Neon Genesis Evangelion

Forgive or Forget Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I don't own EVA, nor will I ever.

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Two women were talking at each other and a very lively, colorful living room. They had tried to live a normal life again. Both didn't have anyone else and were forced to stay together. But after getting used to it, it wasn't that bad. Misato Katsuragi was now 32 years old and Asuka Langley Sohryu was 18 years old. To say both have changed a lot in appearance would be a lie. Asuka let her hair grow a little longer and hair was little darker red. Misato still looked the same, not a single wrinkle.

The world has changed to its normal self again and both of them knew they had committed terrible sins. Unforgivable sins to one boy, the scapegoat. And he wasn't even at fault.

Asuka has cried over it for a long time, even though she promised to herself she would never cry again. But Shinji didn't deserve it. He just didn't deserve it. She couldn't blame anyone for it because she herself did the same. And now she can't live before knowing all is alright with him. But, what will he say if everyone starts visiting him ?

Misato cried for Shinji even more than Asuka. They have been such fools. Just blame the one who's at fault, or who you THINK is at fault. Committing suicide wouldn't be fair. It would a coward's way out. If anyone can commit suicide, it's Shinji. She wouldn't be surprised if he did.

After the world had started to change again, two years ago, everyone knew how wrong they were. And all thought of one boy: Ikari Shinji. How could they have done it ? Humanity was depressed, even when the world was completely back to its normal self. Depressed because of their own doing..

"We must do this." Asuka said.

"I know.. but...I'm scared, Asuka." Misato said.

"Me too... Oh, Hikari, Toji and Kensuke are coming with us." Asuka said.

"I don't know if I can handle it...seeing Shinji's face...even if I think about it.. it reminds me of all those horrible things I did." Misato said, quietly sobbing.

"Yeah, I know what you mean... I feel the same way." Asuka said, putting a hand on Misato's shoulder, while sniffling a bit.

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In another living room, two other people were getting ready to go somewhere.

"So, are you ready ?" Toji asked Hikari, who was busy packing things. "I still don't see why you're packing so many things, Hikari, but, we are ready now, right ?."

"I don't think I'll ever be, Toji. I mean, after all the things we did to him..." Hikari said sadly.

"I know. But....we HAVE to apologize for it. I hate myself for what I've done, Hikari." Toji said.

"I think everyone hates themselves for what they've done." Hikari said.

Toji sighed sadly "I wonder how Shinji is doing, if he's still alive."

Hikari and Toji fell silent after that.

"I think I'm ready to go." Kensuke said, stepping in the apartment and breaking the silence.

"Yeah, we're ready too." Toji responded to him, after three seconds.

"Well, Ikari-kun. Here we come.." Hikari said, as she followed Toji and Kensuke out the apartment.

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Shinji was currently sitting on a very misformed chair he made out of the wood he once brought home. All he did during the day was sitting in this 'chair' and think. He hunted animals down and those became his food. The bad things were there were bugs everywhere. He slept on the floor and all night long mosquito's were buzzing in his ears.

The dreams he had were mostly memories, bad memories, since he didn't have many good ones, actually he couldn't even remember the good times of his life. It all didn't matter to him anymore. The world could die, humanity could die, and he hoped it all died a slow, painful death.

Shinji's ears perked up as he heard bushes being moved, and voices in the distance. He sighed, now would be the day the people know their faults and they're feeling sorry for him. Shinji didn't feel like being pitied. He didn't feel like having company either. How dare they think they can just trespass on his ground ? Still, he was curious as to what they would want.

Toji and Kensuke were leading the way, although they didn't know where the hell they were supposed to be going. They were slowly moving forward, imagining how Shinji felt when everyone hurt him and blamed him. And now that they think about it, they know they can never be forgiven for it. Asuka, Misato and Hikari were walking behind Toji and Kensuke. Asuka was thinking about how she treated Shinji from the moment she woke up. She was so wrong thinking the world had ended and the cause of it was lying next to her. She ignored him for a long time and after that, she punched him, several times. How wrong she was, could Shinji forgive her ? During all the hitting-Shinji time Asuka realized she actually didn't hate Shinji, but there was something else. Something she didn't want to admit...ever..

Hikari remembered Shinji's face after she slapped him for the first time. He was always so innocent, and yet, we had to beat him up. Hikari thought about looking at him disgusted while he was crying. She was really disgusted with herself now..

Misato's eyes were watery while she was walking. She hoped Shinji would be ok, even if he will not talk to her and the others. She could not believe she blamed him, even after all their time together.

Toji's and Kensuke's eyes widened as they saw a thing what looked like a house. It was actually a very big pile of wood. No door, holes as windows and a flat roof. They immediately that's where Shinji would be. They've heard the stories, Shinji was beaten up by other people here too. But after a year or so Shinji defended himself, enough of being beaten up by the days. And no one came there anymore. And then, everyone realized Shinji actually saved humanity instead of condemning it. Shinji was the savior after all, and just look at we did.....

Shinji stepped out of his 'house' and stood face to face with the trespassers. At first he thought they were just fools trying to apologize because everything worked out after all. But, after narrowing his eyes, he thought he knew these people. But it didn't make any difference, even if he did know them, he was betrayed by everyone. They should get out of here now !!!

Misato's eyes widened as she saw Shinji appear, everyone's eyes widened. Oh, how they feared this moment. Now they stood here, in front of Shinji. What to say ? What to ask ?

"Go away." Shinji spoke dangerously.

"S-Shinji.." Misato said.

Well, of course they knew his name, he was after all the one that saved humanity, something he will NOT try again. Shinji learned from his mistakes. His fear of getting hurt or getting rejected was now multiplied with a zillion. He won't let anyone ever near to him again.

"I said, Go away !!" Shinji screamed, disgusted at the people before him.

Toji moved toward Shinji "Shinji.."

As soon as he moved, Shinji's fist connected with Toji's jaw, making Toji fall to the ground.

"I warned you, leave this place..." Shinji said.

Toji was groaning at the ground until Hikari helped him up.

"Don't you.. recognize us, Shinji ?" Kensuke carefully asked.

Shinji stared at Kensuke "Leave."

"Shinji, it's me, Misato !!"  Misato yelled desperately.

"I don't care." Shinji said. "All I want now is to see all of you leave."

Kensuke was amazed by the sight. Shinji stood before him. His savior, THEIR savior. As the memories flashed through his mind, he had to resist crying. He actually hadn't hit Shinji, but he watched everything, actually enjoying it at that time. How ashamed he was now no one would want to know.

Toji was rubbing his jaw, he actually felt better after being hit by Shinji. Looking at him now, in his eyes, he knew how much he hated them....him... And the bad thing is, they deserved it completely.

Misato was shedding tears as she watched Shinji's eyes. Pure resentment was staring at her, and she couldn't handle it. She had slapped this boy, this innocent boy. She couldn't handle this. His blue eyes flaring at her in anger. Those blue eyes that once had so much curiosity and innocence in them. And because of them he was completely ripped apart from the inside.

Asuka's lips were trembling and her heart was beating faster than ever. Now she knew.. all this time she had feelings for this boy, this boy that she had beaten up. Her knees were shaking as she watched the features of Shinji. He didn't have a beard or a mustache, he was the same. She wondered how he does it. His face was almost the same, a bit older, and his face looked really angry. She closed her eyes and fought the tears.

Hikari was carefully looking at Shinji, afraid to be attacked at any time. She let out a soft yell as he hit Toji. Shinji had changed a lot. And sadly, his change was only logical. With out Shinji, we all would have died. and so he saved us, and look at how we 'thanked' him.

'We are Pathetic'

"Shinji...you have to understand..we...we were confused !" Asuka screamed.

Shinji stared at Asuka "Go away. Which word don't you understand ?" Shinji said, getting rather impatient. The nerve of these people, he should just ignore them and walk away.

"Shinji.." Hikari began, but she stopped seeing Shinji simply walked away from them.

They didn't move, instead they all sat down in the grass.

"He..he has changed.." Hikari spoke first.

"What do you expect ? It's only natural he is this way now." Kensuke explained.

"Urgh, it hurts, he can sure pack a punch.." Toji said, rubbing his bleeding bottom lip.

"I think it's best if we leave.." Kensuke suggested.

"No, I refuse to leave.. I simply can't live with the fact, I, WE, hurt an innocent young man, who also saved our world.."

"My god... I really think this was a bad idea... This just fills the guilt inside of us." Kensuke stated.

"I don't care ! Shinji has to know, that we REALLY care for him !" Misato screamed.

"But he will never believe us. I mean, we almost killed him.." Asuka whispered, immediately making the others silent as well.

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"Shinji Ikari." A voice boomed inside Shinji's head.

"Uh ?" was Shinji's response.

What was going on now ? Is he beginning to hear voices as well ? Shinji continued to walk, after looking around for three full seconds. He knew the people all too well.... The woman with the purple-colored hair, who called herself Misato, was Misato Katsuragi. The other woman beside Misato, with red-hair was probably Asuka. The boy with the curlish hair could be Kensuke Aida, he wasn't too sure, since he didn't have glasses on. The boy he clobbered was Toji, knowing his ignorance, and the woman that helped him up, could be...Hikari. He didn't remember her last name.

"Shinji Ikari." The voice boomed through his mind again.

"WHA-" Shinji tried to scream 'What' but an immense pain in his mind stopped him, he couldn't even scream before he blacked out.

Shinji found himself in front of a huge Rei once again... Shinji's eyes widened and he thought everything was happening all over again. He screamed hard and long, which caused the huge Rei to smirk evilly.

"Shinji, do not worry. This time it's different."

Shinji stopped screaming as the voice boomed through his mind.

"What.. why am I here.. again ?" Shinji asked.

"To end what you have started." Lilith spoke.

"But...I didn't start anything !!"

"You have revealed humanity's true nature. Now you know how much you can depend on your fellow lilum." Lilith spoke.

"Uhh, Lilum ?" Shinji asked.

"I mean humans. Now you know how much you can depend on your fellow humans."

"......"

"But, that can all change. If you want to." Lilith proposed.

"...Uhh...I don't know.. I'm confused..How..how ?"

"Shinji, if you had a chance to make humanity as it was before, along with the world. Would you do it ?"

Shinji looked at Rei in front and above him.

"...No."

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TBC

In the next chapter every bit of OOC shall be explained.

Short, yeah, but, this is, after all, a shortfic.