Note: My real name is NOT Hideaki Anno. I do not own Gainax or any of its
creations let alone Neon Genesis: Evangelion. Characters, locations,
themes, and ideas used in this fic are used without permission from Gainax
or Hideaki Anno.
Last time on The Last Gift She Expected...The gang wake up the morning after Asuka's party, many of whom barely remember the events of the night before. Gendo acts upon the discovery of another spy, while Misato lies around asking people for beer. Kensuke is finally busted for his camera, much to Asuka's enjoyment. Shinji successfully satisfies Asuka's thirst for revenge, while sparing Kensuke's life. But what is this Project Omega that Gendo had heard of?
And now, the thrilling conclusion to The Last Gift She Expected...
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Misato staggered down the corridor, barely maintaining her balance. [Just one foot in front of the other...that's it...] She slowly walked down the corridor, finally coming across a vending machine.
[Man, sure could go for a coffee...] Her hand reached into her pockets, feeling around for change. [Does this thing take fives?] A quick look confirmed it. Misato grabbed her purse and fumbled around in it for a five- yen note. She pulled one out from her purse and tried to feed it into the machine. She waited for the machine to detect the note and spit out her coffee, but was dismayed to see the note reappear from the slot.
[God damn...] Misato took the note and tried to straighten it against the wall, before trying to put it in again. This time it accepted the note, but no can came out.
Misato growled. [You sure picked the wrong woman to piss off this early in the morning!] She reared back and kicked the machine, once, twice, thrice, until her heel got itself wedged in the plastic covering, snapping off her shoe.
"Ah crap!" Misato yelled in anguish. "This is too early in the morning for this shit!"
---------------
"I think you fail to realize that we are the ones who call the shots, Ikari." The fearless commander sat at his desk, surrounded by a ring of holographic projections of what seemed to be obelisks, twelve of them in a circle around his desk.
"Yes, you exist simply to follow orders, or have you forgotten that?"
Gendo's face remained unchanged, despite the threatening tone of the Seele committee. "I exist to maintain the Evangelions for active service, not to follow your orders anymore. Now, it has come to my attention that you have a Project Omega that I was not informed of. Would you care to enlighten me?"
"No, we wouldn't, Ikari," one of the Obelisks said, "We have no reason to obey any sort of command from you."
Ikari's face remained emotionless. "Don't think that I have forgotten that you were the ones that sent us Kaworu Nagisa. If you attempt any such operation again, the Evangelions will retaliate in full force. After all, we do know your weak point."
"That remains to be seen." The obelisks disappeared, instantaneously. The room grew lighter, as Fuyutski entered Gendo's office.
"Seele are planning another offensive, aren't they?"
"It would seem so. Our defense budget has been slowly but surely whittled away. It wouldn't surprise me if I found out this was their ultimate goal to begin with."
"I suggest that NERV proves it's usefulness to organizations outside of the control of Seele, if we are to survive."
"No, Professor," Gendo rebutted, "We can repel any sort of offensive, Angelic or otherwise."
"I have come here with bad news, Commander," Fuyutski continued, "It seems that Dr. Akagi's experimentation on Rei has been ceased."
"I see." Gendo was upset. [Does this mean she will begin to become aware of her existence?]
"Shall I terminate her?"
"No," Gendo said, "We no longer have any spares, thanks to Dr. Akagi. Send me the one responsible."
"Yes sir." Fuyutski left. Gendo remained at his desk. [My boy, this time you have gone too far...]
---------------
"Asuka Sohryu, welcome to the Way of the Stooge..."
"Say that again, Kensuke and I will kill you."
Asuka and Shinji had joined Kensuke in the photo lab, developing Kensuke's photos.
"So Asuka, what do you want from Misato?"
"Misato? Well, uh...I could use a new PlayStation4..."
"Two new PlayStation4s."
"Aw, c'mon Shinji, we can share one..." Asuka smiled to Shinji, and they shared a quick kiss, ignoring the gagging motions from Kensuke.
Shinji agreed. "Okay, one PS4. You?"
"Well, I sure could go for some photo time with the Evas..." This only received dirty looks from the two lovers. "With a real camera."
"It better be. If you pull any of this kind of crap on me again, I swear I'll..."
"Asuka, calm down, please." Shinji comforted his girl.
The photo that Kensuke was working on was done. He motioned to Shinji, who turned on the light. The light revealed a crystal clear picture of Misato, a beer in one hand, her top in the other, doing some crazy dance called the Macarena or something like that.
"I have to admit, it's a quality picture, Kensuke," Shinji commended Kensuke's photography skills.
"Alright, I admit it," Asuka confessed, "You're not such a idiot after all, Kensuke."
"Thanks, Asuka," Kensuke said slowly, not sure how to take this newfound acceptance. "Anyway, that's how you do it. Can I trust you guys with developing the rest?"
"Um...we're only allowed to spend a certain amount of time here..." Shinji was wondering why Asuka was bargaining for some extra time, at least until he felt a hand reaching for his groin in the dark.
Kensuke frowned. "Okay, just get as many done as you can until you have to go, then give the rest of the negatives to me. Everyone gets a copy of each picture. Understand?"
"Yeah, okay, Kensuke..." Kensuke eyed the pair suspiciously. [Hmph. They just want more private time...] Kensuke left the room. Almost immediately, Asuka and Shinji leapt at each other, in a mad rush of passion. Asuka pulled Shinji back into a table, knocking it over accidentally. Kensuke, only just clear of the door, easily heard this.
"Sex fiends," he muttered as he left the corridor.
"Excuse me?" Kensuke turned around sharply at Rei's voice.
"Ah, Shinji and Asuka," Kensuke whined, "Four days ago they hated each others' guts, and now they can't keep their hands out of each others' pants. I just don't get it..."
"I fail to see the complication," Rei said, shedding a microscopic amount of woodenness in her voice every sentence she spoke, "Isn't this normal behavior for people who love each other?"
Kensuke looked away, shaking his head. "Yes, but...it just seems wrong..."
Rei walked up to Kensuke. "Why?" Rei pulled Kensuke around gently to face him.
"Well, Asuka's always hated, um, Shinji, and..." Kensuke seemed to lose his words as Rei wrapped her arms around Kensuke's neck, her arms inadvertently pushing her assets together.
"Well?" [This is fun...]
"It...well, always..." Kensuke felt a trickle protrude from one of his nostrils, and an odd coppery taste in his mouth. [Aw, crap, a nosebleed...] He thought as blood rushed elsewhere.
Rei silenced Kensuke's stammering with a lingering kiss. Kensuke stood dumb for a moment, then returned the favor. After a few minutes of pashing, their mouths parted.
"Rei," Kensuke said slowly, "I don't have to worry about..."
"I've been told not to worry about something like that," Rei said seductively, knowing what he was talking about.
As Kensuke was dragged off down the corridor by Rei, his words lingered: "You're getting good at this whole emotion thing, Rei..." This was barely audible over the intercom, which suddenly bared to life.
"Would Shinji Ikari please report to the Commander's Office. Shinji Ikari to the Commander's Office, immediately."
The photo lab door opened, and a scruffed up Shinji poked his head around the door.
"Wassat for me?" he muttered. Asuka's head also poked around the door, her hair mussed up and tangled, her skirt held up by one string on her shoulder. Both had very disappointed looks on their faces.
"Verdamnt!" Asuka cursed, while readjusting her skirt. Shinji ran his hand through his head and stepped out into the corridor.
"What does father want me for?" Shinji asked as he walked down the corridor.
"Um, Shinji..." Shinji turned back to his lover, catching up to him. She stopped, reaching towards his beltline.
"You don't want to see your dad like this," Asuka said as she zipped up Shinji's fly. His face flushed red, as he took Asuka under his arm and walked on towards Gendo Ikari's office.
--------------
Shinji and Asuka took tentative steps across the marble floor tiles across Gendo Ikari's office. The walls were comprised almost entirely of windows, except that the blinds were closed, plunging the room in an eerie darkness. A dim light was present in the middle of the room, by which Shinji noticed the motif on the ceiling of the room. A strange circular pattern was visible, what could be assumed as the head of the figure hanging above the desk.
"I still don't know what your dad would want with us, Shinji," Asuka said, slightly spooked by the room.
"I don't know..." Shinji walked toward the desk. At that moment, a voice penetrated the dimly lit room.
"I brought you here to discuss your conduct in the past twelve hours."
Shinji spun at the familiar voice, that of his father. Gendo continued.
"Since you arrived here at 1800 hours, you have intruded into a restricted area, committed grotesque acts in that area, used an Evangelion for personal use, you physically assaulted two NERV personnel..."
"Two? I only..."
"And insubordination to a commander..." Gendo frowned. "You have shown severe disrespect to your position as an Eva pilot."
"Really?" Shinji surprised himself at his confidence, and the fact that he stood up to his own father. "And who else do you have in mind to pilot it? If I recall, last time someone else tried to use my Eva, they were rejected."
"It is not your Evangelion, Shinji-boy," Gendo growled. "I would watch your tone if I were you..."
"You don't have to take this shit, Shinji," Asuka supported.
Gendo smirked. "Ah, the girl, always standing by your man?" He gave a just-short-of-demonic laugh. "I wonder how you would react to what I have to say..."
"Shut up, Ikari!" Asuka shouted, tears welling. "Shin-chan means a lot to me. I'll never let him go!"
"I suppose you're wondering how Shinji had the strength to lift a person almost 50% heavier than he, with one hand, and throw her through a tempered glass window?"
Asuka stopped. [Yeah...how did he do that?] Shinji and Asuka remained silent.
"My guess is that it has something to do with being absorbed by Eva Unit One. After all, it was her who gave it to him..."
Shinji was confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Ah, my dear, Shinji," Gendo smirked, "I think it's time you learnt the truth..."
Shinji wasn't sure what his father was on about. "What do you mean?"
"When you were absorbed by the 14th Angel," Gendo explained, "your genetic material was combined with that of the Eva. While we were able to reconstruct your body, and return your soul into it, there was a minor, ahem, complication..."
Shinji recognized betrayal in his father's tone. "What?" the Third Child said in a low tone. He tried to imagine what kind of dark secret had been kept from him since that fateful day.
"Part of the Evangelion's genetic information was passed on to you. Normally, this would result in instability of the genetic level, but in your case, it combined with you..."
"I'm...part Eva?" Shinji confirmed, heart racing so as not to hear the female gasp behind him. Asuka knew what Eva Unit One did while it was berserk. [But they never told Shin-chan...he still doesn't know what it did...]
"It's not quite as simple as that," Gendo smiled, his cold voice gaining that extra bit of penetration to it, "While it was berserk, Eva Unit One ingested roughly 83% of the 14th Angel's S2 component, or as you call it, its Core. Once it restabilized, this was detected as a change in the Eva's genetic pattern..."
Shinji's heart skipped a beat. "No way...you're telling me...I..."
"Correct," Gendo finished, "You now have a Core."
"No..." Shinji's head lowered, his fists clenched by his side. A distraught Asuka felt a cold chill up her spine, travelling toward her heart. [Shin-chan's an Angel...]
"You are an Angel now," Gendo said, accusingly, "And we all know what the task of an Eva pilot is..." Asuka gasped as Gendo turned to her. "Pilot Asuka Langley Sohryu," Gendo commanded, placing particular emphasis on "pilot", "I order you to eliminate the 19th Angel."
Asuka felt a sharp, restricting pain across her throat. Her eyes met with Shinji's, both pairs beginning to glisten with tears.
"Do it..." Shinji's low mutter could barely be heard as a pistol slid across the room towards Asuka. The Third Child dropped to his knees, fists clenched, arms by his sides. "Do it. I've become the enemy..."
Asuka picked up the weapon, aiming it at her love. She looked down the sight, at her Shin-chan, and walked with even-paced steps towards him. As she got closer, a voice in her mind screamed at her to stop, to drop the gun. With every step it grew louder and louder, until finally she surrendered to her heart, stumbling toward Shinji, dropping to her knees, her hands wrapping tightly around her Shin-chan.
Asuka let go, and stood up. She glared angrily at her employer, then leveled the gun at him.
"He always told me that you were a cold-hearted bastard, but I didn't realize you were this bad. You don't deserve to live..."
She pulled the trigger. A loud flash filled the room, the report deafening its occupants for a brief period of time. Asuka was somewhat dismayed to find that Gendo Ikari wasn't hurt. [Oh no...did I miss?]
"You think I would give you a loaded gun?" Gendo laughed. "It was a blank. I knew you would rather kill me than your boyfriend..."
Gendo raised another pistol. "I can assure you that this contains live ammunition."
Asuka stood back, helpless, possibly for only the second time in her life. She didn't like this feeling, this sinking feeling in her stomach. She didn't like the constant tides of depression, crashing wave after wave against her resolve. She didn't like being helpless, hopeless...
Suddenly, Shinji stood up, in front of Asuka, arms spread, fists still clenched. Asuka gasped. [Is he...protecting me? How can he stop a bullet..?]
"You're...NOT...touching Asuka..." Shinji's voice lowered dramatically, almost to match his father, if it wasn't for a strange hissing snarl in his voice, making it all the more scary. Shinji's head was lowered, his right arm slowly moving in front of him. Suddenly, Gendo opened fire.
Eight shots echoed through the room. Asuka could've sworn that her life would end in that instant. Her life flashed before her eyes, memories forgotten since the 16th Angel flooded back to her. There was an odd silence...
[Am I dead?] Asuka opened her eyes. Shinji was still standing there, apparently unhurt. [But...how?] About now, she noticed the orange glow surrounding her Shin-chan. Shinji stood there, arm outstretched, his head bowed.
Shinji looked up. Gendo gasped, as his son's gleaming, penetrating red eyes stabbed into his soul, like a prog knife through butter.
Gendo gasped. "So, it's true..."
-----------------
In the Bridge, Misato was leaning back in a chair with her canned coffee, looking out across the holographic representation of the city in content. Suddenly, the room was flooded in a pulsing red light, klaxons blaring.
Misato sat bolt upright, ejecting her coffee all over the console. "WHAT THE!?"
Gazing into the monitor, she gasped in horror at the words, "UNKNOWN ENTITY", "Blood Pattern: BLUE", "Target: Angel #19"...
-----------------
"No, Gendo," Shinji spoke, but to Asuka it appeared that there were two people speaking. Gendo immediately recognized the second voice...
"It can't be...YUI!?" Gendo stared in horror at his son, the 19th Angel, red eyes gleaming.
"Wrong again, Rokubungi," Shinji said, "It wasn't only the S2 core that was transferred between pilot and Eva. I've also attained her memories, apparently. And no, I'm not an Angel."
"But, you used an AT field..."
Asuka looked in front of Shinji. Indeed, eight bullets were pinned in the air, suspended by eight identical sets of glowing, orange, hexagonal shapes. Asuka gasped. [He really is an Angel...]
"This?" Shinji gave a short laugh. "Someone once told me that this is merely the light of my soul, creating an area of protection around myself that no one may dare enter."
Asuka felt Shinji's presence in her mind. Asuka smiled as Shinji continued.
"He also told me that any of us Lilim have the ability to use it...we just need to know we can."
Shinji's frame rose from the floor, his feet left dangling in the air. "This is undoubtedly an advantage of my Angelic side..."
Shinji advanced menacingly toward Gendo. Asuka and Shinji were then privy to something truly amazing: the Immovable Object, Gendo Ikari, pleading for his life.
"No...please, don't kill me...I must see her again."
"Oh, for Christ's sake, let it go, Rokubungi," Shinji had no pity for his father, "She's dead, get over it."
Shinji clutched his father by the throat. "At least I'm not quite as fragile as I once was," he said as he began to squeeze the life from his dad. "Gendo, I could release you from all this pain. Who knows, you might wind up with her again..."
Asuka realized what Shinji was about to do. "No, Shinji...don't do it...even he doesn't deserve this..."
"What's the matter, son?" Gendo snarled with the little air he had left, "Running away again?"
Asuka was shocked at Gendo's remark. "That's too far..."
Shinji growled, and twisted his hand suddenly. He felt something snap inside Gendo's neck, and saw his face flop into an emotionless heap. Asuka gasped as the lifeless body of Gendo Rokubungi slipped to the floor.
Shinji lowered himself to the ground, hanging his head, finally unclenching his hand, arms dropping to his side. Asuka looked at Shinji, unsure of what to do. Slowly, she reached out an arm, placing her hand on Shinji's shoulder.
"Are...are you alright, Shin-chan?"
Shinji reached his arm around, placing his left hand on Asuka's. He craned his head around, his newly deep blue eyes gazing into Asuka's. "I'll be fine...I know it..." They walked out of the room, hand in hand, leaving the corpse of NERV's head commander lying in his office.
-------------------
The door to the Bridge slid open, showing Shinji and Asuka the panic that his little stunt had caused. NERV personnel were rushing everywhere, Misato glancing at the door, and seeing the pair.
"Oh, Shinji, Asuka, thank god you're here," Misato said, dragging the pair in by his shirt and her dress. Shinji and Asuka could not help get dragged into the Bridge.
Maya shifted her head toward Misato. "The scanners aren't picking anything up, Major," she explained the current situation, "It's as if the Angel didn't exist..."
"Um, yeah, there's a good explanation for that..." Shinji tried to tell Misato of his newfound heritage.
"The Magi have detected a foreign being, inside Tokyo-3..." Aoba reported.
"Keep an eye on it," Misato barked, "Tell me if it gets narrowed down at all."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Misato, Shinji has something impor..."
"Not now, Asuka," Misato cut off Asuka, "We have a situation here. Maya, how's the Blood Pattern?"
I
"Still Orange," Maya reported, "Maybe it's calmed down..."
"These things never calm down. It's planning something...I know it..."
"Misato, we know..."
Aoba cut in this time. "Oh my God! Magi Melchior has narrowed it down to the Geo Front!" Everyone gasped as they watched Aoba's screen. He continued his commentary. "Quadrant Four...section B-20...OH MY GOD, IT'S IN HERE!!!"
Shinji couldn't take it anymore. He stabilized his AT field, sending a million more klaxons in the room haywire. Cries from various bridge- bunnies filled the room.
"Blood Pattern Blue! Angel number 19 confirmed!"
"What!? Why can't we see it!?"
Misato's attention turned to Shinji, and Asuka, standing behind her love. Misato's focus was drawn to Shinji's eyes. Something was different...his eyes...were they red?
"You can see the Nineteenth Angel," Shinji said calmly, "It's me."
Ten or so chins hit the ground. They all gaped at Shinji, too shocked to do much more than breathe. After a while, Maya had the common sense to turn off the sirens and alert signals.
At about this time, Kensuke and Rei walked into the room, flirting with each other. It didn't take them long to figure out what was up.
"Huh?" Kensuke looked around. "What's the matter? What happened?"
Rei looked at Shinji. "What's going on, Shinji?"
Shinji looked at Rei, waiting for her to notice. When Rei did, she gasped. "Your eyes...they're like mine now...what does that mean..?"
"Yes, I think we'd all like to know that, Shinji-kun..." Misato said, slightly slurring her words through a combination of hangover and pure shock.
"I'm..." Shinji began, "I'm the Nineteenth Angel." This didn't explain a hell of a lot, so Shinji decided to explain what happened.
"Shinji," Misato said slowly, "I don't know what to say..."
Many a bridge bunny left the room in a hurry, leaving only Shinji, Asuka, Rei, Kensuke and Misato.
"Just see him for who he is," Asuka said, "He's had a rough day..." Asuka's arms looped around Shinji's shoulders.
Kensuke appeared scared of Shinji. "You're...you're an...an An-n-gel?"
"Yep." Kensuke looked at Shinji, his expression of terror starting to grow into a smile.
"COOL! COOL! COOL! COOL! COOL! My best buddy isn't just an Eva pilot but an Angel as well! THIS IS SO AWESOME!"
This earned a sock to the head from Asuka. "You jerk! He still hasn't come to terms with it completely! Give him a break, alright?"
Rei was reminded of her own origins, and looked at Kensuke. "You know, there's something I feel like I should tell you..."
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That's it! It's all over! That was the last Last Gift She Expected! Depending on reader feedback, I am thinking of making a sequel to it, continuing on with this story. If you want it, just ask! Please send me an email at [email protected] with your thoughts, ideas for the sequel title and other things. Please get back to me!
By the way, seeing as it's the last chapter before a new story, I'll give you the opportunity to decide a major factor leading into the beginning of the next section. Just e-mail me with your answer to this question: should Gendo die? Please respond, Gendo's life is in YOUR hands...
Note: My real name is NOT Hideaki Anno. I do not own Gainax or any of its creations let alone Neon Genesis: Evangelion. Characters, locations, themes, and ideas used in this fic are used without permission from Gainax or Hideaki Anno.
Lyrics from the Linkin Park song "Nobody's Listening" used without permission
Author's Note: Please watch out for my next project, Where Am I? It'll be a self-insert, but if you can look past that, I'm sure you'll find a good story there. Hopefully by then, I'll have enough ideas to start working on a sequel to this, my first ever completed fan-fic. Arigato gozaimasu and Sayonara!
Last time on The Last Gift She Expected...The gang wake up the morning after Asuka's party, many of whom barely remember the events of the night before. Gendo acts upon the discovery of another spy, while Misato lies around asking people for beer. Kensuke is finally busted for his camera, much to Asuka's enjoyment. Shinji successfully satisfies Asuka's thirst for revenge, while sparing Kensuke's life. But what is this Project Omega that Gendo had heard of?
And now, the thrilling conclusion to The Last Gift She Expected...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
Misato staggered down the corridor, barely maintaining her balance. [Just one foot in front of the other...that's it...] She slowly walked down the corridor, finally coming across a vending machine.
[Man, sure could go for a coffee...] Her hand reached into her pockets, feeling around for change. [Does this thing take fives?] A quick look confirmed it. Misato grabbed her purse and fumbled around in it for a five- yen note. She pulled one out from her purse and tried to feed it into the machine. She waited for the machine to detect the note and spit out her coffee, but was dismayed to see the note reappear from the slot.
[God damn...] Misato took the note and tried to straighten it against the wall, before trying to put it in again. This time it accepted the note, but no can came out.
Misato growled. [You sure picked the wrong woman to piss off this early in the morning!] She reared back and kicked the machine, once, twice, thrice, until her heel got itself wedged in the plastic covering, snapping off her shoe.
"Ah crap!" Misato yelled in anguish. "This is too early in the morning for this shit!"
---------------
"I think you fail to realize that we are the ones who call the shots, Ikari." The fearless commander sat at his desk, surrounded by a ring of holographic projections of what seemed to be obelisks, twelve of them in a circle around his desk.
"Yes, you exist simply to follow orders, or have you forgotten that?"
Gendo's face remained unchanged, despite the threatening tone of the Seele committee. "I exist to maintain the Evangelions for active service, not to follow your orders anymore. Now, it has come to my attention that you have a Project Omega that I was not informed of. Would you care to enlighten me?"
"No, we wouldn't, Ikari," one of the Obelisks said, "We have no reason to obey any sort of command from you."
Ikari's face remained emotionless. "Don't think that I have forgotten that you were the ones that sent us Kaworu Nagisa. If you attempt any such operation again, the Evangelions will retaliate in full force. After all, we do know your weak point."
"That remains to be seen." The obelisks disappeared, instantaneously. The room grew lighter, as Fuyutski entered Gendo's office.
"Seele are planning another offensive, aren't they?"
"It would seem so. Our defense budget has been slowly but surely whittled away. It wouldn't surprise me if I found out this was their ultimate goal to begin with."
"I suggest that NERV proves it's usefulness to organizations outside of the control of Seele, if we are to survive."
"No, Professor," Gendo rebutted, "We can repel any sort of offensive, Angelic or otherwise."
"I have come here with bad news, Commander," Fuyutski continued, "It seems that Dr. Akagi's experimentation on Rei has been ceased."
"I see." Gendo was upset. [Does this mean she will begin to become aware of her existence?]
"Shall I terminate her?"
"No," Gendo said, "We no longer have any spares, thanks to Dr. Akagi. Send me the one responsible."
"Yes sir." Fuyutski left. Gendo remained at his desk. [My boy, this time you have gone too far...]
---------------
"Asuka Sohryu, welcome to the Way of the Stooge..."
"Say that again, Kensuke and I will kill you."
Asuka and Shinji had joined Kensuke in the photo lab, developing Kensuke's photos.
"So Asuka, what do you want from Misato?"
"Misato? Well, uh...I could use a new PlayStation4..."
"Two new PlayStation4s."
"Aw, c'mon Shinji, we can share one..." Asuka smiled to Shinji, and they shared a quick kiss, ignoring the gagging motions from Kensuke.
Shinji agreed. "Okay, one PS4. You?"
"Well, I sure could go for some photo time with the Evas..." This only received dirty looks from the two lovers. "With a real camera."
"It better be. If you pull any of this kind of crap on me again, I swear I'll..."
"Asuka, calm down, please." Shinji comforted his girl.
The photo that Kensuke was working on was done. He motioned to Shinji, who turned on the light. The light revealed a crystal clear picture of Misato, a beer in one hand, her top in the other, doing some crazy dance called the Macarena or something like that.
"I have to admit, it's a quality picture, Kensuke," Shinji commended Kensuke's photography skills.
"Alright, I admit it," Asuka confessed, "You're not such a idiot after all, Kensuke."
"Thanks, Asuka," Kensuke said slowly, not sure how to take this newfound acceptance. "Anyway, that's how you do it. Can I trust you guys with developing the rest?"
"Um...we're only allowed to spend a certain amount of time here..." Shinji was wondering why Asuka was bargaining for some extra time, at least until he felt a hand reaching for his groin in the dark.
Kensuke frowned. "Okay, just get as many done as you can until you have to go, then give the rest of the negatives to me. Everyone gets a copy of each picture. Understand?"
"Yeah, okay, Kensuke..." Kensuke eyed the pair suspiciously. [Hmph. They just want more private time...] Kensuke left the room. Almost immediately, Asuka and Shinji leapt at each other, in a mad rush of passion. Asuka pulled Shinji back into a table, knocking it over accidentally. Kensuke, only just clear of the door, easily heard this.
"Sex fiends," he muttered as he left the corridor.
"Excuse me?" Kensuke turned around sharply at Rei's voice.
"Ah, Shinji and Asuka," Kensuke whined, "Four days ago they hated each others' guts, and now they can't keep their hands out of each others' pants. I just don't get it..."
"I fail to see the complication," Rei said, shedding a microscopic amount of woodenness in her voice every sentence she spoke, "Isn't this normal behavior for people who love each other?"
Kensuke looked away, shaking his head. "Yes, but...it just seems wrong..."
Rei walked up to Kensuke. "Why?" Rei pulled Kensuke around gently to face him.
"Well, Asuka's always hated, um, Shinji, and..." Kensuke seemed to lose his words as Rei wrapped her arms around Kensuke's neck, her arms inadvertently pushing her assets together.
"Well?" [This is fun...]
"It...well, always..." Kensuke felt a trickle protrude from one of his nostrils, and an odd coppery taste in his mouth. [Aw, crap, a nosebleed...] He thought as blood rushed elsewhere.
Rei silenced Kensuke's stammering with a lingering kiss. Kensuke stood dumb for a moment, then returned the favor. After a few minutes of pashing, their mouths parted.
"Rei," Kensuke said slowly, "I don't have to worry about..."
"I've been told not to worry about something like that," Rei said seductively, knowing what he was talking about.
As Kensuke was dragged off down the corridor by Rei, his words lingered: "You're getting good at this whole emotion thing, Rei..." This was barely audible over the intercom, which suddenly bared to life.
"Would Shinji Ikari please report to the Commander's Office. Shinji Ikari to the Commander's Office, immediately."
The photo lab door opened, and a scruffed up Shinji poked his head around the door.
"Wassat for me?" he muttered. Asuka's head also poked around the door, her hair mussed up and tangled, her skirt held up by one string on her shoulder. Both had very disappointed looks on their faces.
"Verdamnt!" Asuka cursed, while readjusting her skirt. Shinji ran his hand through his head and stepped out into the corridor.
"What does father want me for?" Shinji asked as he walked down the corridor.
"Um, Shinji..." Shinji turned back to his lover, catching up to him. She stopped, reaching towards his beltline.
"You don't want to see your dad like this," Asuka said as she zipped up Shinji's fly. His face flushed red, as he took Asuka under his arm and walked on towards Gendo Ikari's office.
--------------
Shinji and Asuka took tentative steps across the marble floor tiles across Gendo Ikari's office. The walls were comprised almost entirely of windows, except that the blinds were closed, plunging the room in an eerie darkness. A dim light was present in the middle of the room, by which Shinji noticed the motif on the ceiling of the room. A strange circular pattern was visible, what could be assumed as the head of the figure hanging above the desk.
"I still don't know what your dad would want with us, Shinji," Asuka said, slightly spooked by the room.
"I don't know..." Shinji walked toward the desk. At that moment, a voice penetrated the dimly lit room.
"I brought you here to discuss your conduct in the past twelve hours."
Shinji spun at the familiar voice, that of his father. Gendo continued.
"Since you arrived here at 1800 hours, you have intruded into a restricted area, committed grotesque acts in that area, used an Evangelion for personal use, you physically assaulted two NERV personnel..."
"Two? I only..."
"And insubordination to a commander..." Gendo frowned. "You have shown severe disrespect to your position as an Eva pilot."
"Really?" Shinji surprised himself at his confidence, and the fact that he stood up to his own father. "And who else do you have in mind to pilot it? If I recall, last time someone else tried to use my Eva, they were rejected."
"It is not your Evangelion, Shinji-boy," Gendo growled. "I would watch your tone if I were you..."
"You don't have to take this shit, Shinji," Asuka supported.
Gendo smirked. "Ah, the girl, always standing by your man?" He gave a just-short-of-demonic laugh. "I wonder how you would react to what I have to say..."
"Shut up, Ikari!" Asuka shouted, tears welling. "Shin-chan means a lot to me. I'll never let him go!"
"I suppose you're wondering how Shinji had the strength to lift a person almost 50% heavier than he, with one hand, and throw her through a tempered glass window?"
Asuka stopped. [Yeah...how did he do that?] Shinji and Asuka remained silent.
"My guess is that it has something to do with being absorbed by Eva Unit One. After all, it was her who gave it to him..."
Shinji was confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Ah, my dear, Shinji," Gendo smirked, "I think it's time you learnt the truth..."
Shinji wasn't sure what his father was on about. "What do you mean?"
"When you were absorbed by the 14th Angel," Gendo explained, "your genetic material was combined with that of the Eva. While we were able to reconstruct your body, and return your soul into it, there was a minor, ahem, complication..."
Shinji recognized betrayal in his father's tone. "What?" the Third Child said in a low tone. He tried to imagine what kind of dark secret had been kept from him since that fateful day.
"Part of the Evangelion's genetic information was passed on to you. Normally, this would result in instability of the genetic level, but in your case, it combined with you..."
"I'm...part Eva?" Shinji confirmed, heart racing so as not to hear the female gasp behind him. Asuka knew what Eva Unit One did while it was berserk. [But they never told Shin-chan...he still doesn't know what it did...]
"It's not quite as simple as that," Gendo smiled, his cold voice gaining that extra bit of penetration to it, "While it was berserk, Eva Unit One ingested roughly 83% of the 14th Angel's S2 component, or as you call it, its Core. Once it restabilized, this was detected as a change in the Eva's genetic pattern..."
Shinji's heart skipped a beat. "No way...you're telling me...I..."
"Correct," Gendo finished, "You now have a Core."
"No..." Shinji's head lowered, his fists clenched by his side. A distraught Asuka felt a cold chill up her spine, travelling toward her heart. [Shin-chan's an Angel...]
"You are an Angel now," Gendo said, accusingly, "And we all know what the task of an Eva pilot is..." Asuka gasped as Gendo turned to her. "Pilot Asuka Langley Sohryu," Gendo commanded, placing particular emphasis on "pilot", "I order you to eliminate the 19th Angel."
Asuka felt a sharp, restricting pain across her throat. Her eyes met with Shinji's, both pairs beginning to glisten with tears.
"Do it..." Shinji's low mutter could barely be heard as a pistol slid across the room towards Asuka. The Third Child dropped to his knees, fists clenched, arms by his sides. "Do it. I've become the enemy..."
Asuka picked up the weapon, aiming it at her love. She looked down the sight, at her Shin-chan, and walked with even-paced steps towards him. As she got closer, a voice in her mind screamed at her to stop, to drop the gun. With every step it grew louder and louder, until finally she surrendered to her heart, stumbling toward Shinji, dropping to her knees, her hands wrapping tightly around her Shin-chan.
Asuka let go, and stood up. She glared angrily at her employer, then leveled the gun at him.
"He always told me that you were a cold-hearted bastard, but I didn't realize you were this bad. You don't deserve to live..."
She pulled the trigger. A loud flash filled the room, the report deafening its occupants for a brief period of time. Asuka was somewhat dismayed to find that Gendo Ikari wasn't hurt. [Oh no...did I miss?]
"You think I would give you a loaded gun?" Gendo laughed. "It was a blank. I knew you would rather kill me than your boyfriend..."
Gendo raised another pistol. "I can assure you that this contains live ammunition."
Asuka stood back, helpless, possibly for only the second time in her life. She didn't like this feeling, this sinking feeling in her stomach. She didn't like the constant tides of depression, crashing wave after wave against her resolve. She didn't like being helpless, hopeless...
Suddenly, Shinji stood up, in front of Asuka, arms spread, fists still clenched. Asuka gasped. [Is he...protecting me? How can he stop a bullet..?]
"You're...NOT...touching Asuka..." Shinji's voice lowered dramatically, almost to match his father, if it wasn't for a strange hissing snarl in his voice, making it all the more scary. Shinji's head was lowered, his right arm slowly moving in front of him. Suddenly, Gendo opened fire.
Eight shots echoed through the room. Asuka could've sworn that her life would end in that instant. Her life flashed before her eyes, memories forgotten since the 16th Angel flooded back to her. There was an odd silence...
[Am I dead?] Asuka opened her eyes. Shinji was still standing there, apparently unhurt. [But...how?] About now, she noticed the orange glow surrounding her Shin-chan. Shinji stood there, arm outstretched, his head bowed.
Shinji looked up. Gendo gasped, as his son's gleaming, penetrating red eyes stabbed into his soul, like a prog knife through butter.
Gendo gasped. "So, it's true..."
-----------------
In the Bridge, Misato was leaning back in a chair with her canned coffee, looking out across the holographic representation of the city in content. Suddenly, the room was flooded in a pulsing red light, klaxons blaring.
Misato sat bolt upright, ejecting her coffee all over the console. "WHAT THE!?"
Gazing into the monitor, she gasped in horror at the words, "UNKNOWN ENTITY", "Blood Pattern: BLUE", "Target: Angel #19"...
-----------------
"No, Gendo," Shinji spoke, but to Asuka it appeared that there were two people speaking. Gendo immediately recognized the second voice...
"It can't be...YUI!?" Gendo stared in horror at his son, the 19th Angel, red eyes gleaming.
"Wrong again, Rokubungi," Shinji said, "It wasn't only the S2 core that was transferred between pilot and Eva. I've also attained her memories, apparently. And no, I'm not an Angel."
"But, you used an AT field..."
Asuka looked in front of Shinji. Indeed, eight bullets were pinned in the air, suspended by eight identical sets of glowing, orange, hexagonal shapes. Asuka gasped. [He really is an Angel...]
"This?" Shinji gave a short laugh. "Someone once told me that this is merely the light of my soul, creating an area of protection around myself that no one may dare enter."
Asuka felt Shinji's presence in her mind. Asuka smiled as Shinji continued.
"He also told me that any of us Lilim have the ability to use it...we just need to know we can."
Shinji's frame rose from the floor, his feet left dangling in the air. "This is undoubtedly an advantage of my Angelic side..."
Shinji advanced menacingly toward Gendo. Asuka and Shinji were then privy to something truly amazing: the Immovable Object, Gendo Ikari, pleading for his life.
"No...please, don't kill me...I must see her again."
"Oh, for Christ's sake, let it go, Rokubungi," Shinji had no pity for his father, "She's dead, get over it."
Shinji clutched his father by the throat. "At least I'm not quite as fragile as I once was," he said as he began to squeeze the life from his dad. "Gendo, I could release you from all this pain. Who knows, you might wind up with her again..."
Asuka realized what Shinji was about to do. "No, Shinji...don't do it...even he doesn't deserve this..."
"What's the matter, son?" Gendo snarled with the little air he had left, "Running away again?"
Asuka was shocked at Gendo's remark. "That's too far..."
Shinji growled, and twisted his hand suddenly. He felt something snap inside Gendo's neck, and saw his face flop into an emotionless heap. Asuka gasped as the lifeless body of Gendo Rokubungi slipped to the floor.
Shinji lowered himself to the ground, hanging his head, finally unclenching his hand, arms dropping to his side. Asuka looked at Shinji, unsure of what to do. Slowly, she reached out an arm, placing her hand on Shinji's shoulder.
"Are...are you alright, Shin-chan?"
Shinji reached his arm around, placing his left hand on Asuka's. He craned his head around, his newly deep blue eyes gazing into Asuka's. "I'll be fine...I know it..." They walked out of the room, hand in hand, leaving the corpse of NERV's head commander lying in his office.
-------------------
The door to the Bridge slid open, showing Shinji and Asuka the panic that his little stunt had caused. NERV personnel were rushing everywhere, Misato glancing at the door, and seeing the pair.
"Oh, Shinji, Asuka, thank god you're here," Misato said, dragging the pair in by his shirt and her dress. Shinji and Asuka could not help get dragged into the Bridge.
Maya shifted her head toward Misato. "The scanners aren't picking anything up, Major," she explained the current situation, "It's as if the Angel didn't exist..."
"Um, yeah, there's a good explanation for that..." Shinji tried to tell Misato of his newfound heritage.
"The Magi have detected a foreign being, inside Tokyo-3..." Aoba reported.
"Keep an eye on it," Misato barked, "Tell me if it gets narrowed down at all."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Misato, Shinji has something impor..."
"Not now, Asuka," Misato cut off Asuka, "We have a situation here. Maya, how's the Blood Pattern?"
I
"Still Orange," Maya reported, "Maybe it's calmed down..."
"These things never calm down. It's planning something...I know it..."
"Misato, we know..."
Aoba cut in this time. "Oh my God! Magi Melchior has narrowed it down to the Geo Front!" Everyone gasped as they watched Aoba's screen. He continued his commentary. "Quadrant Four...section B-20...OH MY GOD, IT'S IN HERE!!!"
Shinji couldn't take it anymore. He stabilized his AT field, sending a million more klaxons in the room haywire. Cries from various bridge- bunnies filled the room.
"Blood Pattern Blue! Angel number 19 confirmed!"
"What!? Why can't we see it!?"
Misato's attention turned to Shinji, and Asuka, standing behind her love. Misato's focus was drawn to Shinji's eyes. Something was different...his eyes...were they red?
"You can see the Nineteenth Angel," Shinji said calmly, "It's me."
Ten or so chins hit the ground. They all gaped at Shinji, too shocked to do much more than breathe. After a while, Maya had the common sense to turn off the sirens and alert signals.
At about this time, Kensuke and Rei walked into the room, flirting with each other. It didn't take them long to figure out what was up.
"Huh?" Kensuke looked around. "What's the matter? What happened?"
Rei looked at Shinji. "What's going on, Shinji?"
Shinji looked at Rei, waiting for her to notice. When Rei did, she gasped. "Your eyes...they're like mine now...what does that mean..?"
"Yes, I think we'd all like to know that, Shinji-kun..." Misato said, slightly slurring her words through a combination of hangover and pure shock.
"I'm..." Shinji began, "I'm the Nineteenth Angel." This didn't explain a hell of a lot, so Shinji decided to explain what happened.
"Shinji," Misato said slowly, "I don't know what to say..."
Many a bridge bunny left the room in a hurry, leaving only Shinji, Asuka, Rei, Kensuke and Misato.
"Just see him for who he is," Asuka said, "He's had a rough day..." Asuka's arms looped around Shinji's shoulders.
Kensuke appeared scared of Shinji. "You're...you're an...an An-n-gel?"
"Yep." Kensuke looked at Shinji, his expression of terror starting to grow into a smile.
"COOL! COOL! COOL! COOL! COOL! My best buddy isn't just an Eva pilot but an Angel as well! THIS IS SO AWESOME!"
This earned a sock to the head from Asuka. "You jerk! He still hasn't come to terms with it completely! Give him a break, alright?"
Rei was reminded of her own origins, and looked at Kensuke. "You know, there's something I feel like I should tell you..."
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That's it! It's all over! That was the last Last Gift She Expected! Depending on reader feedback, I am thinking of making a sequel to it, continuing on with this story. If you want it, just ask! Please send me an email at [email protected] with your thoughts, ideas for the sequel title and other things. Please get back to me!
By the way, seeing as it's the last chapter before a new story, I'll give you the opportunity to decide a major factor leading into the beginning of the next section. Just e-mail me with your answer to this question: should Gendo die? Please respond, Gendo's life is in YOUR hands...
Note: My real name is NOT Hideaki Anno. I do not own Gainax or any of its creations let alone Neon Genesis: Evangelion. Characters, locations, themes, and ideas used in this fic are used without permission from Gainax or Hideaki Anno.
Lyrics from the Linkin Park song "Nobody's Listening" used without permission
Author's Note: Please watch out for my next project, Where Am I? It'll be a self-insert, but if you can look past that, I'm sure you'll find a good story there. Hopefully by then, I'll have enough ideas to start working on a sequel to this, my first ever completed fan-fic. Arigato gozaimasu and Sayonara!