Author's rantings:

Finally, I present you chapter two.

Chapter Three should follow soon and even before that, I will update „Tear Down" with the second chapter.

The reasons for the long delay were manifold. I had health problems, personal problems. The list goes on and on and on.

I wrote other fanfics and still do, I wrote in my personal settings.

I was lazy and I played way too many Bioware RPGs'.

I can't really promise, I'll do better in the future.

The games inspire other stories, I'm working on three Neverwinter Nights' 2 stories, two KOTOR or KOTOR 2 stories, and both a Dragon Age and a Mass Effect story.

And it's just plain fun playing these games.

Moreover, I need to work on my own stuff as well, it is so much better than anything else I write and much more satisfying.

X

While I can't promise faster updates, I'll do my best to make it possible.

Spoken words are set in ""

Thoughts are italic

Disclaimer: I don't own NGE or its characters, never will, obviously it doesn't stop me from writing these things.

XX


X

One Mistake:

X

Chapter Two - Adjusting

X

X

Dinner had been good and Asuka wolfed it down as if she hadn't eaten in weeks.

In fact, she hadn't eaten the last few weeks at all, she had been fed intravenous. Her arm still bore the signs of the lines and tubes that had been connected to her.

She shuddered, praying that this would never happen to her again.

Looking up, she saw Shinji watching her with a caring, questioning expression on his face.

She was tempted to reprimand him, with one of her regular taunts, but she just didn't feel like it.

It felt nice that he actually seemed to care…

Therefore, she just pointed to one of the needle marks on the crook of her right arm, as explanation.

To her surprise, he broke eye contact and lowered his head. Was that guilt on his face?

Did he feel responsible for her coma?

Maybe I'll talk to him about it later…Ah no, he always feels guilty of everything that happens. It's probably better not to encourage him. "

So, she just decided to ask for a second helping of the stew and concentrated on eating.

Misato was strangely silent as well, none of her usual joking or teasing, instead she downed beer after beer, like it was a contest and she had barely eaten a bite.

Her eyes already seemed to have trouble focusing.

Asuka shook her head inwardly.

"Some things are obviously not going to chance."

Gazing at her guardian, she wondered wether the care Misato had shown to her was for real or just to cover her guilt.

"Probably the latter, its not like she ever cared for me anyway:"

"It would have been nice, though to have someone like Kaji again."

The Kaji that actually cared for her, not the childish fantasy version, she had yearned for.

A yearning that already felt strange to her, as if after his death and her… ordeals, she needed to put life into a new perspective.

When dinner was finished, Misato walked straight into her room without saying so much as "good night."

Shinji as usual started to wash the dishes.

He felt really glad to do something so ordinary again, when yesterday his life was like his worst nightmare.

His heart felt like it was bursting in his chest. She was back. Asuka was finally back.

She might be a little quieter, even a little sad, but when he looked into her eyes, he could see her again, not the empty vacant stare he had dreaded so much.

And she had actually allowed him to hold her.

Heck, they had practically promised to be there for each other from now on.

When he closed his eyes, he could still feel her warm body against his and the feeling of holding her in his arms.

Even through the stench of dried sweat and LCL, she had smelled so good.

Lost in these precious memories he finished cleaning in Auto-mode.

X

When he was done putting away the dishes, he decided to start cleaning the mess in his room.

As he walked past the living room where Asuka was watching some DVD's, he heard her quietly call to him.

"Shinji?"

"Yes Asuka?"

"Could you bring me a soda, please? My legs are still tired."

"Of course."

He grabbed two cans out of the fridge and after he decided to sit down on the couch beside her, he passed one to the girl.

The mess would still be there tomorrow.

"Thanks Shinji-kun."

"You're welcome. Can I get you anything else?"

"Well… I'd like to put my feet up. Could you get me some of the cushions?"

He jumped to his feet again, gathered some of the cushions that were scattered on the floor and helped her to prop her feet up.

"Thanks, that's much better. Ugh, I feel like my arms and legs have turned into lead."

"No wonder after the way you kicked ass today."

"She looked at him with surprise in her face.

"Th-thanks. You did not so shabby yourself."

He beamed at her, Asuka complimenting his piloting skill without anger and sarcasm in her voice, that was practically a first.

X

For a while, they tried to concentrate on the movie, and then Asuka turned to him once again.

She brushed a few strands of her lustrous hair out of her face.

Looking down nervously, she started to speak.

"I really don't want to, but I think I have to say thank…

I mean… Verdammt!"

"This is so hard to do, but I have to. I need to do this."

She drew a deep breath and began speaking fast, so she couldn't change her mind.

"I want to thank you for coming to my aid today….."

She had to pause to gather her will again.

"I was sure I'd die, when the sword transformed into a Lance of Longinus. And I would have, if not for you. So thank you third child for… for…

Arghh! This is stupid! Thank you Baka for saving me once again and thanks for saving my mother."

"I… I…It was….I couldn't… I…"

He stopped himself before he totally lost the ability to speak coherently.

Her mother, how had he saved her mother? Could it be that Asuka's mother was in Unit 02 like his' was in Unit 01?

He still felt it necessary to answer the beautiful german girl next to him.

"After all the times I let you down, I couldn't do anything else…

And I almost didn't make it in time."

X

Asuka threw him a curious glance, before the soda can seemed to capture all of her attention.

X

Shinji desperately tried to find the courage to finally tell her, what he had only realized when he had already lost it. Cold sweat collected on his brows, his heart beat so fast, he was afraid it could burst. However, she was so…nice today, so sweet and fragile.

Would there ever be a better chance?

Yet she was awake only for a few hours and had fought in what was probably the hardest battle they ever had to fight.

"No! It has to be now, before I become afraid again."

"Asuka can I tell you something?"

"Okay."

"It's kinda important for me so…"

She switched off the TV and turned to him with the same curious look on her face as before.

"When you were… When you ran away and when you were found in… this terrible condition… It made me realize how important you are for me. It seemed everything was over for me without you. I need you. I… I care for you… I guess I- I…"

A hand covering his mouth interrupted him.

Asuka had an almost panicked expression on her lovely face.

"Don't. Please don't say it. Please. It's too much… I… I."

She stopped; her eyes were wide with fear. And were those tears in hear eyes?

Slowly, hesitantly she let her hand slid from his mouth to his cheek, caressing his face before gently cupping his chin in her hand for a few moments.

Her big blue eyes were full of conflicting emotions.

Fear. Hope. Anger. Care?

Then she jumped to her feet, as fast as she could manage.

"I need to go. I'm tired. Good night."

Before he could answer anything, she ran to her room, ignoring her tired legs.

Leaving Shinji to his thoughts.

"Might as well pick up the broken glass before I go to bed."

X

Asuka lay on her futon, hugging a big pillow to her.

"Is it true? Does he really love me?"

"No, it can't be true. He is probably just trying to get in my panties. Baka hentai!"

"But still, he came today, this time he didn't let you down."

"No. No! It can't be true. Nobody loves me. Nobody cares."

"Mami does care. She has never really left us

The other one was just what was left behind."

Maybe if mom does love me, maybe someone else could too.

Then I wouldn't have to be so alone anymore."

"No, he cares only for Misato and the doll. Probably has done all kinds of perverted stuff while I was gone. And he never could be strong enough. Never."

"But why does his voice always sound so concerned, like when he asked me if I he could do anything for me. Plus the way he looked at me after the battle and just now. That wasn't the way the other boys look at me. Nobody has ever looked at me that way before.

If only it was true. If only…"

However, she was too tired and too afraid to think too long about this, before sleep claimed her.

X

In Misato's dark room, you could hear a woman crying.

"Oh Rits, why you as well? First, I loose Kaji and now my best friend.

Why did you have to try to kill Rei? Why? Wasn't that bastard of a commander enough?"

Sorrow is not fair, sorrow is selfish and so Major Misato Katsuragi felt angry with Ritsuko, both for dying and for sullying how she would remember her friend.

Sorrow floats. It always stays on top.

X


X

Interlude II:

Darkness again, illuminated only by a spotlight showing the black monoliths.

"It's over. We've lost the chance to start Third Impact."

"Why? Unit 01 still exists, so there still is a chance."

"Don't be ridiculous, after the way we exposed ourselves to start the attack on NERV and with the information Fuyutsuki provided, the manhunt on us has already begun."

"This can't be all. We rule the world, how could we…"

„We ruled as long as we stayed in the shadows. Out in the open and exposed, our rule is over. Already SEELE 04 and 10 are gone, choosing death over capture.

I suggest you all bring closure to your affairs."

With that Richard Keele, aka SEELE 01 left the discussion.

He pressed a few more buttons on his computer, issuing his last orders.

Then he grabbed a handgun from the desktop and set the muzzle at his temple. He wouldn't give the mob the satisfaction to judge him.

X

SEELE 07 left the conference as well.

For George Wilkens it wasn't all over. As head of the combined intelligence agencies of the United States, he always worked in secret. He was sure that no path would lead to him, if he cut the few existing connections.

He began to frantically type away on his keyboard and a few minutes later he'd ordered the best hitmen the US Covert Agencies had available to take everybody who connected him to SEELE's activities out of the picture.

With that done, he left his desktop and poured himself a large drink from his bar.

Savouring the taste of the thirty-year-old scotch, he pondered his further activities.

Officially he'd be retired in about 15 months, but behind the curtains, he'd still have control. Control enough to at least get revenge on the people responsible for the failing of SEELE's plans.

He took his drink with him to his desk and once again focused his attention on his computer screen.

A few short orders called up several NERV personnel files.

Unfortunately, Ikari and Akagi were already dead.

Fuyutsuki might be a target, he chose to withheld judgement on this for now.

Katsuragi wasn't much more than a pawn.

The Ayanami creature wasn't anything but a tool. He wasn't sure which role she played in the events, but for now he considered her a secondary target.

His attention focused on the last two files the second and third child.

The pilots of the two EVA's which had stopped the MP-EVA's assault.

Yes, Fuyutsuki might be a target, but these two…

The old man felt hatred rise in him.

These two stupid kids had foiled his chance to rule humanity and gain immortality.

For that they would pay. Simply killing them wasn't enough. He would bide his time and begin their punishment, when they thought their miserable lives were happy again.

Then he would strike and utterly destroy them, before ending their lives.

X


X

X

Commander Fuyutsuki did not waste any time, he made it clear, that he succeeded Gendo Ikari as Head of N.E.R.V.

His first order was to bury what lay deep beneath N.E.R.V. HQ forever.

Central dogma had to become unreachable for anything humanity could come up with, including N2 bombs and EVA's.

No matter how long it took, he'd make sure of that.

X

"Close the door and throw away the key." were his last words concerning the procedure.

X

The old gray haired man again spoke to his dead friend, the second time in 24 hours.

"It was a great dream Yui, but we perverted it. Somehow your son and your "daughter" found a way to stop both SEELE's and Gendo's madness and I owe it both to you and your kids to make sure, this snake will never raise it's ugly head again. I'm sure that couldn't have been the way you wanted it to be.

X

There were more orders to be issued.

Cleanup and rebuilding would take a lot of effort and time.

Koze Fuyutsuki was determined to use every support he could muster from an ashamed Japanese government and the UN.

Then he had to look through hundreds of personnel files, to decide which employees from other NERV branches could be trusted enough, to join the HQ staff.

A task that was unnecessarily made more difficult, by the fact that a still grieving Maya Ibuki hadn't managed so far to get the Magi to run efficiently

Again.

One task would be put on-hold as long as it was possible.

Informing the families of the killed NERV personnel, that their husbands and wives, their mothers and fathers, were gone.

X


X

This morning Shinji awoke early, he decided to finish what he started the evening before and cleaned the rest of the mess in the apartment.

Then he rummaged through every cupboard and drawer to find something with which he could feed his… „Family."

„Family", he let the word ring through his mind, it had a nice sound to it.

To everyone outside it must've looked very strange, but Misato & Asuka, Rei and his mothers spirit in his EVA were the closest thing Shinji ever had to a family. Moreover, he had his friends, at least when they returned with their families.

He smiled to himself, it could've been worse, before he came to Tokyo 3 all he had was an old sensei and a man that was his father on paper only.

X

After he was through searching for food, he readied Pen-Pen's fishy breakfast.

The humans were left with egg powder, what was left in several cereal boxes and milk and OJ.

Shinji decided to wait for his flatmates to wake up, before he'd try to turn the egg powder into eatable stirred eggs.

That was why he sat on the table, drinking tea and musing over yesterday and all that had changed in and around him.

No matter what he was thinking of, he found his thoughts always returning to the fact that Asuka was awake again.

The memories of Asuka in his embrace. It felt so right. Just like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Her warm body pressed against his, the way that she still smelt intoxicating even after hours swimming in LCL and weeks spend in the hospital.

The look in her eyes, as she turned her head to him, the feeling of her breath on his lips, before she opted for his cheek instead.

„Shit! All I want to think about is her. Face it Shinji, you are in love with the red devil head over heels."

X

At this moment, the object of his musings stumbled sleepily out of her room.

Her hair a tangled red cloud, clad only in one of her usual sleeping shirts and loose shorts. Sexy!

„Ohayô Asuka-chan. Did you sleep well?"

She rubbed her eyes with her hand and looked at him questioningly.

„Wha… Huh? Oh, yeah, ohayo Shinji. Actually quite well, sleeping that is. I mean I slept surprisingly well."

„You want some breakfast? It's not much, but we've got some cereal and I can make some scrambled eggs and toast."

„Sure, jus' le'me get to the bathroom first, 'ne?"

She stumbled on and disappeared behind the door.

X

Shinji decided to start on the breakfast now, but first he wanted to wake up Misato.

It would be nice, if they all could have breakfast together.

The major didn't react to his knocking, neither to his banging or calling, so he opened the door and entered the mess that Misato called a room.

His guardian was lying in a pile on her futon, snoring. All around her beer cans and sake bottles were testimony to her activity in the night.

Shinji knelt next to her bed and softly shook Misato's shoulder and called her name.

Suddenly he was yanked from his feet and drawn into a bear hug.

„Don't go Kaji. Don't leave me! Don't take Ritsuko with you. Please, you are all the friends I have."

Misato whimpered in his ear. Pulling him against her impressive secondary sexual organs, while pressing her face into his shoulder.

„Ah Misato! I'm sorry. I'm not Kaji. Please let go."

She opened her eyes and looked at him obviously not understanding.

Then she blushed and quickly let go of him.

„Sorry Shinji-kun. Had a real bad dream."

She sat herself up on the bed and gazed at the wall.

„Okay, I am just about to start making breakfast and I thought it might be nice if we all eat together."

She sighed loudly.

„Sure Shinji-kun. I… I'll just need a moment…"

Shinji simply nodded and was abut to get up again, when he noticed the tears in his guardians eyes.

Unsure what to do he looked at her and then at the door.

Then he decided not to start being a selfish loner again and quickly hugged the older woman. For a moment, she was rigid in his arms, and then she rested her head on the boys shoulder and started to cry.

Shinji padded her back, repeating „it's okay, it's okay." and „there… there." again and again.

After some time Misato calmed down a bit and stopped crying, pulling out of the embrace.

She eyed him through swollen eyes and smiled sheepishly.

„I know it's stupid. So much happened yesterday and I should be happy that the world didn't come to an end for us.

That you and Asuka survived…

Yet all I can think about is that I've lost Ritsuko now as well. And what a shitty friend I've been in the last few weeks."

Shinji thought about that for a moment.

„I think it's okay. She was your friend. Isn't it natural for you to feel sad?"

„I guess so. Yet I think it would be a bit easier, if she didn't die while trying to kill a young girl."

Shinji shifted uncomfortably, what was he supposed to say now?

The truth was, he was angry because of what Dr. Akagi had done and tried doing.

Yet she had been Misato's best friend.

Perhaps Misato recognized Shinji's conflicted thoughts.

„Well, thanks for letting me wet your shirt. Please don't think I wanted to make a pass at you again. Yet it really helped." She smirked.

„Hai, I'm gonna try to turn egg powder into something edible now. And Misato, you're not alone. We are a family now."

With that, he up and left to return to the kitchen, missing the surprised, yet thankful smile on his guardian's lips.

X

The rest of the morning was eventless.

They ate and then just lazily passed the time. Regarding what they achieved yesterday, the mood was relatively solemn.

Misato's mood had been down from the start, Asuka seemed totally insecure and shifted from quiet soberness to loud enthusiasm.

After all the soul searching he'd done the last weeks, Shinji rather wanted something to occupy his mind.

Finally, he suggested to Asuka to play videogames and that brought up memories of happier times.

Around midday Misato's mobile rang and she ran to her room to take the call.

When she appeared again, she'd changed into regular „working clothes" aka tight, short skirt and shirt.

„C'mon kids, get ready! We are expected at work. Asuka, they want to do a check-up to see how you're doing, physically. Shinji, you and I have to see Cmdr. Fuyutsuki for debriefing."

Seeing how both her charges didn't immediately jump into action, she continued.

„Hurry, hurry! I don't have all day and you are too young to be so lame anyway, ne?"

X


X

The trip to the HQ in the requisitioned jeep was relatively fast.

A not too small part of the obstacle had already been removed.

The sheer amount of manpower and vehicles working on Tokyo-3's infrastructure was amazing.

It was only surpassed by what was happening at NERV HQ.

Many hundreds of JSSDF soldiers and government workers were busy, finishing clean-up, excavating bakelite and repairing damages.

Small groups of surviving NERV staff were eyeing the government forces with a mixture of satisfaction and suspicion.

Shinji was in a very good mood again. On the way, Asuka had rested her head on his shoulder and he enjoyed each moment, even though his heart beat so hard he feared it might jump out of his throat.

He wasn't sure what to think off this more mellow and friendly Asuka, or rather he was wondering if it really was a change in attitude towards him or just mental exhaustion after all she'd been through.

X

They decided to accompany Asuka to the reopened hospital first, and then chose to stay, as both Shinji and Misato noted the anxiety in the young german girl, when the medical examination started.

Thankfully it went rather fast so the three soon were on the way to the debriefing, Asuka with a bag of medication and vitamins to build up her reserves again and to help on the way to full recovery.

X

Shinji was surprised, when instead of Fuyutsuki's office they walked to his fathers seldom used official rooms.

As they walked into the antechamber, he was even more surprised, because the legend beside the door read Cmdr. Fuyutsuki instead of Ikari.

As Misato talked with the assistant, sitting behind a great wooden desk, Asuka let herself, fall into an armchair with a sigh and started massaging her aching legs.

„Mann! These two are killing me, you've no idea how sore my muscles are."

Shinji just grunted sympathetically and continued to inspect the room.

Comfortable armchairs, a side table with refreshments, there were a few pictures of Japanese landscapes on the walls and even the lighting seemed brighter and warmer.

He was puzzled, was his father hurt? „Dethroned?"

Misato's voice stopped his musings.

„The Cmdr. wants to talk with each of you separately. We'll start with Shinji and then it's your turn Asuka."

X

Asuka snorted angrily:

„Figures. Our hero Shinji get's to go first. Of course he's more important than the failure Asuka Langley."

She smiled to take the sting of her comment, but Shinji heard the edge in her voice.

As Misato led him on, he smiled apologetically at the redhead, but she was staring into the void…

X

The Commander's office had changed as well, it was much brighter and somehow the menacing aura that had always been here had dissipated.

Behind Gendo Ikari's giant desk, sat the friendly Vice-Commander of NERV, Kozo Fuyutsuki with a welcoming smile in his face.

X

Shinji looked at the old man, then to Misato, then to Fuyutsuki again and back at Misato.

„Gomen nasai, but where's my father? Did something happen to him?"

Misato's eyes met his and flickered a bit guilty.

"I'm sorry Shinji; I didn't want to tell you yesterday, because well, yesterday was already enough for you, without this news"

"Misato, what is it? It's not Rei is it? Is she... did she die?"

"No, no Shinji, like I said we can't get her to wake up at the moment, but the medics are saying, there's nothing wrong with her, they expect her to wake up the next 2-3 days."

"She paused to find the guts to continue.

"The thing is... I already told you that Dr. Akagi died yesterday.

In fact Ritsuko and your father shot each other, I'm sorry Shinji, your father... he is dead"

Conflicting emotions flickered over the boys face. He looked down to the floor.

When he looked up to Misato again his face was grim, he said just one word.

"Good."

Misato was shocked, as Shinji saw her expression, he added.

"You've been more of a parent than he ever was. He was a manipulative bastard.

It was his fault I couldn't help Asuka when the 15th angel attacked. He is responsible for everything Rei had to endure.

He has brought nothing but pain to anybody he ever met.

Don't think I'm not sad he's gone, but I feel it is really better for everyone else."

No one in the room could really disagree.

X

After a moment of Silence Comdr. Fuyutsuki addressed Shinji again.

„For the time being I've assumed control over NERV HQ and it's branches.

The governments were all too eager to accept me, after I leaked the atrocities happening here to the press.

I think you can imagine that I have a really full timetable, nevertheless I'd like to know how you and Unit 01 appeared out of nothing yesterday.

Before we start, do you want anything to drink? Tea? Coffee? Juice, water?"

Shinji shook his head. He was getting anxious here.

„Okay then, Shinji. What exactly happened yesterday?"

Shinji drew in a deep breath, trying to get his stomach under control, before he started to tell his story.

"I was just sitting there, feeling miserable. I felt like everyone had deserted me. Rei, Asuka, MIsato.."

He turned his head to the right to look at his guardian, with a silent plea for forgiveness in his eyes.

Misato felt hurt, all she wanted was to get to the truth and not just for her, but for Kaji, Shinji, and the other pilots, besides she already had to deal with losing the love of her life?

Still, what was she to do? Condemn the boy for it?

She put her hand on his shoulder and pressed it gently, a sign of reassurance.

Shinji cleared his throat and continued.

"Rei wasn't even the same person I'd known, if she even was a person at all.

Misato was never around and when she was, she didn't want to talk and... There were other things too..."

He stopped again, obviously not sure how to continue.

Misato was glad that the commander could not know what these other "things" had been.

She had been so desperate in her loneliness and sex had always helped her in the past, to feel alive.

"But still, coming onto Shinji, that was weak. No wonder he was afraid."

X

"Shinji, if it is too much for you, we can continue this on a later date."

Commander Fuyutsuki tried to comfort the boy who had suddenly become very interested in the texture of the carpet.

When he heard the old man, he looked up again and smiled weakly.

"No, it's okay. I guess. It's just hard for me to explain it.

When Asuka... after she...it was worse enough not being able to help her with the 15th angel, but afterwards she pushed me away, every time I tried to help her and I... I was not strong enough to fight against it. I let her push me away and then she… she…"

The third child began to cry and fought to get his emotions under control again.

"She... she tried to kill herself. I'm sure of it...

When I saw her in the hospital... everything was gone, she was the last person I felt could help me. I begged, I pleaded for her help. I commanded her to help me, but she abandoned me, like everyone else.

I felt like everyone had deserted me and at the same time I knew that all I ever did was hurt people. Touj, Rei, Asuka...

I really felt it would be best for me to just… just be gone."

He glanced at the commander, and again a faint smile was on his lips.

"I guess, that's all not so interesting for you, you want to know what happened with me and Unit 01."

"No Shinji that's okay, you take your time. I think it's good for us to know how you felt, isn't that right Major?"

Misato just nodded and made sort of an affirmative grunt; she did not really trust her voice just now. Part of her wanted to comfort Shinji, another part wanted to smack some sense into him, because he always reverted to self-pity and self-loathing.

"Okay then. I was sitting around feeling miserable, but then I realized I had to try to reach Asuka one last time, there was something...

I just needed to apologize for, to her.

I don't want to drag this out too long. When the JSSDF attacked… I just wanted to crawl into a hole and wait for death."

He shuddered as he remembered this part of yesterday's events.

„What I heard then… I guess that is what led me to rethink everything.

The shooting, the crying and dying. I felt responsible for the death of these people, because I wasn't out there piloting EVA.

That alone wouldn't have been enough.

Then I realized, that if I didn't act almost everybody I lo… like would die.

Misato, Rei all the NERV staff and Asuka. Asuka was totally helpless, lying there in the hospital.

So I decided to get to my EVA."

He just said that „matter of fact-ly", but Misato sensed what a big decision this must have been, considering the state Shinji had been in for the last few days.

„I was sure I couldn't get to my EVA the usual way, so I chose to use the ventilation ducts.

That's why I wasn't stopped when the corridors were flooded with bakelite

One shaft led me into the EVA hangar, but of course, Unit 01 was trapped in Bakelite as well.

I felt totally hopeless again. That's when I noticed that Unit 02 was gone.

Now I know it was in the water, but back then…

Doesn't matter, because in the end it made no difference, because in the end Asuka really was up there fighting alone. I just knew this was what was going to happen.

I was basically yelling and screaming at my EVA from then on.

I mean, I guess we all know by now, that my mom somehow is part of it, so I guess I was really screaming at her."

He remembered his desperation at that moment.

His cursing, his crying.

X

One thing he wasn't going to tell Commander Fuyutsuki and Misato, was that he was pretty sure his mom didn't want to save Asuka and stop the MP's at first.

He remembered himself yelling and screaming at the unmoving husk of bakelite covered EVA, with no result at all. In his memories he saw his realization, that his mother wasn't going to help him save Asuka.

Then he readied himself to jump down a shaft, to his death.

He basically made his mother decide between obeying his wishes or watching him kill himself.

„No matter what you want! No matter what outcome you'd want from this.

If I can't save Asuka and my friends, I'll simply kill myself.

I'm not letting you choose some stupid destiny, instead of saving the people I love."

And he'd not only made the decision to fight again, but he also had to face the fact that he really loved Asuka, something that was both wonderful and terrifying at the same time.

X

„It took a while, but then my EVA moved on its own again, breaking through the Bakelite and lifting me to the entry plug."

Misato interrupted him, because there was one thing she was especially curious about.

„Why couldn't we get any readings from your EVA at the beginning, even when you had already started to fight?"

Shinji shrugged his shoulders.

„I don't know, really. Maybe because it broke of his holdings?

There also was no umbilical cable attached."

„That can't be it. We could get readings from you after a while and we never lost connection to Asuka, even after the S2 core started working."

The boy wasn't sure why this was so important to Misato and he really had no idea.

„Then perhaps my mom just didn't want the connection.

She was behaving very strange. Anyway, after activation I had to climb the whole elevator shaft and really arrived just in the nick of time."

Talking about it brought it all back.

X

He remembered the frantic climbing, still forcing his mothers unwilling spirit to act.

The thoughts racing through his mind. His decision that the old Shinji had to die, to make room for a new one.

If he had again and again mustered the strength to fight the angels, no matter the pain, then he should be able to muster this strength in his personal life as well.

At least from time to time.

He remembered the wordless thanks and gratitude Asuka had shown, after he'd saved her in the volcano, remembered the harmony they'd achieved between them when they trained to fight Israfel

He remembered her face, as she cried for her mother in her sleep, he remembered the kiss.

He remembered countless little incidents and recognized that almost always Asuka and he connected when he'd stood his ground against her and how he'd failed repeatedly doing so.

Each failure forcing her away from him again.

Piloting EVA had shown him that conflict always was part of life.

If he wanted to gain some measure of peace in his life, he couldn't always avoid it, couldn't always back down.

He felt shame about his behaviour in the last few weeks, he'd really let everyone down.

He'd avoided Touji until he and his other friends had to leave town.

Rei had sacrificed her life for him and he'd shied away from her, instead of helping her regain what she'd lost. The girl was practically his sister and he avoided and feared her like cancer.

He didn't help Misato, when Kaji's loss hit her.

He abandoned Asuka when she really needed him the most, only to come back crawling, begging her comatose body to help him.

And then he even defiled her and whatever feelings he held for her.

Shinji was determined to change himself.

He wanted to be a better man, not just for himself but for the people he loved.

X

His line of thoughts and remembrance was cut short, when he heard Cmdr. Fuyutsuki cough politely… He realized that he must have been sitting here quietly for some time now.

„That's basically what happened."

He added lame.

„Fine Shinji, now that this is out of the way, do you have any questions?"

The boy took a moment to formulate his thoughts.

„I really would like to know what happened yesterday? With my father and Rei and Dr. Akagi.? Why did the mass produced EVA's fight us?

I heard on the radio this morning that SEELE was behind the attack. But why? What where their goals? What did my father want?"

Commander Fuyutsuki stood up from his chair and walked to the windows, staring out over the ravaged Geofront, and then he began reluctantly.

„It's difficult to talk about this, not only because it's been kept secret for such a long time now, but because I was a part of it.

Yet I think both you and Major Katsuragi deserve to know.

Basically, both your father and SEELE wanted to start Third impact and lead humanity to the next step of evolvement. Just the way to achieve it and what we wanted as the outcome was different.

SEELE wanted to gain immortality for their members and they thought they could lead humanity in some way in its new form. At first we, your mother, your father and I wanted to find a better way for third impact to occur and for humanity to survive and develop into something more. Somewhere along the way your father's goals changed.

I believe in the end all he wanted was to find a way to reunite with your mother, no matter the cost for the rest of us.

I wish I had found the power to work against this, but I was too weak."

Fuyutsuki paused, facing Shinji to see how the boy did cope.

So far, he managed quite well, unless he was just too shocked to show any reaction.

„This may explain the reluctance of Unit 01 to help you at the beginning, because your mom also wanted 3I to happen.

As for SEELE… Yesterday's attack was an attempt by SEELE to violently start Third Impact and the human Instrumentality project, the joining of all human minds as one. They planned to use UNIT .01 the direct Offspring of Lilith and the ADAM derived MP-EVA's. At the same time your father wanted to start his own version of it by using Rei Ayanami, who was specifically created as a vessel for LILITH's soul, with a part of ADAM integrated into his hand. By using Rei, he thought he could control Instrumentality to produce the outcome he desired.

We don't know what really happened, because Rei hasn't been awake since then and the other two participants are dead.

What we found in Dr. Akagi's personal files leads to the conclusion that she wanted to stop your father either by manipulating the Magi or with violence.

What we know is that Dr. Akagi shot Gendo and was then shot by him, before your father succumbed to his own wounds. Her personal files show a deep resentment for Rei, so that we deduced based on this and the positioning of the bodies, that she probably tried to kill Rei as well."

After a short pause, the old man added.

„That's all we know so far and unless Rei will wake up and tell us the rest, we won't know more."

He settled himself back into his chair again, folded his hands and examined the boy before him.

The thoughts were tumbling around in Shinji's head.

This was too much to digest at once. It was almost too much ever to understand. So all he had thought about his father was true. He really didn't care for anybody else. Just himself and his wife.

Sure, it was his mother yet how would this one reunion be worth the suffering of so many people and perhaps the end of humanity?

On the other hand he somehow felt pity for his father, who wasn't able to accept his loss and was willing to sacrifice everything to be reunited with his love.

He shook his head, why was everybody around him, including himself, so damaged?

He felt eyes on him and when he looked up, he saw Cmdr. Fuyutsuki watching him, with sympathy.

„Shinji, is there anything else you want to know? Anything you want to ask for?"

„No! No. This… this was more than enough. I don't even know how I should deal with this.."

The old man nodded his head in acceptance.

„Of course. I understand. However, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

We owe all f you pilots so much, so that is the least I can do."

Then he turned to Misato, who obviously had trouble dealing with the parts of the story she hadn't known.

„Major, if you'd be so kind to fetch Pilot Sohryu?

„Hai, Commander."

As Shinji and Misato left the office, she asked Shinji.

„Why don't you run ahead, back to the hospital and look after Rei? Asuka and I will join you, when we are done here."

Before he could answer, Asuka got up from her armchair and interrupted.

„Will we? I don't remember saying anything about wanting to see Wondergirl."

„Asuka, don't you think the least you can do is visit your comrade?"

„Actually no. I already visited the hospital today, thanks. I don't like the place so much, that I want to go there twice a day."

„Do you really have to behave like a spoiled brat again, Asuka? Barely surviving the end of the world should count for so…"

Being fed up with their bickering already, Shinji just said.

„I'll go then, okay? See you two later." and left.

X

The hospital was one of the few parts of the HQ that the attack hadn't reached.

So no patients were killed and there was enough medical staff to treat the wounded, that weren't transported to other clinics.

It was full to the brink of course, that's why it took some time for Shinji until someone told him where to find Rei.

He hesitated before entering, guilt burning through him.

He really hadn't talked to Rei since he knew the truth about her origin.

The boy still wasn't sure, if this Ayanami was the Rei he saw as a friend, but even if not, she still was part of his family.

In fact, she was the only close blood relative he had left since his father died.

He took one deep breath and opened the door.

X

Rei was the sole occupant of the small room.

She was attached to several monitors and propped up on cushions and the raised end of her hospital bed.

She looked as if she was just sleeping.

Shinji walked to the side of her bed and studied her face.

As usual with Rei, it showed no emotion, but seemed peaceful.

The only sign of physical damage was a small Band-Aid on her forehead above her right eye..

Shinji pulled up a chair and set down next to the bed, taking Rei's hand in both of his.

He'd held her hand just for a short while, when her eyelids fluttered and she opened her eyes to look at him.

„Ikari-kun." she sighed happily, a shy smile on her pale lips.

„You are save."

Shinji gently squeezed her hand.

„Yes, I'm fine Rei-chan, it's you I'm worried about."

„I'm glad, now that I know Ikari-kun wasn't hurt."

Her violet eyes met his.

„You were fighting, ne? I felt it. I felt that you and Pilot Sohryu were fighting for your lives and not thinking of giving in.

That's how I found the strength to deny him."

Shinji didn't get it at all. She felt him and Asuka fighting? Whom did she deny control?

„Sorry Rei, but I don't understand. Maybe you can tell me what happened n Central Dogma`?"

„I will tell you Ikari-kun, but could I get some water? I fear, I won't be able to talk a lot without something to drink."

Shinji nodded and filled a glass from the bottle of still mineralized water on the side table.

„Here you go, Rei-chan, can you manage yourself or should I help?"

She smiled again and took the glass from his hands.„I think, I can manage Ikari-kun, thanks for asking."

She emptied about half of the glass' content before she handed it back to him.

He put it back on the table and took her hand again in his'.

He was surprised, when he saw a single tear slide down her cheek.

„What's wrong Rei? Are you hurting? Should I call a doctor?"

She shook her head and again there was a smile on her lips. Shinji couldn't even remember her smiling before and now she did the third time in a few minutes?

„I'm not hurting, Ikari-kun. I'm happy because you like me again.

Since this body awoke you were distant and I'm happy that this is no longer so."

Shinji cringed at that.

„I'm sorry Rei-chan, really sorry. It was wrong to shy away from you.

You sacrificed yourself to save me and as a thank you, I spurned you.

I was afraid.

You were changed. It was as if you were a completely different person and then when Dr. Akagi showed me all these bodies and told me how you were… „created."

It was too much for me, after everything else that happened.

But it was wrong to treat you like this, because you are important to me."

Rei just nodded understanding and replied

"I understand. It took some time for me until me and my new body really united. The memories of what my last body experienced appeared to belong to someone else, but over time I remembered everything, including your kindness and friendship."

Shinji blushed a deep red. Rei's blunt way of talking about emotions was still freaking him out.

„Say, Rei-chan, would you tell me what exactly happened yesterday between you, my father and Dr. Akagi."

The pale girl said nothing for a while, thinking it over, then she nodded in agreement.

„I will try Ikari-kun, but I don't understand everything myself.

I explain as much as I can."

She took a deep breath, cleared her voice.

„Ever since my last self was lost, I felt even more detached from the people around me. A strange presence grew in my mind as if trying to unite with myself or rather to replace parts of my mind.

Inside me, there was a lot of confusion and pain.

And I-I r-really missed you Ikari-kun, even though I didn't know why and how to express myself. "

„Tears collected in her gentle red eyes and Shinji almost looked away in shame.

He fought with himself for a moment and then he slowly reached out to her and took her hand in his left, while his right gently wiped away the tears from her cheeks.

Rei's mouth opened and closed, but no sound escaped her.

Her eyes widened and she raised her free hand to her face marvelling at Shinji's gesture.

She squeezed his hand and he squeezed back and then he smiled at her again and Rei felt something inside her chest loosen.

Was this feeling happiness?

Still smiling she gathered her thoughts and continued her account of yesterday's events.

„When the attack started and the commander came to collect me, I knew what I had to do.

Accept Lilith' soul completely into myself and merge with Adam to follow the Commanders wishes.

Yet deep inside myself, there was the part that remembered. Remembered your friendship, my interactions with others like Major Katsuragi and even Pilot Sohryu…

XX

XX

… when Lilith's presence left me, I lost something and I was totally powerless.

I had no will or energy left to try to save myself from Dr. Akagi.

That's when your father shot her, before he died from his wounds.

In the end, he saved my life, as if it was worth something to him.

Even if… even if some of the things he did to me were horrible."

She had tears in her eyes again, when she finished her story.

„Rei, your life is worth something. It is for me, for Misato, Asuka…

Cmdr. Fuyutsuki said how much all three of us did for the world. Many people would miss you if you were gone. That is something I just learned for myself as well."

„Thank you Ikari-kun. And I know that, that's one of the reasons I didn't obey Lilith' and your fathers wishes."

His father… Shinji's thoughts kept returning to what Fuyutsuki and Rei had told him.

„So it's true. He really cared nothing for me, for anybody. Not for his son, not for his lover.

No one but my mother."

Rei's eyes met his again in understanding.

„Before he died, he called for your mother, but the last word he said was „Shinji," so he must have felt something for you."

„I-I don't really know what to think about this. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't.

No matter what, he did horrible things, to Asuka, to me and to you, Rei-chan."

They both were silent for a while.

Rei was relishing the strange onslaught of emotions she felt. It was as if a barrier that had separated her from her feelings, had dissolved.

At the same time Shinji tried to digest Rei's tale. And he fought with himself to muster the courage to open up to Rei.

His struggle was stopped short, when Rei addressed him.

„Ikari-kun?"

„Hai, Rei-chan."

„Ikari-kun, you keep calling me Rei-chan, I don't think you've ever addressed me like this before.

The use of the chan suffix indicates a certain closeness and affection to the person addressed with it, ne? Or am I wrong?"

„You are right of course, Rei-chan.

And that's part of something I wanted to talk to you about anyway."

Rei looked at him with wide-open eyes, satisfied with waiting for his explanation.

For a moment visions of the past rose up inside him.

When he first saw her wounded and bandaged and still trying to do her job as a pilot. And the many times he woke up in a bed and room just like this, just to find her sitting next to him, a book in her hands, keeping silent Vigil for him.

„See Rei-chan, yesterday, before I managed to make Unit 01 work, I did a lot of thinking.

Like I already told you, I realized that I'd been unfair to you.

And I thought about you and me and our relationship, what I feel for you."

He paused again to formulate his thoughts.

„You are a dear friend to me. You share my mother's genes, like I do, and I really care for you a lot.

I think you are more than just a friend, I see you as my Imouto, my younger sister and I'd be happy to be your Onii-san from now on. You're part of my family."

Rei looked at him with an indescribable expression on her face. Shinji feared she did not understand what he was trying to say or that she found it ridiculous."

Then Rei's violet eyes again filled with tears that ran down her cheeks and she began to cry silently.

Yet before he could react in any way, her hand squeezed his, so hard that it almost hurt.

Then she nodded enthusiastically and whispered breathless.

„H-hai Sh-Shinji-kun. Hai Onii-san."

Awkwardly Shinji leaned forward and embraced his „sister" and after a moment Rei actually returned the embrace. They both were crying freely now.

Shinji felt his heart open up to Rei, her joy and acceptance filling a void in his heart.

The girl, for the first time in her existence felt she really belonged somewhere. The feelings she had for Shinji basically from the moment they first met, finally made sense. Thoughts were racing inside her mind, tumbling over each other in a hurry to come to the front.

He's my family, my brother. He's my family. I have a family. I'm human. I'm human and I have a family. Shinji's my family. He is my brother. I have a brother!"

X

An evil spirit couldn't have planned it better as in exactly this moment, when the two „Siblings" were in each others arms, Asuka and Misato entered the room.

„… I told you I don't need any help walking, Misato. So stop pestering me about it.

And no, I'm not going to knock before entering.

Rei's in a coma and Baka Shinji has to be kept on his toes, so he doesn't start any hentai stuff with the f…"

Her voice broke off as she registered the sight in front of her.

Rei and Shinji didn't even realize that somebody else had entered the room, only when Misato squealed in delight about the endearing scene before her, did they both let go of each other and faced the new arrival's with a slightly ashamed look in their faces.

Unfazed by this Misato rushed u0p to the bed and caught both teens in a hug, albeit being careful not to put too much pressure on the still hurting first child.

Shinji slowly searched for Asuka's eyes and felt a deep pang of pain in his heart, when he found the brilliant blue orbs filled with tears.

As if today hadn't already seen more than it's share of tears.

Asuka's right hand was clutching at her shirt in front of her heart and she had a look of desperation and hopelessness on her face.

When her eyes and Shinji's met she lowered her head slowly and then turned around and left the room as fast as her suddenly even weaker legs could manage…

Shinji groaned.

„Oh no! Why can't anything ever be easy?"

Both Misato and Rei looked at him with concern in their faces.

Shinji got to his feet and quickly embraced his sister again.

„I'm sorry Rei, but I have to look for Asuka.

She doesn't know how we two stand to each other and she definitely got the wrong impression just now."

He hurried out the door leaving two astonished women in his wake.

Misato pushed a few loose strands of hair back behind her ear and smiled at Rei.

No use to wonder about the lunacy inherent in her two charges, it wasn't like it was the first time their behaviour was strange.

Instead she chose to reach out to the shy first child, judging by Shinji's show of affection she'd better get used to the idea, that she'd see more of Rei in the future.

Not that she minded anyway. Rei was just as much, if not even more, in need of guidance and care from someone, than her „own" kids.

„So Rei… Just exactly how do you and Shinji-kun stand to each other?"

For a very short moment the pale girl looked flushed again, then she remembered the conversation with her brother and a bright smile appeared on her delicate features.

X

Asuka closed the door of the empty closet. Somehow, she felt safer in the small, defined and enclosed space.

She would have run for her entry plug, her EVA but the cramping muscles in her legs had already betrayed her.

So, she chose this closet. It was empty and stood in a relatively quiet and empty corridor in the hospital tract.

Plus, it was just close enough for her to sit inside with the door closed.

„Baka Shinji! Baka! Baka! Baka! What does he want with that porcelain doll?

Just yesterday, he said he needed me. He said that he wanted to be with me, didn't he?"

She couldn't take it, couldn't understand why it hurt so much to see the other two children in each other's arms.

Yet it did. It was a terrible, searing pain and it drove itself into her chest like a wedge, piercing her heart and leaving it to bleed out inside her.

And through this pain, there once more was no place to hide her real feelings. Just like one or two times before, after the kiss and in the night when Misato had left them alone after they had trained to defeat Israfel.

Asuka Langley Sohryu wanted Shinji Ikari to be there just for her, to belong to her.

It wasn't even Kaji anymore that protected her from the void in her wasn't Kaji whose arms shielded her from harm.

Somehow, he was transformed into the meek form of the third child.

And nothing had changed during she was in this vegetative state or afterwards, when she found her mother's soul inside Unit 02.

In the darkness of closet, she found the strength to admit that she properly loved Shinji.

Oh, how much she needed somebody.

If only one person would at last put her before everybody and everything else.

Didn't she deserve it?„Or am I so worthless, that I don't even deserve one person who really cares for me?"

„Of course you are, Asuka. Why do you think your father sent you away? Why do you think your mother rather died than be left alone with you?"

„B-but that's not true. M-mama didn't leave me. She was always with me. She was in Unit 02 to support me and protect me."

„Oh yeah? Then why weren't you able to pilot EVA properly? If she was so caring and protective, why didn't she help you when Shinji got better and better at piloting and your pride couldn't deal with it?"

„N-no. I-it w-wa-was j-just… Th-that had no-nothing to do with my mom.

It was my own uncertainty…"

„It just got harder and harder and harder to control Einheit 02, until you had noting left until Arael could do whatever he wanted…"

„NO! NO! NO! D-don't! Don't think about that. No, not Arael. Never think about it. The light… the piercing light. My soul. He's tainting my soul…"

„Think about it Asuka! Maybe whatever is left of your mother wanted you to die. Wanted you to be left with nothing. Maybe she wanted you to join her spirit inside Unit 02."

The dark and hopeless voice inside her continued her assault mercilessly, even when the rest of her mind had already succumbed to the terror of reliving the mind rape Arael had put her through.

„Because you are really worthless. All you have going for you are your looks, but you know what, Asuka? There's better out there.

There's Misato with her giant meat bags, she already took Kaji from you, even before he died. There's Rei with her porcelain skin and her strange and attractive hair and eyes. There was Dr. Akagi, Ibuki-san and lots of others, each of them way better looking, and if not better looking, then they are much nicer and cuter than you are.

That's why nobody wants you, not even Baka Shinji. That's why you'll always be alone!"

X


X

Shinji paced the corridors of the hospital, so far without success.

There was no trace of the young german redhead and neither the overworked personnel nor the patients he met had seen or heard her.

He pondered leaving the hospital wing, but Asuka's weakened body might interfere with her wish to get away as far as she liked.

At least that was what he hoped for, because the giant NERV HQ offered hundreds of places where the girl could hide herself.

X

Almost an hour later, he was at the end of his wisdom.

Exhausted he let his back rest against a wall in a shabby side corridor of the hospital. The white paint on the walls showed some cracks and wasn't all that pristine white anymore. It was empty except for a few cupboards and a big closet in a disgusting green tone.

No trace of Asuka and as far as Ms. Ibuki could ascertain no one had seen her in the last hour.

She just vanished.

„Damnit, Asuka! Why do you always have to make everything more difficult than it needs to be. Couldn't you just have given me the chance to explain, before rushing off like there was no tomorrow?"

He buried his face in his hands and wiped his eyes and then he heard it.

Sharp, almost mechanical sounding sobs, mixed with a wheezing noise as if someone was fighting for air.

The corridor was empty and the doors it led to where either sound proof or led to empty storage rooms, so where could the noises come from?

The only place he hadn't already checked was a big closet on the wall a few meters away.

As he walked nearer, the sounds grew louder until he was sure they came from within.

Tentatively he reached out to open the doors, somehow, unexplainable he was afraid of what he might see.

It was Asuka, she was sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest, her arms hugging herself tightly. Her eyes just stared straight in front of her, she didn't seem to notice or see him.

Instead, her eyes seemed to see something else, something that was terrifying and frightening her.

Her face was contorted as if in pain and her mouth was left open with saliva drooling out of it. She made the strange animal like sobs, a sound that cut deep into Shinji.

It was almost as terrible as seeing her in her catatonic state for all these weeks.

„Asuka? Asuka! What's wrong, what happened?"

She didn't react and so he started shaking her shoulders. Even then, it took time until her eyes cleared and that terrible sound finally stopped.

The girl looked at him with wide-open eyes.

„Sh-Shinji?"

He took her hand and after a moments hesitation he started caressing her cheek.

In the next instant, the redhead flung herself into his arms and pressed her face into his chests.

Her arms went around his neck and she pulled herself against him so hard, that he almost had trouble breathing.

„Shinji. Shinji, please. Please, hold me. Help me. Help me."

Slowly he wrapped his arms around her and held her trembling form.

„Asuka, please. Tell me what's wrong with you. What happened?"

He could feel her tears wet his shirt as she shook her head, with her face still buried in his chest.

She was trembling like a leaf and he felt his heart cry out to her, like so many times before.

Even though it was terrible to see her suffer like this, there was a part of him, which was glad that she let him see it, instead of keeping her pain to herself like she had always done before.

He let himself sink to the ground and slowly pulled her onto his lap.

Then he continued to hold her, while he gently patted her back.

After a while, she calmed down a bit and he dared to ask her again.

„Won't you tell me what's wrong? You can't be so worried, just because you were getting angry about seeing Rei and myself."

She shook her head again, but raised her head to look at him through swollen eyes, with snot on her face.

How could somebody still look beautiful like this? He couldn't explain it, but to him she was still the most beautiful girl in existence.

The redhead stopped crying and studied his face.

„Is it okay, if I don't tell you just now? I will try to tell you, but I'm just not ready yet."

He just nodded. He was shocked to see her in this state, but considering it was Asuka, he was happy that she was willing to give him at least that.

After some more time passed Asuka slowly stood up from his lap, smiled almost shyly, with a light blush on her face.

She took a paper handkerchief out of her skirt pocket and sneezed violently.

Then she crossed her arms in front of her chest and gave him a mock glare.

„So Shinji, care to explain why exactly you were sooo close with the doll, when just yesterday you promised me to be always there for me."

Of course that was an attempt to divert his attention from her breakdown and she sounded as if she was just joking, as if it wasn't really important, but he was certain he heard a strain in her voice and saw a tinge of fear in her eyes.

„Un, Asuka. It's nothing like that. You probably know nothing at all about this, as it happened while you were… out of it.

A few weeks ago, I was told that Rei is some sort of clone of my mother, or at least part of her is."

The girl's jaw almost hit the ground.

„R-Rei is a clone of y-your m-mother? How is this possible who would do such a thing?"

And inside her mind.

Eww! And that's why the commander was all over her all the time. How disgusting. And to imagine I was jealous of all the attention she got.!"

Shinji cleared his throat.

„I'll tell you all I know, Asuka. But could we walk back to Rei's room? I think you are tired enough and we have too look for groceries before we go home, because there's not much left."

She smiled a shy little smile.„Yes, I know. And there's probably still no take-out today, ne?"

„No fair, picking on my weak joke from yesterday."

„Wasn't it my joke?"

Shinji couldn't stifle a laugh.

„Anyway… about Rei and me. You see, it's like this…"

As Shinji explained, Asuka felt a dark cloud rise from her soul.

It was as if his presence alone helped drive away her fears.

Yet she couldn't help the feeling that this was only the beginning, as if something dark and evil had gotten it's claws into her and was about to begin devouring her.

She shuddered. Certainly it wasn't more than a leftover of her ordeal with the 15th angel. No need to worry about it. No Need.

X

X


X

X

Author's notes:

Yes, yes I know. Some of you might feel that they are all out of character and I'm not going to argue that.

But… The basic premise of the story is that they are all changed by the events of the avoided third impact.

Meaning, Asuka is reunited with her mother's spirit and has experienced that Shinji didn't let her down again.

Shinji has decided to act and protect rather than cower and wait until it's too late.

Rei has decided to live as a human in addition to saving her brother.

And yes, Shinji and Rei are siblings. For me there's no other way to see it.

Rei's genes are made up of Yui's and Lilith's so it's basically like they are half-siblings and for all you Rei fags out there anything more than sibling love between those two would be the same as incest so stop making me sick!

Joking, you sickos! Get off on whatever you like as long as I'm not forced to read/see it.

REVIEW!REVIEW!REVIEW!

In fact, I promise faster updates it I get more than 10 different reviews for this chapter. Word of honour.

But not if it's 10 anonymous reviews with one sentence by the same dude.