Disclaimer –
The original story Neon Genesis Evangelion, its characters and all other trademarks are used without permission. The originals are mine, and will be named in the author notes of the first chapter they appear in. I will be making no profit from this story.
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Evangelion Chronicles
by Room3
Chapter 10 – Family Matters
"Shinji's dropped a couple of points," Maya commented to Akagi. She had just finished analysing the data from the pilots' latest harmonics test when the blonde had walked in.
"That's to be expected," Ritsuko replied, sitting down wearily.
"I heard the professor was going with him tomorrow," Ibuki said, spinning her chair round to look at the doctor.
"He wants to," her superior related, "but he's not sure he'll be able to make it." She sighed heavily and got to her feet.
"Thinking about Naoko?" the petite brunette asked, tipping her head to one side as she watched the woman she loved begin to pace about the office.
"Yeah," Akagi responded, stopping and pinching the bridge of her nose.
Ibuki got up and walked over to her, wrapping her arms around the blonde's waist from behind and resting her head between her shoulder blades. "Maybe you should go visit her."
"It has been a while," Ritsuko admitted, before sighing. "Too long really. I'll go in a couple of days; we're too busy right now." She felt herself being turned round gently and found herself staring down at her assistant's face.
"We'll both go," Maya told her.
"You don't hav-" the doctor started, but was silenced by a finger on her lips.
"I know. I want to."
Akagi smiled tenderly in response. "Thanks, Maya," she murmured, embracing her lover.
- - -
The redhead slipped the headphones into her ears before zipping up the light jacket she'd slipped on before leaving the dormitory. Reaching around to the back of her waistband, she switched on her mp3 player and began to jog down the path leading towards headquarters.
'Glad that damned project's out the way,' she thought as music started pouring into her ears. She and Shinji had just finished work on the project Professor Koyasu had assigned them and, with it being Rei's turn to make dinner, the German had decided to burn off a little of the excess energy she had running through her system. Shinji had suggested that rather than workout in the gym she could go for a gentle run around the Geo-Front.
'Considering how caged in I've felt recently,' she mused as she turned towards the artificial lake that lay beside the pyramid-shaped building, 'this is just what I need.' She could feel the gravel crunching under her feet, but the music filling her ears eclipsed the sound. Without realising it, she began to mouth the song's words as she ran, mentally signing along.
Arriving at the lake, she stopped to take in the view, pausing the player clipped to her waistband. Her breath was only slightly heavier than normal and she could feel the gentle breeze that blew off the water as it evaporated the light coating of sweat that glistened on her forehead, cooling her.
"I wonder what time he'll be leaving in the morning," Soryu murmured. The third-child had told her about his plans for the next day earlier, after their synch-test, and she found herself speculating about it. 'It's a good thing I'll be cooking tomorrow,' she realised. 'He's not gonna be in a fit state to do anything when he gets back.'
A beeping sound distracted her from her ruminations. She frowned as she looked at her watch. "I can't believe I've been stood here this long," she sighed, turning off the alarm and unzipping her jacket.
As she reached round to start her music again, she smirked to herself. 'Let's see just how quick I can get back.'
- - -
"Hey, Asuka?" Aida called to the redhead sat in the row in front of him. She looked over at him. "Where's Shinji?"
"He won't be coming to school today," Soryu informed him sombrely, then looked towards the front of the classroom.
"Why not? Is it his birthday or something?" Toji asked casually, his tone almost jovial.
"No," the second-child answered flatly.
"Then what?" Kensuke inquired.
"I don't see why I should tell you," Asuka snapped, eyes blazing as she glared at them. "If Shinji wanted you to know, he would've told you himself," she added.
"Please, Asuka," Hikari pleaded, having been listening to the conversation from her seat. "I'm worried about him. He normally only misses school if he's been injured."
"Don't worry. He's fine," the German assured her. "He just… He had something important to do. Today." She returned her attention to the desk in front of her.
"What's so special about today if it's not his birthday?" the bespectacled youth wondered aloud, frowning.
Asuka sighed heavily and looked back at the trio who had been speaking to her, noticing a strange look on Horaki's face. "It's the anniversary of his mother's death, sie Dummkopf," she told Kensuke sharply.
"Oh," he responded, lost for words.
"Happy now?" Soryu asked, an unpleasant look on her face. The bell signalling the start of the school day rang before he could respond and the redhead looked towards the front of the class.
- - -
"Always remember, Shinji, you were her joy, her happiness," Professor Fuyutski said softly to the boy who was crouching down in front of his mother's grave marker. "Everything she did, she did for you, for your sake. Never doubt how much she loved you." The ringing of a phone interrupted him before he could say more.
"Fuyutski," he said, answering it. There was a pause as he listened to the person on the other end. "I understand," he responded. Another pause. "I'm on my way."
Shinji sighed as he heard the professor hang up and put the phone away. He almost jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"I have to leave," the commander of Nerv told him gently. "Stay as long as you need. Just tell the driver when you're ready to go."
Shinji nodded without looking back, his eyes glued to the slab of stone before him. He heard his companion start to walk off. "Professor," he called, standing upright and looking behind him. Kouzou stopped and looked back at him.
"Thank you," Ikari said. The professor smiled and nodded before continuing on his way. The boy watched as he left the graveyard, stopping to speak to the driver of the car that had brought Shinji here before climbing aboard the VTOL that was his own transport.
As the aircraft took off, the third-child crouched down once more, looking at his mother's grave, his emotions in turmoil. A few moments later tears started falling from his eyes and sobs wracked his body as he collapsed against the marker, releasing all the grief that had lingered in his heart since his return to Tokyo-3.
It was hours before he stopped crying and left.
- - -
The second-child frowned as a sudden thought hit her. It was now lunchtime and she'd found herself thinking about Shinji on and off all morning. "You know, I just realised something," she said, looking at the girl beside her."
"What?" Hikari asked.
"Shinji never talks about his father," Asuka related.
"That's because he doesn't know who he is," the brunette informed her.
"Was?" the redhead responded, looking shocked. Her companion looked at her, puzzled. "Sorry," Soryu apologised, realising what she'd done. "I meant 'what?'."
"German again?"
"Uh-huh," the second-child nodded. "What did you mean 'he doesn't know who he is'?"
"His mother never told anyone," Horaki told her. "She refused to."
"Why the heck would she do that?"
"Maybe she was raped," the brunette suggested, causing both girls to shudder at the mere thought. Nothing more was said for a few moments, with the two of them lost in their own thoughts.
"So maybe they are related," the German muttered.
"Who?" Hikari questioned, wondering what the other girl was getting at.
"Shinji and Rei."
"Why'd you say that?"
"Gott!" Asuka exclaimed, looking upwards dramatically. "Am I the only one who sees it?"
"Sees what?" Horaki asked.
"How much they look alike," the pilot answered.
"No they don't."
Soryu sighed. "Look past the hair and eye colours," she told her companion. "Look at the shapes of their faces."
"You're right!" the brunette exclaimed softly.
- - -
Rei sat alone in the classroom. It was lunchtime and the rest of her class were outside, consuming their midday repasts and indulging in various activities, the majority of which would be physical in nature. She had decided to do neither and her mind replayed the discussion that had occurred before the start of school, the one about Ikari's absence. She was puzzled by the reactions of her classmates when Soryu had mentioned it was the anniversary of the day that Ikari's mother had died. She knew from the interactions she had observed, as well as those that she had participated in, that most children seemed to not only spend a great deal of time with their progenitors but also have great affection for and dependence on them.
Ayanami did not understand this. 'I…do not recall…my parents,' she considered, feeling unaccountably unsettled at the thought. She knew that such a situation was not uncommon, especially since the upheaval that had followed the event referred to as Second Impact.
'You don't miss what you've never known.' It was a phrase that she had heard mentioned once. She could not recall to what the speaker had been referring, but it seemed perfectly acceptable to her to utilise it for her own parental situation. The first-child had also once heard said that someone without biological parents often came to view those individuals that raised them as their parents. If that was indeed that case, then, the blue-haired girl concluded, perhaps she should view Professor Fuyutski, and possibly Doctor Akagi as her own parents.
She considered the ramifications of such and decided that no, she would not burden them with the responsibility of being her replacement parents. They had a great deal of work that they already had to accomplish, and many of their tasks were vital to the continued survival of the human race.
Besides, she had functioned effectively without parents thus far. And it seemed inefficient in the extreme to become reliant on someone at this stage in her existence. 'Family', whatever the term actually meant, had little relevance to her or her situation.
- - -
Sighing as she saw the depressed look on the third-child's face, Soryu made a snap decision. Ikari was led on his bed, staring at the ceiling the same way he had been for the last couple of days, and the German was growing tired of his despondent mood. She'd only looked in on him to let him know where she and Ayanami were going. "C'mon, Shinji, on your feet," she said cheerfully.
"What?" the boy responded, blinking as he looked over at her, a confused expression on his face.
"I'm sick of you moping around here," she told him sharply. "Me and Rei are going shopping, and you're coming with us."
"I'm fine," Shinji told her, turning his attention back to his ceiling.
"No, you're not," the redhead responded and walked over to sit on his bed. "Look, you don't want to talk about what's bothering you, that's fine," she said softly, laying a hand on his shoulder. "But you need to get out more." She stood up and headed towards the door, pausing at the threshold. "Now, you've got two minutes to get a jacket and some shoes on and get your sorry butt downstairs. If you don't, then I'm gonna come back here and drag you along with us, kicking and screaming if I have to."
The third-child sighed and sat up. "Fine," he responded flatly.
- - -
"You know, I'd almost forgotten it was December already," Asuka commented to no one in particular as the trio entered the department store.
"Why?" Ikari questioned, puzzled by what she'd said.
"Because there're no Christmas decorations anywhere," the redhead replied.
"What are 'Christmas decorations'?" Ayanami asked in her usual quiet tones.
The second-child stopped dead, looking at the blue-haired girl in surprise as the other two pilots carried on walking for a few moments before realising she had stopped. They looked back at her, puzzled. "You really don't know?" she managed to ask after a few moments.
"I would not have inquired what 'Christmas decorations' were if I were already aware of what they were," Rei responded calmly.
Soryu turned to the third-child. "Shinji, help me out here. You know what they are, don't you?"
"I know of them, but I've only ever seen them in books," the boy shrugged.
"Would I be correct in assuming that 'Christmas decorations' are ones that are used to mark something of great importance in the culture of Germany?" the first-child enquired.
"Hey! Christmas isn't just important in Germany!" the fiery redhead exclaimed. "It's important in every Christian country."
"This 'Christmas' is a religious festival then?" Rei asked, tipping her head to one side.
"From what I learnt at my old school, Christmas is the most important one in Christianity," Ikari informed her. "Right, Asuka?" he added, looking at the German.
"Damned straight!" the second-child exclaimed. "Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ."
"Who is this 'Jesus Christ' individual?" the blue-haired girl questioned.
Asuka's shoulders slumped visibly and she sighed heavily. "He's the son of God," she informed her fellow pilot. "You do know who God is, don't you?"
"I understand the concept of gods," Rei responded.
"Not gods, plural. God, singular," Soryu corrected her. "The Almighty." She rubbed her forehead, feeling a particularly intense headache coming.
"I didn't realise you were religious, Asuka," Shinji told her, looking mildly surprised.
"I'm not, really," she said. "My father and step-mother are. To be honest, I never thought much about Christmas in the past. But, seeing as I won't be celebrating it this year, I guess it just kinda hit me how important it is." She smiled sadly and looked at Ayanami. "Look, Rei, if you wanna know more I'll help you find it on-line when we get back, okay?"
"That would be acceptable," the pale-skinned pilot responded.
"Good. Now let's get shopping."
- - -
"You know, Rei, I'm not really an expert when it comes to fashion," Asuka told the blue-haired pilot, indicating to her own outfit of faded jeans and T-shirt, "but you really should try wearing some brighter colours."
"What would be the purpose of such an act?" Ayanami asked.
Shinji sighed to himself as he blocked out the German's startled response. 'Can't see why Asuka's surprised by her question,' he mused, looking at the window display of the shop next to them. 'I thought she knew Rei better than that by now. Heck, I'm betting that to Rei, clothes are just something you use to cover yourself with and keep yourself warm. What they look like probably doesn't matter to her.'
He put the bags the second-child had given him to carry on the floor at his feet and closed his eyes, leaning against the glass behind him. 'I guess I'll have to thank her for dragging me along on this trip,' he realised. 'I did need to get out of the dorm. Actually, just getting me out of my room was probably a good starting point. But then again, Asuka never seems to do things by halves.' The boy felt a small smile slowly spread across his face, the first for several days.
"Shinji! I asked you a question," Soryu snapped at him, bringing him out of contemplation. He looked at her, puzzled. "Weren't you listening to me!"
Ikari shrugged. "Sorry, guess I got lost in my own thoughts."
"Do that in your own time," the redhead snorted. "Now grab those bags and come along before Rei changes her mind."
- - -
The sound of someone calling his name made Aaron look up from the beer he was currently nursing. As his eyes lifted, he saw a familiar looking guy with long brown hair. It took his slightly inebriated mind a few seconds to identify the figure.
"Lieutenant Aoba, isn't it?" he asked, pleased to note his voice wasn't slurred, yet. The lieutenant nodded and sat down on the opposite side of the table the doctor was sat at.
"I was a little surprised when I saw you sat here," Shigeru related. "Didn't think you drank."
"Not often," Aaron replied. "Only one or two after I've hard a bad day." 'Not like I used to,' he added mentally.
"So I guess Katsuragi's warpath hit you as well," Aoba commented.
"You got it," the doctor answered, before lifting his glass to his lips. Swallowing, he sighed, putting the beer down a little harder than he'd intended and spilling a little. "Luckily, Doctor Akagi's little assistant managed to keep the brunt of it off me."
"What do you think of her?" the lieutenant enquired. "Captain Katsuragi, I mean."
"Misato? She's changed, and not in a good way."
"You knew her before you came here?"
"Knew her! You could say that. After all, we were living together," Brahms informed the surprised lieutenant. He drained his glass and gestured to a waiter to bring him another one.
"Really?" Shigeru asked. "So what happened?" The waiter brought over another glass of beer and the doctor thanked him before turning his attention back to Aoba.
"Damned if I know," Aaron answered, taking a large swig of his drink. "Everything seemed to be going great. Hadn't had a fight for months. I was even considering asking her to marry me." He paused and drank some more, knowing he'd pay for it the next morning.
"Then one day, I came home and all her stuff's gone. Poof! Just like that. All she'd left were her keys and a note," Brahms said, his voicing growing increasingly slurred as the alcohol made its way though his system. He drained the glass in front of him and belched loudly.
"What did it say?" Aoba enquired, sliding his glass over to the doctor.
"What did what say?" Aaron asked, holding Shigeru's glass in his unsteady hand.
"The note Katsuragi left you."
"Oh, that," the doctor said, before draining the glass he held. "I'll tell yer, Misato was never the most eloquent of writers. Her messages were always short and to the point." He looked at the now empty glass mournfully. "This one was no different." He put the glass down and grabbed Shigeru's arm. "You know what it said? You know what message she'd left me? One word – 'Goodye'. That's it," he related, waving his hands about to emphasise his words.
"One little word. No explanation. No reason. Nothing. Just 'Goodbye'." The doctor sniffled slightly before saying "Didn't see her 'gain 'til I got here. Ran into her in the 'firmary. Told me she'd planned on ne'er seeing me again."
"Sounds like the kind of heartless thing she'd do," Aoba replied. "Did you hear what happened during the fourth Angel battle?" he asked and his companion shook his head. "There was a civilian in the battle-zone, one of Shinji's class-mates. He was right there, next to Unit 01 and the Angel. Shinji couldn't anything without the kid getting hurt or worse."
"So wha' she do?" Aaron asked, leaning forward on the table as his seat no longer seemed capable of holding his upright.
"She told Shinji to attack and said that the kid was expendable, that he'd chosen to be there and it would be his fault if he got hurt," the lieutenant answered, sitting backwards in his seat to try and avoid the smell of the doctor's breath.
"I'll tell ya…" Brahms started, but stopped as his hand knocked over one of the empty glasses on the table. He stared at it for a moment, looking at it, frowning before he spoke again. "I'll tell ya something, she's a real col'-hearted bi'ch these days. Don' even recognise 'er as the girl…as th' girl I loved."
- - -
'Sure glad that's not me,' Ikari thought as he watched the redheaded pilot of Unit 02 beating up the punching bag in the gym. He'd seen her train many times, but never as savagely as she was right now. Something was obviously bothering her, but as Shinji reviewed the day's events he could find nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that could account for her sour mood.
Just as he finished his contemplation, Asuka gave the bag a vicious roundhouse kick that set it swinging. She paused to allow it to stop and caught sight of the third-child leaning against the railing. She turned to look at him, panting, and wiped her brow on the back of her wrist. The two just looked at each other for a few moments, the only sound being that of the swinging bag and their breathing.
Smiling, Shinji asked "Wanna try that with someone who can hit back?"
"Think you can keep up with me?" the girl asked, arching her right eyebrow imperiously.
Ikari shrugged. "I'll give it a shot," he told her. "But take it easy one me to start with, huh?"
I'll think about it," the German smirked. "Now, let's hit the mats."
- - -
The third-child grasped the hand offered to him and let Soryu help him get to his feet. The look in her eye clearly showed that she'd managed to work out most of her aggression, although the boy now regretted sparring with her. He ached all over and was having trouble putting any weight on his left ankle.
"So, what's got you so mad?" he asked, deciding that maybe now was the time to try and talk to her.
"Nothing," she replied, before pausing and adding "Everything." She sighed heavily and grabbed her towel, rubbing it over her face. "I dunno," she admitted sadly. She looked over at her companion and stared him straight in the eye. "But if you dare spout any drivel about it being 'that time of the month' I'll beat you to death with your own spleen, got it?"
"Wouldn't dream of it," Shinji assured her, and meant it. She'd used him as a punching bag enough for one day, and he'd probably be fine without having to experience it again. "But, if you figure it out and wanna talk about it, I'd be happy to listen."
The German sneered. "I bet you would. And where exactly would we have this little 'talk'? In your room?"
"My offer's genuine, Asuka," Ikari assured her, his tone making it clear how much her accusation stung. "And the talk can be anywhere you want it to be." He grabbed his towel. "I'm gonna hit the showers," he told her, beginning to limp off.
"Whatever."
"And don't forget, Asuka," he called over his shoulder, "it's your turn to cook tonight."
"Ja, ja, I know."
- - -
"I'm home," Suzuhara mumbled glumly as he closed the door to his family's home behind him. He didn't know why he'd had the urge to say it. He knew there was no one in; there hadn't been for months now. He shook way those thoughts, refusing to dwell on what they implied, and trudged to his room to start on his homework.
It was at times like these that he threw himself into his school work more than he used to before. Usually, whenever he'd be in the kind of mood he was in right now, Noriko would barge into his room and, somehow, get him laughing and joking, leaving the sadness behind. But that was before.
"Before…" the boy muttered as he flopped down in the chair by his desk. 'Before I met Shinji and Asuka and Rei. Before I knew what an Eva looked like. Before I knew what one was. Before the Angels showed up.' He rubbed his eyes and sighed sadly, forcing away the flare of anger he felt directed at Ikari. He knew it wasn't the boy's fault. And he was grateful that he had agreed to pilot that robot in the first place. But a part of him still hadn't forgiven Shinji for what had happened to his sister.
"Damn I miss having you around, Noriko," Toji murmured sadly, feeling the itch at the edge of his eyes that indicating tears were forming. He quickly gave his eyes a rub and forced back the tears. She wouldn't want him to cry for her. She'd want him to get on with his life so he would have a lot to tell her when she woke up.
'When she wakes up,' he thought to himself, reaffirming that she would. No matter what the doctor's said, the boy knew above a shadow of a doubt that she would awaken. And she'd kick his ass if he didn't have a lot to tell her about what she'd missed!
- - -
"How are they getting along?" the professor asked the bespectacled pilot rep. who was sat opposite him, referring to the younger man's three charges.
"Great," Makoto smiled. "Asuka seems to have to decided to be the one to keep their spirits up. You know that shopping trip she dragged Shinji along on a few days ago?" Hyuga paused while his superior nodded. "Well, it was going to be just her and Rei, but she took him along in the hopes of cheering him up."
"How is he doing?" Kouzou enquired, worried. He'd noticed how quiet the boy had been since their visit to his mother's grave.
"He seems to be over whatever's been bothering him recently," the lieutenant replied softly. "And he's taken to sparring with Asuka."
"That's a good idea. It'll help keep their skills sharp. What about Rei?"
"Surprisingly, she actually seems to be making an effort to be more sociable," Makoto answered. "Admittedly it's not much, but she does seem to be trying. She's definitely spending less time alone in her room than she used to, and she's joining in with Shinji's and Asuka's conversations more." He was about to say something more when the door to Fuyutski's office opened and Ritsuko strode in.
"My apologies for interrupting, professor," she said, crossing the floor and stopping in front of the desk, "but this is important."
The commander of Nerv nodded at her before turning his attention back to Makoto. "Is there anything you wish to add, lieutenant?"
"No, professor."
"Then I'll let you get back to your duties," Kouzou responded. The pilot rep got to his feet and left the office. "So, what's so important?" the professor asked, gesturing the doctor into the newly vacated seat.
"I just received word from the committee," Akagi informed him, settling into the proffered chair, "Nerv's assistance with the 'Delta Unit' has been accepted."
"Excellent," the professor smiled, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms.
"There's still some red-tape to go through, but once that's sorted, the chief engineer will send me the schematics to study while it's en route from Kiev."
"I assume you'll be using one of the spare cages to house it."
"Actually, I was thinking about using the testing facility at Matsushiro," she informed him.
"Might be a good idea, in case something should go wrong," he commented. "Will you have all the equipment you need?"
"I will have by the time it arrives," the blonde assured him. "Most of what I'll need is already in place."
To be continued…
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Author Notes –
Sorry it'staken me so long to get this chapterup. I wish Ihad better news, but I don't know howlong it will be until I can get the next chapter up.It could be twomonths orit could be longer, but I guarantee thatI will finish this story, not matter how long it takes me.
And sorry shadowspider101, but the Angel's name is neither Charoum or Douma. I can see why you picked them, and you're on the right track. Feel free to have another go.
German translations –
sie Dummkopf – you idiot
Was? – What?
Gott! – God!
Ja – yes (or yeah)