Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Happy Birthday Shinji ❯ Happy Birthday Shinji ( Prologue )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: I don't own Eva, don't sue me since it isn't worth it.



Happy Birthday Shinji


By: Epyon Zero



The blaring of an alarm clock stirred the sleeping body into waking. Brushing the last vestiges of
sleep out of his eyes, Shinji Ikari stood up. It was June 6, 2018, his seventeenth birthday. Not that
it was anything to celebrate about. He had almost no personal life to speak of, he could count his
friends on both hands and his only living family didn't give him the time of day. Letting out a sigh
more suited to an old man, the boy shambled into the bathroom.


As the shower did its magic, Shinji tried to see any ray of light in the day. About the only thing on
this list was the fact that he was still alive for his birthday. He'd lived through a year of Angel
attacks and survived. But he hadn't come away unscathed. During that year he'd gone through
nine kinds of Hell, killed one person he'd called friend and sat helplessly why two others nearly
died. Toweling himself off Shinji made a silent promise to himself. Never again would he sit by
and watch those he cared about be hurt, not while he still drew breath and his body could still
move.


Getting dressed Shinji moved out into the kitchen and made a quick breakfast and the lunches for
himself and Asuka. She was another reason on Shinji's 'ray of light' list, even thought it was a
very silent reason. The German girl had been a constant source of turmoil in his life. At various
times he's hated the ground she tread on, while at others he marveled at her tenacity. Most of the
time he was just confused as to how he had felt about her. Still he was happy she was still around.
After the 'incident' with the 15th Angel she'd fell into a coma and it had looked doubtful if she'd
ever regain consciousness. The day she had, Shinji had flung himself at her and soaked her
hospital gown with joyful tears.


For all that happened to him, many things were still the same. Misato still drank like a fish, Asuka
still ranted at him, but not as frequently. Rei, was still, Rei.


As Shinji was just finishing his breakfast his roommates made their appearance for the morning.
Asuka was already dressed for school, while Misato was what you could call dressed, since she
was in her night clothes, of a nearly transparent bra, and very short shorts.


"Morning Shinji-kun." Misato said as she looked up from her first beer.


"Morning Misato-san."


"Morning baka."


"Morning Asuka." Shinji was a bit disappointed. He'd expected that his roommates would at least
make an attempt to remember his birthday. 'What else is new. He thought. "I get my hopes up
and they get turned to dust right in front of me. The story of my life."


****************************************************** ***********************

School wasn't much better. A few girls had said happy birthday to him, but he didn't really care.
Well, that wasn't quite true, he did think it was thoughtful, but he'd really been expecting to hear
it from his friends. Which hadn't happened. Letting out a sigh Shinji put his head on his desk and
waited out the end of the day.


******************************************************** **********************


Sitting in Central Dogma's control booth, Dr. Ritsuko Akagi stared at the results from the
Children's latest synch test. "Shinji's score is way down. It hasn't been this low in months."


Staring down over Ritsuko's shoulder Misato put in her two cents. "I think it may be due to what
today is."


The blond doctor raised an eyebrow. "What's so important about today, and why would it affect
Shinji's synch ratio?"


Misato struggled to keep calm, it made no sense to her whatsoever that the person charged with
looking after the health of the pilots couldn't even remember their birthdays. "It's his birthday.
And I think he thinks we forgot about it."


"Well, did you?" the doctor replied.


"NO! I've been planning something for the last two weeks. I called all of his friends and we're
gonna throw him a surprise party." Misato really felt like hitting her friend. The nerve of her,
thinking she'd forget the birthday of someone she thought of as her little brother, and/or son
she'd never had. "Speaking of which, I need for you to doctor some way for Shinji to stay here a
little while longer while we get things ready."


A smile softened Ritsuko's face. "Sure Misato, I'll think of something to keep him here. How
much time do you need?"


Sitting in his office, hands folded in front of his face Gendo Ikari made for an imposing figure.
Combined with the etchings of the Systema Sephirothica, it would cause most to quiver. At this
time however he wasn't staring off into nothingness as he had pause to do much of the time.
Now, he was absorbed by a file that lay open upon his desk. After reading a few more lines he
withdrew his mobile phone and dialed a number. "I need transportation for later this evening. See
that I get it." as he replaced the phone a minuscule grin cracked his mask. "Soon. . ."


********************************************************** ********************


Two hours later Shinji Ikari trudged up to the door of Misato's apartment. He'd had to stay
behind because Dr Akagi said that they'd detected some kind of irregularity with Unit-01's S2
organ, so he'd had to stay synched while they checked it over. What this meant was that when
Shinji had finally been able to get out of his Eva Misato and Asuka were long gone. Not that he
blamed them, they had better things to do then wait for him. "They don't care, maybe they never
cared in the first place" With this depressing thought in the forefront of his mind the boy opened
the door. Darkness greeted him. "Great!" he muttered, "Nobody home."


"HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHINJI!!"


*************************************************** **************************


The Third Child was visibly shaken. He nearly fell over from fright and then had a hard time
regulating his breathing. Arrayed around the apartment were various balloons, and the people
he'd thought hadn't remembered his birthday: Toji, Kensuke, Hikari, Rei, Asuka & Misato; and
every single one of them were wearing goofy grins.


"You should've seen the look on your face." Toji and Kensuke exclaimed as they hustled him
inside.


"Oh yeah, priceless."



After half an hour Shinji had forgotten all about the thoughts in his head the entire day. In fact
he'd made the conclusion he'd never had this much fun in his life. Sitting down to open his
presents Shinji's eyes had a shine to them not seen before and his face was made brighter by a
genuine smile. The first one was done up in green paper with purple ribbon. Apparently someone
had a sense of humor. "That one's mine Shinji-kun. Enjoy." Misato quipped.


Stripping away the paper Shinji saw what Misato had given him lying in the box was a brand new
set of cello strings. Shinji beamed as he look up at his guardian "Thank you Misato-san!"


"Your welcome." was all that the raven haired woman could say.


The next one was from Toji and Kensuke. Shinji braced himself for something very, very odd, as
his best friends weren't known for their refined taste. However they managed to surprise him.
Inside of the box was an etching of Tokyo-3 as it would be seen from inside of an entry plug.
Shinji shook his head. "I don't wanna know how you guys managed to get this, but thanks it's a
great gift.


That left 3 gifts remaining on the table.


Shinji went for the one that was wrapped in plain white. The card merely said "Happy Birthday
Ikari-kun, Rei" . Slipping open the box Shinji gasped. Rei had gotten him three books of cello
music by Bach, Handel and Mozart. 'Do you find my gift pleasing?" the albino asked, her voice
carrying a trace of trepidation.


"I love it Rei. Thank you."


Down to two.


Hikari had gotten him a cookbook, since she knew that he enjoyed cooking. Asuka, well Shinji
was been surprised that she'd even gotten him a gift. Shinji was brought to the edge of tears when
he saw what his roommate had gotten him. It was a silver framed picture of his mother.
"How......How....." he stammered.


"How did I get it? I had to spend a solid week using the MAGI to look through old files and
whatnot. I didn't find anything but Sub Commander Fuyutsuki found one for me after he found
out what I was doing." after hearing this Shinji cleared the forming tears from his eyes, and gave
the German girl a massive hug, surprising both of them.


******************************************************* ***********************


After everyone had composed themselves Misato had gone and taken out the cake she'd gone out
and purchased. It had happy 'Birthday Shinji-kun' in blue lettering with a candy SD Eva-01 in the
corner. As she was serving out the cake the buzzer for the door went off. "Somebody get that!"
she called.


It just so happened that Shinji was the closest one to the door, but Asuka waved for him to stay
seated and went over and opened the door. There in the hallway was Commander Gendo Ikari,
Shinji's father. He looked down at Asuka, eyes shrouded behind his tinted lenses. " Good evening
Pilot Sohryu, is the Third Child in residence?" Too shocked to do anything more Asuka nodded
and moved aside to let the Commander enter.


All noise ceased as Gendo entered the room. Rei had a look of wonder on her face, while Shinji
grew pale. Everyone else let their jaws hang loose. Misato stuck her head in, to see why everyone
had quieted down, and had a similar reaction to everyone else. All eyes were glued to the
Commander and his son. With one deft move he reached into his coat and withdrew and envelope
and a small velvet box. "Happy Birthday Shinji" Gendo said in his cold monotone, then he turned
and headed for the door. Almost as an afterthought he turned again and said "Major, please
ensure that the Children are in headquarters for the tests tomorrow." With that he was gone back
into the inky blackness from whence he came.


Shinji now slumped back into the couch, his father's gift still in hand. Regaining some strength,
and control of his central nervous system, he opened the envelope. Inside was a letter.


"Shinji, your mother set up this account when you were a baby to pay for your college
education. It was her wish that you get it when you turned seventeen. The account currently
contains two and a half million yen. The box hold your mothers university graduation ring, that
she also wished for you to have. "


Happy Birthday

Your Father


Tears formed at the edges of Shinji's eyes as he began to cry. "What's wrong Shinji?" Asuka said
as she moved to comfort him "Was the gift your Father gave you that bad?"


Shinji looked up and after a few seconds found his voice. "N....No, he gave me something Mother
wanted me to have."


"Oh." was all Asuka could manage.



Twenty-five minutes after this everyone had been sent home, the apartment had been cleaned and
its inhabitants gone to bed. Well most of them. Shinji was sitting in his room, looking over his
birthday presents, especially the ones from Asuka and his father. A smile crosse his face as the
young Ikari sighed contentedly. "Heh, and I thought this birthday was going to be miserable." he
whispered. Carefully placing the picture and envelope on the aside table and drifted off to sleep.


****************************************************** ************************


In Eva cage 03, Gendo Ikari gazed up at the head of Evangelion Unit-01. After a few seconds he
spoke. "Its done Yui, he got what you wanted him to have," tossing one last look to the purple
mecha the Commander turned and strode down the gantry, his footsteps echoing off the
cavernous walls. As soon as his footsteps were no longer heard light sparked into the Eva's eyes
and something almost resembling a smile was seen on its face.


******************************************************* ***********************

The End.


Author's notes: Well did you like that? This fic was supposed to get put up on Shinji's birthday
but I didn't have time, stupid schedule. AND NOW. . .

**************************************************************** **************

Omake:


The Third Child was visibly shaken. He nearly fell over from fright and then had a hard time
regulating his breathing. Arrayed around the apartment were various balloons, and there in the
middle of the room stood Misato, Asuka and Rei wearing nothing more than Whipped cream and
strategically placed cherries, and inviting smiles. "Come on in Shinji-kun" Misato purred. 'The
party's just getting started.



*********************************************** *******************************


Omake 2:


*Inside of a hospital nursery*

Epyon: Here we go, Ikari, Shinji. Well now look at you.


Baby Shinji: Gah!


Epyon: Well I've got a present for you. *takes out long, slim box.


Baby Shinji: Gah! *Kicks air with feet*


Epyon: Here ya go big guy *takes out blue and White plug suit with 01 stenciled on it.* Don't
worry you have 14 years to grow into it.


Gendo: Hey, YOU Get the HELL away from my son!!


Epyon: Shit! *runs out door, stripping off doctors scrubs*


Baby Shinji: Gah! *giggles and sucks on fingers*