An, KnightOne; I'm here again.
Sorry about bleeding my self all over the last note. I'm just having those depressive moments of mine...actually I've had them at the best time three of them in three day, and I really don't understand why someone who I know has more reason to be depressed. I was about to have last author note even more self mocking, but I erased much of it.
How can I hate this fic? Like this. I hate this fic;) The reason to it is kind of between ridiculous and complicated.
I have told this before, The first chapter was done very quickly. I was angry to myself, seeing how voice, which was my first shot, bite the bullet. Simon told all the reasons, and I have nothing to add. I really didn't hate it, just person who had put it together...me of course. When cursing about couple hours something cracked, I just began to write and after five hours of working this saw the daylight. This fic is unnatural. First, it has a happy ending. We all know that it's nice, but whole Evangelion was partly so good because it let down every exceptions of its viewers. Think about it, did anything went like it 'should have'?
Diagnosis; this was meant to be a one shot. My mistake was that I continued it, because I wanted something to...believe in. The point is that this fic walks under nothing, I could compare it to chicken trying to fly, and a falcon kills it because its an easy prey. It just won't go, it just can't continue sensible. It's meaningless. I really didn't want to continue this because it feels too hollow. I don't have sensible plot line, I can't imagine anything what should go different.
Why? Lack of talents? Or perhaps it just the fact that I think that End of Evangelion was good, and I really 'liked' the way it ended. Majority thinks otherwise, but I think like this and if somebody can give me reasonable elaboration why it was 'bad' I can try to reconsider. I don't accept "It was too depressing." or "They deserve better." Both are true, but it's still work of art.
Back to my self-pity. To my surprise I was happy with the quickly born story. Now I hated it because I started to continue it. The truth is that I can't turn this into a decent S/A fic even if I had the best writer in the world to guide me. Why? Because I can't. And even if I would want to, it would just continue to be same hollow feeling in the background. I even now feel this too fake and like I said before, I hate that. So simplified: I hate this fic because its unnatural, wannabe drama stuff, walking over glass; copying same things said all over again and born because of my insecurity.
But maybe I can still make something out this. Like I said this whole scene is going to be in a fic 'Deimos King' and when you read 'Remaking' You have good idea who is that guy with purple hair. It's coming after 'Headhunter' has been finished. For proper S/A pairing you may have to wait 'Deimos King'. But my Number One concern is how to make 'Remaking' to work. It isn't going to be pretty...Three aspects of it is being very though to deal with. With Mazakarn, I don't expect problems. I maybe needing help, what I can count on, interested? I maybe saying this too many times, but I'm not hating Asuka, and Remaking isn't going to be 'lets just all hate her' fic. And
no new Eva's, no new Eva pilots. That I can promise
Now for last minute excuses. Vibious said that I was just lazy, well is this better? A fic which doesn't have anything sensible inside on it, what just seem to be like an attempt to evade being hanged? Sesshi's-so-sexy and lawless priest, (nice names BTW, personal.) maybe you understand why I have so hard time with this, maybe you don't. Dreka was maybe most near of truth. "Remember, you're writing for yourself. Not me or anyone else." I needed that, thank you. But maybe the worst part is that you guys like it and I don't. Amethyst wind, sorry that I haven't had time to read your pairing fic, It's an interesting idea, I catch up with it later. Dennisud, still letting you down at those grammar issues, can't help it. JonBob0008 if you still hear me, I'm sorry that email didn't accept your address, and this whole thing was drowned. To Simon I don't really have much to say, Just that I really don't believe I learned anything. I agree that this is better than my first, but it doesn't force me to like it. Don't worry about my feelings. They are meaningless. "Put some serious time into it and find some good beta-readers, and you could end up with one of the best S/A stories on " You are vastly overestimating me, but you aren't the first. To shadows thanks for everything you have done for me, I appreciate it, really. All though it may not sound much. Now you have one less loser to worry about.
And for all who read this and didn't review, thank you, and learn how to use your time more wisely.
And I apologise for wasting your time. BTW, Is it okay, if I bleed like this on here? I actually like to write these. Maybe its just a step to direction when my stories are only one page at length and rest ten pages are Author note only. Feels like I'm trying to explain in customs that "these 80 gallons of booze are really for own use." At least I'll be remembered a person who has much to say but little meaning.
Chapter 5
Wings
Purple haired man stood silently at some way from the block. He wasn't stranger in this city. And same could be said about woman who had now constantly appeared for maybe two weeks.
Maybe more, he had lost his sense of time. He had travelled far, but still everything seemed like he had never left. Return to here, where he had never left.
Maybe one of the questions roaming in his brains was, was he doing the right thing? This was like therapy to him. Was he really helping Shinji? Or only doing him more harm? Woman was right that he would probably die in shock if he had shown Shinji his true form.
"No..." These thoughts he needed last. He had to keep some goal in his dark life, or he would go mad again. He didn't have enough courage to go to them...even speaking with Shinji was difficult.
He didn't want to show those things to Shinji, but like she had said long time ago 'Nightmares never go away, they just transform and return as new.'
Now he focused all his attention to building ahead. And was dying to know what was going on.
And he would have loved to stand there and watch but there was someone who was needed in there.
In that room. time to go get her.
Asuka was still in the kitchen she hadn't left there, but just stayed trying to get herself back at this world. She just stared at small holes what here in ceiling. She really didn't know why they put holes on them.
Misato had been doing something important for all this time. The time she had been in coma she had just kept working, instead being worried. It didn't really made her feel good but it was sort of soothing to see that she didn't just left there, worrying about her when everything was falling apart.
Last angel was something what she had told her for awhile, and to her wonder was that Shinji had stayed in conscious. For once she had thought what it was like, to kill a friend. She thought what she would have done if Hikari would have been the last angel, what she would have done? Asuka drove that thought out of her head. She didn't want to thought this any further. But she was worried about lots of things.
First of them was did Shinji again hide somewhere. And for once she wasn't angered by that he was running away. More like disappointed, because he hadn't have enough courage to face it. Maybe it can't be helped, and if she just forced it, it became worse.
She stretched back to her chair. She had no idea what to do next. She didn't really had any plans after this 'last fight' or what it was. His father she hardly knew, and she hadn't had have contact with him for...very long time. She hadn't counted years.
Hikari was away. So this time she couldn't even ask advice even if she wanted. Hikari was always so solid, maybe only fact that was permanent here. And now when she was gone Asuka missed her.
And even pen-pen was somewhere else.
Now her only company was Shinji and she didn't know where he was, or was he coming back.
Door opened. Asuka's hearing gotten sharpen. She didn't move, but stayed and listened who was it. It could only be Shinji what she hoped, or Misato.
"Asuka" it was a male voice. Same voice what had first annoyed her, or more like she wanted it to annoy her. Some little reason to hate it's user. But now she had grew tired of pretending and she was surprised in the good way when she heard it.
"In here." She answered. For while being quiet her own voice sounded more louder than she remembered, maybe it was because she usually used her own voice to shout mainly.
Couple steps came out from the hall. She continued to watch to ceilings and small holes in it.
I didn't take for long when Shinji came out of the corner, she didn't at first paid him attention.
"Hi." She said.
Shinji stared her at with out saying a word. He seemed little spooked, and he didn't answer her greeting but stared at her for some time. Some time she just ignored it, and then spoke. "Take a photo. It lasts longer..."
Shinji turned his eyes away form her and Asuka watched at him. Little disappointed that he didn't say anything back. 'still the same...'
"Don't you know that photographing of Eva pilots, except for official documents is a punishable act?" Shinji said slightly eased. And lifted his head smiling a faint smile. "That's why there isn't any photos us in plug suits."
'little advance.' "It's public secret that we are pilots." Asuka replied.
"I guess." Shinji said and walked another chair and seated down. "How was the soup?"
"Delicious." Asuka answered instead of 'it barely went down'. "Like always." She added.
"Thank you." Shinji answered little confused, but not grumbling too much.
Again they were silent. And Asuka glanced again to ceiling. She sensed that Shinji had something in his mind, but he was still too closed to tell.
She decided to lift weight out his shoulders. "Where were you? Finding flowers?" she watched at him, looking how would he react.
He lifted his head. "I was catching fishes." He said for thinking a while.
"What was that? There aren't any fishes here, lakes are artificial." Asuka asked now little surprised herself.
"That's not entirely true." Shinji answered. "This guy kept just trying..."
"He's beating a dead horse. Talk about stupid...." Asuka grunted.
"He managed to catch some." Shinji said.
"What, a fish?" Asuka wondered.
Shinji shuddered after remembering what the man on the shore had showed him. "Not exactly."
"Your stories haven't changed after my nap." Asuka smirked.
"No." Shinji said. "I haven't had really time to do anything useful."
"So you call visiting me, as nothing useful?" Asuka said little too mean tone than she had intended.
"I...I..." Shinji stuttered. "Look I didn't..." He started, looking both afraid and hurt.
"Just relax..." Asuka said calmly. "You afraid too much."
"Yeah...haven't I got all the reason?" Shinji said swallowing and remembering familiar phrase. "The one who has the pain, the one pain shall hide..."
"I don't sign that..." Asuka shook her head.
"You don't?" Shinji asked wondering.
"No." She swallowed and looked out the window. "If you just keep the pain inside you it isn't going to go away. Do you know what happens next?"
"It only multiplies." Shinji said out of experience. "And then comes back."
"Yeah. And then you snap, getting yourself nice place at empty room...." Asuka said and shook her head. "Where you only can watch your nightmares. Straight at face." She rubbed her hand over face like she had just wake up.
"I'm sorry, didn't want to bring any bad memories up..." He started.
"Its all right, I can't go to coma anymore. Or maybe I can." She looked at the table her eyes empty. "But I don't want to."
"I don't wonder. Even my company beats being alone." Shinji muttered.
"You aren't that bad." She snorted. "Rather you than any of two..." she just stop mid sentence when she realised what she was about say. she turned her head and asked. "How is the jock?" Asuka hadn't heard any news not that she was then interested about
Shinjis eyes got little brighter when he heard her ask about him. But the he got suspicious.
"Are you asking because you want to know or just as a compliment?" he asked little tougher tone.
"Do you really want to begin that line?" Asuka answered frowning a little.
"No..." Shinji shook his head.
Asuka leaned forward. "So?" she asked.
"I don't really know." Shinji said shyly.
"What you mean you don't know?" Asuka snapped.
Shinji again jumped a little when he heard Asuka's tone to change. "I haven't talked to him...I couldn't face him after..." He squeezed his eyes shut. "It." He finished.
"You haven't even talked to him?" Asuka asked maintaining her sharp tone.
Shinji tiled his head. "No. I don't know what to do...what to say...I ruined his whole life..."
Shinji squeezed his eyes shut harder when hole even again came back to his mind.
"Right..." Asuka snorted. Shinji heard her rise and walking out of the kitchen.
"Hey where...." She was leaving. Leaving him alone. Whole thing coming here was a waste of time.
Desperation began again flooding his brains and he was about to rise and leave. Then Asuka came back. She had took the phone and stood at the door of the kitchen. "Come here." She said determined.
Shinji obeyed like in trance. He walked to her and for while they stand there. Then Asuka continued. "Now, You said that you don't know what to do?" She asked.
Shinji nodded shyly.
"Well then." Asuka smirked. "For your fortune, I know. Now you are taking this end of phone and dial to NERV. Then you will try to catch someone who know where that jock is now. And if they are trying to fob you with that need-to-know crap..." She laughed dryly. "You tell that you are pilot of Unit One and you are need to know. Anything unclear?" She asked smiling little.
Shinji was surprised about Asuka's sudden change of mind. He was sure that she was about to call him pathetic and tell him that he is hopeless. "What if they don't believe me?"
"They do. And if they don't, let me to get some sense on their head." She grinned and offered him the phone.
Shinji blinked but took the phone and slowly put in on his ear. "It's no use." He muttered
Asuka frowned. "Look, If you stay on the run you just die tired. You never reach anything if you don't even try. I have been trough a lot, and I have begin to value those who doesn't leave me even if I deserve that. So why don't you just stop and face it, then you know how things are even if you don't like it." She said staring Shinji intensely.
Shinji took the phone out of his ear, and looked Asuka little stunned by this outburst. "I meant that line is dead."
"And another thing..." She started again confident but stopped mid her sentence and blinked. "What?" she asked, when she understood what he had said.
"I mean the phone line is severed or something." Shinji hadn't it over, and Asuka took put the receiver on her ear.
"Oh." Asuka said.
Shinji smirked a little.
"Wipe off that grin." Asuka commanded. "After we find somewhere a working phone I'll make sure you do that call."
"Right." Shinji nodded.
Asuka watched at him, and then spoke. "Why the line is severed? Have there been any storms...." She stopped after she remembered, and looked down. "..since then." She smiled nervously.
"hey..." Shinji put hand on her arm. "You are trembling..."
Asuka didn't first react that before she took deep breath and closed her eyes. After while she felt bad memory letting go and whispered. "Yeah. I'll be just fine...That was kind of stupid...cables are underground, no storm could cut them..." She opened her eyes and now for first time that Shinji had touched her.
This time she wasn't angry though. But to her surprise it felt good. She knew that she wasn't alone.
Shinji was there, and he cared not for some shallow thing, or just for pity. This was one of his hidden assets, what was under his own shell. And she just wondered why it was so deep inside him that she couldn't even see it.
She smiled faintly. And Shinji let go. "Sorry..." he said again taking couple back steps.
Now Asuka's good feeling begin to change in to a irritation. She wanted to hit him but different reason than before...No, for same reason. so that he might some day grew strong enough and get some spine on his act. 'Hasn't really worked out.' She thought. Maybe change of tactic was in order.
"That's okay." She said. smiling again.
Shinji was waiting a hit what was about to come, but instead he got was calming words. He had took her arm to his part of his need to know was Asuka changed truly or just acting...acting for reasons of her own. Looked like she had changed, or then it was an good act.
Maybe he should just ask directly. "What....what happened to you?" he asked. Little confused.
Asuka shuddered, and was again about to return to her old ways but maintained her self control, even giving Shinji little disapproving look. Then she decided that maybe her changing was much about to handle him without explaining. "It's a long story." She said warningly.
"We are not in a hurry. Are we?" Shinji asked carefully.
"No. Guess we are not." she said. and walked like nothing had happened to living room.
She slumped on the sofa and sighed. "Sit down." She said, hoping that Shinji would have understood it by himself.
Shinji did what she ordered not sure to wait what was about to come. But man on the lake had suggested that he would felt easier if he just asked directly. He sat down on the sofas other end. Asuka looked like she was about to gather strength.
"Right..." she breathed deep. "Have you ever just had these moments when your whole world turns upside down, and no one else sees it? They just don't understand when every single thing takes a new meaning, and you see things and people differently?"
"All the time." Shinji sighed. His whole life has been a change. To worst usually. Trace of sadness wiped over his face for second, but he drove it away and concentrated to listen what she had to say.
Asuka saw his sad look and felt empathy. Part of this all she have began to see that Shinji felt almost like she. There was no need to explain this to him. "Well that's what happened to me. It was like punch in the face, you know."
"I'm kind of expert on that field." Shinji answered.
"First hand knowledge..." She chuckled. "Literally. I think now it was maybe making things worse..." She said.
"Really?" Shinji wondered.
"Well, at least you know what not to do around ladies. And I guess that you know can take more hits..." She answered.
"Don't know about that...it just not the body what is suffering." He said little anguished.
"Yeah." Asuka added. "Flesh and skin just get heal after while...but...." She couldn't talk about it but was sure that Shinji understood what she was meaning.
Shinji stared at her again. She was maybe the most unarmed now but not weak. Still carrying on.
Why he wasn't like her? She looked so strong but suffering was also familiar to her. Maybe subconsciously he followed advice what he was given.
"Anyway..." she continued. "After while of denying and arguing happened this: I simply got the facts before my eyes and it was like somebody had said: It doesn't need to be like this, it can be like this too."
"What are you meaning?" Shinji wondered.
"Aah...thick headed as always?" Asuka noted.
"Sorry." Shinji answered.
Asuka didn't actually surprised and she didn't meant it as an insult, but ignored it and continued.
"That there is something else out there. And I just kept thinking that my purpose was just piloting, and nothing else. I had never any Idea that it could stop, nor I wanted to."
"I only waited the day that I wouldn't need to pilot..." Shinji answered.
"You never thought of quitting?" Asuka asked. She knew that Shinji had tried but never understood why he returned.
"All the time." Shinji sighed. "I left forever, for couple of times saying no, this time I want come back. And next thing I knew I was on Eva's entry plug, chanting 'I mustn't run away.'"
"So why didn't you?" Asuka asked,. She could've never turn back then. Her whole life centred on the Eva.
"I think that I didn't have choice." He said.
"But...?" Asuka asked demanding.
"I lied to myself." Shinji answered. "It was much easier. To say 'I didn't have a choice.'"
"It comes to that. Always. Sometimes there are nothing but bad choices, and just choose the least bad." Asuka trying to sound cheerful.
"It doesn't really comfort." Shinji replied.
"No." Asuka said silently.
They didn't talk each other for a second or two. Then Shinji remembered his reason to be there.
"What do you want?" Shinji asked like nothing, he felt it now more easier.
Asuka was surprised when he asked it. It was like giant leap from thing to another.
"Why do you want to know?" She snapped again with her usually sharp tone.
Shinji swallowed as he sensed moving into a dangerous field. "I....I...." he stuttered.
"Spit it out!" She yelled and stood up, as her usual style fists resting on her hips.
"Well you always said that you..." He stopped when he noticed that Asuka walked closer.
"Yes?" She repeated more demanding tone than before and was now right next to him.
Moment of truth. If he ever wanted to know it was now. "...That you wanted to be alone...that everyone of you was just a..." He stopped when he heard...laughter.Asuka was laughing gently. "Was that really it?" She asked
"What's so funny?" Shinji asked, little hurt that she was laughing when he tried to be serious.
"Aaw...nothing." she said and sat down next to him. "But you should have seen your face!"
She chirped. "I thought that you were about to crack right there."
"It was close." Shinji said. Before this kind of closeness with her would been awkward. But now he didn't mind it. He felt more easier when someone was around, but now with her he felt something else.
"Well..." she leaned back to sofa "To answer that I really don't know. I know what I don't want.
"What?" Shinji asked curious.
"Pilot the Eva and be alone." She said quietly.
Shinji think a moment before continuing. "Who are you and what did you done with real Asuka?"
He laughed again. "Ha! You remembered that I always stared those old movies."
"What's wrong with current?" Shinji asked.
"They are too...mainstream. Nothing wrong with mainstream..." Asuka took that line form maybe old comic or somewhere else.
"...some of my best friends are mainstream." Shinji finished.
Asuka smiled. "Except that nobody is..." She said. "Well, back to that life thing. I really don't know what to do, maybe just need to find something what I love to do. Think about it: I could actually made a living from something what I like. Not to make somebody else to care but found somebody who care me because of my self."
"A living dream." Shinji smiled. "Best thought what I have had for many years...and it could be true."
"If it only let to live." Asuka said. "That's wrong with today. Everybody wants to be happy but nobody is willing to do any work for it. And somebody even get everything for free and they don't even know it. So how about you?"
"Hmm?" Shinji took a glance to her when this conversation turned to him.
"What do you want?" Asuka asked her eyes intensifying on him.
Shinji suddenly felt himself really warm. And for while he didn't get any words come out of his mouth. "I...I...same what you..." He finally gagged it out.
"I knew it!" Asuka almost yelled. "Now because we are both lonely and have much time to spare, how about a pact?"
"A pact?" Shinji asked confused.
"I thought something like this...If you promise to keep me alive for winter...You knew that I'm not much of a cook..." she said. "I'll show you how to use your elbows."
"My elbows?" Shinji wondered.
"How to get on life...how not to fear...you know. If just promise two things..." She said quietly.
"Well?" Shinji asked.
"Don't let me starve..." She said cheerfully. "And don't leave me alone..." Last parts she said with a solid and confident voice like she had tried to practice saying it for a long time.
Shinji found himself in a situation what he didn't expect. He almost could have cried. He wasn't unwanted. He hadn't felt this good for a while and didn't knew but to say this. "I...can do that..."
Asuka grabbed gently his had to her own. Shinji felt blood boiling in his veins as they were both closed each other, and only once they had been so close. But this was different not show off. Or act.
Like in trance they both set their eyes on each other and began to move even closer. This moment Shinji didn't felt alone or he even remembered what happened at the beach. He felt that he wasn't pushed away.
Something would have maybe happened if they haven't heard the door opening. Someone had come inside with keys. And only one who had keys here was misato. "Is she back so soon?" Asuka wondered.
Misato came to living room looking both shocked and happy. She was looking better than yesterday. And when she saw them holding hands her smile just get wider. "Did I interrupt?"
"Something like that." Asuka replied.
Misato smiled and looked at Shinji. "Back again? How are you?"
"Fine." He said. "What is wrong?" Shinji said looking at her.
"Nothing... I just feared that you might not be here..." Misato shook her head.
"You should put more faith on him." Asuka smirked. "Why are you here? Didn't you went to NERV?"
"Something...or Someone came up." Misato said looking wearied.
"What are you...." Shinji started.
"I didn't come here alone." Misato answered and looked down to hall.
Slow steps began to echo from there. And to view walked A man. He wore short sleeved black shirt and grey trousers. On his chest was residing a necklace. Almost like Misato's own. He had brown eyes and purple hair, and if Asuka hadn't knew better, she had thought that Misato's relative had come to visit.
"He said that he knows you." Misato said and looked at him some reservation.
"Hello Shinji." Man spoke. "It's been a while."
Shinji didn't anymore tried to run, or escape. He didn't felt him anymore threatening. Now there wasn't the one who wanted to hurt him. He didn't know his motives, nor he cared anymore. "Yes. Its been..." He tried to get his name but didn't remember him telling it. Then he remembered his necklace. "...Rex."
Rex jumped a little when he heard that name but didn't react any other way. He saw that Asuka was holding Shinji's hand. "Seems like everything is clear now."
"Depends what you mean by clear." Misato said darkly. "Pass ten minutes I know more than I ever thought."
"Now, excuse me, but what is going on?" Asuka asked feeling herself little outsider.
"Sorry. This is the one who I told you about." Shinji said.
"That's nice. So you have friend who calls himself 'king', and likes to fish. You don't look much royalty, No offense." Asuka noted.
"Because I'm not. I'm no king, all though name says otherwise." Rex answered.
"It would be nice to talk about this for longer, would you now tell them what you said to me." Misato suggested. "I back your words."
"You really do speak nicely." Rex replied.
"If everything what I think is true, we don't have much time for chatting." Misato answered coldly.
"Quite true." Rex sighed. "Sit down, please."
Misato obeyed and took seat down next to Asuka and Shinji. "Now, tell us about Second Impact. You said that you know the truth. What is it?" Misato demanded.
"The truth...that is very relative. You know about the giant of light?" Rex asked.
"That thing which is on nailed on cross down below?" Asuka had heard how Misato told her about her suspicions before leaving.
"No. The one who melt Antarctic." Rex answered. "Second impact wasn't an accident."
"Yes, the angel caused it...what news are that?" Asuka said against.
"Adam had actually little to do with it. Most responsibility fell for humans who wanted it to happen. Of course they needed Adam to do it, but it could have been avoided. They just didn't want it."
Rex answered.
"Like Kaji thought..." Misato sighed.
"Presumed that I believe you, which doesn't mean I do.... it makes no sense." Asuka snapped. "Why would anyone want so much death and chaos?" She inquired.
"Easy. For power shift." Rex said. He guessed that Asuka was maybe the most sceptic to believe him. Shinji was believing because of Misato, and Misato was just believing because she knew much of the truth all ready.
"Power shift?" Shinji wondered.
"Do you know what power UN had before second impact?" Rex asked, now addressing Shinji.
"Almost none." Shinji said. "They had little political power, most of members did what they wanted, not caring what UN had to say, they could only assign commercial blockades. They didn't have own army." Misato and Asuka looked Shinji surprised. He didn't really paid attention to few history facts what school told them on history lessons. "Kensuke." He said like it explained everything. "He just babbles this kind of stuff." Misato and Asuka nodded understanding.
"Compare it the power they had now. Army, Satellite grids, Navy, Airforce and own networks." Rex said. "You see the difference."
"But how it happened on practice? Surely big countries..." Misato started.
"Yes. They did resist, but not for long. They had Army and Money. Why to bend? Because, what use is for Army if enemy is a giant wave? And what use is for money if there is no food to buy?"
Rex asked.
"Not much?" Shinji guessed.
"Exactly." Rex pointed. "When second impact happened, there was economic crises, insurrections you name it. UN's security council had prepared though. Exchange for full co-operation, they promised to care for their problems. In fifteen years, tables had turned."
"And what, they rule the whole world?" Asuka said slightly amused.
"Almost. They had been working on with this for some time." Rex said.
"You keep saying they. Who?" Misato demanded.
"Group of twelve. They call them selves SEELE. Asuka probably understands." Rex nodded to her.
"Soul?" Asuka asked confused. "Why they call themselves like that?"
"Because their goal. They want to create new human, without flaws." Rex replied.
Asuka snorted. "Now I understand."
"For Germanys close history it was only..." Rex stopped and look for a good word to describe it. "'appropriate' to use German terminology."
"I'm not really proud about that." Asuka said deafeningly.
"I didn't think so. This is where Eva's come to picture. They are their way of control. If an angel and Adam connects happens a Third impact, which they can't control. But if viable substitutes unite, there would whole new order in this world." Rex elaborated. "And the Humanity would evolve to higher level, under SEELE's control."
"What are those...substitutes?" Shinji asked.
"Eva based on Adam, and the second anvil." Rex said.
"Wait...the Second anvil?" Asuka stopped him wondering what he was meaning.
Rex suddenly turned pale. He wasn't about to say that on loud. "Eeh...I meant of course unit one. It's different. Instead of being based on Adam it's done from Lilith."
Asuka forgot Rex's mention of second anvil, and inquired. "Lilith?"
"The thing nailed on the cross, in terminal dogma." Rex noted. "Misato and Kaji were on right path, but they just lost the trail for a moment. Mankind's mother has always been there."
Awhile there was a silence. "This is ridiculous!" Asuka snorted. "How do we know that you are telling the truth!" She accused.
Rex smiled but there was no trace of humour in it. "You don't. Maybe I'm just a puppet of SEELE, send here to take care of problems at hand." He said darkly. "And maybe I'm just here telling this because I'm sadist and want to see my prey squirming a little..." He took one step closer to them.
Now Asuka shuddered and Shinji too felt himself threatened.
"Rex..." Misato said tiredly. "leave it.".
Rex laughed a little, removing tension. "I just had to do that. You really think that if I'm an assassin I would waste my time? I had plenty of opportunities."
Asuka swallowed and Shinji felt himself safer. "What comes to my truth...If angels and Eva's are existing, why not this too?" Rex asked.
"Let me get this right...Mankind is in this whole mess because of its own stupidity?" Asuka announced.
"Because twelve men's sight of eighteenth angel, yes." Rex nodded.
"The eighteenth?" Shinji asked.
"Humanity came from lilith. Other angels were just possibilities what we could have been, humans with out human form. We can't coexist, so either they or us. Thus we all are the eighteenth angel, you, me, and Asuka. But I don't know about him..." Misato nodded to Rex, who was silent and seemed preoccupied for a moment.
Rex didn't say a word. He seemed to lost his own thoughts and for moment forgot what he was explaining. "Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur." He whispered.
Asuka hadn't surprised when Latin saying came out of his mouth . She had expected this.
"Right on." She said.
"Would you care for telling us too?" Misato bended so that her head came to view.
"Freely it translates: The world wants to be betrayed, so may it be betrayed." Asuka answered.
"So what are we going to do?" Shinji asked. "Hey...Rex?"
"Hmm?" he woke up and stared at him. "You want to stop them?" he asked almost sleepily.
"I can't just stand and watch..." he started.
"Wrong." Rex answered in tight tone. "You can. You can just stand there and watch. You can run away. And you can stop them."
Shinji jumped a little after Rex again played this question what he had rolled with Asuka moments before. "I don't want to let it happen... So I try."
Rex seemed glad when he heard this and looked then to Asuka. "You?"
"I just didn't wake up to be sent to the bed. Bring it on!" she yelled and jumped up waving her fist.
Shinji was amazed this kind of reaction but Misato smiled a little. "That's Asuka what I know."
She spoke.
"Hard as krupp's steel." Rex said smiling but then smile escaped when he received cold glance from Asuka.
"You didn't do that on purpose?" She said irritated.
Rex seemed to be little out placed. "I...sorry...didn't meant to say that." He plead with little familiar tone.
"That's okay. Just don't do it again." Asuka answered.
Rex nodded. And turned now to Misato. "You know my answer already." She said confident.
"I know. But I still want to hear it." Rex spoke softly.
"I'm with you...for Kaji...and for..." she looked both child what she had guarded with her life, sometimes failing, and sometimes succeeding. "...all of you." She said and throw particular glance for Rex.
For third time purple head seemed to lose his confidence before them. But then said little shyly "Thank you."
Misato smiled friendly and said. "You welcome."
Asuka and Shinji watched this whole thing wondering. "You know about him more than you tell?"
Misato now replied with similar tone like Asuka did before. "Something like that."
Asuka grimaced a little. "Same thing every time..."
"So how we are doing it in practice?" Shinji said.
"I have all ready done something with SEELE. I leaked some delicate Information about their identities, and agendas. And what most important their funds. They have done every legal and not so legal business. Money what they have gained from both exceeds proportion of China's, Russian's and U.S.A's state budget." Rex said.
"But you said that they control the whole world..." Asuka replied.
"Almost. SEELE do have some high authority members but most top of the lead is still in the dark. Plus if old veto vote still applies...well twelve megalomaniacs will soon get nice wrist bracelets, and couple hundred years forced leave in state hotel, big, hairy man named Bubba as their only company." Rex grinned. "But there's a risk." He said serious.
"If they do suspect something...there will be JSSDF instead of regiments of UN troops."
Misato said. "And they are going after you first." Misato sighed. "Now there comes the big favour I need..."
Asuka and Shinji looked at each other darkly. "I think I guess." Shinji said.
"Me too." Asuka said.
"The Eva's" They both said in unison.
"How they are so quick to understand things?" Rex asked amused.
"Company make's them alike." Misato said cheerfully.
"Shinji ist the one who can pilot...I not much use in there..." Asuka mused quietly.
"What...are you afraid?" Rex asked.
Asuka said nothing.
Rex was quiet too and said finally. "I can't promise that it will be painless, or easy. But whatever happens this is the last time." He said.
"Then...lets get it over with..." she answered. Misato and Shinji rose up and prepared to leave.
"But what guarantees that UN won't silence us too?" Shinji asked.
"Most of them doesn't even know what's happening here. They have delegated all this to security council." Misato answered.
"Public secret, huh?" Shinji noted to Asuka.
"If you dare to say 'told you so' if forgot what I said earlier and smack you." Asuka snapped.
"I wouldn't even dream of it." Shinji smiled.
They marched to car what Misato had parked in hurry. When they other where in car, Rex still stood outside.
"Are you coming?" Misato asked.
"I'll fly." Rex answered.
"Right." Misato answered.
"Fly?" Asuka wondered when she sat next to Shinji instead being in different seats like before.
Rex remained there, and next there was a golden flash and pair of glowing energy wings sprung out of his back. They crackled wit energy and light from them was competing with sun itself. Wings were almost ten feet long both of them. Rex seemed to stretch his hands and jumped to air. With couple solid wing slash he rose in the air and shined as bright star against blue sky.
"I'll be in there...waiting if something goes wrong." He shouted from the air.
"Okay...keep your eyes on the..." She thought for a while. "sky." Misato answered.
"Hit the road. We are in hurry." He shouted as he turned in mid air and began to glide with his wings towards NERV, pass the buildings.
Misato did as he ordered. Asuka and Shinji reminded there just staring their mouths wide the event.
They didn't even understood that car was almost flying over speed limits, but then again no one else was on the city.
"What?" Misato asked joyfully. "Haven't you ever seen a man fly?"
"When I was throwing Shinji around yes...but not like that!" Asuka yelled.
"Wa-was that real?!" Shinji stuttered.
"As real as ever. I almost got a heart attack when he appeared with those wings and said. 'would you please pull over.'" She laughed, and evaded debris along the way throwing the even tighter together.
"You know who he is?" Asuka yelled taking support from Shinji.
"I do." Misato said. "And before you ask I don't tell you."
"Tell what?" Asuka replied.
"Don't pretend to be stupid." Misato smirked.
"And that means that you don't tell to me either, right?" Shinji asked.
Misato sighed. "I promised not to tell..."
"You don't need to tell Rex that you told him..."Asuka suggested.
"Yeah and that would be perfect solution." Misato answered fatalistic tone. "It not about that, who or what he is more than enough to cause headache. Its for you own good, trust me. And besides if all begin to break trust where does it lead? He is the only one helping us now..."
This wasn't an answer what Asuka or Shinji wanted but they had to accept it.
Shinji didn't know did Asuka notice was where he was holding her from bit lower than she before would have wanted. He looked out of the window and saw something.
Alone figure. It was standing on top of one of the Tokyo threes buildings. It stand there for awhile.
Next he saw sparkling blue flash of energy and separated blue wings drawing against one of the buildings. Figure extended its wings and fly away.
"What are you looking at?" Asuka said and pushed herself to closer to window pass Shinji
"I just thought I saw something...it was like Rex, but it had blue wings..." Shinji said pressing against the bench making Asuka more room.
"It's gone now." Asuka said. "Do you know about that?" She asked from misato.
"Rex didn't mention anything..." She said sleepily.
Rest of the way was completed in full silence.
As Rex had told, they came. After an hour.
"Attention all NERV personnel. We are the UN peace keeping force. We are here to arrest Commander Gendo Ikari, for crimes against humanity, conspiracy against humanity and illegal use of UN funds." Came out in radio channel.
In command centre's screen was an impressive sight. Several hundred VTOL fighters in formation, and Armor battalions moving in column as they intruded to the city. APC followed them. They were not in prepared for battle as UN commander trusted that authority was the key to this.
And it was.
"I repeat...All NERV personel! You are to surrender with out resistance. Gendo Ikari is to be taken custody. Power down all defence platforms. Now!" Voice crackled through the com.
"This NERV Major Misato Katsuragi. We are surrendering." She said confident.
"Good that you understood to end this with out a fight." Voice boomed. "Were is the commander?"
"He has escaped in Terminal Dogma. And code locked the doors. It takes while. Unit One is frozen with bakelite, commander released it as his last act on here." Misato answered.
"See if you can dug him out there, and tell your security personnel to drop their weapons. We are arresting vice commander and doctor Akagi for interrogation." Voice ordered.
"Roger." Misato answered.
Outside things were quiet, but not for long.
Out of the distance, nine heavy cargo planes approached.
"Undefined planes, state your business."
Planes didn't answer to this call, but separated from formation.
"Last warning! We will open fire if you don't change course! This are is now demilitarised zone."
Planes did change course but after they dropped something.
Nine odd looking Eva units plunged out from the sky. They dropped down to their wings, and glided short distance to city.
"Open fire!". UN forces fired what they got, mobile artilleries, missiles, and tanks cannon fire.
Even couple soldiers were optimistic enough and fried their rifles.
None of them worked.
Mass production units were confused, or so confused as mindless monsters could be. They were stumbling around the buildings as they had excepted solid ground, and couple of them even got stuck between buildings. Eva's crushed troops under them and tried to hit VTOL fighters with their battle boards. Usually they didn't hit, but tried no matter what.
"Fall back! FALL BACK!" VTOL's flied trough steel canyons as their life depended on it, and it did. Couple of them tried little too hard, and crushed against collapsing buildings.
Rex followed the event worried. He had thought that he could avoid all this. But at least some of SEELE had managed to avoid being captured and set their last gamble. He only hoped that they couldn't get to Unit One, or Second Anvil like she use to call it.
Outside of his vision pair of blue wings was approaching. In secret and trusting to confusion their owner glided closer. "What are you going to do now, Rex?" She asked herself. "You can't possibly think stand against them?" Woman thought interested and tried to find good place to land.
Asuka was now terrified than ever before. She had to pull herself all strength what she had. She was acting strong to that moment when she saw her EVA again. She slowly had get into her plug suit and crawled to entry plug. She called her own past to aid her, but it didn't help.
Inside the Entry plug it only got worse. She drew her legs to her chest and now instead being proud, she feared. Everything seemed cold. Unnatural. "Stay in one piece..." She chanted now for herself.
But it didn't help. Only thing what she kept thinking was death, and pain.
In here she understood everything more clearly than ever. She didn't anymore wanted this...she couldn't hear comforting talk of Misato or Shinji...or even stranger carrying name Rex.
"I don't want to die...." She began to chant to herself.
Out of nowhere there was an answer. Not any mangled machine voice or faceless administrator person, social worker. "You are not going to die." Voice what she hadn't heard for years except in her nightmares, had suddenly came to life. "I'll protect you."
"Mamma...?" Asuka called. "You...weren't away...you were here!" She said joyfully.
She had a vision. She alone as a child in midst of forest...dark trees what had grew like her fear and insecurity...but now they were dying as something bright swept from the sky. Her mother came to her.
"Always watching over me...I thought the other were fools...I was the one who was stupid all along...I couldn't see you...but now I see!" Asuka answered.
"Asuka! You sync ratio is sky rocketing!" Misato yelled. "Are you okay!?"
"Better than ever!" She yelled. "How are things?"
"Not Good!" Misato yelled and Asuka could hear status report coming all over. "Rest of the Eva series is coming on to us!"
"Shoot me up!" Asuka said.
"But with out gear..." Misato replied.
"I don't need it, my mamma is here! We are going to do this once and for all...and tell Shinji that once I'm trough..." She lowered her voice a little. "We are doing it again this time not holding his nose... he understands."
"Like I understood anything..." Misato answered.
At the surface was in complete chaos. Mass production units were stumbling on every building.
Asuka looked around and noticed some of them in flames.
"That was my favourite boutique!" She shierked. "I guess most ugliest one did that!"
To her front was a series of grinning eyeless EVAs. "Little hard to pick one in this crowd...you will do!" She began to ran to the closest Eva. She jumped high up and crushed its skull with her own weight. She wasn't yet finished. She lifted it up and squeezed it like rug- and soon it gave up. "Erste." She hissed watching as other ones begin to prepare for strike.
Rex smiled to himself as he saw how Asuka had gotten her confidence back. His smile soon faded as he heard familiar voice to tease him. "Lovely day." Woman behind him said. Rex turned to glance at her. She had dressed in shirt, dark green one and sleeves almost reached her wrists. She wore jeans, and only jewellery she had was wrist bracelet where small where was something in small text. Her hair was odder than Rex had ever seen anywhere. Clean white hairs where black lines came out from her hair root continuing all the way down her hair. Her eyes were completely black and instead of Irises where whiter rings. Mid of each ring was a bright blue dot. Rex knew that in among her others she had been very beautiful, but in here she looked like a ghost.
They both watched as one MP-Eva got thrown in to a building, following by red giant what stabbed it with its knife repeatedly. After while red giant rose. Two gone.
"It's too warm for both of us." Rex answered. One white unit tried to surprise her from behind.
It failed. Giant unit spin around kicking it and tackling it to a building. Red Eva attacked immediately. It hit it's prog knife deep. Too deep. MP didn't rise but red EVA's prog knife was gone.
Three gone.
"Mistake." Woman said sounding sad. Another mass production unit flied trough the air, trying slash Asuka with its battle board. Asuka evaded and grabbed its angle, swinging it out of course in to another pile of debris. Blade on prog knife came forward as she faced another one. She tried to hit it with her knife but it dissipated. Now with her weapon one she fought bare hands and break its neck in a wrestle. Fourth fall.
"I thought you were supposed not to care." Rex stated. Next one jumped high up and tried to impale Asuka with its board. Asuka jumped aside and kicked it repeatedly managing to separate it from its weapon. Those two spent a while in struggle. Then Asuka struck it against one of the buildings taken the worst damage and instead trying to beat it to pieces she jumped aside and begun to fall building down. In moments building collapsed taking white Eva with it. Its head came out midst of all debris. She gathered all her strength and kicked it as it was a soccer ball. Fifth filth was no more.
"No. I do care." Woman said silently. Watching as sixth attacked Unit Two from behind cutting its power cable with the battle board. Asuka turned so fast as she could and jumped away as it slashed her again. She grabbed the fifth one's battle board, rather surprising form its weight but began to hack its way trough. At last seventh managed to begin fight Asuka in blade lock. Instead of fighting it, she opened her shoulder compartments and out of her left shoulder came a deadly shower of metal spikes piercing its head. Sixth was gone.
"Why don't you help them then?" Rex answered wondering.
"Help?" She snorted. "How? We know that it always ends like this."
"Do we?" Rex answered.
"We are not supposed to get involved. Besides you are doing this for you self." She stated.
Rex didn't say anything. But watched as unit twos cable cut down. One MP unit had managed to cut it with its battle board. Asuka proceeded to duel with it. Heavy battle boards sliced the apartments apart. Asuka and another MP unit spent almost two minutes in duel. End was rather amusing. MP-units lance got stuck on one of the apartment buildings and Asuka slashed her own weapon vertically, spreading MP-units skull all over. Seventh one stopped.
"As I said you are only making them suffer for long. Misato was now the only one who could accept because she wanted something to give her more reason to believe that her efforts weren't in vain...but either blood breather would just...I don't need to remind you do I?" Woman said.
"No you don't." Rex was silent. She came rushing down to eight. They begin to hack each other with their battle boards, and again almost time what seemed short, Asuka managed to cut white evas wrist off. It dropped its battle board and Asuka dropped hers. She attacked it again with her bare hands.
"Coming and going. Coming and going." Woman repeated. "Watch."
It was down to two Eva's. one was One had came to attack on front of her but dummy plug lacked the experience from battle. Asuka began to crush it core with hands. Eva tried uselessly to struggle out of her grasp. Second from the left over EVAs had circled back to her, and was readying its battle board to a thrown.
"It's her end." Woman said darkly. "You did your best..." she turned to face Rex but saw that he was glowing a dim light. "What...are you doing?" she wondered.
"It's not! It's not!" Rex shouted as golden light began glow brighter. Among with was deep red blinks.
"You...you are not going to...." she gasped. "No! You can't! You will die! No one haven't ever..."she said panicking.
"Then I'll be the first!" Rex answered. Rex plunged out of his place like flaming arrow, leaving a line of yellow energy with shades of red behind him. "SUURRSSUUM COORRRDAAAHH!" He roared as he was accelerating to battle field.
"Madness!" She gasped painfully. She hadn't want to get involved. But now Rex's suicidal desire to repair his own mistakes had drive her to dead end.
The moment when lance began to penetrate her AT field made it all clear to her. She was about die.
She saw her good memories and most of the were rare and with Shinji. She now actually felt sorry that she could not see him again.
Suddenly Asuka saw a blinding flash. It impacted to false lance and tackled it out of its course.
Asuka didn't wasted time. She squeezed Eva's with all her strength and fake units core broke. Instead of blowing it seemed to began to boil, and collapse to a liquids but Asuka didn't paid attention she wanted to see who had saved her.
It was Rex. Glowing golden light he was standing in mid air staying in the air with his wings. In her knowledge none air rifts should had been able to carry him in the air. But he was saying there none the less. Only occasionally he slashed his wings. Asuka saw one Mass production model stopping its advance. Between unit two and it was lonely flash of light. The Asuka saw Rex taking something out of his pocket. Sword's handle. He kept it in his side.
Then suddenly blade sprung out of it deep silver coloured. It was about over meter long. She recognised it as an double edged katana. He hold it over his head. "Come here, Angelus mongrel!" Rex shouted waving his sword on artistic move.
Asuka began to move her Eva, but looked at the screen. Cable had detached, and her inner power had failed. She had a hope that she would get on this in time, but she had used too long of her time. Her other shoulder had yet a full ammo. "Damn it! Move away!" she shouted like he could hear it.
"I'm...." he seemed to stumble on his speech but after awhile he continued. "Deimos Rex!" he roared, and first time of his life he was proud with right reasons to say it loud. "I have run and hide for too long!" he stated. "I won't stand and watch, not this time! Do your worst!" he hissed.
Now Asuka realised that Rex wasn't there for just blocking the lance. He was going to attack on a monster Eva. "No way in hell..." she said, he couldn't win, there was no way he could succeed.
"I will break you!" Rex taunted.
And it came. It began to run down towards to unit two. Rex jumped higher with his wings and then took firm grip over his sword. He plunged again as bright flame right towards the running MP-unit. White Eva tried to catch him with its hands but Rex was too fast. Asuka separated spark shower from MP unit's shoulder as Rex sword met it, and himself passed between its hand and shoulder.
To Asuka's surprise sword cut trough units armor, and pink flesh came out. "MUURAAHHAALII DEEIMOOSH!" Rex shouted as he spread his wings and plunged again against his massive opponent.
Asuka watched at disbelief as Rex circled around his opponent as a angry wasp. That just wasn't possible.
The she heard a voice. "Hello Asuka..." it called.
"Mamma...?" she asked between her confusion.
"No...we have met yes...or actually not yet..." Woman's voice explained. "But you saw me today..."
"You...were than one on the roof..." she guessed. "How are you here...?" she asked.
"Isn't that just admirable?" Voice asked.
"What?" Asuka replied with a question.
"Rex." She said like it was a common fact. "He knows that he can't win...he's just doing this or drowning voice of his sadness...seeking for hope."
"He must be brave..."Asuka thought.
"heh...No. He is prisoner of his feelings...a swallowtail...with a human mind. But still he wants to try..." Voice sounded like it felt sorry. "Do you know what is bravery? Or courage?" female voice asked.
"I do." Asuka said confident.
"What then?"
Asuka didn't find words. She would have used her career as an Eva pilot to be example, but slowly she feel that it was maybe fear what made he pilot.
"Courage...only thing you know is to say 'I kill you, I hate you, I wish you'd drop dead.' But you know that doesn't make you special." Woman gloated.
"That's not true...!" She cried.
"It is." Voice answered. "Anyone can say those it's not difficult. You aren't special but you are so desperate to want to be...maybe you'll have your change...." The voices tone got serious. "You will die here."
"No! Mamma won't let me die!" Asuka shouted.
"She will. She cant help you...but you can help yourself...No Rex, No Shinji...time for choose. Rex is in trouble." Voice said.
Rex circled around his opponent. It was now full of his swords wounds. Rex roared again 'murahali', as he launched his attack. "He's doing just fine!" Asuka shouted.
"Look Again." Voice suggested. "Our mutual friend has overestimated his skills."
Without warning, mass production unit opened its wings. When Rex tried to evade by flying over its shoulder mass production Unit roused its wing and hit them forward, knocking Rex from mid of his plunge to backwards.
He still managed to stay in air. When Rex was drifting backwards holding his head and trying to stabilise his position. But he was still on Eva's hands range. It strike Rex with its fist and he flied uncontrollably in the air to down to city street. He slide along the asphalt for short range, lying down his wings disappearing.
Asuka grimaced as she watched the sight of grinning MP Eva to grabbed him inside of its fist and began to squeeze. Purple haired man began to sparkled golden light and his wing appeared again, now tearing insides of the large fist trying to crush him.
"Now little blood breather comes the moment what life is about. You can choose." Voice said.
"Choosing! What the hell has it to do with this?!" she roared.
"Everything!" Voice boomed. "Rex dies, and after that...so will you and your mother. Shinji will be left alone in this planet hell, losing you, losing everything on his life, now one telling him what to do. Now comes the moment of truth. You have seen what you were, what you are and what you want. Eject your entry plug!"
Other mass production models began to reactivate. All except the one what was killing Rex and the one what had its core destroyed begin to growl. They rose up. "You can't make me to choose between me and my mother...!" Asuka said as eva's begin to rise up.
"No I can't-but you will choose, no matter what you do. Easy. Swallow your pride, eject your entry plug, carry on living with or without Shinji. Or keep your grace for one moment longer, and huddle with your pain and misery, Dying name in your mother! Are you truly you, or a mirror image of your self? Choose now, blood breather!" voice stated.
Asuka knew that she was right. as she thought of losing her mother again, she came back of rewinding her memories again. Now memories were good ones, the rare ones she had almost forgotten. "I love you mother..." She gasped as her tears mixed up with LCL.
She pressed the ejection system, and felt her mothers presence to withdraw from her.
The plug flied trough the air hitting the street. As voice had said, MP-unit holding Rex threw him to street, broken and beaten he just stayed there bleeding from strikes and from last struggle. "I live and she dies again......what is wrong with this life?" the whisper came out from his bloody lips, as he lied on the street.
MP-units rushed to unit two and tear it apart. And after while there was no longer anything what reminded about unit two. And so Kyoky Soryu died.
Asuka wandered the streets of the city. she stumbled on her own legs as she wiped tears from her eyes. She felt like her whole world was crumbling down to her shoulders. Rex hadn't told her about that it was like this...if he knew he should have told. "That little...." She swallowed and let out more tears.
Suddenly she saw unit one shooting up to surface. Mass production models spotted it as well. Before a second had passed, they rushed towards it but halted as something else rose up.
Giant figure of Rei. It stared mass production models sharply, raising its hand came out a blinding flash, and MP-units dissipated to LCL.
Then it turned back to Unit one. "What do you desire?" Asuka heard it asking.
For moment there was a silence. Giant Rei looked like it was boring to unit ones pilot inside. Then she said: "Now I know. May you wish come true." Rei strike her hand trough units hull and took its pilot in her hand. She turned towards Asuka and lowered her hand towards her leaving Shinji lying on her feet's.
"I guess those five percents prevailed..." Asuka smiled as she took glance at Shinji sleeping like in peaceful dream.
Giant Rei stood up. In a bright flash like a million sun going nova in one second: Lilith, third Rei, Adam and unit one were gone, and they wouldn't seen in this world anymore.
Asuka took glance at his former rival and smiled. "You were late." Then she heard steps coming from her behind and saw him.
Rex was holding his side. All over him was wounds covered in black liquid. Asuka saw him watching Shinji warmly and she was felt with rage. This all was his fault.
"Don't come near." Asuka warned.
"What?" Rex asked wondering. He had just undergone his most dangerous moment of life and was barely alive,
"You didn't tell...You knew!" Asuka yelled. "You knew about them! Those monsters!"
"I did." Rex admitted silently. He had now pretty good thought why Asuka was enraged.
"Why you didn't tell about them...I could have prepared....I could have saved her..." she said tears running down her cheeks.
"I...Thought they wouldn't have time to...I'm sorry..." he started. "Listen, you couldn't have..."
"Sorry!?" Asuka shierked. "SORRY!? What you need to be sorry about....I lost my mother...not A cursed doll, machine or toy....my mother...you knew about her too?" She grumbled.
"I..." he began to took a step. Asuka was now more angered than ever. Even being defeated didn't hurt half of that much as losing her mother again.
"DID YOU!?" Asuka yelled.
Rex actually jumped when she heard her anger. "I...yes..." He said finally.
Asuka swallowed. "Go away." She said silently. "You took one of most important peoples away from me. You won't do it again." She threw Rex a murderous glance.
Rex was hurt his brown eyes were full of sorrow. They reminded so much Shinjis eyes. "Asuka..." he began. He wanted so much to feel that he had done the right choice but instead he felt that he had only made things worse.
"What's wrong with you?!" Asuka grabbed stone from the street and hurled it towards Rex. It hit his forehead. "GO BACK TO HELL!" she roared.
Rex closed his eyes as rock hit to him. It cut his forehead open. Instead of red blood came out dark black liquid. It bleed and looked like blood. Rex opened his eyes. Now brown eyes were gone. Instead he stared her with pitch black eyes where brown iris's were replaced by white rings.
Look hadn't changed. It was still pleading.
"Go..." Asuka whispered between her teeth. She was startled by Rex's odd appearance but she didn't care anymore. If he would attack she would fight back, did he had golden wings magic sword or freaked eyes, no matter.
Single tear came out Rex's eye corner. "May your...wish come true..." he whispered and rose back to his wings, vanishing to horizon.
Asuka watched at the horizon. It was all ready coming to half of the day.
"ugh..." Shinji moaned.
Asuka crouched to him. "Hi." She said. "Did you slept well..?" She felt anger letting her go as she took his head on his hands.
"Is it over..?" Shinji wondered. "Am I dreaming...?"
Asuka took solid grip from Shinji's head and pressed her lips to his. She felt his lips taste of LCL but didn't paid a attention. She let her old life's last remnants away with this kiss, and set foundation to future. Shinji was much like a dead fish, his tongue didn't respond her so much than time before, but he was still warm, and he wanted this. And not dying in suffocation.
She let him go and gently kept his head on her hands. "Well...?" She asked.
"I think I'm still dreaming..." Shinji said sleepily and smiled.
Asuka slapped him but not hard. "Did that wake you?"
"Now I want to go back to sleep..." He chuckled.
"Get up-I'm hungry. "She said as helping him to his feet. She hold his hand tightly.
"Where is Rex...?" Shinji asked.
"He..." Asuka began as sparkle of hate went trough her. "He died...One of the..." she let tear coming out of her eye as she remembered her mother.
"You don't need to talk about it..." Shinji said smiling.
"Thanks...Now lets get out of here...I'm starving..." Asuka said but stopped as they saw something.
For moment she thought that Rex had came back. But it wasn't he. In some way of them were a boy, dressed in white shirt and black trousers. He wasn't around here. His hair was dark green, and he had his arms resting on his side. Distance was short. Asuka could see her arms were was old needle marks, and at least one new. He didn't even bothered to cover them. His eyes were full of jealous and envy. In stare of them came out a possessive and self hating look. It was like he wanted to take something and hated himself because of it. He was same age as they two.
"You are showing me this again..." He hissed not taking his eyes out of them. "What you are trying to achieve...I don't even know them...." He grunted.
"Hey...who are you?" Asuka yelled stepping between him and Shinji. Shinji looked oddly at his shirt like seeing something what Asuka didn't.
Suddenly green haired boy laughed, but it was forced and joyless. "They aren't really like that! This can't be happening..." he laughed. And turned his head away. It was like he was talking to somebody else. then his smile faded and he grunted. "No...Its fake...they aren't...." he hissed.
"No I don't!" he said his face twisting.
"What are talking...are you hurt...?" Asuka wondered taking again carefully a step forward.
"God damn it, you little shit..." he gasped looking back to him like looking for someone.
"Don't you talk about her!" he yelled. "Ever..!" He added. And turned again to watch them.
Now streams of tears came down to his cheeks and Asuka jumped quickly backwards.
He fell down to his knees and begin to sob. "I...I didn't meant to hurt...She was in the way!" he roared. Now his smile was gone it was replaced by horrified look. "Why...why are you doing this to me...." He cried. "I just want to fly!" he yell and screamed. His needle arms had begun to bleed a black liquid. And with last painful gasp he vanished like he was never there.
Asuka had begin to take more support over Shinji as well he had did to her. "Lets get out of here...Then lets get to rest..." Asuka suggested.
"Amen." Shinji answered.
EPILOGUE.---three days later.
Rex stood alone in a rift to sea. He looked the waves what washed the beaches. He had learn how to hate it what was always been there. With his experience even ordinary human would have end up to hate it.
"Rex..." Familiar voice called.
Rex turned to face him. Shinji had came.
"How...?" Rex asked confused.
"Misato told me...She said that you were devastated by that..." he stopped. "Thing."
"She had every right to be angry." Rex answered. "She didn't lie to hurt you..."
"Really..?" Shinji asked. "Telling me that someone, who told me the fact that I didn't understood in this whole year changing my life to better, died is just little thing what I should forgot?"
"You mean that...?" Rex asked.
"What?" Shinji wondered.
"That I really changed your life to better?" Rex explained.
"I...I do." Shinji said. "You made to see that there was a choice. But I would have liked more tender way to show it..."
"You meant about Kaoru." Rex said. "To your knowledge I should have knew better than to make you fear me more...I saw him too. And somebody else."
"Who...?" Shinji inquired.
"Don't bother yourself with that..." Rex said.
"Least what I deserve is to know even for little." Shinji said.
Rex thought it and for a while he came to conclusion that he could tell it to him. It wouldn't harm him if he changed the story a bit. "I saw that beach first before Kaoru my..." He stopped and tried to form a sentence. "old sin." He said "Green haired boy who had sword strike trough his chest..."
He pressed his head down. "Randy..." he whispered.
"Your friend...?" Shinji asked, seeing how it made him feel uncomfortable.
"My victim." Rex said coldly.
Shinji remembered the sight he and Asuka had witnessed in the place of annihilation.
"So that it meant..." Shinji said. In green boys shirt had been written word 'Victim' with black oil like substance what seemed like blood.
"What?" Rex asked lifting his head.
"Nothing...but could you tell me what to do...with Asuka." He asked.
Rex seemed to come little bothered. "Her I can't say anything. I...just ask that you wouldn't cut your relationship with her." Rex answered.
"She lied...I didn't trust at you but now...you were right about everything...they didn't really hated me...I just thought so. But I don't know if I can..." Shinji looked her side.
"She didn't meant to hurt you anyway. If she was doing something it was against me."
Rex said firmly. "I really thought that I could survive trough this with out...feeling pain."
He looked at the sky.
"You aren't really different from me..." Shinji said.
"No I'm not. I was even more like you...year backward. This what you saw me now is a mask. But not a lie. These are my true face." He said firmly. "I now accept it..."
"Do You...?" Female voice came out from the air.
Like a lighting Rex jumped pulled his sword handle out. With a hiss it formed itself a silver blade. He looked around him and shouted. "Oloris!"
Shinji turned to look. Not long way away from him was a woman. With black and white hair, and long trench coat. "Rex." She said gently.
"What do you want?" Rex answered not in same tone as she.
"Is that a way to talk to old friend...?" She teased. "I came to say you...see you later."
She smiled.
"Come to gloat?" Rex grunted.
"I should. You now know that you did everything in vain." She stated.
"We'll see." Rex answered shrinking his sword back to hilt.
"We don't. Don't get middle all of this for second time..." Woman said threateningly.
"Or what? You kill me?" Rex asked.
"No." Woman said. she pointed her finger to Shinji. "He will..."
"Stay away from them..." Rex hissed taking place between Shinji and Oloris. Shinji felt fear what was about to happen.
"It really should be like this...I know that you don't want to be alone...we are alike...Mazakarn is alike...she was right about Zorjia...she is what she is." Oloris explained.
"She was not!" Rex answered. "At least I made a difference...you only watched and haunted me. I should be then one accusing you."
Oloris's face twisted with anger. "We are alike! You blood is black as mine! You have responsibility to Deimosa! You will learn what it means!" She yelled.
Rex began to laugh. "That was what were needed you...a swan to lecture me about responsibility!"
"You will learn...Mors ultima ratio!" She shouted as suddenly were bright blue flash of light and she was shot straight to skies.
Rex watched as Oloris was gone then he glanced to Shinji. "What Are you talking about!? I don't even know you!" he shouted after her.
"What was that...?" he asked silently.
"I don't know. She has followed me for a weeks. She acts like she knows...me." Rex shooed his head. "Either way I have to go..."
"Why...just stay...I need someone who says what is right..." Shinji pleaded.
"Journey is over for you and Asuka...but not for me. If you really need some support...talk to your guardian. She needs you as well. If I would stay...I just would make things too hard. But one thing I ask before I leave." He said.
"What?" Shinji asked.
"Don't ruin your relationship with her...wait for at least two years." Rex asked.
Shinji thought it for a while. "Lets make a pact."
"A pact?" Rex wondered.
"If you come here...two years from now...and tell me who you are by then...I'll do my best and try...with her." He suggested. "What do you say?"
Rex considered it. "If I am alive...I will come... Live a good life...my friend..." Rex offered his hand to him as sealing the deal.
"Agreed." Shinji said and took his hand.
They greeted and said goodbyes. After while Rex rose to his wings and was gone. Shinji was alone.
And begin to plan his life again. "Live a good life...my friend Rex." He wished.
The end.
AN, KnightOne: This is how ends my first ever completed fan fiction. I thank you for your time...and ask your forgiveness because wasting it. Once again thanks for everyone...and I'm sorry because I let you down. So comes to end my fan fiction what I hate. Rex and Oloris aren't ACC's,
This whole scene is in future fic Deimos king. I'm sorry but only useful thing to this is to use it to hype my future fics. Remaking will reveal Rex's identity.
Latin sayings.
Sursum corda means promote your hearts, and mors ultima ratio means the last change is death. Rex is 'king' and 'Oloris' is swan
Rusty Knights Productions (Knight Two and One) thanks and bows!
And for Nightwish's American tour....
Only once my dreams
I got to see
Didn't feel the smallness
under the stars
Once I got bars on my cradle
As a prisoner I write a letter from there
My Creator, let me come to you
as what my child thinks I am
In you the beauty of the world
From which death made me an artist
My Creator, let me come to you
as what my child thinks I am
Created my own heaven here
Let me get away
I really love that song. Death makes an artist by Nightwish...fan translation.