Room 506
'Where am I' Shinji thinks. He could see nothing but darkness all over him. No matter how far he looked only nothingness met his eyes.
Shinji sighs, 'Where am... wait are my eyes closed?' Shinji thinks.
Shinji-kun?
"Wha...what?" Shinji says out loud, startled.
This is a dream
"W...where am I? Who are you!?"
You don't remember me?
"Kat?"
Shinji's question was met by a short giggle.
"What?"
She's right, you dwell too much on the past.
"Who's right? What are you talking about!?"
You may have so many chances, but you'll miss them all if you go on like this.
"Like what?"
Like this.
"W...what?"
You killed her.
"......."
You did, you killed her.
"I..."
What are you going to do? Run away? I doubt you'll face it. You never do.
"I....."
You killed her! He's going to go through what you were forced to go through.
"No, Kat means more than her."
To you.
"....."
What do you want to do to the person who killed her? What would you do if you saw him face to face.
"I would... I .." Suddenly the thought Shinji had about his eyes being closed crosses his mind. He feels for his eyes and confirms they were indeed closed. Shinji tries to open them.
I wouldn't do that if I were you. Not that it matters as of now.
"What? Why?"
Trust me. You'll be better off if you listen to me.
"....."
He's going to kill you.
"He's my friend" Immediately after Shinji says those words memories flashed through his mind. Of when he first came to this school.
*Flashback*
"If I don't hit you, I'm going to regret it for the rest of my life!" Touji says as his fist connects with Shinji's face.
"His sister got caught in the midst of the last battle. She's in the hospital but apparently she's not doing to well" Kensuke says to Shinji.
*End Of Flashback*
Remember that, Shinji-kun?
"He wasn't my friend then"
I don't think it really matters what you are to him. The bottom line is-
"Shut up! I don't want to listen to you!" Shinji again goes to open his eyes but is unable to. He willed it, but it just didn't happen.
*Flashback*
'Huh?' Shinji was standing up. He looks around, it was not his room. It was... Katharina's.
'What the hell' Shinji thinks as he moves away from the front door. He begins to walk toward Katharina's room.
'Why am I walking?' Shinji thinks as he continues to walk. It was as though his mind and body were no longer one. He walks into her room and sees Touji there. Aiming a gun at Katharina.
'No!' Shinji attempts to scream, but no words come out. He tries to run toward Touji, but his body does not move. Touji smiles and fires.
'No! Stop! Touji!'
Touji continues to fire and then stops. Katharina's body lies unmoving, on the floor. Blood begins to pour out of the wounds.
Shinji, suddenly in control of his body runs at Touji and knocks him over. He picks up the gun and aims it at Touji's head.
*End of Flashback*
See, I told you it doesn't matter.
Shinji sobs muttering "Kat" over and over again.
I think you understand now. So, what are you going to do?
Shinji does nothing but repeats the name he wanted to call out.
Well? What are you going to do?
"Leave me alone!"
Fine
------------
Shinji wakes up in his bed. He takes the earphones out of his ears and sits up on his bed.
"No battery" His SDAT player reads. Shinji sighs and plugs it into the socket to charge.
He is startled when he suddenly hears heavy knocking on his door.
"Baka Shinji, wake up! I need breakfast!"
Shinji breathes heavily for a few seconds before crawling into bed, once again.
"Can you hear me! I said wake up! We're going to be late!"
"I'm not going to school today" Shinji says from under his covers.
"What!"
Shinji hears his door open and then close. He braces himself as the footsteps get closer to his bed.
"Baka! Wake up!" Asuka yells as she attempts to rip the covers off of Shinji. But Shinji had expected this so he clings on to them tightly.
"I said I'm not going to school today" Shinji says again.
"I don't care whether you go to school or not, but you have to make breakfast."
"I never make breakfast" Shinji replies.
"Well starting today you're going to. You don't expect me to live like this forever do you?"
Shinji groans before saying "I'm not making breakfast".
Asuka stares at Shinji, or rather the lump in the covers. She stares intently, and after convincing herself that he is not going to look at her, she smiles.
"Fine! Be like that!" Asuka yells.
Shinji doesn't respond. Asuka is still smiling as she mutters "I'll get you tomorrow...."
She walks out of Shinji's room met by Misato.
"Don't bother, he says he's not going to school today" Asuka says quickly.
"I know, I heard the both of you arguing like a married couple" Misato says smiling evilly.
Asuka goes slightly red and then attempts to walks around Misato. Misato quickly moves out of the way and Asuka walks toward the cabinets in search for something to eat.
"You seem friendly today" Misato says as she walks toward the refrigerator.
"So what?" Asuka says, picking up pack of cup noodles.
"And he seemed more.... normal today" Misato says seriously.
"...I know" Asuka says.
"Is it Rei?" Misato asks as she sits down at the table with a beer in her hand.
Asuka laughs. To Misato it was a mocking laugh, but in reality a nervous one.
"Please, that doll?"
"It's the only reasonable explanation, unless you did anything" Misato says.
Asuka doesn't respond. She stands in the kitchen waiting for her hot water to boil.
"Well anyway, I guess Rei can probably finish the job"
Asuka turns around with a look of fury in her eyes. "What are you saying? That the doll can do what I can't?"
Misato takes a sip of her beer before responding, "No, I'm just saying it's a possibility that she will accomplish this assignment. And since you neglected it so much, I'm glad Rei has the capability."
"If anyone get's Shinji.... back to normal, as you say, it's going to be me" Asuka says.
"Really..." Misato says, with a hint of sarcasm.
"Of course! I can get the baka to dance around in circles if I wanted to." Asuka says. She turns back around at her hot water, which was ready, and pours it into her noodles.
"Well, we're all counting on one of you" Misato says.
-----------
'That doll beating me? Please, what's Misato thinking. Just because I didn't want to talk to that baka, doesn't mean I'm going to lose to a doll' Asuka thinks as she walks to school. She was thinking confidently now, but soon enough, her doubts would catch up with her. Asuka remembers Misato talking to her and Rei about Shinji.
'The assignment is get closer to him' Asuka remembers and then laughs, 'How stupid does she think I am? She just wants someone to be his girlfriend..... to help him heal.'
Asuka then remembers the determined look on Rei's face.
"She doesn't know the first thing about relationships" Asuka says out loud, in an attempt to convince herself.
------------
Touji wasn't in school today, and neither was Hikari, as Asuka expected. Rei sat staring out the window as always, and Shinji's desk remained empty for the rest of the day. After school Asuka walked out of the school building, alone. She headed toward the hospital.
Many thoughts about Hikari went through her mind. as she walked to the hospital. She recapped the phone call from the night before.
*****
"Hello, may I speak to Hikari?" Asuka says as she hears a "Hello" that was almost inaudible.
"Is this Asuka?"
"Yes, is Hikari home?" Asuka asked, worried at the hint distraughtness in the voice.
"No.... she's at the hospital"
"Wha....What happened?"
*****
The conversation had ended there. Asuka had to ask Misato to check what hospital Hikari was staying. Misato had refused at first but after a lot of yelling, Asuka had her way.
Asuka walked listlessly. She was going to drag Shinji along with her. She figured Touji would be there, and Shinji could have been a big help cheering up Touji, but that plan had been foiled. Not that she thought Shinji would cheer up anyone anyway, but it would have been a good plan. She now just walked, not wanting to think about anything.
---------------
Shinji laid on his bed. He had been awake for a few hours now, but he just didn't want to get up. Misato was at headquarters and would not return till late. Asuka would probably be visiting Hikari.
'I have a long time to myself' Shinji thought.
He could do nothing but think. He had been thinking ever since he had awaken. After a while he decides to get up.
"I have to do something" Shinji says to himself. "I'll make myself something to eat"
Shinji gets up and walks out of his room. He looks in the refrigerator to find nothing he can use. Ever since Shinji had gotten back from Germany, he had stopped cooking. Misato and Asuka were not up to take up the job so the three just lived on instant food and take out. He sighs as he closed the refrigerator and walks back to his room. He grabs some clothes and take a long shower.
---------------
Asuka takes a deep breath in front of room 506. There were six slots next to the room number but only one of them had a name. Horaki, it read. Asuka opens the door and walks in. She walks over to the bed silently.
"Hey" Asuka says somewhat nervously.
"Hey" Hikari responds.
"I thought Touji would be here" Asuka says as she sits down next to Hikari.
"He is, he just went to check on his sister"
"Oh you guys are in the same-"
"Yes" Hikari says.
The two were silent for a good two minutes before Hikari broke it.
"Do you know?"
"About what?" Asuka asks, playing dumb.
Hikari just stares in silence until Asuka can take no longer.
"Yes.." Asuka replies softly.
Another awkward silence. This time, Asuka is the one to break it.
"Does Touji?"
"Yes"
"How is he.... taking it?" Asuka asks.
"Not well, I was hoping you would bring Shinji-kun. He needs a friend to talk to right now"
"That baka didn't go to school today"
"Oh... is he sick?" Hikari asks, looking worried.
"No, he's probably just having another one of those days"
"He has them quite often" Hikari says.
"Yeah.... I guess he does"
Again silence until Touji walks into the room.
"Soryu..." Touji says in a voice that resembled Rei.
"Hi" Asuka says as she looks up at Touji. He didn't look well. A mixture of lack of sleep and depression.
Touji sit's down on the seat on the other side of Hikari. The three were silent. Had Asuka known about Hikari, she could have braced herself, but now she was just in shock. She didn't know what to say. Touji was just blank and Hikari was in no position to make much conversation. But she did detest the silence.
"Could you two go get me something to drink?" Hikari asked.
"Sure" Asuka replied almost instantly. Touji just stood up and walked to the door. Asuka's gaze follows him and then back to Hikari. Hikari smiles at Asuka. A genuine smile, or so it seemed to Asuka, yet it pained her so much.
------------
"I thought you'd bring Shinji" Touji says looking straight ahead. The two had to go to the bottom floor to get drinks so they headed for the elevator.
"He didn't go to school today" Asuka responds.
"Oh..." Touji says, and then laughs "Damn, I wanted to talk to him"
"Why are you laughing?" Asuka asks looking genuinely confused.
"Because I don't know what the hell else to do!" Touji says raising his voice, his smile turning into an expression of anger.
"Wha...."
"Do you know the story? Did you talk to Shinji?" Touji says, his voice still raised.
Asuka pushes the button for the elevator.
"Yes...no" Asuka replies, finally understanding what Touji was talking about.
"Then what? Do you know what I'm talking about?" Touji asks.
"The central dogma monitors all movements of the Eva. They can see everything that the pilot can see. And they have other cameras monitoring the surroundings. Everyone at Nerv knows and Misato told me yesterday"
"....."
"What did you have planned for Shinji? A punch in the face?" Asuka asks, using an unimpressed tone. The elevator doors open and the two get in. Touji pushes the button labeled 1.
"No.... of course not. He does what he has to do, and besides he might not even have saw us" Touji says.
'By the way he was acting, it seems he did' Asuka thinks but then says, "Well, if you guys want to talk it's not of my business, you get him to talk to you"
"Well, you have to get him to come here" Touji says.
"What?! Are you kidding, talk to him in school or something!"
"I'm not going to school until she is better" Touji says simply, the two then walk out of the elevator and walk toward the drink machines.
"Err...." Asuka could think of nothing to say back. If she had the courage to stay as well, she would have. "Fine! But if he's stubborn, I'm not trying too hard"
"Just get him to come"
"I'm not making promises"
Touji sighs and decides this was the best he was going to get. Normally he wouldn't ask Asuka for anything, but he did want to talk to Shinji and he refused to leave Hikari's side for more than a few moments.
"So.... what do we get?" Asuka says.
Touji looks at all the drinks, from top to bottom.
"I don't know, did she say what she wanted?"
Asuka starts inserting money and replies "No"
"What are you doing?" Touji asks.
"Getting myself a drink of course" Asuka says and then pushes the button for coffee.
"You know that stunts your growth?" Touji says.
Asuka laughs, "That's just something parents tell their kids when their young so they won't drink coffee" she says.
"Oh..." Touji says. Asuka opens her can of coffee and starts drinking it.
"You never figured this out? Didn't they tell you?"
"I guess they didn't live long enough to break it to me"
"...." Asuka sips her coffee, "Their dead?"
"Yep" Touji says and then begins inserting money into the vending machine.
"Oh..." Asuka sighs and begins drinking her coffee in silence. Seeing that Touji was not going to make conversation, Asuka closes here eyes and starts to think. She attempted to think happy thoughts but when one is sad, everything just seems depressing. After a while Asuka makes herself stop and looks over at Touji.
"Are you done yet?" She asks.
"Almost" Touji says as he proceeds inserting money and buying a drink.
"What are you doing? How much are you expecting her to drink?"
"Well we don't know what she wants so I'll give her a selection."
"Shouldn't you buy like a couple? Not all of them?" Asuka asks.
"I want to give her a good selection" was the simple answer she received.
"Boys are stupid" Asuka says but in her mind she had a new respect for Touji.
-------------
Shinji walks out of the shower feeling refreshed but thirsty. He walks to the refrigerator and opens it to find nothing to drink except beer. Shinji sighs and sits at the dining table.
'I'm thirsty' Shinji thinks, 'Why the hell is there nothing to drink!? What do they expect me to do everything!?'
He puts his head down in frustration but then bolts up again.
"Can't Asuka and Misato just do something for me? Anything? Can't they buy drinks so I won't be thirsty?" Shinji says out loud
Suddenly, the doorbell rings.
'Huh?' Shinji thinks and walks toward the door. Then a thought enters his head and he stops.
'Maybe it's Touji....' Shinji thinks. Shinji stands about four feet away from the door, frozen. The bell rings again and Shinji flinches at the sound of it.
'I'm not home' Shinji thinks to himself. After a while the bell rings one more time before Shinji hears footsteps walking away. Shinji sighs in relief yet a feeling stirred inside of him.
'I'm such a coward' Shinji thinks, "I mustn't run away'
Shinji takes a deep breath and runs for the door. He pushes the button to open it and runs outside.
"Touji!" he yells.
"Ikari-kun?"
Shinji was met by a female voice, which was unexpected. He was also met by red eyes, which was even more unexpected.
"Uh.... Ayanami?"
"You mistaked me for Suzuhara-kun?"
"I... I did"
"..."
The silence was uncomfortable for Shinji so he began thinking of what he can say. He slapped himself when he realized how obvious it was.
"Do you want to come in?" Shinji asks.
"... Yes" Rei says.
--------------
'Errr... well' Shinji thought as he stared blankly at the refrigerator. 'There's nothing to drink, so I can't offer anything' Shinji then noticed Rei staring at him from the doorway.
"Uh, you can sit down if you want"
Rei silently walks toward the table and takes a seat. She then continues to stare at Shinji.
"Well.... I would offer you something to drink but all we have is beer"
"Is there something wrong with it?" Rei asks.
"Huh? Oh...ummm... well no but-"
"Is it Major Katsuragi's? Is that why you cannot offer it to me?"
"No...well..." Shinji thought for a moment, "Yes" he says.
"I see"
......
......
......
"I'll go buy something" Shinji says after a few minutes of silence. He suddenly realized how stupid he was thinking, getting so angry over a simple drink, or lack there of.
"What do you want?" Shinji asks after he realized Rei wasn't going to say anything.
"Not many things" Rei responds simply.
"I mean to drink" Shinji says.
"....." Rei looks troubled for a moment, "What do I have to choose from?"
"Uh..." Shinji was caught off guard, "Well I guess whatever the store has..."
"And what does the store have?"
"Do you just want to come with me?" Shinji asks.
"That's an efficient way" Rei says as she stands up and puts on her shoes.
Shinji sighs and once again was amazed by Rei's.... uniqueness.
'Now this, is going to be an awkward day' Shinji thinks as he follows Rei out the door and locks it behind him.
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My Rant
Wow finally. I mean seriously, I was on vacation but it did end a while ago. Oh well, anyway I apologize for the delay of this chapter. I tried to make it somewhat better than the others to make up for it, but then again if I had the capability to write well I would always be doing it. Ah well. So, in the near future I'm going to need help translating a lot of German. And this time I don't mean phrases and such, I mean speeches, etc. I guess I kinda gave away some of my story just now but that's okay. So anyway if anyone is willing to translate for me, email me, it will be greatly appreciated. Oh also, I didn't kill of Touji's parents. I figured they were dead because in Evangelion he says something like "I don't have anyone to make lunch for me". It doesn't sound as stupid as that but in context it hints either his parents are dead or they can't do their parental duties for other reasons. So I chose dead. Oh one more thing, now that I'm looking back at my story it seems to be getting a little too depressing. I think writing about depressing things more than happy thoughts so I think that might be influencing it. If it gets out of hand, tell me.