his fists as he walked with heavy steps across the red earth.
"If they didn't care about you they would have killed you as soon as you came back." He questioned his conscience, knowing he should play facts over assumptions.
"So what? The first time they only wanted Unit 01, they didn't go to rescue me, they were only after Unit 01, if they could they would have dropped me there." Shinji spoke somberly with closed fists. "The second time, I bet they wanted me to suffer, Asuka spoke about it personally."
"That was in anger, you know how Asuka is." His conscience spoke, having the deepest information in Shinji's mind to lean on.
Shaking his head strongly, he didn't want to conflict with his feelings, he had a plan to follow. "Hahaha, as if she ever had feelings for me, as if she ever once cared, nothing will change my scenario, nothing. "
"Brat."
"You can die I wouldn't even care."
"You just fuck up."
"From now on, you will do nothing more."
"Murderer."
Shinji closed his eyes as he remembered the words of the people when they were retrieved by Wunder, the coldness in everyone's eyes, the venom in each person's voice, the hatred that was being directed at him.
"They don't care about me, that time is dead." Shinji continued to be tortured by his thoughts.
"And your plan to escape from prison was very clever." Herebutted his mind questioning him.
"It was necessary, I wasn't going to stay there rotting for the rest of my life." Shinji stared at the horizon, memories of the times he was imprisoned for his crimes, having been sentenced to life imprisonment, growling at having his appeal denied for the death penalty.
"They wanted me to suffer, they wanted me to die in a cell alone, at least that time helped me think about what I had to do." Shinji growled as he remembered.
"Have you ever stopped to think that they have pulled strings to keep the death penalty from being applied?" Arguments gave I intern.
"Hahaha." Shinji began to laugh at the very thought, knowing they might be right, wiping away a tear that ran down his cheek.
"I doubt it very much, you seem to have missed the judgment and the looks of others."
"But we are in a different time, people have to be tough." He tried again Shinji's consciousness to remove him from his self-destructive cycle.
"Tough guys? I would never have done what they did, blame me for the third impact, but they saw what happened that day, I didn't know what the EVAS could do, I just want to save my sister." Shinji spoke keeping his posture cool, his mind was flooded with memories of his return, how happy he was to know Asuka was alive and well, how he wanted to help with Wunder's take off. "But no, they preferred to throw all the blame on me, they don't care."
After walking for a few hours, the day was already ending, I looked around to find some shelter.
Sitting on the ground and preparing a small fire, Shinji was lost in his memories as he watched the fire burn in front of him, a small mug was boiling with his food.
Giving a downcast sigh, Shinji looked down as he felt more memories were flooding his mind. "They don't care."
Grabbing his food from the fire, Shinji looked at the small paste in front of him, knowing that this would not be enough to satisfy his hunger, but he knew he would have to ration, taking a small bite of the paste and closing his eyes to try to savor the tastelessness of the food.
"Why Misato? What did I do to make you hate me so much? " Shinji spoke sadly as he looked at his spoon now holding another small portion of food, his thoughts soon falling on his other roommate, a certain fiery, fierce redhead. "Of course, right? The Third and Fourth impact, but did you see that day? You know I didn't want that to happen, I didn't even know that could happen. "
With a small laugh, Shinji continued to stare at the spoon, remembering the times in Misato's apartment, how Asuka made his life hell, how she was never happy with anything he did. "At least she liked my food."
"You say you don't care, but you live thinking about them." Questioned his rational mind.
"I know, I never stopped caring about them, but I know the feeling is not reciprocated." Shinji spoke as he put down his spoon and raised his head to look at the stars, seeing the many bright spots in the heavens. "That's my punishment."
Seeing the multitude of stars in the sky now that there were no longer the city lights to cover them, he was again flooded with memories, one of which was of his friend, the only person who treated him with dignity in this lost world, that person was Kaworu.
(*)
Flash Back
"Kaworu, did I do that?" Shinji asked shocked as he saw Unit 13 soaring into the skies toward the gates of Guf, holding his head to try to hold back his emotions.
"No, it was me." Kaworu spoke dejectedly, Shinji turned his head and looked at his friend's face, he was not understanding anything.
With a beep, Kaworu's DSS choker activated, red crystals began to spin clockwise, even though he didn't know what was happening, Shinji knew it must not be something good, trying to reach his friend and being blocked by the wall of the entry plug.
With tears dissolving into the LCL that enveloped his body, Shinji watched his friend, "Kaworu-Kun, tell me what to do."
Kaworu turned his head and spoke dejectedly, knowing his end was near, he did not fear death, for Kaworu death was the greatest freedom a person could have, looking Shinji in the eye, the angel tried to reassure him. "Don't worry about me Shinji-Kun, this is not your fault."
"How can you not?!" Shinji shouted as he pounded his fists on the wall of the entry plug, desperately trying to reach his friend.
"Dear Shinji, I ... I want you to be happy, but this was not the happiness you deserved." Kaworu spoke with a smile on his face, it seemed that he wasn't even knocking on death's door.
Shinji watched with wide eyes as the crystals on the collar began to spin with more speed, a yellow beam made a thin line around Kaworu's neck.
"Kaworu no!" Shinji shouted upon learning that he had no more time, fiercely kicking the wall in hopes of reaching and giving his friend aid.
Kaworu watched everything with sadness in his eyes, he didn't want Shinji to see what was coming. "Don't worry dear Shinji, fate will guide you, we will see each other again Ikari Shinji -Kun."
Shinji stopped kicking to watch Kaworu's face, seeing the necklace emit a bright yellow light and close up, with a small explosion destroying his victim's head.
Horrified at seeing the scene in front of him, blood pooled in the LCL leaving him practically blurred, preventing him from seeing Kaworu's decapitated body.
"Kaworu-kun." Shinji whispered in horror at what he had witnessed.
End of Flash Back
(*)
Shinji blinked to clear the memory of losing the only person who had treated him with dignity, closing his fist in anger at the knowledge that he had caused his death, knowing that the choker was his and that Kaworu had suffered his punishment in his place.
"Shit." Shinji growled as he took one last mouthful of his food, turning over and trying to get some sleep, but he knew that most likely he would not sleep tonight, like most in his life.
"I just hope Rei is okay." Shinji whispered as he closed his eyes waiting for the sleep that would never come.
(*)
Wunder.
Misato was looking at the work of everyone on the bridge in a bad mood, knowing about Shinji's escape from prison was making his mood go from bad to worse, raising her hand and scratching her forehead in an attempt to rid the thoughts that flooded her mind.
- Shinji, don't you think before you act? - Misato thought annoyed, remembering Shinji's videos in therapy while in prison, his extremist and illogical ideas, but what annoyed Misato most was the things he thought she thought about him.
"You abandoned him." Misato's mind began to chastise her, as it was always doing in these times. "You heard him yourself, you know he is right, he was abandoned in prison."
- Shut up. - Misato thought as she was in a mental conflict again, she was thinking a lot about Shinji these days, not just these days, but almost all of them since her arrest. Desperately searching for ways to reconcile with her former guard.
"You abandoned him." The voice repeated.
- No, he abandoned me... He abandoned me when he left my apartment without looking back. - Misato thought, staring straight ahead, her eyes covered by thick glasses to hide her emotions.
"Hahaha, keep thinking like that, but we both know the reality, I am you." Her inner part spoke sarcastically.
Clenching the metal bar in front of her tightly, Misato gritted her teeth at the direction of her thoughts.
"We know this is all your fault." The rational part mercilessly accused.
- My fault? - Misato asked herself confused, her mind still unwilling to accept that her thoughts were torturing her with truths.
"Don't play the saint ... You know the poor kid was confused when you guys 'rescued' him, you didn't bother to explain the situation properly."
Misato's scowl deepened even more as she strengthened her grip on the protective bar in front of her. - He didn't give it a chance. -
"Another lie!" Her mind screamed, breaking her original train of thought. "You know you had plenty of opportunities to talk to him, but no! You chose to prioritize putting on the choker."
Closing her eyes as she remembered the moment of Shinji's gaze upon seeing her again, even though he didn't know how things were going after twelve years asleep in space.
Remembering how different he looked when he woke up twelve years older, seeing that time didn't stop while he was absorbed inside EVA 01, Misato herself was thankful that he hadn't inherited his father's features, looking like Rei and his mother's features.
"His silence only proves that. Even you would have run away from Wunder if you were in his place." Misato's inner voice spoke arrogantly as she knew that everything she was saying was affecting her.
- I wouldn't have. - Misato fought back, hoping to control her conscience.
"You would have! You were there that day! You saw when Mark 6 stopped the almost third impact. " The voice stopped as Misato's mind flooded with memories of that day. "After that came true Third Impact, one that Shinji was not to blame."
Misato felt her breathing start to increase, she didn't like to remember the third impact, all the turmoil, fighting and bloodshed caused by the UN forces that invaded and started killing everyone they saw.
Remembering facing certain death, but ironically being saved that day, Misato could still remember the joy of knowing that Asuka was alive and well, of finally meeting the mysterious pilot who had stolen EVA 02.
Mari Makinami, that was her name, Misato was very afraid that this girl was working next to her, but the years of living together made her trust this person.
Misato remembered the moments after the third impact, the trials about her involvement, questions about Asuka and her role, the hours of dialogues to prove her innocence.
This whole experience hurt Misato a lot, especially the part where the blame was falling on Shinji and how she herself did nothing to stop it from happening.
Misato squeezed the metal bar even harder, making the joints of her fingers crack with the pressure, if the metal wasn't stronger, it would have bent.
Again images of the pod where Unit 01 was being launched into space came to Misato's mind, Asuka was still in the hospital due to the damage she had suffered in the battle in Unit 03's failed activation test.
(*)
Flash Back
Misato was standing there looking at the huge rocket they were preparing to launch, watching the huge black object being carried inside, this was the last time Misato would look at Shinji, her mind was split
Ritsuko approached her friend and began to watch as well, lighting a cigarette, the fake blonde spoke as she took a long drag.
"Well? Have you thought about their proposal?"
Misato was looking at the preparations, seeing the movement of all the employees running around with tools, closing her eyes and taking a long breath she replied, still without turning around.
"Yes, I'll take it."
Ritsuko looked at Misato with a raised eyebrow, taking another drag. "They are building a ship, they say it will have the power to kill God."
Misato was not interested in this information, having received the offer to join a new organization with the goal of stopping NERV and Gendo, knowing that she could use this to occupy her troubled mind.
"All personnel clear the area, time to launch T-minus ten minutes." A voice announced that preparations to launch Unit 01 to stay in orbit were complete.
Misato watched as the place began to empty, watching the rocket that would carry Shinji into space in his punishment without trial, knowing that the boy was not being given the right to defend himself, having all the blame being thrown on his shoulders, but she couldn't mourn for Shinji, she had a mission now, and Wunder needed a captain.
Watching the rocket come to life and begin to take off, watching the object begin to move further and further away, no one tried to rescue it, no one cared.
Misato watched the object move away until it could no longer be seen, turning to leave and not even bothering to wait for Ritsuko. Walking to the hospital wing of the new military organization called WILLE, she now had to manage to convince Asuka and the new girl to join this new war, but her quickened steps were not for that reason, Misato didn't want to show that a tear ran down her face.
End of Flash Back
(*)
"Harsh memories, but you know deep down they were blaming the wrong person." Misato's conscience spoke again. "You know that the poor boy was carrying the guilt of his father's crimes, but you didn't care. "
- This is a lie! - Misato shouted internally. - If I didn't care I would have killed him on the run. -
With another sarcastic laugh, her mind countered. "It might even be, but instead of trying to help, you did the opposite."
Misato closed her eyes as she knew where these memories were leading, images of Shinji's recovery after the battle to stop the fourth impact, giving a downcast sigh, Misato remembered ordering him to be placed in a cell at Wunder, she forbade any contact.
"You sadistically watched the poor boy in a windowless cell, how he was wasting away and you just stood by watching at your pleasure." Her conscience was speaking, if she were a person she would be smiling now, knowing the suffering she was causing Misato, she continued.
"You never cared."
Gasping slightly Misato closed her eyes to control himself. - That's not true, that was for his safety. -
"Are you listening to each other? If you cared so much, why didn't you ever go talk to him?" Her mind asked. "I know the reason, you wanted him to suffer."
Misato at this moment released the protection bar and started to leave the bridge, feeling everyone's eyes on her, she didn't care, she just wanted to get out of that place, walking with hurried steps, she was heading towards the lodgings.
"There is no use in running away from me, I will be with you until your last breath." The voice in Misato's head spoke arrogantly.
Misato continued on her way to his room, ignoring the greetings she received along the way.
"Now the boy has turned into a monster because of you. You could have had him by your side now, it was just a matter of having the right conversation." Misato's conscience spoke quietly.
"Hi boss." Mari spoke cheerfully as she stood in the path, gesturing with her hands, but the girl who loves pink realized that her leader's posture was not right.
Misato looked at Mari and spoke strongly, but her voice betrayed her emotions, giving Mari room to notice.
"Not now Mari."
Mari watched Misato walk past her, glancing at the purple haired woman's back, raising an eyebrow as she knew for sure why, Wunder was only talking about one thing, the puppy's escape from prison.
Turning and starting to walk towards her room where Asuka was.
Misato's mind was in chaos at the moment, increasing the pace of her steps, feeling her breathing increase with each step he took closer to her room.
"As I said, there's no use running away from me." Misato's conscience spoke again. You know there's no turning back now."
Arriving in her room Misato was searching her pockets for her access card, Misato could feel her hands shaking with every second she lost, feeling the object she was looking for and quickly passing the sensor and with a sound of wind it opened.
Misato entered her room and immediately tried to close the door, looking around and feeling the freedom of not being watched by anyone anymore, Misato let her emotions take over as she leaned against the wall and slowly sat down on the floor.
"Why Shinji?" Misato spoke as she felt her eyes burn. "Why did you run away?"
"You know why." The inner voice began. "You abandoned him, you know yourself that he didn't want to die alone, and what did you do?"
Misato was silent, but the voice in her head was not. "You pulled strings to get his appeal for the death penalty denied."
Misato hit the back of her head against the wall, she could remember the day she had asked that this punishment not be applied, Shinji's return had brought up many feelings for the boy that had long been buried.
The truth was that Misato could not bear Shinji's death, knowing that she saw the boy as the son she never had, finally letting the tears escape.
"How touching, you didn't want him to die, but you had him locked up for the rest of his life in a small prison cell by himself, his greatest fear." The voice was attacking mercilessly.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this." Misato spoke in a tearful voice. "I didn't know how to talk to him ... And the battles left me no room to visit him."
"You know it's a lie, you guys always called him a coward, but deep down the biggest coward was you." Misato's conscience struck back.
Crying leaning against the corner of the room, Misato held her legs as she buried her head in her knees. "I don't know what to do."
"You know what you have to do." The voice spoke calmly, using a much calmer tone now. "Now you have to find him and try to fix the shit you've done, before he does something stupid now for wanting to do it."
Misato raised her head and looked around, knowing that she would now have to help him somehow, that she would now be alone, for to WILLE, Shinji was a dangerous fugitive.
"I'm going to need some help." Misato spoke to no one, as she was in her room she didn't care, her mind soon fell on her friend Ritsuko, but she soon dismissed the idea, as deep down she always suspected that Ritsuko knew more than she appeared to.
Giving her mind a chuckle for bringing up the image of Asuka.
"Well, she always had a thing for Shinji." Giving a muffled laugh as she remembered the times when they all lived together.
"She may deny it, but I know the signs." Misato spoke with a smile as she knew she had a small chance of having Asuka's support, soon her thoughts fell on Mari.
Not knowing if she could count on her for such a task, but he knew that Mari was reliable somehow, always trying to ease Shinji's guilt, not caring about anyone's opinion.
Shaking her head with determination, Misato stood up, going to the bathroom in her room to pull herself together, splashing some water on her face to clear her tears and agitated mind, her gaze soon locked on her image reflected in the mirror.
Memories of her father came into her mind, knowing she was doing the exact same thing, she spoke with determination.
"I am not like him, I will help you Shinji, it will be hard, but I will make it."
(*)
"Hi boss." Mari spoke cheerfully as she stood in the path, gesturing with her hands, but the girl who loves pink realized that her leader's posture was not right.
Misato looked at Mari and spoke strongly, but her voice betrayed her emotions, giving Mari room to notice.
"Not now Mari."
Mari watched Misato walk past her, glancing at the purple haired woman's back, raising an eyebrow as she knew for sure why, Wunder was only talking about one thing, the puppy's escape from prison.
With a discreet smile, Mari made her way back to her quarters, knowing that Asuka's nerves were on edge, she only hoped that the drink she carried for both of them would be enough to calm the German's anger.
Opening her door, Mari observed Asuka sitting at the table with her head between her hands, her fingers firmly fixed on her scalp, placing the drink in front of Asuka.
"What is it princess?" Mari asked as she sat down in the opposite chair, she waited for Asuka's answer, she knew that whenever she sought this information, the redhead would fire off curses, but Mari knew how to handle it.
Asuka was holding her head, her thoughts were with Misato's, a certain boy would not leave her head.
- Stupid brat, what was he thinking? -
Dropping her head and raising her gaze to meet Mari's smiling gaze as she took her drink, she lowered her gaze and saw that Mari had gotten one for herself as well.
Opening and taking a sip, letting the cold liquid calm her nerves, Asuka spoke annoyed. "How can he? Is his head only good for parting his ears?"
Mari giggled at Asuka's analogy about Shinji. "He's an interesting case."
Asuka looked at her roommate in confusion, "How 'interesting'?" Emphasizing with her hands the last part.
Mari took a sip of her drink and spoke quietly. "Princess, you know very well that our world is strange, only he can tell us his intentions."
"Intentions? Are you listening to yourself four-eyes?" Asuka retorted to Mari. "What does he want to do? Make a fifth impact?"
Mari shook her head slowly, let out a shy sigh and began to speak. "I didn't expect that from you princess, for a person who brags so much about having completed college at the age of eight, you're pretty dense."
Asuka's eyes widened, she wasn't expecting Mari to talk to her like that in such seriousness, feeling her anger rising at her colleague's attitudes. "What does four eyes look like?"
Mari seemed unintimidated by Asuka, looking her in the eye and leaning in to get her face closer to Asuka's. "That was it."
Asuka stared into Mari's arrogant gaze, making a great mental effort not to explode.
Mari seeing that Asuka would do nothing, smiling decided to continue. "We all know that the puppy was just the scapegoat for all this shit."
Asuka stared at Mari all the time, but was listening attentively.
"The cub got away, so what?" Mari spoke as she threw her hands up. "Why do you care so much? We abandoned him in prison for two years, you know very well my opinion on that."
Asuka stared at her in disbelief and retorted. "So what, that's what happens to criminals."
"Criminal? Now you're listening to the shit that comes out of your mouth?" Mari retorted, knowing she was going down dangerous paths, but she had to prove her point. "And I know you don't think so, because I hear you calling his name at night."
Asuka blushed at the comment, it was true that Shinji was always present in her dreams, but she was never going to let that information leak out. "You talk about us abandoning him, but what about what he did to us? At the first opportunity he ran away."
Mari smiled and spoke in a strong voice. "And who wouldn't run away princess? Imagine if it was you, woke up and everyone you trusted hated you? Didn't tell the truth and put on an explosive necklace? Someone we talked about being dead would emerge and it's just the person you tried to save."
Asuka was silent for a moment, she knew that Mari's arguments were all correct, that she would have done the same thing, lowering her gaze and making a heavy frown on her face, Mari widened her smile for knowing that Asuka had no valid arguments.
"But he should have listened to me in the battle." Asuka growled.
"Listened to what? Letting yourself get killed by you?" Mari retorted arrogantly, all the while maintaining eye contact. "The radio was open in the battle, how did you talk? 'Shut up and die brat.'"
Asuka lowered her eyes downcast that Mari had brought up this subject, the truth was that Asuka had not controlled herself in the fight, she would never have the courage to kill Shinji.
Mari watched Asuka's face crumble. "The truth was that no one ever valued him, no wonder he ran away."
Asuka raised her head and spoke sadly. "You know that's not true."
Mari looked at her confused, being very good at playing facial expressions, causing Asuka to continue with her dialogues. "I wasn't going to kill him, I just wanted him to stop and listen and second that damn choker wasn't made for him."
"But it was used on him." Mari cut off Asuka's train of thought. "And when all that was over we put it back." Asuka again lowered her gaze.
"You talk about how you care, but you never went looking for him, ever." Mari spoke dejectedly.
"Misato had forbidden and... " Asuka started to speak, but was cut off.
"You know you could have it any time you wanted it. And yet, you never looked for it in prison, not even a message. Nothing." Mari spoke losing her posture and finally showing her annoyance. "Now you're making yourself feel sorry?"
Asuka could feel tears wanting to come out, all of Mari's arguments were correct, with defeat assured she tried to fight back. "If you were so worried, why didn't you get in touch?"
Mari huffed. "I'm nothing to him, I'm just the girl who landed on him on the roof of the school, it wasn't me he lived with for over six months, you want the truth? If I were in his shoes, I would always be talking to him and giving him as much support as I could, I wouldn't abandon him like you guys did."
Asuka felt a tear run down her cheek, Mari's words had hurt her, knowing that she was right on all points.
Seeing the tears on Asuka's face, Mari softened her posture and spoke more calmly. "Look Asuka, it's never too late."
Seeing Asuka's gaze curl on her, Mari continued. "We'll find him and you two have to have a serious talk."
"Even in the fantasy world of your mind, how do you think that would help? We are eternal enemies Mari." Asuka spoke without bothering to wipe away the river of tears that stained her face.
"That will change, one day the truth will come out and clear his name, he will be our new roommate." Mari spoke smiling as she remembered Kaji in his quest for the truth, rooting for him to succeed.
Asuka wiped the tears from her face and stared at Mari in disbelief, her mind was hammering the idea that it was wrong for a man and a woman to share a room, much less a man and two single women.
"Is that serious?"
Mari gave a mischievous smile as she bit her lower lip. "So what, we have to bring in a more masculine tone." Stopping talking only to see the incredulous look on Asuka's face.
"And you think that divine ass is going to be all yours?"
"Perverted tramp." Asuka spoke with fake disgust, but images of Shinji at twenty-six came into her head, how well developed and sexy his body had become, images of naked Shinji came into Asuka's mind making her blush heavily.
Mari noticed Asuka's face blush like the color of her hair, widening her smile. "You're thinking about it aren't you?"
"No." Asuka spoke hurriedly as she took another sip of her drink to lighten the mood, hoping Mari would ignore it, but she knew it was a losing fight.
"Yes! She are!" Mari shouted as she pointed her finger at Asuka accusingly. "Don't worry, I would love to take advantage of that piece of mischief, does he have a big one?" Mari asked raising her eyebrows suggestively.
"Sakura will love to know that."
"Mari!" Asuka spoke clumsily to Mari's question who started to laugh, but her mind was asking the same question, still blushing at the thought, but soon images of Shinji smiling came, with a small smile on her face Asuka sipped the rest of her drink and thought worriedly.
- Please Baka, don't do anything stupid. -
Author's Notes: Hey guys what's up, Calborghete here, did you miss me?
As always I ask for a little patience, my English is far from perfect, but I hope the translation will be at satisfactory levels, with time my English will be improved and I will come back to edit the flaws that for sure will have.
So this is the first chapter of my new story, I hope you enjoyed it, and as always don't forget to favorite and like it so you don't miss anything.
Please review, your criticism (good or bad) is very important to me, you know that I take what is said into consideration and it also gives me strength to continue.
Don't forget to also like the Facebook page, search for "Calborghete" and locate a picture of Shinji and Asuka, on this page I will post updates and it will also be easier for you to contact me.
