Well, you cats may not have seen much from me lately, but don't worry, I'll come back…

I just need to get back into Writer Mode instead of Reader Mode, and the transition might be sort of hard, so I've decided to start with updating the relatively low maintenance "Relic" as a warm-up…

Not that many people seem to read this fic anyway…heheh.

Well, let's start the show.

Tokyo 3, Japan

Tokyo 3 Motel

Shinji Ikari stared at the wall in a dazed manner, sighing, his eyes tired, his face numb from alcohol, dressed only in boxers and a t-shirt, shaving foam sparkling on his thigh.

Suddenly the sound of a phone ringing and Shinji fumbled about the room, dropping a disposable razor in his search, finally finding a nondescript black phone on the table next to his bed and answering it.

He spoke carefully into it, squinting his eyes and waiting for a response.

"Who…is this?"

He unbuttoned his shirt absentmindedly as he listened to the voice on the other line, slowly nodding and talking into the phone.

"And…we spoke earlier? I don't remember that… Well, yeah, but it's not amnesia. I from before my injury, I just can't make any new memories."

He nodded slowly again, listening as he began to take off his shirt, revealing a thick bandage on his left arm and multiple tattoos all over his chest, stomach, and arms.

"So I can't remember talking to you. What did we talk about?"

He nodded.

"Asuka huh? Yeah, I guess I tell people about Asuka to help them understand me. Asuka's story helps me understand my own situation."

He slowly touched the back of his hand, a tattoo there, his face somber.

"Asuka's parents, they left her too, one way or another…she never had anyone…so she tried to make a wall around her heart…she just reacted differently, I guess…not like Kaworu at all…She really had no reason to just give up like that, old fiery Asuka…"

Shinji stared at his reflection in the mirror in front of him while he held the phone, studying the huge tattoo across his chest, "GENDO I. RAPED AND MURDERED MY LIFE".

"Me? I've got a reason."

Tokyo 3, Japan

Kiriyama's Grill, Parking lot

Shinji slowly parked his car, stepping out and staring at the restaurant while comparing its name to a similar name scrawled on a small piece of paper. It read, "KIRIYAMA'S GRILL, MAIN ST. THURSDAY, 1.OOPM MEET ASUKA FOR INFO"

He stuck the note into his pants pocket and fished into his jacket, pulling out his bundle of photographs and leafing carefully through them until he finds the one he was looking for, a blurred shot of a redhead turning in a doorway.

He flips the photograph over.

On the back are two handwritten messages, one blacked out completely, the other, under it, reading "SHE HAS ALSO LOST SOMEONE, SHE WILL HELP YOU OUT OF PITY"

Tokyo 3, Japan

Kiriyama's Grill, Waiting Area

Shinji slowly entered the crowded restaurant, peering around at all the customers while carefully making his way down each aisle of tables, people shooting him rude and confused glances from time to time.

Finally he makes eye contact with a beautiful redheaded woman sitting alone and wearing sunglasses.

Her face betrays nothing and Shinji simply walks past her, sighing.

Suddenly, something halting him and he turned, the woman sighing and grabbing the back of his jacket, pulling him back.

Shinji spun around and eyed the redhead carefully, noticing a bruise around her pretty eyes and a mark on her lip.

"Asuka."

"You don't remember me; if you did you wouldn't be smiling."

Shinji retained his friendly smile.

"Sorry, I should've explained. You see, I have this condition-"

Asuka frowned, sighing.

"You did explain, Ikari."

Shinji stiffened.

"Please…call me Shinji…"

"You told me that too, Shinji."

She smiled, bemused.

"Then I probably told you how much I hated it. Could you take off your sunglasses? It's just hard for me-"

Asuka took the shades off, the smile gone, looking uncomfortable as more bruises were revealed on her face.

"Yeah…"

Shinji frowned.

"So…you have information for me? On the Eva pilot?"

"Is that what your little note said?"

"Yes…"

"Must be tough after the accident Shinji…Living on notes and scraps…But I guess that's why you have those odd tattoos."

She smiled.
Shinji's eyes widened in surprise.

"How do you…Um…Well, it is tough, I guess. I'm sorry…Asuka, I can't remember you. It's nothing personal."

She whispered fiercely.

"But you still remember him! The enemy!"

Shinji seemed not to hear, raising his eyebrows.

"Sorry, what did you say?"

Her smile faded.

"Nothing, sorry."

She shook her head to herself and slowly pulled a small brown envelope from out of her purse.

"I do have information for you on the pilot. You gave me a license plate number of his car? I had my friend trace it. Guess what name came up?"

Shinji shrugged.

"Gendo Ikari."

"You know him?"
"No…No. But the photo on his license looked familiar. I think he's been in here before…"

She began to slide the envelope towards him, then paused, looking wistful.

"This is a copy of his registration, license, photo and all. Are you sure you want this?"

Shinji's eyes seemed grim.

"Have I told you what this man did!"

She paused.

"Yes…"

"Then you shouldn't have to ask."

Asuka frowned slightly.

"But even if you get your revenge, you won't remember it. You won't even know it's happened!"

Shinji seemed annoyed, almost in rage, as he whispered fiercely.

"So I'll take a picture, get a tattoo!"

Then he calmed down slightly, sighing and speaking in a more genial tone, missing Asuka's second long morose look.

"The world doesn't disappear when youclose your eyes, does it? My actionsstill have meaning, even if I can't remember them. He deserves vengeance, and it doesn't make any difference whether I know about it.

She paused, her eyes flitting to the side.

"Tell…tell me about him again."

"Why?"

"Because you like to remember him. I…want to see you enjoy yourself."

Shinji nodded slowly.

"He was perfect to me…He was bea-"

She shook her head in annoyance.

"Don't recite the words, Shinji. Close your eyes. Remember him."

Shinji sighed.

He could only feel details. Bits and pieces which he couldn't put into words. And extreme moments he felt even if he didn't want to feel them.

"Empathy?"

"I'm saying I love you"

"…"

Shinji stared at Kawuro as the boy smiled warmly and released Shinji's hand.

"I think I was born just to meet you."

Put all of these bits and pieces together and you get the feel of a person, enough to know how much you miss them, and how much you hate the person who took them away.

"Shinji? Shinji?"

Shinji opened his eyes, staring at Asuka's unreadable expression.

She nodded and finally pushed over the brown envelope.

"I wrote an address in there, too. Might be useful. It's this abandoned place outside of town. I guy I know uses it for his more clandestine activities."

"Activities? Who?"

She blushed for a moment, and then frowned.

"It's isolated."

Shinji stared at her, unsure.

"Well…it sounds perfect. How much do I owe you?"
Asuka snorted, bringing up her head.

"I wasn't helping you for the money, idiot."

"Sorry…"

"Stop apologizing, Thir-"

She stopped suddenly, her eyes frantic for a moment.

"Just stop it Shinji."
Shinji raised his eyebrows, confused, but Asuka just smiled slightly.

"Nevermind, it's not your fault. See, you have this condition…"

Shinji smiled back and Asuka reached into her purse, pulling out a key.

"Are you still at the Discount Inn? Room 304? You left this at my place."

Shinji nodded slowly, pulling out a photograph of the Discount Inn.

"The Discount Inn, yeah."

Asuka nodded, slowly rising from the table, leaving the key there.

She looked at him as if it were an afterthought, smirking.

"They treating you right?"
Shinji smiled.

"Don't remember."

Asuka bit her lip, looking as if she were thinking for a moment, then slowly walked away from the table.

"You know what we have in common?"
Shinji looked at her, his face obviously curious as he shrugged.

"We're both survivors. Take care, Shinji."

Shinji watched her leave, then stood, striding into the men's restroom in the back.

Tokyo 3, Japan

Kiriyama's Grill, Men's Restroom

Shinji Ikari stood in front of the mirror in a beige suit and blue shirt, staring at his reflection, which seemed to be staring right back at him with that intimidating glare. His fists clenched and unclenched, and he smiled wildly, looked down, and then looked up with eyes splotched with red and manic mania.

He raised his hand to his face and laughed loudly in the bathroom, staring at it with a bemused look on his face.

"Who the hell am I?"

He shook his head as the urinal flushed and then moved to the sink, turning on the faucet, and washing his hands.

As he does so, he notices a message written in thick black marker on the back of his hand.

It reads, "Remember Gendo".

Shinji stared at it in surprise and then licked his thumb, trying to rub at the writing, looking at it quizzically, finding it is completely indelible.

Then, as he stared at the writing, he noticed some black markings on his wrist, pulling his sleeve back to get a better look.

There is a scar running horizontal down his wrist, and then written next to it is, "The Facts:"

Shinji's eyes widened and he slowly began to reach over and roll his sleeve up further to read the message when the restroom door opened and a handsome man with a ponytail and piercing eyes.

Shinji's eyes flit towards the newcomer, who glances mysteriously at him then goes into a bathroom stall.

Shinji finished drying his hands, blinked a few times, silent, and then exited the rest room.

Anyone reading and enjoying this? Review me up guys! Heheh…

Long time no update huh? Well, don't worry, I'm back in writing mode with a new Eva fanfic and a bunch of other good fanfics like "Relic" here to update.

Until next chapter, seeya.