You Wish! Productions presents...

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Cross

By: Blue Taboo

Chapter 4- From Within

The girl's crying ceased for a moment. Her voice became calm and almost emotionless, indicating that the speaker was Rei. "It would be in you best interest to summon Pilot Ikari here, Major Katsuragi. Do not ask why."


Misato nodded slowly and pulled out her cell phone. She went out into the hall to escape the room for a moment. For some reason it haunted her still. She wanted to do something, but this was the best she could manage. He's going to freak out, she resolved to herself, How will that do them any good? This is horrible...But I have to do it. He'll have to face them sooner or later...

"It seems that your theory was correct, Dr. Akagi," a chilling monotone voice complemented Ritsuko from behind her.


She turned around to find its owner, Ikari Gendo, standing in the door way to the dimly lit lab where she sat typing at her laptop. She must've look like she's just been run over by a train. She hadn't slept at all, nor had she even taken a shower or eaten since the experiment. She was a mess. "It seems so..." she agreed quietly, avoiding eye contact.


"However, the experiment was only partially successful," the Commander reminded her as he moved closer.


"Eva Unit 01 is different from the others, as I'm sure you know," Ritsuko explained, but still took a firm and defensive tone, "You've seen that much. I believe that the experiment was a success. We have succeeded in dispersing the AT fields of two individuals and then reforming them into one. This proves that the recent developments in our research for the Human Instrumentality Project were correct. Doesn't this please you, Commander?"


"I must admit to you, Doctor, that was how I wanted it to go," Gendo confessed, "Not even Fuyutski knows that much. This is between you and I only. I'd like to congratulate you on a job well done." And with that he left as silently and as coldly as he came.


"I can't stand being praised for this torture..." Ritsuko told the empty room in a solemn tone.

"Shinji..." Kaji almost asked, lightly touching the boy's shoulder. Shinji turned over slowly and turned off his SDAT.


"Misato's on the phone. She needs to talk to you," Kaji informed the young pilot quietly.


Shinji wordlessly took the cordless from him and Kaji left the room.


"Shinji?" Misato asked in a desperate sounding voice on the other end of the line.


"What is it, Misato? I-Is she a-awake?" Ikari found himself struggling to ask.

"I need you to get ready. I'm picking you up," she ordered coolly.


"M-Misato?"


She had hung up.

(AN: From now on Asuka and Rei are going to be having internal conversations. Asuka is bold and Rei is italics. Just thought I'd make it easier for you...)


He is coming...


GET OUT!!!


He is coming...


WHY SHOULD I CARE?!


You do...


I do not!


You cannot hide anything from me. Now I understand you. I understand your pain, your actions, your thoughts. I am thankful for this opportunity, this lesson you have taught me, but I can see that you feel violated. You do not enjoy closeness...


Not with a freak like you!


It is pain to you. You force yourself to believe that it is greater than the pain of loneliness...


STOP!


That is impossible...


I want to die!


You do not...


I want to die!


You do not. You only see death as an escape. To die now would be pointless. You should not ask for death if you do not understand it...


And you do?!


Death is only preparation for rebirth. Death is only part of life...


That's just what a freak like you would say!


Then tell me of your understanding...


Death is pain, freak, just like everything else!


Pain...


Pain.


He is coming...

Shinji was consumed by some great fear as he waited for Misato's car to pull up outside the lobby of the apartment building. No, it couldn't be called fear. Apprehension, trepidation, or indignation were better words, but they still didn't come close.


He saw the battered blue sports car through the simple glass doors and did what he had done almost all of his life. He forced himself to walk out of the door and get in. He had been forcing himself through life, one more day wouldn't be any different...

-Blue Taboo