Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Angels and Ministers of Grace ❯ Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion. I just come up with crazy ideas and put them in this format. Gainax owns Eva. I own the discs it was released on in the US. As in I have bought them all, the whole series and am anxious to get the movies next year. Other then for viewing, I own jack.

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The city of Tokyo-3 had become a wasteland. In the aftermath of Unit-00's destruction three days ago all that remained of most of the city was burned out shells of what had once been mankind's last stronghold.

Through the ruins, hiding from non-existent eyes, Asuka Langley Soryu, the Second Child walked unnoticed. The school uniform she had been wearing was covered in dust and grime. Her once brilliant hair had dimmed along with the fire she had once possessed. Even the neural links she wore in her hair were battered and dark with filth. Face was drawn from lack of sleep and food, it was a wonder she was even still able to stand.

Since she had failed to be able to so much as sync with Unit-02, she had been relieved of her duties as the Evangelion's designated pilot and now had no where else to go. She couldn't stay with Misato, because that would mean staying with Shinji. Just the thought of the Third Child angered her. Shinji Ikari was responsible for her downfall. If he hadn't gotten a higher sync ratio she would still be on top, still be the best.

The Third Child had stolen what should have been her glory, and hadn't even tried. Now she was forced to do what she most despised of him, Asuka had run away.

As she came to a small clearing in the destroyed city, several large men surrounded her. Asuka did not fear for her life - why should someone as worthless and dirty as she care what became of her? The men were making derogatory comments she didn't fully hear, innuendos she could give less then a damn about. As the first man stepped forth, a lecherous grin on his face a stranger appeared. He didn't look particularly threatening to Asuka, being rather lanky and thin. He was taller then most Japanese, and bore features associated with people of Irish descent - the most noticeable of them being his red hair. He wore all black, contrasting with the landscape and his pale skin like a hole in reality. The shirt had the top two buttons undone, causing the collar to flare out from his neck slightly. Dark sunglasses hid his eyes, the reflection of the sun glinting off them in such a way as to make him look as sinister as any demon ever conceived by horror novel writers of old. Black pants and shirt were covered by an open black trench coat that fell down to his lower legs. Black leather gloves covered his hands, skin tight so that it looked almost like his real hands.

"I would advise you to leave the girl alone," said the strange traveler to the group. His voice was calm and soft yet laced with ice cold enough to chill Asuka's bones.

"Really? And who's going to stop us?" the first man asked the highway man. Nothing happened for several moments as the stranger stared the men down over his black tinted sunglasses, the wind causing his black trench coat to ruffle and blow from his body slightly. He adjusted his glasses, pushing them up his nose in a way Asuka had only seen Commander Ikari do. The group tensed as he reached in his coat slightly and brought forth a small metal cylinder.

"I said to leave the girl alone, do not force me to make you," said the man in black as he held the cylinder at his side. His voice was very calm, betraying no hint of fear or confidence, as if simply stating fact. His stance had not changed once in the entire time, not even the button up black business shirt he wore moved.

The leader of the pack that had plans for Asuka (which would cause most decent people to retch at the very thought) charged the stranger. The large and dirty man was ready to kill this interloper, and then lay first claim on the girl. As he came within three feet away, the cylinder the man carried expanded into a staff two meters long. The stranger moved to the side quickly and slammed the staff into his attacker's stomach, frowning almost regretfully as the sound of snapping bone filled the air.

Seeing their comrade injured, the others attacked, each trying to end the life of the man in black. With each new attacker the stranger downed them, breaking bones and joints with ease… all the while his face holding a strange combination of disgust and sorrow. Seeing a gun trained on him by one of the thugs, the stranger dashed for a nearby building and disappeared inside. The man with the gun approached slowly, not wishing to go down like the others. When his arm was halfway into the building the stranger brought his staff down, breaking the thugs wrist. One more quick move and the thug was on the ground unconscious, but alive. Seeing that the danger had passed the traveler moved towards Asuka, his staff collapsing in on itself. He returned the weapon to where he had drawn it from and gestured for Asuka to follow him with his black gloved hand.

"Don't be afraid."

Slowly, Asuka began to follow his trail. Had she been in her previous state of mind she might have attacked him for saving her life. That had changed with the attack of the fifteenth angel, and its violation of her mind. While her face kept its expression of loss and emotionlessness, she could feel some twinge of fear in the back of her mind. This stranger had, after all, beaten and injured several larger men with ease, and not even his hair was mussed. The only sign of the fight was the dust that slightly covered his black boots and pants. As they left the scene he spoke to Asuka.

"Go to Tokyo-3 they said. You'll have so much fun they said. I guess they were right."

With that, Asuka and the strange man in black left the men to lick their wounds.

---

As they picked their way through the ruins of Tokyo-3, Asuka couldn't help but wonder why he had helped her. He had nothing to gain from interfering, nothing to benefit from assisting a young girl like her. She began to worry that he possibly had plans for her similar to those of the men that had attacked her, and that his short battle with them was more like dogs fighting over a piece of meat than a rescue. The stranger put these fears to rest with a simple statement.

"Do not worry, Asuka, I have no intention of harming one such as you."

She was shocked to say the least. Not only had this man known what she was thinking he had known her name as well. How did he know? It was almost as if he had read her mind. That thought frightened her even more, for the last entity to do that raped her mind and everything she was.

"How do you know my name?" she asked, the cold fear eating her insides.

"You look like an 'Asuka' to me. As to how I knew what you were thinking it was a reasonable conclusion given the circumstances," the stranger replied, his voice still calm, but more caring now like a big brother would be.

"Why did you help me?"

"Because it was the right thing to do. You were in danger from those men, so I stepped in. I… dislike seeing people hurt."

"But why me? Surely there was someone more deserving of your help then me."

"I think not. Everyone is deserving of a little help now and then. I also get the feeling that you need more than physical help in this case."

"What do you mean?"

The stranger glanced at her, the sun glinting off the dark glasses he wore. He had a slight smile on his face, one that spoke of a man who cared for people. "I can tell from your appearance that you have a great weight on your soul. Something is troubling you deeply - to the very core of your being. But let's not talk of that now. I am hungry and it appears that you haven't eaten for a while so let's find a spot to camp for tonight. It may not be as good as you're used to, but I can do very well over a small fire."

Silence descended on the two as they continued their long walk. Asuka thought that a small amount to eat might not be a bad idea.

---

Night had fallen quickly, so the stranger found them a safe place to sleep for the night. He had started a small fire and had prepared some food; Asuka, having not eaten for days, readily accepted the meal. While she was reluctant to sleep with this unknown person nearby, her body had other ideas and she could not fight the fatigue that stole over her. After she had fallen asleep the stranger placed his coat over her to keep her warm in the night. As he watched over her, he felt a presence in the area - a presence he recognized and that annoyed him to no end.

"I can't see you but I know your there," he said out into the darkness. He was answered by a voice from the shadows.

"Well, well… if we aren't helping little girls in distress now - and the Second Child no less. What a coincidence. Why you insist on aiding the lillim is far beyond my understanding. Not only that but her - a girl who knows nothing but her own selfish pride."

The stranger glared at the shadow, knowing full well who and what was there. "Arael took care of that, it would seem. Did she really have to be that violent about the attack?"

"Arael was following orders as set forth by Him, and it is not Arael's fault she has come to this. There is a reason pride is one of the seven Great Crimes. The Second Child's fate has already been sealed. Why are you interfering?"

"Funny hearing you talk of fates being sealed, Tabris."

The figure emerged from the shadows, revealing Tabris, known to the lillim as Karou Nagisa. The young angel leaned over Asuka and slowly moved the back of his hand across her sunken cheek. As he did, Asuka moaned uneasily and rolled over and away from him, pulling the errant travelers coat closer to her. "She is just as lovely as Shinji says she is, even like this."

"You're preparing to follow your fate I see. Where will you stick the blade this time? You know wherever that is it will destroy the Third Childs soul," the stranger said, disgust apparent in his voice.

"I must do what He has ordered me to do. We all must. Yet you continue to carry on in your crusade, even knowing what will happen if all things go as ordained. Why do you continue to fight what you know is coming?"

"I was never an angel Tabris. The future's not set. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves. I would think you above all the angels would be able to appreciate that statement. Funny, free will is your providence yet you have none of your own." The venom and contempt in his voice would have put Asuka to shame when she was in her prime. His right hand began to twitch nearer to his weapon, as he fought to control his anger. He turned his gaze to the fire, placing some broken wood from a doorframe on it to keep it going.

As the fire burned brighter in almost a manifestation of his anger, Tabris brought himself to his full height still over shadowed by the stranger had he also been standing.

"There are things even I cannot fight against. His will being the first and foremost. Perhaps you should stop walking this world so much as if it is your duty to take on its burden."

"That is why the lillim have the ability to reason. We follow our own will." The stranger looked up, but found that Tabris had vanished into the shadows from whence he came. The stranger let out an annoyed breath.

"You do that much too well, Angel of Free Will." The stranger's hand relaxed with the departure of the seventeenth angel.

As he looked into the fire, he missed Asuka stirring with Tabris's departure. Her nightmare had finally ended.

--

As the sun rose over Tokyo-3, the stranger made a light breakfast for himself and the girl he was protecting. After two good meals and a night of restful sleep with little nightmares for the first time in months, Asuka was feeling much better than the day before. As she and her unknown companion continued on their journey, she began to ponder what had brought her to this for what seemed like the thousandth time. Everything from the day she arrived in Tokyo-3, with dreams of glorious battles and victories over the angels in her mind. The stranger threw a quick glance at her, which went unnoticed by Asuka. As they were passing through what had once been part of the shopping district, the stranger broke the silence between them.

"If I may ask, why are you out here alone? It seems a very lonely and dangerous place to be for anyone… let alone a young woman such as yourself."

Asuka was not ready for the stranger's question, but had expected he might be curious as to why a girl her age was lurking through the wreckage of downtown Tokyo-3. While she didn't know if she wanted him to know, she felt at ease in his presence and felt he might not pity her. It was something she couldn't quite understand. She answered, as she looked down at her once white shoes now shaded brown with dirt and mud.

"I had to leave where I was living. Some… things happened recently and I just couldn't stay there."

"What kind of things?" the stranger asked her, giving her as much open area as possible. He knew of the events in Tokyo-3, everyone on the planet had some idea as to the significance of this war. But to feign ignorance was what he considered the best path to help the young redhead. Perhaps to release his soul of some of the burden it had carried for so very long

"Well, you know about the Eva's, right? The big robots that protect the city?"

"I have heard of them along my travels, the mighty Evangelion Unit's 00, 01, and 02. Fighting a war against the messengers of Heaven to prove that we are as a species come into our own. The most amazing thing is that mere children pilot them, when grown men could not stand against the Angels. I know nothing of who these children are, but they must be of great bravery and courage to face down these giants."

"Bravery, not quite that noble. The First Child would do anything she was ordered to without question, even die if the Commander said so. The Third Child…" She trailed of as the words passed her lips, her heart and mind still warring with each other about Shinji Ikari and what he meant to her... her mind screaming about how he was nothing more then a coward - a weakling only able to fight when in the pilot's chair, but never for himself. Her heart stuck to its calm but just as fierce argument that he was so much like her that maybe he could understand her, maybe even love her no less powerful.

The stranger noticed her reluctance to speak of the Third Child.

I should ask Tabris about this boy the next time that imp of an Angel pops up.

To Asuka he said, "What of the Second Child?" knowing full well that she was in fact the Second, but not letting on. He didn't want her to know just how much he knew about her yet.

Asuka's pace faltered for a bit, shocked that he would ask about her. She didn't think she was extremely worthy or any sort of mention at the time. While she would have enjoyed the chance to brag of her achievements in the past, she was strangely at a loss for words now. Then it came to her that the best description of what she had been might be that of two of the "Three Stooges." Shinji had never joined them when they called her that terrible yet appropriate name. Now that she thought of it, he never had once said a single unkind word to her, even after that one kiss before the twelfth. Especially after that.

"She's known for being a complete bitch by her classmates. Always going on about how great she is, when everyone else thinks she's just full of hot air. Her nickname in school was the 'Red-Headed Demon' because she was so violent to others around her. The only thing that she had worthwhile was her precious Unit-02. No one really cared about her - not at all." Asuka spoke those words originally trying to throw the question off, but as she progressed she began to talk as if it was truly herself she was talking about. It saddened her even more to realize what she had thrown away in her quest for greatness.

"Surely she had at least one confidant. No one can go through what she or the other Children went through without someone to listen to her. Perhaps one of the other pilots?"

"If she was a demon to everyone around her, she was even worse to the ones who were supposed to be her teammates. The only friend she had was the class rep, and she kept her at arm's length as well." Asuka realized that even though she had said Hikari was her friend, she had not really told Hikari anything about herself. Hikari had confided in Asuka about how she felt for Touji, even after he was injured in combat when the thirteenth angel had possessed Unit-03. While letting Asuka know those secrets of her heart, Hikari had not pressed for anything from the redhead. Asuka continued to think about this, and was brought out of it by the stranger's next remark.

"Perhaps she felt that if she didn't allow anyone close to her, she could prevent herself from being hurt or them from being hurt by her. She did risk her life every time she went out in to battle. Maybe she felt that if she died, it would be best not to have anyone to mourn her passing save for colleagues. I've known men who joined the military and never once thought of finding a person to love, simply for the fact that they were constantly on call and could be sent to war. They felt it better to wait until they were released from service before starting any sort of relationship. Is that how you feel, Second Child?" the stranger asked in a distant voice, the statement seemingly almost from personal experience.

Asuka stopped in her tracks; she asked, "How did you know?" uncertainty in her words.

The stranger turned to her, the friendly but non-threatening smile never slipping, "You just told me. I had a suspicion when you faltered speaking of the Third, your missed step when I asked about the Second, and that you spoke of the First as if you had some deep seated rivalry with her. When you started telling me of the Second Child, it was almost as if you were speaking of yourself, which you were. You told me what you thought the people around you felt about you because you didn't feel you could adequately describe yourself now. That wasn't what gave you away though," the stranger replied. While the truth was that he already knew who and what she was, he could not let her know that if he wanted to help her. She had to believe that something else had led him to his conclusion.

"What was that?"

"The clips you're using to hold your hair up, they don't look like any barrettes I've ever seen. If I'm not mistaken those are neural linkages used when piloting an Evangelion. Those were what gave it away."

Asuka took this into consideration. She had always worn her neural links even when outside of the Eva as a symbol of her status. No one had ever noticed them or realized what she was simply by looking at them. For the first time though someone had made the connection. Someone had seen the symbol she wore as just that. Had it happened any other time before now she would have been thrilled. Now it felt hollow and meaningless. Asuka still felt uneasy though, how had the stranger known all these things that should have been classified.

"Who are you?"

"My name is not that important, just passing through." He said, giving Asuka a slight bow at the waist and spreading his arms out at his side.

They continued walking, passing the wreckage of several of the armament towers in Tokyo-3. They saw several cats and dogs running through the street, displaced and abandoned in the rush to leave Tokyo-3. Asuka thought of how similar she was to those poor creatures, abandoned and without a home. She began to shake as she thought of what she had lost because of her selfishness. Tears fell from her eyes, the pain of her loss almost over whelming her. The stranger stopped and handed her a tissue to dry her eyes from his coat pocket, seeing the pain there. He knelt on one knee and put his gloved hands on her shoulders as he spoke.

"What's filling your heart with such sorrow young one? Someone your age should be able to enjoy life and all its pleasures, not live through this kind of suffering. You deserve that much out of this existence."

Asuka couldn't hold it in, the memories too painful for her. As she spoke, her sobs choking her words, "I don't deserve anything! I've failed; I can't pilot Unit-02 anymore so I don't deserve anything. I didn't deserve to be saved by you; I don't deserve your kindness. I've hurt people just because they were in my way. I'm dirty, so dirty," she choked out to the man. The stranger simply looked at her, his expression never showing any of the disgust or pity she felt she so richly deserved. Never judging her or anything she may have done.

"You sure about that? Maybe you're just trying to keep them out of the way so they won't get hurt? And failure is not as bad as it seems. The greatest inventions in this world were created by trial and error. How many times do you think that Nerv failed with the Evangelion's before they got Unit-00 right? How many times did the Wright Brothers fail before they got off the ground? Even something as simple as the light bulb took years of work to figure out. All you have to do is learn from your failures and improve upon them. That is how we move on to bigger and better things."

"But all I've ever been good at was piloting Eva."

"You have great skill, this is true. However that is all it is - a skill. It is not WHO you are, it is WHAT you are. And while you may not believe me now, who and what you are are two completely separate things. Who you are is Asuka. What you are is many things. The Second Child, a school girl, a human being. Think about that."

Asuka calmed down slowly, her emotions and thoughts in a whirl wind. Was what Stranger had told her true? That she could be something other then an Eva pilot and not be worthless? It couldn't be possible, not after she had spent most of her life training to be the designated pilot of Unit-02. It just wasn't possible, and she denied that it could be. But the idea ate at her mind like acid, burning away the layers of doubt and stubbornness very slowly.

While the war continued within Asuka, Stranger thought that it might be wise for them to take a break for the day. It wasn't too late, but he felt that if she were given time to reflect on what he had just told her, Asuka might make it. He looked around the deserted street they were on. The good thing about Unit-00's destruction was that several stores and hotels had been left unguarded. While looting had taken several of the usable items in the stores, the hotels had been untouched. Stranger picked on of the larger ones at random.

"I think we need to relax some. I don't know about you, but I haven't slept in a regular bed for a few months. How about we take ourselves to that hotel for the rest of today and just relax, it'll give you time to compose yourself."

They made their way towards the hotel, a large blocky structure like most of the buildings in Tokyo-3. The glass doors, while locked, did not stand up to the strangers weapon as he broke in. They made their way throw the lobby, and ornately designed room. Mirrors across one wall gave the room a feeling of being twice the size then it was. Columns designed in old roman style held the second level over the first. But the most interesting bit of artistry in the lobby was a large two story mural of Unit's 01 and 02 in combat against the Seventh Angel.

As they passed the linen room, Stranger broke in and grabbed a terrycloth robe and some towels from inside. He led the way up the stairs to the third floor, and broke into room 303. It was a small room with twin beds, to the side a small courtesy fridge. The beds looked freshly made even if the maids had been gone for several days now. Asuka watched as he laid the towels and robe on a chair and fell back onto the bed closest to the window. Asuka just stood in the doorway, not sure whether or not to enter the room.

"Come on in, you could use a rest as much as I. These beds are much more comfortable then the ground we slept on last night, and will no doubt help you feel better. God knows I do." He said with a grin. He put his hands behind his head and stared out the window at the devastation. He removed his sunglasses for the first time since Asuka had met him and wiped them clean on the bed sheets. She could see his eyes, brown as chocolate. She moved slowly into the room, and sat down on the opposite bed. As he cleaned his glasses and looked out the window, a single tear could be seen rolling down his face.

"Why are you crying?" she asked. It was a sign of weakness Asuka could never stand, even if she felt like it an hour ago. He didn't seem ashamed of it though, this man who seemed to be fazed by nothing shed a tear for some unknown reason.

Stranger noticed Asuka's line of sight, and slowly put his glasses back on. He looked out the window for a few more seconds before speaking, "I was just thinking about the last time I was somewhere like this. It was… years ago, before you were born. Even before Second Impact. I lived in a suburb of Ft. Worth, Texas with my family. My parents were strange. They never seemed to do one thing for too long, would always go from one thing to another. They did everything from pre-school teacher to stock trading. Dad was even a roadie with so rock bands before I was born, you wouldn't know any of the names. I was twenty years old and ready to take the world for my own.

"I was walking through the campus I was attending one day, and ran into a girl I hadn't seen before. Her hair was as red as fire, with eyes as green as the leaves on the trees in summer time. It turned out we were heading to the same class. Her name was Amanda; she was studying psychology for a major. She wanted to be a therapist, help people who had suffered severe trauma. I was just taking it as an elective; I didn't know what I would do with my life yet. We ended up going out for some coffee afterwards, and just talked about how our lives were going. It was one of the best afternoons I ever spent with anyone."

The stranger shifted on the bed, getting comfortable, his gaze remaining out the window as he spoke. His voice relayed the nostalgia he felt, at relating better times past.

"We grew closer over the semester, studying together. I would wake every morning just to see her face in class. We started dating a little after Christmas; I gave her a set of emerald earrings almost as lovely as her. But nothing could ever sparkle as captivatingly as her eyes when I looked in them. After we finished that next semester we went on a trip to Corpus Christi, and stayed in a hotel like this. She'd tease me about peaking in on her, even though she knew I'd never do such a thing. I was too considerate and polite to do something like that. We'd spend hours at the beach, just playing in the sand and surf."

Stranger reached into his back pocket and removed his wallet. As he opened it, his gaze fell to a picture held within. It was him, younger with the girl he was talking of. He gave the picture a longing look before handing it to Asuka. They were at the beach on a blanket, the stranger's arm around her. Her hair had been tied back in a pony tail, and was wet from the salt water of the Gulf of Mexico.

"At night, we'd just talk about things. The future, the past, old friends long gone. I proposed to her on the beach the day before we went home, and she said yes. It was the happiest day of my life. Then Second Impact happened. The rising water pushed the Gulf back as far as Houston. Mexico was almost completely flooded, so the Mexicans decided that instead of ask for help from their neighbors to the north, they would take what they wanted. We never saw it coming, the Mexican advance made it as far as Dallas before the US military had a chance to respond. My parents and brother were able to get out of there and head for my mothers family in Nashville. Amanda and I were going to follow behind, with the military falling back to Denton.

"As we made our way out of the city, the Mexican military began slaughtering innocents. Women with their children, men trying to stop the inevitable. All the rules of combat were thrown by the wayside in a horrible bloody massacre. We stumbled on a young girl who had been raped and murdered by those monsters. You've seen Hell through the eyes of your Eva Asuka, but not like that. I hope you never have to see anything like that, Man against Man for nothing more then a tract of land. We avoided their patrols, and it looked like we would make it out of Bedford to the evacuation point when it happened. Amanda was grabbed from behind and dragged off while the Mexicans were trying to kill me. I made it very difficult for them, and ended up killing the whole patrol. I was enraged, a monster myself as I tore through their flesh and was bathed in their blood. I finally found her in an alley, beaten and raped. It was all I could do to bring her into my arms without breaking down."

As he spoke, his voice began to hitch a bit at the memory of his lost love, and his fist clenched in long held anger. Another tear traced its way down his face as he continued.

"Amanda woke suddenly, her body racked with pain. She knew she was going to die, nothing could change that, but she did the only thing she could. She looked at me with her green eyes and said, 'Don't worry about me. Even though we're separated by miles of distance or life and death, I will always be with you. Just hold me, please.' I held her long into the night, long after she was gone. I gave her a crude burial, and took the ring I had given her as a reminder of what she meant to me."

Stranger fished in his shirt and pulled out a ring on a silver chain. It was gold, with two stones set in it. One ruby and one emerald. He gave it a longing look as he finished his tale.

"I made it out of Texas, and was ferried to Nashville in an Air Force C-130 with several other refugees. When I got to my grandmother's home, I found that my family had been killed when the Mexicans launched a surface-to-air missile at their transport. I had lost everyone, and could do nothing about it. I stayed at my grandmother's until I was able to pull myself together. I just walked from her home, and kept walking. But not a day goes by that I don't wish for one more minute with Amanda, one precious second."

He tucked the ring back under his shirt and stared out the window. Asuka had been silent through out the whole story, and reached over to hand him back the photo. She wondered how this person who had beaten a gang of thugs to save her could show such a weakness. He knew how it hurt to lose someone, and was still willing to put his neck on the line for a girl he hadn't even met yet.

"Why did you risk it? Why did you risk being hurt by losing her? Everyone always leaves."

"Because, as Shakespeare once wrote 'Tis better to have loved and lost, then to never have loved at all.' I'm a different man for having known her, and I wouldn't be who I am if I hadn't. I will always remember her as the girl I shared an afternoon with over coffee, with those lovely green eyes. I've never found anyone since who complemented my soul as she did. I probably never will, true love is a rare thing and more precious then gold."

He kicked his legs up and sat up on the bed, leaning foreword and looking straight at Asuka.

"If you ever find someone like that, don't let them go ever. You just got to grab on with both hands and hold on tight. You'll find that you're much stronger with them, and life seems just a bit brighter. Trust me; you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. Why don't you take a bath? I'll take your clothes to the hotel laundry and clean them up for you, and you can use the robe I brought with us."

Asuka could hardly argue. She was certain that she smelled rather awful, and a bath would help relax her. And she needed to think of what she had just heard, and how a certain boy with dark blue eyes made her feel almost the same way.

---

As the stranger left to wash Asuka's clothes while she bathed, he leaned against the wall in the hallway. It had been a long time since he thought of that loss, let alone shared it with anyone. As he collected himself, he felt the coming of a certain annoying presence.

"Thinking of lost loves again?" asked Tabris, his tone sympathetic.

"Of course, what else would bring me down like this?"

"Not much I suspect. I'm surprised you didn't become like Commander Ikari after that though. I mean, you lost just as much as he did."

He looked over his shoulder at the angel, a sad look on his face.

"If I let myself fall like that… I wouldn't be the man she loved would I? But I have changed Tabris, and I'm not sure whether I like what I've become."

With that, he continued to the hotel laundry.

---

In the darkest reaches of the Geofront, Gendo Ikari looked over the reports from Section two. They had lost the Second Child in the wastes of Tokyo-3, after an encounter with an unknown individual. It didn't matter too much to the scenario, the Second had fulfilled her part of the prophecy. However, her status could work against him due to her influence over the Third Child. If she were not controlled, or held somewhere where she wouldn't be able to alter his mindset, everything could crumble around him. The Third Child could not be allowed to find love in her, or from anyone in order for the scenario to function.

At that time, Fuyutsuki entered his office with a report.

"Ikari, section two has located the Second Child. She and the unknown were reported breaking into the Kadaki Hotel in western Tokyo-3. They are continuing to observe, and holding position."

"What is the Second Child's status?"

"She seems to be in relatively good condition from observation. We won't know until we retrieve her and perform a full checkup."

"Have section two retrieve the Second Child. If the unknown interferes eliminate him."

"What should be done with her after her retrieval?"

"Send her to the Cranial Ward for observation and diagnoses. She is mentally unstable, and should be confined."

Kouzou wasn't a fool. He knew what the scenario required, but was horribly disturbed at how they were purposefully tormenting the children. He only hoped Ikari felt the same unease he did somewhere behind the wall of stone that was Ikari's mask.

---

As the Stranger waited for Asuka's clothes to finish in the drier, he noticed that annoying presence again. It seemed Tabris was going to be very annoying today.

"You know you edited that story a bit much. Any particular reason?"

"Oh really, what would you have me tell her? 'Yes I lost someone close to me. It happened back in 962 AD. By the way, I'm over one-thousand years old!' Does that sound better?"

"I'm just saying that you took a few liberties. You've never even been to Texas."

"The Mexican Campaign made the most sense for a cover story. It was the closest thing in recent history I could use to get that across."

"But she didn't die any where close to how you said. Amanda died of the bubonic plague, quietly in her sleep. No where near the violent death you portrayed. And how did you get the picture?"

"You'd be surprised at how far technology has come since then. I know you don't bother with such things. And would it have had the same effect Asuka if she knew how peacefully Amanda had really died?"

"Very true. But you are trying to gain her trust, so why lie to her?"

The Stranger thought of an answer for a bit. Over his thousand years he had become quite the accomplished liar when need be.

"Because truth is stranger then fiction. At least in this way, she feels that we at least have a common bond. She may feel that I can understand her more now then I could before. Whatever is troubling her, whatever truths Arieal forced to the surface in her mind, she will need to be able to speak to someone about them. She will need someone who can understand. As long as she believes what I told her to be true, then I can be that person."

"Interesting. Do you intend to tell her the truth eventually?"

"Now why would I do that? I haven't survived for over a millennium by volunteering that information."

"Just thought I'd ask."

With that, Tabris made as if to leave. He was stopped however by the next question.

"What is the purpose of your charade Tabris? Why are you pretending to be the third's friend?"

"Who said I was pretending?"

"I know you. You've never been serious about human relationships for the past thousand years. In every form you've taken it's been to simply satisfy a piece of curiosity. So why are you leading him to something that will destroy him heart and soul when the time comes?"

"For the same reason you are assisting the Second Child. If either of them is to survive, then they must find peace with both themselves and with their counterpart. They are both the soul the other cries out for. We simply need to make them see that."

"She did seem rather ambivalent when it came to speaking of this Shinji Ikari. Knowing this, and what you've told me about him, I'd say that the solution to both their problems is the other. It's the only answer I can see."

"Perhaps, and perhaps this answer will not only save them, but mankind itself."

The Stranger gave Tabris a confused look. "What do you mean by that?"

"You'll find out, in time."

Then Tabris was gone, giving the stranger something else to think about.

That message that brought me here. What could he have meant by it? 'Find the heart of fire, and rekindle it before it and humanity is forever extinguished.' While it sounds like something Tabris would say, it isn't like him to simply send a message. He'd do it himself. Besides, the identification code was Calidan. Only a one person has that code, and I haven't seen him in years. What are you up to Kaji?

---

Asuka was soaking in the warm water of the bath. Days of dirt, sweat, and even blood slowly dissolved off her worn frame. As Misato had once told her, a bath cleansed both the mind and soul. Now was no exception.

The warm water relaxed the tired and stiff muscles in her back, bringing rational thought to what had been a typhoon of emotions and horrible memories. The relaxation allowed her to think about what she had seen and heard from the stranger, and about what the fifteenth had ripped from her mind. Her mother, the doll, finding the body, things which had plagued her nightmares for so long.

"Do I have any worth outside of Eva?" she asked herself. Thoughts of Shinji began flowing in her head, thoughts which she tried to push away. Memories of him besting her without even trying, of out performing her at every turn. Every time Shinji Ikari had outdone her as if it were the most natural thing in the world to him.

Then one thought pushed itself to the forefront, an image of the 12th angel, absorbing Unit-01. She had hid her concern well by belittling him in absentia, even against the iron gaze of Wondergirl. Her shame at her actions after the first, and most likely the last kiss she and Shinji had shared. If anything, that alone lit something within her. A small spark, but a spark none the less.

It would seem that, at least to one person, she had some value outside of Evangelion Unit-02.

---

It was growing dark in the city. The only light source in this almost decimated section of the city had but a single light illuminating it, the light from the hotel room Asuka and the stranger had set up camp. They didn't see into the night, as a group of shadowed figures approached. Shadowed figures in black suits, from Nerv Section 2.

---

They had had a small meal, put together from the (under the circumstance surprisingly well stocked) hotel kitchen. Asuka had wondered when the last time she had a well cooked meal was, the meal of last night simply to fill her stomach and allow her a chance to rest. The last time she had eaten anything prepared had been the last night she had stayed at Misato's apartment, when Shinji had cooked some fish and rice for dinner. While not impressive by itself, it was just one more thing he did that made her wonder. Made her wonder why he did the things he did, even in the face of all her pushing, why did he stand firm like that. He ran from everything else, so why not her?

The Stranger sat there, chewing on a piece of broccoli he had found in the kitchen. He couldn't help but feeling something was a bit off, something in the back of his head keeping him a bit more alert then usual. He had learned long ago, that you could never depend on eyes alone. The faint sound of crunching glass down the hall caught his attention.

"Asuka, get under the bed. Quickly."

Asuka complied, wondering what was going on as the stranger moved to the door. He pressed himself against the adjacent wall, his juxtaposition placing him so that he would be behind the door once opened.

The distinctive click of a gun being cocked was heard; after a tense few seconds, the door slowly began to open. Leaning ever so slightly away from the progressing wooden obstacle so as not to be seen through its jamb, Asuka's impromptu companion steeled himself for whatever may happen next.

Seeing the weapon enter the room, a 9mm semi he guessed, and the hand attached to it, he threw all of his body weight into the door - back into the owner of said hand. Ignoring the pain in his shoulder, he moved quickly to subdue the momentarily stunned intruder.

He whipped his body around the door with a sort of strident grace reminiscent of an amateurish gymnast, coming to stand in front of the intruder in an equally sketchy fighting stance - one foot forward, the other full back; one arm extended, the other pulled back, ready to strike. He grabbed the intruder's wrist with his extended arm, lifting and rolling into the grapple so that his shoulder was squarely under his target's elbow; his back facing the guy. He then used his other hand to gain an iron grip on the unlucky bastard's wrist, and proceeded to jerk said appendage down onto his shoulder.

Hard.

Upon hearing the dull, wet pop of a joint being dislocated, the strange man disengaged his right hand from the loosely hanging arm and slammed his elbow through a pair of black sunglasses and into the screaming face of his enemy. An enemy who was thusly out like a lamp. Right at that moment, a second assailant entered the fray - no doubt alerted by his friend's wailing. Still spinning slightly from the elbow smash performed on the previous attacker, the stranger was caught off guard as the man rushed him. The attacker, also wearing sunglasses, threw a clumsy, yet hard punch squarely at the stranger's head - and connected. His vision exploded into a cacophony of colors as he reeled from his attacker's blow, staggering forward from the momentum into the far wall of the room. He'd be having quite the headache come tomorrow... If he lived to see tomorrow, that was.

The attacker made a quick gait towards his dazed victim, drawing his gun in preparation of the final blow that would rid him of the little nuisance that downed his partner. Just when he was about to pull the trigger, he suddenly lost all balance - his "victim" wasn't quite done yet, it seemed. The stranger, sensing imminent danger through the haze of pain in his head, dropped to the floor and performed an admirable legsweep. Spinning to his left with his right leg fully extended - the sole of his shoe skimming the floor - he introduced the attacker's face to the very same. Rolling along the floor from the momentum, the stranger got to his feet and summarily delivered a swift punt kick to the side of the thug's face.

He, too, was out like a lamp.

Slowly, the Stranger moved over the attackers, looking through their pockets to find some form of identification. While he did, Asuka made her way out from under the bed. She recognized the dress of the two men now on the floor unconscious. Nerv Section-2 agents.

"They've come for me. They want me back in Unit-02," Asuka said quietly.

"What was that?"

"Nerv, they want me back. They just want me back because that's what they want."

"Do you want to go back?"

Asuka thought about that. Did she want to go back now? Was she even ready to go back? She came to the conclusion that she did not. That if she were to return, she would need more time. If they took her now, she may as well just stay in bed forever. They'd never free her from the Eva.

"No."

"Then I suggest we get moving. These two probably have company with them."

With that, they made their way out of the room, being cautious to avoid detection by other agents.

---

The stranger and Asuka made their way through the hotel quietly, letting the shadows conceal their escape. Section 2 had most every simple route of egress blocked though. This coupled with the sheer numbers of agents looking for them made things difficult. For each agent the stranger had taken, it seemed that two more took their place. They had reached the bottom floor of the hotel, yet this became the most difficult leg of their escape. The first floor was crawling with Section 2 agents, ten in all. Against one person this was difficult odds.

Difficult, but not impossible.

Quietly opening up a room, he pushed Asuka in for her safety. After he was certain she was safe for the time being, he assessed his options. He had once heard that in combat you had three basic options: run, fight, or hide. They couldn't run, and he couldn't hide Asuka forever, so the only option left was to fight it out. The agents were spread out across the lobby, with two on the entrance. The others were spread out in a loose grouping, apparently not expecting the sort of resistance he had actually put up. They had made one tactical error in underestimating their opponent. Once this battle was joined though, the stranger new they'd be formidable opponents.

As he planned out his stratagem he sunk his hands in his pockets, taking stock of what he had on him. While he didn't look like he carried much, he had several little devices on him at all times. He pulled out five glass-like cubes and looked out to the lobby.

Hmmm, five holo-decoys and ten men. That should be enough to distract them long enough to thin out the herd. I've also got maybe two smoke grenades and a few stunners left. Should be enough to get the job done with a minimum of effort, I hope. I also have a tazer gun and three clips for it. This should be enough to neutralize these agents, as long as they aren't wearing anything thicker then a light bullet proof jacket.

With a flick of his wrist, the stranger sent one of the holo-decoys across the lobby. Then another. Once all five decoys had been tossed to different parts of the room, surprisingly unnoticed by the agents, the stranger took a small transmitter out of his pocket. Hefting one of the smoke grenades in his right hand, and the switch for the decoys in his left, he timed out his attack.

Three… two…one… Let's Jam!

Pulling the pin in his teeth, the stranger hurled the smoke grenade into the center of the lobby. Thick white smoke began to fill the room, taking section two off guard. He then activated the holo-decoys. Five images of the stranger began to attack the agents. The ghost images came swinging staffs at the agents, throwing them off guard as the stranger himself moved and grabbed one from behind. A quick blow to the back of the neck neutralized this agent.

One down, nine to go.

Quickly, he moved into the smoke cloud as one of his doppelgangers made a charge at two of the agents. Gunfire could be heard over the shouts of the angry men, gunfire which did not faze their attackers. How could it when it was simply tricks of light and shadow attacking them. Two more fell before him, as still as night. But the cloud of smoke was beginning to clear, and his chances were not much better then when he had begun. From under his coat he pulled his tazer gun from its holster, a clip of fifteen rounds locked and loaded.

The rounds from the standard issue glock 9mm's began blazing past the stranger, biting into his clothing but not doing much harm. He felt the impacts of the bullets as they struck him, but they did little more then that. As he dodged to the right he fired off three shots from the tazer gun, taking two agents down as the electric current of the rounds slammed into their targets.

The stranger jumped into a dive role behind a heavy pillar, bullets ricocheting off the marble. He reached into his pocket and pulled a small round object, one of his stunner grenades. Yanking the pin out in his teeth he tossed it back into the lobby, a concussive wave or air buffeting him on his sides as three of the remaining agents fell. This left only two adversaries to deal with.

Two to one odds, while much better, where still difficult. He would have to risk going hand to hand.

"Hey, if he's here then the Second must be close by. You finish him off, I'll find her."

"Understood!"

Shit, I don't have much time. If he gets out of here with Asuka then that's it, game over man. Game over.

The stranger reached for the trash can near his spot of cover, and threw it to the left to distract the agent. As the can went left, he went right throwing his weight into the attack. The agent was caught off guard, but recovered quickly enough to fire a few shots at the stranger's torso. The bullets however did not penetrate the ultra Kevlar that made up the strangers clothing.

This did however manage to slow him down, as the protection he had only prevented the rounds from drawing blood. He felt each impact, each kick to his chest. If he survived to see daylight, his first stop would probably be to an abandoned drugstore to pick up some pain killers. It was by sheer will and adrenalin that he was able to continue to progress on his target.

The agent threw his weapon down and set himself in a narrow fighting stance, seeing that he had to resort to actually fighting instead of the easy and efficient firearm. The agent reached behind his back, feeling around for his standby weapon, a six inch hunting knife.

The Stranger dodged the first attack quickly as the agent swiped across his mid section. The initial thrust of the knife was followed up with a upward swipe, which the stranger barely avoided. Going for a low attack, the stranger through a kick straight into the agents stomach, sending the paid killer back a few feet, but not deterring him from his goal.

The agent went on the offensive, throwing several punches and taking swipes with his knife as openings presented themselves. One of these swipes went across the strangers left cheek, drawing first blood. This was followed by a strong punch to the strangers gut, knocking the wind out of him.

The game was coming close to a conclusion, and not the way the stranger had hoped.

The agent grinned as a predator about to claim its prize, and moved forward to end the life of this intruder. He did not expect the sudden shock to his stomach as the stranger threw his body into him like a spear. The agent only stopped when his back, the back of his head, slammed into the hard wall behind him. The shock from the blow was enough to disorient him enough for the Stranger to slam his fist into the back of his neck, dropping him.

The agent that had went to find Asuka ran into the lobby, dragging a struggling Second Child with him. As he made his way towards the door, the stranger grabbed his staff weapon and extended it. As he did he rolled another of the holo-decoys towards the exit. His image appeared at the door ready to take out the agent. This stalled the agent for a bit, who aimed his gun towards the phantom. His left arm had a tight hold on Asuka, preventing her from escaping.

"I don't know how you took out my men, but you have no business here. The Second Child has an obligation to Nerv. Now stand aside."

The Stranger moved quietly and quickly as his phantom stood there staring down the final agent. With a press of a button on the transmitter he carried, his phantom drew its weapon and set itself in fighting stance. The agent tensed up and aimed or the images head, and fired as the phantom charged foreword. The Bullets passed through the ghost as it brought its staff to bare and swung at the agent.

Asuka was surprised when the staff passed right through them.

As the hologram disappeared, the Stranger hit the agent with a single tazer round to the back. He released Asuka before he colappsed to the ground.

"Are you alright?" the stranger asked.

"I'm fine, what was that?"

"Holo-decoy, tricked them into thinking I was in one place I wasn't. Urg…" the stranger gripped his right shoulder in agony. When he pulled his hand away he saw it covered in blood.

"Damnit, one of their bullets must have made it through. Grab a clip off his belt."

"Why the clip only and not the gun?"

"Because all I need is the gun powder in the rounds, and a bottle of Motrin. Come on, we got to get moving before they come too."

The Stranger and Asuka moved quickly out into the night, not noticing that they were still being watched from shadows.

Watched by someone with eyes as cold as ice.

To Be Continued…

---

Omake



From the Hotel Escape

The Stranger quietly snuck up behind the Section 2 Agent, making no sound what so ever. As he got with in arms reach he reached out and grabbed the back of the Agents neck.

"What the hell are you doing?" the agent asked.

"The Vulcan nerve pinch?" the stranger responded.

"No no, you got it all wrong. It's down lower where the shoulder meets the neck."

"Like this?" the Stranger shifted his grip to where the agent had mentioned.

"Yeah," Then the agent dropped.

"Thanks buddy."







Authors Notes: Well, I hope you enjoyed this. I found that no one had ever really done something in Eva with a Saint. So I decided to. I chose the Saint Christopher because he's the patron Saint of Travelers. Since at this time in Eva Asuka is on a journey of sorts it fits.



Thanks to Ken Sohryu, Random1377, Weltall Elite, TommyRude, Sarevock, and Isamu for their help in this fic. Especially on the help with the combat scenes. And most especially with help keeping me from going Mary Sue with the character. That was… difficult but doable.