Yue's Lady: Yes I know. I'm about half a year late on updates. Time does fly, you know. I also bet half of you have forgotten this fic and are going "What?" as I speak. If you please, try to refresh your memories by looking at the previous chapters. I have lost a lot of inspiration, and I was planning to put this in my recycle bin (everyone cheers) but then I saw that this fic actually had more reviews than anything else I've written, so I decided to continue it. Of course, I'm still debating that in my extremely small head. An extremely belated thanks to those listed below. I also heard something about ff.net not allowing any 'chat-type' author's notes so I cannot reply to your reviews…T__T

Steve VADER

Otaku D-Man

The Lord Of pencil

Jonathan

Steel Jaguar

Eeep

Ghost140

Faoron

jennyjennai

Systema de sephiroth

Grey Wolf4

lilxseeker

Disclaimer- I'm poor and pathetic. I'm not making money out of this. I'm not even implying I own the thing. So you can't sue me. Me does not own Neon Genesis Evangelion, no matter how much I wish. So you and your lawyers just leave me alone.

CHAPTER SIX

An unfamiliar ceiling

Shinji's eyes opened slightly. Steady beeping came from somewhere around him. He felt tired to the bone. Sleep…he needed sleep…so he didn't have to hear those voices…

~*~

"She wouldn't…" Misato began, but then stopped. Of course she would, who was she kidding? Misato smiled dryly. "It's kind of like attempted murder."

"Quite," Ritsuko said curtly. "Now, I shall attend to Shinji-kun and Xiao Lan. I'll leave you to do what you have to do."

"Will you be reporting this to the Commander?" Misato asked.

"No," Ritsuko replied. "He won't do anything about it. He'll get word of it in another way if not from me."

"I see," Misato said. Ritsuko turned around and went back inside. Misato got her car keys out of her pocket. She was going home early.

~*~

Rei's eyes opened slightly wider as she saw Shinji's eyelids quiver. But his eyes didn't open and she felt a sting of disappointment. Toji didn't notice Rei's movement as he watched over his friend.

Dammit, Shinji! Stop doing this to yourself…let it go! Toji thought angrily. He wasn't friends with Shinji for nothing. He knew how much it hurt Shinji, but Kaworu's death had to happen. Toji bunched his hand into a fist in frustration. He stopped himself from cursing aloud.

~*~

Grass. Tall, green grass, swaying in the wind. Xiao Lan watched the clouds float by, lying on her back and watching the sky above her. She leaned her head further back, and saw cherry blossoms blooming on the beautiful trees further behind her. Even after the Second Impact, some of the flora of Japan survived. She closed her eyes, feeling content. She thought of the new clothes she bought the other day and smiled.

Then a throbbing in her head began…again. Xiao Lan sat straight up, whimpering and holding her head. Then the pain became a searing burn and Xiao Lan screamed, her nails digging into her scalp. But the pain wouldn't go away.

~*~

Xiao Lan's eyes snapped open, her own breathing echoed within the respirator mask. She could hear a slow, constant beeping sound nearby. Her eyes focused on the ceiling before she shifted her head to look around. She could see Shinji lying in the hospital bed next to hers, and she could see Rei standing near the door, her crimson eyes never leaving Shinji. Toji was sitting in a chair by Shinji's bed.

Xiao Lan suddenly felt…lonely. Even if she nearly died…no one would really care…She lifted her arm. No hives. Pushing herself upright, Xiao Lan decided to go for a walk. She took off the respirator mask and turned off the machine pumping the fluid. Wiping her face with her sleeve, she slipped on the pair of hospital style slippers and walked towards the door, her steps making soft padding sounds on the floor. She bent her head in greeting to Rei before going out, the door shutting softly behind her.

Her footsteps echoed in the corridor as she walked, with no destination in her thoughts. She didn't know how long she had been walking, or where she was walking. Her mind was a complete blank, with no thoughts to grasp. And then there was the voice, this time louder and clearer than ever, especially as she neared the hangers where the EVAs were kept.

…You have even less time now…

…

…Will you keep your promise…or break it…

…Leave me alone…

I'm sorry but…

Xiao Lan collapsed to the floor without a whimper.

~*~

Misato's high-heeled boots made clopping sounds on the asphalt of the parking lot after she slammed the doors of her car shut. She made her way towards her apartment, a very unhappy look on her face. As she predicted, the Second Child was there, watching a movie and eating popcorn. Misato's fists clenched as she deliberately strode towards the den.

"Asuka?" asked Misato, sounding calmer than she felt. A lot calmer. Asuka didn't turn her head.

"Hmm?" replied the redhead absentmindedly.

"I'd like you to answer a question."

"Mm hmm?"

"Did you hack into the MAGI and sabotage Xiao Lan's LCL?" Misato said bluntly, the poison quite evident in her voice now. The popcorn bowl turned on its side and Asuka stilled. Misato watched her with a stony look. Asuka did not turn around.

"No, I didn't," replied Asuka tautly. Misato's eyes narrowed.

"Turn around and say that to my face, Sohryuu."

Asuka shifted and tried to make her face as expressionless as possible to Misato. It might've worked…some other day. Misato glared.

"You have until tomorrow. I don't want to see your face in my house after tomorrow. You will take all your things and move out. I should have kicked you out months ago. If you are still here after midnight tomorrow, I will remove you by force." Misato walked over to the fridge, removed a six-pack of beers and walked out the door again.

Asuka just sat there, stunned.

~*~

Shinji opened his eyes slowly. He sat up slowly, leaning against the pillows. He could hear a beeping noise somewhere close to him. He stared at the walls, the familiar word 'murderer' buzzing inside his head.

~*~

Ritsuko swore under her breath when she finally found Xiao Lan, who was sprawled on the cold floor. Slipping an arm around the Chinese girl's waist, and looping Xiao Lan's arm around her neck, Ritsuko supported the girl off the floor and made her way back to the medical center.

Shinji barely acknowledged Ritsuko and Xiao Lan's presence with the merest flicker of his eyes.

Ritsuko put Xiao Lan gently onto the hospital bed and pulled the blankets over the Chinese pilot. The blond scientist then went over to Shinji and confirmed that he was alright, at least in a physical sense. Then she left, the silence in the room heavier than ever, only broken by the small, lone beeping.

~*~

Misato swallowed another great mouthful of beer, tossing the empty can behind her. She reached for another can and popped the top. Nothing like good beer to take your mind off things…too bad it wasn't working. Her thoughts were severely annoying her, and she viciously threw her beer can over the cliff her car was parked on. Everything was screwed up. Shinji was screwed up inside, and Misato could feel that it was partially her fault for not being around for him more when he wasn't depressed. She had kept a harmful influence in her apartment as well. She would've kicked Asuka out earlier, but Misato had to admit to herself…she had just been too lazy, putting it off for the week after, or the next month. What a wonderful guardian she was, seriously.

Stomping on another beer can, she kicked it with the toe of her boots and it flew a good twenty feet away. She reached for another beer can and came up empty. No more beer. Shit.

~*~

The voices were a lot louder this time.

…Coward…murderer…

Stop it…stop it!

You killed someone who said he loved you…

I didn't want to…I had to…he told me to!!

…murderer…

"Stop it," said Shinji in a slight whisper, shaking. "I didn't want to…"

Something warm took his hand. He looked up slightly. She looked slightly familiar, but he couldn't remember her name or where she came from. She put something in his hand. His eyes shifted downwards to his palm. It was his SDAT. The warmth holding his hand drew away, and Xiao Lan walked over to the window, looking outside at Tokyo 3. It was coming.

End of chapter

Author's note- well, how was it? Good, bad, really bad, pointless? Please read and review and/or flame.