Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion and all rights got to there respective owners. Also all OC's are the creation of JimmyWolk himself.
SPOILER WARNING: This contains spoilers for the fanfic "The 2nd try" by JimmyWolk. So If you haven't read that then you should definitely stop right here and check that out first.
Summary:
While helping her Mama out in the garden, Aki finds a small and injured little bird.
"Little Bird"
For Asuka it was going to another long difficult day in the garden considering last nights typhoon like storm had been the worst they've had in ages. She can already see that she's going to not only have to make sure the vegetables are ok but tend to the fence around the house, see that the chickens were ok but also clear out the leaves and other debris that had been blown into the garden from the high winds.
Her husband Shinji was already gone to the lake to catch more fish. As they couldn't risk running out of supplies, they had agreed on splitting the work. But as she saw the extend of the mess in the garden before her, she started to feel that she had made the wrong choice. She was about to let out a huge sigh but felt a tug at her arm. Looking down Asuka saw her little sunshine who was looking at her, eyes shining with determination.
"Don't worry Mama, I'll help!"
"You want to help me clean the garden?" Asked the surprised mother.
Aki nodded and it was still a surprise to Asuka as while Aki did tend to help her now and then with the garden, it was only with small tasks like digging the soil, planting seeds and watering the plants. Anything else that was too long, too hard and had no fun in it Aki would shy away from it and Asuka herself certainly wouldn't force her little girl to do anything that was beyond her capabilities.
"Ok my little Schätzchen, but before you start you need to go back inside and change into the wet work clothes ok."
"Ok Mama." Replied the girl but she didn't get too far into the house.
"With your rain boots too Schätzchen!" Called out her mother who was already walking towards the garden already knowing that Aki would try and come out without the necessary footwear.
"Ohh Mama, can't I just go without them." Aki whined, clearly she didn't want to wear the rubbery boots.
"Nein Schätzchen we discussed this remember. If it's wet and muddy you need to wear your rain boots otherwise you'll forget to clean feet again and bring the mess into the house."
Pouting Aki tried once again to see if she bargain with her Mama too go without the boots. "Mama I promise not to go inside with dirty feet if I wash them before."
Unfortunately for Aki her Mama wasn't buying it. "Nein Aki and that's final." Asuka said very firmly, letting her daughter know that there was no more to discuss or argue.
Aki pout deepened but she none the less complied with her Mama. A few minutes later Asuka was able to quickly see that her little girl coming out of the house and did change properly into the appropriate outdoor wet wear, wet boots included.
Aki's pouting didn't last long as she began to help out her Mama in the garden, obediently following her instructions, clearing out any mess by putting it in the bin bag Asuka had brought along.
To Asuka's surprise, Aki was able to quickly clear out half the garden in half the time Asuka had initially believe she could have done on her own. For once Asuka was thankful for her daughter's youthful energetic nature and that it was being put to good use with the possibility that today's work will hopefully tire the little girl out much earlier today and that hopefully she and Shinji can have some alone time tonight.
"MAMA, MAMA HELP!, I NEED HELP!"
Bolting immediately to her feet at the sound of her daughter's cry, Asuka quickly turned to the direction of her daughter before immediately running towards Aki who was on the other far side of the garden. From what Asuka could see Aki didn't looked injured in anyway but saw that her daughter was kneeling on the ground, focusing on something before her.
"What's wrong Aki?" Asked the concerned mother. Who was once again looking over her daughter for any signs of injuries, just to make sure.
Aki's response was to point at the ground before her and the young mother was able to see what had gotten her little girl so worried. On the ground was a small little bird that looked like it was dead given that it wasn't moving but upon looking closer inspection could see that the small bird was still alive as it's small chest was moving, indicating that it was still breathing.
"Oh no, the poor thing must have been caught in the storm."
Aki looked at the small winged creature with concern before looking at her mother. "Is birdy gonna be ok Mama?"
Asuka looked at her daughter before thinking the best way to they could help the small bird. "Ok Schätzchen, this is what we're gonna do ok..
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It had been a few days since Aki and Asuka had found the little bird and since then the Ikari family have taken upon themselves to caring for it. The day the two girls decided to help it, they placed the small winged creature in a open box with towels inside to make it warm and comfortable and after Shinji returned from fishing, was informed of the situation and looked over the bird himself.
While Shinji did have medical knowledge, he was not a veterinarian but he none the less did his best and concluded that the small bird was just very weak from being battered by the typhoon storm and that it had dislocated wing given the weird angle of it. So Shinji being extremely carful popped the wing back into place, earning a small wild cry from the bird from the brief pain it had to endure.
From there on the Ikari family just had to wait till the bird was fully recovered and be able to fly on it's own. Of course, Aki in particular had taken an interest of the small animal, often visiting the bird in its carton, watching it with curious eyes as it sipped from the provided water or pick from the seeds they left for it. The bird too seemed to warm up to the little human girl, one time even trusting her enough to eat from Aki's hand, much to her delight.
For three straight days the bird seemed to be fully healed given how active and aware it was but it still showed no signs of being able to fly yet on its own something which was beginning to worry the adults, believing that the bird may have permanently damaged it wing.
None the less all three members of the household kept on hoping that the bird would fly again and took turns taking care of there new feathered friend, making sure to feed and give it enough water.
It was the fifth day now and just as the two grownups of the house were doing their usual chores they heard Aki from the living room.
"MAMA, PAPA COME QUICK!"
Rushing to where Aki is they saw that their little feathered occupant flying wildly about the room.
"Mr Birdy's flying. He's flying and all better now!" Aki said who was keeping her eyes on the bird with a big happy smile on her face.
"Well he's certainly seems all better now" Shinji said while trying to keep track of the bird flying around the room. "Lets open a door or window so he can get finally get out."
Aki instantly lost her smile at this and looked to her parents. "Isn't Mr birdy gonna stay with us?"
Hearing Aki's question and seeing the sad look beginning to show on her face, both parents had a feeling that their little girl would grow attached to the Mr birdy as she called him. Often times they had seen Aki even talking to the bird as it was recovering despite that the creature couldn't talk back nor understand what Aki was saying to it.
It just made it more heartbreaking that Aki doesn't have anyone else to talk to besides just the two of them and now they had to let Aki know that the bird can't stay with them.
Sharing a look between them, Asuka and Shinji both sighed knowing this wasn't going to be easy.
"Aki I'm sorry but the birdy can't stay with us." Shinji told his daughter and just as he and Asuka predicted Aki was given them the sad puppy dog look with added tears beginning to come through.
"Bu..but wwhhy?" Aki whined.
"Because Schätzchen, Mr birdy belongs out in the wild and it would be unfair for us to keep him locked up inside where he'll be unhappy." Asuka said to her distressed daughter trying to make her understand. "He may even have a family he needs to go back to, so it would be unfair to take him away from his loved ones. You understand that right?"
Aki did seem to understand, knowing it was unfair to keep him away from his loved ones and while not happy about it she excepted it with a small nod while also wiping her fresh tears with her sleeve.
Shinji seeing this went over to the window, opening it wide so that the bird would be able to fly out, which the bird soon did after the moment the family moved over side of the room. With the bird finally out Aki quickly went to the window to see the bird fly far into the distance.
"BYE MR BIRDY! HOPE YOU COME BACK AND VISIT US SOON! I'll EVEN LEAVE OUT SOME WORMS AND SEEDS FOR YOU!" Aki shouted out to the bird with both her parents coming behind her with her mother placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
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It had been a few days since Mr birdy left and true to her promise Aki would leave a bunch of worms, seeds and other spare foods out on the outside garden table in hope that Mr birdy would come and visit them.
To both the young adults surprise the food that Aki left out was always gone whenever they checked it. Eventually the all three decided to keep a eye on the food and see if it was in fact Mr Birdy coming back. Again to their surprise it was not only the same bird but he also seem to have brought a few of what they believe to be his friends or family.
In the end it became somewhat a tradition for the Ikari family to leave out some food for their new feathered friends, even when Asuka had found a bird feeder, Aki would now and then leave extra food out for her Mr birdy and his family.
End.