Evangelion Fan Fiction
The Difference of a Life
By Kraven Ergeist
Disclaimer: I do not own Eva. Eva, on the other hand, seems to have a pretty solid ownership over me…
xxxxx
Book One: Shinji, the Second Child
April 17th, 2008
"How does it feel, Shinji?" Yui asked.
Shinji, the boy sitting inside the Eva's entry plug said nothing. He was far too bewildered to respond. This was a completely new environment. And it was not just that. There was something almost literally nagging at his mind, as though his mind were somehow connected to something beyond his imagination.
"Well?" Yui pressed on. "This is your first time inside an Eva, son. So how does it feel? I wouldn't know because your father never let me inside. You're one of the only human beings inside this thing."
Shinji barely heard a word his mother said. He was too fixated on the situation at hand. This was too much for the seven-year-old boy to handle.
"…It smells like Ayanami…" he muttered, finally.
Yui chuckled as she heard this. She glanced at Gendo, who in turn smiled with a nod.
Ayanami. She was the only other girl thus far to sit in the pilot seat of an Eva.
xxxxx
August 23rd, 2012
"Good morning, class," the middle school teacher said. "It's nice to see so many familiar faces. It's also nice to see some new faces this year. Why don't we all take this time to get to know each other a little, ok? Now I want each new student to stand at the front of the class."
Five kids, between the ages of eleven and thirteen stood before the class, each one nervous save one.
"Now, from left to right, each of you say your name and your age," the teacher said, trying to be friendly.
The first girl spoke. "My name is Chihiro Musume. I'm eleven years old."
Then came the next student, a boy.
"My name is Akira Ichijoji, and I'm twelve years old."
Next, a girl. "My name is Megumi Mitsuhara, and I'm thirteen."
And the next.
"I'm Shinji Ikari. I'm twelve years old."
"I am Rei Ayanami. I am twelve years of age."
Rei had been the only student not sweating bullets at the time.
The teacher calmly gave them their seats, and they each sat down one by one.
"Now, to start today's lesson…"
And so it began.
xxxxx
July 1st, 2014
"Finally!" Toji Suzuhara exclaimed. "Schools finally out for the summer!"
Kensuke smiled behind him. "You should be thankful that society changed after second impact. Before then, kids had to go to school year round here in Japan."
Toji nodded. "Absolutely! Now where's Shinji?"
Kensuke shrugged. "I think he and Rei took off a little while ago."
Toji wrinkled his nose. "Aw, man! He promised he'd meet us at the video game club!"
Kensuke sighed. "Yeah, well, he's just hooked on that girl Rei. Not that he'll ever admit it."
Toji shook his head. "Those two. When are they gonna just come out and admit that they're crazy about each other?"
Kensuke shook his head. "Shinji's the kind of person who'll beat around the bush until they're no more bush to beat around, and then go off looking for another bush."
Toji nodded. "Yeah, he's like that."
Kensuke snickered. "Kinda like you and the class rep."
Toji balled his fist. "What was that? Are you suggesting that I've got the hots for that little snob?"
Kensuke nodded. "Yep."
Toji cupped his fist into his palm. "Ok, buddy. You asked for it."
And then Toji chased him all the way to the video game club.
xxxxx
"School's finally out, Rei," Shinji pointed out.
"Yes," was all the girl said.
"Well?" Shinji asked. "Aren't you happy?"
Rei shook her head. "No."
Shinji wrinkled his nose. "Aw, c'mon! No more vicious tests, no more worrying about homework, no more getting up early for a whole three months."
Rei looked at him. "Does this make you happy?"
Shinji nodded, belligerently.
Rei nodded in return. "That is good."
With that, the young girl walked off.
"Hey, where're you going?" Shinji called out.
"Sync testing of course," Rei replied.
Shinji paused. Rei had Sync testing, but he didn't. What was up with that?
"And another thing," Shinji said. "Why do you have more sync tests than me? I've noticed you going to NERV much more often than I do. What's the reason for that? You and I have been testing these Eva's for the same amount of time."
Rei looked back. "I'm sorry, Shinji I cannot say exactly why."
Shinji didn't press further. That's the way Rei always was. Instead he just headed home.
xxxxx
"Hey, Dad," Shinji said, as he walked in through the door of his family's house.
Gendo was sitting at the kitchen table, as he did often, doing his paperwork. Gendo looked up from his work and smiled.
"Good afternoon, Shinji," he said. "How was school for you today?"
Shinji shrugged. "Not that much happened. We got to know our teacher's and what we'd be covering. More Second Impact gobbledygook."
Gendo sighed. "You know quite well not to reveal anything about the true Second Impact."
Shinji rolled his eyes, as he retrieved a soda from the fridge. "I know, I know."
Gendo smiled. "That's a good lad. Your mother's working late tonight."
Shinji sighed as he popped the can. "Again."
Gendo smiled. "Don't be like that. We could perhaps do something for fun. A movie, perhaps?"
Shinji shook his head. "All they play is more second impact melodrama. I'm getting really sick of it all."
Gendo sighed. "Well, what would you have us do? We could pay a visit to Mrs. Ayanami if you'd like."
Shinji blushed. "Dad!"
Gendo sighed. "I'm merely joking, son."
Shinji huffed and left the kitchen.
Gendo sighed and returned to his work.
xxxxx
"I'm really starting to see the resemblance," an elderly Naoko said to Yui.
They were both working side by side in an underground lab, with the LCL tube containing the motionless Rei Ayanami in stasis.
Yui smiled. "Not much we can do about it, thought, is there?"
Naoko sighed. "People are going to start to wonder, you know. About the resemblance."
Yui nodded. "I know. I'm beginning to regret deciding not to take her in as a second child. Then, at least, there'll be an excuse. But it looks like you're still the only one of us who has offspring working beside us."
Naoko nodded in return. "It is more or less true that she is your daughter. However, you are correct that a politically sound reason might be taken less into thought. Plus, it would keep your son's mitts off of her."
Yui blushed. "Naoko!"
Akagi smiled. "I see the way he looks at her. He definitely fancies her."
Yui sighed. "Yes. I've gone over the facts of life with him, but now it's really up to him."
Naoko nodded. "You know Rei isn't the sort of person who would engage in such acts."
Yui nodded. "Shinji isn't all too bold himself. However, there's still that chance…"
Naoko leered. "Getting thoughts, are we?"
Yui smiled. "Now, now."
Naoko stopped talking and looked away.
xxxxx
July 2nd, 2014
Sitting at a café with his two friends, Shinji stared off into empty space a moment too long.
"Hey, Shin-man, whatcha thinking about?"
Shinji looked up at a curious Toji. "Uh…nothin'."
Kensuke leered. "I bet your thinking about Ayanami."
Shinji opened his mouth. "Come on guys, get serious."
Toji smiled. "Come out with it, Shinji, there's no denying it. Just admit, you like her."
Shinji stared at the floor. "Well…she is kinda cute."
Toji snapped his fingers. "Ha! I knew it!"
Shinji held up his hands. "You guys can't tell anyone about this, but…well, I've been thinking about…asking her out."
Kensuke blinked. "Oh…the plot thickens."
Toji smiled, slapping Shinji on the back. "Shinji, my man, you are taking your first step towards manhood!"
Kensuke leered at him. "And you would recognize this…how?"
As Toji glared back at Ken, Shinji sighed. "I'm just not sure how. I mean, we've been working together for years, and I don't know anything about her personality, what she likes, what she does…nothing."
Toji and Kensuke glanced at him, and then each other. They both nodded.
Shinji looked up, suspiciously. "What?"
Toji and Kensuke smiled. Gesturing to himself with his thumb, Kensuke made a little speech. "Shinji, in your quest to go out with Ayanami, we vend to you our most sincere efforts."
Shinji sorta blinked. "Huh?"
Toji elbowed Shinji lightly. "He means, 'We're your guys!'"
Shinji blinked. "Uh, thanks…I think."
xxxxx
July 3rd, 2014
Hidden behind a clump of bushes, both Toji and Kensuke, Kensuke dressed in camo wear, hid watching the wayward girl.
"Eleven forty-six A.M," Kensuke mutter in a Walkman. "Subject has been sighted heading east down Sakaguchi Street."
Toji lowered a pair of binoculars. "Tell me again why I let you come up with the plan to delve into Ayanami's personal life?"
Kensuke did not look back. "All in the approach and the mindset, my young friend."
Toji grunted. "You do realize we could get a citation for stalking?"
Kensuke grinned. "What's a favor to a friend without a little fun?"
They followed Ayanami through the town, into department stores, food stores, a bunch of various, non-specific places. Nothing for a secret admirer to use.
"One twenty-three P.M.," Kensuke muttered. "Subject is browsing through dresses."
Toji glared at him from behind the hanger rack. "Would give the Walkman a rest?"
A mere few second later, Ayanami spoke out. "Why are you two following me?"
Toji and Kensuke glanced at each other, holding their breath.
"I said, why are you two following me?" Rei said, stopping what she was doing. "Toji Suzuhara and Kensuke Aida."
Toji elbowed Kensuke. "Time to do things my way."
Instantly, Toji popped out of the hanger rack. Clearing his throat, he threw his best lady-killer grin and said, "Excuse us for our rudeness, Mrs. Ayanami, but a friend of ours requested to know more about you."
Ayanami glanced at him, her full attention still focused on the rack before her. "Oh?"
Toji glanced away. "Normally, I would not stoop to the level of stalking, but my friend, you see, is so desperate to go out with you, and-"
"I see," Ayanami said. "Who is your friend?"
Toji withdrew. "My friend! My friend, he's…well…you'll have to meet him Saturday night. If you're free."
Ayanami glanced at him. "Where?"
Toji smiled. "At the Nagoya café on Daichi Avenue. Be there at Eight o'clock if you can."
Rei nodded. "Very well. I look forward to meeting him."
Toji smiled and bowed. "Thank you for your time. If we may now excuse ourselves?"
Rei nodded. "Yes."
Toji grabbed Kensuke and fled the department store as fast as their legs could carry them.
"Whew!" Toji groaned, once they got out. "That was intense. My heart was pounding the whole way through."
"Toji, are you nuts?" Kensuke demanded, through panting. "Setting Shinji up on a date with Ayanami?"
Toji swayed his hand. "Kensuke, please…"
xxxxx
"Toji, are you nuts?" Shinji demanded, seizing him by the collar. "Setting me up on a date with Ayanami?"
Toji gasped. "Shinji, please…"
They were all three of them at Toji's house, discussing what had happened the past couple of days. Kensuke removed Shinji's hands from Toji's neck so that he may breath properly.
"I can't believe you did that!" Shinji demanded. "Now she knows that I've got the hots for her, and if I don't show up, then she's gonna think I'm-"
"Whoa, whoa, hold on," Toji said. "I never specified that it was you coming."
Shinji blinked. "Huh?"
Toji shrugged. "I took you into a bit of consideration. She's expecting someone, but she doesn't know whom. All you have to do is make up your mind on whether or not you want to see her."
Shinji walked back and forth, kicking over Japanese Sports Illustrated magazines as he did. Toji saw that he was not going to make up his mind any time soon. Then an idea crossed his mind.
"Are you free that night?" Toji asked the pacing boy.
"Huh?" Shinji asked, unprepared.
"Cause if you're not," Toji drew on. "I am."
Shinji's face went deadpan for about three seconds, before he suddenly realized what Toji was implying.
"Alright, alright, I'll go!" Shinji burst out.
Kensuke glared at Toji as he snickered to himself.
xxxxx
July 6th, 2014
Rei found herself walking into a mediocre café lounge complete with a bar and plenty of tables. Sitting at one of these tables was a familiar face.
"Oh, Ayanami," she heard her friend from work say.
Looking at the source of the sound, she saw Shinji's face looked back up at hers. In her mind, she toyed with the idea that it had been Shinji who had desired to know more about her. Puzzled and unsatisfied, she went to him.
"Ikari," Rei said in acknowledgement. "Are you here to see me?"
Shinji paused for a second, his knees quaking. "Uh…no, I just…happened to be here."
Rei nodded. "Curious. Your friends, Toji Suzuhara and Aida Kensuke informed me that someone wished to meet me here."
Shinji nodded, a pang of guilt hitting him. If no one came to greet Rei, she would go home disappointed.
"Well…as long as we're both here…why not have a seat? I ordered a bowl of tempura udon that I'm sure I can finish."
Rei glanced back at him, as a thought in her head went from a thought to a realization. A swell of emotion filled her heart, yet her face, as per years of hard discipline, revealed nothing.
"Shrimp tempura or vegetable?" Rei asked.
Shinji smiled. Rei's vegetarianism at least he knew about. "Vegetable."
Rei nodded. "Then yes."
The evening proceeded smoothly, at least to the point that there were no mishaps on either part. Small talk, if it can even be called small talk, addressed such menial topics, such as the history of the restaurant, the type of tree that was cut to make the chopsticks they used, and the names of the vegetables within the breading of the tempura.
Shinji was still disappointed. After an evening of dinner, he had learned nothing, and Rei was heading out.
Following her, Shinji asked, "Where are you going?"
Rei kept walking. "Home."
Shinji looked up. "Your house isn't for another five or six miles."
Rei nodded. "I know."
Shinji sighed. "Why don't we take a bus?"
Rei looked back at him. "We?"
Shinji gulped. Spoke too soon. "Well…you know, I…would have driven you home, but I don't have a car, so…"
Rei nodded. "Understood. You have bus fare?"
Shinji nodded.
Rei turned. "Then we shall take the bus to my house."
Shinji sighed and followed her to the bus bench and sat down with her. The knack for conversation, or lack thereof, they had in the café seemed to have worn off, as they both remained silent. After a while, Shinji pulled out his headphones.
Rei noticed him listening to music. She paid it no heed, but the night was quiet and the headphones were loud enough for her to pick up the melody of the music. The music gripped her so tightly that she leaned closer to him to listen further.
Shinji glanced at her, a line of red creeping across his face. "Uh…Ayanami? What are you doing?"
Ayanami looked up. "I was listening to your music."
Shinji blinked. "Oh." After a pause, he said, "Do you like it?"
Rei looked quizzical before nodding.
Shinji smiled in return, removing one of his bugs and handing it to her.
They stayed that way for the better part of ten minutes before the bus came, just listening. By no accident, Shinji had given her the shorter of the two bugs, causing Rei to sit all the more closer to him so as not to tug the earpiece.
But when the bus arrived, and Shinji took back the bug from Rei and stepped on the bus, Rei sat next to him and said, "If you do not mind, I would like to continue listening."
Shinji blinked, before smiling and handing her back the shorter of the two bugs. And they stayed that wall all the way to her apartment.
When they got to her door, Rei was about to enter before Shinji stopped her.
"Rei," he said.
"Yes?" she said, turning around.
"I…" Shinji gulped. "I lied about before. It was…it was me who wanted to see you."
Rei nodded. "Yes, I know."
Shinji looked up. "You knew? Then why did you-?"
"I would not have remained otherwise," Rei said. "And for what it is worth, I dined heartily and enjoyed greatly listening to your music. Thank you. And thank you for the ride home."
Shinji smiled, a small blush rushing to his face. "Uh…you're welcome."
Rei nodded. "Perhaps…maybe, we could arrange a similar meeting again?"
Shinji suddenly jumped at the chance. "Great! Perhaps…next week?"
Rei nodded. "Perhaps in a few days?"
Shinji rambled on. "Perhaps…tomorrow?"
Rei sighed. "Ikari…Shinji…very well, then. I will see you tomorrow."
Shinji nodded. "Same place at eight?"
Rei nodded. "Very well."
Shinji smiled. "Great! Good night!"
Rei nodded and shut the door. "Goodnight."
xxxxx
A/N: Well, the idea came to me when I wanted to make a plausible Shinji x Rei fic. With simultaneous success and failure of the Eva Song fic triad, Art of Life, Unfinished and Forever Love, I wanted a more solid story. And here it is.
The effects of Yui's being alive will come into play later for much more than just the two lovebirds, however. Stay tuned for the next chapter.
Read and Review.
I'm out.