Disclaimer:
Neon Genesis Evangelion is the creative property of GAINAX, who created this wonderful anime/manga series. Anything not attributed to GAINAX belongs to their respective owners, such as references to Rozen Maiden that is the creation of Peach-Pit, Full Metal Panic! is the creation of Shikidouji and Shouji Gatou, Shakugan no SHANA is the creation of Yashichiro Takahashi, The Karas is the creation of Tatsunoko, and vice-versa. This story is written purely just for fun, guys; please for God's sake, don't sue me! I'm just a college student with too much free time on his hands! On the other hand, any specific author created characters I created for this fic (despite how unoriginal they may be at times) are mine. So without further adieu, let's get on with the show!
The Surgeon General's Warning:
Read at your own risk. Multiple pairings inside folks, not to mention some definite parts for Mayumi Yamagishi, Mana Kirishima, and more to come.
Where Infinite Time Stood Still, The World Consumed in Flame
Ore wa jankku ja ne/ I'm not junk!
Chapter 04:
Temporary Stay?
A Super-sized NGE fic by James "Ray" Edwards
"Uh, well, this is your apartment, Shinji-kun," Misato chirped as cheerfully as she could manage, although it was rather obvious that her good cheer was --- forced.
Considering how her day had turned out, Shinji supposed it was understandable, as she had been delivered "damaged" goods. The much-hyped Evangelion, Mankind's ultimate weapon against the Angels, was now worthless thanks to the efforts of the ever so brilliant Marduk Institution who had reputedly selected the "best" pilot candidate possible. However, Ikari Shinji was anything but the "best," the words "pathetic," "pitiful," "spineless," and "useless" suited him much better.
She had an impotent weapon, the weapon that was to be the answer to her prayers and many others, and it now stood "sleeping" soundly in the EVA cages, undisturbed in a pool of LCL, and inactive. Ayanami Rei, the only other pilot NERV possessed, was still not cleared to return to active duty, and even then, she had failed to activate both Evangelion units so far. Thus, the existence of NERV had become a complete absurdity, and the UN had been more than glad to needle and brow beat her to death over the simple fact.
Everyone had chewed her out; after all, she was "THE Head of Operations" at NERV, or in other words, the "ranking" military personnel in charge of its operations. If something went wrong, then by George W. Bush, it must have been her fault! Oh, and how those big shots loved to kick and scream like big grown gorillas at her...
To make a long story short, this was the end of a very, very "SY" day and the start of even longer night. Captain Katsuragi's bedside manner had long taken the night off to visit a few bars, get roaring drunk, and find a decent lay before stopping by the love motels. There was no use denying it, and she had told him frankly in the car ride over:
"We won by a fluke, Shinji-kun. One second the Angel was there; the next second, it was gone. No traces. Nothing. Nadda. Zip. Just gone. No new signs of combat from your sortie or anything, except for the building you were thrown through. That's it."
Of course, Shinji knew better to let old dogs lie dead, but the "real" Ikari Shinji did not know, and he would just have to needle Captain Katsuragi some more with his loathsome self-pity. Besides, from what she had told him in a relatively sedate bus ride over to the apartment condominium complex he would staying at, they would be almost next door neighbors. She lived exactly seven doors down the hall away from him, and if he ever needed anything, he should feel free to drop by in person.
This was purely for fun...
"It's my fault, isn't it, Captain Katsuragi?" he began in his painstakingly practiced timid voice, hitting just the right pitch that would have sent the skin of any decent self-respecting person cringing. He was damned good at it and damned proud of it too. Perhaps, he should even consider getting into acting school and becoming a big time movie star, and wouldn't that be a huge "180" for "Mr. Doom and Gloom" Ikari Shinji?
Misato winced at the boy's painful tone. She really did not want to deal with teenage angst right now. Gosh, she had enough of her own to go around; where was a beer when she needed one? Still, she did feel kind of bad for him, and she still could not believe that Commander Ikari would not even take in his own son, not to mention the way he had conned Shinji into piloting. The famed "Emperor of Central Dogma" was even more of a bastard than she previously thought.
"Don't be silly, Shinji-kun!" the violet-haired woman laughed, forcing out a toothy grin. "Even if it was a fluke, at least it was a good one, right?"
"But --- But I didn't do anything useful at all, Cap-"
"Hey now, no need to be so formal. I'm definitely your commanding officer, but we're off duty technically right now, so feel free to call me just 'Misato' or 'Misato-san,' all right?"
"Err...but, Mi--Misa-to-san, I didn't-"
"Oh, don't worry about it. That's my job, Shinji-kun."
The woman was being unusually resilient, he noted with an internal smirk. Perhaps, it was time he turned up the heat a notch. "But aren't they going to send me home?"
"Huh?" Misato blinked. Did she miss something in the conversation here?
"Misato-san, a pilot that can't fight is a liability --- a good-for-nothing. ...I heard, you know."
Ouch, this is going to be difficult. How am I supposed to reply to something like that? "Well...you're not exactly wrong, but you're not exactly right either, Shinji-kun."
"But I'm borderline... Just barely good enough to activate the Evangelion."
"You're untrained, Shinji-kun, and even if you're the best pilot candidate the Marduk Institution selected, it still doesn't change the fact that we threw straight to the wolves in your first sortie without any prior training. Considering everything, we're lucky to be alive."
Instead of consoling him, the last remark only made him hang his head low in shame where a moody sigh escaped his lips. Misato cursed herself at her folly, wondering just how much damage she had done to Shinji's fragile ego. He was soft, just too soft! What in God's name could have happened to him in the past to make him like this?
"Misato-san, how many casualties were there?" the boy asked her solemnly, his voice subdued and terse.
It was a question she honestly did not want to answer, but if she lied to him now --- well, it would be just too obvious. She was not a "smart" talker like Ritsuko who could use her logic and science to confuse and evade the important questions, nor did she have Commander Ikari's ominous powerful presence. At this point in time, Captain Katsuragi Misato wished she really was Captain Katsuragi Misato and not just --- Misato.
She sighed, messaging her temple with the palm of her hand. "You wouldn't want to know, Shinji-kun..."
"That many...?"
"There was one miracle today though, if you can call it that."
"One?"
"Yup, Mari Suzuhara: the world's luckiest twelve-year-old. She's stable right now and is being kept in the I.C.U. ward at Mashiro General Hospital near downtown."
"I see. ...Father won't stand for this. It's a disgrace, and when he can find a better pilot, he'll get rid of me for sure."
"You should go see her."
Now, this piqued Shinji's interest, although he could not afford to show it, of course. Why would the Katsuragi woman want him to get see someone whom he had potentially scarred for life if not worse? "Wha-What?"
"You should go see her, Shinji-kun, and you might just be surprised yourself."
"Huh?"
"You'll see, you'll see." And with any luck, it might just do you some good. Sheesh, I'm starting to wonder seriously if I should take the kid in myself, but considering everything that's happened, that bastard Ikari will probably deny me flat out. Oh well, I guess the best I can do is push Shinji-kun in the right direction. "I gotta go, so take care of yourself, you hear?"
"Wa-Wait! What am I-"
"What do you think, Shinji-kun? Settle in, of course. You've already got your official IDs, cellular phones, paper work, apartment stuff, and --- more stuff. School starts tomorrow and some guys in black from Section-Two will be around to pick you up. If you want, they can show you around town too."
"I...well..."
"Oh, and make some friends, Shinji-kun! This is a fresh start for you, so just enjoy it while it lasts. It doesn't matter how long you're going to be here, just enjoy life as you want to while you're here. You're never going to get another opportunity quite like this, a genuine once in a lifetime experience, so lighten up some, okay?"
"I --- all right, Misato-san..."
Misato beamed at her small victory. Maybe she would be able to make it through the night, after all. "Good, that's the way. Oh, and I almost forgot, your NERV ID card also doubles up as a credit and/or debit card. We've already loaded your checking account pretty good-"
"Wait, you mean I-"
"Of course, you get PAID, Shinji-kun! And from what I think Ritsu-chan told me, there should be enough in there to buy a tank for starters!"
"Wha-WHAT? You're kidding!"
"Well, I might be exaggerating some, but you pilots actually do get paid more than me when you tally up all the benefits, hazard pay, and all."
"O-Okay..."
"I'm sure you can figure it out dinner on your own, but if you're looking for some real food, there's a super market and a '24/7' convenience store around here somewhere too. Ring up Section-Two, if you need directions. Speed dial number Three, I think. The place is furnished, all set up, and you're things are already all inside too. All you've got to do now is just unpack, think you can manage?"
With this much said, Shinji figured there was nothing he really wanted to do to spoil Captain Katsuragi's change of mood for the better, so he gave his farewells and bid her a good evening. The violet-haired woman had strolled away with a noticeable spring to her step, though he was admiring anything but her beauty. From their conversation just now, he concluded quite simply that Katsuragi Misato was dangerous; not because she was the perfect soldier, but because she was an imperfect soldier of the worst kind.
The kind of soldier that had an old enduring spirit. She might act much younger than her years, but there was no question that behind all that eccentricities was a reckless force to be reckoned. Of course, this did not mean she was a treasure worth coveting, but at the same time, Captain Katsuragi --- no --- Misato was a woman he would have to keep an eye on. If he got careless, she would be the first to know the difference.
Hmph, how troublesome. To actually have a woman like that care about me, Shinji noted with a mild frown, shouldering the new backpack given to him by NERV that contained his other "new things." Whatever, I'll deal with her when the time comes, but right now, let's go wake up Gin-chan, shall we?
Swiping the keycard through the card reader, an audible mechanical click announced the door to his apartment was open, and the young Ikari casually let himself in. The lights came on automatically with his presence, a nice little convenience of modern living that he had encountered a few years back in a rather --- bizarre predicament. Fully furnished, it was a cozy enough apartment Shinji supposed, probably too big for just one person, complete with a living room, kitchen, and three bedrooms. There was even an outdoor balcony that could be accessed from the living room, sporting a fairly impressive vista of the "machine city."
Too bad there was no laundry room; he'd have to look for a local Laundromat later...
Of course, he surveyed his entire new "domain" while he still wearing his shoes on indoors, a huge snub in the face of traditional Japanese etiquette. The blue-eyed boy, honestly, did not mind walking around in his own shoes indoors, and besides, all of this was already paid for by --- Father --- so why should he care? Heck, why should he even care about the things he wore? It was not as if they really, truly his possessions.
Shedding his false mask, Shinji wrinkled his nose in distaste. Aa, the only thing in this place that really belongs to me is Suiguntou. Now, where would did they put her down? Those incompetent nincompoops better have showed her some proper respect; otherwise, their will be Hell to pay.
Tossing off his backpack onto the couch, he glanced about and quickly spotted a small pile of things set down in the hallway that he recognized as his meager possessions. It was quite pathetic really, but three small cartons and a modest suitcase was all "Ikari Shinji" amounted to, and yet amidst this appalling sight was something that made it all worth it, his most prized treasure of them all. Suiguntou's orgel was an exquisitely handcrafted "briefcase" of burnished mahogany, rich and reddish-brown, with polished brass joints and embellished with brass vines and thorns inscribed into the surface. The tell-tale golden rose inset into the center of the body marked it clearly as one of Rozen's masterpieces.
Suiguntou had been at a loss for words, a fact she grudgingly admitted to him a year or so later after there first meeting, when he declared that her "box" was an "orgel," in other words a music box. For the first time, she had been torn with conflicting emotions: angry that he would insult the flawless construct her "Father" had made for her, and at the same time, startlingly --- gratified to hear such a compliment. It was the first honest thing he had been able to say to her, and some six years later now, he did not regret spending a moment with his black angel.
Four years he had been trapped in the dark, blind and deaf, groping around for something, anything to guide him. Four years since he had met "That Man," a person he had named Gespenst in his later years. After all, he was very much like a ghost, as Shinji had never seen him again, and yet, he was the one most responsible for why "Ikari Shinji" had become what he was today. Gespenst had offered him power, and in the process, he had transformed into something --- inhuman.
He was not a demon by the denotation of the word, like the youkai and mikura. Also, he was not a Flame Haze or a Tomogara, the Lords of Guze --- the Crimson World ---who were neither flesh and blood or some spiritual construct, as they had long since transcended simple mortality to true existence. The closest thing that came to match what he had become were Karas, and even then it was difficult to say what a Karas was exactly. Like the Guze, they had transcended mortality as well, except in a slightly different manner.
Anyhow, he supposed he should not dawdle any longer. Suiguntou had been very insistent that she be awakened as soon as possible so that she may take stock of their temporary residence or wherever. Understandably, she had expressed serious doubts about going to sleep, and it had taken a considerable effort to convince her that everything would turn out just fine. He was her precious medium, a fact she reminded him every day, and if anything happened to him, she would be very, very displeased.
With the utmost care, as if he were bearing the Holy Grail in his grasp, Shinji grasped the orgel and brought into the living room, setting it down beside him on the couch. His hands shook with fiery excitement, a rare smile lighting his face, as he undid the latches and gently propped the case open. Oh, he knew it was one of those "undignified" things Suiguntou hated to see in him, but he just could not help it. It was just the way he was, a boy who never had anything of his own, craving everything in the world, and every time he opened his treasures felt just like the first time.
The inside of the orgel was padded with red velvet, almost like a bed, and there his black angel lay in silent repose. Twin black wings lay curled against the small figure within, a girl-child cruel and beautiful all at once. Clad in an elaborate, regal pseudo Gothic-Victorian dress of dark blues and white lace, the white crosses marked the sword-like pleats of her skirt. The dark blue choker encircling her throat matched the lace headpiece she wore through her long fine silver hair that flowed to her waist. Black ribbons and amethyst roses, the same color as her eyes, complimented her slim figure along side the snug, feminine dark blue riding boots that reached the tops of her white lacy bloomers.
This was Suiguntou the Mercury Lampe, his black angel, and the First Rozen Maiden Doll. Six years they had been together; six years since he had found her in that old abandoned church on the outskirts Kyoto. In reflection, chances were that she had been planted there, that someone had wanted him to find her, but Shinji did not care, did not mind at all; it was because of her he had found a reason to go on living.
Why did he do it? For revenge. For lust. For greed. For power. And for the love of the Black Angel that guided him straight through the pyres of Hell. That was all he needed to keep going.
Alas, she would have to sleep a little longer...
Dispassionately, Shinji closed the orgel and turned towards the source of the disturbance. A strong wind was blowing through the opened transparent screen door to the balcony with a faint howl, sending the curtains billowing in its flow. It was a curious sight certainly, as he recalled the door had been closed when he arrived. Strolling into the kitchen, he spied a set of knives in a wooden receptacle, none that suited his fancy really, and so he looked around some more, particularly the drawers.
Hoooo, a cleaver --- now, that's what I'm talking about, the young man grinned with an eerie gleam in his blue eyes.
Armed sufficiently, as he possessed a decent impromptu weapon that was capable of both lethal and non-lethal means of attack, Shinji proceeded back to the living room and out onto the balcony. The night's air was cool and light, the pale full moon hanging like a white beacon in the dark sky. As far as his eyes could see, the machine city of Tokyo-3 in all of its electric and artificial glory spread out like a vast labyrinth of steel and radioactive neon colors.
High and low he searched the balcony, the lights reflecting off the silvery edge of his newly acquired meat cleaver. Someone had come for him; this much he was certain because he had definitely opened the window. Father --- may have thought him naive, but he was no fool, and to the best of his knowledge, agents from Section-2 were supposed to be watching his apartment: where were they? They would not happen to have conveniently disappeared at a time like this, would they?
Shinji chuckled darkly and closed his eyes, reaching out with his other senses. The first thing he noticed was the astonishing amount of the power of existence stored in this place. In his mind's eye, as far as he could see, there were Torches everywhere, temporary replacements for the leftover shells of humans consumed by Tomagara. They were like little blue flames gliding ethereally hither and thither, carrying out their fleeting final moments in complete ignorance, but this was not the point of his search.
He turned his focus towards the apartment complex, expanding his will until it filled every inch of the place.
Nothing. There's nothing here at all: lifeless and dead, thought Shinji with a perturbed scowl. Not even the rats and roaches are alive. All gone.
A city of Torches, a dead city, and he could only wonder if there was any life here at all because even Nature had become artificial here. The only two things he was certain that lived here was Suiguntou, his dearest black angel, and himself. She was the glowing crystal of graceful violet amethyst, magnificent and deadly, and he was the obsidian diamond, black as night, shimmering with stars that consumed and gorged upon the light of all things.
Obsidian.
Heh, how strange that it would be his "color," though it certainly was appropriate, considering the terrible being he had become. He still bled crimson red, felt the pain of sorrow and hunger, desired the flesh and the material, and yet, he had become incomprehensibly powerful. In a way, Shinji reckoned he was just like --- Father --- except with more power at his immediate command than the damned contemptible bastard could ever dream of to grasp.
"Guess it was just my paranoia," sighed the black-haired boy with a shrug, opening his eyes once more to the world. He did not like to admit it all too often, but he was certifiably crazy. It was probably part of the reason why "Ikari Shinji" never was able to make many friends, as that kind of reputation tended to stay with an individual as trouble as himself. With that said, he wondered if the people at NERV, specifically Father and Captain Katsuragi, had read his psychological profile yet?
Hmm, Shinji felt he would find out soon enough. Now then, time to put away this ridiculous meet cleaver back where it belongs, although he would have loved to see its effect on a human being. It was something he would have to wait and see in the fu-
Thud.
Shinji froze. His blue eyes bulging in disbelief, shadows wreathing his young face in a grotesque snarl. Someone this big had snuck up on --- him? Impossible.
A gloved hand shot out from the hooded figure, the slap of leather seizing his throat roughly, as it lifted him into the air. He gurgled from the shock, his free hand grasping a hold of the intruder's wrist instinctively. It was thick, unbelievably thick, his fingers unable to encircle the entire wrist as his vision shook with hazy bubbles, the deadly vice grip tightening around his throat. Black seemed to invade his periphery from all sides, a sure sign that he was losing air fast, before he even had a chance to get a good look at his would-be killer.
Pins and needles filling his lungs, the pain lighting his veins on fire, Shinji swung at the fading vague shape with his occupied hand, praying that he had not dropped the meat cleaver. However, instead of being rewarded with the audible gut-wrenching spurt of blood erupting from crushed flesh and bone, the dull shriek of metal shattering in two greeted his ears. The terrible jolt rifled through his arm, dropping the now broken meat cleaver that clattered ineffectually on the ground.
What the hell?
The vice grip on his throat tightened, eliciting a choked yelp, as tears dribbled from his eyes. He could feel the intruder moving in a kind of odd heavy lopping gait, not something Shinji would exactly call human. Even the most heavyset of "fates" he had met in his years did not move like this!
Suddenly, the wind howled murderously, ruffling his clothes and hair, and it made his blood run cold. Now, a piece of the intricate puzzle became clear to him, hanging here in mid-air with his feet dangling over the edge of the balcony railing: this bastard was an assassin! The drop was at least six stories high, if he recalled correctly, and plenty well enough to kill him in his human form unless...
No, I don't need to use my power for a measly pawn like this, thought Shinji bitterly. It's beneath --- me! And I'll prove it to you: Rokubungi. GENDO.
Mustering his rapidly dwindling strength, the black-haired boy threw his all into a deadly gambit. He swung his body up, latching onto the extended limb as if he were a monkey, hooking his left leg around the arm, and dumped the remainder of his strength into a whistling kick from his right. The satisfying shudder from the jarring impact signaled the abrupt release of the death grip, sending him seemingly outwards into oblivion, but Shinji was not done yet.
"If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me!" he hollered in a grisly rasp, pulling the larger body off the balcony with him.
Air screamed past his ears, the force of gravity accelerating their bodies into free fall, as he detached off the limb and rolled onto the assassin's body, a vague black mass in his interrupted. Shifting his weight, Shinji flipped himself on top, driving his shoulder into the man's stomach, and threw his arms around in a deadly embrace. The loud violent flutter of his billowing clothes, seconds remaining: he held on for all he was worth as the body underneath him struggled to dislodge him.
"I got this from a game! 'It's not the fall that kills you, IT'S THE IMPACT,' YOU STUPID SONUVA-"
Crash!
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes:
Almost a month later, and finally, episode 04 is here! Sorry, if you guys didn't catch the lyrics from the last episode, I thought I made it relatively obvious it was from the opening theme of RahXephon "Hemisphere," but oh well, no harm done. On the subject of "excessive" Japanese, if I feel like using it, I'm going to use it, but I usually try to make it sensible in the context, so it's not particular important to know exactly what it means. If you really want to know what it means, just feel free to e-mail me, PM me, or whatever floats your boat, a'ight?
On another note, dang --- is Shinji the man or what? He was going to take it the rim with a cleaver! He sure does have a lot angst to go with it though... Just what exactly happened to him before he came to Tokyo-3? Is he going to be the hospital after falling from six stories up, using someone else as a cushion? How will NERV react? Will they even find out? And did Gendo really send someone to kill his own son? He's not THAT big of a you-know-what is he? If so, what's his motivation anyway?
Well, we'll just have to wait and see, eh?
For those of you who have tuned in, I'd like to thank you all very much for your patronage, and I always encourage each and everyone of you to feel free to comment, review, and/or discuss the story. Your comments can really make a difference, I assure you, and if you're up to it, feel free to ring me up on AIM, or even send me an e-mail (although you really don't need to boost my ego too often).
Well, that wraps it up, folks, so until the next time we meet (probably in Feburary): Take care y'all!
P.S. If you know which game Shinji is talking about, mad bonus points to you! So what if it's Vin Diesel? The Necromonger boss fight rocked!
Tsudzuku!
