The Instrumentality of Angels2
The Instrumentality of Angels
Part Two
"He's trying to trick us." Misato sat at a long table with Aoba, Maya
and Hyuga, as well as Shinji and Rei. "He just doesn't want to be
destroyed. He'll say anything to keep us from attacking."
"His A.T. Field is off the meter." Maya punched up data from the laptop
in front of her. "I don't believe he's bluffing Ma'am."
"He's alone." Everyone looked down the table at Rei in surprise. "He's
afraid."
"Afraid of what Rei?" Shinji asked.
"I don't know." Her eyes were as distant as ever. "Perhaps I should join
him."
"No. He asked for me." Shinji stated. "It's my fault he's here."
"No one's going anywhere until I find Commander Ikari." The cell phone
beside
her hand began to ring. She grabbed it and pressed it to her ear. "Yes?
What!" She put the phone down. "The angel has moved. He's in the launch
bay. He's with the Evas!"
Shinji stood above Asuka's hospital bed. She appeared to be sleeping
peacefully. He was glad. She had been through so much that nobody
really knew about. He only knew bits and pieces himself, whatever he
had gleaned from Misato after Asuka couldn't pilot, after she fell apart.
He
couldn't believe how much he missed her. Misato's apartment was just too
quiet without her fiery outbursts.
"Oh Asuka," he whispered "I wish I could talk to you. I need to talk to
someone."
He sighed. "But you wouldn't care. You never did care about me. All I
managed to do was piss you off."
As if in response, one of her eyelids began to twitch.
"Kaoru isn't dead. I didn't kill him. But now he's back and I don't know
what to do. He wants me to do something really scary. Rei offered to
take my place but I can't let her do that. That's why I'm here Asuka. I
came
to say goodbye. I'm sorry for all the things I did or should've done."
"I'm a coward Asuka. I'm not like you or Ayanami. I'm running away again.
Please don't hate me." He glanced up at the security camera in the corner.
He walked over to it yanking the cord out of the wall. He walked back to
Asuka, hesitating briefly before kissing her on the forehead.
"Goodbye Asuka. Take care of yourself. No one else can."
She held her breath for several seconds after he left. When she opened
her eyes, the tears spilled over.
Maya looked up in fear as Misato entered the room.
"What is it now? What's wrong?"
"The angel," there was an eerie calm to her voice. "He appears to be, well,
he's waiting for something."
"Find Shinji, now! And where's Rei?"
A figure stepped out of the elevator and stood directly below the angel.
"I'm ready," Rei said.
"I can not join with you."
"Why not?"
"Because you are me. And you are also Her."
"No. I am myself."
"Still, we can not join."
"We can." A third figure stepped out of the shadows.
Kaoru looked down and smiled. "So, you've decided. It is good. Come
Lilum." The figure began to rise slowly. "I am surprised to see that you're
not hiding anymore."
"No," Asuka whispered hoarsly. "I mustn't run away."
"Asuka?" Misato couldn't take her eyes from the scene below. "What's she
doing?" She turned to Hyuga. "How'd she get in there!"
"I don't know! The security cam in her room malfunctioned!"
Shinji ran into the room. "Misato, I-" his eyes darted to Asuka, growing
wide
in horror. He tore out of the room.
"Shinji! Wait!"
Shinji ran to the cage elevator, pushing the button for the launch bay.
"Hurryhurryhurryhurry..."
He squeezed out of the elevator, snagging his shirt as the door opened.
Koaru had Asuka by the shoulders, his eyes just visable over the top of her
red hair. Her body was limp.
"Koaru, leave her alone!"
"Get out of here you jerk!" Asuka shouted down at him. "It's my turn to be
the
hero now!"
"Asuka, no! I won't let you!"
"You can't stop me Shinji! This is my only chance. I'm not useful anymore,
not
like you! My Eva, that stupid pile of junk, won't work! So no one's
rescuing me this
time! And you won't have to worry about your precious Rei anymore!"
"Rei?" Shinji shook his head. "Asuka, you're the one! It's always been you!
I
never had the nerve to tell you, I thought you hated me!"
"Why would a 'hero' like you want me!"
"Because- because you're real! You're not a doll!"
Rei Ayanami blinked.
Asuka's eyes widened as his words sank in. She began to struggle against
Kaoru
but he held her tight. Her body began to melt backwards, into his.
"No!" Shinji screamed. "Kaoru, please!"
Maya hid her face in her hands and began to sob. They were helpless to do
anything but watch.
Kaoru began to fall, hitting the ground below. He looked up at Shinji, pain
in his eyes.
"It is done. Now, you must destroy me."
|