Chapter 0:14
The Truth of the Diary
"Mama!" A six redhead dashed across the field toward the two story ranch style. "Mama, I got picked for the Evangelion Project!" She cheered as she dashed into the house. She ran straight to her mother's room but stopped dead in her tracks at the inside of the door. "Mama?" she whimpered seeing her mother swinging hung by the neck beside a small doll.
The fourteen year old redhead back stepped from the room and turned toward the kitchen. "Misato, no!" She cried as the dark purple haired woman stepped off the table to hang herself, dieing instantly. "NO! NO! NOOO!" She cried, as her Evangelion was slammed against the side of a building, the sixteen year old red head bouncing around inside the Entry plug. "Shinji …" She breathed as the demonic Super Evangelion's glowing hand tightened around her Unit 02's neck. "Shinji, it's me …" She whispered bringing a hand to the dark Eva's face.
S-01 loosened its grip and fell forward into Unit 02's arms. "It's ok, I've got you …" Asuka cooed, before a blue fist plunged through the Super Eva's chest. Asuka looked up in horror to see Unit 00 standing over the Super Eva, its arm plunged through its back destroying the Entry Plug area.
"Asuka!" Asuka's eyes snapped open to see Shinji's worried gray-blue eyes staring down at her. "Asuka, it was just a bad dream …" he whispered stroking her cheek absent mindedly.
Asuka temporarily couldn't push any words from her clenched throat, but nodded as she sat up on her elbows.
"Hey, isn't this one of my shirts?" Shinji asked curiously flicking the collar of the button up white shirt Asuka was using as a nightshirt.
"What?" Asuka blinked, glancing down at the shirt, "It's just a white shirt. Don't be more of a baka, Baka."
"Want to talk about it?" Shinji said sitting down on the edge of her bed.
"It's a white dress shirt, idiot," Asuka snapped, rolling her eyes, "What's there to talk about, unless you're being a hentai again!"
"I'm talking about your nightmare, Asuka," Shinji chuckled slightly, "You were screaming pretty loudly."
"I … I was?" Asuka blushed.
"Yeah, I thought you were in trouble when I heard my name …" Shinji drifted off, glancing away when he realized she could have done with buttoning a few more buttons on her shirt.
The Asuka he remembered would have snapped at him or kicked him out of the room as soon as she realized he was there. Maybe she didn't catch him taking a peak down her top because Asuka hasn't yelled yet, in fact she seemed happy to have him with her. 'Wait, is she sticking her chest out a little more then usual?' Shinji thought glancing back at his friend.
"Just a bunch of bad memories at once," Asuka said sitting all the way up, actually bent over toward Shinji with her eyes lowered. Shinji didn't know if she was doing it intentionally but he was receiving a hell of a view. "I dreamed about when my mother died … when Misato tried to kill herself after we lost you … then when I … we almost lost you a second time to the damned doll."
"Misato tried to kill herself," Shinji asked in shock.
"Baka, she was devastated when 01 was destroyed. We all were." Asuka sighed, fresh tears stinging the back of her eyes at the memory, "If I hadn't came home when I did … she would have died in out kitchen … she was going to hang herself …" A single tear ran down Asuka's cheek, "I'm not sure I could have survived another mother dieing like that …"
"Your mother hung herself?" Shinji realized, his eyes growing sympathetic when he noticed Asuka's shoulders trembling.
"Yeah, something happened to her involving the Eva Project," Asuka said, trying to mask her sniffles, "She kept getting worse and worse. No one could help her … finally … the day I was accepted as an Evangelion Pilot … I found her in her room downstairs hanging beside the doll she thought was me!"
"I'm so sorry, Asuka," Shinji said placing a hand on the redhead's shoulder.
"For the longest I wasn't her daughter," Asuka pressed on, "That stupid … damned doll … she thought the doll was me … I thought if I became a pilot it would jar her out of the funk she was in … but … She died … I never got to tell Mama how much she meant to me … and then … you … the Archangels came and … and … I was always so mean … you … I … Shinji …" She crumbled into sobs.
"It's ok, Asuka," Shinji whispered, pulling the girl closer.
"No it's not," Asuka shook her head, her hair waving as she moved, "I couldn't save you … You needed me … you needed us … we … I … I couldn't … Wondergirl couldn't … I let you down … I watched you d-d- … SHINJI!" She sobbed throwing her arms around him and burying her face into his chest.
"Hey, see? I'm ok now." Shinji whispered into her hair, "I came back, and I'm not planning on going anywhere for a while, ok? And when it mattered, Asuka," He said pushing her away gently, and tilting her head up to look him in the eye. "You did come through. You saved me when I needed you the most." He whispered as they stared into each others eyes.
They didn't know how long they stared at each other but eventually their eye lids grew heavy and fluttered shut as an unknown feeling of gravity drew their faces closer.
They could feel each other's shallow breaths as their faces were right at each others. Their lips trembled slightly as they puckered when …
"GOOD MORNING ASU- OH! I'm sorry!" Sophie gasped, gawking at the scene before her.
The two teenagers yelped and jumped apart to the point Shinji tumbled off the bed and hitting the floor with a thud.
"And perhaps it's a good thing I came in here," Sophie said, resting the back of her hands on her hips, "Shame on you, Ikari Shinji! You trying to take my dear innocent cousin's purity!"
"I am not a virgin thank you very …err I mean …" Asuka blushed crimson, "damn it …"
"OOOOH!" Sophie moved in for the kill, "So you already got her in Japan, didn't you Shinji?" she asked the confused Japanese teen. "No wonder you were so cranky on the phone calls, Asuka. I've heard most Japanese beds are just sheets rolled out on the floor. It must have been killer on your back."
'Asuka's … not a … virgin …' Shinji mentally processed.
"Pilot Shinji Ikari?" an unfamiliar voice called as a young gray-haired boy approached them.
"That's me," Shinji turned to the young man, "And you're the Fifth Child, right?"
"Yes, I am Kaworu Nagisa, It is an honor to finally meet the great Shinji Ikari, Pilot of Unit 01," the red-eyed boy stated taking Shinji's hand enthusiastically, "You have a great number of friend and admirers, Shinji. I have heard many, many good things about you, especially from Asu-chan." The Fifth Child smiled as Shinji narrowed his eyes at the name Kaworu used for Asuka. "When I dated Asuka for the short time I did, I had often found myself wanting to punch you in the face, the way you were her choice of topics."
"I often suspected Asu-chan had a shrine to you locked in her bedroom, but oh forgive my rambles, I tend to talk to much," Kaworu stated giving a small bow, "I'll let you go now, good day Pilot Ikari, Major, Lt Major."
Shinji watched him go before smirking down at the blushing Asuka, "You dated that guy?"
"Yeah, so? What's it to you?" Asuka snapped.
"Nice guy, just didn't think he was your type," Shinji stated casually as he and Misato started down the hallway.
"Kaworu …" Shinji growled under his breath, narrowing his eyes.
"Shinji?" Sophie asked, drawing Asuka's attention back to their Japanese friend.
"What's wrong?" Asuka asked, blinking at the scowling teen.
"Huh? Oh nothing, sorry …" Shinji bowed his head slightly, but yelped when Asuka slapped him in the side of the head.
"Don't start that again!" Asuka shot angrily.
"Huh?" Shinji asked, blinking in confusion.
"Men!" Asuka growled, before stomping out of the room leaving the room. She came close to slamming the door behind her, but froze, narrowing her eyes on her cousin. She glared for a moment longer before leaving the door open and stomping out of room.
A few minutes later the redhead stomped back in flushed angrily. "What the hell am I leaving for? THIS IS MY ROOM, YOU! BOTH OF YOU! OUT! OUT! OUT!" She screamed pointing toward the door.
Shinji wasted no time leaving the room, while Sophie stopped at the door to smile at her cousin. "I'm sorry I interrupted your make out session, Asuka, I'll knock first next time." Asuka responded by slamming the door in her cousin's face.
Ayanami Rei sat on the medical table in the Med Bay of Central Dogma with a mirror in her hand. Slowly, almost timidly she touched her lightly tanned colored cheeks, and her dark brown hair. "I don't see a thing wrong with you, Rei, whatever happened in your Evangelion changed your DNA, but you're still fully human." Dr. Akagi said, watching the young woman examine her new features.
"Kensuke, he saved me," Rei said as she began to make faces in the mirror. "He took away what Commander Ikari placed in me … he freed me from what I was being forced to do."
"Kensuke's dead, Rei …" Ritsuko said carefully.
"Yes, he is, but also he is not," Rei smiled, glancing in the direction of the Evangelion Bay, "He has become my Evangelion."
"Your EVA?" Ritsuko turned slightly pale. "But …"
Rei gave the doctor a smirk. "Kensuke said Ikari Gendo will fail, as long as he and I stand ready to fight him and the Archangels. You may tell him this next time you meet."
"What? I don't know what you're talking about …" Ritsuko turned even paler. She shook her head and cleared her throat. "Anyway, you seem perfectly fine, Rei, you can go home whenever you like."
"Thank you, Doctor," Rei nodded as the blonde walked out of the room.
Rei quickly got dressed, and walked out to meet the awaiting Commander Misato. "How you doing Rei …" Misato said, taken back yet again by Rei's appearance.
"Hungry and tired," Rei yawned, stretching her arms over her head, "And wanting to get a new outfit, this class uniform's too stiff."
"Ok …" Misato blinked, "So … are you ready to go home?" she asked a bit timidly.
"Not just yet," Rei said, a strange smile crossing her face. "I have something I must take care of first. Chances are I'll end up spending a few nights here."
"Huh?" Misato asked, turning to see Rei making a dash for the EVA pins. "Uh oh …"
Shinji smiled as he leaned against the porch railing, feeling a cool breeze blowing through his hair.
"It's nice here," a voice spoke from beside him. Shinji jumped as he turned to see Kaworu smiling gently at him.
"What … Kaworu … how … why … how did you find us?" Shinji stammered.
"Calm yourself, I'm not here as a NERV officer, I'm here as … a friend," the silver haired young man nodded, turning to see the slightly cloudy sky. "No one at NERV knows where here is."
"Uh …" Shinji searched for something say but couldn't come up with anything.
"You can't run away from what you must do, my friend," Kaworu said, a small gracing his pale face. "If you do not fight, your race will fall. You have been chosen for something much greater."
"You're not human are you …" Shinji narrowed his eyes.
"Yes … and no, it doesn't matter, what does matter is you must not run away from your fate." Kaworu said.
"My fate, I don't even know what I am?" Shinji sighed running his hand over his face. "Am I a human being, am I an Archangel? I don't know!"
"I know exactly who and what you are," Kaworu said turning to face the taller youth.
"And that is?" Shinji asked overly curious.
"You are what you are, that's all that really matters actually," Kaworu shrugged, "But if you must really know what you are … come closer."
Shinji approached the Evangelion Pilot and Kaworu got up to whisper in his ear. "A Hero."
"A hero?" Shinji snorted turning to find himself alone.
"Look inside the room that is locked. Inside you'll find the true fate of her mother. She needs you if she is to be prepared for her change." Shinji heard Kaworu's voice.
"Freaky …" Shinji breathed, looking around for any sign of the strange pilot.
"Talking to yourself, Baka?" Asuka asked, drawing his attention to the front door. Shinji's jaw dropped for a moment at the sight. Asuka's hair was tied up in a high pony tail, barefoot, and dressed only in a pair of shorts and a small red bikini top. "Not often we get hot days around here," Asuka said, glancing past Shinji to the sky, "Didn't think I'd have to wear something like this here." She said, smirking to herself when she saw where his eyes were going.
"Hey, Asuka …" Shinji said carefully as he approached the young woman.
"Hmm?" Asuka gave Shinji a curious look.
"I want to see what's in that locked room next to the kitchen." Shinji stated, feeling even more curious when the seemingly fearless Asuka lost all color in her cheeks.
Doctor Ritsuko Akagi made her way into the high security chamber deep below the levels of NERV Headquarters. After clearing the various security doors she finally entered a large room that looked like a gigantic aquarium. She gave showed no emotions as she moved to a control panel and began typing at the controls as the lights inside the large tanks came on to reveal countless smiling, nude, exact copies of Rei Ayanami floating inside.
"Should she ever appear to go against what she was meant to do, a replacement must be released and the defective copy destroyed," Ritsuko stated as she typed at the controls. "I think this should be considered a defect." But before she could punch in the final command the room shook violently.
"Shinji … no …" Asuka shook her head as the taller, stronger Shinji pulled her through the house, ironically the same path she took all those years ago.
"Mama! Mama! I made it! I'm going to pilot an Evangelion!" young Asuka yelled happily as she bounced through the hallway, throwing open the door to find …
"Shinji, please …" Asuka whimpered as Shinji gripped the door.
"Asuka you have to trust me," Shinji said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze, "There's something behind this door we're both supposed to find. Don't ask me how or why, I just know."
"I don't … I don't wanna …" Asuka shook her head, her eyes glazing over in terror.
"This isn't like you at all," Shinji said placing his fists on his hips and cocking his head to the side in a very familiar pose, one Asuka had used to him constantly when they first met. "What happened to the great Asuka Langley Sohryu; the one who's the bravest most powerful Evangelion Pilot in the world?"
"She's stepped out for the moment …" Asuka gulped, "How about you … look in mama's room, and I go wait in my room?"
"Asuka, you trusted me enough to rescue me even when I didn't even trust myself," Shinji whispered, taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "If you never trust me again, trust me here. Something's in there we need to see."
"S-01 told you?" She asked in a very uncharacteristically soft tone.
"Trust me," He said again, on instinct taking his hand and touching Asuka's rosy cheek.
"I miss you being spineless …" Asuka murmured, "You were easier to control that way …" She sighed before glancing toward the door to her late mother's room. "Fine, let me get the damned key."
Ritsuko screamed as the massive Super-Evangelion tore open the roof of the Rei-Clone chamber. Her eyes widened in terror at the single eyed Evangelion stared down at her and the tank full of smiling Rei's. The Eva ripped the ceiling even farther open and the canons on its shoulders popped and clicked as it shifted into firing position.
"Oh fu-" Ritsuko breathed as she scrambled to her feet and through the doorway.
"Rest in peace, sisters …" Rei whispered in the Entry Plug of S-00. "Ok, Ken-chan, do it." She said tightening her grip on the controls.
Ritsuko was barely into the elevator when she saw the door to the tank chamber beginning to swell before exploding outward, pushed by a wall of fire. The doctor screamed as the door closed and the elevator was lifted, pushed faster by the force of the explosion. "Safe …" Ritsuko breathed when the door opened to find a group of Security Guards and a very unhappy Misato standing behind them with her arms folded. "Um … wrong floor?" Ritsuko gave a weak smile, pushing her tousled hair from her face.
"Care to explain why you were in that aquarium with all those Rei's?" Misato asked, catching the door. "And how exactly were you planning on dealing with the 'defect'?" Misato narrowed her eyes on her 'friend'. "Don't lie we heard it all through the COM link in S-00."
"Um …" Ritsuko looked around worriedly, "I have the right to remain silent," She said defiantly holding out her wrists to the Security Guards.
"The hell you do," Misato grabbed Ritsuko by the hair, "You are going to give me some damn good answers now or I'll kick your ass right in this damn elevator."
"I can't talk," Ritsuko shook her head. "He'll kill me!"
"Fucking bitch, I'll kill you," Misato jerked Ritsuko into the elevator and hit the close door button, "I'll just enjoy it more."
"Are you sure you don't want to do something else, Shinji?" Asuka asked nervously staring at the door and the key in Shinji's hand.
"Sure I'm sure," Shinji smiled back at the redhead who was gnawing on her lower lip. Asuka closed her eyes tight when she heard Shinji put the key in and opened the unused wooden door. She gasped when she felt a large hand wrap around hers in a gentle grip, and glanced up to see Shinji holding her hand waiting for her to follow him into her mother's room. "I'm here, Asuka, you helped me face my demons, I'm helping you face yours."
Asuka held her breath as Shinji led her into the room. Shinji fought to keep from gasping in pain from Asuka's nails sinking into his palm as they approached the bed and night table. "What are you looking for?" Asuka asked as he opened a drawer.
"Not looking Asuka, found." He said pulling out an old dusty diary.
"What do you think you'll find in that?" Asuka cocked an eyebrow as he sat down on her mother's bed.
"One way to find out, ne?" Shinji opened it up and began to read before glancing at Asuka in shock. "Did you know we already knew each other?"
"What are you going on about now, Baka?" Asuka asked, forgetting her location long enough to pull the book from Shinji's hand to read the passage.
… I finally met the Evangelion team in Japan today. Asuka was so excited to be traveling to a new city. I could be just being a proud mother but I'd swear she's the most curious four year old I've ever seen. I never thought she'd have a shy bone in her body, but the second she met Yui's son she clung to the back of my leg so hard I'm still getting the feeling back into my foot…
"Wow …" Asuka breathed, reading her mother's words. "What do ya know, we did meet before. Must have been such a traumatic event meeting a baka like you I blocked it from my memory."
"Wait, what's this?" Asuka blinked reading a passage from a few days later. "Do you remember Dr. Akagi giving us any medication to adjust us to LCL?"
"No why?" Shinji asked tilting his head.
"Dr. Akagi gave me some medicine saying that it was to prepare my body for the effects of LCL." Asuka read, "It … makes my head feel funny, makes it a little difficult to focus and think but Dr. Akagi said that the effects would be temporary and as my body adjusted to the meds they would stop …" Asuka glanced up, "LCL has no effect on the human body, Shinji, there's no need for medication to prep a body for it…"
"Yeah, I know, but did they know back then?" Shinji said looking over her shoulder.
"I thought it was something to do with the Evangelion itself …" Asuka shook her head in disbelief, fighting back her tears. She forced herself to continue reading, but after that the entries got more random and intangible till it finally stopped, three months before her mother's death. "Dr. Akagi's mother murdered momma …" Asuka sat back in disbelief.
"I'm going back …" Shinji stood up, but Asuka grabbed his arm.
"Dr. Akagi isn't responsible for what her mother did, Shinji," Asuka shook her head, "There's nothing that can be done now …" She said looking away to hide the tears leaking from her closed eyelids.
"It's ok, Asuka," Shinji said ignoring the voice in his head to leave her to grief, and instead wrapped his arms around her and let her rest her cheek against his chest. As soon as the contact was made a damn was broken, and Asuka began to sob uncontrollably.
'That's twice I've been weak with him in just one day …' Asuka thought as she clung to Shinji. 'I have to stop doing this … Even if I was to tell him the truth about how I feel there's no way I'll be the girl here … damn his comfortable arms …'
Two hours had passed and the Security Guards stood worriedly before the closed elevator doors. Finally the doors opened and Command Katsuragi walked out dusting her hands together. "I want an appointment with Gendo Ikari right now, and get the NERV Attorneys too, they'll wanna know about this."
She then turned back to Ritsuko who was laying in the corner of the elevator, her clothing ripped and her eyes glazed over. "Take Ikari's slut to the brig, and I want her locked up so tight she can't even fart without us knowing about it."
"What did you do to her?" one of the Guards asked, as they helped the dazed Ritsuko off the ground.
"You don't want to know soldier," Misato asked, before smirking at Ritsuko, "Isn't that right, Ritzy?" The group started to walk away when an alarm sounded throughout the base. "Is that about the destruction of wherever Ritsuko was?"
"Commander Katsuragi!" Maya's voice sounded through the intercom. "GET UP HERE NOW!"
"Get her to the brig," Misato ordered making a dash for the command center. A few moments later she tore into the command center on full alert. "What's going on?"
"We've got something coming in through orbit, ma'am," Maya stated bring up a picture on screen of a large object hidden in the heat trails it generated in reentry.
"How big is it?" Misato breathed.
"Roughly … half the size of Japan." Maya said staring at the screen. "Reading a several life signs on board, counting all the remaining Archangels … and a human life sign."
"A human life sign?" Misato turned in shock. "How long till it reaches here?"
"If it keeps slowing as it is, should be here by fifteen hundred hours tomorrow ma'am," Maya replied.
"Shinji … where the hell are you and your Archangel when we need you …" Misato grunted to herself. "Prep the remaining Evangelion. Prep Unit 02 as well just in case we need a spare."
"Maybe this will bring them home," Misato said worriedly watching the massive object sinking through orbit.
"Thanks, Shinji, I can't help but think Commander Ikari had something to do with this … we have grounds to dig more on him now." Asuka said as they walked out of the room and started toward her bedroom. She then looked concerned when Shinji stopped stalk still. "Shinji, what's wrong?"
"Asuka, we need to go back," Shinji said a worried expression on his face. "Something bad is about to happen in Japan."
"Shinji, it's too early, they may still believe you're on their side and …" Asuka rolled her eyes at the glare he gave her, "Ok, fine, stupid, if you want to go back to the lab fine, we'll leave out in the morning, ok? Not that I need it, but I want a good night's beauty sleep."
"Alright, I can deal with that. But we're getting up early so we better go on to sleep now," Shinji said starting toward his room, but stopped when he felt a hand on his arm. "Asuka?"
"Shinji, I really mean it," Asuka said glancing at her feet as she held on to his arm. "It really did mean a lot to me you being there for me today … and … well … Shinji …" Shinji could feel her trembling through her grip on his arm.
'Damn it, it's just a group of words, you can do it Asuka, you can do anything, you can do this' Asuka coached herself as she continued to stammer and stall still gripping Shinji's arm. "I've been wanting to say this since you came back … I never really thought about it until you … d-died but … Shinji … you taught me something … and that was the thing I had for Kaji was just a crush, a little girl's crush, but what I felt for you was totally different and that's what scares me to death. I like it when I have control over my life but when I'm with you it feels like I'm falling and nothing for me to grab on to catch myself…"
"Asuka?" Shinji blinked still confused.
"How can you be so stupid, Baka?" Asuka screamed in his face suddenly outraged he wasn't catching her hidden meaning. "Can't you see I'm trying to tell you I'm freakin' in love with you, stupid!" Asuka and Shinji stared at each other for a moment before Asuka's mouth fell open in shock. "I … I didn't mean to say it that way …" she said quietly before running into her room and slamming the door behind her, leaving Shinji standing there completely stunned.
To Be Continued.
NEXT CHAPTER: Chapter 0:15 Return to Tokyo-3