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The Girl in White Bandages: The True Confessions of Ayanami Rei

Ch. 16 New Perspective

By Sesshy's Girl 00

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Hikari looked over at Kensuke and then down at Reika. The albino girl appeared so frail and sick. It was sad to see her reduced to this state. Reika was normally strong and outgoing. Her weak lungs never seemed to be an issue, until now. Her breathing problems were worse, since the last Evangelion battle. Kensuke looked back over at Hikari, he seemed to understand her worries without a word being said.

Kensuke yawned and rubbed his eyes stubbornly. He shook his head, to remove the weariness from his face. "We should get some sleep, it's late." He suggested.

Both teens weren't very eager to go anywhere. There was a long period of silence, while the two of them struggled to find the right words to communicate their feelings. At last, Hikari spoke up. "Aida-san, you look exhausted. Go get some rest. I'll watch Reika."

Kensuke shook his head in refusal. "I couldn't ask you to do that, Horaki-san. I'm the man and this is my house. I'll do it." He replied bravely.

Hikari chuckled in amusement, at Kensuke's show of bravado. Kensuke narrowed his eyes and glared in fake anger at the Class Rep. He placed his hands on Hikari's and starred in perfect seriousness at her. "I meant it Horaki-san. Reika needs someone to keep an eye on her until she wakes up. I don't want to want to leave her alone."

Hikari nodded quietly in agreement. She shared his worry about their blue haired friend. Reika was clearly not in very good shape. Hikari would feel a lot better knowing someone was keeping an eye on her. Kensuke seemed to have a sudden idea and hurried out of the room. He returned moments later, with two futons and a pair of pillows. He laid them out beside the bed and motioned for Hikari to take one. Hikari nodded in gratitude and sat down with a contented sigh.

Kensuke placed himself comfortably on the other bed. He yawned tiredly and brushed back his sandy hair with both hands. "Don't worry about it Class Rep. Get some sleep while you can. I've got this covered."

"Are you sure, Aida-san?"

Kensuke nodded. "Hai. I will be fine."

Hikari took one last good look at Reika and then stretched out on her futon. She closed her eyes and began to drift off to sleep. Kensuke watched quietly as Hikari dozed off. Then, he turned and looked over at Reika. Despite the pain she must be in, she was smiling happily in her sleep. Reika looked peaceful lying there, with the moonlight on her face. He liked it that way; she looked better without the lines of worry on her face. She was free at last.

Quietly, Kenuske crawled the short distance across the floor, to where Reika's oxygen tank lay. He looked down on the indicator on the top. To his relief he found that the tank was full and the line secure. Nothing would be bothering Reika's sleep from this area. Kensuke felt a small glimmer of relief, to have one source of worry removed.

Kensuke carefully felt his way across the floor, to the side of the bed. He knelt down next to it, so that his face rested near Reika's. Kensuke watched her breathing, as it made warm, white clouds of condensation, on the mask over her face. He still found it amazing, that he was looking upon the face of the real living girl and not the corpse of one. Kensuke had to restrain the urge to touch her face, simply to feel the warmth of her skin or watch her breath, to see that it did not fail. He kept waiting for her to become a cold, lifeless body before him. Oddly enough-despite the fact she persisted in remaining alive- he would be attending her funeral in a few days. Kensuke hoped he'd be able to display appropriate mourning. He didn't want to put her in further danger.

Kensuke wondered what Reika would do, now that she was free. Clearly she would have to attempt to start a new life, completely separate from the one she occupied at NERV. He feared it might be more than she could handle. On second thought that wasn't likely. Reika wasn't afraid of much, if anything.

---

I came to consciousness gently, my mind reluctant to leave the confines of the sleeping world. I yawned softly and blinked to clear my eyes. Cautiously, I stretched my fingers and toes, testing their strength. To my relief, I was feeling a lot better. Sleeping in a real bed must have done my body good. My lungs still worried me, however, they felt heavy and painful.

I took several deep breaths of air, to assure myself that I was truly all here. It seemed so, I decided; I was certainly still breathing. That made me feel a little better, I didn't want to pass out from lack of breath.

Looking around, I spotted Aida-san and Horaki-san sleeping nearby. Aid-san lay sprawled haphazardly out on one futon and Horaki-san was curled up on the otherfuton. They must have stayed with me all night. The realization, that I was so highly cared for, made me feel warm inside. I wanted to kiss them in gratitude. Someone thought my life was worth the danger. I wished I could show him I was better then his doll. I was human; my life belonged to me and me alone.

I heard footsteps coming down the hallway. I placed both arms under me and turned to face the door. It opened softly Sana and Kodama tiptoed inside. They blinked in surprise and then smiled, when they saw me awake. I smiled at them and waved cheerfully. They carefully made their way past Kensuke and Hikari to reach me. Sana knelt down next to me and Kodama adjusted the pillows to support me better.

"How do you feel, Reika? Are you hungry?" Sana inquired.

I nodded eagerly, imagining how it would taste to eat something solid again. During my time in the LCL tank, I had been prevented from consuming anything. I was starved and desperate, which probably contributed to the weakness I experienced. "Please, I'd love something to eat." I pleaded.

Both women smiled in amusement and patted me on my head. "Let's carry you out to the kitchen. We don't want to wake them." Kodama suggested.

They supported me under each arm and helped me to stand. My legs wobbled beneath me, threatening to give out all together. I struggled to control them but it proved difficult. Sana and Kodama's presence helped tremendously. Slowly, we made our way out of the room, down the hallway and into the kitchen. Sana and Kodama lowered me into a chair. I sank gratefully into the soft cushions and closed my eyes. I breathed deeply, taking in the oxygen my body demanded.

Sana placed a small bowl of rice, a glass of water and two chopsticks before me. Kodama placed a hand on my shoulder in concern. "Take it easy and see how your body responds. Okay?"

I nodded in agreement. The last thing I wanted was to become ill once more. I needed to be recovering and regaining my strength. Down time, wouldn't last much longer, not when my life was in such a precarious position. Plus, there was always the future to remember, there was a whole world to see out there. On top of it all was my personal mission to take down NERV and save Rei. Leaving her behind pained me more then anything.

"Miss Rei?"

I turned my head to see a small girl standing in the doorway. She looked up at me with wide eyes, as she smiled in awe. She danced across the floor and climbed into the chair next to me. She plopped onto her behind and clapped her hands eagerly. "Do I know you?" I asked carefully.

She blinked in surprise. "Why?"

Her lips twisted, as tears threatened at the corner of her eyes. I wanted to apologize and explain what I'd been through. I understood now why I didn't know her. She must have met Rei and was now confusing us. I couldn't blame her, she was young and we did look nearly identical. "I…I am Rei's sister. Who are you?" I responded politely.

The girl's mouth made a big surprised 'O' in response. Slowly, comprehension seemed to dawn upon her face. I smiled warmly at her and turned my body so I faced her. She nodded calmly and relaxed once more. "Mina not knows Rei was sister. You look same." She stated in confusion.

"Rei and I are special. We're identical twins."

"Is that why you look the same?" Mina questioned.

I nodded my head in the affirmative. It wasn't the complete truth but she didn't need to know all that. I would tell NERV's secrets to no one else. They were mine and mine alone. I needed them as leverage to free Rei from His grasp. Those were my powers, my safety net from harm. "Hai."

The girl smiled and held out her hand. I shook it lightly and smiled politely at her. Mina's feet bobbled in the air and her hands danced around happily. She certainly seemed like the excitable type and that enthusiasm was infectious. I was starting to enjoy her bubbly company. Mina's cheery voice raised my spirits and made me feel prepared for my new life.

"Are you sick, Rei's sister?" Mina asked cautiously.

I looked down at the oxygen tank that rested at my feet. It reminded me of my physical weakness and shortcomings. Would I ever be free of this stupid contraption? I dreamed about such things but deep down I never expected such a thing to come true.

Hey, that's what dreams are for, right?

"Yes, I am sick. My lungs are bad."

"Will you be well soon?" Mina asked cautiously, concern plastered on her face.

That was a nice thought but completely impossible. There were few things that could help me now. "No, I'll become stronger but I'll never be well. My lungs are too sick."

Mina frowned, looking alternately sad and worried. "Are you con-tag-ous? Mommy say that bad thing."

"No, I'm not contagious. The only person I'll harm is myself." I assured her.

"You die?" Mina asked softly, her voice nearly cracking with tears.

"No, dear. Reika's not going to die. She's not that ill. Reika's simply staying here until she's better." Sana assured her, with a gentle hug.

Mina relaxed after that. She sat happily next to me while Sana fed her breakfast. I ate my own meal slowly, savoring the taste of real food in my mouth. I wanted to bolt the whole thing down and it took ever once of my will to restrain myself. If Sana and Kodama left me alone, I would have done it in a heartbeat. Instead, I forced myself to take my time, to avoid being punished. Thirty minutes later, I was down to the final bites of rice. I felt full and much better from the meal.

I heard voices in the hallway and turned to the door. Mina's eyes lit up in delight and she jumped to the floor. "Uncle Kenny! Uncle Kenny!" She cheered excited.

Kenuske appeared in the doorway, a worried expression on his face. When he saw me sitting there, he sighed in relief. "Ohayo (good morning), Ayanami-san. I'm glad to see you're awake. Are you feeling better now?"

"Hai (Yes.). Thank-you, for last night. I'm grateful to be free from that place."

I never expected to have such dedicated help in surviving. I assumed I would always be on my own. This was the most amazing thing in the world. I'd been lucky with my friends; they were extremely loyal and courageous.

"Don't worry about it. I'm just glad to have to have you alive. I couldn't believe it, when Rei told us your were dead." He assured me, "You seemed destined for more then that."

"I'm much too strong to betaken out that easily but I 'm not infallible. If not for Dr. Akagi, I wouldn't be part of this world. I don't think I'm cut out to do this anymore. I'm just too weak."

"What are you talking about? You're still alive right? It will take time but your body will heal." Kensuke shot back.

Kensuke's optimism made me smile. I wished I could share it but I saw things differently. My lungs were in shreds after that last fight and breathing was even more difficult. The odds of me living long were slim at best. I knew I needed to work fast to accomplish my goal before time ran out. I wondered how long my body would hold out. I prayed I'd have enough time to complete my goal. "I meant surviving on my own, Aida-san. I don't have the strength anymore."

Kensuke shook his head, as he sat down beside me. He placed his hand on my shoulder and stared me in the eyes. I felt him trying to understand, to analyze my thoughts. I wish I could explain myself to him because he'd been such a help to me but I feared what might happen. I may need help but I would not, under any circumstances, put someone I cared for into harms way.

"Whatever you need, I'll do my best to help." Kensuke assured me.

I smiled at the kindness in Kensuke's words; glad he accepted my response. For now, I wanted only two things from anyone. "Does Rei know about me?"

Aida-san shook his head vehemently. "Shinji made us swear not to. I think he was afraid something bad would happen, if she found out about you. He's desperate to protect her. It's cool to see how hard they work to shield the other."

I nodded in understanding. Shinji did well to guard my sister from the Commander. He would have no qualms about destroying her, if she threatened his plan. "Ikari-kun was wise with that decision. Rei will be much safer not knowing about me. I want you to help him keep an eye on her. I'm afraid Rei will try something reckless now that I'm gone."

Kensuke patted me on the shoulder. "Relax Reika. The Sixth Child is on the case. I'll do my best to protect Rei from harm!" Kensuke exclaimed.

My heart stopped dead in horror. I turned to Kensuke desperate for him to take it back. Kensuke was an Evangelion pilot? This seemed like a horrible nightmare or movie script. The one problem, everything was far too real. "Aida-san, you're joking…" I choked out desperately.

"I'm not Reika! I'm going to be a pilot too!" Kensuke exclaimed excitedly, "The test is tomorrow and I can't wait!"

At last I felt like I could breath and I forced myself to smile for Kensuke. This was his dream, his moment of glory. I wanted him to enjoy the moment, but I couldn't help but worry about him. I knew how dangerous piloting Evangelion was. The last thing I wanted was for someone else I cared about to be injured. "Congratulations and good luck, Aida-san. I hope things go well for you."

"Arigato (Thank you), Reika. I think thing will go smoothly, Shinji, Rei and Asuka will all be there. I know they'll protect me."

I nodded, hoping Kensuke was right. Firmly, I reminded myself that it was only a simple synchronization experiment. With the other children there, not much could happen. I was becoming a paranoid worrywart. Maybe it was a good thing I was freed of my piloting duties. I should use my spare time to see a therapist about my issues.

"Reika, I can't believe the Commanders wanted you dead. I would think they'd want someone like you around." Kensuke insisted.

Kensuke's words caused me to remember, why I was in this situation. I wasn't supposed to exist, so he wanted me gone at the first possible chance. That was why I wanted to stay alive. By haunting him and ruining his plans, it gave purpose to my existence and sought revenge for what he did to me. Commander Ikari'sactions were unforgivable. "Not anymore. My usefulness to them has been expended. My lungs were so badly damaged, that piloting again could prove fatal. Also, I know too much about their inner secrets. They considered me a liability, so I had to be eliminated." I explained carefully.

"That's so cold and ungrateful of them. What would have happened if you hadn't been there? I think that battle wouldn't have turned out so nicely." Aida-san exclaimed indigently.

"I know, I save their buts; they turn around and try to kill me. That's why you need to be careful, Mister Sixth Child. NERV doesn't love anyone." I cautioned him.

I closed my eyes, as I wondered what was happening there now. Rei would have to be careful, until the sixteenth appeared. Then, all hell would break lose. I hoped I would be able to do my part when the time came.

"Reika? Are you paying attention?"

"Sorry, my mind wandered off. What did you say, Aida-san?" I apologized.

Kensuke shook his head at me with a smile. "I asked if you were hungry."

"Hai. I would be glad of something moreto eat."

"I'll take care of this, Kensuke. You should go wake Hikari. If she sleeps too much longer, she's going to be late to school." Sana insisted gently.

"Why?" Kensuke demanded.

Sana grinned mischievously a hint of malice in her face. "Because I'm your big sister and while dad's away, I'm in charge. Therefore, you must do what I say, understand?"

Kensuke surrendered reluctantly and disappeared into the hallway. Sana watched him go with a troubled expression. I thought I knew what bothered her before she spoke.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with him. Kensuke's going to get himself into so much trouble and there's nothing I can do."

"You can forbid him to pilot Eva." I pointed out.

Sana chuckled in amusement. "I don't have the heart to do that but he's still my brother. I want to protect him somehow. Reika, you were a pilot, is there anything I can do?" She pleaded.

I struggled to find the right words to comfort Sana. Telling her the Evangelions were safe was a complete and total lie. However they might also be the world's salvation. There was no easy way to convey all that. "The Evangelions are not the tamest beings and it is true that they're dangerous. Yet, if things turn dangerous, the Evas are the safest place one can be." I explained to her.

"Reika, I…I don't understand."

"Some days, I don't either. Allow me to state things another way, NERV is more dangerous then the Evangelions it harbors. Aida-san must be careful or he'll end up in the same kind of trouble I am in. I imagine he'll need to be reminded of that…"

Please don't let anything bad happen to the others. I want them to be safe.

"Don't worry about that. If Kensuke tries anything stupid, I'll personally beat his ass to the ground." Sana assured me.

"What is this I hear, about butt kicking?" Kodama inquired cheerfully, as she came into the room.

"I was just telling Reika what I would do to Kensuke, if heattempts anything stupid. I don't want anything endangering my little brother. He's liable to get himself killed." Sana replied with a shake of her head.

"I'm sure things will turn out just fine. There's nothing to worry about just yet." Kodama stated assuredly, to comfort Sana.

---

I watched enviously from the window, as Hikari and Kensuke made their way down the street to school. I longed to be with them, to be free of my body. Struggling to breathe all the time was starting to wear on me. Deep down, all I wanted was to live an ordinary life. This running around and being on edge was ridiculous.

What was normal anyway? There wasn't exactly a standard one could point to in answer.

Mina crouched on the cushion beside me, an inquisitive look on her face. "Is school fun?" she inquired, in reference to Kensuke and Hikari's destination.

"Hai. (Yes.) School is an interesting and challenging experience. Once you visit, your mind will never be the same." I assured her.

"Speaking of which, missing school is not a good thing. We need to decide where you're going to go, once you're feeling stronger. Any ideas on the subject?" Kodama pointed out.

I shook my head. I hadn't given any thought to my education after leaving NERV. Kodama had a point though, schooling was important and not to be taken lightly. "None yet. I should work on that thought. Falling too far behind would be a bad thing."

Kodama produced a stack of fliers and five bottles of medication. She handed them to me and explained, "Those brochures are about area middle schools you can attend. You should look over them and formulate some idea about where you'd like to go." She suggested.

I lifted up the medicines and examined them warily. "What about these?"

"Those were provided for you, by Doctor Akagi herself. The first one is an antibiotic to prevent a lung infection and help them heal. The second one is an anti-inflammatory medication to keep your airways open. The third one is a birth control pill. The fourth one is to counteract your albinism and reduce your sensitivity to light. The last one is going to boost your red blood cell count and allow your body to take in more oxygen."

I made a nasty face at Kodama's words. Five medications, five! I wasn't even fifteen, far too young to need so many drugs in my system. This was not fair or right. Mentally, I began calculating ways to make my body stronger without damaging my lungs further. I refused to take so many medicines for the rest of my life.

Kodama smiled in amusement at my stubborn expression. Her look said it all, I needed these medicines and I would take them. My opinion didn't matter in this case. I frowned unhappily at the prospect but I comforted myself with the knowledge that they were all beneficial. It would all be worth it, if they helped me remain alive longer. "Arigato. I know these will be beneficial for me." I stated resolutely.

Sighing, I reached into the bag and pulled out the first of my five medications. I read the directions, unscrewed the lid and shook out one of the green pills into my hand. I swallowed it and quickly reached for the next one; I wanted this over with, as soon as possible.

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I stepped out of the LCL and reached for the nearest towel. Efficiently, I removed the coating of LCL from my body. Dr. Akagi remained silent, while I made my way to the shower. I did not question her logic; she would do things her way. I turned on the shower and lathered the generic industrial shampoo into my hair. Next, I scrubbed my body with a soap and sponge. Then, I rinsed it all off with the warm water.

Once I was clean and dry, I made my way over to the locker, where my clean clothes lay. I hooked together my bra and pulled it into place. Then, I tugged my underwear around my waist. I lifted my skirt from the floor and zipped it closed around my waist. As I was buttoning up my blouse, Dr. Akagi spoke to me abruptly.

"Rei, I'm going to repair your joints. After all the injuries you've sustained, while pilot ofUnit Zero, they're starting to deteriorate. If this keeps up, it will interfere with your ability to pilot." She stated blandly.

Dr. Akagi must have seen the look on my face, because she began to study me closely. For my part, I was wondering why, she bothered to tell me so much. Dr. Akagi was never this talkative. Normally, she kept her reasons to herself. Something must have happened. The question was, what? I figured I would find out soon enough but that did nothing to dispel my curiosity.

"Don't look at me like that, Rei." Dr. Akagi snapped, "This operation will be minimally invasive and you'll be back on your feet by the end of the day. You don't even have to be put completely under, if you don't want to be. Local anesthetic will suffice."

"Doctor? May Ikari-kun stay with me, in the recovery room?"

I surprised myself by the daring of my own question. However, I had no regrets about asking it. Ikari-kun was one of the few people I trusted to be kind to me and see me as human. He remained the only one who cared. So, Ikari-kun was the person I wanted there, if I needed someone. Nothing would happen, while Ikari-kun was there, he would prevent it.

Dr. Akagi's face became hard and blank. I could hear the refusal coming without a word being said. Dr. Akagi was full of so much spite and malice. After a moment, she seemed to relent.

"If you must, Rei." She choked out bitterly, "Do you need him for something?"

I tried to remain focused and channel the strength I needed. For once, I drew on something both the Commander and Dr. Akagi often used. "That's not your concern."

I hated how horribly weak my voice sounded. No one would be convinced by it, not in a million years. Nonetheless, Dr. Akagi looked at me closely. The barest hint of a smile quirked her lips; she shook her head and turned around to face the window.

"Unbelievable." Dr. Akagi muttered.

I held myself very still, waiting to hear what she would say. My stomach knotted itself in fear. Would she go so far as to say no? Of course, she would. I meant nothing to her. She'd removed my happiness without a second thought. I feared how far she'd go to hurt me. I would have to handle this carefully.

"Very well. Do what you think is necessary." She said suddenly.

I remained frozen in shock for several moments. Never, did I expect that answer from Dr. Akagi. She took my request unusually well. I assumed she would yell at me, for defiance. Maybe things between the Commander and Dr. Akagi were worse, than I realized. I closed my eyes and let out an inaudible sigh of relief. Whatever the reason, I would not question it. I received the answer I wanted. Ikari-kun would be there.

"When should I report?"

"7'am sharp, tomorrow. Don't worry about school for the day. You'll be excused."

Dr. Akagi's reply surprised me. I expected the surgery and Aida's activation experiment, to be on different days. The doctor must be feeling vindictive towards me or supremely confident, about the operation. Either way, I did not trust her judgment. I expected that I would be in pain and require some medicine before climbing in Unit Zero. Another set of hands would be helpful. I was very glad; I'd requested Ikari-kun's presence. It would make things a million times easier.

I hurried to finish buttoning my shirt on and brushed my damp locks of hair from my face. Then, I left the room and headed upstairs, where the Commander was waiting to see me. I made my way to a door, on the Eva viewing level that I'd never been to before. I swiped my key card through the scanner and the lock flashed green. Slowly, the doors slid open allowing me entrance to the room.

"Rei come in. I am glad to see you." Called Commander Ikari's voice.

A wave of pungent LCL vaporwashed over me, as I stepped into the room. It took me several moments to adjust to the intense smell. I glanced around at the room, taking in the sterile details. My eyes focused on the LCL filled tank below. The shattered remains of Unit 03 drifted listlessly, in the liquid soup. Some of the pieces were too damaged to be identifiable but others were all too easy to place. The worst of all was the severed arm, which lay upside down in the LCL.

I forcibly averted my eyes to the back wall, away from the horrible sight. Memories of that fight flashed through my mind. I could hear Ikari-kun's broken sobs, while we sat in the entry plug waiting to be released. I could picture Suzuhara-san, lying in the hospital bed afterward; his body heavily bandaged to cover his injuries. The look on Horaki-san's face, as she stared at the pale form of Suzuhara-san, was the saddest thing I've ever seen.

"What do you want? Commander?"

The Commander motioned to the broken Unit Three with his hand. His glasses glinted dangerously in the fluorescent lights. "Look upon her Rei. Tell me, is the angel still there or is Doctor Akagi correct that the angel is gone."

"You do not trust the Doctor's abilities." I stated calmly.

The Commander's face did not move but I could sense his agreement with my words. I had no idea when his faith in the Doctor had begun to waiver but clearly something must have changed between them. They normally had a stable relationship between the two of them. They generally trusted the other one to take care of their respective responsibilities.

I wondered what could have changed. This proved how easy it was to break trust, especially the Commander's. The Commander's displeasure was a terrible thing; all the more reason why I had to watch my every move and not cross him. I could not afford to have the Commander focusing his wrath on me.

I turned my attention to the form of Unit Three in the LCL below. My eyes focused on each piece of Unit 03 in turn. I felt absolutely nothing from any of it. Bardiel was long dead and gone. I turned to Commander Ikari and met his gaze. "Dr. Akagi did not lie. The angel is deceased."

The Commander nodded and smiled, as if that was the answer he'd been expecting all along. He dismissed me with a backward wave of his hand. I bowed and hurried through the door before he could change his mind. I feared what would happen next if I did not get myself as far away as possible.

Free from the Commander's gaze, I made my way to the pilots lounge to think over what I'd learned. Commander Ikari and Dr. Akagi were obviously on strained terms. I wondered briefly what happened to cause this rift between them. This could be a serious problem for me. They were liable to take out their anger on me. However, this might prove useful because I could avoid a coordinated front by them.

I placed my hand on my chin and pondered through the situation. Yes, this would be quite interesting to observe. However, something still bothered me. They were rebuilding Unit 03. Did they intend to put Suzuhara-san back in the pilot's seat? I hoped not but I felt I already knew the answer. I didn't like where this led me. Suzuhara-san lost enough already. He didn't need any more pain and suffering. Horaki-san too, I knew she worried constantly since the last fight. I didn't want to put them through that agony and turmoil again.

As I considered this, an odd noise drew my attention. I edged closer to the door in an effort to see what was going on. To my surprise, I saw the Commander and Dr. Akagi glaring at each other. "As I said, I can't tonight. I have too much work to do." Dr. Akagi replied harshly.

"Aren't you lonely, I can provide you with my special brand of comfort?"

Dr. Akagi ignored his words and took a deep drag of her cigarette. She exhaled a stream of blue-grey smoke; she shook her blond hair dismissively. "Not if you want things ready for tomorrow. The dummy plug project is behind schedule as well. SO if you don't mind…"

With that, Dr. Akagi turned sharply and walked away. The Commander's face became alternately livid and desperate. He followed her with outstretched arm, attempting to stop her flight. "Please, I bring you pleasure and relieve your stress." He offered sweetly.

Dr. Akagi whirled around, a look of almost fury upon her face. "Don't lie to me. We both know you just want to 'wham bam thank you ma'am' nice and quick, to satisfy yourself." She retorted.

The Commander staggered, caught off guard by her sharp reply. Dr. Akagi marched off, out of my range of sight. I heard the click of her heals fade away. The Commander's arm dropped to his side and she sighed dejectedly. I shrunk back into my corner, as he walked away at last. I closed my eyes and sank slowly to the floor.

'What does this mean? The Doctor is sleeping with the Commander?' The mental image flashing through my mind disturbed me deeply. 'Dr. Akagi and her mother? The Commander is…'

For the first time, I wondered if the Commander was not only heartless but insane too. It would only be a matter of time before he turned his attentionto me next. I possessed Yui's face for a reason. I didn't want my position anymore. I wanted-needed-a way out of here. I refused to allow him to touch me. He, he was evil and Adam was embedded in his hand. That made him supremely powerful and terrifying. I refused to go down easily, regardless of what he wanted. I wanted to live, to remove him from this world.

I opened my eyes and stood up carefully. I felt a new sense of determination and strength. There was only one-way to survive, I would have to defeat the sixteenth angel. Which meant, it was time to prepare. Quietly, I made my way from the room and down the hall to NERV's gym. If nothing else, this would be a good chance to figure things out.

I stepped through the doors to find a familiar face already there. Pilot Sohryu ran furiously around the jogging track. Her mane of reddish-brown hair followed in her wake. School must be out, I hadn't realized how late in the day it was. Silently, I followed Pilot Sohryu's path with my eyes, considering the possibility of joining her. Then, my eyes found the rack of rubber-coated free weights. They seemed perfect to aid me in my quest.

I quickly changed into an exercise outfit and made my wayback to the gym floor. I selected two twenty-pound weights from the rack and made my way over to the first bench I saw. With a serious expression, I lifted the weights above my head. I raised and lowered rhythmically. Soon, I'd worked up a good sweat and I felt good.

I raised the weights one more time and one slipped from my sweaty fingers. I braced myself for the pain and closed my eyes. The next thing I knew, the weight collided with my face and everything exploded in pain. I cried out in agony, as the blood began to flow from my nose. In a red blur, Pilot Sohryu appeared at my side, a frown on her face. She lifted the weight from my face and dropped it to the floor. "Mein Gott, Wondergirl. Are you trying to kill yourself by doing this without a spotter?" She demanded loudly.

I trembled helplessly from shock and blood loss, leaving me unable to answer her. Pilot Sohryu shook her head at me in disgust and pity. She reached into her bag and lifted her cell phone from within. She punched in a series of numbers and spoke into the device.

"Send a doctor, Wondergirl's lost her marbles again." She stated in exasperation.

Pilot Sohryu snapped the phone close and turned to me. "Are you okay, now? Or do I need to baby-sit you until the doctors arrive?" She inquired with displeasure.

"No, arigato, Pilot Sohryu." I whispered gratefully.

Pilot Sohryu shook her head and walked away towards the door. I watched her look both ways, before shrugging and making her way back towards me. She sat down on a nearby bench and started doing push ups. Somehow, I felt she had some sense of concern for me. There was only one reason she hadn't left yet. Pilot Sohryu truly amazed me with her loyalty. "First Child, are you hurt?"

I turned to see a medical team approaching me. I lowered my hand to reveal the new bruise on my face. One of them produced an ice pack and handed it to me. I held it to my face and sighed contentedly. The ice felt amazing against my swollen cheek. Another medic found an aspirin for my pain. I swallowed it and allowed the medics to help me to my feet. Time to see what the damage was.

"Come first –child. Dr. Akagi wishes to examine you."

"Understood."

I nodded to Pilot Sohryu before I followed them upstairs. Dr. Akagi was waiting for me, when I arrived at her office. She frowned in disproval at my face and motioned me inside. I followed her into the room and sat down on the table. She pulled out an ice pack and a bottle of antiseptic. Dr. Akagi wiped the blood of my face, and cleaned the cut on my cheek. Then she handed me the ice pack, and ordered me to press it against my injury.

"What did you do? That bruise is nasty. I want to X-Ray your face, to make sure nothing's broken."

"I dropped a weight on my face while I was exercising. It was a careless accident." I replied calmly.

Dr. Akagi shook her head and turned to program the X-Ray machine in the next room. I watched her work silently, wondering if I made the right decision. I pressed the icepack tighter to my face and closed my eyes. I sighed, reveling in the comfort the ice brought my wounded face. The pain was starting to abate, leaving my cheek throbbing. I guess this wasn't so terrible; I could live with this after all.

A few minutes later the X-Ray was developing, while Dr. Akagi left me to wait. She feared I broke something in my face when the weight struck. It appeared I would have to wait until she got the results back. While I waited, I looked out the window and watched the artificial terrain of the Geofront. The synthetic sunlight cast a hazy, orange glow on the world and caused the train to glint distantly. I sighed, figuring that I was trapped down here for the evening. The trains stopped running at sundown.

I heard footsteps rushing down the hallway and Major Katsuragi burst into the room. She took one look at me and stopped dead in her tracks. "Ritsu, is Rei alright? What happened to you?"

Dr. Akagi appeared from the next room, where she'd been developing the X-Ray film. "Relax Misato. Rei is fine. She accidentally dropped a weigh on her face while exercising. I don't think the damage is serious but I'm developing some X-Rays to be sure." She assured her.

Major Katsuragi sighed in relief at the Doctor's words. She nodded gratefully to Dr. Akagi and turned her gaze on me. The Major approached me, a look of concern upon her face. Tentatively, she reached out her arms and embraced me in a sisterly fashion. For a minute I sat completely stunned, the Major worried about me? I was amazed, and relieved she showed such interest in me. I wasn't used to relying on anyone else but myself. The Major released me and smiled warmly. "Take care, okay? I don't want you getting hurt. I prefer to have all my Children in one piece."

I nodded in response to her words, touched by the genuine unease I heard. I wished I knew something to comfort her but that wasn't something I could do. So I settled for allowing a hint of a smile to cross my face. Major Katsuragi beamed back cheerfully. Behind her, Dr. Akagi shook her head in skepticism. When she received no response, the Doctor disappeared into the next room. I heard her moving around, continuing to develop the X-Ray film of myface. I wondered what the results would show.

A few moments later, she reappeared with the X-Ray in hand. She placed it on the light box and pressed the switch. I frowned at the imaged revealed upon the wall. There was a distinct white line along my cheek and I knew exactly what it was.

"Better then I expected. It appears you have a minor fracture of your right cheek. It appears clean so I believe you'll be fine, if you keep it iced. You may take an Advil or Ibuprofen for the pain. There's nothing else I can do for you."

Dr. Akagi waved her hand to dismiss me and yanked the X-Ray down. I rose to my feet, bowed respectfully and left the room. Dr. Akagi gave me everything she could; now I needed to disappear before she turned angry. I slipped out the door to find Ikari-kun waiting for me. He looked distressed by the swollen bruise on my face. He hurried to my side and took my hands in his.

"Ayanami-san, what happened?"

Gingerly, he touched my face, feeling the injury carefully. I flinched slightly at the flash of pain but did not turn away from Ikari-kun. His blue eyes held me motionless before his gaze. Millions of words I wanted to say became trapped in my mind, as I struggled to find the right answer to his unspoken question and admonishment.

"You need to be gentler with Rei, Ritsu. She acts strong but she's only a fourteen-year-old girl. Show her some humanity." Major Katsuragi reproached Dr. Akagi.

"Rei will be fifteen soon. I see no need to coddle her or the other pilots." Dr. Akagi replied dryly.

I could see Major Katsuragi's angry, frustrated expression in my mind. Ikari-kun, who faced the cracked door behind me, probably had an excellent view of the combative women. Ikari-kun and I glanced at each other, wondering what Major Katsuragi would say to Doctor Akagi's words.

"Ritsuko Akagi, you're heartless. I never thought I'd hear such words from you. They're children and if you can't comprehend that, you're not fit to work here. Cutting them some slack and showing some genuine human concern is not coddling them. It's only right, considering they're saving the world!" The Major shot back in cold fury.

"Well, you're not exactly mother of the year. I wouldn't be surprised if the Commanders don't take Shinji and Asuka away from you. Your drunken, alcoholic tendencies are embarrassing." Doctor Akagi replied acidly.

SMACK

"How dare you…" Major Katsuragi seethed.

Ikari-kun gripped my hand and pulled me down the hallway after him. We rounded the corner moments before Major Katsuragi slammed Dr. Akagi's door closedand stormed off. Ikari-kun and I waited for her to disappear before we dared to move. We sighed in relief and smiled weakly at each other.

"Ayanami-san, have you ever eaten ice-cream?"

"No, why?"

"I found this great ice-cream shop and I thought, we might go visit."

I nodded in approval of Ikari-kun's suggestion. Ice Cream sounded pleasant and I wanted to taste it for myself. Eagerly, I followed Ikari-kun from NERV to the streets of Tokyo III. Luckily, we'd caught the last train out of NERV to the surface world. The stars twinkled above us as we stepped off the train into the center of the city. The wind whispered past us, chilling our bodies as it went. Ikari-kun took my hand and led the way to our destination.

Ten minutes later, we walked into a small brick building, hidden in midst of Tokyo III's overpowering skyscrapers. The sign over the door proclaimed it, Toro's Old-Fashioned Ice Cream. An odd name, I decided, but that wasn't something for me to be worrying about. I was here to sample the ice cream. This should be an enlightening experience.

Ikari-kun directed my attention to the dome shaped windows, where one might view the ice cream selection. I looked down, wondering which one to choose, they all looked so different. Ikari-kun, meanwhile, headed for the cookie dough ice cream. When he realized I hadn't followed him, he promptly returned to my side.

"Anything look appealing to you, Ayanami-san?"

"I'm unsure…I've never eaten ice cream before. What flavor do you recommend, Ikari-kun?" I inquired hopefully.

I had no idea what I was doing and Ikari-kun did, so I needed his guidance. Ikari-kun pointed towards the cookie dough he wanted. "Why don't we both get one of those?" He suggested.

"Hai. I like that idea."

"Ikari-kun reached into his pocket and counted out the appropriate amount of yen from within. He handed it to the man behind the counter. "Two cones with the cookie dough, please."

The man handed Ikari-kun his order and he held one of the cones to me. I took it gingerly in both hands, feeling the cones rough texture against my skin. Ikari-kun motioned to the tables outside and I followed him to them. I sat down in one chair and Ikari-kun took the other. There we remained for the longest time, licking our ice cream together in perfect peace. The ice cream was delicious, cold, sweet and creamy. I was glad I'd come here with Ikari-kun.

Ikari-kun smiled at the look of contentment upon my face, as he declared it adorable. I blushed and quickly turned my attention to the stars. They glittered peacefully above me in the blackness of the evening sky. Ikari-kun followed my gaze up to the heavens. I looked over at Ikari-kun and smiled contentedly. I truly enjoyed this place. Here, nothing mattered; the evening traffic and pedestrians became a simple background noise. Ikari-kun's presence made this even more special.

When we finished Ikari-kun carried the trash away and came back for me. He held out his hand and I accepted it gratefully. Ikari-kun pulled me to my feet and we started the walk back home. We held hands, standing side by side. There was little chance of anyone seeing us now, not even the Section Two agents who guarded us. We giggled nervously and looked around. Ikari-kun squeezed my hand reassuringly and I relaxed under his touch.

Behind us tires squealed noisily and headlights flashed over our bodies. A car pulled up beside us and came to a stop. The window rolled down to reveal the face of Major Katsuragi. She still seemed frazzled but wasn't nearly as mad as she was earlier.

"Hop in guys. I'll give you a ride home." She called cheerily.

We followed her directions and climbed into the back seat of her car. We buckled ourselves in and braced for the Major Katsuragi's erratic driving. The Major stepped on the gas and moved sharply back into traffic. After several jerky moments, we settled into a steady speed. The tension went out of her face and she began to hum along to the radio. Ikari-kun and I eased our grip on the armrests slightly. The Major released her right hand from the wheel and lifted a white envelop from the passenger's seat. She held it out to me, eager that I should open it.

"Official orders for tomorrow. I convinced them to give you an extra fifteen minutes to prepare for your role in the testing." She explained.

"Understood." I replied evenly.

I carefully pealed open the envelope and removed the contents in my hands. Two pieces of paper and a small business card fell into my grasp. I unfolded the first sheet and smoothed it on my lap. The official timetable for tomorrow was typed out upon it. The doctor and both Commanders signed it. Nothing I wasn't used to, as part of standard NERV procedure. I turned to the second paper in my hands.

To my dismay, it was an eviction notice. My apartment was being demolished at the end of the next month. I had no idea what I would do now. There was only one choice for me; I needed somewhere new to live. Ikari-kun looked at me with concern, his eyes gentle with understanding.

"What's wrong, Ayanami-san?"

"I've been expelled from my home." I uttered.

The Major glanced back at us, a serious expression on her face. "That business card is for Yuki Higurashi. She owns the apartment building where I live. You should get in touch with her. There's an empty apartment a few doors from mine, you could rent."

"Arigato, Major Katsuragi." I replied with genuine gratitude.

Major Katsuragi smiled in acceptance of my words before turning back to the road before her. I turned over the business card in my hand and read the info upon it. I felt the need to know everything I could about Yuki Higurashi before I approached her. It helped ease the nervousness I felt at the situation. I'd need to impress her if I was to obtain a new residence.

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Author's Notes:

Please Review, they are highly appriciated.

I don't own Eva but all original characters and events are mine!!! Nuf said. Also, please don't be offended by references to brand name products. You can only make my life more miserable by suing me. Think of it as a free plug.

I'm sorry for the lack of comments under the last chapter. Sesshy was short on time and eager to post. XP Anyhow, new year, new begining. Right?

In Chapter 17: Kensuke gets the chance to show his stuff.

Aida-san's speckled eyes focused on me. He beamed broadly and rushed across the entry plug, at breakneck speed. I tensed; feeling afraid that Aida-san would slip, on the entry plug's smooth floor. To my relief, he reached my side without incident. If one was to judge, by the smile on his face, Aida-san wasn't the least bit afraid. He looked supremely confident and pleased. I wanted to take some of that happiness and absorb it into my being, so I might be free from fear.