Responsibility

Narikage stared out of the window in his room, one hand resting on the sill. Every so often, a tear would splash onto the paint but other than that, there was no movement.

"How stupid I'm being," he murmured aloud, smiling a little. "Crying for no reason." He reached up, wiping one of the tears away and staring at the smear of blood on his hand. "They're hardly ever real now." He looked out of the window again, pressing his palm to the glass with a little sigh. "What do I do, Otouto?" A slight breeze ruffled his black hair and caressed his face, bringing another tiny smile to his lips. "She needed to get over it; she needs to be able to fight...no matter what." He raised his head and closed his eyes. "But I'll apologize. I owe her that much."

(Cut)

Rei stirred on the hospital bed, her red eyes blinking open. Asuka's face came into focus and the girl smiled brightly.

"You're awake!" Rei blinked again and slowly sat up, looking around her.

"How did I get here?"

"You were brought, of course. You passed out right after the battle and everyone was afraid you'd gone into a coma or something." She touched her temple, closing her eyes for a moment.

"I don't...I don't really remember what happened..." Rei looked over at Asuka. "What happened?"

"You defeated the Angel."

"I did?"

"Hai. But your unit very nearly went berserk before you recovered it."

"And...Narikage?" Asuka's face became stormy.

"Don't even MENTION that S.O.B. He's in major trouble for not getting you back to an elevator and for cutting off contact. The Commander sure tore him a new one and so did Misato, I imagine." Rei flopped back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling.

"I remember...I called him Shinji..." she whispered after a moment. Asuka blinked.

"Called him Shinji?" she repeated. Rei nodded. "WHY?"

"I don't know...he yelled my name...and, for some reason...I heard Shinji's voice, not his." Rei closed her eyes. "But I can't remember anything else." A silence fell over the two girls. After about five minutes, Rei turned her head, opening her eyes. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Only about six hours or so. Ritsuko ran some tests while you were out and she says there isn't any permanent damage." Asuka flipped some of her hair over her shoulder, tucking her feet under her on the chair she sat upon. "You really don't remember anything?" Rei shook her head.

"Not really. Just a couple things here and there. I remember dropping the rifle and calling Shinji's name. That's about it. What happened?"

"It's hard to really say. Narikage cut your communication system somehow so Misato couldn't contact you when your pulses starting flowing backwards. Then, all of a sudden, your numbers jumped back up and you fired on the angel. Your unit didn't suffer any damage."

"And Unit 01?" Asuka scowled.

"Minimal, unfortunately. Narikage escaped without so much as a scratch. Though I am fairly certain he's lying dead in a ditch somewhere. Misato was PISSED. Everyone was."

"Why?"

"Why?! Rei, you could have died out there if your unit had gone berserk and you know it. He disobeyed orders, broke off communication without authorization, and didn't help you when you needed it," Asuka replied, counting off the offenses on her fingers. "He's an arrogant pig besides! He left me behind in the last battle and then you. You don't think that's enough to get him into trouble?" The other girl was silent. "Rei? Is something wrong?"

"No. Everything's fine."

(Cut)

"I'm going home." Misato pulled on her red jacket, zipping it halfway.

"Already? We aren't finished cleaning up," Ritsuko said, turning in her chair.

"I need to talk to Narikage before I loose my nerve. I'll be back early tomorrow, promise." She waved and pushed the button to open the door. The next moment, she leapt back with a small scream. "Don't do that!!!" Narikage bowed slightly.

"Gomen nasai." Misato staggered back a few more steps, clutching her heart.

"Standing right in the doorway! Are you trying to kill me?!"

"Gomen," he said again with another bow. She took a deep breath and her hands went to her hips.

"So, what are you doing here? It's nearly two in the morning."

"I needed to talk to you." He raised his head, face determined. "I apologize for my actions during the battle and I ask that you forgive me." He bowed for the third time but didn't straighten this time. He stayed half-bowed, his eyes on the floor.

"Narikage-kun." Misato laid a hand on his shoulder and he looked up at her with surprised eyes. She was smiling slightly at him. "It's alright. I'm not angry anymore. Just...don't do something like that again. Alright?" Narikage slowly smiled back and nodded.

"Hai."

"I'm glad that's settled then." Her hand fell from his shoulder. "There's something else I need to discuss with you." She turned to Ritsuko who handed her the file, and Misato, in turn, handed it to Narikage. "These are the results from the tests we did." The boy shook his head, handing it back.

"I don't need to read it; I already know what it says. 'Angel DNA: 87.5%.'" both women stared at him. "It is my body. I can feel it." He pressed his palm flat to the metal paneling on the wall. Without so much as pushing, the metal dented in a good five inches. Misato jumped back.

"What was that?"

"A fraction of my AT field," he said, dropping his hand.

"You can control an AT field?" Ritsuko said in an awed voice.

"Yes." The women exchanged glances.

"I don't think we can hide this anymore," Ritsuko said quietly to Misato. "We'll have to tell Commander Fuyutski. The angel DNA is obviously well advanced, advanced enough for him to have an AT field and for him to be able to control it so well. That's a trait we haven't seen from any other angel yet."

"Please." They turned back to Narikage. "Please. Don't tell him. Not yet."

"Narikage...I'm afraid Ritsuko may be right this time. The commander ordered tests for today. Granted, we were going to switch them with old ones of Shinji's but—"

"Do that then."

"Narikage, we can't. If you have an AT field—"Misato started. But, again, Narikage cut her off.

"I can control it!"

"Sooner or later, they're going to find out, Narikage. What if the angel takes over while you're piloting? We might have to deal with a possessed unit! And with your skill level, you'll be impossible to stop."

"I told you: she won't let it take over when I'm piloting."

"Narikage—"

"Please..." He bowed his head, hands squeezed into fists by his sides. "Just a little longer...Let me be normal...just a little longer..." Misato fell silent, staring at the boy in front of her. His eyes were closed, his breathing heavy. Slowly, she turned to Ritsuko.

"Where are Shinji's old test scores?"

"Nani? You can't be serious!"

"I am." She stepped forward, leaning down a little so only Ritsuko could hear her next words. "When the numbers go over 90%, we'll tell the Commander."

"Misato, if we do this and we're caught—"

"I'll tell them I switched the tests," Narikage said suddenly, taking a step forward. "I'll take the entire blame for it. No one has to know either of you were involved."

"Come on, Ritsuko." Misato nudged her friend, smiling a forced smile. "He's only sixteen, after all. I think we can let him be a teenager...for just a little while longer." She smiled a genuine smile at Narikage, who actually held a fragment of hope in his pale eyes. Ritsuko sighed heavily, pulling a series of folders from a filing cabinet. She held them up.

"These are Shinji's tests. But, Narikage, you realize that, if you use these, people will find out that you're his brother."

"Hai, I know. I would rather have them find out about that than about me being an angel." Ritsuko nodded and handed over the files.

"Be here right after school. I'll do the test but it will be up to you to switch them, Narikage. This is your responsibility.

"Hai."