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Chapter 23: "…we'll know better when we're older…"
Kaji sat on the outdoor patio dinner area enjoying the permanent summer breeze.
The small restaurant he had found was perfect for him, small, secluded, and just the right distance outside of Tokyo-3.
The fact they also had amazing pie was an added bonus, a bonus that he was happily exploiting right now while he sat there waiting. He had bought a second for the person he was meeting, which he hoped wasn't ruined from her tardiness.
Taking another bite, he leaned on the table and looked out at the city, it was almost noon and everyone was rushing to get lunch, causing massive amounts of traffic.
Maybe that's why she was late, he looked down at his watch, 20 minutes late to be precise.
But he wasn't overly bothered by it, not with the view and the food, though the thought of it being a sign was in the back of his head.
The man took solus in the fact that he had been able to source some Kevlar, even if said material really did weight him down.
He figured while he waited, he could find a worse time for his mind to dwell on the words of a certain 14-year-old.
"You know… when you're with Misato, those quiet moments together… and you talk about your brother…"
"I know lots of things."
"…you're wasting your time trying to figure out Human Instrumentality."
His mind had been distracted by those words for the past few days. Who was the kid working for? Gendo? Perhaps that cold exterior was an act, as hard as that might seem. SEELE? Maybe as revenge against his own father, that could be intriguing.
Either way he wasn't on his side, that was something he was certain of, he made sure to check and double check with his superiors. The kid wasn't working for them.
And this was at the worst possible time too, after what happened in the United States.
Now that Unit-04 was destroyed and the Americans were shipping Unit-03 over to be tested here, Kaji had to redirect his efforts towards whatever information NERV had on the event in the US.
Taking another bite of his pie Kaji thought drifted to what he knew of the Human Instrumentality Project, or perhaps to what little he did know.
Essentially the name was all he really knew, and the fact it had to do with the Evangelions.
The IPEA was going to be taking one of the Units into custody in two days, at least if Unit-03's handling doesn't fall behind by then.
The limitations of the Vatican treaty puzzled him, why make it so only 3 could be active at a time? What was the point? To keep one country from possessing the world's more than 3 of the most powerful weapon ever created?
But NERV was an independent organization to the Japanese government…
Suddenly someone sitting down across from him brought him from his thoughts.
"You should really be more aware." The brunette said pushing up her glasses.
"Well, when someone is 25 minutes late, its hard to pay attention." He said, taking another bite from his pie.
"It's not my fault! You were the one who wanted to meet at noon when everyone else wants to get something to eat!"
Kaji said nothing and just leaned down to the bag next to his chair. Pulling out an envelope, the man handed it to the Brit, who opened it and inspected the contents inside.
"That's all your documents, passport, birth certificate, you name it."
Closing the envelope, Mari placed it on the table "Thanks, I've been wanting to get out of that safehouse, honestly it's worse then where you had me at Bethany Base."
The man just shrugged "Take it up with someone else, it's not my responsibility."
Leaning forwards onto the table, the man eyed the girl, she was a little young to be working for the IPEA, but at least she was 2 years older than the other pilots.
That was still too young to be in this line of business.
"Your assignment is to be on standby for whatever Evangelion Unit that's going to be put in storage."
The girl frowned, "I was told I wouldn't just be sitting around again."
"Things change, with Unit-03 coming we need an independent pilot just as a precaution."
Sighing the teen crossed her arms, "Fine, just don't expect me to be cheery with the other pilots if I have to bail them out."
Kaji raised an eyebrow "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you've heard the rumors about the Third Children, right?"
Narrowing his eyes Kaji's interest was peaked "The whole resurrection business?"
"Yeah, but I kinda um… landed on him…"
Kaji closed his eyes and took a deep breath "You what?"
"When I came into Japan and the wind took me off course?" she rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
"Of all the places to land…"
Kaji's hands just rubbed his face, great, her cover was compromised.
"I mean, he was kind of a jerk, but I'm sure…"
"What do you mean?" Kaji asked, interrupting the girl.
"Well…" she frowned "he kinda, threatened me?"
Kaji just cocked his head, did the girl just say Shinji Ikari threatened her?
"What exactly did he say?"
"Well, he might have mentioned popping my head off like a cork if I threatened his friends."
"Or at least that was the gist of it." She explained.
Kaji sat back in his chair, "Well that coupled with what he told me…"
"Is there something I need to know?" Mari asked the man.
"Just stay away from the boy if you can," Kaji explained "he… is an unknown variable." How diplomatic. The kid was looking more and more like a danger every time he was brought up.
Standing from the table Kaji looked down on the girl, who defiantly looked too young for this.
"I already paid for your piece, so don't worry about it."
"Alrighty." The teen smiled with delight, taking her first bite of her pie with a smile.
"Make sure to keep a low profile till you get activated, alright?"
She just gave the man a thumbs up as she chewed.
Turning to leave, Kaji only took a step before turning back "One more thing."
Mari raised an eyebrow at the statement, what else?
"They got a new plug suit for you, a real one this time, should do better than that junk you had to wear at Bethany."
The girl smiled as she swallowed "Well, they better have gotten it right!"
Kaji shrugged as he turned for the last time to leave, things were going get interesting indeed.
ʡʘʘʢ
The two of them sat there, at the edge of their usual basketball court, both eating the last melting bits of their popsicles.
Kensuke laid back, the last of his snack discarded. Resting his hands behind his head, he just stared up at the sky.
She was standing across the court from them, just resting against the chain-link fence, arms crossed glaring at the two. Shinji was certain he could hear the word 'stooges' mumbled a few times.
Shinji was working on the last of his. The idea behind Toji's absence was starting to bother him, and he was dreading what was coming.
"Hey Ikari,"
"hmm?" he was still eating the last of his popsicle
"I heard they're shipping Unit-03 to Japan" Kensuke mused.
The Third Children just swallowed the last of his frozen snack silently, it was just as he thought. Ireul, Leliel… it wasn't like he expected things to be the same, after all they could come at anytime afterwards, but it would have been nice to have more time.
Regaining his composure, the boy just turned to his friend, "They are? that's the first time I've heard of it" he lied.
"There are rumors that the US is forcing Japan to perform the activation experiments." He explained, still laying on his back, looking at the sky.
"Well it's not information that you pilots would need, but man I wonder who will pilot it?"
Our friend.
He had thought about warning Misato about Bardiel. He was over the fear of her being privy to NERV's true goal, after seeing her guilt over him and how she was pretty much the same as his first life, he had put that fear aside, but it wasn't worth derailing how far he'd come.
He could save Toji, he had ripped out the Fourth Children's entry plug how many times before? Even in this slightly different life he had been able to cut out Unit-01's entry plug after the Sixth Angel. He was sure he'd succeed.
He could save Toji Suzuhara.
"I don't know, I never heard anything." Shinji said quietly.
"It must be so cool to be a pilot! You'd think they ever pick me?"
Shinji just looked down at the boy whose head was in the clouds. Suddenly he was back in that tall grass, having run away again.
He was sitting around a campfire, a camo jacket draped over his shoulders.
"I wouldn't if I were you. Your mother would be worried sick."
"Well, that's not a problem, I don't have one."
"I'm like you Shinji."
Maybe the boy he was looking at had a mother, maybe his class wasn't made up of children from broken families, candidates for Evangelions… but he doubted it.
The kid didn't know what he was asking for, what kind of trade he would be giving to pilot an EVA.
"I pray they don't," Shinji said quietly "I don't want you to end up like me."
The boy raised an eyebrow at that statement, "What's that supposed to mean Shinji?"
"You're one of the bravest people I know, you lost your memory and you still got back in Unit-01 to save us all!"
Shinji said nothing, instead he just looked at the redhead across the court, who glared back at him.
"Hey your plan even worked!" Kensuke said sitting up.
"What do you mean?"
"Where do you think Toji's at right now?" the militaria nerd said with a smile.
Shinji shrugged.
"He's currently taking Hikari out to dinner, and you're the one who made it happen!"
Shinji's eyes widened; he hadn't expected that to be so easy.
"Really? One fieldtrip and they're already dating?" he asked puzzled.
Kensuke smirked, "They must have been doing something for a while because I caught them tearing each other's faces off behind the school the other day."
Shinji smiled at that, Toji could have that happiness for himself. It just gave him more reason to save him from Unit-03.
It also meant he could ruin Toji's world even more.
"I thought they'd at least wait to get together until the Spring Dance." Shinji mused.
"Oh, I'm willing to bet that's what set this all off." His friend replied.
.
.
.
"So, did you get to asking Asuka yet?"
"No… I" Shinji froze, realizing what he just said.
Ah, shit.
"YOU LUCKY BASTARD!" in an instant he was being tackled by the nerd, who was doing his best to wrap him in a hug.
"I knew there was something there!" he shouted, realizing that he couldn't tackle the boy while seated, he sprang up off the concrete and looked at him.
"So, you two…"
"No, it's not like that!" Shinji interrupted "I don't… I can't just jump right in, I… look I am going to ask her, it's just not the right time."
"But you two?" Kensuke said, imply the two were a couple.
"It's complicated."
"Friends with benefits?" the boy asked with a perverted smile.
He was sure Soryu was mumbling something about 'baka hentai' back on the fence.
"NO!" Shinji shouted, his face going red "Listen, even I don't know, but we're… close alright."
Even he wasn't really sure if they were 'close', but she trusted him enough to sleep next to him, so he really didn't know what else to call it. She had confessed things to him sure, but she wasn't exactly acting happy when she laid down next to him to sleep. She was different than any other Asuka he had met before.
And he was fine with that, as long as it helped her, he just wanted her to be happy.
"Just… sit down." Shinji said, gesturing to the concrete slab next to him.
Kensuke obliged, the smirk still on his face.
Perhaps now it was the best time to ask this. After all, with Bardiel coming… if he had to disobey orders to save Toji… he had been in serious trouble before and he didn't want to chance anything.
"Because you're my friend… and I let that slip." The Third Children said quietly.
"Promise me something…"
The boy's face lit up in a bit of excitement and confusion.
"I think… something will happen… eventually…"
"Where's this coming from Shinji?" He asked confused, "We're talking about your girl here, don't change the subject."
He shook his head "Just listen to me."
"If something happens… to me…"
"Hey don't talk like that!"
Shinji just frowned "Just 'cause I say something might happen doesn't mean it will…"
"It's just like with the military, they have contingencies, don't they?"
The nerd rubbed the back of his head "I mean yeah, but…"
"Then just listen."
"If anything happens to me…"
"I want you to promise me you'll look after Toji, he'll be my replacement."
"Really? Did NERV tell you he's gonna be picked?"
"No, but I know…"
"and I want you to promise me something else."
"Asuka…"
"Don't let her retreat into herself, don't let her be consumed by..."
"Dude are you telling me to date your girlfriend if you die?" He asked eyebrow raised.
"NO OF COURSE IM NOT!"
He took a breath "I'm saying that if something happens, make sure she takes care of herself, because I'm afraid… I know she'll…." He stopped, not wanting to think what might happen.
"Wow that serious between you two? Hmmm"
"Kensuke stop dammit!"
The boy blinked at how different the once timid boy was.
"You're really serious, aren't you?" he said softly, realizing what his friend was asking of him.
"If I can't be there for Asuka, or Toji and Hikari, I need you to make sure they…" he stopped himself before he said anything too drastic.
"I don't think anything will come of it, even if I have to go against orders and kicked out of NERV or thrown in a cell, or something worse happens…"
"I'm not worried about Toji at least not as much now… he has Hikari."
"Asuka… I don't know, she'll just push everyone away again and I'm afraid she could do something worse to herself."
The boy just nodded to the Third Children. "Alright."
Shinji looked at the boy, who pushed up his glasses.
"I promise I'll make sure she's alright."
Shinji nodded "Thank you, I know that's…. a lot to ask."
They sat there for a moment, both boys just letting the warm breeze pass between them.
"So can I date your girl if you die?" Kensuke asked with a smug smile on his face.
Shinji looked at him "Absolutely fucking not." He said before slight grin appeared on his face.
"You couldn't handle her anyways."
Yeah, instead of having Mari just looking at birds maybe we could have gotten something about her or what she does instead, just saying.
SHOUTOUTS!
Su Exodus – I think this is more a rollercoaster ride than a train honestly haha!
UntraSpink of Da USA – I guess that's true, I mean I think I'd be a lot like how WW2 mobilized entire economies, car companies wouldn't be making cars, instead they'd be producing whatever the government told them was needed so that the world could get back on it's feet. But yeah it would have wiped out plenty of people who created more advanced tech for the masses.
K4153r – Thanks! I think that's why we feel for Shinji so much, the kid can't get a break.
EvaPilotFair – Thanks! I mean she mumbles that Shinji wouldn't like the taste so she has to be making it for Shinji, she probably stopped when she learned Rei was doing a dinner party, judging by the differing number of bandages they both have.
skyf0x – One of the things I love about time travel stories, its suspense instead of surprise. It just turns out that Shinji ended up in a world where everything is a degree off. It all adds up in the end. Thanks, I hope you enjoy the future!
Guest – 'it is written'
calborghete – Thanks! Sometimes it's little things that can have the most impact.
Berix – Thank you! I didn't see too many Rebuild stories so here we are, and I agree 3.33 was only 1 ½ hours and refused to explain anything, it's alright to make the audience feel like Shinji (confused and lost), but damn you gotta give us some explanations otherwise why care! Especially when you could have had another half an hour for bits to explain stuff, we could have just jumped back to the Wunder with Asuka and Misato once and awhile to get some nuggets of info. Ah you noticed that name, didn't you? During the break I'm hoping to go back with a fine comb and hopefully fix those mistakes, typically I notice them after an upload and update the chapter.
soryu-asuka-langley – The WonderSwan is a nice mirror to Shinji's SDAT player. Shikinami is a bit different to Soryu in that she feels the same false sense of maturity, but its from always being alone instead of the trauma of her mother's death. Shikinami is definitely trying to figure out what she feels and why Shinji is sticking around despite her behavior. Because she's never had someone give her unconditional love before, so she doesn't understand why he's still there when she's not giving him anything.
Hoodiebud - Haha, Thanks. Where's that Spongebob meme? *Write that down, Write that down!*
Until Next Time.