Chapter 06
01.11.2009
After a fun morning spent training to tire and relax the body, a 'movie' seemed just the thing to soothe a confused soul. Ayanami Rei gladly sat back in Dr. Akagi's plush, comfortable chair and tried to enjoy the video of her mock fight with Pilot Soryu. Sitting near her, also watching, were Ikari-kun and Major Katsuragi.
Eyes belying her usual impassive expression, Rei leaned slightly forward, studying the different facial expressions and body language caught on the digital recording playing on the big screen.
The entire video was only a few minutes long and when it was finally over, the First leaned back in her chair thoughtfully chewing on her upper lip. Pilot Soryu and Ikari-kun were very very interesting. So were the Major, the doctor, and everyone else caught on the video.
Ikari Gendo was correct in saying that people watching was a lucrative task. What a great convenience that an excellent tool for such a task was readily available. Yes, as soon as the doctor and the Major let them leave she would go to one of those electronics shops advertising on television and get herself her very own digital video camera. Hmm, or maybe she should take Hikari-san up on her offer to help her go shopping, or rather 'malling,' in order to augment her meager pile of personal belongings.
Rei replayed the video to watch it one more time; she wanted to study Ikari-kun's face again just before he started laughing and then coughing. Beside her Ikari-kun was listening earnestly to Dr. Akagi's explanations on amnesia.
Rei knew about memory loss. They had brought her up to scratch on it several times in the past. Like Pilot Soryu, there was a time she couldn't remember who Ikari-kun was either.
Rei turned back to the screen uninterested, tuning out the doctor's voice.
"Hmm, so far... severe retrograde amnesia, some apraxia and agnosia, intact motor and perceptual skills. No anterograde whatsoever, or... completely recovered... already?" Dr. Akagi murmured thoughtfully.
"Ritsuko, clearer please," Misato rolled her eyes at Shinji's open-mouthed expression, "You, sit down and close your mouth. You look like a dewhiskered catfish."
"I'm sorry. Let's see, adults with post traumatic memory loss usually remember facts, faces, and events only until early childhood and schooling. It's the memories from the most recent years that they generally have great difficulty in recalling. Asuka's not an adult yet, so I can only guess until how far back she remembers."
"What's that got to do with the dueling?" Shinji looked confused.
"Well, research shows that implicit memories - those expressed through performance - usually remain unaffected. Hence, Asuka's fighting skills," Ritsuko motioned to the video of the two sparring pilots on the screen, "as you can see, are as they should be. That's also the reason why Asuka remembers how to tie her shoes. Right? Shinji-kun?"
"She remembers how to tie her shoes?" Shinji looked startled, "Does that also mean she remembers how to dress?"
"If it's just buttoning her shirt or putting on her clothes, I would think so." Dr. Akagi turned serious eyes on him. "But more complicated things like cooking a meal, probably not."
"Ahhh... I see."
"However, it's been four weeks and all of Asuka's recent tests, even the brain scans, have come out normal. Actually, they have been since we did the mock battle a week ago. Correlating that to the amount of trauma we estimate she received and to the fact that she's been learning new things these last three weeks, I think by now she should have gotten her memory back."
"She's been learning new things? How do you know when she doesn't talk?"
"She remembers what she's watched and knows where she's gone with you. She's been making new memories for the last month. Usually when anterograde amnesia completely resolves, retrograde soon follows. However, I don't see that happening now. My guess is, in Asuka's case, trauma isn't the sole reason for her memory loss."
"Well, what else can cause memory loss?"
Misato answered Shinji with a small smile, "Maybe there are things Asuka wants to forget."
That turned Shinji's brain on. Misato-san knew things about Asuka that she wanted to forget. Shinji pinned the Major with a glare and opened his mouth to start asking questions.
But Misato turned to Rei and said briskly, "I have an announcement. Rei, your request for outside lodging has been approved. You can move anytime. Nerv will pay for it until you're twenty five whether or not you work or decide to go to university," then without looking at him, "Shinji, prepare yourself for university after high school. Nerv is footing the bill – board, lodging, and tuition. It's a free ride so make the most of it."
"And Asuka?" Shinji asked distracted from his line of thought. He was quite unsure whether or not he wanted to study more after graduation.
"She wanted an all expenses paid vacation around the world but I assume that has been put on hold," the Major answered wryly.
Shinji looked sulky, "How come Asuka and Rei get what they want while I have to go to school?"
"Because Asuka already has a degree, Rei is interested in something else and Commander Ikari said so."
"Ah, I see," but Shinji didn't see at all.
"Any other questions? Rei?"
"Major Katsuragi-san, what is a good brand for a digital video camera?" Rei looked expectantly at Misato. Shinji shot Rei a puzzled look, Dr. Akagi's lips twitched.
"Um, I don't know... but I can refer you to the techs in operations. They would probably know."
"That is acceptable. Thank you."
"Well then, if there isn't anything else," she strode to the open door, turned and then winked at Shinji who had his mouth open ready to ask a question, "I'll see you both tomorrow. Dismissed."
Shinji shut his mouth with a snap. "It's unfair," he muttered, "that's what it is."
He wondered what underhanded thing his father was plotting this time while trying to run his life.
And what was it Asuka wanted to forget anyway? It was just like her to be completely back to her usual mercenary self and yet refuse to remember anything because she didn't want to.
Pretending to be unable to dress, Shinji snorted; not that he hadn't enjoyed it, he blushed.
x
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Asuka Langley Soryu was in front of the bathroom mirror contemplating her hair. Her very nice companion had just brushed it out for her and it shone smooth and shiny and lay on her shoulders like a beautiful thing.
Asuka put both hands in her tresses and spent a whole minute mussing it up.
Better, she approved, eyeing the way everything was tangled and now stood on end.
Asuka had woken up that morning unable to find her favorite person. She had been in a panic and shed some tears. She was feeling much calmer now, the water balloon game having helped, but however much she tried, she still couldn't drum up enough enthusiasm to try the stickey, gooey and very delicous looking chocolate cake her nice companion had baked.
Once again a torrent of words and images threatened to invade Asuka's mind. She smiled pleasantly at herself in the mirror, and then, easily and cheerfully, pushed everything to the back of her head. Some part of her said, "Stay there!" very firmly, to the memories clamoring to be examined.
Asuka leaned closer to the mirror and, watching her lips, soundlessly mouthed her favorite person's name, "Shinji."
A/N: Feedback would be nice. Okay?