Disclaimer: I don't own it. Short and simple. Now stop flooding my mail box
with lawyer letters.
Paths & Choices : Meetings of Chance
The sky was bleak, Rain poured boundlessly from dark clouds floating in the equally dark sky. Over the city called Tokyo-3 , rain poured. Dancing in an unorganized way, making musical sounds randomly. They danced merrily, ignoring the funeral of someone they didn't know.
It was fitting though as the weather described the mood.
A small procession was taking place. In honor and gratitude for the Third Child. Shinji's death was quiet as possible by NERV , so as to not to "attract any unwanted attention". Asuka loudly objected to this however, but a quick glare from Commander Ikari quickly put her back into her place, as much as she would hate to admit. Thankfully, he bother when she told Hikari, who in turned told that slimeball jock and nerdy military fanboy.
Asuka, however berating them countless time before, did not have the strength or conviction to argue with them today. Both parties were relieved at that undisclosed fact.
And there they were. Dressed in funeral garb. Standard Black attire. Number one mood killer at funerals. Of course, funerals were meant to be sad. Asuka and Misato were dressed in black dresses both of them holding umbrellas to keep them dry. But this was the least of their concerns at the moment.
Hikari, Touji and Kensuke had left earlier, all of them saying they had what-not to do. She didn't blame them though, as they did not have any free time unlike her and Misato. A black tombstone with inscribed lettering indicated where he was to be buried. It read:
Here lies:
IKARI, SHINJI
2000-2016
Your actions have helped save Humanity,
Your efforts will not be in vain. May you
Rest in peace.
The coffin was simple; the only redeeming feature was the glass that showed Shinji resting with both his hands placed on his stomach. The coffin was not lowered yet as they were still saying their final goodbyes, unspoken words now spoken. But all is in vain, for the lone cloaked figure walking over to the coffin, does not hear them. Unfazed by the dropping rain, he proceeds with an air of grace to the coffin. He takes off his hood, revealing to face of Shinji Ikari. His eyes are totally blank, ignoring Misato and Asuka, as he was non-existent to them.
He places a hand on the glass. It glows lightly for a moment before fading off. With the deed done, he turns to leave.
Once again, he disappears from sight.
~~~~~~
In a lone run-down apartment located in the construction district of the city, its sole occupant was currently lying on the bed stark naked.
Ayanami Rei was considered a person of many strange traits, such as the blue hair and equally puzzling red eyes. But many didn't know the truth about her existence, so they just labeled her ' one of those weird people'. In truth, she was fully capable of harboring emotions but she couldn't find a way express them. Her 'upbringing' made sure of that.
But her thoughts were now in a jumble as she seeked to find an answer to her question.
Shouldn't Ikari-kun be dead?
If not, why I am uncomfortable when I was near him?
Shouldn't I be happy that he is alive?
What is this feeling?
Is it dread....or was it fear? Perhaps, I should ask the Commander.
But I will protect Ikari-kun, no matter what.
Having resolved the problem, the albino quickly dressed and left for NERV Headquarters.
~~~~~~
Shinji was pondering about his visit to the funeral, but his thoughts were cut short.
"I suppose today I will teach you the basics of information gathering."
Shinji was currently walking down a street filled with an ungodly amount of people, though he and his teacher had a bit of breathing space, he felt that it was too close for comfort. He was nervous; not because of the fact that the lesson could very well turn out to be a 'test', a very dangerous one at that. The standards that Saragus set for him to achieve were unbelievable but he completely understood the man's intentions.
So far, he hadn't failed any of them yet. But he wasn't planning to, mind you.
The main reason for his skittish nervousness was very simple. And for a good reason, one might add.
Walking down a busy street, with thieves around at every corner, ready to get your pouch of coins for less than reasonable use wasn't comforting to experience. But the thieves were not of his main concern but the consequences were. Granted, losing the coins wasn't much but Sargaus would reprimand him with his ire. An experience he would rather not have. The tests he had been given had sharpened his senses and hardened his will. No longer was he the meek boy who bent to just anyone's will.
Yes, he had changed but only his resolve and will did.
His musings ceased to continue when his teacher stopped, pointing to something at the side of the quite busy street. It was then, he noticed, that it was a tavern. The building itself was old, showing cracks along the walls, It was clearly shown that the owner didn't bother about maintaining the buildings presentability. It was closed; however, as business was slow during the day compared to the night.
"This is where information flows through like a river, though looks can be deceiving, the shadier the place looks, the better the chances of finding what you are searching for."
Sargaus was met with a disbelieving look which screamed 'You got to be joking!!!!'.
Instantly, he smiled. "Don't worry, it's safe, I promise. Besides, is this the reward I get after giving you a clue for your next test?" He then turned his innocent smile into a sly grin.
It lingered for a moment before his lips turned back to its neutral state.
"In any case, bar houses, pubs, taverns are great places information slips. It varies from regions and kingdoms, depending on what you are after." He turned to leave. "You have free time until the afternoon; I suggest you spend it well."
Once again, his teacher disappeared in the sea of moving people. He sighed , knowing that going back to the realm would prove boring , despite the vast knowledge held within its library. He figured it was best to explore the city as he rarely had free time.
Sargaus was right. He would use the time wisely.
But first, he would need to change. He looked at the attire he wore. Brown and dull, the looked like rags. And it was just that. It was commonly worn by peasants, but he had not been asked to wear that for humiliation. It was a disguise to attract very little attention to the student and teacher, for if they were wearing their robes, the trip would have been cut short.
Yes, he would change. But not in front the prying eyes of the populace.
With, that Shinji, like his teacher, wandered off into the crowd, seemingly lost in the sea of people, exploring the city to spend his time.
~~~~~~
There were many possible reasons and theories on why Asuka was so prideful and simply adored the color red.
Many of those reasons were false, though.
It was true that piloting Eva given her much of that annoying and stubborn pride.
But it was also backed by something she acquired a few years back.
Asuka was currently in a restaurant, drinking wine which soothed her mind and throat. The restaurant was classy, it made it very clear as one could see the many expensive pieces of art and a small band of musicians which constantly played wonderful music. That was one of the reasons why she liked the place. It had a welcoming feeling to it, where as some restaurants only gave off splendor and hostility which she could have more than enough back at the castle.
Even with its relaxing quality, it was certainly not for the poor or unrefined. She also often noticed that she was the only one present who wore armor. The rest of the patrons usually wore outfits made of exotic materials from far distant lands. It was very uncommon for a woman to wear armor at such a refined place, but she did not heed the questioning looks the men and women who were present gave her.
It was a prevailage to be there, let alone be a regular patron to the establishment.
Of course, Asuka was well rewarded enough to enjoy this small luxury.
Often, she would find herself enjoying a glass of wine, drained by the demands of her duty. And she was grateful for it. The place had given her a sense of relief and escape from work, despite the stares she received from some.
She heard hollow footsteps, echoing as boots met the wooden floor. In boredom, she looked up to observe the presence of the new arrival.
That was the moment that relaxing ended and her instincts took over.
She saw a familiar brown mope of hair, inciting her curiosity to observe the stranger. The fact that the man he looked exactly likes Shinji disturbed her, but she dismissed it as a fluke. 'Many people often look alike but they still have differences'; a shakily excuse she gave to her mind demanding answers.
It did the trick as her body made no attempt to move towards the man.
Further more, the attire he was wearing was one of nobility, despite being ominous. It didn't mean that she had to like it though. Just looking at it gave her the creeps. Black was the main color which was coated on the fabric, with a few gems embedded into the each shoulder area of the thick material. It was a fact kept secret by mages that gems which were socketed into a suit was magically imbued, meaning that the wearer was possibly a dark mage. A possibility she didn't like.
The one of the sapphires which glinted innocently as the man moved to order a drink didn't exactly quell the thought or calm her nerves. The man, inspite of his dubious appearance, didn't notice that he was being watched.
Asuka wasn't convinced by the harmless exterior it showed when she recalled that piece of information. If he was Shinji, he would be in rags, not in clothes wore by nobles. Her mind agreed readily on the logical solution she gave it. Losing the need to stay any longer, she placed a few gold coins on the table and proceeded to leave.
Despite Asuka's superior logical deduction of things, the person she just saw was indeed the one and only Shinji Ikari.
~~~~~~
Shinji, being Shinji, didn't really like what he was wearing now. His onimous clothes seemed to enjoy scaring the crap of the people he passed by. He could clearly see the fear and pure terror in their eyes. A trait which he, no doubt, inherited by becoming Death's student. Regardless of which, he now wanted to change into something less fore brooding. Though he would rather wear his brown robes over the outfit he was currently wearing, he knew he would just bring another horde of assassins after him.
His thoughts were now centered on a warrior woman he saw at the restaurant. She seemed familiar to him but he shrugged it off as a trick his mind played on him.
So far, he had explored a good portion of the city, stopping at the small nice restaurant which captured his attention and to rest. The wine being served there was excellent, he noted. Another habit he had developed from his teacher.
Noticing that it was nearing the afternoon.
Sighing in resignation, he knew time was up. Somehow, his sense of time was now more accurate. Shinji didn't know how but he
He figured that getting out of that suit was much better than using using his remaining time. It after all gave him the creeps. He would have to later ask Sargaus why.
Making sure that no one followed him, he walked into a deserted alley and disappeared.
~~~~~~
Gendo had always detested the meetings SEELE conducted that required his presence. It was clear to him that they needed his presence to personally give him inflexible orders or warnings about deviations from the original scenario.
Of course, that had changed, degrading from irritating to downright annoying.
Now, such meetings would consist of bickering, objections, proposals, etc, etc.
Like now.
"The Human Completion Project cannot continue. What we have sought for after many decades now seems hopelessly distant!" SEELE 01 echoing voice said angrily.
"The fact that the 17th was destroyed too early was disastrous to the plan." SEELE 05 added. " The Dead Sea Scrolls no longer are of use to us, and now it seems that our efforts will be wasted."
" Even now as we speak , our agents are currently searching for the sacred texts." SEELE 07 assured. " The plan will proceed accordingly once we find the Tablet and the Scrolls."
It took all Gendo's willpower to stop himself from bursting into laughter. He wouldn't have thought that the old men were too stupid to believe that he wouldn't take the liberty of finding the scrolls.
" But it would take too long for the Scrolls to be translated." SEELE 08 retorted. " And ,the chances of finding the Scrolls are close to none."
" Ikari , I trust you know that maintaining the EVAs to top combat efficiency it your main concerns now." SEELE 01 said. " Your presence is longer required."
Again , Gendo barely managed to control himself from laughing at the pathetic excuse Keel had given him. He would definitely have to tell Fuyutsuki about this one.
He turned to leave the room of black monoliths bickering about what they should do at the present time.
One outside , he pulled a cell phone from his jacket. " Operator , I need a transport ASAP." Within a few minutes , A VTOL gunship was landing. He proceeded to board the ship, already preparing the magnitude of planning which ensure his victory. A single thought ran through his brain.
He still had the advantage.
~~~~~~
The air was unbelievingly cold. But unbelievingly was an understatement.
Located in the snowing mountains near the city , the castle was made to be a fortress. The weather and amount of difficult to reach the castle discouraged any sort of attack made against it. But it was made to hold armies at bay ,but not a single infiltrator.
Shinji had gotten in the castle without much difficultly , having cast invisibility on himself. The only trouble he had was the occasional mage or priest which could see him clearly. But he was trained in the convert arts too, so it wasn't really much big of a deal.
His robes were fighting to keep him warm but they were failing miserably against the relentless coldness of the air. Shivering slightly , he resumed his quest.
He mentally noted that he would have to thank Sargaus for giving him knowledge of grey magic. It really made his job easier.
So far , his search for a suitable object wasn't progressing well.
His test was simple; get an item was could be found in the castle.
Of course , he knew that he had to get an item which could be only found in the castle. Though stupid as the test may be , he was frustrated.
He decided that he should check the rooms , but so far he had found nothing that was acceptable. He stopped in front of another room. He didn't know that rooms could have the same design , repeating forever as he had seen. If he couldn't find anything , he would just return empty handed, he thought.
But the present room was more spacious than the rest. It wasn't bland as the other rooms were. Red armor mail , was held on a rack pole. Various weapons were found neatly arranged on the weapon rack. It was then something caught his eye. A long sword , crafted with utmost precision , ancient runic letters engraved on both sides of the blade. He noted that the spell's effect had wore off, making his visible once again. But it didn't really matter now.
The sword looked simple ,except for the engravings , to the untrained eye. But to Shinji ,the weapon emitted a fiery aura, engulfing the sword with crimson. The sword whispered into his mind , speaking of unimaginable power beyond his wildest dreams. If only he picked the sword up.
He raised his eyebrows. An enchanted sword. Interesting.
He had no lust for power , and was thus immune to the sword's tempting offer.
But he decided that it will be prove of his visit.
Reaching to take the sword, he was interrupted by the banging of the swinging door. He turned to face the source but was shocked to find who awaited him.
Soryu Asuka Langely.
She was shocked to find an intruder in her room, but shock was quickly cast aside as she drew her sheathed short sword. Without any immediate warning , she charged at Shinji , who barely managed to dodged and summon his staff. Though, she recovered from shock, Shinji was absent minded , barely paying attention to his current situation. His mind was trying to regain control by throwing unanswerable questions at him.
How could she be here?
Was she even supposed to be here?
What was she doing here?
The three questions were constantly rotating in his mind. Shinji was absorbed in his search for the answers. But again, his instinct took over, and began to hasten his pace. His hood ,to his surprise, managed to cover his face when he moved very fast to dogde her attacks.
What resulted was a symphony of clashing metal as Shinji blocked everyone of Asuka's blows and began an offensive against her. She , of course, held her own , blocking every blow Shinji threw at her.
The charade ended when she managed to knock the hood off , revealing the wearer's face.
What she saw left her so dumbstruck , that she dropped her sword with a loud 'clang' on the floor.
Shinji, seeing the chance, quickly chanted. Within a few seconds, runes were visible on the ground he was standing and he disappeared.
Asuka slumped on the floor , her eyes disbelieving, her mind thrown into chaos as she desperately searched for a logical reason to the situation.
But no matter what she told herself, she knew that it was him.
She knew that she just saw Shinji Ikari.
TBC
Author's blah blah : Well , that was done. Sad to say , I have to make this short. Any questions will be answered in the next chap cuz I rushed through the fic but at least Asuka finally got her appearance. Some major characters will be introduced in the next chapter so keep on reviewing!!
Paths & Choices : Meetings of Chance
The sky was bleak, Rain poured boundlessly from dark clouds floating in the equally dark sky. Over the city called Tokyo-3 , rain poured. Dancing in an unorganized way, making musical sounds randomly. They danced merrily, ignoring the funeral of someone they didn't know.
It was fitting though as the weather described the mood.
A small procession was taking place. In honor and gratitude for the Third Child. Shinji's death was quiet as possible by NERV , so as to not to "attract any unwanted attention". Asuka loudly objected to this however, but a quick glare from Commander Ikari quickly put her back into her place, as much as she would hate to admit. Thankfully, he bother when she told Hikari, who in turned told that slimeball jock and nerdy military fanboy.
Asuka, however berating them countless time before, did not have the strength or conviction to argue with them today. Both parties were relieved at that undisclosed fact.
And there they were. Dressed in funeral garb. Standard Black attire. Number one mood killer at funerals. Of course, funerals were meant to be sad. Asuka and Misato were dressed in black dresses both of them holding umbrellas to keep them dry. But this was the least of their concerns at the moment.
Hikari, Touji and Kensuke had left earlier, all of them saying they had what-not to do. She didn't blame them though, as they did not have any free time unlike her and Misato. A black tombstone with inscribed lettering indicated where he was to be buried. It read:
Here lies:
IKARI, SHINJI
2000-2016
Your actions have helped save Humanity,
Your efforts will not be in vain. May you
Rest in peace.
The coffin was simple; the only redeeming feature was the glass that showed Shinji resting with both his hands placed on his stomach. The coffin was not lowered yet as they were still saying their final goodbyes, unspoken words now spoken. But all is in vain, for the lone cloaked figure walking over to the coffin, does not hear them. Unfazed by the dropping rain, he proceeds with an air of grace to the coffin. He takes off his hood, revealing to face of Shinji Ikari. His eyes are totally blank, ignoring Misato and Asuka, as he was non-existent to them.
He places a hand on the glass. It glows lightly for a moment before fading off. With the deed done, he turns to leave.
Once again, he disappears from sight.
~~~~~~
In a lone run-down apartment located in the construction district of the city, its sole occupant was currently lying on the bed stark naked.
Ayanami Rei was considered a person of many strange traits, such as the blue hair and equally puzzling red eyes. But many didn't know the truth about her existence, so they just labeled her ' one of those weird people'. In truth, she was fully capable of harboring emotions but she couldn't find a way express them. Her 'upbringing' made sure of that.
But her thoughts were now in a jumble as she seeked to find an answer to her question.
Shouldn't Ikari-kun be dead?
If not, why I am uncomfortable when I was near him?
Shouldn't I be happy that he is alive?
What is this feeling?
Is it dread....or was it fear? Perhaps, I should ask the Commander.
But I will protect Ikari-kun, no matter what.
Having resolved the problem, the albino quickly dressed and left for NERV Headquarters.
~~~~~~
Shinji was pondering about his visit to the funeral, but his thoughts were cut short.
"I suppose today I will teach you the basics of information gathering."
Shinji was currently walking down a street filled with an ungodly amount of people, though he and his teacher had a bit of breathing space, he felt that it was too close for comfort. He was nervous; not because of the fact that the lesson could very well turn out to be a 'test', a very dangerous one at that. The standards that Saragus set for him to achieve were unbelievable but he completely understood the man's intentions.
So far, he hadn't failed any of them yet. But he wasn't planning to, mind you.
The main reason for his skittish nervousness was very simple. And for a good reason, one might add.
Walking down a busy street, with thieves around at every corner, ready to get your pouch of coins for less than reasonable use wasn't comforting to experience. But the thieves were not of his main concern but the consequences were. Granted, losing the coins wasn't much but Sargaus would reprimand him with his ire. An experience he would rather not have. The tests he had been given had sharpened his senses and hardened his will. No longer was he the meek boy who bent to just anyone's will.
Yes, he had changed but only his resolve and will did.
His musings ceased to continue when his teacher stopped, pointing to something at the side of the quite busy street. It was then, he noticed, that it was a tavern. The building itself was old, showing cracks along the walls, It was clearly shown that the owner didn't bother about maintaining the buildings presentability. It was closed; however, as business was slow during the day compared to the night.
"This is where information flows through like a river, though looks can be deceiving, the shadier the place looks, the better the chances of finding what you are searching for."
Sargaus was met with a disbelieving look which screamed 'You got to be joking!!!!'.
Instantly, he smiled. "Don't worry, it's safe, I promise. Besides, is this the reward I get after giving you a clue for your next test?" He then turned his innocent smile into a sly grin.
It lingered for a moment before his lips turned back to its neutral state.
"In any case, bar houses, pubs, taverns are great places information slips. It varies from regions and kingdoms, depending on what you are after." He turned to leave. "You have free time until the afternoon; I suggest you spend it well."
Once again, his teacher disappeared in the sea of moving people. He sighed , knowing that going back to the realm would prove boring , despite the vast knowledge held within its library. He figured it was best to explore the city as he rarely had free time.
Sargaus was right. He would use the time wisely.
But first, he would need to change. He looked at the attire he wore. Brown and dull, the looked like rags. And it was just that. It was commonly worn by peasants, but he had not been asked to wear that for humiliation. It was a disguise to attract very little attention to the student and teacher, for if they were wearing their robes, the trip would have been cut short.
Yes, he would change. But not in front the prying eyes of the populace.
With, that Shinji, like his teacher, wandered off into the crowd, seemingly lost in the sea of people, exploring the city to spend his time.
~~~~~~
There were many possible reasons and theories on why Asuka was so prideful and simply adored the color red.
Many of those reasons were false, though.
It was true that piloting Eva given her much of that annoying and stubborn pride.
But it was also backed by something she acquired a few years back.
Asuka was currently in a restaurant, drinking wine which soothed her mind and throat. The restaurant was classy, it made it very clear as one could see the many expensive pieces of art and a small band of musicians which constantly played wonderful music. That was one of the reasons why she liked the place. It had a welcoming feeling to it, where as some restaurants only gave off splendor and hostility which she could have more than enough back at the castle.
Even with its relaxing quality, it was certainly not for the poor or unrefined. She also often noticed that she was the only one present who wore armor. The rest of the patrons usually wore outfits made of exotic materials from far distant lands. It was very uncommon for a woman to wear armor at such a refined place, but she did not heed the questioning looks the men and women who were present gave her.
It was a prevailage to be there, let alone be a regular patron to the establishment.
Of course, Asuka was well rewarded enough to enjoy this small luxury.
Often, she would find herself enjoying a glass of wine, drained by the demands of her duty. And she was grateful for it. The place had given her a sense of relief and escape from work, despite the stares she received from some.
She heard hollow footsteps, echoing as boots met the wooden floor. In boredom, she looked up to observe the presence of the new arrival.
That was the moment that relaxing ended and her instincts took over.
She saw a familiar brown mope of hair, inciting her curiosity to observe the stranger. The fact that the man he looked exactly likes Shinji disturbed her, but she dismissed it as a fluke. 'Many people often look alike but they still have differences'; a shakily excuse she gave to her mind demanding answers.
It did the trick as her body made no attempt to move towards the man.
Further more, the attire he was wearing was one of nobility, despite being ominous. It didn't mean that she had to like it though. Just looking at it gave her the creeps. Black was the main color which was coated on the fabric, with a few gems embedded into the each shoulder area of the thick material. It was a fact kept secret by mages that gems which were socketed into a suit was magically imbued, meaning that the wearer was possibly a dark mage. A possibility she didn't like.
The one of the sapphires which glinted innocently as the man moved to order a drink didn't exactly quell the thought or calm her nerves. The man, inspite of his dubious appearance, didn't notice that he was being watched.
Asuka wasn't convinced by the harmless exterior it showed when she recalled that piece of information. If he was Shinji, he would be in rags, not in clothes wore by nobles. Her mind agreed readily on the logical solution she gave it. Losing the need to stay any longer, she placed a few gold coins on the table and proceeded to leave.
Despite Asuka's superior logical deduction of things, the person she just saw was indeed the one and only Shinji Ikari.
~~~~~~
Shinji, being Shinji, didn't really like what he was wearing now. His onimous clothes seemed to enjoy scaring the crap of the people he passed by. He could clearly see the fear and pure terror in their eyes. A trait which he, no doubt, inherited by becoming Death's student. Regardless of which, he now wanted to change into something less fore brooding. Though he would rather wear his brown robes over the outfit he was currently wearing, he knew he would just bring another horde of assassins after him.
His thoughts were now centered on a warrior woman he saw at the restaurant. She seemed familiar to him but he shrugged it off as a trick his mind played on him.
So far, he had explored a good portion of the city, stopping at the small nice restaurant which captured his attention and to rest. The wine being served there was excellent, he noted. Another habit he had developed from his teacher.
Noticing that it was nearing the afternoon.
Sighing in resignation, he knew time was up. Somehow, his sense of time was now more accurate. Shinji didn't know how but he
He figured that getting out of that suit was much better than using using his remaining time. It after all gave him the creeps. He would have to later ask Sargaus why.
Making sure that no one followed him, he walked into a deserted alley and disappeared.
~~~~~~
Gendo had always detested the meetings SEELE conducted that required his presence. It was clear to him that they needed his presence to personally give him inflexible orders or warnings about deviations from the original scenario.
Of course, that had changed, degrading from irritating to downright annoying.
Now, such meetings would consist of bickering, objections, proposals, etc, etc.
Like now.
"The Human Completion Project cannot continue. What we have sought for after many decades now seems hopelessly distant!" SEELE 01 echoing voice said angrily.
"The fact that the 17th was destroyed too early was disastrous to the plan." SEELE 05 added. " The Dead Sea Scrolls no longer are of use to us, and now it seems that our efforts will be wasted."
" Even now as we speak , our agents are currently searching for the sacred texts." SEELE 07 assured. " The plan will proceed accordingly once we find the Tablet and the Scrolls."
It took all Gendo's willpower to stop himself from bursting into laughter. He wouldn't have thought that the old men were too stupid to believe that he wouldn't take the liberty of finding the scrolls.
" But it would take too long for the Scrolls to be translated." SEELE 08 retorted. " And ,the chances of finding the Scrolls are close to none."
" Ikari , I trust you know that maintaining the EVAs to top combat efficiency it your main concerns now." SEELE 01 said. " Your presence is longer required."
Again , Gendo barely managed to control himself from laughing at the pathetic excuse Keel had given him. He would definitely have to tell Fuyutsuki about this one.
He turned to leave the room of black monoliths bickering about what they should do at the present time.
One outside , he pulled a cell phone from his jacket. " Operator , I need a transport ASAP." Within a few minutes , A VTOL gunship was landing. He proceeded to board the ship, already preparing the magnitude of planning which ensure his victory. A single thought ran through his brain.
He still had the advantage.
~~~~~~
The air was unbelievingly cold. But unbelievingly was an understatement.
Located in the snowing mountains near the city , the castle was made to be a fortress. The weather and amount of difficult to reach the castle discouraged any sort of attack made against it. But it was made to hold armies at bay ,but not a single infiltrator.
Shinji had gotten in the castle without much difficultly , having cast invisibility on himself. The only trouble he had was the occasional mage or priest which could see him clearly. But he was trained in the convert arts too, so it wasn't really much big of a deal.
His robes were fighting to keep him warm but they were failing miserably against the relentless coldness of the air. Shivering slightly , he resumed his quest.
He mentally noted that he would have to thank Sargaus for giving him knowledge of grey magic. It really made his job easier.
So far , his search for a suitable object wasn't progressing well.
His test was simple; get an item was could be found in the castle.
Of course , he knew that he had to get an item which could be only found in the castle. Though stupid as the test may be , he was frustrated.
He decided that he should check the rooms , but so far he had found nothing that was acceptable. He stopped in front of another room. He didn't know that rooms could have the same design , repeating forever as he had seen. If he couldn't find anything , he would just return empty handed, he thought.
But the present room was more spacious than the rest. It wasn't bland as the other rooms were. Red armor mail , was held on a rack pole. Various weapons were found neatly arranged on the weapon rack. It was then something caught his eye. A long sword , crafted with utmost precision , ancient runic letters engraved on both sides of the blade. He noted that the spell's effect had wore off, making his visible once again. But it didn't really matter now.
The sword looked simple ,except for the engravings , to the untrained eye. But to Shinji ,the weapon emitted a fiery aura, engulfing the sword with crimson. The sword whispered into his mind , speaking of unimaginable power beyond his wildest dreams. If only he picked the sword up.
He raised his eyebrows. An enchanted sword. Interesting.
He had no lust for power , and was thus immune to the sword's tempting offer.
But he decided that it will be prove of his visit.
Reaching to take the sword, he was interrupted by the banging of the swinging door. He turned to face the source but was shocked to find who awaited him.
Soryu Asuka Langely.
She was shocked to find an intruder in her room, but shock was quickly cast aside as she drew her sheathed short sword. Without any immediate warning , she charged at Shinji , who barely managed to dodged and summon his staff. Though, she recovered from shock, Shinji was absent minded , barely paying attention to his current situation. His mind was trying to regain control by throwing unanswerable questions at him.
How could she be here?
Was she even supposed to be here?
What was she doing here?
The three questions were constantly rotating in his mind. Shinji was absorbed in his search for the answers. But again, his instinct took over, and began to hasten his pace. His hood ,to his surprise, managed to cover his face when he moved very fast to dogde her attacks.
What resulted was a symphony of clashing metal as Shinji blocked everyone of Asuka's blows and began an offensive against her. She , of course, held her own , blocking every blow Shinji threw at her.
The charade ended when she managed to knock the hood off , revealing the wearer's face.
What she saw left her so dumbstruck , that she dropped her sword with a loud 'clang' on the floor.
Shinji, seeing the chance, quickly chanted. Within a few seconds, runes were visible on the ground he was standing and he disappeared.
Asuka slumped on the floor , her eyes disbelieving, her mind thrown into chaos as she desperately searched for a logical reason to the situation.
But no matter what she told herself, she knew that it was him.
She knew that she just saw Shinji Ikari.
TBC
Author's blah blah : Well , that was done. Sad to say , I have to make this short. Any questions will be answered in the next chap cuz I rushed through the fic but at least Asuka finally got her appearance. Some major characters will be introduced in the next chapter so keep on reviewing!!