I am trying very hard not to laugh at the moment.
Chapter 16: The Real World
Shinji was floating above the Earth. He could clearly see Lilith floating serenely on the planet itself. It seemed odd, such a peaceful scene could hold so much destruction and sadness in it. But the souls being drawn to Lilith told the tale. All of their pain and suffering was hitting Shinji like a tidal wave. But he withstood it with all that he had. His love for Asuka, his mother, and all of his friends. The happiness that he had experienced and the pure joy that was hidden within him. In this moment of absolute sorrow and darkness, Shinji was there. A beacon of hope and understanding.
Asuka had curled herself up in a tight ball. She was floating in nothingness and darkness blanketed her. She barely conscious, barely thinking about anything. She slowly drifted to sleep.
"Asuka!"
Her eyes snapped open but they saw nothing but darkness.
"I'm hearing things now," she said to herself.
"Asuka!"
She looked around her but could find nothing. Something was out there, searching for her. She started to relax.
"Asuka!"
It was closer this time. And the voice was so familiar. Was it Shinji?
"Asuka!"
A single speck of light appeared and drew Asuka's attention. She uncurled herself and straightened out. The light slowly grew towards her.
"Asuka!"
It was Shinji. It had to be.
"Shinji! I'm here!"
Asuka reached out and a feature appeared. The outline came closer and closer until Asuka finally reached its hand. The light receded from the form and revealed a plugsuit. Finally the light disappeared from the entire body and embraced Asuka.
"Shinji. I'm so glad you found me."
Shinji held Asuka tightly as if afraid that he would lose her if he let go.
"I'm sorry I failed you Asuka," he said, "I couldn't protect you from the Third Impact."
"As long as we're together, nothing matters. Now can we please get out of here?"
"I don't know," said Shinji, "I had some help finding you. I guess I have to wait until he finishes his business. But we'll get out of here no matte what."
Tears streamed down Asuka's cheeks. It felt so good to let it all out. All the pent up emotions that she had hid away was finally being released. She rested her head on Shinji's shoulder and cried until she ran out of tears. Through this entire time Shinji's warmth and proximity comforted her in a way only he could.
Evans knew he really shouldn't have left Shinji and Asuka alone but he was in a rush. Fence mending with the major was most likely to be impossible even with Shinji on his side. However, he had another thing to worry about. Maya was pregnant when she was pulled into the LCL Ocean. He needed to get her out to ensure that their child would not be harmed. He had no idea how the LCL would affect their child. He searched through over a billion souls before finally finding the one he wanted. Maya was in the same position as Asuka was. He slowly approached her and took hold of her by the shoulder. She stiffened a little before relaxing.
"Maya. It's me."
Her eyes snapped open and she turned around. Her face was overjoyed when she saw him. She fell into his embrace almost immediately.
"Evans! You're really here."
"I have to get you out of here," said Evans, "Do you trust me Maya?"
"Of course," said Maya, "I trust you over everyone else."
"Then believe me when I say that we will see each other again. I'm going to get you out of here. Shinji and Asuka need someone to help them and they will also help you."
"But won't you be with us?"
Evans shook his head.
"I can't return until humanity has returned to Earth. That is what the three of you must do. Return all of humanity to Earth. I'll come back then and we'll be together."
Maya started crying.
"Have faith Maya. I know that we will be together again. You have to believe in that as well."
Maya nodded and wiped away the tears.
"Come. Let me show you the way out."
Maya started walking in the air with Evans holding her. Then a brilliant light covered them.
Shinji looked up and saw Evans. He nodded.
"Asuka, we have to go."
"Okay. Let's just get the hell out of this place."
They were surrounded in a blue AT-Field and disappeared in it.
Maya opened her eyes and found herself lying on the beach. She got up and saw Shinji and Asuka next to her. The two also stirred and woke. Asuka was partially wrapped in bandages and was still in a plugsuit. Shinji was wearing a plugsuit as well but it was far bulkier. It looked more like armor. Maya rubbed her eyes and tried to take in all the things around her.
Shinji got up and found Maya and Asuka with him. Asuka was also awake and he helped her up. Maya picked herself up and looked at the two pilots.
"I guess Evans got you out too," Shinji said, finally breaking the silence.
Maya nodded. "He said that you two might need my help."
Asuka was too tired to say anything. What she needed right now was sleep. She collapsed in Shinji's embrace and dozed off.
"I think we should find some shelter," said Shinji.
"If I remember right the apartments are that way."
Maya helped get Asuka onto Shinji's back and they started walking. Behind them the blue sea showed nothing. They were silent for most of the time as they slowly made their way across to the apartments. After an hour they got to the outskirts of the district and Shinji gently put Asuka down.
"I'll try to find a car," said Maya, "That'll make things easier."
"Thanks," said Shinji.
Maya walked off and found several deserted cars. It felt so lonely here with only two other people as company. She knew that she was pregnant but didn't know how Evans found out. But then again, he was an angel. She didn't care about that. As long as he would come back to her she just didn't care what he was. She finally found one of the cars with a key in it. She drove it back to the two pilots and Shinji put Asuka inside.
"Let's go to Misato's place," said Shinji.
"Okay. You guys probably have more room than my apartment anyways."
The streets were oddly silent. It just wasn't right for a city of this size to be completely empty and silent. Maya didn't feel very comfortable here. They came to Misato's apartment and Shinji carried Asuka into the elevator and then into her room. After he had made sure she was okay he came out into the living room. Maya had curled up and fallen asleep as well. It seemed odd for Shinji to be the only one awake in the world. But he hadn't wanted this. All he wanted was to live with Asuka but fate or Evans had decided that he would be the one who had to bring back the human race from the LCL Ocean. It really didn't seem fair but what else could he do? Nothing but do his job so everything could go back to normal. Or as normal as things could be.
"So when will I make my appearance?" the girl asked.
"Give them a week," said Evans, "Besides, you aren't even supposed to exist in their minds."
"The Dead Sea Scrolls told of an eighteenth angel," the girl protested.
"But they excepted it to be themselves," said Kaworu, "They certainly got their wish. Now just relax. You'll get to go down there soon. I never expected my sister to be in such a rush."
The girl twitched her nose and pouted. Kaworu smiled at her. Evans watched his two children interact. He just hoped he would be able to see his other child grow up.
"One week," said Evans, "Then you can go down there to make yourself known. Just don't scare them to death. Especially your new mother."
"I know Father."
End of Chapter 16
Well, now you know what the girl is. Who is another matter entirely. On, and RZ, don't start complaining about not knowing anything about the girl
Z98
Chapter 16: The Real World
Shinji was floating above the Earth. He could clearly see Lilith floating serenely on the planet itself. It seemed odd, such a peaceful scene could hold so much destruction and sadness in it. But the souls being drawn to Lilith told the tale. All of their pain and suffering was hitting Shinji like a tidal wave. But he withstood it with all that he had. His love for Asuka, his mother, and all of his friends. The happiness that he had experienced and the pure joy that was hidden within him. In this moment of absolute sorrow and darkness, Shinji was there. A beacon of hope and understanding.
Asuka had curled herself up in a tight ball. She was floating in nothingness and darkness blanketed her. She barely conscious, barely thinking about anything. She slowly drifted to sleep.
"Asuka!"
Her eyes snapped open but they saw nothing but darkness.
"I'm hearing things now," she said to herself.
"Asuka!"
She looked around her but could find nothing. Something was out there, searching for her. She started to relax.
"Asuka!"
It was closer this time. And the voice was so familiar. Was it Shinji?
"Asuka!"
A single speck of light appeared and drew Asuka's attention. She uncurled herself and straightened out. The light slowly grew towards her.
"Asuka!"
It was Shinji. It had to be.
"Shinji! I'm here!"
Asuka reached out and a feature appeared. The outline came closer and closer until Asuka finally reached its hand. The light receded from the form and revealed a plugsuit. Finally the light disappeared from the entire body and embraced Asuka.
"Shinji. I'm so glad you found me."
Shinji held Asuka tightly as if afraid that he would lose her if he let go.
"I'm sorry I failed you Asuka," he said, "I couldn't protect you from the Third Impact."
"As long as we're together, nothing matters. Now can we please get out of here?"
"I don't know," said Shinji, "I had some help finding you. I guess I have to wait until he finishes his business. But we'll get out of here no matte what."
Tears streamed down Asuka's cheeks. It felt so good to let it all out. All the pent up emotions that she had hid away was finally being released. She rested her head on Shinji's shoulder and cried until she ran out of tears. Through this entire time Shinji's warmth and proximity comforted her in a way only he could.
Evans knew he really shouldn't have left Shinji and Asuka alone but he was in a rush. Fence mending with the major was most likely to be impossible even with Shinji on his side. However, he had another thing to worry about. Maya was pregnant when she was pulled into the LCL Ocean. He needed to get her out to ensure that their child would not be harmed. He had no idea how the LCL would affect their child. He searched through over a billion souls before finally finding the one he wanted. Maya was in the same position as Asuka was. He slowly approached her and took hold of her by the shoulder. She stiffened a little before relaxing.
"Maya. It's me."
Her eyes snapped open and she turned around. Her face was overjoyed when she saw him. She fell into his embrace almost immediately.
"Evans! You're really here."
"I have to get you out of here," said Evans, "Do you trust me Maya?"
"Of course," said Maya, "I trust you over everyone else."
"Then believe me when I say that we will see each other again. I'm going to get you out of here. Shinji and Asuka need someone to help them and they will also help you."
"But won't you be with us?"
Evans shook his head.
"I can't return until humanity has returned to Earth. That is what the three of you must do. Return all of humanity to Earth. I'll come back then and we'll be together."
Maya started crying.
"Have faith Maya. I know that we will be together again. You have to believe in that as well."
Maya nodded and wiped away the tears.
"Come. Let me show you the way out."
Maya started walking in the air with Evans holding her. Then a brilliant light covered them.
Shinji looked up and saw Evans. He nodded.
"Asuka, we have to go."
"Okay. Let's just get the hell out of this place."
They were surrounded in a blue AT-Field and disappeared in it.
Maya opened her eyes and found herself lying on the beach. She got up and saw Shinji and Asuka next to her. The two also stirred and woke. Asuka was partially wrapped in bandages and was still in a plugsuit. Shinji was wearing a plugsuit as well but it was far bulkier. It looked more like armor. Maya rubbed her eyes and tried to take in all the things around her.
Shinji got up and found Maya and Asuka with him. Asuka was also awake and he helped her up. Maya picked herself up and looked at the two pilots.
"I guess Evans got you out too," Shinji said, finally breaking the silence.
Maya nodded. "He said that you two might need my help."
Asuka was too tired to say anything. What she needed right now was sleep. She collapsed in Shinji's embrace and dozed off.
"I think we should find some shelter," said Shinji.
"If I remember right the apartments are that way."
Maya helped get Asuka onto Shinji's back and they started walking. Behind them the blue sea showed nothing. They were silent for most of the time as they slowly made their way across to the apartments. After an hour they got to the outskirts of the district and Shinji gently put Asuka down.
"I'll try to find a car," said Maya, "That'll make things easier."
"Thanks," said Shinji.
Maya walked off and found several deserted cars. It felt so lonely here with only two other people as company. She knew that she was pregnant but didn't know how Evans found out. But then again, he was an angel. She didn't care about that. As long as he would come back to her she just didn't care what he was. She finally found one of the cars with a key in it. She drove it back to the two pilots and Shinji put Asuka inside.
"Let's go to Misato's place," said Shinji.
"Okay. You guys probably have more room than my apartment anyways."
The streets were oddly silent. It just wasn't right for a city of this size to be completely empty and silent. Maya didn't feel very comfortable here. They came to Misato's apartment and Shinji carried Asuka into the elevator and then into her room. After he had made sure she was okay he came out into the living room. Maya had curled up and fallen asleep as well. It seemed odd for Shinji to be the only one awake in the world. But he hadn't wanted this. All he wanted was to live with Asuka but fate or Evans had decided that he would be the one who had to bring back the human race from the LCL Ocean. It really didn't seem fair but what else could he do? Nothing but do his job so everything could go back to normal. Or as normal as things could be.
"So when will I make my appearance?" the girl asked.
"Give them a week," said Evans, "Besides, you aren't even supposed to exist in their minds."
"The Dead Sea Scrolls told of an eighteenth angel," the girl protested.
"But they excepted it to be themselves," said Kaworu, "They certainly got their wish. Now just relax. You'll get to go down there soon. I never expected my sister to be in such a rush."
The girl twitched her nose and pouted. Kaworu smiled at her. Evans watched his two children interact. He just hoped he would be able to see his other child grow up.
"One week," said Evans, "Then you can go down there to make yourself known. Just don't scare them to death. Especially your new mother."
"I know Father."
End of Chapter 16
Well, now you know what the girl is. Who is another matter entirely. On, and RZ, don't start complaining about not knowing anything about the girl
Z98