Woo-hoo. Update! And I'd call it a reasonably fast update (for me, anyway), considering that it was also delayed by the start of college and my hard drive crashing. Decent length, too.
Any interaction between Shinji and Kaoru is intended to be completely heterosexual, just as I believe it was intended in the anime. Not that it's really relevant either way.
Also, while I've seen Kaoru's name spelled in various ways, and while I believe my DVD characters profiles spell it Kaworu as most people seem to, I am accustomed to using "Kaoru," so that's how I'm gonna do it. Trying to switch between to Kaworu after writing "Kaoru" for so long is like remembering how to spell Fuyutsuki for the first time (i.e. annoying as fuck). So I don't need a million people (not that anywhere near that many people actually read this thing) emailing me/ leaving reviews saying stuff like "OMG, durrr, itZ spelzored Kerreewoo, n00b!11!1! LOL kthnx." That, and I don't feel like using find/replace, because I like "Kaoru" better anyway, correct or not.
Please also note that once again, in favor of efficiency, I have omitted my usual thorough proofread/rewrite stage, because it takes too damn long. Now enjoy the fic. The Sun God commands it.
Kill Gendou
Volume Five
Tokyo-2 Community Hospital
5 Years Earlier
"I mustn't run away."
Possessed by some primal urge, unleashed from its long imprisonment in the depths of his psyche, Shinji Ikari strode purposefully toward the comatose young woman lying helpless in the small, white hospital bed. He gazed hungrily at her. Even unconscious and barely clinging to life, she was still amazingly beautiful to him. He saw the same peaceful expression he had grown accustomed to while he lived with her in Misato's apartment, the tranquil countenance of a child that yet warned of a hidden vigor, as if even in the depths of slumber she might still spark to life at any moment.
But she would not. She could not. She was still. She was helpless. He could take her, possess her completely, make her his own. After all the time spent in her presence, living right next to her but yet still separated by an immeasurable gulf, he could finally have what he had secretly coveted for so long. His trembling hands hovered inches from her body, exposed and accessible to his touch. There was no one to get in his way, nothing to stop him from claiming his prize.
Shinji froze. His hands twitched indecisively, as if some invisible barrier had arisen to thwart their advance.
No, his mind decided. It's not right. I… I can't.
He shrank back from Asuka's bed, ashamed.
You mustn't run away! his bestial instincts insisted.
The trembling in Shinji's hands stopped. Grim resolve spread across his features, and he moved back to Asuka's side. He took her hand, clasping it firmly between his own. He had already abandoned her once; he would not do it again.
I will not run away.
"So? Was I right?"
Shinji turned from gazing out the window to find Kensuke Aida hovering by his desk, an expectant grin spread across his face.
"Well?"
"Well, what?" Shinji replied.
"Come on Shinji, you know what I'm talking about."
"Yeah, come on, man," Touji Suzuhara urged, approaching Shinji's other shoulder. "Don't keep us in suspense."
Shinji stared sullenly at his desk.
"Yeah, she was there," he murmured.
"I knew it!" Kensuke said, exchanging a high-five with Touji. "I told you! I can find anything on the net."
Touji leaned in closer to Shinji and nudged him with his elbow. "So? How'd it go?"
Shinji shrugged listlessly. "Nothing happened."
"Right," Touji smirked. "You're telling me that you were alone in a hospital room with one of the hottest girls in our class lying helpless in front of you, and nothing happened?"
Shinji didn't respond, not even with his token blush or embarrassed sputtering. Kensuke leaned in close, peering at an angle through his eyeglasses.
"Are you feeling all right, Shinji? You've been acting even more spacey than usual today."
"Yeah, you're right," Touji agreed. "I bet he's just feeling the aftereffects of his night of debauchery with the she-demon."
Shinji pushed himself up from his desk, slinging his school bag over his shoulder. He did his best to put on an embarrassed smile.
"I told you guys, nothing happened."
"Typical Shinji," Touji said. "Fine, next time we'll all go together. Then we'll teach you what it really means to be man."
"Hey don't you have a synch test pretty soon?" Kensuke inquired, changing the subject to Shinji's great relief.
The young Ikari nodded. "Yeah, in about an hour. I need to get going, so I'll see you guys tomorrow."
The two boys bade him farewell, and Shinji began to make his way toward NERV Headquarters, a single topic dominating his thoughts: the Second Child, Asuka Langley Sohryu.
Two Years Later
"You're sure you don't want a turn?" Touji asked, lounging on one of the visitors chairs in Asuka's hospital room.
Shinji shook his head, as he always did. Touji shrugged, slouching further into the chair. He had given up on the subject long ago; the only reason he even bothered asking any more was out of habit. It was kind of weird how Shinji just wanted to hold her hand the whole time, but Touji dismissed it as some sort of a personal thing. Shinji was a shy, private kind of guy, not really the kind to get his jollies in front of other people. Suzuhara supposed Shinji probably took his time enjoying the young woman on those solo expeditions he often made to the hospital; although Shinji would not admit it, Touji was certain the young pilot made the commute to Tokyo-2 by himself at least once a week, if not more, in addition to their occasional group visits.
Touji stood, stretched his limbs, then straightened his clothes and turned to regard his companions.
"Well, I'd say that's enough depravity for one day."
Opening the door, he strolled casually out into the hallway, followed shortly by Kensuke. Shinji remained in the room momentarily, squeezing Asuka's hand.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek.
He knew she'd always hated his apologies, but for once, he really meant it rather than just blurting it out as a conditioned response. He knew in his heart that what his friends were doing was wrong, but he felt powerless. They were his friends, after all. He was afraid to speak out, paralyzed by fear and doubt.
Instead, he just sat by, holding her hand through each ordeal, as if that really meant anything. He was just as bad as they were, if not worse. Not to mention he felt responsible for putting her in this predicament in the first place, again through his own fear and inaction. The only thing that kept him going was these frequent visits when, alone or with his friends, he could at least spend time with her.
"Hey, Shinji, you coming?" Touji called from the hallway.
Feeling absolutely worthless, Shinji placed Asuka's arms gently at her sides, straightened her hospital gown, gave her hand one last reassuring squeeze, and walked out of the room to join his friends.
Two and a Half Years Later
Shinji Ikari sighed, relishing the last few sensations of touch as he relinquished his grip, his fingers sliding across the smooth skin of Asuka's hand. He let his fingertips linger on her soft flesh for a few tantalizing instants before breaking off contact completely. He longed to stay with her, but he knew he needed to get back before Misato started probing too deeply into his whereabouts. Besides, it was getting harder to throw off the NERV Intelligence agents every day, even with the techniques Kaji had shown him once.
Rising to his feet, he gazed sadly once more at the sleeping redhead and strode from the room.
Shinji pushed through the hospital's main exit, blinking as his sensitive eyes, having adjusted themselves to the gloomy internal lighting of the hospital, suddenly encountered the glare of sunset. He squinted, taking a moment to appreciate the daily spectacle, as was his usual routine. He marveled at the beauty of it, lamenting how pure and untainted it looked in comparison to the murky blackness of his own soul.
"You're a hard man to follow, Shinji Ikari."
The unexpected declaration startled Shinji from his dismal thoughts, and he looked up to find a familiar-looking figure standing off to the side, seemingly admiring the sunset as well, silhouetted by the same brilliant luminosity that so assaulted his senses as his vision struggled to compensate. Shinji peered against the glare to identify the speaker, whose voice had stirred a whisper of recognition in the back of Shinji's mind.
"Kaoru?"
Shading his eyes, Shinji moved closer to his mysterious companion, making out the familiar red eyes, gray hair, and pale skin that identified him as Kaoru Nagisa, Shinji's comrade-in-arms and the designated pilot of Evangelion Unit 02.
"You come here often, don't you, Shinji?"
Shinji lowered his gaze to the ground, unsure of how to respond. He had done his best to keep it a secret, to keep NERV from finding her and taking her away from him again. Perhaps he should have just stayed away altogether. Then there would have been no way for them to follow him to her. Then Touji and Kensuke might never have confirmed that she was here, either.
No, he told himself. He did not want her to be alone. He did not want to leave her all by herself in this awful place, surrounded by strangers who couldn't care less if one day she simply stopped breathing, beyond the grumbling they might make about having to haul her lifeless body to the morgue.
Liar, his mind retorted. You only came here for yourself. You were the one who didn't want to be alone. It's your fault that they found her, just like it's your fault she ended up here in the first place, coward.
"Don't worry," Kaoru said, seeming to sense what Shinji was thinking, just as he always did. "Your secret is safe with me."
The gray-haired boy sat down on a nearby bench and motioned for Shinji to join him. He accepted the invitation, and the two pilots gazed wordlessly out at the deep orange sun as it sank slowly beneath the horizon.
Kaoru was the first to break the silence. "There is something very important to you here, isn't there, Shinji?"
Shinji hesitated for a moment, debating whether he should be candid with his pale companion or fabricate some other explanation for his presence here. He decided that honesty was the best course, and nodded. Even though he had only known the other boy for a few months now, Shinji realized for the first time that they had become good friends. Kaoru was like a kindred spirit, and Shinji felt deep down in his heart that he could trust him, even with something as important as protecting Asuka.
Kaoru smiled. "It is plainly written on your face. You must truly love her, to go to such great lengths to protect and be with her."
Shinji faltered at that. Love her? Did he really?
Of course you don't, fool, the voice inside him scolded. You don't love anyone. All you care about is yourself. You simply cling to others, desperately trying to make yourself feel less pathetic, to give yourself the illusion that you aren't so absolutely worthless.
Could that be true? he wondered. Was he simply using her for his own purposes? Did he just cling to her for comfort, as a frightened child clings to a favorite doll, only to discard it when the fear has passed?
Did it even matter now? How could he, such a sad, wretched creature, even dare to consider being worthy of her love?
It was all so horribly depressing, and, not for the first time, Shinji longed for his existence to end. He pined for the ultimate release of death, to fade into nothingness and leave all this pain behind. But he knew he could not leave her behind. As long as she lived, he would linger in this world of infinite sadness. Even if she cast him aside, exiling him to the furthest reaches of hell this sorry existence could provide, he would survive, unless she herself decided to take his life. He would gladly surrender his life to her. Dying by her hands was the most glorious end he could imagine.
No… he truly did love her, and, worthy or not, he would not abandon her.
"I… I want to be with her," Shinji finally admitted. "Even if she hates me, even if she wants to kill me, I will stay by her side and protect her as best I can, until I die or she sends me away of her own free will."
Kaoru smiled, then reached over and clasped Shinji's hand in his own.
"It's all right. I understand exactly what you mean, for I too care deeply for another. It is a blessing, though sometimes it may feel like a curse when you see them in peril or shouldering a heavy burden all alone, and there is so very little you can do to help them."
Shinji's mind wandered back to one of the first conversations he'd had with Kaoru in the showers at NERV HQ.
"You are delicate, like glass," Kaoru had said. "That is, your heart is."
"It is?" Shinji had replied uneasily, his face flush with embarrassment and discomfort.
"Yes. This is worth earning my empathy."
"Empathy?"
"I'm saying I love you."
Though at first the idea had made Shinji feel awkward and uncomfortable, his continued conversations and interactions with the unusual Kaoru Nagisa had lead him to a new understanding of the concept of love, and how it could be applied to relationships between all people, not just the usual idea of men and women or parents and children. In Kaoru he had found a kindred spirit, a brother by mind and heart if not by blood.
Shinji looked to their clasped hands, feeling none of his former discomfort or embarrassment. It was a symbol of their friendship, a gesture of kindness and familiarity the likes of which Shinji had seldom experienced before.
Kaoru gazed at his thoughtful companion, deciphering much of the boy's thoughts just by looking at him, as if Shinji had been mumbling aloud to himself. Kaoru decided it had been a good idea not to mention that NERV was almost certainly aware of the Second Child's location and condition. It simply would not do to trouble this gentle young man further, especially considering the role Kaoru knew he would have to play in the near future.
The last vestiges of the setting sun slipped below the horizon, giving way to the shadows of evening. Shinji and Kaoru rose silently from their seats and strolled off toward the train station. Though they did not speak, a palpable air of camaraderie surrounded them as they walked, as sure as if they were laughing and joking aloud like any other pair of high school pals. Shinji felt a warmth spreading through his chest, similar to what he felt when he was around Asuka, but somehow different. A faint smile spread across his features as he walked, and he knew that he had found a friend who understood him completely, and who, knowing all that, was still willing to stay by his side.
NERV Headquarters
The Present
Gendou Ikari stared impassively across his desk at the newly-arrived visitor, hands folded in front of his jaw. He seemed unperturbed by the fact that the boy had just emerged through the office floor, gliding through the solid matter as if it wasn't even there.
"Must you always conduct yourself with such a grandiose demeanor?" the Commander inquired, a hint of annoyance pervading his voice. "It hardly seems befitting of an entity such as yourself."
"Forgive me," Kaoru replied with just a hint of what might have been sarcasm. "I was merely experimenting with what I believe you Lillum would call 'self indulgence.' It is a surprisingly agreeable concept."
"Let us dispense with these pleasantries," Gendou said, steering the conversation in a more practical direction. "We digress from the matter at hand."
He straightened slightly in his seat, letting his folded hands slip down to rest beneath his chin.
"The time draws near," he continued. "I am sure that you can feel this as well. It is the reason you were brought here, Tabris."
"Please," Kaoru said with a conspiratory grin. "You of all the Lillum should know that is not my true name."
"Very well… Judas," Gendou conceded, narrowing his eyes.
Kaoru smiled. "It has been quite a long time since anyone has called me by that name."
"Let it serve as a reminder of your true purpose, then. Regardless of any nonsense the old men might have imparted to you, we are outside their sphere of influence now. NERV shall function as the guiding hand of humanity's final days, not SEELE."
"Yes, I understand," Kaoru affirmed. "It is the reason I exist. I am pleased to finally realize my true purpose, to be a beacon on the path to redemption after untold millennia of senseless destruction."
"Very well. I will leave the task to you. Go forth, and fulfill your true destiny."
Kaoru bowed, almost mockingly, and sank back into the floor from whence he had come. Gendou stared at the spot where he had disappeared, rubbing his goatee thoughtfully.
"Yui…"
Wrapping the soft, white towel around her torso, Asuka stepped out of the tub, subtly twisting to stretch the muscles that were still sore, the number of which, she noted, was surprisingly small, despite the previous night's exertions. Likewise, her wounds that had seemed so severe and painful the night before now seemed almost inconsequential. Aside from a bit of stiffness in her limbs and a dull, throbbing ache in some of her deeper cuts, she felt surprisingly good.
Shivering slightly, she strode past the sink and lifted the light pink robe she had hung on the doorknob and wrapped it around herself, relishing the sudden comfort and warmth.
A smile crept across Asuka's features, and she realized that she was actually in a rather good mood. The thought both surprised and delighted her, and she made a mental note to take the day off. Some rest and relaxation would do well to prepare her for finishing her task; no doubt security at NERV Headquarters would be heightened once they realized just how many of their employees she had slaughtered.
Including the First Child, she thought with a grin.
Grasping the door handle, Asuka sighed contentedly and pushed it open. Today was going to be a good day.
"Hello, Asuka."
Asuka froze as vaguely familiar voice intruded into her pleasant reflections, her hands groping instinctively at her waist. However, rather than encountering the familiar texture of her sword hilt, they met only the lonely void of empty air. Asuka silently cursed her own carelessness; how could she have left herself unarmed in such a vulnerable position?
As she turned to face the voice's owner, she nearly gasped in surprise. Standing across the room adjacent to the television stand was Kensuke Aida. He had not grown much taller since she'd last seen him, but his frame had broadened more significantly, contrasting almost comically with his otherwise nerdy appearance. He grinned at her, raising the Hanzo sword out in front of his body to admire it. His stance and the way he handled the blade suggested a surprising level of competence, no doubt a result of his obsession with military weapons and equipment.
"This is a beautiful sword you've got here," he continued, his voice only marginally deeper than Asuka remembered. "I'm really impressed."
A chuckle from the other side of the room drew Asuka's gaze over to the side of the room. Touji Suzuhara stood by the bed, arms folded across his chest, smirking. Asuka did not fail to notice the revolver hanging at his waist.
"You'll have plenty of time to nerdgasm over it later, Kensuke," Suzuhara chided, grinning hungrily at Asuka. "We have more pressing business to attend to, now that she's much more… responsive."
Asuka felt rage building inside of her. She may have been comatose and unresponsive at the time, but she had been aware of much that had transpired in her hospital room. Even if it killed her, she would rip these bastards apart with her bare hands. She would-
Asuka froze, the anger draining as she noticed the young man standing sullenly behind Touji with his back to her, staring blankly out a large window with his head bowed. Asuka felt a confusing mix of emotions welling up in side her, none of which seemed to involve inflicting bodily harm upon him. She felt her fighting spirit fading, and she suddenly had no energy left with which to retrieve it. Her inner voice screamed at her to take action, to spring forward and tear her enemies limb from limb. But the voice seemed distant, as though it were screaming at her from across the street in the midst of a severe thunderstorm.
The young man slowly turned around, revealing those same calm, innocent eyes that she remembered, though now they seemed deeper-set and hollow, clouded with anguish and inner turmoil. It clearly pained him to be here, and he could only hold her gaze for a brief instant before turning away in shame.
Asuka simply stared at his back, motionless. She felt nothing. A vague tinge of sadness smoldered in the back of her mind, manifesting itself only in a single tear running slowly down her cheek. Touji merely continued to smirk at her, admiring the places where her robe revealed soft pink skin, plastered in some places by her damp red hair, and she could vaguely sense Kensuke's attention wavering between her body and the katana in his hands.
Suddenly Asuka's body sprang into motion against her will, and she felt an eerie sensation, as if time had slowed to a crawl. She could feel her body twisting to the side, dashing toward Kensuke. Her mind seemed to pull taut, then snap forward, as if her consciousness was merely being dragged along for the ride.
Kensuke's eyes widened and he lashed out with a well-aimed diagonal slash, confirming Asuka's previous estimate of his competence. But in her heightened state of awareness, his movements seemed sluggish and ridiculously exaggerated. Her body dropped into a crouch, and the blade continued its ponderous descent, passing harmlessly over her head. Asuka felt her right arm swing up in a stiff uppercut, pounding into Kensuke's gut just below his sternum. He groaned, a sound which seemed drawn out and comical, and Asuka's eyes absently tracked several small globules of saliva as they soared past her cheek.
Her body leapt to its feet and whipped her right leg across, striking Kensuke soundly in the face. His head snapped around under the force of the kick, and crashed forcefully into the television screen. The glass shattered upon impact, cracking several of his bones and severely lacerating his face. He twitched as a strong electrical current jolted through his body, then fell still as the appliance overloaded in a small shower of sparks.
But Asuka saw none of this, as her body had already wrenched the katana from Kensuke's limp grasp and twisted itself around to face her remaining threats. Touji had already reached for his revolver, and was in the process of raising it into firing position when she felt herself lunge forward, repeating the awkward feeling of her brain being dragged behind the rest of her physical body.. A single bullet whizzed past her head, and though it moved significantly faster than the spittle she had observed previously, she found she could still mark its passage for an instant before it moved out of her line of sight to impact against the dresser.
Touji shifted his aim, but he simply moved too slowly. Even if her body had not been acting on its own, Asuka could have easily anticipated his movements and slowly shifted herself out of his line of sight. As it was, he didn't stand a chance, and the katana sheared cleanly through the wrist of his weapon arm. The severed limb and the revolver still clutched in its grasp soared gracefully through the air, trailing an almost beautiful stream of blood, tumbling to a rest at Shinji's feet. Asuka felt her arms raise the sword back into the air, turn it over, and thrust the blade deep into Touji's eye. The tip punched out through the back of his skull, and and he fell limp, sliding off the blade and collapsing to the floor in a heap.
Asuka whirled to face Shinji, who had been standing still the entire time. He had not grabbed for Touji's fallen revolver or moved toward the doorway to escape. He had not even turned around, staring gloomily out the window. Slowly, he turned to face her, arms outstretched to either side. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, exposing his throat.
Asuka felt her body reacting, raising the sword again, eager to take advantage of the offering. She lingered in the strange observational realm, idly watching as her body poised to finish its deadly work. She felt detached and cold, but somehow the chill was comforting. Though she could not seem to control her real limbs, she managed to wrap the cold around her like a comforting blanket. She pulled it in close, smothering herself in the frigid void of her senses. She felt like she could stay like this forever, secure in this tiny corner of her mind. Her consciousness began to fade.
"Thank you, Asuka."
It was the first time Shinji had spoken since his arrival, and it jolted Asuka from her chilled mental prison like an abrupt burst of flame. She felt her mind merging back into her body, and the lethargic passage of time reverted to its normal state. Asuka reeled from the disorientation and stumbled, suddenly back in control of her own limbs. The sword slipped from her grasp, and she dropped to one knee in an effort to regain her sense of balance.
Shinji lowered his chin, staring at her with concern. He opened his mouth to speak and took a step forward- and stepped on Touji's revolver. The metal skidded beneath his feet, and he slipped, his efforts to right himself thwarted by the slick pool of blood trickling from the severed hand. He stumbled backward into the large window, smashing through the glass and tumbling out into open air. He reached out, as if stroking Asuka's face one last time, and their eyes met for an instant before he disappeared from view.
Asuka stared sadly at the shattered window; she had never really planned to kill Shinji. Sure, she might have vaguely grouped him in with her collective enemy to satisfy her vengeful subconscious, but she had never made any specific attempts to locate or learn anything more about him. She could remember many details of his visits to her hospital room, the way he had held her hand and tried to comfort her as best he could, while fully admitting that he was too weak to truly help her. He had blamed himself for her condition, and for the behavior of his friends, and while the old Asuka would have hated and condemned him for his cowardice and indecision, she now found that she only felt pity and remorse. He had always been a gentle boy- too gentle, she had thought- and that was what she had always found so endearing- and infuriating. But now, even with her own limited grasp of empathy, one brief glance at his eyes had told her that his own self-loathing had been tearing him apart worse than her own blade ever could.
Tears welled in Asuka's eyes, and she felt hollow. She eyed the two corpses in the room; Touji lay limp near her feet, and Kensuke's body still dangled from the television stand where it was firmly embedded, smoke drifting away in lazy whisps. Normally she would have rejoiced in triumph, but now she could barely even feel the grim satisfaction in killing her former rapists. A small part of her mind warned that people would be coming soon, attracted by the noise. She quickly threw on some clothing, gathered up her sword and several of the hidden pistols she had stashed around the room, and fled into the hallway. She passed a number of concerned tenants and employees, but they did not pay her much attention. Making her way down to the parking garage, she exited through the rear entrance and into the streets.
Shinji Ikari plummeted toward the concrete, the last glimpse he had of the Second Child burned into his memory. He held it close to his heart, treasuring it as he built up speed. The rapidity of his descent disrupted his normal circulation, and he began to feel light-headed. As he lost consciousness, he relaxed contentedly. Though it had cost him his life, he had seen her one last time, and for him, that was enough.
The brown-haired young man tumbled through the open air, his limbs flopping awkwardly as the wind buffeted him along. He was fortunate to have passed out; this way, he would not feel the pain of impact. He carried with him no regrets over his impending death; all was as he willed it to be.
But another will disagreed. It would not allow his death, not now. Small yet powerful arms swooped up beneath his shoulders, slowing his descent, preventing the collision with solid ground that would have shattered his body and ended his life.
Kaoru Nagisa levitated slowly to the ground, supporting the young Ikari in his arms. No one in the streets paid them any attention, as though they had been wrapped in a cloak of invisibility. For, in fact, they were, as Kaoru desired them to be.
"It is not your time to die, Shinji Ikari," Kaoru said, cradling the unconscious teenager in his arms. "Not yet."
Kissing him softly on the cheek, Kaoru gently brushed his hand across the Third Child's brow, then brought his fingers to rest against the flesh of his forehead.
"Forgive me, Shinji," he whispered then forced the fingers in against the other boy's skull. They pierced easily through flesh and bone, as if simply melting through the normally-resistant tissue. Shinji jerked spasmodically, his eyelids fluttering open to regard his tormentor with a look of shock. His mouth opened and closed forming a silent question.
Why?
Kaoru only smiled sadly as he continued his intrusion, locking his gaze with Shinji's until the boy stopped thrashing and sank back into unconsciousness.
Kaoru withdrew is probing fingers, leaving no visible sign of their presence. He carefully lowered Shinji's unconscious body to the ground, then turned and walked away.
Shinji groaned as yet another staggering pain jolted through his forehead, forcing him to lean heavily against a nearby wall. He waited for the pain and dizziness to subside enough for him to take in his surroundings. He seemed to be in a parking garage of some sort, but he wasn't sure where. He could vaguely remember walking there, but every time he tried to think about it or what he had been doing before he came to this place the pain would start rising up again.
Shinji abandoned his efforts to figure out where he was and where he had been, focusing on more abstract questions like where this place might be and what in general might possibly have brought him here to begin with. A vague recollection tickled the back of his mind, and he focused on it. The pain flared up again, but he ignored it and continued focusing on that single memory fragment. It became clearer and clearer as he converged his thoughts on that single point, and though the pain increased in equal measure he forced himself to concentrate.
Just as he thought he might pass out from the agony, something snapped in his mind. It was as if he had been tugging on something with all his might and it had finally come free, releasing a smattering of memories. He seized the first one he came across, delving deep into the memory. Though it was just a flicker of recognition, a brief glimpse of smooth, pink flesh and soft, red hair, he knew immediately that it was important. A word came to him unexpectedly; it was a name: Asuka.
"Asuka…" he whispered, the word seemingly unlocking further pathways in his mind. "Asuka Langley Sohryu. The Second Child."
Asuka. Pilot of Evangelion Unit 02. His comrade. His roommate. His… love?
A new wave of memories assaulted him, blurring past his vision like a horde of slide shows being played at high speeds. Ideas jumbled on top of each other, colliding and causing blockages and congestion in his skull. The pain began to return, and he tried desperately to find the single point of memory that had triggered it all, but it was lost in the chaos, swept away in the roiling sea of memories. Shinji fell to his knees, hands clamped firmly over his ears in a futile attempt to stop the pandemonium in his psyche.
Shinji Ikari, a voice echoed in his mind, soft-spoken yet clearly audible over the storm. Do you want to make the memories go away?
I do, Shinji replied silently, before crying out with his real voice. "I do!"
You must surrender yourself entirely to me, the voice continued.
It sounded familiar. Shinji felt a twinge of recollection, a small bit of knowledge fished out from the maelstrom.
Kaoru?
I am not Kaoru, the voice replied, shifting slightly in pitch and tone. I am merely using a familiar voice from your memories. Are you ready, Shinji Ikari? Are you ready for the Silence?
I… I'm ready, Shinji answered. I am ready. Just… please. Make it stop.
The voice chuckled, and Shinji could almost see it leering at him, though it had no physical appearance, even in his mind. Good. You must clear your mind. Remove all conscious thoughts, and ignore the swirling chaos of your memories.
Shinji tried desperately to comply, to stop thinking and ignore the madness and disorder that flourished within, threatening to swallow him whole. It took a few minutes, but he finally managed to seize some measure of empty solitude, emptying his mind of everything he could.
It was enough. As quickly as it began, the seething mass of chaotic memories dwindled into nothingness. Shinji felt the plug returning in his mind, and for a moment he almost forgot what had happened just moments before.
Shinji's peaceful mental silence was short-lived, as the pain soon came rushing back to him. It felt as though someone were shoving his face into the ground, smothering him, though he could feel that he was still on his feet. He tried to gasp for air, but his lungs would not obey. Darkness overcame him, and he fell to the cold, hard ground.
Minutes later, he stirred again and rose unsteadily to his feet. He could not remember who or where he was, but it truly did not matter. He had only one desire, one quest, one goal. He would find the one, the one most precious to him. He would find her… and destroy her. And now, though he could not explain how, he had a pretty good idea where to find her. She was close… he could feel her.
Asuka paced back and forth through the empty hall, struggling to push thoughts of Shinji's death from her mind and decide her next move. It had shaken her more than she would ever care to admit; up until that point, she had actually been enjoying herself to an extent, reveling in the slaughter of her enemies.
But now it was different. Something was wrong, and the tattered remnants of the young girl Asuka had once been, locked deep within her psyche, wept in shame and sorrow at her wicked deeds. She pressed her back against the wall and slid down to the floor, staring vacantly at her palms. She imagined them covered in blood, as they had been so many times of late, and it made her feel sick.
She tilted slightly and let her weight drag her over onto the ground. She lay there, oblivious to the dirt and grime pressing against her cheek, or the rat scampering further down the hallway, some unrecognizable morsel of filth clutched in its jaws.
A large bloodstain met her empty gaze, reminding her of the last time she had come here, in search of Rei. All she had found was an ambush, and many had died. It was not surprising that NERV had not bothered to scrub the walls and floor; no one lived here anymore. It was precisely that knowledge that brought Asuka back here. She would be alone, and NERV would never have anticipated her return to this decrepit residence.
Footsteps echoed in the stairwell down the hall, pulling Asuka from her misery as she instinctively snatched a pistol from her waist and came up to a defensive crouch. The door opened, and a dark figure stalked through the shadows in her direction.
Just hours ago, Asuka would not have given a second thought before firing, but now she hesitated, reluctant to end another life without absolute necessity. She peered into the darkness, struggling to discern the identity of the figure. It spoke with a strained, yet somehow familiar voice.
"Asuka…"
The mysterious visitor moved within range of the hall's dim, flickering lights, and Asuka identified him with a start.
"Sh… Shinji…"
He seemed drained and nervous, walking in an awkward gait, glazed eyes staring at nothing in particular. Asuka perceived a slight tremor that shook his entire body, varying in intensity from moment to moment. Light glinted briefly off an object in his hand, and as he approached the light revealed a semi-rusted metal pipe hanging limply at his side.
"How… how are you alive?" Asuka murmured, to herself as much as she was asking him.
He did not answer her, simply stalking toward her with the same expressionless face and glazed eyes.
"Asuka…"
A sudden grimace of pain flashed across his face, and the pipe dropped to the ground. He staggered back a few steps, clutching at his head.
"Nooo," he moaned. "No! I won't!"
The pain must have intensified, for he flinched as if someone had struck him and fell to the ground, writhing.
"Get out!" he hissed. "Get out of my head! Stop it! I won't! You can't make me! I won't do it! GET OUT!"
His whole body jerked spasmodically, thrashing back and forth. Bits of shattered concrete scratched his flesh in several places, but he didn't seem to notice. His back arched, veins bulging out on his neck and forehead as he screamed.
"FATHER!"
Apparently spent, he fell into a motionless silence. But for the slight rise and fall of his chest and the occasionally choking sound as his throat caught, he almost appeared dead.
Asuka hurried to his side, cradling him in her arms. She peered at him in concern, not with the vengeful eyes of an experienced killer, but with the soft expression of a young woman concerned for another's well-being. She did not know how or why he had survived, or even how he had managed to find her, but she did not care.
"Shinji…" she whispered. "Are you okay?"
His eyes flickered slightly, opening just enough for her to make out his dilated pupils.
"Asuka…" he rasped, scarcely louder than a whisper. "I'm… s… sorry…"
His eyelids slid closed, and he went completely limp. Asuka could not even sense his breathing any more.
"Shinji… No, Shinji!"
She shook his body, desperate for some sign that he was still alive, that he hadn't finally abandoned her after all these years, just like everyone else.
"Shinji! Answer me, damn you! Shinji! Wake up! Shinji! Please-"
Strong hands clasped around her throat, constricting her breathing and ending her pleas mid-sentence. Shinji's eyes shot open, resuming their glazed, emotionless gaze at nothing in particular.
Asuka grasped at his wrists, struggling to pry his arms away from her neck, but he gripped her tender throat with surprising strength. He forced her to the ground, pressing his weight down on top of her as he continued to strangle her with his bare hands.
Asuka managed to thrash upward, her forehead colliding with that of her aggressor, but while the impact conjured a flash of blackness and pinpoints of light across her vision, it had little to no effect on Shinji.
Rather than recovering, her vision only blurred further as her brain began to shut down from asphyxiation. Lungs burning, she groped desperately for a weapon, realizing with dismay that she had abandoned her sword and other equipment when she had rushed to his side. If she glanced to the left she could see them lying inert and useless just a few meters away, but as far as practicality was concerned they may as well have not been there at all.
Having run out of options, Asuka considered resigning herself to her imminent death. Perhaps it would be better that way after all. But first, she had one last card to play.
Reaching up, Asuka stroked Shinji's cheek. His grip softened a bit, and she managed to lean up and press her lips to his. Something flickered in his eyes for an instant, and the vice around her trachea relaxed enough for her to catch one ragged breath and twist to the side enough to plant one foot against the wall before her throat was constricted again. It wasn't much, but she had bought herself a bit more time and maneuvering room.
Asuka stretched her leg out further than she ever had before, ignoring the pain in her knee as she planted her heel firmly against the concrete wall. The broken concrete cracked and disintegrated beneath her shoe, threatening to dislodge her tentative foot brace, but she was able to hold her position and kick off against the wall with all the strength her oxygen-deprived muscles could muster.
Her sudden movement succeeded in rolling Shinji over on his back, but his hands did not dislodge from her neck, pulling her over on top of him. However, she was able to put her increased mobility and gravitational advantages to good use, pummeling his chest and stomach with the most vicious punches she could land in her condition. Still, he did not seem to notice, even when she hammered him in the face, leaving large, red welts and bruises. She realized her efforts weren't helping, and through her darkening vision all she could manage to do was clench her hands around his throat in turn.
To her surprise, he released his hands from her neck and moved to grab her wrists defensively. She yanked them out of reach, driving an elbow into his ribs before hopping off his chest. A fist collided with her stomach before she could get completely away, and she staggered back, coughing and gasping for air. She eyed her weapons momentarily, but she would have to get past Shinji to retrieve them, and if he caught hold of her she knew she wouldn't have the strength to fight him off again. She was out of time; he was already climbing to his feet, the large metal pipe in hand. She barely managed to duck a powerful swipe, and the blunt metal crashed loudly into the wall nearby, punching a fresh, baseball-sized crater in the grimy surface.
Turning away, Asuka fled from the Third Child down the hallway to the stairs, rushing down the stairwell as fast as her battered, winded body would allow. She winced as a sharp pain jolted through her side, and wondered for a moment if she perhaps had a cracked rib. But there was no time to stop and check. She had to get out of here; if she didn't, one of them was going to end up dead, and while the prospect of dying was not particularly pleasant, she did not relish the idea of killing Shinji, either. Something was wrong, she knew. He did not really want to fight her. Something was compelling him, driving him to attack her against his will.
Wrapped up in her thoughts, Asuka did not notice the damaged step until it was too late and she had already stepped on it. Her foot skidded in the broken concrete, and tired muscles could not react in time to compensate before she stumbled awkwardly down the last few steps, landing hard on her left knee and rump. The sound of Shinji's pounding footsteps followed her down the stairwell, and as she saw him rounding the flight just above her, Asuka scrambled to her feet and pushed through the nearby doorway, neither knowing nor caring what floor she was on.
"AAAAAASSSUUUUUKAAAA…" Shinji roared as he pursued her down the stairs. His voice sounded raspy and inhuman, as if the words were being pulled from his vocal cords by someone other than himself.
The Second Child found herself in the old apartment complex's parking garage, and she had taken no more than a half dozen steps into its interior before slipping in a small, viscous puddle of black fluid that had most likely been oil at one time. Her feet slid out from under her, and she crashed painfully to the ground. Her head rebounded off the hard surface, and for several long moments she lacked the clarity of mind to get to her feet. Still, she managed to recover her wits quickly enough to stagger to her feet and take cover behind a nearby pillar as the door she had just entered through slammed open and Shinji stormed into the garage.
"AAAAAAASSSSSSSUUUKKAAAA!" he howled again, the unnatural scream clearly dripping with pain and anguish. His eyes still held the same detached stare, but now the rest of his face was twisted with what could only be described as pure, unbridled rage, an untainted hate directed at nothing in particular.
A small chunk of debris shifted beneath Asuka's foot, emitting a scratching sound that echoed throughout the quiet garage. Shinji paused, scanning for her presence. Only a few traces of sunlight from narrow, slitted windows lit the interior, and much of it was enveloped in deep gloom.
Shinji held completely still, closing his eyes as if concentrating on something. Moments later, he opened them again, then turned to face directly toward Asuka's hiding place, as if he knew exactly where she was. He stalked in her direction, raising the pipe menacingly.
Shinji, Asuka thought. What have they done to you?
This was it, then. She had no choice. She could not run any more, not against such a seemingly tireless opponent. She already felt fatigued and sore, but Shinji showed no signs of even a slight discomfort. She had to do it. She had to kill Shinji.
It would be a mercy killing, she told herself. He was not himself. Earlier, he had been so sad and miserable, begging her to kill him. Now he didn't even seem human anymore.
"There's no choice," she murmured, hefting a sizable piece of broken asphalt from the debris at her feet. "No… choice."
She steeled herself for the deed, waiting anxiously as Shinji's footsteps drew nearer. At the last moment she spun out to face him, ducking the expected swing of the pipe. She bent low and shifted backward, putting a bit of distance between herself and Shinji as it collided with the pillar where her head had been, smashing deep into the crumbling support. Shinji's feats of excessive strength only added to Asuka's notion that he was no longer human.
Backing away from her opponent, Asuka hurled the lump of asphalt at Shinji's head. The rock collided squarely with his temple, shattering into smaller pieces and knocking him back, but he quickly regained his footing. Aside from the dust on his face and shoulder and a few small cuts on his forehead, it was as if nothing had ever happened.
Shinji charged forward again, lashing out at Asuka's midsection, but she jumped back out of range. She avoided several more strikes, searching her surroundings for anything she might use as a weapon. She dodged aside from yet another powerful hit, but it clipped her right hip and spun her around, sending her stumbling forward. She collided hard against a wooden surface, then forced herself to rise back to her feet, grasping hold of a cold, steel handle to pull herself up. She paused.
Wood? Handle?
For a moment she almost forgot to dodge, throwing herself aside at the last second as Shinji's pipe smashed into the rotted wood, reducing the brittle old door to splinters.
Asuka hurled herself at him, slamming into his back with her full body weight. Combined with the forward momentum he already possessed, the young man was easily thrown off balance, crashing through the broken remnants of the door to impact against a row of tall, steel shelves.
Pulling herself away before he could recover and grab hold of her again, Asuka carefully made her way over to the far corner and crouched, listening to the sounds of Shinji thrashing blindly around in the dark, knocking various objects off the shelves in a cacophony of ringing metal and shattering glass.
Asuka used the opportunity to search the floor around her with her hands, groping for something she might employ as a weapon. Just as she had suspected, they now found themselves inside a large maintenance closet, and there would surely be something she could make use of.
Her fingers encountered something, and further inspection revealed that it seemed to be some sort of mechanical tool, perhaps a drill or other handled instrument. She began to wrap her hand around it as a series of loud cranks emanated from the far side of the room, followed by the unmistakable roar of a gas-powered chainsaw.
Sparks cut faintly through the shadows as Shinji flailed about in search of her flesh, dragging the whirring blade indiscriminately across the metallic shelves and their contents with a grinding shriek. Again he seemed to instinctively know exactly where she was, for as soon as he had cleared the row of shelves between them he made a beeline for her corner hiding place, ripping through the concrete she had been leaning against as she threw herself aside. The squeal of metal on metal filled her ears as Shinji twisted to follow, dragging the chainsaw blade unheedingly across another set of shelves. The flickering light exposed her to his sight, and he lunged at her more accurately as she ducked and rolled through a large bottom shelf to the relative safety of the next aisle over. Shinji thrust the chainsaw through the shelves straight at her midsection, and she barely managed to throw herself back in time to avoid being cut in half.
Several teeth of the blade seemed to catch on something, and the engine coughed abrasively, struggling against the force that held it in place. The strain was too much for the old, poorly-maintained equipment, and the chain snapped with a squeal and a fresh shower of sparks, lashing a bloody line across Shinji's chest.
Asuka took advantage of the brief respite and the fading light to glance at the instrument in her hand. She did not recognize it at first, but even as the darkness enshrouded her once more her intuition told her to flick the small switch she had spotted on the side of the handle. At first nothing happened, but after several more attempts she finally managed to ignite a small pilot light, and she recognized the implement for what it was: a blowtorch.
Enthralled with her discovery, Asuka barely managed to dodge as Shinji lashed out through the shelves again with the hooked end of a hammer, receiving a large gash across her cheek as punishment for her inattentiveness. She looked away and ignited the torch reflexively, blinding Shinji and forcing him back from the flame.
In the dim glow of the pilot light, Asuka spotted small cluster of red containers, stacked neatly just a few meters away. A quick examination with her nostrils confirmed their most probable contents: gasoline. A fraction of a second later, Asuka had a plan.
His dark vision temporarily destroyed, Shinji struck out blindly in search of her, smashing the hammer into anything he encountered. Asuka slipped aside, cranking the pilot light up to full capacity, and hurled the blowtorch across the room, backpedaling for the door. For a brief moment, it flickered and seemed as if it might go out, but it recovered just in time. The tool was hardly aerodynamic and the throw was not perfect, but it caught the spills and fumes in close proximity to the canisters. Asuka dove out through the open doorway as the fuel ignited, exploding in a burst of heat and sound.
She lay still on the garage floor, listening carefully, but she could hear nothing but the crackling of flames and the occasional shifting of objects as they or their supports were consumed by the fire. She relaxed slightly, certain that there was no way anyone could have survived. But she had to make sure. Until she saw Shinji's corpse for herself, she could not take anything for granted, no matter how unpleasant the prospect might be.
Rolling over, Asuka began to sit up- and froze. Shinji Ikari stood in the doorway, framed by the fires in the room beyond. His clothes and hair were blackened, and smoke drifted off as if he were still smoldering, which, for all Asuka knew, he was. Aside from that, and a large patch of red, blistered skin on his shoulder, visible through a charred hole in his shirt, he looked very much alive, and the large hand axe in his grip suggested he remained undeterred in his intentions as well.
Asuka squirmed to the side, barely managing to evade his downward stroke, and the axe clattered against the ground just inches from her face, sending sharp bits of asphalt to bite sharply along her cheek. His other hand came forward to clamp around her neck, and he raised the axe for the finishing blow.
Desperate, Asuka grabbed the only thing available, a splintered piece of the maintenance closet door, and thrust it into his chest. For the first time, Asuka heard him groan, and the axe faltered as his face registered pain. She felt it too, just as surely as if she had plunged the spike into her own flesh. But she forced herself to hurry, not just for her own survival, but to end his suffering quickly. She could see the conflict in his face, the struggle between what he wanted and what his body was forcing him to do. She grasped another piece of wood, driving it into his chest more accurately. She could have sworn it pierced his heart, yet he remained alive.
Several more followed, and each time he seemed more himself, his grip on her throat weakening. The axe dropped uselessly to the ground, and with a final moan he fell still.
Asuka reeled as she felt despair welling up within her chest, the depths of which she had never before experienced, not even after her mother died. No longer able to summon forth the hardened killer thirsting for revenge, she was left with nothing but the shattered little girl who had just killed perhaps the only person who had ever truly cared for her. Exhausted, she pressed her back against the wall, sliding down the hard surface until her rump jarred against the floor, and cried.
Asuka cried until she could no longer call forth the tears. Physically and emotionally spent, she slumped over on her side in a heap. Her face pressed into a filthy, shallow puddle, but she paid it no mind, even as the cold, murky water flowed into the recesses of her right nostril, and she slipped into unconsciousness.
Asuka awoke from her troubled sleep to find herself freezing in her damp clothes, her face no longer partially submerged as much of the puddle in which she lay had been absorbed by her attire. Teeth chattering, she sat up against the wall, huddling around her body in a desperate attempt to gain some warmth, however minimal it may be.
She could still feel the tears, dried and clinging to her cheek, but no more would come forth. She felt hollow, empty. Drained.
"Greetings, Asuka Langley Sohryu," a boy's voice called out from the shadows.
Asuka jerked upright, poised uneasily to haul her aching body to its feet if necessary.
"Wh-who's there?" she asked warily, her teeth chattering. "Sh-show yours-self."
A gray-haired young man stepped out of the darkness, grinning amicably.
"My name is Kaoru Nagisa," he responded, his red eyes gleaming in the dim light. "At least, that is the name you Lillum have given me this time. Or perhaps you'd rather call me Judas? But then, even that is not my true name, but unfortunately there is no way to translate it into any of your Lillum tongues."
"Wh-what do you want?" Asuka stammered, the uncertainty in her voice tinged by impatience.
Kaoru did not stop smiling, but something changed in his expression, something imperceptible, yet the effect on the intensity of his countenance was unmistakable. He seemed to radiate urgency to such a degree that even Asuka, in her terribly distraught condition, could feel it, only adding to her agitation.
"Forgive me, I do seem to have a tendency to prattle," he replied. "What I want from you is simple: I want you to end my life."
Asuka sputtered for a moment, finding herself unable to form a coherent statement. This boy wanted her… to kill him? The sudden confusion only added to her emotional turmoil, and she felt herself nearing the breaking point.
"Your Lillum manuscripts would have me take my own life in anguish over my betrayal," Kaoru continued, stepping closer to the vulnerable-looking young woman. "But ultimately the terms of my demise are up to me. I believe it would be fitting, poetic even, to meet my end at your hands, considering what I've done to our beloved Shinji."
Asuka clamped her hands over her ears, shaking her head fervently.
"No…" she murmured, her voice slowly rising in intensity. "No… no… no!"
Yet even through her distress she felt a hint of anger deep within her. The strange inner voice, after its strange absence during her ordeal, began to whisper in her head. It seemed muffled at first, as though speaking from far away or through a barrier, but gradually it increased in volume.
Kill him, it urged. Claim vengeance for Shinji's death.
The ceiling above her seemed to ripple for a moment, and an assortment of objects tumbled through, as if melting through the concrete, clattering to the floor at her side. It was her equipment, previously abandoned in the upper-level hallway during her desperate escape from the deranged Shinji Ikari.
"You have your tools, master artisan," Kaoru urged, his voice rising as he stalked toward her. "Ply your craft. Death and destruction are your talents, your destiny. Take up your brush, your pen, your chisel. Start here, now, with me. Cut me down and seize your destined path. Paint the world in a tapestry of blood!"
Asuka whimpered, struggling desperately to block him out, to no avail. It was as if he was inside her skull, transferring his words directly to her mind. She could not escape it.
"Kill me!" he hissed. "It is your talent. It is your gift. Take up your sword and slay me. Embrace your destiny!"
Asuka shrank into herself. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she sank into her own consciousness, desperately searching, hoping, pleading for something to arise and save her.
Something pulsed within her. The tears stopped abruptly, and it was as if a dam had broken within her psyche. The inner voice, no longer muffled, swelled up into the forefront of her mind, crying out for blood, calling for her to grasp the sword and plunge it through his flesh. A warmth spread through her stiff and aching limbs, revitalizing her flesh, just as a sudden surge of confidence and energy reawakened her mind and spirit. She felt the bloodlust simmering in of her mind, and she used it to bury the whimpering little girl inside, still frightened and begging her to end the bloodshed, beneath torrents of her hatred and rage.
Almost unconsciously, her grip closed around the hilt of the sword, and she drew the blade from its sheath, her lips curling in a malicious grin. Kaoru loomed over her, his eyes glistening with anticipation.
Without hesitation, Asuka thrust the katana into his stomach. Kaoru grunted, coughing bloody spittle onto her cheek, and his smile widened. He pressed in closer, sliding further onto the blade until he pressed against the hilt, his face inches away from Asuka's.
"Yes. Now finish me. Rend my flesh. Spill my blood. It is what you were born to do."
Asuka twisted the blade, tilting it horizontally, then slashed out through his side. She could feel the blade scrape along his lower ribs as it tore out through the side of his body, carving a long gash through which several organs and other soft tissues spilled out. Kaoru slumped down on top of Asuka, his blood further staining her clothing a deep crimson. It seemed to be her color.
Wiping the blade clean on Kaoru's body, Asuka returned the Hanzo sword to its sheath. She gazed dispassionately down at the corpse, feeling nothing for the life she had just taken. She felt empty again, numb, save for the overriding impulses of loathing and revenge.
We will kill him, the voice assured her. Together.
Asuka paused for a moment, pondering that statement, oblivious to the ease with which she had accepted the fact that she was hearing voices. Her deliberations lasted only a moment before she had decided on a course of action. Gendou Ikari must die, and there was but one way to ensure it. She would head for NERV Headquarters immediately, and anyone who dared to block her path would face annihilation.
"Yes," Asuka agreed, further burying her weeping inner child beneath her hatred. "Together."
"So the body of the Fifth Child has been recovered," Fuyutsuki muttered, glancing up at his frowning superior who had just handed him the report, trying to figure out why Commander Ikari was in such a dour mood. "Then should I assume the lamb has been slaughtered, since the messenger has departed for the void?"
"Not quite," Gendou replied. "The Third Child still lives."
Fuyustsuki raised an eyebrow.
"Perhaps she is not the one, then?"
Gendou shook his head.
"The machinations of fate are seldom so readily apparent. There is still one more trial to determine once and for all if she is the one we seek. However, it will require her… cooperation."
Fuyutsuki frowned.
"And how exactly do you intend to obtain that? We don't even know her current location, and I doubt she'd be very cooperative if we did."
Gendou smiled faintly, his expression easing from the simmering, almost imperceptible anger that few people besides a long-term associate like Fuyutsuki would have detected.
"It is simple, old friend. Soon she will come to us. Very soon, indeed."
xxxxxxxEND OF CHAPTERxxxxxxx
Heeheehee… Shinji. Oh, man. I'd say I was pretty nice to him personality-wise by making him not so twisted and evil as I could have, if not nice to him personally by what I put him through… but hey. He needed a break from all those romance fics where he gets to bang Asuka/Rei/Misato/Hikari/Maya/Mana/Ritsuko/Kaoru(eww)/whoever, or the other fics where he's the hero and overcomes the odds to save the day.
So… good? Bad? Or are you just thinking, "What kind of sick, fucked up mind would think of something like this?" 'Cause that would be sweet. Anyway, let me know what you think.
The next chapter… could be the last one. Maybe. Who knows? I don't. But Gendou will be in it, and Fuyutsuki, and Asuka, and some random people whose sole purpose is to be killed horribly for the amusement of readers like you. Doesn't that just make you feel special?