THE BEAUTY OF CREATION

Misato slowly walked up the table where Rei and Shinji were both seated at there favourite Japanese restaurant both of there heads were buried in some kind of book it was early morning and they were both finishing there breakfasts. "Have any of you guys seen Mari?"

Rei smiled inwardly as eased the book out of Shinji's grasp. "Kaji said she was coming in late she had a computer problem last night and missed out on sleep." Shinji moved his hands trying to pull it back. "Hey I was reading that part." Misato eyed them. "Asuka?" Rei looked up. "She's picking up some graphic novels Kolby sent her from the mail section up in the media building." Misato sat down opposite them. "Where's Kaworu?" Shinji looked up. "Oh he's here he's just playing his latest symphony on the grand piano." Misato eyed him. "And you're not with him?"

Shinji eyed Rei moving his hand towards the book. "No." Misato eyed them putting her hands together. "Okay so what are you both reading that's so interesting that your fighting over it like its some school item that your both not meant to have?" Rei flicked though the pages trying to find the one she'd been reading which she had noticed Asuka had folded over. "It's nothing." Misato leaned closer to her. "Can I see this nothing?" Shinji eyed her. "No." Misato felt a wide smile form. "Since when are you two this cagey did you both not get enough sleep last night or something?"

She eyed Rei feeling a sly smile form. "Did you and Asuka sleep together or something?" Rei turned the page. "If we did you know I wouldn't be telling you about it since you'd just make fun of her." Misato didn't think as she grabbed the book out of her hands. "What is this damn book?" Rei's narrowed her gaze as she eyed her. "Give me that back it's not ours its on loan!" Misato eyed her ignoring Shinji's annoyance. "So if it's not yours then whose is it?" She paused eyeing them both. "Its Asuka's isn't it?" She laughed eyeing the book. "Let me guess a sex manual right?"

Rei folded her arms. "Hardly." Misato eyed her. "Oh please it has to be right? Since she only reads graphic novels, magazines and comics." Shinji breathed in deeply now he felt so glad that he'd kept the disc at a home in his safe box but he was now really regretted that he'd brought in the book because Asuka had been right anything she brought in was just open for comment. "You know three years ago when that thing happened with Hikari did you believe it was Asuka's fault?" Misato eyed him as she opened the book. "Yes I do, look its okay we all know she had a slip in her behaviour, violence is just part of her nature."

Rei eyed her in disgust. "That comment is grossly unfair and it confuses me since a moment ago you were talking about us sleeping together and you're not showing any regard when it concerns my safety since I could end up like Hikari did." Misato eyed her. "Look with you she just behaves very differently we all know it, you tame the beast somehow hence why I'm not worried." Rei put a hand on her face. "Have you considered that maybe she's actuality has control over her nature and that it has nothing to do with me at all because she's been that way for a while its just very few people have bothered to notice or even cared?"

She raised her hand. "Also why is she a beast in your eyes? Bardiel is a beast a monster she's not, she just a woman going through a lot of emotional pain and she's trying her best." Shinji leaned forward. "Maybe you should take a good look at that book." He eyed Rei. "Right Rei, I mean if there a sexually deprived monster in the pages it'll show through?" Misato looked at them both in annoyance she slowly turned the pages as she started reading only to stop as the confusion took over. "Wait what is this?" Rei felt a slight smile form. "Yes do keep reading." Misato eyed the book pages as she started to read them. "Wait is this like a dating manual or something?" Shinji raised his hand. "You're so close but not quite."

Misato carried on reading. "Is this about how to treat people well, that you're dating?" Rei looked at her. "Correct." Misato leaned closer only for the book to suddenly be swiped from behind her at lightning speed she turned eyeing Maya who gave her an unimpressed look as she handed the book back to Shinji who put it out of sight in his bag as she spoke. "I do believe that's Asuka's book not yours." Misato eyed her in annoyance. "Wait so you've read this book to?" Maya eyed her. "Yes I have she lent it to me once, maybe if you want it you should ask her for it and not just take it as you please."

She paused before speaking. "I mean you might finally find something in its pages that will help you when it comes to asking Kaji out." Misato eyed her in annoyance. "I don't have feelings for Kaji!" Maya shook her head. "You know denial is such a terrible thing." Misato looked up speaking coldly. "You know you're one to talk I don't see you with a girlfriend." Maya breathed in deeply. "No you see that's the difference between you and me, I don't have feelings for anyone right now because that person just hasn't come along yet. You've spent the last three years sitting on your feelings and not acting up on them and Kaji is a really nice guy, it's such a shame."

Misato felt a sneer form. "I have never said to you that I have feelings for Kaji I don't know where you get that from!" Maya raised an eyebrow. "You know when we go out drinking together and you're drunk your mouth does all the talking for you." Misato folded her arms. "Was there something you actuality wanted or did you just come up here to piss me off?" Maya turned to Rei and Shinji feeling a warm smile form. "Rei you should visit the visitor centre, you know they've changed Asuka exhibit a little and I've told them you'll be using the main room not the hidden tunnels and they've cordoned off part of the room from the public you can come in through the hidden tunnels door though."

She turned to Shinji. "You might want to look too Shinji but you might want to remain out of sight but it's your choice." She turned to Misato. "Oh and they need you to begin the raising of the main section of the Magnus Pillar for tonight's display. I assume that Toji has done all of his tests and his Evangelion's working fine?" Misato eyed her. "Yes its all working perfectly but you know what screw the Magnus Pillar it can wait for one more hour I'm going to the visitor centre, because you know I wouldn't want to miss this for the world." Maya eyed her. "Then you're going to remain out of sight with me and not interfere."

Rei eyed them in confusion. "You two are acting really strange is something going on?" Maya eyed her. "Nothings going on and you really should hurry up there I mean you'll really like the change." Rei eyed them for a long moment. "Yeah sure I will, knowing Kimi she's probably just put a bigger red gun in Asuka's case." Maya felt a sly smile form. "Oh believe me that's was removed and destroyed last night, I saw to it personally because I'm sick of Kimi's stupidity and I said that if she ever ignored us again with regards to Asuka's display she would be sacked."

She folded her arms. "Not to mention she talks about Asuka like she awful human being who deserves everything that's befallen her recently and makes fun of the fact that she might be crippled hence why she's never around." Rei stood up speaking coldly. "I would have had her sacked personally but I don't own the company yet, maybe she should pray that Shinji and I never do." Misato watched as she walked away taking her leather bag with her as Shinji followed. "Is it me or is Rei's getting more confident and edgier?" Maya looked at her. "That's not you at all clearly Asuka's having an effect on her."

8

Why does she want me to come to the visitor centre? I hate the visitor centre with a passion, I hate the noise I hate all the people with there flashing phones and above all I hate my talent area and my banner. It's not like there ever going to change it maybe they just get a real pleasure out of seeing my face when I'm deeply depressed.

I remember the photo shoot I didn't even want to verfickte be there and I tried everything in my power to get out because I just felt so down. I couldn't help it that day the depression was so bad and it was spilling through the cracks of my emotional walls like water and I just didn't want the others to see it, hence it turned to anger and blinding hostile rage which was directed at the photographer when she told me to shut up and stop complaining. I remember going home after that shoot and just crying my eyes out in my bedroom they told me that they wouldn't use the photos that they were no good but then they lied anyway and they ended up being in the pilot's photo book and the massive facial one of me now hangs some way from my talent corner for the whole world to see and it really pisses me off. They could have used any other shoot or not bothered to change the last one which had no emotion, anything would have been better than the current one.

Asuka looked at her phone again eyeing Rei's text message which sounded urgent she breathed in deeply, okay she was going to do this for her even though she utterly loathed the place. It wasn't like there would be anything worth while up there anyway and she'd just have to ignore the visitors as best she could and there flashing cameras since Rei had stated that they'd cordoned off part of the talent room. She put her phone away as she played with pendent as the sky train slowly made it way towards the surface she was the only one it in it ironically and she'd already used it already to visit the media building via the second none public entrance to pick up her boxed graphic novels which she'd brought back to the wreck room and put in her locker.

She breathed in deeply as the sky train came to a stop revealing the door that the pilots could use to get into the secret tunnels through the museum and pilots areas which were see through and allowed them to see the displays though the public couldn't see them at all. Gods give her strength because she so wasn't looking forward to this at all she eased out her key card pushing it in to the slot watching as it went green as the back door opened and then closed shut behind her as she went inside putting her key card away.

She felt her body tense as she walked through the tunnel seeing surprisingly that the museum area was empty which was weird. It was Toji's big reveal to day and it was going to be the biggest day of the year tourist wise. She carried on walking realizing that this was making her nervous she looked up catching sight of a huge group of people they were flooding one of the door ways to the talent room there were hundreds of them. Wait had they pushed Toji's press day forward or something?

Because normally the day after being on the Magnus Pillar you got a special visit to the visitor centre where there was press and everyone under the sun interviewed you. May be he just wanted her up here or something not that she could see the point it wasn't her day it was his, he should enjoy it. It was a great time in any pilots life and a once in a life time event she could remember watching Rei's and Shinji's reveal days over in Germany before she'd joined them a year later and hers had been nine months after.

As she'd still had to do the training in the Omega and Beta caballed units despite already having unit 02 ready for her use, it had been an amazing time and she'd never forgotten it, it was one of those few happy memories that had really stuck. She could now see where all of the people were gathered as they had cornered off one section of the talent room and it was heaving with people in that section and they were flooding all of the door ways to other rooms as well trying to get a look in.

She came up to the hidden door putting her good eye up against the scanner hearing it's electric bolt unlock she took in another deep breath, she was doing this for Rei that was all she just needed to keep telling herself that, it was how she was going to get through this. Maybe once she'd seen whatever it was that was causing all of the fuss then they could leave. It was probably one of Shinji's new paintings or Rei's sculptures as Rei and Shinji and the others visited the visitor centre now and again much to very one's delight but she never came here anymore. She looked around her hoping that Bardiel didn't show up because she just couldn't deal with him right now it would be far to stressful. She stared at her hand on the handle why was this so verfickt hard?

They were just people, her younger asshole self would have just marched through without a care and drank in all the attention like warm coffee. She put her head against the door taking in another slow and deep breath though she never wanted that brat back but sometimes she just wished she could have her confidence again because hers was just so shot up and she found everything so hard these days. She closed her eyes for a second before opening them pushing the handle open walking out in to the open space seeing the hundreds of people gathered suddenly go completely quite as they looked at her, she blinked okay now this was just getting really weird.

Didn't people normally do something other than stare at her like hiss or boo or throw some comment about her being an asshole, that was the drill right that was what it had always been? She turned catching sight of Rei who was looking at her talent area's wall with her hands together smiling widely. She slowly walked up to her moving slightly side ways so she could see the wall only to feel her body freeze up as the utter panic hit her all at once.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

She stared in horror at wall there were four of her digital works on it, three were smaller mounted ones the first image was of her self sitting alone on the ice and snow surrounded by the red sea. The second was her tiger form one which was posed in an upright stance on a white back ground while the third one was a close up of the tiger form's face with it's burning left eye and human right one. The forth and largest one which was causing her so much panic was Rei's shoulder and head portrait.

It was the one image she had never wanted her to see, the version she'd thought about as she'd looked up at the geo fronts white rays of light that day in the Delphi gardens. She wanted to run away she was so terrified and wished that she just hadn't come here to start with. She could feel her heart starting to race faster as Rei turned to her a smile still on her face, she didn't understand why would she even be happy? If anything she'd probably think that she was being a leering creep for drawing this image. Her hand found the pendent before she stop it as she started to nervously fiddle with it as she got closer to her.

Rei looked up seeing the fear in Asuka's good eye it wasn't hidden at all it was out there for everyone in the room to see and she looked so out of her depth she was even playing with the pendent she'd brought her because she was that nervous. "Asuka?" Asuka looked up as she spoke knowing her voice sounded weak. "I'm so sorry you were never meant to see that picture, I told them not to show you it I didn't think they'd put it here of all places." Rei turned eyeing her portrait which was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen she'd been here for the last five minutes just staring at it, she looked at Asuka feeling really confused now by her words and her behaviour. "Why would you not want me to see this Asuka?"

Asuka looked down sadly forgetting that the crowds were there she no longer cared anymore she was probably going to get shouted at by the other woman anyway or this would end their relationship. "Because of how you might see it in that you'd see this as the drawing of someone who is being creepy and vile." She breathed in painfully. "I mean it would be so fitting because that the rumours right creepy, vile predatory Asuka forever drooling after little Rei?" She looked up sadly. "I could understand if you'd not be pleased and you want them to take it down."

Rei stared at her for a long moment what was going on in Asuka's head right now how could she get this so completely wrong? She eyed the image again which had been framed in dark wood and posed to be central focus because everyone at Nerv had seen that it was so special and it was special all of Asuka's other art had this dark edgy feel but this was so different it was bright, beautiful and soft in its colour and tone it was a pure statement of love and affection.

She raised her hand to the drawing. "How could you even think this Asuka? I mean this is absolutely beautiful I've seen your art I've watched you countless times on that digital scroll drawing and you put your heart and soul in to every picture it's a labour of love to you." She eyed the image of herself. "If anything this is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen you draw digitally." She paused before speaking. "Bardiel told me about this vision he said that this was the image you clung on to that day when you looked up at the geo fronts skyline from the Delphi gardens before you lost consciousness."

She moved a step closer to the other woman seeing that she still hadn't moved and was trying with her good eye to look elsewhere. "Not to mention you drew me because you love me, because that's what this is isn't Asuka, a statement of love in its purest form?" She eased up a hand putting it on the other woman's face seeing her good eye suddenly turn very innocent with a look she'd seen so much over the past few days. "This doesn't make me hate you or dislike you it just makes me love you even more." She eased up her other hand up running it through the long red hair. "I really love this I've never had anyone draw me in this way before." She looked up meeting Asuka good eye though she could see that there was a glow under her left sides patch which meant that underneath there was a blazing light show going on as her face changed to wide smile. "May I kiss you?"

Asuka looked at her not breaking away somehow she no longer cared who knew, all she really cared about was that Rei liked the image she nodded putting her hand up very gently running it through her short hair feeling her lips meet her own very softly and gently half ignoring the sudden explosion of cheering that erupted from the crowds along with the flashing of the camera's. She pulled away very gently easing her hand up running it down the other woman's face. "I love you." Rei took hold of her hand. "I know."

Asuka turned ignoring the still flashing phone cameras as her good eye settled on her banner which was hanging high above well away from the display. "Would you give me a moment I want to remove something that's been verfickte pissing me off for a while now?" Rei followed her gaze. "Go a head Asuka they should never put that up there to start with." Asuka walked over to the long rope which was attached to the wall yanking part of it free. It was thick enough to climb up all she had to do was scale it then undo the clips at the top which would free the secondary rope then she could scale down and pull the whole banner down using the secondary rope.

There was another reason she wanted to do this the world still thought she was some washed out cripple she wanted to show them other wise she began to scale not taking a second to think about how this looked. Rei watched as Asuka carried on scaling she turned as Kimi came running through the utter panic in her face. "What are you doing? Stop her!" Rei folded her arms as she saw Asuka finally reach the top grabbing the metal banners top section as she got on to it. "I'm sorry but I really enjoy watching her work." Kimi pointed as Asuka started to shift her weight grabbing the clips. "It took four people a whole afternoon to put that banner up you need a special equipment just to free the clips!"

Rei eyed Asuka who had now found the first of the two metal clips and didn't hesitate as she grabbed it snarling as she started to pull on it. "I would give her all of about five minutes to get that down so if I were you I would not stand under it." She heard the grinding as the first clip came loose and Asuka turned grabbing the other. "I mean if it falls on you, you'd get an awful taste of what she had to go through when she broke all of her bones."

She watched as Kimi backed away fearfully as the sound of the other clip being wretched free was heard followed by the secondary rope coming free as Asuka threw it to the floor before using the main rope to ascend to the floor again then pulled it back locking it back in to place on the wall as she didn't want the huge metal banner holder to come free and damage anything.

Asuka felt a smile form as she grabbed the secondary rope off the floor eyeing the crowd. "I heard in the media and news that there calling me a verfickte washed out cripple!" She pulled the robe taught wrapping it over her shoulder reading herself. "Allow me show you otherwise!" Rei moved position so she was closer to Asuka there was no denying it this was going to be so amazing and she could see the other woman psyched herself up as she got ready. She leaned closer whispering in her ear. "Show them why you're to be feared Asuka make them remember what Langley Soryu stands for."

Asuka began to pull digging her feet into the hard wood floor she felt everything tense as she put her full power behind it feeling her teeth grind together as she started to put all her strength into it. Gods she felt so alive right now she'd hadn't felt this truly alive in such a long time the last time she could remember feeling like this was before Shamshel before her life had been thrown in to utter chaos. It was like being her old self yet at the same time, her new self being reborn all over again.

She heard the grinding as the banner started to come loose and she stepped even further forward unable to stop the scream of release that came out it wasn't pain it was pure ecstasy. If she had told herself six months ago that that this was going to happen she never would have believed it, she'd have told herself she was lying.

For the first time in her in a long time she just wanted to live every moment to its fullest, she didn't care anymore she had the one thing she'd dreamed about forever which was Rei's love. She wanted to shower her with every ounce of her affection and love even now she was watching her loving this. She didn't disapprove of her anger or her power she craved it desired it and loved it in a way no one else ever had.

She forced her weight forward turning just in time to watch as her banner came free of its metal holder crashing down in a massive heap she breathed in deeply catching her breath as she slung the secondary rope to one side eyeing the crowds who were taking photos and videos and just going wild now. She knew this would be pasted all over the news by the afternoon but for once she just didn't care.

Maybe for once it wasn't such a bad thing she didn't care anymore to keep the secret about herself and Rei she loved her and she was fine with everyone knowing that. Rei moved over to Asuka raising her arm. "I give you the great Asuka Langley Soryu!" She turned to the art images behind her. "The artist of the amazing works you see behind you." She turned noticing something in Asuka's face she had suddenly turned a slightly red shade around the cheeks she blinked realizing that she was blushing she had not seen her do that in a very long time.

She felt her smile widen there was something about that, that made her heart skip a little because it meant that something was changing emotionally deep down in side the other woman for the first time in a long time. She had also said that Bardiel had killed her sexual desire maybe this also meant that he was starting to loose his vice like hold over her in some way. She turned to Asuka giving her a warm smile. "Should we leave them now?" Asuka gave her quite nod as she followed her to the secret door which unlocked as it read Rei's eye she turned giving the crowds a wide toothy grin. "Be seeing you around!" She didn't think as she bolted after Rei slamming the door as they both ran up the tunnel.

Misato stared watching as Rei and Asuka both vanished from sight through out this whole event they'd been watching from the hidden tunnel. "Wait hang on I'm confused why was Rei talking like she already said she loved her?" Maya smirked. "Could it be that they were already dating?" Misato felt a scowl form. "Wait you knew didn't you!?" Maya eyed her. "Yes I did but I let this happen because I thought it would be good for them both." Misato turned eyeing Shinji who was remaining quite. "You knew as well didn't you?"

Shinji nodded calmly. "Yes but I wasn't going to say anything until they were both happy with it being public they've been together for a few days already." He looked up slightly. "Asuka was more afraid of it getting out due to the rumour the same one she spoke about I think you should do something about that rumour. Maybe squash it for good because it isn't helping Asuka or Rei and you know come this afternoon it will have flooded every inch of Nerv that they are a couple." Misato raised her hand. "Okay I'll fix that."

Maya eyed her. "No I'll fix it because then it'll get fixed once and for all because now I know why she was so apprehensive about that image and I'm really saddened that, that was her thinking. I mean she seriously believed that it would be perceived as her being a predatory letch and not as an act of love which it was intended as."

Misato eyed the fallen banner which was now being picked up and taken away as the cordoned off areas were reopened and the public spilled back in. "I'll fix the photos and the banner." Maya eyed her. "Also talk to her for a change, no more games, no more taking her things without asking I get that you two haven't seen eye to eye for three years but you need to start over and now is a good a time as any." She breathed in painfully. "Also since you believe so strongly that she hurt that woman why don't you ask her what that event did to a life after it all got washed over the press. Because there's a reason that Asuka hid her self away from the world for three years and became a recluse and took to creating a virtual friend and getting a pet and it will really break your heart when you hear it."

She looked down sadly. "You also never doubted Kaji when he was in the same position when Ritsuko tried to sully his reputation over some fake sexual harassment claim I mean we all know she pulled that crap so she could demote and fire him and Kaji is a good guy his job was saved because you stepped and made him one of the high level bridge staff." Misato eyed her. "Kaji doesn't have a back history of violent, dominating behaviour."

Shinji shook his head. "You know that's not fair she spent two years trying to fix our tattered friendship after we spilt up. She wanted to make it right and hoped for some form of forgiveness she wasn't the same after Shamshel everyone knows it." Misato eyed him breathing in sadly. "I just wanted you two to get back together." Shinji shook his head sadly. "We never loved each other to start with that's the whole problem and I knew even then that she loved Rei."

He breathed in deeply. "Just please give her a chance stop seeing old Asuka she's just not with us anymore." He raised his hand. "Did you not see the way she looks at Rei? She loves her, not long ago when we had a miner argument she said she would never be good enough for her." Misato raised an eyebrow. "You mean the one where she shoved you and broke a vending machine?"

Shinji looked up sharply. "She was a desperate! She knew her options were running out and that it was just a matter of time before everyone found out about Bardiel. Did you even watch the video? She left her most precious items to Rei everything that really mattered to her. Because she only wanted for her happiness even if it meant her death and from what I've been told that will hasn't changed one bit she's still well aware that she could die or Bardiel could win it's not like any of us know what his end game is."

He looked up meeting her annoyed gaze. "She gave me the book you were reading because she knows I have feelings for Kaworu and she wanted to help me and one thing that came up in that conversation by the vending machine was that she wanted for my happiness as well and she wanted me to be with him. Because at the time she knew what it felt like to never be the person you actuality love." He breathed in deeply. "So please just give her a second chance a real one no more nice words for the sake of being nice she's know you don't mean them and don't be surprised if she's hostile."

Maya looked down sadly. "Though I can't tell you everything I will say this, after the news got out about that woman she was meant to have abused she went to a bar and got very badly beaten up. Granted the people in question probably thought they were doing the right thing beating up the so called media villain who abused her partner but for her it was devastating and it didn't just happen once but twice and please ask her about how she got that scar which is on her right shoulder because I don't believe it came from a motor cycle accident."

End of part 37

Silvermoonlight