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Title: Full Metal Evangelion Book 1 Chapter 2
Author: Dead^Meat ( deadmeat@bhlegend.com )
ICQ: 7790861 (Auth. req – state who you are when you ask)
Dates of revision: 2002-12-01 v 0.05 (Started)
2002-12-10 ch2 pre-read version
2002-12-17 ch2 publish version 1.0
2003-03-25 ch2 publish version 1.1
* Disclaimer: Characters from Neon Genesis Evangelion have been used without permission. All characters contained in this work are copyright GAINAX, Project EVA, Movic, AD Vision and Manga Entertainment.
* Quick-list of various Japanese words/phrases used, and it's translation.
Baka = idiot
Hai = yes
Hentai = perverted, pervert, someone perverted
* Reading:
"d" - Denotes speaking
'd' - Denotes thinking
_d_ - Denotes punctuation
|d| - Denotes sound effects
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Chapter two: An eventful day******************************************************************
"I can't believe it!" Asuka exclaimed, pushing Shinji against the wall.
He just cringed at the pain, especially right where she was pushing him.
"How far can you hentai-bakas go, anyway?! I'm getting _really_ suspicious about this, us being neighbours?! I bet you're just talking bull."
"It's a … coincidence."
"Like hell it is!" Asuka glared into Shinji's eyes, daring him to break, admitting that it was all a lie, a lie! But he didn't.
"Ah, forget it. I can't take anymore of this shit. Hand me the keys."
"Huh?"
"The keys, baka. You open the door to your apartment with those! Or maybe you haven't gotten any?" Grinning, she decided to call the game.
"Umm, here." Shinji handed her the keys, and made a weak attempt to brake her hold of him. She took the keys from him, and pulled him out of the elevator.
"Come on." Asuka dragged him around the corner, and went directly to apartment nr. 304, the door right next to her own, nr. 303.
Without any hesitation, she thrust the keys into the lock, and opened the door. A stale smell greeted her, and as she walked into the apartment, she noticed that it had very recently been moved in, as the room was very sparse with furniture. Other than that, it looked like a mirror image of her own apartment, a single-bedroom unit with a bathroom and combined kitchen-, dining-, livingroom. She dumped him on the sofa, the same kind as the one that she got when she first moved in, then looked around to investigate.
"Take off your shirt."
"What? Why?" Shinji asked bewildered, but too tired to move an inch from the sofa.
"Because I told you to, that's why!" Taking a peek into the bedroom, she saw clothes lying scattered on the bed, and several bags still unopened by the empty, gaping closet. Turning around, she noticed a large cello leaning against the wall. Walking up to it, she noticed how it shone from careful polishing, how well taken care of it seemed, and also how worn the strings seemed to be. 'I guess he didn't lie about this…'
"So, why did you want me to take off my shirt, again?"
When she faced him, he smiled at her, as he was leaning heavily against the door. Frowning, she marched past him, dragging him once again onto the sofa.
"If you have _any_ hentai-thoughts in your head, I'll leave _immediately_. Now get that shirt off!"
"Hai hai." Shinji sighed, and unbuttoned his shirt, cringing.
Asuka checked the refrigerator and freezer, but they were both empty.
"Typical!" She muttered. "I'll be right back."
Moments later, Asuka came back with a pack of ice. Pushing him down on the sofa, she sat next to him and placed the cold ice-bag on his ribcage. Then she finally noticed it.
'… Wow … he's quite the muscular type. I would never have suspected that, with his lean shoulders and that mellow-looking face of his … while in reality …' Feeling herself start to blush, Asuka mentally corrected herself, and jammed the ice-bag on Shinji's rib, certain that it was his fault for making her feel awkward, somehow.
'Oh, what are these?' Seeing several scars criss-crossing on his chest, she gingerly traced her fingertips along them. 'They aren't the type of scars you'd get from accidents.' she thought. 'There's just too many of them … I wonder what he's gone through, in his past life …'
"So, you remember my smell, huh?" Shinji quietly teased, as he lay on the sofa and felt tension dripping off him.
"W-what? Oh, that … don't think too highly of yourself, baka! It's just that … ooh, why should I tell you, anyway?" Asuka growled, annoyed at him.
Shinji just kept his mouth shut, not really having a reason why she should tell him. Asuka then sighed bitterly, looking away and mumbled.
"Your after-shave just reminded me of something, that's all! Something important, from a long time ago, I think …" A small silence broke out after Asuka's hasty confession. "I just can't seem to remember where from, though. Gah! This is making me confused! Are you happy now?"
"After-shave? That's what alerted you yesterday?" Shinji covered his face with one hand, clearly embarrassed. "I guess I shouldn't have picked this one, hehe."
"What's it called?"
"Vergess mich nicht … it's an old after-shave my … father … used to like."
"Oh, 'Forget me not'? Strange name for an after-shave…"
Silence now showed it's wicked form again, as both teenagers were caught up in their own thoughts, idly listening to each other's calm breathing.
"Umm, Asuka?" Shinji asked, breaking the silence.
"What is it?" Asuka looked up from her brooding, and got caught up in his eyes.
"Thank you." He gently smiled at her, blushing slightly.
'Such an honest smile that was …' Shaking her head, she stood up from the sofa, and turned towards the door, hiding her own blush.
"I just … ack!" Not caring about finishing the sentence, she stormed off for the door.
"I'm only lending you that ice-bag! Be sure to give it back to me, or else!" With these final parting words, Asuka slammed the door shut.
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"What?! Hahaha! You lucky son of a bitch! I'd never have thought that she'd do something like this, from what I've heard!"
"Hey hey, knock it off. It's not what you think it was." Shinji protested meekly, blushing.
"Oh, sure! Like she'd do that for _anyone_!"
He could clearly imagine the big grin his friend was wearing right now, at the other side of the connection.
"You … think so?"
"Haha! You're hoping for too much, bro! Besides, I wouldn't get too serious, if I were you. We might even get transferred tomorrow, if things go smoothly at the other end."
"I guess …"
"Sounds like you'd be disappointed, if that happened." Touji suggested gleefully.
"Well …" Shinji stammered nervously, and quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, how was your subject?"
"Oh, she's _real_ nice; looking forward to it. Seemed kind of glad that I lived nearby as well, although surprised. Hehe."
"Well, I'll tell you the same thing, don't get too serious now."
"Mhmm, you know me, bro. Serious shit just gets you into deep trouble."
"Anyway, set up the perimeter yet?"
"Of course, all up and go. You sure you don't want any cameras _inside_ your subjects apartment?"
"Let's say that, I've got a feeling I should be _very_ careful with what I set up over here. With us as neighbours, and her of the suspicious type …" Not finishing the sentence, both still knew what Shinji meant.
"I got ya. Minimum surveillance equipment at your place. Code 430?"
"Negative, Code 436 would be more appropriate."
"Aren't you overestimating her?"
"Believe me, I'm not."
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'This is beginning to sound really strange.'
"What is it, Asuka? Did I say something wrong?"
"Oh, no, no. I just thought of something."
'Two boys, clearly close friends, shows up out of nowhere. They start to pay attention to me and Hikari, following us around. Not only that, one lives near me, while the other one lives near Hikari. Coincidence? I think not!'
"Hikari, promise me something."
"What is it, Asuka?" Hikari's voice was filled with worry.
"Don't trust Touji … or Shinji, for that matter. I think there's more to them, than meets the eye."
"Well! I didn't think you-"
"Please, Hikari? I'm worried about you." Asuka insisted.
"… Okay then, but that's until we get to know them better, ne?"
"Yeah yeah. Now lock your doors and window, and don't let anyone in!"
"Hey, father's not home yet, you know!"
"I'm sure he's got keys. Just be careful."
"All … right. Of course. Anyway, see you tomorrow, Asuka!"
"Hai, see you."
Switching off the wireless, Asuka sat on her sofa, pondering.
'I will find out all the answers tomorrow, for sure!'
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The following weeks passed by quietly, except for the fact that Asuka was being closely guarded. She had noticed that when she and Hikari were together, there was always either Shinji, or Touji, within sight. When she wasn't with Hikari, there was always Shinji somewhere close.
During break, lunch, when she had to go to the bathroom, everywhere!
At home she always made sure to keep the door chained, and the curtains closed. This may start to sound a bit like paranoia, but that's because there was always one of them nearby, pretending not to see her or Hikari!
By asking around, she found out that these two were always seen rushing somewhere, and sometimes suddenly barging in on conversations, as if they had taken part of it since the beginning.
When she tried to confront them, they always disappeared, either in the crowd or in the hallway.
This began to make her mad.
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"Over here, Asuka!" Hikari was waving at her, standing by the fountain at the market place. Asuka quickly strode over to her.
"Are you ready for the walk around town? Where's
Shinji, by the way?
I thought he was with you."
"Hrm? Shinji? With me?" Asuka asked, confused.
"Yes … he always seems to be around you."
"Oh, you noticed too? Well, what I-"
"Hey, guys!" Touji called, interrupting her.
"You! You've got some explaining to do! What the heck are you-"
"Shinji! Are you coming or what?"
"Coming! I just had to finish up some stuff."
"Yeah, whatever. Let's go, guys! Off for a city-tour!" Touji grabbed hold of Hikari's hand, who yelped, as he laughingly dragged her along.
Shinji caught up with Asuka, and they both stared at the two teens.
"He's getting pretty friendly with her very quickly, isn't he?" Asuka muttered darkly.
"Oh, well, forgive us. We were raised abroad, after all."
"Hrmp. No manners, no manners at all. And you!" Asuka turned to glare at Shinji's blank face.
"Let me set things straight. This is not, I repeat, _not_, a date. Okay? Hikari forced me to come along. Besides, I'd be worried sick if she was walking through town with two complete strangers. That's all."
"Strangers, us?" Shinji asked, confused.
"Don't play games with me, boy. I'm smart enough to notice when things get fishy. I won't ask, as I suspect that you wouldn't answer me anyway, but I'll be keeping my eyes on you!"
"Then you wouldn't mind me doing the same now, would you?" Shinji teased.
Asuka just frowned, and walked away after her friend.
Shinji sighed, then smiled tiredly to himself.
"As I thought."
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They spent the rest of the day that way, with a cheerful Hikari and Touji, a frowning Asuka, and a cautious Shinji. Walking on the streets was a better way of learning the roads, rather than revising through maps. This way, they also got to know a lot of good places to go to, like cafés, parks, stores, movie theatres, and fast-food courts. Though they all weren't as cheerful as they could be, there was still a good mood lingering over the group.
In the evening, Hikari led them all to a sushi-bar, where she insisted that she should pay for them all, as it was Asuka's late 'Welcome home' party.
The guys threatened to leave, though, if she didn't allow them to pay for everyone. Hikari reluctantly agreed, but extracted a promise that they would allow her to treat them all to some snacks later.
Asuka just smiled and received, as no one asked her to pay with her hard-earned money, although it bothered her that the evening looked more and more like a double-date, and the fact that she really enjoyed it.
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"Damn."
"What's the matter, Touji?" Shinji asked his friend, who was checking out a manga-store as they were waiting for the girls.
"Aww crap, it seems like I've missed a complete volume of my favourite manga! Now I need to find them, somewhere."
"Why not just order it?" Shinji suggested.
"Hey, you know why. Not sure how long we're going to stay here."
"Why, going somewhere?" Asuka queried, standing next to Hikari.
"Oh, umm, no. Nowhere. Ahahaha!" Touji laughed nervously.
Shinji just stared at her, frowning.
"Asuka…"
"Still don't care to explain, I suppose. Well! That's just fine and dandy!" Asuka muttered, and stormed off.
Shinji sighed, threw a hasty good bye to the other two, and set off after Asuka.
"He likes her, don't you think?"
"Heh, how someone can like a violent girl like her, is beyond me!"
"Hrmp!" Hikari exclaimed, frowning at a laughing Touji.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry! But, true, I've never seen Shinji act this way about a girl before. Hehe. Seems a bit happier than usual, even."
"Oh … so he's not often like this?"
"Nah. Me neither, actually. But since I get to date such a cute girl like you …!"
At the word 'date', Hikari blushed, and Touji smiled serenely.
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"You won't leave me alone, will you?"
"No, sorry."
"Why not?!"
"I just can't."
"Are you such a creepy, hentai lowlife that you can't even admit that you're planning to capture my perfect body?" Asuka tried, baiting him.
Shinji held his mouth shut.
Asuka growled of frustration.
Shinji looked apologetic.
Asuka pushed Shinji into a canal.
Shinji fell shocked into the water, and came out sputtering.
"Hey!"
"Bye bye, hentai!" With these parting words, Asuka ran off.
"Damn …"
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'Haha! I'm free! Sure, for only an hour or so, but at last, no one to follow me around!' Asuka thought happily, as she walked around the alleys, ducking in and out of them, making sure that no one followed her.
Finally certain, she let herself relax, and began to stroll along the narrow streets of the old parts of the city, brooding and feeling slightly guilty.
'Bah, why should _I_ feel guilty? He's the one that made me do it! … Well, that's what I think, anyway …' Asuka sighed tiredly, and suddenly bumped into someone.
"Ah, damn you Shin-" Finally noticing that it wasn't Shinji she had bumped into, she took a quick look around, seeing street gang members surrounding her.
"Well well well, look what we've got here!" One of them said, apparently the leader. "What a cute little thing!"
"Hands off! Don't touch me!" Asuka warned, holding up her fist.
"My my, she's got quite the temper, too! What _are_ we going to do about her, boys? … Grab her!"
The gang moved in to grab her, and she kicked the nearest one to the ground.
"Back off! Or I'll kick your nuts!"
They did back off at her threat, but closed in on her as she was suddenly seized from behind.
"Let me go! Let - me - go! This insta-" Finally, she was muffled, struggling feasibly against her much stronger opponent.
"Hahaha! Come on, take her in here, and let's see what she's got to offer, guys!" The leader laughed, and led the way into an alley.
Out on the other side, her eyes stared wildly at a deserted apartment complex, isolated from the rest of the city by a tall wall. Weeds were growing everywhere on the rust-coloured dirt surrounding it, and the stained, broken windows dotted the yellowed building.
She knew what they were planning to do with her.
But she would _not_ allow it!
Crying of pain, anger, and humiliation, she continued to struggle against her much stronger opponent. Having decided to do whatever she could to get away, she forced her mouth open and bit the hand of her captor, hard.
"Ow, damn it!" The man said, letting her go. She immediately scrambled, running as fast as she could away from them.
"Crap! Go get her, before she gets away!" The leader shouted, while Asuka ducked into an alley. Looking around quickly, she took the first hiding-place she could find, and hid herself behind a discarded pile of steel pipes.
Listening intently, she heard the men run around in their search for her, turning the place up-side down in the process.
'I won't be able to stay here for long, they'll find me soon enough.'
Peeking out, she looked around, finally trying to find out exactly where she was. Seeing a few landmarks rising above the top of the buildings around her, she decided that she had to head north. Listening once again, she deducted that they had to be somewhere behind her, and leapt up from her prone position.
It wasn't very difficult to sneak around without making much noise that could be heard, since they made all the noises that was needed. Peeking around the corner, she saw some of them standing around a rusty shed, cursing it. Turning her eyes towards the only exit, she noted bitterly that it was guarded by another two men. Wielding knives.
'Ack, what should I do?' Asuka wondered worriedly, glancing between the guards at the exit, and the search party.
Deciding that her only chance had to be seized, not waited for, she grabbed one of the steel pipes lying around, and leapt off.
Luckily, the guards were looking away as she approached them in full speed, the steel pipe raised high above her head. Giving off a loud warcry, she mightily struck the head of the nearest guard, taking him out immediately. Raising her pipe a second time, she confronted the strong man who had held her captured a while ago, and swung it down towards his head.
He caught it immediately with a strong grip.
Quickly, she let go of her only weapon, and ran away from them.
Seeing freedom right in front of her, she smiled grimly and steeled herself for the long run ahead of her. She will not loose this chance!
And then it struck her.
She felt it as a hard blow on her ankle, which then got caught up between her feet. Stumbling, she fell down heavily, and rolled forward on the ground along with the iron bar which had hit her. Quickly scrambling back up to continue her escape, once on her feet she immediately fell back down again, clutching her ankle, crying out in pain.
By then, they were all over her.
Still clutching at her foot, she tried to blink away her tears, staring angrily up at the leader who was by now smiling in victory.
"Trying to escape, are we? Well, then, I think I should punish you for that."
"You won't get away with this!" Asuka fumed, threatening him with her most vicious voice.
He backed off for a moment, then sniggered down at her.
"We won't? Aww, that's too bad! Then we might have to
get rid of the 'evidence', later." The man shook his head in mock-sadness, then
leaned back down over her, leering. "It would be a shame, though, with such a
beauty as yourself. Why won't you just willingly join us, little girl?
You might just enjoy a taste of being adult." He then grabbed Asuka's chin, and
pulled her head towards him, enjoying the beauty he held in his hand.
Asuka gathered all the fluid she had in her mouth, and spat on his face.
He retorted by giving her a loud slap, so hard that it made her ears ring.
"That was very, very foolish of you, bitch." Wiping the spit out of his face, he frowned in disgust and gestured towards the building.
"Get her inside, now!"
Asuka felt herself getting lifted off the ground, and stared at the blurry men kneading her thighs and arms, smiling excitedly at her body.
'Oh God, oh please, don't do this to me! Help, help!'
"Dump her in here." The leader said, and she was thrown against a wall, knocking her head once again. Asuka felt her strength drain away, as she was still trying to focus at the grim looking world outside.
"Man, what a sexy little thing she is! I get all horny just thinking about what she might be hiding under that skirt! I'm going to have a piece of _her_ right away!" Licking his lips, he grinned evilly at her, smirking. "Don't worry, guys, you'll get your turn as well."
Drawing a knife, he cautiously approached her, waving the knife in front of him.
Finally conscious, but terrified, Asuka stared wildly at the knife, too weak to move an inch, too weak to defend herself.
'Help! HELP! Someone! Anyone! … Shinji! Help me, Shinji! Shinji, where are you when I need you? Shinji …' Asuka cried to herself, desperately wishing for him to come rescue her, regretting everything that she had done to him. If he would only come to her.
The buttons on her skirt was cut off, one by one, accompanied by the hooting of the rest of the gang. Suddenly, a loud gasp was heard, along with sounds of struggle and fighting.
"Hey, what's going on outside?" The leader demanded, annoyed at getting disturbed.
"There-, There's this kid outside, kicking our asses!" One of his men hastily replied, bewildered.
"Well, kick him back! And stop disturbing me!" The leader growled, and turned back to his prisoner.
"But! … aah, help!" The cry for help was quickly followed by a loud thud, as something struck the man's head.
Wide-eyed, both Asuka and the gangleader stared at the doorway.
Over there, by the doorway, his lean form lit up by the colours of the setting sun, stood a young, drenched man with a baseball bat in his hand, his eyes gleaming menacingly.
"Let. Her. Go." He ordered.
The words shook the gangleader out of his paralysis, and he took hold of Asuka's hair, pulling it back and threatened her exposed neck with his knife.
"You stay out of this! Don't come any closer, or I'll kill her! Now drop that bat!"
The young man took a quick look around, raised his bat, and threw it out of the door.
"Good, now jus-" Surprised, the gangleader now stared down the barrel of a gun.
"I didn't want to draw this, but I guess I had to."
"You, you shithead! You wouldn't dare shoot me! Now drop that too! Or I'll _really_ kill her!"
The young man stared coldly at him, moved his hand slightly and pulled the trigger.
|BANG|
The gangleader dropped to his knees, his grip now too weak to hold the knife. A small puddle began to grow under him.
"Go. Get out of here. Now."
"Y-y-yes, sir!" The defeated leader cried, hurriedly standing up and ran away. The young man looked after him, until he was certain that the threat had been neutralised, and turned to his subject.
Asuka, sobbing and sniffing, turned her head up as he determinedly approached her.
"Asuka? Are you alright?" Shinji asked, genuine concern covering his face, as he pulled off his still wet jacket and wrapped her in it.
Asuka, still trembling, nodded hesitantly and slowly reached up to hug him.
"Now I am."
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He stared idly, watching the pool of blood slowly expanding, surrounding the body of a dead man. Stepping away from the blood to keep it from staining his shiny black boots, the young man wiped his hands and the butt of his gun off with a rag-piece, which he carelessly discarded in a pile of trash. Looking up, he saw two teenagers slowly limping away from the building, one supporting the other.
"Seems like I was too late …" the murderer muttered disappointedly, holstering the gun.
"Oh well, I'll get another chance soon enough. If not, I'll make one."
Taking another glance at the corpse by his feet, he smoothed out his jacket, swept the ground with his boots to erase some of his boot-prints, and strolled away.
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* Author's note:
Hrm? Nope, I'm not telling who that is. Ha!
Not yet anyway ;)
Releasing chapter 2 v 1.1 at the same time as ch1 v1.1 is nothing to thank for, since you're one click away from ch3 v1.0!
I hope you enjoyed it, and please, send comments/critics to deadmeat@bhlegend.com
As always, big thanks goes to Weltall Elite for pre-reading this chapter yet another time.
Now check out chapter 3!
/DeadMeat
P.S. I could Really use some tips of easy ways to format this whole FF.net thingy. D.S.
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Preview of chapter 3:
Sighing, Shinji unbuttoned his shirt and carefully
pulled it off him, still hurting slightly from the bruises from yesterday.
Taking off all of his clothes, he dropped them in a pile on the floor, then
took off his gun-holster, and laid it on top of his change of clothes.
Examining his clock, he wondered why people didn't make these tracking devices
waterproof, then dropped it on the pile of clothes as well.
'At least the radio-transmitter still works.'
While showering, he then recalled how Asuka had smiled at him.
'That's the first time I've seen her smile, and boy,
can she smile.' Shinji thought dreamily, hoping, hoping to God that he would
see her smile to him again. Just once again would be enough, he lied to
himself.
It would last for his entire life.
Then he thought realistically. 'This is still just a
mission. I shouldn't get too involved with her, because then it would hurt.
It would hurt, if I had to leave her right now. It would hurt even more, if we
got even closer together.'
Sighing, Shinji furiously rubbed his stinging eyes, not allowing the tears to flow, and shook his head from sad thoughts.
'No. Just live as Touji has taught me. One day at a time. And enjoy that time. Yes, I could do that. I know I can.'
