Chapter 2: It Wasn't You At All
The blood was across the front of her jacket, covering most of her chest and soaking into the material. But it did not besmirch her beauty. Caring, but hard, dark brown eyes filled with truth and determination stared into his soul. Her wound made her seem stronger, invincible to Shinji, despite the contrary. Here she was pouring in a last-ditch effort, just to get the boy to do SOMETHING. Anything was better than this hopelessness he carried. He had to do something, or else she would not be the only one dying. This went past her revenge, past her duty. No, this was to save him.
It was working. Just one last thing.
"Listen... Shinji-kun, pilot Eva once again and... settle it once and for all." She grimaced, both hands placed upon his shoulders. "For your own sake as an Eva pilot, … seek your answer as to what you came here for, and why you are here.", She glared into his eyes. She had to make sure he understood.
"And when you finish settling it... be sure to come back... Promise me... Please." Her desperate attempt to show him her love and compassion, her care. Twisted as her way of expressing those emotions were, she leaned in closer coming in for a kiss. He closed his eyes as lips met lips. Opening them a moment later.
And a nightmare replaced an already broken scene. For the crazed face of Lilith screamed.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" A shell of a child screamed bloody murder, scrambling and falling off a luxurious bed. Such a horrifying scream causing the two nearby maids to jump five feet in the air, scared out of their wits. The twin sisters giving out their own shrieks of terror, whilst clutching one another close.
Sweat covered his form as he clawed away the tears blurring his vision. Taking stock of his current situation, he calmed down slightly. He was not in danger, at the very least. He took a glance around the room noticing its highly elegant stature. The room boasted opulence which conflicted with his sense of frugality. Breathing out a sigh, he caught sight of blue and pink towards the door.
Two maids tethered to the other, stared back. His breath caught on the blue-haired maid. Super-imposed upon her was a dear friend. Rei...? He thought for a brief moment before catching sight of a blue eye full of fright... and suspicion? Oh, my usual morning routine gave them a jump... He realized. Shaking his head, he concluded the maids probably worked for the estate he found himself in.
Taking them in fully, he noticed they dressed exactly the same and looked eerily similar to one another. The twins, however had different color hair and eyes. Both of them stood roughly at five feet, give or take a few centimeters. One maid blue hair and eyes, the other maid pink. White-stockings and garter belt reaching down to black slip-ons. Black corset-like maid dress with a white apron pulled from underneath the corset piece. And a ribbon holding together their top, below the neck. They both wore matching ribbons and hair pins except contrasting in color; one pink on the blue haired, and blue on the pink haired. All-in-all they were both pretty, and had seen him at one of his worsts. He flushed from the floor he laid on. Pushing himself of the ground with a grunt, he spoke.
"So-Sorry... I s-suffer from night terrors.", he half-lied. The two girls looked at each other before slowly removing themselves apart. Still holding hands, they then spoke in concert. The red one first.
"You sounded like a banshee in the night," he blushed more as the blue one continued.
"And it tore through sister Ram and Rem, like the Great Whale to an unprotected village." She flinched. Shinji did not know what this great whale was, but it did not sound good if it terrorized villages. He reddened further in embarrassment.
He bowed at a ninety-degree angle to the two. "Sorry! I did not mean to startle either of you!" he exclaimed.
"Hmph. Gave Ram and Rem a good scare you did, Stray." The pink one said haughtily. Shinji's face shifted sideways in confusion of her statement; He also felt something... broken? in her.
"Stray...?", he asked. He was not given a response from the pink haired girl. Instead, they spoke simultaneously.
"Ram/Rem welcome you to the Roswaal Estate. Lord Roswaal expects you to show yourself at the dining room in four hours." the maids then swiftly left the room in quite the jitter. Obviously, his outburst had affected them more than they cared to admit. The blue one glared at him as she left. They had not even clarified which was Ram or Rem.
"He-Hey Wait!", he reached out, before dropping his hand. He did not even know where that was, much less where he was himself besides the name of the property. Rubbing his face in the hopes he would just disappear, he slowly removed his hands and looked down at his wear. Apparently, he was dressed in a rather snug night gown. He felt steam leave his ears. He felt like hiding after knowing that someone had clothed him. Instead of that, Shinji found his original outfit to the right on a desk. Thanking the heavens, he changed into them. Feeling peculiar, he finally realized, he did not know how he had arrived. Or what had happened before them. Something unsettling encroached his being. Shaking it off for now, he continued onwards.
Now properly donned in his own clothing, Shinji headed to the door. Taking a quick peek into the hallway he gaped. For looking either right or left, the hallway seemed to stretch forever. Closing the door, he felt a shift behind him. Jumping at the suddenness, he looked at the door. Then to the hallway. It all felt off. Instead, he... he knew something wanted him to open the door. He could feel it. Whatever was on the other side would not let him leave the hallway unless he did. Gulping down any hesitation, he opened up the door.
Bookshelves. Bookshelves lined the area. It was a library. But what held Shinji's attention was the sight in front of him. The Third Children could not help but feel that he had met too many cute girls in his life at once recently. She looked about a year or two younger than himself as she stood at about four feet and seven inches, with long blonde hair pulled into drills ending in a dash of pink. She wore a pink frilled ornate dress with white trimmings, that exposed itself in the front just below the mid-thigh. She wore pink and purple stockings with pink dress shoes. Upon her head she had two large pink ribbons holding her drills of hair in place, with a small petite pink and white striped crown. But what stole Shinji's attention were her eyes.
Her irises were sky-blue, containing within them pink pupils in the shape of butterflies. But it was the maturity in them that gave away her illusion to him. She had the same eyes he saw in the mirror. Old and weary, but hiding behind a mask. A carefully crafted one.
"Um... hello?", he greeted slowly, hand raised for a wave before being forced down swiftly. The girl raised an eyebrow in false irritation. "I... I was going to take a look around the place when... when you forced me here." He spoke honestly. The girl gave a sharp glare, now knowing she had been found out immediately. But who said she had to play into his hand?
"Betty has no idea what you are talking about. Maybe you fell on your head, I suppose.", she spoke belittlingly. Sweat dropped from the pilot's head as the girl dodged his accusation. "Betty was reading a good book when you barged in unannounced.", she made a flicking motion with her hand. Shinji stared flatly as she continued. "So no, I did not force you here, I suppose." A bold-faced lie.
Shinji took a hard glance at her stoic face. "...Sorry, maybe we got on the wrong foot here Betty-san. Anyway, I'm Shi-" He was going to continue when he was interrupted rudely.
"Only Bubby can call me Betty. You, however are not allowed to." She said pompously. Shinji gained a tic-mark. He was trying to be polite. "Anyway," she continued, ignoring his growing irritation, "I'll allow you to call me Beatrice the Great," she said like a pampered princess. Shinji now was glaring at her. She had no tact in his eyes at the moment. Sure, he probably should not have opened the room he was now in, but all he wanted was answers. Also, it was the only room he could go to!
"Okay, Beatrice-hime,", he said sarcastically, "If you can, could you please tell me where I am, and why I am here?" he put his fists on his hips. Beatrice's eyes furrowed.
"Fine, I suppose Betty can throw this dog a bone. In fact, I would be more than happy to throw you something.", she huffed. "You are in Betty's Library." she stated.
Like that answered my question. He thought. Facepalming, he asked, "Am I still in the Kingdom of Lugnica?" Beatrice nodded. "Ok, how did I end up here?", he asked.
"Bubby and the half-elf brought you here. Like a stray." She sniffed. Sighing, Shinji just decided to take the punches. He had had worse. "Now, Betty is going to let you leave now, Stra-", she was interrupted.
"Fine. Just stop. Call me Shinji. I'll go ahead and take my leave then. I swear, I'm always getting the short end of the stick from cute girls." he mumbled at the end as he turned to leave. Unfortunately, he did not say that quite as quietly as he should. He suddenly felt a force of wind throw him at the door, where he landed somewhat harshly. Groaning he looked up at the suddenly blushing but angry little girl stalking towards him.
"Betty is not cute. Betty does not like your attitude towards me. In fact, Betty does not like how you are demeaning Betty. Before Betty tosses you out, Stray, Betty has to check something. Then you can leave." here she snapped her fingers, bringing the boy back on his feet quickly which disoriented him. She then reached forward with her right hand towards his stomach.
Shinji, while disoriented, was not pleased from such treatment. She acted like she was above others in a way not too dissimilar from a certain red-head. But Beatrice was not as gentle for his first meeting, not as honest either. Shinji frowned as she placed her hand on his stomach. Then he felt fear for her, when he felt her grasping for the edges of his soul, or what constituted as the entrance at least. She was about to do something that would show how truly small she was.
"Hey! Don-" He never finished. Beatrice forced through his unprepared defenses.
Beatrice poured her magic and soul into him. She had to know if he was, they. Not many came through the Roswaal manor, much less her own little part of it. So here came, in her own opinion, a stray dog that needed to be checked for flees. She was honestly expecting Emilia's little hero to be a little... older. He was only slightly taller than her. Also, she thought he looked a little too bland for her own refined taste. Certainly not they material, she was sure. Then she sensed it. A familiar feeling. Like... Mother? She was mostly baffled, among many other complicated feelings. Could he be...?
That bafflement turned to full on confusion when the feeling disappeared, the feeling being eclipsed by something... larger. Horrifying even. Then that confusion intensified when she found her consciousness materialized in an endless black void. Somewhat frightened, she noticed a door. It felt like... like a foreboding monument. Its imposing nature was too eerie. White ichor symbols, letters, and numbers that made no sense covered its pitch-black obelisk frame. What stood out, uncomfortably so, was the central symbol. A bisected triangular mask with seven eyes; three vertically in row on the left, four vertically in a row on the right. Behind it, a tree like symbol that felt important. Pitch-black chains shackled the door. A lock imposed upon its surface that radiated a feeling of pure despair. Despite this and seeing no way out, whilst also not able to access her magic she realized with fright, she stepped cautiously forward.
Before she was within ten feet of the door, It appeared. It stood bi-pedal and had a human outline. But she knew It was not human. It was transparent white, transparent in that it would look like someone could view through it, but instead seemed to cut out whatever was behind it. Above its head a red halo. In its left hand, a lance of unimaginable power. Its pupilless red eyes regarded her own. Then, it grinned inhumanly with an outline of a mouth.
Beatrice shrieked stumbling back on the not ground. It laughed at her with a billion different voices. Then, in a show of surprising compassion, held out its hand to help her up. It was intentional. She felt it. Because It wanted her to know she would not be harmed. It was primal. Its presence washed over Beatrice like the night sky over a grain of sand. Then... then Beatrice found herself in front of Shinji again, in her library.
"What, what are you?", a pale-faced Beatrice was righted up. Standing on shaky legs, she was not prepared. Shinji looked into her eyes. Stared into her very soul with eyes far older, far more knowledgeable than her own.
"I am I," He spoke in absoluteness. Beatrice could not comprehend. Patting her head, he walked out the library door, leaving the young girl on jittery legs. Beatrice fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face.
Shinji blew air out his nose as he clenched his left fist open and closed, again and again. He was mad. Someone had peeked on It. Shaking his head, he at least learned something new. Having her soul so close, he had scried her written language, along with multiple others. He had decided not to violate her soul further from that brief instance. Looking forward, he was in a very beautiful manor with royal red rugs and giant stainless windows along the corridor. Locating some marble stairs, he walked down them and entered into what he assumed was the entrance of the manor, its grand chandelier above him.
Still seeing no one, Shinji decided to head out into the front of the manor. Peeking out the entrance he noticed the beautiful gardens and grand-like nature of the mansion itself. One could get lost just looking at the place. Shinji frowned at its wasteful nature. He understood why it looked as it did, but it was too much in his eyes. Then he heard pleasant laughter to his right.
Following the noise, he came upon Emilia and numerous little lights dancing in the air around her. She stood in a marble gazebo. Smiling somewhat at the scene, he raised his hand to greet her, when a sudden chill reached him. Before he could say or do anything, he was pulled behind a tree. Something fuzzy had clamped his mouth. Forcefully turned around, he came face to face to Puck. Surprised, Shinji muffled a response but was roughly shaken.
"Do not speak! I'm going to talk and I want you to listen. Nod your head if you understand.", Puck hissed. Confused, Shinji nodded his head. Puck glared but let go of the third children. "Good. Now, before we begin. I want to say thank you.", he bowed his head, "Thank you for saving my Emilia, my master, my daughter. If it weren't for you, I would not have her here," Shinji scratched his head," and then I would have murdered everything and everyone." Shinji froze his movements. The gray cat shrunk, then floated in front of the boy. Puck's eyes narrowed. "However, it does not excuse that you are definitely not human. Or that you are incredibly dangerous. Even now, with the witch's stench over you, it's obvious that you have a presence above it. I NEED to know the honest truth." Puck floated in front of him," Are you a threat to my family?" Puck's power encapsuled him.
Shinji swallowed nervously. Puck was deathly serious and would no doubt kill him should he sense any threat. Slowly, Shinji spoke.
"...I... I am just... lost." he said somewhat vacantly. "I was... pulled here," he waved his right arm around himself, "and I do not know what it is I need to do. But, I do know I do not want to cause anyone pain. I know that I will not intentionally hurt anyone you call family, but I cannot promise that pain will not come to your family." He gazed into Puck's eyes. "I do not know what to do and I'm scared. I... I was alone... for a very long time." Puck huffed.
"Fine. Can you tell me what you are then?", he asked. Shinji shook his head. "Out with it!", the spirit spoke harshly. Shinji sighed.
"...I... I am a monument to all of 'a' humanities' sins. A monument of dead Memories. The culmination of dreams and hopes from mad men, given form." he spoke hollowly. His dead eyes scared the Great Spirit. "You do not want the knowledge I have. You do not want to know what I am. Please do not ask any further, for it will only hurt us both."
Puck stuttered. "Sur- surely you can give me something?!" Puck raised his paws. Shinji looked at him. Then he looked at the world around him. Felt it flow through him. The sights, the sound of distant laughter, the sun slowly sinking towards the earth, the wind, the abundance of life.
Glancing at the disgruntled cat, he spoke. "Should I show you what I am fully, you would not comprehend it. Your ignorance is bliss compared to the horrid truth." Shinji looked at the cat, whose hair stood on end. "I will say I am the result of horrible atrocities. But I will try to stick to my humanity." Shinji sighed. "I am still human. I am myself. And I will do my best show you I mean no harm." He raised his arm to the spirit. Puck gazed at the being. Before huffing once more and shaking Shinji's hand.
"Hmph. At least you are being honest. Just know if you try anything funny, I'll be watching." Puck glared.
Letting go of each other's hands, they heard a gasp from behind them. A grinning Emilia rushed forward and clasped her arms around a surprised and extremely nervous Shinji, causing the gray cat to puff up in annoyance. Shinji's face was stuffed into Emilia's chest.
"Shinji! I was not informed you were awake yet! We all presumed you would not wake for quite some time after all that had happened!", hugging tighter around the struggling boy, "I am glad you are better and I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving me!" She smiled. Then she noticed the blue faced kid. "Oh! I'm so Sorry! Please don't be hurt!", she shook Shinji to and fro.
Actually, now worried for the boy, Puck spoke up. "Hey Lia, give him some room! He'll pass out from all that." Emilia blushed and dropped the dizzy boy. She took a step back and bowed her head.
"I apologize for invading your personal space and being such a scatterbrain! I was extremely happy to see my friend unscathed!", she blushed more, "Not that I meant to say we are close to be friends, which I would be more than pleased to be, but I-"
"It's fine Emilia-san. I'm glad you are fine as well." He breathed out roughly. After righting himself he smiled shyly, "I did not have many friends. I would be more than happy for your friendship." Emilia smiled beautifully catching Shinji off-guard. Which also prompted Puck into action.
"Alright! No more flirting in front of Puck, you got that!", he started to bop Shinji on the back of the head. Emilia flushed red, while Shinji was quick to reply.
"We are not flirting!", he responded embarrassed. "...Anyways, what are you both doing out here?", he gestured towards the gazebo. Emilia brightened up, and began to speak about Puck's contract to herself. Apparently, a stipulation was to wake early and keep in shape. After her brief exercise, she would communicate with the nearby spirits. Enjoying the small talk, and each other's company, Emilia decided to take Shinji through a tour of the Mather's estate. She showed him room after room, hallway after hallway, until finally the three decided to take a small rest in a welcoming room for guests. Luckily catching the pink-haired maid, Emilia asked for tea, of which was brought in a swiftly manner. Sitting comfortably sipping some of the most exquisite Gray Earl tea, Shinji decided to bring up something that had been bothering him since waking up in the bed.
"Emilia-san,", he caught her attention, "I hate to bother you, and this might seem rather... off but what happened at Old Man Rom's," Emilia gasped as Puck spit out some tea.
"What do you mean what happened?! You don't remember?!", shouted Puck. Shinji had the decency to seem sheepish. Puck continued, "I even told you that you saved my sweet 'Lia!". Shinji perked up some.
"Both you, and Emilia-san mentioned earlier that I had... But I did not want to bother either of you so early...", he scratched his head, "your time is better spent on a calm morning, than on something so troublesome."
"Shinji, I would have been satisfied to tell you of what had happened, are you sure you are ok?", asked a slightly worried Emilia.
"I'm fine Emilia-san, I'm just used to things like this is all," Shinji said normally. Emilia frowned. Puck watched carefully as his daughter thought of what to say.
"Well... I will not let my friends be alone in self-doubt, so if you ever need to talk, do know I am here. I will not force you to... for now.", Emilia stated passionately. "So, where to begin...?" She put her right index finger on her bottom lip.
…
Crack
The edges of his vision blurred. He heard his scream echo in his head. Was it his? He heard multiple... maybe? Was this it? Was it finally over? Billions of thoughts, moments... Memories ran through his mind. It was his just desserts. He deserved this. This finality. The last scene he saw was a somewhat remorseful face. Of someone who did not truly care for him at least. Yes, he definitely deserved this. No friends, no family to mourn the wretched beast known as Ikari, Shinji. Would he get to see them one last time? The faces of those he cared about? Of those he loved? Of those that he had failed miserably...? Despite waiting for this moment for the rest of his terrible existence, he was afraid. He knew that anyone who would welcome death without fear was a fool. He had tried to do so himself once a long time ago. He could not. That was when he found out he was a true coward. So, he waited. Waited for the true end. Waited as time moved rapidly forward. He waited, because he could not finish it himself. It was what he thought he wanted. Now, in his final moment, he realized the truth.
He wanted to be with them. He wanted to see them. He could just see the final event horizon. It was... beautiful... indescribable... Does he have the right...? Can he really have... this?
The lock on the gate cracked. Light flowed serenely through the hinges. The Sea of Souls was breaking. Shinji reached forwards. What... had he been afraid of? The light shifted into many white hands stretching for freedom. The lock shook.
Shinji smiled as he floated forward. Then it happened. Something grabbed his ankles. Then his arms. Then wrapped around his very being. Something pulled. Then that something whispered in his ear.
"ILOVEYOU"
Shinji screamed. Screamed at the injustice. At the inhumanity. At the brief sense of peace that eluded him. Screamed at the sad faces imposed upon the gate. It was not fair!
He felt the ripples of space and time retract. No! NonononononononNO! The being behind him was surprised. It could not pull the anchor it suddenly was carrying. Its energy was exhausting itself. It could not pull any further. To when he might actually need it! It could not get him out of harm's way!
"WAI-"
Shinji screamed in rage. Power engulfed him as the arms that pulled him were ripped and pushed away. But it had already been done. For Shinji had been pulled through the impossible. Even if only briefly.
Shinji screamed in rage at the suddenly very shocked Elsa Grainhiert.
Elsa had been transfixed to his frightened face, when instantly he screamed in pure hatred. Still bent down looking at him after tasting his blood. In a brief moment a wall of orange slammed into her. Elsa was knocked across to the back of Rom's building, smashing through a wall which held bottles of alcohol and confectionaries. Dazed, Elsa looked up from the wood floor of the back room as a hand grabbed her ankle, then threw her back to the entrance.
At the entrance, the others who had frozen in surprise jumped out of the way of a speeding human missile. They watched as the assassin crashed through the entrance of the building, borrowing through the dirt. From the dust of the wall she came from, stood a very angry Shinji. An angry Shinji with a bright orange halo and red eyes. The group then proceeded to part from behind him, as Shinji stumbled angrily out of the thief house.
On the road with a severely twisted ankle, a confused and dirty Elsa sat frozen. She snapped out of it from the immediate danger Shinji radiated. Standing up and forcing her healing process to boost, she was even more aroused. Trippily so, as a beam of red energy slammed into her previous position. Looking away from the blast area and back to the boy, Elsa saw that he now carried a red lance. He was... very imposing compared to his meek and bland form from earlier. Elsa brought up her kukri stained with the boy's blood, and licked it in further approval. Yes. This was it. This is what she always wanted. Her legs wobbled.
Shinji twirled the lance masterfully. Its twin edges sparked with red beam-like energy. Looking Elsa in the eyes with a furious snarl, he leapt. Elsa barely brought up her twin kukri to block the strike, bringing her to her knees. The ground impacted with pebbles floating several feet for a moment. Elsa grunted with a sadistic smirk. Pushing against the enraged opponent, she leveraged some room and proceeded to unleash a combo of slashes coming from random, yet precise, movements. Blocking with the lance masterfully, the third child stabbed forward with the lance catching Elsa through the stomach. She gasped as the weapon penetrated her. Shinji roared as he proceeded to do a front flip in midair with her still attached to the lance, flinging her into the ground.
Coughing up blood, Elsa kicked the pilot from her prone position. Shinji flew back without the lance in hand. Standing up, the cursed woman slowly pulled out the lance. Shinji sat up quickly. The woman had her hand on the item when it suddenly slashed at her without being in Shinji's hands. She jumped back as the weapon slashed in a saw-like motion towards her. She thoroughly enjoyed this. Forget Reinhard! This was thrilling! She blocked with her kukris. The spear flew backwards.
Shinji reached out as the spear zapped into his hand. Pointing at her with the spear a beam shot out. Elsa dodged to the right, receiving a burn that tore through the edge of her left thigh, almost disintegrating it. The beam struck further down the road hitting a broken-down wagon and exploding it. People had gathered out of the rundown buildings to see what the commotion was about. Then proceeded to run to safety away from the blasts and destruction.
"We have to stop them! At this rate they'll destroy the slums!", shouted a suddenly active Emilia. Reinhard and Puck nodded. Felt and Rom doing their best to stay out of the way.
"I only have a few more minutes 'Lia! We need to trap Elsa NOW!", Puck exclaimed. Emilia nodded. Reinhard had a grim face as he appeared behind Elsa, surprising her.
"No! This is OUR affair! Stay out of it!", She shouted as she tried to swipe at the red head. Reinhard took the blow with the steel sword. The sword cracked. Frowning, Reinhard kicked her back to Shinji who swiped mindlessly at the airborne vampire. Twisting in the air, Elsa used her kukri to block below herself. The blow made her lift higher into the air, which Emilia took advantage of.
Shooting icicle after icicle at the woman, Emilia growled as Puck's power dwindled. Blocking the ice as best she could, Elsa grunted as one stabbed into her abdomen. Shinji glowered at the woman, before crouching on three limbs, one holding the lance. Then he shot into the air, slamming into the woman again with his lance. Stabbed through her right arm, Elsa realized she needed a distraction. She could not win a fight against the four of them. As Shinji twirled through the air shooting Elsa back to the ground, she took her chance to make a break for it. Allowing her arm to be ripped out she shot towards the edge of the boundry of Shinji, Emilia, and Reinhard. She was in-between Emilia and Reinhard, with Shinji in front. Without her other arm and weapon, it seemed she was at a loss. Then she heard it.
"I'M SORRY 'LIA! I CAN'T GO ON!", shouted a desperate and slowly disappearing spirit. Emilia now very worried, had almost no time to block the attack. Summoning a wall of ice, she thought she had it. Until red spurted across the ice wall.
"Ah...", she said whilst looking down at her now sliced belly, she fell to her knees. A kukri had slashed through her quickly. Elsa took no more time and fled as both Shinji and Reinhard appeared next to the fallen half-elf. Reinhard grimaced. He could possibly save her but, if only the spirits around the area had not fled from Shinji's presence. Looking down sadly at the slowly dying girl, he sighed.
"I... am sorry, Emilia... I cannot heal this now...", he apologized. He had failed again, despite his power. The girl was gasping as her great spirit was crying as he was about to watch his daughter die. Then a hand touched the top of Emilia's head. Her dying amethyst eyes met crimson. Then she felt numbness.
"...", the boy stared, his lance to his side. With his right hand, he forced his power into her wound. It healed rapidly. The organs pulled back in and cleaned of harmful bacteria. Her blood flowed inside the gaping hole and into its proper place. Her skin stitched back together. It was like it had never happened at all.
She gasped as the healing ended. Coughing roughly on all fours, she stared up at Shinji. Puck sucked in a breath as he finally disappeared. Reinhard stared at Shinji in amazement. He knew the boy did not use the mana around him. Such a wound would have required it. Stuck in amazement, he stood there gaping. Finally, Shinji's aura dissipated along with the lance, and he looked at the girl with his ocean blue eyes in concern. He slowly helped her to her feet. She struggled somewhat. Embarrassed for having to lean into the younger boy's shoulder as he carried her up.
"Hey, I'm gonna need you to take her.", Shinji said calmly. Reinhard pointed to himself confused but complied. After taking hold of her, Shinji promptly fainted. Causing Emilia to lurch forward to catch him, which caused the surprised knight to also fall all together in a pile. Emilia caught herself on top off Shinji face to face before the royal knight landed on her. Causing her to kiss the young boy's cheek. Blushing, she started to giggle at the situation which turned to laughter. Reinhard promptly jumped up.
"I'M SO SORRY!", he said as he hurriedly picked up a wobbly Emilia. She laughed more. The near-death situation and just everything that had happened today made her laugh in euphoria. She was glad to be alive. At least she did not accidently kiss him on the lips. She was not ready to be a mother like Puck said could happen.
"It's fine... c'mon we need to check on the others and get Shinji somewhere he can rest.", she said tiredly. Reinhard carried the boy towards the fence house with Emilia leaning on him. Felt and Rom sat at a table in the store house, when Reinhard walked in beside Emilia. Sitting the boy down on a chair at the table, the other two joined.
"So... that happened...", started Felt. Rom grunted staring at the boy like the others. "What exactly was all that?", Felt continued as she looked at the sleeping child-soldier. "What exactly is he?", she questioned. Everyone looked to each other before sighing. There would be no answers for a while. Rom poured some of his best rum in four cups. Age be damned after what happened.
"Well... I reck'n we give you back 'ur stuff. Felt, do it.", he spoke gravily. She grimaced as she brought out a rectangular square with strange buttons and letters on it. Putting it down on the surprisingly intact barter table, which still held the other items, this item specifically was alien compared to the jewelry and chocolate.
"I never did get to mess with this thing", Felt commented. Rom hummed.
"He said it was a music box..." Rom muttered distantly. Intrigued, Emilia pressed a triangle symbol on the strange music box. It clicked as the number 27 appeared in flashing symbols. Tranquil music started to play. Obviously, all at the table were startled at the strange sounding music. It sounded almost romantic, but its lyrics were of a probing almost mocking nature.
"What was it she did to break your heart,
Betray your heart and everything,
Kissed you with a kiss that wasn't true,
It wasn't you at all,
Hide behind a painted smile did you,
Know that you would live a lie or two,
Pulled the ground from under you,
And leave you nowhere else to run,"
"...What...?", Emilia blinked. Reinhard listened intently. Felt blushed with a sad face. Rom took a sip. Shinji was out cold.
"You can sail the seven seas,
And find that love is a place you never see,
Passing you like a summer dream,
You feel life has no other reason to be,
You can wait a million years,
And find that heavens to far away from you,
Loves just a thing that others do,
What is love,
Till it comes home to you,"
Emila felt the melancholy nature, and frowned. Why would this beautiful song have such negative lyrics? Reinhard took a large drag of his mug. Rom took another sip. Felt stared at Shinji for the rest of the song.
"Did she promise you the world,
And did that girl just throw your love away,
Leave you like a lonely solitaire,
With just despair for company,
Do you think you'd find revenge so sweet,
Make it so your hearts will never beat,
Squeeze the very last and dying breath,
From everything you've ever dreamed,"
Emilia felt its depressive nature, and slowly thought about her own life, finding some comfort in the song. Reinhard drunk more. Rom sat still. Felt slowly rimmed the mug with her fingers, eyes still on the sleeping pilot.
"You can sail the seven seas,
And find that love is a place you never see,
Passing you like a summer dream,
You feel life has no other reason to be,
You can wait a million years,
And find that heavens to far away from you,
Loves just a thing that others do,
What is love,
Till it comes home to you,"
"You can sail the seven seas,
And find that love is a place you never see,
Passing you like a summer dream,
You feel life has no other reason to be,
You can wait a million years,
And find that heavens to far away from you,
Loves just a thing that others do,
What is love,
Till it comes home to you,"
The song ended. The music player stopped, then rewound itself and turned off. The message was received.
A/N. Thank you all for the reception of this. I do want to go ahead and mention that I am going through some somewhat troubling times, but I will continue writing. I can't promise it will always come out on a regular time sch, but I'm going to try to release at least one chapter a month.
Also, I don't reply much to reviews, so just to get this out here: I appreciate all of your support. I will continue to read them, quite dearly. I also realized some mistakes in the prologue and first chapter and I might go back to fix them later.
I do want to mention that yes, Shinji is kinda a glass cannon. I will not say more into his abilities, just that there are downsides to using them as much as he did like in his first day. Also, I tried to get their personalities more accurate to how they speak and act. Please don't be too disappointed in some OOC moments. If they occur, they occur for a reason. Also, I'm not too far into Re:Zero. I'm actually playing keep up, but I do know a lot about it and I'm very interested. If you feel I missed something, give me a heads up.
The song is Everything You've Ever Dreamed. Also, surpirze Honkai Impact Shinji (Asuka)
One last thing. I do not own anything referenced in this fanfiction, nor do I reference real people. I bid you all a great day. I'm going to start writing the next chapter very soon. Maybe like after I post this. Because you know. I still got the juices running from this cliffhanger.