-1A/N:I don't own Evangelion or the Phantom of the Opera. I'm poor, so if you sue me, we're both screwed.

The Music of the Night

The Second Measure

Shinji walked down the aisles of his favorite music store, humming a tune that was very familiar to him, and just about everyone else within the store. Many of the customers there watched the teenager walking and humming to himself, and most smiled as he passed by them and gave them a small nod and smile. They had seen Shinji here many times before, and knew he had an appreciation for music that many of his peers lacked. Most times, Shinji would browse around, checking out the newer classical releases, and generally keeping to himself. Today was different, however. Today Shinji was a man on a mission. A very vital mission.

" Good afternoon, Shinji! What can I get for you today? Those new Liszt tapes we were talking about last week finally came in today. You looking to get one?" the store owner, Mr. Takayamagi, greeted as Shinji neared the counter. Shinji shook his head in the negative.

"Not today, thanks, Mr. Takayamagi," Shinji replied as he looked at the object of his mission before him, sitting under the glass counter top. "Actually, I came in today to get a new MP3 player." The store owner stood there in shock.

"Aw no, Shinji! Don't tell me you've gone to the Dark Side as well?" the older man asked sadly, causing Shinji to chuckle.

"No sir, I still have my SDAT, thank you very much. It's for a friend of mine, she kinda needs it rather badly," he said as he spotted the one he needed. "We have a school musical to perform, and she has no way of listening to the pieces to be sung." The store owner looked relived. Shinji thought for a second, then added, "Actually, I need two."

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"I'm telling you, Hikari, I am so screwed!" Asuka fussed as she stormed into her apartment, her best friend right on her heals. "The tryouts are Monday, I have no way of learning the music!"

"Well, maybe Shinji will let you borrow his SDAT to learn everything," Her best friend did her best to console her. Asuka merely snorted at the thought.

"Pah-lease! That thing is more precious to Shinji than my virginity is to me, and that's saying a lot!" Asuka retorted, "There is no way in hell he'd let me borrow it!" She turned and saw the shocked look on Hikari's face. "What?"

"Asuka! I can't believe you just said that!" Hikari yelled, the heat running to her cheeks. "Besides, have you even asked him? I bet he would say yes!" Asuka rolled her eyes as she walked to the kitchen to get a snack.

"I doubt it! The big baby is still pissed at me for what happened Monday! Geeze, I wish he would just…grow…up…" Asuka trailed off as she saw a box on the table with her name on it, along with a note. She picked up the note while Hikari walked into the kitchen to see what was taking her friend so long.

"You know, you can still come over to my house to practice every day, I don't…hey! What's that?" The pig-tailed girl asked when she saw the note in Asuka's hand. Asuka stood there, wide-eyed, and handed the note over to Hikari as she picked up the box and opened it.

"Dear Asuka," Hikari read out loud as her friend continued to stare into the box, "I 'm sorry for getting so angry the other day and not fixing supper. No one should be forced to eat Misato's cooking, no matter what they have done. I hope this makes up for it. I heard you and Hikari talking today, and realized you need this. Dinner is in the oven and will be ready by seven, if I'm not home in time. Tell Misato not to worry, I'm going to the school and practicing after I make a delivery. Your friend, Shinji." Hikari looked over to her friend. "Well, what did he get you?"

"Uh…this," Asuka said in rather subdued tones as she held a small red MP3 player in her hand, already charged and loaded with the music from Phantom.

"Wow! That's cool! It looks like the newest model, too! He must have shelled out some major money for that!" Hikari beamed, but was puzzled at the look on her friend's face.

"I…don't get it! He apologized for being angry, but he had every right to be! I laughed at him in class! Why would he do something this nice for me?" Asuka pondered, extremely confused. She couldn't figure it out.

"It says 'why' here in the note," Hikari replied as she smiled at her friend, who was obviously very clueless. "He says he's your friend." Asuka's face was thoughtful for just a second, before the more familiar mask fell back into place once more.

"And so he should apologize! If he thinks that this makes up for forcing me to eat Misato's toxic waste, then he has another thing coming! I don't need this or his pity!" the red-head fumed as she studied the object in her hand, debating on whether to keep it or return it for the cash.

"Asuka, it wasn't pity. It's a gift," Hikari soothed, trying to get her friend to relax and see reason. Asuka continued her rant.

"What does he want for it? Another kiss? I'd rather blow Unit 01 while riding Commander Fuyutsuki before I'd kiss him again!" Hikari blushed, then something inside snapped, as the Class Representative in her took over.

"Asuka! Stop it! Right now!" Hikari barked, silencing Asuka. "First off, that's disgusting! And you call Shinji a pervert? Second, Shinji doesn't want anything for it! It's a gift! From a friend! Sheesh!"

"But…" Asuka started again before a look from Hikari caused her to shut down. "Oh, okay! I'll keep the damn thing!" Hikari watched as Asuka placed it back in the box and take it to her room before re-emerging to continue her afternoon where she had left off before the discovery.

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Mr. Sakamoto walked from his office in the choir room throughout the rest of the Music Department, checking on all the students who had chosen to stay behind to practice. Most of them were band students who were studying for their chair tests, but there were several who were working on their audition songs for the musical.

He was extremely pleased at the turnout for the signups. He had never expected so many student to want to try out for the few lead rolls there were. Ever since then, the practice rooms had been packed. In fact, there were too few rooms for the need. Students sat outside the rooms they had laid claim to, sitting and patiently doing their homework while waiting for the person inside to finish up their allotted time.

As he passed the open doors to the auditorium, he paused. He heard a lone voice emanating from within. It was a voice filled with pain, with sorrow, with hope. Sakamoto peaked within the theater and got the shock of his life. On the stage stood one person he had thought he would never see. It was a skinny young man, with dark brown hair and steel blue eyes. It was a young man that Sakamoto would have never thought in a million years would ever try out for the most daunting role in the entire musical. This person was so shy and introverted that he was surprised to see him in the class at all.

On the stage, with a voice that was powerful and expressive and had the potential to be so much more, stood Shinji Ikari. Sakamoto slid quietly into the chamber and took a seat as the voice resonated throughout the auditorium, sending the beginnings of goose bumps up his arms. The young man stood on stage, oblivious to anything else around him, his eyes closed most of the time as he concentrated on the song, his hands by his side.

"Damn, this kid has got massive talent," Sakamoto thought to himself as Shinji began to wind the song down, " but he lacks focus! He's new to this, so a nudge in the right direction…." Shinji finished the last note and held his eyes closed, until the sound of applause began to ring. His eyes snapped open in shock.

"H…hello? Who's out there?" Shinji stammered, looking for all the world like he wanted to run and hide in the nearest corner and the darkest shadow. The applause continued.

"Very good, Mr. Ikari, very good indeed!" Sakamoto said as he approached the stage in a quick clip, so as to not allow the teenager before him time to run away. "Have you ever sang on stage before?"

"No, sir," Shinji replied as he stared at his teacher, who had just mounted the stairs and climbed up on the stage with him. Shinji stood nervously before the older man, who crossed his arms and studied Shinji very closely. "I…I had to use the stage because all the rooms were full. Did I do anything wrong?" Sakamoto smiled.

"Yes, in fact, you did," he said as he watched Shinji blanch, " First off, quit stuttering and acting nervous! I'm not here to judge you, yet! I'm here to help. Stand straight and have pride in yourself, and quit acting like everything you do is wrong. This will help in your singing." Shinji looked at him, confused. He expected to get chewed out, not critiqued.

"Second, open your eyes! The audience wants to see passion, not just hear it, and the eyes are the most expressive part of a human. Don't let the crowd scare you, they are here to listen, not condemn. I would tell you to imagine all of them in their underwear, but I have a feeling that would make it worse for you than helping!" he chuckled as he saw the blush rise to Shinji's cheeks. "If you have to, think that there is some sort of glass wall or something between you and them, if that helps. They can't hurt you."

"They can't hurt me," Shinji repeated, as he started to stand taller. He imagined himself sitting within his Eva, staring down at the audience, his A.T field at full strength. Now, nobody could hurt him.

"That's right! No one!" Sakamoto agreed as he watched Shinji's confidence begin to grow. "Now, the third thing. Let the emotions out, and don't just stand there like a statue! That is good for a choir, not for a soloist! You have to let the emotions flow, you can't bottle them in! This will add a dimension to your singing that wasn't there before." Shinji nodded his head in understanding.

"Now the final and most important thing: focus. You sounded good, but you have the potential to be so much more! You have to focus, either on the song, the emotion, or even on someone else. Tell me, Mr. Ikari, is there someone special to you? Someone you would give anything to pour your heart out to?" Shinji shyly nodded his head. His teacher smiled sagely. "Now, imagine that you are singing to that person. You don't have to do it for real, they don't even have to know. Just picture that person within your mind. Focus all you energy, all your emotion, all your heart and soul into singing a song to that one special person. If they are in the audience, then look straight at them! Remember your wall! No one can harm you! You can pour your entire life into a song, you can put your heart on the line, and they cannot harm you."

"I never thought of it that way," Shinji said, feeling like his eyes had been opened for the first time in his life. Everything that he held back in real life, he could release in song. Everything he felt and feared to show, he could now express.

"Many singers never do. That is why they are ordinary. It is the great singers, the extraordinary ones, that learn that lesson. They are the ones that can bring even the person with the hardest heart to tears with their song. They are the ones who can bring people, young and old, to their feet in joy. They are the ones who can set the world on it's ear!" Sakamoto said as he watch a change come over the young pilot before him. "Got it?"

"Yes sir, I think I do," Shinji said with renewed confidence. His teacher patted his back as he began to step away.

"Now, try it again from the top. I want you to remember everything I just told you. Stand proud, let the emotions flow! Nobody can hurt you! Let the person who means the most to you know what you feel, what you truly feel!" With that, Sakamoto retreated back off stage and took his place in the auditorium. "Whenever you're ready, Mr. Ikari."

With that, Shinji took a deep breath, thought of a certain young lady, and blew Mr. Sakamoto out of the water.

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"God, I'm nervous!" Hikari said as she sat next to Asuka the following Monday. Most of the class mirrored what she felt, some people shaking so badly that their bones rattled, while others failed to keep their lunch from earlier in the day within their stomachs.

"Oh, it's not that bad, Hikari," Asuka replied, refusing to acknowledge that she, too, was extremely nervous. The last time she felt like this was during her first battle with an Angel. "Look, Shinji's not fazed a bit, so you know it can't be that bad!" However, it really angered Asuka that Shinji sat there, cool as cucumber while she and everyone else trembled with fright.

The young man in question heard Asuka's comments and smiled slightly. The advise his teacher gave him had helped so much more than he had expected. He even began to use some of those rules in real life, much to chagrin of a certain red-headed pilot….

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The previous Monday…

When he got home that night, she began to chew him up one side and down the other for even daring to think that she needed his help. Rather than flinching from her tirade, he stood tall, and told her she was welcome, then got supper ready for everyone. That left a really confused red-head standing in the hallway, her mouth open in mid-insult. The rest of the night passed rather quietly for the young man.

The next day, when Rei came over to Shinji's desk and thanked him for the MP3 player he had bought for her, Asuka became a sputtering mess, barely even able to form a recognizable word, let alone stringing together a line of choice curse words. When Rei bent over and gave Shinji a kiss on the forehead after he welcomed her, the rest of the class followed Asuka's example. Asuka quickly emailed him after all the commotion died down.

"Hey Third, why the hell did you give her a player, too? I thought you said we were friends!" she sent, making him chuckle as he wrote her back

"We are friends, but she's my friend too." he replied.

"If you're friends, then why the hell did you kiss her?!" came back a rapid fire reply that reminded everyone in the room of a machinegun at full auto.

"First off, she kissed me, not the other way around. Why? Are you jealous? At least she thanked me!" he sent back with a vicious smile.

"WHAT?!" Asuka screeched out loud, causing the whole room to turn in her direction. "What are you lot looking at? Do you really want knuckle sandwiches?" The rest of the class quickly turned their attention elsewhere.

"Ha! You wish! And thank you," she sent off, blushing a bit.

"You're welcome. Now, where's my kiss:P" came the reply, making Asuka cough out loud. Shinji smiled as he closed his laptop and did his best to pay attention to his class.

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"Thank you, Mr. Hanzo! That was wonderful! Just wonderful!" beamed Mr. Masataka as Omi Hanzo stepped from the stage after a over-the-top performance. The tall teenager, with his long black hair pulled back in a ponytail, was the favorite of most of the girls in the class, as well as that of the Drama teacher.

"Too bad he couldn't carry a tune to save his life," Mr. Sakamoto muttered as his assistant continued to gush over the departed pretty boy.

"Now, now! Any trained fool can sing, but it takes real talent to be able to act!" Masataka shot back as he looked at the list, seeing who else was listed to tryout for the role of the Phantom.

"Too bad he doesn't have any of that either," Sakamoto replied, as Masataka gave him a venomous look. "So, who's next?"

"I think we have found our Phantom. Why should we waste anymore time looking when we still have many other auditions to see?" Masataka remarked as his superior took the clipboard from his hand and was pleased to see the next name on the list.

"Next up is Shinji Ikari, for the role of the Phantom," Sakamoto called out. Shinji stood and walked toward the stage, passing Hanzo who was going back to his place of honor amongst the girls who had saved his seat.

"Why even bother, Ikari? I have it locked in," Hanzo whispered as he passed. Shinji turned his head to look back at him.

"We shall see," he replied as he leapt upon the stage and took his mark. Shinji looked out toward the assembled students, remembering everything his teacher had said and everything he had practiced for a week. His eyes locked onto a young redheaded German who sat in the third row as the rest of the crowd disappeared, his A.T. Field on full power. He stood even taller than his Eva as he readied himself for combat.

"What song are you going to perform for us today, Ikari?" Masataka asked, a sneer evident on his face. Shinji looked at him and smiled ever so slightly.

"I shall sing 'The Music of the Night', from the beginning," came the reply, strong and sure. This caused most of the class to sit up and take notice. Not only had Shinji chosen to sing the same song as Hanzo, but he said it with such confidence that most everyone couldn't believe it was the same Shinji Ikari who was Asuka's whipping boy. Masataka snorted.

"Then proceed, Mr. Ikari," Sakamoto commanded as he turned toward Kensuke, who was manning the sound equipment. "Mr. Aida, if you please?" With a smile, Shinji took a deep breath, locked onto Asuka, and began to sing.

"Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation,

"Darkness stirs, and wakes imagination!

"Silently the senses, abandon their defenses,

"Helpless to resist, the notes I write,

"For I compose the Music of the Night!"

Jaws dropped throughout the theater. From the first note, Shinji wove a spell that enraptured everyone within earshot. The power and the focus of his voice shook everyone to their core. Sakamoto smiled, as the goose bumps began to form on his arms, as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end.

"Slowly, gently, night unfurls it's splendor!

"Grasp it! Sense it! Tremulous and tender!

"Turn your face away, from the garish light of day!

"Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light!

"And listen, to the Music of the Night!"

Asuka sat there, speechless, which was no mean feat in itself. She got lost in the notes as they flew from the stage and circled her body, diving in and doing their best to crack and chip away at the impregnable fortress which she had erected around her heart. Try as she might, she could not resist the power of the voice, his voice.

" Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams!

"Purge your thought of the life you knew before!

"Close your eyes! Let your spirit start to soar!

"And you'll live, as you've never lived before!"

She closed her eyes and let her spirit flow with sea of sound that threatened to undo everything she had built since she was seven. The strange part was, she welcomed the intrusion into her heart. She felt as if he was singing to her, and only for her. "It didn't make any sense! This was Shinji, after all!"

"Softly, deftly, Music shall caress you!

"Hear it! Feel it! Secretly possess you!

"Open up your mind! Let your fantasies unwind!

"In this Darkness which you know you cannot fight!

"The Darkness of the Music of the Night!"

Asuka wanted to give in to his instructions so badly that it hurt. She opened her eyes briefly and looked around and saw that she wasn't the only person taken in by the power of his voice. Hikari looked as if she had been hypnotized, as tears poured down her cheeks. She thought it was silly until she felt the dampness on her own face, which she quickly had to wipe away. "Show no weakness! Tears are signs of weakness!"

"Let your mind start a journey to a strange, new world!

"Leave all thought of the life you knew before!

"Let your soul take you where you long to be!

"Only then, can you belong to me!"

She so wanted to belong to him! She wanted to feel the power of his voice as it surrounded and protected her from the cruel world. She wanted to forget the sins that had been committed upon her during her young life. She would gladly follow him! "Wait! NO! It's only Shinji! It's only a stupid song!"

"Floating, falling, sweet intoxication!

"Touch me! Trust me! Savor each sensation!

"Let the dream begin! Let your darker side give in!

"To the power of the music that I write!

"The power of the Music of the Night!"

"No! No! No! No! NO!!" she whispered to herself, "I will not surrender! I will not give in!"

"You, alone, can make my song take flight!

"Help me make, the Music of the Night!"

The applause was like that of a roar of an N2 mine. Everyone in the auditorium were on their feet, as the crowd roared and clapped until their hands were sore, then they clapped some more. Shinji stood there in shock, never in all his wildest dreams expecting a response like this. He scanned the audience quickly and saw that even his rivals were on their feet applauding. Even sour Masataka stood and clapped, just not with as much enthusiasm. It did his heart good to see that Asuka even stood. That made his life worth while. He could die a happy man now.

Asuka was one of the first ones to shoot to her feet, which embarrassed her to no end. Her hands hurt, but she could not stop. It was like her body was betraying her, like she had no control over her own actions. She looked around and didn't see a single dry eye anywhere. Even Rei was crying, which was truly shocking. The look of rapture on Rei's face struck a chord inside Asuka. She didn't like seeing Rei look at Shinji that way, and that feeling disturbed her greatly.

"Impressive! Most impressive, Mr. Ikari!" Sakamoto called out as Shinji took a small bow and left the stage to take his seat once more. Sakamoto was glad that Shinji had taken his advice, and his growth as a singer was proof that the tremendous talent he had sensed had finally broken through the layers of doubt and self-loathing that had surrounded Shinji's heart.

"Okay, class, if we can! We have many more auditions to get through, so please be quiet!" Masataka called out, slightly perturbed to see that his favorite did indeed have competition. "Now, first up for the part of Christine Daae, Ms. Asuka Soryu."

"Okay, Asuka! This is it!" she whispered to herself. "If Shinji can 'wow' this crowd, then it shouldn't be too hard for you to do the same!" With that challenge before her, she set out on her mission.

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The next day…

"Okay, class! This is what you have been waiting for!" Mr. Sakamoto said as he stood on the stage, "It's time to announce who won which parts during yesterday's auditions! Mr. Masataka, if you will…" His assistant scowled as Sakamoto deferred to him. From what he had gathered thus far, Masataka realized that Sakamoto was far from impressed with his job performance.

"The part of Madame Giry goes to Rei Ayanami," Masataka announced, shocking many in the crowd. The pale girl's vocal talents had surprised everyone, and her demeanor seemed perfect for the part.

"The part of Meg Giry goes to Hikari Horaki…"

"The part of La Carlotta goes to…"

"The part of Raoul goes to Omi Hanzo…"

"Dude! That ain't right! That part was made for me!" Touji fumed, as Hikari patted his arm to calm him. The list continued until it got to the two lead rolls, causing everyone to hold their breath in anticipation.

"The part of Christine Daae goes to Asuka Soryu…" Asuka and Hikari screamed and held on to one another as they jumped around like only teenage girls can.

"And finally, the part of the Erik, the Phantom, goes to…" Shinji cringed. Despite his confidence on stage, he still expected the worst, having known nothing else through entire life. There were so many other guys that had tried out and had done so much better than he had, in his own opinion. Those thoughts hadn't struck him until after the euphoria of his performance had worn off. Shinji sighed, knowing that this was the end.

"…Shinji Ikari."

"Huh?" Shinji thought as the crowd around him roared.

End of the Second Measure.