Sins and Retributions

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PRIDE

Sirens blared, waking the pilots from their slumber.

Shinji and Asuka immediately hopped into Misato's car, and she sped down the road, barely holding back from redlining her car. They took the turbo lift directly to the Eva Cage once they skidded to a halt in the NERV parking lot.

Shinji ran directly to the locker room with Asuka in tow. He immediately stripped down and began to change. Asuka blushed and started to shout, "What are you doing, you pervert!"

Shinji looked over at her and snapped, "There's no damn time for this! Hurry up and get changed… or do you need me to do it?"

The girl blushed even more and she turned the Third Child around, "You better not peek, pervert."

Shinji grinned and looked over his shoulder, "You're the pervert. You didn't turn around when I was changing."

Asuka punched him in the back of the head and said, "You didn't give me a chance to! Dummkopf! Besides, all you gotta do is ask."

Shinji pressed the button on his wrist, sealing the suit of all excess air, "I still don't think I'm ready…"

Asuka pressed the button on her wrist as well and placed a hand on his shoulder, "I know… Even if I have to wait forever, I'll still wait for you."

Shinji smiled, "Thanks… That means a lot to me." The gripped Asuka's hand, then the two bolted to the cages, and into their respective Evas.

(-----)

Misato's voice boomed into the speakers, "Rei and Kaworu aren't ready yet, so it's up to the both of you to take this guy down."

Shinji and Asuka replied in unison, "Roger!" The woman on the other side of the speakers spoke again, "No… I'm Misato!"

Asuka shouted into the speakers, "God damn it Misato! This is not a time for jokes!"

The Sub-Commander replied, "I'm just trying to lighten the mood! Don't snap at me little girl!"

The German redhead cried back, "LITTLE GIRL! At least I'm smaller than you, behemoth!"

The older woman snapped back, "WHO ARE YOU CALLING A FATTY SO IMMENSE THAT THEY NIBBLE ON THE MILKEYWAY GALAXY FOR A SNACK! How dare you bring in waistline sizes into this!"

Asuka called back, "You may have bigger boobs, but I have a better figure!"

Misato slammed her fist on the control board, "What was that! Do I have to force you back into your room!"

Shinji finally spoke up, "Hey… can we stop the fighting?"

Both of the girl rounded on him, and both said, "Who're you gonna side with!"

He blanched and whispered, "Girlfriend or mother… girlfriend or mother…"

Asuka's eyes shifted around, "What? Is Misato you're mother?"

Shinji slowly replied, "Y-Yeah… I had her adopt me… since I don't have any legal guardians anymore…"

When he said that both Gendo and Yui shouted at him, 'What the hell do you mean by that!'

The boy spoke quietly, "Well… neither of you can really take care of me when I'm not in the Eva… Otherwise, I just want Asuka and Misato to stop fighting right now. We have a bigger problem to deal with right now."

Asuka and Misato stopped bickering, and Shinji engaged the launch sequence.

(-----)

A black monster nearly twice the size of an Evangelion loomed in the bay near Tokyo III. It resembled a demon with black, bat-like wings. Its three clawed talons were razor sharp, and looked as though each could do as much damage as a progressive knife.

It had large fangs, like a vampire. The way the monster carried itself suggested that he was obviously powerful, and that he knew that fact quite well.

Asuka whispered, "So that's Pride…" It started to prod at Asuka's mind and began to whisper suggestive things to her, 'You can take me on all by yourself… Who needs that idiot? He won't even do the thing you most want…'

Asuka shook her head, 'But… But that's not the thing I want most…'

It kept speaking, 'Come on… Be a woman, and do what you want to do… Nobody can stop you… Or are you afraid? You're going to die, aren't you? Oh, wait. You've already tried that approach before.'

Asuka began screaming, "Shut up! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! I'm stronger than you!"

Shinji tried to stop the girl as she leapt for the demon. Asuka was torn to shreds in a flash, and she screamed in pain. To finish the deal, Pride lifted Asuka's Eva off of the ground and sunk his fangs deep within the neck.

Asuka whimpered as she could feel herself slipping, 'Shinji… I'm sorry Shinji… I'm sorry I have to leave you…'

The girl became warm and felt something within her well up. 'Do you want to die?' a voice asked. 'No… No I want to live… I want to live and stay with Shinji…' the girl replied.

The voice spoke again, 'Last time I checked you said you hated him. Why do you want to live? Wouldn't it be better to die?'

Asuka could feel herself crying, "I want to live! I need Shinji and he needs me! I can't die on him. I made a promise… I told him that I'm never going to leave him!"

'Then get up… I'll help you!' Asuka could feel strength surging back into her body. The four eyes of Unit 02 lit up and she ripped herself away from the fangs.

Shinji ran to Unit 02 and embraced it, "Asuka! Asuka! Are you alright, Asuka!" She replied back, "I'm fine Shinji! I'm fine! I'll never leave you Shinji!"

The girl pulled herself out of Shinji's grasp and she said, "I've got some stuff to deal with… I'll be right back."

Asuka charged the final Sin and jabbed it in the face. As her front foot was coming back to the ground, she turned her hips and used the power to stab the progressive knife deep within the chest of Pride.

Using her shoulder to tackle the last monster, Asuka knelt beside it and used her knife to slit the throat of Pride. "Shinji! Remember the 7th Angel? GO!"

Asuka cried out. Shinji recalled how he and Asuka killed the Israfel. The two of them jumped high in the air. As they were about to hit it, the Sin pulled up its AT Field, but the kick shattered the field, along with the core hidden deep within the body of Pride. "We got him…" Asuka said.

(-----)

Shinji and Asuka sat at home on his bed. The boy spoke, "I… I thought I was going to lose you Asuka."

She hugged him and said, "I won't lose the thing that is most important to me. It's not my life, but it's my time with you that I value."

Shinji hugged her tightly and he said, "At least… At least things can go back to normal… Well, normal by others' standards." Asuka whispered, "Yes… But… I'm gonna miss the Evas."

Shinji squeezed her hand and said, "They'll still be around, we just won't have a weekly synch test. They'll probably put them to monthly, just in case we need the Evas to work again."

Asuka hugged him tighter, "I'm glad… If there wasn't a use for the Evas… I'm not sure if I'd be allowed to stay in Japan."

Shinji pulled back a little and kissed her on the nose, "I wouldn't let them take you away. If it took all of Unit 01's power to get you to stay, then I wouldn't hesitate. Besides, I'm sure Misato would fight to keep you here, and I'm pretty sure I could try to convince Commander Fuyutsuki."

Shinji lay down on his bed, and his girlfriend followed suit. The pilot of Unit 01 slipped his hands under her tee-shirt and carefully touched the girl breasts.

Asuka smiled and shivered, "Getting adventurous aren't you, Shinji?"

The boy nodded, and he said, "I guess so…" The redhead dipped her head down and kissed him, "Good night…"

(-----)

Shinji and Asuka sat in a pair of chairs in the command center in NERV. Shinji was in a world of his own, not really thinking or doing anything.

Asuka hit him over the head with both hands interlocked, "Hey Dummkopf! Listen up would you!"

Shinji looked around as he rubbed his neck, "Eh? What? I'm sorry, I-"

The redhead cut him off with a slap, "Didn't I tell you never to apologize? Anyway… I was just asking you about dinner. Misato said that she could take us out to eat somewhere fancy."

Shinji smiled, "That sounds fine with me…"

Asuka moved her face closer, "That's just what I wanted to hear." A techie moved close to the two and placed a pair of drinks on the table next to them.

He said, "Hey kids… I'm new around here, but I still wanna thank you for saving our sorry asses again."

Shinji spoke up, "You're accent… are you from America?"

The guy turned around and said, "Yep. I studied plenty of languages in high school and college, so my superiors thought I'd do better here… but I tell you. Working with some of you is borderline sanity."

Shinji looked up, smiled and said, "Thanks. That biology sure helped."

The man smiled and walked away, "Catch you later."

Asuka looked at Shinji, "That was weird."

Shinji shrugged, "Don't worry about it. He just left me a surprise with my school stuff."

ADAM

Sirens blared again, and Shinji glared at the red lights, "What the hell do you want now?"

Shinji looked out of the window of his apartment and breathed, "Adam…"

A white giant engulfed in light stomped through the city, and Shinji knew he had to get to NERV.

(-----)

All four of the Eva's stood on the ready, waiting to intercept Adam. When the monster entered the Geo Front, Shinji called out to the others, "How the hell can this thing be Adam! Isn't he dead!"

Kaworu replied in his usual calm tone, "No… He simply reverted into a lower form during Second Impact, and after being set free in Third Impact, Adam had regenerated with the help of SEELE. He knows who you are Shinji… He's after you."

Shinji was struck by an invisible fist of self-realization, "I've killed the most angels… I've stopped Third Impact… I've killed the Sins. I've killed his family."

Adam's light faded, and slowly, he came into sight in his true form. Adam looked like a normal human man. His hair was black and his skin was dark. Eyes black as coal converged on the four Evangelion units.

A gleaming, red jewel adorned the First Angel's chest, and it seemed a darker color. It looked like crystallized blood. With a human-like roar, Adam mounted his siege.

The newly regenerated First Angel slashed viciously with his right arm in an attempt to take out Unit 00.

Rei dodged the blow and attempted to counterattack. Her arm glanced across Adam's stomach, but her arm was blown off in the process. The blue haired girl shouted in pain, while Adam ripped off one of Kaworu's legs.

In a loud humanoid voice, Adam screamed, "Come mortals! I seek a challenge! You are all nothing!"

Asuka charged him with her progressive knife and shouted, "I'll show you nothing!" The girl stabbed Adam in the neck with the knife and kicked him in the unmentionables with her left foot.

The Angel screamed in pain and gripped Asuka's head.

Shinji cried out, "Asuka!" Adam crushed Unit 02's face and then ripped off both of the arms, then pinned her to the ground with his foot.

Asuka thought, 'Damn… I broke my promise. I'm sorry, but there's no way mama and I can fight this monster…'

Shinji cried out, "Asuka! Asuka! We have to help her!" Shinji made a mad dash for the giant with his progressive knife out, but Rei and Kaworu tackled and pinned Adam to the ground for a time long enough to allow Asuka to eject.

Shinji stopped and moved towards Asuka's plug. He ejected his own and pulled Asuka into Unit 01. The girl sat in his lap and Shinji lightly slapped her awake, "Asuka… Asuka, please wake up! You have to… I can't live without you."

The redhead woke up slowly and latched on to Shinji, "Oh my God. Mein Gott, you're okay… We're both okay!"

Shinji could feel tears dripping from his eyes, "You bastard. I'll never fucking let you hurt the people I care about again… I have what I need with me… Asuka… Misato… Rei… Kaworu… all of my friends and family… they all care about me. I'll kill you, you fucking bastard… FUCK YOU!"

Unit 01's restraints were blasted off with a high velocity, and light engulfed him.

When the light receded, Unit 01 looked exactly like a human. It had black hair that reached to his deep green eyes. At first glance, he could be likened to a wolf.

(-----)

Shinji could feel himself inside of the Eva, but he knew that he wasn't. The only thing that Shinji was completely sure of was that he and Asuka were together. He could smell and feel Asuka safe in his arms.

One voice spoke right to both of them, "I am Azrael."

Shinji replied to the voice in the white void, "Who is that?"

The voice spoke again, "You called me here… You called me to this plane of existence… I am the Angel of Death…"

Asuka could feel that Shinji was holding her, and Shinji spoke to Azrael, "Can you save us?"

Shinji was expecting a long and elaborate answer, but he was given a curt reply, "Yes…"

(-----)

Black, feathery wings sprouted from Azrael's back, and he buried the progressive knife deep within the ground. It took some effort to withdraw the weapon, and after a few seconds of struggling, it began to come back out. "I need your power. Lord, grant me my need."

The progressive knife's handle elongated, and he withdrew the blade. Where Shinji expected the blade to stop, it continued to come out of the ground until it was a full sized longsword.

Azrael raised the blade to the heavens, and then brought it down in front of his face. With his other hand, he gripped the rest of the handle, which sent ripples of fire up the blade.

Adam's eyes widened at the sight of Azrael, and the Angel of Death laughed mercilessly, "Yes Adam. You remember this sword… It is the same one that defended Eden from your return so long ago. Ironic that it will also bring your downfall."

Adam didn't respond, he only charged the angel with grey robes.

The first man's hand altered into a clawed hand with wickedly sharp talons.

Azrael quickly parried the swipe and riposted, but Adam rolled away. The instigator of Second Impact smiled, "It seems that you have lost your touch… being stuck in that machine and repressed by the soul of one, pitiful woman."

The one with the flaming sword ran his fingers through his hair and said, "Yui Ikari? No. She didn't suppress me… I suppressed myself. Her singular thought within that machine was protecting her son, which is something that I am doing right now."

Adam screamed with rage and his core began to light up and seemed to melt, just like blood. The angel garbed in black and grey flicked his open hand towards Adam then slowly raised it a little. He twirled his sword in his right hand then pointed at the rising stone monolith behind Adam.

Shinji couldn't read what was on the stone, but a feeling deep within him told him that the characters signified 'Adam.' The one that Misato fears most looked over his shoulder and Shinji could feel rather than see the fear in his eyes.

In that instant, Azrael performed a massive sidestep, and dropped to his right knee. He cocked his sword at knee level, angled it upwards, and then sprung towards Adam like a bolt of lightning. A huge chunk of flesh had been ripped from Adam, including most of his core.

The eviscerated Adam rolled over on his back and coughed up blood. Energies gathered together at the point where Adam had been struck, and he said, "Fool… Did you really think that I could be killed? Not even God could strike me down."

Azrael looked over his shoulder and said, "That wasn't meant to kill you… Our Lord could have smitten you at any given point in time. You were to serve one purpose. That purpose was to test the fortitude of the Chosen Children…"

Adam laughed and hacked blood, "Damn insolent Angel! You cannot kill me! I am immortal!"

The black garbed angel replied, "In my unbridled power, I could annihilate you without a care… I am not in my true form. I am simply helping Shinji Ikari. The one who has slain so many of your brethren will now slay you. Goodbye Adam… You stupid failure of a man!"

Azrael turned to the giant monolith and clove it in two, shattering the characters that signified Adam.

An explosion of light engulfed the whole of Tokyo III, and Shinji held tighter to Asuka as he felt consciousness slipping away.

Likes to Play with Fire

Shinji awoke on the hill overlooking Tokyo III. He had Asuka held tightly against his body, and around him, Rei and Kaworu lay unconscious.

Azrael sustained a certain altitude in front of Shinji.

The giant angel reduced his size to that of a normal human, and said, "Hello Shinji Ikari. We weren't able to speak at greater lengths before. You have taken care of Adam. There are no more of these 'Angels' out waiting to kill you."

Shinji finally found his voice again, "W-W-What about Unit 01?"

The black haired angel laughed, "Unit 01 is fine. It will still work fine, but you will never be able to call upon me again. Should you feel a need to talk, all you have to do is pray… You're mother and father are… worried about you. You should speak with them when you find the time… My time here is up. I must return the sword to Eden and then go back to heaven."

He looked at Kaworu, "Tabris! Stand up!"

Kaworu's eyes snapped open and he stood up, then pushed his glasses up on his nose.

The Angel of Death spoke to him, "Are you not returning, brother?"

Kaworu smiled sadly and said, "As much as I would love to… I cannot. I have something to live for here. I think I understand what it is to be a Lilim finally." The Fifth child motioned towards Rei. With a few powerful beats of his black wings, Azrael ascended to the heavens, but before he was out of sight, he turned, and said to Shinji, "Don't be afraid of Asuka…"

(-----)

Shinji had just returned from NERV headquarters, and he had allayed his parents' fears. The Third Child was feeling particularly good today, and he called Misato Katsuragi, his adoptive mother, into the family room to talk with him.

"Where's Asuka?" he said.

Misato smiled, and said, "She's still resting. You should probably wake her up now though."

Shinji and Misato exchanged words and the older woman donned a serious countenance. "What you're saying isn't something I can take lightly, Shinji. You should talk with Asuka first."

Shinji smiled and said, "Misato… thank you for listening to me… And Misato? I think I'm finally ready."

The Sub-Commander handed the boy a box and said three words, "Go wild, son."

(-----)

Asuka heard the door open, and Shinji stepped in. The girl rolled over to face him and she smiled, "Hey Shinji… How are you?"

The boy returned the smile and sat down next to her, "I'm fine… Just talked to my parents…"

Shinji rested his head in his hands, and Asuka became worried, "What's wrong Shinji? Please tell me."

He replied, with silence, and Asuka wrapped her arms around the boy, "You can tell me anything."

He kissed her and said, "Asuka… Can I tell you something important?"

The girl nodded, and Shinji continued, "I love you with all my heart and… and… I think I'm finally ready."

Asuka smiled, "You idiot… I'm glad you're ready, because so am I. I was starting to worry about you Ikari."

Shinji undressed Asuka and himself then laid her on the bed. After 'gearing up,' Shinji lay down next to her and quietly asked, "Are you ready?" Asuka nodded and rolled on top of him.

(-----)

Misato picked up the phone and Hikari's voice drifted through the receiver, "Hello? Is Asuka there?"

Misato answered back, "Hey Hikari. Well… She and Shinji are… indisposed… Yeah, we'll say they're indisposed. You might have better luck tomorrow… Goodbye."

The woman clicked the phone off, and walked towards Shinji's room. When she reached the door, the woman said, "I'm going to leave the apartment for a while, okay? I don't exactly want to hear your… goings on. I'll be back near two. Bye!"

Shinji grunted, and Asuka squealed back, "O-Okay!"

Misato picked up Pen-Pen and said to him, "Those two… I would have thought this sort of thing would have happened earlier."

(-----)

Asuka collapsed on top of Shinji and she shuddered. Asuka stared in his eyes and said, "What now Shinji?"

The young man kissed her hard on the lips and said, "I have a question to ask you, and I want a serious answer, okay?"

The girl nodded, and Shinji reached for his dresser. He quickly rolled out of bed and fell to one knee.

He blushed heavily and said, "A-Asuka…? I… I know we're still really young, but… I was thinking…"

Asuka hit him on the head and said, "Just spit it out already!"

He smiled and continued, "I want you to marry me?"

Asuka started crying from joy and she said, "I will. I'll marry you Shinji Ikari."

The young man slipped an impressive diamond ring onto her finger, and she smiled slyly, "You up for Round Two?"

Shinji replied with a smile just as devious, "I'm ready any time you are."

Asuka smiled, "Shinji… You've made me the happiest person on the earth."

Shinji chuckled, "I can't say that I was impressed with your personality when I first met you… all it took to pull me to the other side was our first battle together. I've loved you since then… You know… you still haven't taken off that pendant."

The redhead fingered the necklace, and said, "I can't… I love it too much…"

(-----)

Shinji and Asuka held hands as they walked towards the meeting place they had designated within NERV headquarters. All of their closest friends were gathered together.

Asuka looked over all of her friends, "Look guys, I hate repeating myself so here it is. Shinji and I are getting married."

Misato started chuckling, "Well, I can tell you something she doesn't mind doing more than once."

Both Shinji and Asuka shouted at their guardian, "Shut up! That's not something you should just spread around…"

Toji and Kensuke joined in the laughing, "What? It's not like we didn't know it would happen Ikari!"

Everyone present nodded in agreement, and then Shinji said, "Look… We want to get married, and I want to have everyone's support."

Toji laughed, "With all of the shit you've had to go through, you two deserve some happiness."

Shinji looked to all of them and smiled, "Thank you… Friends…"

(-----)

Shinji hugged Asuka tightly and he said, "I know that our families would be proud of us Asuka. I know it…"

She returned the hug and said, "Hey Idiot… We're always going to be together… Hell, that sounds like a line out of a shitty romance movie, but it is true."

The young man's azure eyes light up, and he said, "I'm happy. We have so much ahead of us Asuka. One more thing… Why do I always get called Idiot?"

The girl smiled, "What are you, stupid? Who else do I exclusively call that? I would have thought you'd realize it by now. Besides, a fragile girl like me has to show some strength."

Shinji Ikari locked her lips with his own, pulled back a little, and then said, "Fragile? You're the strongest person I know." He put one arm around her hip and said, "Let's go Asuka. If there's a door in the way, sometimes, we just gotta knock a little harder."

The girl smiled devilishly, "Or just smash it down!" Shinji laughed slightly, and then let his hand slide up her shirt. Asuka shuddered at his touch, and then started to laugh uncontrollably.

Shinji's fingers were running up and down his fiancée's ribs. The girl pushed closer against the young man and gingerly touched the scar that ran parallel with his fifth and sixth ribs.

Shinji's legs faltered and gave out, pulling the redhead to the ground with him. She straddled him, kissed him, and then lay on top of him, "Everything's been so crazy lately… But you know what? I think I can handle it as long as you're with me."

Shinji held her hands tightly. "Asuka… We've lived together for so long… Screw it. You already know how I feel. Let's just go home and plan out this wedding. Then if we have time…"

Asuka raised her eyebrows and she said, "Oh don't worry Dummkopf. I'll make time."

Shinji started chuckling, and he said, "Now who's the pervert?"

Asuka started laughing too, and said, "It doesn't really matter when I'm with you."

Shinji stood up and held Asuka's hand while they started their walk home.

If these two could deal with seventeen Angels and Seven Deadly Sins, marriage should be a cake walk… shouldn't it?

"YOU IDIOT! I'm going to do the planning, you just need to sit back and relax!"

Guess not…

(------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------)

Alright… You made it through my fic… good for you. Okay, please review, my writing skills aren't perfect at 14, so give me some help. I would like to give a great thanks out to Levitate, or now known as RahXephon, who helped me along with getting the format right and characters in character. I owe you man…

Outtake

Azrael turned to the giant monolith and raised his sword. With a few quick strokes, Azrael's own name appeared on the tablet. He pulled it from the ground and handed it to the disemboweled Adam.

"This is a prescription that should get you enough painkillers to make your stomach tickle."

Adam brightened up and smiled, "Gee! Thanks, Dr. Azrael!"