Disclaimer: See Prologue
Evangelion: Any place can be Heaven, if you let it (A sequel to Random1377's, Crimson and Azure)
Chapter 8
2018
Three years and 2 months since Third Impact
---
With all the lights off in the apartment, Misato, Kaji and Shinji walked out of the kitchen carrying a cake. Rei stood behind Asuka, who was seated at the dining table, with her hands over the redhead's eyes. Asuka at twiddling her thumbs as she let out a sigh of boredom.
"Can I open my eyes yet?"
"Not yet." Rei replied.
'She's way to excited about this. She's still so easy to please. Man, this is just going to make what I have to do that much harder.' She sighed again.
Rei removed her hands. "Okay, open your eyes."
Asuka obliged and saw a homemade birthday cake in front of her with seventeen candles on it.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Everyone said in unison and clapped.
Asuka gave a weak, sad smile. "Thanks guys. You… you have no idea how much this means to me."
"Hey, no long faces." Misato insisted, as she handed Asuka a knife to cut the cake. "Now come on make a wish and blow out your candles before they melt all over the frosting. "
Asuka took the knife, closed her eyes for a moment then blew out all seventeen candles in one blew.
"So what did you wish for?" Rei asked.
"She can't tell you Rei." Shinji said.
"Why not?"
"Because then the wish won't come true." He explained.
"It's okay Shinji. I can tell her. I can tell all of you since I'll know right now if my wish came true or not." Asuka stated.
"What is it Asuka? What's wrong?" Misato asked.
"I… I… oh man, this harder to do than I thought it would be." She closed her eyes for a moment and took in a long steadying breath and let it out. "I've decided to leave NERV… and Tokyo3." She said softly.
"WHAT!" Misato and Shinji screamed, then looked at each other.
Misato continued. "How could you do this? You were scheduled to take over as Operations Director next week! Now you're just leaving! " She yelled.
"Misato, I'm sure Asuka has her reasons." Kaji tried to calm his wife down.
"Reasons my ass! What is this shit! When are you leaving? Tomorrow? You are aren't you? You're just going to pick up and go. You ungrateful little shit." She continued in a rage.
"How could you Asuka? We're a team. How could you just leave us?" Shinji pleaded for understanding.
Rei, observing her friend with her head hung low, noticed the tears falling on her lap, tears that were concealed to everyone else by her long hair.
"You can't do this to me. Do you understand!" Misato ranted on despite Kaji's attempts to calm her down.
Rei got up and stood next to Asuka, pulling her into a protective embrace. "That is enough." She said as loudly as anyone had ever heard her speak. "Can you not see she is hurting enough as it is. This decision could not have been an easy one for her. If you truly care for Asuka as you claim you should try and understand this."
Shinji sat back down as he bowed his head in shame. Misato was dumbfounded by the blue-haired girl's outburst. Kaji used the opportunity to drag his wife outside to give her a chance to cool down.
After a few minutes a teary-eyed Asuka looked up and smiled at Rei. "Thank you Rei. Thank you for understanding." She wrapped her arms around her friend's waist and buried her face in her stomach. "I know I'm letting all of you down. I know this, but I just can't stay here anymore. I just can't be around Eva anymore. It's just too painful. I envied you so much, two months ago when you went up into space. I wanted that to be me so very badly. I've tried to be a good director, I have but all I ever wanted to be was a pilot. I thought I could do this, but the further along we go the harder it gets for me. I know it sounds selfish. I know it probably is, but I can't help it. And I don't want to stay and pretend it's all, all right and see myself grow to resent both you and Shinji. I can't do that. I won't do that. I love you guys too much to do that. I'm sorry… I'm sorry."
"No apology is needed Asuka." Rei assured her. "The first person you need to be responsible for is you. You need to take care of your own well-being first."
"Where will you go?" Shinji finally asked.
"I'm going back home to Germany."
"I thought you said you didn't get along with your father." He continued.
"My father didn't return from Third Impact. My step-mother died six months ago and left the family estate to me." She explained.
"And you didn't go to the funeral?"
"I wasn't informed of her death till her attorney contacted me a month later. She understood my feelings toward her and my father. She didn't want me flying out to Germany just out of obligation. But we did have a mutual respect at the end. I guess that's why she left the estate to me and not her cat."
"When are you going?" He asked.
"Not until Misato can find a suitable replacement. Contrary to what she said, I would never just leave her high and dry. She's done so much for me; I owe her too much. And I respect her too much to do that to her."
Just then Misato and Kaji came back in. Instinctively, Rei tightened her grip on Asuka.
"Its okay Rei." She pulled away gently. "I need to do this." She stood up and walked over to Misato.
"Misato, I don't expect you to understand or to forgive me. This is just something I have to do. Sorry… " Asuka started before being cut off by her superior.
"I won't understand? I won't forgive you? If that's what you think then you don't know me half as well as you think?" Misato embraced the redhead. "I love you Asuka. I… I guess I'm just not ready to let you go." She pulled back and looked her former charge in her crystal blue eyes. "But you're all grown up now, and your decisions are your own. All I ask is that you don't forget about me. O-kaaay." Her voice gave out on that last word she cried.
Asuka pulled her back into her embrace. "Never, I'll never forget you Misato." She struggled to regain her composure. "And don't worry. I won't leave until we've found my replacement."
"Promise?" Misato smiled weakly.
"Well, as long as you're not purposely sabotaging the candidates just to keep me around." She tried laughing.
Misato laughed between her tears. "I promise, no sabotaging." Then she pressed her cheek against the side of the girl's head as they tightened their hold once again. A moment later, the felt another set of arms wrap around them then another, finally a set of powerful masculine arms encircled all of them.
"Can you feel the love?"
"Oh stuff it Kaji." Asuka and Misato looked at each other and laughed when they realized they both said the same thing.
Five weeks later
---
Rei wrapped on the door of Asuka's study. "Asuka, may I enter?"
"Sure Rei." She turned from her computer to face the entrance. "What can I do for you?" She said as she gestured for her to take a seat.
Rei came in and sat down then took a moment to consider how she wanted to ask what she had on her mind. "Have you located any qualified candidates as of yet?"
Asuka raised her brow, "Umm, no and it's beginning to piss me off. It's been five weeks, and we haven't found a single qualified candidate. But we're supposed to be interviewing some hotshots from Europe and the Americas next week so I'm hopeful we'll find someone from that group."
"I see." Rei considered this information. "Well, you are aware that Shinji and I are planning on wedding shortly after our eighteenth birthdays, correct?"
"Yeah, I remember. Sorry I won't be here for it." Asuka looked genuinely forlorned at the prospect of missing their wedding.
"Well, that is what I wished to speak to you about." Rei continued.
"Oh?"
"Assuming we are able to persuade Misato to authorize permission for us to marry before our eighteenth birthdays, will you be my maid of honor?" Rei looked at her hopefully.
Asuka smiled. "Do you really think you have to ask?"
Rei stared at her with a look of confusion.
"Of course I'll be your maid of honor." She hugged her friend. "I'd be insulted if you got married while I was still here and you didn't make me your maid of honor." They stayed in their embrace a few more minutes before Asuka pulled back and said, "We should head over to NERV and ask Misato for permission, don't you think?"
"Well," Rei hesitated.
"What's wrong?"
"I have not mentioned it to Shinji yet." Rei confessed. "I just considered the possibility this morning and he was gone by then."
"Well, were did he go?"
"To Suzuhara's apartment. But I do not think they will be there at this time. He mentioned accompanying Suzuhara to the mall to purchase a gift for Miss Horaki." Rei explained.
"Well let's call him and we can meet him somewhere. Okay?"
Rei nodded and called her fiancé.
In the jewelry district
---
"Who was that? You don't have to go into work do you?" Touji asked.
"No, it was Rei, she just wants to meet up with us. Apparently she has something she needs to ask me but she didn't want to do it over the phone." Shinji replied.
"Man, good thing we took care of you're errand first."
"No kidding, let's go." The boys rushed to the train station to take them to downtown Tokyo3.
An hour later at the mall
---
"Hello my love." Rei walked up to her boyfriend and kissed him warmly.
"Man guys, get a room." Touji whined.
"Oh shut up you goof. Like you and Hikari don't do the same thing in public." Asuka defended her friends.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Shinji asked after they broke their kiss.
"With Asuka leaving soon, I thought, as our guardian, we could ask Misato to sign the necessary permission forms to allow us to marry now rather then waiting till we are eighteen. This way Asuka can be my maid of honor." Rei explained, expecting Shinji to see the logic of her argument and agree enthusiastically.
What she got left her totally baffled. First he stammered, then he stuttered, then he started coming up with every lame excuse for not moving up the wedding. During the fifteen-minute conversion both Touji and Asuka were beginning to feel very uncomfortable. They excused themselves and went to get something to drink.
"So what's going on?" The redhead asked Touji.
"What do you mean?" He replied.
"Don't play dumb with me. Okay don't play dumber with me. Shinji wouldn't be putting up an argument about marrying Rei unless it was something important. So give, what is it?" She demanded.
Touji considered her words for a moment then said, "You're right. There is something but it's not my place to say. If Shinji wants to tell her or you, he will. Just know this, he loves her with every fiber of his been. There is nothing he wouldn't do for her, so you know it has to be a really good reason for him to want to wait."
Asuka considered badgering the boy further to get the information but she couldn't help but respect his loyalty to his friend and was instead reassured that Shinji would do the right thing.
Ten minutes later, Rei showed up and took Asuka's hand. "Let us leave now." Looking up at her it was obvious to the redhead that she had been crying.
"Rei? What happened?" Concern written all over Asuka's face. "That did that idiot do?"
"Please, not here. Let us go. I want to go home." The red-eyed girl's lips began to quiver.
"Okay, let so." Asuka go up and shot Touji a look. 'Every fiber of his been hey.' And they walked away.
Touji was beside himself in shock. After two more minutes, Shinji showed up.
"Man, what did you say to her? I've never seen Rei like that." Touji stated.
"That's not important, what is important is getting my deposit back from the jewelry store. Let's go." Shinji insisted.
"What!? You're not breaking up with her are you? You can't. I just got done telling Asuka how much you loved Rei. Don't go making a liar out of me."
"Let's go and I'll explain everything." Shinji said sadly.
Back at the apartment
---
Asuka sat on the sofa in the living room with Rei's head on her lap. The young woman in love cried uncontrollably for nearly an hour before finally falling asleep. Asuka gently stroked her hair and hummed a lullaby, one she recalled her mother singing to her before the accident.
'How could you Shinji? She believed in you. I believed you. How could you?' Asuka choked back her own tears. Her heart went out to her friend. 'This isn't fare. You've had to endure so much in your life. We all have but you finally found real happiness and if anyone ever deserved to be happy it's you Rei. Why Shinji, why?' She turned her head to keep her tears from falling on Rei and waking her. As the hour drew late they both fell asleep on the sofa.
It wasn't until the phone rang early the next morning that they woke. Rei sat up as Asuka got the phone.
"Hello?"
"Asuka, where are you guys? We were supposed to have a flight test this morning."
"Misato? What time is it?" She asked trying to wipe the sleep from her eyes.
"It's 9:30 already. You guys were supposed to be here at 8:00. What did I tell you about partying on a work day."
"It wasn't that Misato. Quite the opposite I assure you."
"Well, just get you and your roommates over here as fast as you can. Okay?"
"That may be difficult." Asuka gestured toward Shinji's room and Rei went to check. She slid the door open but there was no sign of Shinji. She turned and shook her head.
"Shinji didn't come home last night."
"What? What happened?"
"It's complicated. Besides, I don't think it's my place to tell you."
"Well, get here as fast as you can with Rei and we'll work it all out." Misato hung up the phone.
"Problems Colonel?" The commander asked.
"It appears our two pilots had a … disagreement last night and Ikari did not return home." She said.
"That's why I've always frowned upon inter-office romances. Damn." The commander rubbed his temples then rose from his seat. "Notify me when the test is ready to commence." And he walked out of the command center.
"Yes sir." She acknowledged. "Shinji, what did you do now?"
On a plane somewhere over the North Atlantic
---
Shinji looked at his watch then looked out the window staring at the clouds as they passed. He had left a note, which he hoped would set Rei's mind at ease about his intentions, as well as his cellphone, to keep from being contacted and called back. He knew he ran the risk of disciplinary action or even dismissal for his actions but he felt he had no choice.
Nine months earlier, while at the art museum he and Rei saw a wedding portrait of a sixteenth century duke and duchess. The wedding band on the duchess' finger was so incredibly beautiful that even Rei took note of it. That day, Shinji resolved to have a duplicate made of the finest melts to give to his bride on their wedding day. After saving his money over the past nine months and searching for a jeweler that would handcraft the rings, he left his deposit and was given the assurance that the rings would be ready in seven months. When Rei spring her surprise on him, he panicked and refused to marry her early. He didn't want to tell her about the rings because he knew she would tell him she would settle for a much simpler ring. He knew he could get away with much less but being able to give her this ring came to mean so much to him, he resolved to find someway who could make it for her as soon as possible. Returning to the jewelry store to cancel his order and get is deposit, the jeweler informed him that the great-great-great-grand-son of the jeweler that crafted the ring in the print Shinji had, was still alive and living in Switzerland and may be able to craft the ring for him in a few weeks. That day, Shinji was on a plane for Switzerland. He would have the ring made no matter what.
"Believe in me Rei. Please, believe in me." He whispered to himself.
At NERV HQ in Tokyo3
---
In Misato's office Asuka and Rei explained what had transpired the day before to the shock of their sub-commander. She slumped in her seat. "I can't believe it. Did you try calling his cellphone?"
"I have called three times in the past hour as well as twice last night." Rei informed her. "He has it on but is not answering." 'Why won't you even speak to me my love? Why?'
"This is so much like the Shinji of old. I thought he outgrew running away from his issues." Misato spoke pensively. "Well, I'll decide that action I'll have to take against him later but for now we have tests that need to be run."
"Beg your pardon sub-commander but," Asuka interrupted, "considering the circumstances, wouldn't be best to postpone the tests for at least a couple days."
"No," said Rei. "I do not wish to simply sit at home and wait. It is too stressful. I would rather work."
"Are you sure Rei?" Asuka asked, not really believing her pilot's argument.
Rei nodded.
Misato stood up. "Rei, I understand how you feel. Work won't make your troubles go away but at least it may take your mind off of them for a few hours." Turning toward Asuka, she said, "Let us proceed with the testing then." And they walked out of Misato's office.
The testing that day was long and not nearly as productive as the testing had been in previous months but it was understandable and Asuka was as supportive and patient with Rei as she could possibly be and still conduct the tests. At the end of a very long day, Misato, Asuka and Rei left NERV together. With Kaji out of town on 'business', Misato invited her two daughters out for dinner. Afterwards, in the stillness and quiet of younger women's apartment, they each provided their support for Rei as she cried herself to sleep once more.
In the rural outskirts of Zurich, Switzerland
---
Shinji knocked on the door of a modest cottage and waited patiently. After several minutes, an elderly gentleman came to the door.
"Ja?" He looked over the young man at his door. Seeing the young man was not Swiss or German, he spoke in broken English, "I am sorry but I do not need any insurance, thank you." He started closing the door.
"Insurance?" Shinji whispered to himself. Speaking in his best English he replied, "Mr. Fuhrman, I'm not an insurance salesman. I've come from Japan to ask you for a favor sir."
The elderly man opened the door once again. "A favor you say. What type of favor?"
Shinji pulled out his print of the duchess and her ring. "Well first off. Are you the great-great-great-grand-son of the jeweler that crafted this ring?" He held up the print for the man to see.
The old gentleman examined the ring closely then looked at the print as a whole. "Beautiful, wasn't she? Yes, that was my great-great-great-grand-father, Erwin that crafted that ring. My family has been jewelry smiths for, well for as far back as I can remember. Unfortunately, it all ends with me."
"Sir?"
"Well, where are my manners. Please come in, ah… what did you say your name was young man?" He asked.
"Ikari, Shinji Ikari." The young pilot bowed respectfully.
"Ikari! Not the Eva Pilot Ikari?" The old man's face lit up.
"Yes sir, that is I. You know of the Evas?" A surprised Shinji asked.
"Know of the Evas? I've followed your adventures from the very first angel attack. Please come in, come in." The gentleman gestured enthusiastically for Shinji to follow him. He walked with short quick steps into a large living room and over to his entertainment center.
"Wow! This is incredible." Shinji marveled at the size and quality of the man's system.
"Well," the man smiled sheepishly, "A man has got to have a hobby after retiring." He inserted a disk and turned on the monitor. In a moment, footage of Unit01's battle with the third angle appeared on the screen.
"I especially love the way you tore through its protective energy field and pierced its heart." The man turned abruptly and headed for a bookshelf. "That reminds me," he pulled out what looked to be a scrapbook. "Would you be so kind as to sign this for me?" He held open the book to a page that had a picture of Shinji as he disembarked Unit 01 after helping Misato stop the Jet Alone.
"Umm, sure." Shinji pulled out a pen and signed his name on the picture.
"Oh, thank you son, thank you so much. You've made an old man's wish come true. Umm, you didn't happen to bring either of the lovely young lady pilots with you, did you?" The former jewelry hugged his scrapbook to his chest.
"Umm, no, but that's why I'm here." Shinji said, anxious to get back to the reason he came all this way. "You see. I'm engaged to one of the other pilots, Rei Ayanami… "
"Oh, Miss Ayanami… " The elderly man grabbed his remote and jumped ahead several scenes to where Rei could be seen standing on a platform looking out over Tokyo3 while Shinji was sitting on the floor several meters behind her. "Tell me, is she as beautiful in person as she appears here?" He asked.
"More so. She's the most beautiful creature on earth. She's like… like an angel. The good kind." Shinji stared at the image of his true love before shaking his head. "Excuse me Mr. Fuhrman, where did you get this footage? All the angel battles are supposed to be classified."
"TeHeHeHe, well, it's amazing the things you can get in exchange for a few pieces of custom-make jewelry." The old man laughed. "But don't worry, in case of my death, NERV officials will confiscate my entire collection. It's been arranged."
Having had enough excitement for one day, Mr. Fuhrman sat down and gestured for Shinji to follow suit. "So what is this favor you were asking about?"
Shinji pulled out the print once more. "I was wondering if you could make me this ring. We saw it at an art exhibition and I just know that ring would look perfect on Rei's hand. Could you make it for me?"
The gentleman took the print and pulled out his glasses to inspect it more carefully. "Hmm, I don't know. I remember my grandfather telling me about this ring. It's actually made of a very thin strand of gold woven round and round with tiny diamonds and emeralds woven in place. Only the one ring was ever made."
Shinji hung his head. 'I traveled all this way, for nothing.'
"Still… Follow me." The elderly man got up and headed for the basement. "This is my workshop." He said as he went to a large set of shelves filled with papers and notebooks. He started searching through the stacks. "For as far back as my family has been jewelry smiths, we have kept journals of how our more difficult items were crafted. Ah, here it is." He pulled out a scroll, walked over to his worktable and unrolled it. After a moment he said, "Yes, yes I can and will make the ring for you." He checked his watch. "But we will have to wait till tomorrow to go into town to get the raw materials. Now as for my fee."
"Anything, any amount of money, just name your price." Shinji exclaimed.
"Well, money wise all I'll need is the cost of the raw materials. No what I want is for you to regale me with tales of your battles with the angels. In fact, you can even stay here in my guest room. What do you say?"
Shinji went a little pale. He had spent the past three years trying to forget about the angels, now this elderly gentleman wanted him to tell him stories about them. But as he hesitated the image of his beloved came to mind and he smiled. "Sure, I can do that. It would be my pleasure."
"Wonderful! Well, let me show you to your room and you can freshen up while I start supper." And they headed back upstairs.
At NERV HQ in Tokyo3
---
Rei and Asuka walked down the corridor towards Misato's office in silence. They had exhausted every effort in the past week and a half to find Shinji, all to no avail. They even questioned Touji repeatedly, trying to get him to reveal some useful information. But he was either unbelievably loyal to Shinji or honestly did not know anything. All he said was what Shinji told him. That he loved Rei more than life itself and that he would marry her as soon as he returned. But where he went and for what purpose, Touji claimed not to know.
For a time these words provided Rei some comfort but as the days turned into a week that comfort slowly began to fade way. With growing certainty she became resigned to the notion that Shinji was not coming back, ever.
Meanwhile, Asuka had her own issues to deal with. While comforting her dearest friend she still had to find her replacement. This proved to be a much harder than she originally thought. After interviewing close to fifty candidates, she was convinced the world was filled with morons and losers. But after each interview, it slowly became more and more apparent to her who the ideal candidate was. When she presented her proposal to Misato, she was met with some opposition but was able to persuade the sub-commander soon enough. Eventually agreeing with Asuka's recommendation, she told the redhead to remain silent about it until she got the commander's approval and was ready to present the offer herself.
Coming to Misato's office, Asuka knocked on her door.
"Come right in." The voice on the other side of the door said.
They entered and stood in front of Misato's desk. "Good I'm glad you two could make it." She smiled then turned her attention to Rei. "Rei, I know this is an especially difficult time for you. It's been a difficult time for all of us. But life does go on and our work here must continue. As you know Asuka has been working tirelessly to find a qualified replacement for her, without much success. Well, it appears the very best candidate for the position has been right under our noise the entire time. Rei, having received Asuka's highest possible recommendation, would you be willing to be our new Operations Director."
Rei was stunned.
"Of course, you'll have to go through a period of training as Assistant Director, just as Asuka had to but she assures me that you are already very well versed in her regular responsibilities so I expect that time will only be a year, maybe two. So what do you say?"
Rei hesitated for a moment then said, "I am honored that both of you would regard me so highly, but I am one of only two pilots we have available. It would be unfair and unrealistic to expect Shinji," Her head dipped down and she whispered. "when he returns, to shoulder the entire burden of piloting the Evas."
"That is true but as I'm sure you've noticed, both of your sync ratios have been going down steadily since your sixteenth birthdays. Ritsuko informed me that by the time you reach nineteen; the chances are very likely that neither of you will be able to pilot the Evas at all. So we have begun the process of searching for new pilots.
"And what will become of Shinji?" Rei's concern clearly evident.
"Well, that will depend largely upon when he returns and the circumstances surrounding his departure. But assuming he is not dismissed for his current absence he will most likely be asked to stay on as an instructor. His experience at piloting the Evas is far to valuable to lose."
"I see." Rei acknowledged. After considering the offer for several moments, she responded, "Well, if both you and Asuka feel I am up to the task, than who am I to disagree. I accept your offer Sub-Commander."
Misato walked out from behind her desk and up to Rei. Placing her hands on the pilot's shoulders, she said. "I'm sure you will do an excellent job." She smiled. "And I'm sure … I'm sure Shinji will be home soon."
"I… thank you Misato." Rei said with a smile.
As Asuka and Rei walked down the corridor together, Asuka asked. "Have you tried calling him today?"
"I have not tried. I have not tried in the past two days." Rei answered.
"Why not?"
"He is not returning. He does not love me. I doubt… I doubt he ever did." Rei said sadly.
The redhead spun and slapped her across the face. "What are you saying?! Don't be stupid!" As the Asuka of old, flashed to the surface for a moment. But seeing Rei standing, motionless and emotionless, filled the fiery redhead with regret.
"Rei, I'm sorry. But… but… you can't give up hope. You can't." She reached out and grabbed her friend by the arms. "Don't give up hope. Shinji loves you, you know he does… you know it!"
Rei closed her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks and she gave a gentle nod.
"Come on, try calling him again." Asuka insisted.
"Yes, yes I shall." Rei pulled out her phone and dialed Shinji's phone.
As her phone rang Asuka heard ringing close by. Looking left and right she asked. "Do you hear that?"
Rei pulled her phone from her ear and listened. Looking about, she walked over to a door. "It's coming from here. From Shinji's office." She turned the handle. "It's not locked." Walking in they saw Shinji's cellphone and a note on his desk.
Asuka picked up the phone. "He plugged into the charger so it would stay on the whole time he was gone."
Rei picked up the note. On the top it read, 'To Rei'. She opened the note and began to read aloud.
~~~~
My dearest love,
I cannot apologize enough for upsetting you earlier today. It broke my heart to say no to you but believe me when I say I had my reasons. And none of them involve not wanting to marry you. There is something very special I must do. I knew if I told you what it was, you'd tell me it was unnecessary but this is something I feel I must do for you. Please try and understand. It will all be made clear when I return and I will return. I don't know how long this will take me but know that I will return home as soon as I possibly can. Be sure to take Asuka shopping with you and find a pretty white dress to wear. If you really want to get married quickly, we can find a judge that will do it the day after I get home if you wish.
Above all, I need you to trust in me and trust in our love. My thoughts are with you always my love.
Till I see you again,
Shinji
PS: I love you!
~~~~
Asuka smiled. "See, its like I said, just like Touji said. He does love you and he will be back." She leaned forward to try and see Rei's face. "Isn't that great news?"
Rei began to cry. "I do not deserve his love. I doubted him; I doubted his love for me. I do not deserve to be loved by him." She began so sob.
"Hey, hey" Asuka pulled her friend into her arms. "That's not true. How were you supposed to know? Who would have known that idiot would leave a note in here. He never even uses his office. You didn't know. You couldn't have known. Don't blame yourself. You hear me. It's not your fault."
Not entirely agreeing with Asuka's argument, Rei nodded anyway and wiped her eyes dry.
"Now come on. We need to go to my office." Asuka gently guided Rei out the door.
"For what?"
"To write up a leave of absence form for Shinji so he'll still have a job when he comes back and we need to plan your wedding. Alright?" Asuka smiled.
"Yes, yes you are correct." They walked the rest of the way to Asuka's office in pleasant silence.
Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean
---
It took Mr. Fuhrman fifteen days but the rings were complete and even more magnificent than Shinji could have hoped for. He checked his watch. 'It should beeee… a little after six in the morning in Tokyo3.' He reached for the flight phone and swiped his NERV ID card through it, then dialed home and waited.
The phone rang four times before a soft and gentle voice answered. "Hello, this is Rei Ayanami."
"Rei, my love, it's so good to hear your voice. I've missed you so."
"Shinji? Is it really you? My love, where are you?"
"Currently about 45,000 feet over the Pacific Ocean. I should be arriving at Tokyo3 International Airport at 8:55. I was hoping you might be able to come pick me up."
"Of course, I will be there. What flight?"
"It's Air Japan, flight 1066. I can't wait to see you my love."
"Nor I my love, nor I."
With that Shinji ended the call and smiled happily as he closed his eyes and tried to get a little more sleep.
9:00 am at Tokyo3 International Airport
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Rei waited at the entrance of the concourse, her hands over her heart trying to control her heart rate, when she spotted him. Her face lit up and for anyone who was paying attention, it would have appeared as if the girl was literally flouting on air.
Shinji quickened his pace when is spotted her. Passing airport security, he rushed up to her, dropping his luggage and swept her off her feet in a loving embrace.
"God I've missed you so much." He whispered in her ear as he held her close for fear that this may all have been a dream and she would disappear on him if he let go even just a little bit. Rei returned his embrace with just as much vigor, pressing her face into his collarbone and breathing in his scent.
"Never leave me like that again, Shinji my love. Please never leave me without giving me a way to contact you. You have no idea what I went through these past two weeks."
"Didn't you read my letter?" He asked his voice filled with concern.
"Not until just four days ago. I was beside myself till I read your lovely note."
"Four days ago. Why only till then?"
"I never considered searching your office. You never use it for anything. It did not occur to me that you would have left me a note there."
"Oh Rei, I'm so sorry. You must have… you must have thought I ran out on you. Oh God, Rei please forgive me. I'm so sorry."
"Kiss me and all will be forgiven."
He gladly obliged.
In the limo ride, Shinji noticed that they were not heading home or to NERV HQ. "Where are we going?" He asked.
"In your letter you specified that we could get married as soon as you returned. Well, I see no reason to delay any longer do you?"
He smiled. "No, no I guess not." He squeezed her hand and raised her fingers to his lips.
"By the way, do you think you can now reveal your reason for leaving so abruptly?" She asked calmly, doing her very best to contain her curiosity.
"Well, since we're going to get married today, I guess I need to show you anyway." He grabbed his carry-on bag and started searching for a small black box. Once he recovered it he opened it and held it out for Rei to see.
"Oh my goodness. These are just like the ring we saw in that painting." Rei's eyes sparkled with amazement.
"They not only look like it, they practically are it. I went to Switzerland and had the great-great-great-grandson of the jewelry-smith that made the original make these for us. I was originally going to have a jeweler here in Tokyo3 do it but he was going to take seven months to complete them. That's why I hesitated. I wanted to present these rings to you for our wedding." He explained.
"Shinji, they are magnificent but I would have settled for less." She assured him.
"I know you would have but I didn't want you to have to settle for less. I wanted to give you something special as a wedding ring, something that expressed how very special you are to me. Can you understand that?" He hoped she would.
Rei smiled and kissed him passionately. "I am glad you went to the trouble of acquiring these rings. To know you love me so much as to travel half way around the world and spend two weeks waiting for these rings to be made. I can only imagine how much they must have cost."
"Well, to tell you the truth, that is kind of a funny story." He laughed nervously.
"Perhaps you can humor me with the tale sometime during our honeymoon, but as for right now, we have arrived at our destination." She gestured out the window. It was a country club to which the commander was a member.
"A country club?"
"The commander arranged it."
As they pulled up in front, Kaji, Touji and Kensuke hurried Shinji to the men's dressing room, while Misato, Asuka and Hikari took Rei to the women's dressing room.
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AN: Okay, we're very close to the wedding now. I'll let you all know that I didn't actually write a wedding scene but rather their preparations just before the wedding. That is the next chapter. My thinking was that wedding scenes are all pretty much the same unless the writer adds some catastrophe in it and I'm not going to do that. I figure I've got enough WAFF in this story already, I don't need to add more with a sappy wedding scene. I have been considering adding a scene with S/R on their honeymoon in Europe but not entirely sure I want to do that. So I ask you. Do you feel an actual wedding scene is necessary? Would a few moments from their honeymoon suffice? Or just leave all that out and get on with the story? Let me know what you think. I'd really like to know.
Thank you for all your comments, suggestions and critics. I appreciate each and every one of them. ^_^
A. Amishi