02:15 – One Month

Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion or any of the characters they are the property of their respective creators. Please be aware that no profit is being made from this work of fan fiction.

The days that followed the battle were some of the worst in recent memory, each day I was forced to watch in silence as Hikari waited patiently for Suzahara, knowing that no matter how long she waited he would never come. What had happened with the thirteenth had been marked as classified, no-one outside Nerv could be told, no doubt they were afraid of the panic that would ensue should anyone discover that the very things that were created to save them could be turned against them and possessed by the enemy.

What was worse was that I heard Shinji had another episode, soon after Suzahara had been admitted to the hospital. After pestering Misato for more details she had told me all she had heard, that it had been triggered by his discovery of his friend's injuries and the biomechanical machine that had been responsible. Although he was alive, Suzahara had been seriously wounded, both his left arm and leg crushed when the plug was destroyed.

No doubt Shinji blamed himself for this, even if he had not been in control of Unit-01 at the time. Knowing him he would believe that it had happened because he was not there, that had he been piloting it would have turned out differently. Perhaps, although I doubt it somehow…I desperately wanted to go and see him, check up on his recovery. Of course, my request was denied, the Commander refusing to allow me to see his son.

When I tried to object he once again warned me, his voice betraying no hint of emotion, that should I disobey his orders then my time as a pilot would come to an end. Those words followed me as I exited the office, finding that now I no longer cared. I travelled to the hospital the next day, after school, only to find myself blocked once again.

"Sorry Miss Soryu but no-one is allowed to see Mr Ikari at the moment, doctor's orders."

Frustrated beyond belief, knowing that just by being here I ran the risk of Section-2 reporting me and coming to take me away I could not afford to back down.

"Please! I have to see him! This might be my last chance!"

The nurse gave me a sympathetic look, her face softening slightly. When she next spoke her voice was little more than a whisper and as it was I strained to hear her above the background noise.

"Left corridor, five minutes."

I was shocked by her words, barely noticing when she spoke again, this time in louder tones.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you miss."

Shaking slightly I nodded my thanks even as I managed to force the words from my trembling lips.

"Thank you."

I walked away from the counter than, excited and afraid, not knowing how he would react.

Four and a half minutes later I slipped silently into the side corridor, taking great pains to ensure that no one noticed me. I stood there, waiting silently, watching for her to arrive. I nearly jumped when I felt a hand rest gently on my shoulder, turning slowly I found myself face to face with the nurse from before.

"This way, we have to hurry. I'm back on shift in fifteen minutes so you only have around five to ten. Please don't get him worked up again, if anyone finds out about this I'll get in serious trouble."

I simply nodded in response, not trusting my voice. My thoughts were filled with fears over how he might react to me, whether he would listen or send me away. I could not know whether he was still mad with me, whether my actions the last time I saw him would remain fresh in his mind, the fact that I had treated him so harshly. When we stopped outside the room the nurse signalled for me to go in, she indicated silently she would wait outside, no doubt to ensure that no-one came while I was there, that no one found out.

My vision was filled with Shinji I saw nothing else. Silently approaching his silent form I noticed no reaction to my presence. As I moved ever closer and I noticed his eyes were closed and the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest that he was asleep. Not wanting to wake him I carefully sat down beside the bed, the same chair I had occupied back then, on that day that now seemed so long ago even though it was less than a week.

Once more I felt the need to speak to him, even if I knew he could not hear me.

"I'm sorry Shinji…I never wanted to things to end up like this."

I paused for a moment, stumbling over my words.

"I probably shouldn't have come here, this will be the end of my career as a pilot but I don't care anymore! I want to get away from this place, from the nightmares of the past that continue to haunt me. I want a future free of Evas, one that has you by my side…I won't lose you…I can't…I love you too much Shinji."

The tears came and I dropped forwards, sobbing softly against his bare arm.

"So, the devil can cry after all."

Shocked by the voice I spun round only to find Suzahara laying in the second bed in the room, his head turned to look at me. He had been there all along; I had just refused to see him. He had heard everything I said, all of my confession meant only for Shinji. I know all too well how the stooge thinks of me, his comment had made that clear. For him to have heard something so personal, so private, shook me to the core. When he spoke again his voice did not hold the hospitality I had expected, for once I was given a glimpse into the person beneath the façade, the one Hikari had always seen.

"Don't worry red. I won't tell anyone what I heard…Shinji's suffered enough, he deserves some happiness…heck, so do you."

Tears came again, not of sadness this time but of relief.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. Too much fucked up stuff going on around here already"

"You know Hikari is worried about you…"

He managed to give me a half smile although I could clearly see the pain in his eyes. The same pain I had seen in Hikari's, each day she waited for him and he never came. It was then the nurse signalled me from the door, my time had come to an end. I stood up and started to leave, just as I was about to walk out the door he called out to me.

"Hey! Asuka!"

I turned to face him, wondering what it was he wanted to say.

"First chance you get, grab hold of Shin-man, haul him out of here and never look back. Don't make my mistake, don't wait until it's too late like I did."

Saying nothing in response I departed, his final words echoing in my mind.

The following morning the fourteenth angel made it's entrance, the trembling of Tokyo-3 announcing it's arrival. It was fortunate that I was already at Nerv, the angel was already tearing through the first layers of armour by the time I had reached the locker rooms. By the time Unit-02 was ready for launch it had already almost reached the geofront and rather than the surface I was deployed on the lush grass beside the forbidding black pyramid that was the heart of Nerv.

Assorted weapons were laid out at the feet of my Eva, mostly guns, the plan was to destroy it before it closed into range for close combat. From what had been learned, this angel was far more powerful than those that came before, I had been advised to avoid combat at all costs. As it tore through the last layers of earth and steel I launched a volley of missile fire from the rocket launcher held against the Eva's shoulder.

They found their mark, exploding against the 'face' of the angel, halting it for a moment but seemingly doing no real damage. I discarded the empty weapon, picking up two rifles instead, firing volley after volley into the angel, still to no avail. Dropping the empty weapons I reached for more but already the angel was upon me, ribbon like blades unfolding from it's arms. Having no other choice I drew my progressive knife, charging at the angel.

The ribbons whipped out, severing Unit-02's arms at the shoulder. I cried out, the nerve connections not severed quickly enough for me to be completely spared the pain. I was beaten, again, and this time there would be no Unit-01 to save me. I heard a few snippets as I went out, the Eva was refusing whatever it was they had used against the last angel, no doubt it would accept only Shinji…even though he would not come.

The angel advanced closer, it's ribbon blades coming out once again, this time moving towards my Eva's neck. I knew that if the nerves were not cut in time I would feel the sensation of my head being cut off, I might even die because of the feedback. In that final moment, as the blade cut into the armour, the connection broke and the plug fell silent, I was cut free just in time. Still, for an instant, I had felt the pressure of the blade, and for that moment it had been my neck.

All that remained now was a terrible darkness and intermittent sounds. The comm. system was still working partially; it could still receive most of the transmissions coming from command. Unit-00 was being sent out now, an N2 mine held in either hand. The orders were to bring them into contact with the core and detonate; the shielding on the Eva would be enough to defend against the blast.

An explosion rocked what remained of my Eva and when the static cleared I could make out the vices, screaming, arguing, this attempt too had failed and now, with Unit-00 also disabled, there was nothing left to stop the angel…making a silent prayer to god, I asked only that Shinji would somehow hear my thoughts and know how I felt…

"Die you bastard angel!"

That voice. His voice. I could not believe that he had come, that he had chosen to pilot even though he had known it would almost certainly mean his death. Even if I could not see it I could feel what was happening, the pure power that emanated from Unit-01 as it struck at the angel. Suddenly, it wavered and died and I gripped by fear, afraid that he was dead. Them, all of a sudden, the world shook with the sound of his rage, the guttural voice of Unit-01 shaking the very earth.

The only sound I heard then was a voice, speaking in no more than a whisper. Speaking that single word, the one that crippled my heart with a renewed fear.

"Berserker."

When at last I was taken from the entry plug, pulled free by the rescue team, I saw Unit-01 standing there, bound by a hundred dark threads, trapped in what I knew to be the anti angel defence net. This time the madness had gone too far, the great machine no longer resembled a creation of man but rather some great ancient primeval bestial god, come to wreak havoc on the mortals who had forsaken it's worship.

I later was to learn that somehow the Eva had taken Shinji, his ratio had passed four hundred percent and from what I could piece together from disjointed words he had somehow become part of the Eva, somehow his soul had become bonded to the core. Even now they were trying to retrieve him, to get him back from the purple monster but to no avail. I heard rumours, people talking about a time this had happened before, when the test pilot had been lost.

I wept bitter tears, not knowing if I would ever see him again or if he would forever be trapped within the core of his Eva, cut off from this world and me as well.

A month passed, no further attempts were made as they researched ways to get him back. When at last they tried again a month had passed, this would be the last chance before they lost him forever. At first it seemed to be going well, the readings were good and it looked like they would be successful. Then, without warning, an alarm started sounding as people began talking rapidly, they were losing him.

When the plug began to eject it seemed it was over, I watched in horror as the orange liquid spilled forth, Shinji's clothes among them. No longer able to hold myself back I ran out of there, ran to the cages, screaming for him, screaming for Shinji.

"Damn you! You monster! Give him back! Give him back to me!"

As if hearing my plea there was a sudden movement and the naked form of Shinji fell onto me, forcing me to the floor beneath his weight. His breathing was shallow but I could feel his heart beating strong and fast against my chest and knew he was ok. For the first time I shad my tears willingly before others, wanting them all to know how I felt, that I was happy the man I loved was returned and I would never let him go again.

"Thank you."

For a moment it's eyes seemed to flicker in answer before falling silent.

AN: Well, here is the 15th chapter at last. In a Perfect World has had a few updates and Forgotten had one plus a few odds and ends here and there. Time is limited despite the fact that the auditors are gone and we passed there is still a lot of work needed. I will try and write when I can, IAPW will hopefully get its fifth chapter soon but there are no guarantees.

Thank you everyone for the reviews.

Till next time,

Hououza

02 is not preread.