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Shift Happens
An NGE shortfic
by Shunsuke
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Kensuke walked slowly home from school. He still couldn't
get the picture out of his mind, even if he hadn't seen it
himself.
Toji. Trashed, broken.
His best friend was still stuck in that NERV hospital bed,
probably on death's door with tubes stuck in every possible
place, taking his dignity and keeping him alive just so
nobody would have to answer for what happened.
Kensuke began to wonder just what exactly he got out of
being a mecha fanboy.
A cool afternoon breeze ruffled his shirt, leaving him with
a chill on his chest. Maybe he was still alive and in one
piece, but he felt as hollow as a fallen tree. No giants
were standing in this forest of city blocks now.
He kept walking on toward home, glad to be living alone.
At least he didn't have anyone asking stupid questions he
didn't want to answer. Unlike what he had to deal with at
school.
"K...Kensuke?" came a voice with a pair of running feet.
He turned to see Hikari standing there puffing, hand on
her chest, but couldn't really bring himself to talk to
her.
"I'm...I'm going to see Toji tomorrow...to give him his
homework! Nothing else," she fumbled out, looking at the
ground. "I just wanted to...well, is there anything you
want me to tell him?"
Kensuke began to think maybe not everybody said dumb things
in tough times. He smiled.
Hikari stared at him as he walked away without a word.
"He...he hugged me?" she whispered aloud in surprise.
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End.
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Excuse my being maudlin for a minute.
I'm feeling really low right now. Had a great Hallowe'en
party Saturday, then sat down Sunday and saw a great Formula
1 race I taped. Then I watched The 500, the final CART race
of the season.
Dear God. Greg Moore, 1975-1999.
Shunsuke
"Suddenly, you were gone
From all the lives you left your mark upon."
- Rush, "Afterimage"