NEON GENESIS
EVANGELION
Finding Paradise
Prologue...
'What's in a dream? A desire to help others has been a dream, a will of many. Some people find that it's hard to lead, and others find that it's hard not to lead. I never thought a day would come when I, the Class Representative, was to become a Pilot of something I had never even seen...'
Hikari Horaki gazes at her dairy with uneasiness as she goes to erase what she just wrote down. She looks around her room to see total peace. Her SEGA Saturn tucked away under her TV, each game on the shelf in alphabetical order. She even stares into her laundry basket to see her dirty cloths folded neatly separated by color. Hikari looks back down at her diary still unable to gather her thoughts. As she lays on her stomach her feet in the air, she rolls over to lay next to her diary.
"What a day..."
Hikari lifts up her Dairy and sighs, as she goes through the pages... she stops when one catches her eye. She begins to flip back to the entrée that perked her interest, as she reaches it she sighs and shakes her head.
"A new student has joined our class..."
Hikari begins to read the entry aloud.
"His name is Shinji Ikari, a shy withdrawn boy, with cute eyes. He doesn't like the attention he gets from being a robot pilot, I could understand I would never want to fight in a battle..."
Hikari looks over to the clock to see it reads Four am. She lifts her self out of bed and continues to read her entrée. When she finishes, she feels a strike of confidence as she flips back to the page she was writing on earlier.
****
"Hikari-chan!" Kadoma yells out as she opens up her sister's door. "I hate to brake it to you, but your going to be late, if you don't get up soon."
Slowly rising out of bed, Hikari stares at her sister with an ugly look. Hikari gradually gets out of bed and stretches, only to quickly take hold of her stomach. "I hate these days..."
Hikari sister watches as she sits back down on her bed in pain. A smile strikes her face as she realizes the problem. "I feel for you Hikari-chan but you got to get going."
"Stop calling me Hikari-chan." Hikari mutters as she gets up once more and begins to change. "I'm in the eighth grade, cant I get just a little respect."
Not to piss off her little sister, as she deals with the ongoing problem of puberty, Kadoma only smiles at her. "But it's such a cute name!" She is quick to react at (as) a pillow thrown at the door, by shutting it.
Hikari stares at the door half undressed. "I have a bad feeling about today."
****
'Maybe that was the first sign of things to come...'
Back in present day, Hikari stares at her dairy.
'My period came very early, and it was the worst I ever got it.'
****
Slowly Hikari walks to school with out the same swing in her step as she normally has. The night before was all, but restless and today she had to stay late on clean up duty. As she thinks about the day ahead, she finally cracks a tiny smile.
"Of course Touji will be on duty with me today, so it can't be that bad."
Hikari finally makes it to the school, later then she usually is, but still early compared to most students. She makes her way to classroom 2-A only to discover it is not set up. A class Rep from the class next door pokes her head out.
"Hey, Miss Horaki!" Hikari looks over to her direction to see Miss Watanabi, another class rep. "My morning crew is almost done, I saw that yours didn't come in, if you want we can help."
Smiling at the offer but unwilling to accept, Hikari waves her hand. "Thanks for the offer Miss Watanabi, but I think I can manage."
With a simple nod, the other class rep goes back into her class. Hikari walks in and begins to set up the desks and chairs in class 2-A. By the time she's done, class is about to begin. Hikari just sits at her seat as she rests her eyes, she wishes for at least some peace in the day. Unfortunately for Hikari, Asuka Langley Soryu comes in all in a tantrum.
"Shinji, you are so dense!" Asuka yells as she pushes the shy young boy out of her way.
"Sorry." Is all that Shinji could mutter, as he goes to his seat.
Asuka looks to see Hikari. "Hey Hikari, what's happening?"
With less then enthusiastic tone, Hikari responds. "Hey, Asuka."
"Why so gloom?" Asuka walks over and stands in front of her.
"Rough night." Hikari grabs her stomach to help emphasis the problem to Asuka.
Asuka takes heed of the dilemma and lowers her tone. "That's a bit early."
In an innocent manner Hikari, rest her head on her bags as she pouts. "That's what I said."
Out of the corner of her eye, she sees the teacher began to walk in to the room. Hikari jumps up nearly knocking over Asuka as she calls out. "Class! Rise! Bow!... Sit down!"
Hikari sits back down allowing the class to go on, and the teacher to begin his lecture, with little to no attention being paid to the teacher. As she rests her head on her hand, Hikari's body begins to demand sleep the sleep she needs. Hikari puts up only a meager resistance as her eyes become heavy.
Before long Hikari begins to hear her name called out. Hikari jumps up from her sleep to see the teacher by her desk and the class snickering.
"Yes sir..."
The Teacher shakes his head. "Would you please dismiss the class for lunch?"
"Yes sir... sorry sir!"
****
'That was so unlike me.'
Back in the present day, Hikari thinks to herself as she plays with her pen in her hand. She is once more laying on her stomach once more with her feet swaying back and forth as she continues.
'So many omens, you would think I would have quit and went home.'
****
Red with embarrassment, Hikari dismisses the class and quickly sits back down angry with herself for such a child like act.
"What was that all about?" Laughs Touji as he sits in the back. Hikari refuses to look at him as he mocks her. "The Class Rep caught sleeping on the job!"
Hikari clenches her fist as she readies readying herself to lecture Touji for all of the times she caught him sleeping, but she is cut off from the kill.
"Touji, like you have room to talk." Shinji says with a smile as he organizes his lunch.
Being the last in Touji's mind to defend Hikari, he looks over to Shinji with a grin. "Oh, I'm sorry I forgot you and her are the only model students."
Shinji gives Touji a somewhat cold stare as he thinks of a comeback; his reaction time is not good enough as Asuka steps into the picture. "Why don't both of you stooges shut the hell up?" Asuka goes over and takes one of Shinji's Sushi rolls.
Unwilling to ruffle the feathers of the red haired hellion, Shinji just looks away. It seemed that Asuka forgot to pack her lunch once more.
Still in her seat, Hikari looks over to see Asuka eating Shinji's lunch and bad mouthing him all at the same time.
****
'I don't know what came over me. Maybe I felt obligated to defend Shinji, since he defended me...'
****
"Come Asuka, can't you go to the Cafeteria, instead of eating Shinji's lunch? The poor kid is going to get sick because of you!" Hikari discovers her confidence less then normal as a chill goes up her back for yelling at her best friend.
Asuka stares at her in shock, with little understanding to the out burst. Touji watches through Kenskes camera as he focuses on Hikari's face. Shinji looks the most surprised as she awaits Asuka's next move.
"Fine." Asuka whispers as she gets out of the chair and walks out of the room.
Hikari begins to show some guilt as Asuka leaves. "I'm sorry."
Somewhat understanding of her action, Asuka looks away. "Its okay. I understand that you're not feeling well."
Still filled with guilt, Hikari looks down in shame. Her mind debates on if she should go and apologize further to Asuka for yelling at her but another interrupts her thought.
"Hikari..." A timid Shinji as he stands in front of her.
She slowly looks up at him to see a smile across his face and look of peace she has not seen in him before. "Yes..." She whispers at a tone only Rei could achieve.
"Thanks..."
Before Hikari could, even debate if she should accept the gesture the load speaker turn on.
"Hikari Horaki, please report to the front office. Hikari Horaki, please report to the front office."
Touji looks over to the class rep that seems totally out of place, hearing her name called. Touji slowly stands with some concern. "I wonder what that's about?"
Pondering the same question, Hikari looks over to Touji. "I don't know."
"I hope you're not in trouble for sleeping in class." Shinji whispers with the same concern as Touji.
"No, that's not it." Rei voice seems to go unnoticed as Hikari leaves the classroom to an uncertain fate.
****
'Rei was right. That was not it at all. In fact, it was far from it! My life was about to be turned upside down.'
Once more, Hikari stares into her diary unable to go on. She puts her pen down and looks around her room once more.
'Why me I thought... First, I thought maybe I was going to get in trouble for sleeping, but Rei, her words seem to echo back to me now. It wasn't like her to talk, let alone talk to me.'
****
As Hikari approached the office door, a very cheerless mood seemed to be coming form everyone, as if she was in trouble. The words Rei had said continued to repeat in her mind. She slowly opens the office door to see the principle and some women with a white lab coat, blue top and a black skirt.
"Um sir, I was asked to come up here." Hikari's voice seemed to waver, seeing the principle standing in front of her.
First to speak is the women in the Lab coat. The principle seemed to reserve himself to in the background. "Are you Hikari Horaki?"
"Yes, ma'am." Hikari says suddenly wishing she never came into school today.
"Hello, my name is Doctor Ritsuko Akagi, I work for the organization known as NERV. Are you familiar with NERV?"
Such a methodological question breaks Hikari's train of thought as she tries to put together what is going on. "Of course, Ma'am..."
"Good, then I don't have to go into that." Ritsuko seems to talk with great speed as if trying to sell a car to Hikari. "I am here because you have been chosen to be one of our selected pilots."
All of her thoughts come together for Hikari, as she now knows all to well what it means to be a pilot. "Why me? I'm not a fighter or anything." Hikari looked distraught, out of all the thing this day could bring it was this. Her thought flashed between the stories she heard from Asuka, and the many wounds Rei has received from being a pilot
Ritsuko did not waste anytime responding to the question. "Your were selected because of special properties you hold within."
Feeling that she has just been lied to, Hikari steps back from the agent scientist of NERV. "But, I don't want to pilot a robot. I couldn't, I'm sorry Doctor Akagi, but I have to decline."
"I don't think you understand." Ritsuko leans in as if trying to hide a smile on her face. "There is no option to it you will pilot Miss. Horaki."
Willing to concede to the authority at hand, Hikari looks down in sadness. "Do the other pilots know, ma'am?"
Surprised by the insignificant defense the girl gave Ritsuko forced to think about the question. "I don't believe anyone has told the other pilots."
"So, I'm the Fourth Child." Hikari's memorization of each of the pilots designation was something she did for fun with Asuka, she never realized she be given such a title.
"You're a little more aware of what's going on then you lead me to believe Miss Horaki." Ritsuko smiles at the girl's intelligence. "Yes, you are the Fourth Child and you will be the designated pilot for Evangelion Unit Three."
Hikari forfeits and sits down next to the doctor as she continues to talk about NERV and her new role in the world. The more the doctor talked, the more confinable Hikari came to the idea of being a pilot. As she begins to sign numerous documents, each one she reads is like she's basically throwing her life away and into the hands of NERV.
****
'Was I wrong to just give in so easily? Of course, I'm not the one to say no if told by an authority to do something. I never really rejected anything from them. When my sixth grade teacher told me I would make a good Class Representative and I should become one, I did.'
Hikari looks at her pen as she goes over the next part in her head. The thought brings a sad look to Hikari's eyes as she looks away from her diary.
****
Hikari finally stands seeing that the rest of the day seemed to have come and gone. Doctor Akagi stands as well. "Thanks for your cooperation."
Hikari bows to her and begins to go to leave, but she stops at the door and turns to the doctor who seems to have her mind on something else. With her thought discouraged, Hikari leaves, closing the door behind her. In her hand, she stares at her new NERV ID card.
"Well, I guess this isn't that bad." Hikari thinks to herself as she goes back to class. "I'm sure Asuka will help me if anything bad happens." Hikari walks in to the classroom to see the teacher missing and half the class in disarray with Asuka once more yelling at Shinji.
"When the hell did you grow the balls to speak back to me?" Asuka yells at Shinji with anger. Shinji seems to be cowering in standard fashion at his desk as even Rei looks away from Asuka. "Oh, I'm sorry Wonder Girl, am I pissing you off too!"
Hikari seems to have walked into the middle of a very bad conversation. She decides its best to break it up. "Hey Asuka!" All Hikari gets is a hand in the air to hold on a moment as Asuka finishes her lecture. "I have some great news..."
"I'm sick of you other pilots! All you do is get in my way!" Asuka points at both Rei and Shinji. "Your both pathetic pieces of shit! I hate everything about any other Pilot, no mater who they are, got that!"
Asuka turns giving both Touji and Aida a stare, which keeps them both quit. She then looks over to Hikari whose face is that of utter sadness. "What's up Hikari?"
Hikari can only stand in shock, the words Asuka used hurt her, as if she was the one being yelled at. Hikari slowly looks away unable to show any sign of happiness. "It was nothing Asuka... Just forget it."
Just then, the teacher returns with a projector in his hands. "Sorry about that class... oh, Miss Horaki. I see you are back."
"Yes, sir." Hikari bows then takes her seat.
As class continues, the lights go down as the teacher begins a rant once more on second Impact, this time with the assists of slides.
Hikari finds her self once more unable to pay attention to the lecture as she sits in her seat, thinking of what Asuka just said to the other pilots. She continues to think of what it will be like to be a Pilot. She's reminded of all the pain Shinji has gone through, and the amount of times Rei has missed school, because of some injury related to the Evangelions, deter her even more so then Asuka's hateful words.
"Wait a second..." Hikari thinks to her self, as she looks over to Rei who seems to be adrift in thought. Hikari begins to go through her laptop and begins to type in a massage to Ayanami.
HH: Miss Ayanami...
Hikari looks over to Rei with desperation as she is in much need of answers. She watches Rei look up to her then to her Laptop.
RA: Yes, Representative Horaki.
Her mind draws a blank as Hikari looks at her screen with some concern, if she is doing the right thing.
HH: Do you know about me being selected?
Once more, Hikari looks over to Rei, who seems to always look back at her when see looks at her.
RA: Yes, I did.
Seeing that she has not lost her judgment in people, Hikari breathes a sigh of relief.
HH: Does Asuka know?
RA: I tried to bring it up...
Rei stops typing. With such little information, Hikari looks over in desperation hoping she did not tell.
RA: But, she then went on a rant that who ever the new pilot was, she will hate because no one is as good as her... I saw no need to continue...
Hikari releases the breath she was holding seeing that Asuka is still unaware.
HH: Does Ikari know?
RA: I do not know... in the argument Ikari did bring up the fact to Asuka that what if it was a friend of hers...
Once more Rei stops typing, leaving Hikari out to dry.
HH: And...
She looks back at Rei to see that she was torn about what to say or not.
RA: She said... She had no friends, so it would never happen.
Heart broken Hikari looks down as her vision becomes blurry; she wipes away the tears in her eyes as she hides her self behind her laptop.
RA: Sorry.
Hikari looks up at such a human response, As she wipes her eyes, she can't help, but look back at Rei is looking away from her with some guilt.
HH: Its Okay...
Feeling the need to talk to someone, Hikari can't help, but feel that Rei is the only one who can relate.
HH: Would you mind staying after and help me clean up?
Once more, Rei delays her response this time for nearly a minute.
RA: Yes, I can stay if you want me to Representative Horaki
Hikari bows her head in relief; she can at least talk to someone other then Asuka about being a pilot. She begins to type on her laptop some more, this time sending a message to Touji.
HH: Mr. Suzahara, I am relieving you of clean up duty for today.
TS: Was it something I said?
Not expecting him to resist such a request, Hikari tries to think of a good answer.
HH: Look someone else asked if they could do it, so they could have off another day.
TS: But I would prefer to clean up with you.
Frustrated at Touji's defiance to such a simple request any other student would easily have taken, Hikari responds quickly to appease him.
HH: Fine, I will work out the schedule to have us on clean up duty together first thing next week.
TS: Then it is a date.
She nearly stands up at what was just said, Hikari begins to think to her self. "Did I just schedule a date with him."
****
'That Touji such a sly kid, I can't believe he did that!'
Hikari smiles at what she just wrote into her dairy. She begins to blush at such a thought.
'I'll pack us a big lunch too. that way we can eat it when we are done.' Hikari thinks to herself as she squirms on her bed as if a typical schoolgirl would over a boy. 'Not the most romantic place to have a date, but a date is a date.'
**** The class finally ends with everyone beginning to put their things away and leave accept for Hikari and Rei. They both sit in their seat uneasy with what to will say to each other once everyone leaves for the weekend.
When the class is empty, both Rei and Hikari stand up and start to clean. Rei goes about business as usual, as she goes to get a bucket and rag from the hall closet. Hikari stands in the empty classroom with so much on her mind yet so little words to say it with. Rei comes back in with a full bucket of water and rag. Hikari watches her as she begins to clean each desk.
"Miss Ayanami..." Hikari rolls her eyes seeing she cant even put her thought into a sentence.
However, Rei stops and looks down with some awareness to Hikari's problem. "Your scared..." Rei takes a deep breath. "I was scared too."
Thankful that Rei was able to break the ice, Hikari grabs a rag and begins to help Rei.
"Really, I don't see you as the one to get scared Ayanami."
With little emotion, Rei continues to clean as she speaks. "I just don't..." Even Rei trips up as she tries to describe what she feels. "I am just bonded to it." Rei's need to talk to the new pilot makes her feel uncomfortable, but she also feels its something she would of done no matter who was selected.
"To piloting the Robots?" Hikari questions such a thought.
"To all things." Rei's reinforcement of her philosophy gives her confidence.
"But you have been hurt so many times. How can you keep on doing?" Hikari asks with concern to Rei's health.
"It is my purpose..." Rei tries her best not to let her fragile defense be crushed. "It is all that I have."
"What..." Hikari cannot believe what she hears from Rei's depressed voice. "You shouldn't say that. Isn't Shinji your friend? What about your parents?"
"I have no family." Rei looks down not thrilled of being reminded of her heritage. "Ikari is only a fellow pilot nothing more."
Feeling Rei's depression first hand makes Hikari's problems look so small. "You don't have any friends."
The comment forces Rei to stop cleaning as she looks up to Hikari. "I have no need for friends."
"Can I be your Friend at least..." Hikari begins to think back at what Rei told her Asuka said. "I mean, if Asuka thinks I'm not her friend then at least we can be friends since we are pilots and all..."
"What for?" Rei asks in the same monotone voice she used when Asuka presented that same question.
Rei stops cleaning when the response does not come, she then stares at Hikari as she looks down with disappointment, and fear. "Because, I need someone's help. I don't know if I can be a pilot or not."
Not accepting Hikari to ask for help, Rei becomes confused at the topic. She watches as Hikari begins to whimper as she clean the desks. "Representative Horaki, do you truly need my help?"
"Look if I'm a burden never mind it's just that..."
****
'I was so sad. I felt that becoming a pilot meant I would be rejected by everyone, even Rei. I don't know why I was scared I just was, all of the thoughts of the day really drove me to the edge.'
****
"I don't want to be alone."
"I'm sorry." Rei announces with the loudest voice she can muster even if it could scarcely be heard. With the same destiny of loneliness, Rei walks over to stand next to Hikari. "I'm not used to this, I'm sorry." Rei mind goes back to when Shinji rescued her. Looking up to Rei, Hikari sees that she has the look of misery. "I don't even understand my self, so I don't think I could be a friend."
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Hikari looks in to Rei's eyes. "Who said you have to understand your self to be friends with another."
The thought of not understanding ones self seems foreign to Rei. "But one must know ones self before they can..."
"That's not true. If you went through life trying to figure out yourself, you would never experience life." Hikari's simple, yet complex logic stuns Rei and her logic on such a subject. "Rei, I think your thinking to much into everything."
"Really?" Rei goes back on her ever useful logic of trusting authority to its fullest. "Am I not to understand my self?"
"Not at fourteen." Hikari can't help put laugh at Rei's serious attitude to the topic. "That's something you do when you're older."
The two begin to put the desks to the end of the classroom as they talk. Rei cannot help but feel helpless to retort Hikari's philosophy. Hikari begins to feel very pleased that she is helping Rei, being such a leader or guide to people has always helped Hikari in difficult times. As the time goes on Rei continues to ask question about Hikari's thoughts on life.
"So, I must let things happens as they happen and not worry about them?" Rei tries to grasp the simple concepts given to her with less then perfect results.
"Not really Rei." Hikari sighs as she cleans the floor, after a thought goes through her mind, she giggles.
Rei stands next to her even more confused. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, Rei..." Hikari shakes her head. "Believe in what your heart tells you. You're so self conscious that you can't get past the fact that you cant solve everything with your mind."
"You cant?"
"Take Touji for example." Hikari sits back on the floor as Rei sits next to her ready for what ever is to be said. "When you first see him, he's a total jerk. However, when you get to know him you see such a caring person, a guy that takes care of his friends and will sacrifice him self for them."
Hikari, sighs once more as she stares in to space, Rei however does not see anything related to the topic at hand resolved. "Student Suzahara does he think with out his mind..."
With such a funny statement made, Hikari begins to burst out into laughter. Rei can't help, but raise an eyebrow seeing every time Hikari laughs (when) she has done something right. "Your right he doesn't, that's because he thinks with his heart..."
"Is that why you stare at him in Gym class?" Rei's abilities in observation, embarrass Hikari.
"What do you mean!?" Hikari shutters as she begins to clean the floor once more.
"You always stare at him at Gym and in the class sometimes." Rei tries to use Hikari's logic to solve the equation. "I don't see any reason why you do so does that mean you are using your heart to think about Suzahara, meaning you love him."
As if the truth was spilled all over the floor, Hikari falls over sliding into the desks staked on the wall, causing the them to collapse onto her. Rei is quick to go over to see if she is okay.
"Hikari!" Rei yells out with much concern to her well being. She begins to remove the fallen chairs and desks to reveals Hikari on the ground in pain. "Are you okay?"
"I'm such a cultz." Hikari rubs he head as she goes to stand only to fall over once more. "Ouch..." She moans as she holds her leg in pain.
Before she can move, Rei takes hold of her leg and gently begins to put pressure to it. Hikari cannot help but feel awkward as Rei reaches slight up her skirt to a knot in her leg.
"It's a Muscle strain." Rei declares as she continues to fell Hikari's calf. After examining it, Rei punches Hikari's calf dead square on the knot.
Hikari at first screams in pain as she rolls on the ground grabbing her leg. She quickly stands up to yell at Rei. "What was that..."
"Does your leg feel better?" Rei asks as she picks up Hikari's rag and begins to stack the desks back.
"Yeah." Hikari swings her leg back and forth, feeling no pain from before. "Thanks Rei"
Rei sighs as she goes over and grabs the bucket leaving the room to empty it. Hikari stands with a confused look. As Rei returns she goes over to her, hopeful Rei will understand. "Rei." With some silence, Rei only looks at her. "What you said about Suzahara, could you keep it a secret?"
She gathers her books and walks over to Hikari. "Yes..."
Hikari looks around seeing everything is done, Hikari goes over to her books and puts them away when she is done she is surprised to see Rei waiting for her in the hallway.
"Representative Horaki..."
Timidly Hikari steps out of the class shutting the door. "Yes"
"I can see what you mean by Students Suzahara selflessness. It is a very noble characteristic."
Surprised by Rei's understanding of Hikari's affection for Touji she smiles. "I think so too." Hikari begins to leave with Rei at her side. "I have to test in my Robot..."
"Evangelion." Rei whispers to Hikari. "They are called Evangelion's. They're bioorganic life forms."
Feeling out of place on the topic, Hikari looks away. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know." Rei only nods in a gesture of understanding. "Well, I'm going to test in my Evangelion tomorrow."
"I know..."
Rei's voice seems to diminish from the tone she held before. Hikari cannot help but notice that the topic is depressing her. "Is it that bad Rei?"
As they leave the school and walk near the schools entrance Rei finally answers. "It depends on the Soul inside of your Eva."
****
'A Soul? I questioned to my self as I stood there with the crimson sky in the background.'
Hikari looks out side to see sunlight begin to crest over the mountaintops.
'Rei's response was just as odd. She said that every Evangelion had a soul and one must unite with that soul if they want to pilot their Evangelion correctly. Asuka never did elaborate on how to pilot an Evangelion, nor did I ever ask her to. As we both walked together I let Rei talk about Suzahara which was weird, as it seems I hit some kind of nerve when she discovered I had a crush on him. She tries her best to understand the feeling by putting them in her own terms. I could tell even when she did not ask me a question on the subject she was thinking about it.'
Hikari smiles as she begins to draw a little chibi Rei in her book.
****
As Hikari approached her house, she looks over to Rei to see she still had a ways to go. "Rei."
Rei looks up after being deep in thought. "Yes."
"I'm home..." Rei looks up to the beautiful house Hikari lives in. Rei seems to look disappointed because she must continue alone. "Rei, would you like me to walk you home."
"But that would be a waste of time." Rei sees no sense in having Hikari walk to her apartment then back.
"No its not." Hikari laughs once more. "That's what friends are for."
For the first time in her life Rei begins to think with her heart, the feeling of warmth runs though her vanes as she smiles at Hikari. "Friends."
After they, both walk the extra half-mile to Rei's apartment. Rei cannot help but feel bad that her companion must leave, but never the less she speaks with no concern on the matter "Good bye."
Hikari smiles as she waves good-bye. "I hope I can see you tomorrow."
Rei gives a nod at Hikari as she goes into her apartment complex, more confused then happy.
Hikari looks around at the improvised part of town. "No wonder Rei is so depressed. She lives in such a dump." With a slight sigh, Hikari smiles as she begins to walk home.
****
'As if the day could get any weirder .I spotted Ikari watching from afar. I didn't know if he was just being a pervert or a snoop. Either way, he was freaking me out.'
****
Hikari finally gives up on guessing Shinji's action and calls over to him. Shinji, at first, looks away like nothing is wrong, but then he hears her shout once more this time with some force. Shinji bows his head and walks over to her.
"What were you doing sneaking around like that!?" Hikari yelled as she puts her arms on her hips.
"I wasn't sneaking I was just..."
With little respect, Hikari asks again. "Well, just what where you doing?"
"I... I was just wondering if you where alight..."
Not accepting Shinji concern, Hikari lowers her guard to ask her next question. "What do you mean?"
"I..." Shinji looks away still thinking on how to say what he wants to say. "I found out yesterday that you're the... new pilot." Shinji pauses as Hikari easies her shoulders and listens to Shinji. "I just... was concerned... that you might of..." Shinji bows his head in defeat. "Never mind..."
Hikari cannot help but feel it is her fault for his sadness. "Shinji..." He looks up with little confidence. "Rei told me that you stuck up for me against Asuka."
Shinji cringes' thinking what he did was wrong. "I'm sorry, it's just that I can't tell her, especially after what she said..."
"Its okay." Hikari sighs as she puts her hand on Shinji's shoulder; the gesture lifts his crestfallen expression. "I think it's best if I told her."
With confidence restored Shinji looks back at Hikari. "I felt so bad for you after what she said, I was glad you weren't there to hear it."
**** 'I couldn't believe how caring Shinji was he was more selfless then Touji, he felt so guilty of what happened, yet it wasn't his fault.'
****
Hikari and Shinji begin to walk together until they reach her house Shinji smiles as he comes up with a non-threatening plan. "Hey Hikari, I will try and see if I can be at your activation test tomorrow. I wouldn't want to do it alone, because it can be so scary at first."
"Really, we can activate together?" Hikari smiles at the thought that she has so much support from her fellow pilots.
"Yeah, we can activate together. I don't think Misato will mind." Shinji begins to smile at such a simple yet brilliant plan. "Yeah it's a date. I'll see you tomorrow Hikari."
With a simple wave, Shinji runs off to his house Hikari stands out side of her doorstep with a very weird feeling.
"Wait a minute, did I just accept a date with Ikari!"
**** Taping her pen Hikari draws a Chibi Shinji on the final page.
'This day as been so confusing, but I'm glad I was able to befriend Rei, she seems like such I nice, yet innocent person.'
Hikari looks at her clock as it reads 7:30 am. With a big yawn, Hikari closes her diary.
"I wonder what today will bring."
She closes her eyes and dozes off. She peacefully sleeps with the morning sun casting over her showing such beauty and innocence. How the day to come will change her forever, as will, as well as the world.
To be continued ...
EVANGELION
Finding Paradise
Prologue...
'What's in a dream? A desire to help others has been a dream, a will of many. Some people find that it's hard to lead, and others find that it's hard not to lead. I never thought a day would come when I, the Class Representative, was to become a Pilot of something I had never even seen...'
Hikari Horaki gazes at her dairy with uneasiness as she goes to erase what she just wrote down. She looks around her room to see total peace. Her SEGA Saturn tucked away under her TV, each game on the shelf in alphabetical order. She even stares into her laundry basket to see her dirty cloths folded neatly separated by color. Hikari looks back down at her diary still unable to gather her thoughts. As she lays on her stomach her feet in the air, she rolls over to lay next to her diary.
"What a day..."
Hikari lifts up her Dairy and sighs, as she goes through the pages... she stops when one catches her eye. She begins to flip back to the entrée that perked her interest, as she reaches it she sighs and shakes her head.
"A new student has joined our class..."
Hikari begins to read the entry aloud.
"His name is Shinji Ikari, a shy withdrawn boy, with cute eyes. He doesn't like the attention he gets from being a robot pilot, I could understand I would never want to fight in a battle..."
Hikari looks over to the clock to see it reads Four am. She lifts her self out of bed and continues to read her entrée. When she finishes, she feels a strike of confidence as she flips back to the page she was writing on earlier.
****
"Hikari-chan!" Kadoma yells out as she opens up her sister's door. "I hate to brake it to you, but your going to be late, if you don't get up soon."
Slowly rising out of bed, Hikari stares at her sister with an ugly look. Hikari gradually gets out of bed and stretches, only to quickly take hold of her stomach. "I hate these days..."
Hikari sister watches as she sits back down on her bed in pain. A smile strikes her face as she realizes the problem. "I feel for you Hikari-chan but you got to get going."
"Stop calling me Hikari-chan." Hikari mutters as she gets up once more and begins to change. "I'm in the eighth grade, cant I get just a little respect."
Not to piss off her little sister, as she deals with the ongoing problem of puberty, Kadoma only smiles at her. "But it's such a cute name!" She is quick to react at (as) a pillow thrown at the door, by shutting it.
Hikari stares at the door half undressed. "I have a bad feeling about today."
****
'Maybe that was the first sign of things to come...'
Back in present day, Hikari stares at her dairy.
'My period came very early, and it was the worst I ever got it.'
****
Slowly Hikari walks to school with out the same swing in her step as she normally has. The night before was all, but restless and today she had to stay late on clean up duty. As she thinks about the day ahead, she finally cracks a tiny smile.
"Of course Touji will be on duty with me today, so it can't be that bad."
Hikari finally makes it to the school, later then she usually is, but still early compared to most students. She makes her way to classroom 2-A only to discover it is not set up. A class Rep from the class next door pokes her head out.
"Hey, Miss Horaki!" Hikari looks over to her direction to see Miss Watanabi, another class rep. "My morning crew is almost done, I saw that yours didn't come in, if you want we can help."
Smiling at the offer but unwilling to accept, Hikari waves her hand. "Thanks for the offer Miss Watanabi, but I think I can manage."
With a simple nod, the other class rep goes back into her class. Hikari walks in and begins to set up the desks and chairs in class 2-A. By the time she's done, class is about to begin. Hikari just sits at her seat as she rests her eyes, she wishes for at least some peace in the day. Unfortunately for Hikari, Asuka Langley Soryu comes in all in a tantrum.
"Shinji, you are so dense!" Asuka yells as she pushes the shy young boy out of her way.
"Sorry." Is all that Shinji could mutter, as he goes to his seat.
Asuka looks to see Hikari. "Hey Hikari, what's happening?"
With less then enthusiastic tone, Hikari responds. "Hey, Asuka."
"Why so gloom?" Asuka walks over and stands in front of her.
"Rough night." Hikari grabs her stomach to help emphasis the problem to Asuka.
Asuka takes heed of the dilemma and lowers her tone. "That's a bit early."
In an innocent manner Hikari, rest her head on her bags as she pouts. "That's what I said."
Out of the corner of her eye, she sees the teacher began to walk in to the room. Hikari jumps up nearly knocking over Asuka as she calls out. "Class! Rise! Bow!... Sit down!"
Hikari sits back down allowing the class to go on, and the teacher to begin his lecture, with little to no attention being paid to the teacher. As she rests her head on her hand, Hikari's body begins to demand sleep the sleep she needs. Hikari puts up only a meager resistance as her eyes become heavy.
Before long Hikari begins to hear her name called out. Hikari jumps up from her sleep to see the teacher by her desk and the class snickering.
"Yes sir..."
The Teacher shakes his head. "Would you please dismiss the class for lunch?"
"Yes sir... sorry sir!"
****
'That was so unlike me.'
Back in the present day, Hikari thinks to herself as she plays with her pen in her hand. She is once more laying on her stomach once more with her feet swaying back and forth as she continues.
'So many omens, you would think I would have quit and went home.'
****
Red with embarrassment, Hikari dismisses the class and quickly sits back down angry with herself for such a child like act.
"What was that all about?" Laughs Touji as he sits in the back. Hikari refuses to look at him as he mocks her. "The Class Rep caught sleeping on the job!"
Hikari clenches her fist as she readies readying herself to lecture Touji for all of the times she caught him sleeping, but she is cut off from the kill.
"Touji, like you have room to talk." Shinji says with a smile as he organizes his lunch.
Being the last in Touji's mind to defend Hikari, he looks over to Shinji with a grin. "Oh, I'm sorry I forgot you and her are the only model students."
Shinji gives Touji a somewhat cold stare as he thinks of a comeback; his reaction time is not good enough as Asuka steps into the picture. "Why don't both of you stooges shut the hell up?" Asuka goes over and takes one of Shinji's Sushi rolls.
Unwilling to ruffle the feathers of the red haired hellion, Shinji just looks away. It seemed that Asuka forgot to pack her lunch once more.
Still in her seat, Hikari looks over to see Asuka eating Shinji's lunch and bad mouthing him all at the same time.
****
'I don't know what came over me. Maybe I felt obligated to defend Shinji, since he defended me...'
****
"Come Asuka, can't you go to the Cafeteria, instead of eating Shinji's lunch? The poor kid is going to get sick because of you!" Hikari discovers her confidence less then normal as a chill goes up her back for yelling at her best friend.
Asuka stares at her in shock, with little understanding to the out burst. Touji watches through Kenskes camera as he focuses on Hikari's face. Shinji looks the most surprised as she awaits Asuka's next move.
"Fine." Asuka whispers as she gets out of the chair and walks out of the room.
Hikari begins to show some guilt as Asuka leaves. "I'm sorry."
Somewhat understanding of her action, Asuka looks away. "Its okay. I understand that you're not feeling well."
Still filled with guilt, Hikari looks down in shame. Her mind debates on if she should go and apologize further to Asuka for yelling at her but another interrupts her thought.
"Hikari..." A timid Shinji as he stands in front of her.
She slowly looks up at him to see a smile across his face and look of peace she has not seen in him before. "Yes..." She whispers at a tone only Rei could achieve.
"Thanks..."
Before Hikari could, even debate if she should accept the gesture the load speaker turn on.
"Hikari Horaki, please report to the front office. Hikari Horaki, please report to the front office."
Touji looks over to the class rep that seems totally out of place, hearing her name called. Touji slowly stands with some concern. "I wonder what that's about?"
Pondering the same question, Hikari looks over to Touji. "I don't know."
"I hope you're not in trouble for sleeping in class." Shinji whispers with the same concern as Touji.
"No, that's not it." Rei voice seems to go unnoticed as Hikari leaves the classroom to an uncertain fate.
****
'Rei was right. That was not it at all. In fact, it was far from it! My life was about to be turned upside down.'
Once more, Hikari stares into her diary unable to go on. She puts her pen down and looks around her room once more.
'Why me I thought... First, I thought maybe I was going to get in trouble for sleeping, but Rei, her words seem to echo back to me now. It wasn't like her to talk, let alone talk to me.'
****
As Hikari approached the office door, a very cheerless mood seemed to be coming form everyone, as if she was in trouble. The words Rei had said continued to repeat in her mind. She slowly opens the office door to see the principle and some women with a white lab coat, blue top and a black skirt.
"Um sir, I was asked to come up here." Hikari's voice seemed to waver, seeing the principle standing in front of her.
First to speak is the women in the Lab coat. The principle seemed to reserve himself to in the background. "Are you Hikari Horaki?"
"Yes, ma'am." Hikari says suddenly wishing she never came into school today.
"Hello, my name is Doctor Ritsuko Akagi, I work for the organization known as NERV. Are you familiar with NERV?"
Such a methodological question breaks Hikari's train of thought as she tries to put together what is going on. "Of course, Ma'am..."
"Good, then I don't have to go into that." Ritsuko seems to talk with great speed as if trying to sell a car to Hikari. "I am here because you have been chosen to be one of our selected pilots."
All of her thoughts come together for Hikari, as she now knows all to well what it means to be a pilot. "Why me? I'm not a fighter or anything." Hikari looked distraught, out of all the thing this day could bring it was this. Her thought flashed between the stories she heard from Asuka, and the many wounds Rei has received from being a pilot
Ritsuko did not waste anytime responding to the question. "Your were selected because of special properties you hold within."
Feeling that she has just been lied to, Hikari steps back from the agent scientist of NERV. "But, I don't want to pilot a robot. I couldn't, I'm sorry Doctor Akagi, but I have to decline."
"I don't think you understand." Ritsuko leans in as if trying to hide a smile on her face. "There is no option to it you will pilot Miss. Horaki."
Willing to concede to the authority at hand, Hikari looks down in sadness. "Do the other pilots know, ma'am?"
Surprised by the insignificant defense the girl gave Ritsuko forced to think about the question. "I don't believe anyone has told the other pilots."
"So, I'm the Fourth Child." Hikari's memorization of each of the pilots designation was something she did for fun with Asuka, she never realized she be given such a title.
"You're a little more aware of what's going on then you lead me to believe Miss Horaki." Ritsuko smiles at the girl's intelligence. "Yes, you are the Fourth Child and you will be the designated pilot for Evangelion Unit Three."
Hikari forfeits and sits down next to the doctor as she continues to talk about NERV and her new role in the world. The more the doctor talked, the more confinable Hikari came to the idea of being a pilot. As she begins to sign numerous documents, each one she reads is like she's basically throwing her life away and into the hands of NERV.
****
'Was I wrong to just give in so easily? Of course, I'm not the one to say no if told by an authority to do something. I never really rejected anything from them. When my sixth grade teacher told me I would make a good Class Representative and I should become one, I did.'
Hikari looks at her pen as she goes over the next part in her head. The thought brings a sad look to Hikari's eyes as she looks away from her diary.
****
Hikari finally stands seeing that the rest of the day seemed to have come and gone. Doctor Akagi stands as well. "Thanks for your cooperation."
Hikari bows to her and begins to go to leave, but she stops at the door and turns to the doctor who seems to have her mind on something else. With her thought discouraged, Hikari leaves, closing the door behind her. In her hand, she stares at her new NERV ID card.
"Well, I guess this isn't that bad." Hikari thinks to herself as she goes back to class. "I'm sure Asuka will help me if anything bad happens." Hikari walks in to the classroom to see the teacher missing and half the class in disarray with Asuka once more yelling at Shinji.
"When the hell did you grow the balls to speak back to me?" Asuka yells at Shinji with anger. Shinji seems to be cowering in standard fashion at his desk as even Rei looks away from Asuka. "Oh, I'm sorry Wonder Girl, am I pissing you off too!"
Hikari seems to have walked into the middle of a very bad conversation. She decides its best to break it up. "Hey Asuka!" All Hikari gets is a hand in the air to hold on a moment as Asuka finishes her lecture. "I have some great news..."
"I'm sick of you other pilots! All you do is get in my way!" Asuka points at both Rei and Shinji. "Your both pathetic pieces of shit! I hate everything about any other Pilot, no mater who they are, got that!"
Asuka turns giving both Touji and Aida a stare, which keeps them both quit. She then looks over to Hikari whose face is that of utter sadness. "What's up Hikari?"
Hikari can only stand in shock, the words Asuka used hurt her, as if she was the one being yelled at. Hikari slowly looks away unable to show any sign of happiness. "It was nothing Asuka... Just forget it."
Just then, the teacher returns with a projector in his hands. "Sorry about that class... oh, Miss Horaki. I see you are back."
"Yes, sir." Hikari bows then takes her seat.
As class continues, the lights go down as the teacher begins a rant once more on second Impact, this time with the assists of slides.
Hikari finds her self once more unable to pay attention to the lecture as she sits in her seat, thinking of what Asuka just said to the other pilots. She continues to think of what it will be like to be a Pilot. She's reminded of all the pain Shinji has gone through, and the amount of times Rei has missed school, because of some injury related to the Evangelions, deter her even more so then Asuka's hateful words.
"Wait a second..." Hikari thinks to her self, as she looks over to Rei who seems to be adrift in thought. Hikari begins to go through her laptop and begins to type in a massage to Ayanami.
HH: Miss Ayanami...
Hikari looks over to Rei with desperation as she is in much need of answers. She watches Rei look up to her then to her Laptop.
RA: Yes, Representative Horaki.
Her mind draws a blank as Hikari looks at her screen with some concern, if she is doing the right thing.
HH: Do you know about me being selected?
Once more, Hikari looks over to Rei, who seems to always look back at her when see looks at her.
RA: Yes, I did.
Seeing that she has not lost her judgment in people, Hikari breathes a sigh of relief.
HH: Does Asuka know?
RA: I tried to bring it up...
Rei stops typing. With such little information, Hikari looks over in desperation hoping she did not tell.
RA: But, she then went on a rant that who ever the new pilot was, she will hate because no one is as good as her... I saw no need to continue...
Hikari releases the breath she was holding seeing that Asuka is still unaware.
HH: Does Ikari know?
RA: I do not know... in the argument Ikari did bring up the fact to Asuka that what if it was a friend of hers...
Once more Rei stops typing, leaving Hikari out to dry.
HH: And...
She looks back at Rei to see that she was torn about what to say or not.
RA: She said... She had no friends, so it would never happen.
Heart broken Hikari looks down as her vision becomes blurry; she wipes away the tears in her eyes as she hides her self behind her laptop.
RA: Sorry.
Hikari looks up at such a human response, As she wipes her eyes, she can't help, but look back at Rei is looking away from her with some guilt.
HH: Its Okay...
Feeling the need to talk to someone, Hikari can't help, but feel that Rei is the only one who can relate.
HH: Would you mind staying after and help me clean up?
Once more, Rei delays her response this time for nearly a minute.
RA: Yes, I can stay if you want me to Representative Horaki
Hikari bows her head in relief; she can at least talk to someone other then Asuka about being a pilot. She begins to type on her laptop some more, this time sending a message to Touji.
HH: Mr. Suzahara, I am relieving you of clean up duty for today.
TS: Was it something I said?
Not expecting him to resist such a request, Hikari tries to think of a good answer.
HH: Look someone else asked if they could do it, so they could have off another day.
TS: But I would prefer to clean up with you.
Frustrated at Touji's defiance to such a simple request any other student would easily have taken, Hikari responds quickly to appease him.
HH: Fine, I will work out the schedule to have us on clean up duty together first thing next week.
TS: Then it is a date.
She nearly stands up at what was just said, Hikari begins to think to her self. "Did I just schedule a date with him."
****
'That Touji such a sly kid, I can't believe he did that!'
Hikari smiles at what she just wrote into her dairy. She begins to blush at such a thought.
'I'll pack us a big lunch too. that way we can eat it when we are done.' Hikari thinks to herself as she squirms on her bed as if a typical schoolgirl would over a boy. 'Not the most romantic place to have a date, but a date is a date.'
**** The class finally ends with everyone beginning to put their things away and leave accept for Hikari and Rei. They both sit in their seat uneasy with what to will say to each other once everyone leaves for the weekend.
When the class is empty, both Rei and Hikari stand up and start to clean. Rei goes about business as usual, as she goes to get a bucket and rag from the hall closet. Hikari stands in the empty classroom with so much on her mind yet so little words to say it with. Rei comes back in with a full bucket of water and rag. Hikari watches her as she begins to clean each desk.
"Miss Ayanami..." Hikari rolls her eyes seeing she cant even put her thought into a sentence.
However, Rei stops and looks down with some awareness to Hikari's problem. "Your scared..." Rei takes a deep breath. "I was scared too."
Thankful that Rei was able to break the ice, Hikari grabs a rag and begins to help Rei.
"Really, I don't see you as the one to get scared Ayanami."
With little emotion, Rei continues to clean as she speaks. "I just don't..." Even Rei trips up as she tries to describe what she feels. "I am just bonded to it." Rei's need to talk to the new pilot makes her feel uncomfortable, but she also feels its something she would of done no matter who was selected.
"To piloting the Robots?" Hikari questions such a thought.
"To all things." Rei's reinforcement of her philosophy gives her confidence.
"But you have been hurt so many times. How can you keep on doing?" Hikari asks with concern to Rei's health.
"It is my purpose..." Rei tries her best not to let her fragile defense be crushed. "It is all that I have."
"What..." Hikari cannot believe what she hears from Rei's depressed voice. "You shouldn't say that. Isn't Shinji your friend? What about your parents?"
"I have no family." Rei looks down not thrilled of being reminded of her heritage. "Ikari is only a fellow pilot nothing more."
Feeling Rei's depression first hand makes Hikari's problems look so small. "You don't have any friends."
The comment forces Rei to stop cleaning as she looks up to Hikari. "I have no need for friends."
"Can I be your Friend at least..." Hikari begins to think back at what Rei told her Asuka said. "I mean, if Asuka thinks I'm not her friend then at least we can be friends since we are pilots and all..."
"What for?" Rei asks in the same monotone voice she used when Asuka presented that same question.
Rei stops cleaning when the response does not come, she then stares at Hikari as she looks down with disappointment, and fear. "Because, I need someone's help. I don't know if I can be a pilot or not."
Not accepting Hikari to ask for help, Rei becomes confused at the topic. She watches as Hikari begins to whimper as she clean the desks. "Representative Horaki, do you truly need my help?"
"Look if I'm a burden never mind it's just that..."
****
'I was so sad. I felt that becoming a pilot meant I would be rejected by everyone, even Rei. I don't know why I was scared I just was, all of the thoughts of the day really drove me to the edge.'
****
"I don't want to be alone."
"I'm sorry." Rei announces with the loudest voice she can muster even if it could scarcely be heard. With the same destiny of loneliness, Rei walks over to stand next to Hikari. "I'm not used to this, I'm sorry." Rei mind goes back to when Shinji rescued her. Looking up to Rei, Hikari sees that she has the look of misery. "I don't even understand my self, so I don't think I could be a friend."
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Hikari looks in to Rei's eyes. "Who said you have to understand your self to be friends with another."
The thought of not understanding ones self seems foreign to Rei. "But one must know ones self before they can..."
"That's not true. If you went through life trying to figure out yourself, you would never experience life." Hikari's simple, yet complex logic stuns Rei and her logic on such a subject. "Rei, I think your thinking to much into everything."
"Really?" Rei goes back on her ever useful logic of trusting authority to its fullest. "Am I not to understand my self?"
"Not at fourteen." Hikari can't help put laugh at Rei's serious attitude to the topic. "That's something you do when you're older."
The two begin to put the desks to the end of the classroom as they talk. Rei cannot help but feel helpless to retort Hikari's philosophy. Hikari begins to feel very pleased that she is helping Rei, being such a leader or guide to people has always helped Hikari in difficult times. As the time goes on Rei continues to ask question about Hikari's thoughts on life.
"So, I must let things happens as they happen and not worry about them?" Rei tries to grasp the simple concepts given to her with less then perfect results.
"Not really Rei." Hikari sighs as she cleans the floor, after a thought goes through her mind, she giggles.
Rei stands next to her even more confused. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, Rei..." Hikari shakes her head. "Believe in what your heart tells you. You're so self conscious that you can't get past the fact that you cant solve everything with your mind."
"You cant?"
"Take Touji for example." Hikari sits back on the floor as Rei sits next to her ready for what ever is to be said. "When you first see him, he's a total jerk. However, when you get to know him you see such a caring person, a guy that takes care of his friends and will sacrifice him self for them."
Hikari, sighs once more as she stares in to space, Rei however does not see anything related to the topic at hand resolved. "Student Suzahara does he think with out his mind..."
With such a funny statement made, Hikari begins to burst out into laughter. Rei can't help, but raise an eyebrow seeing every time Hikari laughs (when) she has done something right. "Your right he doesn't, that's because he thinks with his heart..."
"Is that why you stare at him in Gym class?" Rei's abilities in observation, embarrass Hikari.
"What do you mean!?" Hikari shutters as she begins to clean the floor once more.
"You always stare at him at Gym and in the class sometimes." Rei tries to use Hikari's logic to solve the equation. "I don't see any reason why you do so does that mean you are using your heart to think about Suzahara, meaning you love him."
As if the truth was spilled all over the floor, Hikari falls over sliding into the desks staked on the wall, causing the them to collapse onto her. Rei is quick to go over to see if she is okay.
"Hikari!" Rei yells out with much concern to her well being. She begins to remove the fallen chairs and desks to reveals Hikari on the ground in pain. "Are you okay?"
"I'm such a cultz." Hikari rubs he head as she goes to stand only to fall over once more. "Ouch..." She moans as she holds her leg in pain.
Before she can move, Rei takes hold of her leg and gently begins to put pressure to it. Hikari cannot help but feel awkward as Rei reaches slight up her skirt to a knot in her leg.
"It's a Muscle strain." Rei declares as she continues to fell Hikari's calf. After examining it, Rei punches Hikari's calf dead square on the knot.
Hikari at first screams in pain as she rolls on the ground grabbing her leg. She quickly stands up to yell at Rei. "What was that..."
"Does your leg feel better?" Rei asks as she picks up Hikari's rag and begins to stack the desks back.
"Yeah." Hikari swings her leg back and forth, feeling no pain from before. "Thanks Rei"
Rei sighs as she goes over and grabs the bucket leaving the room to empty it. Hikari stands with a confused look. As Rei returns she goes over to her, hopeful Rei will understand. "Rei." With some silence, Rei only looks at her. "What you said about Suzahara, could you keep it a secret?"
She gathers her books and walks over to Hikari. "Yes..."
Hikari looks around seeing everything is done, Hikari goes over to her books and puts them away when she is done she is surprised to see Rei waiting for her in the hallway.
"Representative Horaki..."
Timidly Hikari steps out of the class shutting the door. "Yes"
"I can see what you mean by Students Suzahara selflessness. It is a very noble characteristic."
Surprised by Rei's understanding of Hikari's affection for Touji she smiles. "I think so too." Hikari begins to leave with Rei at her side. "I have to test in my Robot..."
"Evangelion." Rei whispers to Hikari. "They are called Evangelion's. They're bioorganic life forms."
Feeling out of place on the topic, Hikari looks away. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know." Rei only nods in a gesture of understanding. "Well, I'm going to test in my Evangelion tomorrow."
"I know..."
Rei's voice seems to diminish from the tone she held before. Hikari cannot help but notice that the topic is depressing her. "Is it that bad Rei?"
As they leave the school and walk near the schools entrance Rei finally answers. "It depends on the Soul inside of your Eva."
****
'A Soul? I questioned to my self as I stood there with the crimson sky in the background.'
Hikari looks out side to see sunlight begin to crest over the mountaintops.
'Rei's response was just as odd. She said that every Evangelion had a soul and one must unite with that soul if they want to pilot their Evangelion correctly. Asuka never did elaborate on how to pilot an Evangelion, nor did I ever ask her to. As we both walked together I let Rei talk about Suzahara which was weird, as it seems I hit some kind of nerve when she discovered I had a crush on him. She tries her best to understand the feeling by putting them in her own terms. I could tell even when she did not ask me a question on the subject she was thinking about it.'
Hikari smiles as she begins to draw a little chibi Rei in her book.
****
As Hikari approached her house, she looks over to Rei to see she still had a ways to go. "Rei."
Rei looks up after being deep in thought. "Yes."
"I'm home..." Rei looks up to the beautiful house Hikari lives in. Rei seems to look disappointed because she must continue alone. "Rei, would you like me to walk you home."
"But that would be a waste of time." Rei sees no sense in having Hikari walk to her apartment then back.
"No its not." Hikari laughs once more. "That's what friends are for."
For the first time in her life Rei begins to think with her heart, the feeling of warmth runs though her vanes as she smiles at Hikari. "Friends."
After they, both walk the extra half-mile to Rei's apartment. Rei cannot help but feel bad that her companion must leave, but never the less she speaks with no concern on the matter "Good bye."
Hikari smiles as she waves good-bye. "I hope I can see you tomorrow."
Rei gives a nod at Hikari as she goes into her apartment complex, more confused then happy.
Hikari looks around at the improvised part of town. "No wonder Rei is so depressed. She lives in such a dump." With a slight sigh, Hikari smiles as she begins to walk home.
****
'As if the day could get any weirder .I spotted Ikari watching from afar. I didn't know if he was just being a pervert or a snoop. Either way, he was freaking me out.'
****
Hikari finally gives up on guessing Shinji's action and calls over to him. Shinji, at first, looks away like nothing is wrong, but then he hears her shout once more this time with some force. Shinji bows his head and walks over to her.
"What were you doing sneaking around like that!?" Hikari yelled as she puts her arms on her hips.
"I wasn't sneaking I was just..."
With little respect, Hikari asks again. "Well, just what where you doing?"
"I... I was just wondering if you where alight..."
Not accepting Shinji concern, Hikari lowers her guard to ask her next question. "What do you mean?"
"I..." Shinji looks away still thinking on how to say what he wants to say. "I found out yesterday that you're the... new pilot." Shinji pauses as Hikari easies her shoulders and listens to Shinji. "I just... was concerned... that you might of..." Shinji bows his head in defeat. "Never mind..."
Hikari cannot help but feel it is her fault for his sadness. "Shinji..." He looks up with little confidence. "Rei told me that you stuck up for me against Asuka."
Shinji cringes' thinking what he did was wrong. "I'm sorry, it's just that I can't tell her, especially after what she said..."
"Its okay." Hikari sighs as she puts her hand on Shinji's shoulder; the gesture lifts his crestfallen expression. "I think it's best if I told her."
With confidence restored Shinji looks back at Hikari. "I felt so bad for you after what she said, I was glad you weren't there to hear it."
**** 'I couldn't believe how caring Shinji was he was more selfless then Touji, he felt so guilty of what happened, yet it wasn't his fault.'
****
Hikari and Shinji begin to walk together until they reach her house Shinji smiles as he comes up with a non-threatening plan. "Hey Hikari, I will try and see if I can be at your activation test tomorrow. I wouldn't want to do it alone, because it can be so scary at first."
"Really, we can activate together?" Hikari smiles at the thought that she has so much support from her fellow pilots.
"Yeah, we can activate together. I don't think Misato will mind." Shinji begins to smile at such a simple yet brilliant plan. "Yeah it's a date. I'll see you tomorrow Hikari."
With a simple wave, Shinji runs off to his house Hikari stands out side of her doorstep with a very weird feeling.
"Wait a minute, did I just accept a date with Ikari!"
**** Taping her pen Hikari draws a Chibi Shinji on the final page.
'This day as been so confusing, but I'm glad I was able to befriend Rei, she seems like such I nice, yet innocent person.'
Hikari looks at her clock as it reads 7:30 am. With a big yawn, Hikari closes her diary.
"I wonder what today will bring."
She closes her eyes and dozes off. She peacefully sleeps with the morning sun casting over her showing such beauty and innocence. How the day to come will change her forever, as will, as well as the world.
To be continued ...