Drey-chan, stop that! Don't give me that look. Just because I have no knowledge about what's supposed to happen doesn't mean that I can't fake it.
Silence
Um, you didn't just read that.
Disclaimer: Ever notice how some people are really insecure about the things they own? Like the people who insist on people like me putting on disclaimers. It's not like I'm making any money off of this. Yet they still demand that I always say: "I don't own Eva." It's sad.
Chapter 55: Fourth Impact
Misato looked around again. The clean up of the Geofront was going well, at least in the part intended for Misa's wedding. But then, she was the unofficial mascot of NERV, and virtual daughter to everybody there. They wanted to show how much they loved her.
"No, no, no, put that over there!" she shouted through the megaphone. "What have I told you people about blocking the view?"
She turned to see Kaoru and Rei landing beside her, having finished setting up the cameras. "The cameras are set up. Is Ritsu-kun around?" asked Kaoru.
"Over there." She pointed to where Ritsuko and Maya were arguing about something. "You'll have to wait a bit for the wiring."
"What about the dome?" asked Rei. "Shall we start on that?" Misato looked up. The holes in the ceiling of the Geofront were being fixed, slowly. The one right above the wedding area was already patched up, but there were a few others that could let cold drafts in.
"See if you can help the construction crews. I'll tell you when Ritsu-chan is done."
Her phone rang. "Commander, Unit 16 is here." Misato smiled.
"Bring the children here. Show Unit 16 to the catapults and move it into the main chamber."
Big day. Big day. Big day. The words echoed in Misa's head over and over, threatening to drive her insane. "If someone says that it's the 'big day' one more time, I'm going to strangle him."
She shook the feeling off. She needed to call Lilliko about the kimono. For the first time in a week Misa was at her own house, because of the tradition of the husband and wife not seeing each other until the wedding. She rolled her eyes. "Stupid custom."
She dialed up Lilliko's phone. "Lilli-chan?" She asked. A giggle answered her.
"Hi, Misa-chan—Takoru-chan! No! Not while I'm on the phone!" Misa's eyebrows furrowed.
"About the kimono—"
"Takoru-chan! Take your hand out of my—" Lilliko gasped, then burst into giggles. Misa's eyebrows furrowed even further as a muffled grunt was heard in the background.
"Is this a bad time?" she asked, a possible scenario forming in her head.
"No, it's fine." Lilliko sounded out of breath. "It's just that Takoru-chan—Takoru! No! Not with your tongue!" Another gasp came through the phone.
Misa quickly hung up, horrified. What had they been doing?
A few minutes later her phone rang, and she picked it up. "Sorry, Misa-chan." Said Lilliko. "Takoru-chan had found his way into my stock of sugar cubes and had decided to take a few." Misa blinked. "He'd gotten his head stuck when he'd tried to go too far into my closet, that's why I was laughing so hard." Misa blinked again. It sounded a bit contrived, but in the interest of surviving until the wedding…
"Fine, fine, I don't need to know what was really happening. Anyway, about the kimono…"
Adamu stared as he caught sight of his bride. A beautiful, forming fitting red kimono, embroidered with yellow flowers and butterflies. Her hair had been done in an intricate weaving of braids and beads, hanging down to her waist.
But most beautiful were her eyes, shining brightest blue and reflecting everything around. It filled him with indescribable joy to know that those eyes were shining for him, and him only.
She stepped onto the walkway leading to the altar and the ceremony began.
Asuka surprised everyone by breaking into tears, but managed to glare at everyone enough to keep them from commenting. Rei only sat with her eyes wide and a smile on her lips, clutching her husband fondly.
"We never did this." She whispered. "Why not?"
"We didn't feel it necessary, remember?" he replied. "Our vows were much more private."
"They're so young…" Asuka sobbed to her husband. "This is all your fault, you know. If you hadn't pushed her, we could have kept her for another few months." She hit him absently.
Shinji didn't, couldn't reply.
Misa and Adamu were completely oblivious to everything but each other, keeping their eyes locked throughout the entire event. They didn't even need Misa's empathic ability to know what the other was feeling. I love you, forever.
Misato presided, being the only authority that everyone could agree on. For once the woman was sober, but in open defiance of tradition, she wore her NERV Commander uniform instead of vestments. And she wore her cross on the outside of her shirt.
They had gotten as far as the sake ceremony when Lilliko's gift burst apart in a shower of sparks, streamers, and whipped cream. Takoru's present started yipping and bounced off the table, splitting into two furry balls and running off in different directions.
Silence
Then the cake exploded.
Misato grinned as everything was caught on camera.
A few chaotic hours later, Misa and Adamu found themselves the guests of honor at the biggest, fanciest restaurant/hotel in Tokyo 4.
"A toast." Kaoru proclaimed. "To my son and my new daughter. May they love each other for all eternity."
"And give us lots of cute children to play with." Rei added.
Glasses were raised to the blushing couple. "Thank you," Misa replied, since Adamu seemed unable to even speak. Seeing an opportunity, Misa smirked. "I must say, when I first met him I never would have expected this. He was such a jerk…"
Adamu almost choked, but Misa continued mercilessly. "…And all he could think about was getting away from everyone. Doesn't that sound rude to you…"
When she finished, Adamu stood up, glaring at his grinning wife. "Well, then. My turn." He looked about the table, at all of the people who were awaiting his biting retorts to her accusations. "Where to start? I guess…when we first met, almost a year ago, I thought she was a rather silly girl, prone to squealing and laughing at the slightest things. As I came to know her, I found that I was completely, totally…" he shot her another glare, "correct. She is one of the silliest, most simple-minded…"
After the biting commentary from husband and wife, the dancing started. Ariline, Dai-syo and Samantha ducked out early to return to Kyoto, but everyone else remained, dancing and drinking and offering congratulations…among other things.
The presents were handed out, and Misa found herself passed from partner to partner, as did Adamu. Finally, it was Takoru's present, a pair of twin pups, which pulled them off the dance floor. The puppies were yipping, and Misa took off to try and calm them down. Adamu could only follow, hiding his relief.
"Well, you could probably guess what my present was supposed to do." Lilliko remarked a while later. "I thought I had set it to go off right after the reception finished, but apparently, owing to a certain idiot, I didn't put enough charcoal in." she glared at her boyfriend, who tried to put on an innocent face.
Misa laughed, stroking one of Takoru's presents. The ash-grey puppy yawned and settled deeper into her lap.
A little while later, Adamu stood up, depositing the puppy in his lap on a chair. "Do you mind if we leave a bit early?" he asked. "That look in my sister's eye doesn't bode well."
Misa glanced at her fiancé—husband, she reminded herself firmly. "Oh?"
"I keep getting the oddest feeling," he whispered to her, "that she, in collusion with certain other people, will force us to consummate right in front of them, and I want to get away." Misa's eyes widened and she nodded vigorously.
"Right. Let's go." She placed the puppy on the cushion beside her, but before she could get up, Adamu swept her off her feet and carried her away.
He carried her to the suite they had rented for the night and locked the door. "Finally." He sighed with relief, turning back to his wife. "I thought I'd never get away."
She shook her head. "You really hate social events, don't you." He nodded vigorously.
"Well, maybe you shouldn't have married the daughter of NERV."
"Perhaps you're right." He agreed. "Do you think I could give her back?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Just kidding."
She grabbed the front of his shirt, yanking him forward so that their noses were almost touching. Glaring into his eyes, she hissed, "Next time that you make a joke like that, drop the straight face so that I know that you're doing so. I am one of the most jealous girls on the planet, and you are mine now. Mine!"
He nodded meekly. An awkward silence descended on the couple.
"So?" she asked. He blinked. "What are you waiting for?"
"Huh?" he asked stupidly.
"I already told you what I want from you, now either start moving or get the divorce papers." He blinked again, then, without warning, tackled her onto the bed.
That night, two teenagers became adults as they became one. Adamu and Misa. Lillith and Adam.
Impact.
AN: Bet you didn't see that coming. I didn't. For once, Drey-chan actually managed to hide something from me. Pout.
Anyway, one last chapter, then the epilogue, and then you can go back to your life and your friends and family and leave us all alone, *cries* I don't want to be alone!
Silence
Never mind.