Everlasting Coda
By ArchangelUK

A/N: Apologies once more for the time between updates but I'm afraid that it is something you'll just have to get used to. PS, anyone notice how un co-operative FF.net is being at the moment with uploads in general? You can no longer put hyphens or brackets in titles or chapter titles and less and less HTML effects can be used now. I don't think I can do my trademark 25% horizontal bars. So I've got to do it slightly differently from now on. Idiots!

I don't own Neon Genesis Evangelion. However, I do own a Gekigenger III plushy toy! Ah, drat wrong anime....

Part 7: Commitment

"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
~ Matthew 6:34 ~

[And The Doctor Made A House Call]

It was dark, very dark indeed.

In the Katsuragi household a figure stumbled around in the darkness, cursing at its clumsiness so as to not wake those sleeping. It was searching, searching for something very important to it. Bags and belongings were turned out onto the nearest flat surface to find the treasure of this quest and eventually the figure found it and smiled. A Nokia 9210. The phone had rung during the middle of the night and a semi-sober, half-asleep Misato proceeded to answer it.

"Bmmmwah?"

"Misato? I'm assuming that's you."

"Oh it's you Ritsuko." She said between yawns, "What do you want it's..." She fumbled around for a clock or watch or something, her hand finally closing around the desk clock and she flicked the light switch on with her elbow. "... Half past three. Wait a minute, half past three? As in 03:30 AM? Can't it wait until tomorrow Ritsuko, what type of person calls someone at half past three!"

"Well for a start it's half past four, the clocks went forward an hour yesterday in compliance with Global Standard Time."

"Half past four? As in 04:30 AM?" On the other end of the line Ritsuko audibly sighed and shook her head.

"I did TELL you several times they were all going forward, I suppose it's because Shinji isn't there to change them all for you. I don't really see Asuka changing all the clocks in the house." Doctor Akagi flipped through her Hello Kitty memo book, specifically to the most recent additions. Three of the seven were to remind Misato about the time shift, two were about finding the time to buy a new dress, one was Maya's new mobile telephone number and the other was when she was to 'meet' with the Commander. She cursed under her breath that she hadn't changed the number in her address book and holding the receiver between her head and shoulder scrabbled around in her handbag for the book. There was always the chance she'd forget and it would be thrown away and she couldn't afford to not be in possible contact with her right hand woman twenty-four hours a day.

"Ritsu!" Misato whined, "I've been busy!"

"This probably explains why you were late by two hours instead of the usual one hour this morning."

"But it's morning now!" She whined again, stamping her foot petulantly.

"Somehow I didn't think you'd want to wait to hear this news."

"What news?" Came the sleepy reply.

"Sometimes you're so childish, you know that? It's to do with Shinji."

Misato tensed, all trace of laze and sleep vanished instantly. A weight, almost like that of a large stone appeared in her stomach along with a terrible sense of dread. "Shinji? What's happened to him! Is he okay?"

"Easy, easy!" She ordered, "Calm down!"

"Tell me he's alright Ritsuko! Please, tell me he's alright!"

"Jeez, you really got attached to that kid didn't you."

"Got?" Misato sobbed, "GOT?"

Ritsuko blinked then realised her error. "Oh damn, sorry Misato that's not what I meant. I got a call from the hospital staff about an hour ago, Shinji's regained consciousness and is on the mend."

A full half minute passed before quiet sobbing could be heard on the other end.

"Are you okay Misato?"

"Yeah I'm fine, I'll be over ASAP. Thanks Ritsu."

"No problem kid, I'll see you there soon."

"Thank you, bye." Misato hung up the phone and dashed to her wardrobe to pull on some clothes. "Asuka!"

[A Recovery]


"Ikari!"

"Hey Asuka." Shinji sat up and pushed himself off of the bed with reassuring ease, Asuka smiled but only a little. Walking over she wagged her finger in his face.

"You should be resting baka."

"I'm fine Asuka, there's no need to worry."

"Worry? Why would the great Asuka Langley Sohryu need to worry about some idiot like you?"

"Oh, then why are you the first one in here and not Misato?" He teased, wrapping the equivalent to a hospital kimono around him and brushing his tousled hair. Unseen the Second Child blushed, though it was hidden by the rest of her face that was also red - but red with fury.

"Because Misato's busy reporting to the Vice-Commander your condition you twit."

"Oh, okay." Shinji looked over his shoulder and gave her a sheepish if not nervous grin, thankfully for him the grin was infectious and the red head found herself smiling back though to Shinji it was more like a smirk. He busied making himself more presentable before he actually found where they'd put his clothes so he could check out of this place. Asuka sat down and waited as patiently as she could for him to finish, eventually curiosity got the better of her and she stood up then walked over to his side.

"Are you sure?"

"Sure of what?"

"That you're okay?" Shinji could hear the sincerity in her voice and smiled warmly at her.

"Yeah. I'm okay."

"Oh." She tossed her hair as if the answer wouldn't have made any difference either way. "In that case..." She grabbed the collar of the gown either side and spun Shinji so he was leaning more or less backwards over the bed. "Don't worry Misato like that again you jerk!"

Shinji gulped, "G-Gomen."

"Good." Asuka relinquished her grip and helped him upright, of course what she'd meant by that really was 'don't scare me like that again' but the answer was all she needed to hear. The word sorry, he was back. "So what do you want to do today Shinji?"

"I really think I should go to school."

"School?"

"Yes, I haven't been in a while." Shinji despite all the work he did in the gap while the other students went off to the hot springs on their field trip for two weeks was already behind on this term and any more time off with injuries wasn't going to help him academically.

"Oh well I suppose if you want to we'd best get going."

"Asuka it's five in the morning." A pillow hit him in the back of the head.

"I know that - idiot!"

The door opened and Ritsuko walked in with a clipboard under her arm and a nurse behind her.

"Hello Shinji, Asuka, nice to see you up and about."

"Hi Ritsuko."

"Shinji I need you to run some tests with your Eva in the test plug, we need to check your synch ratio hasn't been too badly effected by your incident."

"I see."

"Asuka you're welcome to stay but Shinji probably won't be out until about eight, it'd probably be best if you went home for now and got some shut eye. Shinji-kun will be out for school so he'll see you there."

"Now I know this twit's okay I don't have to worry about being woken up by Misato yelling again."

"Okay. I'll let you get dressed Shinji, here's a new plug suit and I'll see you in ten minutes."

"Very well." The boy groaned and picked the blue plastic package off the bed, Asuka left with Doctor Akagi but waited outside the door. Five minutes later Shinji walked out in his plug suit, together Third and Second walked down to the test bay. Asuka studied Shinji's face out of the corner of her eye and decided that something was up.

"What's up Third Child?"

"Hmm? Oh, nothing."

Asuka looked at the smile Shinji gave on reflex, now Asuka was an expert when it came to false or fake smiles. She'd been doing them long enough to warrant such a status and Shinji's smile was very forced. She looked beyond that and saw something in his eyes when he looked at her; she almost paused in mid-step as a result. He looked... disappointed with her.

"Well something's up."

"Have... you apologised yet?"

"What?"

"Apologised."

"Apologised?"

"To Rei." The corridor felt very small and cold all of a sudden, Asuka swallowed and she found the sensation was painful like she was trying to swallow shards of glass.

"I... don't know what you're talking about." The guilt flowed in waves that battered against her hard resolve; unwillingly she found her defenses crumbling under Shinji's look. It wasn't anger, it wasn't happy or jovial, and it wasn't sad or even vindictive - just disappointed. It was as though she'd betrayed him somehow, betrayed his trust.

"Hmm." Shinji opened the lab door and looked the deflated girl up and down. "Don't you?"

And the door closed behind him, leaving Asuka to simply stare at the hardened steel.

[An Apology]

Much later, Asuka was still staring at the metal door.

"Excuse me."

"Huh?"

"You're in my way." Asuka turned around and blue eyes found them staring into red ones.

"Rei?"

"Please move Pilot Sohryu."

"Rei, before you go anywhere can we talk?"

"I have business to attend to."

"Yeah, I know but please?"

"Be brief." Rei said bluntly, "I am needed."

"Okay, look I've talked to Misato and I now know what you did to help Shinji. I'm sorry Rei, I didn't know."

There, that wasn't so bad was it?

Oh shut up!

Rei stood there a few moments, her expression unreadable, before pressing the door button and walking past Asuka. The door closed once more and the Second Child was left on her own. Once more Asuka was alone, she leant against the door and whispered it once more.

"I'm... sorry."


The Commander would not be pleased with her when he found out what she had done. Indeed it would be interesting as a scientist to analyse what his reaction would be for someone who was rather unemotional yet at the same time hid so burning a passion. The passion for Yui, she grazed her teeth over her bottom lip then rolled her tongue around her mouth. Always it was Yui even when he was with her, but she didn't care, she could fool herself into thinking it didn't matter to her. Nevertheless she found this little betrayal, considering all he had done to her and them altogether most satisfying. The chairperson of Project E watched as the two plugs were activated, the results in all honesty were unimportant. She doubted Shinji's synch ratio would change much despite all that had gone on, indeed there were fluctuations but she put these down to realising he wasn't alone and possible thoughts about his father.

She chuckled lightly as Shinji failed to notice she was speaking to him, it seemed he was being distracted.

"If you could concentrate on my window Mister Ikari."

"Gomen Ritsuko." The boy looked downwards in embarrassment; the Doctor gave him a sympathetic smile.

"No apology necessary Shinji, I understand but try and concentrate on the job at hand for now."

"O-Okay."

"How are things with the link up?"

"No problems, something feels a bit strange but I think that's to do with me not testing for a few days." There was a buzzing sensation at the back of his head like a hornet had flown into his ear and was trying to burrow into his brain. It wasn't painful though, more irritating, it was coming from Unit 01 so he assumed there was something abnormal with the link. He explained this thoroughly to the Doctor and she stroked her chin.

"I see." Ritsuko noted this down as well as the time and present synch ratio.

"How are my results?"

"Pretty good actually, you're closing in on Asuka now."

"Really?" Shinji was surprised, and somewhat nervous of this.

"Yes." Ritsuko brought up a graph on the screen and relayed it to the test plug, it showed the three pilots test results for the past twelve weeks, Asuka had climbed only slightly while Rei seemed to climb five percent every four weeks then level out. He on the other hand had apparently been climbing untold numbers of points in very little time. He was now only three behind Asuka and the way he was progressing Shinji was sure that it wouldn't be long before he went past her. He gulped, then they'd be trouble.

"I see."

"It's very impressive." Ritsuko turned to the other screen, "You've improved slightly too. That's excellent."

"Roger." Came the calm reply.

"Well that's all for now, you two get changed and have a good day at school."

The test plugs emptied their LCL contents and Shinji exited his plug coughing up the liquid from his lungs as usual. Oddly enough his chest didn't seem to hurt any more, he made his way off to find a changing cubicle some where in this complex. He didn't know where his test partner had gone too but he was sure they'd catch up later. He cursed whoever thought it was a good idea to dispense with the pilot's changing room. What was slightly puzzling him though was the buzzing sensation he felt, he almost felt angry because of it. He shook his head and entered a free room.


Evangelion Unit One, Test Type model

It stood silent and more importantly still yet Ritsuko couldn't help staring into its eyes expecting them to ignite into yellow flame, for the demon to break free and destroy everything in its path. She looked down at the notes she had made and a printout of Shinji's synchrograph and made a few scribbles as to things she wanted to do tomorrow. That was tomorrow though and there wasn't any need for that now as sleep beckoned. Besides she needed to be fresh for dress shopping in the afternoon. She turned and left, her heels making a gentle rat-ta-tat on the floor as she went.

Inside Unit One however things were not static, they were not okay and they certainly weren't calm. A presence only distinguishable on a level of reality understandable to Angels was by all account fuming, there was a very dark red almost maroon colour on the outside of Unit One's consciousness. This was the result of its genetic creation; it was a consciousness describable only as pseudo-angelic - not exactly real, not exactly fake. It was the soul of the Evangelion, before anything else had been done to it. It was to all account the will of Adam if not the personality of him. It was certainly the determination and the fighting spirit, the primal nature that resided deep within all beings even those of the seventeen messengers of God. Cocooned inside this shell of red however was another presence that was a swirling mass of purple and red mixed in with flashes of brown on occasions. It whirled around like some demented twister bolts of colour and sound flying out of it whenever it growled or cursed his name. When the Eva had linked with the mind of it's pilot it allowed the pilot to control the movements of the creature but in return the Eva could see the boy's thoughts, feel his memories and like the boy could feel that which the Eva could on some sort of level it too could 'feel' what Shinji was feeling.

The Evangelion knew now all that had happened, and the two presences inside were less than enthralled with that which had befallen Shinji Ikari. The twister whirled faster, bashing against the red confines of what to all accounts was it's prison and through the anger one picture swam into focus. It was of a man perhaps in his early to mid forties, with gloves and tinted glasses and a barely visible smirk on his face. Words formed, words screamed from the very depths of the second soul that resided within Unit 01.

"YOU BASTARD, YOU WILL PAY!"

And had Ritsuko stayed where she was, staring into its eyes expecting them to ignite into yellow flame, she would have seen exactly that. Yui Ikari was not a happy bunny.

[Tomorrow...]

The door closed behind them and the silence between the two was broken.

"You are well."

"Yes." He smiled, she gave the ghost of a smile back but it was enough to tell him everything. Rei nodded in acceptance of his answer then turned back to face the elevator wall. A nervous if not anxious silence followed, permeated only by the faint but nevertheless industrial hum of the lift.

"I have to see my father tomorrow."

"I know."

"Do you know why?" Shinji whispered, stepping forward slightly.

"There is no need to whisper Pilot Ikari, there are no listening devices in here."

"Oh." Shinji blushed slightly, unseen by the blue haired enigma. "Wait a minute there are listening devices?"

"I... assumed you knew."

"No I didn't - where? At my house?"

Rei sighed inwardly and berated herself for her slip; she turned to face him again. Shinji was taken aback somewhat and backed up but Rei just returned the distance between them to what it had been only a few seconds ago.

"I do not know for certain, but I doubt their existence at your residence. Do not worry yourself further Shinji."

"O-Okay." Shinji looked very timid, mentally he was thinking about how ridiculous he was being. Rei was talking to him - this was good, now all he needed to do was lose the little mouse act and he'd be fine around her.

"Rei, what should I talk to my father about?"

"I think you should be honest with him."

"Because he is my Father?"

"Because he is he and you are you." Oddly enough that made sense to Shinji, he was also very pleased by the fact Rei was able to see he and his father were two completely different people.

"Thank you Rei."

"Have you been watching me because you wanted to ask me that question?"

"Mmmhmm." Shinji nodded, Rei looked him up and down briefly, his shoulders were slumped seemingly resigned to defeat. Defeat about what Rei wasn't entirely sure, but she blinked at his noticeable lack of confidence around her. Maybe it was the enclosed space she surmised, but then the Section 2 files did not include information that said the Third Child was claustrophobic. So wrapped up in determining his discomfort was Rei, she did not notice that Shinji had asked her a question until he repeated it.

"Well?"

"I... don't understand." Her mouth said automatically.

"Well, you know I was just wondering that's all. We could practice anytime you like really."

"The piano?"

"Of course." A small sparkle appeared in Rei's eyes, which became more pronounced when Shinji gingerly reached down into his bag, and produced a set of sheet music. Yellow highlighted marks and small notes were made in Shinji's overly neat handwriting, overlaying bar and stave alike.

"These are for me?"

"I said I would get you a set made, these are yours to study and do with what you will."

"T-Thank you." She stammered.

"No problem." Shinji grinned and Rei turned around blushing lightly but successfully hiding her rose coloured cheeks from the other pilot. The elevator stopped and both disembarked, they said their goodbyes and made their separate ways back home, promising to meet up for Rei's first lesson the day after next. As she walked Rei held the notes close to her chest, as though frightened something might happen to them if she did not know they were completely safe and with her.

Thank you. Words I've never used before.

Not even with him.


The school day went, night came and then the new day. Shinji had found it difficult to sleep knowing what was to come after school this afternoon. Asuka and Misato had been up late discussing dresses or something, apparently Asuka was going on a date with somebody as a favour to Hikari. Breakfast seemed to fly by, maybe because he wasn't in the mood to eat anything but that was probably because it was Misato's turn to cook.


"Well?"

"Bye!"

"See ya!"

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaark...." Came the downcast reply as the Katsuragi household door slid closed on Pen Pen. The penguin sighed, he was a smart penguin as penguins go and he couldn't understand why he couldn't go out and have some fun. He knew the one known as Shinji-kun was having some kind of anniversary today, something he mentally associated with a party and lots of cake. And fish. And beer. Not only that but Misato-chan was going to a wedding, which he knew from TV soap operas to be both lavish and interesting affairs followed by parties and food and gifts. And beer... And maybe some fish. Asuka-oni, he shuddered at the name, was just going to school today and that's all. So at least she wasn't having any cake or partying or anything like that.

No, wait a minute. The penguin thought, she was going on a date to a funfair tonight - Curses! Pen Pen scowled, or the nearest possible expression to a scowl with a beak. Less than impressed by the thought given to him by his owners the bored bird waddled off to the fridge. If he wasn't going to a party then at least he'd have something to drink. Some food. And beer. And maybe some fish...

[A Classroom Exercise]

Shinji looked out of the window and wondered if perhaps he should leave, leave this place, leave Tokyo-3. Reasons he had many, choices though he had very few of. Shinji knew he could not leave behind the people and friends he loved. He sighed, his ribs complaining at the sudden expulsion of air and the customary twinge of pain shot through his body.

Today was the day.

His heart gave it's own ache in return to his ribs, for today was the anniversary of his mother's death. He would visit her grave and he would be there, his father, the Commander. Subconsciously Shinji covered his wound with his free hand and resumed scrubbing the classroom floor. As he rubbed and scrubbed at the hardened plastic surface his thoughts switched to Asuka. What was wrong with her? Was she still just a child herself? Shinji had long ago decided thanks to his living arrangements with the one woman brewery that was Major Misato Katsuragi and the red headed German time bomb also known as Asuka Langley Sohryu that the female species should be left well alone. However he couldn't help wonder what Asuka and Rei were thinking about right now.

"AHHHHHHH! HELP ME KAJI! GET OFF ME YOU PERVERT! AHHHH!"

Shinji had practically got to the door before he heard the name 'Kaji', then he realised it was Asuka's attention seeking side rearing it's somewhat loud head again. Hikari looked at him and he shook his head before walking back to his bucket full of soapy water. The class representative rolled her eyes and marched out to find what the hell had just happened. As he kneeled down, Shinji caught sight of Rei as she dipped a washcloth into an all but identical bucket.

There was something about watching her do something very normal; almost menial that made Shinji smile on the inside. There was a familiarity as such that he couldn't put his finger on, this was heightened when she removed the white coloured cloth (now more cream coloured with use) and wringed it out. Twisting it forward with her left hand and towards her with her right droplets of liquid collated at the centre and fell into the small pool below.

Rei looked so sad for some reason that made Shinji frown, this frown deepened when he imagined the beads of liquid falling from her beautiful red eyes. Two orbs of unmistakable clarity clouded by unhappiness, he felt anger well up within him - Was Asuka the cause of this? Was his father? NERV? Him?

This girl deserves to be happy, more than anyone else.

"Hey!" Shinji was suddenly aware of a prickly thing whopping him in the head with sufficient force to knock him backwards onto his bottom. Before him stood Touji, who held two brooms in a martial arts position one of which occupied the space his head HAD been. "Get back to your work!" The stooge demanded as Kensuke shrugged and returned to playing with his model NERV jet and his camera. Touji was about to chastise him again for his obvious staring at Ayanami when Hikari's head shot back into view through the door.

"Why don't you get back to work Touji?!"

Touji held his pose for a few more seconds then his arms slumped in defeat.

[A Wedding]

"And by the power vested in me by the First Church of Tokyo-2 I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride."

The two kissed and Misato sighed, another one of her friends married off to some guy with a lot of money and intelligence and he was probably kinder that any boyfriend she'd ever had. She scowled, there weren't many left now, not many singles at all from her University friends just Ritsuko, herself, Risu, Carli and Tursa. She couldn't believe so many had packed in the batchelorette life they'd all so enjoyed and settled for a joint life starting with this mockery of a celebration which only succeeded in providing you with multiple dinner plates and his and hers bathrobes. Even the miserable Senko was married to some rich businessman who worked for the Japanese government - and Senko was ugly as sin! Perhaps there was someone out there for her, after all she had believed that once.

The church was very modern, there was nothing there to signal it was a church except for a rather basic font that more like some kind of sink and the vicar who stood behind the kissing couple. Since the Angels arrived the fundamentals of Religion in general had been thrown into disarray, most were Atheist anyway in belief but were now confronted with the truth that not only did the Almighty exist he was so pleased with his human race he would send 17 messengers to try and wipe them and everything else from the face of the planet. Understandably this would challenge the faith of even the most devoutly religious man. As such there was no patterns on the stained glass, no crosses visible anywhere, crosses nowadays meant a weapon shot from the enemy powerful enough to vaporise buildings and punch through thousands of metres of solid rock and armoured plating. Every reference to Heaven and God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost had been removed from the service. Everyone was gathered here in 'the hearts of those here present and by the jurisdiction, authority and spirit of the Japanese nation and its people'.

Misato found herself being dragged along by the weeping Doctor Akagi to bid congratulations to the happy couple. She tried to say something important that was both poignant and would stay with them throughout their lives, however long they would be. Sadly, she found herself lacking in spontaneous worldly wisdom and so instead grinned stupidly while shaking their hands and decreeing "Congrats guys!" with way too much enthusiasm to be considered healthy. Ritsuko, now only slightly teary eyed gushed her own congratulations before saying it was too beautiful and bursting into tears again which set the bride off and the two old friends embraced each other in floods whilst Major Misato Katsuragi - Director of Operations at NERV stood there grinning like an idiot.

[An Anniversary]

"It's been three years since we were last here together."

"..." Shinji Ikari didn't respond, he was trying to pretend his father wasn't here but then again he'd been trying to pretend he had some self worth and enjoyed his life for years and had failed miserably at that. He chose not to answer instead, he had nothing to say to the man who had put him in a hospital bed for several days.

"That's when you ran away."

"..."

"Wasn't it?"

"..."

"It's man's way of survival to bury memories Shinji, if that is what you're trying to do."

"..."

Time passed slowly.

"My Mother, something tells me she isn't here."

"She's not."

"An artifice?"

"Sadly." Though the Commander's voice didn't exactly seem to be weighed down by sadness at the thought. "Nothing remains"

"I can't even remember her face, and you have no photographs."

"No."

"Why am I not surprised." Shinji muttered.

"I keep everything in my heart, I'm satisfied with that."

"Well, that's you Father. You're all heart."

"Yui taught me Third Child, that there are some things we should never forget that is why I come here each year to confirm that commitment." Gendo accentuated the words 'Third Child' so Shinji knew exactly what he was indicating. He would not call him by name because he wasn't good enough to deserve that, Shinji straightened.

"There are some things people should bury, and also some they should never forget. Yet there are also some that cannot be buried for the constant reminder and though wanted gone can never be removed. It is in that respect that there are things no matter how precious that will be forgotten in time." A NERV jet came into view on the horizon behind Shinji, he did not see it like he could not see his Father or the sun overhead, nor did he hear it but he could sense it almost imperceptibly close in on them. Like he could sense his mother was no here, not buried in the ground before him. "I'm leaving now... Father."

"Indeed."

"Say hello to Rei for me."

[A Reception]

"Hello ladies." The dulcet tones of Ryoji Kaji assaulted Misato's ears and she inwardly shuddered, she so did not want to deal with him now.

"You're late." She responded flatly, not even bothering to look up and reaching for her third glass of wine. It wasn't the best wine in the world and it sure as hell wasn't Yebisu but it was doing the job, the familiar warm feeling in her stomach providing both comfort and confidence.

"Indeed." Kaji pulled up a seat despite the fact he already had one, then sat down next to Misato. He frowned briefly at his nameplate, which had 'mysteriously' been turned face down then poured two glasses of wine. Misato, thinking he was giving one to Ritsuko still did not bother to look up. "Sorry, but I had a little difficulty getting out of work."

"I find that difficult to believe seeming as though you don't actually do anything." Misato looked up, "You could have at least taken the time to shave that awful stubble!" Her violet eyes snapped down to his messy collar, she sighed in both anger and exasperation. "Your tie is cr - Maya?"

Misato suddenly realised why Ritsuko hadn't been speaking, her jaw was doing the same as Misato's was now - hanging loosely in mid air. Sitting next to Kaji (whom she had now noticed) was one Maya Ibuki wearing the most gorgeous and breathtaking midnight blue two-piece dress the Major had ever seen. She looked dumbfounded at the young Lieutenant and pointed between the two newcomers.

"Y-You?" She managed too stammer out, "You t-two?" Maya flushed red and Kaji laughed lightly, taking a sip of wine before explaining.

"No no, nothing like that."

"Then...?"

"Well you see I owed young Maya a bit of an apology for something that happened a few days back."

"WHAT was this 'something'?"

"Oh just a mild misunderstanding." Kaji insisted shaking a finger, Maya nodded but giving Kaji a very obvious look that said he wasn't entirely off the hook yet. Kaji swallowed, "Well as I owed her-"

"-Significantly owed." Maya corrected, Kaji nodded in complete agreement. It had taken an entire afternoon of persistent apologising for... that incident... to be forgiven enough to be deemed a reply by the fair Miss Ibuki. Not only that he'd succeeded in convincing Aoba and Hyruga that he was harassing the young Tech, had it not been for Maya's interruption the two would have jumped him.

"Significantly owed her, I asked her yesterday if she wanted to come as my date, er, guest for the wedding. After all the invite did say Mr. Kaji plus one, so this is my plus one." The dark haired man grinned.

"So she's not your date?" Misato asked, though it sounded more like she was insisting.

"No I'm not his date. Who'd date this guy?" Maya said then clamped her hands around her mouth, Misato's raised eyebrow trembled with suppressed rage. "Gomen." The female tech muttered, leaning as far back away from the feisty Major as possible.

"Maya?" Ah, Ritsuko had regained the power of speech. "Y-You look amazing!" Maya had been crimson before but now was rapidly turning beetroot red to the tips of her ears. Misato's anger was suddenly quenched by reference to 'that' dress, the Major looked Maya up and down.

"Sempai(!)" Maya gave a little squeak of embarrassment.

"She's right Maya you look fantastic."

"T-Thank you Major."

"Oh Misato's fine, we're out of work now." She eyed Kaji's tie, which was still not straight. "Those of us who actually do any."

"Of course I work." Kaji said slightly stiffly, "How do you think I could afford this ravishing a company?" He gestured with his hand at his three companions, Ritsuko rolled her eyes.

"Then you should take some pride in your appearance fuzzy face." Misato stuck out her tongue, then yanked Kaji's neckpiece into correct alignment.

"You two fight like you're married." Ritsuko giggled, Kaji leaned close to Misato's shoulder but addressed the Doctor.

"You're very astute Ritsipoo."

Misato blinked twice, then said deadpan as you like. "Who'd marry this bum?"

Maya and Ritsuko could see hurt flash across his eyes but the rest of his face gave away no such betrayal, Kaji simply shrugged and sipped at his drink. Misato did the same and leant on her hand, elbow firmly on the table.

"You know it's rude to do that." Kaji said teasingly, "Bad manners don't become you Misato." Ritsuko had to stop herself from choking as white wine threatened to go up her nose.

[Solos]

Rei was not on the jet with Gendo Ikari, she had other things to do. Pulling up the stool she stretched her fingers in the way she'd seen Shinji stretch his and began to slowly perform a few warm up exercises on the keys in front of her. A run through of the scales, in doing so she found that the piano was not tuned sufficiently and she made a mental note that she should have personnel see to it as soon as possible. She also tried to perform a small piece that Shinji had included to help her practice the layout of her hands and the notes. The piece was called 'Three Blind Mice' and only featured a handful of notes, the story that went with the music she didn't quite understand though. What purpose could a trio of visually challenged rodents have in running towards an enemy? Why would they still be alive anyway if they were so blind?

She cleared her throat and began to play.

It wasn't long before she made her first mistake.

My first mistake. She thought of Asuka, smiling at her walking through the school with her and then yelling at her in Shinji's hospital room. No, not my first. My first was to trust, trust someone who did not understand me.

"I'm sorry Rei, I didn't know." There was a dull 'thonk' noise as she hit another wrong note.

No, not my first mistake. The vision of the dejected and rejected Asuka still fresh in her mind, contrasting with the angry Asuka she'd seen that day after the incident between Shinji and his father. Not my first either way. Now I have to see whether I make a third.

Three blind mice, a bit like the three pilots, having to trust in something they didn't understand to fight something they didn't understand.

Yet we can't even seem to understand each other before that.

Three blind mice,
Three blind mice,
See how they run,
See how they run,
They all faced up to the Angel's strife,
And cut off it's tail with a progressive knife,
Have you ever seen such a thing in your life,
As three blind mice?


To Be Continued...

Please feel free to review. In the next part : A kiss, or may be not. Homeostasis and Transistasis. Teachers and pupils, pupils and teachers and the attack of Leliel.

Also new Evangelion one shot posted "Only You" - a dramatic/angsty/romancy Shinji/Rei thing-me-do.

ArchangelUK 0:o)