Problem Thirty: Shinji's big ass rock, Asuka II counts to ten?
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(I have two editors, one is starting from the first episode and working forward thats Skull 01, My other editor is doing all a editor can do to catch up from problem 29 and such... so sorry for the problems)
In the dark and silent of the commander's office, Gendo and Fuyutsuki sit at the desk opposing each other, playing their favorite pastime, Go. The game is being owned by Fuyutsuki as he easily dominates the bored. Even if the game isn't going Gendo's way, work is, and speaking of which the latest events of NERV are under discussion.
Paying more attention to a newspaper then the game, Fuyutsuki is still fuming over what happened. "You had to kill off the second child, I know she was annoying but God damn... some people did like her."
"She's not technically dead." Gendo plays a move on the bored as he goes over paper work of his own. "No death certificate was signed and the second child is in..."
Fuyutsuki shakes his head tired of Gendo's thick sarcasm. "Trust me she is very much dead."
With a small chuckle Gendo goes back to his paper work as Fuyutsuki plays his turn. "I never knew you were so attached to the pilot."
"You don't feel a thing do you?"
Gendo studies the game bored for a moment. "I didn't see you tossing up ideas as our scenario was spinning out of control."
"Yes I know..." Still waiting for Gendo to move, Fuyutsuki flips his paper around. "You're still planning on destroying any chance of your son ever having a normal life as. Hoping to use him as your avatar I bet."
The riddle spoken is no riddle to Gendo as he knows what his partner in crime means. "I was taking one out of Zero child's book. In truth I was worried that the Second child would have been used."
"I see, kill two birds with one stone. Well you certainly destroyed Rei's life." Finally Gendo makes his move, Fuyutsuki pauses as he watches his move. "Well if you want to call what she has a life?"
Giving a small sigh, Gendo watches a Fuyutsuki plays his move quickly ending the game. "Right, she has no life; she is a tool nothing more."
"Ahh..." Fuyutsuki continues to read his paper. "The preverbal key to your wife... exwife.. You still demand that the key turns in your favor and because of that you killed off the second child."
Leaning back in his seat adjusting his glasses, Gendo studies the game bored not to thrilled that in Yui's short visit last month she served him his papers. "You can't please everyone, I understand that many are upset with the death of the second child, even you show distaste. Would you rather have SEELE have control of the end?"
"So to hell with what others want."
"If you want to be blunt..." Gendo stands up and goes to leave. "Yes, reality doesn't work like a game of Go, or a story from a book, we can't all be pleased with the outcomes of the world. The death of the Second was worthy, she set the scenario back in place and this pleases not only me but SEELE and they only think they have control."
Fuyutsuki watches as Gendo leaves, once he is out of the room he looks back to the game bored. "You don't give a damn what others want... Yui you were right he has lost sight."
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In another part of the Geo-Front down a sleepy hallway were nurses quietly wonder the halls making their rounds, in a darkened room Asuka Langley Souyu, or what is known as Asuka slowly arises out of her hospital bed. Her hair is disheveled and her face winces in pain. The young girl quickly grabs her chest, as she sits up just enough to not fall back down.
'Where am I...?'
The girl studies her own face and hands, with careful attention to her hair. Everything seems at odds with her. "It's as if I'm seeing this for the first time..." The girl gaze goes to her mid ground were she looks to see Shinji and Yukari sleeping peacefully in beds of their own next to hers. "But it's as if this isn't the first time."
'I now this boy...'
With what little strength the girl has she removes her covers and allows the stale hospital air to touch her legs.
'Ikari...' The name brings a weight on to her chest, she begins to feel ill. 'He's... He's... a pilot, like I...'
The tips of Asuka's fingers begin to feel cold. She sits herself up and slowly rubs her fingers as she stares at them. "I'm... I am the second... If I'm alive that means...'
Asuka slowly gets out of her bed the cold touch of the floor on her bare feet sends a chill up her spine. Slowly walking she makes her way to Shinji still grasping her stomach. "I know your face..." As she looks at Shinji and how he has an almost scared look on his face. "You look like a wimp..."
Out of the corner of her eye's Asuka feels the sting of being watched, she turns slightly to see the piercing red gaze of Rei looking into the room from the window. Asuka gives out a small scream as she stubbles back into Shinji's I.V. knocking it over. The crashing sound is only heard by two. Awaking at the sound of the falling equipment Yukari darts her eyes right to left.
"Meow..."
Lying on the ground in pain is Asuka she notices Yukari and backs her self to the corner of the room in fear of the twins. Yukari rubs her eyes and looks around to see Asuka on the ground panting and constantly looking at Rei and herself.
"Hi there..."
Pointing as quickly as her weak body can, Asuka diverts Yukari's view to the haunting sight of Rei. "There are two of you!"
"Oh that's my sister..."
"Rei?" It dawns onto Asuka that after all of the visual commotion she has made the girls gaze has not changed. "Rei..."
Examining the clone Yukari begins to notice its inability to continue. "You know who she is."
"What's wrong with her..." Asuka keeps herself huddled in her corner as Yukari stretches and crawls on all four to the edge of her bed.
Resting like a cat would, Yukari realizes two things, and one is that the clone doesn't know who she is or know that Rei is blind. "She's blind don't you remember?"
This is unbelievable to Asuka but when she thinks about it she begins to find too many question then answers. "What happened to me... why do I recognize you but I don't remember you."
"Well..."
"ASUKA!" Both Asuka and Yukari turn to see a panicked and hyperventilating Shinji Ikari staring at a person he knows should be dead. "No... No you can't be Asuka! I killed her!" Tears begin to form as he scrambles backwards falling out of his bed and ripping his I.V.'s out. "You're dead... I killed you..."
Yukari goes to say something but is in vain as Shinji goes running out screaming, when to door slams open Rei nearly jumps back startled by the sound. She can hear the sound of Shinji scream as he runs off. Knowing she is unable to follow she enters in to the Hospital room with some hopes in finding the cause of what happened.
"Yukari..." The fragile Rei whispers as she enters, not really thinks anyone else is inside.
Slowly standing to her feet Asuka is given a better look at Yukari and Rei, and sees that their eyes do not match. She still however only can remember that Rei is important somehow. "What's going on?"
"You..." Just hearing Asuka's voice Rei is reminded of the clone that she despises.
Not liking the tone Asuka stares down Rei. "You, what... You have a problem."
Standing upright and with not even bothering to try and face Asuka, Rei answers. "You are a doll, a creation of no purpose."
"What was that?"
Even Yukari can help but mutter a comment. "That's what I call the pot calling the kettle black."
The bellows of Asuka also brings a smile to Yukari who sits on the end of the bed like a cat watching as the wounded Asuka makes her way to Rei. "How dare you talk to me like that?"
In response Rei once more only delivers her thoughts in a cold and uncaring manner. "How dare you bastardize the form of Ms Souyu..."
The realization of her heritage strikes Asuka like a ton of bricks. She knows in some strange way she is not who she is, a marionette with out strings. This girl who knows her self she should be Asuka , but knows she is not. "I may not be... I..."
"Asuka..." Stepping in between the two, Yukari holds up her finger in a gesture for her to wait as she takes Rei to the side. "Sis, I thought we talked about this, that we would..."
Not willing to compromise Rei interrupts Yukari. "She is not Asuka."
"Is to..." Yukari points to Asuka; her action has the redhead raise an eyebrow.
"Yukari, she is not..."
As she speaks, Yukari guides Rei closer to Asuka. "She's just a different Asuka."
"She's not Asuka..." Rei stops her sister from moving her having an idea on what she was doing.
"Look!" Standing with some strength Asuka walks over to the two sisters. "I really don't know what's going on, but for some reason you don't like me, and you don't even know me."
Pinpointing Asuka location through her voice Rei looking in her direction. "I now all I need to now about you."
Putting her hands on her hips, Asuka gives Rei a dirty look not really used to the fact Rei can't make direct eye contact. "You're a baka if you think you know me..."
"Can we agree to just not like each other?"
Rei turn her head in disgust and Asuka does the same thing as Yukari stand in their way. "Whatever."
"Good, so maybe we can find Shinji before he goes kills himself or something." Both Rei and Asuka turn to Yukari as she has her arms crossed staring out of the door where two nurses look inside confused.
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Rushing down a hallway nearly colliding into everything in her path, Maya Ibuki makes her way to the help desk in the Hospital on the level the pilots are at. The nurse watches as the young woman holds her finger out as she catches her breath. Seeing that the officer of NERV isn't saying anything the nurse decides to find out.
"Um, Captain, do you need anything like an Oxygen tank."
Raising her head to the nurse, Maya spills out her answer. "The, the girl... with the hair and stomach"
Seeing that the captain is having trouble speaking, the nurse tries to guess what she wants. "We have a lot of that here."
"No!" Maya finally gathers her thoughts. "The second child, the one with the red hair."
"Oh..." The nurse goes back to her paperwork. "Some other captain checked her out, and went off with the blue haired twins."
"Which way did they go?"
The nurse takes a second as she stands with a hand full of charts. "Do I look like section two; go ask them because they went after them."
Maya turns around right into Misato; she jumps back and stands at attention. "Maya, what are you doing here?"
Knowing when she thinks about it, she really doesn't know. All she knows is that she heard that the Second child was awoke last night and she had to see her. "Oh, nothing, why are you here."
"Looking for you." Misato watches as Maya begins to fidget nervously. "Shinji is having some kind of nervous brake down and Dr. Akagi wants you at HQ."
"Where is her... I mean Ikari..."
Misato begins to walk with Maya right behind her. She gives a smirk as she realizes what Maya problem is. "You want to see her?"
Feeling that she just got caught stealing a cookie, Maya looks away. "What do you mean..."
Just as they exit the hospital, Misato stops walking and allows Maya to observer what she came to see. From a good distance she looks to see Asuka standing in a school uniform, she looks to be examining the uniform as if she never seen it before. Standing next to her is Rei with her back to her and her cane firmly on the ground. In between the two is Yukari plays with her bandaged arm. They are just close enough to hear them speak to each other.
"What's with this uniform, don't tell me this is only thing you could get me."
Yukari shrug's her shoulder as she looks to Rei. "Well that's all I had that was clean, I mean with Rei not letting you in your..."
"My..."
With Rei's whispering correction, Yukari gives a frown, never seeing Rei be so stubborn. "Look, enough with th...."
"Hey!" Asuka comes up behind Rei forcing her to turn. "Stop being an Ass and let's find this other pilot."
"Shinji..." Yukari looks to see Misato approaching and pulls Asuka away from Rei. "Don't worry I have a good idea on where he is."
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It's a cool and sunny morning in Tokyo 3, and on the roof of the pilot's school, Hikari, Mana, Touji, and Kensuke over look Shinji who sits on the edge of the building in hospital cloths. His arm stills bleeds from ripping out his IV's. All are unsure on what to do, it doesn't really look like he wants to jump, her looks like he's sleeping. None dares goes to the fragile boy after he just mumbled that he killed Asuka.
"Where are they...?"
Touji is first to get impatient, but every one else turns to him singling for him to be quiet. He only pouts but his wait is over as he looks to see the heads of the Ayanami twins, Asuka and Misato coming up the steps.
"Finally..." Mana looks down to see Asuka in one piece. "Well good to see you're in one piece Asuka."
Rei who is using Misato arm for guidance gives a disgusted look. "She's not..."
Quickly, Misato covers Rei mouth gibing a small chuckle. "That's nice of you to say."
With a grunt under Misato's arm Rei is unable to speak. Hikari looks back to Asuka also relieved to see her. "Shinji was so worried, he thinks he killed you."
Looking behind her Asuka looks to the girl talking to her. "Who are you?"
Everyone looks to Asuka for her comment; Yukari goes and covers her mouth. "She got hurt and lost a lot of memory in the last battle..."
If there is one thing Asuka will not stand for is to be smothered so she bights down on Yukari's hand. Doing her best not to scream in pain, Yukari diverts it by biting Asuka's ear. Touji, Kensuke, Mana and Hikari looks to each other then to the sight of the two girls hissing at each other.
Trying to get everyone back on track, Mana points behind her to Shinji who still sits on the edge of the rough. "What are we going to do about Shinji?"
Asuka lets go of Yukari and she does the same she look out to see Shinji. "Why don't we just help him jump?"
"Asuka!" Misato calls out as she lets go of Rei.
This gives Rei a chance to speak. "Idiot."
However the only one who seems to like the idea is Yukari as she gets up the steps grabbing Touji's and Kensuke's arm. "Come on you two, let's go help him." Rei forces Misato to let her go as she goes to go with her sister, but she is stopped by Yukari. "Rei, I think you need to stay and play nice with Asuka."
"She's not Asu..."
"Shut up baka."
Mana and Hikari look to each other wondering what happened to Rei and Asuka's friendship.
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Touji and Kensuke keep behind Yukari as they walk up at the back of Shinji, with confidence she looks back to her friends whispering them instructions.
"Follow my lead." With a feminine touch Yukari sits next to Shinji with a smile. "What's up bro..."
"I... I... killed someone..." The muttered and shallow voice shows a tell tail sign that Shinji is ashamed of himself. "I don't deserve to live."
"Well..." Yukari looks around below at the landscape as she leans back. "Lets find a rock, I mean a big ass rock, or maybe something like an Eva foot is better..." Yukari puts her arm on Shinji shoulder. I'll raise it up and drop it on your face, bro." Yukari allows the mental picture to come for Shinji before she continues. "Just before the lights go out you will see my smile, and you will now you have a friend with a rock that cares."
Touji sits down next to Shinji's other side giving Shinji a nudge. "You mean a big ass rock."
A chuckle is heard from behind and Kensuke has his arms crossed as Shinji looks to him. "Or rope, I go some quality rope. Made for a man who's devoid of hope, like you are." Kensuke draws an outline of a rope in the air with his fingers. "For you Shoni..."
Not catching Kensuke's sarcasm Shinji corrects him. "That's Shinji."
With a shrug of his shoulder, Kensuke gives a smile. "Yea Shinji, right. I wont let you swing their man, twitching like a fish, I will grab you feet and pull real hard and." To add an effect Kensuke slaps his hands together. "Snap! Your spinal cord."
With a huge nod Touji points to Kensuke as if he had a good idea. Shinji isn't dumb he realizes what's happening and he just looks away. Yukari takes his hands as she points out to the city. "This world is cold when you are a lone, and when you're forced to kill... but don't kill yourself..."
Touji pats Shinji on the back. "We will do it for you Shinji-man."
Giving another chuckle, Kensuke sits down next to Touji as he looks down at the two story height. "You know I asked a guy once if he mind tying an anchor to my leg and dump me in to the lake. You know what the son of a bitch said." Everyone but Shinji looks to Kensuke enthusiastically for the answer. "Drop dead ass hole."
Shaking her head Yukari looks to the city. "People are pricks."
Snapping his finger Touji looks to Yukari. "I asked this guy to take his air compressor and drill me with a six inch nail right in to my head."
Crossing her arms Yukari wonders something. "What did he say?"
Touji looks down sadly placing his hand on Shinji's shoulder. "I'm low on nails."
"People are selfish pricks." Yukari's response has Shinji shakes his head trying not to laugh.
Not finished Touji comes up with a second one. "You know another time now get this, I layed down in front of a steam roller and asked the guy to proceed like busies as usual and squash me like a bug."
Nodding her head Yukari looks to Shinji. "That's a good way to go Touji, the old bug squash." A small pause is made as Yukari thinks up an idea. "Hey we could tie a plastic bag over his head."
Kensuke leans back and shakes his head. "Nah... That's such a wimp suicide."
Hoping to derail his friend's attempts to cheer him up Shinji puts his own two cents. "I stuck my finger in a socket once... it hurt real bad..."
Kensuke pears over to Shinji with a smile on his face glad to see he is cheering up. "Did it kill you?"
With a bow of his head, Shinji mutters. "No..."
"Shinji..." Touji waits for him to look at him before he finishes "Stay out of this."
Defeated Shinji stands up rolling his eyes. However Yukari isn't finished as she sees some students playing baseball. She quickly stands up and shows Shinji what she sees. "Hey, let's use a club."
Still muttering Shinji looks at the baseball game. "I get it..."
Kensuke stands stretching. "I like the big ass rock."
"Come one..." Yukari pretends to hit Shinji in the head with a baseball bat. "One good swing and I would clean his clock forever.
Touji also stands brushing off his legs looking at how high they are. "Ah... we should let gravity do the work."
Even though Shinji got the point of his friends they seem not to stop as Yukari looks at the edge. "It's a man's way to die Shoni..."
"It's Shinji!" Shinji finally gives a small chuckle. "And I understand..."
With a smile Yukari looks to Shinji who slowly smiles back. "Come on, let's go understand Asuka." Shinji steps up and hugs Yukari as he slowly cries, Touji pats his friend on the back glad to see he is back normal.
Watching from a distance Misato breaths a sigh of relief and begins to walk back down from the stair well in need to cool off from the tense moment. She also begins to curse the bet she made with Kaji. Asuka walks up the steps a bit but when she brushes by Rei she is shoved to the corner. This has the two remaining girls watch as Asuka gives a pouts and leaves. Hikari studies what happens and takes a shot at what's wrong.
"What did Asuka do to you Rei?"
No one responds but the sting of such words were just in earshot of Asuka. She squints her eyes forcing herself not to cry. With it not working she quickens her pace and darts out of the stairwell and out of the school. Once on the city streets the distraught Asuka cant understand anything that's going on, her memories are like she was watching a movie her feelings are not her own. Not even the two Section Two agents that follow her merely six passes behind bother her from her thoughts. She stops and looks out to the city wanting something anything to help guide her.
'It's as if someone has closed every door to me...' Looking for comfort Asuka raps her own arms around herself. "I don't expect my life to last for long. Never fool myself, that thinking I will have dreams. Not having any dreams to look back on I have no life to long for, and I hate it..." Asuka walks slowly walks with her head down. "What am I going to do now? I have nothing to go to."
Coming running up to Asuka but slowed by Section Two, Shinji Ikari is speechless as he watches Asuka. He watches as she soothers herself with her own words. "All my Memories have deserted me so anyone can hurt me... and they do..."
Pushing past Shinji comes up behind Asuka and matches her pace as he thinks of what to say. 'You'll get by you always have before...' The boy walking behind Asuka only wishes he has the strength to say his thoughts.
"What have I done to be hated by so many... I don't even recall what I did, so how can I fix what horrible things happened. Where am I going to go..."
"Don't ask anymore..."
The soft Voice of Shinji has Asuka turn, she's at first ashamed to look at him as she feels wrong to be crying in his sight. She quickly tries to sniff away her tears as Shinji steps closer. "I'm fine... Really I am..." Looking at Asuka still sends a chill up Shinji's spine, her death is still fresh in his mind, and Yukari's explanation that this girl is a 'Clone' is confusing for they young boy's simple mind. His stare is noticed by Asuka and it's the same stare everyone has given her. "I understand damn it! I'm not Asuka..." Frightened at the thought Shinji steps back. "I'm a freak I get it... I'm fine with that! I will survive..." Once more Asuka must fight back tears.
Unable to see a girl cry Shinji reaches out and touches Asuka face. "This will not be easy... I still need you... after all I have done... I didn't want to but... Don't feel this way Asuka... To me you are Asuka... No matter what the others say, your Asuka..."
The warm touch of Shinji's begins to settle the girl that stands in tears. "Don't cry for me... I don't know if I have hurt you, but I know we were friends."
"We can count to ten..." Shinji looks back on a child old trick to become calm once more.
"One..." Asuka looks up to Shinji with a smile before closing her eyes.
"Two..."
Closing her eyes, Asuka gently places Shinji's hand on his side. "Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten..." Taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out Asuka opens her eyes and looks at Shinji with a smile. "You're a Baka, you're in hospital cloths..."
"That will due Asuka..." Shinji looks down to his cloths and chuckling. "That will due..."
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Next Problem... So Sue me... The Mighty, Mighty, Eva Boogie
