Evangelion is property of Studio Khara and GAINAX.
Street Fighter and Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist are property of CAPCOM.
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: SENSHI NO MICHI
Gouken had always known, at the back of his mind, that this day would come.
It was inevitable, and he had taken the two children he now called his own with the knowledge that they would, one day, be taken away.
However, even foresight didn't prepare him for this. This feeling of…was bereft the word?
This feeling, it made a nest in his stomach, hissing up at him and threatening to mar the master's expression with anger that the woman in front of him didn't deserve. However, this was a problem quickly dealt with – simple detachment was easy enough for him, despite the circumstances.
The man – or Gouken, as Misato supposed – had greeted her with a somewhat cold manner, something akin to resentment in his eyes for a few brief moments, and mouth in a tight line. However, before anything else could happen, his mood had lifted slightly – his face calmer.
Stepping to the side, Gouken ushered the Captain into the house with a small movement of his hand.
The room she looked into was some kind of family room – not too large, not too small - cozy, but clean and ordered, decorated with the odd ink painting here and there, and a few pots.
At the back of the room, another set of doors lay slightly open, presumably leading to the rest of the house. Other than that, there was a small square table in the centre, on which what appeared to be a journal and pen. Judging from how the ink shone slightly, it had only just been written in.
Removing her boots, Misato walked onto the cool hardwood floor, and when prompted by Gouken, knelt at the left of the table, while he walked over to the opposing side, and knelt down across from her, closing over the journal. Misato had very little idea of what to say, or do – she cursed the Commander's policy of…what had Fuyutsuki called it?
Compartmentalisation. Or, in his words, nobody telling any secrets because nobody knew them.
With little else to fall back on, Misato promptly disregarded regulations, and bowed slightly. "Thank you for admitting me. I'm Captain Misato Katsuragi, of NERV." Looking back up at the man, she made sure to keep her expression pleasant – not a grin, but the inklings of a smile.
She could only hope it made her seem approachable, and would help to soothe the mood.
Thankfully, it seemed to do the job, and Gouken bowed in return, his eyes warming with surprise and approval.
"Captain." He said, tone less rigid than before. "I must admit, when NERV contacted me and told me that they were coming to collect the children," Misato watched as the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, "I had visions of jackbooted thugs and armoured carriers. It is a pleasant surprise to see they sent someone well-mannered and personable."
Finally, she was getting somewhere. Internally, she breathed out a sigh of relief, and simply allowed her smile to widen in response to the man. "You're too kind. In all honesty I had no idea of this until twelve hours ago – I'm not sure how I should go about this."
In reply, Gouken simply shook his head, and smiled, an affable expression on his face. "You are not the only one. The children should be back soon – their afternoon routine should be over now, and they will arrive in a few minutes."
Misato couldn't help but notice those words again – the children – and the warmth of voice that accompanied them. Now that this Gouken wasn't trying to stare her down – something he would have succeeded in, she conceded – he made no secret of the fact of his fondness for the two she was here to collect.
Again, almost in response, her stomach clenched.
I'm taking them away from what must be a warm, loving home, and putting them into cybernetic death machines. Fuck this job. Even though he's smiling, he must be snarling on the inside. He has to be – and I deserve it.
"Excuse me?"
Gouken's questioning tone snapped Misato out of her reverie, and she flinched slightly, before relaxing again.
"My apologies, I was distracted for a brief moment, forgive me." She said, tone remorseful, but Gouken simply shook his head again.
"No need to be concerned. I have always understood that this day would come." Gouken's words were slow and warm. "But it is…difficult, now that the time has arrived. That being said, if everyone at NERV is as proper as you are, I will sleep easy."
Misato chuckled slightly in response, her cheeks reddening slightly. My, aren't you the charmer. Truth be told, if everyone at NERV was like me, nothing would get done…but I'd take Misato 2 over Commander Ikari any day.
"Again, you're flattering me…but thank you." Misato bowed slightly once more. She was about to speak again, but she caught the slightest whisper, the slightest sound of chatter, and it was steadily approaching, increasing in volume. Looking over at Gouken, she watched as he rose to his feet, and decided to do the same.
The two watched the door for a few more seconds, until the shadows of two figures were visible through the lighter and thinner panels of the doors. A loud and hearty, but definitely female laugh suddenly echoed from the other side of the doors, and Misato quirked one eyebrow.
The doors slid apart slowly, and Misato watched in interest.
The first one to enter was the girl – Asuka, Misato remembered – head still turned to her side, in conversation with her companion.
Her long copper hair was tied back, save for a small, shaggy fringe, into a single ponytail with a red ribbon, the hair reaching mid-back. The girl was dressed in a red sleeveless gi, and judging from the visible fraying, it had seen some wear and tear. Beneath the upper portion of the gi, could be seen a black sports bra. However, it wasn't the flaring red gi, or the yellow padded gloves that stood out most, it was the muscle.
The girl's arms were extremely well defined – while they weren't huge and unnatural, there was definite muscle. It was somewhat jarring, though, seeing it on one so young. The same held true for her companion, who slipped in beside her.
This was the boy – the Commander's son – Shinji Ikari. Dressed in a white gi, which seemed even more frayed than the girl's, a white headband, and red gloves, he too was visibly strong, the lines of his pectorals visible underneath the gi.
Truth be told, it might have been Misato's imagination, but the girl – Asuka, Misato reminded herself once again – seemed to have slightly more muscle than Shinji. Of course, her musings ground to a halt when she realised she was staring at the two, and it was only the fierce and inquisitive stare from the girl that forced Misato to glance back at Gouken.
To contrast, Shinji seemed shyer – she'd expected as much when she'd first looked at his photo. He was standing behind Asuka, eyes moving between Gouken and Misato questioningly.
"Shinji, Asuka. This is Captain Katsuragi – from NERV." Gouken gestured to Misato, who turned back to the two, and bowed slightly. When she straightened up, she watched as Shinji returned the bow with an even lower one, as did Asuka – but her bow was both shorter, and higher than the boy's.
The girl stared at the Captain with barely disguised fear and resentment, her sapphire orbs focused on Misato's brown. This didn't go unnoticed – Shinji shifted slightly, his expression uncomfortable.
Finally, Gouken motioned for the two to kneel at the front of the table, and they did so, Asuka's gaze finally leaving the Captain.
"I trust the two of you have already packed?" He asked, and the two nodded. He then turned to Misato, elaborating. "We received notice a week ago that NERV would be coming. We just didn't have an exact date." Gouken paused for a moment, before continuing.
"I take it you need to leave as soon as possible?"
Misato could only nod, reluctantly. It was clear that even though Gouken had proved amiable about this entire mess, Asuka was clearly not. If Misato was going to be calling the shots in battle, the last thing she needed was an Eva Pilot with an attitude.
Hopefully she could smooth things over with her as soon as they settled down in Tokyo-3.
"Well…" Gouken sighed, then turned to his two charges. "Go get changed, grab your things, and wait outside for me. I'll send you off." His voice was tired, resigned.
Slowly, the two stood back up, still silent. Asuka looked up towards the door at the other end of the room, and strode towards it. She slid the doors open firmly, and disappeared into the corridor, bare feet slapping against the hardwood. However, Shinji lingered.
He looked towards Gouken, eyes shining with questions, with apprehension. His master simply nodded, and then the boy looked towards Misato. She could only offer a small, reassuring smile, one that the boy tried to replicate before he eventually followed in pursuit of his companion.
Once the sound of bare feet on wood had disappeared, Gouken let out a long, heavy sigh, his posture slumping. Misato stared down at the table for a moment, before finally speaking her mind.
"I am sorry. Really, I'm so, so sorry."
Gouken shook his head, and replied. "It's not your fault. Don't let it weigh upon you."
Misato looked away for a moment, towards the corridor where the two children had disappeared to. The sound of Gouken's voice drew her attention again, and when she looked back she was surprised at the level of intensity – but also fear – in the master's eyes.
When he spoke, it was quiet, and not as firm as it usually was.
"Just promise me one thing, Captain. Whatever you're doing in Tokyo-3, whatever happens – promise me you'll protect them. Promise me."
Misato's blood turned to ice in her veins, and guilt made home in her stomach.
He doesn't know what NERV is planning to…what's going to happen to the children…
Almost instantly, Misato shuffled back, and suddenly moved her upper body downwards, in a steep bow. As her nose brushed the floor, and her eyes grew hot, she replied.
"I promise you – I swear I'll protect them."
Misato couldn't bear to rise from the bow – but she knew that no matter how long she held it, it still wouldn't be apologetic enough, meant nothing compared to what the children were going to endure.
When she finally rose once again, Gouken had vanished. Looking down at the table for a moment, Misato scrubbed at her eyes, cursed Gendo Ikari's name, and then stood up, moving to retrieve her boots.
When the two children returned, they stood outside the entrance to the house dutifully. Asuka stood tall, straight, while Shinji made no secret of his downcast nature, gaze directed at the ground as they waited.
Asuka was dressed in a red sleeveless sweatshirt, and a billowing black skirt that fell to her knees, along with grey sandals. She still wore her yellow gloves.
Shinji, on the other hand, had removed his gloves, his headband, and dressed somewhat blandly – a plain white t-shirt, pulled taut over his chest, with blue jeans and sneakers that had been once white, but were now too scuffed and worn to be called anything other than grey.
Both had duffel bags filled to bursting at their feet, and occasionally, the two would exchange glances. Shinji's eyes were wide, and fearful, while Asuka's seemed to be simply resigned, and narrowed.
The doors slid open again, and both Gouken and Misato walked out. The woman turned back to the man for a moment, and nodded, before she began to walk back to her car. As she moved away, Gouken let out a breath, then focused on the two children before him. When Gouken finally broke the silence, his voice was soft, yet like thunder.
"Asuka."
As if it were possible, Asuka's posture somehow became straighter, and her eyes locked with her sensei's. Gouken beckoned her to come closer, and when the two were only a few inches apart, they simply looked at each other.
It was Asuka who looked down first, then suddenly moved forward, wrapping her arms around Gouken's frame. Contrary to her previously controlled and stiff movements, this was a sharp difference – it was a desperate hug, and the girl practically clung to Gouken like a drowning man to a piece of driftwood.
Burying her face in Gouken's wide chest, Asuka spoke, words quiet and muffled, though discernable to the man.
"Gouken-sensei…thank you. For everything. I can't even begin to…"
Her voice caught, and Gouken's face softened, before one of his hands began to move through Asuka's hair, slow and reassuring. He eased her away from him, and when she was at arms distance, he rested his hands on her shoulders, meeting her distraught expression.
"I'll see you before long, Asuka. Keep in touch…" He replied, smiling softly. Asuka nodded sharply, clenching her eyes shut. When they reopened, they were clear, and she inhaled, before affecting a smile. Patting her on the shoulder, Gouken spoke once more.
"Now, go show the world what you're made of. Get going."
"Hai, sensei."
With a nod, and a firm, but confident expression, Asuka moved away, over to her duffel bag. Slinging it over her shoulder, she glanced back at Gouken, the house, and the training area, before finally turning around and beginning to walk the path down to Misato's car.
Gouken then turned to Shinji.
He didn't get the chance to say anything, before Shinji leapt forward and embraced him, even tighter than Asuka. The boy didn't say anything, and as Gouken's arms tightened around him, so too did he speak.
"Shinji…I've poured everything I can into you. All of my knowledge, all of my wisdom. And it has been an honour to teach such a dedicated student. A master could wish for nothing more…"
Already, Gouken could feel the tears soaking through his gi, but he continued, voice wavering on the final words.
"I know you will find the right balance in whatever lies ahead, as you have with Ansatsuken...Be strong, as you always have been."
After a moment, Shinji pulled back, and began slowly wiping at his cheeks, nodding and murmuring his thanks.
"Hai, Gouken-sensei. Thank you."
Sniffing, the boy moved into a steep bow, which was returned by his master. When Shinji rose, he exhaled, then turned around. Moving towards his bag and slinging it over his shoulder, he trekked towards where Misato and Asuka were waiting, without a second glance.
The trip was already off to a painful start – Misato kept glancing at the rear-view mirror, watching as both Shinji and Asuka barely moved an inch. Shinji had spent the last half-hour staring forlornly out of the window, while Asuka had leaned back, arms folded. Her fringe hid her eyes, and the maelstrom of emotion that lay behind them.
Gouken-sensei doesn't know…and Shinji doesn't, either. But I do…I know where we're headed. I know what NERV wants.
I thought I'd left that life behind. I guess I was wrong.
This woman, this Captain Katsuragi…she might as well be escorting us into a slaughterhouse.
Well, there's only one thing I know – whatever happens, they're not taking me or Shinji without one hell of a fight first.
Well, that's the second part done and dusted. Let's hope I can keep this momentum going, and you can keep the reviews coming!
That sounds really, really arrogant. Sorry.