'Italics' - thought
------- - different place, different' time
"*blah" - German
******* - flashback
The Third Impact
Misato stood at the doorway of her house. The used plates for her breakfast were stacked at the sink, unwashed. The shower was dripping, the towels were wet, and the penguin lay in the bathtub full cold water.
Misato walked out of her apartment and walked to the elevator, her apartment door closing automatically and locking. She pressed the button for the elevator and waited.
'I can't believe I still have this job. I was just going to try it out and see if I like it. Well I guess it does have it's perks. Free food for an example, but there isn't that much time to eat it. It can get exciting sometimes and fun...' Misato suddenly snapped out of thought and looked up at the elevator door seeing it closed. 'Time passes slowly when you wait for an elevator by yourself....'
The elevator door opens after another minute. Misato gets on and the elevator begins going down.. It makes no stops, going straight to basement. Misato gets off and walks toward her car. She gets on and drives out of the parking lot and into the street. She turns her headlights on and drives into the darkness.
------The next day------
Shinji walks straight home, not waiting for anybody. He wanted time to think, and walking home with Asuka and Rei would not give him a chance. His mind raced as he thought about Katharina.
When he gets to his apartment he slides his card in and the door opens. He walks to the couch in his living room and sits down. He plugs his earphones into his ears and listens to music. He then lies down on the couch and closes his eyes.
---------------------
"Where is that baka!" Asuka yells at Rei.
"Perhaps he has gone already?" Rei says.
"He told us to come, he should wait for us!" Asuka yells again.
'Why is she yelling at me' Rei thinks but says, "He probably had to think about what he is going to say"
"I bet he waited for Katharina and they went together" Asuka says darkly, and then adds "So how are we going to get there?"
"I know where he lives" Rei says and begins walking.
Asuka follows and the two walk to Shinji's house in complete silence. After a while Rei sees a familiar looking purple haired woman walking across the street.
"Isn't that Ms. Katsuragi?" Rei says.
Asuka looks across the street. There was a purple haired woman and a blonde haired man holding hands walking away from them.
"I think it's Misato, but that doesn't look like Kaji-san" Asuka says.
Rei stares at them deep in thought and then begins walking again.
"Hey!" Asuka yells after her.
"There's no point throwing out our wild guesses let's go to Ikari-kun's house"
"But where's Kaji-san?" Asuka asks, still not taking her eyes of Misato.
"Ikari-kun might know" Rei says calmly.
"What how would Baka-Shinji-"
"Let's hurry" Rei says and walks even faster. Asuka struggles to catch up and the two quickly make it to Shinji's house.
---------------------
Katharina climbs the steps to the roof, holding the letter that she had received in her hand. She reached the top, opened the door, and stepped out. The sun was somewhat blinding but she could see a figure waiting for her. It was, as Shinji had stated, a random guy. Katharina had never seen nor spoken to him before. She walked up to him said "Hello" with a German accent, playfully.
"Ka..ka..ka...Katharina! I.. I..I... I'm s-so gl-gl-glad you c-came."
"Uh yeah.... you see about this letter, are you serious?" Katharina says, as if the guy wasn't stuttering his ass off like an idiot.
"W-well, yes ac-a-actually."
"Well then sorry, I can't help you. I am in looooove with a certain boy" Katharina says, smiling.
"Is it Shinji Ikari?" the boy asks.
"What makes you say that?" Katharina says, still smiling.
"You two seem very friendly in class"
"Is that all?" Katharina says.
"Well yes... If I'm wrong you can just-"
"Your right. Bingo, that's him." Katharina says.
"O...oh... I see well then..." The boy says now having calmed down.
"Yeah so, thanks for the letter but sorry!" Katharina says, still as joyful as ever.
"Okay...then" The boy says somewhat grimly.
Katharina stares for a second at the boy just to make sure he doesn't do anything rah like kill himself... she then walks over to the stairs and walks down it again. She walks out of the school and heads to Shinji's house.
----------------
*Ding Dong*
*Ding Dong Ding Dong*
"What the hell, he's not here" Asuka says pressing the doorbell a couple more times. Rei presses the door open button and the door opens as the "Unlocked" sign goes on.
"It's open" Rei says and walks in. She takes her shoes off and walks into the living room.
Asuka follows and takes her shoes off. She then sees Shinji sleeping on the couch.
"Baka-Shinji!" she yells and Shinji eyes slowly open. He tales one look at Rei and Asuka and takes off his earphones. He sits upright on the couch and faces them.
"Where's Katharina?" Rei asks.
"She's going to be late"
"Oh boy, so you got all upset and went home by yourself?" Asuka says, teasingly.
Rei gives Asuka a disapproving look which Asuka ignores.
"I wasn't upset. I was just tired... I needed some sleep" Shinji says.
"Tell us what has occurred" Rei says, sitting down on the couch next to him.
"Uh wait... Let me get you two a drink, do you want tea or coffee?"
"Water" Rei says.
"Tea" Asuka says, "I remember you make tea wel...." Asuka's voice goes lower toward the end of the phrase remembering the days when she had lived with Shinji. This action was obvious yet Shinji ignored it and proceeded making tea. He poured two cups and then poured Rei a cup of water. He brought the glasses over and took a seat in a chair across from the couch. Rei and Asuka sat at the couch sipping their drinks.
"Well...I'm not sure I know where to start..." Shinji says, unconfidently.
"Just tell the whole story" Asuka says.
"Well....I was given a choice" Shinji began "....For the first time in my life"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everybody is here, the A.T. fields have been removed from everyone. Now, you must choose what comes next.
"I don't get it"
You can reshape the world to the way you want it.
"What?! I can't do that? What if I make a mistake"
You will fix the mistake while you are still godly. For now you are free, you can do anything. But for everything that you do, you lose another freedom. Until finally, you are no longer divine and are yourself again. Trapped and unable to change anything.
"I can't do it...."
Fine then.
"That's it? You're not going to persist?"
Well if what you want is to live in the world as it is, then be my guest.
"Like... this?"
Yes
"But there's no one here...."
Yes there is. There is everyone here and soon, you'll be able to feel it.
"But this... this isn't right. It shouldn't be like this...."
So then fix it....
"..... I have to think about it"
Think about it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"And?!" Asuka asks/yells.
"Well I thought about it..." Shinji says, his eyes downcast onto the table, "and he came back to talk to me after a while"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you thought about it?
"Yes"
And you will change things?
"Yes"
I see....
"First..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yeah you're funny, you know you're going to go on" Asuka says.
"I know, but I don't want to go into details because it will take a while"
"What do you mean?" Rei asks.
"Well I had to remake all the normal stuff to you know like animals and traffic lights and whatnot. So all the basic stuff took a while. And then it got to the things I cared about."
"You kept Nerv" Asuka says, "But I'm not longer a pilot. Did you keep the Evas?"
"No, the Evangelions never existed in this world. And neither did Angels"
"But are there still angels... like in general?" Asuka asks.
"I don't know, maybe"
"What? What do you mean? You made this world!" Asuka says.
"Well it was really hard. You would have to use all your concentration. If I had thought about something meaningless at the wrong time I might have destroyed this world"
"So you're not sure about everything you did?"
"Not everything"
"....."
"......"
"......"
The three were silent for a while. Shinji had expected this the night before. There would be so many things they wanted to ask him, but they wouldn't know where to start. Suddenly the doorbell rang. Shinji yelled "It's open!" and Katharina walks in. She smiles and shouts "Honey I'm home!"
She then laughs and walks over to the living room, "I just wanted to see your reaction"
"Can't you be serious... ever?" Shinji asks.
"Yes.." Katharina says and then asks, "Can I use the bathroom?"
Shinji sighs and replies "Yes". He then points toward his bathroom.
"When Katharina gets back I'll explain to her. And then you can all ask me whatever you want to and I'll try to answer you're questions"
Katharina takes a while and when she walks out her hair was neatly combed and tied back in a pony tail. She looked much better with her hair up since it didn't look all messy and everywhere.
"So... what's the big story?" Katharina asks sitting across from Shinji next to Rei.
"Well.." Shinji tells Katharina the story and when finished sits back and waits for the questions.
Which immediately come.
"What's Nerv now?" Asuka asks.
"A science research facility" Shinji answers.
"Where's my sister?" Katharina asks.
"She's probably in Germany. I actually don't know why you're in Japan" Shinji says.
"When I woke up I was in Japan. I was in a hospital, badly injured. I had no idea what was going on but somebody had left me a number...." Katharina says.
"A number to what?" Shinji asks.
"A dance studio" Katharina replies, "and only two people really know about that"
"I...well... I don't know...." Shinji says.
It was obvious to Katharina what had happened. Rei had deduced it as well, only Asuka had no idea what was going on.
"So... how about my mom?" Asuka asks grimly.
"...No.. sorry" Shinji says in a low voice.
Asuka has a hurt expression on her face, but she wouldn't dare cry.
"Why?" She asks in a pathetic voice.
"I just didn't think of her... I'm sorry" Shinji says.
"I feel some changes in my mind. Emotions that I have never felt before I can understand... It didn't used to be like this, why is that?" Rei asks.
"I asked for someone that would understand me..." Shinji replies.
"I see..."
"So he took the angel out of you and made you human"
Rei's expression faints for only a moment but then her serious look returns again.
"I...see..." She says.
"And your mother?" Katharina asks. Shinji had told her many stories about his mother. And yet he did not live with her or his father.
"She's dead.. She died 15 years ago at the meteor crash in the north pole..."
"Shinji...." Katharina says.
"Where's Kaji-san!?" Asuka says as she remembers seeing Misato.
"Kaji-san..is..." It had to be Asuka who asked the question. He had already given her bad news, "gone" Shinji finished.
Asuka looked shocked, Rei just looked up at Shinji and Katharina smiled.
"What do you mean he's gone!?" Asuka yells jumping up and grabbing Shinji by his collar. "Did you forget about him too!?"
"...No.." Shinji says in a low voice.
"Then what? You wanted Misato to yourself or something!?" Asuka yells.
"Soryu-san can you sit down" Rei says trying to calm Asuka down.
"Who would leave such a big task to a baka like you anyway!" Asuka yells, "You messed everything up cause you're careless and you forgot!"
Shinji looks down. He didn't plan on telling anyone why he didn't bring Kaji back. He would just let them know it was intentional and let them hate him for it. And he would live with it.
"He didn't bring Ryoji back to avenge me" Katharina says, still smiling.
"What!?" Asuka yells dropping Shinji and looking back at Katharina.
"I just said it. Shinji did not bring Kaji into this world, to avenge me" Katharina says. She then looks over at Shinji.
Shinji looks up and stares at Katharina. 'She knows' Shinji thinks. 'Actually it's not that surprising now that I think about it, She was the only witness....'
"I'm asking what the hell that means!?" Asuka yells angrily.
"Kaji Ryoji killed me, so in return Shinji has killed him" Katharina says icily, "It's as simple as that"
Asuka fumed and then yelled, "Whaaaat!?"
"How many times do I have to repeat myself, Kaji-" Katharina was interrupted by a hard slap to the face.
"What the hell makes you so special! What makes you think that's really what happened!" Asuka yells.
"Asuka..." Shinji says softly. "Asuka, I'm so sorry"
Asuka looks down at Shinji with a manic look on her face. She opens her mouth to say something by no words come and she runs out the apartment. Crying.
"So... I guess there's no other questions?" Katharina asks, after a few minutes of silence.
Rei , who had remained silent all this time got up and walked toward the door.
"Hey Rei!" Shinji called.
"I need to go. I must think" Rei says, "But before I do, how many people have their memories?"
"Just us and Asuka. Everyone else has memories altered to fit this world. For example, Touji's sister was hurt in a car accident, not an angel attack." Shinji replies, "and Touji knows it. But we have memories of the old world. Not this one. That's why Asuka doesn't know about her mom, Katharina her sister, but Touji knows about his family.
"So Majo- er... Ms. Katsuragi does not have her memories?" Rei asks.
"Uh well no..." Shinji says feeling uncomfortable.
"Why did you decide to keep our memories?"
"I didn't want the old world to vanish" Shinji says.
Rei has a look of comprehension and says, "....Farewell then" She then leaves the apartment leaving Katharina and Shinji alone.
Shinji sat on his chair looking down thinking about the pain he had just caused Asuka. Katharina was rubbing her cheek.
"She actually hit me! And it hurt to! I'm gonna get her back..." Katharina muttered.
Shinji took no notice and continued starting blankly and thinking.
"Hey! A fair maiden is in pain, can't you do anything?" Katharina says.
"Huh?" Shinji asks looking up.
"I'm in pain!" Katharina says.
"Okay well... put some ice on it or something..." Shinji says.
Katharina looks down angry at the lack of attention. 'He never did this in Germany' Katharina thought and then sat on Shinji's lap.
"Wha What?" Shinji says startled. He then realizes what was causing the pressure and goes red.
"You did do that for me didn't you?" Katharina purrs, "You didn't just forget about him"
"He brought it up to me" Shinji says calmly.
Katharina was surprised Shinji had already recovered from blushing his guts out and being embarassed. 'Well, he has been through a lot' Katharina thinks.
"What do you mean?" She asks.
"He actually said, what about Kaji Ryoji?" Shinji replied.
"And you said?"
"I'm not quite sure. I said I need to think and that I had a flashback of what happened when... you know" Shinji says looking dark, "And I said no. I don't want him back"
"...I see" Katharina says smiling, looking very happy. Shinji continues looking down.
"Shinji look at me" Katharina says. Shinji looks up and sees her smiling.
"Danke sehr" Katharina says and then leans in to kiss Shinji.
Shinji was startled at first. And then a surge of memories open up inside him as he remembers the time he spent with Katharina in Germany. He remembers the last time he had touched her lips with his, and what a great feeling it was. But now, everything was different.
Shinji held Katharina back just inches away from his face. Katharina looked confused and look right into Shinji's eyes.
"You're welcome.... Kat" Shinji says, "But I can't do that. I don't have the right to"
Katharina still looks confused but inside she understood.
"I...I don't know..." Shinji says in a low voice and casts his eyes down one again, "You died, and I never would have imagined I would be here right now, looking at you again. I thought you were gone, and I couldn't live with it. And then..."
"And then?" Katharina asks.
Shinji takes a deep breath before responding "And then Asuka's sync rate went down, her pride was shattered, she was always mad, Misato began coming home less and less because of work and Kaji-san" Shinji was now talking really fast.
"And I was messed up and in no state to help Asuka in any way. I knew she was in pain and I just left her. I knew what I could do and I just didn't do it."
Katharina, despite Shinji's quick pace, listened to every word.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because I wanted you. I didn't want Asuka, I wanted you" Shinji says.
"Shinji...."
"I thought maybe, just maybe I could see you. Maybe there was something. Maybe that wasn't you that I saw dying in you're house...." Shinji says. He then sees the look on Katharina's face as he peeks at her. "I know, it's absurd and stupid. But that was my hope. And even that, was shattered."
"I talked a lot to Kaji-san when I got back to Japan. Misato was hardly ever there, so he tried to take care of us. He knew how emotional both me and Asuka were, so he tried talking to us. I did just that, telling him about you, talking about my parents, talking about Nerv.."
"And one day he confessed to me. I was lying in my bed, angry. I wanted to know who killed you, but she wouldn't tell me. Kaji-san came into my room and sat on the floor. I was facing away from him. He then just blurted it out"
"I was lying down, he was sitting, and we were both completely silent
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Misato didn't tell you about Katharina?"
Shinji remains silent.
"What did you want to know?"
Shinji still remains silent.
"I guess that's obvious......" Kaji says and them doesn't speak for the next few minutes.
Shinji lies there, waiting for Kaji to leave when he hears the words.
"It was me"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Wow, he told you himself? What did you do?" Katharina asks.
Shinji suddenly realized how weird this was. Here he was talking about avenging the death of the person he was presently talking to.
"Well I turned to face and and saw the serious look on his face and decided he wasn't joking. Then I asked why-"
"Skip what he told you. I don't want to hear it" Katharina says.
"What if it's not all true? I want to know what you really-"
"I don't want you to know" Katharina says, "I don't know what they told you, whether it's the truth or not, or how bad it is, but I never want you to know what I was doing. And if you already do, I don't want to know you do."
"That doesn't make too much-"
"Just go on with the story" Katharina says smiling again.
"That's about it. I asked him to leave my room. And that was it"
"And what about Asuka?" Kat asks.
"Oh... Well Kaji could have helped her, but she always wore a mask infront of him so he never knew how much pain she was in. I would saw that mask so many times, but I never said a word. I knew Asuka would kill me if I said anything. Or so I thought..."
"This better be getting to the point soon...." Katharina says.
"The point? What point?" Shinji asks.
"Well you started this story after rejecting my kiss and saying 'I can't'" Katharina says, "So it better end by telling me why you can't"
"Oh.. fine then. Well, I'm going to skip some parts, eventually Rei saved Asuka and Asuka's pride just died. The same night, Misato didn't come home and Kaji wasn't there either. So it was just us two. She avoided me and kept in her room, but eventually she had to eat with me. So we ate and we talked, or I talked, and she got mad. She ran to her room crying and I chased her because it was the first time I saw her cry."
Shinji's tone had become the same tone as when one would say "And blah blah blah, and blah blah blah".
"I stood outside her room for a long time. It was like 2 hours until she stopped crying and another hour before she opened the door"
Shinji was slowing down now, and his voice was quieter as he explained what happened.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What?" Asuka says, her eyes white with no signs of her previous behavior"
"I..uh- I just wanted to apologize. I want you to feel better but I don't know what to say because I'm bad at relationships...especially with you. I'm sorry I upset you" Shinji says
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!!!!" Katharina shouts interrupting Shinji.
"Huh?"
"You said that?!" Katharina asks.
"Well yeah....why?" Shinji asks.
"Well first of all, I can't imagine you saying that. And second, it's a sweet thing to say" Katharina says.
"Really?" Shinji asks surprised.
"Yeah, if that were me I would have pulled you closer, kissed you, dragged you into my room, locked the door, and kept you up all night" Katharina says in a joking voice. But inside, she knew if that really happened she might just do it.
"What's wrong?" Katharina asks as she sees the look on Shinji's face.
"Can I continue?" Shinji asks.
"Uh...sure" Katharina says.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I..uh- I just wanted to apologize. I want you to feel better but I don't know what to say because I'm bad at relationships...especially with you. I'm sorry I upset you" Shinji says
Asuka looks startled and Shinji has no idea why.
"Shinji?" Asuka says.
"Uh...Soryu?" Shinji says, suddenly feeling awkward as Asuka walks closer to him.
"Kiss me..... please" Asuka says.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shinji stops and Katharina was fuming.
"AND!?" Katharina yells.
"Well...she was wearing this really pretty gown and..."
"AND!?" Katharina repeats.
"I did" Shinji says in a soft voice.
"*That stupid bitch! I'm gonna kill her! Oh my god!" Katharina yells, in German.
"I'm not going to tell you anything else, but that wasn't the end of it" Shinji says, "And for that, I don't deserve to kiss you right now"
"Damn right you don't" Katharina says, "I can't believe you! You cheated on me!"
Shinji, who was willing to take insults and comments for this action her did, snapped at the last remark.
"I cheated on you!? You were dead!" Shinji yells back.
'She can be angry but that's nowhere near a valid accusation" Shinji thinks.
"So what? Don't I mean anything to you? Usually if your girlfriend dies you stay single for a while"
"We weren't officially going out in Germa-"
"We're not getting into that!" Katharina says, "so who do you want to be with now?"
'Blunt and straight to the point...' Shinji thinks.
"Well...I don't know" Shinji says.
"Great" Katharina says in angry sarcasm.
The two were quiet for the first time in a while. Katharina then gets up and heads to the door.
"I'm going" Katharina says.
Shinji gets up and walks toward the door. Katharina had already opened it and stepped outside.
"Do you want me to walk you?" Shinji asks.
"No, because today doesn't count" Katharina says. She looked serious, which was a rare sight.
"What?" Shinji asks confused.
"Nothing, I still have a chance don't I?" Katharina asks.
"What?" Shinji asks.
"Do I still have a chance with you?" Katharina asks.
'Blunt and straight to the point' Shinji thinks again.
"Yeah" Shinji says.
"Well then you better watch out. I won you once I'll win you again" Katharina says and walks away.
Shinji was dumbfounded. He closed his front door and walked to his room.
"Why does everything have to be so complicated" Shinji thinks.
---------------------
It was night. But Shinji was still lying on the same bed and he was still thinking about the same thing. Girls. Three girls, to be exact.
'Three girls... Kat seems to be confident. And she has a right to be. It seems the only one I really have a chance with is Kat. Asuka seems to hate me again and I'm beginning to see traces of the old Rei... Maybe I should just go with Kat...but Asuka... and Rei... ARGHHHHHH!'
"If I wait to long all the chances will pass me by" Shinji says outloud and immediately after, his doorbell rings.
Shinji opens his door to see his teacher at his doorstep.
"Uh... Ms. Katsuragi?" Shinji asks.
"Shinji-kun, this may be a little awkward but I have something I want to talk to you about" Misato says.
"Um sure, please come in" Shinji says but Misato doesn't move.
"It'll only take a minute. Shinji do you know what Nerv is?"
"No" Shinji says.
"Well it's this science facility. You know that big building you can see from school? Well... I work for them"
"What? But you're a school teacher" Shinji says trying to sound childish and ignorant. But his mind was racing. Why would Misato be working for Nerv. He had shaped the world so that Misato would no longer have anything to do with Nerv. This shouldn't be happening.
"Well my father works for them. And he wanted me to do something for Nerv instead of teaching, so I joined as a... well soldier"
'So she wanted to be in Nerv. I guess I have no control over that, but I was sure she wouldn't go back as long as she wasn't placed there to begin with...'
"They have an army?" Shinji asks.
"By the way, all the information I'm telling you doesn't leave the two of us" Misato says.
Shinji nods.
"Yes they have an army. Most of their findings and creations are in military sciences." Misato says.
Something clicked in Shinji's head.
"Why are you telling me all this?" Shinji asks.
"Well, my father and the head scientist both want to see you"
"What?"
"They want to meet you..." Misato says, "and draft you into their army" she finishes quickly.
"What?!" Shinji asks again.
"It's not dangerous, hardly anyone gets and field work. We're basically just a bunch of security guards." Misato says.
"...Why do they want me?" Shinji asks.
"I'm not sure. One day my father told me to get you."
".........."
"Shinji-kun can you at least-"
"I'll do it" Shinji says.
"What? You will?" Misato asks. Misato had always seen Shinji as somewhat of a quiet peaceful type.
"Yeah, it'll make your job easier won't it?" Shinji says.
"Thank you" Misato says, "Well I've taken up a lot more than a minute so I'm gonna go" Misato then leaves in a hurry.
'She doesn't want me to change my mind' Shinji thinks and then walks back into his house.
------------
"Rokubungi, why do you want that child here?" Dr. Katsuragi asks the head scientist of Nerv.
"I want to have the surveillance I can" Rokubungi answers.
"He will hardly be here, we have enough soldiers as it is"
"I will tell Major Katsuragi to train him, lengthening his stay here"
"...but why?"
"He will be important... eventually"
--------------
A/N: Another chapter finished. Let's see, I figure most of you know who Rokubungi is but for those who don't, you'll know in the next chapter. RuRsHeR, you review and understand the story really well. So if you review again, I want to ask you for some criticism. I'm sure you can give good ones. That's the review that stuck out, everyone else thanks for reviews. It's really annoying to tell what happend between now an the last story, so this will be the only time I do that. Which means I will eventually finish the other story. Probably... Maybe....
