Life After

by Kraven Ergeist

10 Years after the events of Evangelion, Shinji is now a wealthy bacherlor living in Munich, when he gets an unexpected visitor. What begins as a friendly encounter turns into a struggle beyond imagination. Action, Angst, and Femme Fatales. FINISHED!

2. Chapter Two

Evangelion Fan Fiction

Life After

By Kraven Ergeist

Chapter Two

The sun was shining brightly the next day. Asuka was woken by the sheer brightness coming in through the windows of her small but luxurious chambers.

Asuka made her way out of bed and stretched. She pictured herself in the morning as she had once seen Misato when she woke up: disheveled, bedraggled, and over, a sloppy mess. She had let herself go over the years. She had even gained a bit of weight. Nothing to make her anything less than stunning, of course, but now, the people she accidentally ran into were in no danger of receiving paper cuts.

After spending an appropriate amount of time (Or inappropriate, depending upon who was waiting for her) in the bathroom, straightening herself up until she was satisfied, she made her way downstairs, where the aroma of baked pastries met her senses.

Shinji was already out of bed. He had on a royal blue robe, wore fuzzy slippers on his feet, was relaxing in a lacy patio chair, reading the newspaper. There was a half-eaten croissant on a plate before him, a mug of coffee sitting nearby, as well as an open laptop on the table before him.

Asuka almost laughed. This was Germany's most desirable bachelor? Though, she had to admit, the image did suit him.

"Good morning," Shinji said, as he noticed her walking down the steps. "Sleep well?"

Asuka smiled. In the old days, she would have interpreted such comments as some perverted advance, but she had matured since then. "Well enough. Hope you saved me some," she indicated the pastry on his plate.

Shinji smiled, nodding. "There's plenty to go around. Naomi makes them fresh every morning."

As Asuka blinked, taking that little comment in, Naomi stepped into the breakfast area, carrying a tray of freshly made crescents.

"Delicious as always, Naomi," Shinji complimented.

"Not nearly as good as your cuisine, Master, but I appreciate the compliment," Naomi said, before noticing Asuka. "Oh, Asuka, you're awake," she said, sweetly. "Care for some croissants? They're fresh."

Asuka smiled, nodding. "Thanks. I will."

She sat herself down, and waited patiently for Naomi to place them each into the breadbasket on the table. Noticing Asuka's continued silence, Naomi took her cue to leave, though not without dropping a pleading look towards Asuka.

Asuka blinked. What was that about?

Shinji took little heed of her departure, his attention fixated on his paper.

"Gee," Asuka commented, after she was sure that Naomi was out of earshot. "This girl waits on you hand and foot. It's almost like assisted living or something."

Shinji nodded. "Yeah, I've had issues with that. I really don't like people looking after me like this, but, well…she's really…insistent…"

Asuka blinked. "Oookay…"

Shinji just shrugged, going back to his paper.

Asuka took a bite from one of the crescents. "Wow…these really are good. Is there anything this girl can't do spectacularly?"

Shinji shrugged. "Not that I'm aware of…she takes care of the house, she keeps me up to date on everything from current events to men's fashion, she acts as my secretary, she does laundry, she cooks, she cleans…Heck, just give her a snobbish attitude, and she could give you a run for your money."

Asuka's face went red, flustered. "What was that?"

Shinji chuckled. "Then again, you never were particularly good at cooking."

Asuka sat back down, a malicious grin on her face. "You're lucky I'm getting room service, else I'd teach you a lesson or two."

Shinji chuckled again. "Of that, I have little doubt."

Asuka's face went from jovial to concerned. "Shinji…you've changed so much over the years…"

Shinji raised an eyebrow. "Have I?"

Asuka nodded. "You've never been able to hold a decent conversation with me before…and you never dared poke fun at me before."

Shinji smiled. "That's cause I know you're not gonna hit me this time."

Asuka leered. "Don't be too sure of that."

Shinji smiled, and popped the last of his pastry in his mouth.

"But seriously," Asuka went on. "You're so much less like the Shinji I used to know…and more like…"

Shinji gulped down the last bit of croissant in his mouth. "More like who?"

Asuka looked away. "…like him…"

Shinji frowned. "Am I? Am I really, Asuka?"

Asuka squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head. "Not to that degree, no, but…you know, just little bits, here and there…and, to be honest with you, have you looked in a mirror recently? I mean, let your beard grow out, and you'd be a spitting image."

Shinji sighed, shaking his head. "Well, what do you expect? He's my father, after all."

Asuka shook her head. "Yeah, well…I look nothing like my mother, or even my father…and you don't have much of your mother in you, either."

Shinji gave her a puzzled look. "How would you know that?"

Asuka sighed, sitting back in her chair. "You forget Ayanami…"

Shinji blinked, taking a breath. "Rei…you know, I was so sure that I'd manage to get by today without thinking about her."

Asuka stamped her foot, impatiently. "Look, I'm sorry, okay! But I can't help it if you're a little depressed about her dying. You can't run away from it forever."

Shinji tensed up inside, a spark of anger igniting. "What do you mean, forever? I just learned about it yesterday afternoon!"

Asuka threw her arms up. "Whatever! The point it, people die! Get over it!"

Shinji glared. "Do you have any idea what she means to me? How would you feel if I started mouthing off to you about your mother, huh? How would you feel then, huh? Telling me to stop running away…you've been running your whole life!"

Asuka stood up, her chair screeching backwards. "You think you know me? You think you have any right to tell me that I've been running away?" Asuka wiped her hands on her napkin, and threw it on the table. "I was gonna take today off to spend some time with you, but I think I've changed my mind. A day at the office would be heaven compared to…having to spend the day with you!"

Asuka stormed off, before turning around to give Shinji one last piece of her mind. "You know, Shinji? I was wrong! You haven't changed one bit! You're nothing like him! At least he stood for what he believed in!"

Asuka stormed out of the house in a huff, leaving Shinji to sit there with his thoughts.

After a few brief moments, he crumpled onto the table, head in his hands.

"Baka…" he muttered, under his breath.

Naomi made her way into the breakfast room. "Is everything all right, sir? Mrs. Soryu left without saying anything."

Shinji just sighed. "No, Naomi, everything's fine. She and I just had a fight."

Had Shinji been looking, he might have caught the brief look of relief in her eyes. "Are you sure she'll be alright, Master?"

Shinji nodded. "She'll be fine, Naomi, she can take care of herself."

Naomi bit her lip. With Asuka gone, the Master would only look at her now. It was just the two of them, plus a few maids, the butler, the gardeners, and the chauffeur, who never truly entered into their lives. Rei had been the only other person in his life, but she had never truly been an obstacle, what with her blood ties. And, in her heart of hearts, Naomi had always liked that girl. She was kind, polite, and always knew what to say to the Master to cheer him up, which was never easy. She was deeply sad to hear of her imminent demise, she truly was.

But what of Asuka? She could just hold her tongue. She could simply neglect to mention that, those who had been hunting the Master would be after her as well. And leaving by herself, without VERSTAND security detail, she was vulnerable. More than likely, she would be attacked by the same people that attacked them last night. Only, she wouldn't have a VERSTAND combat suit to protect her. She could let the whole thing slip, let Asuka be erased from the world. And then, the Master would belong to her from now on.

For now and forever.

She bit her lip, and turned her back, slowly leaving the room.

"I would do anything for you, sir," she muttered, under her breath. "You know that, right?"

xxxxx

Asuka stormed into town, kicking pebbles and stones as she walked.

"Shinji, you idiot…" she muttered, angrily, at the pavement underfoot. "Just had to go mess up everything, didn't you? You know, for a second there, I really thought we could have made something of it, you know? We might have actually picked up what might have started ten years ago. But, nooo, you had to go and start getting defensive! Who do you think you are? Me?"

As Asuka ranted, she wasn't paying attention to anything around her. Much less, the steadily growing crowd of "innocent bystanders," all peculiarly dressed the same way, that seemed to be rapidly accumulating.

"I mean…I was actually being nice to you!" Asuka kept ranting. "But all you did was cry over your stupid wonder girl! I mean, seriously!"

That's when she ran into someone that nearly knocked her over.

"Hey, you wanna watch where you're going?" Asuka snapped, angry at being interrupted form her rant, even more peeved at having to deal with other people in her current mood.

The figure she'd run into just stood there, staring. "You are Soryu, Asuka Langley, are you not?"

Asuka glared. "Yeah, what's it to you?"

The man just nodded, placing his finger on a bug in his ear. "Proceeding with execution."

In the next instant, three things happened.

The first thing that happened was Asuka's expression changing form angry, to confused, to startled, to complete absolute terror, and finally, grudging bewilderment.

The second thing was the man she bumped into producing a silenced .99 millimeter handgun, and the pointing it at Asuka, still well hidden from any bystanders under his coat.

The third thing that happened was the man being knocked senseless, along with every other shadow nearby.

"Holy… - Mother of… How in the - What the fuck just happened!" Asuka screamed, as she reacted to the various proceedings that transpired.

Naomi appeared before her, her final blow dealt to the last hit man.

"Really, Mrs. Soryu," Naomi said, half-heartedly. "The Master holds you in such high esteem. I would have thought you of all people wouldn't have neglected your security detail."

Asuka, tense from both her argument and recent events, was not in the mood to take jabs. "What the hell do you want? I left Shinji to you, lady – I'd have thought you'd be appreciative of that."

Naomi closed her eyes and lowered her voice. "Much as I care for the Master, I am not at liberty to make decisions regarding his life…or yours."

Asuka just glared. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Naomi sighed, turning to walk. "He asked me to help you, Asuka. He…he knew that you'd be in danger after last night, and he knew…he knew that you'd head off on your own. He…he really does care, Mrs. Soryu."

Asuka didn't respond.

"The Master is this way. Follow me if you still want to talk."

Asuka crossed her arms, intent on standing her ground. But Naomi just walked away.

Asuka was practically quaking with fury. "Oh…damn it all!"

She rushed to follow her.

xxxxx

"Now, are you going to explain to me why I'm still talking to you?" Asuka demanded, sitting across form Shinji in his limo. Naomi was sitting next to him, a comfortable distance from him, but her eyes never left him, and when they did, they were on the floor.

"You could at least pretend to be grateful," Shinji murmured. "But then, you never could."

Oddly, this only served to anger Asuka further.

"God damn it, Shinji, that's why I left! That, right there: Every time I'm with you, somehow, you always manage to make me feel inferior!"

Shinji shrugged. "Is that supposed to be my fault?"

"See? There you go again!" Asuka yammered.

"Asuka," Shinji sighed. "Has it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe, you should listen to what other people have to say to you? Maybe even let it affect you? Just a little?"

Asuka just glared. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Shinji shook his head. "You've been independent from the moment I've met you – and that's a fact that's not going to change. I'm no fool. But couldn't you – for once – be satisfied with the fact that maybe some part of your life is the way it is because of someone else?"

Asuka continued glaring. Naomi sat, coolly next to him, her calm, hidden power the only thing keeping Asuka from strangling the man before her.

"You are an asshole," Asuka said, about as calm and collected as possible. "And I never want to see you again."

Shinji just sighed, closing his eyes, the car coming to a halt. "Well, how convenient for you that this is your stop? VERSTAND headquarters awaits you, Asuka. Mustn't disappoint the big guys up top, now. They need their assistant VP real badly."

Asuka sat and pointed a finger. "Well, at least I'm not running away from all my problems!"

"No," Shinji shot back. "You're just pretending like they don't even bother you, when it's perfectly clear to the rest of us what kind of affect it's having on you."

"Why…you…" Asuka fumigated. "I hate you!"

"Is that all you can think of saying?" Shinji growled. "You lose out in an argument, so all you can do is yell out your opinion in hopes that it somehow justifies you?"

Asuka had just about had it. She slapped Shinji across the face, a look of fury in her eyes.

Naomi was on her feet instantly, her tiny fists balled at her sides, ready to defend her master.

But Shinji just sat her back down with his left hand, as his right clenched his jaw. "Heh…at least your swing's gotten better. It's been a while since I felt a good sting like that!"

Asuka threw her arms up, and started for the door of the limousine. "I can't win with you, can I?"

Asuka stomped out of the limo, and marched away. Shinji opened the window and stuck his head out. "One last thing, before you go."

Asuka practically grunted, as she thrust her turned her head back in his direction.

"He…is still alive…and he's closer to you than you realize."

Asuka gave him a perplexed look, as he retreated back into the limo, and the chauffeur drove it away.

xxxxx

Dr. Maya Ibuki, now a fully fledged scientist in her mid-thirties, had been up all night long for the past week, perfecting, what she considered at least, to be her greatest brainchild: The LCL combat suit.

The premise was to harness the power of an Evangelion unit, and compact it to the nano-scopic level, fitting it into a highly modified plug suit.

Of course, it was still in the design phase. The only unit ever released was entrusted to the former Third Child, and that had been mostly out of guilt. The Third Child had known, and had objected, to his bodyguard taking it into possession, but she had been so adamant about using it.

Maya sighed. She had not been able to wheedle out all the bugs and glitches, and there was still the risk of overloading and force-feedback. Both the bodyguard and the Third Child had been aware of the risks, and yet she still wanted it. Why had she let her take it, Maya wondered. How could she possibly justify herself?

"Hello, Maya," came a voice, as she worked in her lab. The lab was semblant to the one back at NERV with Rei's testing tube, only, instead of Rei in the fluid, there were three plastic manikins with the test model plug suits on them.

Maya jerked form her work with a start. "Who's there?"

The speaker stepped into view, with a smile. "It's been a long time."

Maya gasped. "It's…it's you!"

The speaker smiled. "Yes, it's me. You've done well for yourself, Dr. Ibuki. Leading scientist at VERSTAND. Impressive."

Maya inclined her head. "Yes…um, sorry, I…haven't really seen you around."

The speaker shrugged. "I try to keep a low profile."

Maya tugged at her collar, clearly discomforted. "So…what brings you here? I take it this isn't a social call."

The speaker smiled. "You're as perceptive as the woman you trained under, Doctor. Seeing as though I'm no longer in any position to give orders, I'll simply ask as a favor: I need one of your Combat Suits."

Maya gulped, her possessiveness as a scientist instilling reluctance. "My…my suits? I can't just give you one of my suits!"

The speaker nodded. "You can, and you will, Doctor. Because, if you don't…then there's a good chance that the Third Child might die."

xxxxx

As Maya stepped outside her lab, shaken and disturbed from her encounter, it was no surprise that she just about fell over from a panic attack after smacking into Asuka.

"Ahh! Oh…I'm sorry, Asuka!" she said, after regaining her composure.

"What! Who do you think you – Oh, Maya, it's you," Asuka muttered. "Sorry, I'm…not really in the mood to chat today."

Maya nodded. "Of course, I'm sure you're busy. I'll see you around."

They parted ways, before Asuka stopped and turned around. "Hey, actually, could I ask you something?"

Maya turned around and forced a smile. "Sure, what is it?"

Asuka bit her lip. "I've heard from a…a reliable source that Commander Ikari is still alive."

Maya's heart was in her throat. "Commander…Ikari?"

Asuka nodded. "Yeah. Have you heard anything about that?"

Maya gulped visibly, loosening her collar. "No, ma'am…not at all."

Asuka wrinkled her nose, but gave a shrug. "Oh well, maybe it's just a rumor. See you later."

Maya watched her leave, and breathed a deep sigh of relief.

xxxxx

No matter how deeply Asuka plunged herself into her work, she couldn't shake the emotions that plagued her. Having not seen him for ten years, only to return and find him as he was. And then…after everything looked like it might finally be ok, it just blows up.

Asuka pounded her desk, causing her secretary to jump. "Dammit! I can't do this!"

She got to her feet, shoved her chair under her desk, and grabbed her coat.

"Dianna, I'm taking the rest of the day off," she hollered to her secretary, who has been giving her a puzzled look.

The young woman just nodded. "Alright, Mrs. Soryu. Should I reschedule your conference with the board?"

Asuka huffed. "Shit, that's today? Alright, fine, fine, reschedule it."

"Very good, Mrs. Soryu. Have a nice day."

"You too," Asuka breathed, as she walked out.

Half an hour later, she was at the top of a hill overlooking most of Munich, standing in front of a gravestone marked KYOKO ZEPPELIN SORYU.

"You'll never guess who I met today, mom," Asuka muttered. "You remember Shinji Ikari? That guy I worked with at NERV? Well, it turns out he's been living in the suburbs of Munich all this time. Heh…He's been less than ten minutes away, and I've been ignoring him all this time. He must really hate me."

"He doesn't hate you," came a voice. "He just worries about you. Especially when you start talking to gravestones."

It was Shinji

Asuka sighed. "You again? Haven't I put up with you long enough for one day?"

He was standing behind her and to the left. Naomi was by his side, reverent as always.

Shinji walked over to her. "Come on, Asuka…give me another chance. I sorta…blew up at you."

Asuka nodded. "Yeah, you sorta did."

Shinji frowned. "Be fair, now, you blew up at me too."

Asuka harrumphed. "Yeah, well, maybe you deserved it."

Shinji sighed. "Yeah, well…maybe you did to."

"Fine," Asuka huffed.

"Fine," Shinji retaliated.

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"…"

"…"

"Fine."

"Just stop."

"Fine."

Asuka glared. "Shinji!"

Shinji fake cringed. "No, I meant it that time."

Asuka sighed. "Would you just be quiet? Seriously?"

Shinji smiled. "Only if you come back to my place for lunch."

Asuka practically gawked at him, not even annoyed anymore. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Shinji smiled. "More than you know."

Asuka nodded. "Alright, fine, lunch it is."

There was an awkward pause as they both turned to the grave.

"Somehow I knew I'd find you here."

Asuka couldn't help but smile. "Evidently, considering you're here. It's odd – I usually don't spend that much time. Nor do I talk to my mom's grave. Guess I'm just making up for lost time."

Shinji smiled. "Well, I'll take it as a compliment that I had that much of an affect on your daily life."

Asuka laughed. "Do you ever get tired of doing this?"

Shinji smiled. "Nope."

Asuka heaved a deep sigh; but she had to admit, she felt better. Especially now that things were better between her and Shinji.

Then, off in the distance, the sound of a VTOL rang the sky.

"Expecting company?" Asuka murmured, noticing its approach.

"No. You? You're the VERSTAND employee, after all."

Asuka shook her head. "It's not one of ours…"

Shinji cringed. "Asuka…please tell me you brought your security detail when you left VERSTAND."

Asuka looked obliviously at him. "Why would I bother with that? After your maid's little coup, I figured they wouldn't try another hit."

"This is the girl who could do quantum mechanics in her preteens?" Shinji said with a look of incredulousness.

"What are you implying?"

"Nothing! Come on, we gotta go!" Shinji was shouting now. The VTOL's overhead were definitely after them. Already, their approach was stirring up a draft. They were skimming low, as the side hatches began to open.

Naomi, the fastest of the three, had been running them at a considerable speed. But she was not fast enough to get them away from the VTOL's, as it they dropped their troops, surrounding them. The gust from the VTOL's was kicking up dust and dirt, and Naomi's cloak was fluttering in the wind.

Naomi stood before her master, though they were surrounded on all sides.

"Stay down, Master," she commanded.

"Naomi, no," Shinji said. "There's too many of them."

"I will defend you, Master," Naomi said, defiantly.

"Naomi, think for a minute…if you sacrifice yourself now, what good will that do me the next time they attack? It's your presence alone that makes these attacks as infrequent as they are."

Shinji didn't truly believe what he was saying. He could honestly care less if he died right then and there. But he knew what he had to say to convince Naomi to stop pushing herself.

"You call this infrequent?" Asuka muttered. "Twice in one day?"

"Hate to break it to you, but I'm pretty sure that's because they've recognized you, Asuka."

"Oh, that's flattering," Asuka droned, sarcastically.

"Hands up!" one of the soldiers called, once they got into range.

"Hold on, Master!" Naomi shouted, grabbing him by the back of his collar.

"Naomi!" he shouted in reaction.

She grabbed Asuka's coat too, and in a flash, lifted off the ground and into the air.

The soldier's fired at her, but she twisted herself in mid air to avoid as many of the bullets as she could. But, she couldn't avoid all of them, and since her primary objective was to protect Shinji and his friend, the bullets hit her.

"Naomi!" Shinji shouted, feeling her convulse in mid-air.

"I'm fine Master," Naomi sputtered. "It just grazed me."

"Uh…Shinji?" Asuka muttered. "We're a…long…way…up."

Shinji looked down, and realized that they were a good sixty or seventy meters in the air, they've cleared the hillside, and were descending into downtown Munich.

"Don't worry…Naomi's done this before…I think…"

Asuka was on the verge of screaming her head off by the time they approached the ground. Naomi landed in the city, and had diverted her fall by kicking off the sides of buildings as she descended. Still, she hit the ground with a hard, audible thud, sending Shinji and Asuka rolling.

Shinji was up and instantly by Naomi's side. "Naomi! Are you hurt?"

Naomi got to her feet with no amount of ease. "No sir."

Shinji's face contorted. "Liar. Now show me where you've been hit."

"Sir, the…the VTOL…" Naomi argued. "It won't take them long to circle around and find us!"

"You first," Shinji cried. "Now take off that combat suit."

Asuka had to contain an accusatory remark. She was smart enough to realize, however, that even if Shinji's intentions were bad, now was not the time to be pointing it out.

All thoughts of perverseness vanished in the blink of an eye, however, when Asuka saw just what she looked like underneath the battle suit.

"Mein…Gott…"

Running in and out of Naomi's skin, located at her wrists, neck, knees, feet, and chest, right over the heart, were tubes. Translucent tubes filled with yellow fluid. LCL. The tubes connected her skin to the suit at similar locations throughout the body. There was no blood in her system…there was only LCL!

"Shinji…tell me that this girl hasn't been like this for all this time!" Asuka demanded.

Shinji wasn't paying attention. He was focused entirely on the bullets wounds Naomi had received. She was bleeding from the shoulder, the left hip, and the right thigh. How she had managed to break their fall with all these injuries was a miracle beyond comprehension.

"Naomi…we've got to get you to a hospital!"

"I'll be fine, Master…" she said, weakly, a blush forming underneath her eyes. Underneath the suit, she was completely bare. Only the tubes that connected her to her suit lay beneath.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Shinji said, exasperated. "You need help, now!"

"Whatever we do," Asuka said. "We better do it fast! Here come the stalkers!"

Shinji looked up to confirm his worst fears. The VTOL coming, this time, the soldiers firing their weapons from the open side hatches.

Shinji threw himself on top of Naomi to protect her. Asuka, in turn, threw herself on top of Shinji. All three of them waited for the inevitable outcome.

But nothing happened.

When they looked up, all they could see was smoldering wreckage. The VTOL had crashed.

"What in the…" Shinji said, dumfounded.

That's when he saw the figure standing before the wreckage. The figure stood tall, looming silently, observing its work. The VTOL hadn't crashed…it had been knocked down. By this newcomer!

The figure turned from the wreckage and approached Shinji and the others, their steps light and even.

Shinji gasped to see the faint outlines of a plug suit. He could make out the figure now, and found that there savior was no "it," but rather a "she."

"Misato…"

xxxxx

A/N: Well, there's chapter Two. I'm really enjoying writing this, though it's making me stay up late, so the later it gets, the lazier my writing style gets, and I lose my sense for detail.

Read and Review.