Disclaimer: Neon Genesis Evangelion is Owned by Gainax. Buy the DVD's of
the Series and the Movies from them. I did, and it was worth every dime.
I don't own anything except my DVD's, and this is done for my own
satisfaction.
Episode 2:24 The Reunion
Takes place after 1st season, and the End of Evangelion Movie.
Presumed date is June 6th, 2019
Misato, Ryouji, Toji, Hikari, Kensuke, Nazomi and Mari stood at the back door to the Aida house, looking out the back windows at Shinji sitting on the steps of the deck, eating strawberries. The red headed woman had just glided out from his house, wearing the same elegant dress she'd worn the last time they'd seen her.
"She's a little taller, but she has the same figure," Hikari said, watching as Asuka kneeled quietly behind Shinji and put her hands over his eyes.
"She's changed in other ways though," Aida said.
"How so?"
"When she saw Toji and I she ran up and hugged us. She was actually happy to see us," he said.
"You guys know that Asuka never really hated you right?" Hikari asked, drawing sarcastic smirks from her husband and her sister's boyfriend.
They both looked back outside. Shinji was standing up now, Asuka behind him, hands on his shoulders.
"I wish we could hear what they're saying," Misato said.
"Shhh... just watch," her husband said, goosing her.
Shinji was turning around. He stood there, unmoving, and slowly began to shake his head.
"What's he doing, why doesn't he kiss her?" Nazomi asked.
"Shhh. He hasn't opened his eyes to look at her yet. He's in total denial."
They watched for several more moments, and then saw Shinji's withdrawn and defensive body posture.
"Uh, oh," Toji and Kensuke both said.
"What is it?" little Mari asked.
"Shhh... keep watching."
Shinji's AT field had materialized around him, and Asuka was stepping back away from him, shaking her head. She looked like she was about to turn and run.
"Don't do it Asuka. I told you this might happen. Don't give up," Misato said, trying to encourage Asuka from here.
Asuka's brow furrowed in concentration, and an AT field to match Shinji's sputtered and faltered into place around her. She stepped forward, and the fields touched. She reached forward, and the fields parted at her touch. Then she was through, and holding Shinji, and they watched as she leaned up on tiptoes and kissed him.
His eyes snapped open, and he was looking at her.
"Finally," they all gasped, releasing the breath they'd been holding.
Shinji sagged, and pulled her to him, and they sat there holding each other for long moments while they cried. They couldn't hear it, when he said her name, or when she answered, but they saw the effect. Shinji's AT field was still raised, although it was faltering and flashing with instability. The explosion shook the houses, the whole neighborhood, and frightened the birds in the forest into flight. A burst of purple light had flashed skyward, and a 1000-foot tall cross of energy appeared before fading.
"Whoa," they all said, and rocked for a moment on their feet.
The were talking again, looking into each others eyes, and then Asuka grabbed him and pulled him into a kiss.
"Mari cover your eyes," Toji said, not taking his eyes off the scene.
"Awww," she whined. "But I see you and Hikari and Kensuke and Nazomi kiss like that all the time." She was still watching. "Whoa. Maybe not, that's some kiss. Hubba hubba," the little girl said, and all the adults looked down at her, annoyed, and pushed her to the back of the group.
"Hey!" she shouted, and stomped her foot.
Finally Shinji and Asuka broke their kiss, and sat there looking into each others eyes. Shinji carried her up onto the deck, refusing to release her for any reason, and sat her down at the table, finally taking a seat next to her, but still keeping her hands covered with his.
"Okay folks, I think the excitements over for now. They're going to need to talk for a while, and we need to get this place ready for the new couple," Misato said turning to look at Kensuke and Nazomi.
"What about the two of them?" Kensuke asked, jerking a thumb at the pair outside.
"I'm sure they'll let us know if they need anything."
"Asuka, when, how, did you get back?"
"Early this morning. I flew in direct from Germany, sub orbital. Took about 90 minutes of flight time from Berlin to Nagoya."
"How?"
"An EVA. I found the two units that NERV Berlin had completed before Third Impact. I took one, and destroyed the other in Combat as a Legionnaire. I also destroyed another Legionnaire before I fought the EVA."
"So the Legionnaires are attacking other parts of the world," he said, grimly.
"No, that was the first time they attacked anywhere else. I'm pretty sure its' because I was there," she answered.
"How can you be sure they aren't attacking somewhere else even as we speak?"
"I can't be, but as of yesterday they hadn't. The NERV branch in Berlin is totally intact with their Magi computers. They have access to the entire Global surveillance system. The Shepherd is really restricting what we can see. We'll need to upgrade it or replace it before we can get in contact with the other facilities.
She shook out her hair, and Shinji noticed appreciatively that she'd let it grow out, and it now fell down to her slender waist.
"Enough business, I've spent the last twelve hours in meetings and briefings at the base, and I didn't come all the way here because I wanted to talk shop."
"I'm sorry," Shinji said, bowing his head.
"Now that's awfully familiar," she grinned. "But Toji said you'd changed."
"Well, I have, I mean, you can see some of the changes," he said, standing up and turning around. Sometime in the intervening years he'd had another growth spurt and had hit 5'8". His body, still lean and trim, showed muscle and definition that hadn't been there before.
"Hey. You're not the only one," she said, standing and twirling around. She was taller now, but not by much, maybe 5'4", her hair was longer, but other than that, physically she remained as she had been. Her bright and easy smile, and soft loving manner, however, were an even bigger change than the physical changes.
They both sat back down, and held hands again.
"Okay, so we've both grown up. Given. It's been three years, but what happened to you?" Shinji said.
"Well after I thought I'd killed you with the plane, I decided to head back to Germany. I wasn't exactly rational at the time."
"I kind of noticed."
"So I set down in Novosibirsk, Russia when I ran out of fuel," she took a deep cleansing breath, and clutched his hands. "Before I could get very far, I got caught by some really nasty guys, and they beat me up pretty bad." She cried softly, "I thought that they'd... that they'd... you know. I didn't know for sure. I passed out. When I woke up I was outside town, alone, and pretty beaten up. I was also bruised and sore everywhere. Anyway I found a horse, and started riding to the west. I couldn't find any cars that were worth taking. I entered Omsk about two weeks later, and spent the next couple years there."
"I had new friends in Omsk, Shinji, and I was able to finally learn to be myself, and to let the old Asuka go, at least the nasty parts of her. There was a retired therapist there, and he helped me deal with a lot of my problems. He also hypnotized me, and took me back to my assault. Lots of it was still blurry, but I was able to lay to rest the fact that I had not been sexually assaulted. They'd kicked and beaten me, but I'd managed to escape. Using my AT field, I now realize."
He drew her too him, holding her while she sniffed and clutched him, not saying a word, just being there for her. She let him go, and pulled back.
"Then, two nights in a row, I had dreams about you. I knew they weren't normal dreams, and when you asked me to go to Germany, I had to leave, so I did. It took six long months of riding to make Berlin, but I finally made it in January."
"Sorry, I was so vague, but I just got this vision one night, and I knew I had to tell you. It took me weeks to contact you. And then, every time I tried to again, I couldn't," he explained.
"Anyhow, I made it to Berlin, and spent the next five months trying to find out what was going on. Turns out, the base commander was a Legionnaire. He'd sealed up the EVA's, and made sure anyone who might know about them was conveniently gotten rid of. But I couldn't find the EVA's. Then I had another dream, and was led to the EVA's. When I woke up, I headed right to them. I joined with Unit 05, which is almost the spitting image of my Unit 02, and picked up some weapons to fight against the Legionnaire that had appeared."
"Berlin had been hands off until that time, but apparently it wasn't any more. I killed it, but then the base commander came crawling out of the base in Unit 06. We fought, he died, and I was free to come back here. Back to you."
"But how?"
"The EVA. I have wings too," she said.
"You do? I thought that was something unique to me?"
"Unique to us, you mean. Anyway, I'd seen you do you're wing thing on the surveillance footage that Berlin has, so I tried to do it too. Once they were there, I decided to see how fast they could go. I flew up high into the atmosphere, staying just sub-orbital, and dropped down here. I landed outside the Base at just before 2:00 am local time. I called the base, to let them know I was a friendly, and got Maya Ibuki. She called Misato, Misato called Kensuke and Toji, and we spent the next six hours in meetings while I was debriefed on the current situation."
"What is the situation?"
"Aida and Suzuhara are going to choose eight Cherubim to return to Germany and guard the base there. Doctor Akagi might also be going, but I don't know yet. Germany is where most of the advanced research for the EVA's was done, and they've got some serious weapons in their storage vaults. And from what I've seen of your battles, you could use something a little more devastating than a single Magical Lance."
"That Lance has saved my ass, on numerous occasions," Shinji pointed out.
"And its' good for you, but the Cherubim need something with more punch than just big steel swords. Maybe we can prevent what happened back in April," she said.
Shinji froze. Kim's death was thrust upon him, suddenly, but that wasn't all that had happened in April. Kikyo, had happened in April.
"Asuka. There's something I need to tell you. About that Cherub pilot, her death, and a stupid mistake I made," he said.
"Shush, love. I already know. Misato told me. She was your friend, and her loss hurt you badly. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you then," she soothed.
"That's not all of it, Asuka. The next day we buried her, and then had a wake. I got really drunk, and I... I... I..." he was getting choked up, trying to get this out. He had to tell her, or he'd carry it around forever.
He sniffed, and looked up at her, eyes shining. "I did something really stupid, Asuka. Stupid and selfish. I... I didn't wait for you Asuka," he said softly.
"I know, Misato told me," she answered, leaning forward to hold him, as he began to sob. He pulled away from her, holding her back, away from him, and looked at her.
"Misato told you. What did she tell you?"
"About Kikyo. How she took advantage of you at a very vulnerable time. About how you were so drunk you don't remember anything."
Shinji shook his head, "But that's just it Asuka. That's what makes it so bad. I couldn't remember what happened for the first couple days, but now I remember everything about it. I just didn't want them to know that, so I've never said anything. It would have made it all the harder to face them."
She nodded, slightly shocked that Shinji would lie to his closest friends.
"Shinji, I talked a long time about this to Misato, and I think if you're going to get through this, if WE are going to get through this, you're going to have to tell me everything. Start wherever you want to."
Shinji looked down at the ground, and clutched her hands, feeling ashamed.
"Back in October of last year a young woman Kim Keller was chosen as one of the new Cherubim Pilots. We became friends quickly, not romantically mind you, just friends. Then, one night, she asked me to dance," he started, and continued on for some time, telling Asuka about the evenings they had spent going to the O-Club, sparring in the gym, or dancing with their friends. Everyone else had thought they were a couple, but they both knew it wasn't true. Still, no one disabused the general public of that knowledge, and it gave Shinji peace and comfort to be left alone by the single female population of the base.
"And then she was laying there dead, and I'd failed her. The next day I was numb. I started drinking pretty heavily early that morning, and kept it up, all the way until late into the night. I was about the last one in the bar, when Kikyo sat down next to me and started talking. I ignored her at first, lost in my own bottle. I was sitting there thinking about Kim's death, and was having a hard time convincing myself that you were still alive somewhere."
"I remember telling myself that you were probably dead, and I'd never see you again, and it became this little mantra running through my head as I drank. The next hour is kind of a blur. I remember drinking a lot more, and then getting a ride. I thought at first someone was bringing me here, but then we pulled up to Kikyo's house, and she got me out of the car, and we staggered into the house." He sniffled, still staring at the ground, and not looking up, as he described his numb acceptance of her touch, and her eventual deflowering of him. He wasn't exactly an active participant, but he didn't stop her, and he knew he could have. He just didn't care.
"And then I woke up next to her, and realized what I'd done, and I hated myself. I knew that if you were still alive out there somewhere I'd just broken my promise to wait for you. I'd just betrayed you in the worst way possible," he sobbed.
"Shinji, look at me," she said.
He didn't raise his eyes.
"Look at me," she said, louder.
He looked at her, and saw that there were tears in her eyes.
"Shinji do you love Kikyo?" she asked.
"NO! God's Asuka, how could you ask me that?" he cried.
"Because I need to know if I've really lost you, or you just had a weak moment and sought out what little comfort was available to you," she answered.
"No, I don't love her. But I made a terrible mistake, and I betrayed you," he said.
"And I forgive you. It's not your fault Shinji, you were suffering from a devastating loss, and this woman took advantage of that, and the other things you were feeling to satisfy herself."
"But I didn't wait for you. And you did. You're still..." he stopped.
"That's right, I am, but I didn't realize that until about a year ago. I thought that all that had been taken away from me. Look at me. I'm sorry you had to go through all this alone. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me most. I needed to find myself Shinji, and love myself, so that we could love each other. I did, and nothing's ever going to keep us apart again. Especially not you're grief," she said, clasping his face in her hands.
She kissed him, softly at first, and then deepening, as they comforted each other, and shared the grief they both felt. She got up and slid over to him, sitting down in his lap, and wrapping her arms around his neck, continuing to kiss him the whole time. Soon Shinji began to relax and enjoy the kisses, returning them in kind.
"Are they still talking?" Ryouji asked.
"Not anymore, she just sat down on his lap, and they're kissing again. As upset as Shinji looked a minute ago, I'd wager he told her about Kim and Kikyo," Misato said, still looking out the back window.
"That couldn't have been fun," Ryouji said.
"No, but I prepared her for it. Ritsuko and I told her what he'd been through. Everything. We didn't hold back any punches. She was pretty upset at first, but when we explained the events in detail she actually got pretty angry."
"Poor Ikari," Ryouji muttered, shaking his head.
"No dear. Poor Kikyo. Asuka has already forgiven Shinji, but she wants to make sure that that young woman crosses her path sometime soon. And I'm tempted to oblige her," Misato said, her voice growing vindictive with every syllable.
"You wouldn't," Ryouji said.
"Oh you bet I would buster. Nobody messes with the emotions of my children and gets off scot free. That little bitch knew what she was doing, and didn't care."
"Still, Shinji's the only one of us who never doubted that Asuka was going to return. Everyone else, including you Misato, figured she wouldn't come back, and the rumor around the base was that she was dead. This girl may have just thought that Shinji deserved better than to waste his life waiting for a lost love. Hind sight is 20/20."
"Not if Asuka gouges out her eyes. And I'll loan her the spoon," Misato whispered.
Ryouji coughed at his wife's callous disregard for the well-being of one of her own command staff members. Even if the girl had since been dismissed.
"Hey Misato, Ryouji, Hikari's going to make some Sukiyaki, and Kensuke's gonna fire up the Hibachi for some beef sticks. Are Shinji and Asuka done talking yet?" Toji asked.
Misato looked out the window; Shinji and Asuka were still wrapped around each other, on the large deck chair, and were passionately kissing.
"Um, yeah, they're done talking Toji, but I think you're risking you're life if you go out there and interrupt Asuka right now," Misato observed. Hikari and Nazomi ran over to look out the window, and then melted at what they saw.
"Why, what's going on?" Toji asked, and his wife turned on him with a scowl. Asuka'd been back in Japan less than 24 hours, and already she'd turned his wife against him. Amazing how things slipped back into the old patterns. By the end of the week he fully expected that Asuka would be storming around, calling Ikari "Baka Shinji," as she used to.
The three women were gazing out the window fondly, and then moved slowly away from it, the two younger going to he kitchen to prepare dinner, while Misato walked over to Ryouji and kissed him.
"Well?" Toji asked, growing frustrated that no one would answer his earlier question.
"Well what?" Misato asked.
"Well, what's going on?" he almost shouted, exasperated.
"Asuka's staking her claim," Misato answered, reaching up to scratch Ryouji's chin.
Toji and Kensuke looked at each other, a wide grin breaking out on their faces.
"All Right! Now that's what I call a Birthday Present," they both said.
Two onions flew out of the kitchen, one striking each of them, and they ducked and ran back into the living room.
"We'll remember that come you're birthdays you Baka Hentai," said Hikari and Nazomi.
On the back of his deck, Shinji Ikari looked up at the red haired angel that was sitting on his lap, when they finally broke the kiss, and locked eyes with her.
"I love you, Asuka Langley Soryu," he breathed.
"I love you, Shinji Ikari," she answered. "But I think we need to go inside."
"I'm comfortable just like this," he said.
"If you think I'm giving you the rest of your present out here on the deck, you are sadly mistaken, Shin-chan."
"Why Asu-chan, are you saying you've got something for me?" he said, slyly.
"And it's waited four years for you to open it, so you better treat it nice," she said, smiling. She stood up, and took his right hand in her left, and led him inside the house. There weren't any lights on as they entered, and they were soon lost inside the darkened structure.
Omake (extra)
Thirty minutes later Kensuke and Toji were out behind the Aida house, working over the Hibachi with their fans, making sure the coals burned at the right temperature to make sure the kebobs they had cooking were done just right. The door to the kitchen was open, and the five other members of their group were passing in and out, a very festive mood bubbling between them.
"Toji, man, I'm telling you, I'm gonna need a deck quick. I didn't have time today to order the boards, but I'll do that first thing in the morning, but I'm gonna need yours and Ikari's help to put the thing in. Ryouji, you too, if you're willing to help."
"Sure thing Kensuke. Can't have you being the only one in the neighborhood without a deck to entertain on. Want to continue the tradition, and just build a big old extension off of mine to cover over here too?" Toji answered. Ryouji was also nodding an affirmative that he'd help too.
"Well, I think just a deck off the back of the house here, will be a good place to start. Bridging the two together can be a project for some other time. Trying to do it all at once sounds like a big job,"
"So, think we should make extra just in case Ikari and Soryu decide to join the party after all?" Kensuke asked, tossing Ryouji another beer.
Just then a loud moan could be heard echoing between the houses, and off the trees behind the houses. The single moan became a series of moans, and then cries, and finally screams. The three men looked at each other, all sporting wide grins.
"I don't think they're going to be making it over tonight," Ryouji observed.
Just then Mari ran out of the house, and cocked an ear to listen to the strange sounds. The three men shooed her back inside the house, where she went with a pout and a stomp of the foot.
"But why can't I stay outside," she demanded.
"Not now Mari," Toji said.
"I mean it's not like Hikari sounds much different. Of course, she's not as loud, but," Toji slapped his hand over his little sisters mouth, and turned to look at the others.
"Hehe, Kids say the darndest things. Come here Mari, we need to have a little talk about how long you're going to live."
Mari screeched and ran off, locking herself in the cubby hole under the stairs and refusing to come out until reassured by Auntie Misato that she'd be safe.
This concludes the Second Season of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Be here for the premiere of Season three, "Last Best Hope."
Next: on Episode 3:01 of Neon Genesis Evangelion:
Shinji and Asuka spend the next few days together, while life goes on around them. Plans are set into motion that will bring the NERV base up to full speed, and hopefully enable them to contact to the German Branch. But a new threat arrives in an attempt to put a stop to their plans, and Shinji and Asuka must end their idyllic reunion.
It's Evangelion Episode 3:01 Upgrade
A/N: I have had some people ask me if I'm going to write a Shinji Asuka Lemon, and I have to admit, I already have. This chapter has had the Lemon bit removed to make it palatable to FanFiction.net and other Non NC-17 Archives. I am currently formatting the deleted pages so that they can be a Lemon Side story available on some of the other archives. Most likely to be found at EVAMADE.com when I finish it.
Episode 2:24 The Reunion
Takes place after 1st season, and the End of Evangelion Movie.
Presumed date is June 6th, 2019
Misato, Ryouji, Toji, Hikari, Kensuke, Nazomi and Mari stood at the back door to the Aida house, looking out the back windows at Shinji sitting on the steps of the deck, eating strawberries. The red headed woman had just glided out from his house, wearing the same elegant dress she'd worn the last time they'd seen her.
"She's a little taller, but she has the same figure," Hikari said, watching as Asuka kneeled quietly behind Shinji and put her hands over his eyes.
"She's changed in other ways though," Aida said.
"How so?"
"When she saw Toji and I she ran up and hugged us. She was actually happy to see us," he said.
"You guys know that Asuka never really hated you right?" Hikari asked, drawing sarcastic smirks from her husband and her sister's boyfriend.
They both looked back outside. Shinji was standing up now, Asuka behind him, hands on his shoulders.
"I wish we could hear what they're saying," Misato said.
"Shhh... just watch," her husband said, goosing her.
Shinji was turning around. He stood there, unmoving, and slowly began to shake his head.
"What's he doing, why doesn't he kiss her?" Nazomi asked.
"Shhh. He hasn't opened his eyes to look at her yet. He's in total denial."
They watched for several more moments, and then saw Shinji's withdrawn and defensive body posture.
"Uh, oh," Toji and Kensuke both said.
"What is it?" little Mari asked.
"Shhh... keep watching."
Shinji's AT field had materialized around him, and Asuka was stepping back away from him, shaking her head. She looked like she was about to turn and run.
"Don't do it Asuka. I told you this might happen. Don't give up," Misato said, trying to encourage Asuka from here.
Asuka's brow furrowed in concentration, and an AT field to match Shinji's sputtered and faltered into place around her. She stepped forward, and the fields touched. She reached forward, and the fields parted at her touch. Then she was through, and holding Shinji, and they watched as she leaned up on tiptoes and kissed him.
His eyes snapped open, and he was looking at her.
"Finally," they all gasped, releasing the breath they'd been holding.
Shinji sagged, and pulled her to him, and they sat there holding each other for long moments while they cried. They couldn't hear it, when he said her name, or when she answered, but they saw the effect. Shinji's AT field was still raised, although it was faltering and flashing with instability. The explosion shook the houses, the whole neighborhood, and frightened the birds in the forest into flight. A burst of purple light had flashed skyward, and a 1000-foot tall cross of energy appeared before fading.
"Whoa," they all said, and rocked for a moment on their feet.
The were talking again, looking into each others eyes, and then Asuka grabbed him and pulled him into a kiss.
"Mari cover your eyes," Toji said, not taking his eyes off the scene.
"Awww," she whined. "But I see you and Hikari and Kensuke and Nazomi kiss like that all the time." She was still watching. "Whoa. Maybe not, that's some kiss. Hubba hubba," the little girl said, and all the adults looked down at her, annoyed, and pushed her to the back of the group.
"Hey!" she shouted, and stomped her foot.
Finally Shinji and Asuka broke their kiss, and sat there looking into each others eyes. Shinji carried her up onto the deck, refusing to release her for any reason, and sat her down at the table, finally taking a seat next to her, but still keeping her hands covered with his.
"Okay folks, I think the excitements over for now. They're going to need to talk for a while, and we need to get this place ready for the new couple," Misato said turning to look at Kensuke and Nazomi.
"What about the two of them?" Kensuke asked, jerking a thumb at the pair outside.
"I'm sure they'll let us know if they need anything."
"Asuka, when, how, did you get back?"
"Early this morning. I flew in direct from Germany, sub orbital. Took about 90 minutes of flight time from Berlin to Nagoya."
"How?"
"An EVA. I found the two units that NERV Berlin had completed before Third Impact. I took one, and destroyed the other in Combat as a Legionnaire. I also destroyed another Legionnaire before I fought the EVA."
"So the Legionnaires are attacking other parts of the world," he said, grimly.
"No, that was the first time they attacked anywhere else. I'm pretty sure its' because I was there," she answered.
"How can you be sure they aren't attacking somewhere else even as we speak?"
"I can't be, but as of yesterday they hadn't. The NERV branch in Berlin is totally intact with their Magi computers. They have access to the entire Global surveillance system. The Shepherd is really restricting what we can see. We'll need to upgrade it or replace it before we can get in contact with the other facilities.
She shook out her hair, and Shinji noticed appreciatively that she'd let it grow out, and it now fell down to her slender waist.
"Enough business, I've spent the last twelve hours in meetings and briefings at the base, and I didn't come all the way here because I wanted to talk shop."
"I'm sorry," Shinji said, bowing his head.
"Now that's awfully familiar," she grinned. "But Toji said you'd changed."
"Well, I have, I mean, you can see some of the changes," he said, standing up and turning around. Sometime in the intervening years he'd had another growth spurt and had hit 5'8". His body, still lean and trim, showed muscle and definition that hadn't been there before.
"Hey. You're not the only one," she said, standing and twirling around. She was taller now, but not by much, maybe 5'4", her hair was longer, but other than that, physically she remained as she had been. Her bright and easy smile, and soft loving manner, however, were an even bigger change than the physical changes.
They both sat back down, and held hands again.
"Okay, so we've both grown up. Given. It's been three years, but what happened to you?" Shinji said.
"Well after I thought I'd killed you with the plane, I decided to head back to Germany. I wasn't exactly rational at the time."
"I kind of noticed."
"So I set down in Novosibirsk, Russia when I ran out of fuel," she took a deep cleansing breath, and clutched his hands. "Before I could get very far, I got caught by some really nasty guys, and they beat me up pretty bad." She cried softly, "I thought that they'd... that they'd... you know. I didn't know for sure. I passed out. When I woke up I was outside town, alone, and pretty beaten up. I was also bruised and sore everywhere. Anyway I found a horse, and started riding to the west. I couldn't find any cars that were worth taking. I entered Omsk about two weeks later, and spent the next couple years there."
"I had new friends in Omsk, Shinji, and I was able to finally learn to be myself, and to let the old Asuka go, at least the nasty parts of her. There was a retired therapist there, and he helped me deal with a lot of my problems. He also hypnotized me, and took me back to my assault. Lots of it was still blurry, but I was able to lay to rest the fact that I had not been sexually assaulted. They'd kicked and beaten me, but I'd managed to escape. Using my AT field, I now realize."
He drew her too him, holding her while she sniffed and clutched him, not saying a word, just being there for her. She let him go, and pulled back.
"Then, two nights in a row, I had dreams about you. I knew they weren't normal dreams, and when you asked me to go to Germany, I had to leave, so I did. It took six long months of riding to make Berlin, but I finally made it in January."
"Sorry, I was so vague, but I just got this vision one night, and I knew I had to tell you. It took me weeks to contact you. And then, every time I tried to again, I couldn't," he explained.
"Anyhow, I made it to Berlin, and spent the next five months trying to find out what was going on. Turns out, the base commander was a Legionnaire. He'd sealed up the EVA's, and made sure anyone who might know about them was conveniently gotten rid of. But I couldn't find the EVA's. Then I had another dream, and was led to the EVA's. When I woke up, I headed right to them. I joined with Unit 05, which is almost the spitting image of my Unit 02, and picked up some weapons to fight against the Legionnaire that had appeared."
"Berlin had been hands off until that time, but apparently it wasn't any more. I killed it, but then the base commander came crawling out of the base in Unit 06. We fought, he died, and I was free to come back here. Back to you."
"But how?"
"The EVA. I have wings too," she said.
"You do? I thought that was something unique to me?"
"Unique to us, you mean. Anyway, I'd seen you do you're wing thing on the surveillance footage that Berlin has, so I tried to do it too. Once they were there, I decided to see how fast they could go. I flew up high into the atmosphere, staying just sub-orbital, and dropped down here. I landed outside the Base at just before 2:00 am local time. I called the base, to let them know I was a friendly, and got Maya Ibuki. She called Misato, Misato called Kensuke and Toji, and we spent the next six hours in meetings while I was debriefed on the current situation."
"What is the situation?"
"Aida and Suzuhara are going to choose eight Cherubim to return to Germany and guard the base there. Doctor Akagi might also be going, but I don't know yet. Germany is where most of the advanced research for the EVA's was done, and they've got some serious weapons in their storage vaults. And from what I've seen of your battles, you could use something a little more devastating than a single Magical Lance."
"That Lance has saved my ass, on numerous occasions," Shinji pointed out.
"And its' good for you, but the Cherubim need something with more punch than just big steel swords. Maybe we can prevent what happened back in April," she said.
Shinji froze. Kim's death was thrust upon him, suddenly, but that wasn't all that had happened in April. Kikyo, had happened in April.
"Asuka. There's something I need to tell you. About that Cherub pilot, her death, and a stupid mistake I made," he said.
"Shush, love. I already know. Misato told me. She was your friend, and her loss hurt you badly. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you then," she soothed.
"That's not all of it, Asuka. The next day we buried her, and then had a wake. I got really drunk, and I... I... I..." he was getting choked up, trying to get this out. He had to tell her, or he'd carry it around forever.
He sniffed, and looked up at her, eyes shining. "I did something really stupid, Asuka. Stupid and selfish. I... I didn't wait for you Asuka," he said softly.
"I know, Misato told me," she answered, leaning forward to hold him, as he began to sob. He pulled away from her, holding her back, away from him, and looked at her.
"Misato told you. What did she tell you?"
"About Kikyo. How she took advantage of you at a very vulnerable time. About how you were so drunk you don't remember anything."
Shinji shook his head, "But that's just it Asuka. That's what makes it so bad. I couldn't remember what happened for the first couple days, but now I remember everything about it. I just didn't want them to know that, so I've never said anything. It would have made it all the harder to face them."
She nodded, slightly shocked that Shinji would lie to his closest friends.
"Shinji, I talked a long time about this to Misato, and I think if you're going to get through this, if WE are going to get through this, you're going to have to tell me everything. Start wherever you want to."
Shinji looked down at the ground, and clutched her hands, feeling ashamed.
"Back in October of last year a young woman Kim Keller was chosen as one of the new Cherubim Pilots. We became friends quickly, not romantically mind you, just friends. Then, one night, she asked me to dance," he started, and continued on for some time, telling Asuka about the evenings they had spent going to the O-Club, sparring in the gym, or dancing with their friends. Everyone else had thought they were a couple, but they both knew it wasn't true. Still, no one disabused the general public of that knowledge, and it gave Shinji peace and comfort to be left alone by the single female population of the base.
"And then she was laying there dead, and I'd failed her. The next day I was numb. I started drinking pretty heavily early that morning, and kept it up, all the way until late into the night. I was about the last one in the bar, when Kikyo sat down next to me and started talking. I ignored her at first, lost in my own bottle. I was sitting there thinking about Kim's death, and was having a hard time convincing myself that you were still alive somewhere."
"I remember telling myself that you were probably dead, and I'd never see you again, and it became this little mantra running through my head as I drank. The next hour is kind of a blur. I remember drinking a lot more, and then getting a ride. I thought at first someone was bringing me here, but then we pulled up to Kikyo's house, and she got me out of the car, and we staggered into the house." He sniffled, still staring at the ground, and not looking up, as he described his numb acceptance of her touch, and her eventual deflowering of him. He wasn't exactly an active participant, but he didn't stop her, and he knew he could have. He just didn't care.
"And then I woke up next to her, and realized what I'd done, and I hated myself. I knew that if you were still alive out there somewhere I'd just broken my promise to wait for you. I'd just betrayed you in the worst way possible," he sobbed.
"Shinji, look at me," she said.
He didn't raise his eyes.
"Look at me," she said, louder.
He looked at her, and saw that there were tears in her eyes.
"Shinji do you love Kikyo?" she asked.
"NO! God's Asuka, how could you ask me that?" he cried.
"Because I need to know if I've really lost you, or you just had a weak moment and sought out what little comfort was available to you," she answered.
"No, I don't love her. But I made a terrible mistake, and I betrayed you," he said.
"And I forgive you. It's not your fault Shinji, you were suffering from a devastating loss, and this woman took advantage of that, and the other things you were feeling to satisfy herself."
"But I didn't wait for you. And you did. You're still..." he stopped.
"That's right, I am, but I didn't realize that until about a year ago. I thought that all that had been taken away from me. Look at me. I'm sorry you had to go through all this alone. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me most. I needed to find myself Shinji, and love myself, so that we could love each other. I did, and nothing's ever going to keep us apart again. Especially not you're grief," she said, clasping his face in her hands.
She kissed him, softly at first, and then deepening, as they comforted each other, and shared the grief they both felt. She got up and slid over to him, sitting down in his lap, and wrapping her arms around his neck, continuing to kiss him the whole time. Soon Shinji began to relax and enjoy the kisses, returning them in kind.
"Are they still talking?" Ryouji asked.
"Not anymore, she just sat down on his lap, and they're kissing again. As upset as Shinji looked a minute ago, I'd wager he told her about Kim and Kikyo," Misato said, still looking out the back window.
"That couldn't have been fun," Ryouji said.
"No, but I prepared her for it. Ritsuko and I told her what he'd been through. Everything. We didn't hold back any punches. She was pretty upset at first, but when we explained the events in detail she actually got pretty angry."
"Poor Ikari," Ryouji muttered, shaking his head.
"No dear. Poor Kikyo. Asuka has already forgiven Shinji, but she wants to make sure that that young woman crosses her path sometime soon. And I'm tempted to oblige her," Misato said, her voice growing vindictive with every syllable.
"You wouldn't," Ryouji said.
"Oh you bet I would buster. Nobody messes with the emotions of my children and gets off scot free. That little bitch knew what she was doing, and didn't care."
"Still, Shinji's the only one of us who never doubted that Asuka was going to return. Everyone else, including you Misato, figured she wouldn't come back, and the rumor around the base was that she was dead. This girl may have just thought that Shinji deserved better than to waste his life waiting for a lost love. Hind sight is 20/20."
"Not if Asuka gouges out her eyes. And I'll loan her the spoon," Misato whispered.
Ryouji coughed at his wife's callous disregard for the well-being of one of her own command staff members. Even if the girl had since been dismissed.
"Hey Misato, Ryouji, Hikari's going to make some Sukiyaki, and Kensuke's gonna fire up the Hibachi for some beef sticks. Are Shinji and Asuka done talking yet?" Toji asked.
Misato looked out the window; Shinji and Asuka were still wrapped around each other, on the large deck chair, and were passionately kissing.
"Um, yeah, they're done talking Toji, but I think you're risking you're life if you go out there and interrupt Asuka right now," Misato observed. Hikari and Nazomi ran over to look out the window, and then melted at what they saw.
"Why, what's going on?" Toji asked, and his wife turned on him with a scowl. Asuka'd been back in Japan less than 24 hours, and already she'd turned his wife against him. Amazing how things slipped back into the old patterns. By the end of the week he fully expected that Asuka would be storming around, calling Ikari "Baka Shinji," as she used to.
The three women were gazing out the window fondly, and then moved slowly away from it, the two younger going to he kitchen to prepare dinner, while Misato walked over to Ryouji and kissed him.
"Well?" Toji asked, growing frustrated that no one would answer his earlier question.
"Well what?" Misato asked.
"Well, what's going on?" he almost shouted, exasperated.
"Asuka's staking her claim," Misato answered, reaching up to scratch Ryouji's chin.
Toji and Kensuke looked at each other, a wide grin breaking out on their faces.
"All Right! Now that's what I call a Birthday Present," they both said.
Two onions flew out of the kitchen, one striking each of them, and they ducked and ran back into the living room.
"We'll remember that come you're birthdays you Baka Hentai," said Hikari and Nazomi.
On the back of his deck, Shinji Ikari looked up at the red haired angel that was sitting on his lap, when they finally broke the kiss, and locked eyes with her.
"I love you, Asuka Langley Soryu," he breathed.
"I love you, Shinji Ikari," she answered. "But I think we need to go inside."
"I'm comfortable just like this," he said.
"If you think I'm giving you the rest of your present out here on the deck, you are sadly mistaken, Shin-chan."
"Why Asu-chan, are you saying you've got something for me?" he said, slyly.
"And it's waited four years for you to open it, so you better treat it nice," she said, smiling. She stood up, and took his right hand in her left, and led him inside the house. There weren't any lights on as they entered, and they were soon lost inside the darkened structure.
Omake (extra)
Thirty minutes later Kensuke and Toji were out behind the Aida house, working over the Hibachi with their fans, making sure the coals burned at the right temperature to make sure the kebobs they had cooking were done just right. The door to the kitchen was open, and the five other members of their group were passing in and out, a very festive mood bubbling between them.
"Toji, man, I'm telling you, I'm gonna need a deck quick. I didn't have time today to order the boards, but I'll do that first thing in the morning, but I'm gonna need yours and Ikari's help to put the thing in. Ryouji, you too, if you're willing to help."
"Sure thing Kensuke. Can't have you being the only one in the neighborhood without a deck to entertain on. Want to continue the tradition, and just build a big old extension off of mine to cover over here too?" Toji answered. Ryouji was also nodding an affirmative that he'd help too.
"Well, I think just a deck off the back of the house here, will be a good place to start. Bridging the two together can be a project for some other time. Trying to do it all at once sounds like a big job,"
"So, think we should make extra just in case Ikari and Soryu decide to join the party after all?" Kensuke asked, tossing Ryouji another beer.
Just then a loud moan could be heard echoing between the houses, and off the trees behind the houses. The single moan became a series of moans, and then cries, and finally screams. The three men looked at each other, all sporting wide grins.
"I don't think they're going to be making it over tonight," Ryouji observed.
Just then Mari ran out of the house, and cocked an ear to listen to the strange sounds. The three men shooed her back inside the house, where she went with a pout and a stomp of the foot.
"But why can't I stay outside," she demanded.
"Not now Mari," Toji said.
"I mean it's not like Hikari sounds much different. Of course, she's not as loud, but," Toji slapped his hand over his little sisters mouth, and turned to look at the others.
"Hehe, Kids say the darndest things. Come here Mari, we need to have a little talk about how long you're going to live."
Mari screeched and ran off, locking herself in the cubby hole under the stairs and refusing to come out until reassured by Auntie Misato that she'd be safe.
This concludes the Second Season of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Be here for the premiere of Season three, "Last Best Hope."
Next: on Episode 3:01 of Neon Genesis Evangelion:
Shinji and Asuka spend the next few days together, while life goes on around them. Plans are set into motion that will bring the NERV base up to full speed, and hopefully enable them to contact to the German Branch. But a new threat arrives in an attempt to put a stop to their plans, and Shinji and Asuka must end their idyllic reunion.
It's Evangelion Episode 3:01 Upgrade
A/N: I have had some people ask me if I'm going to write a Shinji Asuka Lemon, and I have to admit, I already have. This chapter has had the Lemon bit removed to make it palatable to FanFiction.net and other Non NC-17 Archives. I am currently formatting the deleted pages so that they can be a Lemon Side story available on some of the other archives. Most likely to be found at EVAMADE.com when I finish it.