I don't own NGE. To bad. This will be my last chap. I suspect until I have
had a chance to clean up my previous chapters. Thank you all for your
positive reviews as well as the ones that offered helpful advice. They are
what lets me know that I should continue writing. :
"Ikari."
"Yes?"
"It is time."
"If you wish.
Keel stood before the Commander of NERV, in the Commander's own office, over head the sepheroth was carved onto the ceiling, representing all that the committee, and the Commander himself, struggled to bring into fruition. As Keel stood before Gendou, he analyzed him, trying to deduce what he was planning. For though he had seen many dark acts during his endless life, even Keel, who had known Ikari since he began manipulating one of his descendants to gain access to SEELE, was a little taken aback at how easily Ikari was permitting his doll to be destroyed considering that, by all accounts, false angel worshiped the Commander as her creator.
Though Keel was sure that he was more than capable of it, he was also sure that such a level of control which Gendou wielded over Lilith's heir was not something he would relinquish without a fight. Everything about this situation reeked of duplicity on Ikari's part, and so Keel had decided to witness the destruction of the former pilot of the lost Unit-00 first hand. He had also come to collect her soul. After her light was suitably scrambled, the young angel would be a completely new entity, one ready to obey a new master. Though Keel was sure Ikari did not know fully know how deep the differences between them were, Keel's cursed flesh was no longer mortal, but rather something distantly similar to angelic flesh, at least to the extent that organic matter could be to materialized light. Though it was no substitute by any stretch for what the pilot of the Unit-01 model had gone through, his own bizarre nature would allow Keel to be able to sense whether this was truly the artificial angel that he had instructed Ikari to create ten years ago or if it was simply some girl that the Commander had dragged off the street and altered to appear and behave as the creature he had named Ayanami, Rei.
Gendou walked from behind his desk and past the leader of SEELE, leading them both out of the office and to the elevator. Once they reached the bottom of the elevator's shaft they walked slowly through the cavern below to a lab room that had been carved into the stone wall of the cave. From inside the lab room they approached a small door at its side. Gendo reached for the knob of the door and turned it.
"Rei, do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Will you follow your orders and carry out your final mission?"
"Yes, sir."
Gendou stood and faced Rei, trying to understand what was going on her mind. He was fairly sure that he knew but he had to be certain. "Why"
Rei II actually smiled at him with an adoring expression on her face and she clasped her hands together. "Because you created me."
Gendou smiled at her and turned away. His smile immediately became a sneer when his back was turned to her and that deep rumble that passed as a chuckle could be heard as he walked out of her bare little room. /I must be better than I thought/, pondered Gendo as he went back to the elevator.
Keel scowled at Gendo as the two of them walked into the lab room and towards the small little door at the side. Keel leaned heavily against his cane, an ivory walking stick with a metal tip at the end. The ivory was made from the tusk of a long extinct species of elephant, but the metal tip was so much more valuable by comparison that it seemed oddly out of place on the cane. The metal tip of his cane had once been the bloody end of a spear. Specifically the spear that was used by one of his long dead comrades to finish off the dying man on the cross so many years ago. He, along with a couple other Roman soldiers hoisted the man's cross up along with several others on that day and divided his clothes amongst each other by lots just as they had with so many others. Keel, during that time thought nothing of it, at least not until the sky had turned black and the earth shook and writhed underfoot. Keel knew, then, at that moment when it felt as if all light in the universe had been blotted out, that he and his fellow soldiers had committed a terrible sin for which no god, Mars, Zeus, or any other, would easily forgive. Unlike his fellow soldiers who had participated in the sin, the god he had helped slay apparently chose him, the soldier who had spat upon him while on the cross, to pay for that sin through service, forcing him to live beyond what a human should normally be able to endure, either physically or mentally, until humanity had faced the time of judgement that he had prophesied. Though his body was now well equipped to live beyond a normal human's means and he had shortly rejoiced at his immortality, at his core he now felt all two thousand of his years and wanted nothing more now than absolution for his sin so that he might finally rest. But absolution for his sin would only come if he was successful in leading humanity to its final destiny. Keel gripped his ivory cane tightly and walked through the door as Gendo held it open for him.
Inside Keel surveyed the room. This took about a two seconds, as he immediately saw that the room was so tiny and bare that there was not really much to say about it other than it appeared bleak, as if it was designed for the sole purpose of keeping its occupants soul thoroughly crushed. One of the rooms features, aside from the sink and the door it was the rooms only feature, was a small cot, and on it lay Rei II. Keel stared at the girl, stretching forth the same senses that allowed him to track down Adam and Lilith, and felt the angelic nature of the girl who lay on the cot before him. Keel frowned as he sensed something about her that wasn't there the last time he had examined this creature. "What's this that I feel, Ikari? Why do I sense one of Adam's brood here before us instead of one of Lilith's?"
"She was defiled by the sixteenth angel, and her soul was corrupted from it."
"WHAT," shrieked Keel. /No, this isn't happening. No. I must keep my head. I prepared for something like this. Everything will be fine./ "And what of Eva Unit - 01?"
"It never came into physical contact with that particular angel, it does not suffer from any such afflictions."
"Good, than we can still use her as a back up. She is to remain in cryo- stasis, frozen in balkalite."
"Understood."
Eva Unit - 01's soul was from a human, thus making the likelihood of success less likely now. Fortunately, its weaknesses could be compensated over time, something Keel would have in abundance once the final angel was destroyed.
"It's a good thing I got here when I did then. She should have been destroyed immediately. Perhaps her soul can still be of use to us."
"Yes, sir."
"Wake her."
"Yes, sir."
"No need, I am already awake." Rei II opened her eyes and fixed the two humans before her with a look that spelt out their doom in nice, block letters.
"Rei," Gendo gasped out in shock. The last thing he thought before his entire body dissolved into LCL was /this isn't Rei/.
Keel looked at the liquid remains of his former colleague and great- something grandson in law, an expression of outrage on his face. Rei slowly sat up and turned her head to face Keel, a small, cruel smile played on her lips. Keel inwardly trembled but two thousand years taught you nothing if not how to control one's own impulses, and so Keel outwardly kept up a prose of calmness. "You can't hurt me girl. I am unable to die until the day of humanities judgement. There is nothing you can do."
"No?"
"Can you overcome one of God's divine edicts?"
"No, but I do not require you to die for my own scenario to come to fruition." And as Rei spoke Keel began to feel a cloud come over his mind.
Keel screamed only once before he felt all that which made him himself snuffed out forever.
Ten minutes later:
Keel rode the elevator, satisfied that what had happened was for the best. Though Ikari had died in the struggle, he had brought the tip of his cane down over the girl's head destroying her forever. And though retrieving her soul was now lost, all things considered things worked out for the best. Ikari was dead, he would have the Sub-Commander take his place, and that would put an end to any fears that his scenario would be usurped.
Back down below:
Rei looked at the remains of the Commander, her face now having returned to that blank, unreadable look that she was so well known for. She had not really been planning on killing him, but something had just seemed to take over from within her. She shuddered at this thought, and returned to her cot, once again living out her life through the consciousness that she had bestowed upon Karou who was now running on a sort of semi auto-pilot of which only required a modicum of Rei's own attention. Soon this would not be necessary she told herself. Soon, she would be with Shinji, the only person to ever see her as a person instead of a tool or bizarre creature. She would be with him in her own flesh and not simply in the skin of one of her clones. Soon. But for now she simply would have to lie down and try to win his heart a second time from behind a mask. And if that didn't work she'd fry the imposter and retake her place.
In Shinji's apartment complex:
Auska and Misato walked with the slow, drawn out march of a funeral procession. After exiting the elevator, they, with an outward calmness, made their way to the door at the end of the hallway that led into Shinji's apartment. Inside Misato's head she was still screaming at the security guard: 'what the #@!$ hell do you mean he's got a teenage prostitute upstairs with him? You !@#$#!@, You let someone like that go upstairs with him?'
'Well. . .'
'That baka just got a girlfriend. Your telling us that he's already cheating on her? I'll kill him, even if it is Wondergirl he's cheating on! I'll kill him on principle,'Auska raged.
Misato opened her mouth to scream some more vile insults at him some more but the guard had smashed his fist upon the button for the security door in a frantic effort to avoid further punishment and so managed to avoid being told he was fired as the female duo both rushed into the elevator behind the door and then disappeared.
Now as Auska and Misato both walked up to Shinji's front door, both shaking with pent up rage, they wondered just what sort of debaucheries were going on from behind the door.
Inside Shinji's apartment.
"Oh-no," said Shinji. He had done what he had known he was going to eventually do shortly after buying Rooshi: he had tripped over the poor little dog when it had been weaving in between his legs. The dog, though completely unharmed, was now barking madly after just having his master trip and then fall on top of him while he was trying to scamper away.
The ramen noodles that Shinji had prepared for himself and Karou were now all over the floor now, and Shinji lay there on top of the mess sprawled with what felt like a sprained left ankle. Shinji winced as he put both of his hands to the floor and gently tried to raise himself to his knees, being careful to avoid putting any weight on the left portion of his body. Just then Karou walked out of the bathroom door, wearing a towel at her shoulders. Shinji did not notice as that he was facing the direction opposite of her. Karou frowned to herself, hoping for more of a reaction, and slowly made her way to where Shinji was. Sadly, she was far to focused on Shinji and did not notice that the mess on the floor except the noodles in front of Shinji. Kawru took two steps towards Shinji and immediately slipped heels over head on the ramen's broth beneath her, falling with a very loud SPLAT on the wet and sticky floor beneath her.
Somewhere underneath NERV headquarters Rei winced at the pain that came to her through the connection.
The wind knocked out of Karou, she choked and gasped for breath, although not nearly as loudly as Shinji did. Shinji stared down at Karou, looking for all the world as if he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Just then the door opened. Misato and Auska stared at Shinji. Shinji cringed as he saw the way that they looked at him. Misato's expression the type that was usually reserved for people who were on the verge of amputating their own arm to avoid death. Misato's mask of controlled, deadly seriousness was neatly counter balanced by Auska's expression, twisted with an inferno of rage, Auska's face looked lovely to Shinji even despite the fact that Shinji had little doubt that she was about to stomp into the ground.
"Ugh," said Karou as she rubbed her head and tried to stand.
"Shinji," began Misato in a quiet voice.
Shinji cowered, Karou stood, although her towel was now on the ground she appeared as calm as ever if somewhat dazed and bruised. Her appearance did not make the two fully clad women appear any less infuriated. /This is not what I wanted/, thought Karou. She watched as Auska walked to Shinji with her hand raised and about to slap him with all her might. Karou quickly grabbed it and twisted Auska's arm around behind her back producing a sharp yelp from the red haired girl. "That is uncalled for," Karou said evenly.
"Nagisa? You whore, who the hell do you think you are?!? Get your filthy hands off of me," Auska screeched.
"I am not a whore, I am simply waiting for the rain to stop. I gave Shinji a lift home on my bicycle and gave him my clothes to dry while I showered off."
Misato gave the girl a serious, angry look as she snatched the towel off of the ground and threw it at the girl. "If that is the case, young lady, than what are you doing out in the hall way stark naked?"
"I had a towel. I was simply retrieving my clothes when I slipped on the ramen on the floor and fell."
Misato opened her mouth to say something, but before she could Auska snarled, "you just walked out in front of the baka wearing only a towel? What if he got all horny and. . . ", before Auska could finish those words Karou twisted Auska's arm higher, causing Auska to yelp in pain and shock, now a small glare on Karou's face.
"If anyone has done anything wrong it is myself and only myself. Shinji in no way has done anything improper." Karou's crimson eyes shone with anger. And disappointment. Inwardly she sighed and decided that there was going to be no way to get these two women out of the apartment so she could recreate a few memories. The very best she could hope for was to leave with Shinji not hating her.
"I am very sorry for the problems I seem to have caused. I was so comfortable I simply forgot where I was and went out regardless of modesty. I apologize." This Karou said looking at Shinji. With a small bow to Shinji she darted to the dryer and fetched her clothes and then went back to the bathroom.
Karou sighed once the had door closed behind her. With her back to it she slowly allowed herself to slide to the floor. A few miles away Rei II drew back her consciousness from Karou slightly and wondered if life was supposed to be so complicated when you were in love. She had heard something to that effect, and yet, somehow, when overhearing her classmates talking about this guy or that girl, she had never heard of anything like this coming up. Rei II imbued the remodeled shell of her sister with her awareness once more and Karou arose.
Misato listened to Shinji explain all of the events that had lead up to the misunderstanding in the living room while holding Auska, who was glaring daggers at the bathroom door through which Karou had retreated, firmly by the shoulder, "I see, so Karou was just here to get out of the rain and wanted to dry off. Well the guard made a mistake Shinji, no one is aloud up here. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding but Karou is going to have to leave the moment that she is dressed."
"Will you please give her a lift then? She was really nice to leave school and give me a ride back to my apartment." Shinji neglected to mention the reason Karou gave Shinji for her kind behavior. His head was still reeling from what she said to him. Why in the world did she care about him. She didn't even know him. Still, he wanted to do something nice for her.
Karou stepped gracefully out of the bathroom, now fully dressed, her clothes dry once more, against all odds a small smile was on her face. Auska looked at the girl with disgust and muttered something in German under her breath. Shinji stared at her, and then said, "Karou, Misato says that this building is off limits to all non-personal. If it were up to me you could stay here for as long as you want, but since its not Misato has offered to give you a ride home."
"Thank you Ikari-kun." Shinji gave a small start at her saying his name. It touched on some memory that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
He walked over to the door and opened it for the three women and one by one they left his apartment. Shinji sighed after shutting his door behind the last one, Auska who wouldn't even look at him, and turned to clean up the mess on the floor. Rooshi was now silent as he lay curled up in his basket, apparently worn out from the excitement.
Shinji went into his hall closet to get himself a mop and some cleaner. But when he got back to the living room he nearly choked when he saw Karou standing there, with her arms at her side and a perfectly serene smile on her face.
"K-Karou?"
"I told them I forgot something so they let me comeback for a moment."
"What did you forget," asked a bewildered Shinji.
"Only this." And with that she walked up to Shinji, her crimson eyes entrancing him, and when she stood only a few inches away from him she bent over and kissed him on the lips.
Shinji fell back, tripped and landed on his backside while Karou giggled over him. With that she turned around and walked back out of the apartment.
Next: Rei III three becomes afraid of Rei II, sensing the piece of the sixteenth angel that was left inside of her. Fearing that she will eventually cause the destruction of the world she takes up arms against her. Rei III, however, finds that Shinji may be in the gravest danger of all from her warped twin.
"Ikari."
"Yes?"
"It is time."
"If you wish.
Keel stood before the Commander of NERV, in the Commander's own office, over head the sepheroth was carved onto the ceiling, representing all that the committee, and the Commander himself, struggled to bring into fruition. As Keel stood before Gendou, he analyzed him, trying to deduce what he was planning. For though he had seen many dark acts during his endless life, even Keel, who had known Ikari since he began manipulating one of his descendants to gain access to SEELE, was a little taken aback at how easily Ikari was permitting his doll to be destroyed considering that, by all accounts, false angel worshiped the Commander as her creator.
Though Keel was sure that he was more than capable of it, he was also sure that such a level of control which Gendou wielded over Lilith's heir was not something he would relinquish without a fight. Everything about this situation reeked of duplicity on Ikari's part, and so Keel had decided to witness the destruction of the former pilot of the lost Unit-00 first hand. He had also come to collect her soul. After her light was suitably scrambled, the young angel would be a completely new entity, one ready to obey a new master. Though Keel was sure Ikari did not know fully know how deep the differences between them were, Keel's cursed flesh was no longer mortal, but rather something distantly similar to angelic flesh, at least to the extent that organic matter could be to materialized light. Though it was no substitute by any stretch for what the pilot of the Unit-01 model had gone through, his own bizarre nature would allow Keel to be able to sense whether this was truly the artificial angel that he had instructed Ikari to create ten years ago or if it was simply some girl that the Commander had dragged off the street and altered to appear and behave as the creature he had named Ayanami, Rei.
Gendou walked from behind his desk and past the leader of SEELE, leading them both out of the office and to the elevator. Once they reached the bottom of the elevator's shaft they walked slowly through the cavern below to a lab room that had been carved into the stone wall of the cave. From inside the lab room they approached a small door at its side. Gendo reached for the knob of the door and turned it.
"Rei, do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Will you follow your orders and carry out your final mission?"
"Yes, sir."
Gendou stood and faced Rei, trying to understand what was going on her mind. He was fairly sure that he knew but he had to be certain. "Why"
Rei II actually smiled at him with an adoring expression on her face and she clasped her hands together. "Because you created me."
Gendou smiled at her and turned away. His smile immediately became a sneer when his back was turned to her and that deep rumble that passed as a chuckle could be heard as he walked out of her bare little room. /I must be better than I thought/, pondered Gendo as he went back to the elevator.
Keel scowled at Gendo as the two of them walked into the lab room and towards the small little door at the side. Keel leaned heavily against his cane, an ivory walking stick with a metal tip at the end. The ivory was made from the tusk of a long extinct species of elephant, but the metal tip was so much more valuable by comparison that it seemed oddly out of place on the cane. The metal tip of his cane had once been the bloody end of a spear. Specifically the spear that was used by one of his long dead comrades to finish off the dying man on the cross so many years ago. He, along with a couple other Roman soldiers hoisted the man's cross up along with several others on that day and divided his clothes amongst each other by lots just as they had with so many others. Keel, during that time thought nothing of it, at least not until the sky had turned black and the earth shook and writhed underfoot. Keel knew, then, at that moment when it felt as if all light in the universe had been blotted out, that he and his fellow soldiers had committed a terrible sin for which no god, Mars, Zeus, or any other, would easily forgive. Unlike his fellow soldiers who had participated in the sin, the god he had helped slay apparently chose him, the soldier who had spat upon him while on the cross, to pay for that sin through service, forcing him to live beyond what a human should normally be able to endure, either physically or mentally, until humanity had faced the time of judgement that he had prophesied. Though his body was now well equipped to live beyond a normal human's means and he had shortly rejoiced at his immortality, at his core he now felt all two thousand of his years and wanted nothing more now than absolution for his sin so that he might finally rest. But absolution for his sin would only come if he was successful in leading humanity to its final destiny. Keel gripped his ivory cane tightly and walked through the door as Gendo held it open for him.
Inside Keel surveyed the room. This took about a two seconds, as he immediately saw that the room was so tiny and bare that there was not really much to say about it other than it appeared bleak, as if it was designed for the sole purpose of keeping its occupants soul thoroughly crushed. One of the rooms features, aside from the sink and the door it was the rooms only feature, was a small cot, and on it lay Rei II. Keel stared at the girl, stretching forth the same senses that allowed him to track down Adam and Lilith, and felt the angelic nature of the girl who lay on the cot before him. Keel frowned as he sensed something about her that wasn't there the last time he had examined this creature. "What's this that I feel, Ikari? Why do I sense one of Adam's brood here before us instead of one of Lilith's?"
"She was defiled by the sixteenth angel, and her soul was corrupted from it."
"WHAT," shrieked Keel. /No, this isn't happening. No. I must keep my head. I prepared for something like this. Everything will be fine./ "And what of Eva Unit - 01?"
"It never came into physical contact with that particular angel, it does not suffer from any such afflictions."
"Good, than we can still use her as a back up. She is to remain in cryo- stasis, frozen in balkalite."
"Understood."
Eva Unit - 01's soul was from a human, thus making the likelihood of success less likely now. Fortunately, its weaknesses could be compensated over time, something Keel would have in abundance once the final angel was destroyed.
"It's a good thing I got here when I did then. She should have been destroyed immediately. Perhaps her soul can still be of use to us."
"Yes, sir."
"Wake her."
"Yes, sir."
"No need, I am already awake." Rei II opened her eyes and fixed the two humans before her with a look that spelt out their doom in nice, block letters.
"Rei," Gendo gasped out in shock. The last thing he thought before his entire body dissolved into LCL was /this isn't Rei/.
Keel looked at the liquid remains of his former colleague and great- something grandson in law, an expression of outrage on his face. Rei slowly sat up and turned her head to face Keel, a small, cruel smile played on her lips. Keel inwardly trembled but two thousand years taught you nothing if not how to control one's own impulses, and so Keel outwardly kept up a prose of calmness. "You can't hurt me girl. I am unable to die until the day of humanities judgement. There is nothing you can do."
"No?"
"Can you overcome one of God's divine edicts?"
"No, but I do not require you to die for my own scenario to come to fruition." And as Rei spoke Keel began to feel a cloud come over his mind.
Keel screamed only once before he felt all that which made him himself snuffed out forever.
Ten minutes later:
Keel rode the elevator, satisfied that what had happened was for the best. Though Ikari had died in the struggle, he had brought the tip of his cane down over the girl's head destroying her forever. And though retrieving her soul was now lost, all things considered things worked out for the best. Ikari was dead, he would have the Sub-Commander take his place, and that would put an end to any fears that his scenario would be usurped.
Back down below:
Rei looked at the remains of the Commander, her face now having returned to that blank, unreadable look that she was so well known for. She had not really been planning on killing him, but something had just seemed to take over from within her. She shuddered at this thought, and returned to her cot, once again living out her life through the consciousness that she had bestowed upon Karou who was now running on a sort of semi auto-pilot of which only required a modicum of Rei's own attention. Soon this would not be necessary she told herself. Soon, she would be with Shinji, the only person to ever see her as a person instead of a tool or bizarre creature. She would be with him in her own flesh and not simply in the skin of one of her clones. Soon. But for now she simply would have to lie down and try to win his heart a second time from behind a mask. And if that didn't work she'd fry the imposter and retake her place.
In Shinji's apartment complex:
Auska and Misato walked with the slow, drawn out march of a funeral procession. After exiting the elevator, they, with an outward calmness, made their way to the door at the end of the hallway that led into Shinji's apartment. Inside Misato's head she was still screaming at the security guard: 'what the #@!$ hell do you mean he's got a teenage prostitute upstairs with him? You !@#$#!@, You let someone like that go upstairs with him?'
'Well. . .'
'That baka just got a girlfriend. Your telling us that he's already cheating on her? I'll kill him, even if it is Wondergirl he's cheating on! I'll kill him on principle,'Auska raged.
Misato opened her mouth to scream some more vile insults at him some more but the guard had smashed his fist upon the button for the security door in a frantic effort to avoid further punishment and so managed to avoid being told he was fired as the female duo both rushed into the elevator behind the door and then disappeared.
Now as Auska and Misato both walked up to Shinji's front door, both shaking with pent up rage, they wondered just what sort of debaucheries were going on from behind the door.
Inside Shinji's apartment.
"Oh-no," said Shinji. He had done what he had known he was going to eventually do shortly after buying Rooshi: he had tripped over the poor little dog when it had been weaving in between his legs. The dog, though completely unharmed, was now barking madly after just having his master trip and then fall on top of him while he was trying to scamper away.
The ramen noodles that Shinji had prepared for himself and Karou were now all over the floor now, and Shinji lay there on top of the mess sprawled with what felt like a sprained left ankle. Shinji winced as he put both of his hands to the floor and gently tried to raise himself to his knees, being careful to avoid putting any weight on the left portion of his body. Just then Karou walked out of the bathroom door, wearing a towel at her shoulders. Shinji did not notice as that he was facing the direction opposite of her. Karou frowned to herself, hoping for more of a reaction, and slowly made her way to where Shinji was. Sadly, she was far to focused on Shinji and did not notice that the mess on the floor except the noodles in front of Shinji. Kawru took two steps towards Shinji and immediately slipped heels over head on the ramen's broth beneath her, falling with a very loud SPLAT on the wet and sticky floor beneath her.
Somewhere underneath NERV headquarters Rei winced at the pain that came to her through the connection.
The wind knocked out of Karou, she choked and gasped for breath, although not nearly as loudly as Shinji did. Shinji stared down at Karou, looking for all the world as if he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Just then the door opened. Misato and Auska stared at Shinji. Shinji cringed as he saw the way that they looked at him. Misato's expression the type that was usually reserved for people who were on the verge of amputating their own arm to avoid death. Misato's mask of controlled, deadly seriousness was neatly counter balanced by Auska's expression, twisted with an inferno of rage, Auska's face looked lovely to Shinji even despite the fact that Shinji had little doubt that she was about to stomp into the ground.
"Ugh," said Karou as she rubbed her head and tried to stand.
"Shinji," began Misato in a quiet voice.
Shinji cowered, Karou stood, although her towel was now on the ground she appeared as calm as ever if somewhat dazed and bruised. Her appearance did not make the two fully clad women appear any less infuriated. /This is not what I wanted/, thought Karou. She watched as Auska walked to Shinji with her hand raised and about to slap him with all her might. Karou quickly grabbed it and twisted Auska's arm around behind her back producing a sharp yelp from the red haired girl. "That is uncalled for," Karou said evenly.
"Nagisa? You whore, who the hell do you think you are?!? Get your filthy hands off of me," Auska screeched.
"I am not a whore, I am simply waiting for the rain to stop. I gave Shinji a lift home on my bicycle and gave him my clothes to dry while I showered off."
Misato gave the girl a serious, angry look as she snatched the towel off of the ground and threw it at the girl. "If that is the case, young lady, than what are you doing out in the hall way stark naked?"
"I had a towel. I was simply retrieving my clothes when I slipped on the ramen on the floor and fell."
Misato opened her mouth to say something, but before she could Auska snarled, "you just walked out in front of the baka wearing only a towel? What if he got all horny and. . . ", before Auska could finish those words Karou twisted Auska's arm higher, causing Auska to yelp in pain and shock, now a small glare on Karou's face.
"If anyone has done anything wrong it is myself and only myself. Shinji in no way has done anything improper." Karou's crimson eyes shone with anger. And disappointment. Inwardly she sighed and decided that there was going to be no way to get these two women out of the apartment so she could recreate a few memories. The very best she could hope for was to leave with Shinji not hating her.
"I am very sorry for the problems I seem to have caused. I was so comfortable I simply forgot where I was and went out regardless of modesty. I apologize." This Karou said looking at Shinji. With a small bow to Shinji she darted to the dryer and fetched her clothes and then went back to the bathroom.
Karou sighed once the had door closed behind her. With her back to it she slowly allowed herself to slide to the floor. A few miles away Rei II drew back her consciousness from Karou slightly and wondered if life was supposed to be so complicated when you were in love. She had heard something to that effect, and yet, somehow, when overhearing her classmates talking about this guy or that girl, she had never heard of anything like this coming up. Rei II imbued the remodeled shell of her sister with her awareness once more and Karou arose.
Misato listened to Shinji explain all of the events that had lead up to the misunderstanding in the living room while holding Auska, who was glaring daggers at the bathroom door through which Karou had retreated, firmly by the shoulder, "I see, so Karou was just here to get out of the rain and wanted to dry off. Well the guard made a mistake Shinji, no one is aloud up here. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding but Karou is going to have to leave the moment that she is dressed."
"Will you please give her a lift then? She was really nice to leave school and give me a ride back to my apartment." Shinji neglected to mention the reason Karou gave Shinji for her kind behavior. His head was still reeling from what she said to him. Why in the world did she care about him. She didn't even know him. Still, he wanted to do something nice for her.
Karou stepped gracefully out of the bathroom, now fully dressed, her clothes dry once more, against all odds a small smile was on her face. Auska looked at the girl with disgust and muttered something in German under her breath. Shinji stared at her, and then said, "Karou, Misato says that this building is off limits to all non-personal. If it were up to me you could stay here for as long as you want, but since its not Misato has offered to give you a ride home."
"Thank you Ikari-kun." Shinji gave a small start at her saying his name. It touched on some memory that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
He walked over to the door and opened it for the three women and one by one they left his apartment. Shinji sighed after shutting his door behind the last one, Auska who wouldn't even look at him, and turned to clean up the mess on the floor. Rooshi was now silent as he lay curled up in his basket, apparently worn out from the excitement.
Shinji went into his hall closet to get himself a mop and some cleaner. But when he got back to the living room he nearly choked when he saw Karou standing there, with her arms at her side and a perfectly serene smile on her face.
"K-Karou?"
"I told them I forgot something so they let me comeback for a moment."
"What did you forget," asked a bewildered Shinji.
"Only this." And with that she walked up to Shinji, her crimson eyes entrancing him, and when she stood only a few inches away from him she bent over and kissed him on the lips.
Shinji fell back, tripped and landed on his backside while Karou giggled over him. With that she turned around and walked back out of the apartment.
Next: Rei III three becomes afraid of Rei II, sensing the piece of the sixteenth angel that was left inside of her. Fearing that she will eventually cause the destruction of the world she takes up arms against her. Rei III, however, finds that Shinji may be in the gravest danger of all from her warped twin.
