Copyright Notice: I don't own Neon Genesis Evangelion or any related characters, GAINAX does.
Quick Notes: This (Chapter 1) takes place after Episode 24 and ignores Episodes 25, 26, and the End of Evangelion. Anyway, I really hope you like the fic. This fic is going to begin pretty light and over time will become darker and darker (somewhere around Chapters 4 and 5) and just get even darker. And if you've forgotten, after Episode 24, it remains that Asuka is comatose, Shinji is closed up, Shinji has no courage to see Rei, Misato hates Ritsuko's guts, Ritsuko hates Misato's guts, Shinji is slowly gaining what seems to be a back bone and seems to hate Misato's guts along with everyone else's, and on another note this takes place about 2 and half weeks after Episode 24. That's about it.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Between Day and Night
Chapter I: For the Beginning
Evangelion Unit 01 pilot Shinji Ikari stood on the large hilltop, watching as the buildings of Tokyo-3 rise out of the ground. The sun was setting. Nightfall was coming. He took a deep breath. The sunset seemed so beautiful at times. But now, who gave a damn, Shinji merely stared into space. A technological city, most of which easily rebuilt. After all, this was a fortress city, and fortress cities don't fall easily, and it wasn't about to fall after Eva-00 self-destructed to destroy the Sixteenth Angel. Shinji watched most of the reconstruction. Large metal buildings, people coming from work, life returning to normal - how sickening at a time like this. Shinji decided it was time to return to "home".
Shinji opened the door to Misato's apartment room. He walked inside. Misato welcomed him warmly.
"Welcome home, Shinji-chan."
". . ."
"Hey, are you feeling alright?"
Misato tried to place her hand on Shinji's shoulder, but her quickly slapped it away.
"Please, don't touch me. Just don't . . ."
Misato did so. She walked toward the kitchen table, sat down, and began to eat.
"Would you like to eat something? I think it's edible."
"I'm not hungry."
Shinji immediately went to take a bath. As the bathtub filled up, he sat down in the water. Bathing . . . it was supposed to clean the body, mind, and soul. This was doing nothing for Shinji.
"Kaworu . . ."
(Flashback) Eva-01, squeezing Kaworu and his head falling into the large pool of LCL . . . (End Flashback)
"I . . . I killed him. I killed someone I called me friend. It should have been me . . . it should have been me!" Shinji sighed, and stared into the water. He still hasn't gotten over killing Kaworu.
"Death . . . sounds nice at a time like this."
As soon as Shinji finished his bath, he quickly got dressed. She saw Shinji was going to leave. She ran up behind him.
"Are you going out? I heard your classmates would be coming back. Touji has an artificial leg now and really wants to - "
"I'm going to see Asuka." he replied in a harsh fashion before Misato could finish. As unusual it was for a person like Shinji.
"That would be a nice thing to do. Why don't I accom - " Before she could finish, Shinji had already left.
"Why does it have to be like this? Am I really not deserving of his trust?" And a voice came from behind Misato. Her eyes widened as soon as she heard it. It continued in her head.
"Maybe you don't."
* * * * *
"The Angels are finally gone." The light of Chairman Keel Lorenz's seat lit up, as well as the other members of Seele. Gendou Ikari and Fuyutsuki stood in the middle. They both knew they were about to attacked by the words of the members of Seele.
"Now is the time for mankind to become what they are worthy of becoming."
"There is no other way to live life."
"Life has been meaningless . . . but now our efforts will become fruitful."
Fuyutsuki stared in one direction of the extremely dark room. "We understand your feelings."
Gendou now spoke in hope of enlightening the Seele members and their creepy chairman. "Though the Angels may be gone be, I do not feel this is the time to initiate the Complementation of Man." He pushed his glasses up. "It may be too early, despite the patience we have all been maintaining."
"Dare question our judgment, Ikari?," sarcastically asked Keel.
"Defying us will lead to your fate."
"You have already betrayed us, Ikari."
"What gives you the right to command us? Nerv was created to carry out Seele's wishes."
". . ." Gendou couldn't answer. He felt as if his efforts were entirely fruitless. He was about to speak, but Keel interrupted him.
"Complementation will be commenced on schedule - our schedule. We have delayed it." Fuyutsuki appeared surprised by the turn of events. The members of Seele sat calmly, as usual. But, they were all surprised when Keel made an odd comment toward Gendou - "Night in check." No one understood what it meant but Both Keel and Gendou. The frown on Gendou's face seemed longer than usual.
"I have a more important matter to handle first."
"Let's talk privately."
"Fine." Keel answered.
The lights of the Seele members vanish. The light under Gendou and Fuyutsuki flashed. Fuyutsuki was gone but Gendou remained. He was the first to speak. "Does our death come before anything?
". . ."
"Death only brings pain."
"And death is what we shall give you."
"I shall not fail."
"You will, Ikari, you will, You will learn of what Seele is truly capable of. You only have two capable Evangelion Units and two untested Unit. Do you expect Seele to fall to such?
"The plan is to initiate Complementation, not destroy."
"You have betrayed us, Ikari. You have chosen Nerv's fate . . ."
Keel's light disappeared. Gendou is left in the middle.
* * * * *
Shinji sat by Asuka Soryu Langley's bed.
"Wake up."
". . ."
"Wake up."
". . ."
"Please?"
". . ."
"Just say something."
". . ."
"Anything will do."
". . ."
Shinji has been trying to get Asuka to wake up for the past few weeks nothing has worked. Shinji wasn't resolving things his way. He now gently shakes Asuka's body. He now shakes it harder, causing her cover to fall off. He now grabs her naked body and shakes hard. "WAKE UP, DAMNIT! I'M NOT GOING TO WAIT FOREVER FOR HELP!"
"Pilot Ikari?"
Shinji immediately covered up Asuka's body.
Huh?! Oh, hello, Ayanami."
". . ."
"W-What are you doing here?"
"I was told you were searching for me."
"Who told you that?"
". . ."
"I'm just fine, Ayanami."
Rei began to walk toward Shinji. Shinji staggered backwards into his seat, away from Rei. Rei wasn't walking toward him, but toward the window. She gazed outside as it began to rain. Two minds began to work.
`It feels so odd when she's close it's scary. She's so beautiful . . . but so different.'
`Raindrops . . . so many . . . they slam against the ground . . . they sprinkle . . . they prick the skin . . . raindrops . . . so many . . . like lilum . . . who am I? Where did I come from? When rain is gone it can become rain again . . . when I die, I am reawakened. Am I like rain? Does Ikari think of me as rain?'
Rei left the window, and walked toward the door, she left. Shinji tried his best to distance himself.
After Rei left, he walked toward the door, and locked it. He then walked back over Asuka's bed. He's just run out of ideas. Before he masturbates over her body, he pleads one last message. "Please, everyone, mother, just forgive me."
* * * * *
Everyone slept during the night, but there was a place, where there is no day or night. There, Tabris, or Kaworu Nagisa began to hum "Ode to Joy".
"Oh please . . . shut up", Sachiel begged for probably the 100th time.
"Why? Music is one of the lilum's greatest achievements."
"Lilum? Achievement? Is that supposed to be some sort of joke, Tabris?"
The souls of the destroyed Angels rested here.
Kaworu rose from where he was sitting and answered Sachiel. "The lilum having much meaning in their lives . . .we do not."
Bardiel was disgusted by Kaworu's words. "Oh please, Tabris."
"My name is not Tabris, it is Nagisa Kaworu."
Ramiel was just as disgusted. "You gave yourself a lilum name?"
"How pathetic." Bardiel couldn't help but laugh. He immediately stopped as soon as Arael, one of the only female Angels, walked up to them. "Leave him alone, he chose the form of a lilum. He is a nuisance. Let him sing his songs." All of the Angels left Kaworu except for Arael.
"Sorry."
"I know you must act that way to show you are one of them"
"I am sorry, Tabris."
"My name is Nagisa Kaworu."
"If that is the name you choose for yourself, I shall call you by that name."
"Thank you, Arael."
"You have no need to thank me."
All of the souls of the Angels were human like, but naked.
Kaworu had a long frown on his face. He stared at Bardiel. "He is not a good person."
"No he is not . . . but we could be in a worse situation, we could be in the Room of Gauf."
"The Room of Gauf . . . to speak with other lilum would be wonderful. Mankind is full of life."
"Tell me, Na-gi-sa, what is it like . . . as a lilum."
"It's . . . very different. It is truly unexplainable."
"I see."
". . ."
"Tell me, Nagi-sa, do you worry for those two?"
"Ikari and Ayanami? I fear for them."
"I envy you, Nagi-sa."
"Envy me?"
"You are father, yet, you are your own being as well. You tell me these stories during your life as a lilum. They are quite interesting for me, though I cannot say the same of Bardiel, Sachiel, and the others."
"Arael . . . my life as a lilum is harder than is seems."
* * * * *
"Good morning, Shinji-chan!" Shinji got out walked out of his room, now fully dressed, and ready for the school reopening.
"Morning, Misato-san." Shinji noticed how Misato was now getting up early every morning attempting to regain his lost trust. She wasn't making any progress.
"So, you've decided to go to the school reopening. I heard Touji and Kensuke are going to be there."
". . ."
"Cheer up, Shinji-chan. Why don't we have some - "
Shinji abruptly left the house. Misato sighs, even though she was used to Shinji walking out on her even before she could finish her sentence. Misato looked down at Pen-Pen.
"You still trust me, don't you Pen-Pen?"
Pen-Pen did nothing but squeal.
"Why am I talking to a bird?"
* * * * *
"Well, look who it is!"
"Good morning, Ikari!"
"How's Misato-san doing?"
Shinji smiled. He took the welcoming warmly. Then, Hikari stepped up to him. "Shinji! Is . . . Asuka coming to class today?"
"Asuka is in a coma."
"A coma?!"
"She's been that way for some times now."
"Oh, will we be able to see her?"
"Maybe."
Shinji walked away from the conversation and took a seat. He placed his head on the desk. Kensuke took a seat next to him.
"You look a little down, Shinji."
"I'm just fine . . ."
"Really?"
"I'm okay."
"If you say so."
Soon, Rei Ayanami stepped into the room, and took her seat in the front of the room. The sensei stepped in seconds later, and class soon begun. Shinji stared straight forward throughout class. He was bored out of his mind. Thoughts filled his head. Then, he stopped trying to avoid staring at Rei.
"Hey, look, the husband is going to have an affair!"
Touji noticed that Shinji was staring at Rei, and took advantage. Everyone broke out in laughter. Everyone except for Shinji . . . and Rei, who never laughed anyway. The sensei then began an attempt to settle the class down.
* * * * *
After school had ended, Rei began her trek home, but as soon as she saw Shinji coming out of the school, she walked over to him to ask him a question.
"Ikari-kun."
"Y-Yes, Ayanami."
Shinji wondered how he could distance himself and converse with this half-Angel at the same time.
"Pilot Ikari-kun . . . I have a question."
"A Question? Okay."
"Why do people laugh?"
"Why we laugh?"
"What is laughter? I do not understand the concept of the act."
Shinji couldn't answer the question. He himself didn't know the answer.
"I do not see why. Personal pleasure, perhaps?"
"I . . . I don't know. No one has ever asked me that question before."
". . ."
Rei walked away from Shinji, and began to walk home. Shinji watched the blue haired enigma walk off, and soon began her trek home. All of the pilots are to meet at Nerv at 4:00 PM, meaning he'll get to see Rei again.
* * * * *
Shinji, Misato, Rei, Ritsuko, and many others stood together in central Nerv. A short lecture was to take place. Gendou now entered and appeared in front of the large group. "As you know, the Seventeenth Angel, the Fifth Child, has been defeated, completing Nerv's purpose."
Ritsuko then began to think. `What I would do right now for a cigarette.'
`When did they let her out of her cell?', Misato thought to herself.
"But, a new threat is upon us. Which includes, possibly more Angels." Gendou's voice was serious as usual, but Fuyutsuki slowly noticed that his words were slowly breaking up. Shinji didn't notice. All he worried about is that he'd have to fight more Angels.
"And, the construction of a new Unit 04 has been completed for the use of 1st Lieutenant Ayanami Rei. I would like for her to be addressed by her rank. Pilots Ikari and Soryu are 2nd Lieutenants, and should be addressed by their ranks."
`Lieutenant?! I didn't even know they had ranks . . . and I can't believe they've created a new Unit 04 so fast', Misato thought.
"That is all." The session was complete.
* * * * *
About an hour later, Ritsuko watched over the delivery of the new Evangelion Unit 04.
"Are we even going to get a chance to use this?"
She lit her cigarette. She looked at the newly reconstructed Unit being placed in the same area as the other two Units. "They're so ugly." She walked over to a desk, where there was more work to be done. "I hate my life."
"Do you?" said a voice coming from within Ritsuko.
"It's you again."
"We're the same person."
"I must be dreaming again."
"Dreaming? Don't you remember, I'm Tsuroki."
"Damnit, the voices in my head are giving themselves names. And now I'm talking to them out loud."
"You aren't talking to yourself, you're talking to me."
"I need another cigarette."
* * * * *
"You're not going to wake up any time soon, are you?" Shinji felt a little uneasy talking to someone comatose, especially after what he did to her the day before. But now, Shinji decided he was going to do what he had done to do yesterday. He was again, fresh out of ideas. But before he did so, Asuka began to roll over. Shinji shot back.
"A-Asuka?!"
Asuka slowly woke up. She gasped for air. She was breathing hard. After every breath she let out a German curse, each louder than the last.
"Asuka!"
"What . . . the . . . hell . . . where . . . am . . . I . . . ?"
"You're finally awake."
"Sheist . . . out of all of the people at my bedside, it's this dumkopf."
`Her attacks aren't as good as before . . .'
Misato now came into the room. "Asuka!"
"Hi, Misato-san!"
"You're finally awake! Hey, did Shinji tell you the news?"
Asuka glanced over at Shinji. "What news?"
"The Seventeenth Angel has been destroyed."
"The last?"
"Mmhmm."
"Then what am I supposed to do without my Eva!"
"We're not sure if the seventeenth really is the last, but . . ."
"But what?! You expect for me to live without Eva?!" Asuka began to scream out German curses. Misato stepped back, and hoped Asuka would stop soon.
* * * * *
"Dr. Akagi, you know why I released you from your cell." Gendou stared at her with his hands folded. She could hardly bare to look at him, comfortably sitting at his desk.
"I understand. But, I don't see the point in these new types of weapons."
"There are more Angels."
"I'm aware of that. But - "
"They may be like Tabris Dr. Akagi. Only time will tell. It's in our best interest to prepare for the worst."
* * * * *
"Welcome home, Asuka!"
Asuka took her warm welcome well. "Thanks, Misato-san, hey, has Kaji come by while I was in the hospital?
"Kaji? Umm no, he, hasn't." Misato was a little nervous, she didn't want to tell Asuka he was dead. Asuka merely sighed.
Shinji laid in his room, listening to his SDAT. Asuka abruptly walked in. "Baka, Shinji-kun. You spineless wimp, do you always lie down all day long?!" Shinji paid no attention, since he had the music volume up higher than usual. Asuka then ripped the headphones away from Shinji. "Hey!"
"Stupid jerk. Talk to me when I'm speaking to you!"
"Hey, Asuka, can I ask you something?"
"What?!"
"Have you ever felt like . . . like you've created something, but it means nothing because you have no one to share it with?"
"What are you talking about?!"
"Never mind."
Asuka left the room following the awkward question. There was only one thought in her mind. `All I'm worried about is becoming the best again . . . no wonder bitch or spineless baka.
That night, Misato Katsuragi lied in her bed. For the past few days, she had been having trouble falling asleep. It was cold. The door was open. But, Misato was too lazy to get up and close it.
"I've always wanted children of my own . . . now it's like I do, but they don't trust me."
It got even colder. But that was the room. A warm aura surrounded Misato. "I'm alone."
"You like to think you are . . ."
"I am . . ."
Then, after realizing that she was talking to a strange voice, she jumped. She sat up in her bed and looked to her right and left. No one was there. Misato got out of her bed, and closed the door. She then lied back down, and hoped she would fall asleep soon.
* * * * *
In her apartment, Rei lied down, half awake half asleep. Questions kept her half awake.
"Why do people laugh?"
. . .
"What is the point of laughter?
. . .
"What is the concept?"
. . .
"Is it . . . joyous?"
. . .
"I should not question such."
. . .
"Why is it that I am still here?"
. . .
"Irrelevant . . . I must rest."
. . .
"But . . . what am I? Not like Ikari? More like Ikari?"
. . .
"I am certain. I may not be a lilum . . ."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Well, that's it for Chapter 1 of my first Evangelion fanfic. I hope you all liked it. (At least thought it was decent . . .) Anyway, Chapter 2 will be up soon. And as I said, very, very slowly this is going to get darker and darker (around C5, but I'm not going to spoil it for anyone). And I really hope that none of the characters are terribly OOC.
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