Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Heaven and Hell ❯ A Prodigal Daughter ( Chapter 9 )

Manga - Addicts Presents:
Heaven and Hell
Revelations 0:9 - A Prodigal Daughter

HTML version 09 May 2008

Neon Genesis Evangelion created by, registered, and copyrighted to GAINAX, Project EVA, Movic, and any other company and/or division associated with the creation and/or production of Neon Genesis Evangelion. A.D.Vision holds the copyrights to the English version of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

This work of fiction is not intended for any commercial purposes but was created for the entertainment of the Author and Fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

No copyright infringement was in any way intended.

Heaven and Hell written by Jino Turtlegod

Pre-Read by Raymond Ryckman

M Rating. For mature readers only. Some scenes, themes, language, and situations are not suitable for younger readers. Reader discretion is advised.

Revelations 0:9 - A Prodigal Daughter

Shinji sat on the grassy hillside, Central Dogma's pyramid lay far below him. Overhead were the concrete undersides of the building of Tokyo-3. It had been several hours since he had moved from his position, he ignored the people who had gone in to pay their respects to the fallen pilot, who seemed to have been well-liked.

Asuka's words kept repeating themselves in his mind: "We were never meant to die..."

"But..." Shinji grabbed his head. Nine white EVAs circled the red sky like scavenging birds over carrion. Unit 02 impaled by spears. Misato kissed him - an adult's kiss, her blood was in his mouth. His mother welcomed him back home. A warm, white light.

`I remember now. But was that a dream? Or is this?'

"AAARGH!!" Shinji screamed at the cold wetness that touched the back of his neck. He turned and saw Rei. She held a can of ice-cold tea in one hand and a can of juice in the other.

"Shinji, Asuka is looking for you." Rei smiled at him as she handed him the can of tea.

000

Tokyo-3 United Nations Memorial Cemetery

The cemetery became necessary after the Eighteenth Incident when the UN found its hands full of dead soldiers and not enough funds to transport them to other cemeteries. It was composed of terraced hillside that overlooked Tokyo-3. Black granite grave markers rose like dark sentinels upon the manicured lawns. Trees spaced evenly amongst the graves provided inadequate shade from the eternal summer sun. This cemetery was much more picturesque than the municipal cemetery by the sea where Shinji's parents were buried.

An honor guard stood at attention beside a small group of mourners, most of them off-duty technicians assigned to Henri's EVA. There were also the control officers and other base personnel. The mourners milled about and talked in hushed voices as they tried not to look at the empty grave that waited for its occupant. Some distance away, under a tree, a man and a woman stood watch.

"Hmm, quite an expensive charade, eh, Commander Santiago?" the woman observed as she pulled a strand of brown hair away from her dark sunglasses. A short, black leather trench coat covered her rather casual attire.

"Yes, doctor. It was quite fortunate that you arrived several hours before you were supposed to."

"Hmph. I thought I would spend it with some old friends, not salvaging data."

"Anyway, about your cover story..."

"I know, I know," the woman said as she watched the hearse drive up to the burial party. "I just came in, and I have not been doing anything dirty for NERV for the last few hours."

The man's brow knitted in annoyance. The woman looked at him in amusement.

"You know Commander, you remind me of Commander Ikari. You have no sense of humor."

He gave her a scathing look. "I am no traitor," he walked towards the funeral, leaving the woman under the shade of the tree.

"We'll see about that, my dear Commander. We'll see," she smiled knowingly to herself.

000

Shinji stood numbly as a chaplain held a quick service. He didn't know how to feel since he hadn't really met Henri and only knew him as a pilot. Looking at the coffin, the only thing that he felt was the guilt from knowing he should have done something to prevent the death. They kept saying he was the best they had, and yet he had not been able to stop one death. He shuddered and glanced sideways at Asuka who stood staring off into nowhere. He felt a lump form in his throat as he watched her, and wondered if he would be cursed to go to her funeral someday. He then looked at Misato, then Rei, wondering the same thing. Shaking his head clear of the morbid thoughts he watched the chaplain do the sign of the cross and beckoned for Juno. Juno stepped up to stand by the head of the coffin. Her hand gently caressed the flag draped surface before she turned to face the mourners. After she said her eulogy, Juno stepped away from the coffin and gave a salute. Commander Santiago nodded and two soldiers began the ritual folding of the flag. The mourners saluted, Shinji was a little uncomfortable at playing soldier as he saluted. Shinji nearly jumped as the honor guard fired their rifles into the air. The soldiers reverently handed Commander Santiago the flag which was to be delivered by courier to Henri's family.

Finally, Henri was laid to rest in a soldier's grave. Far from the country he called home, away from the people he loved, only the tears of those he called comrades to ease his passing.

The mourners had started to disperse, walking away alone or in small groups. Soon, only the pilots, the Tactical officer, and a hot-springs penguin were left at the grave.

"Hyuga-- I mean Colonel Hyuga and Doctor Ibuki weren't here," Shinji observed awkwardly, breaking the silence.

"They've got important things to do," Hikari replied when no one else spoke up. She glanced at Asuka who was staring blankly at the tamped down earth of the grave.

"Oh, well, I guess it's time," Misato said perkily as she scooped up Pen-pen and walked towards the limo NERV had provided for the transport of the Children.

"Time for what?" Yuri asked, wanting to get her mind off the dead.

"To give Henri a soldier's goodbye of course!" Misato turned and winked at the Children who looked blankly at her.

"You do know of course that most of them are under aged."

"Well, as long as nobody tells..." Misato trailed off as she finally noticed that the voice was that of an adult. "WHA-?!"

"Good afternoon to you too, Misato," a woman with a black leather coat smiled at her from behind dark glasses.

"Who?" Misato looked at the dark haired woman, feeling a sense of familiarity.

"Ritsuko!" Shinji exclaimed with a smile as he broke away from the other Children and went to his guardian. The woman smiled back and drew Shinji into a hug which drew a blush from the teenager.

"Shinji, you should have told me that you were coming back to NERV," she admonished him as she held the boy at arms length to inspect him. "You've grown since last month." The boy blushed once more as Ritsuko hugged him again.

"Ritsuko?" Misato blinked in astonishment. It had been a year since she last saw her friend and in that time Ritsuko had grown her hair longer and allowed her natural hair color to come out.

"Yes, in the flesh," Ritsuko said as she pushed her glasses up onto her head, revealing her green eyes and the mole under her left eye. She smiled at Misato from over Shinji's shoulder. "My, you're slow today. Haven't got your quota of beers yet?"

"Well..." Misato gave a vague wave with a bland look on her face.

"It's nice to see you again, Doctor Akagi," Asuka interrupted, her hand held out to the doctor. Ritsuko shook the hand the girl offered, which allowed Asuka to pull Shinji away from her grasp with her other hand and push him behind her.

"How's Tokyo-2," Asuka smoothly added before Shinji could react to being pulled away from the doctor's affectionate embrace.

"If you're asking when I'm going back, then the answer is 'not soon enough'. I've been hired back indefinitely as a consultant." Ritsuko smiled as she noticed the cheerful mask on Asuka's face slip a little. She could also tell that by the way Misato's grip on Pen-pen tightened, that the raven haired beauty hadn't known about her reactivation.

"Good afternoon, Doctor Akagi," Rei gave a polite bow.

"To you too, Rei," Ritsuko smiled at the girl. Misato was shocked that the smile seemed sincere. "I see you've been learning." She and Rei shared a smile. Misato began to wonder who this person was and what she did to the real Ritsuko. Ritsuko went over to the other Children. "Hmm, let's see if I can guess your names."

"Hikari and Kensuke, I already know you two from before. The girl with the pony tail is Yuriko Suzuhara, Toji's little sister. I've seen you before too. Red head's Juno Hurst, and you must be Allen Alleyn. Pleased to meet you." Ritsuko gave a brief nod to each pilot. "Which makes him," she turned to the grave "Henri Montblanc."

From the sides of her eye Ritsuko noticed Allen and Juno stiffen from her callous reference to the fallen pilot. She smiled ruefully at herself. It was best not to get too attached to the two of them.

"Well, Misato, it was nice meeting you again but I do have to settle in. Let's go to a bar tomorrow, I know this great one an acquaintance of mine told me about. See you later."

Misato nodded dumbly, things were going too fast for her but not too fast as not to recognize that someone out there was screwing around with her life. She watched as Ritsuko got in a waiting limousine and drove away. `Wait a minute' - "Wasn't that the Commander's car?"

Ritsuko looked out the back window as the Children piled into the limo reserved for the pilots. A little smile formed on her face as she noticed that Asuka still stood where she had left the Chief Pilot. The redhead had her hands on her hips as she belligerently watched Ritsuko's car drive away. Shinji stood uncomfortably behind Asuka.

Ritsuko lowered her dark glasses over her eyes and gave a short laugh. It seemed as if her ward was still smitten with the Red Demon.

Commander Santiago didn't even raise an eyebrow or show any reaction, instead, he continued to read the dossier in his hands.

000

"Whore," Asuka muttered under her breath.

"Um... Asuka?"

Shinji nearly froze as Asuka glared at him. She quickly turned her eyes away and tried to hide the hurt look on her face at what she viewed as Shinji's betrayal. "What!?"

Shinji was scared at Asuka angry tone, and suddenly felt very guilty.

"Asuka," Shinji touched her arm, a slight terror running down his spine at his brazen action. Asuka looked up in surprise since this was the second time Shinji had actually touched her willingly within the day. Their eyes met, dark sea blue to light sky blue. He could feel the firm muscles of her arm tense under the fabric of her jacket. Asuka held her breath at the intensity of his eyes, he was so near that she could smell him, the scent of him that laid under the familiar scent of soap and LCL. Her eyes turned liquid and expectant as she imagined that she could feel the warmth of his being through the palm pressed against her clothed arm.

Shinji could feel his throat dry up, he could feel her warm breath which issued forth from her slightly parted, ruby red lips. "I---"

"Get a room you two!" Misato shouted in mock annoyance, a wide grin plastered on her face. The two teenagers quickly took a step back from each other as they blushed, and they could hear several people giggling inside the car.

The two walked towards the car, their steps in harmony. Asuka didn't even mention the hand which Shinji still hadn't removed from her arm.

000

Commander's Office
NERV 1st Branch

Commander Santiago stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows that made up one whole wall of his office, looking out at the Geo-front's forested park. Off in the distance, moonlight filtered through the glass bottom of the Ashinoko Lakes into the Geofront.

"Sir, armored buildings at Block 246 to 257 would be completed in 145 hours instead of the proposed 120. Otherwise everything else would be on schedule. And I was able to hide the new construction bill in the reconstruction budget." Col. Makoto Hyuga adjusted his glasses as he read the report.

"Good. And the Project?"

"Nominal, sir. Personality data had already been entered. The Fifth would be ready in two weeks, complete with the new memory data. That means one whole month sooner than was previously expected."

"Excellent. And the Angel?"

"Dr. Akagi is still doing the preliminary readings. She said that she'll have a solution in two days."

"Very well. That should keep the Committee happy. Is that all?"

"Yes, sir."

"Dismissed." Commander Santiago waited until he heard the door slide close behind his departing colleague. He walked over to his chair, plopped down on the padded seat, tilted back his head, and sighed. He had heard of Dr. Akagi's genius, but how can she possibly solve their problems in two days? His well developed danger sense was warning him that the good doctor had something up her sleeve. He'll have to compensate for any of her actions in his plans.

"We're all going to Hell for this."

000

"We're home!" Misato chirped as she shook off her boots and padded into the apartment in her stockings. Pen-pen squawked in relief as he rushed off to use the facilities.

The Children filed in after her in silence. There was an awkward moment when they all tried to remove their shoes at the same time at the cramped foyer. Allen had to bite his tongue in order not to yell at Shinji who accidentally hit him in the ribs when Hikari accidentally fell into Shinji while she tried to take off her boots. They all felt that today was a solemn day for the dead, not only for Henri, but for all the people that died during the Eighteenth Incident, and tried not to ruin the mood with childish arguments.

"Oh, boys, don't take off your shoes yet," Misato cried out as she rushed back to the foyer. She handed Shinji her credit card. "Go to the store and tell them I sent you, they know what to do."

"All three of us?" Shinji glanced uncertainly at Allen, who was giving him the cold shoulder.

"Yep!" Misato beamed at them with her most winning smile.

"You still won't tell us what this is all about, right?" Kensuke probed, they had tried to get her to tell during the car ride but since she won't answer they all had to endure the uncomfortable silence all the way to Misato's apartment.

"Yep," came the cheerful response.

"Okay, we're off then," Kensuke grabbed Shinji and Allen by their elbows and dragged them out. Allen shrugged off Kensuke's hand the moment they reached the elevator, Kensuke just looked at Allen coolly as he pressed the elevator button. Allen shifted his eyes and looked disdainfully at the Shinji. Kensuke just gave a sound that made him sound like a tired old man. The elevator bell rang as the car reached their floor.

000

Somewhere in NERV 1st Branch

The room's walls were made of armored glass looking into tanks filled with LCL. In the middle was a large glass tube, also filled with LCL. Figures were in the tanks and one was in the tube. A woman sat at a computer console and typed in commands. She stopped and picked up her NERV(tm) mug and saw that it was empty. She frowned at it then stood up to get some more from the coffee maker behind her.

"So how does it feel to get your hands dirty?" The woman stopped, stifling a shriek of surprise as a woman dressed in a black leather coat, white silk shirt, jeans, and black leather shoes separated herself from the shadows.

"Doctor Akagi," the woman bowed as Dr. Akagi stepped into the light near the central tube.

"Has the new DNA specifications been entered?" Ritsuko said, a hand caressed the cool surface of the transparent tube until she felt the attached metal plate. She traced the lettering on the metal plate with her finger; it read: DUMMY PROJECT / FIFTH CHILDREN / ??

"Yes, we expect one week before current configuration changes."

"Hmph, why don't you make him female, let's see them recognize him then." Ritsuko stepped forward and refilled the woman's mug. She took a sip before returning it to its owner with a smile. "You still make the best coffee I've ever tasted."

"Thanks. Er, we've tried changing his gender. But for some reason, he reverts back to male." The woman said as she drank her coffee.

"Hm, the Soul is powerful enough to change the body?" Ritsuko stood facing the tube, her arms crossed. "Congratulations for cracking the hair-color code though, having one kid with weird hair is enough."

"Yes, but we still have trouble with the eyes."

"What? I saw him earlier, his eyes were black."

"Permanent laser attached contacts."

"Clever." Ritsuko said, impressed at the woman's ingenuity.

"Um, Ma'am..."

"Yeah?"

"I had no right to tell you what was right or wrong." The woman said, still feeling guilty for trying to act so righteously during their discussion on the ethics of using dummy plugs several years before.

"..." Ritsuko's face became sad before she smiled again. "That was a long time ago."

"Um, want to have some dinner?" The woman said not sure how to relate to the older woman now. Ritsuko smiled at her protégé and held her arm in arm.

"Of course, Maya. And while we're at it you can tell me all about my little namesake."

000

Beer. Lots of it. The boys stared at the six crates, each crate held twenty-four cans of Misato's favorite brand. Shinji briefly recalled that for a while Misato had switched to another brand, he felt annoyed that he can't remember the brand name.

"Let's see... The Colonel ordered six crates of Yebisu; three packs of crackers; two one kilo bags of peanuts - one salted, one unsalted; four bags of potato chips; eight packs of microwave takoyaki; oh, and a large box of pocky. Ah, what flavor does she want?" The girl behind the counter ticked off the items while trying hard not to look as if she was staring at the cute boy with dark hair and the kick-ass uniform. The other two also wore the same uniform but in her opinion they didn't look as good as the dark haired one.

"Chocolate." Shinji automatically answered. He felt numb as he suddenly got an idea of what Misato was planning. The girl skipped to get the item, hoping that he saw her bounce. She frowned a little as the kid with the long hair frowned at her while the object of her attentions just stared in his dreamy way at the stack of groceries.

"Wow!" Kensuke whistled at the stack of groceries. Light glinted off his glasses. "And I thought I got dragged along just to make sure you guys didn't kill each other."

"Here you go Lieutenant..." the girl intentionally trailed off and hoped that the boy will say his name since NERV didn't believe in nameplates on their uniforms. She felt her heart skip as he looked at her with his deep blue eyes.

"Um, please, just call me Shinji."

"Sure thing, Shinji," she said dreamily as she punched up the purchases. "Are you sure you wouldn't need any help?"

"I guess-"

Kensuke elbowed Shinji aside and looked at the girl sternly, the lights glinting off his glasses made him look sinister. "We will be fine, miss."

The girl would have felt annoyed if she hadn't been scared by the bespectacled boy. The boy had the look about him that hinted that killing her would have just been a slight annoyance. She bowed deeply, "I didn't mean to pry -- I'm sorry!"

"How much?" Kensuke didn't even acknowledge the apology. They quickly paid and got their purchases, Shinji apologizing hurriedly for his friend's rudeness.

"Kensuke, what was that all about?" Shinji complained as they walked home, each boy laden down by the groceries.

Kensuke stopped, turned to make sure that they were alone on the street, and then looked at Shinji and Allen. "You must not give your address, phone number, or give any indication of your work and/or habits to strangers."

"I know all that, it's all in the handbook, 'sides, I think that girl already knows who the Colonel is and where she lives," Allen groused.

Kensuke focused on the puzzled Shinji. "'All personnel rated with weapons are to carry their weapons on their persons at all times'. Shinji, do you know why we have that rule?"

"Um, they're not really going to attack us or anything, right?" Shinji gave a naïve, confused smile.

"Look, both of you, what I am about to tell you is confidential and has been hushed up by all involved departments. You must promise not to tell anyone." The three of them drew together after the two had given their word.

"Four EVA pilots had been assassinated in the past two months." There was an awkward pause.

Allen started to laugh nervously. "That's crap Aida! How can they cover up something as big as that! And how in the world did you get that info anyway."

Kensuke gave a shrug and started to walk back to Misato's apartment. Shinji followed after Allen, and he often looked behind him nervously. He knew that for NERV, nothing was impossible.

"We're back!" Shinji announced as they piled into the kitchen and dropped the groceries onto the table. Allen and Kensuke collapsed tiredly into chairs and massaged their arms while Shinji immediately pulled out the beer compartment of the fridge and started stuffing the beer in.

"Man, Shinji, how'd you get so strong? You used to be such a wimp you know?" Kensuke complained, but was still impressed with his friend. Shinji just grinned sheepishly and then shrugged as if to say he also didn't know. He faced back towards the fridge, screamed in surprise, and fell back on his butt. Asuka grinned at him from the other side of the sliding compartment of the fridge.

"At least you're still the jumpy little boy I know," Asuka beamed at Shinji. Kensuke's glasses flashed, hiding his expression. Allen frowned and turned away. "Misato says to bring eleven sake cups to the living room," Asuka stood up and turned to go back into the living room.

"Eleven?" Kensuke verified since Shinji seemed to be hypnotized by Asuka's skirt.

"Yup, Four Eyes," Asuka answered as she closed the sliding door to the living room with a sway of her hips. A gasp and an uncomfortable look on Shinji's face told Asuka that it had the desired effect.

"Sometimes I really hate her," Kensuke commented, once Asuka's footsteps were no longer audible.

"Eh?" Shinji replied absently. Kensuke and Allen just rolled their eyes.

Misato, the Children, and the penguin stood in a semi-circle in front of an impromptu shrine with a framed picture of Henri which had black ribbon fixed to its corners. The Children nervously eyed each other as Misato finished filling their cups with the strong smelling alcohol. Misato filled her own cup and then filled the cup in front of Henri's picture. Misato bowed toward Henri's picture before she went to her place in the circle.

"For Henri!" Misato declared as she raised her cup up and downed the sake.

"Henri!!" The Children echoed firmly and downed their own cups. Asuka and Kensuke were the only ones who didn't start coughing as the fiery liquid burned its way into their belly.

"So now you're going to get us drunk to forget the pain of losing a comrade?" Kensuke commented as he stood on Misato's left, one hand held his sake cup while the other was tucked in his trouser pocket. "Ritualistic drinking binge?"

"It works for me," Misato stuck her tongue out at the incredulous teenager as she went to the kitchen for the beer. "Rei, please help me serve." The blue mopped girl nodded and followed the older woman, her face a bit flushed from the sake.

"And what if the kids can't handle the booze?" Kensuke wryly noted as he poured himself some more sake.

"I think we should prepare some barf bags," Asuka replied as she repeatedly slapped Shinji's back to stop his coughing. "Hey, Yuri, you all right?"

Yuri nodded empathetically from where she sat on the floor, but she immediately regretted this as she clutched her throbbing head. Juno grimaced. She just wanted something to scrape the awful taste from her tongue as she groggily made her way to the couch.

"Allen?" Asuka turned to the boy who silently stood opposite her. Allen looked up, his eyes glassy. He nodded slightly before going over to sit beside Juno.

000

Makoto walked over to the bar where his wife and Dr. Akagi were drinking and talking. He ordered a drink before sitting on a stool beside his wife.

"It's nice to meet you again Colonel Hyuga," Ritsuko greeted.

"Dr. Akagi," Makoto greeted before he leaned over and kissed his wife on the cheek. Maya touched her cheek and looked questioningly at him, faintly aware that she was blushing. He had never kissed her in public before except during their wedding.

Ritsuko smiled into her glass and allowed the two to share an embarrassing yet romantic silence.

"Ah, Dr. Akagi," Makoto started clumsily, "What do you think of the Adam problem?"

Makoto blinked as Maya and Ritsuko frowned at him.

"Makoto, how insensitive can you get?" Maya asked in mock indignation while Ritsuko laughed lightly.

"Makoto, I'd rather not discuss shop right now." Ritsuko waved for the bar tender. "We'll find something else to talk about."

"Well, OK." Makoto said in embarrassment, "What should we talk about?"

"I was wondering about that Alleyn boy," Ritsuko asked.

"Huh? You've met him?" Maya looked surprised.

"Uh-huh. So, is he who I think he is?"

"Unfortunately, yes." Makoto said as he stared into his glass. He felt sorry for the kid. "He's one of the Sixth Children, the second one to be chosen from that batch during the Conscription."

"And the son of the late Commander Alicia Alleyn, former commander of the Beijing Branch." Maya finished.

"I thought the name was familiar..." Ritsuko's mind began multi-tasking. "So his mother was the one who commanded the EVAs that attacked us during the Eighteenth Incident."

"Yes. Er, can we talk about something else?" Maya quickly interrupted.

"I agree, no sense in dredging up the past." Ritsuko smiled as Maya sighed in relief. As they talked about mundane things like the movies and politics, Ritsuko's brain was still in multi-task mode. She began creating scenarios on why someone with so much aggression towards the personnel of NERV Headquarters -- No, Ritsuko corrected herself, NERV First Branch; why was he assigned to it? "...so the main concern of the UN should be to rehabilitate the--" Ritsuko blinked, as her brain demanded her attention as it found a possible scenario.

"Dr. Akagi?!"

Ritsuko looked up as Maya and Makoto looked at her in concern. "Sorry, when I drink too much, I start getting absent minded. Where was I?"

"Are you sure you're all right? We could take you home if you want?" Maya offered.

"Don't worry, I'm fine." Ritsuko gave her most cheerful smile.

"If you say, so Dr. Akagi," Makoto swirled the drink in his glass, he looked away from her so that she won't see the suspicion in his eyes.

"Makoto, what do you think of Misato's plan?" Maya broke the silence, wondering if the discomfort was due to her relationships with these two people.

"Like all of Misato's plans, it just might be crazy enough to work." Makoto smirked, as Misato's aide during the First Wave he had intimate knowledge of just how crazy Misato's plans can get.

"Too true," Ritsuko believed in her friend's unusual luck. "That is, of course, if the kids don't get alcohol poisoning."

Everyone paused in embarrassment and looked at their glasses. They wondered if Misato could actually control the kids if she herself was too drunk to notice.

000

" I LUUV YOUUU " Asuka screeched out drunkenly as the final refrain of the music coming from the karaoke machine began to die out. "Thank you! Thank you!" Asuka cried out happily as the others clapped half-heartedly from where they were sitting around her.

"My turn!" Juno cried as she stood up with Allen in tow.

"Juno!" Allen protested as the other Children cheered them on.

"Well, it's going well," Misato noted from the kitchen table where she was nursing a drink.

"You mean no one is fighting yet?" Rei asked as she took out some beer for the others.

"Yep. Oh yeah, how many beers have you had?"

"One."

"Only one?"

"Yes. I dislike the taste."

"Oh." Misato sounded disappointed. "Then how about joining an old woman in drowning her sorrow?"

"I dislike the taste of alcohol."

"No worries then," Misato raised her glass, "it's ginger ale."

"Very well. I shall return." Rei left to deliver the beer.

"I'll be waiting." Misato grimaced as she sipped the ginger ale. "I hate this stuff."

000

The city's lights were dim and most of the Children had fallen asleep. Shinji stood on the balcony, a hot cup of coffee in his hands. He felt happy except for the irritating buzz in his head. This night was the most fun he had ever had with other people. He had even brought out his cello and played for the others with only minimal prodding from Asuka. Speaking of whom, he turned and looked where Asuka lay sprawled on the carpet fast asleep.

Shinji watched as she slept, feeling a familiar feeling coursing through his body. He shrugged his shoulders as he made his way to his bedroom to get his comforter. It was a bit difficult as the apartment seemed to revolve every now and then but he managed to drag his comforter and himself back to Asuka.

Asuka moaned drunkenly as Shinji clumsily covered her with the comforter. Shinji looked longingly at the red-haired girl, the girl of his dreams, the object of his love and desire. He could feel the blood pound in his head as he continued his vigil over her sleeping form.

Shinji froze as he suddenly found himself inches away from her face, their lips only a breath away. He pulled away in fear and guilt. He had almost taken advantage of her vulnerability, something he had sworn he will never do again. With a muted sob, he withdrew to the balcony and curled up into a ball to contain the shame he felt. In his anguish he did not hear the quiet whisper of the sleeping girl as she whispered his name.

Yuri watched silently from where she lay on the couch, wondering what had just transpired between the two older pilots. Did Shinji just try to kiss the Bitch Queen? Her alcohol and sleep fogged mind finally gave up and succumbed to the void of slumber.

Allen snuggled against the familiar warmth of a caring embrace. Something he had missed for years. He cracked open his eyes, for a moment daring to dream. He looked up and the silhouette of a woman with long, dark hair filled his vision. He sniffed and smelled the scent of his mother... no, not mother. He closed his eyes and tears fell from his eyes.

"Allen," Misato whispered soothingly to the child. She knew of his longing, the same desire and dream that all the Children longed for. The person called "Mother".

To Be Continued

In the Next Episode of Heaven and Hell:
Ritsuko: And thus the stage is set... Moments of Love and Tenderness... Heaven and Hell 1:0 If this is not Heaven...