Disclaimer on chapter 6
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"Dear diary. Hey, long time no see. I haven't used you once since Mother died.
Asuka was shot a week ago, but she woke up today! I'm so glad, but I want the week I spent moping to be my last, so I'm going to record the last time I'm a week little boy in you. It all started...
--
Day 0, 12:42: Asuka was shot. All I could do was sit at the bridge seeing my men die.
Shinji watched as the tracker on Sachiel showed him releasing extreme amounts of energy.
"Asuka, he's almost there." He thought. "Please be safe."
"SIR! Connection established with warehouse network, the door to route 24 is jammed! Soldiers have cornered Asuka!" Shigeru shouted, not looking away from the screen.
"What! NO! God damn it!"
"From the sounds on the tracker, there is a gunfight above Sachiel!" Hyuga looked back to the commander as he informed him of the situation, as if waiting for advice.
"Damn it! Status on Section 2 agents?" Hint of frustration and anger could be heard in Shinji's voice.
"They're almost at the surface, 6km away from target."
"NO! This can't be happening!" Shinji screamed to nobody in particular.
"It is, calm down Shinji." Misato said in a tone that could be called cold in this situation.
"CALM DOWN! This happened because of ME!" Shinji shouted angrily, a first for Shinji in commander mode.
"Yes, Shinji. She's not dead yet." Misato said as calmly as she can, hoping to get through to Shinji.
"You're... Right... I guess..." Shinji sighed in defeat.
--
Day 0, 15:22: Asuka rescued. Sachiel annihilated enemy forces. I heard over the communication system on the bridge.
"Get her to emergency!" The retrieval team leader shouted. "She lost a lot of blood! Hurry it up!"
Sachiel had went back to his quarters after retrieving Asuka at top speed, handing her to the doctors as soon as he got a chance.
"Asuka... It's all my fault..." Shinji brought his head down, and wheeled himself to Asuka's hospital room, to wait for the doctors to bring her in.
--
Day 0: 17:00: Asuka was out of emergency room, in a coma. I sat where I was waiting, and my labor was not without results.
"Asuka... I'm sorry." Shinji hanged his head in shame as his words left his mouth. "It's my fault. I directed you to a dysfunctional warehouse." He leaned in, and let a few tears drop on her smooth, angelic skin.
"You're beautiful when you're asleep." He smiled a bitter smile. "I wish I could be so straight forward when you're awake. I guess I'm not cut out to be a romantic in public, huh?"
He leaned closer to her soft lips, but remembered his promise to himself, never to take advantage of her again. "Damn it, control yourself Shinji!"
He moved his head a bit upwards and kissed her on the cheek instead.
"Get well soon, Asuka." He called Rei in, and left for home.
--
Day 1, 8:50: Asuka's life signs stabilized.
Day 1, 8:55: I received a call, and I hurried back to my office.
Shinji sat in his office, hands bridged, showing no sign of the worry and frustration he is facing.
"I trust you are proceeding according to scenario?"
"Yes. Slight setbacks, but according to scenario." Shinji replied to the committee.
"Good. You will simply run tests to see if they are able to move as of now. Then you can go see your Asuka."
"Woo, Rokubungi you sly dog!"
The boy could only blush, a natural reaction when you get teased by 2 men who you always thought to be mysterious, no-nonsense kind of guys, even when you're not Shinji Ikari.
"Thank you." Shinji fought down his stammering, and replied calmly.
Then the voices were not there anymore.
"Kaworu..." Shinji smiled, and left for the labs.
--
Day 1, 9:20: I arrived at the lab.
"Dr. Ritsuko, you're here already?" Shinji asked the scientist already working on releasing the containment tanks.
"Shinji, how was the meeting?" Ritsuko smiled at the son of the cold man she loved as she turned from her work.
"Oh, who knew they had a sense of humor?" The said boy smiled back, as Rei pushed him to Kaworu's tank.
"Don't worry, I didn't touch that one." The scientist gave Shinji a wink, and went back to working on the containment tank she was working on.
"Thanks, Ritsuko."
--
Day 1, 9:50: All but Adam, Lilith, Sachiel, Gaghiel, and Sandalphon were sent to the confined testing lab. An armed robot was made for Iruel to contaminate, and a spare copy of Kaworu for Bardiel. I stood where my father always used to stand in this test: Right in front of the reinforced transparent panel.
"Alright, try and come to me." Shinji said, to the eleven angels before him. Each complied, and no angels were stationary.
"Very good. Attack designated targets." Shinji told the angels, as each attacked the robotic targets that popped out of the ground in their own ways.
Shamshel whipped the target to pieces.
Ramiel shot the target immediately after deployment.
Israfel split its artificial core and attacked the thing from both sides.
Matariel rose itself to be above the target and corrodes it with its acidic goo.
Sahaqiel drops a part of itself and detonates it on the wooden target.
Iruel's contaminated body made use of its arsenal of micro-missiles.
Leliel swallowed up the target into its Sea of Dirac.
Bardiel followed the lead of Kaworu, and destroyed the target like a human would.
Zuruel slashed with its razor ribbons at the target, shredding it to pieces.
Arael shone its beam on the target, causing no apparent effect due to the lack of mental properties to contaminate.
Armisael charged at the target with its body and AT Field at maximum speed, shattering the target through impact.
Kaworu, or Tabris, simply attacked the target like a human would.
"No abnormalities with Angels' movements, sir." Maya informed the commander, staring at the brainwave patterns and motion detectors.
"Good. Freeze all but Ramiel and Kaworu. I intend to study Ramiel, and Kaworu is less dangerous than Sachiel." Shinji said to the techs, as he left the bridge to talk to his long lost friend.
--
Day 1, 14:00: Angels frozen, Kaworu and Ramiel released. Ramiel contained in an electromagnet barrier for study, Kaworu released as the Fifth Child. I went to meet my eternal friend outside the change room.
"Hello, Ikari Shinji." The gray haired boy smiled, humming to the tunes of a song so familiar.
"Hi, Kaworu." Shinji smiled from his chair, glad that he was back. It didn't matter that the memories are gone. He learned from Rei the Third that new memories can be forged, and new memories can be just as great as the old.
"You know my true identity." Tabris replied, amused by his alias being used.
"I know you by Kaworu, Tabris." The young commander stated.
"I see."
"I have something to return to you, Kaworu." Shinji said, as he gestured for Kaworu to push him.
Kaworu complied, and held the handles behind the boy's chair firmly, pushing him towards the commander's office.
Upon arriving, the red eyed boy saw another pair of red eyes looking at him. It seemed to cut through the windows straight to his soul. He didn't mind, however. He knew she was the same as him, an angel in a human body. The only difference is her body was not hers, but his body was his.
"Who are you?" The boy asked, smiling, in a pleasant tone.
"Rei Ayanami." The girl coldly stated, as she took over the job of caring for the crippled commander.
"Kaworu, follow us." Shinji told the gray haired boy, as Rei pushed him to his desk. He opened one of the drawers upon arriving, and took out a dirty, dust covered stone.
"This is..." The boy said, surprised after reading the dust-covered words. "The peak of Lilim's culture, a song, isn't it?"
"Yes, a song you sang for me." Shinji smiled, as he placed the tablet into Kaworu's hands.
Then he sang, the grey haired boy sang.
"Ima anata no koe ga kikoeru,
'Koko ni oide' to..."
--
Day 1, 15:00: I visited Asuka.
"Asuka, how are you today? Yea, I know you can't hear me, but that's why I'm talking." The boy smiled, and held the sleeping beauty's hand.
"You're a stuck up, arrogant bitch, and I know you know it too. But I also know that we both know it's just an act." Shinji looked down at her hand, as he ran his fingers through hers.
"But you're kind, and hurt, deep inside. You brought me back to my senses even thought I could have killed you. You were always there for me when I needed you, but it doesn't go the other way around. Even when I could've been there, I simply watched. I'm sorry." The boy let a drop of tear fall onto their connected hands.
"When you awaken, I will be the weak little boy I always were. But now, I would like to be a romantic, hot blooded boy, like how I always dreamed to be. Only for you."
Shinji wheeled himself out of the room, where Rei had waited.
"Let's go home, Rei." Shinji said with a smile, as Rei nodded affirmative.
--
Day 2, 15:00: I saw Kaworu visiting Asuka.
"So, you are the lilim who Shinji will choose?" Kaworu sounded amused. He opened one of her eyelids, and looked into her soulless eye. "I see. You're similar to him, aren't you? So full of loneliness, yet you push others away." He let her eyelids back down, returning her to her peaceful coma. "Shinji deserves you, and you deserve him. But you must stop hurting the boy physically before he can stop hurting you emotionally, Asuka."
Kaworu turned, and unknowingly pulled off her covers by accident, and as the covers fell, the wind blew up her loose hospital gown. "Lilim clothings are so troublesome."
By that time, one thing ran in my mind.
"SHE'S NOT WEARING PANTIES!" Shinji screamed in his mind, as blood rushed out of his nose.
Before I fainted.
--
Day 3, 8:00: I woke up in a hospital bed.
"What... Happened?" Shinji asked the ceiling, which was now almost a friend.
"You passed out from blood loss." Kaworu chuckled, Rei beside him smiling.
"... What caused the blood loss?" Shinji asked, clueless about the events of yesterday.
"It seems you were quite... Stimulated upon seeing Asuka's panties, Shinji-sama." Rei informed him.
"Or lack of it." Kaworu added with a smile.
The mere thought of it brought a nosebleed to my head, as I fell unconscious yet again.
--
Day 4, 15:00: The doctor informed me of an advance in technology days before with which my legs would be healed faster than currently planned. He requested my presence to confirm my decision, so I entered his office.
"Commander, this technology is not yet perfected. Are you sure?" The doctor had asked.
"Yes, I need to recover as soon as possible."
"Very well then, the treatment we will give you will be done tomorrow. But after tomorrow, you absolutely can not move your leg for 28 hours." The doctor warned.
"Yes doctor, I understand."
--
Day 4, 15:30: I visited Asuka, again.
"Asuka, I'm going to get my legs treated using a new technology. After that, I won't be allowed to move my legs. Guess what? I'll stay with you the whole time." Shinji felt stupid, talking to a girl who wouldn't talk back.
"You hate being alone, right? I'll keep you company." Shinji left for home again, mostly to pick up his blanket and his pillow, and to prepare for a big surprise.
--
Day 5, 8:00: It was in the hospital's surgery room that I went through regeneration implants. My legs were killing me even with pain killers.
"Doctor, may I be transferred to Asuka's room?" Shinji asked, before the operation.
"Of course, commander." The doctor smiled, trying to calm Shinji before the inevitable pain.
"Thank you."
The operation began. The doctor removed a small layer of skin from Shinji's leg, and applied a patch of sorts, which melded right in. Then the nurses and assistants injected Shinji with various anesthetics to prevent as much pain as possible. The doctor colored the pale white patch with a skin-colored powder, making the patch look invisible.
"This patch will last 15 days. In those 15 days, your leg will have immeasurable pain if you get the slightest injuries, but the injury will heal rapidly on its own."
Feeling the pain, Shinji could only scream, and pass out.
--
Day 6, 18:00: I woke up, finally. The pain was quite unpleasant. But at least the doctors had granted my wish and had let me stay with Asuka.
"Ah, Commander, glad you're awake finally." The doctor had stepped in the moment Shinji lifted his eyelids.
"Where... Am I?" Shinji asked, and looked at the ceiling. "This isn't my room..."
"Did you forget? You asked us to bring you to Asuka's." The doctor smiled, and pointed to a bed beside the brown haired boy.
"Thank you, doctor." Shinji knew the doctor wasn't lying, and he felt no need to look.
"No problem." The doctor replied, cheerfully. "You may move your legs now. You were out the whole 28 hours of immobility."
"I see..." Shinji sighed. Seems like he wouldn't be alone with asuka for a whole day after all.
"Asuka will be waking up tomorrow, if her conditions stay this way." The doctor had read Shinji's mind, almost.
"Really?" Shinji asked excitedly. He couldn't wait for Asuka to be with him again.
"Really. Rei has informed me of your little surprise already. Shouldn't you be hurrying now?" The doctor got himself a jaw dropped deep facing him, and a blushing commander.
"U-uh... Thanks, doctor. Please call Rei for me."
--
Day 6, 19:20: I put all my cooking knowledge to use, handicapped by a painful, currently useless leg, to prepare the most special meal I have ever made. Luckily, Rei had done the shopping I asked her to do while I was in the hospital, so Misato's fridge is stocked for my needs.
"C'mon, chop it all up in time!" Shinji thought to himself, as he brought the knife he used up and down in rapid, fluid motions, cutting all his fish into even slices.
"It doesn't seem special enough..." Shinji thought aloud to himself, but Misato had heard and flocked over like an eagle to its prey.
"What doesn't seem special enough?" Misato asked curiously, running into the kitchen holding a beer in her hand, dressed only in a tank top a size too small and an extremely short cut skirt. However, her scantily clad body did not catch Shinji's attention as he furiously chopped at the various boneless fish in front of him. Piecing two and two together, Misato's curious expression changed into a mischievous grin of extreme proportions. "Oooh, a gift for Asuka, is it?"
Shinji lit up as he finished the last of the fish, and began molding the rice.
"So it is. You know, it looks kinda boring, don't you think?" Misato was up to something, but Shinji could not think of what exactly was she up to.
"But what am I supposed to do?" Shinji replied, annoyed at the distraction.
"Welllll, you know, some romantic wannabe chef once told me, sushi is an art that reflects the heart of the one who made them." Misato remembered, as she recited her memories. "But I think he was talking about the taste. But why not take out the romantic part of it and make it literal?" Misato smiled a genuine smile this time, as she saw the spark of life in Shinji's eyes.
"God, slow the time for just a bit! I will make it special!" Shinji turned to his inner passion he had never let out, and his burning soul began to change the sushi he had made into the picture inside his heart.
"That boy still has issues..." Misato thought, as she saw the sadistic face of her charge.
Thus, my sushi were made a reflection of my heart for her.
--
That concludes my entry. Tomorrow, I will finish the final part of my gift: The centerpiece.
--
"Something smells goooood!" Misato poked her head into the living room at the same time as PenPen. A grin made its way up their faces as they lunged at the unsuspecting lobster on rice.
"MISATO! PENPEN! DON'T TOUCH THAT!" Shinji shouted, as he pulled the table away from the hungry residents. "That's for Asuka!"
The two landed on their faces into the floor, and had a mouthful of dust. "Stingy..." Misato murmured under her breath.
Shinji caught what she said however, his concentration at maximum from the excitement of today.
"Asuka won't want a half-eaten lobster after living off of injections, Misato."
"Oh, so Shinji is doing this all for Asuka!" Misato teased, but an often forgotten girl piped up.
"I do not see problems in Shinji-sama preparing gifts for one who he holds so dear, Major."
"REI! Where'd you come from?" Misato answered, startled, as she got up from the floor, picking PenPen up along the way.
"I was in the kitchen preparing your breakfast, Major." Rei said emotionlessly, as she set a big bowl of salad in front of Misato and PenPen.
Misato groaned, much to Shinji's delight, as he tried extremely hard to fight off the blush that had been caused by Rei.
--
"But I was still rejected..." Shinji sighed sadly. "But, it is her time of month. I guess I'll just hope things turn out better. Diary, I promise to you this is the last time I mope, promise!"
To be continued... Maybe?
A/N: Short, irrevelant chapter, but look! The next chapter is gonna be a Third Impact chapter! How does Shinji cope with his insanity? How does he open up to Asuka? Does Asuka want to boil him alive? Here's an omake!
--
Asuka picked up a tuna, and examined it before placing it in her mouth. Upon seeing the finer details of the food she held in her hand, she saw the shape of a human heart, complete with the throbbing and the blood.
"BAAAKAAA-SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIINJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"