Kaoru and Rei were the only ones awake at the time. The others were still asleep after the mental attack.. Everything went exactly as Kaoru thought it would be. But he didn't expect Rei to be Lilith, he had been foolish to forget such an important thing. Thankfully, Lilith hadn't attacked them. And now Rei is a human. He only wished he would be a human soon too. Rei was still acting like her normal monotone self. Even if she was human now, even Rei had to get used to the feeling, the feeling of overflowing emotions. God, how he wished he had these feelings. His wish was to have the same feeling that Shinji-kun had. He had so many of them, in fact Shinji probably had all of them. And Kaoru also wanted all of them. Rei will need help now, her curiosity will rise, and soon will possibly be the first time she will cry, she won't understand the feeling.
'But....neither will I.. I am still an angel now. I will need help too.. If I were to become a human.'
'I am human now. Will I feel emotions now ?'
Rei was looking at her own hands, wondering what was different. After deciding she wouldn't find out, she still kept watching them.
'I am Ayanami Rei.'
She turned her eyes away from her hands to the ground. Slowly she put her hands in the ground, wondering if it felt different. For the first time, Rei frowned, slightly, noticing the ground still felt the same. She wondered if anything will change inside of her. Suddenly, she felt very hungry, slowly stood up and went for one of the bags that had food in them.
Kaoru smiled as he saw Rei eat, and he smiled as the others were slowly waking up. He sighed silently, knowing they had to move on, he knew their reaction about it. Terrifying looks, scared looks. He did not understand this feeling they felt, the feeling 'fear', will he feel it as well ? Is it a reason for not wanting to be a human ? Asuka Langley Sohryu, The Second Children, she buried her own feelings deep inside of her. It doesn't matter for Kaoru, he could read them anyway. He knew she was very similar to Shinji. Pride and Innocence, will this make a good match ?
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Shinji was completely confused when he woke up. The first thing he noticed was Asuka's foot on his face, and Kensuke's glasses right next to his eyes on the ground. He carefully pushed Asuka's foot away, hoping it wouldn't wake her up. Slowly he stood up, picked Kensuke's glasses up, before anyone could break them and put them on Kensuke, who was still sleeping. After doing that, he noticed Rei was eating and frowned. It was a weird sight, but he had seen her eat before, it was just, plain weird. He walked over to Kaoru, who was sitting on a rock, staring at the Sea of LCL.
"Kaoru ? Do you...what happened ?" Shinji asked, while rubbing his still sleeping eyes.
"SACHIEL, The Third Angel. He attacked us." Kaoru said, with a neutral expression.
"He.. He attacked us ?" Shinji said, waking a little bit more up.
"Yes. But it was still a weak attack. Prepare yourself for the next ones." Kaoru said, still staring at the sea.
"Next ones ? There will be more ?" Shinji asked, fearing the already answered answer.
"Yes."
Asuka woke up, she looked at her feet and saw Hikari's face. She smiled a small smile. She rolled her eyes as she saw Toji's hand a little too close to Hikari's breast. She rolled her eyes again as she saw he was drooling in his sleep. As she stood up and walked toward Shinji, the only one who was awake, beside the two dull Rei and Kaoru. When she passed Toji, she stepped hard on his hand, that was almost reaching Hikari's breast. Toji, of course, yelled "Ouw !!" but didn't quite wake up... "Nani ?" Asuka rolled her eyes again and continued to lift her feet forward.
"Baka... what the hell happened ?" Asuka said groggily.
Shinji noticed she was still half asleep, "I...Uh, Angel, attacked us.."
"Ba...ka, What kind of an answer is THAT ?!" Asuka said and almost yelled.
"UH ! Gomen !! But that's what happened !!" Shinji said, nervously.
"Shut up...I guess it was all a dream..." Asuka snorted, while frowning at Shinji.
"Shinji-kun is telling the truth, it was not a dream." Kaoru said, still looking at the sea.
"Ooh ? So Shinji's right ? That's a first !" Asuka said, quite annoyed, but more at Kaoru.
Shinji noticed Asuka wasn't much of a morning person. So he decided to just not talk before he got hit, or even worse..
Toji and Kensuke woke up about the same time. Toji saw Hikari next to him and threw himself away from her as fast as he could, with a very red head. The first thing Kensuke noticed was that his glasses were slightly damaged, but he could still see. He saw Toji standing up rather quickly, with a big blush across his face. He always thought he had something for the class rep, but he never knew for sure. Now, though, there was no question about it, Kensuke was a good, a very good observer.
"Uh, I'm hungryy !!!" Toji yawned.
"You're always hungry.." Kensuke yawned with a bit of a groan attached.
"Well, I have to maintain my body status." Toji stated and smirked.
"What body status ?" Kensuke asked, but didn't wait for an answer as he walked straight to the others.
"Aren't we cranky !?" Toji screamed to Kensuke.
Misato was still asleep, and she snoring loudly. If anyone could sleep the longest, it surely would be Misato.
Hikari woke up because a certain someone started to scream. She didn't wake up because of Misato's snoring, se was awkwardly used to the sound. With half-open eyes she saw it was Toji and groaned. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep again. After two minutes of silence, she heard Toji eat loudly. She tried to ignore it, but then Toji burped loudly and Hikari opened her eyes, "Hey !! Can't you be quiet !!?" Hikari really needed her sleep, and she had the weirdest dream too. "I'm trying to sleep here !!"
Toji's eyes widened when he saw Hikari rise and scream at him. In some kind of weird way, he liked it when she got angry, even if he himself got hurt over it. He realized he had just burped, and because this was just a habit of his and went unnoticed by himself.
"Gomen, Class Rep !! "
'Why isn't she waking Misato up ? She's snoring louder than my burping, Jeez..'
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Kaoru hopped off of the rock he was sitting on and decided to tell the others what he knew.
"Listen." He began.
Toji frowned, looked at the bread in his hand, took a bite, and walked toward the others. Hikari also walked toward them. Shinji and Asuka shared a short glance at each other. Misato was still asleep, so Shinji decided to wake her up and walked over to her. Kensuke glanced at Toji who was still eating while he walked toward him and the others. Rei already knew what Kaoru was going to say and continued to stare at her own hands.
"Misato-san... Misato-san.." Shinji whispered, while softly shaking Misato.
Misato snorted loudly in her sleep, add that to a groan and a snore, and you have the sounds Misato made.
"Misato-san... Misato-san.. Wake up, Misato-san.." Shinji said, shaking Misato a little more.
In her sleep, Misato pushed Shinji's face away, causing Shinji to fall on his back.
"..Ungg.." Shinji winced, as he felt the pain in his back.
He stood up again, and this time he began shaking Misato a lot quicker.
"Misato-san, Wake up !!" Shinji said.
But it was to no avail, until Asuka started helping him out. She simply slapped Misato in the face, which caused Misato to wake up.
"And what do you say then, Shinji ?" Asuka said, chin up and arms folded.
"Uhh, Are you okay, Misato-san ?" Shinji said slowly moving his eyes from Asuka to Misato.
"Baka !!" Asuka spat out.
"Uh! Thank you, Asuka !" Shinji said, noticing Asuka's fist.
Asuka's fist formed into a normal hand again, "Better.."
"Ah, where am I ?" Misato yawned.
So, after ten minutes of waiting til Misato woke up, Kaoru could begin to talk again.
"SACHIEL attacked us."
"Uh, am I wrong in saying you already said that ?" Toji frowned and had his arms folded.
"Stupid Jock !! You're stating the obvious, can it get any worse !?!" Asuka screamed.
"Hey !! Shut up and listen to him already, redhead !!" Toji shot back.
"Moron.." Asuka said, and had the last word.
"We'll have more attack like that. The only problem is, it will get worse.." Kaoru continued.
"Worse ?" Misato and Shinji asked.
"Yes. The 18 Angels shall attack. To test us, to see if lilum is worthy of living once again. We are the representatives of lilum."
"18 Angels ? I thought there were only 17 ?" Asuka asked.
"I never knew how many angels there were" Kensuke said and shared a shrug with Toji.
"There are 18 Angels. The last one is lilum itself." Kaoru said.
"But..you're the 17th, right ?" Shinji asked, with fear in his voice.
"Correct, and thus, I do not pose a threat to you, to us.." Kaoru reassured.
"What will happen now ?" Hikari asked.
"Everything will go in the same order as before...SHAMSEL will come now.." Kaoru said with closed eyes.
"When ?" Asuka asked.
"Anytime now..." Kaoru smirked a little evil smirk, he was clearly curious..
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Asuka and Shinji had decided to talk about...theirselves, after Kaoru had finished. And now they were alone, in front of the Sea of LCL. They walked a few minutes and left the others, so they couldn't interfere, this of course meaning it was Asuka's idea.
"Shinji ?" Asuka spoke out hesitantly.
"Yeah ?" Shinji answered, fully prepared, or so he thought and hoped.
"About what happened, what has happened. You..you don't hate me ?" Asuka asked, not even daring to glance at Shinji.
"I...I don't..hate you, Asuka. I never did.." Shinji answered, hoping his response was good.
"....." Asuka stayed silent, it's been a while since she didn't know what to say.
"Do..do you..Hate..me ?" Shinji said, he really hated the word hate...
"...No...I've never hated you, Shinji" Asuka said, kicking a rock away from her feet.
"...O-ok.."
The two of them stayed silent, walking further ahead, Asuka staring at the ground, while Shinji stared toward the distance.
Shinji didn't know what this meant. He didn't know if he had feelings for Asuka, well, maybe he did know, but he almost knew for sure Asuka was or toying with him or she DID have some sort of feeling for him. But how could she ? He condemned humanity.
'How could anyone feel something for me ?'
He glanced at her for a fraction of a second and noticed she was staring at the ground, like he usually did when he was walking. Shinji memorized what had happened when they were the only two here, on this hellhole..
'Might as well call this sick planet Shinji...' he thought
They didn't get along in the beginning. But they learned to live with each other...and now...it could be that they liked each other...
'God, this must be a dream.'
Asuka was staring at the ground, not even noticing little plants starting to grow. She was more focused on the feeling in her stomach. Somehow, it didn't feel all that bad. SHe did like Shinji, but did he like her ? Could he forgive her ? Could she forgive him ? She looked at herself and knew she hadn't showered in days...
'I smell...'
She was currently in her yellow sundress. Although it wasn't all that yellow anymore.
"A-Asuka ?" Shinji said, while scratching his cheek.
"Yes ?" Asuka said, glancing at Shinji.
"What...what's going on ? I mean, between us ?" Shinji said, and stopped walking.
"I, I don't know, you tell me.." Asuka answered.
"But, I don't know either..." Shinji helplessly said.
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"Where did those two go to ?" Toji whined.
"Asuka's probably beating Shinji to a pulp right now." Kensuke smiled.
"Well, I don't know, they've been...weird.. lately." Toji said, while he lied down.
"You know, you're right ! They've been acting very off.." Kensuke said, landing himself next to Toji.
"Maybe, they have something, together.." Toji said, hesitantly.
"......." Kensuke's eyes widened.
"......." Toji's eyes widened.
For a full minute two screams were heard, Hikari and Misato winced. After a minute, the scream developed itself a laughter.
"Don't be stupid !! How can those two ever be together !" Kensuke screamed and laughed.
"You're right. I wasn't thinking !!" Toji said, chuckling nervously.
Hikari shook her head at the two, knowing what Asuka and Shinji were doing. She feared how the other two stooges would react if it DID work out between Asuka and Shinji. She hoped it would, if anyone deserves to be happy, it's those two. She sighed as she glanced toward Toji. When will she reveal her true feelings to him ? What will he say ?
Misato noticed the glance Hikari shot toward Toji. Somehow, she couldn't help but recognize the glance. She herself had used it before. Maybe she could help...it will help taking her mind off things for a while..
Kaoru was never bored. He could always find something that was interesting. For example the feeling of the wind against his face. Or the sound of the sea. Or even a slowly moving cloud. All that was nothing compared to the human mind. When he saw emotions for the first time, he was terrified. Lorenz Keel was cold, mean and very intimidating. When he saw NERV's Commander, Ikari Gendo, he was not impressed. The coldness in Gendo was nothing compared to the coldness in Keel. All of his fear of emotions were washed away when he saw the emotions Ikari Shinji had. It was then that he wanted to have those emotions, those feelings. After that, he saw someone else just like him. Ayanami Rei. She also knew Ikari Shinji, but clearly she wasn't a complete angel. If she was, she had sensed what emotions rested beneath the surface of Ikari Shinji. And when Third Impact began, Rei felt Ikari Shinji in her heart, she felt his emotions. And so, Ikari Shinji had to decide what Humanity's fate was. So far, he had done very well..
Kensuke and Toji were making small talk while throwing small rocks, seeing who could throw the furthest..
"What..what did it say to you, Kensuke ?" Toji asked.
"It said..I was a saviour.." Kensuke said, frowning, throwing another rock.
Toji burst out laughing. "Wha ? A saviour ? You !? That Angel must be screwed up..." Toji laughed.
"Shut uup..What did it say to you, then ?" Kensuke said, narrowing his eyes behind his glasses.
"Well, it said _I_ was a Fine Young Man." Toji said, while looking smugly.
"Aah ? A fine young man ? The angel was probably sarcastic about it." Kensuke pointed out.
"Shut up !" Toji yelled.
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"Well ?" Asuka waited.
"I..I don't know..I..I.." Shinji stuttered.
"Ok, let's play rock, paper, scissors. The one who loses says what's on his or her mind, ok ?"
"But..I'm bad at it.." Shinji said.
"How can you be bad at Rock, Paper, Scissors !? It's all a matter of luck.." Asuka exclaimed.
"Or knowing your opponent.." Shinji said.
"Bullshit.. Now let's play."
The first time, both Shinji and Asuka had rock. The second time Asuka had, what looked like a scissor, while Shinji clearly had rock. But Asuka quickly said she had paper. And Shinji being Shinji chose to comply, Asuka said she was being nice when she found it a tie. The third time, Asuka......lost. She had paper, while Shinji had scissors.
"Damn this !!! Let's pay another game !!" Asuka quickly said.
"But..but I won, right ?" Shinji pouted.
"....Fine, Third Children !!" Asuka yelled.
After that, silence fell upon them again. Shinji knew he didn't have to say anything and so he waited for Asuka to say what's on her mind. He was very afraid.
'She's probably gonna say: "I don't know what you're thinking, but I don't like you, got it ?!" or something like that.. this is gonna hurt...'
"Shinji." Asuka began.
"Uhh..hai ?" Shinji said/asked.
"I... I.... NO !!" Asuka stuttered and yelled.
"No ?" Shinji asked.
"First I have to know...you really don't hate me...for yelling at you, insulting you and all those other bad things.." Asuka summed up.
".But...I already said..I don't hate you, Asuka.." Shinji answered.
"So...can you forgive me then ?"
"I...Yes..I forgive you.." Shinji answered rather confused about all this.
"...Ok..." Asuka said.
"Ok...you forgive me..too ?." Shinji asked.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Shinji.."
"But..but, humanity died because of me.."
"It was the only way..but I forgive you, Shinji.."
"I..Thank you, Asuka.."
There was a moment of silence, but Asuka chose to break it faster than before.
"I....I think...I like you, Shinji.." Asuka stuttered, while blushing.
Shinji's mind was completely tossed around in every corner of his body. He didn't expect this. He did everything he could to stop himself from fainting. And Asuka was waiting for him...For HIM...this is too good to be true, even if it was a dream... This is a dream in a dream...
"Uh..Ah ?" Shinji stuttered.
Asuka was known to be very impatient. "Idiot, what are you doing staring at me like that ?"
Asuka was afraid too. She knew he didn't hate her, but did he like her ? Maybe she did the wrong thing...
Shinji tried to take control over himself, "I..Asuka...I like you too !!"
"O..Ok.." Asuka said, obviously perplexed.
"So..we..we like each other ?"
"Don't you think..don't you think you should kiss me now, Baka ???"
"I.. I .. I.. you won't hurt me ??"
"I won't...I won't hurt you...ever again...baka.."
Shinji hesitantly stepped closer to Asuka. Asuka stared at Shinji's eyes, and then his lips..
'Oh no, we both haven't brushed out teeth for days...' Asuka thought..
'My breath isn't all that good...' Shinji thought.
'..It doesn't matter, it's Shinji...' was Asuka's last thought.
'Should I still kiss her ??' Shinji thought.
"Kiss me already, Baka !!"
'Ok, that answered that..' was Shinji's final thought.
Shinji slowly and gently put his own lips on Asuka's, while Asuka forced Shinji's open. And so Asuka and Shinji had their first TRUE kiss...not like the one they shared to kill time...
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Two people were liplocked, and they were both enjoying it. Despite the not brushed teeth, they both enjoyed it. Asuka and Shinji had been kissing now for two minutes. Asuka wanted it to be like this, with no interruptions. She wanted to be alone with Shinji, to clear everything up between them. Maybe now, things were going to get easier. Shinji enjoyed every second of the kiss. He never expected, not even in his wildest dreams, he would be kissing Asuka, Asuka Langley Sohryu. He felt he didn't deserve this. He did, after all, destroy existence. But Asuka had forgiven him, maybe, just maybe, he could find or at least catch a glimpse of happiness. Shinji's arms both rested on the sides, while Asuka's were embracing him from the back. After these two minutes, he embraced her as well and continued to kiss.
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"I sense something is definitely wrong here." Kensuke said, while staring up at the sky with a big frown. Next to him, Toji was sitting, and staring toward Misato, Hikari and Rei. Kensuke looked from the corner of his eye at Toji. "Hey, did you hear me ?" Kensuke's frown grew even more.
Toji sighed deeply and looked at Kensuke, "No, what did you say ?"
Kensuke's reaction was a loud groan that even caught Kaoru's attention, but not Rei's. "I said, something senses really wrong here."
"Kensuke, everything's wrong here. I mean, look at the sky, once it was beautiful, but now, it sucks." Toji whined sadly.
"Yeah, but.. it's something else. I don't know, but I just thought you should know." Kensuke said, straightening his glasses.
"Yeah sure. I hope things won't get worse then they already are." Toji said, looking straight ahead sadly.
Kensuke turned back to the sky "Yeah.." and sighed sadly.
"What do you think they're doing ?" Hikari asked, while cleaning some clothes in the sea they brought from the apartment.
Misato, who was also cleaning some clothes, turned toward Hikari. "Who ?"
"Asuka and Shinji." Hikari said, while looking at the direction Shinji and Asuka left to.
"Asuka and Shinji ? I haven't talked much to them since.. well, since all this mess started." Misato said, slightly ashamed.
"I think they're in love..." Hikari said with a smile.
Misato frowned and her eyes widened a great deal, "WHAT !? What are you talking about ? Shinji.. and Asuka ? Those two don't get along, they don't get along at all."
"Well, I still think they are." Hikari said, still with a small smile.
Misato frowned, "You're crazy. And by the way, what's going on with you and Suzuhara ?"
Hikari's eyes widened and she developed a small blush, "Uh.. I don't know what you're talking about." She faked a very impressive frown.
"Well, he's been looking at this direction the entire time. I don't think, or at least I hope, he isn't watching me." Misato said with a smirk.
Hikari turned toward where Kensuke and Toji were sitting and stared right in Toji's stare toward her. Both Toji and Hikari immediately turned away, with a blush.
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'It seems they are revealing their true feeling toward each other... all of them. I knew this would happen, and I'm glad I was right. This might make our journey easier. Less harder for them.. and us. SHAMSHEL will pick out the weak from the strong. And he will wipe out the weak... Let's hope we are all strong enough for his tests..'
Kaoru continued to watch the moving clouds.
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"That was..." Asuka began.
"........" Shinji finished.
They were both now lying on the ground, staring up at the sky.
"This feels good." Shinji whispered and looked from the corner of his eye at Asuka.
"Yes, it does. I'm.. I'm glad we worked everything out."
"To be honest.. I.. I never expected this, Asuka. I mean, you're Asuka. And.. and I'm.... Shinji.." Shinji said and ended with a whisper.
Asuka smiled. "You know, you're not that bad, Shinji. And, I mean it.." She said, with a little hesitation.
Shinji's eyes widened as he stared at Asuka, who was staring up at the sky. After two seconds he kept looking at her, but now with a small smile.
'I never thought, not even in my wildest dreams, that this was possible. Just look at her, I'm starting to doubt if this place really IS that bad. I can't believe she actually.. LIKES.. me. '
Asuka looked at the corner from her eyes at Shinji as Shinji turned his stare from her to the sky.
'Ikari Shinji. The boy with no spine unless it's needed from him. The boy with no guts, no courage and who's actually NOT a pervert. I bet he's romantic.. Someone like Shinji has to be.'
Two seconds later, both Shinj and Asuka screamed loud in pain.
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"Uh, was it my imagination, or did I just hear someone scream ?" Toji said, staring at all directions with a puzzled look while scratching his head with his hand.
"No, I heard something as well..." Kensuke said, looking at the direction Shinji and Asuka left to.
Misato's eyes widened, "Oh noo... Shinji and Asuka.." She whispered, before she ran off toward Shinji and Asuka's direction. Hikari, Toji and Kensuke followed her as fast as their legs could take them.
Rei and Kaoru looked at each other with all knowing smiles. They followed the others slowly with the same name in their mind: SHAMSHEL.
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Ikari Shinji found himself floating in thin air, similar to when he was talking to Rei/Lilith. The thought made him tremble and gave him goosebumps. He was actually glad before he got here, but now he just felt.. so alone.. But, he was used to this feeling and this made him strong.
"Ikari Shinji" A male voice boomed, which made Shinji's ears shake back and forth.
Shinji responded boldly. "Wha-what ?!" Or he tried.
"What makes you you ?" The voice boomed a bit softer this time.
Shinji breathed heavily in and out. "I.. I don't understand !!"
Images of Asuka, Misato, Toji, Kensuke, Kaji, Hikari, Rei, Kaoru and other people Shinji knew appeared before him.
"Is it because of them you are what you are now ?" The voice asked, what almost sounded.. nice.
Because of the decrease of the threatening tone in the voice, Shinji calmed down. "I.. Yes. They've helped me, they helped me in believing in myself. They supported me, they.. they helped me.. " Shinji told, not really believing what he was saying.
"So, if they were not here, you would be, an empty vessel ?" The voice asked.
"I.. I guess." Shinji mumbled in disgust.
"Then, ask yourself, are you worthy of representing humanity ?"
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"Where.. where are they !!!" Misato yelled as she looked to her left and right and even up to the sky.
"I.. I don't know !! They, they went this way !" Hikari yelled.
Toji and Kensuke frowned at each other as they didn't see anything. "Well, I sure as hell don't see anything and I bet Toji doesn't either."
"SHUT UP !!" Misato yelled. "Just find them !!"
"Do not worry." Rei said, making everyone flinch, except Kaoru, who stood beside her.
Kaoru smirked, "Yes. You have no need to worry. They are undergoing one of the 'Tests', and, I believe we are next, as soon as we come close to where Shinji and Asuka were. Since SHAMSHEL was with them, and probably still is."
"HE is here." Rei stated, while looking at the ground.
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"Asuka Langley Sohryu."
Asuka narrowed her eyes at the voice and observed her surroundings. "Who are you ?" She yelled dangerously.
"Hmm, call me Shamshel..." A small pause. "You are interesting."
Asuka frowned a big frown, "What ?! Of course I'm interesting !!"
"It's odd, but I don't think it is necessarily to ask you if you're worthy. Your pride already gives the answer.."
Asuka wore a puzzled look as she watched the darkness before her.
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Shinji tried his best to answer the question he was given, but he just couldn't answer. Did he really deserve to represent mankind ? Should he really be here ? It was HIS fault all this happened, if he wasn't here, maybe things would be easier for the others. Is there any reason he should stay here ?
Asuka. He could stay for Asuka. To help her, if she even needed his help. It's more likely he needed her help. But, in some odd way, he wanted to stay, for Asuka. It felt like betrayal to him if he left the others, and especially Asuka, just like that. And he couldn't do that. So he must prove himself now, so he can stay..... for Asuka.
A chuckle filled the air, and awoke Shinji from his thinking. "You have no need to worry, Ikari Shinji. It seems you CAN give love after all. And you can give it like no other."
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"What do you mean, HE is here ?!?!" Misato screamed, jumping up and down in front of Rei.
"The next test. SHAMSHEL. He is here. Asuka and Shinji are being tested as we speak." Kaoru said, putting a hand on Misato's shoulder.
What should've clamed Misato down made her even more scared, "Asuka.. and Shinji.. are being tested right NOW !!!?"
"Yes." Rei seemed to wait for something before she continued. "And now we will be as well." She said in her eerie monotone voice.
A scary silence embraced Misato, Hikari, Rei, Kaoru, Kensuke and Toji.
And then, 4 screams filled the air.
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Shinji and Asuka found themselves back on the beach, in exactly the same way they found each other in the start. Only this time, Asuka didn't have any injuries, and they were looking at each other, instead of up to the sky.
"..Hi.. Asuka....." Shinji began, with a scared look on his face.
Asuka smiled gently, "Hey, you... Shall we get back to the others ?"
'.. I love Asuka's smile...'
Shinji smiled back, "Yeah.. let's go back."
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Kaoru smiled as he found himself in a tube once again, knowing Shamsel did this on purpose. This is the one thing that Kaoru actually hated. Being stuck in this ridiculous tube.
"Tabris. Nice to see you."
"Hmm. But I do not see you, Shamshel."
"Is it of importance that you can see me, Tabris ? To see me in a stupid human form ? I don't think so, and I am ashamed for the way I look. I can't understand that you like it."
"Well, it's a good thing that you don't have to, then."
"Perhaps. But tell me, do you really want to be one of THEM ? Weak little creatures who need each other to survive."
"Yes. Now you tell me, it really doesn't feel that bad in a human boy, does it ?"
"Be silent, traitor. You do not deserve to ask the questions now."
"......" Kaoru smiled sadly and shook his head.
"Now, look at where you are. In a tube, you're being toyed with by those stupid lilum. And you want to save them still ? You are a fool, Tabris.. and soon you will see all your mistakes and beg for forgiveness."
"We will see, Shamshel." Kaoru responded with a confident smirk on his face.
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"It amazes me..."
Rei seemed uninterested in who spoke out the words and stared straight ahead.
"You once were Lilith, yet now you are Ayanami Rei. Only a fool throws away a chance at being a god like Lilith. And that makes you the fool then, doesn't it ?".
Rei chose to ignore the speaker, and blinked occasionally.
"Hmm, It doesn't matter if you were Lilith, you still think Mankind deserves a second chance, and that's just wrong. Don't you understand why ? Lilum created you and abused you. They even abuse each other. Just look at the creatures you're traveling with. They are all pathetic, but they are pathetic because they have nothing. They have nothing because it has been taken from them by their fellow-creatures. And creatures like that don't deserve a second chance. Creatures that think that they should be on top or get what they deserve, using everything and everyone they can to reach it. Don't you see it's only a matter of time that conflicts will rise and develop in wars, which will destroy the lilum again.. Even after their seconds chance. It is hopeless, lilum is hopeless. Don't defend them, you'll only be disappointed by them. Leave them.."
A silence fell, and Shamshel waited for a response.
"I can not. Everyone deserves a second chance."
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Misato was concerned for Shinji and Asuka before she came here, now she was still concerned for them, but also for herself.
"Misato Katsuragi. Tell me, do you think mankind can live on ? Even after all of this ?"
Misato narrowed her eyes and looked in one direction, "I.... I think they can."
"You think they can ? They couldn't even survive before. And you still think they can survive now ??"
"....." Misato chose to remain silent.
"Take a look at yourself. Every human will be like you right now. You're strong enough to break through, but most others aren't."
Misato swallowed deep before she replied, "No, I think, if they are told everything and they can try and understand work it out, then we can continue our lives. We can."
"..... Do you really believe that ?"
Misato swallowed again while lowering her stare to her feet, "I.. Yes. And I will prove to you that we can !!"
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Two people were walking over the beach, looking every direction, followed by a loud yell.
"Misato-san !!!" Shinji screamed.
"Hikari !!" Asuka screamed, to the opposite direction.
"They.. they are gone.." Shinji said, with a sad look.
Asuka turned her back to him and continued to scream, "Hikari !!!"
Shinji shrugged, "Toji !!! Kensuke !!!!"
"Hikari !!! Misato !!!"
"Kaoru-Kun !! Ayanami !!!"
Shinji watched as Asuka continued to scream her longs out. I still think they're gone..'
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Toji found himself in his room, with a basketball in his arms. The TV suddenly turned itself on, which startled Toji greatly and made him turn around. On the TV, A face, a scary face was shown, with a beard, a big mustache, and long, unwashed Dark brown hair.
"Toji Suzuhara."
Toji frowned and tried not to faint, "Wha-.. Who the hell are YOU ?!?!"
"Are you worthy of representing humanity ?"
"Wha-?" Toji replied, obviously puzzled.
The man on the TV-screen sighed, "Are you worthy of representing humanity ?"
"I.. Of course !! I am Toji Suzuhara, I am a fine young man" Toji stated proudly.
"A fine young man, you say ? This may very well be, but do you think you deserve to talk for all mankind ?"
"Mu-Me ?? I.. I think I am. No, I am !! You better not try those stupid mind tricks on me !!" Toji screamed at the TV.
"Mind tricks, you say ? I'm not doing anything. I'm just asking you, why would you want to save your kind ?"
Toji snorted and folded his arms, "Who wouldn't save their own kind ? Pride is the word you're looking for, or so I think. But I don't care. Why don't you just go and let us reach the end."
"I will leave, but I assure you, we will do everything we can to prevent that you'll reach the end."
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Kensuke, too, found himself in his own room, but he found himself in front of his own PC. And the same man Toji saw was now on the PC-screen. Kensuke stared at the face dumbfounded.
"Uh, what.. what are you doing on my screen ?!?" Kensuke began.
"Can you tell me if humanity deserves a second chance, Kensuke Aida ?"
Kensuke took his time to answer. Shamshel chose to repeat his answer.
"Can you tell me if humanity deserves a second chance, Kensuke Aida ?"
Kensuke took his time again, but answered, "Ofcourse we deserve a second chance. Especially now, I mean, we weren't even told about all this, all you angels and all those other things !! We all should know the truth before we start over. And then you will see that we will use our second chance to make everything better !"
"Is that a fact ? Will humans not abuse one another again ? Will they not create wars and destruction ?"
Kensuke narrowed his eyes, "I.. Yeah, it's possible, but you should know that's only natural. We all want power, we all want to be mighty."
"Is that not bad ? Humans want the impossible, and they want it so much, they cause havoc and they will eventually cause their own extinction. So why bother giving you a second chance, lilum ?"
"I... I don't know... That's nature, but we can try to make it better."
"With rules ?? Rules only cause more problems, especially in a human's case."
".. I.. I hate to say it, but I agree with you. But we're still learning. Can't you.. you angels help us understand ?"
"There is only one thing to understand, and that's.. some things don't deserve second chances."
"You may be right. But we do deserve a second chance. I assure you, we can work it out."
"You are stubborn, human. But your own stubbornness is blinding you."
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"Hikari Horaki."
Hikari blinked and shook her head, as if trying to awake from a daydream.
"Hikari Horaki. Why are you here ? Do you really believe that you, and all the others can make it to the end ?"
Hikari sighed nervously, "Y-Yes. We can.... We.. we have each other.. and we know what happened and we're still trying to save mankind. Every other human would've done the same. Does that not convince you that we can survive life itself ?"
"Child, you do not even know what life itself is."
"Then tell me. Cause I do know that we can make it, that we can save everyone. So can't you stop trying to get in our way !!"
"I'm afraid we can't. Because we know what life is, and we know that humanity can't handle it. If you continue your silly quest, you'll only condemn yourselves. We are actually trying to save you."
"Save us ?? Even your talking hurts my head. And your All-knowing lectures hurt even more. You're trying to stop us from bringing back life, life that deserves to be brought back. And you're saving us by trying to stop us ?!"
"I see it has no point in talking to all of you. You refuse to listen to my words. You will pay for ignoring me."
And the lights went out.
Misato, Hikari, Toji, Kensuke, Rei and Kaoru found themselves on the beach, staring up at the sky.
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"Where the hell are they !!" Asuka screamed.
Shinji shrugged once more, "Asuka, maybe they went after us, and we missed them by walking to here."
"So you're saying we should walk all the way back !" She screamed, looking very tired from all the screaming.
"Uhh.." Shinji mumbled, wisely deciding not to say anything.
"Aargh !!" Asuka screeched, making the air around her flinch.
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TBC
