Hello everyone, Calborghete here, how are you all? I hope well, here we are starting a new chapter.
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So now without further ado, enjoy your reading.
Special thanks to YourBlandestNightmre, for correcting the English errors, thanks buddy.
"Dialogues"
- Thoughts -
"Radio Talk"
Disclaimer:
Evangelion, its characters and setting are the property of Hideaki Anno. Any brands, movies and series mentioned in this Fanfic are the property of their creators.
(*)
Chapter 03 - Finally
Wunder - Conference Room.
"Colonel Katsuragi," Sebastian Brown called in a cold and authoritative tone. He was reading the report of the battle that had prevented Fourth Impact. His eyebrows frowned as he read about Shinji Ikari's escape from Wunder and his return to NERV.
Sebastian was the current commander of WILLE. His personality was rigid and cold, and many in WILLE classified him as a cruel person. Had his nationality not been British, many would compare him to Gendo Ikari himself.
Misato was uncomfortable. She didn't like talking to the WILLE commander. He scared her, because war had made him the man he was. She had heard the stories, about how he had no mercy with the prisoners, about how he was cruel and aggressive.
"We are still in the search for Captain Shikinami and the prisoner BM-03. We have information to believe that the captain is with BM-03," Misato was speaking, trying to sound calm; but Sebastian and the other WILLE members knew she was agitated.
"Okay, but could you tell me how he escaped our greatest and most powerful asset in this war?" Sebastian growled at Misato, staring at her without moving his eyes.
- My God, this man looks like a rock, but what am I going to tell him? That I just didn't have the courage to pull the trigger? - Misato was thinking, agitatedly, while formulating a response to the WILLE commander.
"I'm waiting, Colonel Katsuragi!" Sebastian roared in annoyance.
"We were attacked by an Ayanami type and our Evas were not 100% operational... Captain Shikinami didn't get to her Eva in time and Captain Makinami didn't make it to the enemy Eva," Misato answered, hesitantly.
- Incompetent. - Sebastian thought, angered.
"So ... you mean to tell me that a brat who just woke up... who was wearing a DDS collar... could get out in an enemy Eva... surrounded by 35 warships and an operational Eva?!" Sebastian spoke slowly, irritated and threateningly, pondering each sentence. The people around could only lower their heads, since they knew they would have no argument against the commander; and even if they did, they wouldn't have the courage to say it.
Misato was silent as she watched Sebastian through the conference screen. She had to give an answer, and a quick one at that, if she wanted to mitigate the damage of BM-03's space rescue mission.
"Sir, we were caught off guard. We were busy with the preliminary interrogation of BM-03," Misato knew it was a bad excuse, but she had to deliver something to the commander.
- This is bad, very bad; but damn it, Shinji! - Misato thought in annoyance as she lowered her eyes to the ground.
"Are you sure it wasn't your "affection" for the prisoner that prevented you from preventing his escape?" Sebastian asked, coldly.
"What do you mean, sir?" Misato said, feeling a shiver running down her spine.
"Well, where do we start? Why wasn't he in a maximum security cell? Why didn't you activate the choker when he was still in range?" Sebastian asked without removing his eyes from Misato, who could only look at the floor.
"Well... sir... "Misato started to speak, but was cut off by the commander.
"I'm waiting, colonel!" Sebastian spoke in a tone below shouting.
"Sir... my past with Shinj... BM-03 was not a factor in my decision of not detonating the choker. I only thought we would be able to interrupt his escape and bring him to justice," Misato managed to pronounce.
At this moment, Sebastian was analyzing her from head to toe, looking for some sign that she was lying. - Do you think you can fool me, Katsuragi? I know your past very well, and if you think that we won't bring justice to the terrorist just because you still see him as your ward, you are completely mistaken. -
Sebastian was still staring. Misato wished something would happen so she could leave, but she knew that he would order some member of her crew to solve the problem. She could only hope for the best.
After a few uncomfortable seconds, Sebastian broke the silence and spoke in a firm tone.
"You will only get one chance, Colonel. If you disappoint me again, you will not like how I will react. Is that clear?" Sebastian threatened.
- Damn, he's just like Gendo. - Misato thought, trying to keep her fear under control.
"I asked if it was clear, Colonel!" Sebastian growled
"Yes, sir," that was Misato's only response.
"Good" Sebastian replied, hanging up.
As the conference ended, Misato let out a sigh of relief and began to leave the room, together with Ritsuko.
After a long time of walking, Ritsuko broke the uncomfortable silence.
"At times like these, I wonder if we are still in NERV," she spoke, nonchalant.
"Why do you say that?" Misato asked, without taking her eyes off the path she was following.
"Because this meeting reminds me of the meetings with Gendo. They are very similar," Ritsuko added.
Misato didn't reply, but deep down she knew her friend was right.
"Okay," was Ritsuko's simple response when she saw that she would not be answered.
So the pair continued on their way to the bridge of Wunder.
Wunder Bridge
Everyone was at their proper posts when Misato and Ritsuko returned.
"Any sign of Captain Shikinami?" Misato asked, strongly.
"Nothing yet ma'am," Hyuga answered, turning to look at her.
Misato snorted and ordered again to locate them as quickly as possible.
- Damn it, Shinji. Where are you and Asuka? - Misato thought with concern, a concern she wanted to share so she could relieve the pressure in her head; but she knew she couldn't do that, since there were only a few she could really trust. She didn't want to lose the authority and respect of her position, so she sat down in her chair to go through the documents there; but she knew she couldn't think of anything beyond that.
The day went on at Wunder. Mari was returning from a training session, thinking about how much she missed the Princess. Without her on board, there was no one left to tease. - Well... I'll always have Sakura, but it's not the same thing as pestering Asuka. - Mari thought. - And with the Puppy coming back, things are going to get very interesting. - She smiled at this idea.
Mari was continuing her walk towards the dining hall when she spotted Lieutenant Maya Ibuki.
"Hi Maya," Mari spoke, gesturing happily.
"Hello Captain Makinami," Maya answered in the most formal manner she was capable of.
"Ha! Stop with all the formality with me, Maya. You know I don't care about that," Mari answered, grabbing a tray and joining the line along with her. "You don't mind me joining you for lunch, do you?" she asked, with pleading eyes.
"No," Maya answered with a confused and curious look on her face. - Oh my God, I'm going to regret this. -
After getting their meal, both girls went to find a table, with Mari chattering about trivial things she witnessed aboard the Wunder. Maya liked being with Mari, because her happy and carefree personality helped her deal with all the stress she experienced in the maintenance rooms at the Wunder.
Maya was in charge of making sure that the energy emitted by Unit 1's S2 motor was converted to become Wunder's power supply. She could only describe it as a stressful activity, because there was always a mishap that prevented her from having a normal day. Furthermore, the lack of material to deal with such mishaps made her create small miracles so that everything kept working properly.
"So, Maya; what's your news?" Mari asked with a smile on her face.
Maya knew that Mari was trying to do something, but she still didn't know what it was.
"Nothing out of the ordinary, Mari. The engines are running as they should, the engineers thinking of using BM-03 as a punching bag, that sort of thing," Maya answerd as she took the food to her mouth. - Don't ask me about Shinji, don't ask me about Shinji. - She kept repeating in her head, hoping that some God would hear her and make Mari not ask about him.
Maya was still that shy girl who once had worked in the NERV command center, the only difference was that she had learned from Doctor Akagi that there would be certain times when it was necessary to speak with authority to her subordinates. Still, she felt uncomfortable with everything she had to do. She was not as good in social situations as many thought she was, and keeping up an appearance was tiring.
"So, how are things going between you and Doctor Akagi?" Mari asked with a mischievous smile.
At this moment Maya choked on her food, making a great effort not to spit it out on the table and cause a scene in front of everyone.
- Shit, so much for her to ask, she's going to ask me just that, and in front of everyone. - Maya was thinking fast.
"There's nothing between me and Subcommander Akagi," that was the only response Maya could formulate as she blushed furiously. - Shit, Mari! Look what you are doing to me! What have I done to you? - She screamed inwardly.
At this point, Mari was making a tremendous effort to keep her laughter down, but realized that she had already messed with little Maya enough.
"OK... just thought you had a thing for her, that's all," Mari replied, taking the food to her mouth as well.
An uneasy silence passed across the table as they ate lunch. At this point, Maya wanted to break the ice between them, so she asked timidly:
"How's your food?"
- Ha, gee, she's really trying to make conversation. My strategy of making an uncomfortable silence is working. Thanks, Kaji – Mari thought as she looked, with a smile on her face, at Maya.
- Why is she looking at me like that? Mari doesn't usually take this long to answer anything. And I don't like that smile, she always does something when she looks like that. - Maya began to sweat as she wondered what Mari's answer would be.
"It's good. I don't know what they did with this thing that was supposed to be chicken; but it's good today," Mari replied as she ate more of her chicken paste.
Maya found the situation strange, because Mari always had something to say about everything, and it was not simple answers, but complex commentary.
Maya was staring at Mari with a curious look on her face. She noticed this and saw that it was the perfect moment to take the lieutenant out of her comfort zone again.
"If you keep staring at me like that, I'm going to think you've fallen in love with me," Mari replied with a mischievous look at Maya, who was blushing in shock at the pilot's response. "Wow Maya, you are so easy to tease," Mari concluded, laughing lowly.
"Grow up, Mari!" Maya growled.
"Easy, Maya," she answered as she lightly patted Maya's shoulder.
- This is it - Mari thought.
"Maya, can I ask you something? But promise you won't freak out, okay?" she asked without taking her serious eyes away from the chicken paste she was poking with her fork.
Maya was analyzing Mari, and since the times when she was serious were very rare; she deduced that Mari was not going to make any more jokes. Still, Maya wanted to confirm before giving any concrete answer.
"Maybe..." the lieutenant replied, with a confused look on her face.
"I don't want a maybe, Maya; I want a yes or no answer," Mari responded, turning her head and glaring Maya with a serious look on her face.
Maya at this point realized that Mari was not joking and wanted a serious and honest answer. - It must be serious. I have never seen her like this before. - "Yes" she replied, with hesitance.
Mari continued to stare at Maya for a few seconds and looked around, to make sure that no one else would hear her question. Maya was starting to worry, because, what could be so important to Mari? At this moment she leaned closer to the pilot, to hear her question.
"What do you think about Shinji's return?" Mari whispered to Maya.
Maya froze. That was one of the subjects she didn't want to discuss. She didn't have a formed opinion on the subject and she didn't want to discuss it in public for fear of people's reactions.
Mari was staring at her, waiting for an answer. Maya started looking around to see if they had the privacy needed for the matter at hand, and finally answered:
"I don't know, Mari; I really don't know... How about you?" Maya said with a suspicious look on her face. It wasn't that she didn't trust Mari; but she didn't know if she could give her a 100% honest answer. "What do you think about his return?"
Mari looked around, not for privacy, since she didn't care about others knowing her opinion of Shinji; but rather to give Maya a boost to finally open up and answer her question.
"I think it's good. It would be nice for us to have him by our side... but I know that's not going to happen," Mari answered, somberly.
Maya at this point saw that Mari was being honest enough, so she decided to loosen up more in her answers; although she would still be careful.
"Look, I know he did what he did but... I don't know... seeing him again... my body says to hate him but I can't. I was there that day... I don't even understand what happened," Maya answered, a bit confused by her own response. "Just before the apex of the Third Impact I ended up passing out, and then I don't really know what happened."
"You fainted like everyone else... " Mari said.
"Do you think he is innocent?" Maya asked, with a curious look.
"I do! I think it's wrong what people are saying... How can they think that he and his father are alike? They think he went back to NERV to finish what he started? He went back there because we were dumb enough to lock him in a room and not tell him anything about what was going on! Even I would have run away if I were him!" Mari finished with a snort and laid her head on her arms, on the table.
Maya just kept listening and absorbing everything Mari said. Deep down she knew Mari was right, she knew Shinji and Gendo didn't get along; but she had to process everything she had said in order to take sides about everything that was happening.
"And you? Do you think he meant to cause this?" Mari asked, with her head between her arms.
"No... I don't think so," Maya answered, sad, as she remembered the days of NERV. The battles, the suffering of the pilots, especially Shinji. She remembered that he didn't even want to pilot, but his father had blackmailed him with a badly injured Ayanami into doing so.
Then, a silence came between the two. Mari knew that she had managed to take an important step today. The more people who were in doubt about Shinji, the easier it would be to help him.
After the two finished their respective lunches, Maya went back to her work in engineering, although she knew that she would not be able to have a productive day with the information Mari had given her.
- I certainly won't get much sleep tonight, - Maya thought as she entered engineering.
Wunder Bridge
"Holy crap, only two people in this hellish land! There's no way our sensors can't find them!" Misato shouted from his chair, in annoyance.
"The L-barrier density is very high in this region, ma'am. That is interfering with the sensors," Shigeru answered.
"Hyuga!" Misato spoke.
"Ma'am?" Hyuga answered, promptly turning to look at Misato at her higher seat.
"All sensors on full power!" she ordered.
"But ma'am... we don't know what the interference of the L-barrier can do to the long-range sensors," Hyuga replied.
"Also, we can get false alerts, and if that happens we can get way off course," Shigeru added.
"I understand your concern, but we can't just wander around blindly. We have more to do than chase two people through this lifeless land," Misato replied with annoyance. "I take full responsibility. Now do it."
"Yes ma'am," the bridge duo answered to her order in unison.
At this point, the bridge crew had increased the sensor range to maximum, in hopes of finding Asuka and Shinji more easily.
"Colonel, do you think this is a good idea?" a tired Ritsuko asked.
"Yes," was Misato's dry reply, which showed that she would not address the subject again.
After a few hours of exhaustive sensor searches, the crew was already beginning to doubt that the duo could be alive after wandering the red earth for so long. However, before anyone could muster the courage to say anything, Lieutenant Sumire Nagara shouted:
"Colonel! I'm picking up something on the radio's emergency frequency!"
"Put it on the speakers," Misato ordered with hope in his voice.
Lieutenant Nagara did as she was ordered, but the message was too static to hear anything.
"Extend the frequency as much as possible," Ritsuko ordered, standing next to Misato.
"Okay," Nagara replied.
"Here... a ... Cap... Shikin... copy?" The sound of Asuka's transmission began to echo across the bridge. Misato wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but she knew she couldn't show weakness in front of her team.
"...Shikinami, anyone copy?" The message asked again.
"Can we locate the source?" Misato asked.
"Negative," was Midori's response. "The signal is too weak."
"Answer it so she knows we received it," Misato ordered.
"Captain Shikinami, this is Hyuga from Wunder's bridge, do you copy?" Lieutenant Hyuga answered the radio, hoping Asuka would hear it.
At this point it seemed that fate might finally be on Wunder's side, for then the team heard Asuka's answer and knew that their quest was finally coming to an end.
"Yes... how nice that you guys finally did something useful and found us." The team couldn't help but laugh at Asuka's response.
"Asuka, this is Colonel, is Shinj... BM-03 with you?"Misato hesitated a bit at pronouncing Shinji's name so openly like that; but could feel herself looking forward to Asuka's response.
"Yes, the ... brat is with me. We are also with an Ayanami type," Asuka answered.
Misato thought she noticed something different in Asuka's voice, but assumed it was just her imagination.
"What do you mean, along with an Ayanami type?"she asked.
"I don't know, she just showed up when I got Shinji back and started following us since then." Asuka replied.
"Good job, Asuka. Send us your location and wait for our arrival." Misato ordered.
"Right, sending location now, but make sure it doesn't take long." Asuka replied.
"Okay, Wunder out." Misato replied. "Well, Koji, you already have the coordinates. Let's go get them" Misato ordered.
"Yes ma'am," Koji replied as he changed course to the sent location.
As Wunder moved to that place, Misato couldn't stop thinking that things would no longer be as they were before.
- So Misato, what's it going to be? - She thought sadly as she massaged her temples, knowing that only fate would answer this question. She could only pray that nothing bad would happen.
A few hours earlier. Somewhere in Tokyo 3
Asuka, Shinji and Rei were already eating lunch in their little makeshift camp. A thoughtful Asuka ate quickly while focused on Shinji's face, who only looked at his food with a blank stare. The blood on his hand reminded him of one of his biggest mistakes, one for which he he knew he could never be forgiven or properly punished: killing his friend Kaworu.
- Kaworu, I'm sorry. - Shinji thought as he felt his eyes starting to burn. He quickly tried to think of something else, but to no avail. Tears managed to come out and ran down his face.
Asuka realized this and automatically felt repulsed, because only the weak cry. She herself had promised, since her mother's death, that she would never cry again; but she couldn't help but to feel sorry for Shinji. - I wonder what the brat is thinking. Why is he crying? -
Rei also noticed it and thought: - Why is Ikari crying? How can I help? How should I proceed in such a situation? -
The trio was silent when they finished eating, and soon they were already back on their way. Asuka said that they would be able to call the Lilin in no time, because the density of the L barrier was decreasing.
Asuka looked at Shinji occasionally as she walked, and every time she did so, she saw that his tears wouldn't stop. It made her angry, but she remembered the time before the Third Impact, she remembered that she hated to see him sad, she hated to see him cry, because she herself didn't know how to help.
Asuka quickly pushed those memories away and looked forward again, hoping to clear her head; but it didn't help. She could only think of a certain boy crying behind her.
- Fuck... Why can't I get this brat out of my head? - Asuka thought in frustration.
"You know why." The voice spoke in his head.
- Go fuck yourself. – Asuka answered.
"Hahaha, keep denying it all you want, but we know the truth. I can tell. I am you, after all." The voice continued
- You don't know anything. - Asuka thought.
"Do you want to have that conversation? You know I'm always avaliable." The voice rebutted.
Asuka didn't answer, but she knew that the voice in her head was right. She would have to put her feelings for Shinji in order at some moment; she couldn't stay with that mess for much longer. She would have to face it.
"Why don't you ask him why he's crying?" The voice suggested.
- What's the point? He'll just keep answering "I'm sorry." - Asuka said.
"You think you are so mature, Asuka; but we know you are jealous that Rei is already by his side right now." The voice attacked.
At that moment, Asuka turned around to see that Rei was looking at Shinji with a confused look on her face. This awoke a feeling within Asuka that she could only describe as uncomfortable; but it also sparked a curiosity within her.
Asuka realized that no one at WILLE had told her about the origin of the Ayanami types. She had always wondered why all the clones that interacted with Shinji ended up attaching themselves to him in some way.
- I'll figure it out when I get back to Wunder, but not before I take a good shower. I've been in this outfit for 3 days straight... I'm disgusting. - Asuka thought.
- But what is so special about him? How can he make everyone interested in him like this? - Asuka was thinking with annoyance. She hated not knowing the things that were going on around her.
Shinji was walking with his head down, his bandage firmly on his head. His wound wasn't even hurting anymore; but he couldn't stop thinking of Asuka applying it, just a few hours ago.
Flashback - Camping.
"Well, we've eaten, let's get moving again," Asuka ordered the group, who promptly began to get up. "But first: brat, come here."
Shinji approached Asuka, but didn't have the courage to face her. He didn't think he was worthy of looking at anyone in the eye, not after what he had done to the world and to everyone.
Asuka quickly grabbed Shinji's head and began to examine the wound. After a few seconds, she spoke.
"We're going to need stitches for that."
Shinji didn't answer and only gave a small nod of the head. This answer made Asuka angry, because she didn't like people with self pity. She liked people who had the courage to at least look her in the eye and give her a decent answer.
- I wonder what happened to make him regress like that. He wasn't talking much, but at least he was responding. - Asuka thought, curiously.
Asuka was just finishing tightening the bandage when she asked Shinji:
"Why were you crying just now?"
She asked this question because the doubt was killing her inside. She knew what the answer would be, but she wanted him to talk to her. Almost instantly, Asuka mentally scolded herself for thinking something like that.
- Why, Asuka? Why do you want his company so badly? - she thought, confused, as she tied the bandage.
At this point Shinji was looking down. He didn't even seem to be listening to Asuka, and that was making her angry.
- So that's how it's going to be, brat? All right then. – Asuka thought as she let go of Shinji's head. "Let's get going."
End of Flashback
With tears in his eyes, he was thinking about what he had done a few hours ago, and was wondering why he had not answered Asuka.
- Why didn't I answer her? She finally talks to me and isn't scolding me, and I just keep quiet. - Shinji was mentally scolding himself.
Moments later, Rei's soft voice was heard.
"Ikari... Why were you crying?
Rei's question caught everyone's attention.
- Well, I shouldn't be silent forever... at least Rei I will answer. - Shinji thought.
Asuka was already in a different mood, lost in her thoughts, when she heard Rei's question. This made her tense, because she had asked the same question a few hours ago and had received no answer from Shinji. The moments that followed made her tense; she was just waiting for him to answer.
"For everything," was Shinji's simple reply. "For everything I've done."
Those words made Asuka feel as if she had been ran over by a car. How could Shinji respond to the clone, but not to her?
- It's always like this. He always goes after the clone and leaves me aside... just like that time... For heaven's sake, he destroyed the world to rescue her! Where was he when I was being swallowed by an angel?... When I was crying in the next room?... When I just wanted a hug… – Asuka thought, with a mixture of sadness and anger.
"Why did you answer her and not me!?" Asuka said out loud by accident. By the time she realized what she had done, it was too late. She could only tense up.
The group stopped. Everyone was frozen in place, thinking about what Asuka had said, especially Shinji.
- What do I do? - He wondered, and replied with the worst sentence he could answer at that moment, one that he knew Asuka could not stand: "I'm sorry."
This aggravated Asuka. She hated it when he apologized for nothing. Unable to control her anger anymore, she turned around and screamed.
"Fucking brat, is that all you can say? Is that all you can do when I ask you a question?" Asuka shouted, approaching Shinji. "Now I want an explanation, Shinji! Why did you answer her and not me?"
Frozen in place, he looked down. - Answer, idiot. -
"I don't know, I... I... I..." Shinji stammered.
Asuka was feeling the frustration with Shinji's lack of response.
"That's right, brat. Whenever I need you... you always let me down," Asuka replied, with sadness, as she turned to walk again.
- Come on Shinji, stop being a coward and answer. - Shinji was mentally scolding himself.
In an act of courage, he answered; but still didn't raise his head.
"Because I don't think I'm worthy of talking to you."
Shinji's answer stopped Asuka and surprised her. She couldn't speak or think of anything at that moment. She could only stare at the nothingness in front of her.
"What do you mean?" Asuka asked.
"I mean everything, Asuka..." Shinji replied, but didn't have the courage to finish the sentence.
"I asked what do you mean Shinji?"
- I must not run away, I must not run away. - "Everything I've done," Shinji replied.
Asuka began to walk towards him, looking at him with a menacing glare.
SLAP
"I want to know where you were when I needed you!"
SLAP
"Where were you when the ninth angel was attacking me?"
SLAP
"Where were you when I was sad in my room?
SLAP
Asuka could feel the tears forming in her eyes. She was desperately trying not to cry, but she knew this time was coming and it was coming fast. She didn't care and kept going, in one of the rare moments that she let go of everything, releasing the pressure that was on her shoulders and in her heart.
"Where were you these 14 years? But no... you only have eyes for the wonder-girl here... You are just like everyone else... You abandoned me when I needed you most, just like everyone else."
Asuka spoke, with sadness, as she lowered her hand and her head. Tears were running down her cheeks, some of them collecting under her eye patch.
- Damn Baka-Shinji, you are making me cry! How I hate you. - Asuka was thinking in annoyance.
Shinji was in shock, not because of the slaps, but because he knew how much he had hurt Asuka. He never liked to see Asuka crying, and knowing that he was to blame for all of this only made him feel much, much worse.
- How I wish I could hug her and tell her that everything will be okay... say everything I ever wanted to her... tell her I was an idiot... but I have to do something, I can't leave her like this... she deserves the truth. - Shinji gathered his courage and spoke.
"Asuka... " Shinji started, but then stopped.
Asuka was still frozen in place, lost in her thoughts; but still continued to listen to what Shinji was saying.
"Asuka I... I... didn't know what to do," was his response.
"As always..." Asuka spoke sadly as she wiped her tears with her palms.
"Not like that Asuka... before the battle with the ninth angel, I didn't know what to do because you were there inside the Eva... I couldn't live knowing that I had hurt you... you don't know how I felt when my father activated the automatic system... seeing what that thing did to your Eva... it hurt, Asuka. Ir hurt a lot."
Shinji continued. He didn't know where the courage was coming from, but he wasn't going to let it go to waste.
"When you were crying in Misato's apartment... I didn't know what to do... I wanted to go in there and comfort you, but you wouldn't let me near... I didn't know how to deal with you... so I locked myself in my room... but knowing that you were sad and I couldn't do anything... it broke me."
Asuka didn't know what she was hearing, but she couldn't help but feel a warmth inside her chest.
- What is this that I am feeling? This comfort I'm hearing from Shinji? Why am I feeling good about his words? - Asuka thought. She felt a little better, but still had one more question to ask:
"But then why did you do what you did when you went with her? Why didn't you do it… why didn't you do it for me?"
This question caught Shinji off guard, but he knew he had to answer. "Because... because... I couldn't lose anyone else I cared about."
Asuka at this moment was in shock. She couldn't imagine that Shinji cared about her. She had always thought she was alone and worthless. She was sure that when this war was over she would be thrown away, since she would have no more value. All she could do was pilot the Eva, nothing else. But knowing that he cared about her… that made her happy inside. That was a feeling she enjoyed.
A silence reigned between the three of them. Rei was observing the conversation. She didn't know why, but she was feeling happy that they were getting along again.
Asuka at this point was looking at Shinji, trying to find some sign that he was lying; but she soon realized that they would have to continue, for she could not go on in that lifeless land forever.
"Well... let's keep going. When we get back to Wunder... this conversation isn't over yet." Asuka was getting back on her feet, but she couldn't stop thinking about Shinji's words. "Baka," she added to herself, with a smile on her face.
After a few hours of walking, Asuka was trying to get in touch with Wunder, as the L barrier was at acceptable levels.
"This is Captain Shikinami. Anyone copy?" Asuka was repeating on her radio.
After a few attempts the group was surprised, as someone answered:
"Captain Shikinami, this is Hyuga from Wunder's bridge, do you copy?" Lieutenant Hyuga's voice was heard over the radio.
Asuka coudn't help but feel relieved that she was finally able to get in touch with Wunder, and promptly responded.
"Yes... how nice that you guys finally did something useful and found us," Asuka was wearing a small smile on her face.
"Asuka, this is Colonel, is Shinj... BM-03 with you?" Misato asked over the radio
Asuka could swear that Misato was worried about Shinji, just by her voice; but she thought it was her imagination and fatigue. "Yes, the... brat is with me. We are also with an Ayanami type."
"What do you mean, along with an Ayanami type?" Misato asked, confused.
"I don't know, she just showed up when I got Shinji back and started following us since then," Asuka replied.
"Good job, Asuka. Send us your location and wait for us," Misato ordered.
"Okay, sending location now, but make sure it doesn't take long," Asuka replied.
"Okay, Wunder out." Misato replied
Asuka turned to Shinji and Rei. She could see the concern on his face. She would like to say that everything would be fine, but she couldn't do anything. She could only ask Colonel Katsuragi to give him some comfort, although she couldn't guarantee anything. As for the Ayanami type, she didn't know what they would do to her, since no clone had ever done what she had done so far.
"Well... now we just wait," Asuka spoke to the group and looked around for a place to take shelter until rescue arrived.
Shinji was feeling better about the revelations he had spoken to Asuka, but soon felt sad again, for he knew somehow that this was one of the last times he would see her. When they returned to Wunder, he would probably be thrown into some cell and taken somewhere else.
Somewhere in Europe.
Inside an old apartment in the safe zone of New Germany, a man was tinkering with a computer, trying to access WILLE's files. While his own computer was working, he smoke a cigarette and thought about the past.
The man had already gotten some information about the truth behind the second impact, and was now trying to seek the truth about the third impact. His past experience did not allow him to believe the "Official" information behind the cataclysm. He had to find the truth.
The man laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling of his New Germany "apartment" and praying that he could find the truth in time.
"Don't worry Shinji. I will help you."
Author's Notes: Please review, your critiques (Good or bad) are very important to me, you know that I take a lot into consideration what is said and it also gives me strength to continue this translation project.
Don't forget to also like the Facebook page, search for "Calborghete" and locate a picture of Shinji and Asuka, on this page I will post updates and it will also be easier for you to contact me.
Special thanks to YourBlandestNightmre, for correcting the English errors, thanks buddy.
Well, see you next time.
