Hello again, everyone!

We've reached 10 Chapters, and I really can't help to be truly satisfied with it, I wish to thank you all who are reading, favoriting and following my work with all my gratitude!

But before starting with it, READ THIS: I wanted to give a quick clarification, 'cause it seems like it may still have caused some confusion in some of you readers, about what happened in last chapter: what Asuka witnessed WAS NOT a memory, but her imagination, that's why things went differently than in the 2nd Movie, that's why she's "conscious" during the UNIT 03 accident.

So I hope now you have a clearer understanding of it, in case you might wanna re-read it (I also suggest to pay close attention to the dialogue between her and Shinji at the end)

So, that being said, let's move on: our couple is going to take some further considerations about how to maintain their bond intact, AND a certain someone is also about to play a role possibly not that unexpected to you readers, but for which no character is certainly prepared for ...

Let's see how it will go!

Chapter 10

As Kensuke gave a small yawn and stretched his arms, his ears still managed to capt the sound of pouring water from behind the shower's tent.

And not seeing any other presence in the area, he correctly assumed at least one of his guests was already there. And probably he didn't even have to guess who it was, as his eyes catched the unexpected sight on the kitchen's table.

"Oh, good! Looks like things are finally turning around at the lake, Shinji!", the bespectacled man said with a huge grin, his eyes shifting from the fish on the table to the shower's tent, which was actually pulled off, revealing the wet head of the boy he had called peeking from behind it.

"Err ... Thanks, Kensuke", was his evergreen reply of shyness, as the former geek saw his cheeks coloring again of red embarassment, "But actually that's all I managed to catch"

"No problemo, mi amigo!", was the amused reply from Kensuke, "It's still great to know we can still do it!"

The blush increased more, and not because of further embarassment, as a bitter thought about that "We" he had said caused Shinji to feel slightly more concerned.

"Anyway, Kensuke ... Hope you don't mind about that, but ... That fish's already been reserved"

"Uh? Reser-what?", was the genuinely confused question from the blinking man.

"I ... I planned to cook it especially ... for Asuka", was the still half-embarassed reply from the wet boy.

"Uh? ... Oh, I see ...", was the now slightly smug look his former classmate gave him, putting his hands on his hips.

"Excuse me?!", was another, unexpected exclamation both heard, and that made Kensuke blink and blush even more, the moment he saw another wet head, this time a female one covered by an unmistakable crimson mane, peeking from the other side of the tent, with her flaggerbasted look directed at the still embarassed boy.

"GAH! Oh, come on!", was the even more than embarassed reply from the adult one, who immediately covered his eyes with both of his hands, "I was going to use that shower, too!"

That made both teen look towards him with slightly surprised expressions.

"Are you serious?", was the dry comment from the frowning redhead, "You know that a shower is supposed to take away anything "dirty", do you?"

"ARGH! No need for a mental image!", the man replied nervously, actually turning on himself to make them see only his back, and still without removing his hands from his face.

Asuka just snorted in annoyment, as she brought her head back behind the tent, also dragging along her embarassed sweetheart, now sporting a darker shade of red on his face.

They managed to get out and dry up pretty soon, also putting their clothes back, and so allowing Kensuke to let out a great sigh of relief, as they walked past him to go wait outside 'til he was done with his shower, and so let Shinji start making dinner.

"Are you really going to make that fish just for me?", was the genuinely bewildered question he heard from her soft voice, making him turn to look at her.

"... Of course. It's been long since I made you something like that, so now that I can have it ... I knew that, being just one fish, it wouldn't have caused any problem with Kensuke"

Their stare wondered towards the tent from which they had come out not too long before, and from behind which they could hear water pouring again.

"Mphf. Hope he won't start to make a fuss for each move we make", the redhead commented with a frown.

Shinji gulped softly at that.

"He'd better start to get soon how we just can't be separated for any reason ... it'll be permanent", she said again, causing the boy to blink in slight confusion.

She turned to look at him, now revealing her signature seriouness all over her face.

"Because that's what I'm going to do ... I'm gonna make sure that we're gonna earn the chance to be together all the time"

"All the time?", he repeated, the tone with which she had pointed out those precise words hitting him in a strange way, which also resulted in some insecurity being casted upon his look.

"Look Shinji", she restarted to speak, her tone as full of determination as ever, "Even with all of this, I'm still going to put an end to this mess. They know I can do it, and they won't ignore how essential my help will be ... So, once I will have made sure everything I have to do for them will be done ... I'll make sure they give me something in return"

More fear stinged inside of Shinji's essence, as he took in those words.

"I'll still be at WILLE's service, of course ... But when they won't need me there, I'll make them let me stay here, right where you are ... Even in case they won't need me to pilot an EVA ever again"

Now his eyes were widened at the maximum.

"You want ... to stay here? Forever?"

"Danger or not, I'm still their top soldier ... and they can't refuse to at least take into consideration such a request. And given how everything will be clearer than now ... We may even tell them I'm going to stay with you"

"WHAT?!", he let out before even thinking of blocking it.

"Once everything will be done, Shinji, there won't be just a Pilot Shikinami ... but also another living peril, which they cannot let wander around the world like that. So, I don't see why I couldn't just make it easier for them, to control both of us"

"B-But ... Will they ever let two like us stay like this, even without any EVA trouble around?", he asked nervously

"Dummkopf, we're already in the same place at the same time!", she replied with a bit more force in her voice, "It'll be OUR new "punishment"! One for which they won't even have to put a Choker back on you!"

"And what about you, instead? What about the Ninth?", he asked, his tone grimmer.

She blinked at him with her good eye, as a slight feeling of having to touch her eyepatch reached her brain, but she soon shook it off.

"It has stayed so for many years ... I'm the one who has to keep it inside, and you can be sure I'm gonna do it just flawlessly! ... As I know you'll keep doing it too ..."

Her mind flashed to the times they had shared together in more intimacy, and during which he had showed the greatest attention in not causing any trouble with her patch.

He seemed to have thought of that too, as a tiny inch of a smile formed on his face.

"And anyway, I'll make sure they let us be. They'll have greater troubles to think about anyway, with a World to put back on its feet anyway ... We'll be just doing what they expect us to do ..."

"... Stay out of their world ... Since it's not ours anymore", he finished her sentence, making her eye widen more in realization, and then causing her lips to curve into her fondest smile.

She cut the distance between them by making two small steps towards him, and then engulfing him in a big hug, which he soon reciprocated, both having their most caring smiles on their faces.

Right after that, they both heard their other roomate get out of the shower, dressed in a white bathrobe, while walking towards where he kept his clean clothes.

"So, I guess he'll just have to deal with it. We're not gonna stop now", was her last statement, as both observed their old classmate.

The more her words echoed in Shinji's mind, the more he found himself not only agreeing with them ... but also thinking of something more to do, about them.

As he put down the helmet, Ryoji Kaji dried the sweat off his forehead with his arm, blowing a bit.

He turned behind him one last time, allowing himself to take in the last fruits of his work, at the barrier.

'Fruits ... I better start soon, before I procrastinate too much'

His train of thoughts was suddenly interrupted by the sight of a familiar shape not too distant from where he was; as he stared silently at him, the shape actually turned towards him, and he could see his head turn slightly back, as if he too was surprised to see him there.

But soon after, he saw him also raise his arm, waving at him; he waved back, allowing a small smirk to appear on his face, even though he knew he couldn't see it from where he stood.

And it wasn't long before he saw him standing right in front of him.

"Hello, Ryoji. Everything good?"

The way his tone seemed more ... excited, almost caught the purple haired boy off guard.

"Sure, Shinji! How about you, instead?"

"It's okay", he replied calmly.

A brief pause followed, during which Ryoji could sense like the brown haired boy was about to ask him something.

"So ... I was actually wondering ... if I could ask you something ..."

"To me? Sure!", the taller boy replied.

"About what ... we discussed last time, you know ..."

"Oh yeah! About that, I still want to thank you for the tip! I'm ready to start searching to the right spot where to start!"

"Really?!", was the now truly excited reply from the boy, who made Ryoji blink in surprise.

Sensing this, Shinji blinked too in apparent embarassment, as he shrugged his shoulders a bit more.

"Sorry, you see ... That's what I was going to ask you ... if you could show me"

"Uh?"

"How to ... you know, find a spot too ... and how to grow something"

"You want too?", Ryoji asked, to which the other boy just nodded, "... Of course! We can go even now, if it's okay for you!"

"Uh ... sure! You done for today, here?", Shinji asked, sounding slightly unsure.

"You bet I am! The sooner I get off this fornace, the better! So, just wait a few more time, and then we're ready to go!"

"So, I was thinking about a mostly isolated spot ... Not that it is really easy to find around here, but I'm sure a few holes have been left"

"You don't want others to find it?", Shinji asked curiously, as the two walked on the empty path around the open fields.

"Well, like you suggested, it's something I'd like to mostly do on my own ... Then, they'll be always welcome to come and see the results, of course!"

Shinji nodded with a small smile.

"Say, Shinji ... Do you need your own space too? You got something to take off your back?"

Normally, the brown haired teen would've stopped dead in his tracks with a gasp ... but he just kept on walking, sporting a more neutral look.

"I ... I wanted ... It's just I ... work better, on my own ... Somehow, it makes others more satisfied with my results"

"Mmm ... I see. Then again, I rarely saw you around ... But you were already acquainted with Aida-san, right?"

Now the boy blinked in unexpected surprise, at his question.

"Yes, we ... we met a long time ago. And also with doctor Suzuhara and his family"

"Got it ... And, sorry if I ask you, but ... Have you always lived alone?"

Again, Shinji felt the impulse to stop right there, but instead just kept on going on, and to find a proper answer.

"I ... Yes, I ... I've always been alone"

"Sorry if I asked you. But somehow, I deduced it ... You know, I've been on that boat too"

Now realization hit Shinji hard in the back of his mind, like a beam shot at him by an EVA.

"It's never easy to be around people you don't feel you belong to ... But I guess that, since I never met my parents, I can't really say I ever belonged to someone"

And now, that beam turned into the Prog Knife's blade, which he felt going down through his ribs.

"But ever since I've been little, everybody never left me be on my own, and made me see how to actually feel like I never missed anything, or anyone really essential ... You still miss that, Shinji?"

'I ... Can you miss something you never had? 'til now, I never belonged to anyone ... And I never felt like anyone really needed to have me with them'

"How ... How can you miss something you never had, Ryoji? ... Sorry if I sound rude"

"You don't, absolutely! I understand your question, but ... you see, to miss something, you don't have to necessarily have it from the beginning ... maybe you just still don't realize you already have it, or that you can have it ..."

And suddenly, Shinji did stop, and with his widened, shocked eyes didn't see the boy anymore, keeping to walk right in front of him ... but a much older, burlier, brown haired man, who then stopped to, turning slowly towards him with his evergreen smile right on his face.

"Shinji? You feel ok?"

And now, the purple haired boy was back, eyeing him with a curious glance.

"I ... Yes, sorry ... I was spacing out, maybe I didn't sleep well last night"

"Well, I hope it was nothing serious. Then, let's focus on our task. I'd say we better start from ... the rice fields", the taller boy stated, pointing with his left arm towards the distance, where Shinji could see said place he had talked about.

Nodding in agreement, he let the taller boy lead him that way, taking a few steps back, returning to observe his shape from behind.

Same posture, same confidence, same wisdom, even in front of perfect strangers like him.

For Shinji, it was instead like having back someone he ... truly missed.

And that probably that boy too would've missed, if he had known more about him ... and about the reasons he wasn't there anymore.

'You should've still been here. He deserved you. And instead, you wasted a lot of time just with me'

'Well, if I hadn't done that, now you wouldn't have shared something I cared a lot about with my son, wouldn't you?'

He still kept on walking, but the same shock he had revealed before stood right on his face, as his ears now seemed to capt another set of steps, walking right behind him.

He didn't turn behind to see, both for fear of not finding anything ... and for fear of making it disappear just because he had dared to turn.

'You could've told him yourself, if it wasn't for me. Both of you could've stayed with him'

'She's still here, after all. Don't you think she'll finally come here and meet him, once Asuka and WILLE will have solved the situation?'

'If she were to come here, the first thing she'd do would be strangling me for good, instead of having me talk with him as if nothing had happened'

'Mmm, now she's much more self-controlled, though. She wouldn't react too instinctively'

'You knew her better than me. But we both know how seriously she took the protection of her dear ones'

'Well, she did that with you too, all the time'

'... I didn't deserve it then, and definitely not now. Like I wouldn't deserve your care too'

'And yet, here I am, talking to the same boy I revealed my secret garden to'

'... Because that was before you could've seen the real me ... I ... I shouldn't think of you, it's not fair!'

'Why?'

'It's unfair to her! To your son! To all those who knew you, and who you helped! Those you had to die for!'

'You were one of those too, Shinji'

'NOT ANYMORE!'

'You're using the same tone, and you're saying the same things you would've said if I was here in a more ... concrete way'

'More Alive'

'Memory serves to keep things Alive, Shinji'

'But there's no use in doing that, for me! You would say that too! You would've probably triggered the Choker even before they told you to do!'

'STOP RIGHT NOW!'

He did stop to reply, as he took in the anger he'd never thought to hear from that voice

'It's almost like you never knew me, for saying such a thing!'

'I only knew one part of you! Like I only knew one part of her! You see how she's changed now, how she had to treat me as the criminal I am! Why shouldn't have you?!'

His hands clenched into fists, as his arms shook uncomfortably.

'I ... I only use memory to escape ... And I promised I'd never do that again! ... I can't count on what I made everyone else lose ... including myself'

'But what you're remembering now is something that really happened ... Something that made you feel good, even if for a very short time ... What's wrong in aknowledging that?'

'... That I'm just using an excuse to try to feel better! I can't feel better! I'm not going to use your son as a replacement!'

'But still, all of this will remain, alongside the worst you've been through. And I still don't see what wrong you would do, by just being pleased for having lived something good with someone who trusted you'

'I ... I ... I can't escape again. I have to stop that. Now I have to take care of things, for Asuka ...'

'You want to make her happy, and that's a great thing. I would've done the same for my girlfriend, you know it'

'... And now you can't do it anymore. And that also made her lose the last beautiful thing you left her'

'She'll never forget me, Shinji. Just as you'll never forget me, either ... And you can be sure, as long as you'll remember our times together ... that even I will never forget you"

'... K-Kaji-san! ... I'll always miss you! ... But I have to let you go ... They had to, why shouldn't I?'

'You know that I always looked up to you, even if you never fully believed it. And that means, you knew you could count on me, for everything ... So, I'm sure you'll come to look for me again ... You wouldn't have done it now, if you didn't believe I was sincere with you'

'... Goodbye, Kaji-san. If I can make one last promise ... I'll never forget you!'

'... Make sure your dears will never miss anything. I know I can trust you on that, Shinji ...'

No more steps, no more voice were heard behind him.

Only a single, hopeless tear sliding down on his cheek was the last sign of what he would've tried hard to not miss ...

She really seemed not interested at all, today.

Not that she could say to have really been like that, the first times.

Interest was not to be confused with Curiosity.

And right now, she was still feeling that.

Not about the work in the fields, or about the words from the other ladies she had spent all the time with.

But about the one person she could've talked with about something more ... important.

Not that working, or talking with other people was not ... But they still didn't seem to have the answers she still wanted.

Answers that, maybe, that person too was searching.

Which, she supposed, meant she had to go search for him, before ...

But she couldn't just leave her job, could she?

... Why did she feel like she was fighting something, when nothing was there in front of her, to fight?

Answers she never found ... except maybe this time!

Because she was sure her eyes weren't cheating her ... there he was!

Up on the hill, talking with another boy she had never met, who was apparently pointing at something.

The boy she was interested in (yes, now she could say that) was apparently listening to what the other was saying, his hands in his jacket's pockets, and his head slightly nodding.

He looked ... fascinating, while doing that.

He still stood apart from all the other shapes around her, and not because of some peculiar characteristics ... Her irises were really trembling, as if they couldn't sustain the essence he was emanating ... kinda like when an EVA went berserk, but without destroying anything.

She had always lived around EVAs, and being a Pilot, under the Commander's orders, and he was one too, but now ... it seemed like he too was interested in searching for something more ...

"So, since we can't really grow something like watermelons, around this area ... We should probably move farther, towards the less humid ones"

"Why? Wouldn't it be better if we had more water available?"

"It depends from what you want to grow, Shinji. You're interested in watermelons, too?"

"No, I ... I just want to know how to grow something. Anything will be good"

"Then, let's go search somewhere else ... Maybe near the ruins, so you may feel more familiar with the area?"

'That would solve the problem of time. I wouldn't have to waste it to go back and forth'

"Sure. Then let's go"

They both turned to reach the path for the ruins, when a soft echo of approaching steps made them turn their heads slightly to their right.

And there, Shinji felt all of his body stiffen like a rock.

"Hello, Ikari-kun"

Both boys stared silently at the likewise girl, wearing the black plugsuit, a large sunhat over her blue mane, and green boots to help her walk in the water below.

"Err ... Good morning?", Ryoji greeted back, making the girl turn towards him with a curious look, followed by her bowing respectfully at him.

"You ... You're the other girl who arrived here with Shinji, right? Do you know her?", the purple haired boy asked the other male, who just looked speechless at the girl.

"Ah ... Yes, she came here with me", he just said.

Yes, they had arrived there together ... and a few moments after that, she had watched him go away, without coming back.

Now, it was almost like he had done that, at last ... although, he didn't seem to show any form of interest, in her ...

"I ... never saw you come here, before ...", her whispery tone let him know, causing a new sting of rigidity inside of his muscles.

"I ... I'm just helping Ryoji with something we ... have to do", the brown haired teen replied, flashing a somehow shaky glance at the taller boy, who in turn raised his eyebrow at him, confused at his nervousness.

"I see ...", was all she said.

So he was still doing something ... maybe he was even more busy than she was, that was the reason ... that was taking his interest away.

"And ... we should probably go, before it gets too late", was the new statement from the Ikari boy.

"I ... Sure, if you're in a hurry ...", Ryoji replied, blinking in more confusion.

"I ... Then maybe ...", the pale skinned girl started to say softly, before a new call interrupted her.

"Mrs. LookALike!"

All three of them looked down, on the river stream where an older lady was waving her arm in the pale girl's direction.

"I should go too ... Goodbye"

She gave one last bow to both of them, which Shinji also gave back, before descending towards her co-workers.

"Mrs. LookALike?", Ryoji asked, scratching the side of his head with a hand, "Why do they call her like that?"

He turned towards Shinji, who in turn seemed quite stiffened again ...

"Because ... She looks very similar to ... another person who's not here anymore"

"Oh? Did she have a sibling, or something like that?"

"... Kinda", was all the brown haired boy could say.

The taller boy just gave a small nod, before both reprised to walk away.

"I noticed she was wearing a plugsuit, like that of Shikinami-san", the purple haired boy said again, making Shinji gulp softly, "Does she know her too? Do they work together?"

The image of an outraged Asuka shouting at them flashed before Shinji's eyes, as he gave a brief shake with his head.

"Not exactly ... How do you know about plugsuits, anyway?", the shorter boy asked, raising an eyebrow at the other one.

"It would be like asking me or anybody else if we knew about Evangelions, even if we don't pilot them. And anyway, like I said, it's kinda like the one Shikinami-san wears every day, only with a different color"

Different. Yes, that's what Asuka would've remarked 'til death.

And actually, even Shinji would've said something similar, but not just about the plugsuit.

He wouldn't have ever imagined to find her there. He didn't remember she was assigned that job.

He hadn't thought about her, all those days, as if she wasn't there ... Because technically, SHE wasn't there.

He had refused to let his brain mess up with him also on that, besides the amount of troubles he already had to take care of.

And if anything, she wasn't even a trouble to begin with ... like SHE had never been, in the past.

LookALike ... But not the same.

Maybe on that he could take a breath of relief ... Even if she reminded him of the past, she wasn't the past.

She couldn't have known anything about it, even if he was to ask her.

"She kinda looked ... peculiar? I don't want to sound rude, but ... She seemed kinda spaced out, while looking at you ..."

'Spaced out? I didn't do nothing this time, I'm sure! Why would she feel like that? She didn't even listen to my suggestions, at the GeoFront'

Not like Ryoji was listening to him, instead.

He still looked sincerely interested, in what he had told him ... she seemed just lost.

'If she was still HER ... maybe we could've had something more, to share ... Now she's just looking at me without ... nothing'

She didn't have nothing, apparently ... like he and Asuka ... But she seemed just fine.

'She's not a criminal, even if we retrieved her from my father ... That's why they're letting her give a hand there ... She doesn't need anything from me, anymore'

Hard to believe, at least for him, he was the one in need of something.

And he was just going to find it, sooner or later.

With nothing more to get lost into, wether from the past or from the present.

The small bit of Future he and Asuka could have was somewhere around that area, and he was sure to go deep down to find it.

There had to be, a good spot for ...

"Our House?!"

The many blinks her good eye gave him made her look as lost as ever, as the evening light made it shine more.

"For sure", he replied calmly, not showing any form of concern.

She repetated her action with her eye, while her mouth stood wide open without letting any comment, reprimand or similar out.

"... You're going too far, Baka", she said, regaining a more serious composure.

"I'm not saying they have to build it for us. But since the point is for us to stay here, away from the rest of the World, why not make it even more evident?"

"But you ... You don't know how they would react"

"To us living in an isolated spot, and coming to them only to do what we're already doing? The only difference would be that Kensuke won't have to worry about being involved in our "schemes", or how he would call them"

Now she felt even more taken aback, as she looked from her seat on KenKen's house doorway to where he stood, just next to her, taking in how seriously he was eyeing her, and from how determined and secure his tone was.

Almost like hers ...

"Ja ... I can see that working ... Sure, what difference could it make for them, anyway?"

Now she looked more reassured, also sporting a small smile, while her eye was slightly frowning at him, anticipating what she was going to say, as seriously as he had been 'til then.

"Then I'm coming to search for it too"

And now his expression was back to his trademarked bewilderment.

"I can take another day to "guard you"; this is about me too, so I want to make sure we can manage to do it 100%"

She moved closer to him, leaning her face towards his, a few small inches separated from each other.

"I can see it happen way more than ever now, my Shinji"

He blinked so hard, it was like his head was going to fall off his body in that exact moment.

She blinked too, more softly and more surprised, before understanding what she had said that caused his reaction.

"Well ... What did you expect, by now?"

'I ... I still cannot ... believe it', his face seemed to say.

She just gave him a playful poke on his forehead, before leaning her head back while still eyeing him with a satisfied look.

Which he, after some more seconds of bewilderment, approached with his face, taking hers in his hands, and planting an absolutely grateful kiss on her lips.

As the darkness of the night started to cover the area around them, the burning light of their shared assurance grew more fiery, letting them feel the heat of their bodies and spirits totally synchronized in perfectly knowing they weren't going to miss anything else.

"So, Miss LookALike ... You were quite distracted, today", was the cheerful comment she heard from Miss Suzuhara, as they were checking on little Tsubame.

"I ... I didn't mean to neglect my duties", was the apologetic response from the pale girl.

"Nobody said you did! But it was certainly curious to hear you were interested in talking to Shinji!", the woman replied, still sporting her smile.

"I ... I was ..."

'He wasn't tough ... Because he had his duties too ... Maybe I should've kept doing mine, instead'

"You could always go to Kensuke's and have a chat, after work! That way you won't be distracted at all!"

'No distractions ... Because we would be alone ... together'

I'm not gonna lie ... The "dialogue" between Shinji and Kaji wasn't programmed, at first ... and it sincerely made me cry, while writing it.

Not because of the words I used, but because of the implications.

I've always loved Kaji, and the way he built his relationships with all the other characters; effectively, both in the Original Series and in the REBUILD, his disappearence cost so much both to the characters, and to the viewers, in a way ...

And now, we're gonna finally have what some of you may have wished to see from quite a while, I'm sure ;): Rei won't stay in the backseats anymore, now, it's time for her to find something too.

Will it bring to something even more unexpected, for her and the other two Children?

Stay tuned, and thanks again for all the support!

'til next time!