Hello everyone, Calborghete here, how are you all? Here's another chapter for you.
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So without further ado, read on.
"Dialogues"
- Thoughts -
"Radio Talk
"Self-talk."
Responsibility note:
Evangelion, its characters and setting are the property of Hideaki Anno. Any brands, films and series mentioned in this fanfic are the property of their creators.
(*)
Chapter 07
"That bastard!" Asuka screamed as she punched the wall of Misato's apartment, she was angry, sad, upset, all the feelings were in her body.
"Idiot brat!" Asuka punched the wall again, Misato entered her living room with a dejected and tense look on her face, calmly she walked down the corridor, her mind thinking about how she had felt when she saw Shinji again, with a long sigh she sat down on her sofa and looked at the ceiling.
"Asuka! Stop it!" Mari tried to stop Asuka, but she quickly felt the redhead pushing her aside. She approached the angry redhead again.
"You're going to hurt yourself! Stop it!" Shouted the brunette angrily as she grabbed the girl's arms, she knew that Asuka always crossed the line when she was upset.
"Let go of me four eyes!" Asuka had a look of pure anger on her face, and feeling Mari's arms around her waist, she slowly became calmer.
"It won't do any good to break your hand in a fit of rage!" Mari said as she felt Asuka becoming calmer, and calmly released her, her voice still serious.
"I know this was all very sudden, but we have to take it easy!" Mari says calmly, looking into Asuka's eyes all the time.
She calmed down and looked at her hands, bruised from the blows she had delivered to the wall. Finally, she began to feel the pain getting stronger.
"I still have a lot to sort out with that brat!"
"I know, but I think I might know where he went." Mari spoke with a wicked smile on her face, Misato and Asuka quickly looked at her.
"How?" The WILLE leader asked, and Mari could see the tension on her face at this bit of information. Mari looked at them both as she spoke.
"I could hack a UN satellite to track the puppy when it left WILLE headquarters, along with a people stalking program that I could set up without any problems, it shouldn't be too hard to follow it." Mari spoke with a feline smile on her face, Misato let out a sigh as she heard this idea, then sat down to think of a better one.
"Wow, four eyes, what a stupid idea." Asuka says as she passes them all and grabs a drink from Misato's fridge.
"Why?" Mari said feeling offended, she had done much more difficult and illegal things in her college days together with Yui and Kyoko.
"You know we can't do that Mari." Misato said as she focused her eyes on Mari, she didn't know all about the past of the mysterious girl who worked for her.
"We've already tried using satellites to locate him."
"But you're not me." Mari spoke arrogantly as she pointed to herself, Asuka looked at her fellow soldier, mysteries surrounded her. Misato looked at her suspiciously, Mari had always been useful in her mission, but she always had her secrets.
"Mari, even if I close my eyes, I don't think we can do that." Misato said seriously as she crossed her arms. Mari, on the other hand, was still smiling, and she approached Misato with her arms crossed.
"I can do that."
With a long sigh she touched her face, calmly and stressfully spoke, deep down she knew what Kaji's answer would be, they both had a lot to tell her, but why didn't it seem to matter so much to her?
"What does Kaji think of that?"
Mari smiled at the thought of the mentor who had always looked after her, picking up her phone and looking at Misato with arrogance.
"Don't doubt me, boss, I'll find the puppy."
Misato looked at Mari with suspicion at all this optimism, but if it meant having Shinji return for this new fight against the angels, she might give Mari a chance.
Asuka took a deep breath as she listened to the conversation between the two, leaning against the wall she looked at Mari, seeing her arrogant smile, she wanted to understand how she seemed to understand things as if she had built them. Remembering the damn metal box and Mari's secrets, she clenched her hands in anger, she didn't want to be in the dark.
Listening to the ringing, Mari waited for Kaji, knowing that it wouldn't be long before he answered, and soon the sound of his voice flooded the phone. She knew that he only used this number for important reasons and that was really important.
"Mari? What happened?" Kaji asked worriedly. Mari smiled as she answered, but Misato didn't take her eyes off the girl who was her protégé.
"Hi Kaji, don't worry, nothing emergency has happened, but I called you to ask you something, I think it might interest you." Mari spoke calmly, then her eyes fell on Misato and Asuka looking at her curiously.
"I'll listen to any of your ideas." Kaji spoke calmly, but Mari could feel his smile.
"So, I kind of want you to help me hack a UN satellite, I need you to keep me in the dark while I do a reconnaissance program." Mari speaks naturally as she looks at her fingernails, not even caring about Asuka and Misato's stares.
"May I ask why? That's a big request, even for you." Kaji spoke anxiously on the other end of the line, but he already had a small idea of what she was going to do.
"Did Misato ask you to do that?"
"Almost there." Mari says as she winks at Misato and Asuka.
"But seriously, why now? What are you planning to find out?" Kaji said in a serious voice.
Mari took a deep breath as she began to talk about her plan, her face becoming more serious.
"The puppy showed up at headquarters today, so I think I can make a tracking program to follow its trail." Mari said, already starting to think about the lines of code.
"Wow, he just appeared out of nowhere?" Kaji said, genuinely surprised.
"Yeah, he showed up looking hot, cussed everyone out and left on a cool motorcycle." Mari says as she thinks back to a moment in the past, seeing the look on Misato and Asuka's faces as they get uncomfortable.
"Wow, Shinji doesn't seem like the fighting type." Kaji said amusedly as he pictured the scene in his mind, but he was glad to have a real hope of being able to locate Shinji.
"Well? Can I count on you?" Mari said, smiling as she swayed from side to side.
"Yes, Mari... Let's do it, we'll talk more about it at headquarters, but you can get to work." Kaji speaks hopefully, Mari smiles as he speaks arrogantly.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Kaji-san." She said as she hung up the line, turned and looked at Misato and Asuka with her arrogant smile.
"Now I just have to work."
Passing Misato and Asuka, Mari slowly picked up a drink as she entered her room, Asuka approaching Misato as she spoke suspiciously.
"The two of them seem to be very close."
"That's what it looks like." Misato said confused and suspicious. "Mari always seems to have a card up her sleeve."
"Four eyes never said anything to me." Asuka said as she continued to stare at the door of her old room.
"That's not important now, let's hope she manages to locate Shinji so he can return, we'll need him in the fight against the angels." Misato spoke somberly as she thought about the war that was about to begin. Calmly, she began to walk to her room as she always did, but not before passing the place where Shinji was most often seen.
Asuka looked at the now empty room, she took a deep breath as she headed for her room, but not before stopping in front of her old room, she wished she could go in and confront Mari for all those secrets she had, but the urge to find Shinji was stronger.
"Damn." The redhead picked up an old photo, smiling as she saw her old school days in the photo, especially her, with Hikari, Toji and Kensuke, but her focus was on Shinji, on his shy smile.
With sadness, she thought as she closed her eyes, all the memories of the past where she only had to worry about the futile things of adolescence, but now, it was only sadness, a sadness that was getting heavier every day, and nothing seemed to be helping it get better.
Putting her hand to her face, she closed her eyes, at least in this small room she could be herself, without worrying about her image, her pride or anything else, she could just be Asuka. With tears in her eyes she remembered the little meeting that morning, she wanted to talk to him so much, but it seemed that he hated her, her heart hadn't finished caring yet, with a solitary tear running down her pale cheek she whispered.
"Baka Shinji."
(*)
A few days passed and Misato was in her office, she knew that Mari had started the search for Shinji and it was only a matter of time before she managed to locate him, but for Misato she had a big question, how did Mari have all this knowledge? It was already irritating her mind.
KNOCK ON THE DOOR
Looking up, she quickly recovered as she sorted through thousands of papers of WILLE's workings.
"Come in."
"Hello Katsuragi." Kaji entered the room with his original smile on his face, his calm posture showing that he never showed stress, this new job wasn't like before and being around Misato all the time was a good opportunity.
"Kaji, do you need anything?" Misato spoke calmly, she knew Kaji didn't come to her office for small news, calmly she looked at her lover and waited, her mind screaming for a little comfort, but now was not the time.
"Mari's program worked perfectly." Kaji says as he hands Misato a file folder, and calmly sits down in the chair opposite the woman.
Misato wasted no time in opening the small folder, calmly taking out the satellite photos showing the route of Shinji's motorcycle, Mari proved to be frightening but that was a conversation for another time.
"Our suspicions weren't wrong, it was really him in that photo." The man comments as he remembers his first search.
"Yes, so we finally know where he is now." Misato spoke as she saw the marks showing Shinji's location. She soon felt an anxiety take over her body, she had to be able to bring him back, so she spoke calmly.
"Prepare a small entourage, we're going there."
"Sure, I can go tomorrow." Kaji said he was already thinking that, but Misato quickly spoke up.
"I'll talk to him."
"What?" Kaji asked confused, he knew she was desperate to be able to finish this matter with Shinji, but he didn't think it was a good idea.
"Misato, I don't think that's a good idea."
Misato took a deep breath when she heard this, it really wasn't a good idea, but she had to do it, she had to face her past, with determination she looked at Kaji with cold eyes.
"Why not? Agent Kaji?"
Kaji felt his blood run cold at the sight in front of him, Misato had a cold, frightening look on her face, she didn't seem afraid or anxious, she just wanted an answer from him.
"Katsuragi, let me deal with this, Shinji will be upset to hear that we've found him and I think you'll only make the situation worse." The man tried to be as honest as possible, but Misato didn't even move, keeping his posture rigid and his gaze fixed on his face, he felt like a teenager again in front of the school principal.
"You think I can't handle it? Is that what you're suggesting?" Misato said annoyed as she crossed her arms over her chest, she felt irritated that Kaji was suggesting something like that, even in Wunder's time she wasn't afraid to face the mortal enemy and Shinji wasn't like that.
"That's not what I said, I just think I have a better chance of being able to calm the man down, a lot has happened between you two." Kaji spoke as honestly as he could.
"I can take Lieutenant Aida with me, who was one of Shinji's old classmates, friendly faces."
"Shinji is necessary for our war, he's going to have to see me anyway and I hope he can handle it, even if he or I don't like it, I'm going in this entourage Agent Kaji." Misato spoke with determination, her cold eyes never leaving Kaji, she felt sorry for the man, but nothing that couldn't be dealt with later.
"I see, I'll get the entourage ready right away." Kaji said defeated, but deep down he could understand Misato, it was as if he saw her soul, it wasn't just to get him to fly, she had to be able to put an end to this matter once and for all.
Letting out a long sigh, Kaji spoke more calmly.
"You know I want the best for all of you."
Misato finally began to calm down, looking down at the picture of Shinji.
"I know Kaji, but I have to do it, if it's not now it'll never be."
"I know, I just don't want to see you get hurt." Kaji said, smiling as he looked into the eyes of the woman who had changed a lot, but deep down she was still the same insecure Misato as before.
"You may be my boss and one of the most powerful people in the world, but you know I'll always worry about you."
Misato had the faintest shadow of a smile on her face, and she sat up more as she spoke calmly, but she was tense.
"I know, that's why I admire you, I wish I had your calm and optimism."
Kaji smiled as he stood up, he had work to do, he said as he stopped at the door.
"I'll prepare a small entourage, we'll talk to him tomorrow, I hope he cooperates when we meet, I'm getting too old for this hahaha." He hoped that Shinji would still be the person he had met many years ago, but like any good spy, he still had his methods of convincing people.
Misato was now alone in her office, again she picked up the papers Kaji had given her, especially the photo he had given her, closing her eyes as she remembered the coldness in his eyes at their little meeting, how he had shown all his sadness at the sight of her.
"I really deserve this treatment." She said to herself as she continued to stare at the photo on her desk, completely oblivious to her duties as commander of WILLE, all she could think about was what she would say to Shinji, how she could convince him of the threat of the angels again.
"Damn."
(*)
The day had passed before Kaji managed to make the entourage Misato had sent, and soon she was leaving her house in her full uniform. Kaji pulled up outside the car next to Kensuke, they were both looking at Misato trying to convince Asuka that she should go alone.
Kensuke wanted to argue, but Kaji wisely stopped him.
"No, you go by me, don't pry." Kensuke quickly shut his mouth, he remembered Asuka's humor in the days of village 03, deep down he missed living with Mari and Asuka in their makeshift house, the reality was that he missed village 03.
"Why can't I go!" Asuka growled as she comforted Misato when she saw a small car stopped in front of the apartment complex.
"Well, I don't think that's wise." Misato said coolly as she put on her sunglasses.
"Like hell I have business with that loser!" Asuka spoke again angrily as she felt betrayed, why did Misato have that right and she didn't?
"Princess, the boss is right, we can't have a fight in the puppy house." Mari says as she smiles at Kaji.
"And what do you think would happen!" Asuka shouted at Mari, who only smiled.
"I don't know, what would you do? Kill him or have sex with him?"
"Mari!" Asuka shouted as she blushed slightly, but she was glad it was so hot and it helped to mask it.
Mari rolled her eyes as she listened, then quickly spoke indignantly as she crossed her arms.
"Princess, stop pretending, do you think I didn't hear you having 'fun' in your room last night? What did you really do?" Mari clasped her hands together as she began to perform, Asuka felt her blood run cold as she listened to Mari, she didn't realize she had made so much noise.
"Oh... Baka Shinji... oh... yes... uhm!" Mari said as she felt everyone staring at her, but she didn't mind one bit, Asuka blushed heavily when she heard this, she wanted to run into her house.
"SHUT UP!" Asuka's shrill scream echoed throughout the apartment complex, she could see Kaji and Kensuke laughing in the background, she spoke dangerously.
"What's so funny, Kenken?"
"Not at all." Kensuke laughed, but his face was betraying him.
Then Misato looked at Asuka with a cold stare, she wasn't feeling the fun of it all, her anxiety screaming at her to go and meet Shinji.
"Enough of that!" The woman ordered, and soon everyone was quiet, no one wanting to stand between her and her wrath, even Asuka remained silent, Misato looked at the two as she spoke with strong determination and control.
"Mari! Stop it! And Asuka get a grip!" The woman ordered forcefully, then turned and started towards Kaji and Kensuke, but not before looking at their pilots. "You two are staying here and that's final!"
"Let's go now! That's an order!" The woman said as she opened the car door. Kaji didn't say anything as he started driving, both he and Kensuke remained silent.
Mari stopped next to Asuka as she felt the weather getting strange and cold, Misato didn't seem to mind her prank, she looked at Kaji's car speeding towards the roads, she looked at Asuka next to her.
"Idiot!" Asuka says as she slaps her roommate hard upside the head.
"Ouch!" Mari said as she touched her head, she knew she deserved it, but she had to do something.
"Why is that?"
"Why did you have to do that!?" Asuka shouted heavily flushed, but judging by Mari's smile her attack would do nothing against her.
(*)
Misato only heard the sound of the car moving, Kaji looked at Misato next to him trying to read the woman's emotions, but she was like a stone, Kensuke was in the back seat, he let out a long sigh as he remembered what it was like in village 03.
Kaji knew he had to do something, so he calmly began to speak.
"The town he's in is small, I'd been there once before the third impact, it's a beautiful town."
Misato didn't even mind the comment, she kept looking outside as she saw the vegetation passing by, her mind remembering the red earth as she watched the world from Wunder.
"Misato?" Kaji called her again.
"What?" The woman asked without moving from the window.
"I mean, this is a beautiful city, Shinji has chosen a good place to live." Kaji spoke calmly and reassuringly, but deep down he was anxious knowing that the conversation between the two of them would be anything but friendly.
"Looks that way." Misato replied dismissively as she looked out again, seeing the small rice farms taking over the green land, she closed her eyes as she breathed deeply, she was desperately trying to keep herself under control.
The drive to the house was long and tedious, but finally they arrived. Misato looked at the simple apartment complex, the condominium looked a lot like hers, but that wasn't important.
Kaji got out of the car as he looked at the building, then the sound of Misato and Kensuke leaving caught his attention.
"Mari's program doesn't say which apartment it is, so we'll have to ask the landlord." Kensuke spoke calmly as he searched for the documents.
"Do it." Kaji spoke as he approached Misato, he could see that she didn't even move beside the car, with slow steps he approached, he could see that she was afraid.
"It's going to be all right."
"I hope." Misato replied as she focused her eyes on a motorcycle stopped in the parking lot, with a long sigh she looked at Kensuke coming back, judging by his face he had made it.
"I showed her Shinji's picture and she told me he lives in apartment forty-six." Said the man shyly.
"Then let's go." Said the woman as she started towards the stairs, Kaji looked at Kensuke as he smiled falsely.
"Look Kensuke, don't get involved when we get there, leave it to me and Misato."
"Yes sir." A man spoke calmly and anxiously, he wanted to talk to Shinji, but he was afraid of doing something wrong and losing points with the WILLE commander, they both ran to catch up with the woman, but it seemed that she didn't even care about their presence.
(*)
Kaworu was smiling as he took the money from the customer in the store where he worked, he was feeling happy to keep his mind occupied, but as always his angel part was screaming to finish off all the Lilim for their offense.
"Thank you and come again." Kaworu said smiling as he saw the small family leaving the store, then he looked ahead as he felt his mind traveling away, a bad feeling taking over his body.
"The customers like you." Said the manager as he approached Kaworu, in his hands a small clipboard with sales data, but Kaworu was standing still as a stone, frowning as he came closer.
"Nagisa?"
Kaworu felt his heart racing even faster with the sense of danger over him and Shinji, feeling his hand trembling with growing anger.
"How dare they!"
"What?" The young manager asked as he felt afraid of Kaworu's gaze, this was the first time he had seen him like this.
"Fucking Lilins!" Kaworu said angrily as he left the cashier's counter and started toward the front door, the manager looking at him suspiciously.
"Hey! Where are you going!" Shouted the manager when he saw Kaworu running outside, looking at another employee doubtfully.
"What happened?"
(*)
Misato stopped at the door that would have been Shinji's, she brought her hand to the bell and stopped, she could see that her hand was shaking, opening and closing her hand she tried to control herself, but anxiety was stronger.
Taking a deep breath, she finally plucked up the courage she wanted, pressed the button and the sound of the doorbell flooded the small apartment, but before she could do anything else, a spiteful voice spoke from right behind them.
"What are you doing here?"
The trio quickly turned back, everyone's eyes widened at the sight of a man of twenty-eight standing there, his white hair and red eyes glared at everyone with spite, Misato knew who he was, closing her face with restrained anger she faced Kaworu, the NERV pilot.
(*)
Shinji was in the kitchen, it was almost lunchtime and he was preparing a meal, but he had the feeling that this day was going to be difficult, but was that because he had confronted Misato at WILLE headquarters the day before? He wasn't sure, but he was anxious.
CAMPAIGN.
Shinji looked at the door, who would be bothering him at this hour? Kaworu was at work, putting the cloth over his shoulder and calmly walking to the front door, his lifeless gaze focused on the door.
With the sound of wind he pressed the button, then his eyes looked at the person who was one of the sources of his problems, his eyes widening as he saw Misato looking down the corridor.
"Colonel Katsuragi?" Shinji asked with fear and anxiety, memories quickly flooding his mind of his awakening at Wunder.
"From now on, you won't be doing anything else."
"You stupid brat!"
"Monster!
"Murderer!"
Shinji felt the old feelings coming back strongly in his mind, then Misato looked at him with surprise, she hadn't expected Shinji to be living with Kaworu, but now that was no longer the focus of her attention, but her reunion with Shinji.
"Shinji-kun." Misato tried to control her anxiety, but she was betrayed by her voice, Kaworu quickly looked at the two of them, angrily he spoke.
"How did you find us?"
"Well, you can't run away from WILLE forever." Kensuke answered the question as he tried to help control the situation. Kaworu looked at him grudgingly, he wanted to use his angel powers to kill these people, but Shinji certainly wouldn't like it.
"Don't you think you've caused enough trouble!"
"Kaworu, please." Shinji spoke without removing his eyes from Misato.
"Kensuke, please, let's control ourselves, we have more important matters to deal with, we know this visit isn't just a reunion." Kaji said as he looked at Kaworu and Kensuke, he could see the anger in Kaworu's eyes.
"What do you want here?" Shinji spoke with a long sigh, Misato looked on sadly, but her heavy glasses managed to hide it very well.
"I need to talk to you, I think we can do this in there... just give us five minutes of your time, if we can't reach an agreement I'll leave forever."
Shinji took a deep breath when he heard what this was going to be about, but he was a polite person. Kaworu looked at him calmly, he was going to let Shinji decide what to do with these Lilin.
"Sure, come on in." Shinji spoke as he went back into the house, Misato quickly followed him, looking down as he entered the house calmly she looked around, seeing how perfectly clean the house was, this was a simple house, but comfortable for two people.
"I see you still have a domestic touch." Kaji spoke smiling, he could see the tension in Misato's body, Kensuke looked at Kaworu as he entered the small house.
Returning to the small kitchen, Shinji sat at the table and waited, then he looked at everyone waiting, Kaworu crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall.
"Yeah... it's good to see you Shinji." Kensuke tried to make conversation as he looked at his old friend, he was happy to see him again, who knows, maybe in the future he could get everyone together like old times, Toji would like that.
Shinji looked at Kensuke with disdain, he knew that the boy was not to blame for anything that had happened to him, calmly and with a lot of contained energy.
"I wish it were under different conditions, Aída."
Kensuke fell silent when he heard the coldness in Shinji's voice, then Misato spoke up to put an end to the heavy atmosphere.
"You must know why I've come." Said the woman as she sat down in the chair opposite Shinji, slowly removing her glasses, she finally looked into Shinji's eyes, seeing his silence, she continued.
"The angels are coming back and with it war." Misato began to speak, without moving her eyes from Shinji's.
"And we know that unit 01 has only worked perfectly with you. With the return of the angels, we're going to need you."
"As far as I remember, unit 01 can work with Rei."
Shinji spoke angrily, then he remembered when Kaworu had told him about how WILLE had brought this war upon them, then he thought of Unit 01, it had worked with Rei in the past, he missed the blue-haired girl, she had always treated him like a human being.
"We tried to do it, but it seems that the unit is rejecting it." Misato replied trying to keep her voice under control, she wanted to sound friendly, but that wasn't proving very successful.
"And who says that's my problem!" Shinji spoke angrily again, his hands clenching hard on the wood.
"Shinji... I know we have no right to ask for this, but we have no other choice." Kaji spoke as he entered the conversation, he could see that Misato was struggling to find the right words, Shinji looked at the spy, his eyes still angry.
"Ask me?" The boy speaks with betrayal. "You're the ones bringing the war back! You think I should run to you because you think I have an 'obligation' because Unit 01 only works with me!"
Kensuke looked at Shinji sadly, he himself wouldn't hesitate to fight to save the people he loved, but on the other hand Shinji had some reason to be angry, he wouldn't have known what to do if it had happened to him.
"What about that ship you had? Can't you just use it and leave me alone!" Shinji says annoyed.
Misato looked down when she heard that, he was right, she had no right to ask him for anything.
"Currently we only have two EVAs in operation, with unit 01 stopped and without its initial power not even Wunder can be used, in short, the core of the EVA has closed, the s2 engine is no longer active, Wunder is useless." Misato spoke as honestly as she could.
Shinji looked down as he heard this, he felt a little upset to hear it, then he heard Kensuke talking again in the background.
"Shinji, you don't have to do it for us, but do it for the world."
Misato and Kaji looked at Kensuke, both wanting him to keep quiet at this point, but he could have helped with this move.
"World? A world that I managed to restore and you set it on fire again? Tell me, why should I risk my life for your mistake?"
"Because there are people you care about in him." Kaji spoke as he remembered Asuka and all of Shinji's other friends, he could act however he wanted, but he knew that he still cared about these people, and soon his eyes fell on the red-eyed man in the corner of the room.
"Even with this guy here, if we fail we'll all die."
Kaworu looked at Shinji as he felt afraid of losing him, he didn't want that to happen, especially now that he could try to make him happy, but he would leave that decision to Shinji.
"Your five minutes are up." Shinji spoke seriously as he looked at Kaji, he could see that he had hit a nerve in Shinji, he only hoped that it might have given him something in this war.
Misato nodded, slowly stood up and began to walk towards the front door, a feeling of sadness took over her body, and she put her sunglasses back on.
"If you change your mind, you know where to find us."
Shinji followed the trio out the door, he looked at Kaworu when he saw the worried look on his face, soon the two were alone in the house and Kaworu approached, Shinji sighed as he put his hands over his face.
"My brothers won't stop until they've destroyed all of Lilith's creation."
"You talk like you want to cooperate with them." Shinji said as he raised his face. Kaworu looked at him with a sympathetic smile, but deep down he knew that Shinji was going to help.
"We already know what your decision is."
Shinji looked him in the eye, Kaworu always seemed to know what was going through his mind, but why should he have to suffer more because of other people's mistakes?
"Are your remaining brothers strong?"
"They are, each in their own way, I believe they would have the power to end the world, but that's only if I stand still." Kaworu replies as he sits back in his chair.
"Can't you tell them to stop?" Shinji asks as he thinks of Misato, Asuka and Rei, he wouldn't want them to get hurt because of him.
"Unfortunately not, since I repressed my angelic form to help you, they now see me as a traitor." Kaworu spoke sadly, but he had never felt close to them before.
"Why me? Why does it always have to be me who risks my life?" Shinji said angrily.
"I don't know, I really wish I had your answer, but unfortunately I don't." Kaworu said as he picked up his employee badge, knowing that his boss must not have liked him rushing out of the store.
"But think about it, I wouldn't mind fighting alongside you again." Kaworu said, smiling. Shinji looked at him calmly, but the idea wasn't entirely bad.
"Fighting alongside you would be nice, but that's not what bothers me."
"And what is it?" Kaworu said, smiling.
"You know you're the only person I trust, you're like a brother to me and I don't want to think about losing my family." Shinji said dejectedly, Kaworu had been the only person who had given him any real value after Rei.
"You know that for that to happen I need to lose a fight." Kaworu said laughing, but he had an honest look on his face.
"We'll need unit 13." Shinji snorted as he looked at his kitchen.
"That won't be a problem, I'll pick her up in the mountains, but will Unit 01 accept you?" Kaworu smiled, but now it wasn't a happy smile, but a fake one, a smile that masked his real feelings.
"I don't know, I always felt good when I was riding it, it feels like I have a strong connection when I'm with it, it feels like EVA knows me... I don't know." Shinji spoke sadly as he remembered the feeling he had when he was inside the EVA, it was like being at home.
"What are we doing?" Shinji said gloomily.
"Why do I have to expose myself?
Kaworu spoke with a smile, calmly and reassuringly; this was something he had always admired in Shinji.
Because you care."
(*)
"It could have been a lot worse." Kaji said as he drove to Misato's house, he had left Kensuke at home, now he could have a more honest conversation.
"You think?" Misato spoke disdainfully as she focused out of the window, the drive through the streets with the sunset in the background giving her the best possible scenery.
"Look, I think he still cares." Kaji says as he stops at a traffic light and looks at Misato.
"He won't help." Misato said sadly, Kaji lost his smile.
"Why do you think that?"
"That's what I'd do." Misato spoke with a somber look on her face, turning her head towards Kaji, the woman spoke dejectedly.
"It's very naïve of me to think that I have any right to ask him to help us." Misato says as she removes the glasses from her eyes. Kaji starts the car again, and a deathly silence settles over the car. After a few minutes he finally arrived at the parking lot.
Misato was finally opening the car door, but Kaji spoke up.
"Misato!" Said the man as he caught the eye of the woman he loved so much, she stopped on her way out, but didn't turn around. Kaji used this to his advantage.
"I really believe that he will help, have a little faith, Shinji must not have changed that much, trust me, tomorrow we should have some news about the two of them."
Misato took a deep breath and slowly closed the car door, but not before speaking sadly.
"I wish I had your optimism."
"Just have a little faith, just like we had in the red land." Kaji spoke out of the window, but Misato didn't even bother to turn around, but he was sure she had heard, so calmly he started driving back to his house, finally he could get some sleep.
Misato slowly walked to the door of her house, her hand stopped a few centimeters away, feeling a doubt reigning through her body, she didn't want to go home, the memories were too strong, feeling that she had too many emotions for today, Misato turned and began to walk away from her house, she had a lot to think about now.
(*)
Mari was sitting at the kitchen table, her eyes scanning the clock on the wall. Misato should have been home by now, so she calmly ate more of her chocolate ice cream.
"Where's Misato? She should be home by now."
Asuka was lying on the sofa, her handheld game in her hands. She was focused on playing, but she had heard Mari's argument.
"She's certainly not coming back, she must have gone straight to WILLE."
"That's not healthy." Mari said as she finished eating.
"And what is healthy in our lives? I myself have a parasite behind my eye." Asuka touched her face, feeling irritated at the thought of having to wear the damn eye patch, a symbol showing what a freak she was to the world.
"That one day we'll figure out how to remove it." Mari said as she pointed the spoon at Asuka, but she quickly turned her attention back to the main issue.
"Did everything go well?"
Asuka stopped playing when she heard this, she herself wanted to know how it went, so she spoke calmly.
"I don't know, but if Misato didn't say anything it must have been bad."
"But I wanted to know." Mari spoke dejectedly, some memories of her past were returning in her mind, Asuka seemed to realize this, she was irritated by all the secrets Mari had kept from her, one of which was her genius at programming things.
"Maybe you can hack into her office, you seem to be very good at hiding your tracks."
Mari looked at her as she felt the venom in her voice, sensing that the mood was turning bad, she tried to defend herself.
"I didn't hide it, I just didn't tell you... at Wunder I helped Maya with some codes."
"I know... there are times when it feels like I don't even know you." Asuka spoke with more venom in her voice, mainly out of curiosity about what was inside that damn box.
"So come on, do you trust me?"
Mari nodded at this question, she wondered what Asuka would ask.
"Then show me what's inside that box."
Mari stiffened when she heard this, she really wanted to tell Asuka about her past, but Kaji had told her not to, people couldn't know that some people had managed to get out of the core of the EVAs, that was a very dangerous subject.
"That... that's personal."
Asuka snorted when she heard that, closed her face as she tried to get back to her game, then Mari asked again.
"What's so important about wanting to know what's inside?"
"It's not about wanting to know, it's about trusting Mari!" Asuka said angrily as she stood up, Mari looked at her calmly and controlled.
"You act one way and out of the blue you change to another, one minute you're a person who just teases and the next you're a computer genius who seems to have years of experience in the subject, there are times when I don't know if you're you Mari! You know things that a person your age shouldn't know!"
Mari was crushed by this, she knew that her secrets would get her into trouble one day, so she calmly tried to explain herself.
"But what about that? I like using computers, it doesn't mean I'm from another world."
"Look, when you really trust me, you can come and talk to me." Asuka said angrily as she went to her room, Mari looked down as she thought about it, she wanted so much to tell Asuka who she really was, but what price would that have?
"Yui... Kyoko, help me out here."
(*)
The next day finally arrived, the sun flooding the city of Tokyo 03, for many it was just another day at work, but for Misato, it was another day of nightmares.
PHONE RINGING
Misato opened her eyes to see that she was lying on the table in her office, her body aching with the sensation of a bad night's sleep, her head aching at the sight of the crumpled beer cans in the trash.
PHONE RINGING
"Crap." The woman muttered as she wiped her eyes, then looked at the watch on her wrist to see that it was already seven o'clock in the morning, still listening to the infernal sound of the phone ringing, with a growl she picked it up.
"What?"
"Ma'am, there are two people here who want to see you, their names are Shinji Ikari and Kaworu Nagisa." The young secretary's voice flooded Misato's system, and she finally understood what it meant.
"Can you do it again?"
"Yes ma'am, Shinji Ikari and Kaworu Nagisa are asking to see you." Repeated the girl as professionally as possible.
Misato inhaled when she heard this and quickly hid the wastebasket.
"Send him in."
With that done, she waited, her heart beating a thousand an hour, she adjusted herself as best she could at a time like this, calmly she waited.
Opening the door and stepping inside, Misato could see Kaworu's gaze on her, she could see that the smile was fake and there was anger behind those eyes, but she kept her posture as best she could, slowly Shinji stepped in behind her.
"I can see you've thought about what I said yesterday."
"Let's just say that." Kaworu said as he sat down, he didn't even seem bothered, Shinji sat down in the chair next to him, he looked around when he saw that this wasn't his father's office, it was much smaller.
"If we fly for you, what would that mean for us?" Shinji spoke calmly, but Misato could see that he was annoyed.
"You'd have the same benefits as before, a place to live and a salary for both of you." Misato spoke professionally, her eyes studying the posture of the two.
Shinji laughed a little when he heard that, then spoke sarcastically.
"Haven't you forgotten something?" Misato looked at him doubtfully and Shinji continued. "Shall we use a bomb collar like before?"
Misato stiffened as she heard this, she could see that Shinji wanted to talk about the past again, she herself wanted to, but now was not the time.
"That time is behind us, now are different times."
"Did you really stay?" Shinji spoke sarcastically, Misato glared, Kaworu sensed this as he tried to improve the mood, he knew Shinji wanted to help these people so he would.
"You mentioned housing, where would that be?"
Misato looked at the other man calmly, she knew that he was the enemy of the past, but now she would have to live with it.
"You'll be getting an apartment next to mine, all the pilots will be close by in case there's an emergency." The woman said as she studied Shinji's reactions, she didn't need to take the apartment next to his, but she thought it would be appropriate, she needed to be close to him again.
Shinji looked down at the thought of living near Misato again, but somehow it would be good for him, even though he couldn't accept it, so he thought that being near Asuka again would be a problem, but he could survive.
"So can I say that we can count on your help?" Misato looked at the two of them.
"Yes... " Shinji said quietly, and Kaworu only nodded, Misato letting out a small sigh when he heard that.
"We have to get our things and send the letter of resignation." Kaworu said as he felt the cold atmosphere in the room, it was like being in Antarctica all over again.
"Leave it to us, our lawyers are going to sort out the termination of your contracts, so if you want you can go and get something to eat." Misato spoke calmly, but she was relieved to hear that they were going to help."
"But I have to get something before I get to know my new home, something very special to me." Kaworu says as he stands up, not even giving Shinji time to think.
"What would that be?" Misato asked curiously, she was happy, but she didn't let it get to her.
Kaworu got up and headed for the door, his smile on his face at all times, he knew it would be a shock when he revealed what he was looking for.
"My unit 13, I don't think it fits in a truck."
Misato's face flushed as he heard this, they never knew what had happened to Unit 13, many assuming that it had been lost when the fourth impact happened. Kaworu smiled at Misato's discomfort and slowly left the room, leaving the two of them alone.
Shinji looked at Misato, it was good to see her again, he always thought of the old days when he was with Kaworu. Misato was thinking the same thing, she allowed herself a moment of weakness.
"It's good to be by your side again."
Shinji wanted to say the same, in fact he was happy about it but he couldn't speak, a small movement in his head told him the answer.
"I'm going to see the new apartment." Says Shinji as he gets up, Misato slowly takes an electronic key from his drawer.
"If you want, Asuka and Mari are at home."
Shinji picked up his keys as he left the office, he thought about Asuka almost every night, just being near her would give him the shivers, with another long sigh he started on his way out.
"And Shinji!" Misato called, Shinji stopped in his tracks, but didn't look back. Misato continued talking.
"When you feel comfortable, let's have a chat beforehand, I think you want to know a few things and put a few finishing points."
Shinji felt his hand shaking at this, he wanted to find the courage to speak to Misato, but he wouldn't be able to do that if he looked into her eyes.
"Yes, we'll have that conversation one day, but not now, please." Shinji spoke calmly, Misato nodded, she knew this was something that would take some time, but at least Shinji was willing to talk.
"Whenever you want."
"Thank you." Shinji said as he left the room and closed the door, he had too much on his mind to concentrate right now.
Misato looked at the now closed door, she knew that one day she would have to have a talk with Shinji about the past, they deserved it, they had to have some closure, calmly she began to read the sheets of paper, but at least she was more relieved.
(*)
Shinji stopped in front of Misato's apartment complex, closing his eyes as he tried to remove all the memories from his mind. Parking the motorcycle, the boy started towards the elevator, his steps slow and heavy, Shinji looked at Misato's door, knowing that he was only a few meters away from Asuka.
He took a deep breath as he pushed the feelings out of his heart, he was opening his door, but a sound behind him caught his attention, turning around he quickly recognized her.
"...I'm going to get something to eat, I can't stand eating noodles anymore." Mari spoke as she opened the door, but her eyes locked on Shinji, she looked like a statue, her face slowly becoming surprised.
"Ah!" Mari shouted, but it wasn't a shout of fear, but a shout of joy, and Shinji jumped backwards in fright. Asuka ran towards the front door when she heard Mari's shout, fearing that some madman from the days of the war in the red land was out to get revenge on them.
Even though she was irritated by everything Mari had hidden or her senseless and ill-timed jokes, the fear of losing a friend like Mari plagued her inside, and she grabbed the retractable baton and ran for the front door.
"Mari! What happened?" Asuka spoke as she left, but soon her eyes locked on Shinji, she herself had dropped her portable baton, what was Shinji doing here? Had he come back? Asuka thought, afraid to see Shinji so close.
"Ah!" Mari shouted again as she realized what had happened, Shinji had accepted Misato's offer, and she took Asuka by the shoulders as she spoke with extreme joy.
"Our puppy is back!"
Author's Notes: Hello Calborghete people here, we finally have chapter 07, I hope everyone liked it, as always be sure to follow it and save it in your favorites so you don't miss any more future updates.
Please review, your criticisms (good or bad) are very important to me, you know that I take what is said very seriously and it also gives me the strength to continue.
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