Rei awoke to the sound of a commotion. She got up and opened her door, looking to the source of the noise. Misato was busy arguing with some Section Two agents. Shinji was standing by her looking scared. Rei heard what Misato was saying.
"-ou can't just take Rei away, she's better off here!" she said.
"Orders from the Commander," one of the agents replied and pushed past Misato. Rei walked into the room and was grabbed by the arm. The agent led her to the door, and Misato again attempted to protest. Rei made no attempt to resist, letting the agent drag her out of the house. Once outside, they ushered her into a car and drove off towards her apartment.
It had been only about a week since she had left, but the lack of even her minimal maintenance had rendered it in even worse shape. A thick layer of dust covered every surface. Pill bottles lay strewn on the ground, and blood-crusted bandages covered the foot of her bed, beginning to rot. The curtains were tattered and full of holes, sunlight easily piercing through them. Rei stood at the entrance, alone again, taking in the sight.
It had never bothered her before. She had gone about her day, ignoring and walking past the trash littering the floor. She had not minded the constant smell of must and particles floating through the air. She had even learned how to sleep through the ceaseless mechanical banging from outside. But now, she felt different. She felt lonely. The trash made her uncomfortable, the dust made her want to sneeze, and the sound was already beginning to test her patience. But she did not know what to do. She sat down in her chair, the only piece of furniture she had. She tried to drown it out, just like she always had. The sound, the smell, the sights, all reduced to background noise.
It didn't work.
—-
Shinji watched as Rei was taken away by Section Two. Misato was still arguing with the agents before they left.
"Goddamnit!" she said, rubbing her forehead. "Who the hell do they think they are?"
Shinji said nothing, still standing in place. He felt his stomach drop lower and lower. They were finally getting along, even Asuka had gotten less abrasive. It was all ruined now. Everything had to be ruined.
Misato threw on her jacket and hat. "I've got to figure out what's going on," she said, heading out the door in a rush. Shinji continued to stand where he was. It had all happened so suddenly, the agents had knocked on their door barely a minute before.
Asuka just left her room, Mari was busy taking a shower.
"What happened?" she asked.
"They took Ayanami back to her apartment," Shinji replied quietly.
Asuka shrugged. "What's the big deal? She was taking up space anyway."
Shinji was annoyed. "Why do you hate her so much?" he asked.
"I don't like emotionless dolls," she snapped back.
"She's not a doll," Shinji replied.
"Why are you defending her?" she asked. "You sweet on her or something?"
Shinji was too annoyed to register the meaning of her words. "What's your problem?" he said angrily.
He wanted to go to his room and slam the door, but he realized he didn't have a room. He turned around and headed out of the apartment.
—-
Once outside, Shinji walked aimlessly down the road. He didn't have his SDAT with him, so he was alone with his thoughts. Thoughts that had only become more confusing. The sun beat down on him, radiating off the steaming hot pavement. Even this early in the morning, it was uncomfortably hot. Still, he kept walking, too angry at Asuka to go back right now. He didn't get why she was so mean to Rei. She hadn't done anything to her, but Asuka acted like she was a know-it-all. And why did they have to take Rei away? Was this ordered by father?
The thought only made Shinji angrier, and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to drown out his mind. The cicadas droned endlessly, heightening his exhaustion. He just wanted to be done with all of this. The Evas, the Angels, his father, this awful city. It had only hurt him. Everyone just kept him around because he could pilot. They didn't really care about him. His anger quickly turned to sadness. 'Why does everything good have to be taken away?' he thought. Tears threatened to escape his eyes. He really cared about her, whether he knew it or not. He had seen the way her apartment looked. It was disgusting to make anyone live there. He wished he could do something about it. He drew a blank on how.
For now, he kept walking. As much as he tried to run from his thoughts, they would always catch up. The only solace he found in the outside world were the cicadas, aiding weakly in blocking out his sorrows.
—-
Mari got out of the bathroom, quickly taking note of the fact that 60% of the household's occupants were gone. She opened the door to her and Asuka's room and saw her lying on the bed.
"Where is everyone?" she asked.
"Miss Perfect got taken back to her apartment. Shinji threw a fit over it and left," she said.
Mari furrowed her brow. They took Blue away? Why? She and Asuka had their own temporary apartment, but they weren't coming for them.
"Any idea why they took her?" she asked.
Asuka shrugged. "Probably to make sure she stays boring. How should I know?"
Mari didn't really appreciate Asuka's tone when talking about a fellow pilot and friend, but she was interrupted by a knock at the door. She quickly walked up to see who it was through the peephole, and was greeted by Kaji's bestubbled and grinning face. She opened the door for him.
"Who is it?" Asuka asked from the other room.
"It's Kaji," Mari said.
Asuka jumped out of bed. "Kaji-san!" she said animatedly, running up to hug him.
"Hey, Asuka," he said, looking at Mari who smiled weakly. She and Asuka had lived with Kaji before moving to Tokyo-3. Mari regarded him as an older brother. Asuka… not so much.
"Did Misato send you here? I don't need to be looked after, you know, I'm fine," Asuka said.
"Just thought I'd stop by," Kaji said. "Where's Katsuragi?"
Asuka frowned. "She went to HQ or something," she said.
"Section Two took Rei away, Misato left after that and so did Shinji," Mari said.
"I heard. Any idea why?" Kaji asked.
"No. I wish they didn't, Blue is pretty cool," she replied. Asuka rolled her eyes.
"I see," he said. "Where did Shinji go off to?" he asked.
"No idea," Asuka said. "Probably somewhere stupid, I bet."
—-
Misato walked down the sterile halls of HQ, heading towards the labs. She reached the door to Ritsuko's office and knocked. The door slid open with a hiss.
Misato walked inside and saw Ritsuko hunched over her paperwork, coffee by her side, and a cigarette in her mouth. Ritsuko looked over her shoulder dismissively.
"What is it?" she asked. Her tone was neutral, but on the verge of betraying its weariness.
"I think you know," Misato replied sternly. She wasn't here for niceties. They were doing something to Rei, and she needed to know what – and why.
"As operations director, there is no need for you to know the details of Rei's living situa-"
"That's bullshit," Misato cut in. "They're my pilots, it's my job to know what's going on with them. I certainly have earned a warning, at least."
"Rei has… special needs that are better handled in isolation," Ritsuko said. She was choosing her words carefully.
"'Special needs?' like the cocktail of drugs you've been giving her?" Misato shot back.
If Ritsuko was surprised by Misato knowing that detail, she didn't show it.
"Rei does have health issues, ones that are not helped by close proximity to others," she said.
"What 'issues?' you're a doctor, aren't you? Be specific," Misato pried.
"I don't need to answer this," Ritsuko said. "It's not necessary for you to know."
"Rits, why are you acting like this? Whenever we talk lately, it's like you just stonewall me."
She thought of an opening. "You don't have to do everything the commander tells you, you kno-"
"Enough!" Ritsuko said, raising her voice. "My reasons are my reasons. You want answers? Ask the Commander. It's disgusting enough that Shinji is drooling over her, we don't need-"
"Disgusting?" Misato asked incredulously.
"I don't have time for this!" Ritsuko said, pushing Misato out of the room. "Good day!" she said, closing the door with a hiss.
'Dammit,' Misato thought. She thought she would get something out of her. 'Disgusting,' she mused. 'That's the second time she's used that word to describe the two of them. Is she that much of a prude?'
She didn't think much of it, knowing Ritsuko's distaste for Rei. She headed back for home, content to crack open a beer and call it a day before noon. As she was leaving, Fuyutsuki crossed her path.
"Captain Katsuragi," he said.
"Vice Commander," Misato replied, bowing.
"No need," Fuyutsuki said. He wore a small smile on his weathered face. "It is my pleasure to inform you that you have been promoted," he said.
Misato blinked. "Really?" she asked.
Fuyutsuki nodded. "The Commander and I agree that your handling of the seventh Angel was more than satisfactory. As was your plan for operation Yashima."
"Thank you, Vice Commander," Misato said.
"You are very welcome, Major Katsuragi," he replied.
With that, he headed off, and Misato again started on her way home. She needed to speak to Kaji, and soon.
Sorry for the long delay! There's been stuff going on IRL, but I should be working a bit faster now, hopefully, I will have another chapter out by next week. Good news: I'm on HRT! It's been 2 weeks now, and I'm so happy! :)
Anyway, hope you enjoyed the chapter!
