STARLIGHT SURROUND

Mari put the break on as she came to a stop outside Asuka's house she eyed it for a long moment seeing all of the sunflowers in the front yard. "Some things never change."

Rei slowly stepped out of her car as she locked it. "What do you mean?" Mari pulled her bag over her shoulder as she moved over to the sunflowers. "She loved these as a kid she used to grow them in pots outside the garden door my parents both really hated them."

She raised her hand stroking the edges of one of the petals. "I did at first to but it's weird you kind of get used to the smell after a while but there really intense at first." Rei looked at her. "Yes that's true they are, I never actuality knew what the smell was until that day you tested unit 02 when I heard you over the com."

Mari tensed sharply. "Yeah don't remind me, plus if you think this front garden is strong her unit is twice as intense it knocks you off your feet but you've been in 03 and I'm guessing it was the same for you just a different smell."

Rei looked at her as she pulled out her keys. "Yes it was though the smell was of freshly cut grass." Mari felt a smile form. "Yeah it's like all of us have a very different smell and its like we only seem to smell it on each other, other people don't smell it I mean yours is alpine forest." Rei gave her a smile as opened Asuka's door. "Yeah Asuka notices that as well."

Mari smirked. "Bet she hasn't told you though what it is about that smell that draws her to you like a moth to a flame." Rei opened the door going in side seeing that all of the lights had been turned on which meant that Asuka was home. "No she hasn't." Mari felt her smile widened. "When we were little there were alpine forests outside the back of my parent's house and she would play in them for hours, granted she never got to deep into them but she loved to just lie on her back and look up at the stars through the trees."

She pushed up her glasses. "It was when she was her happiest and we both used to just to lie there and talk." She shrugged. "I never really got her fascination but she was the only real friend I had so I joined her anyway and we had good times. We could be ourselves and we had no barriers and we talked about things we just couldn't say to others." She felt a sly smile form. "So when she's around you she must feel very comfortable and probably has no barriers up."

She paused as Rei closed the door watching as a little tortuous shell cat ran up to her looking up. She slowly kneeled down stroking its head. "So what do they call you?" Rei put her bag down. "That is Erika." Mari felt her smile widen as she eyed the little cats tatty right ear. "Well you're a bit of a rag a muffin, aren't you? Still who wants to be perfect anyway?"

Rei walked over seeing that the food bowls had been filled she moved over to the garage opening the door seeing that the Trident was still in place though it had been cleaned along with her own bike which was sitting opposite while Asuka's leather jacket was hanging up in its normal place. "She must be up stairs."

She slowly made her way up stairs watching as Mari followed she eyed the empty computer room only to catch sight of Asuka she was fast asleep on her bed in her t-shirt and trousers though she had been drawing something because a digital scroll was sitting on the bedside table she spoke quietly seeing that she was also hugging a pillow. "She's here."

Mari smirked poking her head around the door. "Ah yeah I see." She paused as a question entered her mind. "No patch?" Rei moved towards Asuka. "No not when we are alone." She kneeled down next to the bed gently putting her arm on the Asuka's shaking lightly. "Asuka." She shook her again. "Asuka."

She watched as the other woman's eyes shot open as she looked around in confusion as it took her a moment to register what was going on as her left eye lit up. "You're here?" Mari came in clapping her hands. "Rise and shine little sister I'm here to!" Asuka didn't think as she grabbed the pillow she'd been holding putting it over her head. "Why are verfickte here?!" Mari felt a coy smile form. "Oh don't be like that I came to look at your cosy little home." She paused looking around her. "It's very nice by the way."

She moved closer to her. "So why don't you take that pillow off your head and say hi to me." Asuka tightened her grip on the pillow. "Go away." She gritted her teeth as she spoke. "I get it I was being an idiot, I just don't like having to face what's coming, it's really scares me." Rei moved her hand putting on Asuka's stroking her fingers gently feeling her grip loosen on the pillow allowing her to ease it out as she spoke gently and softly keeping hold of her hand. "I know your scared Asuka no ones judging you for that."

She watched as her left eye started to pulse and flash she slowly leaned over running her hand through the long red hair. "But understand that I don't want to loose you hence why I hate you talking about your life like it's throw away." Asuka took in a sad breath as she sat up on the bed looking at Rei's hand in her own. "I don't know how to view myself as anything but the villain because that's who I was for most of my childhood, I just don't see myself as a hero."

Mari calmly sat on the opposite side of the bed as she eased open her bag they'd stopped off at her apartment before coming here just so she could pick this up. She smiled as she turned to the other woman raising the item in her hand. "Maybe this might help you remember." She eyed the wooden knight's sword in her hands which was very old now. "I mean it's got your name on it." She turned it seeing the big bolded black letters for Asuka on the wooden blade. Asuka looked at the sword sadly. "That's not mine, I stole it."

Mari laughed sadly. "No the boy next door gave it to you as a gift because you really liked it, its just my dad made out that you stole it because he didn't want you playing with swords remember and he took it away from you?" She raised the toy. "Do you remember what that boy said to you Asuka when he gave this to you?"

Asuka eyes drifted as she tried to look away. "No I don't." Mari eyed her watching as Rei stroked her long red hair. "He said it's okay if you want to be a knight but he thought your idea of the princess who fights her way out was much cooler because then she could fight with him and it'd be a team thing." She shifted a little closer to her. "Personally I thought your idea was very cool too but I didn't tell you that at the time, I was scared because I kept seeing you getting told off and I thought it was better to just be quiet."

She met her uncertain gaze. "But here's the thing, you were always my hero, because I always wanted to be like you it's the reason that I kept this to remind me of you but I think now it should be returned to you as it was always yours." She watched as Asuka took the toy from her hand looking at it. "I'm guessing these past few weeks have been really hard for you, I mean you've been through so much and maybe you think being a hero is just too hard because you're not cut out for it or you have to change radically. What you don't get is you don't even need to change at all, you just need to be yourself, because that's when you're at your best."

Rei looked at her. "Also please stop thinking that you're awful, cruel or evil Asuka because you're not you're a good person and you have a very kind heart." She traced her fingers with her own. "That's what made me fall in love with you, it's the reason I stay, because I know you'll always protect me and you make me really happy."

Mari watched as her Asuka looked down as she started to cry she moved putting her arm around her. "There's the little sister I remember always trying to be hard as nails on the outside but who is as soft as silk on the inside." She adjusted her glasses. "Do you remember when I used to pull you into my lap and cuddle you, you know because you were so small?"

Asuka felt a sad smile form. "Yes I remember." Mari looked up meeting Rei's curious gaze. "She was half my height but believe me when I say no one on our street messed with Asuka." She pulled Asuka closer. "Didn't you punch this real mean girl once?" Asuka breathed in wiping away her tears trying not to laugh. "Yeah well she was being nasty about you so I punched her." Mari laughed. "She never saw it coming it either, because you used to wear little dresses and had pig tails and you looked so innocent and harmless but you punched her hard enough to wind her and bring her to her knees, it was fucking hilarious."

She raised her hand. "Oh yeah and do you remember that time all the kids dared you to steal apples from that cranky farmers yard? I was about to come to your rescue but you came crawling back in through the broken fence and you had loads of these red apples and all those kids were just looking at you dumb founded."

Asuka couldn't stop herself as she started to laugh. "Yeah and then they wanted them but I said I'd only share with you because you were my big sister and that they should go and get there own." She breathed in deeply. "I never stole them though, I just went through the fence and asked politely and he gave them to me."

Rei looked at them both feeling her smile widen. "It sounds like you both had great times together." Mari hugged Asuka tighter. "Oh we did there are so many great stories I could tell you." She moved ruffling Asuka's hair before she could get away. "We had a barrel of fun didn't we princess?" Asuka pushed her off playfully. "Yeah we did four eyes but back then you didn't have glasses." Mari gave her a sly smile. "Yeah well back then you had two eyes." She paused looking at her left eye's patterns. "Now you have got one and your other one changes with your emotions or so I've been told."

She breathed in painfully as the guilt hit her hard as she looked down unable to keep the pain out of her voice. "I'm really sorry that I stabbed the UN Alpha test unit in the face and pulled your insides out I never considered that for you the pain was real all I cared about in that moment was killing an angel and showing off to the world how great I was." She looked up. "I caused you so much pain and you must really resent what I did and I wouldn't blame you for never forgiving me for it because during that time I treated you terribly and I laughed at your pain when you were in the hospital."

Asuka looked up taking in a deep breath before speaking calmly. "Don't be sorry I mean that accident changed so much for me and looking back I don't care that I lost an eye or got scarred up because it opened so many doors. Plus we had that dispute already when we had the fight in the gym, so I see it as water under the bridge now and I'm not holding any form of grudge against you Mari." She put down the sword putting her arm around Rei pulling her close. "I mean we wouldn't have started to talk if you hadn't hospitalized me to start with."

Rei looked up at Mari who looked very surprised by this response. "That is very true actually I mean we hadn't really spoken in three years after Asuka moved away." Asuka looked down. "Yeah we really didn't speak that much at all." She looked up slightly. "So it all worked out in the end." Mari breathed in deeply. "Yeah but I said I wished you'd never been born and it was cruel and wrong and deep down it wasn't true."

Asuka put a hand on her arm. "It doesn't matter anymore Mari it was the drugs and you didn't mean any of it and what matters to me now is us being family." Mari looked down even if Asuka was forgiving her deep down she felt that it wasn't enough and one day she would right this wrong somehow she breathed in deeply feeling the need to change the subject. "So do you have any alcohol?" Asuka raised an eyebrow. "Did you come up in your car or by train?"

Mari stood up putting her hands in her jean pockets. "My car but I really want to stay over…so do you have any spirits?" Asuka rolled her eyes. "You get the sofa okay, not the bed." Mari raised her hand. "Its totality fine I get it you and Rei get the bed I get the sofa, plus Rei said your sofa is really comfortable to sleep on." She felt a coy smile form as she recomposed herself. "Just don't scream too loud when she makes you come tonight I might hear you downstairs."

Asuka looked up sharply. "You're terrible you know that?" Mari smirked. "Yes I know I just don't care." Asuka raised her hand. "I only keep three spirits and there just to mix with coke, the rest is beer and larger." Mari looked at her. "That's fine I'll just try your coke and spirit mixes since Maya said I'm now banned from cocktails." Asuka clicked her finger turning to Rei. "How do you make boozy milkshake I mean it's ice cream and a spirit right with milk?"

Rei looked at her. "I can make that no problem I have it now and again at home when I get stressed." Asuka looked up. "I know it's none of my business, but is that asshole Shigeo still bothering you? It's just the other day I heard Shinji talking to Kaworu about him bothering you it just surprised me because I remember you talking about him calling you back when you were sixteen." Rei rolled her eyes as she stood up. "That guy has been bothering me for years but over the past three years he started sending me gifts and things I do not want. Its just recently he's been getting way more intense, he keeps talking about marriage and telling me I'm beautiful it makes me really uncomfortable."

She met her concerned gaze. "It's one of the reasons I started coming to your house, because I just wanted get away from him because he was calling me twice a week." She shook her head. "I mean that day I went to pick up my leathers and motor bike to come here, I found all these gift boxes stacked up outside my door, never opened a single one I just shoved them in my garage. It was kind of funny though because the people next door thought they were from you they were surprised when I told them that they weren't. Also I sell off all of the stuff he gives me at work because I'm not interested in it. He sends me dresses, software expensive equipment but in all the years he's sent gifts he's never sent me a single thing I ever liked or wanted."

Asuka slowly stood up. "He sounds like the younger asshole me, I used to do that to win over men or women I was interested in. I gave them things I wanted them to have but never a single thing that spoke to their hearts it was about the ideal of them as objects that I could sleep with. Not who they were as people it's the worst kind of lusting and desire and it never ever works out believe me."

She paused before speaking. "We should tell Misato about this she might be able to get Gendo or Ritsuko to stop it." Rei breathed in slowly and deeply she didn't see anything coming from this as her father never helped her or Shinji but she was willing to try as she was so sick of Shigeo getting into her life. "Yeah we should."

Mari folded her arms. "Okay not to change the subject but how's about we all watch a movie or something?" She turned to Asuka. "You do have films right?" Asuka raised an eyebrow. "Yes my lists are on our flat screen." Mari watched as they left the room she followed them. "Please tell me she has action and monster movies?" Rei looked up. "Her film list is vast and very long, I'm sure you'll find something that interests you." Mari moved grabbing Asuka's shoulders as they made there way in to the living room. "Oh long list, so plenty of R rated adult entertainment then?"

Asuka looked at her for a long moment. "The kind with blood, guts and violence yes not the other kind you're thinking off." Mari put a hand on her chest. "Your so mean little sister, I was referring to the first kind, I mean if I want the other kind that's what VR helmets are for and I heard you are a fan of those." Asuka eyed her. "I don't care about them anymore." Mari turned eyeing Rei. "Oh yeah right I mean she's so much better than any simulation you're ever going to get right and she won't break from your overuse." Asuka shoved her off playfully seeing that Rei was just shaking her head. "Go make yourself useful and make the drinks Mari."

8

Gendo put the tablet down as he eyed the four people in front of him who had been chained and brought to his and Ritsuko's office. He stood up slowly walking towards them as he spoke coldly. "So you're my enemies." He raised a gloved hand eyeing Makoto and Ryoko. "So these two are from Ouroboros?"

Misato looked at Kaji who was close by. "That is accurate." Gendo turned eyeing the other two. "Where are these two from?" Kaji looked up. "We don't know we only know that they're employer is Shigeo who they say has been trying to pursue your daughter romantically but she's been rejecting his advances." Gendo's face turned darker. "Really?"

Misato breathed in deeply. "These two put the drugs inside Mari's and Asuka's entry plugs the idea was to make Mari finish the job but it didn't work the reasons of which I stated in my report." Gendo looked up. "Yes I read that report it seems that fate played a hand in our favour that day because blood is thicker than water even un-related blood."

Kimi turned in confusion. "What are fucking talking about?" Kaji eyed her putting his hands in his pockets. "What you didn't hear? They're stepsisters they lived together once upon a time before things happened that separated them but once it came out into the open they very quickly established that bound again it seems Asuka will favour family over fighting."

He watched as Kimi sneered as she looked down. "That wasn't the whole reason you put the drugs in their entry plugs though Shigeo wanted Asuka dead because he's jealous of her relationship of with Rei and feels that he's somehow entitled to her." Gendo looked up sharply. "Really?" Kaji nodded meeting his angry gaze. "His interest in her is there because he also wants control of this program."

Gendo put a hand on his beard. "Well he won't live to see that interest fulfilled." He looked up slightly the anger in his tone as he spoke. "Neither of my children are bargaining chips or items for other people to twist to there own agendas!" Ritsuko rolled her eyes. "Yet you let Asuka sleep with your daughter and your son with Kaworu." Gendo turned to her. "I understand this is a subject we don't agree on but let me be very clear I see great advantages to Asuka being with my daughter. Because she's become much more controllable recently my daughter somehow tames her and gets her to stay in line and behave and that is very useful to me, with regards to my son; who he sleeps with is his own business and they're telling me that it's making relations with the Ukraine much easier."

He stroked his beard. "Anything that's of benefit to Nerv is a benefit to me." He turned looking at Nathanial. "On a more pressing concern though, who does Shigeo work for?" Nathanial looked up. "We told you we don't know!" Gendo eyed him in disgust. "No you don't know because you're throw away and disposable." He walked over to Kimi. "You know though don't you?" Kimi looked up slightly. "No I don't."

Gendo breathed in deeply. "Yes you do because you're one of those small people who prides themselves on being resistant." He eased up his gloved hand slowly pulling it off. "Resistant fools are always the most fun to crack." He opened his palm watching as a large eyeball formed in it whose red pupil started to move around. "This is a token from Adam a piece of him if you will only two parts were ever found because he left us nothing else of his body or soul when he ascended but I'm guessing you already know that because I think your true employer told you more about this program than you're letting on."

He moved closer to her. "The eye of Adam has many uses but its greatest and most entertaining use is forcing out truths." He grabbed her hair with his other hand as he spoke calmly bringing the eye closer to her face. "Don't resist you'll just make it so much worse." Misato watched as Ritsuko folded her arms looking away as Kimi's screams of agony suddenly hit the air which caused the other prisoners to look on in terror.

Misato looked at Kaji who looked just as shocked by this, how had he Gendo done this? She had always been told that people couldn't merge in any way with Adam all she did know was that all of Evangelion's DNA strands were created using a pure source from Adam what the source looked like she had no idea as it had always been kept a secret, had he used that source to do this? If so it was horrifying.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Gendo kneeled down slowly as he spoke keeping his grip on the screaming woman whose eyes were starting to go blood shot as her nose started to bleed. "Now let me ask you again who do you work for?" Kimi's voice came filled with pain. "My employer works for Ankh they told me everything about the program!" Gendo pulled his hand away watching as she breathed in before her eyes rolled back and she lost consciousness hitting the floor much to Kaji's and Misato's horror he looked up slightly. "Weak."

He paused eyeing her. "Don't trouble yourself she's not dead but she'll be in pain for a long time." He moved slowly over to Makoto. "You are a massive disappointment, Nerv gives you good things and you throw it right back in my face and my wife's face as she trusted you and put a lot of faith in you." Makoto eyed him in disgust. "Our leader and savour is ten times the man you are Gendo, you denied us heaven and our right to human instrumentality!" Gendo adjusted his glasses. "Heaven comes at a cost but I doubt your employer told you that."

He turned picking up a device opposite pressing it bringing up one of Asuka's drawings on the large hologram screen opposite which was the one of his son strangling her followed by another drawing by his son which was from years ago showing him strangling her in a kitchen setting all painted in horrible dark colours the only difference was that Asuka was standing upright while being strangled and they were both dressed in normal clothes.

"My son threw this canvas out after painting it five years ago after the spilt, I found that very strange as like my daughter he rarely throws away works as they both give them to charities to sell off which made me think that this had importance and the image Asuka drew recently on the left confirms it as there both clearly echoes." He turned slightly. "This is what your employer failed to tell you which is a lot of people have started to remember certain past cycles in a deeply negative way."

He lowered the device. "We are not meant to force our way into heaven." He moved closer to Makoto. "Why do you think it is that a certain small percentage of the population can swim in red bloody water?" Makoto looked up. "Why should I care about that detail?" Gendo looked at him for a long moment. "Those who reject human instrumentality can swim in red water because they reject it over and over every single time and it's not heaven to them its hell all they see and feel are images that they don't want to see they hate it with a passion."

He watched as the eye in his hand moved to focus on the screen images. "It runs deeper though because these people are starting to become very powerful because they have cycled that many times that they know how to leave their hell and they are drifting like waves into the heavens of others and influencing them forcing more and more people to reject the illusion of heaven and it get worse with every cycle because the ones they freed in the last one then do the same in the new cycle and they never return to heaven once they know its not real." He turned the screen to black. "You think we are denying you something, we are saving you from yourself the Evangelion's are your gods on earth put there to give you a normal life and rebirth."

He eased up his hand with its eye. "Now you will tell me which rich socialite gave you the drugs which you gave to the pilots to mess with there minds." He moved his hands closer. "Also don't lie to me because my patience, is wearing extremely thin." Makoto looked up sharply the fear in his eyes. "It was the politician Kin!"

Gendo moved his hands away. "I want to be surprised yet I'm not." Ritsuko breathed in deeply. "Should have known it might be Shigeo's rival she wants to be Prime Minster just as badly as he does." Gendo raised his hand watching as the eye closed as it vanished going back into his hand as he put his glove back on. "Send out a message to Seele they'll no doubt send out the black guard to kill both Shigeo and Kin, though they'll make it took like an accident." He looked at Ryoko. "The British can have this one and we'll be happy with any information they can give us will come with a reward."

He moved pointing to Makoto. "This one can go to Germany again any information he gives will be rewarded." He moved to Nathanial. "This one should be locked away until a later time as he might be useful." He eyed Kimi who was still unconscious. "My daughter can have this one to with as she pleases so lock her up as well."

He looked up slightly. "I may not see eye to eye with either of my children but I believe that no one should ever step on their feet with regards to personal matters." Misato watched as they were all dragged away she took in the deep breath somehow she was glad this was over because she wanted to leave, Shinji had never shown her that painting and he must have felt terrible about it to throw it away like that.

Gendo turned slightly. "I feel it's time that promoted you to Colonel." Misato looked up snapping out of her thoughts. "What?" Gendo slowly moved sitting himself at his desk. "Since Makoto's departure leaves a gap it means some ranks can be changed, I think it's time you were shifted upwards and in turn you can promote someone to fill his place while in turn moving up the ranks yourself. You revealed two separate factions who were trying to destroy us from within and that is worthy of reward."

Misato looked up slightly. "I had a lot of good people who helped me expose these people and one of them was Kaji." Gendo put his hands together. "Then see them rewarded however you see fit." He turned looking at Kaji. "I can't reward you by giving you back your position we both know why that it your medicine makes you unfit and it makes you sick." Kaji looked up slightly. "I don't want my old position back."

Gendo breathed in deeply. "Then what do you want then?" Kaji turned slightly. "I want Makoto's position including his pay rise and all his luxury health care benefits, I'm still happy to train pilots on the training field but in battle I want the full command desk not the sub par secondary one you gave me, you're going to employ someone new anyway and they can have my old desk."

Ritsuko eyed him. "That can be arranged, the health benefits might actuality be of use to you since you need a check up every three months maybe they can make your stem cell parts more tolerable with slightly better medication." Kaji met her stern gaze. "Hence the reason why I want his luxury health benefits so badly because I am tired of struggling with the low grade medication and being sick at least three times a week because it's such shit." Gendo looked up. "Then as off tomorrow you'll get his desk."

He turned eyeing Misato. "Your promotion will happen at the weeks end as we need to clear up the paper work and formality and this does entitle you a bigger apartment if you want one." Misato looked down. "I'm not interested in that I've lived in that apartment for years and its feels like my home and I've watched most of the pilots grow up there and I have too many fond memories." Gendo looked up. "A compromise then maybe more updated equipment a refurbishment if you will." Misato looked up. "Yes I'll take that over the former." Gendo put his hands together. "Once you're promoted I'll have a team in to see that done."

8

Rei felt Asuka's arm around her, she was fast asleep but had pulled her close in her sleep like she always did so she was as close up against her as possible. Their legs were wrapped together as always and they were in their nightwear. It was that nice feeling of warmth protection and she liked it so much, she had never really imagined it would be this way they had finish watching a movie some time ago and now Mari was asleep down stairs on the sofa it had been so nice to see them interacting like this now and it was clear that they really cared about each other as sisters.

And it was great to finally see Mari for who she actuality was as it was clear she was a needy and very affectionate person but her anger due to the drugs had hidden that from everyone up until now and she could see why Toji had always stood by her as he had seen much more of her real face than they had.

She breathed in deeply, Shinji had always wanted everyone to be family again like when they had been children. Now there was a very real chance that, this could really happen for the first time in years and the thought filled her with a lot of happiness as he was right they should be a family again. She lay her head down on the pillow about to drift off only for Asuka's voice to hit the air. "You are not me I'm not you so verfickte get lost and leave me alone."

Rei turned sharply was she talking to Bardiel? No wait the tone was all wrong and she knew it because Asuka was always at her most annoyed when they talked her voice was more even she listened as she spoke again. "Oh I was you last time around that's a funny why would I want to be a bitter, little narcissist like you plus it's not my fault you got violent, angry and screwed up your world."

The other woman's mouth slowly formed a cold smile. "Oh I see it was an oversight, please spare me you didn't like your world so you ruined it, so what? You're now stuck in limbo and you want to chat to your next reincarnation?" There was a long pause. "I don't give a scheisse if my sexuality makes you uncomfortable where I come from it's not a crime to be bisexual if it was in your world then I'm glad we both are not still there."

There was another long pause. "Oh I see now so you made a bargain but it didn't not occur to you that you might become me…well frankly I'm not unhappy to disappoint you, tell me did Bardiel send you here?" Rei listened quietly as she spoke again. "Wait so let me make sure I've got this right you're here because my soul is fragmenting because of Bardiel and in truth we were never meant to meet but his actions are pushing you out because he's taken your place in my soul."

Asuka's smile slowly vanished. "You want me to put you back?" There was another very long pause. "So now we have it you want me to fix it, why would you want that, you don't even like me?" Rei shifted closer watching as Asuka's left eye suddenly opened in her sleep as it ignited turning not white but pure bright light blue. "Because we are not meant to be separated we are one and the same, mirrors in time, reflections of each other and Bardiel is ruining our very soul with his actions and he will destroy the others."

Asuka's voice came filled with utter confusion. "What others?" Rei felt her eyes dart. "Twenty cycles, twenty separated lives, twenty rebirths all building up to create me, their loves their life experiences, to make me who I am." There was a long pause. "How come Bardiel doesn't know about you?" Rei turned seeing the eye was still glowing light blue. "Because you exist just outside his space and time…then tell me how do I get rid off him? Because it might have escaped your notice but I've been trying really verfickte hard."

Rei felt Asuka body shift in her sleep as the other woman gripped her tighter. "Free myself from fresh and blood? Do you know how stupid that sounds and why are you being so cryptic?" Asuka teeth suddenly ground together. "That's not an answer you're not helping me…"

Rei watched as Asuka eye slowly dimmed though there was a flash of red and black in it for just a spilt second before it closed and she went back into a deep sleep the other woman's grip around her body easing ever so slightly. She looked up watching as just for a second the digital clock opposite the bed suddenly cut out for a second before turning back on as it reset itself back to normal time along with the alarm. Rei eased up her hand running it through the long red hair very gently, if anything that was outright strange.

Asuka had talked about this once already seeing herself in her dream she was clearly seeing herself again but it didn't explain the clock cutting out like that or the change of colours in the left eye. She took in a slow deep breath maybe she would have some answers tomorrow. She was not going to wake the other woman up right now and ask her as it was so important that she got her sleep.

She took hold of Asuka's hand tracing it with her fingers, Asuka was right the end game was coming but the thought turned her stomach and she couldn't really blame her for leaving earlier today. She had just wanted her to stop hating herself and stop denying herself happiness and like the others she believed she could win.

After all as Asuka had said so many times Bardiel was a bully and a coward who didn't like to play fair whereas she was hero but she would probably never see herself that way maybe the closest she'd ever come would be to see herself as an anti hero and maybe that would be enough.

8

Misato leaned on her veranda looking at the lights of Tokyo three she watched as Kaji came to stand close by she had asked him to come to her home as she really needed his company. "Do you know what the source of Adam is? Because I've never seen it and Maya has only ever seen the strands created from it."

Kaji breathed in deeply shaking his head. "Sadly no Seele kept that secret even from me when I was in their spy division." He looked up at the night sky. "I didn't know about that eye on his hand." Misato looked down slightly. "What he did was awful they said she's came back around an hour ago but she's really spaced out and unresponsive it's as if she has the symptoms of someone who has taken a huge blow to head."

She looked up slightly. "Makes me wonder what other toys he has hidden from us." Kaji moved a step closer to her. "Maybe its better we don't know we know too much as it is." Misato leaned on her elbow. "Did you see Shinji's painting?" Kaji put a hand on her shoulder. "Yes." Misato turned to him. "He never showed me that painting I never knew it existed and I know why he got rid off it he doesn't want to see himself that way."

She put a hand on her face. "I am so stupid I poked at Asuka over the fact that she had the same kind of image yet I never considered that Shinji might draw the same thing and that both images point to some violent, toxic conflict in one of their distant life times, it's so fucked up." Kaji looked at her for a long moment. "You shouldn't blame yourself for what you saw in both those paintings in our world they're just an artists feeling and emotions put on paper and they never happened."

Misato looked at her hands. "They could have happened though I pushed Shinji and Asuka that hard to be together and I never once considered that, that might happen." Kaji leaned closer. "If what they say is true about repeating cycles then there might be other worlds where they're together and doing fine." Misato turned meeting his dark gaze. "Yeah I guess there is that I hadn't considered that at all."

Kaji felt a smile form as he looked around him at her apartment's veranda. "I'm just surprised you didn't want to up get a bigger apartment."

Misato slowly raised her hand. "Two blocks in that direction are Shinji and Kaworu's apartments." She turned her hand the other way pointing at one of the skyscrapers. "Toji and Sakura live over there." She moved her hand to the highest one. "Mari lives in that one." She pointed to the distant fields and farmland. "And somewhere out there are Asuka and Rei it makes me comfortable that there all close in some way and from where I stand I can see them all." She pointed in the other direction. "And a block that way is Rei's apartment but I don't see her coming back to it."

Kaji looked up slightly. "What makes you say that?" Misato breathed in sadly. "I'm guessing you've heard that Asuka's condition has gotten worse it's the reason she went home early?" Kaji looked down sadly. "Yes I have." Misato slowly eased her tablet out of her pocket. "Asuka sent me an updated version of her will in the event that she dies the house goes to Rei. Shinji gets her work bike and he gets a massive chunk of her savings along with Mari while her grandmother and cousin get massive chunks from that same saving pot, but everything else goes to Rei including the remaining savings."

She eyed the tablet reading the last words which Asuka had written in her will. "I wish that Rei Ayanami be well provided for that she always be happy and I thank her for the time we shared together. Though it was short it was the best time in my life and I never felt more alive than with her and am forever grateful that she dragged me back from the abyss and I will love her forever for that."

She sadly put the tablet to one side. "It's just not fair no matter how I look at it they get together and this happens I mean Toji and Kaworu where really sad to hear the news and everyone knows the clock is now ticking. I even saw Maya drinking in the bar before I left and that's rare for her, but understandable Asuka's been her friend for years and now she could die and she's not taking it well." She breathed in painfully. "They had a massive argument because Asuka was quite happy to be locked up, she even demanded it but Maya refused her." She turned looking at the stars. "Asuka was even saying it was okay if the others had to kill her she was willing to accept it and to see her as the villain to make it easier."

Kaji put a hand on his beard. "Yeah but I heard it backfired on her big time because Rei got really pissed off and called her out on her bullshit and told her to stop trying to be the villain and to embrace being a hero for once in her life." Misato took in a deep breath. "Even after everything I still can't make that woman see that she's a hero, I just hope that Rei and Mari have more success." Kaji eased out his medication putting it in his mouth before swallowing it down with some water ignoring the foul taste. "I've been thinking about this maybe she's not that kind of hero."

Misato raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" Kaji moved back to stand next to her. "Isn't the villain who reforms called an anti hero? They're never as clean as the normal heroes and they don't play by the book but in comics and media they tend to be very popular because they are they go to the dark places others won't. If anything Shinji, Rei, Kaworu and Toji and the others are by the book heroes they always follows rules but Asuka and Mari are much more anti hero's they break rules and play to the dark side of their natures more. It doesn't make them less than the others it just means they're different." Misato looked up sharply. "Never thought about that but that's really accurate."

Kaji put a hand on the banister. "Personally no matter what the outcome is I think Asuka won't go down lying down she will fight this till her last breath." Misato eyed him. "Oh I don't doubt it." Kaji looked up. "I'm sorry that this has overshadowed your promotion."

Misato shook her head. "Its okay, to be honest I didn't care about it that much anyway even with the raised pay grade I'm more happy that you got yours I mean you will now get paid more and you get can better health care. I had no idea that the medication made you so sick I mean throwing up three to four times a week fucking sucks."

Kaji eased out his pill container. "Yeah that is true I'll get the A grade version of this stuff rather than this B grade shit, it makes you less sick but its more expensive and this only comes about because stem cell surgeries still aren't a perfect science yeah you can make copies of everything but in you still get rejection issues hence why you really need the medication." He eyed the blue and green pills. "Granted most people are fine, it's just I'm not one of them I'm one of the unlucky ones."

Misato breathed in deeply as a question entered her mind. "Tell me something in university did you have feelings for me?" Kaji took in a deep breath as he put his pills away. "To be fair I didn't even though I pursued you and you rejected me and you always made it clear that you weren't into casual." Misato raised an eyebrow. "But things have changed haven't they?"

Kaji looked down. "Yes, getting shot changes your perspective on life you think about things you should have done better and you view the people in your life very differently." He paused taking in a deep breath. "All I could think of was your face and it made me realize how much I missed you as I told you some time ago and I would always consider you my friend."

Misato moved a little closer to him. "But you feel more than that don't you?" Kaji took in a deep breath why did he suddenly have this horrible feeling in his stomach that Asuka might have been to honest and said too much? He looked down the truth was he hated keeping this to himself and he didn't want to anymore and come what may he now wanted it out in the open as he spoke calmly. "Yes I love you"

He took in a deep breath raising his hand. "But I know you don't feel the same about me and that's okay." Misato eased her hand running it very gently through his short beard. "What if I did feel the same way?" Kaji looked at her for a long moment suddenly feeling a very confused by her actions. "But Ritsuko told me you have no feelings for me, she's always told me that even in university back when were all friends before she turned into a monumental jackass and married Gendo." Misato moved her hands to his Nerv jacket. "Like you said people change all with time I think we've both changed."

She looked into his eyes watching as they met her own as everything suddenly clicked into place as she spoke a wide smile forming. "Let's just say I've changed and I have feelings for you." Kaji took in a deep breath feeling a huge weight lift off his shoulder he had not expected this to happen and now it was he just wanted to ride this rroller coaster come what may as it felt like he'd waited an eternity for this.

He smirked as he spoke. "Yes you've changed you're going to be Colonel and tomorrow I'm going to be one a high level bridge lieutenant along with Maya and Shigeru even though I'm a sick man." Misato felt a sly smile form. "Well I can live with a sickly man so long as he brings me iced coffee."

Kaji raised his hand. "Oh so it's coffee duty well I can work with that." Misato raised an eyebrow putting a hand on his stomach. "Plus we are not that different I mean we both have some nice scars now so that's got to count for something." Kaji leaned forward. "Yes there is that."

Misato inched a little closer to his face as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Why don't you stay here, tonight?" Kaji leaned a little closer. "Is that an invitation?" Misato looked up. "Yes." Kaji felt his smile turn to a wide grin. "Well I wouldn't miss that for the world." He leaned forward kissing her gently on the lips only for her kiss to become extremely intense as she shoved him up against the veranda wall.

Okay so she was fearsome well he could work with that and in truth he was already liking the fire as she kissed harder dragging him inside her house as she slammed the blind shut as her hands started to unbutton his Nerv jacket as he pulled her leather jacket off. They both ended up on the floor in the front room where the cushions were by the flat screen television as he started to undo her shirt as she kicked of her military boots not caring as one smashed in to window blind before landing hard on the ground.

He breathed in talking through he kisses as the tail was pulled free from his hair as he eased her shirt off feeling his come free as his was opened and forced off. "You're so keen." He felt her hands grab at his belt pulling it open as they carried on kissing as he moved undoing her trousers as she spoke in a salty voice her legs suddenly coming up and clamping to his sides. "I waited three years for this…I want to enjoy every moment of it."

Kaji felt her start to kiss him harder, oh yes this was going to be a hell of a ride and he was going to savour every moment of it and he could feel himself getting so turned on with anticipation for what was coming as he pulled her trousers come off feeling his own get forced down she wanted him and he wanted her and it couldn't be any better. He moved to get on top of her again only for her to shift forcing her body on top of his he pulled the other way getting back on top of her watching as a sly smile formed on her lips as his hands started to roam his body as hers did the same to him.

This was clearly going to be a battle of sexual wills and that just made him even more turned on as he started kissing her neck seeing the flush of red in her cheeks as she pushed her body harder against his.

End of part 56

Silvermoonlight