Disclaimer: Don't own Eva.
A/N: Thanks for the positive reviews. I'm going to need some help in an up coming Ch, I'll be bringing one of two characters back. I already wrote the scene with either of them, and they both work. I just want an opinion of who will work best. Thanks again. More info at the end of this installment.
When Shinji and Asuka arrived home, they were shocked to find Misato there. She stood, a drawer open, holding something in her hands, transfixed by it.
"You shouldn't go into other people's personal belongings." Asuka snapped from the door.
"Wow." Misato whispered. "Hard to believe."
"What?" Shinji questioned.
She waved what she was holding.
"It's a secret. No one. . . That's why its hidden."
"What happened? I don't even know. I only came back 6, maybe 7 months ago. It was so hard to let go."
"Just as people are being reborn, so are other things. They just started reappearing." Shinji explained. "We don't know much about the rest of the world. Its as if we're isolated by bubbles. It was on-guess you could call it the news. What ever they show on TV now. Everyone-they're all afraid to do anything. As far as we know, the whole world was decimated. Memories are what's brining it back." That's when it dawned on him. "Maybe memories have brought back the Angels. But up to now, its only brought back the material."
Asuka shook her head, slightly disgusted, and pulled the object from Misato's hands, and closed it back in the drawer.
"Is that why the EVAs came back empty?"
Shinji shrugged, as Asuka left the room.
"Hasn't changed much has she?"
He shrugged again.
"After all that. . .You two-Why? How?"
"Better together than alone. We were staying here for two years before-so many promises. I just broke almost all of them. We promised we'd never go back, never tell any one, never be separated." He left the room as well, trying to figure out what Asuka was up to.
Misato shook her head and opened the drawer, staring at the wedding picture again. "Even though its built on memories-the past-the world, has changed so much." She returned the picture and sat down, and cried.
---
Perspective- (Asuka)
Indirectly, the whole world was still connected. If a memory didn't jive, said object wouldn't appear, until another voice tried to bring it back. Memories were checked against memories. Deliberations. It would be a fleeting thought in every ones minds, a sort of dejavu. I remembered a lot of things coming back. Shinji doesn't know, but Germany is reforming too. The whole world has been affected. The issue was, why didn't we remember NERV deliberations? (end perspective)
"Neither of us broke any promises. Its Misato's fault. She found the picture." Shinji insisted.
"Still don't know why we took it. The rings are proof enough."
Personally, I always thought they were more obvious. Shinji thought as he hugged her from behind. "Forget about it."
"You know, you really should shave. It tickles worse than how you breath on me when we kiss."
He spun her around and kissed her jokingly.
As they split apart, she fixed him with a glare. "I told you to shave first. Jerk." A German insult was added, but was covered up by the ringing of the telephone.
"Let Misato answer." Shinji said.
She did, on the second ring. They paused to listen.
"Yes? I'm here, what? No I don't think they will. No, they're pretty adamant about it." A few seconds later Misato came into the room they were in.
"As civilians, you are to report to an Evac Shelter. I'll escort you."
"Who long will we be there?"
"As long as it takes to destroy it."
"Has any one even seen it?
Silence.
---
"Invisible Angel my ass! Now that most of NERV is back, they're just scanning. The blue patter is probably something in the LCL, or what's left of Lillith-er-Rei-ah-Lil. . . Screw it." Asuka kicked the wall.
"Asuka, you're 22. Stop acting like you used to."
"Shut up Shinji." She slumped to the ground. "All I can ever think about is what I used to be. It scares me. If NERV tries to get us again. . ."
"Sh-Shinji? Wow, you look different."
Asuka groaned when recognition of the voice kicked in. "Kensuke. Why you?"
Shinji smiled weakly at his old friend's greeting.
"Why aren't you two at NERV?"
Asuka leapt to her feet and grabbed the collar of Kensuke's army-drab T- shirt. "You want to die stooge?"
"Asuka." Shinji scolded.
She slowly released Kensuke. "We refuse to pilot."
"Wh-What? I guess I understand. You weren't "one" with me and your other friends very long. But-the EVAs, your memories-I'll do it!"
Asuka slapped him so hard, that his glasses flew off. "Are you insane? You are the last person they'd let pilot an EVA!"
"Try not to mention any thing about 8 years ago around us. It stirs up bad memories. Memories we'd rather not-."
"A-okay. S-sorry. Ah-when we clear out, you two want to go out for dinner, or coffee, or something?" he then started rambling about a war movie, and how movie tech fell after 3rd Impact.
"Whatever." Asuka muttered.
"Sure, better than hanging out alone. Talking to just her gets a little-."
"Hey. . ." Asuka protested in a soft, sad tone.
"Just a little boring is all. All we ever do is analyze each other Asuka. Doing it isn't really helping. It's just-." He shook his head watching Kensuke put his glasses back on.
"I know." Asuka shivered. "There's still some things even I won't talk about." She sighed. "We promised. . . no more Angels, no more EVAs, no more NERV."
Kensuke watched a side of Asuka he had never seen in slight shock. "Ah-oh." He gulped. "I didn't-." he bowed his head.
"Wake me up when they let us leave." Asuka asked, and fell backwards onto a cot.
---
Shinji and his old school mate spent the next several hours recalling more pleasant times, and catching up. Shinji completely avoided the topic of the marriage-trying to still keep the promise.
"Do you know who else is back?" Shinji asked.
Kensuke nodded. "Hikari and Toji, ah-not many others from our class. I'd stay away from Toji if I were you." He bit his lip. "And I joined JSSDF. Closest I could get to my dream I guess. Nothing against you of course- I mean after what they did-." He stopped mid-stream.
"It's okay."
The military otaku sighed. "You still want dinner later?"
Shinji nodded, and cast a glance towards Asuka. "But um-she's-. Her job is one where she actually has to be cordial. She's a waitress. Ah- we should avoid her restaurant. She doesn't like it much. Chinese place down in the rural area."
Kensuke shrugged. "Fine with me. I was thinking Ramen any way."
A small alarm blared. You are free to return to your homes. The threat has passed.
Shinji shook his head. "More like they couldn't find it."
---
PERSPECTIVE (Shinji)
It was weird. Neither I or Asuka had any memory of the memory scan for NERV's recreation. We had remembered those from every other thing. Even things that came back as we slept.
There was one explanation that I didn't want to face. One I couldn't even bear to think of-that it wasn't really NERV, that those "people" weren't there. Or, they were just living some sick fantasy, that the apparition of NERV was actually the "Angel." Which explained why no one there could place it.
The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. NERV wasn't back at all. What ever it was that was there, could be more dangerous than we could imagine. It could replicate memories nearly perfectly. I wonder what Asuka had seen there. Was it any different from what I had? Was this NERV completely based on the viewers feelings? Was Misato real, or part of the apparition? Since she had left, I thought she had to be real.
So many questions, and so many memories I could never touch on. Ones I'm afraid of. Fear is my true downfall. (end Perspective)
---
They found a noodle place in the heart of Tokyo-3. Shinji felt a bizarre feeling being directly over the apparent apparition of NERV.
Asuka was angry because she had to lay off the contact she felt kept her alive until Kensuke was gone. Of course, she also was appeased, since she hadn't had good Ramen in years. She'd had 6 bowls already.
"Um, Asuka? Kensuke has to pay for that-could you slow it down a bit?"
The red-head's eyes shot up and threw him a questioning glance. This was followed by a "Hern?" which was muffled by a mouthful.
"Never mind. Guess its good you're actually eating."
This received a wicked glare.
"More than usual." Shinji said trying to cover himself. "You've lost too much weight and-."
This received a slap.
"Hey. That was sort of a compliment."
"Never comment on a girl's weight." She snapped tritely.
"So why did you two stay together? I mean, now that you aren't pilots anymore, and you always-er, I'll be quite."
"No, it needs an answer. We didn't know what would happen-thought we were the only ones alive. We were- for a long time. Decided to stay together. As friends." Shinji explained.
The rest of the time passed in silence, and to the surprise of both young men, when it was over, Asuka paid.
"Uh-Asuka-you don't have to-I mean-we haven't seen each other in years and- I'll. . ." Kensuke stuttered.
"Don't be stupid. I know JSSDF pays you nothing." She walked away, leaving them to stare at each other in shock.
---
A/N: Sorry this is so short. Either in the next chapter or the one after it, I will bring back a character. My issue is should it be Kaworu Or Kaji? It will work with either, and I wrote two different scenes bringing each back. The story will only work with one of them though. Your input is greatly appreciated!!
A/N: Thanks for the positive reviews. I'm going to need some help in an up coming Ch, I'll be bringing one of two characters back. I already wrote the scene with either of them, and they both work. I just want an opinion of who will work best. Thanks again. More info at the end of this installment.
When Shinji and Asuka arrived home, they were shocked to find Misato there. She stood, a drawer open, holding something in her hands, transfixed by it.
"You shouldn't go into other people's personal belongings." Asuka snapped from the door.
"Wow." Misato whispered. "Hard to believe."
"What?" Shinji questioned.
She waved what she was holding.
"It's a secret. No one. . . That's why its hidden."
"What happened? I don't even know. I only came back 6, maybe 7 months ago. It was so hard to let go."
"Just as people are being reborn, so are other things. They just started reappearing." Shinji explained. "We don't know much about the rest of the world. Its as if we're isolated by bubbles. It was on-guess you could call it the news. What ever they show on TV now. Everyone-they're all afraid to do anything. As far as we know, the whole world was decimated. Memories are what's brining it back." That's when it dawned on him. "Maybe memories have brought back the Angels. But up to now, its only brought back the material."
Asuka shook her head, slightly disgusted, and pulled the object from Misato's hands, and closed it back in the drawer.
"Is that why the EVAs came back empty?"
Shinji shrugged, as Asuka left the room.
"Hasn't changed much has she?"
He shrugged again.
"After all that. . .You two-Why? How?"
"Better together than alone. We were staying here for two years before-so many promises. I just broke almost all of them. We promised we'd never go back, never tell any one, never be separated." He left the room as well, trying to figure out what Asuka was up to.
Misato shook her head and opened the drawer, staring at the wedding picture again. "Even though its built on memories-the past-the world, has changed so much." She returned the picture and sat down, and cried.
---
Perspective- (Asuka)
Indirectly, the whole world was still connected. If a memory didn't jive, said object wouldn't appear, until another voice tried to bring it back. Memories were checked against memories. Deliberations. It would be a fleeting thought in every ones minds, a sort of dejavu. I remembered a lot of things coming back. Shinji doesn't know, but Germany is reforming too. The whole world has been affected. The issue was, why didn't we remember NERV deliberations? (end perspective)
"Neither of us broke any promises. Its Misato's fault. She found the picture." Shinji insisted.
"Still don't know why we took it. The rings are proof enough."
Personally, I always thought they were more obvious. Shinji thought as he hugged her from behind. "Forget about it."
"You know, you really should shave. It tickles worse than how you breath on me when we kiss."
He spun her around and kissed her jokingly.
As they split apart, she fixed him with a glare. "I told you to shave first. Jerk." A German insult was added, but was covered up by the ringing of the telephone.
"Let Misato answer." Shinji said.
She did, on the second ring. They paused to listen.
"Yes? I'm here, what? No I don't think they will. No, they're pretty adamant about it." A few seconds later Misato came into the room they were in.
"As civilians, you are to report to an Evac Shelter. I'll escort you."
"Who long will we be there?"
"As long as it takes to destroy it."
"Has any one even seen it?
Silence.
---
"Invisible Angel my ass! Now that most of NERV is back, they're just scanning. The blue patter is probably something in the LCL, or what's left of Lillith-er-Rei-ah-Lil. . . Screw it." Asuka kicked the wall.
"Asuka, you're 22. Stop acting like you used to."
"Shut up Shinji." She slumped to the ground. "All I can ever think about is what I used to be. It scares me. If NERV tries to get us again. . ."
"Sh-Shinji? Wow, you look different."
Asuka groaned when recognition of the voice kicked in. "Kensuke. Why you?"
Shinji smiled weakly at his old friend's greeting.
"Why aren't you two at NERV?"
Asuka leapt to her feet and grabbed the collar of Kensuke's army-drab T- shirt. "You want to die stooge?"
"Asuka." Shinji scolded.
She slowly released Kensuke. "We refuse to pilot."
"Wh-What? I guess I understand. You weren't "one" with me and your other friends very long. But-the EVAs, your memories-I'll do it!"
Asuka slapped him so hard, that his glasses flew off. "Are you insane? You are the last person they'd let pilot an EVA!"
"Try not to mention any thing about 8 years ago around us. It stirs up bad memories. Memories we'd rather not-."
"A-okay. S-sorry. Ah-when we clear out, you two want to go out for dinner, or coffee, or something?" he then started rambling about a war movie, and how movie tech fell after 3rd Impact.
"Whatever." Asuka muttered.
"Sure, better than hanging out alone. Talking to just her gets a little-."
"Hey. . ." Asuka protested in a soft, sad tone.
"Just a little boring is all. All we ever do is analyze each other Asuka. Doing it isn't really helping. It's just-." He shook his head watching Kensuke put his glasses back on.
"I know." Asuka shivered. "There's still some things even I won't talk about." She sighed. "We promised. . . no more Angels, no more EVAs, no more NERV."
Kensuke watched a side of Asuka he had never seen in slight shock. "Ah-oh." He gulped. "I didn't-." he bowed his head.
"Wake me up when they let us leave." Asuka asked, and fell backwards onto a cot.
---
Shinji and his old school mate spent the next several hours recalling more pleasant times, and catching up. Shinji completely avoided the topic of the marriage-trying to still keep the promise.
"Do you know who else is back?" Shinji asked.
Kensuke nodded. "Hikari and Toji, ah-not many others from our class. I'd stay away from Toji if I were you." He bit his lip. "And I joined JSSDF. Closest I could get to my dream I guess. Nothing against you of course- I mean after what they did-." He stopped mid-stream.
"It's okay."
The military otaku sighed. "You still want dinner later?"
Shinji nodded, and cast a glance towards Asuka. "But um-she's-. Her job is one where she actually has to be cordial. She's a waitress. Ah- we should avoid her restaurant. She doesn't like it much. Chinese place down in the rural area."
Kensuke shrugged. "Fine with me. I was thinking Ramen any way."
A small alarm blared. You are free to return to your homes. The threat has passed.
Shinji shook his head. "More like they couldn't find it."
---
PERSPECTIVE (Shinji)
It was weird. Neither I or Asuka had any memory of the memory scan for NERV's recreation. We had remembered those from every other thing. Even things that came back as we slept.
There was one explanation that I didn't want to face. One I couldn't even bear to think of-that it wasn't really NERV, that those "people" weren't there. Or, they were just living some sick fantasy, that the apparition of NERV was actually the "Angel." Which explained why no one there could place it.
The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. NERV wasn't back at all. What ever it was that was there, could be more dangerous than we could imagine. It could replicate memories nearly perfectly. I wonder what Asuka had seen there. Was it any different from what I had? Was this NERV completely based on the viewers feelings? Was Misato real, or part of the apparition? Since she had left, I thought she had to be real.
So many questions, and so many memories I could never touch on. Ones I'm afraid of. Fear is my true downfall. (end Perspective)
---
They found a noodle place in the heart of Tokyo-3. Shinji felt a bizarre feeling being directly over the apparent apparition of NERV.
Asuka was angry because she had to lay off the contact she felt kept her alive until Kensuke was gone. Of course, she also was appeased, since she hadn't had good Ramen in years. She'd had 6 bowls already.
"Um, Asuka? Kensuke has to pay for that-could you slow it down a bit?"
The red-head's eyes shot up and threw him a questioning glance. This was followed by a "Hern?" which was muffled by a mouthful.
"Never mind. Guess its good you're actually eating."
This received a wicked glare.
"More than usual." Shinji said trying to cover himself. "You've lost too much weight and-."
This received a slap.
"Hey. That was sort of a compliment."
"Never comment on a girl's weight." She snapped tritely.
"So why did you two stay together? I mean, now that you aren't pilots anymore, and you always-er, I'll be quite."
"No, it needs an answer. We didn't know what would happen-thought we were the only ones alive. We were- for a long time. Decided to stay together. As friends." Shinji explained.
The rest of the time passed in silence, and to the surprise of both young men, when it was over, Asuka paid.
"Uh-Asuka-you don't have to-I mean-we haven't seen each other in years and- I'll. . ." Kensuke stuttered.
"Don't be stupid. I know JSSDF pays you nothing." She walked away, leaving them to stare at each other in shock.
---
A/N: Sorry this is so short. Either in the next chapter or the one after it, I will bring back a character. My issue is should it be Kaworu Or Kaji? It will work with either, and I wrote two different scenes bringing each back. The story will only work with one of them though. Your input is greatly appreciated!!