+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Neon Genesis Evangelion+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Fifth Eva: And So Be it~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I have to tell you something, Shinji," Rei stated as a matter-of-factly.
"What is it?" Shinji tilted his head and looked at her eyes which burnt amber in the sunlight.
"But I have to ask you something first."
"Yes?"
"Are you...are you..."
"Aiiii!!!!" screamed a voice. "Shinji! Rei!!!! How could do this?! You take advantage of even
lunch break to-" Asuka towered above the two.
"Asuka, you are deafening me!" Shinji protested as he got up from the ground. "And we are not doing anything. Just relaxing after a nice, heavy lunch."
"Why can't you relax with Toji?!" Asuka demanded.
"Why must I?" Shinji countered. "Get off my back will you, Asuka?"
"I'll go to the classroom first," Rei mumbled. She got up and left quickly.
"Well, you can relax with me!" Asuka smirked and sat beside Shinji.
"Whatever," Shinji muttered.
Rei looked out of the window. Shinji was, for once, happy without his father in his life. Okay, maybe not happy...but at least he was not mentally unstable as before, when he was piloting Eva-01. Did she dare tell him about the letter? The letter that _summoned_ her to Neo-Nerv, which was bizarrely located near Neo-Osaka? Near to where they, the evangelion pilots, lived? The letter which told her that she would be slotted for a trial test on the fifth eva, built separately, and secretly from the Committee's eyes. A letter signed by Ikari Gendo, the man who still lived.
Did she dare shatter the news to Shinji?
Something inside her burnt. Something made her hate Gendo a tiny bit. Hatred that would still burn in her heart a long time afterwards. Selfish man.
She took out the letter and read it once more. Her fingers crushed it, but she spread it out on the table again. She had to go. She had to find out whether it was really Gendo who signed the letter. If it was: Why was he alive? Did he arrange for the explosion of Nerv headquarters and Tokyo-3? Or did the Seele did it?
Did she dare to go this Neo-Nerv and find out? Did she _want_ to go? No...she had to go. She still had an obligation to those who made her. To those who cloned her. Rei tore the letter into tiny pieces, and threw it out of the window.
"Where are you going Rei?" Toji stopped Rei as she was about to walk out of the apartment.
"Aren't you going to wait for Shinji?"
Rei looked up startled, "But why would I want to wait for Shinji?" Suddenly her heart was beating fast. Beating fast at his name.
Toji looked strangely at her, "But the both of you always go out together in the afternoons."
"Oh. I'm running...an errand," Rei said. "We need more rice."
"The rice will be to heavy for you. I'll come along, and help you."
"Oh no, I can manage it just fine," Rei insisted, and before Toji could say anything, she had already slipped out and walked hurriedly.
"Asuka..." Shinji groaned as she dragged him to yet another clothes shop. "I really don't want to do this."
"Which one is nicer?" Asuka demanded loudly, ignoring his previous words. "I think I look equally gorgeous in red and yellow."
"Yeah, charming," Shinji said dully as she looked out of the shop. "Rei?" He caught sight of the blue haired. She was walking alone, and rather in a hurried manner which was unlike her.
"What was that, that you said?" Asuka's sharp ears twitched. But Shinji did not heed her.
"Hey, Rei!" he called out and waved at her, but Rei did not see him, nor did she heard. "Rei!"
Asuka had had enough. "Stop calling to that blue witch! Look at me!"
"Did you just call Rei 'blue witch'?" Shinji asked her.
"Yes," Asuka grew very passionate. "So what's it to you?"
"Nothing. You usually call her 'doll'," Shinji explained.
"Fine," Asuka waved her hand. "You want to go after her? Then go. I'm going with you."
"I thought you wanted to buy a dress?"
"That can wait, I want to see what's she up to," Asuka replied. "She might be ditching you, and oh no, I can't let both of you apart."
"Huh?" Shinji looked at her weirdly. "Are you fine, Asuka?"
Asuka stared at him back. "Well? What are we waiting for?" She grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the shop.
"Hey Miss! Aren't you going to buy any of the dresses?" The shopkeeper ran out and called to Asuka.
"Not NOW," Asuka cast a look at the shopkeeper. "Where did she go? I want to know!" Asuka asked Shinji, who had a puzzled look on his face.
"She turned around a corner, and got lost in the crowd, I suppose," Shinji replied. I can't find her."
"Well, that's too bad. I wanted to know what she's up to," Asuka shrugged and dragged Shinji away. "Let's go and have early dinner and then we can go home. Just the two of us."
"But what about Toji? We haven't got anything food at home," Shinji protested.
"We can pack him noodles," Asuka replied smoothly.
Rei climbed the cracked stone steps and looked around. There! There seemed to be something suspicious about the big tree. It didn't look...well...alive. Rei walked towards it and touched the bark. It felt fake. Cold and fake. It was metal, Rei supposed. She tapped the trunk and it sounded hollow.
"If this is a secret project, it sure doesn't take much effort for someone to spot the quarters," Rei thought grimly to herself. The place looked secluded. Perhaps not as easy as she supposed, after all. Rei pressed her hand hard against the bark.
There was a soft click and the trunk gave way to what it seemed to be a lift. Rei stepped into it, and the trunk closed again, enveloping her in darkness.
"Hmm...I wonder where the rest have gone? I'm so hungry!" Toji yawned. "And tired. There's nothing left in the house for me to eat!"
"We're back!" Asuka announced as she entered the apartment. "We've got some dinner for you and groceries here."
"Asuka?" Toji looked at her and then at Shinji who was balancing bags with two hands, and his mouth. "Weren't you wearing a different dress just now?"
"Of course I did. This is a new dress. Like it?" Asuka twirled. "Shinji thought it looks greeeat on me."
"Oh yeah, sure. Where's the food you were talking about?" Toji asked.
"Here," Shinji put down everything on the table and handed Toji a takeaway box.
"So, you went shopping?" Toji asked.
"Of course we did," Asuka replied and carried the bags which did not contain groceries to her room. "Where's Rei? We saw her just now, but she seemed to be in a hurry."
"I thought she was buying the groceries," Toji said. "I offered to help her but she didn't want me to."
"I wonder where she's gone," Shinji commented.
"Well, heck," Asuka replied. "If she came back late, I'm afraid, she would have to cook instant soup for herself." Asuka hummed as she went into her room and closed the door.
"She seems to be in a good mood today," Toji said to Shinji as he slurped his food.
"Yeah, she was having fun," Shinji shook his head, "while I was her slave," he whispered to Toji. "I had to follow her all around the shops. It was quite tiring."
"I hear you!" Asuka shouted from within her room.
"So..." Toji lowered his voice to a whisper. "Did she tell you?"
"Who?" Shinji asked.
"Asuka," Toji whispered, and looked at the direction of Asuka's bedroom.
"Tell me what?" asked Shinji.
"...She..." Toji leaned nearer to Shinji.
"Hey, Toji! What do you think..." Asuka twirled around out of her room suddenly. She stared at the two of them then screamed, "What the HECK?! Desperados!"
"Hm?" Shinji looked confused when Asuka jumped on him. "How could you be attracted to a BOY?! First it was Rei, then Toji?!"
"Oh, yeah, I'm really seductive..." Toji winked flirtatiously at Shinji, who sweatdropped.
"Um...well..." Shinji stammered. Then he gathered up what was left of his courage, and got out of Asuka's grasp. "Really, Asuka! It's none of your business!" He spurred his heel and walked out of the apartment.
"Well, where is he going?" Asuka asked Toji, exasperated.
"I don't know...and umm...you look nice in that dress."
"Only nice?! I'm gorgeous! What an insult!"
The light hit upon her suddenly. Rei blinked twice, before her eyes could adjust to the darkness. Rei stuck her head out to look around.
"Hm?" Rei wondered as she found herself staring at the entrance. It looked the same as the old headquarters. Rei started to walk towards it, but she caught herself at the last moment, as the engine to drive her faltered.
"Rei," called a voice.
Rei turned around.
"I'm glad you came." Gendo Ikari came out from the shadows. He held out his hands as if asking her to hug him.
Rei stayed back.
"Why?" Rei questioned.
Gendo looked surprised for a while as his arms dropped by his sides.
"You're using me, aren't you? You're using everyone, aren't you?"
Gendo's face remained emotionless though his eyes, behind his dark glasses had begun to show uncertainty. And Rei somehow sensed the discordance behind the confidence.
"I cannot do this," Rei said as she turned back and walked towards the elevator. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Rei," said Gendo, "I need you."
"Shinji needs me more," Rei said, and stepped into the elevator.
"Rei!" Gendo sprung into the elevator and as the door closed. "Once...Just once." He looked into her eyes. "Please."
Rei stared back at him, and repeated his words, "Once...just once...please remember. I don't to be your doll anymore. I don't want to. I want to live a normal life, and I want to grow up and fall in love, and have children. Leave me alone."
"You know you can never have children. You can't fall in love...That emotion is not inputted in you. No emotion has been inputted in you. You are mine, Rei. You are mine," he reached out to touch Rei.
"Get away from me!" Rei cried out in disgust as she stepped backwards. The door opened and Rei ran out. "You are wrong!"
"I'm not a doll, I will prove you wrong!" Rei whispered as she ran as fast as she could, and as far as she could from Gendo.
===
As Shinji opened the door, it slammed into his nose. Rei flew into the apartment and slammed the door shut.
"My, you seem energetic," Toji commented lazily as he watched the television.
"Toji, shut up, I'm concentrating on the programme," Asuka said with her eyes glued to tv.
"Where have you been? You know what time is it now? It's eleven," Shinji chided Rei. "Ouch..." he clutched his nose. "I think you nearly broke it."
"Shinji...Tell me! Am I a doll!" Rei practically screamed at him. "Am I a doll?"
"Of course you are," Asuka gave a snide remark.
"Tell me!" Rei asked shrilly at Shinji.
"Of course not," Shinji replied. "You're a human girl...like all of us."
"Not like me," Asuka cut in.
"Asuka, shut up," Toji said. "Stick to watching TV. This is between Rei and Shinji."
"You're not," Shinji reassured Rei. "Of course not."
"Then tell me, can I ever fall in love and have children?" Rei pleaded. "I...want to have children..."
(Asuka: "My, she's direct,")
(Toji: "Shhh!!!")
"I want to have children...with you." Rei said, as she collapsed on the floor, sobbing.
(Asuka: "...the hell?! Is she desperate or what?")
"Hell, NO!" Asuka pounced on Rei before either or the boys could stop her. "How DARE you!" Asuka slapped Rei. "Shinji...Shinji tell her! Tell her she can't have babies with you!"
"Asuka..." Toji tried to restrain her as Shinji helped Rei up.
"I WON'T let you! Shinji...Shinji's MINE!" Asuka screamed.
Rei looked at Asuka, startled. "Asuka..."
"...Asuka..." Toji dropped his grip on her in surprise.
"Shinji..." Asuka ran to him and held his hands.
Shinji stood silently, stunned.
"Shinji? Say something," Toji sounded scared. The situation was so tense that he was afraid that any wrong word could cause the room to explode and blow them into pieces.
"...So I told him..." sang the voice in tv. "I told him how much I love him. And then he said nothing to me. Didn't say anything. I knew. I knew then, that he..."
"I see..." Asuka said quietly. "I see everything so clearly now." Asuka ran into her room and slammed the door behind her.
"...he said nothing. But I could see it in his eyes. He loved someone...but not me."
Rei walked past the two boys into her own room and closed the door softly behind her.
"What a crappy song," Toji sighed as he switched off the tv.
"Now what?" Shinji asked Toji.
TOji shrugged. "Well, don't ask me, it's _your_ girl problem. I didn't know you were _so_ hot. At any rate, I'm gonna hit the sack, so you better think this out on your own."
As Shinji turned away and walk into his own room, he could hear Toji mumbling to himself, "Oh damn, I can't believe Shinji has two girls chasing after him."
===
Asuka sat on the edge of her bed. Blood was pumping hard in her veins. Why did she do it? Why did she say those words? Did she really mean them?
Asuka felt utterly confused. As confused and as afraid as she felt when the angel ravished her mind. Now, it felt like she herself had ravished her heart. And how her heart ached! Fear, pain, anxiety, confusion...the familiar medley.
"I don't want to feel this! I don't to know what I'm feeling! Leave me alone! Stop! Stop hurting me!" Asuka screamed as she threw her pillows against the wall. "I don't want to feel this..." she said with tears that fell onto the floor. "...don't want to..."
===
Rei stared at the ceiling. Gendo's words echoed in the silence of her room.
-You know you can never have children...-
"Why?" Rei wondered. "Why did I exist? I want to live a normal life. I want to grow up. I want to have children."
-You can't fall in love...-
"I want to fall in love. I don't know what it feels like, but I want to know how it feels. Don't I have a heart? Don't I have blood running through my veins? Love doesn't need to be 'inputted'. Love...what is love?"
-You are mine, Rei. You are mine...-
"I don't want to belong to Gendo. I am not his. He created me, but I am not his. I am alive...and I want to belong to...I want to belong to Shinji...Why do I feel this way? Is this...?"
To be continued.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Fifth Eva: And So Be it~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I have to tell you something, Shinji," Rei stated as a matter-of-factly.
"What is it?" Shinji tilted his head and looked at her eyes which burnt amber in the sunlight.
"But I have to ask you something first."
"Yes?"
"Are you...are you..."
"Aiiii!!!!" screamed a voice. "Shinji! Rei!!!! How could do this?! You take advantage of even
lunch break to-" Asuka towered above the two.
"Asuka, you are deafening me!" Shinji protested as he got up from the ground. "And we are not doing anything. Just relaxing after a nice, heavy lunch."
"Why can't you relax with Toji?!" Asuka demanded.
"Why must I?" Shinji countered. "Get off my back will you, Asuka?"
"I'll go to the classroom first," Rei mumbled. She got up and left quickly.
"Well, you can relax with me!" Asuka smirked and sat beside Shinji.
"Whatever," Shinji muttered.
Rei looked out of the window. Shinji was, for once, happy without his father in his life. Okay, maybe not happy...but at least he was not mentally unstable as before, when he was piloting Eva-01. Did she dare tell him about the letter? The letter that _summoned_ her to Neo-Nerv, which was bizarrely located near Neo-Osaka? Near to where they, the evangelion pilots, lived? The letter which told her that she would be slotted for a trial test on the fifth eva, built separately, and secretly from the Committee's eyes. A letter signed by Ikari Gendo, the man who still lived.
Did she dare shatter the news to Shinji?
Something inside her burnt. Something made her hate Gendo a tiny bit. Hatred that would still burn in her heart a long time afterwards. Selfish man.
She took out the letter and read it once more. Her fingers crushed it, but she spread it out on the table again. She had to go. She had to find out whether it was really Gendo who signed the letter. If it was: Why was he alive? Did he arrange for the explosion of Nerv headquarters and Tokyo-3? Or did the Seele did it?
Did she dare to go this Neo-Nerv and find out? Did she _want_ to go? No...she had to go. She still had an obligation to those who made her. To those who cloned her. Rei tore the letter into tiny pieces, and threw it out of the window.
"Where are you going Rei?" Toji stopped Rei as she was about to walk out of the apartment.
"Aren't you going to wait for Shinji?"
Rei looked up startled, "But why would I want to wait for Shinji?" Suddenly her heart was beating fast. Beating fast at his name.
Toji looked strangely at her, "But the both of you always go out together in the afternoons."
"Oh. I'm running...an errand," Rei said. "We need more rice."
"The rice will be to heavy for you. I'll come along, and help you."
"Oh no, I can manage it just fine," Rei insisted, and before Toji could say anything, she had already slipped out and walked hurriedly.
"Asuka..." Shinji groaned as she dragged him to yet another clothes shop. "I really don't want to do this."
"Which one is nicer?" Asuka demanded loudly, ignoring his previous words. "I think I look equally gorgeous in red and yellow."
"Yeah, charming," Shinji said dully as she looked out of the shop. "Rei?" He caught sight of the blue haired. She was walking alone, and rather in a hurried manner which was unlike her.
"What was that, that you said?" Asuka's sharp ears twitched. But Shinji did not heed her.
"Hey, Rei!" he called out and waved at her, but Rei did not see him, nor did she heard. "Rei!"
Asuka had had enough. "Stop calling to that blue witch! Look at me!"
"Did you just call Rei 'blue witch'?" Shinji asked her.
"Yes," Asuka grew very passionate. "So what's it to you?"
"Nothing. You usually call her 'doll'," Shinji explained.
"Fine," Asuka waved her hand. "You want to go after her? Then go. I'm going with you."
"I thought you wanted to buy a dress?"
"That can wait, I want to see what's she up to," Asuka replied. "She might be ditching you, and oh no, I can't let both of you apart."
"Huh?" Shinji looked at her weirdly. "Are you fine, Asuka?"
Asuka stared at him back. "Well? What are we waiting for?" She grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the shop.
"Hey Miss! Aren't you going to buy any of the dresses?" The shopkeeper ran out and called to Asuka.
"Not NOW," Asuka cast a look at the shopkeeper. "Where did she go? I want to know!" Asuka asked Shinji, who had a puzzled look on his face.
"She turned around a corner, and got lost in the crowd, I suppose," Shinji replied. I can't find her."
"Well, that's too bad. I wanted to know what she's up to," Asuka shrugged and dragged Shinji away. "Let's go and have early dinner and then we can go home. Just the two of us."
"But what about Toji? We haven't got anything food at home," Shinji protested.
"We can pack him noodles," Asuka replied smoothly.
Rei climbed the cracked stone steps and looked around. There! There seemed to be something suspicious about the big tree. It didn't look...well...alive. Rei walked towards it and touched the bark. It felt fake. Cold and fake. It was metal, Rei supposed. She tapped the trunk and it sounded hollow.
"If this is a secret project, it sure doesn't take much effort for someone to spot the quarters," Rei thought grimly to herself. The place looked secluded. Perhaps not as easy as she supposed, after all. Rei pressed her hand hard against the bark.
There was a soft click and the trunk gave way to what it seemed to be a lift. Rei stepped into it, and the trunk closed again, enveloping her in darkness.
"Hmm...I wonder where the rest have gone? I'm so hungry!" Toji yawned. "And tired. There's nothing left in the house for me to eat!"
"We're back!" Asuka announced as she entered the apartment. "We've got some dinner for you and groceries here."
"Asuka?" Toji looked at her and then at Shinji who was balancing bags with two hands, and his mouth. "Weren't you wearing a different dress just now?"
"Of course I did. This is a new dress. Like it?" Asuka twirled. "Shinji thought it looks greeeat on me."
"Oh yeah, sure. Where's the food you were talking about?" Toji asked.
"Here," Shinji put down everything on the table and handed Toji a takeaway box.
"So, you went shopping?" Toji asked.
"Of course we did," Asuka replied and carried the bags which did not contain groceries to her room. "Where's Rei? We saw her just now, but she seemed to be in a hurry."
"I thought she was buying the groceries," Toji said. "I offered to help her but she didn't want me to."
"I wonder where she's gone," Shinji commented.
"Well, heck," Asuka replied. "If she came back late, I'm afraid, she would have to cook instant soup for herself." Asuka hummed as she went into her room and closed the door.
"She seems to be in a good mood today," Toji said to Shinji as he slurped his food.
"Yeah, she was having fun," Shinji shook his head, "while I was her slave," he whispered to Toji. "I had to follow her all around the shops. It was quite tiring."
"I hear you!" Asuka shouted from within her room.
"So..." Toji lowered his voice to a whisper. "Did she tell you?"
"Who?" Shinji asked.
"Asuka," Toji whispered, and looked at the direction of Asuka's bedroom.
"Tell me what?" asked Shinji.
"...She..." Toji leaned nearer to Shinji.
"Hey, Toji! What do you think..." Asuka twirled around out of her room suddenly. She stared at the two of them then screamed, "What the HECK?! Desperados!"
"Hm?" Shinji looked confused when Asuka jumped on him. "How could you be attracted to a BOY?! First it was Rei, then Toji?!"
"Oh, yeah, I'm really seductive..." Toji winked flirtatiously at Shinji, who sweatdropped.
"Um...well..." Shinji stammered. Then he gathered up what was left of his courage, and got out of Asuka's grasp. "Really, Asuka! It's none of your business!" He spurred his heel and walked out of the apartment.
"Well, where is he going?" Asuka asked Toji, exasperated.
"I don't know...and umm...you look nice in that dress."
"Only nice?! I'm gorgeous! What an insult!"
The light hit upon her suddenly. Rei blinked twice, before her eyes could adjust to the darkness. Rei stuck her head out to look around.
"Hm?" Rei wondered as she found herself staring at the entrance. It looked the same as the old headquarters. Rei started to walk towards it, but she caught herself at the last moment, as the engine to drive her faltered.
"Rei," called a voice.
Rei turned around.
"I'm glad you came." Gendo Ikari came out from the shadows. He held out his hands as if asking her to hug him.
Rei stayed back.
"Why?" Rei questioned.
Gendo looked surprised for a while as his arms dropped by his sides.
"You're using me, aren't you? You're using everyone, aren't you?"
Gendo's face remained emotionless though his eyes, behind his dark glasses had begun to show uncertainty. And Rei somehow sensed the discordance behind the confidence.
"I cannot do this," Rei said as she turned back and walked towards the elevator. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Rei," said Gendo, "I need you."
"Shinji needs me more," Rei said, and stepped into the elevator.
"Rei!" Gendo sprung into the elevator and as the door closed. "Once...Just once." He looked into her eyes. "Please."
Rei stared back at him, and repeated his words, "Once...just once...please remember. I don't to be your doll anymore. I don't want to. I want to live a normal life, and I want to grow up and fall in love, and have children. Leave me alone."
"You know you can never have children. You can't fall in love...That emotion is not inputted in you. No emotion has been inputted in you. You are mine, Rei. You are mine," he reached out to touch Rei.
"Get away from me!" Rei cried out in disgust as she stepped backwards. The door opened and Rei ran out. "You are wrong!"
"I'm not a doll, I will prove you wrong!" Rei whispered as she ran as fast as she could, and as far as she could from Gendo.
===
As Shinji opened the door, it slammed into his nose. Rei flew into the apartment and slammed the door shut.
"My, you seem energetic," Toji commented lazily as he watched the television.
"Toji, shut up, I'm concentrating on the programme," Asuka said with her eyes glued to tv.
"Where have you been? You know what time is it now? It's eleven," Shinji chided Rei. "Ouch..." he clutched his nose. "I think you nearly broke it."
"Shinji...Tell me! Am I a doll!" Rei practically screamed at him. "Am I a doll?"
"Of course you are," Asuka gave a snide remark.
"Tell me!" Rei asked shrilly at Shinji.
"Of course not," Shinji replied. "You're a human girl...like all of us."
"Not like me," Asuka cut in.
"Asuka, shut up," Toji said. "Stick to watching TV. This is between Rei and Shinji."
"You're not," Shinji reassured Rei. "Of course not."
"Then tell me, can I ever fall in love and have children?" Rei pleaded. "I...want to have children..."
(Asuka: "My, she's direct,")
(Toji: "Shhh!!!")
"I want to have children...with you." Rei said, as she collapsed on the floor, sobbing.
(Asuka: "...the hell?! Is she desperate or what?")
"Hell, NO!" Asuka pounced on Rei before either or the boys could stop her. "How DARE you!" Asuka slapped Rei. "Shinji...Shinji tell her! Tell her she can't have babies with you!"
"Asuka..." Toji tried to restrain her as Shinji helped Rei up.
"I WON'T let you! Shinji...Shinji's MINE!" Asuka screamed.
Rei looked at Asuka, startled. "Asuka..."
"...Asuka..." Toji dropped his grip on her in surprise.
"Shinji..." Asuka ran to him and held his hands.
Shinji stood silently, stunned.
"Shinji? Say something," Toji sounded scared. The situation was so tense that he was afraid that any wrong word could cause the room to explode and blow them into pieces.
"...So I told him..." sang the voice in tv. "I told him how much I love him. And then he said nothing to me. Didn't say anything. I knew. I knew then, that he..."
"I see..." Asuka said quietly. "I see everything so clearly now." Asuka ran into her room and slammed the door behind her.
"...he said nothing. But I could see it in his eyes. He loved someone...but not me."
Rei walked past the two boys into her own room and closed the door softly behind her.
"What a crappy song," Toji sighed as he switched off the tv.
"Now what?" Shinji asked Toji.
TOji shrugged. "Well, don't ask me, it's _your_ girl problem. I didn't know you were _so_ hot. At any rate, I'm gonna hit the sack, so you better think this out on your own."
As Shinji turned away and walk into his own room, he could hear Toji mumbling to himself, "Oh damn, I can't believe Shinji has two girls chasing after him."
===
Asuka sat on the edge of her bed. Blood was pumping hard in her veins. Why did she do it? Why did she say those words? Did she really mean them?
Asuka felt utterly confused. As confused and as afraid as she felt when the angel ravished her mind. Now, it felt like she herself had ravished her heart. And how her heart ached! Fear, pain, anxiety, confusion...the familiar medley.
"I don't want to feel this! I don't to know what I'm feeling! Leave me alone! Stop! Stop hurting me!" Asuka screamed as she threw her pillows against the wall. "I don't want to feel this..." she said with tears that fell onto the floor. "...don't want to..."
===
Rei stared at the ceiling. Gendo's words echoed in the silence of her room.
-You know you can never have children...-
"Why?" Rei wondered. "Why did I exist? I want to live a normal life. I want to grow up. I want to have children."
-You can't fall in love...-
"I want to fall in love. I don't know what it feels like, but I want to know how it feels. Don't I have a heart? Don't I have blood running through my veins? Love doesn't need to be 'inputted'. Love...what is love?"
-You are mine, Rei. You are mine...-
"I don't want to belong to Gendo. I am not his. He created me, but I am not his. I am alive...and I want to belong to...I want to belong to Shinji...Why do I feel this way? Is this...?"
To be continued.