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 11
Mari walked back to the apartment, she had in her hands some bags she had gotten from the local market, on her face a happy smile with the result of her little party, even though there were some tense moments but everything went as planned, stopping to look at the door of the apartment that Shinji shared with Kaworu, the brunette wondered if she should invite them to lunch or something, but would it be forced? That she didn't know, finally making up her mind, she entered her home.
Walking to the kitchen to put the groceries away, she still found herself laughing alone at this routine she had resumed after the world became safe again, but she had to admit, it was annoying to have to go shopping again.
Heading towards her room, she stopped in front of the desk when she saw that her little alarm device had disappeared, a small toothpick on the edge gave her the information she wanted, sighing as she opened the drawer, she could see that the things inside were as she had left them, but she knew that a certain redhead had tried to open her box of secrets.
With slow, heavy steps she headed towards Asuka's door, she wanted to tell the truth, but Kaji still didn't think it was right, she had to wait, standing in front of Asuka's door, she raised her hand as she thought about how she would talk to her, looking at her trembling hand, she closed her eyes as she wondered when she would finally have the courage to reveal the truth, would Asuka understand? That was what bothered Mari the most.
Putting her mask back on, she didn't even care about the redhead's privacy. With one swift movement, she opened the thin wooden door, her sharp eyes focusing on Asuka playing her game without even noticing her presence, just as she had at Wunder.
"Princess, could you please not go through my things?" Mari spoke as she stopped at the door of Asuka's room. In her hands she had her box containing her secrets and most precious things, she knew that Asuka was struggling to know what was inside and she didn't want to have to hide it from Asuka.
Asuka sighed as she lowered her game, she swore she had managed to hide her tracks in Mari's room very well, how did she have this damn talent of being able to sense her presence? This the redhead couldn't understand, acting in the way she knew best.
"So what?"
Mari had a false smile on her face, she sighed as she looked down, calmly she entered the room, she wanted Asuka to understand that this was something she wasn't ready to reveal, how would she react to knowing that she had met her mother? That she had seen her as a baby shortly before the accident that had killed her in the first contact test, she just wanted her to understand.
"You know, I don't want to hide things from you, but I'm not ready to reveal them yet, that's all, can you bear with me? Please?" She said, her voice tired but not angry. Asuka realized this and sat down on the small bed.
"Mari, when you do this kind of thing I don't know you, one day you seem like my sister, or something, and I don't understand why you have so many secrets from me, after so many years of being close to death, it seems to have been worthless." She says angrily as she focuses her eyes on Mari's face, even though she still has to wear an eye patch.
Mari lowered her gaze when she heard this, she was saddened to know that she was hiding things from Asuka, especially after learning how Asuka regarded her, speaking with a genuine smile on her face when she heard Asuka say that she considered her a sister.
"Do you think I'm your sister?"
Asuka realized what a slip she had made, and angrily went back to bed. She already had a lot to deal with, especially her unresolved feelings for Shinji.
Mari smiled even more, she walked into the room as she continued speaking in a cute voice.
"Come on princess, I want to hear it again!"
"Go away!" Asuka tried, but she herself knew that the damage had already been done.
"No." Mari says as she rests her head on Asuka's leg, her gaze still focused on Asuka's face.
Asuka sighed as she heard this, she knew that Mari wouldn't feel satisfied if she didn't speak up, even if it was embarrassing to admit.
"If I say that, will you leave me alone?"
"No..." Mari spoke with ball eyes, something Asuka always hated, this technique always seemed to work for Mari. Taking a lot of courage, she spoke with a lot of restrained determination, with a lot of shame she spoke, but shame wasn't supposed to be an attitude of an elite pilot.
"Yes, I consider you my sister."
"How beautiful, princess!" Mari shouts with happiness as she throws herself on Asuka, she hugs her tightly as she feels genuinely happy about it, something that Asuka has never liked very much, but she lets herself go.
"I love you too!" She says as she gives Asuka a small kiss on the cheek.
"All right, stop it!" Asuka says as she pushes Mari away, looks at her face and quickly remembers the box.
"Are you really going to tell me what's inside that thing?"
Mari lost her smile when she heard this, she lowered her gaze at the thought, part of her wanted to open up and reveal her past, but what would that entail? Calmly and sadly, she spoke.
"Yes, but give me a break, I swear Asuka, I'll tell you one day."
Asuka wanted to protest more, but she knew that Mari was a difficult person to read, she just knew that at least one day she would reveal it to her, still in an awkward mood in the room.
SOUND OF THE PHONE RINGING.
Mari wasted no time in answering her phone, calmly she spoke in a sweet voice.
"Hello?"
" Hello, Captain Makinami, Commander Katsuragi sent me word that the synchronization tests have been moved up to 3 p.m. today." Tama alerted Mari to the orders she had received.
"Damn, I've wasted an hour of my day." Mari complained, but if it meant being close to Shinji she would gladly do it. Asuka glanced at Mari as she rolled her eyes, already anticipating that the tests were ahead of schedule.
" And please, could you bring...the..." Mari closed her face when she heard that he was referring to Shinji, and clenched her hands to control her anger.
"See you later." She said as she hung up the line, not even knowing what he was going to say, but it wouldn't disturb her day, turning and looking at Asuka she spoke.
"The tests have been moved up, so we have to be there with Shinji in two hours."
"Wonderful." Asuka said sarcastically as she turned off her game, angrily.
"What's so wonderful about having to be there two hours before! She thinks we have no life!" Asuka complains.
"I don't know, but I'm going to take a shower." Mari shrugged as she stood up, Asuka looked at her doubtfully, seeing no point in taking a shower since she would have to bathe in LCL.
"Why? We'll be in the LCL in no time." Asuka asked, still annoyed.
Mari had never cared about that, she said with a smile as she stopped at the doorway.
"I always like to look nice and smell nice." She said as she left the door, but a short while later she returned, Asuka felt a shiver run down her back as she recognized the look on Mari's face.
Smiling happily, she said.
"And another thing, you also have to take a bath and look nice for the baby."
Asuka blushed slightly, even though she tried to hide it but her pale face always betrayed her, but before she could complain, Mari attacked again.
"And don't forget to shave."
"What!?" Asuka finally managed to speak, her face now completely flushed, it wasn't for Mari to keep noticing these details about her body, Mari said still smiling.
"Asuka, you know it's true, you haven't been taking care of yourself down there and you're going to be around the cub again, you have to be ready in case things get hot between you and the cub, and I don't think he looks like the kind of person who likes to see a rainforest."
"GO AWAY!" Asuka shouts as she throws a small thing at Mari who just runs laughing towards the bathroom, her face rivaling the color of her hair, lying back down on the bed she covers her face in shame that Mari said such a shameful thing so easily.
Her face still burning, she thought about her past with Shinji and Mari's words. Calmly, she looked down as she lifted her panties enough to see how her private parts were doing; why should she worry if she wasn't going to show anyone?
A quick flash of Shinji's face jumped into her mind, she felt all her blood rushing to her face, she grabbed a pillow to cover her face, she just wanted to disappear, why did she still find herself thinking about him? So many angels had passed and her heart still thought of him? Why was this happening to her? The redhead thought angrily and ashamedly, but deep down she was sad, why couldn't she make her heart forget Shinji?
"Damn Mari!"
(*)
"There's something wrong with that Nagisa." Akagi said as he analyzed the damage he was receiving from the Magis systems, while Maya and Misato were watching the test.
"Why do you think that senpai?" Maya spoke in a serious, professional voice, Misato moved closer to the screen as she focused her attention on the pilots' faces, but she focused even more on Shinji, her mind remembering everything they had been through together, she touched her face as a strong sense of guilt overtook her body.
Ritsuko looked at her protégé and spoke calmly as she approached the console.
"Nagisa is very good at synchronization, look at that almost perfect line, it's as if he's holding back so he doesn't break all the records." Maya had already thought of this, but thought it was just a pilot's talent.
"He must have been well trained in his days with SEELE or the old NERV, we'll never know for sure." Maya said as she thought about it, she had plenty of time to think about it, but for the sake of her mental health she let it go.
"He didn't seem to train when he was alone here at NERV, the Magis never found him training in camera analysis, that puzzles me." Says Ritsuko as she sighs and looks at her personal computer.
"At least everyone is at a satisfactory level, even Rei can fight in an emergency with the pilots." Misato spoke calmly and with her arms crossed, she turned to Maya and asked, her interest in Rei having increased after she started combat training again.
"And how is she?"
Maya looked at Misato calmly, gathering as much information about Rei as she could, glancing at Ritsuko at the thought that she might know about the girl's past, receiving a warning look from Ritsuko, calmly she spoke.
"Rei is evolving well, it seems that going back to training with her EVA is doing her psychology good." Maya reported calmly, but afraid that she had started to slip up, Misato realized this, she had always been suspicious of how Rei was treated under Maya and Ritsuko's control, but she left that for later, she could have Kaji's help in this regard.
"And what can you say about the other drivers?"
"I'm not a psychologist, but I believe there's something going on, I can't say if it's for good or bad, but there's a change in behavior with Ikari's arrival." Maya spoke with control, but tried to be as professional as possible.
Misato nodded at this, then looked at the screen again as she focused on the thoughtful faces of all the pilots, still remembering seeing them talking at the small party she had at her house.
"Shinji and Asuka had a past together, that will be a problem if they can't be professional." Ritsuko spoke without taking her eyes off the data she was receiving.
"I hope they can work together again."
"Well done everyone, everything went well." Maya says at the end of the tests.
"Maya, I know you're dealing with this now, but have you got the results on that biological thing we detected in the 04 ventilation ducts?" Ritsuko asked her protégé.
"No, the Magis are in conflict, we even have a false negative with a blue pattern, but it's like nothing." Maya says as she thinks about it.
"This stuff is bothering me, I don't think it's just mold." Misato says as she stops next to the women.
"What if it really is an angel?"
"But the Magis aren't sure about that." Maya reports as she trusts the judgment of the supercomputers.
"It was just a false negative."
"What if it isn't?" Misato says apprehensively, while Ritsuko lights a cigarette as she thinks about it.
"An angel can be small enough not to be detected, just like a damn bacterium."
"I don't know, I'll improve the sensors, maybe we can use the biological decontamination lazer remotely to kill whatever this thing is." Ritsuko says as she feels worried, even if it's only a remote idea, a small angel could be real.
"But Senpai, the Magis have never made a mistake before." Maya speaks with slight fear.
"They can make mistakes, their systems may be the best but they can make mistakes, I'm going to prepare a drone to get a closer look, so we won't have any doubts." She says as she points at Maya.
"That's the priority now, I want to know if I'm just thinking too much, but still, finish that thing." Misato said, putting on her hat as she began to walk outside again. She was still thinking about Kaji's words and how she could get back to the pilots, but now this had priority in her mind.
Maya glanced at Misato's back as she left the room, then looked at Ritsuko as she asked.
"Do you think it could be an angel?"
"Let's not rule anything out, I believe this is nothing more than a fungus, but if it is we'll have to find a way to finish it off without EVAs, because it will be the smallest angel we've ever seen." She says as she starts to leave, but not before stopping and turning around.
"And Maya, I'm sorry for being too strict, I know I end up pushing it from time to time."
Smiling as she heard this, she didn't mind helping her senpai, especially someone she respected so much.
"Don't worry about it, I don't care."
Smiling as she left the room, Ritsuko took a deep breath as she went to the section where she would have to assemble an underwater drone, but she smiled.
(*)
As the test ended, Mari smiled as she took her second shower of the day.
"You know princess, there's something bothering me..." Mari said as she dried her brown hair again, but before she could speak or act, her body froze in place, seeing Asuka still taking her bath, but a closer look at her body elicited a giggle.
"I see someone took my advice, the puppy will be pleased to know that his princess is waiting for him."
Asuka closed her face as she blushed heavily, she growled in Mari's direction, and Rei calmly observed everything, still not understanding what all the commotion was about.
"Mari! Shut up!"
"Stop being so innocent princess, even Rei has the conscience to keep her intimate 'maintenance' up to date, you never know when we're going to have fun." Mari said as she stopped next to Rei who looked at her confused, knowing where the conversation was going she asked.
"I don't understand why my intimate hair removal is relevant." The albino asked calmly as she began to put her clothes back on; she still had a lot of work to do with Lieutenant Aída.
"Rei, let's have a nice chat later." She wanted Rei to have someone in her life and not just be another piece of meat who follows orders. Ignoring the brunette, Rei finished dressing as she stepped out of the shower, leaving Mari and Asuka alone.
"You know I'm right." Mari finished calmly as she began to get dressed. Asuka looked at her dangerously, but she wasn't afraid of Asuka.
"Sakura wants to talk to us when she's finished."
(*)
As the days went by, Kaworu found himself staring into the mirror, the voices in his head screaming at him to return to the side of the angels, clenching his hands in anger at the thought that he had managed to control these desires for so long, he closed his eyes.
- Fucking Lilim. - Kaworu thought annoyed as he felt another wave of rage coursing through his body, feeling his AT field wanting to go out and kill all the Lilim who had once dared to contaminate the earth with their sins, calmly he controlled himself, feeling the adrenaline dropping with each passing second, finally feeling that he was back to normal, opening his eyes he thought of his brothers who still remained, calmly in his soul now under control.
"What's up?" Shinji asked when he saw Kaworu staring at himself in the mirror for a long time, he had never done that before.
Putting a smile on his face, he spoke as he finished buttoning his shirt.
"Yes, just an annoying headache, that's all."
Shinji looked at him suspiciously, Kaworu had never mentioned that he suffered from headaches, so he asked quietly.
"You know, I never thought you could have this kind of thing."
"I can, it's never been a bother, but today it's boring." Kaworu said as he finished dressing, waiting for Shinji to speak, he could see that Shinji was thinking about Asuka again.
"Have you spoken to her?"
"Don't start with that shit." Shinji spoke slightly annoyed, he wished he could talk to her, but the past was holding him back, would she ever want to talk to him again?
"Dear Shinji, you haven't learned anything, you have to be able to put an end to your past, now you have this chance, if you miss it, you may never have the chance again." Says the man as he feels an AT field approaching the door of the men's changing room.
Shinji finally picked up his things when he stopped next to his best friend, and could see that he was focused on something else.
"I think Makinami is going to ask something again."
Just as he had predicted, on the other side of the door was Mari, Shinji wanted to be alone, but it seemed that Mari had other plans, next to her was Asuka, they both looked at each other, but Asuka seemed embarrassed.
"You know, Sakura invited everyone to Dr. Suzuhara's house." Mari said happily, perhaps this would help Shinji see that he could have people on his side again, normal people who didn't mean him harm and Sakura seemed to be a gift from the gods at this time.
"Dr. Suzuhara?" Shinji asked confused, he remembered his friend, but never about him having graduated in anything like that, his sister was a doctor, but Toji too?
"Yes, Toji is also a doctor, didn't I tell you?" Mari said naively.
"But that's not important, what's important is that she's called everyone to his house, there's someone he wants you to meet."
Shinji took a deep breath as he thought about it, why did people still want to get close to him after everything that had happened in the past? Why was everyone being so nice to him? That was what bothered him most about this town, Kaworu could sense it in Shinji, and with a sympathetic smile he spoke.
"If it's no trouble for them, I'd love to go."
"It won't be, Sakura was the one who asked me to call you, she was a bit embarrassed, I don't know." Mari shrugged, smiling as she looked at Asuka, trying to look neutral at all times, but she could see that the redhead was annoyed, who knows, maybe in the presence of an old friend she could get some decent advice.
"Well, she'll be finishing her shift soon, we can wait at the restaurant." Mari said as she began to walk alongside Kaworu. Shinji wanted to understand what she was saying, but his focus remained on the redhead beside him.
Taking courage from remembering what Kaworu had told him, Shinji closed his eyes as he breathed in deeply the scent of Asuka beside him, even though she still smelled of LCL, her perfume still mesmerized him.
"How... How are you?" He asked calmly and dejectedly, he wished he could hug her like he used to, Asuka looked straight ahead, it was the only way she could control herself next to Shinji, but a part of her smiled because he wanted to know how she was.
"I'm doing well, practicing my piloting." Asuka replied trying to sound proud and not anxious, but ended up failing badly, even Sakura could see that she was anxious.
"That's good." Shinji said as he looked ahead, he could see Mari chattering something to Kaworu who nodded, but his focus was on the redhead next to him. Asuka closed her eyes as she thought she should at least return the conversation, thinking about everything she had learned about this new Shinji.
"What about you? What was it like working as a normal person?"
Shinji inhaled when he heard this, and smiled at at least having a small conversation with her.
"It was hell, people think they're superior to you just because they're paying you, I know every job will have boring people, but... in the market where Kaworu and I worked, it was humiliating every day." Shinji said, not wanting to be depressed by the memory, struggling to keep his spirits up. Asuka blinked as she heard this, sensing that this was standard conversation with Shinji.
"Wow, I have no talent for dealing with the public, I wouldn't have the patience." She said honestly, Shinji beside her began to laugh openly, she looked at him doubtfully, without understanding and with a slight anger.
"Really, you're too hot to do a job like that." He says amused, Asuka quickly gives him a dangerous look, but Shinji doesn't even care as he continues to laugh openly.
Putting her hands on her hips, she spoke with anger and wounded pride, she would surely be the best at anything she did, even if it meant being a market cashier.
"Do you think I don't know how to work with the public?"
"No, you'd punch the customers in the face and be fired the same day." Asuka was about to retort, but when she saw the small smile on Shinji's face, she quickly calmed down.
- That damn smile. - The redhead thought as she remembered when they were a couple, all the good memories the two of them had, feeling her mood improving, she quickly spoke up.
"You're right, I wouldn't have the patience to deal with idiots, I already have my quota with you and those four eyes over there." She said as she pointed at Mari who was laughing something with Kaworu, but just like her she was happy.
"I heard that Asuka, am I going to have to reveal what you told me this afternoon?" Mari speaks without even turning around, one of her many talents.
"Do that and I'll kill you for sure! And I'm not kidding!" Asuka said embarrassed, but Shinji still smiled at the sight. Asuka noticed, but before she could say anything a sensation took over her system, a feeling of danger taking over her as she felt her contaminated eye burning.
Shinji seemed to realize this, becoming confused as to whether he was to blame.
"What?" The man asked when he saw Asuka's irritated look, but she quickly blinked as she returned to the real world.
"Nothing, just a headache."
Shinji quickly glanced between her and Kaworu, people used that excuse to hide something, but Asuka was a strange person, her moods fluctuated a lot.
"OK..." He says as he starts walking towards WILLE's restaurant quietly, but not bothered, but Asuka thought about the feeling, even though it was a damn curse what happened to her, that feeling had never been wrong.
A few minutes passed before Mari sat down in one of the restaurant's free chairs. At this time of day, there weren't many people in the restaurant and they could wait quietly for Sakura.
"So that's what I think Maya washed off with soap, I just need confirmation." She says as she sits back in her chair and closes her eyes.
"I still think it's best to ask Lieutenant Ibuki about it." Kaworu said politely as he sat down, Mari talked about it a lot.
"Nhya..." She says, gesturing with her hands. "This is cooler, I want to find out for myself."
"That pest's still at it, you know that joke's already lost its humor Mari." Asuka said annoyed at being fed up with Mari making that damn assumption at Wunder, Shinji was actually having fun with the whole thing.
"No, it's not, everyone wants to know what Maya washed with soap, even you." Mari says as she points her finger at Asuka, who just rolls her eyes, but for Asuka, that feeling has taken over her body again, and losing patience with it, she quickly looks around.
Midori stood with her group looking at all the pilots sitting at the table, clutching the Styrofoam cup tightly in her hands, Tama spoke calmly.
"Midori, I think your anger has gone too far, your parents are back at the restaurant, you're going to ruin your career for nothing." says the man as he finishes his tea.
"No, my parents may have returned, but I still remember the feeling, the pain of losing everyone because of him, he doesn't deserve to be here." She says as she focuses on her friend, the people next to her nodding in agreement, Tama afraid of becoming the villain at the table.
Asuka finally looked at where the source of her anger was coming from, the source of her strange feeling, and could see the pink-haired woman looking at them with a deadly gaze, just like everyone else at the table, Asuka felt anger taking over her, never allowing herself to be intimidated by a person who only stood behind the computer.
Mari was still talking to Kaworu, she wanted to learn more about the NERV pilot when she saw Asuka looking away, following to see where it led, she could see the table with other WILLE members with dangerous looks on their faces.
- Damn. - The brunette thought, knowing that she would have to talk to Misato about it.
Midori can see Asuka looking straight into her soul, just as she had wanted her extermination after her contamination was the talk of the entire Wunder.
"That bitch." Asuka growled as she was ready to get up, but the sound of another girl caught her attention.
"Did it take me long?" Sakura asked innocently, then her eyes fell on Shinji and Kaworu. She was afraid of the albino because of his past, but at Mari's request she would see where it went.
"No, it's just in time." Mari said relieved by the whole situation, Asuka looked at the doctor she considered a potential friend, then her eyes fell on Rei standing next to Sakura, her fake smile dominating her features.
Sakura looked at Shinji with a shy smile and spoke cheerfully.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation, Ikari-kun, I bet my brother will be very happy to see you again." She says with genuine happiness.
Shinji looked at Sakura when he saw her well. He spoke calmly as he thought about his friend, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, would he still consider him after he had ruined his life?
"I hope he's happy, especially after everything."
"Can we go?" Sakura said, smiling, but not before she saw Asuka staring at Midori's table with a deadly look on her face, sensing that a fight was heading her way she wasted no time in looking for her way out.
Like everyone else, Asuka was the last to leave the table, still keeping her deadly gaze on Midori, she hated that feeling, her instinct had never been wrong, calmly she left leaving the girl whispering with her group.
Shinji stopped next to Rei as he felt comfortable next to her.
"I'm glad you're joining us."
"Thank you, I'm glad my presence pleased you, I always enjoyed going to visit the Suzuhara, they are good people and have my eternal respect." Says Rei as she remembers when she lived in their house in village 03, she felt like family, especially her days looking after Tsubame.
"I'm glad to hear it." Shinji smiled again, he wanted Rei to have a life, especially after what her father had done to her, he found himself thinking about his old man from time to time, he was never caught by the law, what was he doing? Shinji thought sadly.
Asuka grumbled at seeing Shinji chatting so easily with Rei, she never liked that, what did Rei have that she didn't? Feeling old feelings returning in her body, she again saw herself as a damn teenager and that feeling she hated, sending daggers in Shinji's back she wanted him to talk to her more, even though she never admired it for Mari, who knows she could try to change it more in the future, feeling her face blushing with the thought she started walking again.
The drive to the Suzuhara's house was normal and painfully quiet, Shinji looked out to see the commercial buildings and people's activities, just as before he found himself wondering what it must have been like for them when the world was reduced to primordial soup, was it painful? Sad? Or simply nothing?
"We're here." Sakura said happily as she stopped at the door of Toji's house. Unlike other people, he had gotten a nice house, so Sakura wasted no time in typing in the code to get in.
"I'm home." The doctor announced happily, she loved this moment, especially when she was close to her family.
"Welcome Sakura... Oh..." Hikari appeared at the entrance as she was surprised by the people accompanying her. She smiled when she saw that she had managed to bring her friends, especially Shinji, whom she hadn't seen for many years, but her eyes soon fell on Kaworu, but she knew that she would have plenty of time to get to know this new person.
Shinji looked at his old friend, Hikari had become a beautiful woman and judging by the small empty package in her arms she had a child, closing his eyes as he thought of what they had to go through in the days of third impact.
"Asuka! I'm glad you finally came to my house!" Hikari says happily as she gives Asuka a little hug.
"I know, I'm sorry about that." Says the redhead with shame, she really liked Hikari and should worry more about her friendships.
"Where's the athlete?" Mari asked cheerfully, she liked Hikari when she finally met her in village 03, Hikari looked at her calmly as she smiled.
"He's giving Tsubame some milk." At school she had always admired Shinji for his competence, he never underestimated his duties as a student and was always very helpful, over time she was happy to consider him a friend.
"I'm very happy to see you again, Ikari-san." She said as she bowed slightly to Shinji, who was embarrassed; he didn't like attracting attention, especially with acquaintances.
"Yeah... you can call me Shinji." Hikari smiled when she saw him like that, she remembered the times in village 03, where people talked about who Shinji was and what had happened, many blamed him and many admired or ignored him, but with the world turned upside down people no longer cared who he was.
"Okay, I'm glad you're okay, Toji will be very happy to know that his friend is okay." She said, genuinely happy, pointing at Kaworu as she spoke politely.
"I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself, my name is Hikari Horaki, welcome to my home." She said it like a good Japanese woman, Kaworu smiled at that, he felt a good vibe from Hikari, just as her AT field showed a good purity.
"Thank you Horaki-san, and my name is Kaworu Nagisa, and please, you don't have to be formal with me, so you can call me Kaworu." He said, returning the politeness, and Hikari smiled at that.
"Please, let's go inside." She said when she saw that they were all still at the entrance to the house, calmly she led them inside, Shinji looked at the house, as expected of Hikari the house was in perfect condition, nothing out of place and not a single dust in sight.
(*)
"Probe ten meters from the target." Tama reported as she took control of the small drone, next to her were Maya, Ritsuko and Misato.
"Magis systems reporting nothing abnormal in the biological material." Sumire reported as she looked at her console, Maya by her side confirming all the information.
"When you collect a sample, use the laser to destroy the biological material." Ritsuko ordered calmly, while next to her, Misato stared determinedly at the screen as it showed the probe getting closer and closer to the substance on the wall.
"It's probably just mold..." Ritsuko spoke calmly, but just like the silence, the sound of the alarms went off.
"AT field detected." Maya spoke before Sumire.
Inside the water, the biological being quickly destroyed the small probe by projecting its AT field nearby.
"Probe destroyed!" Hyuga said forcefully as he completely lost the signal.
"Use the lasers on the walls to finish him off!" Misato said as she became annoyed at how an angel had managed to enter the premises undetected.
"Systems aren't responding!" Shigeru spoke without understanding, it was like typing on a disconnected keyboard, soon everyone's eyes went to the Magis, Ritsuko quickly appeared next to him trying to understand how this was possible, she opened her eyes wide as she understood.
"The son of a bitch is trying to control the Magis!" She says as she shows the level of compromise of the systems.
"Trying to get around!" Maya quickly sat down at the console, she had more experience in the Magis than her colleague, every line of code she tried to type, the angel made its counter attack.
"That's why the analysis wasn't working!" Tama said angrily, behind his back was Misato.
(*)
Walking around Hikari's house, Shinji was actually feeling well.
"Who's that handsome guy over there?" A male voice caught his attention. Turning to the side, Shinji was surprised by a tall, dark-skinned man, his body showing that he exercised frequently, and he knew very well who he was.
"Toji?" The man asked in disbelief, he knew his friend liked sports, but he had become a very big guy.
"First and only." He wasted no time in giving Shinji a little slap on the shoulder, smiling when he saw that the whole gang was finally complete, only his nerdy friend was missing.
"Where's that faggot Kensuke?"
"Lieutenant Aída is with Commander Kaji, they are both investigating information for Colonel Katsuragi." Rei said as she sat down on the sofa, Toji nodded a little sadly at this information, he wanted everyone there together.
"Toji, watch your mouth!" Hikari warned him, but Toji was too happy to take any notice, and before he could even joke any more, Hikari appeared with some snacks on the table.
LIGHTS GO OUT
Everyone looked up as they suddenly lost power, then the emergency lights came on, but it wasn't a total bother, Toji didn't even mind, turning to Shinji and asking, still smiling.
"It reminds me of the times in village 03." Says Toji with a mischievous look on his face, Hikari blushes hard as she slaps her husband.
"Suzuhara!" Hikari said embarrassedly to Toji, who only smiled. Looking at Shinji, he asked humorously.
"Where were you?"
"In a town nearby."
LIGHTS COME BACK
(*)
"We've just lost Melchior! and the controls aren't working!" Maya reported with slight panic in her voice, with every second that passed, the more the angel took hold of Magis. Looking at the lines of code, Maya's eyes widened in recognition.
"He's trying to activate the destruction of the complex."
"Is that possible!" Misato asked in a hurry as she stopped next to Ritsuko who was typing rapidly on her tablet.
"Technically yes! If he manages to take all three Magis he can activate the self-destruction of the complex!" Misato looks at the screen again as she feels completely powerless at the moment.
"What can we do?" She asked her chief scientific expert, who kept her eyes on the computer in her hands, still seeing her actions losing out completely, she looked up at the tower where the computers were located.
"Maybe a direct link could give me an advantage over the angel!"
"Do it!" Misato orders when she sees that they have just lost Balthazar.
"Maya with me!" She said, running towards the Casper supercomputer, using the manual openings she entered the tangle of wires inside the Casper system, feeling the heat of the supercomputer working, she quickly looked down as she ordered Maya.
"Start the direct connection! I'll try here!"
"Yes ma'am!" Maya said as she opened her computer and started the connections, feeling the pressure on her body.
"Let's go!" Misato looked at the screen again, seeing the angel still trying to activate self-destruction, but without Casper's authorization it was still impossible.
(*)
"So you worked at a crappy job?" Toji says amusedly as he listens to Kaworu telling some stories about his past, Hikari quickly scolds him, Rei tries to cover the child's ears, Rei has always enjoyed looking after Tsubame.
"Toji! Please!" Hikari pulled her husband's ear when she heard him cursing, Mari glared at Asuka as she spoke maliciously.
"See what you have to do with the puppy?"
"Shut up pervert." Asuka whispered blushing, she tried to concentrate on the snack in front of her, Mari smiled when she heard this, but still looked at her with perversion. Rei next to her was very distracted playing with Tsubame, she looked at Shinji watching the child with nostalgic eyes.
"Rei, let me borrow her!" says Toji as he takes his daughter from Rei's arms and walks towards Shinji, he wanted her to meet Shinji.
"Toji, I don't think that's a good idea." Shinji said, afraid to hold Toji's daughter, he had never done it before, but his friend trusted him perfectly to do it.
"Hold her Shinji, stop being lax." says Toji as he hands his daughter to Shinji who takes her with wide eyes, Kaworu wastes no time in taking a picture of the moment, Asuka looks at him with affection, even though he doesn't realize it.
"Oh... are you imagining him holding your children?" Mari asked genuinely happy, but Asuka didn't even care, her eyes never leaving Shinji.
Shinji held Toji's daughter tightly, looking at her when he saw those big brown eyes staring deeply into hers, as if he could see into her soul, and slowly she gave him the most innocent of smiles.
"She likes you." Hikari spoke happily of the moment, it happens to Toji.
Shinji quickly spoke more calmly, but trying to be amusing.
"Thank God she looks like her mother."
"Hey man." Toji spoke with false indignation, Hikari laughed beside him, they were happy to see that Shinji was slowly starting to loosen up.
(*)
"I estimate that Casper will be lost in a minute!" Maya reported as she felt her fingers hurting from trying to give it the edge it needed.
"I'm at least a second ahead of the angel!" Ritsuko says, typing heavily, even in a horrible position lying on top of the wires.
"Come on, cooperate with me, please, Mom!" The woman typed hard on the keyboards, she looked at every line that was typed, every command being sent, all in the hope that the angel wouldn't be able to destroy the entire WILLE installation.
"Less than 15 seconds to lose Casper!" Hyuga reported as he tried to work, but he was getting nothing.
"Everybody try! Even if it only hinders the angel, but do something!" Misato ordered as she stopped at the center console, her eyes wide at the sight of them losing Casper, she could only hope for Ritsuko and Maya's computer skills.
Just as the angel started hacking into the system, it stopped, Misato didn't seem to understand what had happened, looking around as she saw all the systems stop beeping and everything return to normal.
"I'm back in control! Receiving status of the entire installation!" Shigeru and Tama reported as everything returned to normal.
"Enemy standing on the north wall of the ventilation system." Simure reported calmly but professionally.
"Weapons systems operational again!" Hyuga said as he received the positive status.
Ritsuko lay down in the tangle of cables as she sighed with relief, calmly wiping the sweat from her face as she spoke, but she still had things to sort out.
"Thanks Mom... Maya, use the laser system and kill the bastard!"
As ordered, Maya got up and ran to the control console. With a few commands, she activated the systems and set the sights.
"As soon as they're available, fire at will!" Misato ordered as the cameras activated again, seeing the angel still trying to regain control of Magi, one by one the machines began to fire their high-intensity faces at the enemy, even his small AT field was unable to withstand the shots, he ended up exploding in a red cloud of LCL mixing with WILLE's cooling system.
"Angel inactive, no more blue signal detected." Midori reported.
"Nothing on the presence or sound sensors, inactive angel." Tama.
Misato put her hands on her consoles as she let out a long sigh, an angel small enough to get through all the security systems didn't sound good, not even EVAs were useful in a situation like that.
"Man, that was bizarre." Tama said with a fake smile on his face as he sat back more relaxed in his chair.
"We killed that thing without the EVAs, I never thought that would be possible, even without Wunder." Hyuga said as he looked at Maya.
"It makes you think about the riders, we're always in the back and they're in the front, so it's good for humility and empathy." Maya said as she wiped the sweat from her brow.
"What did you do in there?" Misato asked Ritsuko, who was smoking a cigarette next to her.
"I was able to identify his pattern, so I made a program to stop his advance, luckily it worked." She says tiredly.
"Call the pilots, we have to update the facts with them." Misato speaks with controlled anxiety, her subordinates have quickly complied.
"Can't you give them a break?" Maya says with a shy smile on her face.
"Unfortunately it's protocol, I can't leave our pilots in the dark, it's a shame but it's the rules." Misato says as she starts to leave the room, Maya nods as she thinks about it.
(*)
"Thank you for coming, I was happy to visit." Hikari said cheerfully as she led the people to her door.
"It's a shame that WILLE called them back."
"And I want to come back as soon as possible." Mari says as she hugs Hikari and plays with Tsubame.
Just as everyone was about to leave, Toji spoke to Shinji, his face was wearing a friendly smile, Shinji turned and looked at his friend calmly, he had really enjoyed himself and relaxed.
"It was nice to see you, man, one day we'll go out like old times."
Shinji smiled when he heard that, that would be really nice, having fun like in the old days, he replied calmly.
"Sure, when there's time."
"Come on, guys, we don't want to keep Misato waiting." Mari said as she gave Hikari and her husband one last smile.
(*)
"They could have sent an official car." Asuka spoke on tired legs after walking from Hikari's house, Shinji was silent beside her, both exchanging a few glances as they walked.
"Where did the handsome one go?" Mari asks Shinji, who is just standing quietly next to Asuka and Rei.
"He said he was going to buy something to drink, he thought we'd all want it." Shinji replied shyly as he walked alongside the girls, deep down he wondered what Misato would want with them at this hour.
"Nothing like walking through these endless corridors on a cool evening." Asuka said sarcastically as she walked further, she wanted to think about how she could talk to Shinji better.
"It's good for your health princess, now... ah!" Mari was talking smilingly through the corridors, but a hard object hit her back, falling to the ground and she touched the back of her head trying to control the pain.
"Mari!" Asuka shouted as she ran towards Mari, who quickly saw a person running towards her, identifying a pink-haired woman and other people coming towards her.
"Makinami!" Rei tried to help her friend, successfully dodging a blow that one of the men tried to hit her with. She managed to punch him in the face with force, but the size difference was too great, and her blow didn't have a good outcome.
"BITCH!" Shinji tried to go and help the girl, but another man tried to hit him with a club, he had nowhere else to go.
Asuka looked at Rei lying on the ground with a trickle of blood running down her face, even though she didn't like it.
"Coward!" She shouted as she tried to get up, but a blow to her legs sent her crashing to the ground again; Mari was in too much pain to do anything.
"Get him!" Midori shouted with a piece of iron pipe in hand, Shinji promptly looked back to see two more men approaching, feeling the adrenaline taking over his body he tried to fight back.
Asuka got up to fight, but a kick to her side knocked her down, Mari struggled to get up, but another blow to her abdomen kept her on the ground, then a pair of hands held her down, she struggled to get free, but the men were much stronger, the same happening to Asuka next to her, Midori looked at Shinji angrily.
"Run Puppy! Call Misato!" Mari tried to shout, but a punch to the face silenced her, she knew what these people wanted to do to Shinji.
"Damn you!" growled Asuka at the sight of a man and Midori smiled at seeing them restrained. Shinji leaned against the wall trying to be defensive, she walked with authority.
"Did you think you could walk around here freely after what happened?" She said angrily as she swung the stick, feeling all the emotional pain returning to her mind as she remembered everything she had been through, and with tears in her eyes she attacked.
"Look, I didn't know that was going to happen! I reversed it when I..." Shinji tried to justify himself, but he soon felt a metal rod hit him hard in the face, and he fell hard to the ground, struggling to stay conscious.
"I DON'T CARE!" Midori shouted as he hit his back with the metal bar, he groaned in pain as he fell, the men laughed as they saw their prey groaning in pain.
"YOU KILLED MY WHOLE FAMILY!" She shouted as she slammed the man to the ground, Asuka and Mari looking on helplessly.
"It doesn't matter if you tried to make up for your mistake!" She says as she kicks the side of Shinji's body, her face stained with tears;
"Do you know how much it still hurts?" She said as she stepped on his chest, she could see that he was still looking at her, even though blood was running down his face.
"I'm sorry." Shinji speaks calmly despite his injuries, a part of his mind screaming that he deserved it, but a part of him saying I don't.
"That won't save you." Midori says as she prepares to hit him in the face, but a calm voice stops her.
"You know what I hate most about the Lilin?" Kaworu says as he gently puts down the bag of drinks, taking a good look at the people beating up Shinji and the girls.
"Stay out of this, you little fruit, go give your ass somewhere!" Said one of the men holding Asuka and Mari. Shinji looked at his friend when he saw his eyes glowing an intense, sinister red.
"Kaworu please don't do this." Shinji begged, but it had no effect on the man.
"I told you to leave, asshole!" says one of the men as he approaches Kaworu, raising his pipe high in the hope of doing some damage to Kaworu.
With superhuman speed, he grabbed the man's arm as if his strength were nothing. Looking at the thin man easily containing his strength, Kaworu spoke with a look of anger on his face.
"I hate that your damned race thinks it has control over anything." He says calmly as he slowly squeezes his assailant's arm.
"Ah... ah!" Shouted the man as he felt his bones give way easily with the pressure, with his free hand he pushed him closer to all the other aggressors, Midori looked with fear at this act of Kaworu.
"Get him!" She shouted as she saw all the men running towards Kaworu, they all tried to throw a few blows at him, but the albino man dodged easily, calmly he punched one of the men who fell to the ground with a broken nose.
When Shinji saw that he was free, he rushed to Rei's side, pleased to see that she was only unconscious. Asuka and Mari quickly went to meet him, they thought about helping Kaworu, but he didn't need any help.
"You still think you can control a power far superior to your own." He said as he raised his arm to see that some were trying to run away, now they had no chance, Midori looked at it terrified.
"Kaworu, no! Don't expose yourself!" Shinji spoke fearfully, he knew Kaworu wasn't holding back, Asuka and Mari looked at each other wondering what was going on.
Glowing brighter, Kaworu quickly expanded his AT field to form a box containing the people inside, Midori looked at him with fear, she knew that only angels can form AT fields.
"My God, an angel."
Asuka and Mari's eyes widened at this, she felt her contamination sting and felt uncomfortable, seeing the blood dripping from Shinji's head, the redhead pressed her hand to control herself in the hope of helping.
(*)
ALARM
"Another AT field!" Hyuga shouted as he received the alerts.
"Another angel!?" Shigeru reported as he saw Misato approaching again in the command position.
"Where?"
"Here?" He says without understanding the readings, Misato blinks without understanding what was going on.
(*)
"I was nice, I was patient, but why did you have to do that!?" Kaworu says angrily as he leads the people into a corner, ignoring Shinji and the girls and completely blinded by anger he continues his speech.
"Kaworu, please control yourself!" Shinji tried as he stood up.
"The Lilim don't understand what we had to give up to reverse the third impact, they never will!" He said as he expanded his field even more, Shinji could see people's eyes starting to squint in pain, knowing that he was going to kill them, Shinji begged again.
"Kaworu, don't kill them, they're just stupid people!" Shinji tried again, Mari and Asuka remained silent as they saw the situation unfolding in front of them.
Misato ran towards the enemy with her weapons in hand, she felt afraid of another angel attacking like that, feeling the third impact again in her mind, she could see Kaworu holding the offenders back with his AT field.
Her eyes widened as she saw Shinji trying to control the situation, she listened to the conversation.
Seeing the guards and Misato running towards him, the man tried one last time.
"Don't kill them, Misato can help!"
"Sorry Shinji, we've suffered a lot at the hands of these people, one day we'll have to fight back, that way they'll learn." Says Kaworu as he closes his fist, Shinji looks at the screaming victims as he puts his hands on the field in the hope of getting out, but nothing could stop their fate.
Shinji looked at them slowly exploding in LCL, Midori looked at him one last time, it didn't take long for her to explode and leave only her clothes, all the bodies mixed in a puddle of LCL, Kaworu looked at them with disgust as he calmed down, turning to everyone as he spoke calmly.
Finally returning to normal, Kaworu looked at Shinji as he became upset, he knew what this was like for his friend, hating what would happen next, he spoke as he focused on the girls who looked at him with fear and suspicion, both already knowing what he was.
"I'm sorry Shinji, I know this wasn't what you wanted, could you forgive me?"
Soon the sound of footsteps echoed through the corridors, crowds of soldiers cordoned off the area as they saw what had happened, all not believing their eyes, Misato slowly approached the group as she saw Rei lying on the ground and Asuka and Mari injured.
"Take them to the infirmary." She said as she approached Shinji, her gun pointed at Kaworu at all times, she wanted to kill the creature right there, but Shinji spoke again, his voice was pleading, Kaworu looked at her calmly, accepting that he could be killed right there by the Lilin, but he wasn't going to fight, but rather accept his fate
"Misato, please! Don't do this!" He begged as he saw Misato's gun pointed at Kaworu's head, she recalled all the hellish moments she went through after the second impact, all the pain she went through, everything she lost, feeling anger and hatred coursing through her body, looking at him for the last time her decision was made, her hand trembled on the gun as she looked him in the eye.
"Misato!" Shinji shouted in panic as he saw the scene.
Author's Notes: Hello Calborghete people here, we finally have chapter 11, 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.
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