To Have Seen an Angel – Chapter 2

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Author's Notes:

My sincerest apologies for taking so long to update this fiction. I have a lot on my plate right now, and the ideas keep on coming – old stuff gets pushed off to the side when new ideas start flowing, but I'm back, and I promise to try to keep the stories updated.

I hope you enjoy it.

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Title : To Have Seen an Angel
Universe : Neon Genesis Evangelion
Genre : Action/Romance
Type : Multi-chapter Story
Rating : R – Adult Language, Graphic Violence, Adult Situations
Disclaimer : Gainax owns Evangelion. So does ADV and others. I don't. This is just a
fan-work. Don't sue me.

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Chapter Two: The Art of Deception

The romantic images of heavenly host – winged beings of light, surrounded by halos of energy that glow and illuminate their features: The classic image of an Angel is that of absolute beauty. In reality Angels are the messengers of God, they are the Heavenly Host - sent into those places where no other being would dare travel. Their spirits are strong and warlike; although they possess an "innocence" of sorts. Each Angel was specially suited for the delivery of its "Message" and they were not to be deterred by anything less than destruction.

And so it was that the Sixteenth Angel fell by the hands of Unit 01. Unit 01 – its energy capable of crushing an Angel's core, its body, and even its mind. And all this, every emotion, every feeling – the flexing of its massive muscles, the strength of its titanic grip, the fury of its power… All these things, and far more, were felt and shared by its young pilot.

Shinji Ikari could not help think about that fact as he clenched his fist impotently at the bathroom door. "Aren't you done yet?"

"Just a few more minutes," A soft voice came from within.

Shinji blinked several times at the delicateness of the voice. And what he heard didn't sound like the owner. "You said that twenty minutes ago!"

"Well, then why don't you come in and help!" The voice retorted, returning to its normal venomous nature.

"Because the door is locked?" Shinji inquired softly. Suddenly a click resounded in the small companionway – and Shinji jumped back as the door to the Bathroom opened revealing a Blue Haired, Red Eyed Asuka Langley Sohryu.

"Why you little pervert…" Asuka grumbled. "Don't you know it takes time for a girl to wash her hair?"

Shinji nodded, then tried to squeeze past Asuka.

"Where do you think you're going?" Asuka said, blocking his path.

Shinji turned red, as he looked at her. "I need to use the toilet!"

"Why didn't you go at NERV?" Asuka said, still blocking his path.

Shinji almost growled, "Because I waited for you… then I had to go to see the Commander… and then Misato wanted to get us home… And I'm still in my Plug Suit!"

"Well, if that's going to be how you're going to be, I don't know if I want you helping with my hair." Asuka huffed, but was secretly happy that he was daring to pursue the confrontation.

"Fine. Whatever!" Shinji finally snapped, "Whatever it takes for me to relieve this morning's breakfast!" With that, he pushed past her and slid the door shut.

Asuka spun around and looked at the door. A few moments past in silence, while the sounds of someone attempting to extract themselves from a Plug Suit covered in dried LCL came from the bathroom. "'Bout time," she muttered with a huff and then she revealed a small smile.

Shinji however, was too busy extracting himself from his Plug Suit to care about the small victory he just unknowingly achieved. But he knew that he'd have to apologize to Asuka when he got out.

-

"I'm sorry Asuka…" Shinji said as the girl combed out her hair.

"For what?" the second Child inquired, not bothering to look at the now apologetic boy.

Shinji shuffled his feet slightly, "For snapping at you when I had to go to the bathroom."

Asuka stopped brushing for a moment, trying to decide whether to be angry with him, or just accept the fact that he was probably always going to apologize to her whether he had a backbone or not. A small part of her liked the idea that no matter how much they fought, he would always be the one to apologize. "Well, next time Third Child, don't hold it so long." She smirked to herself, "Besides, you didn't think I was going to let a silly bathroom argument keep you from helping me with my hair?"

"You know I want to help…"

Asuka's smile became devilish, "Of course I do, you just love being in my glorious presence. Admit it, everyone does."

"Um… well, not everyone. But I do!" Shinji quickly said moving up close behind her.

Asuka quickly handed him a pair of plastic gloves over her shoulder. "Here, you'll need these."

Shinji looked at the gloves, "What?"

"The dye, you idiot. You don't want to have red-colored hands do you?"

"Um… no!" Shinji exclaimed. "But what's…" The next object got thrust towards him over the girl's shoulder, "that?"

Asuka growled, "It's the applicator! The dye is already in it, all you have to do is squeeze it out in straight lines over my hair!"

"Um… is this enough?" Shinji eyed the girl's long hair and the relatively tiny bottle.

"Should be."

Shinji eyed the plastic cover to the applicator. "Anything else I need to do?"

Asuka thought for a moment. She had a towel around her shoulders, and one of Misato's old tee-shirts on. 'Hopefully Misato comes home soon with that hand-held shower head… otherwise I'll have to rinse my hair in the kitchen sink… Unless I want to take a shower with this idiot…' "Get some paper to cover the floor. Believe me; this stuff can make a big mess."

"Ok." Shinji said, going to get some old newspaper from Misato's junk pile.

"I wonder why Rei shook her head at me when I showed her the hair dye?" Asuka asked herself as she relaxed into her chair…

-

Rei sat with the commander in the NERV cafeteria. For the first time, both were absolutely silent. After Rei ate a couple bites of her food, she looked up at the commander. Her 'Father' was wearing a smirk, and for this particular occasion, his eyes were clearly visible – glaring off into the distance at some unseen point.

Rei's continuing stare finally caught the attention of the NERV Commander. "What is it Rei?"

"Why are you smiling?"

Gendo's grin widened a bit more, "Because… he did something today that made me proud. I never thought that he'd ever stand up for anything in his life."

Rei's head tilted, "You are not upset that Pilot Ikar…" The First Child paused for several moments, "Shinji… That Shinji struck you?"

"No." Commander Ikari said, "I deserved it."

Rei returned her gaze to her food. She picked up a noodle, and ate it delicately. Then she returned her attention back to the commander. "Should Shinji not have accompanied us for this dinner?"

The commander smirked again, this time it was more like his normal, secretive smirk. "He has a duty to attend to."

"Sohryu's attempt at deceit," Rei softly intoned, with a mild hint of disgust.

The commander ate a bite of his food. "Correct."

Rei stared at him for a moment, "She will not succeed." The First Child then looked down at her plate, and ate a few more noodles.

The commander continued to stare at the young girl, as her eyes remained affixed to her food.

After a few minutes of chewing, Rei straightened in her chair and looked at the commander. He continued to stare at her, as though expecting a response. "Sohryu has inherited many angelic properties. Undoubtedly, her hair will exhibit the same properties as my own." As the stare continued, Rei decided to elaborate, "Her follicle roots will be showing by tomorrow evening." She then returned to her meal, eating at her normal, delicate pace.

-

"Are you sure about this?" Shinji asked one final time.

"OF course you blathering idiot! I don't want to go around looking like Wondergirl. Bad enough I'm going to have to explain why my beautiful tan is gone, let alone explain this blue mop!"

"Okay…" Shinji said, breaking the seal on the applicator top. Suddenly, Shinji's nose was assaulted with the odor of the contents. "GOD IN HEAVEN!" He thrust the applicator and bottle as far as his right hand could extend away from his nose, and pinched that particular orifice shut with his left hand's index finger and thumb. "That stinks!"

Asuka sat unperturbed in her chair, covered in old towels. "So you still are a wimp. I should have known. But this is something I can't do myself, you know! Unless I want to end up with purple, red, and blue hair. Just make sure that you apply it evenly! Suck it up, Shinji-sama. It doesn't smell that bad."

"Easy for you to say," Shinji muttered. Finally, he managed to get over the noxious smell, and was able to un-pinch his nose. "You don't have to smell this stuff like I do."

"Yes I do, Third Child… I'm just not as much a baby about it as you are." Asuka countered.

"But it's so… so…" Shinji started but was cut off by Asuka's shout.

"Ohh…you idiot. Just get it over with so we can air out the apartment. Jeeze, suck it up, will ya?"

"O…Ok." Shinji finally managed, and began applying the foul smelling substance.

-

"So are you paying house with your doll yet, Gendo?" Doctor Ritsuko Akagi muttered as she cleaned up part of her lab room.

Commander Ikari simply ignored her as he walked in and looked around. "You should have been aware of the fact that the Second Child's new… abilities… would have had similar affects on her that Lillith's re-genesis had on Rei."

"So, even in private, even with me, it's 'Rei' now."

Gendo smirked, "It always has been, you've just been too blind to see it. But your use hasn't ended, although my purposes for you have changed a little."

Akagi stopped what she was doing, and looked closely at her former lover. "You… you're still scheming."

"Of course." Gendo replied. "My original scenario has come to a failure, due to circumstances beyond my control. But, that just means that the focus has shifted to an alternative plan."

Ritsuko smirked, "And what might that be…"

"I suggest we fill the room of Gauf." He watched as Ritsuko froze. "After all, they are somewhat alive."

"You're insane." Ritsuko muttered.

"No." Gendo said, "The old men will send the Seventeenth in a form like Rei's. You'll have a little over three weeks to complete the new models."

"No… not the dummy system. It's too unstable…"

"Its unstable because I made it unstable." Gendo replied, then lowered his voice, "Here are the files that will restore the dummy system to proper operation." He handed her a small disk. "With the dummies no longer soulless entities, they will have an advantage over SEELE's Mass Production models.

Akagi didn't hear that last part though; she was focused on the disk in her hand. "You… you… Bastard," Akagi spat. "You did that… to your own son, and his best friend… on purpose?"

"This should… begin to make up for it." Gendo replied in a distant voice, then whispered to her, "But no matter what, the scenario is still the same. I intend to be re-united with Yui, one way or another."

Ritsuko turned away from the Commander. "Then… what are you still doing here."

"I am still a man… and I have… desires." Gendo said.

Ritsuko turned to face this man who came and stole her innocence in a time of mourning, and has used her since day one – and fell into his embrace. "What of 'Rei'?"

"She is still Rei." Gendo confirmed.

"I mean…" Ritsuko paused, "Are you going to take her in to live with you? Certainly you aren't going to keep up the pretense of having her all the way out there if you plan on calling her your daughter."

"No. I will probably have her move in with Katsuragi. I am in the process of securing a larger apartment… or maybe I'll just have Rei move in next door." Gendo said. "After all, it will only be for a few weeks."

"Hum." Ritsuko muttered, "Its better than nothing." Suddenly Gendo bent down for a kiss, and Ritsuko could not resist the urge to lean into it. 'I'm pathetic…' She thought to herself as she gave into the primal desires Gendo was stirring within her.

Almost invisible behind an air duct cover high in the wall of the lab, a pair of red eyes narrowed at the couple, who proceeded to become more intimate as the night progressed.

-

"Thank you, Shinji." Asuka's voice said softly, as she lounged in her chair, letting her hair dangle over the newspaper. "This is something I couldn't have done without you."

"We aren't finished yet, are we?" Shinji said from his position watching her from the kitchen table, his head resting on his hands.

Asuka cracked an eye opened, "No… we still have to rinse… in…" She glanced over at the clock. "Five minutes."
"I didn't expect it to be like this. I mean, this hard." Shinji admitted, flexing his fingers slightly.

Asuka kept her eyes closed, "Lots of women do this all the time. The rich ones get it done by professionals, the poor ones… they have to do it themselves, or get friends to help. I was lucky…" Asuka admitted, "Lucky I had you. You were gentle. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Shinji said, eyeing her as she relaxed… or tried to. "Are you ok?"

"My neck's a little sore…" Asuka admitted.

Shinji immediately got up, and moved behind the girl. "Here, let me try to help…" He began to gently rub her shoulders, and he felt her immediately tense up. "Please, Asuka… Relax."

"But… I'm…" Asuka started to protest.

"You're what? Covered in towels? Red hair dye?"

"Impure…" Asuka muttered softly, "Weak…"

"No. You're strong Asuka, stronger than I could ever be. Stronger than anyone I've ever met." Shinji said, as he continued to gently rub her shoulders. "And your not impure. Everyone has dark things in their mind, Asuka. Things we'd almost rather die than let out into the light. Bad things…"

"But… it made me…" Asuka shuddered, resisting the tears building up in her eyes. "I still see it… every single moment."

"Let it out, Asuka. Just share it with me. Please, let me carry some of your burden so you aren't crushed under its weight…"

Asuka looked up at him, "You idiot. You're going to get dye all over you…"

"So what?" Shinji said, feeling her relax a bit under his massage. He leaned in close, and then whispered, "If you were impure Asuka, worthless… Would I be so willing to touch you?"

"I…"

"Just share it with me, please…"

"I…" Asuka started again, then glanced at the clock. "Its time to rinse out the dye."

Shinji stopped his massaging for a moment, then pulled away. His arms had small streaks of dye on them from where her hair had brushed against his arms, but that was unimportant. "Please, Asuka…"

"Lets rinse the dye out, then… then we'll talk, Shinji." Asuka said, carefully getting up. She paused as she stood. "And… thanks for the massage. It helped."

"Y…you're welcome." Shinji replied, softly.

-

Rei calmly dropped from the ceiling in an isolated corner of the complex. Her thoughts were unclear, but one thing was certain, she was angry with the commander. Her eyes narrowed at the shadows in the distance. "Commander, what are you up to?"

As Rei walked along, moving silently in the abandoned NERV corridor, another pair of eyes watched her departure with interest. As the owner of this second pair of eyes moved under a small lamp, his features were revealed.

Ryouji Kaji stared into the darkness where Rei had disappeared. "Ah…It would appear your doll no longer follows your orders, Commander." He tossed a stolen NERV card into the air and caught it, looking at the name longingly. "Katsuragi. I will make it up to you, I promise."

-

"Oh… that feels so good. Just keep on rinsing like that… yes!" Asuka exclaimed, as Shinji stood in the tub, moving the water over her now deep red-colored locks.

The warm water cascaded down the drain, carrying with it the remnants of the dye along with a few stray strands that had broken off. His free hand glided through her hair, finger combing it so that the dye was thoroughly washed out. He worked his fingers ever closer to her scalp, gently maneuvering her hair in various directions, ensuring that the warm, cleansing water reached every millimeter of her soft strands.

Finally, after several minutes, his fingers began to rinse her scalp. Asuka's head leaned into his hand, as he gently sprayed the water into her hair.

"Oh… that's perfect… Perfect… That feels so good; I forgot what it was like to have someone wash your hair for you." Asuka said, practically purring under the attention.

Shinji felt the water becoming a bit colder. "We're almost out of Hot water." He told her.

"That's ok." Asuka said, wishing that she could enjoy the new shower head and have it beat on her shoulders and back. "Oh, though, that feels so good."

Shinji felt the water getting a little too cold, and shut off the flow. "Done," He pronounced.

Asuka frowned. "Help me dry it?"

"Ok." Shinji said, grabbing a towel, and scooping up the long red locks in its folds. He allowed his fingers to massage her scalp through its fabric.

"Oh, thank you Shinji…" Asuka said, her eyes closed as the boy dried her hair. "I can hardly wait to see how this came out."

"I don't think you will be displeased." Shinji whispered softly to her.

Asuka looked at him, "Ok, but… it looks like we've found the perfect job for you."

"Excuse me?" Shinji said, looking at her.

"I'm going to have you do my hair all the time!"

Shinji gulped, "Um…"

"Are you refusing me, Third Child?" Asuka's famous Ire began to return.

"Um…"

"What, is all you can say is 'Um'? Guys would kill to be this close to me," Asuka said, her eyes still closed.

"Perhaps Shinji does not wish to constantly dye your hair." The unmistakable voice of Rei Ayanami pierced the air.

"Gah!" Asuka exclaimed, "How did you get in here?"

"Major Katsuragi invited me in." Rei informed her. Her head tilted, "It would appear that you find this action comforting…" Rei said, looking at Shinji as he continued to dry Asuka's hair by hand.

Just as Shinji was about to speak, Asuka cut him off.

"Of course it's comforting… haven't you ever had anyone wash your hair before?" The now red-haired devil asked Ayanami.

"No." Rei said.

"Never?" Asuka asked, incredulously.

"I do not remember it." Rei looked longingly at the way Shinji was touching Asuka. "But…it looks pleasing."

"Well… then First Child, I guess that we're just going to have to let idiot Shinji over here wash your hair too." Asuka said haughtily, "After all, you are just brother and sister; I don't have anything to worry about."

Rei looked up at Shinji, and then back down at his hands, which were drying Asuka's hair. "It is not… necessary."

"Yes, it is." Asuka countered. "After all, Shinji is so good at it!"

Rei's eyes darted to Shinji who was turning a brilliant shade of red.

"Anyways," Asuka continued to speak, "What brings you over…"

Rei brought her hand in front of her, revealing a small shopping bag from a corner drug store. "I brought you something you might find useful." She opened the bag, and removed a bottle of colored shampoo.

"That's a daily dying shampoo, temporary stuff." Asuka said, eyeing the bottle from the distance.

"Yes, but it should cover up the roots when they start to show, so you don't have to dye your hair as often."

"It should be weeks before my roots show, Wondergirl." Asuka said confidently.

"When you leave school tomorrow, look in the mirror when you get home." Rei said, and turned to leave, having placed the bottle on the sink.

As Asuka blinked at the young girl, Shinji recovered his voice, "Would… would you like anything Rei?" The girl paused in the doorway, tilting her head. Shinji knew he had her attention. "I mean, I was going to make some snacks for Asuka and I… you're welcome to stay." Shinji felt Asuka tense slightly under his fingers as he finished drying her hair.

Rei considered the offer for a few moments, and thought back to her experiences tonight. "That would be agreeable… Shinji." She then walked out, sliding the door shut behind her.

Asuka felt the towel leave her hair, and was about to turn around and yell at Shinji. After all, Shinji was hers, and she felt so good. Why did that idiot have to invite her mortal enemy to stay with them and share in their time?

"Thanks, Asuka." Shinji's words came out, his hands on her shoulders, massaging gently. "She's so alone. She just doesn't know how to act around people. That's my Father's fault, I'm afraid."

Asuka was still ready to complain, but the pressure on her shoulders was making it difficult for her to remember why she was angry. It just felt so good. "Oh… oh… Ok." She sighed, knowing that soon the gentle waves of pleasure would end. "Still, I just wish I had you all alone for tonight."

"I can't massage you forever."

"I know." Asuka admitted. "But its nice to imagine that you could. Although… I wish…" Asuka began to think about Kaji. Shinji was no Kaji… but… he did massage well. 'No need to give the boy an inferiority complex.' "Never mind."

"Its ok, you know. I know who you wish was here, massaging your neck, treating you like a queen. I'm no match for Kaji."

Asuka blushed deeply. "It's ok. You're doing fine on your own."

"Thank you."

Asuka stretched languidly, "Oh, this was just so… perfect. Now I want to see how it came out."

Shinji stopped his massage, and allowed Asuka to rise.

Asuka stood before the mirror for a few moments, fingering the locks of hair slowly. Shinji came up behind her, his head peering over her shoulder.

"Well?" Shinji asked, looking at the consternation on the red-head's face.

"It's…" Asuka allowed the hair to fall back. "Its perfect… but I still don't feel like me."

"We're more than the sum of our parts, Asuka." Shinji said. "It might help to have some hot tea, and later, we'll talk about it. But if it makes any difference to you, I always see you as Asuka. The brave and strong young girl…young woman I love."

Shinji watched her as she stood stock still for several minutes. Finally, he decided to walk out and attend to preparing the snacks. A few moments after he left, a small tear made its way from the corner of her left eye, and flowed down her cheek.

"He… he loves me." Asuka muttered, looking at her hair and eyes. She wiped the tear away slowly. "It's a start…" She said, then turned away from the mirror and walked from the bathroom.

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Author's Notes:

I hope that you like this chapter. Sorry for the OOCness. But please remember, that at this time, Asuka wasn't the proud young woman she was before the Fifteenth angel, and I think that has more to do with her present attitude than even what the sixteenth did to her. So I hope you understand why I'm portraying her in this particular light.

I posted this with only a few passes through and a couple spellchecks/grammar checks. I hope you don't find too many problems, but, as always, should you find a mistake, please let me know.

Like I said, I hope this chapter meets your expectations, and I promise to try to keep the updates coming more than once every three months. :D Oh, and please review

Later and thanks,
PitViper.

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Omake:

Rei was sitting in the living room, staring at Pen Pen, who was staring back. As she was staring, she thought about the Commander, Shinji, and the events she just witnessed. Now she was simply waiting for Shinji to emerge from completing his task with the Second.

Pen Pen blinked, "WARK!"

Rei said, "No, you blinked, I did not." She held out her hand, and a few yen found themselves placed in it.

"Wark!!! WARK!" Pen Pen announced.

"Very well," Rei said to the warm water penguin. She glanced briefly at the small pile of yen. She had already recovered the money she had spent on the shampoo, and would soon have enough to buy some of her favorite food. Her eyes returned to the warm water penguin, "Begin."

As Shinji entered the living room, he was greeted by the sight of Pen Pen and Ayanami in a staring match…