Evangelion characters and settings belong exclusively to Gainax Inc.
The date is August 14th, 2018. Yes, three years have passed since SEELE attempted to destroy
it's child organization, NERV and implement the Human Instrumentality Project, however, Sohryu
Asuka Langley and Shinji Ikari were able do destroy all nine of the Type-5 Evangelions sent by
SEELE to initiate 'Third Impact'.
----Excerpt from an official NERV personnel report----
Date: June 28, 2015
Subject: Status of NERV command staff
To: Acting Comm. Fuyutsuki
---Classified: Level Alpha---
Comm. Gendo Ikari: Found in Terminal Dogma with Rei Ayanami and Dr. Ritsuko Akagi.
Subsequently arrested for the attempted murder of Dr. Akagi and taken directly to a detention cell several levels up in the NERV complex.
Sub Comm. Kouzo Fuyutsuki: Currently overseeing repair efforts within NERV complex.
Will be promoted to Commander pending Comm. Ikari's removal.
Dr. Ritsuko Akagi: Recouperating from gunshot wound in main medical ward. Dr. Akagi's wounds not severe due to small caliber hand gun.
Expected to return to duty pending her release from hospital.
Maj. Misato Katsuragi: Found near Emergency Elevator #7 with severe gunshot wounds in her abdomen. Currently recouperating in the ICU of the main surgical ward. Expected to make full recovery within 6-8 months.
Will be promoted to Sub-Commander pending removal of Commander Ikari
Lt. Maya Ibuki: Acting head of Project-E in Dr. Akagi's absence.
Lt's Aoba Shigeru and Makoto Hyuuga: Both occupying previous posts.
---End of File---
After leaving the hospital, both Misato and Ritsuko returned to thier respective positions within
NERV for the cleanup and repair efforts. Misato is still working for NERV as the new Sub-
Commander under Commander Fuyutsuki. Ritsuko, however, for personal reasons she did not
reveal has resigned as head of Project-E. She is now the head of a research group attempting to
further computer technology and create an 8th-generation super-computer. With Dr. Akagi's
resignation, Maya Ibuki has been promoted and named as the new head of Project-E. Aoba Shigeru
and Makoto Hyuuga both remained with NERV and are both still occupying their previous positions.
---Katsuragi Residence - 6:45 AM---
Shinji had just begun cooking breakfast in the small kitchen of Misato's apartment when Asuka
came out of her room and headed directly to the bath. He then heard the shower start. Now
reminded of her presence in the apartment, he began to think of how things have changed since the
failed Third Impact.
'Even with what's happened, she doesn't seem to be any different, she still calls me 'Baka' or
'Dummkopf' at least ten times each day, and she still insists on making me do all HER chores...'
Just as he's thinking this he realizes that the sausage he's making is beginning to burn.
A few minutes later, Asuka comes into the kitchen already dressed in her school uniform expecting
her breakfast. With a ravenous look on her young features, Asuka lets loose her first demand of the
day...
"Hey, dummkopf, where's my breakfast?"
"Here, Asuka..."
As he puts the plate down in front of her, she takes a wiff of the food. Fiding it's aroma very
pleasing, she begins by eating the sausage first...As the overly well done link hits her tounge she
face-faults. Reflexively, she begins to cough and gag as the taste of burnt fat and oil assails her
sense of taste.
"BAKA! This sausage is burnt to a crisp!!!"
Looking down slighly, shinji replies "I'm sorry..."
Now genuinely irked, Asuka hit him over the head just hard enough to snap him out of his self
depreciation and leveled one of her best death glares at him, "Will you stop saying that all the time,
it really pisses me off when you say 'I'm sorry' even when you're not the one to blame!"
"I'm..." this time catching himself in mid-sentance, he changes his choice of words "Okay Asuka..."
Smiling slightly at this small triumph in getting shinji to become more self asertive, she sits back
down and continues to eat her breakfast.
'I really hope he understands what I'm trying to do for him. It's not like I really mean it when I call
him names, I just want to see that side of him that doesn't take anything from anybody, Especially
when we were still fighting the Angels. The side of him that makes me want to...NO! STOP RIGHT
THERE! I WON'T think of him that way. I don't want kids, I don't want to get involved with ANY boys
and ABSOLUTELY not HIM.'
Over the past three years, living with Shinji so much has actually begun to change Asuka a little bit.
She doesn't go on as many rants and she accepts situations which are not completely to her liking
a little more readily. Also learning that her mother has actually been right there with her inside EVA-
02 helped her a lot in learning to open up to others. And, since she lives with him and she really
does trust him under all those masks she still wears, she descided to at least improve their
relationship to the point where they could maybe like being around each other, as opposed to just
tolerating each other.
A few minutes later, Misato comes into the kitchen and grabs a beer from her side of the fridge, and
after downing half the can at once, she lets out one of her trademark whoops to greet the day and
her teenage charges. "So, Shinji, what's for breakfast?"
"Oh, just the usual, sausage, eggs, and toast..."
"Yeah, " Asuka adds with a grin "watch out for that sausage though, it looks like it took an
extended stay in hell."
"HEY... It's not like I tried to burn it..."
Hiding behind her can of Yabisu, Misato listens as the two teens argue for the next 15 minutes.
"Oh, aren't you two going to be late for shool?"
Asuka looks at her wristwatch and gasps...It's 8:45. Dragging Shinji with her, She grabs both their
bags and pulls Shinji with her as she bolts through the door...
Sighing, "I will never understand those two..."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panting "We've only got 15 minutes before classes start... We're going to be sooo late..."
"Well, at this pace, I think we should actually have a couple of minutes to spare, Asuka..."
Rolling her eyes "Oh, who asked you? If we think like that, we WILL be late dummkopf!"
Upon arriving at the classroom, they find that they have actually made it to class before the teacher.
Looking around, they find Touji, Kensuke, and Hikari are already there. And of course, as is now the
norm, Hikari is sitting next to Touji waiting for the teacher to arrive before she assumes her duties
as class rep today. Asuka still can't figure out what had compelled Hikari to announce to the class
that she and Touji were now a couple. At least she had waited until she told him and started dating
him before they announced it. Touji, however was talking to Kensuke about some aspect of the
JSSDF or NERV, It was hard to tell from the doorway. Well, maybe he wasn't really talking to him
about it, but rather just nodding and gunting affirmatively as Kensuke went on and on about his
favorite thing in the world besides Eva...Millitary hardware.
Noticing their arrival, Touji greeted them in his usual manner when they were this late "Oh, look, the
newlyweds finally decided to show up..."
Both blushing beet red at the thought of that, they responded to the whoops and catcalls of the
class with the usual denial "IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!!!"
Just then, the teacher comes to the door, and Hikari assumes her duties as class rep as she had
so many times before... "STAND...BOW...BE SEATED" and the class begins...
During the teacher's usual lecture about the causes of Second Impact and now Third Impact, the
message waiting dialog box appeared on Shinji's computer screen. Clicking on the confirmation
button, the message appears:
'Hey, dummkopf, you're not doing anything tomorrow are you? Y/N'
Shinji didn't even have to think to know who this was from. so he answered "No, why?"
'Because I'm going shopping and Misato can't go. And I HATE going alone.'
'What about Hikari?'
'What do you think, baka? She's going to be busy with Touji.'
Sighing to himself, he figures he really doesn't have anything better to do, so he reluctantly agrees.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lunchtime.
"WHAAAAAT?!? What do you mean you didn't make lunches for us?!?"
"Well, it's not my fault you decided to argue with me all morning!"
Slightly startled at his outburst but pleased all the same, she thinks to herself 'There it is! The side
of him I want to see.'
"Okay, baka, I'll let you have this round."
This catches the attention of everyone since they were all expecting another loud, high-pitched
verbal battle between 'The Newlyweds'
"W...what did you say Asuka...?"
Rolling her eyes "I SAID you win this time, I don't feel like arguing right now. Besides, you shold
feel honored having won an argument with me." Thinking to herself 'Damn...It's gone, I reward him
for not slinking back from a confrontation, and what actually makes him become that timid little
boy? Me NOT being confrontational!'
"Well, I guess now you'll want ME to go buy YOUR lunch Asuka..."
Now cheerfully, "Yup...You're on the ball today, Shinji. Here's my NERV debitcard, just put it on
there"
Taking the card and turning towards the door, "Okay, I'll be right back..."
"Uh, huh..."
"Asuka, what was that about?"
Turning to face the owner of the voice from behind her "Huh, what, Hikari?"
"You just let it go, you always used to feel like arguing."
"Hmmm, well, I just want him to stop being so timid. And I thought that it would help if he actually
won an argument with me..."
Smirking "Asuka, are you sure you aren't starting to 'like' him?"
Had she been drinking anything just then, she would have just sprayed it all over her desk at that
comment. "What are you talking about Hikari? I don't like him, I just have to live with him, that's
all..."
Smirking even more, Hikari decides to let her be "Okay, Asuka, whatever you say."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, nothing."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Why am I being so nice to him?'
With these thoughts in her mind, she laid down on the bed and waited for the oblivion of sleep to
overtake her. Deciding that it felt good being with him, she shrugged off the question and began to
think of what she'd do tomorrow 'Maybe I'll treat him to some ice-cream or something...' slowly, her
eyes closed, and she fell asleep.
Just across the hall in his own room, Shinji was also thinking of tomorrow's activity and what Asuka
had in mind.
'What is she trying to do? Is she trying to get closer to me? Or is this all some kind of cruel joke
she's playing on me? Well, she has changed a little since we defeated the angels, maybe she's
just trying to be friendly...'
Shrugging, Shinji turns over onto his side and tries to go to sleep.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---The next morning---
Shinji was finishing up his bath and starting to get dressed when the accordion-style door to the
bath opened revealing Asuka in her favorite red towel carrying her own set of toiletries. Instantly,
both teen's faces flush as red as Asuka's towel, and surprisingly SHINJI is the first to speak as he
unconsiously grasps at the towel wrapped around his waist to make sure it's still there...
"DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO KNOCK?!?!?"
Startled, she almost starts a tirade of german insults and and screams about Shinji's perverse
nature. But somehow, she manages to curb her tounge and decides on something much less
inflammatory.
"Baka, do you really think that I would have thrown the door wide open if I had known you were in
here?!"
"ABSOLUTELY! Just to try and get some sort of situation where you could make fun of or insult
me!" Shinji shouts as he tries to discretely put on his boxers without removing the towel from his
waist.
"Hmmpfff... Just let me know when you're through getting your clothes on so I can take my
shower."
In a mock huff, Asuka turns and shuts the door as she does so.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Shinji continues to get dressed, this time without having to worry about
dropping his towel.
Ten minutes later, Shinji emerges from the bath fully dressed, and knocks on Asuka's door to let
her know he's done.
Again, the door slides open and Asuka is there in her towel again. She strides briskly past him
towards the bath without even a word. Until she reaches the bath that is...
"Don't you even think of peeking at me while I'm taking my shower. Just because I walked in on you
doesn't mean that you can do the same to me to get even!"
With that, she slams the door shut behind her and starts the shower.
Under his breath, "Like I would want to see you naked..."
"I HEARD THAT!!!"
Figuring a strategic retreat the best thing at the moment he descides to not respond to that in any
way and went to make breakfast.
Later, Asuka emerges from the shower wearing a loose pair of burgundy slacks, a red blouse and a
light gray jacket. She can see him cooking breakfast right in front of her in the kitchen, as she
looks at him she rembembers the decision she had made the night before, so instead of demanding
her breakfast the way she usually did, she walks up behind him and and asks in that ultra-kawaii
voice only Asuka is really capable of:
"What's for breakfast, baka?"
Slightly startled at her sudden proximity, Shunji almost yelps in surprise, but he manages instead
"Huh, oh, Asuka... N-Nothing special, just some rice balls and miso soup."
"Oh, yum... You making any sausage with that? Oh, wait... nevermind... you might burn it again."
"Hey, are you still going on about that?"
"Ha, Ha... Relax, Shinji, I was only kidding..."
After eating thier breakfast, Shinji and Asuka leave the apartment for the local mall.
"So, Asuka, what were you planning on buying?"
"Oh, nothing much, just some more clothes."
"More clothes? Your closet is already overflowing whith the clothes you have now..."
"True, but I never said the clothes were for me..."
"Huh?"
"Are you dense? We're going to the mall to buy YOU some new threads!"
"ME?!? What's wong with the clothes I have now?"
"Nothing, if you just want to look the same every day for the rest of your life... I'm getting tired of
seeing you in the same getup every day."
"Oh..."
"Relax, you have the best fashion judge in alll of Tokyo-3 helping you find a new look."
"Oh? Who? Where?"
"ME, BAKA SHINJI!!!"
At the mall, Shinji and Asuka visit all kinds of clothing stores and men's apparel outlets trying to
find Shinji a new look. Most of the stores they went to are ones that sell the more upbeat, popular
kinds of clothing that teens normally wear away from school. However, Asuka drags Shinji into
another men's apparel store, and spots a navy blue jacket that she thinks would look absolutely
divine on him.
"Hey Shinji, look at this!"
"What?"
"Here, try this on..."
"Okay..."
Shinji slips into the jacket and buttons up the top button and then lets his arms fall to his sides
awaiting Asuka's appraisal.
"Oh, wow... That looks great on you Shinji." Turning to the nearby clerk, "We'll take it."
Handing her NERV card to the clerk, she waits for Shinji to take the jacket off and gives it to the
clerk as well.
After buying the jacket, Asuka decides that they've done enough shopping for one day and they
leave the mall, with Shinji carrying all but two of the bags.
"How can you call yourself a gentleman when you're making me carry your bags?"
"How can you ask that Asuka? You're the one who bought all this stuff." answers Shinji through his
teeth since he's holding the handles of a bag in them as well.
"Well, it IS all your stuff now, I mean, I did buy it for you."
"Yeah, yeah..."
Arriving at Misato's appartment, Shinji just dumps all the bags in his room near the closet. After the
day he just had, he doesn't feel like sorting all that stuff out now. Looking at his clock, he sees that
it's only 5:00 in the evening.
'I really should do something to thank her for all this... Even though I have no idea why she's going
through all this trouble for me...'
"Hey, Asuka..."
"Yeah, what is it Shinji? Don't tell me you need someone to help you organize all that stuff now, do
you?"
"No, I was juast wondering if you would like to go grab a bite to eat, that's all..."
"But we just got back..."
"I know, but I'm hungry and I don't feel like cooking, and I doubt you do..."
"Yeah, I'm hungry too..."
"Well, I know a good place to get some ramen..."
"Mmmmm... Ramen, well at least I can get some good meats in it... Okay, you talked me into it."
"Okay, my treat."
"Shinji?"
"What?"
"Your treat?"
"Yeah, I wanted to thank you for all this stuff you got me, that's all."
"Oh, okay."
[Author's Note: Seriously, when would Asuka pass up a free meal?]
"Hey, I just thought of something, I know a great place to watch the sunset if you want to go..."
"Hmmm... well, I guess no harm can come of it, okay."
After going to the ramen stand and having an unusually quiet meal, Asuka follows Shinji up into the
hills north of Tokyo-3.
"Hey, baka, how far is this place, anyway? The sun is going to set any minute now..."
"We're almost there Asuka..."
A few minutes later, they crest a hill overlooking a pristene lake with the sun casting it's now orange
light on it's surface.
"Oh, Shinji, it's beautiful!!"
"Heh, yeah, I found it a couple of weeks after I arrived here."
Shinji shows Asuka over to a grassy clearing where they both sit down to watch the sun set over
the hills surrounding the lake.
"After the second angel battle, I ran away and just walked around these hills for a while, It took
Section 2 a week to find me."
"I know, I read your psych reports before I came here."
"Ever since, whenever I've felt that my world was being ripped apart, I would come here and I would
feel better."
Pause.
"Did you feel that way when we came up here?"
"What, Asuka?"
"Is that why you came here today?"
"Oh... Um, I..."
Awkward pause, mostly for Shinji. In the background, the sun continues to set, now halfway under
the tops of the mountains on the other side of Tokyo 3. Just as the sun is about to fade from sight,
a faint rumble of thunder can be heard coming from the northeast.
"Uh oh, there's a storm coming..."
"Oh, great, what do you expect to do now, baka, try to out-run the storm back to misato's
apartment?"
"No, there's a shelter down near the lake, we should be able to make it there before the storm
hits..."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go..."
Moving quickly down the hill towards the lake, Asuka and Shinji manage to make it to the shelter,
but not before the storm.
"Oh great, dummkopf... Now I'm soaked."
Trying his hardest not to look at her for obvious reasons "I'm sorry Asuka. If I'd known there would
be a storm, I would've brought an umbrella."
"It's cold..."
"Yeah, I'll see if I can start a fire in the cooking area..."
Thankfully, the last people to use this shelter had some firewood left over from their cookout, so
Shinji had some dry wood to work with in building a fire.
"What's wrong now baka? Can't get something as simple as a fire going?"
"Well, I would've had it going a little while ago, but I can't find my lighter..."
"You have a lighter?"
"Well, yeah, ever since Kensuke started inviting me on camping trips out here..."
"Oh..."
"Ah, here it is..."
With that Shinji lights the kindling he had gathered under the timber to get the fire going, within a
few minutes, they had a warm, bright fire going. Then Shinji starts to remove his shoes and socks.
"Hey, w-what dou you think you're doing?"
"I'm going to try to dry out my shoes and socks... I don't want to be walking home in soggy
footwear, do you?"
Reluctantly, Asuka agrees and begins to do the same.
Slowly, Asuka sits down on a picnic bench near the fire, while Shinji leans on the lip of the
barbecue. Shinji can't help but look at Asuka and see her shivering in her damp outfit. Asuka is
currently looking out of the shelter into the thunderstorm which has just picked up in intensity.
'Darn, I can't believe that that baka got us into this... But it really isn't his fault, there was no way he
could've known that there was a storm coming.'
"Shinji...I'm..."
"Hmmm?"
"I'm sorry..."
Shocked at her sudden apology, Shinji can't understand what made her feel like apologizing.
Suddenly a flash of lightning followed closely with a crash of thunder snaps him back to reality.
Unable to reach any conclusion for why Asuka would do such a thing, he decides to just ask her.
"For what?"
"For blaming all this on you. I know it wasn't your fault..."
"Oh, it's okay, forget it..."
"Thank you. You never answered my question..."
"Huh?"
Slightly annoyed that she has to repeat herself, Asuka repeats her question from earlier: "Why did
you come up here today?"
"Oh, that. Well, I guess I was just feeling a little confused by how you've been acting recently."
"What do you mean?"
"Um, like in school yesterday when you just dropped the argument we were having, and when you
offered to buy me all that clothing today..."
"So what you're saying is that my being just a little nice makes you edgy?"
"Well, yes... I mean no! Umm..."
"Well, it's obvious that you don't know..."
A few minutes pass between them without a word until Asuka gets up from where she's sitting and
leans up against Shinji and rests her head on his shoulder. Instantly Shinji stiffens and has no idea
what to do or say. Feeling him tense up, Asuka decides to ask him what's bothering him.
"Something wrong Shinji?"
"Umm... No, just... Why are you leaning against me?"
Smirking slightly, but answering nonchalantly "To keep warm, why else?"
Gulping hard, Shinji can't manage anything more than a quiet "Oh."
Shinji notices the faint smell of Asuka's shampoo in her hair as she tries to get a little closer to him
to escape the cold.
"Um, let's sit down, okay Asuka?"
"Uh huh..."
Shinji takes her over to the bench she had just gotten up from and sits down. Siezing the
opportunity, Asuka sits down right next to him and rests her head on his shoulder again.
This time, Shinji isn't as uncomfortable, so he wraps one arm around her shoulders to help keep her
close and warm.
'I never knew that being this close to him could feel so good...' Asuka thinks to herself 'I should have
done this with him sooner.'
"I'm sorry Shinji..."
"What, I said you could forget it..."
"No, not that... About everything else, all those mean things I did to you when we were still both
fighting the angels."
"Oh, that..."
"I'm sorry..."
Smiling slightly "Feeling repentful tonight?"
"Kinda, I guess..."
Without saying anything, Shinji puts his fingers under Asuka's chin and pulls her face up so he can
see her eyes.
'Wow. She's beautiful...'
"Shinji?"
Suddenly, Shinji sees somthing he's only seen hints of in her eyes before. Sadness. Pure,
unrestrained sadness. Leaning a little closer to her, he feels her draw back from him a little, using
the arm he put around her shoulders, he holds her close, and kisses her tenderly on the lips.
Slowly, Asuka's mind wraps itself around the fact that this is really happening and she wraps her
arms around him. Then he pulls away from her slightly and begins to speak.
"Understand?"
Asuka just nods slightly
"Good, then you know that I don't want to hear you say you're sorry about any of that stuff ever
again, alright?"
Again, Asuka nods silently.
"Good. Because that's my job, remember?"
With a soft elbow to his ribs, she stops his slight laughter at her expense muttering "Baka" under
her breath.
The two of them just sit there quietly in each other's arms keeping warm until Asuka speaks.
"Thank you Shinji."
"For what?"
"For putting up with me for so long. I mean, ever since I came here, I tried to push everyone away.
Even you."
Shinji just sat there holding Asuka as she tried to find the words to express what she was feeling
inside.
"But you never went away, you always took everything I threw at you and kept right on coming... I
couldn't stop you from getting closer to me, from getting me to care about you..."
Suddenly Asuka stopped, realizing what she had just admitted to him.
Trying to lift the heavy mood that's descended in the shelter, Shinji speaks "Hey, look, the rain is
stopping..."
"Good, I'd like to get back soon."
"Alright, let's get our shoes back on and we'll go."
"Okay."
Putting thier shoes and socks back on, Shinji and Asuka begin the long hike back to Misato's
apartment. Halfway there, Asuka begins to slow down and comes to a stop on the sidewalk.
"Shinji, can we rest a minute?"
"Sure."
"Thanks."
Asuka finds a guard rail to sit on and Shinji joins her putting his arm around her again. She leans
into him slightly finding his warmth inviting.
"It's getting really late, Asuka. You want me to carry you there?"
Too tired to argue about it, Asuka just agrees to let him carry her back to the apartment. (Besides,
since when would Asuka refuse the easy way out of a problem? Like when she makes Shinji carry
her bag and lunch to and from school each day.)Shinji picks her up under her arms and hooks his
other arm under her knees. A few minutes later, she's fast asleep in his arms with her arms
wrapped around his neck and her head on his shoulder.
'Hmmm... I never would've believed this could be happening a week ago...'
About 15 minutes later, Shinji arrives at the appartment and faces a rather unique dilema. How to
open the door without putting Asuka down or waking her up. After a few minutes of figuring out how
to shift her in his arms to make it possible for him to get his key-card and open the door, he puts
her feet on the ground slowly, digs in his pocket for the card in question, and opens the door.
Picking her up again, he walks into the small hallway just inside the threshold after removing his
shoes. Moving down the hall, he goes first to her room where he again shifts Asuka in his arms to
open the door and places her gently on the bed. He proceeds to remove her shoes and cover her
with her blankets before turning to leave her room.
At the door, he turns to her again, and whispers "Good night, Asuka-chan. And sweet dreams..." In
her sleep Asuka turns onto her side and smiles.
With a smile on his face, Shinji closes the door, and goes back to the livingroom to check the
answering machine. He hadn't heard Misato snoring or swearing when he entered the apartment so
he'd assumed that she must still be at NERV. Sure enough, there was a message on the machine.
Turning the volume on the device down as to not risk giving Asuka a very rude awakening, he
presses the play button on the recorder.
"Hey, there you guys... I'm gonna be stuck at headquarters for tonight and the better part of
tomorrow finishing up some paperwork, I hope... Anyway, you two are on your own until tomorrow
evening so have fun... (a little quieter) and please try not to kill each other..."
Having heard the message, he decides to delete it and just tell Asuka about it tomorrow. After doing
so, he heads for his room to get some sleep. However, as he opens the door, he is quickly
reminded of the SEVERAL bags of clothes Asuka had bought him earlier that day.
"This is going to be a looong night..."
Sighing, Shinji begins to rummage through the bags as quietly as he can and begins to organize
and store his new wardrobe before going to bed.
?To be Continued? ?End?
The date is August 14th, 2018. Yes, three years have passed since SEELE attempted to destroy
it's child organization, NERV and implement the Human Instrumentality Project, however, Sohryu
Asuka Langley and Shinji Ikari were able do destroy all nine of the Type-5 Evangelions sent by
SEELE to initiate 'Third Impact'.
----Excerpt from an official NERV personnel report----
Date: June 28, 2015
Subject: Status of NERV command staff
To: Acting Comm. Fuyutsuki
---Classified: Level Alpha---
Comm. Gendo Ikari: Found in Terminal Dogma with Rei Ayanami and Dr. Ritsuko Akagi.
Subsequently arrested for the attempted murder of Dr. Akagi and taken directly to a detention cell several levels up in the NERV complex.
Sub Comm. Kouzo Fuyutsuki: Currently overseeing repair efforts within NERV complex.
Will be promoted to Commander pending Comm. Ikari's removal.
Dr. Ritsuko Akagi: Recouperating from gunshot wound in main medical ward. Dr. Akagi's wounds not severe due to small caliber hand gun.
Expected to return to duty pending her release from hospital.
Maj. Misato Katsuragi: Found near Emergency Elevator #7 with severe gunshot wounds in her abdomen. Currently recouperating in the ICU of the main surgical ward. Expected to make full recovery within 6-8 months.
Will be promoted to Sub-Commander pending removal of Commander Ikari
Lt. Maya Ibuki: Acting head of Project-E in Dr. Akagi's absence.
Lt's Aoba Shigeru and Makoto Hyuuga: Both occupying previous posts.
---End of File---
After leaving the hospital, both Misato and Ritsuko returned to thier respective positions within
NERV for the cleanup and repair efforts. Misato is still working for NERV as the new Sub-
Commander under Commander Fuyutsuki. Ritsuko, however, for personal reasons she did not
reveal has resigned as head of Project-E. She is now the head of a research group attempting to
further computer technology and create an 8th-generation super-computer. With Dr. Akagi's
resignation, Maya Ibuki has been promoted and named as the new head of Project-E. Aoba Shigeru
and Makoto Hyuuga both remained with NERV and are both still occupying their previous positions.
---Katsuragi Residence - 6:45 AM---
Shinji had just begun cooking breakfast in the small kitchen of Misato's apartment when Asuka
came out of her room and headed directly to the bath. He then heard the shower start. Now
reminded of her presence in the apartment, he began to think of how things have changed since the
failed Third Impact.
'Even with what's happened, she doesn't seem to be any different, she still calls me 'Baka' or
'Dummkopf' at least ten times each day, and she still insists on making me do all HER chores...'
Just as he's thinking this he realizes that the sausage he's making is beginning to burn.
A few minutes later, Asuka comes into the kitchen already dressed in her school uniform expecting
her breakfast. With a ravenous look on her young features, Asuka lets loose her first demand of the
day...
"Hey, dummkopf, where's my breakfast?"
"Here, Asuka..."
As he puts the plate down in front of her, she takes a wiff of the food. Fiding it's aroma very
pleasing, she begins by eating the sausage first...As the overly well done link hits her tounge she
face-faults. Reflexively, she begins to cough and gag as the taste of burnt fat and oil assails her
sense of taste.
"BAKA! This sausage is burnt to a crisp!!!"
Looking down slighly, shinji replies "I'm sorry..."
Now genuinely irked, Asuka hit him over the head just hard enough to snap him out of his self
depreciation and leveled one of her best death glares at him, "Will you stop saying that all the time,
it really pisses me off when you say 'I'm sorry' even when you're not the one to blame!"
"I'm..." this time catching himself in mid-sentance, he changes his choice of words "Okay Asuka..."
Smiling slightly at this small triumph in getting shinji to become more self asertive, she sits back
down and continues to eat her breakfast.
'I really hope he understands what I'm trying to do for him. It's not like I really mean it when I call
him names, I just want to see that side of him that doesn't take anything from anybody, Especially
when we were still fighting the Angels. The side of him that makes me want to...NO! STOP RIGHT
THERE! I WON'T think of him that way. I don't want kids, I don't want to get involved with ANY boys
and ABSOLUTELY not HIM.'
Over the past three years, living with Shinji so much has actually begun to change Asuka a little bit.
She doesn't go on as many rants and she accepts situations which are not completely to her liking
a little more readily. Also learning that her mother has actually been right there with her inside EVA-
02 helped her a lot in learning to open up to others. And, since she lives with him and she really
does trust him under all those masks she still wears, she descided to at least improve their
relationship to the point where they could maybe like being around each other, as opposed to just
tolerating each other.
A few minutes later, Misato comes into the kitchen and grabs a beer from her side of the fridge, and
after downing half the can at once, she lets out one of her trademark whoops to greet the day and
her teenage charges. "So, Shinji, what's for breakfast?"
"Oh, just the usual, sausage, eggs, and toast..."
"Yeah, " Asuka adds with a grin "watch out for that sausage though, it looks like it took an
extended stay in hell."
"HEY... It's not like I tried to burn it..."
Hiding behind her can of Yabisu, Misato listens as the two teens argue for the next 15 minutes.
"Oh, aren't you two going to be late for shool?"
Asuka looks at her wristwatch and gasps...It's 8:45. Dragging Shinji with her, She grabs both their
bags and pulls Shinji with her as she bolts through the door...
Sighing, "I will never understand those two..."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panting "We've only got 15 minutes before classes start... We're going to be sooo late..."
"Well, at this pace, I think we should actually have a couple of minutes to spare, Asuka..."
Rolling her eyes "Oh, who asked you? If we think like that, we WILL be late dummkopf!"
Upon arriving at the classroom, they find that they have actually made it to class before the teacher.
Looking around, they find Touji, Kensuke, and Hikari are already there. And of course, as is now the
norm, Hikari is sitting next to Touji waiting for the teacher to arrive before she assumes her duties
as class rep today. Asuka still can't figure out what had compelled Hikari to announce to the class
that she and Touji were now a couple. At least she had waited until she told him and started dating
him before they announced it. Touji, however was talking to Kensuke about some aspect of the
JSSDF or NERV, It was hard to tell from the doorway. Well, maybe he wasn't really talking to him
about it, but rather just nodding and gunting affirmatively as Kensuke went on and on about his
favorite thing in the world besides Eva...Millitary hardware.
Noticing their arrival, Touji greeted them in his usual manner when they were this late "Oh, look, the
newlyweds finally decided to show up..."
Both blushing beet red at the thought of that, they responded to the whoops and catcalls of the
class with the usual denial "IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!!!"
Just then, the teacher comes to the door, and Hikari assumes her duties as class rep as she had
so many times before... "STAND...BOW...BE SEATED" and the class begins...
During the teacher's usual lecture about the causes of Second Impact and now Third Impact, the
message waiting dialog box appeared on Shinji's computer screen. Clicking on the confirmation
button, the message appears:
'Hey, dummkopf, you're not doing anything tomorrow are you? Y/N'
Shinji didn't even have to think to know who this was from. so he answered "No, why?"
'Because I'm going shopping and Misato can't go. And I HATE going alone.'
'What about Hikari?'
'What do you think, baka? She's going to be busy with Touji.'
Sighing to himself, he figures he really doesn't have anything better to do, so he reluctantly agrees.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lunchtime.
"WHAAAAAT?!? What do you mean you didn't make lunches for us?!?"
"Well, it's not my fault you decided to argue with me all morning!"
Slightly startled at his outburst but pleased all the same, she thinks to herself 'There it is! The side
of him I want to see.'
"Okay, baka, I'll let you have this round."
This catches the attention of everyone since they were all expecting another loud, high-pitched
verbal battle between 'The Newlyweds'
"W...what did you say Asuka...?"
Rolling her eyes "I SAID you win this time, I don't feel like arguing right now. Besides, you shold
feel honored having won an argument with me." Thinking to herself 'Damn...It's gone, I reward him
for not slinking back from a confrontation, and what actually makes him become that timid little
boy? Me NOT being confrontational!'
"Well, I guess now you'll want ME to go buy YOUR lunch Asuka..."
Now cheerfully, "Yup...You're on the ball today, Shinji. Here's my NERV debitcard, just put it on
there"
Taking the card and turning towards the door, "Okay, I'll be right back..."
"Uh, huh..."
"Asuka, what was that about?"
Turning to face the owner of the voice from behind her "Huh, what, Hikari?"
"You just let it go, you always used to feel like arguing."
"Hmmm, well, I just want him to stop being so timid. And I thought that it would help if he actually
won an argument with me..."
Smirking "Asuka, are you sure you aren't starting to 'like' him?"
Had she been drinking anything just then, she would have just sprayed it all over her desk at that
comment. "What are you talking about Hikari? I don't like him, I just have to live with him, that's
all..."
Smirking even more, Hikari decides to let her be "Okay, Asuka, whatever you say."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing, nothing."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Why am I being so nice to him?'
With these thoughts in her mind, she laid down on the bed and waited for the oblivion of sleep to
overtake her. Deciding that it felt good being with him, she shrugged off the question and began to
think of what she'd do tomorrow 'Maybe I'll treat him to some ice-cream or something...' slowly, her
eyes closed, and she fell asleep.
Just across the hall in his own room, Shinji was also thinking of tomorrow's activity and what Asuka
had in mind.
'What is she trying to do? Is she trying to get closer to me? Or is this all some kind of cruel joke
she's playing on me? Well, she has changed a little since we defeated the angels, maybe she's
just trying to be friendly...'
Shrugging, Shinji turns over onto his side and tries to go to sleep.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---The next morning---
Shinji was finishing up his bath and starting to get dressed when the accordion-style door to the
bath opened revealing Asuka in her favorite red towel carrying her own set of toiletries. Instantly,
both teen's faces flush as red as Asuka's towel, and surprisingly SHINJI is the first to speak as he
unconsiously grasps at the towel wrapped around his waist to make sure it's still there...
"DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO KNOCK?!?!?"
Startled, she almost starts a tirade of german insults and and screams about Shinji's perverse
nature. But somehow, she manages to curb her tounge and decides on something much less
inflammatory.
"Baka, do you really think that I would have thrown the door wide open if I had known you were in
here?!"
"ABSOLUTELY! Just to try and get some sort of situation where you could make fun of or insult
me!" Shinji shouts as he tries to discretely put on his boxers without removing the towel from his
waist.
"Hmmpfff... Just let me know when you're through getting your clothes on so I can take my
shower."
In a mock huff, Asuka turns and shuts the door as she does so.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Shinji continues to get dressed, this time without having to worry about
dropping his towel.
Ten minutes later, Shinji emerges from the bath fully dressed, and knocks on Asuka's door to let
her know he's done.
Again, the door slides open and Asuka is there in her towel again. She strides briskly past him
towards the bath without even a word. Until she reaches the bath that is...
"Don't you even think of peeking at me while I'm taking my shower. Just because I walked in on you
doesn't mean that you can do the same to me to get even!"
With that, she slams the door shut behind her and starts the shower.
Under his breath, "Like I would want to see you naked..."
"I HEARD THAT!!!"
Figuring a strategic retreat the best thing at the moment he descides to not respond to that in any
way and went to make breakfast.
Later, Asuka emerges from the shower wearing a loose pair of burgundy slacks, a red blouse and a
light gray jacket. She can see him cooking breakfast right in front of her in the kitchen, as she
looks at him she rembembers the decision she had made the night before, so instead of demanding
her breakfast the way she usually did, she walks up behind him and and asks in that ultra-kawaii
voice only Asuka is really capable of:
"What's for breakfast, baka?"
Slightly startled at her sudden proximity, Shunji almost yelps in surprise, but he manages instead
"Huh, oh, Asuka... N-Nothing special, just some rice balls and miso soup."
"Oh, yum... You making any sausage with that? Oh, wait... nevermind... you might burn it again."
"Hey, are you still going on about that?"
"Ha, Ha... Relax, Shinji, I was only kidding..."
After eating thier breakfast, Shinji and Asuka leave the apartment for the local mall.
"So, Asuka, what were you planning on buying?"
"Oh, nothing much, just some more clothes."
"More clothes? Your closet is already overflowing whith the clothes you have now..."
"True, but I never said the clothes were for me..."
"Huh?"
"Are you dense? We're going to the mall to buy YOU some new threads!"
"ME?!? What's wong with the clothes I have now?"
"Nothing, if you just want to look the same every day for the rest of your life... I'm getting tired of
seeing you in the same getup every day."
"Oh..."
"Relax, you have the best fashion judge in alll of Tokyo-3 helping you find a new look."
"Oh? Who? Where?"
"ME, BAKA SHINJI!!!"
At the mall, Shinji and Asuka visit all kinds of clothing stores and men's apparel outlets trying to
find Shinji a new look. Most of the stores they went to are ones that sell the more upbeat, popular
kinds of clothing that teens normally wear away from school. However, Asuka drags Shinji into
another men's apparel store, and spots a navy blue jacket that she thinks would look absolutely
divine on him.
"Hey Shinji, look at this!"
"What?"
"Here, try this on..."
"Okay..."
Shinji slips into the jacket and buttons up the top button and then lets his arms fall to his sides
awaiting Asuka's appraisal.
"Oh, wow... That looks great on you Shinji." Turning to the nearby clerk, "We'll take it."
Handing her NERV card to the clerk, she waits for Shinji to take the jacket off and gives it to the
clerk as well.
After buying the jacket, Asuka decides that they've done enough shopping for one day and they
leave the mall, with Shinji carrying all but two of the bags.
"How can you call yourself a gentleman when you're making me carry your bags?"
"How can you ask that Asuka? You're the one who bought all this stuff." answers Shinji through his
teeth since he's holding the handles of a bag in them as well.
"Well, it IS all your stuff now, I mean, I did buy it for you."
"Yeah, yeah..."
Arriving at Misato's appartment, Shinji just dumps all the bags in his room near the closet. After the
day he just had, he doesn't feel like sorting all that stuff out now. Looking at his clock, he sees that
it's only 5:00 in the evening.
'I really should do something to thank her for all this... Even though I have no idea why she's going
through all this trouble for me...'
"Hey, Asuka..."
"Yeah, what is it Shinji? Don't tell me you need someone to help you organize all that stuff now, do
you?"
"No, I was juast wondering if you would like to go grab a bite to eat, that's all..."
"But we just got back..."
"I know, but I'm hungry and I don't feel like cooking, and I doubt you do..."
"Yeah, I'm hungry too..."
"Well, I know a good place to get some ramen..."
"Mmmmm... Ramen, well at least I can get some good meats in it... Okay, you talked me into it."
"Okay, my treat."
"Shinji?"
"What?"
"Your treat?"
"Yeah, I wanted to thank you for all this stuff you got me, that's all."
"Oh, okay."
[Author's Note: Seriously, when would Asuka pass up a free meal?]
"Hey, I just thought of something, I know a great place to watch the sunset if you want to go..."
"Hmmm... well, I guess no harm can come of it, okay."
After going to the ramen stand and having an unusually quiet meal, Asuka follows Shinji up into the
hills north of Tokyo-3.
"Hey, baka, how far is this place, anyway? The sun is going to set any minute now..."
"We're almost there Asuka..."
A few minutes later, they crest a hill overlooking a pristene lake with the sun casting it's now orange
light on it's surface.
"Oh, Shinji, it's beautiful!!"
"Heh, yeah, I found it a couple of weeks after I arrived here."
Shinji shows Asuka over to a grassy clearing where they both sit down to watch the sun set over
the hills surrounding the lake.
"After the second angel battle, I ran away and just walked around these hills for a while, It took
Section 2 a week to find me."
"I know, I read your psych reports before I came here."
"Ever since, whenever I've felt that my world was being ripped apart, I would come here and I would
feel better."
Pause.
"Did you feel that way when we came up here?"
"What, Asuka?"
"Is that why you came here today?"
"Oh... Um, I..."
Awkward pause, mostly for Shinji. In the background, the sun continues to set, now halfway under
the tops of the mountains on the other side of Tokyo 3. Just as the sun is about to fade from sight,
a faint rumble of thunder can be heard coming from the northeast.
"Uh oh, there's a storm coming..."
"Oh, great, what do you expect to do now, baka, try to out-run the storm back to misato's
apartment?"
"No, there's a shelter down near the lake, we should be able to make it there before the storm
hits..."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go..."
Moving quickly down the hill towards the lake, Asuka and Shinji manage to make it to the shelter,
but not before the storm.
"Oh great, dummkopf... Now I'm soaked."
Trying his hardest not to look at her for obvious reasons "I'm sorry Asuka. If I'd known there would
be a storm, I would've brought an umbrella."
"It's cold..."
"Yeah, I'll see if I can start a fire in the cooking area..."
Thankfully, the last people to use this shelter had some firewood left over from their cookout, so
Shinji had some dry wood to work with in building a fire.
"What's wrong now baka? Can't get something as simple as a fire going?"
"Well, I would've had it going a little while ago, but I can't find my lighter..."
"You have a lighter?"
"Well, yeah, ever since Kensuke started inviting me on camping trips out here..."
"Oh..."
"Ah, here it is..."
With that Shinji lights the kindling he had gathered under the timber to get the fire going, within a
few minutes, they had a warm, bright fire going. Then Shinji starts to remove his shoes and socks.
"Hey, w-what dou you think you're doing?"
"I'm going to try to dry out my shoes and socks... I don't want to be walking home in soggy
footwear, do you?"
Reluctantly, Asuka agrees and begins to do the same.
Slowly, Asuka sits down on a picnic bench near the fire, while Shinji leans on the lip of the
barbecue. Shinji can't help but look at Asuka and see her shivering in her damp outfit. Asuka is
currently looking out of the shelter into the thunderstorm which has just picked up in intensity.
'Darn, I can't believe that that baka got us into this... But it really isn't his fault, there was no way he
could've known that there was a storm coming.'
"Shinji...I'm..."
"Hmmm?"
"I'm sorry..."
Shocked at her sudden apology, Shinji can't understand what made her feel like apologizing.
Suddenly a flash of lightning followed closely with a crash of thunder snaps him back to reality.
Unable to reach any conclusion for why Asuka would do such a thing, he decides to just ask her.
"For what?"
"For blaming all this on you. I know it wasn't your fault..."
"Oh, it's okay, forget it..."
"Thank you. You never answered my question..."
"Huh?"
Slightly annoyed that she has to repeat herself, Asuka repeats her question from earlier: "Why did
you come up here today?"
"Oh, that. Well, I guess I was just feeling a little confused by how you've been acting recently."
"What do you mean?"
"Um, like in school yesterday when you just dropped the argument we were having, and when you
offered to buy me all that clothing today..."
"So what you're saying is that my being just a little nice makes you edgy?"
"Well, yes... I mean no! Umm..."
"Well, it's obvious that you don't know..."
A few minutes pass between them without a word until Asuka gets up from where she's sitting and
leans up against Shinji and rests her head on his shoulder. Instantly Shinji stiffens and has no idea
what to do or say. Feeling him tense up, Asuka decides to ask him what's bothering him.
"Something wrong Shinji?"
"Umm... No, just... Why are you leaning against me?"
Smirking slightly, but answering nonchalantly "To keep warm, why else?"
Gulping hard, Shinji can't manage anything more than a quiet "Oh."
Shinji notices the faint smell of Asuka's shampoo in her hair as she tries to get a little closer to him
to escape the cold.
"Um, let's sit down, okay Asuka?"
"Uh huh..."
Shinji takes her over to the bench she had just gotten up from and sits down. Siezing the
opportunity, Asuka sits down right next to him and rests her head on his shoulder again.
This time, Shinji isn't as uncomfortable, so he wraps one arm around her shoulders to help keep her
close and warm.
'I never knew that being this close to him could feel so good...' Asuka thinks to herself 'I should have
done this with him sooner.'
"I'm sorry Shinji..."
"What, I said you could forget it..."
"No, not that... About everything else, all those mean things I did to you when we were still both
fighting the angels."
"Oh, that..."
"I'm sorry..."
Smiling slightly "Feeling repentful tonight?"
"Kinda, I guess..."
Without saying anything, Shinji puts his fingers under Asuka's chin and pulls her face up so he can
see her eyes.
'Wow. She's beautiful...'
"Shinji?"
Suddenly, Shinji sees somthing he's only seen hints of in her eyes before. Sadness. Pure,
unrestrained sadness. Leaning a little closer to her, he feels her draw back from him a little, using
the arm he put around her shoulders, he holds her close, and kisses her tenderly on the lips.
Slowly, Asuka's mind wraps itself around the fact that this is really happening and she wraps her
arms around him. Then he pulls away from her slightly and begins to speak.
"Understand?"
Asuka just nods slightly
"Good, then you know that I don't want to hear you say you're sorry about any of that stuff ever
again, alright?"
Again, Asuka nods silently.
"Good. Because that's my job, remember?"
With a soft elbow to his ribs, she stops his slight laughter at her expense muttering "Baka" under
her breath.
The two of them just sit there quietly in each other's arms keeping warm until Asuka speaks.
"Thank you Shinji."
"For what?"
"For putting up with me for so long. I mean, ever since I came here, I tried to push everyone away.
Even you."
Shinji just sat there holding Asuka as she tried to find the words to express what she was feeling
inside.
"But you never went away, you always took everything I threw at you and kept right on coming... I
couldn't stop you from getting closer to me, from getting me to care about you..."
Suddenly Asuka stopped, realizing what she had just admitted to him.
Trying to lift the heavy mood that's descended in the shelter, Shinji speaks "Hey, look, the rain is
stopping..."
"Good, I'd like to get back soon."
"Alright, let's get our shoes back on and we'll go."
"Okay."
Putting thier shoes and socks back on, Shinji and Asuka begin the long hike back to Misato's
apartment. Halfway there, Asuka begins to slow down and comes to a stop on the sidewalk.
"Shinji, can we rest a minute?"
"Sure."
"Thanks."
Asuka finds a guard rail to sit on and Shinji joins her putting his arm around her again. She leans
into him slightly finding his warmth inviting.
"It's getting really late, Asuka. You want me to carry you there?"
Too tired to argue about it, Asuka just agrees to let him carry her back to the apartment. (Besides,
since when would Asuka refuse the easy way out of a problem? Like when she makes Shinji carry
her bag and lunch to and from school each day.)Shinji picks her up under her arms and hooks his
other arm under her knees. A few minutes later, she's fast asleep in his arms with her arms
wrapped around his neck and her head on his shoulder.
'Hmmm... I never would've believed this could be happening a week ago...'
About 15 minutes later, Shinji arrives at the appartment and faces a rather unique dilema. How to
open the door without putting Asuka down or waking her up. After a few minutes of figuring out how
to shift her in his arms to make it possible for him to get his key-card and open the door, he puts
her feet on the ground slowly, digs in his pocket for the card in question, and opens the door.
Picking her up again, he walks into the small hallway just inside the threshold after removing his
shoes. Moving down the hall, he goes first to her room where he again shifts Asuka in his arms to
open the door and places her gently on the bed. He proceeds to remove her shoes and cover her
with her blankets before turning to leave her room.
At the door, he turns to her again, and whispers "Good night, Asuka-chan. And sweet dreams..." In
her sleep Asuka turns onto her side and smiles.
With a smile on his face, Shinji closes the door, and goes back to the livingroom to check the
answering machine. He hadn't heard Misato snoring or swearing when he entered the apartment so
he'd assumed that she must still be at NERV. Sure enough, there was a message on the machine.
Turning the volume on the device down as to not risk giving Asuka a very rude awakening, he
presses the play button on the recorder.
"Hey, there you guys... I'm gonna be stuck at headquarters for tonight and the better part of
tomorrow finishing up some paperwork, I hope... Anyway, you two are on your own until tomorrow
evening so have fun... (a little quieter) and please try not to kill each other..."
Having heard the message, he decides to delete it and just tell Asuka about it tomorrow. After doing
so, he heads for his room to get some sleep. However, as he opens the door, he is quickly
reminded of the SEVERAL bags of clothes Asuka had bought him earlier that day.
"This is going to be a looong night..."
Sighing, Shinji begins to rummage through the bags as quietly as he can and begins to organize
and store his new wardrobe before going to bed.
?To be Continued? ?End?