Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion. All characters and other affiliated material are owned by Gainax.
Okay first off I again want to thank everyone who is reviewing. I got the most reviews I have ever had this chapter and that keep's me writing. I did feel like I wanted to discuss my story a bit. I'm sorry to anyone who has problems with original characters, but I have tried to make them seem as real as possible, as well as give them their own personal conflicts (sometimes I notice ACC's seem to have the same problems as Asuka and Shinji). As far as Shinji starting to head a bit out of character, I'm sorry if this bugs you as well. However as you can see in the last chapter, I dove in depth into Shinji's mind and what I think that "End of Evangelion" was supposed to symbolize. I was trying to justify the actions he was taking by looking at the life altering experiences that took place in the film. I hope I have justified the small changes that I have made, and hope that everyone keeps reading as well. Thank you so much to everyone.
The rain poured immensely down onto the rooftops and street corners of Tokyo 3. Nearly all had retreated in doors to seek refuge from the downpour. There were at least two however, that remained outside.
To Shinji Ikari, it felt as if heaven was close. The sky seemed to be bearing down upon him as he countered the opening blows of a battle he fought over one hundred stories in the air. Of a battle he fought for friendship. Of a battle he fought for truth.
In reality both combatants were holding back at this point, both merely testing the other. Shinji had discerned from the Wraith Shiro's fighting maneuvers that his style was one of natural aggression. Shinji knew this conflicted with his own, more reserved style of counterblows and defense. They were a perfect match in this way of thought. Shinji knew that fact all to well. With one last deflection Shinji sent his opponents blade tip into the ground. He missed his chance to attack however as Shiro quickly made a retreat to a safer distance.
"Good. Perhaps you will put up a better fight than I thought. However, you seem hesitant," Shiro said calmly.
"Do not act as if you are putting your full force in at this point as well. I am not naïve," Shinji answered back.
The Wraith laughed at this.
"Really? I'm not so sure about that. I can see right through you Ikari. In, fact you really are quite bizarre."
Shinji clenched his fist but made no remark in return, and presently Shiro continued.
"You're a walking contradiction. You intend to enter battle for the lives of your friends and the fate of your existence, yet you are terrified to kill."
"That's not true." Shinji knew that he was lying to himself. Even if Shiro wasn't a human, he was made up of the stuff that made humans. In fact, Shinji knew that this fate was the same for him as well.
"This truth that you have found, Shinji, does this truth justify the death of others? Can you kill in the name of this thing? This Love? Does that justify the death of others? Are you a killer, Ikari?"
"STOP IT!" Shinji yelled. I know what you're trying to do."
The Wraith laughed.
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Asuka Langley Soryu and Rei Ayanami sat patiently in the Katsuragi apartment waiting for the arrival of their friends. Normally Asuka would have resented Rei's presence there, but now she felt as if she understood "O'l Wondergirl" a little bit better. However at this point Asuka's mind was on different things. Namely the wherabouts of Shinji. He had been gone since early that morning, and the downpour had only worsened her worries. So much so in fact that she had decided to organize a search party for him. She had called Rei, Toji (though with some reluctance), and Nishka Zalomai. Misato had not yet left her bedroom after Shinji had hugged her that morning, and Asuka was in truth a little worried about that as well.
After several more minutes of waiting she heard a gentle knock on the door and opened it to reveal Toji and Nishka.
"I am so happy you guys are here. Are you ready to start looking? Asuka asked.
"Absolutely," was Toji's reply.
"Of course," was Nishka's.
Asuka nodded.
"Now if only we knew where to start. Alright, let's go Rei."
Asuka turned to grab Rei, but found that she was no where in sight.
"Rei?"
Asuka walked closer to the couch and found the first child lying on the floor. She was screaming silently, holding her hands to the side of her face.
"Rei!" The other children quickly rushed to her side. The fit however seemed to have stopped as quickly as it had begun. Rei sat up, shivering from head to toe.
"Rei are you alright?" Nishka asked, her Russian accent coming through more profoundly in the excitement of the moment.
Rei Ayanami stood and responded in her old monotone.
"Shinji is in pain."
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The third child recoiled in shock, grabbing his right shoulder with his left hand, his blade disappearing back into his body. The first blood had been drawn, and Shinji felt the burning sensation of his cut hitting the wind and air.
"Darn. That wasn't at all deep enough," Shiro said with a smile, "You really are quite fast."
"Bastard…" Shinji panted back, his words lost in the rain and his own breath. He slowly slid to his knees.
"It hurts, doesn't it?" Shiro drew a small towel from his pocket and wiped the blood off of his sword. He chuckled to himself.
"You see Shinji, this truth for which you fight only brings you pain. I know that you are fighting for the sake of others, but when you die, that will only bring them pain as well. Why not simply live with them forever in peace? Again I find myself offering you the chance at perfection that you so foolishly continue to deject."
Shinji tried his best to ignore Shiro's words as he attempted to pull himself back up onto his feet.
"Not so fast now Shinji, if you don't agree with me this ends now."
Shinji spat.
"Then I guess your choice is death," Shiro concluded as he lifted his blade. Shinji looked up and saw the Wraith drive his steel downward. Shinji however brought up his left arm to meet it, projecting his AT field to block the blow. The Wraith staggered slightly as his weight was displaced, and Shinji seized the opportunity to kick his blade from him. It landed with a clatter by the edge of the building.
"FOOL!" Shiro yelled aiming a kick at Shinji's face. The young pilot was too fast for him however, and was quickly back on his feet and out of the range of the attack.
"How dare you! You can't win! Don't you get it?" The Wraith yelled back at him. Shinji could see that the Shiro was angry now; his earlier haughty resolve gone. Shinji ran towards him again, swinging with his left hand. Shiro moved to block it, but Shinji pulled the punch at the last moment; instead dropping to the ground to deliver a sweep kick. Shiro quickly saw the low attack and leaped to avoid it, but didn't count on Shinji rising with him. The boy delivered a vicious uppercut to his lower jaw. Shiro fell back from the force; his back hitting the pavement. The Wraith winced as he felt LCL seeping from the fresh cut on his back.
Shinji stood tall ready for the next set of attacks. Shiro moved his hands to lift himself back up, and to his delight his left rested on his blade. He began to laugh maniacally as Shinji realized what his opponent was again holding.
"Looks like I win after all Ikari. But now that's not nearly enough. It seems your American friend is all alone. It would be unfortunate if he had no back up during an attack."
"You wouldn't do that; it's against our deal."
"I said I would call the third Wraith off. I never said for how long."
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The four child search party continued to plow through the flooding streets of Tokyo 3. They had no idea where they were or wear they were going, but knew that they had to try. By this point all concerned were completely soaking wet and freezing cold, but they tried their best to keep up the pace. The children soon reached a crossroads.
"Which way do we go?" Toji questioned the others.
"I'm not sure," Asuka said, trying to think were Shinji might have gone. Suddenly Rei took another fall towards the ground, though this time the Russian pilot was able to catch her in time.
"Rei!" This time her name was yelled unanimously.
Rei gasped and sputtered in the rain.
"I can see him. He's at the top of a large building near here."
Rei pointed the direction to go with her finger, and the hunt was soon on again. This time however Rei lagged behind somewhat. She lifted her hand to her forehead as she continued to walk after her friends.
"Koaru…?"
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The silence of Damon Robinson's hospital room was soon shattered as Commander Fuyutski slammed his door to the side.
"I hope your back's feeling better."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Suit up."
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Fwip. Fwip. Fwip. Shiro's blade danced back and forth. Horizontal. Vertical. Diagonal. Shinji did all he could to avoid the blows. His arms had begun to bleed and he found that he was unable to summon his AT field. He tried to concentrate on Asuka; tried to concentrate on the truth. Fwip. That time the blade hit home. A horizontal slice to Shinji's right cheek. He gasped as the pain hit him. He could feel his warm blood begin to slowly ooze down his cheek. He felt it. It had barely clipped him, but Shinji knew that he was starting to loose blood rapidly, and every little bit the Wraith could get was slowly killing him. The blade came again, and again. Shinji rolled left, but felt another cut graze his hurt shoulder. He hit the ground just as Shiro ran the hilt of his blade back into the side of Shinji's head. The pain was horrible. Shinji's vision began to blur and he made no effort to get back up.
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The Third Wraith was the most unstoppable creature Damon Robinson had ever faced in VR or otherwise. He had managed to receive every attack the beast had thrown at him so far, and it didn't seem to be getting any better. "Where is everyone else?" His mind screamed. "Am I the only one out here?"
The Wraith dealt him a shot to the gut and Damon went to his knees. The creature picked up its foot and slammed downward, driving Unit X's face down into the street.
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Commander Fuyutski listened in horror as Damon's screams filled central dogma. The American boy was being destroyed. "And why wouldn't he have been?" the commander thought. "All three female pilots had been unable to deal the creature a scratch while working together."
"Aoba!"
"Yes sir!"
"Any indication of where the other pilots are?"
"Not yet sir, but I'm still looking!"
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The search party finally reached the building that Rei had indicated. They had been let inside after a quick conflict with the security guards. They said that they wanted to go to the theatre on the fourth floor, but it was well past curfew and the guards seemed highly uneasy to let the four teenagers go upstairs. When all else seemed to have failed Asuka showed them her special NERV security badge. The officers didn't seem to be going for that either, but when they saw the chance the kids had made a run for the elevator, and luckily had made it.
Toji pushed the button for the top floor.
"Hold on man, were coming for ya."
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Shinji felt the Wraith give him another vicious blow to the ribs, and at last, felt one break. He screamed, and curled into the fetal position.
"And you see, Mr. Ikari, now you will die," Shiro said with a smile as he sat down next to Shinji.
"It really is a pity y'know…"
Shinji began to cough up blood as he listened to the Wraiths words.
"…that now I have to kill your friends in front of you."
Shinji sputtered, trying to talk as he began to cough again; clawing at Shiro's pant leg with his left hand.
"Oh no, no, no. Save your strength Shinji. You'll need it to watch them die."
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Damon could feel his body being lifted into the air. The monster had him by the throat, and the American no longer had the strength to struggle. "Is this how it ends?" He felt a wave of sorrow. "I'm sorry Rei. I'm sorry Shinji. Goodbye dad. Goodbye Rei…"
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The elevator door opened at last as the search party burst out into the pouring rain. Asuka emerged first, followed by Toji, Nishka, and then Rei.
"Shinji?" Asuka tried to find her boyfriend in the rain.
"No! Asuka run!"
Asuka Langley Soryu looked slowly up into the sky, the rain hitting her eyes and making them flutter. She could see the shape of a man descending from the sky carrying with him a blade point down.
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Nishka Zalomai didn't think. There was no time. Instead she shoved Asuka to the ground. Instead she felt the pain meant for another. Instead she felt the cold agony of approaching death.
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"NOOOOOOOOO!" Shinji Ikari was up now, arms bleeding, shoulders sliced, ribs broken, temple bruised, face cut, and sword out. He felt it all again. There he was in his mother's arms. There was his father abandoning him. There was his first time piloting Eva. There was his first meeting with Asuka. There was the moment his sanity broke. There was the moment he knew he loved her. There was the truth. There was his sword through the Wraith's back.
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Kensuke Aida could see the red jewel burst as his cross began to descend. It spewed LCL forth, splashing the bleeding Russian from head to toe. He felt his feet touch the ground as his invisible bonds began to loosen, and then he was free.
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"Commander Fuyutski we have a lock on the other pilots!"
"Where! Where are they?!"
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Damon watched what should have been the instrument of his death falter before the death blow came. It was like the creature had been struck by an invisible force.
"Is this how you wanna go down Robinson?" He said out loud to himself.
Damon rocked backward in the Wraith's choke grip and with the last of his strength slammed the feet of Unit X through the red jewel. The crimson sphere burst in a backwards firing explosion as Damon felt his Eva's feet hit the ground.
"Looks like I'm not dead yet," he said quietly.
"Damon, get to the coordinates on your monitor immediately!" Commander Fuyutski yelled over the comm.
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Asuka could not believe what she was seeing before her. She tried to move her limbs but her body did not seem to be responding to the orders that she was giving it. She could see Shinji lying in a pool of his own blood, face down, with his right arm stretched out before him. His hand seemed to be pulsing with a fading orange light.
To her right she could see Kensuke holding up Nishka Zalomai. He had ripped apart his shirt and was doing his best to slow the Russian girls intense bleeding.
To her left she could see Toji Suzahara lifting up a limp Hikari in his arms. She watched as he walked over to the elevator door and began pounding his fists against it, trying to get it to open up.
Asuka could do nothing but stare.
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"Toji!" Kensuke was screaming at his friend, "You have to get help!"
"I can't! The elevator won't open! The guards must have shut it down…"
Toji set Hikari down and collapsed against the elevator door sobbing.
"No…this isn't how it's supposed to be…"
Kensuke knew things didn't look good. He stared down into the eyes of the beautiful blonde girl in his arms. She had been stabbed right through the stomach. He doubted that she would live. However she began to speak.
"What's your name?"
Kensuke was shocked, to hear her ask such a frivolous question at the hour of her death.
"Kensuke."
She was starting to shake, but she still managed to hold his gaze.
"Kensuke, please don't let me die. Please don't leave me here."
Kensuke could feel his tears begin to come. "Don't cry, Kensuke. She doesn't need to see you cry," he told himself.
"I won't leave you."
He squeezed her hand.
"Kensuke…"
This time it was Shinji's voice.
"Shinji your alive!" Kensuke was so happy he almost forgot the dying girl in his arms. Though when he took a good glance at his friend he was hardly sure that he would make it out alive either.
"Welcome back…Kensuke."
Kensuke nodded, the tears flowing freely from his eyes now.
Lighting flashed somewhere in the distance and Kensuke turned to look to his right. He could see a massive shape approaching rapidly through the pounding rain. And soon the massive hand of a black and white Evangelion came to rest beside the top of the building. The eva motioned with its head towards its out stretched hand. Kensuke nodded in return, doing his best to lift the girl in his arms. Toji was soon up as well, carefully lifting himself and Hikari's limp body onto the massive hand.
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Damon watched the scene in front of him with horror.
"Come on Shinji! Get up!"
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Shinji Ikari saw red all around him. The pain of his life was throbbing throughout his entire being. "I won't die here. I won't give up. I won't run." Shinji Ikari reached his arm forward and began to crawl.
To his right a beautiful German girl stood as well. She walked next to him, as he pulled himself inch by inch to the edge of the building. And soon he was there. He could feel the cold metal palm. Asuka stepped onto the Eva after him.
"Rei!" Toji yelled, "Rei come on."
He had not noticed the blue haired girl, but now he could see her plainly. Her hands were bloody and she was staring at them with a horrified look on her face. She was crying.
"Come on Rei!" Toji yelled again.
Without warning the Evangelion quickly swung its other arm back around and scooped up Rei Ayanami in its hand.
"Don't worry, Rei. I gotcha" Damon said to himself. With that final thought he pivoted Unit X's legs and began his trek towards the Geofront.