Amateur fanfic writer requests C & C
Relationships: An Evangelion Fan-Fiction
2000. Story by Sidewinder. Characters created by Anno Hideaki and
Sadamoto Yoshiyuki. Song lyrics by Bart Howard.
Please send comments and criticism to
Aim9Snake@hotmail.com.
***
After Yui died, Gendo sent Shinji to Hong Kong. Long, an intelligence
officer, enrolled Shinji in the People's Liberation Army Academy. During
the Sino-Japanese conflict over the Spratly Islands, a race riot occurred in
Hong Kong. To survive, Shinji adopted a new identity.
***
1130 hours, Wednesday. Asuka Langley leapt off the diving board. Splash!
She surfaced, savoring the water's cool embrace. "Come in, the water's
fine!" Asuka called to Horaki Hikari, who sat at the pool's edge. She
playfully splashed water at Hikari, who giggled and splashed back.
Aida Kensuke and Suzuhara Toji finished their fourth lap around the First
Middle School racetrack, then spied on the girls. Ikari Shinji, who
finished a few minutes ago, performed one-armed push-ups beside the track.
Asuka stepped out of the pool, then approached the pool's fence. "Hey,
Psycho Gunner!" She waved to Shinji, then sensually ran her hands over her
body. Shinji ignored her.
Kensuke felt a familiar hunger as his eyes traced Asuka's curves. "Hey,
Toji!" he called. "If Asuka's a lesbian, do you think she'll..."
Toji didn^�t hear Kensuke. He stared at Hikari and ignored the other girls,
who spied on Shinji. Toji approached Shinji. "Shinji..." He stopped.
'Can Shinji help me?' Toji asked himself.
"Shinji-kun, you know Asuka pretty well. Will she let you watch her do
another girl?" Kensuke asked.
"Don't you think of anything other than sex and guns?" Toji barked.
"Don't you think of the same things? Admit it, you'd like to shoot Hikari
with your Rocket of Love!" Kensuke joked.
Toji blushed. "That... that's none of your business!" he cried. Shinji
chuckled as Kensuke bombarded his friend with embarrassing questions.
Ayanami Rei stared at Shinji's face. 'So calm,' Rei noted. "Ikari-kun is
calm in Suzuhara's and Aida's presence. He is agitated in his father's
presence. Why?' Rei had a flashback of Shinji confronting his father.
When the 4th Angel attacked, Shinji piloted Evangelion Unit 01 into battle.
Toji and Kensuke left their bomb shelter to watch the battle. Their
curiosity nearly killed them. Shinji took them into the Eva's cockpit, then
fled in order to save Toji and Kensuke. Although Shinji returned and
defeated the Angel, Gendo didn't forgive his son's momentary cowardice.
Three months ago. Supreme Commander Ikari Gendo looked into his son's
eyes. "You disobeyed orders," he accused. Beside him, a computer monitor
showed images from a spy satellite. The Angel's tentacles entered through
the Eva's back and exited through its abdomen. Another monitor showed
images from the cockpit's internal camera. As Shinji screamed, Toji and
Kensuke put their hands over their ears.
"Negative," Shinji answered. "My orders were to protect the innocent."
"By violating security protocols?" The Eva drew its progressive sword,
severed the tentacles, then resumed fleeing.
Through a crack in the office door, Rei saw Shinji clench his fist. "Were
the protocols more important than the lives of two young men?" he asked.
"You abandoned your duty. By doing so, you placed countless innocent lives
in danger..."
"You abandoned your duty!" Shinji accused, slamming his fist against
Gendo's desk. "You abandoned me... in my time of need." Drip, drip. Tears
fell onto the desk. Shinji kneeled before the desk and cried.
Seeing this... saddened Rei. She wanted to embrace the boy, to comfort
him. But she didn't.
"I will not tolerate this insolence! Security!" Gendo called. One of his
bodyguards grabbed Shinji's shoulder. Ignoring the boy's pain, the guard
lifted Shinji off the desk and onto his feet. Crack! The guard fell,
clutching his shattered knee. Shocked by Shinji's sudden kick, the others
stepped away from him.
"I'm not your whore," the pilot snarled. "I won't bend over for you." Rei
hid behind the door as Shinji left the office.
"What a monster," a guard said.
Hearing this... angered Rei. She wanted to confront the guard, to say,
"Ikari-kun is not a monster." But she didn't.
Present day. 'Trust,' Rei answered herself. 'Ikari-kun trusts Suzuhara
and Aida. He is suspicious of his father.' Rei wanted the Ikaris to
resolve their conflicts. It saddened her to see them argue.
Two shadows cloaked her. "Hey, Rei-chan!" Aino Minako called. "What are
you doing?" Rei ignored her classmate, who leaned over her shoulder.
Kino Makoto traced Rei's line of sight. "She's drooling over Shinji's
lean, athletic body," Makoto guessed.
"I am not drooling," Rei said.
Minako examined Rei's cheeks. "You're blushing, you're blushing!" Minako
joked.
"I am not blushing," Rei said, without her typical calm. "I am... cold. I
am leaving." She turned her back to Minako.
Makoto put her hand on Rei's shoulder. "Don't be embarrassed," Makoto
said. "If it makes you feel better, I'll confess. I also fantasize about
Shinji-kun." Rei did not feel better.
"You're so lucky!" Minako cried. "The most popular guy in class has his
eyes on you! I wish Shinji-kun would have his eyes on me!"
"We are coworkers. Our relationship does not extend beyond professional
boundaries." Rei walked away.
"But don't you want more?" Makoto asked.
Rei stopped. "I do not know."
1150 hours. The cold water stung Asuka's eyes. "Damn it, why can't we
have hot showers?" she complained, rinsing her hair. "Is the school too
cheap to..."
Hikari felt a familiar hunger as her eyes traced Asuka's curves. 'She's so
beautiful,' Hikari thought. Few people would describe Asuka as "beautiful,"
due to her tempestuous facade. However, Hikari could see through the
facade. Asuka's heart was caring and compassionate. Asuka feared
loneliness, but she hid her fears, projecting a sense of strength. Like
Hikari herself.
'I can see through her facade. I know her secret fears,' Hikari thought.
'Can she see through my facade? Does she know?' Mrs. Horaki was the
family's pillar of strength, projecting a sense of confidence to her
daughters. After she died, Hikari assumed her mother's responsibilities.
She projected a sense of confidence to her sisters, but Hikari herself felt
vulnerable. As a pillar of strength, Hikari stood alone.
Asuka, who had strength and confidence to spare, changed this. Hikari felt
that she could trust Asuka, that she could lean on Asuka's shoulders when
she felt vulnerable. But if Hikari expressed her feelings for Asuka,
Hikari's family would disinherit her. Kodama, Hikari's older sister,
described homosexuals as "perverts" and "monsters."
'Must I be lonely?' Hikari asked herself. 'Must I choose between my heart
and my family?' She turned on the faucet to wash away her tears.
A gentle hand touched Hikari's shoulder. "Are you okay?" Asuka asked.
Hikari sadly smiled. "I'm fine," she lied. Asuka was suspicious. "I'm
freezing!" Hikari complained. "We should march into the Principal's office
and demand hot showers!"
Asuka's suspicion evaporated. "You go, girl!" she cheered. She had a
beautiful smile.
1600 hours. Rei stood up when the school bell ringed. At 1630 hours, she
was to report to Dr. Akagi, then perform her harmonics tests.
"Bye, Hikari-chan!" Asuka said, smiling. After Hikari left, she frowned.
"Another boring harmonics test," Asuka complained. "Do we have to take
them?"
"The tests are necessary to ascertain our ability to pilot the Evas," Rei
answered.
"But do we have to take them twice every week? The Commander knows we're
good. Can't he loosen up and have us take them once every month? Come on,
Wonder Girl, you don't like the boring harmonics tests, do you?" Asuka
asked.
"I am ordered to take the tests," Rei answered. "I will obey my orders.
My opinion is irrelevant."
Asuka sighed. "There's more to life than obeying orders."
Shinji put his hand on Rei's shoulder. "Rei, baby, please inform Dr. Akagi
that I'll be one hour late."
"Affirmative." Shinji smiled his thanks, then followed Toji out the door.
Rei called the doctor, who sighed.
"Hey, Rei-chan!" Minako called. "Is Shinji really gay? Is he joining Toji
at a love hotel?"
"Impossible!" Makoto answered. "When I asked him, 'Are you gay?' Shinji
laughed! No homosexual is that self-confident!"
"Maybe he is gay, but he doesn't care about our opinions," Asuka guessed.
"Ikari-kun is not a homosexual," Rei admonished. "He is visiting Yuki,
Suzuhara's younger sister. She was wounded when the 3rd Angel attacked.
Ikari-kun feels responsible for Yuki's injuries, and seeks atonement..."
She stopped. "It was not his fault." She walked away.
"Dear God," Minako whispered. "I'm sorry."
'So am I,' Rei noted.
1620 hours. "Bro!" Suzuhara Yuki dropped her cane and ran towards her
brother.
"Be careful!" the nurse warned. Then Yuki fell.
Toji sighed. "Be careful!" He kneeled beside Yuki to help her stand up.
"Miss, I believe this is yours," Shinji said, holding Yuki's cane in his
left hand.
"Thank you," Yuki said.
"So is this," Shinji added, holding a bouquet of yellow roses in his right
hand.
"They're so pretty!" The girl smiled her thanks.
"Shinji-kun, you didn't have to..." Toji began.
"I have to. I'm a romantic," Shinji finished.
"So, where's my wedding ring?" Yuki asked. Shinji laughed.
1730 hours. "Dr. Akagi, what is the basis of a relationship?"
Akagi Ritsuko, head of research for the Evangelion Project, stopped typing
her report. "Why are you interested, Rei?"
"My relationship with Pilot Ikari is set within professional boundaries.
However, Pilot Ikari seeks to extend our relationship beyond these
boundaries. Should I allow him to do so?"
"Well, what do you want in a relationship?" Ritsuko continued.
"I do not know. I do know that there are different kinds of relationships.
Ikari-kun's relationship with Suzuhara and Aida is fraternal. His
relationship with Pilot Langley and yourself is professional." Ritsuko
frowned at the last sentence. "I know you seek a maternal relationship with
Ikari-kun, due to your intimate relationship with the Commander. However,
this relationship will give you influence over Ikari-kun's thoughts and
opinions. He sees this influence as a threat to his independence..."
"So he rejects me," Ritsuko finished.
"Yes," Rei answered. Ritsuko clenched her fist. "I am sorry." Rei walked
away.
"Hey, Rei, baby!" Shinji pecked Rei's cheeks. The girl blushed.
"Leave the poor girl alone, Psycho Gunner!" Asuka barked.
Shinji laughed. "Hey, Doc!" He entered the office. "Sorry, I had to take
care of some business."
Ritsuko sighed. "I understand."
2240 hours. "Requiem" echoed throughout the apartment building. 'Mozart,'
Rei noted. 'A man who, despite the hardships and disappointments he faced,
remained cheerful and vigorous. A man whom Ikari-kun admires.' When Shinji
was sleepless, he would play his piano to ward off nightmares. When the
music had exorcised the nightmares, Rei knocked on her neighbor's door.
"Ikari-kun," she called.
The door opened. "Rei, baby," Shinji greeted. "Sorry, am I bothering
you?"
"Negative. May I listen to you play?"
Shinji smiled. "Sure!" He stepped aside to let Rei enter his apartment.
There was only one room, dominated by a grand piano. A sleeping bag lay at
one corner, a low bookshelf at another. "What would you like to hear?" he
asked.
"The Magic Flute." Rei wanted Shinji to express happiness.
As the music began, Rei sat beside Shinji. 'So warm...' For one moment,
she was free of her loneliness.
1150 hours, Thursday. Toji stared at the "Playboy" centerfold on his
locker door. He sighed, then closed the door. "Shinji-kun, do you have any
experience with... women?" he asked.
Shinji pulled back his .45 automatic's slide, examining the bullet in the
breech. He set the gun's manual safety, then holstered it. "If you plan to
flirt with a topless bar waitress, I know what to say. But you're not
flirting with a topless bar waitress, you're courting the class
representative. I don't know what to say."
"You were in a topless bar!?" Kensuke asked.
"In Hong Kong." Shinji turned towards Toji. "You must raise your
confidence and express your feelings towards her. I don't know how to do
so, I've never been in your position. You must find your own way." Shinji
put on his trench coat to conceal his weapons, then walked away.
"Wait, how do you flirt with a topless bar waitress!?" Kensuke asked.
"Give her a big tip," Shinji answered. "Money buys many friends."
1600 hours. Toji approached Hikari. "Hikari-san, I would be honored if
you would join me at dinner tomorrow night."
"Toji-kun..." Hikari blushed. "I'm flattered, but... I'm attracted to
someone else."
The boy clenched his fist. "May I ask who it is?" 'So I can rearrange his
face,' Toji didn't say.
"Hey, Pervert!" Asuka barked. "Leave her alone!" She turned towards her
friend. "Hikari-chan, do you want to go shopping? There's this dress I
want to try on."
Hikari smiled. "Sure."
"Hey, Wonder Girl!" Asuka called to Rei. "Want to go shopping?"
Rei stopped. "Negative. My wardrobe is sufficient."
"Your fashion sense is insufficient." Asuka pointed at Rei's uniform.
"Hikari-chan, we should teach her how to dress, shouldn't we?"
"Yes," Hikari reluctantly answered.
"Come on!" Asuka took Rei's hand and dragged her out the classroom door.
Hikari followed them. Rei looked into Shinji's eyes, silently seeking help.
Shinji smiled, then waved goodbye. 'Rei needs a friend,' he thought,
watching the girls leave. Beside the door, a gunman called for backup. A
second gunman was flirting with a female teacher, and ignored his radio's
call. Shinji identified the gunmen as the Eva pilots' bodyguards.
Kensuke laughed. "Don't be upset, Toji-kun." He held a pornographic DVD
before Toji's eyes. "This will put a smile on your face." Toji sighed.
"Shinji, do you want to watch 'Lesbians' Dildo Duels' with us?" Kensuke
asked.
"No," Shinji answered, climbing out a window. "I have keep an eye on Rei."
"Wow!" Kensuke dropped the DVD. "You get to watch Rei do..."
Shinji didn^�t hear Kensuke. When his feet touched the ground, Shinji
searched for the other guards. Through the clock tower's windows, a sniper
and his spotter stared at the east gate, Rei preferred gate. The girls were
approaching the west gate. 'Idiots,' Shinji thought, following the girls.
1615 hours. "God, it's hot!" Asuka saw an ice-cream stand. "Hikari-chan,
would you like some ice-cream?"
"No, thanks," Hikari answered. "Too many calories."
"Don't worry about your figure, it's perfect," Asuka assured. Hikari
blushed. Asuka bought three chocolate bars, put one in her mouth, then
handed the others to Hikari and Rei.
"Thank you," Hikari said.
"No, thank you. It is not essential to my nutrition..." Rei began.
Asuka removed the bar in her mouth. "Don't tell me you're on a diet!" She
held the other bar an inch from Rei's nose. "Eat! You look like a
skeleton!" Rei blinked her surprise.
"My, my, my. What do we have here?" Five youths approached the girls.
"The pretty soldiers who saved Tokyo-3."
"Get lost!" Asuka barked.
"Ouch! Rejection!" "Temper, temper!" "Looks like she's ready to play!"
the youths joked.
"Hey." The leader drew a switchblade. "Me and my friends..." He waved
his blade at the others. "... are going to a party. You're invited." He
pointed his blade at Asuka.
"Don't be shy!" A leering youth approached Rei. "Admit it, you want it."
He lunged. Rei grabbed the youth's hand, then threw him against the
sidewalk. "Bitch!" the youth screamed, clutching his dislocated shoulder.
The others drew their switchblades.
"Now you've done it," the leader snarled. The ice-cream vendor abandoned
his stand and fled.
Asuka stepped in front of Hikari, shielding her. "Stay behind me," Asuka
whispered. A youth lunged. Asuka wiped the chocolate bar on the youth's
eyes, blinding him. As the youth clawed at the chocolate in his eyes, the
leader lunged. Asuka parried the blow, then kicked his groin. Clang! The
leader dropped his knife, kneeled, and cradled his genitals. He couldn't
block Asuka's uppercut. Asuka ran towards Rei, who was struggling against
two youths.
"Stop!" Asuka and Rei turned towards the voice. The chocolate-faced youth
held his blade at Hikari's nose. "Or I'll cut her pretty face!"
"Let her go, or I'll..." Asuka began.
"Or you'll what?" the youth interrupted. "What are you going to..." A
shadow cloaked him. Bang! The bullet entered through the youth's back and
exited through his right shoulder, flooding his lung with blood. Hikari
gasped. Shinji stepped over the fallen youth and pulled the triggers,
crippling the two youths who were fighting Asuka and Rei.
"You monster!" The leader stood up. Bang! He fell, clutching his
shattered knee.
Rei stared at the crippled youth. "He was unarmed."
"He was a threat," Shinji noted.
"Are you okay?" Asuka asked. Hikari stared at the blood, then collapsed on
Asuka's shoulder and cried. "You psycho! You could have hit Hikari!" Asuka
accused.
"Impossible." Shinji set the guns' manual safety, then holstered them.
"My aim was perfect."
"Police!" Two police officers approached them, followed by the ice-cream
vendor.
Shinji showed them his ID. "Self-defense."
An officer frowned. "Please come with us," he ordered. "You are to make a
statement."
"Langley, can you handle this?" Shinji asked.
"Go to hell!" Asuka barked. She turned towards the officers. "I'll make a
statement." She helped Hikari stand up. "Is there a doctor at the
station?"
"Yes. Your friend will be all right," the officer answered. His partner
handcuffed Rei's assailant, who cried.
"Rei, baby, would you like an escort home?" Shinji held out his hand.
'Can I trust him?' Rei asked herself. "Yes." She took his hand.
"Hey, you..." The officer put his hand on Shinji's shoulder. Shinji
looked into the officer's eyes, silently threatening. As the pilot left,
the officer shuddered. 'Monster...'
1720 hours. Hikari stood in the shower stall, watching the blood flow down
the drain. 'I'm afraid,' she noted. 'Death nearly separated me from the
one I love... before I could express my love. But does Asuka love me?'
Hikari sighed. She knew very little about Asuka. In fact, she didn't know
if Asuka had a family.
'Does she love Shinji?' Hikari remembered Asuka's conflict with Shinji.
'Does she fear Shinji? Does she fear her feelings towards Shinji?' She
remembered the warmth of Asuka's embrace. 'If I express my feelings for
her, will she accept me? Or...'
Hikari clenched her fist. 'I must risk this. I can't rest until I express
my true feelings.' She wrapped a towel around her body, then left the
bathroom.
1730 hours.
"Are you hurt?" Major Katsuragi Misato asked.
"No," Asuka answered. "But Psycho... Pilot Ikari's actions placed myself
and Ms. Horaki in danger. I recommend that he be removed from active
duty..."
"Your recommendations are noted." 'And rejected,' Misato didn't say.
Asuka sensed Misato's rejection. "But he's insane!" she screamed into the
phone.
Misato sighed. "We can't afford to remove Pilot Ikari from active duty.
He has no replacement."
"But..." Asuka stopped. Her guardian was right. Asuka herself couldn't
match Shinji's combat ability. "I understand."
"I'm sorry," Misato added. "I'm trapped at headquarters. Paperwork. Have
dinner without me."
"Okay. Goodbye."
"See you later." Misato hung up.
Asuka stood before the kitchen sink, washing the blood off of Hikari's
clothes. "Damn Psycho Gunner!" Click. The bathroom door opened. "I'm
sorry, Hikari-chan. This stain refuses to come out!" She sighed. "My room
is down the hallway, to your right. Just borrow one of my spare uniforms."
Hikari was silent. Asuka turned towards her friend. "Hikari-chan, are you
okay?" She sensed Hikari^�s insecurity. "Don't be afraid, that punk won't
be able to hurt you."
"I'm not afraid of him," Hikari answered. "I..." She prepared herself for
Asuka's reaction. "Asuka, I love you. I'm sorry, you..."
"Don't be. I love you, too." Then Asuka kissed her. Hikari's eyes
widened, then closed as she returned the kiss. "You don't have to be
afraid," Asuka assured. The towel fell onto the floor.
'Don't have to be afraid...' For one moment, Hikari was free of her fears.
1800 hours. Major Katsuragi accessed the Tokyo-3 Police Department's
database. A second computer monitor showed the Eva pilots' psychological
profiles. Asuka's psychologist judged the girl to be a bisexual, but Misato
doubted the psychologist's judgment. Shinji's psychologist judged the boy
to be in excellent health, but Shinji took two years of psychology classes.
He knew how to perform a psychological evaluation, and how to manipulate the
results.
A third monitor showed images from a spy satellite. Shinji aimed his
handguns. Red lines traced the bullets' trajectories. 'Such rage,' Misato
noted. 'Can he control this rage?' NERV couldn't defeat the Angels without
the Evas, but NERV couldn't afford to maintain the Evas without the UN
member nations' funds. These nations might stop funding the Evangelion
Project if they thought the pilots were mentally unstable.
Misato stared at Shinji's photo. 'Can the media see him as a hero? Can
the media love him?' She accessed a report on Shinji's recent behavior.
'Yes.' Misato picked up her phone.
1150 hours, Friday. "Hikari's in love with... who?" Kensuke asked.
"I don't know. Maybe it's Shinji," Toji answered.
"Maybe it's Asuka," Kensuke joked. "Maybe she'll let us watch when she..."
Toji slapped him with a pornographic magazine. "Pervert! I've had enough
of your lesbian fantasies!"
Kensuke readjusted his glasses. "Don't you have lesbian fantasies? Don't
you want to..."
"I'm serious!" Toji sighed. "When I see Hikari, I don't see a sex slave.
I see a wife, a mother, and a homemaker."
"Does Hikari see you as a husband, a father, and a breadwinner?" Shinji
asked, opening his locker door.
"I don't know. I..." Toji looked into Shinji's eyes, silently seeking
help.
"Prove that you can be a husband, a father, and a breadwinner. Prove that
you're trustworthy," Shinji advised.
"Shinji-kun, what do women see you as?" Kensuke asked. "A stud? A sex
machine?"
Shinji chuckled. "They see me as myself." He closed the door, then walked
away.
"He's so cool, he's Mr. Cool," Kensuke said. "Women love Mr. Cool. I want
to be Mr. Cool."
'Does Hikari?' Toji asked himself.
"Asuka-chan, last night..." Hikari blushed.
Asuka put her finger on Hikari's lips. "You don't have to be embarrassed."
Her finger caressed Hikari's face. "I can keep a secret."
Hikari sighed. "I... I don't want it to be a secret, but..." Asuka turned
away. "I'm sorry..."
"It's not your fault." Asuka sighed. "When my mother... died... I swore
to take care of myself. I rejected my stepmother's efforts to take care of
me. I thought I didn't need anybody, but..." Hikari embraced her. "Thank
you," Asuka whispered.
Rei stared at Asuka's face. 'Horaki feels safe in Langley's presence.
Langley feels trusted in Horaki's presence. How does Ikari-kun feel in my
presence?'
1600 hours. "Ikari-kun, what is the basis of a relationship?" Rei asked.
"That depends," Shinji said. "What kind of relationship are you talking
about?"
"Husband-wife."
Shinji chuckled. "Sex." Rei blinked her surprise. "After sex,
pregnancy," Shinji added. "After pregnancy, parenthood. And the payment of
endless bills. After the child reaches adulthood... I don't know... we
dance the waltz as our hair becomes white?"
"Hey, Shinji-kun!" Toji called.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Shinji put his hand on Rei's shoulder. "See you
tomorrow, Rei."
"See you." After Shinji left, Rei sighed. 'Tomorrow. What will tomorrow
bring?'
1615 hours. Three reporters and their respective cameramen barricaded the
hospital entrance. "What are they doing here?" Toji asked.
Shinji frowned. "Ignore them." They paid the taxi driver, then approached
the hospital.
"There he is!" "Pilot Ikari, may we have a word with you!?" "Pilot Ikari,
how does it feel to be a hero?" "Pilot Ikari, where do you find the courage
to..." The reporters bombarded Shinji with questions.
"Shinji-kun..." Toji began.
"Go on," Shinji ordered.
'So cold,' Toji noted. 'Sometimes, he's warm and caring. Sometimes, he's
cold and cruel. Which one is the real Shinji? The hero? The monster?'
"I'll be with you shortly," Shinji added. He watched Toji dodge a
reporter, then reached into his coat. Screw, screw, screw...
"Pilot Ikari..."
The last image the cameras took was of Shinji shooting them. Puff, puff,
puff. The cameramen screamed, but were unharmed. "Please be quiet, we're
at a hospital," Shinji whispered. He raised the silencer to his lips, then
hushed.
"You idiot!" Major Katsuragi stepped in front of the reporters. "Do you
know what you've done!?"
"I don't know, and I don't care." Shinji walked away.
1620 hours. "Sis!" Toji called.
"Bro!" Yuki spread her arms to accept Toji's embrace.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine! The doctor says I can go home on Monday!" Yuki answered.
"That's great!"
Shinji knocked on the door frame. "May I come in?"
Toji smelled spent gunpowder. "Sure," he reluctantly answered. Shinji
handed a bouquet of yellow roses to Yuki, who smiled. "What happened?" Toji
asked.
"I'm not NERV's whore," Shinji snarled.
"What's a whore?" Yuki innocently asked.
Shinji looked into the girl's eyes. "A whore is a weakling," he answered.
'Both of them are real,' Toji answered himself. 'Can I trust him? A man
who is both a monster and a hero?'
1700 hours. "Good, the chocolate has melted. Now, pour it onto the
strawberries," Asuka ordered. As the pilot laid the strawberries onto the
cake, Hikari placed the spoon into the pot and scooped up some melted
chocolate. Asuka looked at the cake, then at the picture in the cook book.
"Good job!"
"It looks delicious," Hikari said.
Asuka smiled. "Not as delicious as you." She took the spoon, sensually
licked it, then kissed her friend. Hikari giggled when she tasted the
chocolate on Asuka's lips.
Horaki Nozomi, Hikari's younger sister, entered the kitchen. "Can I have
some chocolate?" she asked. Hikari blushed.
Asuka smiled. "Sure." She scooped up some melted chocolate and handed the
spoon to Nozomi.
"Thank you." 'Asuka's so nice,' Nozomi thought. 'Sis is lucky to have her
as a friend.'
"Dr. Akagi, what is the basis of a husband-wife relationship?" Rei asked.
Ritsuko stopped typing revisions for the Evas' pilot-interface systems.
"Love."
"Ikari-kun said it is sex."
"Sex!?" Ritsuko^�s eyes widened. 'Firearms, forgery... what else did he
learn at the People's Liberation Army Academy?'
Rei nodded. "After sex, pregnancy. After pregnancy, parenthood. And the
payment of endless bills. After the child reaches adulthood, we dance the
waltz as our hair becomes white."
Ritsuko sighed her relief. "I guess that's love." She looked into Rei's
eyes. "Is that what you want from Shinji? To have his child, and together,
to watch this child grow up?"
"I do not know. I... I will ask Ikari-kun. I will know the answer." Rei
left Ritsuko's office.
Ritsuko sighed, then resumed typing.
1800 hours. "Good night, Asuka-chan." Hikari pecked Asuka's cheek.
"Come and play another day!" Nozomi added.
Asuka laughed. "I will."
Horaki Kodama frowned as the pilot left. She saw the hunger in Asuka's
eyes. 'What do you want from my sister? Sex?' Kodama clenched her fist.
'I don't care if you're a hero. I won't let you hurt my sister.'
1905 hours. "Hey, Mark!" Yu Jiaolong, a waitress at the Little Canton
Restaurant, waved to her coworker. "This psycho looks just like you!"
Shinji traced Jiaolong's line of sight. He watched himself shoot the
camera. "Are you kidding? I'm much more handsome," he joked, washing the
dishes.
"... paranoid schizophrenic," a psychologist diagnosed. "I'm appalled that
the UN would place such a responsibility upon a 14-year-old."
"Thank you, Dr. Mizuno." The anchorman turned towards the camera. "During
the Vietnam War, an American officer said, 'In order to save the village, we
had to destroy it.' Will we destroy our humanity..." The television showed
Evangelion Unit 01 attack the 5th Angel, whose blood showered the earth.
"... in order to save it? This is Chiba Mamoru, with Tokyo TV News."
"I don't understand the Japanese." Li Mubai, the restaurant's proprietor,
changed the channel. "When the aliens attacked, they bankrupt the UN to
build a giant robot. What did this robot do? It demolished the city to
crush the alien. Like burning down a house to kill a rat." He put his hand
on Shinji's shoulder. "Keep up the good work, Mark."
"Mark, can you really play the piano?" Jiaolong asked.
"Yes," Shinji answered.
"After work, can I listen to you play?"
"Sure."
Jiaolong pecked Shinji's forehead. "Thank you." Then she filled the sink
with dirty dishes.
Shinji chuckled. "Luck, be a lady tonight..." he sang, washing the dishes.
Mubai sighed. His niece was 16, too young to know what love is. 'Will
Mark abuse Jiaolong's trust?' he asked himself. 'I have faith in Mark's
honor. I pray that my faith isn't misplaced.' Mubai was unaware that his
faith was placed on a fake ID.
"Do you know what you have done!?" Gendo screamed into the phone.
"Negative, Sir," General Li Long answered. Behind him, workers bolted
armor onto an Eva.
"You were ordered to educate my son! You have failed!" Gendo accused.
"Now, he is a wild animal, uncontrollable and..."
"When you abandoned your responsibility to your son, you abandoned your
control over your son," Long interrupted. "You unleashed the beast. I will
not help you recapture the beast." He hung up. Before him, a computer
monitor showed a video of Evangelion Unit 01 in battle.
The Eva punched the 3rd Angel's face. "Die! Die! Die! Die!" Shinji
screamed. Crack! The Eva crushed the Angel's skull. Shinji madly laughed.
'Such rage,' Long noted. He had a flashback of Shinji's first expression
of rage.
Four years ago. Through a crack in the recovery room's door, Long watched
Shinji play a computer game. The boy's right arm was in a sling, his right
eye was covered by a bandage. "I cannot protect him," Long noted. "You
can. When Shinji has recovered, I will let him return home."
"Negative," Gendo said. "The Project is entering a critical phase. I am
responsible for humanity's last line of defense. I cannot waste my time.
For now, Shinji is your responsibility."
"But Shinji's in danger," Long noted. Mobs were chanting, "Nuke Japan!" as
they marched down Hong Kong, slashed the tires of Japanese cars, and
assaulted Japanese businessmen.
"I don't care." Gendo hung up.
Crack! Shocked by the sound, Long ran into the room, dropping his
satellite phone. Shinji's pocket computer laid on the floor. Long stared
at the computer's LCD. A record of his conversation was being decrypted by
the National Security Agency. "You hacked into the NSA mainframe?" Long
asked. Shinji nodded. "Why?"
"Father ordered me to be smart," Shinji answered. "I did this to prove
that I'm smart, to prove that I love him." Drip, drip. Tears fell onto the
hospital bed. "But Father doesn't love me. He doesn't care if I live or
die."
Long sighed. "I'm sorry, Shinji. I promise, I'll take care of you..."
Shinji reached into Long's coat and grabbed Long's 7.62 mm automatic.
Shocked, Long stepped away. He taught Shinji marksmanship, he knew the boy
was a marksman.
"You only care if I'm useful to you!" Shinji screamed. "Should I care if
you live or die!?"
Long frowned. "That depends. Am I useful to you? Can I give you what you
want?"
Shinji looked into Long's eyes, silently threatening. "Can you?" Long
nodded. "I want strength," Shinji demanded.
"I can help you strengthen yourself."
Shinji pointed the gun at the ceiling. "Yes." He smiled. "I know you
will."
Present day. A second monitor showed the output of the Eva's S^2 engine.
'Such power,' Long noted. 'Shinji controls this power. I will give China
this power.' Behind him, the Eva wore the PLA Air Force insignia, not
NERV^�s seal.
2150 hours. Rei stood before her apartment door, waiting for Shinji to
come home. 'Is that what I want? A family?' She heard two sets of
footsteps come up the stairs.
"Fly me to the moon, and let me play among the stars," Shinji sang.
"Let me see what spring is like, on Jupiter and Mars," a female voice sang
with him.
Shocked, Rei entered her apartment. Through a crack in the door, she saw
Shinji walk by, holding a young woman's hand.
"In other words, hold my hand," they sang together. "In other words,
Darling, kiss me." They entered Shinji's apartment.
Drip, drip. Tears fell onto the floor. 'Is she the one Shinji wants to
spend the rest of his life with?' Rei asked herself.
"Stay away from her!" Kodama ordered.
"I won't let you separate me from the one I love!" Hikari screamed, holding
back her tears.
"I'm trying to protect you!"
"I don't need your protection!"
"Kodama-neechan! Hikari-neechan!" Nozomi called. "Please, stop fighting!"
Kodama sighed. "I'm willing to forgive and forget your... mistake. Now,
forget about the Eva pilot." She pecked Nozomi's forehead. "Good night,
Nozomi-chan." She entered her bedroom, then closed the door.
Nozomi approached Hikari. "I'm sorry," she cried. "I didn't mean to tell
Kodama-neechan."
Hikari embraced the girl. "Don't be."
2320 hours. Mubai stood in the staircase's shadow, watching the back door
open.
"Goodnight, Jiaolong." Shinji kissed his coworker.
'So warm.' Jiaolong closed her eyes and returned the kiss. Then Shinji
stepped away. "It's late," Jiaolong noted. "Please stay here, tonight.
It's dangerous..."
Shinji laughed. "I'm not in danger. I have friends." He patted his hip
holsters.
Jiaolong sighed. "Be careful." She reluctantly released his hand. Shinji
walked away.
"Welcome home," Mubai greeted.
Jiaolong sadly smiled. "Goodnight, Uncle." She pecked Mubai's forehead.
Mubai watched Jiaolong enter her room. 'Can I trust Mark?' He sighed.
'Jiaolong trusts Mark. For now, I must trust Jiaolong's judgment.'
0600 hours, Saturday. Ring, ring! Asuka was awakened by the doorbell.
'If I ignore this idiot, this idiot will go away,' she hoped. Ring, ring!
"Asuka, please get the door." Misato tossed and turned in bed. "Asuka!"
"I'll get it, I'll get it." 'I'm going to knock off this idiot's head,'
Asuka swore, approaching the door. "Who's there!?" she barked.
"Asuka..." Hikari seemed delicate and fragile, without her typical
strength and determination. Asuka's anger evaporated when she saw Hikari's
tears. "Can I stay here? Only for a few days. I promise, I..."
"Come in." Hikari smiled her thanks. "What happened?" Asuka asked.
"Kodama... she knows. She..." Hikari collapsed on Asuka's shoulder and
cried. "She said I was embarrassing our family! She said you were a..."
Asuka silenced her with a kiss. "I don't care about what she says."
"Oh, Asuka-chan!"
Through a crack in her bedroom door, Misato saw Asuka embrace the other
girl. She decided to let Asuka be. The girl deserved a respite from her
responsibilities.
"Misato, can Hikari stay with us?" Asuka asked.
Misato smiled. "Of course."
0950 hours. "Welcome to Little Canton," Jiaolong greeted. "May I take
your order?"
"Negative," Rei answered. "I came to talk."
Jiaolong became suspicious. "What do you want?"
"Mark Lee," Rei answered. She knew about Shinji's fake ID.
Jiaolong's eyes widened. "You look just like him! You're his cousin,
right?"
Rei blinked her surprise. "I..."
Jiaolong's suspicion evaporated. "Have a seat!" She pointed at a chair.
"Uncle, this is..."
"Ayanami Rei," the pilot finished.
"Mark's cousin!" Jiaolong smiled.
Mubai approached the table. "Mark has Japanese relatives?"
"He's from Hong Kong," Jiaolong noted. "A mosaic of different cultures."
"Why must he work here?" Mubai asked. "Why won^�t his relatives support
him? Did they disinherit his parents?" Mubai remembered what happened five
years ago. Mobs chanted, "Kill all chinks!" as they marched down Tokyo-2,
threw rocks into Chinese restaurants' windows, and assaulted Chinese
immigrants. Mubai knew the power of hate.
"Dear God," Jiaolong cried. "Now I know why Mark refuses to talk about his
family." She turned away. "When I was in elementary school, I had a
classmate. This classmate was an Englishman's illegitimate child. She was
always alone, because no one would play with her. One day, she... she
slashed her own wrists." Jiaolong held back her tears, then looked into
Rei's eyes. "I must not let this happen to Mark. I must let him know...
someone loves him."
"Good morning, Mr. Li," Shinji greeted.
"Mark!" Jiaolong embraced the boy. "Thank God, you're okay!"
Shinji blushed. "Jiaolong..."
"Goodbye... Mark." Rei left the restaurant, holding back her tears.
0000 hours, Sunday. Hikari writhed and moaned under Toji's body. The
young man smiled. He was the perfect lover, knowing where to touch her, and
how to touch her. "Yes, right there..." Hikari gasped. "Yes, yes, yes,
yes!"
"Do you love me?" Toji asked.
Hikari kissed him. "I love you, Shin-chan..."
Toji leapt off the bed. Hikari sensed his rage. "What's wrong,
Shin-chan?" she asked.
"I am not Shinji!" Toji waved his fist at her.
Hikari cried. "I'm sorry, Shinji..."
Toji grabbed Hikari's hand. "Are you listening to me!? I am not..." Then
he saw his reflection in Hikari's eyes. The jaw was round, not square. The
eyes were blue, not brown. The face was Shinji's, not Toji's.
"Noooo!"
0010 hours. "Noooo!" Toji awakened with a start. He ran into the
restroom to see his reflection. The face was Toji's, not Shinji's.
"Son, are you all right!?" his father asked.
"I'm fine," Toji answered. "It was a bad dream." He turned on the faucet
to wash away his tears. "Damn you, Shinji..."
0730 hours, Monday. Ring, ring! Misato answered the door.
"Good morning, Miss. I am Horaki Kodama." The young woman bowed. "Is my
sister here?"
"Yes," Misato answered. "Would you like to come in?"
"Yes, thank you." Kodama entered Misato's condo.
"Misato, who's at the door?" Asuka entered the living room. "Hello,
Kodama."
"Good morning, Ms. Langley." 'You lesbian pervert!' Kodama didn't say.
"Tell her to leave me alone!" Hikari screamed from the kitchen.
Misato sighed. "Asuka, please entertain Ms. Horaki. I'm going to have a
word with Hikari." She entered the kitchen.
"This way, please." Asuka seated Kodama on the sofa, then sat herself on
an easy chair, facing Kodama. "I'm sorry about what happened. I never
meant to divide your family."
"Nevertheless, you have done so." Kodama looked into Asuka's eyes. "What
do you want from my sister? Fun and games?"
Asuka held back her tears. "Trust. Security. The peace that comes when
you^�re in your friend's arms, when you know you're safe."
"So, the heroic Eva pilot feels insecure." Kodama clenched her fist. "Why
do you feel insecure? You're a hero, a role-model." 'A monster,' she
didn't add. "You have the world's attention and adoration. Why?"
"When your mother died, what did you feel?" Asuka asked. The young woman
frowned. "Loneliness? Insecurity? Fear and rage?" Kodama turned away.
"When my mother died, I asked God, 'Why?' God ignored me. So I raged
against him, and against every one of his creations. Including myself."
Asuka sighed. "I'm tired of rage. I..."
"Want to be loved?" Kodama asked. Asuka nodded.
"So did I," Hikari added. She entered the living room and sat on the other
easy chair, forming a triangle with Asuka and Kodama. "So did you, when you
had an affair with your English teacher."
Kodama sighed. "James... was a mistake. I was young and foolish. So are
you." She looked into her sister's eyes. "Hikari, please come home. Don't
make the same mistake I made."
"I..." Hikari stopped. 'Can I trust her?'
"Kodama is right," Asuka said. Kodama's and Hikari's eyes widened. "Go
home. Don't sacrifice your relationship with your family. Don't..." Drip,
drip. Tears fell onto Asuka's dress. "I'm sorry. I envy you, Hikari. I
envy your relationship with your family. When I see you with your family, I
wish..."
Hikari put her hand on Asuka^�s shoulder. "You don't have to be envious. I
accept you as a member of our family. Nozomi accepts you. Kodama..."
"I will not accept this!" Kodama screamed. She left Misato's condo.
"Damn!" Misato turned towards Hikari. "Hikari, please take care of Asuka.
I'm going to have a word with your sister." She followed Kodama out the
door.
"I will." Hikari embraced her friend, who cried on her shoulder.
0750 hours. "Ms. Horaki!" Misato called. Kodama ignored her. "Why won't
you forgive Asuka? Because you fear disgracing your family name? Are you
fearful enough to crucify your sister upon your family name?"
Kodama turned towards Misato. "You don't know the importance of family."
"I know it can destroy a human life." Misato answered. "I know it has led
parents to kill their children, and brothers to kill their sisters. I know
why lovers still brave such dangers in order to be together."
"That's not love!" Kodama clenched her fist. "I thought it was love. I
was wrong."
Misato sensed the young woman's vulnerability. "You were pregnant," she
guessed. "Your lover refused to accept his responsibility. So you had an
abortion."
Kodama sighed. "Yes. James abandoned me in my time of need. So I..."
Drip, drip. Tears fell onto the floor.
Misato looked into Kodama's eyes. "You must forgive yourself, or this rage
will destroy you... and your sister."
"I never meant to hurt Hikari. I wanted to protect her from betrayal."
"You fear trust. Trust makes you vulnerable to betrayal." Misato sighed.
"I understand. Like you, I've been betrayed by someone I loved."
"I envy them," Kodama cried. "They dare to trust, to love. They don't
fear lies or loneliness, because they have each other. I have no one."
"You don't have to be afraid." Misato put her hand on Kodama's shoulder.
"I learned to trust again. You can, too. We can help you."
Kodama put her hand on Misato's. "Thank you."
"Shinji, did you spend the weekend with Hikari?" Toji asked.
Shinji blinked his surprise. "No. Why did you ask?"
"I went to visit Hikari on Saturday afternoon. Her sister said she wasn't
home. Then she bitched about the Eva pilot who perverted her sister."
"Toji, I sold the bed to make room for the piano, remember?"
"She must have spent the weekend with Asuka," Kensuke guessed. "And
Misato. Shinji-kun, did they ask you to join their lesbian orgy?"
Shinji chuckled as Toji slapped Kensuke with a magazine.
1150 hours. 'I've never seen it before.' Rei remembered Friday night.
'The hunger in his eyes. Ikari-kun needs her. Does he need me?'
"Rei-chan!" Minako put her hand on Rei's shoulder. 'Rei's trembling.
What happened to her?' "Are you okay?"
Rei turned towards the other girl. "I've met her."
"Who?"
"The woman Ikari-kun wants to spend the rest of his life with."
"Don't worry!" Minako assured. "Shinji-kun loves you, everyone knows
that!"
"Ikari-kun does not want to have sex with me," Rei said. Minako blinked
her surprise. "He wants to have sex with her. He wants to have children
with her, and to watch their children grow up. He wants..." Rei collapsed
on Minako's shoulder and cried. "I'm sorry."
Minako sighed. "Don't be."
1600 hours. "Hikari, where were you this weekend?" Toji asked.
"At Asuka's house," the girl answered. "I had an argument with my older
sister, so I left home."
Toji sighed his relief. "I'm sorry. I thought you spent the weekend with
Shinji. When you said you were attracted to someone else, I..."
"I understand."
"Who's the lucky man?"
"Asuka," Hikari answered. Toji's eyes widened. "I don't want it to be a
secret anymore. Asuka and I are in love." She saw Asuka wave to her.
"Goodbye, Toji-kun."
"Hey, Toji!" Shinji called, putting his hand on Toji's shoulder. "Aren't
you going to bring Yuki home?"
"Ikari-kun," Rei called. "May I have a word with you?"
"Sure!" Shinji turned towards Toji. "I'll meet you at your house, okay?"
He followed Rei out the door.
Toji sighed. "At least Shinji has found true love."
1605 hours. "What's on your mind, Rei, baby?"
"What do you see when you see me?" Rei asked. "A mother? A daughter? A
sister? A wife?"
Shinji sighed. "When I was at the Army Academy, a friend invited me to
dinner. At his house, he introduced his parents and his younger sister. I
saw how protective his mother was of him, and how supportive his father was
of him. In turn, my friend was protective and supportive of his sister. I
wanted to be a part of his family. I wanted someone to protect and support
me, and..." He put his hand on Rei's shoulder. "I guess I see you as a
sister. Someone I can protect and support. Someone who trusts me."
Rei put her hand on Shinji's. "Thank you." She smiled.
"I'm going to buy Yuki a present. Can you help me find something she'd
like?" Shinji asked.
"Affirmative."
Minako watched the pilots leave. 'A brother. Someone she can trust.' The
girl smiled. 'I guess Rei-chan has found a kind of love.'
"You told Toji?" Asuka asked.
"Yes," Hikari answered. "I don't want it to be a secret anymore."
Asuka put her hand on Hikari's shoulder. "Thanks. I was tired of keeping
this secret." She smiled. "Want to go shopping?"
"Sure..." Hikari stopped when she saw Kodama and Misato.
"Good afternoon, Hikari-chan." Kodama bowed to her sister. "Ms. Langley."
She bowed to the pilot.
"What do you want!?" Hikari barked.
Kodama sighed. "I came to apologize." She looked into her sister's eyes.
"I'm sorry, Hikari-chan. I thought I was protecting you. But you didn't
need protection from Asuka. You needed protection from my... fear."
Hikari blinked her surprise. "Sis, I..."
"Forgive her," Asuka said to Hikari. "Resolve your conflicts. Your
relationship is too precious to..." Asuka walked away, holding back her
tears.
"Ms. Langley." Kodama put her hand on the pilot's shoulder. "I am sorry.
I was wrong." She sighed. "I will accept you as a part of our family."
Asuka's eyes widened. "You..."
"I can learn to trust you," Kodama said.
"Thank you." Asuka embraced her.
'Langley is not a monster,' Kodama noted. 'She is human. Like myself.'
The young woman returned the embrace.
Misato smiled as the girls resolve their conflicts.
1620 hours. "Welcome home." Kodama opened the door for Hikari.
"Bye, Hikari-chan!" Asuka walked away.
"Ms. Langley," Kodama called. The pilot stopped. "Would you like to join
us at dinner?"
Asuka smiled her thanks. "Yes. I'd be honored."
"Sis!" Nozomi ran towards Hikari. "I missed you!"
Hikari embraced her younger sister. "I'm sorry, Nozomi-chan," she said.
Nozomi returned the embrace. "Don't be."
"Hello, Nozomi-chan," Asuka greeted.
"Asuka-neechan!" Nozomi embraced the pilot. "I missed you, too." Drip,
drip. Tears fell onto the girl's head. Nozomi looked into Asuka's eyes.
"Why are you crying?" she asked.
"I'm... so happy." Asuka returned the embrace. "Thank you."
Kodama sighed. "You're welcome." She left the living room.
1720 hours. "Shinji-kun!" Yuki ran towards her hero. "You've come,
you've come!"
"Hello, Miss Yuki!" Shinji handed a teddy bear to Yuki, who smiled.
"It's so cute!" The girl smiled her thanks.
"Good evening, Suzuhara-kun," Rei greeted. "May I enter?"
"Sure," Toji answered.
"Okay," Yuki reluctantly answered. Then she grabbed Shinji's hand. "But
don't try to take away my Shinji-kun!" Shinji and Toji laughed.
Rei smiled. "Do not worry," she assured. "He is free."
***
"Stop!" Asuka and Rei turned towards the voice. The chocolate-faced youth
held his blade at Hikari's nose. "Or I'll cut her pretty face!"
"Let her go, or I'll..." Asuka began.
"Or you'll what?" the youth interrupted. "What are you going to do..."
"Ikari-kun," Rei called. "Please help us."
The leader looked under the ice-cream stand, where Shinji was hiding. "Get
up!" He grabbed Shinji's hand, lifted the boy onto his feet, then held his
blade at Shinji's throat.
"Please, don't hurt me," Shinji cried.
The youths laughed. "Is this a joke!?" the leader asked. "Are you the
heroic Eva pilot who killed three Angels!?"
"Break his arms!" Asuka ordered.
"S^1 will not do so," Rei said. "S^1 has an aversion to violence."
"Do I have to do everything myself!?" Asuka complained, pulling up her
skirt.
"Oh, yeah!" the youths cheered. "She's my bitch!" "Pink! Pink! Pink!
Pink..." Then they saw Asuka's thigh holster.
Bang! Hikari's captor fell, cradling his bleeding genitals. Asuka pulled
the trigger, castrating the two youths who were fighting Rei.
The leader released Shinji. "Please, don't hurt me," he cried. Asuka
ignored him.
"Was that necessary?" Hikari asked, staring at the blood. Beside her,
Shinji put his hands in front of his groin, shielding it.
"Self-defense." Asuka holstered her .357 SIG automatic. "Where's Psycho
Gunner?
"S^2? He's being tested," answered S^1, the original Shinji.
"What's he being tested for?" Asuka asked. "Paranoia? Schizophrenia?"
"His response to sexual stimuli," S^1 answered. "Kaoru-kun is
administering the test."
Asuka laughed. "Hey, Wonder Girl!" she called. "Who'll be the first to
bend over? Psycho Gunner, or Angel Boy?"
"Neither," Rei answered. "S^2's concern about his image has induced
homophobia. He will reject Nagisa-kun's advances."
"Why did you say that?" Asuka asked.
Zoom! Nagisa Kaoru flew over a skyscraper, then broke the sound barrier.
"Kaoru!" S^1 called.
Zoom! A silver Eva flew over a skyscraper, swept its wings, then broke the
sound barrier. Cannon barrels extended from the Eva's forearms. Boom,
boom, boom! Boom, boom, boom! Cannon shells slammed against Kaoru's AT
Field.
"Please, don't hurt him!" S^1 ran after the Eva. Boom! Crack! A shell
penetrated the Field, then shattered Kaoru's skull. "Noooo!"
"A woman's intuition," Rei answered.
"Is that the PLA Eva?" Hikari asked, staring at the red star on the Eva's
shoulder. "It's pretty."
Asuka sighed. "Idiots."
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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