Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ True Angel ❯ Self Waltz ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4

Self Waltz

 

 

Disclaimer: I don't own this series or any other series. I am just floating an idea. I am making no money, nor plan to, off this venture. If you think of suing me over this, then grow up.

 

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Misato was brushing her teeth, not very unusual.

 

What was unusual was her male house guest. For the last three days, he had yet to leave the house.

 

She knew he was most likely depressed about her reactions after the battle. But, he had failed to obey her order to retreat. Instead—with two civilians inside the entry plug—he charged the Fourth Angel, piercing its core while getting pierced himself.

 

Repairs had been complete; Ritsuko had scheduled him for more sync tests to see if everything was functioning, including the repairs to the S2 engine. There were even rumors that Shinji would be inserted into Unit 00 to see if he could work his magic on it.

 

But...Shinji never left the apartment.

 

Rei left. She went to school, returned with their assignments, and carried on as normal. She still helped with the meals, sat with PenPen. She still slept in Shinji's room, though Misato was relatively certain sex was not occurring.

 

Sighing, she spit out the toothpaste, turning to the sound of the door opening. “Rei?”

 

The albino First Child stared at her, as if uncertain what to say. “Misato?”

 

When she had first moved in, the First Child had been stringent about calling her by her rank and last name, only changing with Shinji's patience more than her own. For Misato, both children seemed somewhat creepy to her. Rei was too quiet in her opinion.

 

Shinji? Those wings didn't help.

 

“Well, what is it, Rei?”

 

She could tell the child was struggling to speak, as if something was holding her back. But whatever was creating the impasse, was soon gone. “I believe Shinji-kun is quite ill.”

 

Misato blinked. An illness would explain why he seemed off these last few days. “And what lead to this conclusion?”

 

“He has a current body temperature of 46.3 degrees Celsius (115.3 degrees Fahrenheit). Even for his unique physical makeup, I do not believe this is good for him.”

 

Misato ran into his room, seeing him truly for the first time in a while.

 

He was still on his bed, only a pair of boxer shorts on. His wings were out, but looked—for lack of a better term—droopy. His body was covered in sweat, and a quick inspection of his sheets revealed that they were soaked. His breathing was labored, his eyes unfocused, his face flushed... He looked like hell, and his forehead felt like it.

 

Yes, she knew this was not good.

 

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A call to NERV to inform them she was brining in Shinji for a medical emergency—the type where his true nature would be revealed otherwise—and they were on their way, a simple bed sheet hiding his wings. The only stop was at a convenience store to buy as many bags of ice that the backseat of her car would support.

 

Arriving at NERV, they went into the main transport, usually reserved for large cargo. It now served to get them to NERV Medical quicker.

 

Misato and Rei ran beside the doctors as they pushed Shinji's gurney, his form still laying on his stomach, his wings folded against his body, the remainders of the ice still on him.

 

“What the hell?” was Misato's quiet question as they entered the lab. She watched as the men picked Shinji up, and placed him in a standing cylinder filled with LCL, before sealing the top.

 

“Initiate coolant flow!” yelled Ritsuko. Several hisses later as pressurized fluids moved, a small amount of frost formed on the cylinder, only the waving of Shinji's hair even leant any idea that the fluids in the cylinder were moving.

 

Misato turned to her, silently asking what that was.

 

“It was a medical idea we had for pilots too injured. The LCL is specially treated to help in healing while the tank keeps them suspended, prevents further injury. We were going to use it to help in battle, but since it doesn't work with the EVAs too well...

 

“Anyway, when you called, we jury-rigged a coolant flow to chill it. Hopefully, it'll bring down his temperature. But it's doubtful.” She pointed to the cylinder, as the frost was soon disappearing. “His body is heating the fluids almost as fast as we can cool it. We have some techs coming with a canister of Bakelite. If that doesn't keep him cool, nothing will.”

 

Misato could only nod, now knowing how serious this was. If they were using Bakelite to cool down the tank, then even liquid nitrogen wouldn't help him now.

 

What a second... “How did you—”

 

Ritsuko simply handed her a datapad. “Seems for the last few days, Unit 01 has been heating up as well. Judging from the reactions, I would say it's trying to burn out the S2 organ like a virus. We've been flooding the cage with Bakelite after the LCL started to boil. Hopefully, we can keep it from destroying the systems.”

 

“Why not remove the organ?”

 

Ritsuko decided to light a cigarette, showing how stressful the day was quickly becoming. “Can't. When I said it's acting like an infection, I mean it. The fluids around the organ are corrosive now. Nothing we have can get near it. We just have to hope it destroys the organ on its own.”

 

“And how does this relate to Shinji getting sick?”

 

“Simple. Best we can guess is that his...unique nature...has allowed him a closer bond to Unit 01, so he feels what it feels, even outside the entry plug.”

 

Misato slumped into a chair. “So until Unit 01 cools down and destroys the organ...”

 

“Shinji will have a large fever as well. What this will do to his brain is unknown. At the temperatures his body is at, a normal human would have already been reduced to a vegetable.”

 

As Misato began to feel dejected for being unable to help Shinji, Rei could only stare at her companion inside the cylinder. Get well, Shinji-kun.

 

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Shinji could only stare as the men encircled him, their guns drawn; their uniforms completely black. “What do you want?”

 

The leader faced the nine-year-old boy. “You will come with us. If you resist, you will be terminated.”

 

Shinji suppressed a growl. “I was told never to go with strangers.”

 

The joke fell on deaf ears, as one of the men fired a shot.

 

Shinji appeared to blur, his sword being unsheathed, spinning to deflect the bullet back towards the attacker, hitting the assailant between the eyes.

 

Two more drew their knives, deciding to capture the kid in close range combat.

 

The growl returned, the anger returned, and Shinji blurred.

 

In under a minute, the group was no more, every member dead by either their own shots, or his blade.

 

Tears stained his face. “Why? Why did you attack me? Why did you want me?” He had killed, taken what could never be returned. He wanted to fall to his knees, his meal demanding to be released to the street.

 

But the buzzing of helicopters sounded, coming closer.

 

So the feelings of guilt were suppressed, the sadness hidden below a mask.

 

It appeared his sins were still not yet finished.

 

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“Reika,” came the whispered word from Shinji.

 

Rei blinked. “I do not know a Reika.”

 

“Reika...is in...pain. It...hurts. Why does...it hurt?”

 

The two women turned towards Rei, her hand on the cylinder. “What was that, Rei-chan?” asked Misato.

 

“He said Reika. He said Reika is hurting.”

 

Ritsuko looked towards her friend. “Who's Reika?”

 

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Gendo and Fuyutsuki watched this through a monitor within Gendo's office.

 

“Wasn't that—”

 

“Yes,” said Gendo. “That was Yui's nickname in college.”

 

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Shinji found his memories fragmenting, bubbling along the surface. Demons long since buried reared their heads.

 

It does not belong.

 

Reika?

 

It does not belong. It must be removed.

 

Reika, what's going on?

 

It should not be here.

 

Reika? Why am I in pain? Why am I remembering pain?

 

It does not belong. It must be exterminated.

 

Reika, talk to me!

 

Be strong, Shinji.

 

With that, he found himself within his memories again.

 

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Shinji had spent seven days inside his room, barely eating, barely sleeping. His dreams had been plagued with the faces of the dying.

 

A man who had only moments before begged for his life, only to throw it away when he shot his pistol at Shinji...

 

The faces of the pilots as he took to the air, destroying them before they could land with more troops...

 

The sword stayed on its stand before him, blood still coating the blade.

 

Forty-seven. He had ended forty-seven lives that day; forty seven people who would not return to their lives, would not return to loved ones, and would not see tomorrow...

 

Forty-seven souls he had taken from this world. How was he supposed to feel?

 

“Shinji, you did what you had to. Those men didn't care whether you lived or died.”

 

“But it didn't mean I had to be like them!”

 

“Shinji, you have a great power within you, and there will be those who seek to use it for their own purposes. Do you think they would have stopped with you? No, they would have done whatever they needed to get you, and those types of people have no problems with using innocents to get you to bend to their wills.

 

“Shinji, you are not responsible for the actions of others, only yourself. For now, be proud that those men won't be hurting any other people. Be respectful at what you have done, and remember this empty feeling. Killing is never easy, but all too often necessary. Just remember this feeling, because when it disappears, then you really have become them.”

 

Shinji slowly stood up, walking towards the sword. “It needs to be cleaned.”

 

He would move on. Sadly, he knew this was one of those lessons his guardians told him about: one that changed who you were forever.

 

As his Father had done, another person had stolen more of his innocence.

 

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Shinji found himself floating in ether, his form that of his present self, wings released, and clothes...missing.

 

“You are not of me!”

 

“Reika? No...you aren't Reika. Who are you?” he demanded.

 

“You are of the Father, but not of our children.”

 

Shinji turned, trying to find the voice, but it seemed to be coming from everywhere. “Listen, I don't know who you are, but I already know for damned sure I don't like you.”

 

“You are not Lilum, nor are you of us.”

 

Shinji shrugged. “Lady, I ain't certain I want to be like you. You aren't exactly being friendly.”

 

“You cannot stop what has been started. Destiny must be fulfilled.”

 

His eyes grew dark, anger growing in him. “Destiny is a word for those whose hearts are too weak to seek their own path. I don't know what the destiny you think must happen is, but I fight for my own future, made by my own hands.”

 

“You would stand against us, stand against your family.”

 

“I stand by what I choose, who I choose. I stand for the rights of everyone...Angel.” He spat out the last word. “You're the one making Reika sick, aren't you.”

 

“It was not meant for her. It will be removed.”

 

“And who gave you the fucking right to decide that?” he screamed. “She's my friend and my partner against that scum you send to kill us.”

 

“You will fail. Third Impact will occur. It cannot be denied.”

 

“Watch me deny it, watch me stop it, watch me end it and all of you!”

 

A dark laughter was heard. “You are unaware at what you face, the tests you have yet to encounter. While you seek to defeat us, are you so certain that those you protect will welcome your efforts? Are you certain that it is us you must defeat?”

 

Shinji laughed a little. “A human or ten looking to take advantage of this? Well, I am shocked. In case you can't tell, that was sarcasm.” He shook his head. “You fail to understand what you face.”

 

“As do you and the Lilum. But things will be made clear to you in due time.” The voice seemed to laugh.

 

He laughed. “I should fear a mysterious voice? No. I know damn well that many will see me as dangerous as your kind. But I will fight on. I will protect them, even if it must be from themselves.”

 

“Bravery and confidence do not make a future. Events are already in motion. In the end, you will fail, and humanity will be embraced by Third Impact. After all, like all, you are little more than a killing machine.”

 

“Then show yourself, and let me show you what determination truly is, Angel?”

 

Seven eyes appeared all around him, looking at him. “You have no chance against us here. This is our world, our dream. Here, you are the figment, the element of no substance. Here, we control. Here, you pay for your transgression.”

 

Pain in its highest forms began to grip his body, forcing his head back in a silent scream.

 

And then...it stopped.

 

I will not allow you to harm him, Lilith!

 

“And what makes you think your determination will impede this?”

 

I will not allow harm to come to him!

 

“He is nothing more than an abomination, a forced amalgamation between Adam and Lilum!”

 

Your opinion means nothing, Angel!

 

The eyes closed slightly. “Fine. He shall be left alone...for now. But like her, he is part of us, whether he wants it or not. In the end, his choice is not what matters. Destiny will be achieved.”

 

He makes his own destiny, or have you failed to learn anything, Lilith.

 

The voices faded, the grey ether changing into blue ether. “Reika?”

 

Sleep, Shinji. Rest thy weary head. You have just met the enemy on her turf. Things will be harder from now on.

 

He tried to move his head, see how she was represented in this world. “Are you...”

 

I will be fine. Now, sleep, and regain your strength. Believe you can win, and you shall.

 

He wanted to speak to her, ask who Lilith was, how she stopped her, and what was really going on.

 

But a feeling of peace enveloped him, and the dreams came again.

 

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Rei simply stared into the cylinder, staring at the form of her friend.

 

She felt...bad...that he was in this state. Even the consolation that the S2 unit inside Unit 01 was breaking down did not help, nor did the news it would be gone within the day. Her friend was still suffering, still in pain, still fighting for his life.

 

The human brain begins to experience adverse reactions as the body temperature achieves and surpasses 40.6 degrees Celsius (105 Fahrenheit). I am unaware how long Shinji-kun was feverish.

 

I...I failed my friend.

 

I failed Shinji-kun.

 

What shall I do now?

 

A small tapping drew her attention back to reality.

 

Shinji was looking at her, smiling.

 

“Shinji-kun, are you feeling better?” She had to be quick. The new coolant system they were using might freeze him quickly if his fever broke, even with the monitor systems in it.

 

His smile stayed, as he placed his hand to the glass, the smile growing larger as Rei reciprocated.

 

“Shinji-kun,” she asked, as he cocked his head to the side, “If you are feeling better, I wish to sleep. I have been awake monitoring you for two days.”

 

He nodded, watching as she made her way to a medical bed, dragging it near the cylinder, and quickly falling asleep in it.

 

Shinji continued to stare at her sleeping form.

 

Seven...

 

Eyes...

 

He shook his head, ignoring the feeling of memories on the tip of conscious recognition. There would be time enough for that later. For now, he would rest, lending his strength to Reika, and silently promising to not eat anymore strange Angels.

 

Apparently, they didn't digest well.

 

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In a tent outside of Tokyo-3 in a foggy field, a military fan slept on as a squirrel pissed in his combat boots.