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

"I said forget it, Kensuke." Toji muttered, over the muted din of their other classmate's conversations. "We're staying here, no question about it." The boy crossed his arms, and across from him, his bespectacled friend groaned.

"Come on, Toji! Don't you want to see them? Once in a lifetime opportunity, and you know it!" Kensuke leaned a little closer, enthusiasm shining in his eyes. "All I need to do is get one good video, one good picture –"the boy held up his video camera for emphasis, "And we can head back to the shelter!"

The two, along with the rest of their school's second year, were currently in a specially assigned shelter, sent to wait out the Angel attack. It was a spacious room, with mats spread out around the cold, metal floor. Groups chatted eagerly about various matters – but many spoke about the Angel, and the EVA that would be sent to defend against it.

At the back of his mind, Toji knew that there would, in all likelihood, be many more battles to come – but that didn't stop him from praying every night that the next time was the last – he couldn't bear to think that the next attack might get his sister for good, or his father.

As he dwelled on the matter, he found his thoughts drifting to the boy – Shinji Ikari – who had beaten him earlier that day.

Guy's fast….strong. And that technique he used to finish me off…no question that that guy's one of a kind. If my jaw's any indication, I'd do well to stay on his good side. Wonder if the girl that arrived with him is a fighter as well? Certainly looked like one…

He apologised for Sakura – didn't think he had it in him. Why do I get the feeling those two are full of surprises?

"Please, Toji – hey, hey!" Kensuke squawked as Toji plucked the video camera out of his hands, and held it up. "Come on, Toji, don't be like that…" He groaned, watching as the dark-haired boy began to call over to the Class Representative.

"Class Rep! Hey, Class Rep!" Toji waved his hand a little for emphasis, and soon enough, Hikari Horaki stalked over, her posture rigidly straight and her expression tense.

"Y – yes, Toji?" The girl asked, her voice strained, and the boy frowned a little.

Guess all this stress is beginning to get to her. Tough break.

"Listen – Kensuke won't shut up about going outside to watch that robot and monster square off, so I figure it's better if you keep his camera. You know, just to be safe." Behind the two, Kensuke grumbled, and Hikari nodded slowly in understanding.

As she took the video camera from Toji, her hands fumbled, fingers brushing along his hands for a moment. Red coloured her cheeks, but she kept a straight face – and as she walked away, camera held in one hand, Toji quirked a curious eyebrow.

What was that about?

Across the room, Hikari returned to where the other class representatives were sitting, but remained standing, and stealing glances at the camera every so often. Eventually, one of the other representatives, a transfer student from Brazil, spoke up. "Hey, Horaki. You alright? You seem…distracted."

Hikari's head jerked up, and she tried to smile affably.

"Oh, it's nothing, Matsuda. But thanks…"

The girl looked around the room, to her class, then back to the class representatives, then to the class and back again, before she finally continued.

"Listen…I need to go to the…bathroom for a bit. Would it be alright if you watched 2-A for me, Matsuda?" Hikari asked, her voice wavering more than once. The dark-skinned boy to her right hesitated for a moment, then nodded, and she offered a grateful bow before beginning to move to the exit of the shelter.

Once she had disappeared behind the automatic doors, she let out a breath, and then began to sprint towards the surface, camera held tightly in one hand, her face twisted with fear and agitation.

Damn the clan. Damn this!

Shinji let out a small noise of discomfort, his eyes closing and his jaw tightening as the launch mechanism blasted him and his EVA up to the surface of Tokyo-3. The rush of gravity pressed him into the seat, and it was nearly impossible to look up. Instead Shinji focused on preparing himself for the battle in the seconds that he had left.

Breathe in…breathe out. In…out…feel your hado. Feel it wash over you, like a cool wave. Feel it surge throughout your body, feel its energy soak your muscles.

When Shinji opened his eyes, it was to natural daylight, and as soon as the clamps holding the EVA in place were released, he slid into a stance, beginning to look around and stalk through the buildings. Misato's voice came over the communications system, but Shinji's main focus was on finding the Angel first.

"Shinji, I realise we haven't had time to train you in the use of weapons, but we've sent up a high-caliber pistol for you. It should be illuminated on your display – see if you can get to it."

Nodding absentmindedly, the boy looked around for a few more seconds, then noticed that one of the buildings two blocks away was highlighted in the EVA's vision, a bright blue film over the structure. A small holographic window popping up besides the building indicated that it was a weapons depot – and contained the weapon Misato had sent up.

EVA Unit One began to move towards the building, keeping a watchful eye out all the while, ready and waiting for its enemy. As Shinji approached the weapons depot, he spoke, voice hushed.

"Misato, where is this thing? I can't see anything…"

It took a moment for Misato to reply, her voice slow and steady.

"We're…not sure. We're getting a definite blue pattern, but the reading is spread out across the city. You're going to have to locate it."

In the background, Shinji could vaguely hear a familiar voice mutter "Mein Gott…" and smiled slightly, despite the circumstances.

"Understood, Captain." He replied, approaching the depot from behind. Looking over the building for a moment, he came to the conclusion that it must have opened up on the other side, and he willed the EVA to pad around, its tentative steps still shaking the ground despite the fact that they were taken with care.

Coming around the building, Shinji observed that the building was more like a case than anything – inside, an EVA-sized pistol was hung by several massive supports, and he reached in, plucking the weapon from them.

"Simple operation, Shinji. Aim, and fire." Misato's voice came, as he felt the weight of the weapon in the EVA's hand. His finger slowly slipped into the trigger guard, and he took a moment to try aiming down the street, to get a feel for the sighting.

First time holding a gun…feels strange. Has a weight to it – but also a comforting solidity. Hopefully I can deal with the recoil on the fly –

"Shinji, behind y –"

The Captain didn't even have time to finish her sentence before the EVA span around on its heels. Leaping back, it began to pull the trigger of the gun, and each shot from the weapon shook the windows of the skyscrapers surrounding the behemoth.

Bright yellow tracer slugs flashed out, and impacted harmlessly against the crimson hide of the Angel, the A.T Field coming to life with every impact and dissipating the destructive force. It was now somewhat upright, appearing to balance on a section of its tail.

The arm-like limbs that had been previously crossed hung at its sides, and from the end of each arm, a long, glowing line of pink energy hung, coiling onto the street and, to Shinji's alarm, beginning to melt the concrete.

Just below the head, and above the ribcage–like structure at the top of its chest, was the Angel's core – gleaming red and shining in the daylight. Instinctively, Shinji hefted the weapon again, and fired twice – he was surprised that he managed to handle the recoil well, and from what he could tell, both of his shots were on target – but both of them were dissipated by the A.T. Field.

Frowning, Shinji lowered his weapon, and began to step away, chewing his lip.

"Orders?" He asked, hoping Misato would reply promptly.

"Remain out of its effective range, Shinji. See what it can do before you try anything." The Captain's voice came, solid and reassuring. The boy nodded, backing away further. However, without much warning, the Angel lashed out, the glowing lengths of energy lashing out like whips.

Letting out a surprised gasp, Shinji managed to weave out of the way of one, but the other clipped him across the chest, and he hissed as he felt the sting of a burn. Asuka's voice rang out over the comm.

"Shinji, watch out –"There was the sound of muttering, and then it was Misato's voice that continued.

"Stay back, Shinji." The woman warned, and the boy blinked, before speaking.

"I'm fine, Asuka. Just a little surprised. Misato, that pistol isn't doing anything – and I don't think I can get close without getting one of those whips in my face. Orders?"

There was no reply for several seconds, and Shinji chanced a glance at the holographic window – he could see Misato pursing her lips, obviously thinking hard, but a second's distraction was all the Angel needed, and it sprang forward, its whips of light lashing out at the EVA.

With a noise of surprise, Shinji backpedalled once again, and he felt the back of the EVA crash into a building behind him. Looking up, he saw the Angel loom above him, and his eyes widened as it approached for another attack.

And I can't use my hado, either. Now what?

A lone form sprinted down the hillside, at impressive speeds, bounding over rocks and the occasional branch.

Eyes occasionally flicking to the scene of battle she could spy in the middle of the city, Hikari dashed down the surface of the hill. Her toes squelched in the mud – her shoes and socks had been removed, and replaced with wraps around her shin and instep. They allowed for greater dexterity and balance, and she needed it, especially when making her way across any kind of obstacles at speed.

Letting out a small pant, she dashed over the face of a large boulder, and leapt off the edge, the skirt of her school uniform fluttering in the wind. Hands extended, she caught the sturdy branch of a tall tree, and pulled herself up quickly, perching on it and gazing down at the chaos happening a mile or so away.

All the clan needs is a minute or so of video – and a few pictures. It was sheer luck that Kensuke was going to try something stupid, and brought this camera – his silly habits will get him killed one day, I just know it…

She fiddled with the camera for a brief moment, before managing to switch on the video mode. Pressing the record button, Hikari held it up, looking at the tiny screen on its side to make sure it was capturing images of the battle, and not of the forest floor beneath her – she wasn't the most technologically savvy person in her circle of friends, or the clan, much to her dismay.

The girl failed to make out anything save for the strange, serpentine form of the Angel for a few moments, before it jerked, and the building in front of it exploded, a humanoid form in white and red armour being cast through the rubble, whilst whips of light lashed through, searching for their target. A large, dark cable was cast asunder in the wreckage, the end sparking as it was torn away from the EVA's back.

"Umbilical cable cut! EVA has switched to internal batteries!" Maya called, and behind her, both Misato and Asuka cursed.

The EVA rolled back, quickly getting to its feet, and it began to quickly back away from the Angel, which followed, its whips held out in front of it, the lengths lashing out threateningly.

After some hesitation, the EVA charged the creature in front of it, while trying to avoid getting hit with the lightning-quick whips. It managed to evade them, and for a few seconds, Hikari watched in awe, keeping the camera pointed at the scuffle – whoever was piloting the machine, had obvious skill as a fighter – the way they bobbed and weaved over and under the attacks.

However, the behemoth eventually stumbled, and the girl bit her lip in concern, before she let out a small squeak of shock – the Angel had wrapped its whips around the EVA's legs, and with an inhuman wail of what must have been exertion, began to heft it up.

Hikari barely had time to move off her perch before the monster flicked its whips out, and sent the EVA soaring through the air – directly towards her. Cursing – and berating herself for it immediately afterwards, she leapt down to a lower perch, aiming to get away before she became an unexpected casualty of war.

This is insane! This is absolutely insane!

She looked up, and for a brief moment, screamed – the EVA was falling down from the sky to flatten the tree, the mountainside, and her like a pancake. With no alternatives left, she hooked the camera onto the waist of her skirt, and leapt off the branch.

She hit the soft ground as gracefully as she could – which was not graceful at all, in retrospect. Thankfully, she didn't break any bones, but she began to tumble down the hillside, letting out a few small sounds of pain.

Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow…

Above her, the EVA crashed into the hill, shaking it, and as Hikari eventually came to a stop, she looked up to see the Angel fast approaching. Covered in grass and mud, with torn clothing and hair in disarray, she groaned and began to run as fast as she could, away from the scene of destruction.

How the hell am I going to explain this to my classmates?

I hope no one saw me – that'd be even worse than getting killed…but at least I got some good video.

With shaking fingers, she popped open the camera's card slot, and slid out the precious memory card, tucking it into her left ankle wraps. Deciding it would be wise to wait until the battle had finished, before making her way back, Hikari found a nice, safe rock to cower behind, and watched the confrontation play out.

Groaning, Shinji shook his head to clear it, then looked up – the Angel was still approaching.

"Shinji, talk to me. Shinji!" Misato's firm, demanding voice was a grounding force, and he swallowed, replying.

"Yeah, I'm here, I'm good." The boy murmured, willing the EVA to sit up as the creature in front of it drew ever closer.

"I need you to retreat, right now. The military will take care of the Angel for now, you need to get clear before the Angel does any more damage to you."

"But they'll stand even less of a chance!" Shinji exclaimed, eyes widening. The Angel was almost within range to attack him once more, and he rose to his feet, a little unsteady on the uneven surface of the hill.

"Shinji, this is an order. Retreat, right now – you only have two minutes of battery power left!" The Captain commanded, and the boy almost obeyed, such was the power in her voice.

"Is he ever gonna stop hesitating? Baka…" Asuka murmured, watching the EVA on the main monitor. Her expression was guarded, save for her eyes – the sapphire orbs were wide and concerned.

"Shinji!" Misato all but shouted, into the communications system. "Move, now!"

Several bridge crew, and Asuka, gasped as the Angel's whips of light flashed through the air, reaching for the EVA's neck – and quieted suddenly as the giant caught them in its hands.

Groaning as the energy from the whips began to burn away at the plating on the EVA's hands, Shinji nonetheless kept a firm grip, trying to detach and focus on his hado to distract himself from the pain.

No. You can't detach now! Let the pain keep you in the moment, because you need to find a way to take this thing down, right now!

Slowly, but surely, the boy used the whips to drag himself closer to the Angel, Misato's loud commands all but an afterthought. Within a few moments, both the EVA and the Angel were only a few meters apart, the two forms writhing against each other as they struggled for dominance.

Wrestling with the searing lengths of energy, Shinji hefted one up with a hiss of pain, trying to keep control of it even as the Angel tugged. The whip shook and swung about as the two fought over it, and for a brief second, the side of it met the hide of the Angel.

The creature let out an otherworldly wail, one that caused the boy inside the EVA to shudder, but didn't distract him from a new discovery. There was now a very prominent scorch mark where the whip had met the crimson skin.

Guns may not be able to hurt the Angel…but it can hurt itself.

Shinji came to a resolution – and as the battery timer rang out with only one minute left, he steeled himself.

This is gonna suck…

As quickly as he could – which was not as fast as he would have liked, given that the Angel was fighting him at every turn, Shinji wrapped the fists and forearms of his EVA in the energy whips. The armour plating was scorched away in a matter of seconds, but the – flesh, Shinji noted with alarm – seemed to be holding up. His pain was an afterthought as he focused on one thing alone – the destruction of the enemy.

The Angel bucked wildly, and EVA Unit One attacked, its first punch burning deep into the hide.

With a scream, the creature tried to pull back, but in doing so it only pulled the EVA along into it, and with a battle cry, Shinji began to punch for all he was worth.

Thirty-five seconds left!

All eyes were on the monitor as EVA Unit One wrestled and struck the Angel. Misato was silent, her face a tight mask – obviously her orders were no good now.

Beside her, Asuka watched, but her previously concerned expression was giving way to a smaller, brighter one.

Come on, baka. You can do this!

A powerful hook from the EVA tore away a chunk of the head, and a gutshot sank into the Angel's ribcage, shattering it.

Shinji gritted his teeth in concentration, eyes flitting over to the timer for the briefest of moments.

Twenty seconds! Come on, die already!

With a powerful push of the EVA's legs, the Angel was tackled down the mountainside, and both it and the EVA tumbled down into an ungainly mess at the bottom. With desperate pants, Shinji struggled to right himself on top of the Angel.

Twelve seconds!

The creature below him was sluggish in its movements now – but still very much alive. His hands felt numb, like all the nerves were dead, and it made his next move all the more difficult. After three punches around the gleaming red core of the Angel, Shinji reached out with the EVA's charred, stiff hands, and tried to tug it free from the monster.

Eight seconds…

His hands wrapped around the sphere, and Shinji braced the EVA against the ground. With a cry of exertion, he began to pull as hard as he could.

Five!

The core remained in place.

Four!

It gave a little, the crimson hide of the Angel beginning to split.

Three!

More of the flesh gave way, and the core was almost in Shinji's grasp. The Angel was all but dead now, but its energy whips still burned brightly.

Two!

With a wet, ripping sound, most of the flesh anchoring the core down came free, but it was still attached. Shinji screamed in effort.

One!

The core tore free, and EVA Unit One fell back with the red orb still clutched in its ruined hands. In front of it, the Angel died quietly, its whips of light darkened to a dull grey.

Inside the Entry Plug, Shinji panted, eyes wide as he gazed up at the darkened interior of the capsule.

He then promptly passed out.

"Blue Pattern has been neutralised – Angel destroyed, ma'am." Aoba called out, turning to face Misato.

"Commence recovery operations. Get the pilot back." She said, voice clipped and professional.

Shinji Ikari, you and I are going to have words when this is all over.

Behind the Captain, Asuka let out a sigh of relief, caring little for her superior's frosty disposition.

Nice one, baka. Nice one.

Scratch one more Angel. More chapters coming soon! As always, please read and review!