I've noticed a distinct lack of good fics lately, save for a few exceptional writers. Despite the updates slowing almost to a halt, I promise you all that I will see this story through to the end. In the previous chapter it was revealed that Asuka had some sort of secret plan. Well, you'll be happy to know that she will implement it in this chapter… and that the unfortunate victim will be Kensuke. Did I say unfortunate?

-Chapter 23-

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The end of school came quickly, and all the students were shuffling about the room collecting their things so they could head back home. Asuka approached Shinji.

"Hey Shinji."

He turns and smiles. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to tell you that I won't be walking home with you tonight." She said.

"Huh?" He looked disappointed. "I have to walk home alone?"

"Aww, relax. I'll make it up to you later." She smiled at him. "I promise."

Shinji sighs. "Alright." He swung his bag over his shoulder. "I'll see you later then?"

"Yeah, I'll see you at home Shinji!"

"Bye." He replied as he walked out of the room. "You too Kensuke."

"Yeah, see you later man."

Shinji walked out of the door leaving Asuka and Kensuke alone in the room with the few remaining students.

"Alright then." Said Asuka as she turned to the boy. "Follow me."

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*Streets of Tokyo 3*

Kensuke was following closely behind Asuka as she was leading him towards the Geo-Front.

"So, you're really going to show me NERV and the Evas?" He asked excitedly.

"For the last time, YES!" She yelled at him.

"Wow! That is just so cool!" He laughed. "Maybe you really aren't so bad!"

Asuka just shook her head.

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*Other side of Town*

"Hey, Shinji, wait up!"

He turned around and saw Sakuya sprinting towards him. She finally caught up, gasping for breath.

"Oh, Sakuya, hello." Shinji rubbed his hand on the back of his head. "What are you doing here?"

Sakuya didn't reply, but instead looked around. "Where's Asuka?"

"She'll be coming home later." Shinji replied. "I don't know where she's gone."

Sakuya beamed. "That's great!" She then put an arm around his shoulder. "So Shinji, aren't you going show me around to your apartment?"

"I thought you already knew where it was."

"Nah, I only know which building it's in!" She said waving a hand dismissively.

"Hold on." Shinji stopped in his walk. "You actually want to come in to my home?"

"Yeah! We're friends right?"

"I suppose." Shinji looked at her suspiciously. "You aren't going pull anything like last time are you?"

Sakuya mock-pouted. "How could you say such a thing Shinji?"

"Alright." He submitted. "You can come over… but only for a little while."

"Great! I promise I'll behave!" She said excitedly as she pulled him in the direction of his apartment.

'I have no idea what Asuka would do if she finds her.' Shinji thought grimly to himself.

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*Entrance to NERV HQ*

Asuka swiped her card through the reader granting access to the structure within and she entered the large base, with Kensuke still trailing behind her. He could barely contain his awe as she led him through the impressive complex.

The bespectacled boy was still un-aware that the redhead was leading him on.

As the two approached a corner Asuka stopped in her tracks and turned to Kensuke.

"You wait here for a while, I have to do something."

Leaving him standing in the corridor, Asuka took off around the corner and out of sight.

'I wonder where she's going.' Kensuke though to himself, 'Boy, I can't wait to see where they store the Evas!'

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*Katsuragi Apartment*

The door opened and Shinji and Sakuya stepped in to the apartment.

"Well this is it." Shinji said.

Sakuya looked around the modestly decorated apartment. "Um, where's your bathroom?" she asked.

Shinji pointed to a door on her left. "That's it there."

She smiled. "Oh, okay." Walking towards it she said: "I'll just be a minute."

Shinji walked in to the kitchen to get a drink, but then he heard a scream coming from the bathroom.

Running in the direction of the bathroom, he saw Sakuya burst in through the door, slamming it shut behind her. She looked at him with a terrified expression.

"T-There's some sort of big bird…."

Shinji smiled in relief. "That's just Pen Pen." He told her.

She didn't look any less scared than before. "Pen-What?"

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*NERV HQ*

Asuka approached one of the armed guards stationed at the end of every corridor.

"Help me!" She said using her best distressed/scared voice. "There's this weird pervert with glasses who followed me in to the base!"

The guard looked down at her, and after a few seconds of contemplation, he figured out who she was.

Cocking his automatic weapon he said: "Where is he?"

"He's probably spying on me from behind that corner over there." She pointed to the end of the corridor.

The guard picked up his radio and spoke in to it. "There's an intruder in the base. Security proceed to section 51-A"

"Don't shoot him!" Asuka squealed. "I hate to see people die!"

The man raised an eyebrow. "Apprehend the subject, but do not open fire." He said in to the radio.

Asuka heard the reply a second later. "Roger! Proceeding to apprehend the intruder." She sighed in relief… her plan was going perfect.

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Kensuke was still standing in the corridor, waiting for Asuka to return.

"Where the hell is she?" He asked aloud.

*Click*

"Not in your position, that's for sure." A gruff voice replied from behind him.

The poor boy froze as he turned around to face the person who had spoken. There wasn't just one, but 4 men. All of them had automatic weapons, and were pointing them at his head.

Kensuke tried to form some coherent words, but by the time his brain resumed it's normal function he was being dragged away by two of the guards.

On the way to wherever it was they were taking him, the guards passed by Asuka. The girl stared at Kensuke's eyes, and then an evil grin formed on her face as she waved him away.

Suddenly the boy realized what was happening. "I've been set up!" He shouted. "Let me go!"

"Shut up!" One of the guards roared. "You won't be going anywhere for a very long time."

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*Deeper within the NERV complex.*

"The assimilation is complete." Doctor Akagi stated.

Gendo smiled. "Good."

"I still find it hard to believe that the Alien technology we recovered was compatible with our own." She said.

"That is irrelevant." He said. "All that matters is the fact we managed to apply it to Unit 01."

Ritsuko nodded as she left Gendo's presence. 'The power it has…' She thought to herself. 'It's too much for us to control.'

-To be Continued-

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That's all for this chapter. Poor Kensuke… he's facing a life sentence. Anyway, you'd be surprised by the course this story will take in the later chapters. There are still things to be done… and it isn't anywhere near it's end.