Out of Disaster Chapter 21: Things Wished Said, an evangelion fanfic

Standard Disclaimer

Well university is back in session and unlike what I thought, this is going to be a fairly difficult one. Fitting as it is my last though. So unfortunately that means writing will become sporadic and far between. I had hoped to finish OoD by end of summer but looks like that hasn't happened.

So again those waiting for Anata, I apologize. Well enough of me rambling enjoy

Out of Disaster

Chapter 21 – What I Wanted to Hear

Buttoning up his shirt, Shinji gazed over Shinobu's last communication to him. Now framed and hanging on his wall, the drawing of the two of them served as a reminded to the boy of his lost friend. Another two weeks past since his return from confinement and not a word had transpired between himself and any resident at Hinata Inn.

'I miss her so much,' he realized as he finished dressing. Try as he might he couldn't get the thoughts of the shy cook out of his mind. He hoped she was doing well, he could almost count on it, 'She isn't in this cursed city anymore.'

Everything seemed to be falling apart again for him. Misato was gone most of the time doing Kami-sama knew what. Touji's father had forced the jock to leave town to live with relatives, and Shinji found out later from Asuka, so had Hikari's father.

Asuka, that was another problem all together. 'She just won't let me help her now,' Shinji thought bitterly. Try as the German might, she just couldn't get her sync ratio to rise back to its old place. After the angel battle, both Shinji and Asuka thought she had gotten better but it was only a falsehood. Depression hit Asuka hard and while Shinji had proved a very successful damper on it, she was still firmly in its grips.

Putting his wallet in his pocket Shinji made his way to the doorway, he had plans for today. Finding the listless eyes of Asuka on him as he neared the door, the boy braced himself for whatever may come out of his friend's lips. "Going to Rei's again I take it?"

If the disappointment was really in Asuka's voice or he just imagined it, Shinji didn't know. The two had shared a few words about his developing relationship with Rei over the past weeks, and as much as it upset Asuka, she couldn't refute him on it. Trying to smile Shinji responded, "Yeah, she's been acting a little odd lately. Something is on her mind and it scares her."

Feeling beaten every time Shinji left to see that doll, Asuka felt horrible. 'I tried Shinobu I tried! But why haven't you called! He loves you not her, but with you gone...' Asuka's mind trailed off. She knew Shinji loved Rei too, just not as deeply as Shinobu. And that the boy needed somebody in his life, 'he's to soft to survive on his own.' Leaning against the door, a small spark of Asuka's old will power flared as she saw the defeated look in her flat-mates eyes. "Have you tried calling her Shinji? Maybe the lines are fixed."

Shinji knew 'she' wasn't Rei, "Maybe its for the best Asuka." Kneeling down to put his shoes on, "I mean this city is a deathtrap for those not with Nerv." Lacing the strings together, Shinji fumbled with them. "Rei has Nerv protection and her Eva to keep her safe, Shinobu only had the overstressed shelters to keep her safe. What if something happened to her?"

Watching Shinji continually fumble with the two bits of cloth, Asuka saw for the first time how much he was really hurting. She had wanted to be upset with him for his actions regarding Shinobu, but held them in check. But now, seeing him trying to tie his shoes for the forth time, she knew that Shinji hadn't forgotten Shinobu or her feelings for him. Stepping away from the door, "If you think that she's happier where she is now, without you, you're a bigger fool than I thought."

Finally winning the battle against his own clumsiness, Shinji looked up in time to see Asuka shake her head and recede into the apartment, a mere ghost of her previous self. Pangs of guilt stabbed him as the thought of staying and talking to her were quelled by Rei's soft request for him to visit. 'She is better off without me. She can be happy and safe. And in time she'll forget all about me and find somebody better.' He didn't know if that thought made him want to smile or cry.

"We have to do something for her! I can't stand seeing her like this," Kitsune exclaimed to those sitting around the table with her. She eyed Keitaro and Naru especially, Kitsune blamed them the most for Shinobu's current state.

Breaking eye contact with the livid Kitsune, Keitaro looked at his folded hands. "What can we do, her parents were very direct with this. She isn't to go to that city anymore, and I for one agree with them. Read the papers and tell me you want her risking her life there." His words weak and fearful but were telling none-the-less.

Putting her hand on Keitaro's shoulder, Naru tried to support him. "He's right, it wasn't safe for her there. She'll get over Shinji in time, and things will be fine." Naru didn't know how they would, but she knew that just had too. Glancing from Keitaro's slumping form over to Kitsune, Naru could tell her friend didn't quite agree with her.

The words she was hearing seemed so hollow she expected them to collapse under their own weight. "And she's perfectly safe and healthy as she is now?" Kitsune said bitterly. "If Su hadn't dragged her out of her room she'd have skipped school again today. And what about her eating?"

Keitaro tried to speak up, to break Kitsune's assault of truths but she wasn't to be stopped. "Oh wait she's not eating! If we didn't force her into the onsen I doubt she'd even bathe. She's in a state of deep depression and you won't do anything to help her!" The fox was at her wits end, they were all watching Shinobu die right in front of them, but didn't do anything because they all expected her to 'get better.'

Feeling just as helpless as Kitsune, Naru wasn't just going to sit and listen to her as she all but accused them of trying to kill the girl. "Kitsune, she's tried calling him, but the lines are down."

"Keitaro can drive, why doesn't he take her over for a visit, or get Shinji and bring him over." Kitsune's response was punctuated by her slamming her hands on the table edge. Avenues were open that they weren't taking, and to Kitsune that was the crime they were committing.

Having thought of doing that before, Keitaro already had an answer for Kitsune. "Roads are closed to non-local traffic. They're planning on evacuating the city soon so we can't get in. And without being able to call him we can't get a pass to pick him up. We have no options but to support Shinobu and hope things get better."

Frustration gnawing deeply in Kitsune's brow she slammed her palms against the table again before getting up and storming off to her room. "Don't worry Keitaro, things will get better soon. Su's said a few people have even tried befriending Shinobu. She can't stay depressed forever," Naru said softly as she nudged Keitaro.

He knew that was true but something else was on his mind, 'What if she tries something though...what if she tries something.'

Normally lying next to Shinji was when Rei was at her most calm. And it was true that she was very relaxed, but something was gnawing at her mind, a sense of deep foreboding. For the last few hours the two just lied on Rei's bed, not speaking, just laying their holding hands.

One would say something every so often, and it was usually something along the lines of 'I'm glad I'm here,' or 'I don't want you to leave.' They would kiss and hug and a few other things, but that was it. They mostly just wanted to be in each other's company, and that was something Rei cherished more than anything. 'He accepts me and wishes to be with me.' Sure she would have loved to move beyond such small things, but Shinji still was apprehensive about that so she wouldn't pressure.

But today she simply couldn't shake the feeling of doom. Turning on her side to face Shinji, who hadn't said much since his arrival three hours hence, she smiled as she watched him as he apparently fell asleep. Rei felt slightly worried that since she hadn't followed Ritsuko's advice about sleeping with him, that such events would have never transpired, that she would have lost him to Shinobu. 'But he is here and with me, not her. He loves me.'

Her hand which was just inches from his face stopped, 'Yet he has never truly said those words to me.' The realization that Shinji had never once uttered words of love to her felt cold, as if the heat of her body drained. 'Does he truly love me?' Her eyes traced his body, one that she knew very well by now, save for a few parts that were only seen when he didn't know she was watching. Speaking to herself aloud, her voice as even more subdued than usual. "He wouldn't be here if he didn't."

With her own logic proving her fears moot, she snuggled up closer to him and tried to fall into a sleep as well. It was just too perfect for her. Feeling Rei press herself against his side, Shinji almost snapped out of his false slumber. He felt bad, Rei was being very patient with him and he knew she was hoping for a little more than a tentative hug or kiss but he just couldn't.

He just couldn't get Shinobu out of his mind, he felt he'd be betraying her regardless of the fact he may never see her again. So as Rei did all she could to make him happy, what did he do but just take from her. 'Would it be so wrong to revel in this. I do love Rei so why can't I get this doubt out of my mind.' He couldn't help but smile as one of Rei's arms clumsily draped itself across his chest. 'She really is easy to please sometimes.'

Shinji's own arm snaked its way around her shoulder and he held her. He pictured Touji's face if the boy ever realized that after all this time together, because Rei and he still hadn't 'made it official.' Unconsciously Shinji pulled Rei a little closer, 'I guess I'm not much of a man after all.' Drifting off into his own slumber he just hoped Rei wasn't to disappointed in him.

The two would have gladly slept the day in each other's arms, but fate decreed that was not to be. One hour into their slumber a sound bellowed out into the dwindling city, the angel siren was sounding. Breaking the teens from their sleep, both of their cell phones sounded in unison calling them in for duty.

Misato could tell something was wrong with Asuka and Rei when the two girls reported in that they were ready. The fire that was Asuka's spirit was a small flicker as compared to her normal self. Rei looked like a woman facing the execution squad. 'I don't have any choice in this, the Commander still won't let Shinji go.'

Looking at the monitor that showed the angel that looked like an entwined double helix, Misato wondered if she hadn't been treating her wards cruelly as of late. "Rei, you're the aggressor this time, Asuka you act as her defense."

The pilots stated they understood, then Misato heard Shinji's voice calling her. "Misato, what about me? What am I supposed to do?" Misato couldn't look at him in the eyes. She could tell that the boy was more lost now than he was before.

"You're on stand-by Shinji," the Major said quickly then turned her attention to the rising platforms hosting Evangelion Unit's 00 and 02. Watching from her safe position Misato could only balk as Rei's shots rattled the angel and it broke from its helix shape to that of a big snake or worm.

Shouting for Asuka to assist Rei, Misato was informed by Maya that somehow Asuka's sync ratio had plummeted from her last score and the redhead couldn't even be expected to move let alone fight. Watching as the rear end of the angel shot towards the prone Unit-02 Misato ordered the withdrawal of the extra target. Misato could hear the confused cries of Asuka as the child begged her machine to work for her.

Hearing Asuka's pleading over his system, Shinji knew things weren't going well. "Misato what's happening up there?" Shinji's frantic cry pierced Misato's thought train. Turning from the battle to Shinji's monitor, she didn't know what to say to him.

Things went from bad to worse when Maya's shriek cut through the air, "Angel has made contact with Unit-00! It's being corrupted!" All heads not currently working turned to the main screen and watched.

Connecting near the mid-section of Unit-00 the angel's body appeared to meld with the metallic finish. Rei's cries of pain echoed over the comm. channel, and Misato was dimly aware that Gendo gave her permission to use Unit-01, which she had already done.

Getting to the surface just in time to see Rei drop her useless weapon and begin rolling on the ground, Shinji charged at his opponent. Letting the few months of Motoko's training take over, Shinji avoided the tail end of the angel and moved into a striking position. The knife slipped out of his hands once he succeeded in delivering a blow and was rewarded with Rei howling in pain over his comm. 'When I hit it...she feels it!'

Watching in horror and pain as Shinji dropped his weapon and went into defensive mode, Rei knew what she had to do. 'I can't let him die I have to save him. I will protect him!' Strange thoughts lanced through her mind as the angel probed her. It whispered thoughts and desires to her. Telling her that the boy could be hers in mind, body, and soul. That she'd never need fear losing him to the other, and all she needed to do was submit to it.

Rei's vision of the battlefield faded until she was facing a version of herself waist deep in LCL. It too was begging for her to submit, that all would be as she wanted if she would only give in. "I will not abandon him, not now or ever." The vision faded and she saw Shinji barely avoid another attack from his assailant. She knew then that she was crying, the tears dissolving in the LCL that incased her even as they left her eye.

Misato was informed then by Maya that Rei had inversed her AT Field and set the auto destruct device planted within Unit 00. Misato tried to tell Rei to stop, that another way could be found. Rei wasn't listening to her, because she had opened her comm. link to Unit-01.

"Rei don't do it! We...I can try something else!" Shinji pleaded with Rei. Hiding behind a building his whole focus was on the pain etched in Rei's eyes. He didn't know what he would do if Rei left him too. "You can't do this to me!"

Rei shook her head softly as she saw the hurt on Shinji's face. "Shinji, I said I would protect you. I will because I love you, not because of orders." With her death moments away, Rei just wished that once, just once he would say that to her as well.

Rushing out from behind his cover, Shinji had to try something, anything to prevent Rei from succeeding in her plan. "Please stop this Rei! Please!" The angel sensing not only its upcoming loss but also the presence of another potential entity to go down with it attacked Shinji and forced him to a stop. Looking frantically at Rei's face Shinji's mind reeled.

'She looks expectant...' His mind told his body. He reached out with his hand towards the screen and said softly, "You can't die Rei...I love you."

Shinji's words echoed throughout the command bridge and in Rei's entry plug. And as the white light of oblivion took the poor soul away, Rei knew only joy.

"Su-chan what did we tell you about running up the stairs!" Keitaro called out to Su as the odd foreigner flung her body up the stairs at a reckless speed. The whole of Hinata had gone out to get the necessities for Shinobu's 'Cheer Up' party. So Keitaro had no doubt that Su was on her way to inform the party's guest of honor not to worry about cooking tonight.

Following Keitaro into the kitchen, Motoko placed her bag containing drinks on the table. "Do you believe this will cure her temperament?" The swordswoman's voice was laden with disbelief and worry. Motoko had seen the drastic changes in Shinobu and was worried much like the rest of the Inn. She however had the added worry about Shinji's well being as well. Being her first, and only, pupil Shinji had found a special place in Motoko's heart. 'If she is this bad, I can only wonder how he is.'

Pulling some meat out of the fridge for sandwiches, Kitsune smiled at the two of them. "It couldn't hurt. This lil fan fair of ours could really bolster her spirits. Let her know that things will get better and maybe she can." Kitsune spied around for Naru momentarily, "Maybe if things get better in Tokyo-3 she can go back."

Hating to go behind Naru's back, Keitaro was adamant about keeping Naru in the dark about their plan. The hope was that as soon as things seemed to calm down in city they would contact Shinobu's father and insist he allow her to go back. 'Its not just a crush that she has for that boy. She loves him so I can't just stand by and watch it get destroyed.'

Pulling cups out of the cupboard Motoko placed them on a tray and began filling them. "I believe we should tell her of our plan as well. It would do much more for her recovery." The smile on each of their faces was a stark contrast to the previous days depression. "Su says that Shinobu and Nyamo are really making a big impression in their class too."

Letting out a small laugh Kitsune added, "I bet they think they're twins." Cutting the bread into sections, Kitsune kept a lingering doubt to herself. She could only hope that Shinobu was actually feeling better and not just putting up a front. Closing her eyes tightly Kitsune forced herself to think positively, being negative wouldn't help Shinobu right now. "Hey where is Naru?"

"She was following up the stairs wasn't she?" Keitaro asked as he, followed by both Motoko and Kitsune, made his way to the main door. "Naru where you at?"

A call from the common room directed them to Naru who was sitting on the floor staring at the television. "What's wrong Naru, looks like you've seen a ghost," Kitsune joked at the seriousness to which Naru was watching what looked like a news report about a lake.

Her hand extended towards the screen, Naru's face looked oddly pale. "News...news broadcast!" Her frantic speech told the others that something was up and it wasn't very pleasant. Taking positions around her the four just sat and watched.

The image on the screen was a small creator that was slowly filling with water the true message came from the announcer that was speaking from someplace off camera. "Pictured here is what remains of Tokyo-3. The JSDF is tightlipped about what caused this disaster but speculation is running rampart. I repeat less than three hours ago the city of Tokyo-3 was destroyed. We'll stick with this stor..." Naru turned off the television.

Keitaro was the first to speak, "Thank Kami-sama that Shinobu wasn't there. Did you see the size of that hole?" Finding the eyes of the girls on him, he noticed they looked at him as if he'd just admitted to stomping a kitten to death. 'Oh shit, Shinji lives there.'

Too distraught to punish him, Motoko just looked at Kitsune with a creeping horror in her mind, "Why is it taking Su so long to get Shinobu?" The fox's eyes widened as she realized what Motoko was hinting at, as did Naru's.

Keitaro would have thought it ironic that all of them were charging up the stairs just like he had just told Su not to do less than ten minutes ago, but humor was lost on him at the moment. Finding Shinobu's door still open they all piled into the tiny dwelling and found Su holding a note and looking sad.

"She's gone," was all Su said before she jumped into Motoko's arms and cried.

Shinji didn't exactly know how to describe the day he was having. He woke up feelings miserable, just like he felt when he went to bed, but then things seemed to change. The feeling of emptiness he felt after watching Rei die before his eyes seemed to vaporize. Shinji had accepted Rei's death like he accepted Shinobu's moving, it was something he hated but had to accept as truth.

Asuka tried to talk to him, but in his depressed state asked her to leave him alone for a while. Misato tried to offer some comfort to him, but he pulled away from her small amount of contact in fear. Everything he cared for or loved in his life had been taken from him so he wasn't very open to somebody trying. 'I don't want either of them to die or leave me too.'

But somewhere around mid-afternoon Misato burst into his room wearing one of the brightest smiles Shinji had seen on her face ever since the mysterious phone call from Kaji. She had told him that 'Rei's alive! I don't know how she survived the blast but Ritsuko said she just got out of the intensive care ward!'

So now he was racing towards the waiting area with his heart filled with hope. 'I can't believe it! She didn't die after all!' All those tears he shed for her, all the pain he accepted with her lose were forgotten as he clung to the one bastion of happiness he had left.

He found her sitting against a wall wrapped in bandages, much like the ones she was wearing when he first meet her. For a moment he just stood there looking at her and hoping he wasn't just deceiving himself. 'I lost Shinobu before I even knew what she meant to me...but I can't lose Rei too.'

Taking the few steps closer to her, Shinji expected her to vanish at a moments notice, but she didn't. "R-Rei," the boy spoke carefully as to not disturb her if she were concentrating on anything. While he observed her, she hadn't moved or made a sound.

Upon hearing her name spoken, Rei turned her head and her eyes fell upon Shinji. 'It is him,' was all the thought that raced through the recently revived third clone of Ayanami Rei. Just the sight of him nearly made her heart burst. Lost for words she merely stared at Shinji for a few moments before speaking one word. "Shinji."

Had his mind not been clouded with the joy of having Rei back, Shinji would have noticed the exuberance in the way she spoke. Rushing the remaining distance over to her, Shinji took the girl into his arms and hugged her softly. "I thought I lost you, that you left me like...like," he couldn't finish his statement.

He wasn't able to finish not for lack of trying, but because Rei had sealed his mouth with her own. Rei kissed Shinji with such force that the boy would have fallen back had she not wrapped her arms possessively around him. It was then that Shinji noticed something was different. Now Shinji and Rei hadn't kissed very often, but when they had Shinji marveled at the softness and shyness of Rei's.

What he was receiving now was anything but shy. Rei probed his mouth with a furious passion until Shinji had to push himself away from her. "I...I'm glad to see you too Rei but...but this isn't the place for that."

Moving to initiate another kiss regardless of Shinji's words, Rei found the boy moving out of her grasp. "About what I said during the last mission..." Finding nothing but confusion in her red eyes Shinji stopped. "You do remember don't you?"

Pushing her need to be with Shinji down into her mind and trying to collect herself Rei sat back down. "I...don't remember."

"You don't remember detonating Unit-00 or what I said to you?" Shinji couldn't believe it. The look on Rei's face when he had told her he loved her was so full of joy that it was etched into his mind, how could she have forgotten. Taking a few steps away from the girl, Shinji could see it now. 'Her voice is different Her body language is different, even how she kisses. She isn't...she isn't the Rei that I know.'

"Perhaps it is because I am the third." Rei said simply as she turned her eyes back to where Shinji was standing. Finding the space empty, Rei frowned, 'He has run away. No matter I will be with him later.' Sadly the previous Rei's feelings had been passed into the tank much has Ritsuko had planned, however the reasons behind those feelings was gone leaving Rei III only the need to be with Shinji to understand the world around her, that and a feeling calling deeply into her soul. 'Something is here and it is calling to me, what is it?'

As the evening drew late, Ritsuko found herself standing in front of Heaven's Door with a gun to her back. A gun held by her best friend. "You know you could be executed for this Misato?"

Drawing the hammer back Misato pushed the barrel a little harder into Ritsuko's back. "I'll worry about that. I want to see what we have hiding down here." Nerv had to many secrets for Misato's taste, and from her spy work she had learned that most of them were just beyond the doors she was standing in front of. "Open it."

"Not without him," Ritsuko said as the elevator chimed and the door opened. Ritsuko had viewed the tape of Shinji and Rei's meeting and deemed it time to tell him the truth as well. Calling the boy as he got home, Ritsuko lied to him and convinced him to follow her instructions leading him to where he now was.

"Ritsuko-san, Misato-san what's going on?" Shinji asked as he saw the gun and the look of amusement on the doctor's face. Too much was happening to him to understand and accept but they just kept coming at him.

She didn't want him there, Misato wanted Shinji to be miles away from there but she didn't know when she'd have another opportunity to learn what she wanted. "Fine, now open the damn door." Ritsuko seemed to deliberate a few moments then slide her card through the reader and watched as the twin doors opened silently.

Walking through Nerv's dirty secrets has been as enlightening as Misato had believed it would have been. Ritsuko had become quite chatty as they walked as well. She informed the duo of what she called a garbage dump and what Shinji called an Eva graveyard she was more inclined to believe Shinji.

The urge to strike had overcome the Major when Ritsuko seemed to gloat over the death of Yui Ikari. She couldn't believe the nerve of her friend when she said, "Sure you remember this place Shinji. You saw your mother vanish here." That was when her free hand struck the blond across the face.

"I didn't come here for a history lesson Ritsuko, what is the dummy plug. That's what I'm here to find out." True Misato wanted to learn as much as she could, but she couldn't stand Ritsuko rubbing the death of Shinji's mother in his face. 'It's as if she's trying to get me to kill her.'

Shinji was just plain shocked during the whole encounter. Seeing the miles of what looked like Evangelion bones, hearing and worse remembering the truth about his mother, and then they passed a room that looked exactly like Rei's and something Ritsuko said about it really was her room. 'What does that mean, Rei didn't live here she lived in the city.'

"Ready for the finale?" Ritsuko questioned as the trio stepped into a dimly lit room. The only source of illumination came from a dull orange light that emanated from a glass tube in the center of the room.

Following the faint white of Ritsuko's coat Shinji and Misato trailed the doctor until they stood in the center of the room. "Are you really ready to learn the truth of the Dummy Plug Misato? Are you really?" Ritsuko seemed on the verge of laughing.

Chills ran up Misato's legs and through her waist, this was it, what Kaji died for Misato thought. "I'm ready." She wasn't ready for what happened when Ritsuko pushed a button on a remote control she had in her pocket and the walls became to pulse with light.

It was Shinji who spoke first, "They...they look like Rei!" He took a few steps forward and looked at the nude floating bodies suspended in LCL he thought most likely. 'What the hell is this?'

"They don't just look like her, they ARE her. Rei is the heart of the dummy plug!" Ritsuko declared boldly to the two. A sad smile appeared on her face, as she saw how the clones' eyes all followed Shinji's movements. "They seem to like you Shinji, just like I planned."

Misato's gun was out and pointed at Ritsuko's head, "What the devil are you talking about 'planned.' What are they? Why are they all looking at Shinji like that?" Misato judged the look to be predatory in nature, and she wasn't far from the truth. Shinji was to dumbstruck to think, he listened as Ritsuko began to speak but couldn't move his eyes away from the tank.

The smile faded from Ritsuko's lips and her voice took a defeatist tone. "You know I was giving Rei relationship advice, you just don't know the full of it. I hate her...all of her." Ritsuko's hand swept across the room pointing at the tanks. "Ever since she was five, Gendo had put her in my care, to raise her to follow and obey his orders." The bile in her voice rose, "His precious little Rei, his darling Rei. Did you know Shinji that Rei has a small amount of your mother's DNA in her? Not enough to make you related but just enough to make me hate her and him love her."

Shinji and Misato were unable to speak, captivated by the words coming out of the doctor's lips. "As you can see killing her wouldn't do much good, no Gendo made sure that his lil Rei wouldn't be able to ever escape his grasp." Pulling out the control again, Ritsuko knew of one way to rid Gendo of his toys, but did she have the courage enough to do it. "So when I was given the task of raising her I developed a plan. If I couldn't kill her body, I'd kill her mind, her spirit!"

Misato was tempted to stop Ritsuko from talking, because things were getting to weird to frightening for her now. But she couldn't make herself move to do it neither could Shinji.

"I made that girl think she was worthless, that the dirt on the floor had more value than she had, like he makes me feel." Ritsuko slumped to the ground, sadness at her neglected love overwhelming her. "My hopes were that some boy would take her, use her as his own play thing for awhile. It would give the girl hope, something to make her feel special. Then after he had finished with her and cast her aside she'd be so devastated, so crushed no force on earth could have kept her from killing herself again, and again, and again."

Shinji had to cover his mouth to keep from being sick the pure hate coming from Ritsuko and her plan for Rei was so cruel he couldn't help himself. 'How could she hate her so much?'

Ritsuko looked over at Shinji, "But she had to fall for you didn't she. And you had to be everything that your father isn't! No you wouldn't do to her what I needed, but...but then that other girl showed up." Misato saw the smile come back to Ritsuko's face, "I changed the plan then, guided Rei to gain your affection through manipulation and that if that other girl tried to steal you. Well if she tried anything then Rei simply had to kill her." Ritsuko's eyes widened in comical madness, "She would KILL for her love! And then she'd be put away in some hole to ROT."

"Ritsuko stop this...this is just to much," Misato said in a tiny voice totally lacking any air of command or confidence.

"She should have killed like I will!" pushing the button on her control, Shinji and Misato gasped as the clones let out silent cries as the started to disintegrate. "I'll take the job for her and kill for my love! If he had only loved me and not the memory of Yui this would have never happened. And the new Rei is likely to do the same, she's so focused on Shinji she'll kill for him too." Her plan totally divulged Ritsuko crumpled to her feat in tears.

Misato looked at Shinji who just looked in horror at the lifeless parts that had not to long ago been Reis'. "Shinji, is...is she different?" Misato couldn't imagine what Ritsuko could have meant by Rei being different, being able to kill for Shinji.

Turning to face Misato, Shinji nodded his face pale. "She isn't the same...something about her is more alive...more expressive. She, I believe that she could." The sobs of Ritsuko Akagi continued to echo in the small room as both Ikari and Katsuragi looked down at her and silently cursed the man Gendo Ikari for causing it.

And far away from the trio, a small girl wiped a handkerchief across her brow as she continued her walk to the destroyed Tokyo-3 and someplace else somebody was humming and thinking fondly of meeting the famed Third Child.

Author Notes

Yes its VERY dark in comparison to my normal chapters but again its not as dark as the original Eva cannon. And yes that was why Ritsuko was always helping Rei, it was all an elaborate revenge attempt. Rei II is dead and replaced by Rei III the end product of Ritsuko's scheming.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter and continue to support this story that you can see is quickly coming to a head. Lets ride the roller coaster to end of this crazy run and I assure you you'll like the end.

Ja Mata

Zentrodie zentrodie(at-sign)secondimpact(dot)com

Omake

The sudden urge to vomit hit Misato hard. Her eyes just couldn't grasp what she was seeing before her. "Its...its horrible! Words can't describe it!"

Shinji paled considerably and turned his head away from the glass, his mind on overload. 'I didn't think such a thing was possible. Why...why would it have been created!'

Looking at the glass lovingly, Ritsuko's fingers caressed the glass softly. "Aren't they wonderful? Science at its best!"

Misato, wiping the sick from her lips could only shut her eyes, but even then she could still see them. 'Ritsuko's insane! A full tank of Gendo's!'

"You see so many people hate him and have killed him we needed spares! I only took a few for my own but you see the need right...right?" The look of pure madness in Ritsuko's eyes was undeniable, but nobody was looking at her, they were trying to purge all thoughts of sight from their eyes.