New Year, Same Bonds
It has been 9 months since they went to Japan to celebrate New Year and with the amazing news of their child coming on their way. It had been a real challenge for Shinji to take care of Asuka during her pregnancy. At times he felt like giving up; but he always remembered his mother's words and continued forward. It was September 05th, 2030, when their son, Kaito, joined their life. A blessing after all the hardships they had gone through in their lives.
Like every first-born child, Kaito had been very difficult to handle during the first weeks. He was very energetic and curious for his surroundings; at times he would throw tomatoes out of their balcony, with Asuka always apologizing to the people below. Every night, when they would put him to sleep, he would cry and cry all night. Eventually, these hard days stopped and their son became very quiet in the house.
In October, the Ikari family had bought a pet for their house, a little armadillo somewhere at the age of 4. The little guy had liked the house and would move around to get familiar with the new place. His favorite activities were forming himself to a ball and roll around Kaito, who loved him very much and would always laugh when the pet would try to sniff him.
On November, the family had gone around to find a new Christmas tree for their house, and even bought some clothes for their son and pet. They had difficulties leaving their son at the kindergarten in Berlin, especially Asuka, who had grown so attached to him. But some sacrifices must be done, and thus they left their son on the care of .
Now it was December, and the family was preparing for the first Christmas and New Year with their son.
"Shinji!" Asuka called from the bathroom. "Can you be a dear and bring me the new diapers? I forgot to bring them here."
"In a minute!" he called from the kitchen. He put the stove off and reached for the drawer below him. Finding the diapers, he made his way towards the bathroom and entered inside. "Here you go Asuka." He passed her the new diapers.
"Thanks, Shinji." She gave him a peck and focused on her son. "Now sweetie, don't move around too much." The response was the little giggle from him as she started to put the diapers and then dress him.
"There we go." With that said, she picked him up and gave a kiss to his cheek, which he happily replied by booping his nose to her cheek. "Let's go see what papa has made us." They left the bathroom and went to the kitchen, where she saw Shinji kneeling down and offering a small potato to their pet.
"Little guy was hungry?" She asked, with a smirk.
Shinji put the plates down and responded, "Yeah, but his hunger is nothing compared to our little monster, isn't that right buddy?" he took a hold of his son hand and shook it a little and his son smiled.
They sat down and started their usual morning of Asuka feeding Kaito and Shinji looking at his laptop for anything new in the business.
"Have any plans today?" He asked.
"Not really, only to close some files on that pizzeria and then call dad to ask him when will he come over." She replied. "Why do you ask?" she took a napkin and wiped her son's lips after feeding him mashed carrots.
Shinji shrugged. "Nothing of importance, just wanted to go buy everything we need for Christmas and New Year." He took a sip from the coffee cup and continued, "And maybe a small picnic."
Asuka nodde., "Yeah, a picnic sounds nice." With that, she turned to her plate and continued her scrambled eggs.
The next day, Asuka and Shinji were getting ready for their picnic while their son was in the living room, playing with the crayons.
"Should we leave him at the daycare?" Asuka asked her husband. "I don't want to be away from him, honestly... can we take him with us today? Please?" She begged her husband as she fixed her dress.
Shinji smiled and kissed her neck. "I don't see any reason not to. It's a beautiful day outside for us three-"
"Four"
Shinji chuckled. "My bad. Four, the four of us."
Asuka turned around and kissed him on the lips, only for the moment to be ruined by the sounds of pots falling and their armadillo running away. They rushed to the kitchen only to see their son covered in spaghetti.
Asuka smiled and said: "Oh, Kaito."
Kaito looked at her mom and laughed, "daaa." The couple laughed and Asuka went to pick the little trouble maker up. While she started washing her son, and Shinji moping the floor, the door bell ringed.
"Coming!" Shinji said from the kitchen. After giving one last swipe, he made his way to the door.
"Shinji!" The man at the door said.
"Ben!" Shinji replied back and hugged his friend tightly. Behind him was his wife, Kai.
"Greetings, Shinji. Is Asuka home?" She asked him while the two close friends stopped their hug.
"Yeah, at the bathroom washing Kaito." Shinji said with a chuckle.
"Let me guess," Ben said, "trouble maker dropped tomatoes on himself again?" as soon as he finished those words, the three of them laughed. Soon enough, Asuka joined them and they exchanged conversation.
As Shinji and Asuka continued their conversation with them, little Kaito was looking at the Armadillo running in circles around him, only to stop and form himself to a ball. Kaito laughed at the silly movement, crawled where the pet was and hugged its ball form.
"So, will you be joining us?" Ben asked the married couple. Shinji and Asuka only looked at each other. At times, Asuka would frown and Shinji would give her a small smile, which she would answer back with her own. "Sorry," Asuka started "but we have made our own plans for this month. We just want to spend more time with Kaito."
Their friends nodded. "I shouldn't be surprised. The little rascal only came around two months ago, that's how me and Kai were when Kenny joined our lives."
"Happy New Year's Eve, you two," Kai said "and I wish you an amazing year." With that, they bid each other goodbye and closed the door. They moved to the living room to pick Kaito up and dress him for picnic…only to find him hugging their armadillo.
"Kaito, put him down, sweetie." Shinji said, and Kaito obliged.
And so, the family got up and went outside.
December 31
Now they were sitting in the sofa of their living room, waiting together for New Year. Kaito was in the warm embrace of his mother's hands and a blanket. Asuka was resting her head in Shinji's shoulder, watching the countdown on the television.
"What a road, huh?" she said.
"Yeah, what a road indeed." Shinji answered back.
The timer was now at 20 seconds.
"Do you have any wish?" She asked him.
He pondered her question for awhile and answered with a big smile, "Only one: Kaito having the life we could never have." He said those words and looked at his wife. She was smiling with tears in her eyes.
"I wish that, too. Together, we'll give him that life."
"10…9…8…7"
Asuka woke Kaito up and their son yawned.
"4…3…2…-
Asuka looked at their child and said "Happy new year… Kaito."
"1…"
"Happy New Year!" Her son and grandchildren shouted as the timer hit zero. They shared hugs with each other and kisses, and Asuka was hugged by her grandchild, Shinjo.
"Happy New Year, grandma!"
"Happy New Year, dear." With shaky hands she kissed her forehead, then Shinjo looked behind her, at a photograph on the wall.
"Happy New Year… grandpa."
As the family sat at the table again, with others preparing for going out to celebrate, Kaito noticed his mother staring at the photograph of his father.
"Mom… you won't join us?" He asked her, and the only answer was a headshake.
"I'm too old now to go out for parties… Kaito?" she called his name.
"Yeah, mother?"
"When someone you love dies, don't cry for them. Instead, look up at the sky and smile." She turned her head and looked at him. Kaito understood what she meant and kneeled down.
"You… you will go to him?"
Asuka nodded. "My time has come, Kaito. I am… so proud of you, my sunshine. Never forget that I love you all." When those words left her mouth, Kaito hugged her and started to cry.
"I… I'm not ready, I'm not ready to say goodbye." He said through tears and Asuka patted his back.
"None of us are, dear. That's how life is, we are born in this earth and we go down. Go now. Enjoy your life."
After washing her hands, she made her way towards the bed. She could feel it, her time was running out. Grabbing the portrait of him, she rested her head on the pillow.
"Hi, idiot." She smiled at the young face of her husband. "Didn't expect to see you here so fast."
Shinji smiled at her, "Well, I couldn't wait any longer."
"Any last wish?" he smiled at her.
"None. I am happy with our lives." She extended her hand towards him and Shinji gently held hers.
"Welcome back, Asuka." As the curtain blew away from the wind, she saw everyone who she held dearly there. Her mother, Misato and to her surprise, Rei herself.
The next day, Asuka died in bed surrounded by her son and grandchildren, a day after their new year.
After the family had said their goodbyes to her, they took their daughter to a small playground. With her black dress, the little girl went to build a small sandcastle. It had been her favorite activity with grandma.
"Hello!" An energetic voice called her out behind. She turned around and saw a boy with crystal blue eyes and red hair.
"H-hello." Shinjo said to the unfamiliar boy.
"Oh! My name is Oscar." He said and extended his hand, which she took and shook with a smile.
Far away from them, Kaito saw the events unfold. He saw how the boy sat down to play with his daughter and the way they interact with each other was... familiar.
He smiled and looked up and the beautiful sky. "You were right," he said. "History does repeat."
The end.
Author Notes: Happy New Years to everyone! It has been quite the year for some of us hasn't it? I am truly sorry for the story being rushed but I did this under one day and wanted to finish it in time before New Year.
Huge Credits to one of the my great friends: YourBlandestNightmare, give his stories a read. they are great.
The near end parts were hard for me to write considering this year I have lost four loved ones from different situation, one of them from cancer…
I wish none of you the pain I went through this year, I hope you all have an amazing year from the bottom of my heart and enjoy everything life gives you.
Oh and "In doubt of Where to go" and "Human After All" aren't dead stories. I have been working on them but due to school I couldn't finish and upload their separate chapters.
Anyway, that's it. Happy New Year to you all!