Yue's Lady: Oh, my bad about not explaining the disease 'cystic fibrosis' that Xiao Lan has. Unfortunately, I did not make it up, it is actually a real disease. As you may have guessed, it's a breathing problem (mostly) and a digestive problem. I do not know all the details but it's mostly a condition that you're born with, usually hereditary. It basically creates too much mucus and clogs up your lungs and pancreas (and other digestive organs), and makes it really hard to breathe.
Common symptoms I can remember and have found on a search:
- Bad coughs
- Does not gain enough weight
- Chest infections
- More prone to pneumonia and such.
- Diabetes (sometimes)
I think what mostly happens is that the mucus clogs up the organs too much when it catches up to the person with the disease (I may be wrong about this, plz correct me if you know it's wrong). People with cystic fibrosis don't have a very long life expectancy, I think it was 31 years on average on the last count. But that's where the facts end when it comes to my fic.
If you read the previous chapters properly, her attacks usually happen when she is inside an Eva or inside a sim-plug. I know half of you must be thinking, 'But LCL directly oxygenizes/oxygenates your blood, so why would she be having an attack?' but I did mention she was allergic to some chemicals in the LCL fluid.
'What's with the steam and smoke?' Well, I don't want her having to croak just yet, so with NERV's advanced medical capabilities, there is a way to force out the chemicals she's allergic to. The fluid she breathes in when she is in the medical center does the basic part of the process: to burn out the worst of the problem mucus. The mucus has to go somewhere, so I made it evaporate out through her skin. The blue liquid in the syringe is meant to chase and eradicate the chemicals that she's allergic to. This creates the smoke. The smoke and steam aren't dangerous of course.
If you're still confused, email me with your question(s) and I'll do my best to explain better.
Now, I must do up my thank you list-
Rage420: thanks so much!The Lord Of pencil: I'm from Asia ^_^
Andross937: thanks, I hope I answered most of your queries. But if you need more info just email me (it should be in my profile/bio) and I'll do my best to answer all questions.
clear shot: I'll try my best.
Otaku D-Man: thanks! Am I really improving? (sweatdrops and laughs weakly) 'primordial soup stock of life'…interesting concept…(grows teary-eyed at thought of absence) I have a phobia of 'leave of absence' because a lot of authors who've done that sometimes don't come back…you wouldn't do that to us would you? :'(
Et: err…I shall try longer chapters but I'm still having a bad case of writer's block…
Lady Laran: I'm definitely continuing of course…I'm glad you like my fic…thanks! ^_^
brassmonki: thanks! I'm really happy you think my fic is getting better…
Jonathan: it's okay. Thanks so much!
Little Jimmy: thanks!
I hope fervently I have not forgotten anyone…
Disclaimer: You really cannot sue me. If I owned NGE, why the hell would I be writing a fanfic about it? So me no own, you no sue.
CHAPTER FIVERei had been instructed to escort Xiao Lan to school. Out of all the pilots, only Rei had been properly informed of Xiao Lan's condition.
The blue-haired clone knocked unceremoniously on the door to where Xiao Lan lived. Xiao Lan had been allocated to an apartment rather like Misato's, only smaller.
The door opened.
"Good morning, Ayanami-san," Xiao Lan said politely. Rei nodded.
"Shall we go?" the clone asked.
"I still need a few more minutes. Please come in," Xiao Lan stepped aside so Rei could go in. Rei, as customary to Japanese culture, took off her shoes at the door. "Please make yourself comfortable." With that, Xiao Lan went into another room.
Rei looked around. The place smelled like a doctor's clinic. It was also extraordinarily clean. And empty. The only furniture in the living room was a small round table, a couple of tatami mats, and a large piano in the far corner with a small stool.
Rei knelt down on one of the mats and waited patiently for Xiao Lan.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," said Xiao Lan, coming out of her small bedroom in the school uniform with a simple backpack. Her skin was steaming slightly.
"Let's go then," Rei said quietly, getting up and putting her shoes back on.
~*~
Rei sat alone during lunch, using the opportunity to keep watch of Shinji, who was simply sitting with his back against a tree, half hunched over, listening to that cassette player. Rei contemplated the option of whether to just jerk the accursed mechanism away from him and jump on it to get his attention.
Toji glanced at Shinji, wishing he'd get out of this depression. But he couldn't do anything. If he tried to talk to Shinji, all the boy would do was look at him with dull eyes and blink as if this was all just a dream. The option of punching the Third Child was out.
"I know Toji, but it's up to Shinji to come back to us," said Kensuke, knowing what Toji was thinking, more or less.
"I don't need you to remind me," Toji sighed, looking at his arm, which was still in a sling.
Xiao Lan looked out the window of the music room. She could see Shinji. He was still stuck fast in grief and self-hatred. Turning back to the piano she was sitting at, she placed her fingers on the black and white keys and began to play. Her fingers moved surely as she played a song that she had never learned before. But her hands seemed to know just how to play the song…
Shinji…
I know…be patient
How is he?
Same as before…you saw him
I'm counting on you…
I know
Your time is limited…
I know
You do know the seriousness of the situation…
Yes
Thank you…
Don't worry about it
~*~
Asuka was ready to pound something. Yet again, she was being ticked off and she needed a punching bag. Unfortunately, her favorite punching bag was in a precarious and depressed state of mind. She could not punch the Commander's pet, and she could not pound Toji in his current state, it would be cowardly.
Asuka moved down the corridor, swearing as usual and seeming to repel any other student population within a three-metre radius in her foul mood. She heard piano music coming from the music room and it only added to her irritation.
She turned round the corner and saw the Sixth Child sitting at the piano, tinkering away placidly.
"You know, it's against the rules to be in classrooms during lunch," Asuka said haughtily.
"Hello, Miss Sohryuu," said Xiao Lan politely, and stopped playing.
"Haven't you been listening to me? You aren't supposed to be in here!" the redhead snapped.
"I have permission to be indoors," Xiao Lan replied, her tone subtly changing from placid to clipped and concise.
"Oh really? From who?"
"The principal."
"And you expect me to believe that?"
"Yes, as it is the truth."
"Stop lying."
"I am not lying."
"Where's your proof?"
Xiao Lan pulled out her school-issued student notebook and opened it to the correct page.
"You forged it," Asuka accused.
"Would you like to ask the principal then?"
"I don't need to, I know it's fake."
"I have given you your proof. Kindly leave, as YOU do not happen to have permission to be indoors at the moment," Xiao Lan replied, getting up and walking towards Asuka.
"How dare you, you Chinese freak!" Asuka said, her petty irritation taking control over her tongue.
"You are trying my patience, Second," Xiao Lan said, her words now laced with ice.
"Do you know who you're talking to? I'm Asuka Langley Sohryuu, the best Eva pilot of all the Children!" Asuka retorted. (Yue's Lady: I can hear all the cogs whirring in your heads screaming 'bias!' It's not…that's what she usually thinks…she likes being the best, you and I both know that.)
"Please leave."
"You don't tell me to leave, you Chinese baka!"
"There is no point in insulting my intelligence or my heritage."
"Chinese baka!" Asuka hissed. Xiao Lan remained silent, but the slight twist of her lips showed her impatience and her own irritation.
"You're like the Commander's pet, like Shinji, trying to get on everyone's good side so they give you special favors," Asuka continued her accusations.
SMACK!!
Asuka's eyes widened.
"You would do well to keep that arrogant mouth of yours closed, Second, as I do not wish to have to do that again," Xiao Lan said grimly. "Look at your own glaring faults before insinuating absolute garbage about others. I have all the time in the world to banter words with you, but I'd prefer not to as I like quiet. Now, kindly leave. I apologize for my sudden burst of temper." And with that, Xiao Lan closed the door in the German girl's face.
Asuka was holding her cheek, and she could still feel the sting of the slap Xiao Lan had delivered of which her mind still hadn't registered.
(Yue's Lady [singing]: I can hear you all cry Mary Sue…la la la!)
~*~
"Kensuke, let's go!" Toji urged, yanking his best friend with his good arm.
"Just a few more seconds, I need to capture the moment," Kensuke whispered, feverishly filming. They had been listening and taping the whole 'bitch-fight' as Toji put it.
"She'll kill us if she finds out!" Toji hissed sharply at Kensuke. "Come on!"
"Okay, okay," Kensuke said, turning off his video camera and escaping with Toji.
"I can't believe we caught that," Toji said, gasping for breath and ignoring the ache in his shoulder as they hid in the boy's bathrooms.
"I know! What great footage! 'Devil Girl gets payback'," Kensuke said, imagining the headline.
"Would it be good blackmail material?" Toji asked.
"Are you kidding? She'll destroy the tape before we can get anything from her!" Kensuke said. "Besides, I want to keep this."
"We'll show it to Shinji when he gets better," Toji suggested. Their faces grew slightly grim.
"IF he does…" Kensuke replied.
~*~
Darkness…so peaceful…alone…where he couldn't hurt anyone…and no one could hurt him. This was where he belonged…alone…with the music…wait…the music had stopped…
Why?
What?
Why is this where you belong?
I don't know. It just is.
Why are you hiding?
I'm a murderer.
Why did you kill?
I had no choice…he was an Angel…NO! Stay away from me!
Music pounded into his ears again, drowning out the voice in his head.
~*~
Rei leaned slightly forward as she saw a flicker of the Shinji she knew. Or did she? It had faded before she could confirm it. Ikari-kun…
End of Chapter
Author's note: well? What do you think? I checked and this chappie is longer…(dodges fruit and sharp objects)…ok, so the pre-chapter ranting was a bit long…but I had to update because you won't be getting another one till like what? November? I have exams and writer's block not a good combo I assure you…please read and review! I promise to update ASAP…