Neon Genesis
EVANGELION
Finding Paradise
Chapter 5: Come with out warning/ Dream of angels
Deep within the Geo-Front, in one of the rarely used Pilot briefing room, each pilot awaits in their Plug Suits for Misato. Their wait is short lived as Misato enters into the briefing room with a hand full of paperwork. Hikari's Class-Rep skill takes hold as she stands.
"Do you need help Ma'am?"
Never asked by a pilot if she needed help with something, Misato can only stop and think about her question. "I can handle it Hikari..." She sets her paperwork down and looks over at her Pilots. Most of Misato's studying is that of Hikari who sits down nervously.
"All right, we are going to be going over a few things before your Sync test." Misato watches the pilots, all but Hikari think nothing of it. "Right now we are going to go over some basic, AT Field strengths and weakness that we have been seeing."
Misato receives silence from every pilot, except for Hikari who has her Eva Operations Manual in hand and is reading it to herself.
After Hikari flips through the book, she raises her hand. "That's the Absolute Terror Field, right?"
"Yea..."
Hikari raises her hand again. "Why is it called that?"
"Hikari, the AT Field is the most powerful weapon known to man." Misato states as she sits down. "It has the ability to destroy the entire world, or to create another universe."
"Oh..."
Seeing that Hikari seems to be afraid of what she just said, Misato strikes a smile. "Don't worry, the AT Field is your guardian, and it will only protect you."
"That wave of light that destroyed those builds..." Hikari looks down in shame at her actions the other day. "That was my AT field..."
"Yes..."
"But I didn't want it to occur, it just happened." Once more, Hikari is concerned about the past.
Not wanting to let the young girl feel pressured, Misato goes over her paperwork. "That's why we are going to have these tests so you can get used to the AT Field and what it can do."
The briefing is long and confusing to the fourth child who tries her best to take notes and understand her powers. Now finished, Misato dismisses the pilots to their Eva's for their tests. With some relief, Misato relaxes in her seat. She looks over at all the pilots' files in front of her and then she pulls out the Fourth child's papers.
"I hope you're up for this."
Misato then pulls a small piece of paper out of her pocket; she reads it once in her head. 'Mighty are the fallen that dream of the fight between the Angel of Might.'
As if by clockwork, Misato stands up and says. "Here it comes." Her words coincide with the alarms that begin to blear all over NERV headquarters.
"All level 1 personal, this is a first stage alert! I repeat this is a first stage alert, all level 1 personnel report to your duty stations."
In the Command Center Gendo overlooks his battle staff as they watch the main hub, which shows the 14th Angel floating unstoppably towards Tokyo 3. Hyuga turns to Gendo tense as ever.
"Sir, the JSSDF has taken 90 percent casualties!"
Nevertheless, Misato not Gendo's voice brings calm. "Launch Evangelions One and Two to the Surface! Then Launch Unit Zero and Three into the Geo- Front!"
"Roger!"
Unit Two and One are first to roll out inside are Shinji and Asuka, who stand in total confidence of their abilities. They both go through their pre-launch checklist at blazing speed before they are rocketed towards the surface by the Electromagnetic Rail catapults. As they reach the surface, the Massacre of the JSSDF is almost over as the Tokyo 3 defense buildings are taking the brunt of the Angels awesome firepower. Eva's Two and One reach their destination, exiting the final safety lock; they head for the weapons and cover.
Shinji is the first to grab an Eva Rifle and take cover behind a building. He notices the Angel is still cruising over the Mountaintop. "Asuka, move in and neutralize its AT Field."
"Right..." Asuka moves in on the target, using the buildings as cover.
Suddenly a blast from the Angel's practical beam cannon engulfs Asuka's position. Shinji retaliates, emptying his rifle into the target. Inside Unit's Zero and Three, Hikari and Rei wait and listen in on the battle going on overhead by using their Vid screens.
"Asuka!" Shinji calls out.
Unit Two rolls out of the inferno, a bit charred and without an umbilical cord. "I'm okay!" Asuka goes to eject what is left of her Umbilical cable out only to discover it is fused on her back. "Shit, It's fused to my plug!"
Hyuga confirms the problem. "The Socket has fused at the molecular level, plasma burns over 20 percent of Unit Two! The blast blew a hole down to the 17th armor plating!"
On the Surface, Shinji begins to drag Unit Two away as he empties the rest of his rifle's ammo into the target.
"I'm neutralizing its AT Field right!" Shinji yells as the target moves closer to him.
Down in the Geo Front, unknown to everyone except Rei, Touji stands at the edge of the lake staring at the Two Evangelions. For almost an Hour, he has been reading a document left by Rei. 'It was very dull' Touji thinks to himself, only somewhat worried about the explosions and rumbles resonating from the surface. 'Evangelion, Pilot operations...' Touji thinks as he looks at The Eva's ready to fight.
"Maybe I should find a shelter..." Touji looks out over the lake. "Of course I don't see why I'm not safe here, all the fighting goes on up there anyways..."
Unknown to Touji Unit Two lies on the ground, out of power. Shinji holds his ground in front of his comrade as he fires two shoulder mounted ramjet cannons. The blast strikes the target, moving it back several feet. But once he runs out of rounds, the Angel strikes with a ribbon like arm, severing an arm off Unit One and spinning it into a building. The Angel then moves on by firing a second shot into the Geo-front. This one goes through, the massive explosion nearly knocks over the two Eva's waiting to ambush the target.
Unit One gives one last effort as Shinji charges the target, tackling it to the ground. With its one good arm holding an Eva, style Automatic Shotgun Shinji unloads everything into the target as he screams. With the gun empty the Angel lifts Unit One above itself, tossing it into the hole it just made.
Everyone watches in horror as a mangled and shattered Unit One plummets from the Geo-fronts ceiling all the way to the ground, crashing directly on to NERV's main power generator. The ground shakes and a shock wave can be seen crashing through the trees and skimming across the lake, hitting Touji like the force of a car and flinging him off of his feet.
"Ikari!" Hikari yells as she looks at Unit One's lifeless body. However, her inability to act is short lived as the Angel begins its decent into the Geo-Front.
Unit Zero and Three open fire with a passion, however, their combined strength is no match for the Angel of Might. Once on the ground, the Angel focuses on Unit Three as it hesitates in its firing. Its two ribbon like arms go flying towards the black beast at lighting speed. Hikari can only scream out in defiance, as she fires her rifle. As her rounds and the Angels arm collide an AT Field Shock wave appears, tossing the two back.
In the Command Center, Maya looks over to Misato. "The Two AT Fields crashed, neutralizing the phase space at light speed!"
"Jesus..." Misato utters as the power shuts down.
The Angel is the first to get up and zeroes in on Rei in her Eva. Rei is ready with a spear and she charges toward her target. The Angel takes the blow directly in the head and the spear shaft drives completely through one of the target's eye's and out the back of its head.
Roaring in pain, the Angel strikes back with a practical beam shot at Unit Zero, knocking it back towards the lake. As Rei stands, her Eva up, only to be hit once more in the chest. Chunks of metal fly all over the place and Unit Zero is thrown towards the far side of the lake. Touji, who has been watching the whole battle, looks up, praising the lord once more as he finds himself a few feet away from Unit Zero.
Hikari, being the last Eva standing, gains the angel's attention who goes to fire its beam weapon only to see it hit an AT Field nearly 1000 feet from its target. Hikari screams out as best she cans as she grabs a spear from the ground and charges the target. She strikes it in the shoulder. Not as capable a fighter as Rei, she looks up at the target, only to see a ribbon arm smash down onto her head blinding her temporarily. Touji watches in horror as Unit Three stumbles back holding its head.
"Wait a sec!"
Touji grabs the packet of paper in his hands and runs to the lifeless Unit Zero. Reaching the base of the neck by fallen trees and Eva chunks, Touji hears an explosion as the Angel attempts a second Beam attack. This one just barely deflected as it flies off, striking the Geo-Front's sidewall.
Touji jumps up and pulls an Emergency release for the Entry Plug he learned about in the book, the Plug springs out into an open position. He then goes over to the Entry Plug itself, grabbing the Manual Lift handles. He looks over at Unit Three as it swings a punch, only to have its hand ripped off. With all his strength, Touji opens the Plug to reveal an unconscious Rei inside. With no concern for his life, Touji dives into the plug.
Hikari gains her second wind as she pushes the Angel into the air and across the Geo-Front using her AT Field. She moves her wounded Evangelion to Unit One, The pain in her arms is so unbearable she screams out and as if by a divine force, the hand regenerates back. She then engages her Progressive Knife as she stands up to protect Shinji. The Angel is back this time with more fervor as it shoots off both arms at Unit Three. The strike is partially successful as one arm is blown away by an AT Field and the other raps around its target.
Its arms now traps Hikari and she watches in fear as the Angel approaches, reading for an up close and personal particle beam shot at the Evangelion. Hikari closes her eyes as its one eye lights up for its destined blow. However, even the Angel is surprised when it is picked up from behind and thrown into the air by the wounded Unit Zero. Its blast goes wide, hitting the hillside.
Unit Zero tosses the Angel into the Lake. Freed from its grasp, Unit three drops to the ground as Hikari cannot take the pain any longer. Unit Zero makes one final charge at the target, only to trip before it can attack. The Eva dives into the water behind the Angel and then reaches out and grabs it. Inside Unit Zero Touji lies across Rei's lap and with her sync clips in, he struggles to keep control of the beast.
Hikari looks up to see the target is open for an attack, looking around at the scattered weapons she sees an abandon HAV Rocket launcher/AA gun. Unit Three takes hold of the weapon and charges the target. As she finally reaches it, the Angel readies it particle beam weapon just as she hoped it would. Unit Three shoves the explosive packed rocket launcher down the Angels throat. Hikari focuses everything onto her AT Field as the particle beam cannon fires off, only to rapidly hit Hikari's AT Field and then Hikari presses the trigger.
With a small delay, the Geo-Front erupts in a bright light. Everything disappears as the explosion vaporizes half the lake, creating a layer of steam.
"Power is back online..." Aoba whispers as the sound of computers and electronics fills the air.
I want the status of all Units!" Misato yells out to her staff.
Hyuga turns to her. "Main hub back online..."
Everyone is frozen as the screen lights up with the sight of the Geo-Front in total ruin. Unit One lies lifeless on the remains of the power planet, Unit Three's right hand is burned to a sliver, the rest of it is melted and bloody. Unit Zero lies submerged in the lake; only half a leg and an arm are visible. On the surface Asuka stands at the edge of the Hole in the Geo-Front. Her eyes following Unit One's Umbilical cable as it reaches half way to the bottom before stopping.
A voice is suddenly heard at the Command Center. "This is Evangelion Unit Three... Calling Base..."
Nearly two days later, Misato stands overlooking the Geo-Front, every single tree lies on its side. A testament to the ferocity of the battle, Misato shakes her head in disbelief.
Walking up next to her is Maya Ibuki, she has a frightened gaze as she looks at the destruction around her.
"It unbelievable..." Misato whispers, only perking the young officer's attention.
"Ma'am..." Maya says in a quiet voice. "Dr. Akagi, she said that she needs you in prison interrogation room B."
"That's right..." Misato looks over to Maya with a smile. "Our little Hijacker."
Deep in the darkest corner of NERV headquarters lies its prison block, a place where many spies and political prisoners have called home, for the rest of their lives. At one point, NERV held half the Japanese Diet, for conspiracy to destroy Government property, because they didn't approve of NERV having antimony from the Japanese government. However, its latest addition is also its youngest. Touji Suzahara sits hand-cuffed to a chair, he has no memory of what happened. He wasn't properly strapped into the Eva, so when the Angel exploded, Touji had bounced around like a rag doll. Nevertheless, for the NERV Security agency, they don't take "I don't know" for an answer.
"I will ask you again, what do you know of Eva."
With no painkillers in his system, Touji can only stare back at his interrogator.
"What is your relationship with the girl named Rei Ayanami."
Touji however cannot forget what she has done for him. "She's... my friend..."
"How did you know how to operate the Eva?"
"What are you talking about..." Touji coughs a little bit. "I think... She gave me directions..."
The interrogator shakes his head and walks out of the room
Just on, the other side of the one-way mirror, Gendo watches his interrogator return. The interrogator turns and looks out thru the window at the young kid.
"I believe him... He isn't a spy and he believes that Rei gave him the directions."
Gendo turns to Ritsuko who can also be seen also studying the boy in the room. "Sorry sir, but he's right, I saw nothing to indicate that he's lying."
Gendo look at both, displeased with their performance. "Rei has also passed her test. She states that she never gave him directions."
Ritsuko leans back with a pen in her hand, she plays with it is as she looks at the boy. "He pulled a sync of thirty one point two.
After a moment of silence Gendo stands to leave. "Keep me posted."
As the door shuts behind him, the interrogator looks over at Ritsuko with some concern. "What do we do with this boy..."
"Until Commander Ikari deems he's not part of the problem we've been having, he stays locked up." Ritsuko turns as she finishes to see Misato walk into the room. "Decided to show up, I see."
Greatly disgusted Misato walks to the glass and stares at Touji as he tries to rest. "He's a boy, why the hell does the Commander need him?"
As if it was a dream, Hikari sits in her own room staring at her right hand which shows no sign that it was ever injured. The appearance of Hikari's room has changed greatly. With so little free time in her life, and since she spent the last three days in the hospital, Hikari has had no time to clean. Sleeping next to her is Rei, who seemed to have become a permanent attachment to her new life. Unable to sleep, Hikari gets up and goes over to her diary that she has not even cracked open for a week now. She opens it to the first blank page then turning on a small lamp.
'I haven't felt so much pain in my life.'
Hikari looks down at her hands to see she is holding the pen in the left hand. She rubs her fingers on her right hand but only shakes her head.
'My right hand was healed in my first battle against the Angels. I do not know how but it did, it as if the Eva was protecting me. School starts back up tomorrow and everyone but Shinji should be there.'
Still writing with her left hand Hikari looks over to Rei.
'Personally I feel that a lot of responsibility has been put on my shoulders. Rei Ayanami has become petrified of living alone, and has been acting weird since I became her friend. She is such a docile and fragile girl, I never knew so much pain could be built up, not since...'
"Not since then..." Hikari rests her head on her desk and stares at her diary. Slowly, Hikari opens up one of the desk cabinets and pulls out a small picture frame.
She slowly turns it over to show a picture of two adults, one male and one female and three little girls. Hikari can only stare at the picture with small tear running down her cheek. The family in the picture has ragged and torn clothes. The youngest only wears an oversized shirt that goes down to her ankles. This little girl, a shadow of the young adult she became. Hikari sighs as she looks at the picture.
"Who are they..." The ghostly voice whispers from behind Hikari, making her nearly jump out of her seat. Rei stands looking at Hikari in confusion. "I'm sorry..."
"It's okay." Hikari composes he self and puts the picture back in its place.
"Who's in the picture?" Rei whispers once more.
At first, all Rei gets is a sigh and a silent stare by Hikari, and then she talks.
"That's my mother, father, my big sister Kadoma, and Sakura and I'm the little one.
"When did they die?"
Hikari finally strikes a smile as she rubs the picture frame. "A long time ago, about a month after this picture was taken."
"You don't seem like the kind of person who would talk about them."
Once more Rei's comment only gets a sigh and Hikari's ever more vigilant stare at her family. "There's not much to talk about, they died in a fire in 2006."
"A house fire?" Rei wonders as she tries to learn more about her.
"No Rei it wasn't a house fire..." Hikari, looks down at the picture once more. "We where homeless, and we were trying to dry ourselves off."
Even Rei cant helped but be surprised and yet disturbed by what she said. "You were homeless..."
"Rei..." Hikari whispers as she puts the picture away. "I really don't want to talk about it."
Seeing that she possibly made a mistake, Rei tries to use what little social skills she has and she bows her head. "I'm sorry..."
Hikari just shrugs it off and smiles at Rei as she stands and the two go back to her bed. "Its fine, Rei lets just go to sleep. We have school tomorrow."
"Asuka, help me!" Shinji yells at the top of his lungs. He is found lying on the floor in some pain. The morning sun is the only light in his room until the door slides open.
"What is it now!" Asuka stands in her school uniform and she looks down at Shinji who can't help but stare up at her. "Pervert!"
Shinji's leering rewards him with a swift kick to the head. "Ouch!"
Asuka shakes her head as she bends down and picks up Shinji, helping to his bed. "Why the hell did you leave your bed, cripple!"
"I was trying to get you so you didn't leave without feeding me." Shinji whimpers as he rubs his head.
Even more pissed by the request Asuka stands by Shinji's bed. "I can't make Japanese food!"
"Asuka..." Shinji looks up at her with a guilty look. "Please, I'm hungry."
Unable to say no, Asuka rolls her eyes. "All right, all right. I will make you some breakfast, but I will only make what I can!"
In the kitchen, Asuka walks in, tossing her bag in a chair then opening the refrigerator.
"Cheep Japanese beer, Cheep Japanese beer, Cheep Japanese beer, Cheep Japanese beer, Cheep Japanese beer, and ah eggs."
Asuka pulls out a carton of eggs, then she goes back this time with a curious PenPen at her side. She takes a pint of milk, Cheese, onion, peppers and some diced meat all out of the fridge, placing the pile on the counter near the stove.
"Squawk..."
Asuka looks to her feet to see PenPen. "What?" Asuka gets a quick response as PenPen looks at the food. "I'm making an Omelet, a real omelet!" Asuka continues what she's doing as she mutters. "Stupid Japanese and their so called omelets."
After Some time, Asuka finds herself flipping the Omelet for Shinji, humming a tone. A simple joy begins to overcome her. The fact that Shinji needs her help gives her strength and happiness. The Omelet is quickly finished and placed on a plate with a fork in it.
The smell brings back memories of the Western style foods that she misses. "Perfect."
"Squawk..." PenPen mutters with a confused look as Asuka takes the Omelet to Shinji with a smile.
Shinji watches as his door opens, this time Asuka comes walking in with less fire in her eyes as before. 'Is she smiling at me?' Shinji thinks to himself.
"Here you go Shinji, one breakfast as asked."
Shinji takes his plate and looks up at Asuka who is leaving. "Thanks."
"No problem." With that said, the door shuts.
Deep in the layers of Central Dogma Touji Suzahara, sits in his cell, unsure of his fate. For almost 3 days he's been interrogated for something he does not remember doing. He has only his thoughts for company in the cold, dark, timeless cell, with only a red light for safety.
"I wonder how much school I missed..." Touji sighs. "I wonder how Rei, Shinji and everyone else are doing."
The sound of metal on metal startles the teenager who goes over to the barred doors, looking to see who it was. When he turns his head to look down the other side of the hallway, a shadowy figure of a human can be seen in the red light.
"Who's there?" Touji steps back into his cell for security.
"Shhh..." A kind female voice utters as she steps from the light to reveal herself, Rei, wearing the same black and grey outfit.
"Rei!" Touji runs to the bars, just to find she is out of reach. "Rei, what's going on? Why wont they let me leave!"
The silent Rei slowly walks up to the cell door and begins to comfort Touji's head.
"It is all right, Touji Suzahara... It is all right."
Touji snaps under the emotional pressure. "I want out Rei! All I want is to leave." Touji cries on Rei Shoulders who can only hold him in silence.
"It will be okay..."
In the Command Center, Hyuga and Aoba sit at their chairs staring at something amazed. Behind them stand Gendo and Fuyutsuki.
"This is unbelievable." Hyuga mutters as he stares at a picture of a doll torn and stabbed. Its cotton gutted from its cloth shell.
The Main Hub lights up, showing the picture that was on Hyuga's monitor. Everyone now looks up at the disturbing image.
"This is a hack real time..." Aoba, whispers to his comrades with apprehension.
The least worried is Gendo as he turns to Hyuga. "Are you recording this?"
"Yes sir..."
Hyuga's words fade as child-like typing begins to appear on the main hub.
'The leader of man, the leader of madness, the leader of traitors, lives to lead, to slay thee all.'
Everyone stares at the rhyme in confusion.
'Nor man nor slave will save thy leader, thy traitor, will never turn and call out thy name, in hopes to see ones star struck lover this time again.'
'And in thee leaders death will be the death of thee enemies quest.'
The picture and screen go dead, everyone sighs wondering what they just read. However, for Gendo and Fuyutsuki, it's all too clear.
"They have challenged you..."
Gendo cuts off his partner. "Where did the hack come from?"
Hyuga looks over shaking his head. "Neither I nor the MAGI can determine the point of entry in the system, let alone where it came from."
Fuyutsuki still cannot shake the feeling he got from the message. "This shouldn't be taken lightly. Place us under Force Protection Charlie."
He sees his underling nod and he turns back to the station. Gendo shakes his head in disbelief of what he just read, only three people know of his quest, know his dream, yet this new foe knows as well. Turning to leave, Gendo is shaken to the core by the threat on his life. Once he is outside of the control room he looks down to his hand, the one that holds the key to end of all things.
"What is happening?"
Gendo is startled by a voice from behind him. "You can still turn back..." Fuyutsuki's words seem like ice to Gendo who only looks at his hand. "If I had to guess who this was, I would say it was Yui."
"Perhaps..."
Rain begins to fall onto Tokyo 3; Asuka is seen running down the street, rushing to get home. With only her bag for shelter, she makes her way to the apartment. Seeing the local convenient store up ahead, Asuka decides to make a detour and stop there. Once inside Asuka bends down and catches her breath.
"Some rainstorm..."
The voice startles Asuka as she looks up to see a half Japanese half European women standing in front of her. She gazes at the rainstorm; she has short brown hair, the same color as Hikari's hair. Asuka is shaken by the women who almost looks like her mother. She stands back up and stares at the women who seem to have also taken refuge in the store.
"Don't you think..."
Asuka can only look back outside and away from the women in front of her. "Yea." Her voice seems to be shaking and quiet as she can't help but study the women.
"Is something the matter?"
Seeing that she has been caught, Asuka looks out at the rain. "No..."
"I know being half Japanese is odd, but you look to be half your self."
Not wanting to answer but feeling the need to address the question Asuka nods her head.
"Well it seems that this storm won't be over soon." The woman turns and goes deeper into the store. "I might as well collect things for dinner."
Her words seeming slap Asuka upside the head as she is reminded that she to needs to pick up food since her cook is out of action. 'That's right, I almost forgot.' Asuka turns and goes into the store looking for something she might like. As she roams the store she once more finds herself standing next to the woman from before, both are looking at some meat.
"I hope you're not just thinking of yourself."
Once more Asuka looks away from the creepy woman. She picks up a packet of sliced ham.
"500 yen for sliced ham, definitely not a low price. Of course a girl like you must be staying with a Japanese family."
Seeing that this woman is even more annoying the Misato, Asuka places the packet down and moves on, this time she tries her best to think of what Shinji likes.
'He likes Oden I think...' she thinks as she walks down the aisle. Slowly, Asuka gathers the ingredients for Oden. 'I guess I could make it, Shinji is hurt in bed after all.' After a bit of time shopping, Asuka once again is graced by the presence of the creepy woman.
"Cooking for a boyfriend?"
This time the she has gone too far as Asuka shakes her head. "Who the hell are you lady, and why are you bugging me."
The woman only laughs. "Oh, I see, he doesn't know you like him yet."
"Err." The teasing does not seem to end from the woman. "Why the hell do you care!"
"No reasons, I just remember when I was that young once, in love but too afraid to say it."
"Will you be quite!" Asuka yells as she gathers the attention of everyone around them in the store.
"Sorry, just trying to be friendly, I can see you are too big of a grouch to have a boyfriend."
Before Asuka can strike out with more yelling, the woman finishes picks up her purchases and leaves the store. This does not satisfy Asuka as she yells out to her. "I'm not a grouch, god damn it!"
Standing now in complete silence, Asuka looks around her to see everyone staring at her, even the clerk can be seen gazing at Asuka as if she is nuts. Humiliated and upset Asuka quickly pays for her items, running back out into the rain in near tears, mortified about the thought that she is mean spirited.
At Hikari's house, both Rei and Hikari stand drying their hair and sitting down at the kitchen.
"Man did that come from nowhere." Hikari states as she stands to make tea.
"It was not predicted to rain." Rei seemingly can't shake her monotone voice.
Know being use to having Rei as a houseguest, Hikari smiles at her as she pours the tea for both of them. "Yea I know, I usually have an umbrella with me."
With a cup of tea in front of her Rei nods her head. "Thank you."
"So, do you still don't remember saving me the other day."
Rei bows her head as she tries to look back only to remember that when she awoke in her Entry plug, Touji was unconscious in her lap. She still debates on if she should tell Hikari, she cannot help but not.
"No, nothing at all..."
The smile Rei receives only fulfills her inability to tell Hikari. "Well it's okay, it wasn't really fun to begin with." Rei looks down because of Hikari's comment. "This Evangelion stuff is no fun at all."
"Is it supposed to be... fun?"
Shaking her head, Hikari laughs. "I don't think fighting anything is supposed to be fun. I mean, maybe if we didn't fight."
Rei finally cracks a small smile. "I guess."
"Don't look so gloomy Rei..." Hikari stands. "What's bugging you lately, are you still upset."
"No..." Rei begins to blush, but she can't understand why she can't even talk about her thoughts. "I..."
Hikari's teenage intuition kicks in. "You like someone!"
"What!" Rei sinks into her chair, she tries desperately to talk yet she cannot. The frustration builds, as she would have no problem before she had these feelings.
"Rei, you have a crush on someone that's so sweet."
"I have a what?" Rei cannot remember the slang in her very limited social vocabulary.
"Your in love!" Hikari smiles as she rubs Rei's head.
"Rei-chan is in love!"
The voice surprises both Hikari and Rei who turn to see Kadoma in the entranceway.
"What are you doing home?" Hikari asks as she goes to her sister.
Kadoma kicks off her shoes and takes off her soaked coat. "Hikari-chan, nice to see you to." She looks to see Hikari has a towel in hand for her sister. "I have a big test on the Human nervous system so we med students have the day off from the hospital." She takes the towel from Hikari's hands.
"Oh, that's nice."
"So who does Rei-chan have a crush on!" Kadoma dries her hair and walks past her sister into the kitchen. "Come on Rei, who is it."
Once more Rei is speechless as she tries to answer, yet cannot. "I..."
Hikari comes back in and makes her sister a cup of tea. Kadoma stands next to Rei as she rubs Rei's wet hair. "It okay if you can't say who it is... Hikari is the same way."
"Kadoma!" Hikari yells out to her sister.
In Misato's Apartment, the kitchen can be described as a mess, as Asuka wearing a large t-shirt and loose fitting shorts, cooks up a pot of Oden. Her hair is hanging down and rapped in a towel, which covers her like a nun's habit. She can't help but be happy once more, the same as before when Shinji's dependence on her pleased her. The feeling of strength distances her from the cold, dark feeling she had in the store.
With the food done, Asuka calls out. "Dinner."
She waits only to see PenPen at her side flapping his wings. Asuka shakes her head. "I forgot he's a cripple."
She pours a bowel for PenPen, putting it at his side and she then heads off towards Shinji's room. Opening the door, she is about to yell out but is stopped when she sees Shinji sleeping peacefully in his darkened room. His innocence gives him a less helpless appeal. His silence makes him look strong. Asuka slowly walks in to get a closer look at him. Now standing over him she goes and sits next to his bedside, a bruise on his face reminds her of how badly she treats him. In an almost curious fashion, Asuka reaches out towards Shinji's face, wanting to touch it, pausing only once before her cold hand touches his warm and smooth face. The feeling slowly warms her hand before she pulls away.
"Am I that cold?"
Sadness has returned to her eyes as she stares at her hand, her need to touch his face once more goes unchallenged as she begins to slowly brush his hair. A tear strikes Shinji's hand as Asuka silently whimpers at his side. She shakes her head knowing she's better then this, knowing she cannot be seen like this. Yet, many times she awakes with tears still in her eyes. So many times, she wishes to be held, to be loved by another. Her heart now must be filled as she slowly leans in to Shinji, pausing only once to look at the pain visible on his face, the pain that he hides with apologetic and silent words. The pain Asuka now wishes to share, as she closes her eyes and kisses him on the lips.
Her want for love has finally overcome its first barrier, Asuka's emotions pour out as she sits next to him, lips locked with some one she cares for. Nonetheless, its quest is far from over, because now it faces Asuka's hate for herself.
To be continued...
