Standard Disclaimer!
Wow been long time since I've updated anything, about two weeks so its not that bad in reality but I like to yell at myself. As for my Msts however...that HAS been a long time. Sorry for the delay everybody just had a lot on my mind and no real 'drive' to write.
I've moved into my new studio and am very happy in it. Work is slacking off but I maybe receiving a promotion soon that means more hours/pay Well I'm sure you're not here to listen to me prattle on about my life so lets get to it.
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Out of Disaster Chapter 17 Yumemiru Shiawase
"...Come to me..."
Darkness pervaded his senses, he had no bearing of anything even himself. All he was able to tell was that he was totally surrounded in darkness. Darkness so profound it wasn't just the absence of light it was emptiness. Only one thing was certain, and that was the voice. A voice softly calling out to him, but he didn't know to whom it belonged or where it was asking him to go.
Slowly his memory began to return and Shinji remembered himself as the shock wore off. Surrounded by nothingness on all sides, he listened to the voice that called for him to 'Come to me.' His mind thought that was what the voice was saying but it was so distant and distorted it could have been anything.
"Did I die?" escaped his lips as he felt the weight of the words upon his chest and the stark revelation that it could be true. If he could have he would have started to cry, it was for his lack of true body that kept him from doing so. His mind was not accepting the 'afterlife' that it was presented and he rebelled. 'I've seen many odd things due to Eva maybe this is another.'
Calming himself he noticed that the darkness was fading as well as the voice had stopped its siren call. Hope blossomed in his chest as a sensation familiar to him washed over him, that of waking.
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Misato had been a wreck since the battle that had just finally been cleansed away. Sitting next to Shinji's bed in a small metal chair she was for sure this time going to insist they put in more comfortable accommodations for her next stay. Her mind chided her 'you shouldn't hope for another visit.' It was her tactician's mind that told her that in war having your solders wounded and not killed was the blessing.
Looking at the boy's slowly rising chest, Misato didn't know what to tell him when he finally woke up. So much had happened in so little time she didn't know how he'd handle it all. Taking his hand in her own, Misato momentarily wished that Shinobu didn't have school and could have been there to tell him herself. Checking the watch on her free hand, the Major sighed in defeat, "Time to go to..."
The words died in her throat as when her eyes feel unto Shinji's face she saw his eyes flutter then open. He'd finally woken up. Her work schedule forgotten she gathered the waking boy in her arms and crushed him in a fierce hug. Dimly aware that she had started crying Misato was never more relieved in her life. "Shinji, don't you do that to me again!"
Just waking and being received by the waking world by Misato wasn't how he would have thought things would happen. Usually he wakes and is alone or Shinobu or Rei are sitting quietly by his side. Shinji was somewhat startled at how Misato's tone was so soft in his ears, and when he felt her tears transferring from her face to his cheek his mind kick started, 'Something is different this time.'
Taking reign of her emotions, Misato pulled herself away from her ward and reclaimed her chair, no longer noticing the pain that it had just caused. Wiping the remaining tears away from her eyes with her left hand, Misato's voice was jovial, "You had us worried this time Shinji. You really did."
Now that his head wasn't clutched possessively to Misato's chest, Shinji looked about the room and took in the room. Something told him that Misato had information for him that he wasn't going to like. 'Why was she so worried? How was this different from the other times I was hurt?' Not really liking being left in the dark for long, he opted to face what the woman had to say quickly instead of waiting.
Clearing his throat it get Misato's attention as the woman was rambling on how Pen-Pen missed his cooking, the boy saw fear in his guardians eyes. Trying to voice the most likely source of her fear, "Misato-san, what happened with the angel?"
Her eyes drew wide momentarily as she had yet to fully prepare a story for this eventuality. Her eyes lowered from his and she examined the white under sheet of his bed. "I'm sure you know some of it. Tell me what you know and I'll fill in the gaps."
The surprising absence of any emotion in her voice set off the warning klaxons in his mind, but he complied. He recounted what Kaji had told him about the time the angel was detected, the husk of Unit-02, Rei's attempt to stop the aggressor, then he told her of what he could remember until things went black. He was rewarded during his reminiscing with a few head nods and an occasional 'hmm' from his spectator. "What else happened?"
Smiling wanly at him momentarily, "Well you won. We figured the Evangelion went berserk again and destroyed the angel."
From her body language Shinji knew that she wasn't being totally honest with him about something. "What else happened Misato-san."
Standing up abruptly, the woman made a break for the door as the emotional weight of what Shinji just asked her felt like a blow to the midsection, she claimed she was late for her shift but the words sounded fake even to her. Cursing Kami-sama for making her the barer of bad news, her hand flew to the door handle only to be stopped as Shinji again asked her what happened.
Her shoulders sagged in defeat as she took her chair again the red in her eyes now easily visible to the boy. "We only have speculations on how it happened right now but..." Her voice lost will to carry on. Knowing that Shinji would be crushed to hear her she debated on exactly what to tell him. "Rei."
That one word, a single syllable, spoken with such sadness Shinji couldn't bear to think. One of the two girls he loved, "What about Rei?"
Taking a deep breath and wrapping her shaking hands around one of Shinji's she continued. "We think the angel neutralized her AT Field before she set off the N2 mine. Her entry plug, along with much of the front of Unit-00 was destroyed."
Seeing through Misato, the words lanced his heart. She was dead. Things weren't supposed to happen this way. It felt wrong a lie. Before he broke down into tears Misato heard one solid statement, "Its my fault."
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Two days after Shinji was released from the hospital and was safely back at home he was given the news as to when Rei's service was to be held. His tears had just subsided when Asuka tentatively walked into his room to break it to him.
She tried to convince him that it wasn't really his fault that Rei died. Shinji countered that if he hadn't been having fun in Hinata he would have been able to help fight. She yelled at him, he yelled back, and she slapped him.
Sadness replaced the usual anger in her voice as yelled at him. "Things just work out this way sometimes! I didn't really like her but I'm sorry she's gone to! You have to get over this. Shinobu's been worried sick because you won't talk to her!" Her eyes darted over the sad forlorn face of her secret best friend and mumbled under her breath her own feeling of guilt. "Anyway if I was stronger she wouldn't have fought either."
Hearing her words clearly, the boy's head shot up and locked his eyes in hers. Another dab of guilt hit him as he had missed Asuka's pain all this time. He hadn't figured her pride had taken such a shot from her defeat. Some of the confidence returning to his voice he nodded lightly, "You did the best you could. Like you said...things just worked out this way."
In the privacy of Shinji's room, Asuka did something she never thought she would have. She let her mask fall aside. The feeling of shame for failing washed over her but she knew he wouldn't judge her for that. Walking slowly over to his bed on which Shinji now sat, she wrapped her arms around him and the pair consoled each other over the loss of their comrade.
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Asuka was furious when time for Rei's ceremony finally surfaced the following week. The two remaining pilots had yet to return to school due to extreme emotional duress but as they stood on the hollowed ground both were ready to return to society. Her anger came from the sparse attendance at the service.
The attendance consisted of the bridge crew, Misato, Shinji, herself, and surprisingly Shinobu. Shinji had called her after the incident with Asuka and informed her of the events that took place during the previous week. Shinobu shocked him by asking when the funeral was to be so she could attend. "We didn't get along but I'm sorry for her passing," she told anyone who asked and it was the truth.
After the monk finished his prayer and left, so did much of the attendee's. Misato could see that Shinji wanted a few moments alone and told him that Asuka and she would be waiting in the car. As he approached Rei's simple marker he was never more glad that Shinobu had his hand firmly in hers. "I can't believe she's really gone."
Having her rival die wasn't something Shinobu had believed either, so Shinji's words held no shock value. "I'm sorry Shinji. I really don't know what to say except that." Wanting to comfort him a little more, she drew him into a small hug. Uncertainty into the true nature of their relationship kept her from pressing further.
The small marker that said nothing but the name, birth date, and demise of one of his potential loves was hard, but the absence of his father from the event hurt worse. "She looked up to him. She believed in him, and this is how he repays that." With no more words, Shinji lit some incense and placed it on her grave, offered up a prayer, and was led back to the car by Shinobu.
She guessed that the words that he spoke were aimed at his father based on the few times he spoke of the man. Despite all the pain Rei had inflicted on her Shinobu had to agree with Shinji, 'Surely she deserved more than this...this abandonment.'
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The return to school was somber for both teens. Hikari and Shinobu, both of which were supportive and presented her with condolences, greeted Asuka. The other two stooges received Shinji when he walked in the door. Kensuke patted him on the back and hoped he got better soon. Touji, in typical fashion, made a crude comment about not having to make a choice between the two girls and was swiftly punished by a hard slap from not Asuka but Hikari.
The class calmed down after the outbreak and the class representative called for class to begin. Looking at Rei's empty chair Shinji could almost picture her looking out the window and seeing something that nobody else could. From her chair next to Asuka, Shinobu watched Shinji with a flutter in her heart. 'I have to ask Asuka-san and Hikari-san about this.'
The teacher droned on his lectures as usual and the students tuned him out. Most started the daily Instant-Message sessions on there provided computers, others thinking of lost students, and Shinji looked onward. His attention was stolen by the flashing light on his computer. 'I have a message? Probably Asuka or Shinobu asking how I am.'
Clicking on the message quickly, he let a smile pass his lips at the thoughts of how supportive his friends were during all of this, Shinobu in particular. He read his message.
"...Come To Me..."
Confused by the three-word message, he read it again, then again. 'Must be a joke or something,' he thought as he deleted the cryptic ultimatum. The moment it disappeared however another one took its place, with the same three words. Anger at the crudeness of one of his fellow classmates, Shinji remembered a program Kensuke had given to him for just such an occasion. If his memory was correct Kensuke had said, 'If somebody's giving you shit, use this and it'll tell you who it is so we can give them some back.'
Opening Kensuke's sniffer program and starting it on the trail of the sender, Shinji waited with a growing sense of resentment. 'Who could be doing this?' After running its course and finding the offender, a small text box opened displaying the perpetrator.
'Source determined: Ayanami, Rei'
His eyes opening as wide as saucers, Shinji couldn't believe it. How it wasn't possible! Just as he re-read the name, the message appeared again on his screen, then again, and again...and again. Filling his whole screen with the three-word message. His mind in shock, Shinji screamed and then fell out of his seat.
"Ikari-san, would you please refrain from sleeping in my class?" the teacher stated as Shinji's sleeping body fell of his desk and to the floor.
Blushing softly as his classmates laughed at him, Shinji took his seat again. 'It was a dream...only a dream.' Knowing that it had been a dream didn't calm him when he noticed his computer had just received a message. 'Oh Kami-sama what now?'
Reading his new message with trepidation. 'Shinji, is everything ok? You don't normally sleep in class –Shinobu'
Sighing in relief he sent her a reply saying he was just over tired from the previous events and fell asleep. She accepted his message but kept an eye on him until lunch.
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Kensuke and Touji insisted that for lunch that day, Shinji be kept in their company much to Shinobu's dismay. However it did give her the option to seek advice for her quandary. Seated next to Asuka and Hikari in a small circle the girls ate their lunch. Both Shinobu and Hikari noticed the more subdued Asuka but were smart enough not to mention it.
Normal talk of class, television, and other assorted topics were quickly used up and a silence passed over the group. Building up her courage, Shinobu drew her companion's attention by putting her chopsticks down with more force than usual. Her composure red with embarrassment and confusion she tried speaking normally but it came out in squeaks. "Can you help me with something?"
Covering her leftovers with a piece of cellophane, Hikari replied, "Of course you can." Asuka nodded in agreement.
"Its about Shinji and I," Shinobu's eyes darted around the room and found a home looking at her balled fists. "You know how things were and now with...Rei's passing...is it right for me to try dating him?"
Asuka could tell by Shinobu's composure that she was really worried about their answer. 'Why shouldn't she be, she loves him and is afraid that it would be wrong to try something.' Finishing her own food as she debated on what exactly to tell Shinobu, Hikari answered first.
"You've given him time to grieve for Ayanami, and we all know he has feelings for you too so I don't see why not," Hikari's tone however was somber, she wasn't comfortable with the thought of death still.
Having her time to think Asuka added her opinion in as well. "It'll do you both some good. Things are to depressing now, especially him. It really sucks that things happened this way, but don't make things worse by NOT doing anything."
Relief spread across the small girl's face. "How soon should I ask him about it?" The hope that it was soon was very clear in her language. She had been so patient waiting for him and now that the end was in sight she wanted to claim it.
Looking across the room at the three stooges Asuka's eyes saw them doing their best to cheer him up. "Call him tonight and tell him that you want to go out. Don't ask tell him."
"But Asuka-san," Shinobu started such a thing was too hard for her to do.
Cutting Shinobu off by leaning closer to her in an effort to keep eavesdroppers away, "He's to much of a softy to deny you. We know he loves you and you him so just do it and be over with it."
Putting her hand on Shinobu's shoulder to calm the growing bout of hysterics, Hikari smiled at her. "Lets have something positive come from this tragedy."
Lifting her head, Shinobu agreed that too much bad had happened and she would try her best to fulfill this one thing. She just hoped that her 'family' at Hinata would allow her the privacy to talk to Shinji alone long enough to get that far. With a look at the clock all the students saw with dread that it was again time for class to begin again.
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Watching TV with Asuka was always an odd occurrence for Shinji. From what he was always told girls liked soap operas or other dramas, but Asuka had an odd knack for wanting to watch...
"USE THE PILE-DRIVER!" the red headed girl screamed at the masked wrestler on the screen. Wrapping her right arm around Shinji's neck in excitement, she continued cheering on her chosen warrior.
He couldn't tell how he knew, but Shinji had the feeling Asuka was hiding something from him. All during the walk back to the apartment after parting ways with Shinobu, he could see her hiding a smile when she thought he wasn't looking. And with Misato pulling a night shift at NERV he was at her mercy for whatever she had planned.
Said wrestling enthusiast was anxiously waiting for the phone to ring. She hoped Shinobu would make the call and set things straight between her and Shinji. Asuka had contemplated forcing Shinobu to do so during the walk back but she could tell that Shinobu didn't have the strength to order Shinji to his face. 'She should be able to tell him over the phone though,' Asuka hoped.
It was during a commercial break when the phone finally did ring, and much to Shinji's surprise, Asuka insisted he answer it. 'Odd she usually throws me out of the way to get the phone,' his mind dwelled on as his hand drew the receiver to his ear. "Katsuragi, Souryu, Ikari residence, Shinji speaking." Hearing nothing for a few moments Shinji was tempted to hang up thinking the call was a prank that was until a very nervous sounded Shinobu came on the line.
"Shinji its me," on her end of the phone, Shinobu was huddled in her room propped against the door with the receiver clutched tightly in her hands.
Feeling bad about how he had been treating Shinobu since his awakening, Shinji smiled to himself. 'She really is something special. Even though I was so depressed she didn't judge me or anything, I just...' He didn't want her to feel like a second prize. He wanted nothing more now to tell Shinobu how he felt about her and move forward with her but one thing shattered that image. 'What if she thinks that I'm only doing it because Rei...I'd hate for her to think that I only see her as a replacement or something.'
Taking a few deep breaths to help steady her quickly beating heart, "Can we talk about something important Shinji?"
A slowly growing fear rose in Shinji's stomach, 'Maybe she's calling to tell me she isn't going to be going to school here anymore or worse.' Working his lethargic tongue into forming words, "Sure Shinobu, anything at all."
Unbeknown to Shinji, Asuka was hiding right behind the dividing wall listening to every word. Chanting the two of them onward, Asuka couldn't have been dragged away from her perch.
"Its about you and me," Shinobu's words were ringing in Shinji's head, "I think we should..." her silence did much to increase Shinji's unease. He didn't know what to expect. A few weeks ago when they kissed and he told her he loved her, he could have suspected Shinobu's words but not now.
Her confidence its usual self was holding her from talking. 'I can't do it, what if he rejects me?' Her mind raced over what to say to Shinji, then Kitsune spoke through the door to her.
"Tell him hun, tell him the truth," with her part played the eternal fox walked back to her room with a sense of completion, 'whether she does or not at least I told her my opinion.'
Kitsune's statement in her mind, Shinobu made her choice without caring about being spied on, "I think we should start going out. You know how I feel about you and I think I know how you feel about me, we should go out."
"Nothing else would make me happier Shinobu, nothing." Shinji spoke from his heart. After a few minutes silence on both parts, they opened up to one other about many things. Asuka smiled to herself and went back to her show. When the lengthy telephone conversation ended, Shinji had a date to see a movie with Shinobu the next day and was very happy.
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Waking with a freshness that he hadn't felt in a long time, Shinji casually made his way to the kitchen to make his flat mates breakfast. He just felt good. The worry about Shinobu had ended, and even though he still felt great sadness over the loss of Rei, he knew she wouldn't want him to dwell on things and be miserable.
Fixing the few dishes for the morning meal, he notice that Misato and Asuka had yet to make a presence known and since he had eaten, 'Think I'll take a shower before school.'
Doing just that the boy's body responded well to the water. Letting the hot water steal the tension and stress from his body he was renewed and ready to face the day and for his date. Stepping out of the shower his eyes beheld something that they shouldn't have.
"No...no...this isn't right!" he yelped at the apparition before him.
Clad in her plug suit, Rei looked at him with pain and loneliness in her eyes, "Come to me."
His voice resounded in his small room as his body shot out of slumber in a powerful scream. Sitting on his bed and panting, he felt the sweat cascading down his brow and forming a small pool of dampness on his sheet.
Rushing into his room in her night cloths, Asuka's face held nothing but concern. Old feelings of irritation had long since left her mind. Finding Shinji in his current state wouldn't allow for her to be upset. "Shinji, what's wrong?"
Using his sheet as a towel he dried himself off a bit. The gaze he gave to Asuka was full of uncertainty and worry. "Bad dream."
Having been present for his bout of yelling in class, Asuka questioned. "Like the one in class?" Her speech lowering in volume as she made her way across Shinji's room and sat on his bed next to him. "Maybe it'll help if you talk about it."
He agreed about that. Shinji's lips curled up lightly for a few moments before he told Asuka of his dreams. Each dream was similar. They involved Rei and her asking if not pleading him to 'come to me.'
Being the college graduate that she was Asuka was quick to formulate a possible cause. "Shinji, I think this is just guilt. You feel that you're still responsible for her death so you keep seeing her. You hear her asking you to go with her because you think you deserved to die instead of her."
Feeling the soft material of the sheet in his hand, Shinji's mind tried to accept that as true. "Maybe you're right and this is all just guilt."
Noticing that he still looked awfully unnerved Asuka tried, "If you want, for tonight, I could stay here with you. I doubt Shinobu would mind if it was for a good cause." She added the part of Shinobu in hopefully to lighten his spirits and it worked.
"Thanks for the offer but I don't think I'll be sleeping anymore tonight," truthfully he was wide-awake now. "You try to get some sleep though."
With a brief look back, Asuka said she would try and left the boy to his thoughts hoping she had been of at least some help.
Lying back in his bed he looked at his ceiling, "Maybe it really is all just in my head."
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Following his unique wakeup call, the day progressed at whirlwind speeds. Shinji never did fall back to sleep and spent the early morning hours cooking a banquette for his flat mates and left for school early. The calm yet boring hours spent reviewing and catching up on his homework in the classroom soothed out the fear in him.
Soon more students filled the room and eventually Touji and Kensuke. Both caught an odd glint in their usually somber compatriots eyes and were quick to assail him with questions about it. Cheers and catcalls followed when he told them of the date.
The excitement soon faded to boredom as school began and any thoughts of freedom dashed by lecture. Hikari could have sworn Shinobu had a glow about her while Asuka just thought she was giddy. They really didn't blame her for it though.
Time plodded along at a mind-numbing pace for the two would-be moviegoers. But with most things, the school day ended and the pair met up at the school gates to discuss their next move.
Inexperience on both sides added to the confusion. Shinji out of nervousness tried, "Should we just go to the theatre and pick a movie there?"
With a curt nod, Shinobu entwined her arm with his and let him lead her onward. "I've never been to the theatres in Tokyo-3 before, are they any good?" Her words served her purpose of only filling the air and quelling her rapid heartbeat. 'Why am I so nervous around him now!'
Walking down the deserted streets of the city a feeling of disquiet ebbed into Shinji's thought cycle, 'where are all the people?' He kept thinking that while he talked to Shinobu about how Keitaro and Naru's relationship was progressing. 'The streets are never this empty.'
Things got worse when they reached the theatre and found the ticket booth empty. Shinobu simply shrugged her shoulders and walked into the theatre, "Maybe their having a special today," she offered as she pushed past the hinged double doors.
Memories of his dreams haunted Shinji at this point. 'Is she behind that door too? Am I still in school?' That notion didn't seem to fit thought, he knew he was awake. His trembling hand pushed the left door and proceeded into the lobby. Sure enough Shinobu was looking at a vacant snack counter and nobody else was around.
Then he felt the hand on his shoulder. The appendage turned him around and he was again face to face with Rei. Putting her other hand on his other shoulder she looked directly into his eyes.
Weakly shaking his head in defiance, "You can't be here. You died and I'm guilt ridden...this is all a dream!"
To this Rei nodded, "Yes it is a dream." Removing on hand she pointed at Shinobu, "Her dream for you."
Trying to remove himself from Rei's embrace, Shinji pulled back. "What do you mean? I'm just going crazy that's all." His body's strength draining away as the surrealism mounted.
Stepping closer to the boy, Rei again put her hands on his shoulders. "This isn't real. You can't believe her. She wishes to keep you here with her. Come back to me Shinji."
'Come back to me, come back to me, come BACK to me,' those words reverberated in Shinji's skull like a drum. 'Back, back what does she mean back I wasn't the one to...the one to...leave.' The epiphany struck then as everything fell into place. The lobby began to fad into whiteness and soon all that was, was Shinji, Rei, and Shinobu.
Shinobu who finally turned around to face the pair that 'stood' where the door had once been. Gone was the meekness in Shinobu's voice, "You could stay here with me. Where everything is perfect. You could have vessel, have the red-headed vessel, any, ALL vessels you want!"
"She grants you empty promises, you must come back! I cannot let you go," Rei's voice betrayed her emotionless visage with hope and worry.
Looking between Rei and Shinobu, Shinji saw a change in how Shinobu looked. He could see past the illusion ever so slowly. The small girls features began to blur together and merge. Everything about her seemed to grow flatter and grayer until he was face to face with something he had only seen once, and had panicked at the sight of. He was looking at the face behind Unit-01's mask.
The shapeless mass of gray shambled towards the pair, its gangly mouth slurring the words as it approached. "You need never worry or feel pain, you just need to stay."
Falling to his knees, Shinji had already made his choice. 'It was all a lie. The pain of losing Rei, the joy of being with Shinobu, all of this.' He couldn't stay, not when people needed him. It would have been to easy to just bask in the ease that this abomination offered him, but it was just something he couldn't do. Turning to Rei he saw her smiling softly at him, she knew his choice.
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Clutching at Shinji's LCL soaked clothing Misato sobbed profusely into them, not caring that the liquid stained her clothing. She had waited, hoped, and even prayed for the last month for the return of her ward only to be repaid with failure.
From the darkness of the gurneys above Unit-01's perch, Rei fell to her knees in exhaustion. The last month had been spent trying to reach Shinji within the confines of his prison and she finally succeeded, and now it was time to rest while later reunite with her love. As Rei walked away from her hiding place, Misato's elated shout could be heard as she clutched the returned body of Shinji Ikari to her chest and cried again but in happiness.
Rubbing her face against him over and over again she just kept repeating, "You came back to us."
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Author Notes
Well another chapter done! And I hope it was as I hoped it would be...really confusion. If you read the manga (volume 8 I believe) you know I borrowed a bit from it with the whole 'Rei contacting Shinji' thing.
I hope you enjoyed it and will keep reading it in the future as for me I'm trying to think of cat names as I'm getting a new kitty for my new studio.
Comments, request, suggestions welcome
Ja Mata
Zentrodie (zentrodiesecondimpact.com)
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OMAKE!
Smiling broadly at the camera Misato waves as the picture comes into focus, "Welcome once again viewers! As you may notice we're not coming from...the turtle thing."
On Misato's left, Kitsune nudges her co-announcer in the ribs, "You'll never remember the name will you?"
"I don't have to remember anything. I just have to point these," Misato gestures to her chest, "And men will do the remembering for me."
"You've evil, I like you," Kitsune smiled as she found a partner in crime. "We bring to you the final round live from the lovely Hinata Inn ONSEN!"
Pointing her figure at the camera lens Misato added, "And this is because our two final combatants are to soft to come to physical blows with one another we had to come up with something...more appropriate for them."
"Sadly this means that for those of you watching on normal television you'll be blocked out once things get started," Kitsune added with a hint of a blush on her face.
Wrestling the mic from its holder Misato got ready for the battle, "Today and today only you'll see Ikari Shinji, the 'Slayer of Angels,' 'Mecha Jock,' and 'The Southern Dandy' do battle!"
The camera pans over to Shinji walking into the onsen area, Kitsune's voice is heard over the loud speaker, "Clothed in black trunks, blue and white stripped shirt, and underwear yet to be determined Shinji will be in the left corner."
"What about my underwear? What am I doing in the onsen Misato?" Shinji questions as he notices the cameras trained on him.
"You didn't tell him." Kitsune laughed as Misato forcibly threw Shinji into the onsen.
Reclaiming her spot right on the side of the hot spring, "Of course not. Now for his opponent. You saw her clobber Ayanami Rei with a frying pan, you saw her do battle in 'Iron Chef' junior High, now watch Shinobu battle Shinji in a fight nobody could have for seen!"
The announcing duo bellow into the mic as Shinobu dressed in her school uniform is tossed into the right side of the spring my Su, "The BLUSH BATTLE!"
"The blush battle, I thought we were going to call it the em "bare ass " ment battle?" Kitsune asked Misato with a hand over the speaker.
Shaking her head quickly Misato gave the negative, "The censors would never allow us to say that on the air."
"Damn censors," Kitsune cursed silently, "Well you two are you ready to hear the rules of the final round?"
Both combatants looked at one another as their wet clothing clung to their bodies and well...nodded to Kitsune without really hearing the words. "Misato and I will be asking you a set of questions. You can either answer the question or take off an article of clothing."
A quick yelp from Shinji was heard and a determined Shinobu licked her lips. Kitsune continued, "The winner is determined when one of you get so embarrassed that your face matches this ruby red tomato!"
"This has got to be the stupidest competition ever," Shinji said as Kitsune finished. He really didn't want to be nude on television nor did he want to test his resolve for fighting embarrassment with Misato, he knew he'd lose and lose fast.
"Tuff Shinji let the battle begin!" Misato hit a small gong sitting between herself and Kitsune. "For your first question, have you ever seen a member of the opposite sex naked and if so who?"
Both teens looked at the other and blushed softly, Shinobu answered first. "I saw Keitaro sempai naked on the first day of his moving into Hinata Inn."
The 'judges' confirmed with one another based on available information as to the truth of her statement, "We accept her answer, Shinji-kun your up next." Misato's sly grin appeared again as Shinji's face increased in redness a few shades.
Looking at his hands, "I saw Asuka and Rei nude during that one test. I saw Misato nude when she got so drunk she forgot to put cloths on after her shower. Ritsuko-san when she said it was all in the name of science. Motoko- sensei said it would build student pupil relations."
Shinji went on for about another minute, Shinobu's face grew redder but not in embarrassment but anger at said women.
Cleaning a drop of sweat from her head, Kitsune continued after Shinji stopped. "Damn, ok, now have you ever been SEEN nude by anybody the opposite sex."
Again the pair looked at each other, Shinobu shocked Shinji as she slowly pulled off her skirt and let it float across the water. Needless to say Shinobu's face darkened in hue, as did Shinji's to a lesser degree.
"We have our first article of clothing free ladies and gentlemen, will we have another?" Kitsune announced as she looked at Shinji.
Not looking at Shinobu, Shinji watched the skirt float by, "Everybody from my previous answer."
"Do you rent him out or something?" Shinobu yelled at Misato as the purple haired woman looked elsewhere.
After Shinobu calmed down, Misato started the next round. "Those first two were easy question now things get interesting. Have either of you had 'thoughts' about the other?"
Shinji's eyes shot out of his head and sighed in defeat as he took off his shirt. "I'm not going to answer that."
Her face glowing only a few hints lighter than the tomato Shinobu spoke. "I...I have." Shinji quickly shot up the charts to match Shinobu's facial composure.
A face that only Satan could love, Kitsune's face had evil intent on it. "I have a good one. If given the option would you make good on 'such thoughts?'"
"I..I...I...I..."Shinobu's mind short circuited and she fell over in the onsen her face redder than the tomato.
"FOLKS! If Shinji can answer this question, and he DOES have to answer it we'll have a winner. If he doesn't we move to sudden strip off!" Kitsune said between her bouts of laughter.
Thoughts of showing Kitsune how skilled he was with the blade rifled in Shinji's mind as he debated on if he could answer the question. With a large breathe, "Maybe."
Misato looked at Kitsune who looked back, "Damn technicalities!"
A look of sheer disappointment on her face Misato reclaimed her microphone, "I guess we have a winner ladies and gentlemen. Shinji Ikari has won by tech..."
Misato's dialogue was cut short by a large explosion. "What the hell is that!"
As the smoke from the explosion by the wall cleared everybody conscious let out shocked gasp, "Mutsumi?"
Smiling widely and with a hand to her cheek, "Ara ara, I'd like to play this game too."
"Folks their you have it! We have a new challenger for the prize! One last battle for it all! Stay tuned next time!"
Shinji just looked at the sky and cried, "What did I do wrong?"
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Zentrodie: There you go man I thought that was good.
Golden Kitsune: You really have no balls do you.
Zen: I think they got cut in the salad shooter.
GK: Not going to ask what you were doing. Why not ask GOOD questions!
Zen: I don't know any?
GK: Ok, never mind. SO what you have planned with the Shinji Vs Mutsumi battle?
Zen: No idea.
GK: Then why have it?
Zen: Cause just letting Shinji win wouldn't be fun, now would it?
GK: You have a point this could be fun.
Wow been long time since I've updated anything, about two weeks so its not that bad in reality but I like to yell at myself. As for my Msts however...that HAS been a long time. Sorry for the delay everybody just had a lot on my mind and no real 'drive' to write.
I've moved into my new studio and am very happy in it. Work is slacking off but I maybe receiving a promotion soon that means more hours/pay Well I'm sure you're not here to listen to me prattle on about my life so lets get to it.
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Out of Disaster Chapter 17 Yumemiru Shiawase
"...Come to me..."
Darkness pervaded his senses, he had no bearing of anything even himself. All he was able to tell was that he was totally surrounded in darkness. Darkness so profound it wasn't just the absence of light it was emptiness. Only one thing was certain, and that was the voice. A voice softly calling out to him, but he didn't know to whom it belonged or where it was asking him to go.
Slowly his memory began to return and Shinji remembered himself as the shock wore off. Surrounded by nothingness on all sides, he listened to the voice that called for him to 'Come to me.' His mind thought that was what the voice was saying but it was so distant and distorted it could have been anything.
"Did I die?" escaped his lips as he felt the weight of the words upon his chest and the stark revelation that it could be true. If he could have he would have started to cry, it was for his lack of true body that kept him from doing so. His mind was not accepting the 'afterlife' that it was presented and he rebelled. 'I've seen many odd things due to Eva maybe this is another.'
Calming himself he noticed that the darkness was fading as well as the voice had stopped its siren call. Hope blossomed in his chest as a sensation familiar to him washed over him, that of waking.
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Misato had been a wreck since the battle that had just finally been cleansed away. Sitting next to Shinji's bed in a small metal chair she was for sure this time going to insist they put in more comfortable accommodations for her next stay. Her mind chided her 'you shouldn't hope for another visit.' It was her tactician's mind that told her that in war having your solders wounded and not killed was the blessing.
Looking at the boy's slowly rising chest, Misato didn't know what to tell him when he finally woke up. So much had happened in so little time she didn't know how he'd handle it all. Taking his hand in her own, Misato momentarily wished that Shinobu didn't have school and could have been there to tell him herself. Checking the watch on her free hand, the Major sighed in defeat, "Time to go to..."
The words died in her throat as when her eyes feel unto Shinji's face she saw his eyes flutter then open. He'd finally woken up. Her work schedule forgotten she gathered the waking boy in her arms and crushed him in a fierce hug. Dimly aware that she had started crying Misato was never more relieved in her life. "Shinji, don't you do that to me again!"
Just waking and being received by the waking world by Misato wasn't how he would have thought things would happen. Usually he wakes and is alone or Shinobu or Rei are sitting quietly by his side. Shinji was somewhat startled at how Misato's tone was so soft in his ears, and when he felt her tears transferring from her face to his cheek his mind kick started, 'Something is different this time.'
Taking reign of her emotions, Misato pulled herself away from her ward and reclaimed her chair, no longer noticing the pain that it had just caused. Wiping the remaining tears away from her eyes with her left hand, Misato's voice was jovial, "You had us worried this time Shinji. You really did."
Now that his head wasn't clutched possessively to Misato's chest, Shinji looked about the room and took in the room. Something told him that Misato had information for him that he wasn't going to like. 'Why was she so worried? How was this different from the other times I was hurt?' Not really liking being left in the dark for long, he opted to face what the woman had to say quickly instead of waiting.
Clearing his throat it get Misato's attention as the woman was rambling on how Pen-Pen missed his cooking, the boy saw fear in his guardians eyes. Trying to voice the most likely source of her fear, "Misato-san, what happened with the angel?"
Her eyes drew wide momentarily as she had yet to fully prepare a story for this eventuality. Her eyes lowered from his and she examined the white under sheet of his bed. "I'm sure you know some of it. Tell me what you know and I'll fill in the gaps."
The surprising absence of any emotion in her voice set off the warning klaxons in his mind, but he complied. He recounted what Kaji had told him about the time the angel was detected, the husk of Unit-02, Rei's attempt to stop the aggressor, then he told her of what he could remember until things went black. He was rewarded during his reminiscing with a few head nods and an occasional 'hmm' from his spectator. "What else happened?"
Smiling wanly at him momentarily, "Well you won. We figured the Evangelion went berserk again and destroyed the angel."
From her body language Shinji knew that she wasn't being totally honest with him about something. "What else happened Misato-san."
Standing up abruptly, the woman made a break for the door as the emotional weight of what Shinji just asked her felt like a blow to the midsection, she claimed she was late for her shift but the words sounded fake even to her. Cursing Kami-sama for making her the barer of bad news, her hand flew to the door handle only to be stopped as Shinji again asked her what happened.
Her shoulders sagged in defeat as she took her chair again the red in her eyes now easily visible to the boy. "We only have speculations on how it happened right now but..." Her voice lost will to carry on. Knowing that Shinji would be crushed to hear her she debated on exactly what to tell him. "Rei."
That one word, a single syllable, spoken with such sadness Shinji couldn't bear to think. One of the two girls he loved, "What about Rei?"
Taking a deep breath and wrapping her shaking hands around one of Shinji's she continued. "We think the angel neutralized her AT Field before she set off the N2 mine. Her entry plug, along with much of the front of Unit-00 was destroyed."
Seeing through Misato, the words lanced his heart. She was dead. Things weren't supposed to happen this way. It felt wrong a lie. Before he broke down into tears Misato heard one solid statement, "Its my fault."
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Two days after Shinji was released from the hospital and was safely back at home he was given the news as to when Rei's service was to be held. His tears had just subsided when Asuka tentatively walked into his room to break it to him.
She tried to convince him that it wasn't really his fault that Rei died. Shinji countered that if he hadn't been having fun in Hinata he would have been able to help fight. She yelled at him, he yelled back, and she slapped him.
Sadness replaced the usual anger in her voice as yelled at him. "Things just work out this way sometimes! I didn't really like her but I'm sorry she's gone to! You have to get over this. Shinobu's been worried sick because you won't talk to her!" Her eyes darted over the sad forlorn face of her secret best friend and mumbled under her breath her own feeling of guilt. "Anyway if I was stronger she wouldn't have fought either."
Hearing her words clearly, the boy's head shot up and locked his eyes in hers. Another dab of guilt hit him as he had missed Asuka's pain all this time. He hadn't figured her pride had taken such a shot from her defeat. Some of the confidence returning to his voice he nodded lightly, "You did the best you could. Like you said...things just worked out this way."
In the privacy of Shinji's room, Asuka did something she never thought she would have. She let her mask fall aside. The feeling of shame for failing washed over her but she knew he wouldn't judge her for that. Walking slowly over to his bed on which Shinji now sat, she wrapped her arms around him and the pair consoled each other over the loss of their comrade.
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Asuka was furious when time for Rei's ceremony finally surfaced the following week. The two remaining pilots had yet to return to school due to extreme emotional duress but as they stood on the hollowed ground both were ready to return to society. Her anger came from the sparse attendance at the service.
The attendance consisted of the bridge crew, Misato, Shinji, herself, and surprisingly Shinobu. Shinji had called her after the incident with Asuka and informed her of the events that took place during the previous week. Shinobu shocked him by asking when the funeral was to be so she could attend. "We didn't get along but I'm sorry for her passing," she told anyone who asked and it was the truth.
After the monk finished his prayer and left, so did much of the attendee's. Misato could see that Shinji wanted a few moments alone and told him that Asuka and she would be waiting in the car. As he approached Rei's simple marker he was never more glad that Shinobu had his hand firmly in hers. "I can't believe she's really gone."
Having her rival die wasn't something Shinobu had believed either, so Shinji's words held no shock value. "I'm sorry Shinji. I really don't know what to say except that." Wanting to comfort him a little more, she drew him into a small hug. Uncertainty into the true nature of their relationship kept her from pressing further.
The small marker that said nothing but the name, birth date, and demise of one of his potential loves was hard, but the absence of his father from the event hurt worse. "She looked up to him. She believed in him, and this is how he repays that." With no more words, Shinji lit some incense and placed it on her grave, offered up a prayer, and was led back to the car by Shinobu.
She guessed that the words that he spoke were aimed at his father based on the few times he spoke of the man. Despite all the pain Rei had inflicted on her Shinobu had to agree with Shinji, 'Surely she deserved more than this...this abandonment.'
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The return to school was somber for both teens. Hikari and Shinobu, both of which were supportive and presented her with condolences, greeted Asuka. The other two stooges received Shinji when he walked in the door. Kensuke patted him on the back and hoped he got better soon. Touji, in typical fashion, made a crude comment about not having to make a choice between the two girls and was swiftly punished by a hard slap from not Asuka but Hikari.
The class calmed down after the outbreak and the class representative called for class to begin. Looking at Rei's empty chair Shinji could almost picture her looking out the window and seeing something that nobody else could. From her chair next to Asuka, Shinobu watched Shinji with a flutter in her heart. 'I have to ask Asuka-san and Hikari-san about this.'
The teacher droned on his lectures as usual and the students tuned him out. Most started the daily Instant-Message sessions on there provided computers, others thinking of lost students, and Shinji looked onward. His attention was stolen by the flashing light on his computer. 'I have a message? Probably Asuka or Shinobu asking how I am.'
Clicking on the message quickly, he let a smile pass his lips at the thoughts of how supportive his friends were during all of this, Shinobu in particular. He read his message.
"...Come To Me..."
Confused by the three-word message, he read it again, then again. 'Must be a joke or something,' he thought as he deleted the cryptic ultimatum. The moment it disappeared however another one took its place, with the same three words. Anger at the crudeness of one of his fellow classmates, Shinji remembered a program Kensuke had given to him for just such an occasion. If his memory was correct Kensuke had said, 'If somebody's giving you shit, use this and it'll tell you who it is so we can give them some back.'
Opening Kensuke's sniffer program and starting it on the trail of the sender, Shinji waited with a growing sense of resentment. 'Who could be doing this?' After running its course and finding the offender, a small text box opened displaying the perpetrator.
'Source determined: Ayanami, Rei'
His eyes opening as wide as saucers, Shinji couldn't believe it. How it wasn't possible! Just as he re-read the name, the message appeared again on his screen, then again, and again...and again. Filling his whole screen with the three-word message. His mind in shock, Shinji screamed and then fell out of his seat.
"Ikari-san, would you please refrain from sleeping in my class?" the teacher stated as Shinji's sleeping body fell of his desk and to the floor.
Blushing softly as his classmates laughed at him, Shinji took his seat again. 'It was a dream...only a dream.' Knowing that it had been a dream didn't calm him when he noticed his computer had just received a message. 'Oh Kami-sama what now?'
Reading his new message with trepidation. 'Shinji, is everything ok? You don't normally sleep in class –Shinobu'
Sighing in relief he sent her a reply saying he was just over tired from the previous events and fell asleep. She accepted his message but kept an eye on him until lunch.
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Kensuke and Touji insisted that for lunch that day, Shinji be kept in their company much to Shinobu's dismay. However it did give her the option to seek advice for her quandary. Seated next to Asuka and Hikari in a small circle the girls ate their lunch. Both Shinobu and Hikari noticed the more subdued Asuka but were smart enough not to mention it.
Normal talk of class, television, and other assorted topics were quickly used up and a silence passed over the group. Building up her courage, Shinobu drew her companion's attention by putting her chopsticks down with more force than usual. Her composure red with embarrassment and confusion she tried speaking normally but it came out in squeaks. "Can you help me with something?"
Covering her leftovers with a piece of cellophane, Hikari replied, "Of course you can." Asuka nodded in agreement.
"Its about Shinji and I," Shinobu's eyes darted around the room and found a home looking at her balled fists. "You know how things were and now with...Rei's passing...is it right for me to try dating him?"
Asuka could tell by Shinobu's composure that she was really worried about their answer. 'Why shouldn't she be, she loves him and is afraid that it would be wrong to try something.' Finishing her own food as she debated on what exactly to tell Shinobu, Hikari answered first.
"You've given him time to grieve for Ayanami, and we all know he has feelings for you too so I don't see why not," Hikari's tone however was somber, she wasn't comfortable with the thought of death still.
Having her time to think Asuka added her opinion in as well. "It'll do you both some good. Things are to depressing now, especially him. It really sucks that things happened this way, but don't make things worse by NOT doing anything."
Relief spread across the small girl's face. "How soon should I ask him about it?" The hope that it was soon was very clear in her language. She had been so patient waiting for him and now that the end was in sight she wanted to claim it.
Looking across the room at the three stooges Asuka's eyes saw them doing their best to cheer him up. "Call him tonight and tell him that you want to go out. Don't ask tell him."
"But Asuka-san," Shinobu started such a thing was too hard for her to do.
Cutting Shinobu off by leaning closer to her in an effort to keep eavesdroppers away, "He's to much of a softy to deny you. We know he loves you and you him so just do it and be over with it."
Putting her hand on Shinobu's shoulder to calm the growing bout of hysterics, Hikari smiled at her. "Lets have something positive come from this tragedy."
Lifting her head, Shinobu agreed that too much bad had happened and she would try her best to fulfill this one thing. She just hoped that her 'family' at Hinata would allow her the privacy to talk to Shinji alone long enough to get that far. With a look at the clock all the students saw with dread that it was again time for class to begin again.
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Watching TV with Asuka was always an odd occurrence for Shinji. From what he was always told girls liked soap operas or other dramas, but Asuka had an odd knack for wanting to watch...
"USE THE PILE-DRIVER!" the red headed girl screamed at the masked wrestler on the screen. Wrapping her right arm around Shinji's neck in excitement, she continued cheering on her chosen warrior.
He couldn't tell how he knew, but Shinji had the feeling Asuka was hiding something from him. All during the walk back to the apartment after parting ways with Shinobu, he could see her hiding a smile when she thought he wasn't looking. And with Misato pulling a night shift at NERV he was at her mercy for whatever she had planned.
Said wrestling enthusiast was anxiously waiting for the phone to ring. She hoped Shinobu would make the call and set things straight between her and Shinji. Asuka had contemplated forcing Shinobu to do so during the walk back but she could tell that Shinobu didn't have the strength to order Shinji to his face. 'She should be able to tell him over the phone though,' Asuka hoped.
It was during a commercial break when the phone finally did ring, and much to Shinji's surprise, Asuka insisted he answer it. 'Odd she usually throws me out of the way to get the phone,' his mind dwelled on as his hand drew the receiver to his ear. "Katsuragi, Souryu, Ikari residence, Shinji speaking." Hearing nothing for a few moments Shinji was tempted to hang up thinking the call was a prank that was until a very nervous sounded Shinobu came on the line.
"Shinji its me," on her end of the phone, Shinobu was huddled in her room propped against the door with the receiver clutched tightly in her hands.
Feeling bad about how he had been treating Shinobu since his awakening, Shinji smiled to himself. 'She really is something special. Even though I was so depressed she didn't judge me or anything, I just...' He didn't want her to feel like a second prize. He wanted nothing more now to tell Shinobu how he felt about her and move forward with her but one thing shattered that image. 'What if she thinks that I'm only doing it because Rei...I'd hate for her to think that I only see her as a replacement or something.'
Taking a few deep breaths to help steady her quickly beating heart, "Can we talk about something important Shinji?"
A slowly growing fear rose in Shinji's stomach, 'Maybe she's calling to tell me she isn't going to be going to school here anymore or worse.' Working his lethargic tongue into forming words, "Sure Shinobu, anything at all."
Unbeknown to Shinji, Asuka was hiding right behind the dividing wall listening to every word. Chanting the two of them onward, Asuka couldn't have been dragged away from her perch.
"Its about you and me," Shinobu's words were ringing in Shinji's head, "I think we should..." her silence did much to increase Shinji's unease. He didn't know what to expect. A few weeks ago when they kissed and he told her he loved her, he could have suspected Shinobu's words but not now.
Her confidence its usual self was holding her from talking. 'I can't do it, what if he rejects me?' Her mind raced over what to say to Shinji, then Kitsune spoke through the door to her.
"Tell him hun, tell him the truth," with her part played the eternal fox walked back to her room with a sense of completion, 'whether she does or not at least I told her my opinion.'
Kitsune's statement in her mind, Shinobu made her choice without caring about being spied on, "I think we should start going out. You know how I feel about you and I think I know how you feel about me, we should go out."
"Nothing else would make me happier Shinobu, nothing." Shinji spoke from his heart. After a few minutes silence on both parts, they opened up to one other about many things. Asuka smiled to herself and went back to her show. When the lengthy telephone conversation ended, Shinji had a date to see a movie with Shinobu the next day and was very happy.
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Waking with a freshness that he hadn't felt in a long time, Shinji casually made his way to the kitchen to make his flat mates breakfast. He just felt good. The worry about Shinobu had ended, and even though he still felt great sadness over the loss of Rei, he knew she wouldn't want him to dwell on things and be miserable.
Fixing the few dishes for the morning meal, he notice that Misato and Asuka had yet to make a presence known and since he had eaten, 'Think I'll take a shower before school.'
Doing just that the boy's body responded well to the water. Letting the hot water steal the tension and stress from his body he was renewed and ready to face the day and for his date. Stepping out of the shower his eyes beheld something that they shouldn't have.
"No...no...this isn't right!" he yelped at the apparition before him.
Clad in her plug suit, Rei looked at him with pain and loneliness in her eyes, "Come to me."
His voice resounded in his small room as his body shot out of slumber in a powerful scream. Sitting on his bed and panting, he felt the sweat cascading down his brow and forming a small pool of dampness on his sheet.
Rushing into his room in her night cloths, Asuka's face held nothing but concern. Old feelings of irritation had long since left her mind. Finding Shinji in his current state wouldn't allow for her to be upset. "Shinji, what's wrong?"
Using his sheet as a towel he dried himself off a bit. The gaze he gave to Asuka was full of uncertainty and worry. "Bad dream."
Having been present for his bout of yelling in class, Asuka questioned. "Like the one in class?" Her speech lowering in volume as she made her way across Shinji's room and sat on his bed next to him. "Maybe it'll help if you talk about it."
He agreed about that. Shinji's lips curled up lightly for a few moments before he told Asuka of his dreams. Each dream was similar. They involved Rei and her asking if not pleading him to 'come to me.'
Being the college graduate that she was Asuka was quick to formulate a possible cause. "Shinji, I think this is just guilt. You feel that you're still responsible for her death so you keep seeing her. You hear her asking you to go with her because you think you deserved to die instead of her."
Feeling the soft material of the sheet in his hand, Shinji's mind tried to accept that as true. "Maybe you're right and this is all just guilt."
Noticing that he still looked awfully unnerved Asuka tried, "If you want, for tonight, I could stay here with you. I doubt Shinobu would mind if it was for a good cause." She added the part of Shinobu in hopefully to lighten his spirits and it worked.
"Thanks for the offer but I don't think I'll be sleeping anymore tonight," truthfully he was wide-awake now. "You try to get some sleep though."
With a brief look back, Asuka said she would try and left the boy to his thoughts hoping she had been of at least some help.
Lying back in his bed he looked at his ceiling, "Maybe it really is all just in my head."
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Following his unique wakeup call, the day progressed at whirlwind speeds. Shinji never did fall back to sleep and spent the early morning hours cooking a banquette for his flat mates and left for school early. The calm yet boring hours spent reviewing and catching up on his homework in the classroom soothed out the fear in him.
Soon more students filled the room and eventually Touji and Kensuke. Both caught an odd glint in their usually somber compatriots eyes and were quick to assail him with questions about it. Cheers and catcalls followed when he told them of the date.
The excitement soon faded to boredom as school began and any thoughts of freedom dashed by lecture. Hikari could have sworn Shinobu had a glow about her while Asuka just thought she was giddy. They really didn't blame her for it though.
Time plodded along at a mind-numbing pace for the two would-be moviegoers. But with most things, the school day ended and the pair met up at the school gates to discuss their next move.
Inexperience on both sides added to the confusion. Shinji out of nervousness tried, "Should we just go to the theatre and pick a movie there?"
With a curt nod, Shinobu entwined her arm with his and let him lead her onward. "I've never been to the theatres in Tokyo-3 before, are they any good?" Her words served her purpose of only filling the air and quelling her rapid heartbeat. 'Why am I so nervous around him now!'
Walking down the deserted streets of the city a feeling of disquiet ebbed into Shinji's thought cycle, 'where are all the people?' He kept thinking that while he talked to Shinobu about how Keitaro and Naru's relationship was progressing. 'The streets are never this empty.'
Things got worse when they reached the theatre and found the ticket booth empty. Shinobu simply shrugged her shoulders and walked into the theatre, "Maybe their having a special today," she offered as she pushed past the hinged double doors.
Memories of his dreams haunted Shinji at this point. 'Is she behind that door too? Am I still in school?' That notion didn't seem to fit thought, he knew he was awake. His trembling hand pushed the left door and proceeded into the lobby. Sure enough Shinobu was looking at a vacant snack counter and nobody else was around.
Then he felt the hand on his shoulder. The appendage turned him around and he was again face to face with Rei. Putting her other hand on his other shoulder she looked directly into his eyes.
Weakly shaking his head in defiance, "You can't be here. You died and I'm guilt ridden...this is all a dream!"
To this Rei nodded, "Yes it is a dream." Removing on hand she pointed at Shinobu, "Her dream for you."
Trying to remove himself from Rei's embrace, Shinji pulled back. "What do you mean? I'm just going crazy that's all." His body's strength draining away as the surrealism mounted.
Stepping closer to the boy, Rei again put her hands on his shoulders. "This isn't real. You can't believe her. She wishes to keep you here with her. Come back to me Shinji."
'Come back to me, come back to me, come BACK to me,' those words reverberated in Shinji's skull like a drum. 'Back, back what does she mean back I wasn't the one to...the one to...leave.' The epiphany struck then as everything fell into place. The lobby began to fad into whiteness and soon all that was, was Shinji, Rei, and Shinobu.
Shinobu who finally turned around to face the pair that 'stood' where the door had once been. Gone was the meekness in Shinobu's voice, "You could stay here with me. Where everything is perfect. You could have vessel, have the red-headed vessel, any, ALL vessels you want!"
"She grants you empty promises, you must come back! I cannot let you go," Rei's voice betrayed her emotionless visage with hope and worry.
Looking between Rei and Shinobu, Shinji saw a change in how Shinobu looked. He could see past the illusion ever so slowly. The small girls features began to blur together and merge. Everything about her seemed to grow flatter and grayer until he was face to face with something he had only seen once, and had panicked at the sight of. He was looking at the face behind Unit-01's mask.
The shapeless mass of gray shambled towards the pair, its gangly mouth slurring the words as it approached. "You need never worry or feel pain, you just need to stay."
Falling to his knees, Shinji had already made his choice. 'It was all a lie. The pain of losing Rei, the joy of being with Shinobu, all of this.' He couldn't stay, not when people needed him. It would have been to easy to just bask in the ease that this abomination offered him, but it was just something he couldn't do. Turning to Rei he saw her smiling softly at him, she knew his choice.
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Clutching at Shinji's LCL soaked clothing Misato sobbed profusely into them, not caring that the liquid stained her clothing. She had waited, hoped, and even prayed for the last month for the return of her ward only to be repaid with failure.
From the darkness of the gurneys above Unit-01's perch, Rei fell to her knees in exhaustion. The last month had been spent trying to reach Shinji within the confines of his prison and she finally succeeded, and now it was time to rest while later reunite with her love. As Rei walked away from her hiding place, Misato's elated shout could be heard as she clutched the returned body of Shinji Ikari to her chest and cried again but in happiness.
Rubbing her face against him over and over again she just kept repeating, "You came back to us."
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Author Notes
Well another chapter done! And I hope it was as I hoped it would be...really confusion. If you read the manga (volume 8 I believe) you know I borrowed a bit from it with the whole 'Rei contacting Shinji' thing.
I hope you enjoyed it and will keep reading it in the future as for me I'm trying to think of cat names as I'm getting a new kitty for my new studio.
Comments, request, suggestions welcome
Ja Mata
Zentrodie (zentrodiesecondimpact.com)
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OMAKE!
Smiling broadly at the camera Misato waves as the picture comes into focus, "Welcome once again viewers! As you may notice we're not coming from...the turtle thing."
On Misato's left, Kitsune nudges her co-announcer in the ribs, "You'll never remember the name will you?"
"I don't have to remember anything. I just have to point these," Misato gestures to her chest, "And men will do the remembering for me."
"You've evil, I like you," Kitsune smiled as she found a partner in crime. "We bring to you the final round live from the lovely Hinata Inn ONSEN!"
Pointing her figure at the camera lens Misato added, "And this is because our two final combatants are to soft to come to physical blows with one another we had to come up with something...more appropriate for them."
"Sadly this means that for those of you watching on normal television you'll be blocked out once things get started," Kitsune added with a hint of a blush on her face.
Wrestling the mic from its holder Misato got ready for the battle, "Today and today only you'll see Ikari Shinji, the 'Slayer of Angels,' 'Mecha Jock,' and 'The Southern Dandy' do battle!"
The camera pans over to Shinji walking into the onsen area, Kitsune's voice is heard over the loud speaker, "Clothed in black trunks, blue and white stripped shirt, and underwear yet to be determined Shinji will be in the left corner."
"What about my underwear? What am I doing in the onsen Misato?" Shinji questions as he notices the cameras trained on him.
"You didn't tell him." Kitsune laughed as Misato forcibly threw Shinji into the onsen.
Reclaiming her spot right on the side of the hot spring, "Of course not. Now for his opponent. You saw her clobber Ayanami Rei with a frying pan, you saw her do battle in 'Iron Chef' junior High, now watch Shinobu battle Shinji in a fight nobody could have for seen!"
The announcing duo bellow into the mic as Shinobu dressed in her school uniform is tossed into the right side of the spring my Su, "The BLUSH BATTLE!"
"The blush battle, I thought we were going to call it the em "bare ass " ment battle?" Kitsune asked Misato with a hand over the speaker.
Shaking her head quickly Misato gave the negative, "The censors would never allow us to say that on the air."
"Damn censors," Kitsune cursed silently, "Well you two are you ready to hear the rules of the final round?"
Both combatants looked at one another as their wet clothing clung to their bodies and well...nodded to Kitsune without really hearing the words. "Misato and I will be asking you a set of questions. You can either answer the question or take off an article of clothing."
A quick yelp from Shinji was heard and a determined Shinobu licked her lips. Kitsune continued, "The winner is determined when one of you get so embarrassed that your face matches this ruby red tomato!"
"This has got to be the stupidest competition ever," Shinji said as Kitsune finished. He really didn't want to be nude on television nor did he want to test his resolve for fighting embarrassment with Misato, he knew he'd lose and lose fast.
"Tuff Shinji let the battle begin!" Misato hit a small gong sitting between herself and Kitsune. "For your first question, have you ever seen a member of the opposite sex naked and if so who?"
Both teens looked at the other and blushed softly, Shinobu answered first. "I saw Keitaro sempai naked on the first day of his moving into Hinata Inn."
The 'judges' confirmed with one another based on available information as to the truth of her statement, "We accept her answer, Shinji-kun your up next." Misato's sly grin appeared again as Shinji's face increased in redness a few shades.
Looking at his hands, "I saw Asuka and Rei nude during that one test. I saw Misato nude when she got so drunk she forgot to put cloths on after her shower. Ritsuko-san when she said it was all in the name of science. Motoko- sensei said it would build student pupil relations."
Shinji went on for about another minute, Shinobu's face grew redder but not in embarrassment but anger at said women.
Cleaning a drop of sweat from her head, Kitsune continued after Shinji stopped. "Damn, ok, now have you ever been SEEN nude by anybody the opposite sex."
Again the pair looked at each other, Shinobu shocked Shinji as she slowly pulled off her skirt and let it float across the water. Needless to say Shinobu's face darkened in hue, as did Shinji's to a lesser degree.
"We have our first article of clothing free ladies and gentlemen, will we have another?" Kitsune announced as she looked at Shinji.
Not looking at Shinobu, Shinji watched the skirt float by, "Everybody from my previous answer."
"Do you rent him out or something?" Shinobu yelled at Misato as the purple haired woman looked elsewhere.
After Shinobu calmed down, Misato started the next round. "Those first two were easy question now things get interesting. Have either of you had 'thoughts' about the other?"
Shinji's eyes shot out of his head and sighed in defeat as he took off his shirt. "I'm not going to answer that."
Her face glowing only a few hints lighter than the tomato Shinobu spoke. "I...I have." Shinji quickly shot up the charts to match Shinobu's facial composure.
A face that only Satan could love, Kitsune's face had evil intent on it. "I have a good one. If given the option would you make good on 'such thoughts?'"
"I..I...I...I..."Shinobu's mind short circuited and she fell over in the onsen her face redder than the tomato.
"FOLKS! If Shinji can answer this question, and he DOES have to answer it we'll have a winner. If he doesn't we move to sudden strip off!" Kitsune said between her bouts of laughter.
Thoughts of showing Kitsune how skilled he was with the blade rifled in Shinji's mind as he debated on if he could answer the question. With a large breathe, "Maybe."
Misato looked at Kitsune who looked back, "Damn technicalities!"
A look of sheer disappointment on her face Misato reclaimed her microphone, "I guess we have a winner ladies and gentlemen. Shinji Ikari has won by tech..."
Misato's dialogue was cut short by a large explosion. "What the hell is that!"
As the smoke from the explosion by the wall cleared everybody conscious let out shocked gasp, "Mutsumi?"
Smiling widely and with a hand to her cheek, "Ara ara, I'd like to play this game too."
"Folks their you have it! We have a new challenger for the prize! One last battle for it all! Stay tuned next time!"
Shinji just looked at the sky and cried, "What did I do wrong?"
-----------------------------
Zentrodie: There you go man I thought that was good.
Golden Kitsune: You really have no balls do you.
Zen: I think they got cut in the salad shooter.
GK: Not going to ask what you were doing. Why not ask GOOD questions!
Zen: I don't know any?
GK: Ok, never mind. SO what you have planned with the Shinji Vs Mutsumi battle?
Zen: No idea.
GK: Then why have it?
Zen: Cause just letting Shinji win wouldn't be fun, now would it?
GK: You have a point this could be fun.