The GeoFront was bright with the coming of day. The sun shown brightly, and there was not a cloud in the sky. It was the perfect day. Ayanami, Rei walked the unpaved path that she had made for herself to walk on days such as this. She would walk it when she had things on her mind, and on this particular day she was flooded with many thoughts and questions. First, she was wondering why Gendo had banned Shinji from NERV. She hadn't heard anything of the failed activation of EVA Unit 0-3, let alone that the Ninth Angel had been defeated. The second thing on her mind was why the planned feast that she had invited everyone to had been canceled. Everybody seemed happy about it and as though they had supported her one-hundred percent. Even Asuka was willing to help with the reunion dinner of Gendo and Shinji Ikari, so why had Misato come to her apartment and told her that it had to be canceled?
"You seem conflicted." Rei turned to face the path behind her to find a figure standing on the path, his hands in his pockets. While not a tall person, they did have rather distinctive features. Rei stared at him angrily.
"Nagisa, Kaworu," She said in an angry tone, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. "What are you doing here?" Kaworu smirked, his red eyes sharp behind the bangs of his white hair.
"I think you already know the answer to that."
"If you are talking about Shinji, he is already gone."
"Yes I know this already," Kaworu walked emotionally over to Rei so that he stood right in front of her. "That is why I am here. To tell you the story of why Ikari, Shinji-kun has left NERV, and of Ikari, Gendo's true intentions."
"I don't need your lies. I know what you are really here for!" Rei turned around to continue down the path, but was stopped when a cold hand grabbed her arm.
"Please, Ayanami, just hear me out, then you can decide for yourself of what you must do. Please, Ayanami." Rei scowled, kicking dirt up lightly with her foot.
"Fine," She surrendered, taking back her arm and rubbing it with her hand. For such a petite boy Kaworu had a really sharp grip. "But hurry up and get it over with. I have things to do."
"Not here, there are too many people who know too much already. Meet me on the surface, at the Tokyo-3 Grand Theatre at three o'clock. We will talk then." Kaworu turned around and walked away without another word. Rei stood in place, wondering what is was that the SEELE boy was plotting. Shaking her head as though to remove those thoughts from her head, Rei turned and continued on the path, now with more thoughts and questions on her plate…
-/-
Rei checked her watch. Three O'Clock exactly. Where was Kawuro? Looking around the empty building, Rei found herself surrounded with many rows of red velvet chairs. They were all empty, which seemed weird to Rei. She loved coming to the theatre on Saturday evenings and watching plays and musicals, all times of which the place was packed. She shuddered from the cold feeling of loneliness that shrouded her being.
"Ah! You actually came!" Rei looked up to see Kaworu standing on the barrier of the second floor balcony. 'What the hell is he doing up there?' She asked herself, shooting an ice cold glare at the white-haired individual. She gasped when she saw what happened next. Bracing himself, Kaworu casually jumped from the ledge of the balcony, rolling into a ball once he hit the ground to rebound the impact, and finished by stepping back to his feet gracefully right before Rei, who was in awe. "You seem shocked." He said, smirking towards the girl.
"Of course I am! You just jumped from the second floor and landed like a ballerina!" Rei wanted to slap Kaworu, but knew that if she did she would be left answerless. "Ugh! Nevermind! What is it that you needed to tell me thats secretive?" Kaworu walked past Rei and walked onto the stage, where a lone grand piano stood in the center. Sitting himself down in the piano bench, Kaworu cracked his fingers before playing lightly.
"Oh, yes! The story behind Ikari, Shinji-kun leaving NERV." Kaworu played away at the piano, his playing becoming faster and more music-like. "Come up and sit. Play with me."
"Kaworu! I didn't come here to play musical instruments with you! I came here to-"
"You want to know about Ikari, Shinji-kun, correct?" Rei glared at Kaworu, but quickly closed her eyes and sighed. She was annoyed at the SEELE boy's childish games, but knew that she couldn't change that. Walking up to the stage, a thought struck her.
"Kaworu. I don't know how to play."
"Don't worry about it. Just press the keys that you feel need to be pressed." Kaworu smiled at Rei brightly, which sent chills down her spine. Her cheeks turned bright red and she turned away from the boy, looking down at the keys of the piano. "Play from the heart." Rei couldn't help but admire Kaworu's piano playing. She never knew that he had so much experience at it. Why didn't he showcase his skills regularly here at the theatre? Gulping, Rei pressed a key. Then she pressed another one. And another one. And another one. And another one. "That's it! Keep it up, Ayanami!" Rei smiled lightly and played away. It did not sound as beautiful and as majestic as Nagisa's, but to her it sounded like she was flowing out all of her worries, all of her anger, and all of her doubts.
"So, Nagisa-kun," She said, not taking her eyes off of the keys. 'What is the story behind Shinji leaving NERV?"
"Ikari, Shinji-kun has left NERV because of Ikari, Gendo." Kaworu's eyes were closed as he played away gracefully at the piano while telling his story. "Only one week ago, Langley, Asuka became infected by the Ninth Angel during a failed activation test of the Evangelion Unit 0-3 sent to NERV from North America." Rei was shocked. 'Asuka! Taken over by an Angel!?' Her piano playing slowed down as her mind processed this new information. "Ikari, Gendo ordered that Ikari, Shinji-kun engage the contaminated EVA in battle, but Shinji-kun did not. Ikari, Gendo activated the Dummy Plug System, which is based upon your synchronization rate with EVA Unit 0-1. The Dummy Plug System did what Shinji could not, but in the process killed Asuka. After the battle, Shinji-kun gained control over Unit 0-1 back and attacked NERV Headquarters, making terroristic threats towards the organization. Just yesterday, Ikari, Shinji-kun was released from NERV's prison deep within Central Dogma and confronted Ikari, Gendo. Shinji-kun left with nothing solved and nothing gained, instead being banned from the organization forever. Rumor has it that he is planning on going to live in North America, to get away from all of the chaos and pain that he has had to endure."
"Gendo would never do anything like that!" Rei shouted, stopping her piano playing completely. Kaworu played on.
"Oh, but he did, Ayanami." Kaworu started to play a slow, sad tune. "It is all part of his plan."
"What is this plan, Nagisa?"
"To achieve Human Instrumentality, to evolve Lilin further. He wants to become God of this world." Rei gasped in awe. Was Gendo seriously plotting this?
"Just how does Mr. Ikari plan on doing this?"
"Easily." Kaworu stopped playing the piano and stood up from his seat, stretching out his body. "By starting the Fourth Impact." Rei stood up from the seat next. She turned to face Kaworu and slapped him across the face, leaving a bright red mark on the boy's delicate face. "What was that for?"
"Don't you bad talk Ikari, Gendo like that ever again, you SEELE Brat!" Rei's heartbeat became fast and loud, her breathing heavy. She had never been this mad before. "He would never do anything like that! He is not that kind of person!" Kaworu glared at her.
"If that is what you want to believe, Ayanami." Kaworu turned around and started walking towards the exit. "Remember what I said earlier? You don't have to believe me? I could care less. I am just trying to tell you about the thing that is being dangled right under your nose that you keep on missing." Rei started to run up to Kaworu, but collapsed down the stairs that led to the stage. She was getting too worked up. She was going to pass out. "Just come to me whenever you make up your mind. You know where to find me." With that Kaworu exited the building, and the closing of the door echoed throughout the quiet building.
"Nagisa-" Rei's vision turned to black, and all of her senses shut down. All she could do now was think. 'Human… In- Instrumentality-'