Disclaimers:
Neon Genesis Evangelion and all related characters, concepts, etc., are property of ADVision and Gainax. I only wish they were mine.
"Romance Concerto"
Chapter #2: Reunion Rehearsal
( ) Character's inner thoughts
" " Character's spoken dialogue
Author's Notes: Chapter Revised 1-25-05
The story's Setting:
Now I don't know where this will go but this idea came to me as I took a day off of everything! (work, and writing fics.) As I was on the beach resting under a palm tree, (Lucky me, I live In Florida!) I was listening to some various CD's of Instrumental music. One CD was of Beethoven's "Violin Concerto, Romances for Violin and Orchestra 1 and 2." Hence the title of this story. More music will be added, but being instrumental music, this is obviously not a song Fic. If you go and listen to the music then hopefully you can get an idea of why it was used. But, please remember, as I will be switching POV between the characters, each having a chapter, so it should be fun to read. Though it will take me more time to write.
Thanks all, and enjoy!
Morning Rituals
A lone female form is seen jogging down the cobbled and ancient streets of Frankfurt before dawn.
Jogging is one of the daily morning rituals for the First Chair Violinist of the Frankfurt Symphony, Asuka Langley Souryu
She passes familiar and historic buildings including the symphony hall where she'll be in a few hours for her practice with, the Osaka Symphony's performances this week.
Her orchestra's season ended the week before, but Heir Schulman had asked her to be the Soloist to perform with the visiting orchestra.
She was thinking of this as she was concluding her run.
(Shiest, I have to improve my time or I'll get fat, and I'm not going to let that happen.) She took level measured breaths and stretched cooling down from her run in front of the building that housed her home. It was located within the revitalized Soho-style district near the center of the city. Many artists, musicians and writers lived there, and the cafe's they used were also there. 'I need to grab a latte as I'm going to work' she thought, as she made her way to the floor-sized loft she lived in.
"Gika, are you here? Can you draw my bath and have my morning papers ready please?"
"Yes, Miss Asuka, right away." A short thin middle aged woman then made her way through the apartment getting what Asuka asked ready, while the twenty-four year old German woman made her way to her bedroom.
(Thank Gott I found her when I did, I couldn't get anything done without her.) Then she remembered Gika was retiring at the end of the summer. (I'm going to have a hell of a time replacing her.) Asuka put that thought aside however, as she did have several months till she left.
She then took the clothes she would wear that day out and surveyed them. Satisfied with her selection of a burgundy turtleneck shirt, with black slacks, she started to undress and got into her robe to take her bath. Thirty minutes later and after finishing a light breakfast made by Gika,
Asuka then started her ten-minute walk to the symphony hall.
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Seeing him again
As she was walking towards her destination she finally focused on where she was going... and who would be there.
(He's going to be there,) was repeating in her head like a repetitive drum line. She shook her head and focused on the shop windows as she walked. It didn't help as her thoughts carried her back to the sight of Shinji, broken hearted as she had left him. Asuka remembered Shinji standing at Tokyo-2's rebuilt airport nine years ago, his sullen and crying face. It almost caused her to change her mind.
But her pride then made her go. Her stubborn pride, which was now raising its mighty head, roaring once again.
'You don't need that dork! Berate him, make him suffer, show him you don't care for him.'
But that voice so much apart of her life then wasn't in control anymore. Now she had to decide what she would do when she saw Shinji again. She knew of his musical exploits and she did admire his tenacity in going into a new field and excelling as much as he did.
Then she remembered why she left.
"Rei will be there too." She covered her mouth, as several people were looking her oddly. She ignored that and kept on walking. She then berated herself for letting her control slip. But she had let her self-control lessen these past few years allowing more of her to show.
She then focused on what she had learned since she saw Shinji last. The first and hardest was the therapy sessions with the U.N. psychologist, Greta Lieber. It took her well over two years to finally share her inner demons with the woman and since then she had become a much happier person.
The main success was the fact that she finally accepted her mother's accident, and that the woman who had emerged from Unit-02's entry plug so long ago was just a shadow of her mother, not the real mother that had care for her so much.
That acceptance allowed Asuka to become more open with others, and had been the start of her new life. Also for a time she blamed that old life on Shinji. But through Dr. Lieber's help, she had realized that he was as much a victim as herself of Nerv, SEELE, and Project-E.
'But that was ancient history now. I'm much more of a well-adjusted person, right? Then why am I so nervous about seeing him again?' She sighed. 'Could it be that I still have ... feelings for him?' She stopped dead in her tracks almost causing a man behind her to run into her. That jostling brought her back to reality, as a "Sorry" was said by both.
Then she remembered that there was a coffeehouse right across the street from the symphony hall 'I do need that Latte right about now.' She headed for the coffeehouse and the relief it would give her. She sat down sipping her latte as she calmed herself down.
Then a tour bus pulled up along the side of the Symphony hall building. She then recognized some of the people getting out were the members of The Osaka Symphony. She then looked intently to see if she could pick one particular person out. But since he looked so much like most Japanese men, it was harder for Asuka to pick him out.
Then she looked up again, and saw him, her whole emotional being brightened. He was a bit taller than most of the men, about four inches taller. 'Boy did he grow up good!' Was all she could think as she admired how handsome he had become. Then her revelry was broken by who was standing next to him as they were getting their instruments and bags from the bus. The distinctive blue hair, though a bit longer, was there as always. Rei Ayanami stood beside Shinji Ikari.
'They're still ... together.' Asuka now thought. Her confidence deflated then and there. She took a few more minutes to compose herself as the orchestra members made their way inside of the old hall. She would still have to talk to him. She needed to know, at least if there was even a slight chance, if what she felt for him was returned or not. She then took a cleansing breath, paid for the coffee, and made her way across the bustling street to the side entrance of the hallway.
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Rehearsal and a Talk with Makoto (Auska's POV)
The hall was of course familiar as I worked there for most of the year. The same stagehands, and workers whom I'd known for years greeted me. I then made my way through the building to the rehearsal room.
I had my Stradivarius violin with me at all times, not just for it's value but also because it was my only instrument.
Most musicians have two instruments. One to practice with, one for concerts. Sometimes, three or four were owned depending on the instrument or musician's preferences.
I was one of those that used the violin I'd had since I took it up all those years ago.
One of the only good things my father had done for me that I could say I admired was getting me such a famous and sweet sounding instrument as this violin.
I entered the room and made my way to the guest soloists' seat. Since the soloists were violinists, I was next to the First Violinist of the Osaka Symphony, Takate Onaka.
She had classic Japanese looks and was quite pretty as Japanese women go. I knew that she earned the first chair as she had competed with me at an international music festival a few years ago. I also knew that my old self would have wanted all this to be a competition, but these days I saw it for what it was, an opportunity to play well, and learn.
Then as everyone was tuning up their instruments, the other section leaders of the orchestra filed in. They included Shinji, First Chair for the Cello section and Rei for the Viola section. I looked at them and I saw something that froze me in place.
Rei was there, talking pleasantly, almost like a normal woman would to Shinji and Takate, probably about the pieces of music they were going to play. I shook my head, Trying to process what I saw, then sat down and opened my case and got my instrument and music out.
I then turned a bit to look at Shinji who was surprisingly staring at me as well. I could feel it, his gentle, smiling gaze, full of hope and the caring I remembered from so long ago. It was so clear to me. But then my pride took control for the next few moments. I didn't say anything, but the look Shinji got from me told him volumes as I looked back and forth between him and Rei Ayanami. I must have grimaced without thinking, my pride costing me my chance to make a good first impression. I internally berated myself as I had him 10 years before.
Then I was startled when the Conductor, Toshiro Mikume tapped his baton and quieted down the orchestra members.
As he cleared his throat, he then made the necessary announcements of the rehearsal. First introducing me, which brought a very respectful applause from the visiting orchestra members, which I took as a positive. We then reviewed the lineup of music that was to be performed.
All are familiar to me but I was happy with most of them. They are as follows: (My comments are in parentheses)
1. Arron Copeland: Fanfare for the Common Man
(A piece that was used either as an opening or closing of a concert.)
2. Bach: Air in the G' string
(An overall fan favorite, with many connections to certain orchestra members)
3.Beethovan's Romance for Violin and Orchestra, 1st movement (This was where my solo was performed, which was a very boisterous and expressive, piece of music)
4.Shulman: Cello Concerto in A Minor Op.#129
(Shinji's Solo, which was a very soulful and melodramatic piece of music.)
5.Holst: The Planets; Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity
(An uplifting piece which involves all sections of the orchestra.)
6.Pachelbel: Canon in D (Soloists Finale, uses all first chair strings, and a piano accompanist, one of my favorite to play and listen to.)
I re-read the line up of music. I had of course played all the pieces before, but not in this combination. It seemed that every piece would emphasize a soloist and all seemed to implore a hopeful feeling in the audience. I then wondered who had made the decisions for the music. Normally the Conductor makes those decisions, but from Mr. Mikume's history, this wasn't the line up of music he would have selected.
'Maybe one of the lead chairs had something to do with it.' Asuka was thinking to herself. 'That, plus wanting to know what Shinji had been doing caused me to think whom to ask?'
Then it hit me, "Makoto! He would have the skinny on Shinji, and Rei as well." Then I was startled by an old and familiar voice from behind me. "What do you want Miss Souryu?" Makoto was standing right behind me having heard me say his name out loud.
"Ah, well, I was just asking myself who could tell me how everyone's been doing better than man who organized this little tour for the Osaka Symphony". I smiled like I would have nine years before. My old defenses had gone back up.
"All right, buy me some lunch and we'll talk. Will that be acceptable?" Makoto sighed again, now knowing what he just got himself hooked into.
"That would be fine. Now please allow us musicians to do our jobs, Thanks!" I smiled and winked as he simply nodded in defeat.
After that exchange, the conductor tapped his baton and all eyes were glued to him as our practice lineup was announced. "All right, we'll go though this as a dry run first with no breaks other than between pieces. Remember to keep an eye on the changes in tempo, and if you have any questions save them until we finish this first run through. All right, instruments up."
His baton went up and the orchestra played for the next three hours running through the concert lineup twice and reviewing the rough spots. we broke for lunch and I rushed to where Makoto had set up his office, also avoiding Shinji, whom I saw was looking at me intently. I wasn't ready to talk to him yet, not until I talked to Makoto first. I started to breathe easier as Rei tapped his arm, and he followed her out of the rehearsal room.
"Probably to have their lunch together" I whispered.
"Yeah, you're right about that." Makoto answered. I was surprised he could have heard me, especially through the entire din and noise that accompanies the end of a rehearsal.
"I'm used to hearing things through the noise." He gestured at the musicians playing their instruments, talking or putting their instruments away. Before I could say anything he put his hand up stopping me.
"Lets get to lunch, as I'm not the only one that has this listening skill." I simply nodded and followed the Orchestra manager to lunch. After we ordered lunch, Makoto and I eyed each other. As I had now grown up to be a beautiful woman, Makoto was showing his trek into middle age as some wisps and lines of gray hair graced his temples, though he now sported wire-rimmed glasses, making him look less nerdy.
"Ok, what do you want to know?" Makoto asked, as he sipped his wine he had ordered with his meal.
"First, Are Shinji and Rei, hmm, well, ... involved?" I had to ask that first.
"You know they're brother and sister, that's their relationship, they're not lovers." He said that a bit more forcefully that he wanted. It took me back, but it did reassure me and brought some of my self-confidence back.
"Then is Shinji involved with anyone right now?" My voice lowered in volume as I said each word.
"Nope, and he hasn't dated much at that. It took Rei's urging for him to go out the few times he has." Makoto took another sip of wine.
I was confused. "Wait, you mean to say that Rei pushed him to date other girls?"
"As I told you she's his sister, so she wanted him to get involved with others as much as he pushed her to do the same." Now I was really confused, Rei making Shinji date, and he doing the same for her?
"So, they encouraged each other to date?" I asked.
"Yeah, why are you so surprised?" He chuckled as he put his empty glass down. His amused face made me think.
"I I didn't know they were, well exactly outgoing, you know?" It seemed that they did change more that I would have thought.
"Well, they only started to date other people last year. Before then they were both so shy they only went out together." Makoto then called the waiter for another glass of wine as I pondered what he had said.
"So, all those times they went out together, it was because they were scared of getting close to others. Is that right?" He simply nodded yes.
"You got it Asuka. They're actually are finally starting to have some fun now. Especially after we visited Maya and Shigeru s Jazz club in Osaka."
"What, you mean they got together?" Now that was new and different. I never figured those two getting together. I had heard enough rumors of Maya's infatuation of the late Dr. Akagi to thoroughly convince me of Maya's choice of gender.
"They got married two years ago, but they've been dating for several years before that." Makoto started sipping his second glass of wine. Maybe
"So, they got together when they returned and some of the others didn't?" I asked the former Nerv tech.
Makoto smiled. "Well we all knew Maya had a thing for Ritsuko, but what we didn't know was the crush Shigreu had for her. When after 3 years Ritsuko hadn't return the goofball finally got the nerve to ask her out and after several rejections she said yes. Then during their first date Shig told me she finally broke down about Dr. Akagi not returning, and they started to become closer first as friends who dated then to slowly falling for one another. Finally they took a cruise together and when they returned they were married."
I nodded and smiled at the way things were going first with the former techs, and at her chance to do the same.
Which pretty much only left two things, Misato and "And what about Touji and Hikari?" I had to kick myself for not keeping up with my former best friend. When I left Japan, I cut all ties from there, and that included Misato and Hikari.
"They live in Kobe now and have are running very busy restaurant there."
"So, they got what they wanted, Hikari cooking, and Touji right by her side, helping her." I sighed with regret. I wished to have the same. A time of silence followed
Makoto asked me "if there was anything else I wanted to know."
I shook my head quietly thinking of all the things that had been told. "Wait, so what's been happening with Misato?" I asked quietly.
"Oh, Well she's now a consultant for several major companies in Japan. She' semi-retired from the U.N. and she also got married five years ago."
"Wait, she got married huh. Ah, to who?" I was curious who would have not only dated but married my former guardian. "Well her name's now Misato Huguya."
I must have been there silent, probably frozen like a statue for about fifteen to twenty seconds. I saw that he had a smile on his face, as he tapped on the table to get my attention.
"Asuka, are you in there." He waved his hand in front of my face before I finally acknowledged him.
"You and Misato married?!?" Was all I could stutter out right then.
"Well, she seems to have enjoyed my company, and I of course have no complaints, other than building a permanent recycling can next to the dining room, for her beer cans.
I asked, "So, she hasn't stopped drinking?" then I regretted it the second after I said it.
He looked down then back up to me with a contemplative look on his face. "She's cut down, with my help. But with all she went through with Nerv, and when she was younger." He sighed. I remembered the talks Misato and I had about our respective pasts, so I understood and was happier that she had cut down on her drinking.
After a few minutes of chatting I finally got to the main subject I wanted to talk about, but it seemed Makoto knew what I was thinking. He smiled and put his hand on mine. "Asuka, it's ok. He's been nervous about you too."
I know I gave him a very shocked look. He sighed and then smiled. "Just go up and talk to him. You two do need to talk."
"Yeah, I know that idiot and I need to talk." My watch started to beep. "Oh, we need to return to practice."
I of course kept my word, and paid for the meal. We both quietly made our way back to the Rehearsal hall.
As we walked back, I was talking to myself, nervously going over just what I wanted to say to Shinji, I caught Makoto quietly smiling at the thought that we could finally talk through our differences. I smiled back knowing and hoping that was true.
(Makoto's Thoughts)
Misato had told me so many times that those two should talk to each other and bury their differences so there true feelings could be expressed. Of course with both their backgrounds, it was easier said than done. But Makoto's thoughts were interrupted.
(Asuka's POV)
I had little time to waste, as Shinji would be gone by the end of the week. But fate would step in as things happened by the end of the day that would draw us closer than ever before.
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Change in Plans
As we made our way to the rehearsal hall, the conductor grabbed Makoto as we entered, and they both headed for his office. I thought nothing of it, as there were more important things on my mind. But before anything could happen I saw the First Violinist of the Osaka Symphony, Takate Onaka walk by me with her instrument case and a scared look in her eyes. She quickly headed into the Conductor's office where he and Makoto were waiting for her.
As the rest of the orchestra set up for the afternoon rehearsal, I observed the office door open and everyone saw a crying Takate being led to the exit by Makoto, while Conductor Mikume when to the podium.
With the quick clicking of his baton on the podium, all activity ceased within the room, and all attention was given to the middle-aged man who led the orchestra.
"A car accident has occurred back in Osaka, Takate's husband and son, were injured."
There was a slew of gasps, "Oh No's" and "That's so sad's" murmuring throughout the room before the Conductor continued.
"She is taking the next flight to Osaka. So, for right now we do not have a first chair Violinist to take Takate's place."
Without hesitation I raised my hand and asked to talk to Mr. Mikume. "Sir, I have no plans for the next month, so I'd be glad to fill in if you need me." 'What am I doing?' I asked myself.
"Miss Souryu. I was going to ask you to try out soon anyway. An audition will take place right after this practice as I have to allow the current members of the Violin section to compete for the chair as well." The conductor then nodded for me to sit down.
"That's fine Mr. Mikume, I'll be ready." I was ecstatic and nervous as well.
"Of course, I wouldn't have expected any less than that from one of Heir Shulmans' first chairs!" That turned up the pressure that much more for me. I'm sure that made me more nervous, as I made my way back to my seat. I realized that I might be seeing a lot more of Shinji that I thought, that is if I win the first chair position. My confidence shot up again, as my old pride came roaring back and for once appropriately.
It took the rest of the afternoon to rehearse with me filling in for Takate. Then, as the rehearsal ended, to my surprise, the judge was not the Conductor, but the first chairs of the other string sections that came into the room and sat on a table facing us.
Shinji Rei, and the first chair of the String Basses, Keiichi Makabi sat and as we sat down he stood up to speak,
"You will play the first violin part of "Pachelbel: Canon in D Major."
He then sat down and all three faced us, as was the custom, the lowest chair went first, with me last since I wasn't apart of the orchestra. It took about thirty minutes to get to my turn as five others had played before me.
They all played accurately and well, but in my opinion without much feeling for the music.
Then, it was my turn. As I started playing, I looked at each of those judging me intently. First was Keiichi, the bass player who had closed his eyes and seemed to be concentrating on my playing, feeling out my nuances and style.
Then I looked at wonder girl, who sat there with that emotionless mask on looking at me with that intense yet stoic gaze. Her look didn't deter me as I knew that by winning I would have more chances to make up with Shinji, I played my heart out.
Finally, I focused on Shinji just as the part expanded in the piece to focus on the violinist's part. I poured the emotions I had into it, pride, self-confidence, and even a little giddiness. Then I started to "Feel" the piece and that's when I always play my best!
Then I was amazed, and surprised at the same time. There in that small room, all of them were standing, clapping, and they all seemed to be smiling at me, even the enigmatic Rei.
I couldn't believe it at first, I simply froze and stood there until Shinji grabbed my hand and shook it. I then came back from the twilight zone as Keiichi, Rei, and the rest of the violin section congratulated me. I finally settled down when Shinji steps up in front of me with a smile on his face.
I smiled back and said, "Well Shinji, do you want to congratulate me on winning the First chair, or do you have something else in you mind?" I had said that with my old false bravado. He simply chuckled at my small joke then looked me with whose eyes, with those dark blue pools that I could get lost in. I stuttered a bit, as I couldn't stop looking at them. But before I could say anything he beat me to the punch.
"Asuka, I just wanted to say that I'm happy that you're going to finish the tour with us."
"Well, if you're so happy for me, why don't you pay for dinner tonight hotshot." I winked at him smiling a genuine smile.
"Dinner?" He looked perplexed. "We're going out to dinner?"
"Well, if you insist. Just pick me up at around 8, Ok bub-bye!" I quickly made my way through all the well wishers that now were my fellow orchestra members and away from a seemingly confused former 3rd Child.
When I made it to the door, I looked back to see Shinji stood there stiff as a board. 'Oh how easy it was to push his buttons, just like before. I guess some bad habits are harder to break. I know if I don't start soon, I might alienate him like I did before. I'll have to work on that.
I was of course so smug as I had tricked him not only into taking me out, but paying for it as well.
All of those thoughts when away as I looked back, and saw him looking at me, smiling! Well that didn't work so well. I was deflated a little, but surmised, "Oh well, at least he's paying." Now I had to get home and change, get my hair done, and do all the things needed to turn that man's head. I then remembered how he looked now.
From what I've seen of Shinji, he really was a man, and I definitely wanted to see if his looks were real, or if he really had grown up. 'Well, I'll find out tonight.'
I was giddy as I made for home and an interesting dinner.
Chapter 3: The Big Date/ the Tour Ends