Author's notes:
First of all, I wanted to thank Keiiii, RisingDragon, asuka-uk and Shadowdragon66 for their very positive and inspiring reviews. It is so good to know, that more and more people like this story with each passing chapter. I also thank MVP=gohan and Aramazd for their critical comments, even though they mostly mentioned already known to me fact – my English grammar sucks.
Second, I wanted to say sorry to all my readers for my terrible grammar. I guess, I have already mentioned, that English isn't my first language and that my English grammar sucks, but since I got flamed (Oh, how much this remind me about Nine Hells of Baator! Makes me a bit homesick, you know *wipes off imaginary tear*)… where was I? Oh yes, but since I got flamed because of my terrible grammar once again, I felt need to apologize once again.
Third, Aramazd, while some of your criticism makes sense, I fully disagree with your following critical comment:
"by the way gendo wouldnt say ""Very well" - said Gendo gloomy - "Eject Entry Plug. The pilot can't defeat this enemy anyway. And pilot's life is far too valuable to waste it.", thats bull, he cares for eva01 more than shinji, so please dont give everyone this crap."
Do I need to remind you, that Shinji is the only one who can pilot EVA-01, because Yui's soul (which is inside EVA-01) won't accept any pilot, other then her own son?! Without Shinji, EVA-01 would be completely useless to Gendo. Well, not completely useless, for example, Gendo could place EVA-01 into museum with following tablet:
"Behold the all-powerful Evangelion Unit 01! It was Evangelion Unit 01, which has defeated most of the Angels, which tried to attack Tokyo-3 with only slight help from others Evangelions!
P.S. I have placed it here only because I got my wuss of the son killed, and unfortunately, he was the only one, who could pilot this stupid thing!"
There are thousands uses for Evangelion Unit 01! Even without Shinji! Isn't that great?!
Fourth, asuka-uk, I am sorry, but this story isn't going to be purely centered on Asuka, even though she is my favorite Evangelion character. I am not even sure, whatever Asuka will end with Shinji in this story or no, and whatever either Shinji or Asuka would survive until the end. But don't you worry, Asuka will certainly return into action, but all in proper time. By the way, if you want to read Asuka-centered story, you can try my "NGE – the River of Souls" story. Even though it is crossover between Neon Genesis Evangelion and Babylon 5, I believe that you can enjoy it, even if you haven't seen Babylon 5, for all the necessary elements of Babylon 5 in this story will be revealed in the duration of the story.
Fifth, Shadowdragon66, it is good to see that you have returned to reading and reviewing my story once again. You are right about your remarks, concerning pilot Anita Avion, even though it is only part of the truth. More about Saviors/Devils in general and pilot Anita Avion in particular will be revealed in this chapter and further chapters. By the way, I hope, that you will be finally able to overcome your writer's block about your "To archive perfection?" story and will finally continue to write it. I am really waiting for continue, and more then a month at that!
Okay, and now, without further ado, let this story continue!
Unpleasant awakening (morning, two days later, in Katsuragi apartment)
"Wake up, Shinji!"
"Umm… Asuka, please let me sleep for a bit longer…"
"Wake up! Your classes will start in forty five minutes! If you will not hurry, you will be late!"
With that, somebody jerked blanked off Shinji.
"Hay, Asuka…" – started Shinji, but then he suddenly realized, that it wasn't Asuka, who stood above him, it was Misato.
"Umm… I am sorry, Miss Misato" – muttered Shinji.
"It is okay" – said Misato – "But you really should hurry. The fact, that you spent most of the night on duty don't free you from attending school."
"But, Miss Misato" – said Shinji, as he looked at alarm clock, that stood near his bed – "I have slept only for an hour and the half!"
"In my days, I have slept for much less time" – said Misato – "Don't worry, you will be able to sleep whole next night, after your evening duty of course. Now hurry up! I am kind today, so I will even give you a lift for school. I don't want you to be late for your first lesson in the new school."
Beginning of the first school day (thirty five minutes later, at Tokyo-3 school)
Shinji sat at the table in the third row. As Shinji had expected, there weren't many people at school now, and all of his classmates, except for Hikari and Rei, were unfamiliar to him. Kensuke was on duty now, Asuka was still in hospital, and though she regained conscious, she still was too weak to walk by herself, although she kept arguing with medics about that. As about Toji, Shinji didn't heard any news about him lately. Misato didn't knew anything, and when Shinji tried to ask Ritsuko about Toji, she just said, that Toji hadn't recovered yet, and quickly changed the subject. In fact, Shinji feared that worst had happened with Toji, but he tried not to think about it.
But in the next moment, familiar red-haired figure came into the class.
"Asuka?" – asked Shinji in disbelief, as he stood up.
But even if Asuka heard Shinji, she didn't paid much attention to him. Asuka walked into the class and took seat in the second row, just in front of Shinji.
"Hay, Asuka, what's wrong?" – asked Shinji, as he lightly touched Asuka's shoulder, risking to invoke her wrath.
"Oh, are you talking to me?" – asked Asuka, as she turned in Shinji's direction.
And Shinji immediately cursed himself for being stupid. Of course, the girl in front of his wasn't Asuka, as he falsely assumed at the first glance. This girl had same fiery-red hair and sapphire-blue eyes, but here resemblances between her and Asuka ended. Unlike Asuka's strong, almost masculine features, this girl's features were more gentle, feminine and, as Shinji realized with a great surprise, in a way much more beautiful, then Asuka's features.
"Ops, I am sorry, I mistook you for a friend of mine" – apologized Shinji, almost expecting to receive some kind of Asuka-like insult in return.
"Don't worry, sometimes it happens with all of us" – said girl with a smile, then turned away from Shinji.
"Oh, God!" – thought Shinji, looking into girl's turned back – "A man can die just for a chance to receive such a smile!"
Then someone's strong hand gave Shinji quite a tap on the shoulder. Shinji turned to his left, only to see a familiar face, this time real.
"Toji!" – cried Shinji in relief – "God, how good it is to see you here, healthy and alive! I have heard so many dire stories about what has happened with you! How did it happened, that you are completely alright now? I heard that you have lost…"
"Please, let's talk about something else, ok?" – said Toji – "It is not the story, I am ready to tell yet."
"Oh, I am sorry" – apologized Shinji.
"Still apologizing at every chance?" – asked Toji with a smile – "Well, I guess, it can't be helped. By the way, where is Kensuke? Is he going to be late today, or something?"
"You mean, they haven't told you?" – asked Shinji.
"Haven't told me what?" – asked Toji in return.
"Kensuke is now Evangelion pilot too" – said Shinji – "He is now on duty, so he wasn't able to come. Now, with only me and Kensuke ready for battle, Misato is making hell out of our lives."
"Well, I guess, that with me now ready for battle as well, everything will be a bit less difficult" – said Toji.
"What?" – said Shinji – "But EVA-03…"
"Fully repaired now" – said Toji – "Tomorrow, I will have to pass reactivation test, and if everything will be okay this time, I will be ready for battle once again."
"Good to hear that" – said Shinji – "Hmm, I guess, we shouldn't talk about stuff like that in class, and so loud at that."
Shinji was right, for now almost half of the class was looking at them.
"Hay, so you are the one of the famous Evangelion pilots!" – said tall brown-haired boy to Shinji, shaking Shinji's hand, as if he was going to tear it away, and judging from his appearance, he was quite able to do that.
"Hay, how are they choosing someone to be Evangelion pilot?" – asked another boy, this one of much more slender built, with reddish-brown hair – "I always wanted to do something like that, saving the world and all… Please, tell your superiors, that if they need a spare Evangelion pilot, that's me – Kouji Makaino!"
"You are so great!" – said attractive blond-haired girl, almost hanging on Toji – "Would you care to take me on a walk? I would like so much to hear about all these battles from somebody, who participated in them personally!"
"Well, I never actually…" – muttered Toji.
"Today after the classes would be nice, wouldn't it?" – said girl, apparently she wasn't listening to what Toji tried to say – "Then it's settled! Great!"
At some distance boy and girl sat at their table, looking at all these with slight amusement.
"Thinking about ending all these right here and now, aren't you?" – whispered girl to boy's ear.
"Nope" – answered boy, also in whisper – "This is way too easy for me. And besides, it is kind of dishonor to finish them off like that, just like murder or something. No, I will take care about all these in my own way, and only when I would like to do it, no sooner, no later."
With such situation in class, nobody noticed tall older man, as he walked to the teacher's table. At last until he cleared his throat loudly.
"Alright, everyone, take your sits" – said man, when pupils finally turned their attention from two Evangelion pilots to him. Japanese clearly wasn't his first language, but nevertheless, he spoke Japanese very well – almost without accent.
"Since today, I will be your teacher" – continued man, after everybody took their sits – "I will teach you all the main subjects. My name is Jerome Tarkins, but according to Japanese custom, you will call me Tarkins-Sensei. No exceptions here. Now, class represent, please come forward."
Hikari, who sat in the first row, obediently stood up and came to the teacher's table. Tarkins-Sensei handled her two lists of paper.
"Here is timetable and complete list of subjects and required books for them" – said Tarkins-Sensei – "Make sure that every pupil will receive a copy until tomorrow. We have Xerox at school, so there won't be any problems with that. All necessary books should be available in school library. Also I entrust to assign pupils for after school duty, just as it was before. I heard, that before you did your job as class represent rather well, and hope, that you will perform just as good now. You may return to your sit, class represent."
"Alright, class" – said Tarkins-Sensei, after Hikari returned to her sit – "Since this is your first day at school, it will be a short one. Today, you will have only one subject – History. But before starting it, I will check whatever everyone is in class. Aida Kensuke."
"He is absent" – answered Shinji for his friend.
"Absent on the first lesson. He better to come up with a good excuse." – said Tarkins-Sensei.
"He is Evangelion pilot, and he is on duty right now" – said Toji in defense of his friend – "Protecting this whole city, including you, you know."
"Ha! Evangelion pilot!" – said Tarkins-Sensei with amusement in his voice – "Well, we shall see, when he will grace us with his presence. Avion Anita."
"Here" – said beautiful red-haired girl in front of Shinji.
"Ayanami Rei" – said Tarkins-Sensei.
"Here" – said Rei quietly.
"Bakers Karl" – said Tarkins-Sensei.
"Here" – said handsome blond-haired boy, whose powerful built was rival to powerful built of brown-haired boy, who was shaking Shinji's hand some while ago.
"Copperfield Helen" – said Tarkins-Sensei.
"Here" – said beautiful girl with long golden-blond hair, who sat at same table as Karl.
"Haramatsu Akiko" – said Tarkins-Sensei.
"Here" – said attractive black-haired girl.
"Well, Horaki Hikari is here" – said Tarkins-Sensei – "Ikari Shinji."
"Here" – said Shinji.
"Ah, famous Evangelion pilot" – said Tarkins-Sensei with a smile – "Try to receive attention from all your fans after classes, okay? Iyadomi Ken."
"Here" – said small blond-haired boy.
"Kiroku Leon" – said Tarkins-Sensei.
"Here" – said brown-haired boy, who was shaking Shinji's hand some while ago, and currently was sitting next to Ken.
"Langley Asuka" – said Tarkins-Sensei.
"She is absent" – said Shinji – "She is currently in hospital"
"Ah, another famous Evangelion pilot" – said Tarkins-Sensei – "Well, she got an excuse all right. I wish her speedy recovery. Makaino Kouji."
"Here" – said boy with reddish-brown here, who recently asked Shinji about how they choose somebody to be Evangelion pilot.
"Sakakibara Yoshiko" – said Tarkins-Sensei.
"Here" – said brown-haired girl.
"Sazuhara Toji" – said Tarkins-Sensei.
"Here" – said Toji.
"Yamamoto Livia" – said Tarkins-Sensei.
"Here" – said attractive blond-haired girl, who had come on to Toji recently.
"And finally, Yatagai Kenichi" – said Tarkins-Sensei.
"Very well" – said Tarkins-Sensei when nobody answered – "I guess, he is abs…"
"Sorry, Sensei! I'm late, Sensei!" – shouted attractive blond-haired boy, as he burst into the class – "Just traffic jam, you know! I am really sorry!"
Ken and Yoshiko laughed quietly at this comment, for there were still only a few cars at Tokyo-3 streets, and there couldn't be any traffic jam at all. Still, traffic jam was one of the most ancient excuses for pupils and students, who went to school or university by cars or others ground transport.
"Yatagai Kenichi, I presume?" – asked Tarkins-Sensei, pretending, that he didn't noticed Ken and Yoshiko's laugh.
"That's right, Sensei!" – said attractive blond-haired boy – Kenichi Yatagai.
"Take your sit, Yatagai Kenichi" – said Tarkins-Sensei – "And from now on address me properly – Tarkins-Sensei."
"Right you are, Se… Tarkins-Sensei!" – said Kenichi, as he took sit next to Yoshiko."
"Well now" – said Tarkins-Sensei – "We will start our first History lesson. We will begin our History course with pre-Third Impact history, precisely speaking with the First World War…"
Ending of the first school day (a hour and the half later, at Tokyo-3 school)
"We will continue this theme at our next History lesson" – said Tarkins-Sensei – "By that time, everyone in this class should acquire all the necessary books and be prepared to answer any of my questions about everything, we have passed at today's lesson. Even those, who weren't present at today's lesson. You are free now. Until tomorrow."
After that, Tarkins-Sensei gathered his papers and went out of class.
"Hi, Hikari" – said Anita, as she stood up and walked to Hikari's table – "I would like to know, whose turn it is for after school duty today?"
"Well" – said Hikari – "I decided to start with the beginning of the list, so it should be Kensuke Aida and you today. But since Kensuke is absent today, it will be you and Rei Ayanami. You don't have any problems with after school duty today, do you?"
"No" – said Anita – "I just thought, that perhaps you could switch Rei Ayanami and Karl Bakers, can you? I am sure, that Karl wouldn't object, and I would really like to talk with him."
"Well" – said Hikari – "In that case, consider it done."
"Class" – addressed Hikari to class loudly – "It is Anita Avion and Karl Bakers' turn for today's after school duty. The rest of you are free."
After school duty (a few minutes later, at Tokyo-3 school)
"Fourth One" – said Karl, as he looked at beautiful red-haired girl, who stood before him – "When I first saw you, I couldn't believe my eyes! What are you doing here?!"
"You can could address to me by my name, Karl" – said Anita – "If you will keep addressing me Fourth One or Fourth Savior, it could become a habit, and so you could forget yourself and address me Fourth One or Fourth Savior, when we will be in a public. And normal people wouldn't understand it, if they will hear us talking like that. And besides, it is not very nice calling people like, Fourth One, Second One and like that. Don't you think."
"Sorry, Anita" – said Karl – "I didn't meant to insult you. I just got used to calling us like that. I guess, it has already became something like a habit for me."
"I understand, Karl" – said Anita – "You know, you didn't made an impression of overly polite type at our first meeting."
"I just can't change my nature" – said Karl – "But, by the way, Anita, your presence is certainly brighten our atmosphere here, but why exactly did you come here?"
"Our plan was prepared" – said Anita sadly – "But to set it into motion, I had to come here, even if it's against my wishes. And after that, I am going to fight by your side."
"But it is dangerous in here!" – said Karl – "So far, I didn't tried to attack NERV again, but others keep attacking. This city is one whole damn battlefield! And how exactly are you going to fight? You don't have any powers usable in combat, am I right?"
"Partially" – said Anita – "But still, I think, that I am going to be useful in combat. You see, they have choose me to be Evangelion pilot."
"You? Evangelion pilot?" – asked Karl in astonishment – "But how?"
"I have my ways of persuading men into making things run just like I want them to" – said Anita with a smile, as some of her former sadness gone from her face – "But apart from that, they have discovered something like a natural aptitude for piloting Evangelion in me."
"How did you managed to do it?" – asked Karl – "Is it part of your power?"
"I don't know exactly" – said Anita – "But this thing they keep calling Evangelion Unit Sixteen look more like living being then machine to me. It, or precisely talking he, has soul, mind and emotions, just like any normal living being. I can feel his emotions, and he can feel mine. To make a long story short, I have yet to meet living being, who won't like me."
"Really?" – asked Karl, raising his eyebrow.
"Really" – assured him Anita with a smile – "Even you, behind your shell of hardness like me, even though apparently you didn't admitted it to yourself yet."
"Your power once again, eh?" – asked Karl.
"Probably" – said Anita – "Even I can't truly understand borders of my power. Where my natural charm ends, and where my power begins? I do not know. My power manifests itself without me even noticing it, let alone controlling it. It is wild, untamed and primeval power, which even I, its wielder can't fully control it. Will this answer be enough for you, Karl?"
"I guess, it will" – said Karl – "Apparently, it is the only answer you can give me. And besides, I guess, that you didn't met me just to tell me about your powers. So, what do you wanted from me, Anita?"
"Recently, Denis became unable to touch your dreams anymore" – said Anita – "I don't accuse you in betraying our cause, for I know, that your loyalty is unquestionable. Denis believes, that you made some kind of important decision or chose your course, and your subconscious keep everything, which could possibly distract you from following this decision or course. Is it true? It has come to our attention, that you ceased your assaults on NERV headquarters, despite the fact, that all your powers were fully restored quite a long time ago. Is it because of the important decision, you have made, or because of the course, you have decided to follow? You can trust me, Karl."
"I know, that NERV should fall" – said Karl – "And that sooner it will fall, the better it will be for all humanity. But before NERV will fall, I would like to meet her in combat. The one, who killed Seventh One, the Master of Blades."
"But why do you want to meet her in combat so much?" – asked Anita – "I don't feel lust for revenge in your heart."
"I don't want to boast about it, but I am strongest of all others Saviors, I have meet so far" – said Karl – "You can't possibly understand my feelings, but for me it is kind of boring to go into battle, which will end in my certain victory. Yeah, you can call me selfish, but this is my nature, and I can't change it. And truth to tell, I don't want to change it. And the girl, who killed Seventh Savior, displayed quite a skill in her battle with Seventh Savior, even though I heard, that she was in coma just before her battle with Seventh Savior. My duel with her would probably be my greatest challenge in this life, since we don't fight each other anymore. And nobody: neither you, nor Denis, nor anybody else would change my decision. You know, once I make up my mind, nothing can force me to change my mind."
"You are playing a dangerous game, Karl" – said Anita.
"Yeah, I know that" – said Karl.
"Well, in that case" – said Anita – "We could cooperate for the next assault on NERV headquarters. Don't worry, I won't steal your duel with Asuka from you. While you will fight, I will sneak inside the NERV headquarters and get Adam. Do you agree, or you would still prefer to work alone?"
"Well, some time ago, I would certainly refuse your offer" – said Karl with a smile – "By since Sixth Savior saved me from almost certain death, I found some benefit in cooperating with a beautiful girls. I may be a bit reckless sometimes, but I am not seeking my death, like Seventh Savior did."
"Then it is settled" – said Anita – "I will tell you, when I will be ready to make my part of assault. Okay, now let's get to the cleaning the class."
After the school (Meanwhile, outside Tokyo-3 school)
"Are you sure, that you don't want to come in my place?" – asked Toji – "I have received just enormous compensation for all my sufferings in behalf of humanity, and right now I am going to buy new IMPACT-3 Play Station and bunch of new video games."
"Sorry, Toji" – said Shinji – "But I really wanted to take a little nap before I will have to report for duty this evening. Bye, Toji!"
"Bye, Shinji!" – cried Toji, as Shinji started to walk toward his apartment.
Needless to say, Toji was a bit disappointed by his friend's refusal, but still, today there was little, which could possibly spoil Toji's good mood. While Toji suspected, that compensation for his incident with EVA-03 would be quite large, he was greatly surprised when he found out, exactly how large his compensation was. Toji never had much money before he joined NERV, and now he felt himself a rich man.
"Waiting for somebody?" – interrupted his thoughts feminine voice from behind.
Toji turned around and saw attractive blond-haired girl, who had come on to him before today's lesson.
"You are…" – said Toji.
"Yamamoto Livia" – said girl – "But you can call me Livia-Chan or just Livia, whatever you like. Sorry, for what has happened before today's lesson, I was just kind of surprised to find out that one of the famous Evangelion pilots would turn out to be such a handsome boy. You know, I always thought that all Evangelion pilots would be six feet tall ugly guys, which would look like a mountains of muscles, without even hint of gentleness in them. I am happy, that I was wrong. Now, about my question."
"You question?" – said Toji in surprise, but in the next moment, he remembered Livia's question – "Oh, yes. No, I wasn't waiting for anybody, I was just thinking, that's all."
"Well" – said Livia – "In that case would you like to walk me to my apartment? I heard, that Tokyo-3 can be a dangerous place for cute girls like me."
"But, why me?" – asked Toji.
"Well, you are the only guy in our whole class, who didn't turn most of his attention to our would-be Queen of the Class – Anita Avion." – said Livia – "I know, she is very beautiful and all, more beautiful, then I ever hoped to be, but still guys in our class such a fools, if they think that she will love them, just because they stared at her during the whole lesson."
"Huh?" – said Toji – "You mean this girl, which sat right before me? You know, I didn't noticed anything that special about her, maybe it's just because her back was turned to me all the time, I don't know."
"You are the only one, who didn't noticed anything that special about her" – said Livia with a smile – "Even your fellow Evangelion pilot was staring at her more then at his copybook. So, what about my request? Will you walk me to my apartment?"
"Yeah, sure thing" – said Toji.
"Okay, let's go then" – said Livia – "Truth to tell, I would much more prefer you to invite me to have a dinner somewhere, but I guess, that it would look too much like a date, and we should save such thing for Saturday, eh?"
"Well, I suppose so" – said Toji.
He should have felt embarrassed, but something in Livia's open behavior and manner of speaking made him feel easy. Livia was certainly different from any girl, he had encountered before, and he though, that he started to like her.
From school doors, Hikari watched, as Toji and Livia walked away without noticing her. Hikari gave a small sigh and sadly started to walk toward her apartment. Apparently, not everything was going to be wonderful today.
Author's notes:
I decided to break my tradition and add some notes not only before the chapter, but also after the chapter.
I know, it was an evil place to end this chapter, for too many things were left untouched in this chapter. But I decided to write a bit shorter chapter then before from now on, and so, you will have to wait for answers until I will write the next chapter of this story.
As you may see from this chapter, despite absence of romance genre in this story's genre, there would be quite a large amount of romance in this story, as in all my stories. I especially like complicated love triangles, and Hikari/Toji/Livia love triangle is only begging. In fact, this story's genre is more like, Supernatural/Action/Adventure/Romance, but fanfiction.net allow only two different genres.
Well, it was all, I wanted to say for now. Please review this chapter, I would like it very much to know, what do you thing about this chapter of my story. Isn't not like reviewing takes too much time, after all. Well, anyway, until the next chapter!