DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Eva series or characters, so don't sue me.

Yup, I wrote both these chapters at the same time, so sorry if they suck. Anyways, if Shinji seems OOC, then sorry. It's part of the plot. This isn't regular series Shinji, so keep that in mind. For one, this Shinji has grown up with actual friends and family. Okay? ^_^;;

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"Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these sunken eyes and learn to see

You were only waiting for this moment to be free."

~The Beatles, "Blackbird"

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* *

It just an average day.

Asuka came over to wake me up, like always. Then, we ran to school and still managed to be late, like always. Run into the new kid on the way to school, accidentally got flashed, and then had her ask the whole class whether me and Asuka were sleeping together.

Or, as she so delicately put it, was she "riding my balloony poony?"

I'm always the one who gets into these sorts of situations.

Sat in class, hung out with Touji and Kensuke, they're the same old perverts they always were. Went home, did my homework, like always, and watched TV, like always. Ate dinner, like always.

So, why am I laying in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering why today felt so different?

After all, nothing ever changes here, in this place. Everyday is always like this. Calm. Quiet. Stable.

Nothing out of place. Everything predictable.

Good old Tokyo, exactly as its meant to be.

What was different about today?

Well, I can rule out the new girl. We're getting a lot of new students lately. Besides, more people than I can count have made comments about me and Asuka. That's not it.

Class was as close to interesting as school can get. That can't be it.

Nothing was different. Nothing was out of the ordinary today.

So, why does it feel different? What are these emotions?

I feel...more free than usual. Relief too. Relief? What the hell am I relieved about? And why would I feel free?

Whatever the feeling was, I push it down and ignore it.

These are feelings I've had in the past, I can vaguely recall them. Sometimes, I feel these feelings that I never remember feeling before, and its like there is someone else inside of me. Someone else who has never felt simple love or happiness.

Someone who is me, but not me.

As always I ignore these feelings, and forget.

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* *

Outside of the Ikari household, a young, silver-haired boy sat in a tree, watching the sleeping Shinji.

Shinji wouldn't see him, unless he chose to be seen.

He smiled, chuckling slightly. "Well. This is quite a predicament, is it not?" He leapt, cat-like, landing without a sound on the grass.

"This is not the world that was intended to be created. The Dead Sea Scrolls never accounted for this possibility."

"On one hand, this world may be unstable. Some people may not want to accept a reality that may cause pain and suffering. On the other, Shinji and many others could be happier here then they ever got the chance to be before."

"And, I never expected to be given a body in this world. And angel returning was never even heard of."

"I wonder, what will become of this place? Will it be allowed to continue its existence, or will Shinji himself reject it?"

"I guess, I'll just have to continue to watch until a final choice is made. After all, this is still an unstable new world, for as much effort was placed into it." And with those words, spoken silently to himself, the boy turned, smiled once more towards Shinji's room, and was gone.