Differences
By Kale
Editing by The Master Chief
Chapter 04
Shinji turned off the TV, which was currently showing another dull news program, and set the remote down on the couch.
There's never anything good on nowadays, Shinji thought as he rose from his position on the couch to stretch his arms and legs. He'd been sitting on the couch since Misato left to go to work, getting up only to grab a snack or go to the bathroom. After stretching, Shinji started surveying the apartment trying to find anything that would break the choking monotony. Eventually he noticed something or more specifically the lack of something that piqued his interest.
That's odd, Shinji thought. Pen Pen's refrigerator isn't in its usual place. I wonder where Misato keeps him. I'll have to ask her the next time I see her. Shinji's gaze turned to the clock on the wall above the TV. Asuka wouldn't be back from school for several hours yet. He'd almost lost hope on finding something to do with a thought suddenly struck him. I wonder if my cello is in the closet where I usually keep it.
With that in mind, Shinji made his way through the apartment and into his room. He slid the closet door open and was once again bombarded with the sight of bright and unfamiliar clothing. Shinji started pushing clothes out of the way and began searching through the closet. As he worked his way toward the back, he noticed what appeared to be the top end of his cello case. Shinji grabbed it and pulled it out of the closet, relieved to find it was indeed a cello case and not something else. Finally, Shinji thought, something that is familiar besides the ceiling.
Shinji laid the case on the ground, undid the snaps and opened the case up. Exactly as I remembered it, Shinji thought fondly, although it looks like it hasn't been opened in a while. Shinji pulled the chair from his desk to the spot in front of the instrument case. He sat down in the chair and opened it, then slowly and carefully lifted the cello out. He set it down it front of him and played a test note. It sounds like it needs to be tuned, Shinji thought, thankfully my teacher taught me how to take care of it as well as play it. Shinji then proceeded to tune the cello by playing test notes and tweaking the cello until the musical notes sound perfect to his ears.
Shinji began playing the first of the many songs he learned from his teacher. He soon became absorbed in the sound of the music and lost track of the world around him.
Asuka and Hikari walked out of the apartment building's elevator. They walked in silence down the dull, gray painted hallway at brisk pace towards Misato's apartment. Asuka walked in front with Hikari trailing behind her. Hikari noted to herself that Asuka seemed as if she had something to prove. She also seemed to be more like how she was before Shinji's death.
Asuka froze in place in front of Misato's apartment door, almost causing Hikari to crash into her from behind. "Asuka please, give me some warning next time." Hikari complained.
Asuka turned around to face Hikari, a sheepish grin on her face, "Sorry."
She then assumed a solemn look on her face. "Hikari, I don't know how Misato will react once she finds out I did this without her permission but I need you to promise me that you will not speak a word of this to anyone. Not even your own family," she pleaded, almost sounding as if she were begging. Hikari nodded silently and smiles reassuringly as she replied. "Asuka, you have nothing to worry about," she said gently. "I'm your best friend remember? If you can't show me, then who can you show?"
Asuka, now reassured that Hikari wouldn't tell, nodded. "Thank you Hikari," she said, sighing in relief
Having sworn Hikari to silence, Asuka turned around and unlocked the door to the apartment, and led Hikari inside. As they entered the apartment, they were greeted with the sound of music. It was a song with a slightly melancholy tone to it. The music loudened as they ventured into the apartment. In the dining room, Asuka oriented on the origin of the music and determined that it was coming from Shinji's room. It was obvious to her already since Shinji was the only one, beside herself of course, that played an instrument in the apartment. Misato was way too clumsy to play an instrument I always knew he could play, but I didn't know that he could play this well, Asuka thought in amazement as she lead Hikari in the direction of Shinji's room.
Finally they arrived in front of the door to Shinji's room. Asuka put a finger in front of her mouth to signal for Hikari to be quiet. Asuka slowly and quietly opened the door so that she and Hikari could see inside. They were greeted with the sight of the back of a young man, in a school uniform no less, sitting in a chair playing a cello. Shinji seemed to be lost in his own little world.
"See Hikari? I told you he was alive." Asuka gloated in a whispered voice. No response came from her friend. "Hikari?" Asuka turned to face her best friend. Hikari was covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes bugged out in shock. Asuka shook her slightly. "Come on Hikari, snap out it." Asuka whispered. Hikari seemed to recover for a moment and then abruptly fainted, landing with a loud thud on the floor.
Shinji stopped playing, lowering the cello as he turned around to see what caused the noise. He found Asuka standing outside his room with Hikari on the floor seemingly unconscious. "Asuka, what is going on?" Shinji queried.
"No time for that Shinji. Help me move her to the couch." Asuka replied.
Shinji just nodded and moved over to where Hikari was. He grabbed Hikari's legs, making sure he looked to the side, while Asuka grabbed the upper body. Together they lifted Hikari and slowly brought her over to the couch. After they set Hikari down on the couch and put a pillow under her head, they faced each other.
Shinji spoke first. "So, um, what now?" Shinji asked while rubbing the back of his head.
"We do the only thing we can do, wait for her to wake up." Asuka replied. Asuka then grabbed the remote off the couch, turned on the TV, then sat down on the floor. Shinji shrugged and followed suit. They started to watch the TV as they waited for Hikari to wake up.
Misato and Commander Yui exited the elevator. It had taken longer then usual for Misato to get back to the apartment complex, not only due to an extra workload that delayed the both of them, but because Misato had decided on a more conservative driving style with her superior in the car. As they walked down the hallway, Misato glanced over at the Commander through the corner of her eyes. The commander had a calm, reserved look on her face. It was a sight Misato had become used to seeing at the Geo Front since Shinji had died.
As they stopped in front of the door to the apartment, Misato started searching through her purse for her key while the Commander just waited patiently. "I know it's in here somewhere", Misato grumbled as she continued to rummage through her purse.
While Misato was looking through her purse, Yui stood patiently by the door, thinking to herself. I don't see how it could possibly be him. I'll never be able to get the image of my only son lying in his casket. Just thinking of the funeral brought back memories of the battle against the Fifth Angel and of the actual funeral itself. She started to become upset but she managed to hold onto her composure. Normally I wouldn't doubt Major Katsuragi and Dr. Akagi, but this time...
After emptying her purse of all its contents, Misato turned to the commander. "Well it appears I don't have my key with me," Misato said with a bit of embarrassment, "but considering what time it is now, someone should be home. I'll just ring the doorbell." The Commander just sighed as Misato rang the doorbell.
Back inside the apartment, Asuka and Shinji were still watching TV, Hikari dozing peacefully on the couch behind them. They heard the doorbell ring and looked at each other, confused.
"I wonder who that can be? Shinji asked.
"Don't worry about it, " Asuka said as she stood up from her position on the floor, "I'll go answer the door."
Shinji shrugged, "ok."
Asuka made her way to the door, leaving Shinji to watch the TV alone. Opening the door, she was greeted by the sight of Misato trying to put her makeup back in her purse while Commander Yui Ikari stood patiently beside her.
"What brings you here Commander?" Asuka asked quickly, surprised by the appearance of the Commander at her residence.
"I was informed of a certain situation by the major here." Yui replied, "May I come in?"
"Of course." Asuka consented as she stood to the side. With that Yui entered the apartment with Misato trailing behind her. As Yui continued further into the apartment, Asuka pulled Misato to the side.
"Why is the Commander here, Misato?" Asuka asked in a whisper as she leaned in close to Misato.
"I had to give a report on the situation with the second Unit 01." Misato explained. "When I told her the pilot was Shinji, she demanded that I bring her here."
"She'll be glad to see Shinji as much, if not more, as I was." Asuka said.
"I'm not so sure of that." Misato responded with a dubious tone to her voice.
Asuka's face changed to a look of mild confusion. "Why is that?"
"When I was talking to Shinji this morning, when I mentioned the Commander he responded as if he resented her for some reason. Why he would resent her is what I don't know. I just hope things don't turn ugly."
While Asuka and Misato were talking amongst themselves, Yui entered the living room and froze in place at the sight before her; a young man in a school uniform looking very familiar. "It can't be…" Yui said in a soft, disbelieving voice as she rubbed her eyes as if trying to make the mirage going away. When she removed her hands from her face, the young man was still there. What she was seeing was no illusion. "Shinji!" She cried out to get his attention.
Shinji turned off the TV with the remote and stood up. He turned around to look at whoever called his name. It wasn't Hikari's, Asuka's, nor Misato's voice, that was for sure. What he saw was a brown haired, brown eyed woman who had a very familiar face and was tearing up. "Rei? No wait…" Shinji began. A vague memory began to surface from the deep recesses of Shinji's mind, a memory of holding out a cherry to a woman. That woman was his mother. "Mother…" Shinji began. Tears of joy began sliding down Shinji's cheeks. I can't believe it's her. Yui spread her arms wide for a hug and Shinji rushed over and leapt into her embrace.
Asuka and Misato poked their heads out from around a corner and saw the scene playing out in the living room. They looked at each other and smiled.
End chapter 4.
