1:05pm, Tuesday the 11th of July, Sengokuhara high school, cantine
Shinji hated his legs. They always did things he didn't want them to do, like run headlong into danger, or drag him kicking and screaming over to the albino that had reawakened long buried affection within him.
For Spirits' sake, she sits by herself because she enjoys the quiet, I'd just be annoying...but that doesn't sound anything like what she said at dinner yesterday. His subconscious unhelpfully countered.
Shut up. Shinji grumbled. Before him, eating a home made sandwich, was Rei, seemingly oblivious to the world at first glance.
Thank goodness she made that with clean cutlery he found himself fighting a shudder at the thought of filthy, sometimes bloody cutlery he'd seen the previous evening. Then, her head swivelled to face him, the boy knowing she could probably sense him coming.
"Ikari. Can I help you?" She asked.
"Oh...yes...um..." His brain locked for a few moments, as it now decided to engage panic mode and shatter into millions of pieces because he needed to say something. But she sat there, unmoving, yet certainly not uncaring. For the blue haired girl was a patient individual, not knowing of the human feelings called anger or hatred.
"Do...do you mind if I sit with you?" He murmured. Granted, he felt more at ease than the previous evening when he'd actually enjoyed dinner with the ethereal girl, but now in public, face to face again, his confidence crumbled. He'd have to build it back up from step one.
"I take no issue with it, Ikari." Surprisingly, Rei slid over to make room for the boy who'd cooked her dinner last night. As Westerners put it, he treated her "like a Princess."
Gingerly sitting down on the table which they now shared, Shinji put himself at a close yet respectful distance. The pair were easily in arms reach of each other.
"So...are you enjoying that?" He referred to her lunch.
"It is adequate for sustenance." She took another bite out of her peanut spread sandwich.
Well at least she's put in a filling now...
It had taken great effort to convince her to put something more than "butter" in a sandwich. Even then they were limited, as he'd discovered she was vegetarian. Something to do with "the bond I have with every living creature."
Starting on his own lunch, a ham sandwich, he gave a quick thought to why he'd never become vegetarian, considering his aversion to violence and blood. On the other hand with being an Impact baby, someone born very close to Second Impact, it was expected. You didn't complain about where your food came from, as long as it went in your mouth. Clearly, she'd never known that...and perhaps as a clone, didn't need as much sustenance as ordinary humans did.
They ate in silence for a while before a sly chuckle caught Shinji's attention. Turning his head, he saw Kensuke make a beeline towards the table with a cheeky grin. At least until Toji grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and hauled him off to elsewhere, gaining a tired smile of gratitude from the mousey haired introvert.
Turning back to his meal, he realised Rei had long since finished her own lunch, and was sipping on a carton of milk. This was not something he often beheld, as the ethereal girl seemed to be someone who did things as efficiently as possible.
She was taking her time.
She...she can't be enjoying my company...can she?
Whilst Shinji's brain crumpled upon impacting this solid wall of impossibility to him, she quietly dwelt on the occurrences of the previous evening, of how this strange human had come into her place of residence, made it a great deal tidier, and even cooked her dinner.
He'd brought something into that lonely hovel. Something we'd know as warmth.
5:00pm, Monday the 10th of July, NERV quarters, eastern sector.
It wasn't to his standard of quality, he mused, but it was adequate. Not whatever filthy ready made food Rei had put down her gullet countless times. He'd managed to throw something together in about fifteen minutes, with his strange colleague watching him in a manner that could be deemed as curious.
Has she never seen anyone cook before? Father...why have you kept her so alone?
Spiced rice had been the best he could come up with, considering the shockingly low amount of provisions in Rei's cupboards. She might as well have been eating cardboard, which may have been a bette alternative to the various pastes and ready made stuff she had. Some of it being mouldy.
As there was no dinner table, the two teens ate on the bed. Swallowing his freshly chewed rice, Shinji felt a question form in his mind. One he'd wanted to ask for a while, but only now felt comfortable enough to ask.
"How old are you, Ayanami-san?"
She finished chewing her mouthful of rice, then looked at him with her blank expression.
"I-I-I know you're a clone and all, so you're probably younger than me. I was just wondering...by how much?" He stammered, staring into his shoes.
What the hell!? I have no right to ask that!
Rei remained quiet for a while, pondering things in her usually silent head. She hadn't had to think this much before he'd come into her life.
"I have little memory of my birth. I recall the tank of LCL in which I was grown being emptied and the Commander standing before me, but no more. NERV logs put the date as that of-" Her blue eyebrows knitted together, making her surprisingly cute.
"-6th of June 2012."
True silence descended upon the room for a while.
"Put on another eleven years and that's my birthday..." Shinji's thoughts began to seriously dwell on the matter.
Why that date?
Of all the dates in the year, why did Gendo Ikari choose to create her on his birthday. His eleventh birthday. The seventh one in a row without family, cake, or balloons. Yet another reason why memories of the first four years of his life were so painful yet so precious.
Can't be a coincidence...Father made her to replace me. He replaced me...he replaced me!
Unconsciously, his fist balled.
"I was not aware of this." Rei said, herself a little surprised. Feeling something akin to unease from the girl, as even he wasn't that socially inept, Shinji recognized his hand was doing something that could be seen as "threatening." Forcing it to uncurl, he fought back his anger and put on a smile.
"Oh it's alright. No problem at all. But yes, 6th of June 2001, that's when I popped into existence. I don't remember anything about my birth."
"That is probably for the best...the idea of remembering a natural birth sounds somewhat unpleasant. I hear it is a...traumatic experience for both parties involved." Rei turned her gaze back to the bowl on her lap, her pretty expression tightening in a microscopic manner.
"Yes...it doesn't sound nice." He agreed.
Not saying anything more for a while the two continued their average quality meal, chewing and swallowing the last remnants of it after five minutes. Upon finishing, she fiddled with her bowl for a bit, not taking her eyes off it, struggling to find the words she required.
"...Does it not bother you...what I am?"
"You mean...a clone?" Shinji said, his expression confused.
She nodded.
"No, of course not. Have I made you think that?"
"You have not, I assumed..." She trailed off for a few moments, then continued.
"Many would...look down on me for how I was born. I am unnatural after all." And now, in that quiet whisp of a voice, something new could be heard. It existed in only a microscopic amount, and it was something Rei herself didn't understand, but it was there.
Bitterness.
For the albino could hear other peoples thoughts. Owing to the unique properties of her creation, she had some degree of psychic power. Granted, she could focus on only one set of thoughts at a time, and that took no small of effort. Along with the fact she could only brush at the inner goings on of the human mind and never access things such as memory. She could see the ripples in the water, not what lay beneath.
It was power nonetheless. One which at times, Rei wished she didn't have. It made her think unpleasant things she couldn't hope to understand. Things that interfered with focusing on her true purpose.
All thought ill of her.
The Commander had made plain her place from the day she first drew breath, most of the staff in the know tended to think of her as "it" or "the clone," and the ordinary members of NERV tended to keep their distance from "the Commander's pet." Or on bad days, "the Commander's doll."
She wasn't human, she'd never been, nor would she ever be. She was merely the replicated flesh of a dead woman, made to serve the Commander's scenario. That was what she was. That was a fact, and there was no denying it.
So why do I feel anything when they call me that? My purpose is to serve, not think or feel.
"Well that's just silly. You couldn't have chosen how you were made. You aren't any less of a person for it." Shinji said flippantly, as if this should be obvious.
But for the unearthly child, it was not.
Rei froze. Blinking her red eyes in surprise, she stared at him, until a small smile cropped up on her lips. Not to the extent of the night when they'd defeated the 6th Seraph, but still visible.
Every time she'd looked into his thoughts, the words "creature", "pet", "abomination", "thing", and the like, had not once popped up. Always, he thought of her as a...person.
"I...appreciate your words, Ikari. Such things have never been said to me before..." She shifted in an uncomfortable but not at all unwelcome manner. As if the words were difficult to say, and the feeling was unknown, but she was happy to say them.
Realising he'd made something of a breakthrough, Shinji gulped, then tried to raise her spirits.
"Well...surely not everyone's been horrible to you for that? What about Akagi-san? She...seems to care about you a little at least?"
Rei's eyes didn't leave her bowl.
"The Sub-Commander has always been...difficult. But until you came here she was the only person who ever showed me kindness as you would say." She agreed.
The clone had never seriously though of such things until Ikari had arrived, and now she found herself reflecting on her connection with the faux blonde Japanese woman.
She does not think as highly of me as Ikari does...but there is no lack of care. She simply knows not what to think of me.
"It is a rather alien concept to me." The blue head said truthfully, her shoulders slumping a little. Like all sentient beings, Rei did yearn for connection and compassion with other human beings. Not that she was aware of such desires meaning.
Slowly, with little input from his brain, his heart deciding to act of its own accord, Shinji stretched his hand out, retreating yet continuing, and placed itself on her shoulder. The blue haired girl made no effort to remove it.
Back in the present...
The sun shone through the corridor windows, its brightness illuminating the happy faces hurrying through. Shinji and Rei however, were not smiling, nor running.
They simply walked.
The sensation of awkwardness between the two was something Shinji felt could never be thrown off. But that feeling certainly wasn't unfriendly by any measure.
There was...something I wanted to ask her about...ah of course!
The previous evening, upon returning to Misato's apartment, he'd learned General Motichka was arriving in Tokyo-3 today. Therefore in her honour, the Garrison was putting on a huge parade with thousands of blue coated soldiers due to march through the streets of the capital. Shinji had already decided he wanted to go. Some of his fondest memories were the Marines of the Japanese State Navy marching around in formation whenever there was a big naval review at Kure. He'd already talked to Kensuke and Toji, having a feeling they'd go, and wasn't disappointed.
However, he didn't want to leave Rei out. It was an opportunity to include her, and he got the sad impression this had never been done for her before. He felt...as if it were a purpose of his to take care of her. One which he would gladly comply with.
"Um, Ayanami-san? Can I ask you something?"
Her pace did not abate, but a pair of red eyes did train their gaze on him.
"Have you heard about the parade in the city centre today?" Shinji let his arms swing freely, his bag safely fastened over his shoulder.
"Yes. General Chiso Motichka's arrival is to be met with the due process. Your point?" Rei sounded unbothered.
"Well...you see I was talking with some of my other friends-" a part of him still couldn't comprehend this "-and we all agreed that we'd go and watch it after school so I was wondering if you...if you..." His fist balled, annoyed at how he'd rushed his words.
Sighing, he regained control and continued.
"Do you want to tag along?"
Her gaze didn't leave him for a second, her own hands clutching the strap of her school bag.
I take no interest in this patriotism you and your classmates feel so strongly. But...your presence is...warm, Ikari.
"I have no pre-existing appointments." Her reply made his spirits soar. In Rei speak, that was a "yes."
"Alright, straight after school." He pushed the class door open and held it for her, as he was something of a gentleman when he wanted to be.
"Understood." Rei nodded, oblivious to this act of chivalry.
One hour and fifty five minutes later...
Some students, himself and his colleague included, remained at the back of the class, not wanting to be caught up in the mad initial rush for the exit. They collected their things with precision, and when the room was empty, neatly made their way out of the door.
The route was simple, take the metro to city centre, specifically Chrysanthemum station, roughly in the vicinity of the Imperial palace, then take a ten minute walk to the main high street. Owing to Japanese efficiency, the journey wouldn't take longer than twenty minutes.
Shinji wasn't as comfortable as he'd like, as whilst, as westerners would term it "his crew" were with him, there was also the terrifying class rep following up the rear, the brown haired and brown eyed boy he didn't know who sat at the back of the classroom, and that girl with short red hair who appeared to be giving him death stares.
"So, Shinji-san, have you ever been to army parades?" Toji boisterously enquired.
"Um, not army ones. I've seen a few naval reviews though. It's to be expected when you grow up in Kure." The meek boy answered.
"Wow, seeing all those ships must be pretty impressive..." Kensuke added dreamily.
"...Should I have brought you some tissues?" Toji raised a black eyebrow.
"No need, Suzuhara-san. He does have socks after all." A slight chuckle could be heard from Hikari, accompanied by the symphony of Kensuke's exclamations getting louder and louder, somehow drowning out the Jock's laughter.
Rei cast a glance at the sight but kept walking, whilst Shinji managed to crack a smile.
"Vulgar...utterly vulgar..." He found himself laughing a little. Unfortunately, he failed to notice a pair of crystal blue eyes narrow in hatred.
Without warning he was violently shoved aside, hitting the ground hard. The dark redheaded girl stormed ahead, her expression fixed into one of distress driven by anger.
Toji and Kensuke looked at the in times gone past chirpy girl with a degree of shock, Hikari looked incensed, the other boy didn't seem fussed and kept on walking, whilst Rei had immediately gone down on knee to check if there was any real harm done, with a look of...concern.
"What the hell!? Explain yourself, Kirishima-san!" Hikari barked.
No response, as "Kirishima" outpaced them and kept going, blinking away unseen tears.
"Fine, you're getting reported!" The class rep snarled, then turned to check on Shinji, her expression softening.
I know it still hurts, Mana-san, and I'm sorry. But I won't tolerate behaviour like this.
"Are you alright down there?" Her tone became lighter than the boy in question had ever heard before, whilst Toji's heart skipped a beat, as if he'd heard a choir of angels.
"Uhhh..." Came Shinji's predictable, yet entirely understandable answer.
"Well at least you're still conscious." Hikari muttered to herself, as she and the remaining students helped him to his feet.
Rei fished around in her uniform's pockets for a bit, producing a tissue, and, with no small amount of tenderness, started to wipe the bloody away from her comrade's nose.
"Student Kirishima takes issue with Ikari. Why?" A sudden, hard edge to Rei's voice popped into existence, terrifying Kensuke and Toji, making even Hikari's eyebrows go up in surprise.
The pigtailed girl scratched the back of her head and sighed, her expression grimacing.
"It's kind of nasty-"
"I am in no hurry." Rei's voice was one of ice.
Hikari's shoulders slumped.
"Where to begin...Kirishima-san's family served in the military, you know that right?" She gave a quick look at the odd couple of her class.
"Yes. Wasn't it...air force or something?" Kensuke said.
"Correct. In specific her father was captain of an FCV..." She trailed off for a moment, noticing a pair of cerulean eyes slowly widen.
Oh Spirits...please no...not again...
"It was the Tsushima wasn't it?" Toji said, resigned and sad, gaining a nod from the class rep.
Shinji was fortunate, as we would have fallen over again, or collapsed for want of a better word, had Rei not been there to catch him.
"Her...her father died because of me?"
"I'm not saying that, Ikari-san. Kirishima-san may think that, but I'm not saying it." Hikari said sadly, watching a few tears trickle out of his eyes as his form shook. They stayed there for a while, letting the child soldier attempt to deal with this new revelation.
I can't do anything without people getting hurt...can I?
"Hey-" Toji gave him a slight shake, so as to gain his attention.
"We were there, Shinji-san. There really wasn't anything you could do..."
"Yeah, you still saved the world at the end of the day! That's not too bad for sixteen year old kid." Kensuke put on a winning smile, gaining nothing of the sort in response.
Only a sad sigh.
"Look...I get what you're trying to do, but-" Shinji would probably have gone off on a long ramble about how he wasn't worth it, before Hikari cut him off.
"Don't. Feeling bad about it isn't going to help. And no amount of your tears will ever bring him back. The same can be said for everyone we lose. The best we can do is keep on going, and make the best of what we have. Do you understand me?" The class rep's tone had returned to its usual discipline, but there was more than a hint of experience in her voice.
Taken aback by this, his subconscious agreeing, all Shinji could do was mumble "y-yes."
Hikari produced a satisfied nod.
"Good. Come on then, we shouldn't be too late." She turned around and carried on walking, practically commanding to be followed. And she was obeyed without question.
3:10pm, NERV Central, graveyard, beneath Tokyo-3.
For years, the mangled forms of the failures had resided here. Their purpose had been to be the weapons with which mankind would save itself, but they failed the moment they were created. Coated in armour never to be used, a dozen or so titans lay, dismembered, across the vast cavern, their bodies constantly being tested on to further enhance the Evas in service.
These were the first Evangelions, the failed prototypes, out of which only the totally out of date Unit 00 was even fit for combat.
In the cages far above, said Unit was getting a refit, otherwise it would be of absolutely no use in the coming battles. Strengthened armour, a prog knife, updated hud that linked directly into the eyes of the Pilot, as it was in all other functioning Eva Units, a brand new white and red paint job, and an extra compartment to house a pallet rifle.
They'd been so desperate to get it operational, for they had no other Eva available at the time, but now, with Units 02 and 03 merely days away, it had to be upgraded or scrapped.
It can only ever be used for fire support. Unit 00 could never take punishment like Unit 01. Ritsuko mused as she studied her newest present.
The mummified, hard as rock remains of the 6th Seraph sat in front of her, the blast of the positron rifle leaving a straight cylinder of hollowness in its corpse.
Stupid thing...I just want to run some tests on you! The green eyed scientist grumbled, giving the "thing" a kick of annoyance.
"Um...Sub Commander?" Maya said nervously at her side. Ritsuko inwardly winced, having failed to notice her timid subordinate walk up behind her, being so wrapped up in thought.
"Sorry." She gave an apologetic look at the twenty-six year old. In the corner of her eye, Ritsuko could just make out the forms of the 4th and 5th Seraphim, having been about as useful to science as all the original unlimited energy projects in the first years after Second Impact.
Before the breakthrough with A-T fields in early 2005. The brainchild of NERV research itself.
But this one was different. They'd managed to salvage a remnant of the Seraph's S2 core. Something they had never managed before. Granted, she'd have liked to test all aspects of the creature instead of its heart or brain, or maybe even both. But beggars couldn't be choosers.
"What is the damage to the core?" The faux blonde put a hand upon the giant diamond.
"Half of it was totally annihilated by the positron beam. The other half was relatively preserved, with any wound for liquid to leak out being singed closed." Maya responded with professionalism, having snapped out of her nervous, natural, state.
"How soon until we can begin testing?"
"Sub Commander...we're...sort of...waiting on you..."
"Hmm." The Sub-Commander withdrew her hand from the Seraph, turned around, then was guided over to an assortment of machines, with half a red orb lying on the front prongs of a forklift. White lab coated Section 4s, stood ready around the core, a drill poised to drive into it, and a flask ready to capture its fluid.
Arriving at the designated spot, Ritsuko fished out a cigarette, lit it, exhaled the smoke, and nodded.
"Begin."
With an electronic whirring, the drill drove straight into the core. The surface held for a few moments, then cracking and caved in, unleashing flood of thick royal blue blood, filling the container to overflow. It was unfortunate they had to destroy it, but as scans revealed, the S2 core was surprisingly brittle. They could not extract anything without cracking it, so Ritsuko gave the order to gain as much of the liquid inside as possible.
With that complete, men in hazmat suits came forward and collected the container, sealing it shut.
"Get it cleaned, then analyse it." Ritsuko ordered sternly.
"Hai!"
Upon a cat walk high above, stood the Supreme Commander and the Vice Commander, watching events unfold.
"Such a competent individual...much stronger than her mother. A pity I could not use her to her maximum potential." Gendo said quietly, hands held behind his back.
"Perhaps." Kozo replied, his insides churning at the mere thought of what Ikari had once in mind for Naoko's daughter...
"How do you think we're doing?" The elder man changed topic.
"The scenario is proceeding as planned."
"I meant the war. Three of them are dead...do you think we can do the same for the rest?" His years of experience had taught him believing in ancient, mystical scrolls and faiths was all well and good, but it never helped when you needed it.
The fact his family had believed in the Spirits, and yet were still claimed by Leukaemia, by Hiroshima's legacy, leaving him an only orphaned child, was conclusive proof to him there couldn't be such a thing as a god.
"We shall ultimately have seven active Evangelion Units. I believe we have something of a chance. One worth putting faith in." Gendo scarcely acknowledged his subordinate, his bespectacled gaze fixed on the freshly cleaned container being carried back to the various machines which would run numerous tests.
Although understanding the enemy is irrelevant to the scenario...it would be intriguing to have some comprehension of what they are.
"Section 2 have reported that Ayanami-san is spending a great deal of time with your son. Should any action be taken?" Kozo inquired.
"Rei knows where her loyalty lies. She will not stray because of one weak willed boy. Even if he is Yui's child."
Standing by the broken sphere, Ritsuko scratched her chin, thinking away to herself.
It looks almost exactly the same as an Eva's core. Different fluid inside it but...almost exactly the same.
"How are things going?" A familiar voice caught the faux blonde by surprise, which was swiftly followed by a harrumph.
"Misato-chan...why are you here?" Ritsuko grumbled, being a little too engaged in tests to entertain the shenanigans of her old college friend.
"Aww, come on, Rits-chan. Just wanted to see how you were getting along." The purple headed Lieutenant Colonel pouted.
"I am absolutely fine, Misato-chan. Now don't you have a refit to oversee?"
"Well yeah, but they don't need me for all of that so-"
"In short, you're bored?"
"Yes..."
"Bored? Bored? You have an actual body! You can touch and feel and have things to do, whilst I just sit here, being an electrical...thing, making sure nothing explodes!" Caspar's voice boomed from above, causing the Lieutenant Colonel to chuckle, and Ritsuko to further lose the will to live.
"I am literally about to oversee one of the most important DNA samplings in history. Can I please do it without distraction." Those last few words were spat out.
There was silence for a bit, whilst the test started reaching its final stages.
"I don't recall it being your time of the month yet, Sub Commander?"
A few giggles and a practical scream of exasperation echoed across the vast cavern.
"Why did I ever turn it on...?" Gendo muttered to himself, whilst Kozo smiled.
After ten minutes of bleeping and blooping, the results finally came through. Ristuko walked over to her subordinates, as Misato chatted away to some of the Section 3 troopers, not getting much entertainment out of the thirty-one year old Sub Commander.
"Well, Lieutenant Ibuki, what have we got?" The faux blonde put a hand on the sat down and hunched over Section 4 member, who appeared to be completely engrossed by the monitor.
The young woman remained silent.
"Lieutenant?" Ritsuko said in a curious manner.
"Sub Commander...just look..."
Finally tiring of flirting with the Section 3 troopers, getting more than enough blushes out of them, the Lieutenant Colonel drifted over to the various quacks crowded around a single monitor.
"Found anything useful? A weak spot?" She stood behind them, arms folded.
Ritsuko slowly turned towards her old room mate, an expression that looked like it had seen a ghost imprinted upon her beautiful face.
"We can actually see the structure of their DNA." She whispered.
"Yes...so?" Misato tilted her head.
"Misato-chan...although it's made up of materials we don't even have names for-" the faux blonde took a deep breath, still trying to believe this.
"-The structure of Seraphim DNA is almost exactly the same as our own."
3:20pm, Tokyo-3, Tokugawa square
The sound of thousands of boots tramping in unison, hundreds of tanks rumbling forth, the massed bands hammering on their drums and blasting out their brass instruments, VTOLs screaming through the air, and the mighty rumble of five Susanoos, the entire 3rd Air fleet, should have drowned all noise out. But even Battotai march being played in full force, could not overcome the cheers of the massed crowds standing by both sides of the road. White banners with a red disc at the centre, red rays spreading to all corners, flew everywhere.
Unending yells of "Nippon Banzai", or "Banzai" surged like waves, unbreakable and unstoppable.
The turn out was almost touching for the General. She who sat in her armour plated limousine, her folded hands resting on her lap, quietly looked out of the window, watching the world go by. This journey which was to take her to the heart of the city, where her presence would be accepted by His Majesty himself, was nothing short of a formality. Although for Motichka, with all this display of Japanese military might around her, it wasn't an unwanted formality.
She'd always been a soldier at heart, growing up in a military family did that. Her father had served in the old JSDF, her grandfather in the Imperial Japanese Army, whom had fought at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, and it was rumoured Samurai blood flowed through the Motichka line.
She'd participated in parades such as this, one of the proudest moments of her life being one. A Lieutenant of the Japanese Self Defence Force, holding the flag, marching in tandem with her comrades all the way back in 1998.
Seems like a lifetime ago.
It was in some ways. For all the world.
Spirits, it was only twenty-one years ago when me, Akira-kun, and Daiki-kun where screwing around as Cadets...I wish they were here with me...
The other two heads of the Defence Board had remained in Fukoaka, to prevent power from being completely consolidated in one area. If disaster occurred at Tokyo-3, they could still govern the country. They'd complained about her leaving, Daiki even begging. For none of them trusted Gendo Ikari, all wanting the pretentious old swine dead. The three of them together were unassailable, as the poor souls of Bloody April 14th had discovered.
Now they were split apart, with Japan's dictator feeling surprisingly...alone. Not that she was afraid, but the company of her old school mates was honestly missed. They were the only other people in the nation, aside from Ikari and the Emperor himself, who Motichka could see as equals.
Taking her mind off all that, the brown haired forty year old focused on her men, one of her prides and joys, marching in synchronisation with her car. They looked resplendent, dark blue tunic and cap, crystal white trousers, and black shoes being their dress uniform.
Chiso had always felt she'd made a good choice with those uniforms.
Beyond them, crowds of people continued to furiously wave their flags, some children sitting on their parents shoulders waving two of them, one in each hand, huge grins on their faces.
The Dictator smiled back.
Then, the it faded, when memory of three equally cheerful faces entered her mind. A kind man with red hair, a businessman from the former Republic of Korea, holding two giggling babies on each shoulder.
Her husband Yi-Gun and her two beautiful girls.
Sachi and Yuki Motichka, both having their mother's eyes.
Chiso been young when she'd had children, only being twenty-two years old at the time. But did she think she was too young for it now, or even mistaken?
No, never.
She wouldn't trade those memories for anything in the world.
They were born at the start of January, of the year 2000, months before the horror of Second Impact.
She'd been blessed with twins.
The man who was their father, her boyfriend, promptly proposed, to which she accepted. And thus he'd worked from home, managing his small business, whilst she'd continued to rise through the ranks of the army. The city in which they were to grow up, was Old Tokyo. The General's home, the sprawling former capital of Japan, one of the largest inhabited domestic areas in the world at the time.
Growing up in this city, the girls had seen their father more than their mother, due to work, deployment, and such, but they still loved her.
It was a life the General would give anything to get back to.
For, whilst she, a Captain at the time, was out on manoeuvres, on the 21st of September 2000 AD, Second Impact occurred.
The floods came in so fast, in a way no one could have predicted. The coastal cities were swamped in a matter of days, not to be dry again until the great damming initiative of 2008. The people trapped in those dreadful places had one bit of solace, the JSDF had to be mobilizing. The army would come to save them. But the national diet, the parliament chosen to protect the Japanese people, panicked. They dithered, they dallied and squabbled over the correct course of action, as did many of the old democracies at the time.
So, for a precious day, the army, the navy, and the air force stood around, awaiting orders. When the command was finally given, Chiso was among the first in, paddling a rubber dingy through the thousands of islands that were once homes, making straight for her own. Her men did not consider her selfish. They understood her pain, as they felt it themselves.
Chiso's small yet comfortable home was totally submerged, the only thing she was capable of doing, was hopelessly screaming as her men desperately had to pin her down, to prevent the young captain from diving into the water. Army divers arrived soon enough, continuing on their sweep of the area, managing to get in through one of the shattered ground floor windows. And in the attic, they found the bloated, drowned bodies of a young man clinging tightly to two nine month old girls.
That day had changed the life of the woman who would be Japan's dictator. The democracy she had so happily served, was now something she despised. Motichka, upon identifying the bodies of her family, closing Yi-Gun's eyes for the last time, had vowed to crush and obliterate the weak system which had allowed her loved ones to die.
In the following further floods and earthquakes, with the population plummeting, promotion within the JSDF had come quickly for the extremely competent young woman. One thing had led to another, her belief in the weakness of democracy gaining the support of the army, and in 2004 she found herself as head of the new "National Defence Board."
She furiously blinked away a single tear, a sign of weakness. A thing she had personally vowed to stamp out.
General Motichka had to focus on the here and now, to honour her husband and her beautiful babies who would never grow up. Who would never say their first words, never go to school, never make friends, never pass their exams, never find boyfriend's or perhaps families of their own. They and tens of millions of Japanese would never see the future.
"Driver." Chiso said in an authoritative tone.
"Yes, General Motichka?" He said crisply.
"Open the sun roof...it's time I presented myself..."
Shinji would never wave the flag, or run headlong into battle for his country if he could help it. But he would sing "Kimigayo" with hand upon his meek heart, and a lump in his throat. He stood there, among all those thousands of people, watching the men march past in their disciplined formations and smart dark blue uniforms. Around him, a fair few of his classmates were joining in the chants of "Banzai" or cheering, Toji and Kensuke even punching their fists in the air.
Rei however did nothing else except watch everything go by, as if it were nothing more to her than shimmers in the pond. That did worry him, men in ordinary black suits and sunglasses were making their way through the crowd. A lack of trench coat telling all.
Ministry of the Interior. Probably making sure there isn't an assassin hiding with us. Crap, Ayanami-san, try and look a bit more patriotic! He flashed a quick glance of warning. She merely looked back, and remained as she was.
The men took one look at the albino, then clearly recognizing her, moved on.
The position Shinji and his classmates had chosen was a good one in his opinion, despite so many people being around him. At the other end of the street, well within sight, was the Imperial Palace. Considering what Motichka had to do before settling into Tokyo-3, the quiet young man was incredibly excited.
Actually seeing his Majesty...with my own eyes!
Emperor Kanaye publicly appeared bizarrely often for an Emperor of Japan. You could actually count his televised state addresses with more than the fingers on one hand, made even stranger by the fact he'd barely ruled for twelve years. And it had only been for the past one or two he'd been mentally mature enough to even be involved with the role. Shinji had never seen the crippled fourteen year old in person before, despite his monarch being present for many of the naval reviews at Kure. Of course with General Motichka at his side...
Then, as if on cue, the words "Motichka Banzai!" rippled through the crowd, drawing his attention to the source of it. Standing out of the sun roof of her car, gloved hand raised in acknowledgement, resplendent in dark blue uniform, was the dictator of Japan. He didn't repeat the words many others did, but respectfully bowed his head.
Inspired by the presence of their leader, the massed bands of the Tokyo-3 garrison struck up a song that stirred the hearts of all. A song even Shinji and his classmates found themselves joining in.
"Japan our home of many isles. Surrounded by the crystal sea! Red rising sun, let your rays illuminate the entire blue sky!
Cherry blossoms fall from heaven, for all who are brave enough! The soldiers of Japan know not retreat, for we would rather perish with honour! So forwards march as one!
Our lives for our beloved Japan!"
It was a chilling sensation, to join his voice with those of hundreds of thousands, but it made his spirits soar.
I am Japanese. I am a part of this. And I am proud of it.
"Spirits watch over our souls, as we march against your enemy! We see the flag flying ahead of us, in all its red rays of glory!
Cherry blossoms fall from heaven, for all who are brave enough! The soldiers of Japan know not retreat, for we would rather perish with honour!
So with our blood sweat and tears, the sun shall rise over our Japan!"
In tandem with the General's car reaching the steps of the Imperial palace, the drums and brass instruments of the Japanese State Army fell quiet. And so did the crowd, for they knew what came next.
Forty Imperial Guardsmen in their laced with gold uniforms, caps having a white feather firmly inserted in their fronts, spilled out of the open palace doors, forming a corridor of dark blue from the car to the entrance. Coming a few moments after them, a smaller figure whose complexion was sickly pale. He hobbled forward in a coat tailed black suit, walking stick held in his gloved hand.
But his eyes, eyes that only Chiso and her escort could see, those green eyes that pierced any and all defences, spoke volumes about the young man.
Coming to within a few feet of the commander of his armies, Emperor Kanaye bowed slightly, causing the General, a person who both terrified and awed millions, to bow even lower.
This simple ceremony over, he straightened up and cast his gaze upon the many thousands gathered before him, producing a slight smile. The disabled teen, two years the Eva Pilot's junior, stood on those steps with a strength unique only to him. With his one hand not in use, he raised it in greeting to his army, and his people.
The result was both soldier and civilian screaming in unison, again and again, "Tenno Heika Banzai!"
Among all those many many fists punched into the air, was Shinji Ikari's. His voice, drowned out by those of his classmates alone, was filled with a passion that Rei had only heard once before. Not quite in the same manner, but the feeling of devotion was similar. That was the voice with which he'd called out to her on the night they'd faced the 6th Seraph.
It baffled the ethereal girl. How one could feel so strongly for an inanimate rock, and someone the individual hardly knew, was beyond her.
Patriotism is a philosophy of ignorant ancestor worship. One that drives humanity apart like no other idea in existence. You must free us of such things, Rei.
That was what the Commander had said to her, and she would obey to the best of her abilities. That was the purpose of her creation after all. But...her curiosity on the matter was overwhelming. Her pale hand found itself tugging on Shinji's shoulder, catching his attention.
"Hm? What is it Ayanami-san?" He said, totally invested with whatever she had to say. In a way the Commander never could.
"I am still not understanding of the situation. Why do you place so much faith and care into all this?" Her quiet question caused him to blink in thought, before sighing.
"I'm finished here. We'll talk about it on the way home. Is that alright?"
A nod of acceptance sealed the matter.
"Alright. Um, Class rep!" He called out to the "pig tailed dictator."
"Ikari-san, outside of school it's Horaki-san. What can I do for you?" She said in what could be deemed a normal tone. Considering what he'd seen of her so far, it was surprisingly soft.
"Ayanami-san's ready to go home, and I've had enough. We'll see you tomorrow." He courteously bowed, which his class rep returned.
"Don't take any back alleys okay?" She added with a little harshness, full on implying that was an order.
"I promise."
Gaining two "see you later's" from Kensuke and Toji, the two Eva Pilots took one of the trains to the vicinity of the albino's run down home.
With the train carriage empty, and the journey being some fifteen minutes, Shinji felt there was plenty of time to talk.
"Sorry about hurrying you off like that. It's just...so many Ministry of the Interior agents around...didn't want them to think you were un-patriotic or something." His small smile turned into a chuckle when Rei innocently responded with "but technically I am."
"What is funny?" She tilted her head.
"You're honest and fearless. That...might not be such a good idea."
Making your true feelings known about the State had never been the smartest of things to do. If you were lucky, no one else would hear you. If you were unlucky, it was a week in a filthy cell. Along with a black eye and a broken nose.
He'd never been in one, and he never intended to.
"If they strike fear into you...then why do you owe them loyalty?" Rei pressed on regardless.
Her "brother" ran a hand through his hair.
"I...it's not that I like the government...actually I really kind of hate them sometimes but...it's the only one we have. I-I respect them and all, don't get me wrong, Motichka pulled us through some bad times. But they're too harsh, far too harsh..." He gulped a little bit, trying to put across his complicated feelings towards the "Defence Board."
"And besides, I care a lot more about Japan." He said firmly.
"Why?"
"Because it's my home. It's where I was born, it's where I was raised and it'll probably be where I die. Not to mention..." Shinji shook his head, as if thinking better of what he was going to say next. However, upon realising that a pair of red eyes where still fixed on him, an answer was coaxed forth.
"Alright. I don't think anything of myself. Hell, I don't really care all that much about myself to begin with...but with Japan and its people, my country and people, I'm part of something bigger, something better...more important than I could ever hope to be...I actually...belong somewhere..." His shrill voice became sad.
Go ahead, cry about how small and useless you are. Show her how pathetic you are.
"Sorry, that's a bit heavy for an afternoon conversation." He humourlessly chuckled to himself.
It was silent on the train for a while, until Rei opened her pale lips to speak again.
"I feel no connection with the landmass upon which I was created. Nor the people with whom I am meant to share a good deal of my DNA, or the individual who is meant to be my Monarch. I do not feel that bond like you do...but I understand. It must be very comforting to able to...belong somewhere..."
Shinji uselessly opened his mouth, trying to continue this conversation, but all that needed to be said had already been said. Some measure of understanding on the matter had been reached. No more words were spoken for the rest of the journey.