The first thing he noticed was the feeling of motion stop, then the sound of a bell ringing in the distance. As the doors opened he realized that he had reached his destination.
The figures had stopped appearing to him long ago, all except for the pained one. That figure had lingered far longer then the others, just staring. But one thing the boy did notice was that the longer it stayed the paler its complexion got. Its hair and skin changed, and its eyes, they seemed to turn to... the color of blood was the best he could do to describe it. When the pained one finally left him it seemed to no longer be the same, it had changed.
It changed in more then just appearance; its features seemed to become calm, thoughtful and then turned to hatred just before it vanished. These changes troubled the boy immensely; he had no idea of what to make of the pained one. But he also felt something new to him; he felt an urge to help the pained one but had no idea how.
'Perhaps this place will help me find answers.'
He stepped out of the train and into a hallway. The hall way had no light source but he had no trouble seeing clearly. The floor was covered with bodies. Men, women, children piled up to the sides, They seemed to be doing so just to allow him access through this hall of death.
He felt sadness as he looked at the bodies, somehow he could hear the terror of their deaths.
The end of the hallway held a door, he was unsure if he should proceed but he knew that the answers he was seeking would not show themselves if he stopped now. He closed his eyes and opened the door.
On the other side was a room born of nightmares.
############
Chapter 3
Friendship
Hikari sat on a bench overlooking the ocean. She ran out of the Katsuragi apartment a few minutes after being told that she was the fifth child. She didn't know why she had run, but her mind was racing to fast to really comprhend anything at the time.
The water had always calmed her, so it was natural she headed here. She sat there with her hands folded over her lap trying not to cry. How could they expect her to pilot one of those things after what happened to Toji, how could she.
" Mi...Miss Horaki."
Hikari was startled when the soft, unsure voice of Shinji spoke up from behind her. She turned and saw him standing there with his hands by his sides and head facing down.
" I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run out like that."
Shinji, who seemed to be very unsure of himself, sat down next to her. " It's ok." He shuffled on the seat for a minute as if trying to think of what to say next. " I'm sorry this happened."
Hikari wiped away the tears that had started to form. " It's not your fault. Its just that what happened to Toji and...." She couldn't finish, her thoughts of Toji made impossible for her to. She couldn't hold the tears in anymore.
Sitting next to the crying girl Shinji didn't know what to do, he had never been good at things like this so he just hung his head lower. He almost choked as he felt the arms encircle his stomach and saw Hikari crying into his chest.
" I'm sorry, I just need. I don't know what I need." Hikari said as she quietly sobbed into his chest.
" I...Its okay." In truth it was the only thing Shinji could manage to get out. He followed Hikari only because... he wasn't sure why he had but he was glad he did. Since he came back he had decided he was going to change, to be able to help the people he cared about.
He would have no regrets, not anymore.
############
The twelve monoliths of SEELE lit up a small dark room in an unknown location. This had been happening more and more since the angels stopped appearing, the old men that sat hidden away grew nervous.
" This is not supposed to happen."
" Yes, this is unacceptable."
" The fourteenth angel should have appeared long ago, the scenario does not predict this."
" Our plans have failed."
" Our plans for instrumentality shall continue, adjustments will have to be made."
" Yes, we can no longer afford to have NERV under the control of Ikari."
" But our currents forces could not hope to be a match for the Evangelions."
" The Evangelions are only useful if they have pilots."
" Yes, to neutralize them we must neutralize the pilots."
" But what if the angels resurface later. The mass produced Eva's are not fully functional."
" It is irrelevant. If the angels resurface now then our plans cannot be achieved at all."
" We have the chance to proceed now, we must take it."
" Agreed. Ikari, your services are no longer needed, hopefully you will relinquish NERV peacefully."
And with that the lights blinked out and the room was silent once more.
############
Shinji had lost track of how long they had been sitting in silence. After Hikari had stopped crying she had just sat there in silence looking at the water. He was still unsure of why he was there with her; Hikari had not really been his friend, more of an acquaintance. But he also knew the confusion she must be feeling, they had kept Toji becoming the fourth from him because they were unsure how he would react so he was unable to help.
He knew this time. He was there when Hikari was told. Maybe that was why he had followed her; maybe she was his chance to change. To be able to help like he was unable to do with Toji.
He thought back to when Misato came and saw him after the section two agents brought him back. He had been ready to forgive her before she said anything, he knew she thought she was doing the best thing for him, he was just angry at the time, that was why he left. Misato had promised to never keep things from him again, and Shinji believed her, the sound of her voice had made sure of that.
" Do you think I should do it?"
Shinji was knocked from his thoughts as Hikari spoke. He looked at her to find her still looking out at the water.
" Should I pilot one of those monsters?"
" I...." He paused. " It's a decision you have to make on your own."
" But they seem to only cause pain. I've heard your stories, and what happened to Toji." Shinji felt his breath catch in his throat at the mention of his friend. " But how can I then look at myself in the mirror if I run and hide, when you, Asuka and Rei risk yours lives, when I was given the chance to help."
"..."
" I don't think I could. I would always think about how I ran and hid while my friends fought." She stopped to wipe the tears that were forming from her eyes. " Toji sacrificed everything to help. Can I ask you something?" Seeing Shinji nod she continued. " What made you pilot?"
The question had shocked him, but he honestly had expected it. " At first I refused, I only came cause I thought my father wanted to... well I don't know what I though. They then brought Rei out on a stretcher to pilot, she could barely move and they wanted her to go and fight. I couldn't let it happen."
" You are a nice person Shinji, does anyone tell you that?"
Shinji just did a slight shrug of his shoulders. Some people had told him that.
" I don't suppose Asuka ever would. How is your face?"
" Still hurts, she was really angry with me." Shinji rub his faced softly, it was definitely going to swell.
" I think upset would be more accurate. She seemed really hurt when you left."
" I didn't mean to hurt anyone, I just had to get away, clear my head."
" I understand, so much has been going on its understandable that you wanted a breather." Hikari finally stopped looking at the water and glanced at Shinji. " If I said yes to piloting, would you help me?" She was unsure why she asked him, one would think Asuka would be the most likely choice. But Hikari doubted that she would ever learn anything from Asuka, and she wouldn't be able to get the help she wanted from the red head. Hikari wanted someone to talk to, someone who would also talk back. Asuka was her friend but she knew very little about the girl, she never seemed to talk about herself. Shinji had followed her after she ran from the apartment, tried to help her even though she could tell he wasn't sure how. And maybe, she could also help him. She noticed how quiet he was, even under the constant onslaught that was Asuka. She had also seen the sadness in his eyes, sadness that had faded slightly in the company of Toji and Kensuke. And maybe one day in her company as well.
" Um.... sure." Shinji didn't know why she was asking for his help, wouldn't she prefer Asuka to do that. But the small smile on her face told him no.
They both sat there for a few more minutes watching the water before finally leaving.
To Be Continued...
The figures had stopped appearing to him long ago, all except for the pained one. That figure had lingered far longer then the others, just staring. But one thing the boy did notice was that the longer it stayed the paler its complexion got. Its hair and skin changed, and its eyes, they seemed to turn to... the color of blood was the best he could do to describe it. When the pained one finally left him it seemed to no longer be the same, it had changed.
It changed in more then just appearance; its features seemed to become calm, thoughtful and then turned to hatred just before it vanished. These changes troubled the boy immensely; he had no idea of what to make of the pained one. But he also felt something new to him; he felt an urge to help the pained one but had no idea how.
'Perhaps this place will help me find answers.'
He stepped out of the train and into a hallway. The hall way had no light source but he had no trouble seeing clearly. The floor was covered with bodies. Men, women, children piled up to the sides, They seemed to be doing so just to allow him access through this hall of death.
He felt sadness as he looked at the bodies, somehow he could hear the terror of their deaths.
The end of the hallway held a door, he was unsure if he should proceed but he knew that the answers he was seeking would not show themselves if he stopped now. He closed his eyes and opened the door.
On the other side was a room born of nightmares.
############
Chapter 3
Friendship
Hikari sat on a bench overlooking the ocean. She ran out of the Katsuragi apartment a few minutes after being told that she was the fifth child. She didn't know why she had run, but her mind was racing to fast to really comprhend anything at the time.
The water had always calmed her, so it was natural she headed here. She sat there with her hands folded over her lap trying not to cry. How could they expect her to pilot one of those things after what happened to Toji, how could she.
" Mi...Miss Horaki."
Hikari was startled when the soft, unsure voice of Shinji spoke up from behind her. She turned and saw him standing there with his hands by his sides and head facing down.
" I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run out like that."
Shinji, who seemed to be very unsure of himself, sat down next to her. " It's ok." He shuffled on the seat for a minute as if trying to think of what to say next. " I'm sorry this happened."
Hikari wiped away the tears that had started to form. " It's not your fault. Its just that what happened to Toji and...." She couldn't finish, her thoughts of Toji made impossible for her to. She couldn't hold the tears in anymore.
Sitting next to the crying girl Shinji didn't know what to do, he had never been good at things like this so he just hung his head lower. He almost choked as he felt the arms encircle his stomach and saw Hikari crying into his chest.
" I'm sorry, I just need. I don't know what I need." Hikari said as she quietly sobbed into his chest.
" I...Its okay." In truth it was the only thing Shinji could manage to get out. He followed Hikari only because... he wasn't sure why he had but he was glad he did. Since he came back he had decided he was going to change, to be able to help the people he cared about.
He would have no regrets, not anymore.
############
The twelve monoliths of SEELE lit up a small dark room in an unknown location. This had been happening more and more since the angels stopped appearing, the old men that sat hidden away grew nervous.
" This is not supposed to happen."
" Yes, this is unacceptable."
" The fourteenth angel should have appeared long ago, the scenario does not predict this."
" Our plans have failed."
" Our plans for instrumentality shall continue, adjustments will have to be made."
" Yes, we can no longer afford to have NERV under the control of Ikari."
" But our currents forces could not hope to be a match for the Evangelions."
" The Evangelions are only useful if they have pilots."
" Yes, to neutralize them we must neutralize the pilots."
" But what if the angels resurface later. The mass produced Eva's are not fully functional."
" It is irrelevant. If the angels resurface now then our plans cannot be achieved at all."
" We have the chance to proceed now, we must take it."
" Agreed. Ikari, your services are no longer needed, hopefully you will relinquish NERV peacefully."
And with that the lights blinked out and the room was silent once more.
############
Shinji had lost track of how long they had been sitting in silence. After Hikari had stopped crying she had just sat there in silence looking at the water. He was still unsure of why he was there with her; Hikari had not really been his friend, more of an acquaintance. But he also knew the confusion she must be feeling, they had kept Toji becoming the fourth from him because they were unsure how he would react so he was unable to help.
He knew this time. He was there when Hikari was told. Maybe that was why he had followed her; maybe she was his chance to change. To be able to help like he was unable to do with Toji.
He thought back to when Misato came and saw him after the section two agents brought him back. He had been ready to forgive her before she said anything, he knew she thought she was doing the best thing for him, he was just angry at the time, that was why he left. Misato had promised to never keep things from him again, and Shinji believed her, the sound of her voice had made sure of that.
" Do you think I should do it?"
Shinji was knocked from his thoughts as Hikari spoke. He looked at her to find her still looking out at the water.
" Should I pilot one of those monsters?"
" I...." He paused. " It's a decision you have to make on your own."
" But they seem to only cause pain. I've heard your stories, and what happened to Toji." Shinji felt his breath catch in his throat at the mention of his friend. " But how can I then look at myself in the mirror if I run and hide, when you, Asuka and Rei risk yours lives, when I was given the chance to help."
"..."
" I don't think I could. I would always think about how I ran and hid while my friends fought." She stopped to wipe the tears that were forming from her eyes. " Toji sacrificed everything to help. Can I ask you something?" Seeing Shinji nod she continued. " What made you pilot?"
The question had shocked him, but he honestly had expected it. " At first I refused, I only came cause I thought my father wanted to... well I don't know what I though. They then brought Rei out on a stretcher to pilot, she could barely move and they wanted her to go and fight. I couldn't let it happen."
" You are a nice person Shinji, does anyone tell you that?"
Shinji just did a slight shrug of his shoulders. Some people had told him that.
" I don't suppose Asuka ever would. How is your face?"
" Still hurts, she was really angry with me." Shinji rub his faced softly, it was definitely going to swell.
" I think upset would be more accurate. She seemed really hurt when you left."
" I didn't mean to hurt anyone, I just had to get away, clear my head."
" I understand, so much has been going on its understandable that you wanted a breather." Hikari finally stopped looking at the water and glanced at Shinji. " If I said yes to piloting, would you help me?" She was unsure why she asked him, one would think Asuka would be the most likely choice. But Hikari doubted that she would ever learn anything from Asuka, and she wouldn't be able to get the help she wanted from the red head. Hikari wanted someone to talk to, someone who would also talk back. Asuka was her friend but she knew very little about the girl, she never seemed to talk about herself. Shinji had followed her after she ran from the apartment, tried to help her even though she could tell he wasn't sure how. And maybe, she could also help him. She noticed how quiet he was, even under the constant onslaught that was Asuka. She had also seen the sadness in his eyes, sadness that had faded slightly in the company of Toji and Kensuke. And maybe one day in her company as well.
" Um.... sure." Shinji didn't know why she was asking for his help, wouldn't she prefer Asuka to do that. But the small smile on her face told him no.
They both sat there for a few more minutes watching the water before finally leaving.
To Be Continued...