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:
Asuka and Aki make a day trip to the ruin city of Tokyo 3 to find Shinji a birthday present.
"Finding A Gift"
"Mama! Mama! What about this for Papa!?" Aki shouted excitedly as she held up another possible item, one of which Asuka could tell was a coffee maker and a badly beaten up one that looks like it didn't survive the impact unscathed.
"Nein, Aki we already have one of those at home and besides that one's broken as well. Look, see the big dents on it," Asuka told her daughter and Aki gave the item a proper look over and saw the damage herself.
"Awww, I thought I found the perfect birthday present for Papa," Aki said while pouting and carelessly dropping the coffee maker next to her, further breaking it in the process.
"Don't worry, Schätzchen, we'll definitely find something for Papa," Asuka reassured her daughter. "Besides Papa's birthday isn't for a couple of days anyway."
"Awww, but I want to find one now!" Aki grumpily stated, stomping her small foot before running off into another abandoned shop to find a possible gift.
Asuka had cover her mouth to hide her chuckle at Aki's impatience. It was still early in the day and she and Aki had plenty of time searching in the ruins of Tokyo 3.
It definitely was a surprise when Aki came to her earlier in the morning and asking what kind of present they could give to Shinji. Her Schätzchen having remembered when she had told her when Shinji's birthday was three months after her own birthday when she had innocently asked for theirs. She honestly didn't expect her little one to remember but she felt the touch of motherly pride at how smart and intelligent Aki was for her age.
So going with the flow she went along with the idea of getting Shinji a present. Her poor loveable idiot had no idea; him believing that she and Aki were just having their turn at a supply run to the city.
"Mama!" Aki shouted, breaking Asuka from her thoughts and glancing at Aki again, seeing that her daughter held up another item, this one being a digital camera.
"What about this?" Aki asked.
"Nein, nein, we have a good one at home Aki." With that responds Aki pouted again but instead of complaining she once again carelessly dropped the item and once again began searching for something else.
It was soon becoming obvious to Asuka that Aki didn't have a clue on what to get her papa and was just randomly picking up stuff but Asuka allowed this as this would help tire her out and make it easier for her and Shinji later on.
"Mama, what about this?" Aki asked while hold a basket ball.
"No Aki."
"Maybe this Mama?" Aki asked holding a DVD case, on the cover was some sort of strange puppet alien creature.
"Err not that one Aki."
"What about this Mama?" Aki shouted, this time holding a metal can, which Asuka sees is a tin of mixed fruit.
"I don't think that would be a good present for Papa." Asuka tells Aki.
"But he likes using those?" the girl replied, tilted her head in confusion.
"Yes he does but a can of fruit isn't exactly a present. But let's keep that anyway as we can use it for the party." Asuka said with Aki giving the tin fruit to her mother before running to the nearby collapsed building.
Not a minute later Aki returned, once again having found something.
"Mama! Mama! What about this thingy?" Aki asked while presenting the item and to Asuka's surprise saw that in Aki's hands was something very familiar. It was a SDAT player, the same one her husband once had with the only difference to the one in Aki hands was the colour being light grey instead of black, even the earbuds were connected to it.
"Oh would you look at that." Asuka muttered to herself while bending down to her knees and taking the small music player from Aki hands, examining the item and seeing that it was in perfect condition, seemly unaffected by the destruction of third impact.
"What is it Mama?" Asked the curious three-year-old.
"Well Schätzchen, this is a SDAT player." Asuka gave Aki the answer but following the confused look her daughter had on her face, she needed to elaborate a bit more. "It's a music player, kind of like your old music box that played the lullaby songs. You remember that, don't you?"
Aki nodded, remembering her old music box that unfortunately stopped playing a year ago and was thrown away. "So that small thing plays my lullabi music?" Aki asked with Asuka giving her a small smile.
"Not exactly, you can play any kind of music you want if you have the tapes for it. See here." Asuka showed Aki the device and opened up the cassette slot. "You put in tapes right in here."
"Wow, so will this be the perfect gift then for Papa?" Aki asked.
Asuka paused for a moment, thinking for a moment before shaking her head. "No afraid not. Papa used to have one of these when he was younger and used it all the time. He pretty much had it glued to his ears." Asuka explained while chuckling a little bit at the last part.
"Papa really had it glued to his ears!?" Aki repeated, with a look disbelief on her face, at which Asuka couldn't contain her laughter.
"Hahaha, nein, nein, Schätzchen, it's just an expression meaning that he kept the earbuds in his ears nearly all the time," Asuka explained as easily as she could to the three year old.
It was true as she remembered clearly that Shinji carried and listened to the SDAT everywhere he went back then. She also remembered that it somewhat annoyed her when he would just block out everything around him (especially her) and just listen to whatever music he had on it.
But that was the point back then, wasn't it? The SDAT, the music on it was just to block out and escape the painful reality that Shinji found himself in, even if it was only temporary. It made Asuka wonder if things would be different now if Shinji's SDAT hadn't been broken during the impact. Would he still have taken the courage to reach out to her that day or would he have chosen to escape instead.
Asuka suppressed a shiver on what might have been and the possibility of giving Shinji another one made her think of Shinji regressing back into that unhealthy habit again. While that didn't seem likely, given their not perfect but very much happy life now, there was no reason to conjure the demons of the past. So looking back at Aki, she passed the SDAT back to her.
"That was a good find Schätzchen, but sadly again this isn't a good present. But we're on the right track." Asuka explained. "Where did you find this exactly?"
Aki pointed in the direction of a nearby building. "Over there, Mama," Aki said, before she quickly ran towards the said building with Asuka following behind her.
The building Asuka saw looked liked it was slightly sinking or collapsing inward into the ground with about two or three floors unseen but Asuka could see what must have been the top of a neon sign that looked like key notes, indicating that this was a music store.
"I found S-tape thingy right here!" Aki exclaimed, jumping up and down at the exact spot where she found the SDAT, which Asuka noted was much to close to the damaged building for her liking.
And like she feared she heard what sounded like a crack before a part of the road and sidewalk broke and collapsed with Aki falling as well.
"AKI!" Asuka shouted before rushing towards where her daughter fell in the hole. Looking down, all she could see was darkness and no sign of her baby, fear and panic beginning to set in.
"AKI! AKI!" Asuka screamed out, fearing the worst had happened and was ready to jump down into the dark hole to search for her daughter before Aki energetic voice was heard.
"I'M OK!" Aki's voice shouted from the bottom dark hole and Asuka breathed a huge sigh relief though she was still shaken from the whole experience.
"O..OK, AKI I'M COMING DOWN, SO JUST STAY WHERE YOU ARE, OK SCHÄTZCHEN!"
"OK MAMA!" Aki shouted back energetically which again was a reassurance that her baby was fine. Asuka made sure to get a rope from her bag, tying it up to a lamppost before carefully going down the hole after Aki. The hole it seemed carved like a muddy slide and it wasn't as deep as it seemed and Asuka reached the bottom, finding Aki waiting for her which Asuka immediately brought her into a hug, holding her tightly.
"Oh Aki. Oh baby, are you ok?" Asuka asked her daughter while backing off and looking over her for any injuries but seeing no injuries except the girl being slightly ruffled plus covered in mud and dirt.
"I'm fine mama. Can I do that again?" Aki surprised Asuka, wanting to go down the hole like a normal kiddie slide. This however didn't suit well with the young redheaded mother.
"Absolutely not, Fräulein! That was too dangerous and you nearly gave me a heart attack!" Asuka shouted though she would regret it a second later after seeing Aki wince and looking like she might pull out the water works. "Oh Aki, I'm sorry I shouted at you. I was just so scared that something bad may have happen to you."
"I'm sorry, Mama." Aki apologised which earned her another hug from her mother.
"Just be more careful, Schätzchen." Asuka said while rocking her daughter slightly. "I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you.
The hug between them lasted more then a few minutes before they separated, now the task currently was getting out of the hole they found themselves in. To Asuka's surprise she was able to see the front entrance of the buildings first floor which was indeed a music shop.
"Hey Mama! I see something shiny in there," Aki said before running into the shop's broken window.
"Aki don't run off. Stay close to me, ok?" came the order before Asuka caught up to her daughter and they both entered the shop.
Inside it looked like a typical old music store with all of the classical instruments, most of which were in perfect condition despite the shop, as well as the whole building having slightly sunk into the ground, light coming through the cracks in the ceiling making it easy to see all the stuff in the room.
A thought occurred Asuka while she looked around, realising that this place might have the perfect gift for Shinji and she seriously hoped that there was one specific instrument in here.
A very loud horn like sound made her jump before turning to see Aki nearby who had blown into the mouthpiece of a saxophone bigger then the girl herself, which seemed to have surprised even Aki who let out a giggle.
"What's this Mama?" Aki asked curiously.
"That's a called a saxophone Aki."
"Saxomopho?" Aki tried to repeat the word but as Asuka predicted, Aki failed to pronounce it correctly. However, she decided that it was close enough and simply nodded to the girl.
Eventually Aki moved away from the saxophone and started looking around the room and moved to the next instrument, this time a broken piano that was split in the middle from some heavy debris from the broken ceiling but Aki pressed one of the white keys anyway, making the pling sound, making her giggle again before randomly pressing a more keys notes further creating more pling-plong sounds from it.
Asuka came up behind to her, smiling before giving Aki a quick question. "Do you remember what this one is called Aki? Remember the little tiny one we had a while back."
Aki stopped playing, pondering for a second before looking at her mother. "It's a…a piano!"
"Wunderbar Schätzchen, you got it right," Asuka praised Aki, the little girl beaming with pride. Seeing more opportunity to be praised more Aki moved to find another music instrument, this time picking up a trumpet.
"Mama, I know this one too. It's a tum…no no oh it's a trumpy!" Aki exclaimed.
Well, it was close enough to the real answer Asuka thought. "Right again Schätzchen," Asuka said. And Aki took the opportunity to blow into the mouthpiece making a tinny toot sound.
On a roll Aki picked up the next instrument which Asuka saw was a flute. Unfortunately it seemed Aki didn't know or couldn't remember the name of this particular one as she looked at it and had a look of uncertainty.
Asuka decided to help Aki with this one. "Come on Schätzchen, you know this one. Remember it's a flu, flu…".
"Flu…flu…flu..Te! It's a flute, it's called a flute!" Aki shouted having finally remembered the name.
"Wieder wunderbar Aki, you're such a smart girl," Asuka once again praised her daughter and Aki beaming with pride again put her mouth on the flute making a shrill pheep sound from it.
Dropping the flute Aki moved to the next instrument but unfortunately for her she didn't know this one which Asuka saw it was a guitar.
Knowing that Aki didn't want to disappoint her, Asuka decided to just say the instruments name anyway. "Oh that's one's a guitar, Aki."
Aki moved her hand along the strings making a strum vibration sound. "Guitar." Aki repeated the word, looking at her mother to know if she said it right, with a nod confirming she got it right.
Aki saw another instrument, this one she knew all to well. "Mama! That's a drum set!" Aki shouted while running to it and getting up on to the seat before picking up the sticks and started to actively bang them onto the drums and cymbals making load booms, whams, badums and tishs sounds.
This lasted for a minute till Aki's arms got tired but she had a beaming smile on her face. "Mama, I want this!" Aki declared to her mother. Asuka on the other hand knew she had to think of something to prevent this.
The thought of dear Aki becoming some punk rock drummer did not suit her at all, plus the idea that Aki would make a loud racket day and night was a definite no.
"Nein Aki, we came looking for something for Papa remember. Plus it looks too heavy to bring with us anyway," Asuka reasoned.
"Aww but I really want it Mama," Aki tried once more to persuade her mama.
"Again, nein Schätzchen," Asuka firmly said, leaving no room to argue. Aki while unhappy with this decision said nothing, getting off the seat before moving next to Asuka.
The next instrument they came across was one familiar to Asuka herself, the violin. Picking it up along with its horsehair bow, she instinctively tried to place the violin at her neck but stopped herself.
"What's that one, Mama?" Aki asked.
"Well Aki this one's called a violin. I used to play this when I was younger," Asuka told Aki truthfully.
"Really Mama!?"
"Yeah but that was a long time ago Schätzchen and I've forgotten how to play the violin anyway." Asuka said with a touch of melancholy in her voice.
"Huh, how come Mama?" Aki asked, wanting to know.
"I had to give it up because I had something more important to do."
"Then what was so important, Mama?" Aki again asked. Unfortunately for her, Asuka wasn't going to give her the reason mostly due to that she gave up her musical talent to focus on her Eva pilot training. "That's an answer for another time, Schätzchen, we still have to find Papa a present."
It turned out that they didn't need to go any further as Asuka had found the instrument she had been looking for. Walking over to it along with Aki, Asuka saw the cello was in perfect condition as well.
"Schätzchen, this is it. It's the perfect gift to give to Papa," Asuka proclaimed happily. Aki however looked at the instrument with confusion.
"This one Mama? A really big violin?" Aki said which made Asuka chuckle.
"Nein Schätzchen, it's called a cello but I understand the confusion. It does look like a big violin, doesn't it? I remember your Papa played this a long time ago and he was very good at it."
Truly, Asuka did remember that day when she came home from her boring date to find the shared Katsuragi apartment filled with the beautiful sound coming from Shinji's cello as he played it. She also remembered that it was the first time she ever truly complimented Shinji on anything back then. Heck, a small part of her wanted him to continue playing so that she could listen to the music but once again her pride back then would never allow it.
"So this will really make Papa happy? That he will like it?" Aki asked wanting to be sure this would be the present for Papa.
"Oh, I'm sure he'll love it, Schätzchen, along with a cake and one of your extra special drawings for him will certainly make him happy," Asuka exclaimed while carefully putting the cello into its case.
"Oh yeah, I'll make a super extra special picture for Papa as well and it will be the best birthday for him!" Aki excitedly shouted.
"That's the spirit Schätzchen. Now let's go home before Papa does, so that he'll never suspect anything, ok?" Asuka said, to which Aki nodded before following her mother, occasionally helping with carrying the cello case out of the store which fortunately they managed to find a better way out than the hole by going up through the building and exiting through one of the broken windows that was one street level.
After a long drive back home, both girls managed to arrive home before Shinji did, hiding his gift as to not spoil anything. When Shinji did return from fishing, he noticed how dirty his little girl was prompting another night of chasing Aki to make her have a long bath.
End.