Disclaimer: see part 1
Fire and Ice
Part 6
Subtlety
(Second Version)
By Random1377
Asuka could not believe her bad fortune. "This sucks…" she muttered, "why do I have to listen to this boring shiest! I finished college!"
As unfair as it seemed to have to sit through the elaborate lecture, she still kept her voice down. She had figured out after the third trip to the principal's office that her degree meant nothing here.
She sighed and stared down at her desk.
"Pilot Souryu," Asuka's head came back up quickly at the softly spoken words, "I am to inform you that we have a synchronization test," Rei said quietly, standing in front of her desk with her arms at her sides, "please come with me…"
Asuka suppressed a smile, -Yes!- she thought as she stood, "Well, I guess we have no choice then…" she said, trying to sound disappointed.
As soon as they were in the hall, Asuka sighed deeply, "Whew… I didn't think I would make it much longer. Thanks for getting me out of there."
Rei fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, "I… did not lie, Asuka," she said softly, "we do have a test later…"
Asuka frowned, "Why didn't I get an e-mail, or a call?"
Rei flushed, very faintly, "You would have received notification shortly…" her fidgeting grew to downright twitching, "the test is later but I… wanted to be alone with you…" this last comment was barely more than a whisper.
Asuka grinned widely, "Rei…" she said teasingly, "you lied, just so you could-"
Rei cut her off, becoming incredibly agitated, "No! Please do not say that!"
Asuka blinked, "I'm… sorry…" she muttered, "I don't see what the big deal is…"
Rei calmed slightly, "It is very important to me not to lie…" she said softly, "it makes me feel… dirty…"
-But she did it for me…- Asuka thought, somewhat amazed, -even though it was just a little one…-
"Thank you, Rei," she smiled, looking around to make sure no one was watching before taking the pale girl's hand, "that was very nice of you…"
Rei smiled softly. "I would like to be alone with you," she murmured, adding, "please?"
It was Asuka's turn to flush. Since they had started seeing each other, less than a week prior, Rei had been incredibly polite and hesitant when it came to matters of intimacy. Not that Asuka was less hesitant, but she found it slightly vexing that Rei said please so much. –It's not like she's asking me if she can borrow a sweater!- She thought as she nodded. "Yes, Rei," she said, trying to suppress an exasperated sigh… and knowing that the First Child was not likely to change any time soon, "I would like that."
Rei smiled wider and began to speak, but Asuka kept talking, "But only if I can kiss you…" She loved the fact that Rei would blush every time she said this, and it was almost a game between them… a game that pleased Asuka no end.
"Yes…" Rei whispered, looking at the floor as her cheeks matched her eye color, "I would like that…" and this was the blue-haired girl's standard reply.
Asuka released Rei's hand, suddenly afraid that someone might see them. "Come on…" she said firmly, "I know where we should go."
She led her girlfriend up to the rooftop, closing the door and leaning up against it to ensure their privacy.
Rei looked confused as Asuka stood still. "I… will you not kiss me?" she asked softly, "I thought that-"
"I want you to kiss me this time," Asuka said just as softly. "I always kiss you first… I want you," she pointed for emphasis, "to kiss me…"
Rei's eyes widened, but she nodded and stepped closer to the redhead. Slowly, she leaned forward and kissed her, barely touching her lips to her girlfriend's.
Asuka sighed at the gentleness of it. -She's so much more careful than me…- she thought, -I just go for it, and,-
The redhead's thought was interrupted as Rei put her hands on Asuka's shoulders and pulled her tightly against her lips, possessively pressing herself up against Asuka and pinning her to the door.
After several minutes of a slowly intensifying kiss, Rei broke away. "I… am sorry…" she whispered, stepping away and looking at the floor, "I…" she found that she couldn't express what she felt… how she needed to feel Asuka's touch… how she needed to know that she was hers… how she was terrified that someone might try to take her away.
Asuka saw her shivering. "What's wrong?" she asked, completely unsure of how to handle the situation. -Damn…- she thought suddenly, -I'm no good at this kind of stuff…-
Rei shook her head. "It is nothing…" she said, taking a deep breath, "I am just concerned that you will tire of me."
Asuka blinked. -Geez,- she thought, -she doesn't mince words, now, does she?- She took Rei's hand in hers. "Look," she said softly, pulling the girl closer to her, "do you think I would be here at all if I wasn't sure it was where I wanted to be? I'm not going anywhere, Rei… I want to be with you."
The red-eyed girl looked at her for a moment, and then let out a soft sigh, "I am glad."
Asuka's eyes took on a wicked gleam. "Good… now kiss me again," she demanded.
Rei's eyes widened, then she smiled softly and leaned forward to do as she was told.
They were only five minutes late for the sync test.
**
Misato stared at the boy in front of her. "You're Kaworu Nagisa?" she asked doubtfully.
The boy smiled at her. "Yes," he replied politely, "and you are Misato Katsuragi, Director of Operations, are you not?"
She nodded. -Damn…- she thought, -someone could have mentioned that he has red eyes and whispers like Rei. Not that it makes THAT much difference, but still…- She shook off the thought. "Umm," she hummed, leafing over the transfer papers again, "you have been made aware of the rules and regulations here and have a place to stay, correct?" she asked, feeling slightly unsteady.
Kaworu nodded. "Yes," he replied calmly, "though my quarters are… cramped, they will be sufficient."
Misato hesitated, feeling oddly conflicted by the boy's quiet tone and piercing eyes. –He's like a mix between Shinji and Rei,- she thought suddenly, studying the boy's features as he calmly looked back at her. –Red eyes… quiet voice… but just a touch more uncertain than Rei – like Shinji was when he first got here.-
Taking a deep breath, she pushed her observations to the side and murmured, "Umm, ok then… there is a sync test tomorrow to assess your potential. I'll pick you up in your quarters at oh-seven hundred."
"I… look forward to it," Kaworu said softly, bowing at the waist.
A chill ran down Misato's spine as she looked into the boy's crimson eyes, and it occurred to her that she had never offered to pick any of the other pilots up in their quarters before. At a loss for further words, she stuck out her hand. "It was nice to meet you, Kaworu," she said briskly, "I hope you find everything satisfactory."
Kaworu considered her hand for a minute, finally taking it and kissing the back. "I thank you for your kindness," he whispered formally, releasing her hand and bowing.
Misato found herself blushing as his lips pressed against her skin. "How very old fashioned of you," she chided lightly.
–Why am I getting all… motherly??- she thought with some confusion, -I've only just met him…- As he stepped back, she fought the urge to reach out and pat him affectionately on the top of the head.
The Fifth Child bowed once more. "Sometimes the old ways are the best ways," he returned. "Have a nice day, Major." With a slight nod, he turned and walked quietly from the room.
As soon as he was gone, Misato sighed. "What was that about?" she wondered aloud as she stared at the back of her hand. After a moment of quiet contemplation, she headed off in search of the boy's records, hoping to find something anomalous that could account for her strange feelings.
**
Rei felt quite pleased as she walked through NERV's labyrinthine hallways. The sync tests were over for the day, and she had agreed to meet with Asuka later in the afternoon – deciding by mutual understanding that they should leave at separate times, as being seen together so much might raise suspicions.
"What would you think, Ikari?" she mused quietly, "Would you be… upset?" She shook her head sadly, thinking of the comatose boy. "I do not believe you would…" she whispered, "I believe you would be happy. You always did-"
She broke off as a boy with gray hair and red eyes stepped around the corner in front of her, nodding slightly as if he had been confident he would see her.
"Rei Ayanami… the First Child…" he said quietly.
"Who are you?" Rei asked, confused as to how he knew her name.
"I am Kaworu Nagisa, the Fifth Child," the boy replied, "I observed your synchronization tests with the Second this afternoon… your scores are improving."
The blue-haired girl's eyes widened as the boy named Kaworu advanced on her, invading her personal space and forcing her to back up until she hit the wall.
"What do you want?" she asked softly as he studied her face.
Silently, he reached up and laid his hand on her cheek.
"You are the same as me," the gray-haired boy said quietly, examining her features intently with his fingertips, "but you've been deceived… you have forgotten yourself…"
"I do not… know what you are talking about," Rei managed, an odd trill of fear worming its way through her stomach at his touch, "please take your hand off of me…"
"Will your lover be upset?" Kaworu asked, letting his hand fall to his side. "Honestly," he said, the faintest trace of disapproval evident in his voice, "to allow her to touch your body…"
"How…?" Rei whispered, her eyes wide.
"It is obvious," the Fifth said, putting his hands into his pockets and taking a step back, "if one knows the signs to look for. I am curious though," he leaned close once more, locking his eyes onto hers, "you know that this type of relationship is unnatural… yet you continue to pursue it… why?"
Rei flushed slightly. "Affection is affection…" she said softly, forcing herself to hold his gaze, "sexuality does not matter."
"You know that is not true," Kaworu said quietly, shaking his head, "there are certain covenants between man and woman that are sacred. To want comfort and closeness is natural," he elaborated, "but to intentionally seek out the embrace of someone of your own gender is… unhealthy." He took another step back, as if being too close to her was somehow distasteful. "I will not reveal your secret, First Child…" he assured her carefully. "For some odd reason, I find it interesting to watch you and your… lover," his lip curled slightly at the last word, as if he had difficulty pronouncing it, "attempting to deceive."
The blue-haired girl dropped her eyes, biting her lip to keep from thanking him.
"Good day," Kaworu said abruptly, turning away, "I will see you again, I am sure…"
Rei simply nodded, keeping her head down as his footsteps receded.
Once she was sure that he was gone, she let out a long, wavering breath and leaned back, letting the wall support her. "He is… intense…" she whispered to herself. She closed her eyes, deciding to keep this encounter from Asuka. –It would only upset her,- she reasoned.
Shaking herself, the First Child pushed away from the wall, pondering for a moment what the Fifth had meant by telling her she was the same before going in search of comfort.
Comfort in the arms of her love.
**
The next two weeks seemed to blur past, one day running into the next like a sweet dream that must eventually be broken by the dawn.
Rei and Asuka found themselves spending more and more time together, though they still were not willing to openly declare themselves a couple… they both acknowledged the fact that it might not be taken so well – especially by the Commander.
They agreed, however, that once the last angel was defeated, they would be more open about their relationship. They did not plan to start kissing in front of Misato just to prove a point, but they did decide that holding hands would be ok… and Asuka suspected that – out of everyone she knew – Misato would be the first to understand.
As for the Operations Director herself, she found that she was making more and more excuses to be with the fascinating Fifth Child.
'It's just because he's so interesting…' she had reasoned out loud one evening, speaking more to herself than to Shinji, whom she was visiting at the time.
She wondered if the comatose Third Child would understand her real reasons… and somehow doubted it. She felt that he was not the type to be drawn to someone simply for the sake of companionship – and she feared that that was exactly the reason she was spending so much time with the gray-haired boy.
Since Shinji was hurt, and Asuka was almost never around… and PenPen had been sent to stay with the Horakis (a result of her fear for the bird's safety), Misato spent most of her off time alone – time that was made all the more lonely since the disappearance of her lover, Kaji.
Of course… had Shinji been able to speak when she confessed her feelings of affection for the red-eyed Child, he would have warned her about the things he knew.
But he was not able to speak… so he was not able to warn her…
And so he had no influence over the events to come.
**
"This is a lovely apartment, Major Katsuragi…" Kaworu said quietly, smiling softly as he looked around the living room, "it suits your personality quite nicely."
"Thank you," Misato said, genuinely pleased, "Shinji and Asuka kinda helped decorate it over the last few months… made it feel a little more relaxed."
"I find that hard to believe," the gray-haired boy said honestly, rising from the couch as the Operations Director got to her feet.
"Well," she shrugged, "they helped some." She smiled, holding out her hand and flushing slightly, "Thanks for coming by to pick up those reports," she said, a touch guiltily. "I'm sorry I made you come all the way out here… I can't believe I forgot them."
"It was not a problem at all," he said easily, shaking her hand and stepping closer to her. "But I must confess… I rather wish I could spend more time with you."
Misato blinked. "That's… very straightforward of you…" she whispered, lowering her arm to her side.
"I see no reason to be dishonest," the Fifth replied quietly, meeting her eyes, "there is little time in life for such wastes of energy… wouldn't you agree, Major?"
"Ummm… I guess not," Misato conceded, "I just don't want to give the wrong impression about what my feelings are…" –Wow…- she thought dismally, -very professional…-
"If the wrong impression is that you do not want me here," he said slowly, "then I am not getting that impression at all." He stepped closer to her, "I would like to spend some time with you, Major… I find you very interesting."
"What do you mean?" Misato asked uneasily.
"You are so alone," Kaworu explained quietly, tilting his head to the side. "Shinji is unable to communicate," he murmured, shaking his head sadly, "Asuka is unwilling to communicate… and thus – you are left alone."
"It's not… quite like that," the woman murmured softly, finding her voice just a touch too thick as she considered the boy's frank assessment of her situation.
"So fragile," the Fifth Child said gently, reaching out to put his hand on hers. "Your heart is like glass… ready to break into a million fragments at the subtlest hint of true intimacy."
Misato stared at his hand, blinking back sudden, confused tears. "You don't know me well enough to say those things," she whispered unsteadily.
"Knowing a person is not a matter of time," Kaworu said patiently, "it is a matter of understanding. You long for companionship… yet you push those around you until they cannot bear anymore and they leave… and you are alone, trying to understand what you did wrong." He nodded to himself, as if the woman's expression of growing confusion confirmed his suspicions. "Yes," he affirmed, "you desire companionship, yet you are afraid of it at the same ti-"
"Stop it!"
Kaworu blinked as the woman tore her hand from his. "I apologize…" he murmured as she turned away. "I did not mean to upset you, Major."
"I… probably shouldn't let you be here," Misato said after a momentary silence, wrapping her arms around her waist and trying to get a hold of her emotions, "it's… kind of improper…"
"I will leave if you would like," the boy murmured quietly, "I would hate for you to find that fragile heart of yours in pieces over something I said."
Strangely, Misato found the boy's placating tone irritating. "Nothing you can say can break my heart, Mister Nagisa," she informed him, trying to sound calm, "but thank you for your concern."
Kaworu smiled faintly. "So very fragile," he whispered. "This is worthy of my respect…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Misato asked.
"It means that I can empathize with you," the boy said quietly. "It means that I love you."
It happened fast – so fast that Misato doubted conscious thought ever entered into the equation. The words had barely left the boy's mouth when her hand struck his cheek, turning his head to the side with all the speed of a whip crack.
"Never," she managed, her body shaking with a confusion of rage and shame, "never say that you love me – you don't even know me!"
Kaworu slowly brought his hand to his quickly reddening cheek. "That is the problem with you Lillim," he whispered sadly, "you think that love implies intimacy and knowledge of another, and yet… do you not love an infant from birth?" He shook his head. "You crave closeness and understanding, but you will not accept it unless it comes with time. You are destined to remain alone, because the truth of the matter is… you are not willing to allow anyone close enough to your heart until they 'know' you." He stepped past her, still shaking his head as he concluded, "I believe, in spite of your order otherwise… that I love you all the more because of that – because no matter how you strive, you cannot ever truly be close to another."
Misato simply gaped at the boy, her mind reeling at the depth of his observations and accusations. "Who are you…?" she breathed.
"Does it really matter?" Kaworu asked, a note of pity in his voice, "no matter how much you know of me, you will never let me near the real you… so let us end the evening with a simple goodbye, Major Katsuragi." He bowed formally. "I apologize for my transgression," he murmured. "I shall take my leave now… and I do not think we shall meet again. Goodbye."
Misato blinked, still trying to come to terms with the night's events. "What do you mean?" she asked as he stepped back and turned for the door.
"You will see shortly," the boy replied, offering her a sad smile.
As he walked out of the apartment, Misato slumped back against the wall and slid to the floor, feeling as if the weight of a thousand years had been added to her shoulders. "Oh God…" she moaned, putting her face in her hands and weeping as she realized just how true the boy's words rang. She was alone – in her house and in her heart… and there was no one to blame for it but herself. Even her sudden, heretofore unexplained feelings of protectiveness for the newest Child could easily be traced back to her own desire to have someone dependant on her – to have someone close to her, the way Shinji was close to her before he withdrew from the world.
So immobilized with hollowness was she that she was still in the hallway three hours later when the phone rang, reminding her that she was late for work.
**
"What is this place?" Asuka said, shivering slightly, "It's freezing!"
Rei said nothing, as she was too intent on her goal.
They were deep within Central Dogma, holding hands as they walked, but watching closely and ready to separate should they see anyone moving down the hall.
Asuka blinked as they passed through a room that very nearly mirrored Rei's apartment – right down to the beaker of water and the small table. –Freaky…- she thought.
They came to another door, and Rei paused. "There is… something beyond this door that you must see…" she whispered softly, "something that defines me…"
"Defines you?" Asuka echoed, shivering again, -Damn… it must be all of five degrees in here, I swear!-
Rei was at a loss for words. "You will see…" she said slowly, "and no matter what happens… know that I care for you, Asuka…"
Asuka blinked as Rei's hand quickly reached out, swiping a small access card through the reader on the door in one swift motion… as if the blue-haired girl was on the brink of turning back, and would not – could not – allow that.
Rei closed her eyes as the door began to slide open, terrified of the other girl's inevitable reaction. –She will surely despise me now…- she thought sadly, -but she needs to know… she has the right to know… because I am hers, and she is mine…-
"Ummm…" Asuka hummed, frowning slightly, "it's… very nice, Rei… can we go now?"
Rei's eyes shot open as she turned to face the redhead. "Does it not bother you??" she asked incredulously.
"Should it?" Asuka replied, looking confused.
Rei turned to face the room that had been her birthplace, the room that held all of the other Reis, and found the tanks, "Empty?"
"What was in here before?" Asuka asked, tilting her head curiously as Rei seemed to go even paler than normal, "Was it something important? 'Cause it's gone now, whatever it was." She took a closer look at the other girl, "Are you ok?"
"Gone…" Rei whispered, still trying to grasp the fact that she was suddenly, irrevocably, the only Rei. –There can never be another…- she thought, -I am the last…- She shook herself as she noticed Asuka's concerned look.
"This room held…" Rei struggled for words, finally settling on simply, "me."
Asuka looked at the huge, empty tank, then back at her girlfriend. "Well," she shrugged, "if you say so."
"No!" Rei said grasping the other girl by the shoulders, her voice low with quiet desperation, "You do not understand! This was… I was… it should not be empty!"
"Take it easy," Asuka said, frowning at the red-eyed girl's odd behavior and pulling away, "it's just a big LCL tank… with nothing in it. What's the big deal?"
Rei put her hands on the sides of her head, "It was important… very important." She took a deep breath, "It should contain-"
Her explanation was cut short by the sound of the alarm.
**
"Unit 02 has gone active," Hyouga reported, his voice sounding confused, "but I can't get any readings on the entry plug, I don't know who's piloting it."
As the technicians scrambled to make sense of the odd occurrence, Fuyutsuki leaned over to Gendou. "Is it what we feared?" he whispered.
"Undoubtedly," the Commander replied, "it seems SEELE themselves sent us the last angel."
"Is it taking Unit 02 to merge with it…" Fuyutsuki wondered, "or…"
"Let's not find out either way," Gendou replied, "Miss Ibuki," he said, raising his voice as Misato came onto the bridge, looking slightly dazed, "Unit 02 and its pilot, Kaworu Nagisa, are now designated the seventeenth angel." He ignored the gasps of shock as he went on, "Insert Rei in Unit 01 with instructions to intercept, and have Pilot Souryu on standby in case Unit 01 rejects Rei… also have a dummyplug on-"
"There's a problem, Commander," Maya said, cutting him off in her panic, "I can't find Rei or Asuka… and the dummyplug is being rejected."
"You… decided to try the plug on your own?" he asked softly, his voice cold, "Without bothering to wait for a pilot… or an order?"
Maya paled. "It… was already loaded from the last test," she replied, her voice shaking as she tried unsuccessfully to meet the Commander's eyes, "and I thought if Unit 02 had gone berserk, it would be the fastest response-"
"Never mind," Gendou said, waving his hand, "initiate fourth protocol."
Misato blinked as Maya went impossibly three shades whiter, gripping the desk for support. "What is that?" she asked, looking from the tech to the Commander and doing her best to at least try to be surprised at this latest turn of events. "Why wasn't I informed of a special protocol?"
Ignoring her, Maya answered the commander. "Please sir… he can't – he's not up to it, and he'll-"
"You have your orders!" Gendou snapped, "And time is short. It's him or Third Impact – do as you're told!!"
"Yes sir…" Maya said brokenly, fighting back tears as she rose from her desk and ran from the room.
"Turn off those damn alarms," Gendou said irritably, "the angel's not going to stop because we're giving him a headache."
Misato looked up at the cool visage of the Commander, trying to read his face as the room went quiet. Failing, she asked softly, "What is the fourth protocol?"
Gendou smiled at her, folding his hands. "You're a smart woman," he replied, "put two and two together. Each Child has a protocol – a set of procedures to initiate to get him or her to one of the EVAs at top speed should anything happen to the others."
"For each…" Misato whispered, her eyes widening. "You can't be serious!!"
Gendou's voice was flat and hard, "We're doing him a favor… he'll be able to feel whole again – if only while he's piloting."
"You're insane!" Misato gasped, unable to believe what her mind was telling her, "Just insane! Don't you remember the last time? What happened to him then? And Unit 01 won't take-"
"He has been tested with Unit 01," Gendou overrode her smoothly, "and he can sync at twenty-eight percent."
"Twenty-eight??" Misato burst out, "That's nothing!! He'll be killed!"
Gendou ignored her as Maya's voice filled the room, sounding incredibly reluctant. "Pilot is in the plug… beginning insertion…"
Misato turned away, -After this… I'm through,- she thought, wondering why she had even stayed as long as she had, -this is the last angel, father… after this, I'm leaving NERV.-
"Unit 01 online," Touji Suzuhara's voice filled the purple-haired woman's ears… a painful reminder of just how desperate the situation was.
-They must have kept him hidden somewhere nearby,- she thought bitterly, -kept alone… isolated… just there in case of an emergency…- "I feel sick…" she whispered.
"Intercept the angel using route six-six-five," Gendou ordered, "and do not hold back. Though it looks human, it will destroy us all."
"Understood," Touji replied, "Unit
01 – lift off!"
**
"Shouldn't we get back to the EVAs?" Asuka gasped as they came to a stop in front of a small door. They had been running seemingly (to Asuka at least) down random corridors since the angel alarm had sounded.
"No," Rei said firmly, "we will not make it in time, and there is something I must do here…"
Asuka put her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath, "But if there's an angel," she panted, "who's going to kill it?"
Rei opened the door, motioning for Asuka to come with her. "It will come here," she replied softly, leading the redhead into a small alcove… an alcove that overlooked the very heart of Terminal Dogma.
Asuka's eyes widened as she beheld a body of LCL larger than she had even dreamed existed. And in the center of it all… an enormous form, vaguely familiar to her.
"Something important will happen now," Rei said softly, unable to look at her girlfriend, "I must be here…"
Asuka looked down at the inert being on the cross, hardly daring to breathe. "Ok," she said after a moment, slipping her hand into the other girl's, "I trust you…"
Rei nodded absently, -That is what he meant…- she thought, thinking of the boy with the red eyes, -I am the same as him… I am… one of them – at least in part. I can feel it… the power… the call… she's… within me. I cannot allow…-
Rei's confused thoughts were broken as the gray-haired boy came floating into the room, frowning slightly as he approached the giant.
"Those who are born of Adam must return to Adam…" he said softly, reaching out reluctantly while loosing his control on Unit 02. "So all Mankind must be erased… even you, Major, with your fragile heart and your kind eyes… for that, I am truly so-." He cut himself of as, a moment before his hand touched the pale flesh of the creature, its true nature was revealed to his senses.
"Lillth?" he whispered, his voice shaking. He backed away, smiling faintly. "Very clever, Lillim…" he mused, "you almost had me. Had I actually touched her… I would have been lost. But still, I sense the father is close. I will not be fooled again. I thought that perhaps I could understand your kind, especially when the Major had come so close to accepting another into her heart… but you are beyond me, so it would be best for you all to return to nothing."
He looked away from the decoy as Unit 01 broke into the room, the motionless form of Unit 02 lying at its feet.
"No you don't!" Touji's voice boomed over the speakers, the purple mecha extending its hand towards the angel.
-Now!- Rei thought, narrowing her eyes and focusing on that power deep within her.
Kaworu shook his head sadly, raising his AT field as the hand neared him… then his mouth gaped open in shock as another, more powerful field neutralized his. "Is it…?" he gasped, his eyes shooting up to the small alcove high above and finding the deep red eyes of the First Child. A quick chuckle escaped him a moment before he was seized as he spotted the First's lover at her side. "Of course," he murmured, never looking away, "how… appropriate…"
Touji never hesitated. He grasped the floating form in Unit 01's fist and bore down with all of his hate and fear… screaming as he eradicated the last angel in a fraction of a second.
Rei sighed and let her AT field collapse as the head of the gray-haired boy tumbled into the LCL, an ironic smile still on its face. Slowly… she became aware of Asuka, trembling at her side.
"Y-you…" the redhead's eyes were wide and terrified, her body shaking as she stared at the other girl, "you're… one of them…"
"No," Rei said, suddenly aware of how it must seem, "Asuka, I-"
"Let go of me!!" the Second Child whispered frantically, yanking her hand away as if it was pressed against a stovetop.
Rei reached out, wincing slightly as Asuka stumbled back, avoiding her touch. "It is… not as it seems, I-"
"GET AWAY FROM ME!!!" the redhead screamed, tears running down her face, "Don't come near me, do you understand? You just stay away from me!!"
Rei bowed her head. "I am… sorry, Asuka…" she whispered.
The only reply was the sound of running feet as the Second Child turned and fled, a thousand emotions pounding through her mind. Confusion… fear… desire… hurt… longing…
Love… betrayal…
Rei turned to stare at the now-silent form of Unit 01. "We… won…" she whispered quietly, her voice hollow.
As if to mock her, a fleeting memory of Asuka's smile flashed through her mind… a vision she now knew she would never see again.
The sightless eyes of Kaworu Nagisa were the only ones that noticed the single tear that fell from the alcove high above terminal Dogma… making not so much as a plink as it landed on the gargantuan form of Evangelion Unit 01.
To be concluded…
Second Version Notes: It's kinda hard to know where to start the notes for this version. For anyone that's reading it for the first time, obviously, there won't be any change. For anyone rereading it (do people reread this stuff?) it will be clear that 80% of it is the same, and the other 20% deals… with Kaworu. My biggest complaint for this whole story arc, and my biggest self-criticism out of any of my stories, actually, was the portrayal of Kaworu in this chapter. Do I need to list all the ways it was a bad move to have him (as one reviewer described it) a stock bad-guy? Or is rewriting that section of the chapter penance enough? Why did I decide to go ahead with a rewrite, pushing back the release of the last chapter by several days to do so? *shrug* Find a copy of the original… you won't need to ask again. -_-
Pre-read thanks goes out to Ryoma. Yes, yes… I know we already did this chapter, but don't you feel better about it now?? ^_^ Also pre-reading on this chapter, and providing some fanart for my page, is Ignatz. Thanks to you to, my friend. Hope you liked this version.
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com
