Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Tribute ❯ Are you Interested? ( Prologue )

Tribute

In a large lounge room in what was left of California, a group of men were discussing something. And unlike most meetings of the day, this one had no military connections. This was a meeting of musicians

"What do ya think Axl?" a man with an English accent asked

"Sounds like a good idea, Paul, Gene. Comments?" he asked two other men

"I'm willing. The rock symphony worked for us alone in Melbourne years ago, I don't see why I won't work now in Japan" Paul said

"I'm in two, besides, Sharon's never been to Japan" another man, older than the others with a rather English but affected accent spoke up

"Then it's settled; off to Japan we go for the biggest Tribute concert in history" another Englishman cried

"Easy John" said a man with a large top hat

"Okay, I shall organize the rights to a few other songs from other groups. Gene, since it is you whom has the best rapport with orchestras, you chat with the Tokyo 3 group" Axl said and got up, and they all shook hands

The men that exited that room were:

Axl Rose: Guns N Roses, Lead singer

Slash: Guns N Roses, Guitarist

Paul Stanly: KISS, Lead singer

Gene Simmons: KISS, Base guitarist and back up

Bruce Dickinson: Iron Maiden, lead singer

Ozzy Osbourne: 'nuff said

John Deacon: Queen, Guitarist

And they had just entered into an agreement to perform the largest tribute concert in known history for the three very special people:

Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, and Asuka Langley Soryu: the Evangelion Pilots

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In Tokyo 3, a phone rang in the Orchestral Instrument Players office; the director, a large and old man named Koji Yamamoto answered the phone

"Hello" he said in Japanese

"Hello, I am from the London office of John Osbourne" a voice said in strained Japanese

"Its okay sir, I speak very proficient English. What can I do for you?" Koji asked

"Thank you, I wish to arrange a Rock Symphony in Tokyo 3" the man replied

Koji was nearly floored by that request. Most people avoided the city as if infested by the black-death. It seemed odd that a group would want to perform here, but, business was business

"Okay. Who will be playing with Mr. Osbourne?" Koji asked

"The other bands on the tour are: Iron Maiden, Guns N Roses, the remaining members of Queen, and KISS. We wish to stage a show with the local orchestra" the man explained

Koji was again stunned to say the least: that was five of the hottest acts ever to exist in the world, and they wanted to put themselves in danger and come here

"That sounds like quite a line up, what may I ask is the purpose of this tour?" Koji asked

"Well, to use the words of Mr. Dickinson, a tribute to the youngest heroes in the world" was the answer

"I see. Well, Tokyo 3 has a large stadium which I believe will be more than adequate for this shindig. If you start sending around the technicians etc, we can begin preparations" Koji said

"They're already on their way. A representative will be accompanying the group so please; some discretion and a multi lingual interpreter would be appreciated"

"Not a problem" Koji answered and called his secretary in and gave her multiple tasks to be done

"Goodbye sir" Koji said as the Englishman hung up

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

Shinji was in his room, listening to music as he did whenever he felt bad, which was usually all the time. He was about to drift off to sleep when Asuka's shrill voice pierced the air

"SHINJI, PHONE FOR YOU" she bellowed, nearly making the boy fall off his bed in fright

"Okay, coming" he replied and trudged out of his room and over to the phone

"Hello, this is Shinji Ikari" he said

"Shinji, this is Mr. Yamamoto from the Orchestral Instrument Players office" Koji said

"Oh, what can I do for you Mr. Yamamoto?" Shinji asked

"Well Shinji, I've just had a very interesting phone call from London. It seems some very famous bands wish to perform with the orchestra in Tokyo 3 in a few days" the first part was an enticement

Shinji was starting to get very curious as to what exactly this had to do with him: until he remembered: he was a cellist

"And my young cellist, it is you and your two friends they are performing in thanks of, but I was wondering if you wanted to play in the orchestra with them" Koji then laid the bait

Shinji grabbed it like a starving piranha

"What, of course I would love too!" he cried out

"Hush a minute; this is all on the QT and very hush, hush. I would like you to come to my office tomorrow after school if you can. Then we'll give you a trial run" Koji said

"Will do Mr. Yamamoto" Shinji cried with glee

"Now please don't tell anyone about this, we're going to do some official publicity first, okay" he warned

"No problems" Shinji said and hung up

Shinji went back to his room calmly enough, but as soon as he was inside, he whooped for joy and bounced on his bed: one of his greatest dreams was about to come true: he was going to play with a real symphony orchestra, and in front of thousands of people with some of the best known bands in the world

"This is too cool" Shinji was feeling happy, a feeling that had long evaded him in the world

Misato got home to see Shinji humming while he cooked dinner; a rare sight indeed and she was instantly curious as to why he was so happy. Hopefully it was something that would be easily duplicated so she could use it to cheer him up again if the need arose

"Asuka, what's put Shinji in such a good mood?" she asked her German ward

"Don't know, don't care" Asuka replied and resumed reading her magazine

Misato frowned at Asuka's indifference and went to ask Shinji himself; his happiness may have made loquacious enough to share in the secret

"So, what has put my little Shinji in a very refreshing good mood?" Misato asked as she slid up beside him at the counter top

"Ah, but it is a secret and that would be telling" Shinji replied and continued cooking dinner

"Finally put the moves on one of the cute girls in your class have we? When do I get to meet her?" Misato teased

But to her genuine shock, Shinji did not blush, nor did he stutter a reply to the playfully teasing remark: he just kept on smiling

"Oh my god, you've lost your virginity!" Misato cried out, making Asuka look up and Pen-Pen blink

[About time that lad got some] the bird thought and went for a beer

"WHAT, WHO DID THE IDIOT SCREW?" Asuka bellowed

"Jealous Asuka?" Misato asked

A red flush appeared on Asuka's face; although it was more likely from anger at the suggestion

"NO!" she bellowed

Shinji was just ignoring his flat-mates' uproarious argument in favour of thinking what piece he should perform at the trial tomorrow. He wasn't sure if he should use a classical piece or a rock song

[Do both, that way you've covered most bases on the subject] he said to himself as he finally realized his roommates were arguing

The argument had gone from Asuka liking Shinji to the exchange on views on several political and military procedures. No one was ever sure how these things happened but it did, especially when Asuka and Misato are involved

"Uh, guys, dinner will be ready in a few minutes" he said and went to wash his hands

Shinji's quiet exit and words made his roommates look up and realize that the original subject of this argument had not only left the room, but they had gotten off topic too

"Uh, okay" Misato said as Asuka returned to watching T.V.

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

The next day after school; Shinji made his way to the office of Koji Yamamoto with cello in hand and sheet music in his back pack. Breathing heavily from nervousness he tried to calm himself and relax: it was only an audition

"But I've never auditioned to play with a full orchestra and rock bands before" he said to himself and went inside; as ready as he would ever be

The secretary saw Shinji and pointed to a door, taped on was a paper sign saying 'Auditions'. Thanking her and going through it. There were several others there with other instruments: violins, violas and even a few with cellos, but not enough to make a section unless there were others and there were the fillers.

"Okay, we'll do string instruments first, so anyone with violins, violas, cellos, harps whatever, please sit in that first row of seats" Mr. Yamamoto said

The others such as horns and wind were allowed to just sit where they were comfortable. A panel of judges and evaluators sat at a long trestle table in the lighting box. One by one each performer was called out and asked to perform their best rehearsed piece. Some where terrible and others were wonderful, alas, one thing stopped them from becoming great: they all performed classical music.

Shinji was no fool when it came to the subject of music, when he saw that Mr. Yamamoto became dismayed when he heard Bach or Motzart, he quickly hid the piece of Bach he had and took out the old rock song and prayed. In fact by the time he was called up, the violinist asked if he had Parkinson's disease because he was shaking so badly

"Shinji, you okay?" Mr. Yamamoto asked

"Yeah, I'm ready" he said and strode bravely out to the centre and sat on the chair

Up in the lighting box, Ozzy and Axl saw that the next cellist was one of the people they'd come to perform for

"What is this bloke playing at?" Ozzy asked the rep from the office

"Well, his name is on the register as a musician, he's quite good too" she replied and asked them to return to judging

Shinji let out one other breath and began playing. Although there were no words, the song was instantly recognisable: Iron Man, one of Ozzy's songs from way back when

"Him. We want him to play with us" Axl was amazed at his skill. He then looked and saw Ozzy was gone

"Oh shit" Axl said and saw the open door

Ozzy stepped out and began clapping very loudly at Shinji's performance

"Bravo, kid. That's pretty damn good. And if that is any sample of what the rest of the orchestra will do, then I'd say this concert will go off with a bang" he said

Everyone turned and looked at the old heavy metal singer and surprise, most of all Shinji

"Holy shit" he said

Shinji, by now overloaded with praise from the professional judges on the ground and the personal praise of Ozzy Osbourne from what English he'd picked up from Asuka, coupled with the honour of being asked to even audition for this now undoubtedly sell out and successful concert did the only thing he or any other guy in his place would do

He fainted

All eyes were on Ozzy while Axl was rubbing his temples in the booth

"I didn't say anything rude, did I Axl?" he asked

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