Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ The One I Love Is...Mst ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 8 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Standard disclaimer!!

As I walk down the road it splits into two paths..one the right
I don't own anything of Evangelion, the left I don't on the orginal story
dawm..what as sucky road.

more toili-mst wackiness and rember, all the chp of toili takes place before
many of the mst i have finished right now so don't let that confuse you :)
-------------------------------------------------------------------- -----

Touji- Hey Ken, what is Shinji doing still asleep?

Kensuke: How should I know..what about the devil and Ayanami?

Touji: Hikari said something about late night fighting or something.

Kensuke: Lets wake his ass up, I want to watch more of that movie.

Touji: I'm hungry.

Kensuke: You're always hungry

Touji squeezes Shinji's nostrels closed while Kensuke shuts his mouth.

Shinji: AAAAAHHHHHH!

Touji: That worked he he he.

Two point three seconds later Asuka and Rei rush into the room sleep evident in
their eyes.

Asuka: WHAT YOU DO TO HIM!

Rei: Shinji-kun, are you alright?

Touji/Kensuke: Eeep! 'didn't expect this.'

Shinji: Yeah..I'm fine..morning already.

Touji: No, its already 1 o'clock.

Asuka/Rei/Shinji: WHA!!

Hikari entering room: You slept so late and we only have two more days of vacation!

Asuka: That sucks..well lets get some food and hit that movie again.

Kensuke: You seem rather eager to watch more.

Asuka: Of coarse, he just left wondergirl, so naturally I'll be the star!

Hikari/Shinji: O......k.

PREPARE TO FAST FORWARD THROUGH BREAKFAST/LUNCH!!!!

Taking their seats in front of the t.v.

Shinji: 'Why do I always have to cook..Hikari cooks too...'

HIkari: That was very good Shinji-kun.

Touji: For a whipped man you sure can cook.

Kensuke: Make a good househusband he he he.

Asuka/Rei: Good.

Shinji: Great...perpetual slavery.

Kensuke: I really don't evny that aspect of your life.

Touji: Just the pilot part.

Kensuke: Its just not fair, I'd kick so much ass it'd be scary!

Rei:You would die.

Asuka/Hikari: Touji could do better.

Shinji takes the opportinity to turn the next movie on and recline in the couch.

(MST BEGIN!! look fo sa >>> k?)



The One I Love Is...
Chapter 7 - Awakening

>>>Touji: Why did you sleep so late you guys?

>>>Accused: No reason.

>>>Kensuke: hey that tape Hikari said not to watch is gone!!

>>>Hikari: YOu perverts took IT I'm so ashamed of you two!

>>>Asuka looks the other way while Rei...face it she doesn't care so doesn't react.

Written by Alain Gravel <rakna@globetrotter.qc.ca>
Assisted by Darren Demaine <ddemaine@ualberta.ca>
Based on characters created by and copyright GAINAX

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/2236/

(*) See translations notes for details

>>>Asuka: Damn kanji..whats wrong with you people, pick a few characters and save the
>>> rest of us so much hassle.

========================================================== =============

Chapter 7 - Awakening

Part 1: A man's choice / I won't run away anymore

The bed was comfortable, but I barely managed to get any sleep. I
had spent most of the night staring at this new unfamiliar ceiling.

>>>Touji: Shin-man stop obsessing over ceilings!

>>>Kensuke: It just keeps your head dry nothing more!

>>>Shinji: I know..but I'm not used to it.

I'm
sure I could have slept somewhere other than in a hotel room. I could
have asked Kaji or Kensuke to let me in for the night. Misato was ready
to let me sleep in my old room until tomorrow.

>>>Asuka: Then kick you out? you her favorite fat chance, more like
>>> move you into her room.

>>>Rei: My old apartment is most likely unlocked.

>>>Hikari/Touji: Fine don't even think of me! hospital rooms are ok!

But I didn't want to ask
any of them for help. I didn't belong with them anymore.
The two hours I slept were far from restful. In my dreams, my mind
kept replaying what people had already come to call the "Unit-03
accident".

>>>Rei: It was unfortunate the eva urinated in its hybernation.

>>>Asuka: IS THAT WHAT LCL IS!!

>>>Shinji: I'm going to be sick!

However, there was a small, frightening difference: in my
dreams, it wasn't Unit-03 that my EVA butchered. It was a giant Touji
(nobody ever said dreams always made sense).

>>>Asuka: Now I'm going to be sick..only thing worse would be a giant wondergirl!

>>>Kensuke: Bet Shin-man wouldn't mind seeing that.

>>>Rei: No, I believe it would cause a mental breakdown.

I woke up screaming and
drenched in sweat. I probably woke up the people in the next room as
well.

>>>Hikari: Um...no..Shinji you have a mirror above your bed, that hotel
>>> isn't for sleeping..not in that sense anyway.

>>>Asuka: And how do you know this?

>>>Hikari: My sister told me..about them 'blushes'

While my sleep had been invaded by nightmares, my waking hours were
plagued by the words of the mysterious grey-hair girl.
'Piloting EVA can only bring you pain. The Fourth was only the first
to be hurt. The First or Second could be next. You should leave while
there is still time. Otherwise, you will be destroyed along with those
you love.'

>>>Asuka: No chance! He leaves over my dead body.

>>>Touji: Duh, thats what the freak chick said!

>>>Rei: She may have an alterior motive, much like the 2nd's motive for that
>>> camping incident.

>>>Asuka: STOP REMINDING ME!

I didn't know who that girl was. It could just be some demented
person. Yet... I couldn't help but think about what she had said.
Probably because I knew she was right. If I stayed, I would end up
hurting Rei and Asuka just like Touji.

>>>Kensuke: So you're going to leave them both?

>>>Touji: I give him 3 days until they find him and tear him apart.

>>>Shinji: Why do you think I never tried to run away again?

Kaji had once said that luck was my talent. But your luck can run
out sometimes. Twice already I had been basically useless. First with
the Twelfth Angel, now with the Thirteenth.

>>>Rei:But your Unit was responcible for the kills.

>>>Shinji: Not that I like them.

>>>Touji: At least you made it out intact..look at what happend to me!

The fact was.. they didn't need me. With me out of the way, Asuka
would not feel the need to show off and be the best. Her results could
only improve. And Rei wouldn't have the urge to do something as stupid
as trying to protect me like she did with the Fifth Angel.

>>>Hikari: Wasn't she ordered to protect you?

>>>Shinji: Yeah.

>>>Rei: I would have done so without orders.

>>>Asuka: Suck-up.

Actually,
with me gone, she would probably use Unit-01 in my place. The tests had
shown it was possible. Even with the upgrades, Unit-00 remained the less
reliable EVA.

>>>Rei: Damn Akagi.

And also... so far, Unit-01 had somehow... protected me.
Now... it could protect Rei.

>>>Shinji: Maybe..but then again maybe not.

>>>Asuka: Conflict of interest.

Besides, if I hadn't piloted in her place
when the Third Angel had attacked, she would have been Unit-01's pilot.
I tried not to think that if I hadn't piloted, she probably would have
died.
Yes, I wasn't needed anymore. They had Rei, they had Asuka, and they
had that thing... the dummy plug it was supposed to be called... they
didn't need me. I would only get in the way, get them hurt. It was
better this way...

>>>Touji: And round 1 goes to depression taking Shin-man out with an upper cut!

>>>Kensuke: What a sad fight it was too, the dummy plug opening completly lost
>>> leaving Mega-playboy reeling!

>>>Hikari: Maybe some self-help classes would help you Shinji-kun.

>>>Shinji: Couldn't hurt.

My decision was made. I would leave Tokyo-3 and never return. It was
what I had to do, what I should have done a long time ago.
If so, why did this feel so wrong?

>>>Asuka/Rei: Because you're leaving the girl you love behind.

>>>Shinji: This..is going to be a painful episode for me isn't it.

>>>Touji: With how those to are now anchored into your arms..yes.

* * *

I couldn't help but shudder as I walked through the too familiar
corridors of NERV's infirmary. My only relief laid in the knowledge that
this would be the last time I would see those walls.

>>>Kensuke: Not with that sort of foreshadowing.

>>>Hikari: Almost like you're asking for something to happen.

>>>Rei: If he left now, what would the remaining chapters be about.

I knew that Misato
hoped otherwise. That was probably why she had neither taken my ID card
away nor deactivated the access rights I had to this facility. But my
decision was final: I no longer had a place here. Fact was... I never
had a place here to begin with.

>>>Kensuke: Its a pity party.

>>>Asuka: You can act so stupid sometimes.

I watched as the numbers on the doors scrolled by with each step I
took. Part of me wished simply to run away. Wouldn't be the first time.

>>>Shinji: Or the last time, works so well at taking away the pains of life.

>>>Asuka: And am I a pain?

>>>Touji: Yeah in the ass!

>>>Rei: You cause headaches.

>>>Shinji: MY ARM ASUKA YOUR NAILS!

>>>Asuka: OH! sorry. 'have to rember to trim them.'

But something compelled me to go on. Some morbid obsession perhaps.
I froze as I reached my destination. Room number 107. I willed my
hand to open the door, but it refused to move.
I... I couldn't do it. But I couldn't leave either.
God, I hated that.
Taking a deep breath, I entered the room of Suzuhara Touji.

>>>Touji: And I smacked you for looking so pitiful.

>>>Kensuke: Should take a picture of that.

With relief, I realized that Touji seemed asleep. His condition had
stabilized, but he was still connected to IV units and some monitors.
Then I noticed how irregular his form appeared under the bed sheets. I
tried to look away, but something deep inside me forced me to look well
at those areas where I should have seen the forms of an arm and a leg.

>>>Touji: My arm and leg!!!

>>>Hikari: Touji..its just a movie, that won't happen.

>>>Rei: At least the missing limbs are on the same side.

>>>Asuka/Kensuke: How does that help!?!?

This was my doing.
Silently, the tears came.
I couldn't take it anymore. I had to leave. But as I reached for the
door, my whole body froze at the sound of a familiar, but tired and
weak, voice.
"Shinji... came here to apologize... before running away?"

>>>Shinji: Am I that easy to read?

>>>Group: More so!

"Touji!"
I was reluctant to turn around. But when I did, I did not see the
hate-filled gaze I'd expected, but rather, a smiling face. He looked as
pale as Rei

>>>Touji/Rei: Never say that again!

>>>Asuka: Give him blue hair and call him wonderstooge.

and he seemed really exhausted. But he was smiling.
"So?"
"I won't apologize. What I did is unforgivable."
"Oh... and... you're going to leave... right?"

>>>Kensuke: He didn't say otherwise, we need to put a coller on you.

>>>Shinji: 'Already have one, looks at Asuka and Rei' don't kid.

Was I so predictable that everyone always seemed to know what I
would do next?

>>>Rei: We already answered that question, yes.

"Yes."
He turned his head to look at the ceiling. I realized it must have
been quite an effort to look at me.
"Sohryu's right... you really are... an idiot."
He spoke, without leaving his eyes of the ceiling. Even though those
were said quite flatly, the words hit me.
"Misato-san came. She... she explained everything to me.

>>>Kensuke: How the two of you have a love child and ...

>>>Asuka/Rei: IS THAT WHY SHE CAME OVER LAST NIGHT!

>>>Touji: Huh?

>>>Shinji: No..its not..'blushes' don't look at me like that.

Shinji... this wasn't your fault..."
Misato had talked to Touji?
"It is! It was my EVA that did this to you!"
Slightly, he shook his head.
"You weren't in control..."
"Doesn't matter..."

>>>Asuka: He's alive, of course Shinji will put the blaim on himself.

>>>Rei: If you were alive during the 2nd world war you would blaim yourself.

>>>Kensuke: No that would be Asuka's fault for not keeping her grandpa in line!

>>>Asuka: Unforgivable 'elbows his side..he crumples on the floor' but I feel better.

I couldn't stand looking at him anymore. There, in that bed, hurt
because of me. He had almost died because of me. I could see it on his
face. He had came very close to leaving us. Ashamed, I stared at the
floor. We both stayed silent for a long moment.
"Does that mean I'm a murderer?"

>>>Kensuke: Who died?

>>>Asuka: Shinji's newly born self-esteem.

>>>Hikari: His sense of pride?

I stared at him in disbelief. What did he mean?
"The EVA I was piloting... it... it killed a lot of people at
Matsushiro... didn't it?

>>>Rei: No, only unit-03 was injured.

>>>Hikari: Never did have alot of luck did you Touji.

>>>Shinji: Its my place to take blaim!

It could also have killed... Rei and Asuka.
And... if your father... had not taken that decision... it would have
killed you too..."
"It's not the same!"
"How so?"

>>>Shinji: Give me some time, I'll get a good reason.

>>>Asuka: Baka could have done something.

>>>Touji: I think you finally broke him.

>>>Shinji:.....

I... I really didn't know what to answer. I knew that what he had
said made sense. But... part of me refused to believe it. I guess...
part of me needed to take the blame... because it was the only reason
that could justify my decision to run away.
"Your EVA was taken over by an Angel..." I answered, without much
conviction however.
"Yours... by a computer," replied Touji, simply. "Same thing.

>>>Rei: Incorrect, a computer is not a living thing, nor is comparing it
>>> to the angel a viable excuse.

>>>Hikari: He's tring to be nice.

>>>Asuka: And failing misserably.

We
were both stuck... in... 'things'... we couldn't control."
I knew this was true... but...
"I could have tried to rescue you instead of just doing nothing and
giving up!"
Yes. This reason would do...
"How? How do you think you could have done that?

>>>Shinji: I don't know...maybe grab the entry plug?

>>>Touji: Never thought of that.

>>>Kensuke sitting back up: Didn't have much trouble getting it later.

That Angel beat the
crap... out of both Sohryu and Ayanami... in matter of seconds. It beat
you... fairly easily too...

>>>Asuka: Touji you stand by the wall and let Shinji beat the tar out
>>> of you without putting up any fight, and we'll see how easy it is for
>>> you to lose.

>>>Touji: Hey thats not fair!

>>>Rei: Neither is forcing a gentle soul to attack a friend.

>>>Hikari: 'Did she just say gentle?'

He had a point. But still...
I was about to say something when he continued. It seemed he had
only paused to catch his breath and gather his thoughts.
"You've had days to whine about this... did... did you figure out
yet a way... you could have... saved me?"
I had thought about it a lot. Scenarios where I could have saved him
had played themselves out through my head. If I'd only done this... if
I'd tried that... but... no, I never really managed to find an answer to
that question. In shame, I stayed quiet.

>>>Asuka: What number Shinji?

>>>Shinji: Number 4, don't speak and maybe the problem will leave you alone.

"Thought so." said Touji after a whole minute had passed, seeing
that I obviously had no answer to give him.
"Doesn't matter."
I would not let him convince me that what had happened was
insignificant! I would not! It was my fault, dammit! Why was he so nice
to me?!
"I'm of no use to any one. If I stay here, I'll just end up hurting
more people!"
"No, if you stay... you'll have to face what happened... and that's
what you fear... being hurt yourself.

>>>Shinji: Me hurt, never..not like having your body impaled by tenticles..or
>>> energy beams..or living with Asuka would cause me pain.

>>>Kensuke: Point for Shinji.

>>>Hikari: Touji has a point too! the running part.

>>>Rei: The battle is still tied.

>>>Asuka: The battle of the baka.

If you leave... you'll hurt
everyone who cares about you. Misato. Rei. Asuka. Me."
Damn you Touji! Why did you have to be so bright all of the sudden!
"Nobody cares..."
"It's not true and you know it."

>>>Shinji: If I want to delude myself I can!

>>>Asuka/Rei/ ?Hikari?: I won't let you!

This time, it felt as if Touji was angry. I guess he would have
shouted those word, if he hadn't been so weak. The painkillers probably
didn't help either.

>>>Shinji/Asuka/Rei: Morphean is good.

>>>Touji: Kami-sama! their all dope addicts!

>>>Rei: No, it is stronger than that.

But he again raised his head to look at me. He may
have seemed weak, but I could see the fire in his eyes.

>>>Kensuke: Better put that out fast, hospital gowns are flamable.

"Rei and Misato... they hid the truth from me..."
"They didn't want you to be hurt..."

>>>Asuka: And alot of good that did.

>>>Hikari: Talk about critical failures.

"I could have stopped you!"
"No. I had my reasons."
Strangely, a small smile appeared on his face. He let his head down
on his pillow again. It was strange. For a moment, he almost seemed
serene.
"I know... your sister... again, it's my fault..."
"Don't say that..."

>>>Touji: I'm going to have to beat you arn't I?

>>>Rei: That is not possible, you are missing the limbs on that side to reach him.

>>>Kensuke: Point match- Ayanami!

>>>Shinji/Touji: Damn.

"But it's true!"
Touji sighed.
"I'd hit you... if I could. Don't you understand yet... that I have
forgiven you? That Mari doesn't even hold you responsible for what
happened?

>>>Hikari: Has she regained consiouness?

>>>Touji: Just to yell at me for hitting him.

>>>Shinji: Remind me to send her flowers.

It wasn't your fault. It was those goddamn Angels."
"I was piloting!"
"For the first time... without any training... and the stupid thing
went berserk... baka..."

>>>Shinji: Um..that doesn't help your cause Touji, saying that.

>>>Touji: Why?

>>>Rei: It was due to Shinji-kun that it went beserk.

>>>Asuka: Whats that? you want you foot shoved in deeper?

I stared at him, not knowing what to say. Touji simply stared back.
All my illusions were fading away, but I wanted them to remain...
"Fact is... without you that time... we all may have died. My
sister's hurt... but she's alive. Like I am..."

>>>Kensuke: If you call that normal.

>>>Rei: Is 'Mari' missing limbs too?

>>>Hikari: Give it a rest, so he's missing two body parts!

>>>Touji: Um..no..Hikari..its a bit more than that..see where the leg cuts off...

>>>Kensuke: AH you lost the beans and frank!! ( sorry couldn't help it :) )

I didn't know what to say. So I just stared at the floor. It was
easier than to look at him. I think we stayed like that for a few
minutes. I didn't really know what compelled me to stay. Maybe I was
just afraid to leave without him telling me that I could go.
"Shinji... I'll be honest... what happened to me really sucks.
But... if loosing an arm and a leg... is the price to pay... so I
wouldn't have your... and everyone's death... on my conscience... then
it's a good deal.

>>>Rei: If unit-01 didn't destroy unit-03 you would have died as well.

>>>Touji: Oh yeah.

>>>Asuka: Baka, what did you think..'ok its killed the eva's..hey its letting
>>> me go free'?

Besides... Misato promised that she would use all of
her influence... to get me the best medical attention, financed by NERV.
I may be up and walking again before you even know it!"
Seeing him be so cheerful... No, I couldn't take it. This wasn't
what I had expected to happen.

>>>Shinji: My life to become simple.

>>>Asuka: Touji to have a brain?

>>>Rei: He would see through the lies he was told?

"Gomen!" (*)
This was all I managed to say before running away.

* * *

Once I exited the infirmary, Misato tried one last time to convince
me to stay. It seems that she had waited for me to come out. I did my
best to tune her out and simply say that my decision was final.

>>>Asuka: Even though you'll never really leave.

>>>Kensuke: Mega-playboy power, form of LIE!

I
thanked her for all that she had done for me, said my goodbyes and
walked away without turning back. I completely ignored her offer to take
me to the train station. My business with NERV and all the people I had
encountered here was over.

>>>Touji: And if she kept talking to ya it'd break you.

>>>Hikari: Shinji-kun is actually thinking about his weaknesses..surprizing.

I would walk back to the apartment, grab a
few things, and go. With any luck, the girls would be at school, so I
wouldn't have to say goodbye.
But was that the right decision?

>>>Rei: If you ask yourself that question you already know the answer.

>>>Shinji: Depression causes people to do wierd things.

>>>Rei: If only one of us is present your plan will fail.

>>>Kensuke: My moneys riding on Ayanami!

>>>Touji: Come on devil go devil!

Why did I keep questioning my decision? For once I had finally made
a decision and resolved to stick to it. I didn't want to repeat the
mistakes of the past.

>>>Touji: Like the last time you desided to run away?

>>>Kensuke: Caused more trouble than good, so hell do it again.

I never wanted to pilot EVA in the first place and had been told to
leave. But moments later, I had been sitting in the entry plug of Unit-
01 for the first of many times.
Then I had decided that I would never pilot it again. But I didn't
board the train that was supposed to carry me away from Tokyo-3. And I
piloted again.

>>>Asuka: You're in a rut.

>>>Hikari: Is this more foreshadowing?

>>>Shinji: With my luck, yes.

This time I would not change my mind! I would not!
I wasn't a little boy anymore... This time, I would act like a man
and do as I had decided.

>>>Asuka: M..m..MAN! aha ha ha ha

>>>Shinji: Asuka, shut up.

>>>Asuka: Ah....eh?

Wasn't that what Asuka would have done? Once her mind was set, she
would never back out of her decisions. She was too stubborn for that.

>>>Rei: You say that like it is a good thing.

>>>Kensuke: More like pig-headed.

If
she could do it, why couldn't I? Rei never seemed to doubt her decisions
either. But... had she ever made a decision of her own in the first
place?

>>>Asuka: Yeah, wonder-girl just does as ordered so can't look to her for advice.

>>>Touji: It'd just be to follow Nerv anyway.

>>>Hikari: 'Those two stooges! its all for that bet!'

Then I remembered that Asuka often made poor decisions. Attacking
the Seventh Angel on her own was one. What she did at the lake had been
another.
What is better to stick to your choices rather changing your mind if
that choice seems a poor one?
What was the mature thing to do?

>>>Rei: Die.

>>>Hikari: Thats with fruit.

>>>Kensuke: Or be drank like wine.

I had been walking for a long while, lost in thoughts, when I
suddenly heard the all too familiar sound of Tokyo-3's emergency sirens.
I froze. An Angel attack...
Almost on reflex, I turned around to run toward NERV. But then I
remembered my decision. I didn't have a place there anymore. I didn't
have to fight anymore...

>>>Touji/Kensuke: BUT...

Rei and Asuka would...

>>>Touji/Kensuke: The harems in danger RUN BOY RUN!

It would be more then enough. Right?

>>>Hikari/Shinji: Enough with the foreshadowing!!

I stayed still for a few long minutes, conflicting ideas waging
battle in my head. Then I slowly made my way towards the nearest
shelter.

>>>Asuka: He is running, with his tail between his legs.
* * *

As the sounds of battle started, I sat alone, chin against my knees,
like a scared child. I probably looked pathetic. Didn't matter, I knew I
was.
'Why are you such a wimp?'

>>>Kensuke: Genetics?

>>>Touji: No ballz.

>>>Hikari: Dragon?

>>>Rei: Enough of that.

More than that... I was a coward.
'Sohryu's right... you really are... an idiot...'

>>>Shinji: Who's talking to me?

>>>Hikari: The voice inside your head?

>>>Asuka: My spirit.

I was weak. Useless.
'Sorry, but his younger sister was hurt in the battle. That's his
reason anyway.'
My only talent was piloting EVA. And I couldn't even do it right.
Each time I got inside it, people would get hurt. Touji's sister. Touji.

>>>Shinji: What about the fact I save the rest of the planet?

>>>Rei: The movie you fails to realize that fact.

The sound of heavy artillery intensified. The battle seemed really
close. Had the Angel entered the Geofront?
What did it matter to me anyway?

>>>Asuka: Death maybe?

>>>Touji: Lots of nights of sleeping alone.

>>>Hikari: HENTAI!! 'beyatch slap!'

>>>Touji: I...'thump'

What was that urge to leave this place? To go where? NERV?
"Daddy! I'm scared!"
I don't know why, but those words made me aware of what was going on
around me. I saw people, mainly children, sobbing and crying. I saw
mothers hugging their children, trying to comfort them. I saw couples in
each others arms, trying to draw strength from the other, but failing.

>>>Touji: And some say Shin-man's spine grew three sizes that day.

>>>Kensuke: And all the who's in who-vil rejoiced.

>>>Rei: But he has yet to leave.

I
saw fear, pain, and despair. And as I became more aware of the sounds of
battle, I shared their fear.
Strange, being in an EVA was less scary than being here.
But I was safe here, wasn't I? I wasn't risking my life...
No... others were risking their lives instead of me... how pathetic
I was...

>>>Touji/Kensuke/Hikari: Excuse me!

>>>Shinji: Sorry..sorry.

>>>Kensuke: I'd pilot if they let me...

>>>Touji: I did and you ripped my arm and leg off!

Suddenly, the entire shelter was shaken as if it had been at the
epicenter of a massive earthquake. One of the walls and part of the
ceiling seemed to literally explode, sending dust and metal debris
flying everywhere. Even with the loud sound of the explosion, I could
hear people scream and cry. As the dust cleared,

>>>Hikari: Who didn't expect this?

>>>All: We all new it would happen.

I opened the eyes I had
closed on reflex and saw a man lying right in front of me, a long metal
fragment going right through his chest.

>>>Rei: Fortunate for you Shinji-kun, if he wasn't their that would be you...what?

>>>Asuka: You just made things alot worse.

>>>Shinji: WHY DOES EVERYBODY DIE OR GET HURT FOR ME!!!

People in the shelter tried to
flee in panic. Then I noticed it. For a moment, my heart stopped
beating.

>>>Hikari: You died?

>>>Shinji: Maybe the ceiling collapsed.

Where a wall used to stand now laid the head of Evangelion Unit-02.
No! Asuka! ASUKA!!!!

>>>Kensuke: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH you suck!

>>>Asuka: How DARE you say that!

>>>Rei: You lost your head.

Like a man possessed, I ran toward the exit, shoving people aside if
I needed to, not caring about anything except that I needed to get out
of here. I needed to see...

>>>Shinji: A bright tunnel of light.

>>>Touji: No more running for you!

I almost fell to my knees once I exited the shelter. Unit-02, or
rather what was left of it as it was missing its head and both arms,
stood, immobilized, a giant monster slowly moving past it toward NERV.
This wasn't possible. Asuka couldn't have lost in such a way. Not
Asuka... she was a better pilot than I...

>>>Rei/Shinji: Maybe not.

>>>Asuka: WHAT IS THIS THING BEAT THE HELL OUT OF ASUKA THE MOVIE!!

>>>Hikari: Its..only a movie..

>>>Kensuke: Touji, are you sure Hikari and Asuka are friends?

"Asuka... ASUKA!"
If she had still been synchronized with EVA when it lost its head...
No... no... NO!!!
I hadn't even apologized to her yet for all the pain I had caused
her...
"Hey you! What are you doing? Do you want to die?"

>>>Shinji: Is it that obvious?

>>>Touji: But is it because of Eva or your love-life?

I looked at the source of those words. I realized that those were
not meant for me, but rather a girl. A girl with gray hair in a white
sundress. She too was staring toward Unit-02. Then, she turned her head
to look right toward me. The red eyes!
"You!"

>>>Rei: Try being a bit more descriptive.

>>>Touji: Ayanami changed her hair color?

>>>Shinji: Who's talking?

She just smiled. A warm smile. Totally out of place in this moment
of utter chaos. Then she walked away and started to disappear into the
crowd of people that were fleeing for their lives. I was about to run
after her, when someone called me.

>>>Touji: Two girls aren't enough for you, you need a third!!

>>>Asuka/Rei: What makes her so special!

>>>Shinji: Touji! don't incourage them!

>>>Kensuke: Mega-playboy indeed.

"Shinji-kun?"
A familiar voice. I turned around to see Kaji, apparently sprinkling
his small watermelon patch. I look back toward the last location where I
had seen the girl, but she was now nowhere to be seen. Almost in a daze,
I walked to meet Kaji. The sight of the battered Unit-02 was still
having a heavy effect on my mind.
"Kaji-san. What are you doing here?"

>>>Kensuke: Watching Asuka lose.

>>>Touji: Watermelon?

>>>Asuka: Don't let Kaji see me like that!

>>>Rei: An odd man.

"That's my line. What are you doing here, Shinji-kun?"
"I'm no longer the pilot of Unit-01. I've decided that I would never
pilot again."
"I see. Well, to answer your question, since my part-time job has
gone public, I lost my position in the battle shift. So here I am,
sprinkling..."

>>>Rei: Will that kill the plant?

>>>Hikari: Ew..his fly is down.

>>>Shinji: He did say sprinkling...just not what type of liquid.

"At a time like this?!"
I couldn't believe this. Working on his garden right in the middle
of an Angel attack?
"What better time? Although I'd rather be between Katsuragi's
melons, this is a place I'd like to be when I die."

>>>Kensuke/Touji: Who wouldn't...'look at shinji' don't say it.

>>>Shinji promplty shuts his mouth much to Asuka and Rei's delight.

"Die?"

>>>Hikari: The opposite of life.

"Yes. It is said that if an Angel comes into contact with Adam,
which is sleeping beneath us, all humanity will be annihilated through
the Third Impact. Such a fate can only be prevented by Evangelion, which
has the same power as an Angel."

>>>Shinji: Then why can't I shoot energy beams?

>>>Asuka: Or bite threw steel?

>>>Rei: Or extend are limbs.

I didn't know what to say. Nobody ever explained this to me in such
a way. I knew we had to fight the Angels. I knew they attacked us. But I
didn't know why. They wanted to kill every human being?
Didn't this change everything?

>>>Asuka: You didn't know?

>>>Shinji: You did?

>>>Asuka: Thats not the question here.

>>>Touji: Man that sucks, hey shouldn't you three be training or something?

>>>Kensuke/Hikari: I don't want to die,go train!

Suddenly, in a distance, Unit-00 emerged from underground. It didn't
look very good. It was still missing an arm and repairs didn't seem
completed.

>>>Shinji: Doesn't the fact that it doesn't have its arm already say it
>>> hasn't been repaired fully?

>>>Rei: An attempt to emphisise?

>>>Shinji: More like space filler.

As it started moving, I understood one important reality: Rei
piloted that EVA. I didn't know how I could be so sure about that. Maybe
it was a gut feeling. Maybe it was the way the EVA moved. But I knew
that it was piloted by Rei.

>>>Asuka: Shinji...REI ALWAYS PILOTS UNIT-00!

>>>Rei: It is my Evangelion.

>>>Shinji: What about that dummy plug thing?

>>>Hikari: Shinji, stop while you're ahead.

"Unit-00! Rei!"
That was crazy! She didn't even have a rifle...
"I wonder why Ikari hasn't sent her in Unit-01? I doubt he planned
things this way..."
My heart threatened to explode in my chest as I watched the
Evangelion run toward the Angel. It held something in it's right hand,
but I didn't know what it was. Suddenly, the EVA hit the Angel's AT-
Field, the yellow hexagonal ripples clearly visible with the naked eye.

>>>Shinji: Why can't it be a square?

>>>Rei: Souls like hexagons.

>>>Asuka: What about circles or octogons?

>>>Rei: Only hexagons.

>>>Asuka/Shinji: Sucks.

For a few longs seconds, Unit-00 struggled to penetrate the Angel's AT-
Field. When it did, both the robot and monster were engulfed into a
bright explosion that blinded me for a moment. I felt a rush of hot air
that almost threw me to the ground.
When the smoke dissipated and I was able to see again, Unit-00 and
the Angel were still standing, both of them unscratched.

>>>Kensuke: Well that was alot of help.

>>>Hikari: What was that for?

>>>Touji: Its an anime trick, if you see alot of smoke, whatever is in the
>>> smoke is safe.

>>>Kensuke: Learned that all to well from Dragon ball.

>>>Shinji: The smoke screen effect.

Then, the arm
of the Angel, some sort of sharp ribbon, extended and hit Unit-00
directly in the head. The EVA fell to the ground, a blood-red liquid
pouring from it's extensive injury.

>>>Asuka: Gee whats blood-red and a liquid..Hikari?

>>>Hikari: Maybe blood?

>>>Shinji: Ok, so I'm not on the ball today.

"REI! Rei-chan..."
I shook my head, trying not to think the worst. Surely she was
fine...
"Do you understand why she did this?"
These words freed me from my trance and I moved my eyes from the
limp form of Unit-00 to Kaji.
"Probably because my Father told her to..."
"No, I don't believe so. I think that you've cut the puppet
strings."

>>>Asuka: Nope, she's still standing.

>>>Shinji/Rei: HEY!

I couldn't believe that. She had obeyed him when he had told her not
to talk to me about Touji. But she did have other reasons...
"Rei, Asuka... they don't only fight because it's their duty. They
also fight for their lives. And more importantly, the lives of those
they care about. I'm pretty sure... that they fought for you. To protect
you. Too bad you couldn't protect them."

>>>Touji: And the first blow has been struck!

>>>Kensuke: Kaji is going for the guilt trip effect.

>>>Shinji: That was below the belt!

>>>Touji/Kensuke: Is it now?

>>>Shinji blushes REALLY BAD!

>>>Asuka/Rei: Shinji-kun!! 'double back hand smack!'

Those words struck home. As I looked again at Unit-00, a wave of
guilt engulfed me. I almost felt sick at the thought that Rei and Asuka
could have been severely hurt, just because I hadn't been there...
But I had left so that they wouldn't be hurt...
Maybe... that decision... had been a mistake...

>>>Asuka: Gee you think?

>>>Hikari: Shinji-kun doesn't seem to be thinking at all.

>>>Touji: Its all the hormons.

>>>Rei: He never was effected by them before.

"I envy you, Shinji-kun. I can do nothing but water here. But you...
there is something you can do, something only you can do now. Nobody is
forcing you. Think for yourself and decide by yourself."
Kaji stared at me. I think I never saw him so serious in my entire
life.
"This is a man's choice. What will you choose, Ikari Shinji?"

>>>Asuka/Hikari: Run.

>>>Touji/Kensuke: Find Misato.

>>>Rei: Fight. 'if Shinji was awake..he would have said the same'

My brain was working overtime, as I thought back at what everyone
had told me today. This time, I couldn't hide from the truth anymore.
I stared up at the figure of the Angel as it sailed towards
Headquarters. All around were the sounds of terrified, hurt people
struggling to find shelter. I'd left because I didn't want to cause
anyone pain anymore. Without me me the others could focus on their
tasks. I wouldn't be a distraction to them.

>>>Touji: And that my friends is call 'bull-shit.'

>>>Kensuke: A master of b-s at work.

But I'd left and people were still getting hurt. Rei... Asuka... my
decision hadn't saved them as I'd hoped. It fact, because I hadn't been
there to fight beside them, it might even have... might have...
'If you don't pilot, you will condemn Rei and Sohryu to death.'
My father's words, my greatest fear. I remembered how he had said
those words: casually, calmly. As if he was discussing the weather.

>>>Rei: Incorrect, the commander is very passonate about the weather.

>>>Asuka: Stop!

>>>Touji/Kensuke: Don't want to hear anything about HIM!

I'd
never thought mere words could hurt that much. Well, it was nothing
compared to actually seeing Units-00 and 02 now. Had his words been
prophetic? Had I rejected the only good advice my father had ever given
me? Damn him! This was my decision, not his!

>>>Shinji awakens: And what a sucky one it was.

A flash of light from the Angel and an explosion of water signaled
the destruction of one of the lake's gunboats. I saw soldiers in NERV
clothing charging towards the Angel.

>>>Rei: Death wish.

>>>Hikari: I want to see the face of a man that thinks he's stronger than an Eva.

>>>Asuka: Its a blood streak now.

They knew they couldn't do anything
with their sidearms, but they never slowed, never showed the fear they
had to be feeling. They fought for something, I could feel it. They
weren't afraid. I had left because I was. So that *I* wouldn't get hurt
by my actions.
The eyes of the Angel flashed. Men died.

>>>Rei: Pointlessly.

>>>Kensuke: Even I'm not that dumb.

And my hand closed into a tight fist.
"I think I understand..."
"Do you?"

>>>Shinji: No, just want you to feel better.

>>>Touji: Or confuse him enough for you to run away.

I nodded, then, despite what was happening, smiled, for the first
time in quite a while.
"I've got to go!"
"I've got a jeep nearby. I'll take you to NERV."
I could have thanked him, but I knew that no words were necessary.
He was probably as thankful as I was.

>>>Kensuke: That Kaji, what a cowaa.a.a...'thump.'

>>>Hikari: What did you do to him?

>>>Asuka: Pressure point.

As I saw the Angel advancing toward Headquarters, I started to grasp
how desperate this situation was. I just hoped that we would make it in
time. Otherwise, if Kaji was right, I wouldn't even have the time to
feel guilty about having left the girls all alone against that monster.

>>>Asuka/Rei: What a gallent figure, leave the women to fight.

>>>Shinji: You're better than me!

>>>Kensuke: Hope not, because if they are, were all doomed.

* * *

"Carry on. Once more, try it again from one-zero-eight."

>>>Rei: Incorrect, 1-1-8.

>>>Asuka: Thought it was 0-1-8?

>>>Rei: That is for an incorrect pilot.

>>>Asuka: Ah, now I rember.


From his post high above EVA, the Commander seemed to struggle to
activate Unit-01. But apparently, all his efforts were in vain.

>>>Shinji: Ah to bad.

>>>Kensuke: Well he does have a vein in his forehead if that helps.

I don't
know exactly why. It didn't matter anyway. All that was important was
that I was probably mankind's last hope. Talk about heavy
responsibilities. But for once, it didn't really feel like the weight it
had always been.
"I'll pilot it!"

>>>Kensuke: And I, Kensuke Aida, found my place!

>>>Hikari: You wish.

The Commander looked down at me. From what I could tell, he remained
calm, in control. I had to admit, even if I hated him, I had to admire
his calm in a situation like this.
"Why are you here?"

>>>Rei: His battery must be low again.

>>>Shinji: He has a hearing aid?

No emotions showed in his voice. I wasn't much surprised and I
didn't really care either.
"I am the pilot of Evangelion Unit-01. This is my purpose. This is
what I can do."
This was a truth I had understood. When piloting, I was able to
protect those I loved.

>>>Touji: And get the girls.

>>>Hikari: And break alot of things.

"Is this all you have to say?"

>>>Kensuke: You're an asshole.

>>>Asuka: Kiss my ass?

>>>Shinji: You're not my real father?

"Just shut up and let me pilot! There's no more time to lose!"
The man didn't say a word. But the plug that was inside the EVA was
removed and replaced by my own. I smiled in victory, even though I was
sure that my father shared a similar smile for completely different
reasons.

>>>Rei: The commander did get you to resind your earlier ideals.

>>>Asuka: Misato couldn't even do that.
* * *

I had barely made it. But it was enough. As I literally crashed
through the wall of the main control room,

>>>Asuka: Their goes are bonus for the year.

>>>Shinji: And I had plans for that money.

I truly understood Kaji's
words. I now knew the EVA's purpose. As I saved Misato's life, I
realized how privileged I actually was to be able to protect those I
cared for in this way.

>>>Kensuke: Why not jump in front of a bullet?

>>>Hikari: The one aimed at your head?

And for the first time ever, piloting didn't feel
like an obligation. As strange as it seemed, I enjoyed it. I felt what I
believed Asuka felt when she piloted her EVA: pride and excitement.
As I battled with this ugly, giant monster that was the Angel,

>>>Touji: Again, why call such a but-ugle thing an angel?

>>>Kensuke: Not very heavenly.

>>>Shinji: Maybe Kami-sama is haveing a strike?

I
became nearly oblivious to everything around me. Only for an instant did
I feel the pain attached with the loss of my EVA's left forearm, the
pain being quickly subdued by the rush of the fight.

>>>Kensuke: Bout time you got some blood-lust.

>>>Asuka/Rei: Only type he's had.

>>>Shinji: Wha?

I didn't really
think when I barked a few orders to Misato. I was almost on auto-pilot.
Once we were outside Headquarters, I let all my barriers down.
Outside, there was no one that could get hurt in this fight.

>>>Rei: The shelters are out their.

>>>hikari: And a few straglers.

>>>Kensuke: Not to mention pets.

>>>Shinji:...gee thanks.

Only the
Angel and me. As I proceeded to try to literally rip it apart, I must
have looked possessed. Through this fight, I had let all my hate and
rage out.
That Angel had hurt Rei and Asuka!
It had tried to kill Misato!

>>>Hikari: And the rest of the human race.

>>>Touji: I'd feel the same as him.

>>>Asuka: No, he cares, you're perverted.

The Angels!
They had been responsible for hurting Touji's sister!
They had hurt Touji!
They were responsible for the Second Impact!
Because of them we had to fight!
I HATED THEM!
I was about to rip the Angel's head off when suddenly, everything
went silent except one sound. The timer of the internal batteries. I
looked at the digits. 00:00:00

>>>Kensuke: Ain't THAT a bitch!

>>>Touji: You just almost saved the day, what will you do now?

>>>Shinji: Fail.

I had run out of power.
No!
Suddenly, I felt the EVA being lifted off the ground and thrown
away. It felt as if it had hit the ground hard and I was amazed that I
had not been injured by the impact.

>>>Rei: LcL buffer.

>>>Asuka: Luck of the Gods.

But I quickly remembered the reality
of the situation and how grim things looked.
"Move, move, move. Move, please move. There's no point if you don't
move now!"
Then, I heard an explosion and felt the EVA being shaken. I knew it
had sustained severe damage. The explosion was followed by a regular,
rhythmic sound. The Angel was hitting the EVA. It shook with each
impact. I could hear cracking noises and if I had not been panicking, I
may have noticed the small fractures appearing in the entry plug above
my head.

>>>Hikari: This is a rather pathetic rescue.

>>>Rei: Anti-climatic.

>>>Shinji: My luck..comes and goes so fast.

Frantically, I pulled the controls, but to no avail. The EVA
stood still. I would soon die. Then, if what Kaji had said was true, the
whole human race would follow. I had failed, again. I had failed to
protect those that were dear to me. I felt as if I was drowning in an
ocean of despair.
"NO!"
In tears, I pulled even harder and faster on the controls. My arms
hurt, but I didn't care.
"Move, move, move, move, move, move, move, move, move, move, move,
move, please move!

>>>Asuka: Thats such a sad sight.

>>>Shinji: Its me..what did you expect?

>>>Rei: An apology.

>>>Group:.....

If you don't move now, everyone's going to die! I...
I can't let that happen. I... I can't... I can't let them down again!
So, please... MOVE!"
Suddenly, I froze. I could hear a sound. Something like... a heart
beating? Then, it was as if I had been engulfed into a sea of darkness.
Only days later did I know what had happened.
I had been absorbed into EVA.

>>>Touji/Kensuke: WHAT!

>>>Rei: I hope their isn't another project.

>>>Shinji: Great, I'm tang!

============================================================ ============
===

Part 2: Second Chances / May the best girl win!

A scent.
A very familiar scent. Rei? Asuka? Misato? No. Someone else...
Mother!
Mother!!!
I'm coming Mother!
A voice. A faint voice. A familiar voice. But not Mother's...
Someone... almost as important...

>>>Asuka/Rei: Me!

>>>Hikari: His father?

>>>Shinji: HIKARI! don't you dare say that.

'Shinji! Give back my Shinji! Give him back...'
Mi... Misato...?
'You must go back.'
Mother?

>>>Shinji: So...my mom is in Unit-01..makes sense.

>>>Touji: Why?

>>>Shinji: It confuses the hell out of me and whenever I fight it gets damaged, so I'm
>>> hurting a loved one.

>>>Touji:Your life sucks

* * *

As I woke up from what seemed like the least restful sleep I ever
had, I groaned as I recognized the all too familiar ceiling of the NERV
infirmary. At least I was lucky, the light were off so my eyes were
saved the pain of looking at them.
"Not again," I tried to complain, but my throat and mouth were dry
and the words didn't really come out.

>>>Kensuke: At least you have your parts.

>>>Touji: Yeah, consider yourself lucky.

Out of habit, I tried to assess my situation. I felt odd, but no
pain. I raised my arms. Good, no IV needles, so I probably wasn't hurt
much. However, I realized that my senses seemed sluggish, as if I was in
a badly synchronized EVA.

>>>Asuka: You would know, your scores suck.

>>>Rei: He is close to beating you.

>>>Asuka: Already BEAT you!

>>>Touji: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

I opened and closed my hand a few times,
moving my arm around. It seemed to get better with each passing moment.
Good. Apparently, the only real problem I had was a throbbing headache.
It almost felt like the pounding headache I had experienced after the
Third Angel battle.

>>>Kensuke: Post beserk headache.

>>>Rei: Bloody LCL.

Angel...
At that thought, it all came back to me. I was fighting the Angel.
Then I ran out of power. And then...

>>>Kensuke: You became the drink the astronauts took to the moon.

>>>Touji: Tastes like orange juice.

I wasn't sure what happened. I
couldn't remember. I was alive, so I guess it was dead. But how? Rei and
Asuka's EVAs had been severely damaged.
Rei! Asuka!
I felt a bit lightheaded as I tried to sit up in bed,

>>>Hikari: Morphean?

>>>Shinji/Asuka/Rei: Oh yeah! Nerv's finest.

but it quickly
passed. I had to leave this room! I had to know if they were alright!
"So, finally decided to wake up, eh? About time."
That voice!
"Touji?"

>>>Shinji:Great, time for a beating.

>>>Touji: A well deserved one.

>>>Asuka: NO! that right is mine!

Part of me felt scared, but I knew that there was nothing to be
afraid of. I knew he didn't hate me.
He was sitting in a wheelchair, in a corner of the room. With a few
pushes, he approached the bed.

>>>Rei: No prostetics?

>>>Hikari: Touji'd never use such a thing.

>>>Touji: can't afford it.

To my surprise, Touji looked completely different then the last time
I saw him. He didn't seem weak anymore, but rather very energetic. He
looked healthier and was dressed in his usual tracksuit attire.

>>>Kensuke: Factor in the bent leg and arm.

>>>Shinji: Going out for the team?

>>>Touji: Don't you start that with me!

>>>Kensuke/Shinji:Can't even make it with both your arms and legs!

>>>Touji: SHUT UP!

For a
moment, I wondered if I wasn't dreaming, or better yet if I hadn't just
woken up from a terrible nightmare, when I realized that he was still
missing two limbs. I stared at him completely lost. He gave me a warm
smile. He must have guessed that my throat was dry as he handed me a
glass of water he took from a small table near the bed. It was quite
welcome.
"You scared us, you know," he said simply.
What... what was going on here?

>>>Rei: You are in the hospital.

>>>Asuka: You freaked out again.

>>>Hikari: Touji's going to hit you if you apologize again.

"How...?"
I didn't really know what to say. I was too confused. And... I
couldn't help but feel intimidated by him.
"What's the last thing you remember?"
I tried to think. There was some images... but I couldn't really
make any sense out of them.
"The... the Angel... I had no more power... then... I don't know..."

>>>Asuka: Or talk in complete sentences.

>>>Rei: Angel contamination?

Touji nodded, as if he had expected that answer.
"That was a month ago."
"A month!"
I couldn't believe it! A month? Did I get hurt so badly that I lost
consciousness for an entire month? I didn't feel any pain. What was
going on?
"Yes. A whole month. And let me tell you, it was a long month for
everyone here. You scared the hell out of us!"

>>>Touji/Kensuke: Bet you get jumped by your harem once you get home.

>>>Hikari/Shinji: STOP THAT!

>>>Asuka/Rei: Rock-paper-scissors.

"Scared? What... what happened? The Angel...?" I asked. Then I
remember the reason I had tried to get up. "Rei?! Asuka?! Are they
alright?!"
"Calm down. They're fine. They barely got injured."
I sighed. What a relief!
"Did they kill the Angel?"
I didn't know how it was possible, but it was the only possibility I
could see.
"No. You went berserk again."
"Oh..."

>>>Asuka: To bad we can't turn that off and on like a switch.

>>>Hikari: The angels would never stand a chance.

>>>Shinji: But I end up in the hospital after it.

>>>Touji: Small price to pay for our safty.

That probably explained why I didn't remember a thing. At least, not
yet. But still... that didn't explain why I had been unconscious an
entire month.
"You got us worried sick! Don't ever do that again!"
Touji clenched his fist. He almost seemed... about to cry?
What the hell happened to me?!
"What...? What happened?"
"The way I understand it... you... disappeared... into EVA.
'Absorbed' I think Misato said. They had to pull you out. But... it
almost... failed. You were almost lost..."

>>>Rei: If it failed he would be gone.

>>>Asuka: Guess they overreacted...invisible Shin-baka.

>>>Shinji: Asuka...

>>>Rei: She did not say chibi.

>>>Touji/Kensuke: Chibi?

Disappeared into EVA. Was that possible? Yet... it felt familiar. I
had the sensation... that I had heard about that before. No, I saw it
happen. But... who? When? No, I was probably mistaken. I had never seen
EVA before coming to Tokyo-3. Never... never...

>>>Hikari/Shinji: Not more foreshadowing...

>>>Touji: Lays it on so think you get smoothered by it.

>>>Rei: I should feel joy at that 'it allowed me to live...well .001%of me'

"I... I see..."
We looked at each other in silence. I couldn't help but look at his
missing arm and leg...
"Touji... I..."
"Don't apologize. You understand it wasn't your fault now, don't
you?"
I nodded.
"Then it's settled. Besides, in one week, I'll be sent to Tokyo-2 so
I can try some experimental artificial limbs. Misato pulled quite a few
strings for that.

>>>Asuka: To bad she didn't pull the ones I wanted to get you expelled from Tokyo-3.

>>>Shinji: He is not a public health menece!

>>>Asuka: But he corrupts everybody with his pig-headedness!

She felt NERV owed me that much. I'll also see Mari
again! She's in reeducation! She's walking again Shinji!"
His sister... Walking...
"That's so great! I'm so happy for you!"
And I was. Touji's sister would be okay. And Touji... may have a
chance to live a normal life after all... I felt a few tears roll down
my cheeks.
"Geez, don't be such a wuss!"
"Sorry..."

>>>Asuka/Touji: AND STOP APOLOGISING!!

>>>Rei: You are very sensitive.

>>>Shinji: Is that a good thing?

>>>Rei leaning agaisnt him now: Good.

I was just too happy. I got up and hugged my friend as best as I
could.

>>>Kensuke: Bet his arms go around alot mor....

>>>Touji: Stop with the missing limb jokes.
* * *

"Oh! You're awake," said the nurse as she entered the room. I had
used the call button to alert the nurse station a minute earlier.
"Yes. And I'd like to leave now."
While Touji had assured me that Rei and Asuka were okay, I felt the
need to make sure myself, to see them. And I didn't want to wait any
longer.

>>>Kensuke: Got the urge?

>>>Touji: Been a month.

>>>Shinji: No, just worried.

>>>Touji: That they moved on?

>>>Asuka/Rei: Jealous?

"I'm sorry Ikari-kun, but I need authorization for that."
Damn!
"Did you receive orders to keep him here?" asked Touji. From what he
had told me, he himself had tried to leave, but Misato had been against
it, worried that he may not have been able to manage on his own yet.
Touji had complained at first, but had eventually agreed she was right.

>>>Hikari: Don't you have any family at home?

>>>Touji: I'd rather eat the hospital food than my dad's slop.

>>>Shinji: I'd rather have it too, otherwise I have to cook.

>>>Asuka:Would you rather Misato cook?

"No, Suzuhara-kun. But we didn't receive authorization to let him go
either."
"But he's physically okay, right?"
"Yes, he is."
"Then, I guess you'll have to call your father, Shinji."
Confused, I stared blankly at Touji. He just smiled.
"Of course, the Commander will be pissed if he's woken up in the
middle of the night. Well, I'm sure if Shinji talks to him, you may keep
your job Miss..."
What the hell was he saying? Then I noticed that the nurse seemed
scared.

>>>Shinji: My fathers good for one thing, scaring the hell out of people.

>>>Asuka: I wonder if he pays for anything or just glares his way out of the store.

>>>Rei: Would explain some things.

"I'll... I'll be back with clothes for Ikari-kun..."
The nurse left quickly.
"Wha... what just happened?"
"Every one here is afraid of your dad. I thought it would work."
Then I finally understood what Touji had been trying to do.
"Thanks!"

>>>Hikari: See Touji can be nice some times.

>>>Shinji: Doubt the nurse would agree with you.

>>>Touji: See if I do anything for you again.
* * *

It wasn't long before the nurse had brought me a NERV uniform. It
was kinda big for my small frame, but I didn't ask for more. I just
wanted to get out. Which I did rather quickly after saying goodbye to
Touji.
I visited Misato's apartment first, to find it completely empty with
the exception of Pen-Pen.

>>>Touji/Kensuke: HE'S STILL ALIVE!!!!

>>>Rei: What were you expecting?

>>>Kensuke: Fried penquin.

Asuka probably slept over to Hikari's. As I
made my way out, I groaned when I almost fell as I walked over one of
Misato's empty beer cans. The apartment was a mess. The only clean rooms
seemed to be my old one and Asuka's. I found it a bit odd, since Asuka
was almost as bad as Misato and never kept her room in order, but I
quickly dismissed the thought. I still had to visit Rei.

>>>Asuka: Gee thanks for the effort.

>>>Touji: Damn damn damn.

Quietly, I slipped into Rei's apartment. It was still very early in
the morning and I didn't want to wake her up.

>>>Hikari: Don't you live in a construction site Ayanami?

>>>Rei: Correct.

>>>Hikari: And he's worried about waking you?

I had to make sure,
however, that what Touji had told me was true. Gently, I opened the door
to her room and took a peak. I could see a form under the sheets and a
mass of blue hair on the pillow. No doubt, it was Rei. Satisfied, I
walked to what was my designated room. The impulse to join her and hug
her tightly was great, but I suppressed it.

>>>Rei: Why?

>>>Kensuke: Son of a Bitch.

>>>Hikari/Shinji: What is with you two? 'addressing touji/ken, Asuka/Rei respectively.'

I didn't want to disturb her and I wasn't sure yet how to act around her.
'Some truths can hurt if a person is not ready to hear them.'
I had said those words to Rei. She had only been listening to me. So
how could I be angry at her? How could I hate her for trying to protect
me? I would have to apologize to her. I had chased her away when all she
tried to do was take care of me. She had done so much for me, offered
everything to me, body, heart and soul,

>>>Kensuke: Not like we saw any of that.

>>>Shinji blushes deeply.

>>>Touji: Bet Shin-man would pass out if he did.

>>>Rei: He stayed consious....

>>>Asuka: WONDERGIRL!

>>>Hikari: Oh my so thats where it went.

>>>Touji/Kensuke: WHAT!?!?!

>>>Shinji: 'Be one with the couch..mind and body with the couch.'

and I only repaid her love by
acting like a jerk. I could only hope that she would eventually forgive
me.
Half lost in thought, I didn't really look where I was going, so
when I entered the other bedroom, I didn't notice the pile of books,
shoes, clothes and other stuff that laid on the floor, right behind the
door.

>>>Shinji: This isn't going to be good, is it?

>>>Hikari: Nope.

>>>Asuka: That looks like my stuff.

Completely taken by surprise, I lost my balance and fell. I landed
right on top of something that was hard in some places and soft in
others.

>>>Kensuke: Quick study.

>>>Touji: Must have alot of practice.

>>>Asuka: He better not.

I panicked as I felt it move, then groan. I opened my eyes (it
seemed I had closed them in my fall) to see Asuka's blue eyes looking
straight at me.
'Hey, baka Shinji. Do you want to become one with me? Do you want us
to become one in body and soul? It feels so wonderful. I'm asking you.
Come on!'

>>>Shinji: WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!

>>>Asuka: AH HENTAI! BAKA HENTAI SHINJI DREAMING OF ME!!

>>>Rei: 'She isn't hitting him, she doesn't care?'

A blurred image. Asuka, nude, smiling, leaning toward me...
Where did those thoughts come from? It almost felt like... a memory.
But it wasn't as clear, as if I had remembered part of a dream.

>>>Touji: And now for the beating.

>>>Kensuke: Survived the angel only to die by friendly fire.

"PERVERT!"
This took me out of my brief daze. I soon realized that Asuka wasn't
looking at me anymore but rather lower, toward her chest. I followed her
gaze to realize that my right hand was... right on top of her breast.

>>>Shinji: What is my hand a magnet for those?

>>>Rei: That was are special time.

>>>Asuka: How dare you touch me THERE!!

>>>Shinji: 'Kami-sama take me'...

>>> Well a magnatude 5 Asuka attack occured with only minor structual damage
>>> and a very hurt Shinji.

>>>Touji: Bite marks..ouch.

>>>Shinji: G..gomen.

Oh no! Not this again!
I'm dead.
I tried to get up, but Asuka came up with the same idea and our
heads ended up colliding against each other. Unconsciously, my hand
tightened it's grip.

>>>Hikari/Rei: Ouch.

>>>Asuka blushes: 'how bold' HENTAI!

>>>Kensuke: One beating per scene please.

"Eek! DIE!!!"
I don't know how she managed, but Asuka ended up on top of me and
jammed her fist in my face, followed by her knee in my crotch. That's
when the lights in the room lit up, showing Rei at the door. At least, I
think it was Rei, as it seemed I heard her and Asuka say in perfect
synchronicity "Oh my God! Shinji!" before I fainted.

>>>Touji: That was expected, no kids for Shin-man.

>>>Kensuke: He turned blue.

>>>Shinji: 'Thank you kami-sama for not giving her that idea.'

* * *

"Hey! I said I was sorry, okay! It was dark, I was still half asleep
and he wasn't wearing his usual dumb clothes..."

>>>Kensuke: She really wanted to do it.

>>>Shinji: Don't give her ideas.

"I guess your reaction is understandable."
"Of course it is!"
"However, I do not understand how you did not recognize him. I know
I would have."
"It was dark!"

>>>Rei: That is no excuse, you don't care.

>>>Asuka: I care!

>>>Hikari: He didn't look that much different to me.

>>>Asuka: Not you too!

"Maybe. But his eyes look the same in the dark. I think they are
even more attractive..."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"It is really a shame."
"What does that mean? And what's with the blushing?!"

>>>Touji: Thinking about the nights when ya lived together?

>>>Shinji: Ah!

>>>Rei: I will not discuss it.

>>>Touji: Shin-man what was on that movie you three watched?

>>>Rei/Asuka/Shinji: Nothing.

"It is for me to know and you to find out."
"Why you little..."
As I regained my senses, I realized that Rei and Asuka were arguing.
Immediately, it hit me as odd. This wasn't a violent argument like they
already had a few times. It seemed more like... two good friends
arguing. But that wasn't possible. Rei and Asuka rarely talked to each
other. Them? Acting like friends? Impossible.

>>>Asuka/Rei: Agreed.

>>>Shinji: To bad.

>>>Touji: Why should your life get easier?

"I hope you have not damaged him."
"Damaged him? And why are you blushing again?!"
"The... part... where you... hit him with your knee..."

>>>Hikari: AYANAMI!

>>>Touji/Kensuke: Mega-playboy!

>>>Shinji: I think I'm going to faint now...'does like he suggests'

"Oh... Rei! You pervert!"
"I just know what I want..."

>>>Group save Rei and Shinji:.....

>>>Rei: What?

This was Rei talking? I knew she was usually quite bold with me, but
with Asuka...
Somehow, those words triggered a flash of memory, similar to the one
I previously had with Asuka. But this time, I remembered a naked Rei.
'Shinji. Do you want to become one with me? Do you want us to become
one in body and soul? It feels so wonderful.'

>>>Rei: 'Blushes' I knew he would enjoy it.

>>>Asuka: If he wasn't a lump on the couch I'd cream him.

>>>Hikari: Shinji-kun..has odd dreams.

>>>Touji/Kensuke: But poor taste.

This was odd. Where did these impressions came from? Maybe I should
have stayed in the infirmary after all...
"... and I know you want it also."

>>>Hikari: SHE SAID IT AGAIN!

>>>Asuka: I...I...I..

>>>Touji: Devil got your tounge?

>>>Kensuke: Poor Shin-man, he's going to be a love-slave.

>>>Shinji back amonst the living: Huh?

"Don't talk about that! Geez, you're worse then the three stooges
combined!"
"It seems that our Shinji has regained consciousness. Or at least
part of him. Apparently, I worried too much. From how it looks, it is
most likely perfectly functional."

>>>Shinji: EYES!

>>>Touji/Kensuke: Not like we've not seen something..

>>>Asuka/Rei: EYES!

>>>Touji: I can look at my..

>>>Hikari: DAMN IT TOUJI!

>>>Touji/Kensuke: Fine.

My eyes flew open as I realized that Rei's words, not to mention the
image in my mind of her naked, had caused some part of me to react.
"You pervert!"
I expected Asuka to hit me again, but instead, I was squeezed in a
tight hug. Wow, things just seemed to get weirder and weirder...

>>>Rei: No music?

>>>Asuka nuddges Rei.

>>>Rei: 'Mental note- this movie will not contain scenes accompainied with said music.'

"Baka! You scared us to death! Don't ever do something stupid like
that!"
I felt another pair of arms encircling both me and Asuka.
"We thought that we had lost you. Welcome back Shinji."
I didn't know what to say. So I didn't say anything.
I felt something wet fall on my cheek. A tear? Who was crying? Rei,
Asuka? Did it really matter?

>>>Asuka: It does to me.

>>>Rei: You would not cry for another.

>>>Asuka: You don't know how to really cry!

>>>Rei: I have already in this.

>>>Asuka: Well me too.

>>>Touji: Fight fight fight, like sisters.

>>>Shinji/Kensuke: Touji we knew you well.

>>>A bottle of soda to the face and....but who threw it?

Being hugged this way by the two girls I
loved... it felt good. It was warm, very comfortable. I could get used
to that.
When the girls let go of me, I took the time to carefully look at
them. Rei sat on her knees at my right. She wore a shirt I recognized as
one of mine. Having spent time with her, I knew that she likely wore
nothing underneath other than her silver cross. It seemed that she had
put it on in a hurry, as she had missed a button. It reminded me of the
first time we had slept together. She had missed that button then as
well.

>>>Asuka: You can rember that but you forget our lunches?

>>>Rei: Appears my apperence is more important.

>>>Shinji: I'd say a more unique memory.

As she noticed I was staring, she smiled cutely.
Asuka was sitting on the floor Indian style. Thankfully, she was
more dressed then Rei, wearing panties and her usual sleeping shirt,
although it did show a LOT of cleavage.

>>>Shinji: What first I'm looking at Rei's chest now Asuka's! I'm not a pervert!!

>>>Touji: Not according to this.

>>>Kensuke: Guess you did miss somethings in that eva.

>>>Asuka/Rei: Look me in the eyes when you talk to me again.

She was fuming a bit, probably
because of the long seconds I had spent looking at Rei, but her
expression softened into a smile as I turned to look at her.
Overall, both girls seemed perfectly fine. Nothing was obviously
broken, and there was no major scarring. I sighed in relief. However, I
did notice what seemed to remain of almost healed bruises. I doubted it
was related to the last Angel attack, Touji had told me it had occured a
month ago. For a moment, I wondered where those bruises came from, but I
quickly dismissed the thought. I remembered I had something important to
do.

>>>Touji: OH yeah, mega-playboy back in the saddle.

>>>Kensuke: Get naked and funky!

>>>Rei: Does appear to be heading in that direction.

>>>Asuka: 'Not with those stooges here'

>>>Shinji: I would never do such a thing at that time.

I bowed down and pleaded their forgiveness.
"Asuka. Rei. Forgive me."
"Why?" asked the girls simultaneously.

>>>Shinji: Huh!

>>>Hikari: Guess they can only forgive so much.

>>>Touji: Looks like you're on the couch after all.

First I looked at Asuka in the eyes.
"I... I apologize for the way I treated you that night at the lake.
I should have tried to understand your reasons instead. I should have
understood that it was all my fault... that... that the way I behaved
had hurt your feelings. I'm... I'm sorry."

>>>Asuka: YES, in your face he forgave me!

>>>Rei grumbles.

Asuka seemed about to talk, but she stopped as she saw that I was
now looking at Rei.
"I shouldn't have been that mean to you, Rei. All you wanted to
do... was protect me... because you care for me. I didn't understand. I
yelled at you. I hurt you. I made you cry. I should never have done
that. Forgive me."

>>>Rei: He apologized for the pain he caused me, he still cares.

>>>Asuka's turn to grumble.

>>>Hikari: You are to consederate sometimes.

>>>Shinji: It needed to be done.

I bowed down again, awaiting their judgment. Instead, what they did
next completely took me by surprise.
"Ja. Ken. Po."
I looked up, confused, to see that Rei had won.
"Geez, what did you do, practice with Misato?" whined Asuka.
"No. You are just predictable."
"What!? Whatever... go ahead, you won."

>>>Kensuke: Ayanami's going to either kill you or strip you.

>>>Touji: I bet its the former.

>>>Shinji: I agree, I'm a dead man.

That was weird. I looked at them, puzzled. I was even more lost when
Rei actually grinned at Asuka.
In this state of mind, I really didn't expect Rei to kiss me. Out of
force of habit, I accepted the kiss, until I remembered that Asuka was
here. I froze and looked at her. She was frowning, but when she noticed
my gaze, she nodded. I didn't understand what was going on,

>>>Shinji: Do I ever know whats going on?

>>>Hikari: Sometimes.

>>>Asuka: Just smile, be quiet, and do what your told and you'll be fine 'grins.'

but it felt
good to have Rei against me again, so I just gave in to her passion. And
I have to say, there was a lot of passion in that kiss.

>>>Touji: She drank passion fruit before bed.

>>>Kensuke: And had a passionate meal of lettuce.

>>>Hikari: And I'm passionatly going to smack you!

"You are forgiven, my love," whispered Rei as our lips parted.
Then, Rei left the room. I watched her go, then looked at Asuka. I
froze again. She had that look...

>>>Asuka: Eyes.

>>>Touji/Kensuke: Why fight it anymore.

>>>Shinji: That..look..'either good or bad.'

At that moment, I understood what a
rabbit must feel when a hungry wolf looks at it. She literally jumped at
me and pinned me to the floor.
"My turn now."

>>>Touji: Is she killing him?

>>>Hikari: Yeah, smoothering him.

>>>Shinji blushes deeply giving Asuka the opportinity to try out the image on the
>>> screen...he melts into her arms 'life is confusing.'

>>>Rei: 'Mental note- be more responsive to action.'

There was no point in resisting, so I submitted to her hungry lips.
I didn't really have any reasons to resist anyway...

* * *

"Can one of you explain to me what's going on?" I asked, before
taking a sip of my tea. Rei had had previously left us to prepare it.
"What were you doing in my room?" I added, looking at Asuka.

>>>Asuka: Sleeping.

"Anta baka? (*) Isn't it obvious? I'm living here with Rei-chan!"

>>>Rei and Asuka look at each other and sigh.

>>>Asuka: What did they do to me.

>>>Rei: Forced us to realize a fact.

I stared at her blankly. This must have been a dream. Asuka, calling
Rei "Rei-chan"? Asuka, living with Rei? Without a doubt, it was a dream.
That would also explain the kisses...
"I believe he does not understand."

>>>Shinji: Thank you miss obvious.

>>>Rei: I am mearly trying to help.

"Why am I not surprised?" whined Asuka.
A hit on the head confirmed that this was no dream.
"Listen, baka Shinji! While you were... away

>>>Shinji: Thats a cute way of putting it.

>>>Touji: Mommy where did Spot go?

>>>Kensuke: Touji-chan he went on...a perment vacation.

>>>Asuka: Ok so it was dumbing it down alot.

... I moved in with Rei. It's as simple as that. Do you get it?"
I nodded, although, I wasn't sure I really understood.
"So you sleep in my room now?"
"You seem to be catching on. About time..."
"So, where do I sleep?"

>>>Touji: What day is it?

>>>Rei: That would be a pleasent arrangement.

>>>Asuka: What about Sunday?

"Idiot! In your old room of course!"
Seeing that I seemed to be still missing the point, Rei decided to
take over the explanations.
"Asuka and I solved our differences. I believe that we have become
friends. We had long discussions between ourselves and with Major
Katsuragi and we agreed that it would be easier for you if you lived in
a place where neither of us would be your roommate."

>>>Touji: Make sure not pregnant pilots.

>>>Asuka/Rei blush.

>>>Kensuke: Maybe she just wants him for herself?

"We won't fight over you anymore, and we won't put any more pressure
on you," added Asuka.
"Those kisses we gave you... will be the last. Neither of us will
try to be romantically involved with you until you make a choice,"
continued Rei.

>>>Rei: So I must take my now then, 'plants one on the still recovering Shinji.'

>>>Asuka: Thats them, not us

>>>Hikari: Um..he can't breath Ayanami.

>>>Touji: Going for the world record!

>>>Asuka: STOP IT!

>>> Hikari and Asuka pry the two apart..now he really is out of it.

"Now, may the best girl win!" concluded Asuka, making a victory sign
with her fingers.
Rei sighed and tried to ignore her overly enthusiastic friend.
"I... I..."
I didn't know what to say. I would never have expected such a change
of situation. As those words sank in, I realized that things would be
different from now on. I didn't know what to think about that. It was a
relief. I wouldn't have to fear hurting them. I wouldn't have to feel
guilty when I spent time with one of them while the other was all alone.
I wouldn't have the impression of betraying them. But I also realized
that I wouldn't be able to hold them in my arms anymore. I would have to
wake up in the morning and find myself alone.

>>>Touji: Misato-san could help with that.

>>>Kensuke: Would solve the problem, marry Misato.

>>>Asuka/Rei: He will sleep on the couch.

Worst of all, I would have to cook again...
I chuckled at that last thought, drawing curious look from the
girls.
"So I take it that you won't sleep in my bed at night anymore?"
Both girls nodded. Strange, they tended to have the same reactions
ever since I woke Asuka up. Did Misato put them through a
synchronization training like Asuka and I had to go through for the
fight against the Seventh Angel?

>>>Shinji: Life is good.

>>>Touji: For you and your freak harem....sorry.

>>>Hikari: Don't call my friends names.

"It's going to feel weird."
"You will get used to it. We did."
"I see... Well... thanks... I guess..."

>>>Touji: He even thanks them.

>>>Shinji: Why wouldn't I, such great girls 'smiles and puts his arms around their shoulders.'

>>>Asuka: You fried his brain.

>>>Rei: It was a combined effort.

>>>Asuka: Going to have to rember that.

An awkward silenced followed. I didn't really know what to say or
do, and neither did either of the girls. After long moments we passed
staring at each other in silence, Rei managed to break this
uncomfortable atmosphere.
"You should go back to your apartment to take a bath. It will be
morning soon. You can come back here when when you are finished.
Breakfast will be ready."
"Yeah, go take a bath! That smell of LCL is really annoying. And get
out of those clothes. NERV uniforms really don't suit you well..."

>>>Kensuke: Think the LCL is embedded in him now?

>>>Rei: No, he still has his legs.

>>>Touji: Somebody tell me when she starts making sense.

This was probably the best thing for me to do. So I got up and made
my way to the exit. But before I opened the door, I turned around to
look at the girls.
"I'll miss the old days, but I'm glad to see that you two get along
now. And... I... I'm glad that you're alright. When I saw what the Angel
did to your EVAs... I... I really worried. And I felt bad... for leaving
you on your own to fight that thing. That's why... I came back. I... I
won't leave anymore. Never again."

>>>Asuka and Rei latch on to the arm drapped on them: Thats not even an option.

>>>Hikari: 'They'll rip him in half.'

The two girls smiled warmly. This was really a beautiful sight. I
smiled myself, then left.

* * *

The water of the hot bath felt good and warm on my skin, embracing
my body completely. I felt calm, relaxed. I let my head drift slowly
under the water, until I was completely immersed. The feeling was not
the same then begin in a entry plug full of LCL.

>>>Shinji: Doesn't smell like blood.

>>>Asuka: Or taste like vomit.

>>>Rei: Or absorb your body.

The water seemed...
pure, clean, fresh. I only emerged when I felt I couldn't hold my breath
any longer and realized I was tempted to try and breathe the water. I
guess it had become a habit.

>>>Hikari: Normal people would die if they inhaled water like that.

>>>Touji: Anti-climax?

>>>Kensuke: Anothe escape plot.

I leaned my head against the bath and
closed my eyes. This felt so good... I drifted off to sleep.

>>>Asuka: And drown.

* * *

A streetcar, familiar, heading toward some unknown destination.
'Why am I here again?'
"Baka! Because you piloted EVA again, of course!"

>>>Kensuke: After 1/2 the movie you said you wouldn't.

>>>Touji: No conviction.

I raise my head to see Asuka facing me. She's wearing her yellow
dress. Her face shows nothing but a scowl.
'That's right. I piloted EVA.'
"You dislike piloting EVA. Why did you do it?"

>>>Shinji: To save people, sorry if that makes you made.

>>>Kensuke/Touji: Are hero.

Rei is sitting at my side. Her face is like it had been a few months
earlier. Cold and emotionless.
'Because... I want to protect you...'
"We don't need your protection, you jerk!"
'I don't want to see you hurt...'
"But you already hurt us. You ran away from us, after hurting our
feelings. You are no better than Him."

>>>Hikari: Now that will leave a mark.

>>>Touji: Its another Shinji smack down.

>>>Kensuke: And the kid gloves are off.

>>>Shinji: I..I'm like him?

Rei gets up and walks to Asuka's side. Father appears behind them,
puts a gloved hand on each girls' waist.
"Now that you are gone, I can use those pawns in any way I wish."

>>>Asuka: I will never look at that bastard in the same way again..I feel dirty.

He leans his face toward Rei's. She looks at him, her eyes empty of
emotions. Then his lips meet hers. I close my eyes, not wanting to see
them.

>>>Rei: I...feel ill 'gets up and runs to bathroom'

"So, I was right, Wonder Girl is no more then the Commander's
doll..."
'STOP THAT!'
"The only thing you know is how to hurt them."

>>>Asuka: The old bastard, thats right.

>>>Shinji: Remind me to step on dad's condo.

I open my eyes hearing this new voice. I recognize this person. The
gray-haired girl.
"The longer you stall you decision, the longer you make them
suffer."
'I... I don't want that.'
"Knowing this makes you suffer as well."
'Yes.'
"But if you don't go back to them, they will forget. And you won't
feel pain anymore."

>>>Kensuke: Ok that girls a real freak.

>>>Touji: Bet she's an angel or something.

>>>Hikari: 'He...got it, wow perseptive.'

'Won't I?'
"They'll always be with you...'
'With me?'
"Forever."
'Forever?'

>>>Asuka: In Chucky Cheese land forever is 6 months.

>>>Shinji: Didn't that place get closed for that case of massive food poisoning?

>>>Hikari: Is Ayanami alright?

>>>Shinji: Think of my dad kissing you then ask that.

>>>Hikari: Nevermind.

"Hey, baka Shinji. Do you want to become one with me? Do you want us
to become one in body and soul? It feels so wonderful. I'm asking you.
Come on!"
Asuka is at my right, completely nude. She leans on me, I feel her
breasts against my arm.

>>>Asuka: You are such a pervert 'slaps him.'

>>>Shinji: Sorry...the director has odd taste. 'why didn't that hurt?'

"Shinji. Do you want to become one with me? Do you want us to become
one in body and soul? It feels so wonderful."
At my left is Rei, equally nude, equally beautiful.

>>>Hikari: You two are learning.

>>>Touji with eyes shut: I'd rather die than see either of them, nightmares.

>>>Kensuke same: Now if it were Misato...

"Do you want to become one with me?"
"Do you want us to become one in body and soul?"
"It feels so wonderful."

>>>Hikari: And you and Ayanami know this because?

>>>Touji: Mega-playboy of course.

>>>Shinji: Think.

>>>Touji: Books.

I can feel them, their hands roaming all over me. I feel at peace.
But strangely, I also feel very cold.
"Come on, now. Relax. Surrender your mind."
I am ready to let myself be lost in their embrace. Everything around
me seems to darken. I feel numb, but light. I feel... free.
"If you run away from reality, then you will lose them forever."
I open my eyes, just a moment before loosing all sensations in my
body. A little girl is floating in the darkness that now surrounds me.
She stares at me. She looks like a younger version of Rei, but not
quite. Her hair is brown and her eyes are blue, dark blue. Still, she
seems... familiar. That warm smile...

>>>Shinji: Mom?

>>>Touji: If thats your mom your a circus freak.

>>>Kensuke: Your mom's a hotty!

>>>Shinji: Don't talk about my mom like that.

>>>touji: But she is.

>>>Hikari: You look alot like her.

"Those are only shadows. Images created in your mind by EVA to keep
you here. Illusions that EVA weaves to trap people. People like me. They
are not those you love. Can't you tell?"
I look at Rei and Asuka. And I see. Their eyes are cold. As are
their bodies.
'These are... illusions.'
Rei and Asuka disappear. I can now hear a heart beating. Warm. I
feel warm now.
"Do not let yourself be tempted by EVA."

>>>Shinji: Can I at least crush fathers car?

>>>Touji: You've been a good boy, so just this once.

A scent.
A very familiar scent. Rei? Asuka? Misato? No. Someone else...
'Mother!'
She's close, so close...
'Mother!!! I'm coming Mother!'
"No, you mustn't. That's not your destiny. You must go back. To
protect them. To give them your love."

>>>Asuka: Thats sweet, your mom wants you to go out with me.

>>>Shinji: She said 'them'

>>>Asuka: Mearly a formality.

>>>Rei returns: No, she ment both of us.

>>>Touji/Kensuke; EW!!

>>>Hikari: Ayanami-san! you didn't clean your face.

>>>Rei: Oh 'returns to bathroom to...wash'

'But I'll hurt them...'
"It doesn't matter. They need you. As you need them."
A voice. I hear a faint voice. A familiar voice. But not it's not
Mother's... Someone... almost as important...
'Shinji! Give back my Shinji! Give him back...'
Mi... Misato...?
"You must go back. They need you. Protect them well. I will help if
I can..."

>>>Shinji: But you left me..

>>>Asuka: Not fully, she's talking to you now right?

>>>Shinji: Asuka..thanks 'smiles.'

>>>Touji: Cut the sugery sweat scene please.

Mother?
"Go now."
>>>Kensuke: You bother me.
* * *

I woke up with a start. This wasn't a dream. I was sure of it.
Somehow, this had happened. While I had been in EVA. It had been real.
Mother. Was she... was she... inside... EVA? This feeling of warmth
I had always felt, each time I synchronized with EVA, was it... her? Was
this why Unit-01 kept protecting me?

>>>Shinji: Maybe..Asuka what happend to your mother?

>>>Asuka: Well she..she..KAMI-SAMA SHE'S LIKE YOUR MOM!!

>>>Shinji: Are mothers...bet their friends.

>>>Rei: The do talk to each other, and miss Akagi.

>>>Asuka doing a dance of pure joy in the middle of the room then sits.

>>>Touji/Kensuke/Hikari: What was that?

But... how did this happen? Mother was supposed to be... dead. How
could she be... in EVA?
This didn't make sense. Yet... in a way... I knew it was true.
So many questions. And the only one who had the answers wouldn't
probably give them to me...
"I... I won't let you down... Mother. I'll keep them safe..."
I would finish this, I would fight all the remaining Angels, then I
would seek the truth. Until then... I would keep all that I knew only to
myself.
"Thank you... Mother."

>>>Rei: You know secrets will not help.

>>>Shinji: Not a secret now is it?

>>>Hikari: To us, but the movie people.

>>>Touji: Its all a movie anyway right?

>>>Shinji/Asuka: I hope not.

* * *

I was finishing drying my hair when I heard the door of the
apartment open. Then I saw a blur of red, black and purple and next
thing I knew, I was squeezed into a powerful hug.

>>>Rei: Can the major be trusted?

>>>Touji: The towel feel.

>>>Asuka: AAAAAHHHHHH!

>>>Hikari: Oh my!

"Shinji! Here you are! I was so worried..."
I tried to say something, but the fact that my face was embedded into
Misato's ample bosom didn't make such an action possible.

>>>Kensuke: Can we please?

>>>Shinji: What?

>>>Touji: Touch your face?

>>>Shinji: Get off it.

>>>Touji: Lucky son of a...

I know some
people would have been envious if they had seen this scene,

>>>Touji/Kensuke: You have no idea how much.

but quite
frankly, I would rather have been able to breathe...
"Shinji..."
I squirmed to escape. Only after a few seconds did Misato realize
exactly what she was doing and let me go. Once I had filled my lungs
with fresh air, I looked at her. She wasn't crying, but she seemed on
the verge to. She gave me a warm smile, then she took a more serious
expression. That wasn't good...

>>>Shinji: Not another chew out!

>>>Hikari: You do deserve it.

>>>Touji: I'd gladly take you place.

>>>Kensuke: Why can't she order me around?

"Don't you ever dare leave the infirmary again without my
authorization, young man!"
Facing that side of Misato, I suddenly felt really, really small...

>>>Shinji: Why haven't I picked up the towel yet?

>>>Rei: Why doesn't the camera pan down.

>>>Asuka: If it did, I'd have to kill him.

>>>Shinji: Why me?

>>>Asuka: A repeat of the scene where you saw Wondergirl naked.

>>>Rei: He did?

>>>Hikari: you...were in the bathroom I think.

I looked down at the floor and mumbled an apology.
"Go... gomen..."
"It's okay Shinji..."
As I raised my head to look at her again, her warm smile was back.
"You just had us worried. Until I saw Touji, I thought that you had
ran away..."
"I'll never run away again, Misato. I... I've now found a reason to
pilot."

>>>Kensuke: Women.

>>>Shinji: Actually got it right.

>>>Asuka/Rei: WHAT!!

>>>Shinji: Protection is a reason.

>>>Group: Oh.

Misato sighed in relief. I guess this took some weight off her
shoulders.
"That's good, Shinji. Now, get ready, you need to come to NERV.
Ritsuko wants to run a few tests on you, just to make sure there are no
side-effects from what happened. You know what happened, don't you?"

>>>Asuka: Bet if they didn't get you out they'd turn the lcl into powder and
>>> sell it to the American astronauts.

>>>Touji: Shinji flavored tang.

"Touji told me."
"You don't remember anything?"
I thought about those flashbacks I've been having recently...
"I... I... No. I don't remember..."
I hated lying to her. But I couldn't tell her about that. What had
happened was so weird. And I didn't want the Commander to know... that I
knew.

>>>Shinji: He'd never leave my entry plug.

>>>Rei: He knows.

>>>Asuka: Why does that not suprize me?

>>>Hikari: He just knows everything.

"I see..."
Misato clearly wasn't buying what I just told her, but she didn't
insist on asking questions. I was grateful. However, I would have to be
more careful with Dr. Akagi.
"Can... can I at least eat breakfast. Rei said... well... she
prepared breakfast..."
Misato smiled.
"I guess a few more minutes wont hurt."

>>>Asuka: Vegan food...I could never live with you.

>>>Rei: Nor I with you, to slovenly.

>>>Kensuke: Just made to hate each other.

* * *

I think the girls were more pleased to see me back than I had
imagined. When I went back to Rei's... no... *their* apartment, a huge
breakfast was waiting for me.

>>>Shinji: And only half of it is burnt.

>>>Touji: Other half...is..undercooked.

>>>Asuka/Rei: 'I need to learn to cook'

On one side of the table, I could see
traditional Japanese cuisine: miso soup, fish, rice balls...

>>>Guys: Rei.

>>>Shinji: But to actually cook fish.

>>>Rei: To some cultures fish isn't a meat.

The other
side of the table hosted western style meals: omelets, sausages,
bacon... In the middle lay a plate of toasts with different kind of jam.

>>>Hikari: I could do better.

>>>Shinji: Me too.

>>>Kensuke: How much do they plan to cram down your throat before you pass out?

Behind the table, both girls waited, each of them wearing aprons,
expectation in their eyes.
Didn't they say that they wouldn't fight for me anymore?
As I sat at the table, I was faced with a cruel dilemma. Which food
should I taste first. I already knew that Rei's food was excellent, and
I could guess that the Japanese meals were her doing. I could recognize
her miso soup simply from the smell.

>>>Shinji: And the fact Asuka hates miso.

>>>Asuka: Its seaweed! ( Sorry but I just can't stand miso seru.)

Asuka's cooking however... She
never really bothered to cook back when she lived with me and Misato. I
didn't know what to expect. But the worst part of the dilemma was that I
was afraid to hurt one of the girls by tasting the other girl's food
first. Well, no real choice. I had to start with something...

>>>Touji: You worry WAY to much.

>>>Kensuke: And with his mega-playboy powers he can escape it anyway.

"Rei, I already know that the meals you cook are always excellent.
You don't mind if start with Asuka's cooking, do you?"

>>>A collective groan is heard.

>>>Kensuke: Told you.

Rei blushed slightly at the compliment.
"No... not at all.."
So I picked up a fork and took a piece of the omelet. I was more
used to chopsticks, but I still managed to get a big bite out of it. It
was rather spicy, but otherwise, quite good.

>>>All but Asuka: What a dumb thing a fork.

>>>Asuka: Better than using sticks. (did I mention my chop stick skill is lacking?)

"That's very good Asuka," I complimented. It was now her turn to
blush. "You never told us you could cook so well."
"Well, I couldn't really. But I took the time to teach myself. I
like Rei's cooking, but I'm not a vegetarian like her. I need some meat
from time to time! And I was tired of Japanese food!"

>>>Shinji: Is that true?

>>>Asuka: I'm trying to learn.

>>>Hikari: And breaking all my dishes in the process.

>>>Touji and Kensuke just fall on the ground laughing.


"I see."
I had to admit that I was a bit disappointed. After all, Rei had
learned to cook to please me. I let out a small sigh. I was stupid. It
was rather dumb, not to mention selfish, to expect them to only do
things to please me. They had their own lives after all...

>>>Kensuke: Which they use in the persuit of gaining your attention.

>>>Shinji: Ken you know thats a lie, I'm mearly something to waste time on.

>>>Asuka just looks at Rei, they scowl then return to watching.

Maybe it was my turn to try and do something for them...
"What day is it, anyway?" I asked between taking sips of Rei's soup
and bites from Asuka's omelet, the soup helping to wash down the spices.
"Friday."
"So both of you are free tomorrow, right?"
Both girls nodded and gave me quizzical looks.
"Then I can take both of you out tomorrow?"

>>>Touji: I sense a distrubance in the force.

>>>Kensuke: Thats my line, anyway Shin-man you are an idiot.

>>>Shinji: Why?

>>>Touji: You're going to get yourself killed.

Asuka's eyes lit up.
"Where?! Where?!"
"Er... Any place you girls want to go."
The girls looked at each other... and grinned. It was such a strange
sight it was almost scary. Suddenly, I expected the worst.

>>>Shinji: Thats what I always expect, I plan to get hit by a stray bullet
>>> taking the garbage out some days.

>>>Hikari: Shinji, you are the ultimate pessimest.

* * *

"What happened between Rei and Asuka?" I asked, while Misato was
driving us to NERV. She seemed slightly perturbed by this question, as
she slowed down.

>>>Shinji/Asuka: Misato...slow?

"Well... they've become friends..."

>>>Hikari: I wasn't aware, hey is the sun going to rise tomarow?

"I saw that. And that's what they told me. But... I have the
impression something isn't right here. I mean... they were practically
enemies. I just... can't believe things have changed... so much."
"You've got to understand how much they care about you, Shinji. When
I told them that you had been... absorbed... into EVA... they didn't
take it well.

>>>Asuka: Why would we care if you may die, let me think on that.

>>>Rei: The major is stating overly obvious facts to confuse?

Especially since we had no idea at the time if we could
get you out or not. It's been hard... for everyone."
Misato's expression slightly darkened. I knew that she was talking
about herself as well.
"I... I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault..."

>>>Shinji: Well actually it looked like it was.

>>>Hikari: Offering yourself to save your loved ones..how heroic.

>>>Touji: I smell something, Hikari you step in something because that
>>> smelled like shit.

She took her eyes off the road an instant to smile at me.
Pedestrians leapt for safety.

>>>Kensuke: To late they might add.

>>>Shinji: Ouch..she'll need surgery.

"Rei quickly reverted to her old self," explained Misato. "It became
hard to get more than a 'yes' or 'no' out of her mouth. I know that her
friend Hotaru was worried about her.

>>>Shinji: KILL THE EVIL ONE!!

>>>Rei lightly smacks his head.

>>>Shinji: Sorry..what the hell is that.

Even before she got interested in
you, Rei had showed some spark of life from time to time.

>>>Shinji: A smack here and their.

>>>Rei: I was upset, hind sight now proves you to be correct though, I apologize.

>>>Asuka sticks her finger down her thoat: 'Lil miss suck up!'

But when she
learned that you may not come back... she just seemed completely drained
of all life. I was worried about her myself."
Was it because she had thought I wouldn't come back? If I ever chose
Asuka... would she be like that again?
"Asuka became much more aggressive than usual.

>>>Touji and Kensuke pale.

>>>Shinji: Not give reasons for hitting people?

>>>Asuka: Only slow me down.

She didn't want to
believe in the possibility that you might be 'dead' and kept ranting
about how you were a jerk, killing that Angel then running off so that
she couldn't beat you to a pulp."
I couldn't help but smile at that, thinking at what had happened
this morning. She had, indeed, beat me up.

>>>Hikari: And..almost ground something into a pulp.

>>>Touji: A blow all us men felt.

"I think both of them felt guilty that they had failed to stop that
Angel, therefore protect you. They were getting dangerously depressed.
One night, I think we were out of food. We... neglected to buy some. I
was... well... drunk... so I told Asuka to go to Rei's to borrow
something to eat. I didn't see Asuka until the next day."

>>>Shinji: I can assume what happend.

>>>Asuka/Rei: Knew it would happen eventually.

>>>Hikari: Her apartment survived?

Misato made a long pause. I started to worry.
"I found them in the morning on the floor of Rei's apartment, in
each others arms. Their clothes were all messed up and they were covered
in bruises and some blood. From what they were willing to tell me later,
they had an argument over Rei wearing one of your shirts.

>>>Shinji: Why would that be a problem?

>>>Touji: Women, who can tell.

>>>Asuka: Not YOUR shirt.

>>>Rei mentally sizing herself up in one of Shinji's shirts.

The argument
deteriorated as they started to blame each other about what had
happened, how badly they treated you and how they had been incompetent
to protect you. But when I saw them in the infirmary, after they woke
up... they seemed... changed... like they were... friends.

>>>Kensuke: Think they could ever really be friends?

>>>Touji: Those two, maybe for his sake...lucky bastard.

>>>Kensuke: He can have those two..both scare the hell out of me.

>>>Asuka/Rei/Hikari: What are you two talking about?

>>>Shinji: 'Thank you Kami-sama for distracting them' I'll get some drinks
>>> 'RUN BOY RUN!'

My guess is
that they had solved their differences during that fight. I can't be
sure, they don't want to talk about it. When I think back at the first
time I saw them hugging each other... it was a rather... disturbing
sight."
I nodded, having felt the same way myself all morning.
"And so, Asuka moved in with Rei?"

>>>Touji: Ken how bout another bet?

>>>Kensuke: What?

>>>Touji: They drop Shinji and start dating each other?

>>>Hikari: Good think Shinji-kun won't see what we do to you.

>>>Touji: ASUKA!

>>>KEnsuke:AYANAMI!

>>> Both girls replay a scene in the movie where 'pulp' is concerned.

>>>Shinji returns with sodas: They said something that bad?

>>>Girls: Yes.

"After a few days. It seemed like the best way for their friendship
to live through their competition over you."
"I see..."
So they had fought over me. No wonder they didn't want to tell me.
"You're lucky Shinji. They both love you very much."
"I know Misato-san."
I smiled again. Yes, life was complicated, but it felt good to know
that someone cared about me.

>>>Hikari: If you just opened your eyes sometimes.

>>>Asuka: Wouldn't even need to open them alot, its obvious..well maybe not.

"We're here," announced Misato, as she parked her car into it's
designated place. The prospect of having to go through Dr. Akagi's tests
was not a pleasant one, but I was still smiling when we joined her.

>>>Rei: You are allowed cloths and not guawked at.

>>>Shinji: You are?

>>>Rei:....'mental note- still need to tell him'

* * *

As I had expected, Dr. Akagi's tests were very boring and very
tiring. She took I don't know how many fluid and other kind of samples,

>>>Shinji: Now what would she need 'that' for!

>>>Hikari: See if your sterile?

>>>Asuka: Akagi's one sick cookie.

then had me go through dozens of different machines, before finally
giving me a plug suit and shoving me into an entry plug for synch and
harmonics testing. The results? If we didn't consider my synch ratio
being lower by one point, everything was all normal.

>>>Rei: I guess you do know how I feel during my tests.

>>>Shinji: Like a toothbrush..a very nude toothbrush.

So, I had been
bored to death just for nothing. I chuckled at the thought. Asuka was
usually the one who would complain about that.
Once I was freed from all of the doctor's tests,

>>>Shinji: FREEDOM!

>>>Asuka: Until tomarow when we have the group tests.

>>>Hikari: I don't envy you guys at all.

I came back to the
apartment to realize that my trials were far from over. I sighed in
desperation as I looked at the battlefield Misato called home. Images of
Rei's perfectly cleaned apartment came to mind. I sighed again. In
resignation, I started to pick up empty beer cans. School would be over
in less then two hours. It was enough time to at least give the place a
better look.

>>>Shinji: I just keep getting punished for things I had no control over.

>>>Rei: That will condition you to never think of leaving again.

>>>Shinji: But you never seen Misato's apartment without my cleaning before.

>>>Asuka/Hikari: It can't be that bad.

>>>Shinji: Pen-Pen doesn't clean after himself you know.

>>>Girls:....

My projections happened to be right, as I managed to roughly clean
everything up in an hour and a half. Tired, I retired to my room. I was
about to let myself slump on my bed, when I realized something was
wrong. This place was clean. Really clean. No dust. You could smell it
in the air. A look around confirmed that everything that I owned seemed
to be here,

>>>Hikari: Who put it back?

>>>Shinji: Doesn't hurt that I only own my SDAT, tapes, and cloths.

except maybe the shirt Rei apparently had permanently
borrowed. I'd have to ask her about that. I was curious to know why she
had kept one of my shirts.

>>>Asuka: I'd like to know why anybody would want one.

>>>Shinji: I don't have to many.

>>>Rei: 'still sizing herself up in one of his shirts.'

Was it in order to somehow feel me close to
her?
In a corner of the room, I noticed my cello. It wasn't in the right
place, so I picked it up to move it, but changed my mind and exited my
room with it in hand and sat down on a chair in the kitchen. The last
time I had played, it had been with a depressed mind.

>>>Asuka: Then I kissed you.

>>>Rei: That must have been why he was depressed.

>>>Hikari: Stop it please 'their getting worse and worse..'

I felt happy now.
I wanted to see if the feeling of playing it would be different. It did.
The melody was nicer, more joyful. I seemed to be playing better than
usual. I closed my eyes and lost myself in playing the instrument.
I only opened my eyes when I heard the door's apartment open. Rei
walked in, smiling, followed by an Asuka most clearly in a foul mood.

>>>Shinji: What I do now?

>>>Hikari: Give her time to think of something.

>>>Asuka: Hikari!

>>>Hikari: Sorry but with 'them' out I felt I had to.

She kept mumbling to herself and I could sometimes pick up a few German
curses. Apparently, it had not been a good school day for her.
"Are we interrupting you?" asked Rei.
I realized that I had stopped playing.
"I... I was just practicing a bit... I can stop..."
"No. Go on."
I looked at Rei. She just smiled. Then I looked at Asuka. She gave
me a "I don't care" look.

>>>Shinji: Thats one good thing about you Asuka, can always tell how you feel
>>> with one look.

>>>Asuka gives him the shut your face look.

So, I resumed my playing, pulling the bow
across the strings of my cello, the rich, deep chords rumbling
throughout the small apartment. I regretted not having practiced more,

>>>Hikari: Being liquid couldn't have helped either.

>>>A collective groan from the floor rumbles through the apartment.

>>>Rei: They regained their senses.

listening to the occasional sour note that snuck past despite my best
intentions. It wasn't often I had an audience, and I really wanted to
play well for them.
Rei sat on her knees, watching me play from the living room. Her
expression was the same as it always was,

>>>Asuka: Non-existant.

>>>Rei: I can show expression.

>>>Hikari: Not readable.

but the interest in her red
eyes was genuine. I started to wonder if she'd actually ever sat down
and listened to music before. I mean, just listened to it. I was sure
she'd heard music in her life, but she showed such interest now that I
was beginning to think that she might not have realized what it was for
before now.

>>>Rei: Music: the compilation of sounds produced by various intruments.

>>>Hikari: Thats...such a cold definition.

Her eyes watched the movements of my hands on the strings with rap
concentration. She seemed enthralled with the variety of notes that a
single pass of the bow could entail. A moment later her eyes rose to
look into mine, and she smiled. It seemed like a smile of thanks for
this new experience. I smiled back.

>>>Asuka: Don't you play the violin?

>>>Rei: Correct.

>>>Shinji: I'm so confused right now.

>>>Asuka: Good 'smiles at him.'

Glancing slightly beyond the blue-haired girl, I looked at the other
figure present. Unlike Rei, who was sitting straight and proper, Asuka
had sprawled herself across as much floor space as possible. Arms and
legs thrown outwards from her body, she lay on her back and looked up at
the ceiling, the very image of relaxed energy.

>>>Shinji blushes: Thats a scene.

>>>Rei scowls: 'Mental note- learn to relax'

>>>Asuka: That looks like fun.

I had expected Asuka to grow tired of my playing and tell me to stop
that noise, but she didn't. She just stayed there, lying on the floor. I
snuck glances at her throughout my presentation and noticed that her
features seemed to slowly relax and shift to a small smile of
contentment.
Seeing this made the smile on my own face grow larger, but I quickly
ducked my head.

>>>Touji: Throwing things at him already?

>>>Asuka: Why couldn't you stay like that..it was getting better with you
>>> goobers not paying attention.

Better make sure that she didn't see my grin and somehow
guess the 'music soothes the savage beast' line that kept dancing
through my head.

>>>Hikari busts out laughing, Shinji snickers.

>>>Asuka: I am not a beast, I'm a delicate and refined woman.

>>>Rei: That enjoys enflicting pain on people.

>>>Asuka: Only those that piss me off.

>>>Shinji: Sorry..sorry..just I've never really seen you that relaxed.

I wasn't interested in again feeling the fury of her fists.
I played like this for probably fifteen minutes. On the floor, Asuka
seemed to be slowly falling asleep. A bit closer to me, Rei had closed
her eyes, but the smile on her face showed that she was still enjoying
my music. This peaceful atmosphere was soon broken by the arrival of
Misato.

>>>Kensuke: Good, If I had to listen you you butcher any more songs..

>>>Touji: And Misato makes every scene complete.

>>>Hikari: DAMN IT! that was so romantic!

>>>Shinji: It was?

>>>Asuka: Kinda like a saronaid.

"Hi guys!"
Then, Misato froze at this scene of peace and calmness that we were
displaying. This was not something you could usually see in the
Katsuragi household.

>>>Shinji: Not until she's finished her third six pack and she and pen-pen crash on
>>> the couch.

"Thank you," whispered Rei, before getting up and heading for the
kitchen where she started to make some tea.
Asuka regained her senses and ran toward the telephone, leaving me
with the Major.
"Well, I see that you guys are all here, so we can now have our big
dinner party!" said Misato, all smiles.
"Party?" I asked, a bit suspicious of her intentions.
"Don't worry! Just the four of us. And I won't get drunk, I
promise!"

>>>Shinji: Plastered?

>>>Asuka: Shit-faced?

>>>Shinji: Thats before drunk.

>>>Asuka: Right how about...hammered?

>>>Shinji: Bingo!

Katsuragi Misato? Promising not to get drunk? Now, that was
something...
"The food will be delivered in a few minutes!" announced Asuka as
she came back to the living room.
"Take out?" I asked, surprised. We rarely ate take out. Especially
since Rei and I usually took care of all the cooking. And now that Asuka
seemed to know how to cook, it seemed even more odd.
"Anta baka? It's a dinner party! You don't expect us to cook, do
you?"

>>>Shinji: No, I expected that 'I' would do the cooking.

>>>Touji: House-broken.

>>>Hikari: And in record time too.

>>>Asuka/Rei: We're good.

I guess her reasoning made sense.

* * *

True to Asuka's words, the food soon arrived and we took places
around the low table in the living room. Misato was facing me, while I
had Rei and Asuka at my sides.
"Feels strange. I had almost forgotten the taste of tea..."
It was strange indeed to see Misato drinking tea instead of beer or
coffee.
"You should stop drinking alcohol. It is damaging to your health."
"Yeah, I know Rei... maybe I will..."

>>>Shinji and Asuka burst into fits of laughter.

>>>Hikari: Whats so funny?

>>>Shinji: Mi..Misato not drink?

>>>Asuka: Like asking Shin-baka not to apologize.

>>>Shinji: Or Asuka not to jump to conclusions about everything.

Misato took another long sip of tea, before speaking again, a wide
smile on her face.
"Shinji... Asuka... Rei... you guys are like the children I never
had... and probably never will.

>>>Touji/Kensuke: I'll be the father!!

>>>Hikari: She doesn't want dog babies.

I... I'm glad we're finally all together
again. There are only three Angels left now. I truly hope that we can
have a similar dinner once they are defeated. This is my wish."
"Come on, Misato! You're still young! I'm sure Kaji would be
delighted to give you one or two babies of your own..." said Asuka, a
wide grin almost splitting her face in two.
Usually, Misato was the one who would tease us. But now, it was her
turn to blush like a tomato.
"What?! It's... it's not like that..."

>>>Asuka: Sure it isn't 'low growl.'

>>>Hikari: I don't think Kaji-san would be a good father.

>>>Shinji: Better than mine I bet.

>>>Touji: Thats saying alot.

"Where were you last night?"
Misato face was suddenly as pale as Rei's.
"Er... Well... Who... who would want to have children of his
anyway?!"
"If it wasn't for Shin-chan, maybe I wouldn't mind."
Everyone at that table, with the exception of Asuka, were suddenly
speechless.
"But I'd rather have one from Shin-chan..."

>>>Asuka: I KNEW IT!

>>>Rei: Her plan has finally been brought to light, she is a pedophile.

>>>Touji/Kensuke: MEGA-PLAYBOY!

>>>Shinji: She...she's only kidding.

I gulped. Rei glared at Asuka. I didn't think she liked the way this
discussion was going. I know I sure didn't...
"I wonder what it would look like? Maybe a cute little girl with my
hair and his dark blue eyes..." Asuka had an almost dreamy expression on
her face. It was really scary.

>>>Asuka full body blush: Let..him touch me with..that thing...ne..ne.

>>>Rei: You are failing to convince us.

>>>Hikari: I saw how you were staring during that scene.

>>>Touji/Kensuke: Shin-man, what did we miss?

>>>Shinji: Nothing I'd like to rember.

"Hey, Rei-chan? If you had a kid with
Shin-chan here, what do you think it would look like?" asked Asuka with
a grin, now back to her usual self.
Rei's reaction probably wasn't what Asuka expected it to be. Her
chopsticks fell on the table. Her expression changed from a calm one to
one of utter sadness. Tears rolled freely from her cheeks and fell in
her plate.
"Rei?"

>>>Asuka: I bet it'd be a freak baby. ne Shinji, wonder...girl?

>>>Rei's face unabashed with saddness and is truelly on the brink of tears.

>>>Shinji: Rei..

>>>And their was much silence as the movie played.

As if the mention of her name had pulled her out of a daze, she got
up and rushed out of the apartment. We stood there, lost and confused
over what just happened.
"What's with her?

>>>Touji: Think you snapped something in her.

>>>Kensuke: Whow..never thought I'd see that in my life.

I... I wasn't serious. I'm not even interested in
having children. All I want is to pilot EVA..."
"I don't know. I'll... I'll go after her. Excuse me."
That look on her face... I had to know what was wrong. I think that
Asuka tried to come along, but Misato told her to stay.

>>>Hikari: Its so touching and sad.

>>>Shinji: Rei..whats wrong?

>>>Rei: Watch.

* * *

I found Rei in her room, her face buried in her pillow, crying like
I had never seen her cry. I approached her in silence, not knowing what
to do, or what to say.
"Rei..."

>>>Touji: Yeah thats her name.

>>>Asuka: Sssh.

I put a hand on her shoulder, then moved it to her head, where I
caressed her soft unruly blue hair.
"What's wrong Rei?""

>>>Kensuke: She's stuck in a sappy scene.

>>>Hikari: SSSSSHHH!

She turned her head a bit and looked at me. I felt as if my heart
would break.
"Rei..."
"I... I... I..."

>>>Shinji: This isn't going to be good is it.

>>>Asuka: Well we hit a high point time for a low one.

The words just kept dying in her mouth. Again she started to cry.
Not knowing what else to do, I took her in my arms. I felt her grip my
shirt tightly and she cried hard against my shoulder, until she cried
herself asleep.

>>>Rei simply stares at the screen.

>>>Group: 'This is just surreal.'
* * *

The next morning, Rei apparently felt better. She came to Misato's
and asked us to forgive her outburst. When we asked what had happened,
she simply said that she didn't want to explain.

>>>Asuka: THE HELL SHE WON'T!

>>>Rei: It is my choice not to discuss such matters.

>>>Asuka: You can't just do 'that' and not tell us!

>>>Shinji: Asuka...just let her be.

>>>Asuka: But.

>>>Shinji firmly: No.

>>>Asuka: 'Kami-sama I love it when he's forceful!'

We didn't push the
matter further, but from the look on Misato's face, I could tell that
she didn't want to give up yet. I wasn't sure if she was worried as our
guardian, or as our commanding officer. Maybe both.

>>>Touji: She isn't Ayanami's guardian.

>>>Kensuke: Scratch that answer off then.

After breakfast, the girls enlightened me as to their plans for the
day. At first, Asuka seemed a bit uneasy, I guessed she felt guilty for
whatever had happened the night before, but the prospect of the day's
activities quickly made her forget all about that incident.
Their plans were really quite simple. It wasn't really a surprise,
with Tokyo-3 getting more and more deserted, there wasn't much to do
here. First they wanted to go to the mall for shopping...
"The mall?"
"Yes! We really need to buy you some new clothes!"
"Buy me some clothes? What's wrong with my clothes?"

>>>Asuka: Their boring.

>>>Rei: The leave to much to the imagination.

>>>Hikari: Bland.

>>>Touji: You look like a mental patient.

"You always wear the same clothes," answered Rei flatly.

>>>Shinji: Rei...

>>>Rei: In the movie I have different cloths.

>>>Touji: But now you don't.

>>>Hikari: Looks like the mall for us next weekend.

"You have no style at all! Just those damn school shirts and some
occasional T-shirts!"
"But I don't need new clothes!"
"Did Rei need new clothes?" asked Asuka, pointing at Rei who today
was wearing a blue dress with long black leather boots, most likely
picked up by Misato.

>>>Shinji: Good taste.

>>>Asuka: And me?

>>>Shinji: Um..'blushes.'

>>>Touji: Turn your face down, blush to much.

I didn't know what to say. Rei did look cute. So I just shut up and
let myself be dragged along.
The rest of the day had been planned as simply as well. We would
carry back our packages to the apartment and have lunch here, then go
back and spend whatever money we would have left at the mall again, then
come back to the apartment, then I would treat them to dinner and
finally we would go watch a movie.

>>>Touji: With what money?

>>>Shinji: Mine.

>>>Kensuke: Having two girls must suck.

>>>Touji: I bet thats not the only thing that ge....

>>>Girls: Good boy.

And if we weren't too tired, Asuka
wanted to try some discotheque she had heard about before it would be
closed down. Rei and I shared worried looks. I didn't really know how to
dance and she seemed to be in the same situation. We both sighed as our
redhead companion lead us toward the mall.

>>>Shinji/Rei: Dancing?

>>>Asuka: I'll teach you, If you behave.

* * *

I sighed as the girls finally left me alone one moment to enter into
a lingerie shop. "No perverts allowed" was the warning Asuka gave me.
Frankly, I had to admit, this was the last place I wanted to follow them
in.

>>>Touji: Bet they'd model it for him.

>>>Kensuke: I rember when you followed Mis..

>>>Touji: SHUT IT!

>>>Hikari: I've heard enough 'opens her bag.'

>>>Asuka: Bout time!

>>>Touji: NO..Hikari-chan please!

>>>Hikari pulls a metal hammer out of her bag with the word 'Hentai' imprinted on it
>>> and proceeds to 'mark' him with it.

>>>Shinji/Kensuke: The hentai hammer..poor Touji.

If I did, I was sure that they would take an immense pleasure into
torturing me by asking me to judge what would look the best. They had
already teased me enough when they had tried the swimsuits... It had
been pleasant to look at, but I found myself blushing too often for my
liking.

>>>Rei: Will need to rember that.

>>>Asuka: I rember how you looked at me in that two-piece.

>>>Shinji: Is it my fault you....

>>>Kensuke/Hikari: WHOH!

I sighed again. Dealing with one was difficult already. Dealing with
both of them at the same time was exhausting...
I was seeking some place to crash down when suddenly, something
caught my eye. I'm not sure yet why. Maybe part of me longed for a
definitive end to this situation. One thing was sure, whatever it was,
something prompted me to look closer at the window of that small jewelry
store; more precisely at the engagement ring that was displayed there.
It was rather simple. A gold ring mounted by a single diamond. But
still, I felt attracted to it.
Minutes later, I carried it in one of my pockets. However, I still
had to choose who I was going to give it to...

>>>Asuka: That would look perfect on me.

>>>Rei: It appears to be in my size.

>>>Asuka: Mine!

>>>Rei: Mine!

>>> this goes on for some time.


[To be continued...]



Next time:

The One I Love Is...
Chapter 8 - Broken Hearts

>>>Shinji: Hikari..your taste in movies is lacking.

>>>Hikari: Why?

>>>Shinji: I'd never hurt either of them.

>>>KEnsuke puts his finger down his throat.

Omake:

Shinji relaxed into the bath, ducking his head under the water.
After a bit, he came back up, albeit reluctantly. He lazily rested his
head against the back of the tub and fell asleep.
"Do you want to become one with me?" A naked Touji asked as he
leaned forward.

>>>Shinji: Oh
>>>Kensuke My
>>>Touji: Kami-sama.

>>>Hikari: Shinji-kun?

>>>Asuka/Rei: HOW BOUT A BET!

Needless to say, Shinji freaked out and snapped awake, but not in
that order.
Holding his head in his hands, Shinji promised never to read Rei's
collection of Yaoi manga ever again.

(My thanks to Godsend777 for this little omake)



Author's notes:

Some may wonder about what exactly happened between Rei and Asuka. I
agree, it seems very sudden. But don't forget, this is from Shinji's
perspective. He wasn't there to witness a thing. However, Axel Terizaki
wrote a side story for me to cover this "gap". It's available on the
TOILI website (URL on top of this file).

The name Mari, for Touji's sister, was taken from the well known "Neon
Genesis Evangellydonut", by Andrew Huang, from part 3.5. It's cute and
I've seen it used in other fics. One of my partners, Godsend777, used it
himself for his TOILI side story, "For the sake of love and duty". For
the sake of continuity, not to mention because it's a cute name and I
was too lazy to try to think of some other name, I used it. But first of
all, I would rather like to think of it as a small tribute to Andrew's
work (yep! You all guessed right, the question you see in a lot of
fics... "When can we expect the next chapter of Evangellydonut, Andrew?"
- if he answers that, I'll be overjoyed, that means he read TOILI... ^_^
).

Those who have read "All I want is you", Jeremy's Chapter 6 lemon side
story, will have recognised Rei's reaction near the end of part 2. It
was something I had intended to include in TOILI almost from the
beginning, but couldn't find a place until now. However, I decided to
make it vague, so that it could lead to possible scenarios for those who
haven't read the lemon. The intent of that plot device is to show that
Rei isn't perfect. Many people where under that impression with the
first chapters of TOILI. However, with chapter six and now seven, we see
that Rei has her flaws like Asuka does, that she is afraid and doesn't
trust Shinji enough to expose her secrets, even if she does love him.
Keeping the truth locked away is more secure then risk facing the pain
of loosing Shinji. I've seen Rei being described as the incarnation of
innocence. I disagree. Someone truly innocent would never had secrets to
begin with. This doesn't mean that Rei is bad. It only means that she is
human. Which, in my opinion, is much more attractive.


---


Translation notes:

Gomen : "Sorry". This time, one of Shinji's trademark "lines".



Alain Gravel
rakna@globetrotte.qc.ca
August 27th 1999

Started on June 28th 1999
First pre-reader draft, Part 1, finished on August 13th 1999
First pre-reader draft, Part 2, finished on August 27th 1999
Second pre-reader draft, finished on August 31st 1999
Final draft, finished on September 10th 1999
Final revisions on March 13th 2000
>>>Mst finished January 24 2002

(end Mst segment)

Hikari: Its getting very dramatic.

Touji: Its getting long.

Kensuke: We're out of snacks!

Shinji: Please stop fighting you two!

Asuka: Only if you tell her that ring was for ME!

Rei: Why would it be?

Hikari: HEY! how about more truth or dare?

Males groan.

Asuka: GREAT IDEA.

Kensuke: I'll go first.

Girls groan.

Kensuke: Hikari, truth or dare.

Hikari: Truth.

Kensuke: Who wins Shinji's heart in this movie.

HIkari: Fine dare.

Kensuke: Kiss Asuka!

Asuka: You sick hentai!

Kensuke: Do it or tell us.

Hikari: Sorry Asuka 'fullfills the dare then washes her mouth out and returns'

Hikari: Shinji-kun, Truth or dare.

Shinji: Truth.

Touji: Boring!

Hikari: Do you have dreams like that?

Shinji blushes: Um..sometimes...

Asuka/Rei/Hikari: ABOUT WHO?

Shinji: I aswered the question its my turn.

Rei: That is crual.

Shinji: Touji

Touji: Dare.

Shinji: Go get some snacks.

Touji: Alright an easy one but from where?

Asuka: Anta-baka! where else...Shop Smart

Shinji: Shop S-mart

Rei: Groovy (Their ya go Chewey :) gotta love Army of Darknes, GO ASH!)

Kensuke: You three are scary.

Touji: Kensuke

Kensuke: Dare.

Touji: You're coming with me.

Kensuke: Shit, Ayanami.

Rei: Dare.

Kensuke snears: Tonight you're going to go to sleep handcuffed to Shinji.

Shinji/Asuka: WHAT!

Rei: Agreed, Asuka.

Asuka: Truth.

Rei: What do you think of Kaji-san.

Asuka: Dare.

Rei: Go with those two for food.

Asuka: DAMNIT Hikari!

Hikari: Um...what?

Asuka: Truth or dare?

Hikari: Dare..'she's scary sometimes'

Asuka: Take my place!

Hikari: Fine lets go.

The three shoppers head out.

Asuka: One thing that pissed me off about this episode.

Shinji: One thing?

Asuka: They said Wondergirl here good take me in a fight, thats b-s!

Rei: Shall we find out for sure 'stands.'

Asuka: You're on! winner gets the handcuffs!

Shinji: Girls..please?

Asuka/Rei: Stay out of this, she's had it coming!

---------------------------------------------------------- --

Next chapter MORTAL KOMBAT!!

he he, well that was fun, hope you liked it.

I'm going to try to finish Toili asap

well tell me what you think of this chaptes mst please

reviews are much appereciated

zentrodie (zentrodie@secondimpact.com) [www.geocities.com/zentrodie.geo]