Chapter 4: Searching

Shinji Ikari, the 'child' of Gendo and Yui Ikari, was absolutely fascinating to watch, from his first days as an Evangelion pilot, until the day that he cast aside his pilot suit for his present one. His psychological progress was what fascinated me the most. How could a single boy, with a guardian like Misato no less, go from morose and uncertain, to the man who displays the quiet, commanding confidence he does today?

---Ritsuko Akagi

"WHAT? He's been missing since yesterday?" Dr. Ritsuko Akagi turned from her computer to look over at her friend.

Misato sighed, "I thought he was acting strange but I didn't think he'd run away."

"And you're supposed to be his guardian." She Turned back to her desk and picked up the phone. "We have to report this."

"WHAT?! Come on Rits..."

"We have to Misato. If something happens to him it'll be too late."

Misato slumped against the wall "Your right. I just wish I hadn't slapped him."

"You think that's what drove him off."

"That and it hurt like HELL!"


"So he's run away?" a man in the back of a dark limo asked as it drove through the ghost town-like Tokyo-2

"Yes, sir," the female driver spoke over the speaker.

"They have yet to locate him?"

"Yes, sir, his location is still unknown."

"Can our people find him?"

"We're already on it, sir."

"How long until we reach Tokyo-3?"

"Another hour, sir, depending on traffic."

"Make it thirty minutes and I'll give you double time for the day."


"This is the address, isn't it, Kensuke?" Touji asked as they approached the apartment of Misato Katsuragi.

"According to the class records this is where he lives," Kensuke double-checked the wadded paper in his hands.

"Ok, then why don't you ring the bell?" Touji nodded toward the doorbell beside the door.

"Why don't you?"

"I don't feel like it, you do it."

"What if I don't feel like it either?"

"Lets do it together," Kensuke suggested and they both placed their finger on the button. "On the count of three, ok? One two …"

"Wait! Wait, is it three then go then push, or three then push?" Touji asked dumbly.

"Just push the damn button!" with that they pushed the button and a moment later, Misato opened the door causing all brain activity to cease within the two teenagers. "Um … hi …" Kensuke gulped.

"Can I help you?" Misato asked, leaning with her arm against the doorway.

"Um … does a Shinji Ikari live here?" Kensuke asked after shaking out of his stupor.

"Yes, this is where he lives," Misato said, her face growing slightly sad, "but … he's at NERV Headquarters now for tests."

"Oh … ok, we have his assignments and what he's missed in class," Kensuke said, elbowing the drooling Touji in the stomach. The awestruck teen mechanically handed the folder of papers to Misato. "Can you tell him his friends Kensuke and Touji said hi?"

Misato nodded, "Ok, I'll tell him, thanks for bringing these by!" she then shut the door waving slightly.

The two boys stared at the door for several moments before turning to leave, "Well that was interesting …"

"You're telling me, first he's built like a freaking bull, he has the skin of steel, gets to pilot a cool robot, and now he lives with a babe!" Touji threw up his hands, "why can't I get that lucky!"

Touji continued raving about the fairness of it but Kensuke had stopped listening mid sentence, "Hmmm … skin of steel …"


Shinji sighed as he sat at the back of the nearly empty movie theater. There was an old man at the bottom of the rows sleeping on the floor, a man a half way down the rows reading a news paper, and a teenaged couple more interested in exploring each other's bodies then the old 1990's horror flick.

Shinji smirked at the intimate actions of the couple, and wondered what it would be like to have a life where he could be in a situation like that. Like that would ever happen.

"Is anyone sitting here?"

Shinji glanced up to see a man in a fancy three-piece suit and a cleanly shaven bold head. He wasn't fat but he was far from thin, and his face showed that he was an older man, but very dignified. "Sure, no one's sitting here." Shinji scooted over unconsciously.

The man sat down and turned to the movie, "Holy God this movie still sucks," he shook his head, "it sucked when it first came out, and it hasn't improved with age." He shook his head and smiled at the younger boy, "You know, of all the things to survive Second Impact, why is it surprising the things that suck are the ones to survive and … the things worth looking up to and watching had to fall." He then winked at the boy, "Don't you agree, Shinji?"

"Did my father or Misato send you to bring me back?" Shinji sighed turning back to watching the movie.

"No, I'm not with NERV," the man shook his head, "Not … exactly anyway."

"Who are you?"

"Me?" the man glanced back to the screen, "Just an old man, who was given a chance to live, a chance to repay his sins."

"You remind me of my father," Shinji grunted meekly.

"I would assume I had a better sense of humor then the old bastard," the man laughed in reply, "Now this part actually is interesting, watch it closely." He said pointing to the screen where a skinny boy, with a ball bat was easing out of the cabin where the others were hiding.

"What about it? He's just going to die?" Shinji shrugged.

"That's not the point, the boy knows he could and probably will die," the man explained, "That's the mark of a hero. Do you know what a hero is Shinji? What the term really means?"

Shinji looked somewhat confused at the man.

"It's a person with outstanding courage and selflessness," the man explained, "My childhood best friend told me not long before he died, anyone can put on a pair of tights and call themselves a hero, but it takes someone who is willing to die or do something they hate to save innocent lives to make a hero. You seem like you could fit that description, or am I mistaken?"

"I'm just a wimp and a coward," Shinji sulked.

"I don't agree with that," the man said watching the film, "I believe you are destined for great things in fact, tell me, if I pulled a gun and threatened those two unsuspecting lovers' lives, would you sit here like a wimp and a coward and let me shoot them, or would you stop me?"

"I don't know …" Shinji shrugged not really paying attention.

"Lets find out," the man said as he pulled a .45 pistol with a silencer on the barrel and pointed at the two enraptured teenagers.

"ARE YOU INSANE!" Shinji cried, reaching out on instinct and grabbing the barrel of the gun, crushing it in his grip.

"No, I knew you were going to do that," the man said, then turning to give him a grin, "Besides … it wasn't even loaded." The man then glanced at the crushed firearm, "That's some grip, kid."

"So, I stopped you from 'pretending' from killing some stupid kids," Shinji shrugged, "Doesn't make any difference, I still ran."

"So? What are you going to do now then? You can stop the Angels from killing those two innocent kids and the rest of the population if you go back." then man said, watching the movie.

"So you're saying you think I should go back then?" Shinji asked, staring at the man, his headache starting to grow.

"What I think and don't think doesn't make any difference," the man stated, sounding a lot like his father, "What I do think you should do is what you feel you SHOULD do." He then turned to look at the teen, "Capt. Katsuragi has been attempting to cover your 'escape', and could possibly get in a lot of trouble for this, maybe even lose her job. And she knows this, yet she still wants to help you."

"Really?"

"Yes, not everyone in the world looks down on you, Shinji," the man smiled, "some people actually even look up to you. And I have a feeling someday soon, A LOT more will be looking up to you. Capt. Katsuragi cares for you, despite the fact she hardly knows you and I am certain that others feel the same. So what do you say, kid? Want to give those idiots another shot?"


Berlin-2

"Why did I let you talk me into this, old man?" a man in a darkened room asked, holding his cell phone to his ear.

"How is she doing?" the voice on the other line asked.

"For an egotistical, raving lunatic, she's doing great!" the man barked, "Wait … that is great in your book."

"Be serious,"

"Sorry, she's doing alright, she's a very gifted pilot, but her modesty and humility could use some … no … A LOT of work."

"She's a fourteen year old girl, did you expect her to be perfect?"

"You expected me to be perfect."

"That was different, you were a boy."

"How about Cassie."

"She was perfect, you could have learned from her."

"… I loath you."

"I know this. I have to go. Contact me on the usual schedule."

"Right, see you."

Kaji walked dejectedly through the hallway of the NERV headquarters in Berlin-2. He would peak around the corners and often would look over his shoulders, as if he was concerned about being followed.

He finally made it to his quarters and let out a sigh of relief, he made it. He opened the door, and walked toward the bedroom, taking off his button up dress shirt as he went. He was down to the last button when he walked into the sleeping quarters, and turned on a light, and half screamed when he saw what was in his bed.

"Hello, mien liebhaber," Asuka purred, kicking a bare leg out from under the thin bed sheet, which was the only thing covering her body.

"Asuka, is this going to become a habit?" Kaji rolled his eyes.

"Me lying naked in your bed," Asuka asked fluttering her eyes at the older man, "I hope it will."

"I'm talking about me having to kick you out before I can get some sleep?"

"Awe, Kaji, you're no fun!" Asuka pouted, crossing her arms over her barely covered chest, "You don't have to be intimidated because I'm smarter then you or because I'm a great Eva pilot."

"Out."

"But Kaji!!!" Asuka whined, standing up out of bed completely naked.

"Clothed or unclothed, I don't care, out."

"You don't have to be mean," Asuka whimpered, "You're the only man I feel deserves the right to be with me …"

"I feel honored, Asuka, really … now out."

"You can leave now dressed, or I kick you out bare butt naked, and your quarters are on the other side of the base, and there are a lot of perverted guys out there tonight." Kaji smirked.

"You wouldn't …"

"Try me."

Asuka chuckled pulling on a robe, "I understand your tired, my Kaji, so I'll leave you to rest. You're so cute when you play hard to get!" she giggled walked out putting added effect in her hips movements to the point it looked excessively silly.

Kaji made sure she was gone before throwing himself down on the bed, "Like Steph all over again …"


Misato snorted awake on the couch almost dropping the beer she was holding when she feel asleep. She glanced around lazily and saw the late night talk shows were already on the TV. "I fell asleep," she shook her head, and rubbed her temples, already feeling the hangover starting to form.

She shook her head and stood up, straightening the long sleep shirt she was wearing. She walked up to the door marked Shinji's Lovely Suite, 'why do I keep doing this?' she thought as her hand reached for the door, 'he's never coming back … I ran him off … just like I ran Kaji off …'

She then opened the door and sighed sadly at the naked butt of the teenager changing his undergarments before her. 'Wait … something isn't right here …' Misato thought, fighting through the alcoholic haze. Finally it clicked.

"SHINJI! YOU'RE BACK!!!" Misato cried happy, lunging at the unsuspecting teenager, who barely had enough time to turn around before his cheeks and forehead was showered with butterfly kisses, "Oh, oh, I thought you wouldn't come back! I thought I pushed you away! I thought… I thought … YOU JERK YOU HAD ME WORRIED SICK!" Misato ranted, hugging the now bright red boy tightly.

"Um … Misato …"

"Yes, Shinji-kun?" Misato asked, pulling back to look at her ward innocently.

"I'm … sort of … well … throwing modesty aside, look down." Shinji blushed purple.

Misato glanced down and miraculously turned the exact color Shinji was in a split second. "Well then … I'll just …" Misato stuttered back stepping toward the door, "I'll be in the kitchen … and I'll … get you some sausage … err … I mean I'll get you something to swallow, I mean eat I mean … I'll be in the kitchen!" Misato then dashed out as fast as her feet could carry her.

Shinji stood there and with concentrations could hear her muttering something about age differences and hormones and blushed brightly with a mutter of 'how the hell can a boy that age have one that big' before pulling on his sleep pants and tee shirt.

He then sat down on the bed and looked at his NERV ID and began to think to himself, this place is weird … but it's home.

To Be Continued …

Classic Cowboy: that was one of the most fun chapters to write I've done in a long time. Hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Fusionblaster: A no prize goes to the person who correctly guesses who gave Shinji a pep talk. Anyway. As you can see a definite divergence from the series here. Just know this we've only just begun. Next Chapter I plan on having fun with the boys and maybe some with Asuka and of course more fanservice. So while this maybe a DC cross I figure why the hell not. Till next time true believers!