Out of Disaster Chapter 23: One cannot betray their own heart, an evangelion fanfic

Standard Disclaimer

Well people the day has come and I am now a college graduate. All that I am required to do now is find a well enough paying job. Wish me luck. Then I'll have a stable schedule and my writing won't be so spontaneous.

Hope your having a safe and happy holiday season, and for those of you that read my msts the x-mas mst is done and posted at darkscribes (www-dot-darkscribes-dot-org)

So few chapters left of this story…I'll be sad to see it finished.

-Section Divider-

Out of Disaster

Chapter 23 – One Can't Betray Their Own Heart

After her journey into the wastes of Tokyo-3 in search of Shinji, Shinobu had subjected her body to a bevy of hardships never before thrust upon her. The end result of her endeavor was not only her reunion with Shinji but also her sudden drop in health. For days Shinobu's fever raged highly, and she was under the constant watch of either Shinji or Kanako. Misato hadn't returned to the apartment opting to sleep at Nerv in her search for the truth behind the word 'Seele' that she heard Ritsuko utter.

"I'm sorry to put such a burden on you Shinji," Shinobu said in a week voice as Shinji replaced the old towel on Shinobu's head with a fresh one. She wanted to feel more upset at herself, she wanted to feel that she had done wrong, but being cared for by Shinji, seeing him, and talking to him again overwhelmed her with happiness.

Putting the dry towel into the bucket at her bedside, Shinji smiled at her and caressed her cheek with his palm. "Don't worry about that now. You just concentrate on getting better." He couldn't believe shat Shinobu was back in his life. Torn away so suddenly, Shinji believed her gone for good. 'She shouldn't have come here, to this city full of death, but I don't want her to go either.'

Noting how her skin had cooled dramatically from when she collapsed in his arms over a week ago, Shinji could almost bet that Shinobu's fever had finally broken. "Why did you do it Shinobu? Why go through all that?" The words came tumbling out of Shinji's mouth as he found his way to the chair placed next to Shinobu's bed that had been Asuka's before.

A deep foreboding encroached upon Shinobu's mind. 'I was afraid he'd ask that. I don't want him to be mad at me for this, but I couldn't stand being away any longer.' Trying to sit up only to have Shinji gingerly push her back down, "I thought you needed me, that I could help you in some way."

The firm mask of indifference that had been on Shinji's face melted away into a smile. "You won't believe all that's happened since you've been away." Part of Shinji's voice contained bitterness. A lot had happened in the short time the pair had been separated, and it forced Shinji to grow in some ways. "I'll tell you about it when you're feeling better ok?"

As Shinji made to stand Shinobu grasped for his hand, stopping his escape. "I came to you because I love you Shinji, I don't want to lose you again." Cursing her fever that robbed her of the strength to move, Shinobu just held Shinji's hand fearfully. 'A lot could have happened since I was away. Maybe he and Ayanami…maybe I've lost him.' Tears brought up by her fears and insecurities brimmed in her eyes as she felt Shinji's hand tense in her own.

Shinji feared his own betrayal. 'Will she still say she loves me after I tell her all that's happened?' Truly he had done nothing wrong, but in his mind Shinji couldn't shake his feeling of dread. "I'm glad you came Shinobu, I'm just sorry it had to be under such harsh circumstances."

"Don't leave yet, please?" a pleading Shinobu whispered as she tried to summon the power to pull either Shinji to her, or herself up to him. 'If I have lost him, I want to be with him as long as possible before he's gone.' Her wish was granted as the boy smiled again and reclaimed his seat by her bed.

'Surely Kanako won't be upset with me for spending a little more time with her,' Shinji thought of his other current roommate. The past few days those two had gotten to know each other really well. Shinji even considered the slightly older girl a friend, not only for her near rescue of Shinobu, but as her own person. "I'll stay as long as you like."

-Section Divider-

Since her arrival at the Ikari residence, Kanako was constantly busy. She had to tend to Shinobu when Shinji had to go to Nerv, she was working on fixing her phone, and on the off chance she wasn't doing either of those she was talking with Shinji. 'Such a gentle person, much like she is.' Kanako mussed

Taking apart one of Misato's broken alarm clocks that she found in her makeshift room, Kanako was busy attempting to fuse the power supply to her mockery of a telephone. Setting her heating tools down she turned to look at what she didn't know was Asuka's door. 'They're perfect for each other I guess. So kind, yet when needed full of strength.' Letting a rare smile cross her lips, she thought of the fierce look of determination that was on Shinobu's face when she first found her and how out of place that emotion seemed for the girl.

"Lets try this again," the black haired girl said aloud as she connected the last of the battery support. To her shock and surprise she heard a dial tone. Dialing the number to the inn as quickly as possible, Kanako prayed that the connection would last long enough for her to inform her brother about the current situation.

After a few static filled rings Kanako lost her breath as somebody picked up the phone. "Hello, Hinata Dormitory Narusegawa Naru speaking," the voice was flat Kanako noticed, which was wrong for Naru.

"Naru, its Kanako, can you hear me?" Kanako pleaded as she clutched the mangled receiver to her ear. Hearing only static again, Kanako feared the worst and had lost the line. "Naru?"

Hearing an exasperated sigh from the other end, Kanako realized it wasn't the line that was the problem but the speaker. 'Its not my fault she is unsuited for my brother,' Kanako thought having never accepted Naru as Keitaro's promised girl. "Naru this is very important is my brother there?"

For her part Naru wasn't in the best of moods. Too much time had passed since the impromptu room generation that had bolstered the dorms spirits had passed without word from Shinobu. Again in a state of mild depression Naru wasn't in the mood to talk to some odd 'brother lover.' "He's busy right now can I take a message? Is it from Hina-san?"

Not wanting to lose her chance to tell her brother the news because of Naru, Kanako snapped. "Can you stop being a bitch for a minute and listen? I've found Shinobu and I'm currently with her and Shinji."

The insult hadn't fazed Naru at all, she was used to judgmental people. The news however was the true revelation. Thousands of questions of how Kanako even knew Shinobu was missing passed into Naru's mind. What came out was "HOLYCRAP OHMYGOD WHATTHEFUCK!!!!" She then fainted.

Kanako tried to understand the rush of words she heard and the subsequent thud luckily Motoko had heard the outburst and was quickly on the line. "Hello, who is speaking?"

'Ah Motoko,' Kanako sighed in relief Motoko was one of the girls Kanako actually liked. "Motoko I've found Shinobu in Tokyo-3 and am currently nursing her back to health." Happy to finally get word back home about the no doubt runaway Shinobu, Kanako relaxed a bit.

Naru's outburst drawing a crowd around the phone, Motoko turned to the assembled Keitaro, Kitsune, and Su. "Its Kanako, she's found Shinobu." Those few words flowed over the group like a warm breeze. All their worries and fears were suddenly wiped away. "Where are you, we'll come to get you," Motoko said again into the receiver as Keitaro and Kitsune moved Naru to the nearby couch.

Kanako shook her head as she heard the words, "Sorry Motoko but that isn't an option right now, Shinobu won't leave here." And in Kanako's mind that was something to behold. She was envious of the determination Shinobu had, and she'd honor the girl's request to stay.

Bewildered as to why Kanako would put Shinobu in danger, "What do you mean? We have to get the two of you out of that city. It is unsafe for you to remain." Motoko's fingers nervously coiled the phone line. 'What could be so important as to stay in that cursed place?'

"If you'd seen Shinobu as I have, you'd not question me," was Kanako's dry reply. She didn't like it either, but Kanako would not go back on her word to both Shinobu and Shinji about a forced separation. "She's not in any condition to leave now anyway."

The group around the phone at Hinata was having a pow-wow, "We have to convince her to bring Shinobu back," Kitsune whispered harshly to her companions.

Like a lost puppy, Su just whimpered softly as she looked at the phone, "Shinobu's not coming back now?"

"How do we convince Kanako to bring her back though, she's usually very stubborn when it comes to this sort of thing," Keitaro said as they looked at the receiver and heard a few sparse words coming from the other end discussing Shinobu's sudden illness.

Struck by a sudden inspiration, Kitsune smirked at the manager, "We just need a little brotherly pushing to get her to submit." Kitsune was proud of her self for that idea Kanako never went against Keitaro. 'She'll cave the moment Keitaro asks her.'

Seeing how Motoko agreed with Kitsune as she extended her hand with the phone to him, Keitaro took a deep breath. "Kanako, are you sure it's the best idea to stay in that city?"

Kanako's heart leaped in her chest, 'Oniichan.' Could she resist her own heart to protect Shinobu's? Her eyes clenched tight, 'I lost my chance with him already, I won't let that girl lose her chance.' Her eyes opened slowly, "I'm sorry Oniichan but I can't let that happen. I'm going to stay here with her. Shinji can't keep an eye on her all the time."

As Keitaro began to lodge his protest she disconnected the line with a hint of sorrow. 'I will keep both of them safe until they can come back with me.' Pushing herself away from the table, Kanako thought it was time to remind Shinji that he had to go to Nerv. Standing outside the door and listening to the two, 'maybe I'll let them talk a little longer, they need it.'

-Section Divider-

As Kanako informed the blushing Ikari about his obligations, deep in the bowels of Nerv Misato had a meeting to attend. Speaking in secret with Ritsuko, Misato was slowly learning more about Nerv's dirty secrets and ulterior plans. 'But she still hasn't told me what she about the Fifth Child yet.'

Not liking the tactics she had been enforcing, Misato had charmed here way into the guard's heart and was allowed to visit Ritsuko where she'd otherwise have been denied. Flashing her badge and a fake smile at the man, Misato was rewarded with the cell door opening and then shutting behind her.

"Did you bring what I asked for?" was the greeting Misato received as she entered. Ritsuko was slowly forming her final plan. 'If I can't destroy her, I'll just kill.' Taking the wireless laptop from Misato with grasping hands. "This will help things dramatically Misato!"

If Misato were able to see Ritsuko's eyes in the darkness, she'd have called off any relations with the visibly mad doctor. But as the darkness of the cell had yet to be illuminated by Ritsuko's powering up of the portable computer, Misato missed the gleam in Ritsuko's eyes. "So have you given any thought about the Fifth Child yet Ritsuko?" Misato's voice bordered on impatience.

Calling up one of her hand coded cracking devices, Ritsuko disabled the camcorder hidden in her cell. "He's probably the last angel," the blond doctor stated flatly. Now that she had what she needed from Misato, Ritsuko had no further use for her friend and started hammering away at her computer.

Startled by the matter-of-fact manner in which such a bombshell had been dropped Misato just stared for a moment. "Wait, how can he be the last angel? Why would this Seele just send us an angel?" Watching how her friend's face showed no signs of care or even consideration about the questions asked, Misato came to a conclusion. "You knew this all along didn't you?"

Never looking up from her hacking job, "Seele funds Nerv Misato. They've been pulling the strings the whole time." Accessing confidential information, pilot rosters, and uncountable other sources of information, Ritsuko's greatest and final solution was being created and Misato was a distraction. "Gendo has had an ulterior motive, they're trying to keep him in check."

Misato didn't question whether Ritsuko was lying or not. Watching her friend turn her once brilliant mind into a fevered rush of keystrokes, Misato doubted Ritsuko even knew she was still there. "I have to do something about this." Knocking on the door and calling for the guard to let her out, Misato had a lot to do and she didn't know how much time she had to do it in.

-Section Divider-

"Why do you keep her around Gendo, she's a massive liability now," Fuyutsuki said as the pair watched Misato leaving Ritsuko's cell. Kozo didn't like what he had become in the pursuit of their goal but they had come to far to fail now. "Can't we send her to a different branch if we still need her?"

Gendo could feel his own anticipation building, all things were coming together and soon he'd be reunited with his beloved Yui. "Let her plot and plan her schemes. They'll all fail in the end." Hunched over his desk with his hands stippled. "To be safe though keep a man on Major Katsuragi."

The ease to which Gendo was letting Akagi maneuver was appalling to Kozo. "But she's already hacked into the Magi, what if she…" Kozo's dialogue was silences as Gendo's hand slammed on the desk.

"I've been planning on this Sensei. Seele will soon make its final move against us and we need her here to combat any computer assaults." Gendo had more on his mind that Kozo realized, he'd spoken to Rei earlier in the day and was stunned to say the least. 'She's not following my orders, she'll need to be forced.' But now Gendo only knew of one way to force Rei's actions, his son.

Readjusting his collar Fuyutsuki cleared his throat. "I'll assign some section-2 agents to follow the Major." Handing Gendo another file, "What about the Fifth Child, born on the day of Second Impact, and sent directly from Seele. Surely it's a trap of some kind."

Pushing his glasses up to the peak of his nose, "Yes he is, and they did a poor job of hiding it from us. They apparently don't take much stock in us anymore." Gendo smiled ruefully at the irony. 'Those old men will not stop me now that I'm this close.'

"Anything else sir?" Kozo asked as he prepared to leave to fulfill his orders. The comatose Second Child, the now seemingly rebelling First Child, the unknown Third Child, and the trap that was the Fifth Child Kozo didn't know what major problem needed addressing first. Gendo's answer to him was 'no' and Kozo left, feeling more afraid now than any other time in his life.

-Section Divider-

Pulling his plug suit on, Shinji felt oddly calm given the circumstances. Since he'd been reunited with Shinobu, he'd just felt a lot better. He'd had many conversations with both Rei and Kaworu in that time and those ended with mixed results.

His time with Rei was the most confusing. Often she'd appear before him proceeding or after a test and they'd talk at length. 'She's getting a lot better, maybe she IS the same Rei I fell in love with,' Shinji thought as he pushed the pressurization switch. But then he remembered how the majority of their meetings ended. At one point or another Rei would become lost to her passions and if Shinji wasn't totally observant she'd initiate an often overzealous kiss, voluntarily or not. When such events occurred, Kaworu always seemed to appear and chase Rei away.

'Something tells me that they just don't get along,' Shinji thought as he sank into the bench. To Shinji, Kaworu seemed to enjoy provoking Rei. While Shinji was glad to not let his own passions cause for him and Rei to make a mistake, it was just odd how he was always there in time. 'Rei…I loved her, still do, but is she really the same? The more time passes I think she is. But what about Shinobu?'

Grabbing his head in confusion, Shinji momentarily cursed his joyous reunion with Shinobu. When she was gone he didn't have to make a choice, he had none to make. But then Rei had her accident, then the revelations about her past, but now she was back and slowly becoming her old self. "I just don't know what to do."

"You walk down the hall and take a left," Kaworu said with a half chuckle. Undressing by Shinji and donning his own plug suit, Kaworu smiled widely at the boy. 'It pains me for what I must soon do to you Shinji, but I have no choice,' the angelic boy's mind spoke.

Jumping up lightly from his seat in surprise, Shinji hadn't heard his comrade walk into the changing room. "Kaworu, how are you today?" Shinji couldn't hide his smile as Kaworu looked at him. Something about Kaworu set Shinji at ease. 'I'm glad he's here, he's been a great help to me.'

"Nothing I can complain about. You seem to have something on your mind lately, want to talk?" Kaworu asked as he finished donning his own suit and the pair headed towards the testing bay. 'If I am correct it has something to do with that wretch that is attempting to be human.'

Nearing the bay, Rei joined the two boys as she slide next to Shinji. "Shinji, how are you feeling today?" Rei's hand traced Shinji's back and came to a rest wrapped around his left arm. "Will we be able to speak after the tests again? You have been busy." Rei's hushed tone spoke of urgency and wanting.

Cutting Shinji off before he could respond, Kaworu said, "Ayanami-san maybe you should give Shinji some space. You appear to be bothering him." Leaning forward enough to look in Rei's eyes as he spoke, he saw a glint of malice residing. "Shinji can't be expected to hold your hand through everything can he?"

Raising his hand in Rei's defense, Shinji muttered softly, "Its ok Kaworu, Rei's had a hard time lately. Of course I'll talk with you Rei." He hoped that each time they talked Rei recovered a portion of her now apparent gaps in memory. Shinji's hopes were that those gaps were what resulted in Rei's sudden outbursts of physical affection.

The trio walked the remaining distance in silence, Rei with a semi look of contempt on her face, Shinji blushing softly, and Kaworu a trifle perturbed. The tests didn't elevate anybodies feelings.

-Section Divider-

After the battery of synchronization tests run by Maya ended, Kaworu quickly spoke to Shinji about his duties about returning home. Shinji had only mentioned to both of his fellow active pilots that he had responsibilities at home, he'd not mentioned Shinobu's return for fear Nerv would relocate her. Shinji thanked his friend for the reminded and headed off in the direction Rei had walked to. Unknown by Shinji, Kaworu followed.

Rei was making a lot of progress in sorting out her feelings. She'd been able to push the callings made upon her angelic heritage, but was informed by Gendo of her responsibilities in the end. Her mind was troubled by that idea. She would have Shinji, but she wouldn't have him to herself. She did know one thing without a doubt, Shinji was the love of her life. 'I will do anything for him.'

But that devotion came at a price, she relied upon him to help her remember who she once was. Her talks were bastions of peace in her turbulent life, but 'The Fifth' always ruined them. Rei knew he was an angel and she would, when the time came, protect Shinji from him. But now was not the time to think of negatives, 'He's coming to speak with me. Alone.'

Shinji's soft call for her caught her attention and she waved him over to her bench by a wall of vending machines. Over her time of self-reflecting and attempts to reclaim her past, Rei was repeatedly bombarded by one word she didn't understand. "Shinji can you tell me who or what is Shinobu?"

Taking a sudden deep breath, Shinji's eyes dilated, 'She's totally forgotten about Shinobu too?' Taking his seat next to Rei, Shinji planned his next words carefully. "Rei, Shinobu is another girl that likes me." Shinji had long admitted that both Rei and Shinobu liked if not loved him, as he did them, and that was the cause for the two girls dislike for one another.

That didn't sound possible to Rei, "She is another that pursues you? She would take you from me?" Her voice sounded weak and frail at that moment. Leaning against the wall, Rei added that name into her mental registry as a major threat. "She is gone thought, correct?"

'I can't have Rei upset over this, I don't know what I'm going to do but I can't tell her Shinobu's living at my place right now.' Shinji didn't want to lie, but he didn't want to hurt Rei or Shinobu unnecessarily. "I don't know where she is to be honest Rei," which was true to a small extent. Shinji still felt bad saying that though.

Just nodding, Rei leaned over and rested her head on Shinji's shoulders. Soon she was a washed by the calming affect Shinji radiated. It was a sense of closure, that everything was as it should be and no other problems needed addressing. "Can we stay like this for a while?"

Putting his arm around Rei's waist, Shinji smiled. 'She's had so much pain in her life too. Why must everybody suffer so much?' Shinji thought as he held Rei in his arms. "Of course we can," Shinji muttered as Rei was lulled into a light slumber. As she dozed Shinji berated himself, he'd not chosen either of them yet, and he felt it was wrong to both. He'd technically chosen Rei after Shinobu had left, but now that she was back, was it fair to Rei? Was she still HIS Rei? Shinji didn't know. He wished to understand but such was not for him.

'I lost them both and now they are both back. I don' t want to hurt them but how can I not?' Shinji thought as he moved a stray lock of Rei's hair away from her face. If Kaworu didn't hate Rei he'd have found her actions almost cute, but being what she was he detested her for clinging to the object he sought.

-Section Divider-

"Feeling any better now?" Kanako asked from her position in the chair next to Shinobu's bed. Shinji was late getting home so Kanako took it upon herself to cook Shinobu's meal.

Sipping her soup slowly, Shinobu nodded. Wiping a little runoff away from her lips, "Much better now, I think I'm ready to start helping around here." Sitting up and flexing her arms in a comedic show of improvement, Kanako couldn't help but chuckle lightly.

Covering her mouth with her hand, "So it seems. So how are you doing?" Kanako never took her eyes off of Shinobu's. She had the slight impression that Shinobu was hiding something from her and Shinji but wouldn't call her out on it until Shinobu was well.

Setting the soup bowl on the nightstand, "I told you Kanako, I'm feeling much better now." Honestly Shinobu was tired of being bedridden and couldn't wait to start moving around again.

Kanako's bangs just waved as she shook her head, "I'm not talking about your fever. How are you doing? You're here now, with him, was it worth it?" She hoped Shinobu said that it was, or this whole journey and her betraying Keitaro was for naught.

The truth of the matter now exposed, Shinobu's head and her heart sank. "He said a lot has happened since we've been parted. That he'll talk to me about it when I'm feeling better." With quivering hands, Shinobu grasped at Kanako. "Maybe he's going to tell me that he's chosen Ayanami over me. Or that he wants me to go, or…or…"

As Shinobu's worries overtook her and the few shakes became a tremor, Kanako held the girl awkwardly. Never being one for physical displays of comfort, Kanako didn't know if she was doing well or not, but soon Shinobu calmed. "You had faith in him before, what made you change your mind?"

It wasn't Shinobu's faith in Shinji that had wavered but her belief that she was good enough for him. "I don't deserve him Kanako-san. He's fighting for all of us, suffering for us, and for me now, how can I be worthy of that?"

"Is he worthy of you Shinobu? You've never asked for anything of him. You've only thought of helping others. You are an attractive, smart, and caring woman why do you think he deserves more than that?" Kanako honestly said. Knowing that they shy cook had a self image problem, Kanako opted to try and bolster her feelings.

"You…you think so?" Shinobu asked as her body further calmed. Her eyes locked with Keitaro's sisters looking for any sign of denial or dishonesty.

Wanting to laugh at how quickly Shinobu changed her emotions as of late Kanako just nodded. "You're a very special girl Shinobu. You don't doubt him so don't doubt yourself either." Hearing the door close behind her, Kanako turned to see the object of their conversation walking over.

"Feeling better Shinobu?" Shinji asked from over Kanako's shoulder. Finding her sitting up and smiling was a good sign for him though. With no other chairs, Shinji opted to be a little bold and sat on the bedside.

Nodding again with a bit more energy, Shinobu affirmed that she was much better. "Shinji, you said earlier that you wanted to tell me about what happened while we've been separate. Can you tell me now?" Despite the fear that had grown in Shinobu's heart, she knew she'd never be more ready to hear it.

Shinji shifted uncomfortable as he sat, he looked between Kanako and Shinobu. As Kanako readjusted her position in the chair and looked expectantly at him, Shinji guessed that Kanako wanted to hear the tale as well. Closing his eyes and steadying his already frazzled nerves, "If you want to know I'll tell you both."

In her mind Kanako was proud of the boy, many men would have waited until a better situation had presented itself, or had asked for bystanders to leave. But Shinji's honor in this endeavor went untarnished. "Proceed when you are ready Shinji-kun," Kanako instructed.

Over the following hour informed the two girls of the time since he'd last seen Shinobu. He started by talking about Asuka. Shinji told them of Asuka's battles and her unfortunate downturn and hospitalization. Shinobu wept softly for a brief time at Asuka's hardships. Shinji next went on in detail about Misato's absences following what both Shinji and Shinobu heard from Kaji's last phone call.

Kanako asked Shinji a few questions about Kaji, as the name seemed vaguely familiar to her. After the questions subsided Shinji started to tell the girls about Rei. He started with the truth about Rei's origin. Shinobu gasped and Kanako shook her head slowly. Both girls' minds thought the same thing, 'such a tragedy to be forced on a woman.'

Shinji then told Shinobu about his perceived relationship with Rei. All the while Shinji's eyes were downcast and full of fear. As his dialogue concluded he sneaked a glance at Shinobu and found her face unreadable. Kanako excused herself from the room, 'he did nothing wrong. Anybody facing the problems he is would have done much more than seek minor creature comfort.'

Shinobu thought exactly the same. "Shinji, how do you think I feel right now?" Her tone was masked as well as her emotions. Grabbing Shinji's hand to force his attention back to her she waited for his response.

Not clenching his hand around Shinobu's Shinji spoke, "You probably feel betrayed. That after all that suffering you did to get here that I've forgotten about you, that I'm a terrible person." His heart falling with every line he spoke, Shinji had no expectations for Shinobu's actions.

As Shinji stared into space, Shinobu leaned over to him and lifted his chin. "Shinji look at me. Do I seem upset to you?" Before Shinji was given even the slightest chance to speak Shinobu smothered his lips with her own.

Outside the door, Kanako heard a crash, which she correctly associated with Shinobu falling atop of Shinji and landing on the floor. 'Guess they worked it out,' she thought as she prayed for their happiness.

Sadly the kiss had no chance to develop into anything else as Shinji's emergency cel phone started to ring. It was Misato instructing him to hurry back to Nerv in preparation for the next and thought last battle.

-Section Divider-

As Shinji made his way home, a sleepy Rei made her way towards the Nerv elevator that would take her to the cafeteria, she'd ran out of food at her apartment. As the elevator door began to close a pale hand caught it, forced it open, and the intruder got onboard.

Rei's eyes bore deeply into Kaworu's as he did the same. Neither Child had wished for this encounter but now they had no options left. Rei was the first to speak, "Why have you been interfering with us?"

His bemused face never dropping, Kaworu shrugged his shoulders and slide a hand into his pocket. "I don't think you deserve him," he said openly and without pause.

Nose scrunched up in irritation, Rei could feel a slow rage building in her. "You are to refrain from meeting with Shinji." Her tone had a lingering finality to it bordering on threatening.

Leaning against the elevator wall, "Ayanami, you shouldn't even exist. You're a blemish on not only humanity but also what they tried to make you in the image of." Smiling still Kaworu could almost feel the hate radiating from the girl before him. "Shinji is a very special human, one that would be wasted on a half breed."

Letting her combat experience take over, Rei charged the boy as her emotions overcame her. She deserved far more happiness in life than she was given, and to be told she should have received less was crushing. Slamming her palm against the side of the boy's face for the cruel words he spoke, Rei got a small satisfaction as Kaworu fell to the ground. 'I love him, I love Shinji and I will not have this thing telling me that I am unworthy.'

Blood trickling down his lip, Kaworu's smile never faded. "Touchy aren't we Ayanami. Would you hit him like this as well if he questioned you?" Kaworu went to stand up but Rei kicked his hand out from underneath him sending back to the elevator floor.

The door opened and Rei stepped out. "You were warned," was all she said as she walked away. Maya seeing the exchange could only walk over to the fallen boy.

"Are you alright Nagisa-kun?" the young tech asked helping the boy to his feat. Maya had never really kept up with the love interests of the pilots so she was out of the loop as to why Rei would have assaulted the new pilot.

Dusting himself off and taking care of the blood that flowed down his chin, Kaworu felt the full pull of his lineage at that moment. "I'm fine. Ibuki-san this way leads to the Evangelion hangers correct?" He started walking before Maya confirmed his question, the name Kaworu had no meaning at that point, he was Tabris, he was the last, and he was going home.

-Section Divider-

It was the first time Shinji heard the term Terminal Dogma before. Somehow an angel breached security and was quickly descending towards it. His mission was simple reach the target and then neutralize it before it reached 'The Door of God.'

As he loaded into Eva-01 he asked, "What about Kaworu, won't he be assisting me?" Shinji's vision wavered as the LCL filled his plug and did its work on him. As he waited for Misato, who he was seeing for the first time in over a week, he ran and jumped into open shaft that would lead him to his target.

"Shinji, he is the angel, Kaworu has been identified as the last angel," Misato informed him much to his disbelief. The moment she had reached a place outside of the Nerv brig she had tests done on Kaworu's blood to insure his origin. After they came back, Misato called Shinji and lead him to this state.

Yelling, "I don't believe that! Kaworu can't be the last angel." Shinji didn't want to believe his new friend was an enemy. That he'd been betrayed again and would soon lose another person precious to him. So as his Eva quickly fell towards his fateful encounter with Asuka's Unit-02 he expected Misato to tell him she had been mistaken.

She didn't do that. "You have to accept it Shinji. You have to stop him or we all die!" Misato would have said more but the comm. line suddenly severed. With no way of knowing the outcome of the battle Misato set Makoto on his own course. Destroy the base if Shinji isn't heard from in ten minutes.

When Shinji saw Kaworu hovering in front of Unit-02 it drove the fact home to him, he had been betrayed. "Kaworu! What are you doing? Stop this?" Shinji willed Unit-01 to deflect the sudden attack by Unit-02. Both units engaged the other with their progressive knives.

"I'm glad it was you that came Shinji, I wanted to apologize," Kaworu's smile was no longer present it was replaced with a frown. He couldn't deny his heritage anymore he wasn't as strong as the humans. 'I am sorry for this Shinji.'

Shinji's rebuttal was cut short as the Unit's crashed to the ground in a large mass. Seeing Kaworu moving towards a now opening door, Shinji moved to intervene only to be stopped by the still active Unit-02. Begging Kaworu to stop, Shinji clawed at the hand of Unit-02 hoping for release.

Nothing objected Kaworu's advance into the deepest section of Nerv. Preparing his soul for the reception of his father, Kaworu gazed up at what he had anticipated was Adam. 'Red mask…seven eyes that isn't,' Tabris's heart filled with bitterness and sorrow he had been denied his last wish. "It's Lillith."

Seconds later the giant hand of Unit-01 enclosed Tabris's tiny form. Feeling his AT Field eroding, the angel looked for the source, and found it looking gleefully at him. Rei was standing beside Unit-01 without the pilots notice, and she was smiling at him. 'So she will watch me die as well. It is to late to warn Shinji of her as well.'

"Kaworu tell me why? Why did you do that to me?" Shinji sobbed into his LCL without noticing. His hands clenched the controls of his mecha to imprison but not kill the angel in his grasp.

Looking directly into Unit-01's eyes and into Shinji's the angel smiled one last time. "Because you deserve to live, you have the right to be alive. Now give me peace."

Hours later the Nerv technicians cleaned the bloody remains of the final angel from Unit-01's hands. Rei was busy comforting the pilot.

-Section Divider-

"The last angel has been destroyed," Gendo said as Kozo took his place at his side.

Kozo felt terrible for the burden placed upon Ikari's son. To kill a comrade and friend at his age was beyond traumatic. "Seele will not sit silently any longer, what do we do now to prepare?"

Gendo could feel the entity in his palm quiver and grow yes time had finally come. "We will begin to fortify our defenses, Seele will attack soon and when they do we will unleash our own plan."

"As for Rei's place in this?" Kozo asked as he viewed the video feed of Rei consoling the crying Third Child. 'She is her own person now, despite what Akagi tried to do.'

His sick smile hidden by his gloved hands, "She will do what I tell her to do, or watch him die at my hands." Gendo didn't want to kill his own son, but for his goal, he'd kill the whole human race.

-End of Chapter-

Author notes, well one more chapter to go and then the epilogue. Been working on this story for so long I'll be sad to have it end. But all good things have to come to an end. It's a funny way of thinking of how much of a story came from a little joke story session.

I hope you liked this chapter, and this story so far. Glad you stayed with me this whole time and I'll try not to disappoint you with the remainder.

Ja mata

Zentrodie (zentrodie-at-secondimpact-com www-dot-geocities-dot-com-slash-zentrodie-dot-geo)

-Omake-

Shinobu gently lifted Shinji's chin so he could look her in the eyes. The sight sent shivers down Shinji's back. Shinobu was radiating a black aura and her left fist was clenched tightly with rage. "Shinji-kun……"

"Y-yes Shinobu?" Shinji's eyes were focused on that twitching rage filled fist. 'Maybe I should have left out that last part about…'

"YOU PERVERT!" Shinobu yelled and the punch came. Not the left fist as Shinji thought, no that was a ruse to divert his focus. Learning well from Naru, Shinobu delievered her new patented 'Shinobu-pissed-off-assault-punch' sending Shinji into the wall.

As Shinji flew through the door Kanako snuck over to him. "You didn't tell her about us did you?" She asked quietly looked at the girl through the hole in the wall.