You Wish! Productions presents…
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Cross
By: Blue Taboo
Chapter 11: Curiosity
After the rich music, connection became tension and both bodies drifted their separate ways, as well as three minds. Morning turned to afternoon and silence progressed. Shinji had given over to his SDAT, listening to classical orchestral music, unable to tear his train of thought from the song. Asuka had directed herself and Rei towards a few tattered German magazines she had brought with her when she first came. She knew all of them practically by heart, but anything was better than just sitting around and letting the anxiety fill the room like an invisible mist. At first, Rei just drew away into her own little corner of their shared minds, but then she took interest and noted something.
The surest way to a boy's heart is through his friends…?
Her thoughts echoed in perfect German as she read the language that had always been foreign to her like she was born to it.
How did you do that?!
I must have learned it from you…
But our thoughts are separate…It hasn't happened before.
Apparently, they are not as separate as we had thought…
Must've been because of that weird thing you did to me…
That is a possible theory.
So how did you do it anyway?
I am not sure…I was merely curious, intensely curious.
Well, just save your "intense curiosity" for later, no, never.
If it causes you pain, then I shall not attempt it again.
It's not pain, Rei. I just…some things are better left alone.
Alright. However, I wish to ask one question.
What?
Is the title of the article true?
Why do you want to know? Are you going after Shinji or something?
No. My interest in him is that of a friend, as I believe it would be classified. I...I was just curious…
She never got her answer, but the article was very informative and brought up some good points, though most of them through right over the enigmatic girl's proverbial head. Eventually, lunch time came around, and each fended for themselves. Takeout leftovers looked good for Asuka and Rei. Shinji went into to make himself a little soup, headphones still on and bumped into the body called Aisu. He looked up and cringed slightly, the awkwardness of it all streaming through him.
"S-sorry," he said reflexively, "I-is there anything you need o-or anything?"
"No," came the slow but firm reply and she walked off towards her room. Which she it was, however, Shinji didn't know. That was a first, a frightening first…
However, he decided it would be better not to think it over. The possibility of the impossibility of things being as they were again disturbed him. He wanted them back the way they were, forever and always. It never should have happened to them…Two people so different, yet linked by common bond: Eva. Again he began to wonder why he wasn't included in the process. And again, as he set the pot on the stove, he thought it was because they didn't want him. He was always so close to finally getting close to them and then he would be pushed back by this damned awkwardness. Why was it there anyway?
Why did everyone have to be so cut off form each other?!
He drowned out his confusion in the simple task of cooking and then eating. Sullenly, he went back to his room, having nothing better to do, and kept listening to his music, occasionally flipping through a few action mangas, none of them very interesting. Before any of the occupants of the apartment knew it,three o'clock rolled around and the phone rang just as the 59 on Shinji's alarm clock turned to 00.
"I'll get it," he called out as he just barely heard it over his music. He just hoped it wasn't Touji, or worse…Kensuke.
"Hello…?"
His fears were realized and he began to wish that he'd never even thought that as a cracking voice sounded over the line. "Hey, Shinji! Where were you today?"
"Hi, Kensuke. I-I had to go to NERV for some tests," he lied.
"Oh, so I guess, that's why Rei and Asuka were gone too, eh?"
"Um…yeah. They probably won't be in school for a while though…"
"Why's that?"
"I-I can't tell you. Classified stuff…"
"Man…oh well, I won't pressure you then, since I know you won't talk."
Misato was right in her assumption that he wouldn't do well in lying to his friends. Kensuke didn't really sound like he bought it, and Shinji just felt horrible. He really wished he could tell him, someone, anyone. It would certainly help…
"Do you think you'll be there tomorrow? It was really boring today because Touji was gone too, visiting his sister or something…I dunno."
"Maybe. I'm not sure if they'll need me or not…"
"Oh, well I guess I'll see ya then. I've gotta get started on my homework. Trust me; you're going to have a ton to make up…"
"Yeah…Goodbye, Kensuke."
"Later!"
Shinji sighed as he hung up the phone. He felt guilty now. He usually told the truth all the time, never finding reason to lie, other than to save his skin a few times, but this whole cover-up thing didn't appeal to him in the least.
"Who was it?" Asuka asked through his closed door.
"Kensuke…"
"You didn't tell him anything, right?" she questioned, her voice rising.
"No…I lied to him…Just like Misato told me to."
She didn't respond.
"Hey…Shinji?" Asuka inquired slowly.
"Yeah?" he sighed, turning off his headphones.
"Let's get out of here…I don't know about you, but I'm getting pretty sick of being cooped up in here all day and I'll just guess that Rei is too."
"But Misato said—"
"Misato doesn't have to know," she pointed out, "Besides, I'm gonna go nuts if I don't affirm the fact that there's a world outside of here and NERV. It's been a long time…"
He didn't answer for a while, but then he got up to open his door only to find her on the other side, already changed into slightly less-revealing clothes.
"A-all right…"
†††
…And the hearts of Children shall burst and their minds fuse.
Only then can the future be seen through the eyes of being, with knowledge like unto that of a Messenger.
The destruction or the salvation of man may come from that which Adam made bind.
However, Lillith will seize the day if ends come to ends.
Then man is the concern of man…
"Aha! So that's how you see it, eh Ikari? Well…if you're right, then God must be a sicker bastard than you…"
†††
"We're fine as long as we don't run into anyone we know that doesn't know about it anyway," Asuka pointed out as they strolled along the streets of Tokyo-3, heading towards the nearest park, "Besides, who goes to the park anyway?"
"Apparently…we do…" Shinji stated the obvious.
"Oh shut up. You don't even try to be funny…"
Rei piped up in his defense. "I do not think he was trying…"
Asuka just growled in return, not wanting to waste the energy.
That put the rest of their walk back into a silent state, at least verbally…
The world invokes curiosity...
Hmm…is that so?
Just like people…
Of course! You never know what's going on inside someone else's head…even we have our limits like this, but the world, as much as it changes is stable. Once you know it, you know it.
You say that because you have seen much, but what of a person like myself? I have never been anywhere else but this city…
Then you're still getting to know it. I guess that's what they call growing up…
But you are still a child as well…
Less than you think…
No…less than YOU think. I believe, Asuka, that you are still learning. It is only your mind-set that makes you think yourself wise. You just choose to acknowledge things you know and ignore those which elude you.
What makes you think you know everything about me?
Because I am the closest to that it seems anyone has ever been.
Shut up, Rei.
And that's exactly why you are still learning…
JUST SHUT UP!
"So Shinji…"
†††
18th Scroll, three paragraphs down. It seems you've found something interesting…and so have I. We shall see, Ikari.
"You lack the courage to see if you keep yourself from me, fool. Fuyutski! Have this message traced…"
†††
"This is it…" Shinji announced as they reached the park.
It wasn't much. A small, well-kept playground for the kids and a bike path that ran for a little less than a mile around an obviously artificial pond with it's share of scrawny trees. It was new, just like the city, and practically deserted at 3:30 pm on a Monday. Three toddlers played on the jungle gym and a few people were walking the path, a man and his dog, two older women jogged it, and a young couple furthest away from them.
"Well, I guess it's good to be outside again," Asuka observed. "Let's just walk around once and go back home…"
"Okay."
So they did, in silence, as seemingly usual. Asuka kept their body ahead of Shinji, so as not to look like she was with him for any particular reason, specifically that of a date. Shinji kept his eyes glued to the oh-so-interesting gravel of the path, admiring its monotony.
That was not to last. "Hey! Shinji is that you?" a familiar voice called.
He looked up to see Hikari, the class rep, sitting on a bench next to Touji, who exclaimed, "Hikari! Why did—" and then cut himself off in order to not look ever more rude and oafish.
"He's our friend, Touji. That's why…"
Needless to say, Shinji was confused, but before he could ask what the hell was going on, Touji finished his blushing and asked, "So who's your friend?"
Panic set in from all angles, deer in the headlights panic. "Uh…um…"
Thankfully, Asuka got over it. "My name's Takahashi Aisu," she said, almost too sweetly, "I am a friend of Major Katsuragi."
"You're a little young to be Misato's friend…" Touji observed.
"Well, a daughter of her friend's, but she is still a very fun person. My mother sent me to stay with her while she and my father take a trip."
"Ah," Hikari chimed in, "I bet Asuka's not too happy about that. She complains enough about having no space already…"
"Actually," Asuka had to keep herself from growling it out, "She's nicer than I expected. I believe that the descriptions of her I've heard were exaggerated."
"Oh just you wait…" Touji told her.
"Touji!" Hikari snapped, nudging him in the side.
"Well…it's true…"
Shinji cleared his throat and tried to take the heat off of Asuka. "So what are you two doing here?"
Now it was their turn to go deer in the headlights.
"Um…uh…"
"I went to his house to deliver the printouts for today since he was absent…" Hikari saved him.
"A-and I offered to help her out, since it was the manly thing to do, and we were just on our way to your place…"
"But I wanted to rest…"
Shinji blinked. "Sure…"
"No! Really! Here are your printouts, Ikari, and Asuka's too," Hikari said smoothly as she handed him the said papers.
"I guess I'd better get back home…" Touji said after a while.
"M-me too…" Hikari agreed.
Then they bolted like scared rabbits without so much as a goodbye.
"That was…unexpected…and close…and weird," Shinji stated as he got over the shock.
"This is one of those few times that I will agree with you, Shinji," Asuka told him.
Rei just didn't really understand, but she was beginning to. However, she was still very curious…
-Blue Taboo-
"The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind is curiosity." --Edmund Burke
