True Love Waits Chapter 2

Adam Kadmon

Disclaimer: I still don't own Eva. Can you believe it?

"You look pretty run-down."

"Huh?"

Misato glanced away from the mirror overlooking Shinji's room and found Ritsuko smiling at her, bearing coffee.

"I said you look pretty run-down. Here," she said, handing Misato a hot cup, "you look like you could use this."

"I'd rather have a beer."

"Can't help with that." She sat down next to her. "You've been surprisingly dedicated to this kid." Misato gave her a funny look. "I'm not implying anything, but it's… strange."

"I just feel sorry for him."

They watched Shinji attempt to sit up and wince in pain. He gave up and lowered himself back onto the bed. He stared at the ceiling.

"I mean, he's had to go through so much in one day. His father died, he was kidnapped, his girlfriend's a spy... it's got to be rough."

"Humans are surprisingly adaptable creatures. He'll survive." Ritsuko glanced at her. "But it doesn't explain why you're so concerned."

"Well, the JSSDF kind of screwed him over. I feel a little responsible."

"It wasn't your idea to set him up. Don't sweat it."

Misato sipped her coffee.

"I know. But I couldn't help but feel commander Fuyutski wasn't as, I don't know, compassionate as he could have been. Like he resented the poor kid."

"Maybe he does."

"What do you mean?" Misato asked.

"I heard the commander used to know Ikari's wife, before she died. I don't know in what manner they knew each other, but…"

Misato turned back to Shinji.

"I see."

Inside the room Shinji continued to stare upward, long ago giving up on finding any kind of solace. His mouth worked slowly.

"Unfamiliar… ceiling…"

True Love Waits

Chapter 2

"I'm home," Misato called out.

"Welcome home," came Rei's soft reply. She was sitting in the kitchen, studying. She closed her books as Misato entered the room, ensured that her solitude was gone. "How was work?"

"A bitch." Misato fished a beer out of the fridge and popped it open. "Never grow up, Rei. It's overrated." She didn't bother to taste her drink as she downed it.

"So is being young."

Misato chuckled as she got another beer.

Rei glanced up, her eyebrows rising for a breath.

"You were promoted," she said.

Misato unconsciously touched the new sigil on her collar.

"Oh, yeah. We had a mission a couple days ago. Didn't start so well but, well, actually it didn't end so well, either."

"Someone must have thought it did."

"I wonder…" Misato scratched the table with a nail.

"What?"

She snapped out of her reverie.

"Nothing. Forget it. How's school?"

"No changes."

"How are Hikari and Asuka?"

"Hikari's fighting with her older sister about some trivial thing, and Asuka almost came to blows with a jock today." Rei sighed, as if banishing the thoughts from her mind.

Misato smiled.

"You're awfully talkative today."

"Not really."

"Any cuties talk to you?"

Rei rolled her eyes.

"Oh, come on," Misato said, acting hurt. "There's got to be someone you like. What's his name?"

Rei collected her books and stood.

"I won't tell anyone, Rei, I promise." A sudden insight struck her. "Uh, maybe it's… a she?" Rei looked genuinely unnerved. "Hey, I'm cool with that. No problem."

The young girl sighed disgustedly and walked out of the kitchen.

"So it's a no go on liking girls, huh?" Thank God. "Come on, tell me." Misato followed her through the apartment, weaving in between empty cans, dirty clothes and unopened mail. "Who do you like?"

Rei abruptly spun on her.

"And what about you? Don't tell me you don't have anyone." You of all people.

"Actually, no, I don't. I'm kind of enjoying being single."

Misato never saw the trap coming.

"Then that is my answer as well."

She slid her door shut leaving Misato staring at the plaque that read "Rei-chan's lovely suite".

"Damn." She went to get another beer.

Leaning against her door, Rei stared at her reflection in the mirror over her desk.

"Who could ever like that?"

She flopped down on her bed, and not for the first time, noticed the intricacies of her ceiling: the subtle texture of the paint, the small crack near the light fixture, the cobweb in the bottom left corner. Rei began to drift out of conscious thought, when from the kitchen, she was alerted to Misato's shrill post-beer celebratory scream. Rei pulled a pillow over her head.

"Who could ever like either of us?"

Misato crossed the threshold of the hospital room pushing a wheelchair in front of her. She acted surprised to find Shinji awake.

"Oh, you're up. How are you?"

He peered at her for a moment, recognition slowly dawning.

"It's you."

She waited before remembering he didn't know her name.

"I'm sorry, where are my manners? I'm Major Katsuragi Misato. I was, ah, I was involved with the operation a few days ago. I just wanted to apologize to you on how things turned out."

His eyes touched upon her uniform.

"So, did they send another woman to keep me company?"

Misato recoiled a step.

"N-no, of course not. I just wanted to see how you were doing. You're being released today, after all."

Shinji's gaze went back to the ceiling.

"Yeah." He sighed.

"I heard commander Fuyutski offered you a job here."

Shinji issued a humorless laugh.

"Please don't think too ill of us," Misato said. "We do a lot of good work here. I know you've been through a lot—"

"No you don't," he softly cut in.

Misato pursed her lips.

"No, I don't. But we are sorry things turned out the way they did. I'm sorry."

Still wearing a mirthless smile, Shinji turned back to her.

"So can you tell me what my father was involved in?"

She looked away.

"It's classified."

"Of course." He fell quiet. "Then tell me what you do."

"I'm field operations director," she said without thinking. Stupid!

"So you ordered my father shot," he said, his voice low and shaky.

"No! N-no, I wanted him taken alive, I mean, we didn't want him killed."

That's a lie, she thought. I don't know what we were planning on doing with him. She found him staring at her.

"Why should I believe anything you say?"

Misato forcefully reminded herself what he'd been through. She sighed.

"There's nothing I can say that will make you feel better. I can't think of anything anyone could say."

"Then why are you here?"

She tried a small smile.

"To wheel you out."

"So we're just letting him get away? Unbelievable." Dr. Soryu shook her head. "Absolutely unbelievable." She spun her chair around to face the major and Ritsuko.

"There isn't a whole lot we can do, short of imprisoning him," Misato said. "Ikari Shinji hasn't broken any laws, and he isn't a danger to anyone."

"Isn't a danger? How can you say that after what his father pulled? What a sick man. Honestly, trying to clone your dead spouse back to life. Sick."

The three sat in the science lab, surrounded by stacks of files and data disks.

"And using his own son to get a complete DNA structure after his old lab was seized," Ritsuko added. "After all he's been through, I'm inclined to agree with Dr. Soryu. Ikari's son might prove dangerous."

Misato frowned.

"What happened to all that 'humans are adaptable creatures' talk?"

"Humans are also apt to change their minds. He didn't leave here on the best terms, so yes; I think he'd carry a grudge." Ritsuko picked up a nearby folder. "He's also fairly skilled. Remember that Trident project a year or two back?"

"Yeah, it was scrapped because it was too expensive to be of any practical use."

"Men and their toys," Soryu spat.

"Well, it turns out Ikari's son was a part of that."

"How'd that happen?"

"Yeah," Misato said, "I thought he worked for a software corporation."

Ritsuko nodded.

"He does. Turns out most of his work was being forwarded directly to the JSSDF without anyone knowing. He completed most the Trident's OS himself without ever realizing it."

"Really?" Dr. Soryu said. "Then that validates my point about him being a danger."

"What can he do?" Misato asked, frowning. "Build a Trident in his garage and go on a rampage? Come on."

"Yet again you're thinking too callously. He could go public about the spying. That would create a stink."

"That would be bad," Ritsuko admitted. "Or he could try to learn what his father was doing."

Misato shook her head.

"I don't think he'll do either. He didn't strike me as the kind of person to seek revenge."

"Well, you do know him the best out of any of us," Soryu said, grinning. "Your taste in men has always been… unique."

"Get off it," Misato growled. "I just think he's a nice guy in a bad situation."

"Losing someone can change you," Ritsuko said, wishing she had a cigarette.

They fell silent, pondering their own private losses. Soryu snorted delicately, as if the whole concept of loss was beneath her.

"When people change, it's usually for the worse. Loss never begets anything good."

"Speaking from personal experience?"

"I'm speaking from common sense."

"Wait a minute," Misato said. "Are you implying that Ikari's kid will wind up like his father?"

Soryu shrugged.

"It's within the realm of possibility. Ikari went crazy after his wife died; his son might follow suit after his father died. The apple rarely falls far from the tree." The doctor luxuriated a hand through her short red hair and glanced at Ritsuko. "Anyway, it's amazing a fool like Ikari got as far as he did. Well, I guess we know who to thank for that."

The tenuous professional association between the two scientists broke. Ritsuko, for the sake of discretion, decided to wage her battles in private. She stood up to leave.

"Excuse me."

Misato waited until the blonde had left before attacking.

"That was bitchy, even for you," she said.

"I can't help it if she has thin skin. Besides, it's true." Dr. Soryu stood. "If she can't take it, she should move aside."

"Even so, you could show a little compassion. Her mother just died, you know."

"And? I'm sorry it happened, but life goes on. My mother's dead too, but no one walks on eggshells for me. I've read your bio too, so—"

"Watch it," Misato warned.

Soryu opened her mouth to retort, but smiled instead.

"I'll stop now, before I say something I regret. After all, it's best if we stay on good terms, major. For our daughters. Well, I mean for my Asuka and for Rei. Don't you agree?"

Misato clenched her jaw and left without responding.

Misato exited the science lab to find Ritsuko and Fuyutski in discussion. She was making sharp hand gestures and speaking fast, while he made placating motions. When they saw Misato, the doctor stormed off. The major asked what was wrong.

"Take a guess," Fuyutski said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "What can I do for you, major?"

"Actually, sir, I was wondering about the Ikari case."

His genial mood vanished.

"What is it?"

"Sir, is Ikari's son still under surveillance?"

Fuyutski regarded her coldly.

"That is none of your concern, major."

Misato was not deterred.

"I just like to close my cases completely, sir."

"Do I need to remind you what your duties are?" Fuyutski looked at her like a stern school master. "Major Katsuragi, your duty begins and ends in the field of operations. That is what you trained for, that is what you are used for. Do not forget that." He turned, done with the conversation. "Now if you'll excuse me, our resident genius needs a reminder as well." He stalked off towards Dr. Soryu's lab.

Misato found Ritsuko sitting on a bench outside the science facility smoking.

"Those things will kill you, you know."

"I think I'd welcome it."

"Don't talk like that," Misato said. "Seriously." She watched Ritsuko blow a thin stream of smoke. "Don't take Soryu to heart. Her crown's a bit too tight."

"Don't remind me."

Misato frowned.

"You know, that offer still stands."

"What offer?"

"Take a couple days off."

Ritsuko smiled wanly.

"Maybe I will. I haven't seen my grandmother in awhile. The cats are probably lonely."

Misato grinned.

"How are you holding up?" Ritsuko asked. She tapped her cigarette and sprinkled the ground with ash.

"Oh, you know me. Nothing a six-pack can't handle."

Ritsuko issued a rare giggle.

"I suppose that's true. But you've been a little off since the Ikari case."

I've been a little off? You have the reason to be off, not me.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it. You've got enough on your plate." Misato watched her smoke. "You know what you should do?" she said suddenly. "Adopt a kid."

Ritsuko looked certain Misato was crazy.

"Seriously. It'll be fun. Get a teenager, they're barrels of laughs."

The blonde chuckled softly.

"Troubles with Rei?"

"None but the usual." She gave an angry sigh. "Why did I think raising a kid would be easy?"

"I don't think you ever did. You might not have known exactly what you were getting yourself into, but I doubt you were arrogant enough to think child rearing would be simple."

"You 'doubt'?"

"Okay, I'm sure. But you know, in a way, I envy you. The desire for children is universal, but the strength to raise them isn't. It makes me happy to know there are people out there who can do it right."

"Geez, you're making me blush here, Ritsu. Let up, already."

"Rei seems like a pretty together kid," she lied. "You must be doing something right."

Misato laughed through her nose.

"Thanks."

Neither woman noticed the door behind them slide open, nor a figure approach them.

"Hello, ladies. Long time no see."

Misato gave a strangled yelp.

"It can't be…"

"Oh," came the smooth reply, "but it can."

He had stayed awake all night, waiting, knowing that sooner or later she'd have to leave the apartment. He checked his watch. It was eight-thirty four a.m. She was probably going to work.

To report in, Shinji thought.

He crossed the street once she was out of sight. He cursed his back, still not completely healed, and the cane he was forced to depend on. He entered the apartment and didn't bother to remove his shoes. He packed all he could fit into two bags and looked at the room they shared. Everything was carefully arranged and dusted, impeccably clean like the rest of the place, an old compulsion he'd never rid himself of. Slightly disgusted with how many things he'd accumulated with Mana, Shinji decided he could live without most of it.

Most of this stuff is hers, anyway.

He saw his old cello in a corner and a thought struck him. He rummaged in the closet for a few minutes, throwing things across the floor. Finally he unearthed a beaten up shoe box. Dusting off the top he opened it, revealing his old SDAT player. Hoping it still worked, he shoved it into his pocket. His gaze fell back on the cello.

I'll have to carry it, he thought.

Moving two full bags and a cello with a bad back and one arm was not as simple as Shinji had initially believed. Somehow he managed to the door, stopping for one last look at his old life. He briefly debated leaving a note. A shot of pain from his back provided the answer.

Now that he was free, Shinji needed to decide where to go. Having no close friends, that option was out. He couldn't face his uncle right now. He had almost no money to his name, and the government had been watching every move he made since age fourteen.

Shinji dropped his bags in disgust.

They probably already know where I am. He choked back his tears. They were not to be beaten back this time. Shinji collapsed outside his apartment door and wept.

"Damn it."

He threw his cane across the hall.

"God damn it."

He curled his legs into his chest and hugged them. His back ached, but he did not care. His head throbbed, but he did not care. In his pocket, though, he felt something dig into his thigh. It made him stand again and dry his tears. Frustration, anger, and sadness sped through his body, making him shake.

"Damn it, Mana."

He picked up his bags and cane. Crying wouldn't solve anything now. It was too late for regret, for sadness, for love. It was too late for him. He spared a breath looking at their door and remembered.

"Goodbye, Mana."

Shinji walked down the hall and did not look back.

He didn't tell the landlord he was leaving; she could explain it any way she wanted. He passed a neighbor on his way out but ignored her.

His mind was made up.

Across the street she waited, knowing that sooner or later he'd have to leave. She checked her watch. Eight fifty-eight. She had no idea where he would go now. She had no idea what he would do. Things had hit him so fast and the harsh ways of the world were still so alien to Shinji. Her heart screamed at her to rush over to him, to beg forgiveness, to try and make things right one last time. Her heart was silenced when she saw his face: angry, determined, tear-stained. There would be no second chances.

Mana watched him leave the apartment complex and hobble down the street.

"Goodbye, Shinji."

"Kaji-san?" Misato bolted upright. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

"Well," Kaji said, smiling, "that's a nice way to say hello when we haven't seen each other in forever." He sat down next to Ritsuko. "Hey there, it's been awhile." He nodded towards her diminished cigarette. "Got another?"

"Sorry," she said, wearing a fake smile. "Fresh out."

"No worries." He looked back to the still gaping major. "So happy to see me you can't speak?"

"H-hardly! Why are you here?"

He shrugged.

"I was transferred from Kyoto. And I am not one to question our superiors' wisdom. So, here I am, and glad to be here."

"How convenient," Ritsuko said. "Misato finally meets a nice guy and you show up."

Kaji smiled, scratching his chin.

"Oh really? Anyone I know?"

"Maybe. Ikari Shinji."

"Now hold on, I—"

"Ikari? As in Ikari Gendo?" Kaji was genuinely disturbed. "Katsuragi, really. I thought you had better taste than that. After all, you dated me."

"I am not involved with Ikari Shinji!" Misato yelled.

"There, there. Don't be so grumpy. You'll get wrinkles. I'd rather have you beautiful than distinguished."

"I had hoped you'd have grown up a little since we last met," Misato shot at him. "Or at least learned how to shave properly."

"Ah, you still care about how I look. It's a promising sign."

"Shut up!"

"Okay, okay," Ritsuko said, pulling out another cigarette. Kaji frowned. "Take it someplace else. It was cute at first, but now I'm tired of it."

"You heard the lady," Kaji said. "Let's go, Katsuragi."

"Don't you follow me!"

Misato stormed off. Kaji watched her go.

"Say, Ritsu, is that Ibuki girl seeing anyone?"

Rei watched as Asuka paraded around the classroom, waving her exam over her head like a banner. Even the slightest irritation she would normally feel at the display was too much today.

"Yeah! Who's number one? Who's number one?"

She turned on her heel and slapped the paper down on Rei's desk. The blue-haired girl slowly looked up at Asuka's grinning face.

"Well, Second? Who's First now?"

Rei sighed.

"I suppose that would be you."

"Damn right it's me, Second."

"Congratulations," she replied flatly. She turned to the window.

"Well, well. How big of you to finally realize I'm the superior student."

Asuka frowned. Her victory over Rei wasn't as satisfying as she imagined. Well, no matter. As long as that blue haired creep knew where things stood.

"Aw, don't feel so bad. There's always next time," she said, trying to draw out her rival's fighting side.

"Sure."

Asuka blew out a breath.

"Whatever. Go stare out your little window to avoid reality. See if I care." She swiped her exam up and left.

Rei sighed as someone else approached her.

"Don't take her too seriously," Hikari said, leaning close to whisper.

"I don't."

"It's just that, you know, her mother pushes her hard I guess, and she is really proud…"

Rei held up a hand.

"I don't care."

"Oh." Hikari bit her lip, deciding if that was a good thing. "Well, second place is nothing to sneeze at. Don't worry."

"I didn't get second," Rei admitted.

Hikari blinked.

"Really? Um… what did you get?"

Rei handed her exam over.

"Oh! Well, I mean, tenth is still good, too. You shouldn't—I mean you passed, and that's what's important, right?" Hikari leaned closer. "Are you… I mean is everything okay, Rei?"

She looked up and frowned.

Behind her a student with glasses and a camcorder was lowering himself to the ground discreetly, attempting to view Hikari's underwear. One look from Rei sent him back into his chair.

"I'm fine," she said. Her tone announced the conversation was over.

"Oh, um, great. Well, uh, hang in there."

Though she stopped speaking, she did not move. She stood before Rei, a worried expression covering her face. Rei briefly scanned the room to keep from looking at Hikari. She saw Asuka chatting in the center of several anonymous girls. They were not too subtly fawning over her, wearing polite smiles and tired eyes. Asuka noticed Rei's gaze and stuck her tongue out. Rei moved on. The camcorder nerd was reviewing some footage and blushing, and there was a jock hanging over his shoulder. Both jumped a little when they noticed her. Countless others were in a world of their own, passing the moments with callous ignorance.

Finally Rei gave up and looked back out the window, peering up at the sky.

"It looks like a storm is coming," Hikari said.

It rained.

The sky was black and hung low. It covered from horizon to horizon like a shroud. It was not a gentle rain. It was as if God had pierced the clouds and they were bleeding over the earth. Men holding newspapers over their heads, couples sharing small umbrellas, children dashing between the drops, all sought to escape the downpour.

The town was small, only one school, only a few thousand living here upon the planet's face, draining away their lives with blissful indifference to things deemed great and noble. Within them, sometimes, an idea would emerge and span many peoples and places, but to most of the people most of the time it was a small, dark, pitiable site to exist in.

So it was with little surprise that a lone figure stood on the rain-soaked bridge over the swelling river. It stood in the rain and waited, to become one with the rain, to vanish from the world.

Shinji's free hand reached into his pocket and balled around the ring. He stood there, in the rain, in the dark, and held it. Upon some invisible signal he withdrew it. The engagement ring was not extraordinary, or large, or beautiful. It was simple, and small, and plain. The diamond was barely a pebble.

He twirled it between his thumb and forefinger once before lobbing it into the river. He could not see where it landed.

End of Chapter 2

Author's notes: heh, I always wondered about Misato and Rei living together. Now I know. They live in a total sty. Not really surprising. Sorry Asuka's mom came off as such a bitch. It just sort of happened. Honestly, I didn't have a lot to go on. Since there aren't any Evas in this story, one could assume she's still a world-class workaholic and not, you know, crazy. Oh, Rei's line about "Who could ever like either of us?"? A bit heavy handed I admit, but so what? As Nathan Detroit might say, "So sue me."

Poor Ritsu. Imagine not just being in your mother's shadow, but in another genius' as well. Ah well.

Heh. Kaji is fun to write.

Man, I should've listed this under angst. Not to worry though, next chapter will be a bit brighter. Stay tuned.

I still don't own Radiohead, either.

Big thanks to the Evangelion classical 3-pack set and Radiohead's I Might be Wrong live album. You help me write good.

Even bigger thanks to my reviewers. Thanks! I really appreciate all the feedback. It helps me stay motivated to write. I apologize to all of you I seem to have disappointed saying that this won't be a Mana/ Shinji fic, but I hope I can still produce an original and worthwhile story for everyone. I hope you continue to read and review. Thanks again!