A/N: Thanks for all the positivity for the first four chapters. I'm sorry for the length and dullness of the last chapter and and I promise I will also cut down parentheses and ramblings in my author's notes. Unfortunately this will be somewhat of a filler however it will set up the finale.
Thanks to my pre-reader gunman who also helped me with the Misato and Shinji scene
Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion it is the property of Gainax
As the white van fled away from the scene people came out of hiding. One of these was Misato Katsuragi who had avoided being gunned down. Misato was lucky for her military training because as soon as the door slammed open her instinct to decide if it was a threat that came from training allowed her to see the Uzi and take cover before the shooting behind a mailbox as the area as a spray of bullets covered the area..
"Cowardly bastards!" the major screamed at the van. "That David Koresh wannabe can't even do his own dirty work." she mumbled to herself
She was tempted to start shooting at it but not wanting to hurt or kill someone innocent she fought the urge. Eventually the police came and conducted their report bringing people into questioning, including Misato who tried in vain to use her NERV ID to get out of this and by the time she went home it was almost 10 pm.
"Finally!" the purple haired woman called as she reached her apartment. She got out of her car and went to her apartment, "I'm home" called the tired Major as she entered the apartment.
"Hello" both Asuka and Rei called together causing Asuka to give Rei a death stare. The blunnette ignored the German and turned to Misato.
"Did you find any valuable information during interrogation?" Rei asked
Misato gave the girls an overview of the interview/interrogation while feeding Pen-Pen who had been ignored by the girls.
"So the one responsible is some crazed religious/terrorist leader with a grudge against NERV.'" said Misato who plopped down on the couch and turned on the TV.
The brunette twenty year old was talking about a breaking murder at a abandoned meat packing warehouse and she handed things over to her forty year old co-worker on the scene.
("That's right. Police discovered this grizzly murder just an hour ago and now we're getting details. The victim's name is Takumi Kiamora. Mr. Kiamora had both arms severed at the shoulder and both legs severed at the hip. He also had a large hook jammed into his chest and was hung from the ceiling. Police believe he died of blood loss because of this so who ever killed him wanted him to die slowly. The odd thing backing up this belief is a message written on the wall in what appears to be the victim's blood that reads "TO THE PURPLE HAIRED WHORE. YOU GOT THIS TRAITOR TO TALK AND THAT'S WHY HE'S DEAD. YOU ALSO SURVIVED OUR SHOOTING BUT YOU WON'T BE SO LUCKY NEXT TIME! LONG LIVE LORD AIZEN!" Police have no leads.)
"Talk about incompetence! I was at the police station for two hours." grumbled Misato who said clearly "I'm the one their talking about so we better be careful and I'll get Section 2 to add more security."
But when she reached for her cellphone it was gone and she realized she left it at NERV. Since telephone lines were still down from the last Angel battle she couldn't call anyone, Asuka was out of minutes and Commander Ikari wouldn't let Rei have a cellphone the Major left to retrieve her cellphone from NERV in case of emergency. She didn't like the ideas of leaving the girls alone but she needed that lifeline so she had to trust Section 2 who hadn't always proven themselves effective.
"Now don't open the door for anyone but me or NERV personnel you know." Misato said before leaving the apartment and closing the door shut.
"Well that should be easy. We only know a handful of people in that hollowed-out basement." groaned Asuka in exasperation
With Misato gone both Rei and Asuka were left alone much to the dismay of the redhead.
"I'm bored! Anything you want to do Wondergirl?" Asuka asked, showing desperation by asking Rei for any companionship.
"No." stated the blue haired girl in usual plain manner.
"You're so boring!" Asuka exclaimed, never ceasing to be amazed at the mannerism of Rei Ayanami.
"I am as interesting as ordered by Commander Ikari." came the simply response from Rei.
"There you go again! Always with 'Commander Ikari' this and 'Commander Ikari' it's so annoying! You're just the Commander's doll! Is there anyone else you care about?" exclaimed the Second child.
"Shinji!" Rei snapped back followed by several minutes of awkward silence.
"I'm sorry for losing my temper at-" Rei began, but was interrupted by Asuka
"You used the idiot's first name." said Asuka, completely amazed
"Yes." began Rei "Before Shinji arrived I was very obedient to the Commander. And while I still wish to serve my duty as a pilot, Shinji awoken something in me. I feel things I've never felt before. I have concern for Shinji not as a pilot, but as a person."
Asuka lowered her head "I know what you me, that boy deserves better and even though he has flaws he has been closer to me then anyone else I've known, even my own family. I know I act act like a bitch at times but-" Asuka looks up directly at Rei "Most of the time I don't mean it. Shinji and Misato have treated me nicer than I ever deserve and I just belittle them both because I just can't show people kindness. That includes you Wonder- Rei."
Rei blinked, "You used my proper first name Pilot Soryu."
"Yeah, Rei is your first name." said Asuka who then added "I'm sorry for how I treated you."
Rei smiled and said "You are forgiven, Asuka."
Both girls smiled and then turned in for bed, Asuka was glad Misato wasn't there to tease them.
After finding her cellphone buried under a mountain of paperwork on her desk, the purple-haired Major was about to head home,when she found herself automatically walking through the hospital wing of NERV.
She kept walking until she came to a familiar door-Shinji's.
Misato cursed herself for not visiting more often. But in her mind she could be more useful by trying out who poisoned Shinji, not just hanging around waiting to see what the doctor's had come up with to save his life.
Turning the handle and pushing the door open, Misato walked into the room and paused. Lying on the bed, tubes in his nose and needles in his arms, was her first ward. The soft beeping machine next to his bed was not enough to wake him, nor the young Lieutenant that was slumped over in the chair next to his bed.
Maya's going to be sore in the morning. Misato thought with a grin
Walking over to her, she pushed on the young woman's shoulders, rousting her
"Wa-Ha! Oh! Major I'm...I'm sorry I..." Maya stuttered
"It's alright, Maya. I won't tell. How's Shinji?" she asked
"Oh. Uh...the antidote Dr. Akagi administered to him has neutralized the majority of the poison, but there was enough lingering traces to...well, he hasn't woken up yet. I'm sorry." Maya said, grabbing her clipboard from the ground and going over her notes.
"I understand. Why don't you go get some coffee? I'll stay with Shinji for now." Misato offered
"Really? Okay. I could use some." Maya said as she lazily got up walked out of the room, a small limp in her walk as her muscles still hadn't woken up completely.
Pulling the chair over to the bed, Misato sat down, her hand reaching out and taking Shinji's hand.
"I'm sorry I haven't been by to visit you Shinji. I'm not a doctor so there isn't much I can do for you now. Sad excuses, I know, but...we've been making some headway in the case. We found the guy who poisoned you, and now we have to go after his boss. I guess something like this should have been counted on. I mean, we fight 'Angles', so it's no wonder a bunch of religious zealots want us gone. Too bad they don't know the these Angels have nothing to do with the Bible. But trying to convince other people who have their own way of thinking...it's like trying to to dig a tunnel through a mountain with a rubber mallet." she said with a laugh. "Rei has moved in with us, for her own safety. You'd be surprised little her and Rei actual fight. And I know Asuka won't admit it but she misses you. I do too. You made that dreary little apartment a real home, Shinji. Before it was just me and Pen-Pen, and then you came along, and then Asuka." she said, tears falling from her eyes and landing on Shinji's bed. "You're not dead, Shinji, so please...please come back to us. We all need you. I need you. I never told you this before, but...you're like the son I never had. So please, Shinji, get better and come home. I'll find the people who did this to you, but please...give me something to look forward to."
Misato's ears cocked to the left, hearing Maya's footsteps coming down the hallway.
"I'll be back to see you again. I promise." Misato said as she got up and bending over planted a kiss on his forehead.
She stood up as Maya entered the room, two cups of coffee in her hands.
"Coffee, Major?" Maya asked
"I'd better not. I really need to get some sleep." Misato said as she turned and headed for the door. "I'll be back tomorrow. Good night, Maya."
"Good night, Major." said the young Lieutenant as said Misato walked out of the door slowly.
As she drove on the empty streets she fought of sleep, it had been a long day and the fact it was nearly midnight didn't help.
As Misato drove down the empty streets of Tokyo-3 she fought the sleepiness that was trying to over take her. She pondered the idiocy at refusing Maya's coffee. It probably would have been enough to get her home.
As she drove down Tokugawa street a man staggered in front of the car. He was bruised and shirt ripped and splattered with blood.
Misato stopped her car and got out to help the man who she could now tell was in his mid-thirties.
"Who did this?" she asked expecting him to answer thugs or at worst yakuza but instead his answer shocked Misato
"A terrorist group called the Soldiers of God. I'm a former member who left, the found me and now they're going to kill me!"
"What?" Misato exclaimed "Where are those frigging bastards? They tried to kill my ward, my friends and me, and I want their asses!"
"Over there" the man weakly responded pointing to a slightly open door. Misato drew her gun and after quickly getting into position opened the door only to find the room empty.
"What they hell-" Misato began but was unable to finish her statement has she was struck in the back of the head, rendering her unconscious. Behind her was the man she was helping holding a lead pipe as other came out of the shadows.
"You!" he said pointing to one of the men "Call Lord Aizen and tell him we got the target."
As his subordinate followed orders the assailant added. "We will destroy NERV and then the Angles shall complete their mission of inciting Third Impact which will bring the Second Coming of Christ."
As Misato was tied up the man who tricked her went to wash the fake blood and makeup off him.
A/N: Another cliffhanger! In case you didn't figure it out Misato has been captured by the Soldiers of God after falling into a trap and now their agenda is revealed. I know the scene with Asuka and Rei was out of place a bit but I needed space to fill and tragedy brings people together. I'm mostly surprised because I thought I was crappy at writing mushy scenes. Anyway next chapter is the final one so keep posted and don't forget to review!