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Chapter 19: "…My Lili of the lamplight …"
Kaji just sat there on the rooftop with the Section 2 lookout.
It had become something of a 'must see' within Section 2. Taking a night watch and getting to hear the Third Child play just about every instrument imaginable.
People had been describing the tunes coming from the rooftop with such conviction that he himself had to come see. He figured Misato was passed out in an alcoholic haze so she couldn't hear, at least if she was even there, tonight she was working late, he checked.
Budget meetings about repairing Unit-00, you'd think they would have built in costs for repairs but… well, that wasn't his job.
Tonight, he was cursing his luck due to the fog though. At best he might be able to see a silhouette of the boy, that was if he even came out in this weather.
Down below them few people walked about, the streetlights giving off a pleasing ray of light onto the shining streets below which shined from the day's rainfall.
"He's late." He agent next to him grumbled, while gathering up a handful of food wrappers.
"I guess we're out of luck." he mumbled, standing up getting ready to leave.
Then from the foggy white sea he heard it.
A steady slow stream of notes that seemed to sway from the fog. A trumpet that was being played to perfection.
Kaji froze there, just listening to the notes from the great emptiness. Could this really be the kid?
Next to him the Section 2 agent sat back in his seat, his annoyance completely erased.
Down below them, the few people that were going about their business stopped, taking a moment under the streetlights to listen to the beautiful symphony of notes.
Kaji even spotted one couple began to sway underneath one of those streetlights, the lighting being perfect due to the fog. The yellow light visible the whole way as it rained down upon them.
A memory of a certain violet haired girl and him doing something similar appeared in his mind's eye and the man couldn't keep a smile from forming on his face.
If Shinji could do that for someone, he was a very special kid indeed.
ʡʘʘʢ
Asuka decided that for once she would follow the idiot on one of his little outings.
Lying in bed she waited, not even her WonderSwan could keep her attention as she waited for the boy to leave. He should be going soon, even with the rather miserable weather they had today, it should have cleared up by now.
Hearing the door shut she launched herself off her bed and out the door behind him. Only catching the slightest glimpse of him as he went up the stairways.
Following him like a predator would stalk their prey, Asuka watched the boy hike all the way to the roof, it wasn't until he made it that she realized he was carrying something.
It was hazy, a light fog had swept the area, it wasn't heavy enough for her to avoid being seen, but It did limit visibility at a distance.
She watched the boy move to the edge of the roof, climbing onto its' ledge.
Her breath caught in her throat, the idea that he was about…
No, he didn't do what she thought he was about to, instead he just opened the black box he held at his side and pulled out a trumpet.
She could tell it was the one from the school, the wear on it was indicative of something used to practice by rank amateurs, but the idiot held it with such confidence, he cleaned it, readied it, and treated it as though it were a priceless artifact.
He readied himself pulling it up to his lips, she watched is chest heave and for a moment nothing happened…
Then he played.
She blinked as the notes were blown into the white haze, the fog that clouded their vision.
The notes seemed to float over to her lazily yet hitting with such force that her breath caught. She knew the tune, it was old, very old.
And it was German.
She remembered the first time she heard it, some event on base in Germany, the memory was faded, but she recalled the song, slow, lonely, yet lovely, a love song to sway the night away with someone you loved.
Lili Marleen
That was the name, it came back to her, like some sirens call in the fog.
She just stared at the boy who played it with that lone beat-up trumpet, he played it so… perfectly.
Thoughts of another land seemed to seep into her mind, images of a countryside where she grew up, where she played in, beneath towering trees and lush gardens.
The thoughts of rolling fields, of forests that still survived the Second Impact. She thought of the countless small towns with their red roofs situated in valleys.
She thought of the mountains to the south, and the views she had seen, even if it was only for her training. The smell of food that had tickled her nose.
Before being a pilot, before her first combat training course, before…. No she didn't want to think of that.
Suddenly it was over, as fast as it had started. He brought the brass instrument down from his lips and just stood there, looking out into the white void.
ʡʘʘʢ
"Trumpet too?"
"well yeah, of course So…" he turned only to see Shikinami there, not the bandaged specter he had been expecting.
In hindsight, he should have planned for something like this, but all he ended up doing was losing his footing and stumbling backwards in surprise.
Luckily, the girl was fast enough to keep him from stumbling over the edge of the rooftop, grabbing onto his shirt and whipping him back onto the roof.
"What are you stupid?!" She yelled at the boy on the ground, who was doing his best to keep his composure.
"What are you stupid?!"
He just blinked at her and at the memory.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" she snapped at him.
"Hey I wasn't the one who decided to sneak up on someone!" He left out the 'on the ledge of a rooftop' but he'd rather not have a shouting match.
"I didn't sneak up on you! You should've known I'd follow you out of the apartment one day!"
He frowned and just pushed himself up from the ground. Brushing off the scrapes he had acquired.
"So… trumpet too, how many damn instruments do you know?"
He shrugged "I had a lot of time on my hands before all this." Technically it wasn't a lie.
"Hmph."
They just stood there for a moment, before he went around her back to the ledge for the trumpet's case.
"Do you know Violin?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Shinji just rubbed the back of his head "What do you mean?"
She just pushed past him and started back down to the apartment "Come back to the apartment, then we'll talk."
He just shook his head and packed up his stuff.
"Oh, a little music session with your doll, how cute." Soryu snarled, balancing on the edge of the roof once again.
The boy said nothing, he didn't need Asuka catching him talking to thin air, it was bad enough he let his guard down and got caught up here.
Making his way back down to the apartment, he just walked into the living room to see her there, sitting on the couch, a dusty instrument case in front of her.
And his own cello case was there as well, resting on a chair opposite to hers.
What exactly was this?
"I want you to show me how to play that song." She said firmly.
"What?"
"That song you played when I first got here, what's it name?"
Those long-lost days of trying to be in sync with one another came rushing back.
Spending every waking moment together, almost always tethered together by earbuds.
Asuka laying down next to him and him leaning in almost for…
"What song?" she asked again, seemingly displeased with his spacing out.
"I don't know if it has a name." He said simply "I just heard it enough to know how to play."
"You don't have any sheet music?!" she raged at him.
He just sat down and brought out his cello, holding back a smile, "Trust me, you'll pick it up."
Readying his bow he jut looked at her "Just listen to it first, don't try to remember the notes, just how it feels." He explained.
The redhead just frowned, but said nothing, waiting for him to start.
And he did.
That same symphony he had played for her when she first arrived, the one he could play better than any other piece of music, the one piece of music he could say made him warm.
The boy closed his eyes.
Sixty-Two seconds of raw emotion the entire battle playing out in his mind like it was yesterday.
Unit-01 and Unit-02 launching into the air.
Splitting the Angel only to somersault backwards through the city together.
Misato shouting out commands for the defenses around Tokyo-03 to open fire.
And finally, them both simultaneously fighting to force the Angel back together, and destroy the core once and for all.
Shinji opened his eyes to see the German doing her best to keep her mouth closed, her face betraying her emotions in that moment.
"I want you to try with me." He said, holding back a smile.
The girl readied her violin, waiting for him to start.
"Ever tried ballroom dancing?" he asked, readying his bow as well.
"No, it's not exactly knowledge you want when fighting in EVAs." She snapped back.
He shrugged "Well, you have the lead and follower, just try to follow me for right now, alright?"
"I'll take it slow." he explained.
He started, then she did…
"This is never going to work! How am I supposed to lower my abilities to match this tragic excuse for a pilot?!"
"Huh, I guess the devil can cry."
"Go after her!"
"Because you just made girl cry! Take responsibility for your actions!"
In all honesty, Shikinami had done rather well for her first try, but the girl's face was already showing that she was becoming frustrated.
"Look, just hold out your hand." He said, another idea coming to mind.
She grumbled but held out her hand, the Third Children just flipped it over so the palm was facing upwards. Cupping it in is left hand, he began to tap into it with his right.
"Don't even bother…"
"I know what I have to do."
"All I have left is being an EVA pilot."
After the sixty-two seconds, Shinji stopped. Looking at the redhead's face, he figured she was understanding at least some of it.
"Wanna try again?"
All he got was a simple nod.
He readied his bow, eyeing her to see if she was ready.
"We'll show em, Misato and Rei, will be totally blown away by how good we are!"
"I'll show em, they're gonna pay!"
"No one gets away from taking a shot at me like that!"
He stopped and smiled, that was pretty good. Even if the German was still getting frustrated by what she perceived as lack of progress.
So, they continued like that, neither one telling the other they wanted to stop. Honestly it would have gone all night if Penn Penn hadn't charged them.
Apparently, the penguin valued his sleep.
Ah, that's refreshing, gotta love some symbolism. So, I guess you guys will get these before Wednesday, I am really neglecting my schoolwork.
SHOUTOUTS!
Calborghete –
dyinglittelstar – I did watch those, I got nothing to say since I already have an outline till the end of the story and I'm still debating reading spoilers, but I will say, Jet Alone doesn't need to have someone actually synced with it since it's not an EVA correct? Just some food for thought.
EVAPilotFair – The thing with Rebuild being movies is you don't get the same 'down time' like you would in NGE, I think it would have been much better being a miniseries instead, probably would have been easier on Anno too.
A Random Fan – Why yes, yes that was foreshadowing.
UltraSpink of Da USA – Idk, depends on what happens in 3.0+1.0, but at least the dude agreed to go to a dinner and not solely because he wanted to manipulate Shinji.
Bwanagator – Thanks!
A Guy – Ah yeah I guess Sahaquel does kinda look like Starro from DC. Though I don't know exactly what you're referencing.
Alright, I hope everyone is enjoying this so far, hopefully my grades survive writing this.
Until next Time.