Well, here's the next chapter ladies and germs…I wrote it almost immediately after the last chapter, my fastest update yet…
So there's still hope of me being a faithful updater of this fic and all my other fics, I'm in a writing mood. No need to fret, fellows.
I'm vaguely disappointed though, lately my updates haven't been garnering many views or reviews. I remember usually for my fanfics I'd at least get six or seven a chapter, but it's down to one or two...I don't really know why, maybe there are less people around...oh well...
Anyway, hope this chapter isn't too much…enjoy it.
Here we go.
Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion or its characters. Gainax does, and they rock. Who else could create both Evangelion and FLCL! I don't own any fictional Bleach properties either. What's the need for a disclaimer anyway? This is a freaking Fanfiction site!
Tokyo 3
Public Square
"Leading me to such an empty place…what dost thou intend of me?"
Shinji sighed, trying to collect his energies.
"Stop speaking in that weird way!"
Shinji pulled the young woman around the corner into the side alleyway, his eyes fierce but tired. He didn't understand this interruption in his life, why he had been awoken…what had happened to Asuka…what he could do for his son…if the monsters in his head were real…if these things were the Angels he had fought before.
He was practically debilitated with his confusion and fatigue, but his eyes still had a bit of resistance in them. Asuka had given him that.
He'd excused himself from Touji's guest bed and room for a brief moment, saying he had to discuss something important with Asuka's "sister", despite the fact that his friends all urged him to rest.
No, he wouldn't involve them in this matter, whatever it was.
"Weird way? Is it not good for someone who just learned the language in one day?"
Shinji sighed.
"Just…just…leave me alone, okay? What do you want from me? Why are you here?"
"Hmmm?"
"Explain yourself, for the love of god!"
"Explain?"
Shinji wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling lightheaded; perhaps he should've stayed in bed. But he continued speaking, his tone wavering only slightly.
"Yes…like isn't this over? If it was real…that battle…well, it ended, alright? I still feel the bruises. Why in the hell are you still here then, digging up her…digging up her…her name…you went too far! Didn't…didn't you go back to that Soul Society place you talked about?!"
Rukia sighed, glancing away in consternation.
"You fool! Only Shinigami can return to Soul Society, only full agents of death…Right now, I am not able to return there."
"Huh…what why?"
She squared up in front of him after stepping closer so he could see her delicate skin and terribly fierce eyes.
"Because I lost my Shinigami powers, you idiot!"
"What?! You mean what happened was real?"
"What did you think it was a dream? Hah! Idiot!"
Shinji sighed in frustration, gripping his t-shirt by the neck.
"But I'm no longer a Shinigami! Do you see a kimono? Where are these so-called powers you think you lost?"
She stared at him patronizingly, pressing her index finger roughly against his chest.
"Inside of you. It's not your 'body', it's your 'soul' that has become a Shinigami…you have an unusual amount of spirit energy for a human, it was surprising you lived at all. Be thankful!"
He only grunted, looking away.
Thankful for what? I was happy there…in the darkness…at least I didn't think about HER…I can feel her missing now that I'm out of the abyss…like…the sensation of a limb long amputated…
Rukia meanwhile was continuing, stubbornly.
"Anyway! Last night I almost had ALL of my powers taken away by you! I have but barely any abilities left, I was even forced to enter this artificial body."
She spoke, jabbing her thumb into her chest.
Shinji stared at her as if she were a new Angel, bizarre and terrifyingly weird.
"Um…artificial?"
She nodded with a bit of pride evident in her tone as she spoke.
"It is we Shinigami's other body, this artificial form, to be used in emergency situations. A weakened Shinigami enters it to wait for his powers to recover."
"So…you mean you're in a kind of human form now?"
"Yes…weakened Shinigami are targets for Hollows, for those beasts you dueled…I believe you termed them 'Angels'. How foolish. I must act human so that I do not become a target."
Shinji stiffened.
So…that's why everyone can see her...enough of this stupidity…I don't have time for her…
He ignored the Gendo-like insensitivity, speaking coldly as his eyes centered on her pursed lips and then her pale forehead.
"So? What does this weakened Shinigami want with me? It is not my responsibility."
"That's just it…It is your responsibility, you bastard! Until my powers return, you must take over my Shinigami duties!"
Shinji stared at her with widened eyes of disbelief, stammering angrily.
"Wha?!"
"But of course, you're the only one that has Shinigami powers out of us two now…I will assist you, of course. Also, you have no right to refuse since you were…"
Shinji clenched his fists, repeating a furious old mantra in his head that had never left him.
Center target…pull the switch…
"No! No! I-I…don't know who put the idea in your head, but I'm not some grand protector of the people. Those years were…ages ago…and look where I am now, look at the hand the world dealt me in return. Look at my father's grave, my mother's grave…my…wife…my…"
Shinji bit his lip, trying to hold back angry tears.
"I refuse! I can barely keep myself together, I have a son…I had…a love."
She stared at him, clenching her fists as her face heated up in anger.
"What?! Wait…you…yesterday you…"
"Yesterday I was only able to fight because Misato was in danger. I'm not fighting for strangers anymore, or even for humanity's sake. I can barely hold myself together and try to protect the ones around me that I love. I'm not the kind of person you're looking for. I'm not a hero…You're mad!"
"You're refusing?!"
"I said I refuse…I'm not fighting other people's wars ever again, even if the fate of the world depends on it! Look at this world I saved, why save it again? What has it done but swallowed up every last bit of my soul?! You speak of my high 'spiritual presence', but you are mistaken…I left behind the spirit I had when she departed from my life."
Rukia sighed, whispering as if to herself.
"If she's departed…there is more to death than you can understand."
Shinji's eyes widened, apparently having caught Rukia's words. He slammed forward and gripped her wildly by the shoulders.
Rukia's eyes widened as she glimpsed a whirling spiritual energy rising in Shinji as he grabbed her and screamed like a madman. In the corner of his eyes she could see a dark flowing shadow that swirled and then disappeared.
"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!? Do you know something about Asuka?! TELL ME! TELL ME YOU BITCH! I'll…I'll kill you if you don't-"
Rukia gasped, feeling an abnormal physical strength in Shinji overwhelming her, she felt as if her eyes were about to roll in the back of her head from the pain as he tore into her shoulders with his grip and shook her about like a madman barking for answers.
"You're…hurting me…Shinji…I see…I have no choice."
From within her blouse she whipped out her hand, which was now donned in an odd black glove with a skull on the back of it.
"GIVE HER BACK TO ME GIVE HER BACK TO ME I'LL KILL YOU TELL-."
She slammed the gloved hand into his chest in one clean sweep and it actually went through him, though ethereal. With the swing of her hand came hurtling another Shinji, in the black kimono of the Shinigami.
The other Shinji toppled to the floor while the one dressed as a Shinigami stumbled backwards, yelping in surprise and fear.
"What…what is this?! My soul…is that my body over there?! Why isn't it moving?!"
She nodded grimly.
"I had no choice Shinji, this glove can separate your body and soul easily, the Shinigami from the body. No one will be able to see you in that form, though at the same time your body will be a soulless husk until you reenter it."
"This…this can't be…"
Shinji rose, feeling the black fabric now covering him and then the massive sword that was strapped to his back. It felt lighter than last time, but looked quite large.
He was too overcome by confusion and surprise once more, debilitated, so that he ended up staring at Rukia like a lost child.
Rukia only nodded placidly, beckoning Shinji with a gesture.
"Follow me…"
Tokyo 3
Ibuki Electronics
She led him down the street, plodding slowly in the darkness of the night until they came to a small storefront reading "Ibuki Electronics". Inside the lighted windows of the store were numerous computers. Only two people appeared to be inside the store, a short haired woman of brown hair behind the counter and a rather chubby young man browsing the aisles.
Shinji stiffened as he realized where he was.
"Why…what are we doing here?"
"Do you know the woman in there? Don't worry; no one can see you…almost."
Shinji sighed.
"Almost?! Of course I know her…that's…that's Maya…she opened a store after the war…I heard she was crushed by Ritsuko's death."
She smirked patronizingly.
"And the fellow inside?"
"Err…a customer? I don't know…Can we go home so I can get some rest already?"
"Customer? No…he is not of the living…that is a ghost, Shinji Ikari. A dead soul, and you can see him, as a Shinigami who must deliver and protect such souls. Maya cannot."
Shinji sighed, shrugging.
"So, you're saying she's got a ghost in there? Why'd you bring me here again?"
"Is she your friend, Shinji Ikari?"
"Uh…well…I guess…we never really talked during the war…"
Rukia only stiffened, pulling a small cell phone out of her pocket and jabbing it in Shinji's direction.
"What about that?"
"What? What's this?"
He glanced at the cell phone, already feeling overwhelmed with boredom and fatigue.
"It is an order from Soul Society. It means, within fifteen minutes of 10, in the 20-meter vicinity of Ibuki Electronics, a Hollow will appear."
She paused, stepping close enough to Shinji so that she could look him fiercely in the eyes, her breath washing against his trembling face.
"Most likely, the Hollow is looking to attack that spirit…And your friend…she has a significant spiritual presence for a human."
Shinji's eyes widened as he was driven back to the few times he remembered Maya, one of the technicians up there, always trying their best to keep him alive in that giant puppet of death.
Suddenly, a terrible scream ripped through the vicinity, coming from the back of the store.
Shinji stared inside.
Maya was gone…and so was the other fellow.
Maya however came into view slowly, apparently walking down the street towards a nearby bar after closing shop. The scream…it was male.
The young male spirit gasped as he sped as quickly as he could around the corner, not even noticing Shinji as the massive beast that was the predatory Hollow gave chase.
It was large, spider-like, reminding Shinji chillingly of the terrible Ninth Angel, and it was at least twice the size of the small electronics shop it was crashing about next to.
Shinji reached for the handle of his sword as he glimpsed the fleeing young man barely avoiding the beast's massive legs.
"WAIT!"
He glanced back, stopping his motion at Rukia's shout to see her staring at him darkly with her arms folded.
"You're going to help him? Isn't he a stranger? Maya seems safe."
"Wha-what're you talking about!? How can I not help someone that's right in front of me?!"
"Whether in front of you…like Asuka…or far away…or a stranger…or a friend…it doesn't change the fact that someone is being attacked."
Shinji grimaced as the young man tripped and fell, the massive spider-like creature towering over it broodingly.
"DON'T HELP HIM THEN!"
"Wha!?"
"Even if you save this guy, nothing will matter if you don't devote yourself to becoming a Shinigami. Saving him because he's right in front of you? Don't be naïve. If you can't save and care him or others that need your help that you may not PERSONALLY know, you can't hope to ever protect the ones you love. Mr. Apathy…Mr. Hero!"
Shinji clenched his fists.
"You go on and on about your pains, but isn't that self-centered? A Shinigami has to treat all spirits equally, all beings…You cannot just conveniently save those within arm's reach or those who you're lovvy duvvy with! Isn't that conceited? Don't save this fellow with that half-hearted kindness, that self-centered sense of martyr-hero…If you want to save him now, you must accept that you have to save all spirits and all beings within your power! To go anywhere for them…to even give your life to save them, to make that kind of commitment."
She paused, and he mumbled to himself, trembling slightly.
"I am…a…"
"Like you would for Asuka…this may be no different than what became of her, it is not uncommon at all! I DO know a great deal about death and human beings, and I may not understand the situation with this 'Asuka' completely, but I can try to get you as many answers as possible…if you are a fellow Shinigami, that is. One cannot release such information to simple HUMANS."
Shinji Ikari hurtled forward, sprinting as he drew the massive blade at his back.
The beast let out a bellowing inhuman voice, charging forward.
"WHAT ARE YOU?!"
"I am…a Shinigami."
As that last word left Shinji's mouth, the beast's maw emitted a scream, one of its legs cleaved straight off from a breeze-like swing of Shinji's sword. The Shinigami was surrounded in an unbearably high spiritual force that swirled around him as he moved, giving his actions an ethereal grace despite the cruel demon blood he shed.
With another strike, the creature was cleaved directly in half, its dying rattle shaking the buildings around them.
"VENGEANCE…TABRIS!"
Then it fell over in a terrible stream of noxious fluids and blood, totally sliced as Rukia watched in disbelief.
"Shinji…you…you've accepted the responsibility of-"
He turned and stared at her with fierce eyes that made her stumble backwards in fear. There was a terrible trembling spiritual power all around him that made his eyes look like two swirling suns framed by the sky of his skin.
"SHUT UP! ENOUGH OF YOUR LECTURES! What can you understand of my life, of what it means to have the fate of the world slammed on your shoulder…of what it means to have the embodiment of your human feeling taken away before your eyes! No, I'm not accepting anything. I saved him because I wanted to save him. Is that wrong?"
"Wha?!"
"Are you any different? Or do the proud Shinigami lack human emotions and frailty? You sacrificed yourself to save Misato and I that time…At that time were you thinking about bullshit like duty and responsibility and equality? That's not what sacrificing yourself IS! I KNOW! I sacrificed my mind for this fledgling world. At the very least…"
He slammed his blade down into the dead Angel's skull, where its core lay behind its mask, supposedly, forcing it into one terrible last shriek as it exploded and spilled dust and body parts around Shinji.
"At the very least…I'm different. I am Shinji Ikari, NOT the Third Child, and NOT a dutiful Shinigami warrior."
He turned to look at her, sheathing the blade back behind his back.
"I haven't accepted any commitment, any change…Asuka Langley Sohryu freed me from the shackles that held Shinji Ikari…and I can…I can FEEL her…she will keep me free of these labels and madness. If things get bad, I might run away…No, chanting 'I mustn't run away'. I'm not that type of person anymore, I'm not willing to sacrifice myself for total strangers, to let them take advantage of my blood and pain as they did in the Angel Wars. BUT…"
He paused, breathing deep breaths and staring at Rukia as the din and spiritual energy around him began to calm.
"But…unfortunately, she did not leave me to be the type of person that can live happily without paying back his debts…I'll help you with this Shinigami task, this burden, but only because of your sacrifice, because of your actions. I won't be weighted with the salvation of the world again…not anymore. This isn't some dramatic Shounen novel for godsakes. I'm only human!"
"Wait…Shinji…"
"What?! Another lecture?!"
"No, you imbecile…didn't we leave your body lying around in the street?"
"Oh crap…No one better be messing with it!"
"Knowing the Japanese, I would run as quickly as possible, Shinji."
"Hey! Racist!"
Omake
Maya hadn't been expecting the gift from God, but it had come, delivered right outside her store, a Shinji Ikari love doll.
She giggled, slowly kicking the Shinji in the ribs and rolling him around. He was limp as a doll, this was crazy.
Obviously there was only one thing she could do when faced with a limp Shinji Ikari sprawled outside her door.
She acted quickly, pulling out her cell phone and pressing speed dial. Hopefully they'd respond in time!
"Misato-kun…get my tools…oh, and some lubricant…I've got a surpriiiise for you!"
She looked down at Shinji's body, smiling bewitchingly as she nudged his soulless body in the leg.
"I hope you have some blood flow going on in there, Shinji-doll…Ritsuko-sempai taught me a lot about tough love…really really tough love."
Demon
Rhyming out loud
What's the point?
Can't act like I'm proud
With my driftwood resolve
And shattered foot
I stumble forward, dreamily
Through life and things
That plague me true
What's the point in looking up
When all you can think of
Is falling down?
How can I continue
Without this frown?
Verily I say
That my misery is foolishness
My very nightmares self-imposed
I'm a stranger in my heart
And there's a demon in my clothes
Copyright Sanbud Tehrani
Hope you enjoyed the chapter…hope it wasn't too like, long or boring…
I have a lot planned for Shinji, he's a far different fellow than Ichigo, and as you can see, Rukia's a bit different than the one Ichigo encounters simply because she's responding to a different individual in this scenario.
Really this is going to be a long, fun story I hope, with plenty of madness, action, and maybe some AsukaxShinji love. Cross your fingers and hope she's not a corpse (Because necrophilia isn't in this story…unless it's an Omake. Uh oh.)
That's actually the first Omake I've ever written actually, just seemed like the amusingly obvious result of Shinji just leaving his body around willy nilly.