Long time no update…Sorry if this one seems rusty, I haven't updated anything for ages.

But I have a new fanfic out, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Memento Mori, and I've been feeling in a writing mood because of that, so hopefully I'll maintain and update all of my numerous fanfictions. Hooray!

As for those who're saying, "Rei/Shinji! There's no Rei at all!", yeah, I know, this may seem Ritsuko/Shinji or Shinji/Nothing, but this is just the beginning dudes. I had nowhere I felt like putting Rei in. Obviously Shinji will get to meet her soon and etc., just have patience. Heh.

By the way, if anyone's confused about my format, italics are used purely for inner thoughts/flashbacks. For example in Gendo's part, that is his mind's content, i.e. flashbacks and thoughts. As for the surreal Sachiel and Shinji scenes, those obviously aren't flashbacks…

Tokyo 3, Japan

Shinji Ikari's body pulsed with energy in the shimmering glow of his Evangelion Unit.

He felt nothing but the thirst, the rage, and…something familiar…someone.

It bathed over his aching eye and shattered body, and he reached out in pure hatred at the massive creature he was fighting, only to find himself lost in a flash of light.

A blinding light, a shadowy form in front of his vision, Shinji disorientated.

"Why do you wish to fight me, Lillim?"

Shinji Ikari stared up at the feminine form as it became clear, his eyes widening in confusion.

She was a young woman with brilliant cyan hair and radiant wings, along with odd armor covering her semi-nude body and glimmering red eyes.

Yet he knew in his soul who she was.

"Because…I have to…My father…needs me…It is important. I am useful."

"And you would be willing to risk your life for that, Lillim?"

He stared at Sachiel and roared as he felt a surge of energy rush through his head, clutching his skull and screaming as he reached out of this deluge.

"I HAVE NO CHOICE!"

Evangelion Unit 01 reached out as well, slamming in a hard tackle into the angel, driving both huge forms down the massive shaft towards NERV central, Shinji's screams echoing.

Tokyo 3, Japan

NERV Headquarters, Control Room

Misato hurried to the controls, her eyes flitting back and forth as technicians rushed to and fro.

"What is the status of the Unit! What's going on!"

Maya gasped.

"Impossible. It's totally out of control!"

"Direct hit to the third foundation!"

"Final armor plate fused..."

Maya's eyes widened.

"It's no good. The main shaft is exposed!"

Misato whirled around quickly, gasping.

"The targets have entered the main shaft! They're descending!"

"What is its destination?"

"Advancing directly to Central Dogma…"

"It's coming here. All personnel, evacuate. Quickly!"

Makoto nodded promptly echoing Katsuragi's order.

"All personnel evacuate. Repeat; all personnel evacuate."

Tokyo 3, Japan

NERV Headquarters, Main Shaft

Shinji Ikari screamed as the Evangelion and Angel tumbled down, trying to reach out and attack the Angel.

"Move, move, move, move, move, move, move, move, move, move, move, move, please move! If you don't move now, if I don't do it now, everyone's going to die! Not like this! Not with my father watching! MOVE!"

"Why do you seek his approval, Lillim?"

Sachiel stared at him, smiling sadly.

"Shut up! Shut up! You're not real! You're not human! You're…the Angel…"

Sachiel shook her head.

"You do not comprehend us Lillim, being of the 18th. However that is fine…for now."

She shook her cyan-haired head, her radiant wings spreading as she reached behind her back and drew a large sword that seemed to be comprised of bone.

"Memento…mori."

"What!"

Shinji looked up just as she slammed the sword at his gut.

Tokyo 3, Japan

NERV Headquarters, Control Room

"Impossible, I can't believe it. The synchro-rate of Unit One is over 400!"

Kouzou arched his gray eyebrows in surprise, staring at the technicians rushing to and fro, Maya speaking up in surprise as she typed away at her keyboard.

"No! How can it be moving!"

Misato gasped.

"It…can't be…"

"Gone wild!"

Kouzou smirked, wondering if Gendo was enjoying the show, wherever he was.

"We…will win."

The blade hurtled forward, and then stopped, something hindering its forward motion.

Sachiel's eyes opened wide and she hissed in surprise at fate's betrayal.

A brilliant glow surrounded the cowering young man, a glowing human form radiating him, the form of a young woman with brilliant eyes.

"Mother…"

"Impossible! No Lillim is capable of this!"

Shinji Ikari rose, the blazing femine form behind him seeming to fuel a new fire in his soul, and his eyes, oh his cerulean eyes, now swirling with a look of defiant anger.

"Don't call me that! My name is Shinji Ikari! Don't you ever call me anything else!"

Sachiel's lips parted slightly and she stared with widening Angel eyes as Shinji charged forward screaming.

Evangelion Unit 01 surged forward as the Third Messenger stumbled backwards beneath and onslaught of brutal punches, one massive purple hand reaching out to grab the Angel by the faceplate and slam it into the massive wall behind them.

Tokyo 3, Japan

NERV Headquarters, Control Room

"It's totally out of control! The target seems to be sustaining heavy damage!"

"How! We can't win unless the target's A.T. Field is shattered!"

Maya shook her head wildly.

"It's already been neutralized...Impossible! Unit One's A.T. Field is out of control!"

Misato spun around, staring at Kouzou who stood firm and stoic, not surprised by any of this.

She arched an eyebrow, turning back around quietly.

What are they hiding, I wonder? What do they know that we don't?

As Misato Katsuragi watched the brutal Evangelion rip apart its opponent, it dawned on her that some questions, especially ones regarding this "Shinji Ikari" were probably better left unanswered...for now.

Sachiel watched quietly as her body hurtled through the air, blood flying from her delicate lips.

"So...You are that one then...I suppose...I have failed...Forgive me Shamshel..."

Evangelion Unit 01 let out a crashing bestial roar as it slammed a fist into the Angel, tearing off bone and flesh as it send the creature crashing all over the massive walls of the shaft.

Tokyo 3, Japan

NERV Headquarters, Main Shaft

Gendo Ikari stood there, watching the Evangelion crash about the walls there, fighting the Messenger. The boy inside was screaming and clenching his fists, he knew that.

That boy…your son, Yui…

He stared at the Evangelion as it fought, no feelings of pride or even thoughts on the simple fact that this was the product of he and his greatest love.

He had clenched his eyes tight and flushed out those feelings long ago, they were irrelevant as long as she was gone.

"Don't be difficult…I'm leaving you with your uncle…"

"No! Daddy, please don't leave! Where's mommy!"

"She's dead, Shinji…"

"No! You're lying!"

"You saw it with your own eyes…you remember…"

He felt resolve through remembering his past transgressions. He was…comfortable this way. His pain fueled his work, and his work fueled the hope that she would return. She could not leave him, not in this godforsaken place.

Gendo blinked numbly as the wave of blood splashed upon him, coating his body except for his left arm and head.

He did not even flinch against the liquid, standing with a blank face and turning away from the fight.

He touched his damp clothes, bringing up the liquid and smelling it.

It smelled like her.

Suddenly, a rush of wind and his clothes were blasted, he had only seconds to look back up before the mass of the Third Messenger of God slammed directly into the metal railing that he was standing on.

YUI!

Well, hope you liked it, was it disappointing? Heh. Too short?

Oh well, Like I said, I haven't been in Writer's Mode for a while, so I'll get better and longer as this goes along, see you next chapter.

And feel free to check out my new fanfic, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Memento Mori.