Nothing Will Ever Change That

Disclaimer- I do not own anything to do with NGE.

Chapter 54: Planning

NERV – Akagi's Office – That Morning

"I'm just not too sure on how to go about doing this, so was wondering if you could help." I had no idea on how to do this, so I was asking Akagi about it.

"Well, for starters, you're going to need a casket. I know that his body wasn't found, but we can fill it with his belongings like we did for Sam's grave. I know a place we can go to for it. We will also need a priest, a few dozen flowers, and obviously a grave. Most of that we can just go out and buy. Remember, money is no object, NERV is paying for all of this, so don't worry about it." NERV was paying for it?

"Um… okay… thanks. I just needed a few pointers, I can do the rest by myself." I didn't need her to do anything; I just needed a place to start.

"You sure? I can help if you want me to," I shake my head.

"No thanks, I think I need to do this on my own." I felt that this was supposed to be my responsibility, and not anyone else's. I walked out of the room to find Sam waiting for me. "Oh… hi Sam. You need something?"

"Let me come with you. Please, I want to help with this." I wasn't too sure about it, but her eyes were too much for me.

"Uh… sure, if you want to. I'm going to get a casket right now. I'll let you pick it out, okay?" she nods and we head off to my car.

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Funeral Home – 12:00

The car ride here was terrible. Not a word was said, and I could tell that Sam was one step away from crying at any moment. As we entered the front doors, we saw a room filled with flowers, caskets, frames, and all other funeral necessities.

"This is not club house! Get out, we have real costumers!" A man wearing all black came up to us and started to push us out.

"Hey! What the hell? We ARE costumers! Get your hands off of me!" I whip around and flash my NERV ID.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! What can I do for you?" he had a weak smile on.

"Well, for one, treat us with some respect!" he bows his head, "Forget it… look we need to plan a funeral, and…" He popped up and began to talk.

"Well then, you've come to the right place!" he sounded more like a car-salesman than anything, "If you would come with me I'll show you the plans we offer!" I didn't like how this guy acted about this. We followed him into a small room and sat down. The man took out a few three-ring binders and opened one of them.

"Okay, to start, my name is Benito," he puts out his hand, and neither of us takes it, "well… okay… anyway, we have a lot of different kinds of plans to choose from. If I may ask, is this for a child or an adult?" now I was able to talk with this asshole.

"A child. He was the Fifth Child, and the pilot of Unit 05," his eyes went wide.

"He's dead! But… he was the best fighter NERV had to offer! We're so screwed!" we both glared at him.

"For one, he was more than just a pilot. And two, thanks for the support. Can we just get on with this?" I was really getting pissed.

"S-sorry. Well, we do have a plan that should work fine. It covers the casket, ten dozen flowers, – your choice of color – a grave in any cemetery in Japan, and a priest. The total would come out to be about 500000 Yen. Sound good? If not, we do have others that…" I cut him off.

"That's fine. Can it be scheduled to be done by month's end?" Sam was finally talking.

"Of course! Now, I'll just need your signature and we'll be done here!" I take the paper from him and sign, "Now I'll just need a check for the money and then," I flash my NERV ID again.

"It is all being paid for by NERV. Just wire the money to them. Thanks for all your help," he just sits there.

"I've been ripped off by the government… again…" I heard him mutter. I felt that Sam was starting to get a LITTLE better. She was actually talking today, and I haven't seen one tear.

"Thank you… Shinji…" I turn to see a small yet apparent smile crossing her face. I just smile back and get into the car. "So… um… only three more months…" what was she… wow. That was unexpected.

"Um… yeah. Don't tell her, but I can tell without even looking at her!" Sam giggled a little. But seriously, Asuka has been pissed at everything lately! I don't think I can take it for three more months!

"She'd kill you if she heard you…" Sam's voice was still bland and distasteful. No emotion, no feeling, it was worse than Rei's. I just wasn't able to relate to what she was feeling.

"I know…" I drive back to NERV.

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NERV – Asuka's Room – 4:00

"What the hell do you want!" apparently, I wasn't allowed to knock on her door anymore. She has been having tantrums lately, which was expected, but I felt that she was going into a depression. In the last month, she has become more reclusive, but I just thought it was because of Cass's death. I tried not to let it affect me too much.

"C-can I come in?" I'm entering the dragon's lair here!

"Do whatever you want!" I slowly open the door to see her lying on her back on the bed. Wow… she was getting quite the stomach. I hadn't noticed that, "You need something or what?" damn, I can't wait till she's done!

"Um… yeah, me and Sam just got done planning Cass's funeral. It'll be next month, and I just wanted to know if you were going," I knew she was, but better safe then sorry.

"Well of course! I won't just forget about him!" should have just assumed.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to…" she cut me off.

"Don't apologize! You didn't do anything…!" I didn't? "Sorry… just having a bad day… I didn't mean to blow up like that." That's the Asuka I know!

"Can I do anything for you?" she puts a pillow over her head before nodding.

"A bullet to the head!" I heard her mutter under the pillow. I couldn't help but chuckle at this comment. "I'm serious…" that wasn't even funny. I go over and sit next to her.

"Don't even joke about that… really…" I didn't like the thought at all.

"No… joke…" okay, she was seriously creeping me out now.

"Asuka?" she takes off the pillow to reveal an obviously fake smile.

"Gotcha…" she gets up and heads to the bathroom. I didn't like how she was acting, so I decided to do some snooping around. Nothing under the bed, nothing in the closet, nothing in the dresser, but when I looked just under the sheets of her bed, my heart sank. "Hey Shinji, I… what are you doing?"

"What the hell is this? What were you about to do!" I held in my hand a 9mm with a full clip.

"Shinji… I… nothing. I didn't do any…" I go over to her and grab her arms.

"Asuka! What the hell were you thinking of doing!" I saw tears form in her eyes, "You didn't do anything THIS time! Were you really going to… you know what? Akagi suggested this, but I said no. I feel that it's necessary now. She offered to have you under surveillance 24/7 for this purpose! I said, 'No, Asuka would never do that!' I trusted you, and you proved me wrong," she still said nothing, "Come on!" I drag her out of the room. I never thought it would come to this.

A/N- Hello! That went a little farther than I wanted it to! She came damn close too! Anyway, what will Akagi do to Asuka? How will the funeral go? Will Asuka try that again? Find out in the next chapter; Surveillance, until then, keep on keepin' on!