Chapter 27

It was a bright, clear day. The grass was as green as ever and the sun shone brightly. The weather was perfect. It was warm but not humid or dry. A cool breeze swept across the cemetery and with it the wonderful fragrances of the wild flowers growing on the mountain.

Asuka, dressed in her full dress military uniform, complete with red sash around her waist and katana sword at her side, sat looking straight ahead. She raised her head and looked towards the west as she looked at the large mountain in the distance.

That mountain was one she owed her life to and at the same time, it was one of the scariest times of her life as well.

Way back when, Shinji had almost died from influenza on that very same mountain and if it hadn't been for a confession from the depths of her soul, he more then likely would have died then.

But he didn't.

He survived.

They came off of the mountain in love and happy and found their home in this valley. They married and had three children.

They had their highs and lows but mostly, they had a wonderful marriage.

Now he was gone.

She was alone.

She closed her eyes, as a tear fell from her eye and streamed down her cheek. Her son, Souke, wearing a black single-breasted suit with a black tie and white shirt, bought his arm around her and allowed her to lay her head on his shoulder. Souke shut his eyes and breathed in, exhaling slowly, his free hand reaching for his older sister's hand and she clasping it..

Hope was dressed in her full dress uniform too all though; she did not carry a katana sword or the red sash. She reached for a hand that lightly rested on her shoulder as she smiled as she looked up at him. "Sawyer." She said as she gazed at him.

Sawyer smiled back at her, he gently stroked her cheek..

Reina turned and laid her head on her older sister's right shoulder and Hope laid her head against her sister's as she let her cry on her.

Sawyer wore a black suit as well as he stood behind Hope with his hand on her shoulder the whole time. Reina wore a black dress and cried nearly the entire time.

Shinji, having at one time represented the island nation of Japan for piloting the EVA, was buried with full military honors.

The flag of Japan was draped over his coffin.

Six officers from the Japanese Air Force stood at attention in full dress uniform. There were three on both sides of the coffin with katana swords at their sides.

To the right, three soldiers from the United States military, Marines, stood in full dress blue uniforms each of them touting a rifle.

Hope held onto her mother's hand as they listened to the minister. After the minister concluded his speech, they watched as a familiar face, which all three children, and ironically, their mother, smiled at. In later years, their mother had grown to like this man even though when they were younger she used to call him "a dumb jock" and would refer to him "one of the Stooges."

Through it all, he had been a great friend to her husband so much so that he was the godfather of all three.

The man stepped to the front of the coffin as he placed his hand on it and took a deep breath.

He was a lot older now. His once dark hair was now graying and he now had a mustache. He wore a black suit as well and looked up at the sky for a moment, then he spoke saying.

"Shinji Ikari was my friend. He was one of my best friends. I loved him like a brother. He never had it easy. He lost a parent when he was very small and never gained an understanding with his own father until he was older. He was a man with many friends. He was a hero. He was one that would put his life on the line several times and do what was required of him. He never thought of himself as much of a hero but anyone who knew him would tell you he was." The man paused for a moment and then he continued. "He was a good husband, a loving father and one of the most remarkable individuals I've ever had the opportunity to meet in my life. He saved us all at one point and for that; this world owes him a debt of gratitude. I met him when I was a boy and the first day I met him, I punched him in the nose. He went down but then he got back up, just like he always did. He became a good friend of mine. His children are like my very own nephew and nieces. His wife, whom I never saw eye to eye with, I respect immensely." He took another breath as he wiped a tear from his eye and said, as he looked at Asuka.. "If there is one person in this world who could ever say that they lived life to the fullest, it was Shinji Ikari. I will miss him and I will remember him all of my life." The man hesitated for a minute as he bowed his head. He continued as a tear rolled out of his eye and he said. "I know he will be with us every day because we will always be able to feel his fire and spirit. He is never truly gone as long as we keep his memory alive. His life ended way too soon but his spirit will endure forever. Good-bye, Shinji. We'll all miss you."

He smiled at Asuka and the other three children and walked back to his seat, stopping off to stand before Asuka.

She looked up at him and couldn't help a tear from coming out of her eye. "Thank you, Touji." She whispered.

Touji Suzihara smiled at her, he nodded as he looked back at her and then went to go take his seat.

"Present arms!" The Marine called out.

The three Marines stepped forward and then cocked their rifles. They aimed towards the sky and fired. Once. Twice. Three times.

"Bonzai!" The Japanese soldiers called out as they drew their swords, crisscrossing with their counterpart on the other side.

Then, a Japanese military general stepped forward, along with two other officers and walked to the coffin. The two officers stood at opposite ends of the coffin and picked the flag. They began to fold it.

Hope, and Asuka stood at attention, snapping to a salute while tears came out of their eyes

The Japanese general stood at attention, saluting, fixing his eyes straight ahead as the other officers folded it.

The flag was presented to the Japanese general who in turn turned and walked towards Asuka holding the flag.

Asuka bought her hand down at her side and looked straight ahead allowing a tear to come down her pain stricken face.

"On behalf of the government of Japan, this flag is presented to you by the Emperor himself in honor of your husband's service to a loyal nation."

Asuka took the flag into her hands. She looked down and ran her hands over it, closing her eyes briefly and then placing it under her arm as she bought her hand back to a salute.

"Domo arigato." Asuka said in a hushed voice.

"General Ikari, ma'am, my condolences." The general said as he stood at attention and saluted her.

Asuka dropped her hand to the side and took a breath as she saw the coffin being lowered into the ground.

Asuka slowly walked to the edge of the grave.

Then she reached into her pocket and pulled a small object from it.. She held onto it for a while and then opened her hand staring down on it.

She clutched it in her palm with pain etched on her face. Souke stood up from his chair and walked over to her. He looked at her as his hair blew in the wind. Asuka looked back into the face of her son and he saw her tears.

Souke stepped over to her. Asuka turned and cried against him and he held her in his arms as he shut his eyes. At this point, Asuka didn't care about decorum or strength. She didn't care about her pride.

She let her tears fall and she sobbed.

Her husband was gone.

She could allow herself to grieve.

She only wanted one thing at that moment, she wanted one more day with Shinji.

Just one.

Right now, she was heartbroken.

She knew that to wish for one more day was impossible and she also knew that soon she would have to return to duty. She now wondered if she had the strength and the ability to carry out this mission. Right now she felt weak, vulnerable, torn in two and could barely think.

On the outside, people saw a grieving widow and a strong, fierce soldier.

On the inside, Asuka's heart was shattered and her pain was greater then any physical kind that she had ever experienced in her lifetime.

Hope walked over to her father's grave and stared down, tears streamed down her face as she shut her eyes. She felt strong hands on her arms and she looked over as she smiled

"Uncle Touji." She said in a whisper.

"Hey Cutie." Touji Suzihara told her with a smile as he gave her a hug.

"That was a beautiful eulogy you gave." She told him.

"I meant it." He said to her. "You're Dad was a great guy. He was one of my best friends. You guys are like my own."

Hope nodded. "I'm glad you're here, Uncle Touji."

Touji smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

Sawyer was looking around the area, he felt uneasy. Something was bothering him

Then, accompanied by several men in black suits and sunglasses with earpieces in their ears, a tall man with graying hair, also wearing black, walked up to General Ikari. With this same man, a very pretty, middle-aged woman also wearing black, smiled at her.

Sawyer's eyes widened as he saw him.

"Wow." Sawyer said under his breath. "He came here all the way from Washington?"

"General Ikari." He said as he walked over to her.

Asuka opened her eyes and saw the President of the United States. She looked up at Souke and smiled as she parted from her son and walked over to him..

The President gently smiled and said to her. "I am so sorry for your loss."

Asuka forced a smile. Her eyes though were clearly full of pain and grief. She stepped over to the man and nodded at him saying. "Thank you, Mr. President."

"It's never easy to lose someone you love." The President told her.

"No." She said in a hushed voice as a tear came out of her eye.. "It isn't."

"Asuka,." The woman said. ", if we can do anything at all, please let us know. We've donated some money of our own for pancreatic cancer research in the name of the Shinji Ikari. I still recall that day at the White House when I first met the two of you, you had called him an idiot and he just smiled at you."

Asuka smiled back. "Thank you, First…."

"Asuka, we're friends. Call me Mindy."

"Thank you, Mindy." Asuka said. "You are both welcome to come to my home. We are having a small service there for good friends and family. I would be honored if you attended."

"That would be lovely." The First Lady said with a smile.

"Yes." The President said. "Thank you for your invitation."

"Mr. President, you've always been diplomatic and forthright. I never cared much for Americans but having met you and Commander Dell…well, I like some Americans now." Asuka said with a smirk.

The President laughed,

Sawyer still felt uneasy as he looked around. Souke too had the same feeling. Souke walked away for a moment until he saw…. a man.

The man didn't look like one of the Secret Service agents or anybody that he knew or was associated with here.

He narrowed his eyes as he followed the man carefully.

The man with a graying beard wore a brown suit and had sunglasses on. Then he saw the man turn and produce what looked like…

"… A knife?" Souke thought.

It was concealed behind his forearm and the man was walking towards someone.

It seemed like everything moved in slow motion as Souke's breathing quickened and he undid his jacket and reached inside. He watched while the man picked up speed and saw whom he was going towards.

"…My mother?" Souke thought nervously as he gripped the object underneath his jacket..

Souke then watched as the man reared his hand back and his eyes widened.

Sawyer turned and saw the man coming towards Asuka as she talked with the President.

Hope saw it and her eyes widened.

Quickly, Sawyer ran towards Asuka, the President, the First Lady and Hope placing himself between them and the assailant with the knife... The assailant realizing he was discovered, tried to attack quickly.

"GUN!" One of the Secret Service agents yelled out.

A shot was fired, followed by a second shot.

Sawyer leaped on top of Asuka, the President, the First Lady and Hope shielding them with his own body.

Hope went down.

The man dropped the knife and called out as he fell to the ground.

Sawyer whipped around, brandishing his own weapon, pointing it at the assailant on the ground, he placed his hand on the man's neck. "He's dead." Sawyer said as he pulled his weapon back in its holster.

Sawyer looked and saw lying beside the now dead would be attacker was a four inch serrated blade. Sawyer huffed in anger and kicked the knife off to the side.

The secret service agents had their guns drawn and immediately, one of them standing beside Souke.

Souke stood breathing in and out, his eyes wide as a gun was in his hand smoking from just have been fired.

Sawyer looked back wide-eyed and then turned his attention back to the assailant. He bent down and pulled the man's collar back and there he scowled as he saw it.

"SEELE." He seethed. "Look at the mark." He told the agent. "That's how the operatives distinguish themselves as saviors of mankind." Sawyer pulled his weapon back and put the safety back on, sticking it in his jacket.

He turned and then saw Hope lying on the ground and immediately, went to her. "HOPE!" he cried out.

Asuka's eyes went wide as she heard him.

"I'm okay." Hope said as she stood up and found Sawyer's arms around her. "Mom?"

Asuka got to her feet and breathed out looking back at the dead assailant, kicking him hard in the side. "Trash!" she growled.

Hope came over to Asuka and held her saying. "Are you okay, Mom?"

Asuka nodded. "Yes."

Sawyer looked over at the Secret Service agents who were standing beside Souke.

Souke bought his gun back and turned the safety back on. He fell to his knees, his eyes were wide and he breathed heavily.

"Souke!" Hope yelled as she broke from her mother and ran to him with Reina following her.

"Are you all right, Mr. President?" Sawyer asked.

The President stood helping the First Lady up. "Yes, Commander Dell."

"He was going to kill me." Asuka breathed out. "How dare they!" Asuka's fists were clenched into fists. "Goddamned SEELE!" She seethed. "On the day of my husband's funeral. Bastards!"

"General, are you all right?" Sawyer asked.

"Yes, Sawyer." Asuka said as she regained her composure. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me." Sawyer said. "Thank Souke. He was the one who fired the gun."

"Souke, did?" Asuka asked as she looked over and saw him.

Hope ran to Souke, kneeling in front of him seeing his eyes wide and shaking.

"Souke?" Hope asked as she looked into his face.

"Souke, you okay?" Reina asked with wide eyes.

"Mom okay?" Souke asked.

"Yeah." Hope said. "Mom's okay. Everyone's okay, Souke! You saved them from SEELE, Souke! You saved everybody."

He nodded his head as he shut his eyes, then slowly opened them and looked back at her. "When I was a cop, Hope, I never fired my gun once.

"Souke, you saved Mom's life and possibly the President's too. That man was going to hurt her! "

"I know." He said. "That's why I don't feel guilty about it." Souke told her. "Hope, SEELE"s been trying to hurt our family for a very long time."

"What do you mean, Souke?" Hope asked.

"Hope, remember how I told you that the reason why I quit the police force was because I wanted to be a lawyer and put the bad guys away." He told her.

Hope nodded. "Yeah, I remember."

"That's only half of it." He said. "A lot of it has to do with SEELE."

"What do you mean, Souke?" She asked.

"Isao's death was not an accident." He told her. "I know because I was there the day they captured the SEELE operatives who sabotaged his plane. They admitted their guilt. They wouldn't give up names though and a short time later, they all developed food poisoning or something and were found dead in their cells. Remember, a short time later, I quit the force?"

Hope nodded. "Yeah."

"That was why." Souke told her.

"You knew, Souke?" Hope asked.

"Oh my God." Reina said with wide eyes.

"For years." He told her. "They also tried to hurt Dad too. I couldn't tell Mom or Dad the truth. I couldn't tell you either."

"Those son of a bitches." Hope said angrily. "They made Dad have cancer, didn't they?"

Souke nodded. "Yeah."

"Oh my God!" Reina said in a shocked voice.

"They'll pay for all of it, Souke." Hope whispered angrily. "Do you hear me? All of it!"

"Don't say anything." He told her as he reached for her arm. "I….I…shouldn't have told you that. I'm just…fed up. I just had a feeling something was not right and that's why I bought my gun with me when we came back here. Hope. Something Dad said to you. Hope, I don't know what's happening but I know your in the middle of it and so is Mom. Regardless of that, I'm your brother and I'll protect you all with my life. Now, you need to tell me how you are involved."

Hope hugged her brother and said to him. "C'mon, Souke. Let's go. I'll tell you later, underneath the tree, not here."

Souke nodded as he stood with Hope. The two of them walked back to their mother and Sawyer.

SEELE, you'll pay for this. Sawyer thought as he looked back at the shaken faces of Hope, Souke, Asuka and Reina.