Balance Returned 9

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Chapter 9

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Shinji Ikari made his way slowly to the hillside where the angel was waiting for him. He knew that if things went bad three of the backup pilots would be launched and almost certainly come to harm. Misato had reminded him that each of them had far more training than he did before his first combat with an angel but somehow that made it worse.

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He passed by his home and spared only a brief look to see Asuka and Rei standing on the balcony watching him go. He had begged them to go to the GeoFront but neither would leave.

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As he exited the city, he saw Armisael waiting for him, just standing in between a group of trees. He hadn't brought any weapons with him but still his first reaction was the urge to kill it.

"He's there." Shinji said wondering if he looked as nervous as he felt. Misato's face looked back at him from the monitor.

"Be careful and get the hell out of there when things go south."

"Don't you mean if?" He asked but truthfully, he agreed with her assessment.

"They want Adam and the only person who knows where Adam is, is your father and we still haven't found him yet." Misato summed up the current problem quickly.

"I'm going in." Shinji said and started his Eva forward before his recently discovered nerves gave out. The angel didn't move until he extended Unit One's hand toward it. Whip like appendages wrapped around it, holding him in place as the angel moved against him. The appendages burrowed into the muscles of Unit One and transmitted pain into Shinji but still he held fast.

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Shinji found himself standing in waist deep liquid with no land in sight from any direction. : This isn't water, it's LCL. That makes sense since LCL came from Lilith and she was an angel. Maybe it's their blood. :

"Who are you?" A voice asked. Shinji recognized it as a sorrowful version of his own.

"I am Shinji Ikari, pilot of Unit One."

"It was you that communed with Areal. Where is Adam?"

Shinji sighed. "We don't know."

"Lies."

"I'm not lying. We don't know where Adam is."

"You are not being truthful. Where is Adam?"

"I told you, we don't know." Shinji wanted to scream now. "We think my father, Gendo Ikari, has him or knows where he is."

"So you do know where Adam is. Adam is with Gendo Ikari."

Shinji thought about the statement for a few seconds before shaking his head negatively. "But we don't know where my father is. He was hurt but then he disappeared out of the hospital. Misa ... I mean Commander Katsuragi believes that SEELE helped him escape."

"You claim to know nothing but you show that so much is known. By basic reasoning it can be determined that SEELE has Adam."

"Ok." Shinji didn't feel like arguing with the creature. "We don't have a clue where SEELE is. Everyone is looking for them. The UN, the Americans and the Japanese military."

"This is unfortunate. The final angel will be dispatched to assist in locating Adam." The voice got silent for several seconds then came back. "Tell me, what is this emotion?"

Shinji didn't understand until suddenly illusions of Rei and Asuka appeared before him.

"When you think of them you feel warmth. A bond that exists between you, what is this called?"

Shinji laughed before answering. "A bond, maybe love."

"You are in the process of reproducing with these females. They have become important to you. Their value increased by the nature of bringing forth new life. Such is the value of Adam. We desire only his safe return." At that moment, a wave of images filled Shinji's mind. He understood the angel's fierce determination now.

"What about Lilith? She's here too, she escaped."

"That will be the will of Adam. Prepare for the arrival of the final angel."

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Shinji felt the appendages release Unit One and saw them retract back into the angel. It turned away from him almost reluctantly before walking back to where he first saw it. Without warning, it exploded with enough force to send his Eva tumbling to the ground.

"SHINJI!!" Misato screamed over the radio.

"Ohhhhh god." Shinji said as he fought to stay conscious.

"What happened?" Misato was demanding.

"I'm ok." He managed to get out as his vision faded. "We have to find Adam."

"We're looking for him." Misato said looking relieved for a moment but then she noticed how bad he looked.

"You don't understand." Shinji felt himself start to black out. "Only one father, they're dying without him." He passed out before she could get more of an explanation.

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Misato sat at the meeting table with Kaji across from her, Maya and Ritsuko on one side and the other side was taken up by the three most senior staff supplied by the UN.

"So this Adam is the only male capable of reproducing this generation and without him, the angels die off." One of them said rubbing his chin.

"That's what the angel showed Shinji." Misato nodded as she spoke.

"Will your pilot recover?" The man asked.

"Yes, he's awake and resting now. Why we don't have proof of this statement; it does explain why the angels have fought so hard to get him back. It also might explain why a male and female were both here on Earth. First impact may have been their attempt at using Earth as a breeding ground."

"So maybe they do want to start a third impact." Another of the men said leaning back in his chair.

"I don't think so but again I have no proof. Shinji was shown an image of them leaving Earth. The willingness to talk instead of fighting has gone a long way toward convincing me they would prefer a peaceful solution." Misato said calmly.

"That's true. Fighting them has done nothing but cause destruction and chaos; of course I don't need to remind anyone what experimenting on them cost us." The first man said.

"Exactly." Kaji said strongly. "We know that Lilith and Adam have some kind of bond from that experimenting that Gendo did. Maybe if we can locate Lilith, she can help us find Adam."

Misato looked doubtful. "We had her staked up in Terminal Dogma for how long, I don't see her helping us."

"How would we even start looking for her?" The first UN officer said, he looked desperate enough to try anything.

Everyone looked over at Ritsuko who fidgeted in her seat nervously. "Well, Rei's connection with Lilith was completely removed. She won't be able to help, beyond that I could try to look for her unique energy signature but that's going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack."

The three men sitting across all leaned together and whispered quickly. The first man spoke when they separated. "We need to try all possible options."

Misato sighed. "How long to get start Dr. Akagi?"

Ritsuko thought for a few seconds. "A day."

"Do it." She turned to the three men. "It might be time to get serious about finding SEELE."

The two lower ranked men looked ready to challenge her statement but the first man nodded. "We'll double our efforts."

: Almost time to play the last card. : Ritsuko thought as she tried to keep her face peaceful. : Then Gendo Ikari can watch his dreams die. :

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Asuka looked at the cookbook then back at the plate of rice and other ingredients, she was preparing. "I just don't get it."

Rei pointed to the picture. "See, the fried rice goes on the bottom with Yakizakana sitting above and the Tsukemono across the top."

"You Japanese put a lot of effort into how your food looks." Asuka said impatiently. "It's all going to end up in the same place."

"Of course but as each meal may be our last, some sense of beauty should be attempted in every act." Rei said seriously but then she giggled surprising both of them.

"Ok, now I don't feel so bad." Asuka grinned. "At least it'll be done when he gets home, why are we doing this again?"

"It's tradition. The Japanese … you know I'm not even sure I'm Japanese. I could be part German for all I know." Rei couldn't help but tease Asuka a little.

Asuka got serious and sighed. "Have you talked to Shinji about the part you do know about?"

Rei blushed and shook her head. "What if he rejects me?" Her voice was a pained whisper.

"He won't." Asuka moved to the fridge to get some drinks out. "I'm the one that has to worry about getting rejected."

Rei thought Asuka was joking but she saw no evidence that the redhead was joking in her expression. "Why?"

"Because I'm the one that pushes him and you're the one that props him up. If we hadn't gotten knocked up then he might have worked up the nerve to ask you out or something eventually." Asuka leaned against the open door of the fridge. "I'm the girl he dates while he figures out what love is and you're the one he marries once he does."

"Shinji cares for you greatly. He would never discard you in such a fashion." Rei was horrified at even the thought.

"Now that I'm pregnant, of course not. Shinji would die before dishonoring either of us. I do like him. Maybe more when he gets all forceful and heroic and this way even I can get the good guy." Asuka looked playful for a few seconds then got depressed.

"Shinji watches you sleeping sometimes." Rei said and she blushed as she spoke. "He said you looked like an angel, his angel."

Asuka turned to hide her blush; she disguised it as getting drinks out. Her face was still flushed as she put the cans on the table. "So maybe he likes both of us. I'm not sure he deserves us, we are after all, next to perfect."

"But no more girls." Rei said firmly.

"If I even catch him looking, I'll pound him." Asuka agreed as she read the label of the blue cans of soft drinks she had placed on the table. "I'm still a little shaky on the kanji, what exactly does this say."

"Pocari Sweat." Rei said confirming what Asuka had thought she read off the label.

"Sweat, who names a drink sweat."

"Pocari?" Rei shrugged.

"You Japanese are weird." Asuka said and then she laughed. "Did we just come full circle or what?"

"I AM feeling the urge to mention that I might not be Japanese." Rei couldn't help but smile.

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Misato looked at Shinji as he sat in the passenger seat of her car. He didn't even blink as she sped down the street at reckless speeds while swerving all over the road. After five minutes she reached over and turned off the radio and spoke.

"You ok over there Shinji?"

He chuckled. "You're as bad as Asuka. She wouldn't have lasted that long though. I never really noticed how similar you two are before now."

"Is that a compliment or an insult?" Misato couldn't help but grin.

"Both, neither, I don't know. She's changed a lot lately. I don't think she's hit me more than once or twice a day for weeks."

"And you miss it. You like it when she's being all forceful with you." Misato loved to tease him. "And with Rei you like that's she so devoted to you and gentle. Poor Shinji, he gets the feisty girl and the sweet one, whatever will he do. Don't tell me you aren't enjoying every minute of it."

"In a way, yes. Now it's like their taking this whole marriage thing seriously."

Misato slowed her car to a stop and looked over at him. "They are Shinji. For Rei this is what she was told she could never have, a life, a family. For Asuka this is her chance to be a mother and a wife, all the things her own mother lost when she got sick. If you aren't prepared to take it at least a little serious, then you need to tell them now."

"I'm not ready Misato. I want to … but what if I turn out like him." Shinji admitted his greatest fear. Not angels, not dying, but to become his father.

"I won't let that happen. I'm going to be around to make sure you do the right thing."

He smiled at her and nodded thoughtfully. "Could you stop somewhere with shops, maybe I should bring home some flowers or something."

"That's my Shinji." She said proudly. She pulled back onto the road and sped up.

"You already made your point; there isn't any reason to drive like this anymore." He said as she doubled the speed limit.

"But I like to go fast, ask Kaji." Misato said with one of her perfected smirks. She was rewarded with one of his blushes.

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The next week went by quickly as the steady routine of training the new pilots filled their lives. Rei dove into the cool water of the pool after her last class of the day. It had taken a little bit of time to adjust to the water once she was completely human. It no longer brought out feelings of comfort in her but she found she still enjoyed it. Coming up for air on the opposite side of the pool she saw feet standing on the edge. She looked up and saw the boy standing there.

"You must be Rei Ayanami. I am the Fifth Child, Kaworu Nagisa."

Rei spoke before even bothering to look up. "I am Rei Ikari; your records must be out of date."

"Ikari, as in the former commander of NERV?"

"NO!" Rei said as she moved to the side of the pool and lifted herself out of the water. "As in Shinji Ikari, Third Child, pilot of Unit One." She rested on the edge of the pool with her legs dangling in the water.

"My apologies, I meant no offense." He held out his hand. Rei started to reach out to take the hand as she looked up at him. His handsome features improved even more by his smile, until she saw his eyes. Red eyes that she had seen in the mirror many times before. Still sitting where she had gotten out of the pool, she skirted backwards away from him in fear.

"Is something wrong?"

"Get away from me!!" She had never known the terror that raced through her at that moment. Scrambling to her feet, she protectively covered her stomach with her arms before running away from him. It didn't matter that he wasn't making an attempt to follow her, she knew what he was.

He watched her go and groaned in disappointment. "That could have gone better."

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Asuka saw the young man walking down the hallway away from the gym. "Hey you, wait up." She called out to him. He stopped and turned with a smile on his face.

"Can I help you?" His smile got even larger when he identified her. "Asuka Soryu, I am so pleased to meet you."

"Huh." Asuka said as she caught up with him. "Oh, yah. I'm sure it's a thrill. Did you see a blue haired girl around here?"

"Rei Ikari, I saw her run off in that direction." He pointed down a side hallway.

"Run?" Asuka was unable to contain her surprise.

"I believe I frightened her." He said still smiling. Seconds later, he found himself pinned to the wall, starring down an outraged looking redhead.

"What DID you DO?" She said in a hostile voice.

"I merely introduced myself. I am Kaworu Nagisa, the Fifth Child."

Asuka snorted. "We aren't really using that anymore. We have about twenty pilots in training right now." She looked him in the eyes before something occurred to her. "Your eyes."

"Yes." He continued to smile.

"They're like Rei's were … ." Asuka felt something twitch through her nervous system.

"Are you alright?" He said as she took a step backwards.

"Like when Rei was part angel." Asuka let the piece fall into place. She turned and hit the panic alarm that was mounted on the wall.

"You don't need to do that." He actually looked bored.

"If you hurt Rei, I'll kill you."

"I told you, she ran down there when she realized what I was. I can sense her hiding in the second room."

He turned away from her feeling surprisingly rejected by the responses he had gotten so far.

"Perhaps this body is unacceptable." He said with a sigh as he heard Asuka move away from him.

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Asuka started down the hall hoping he was telling the truth. As soon as she entered the room she could hear Rei crying somewhere in the darkness. "It's me; it's going to be ok."

"I don't want to die." Rei answered back through her crying.

"You aren't going to. I hit the alarm and the guards will take care of Mr. Red Eyes." Asuka found her hiding behind a desk in the back of the room. She knelt down next to Rei. "Did he hurt you?"

Rei shook her head. "I became frightened when I realized what he was. What if he wants to use me or the baby to start Third impact? I ran away."

"Well, Shinji will feed him his teeth and if he doesn't then I will." Asuka said angrily.

"I've never been afraid to die before." Rei said at a whisper. "I … want …EVERYTHING!" She raised her voice at the end. Asuka pulled the blue haired girl into a hug as she waited for the computer on the desk to finish booting. As soon as it did, she called the command center. Misato answered it right away.

"Asuka? What's going on? Someone activated an alarm."

"I did. The Fifth Child is an angel or part angel or something. He's roaming around the base scaring Rei."

"I'll alert the guards to keep an eye out for him. Where are you?"

"In one of the unused offices. I really won't mind if you want to send someone to protect us."

"We have your location locked now. I'll send security forces there so stay put."

Asuka didn't even blink as she answered. "I'm not sticking my neck out for anything until after this baby is born and maybe not even then."

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Shinji heard someone moving behind his locker row as he finished dressing. Curiously he moved to the next row and saw the young man sitting looking somewhat confused.

"Hi, are you lost?" Shinji asked.

"I appear to be. Everywhere I turn today I seemed to be making enemies."

"Do I know you?"

"Kaworu Nagisa, Fifth Child." Kaworu said. "I have red eyes." He pointed to his face and waited.

"Ok." Shinji got thoughtful for a minute. "Someone I know used to have red eyes."

"Rei Ikari, I heard. You must be Shinji Ikari. Why aren't you running away or threatening me like all the rest."

Shinji moved to the bench Kaworu was sitting on and took a seat on the opposite end. He looked at Kaworu and seemed to be studying his features. "I thought I would know you."

"We have never met."

"Did my father make you, like he made Rei?"

"No. My origins are with our shared enemy. I have been sent to aid you."

Then it hit Shinji, exactly who he was looking at.

"Now you understand." Kaworu waited for the young man to run away. Shinji stayed in place. "You aren't running away yet."

"Do I need to?"

"I would prefer you didn't. Having a human form carries with it the burden of human emotions. Having two women run away from me has been surprisingly painful."

"What two women?"

"The First and Second Child. Both recognized me and ran away. I should mention that they figured it out much faster than you did."

Shinji forced himself to remain calm but he couldn't bring himself to ask the question he wanted the answer to the most right now. Kaworu read the question in his eyes and answered it.

"They are both fine. I believe they are together."

"Good." Shinji sighed. He couldn't think of anything else to say so he just sat there. After thirty seconds or so, armed guards rushed into the locker room and surrounded both of them.

"WAIT!" Shinji jumped to his feet, holding hands out toward the men approaching from two directions. "He's the seventeenth angel. He's come to help us."

For several tense heartbeats, they waited as one of the guards called in to the command center.

"Alright, stand down." He said after finishing a brief but intense looking conversation.

As Kaworu stood up slowly, Shinji had to ask. "I hope I was telling the truth just then."

"You were. My mission is to locate Adam and free him or merge with him."

Shinji's chest tightened. "Won't that cause third impact?"

"Only if there is no other way." Kaworu looked at Shinji seriously. "We concede your right to exist without fear of such an event. I promise you that should it become unavoidable, I will do everything in my power to restrict the possible damage to your world."