NGE: Another Way

Chapter 5

Homecoming

"She's set to go home I don't know how she made such a fast recovery after a four year coma, but Ms. Ayanami here pulled through. It's been quite a ride watching what's happened in the past month compared to the two years I've been assigned to Rei," The doctor explained.

Yes, it was the day I had longed for after 4 long years. It was indeed the day we would bring Rei home, well, her new home. When the doctor said those words, I couldn't help but think about Rei's old apartment in Tokyo-3. I remember the steel, bomb shelter-like walls, all the trash from food, bandages, and pills, the few pieces of furniture. It wasn't fit for anyone. If it wasn't Rei in that spot, anyone else would have suffered. Rei was used to things like that before her coma, but it almost seems as if she was a different person when she awoke; she couldn't take much.

I saw my father bow, with Misato following, eventually I did as well as he said:

"Thank you very much for letting Rei be supervised and pull through her condition here for this long, I apologize for any inconveniences we may have caused like the lack of visits in the past year."

"There's no problem at all. Things like this happen, and that's what we're here for. Now go get her and we'll finally sign you out of here."

"Thanks again," I said as he left.

We began the normal routine: we made our way to the elevator and ascended to the floor Rei was normally on.

"Oh! I forgot I'm sleeping in Rei's room! Do I need to head home?" Misato realized.

There was a moment of silence.

"She can sleep in my room for a night or two and then I'll sleep in the living room. You can switch if you truly want to," I reasoned, wanting Misato to stay a little longer.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

Father seemed like he was going to say something before I immediately intervened.

"Yes, of course. I still do owe you for letting me live with you all those years ago."

"Owe me? I owe you! You cooked and cleaned that place more in one day than I did in a year! You don't need-"

"No, no. I do. It'll all be fine."

I smiled to reassure her, she sighed in defeat and smiled back.

A ding was heard, and the elevator door opened.

I hadn't Father smile as wide as he did when we exited the elevator since we moved in together.

We approached the room and I opened the door.

I saw Rei standing in the opposite direction, staring out the window into the cloudy sky.

"Rei," Father called, quietly.

She seemed startled as she turned around.

"Hello," Rei said back, seeming worried.

"You're set to go. We can take you home now," he explained, as he stepped closer to his old pilot.

Rei remained silent, but began smiling after a few seconds.

"At last," I heard her whisper.

"Are you ready?" I asked.

"Y-yes," she answered, answering with a shy smile.

We began the walk out, as I stood next to her to make sure she didn't fall or anything. As we descended from the upper floors, I made a sudden realization after seeing Rei out of the room.

"Wait a minute! We didn't buy any spare clothes for Rei! How's she going to change out of this miserable hospital robe? We aren't prepared for this at all!" I pointed out, in a stressful tone.

I guess I made a dumb face or something, because the next moment Rei burst into laughter and Misato was chuckling.

I stepped back a moment. Rei was... laughing?

My dad sighed.

"I guess we have been a bit distracted with other things. Let's get her settled in at home first."

"Alright, Father."

The elevator made a ding as we hit the bottom floor. As we walked down the next corridor, I saw the receptionist smiling at us as we made our way to the exit.

The waiting room was surprisingly empty and the hospital seemed almost desolate, with the receptionist being the only employee or other person in sight.

I heard the front entrance open, as I mindlessly stepped.

I turned back to Rei, leading her to the outside world.

There was bewilderment in her red eyes that looked upward, into the light blue sky.

"Th-this is the f-first time out of the..." Rei quietly said, trailing off.

I remained quiet, as did Misato and Father. Although, I didn't think they heard her.

Rei stood there for a second. Soon, a tear and a small smile appeared on her face.

We soon approached the car, where I let Rei in first and followed her into the back seat.

It was a quiet drive home, mostly because of the elephant in the room, or the car perhaps.

I couldn't help but think we were pushing Rei too hard by immediately taking her home without warning. This might've been the wrong thing to rush, considering the doctors' orders. I looked to my left. I mean, she looked fine (except of how thin she was) and seemed grateful to leave the place where she laid practically dead for four long years, but like I said earlier, we were barely prepared for this. At least I wasn't.

In my mind, everything was coming too fast. Next thing you know, Asuka could be busting through our front door to kill me or he could be back from the dead.

I'm sure you know what I mean by he. I don't mention him due to the hell that bastard put me through after I ended him against my will. Everything was his fault in those few days that I knew him, well his and SEELE's.

I knew I shouldn't speak my mind, so I just sat there, constantly checking on Rei and going back to my thoughts.

The ride felt like hours, although the house was only half of one away.

In the duration of most of the drive home, I couldn't help but look back and think about what I could've done or could've said. It could've been anything. I didn't know who had it the worst, so I couldn't get a straight answer.

Father had failure in his desperate attempts of bringing back Mother, before realizing his only family left was right before his eyes, being nearly too late.

Misato was betrayed, suffered through Second Impact first-hand while losing her father, lost the only one she thought she could love, only to be feared by me and shunned by Asuka.

Rei was born out of someone else's life, treated as if she could be replaced, forced to do NERV's bidding, got killed twice and ultimately took the wrong path to finally rebel.

Asuka lost her mother twice, relied on her advantages too much to realize they weren't who she truly was, failed to use her true personality because she was too insecure (which resulted in misinterpretation of her and others' feelings), was tortured mentally to scoop out all of her flaws, and fell into a nearly catatonic state.

I didn't want to be selfish and pity myself more than the others, but I had too much wrong to even list off.

The thing is that I couldn't help but think that we all had sort of a happy ending. Was this our redemption? Our revival? Or was it not over?

I felt the car stop.

"Here we are, Rei. We're home," I told her, with my hand on her shoulder.

"Home..." I heard her whisper.

I once more thought about her "home", and how this could truly be her first.

Father got out and grabbed things from the hospital that they gave us, while Misato and I helped Rei out, leading her upstairs.

When I opened the door, Rei didn't seem to want to come in.

"What's up Rei, why won't you come in?" I asked.

"I feel as if I'm intruding," she answered, shyly.

I knew exactly what Misato was going to say and left it to her.

"You aren't intruding, Rei. This is your home now, too," the guardian said, giving me a wink.

Those words brought back so many good memories with Misato in the apartment.

She reacted in the same way I did, until I saw a tear.

"Rei-" I was about to say until:

"I wouldn't have known I needed a home before, but now that I'm here..." she trailed off.

"It's okay, I know the feeling. You should've seen me just after I moved in." I reassured her.

She smiled at me.

Phew. Her brain activity must be so off the charts right now, it's like a movie script.

"We'd best get you out of this thing you've been wearing," Misato pointed out, snapping me out of my trance.

Misato looked around the younger girl.

"You're about my size, come on, let's see," Misato almost ordered.

The two girls went into the room where Misato was currently staying and shut the door behind them.

I guess I looked worried as I sat down on the couch, as my father said:

"Everything will be alright, Shinji. It sure will," he said.

Later that night, I left for the store to find stuff for dinner. Whilst there, I was poked on the back. I turned around, only to see Fuyutsuki.

"Hey, Fuyutsuki. How are you?" I asked.

"I'm good. You seem to have quite to have quite the basket of ingredients there," he answered.

"Oh, Misato's visiting for a little while."

"I hear more than that from Gendo. He's been fixated on something else whenever we're at lunch when you have class."

"I guess someone was going to figure it out. Rei's awake."

"Really? How didn't they find out about who she is or how it happened?"

"You'll have to ask Father about that after we throw a party for her. We're trying to have sort of a NERV reunion. I'll let you know when."

"That's nice. Well, I better let you go. Goodbye, Shinji."

"See ya!" I waved.

When I got home, Misato had moved her stuff to my room.

Rei was no longer in her hospital attire, but in a green t shirt and blue shorts. Of course, they were a little big on her due to her excessive weight loss.

I served up quite a feast, considering it was a special day.

"OH MY, SHINJI! YOU'VE OUTDONE YOURSELF!" Misato cheered.

"Why thank you, Misato," I responded.

Rei seemed overwhelmed by the amount of food on the table, unlike the other two, who dug right in. I wondered if she remembered that she was vegetarian from her previous self after she died, came back, and got knocked out for four years.

Soon, she was just like Father and Misato, eating three times faster than me. I wasn't very hungry, so I began cleaning whatever was finished. By the time dinner was finished, Father went to bed because of his early work schedule that week. It was still a little early for bed, so Misato, Rei, and I watched a movie until one of them began to fall asleep.

As I lay on the couch, waiting for my slumber to hit me, I realize my home was complete.

Something still bothered me.

'Damn it, Asuka. Why must you haunt me?' I asked myself as I slowly lost consciousness.

I woke up late the next morning, without classes for the day.

I knew Dad was already gone because of the coffee mug on the counter, but no one else was around.

I made breakfast for the two ladies in the house and I, quickly ate, and waited for one of them to wake up.

Suddenly, I heard a door open from behind me.

"G'morning, Shinji," Misato greeted. She was already ready for the day.

"Good morning. You're ready for the day. Got something planned?" I asked.

"Not really. Just wanted to get out of being tired."

I had my doubts but didn't really know or care what she was really up to at the time.

"I guess it's time I got ready as well," I responded, sneaking into my room where Rei was sleeping. I looked at her for a second. I don't think I had seen her sleep peacefully before. I grabbed some clothes and escaped to the bathroom to change.

I got out of the bathroom, seeing Misato eating breakfast. I sat, watching the news for now. Minutes later, I hear a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," I said.

I jumped over the couch and opened it.

My eyes widened, as if this were a dream or a nightmare.

Then she appeared, the one I'd least expect to see.

"Hello, Shinji."

"A-Asuka?!"

A/N:

So sorry to leave you there but that's how this is gonna go! I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and sorry for the delay! I'm planning out what lays ahead for Shinji from here. Next chapter soon!

stay cool,

bakercomics