' Fascinating.'
That was the only word the young man could think of to describe it. His mind filled with memories, faces, names, and places. He knew all these things his mind showed him yet he was also seeing them for the first time.
He had no idea how long he had been on the train, but to him time didn't seem that important. He often found himself wondering the train's purpose, or more accurately its destination. His memories told him that a train's purpose is to take you somewhere, yet looking out its windows he saw nothing but the same orange haze.
At first this had bothered him, but now he felt comfortable with it, he accepted it. The haze seemed to whisper to him, guide him, much like a father would. And this gave him an odd feeling of safety.
Every now and then a person would appear at the other end of the car, and they would just stand there staring. So far he had been able to put a name to each figure that had appeared. Shinji, Kensuke, Hikari, Asuka, Misato, Rei. Their names had come easily to him and he was pleased. But the most recent figure had him lost; no names or faces had come to him, just feelings. Feelings of... he was unsure what they were, but he knew he had a dislike for them.
But this one also appeared differently. The others had all been lifeless, standing still staring at him with cold dead eyes. But not this one, its eyes were scared, lonely and angry. Then its look changed again, its left arm and leg became transparent and disappeared.
And the look in its eyes was only pain.
############
Chapter 2
Fifth Child
Misato Katsuragi needed a drink, desperately. It had been about four hours since section two had brought Shinji back to the Nerv Headquarters and she still hadn't worked up the courage to face him. 'Why am I so afraid of this?' It was a question she had asked herself many times already, and every time she failed to find an answer.
" Still haven't talked to him huh?"
Misato didn't need to turn around; she knew the voice very well. Ritsuko leant against the wall and placed her hands in coat pockets. " I'm pacing myself."
" What are you going to say to him?"
Misato sighed heavily. " I have no idea, I guess it will depend on if he is even willing to listen."
" Well its up to you to make him agree to pilot again."
" So you can use him as a tool again."
" Unit-01 is refusing to activate for Rei and the dummy plugs. Commander Ikari believes that it will only activate for Shinji, which means that losing him now is not an option."
Misato felt her anger rising after Ritsuko's comment. 'What the hell is so special about Unit-01? What am I not being told about?'
" I know this is hard for you Major Katsuragi." Ritsuko turned to head away. " But you know as well as I do the fate of everyone depends on him piloting."
Misato stood silently as she watched Ritsuko leave. She knew Ritsuko was right, but it didn't make her feel better. Misato knew that Shinji hated piloting, and looking at him like a younger brother she hated making him do it. He had lost his trust in her after she didn't tell him about Toji being the fourth child.
Misato had visited Toji once in the hospital, though only for selfish reasons. She hoped it would help a little with the guilt she felt over everything that had happened, but it only served to make her feel worse.
There were many things she needed to make up for, and she was determined to do it. Misato opened the door and walked in.
############
Hikari Horaki walked home slowly, seemingly weighed down by her worries. Asuka had not stopped complaining about how Shinji had run away again, even though she hadn't really known him all that well Hikari still worried about him, it was just her way. Even though she never acted like it she had developed a soft spot for the three stooges, especially Toji.
Seeing him that day in the hospital was hard for her, she figured it would be hard for anybody to see the person they loved in that condition. She missed him terribly, since he was inside one of NERV's hospital's she had only been allowed to see him once by special permission. The only information she received about how he was doing was from Rei, who delivered his schoolwork to him.
Hikari had also been spending more time with Kensuke. He had affectively lost his two best friends at the same time in horribly tragic circumstances, and it showed. For someone who used to be so energetic and full of love, especially about military things, he was now much more subdued. He still didn't know exactly what happened to Toji, Hikari wanted to tell him but a condition bout being able to see him was that she wouldn't tell anyone about his condition.
Everything seemed to be falling apart and she couldn't do anything to stop it. Even Asuka seemed to be having problems, the way she talked about Shinji now didn't have what she'd call anger in it, more sadness and hurt.
She'd heard Shinji talking about how the Eva's only seemed to cause pain; She had never really believed that. But when she thought about what they were doing to her friends, the people she loved and cared about.
Hikari made the decision that Shinji was right.
############
Shinji stood at the door leading into the Katsuragi apartment, the place he had called home for the past few months, the only place he actually ever felt at home. He had been standing there only a few minutes but to him it felt like forever.
After Misato came to see him and they decided he should come home, she dropped him off at the apartment and went back to work. Shinji somewhat understood that she couldn't get out of work, but he would of liked to talk a bit more.
After finally deciding to go in he found Asuka sitting at the kitchen table. He could tell she was angry; it wasn't hard for him, or anyone, to determine when the German girl was angry. When she noticed that he was there she didn't say anything, she just stared. Shinji kept quiet, he knew from experience that in these situations the slightest thing could set her off.
Asuka finally stood up and slammed her fists onto the table. " Well, look who has decided to come back, the invincible Shinji. What's the matter, couldn't handle it out there? Decide to come back to where people kiss your ass wherever you go?"
Shinji didn't say anything, he couldn't. The look she was giving him told him that whatever he said was going to be the wrong thing.
" Well, I'm waiting." With her hands on her hips Asuka stood in her clichéd pissed off stance.
" Sorry."
" There it is, always apologizing like the pathetic little worm you are." She stood up and pushed him hard into the wall. " What happened, you just decide to run away and leave us to clean up your mess. You disgust me." She backed off a little, but the look in her eyes said she was far from finished.
" I...I just had to get away Asuka."
" Oh you did, well news flash so do the rest of us, but you don't see us running away. But you're the invincible Shinji; everything you do is forgive and forget. Everyone kisses your ass because they depend on you to save them, to hell with the rest of us." Asuka finally lost control, and she hit him, hard. The sound could be heard through the entire apartment, and it left Shinji lying on the floor. " Now you listen to me third child, from here on in you stay the hell out of my way."
Asuka stormed out of the apartment, leaving Shinji on the ground holding his very sore face.
############
" So the fifth child has been found."
"Yes. I believe we have found a child who should be compatible with Unit-03." Ritsuko stood behind the commander as she always did. This happened every time, almost as if her standing beside him was challenging his power.
" When will they be informed?"
" Officially tomorrow. I believe Major Katsuragi has asked to inform the second and third children tonight. So there is a high chance the second will inform them before I do, I believe pilot Soryu is good friends with the fifth."
" That doesn't really matter. Do you foresee any problems with the activation?"
" No sir. There is still a slight abnormality in the LCL, but we now detecting something similar in Unit-00, we have run numerous tests on it while its been active and it has been running at optimal performance." Ritsuko turned to leave. " I don't think there will be any problems sir."
As Ritsuko left, Gendo allowed himself a small smile as he looked at Unit-03's black features. At first he had been slightly disturbed at the rumors of SEELE preparing to attack NERV. But soon Gendo Ikari would have four operational Eva's under his command, while SEELE only had at most two of the mass produced Eva series. Odds he liked.
'Let the old fools come.'
############
Hikari waited patiently for the door to open, having nothing else to do she decided to go see Asuka, things had been changing to much recently and she wanted to just hang out like they used to. Hikari almost choked from surprise as the door opened to reveal Shinji with a very swollen face.
" Oh my god, Shinji are you okay? Wh.. What happened?" He seemed to mumble a reply, but she already knew the cause, the redhead whom she had been speaking. Hikari wasn't surprised to learn that Asuka had acted this way upon seeing Shinji again. " You should put something on that."
Hikari didn't give Shinji a chance to say it was fine before she was past him and into the fridge looking for ice. Hikari felt ashamed for just barging into someone else's apartment, but she knew that if she didn't Shinji would not do anything to control the swelling himself. After finding some ice and wrapping it in a towel she gave it to Shinji who placed it on his face. He sat at the table and shivered as he pressed the ice pack against his face.
" Thank you." He said. His eyes glanced downward at the table.
Hikari just smiled at him. "Your welcome." She sat down across the table from him. " How did it happen?" She knew very well who did it to him, but at the moment she just wanted to get him talking.
" A...Asuka was upset with me."
" I know, I could tell from the way she was talking at school." She paused, studying his expression. " Toji and Kensuke miss you. I think Rei does to."
Hikari knew by the way his shoulders stiffed up at the sound of Toji's name that talking about him was painful, she knew that to well.
" Rei says he is doing well. She takes his schoolwork to him for me." She could tell he wasn't really listening, but she kept on regardless. " Asuka told me what happened. No one thinks it's your fault what happened." She had to work hard to keep her tears at bay.
" It is." His voice was very soft. " I should have done more."
Hikari was about to answer when the door opened and Misato walked in; she noticed the very tired look on the older woman's face.
" Hello Miss Katsuragi." Hikari said. The older woman smiled at her before making her way to the fridge and pulling out a beer before taking her place at the table.
" Miss Horaki I'm glad you're here."
Hikari was now becoming very concerned. ' Why would she be glad I'm here?'
" I had something important to tell Shinji and Asuka, but it also concerns you as well."
' What is going on, what could she have to tell me?' Hikari's heart sunk. 'Oh no, something's happened to Toji. Why else would she have that look on her face.'
Shinji had now taken interest in what Misato was saying. A look of concern also taking over his features.
" I was hoping Asuka would be here as well. It's about the fifth child. They have been found."
The way Misato looked at her made Hikari's heart sink for the second time that day.
' It can't be.'
To Be Continued...
That was the only word the young man could think of to describe it. His mind filled with memories, faces, names, and places. He knew all these things his mind showed him yet he was also seeing them for the first time.
He had no idea how long he had been on the train, but to him time didn't seem that important. He often found himself wondering the train's purpose, or more accurately its destination. His memories told him that a train's purpose is to take you somewhere, yet looking out its windows he saw nothing but the same orange haze.
At first this had bothered him, but now he felt comfortable with it, he accepted it. The haze seemed to whisper to him, guide him, much like a father would. And this gave him an odd feeling of safety.
Every now and then a person would appear at the other end of the car, and they would just stand there staring. So far he had been able to put a name to each figure that had appeared. Shinji, Kensuke, Hikari, Asuka, Misato, Rei. Their names had come easily to him and he was pleased. But the most recent figure had him lost; no names or faces had come to him, just feelings. Feelings of... he was unsure what they were, but he knew he had a dislike for them.
But this one also appeared differently. The others had all been lifeless, standing still staring at him with cold dead eyes. But not this one, its eyes were scared, lonely and angry. Then its look changed again, its left arm and leg became transparent and disappeared.
And the look in its eyes was only pain.
############
Chapter 2
Fifth Child
Misato Katsuragi needed a drink, desperately. It had been about four hours since section two had brought Shinji back to the Nerv Headquarters and she still hadn't worked up the courage to face him. 'Why am I so afraid of this?' It was a question she had asked herself many times already, and every time she failed to find an answer.
" Still haven't talked to him huh?"
Misato didn't need to turn around; she knew the voice very well. Ritsuko leant against the wall and placed her hands in coat pockets. " I'm pacing myself."
" What are you going to say to him?"
Misato sighed heavily. " I have no idea, I guess it will depend on if he is even willing to listen."
" Well its up to you to make him agree to pilot again."
" So you can use him as a tool again."
" Unit-01 is refusing to activate for Rei and the dummy plugs. Commander Ikari believes that it will only activate for Shinji, which means that losing him now is not an option."
Misato felt her anger rising after Ritsuko's comment. 'What the hell is so special about Unit-01? What am I not being told about?'
" I know this is hard for you Major Katsuragi." Ritsuko turned to head away. " But you know as well as I do the fate of everyone depends on him piloting."
Misato stood silently as she watched Ritsuko leave. She knew Ritsuko was right, but it didn't make her feel better. Misato knew that Shinji hated piloting, and looking at him like a younger brother she hated making him do it. He had lost his trust in her after she didn't tell him about Toji being the fourth child.
Misato had visited Toji once in the hospital, though only for selfish reasons. She hoped it would help a little with the guilt she felt over everything that had happened, but it only served to make her feel worse.
There were many things she needed to make up for, and she was determined to do it. Misato opened the door and walked in.
############
Hikari Horaki walked home slowly, seemingly weighed down by her worries. Asuka had not stopped complaining about how Shinji had run away again, even though she hadn't really known him all that well Hikari still worried about him, it was just her way. Even though she never acted like it she had developed a soft spot for the three stooges, especially Toji.
Seeing him that day in the hospital was hard for her, she figured it would be hard for anybody to see the person they loved in that condition. She missed him terribly, since he was inside one of NERV's hospital's she had only been allowed to see him once by special permission. The only information she received about how he was doing was from Rei, who delivered his schoolwork to him.
Hikari had also been spending more time with Kensuke. He had affectively lost his two best friends at the same time in horribly tragic circumstances, and it showed. For someone who used to be so energetic and full of love, especially about military things, he was now much more subdued. He still didn't know exactly what happened to Toji, Hikari wanted to tell him but a condition bout being able to see him was that she wouldn't tell anyone about his condition.
Everything seemed to be falling apart and she couldn't do anything to stop it. Even Asuka seemed to be having problems, the way she talked about Shinji now didn't have what she'd call anger in it, more sadness and hurt.
She'd heard Shinji talking about how the Eva's only seemed to cause pain; She had never really believed that. But when she thought about what they were doing to her friends, the people she loved and cared about.
Hikari made the decision that Shinji was right.
############
Shinji stood at the door leading into the Katsuragi apartment, the place he had called home for the past few months, the only place he actually ever felt at home. He had been standing there only a few minutes but to him it felt like forever.
After Misato came to see him and they decided he should come home, she dropped him off at the apartment and went back to work. Shinji somewhat understood that she couldn't get out of work, but he would of liked to talk a bit more.
After finally deciding to go in he found Asuka sitting at the kitchen table. He could tell she was angry; it wasn't hard for him, or anyone, to determine when the German girl was angry. When she noticed that he was there she didn't say anything, she just stared. Shinji kept quiet, he knew from experience that in these situations the slightest thing could set her off.
Asuka finally stood up and slammed her fists onto the table. " Well, look who has decided to come back, the invincible Shinji. What's the matter, couldn't handle it out there? Decide to come back to where people kiss your ass wherever you go?"
Shinji didn't say anything, he couldn't. The look she was giving him told him that whatever he said was going to be the wrong thing.
" Well, I'm waiting." With her hands on her hips Asuka stood in her clichéd pissed off stance.
" Sorry."
" There it is, always apologizing like the pathetic little worm you are." She stood up and pushed him hard into the wall. " What happened, you just decide to run away and leave us to clean up your mess. You disgust me." She backed off a little, but the look in her eyes said she was far from finished.
" I...I just had to get away Asuka."
" Oh you did, well news flash so do the rest of us, but you don't see us running away. But you're the invincible Shinji; everything you do is forgive and forget. Everyone kisses your ass because they depend on you to save them, to hell with the rest of us." Asuka finally lost control, and she hit him, hard. The sound could be heard through the entire apartment, and it left Shinji lying on the floor. " Now you listen to me third child, from here on in you stay the hell out of my way."
Asuka stormed out of the apartment, leaving Shinji on the ground holding his very sore face.
############
" So the fifth child has been found."
"Yes. I believe we have found a child who should be compatible with Unit-03." Ritsuko stood behind the commander as she always did. This happened every time, almost as if her standing beside him was challenging his power.
" When will they be informed?"
" Officially tomorrow. I believe Major Katsuragi has asked to inform the second and third children tonight. So there is a high chance the second will inform them before I do, I believe pilot Soryu is good friends with the fifth."
" That doesn't really matter. Do you foresee any problems with the activation?"
" No sir. There is still a slight abnormality in the LCL, but we now detecting something similar in Unit-00, we have run numerous tests on it while its been active and it has been running at optimal performance." Ritsuko turned to leave. " I don't think there will be any problems sir."
As Ritsuko left, Gendo allowed himself a small smile as he looked at Unit-03's black features. At first he had been slightly disturbed at the rumors of SEELE preparing to attack NERV. But soon Gendo Ikari would have four operational Eva's under his command, while SEELE only had at most two of the mass produced Eva series. Odds he liked.
'Let the old fools come.'
############
Hikari waited patiently for the door to open, having nothing else to do she decided to go see Asuka, things had been changing to much recently and she wanted to just hang out like they used to. Hikari almost choked from surprise as the door opened to reveal Shinji with a very swollen face.
" Oh my god, Shinji are you okay? Wh.. What happened?" He seemed to mumble a reply, but she already knew the cause, the redhead whom she had been speaking. Hikari wasn't surprised to learn that Asuka had acted this way upon seeing Shinji again. " You should put something on that."
Hikari didn't give Shinji a chance to say it was fine before she was past him and into the fridge looking for ice. Hikari felt ashamed for just barging into someone else's apartment, but she knew that if she didn't Shinji would not do anything to control the swelling himself. After finding some ice and wrapping it in a towel she gave it to Shinji who placed it on his face. He sat at the table and shivered as he pressed the ice pack against his face.
" Thank you." He said. His eyes glanced downward at the table.
Hikari just smiled at him. "Your welcome." She sat down across the table from him. " How did it happen?" She knew very well who did it to him, but at the moment she just wanted to get him talking.
" A...Asuka was upset with me."
" I know, I could tell from the way she was talking at school." She paused, studying his expression. " Toji and Kensuke miss you. I think Rei does to."
Hikari knew by the way his shoulders stiffed up at the sound of Toji's name that talking about him was painful, she knew that to well.
" Rei says he is doing well. She takes his schoolwork to him for me." She could tell he wasn't really listening, but she kept on regardless. " Asuka told me what happened. No one thinks it's your fault what happened." She had to work hard to keep her tears at bay.
" It is." His voice was very soft. " I should have done more."
Hikari was about to answer when the door opened and Misato walked in; she noticed the very tired look on the older woman's face.
" Hello Miss Katsuragi." Hikari said. The older woman smiled at her before making her way to the fridge and pulling out a beer before taking her place at the table.
" Miss Horaki I'm glad you're here."
Hikari was now becoming very concerned. ' Why would she be glad I'm here?'
" I had something important to tell Shinji and Asuka, but it also concerns you as well."
' What is going on, what could she have to tell me?' Hikari's heart sunk. 'Oh no, something's happened to Toji. Why else would she have that look on her face.'
Shinji had now taken interest in what Misato was saying. A look of concern also taking over his features.
" I was hoping Asuka would be here as well. It's about the fifth child. They have been found."
The way Misato looked at her made Hikari's heart sink for the second time that day.
' It can't be.'
To Be Continued...