PART VIII: RETURN
Chapter 77
Shinji wandered through the cold snow in the forest. He didn't want to go too far from home with Asuka all ready seven months pregnant, or so he estimated. Hope had begged to go with him but he decided he would not take his daughter hunting until she was older and so she remained at home.
His rifle was slung over his shoulder and he looked around carefully and then he saw it. He was hoping to get this done quickly because Asuka was home alone with Hope. He didn't like being too far from her knowing that soon another baby would come into their lives.
Shinji smiled as he thought about a second baby being bought into the world. Hope had brought him so much joy and love. When he thought of a second baby, he could feel the love pour out of him. He was so proud.
He couldn't have imagined when he was young that at eighteen years old he would have taken Asuka as his wife and then been given a baby the following year.
Yet being Asuka's husband was what he had wanted and he couldn't imagine a day without her. As he thought about Third Impact, he realized what his mother had meant. He had embraced his existence and lived his life. He wasn't afraid anymore of anyone or anything. The only thing he feared was if something happened to his family and he would make sure that it would never happen. If it did, the party responsible would pay: with their lives.
At twenty-four now he was still a young man but he felt so much older.
It was ten years after Third Impact.
Regardless though he was happy, he had a wonderful family and a great house. They no longer had to struggle to survive because Shinji worked on never having them want for anything. He worked hard to be a solid provider and more so was pleased about his life.
A small white rabbit looking for something to eat was close to a tree and then Shinji nodded his head as he pulled his rifle carefully off of his shoulder and adjusted the rifle to the aiming range.
He took a deep breath to prepare for the recoil and then fired the gun. The bullet hit the rabbit and killed it. Shinji pulled back his gun and then once again slung it over his shoulder, going over to the animal and picking it up by its ears.
The animal was dead and he felt bad about killing it but his family's nutrition was more important to him and for that reason, the rabbit would serve to make them strong. As he stood up and placed the rabbit in the bag he had bought with him, he thought he heard something, a small noise from the distance, getting louder.
Then he recognized it and his eyes widened as he looked up and from overhead he saw it. It was huge. It was flying at a low distance and he quickly hid in the brush of the forest.
His gasped as he saw it. He couldn't believe it.
"Helicopter?" He said aloud as he saw it come into view.
A large green helicopter, military model, and then he saw the markings of it and his fist tightened.
"United…. Nations…. oh my God!" He seethed as he looked at it.
His eyes narrowed and quickly, he grabbed his rifle from his shoulder and cocked it ready to fire, then his eyes widened as he saw where the helicopter was heading. "OH MY GOD! ASUKA! HOPE!"
Shinji dropped the rabbit and took off running. He held his rifle and ran as fast as he could back to his home. He knew that the helicopter was fast .
He looked out and he saw what appeared to be soldiers coming down from ropes. He picked up his speed andran as fast as he could through the snow.
Chapter 78
Shinji came across his house and it looked like nobody had arrived yet. He looked around and then watched as his front door flew open. He watchedas two soldiers dressed in black with helmets on their heads came out, one had Asuka by the arm and the other his daughter under his arm.
When Shinji saw the soldiers grab his family, his rage bubbled. 'FUCKING BASTARDS!" Shinji yelled out as he ran forward and aimed his rifle.
Asuka saw Shinjj with the rifle and her heart began to beat rapidly as her eyes widened. "SHINJI!" She yelled out.
The soldiers stopped dead in their tracks.
"SHINJI!" Asuka called out as she struggled.
"DADDY!" Their daughter squealed.
"Get your hands off of my family!" Shinji said with anger in his voice as he aimed the rifle right at the soldier's head.
The soldiers stopped dead in their tracks
"Do I have to repeat myself?" Shinji asked as he growled.
"I…. WANT ….MY…. DADDY!" Hope squealed.
"SHINJI IKARI?" A familiar female voice called out.
"I'LLYOUR MEN IF YOU COME ANY CLOSER!" Shinji demanded. "RELEASE MY FAMILY."
The soldier stopped.
Shinji spun to his left and there he saw another soldier coming towards him with a weapon in her hand. "DROP IT!" he growled.
The soldier dropped her gun and put her hands up.
Shinji stood his ground as he watched as a soldier approached with arms raised.
"You are Evangelion Unit 01 Pilot Captain Shinji Ikari of NERV. Serial number: 415-0789-A4101. Your companion is Captain Asuka Langely Sorhyu of NERV. Serial number: 567-1324-Z9702. You are both ordered to come with me by order of the governing council of the United Nations and by the order of SEELEin accordance with the Third Impact Recovery Act of 2021."
"Fuck you and fuck SEELE! Get away from my family or I'll kill you." Shinji responded.
"Captain Ikari! You need to listen to me!"
"I'm not Captain Ikari! I NEVER held a military rank." Shinji growled. "I want you to leave. I want you and theses soldiers OFF OF MY PROPERTY or I'll kill every last one of you and I can do it! Don't test me! Release my wife and my daughter or I open fire!"
"Captain Ikari, please…don't do anything you might regret."
"I won't regret killing you one bit." Shinji said. "RELEASE MY FAMILY OR I WILL KILL YOU!"
The soldier looked at the one holding little Hope.Hope was gently set down on the ground.The other soldier released Asuka.
"Dumpkoff!" Asuka growled at the soldier. Asuka immediately went to her daughter and held her in her arms.
Hope was scared and crying.
Shinji was furious when he saw his daughter cry.
"BRING THEM OVER HERE!" Shinji yelled as he aimed his rifle at the soldier.
The soldier nodded her head.
Asuka walked over to Shinji holding their daughter. Shinji breathed a sigh of relief as he watched her walk over to him and then stand beside him.
Shinji looked at Asuka out of the corner of his eye and then said in a whisper. "When I tell you to, go around me and get into the shed, get into truck and drive out of here fast with her! The keys are in the visor. Don't worry about me. I'm going to make these bastards pay."
"Shinji…." Asuka said as she looked at him with worry.
"Captain Ikari, put the gun down!" The soldier said to him.
"GO TO HELL!" Shinji barked.
"Shinji, no!" Asuka said as she held her little girl. "Please, don't."
"Asuka, get ready!" Shinji said in a low voice.
"Shinji…. please don't. Stop." Asuka pleaded.
"Damnit, Asuka! Do as I say!" Shinji growled as he narrowed his eyes at the soldiers and called out to them. "GET OFF MY PROPERTY! GET OUT OF HERE AND NEVER COME BACK! IF YOU DON'T LEAVE NOW, I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU!"
"Shinji, stop!" Asuka pleaded.
"Asuka, damnit, listen to me!" Shinji said in a growl. "These bastards will not get away with this!"
Then another soldier dressed all in tight fitting black fatigues with a dark helmet on, stepped forward and tapped the one on the shoulder to move aside as she said. "It's all right, Shinji."
Both Asuka and Shinji looked at her strangely for a minute.
"Shinji, put the gun down." She said calmly as she walked forward.
Shinji now aimed his rifle at the soldier who was walking toward him. "STAY WHERE YOU ARE!"
"Shinji, you know who I am."
"I DON'T KNOW YOU!" Shinji told her as he tightened his grip on the rifle and aimed it at her.
"Shinji, damnit!" Asuka said as she held her daughter. "Put the gun down!"
"Asuka…I don't trust them." Shinji told her.
"Shinji, you know me." The soldier said as she walked forward.
"I WARN YOU!" Shinji told her as he looked at her with hatred. "I'LL KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU SEELE BASTARDS!"
The soldier stopped in her tracks. She knew he was fueled by hatred and she also knew he was protecting his family and a man that protected his family was dangerous when one had a rifle aimed at her head.
She knew she had to appeal to him. She knew somehow she had to get him to trust her.
"Shinji, remember that day at NERV…. I found you…you were in the corner, underneath a staircase…."
"SHUT UP!" Shinji yelled out.
"…. You were begging Asuka to help you…they had a gun to your head…. I came and I saved you…then right before I pushed you into the elevator, remember…the kiss…"
Shinji froze. Nobody could have known that.
Asuka's eyes widened as she looked at the soldier and said. "Shinji…. did anyone else know about that?'
"It can't be." He said to Asuka. "It's impossible! She's dead! Her blood was on my hands! They shot her!"
"Do you still have my cross, Shinji?"
Shinji lowered his rifle as he looked at her with shock and then watched as she removed the helmet and stood before him with a smile.
"Misato?" he whispered. "No, Misato is dead. SEELE forces shot Misato! They murdered her. You are not Misato! I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!" Shinji growled as he aimed his rifle at her.
"Shinji…." She said calmly.
Shinji stared into her face. Then he breathed out. "M…. Misato?"
"You know who I am." She said with a smile.
"Misato?" he asked again as he looked at her while he lowered his rifle.
"It is Misato." Asuka said as she looked at her.
"Hello, Shinji." Misato said with a smile and a tear in her eye. It was she. She was older, her hair was still dark but nonetheless, it was she.
Shinji took the rifle and then put the safety back on, he slung the rifle over his shoulder and took Asuka by the hand and walked over to the woman.
At first he could only stare at her with tears in his eyes. Then, he threw his arms around her and hugged her, crying onto her. "Misato." He whispered to her.
Misato breathed out as a tear rolled out of her eye.
"Hey there." She said with a smile as she hugged him back and patted his shoulder. "Long time no see."
He parted from her and smiled back at her. "You could say that."
"You've grown." She said as she looked up at him.
"A little." He told her as a tear came out of his eye.
Asuka became a bit jealous watching her husband with Misato but then smiled when Misato came over to her and hugged her. "Hi, Asuka." Misato said with a smile. Then Misato caught a glimpse of Asuka's stomach and she looked back over at Shinji and smiled as she looked back to Asuka and then said. "Well, you and Shinji look like you've been busy."
"Just a little," Asuka said with a chuckle. "Misato, its so good to see you." Asuka hugged Misato. "How did you…what happened? I thought…"
Misato smiled and looked back at her. "I thought the same about you. I had no idea you were alive." Then she looked at the little toddler standing beside Asuka, hiding behind her. "Asuka, is that… your child?"
Asuka looked at Hope and then back at Shinji. Then she nodded her head and laughed. "We named her Hope."
Misato smiled at the little toddler and then said. "Hello there."
"Hi." Hope said shyly with a smile as she hid behind her mother and clutched onto her leg.
As Misato looked at her she saw the happy little girl with the red hair like her mother and gentle blue eyes like her father. Misato breathed out when she saw her. "She's beautiful, Asuka." Misato said with a smile.
Hope still hid behind Asuka and peeped her head out to look at the woman with the friendly smile and warm eyes.
Misato knelt down and smiled gently as she said. "Hi, Hope. I'm a friend of your Mommy and Daddy's. I've known them a very long time. It's very nice to meet you."
"Hi." Hope said as she hid behind Asuka.
Misato chuckled as she thought to herself. She is her father's daughter.
Shinji walked over to her and as soon as Hope saw her father, she came out from behind Asuka and ran to him with her arms raised. "Daddy!"
Misato smiled as she watched Shinji, who now resembled his own father, a great deal, pick up his little girl and hold her close as he gave her a hug and smiled.
"It's okay." He whispered to his little girl. "It's okay. Hang onto me. Daddy will keep you safe."
Hope held onto his neck as he walked over to Asuka and stood with her. He looked back to Misato but still he was uneasy about soldiers being on his property and forcing his pregnant wife and little girl out of their house.
Misato nodded her head and looked at Shinji saying. "Wow, you guys have been busy, haven't you?"
Shinji chuckled and nodded his head. "How did you survive?" he asked Misato. "You were dying. How? What happened, Misato?"
"What happened was I awoke in an infirmary." She told him as she looked at him. "I almost died. I can't tell you how I got there but I can tell you, I'm here and so are so many others."
"Who?" Shinji asked as he looked at her.
"Your friends, Shinji. Some didn't make it but some did. I can't tell you how we're here but we're here. "
"How?" he asked.
"It's difficult to explain." Misato said. "Shortly after, Third Impact, or what we believe is a short time people just started appearing in groups, in their own homes…. let me ask you…. what year do you think it is?"
"2025." He said to her. "It's ten years after Third Impact."
Misato breathed in as she heard that. "2025?"
"Yeah. Third Impact was November 12, 2015."
"So you believe it's 2025?"
"I know it is." He told her.
"Shinji, our calculators say its 2021."
"What?" he asked.
"You both were alive after Third Impact, weren't you? You can remember it all, right?" Misato asked.
"Yeah." Shinji said. "Can't you?"
"No." Misato said. "We just remember…. white…. and then being alive. This means that for four years, you were the only ones left alive."
"What do you mean?" Shinji asked.
"What I mean, Shinji, is that it seems as though there are four years missing from my life. If you think that it is 2025 and we believe it is 2021, then…there are definitely things we need to discuss." Misato said.
"What about that chopper? That's a military chopper! Why?" he asked angrily as he pointed to it.
"Yes, I know. I am a Colonel in the UN Peacekeeping Forces. I also happen to be in charge of SEELE. SEELE will never again exploit Eva or cause Fourth Impact. We are now governed by the United Nations. The world has come together, Shinji. People have come together. The population is a lot smaller now but we've been able to see through our mistakes of the past and we were able to rebuild. You are no longer alone. You and Asuka can return to your lives."
Then she watched as his face dropped and he stepped back, holding onto Asuka's hand. "Our lives are here. We don't want to return to society.. We want to stay here and live here freely. Misato, my life is here with my wife and my children."
Misato took a deep breath as she looked at him. "Maybe we can go inside and discuss it okay?"
"There's no discussion!" Shinji snapped. "My family is here! I live here! I don't want any part of society! The rest of the world can go to hell."
"Let's talk okay?"
Asuka looked back at Shinji and then nodded at Misato and all four of them walked back into the house together while the remaining soldiers waited outside.
Chapter 79
Shinji sat at his table looking back at Misato, Asuka sat next to him as he held onto her hand. Hope was on the floor playing with toys laughing.
Misato smiled as she watched the little girl and then looked back at Shinji, now a grown man, and very determined about what he wanted.
"This house is beautiful." Misato said as she looked around. "I see you've managed to have electric."
"And running water." Shinji finished. "I worked hard on it. Why are you here, Misato?"
"Because, " Misato said. ", we've been searching for you…for years. I have. Your father…. especially wanted to find you."
"My….father?" He asked as he looked at Asuka. "My father is alive?"
"Yes, Shinji. He is alive and the governor of the state. Gendo Ikari was responsible for so much. He pulled the city together and helped us to redefine our way of life. He's truly become quite a remarkable man. He has been searching for you for quite a long time"
Shinji breathed in as he felt uneasy. "My father did that?" he asked.
"Third Impact changed many people." Misato said with a smile. "We never thought that you could have survived Third Impact…we've had satellite reconnaissance for years that tried to find people and not until recently, six months ago, did we find you."
"Why?" he asked.
"What do you mean why?" Misato asked. "Because we wanted to find you both! We thought you were killed! When your father found EVA Unit 1 in space…. he thought…."
"What?" Shinji asked.
"Eva Unit 1 was found orbiting around the Earth. We recovered it and…. the bioplug had been ejected…. we thought that you…."
"I really don't remember how I got out of Unit 1." Shinji said. "Just white…. and then I woke up on the beach…." Then as he turned his head, he smiled as he said. "…. lying next to Asuka."
"Shinji, would you ever…return?" Misato asked.
At that point, Shinji got up from the table and stood at the window, shaking his head. "This is my home. I don't want a part of that life."
"Shinji, it's not like that anymore." Misato said. "We need you and Asuka. Shinji, there's something you need to know…we've been using the Eva series to protect us from a threat. The Eva's though are being used to protect, not destroy. We need you, Shinji."
"Protect from what?" Shinji said as he turned around and walked behind Asuka's chair. "What are they protecting us from?"
"Somehow, I don't know how…but the angels were summoned back to earth. The angels haven't attacked. They just send messages. The message that it keeps repeating over and over again is: Ikari. Return. It's calling for you."
"I don't get it."
"Shinji, we didn't get it either! We thought you and Asuka were dead! The angels though kept sending the messages. The angels would appear in certain cities and then leave! They have not attacked but in case they do, we are ready for them. You have to understand; things are not the same, Shinji. We have reactivated the EVA series so that in case of an attack, we're prepared. Only the EVA's can defend us against an attack and only the best pilots can successfully coordinate such an effort. The best pilots ever on record were you and Asuka."
"No more Eva." Shinji seethed. "I won't do it anymore. I'm done with that life. It's behind me!"
"Shinji, please…when you were younger you had a great gift, if we need you…. you should return and use it to protect."
"The world can go to hell." Shinji growled. "Why did you decide to head up SEELE? SEELE tried to murder you! They tried to kill Asuka and me! What I want to know is why do they need us? They tried to kill us, remember? Why do I want to help someone who wanted me dead?"
"Because you and Asuka had the best sync ratios of any EVA pilot and there have been quite a few since Third Impact. Shinji, when the angel was spotted it sent a message: Ikari, return. Ikari, return. We believed you and Asuka were dead. We tried to communicate this to the angel. However, it kept repeating the message: Ikari, return. Shinji, we found you by mistake. In 2019, the acting government instituted the Third Impact Recovery Act. Basically, the aim was to find people cut off from society who thought they were alone. We found a lot of people. Of course the size of the population is now around 40 million as opposed to six billion but we hope that with time, we'll be able to make the world better. We built a city. It's a living-breathing city and the world is starting to become better, more connected. It took us to a while to pull ourselves together after Third Impact but we did it. When people started appearing, we realized we had a shot for life again. We realized that we had to do a better job. Six months ago, we found your home on a satellite photo and then we saw you. We ran the photos through the computer and we discovered that it was you and Asuka. We couldn't believe that you and Asuka survived and were living in what we now call Ground Zero. I couldn't believe it was both of you at first but when we rechecked the data, it was you. I almost cried knowing you were alive! You've been the only humans who successfully survived Third Impact in that region. You've been listed as being killed in the line of duty since Third Impact. Then we received the message again: Ikari, return. Shinji, immediately made plans for recovery."
"Is this what you call recovery?" Shinji asked. "You broke into my house and forced my family out of it! That is not recovery! That to me…is kidnapping…. or attempted kidnapping."
"I admit that tactic was wrong." Misato said.
"If I didn't know who you were, I would have killed every last one of you." Shinji told her angrily. "Now something is bugging me. When the hell did I become Captain Ikari?"
Misato took a breath. "When you went to work for NERV, both you and Asuka, you were in a military operation therefore, regardless of your age, you needed a military rank. You were classified as junior lieutenants when you started. Both you and Asuka held the same rank. When you left NERV, you were both classified as captains. You have a military rank and the back pay that comes with it."
"Our ranks are still active?" Asuka asked.
"I don't want to be Captain Ikari. I don't want to be associated with ANYTHING to do with EVA ever again. I will not set foot in any SEELE base. I will not leave my home."
"Shinji, please reconsider. You don't understand. We really need you."
"NO!" Shinji growled. "My life is here. SEELE can be damned. My family is what I live for. Nothing takes me away from them! Nothing! Not you! Not SEELE! Not anything!"
"Shinji…you can't stay here. There's nobody here! Honestly, what kind of a life is this? You have this cute little house in the middle of nowhere. What in the hell do you do? Do you and Asuka run around all day, have wild sex and make babies together? Is that your existence?"
"She's my wife." Shinji told Misato. "We work on this house. We live happily. We don't need SEELE to come in and disrupt it."
"What about the world?"
"The world can go to hell." Shinji told Misato angrily. "Society is something I no longer wish to be apart of."
"Shinji…" Misato said as she looked into his face. "Don't you care anymore?"
"About society? No." Shinji told her. "I care about my family's well being. Society almost destroyed us, Misato. SEELE tried to kill you. SEELE tried to kill me. Asuka was brutally attacked in her EVA. Do you think I want any part of it? Do you think for a minute that I want to go back to a life that I would rather forget about? Do you want me to put my wife through another hellacious attack? Never! This is my home and we're staying for our own well being."
"Speaking of well being, what about education for your daughter? What about medical care? Your wife is pregnant, Shinji! How have you been caring for her? What about when she's ready to deliver? What about your daughter's future? What about her life? Don't you want a good life for her? I can guarantee it if you come back with me. You two can still have your lives. You can have a lot more then here."
Asuka looked at Shinji and saw the look on his face as he looked at Misato. She felt him place his hand on her shoulder and then she reached for it, holding onto his hand.
She knew he loved this place. She knew it was what made him happy and to leave it was not something he was prepared to do. Yet, she missed society and the comforts of it. The urge to get back in the pilot's seat again in her was strong. Living in society again was something she missed. She knew that it was good for their daughter but this place was something else, it was peaceful and good.
It was the home that her and Shinji had always dreamt of and now to leave it was asking too much. Both of them had worked hard to provide a good home for their daughter.
"Shinji…. do you just arbitrarily make decisions for your family without asking them?" Misato asked as she looked at him.
"Of course I don't!" Shinji told her angrily. "I just…. Asuka knows how I feel. Asuka loves this place too. We both love it and we don't want to leave. This is our home, Misato. We built a life here. We formed a family here. We want to grow old and die here. You don't understand. Our lives are with each other now. We want this for ourselves."
Misato then turned to Asuka and smiled saying. "Is that true, Asuka? Can you honestly say you are happy living here like this? You remember what it was like to be an EVA pilot. Wouldn't you like that opportunity again?"
"My life is with Shinji." Asuka responded. "I go where my husband goes."
"So, you two are really married huh?" Misato asked.
"Yes, we are!" Shinji told her.
"Well, why don't you two discuss it? I can leave and come back tomorrow. If you want to stay here, we'll leave you alone and never come back. I'm hoping though that you might want to. I'm hoping you might want to see what you missed in the world. I'm also hoping that you might care enough to see the people you left behind, Shinji and the people who cared about you. I'm sure that's something that appeals to you."
:"Why is it that I don't believe you, Misato?" Shinji asked as he looked at her.
"Have I ever lied to you before?" Misato asked.
"No." Shinji said. "But that was before you became part of SEELE!"
Misato nodded her head and then stood up. "I will come back tomorrow and see what you decided. Just so you know, it was great to see you both again. Please think about this. Shinji, I know you are angry at SEELE but SEELE is different now."
"When SEELE breaks into a person's home and forces someone out of it, I don't trust that at all even if the leader of it was once someone called my friend. You're a part of SEELE now and your no friend to me." Shinji told her coldly.
Misato breathed out and looked at Asuka, nodding her head. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Shinji watched as she walked out the door.
Chapter 80
After Misato left, the family ate dinner together and enjoyed their family time after dinner. Shinji put his daughter to bed by reading her a story, giving her a kiss on her forehead and telling her. "Good night princes." He told her with a smile. "I love you."
"I love you too Daddy." His daughter told him as he tucked her in and then turned off the light.
Then he came into the bedroom he shared with his wife and they both got into bed and lay against one another while thoughts pounded through their brains.
"You really don't want to leave do you?" Asuka asked him.
"No, I don't." he told her.
"Shinji?"
"What?" he asked her. He sighed out, as he knew the answer. "You want to go, don't you?"
Asuka sat up and looked into his face. "I love it here too, Shinji, but I look at Hope and I think what about her? What about her life? Doesn't she deserve everything in the world?"
Shinji looked back at her and knew it was true. "Yes she does." He told her.
"Shinji, I only want the best for our family. Home is not a structure. My home is you. As long as I have you, I'm home. We've lived four years here. We had our baby here. It's selfish of us to deny our children the right to know other people. Don't you want them to get married someday and give us grandchildren? Shinji, I've also been thinking that I miss being in society but let me tell you something, it will never make me ever change how I feel about you. Also, I want to pilot again. You may not want to but I do."
Shinji looked at her and he knew it was partially the reason why he wanted to stay. "I don't trust them, Asuka. Asuka, they tried to kill us! They brutally attacked you! If something ever happened to you…. I'd kill them all! Even though it's Misato, its still SEELE and SEELE tried to kill us, remember? Asuka, if they…do anything to jeopardize your life…. I will kill them all."
Asuka breathed out as she wrapped her arms around him and breathed out. "Don't think like that. If you want me to stay, I'll stay here forever with you. I go where you go but I think we need to try this, Shinji. I think we should for our children's sake. Also, I feel a responsibility to do what I have to do. Shinji, I am an EVA pilot. Even though I was attacked and went through a lot, I can get back in that pilot's seat and I can defend this world. I need to! We used to think we were the only two left alive and now, we're not. The world is still alive, Shinji. Our children will have more to be and aspire to. Shinji, we've grown so much. To them we may be young but we know that we're not so young anymore, Shinji. We may be twenty-four years old now but I've felt like we've lived a lifetime all ready. Shinji, I love you now and forever that will never change. Nothing could ever change that. You are my husband and I am your wife now until forever. I will agree to whatever you want but I am hoping that you can see good in this too. I am hoping that you can realize that this is important. I am thinking of the world and I'm thinking of our children."
"I know, Asuka." He told her.
Asuka smiled and nodded. "Shinji, I just want our family to have every opportunity that they can. We may be happy here but will they be? They'll grow up isolated from the world. What kind of life is that for them?"
"I don't want anything to do with SEELE, NERV or EVA ever again." Shinji said. "I won't pilot anymore. I won't do it. They can't make me do it."
"They won't." Asuka told him.
"You want it though, don't you?" he asked her. "I saw your eyes when Misato bought up the word EVA. You miss it. You love it. I hated it. I always did. The only reason why I piloted was because…. I could. Now though I don't need it in my life. My life is with you, Hope and our baby. That's what my life is now. That's the only thing I live for."
"Shinji, I do miss it but I won't do it unless you're with me. Where you go is where I will go. Where you live is where I will live. I won't go without you ever. I never have and I never will. You are my home. As long as you are with me, I'm home."
Shinji looked into her face and then taking her hand into his own he asked her. "What do you want, Asuka? Tell me."
"I want us to give our children good lives and I want us to be happy. We can be happy anywhere, Shinji. A house is just a structure. A home is in your heart."
"Okay." He told her. "If you want to go, we'll go. Just promise me, you'll wait to go back to duty until after the baby is born. I mean you can't be on active duty while your pregnant."
"I promise I'll wait." Asuka settled against his chest and put her arms around him, smiling happily. "I love you, Shinji Ikari." She told him.
"I love you too." He told her as he held her tight. "I love you so much."
Chapter 81
The following day, Misato and her soldiers returned. Shinji sat at the table with his wife beside him. Hope, as usual, played on the floor.
Misato took a deep breath as she looked at them both. Shinji took a look over at Asuka and held her hand tight.
He looked back to Misato and then said. "We've come to a decision. We will…. return."
Misato nodded her head as she looked at him; she looked back to Asuka and then said. "Is that what you want too?"
Asuka looked over at Shinji and then glanced over at her daughter. Looking back to Misato, she said. "Yes. It is."
"There are some things though, that must be agreed to." Shinji said to Misato as he held Asuka's hand. "One, I want to retire fully. I do not want to remain active duty. Second, you will not put my family in harm's way."
"Okay." Misato said. "That we can agree on. I'd wish you'd reconsider. We need you. These messages seem to be directed at you."
"I will not be active duty ever again." He told her firmly.
"Misato," Asuka said as she looked over at Shinji. ", I will remain active duty."
"Are you sure, Asuka?" Misato asked.
Asuka nodded her head. "Shinji and me have talked about it. After the baby is born, I want to be reinstated. I want to keep my rank and I want to be an EVA pilot."
Shinji breathed in as he heard her.
"Are you okay with this?" Misato asked.
"Yes." He said firmly. "I am."
"There's a few other conditions." Asuka said. "We want this property and this house to be legally ours. We don't' want anyone except for us to occupy this land ever." Asuka stated firmly. "We also want a clause that states we can return here at any time. I want to see this document in writing and I want to be legal."
"Okay." Misato said.
"The other thing is when we return, we want our marriage recognized. " Asuka said as she looked at her husband. "True, we didn't have an official marry us but Shinji and myself are married. We married each other in the eyes of God and we are married. We want the state to recognize it as legal. My name is Captain Asuka Langely Soruyu Ikari and that's how I want my name to be. My daughter is Hope Ikari and my husband is Shinji Ikari."
"Okay." Misato told her again.
"Now what we are getting for moving back?" Asuka asked.
Misato breathed in as she said. "We will give you living quarters and all the NERV backpay that you have rightfully coming to you at the current rank you are now. In essence, you'll both be given a ten year backpay installment in one lump sum."
"Money doesn't interest me." Shinji growled.
Asuka clutched onto his hand as she said. "I would assume that would be only fitting."
"Your active duty will begin six weeks after your child is born. Are you okay with that?" Misato asked.
"Yes, ma'am, Colonel." Asuka told her firmly.
"You'll need training. I'm sure you remember your military training but I'm going to give you a refresher course. Okay?"
"Okay." Asuka said.
"Now when would you like to leave?" Misato asked. "I can supply people to help you with your belongings."
Asuka looked over at Shinji and took a deep breath and as he held her hand, he said in a low voice. "Immediately. Asuka will be due soon and I want a hospital for when the baby is born."
"Okay." Misato said as she took a deep breath as she pulled out her phone. "I am pretty good at negotiating. I'm sure that your requests can be granted within a couple of hours including the signed legal document that Asuka requested."
"Do it." Shinji said.
Chapter 82
The ship docked at the pier. Several people dressed in brown uniforms were standing off to the side by a large doorway.
As the ship was anchored, the doors opened and Misato, along with Shinji with his daughter in his arms and holding onto Asuka's hand came down the steps.
Shinji took a look around. He felt odd in the blue suit that he was wearing while Asuka seemed to be perfectly happy wearing her brand new uniform that designated her as Captain officially.
It seemed so different to him. He saw people walking around and a feeling he hadn't had in quite some time began to form in him, it reminded him of the way he used to be.
They came down the stairs and as both of them stepped onto the pier. They looked around. Asuka smiled at Shinji as she looked up at him and cuddled the small bundle in her arms.
Shinji smirked as he looked at his wife with their second baby. He couldn't believe that during their journey from their home, on the ship, Asuka had gone into labor. As he looked at the newborn in Asuka's arms, he thought about that day.
Chapter 83
When he came out from the ship infirmary wearing green surgical scrubs, he walked up to Misato holding Hope on her lap. Smiling, he knelt down in front of his daughter and said.
"Remember how Daddy told you that inside of Mommy's tummy was something very special?"
Hope nodded her head at her father answering. "Yeah."
"Well, Baby," Shinji said with a smile as a tear came out of his eye. ", Mommy and me gave you a baby brother."
"A…. brother?" Hope asked with a big smile.
Misato also smiled as she heard him. "Congratulations, Shinji." She told him.
"Yeah, a real baby brother." Shinji whispered to her. "So you know what?"
"What, Daddy?" Hope asked.
"You are his big sister and he's gonna need a good friend to hang out with and stuff like that. Do you think you could do that?"
Hope smiled and laughed, nodding her head. "Yeah."
"Good." He said with a smile as he kissed her forehead.
"Can I see Mommy?" Hope asked.
"Yes. You can see her in a little while. Mommy is very tired. You see it takes a lot of work to bring a baby into the world and Mommy worked very hard. In a little while though, you can go see her and your new brother too."
"I love you, Daddy." Hope said with a smile.
Hope reached out for Shinji and he hugged her as he whispered. "I love you so much, Hope. You are my little princess, do you know that?"
"Uh huh." Hope said as she kissed her father on the cheek. Shinji looked into her face and then said. "You stay here for a little while, okay?" he asked. "Misato, do you mind?"
"Not at all." Misato said with a smile.
"Thank you." He told her.
"You don't seem to be as angry with me as you were." She said.
"I'm sorry for what I said." he told her. "You have to understand though, some things they just…. never went away."
"Shinji, I'll make you a promise." Misato told him. " I will never do anything that puts your family in danger. Never. I swear to you on my life."
Shinji grinned at her and then said. "Okay." He looked back at his daughter and then said. "Daddy has to go check on Mommy. I will be back in a little while, okay?"
"Okay." Hope said.
Chapter 84
Now as Shinji stood on the pier with his wife, his daughter, and his newborn son, he looked out into this new world that they had come to.
He breathed in as he looked around. Asuka caught the look on his face and smiled at him, whispering. "It's going to be okay."
He nodded at her and he looked over at the people in brown suits. Misato was walking towards a tall man with graying hair, spectacles and a cane. His uniform was similar to Misato's and as they talked, Shinji breathed in and his eyes widened as he realized whom that man was.
"Asuka," he whispered to her as he looked ahead. ", That's…my father."
Asuka looked over and she gasped as she saw him. "Oh my God."
Chapter 85
Misato walked forward and then stopped as she saluted a tall man with graying hair and a beard.
"Governor Ikari." She said.
"Colonel Katsuragi." He replied.
"Sir, mission accomplished." Misato said.
He returned her salute and then looked upon Shinji as he took a deep breath and walked forward.
Shinji took a deep breath as he watched the man walk toward him. Shinji did not flinch or move. He simply stared at the man and then watched as he nodded at him and said.
"You look well." He said.
Shinji stared at his father as he breathed in. Still, there was no emotion between them. Shinji simply looked at the man and the man looked back at him.
"Thank you, Father." He replied flatly.
As Gendo looked at his son, he thought he was looking at a mirror image of himself. Shinji resembled him so much except in the eyes. His eyes are so much like Yui's..
"It's been a long time since I've seen you last." Gendo said. "We thought you were dead."
"I thought the same about you.." Shinji replied.
For the most part, Gendo still looked the same. His hair was graying and his beard was gray with brown speckles. He still wore the same glasses. He wore a long uniform coat that had been fastened at the top of his shoulder with red trimming it His pants were black. "So much time has passed." Gendo said as he looked at his son.
"Yes it has." Shinji said as he looked back at him.
Gendo Ikari took a look at Asuka and saw the little girl standing beside her with red hair and eyes like his son's. He also noticed that in her arms was a small bundle.
He walked towards her and then smiled saying. "It's good to see you again."
"Thank you, Commander…I meant, Governor." Asuka said.
"Why not Gendo?" he asked her. "Or, you may call me Father as well." He told her with a small smile.
Gendo Ikari stared at the small bundle in Asuka's arms and then at the little girl beside Shinji, clutching onto her father's hand. Gendo took another deep breath as he looked at the little girl and then at the small bundle.
"You have beautiful children." He said with a small smile.
Shinji took a deep breath as he looked at his father. "Perhaps you can visit us when we're settled?"
Gendo smiled at his son and then said. "Perhaps I will."
Shinji nodded his head and then said as he stammered. "I think…it…it would be good for my children to know their grandpa."
Gendo detected the bitterness in his son's voice and then watched as his little granddaughter laughed and smiled as she looked at him.
"Grandpa?" The little girl asked. "Are you…. my grandpa?"
The little girl looked straight into Gendo Ikari's eyes. The commander breathed in as her saw her looking at him. It melted his heart and made him feel something he hadn't in such a long time.
"Yes." He told her. "I am your grandfather."
"You're my…Grandpa?" Hope asked.
"Yes." Gendo said. "I am."
"You're my Grandpa?" Hope asked again.
Gendo removed the spectacles as he looked at the little girl and knelt down to her level. He smiled at her and said. "Yes, Hope. I am your grandfather."
"Will you come and see me later, Grandpa?" Hope asked.
Gendo smiled at her as he looked at his granddaughter. He had lost his chance with Shinji so many years ago and now looking at the little girl, his granddaughter, he felt maybe he might have a way back into his son's life. "I will come and see you." He told her gently.
"You look…. like my Daddy." Hope said with a smile.
"Really?" Gendo asked her.
"Uh huh." Hope said.
Gendo smiled at her and stood up, looking down at her. Then he looked back at his son. He took a look over at Asuka and looked at the small bundle in her arms. "We have much to discuss." Gendo said as he looked at his son. "I am sure there are questions you have that you want answers to. I have questions for you. I have much to say to you, Shinji. If I was to visit with you, would you allow it?"
Shinji walked forward as he looked at his father. He had so many mixed feelings inside of himself concerning Gendo Ikari but throughout his life, he only wanted one thing of the man, he wanted to connect to him. "You can come and visit." Shinji said. "I will allow it.".
"I all ready think you are a far better father then I was." Gendo said.
"I know I am." Shinji said with disdain.
"My past actions cannot be undone." Gendo told him.
"I know that all too well." Shinji said to him as he stared his father in the eye. "You and me should talk though and you should get to know your grandchildren."
"You would allow me to visit you?" Gendo asked.
"I would." Shinji said. "You are after all…. my father."
"At least, that's a start." Gendo said.
Shinji nodded at him and took a deep breath.
"There is something you must know." Gendo said to him as he looked at his son. "I am proud of the man that you've become."
Shinji breathed in as he heard him. "Thank you."
Gendo turned to Misato and then said. "I have to go now, Colonel."
"Yes, Governor." Misato said. "I will handle the rest."
"Very well." Gendo said. Then, he took another look at his family and he smiled as he walked away.
Shinji watched as his father turned his back and began to walk away. His daughter clutched onto his hand as she watched while her grandfather walked further away.
Asuka took a look at Shinji and could see how painful seeing his father again was. On the outside, he held it together very well but Asuka knew Shinji all too well and she knew that on the inside his feelings were turning in knots.
Misato turned back to them and then told them. "Come on. You're belongings will be bought to your living quarters. We'll take you there after the briefing."
Chapter 86
Shinji, Asuka, Hope and Souke spent three hours being debriefed. Hope and Souke grew a little restless but nonetheless were well behaved. Before they were taken to their living quarters, Misato arranged for a tour of the base, which included the Hanger Deck.
As they walked along the bridge, Misato stood proudly before the four units that stood there.
"There they are." Misato said as she looked up. "Living history."
Asuka breathed in as she saw Unit 02. It looked brand new, shiny and red, a huge mecha that was her pride and joy so many years ago. She clutched Shinji's hand as she stared upon it. "Is that the original?"
"No." Misato said. "That's Unit 2-A. Unit 2 was complete non recoverable."
Then Shinji looked over and saw the device that had been a part of his life and made him an instrument of destruction. "That's the original Unit 1, isn't it?" he asked her as he looked up at it.
"Yes, it is. Unit 1 is non operational. We just keep it here. It accepts no one as its pilot." Misato said.
"No one?" Shinji asked.
"No one." Misato had responded.
Hope clutching onto her father's hand, simply looked up at the giant purple thing and said. "Wow!"
"So many years." Asuka replied as she stood looking up at Unit 2A as she stood holding her newborn son. "I've been gone for so many years."
"Well, now you're back. You'll have a different life now and you'll enjoy it." Misato said with a smile.
Shinji breathed in as he looked at Unit 1 and said in his head. I'm here but I don't belong here.
After the tour, Misato showed them to the living quarters.
Chapter 87
Misato had told them, "You are living in some of the best accommodations in the city. This is a four-room family home complete with every convenience possible. If you need anything at all, there is a concierge downstairs who will direct you. We also have a car for you should you require it at any time. Your belongings will arrive shortly. In the meantime, this house has been furnished for you. We hope you enjoy it. It's my gift to you both."
In their living quarters, Shinji looked out of the windows. It overlooked the city, that had been reborn out of the ashes of Third Impact and now it was a busting metropolis. He watched as air cars streaked across the sky and down below, people conducted their daily lives.
He took a deep breath as he stood in front of the window and looked out into the night sky. The city was noisy and he wasn't used to it. Everything had been a huge transition from leaving a quiet life to this.
In the window, he could also see himself; his reflection was staring back at him. As he breathed in, he noticed how much he had changed.
True, he was twenty-four now. In a long time he hadn't seen the face of the boy he used to be but now as he stared at himself, he saw that boy's reflection staring back at him.
So much in his life had occurred and he thought to himself that despite the fact it had come with the destruction that Third Impact brought, he would never have wanted to take back a moment of it.
He frequently wondered that if Third Impact had not occurred, would he still have married Asuka? He breathed in as he thought to himself that he couldn't imagine that not happening or having Hope and Souke in their lives.
The living quarters were a far cry from the little house down in the valley that they called home for four years. It was more modern and he didn't like it for the most part. It was filled with too much convenience. There was a television, stereo, the furniture was modern and the kitchen was too automated, even the stove spoke, both in German and Japanese.
Asuka loved it. She thought it was great.
He hated it.
Shinji's life was a big question mark. What do I do now? What's my purpose? My existence? What can I do? What am I capable of?
He stayed at the window just watching, breathing in and out. Then as he shut his eyes, he felt arms wrap around him and he smiled as he felt her press herself against his back..
"She's asleep now." Asuka whispered. "She never wanted to go to sleep, not until I read her the book about the Rabbit and the Hen. That works like a charm."
"It always does." Shinji told her as he covered her hand with his own.
"You're uncomfortable." Asuka said to him gently.
"You know me too well." He said.
Asuka lightly kissed him on his back and held him tighter as she said. "It'll be all right." She told him. "It'll take some time to get used to. It still feels weird, doesn't it? A week ago, we were the only ones, we thought, that there were still alive and now we find that we aren't anymore. It seems so unusual."
"I don't know if I belong here." Shinji said to her as he shut his eyes. "I got used to a life down in the valley where I took care of you and Hope. I got used to working on the house everyday and being outside every morning. I don't know what to do here. This place doesn't feel like home to me. This…. city feels so strange. Asuka, what do I do now? What's my purpose here?"
"You'll find it." Asuka told him as she snuggled up against his back. "It's a huge transition, Shinji. It will take you time to adjust. I love you so much and I know you'll be okay." She told him gently.
"I love you too." He told her. "Asuka, I feel like…. this is not for me. I miss our home."
"I know." She said.
"You fit in here." He said to her. "I don't know what I want. I only know I want two things. I want to be your husband and the kids' father. I feel so different here though. I can't explain it. It's like I know I have to do something but I don't know what."
"You'll find it, Shinji. You got used to a life without EVA. You became something different and there's nothing wrong with that. You became used to another life. A life of survival and now you'll find what you're purpose is."
"I don't know." He told her as he shut his eyes. "Seeing my father again was something I didn't expect. I believed for many years that he was dead. I got used to that idea and do you want to know that I never once mourned him?"
"I know you and your father had a distant relationship." Asuka said as she held him tighter.
"I would like to get to know him." Shinji said.
"You will." Asuka whispered.
"Well, we know the truth now, don't we?" he asked her.
"Shinji, we'll be okay." Asuka whispered. "We have to make this work some how. We can make it work."
"I know we can." Shinji told her as he turned around to her and took her into his arms. "The only things I need in this world are you and the kids. That's all. As long as I have that, I can do anything."
Asuka smiled as she held him tight and nestled her head against his chest. "It's not going to be easy." She told him.
"I know that." He whispered to her. "Asuka, I keep remembering why we came here. This is for Hope and Souke. This is for their well being."
"I'm always here for you." Asuka whispered to him. "You can always…. always count on me."
"I know that too." He told her gently as he held her in his arms and then turned his head to look out at the night sky, he breathed in and he held her and shut his eyes. Do I know that of myself? He thought as he held her tighter.
(PART IX – DUTY & HONOR …. Coming next. )