Disclaimer: Evangelion is owned by GAINAX.


SCRIBES OF TOKYO-3
By Eva On The Rocks




CHAPTER 6. Melons / Lemons / The Fourth Child

(The Day Before)

NEAR THE RESIDENCE OF REI AYANAMI

"Man, you Eva pilots are weird," Toji said, as he and Shinji walked away from Rei's apartment.

They had been there to drop off school notes, by order of the Class Rep, when Shinji had felt compelled to tidy up Rei's apartment for her. After Rei arrived, strangely unconcerned with their presence in her apartment, Shinji had explained himself and Toji had found Rei's flustered response of, "Thank you," a little surprising.

This exchange between the two had got Toji thinking...

"You like Rei, don't ya?" Toji said.

"W-what?" Shinji almost jumped. "I...sure, I guess. We work together, she's my friend..."

Toji began to laugh. "Or is it Red Devil you're keen on, hmm?"

"Asuka?" Shinji started to blush, so Toji decided that was enough teasing. For now.

Misato had been right, Toji thought, it was fun to pick on Shinji.

"I think Hikari likes you," Shinji said quietly, taking Toji by surprise.

"The class rep?" Toji blinked.

"Yeah."

"Why do you say that?" Toji felt himself start to blush. "Did Red Devil say something? I know they're friends."

"I just..." Shinji faltered. "I think she does."

Toji reflected on how Hikari had told him he had bulletin duty and how she had offered to go with him, but Toji had dragged Shinji along instead. Could a girl like Hikari be interested in a guy like him?

"She was nice to me today," Toji admitted. "Not long ago, she would have just ordered me to do bulletin duty, today I think she was offering to tag along..." He smiled faintly, pondering the idea. "The Class Rep, hey?"

Shinji nodded.

"I think Ayanami likes you," Toji said seriously.

Shinji seemed to become uncomfortable, more so than usual, so Toji changed the subject.

"Kensuke said there's a new Eva arriving soon," Toji said.

"Oh..." Shinji stopped walking and looked down at his feet. "Did he?"

"Yeah." Toji began to chuckle. "He thinks I'm going to be the pilot."

It took a moment for Toji to realise that Shinji wasn't laughing with him.

"Shinji?" Toji frowned. "Kensuke's not right, is he?"

"I..." Shinji's gaze remained fixed on the ground. "If they ask, you can always refuse."

"You mean it's true?" Toji cried. "Why would they pick me?"

"It's gotta be kids like us." Shinji finally turned to look at Toji. "B-but you can say no. You should say no...if they ask you."

"Kids like us?" Toji repeated. "Kids without mothers, right?"




(Present Day)

NERV HEADQUARTERS

"How dare they make him the Fourth Child," Asuka muttered, as she marched towards Kaji's office.

She paused in the doorway, studying the pony-tailed man from behind for a moment. Asuka had read enough stories to know it was Misato that his heart belonged to, despite his flirtatious nature with any females he encountered who happened to possess a pulse.

Still, he was male perfection in her young eyes, a template on whom other males would be compared.

Take Shinji, for example. On those rare occasions he showed a spine, Asuka liked him a lot. If only he would be like that more often. Some of the fan-fictions she had read had possessed 'Shinji Ikaris' that she could very easily enjoy spending time with.

Why can't my Shinji be like that? Asuka wondered.

Then she almost choked. Did she really just think 'My Shinji'?

"God, I'm getting as bad as Wondergirl!" Asuka shook her head.

Kaji turned his head slightly. "Hello there, Asuka."

"Kaji!" Asuka decided a dose of Kaji was the only cure for those mad thoughts swimming around in her head, so she strolled towards him and gave him a hug from behind.

"Asuka, I'm kind of busy..." he said, trying to close the website he was viewing.

"Huh?" Asuka glanced at the monitor. "You're reading fan-fiction too? What did you think of mine, hmm?" She studied the contents of the page a little closer. "Lemons? I didn't read any of..."

Kaji barely had time to cover his ears.

"WHAT IN GOD'S NAME IS MY NAME DOING ON THERE?!"




TOKYO-3 HIGH SCHOOL

When Ritsuko Akagi arrived at the school and officially informed Toji that he was to be the Fourth Child, Toji wasn't really surprised. Since the day before, after what Shinji had said, he had spent a lot of time thinking about what that could mean.

"And my sister will be transferred today, right?" Toji asked, folding his arms as Ritsuko looked over the paperwork he had just finished signing. That had been his one condition, that his sister be looked after.

"Yes," Ritsuko replied. "To our private hospital."

"Good," Toji said. "Hey, Miss Doctor Lady?"

"Miss Doctor Lady?" Ritsuko raised an eyebrow.

"My friend said he'd seen a website and seemed to know that I'd be chosen as the Fourth Child," Toji said.

"Oh, yes." Ritsuko seemed irritated. "Those websites. NERV is aware of them and has restricted access to their contents."

"That would explain why he was cursing at his computer all day," Toji laughed. "So, Miss Doctor Lady?"

"I'm not sure I like that nickname, Mr Suzahara." Ritsuko frowned slightly, but there was an amused smile playing on her lips. "But, yes?"

"How come I have to go to Matsushiro if I'm not even going to be in the thing when you turn it on?"

"You'd rather be in class?"

"Well..." Normally, the answer would be no, but Toji had seen the pain and suffering the Evas could cause.

"It's necessary, I'm afraid," Ritsuko said. "Even though you won't be in the Eva itself, there are important things you'll need to see and learn."




NERV HEADQUARTERS

"I wasn't reading that one," Kaji insisted, once Asuka paused in her shouting to catch her breath.

"You mean you actually do read them?!" Asuka cried.

"Hey!" Misato stepped into the office. "What's going on? I'm sure half of Headquarters can hear Asuka's shouting."

"Kaji's reading Lemons!" Asuka pointed at his computer. "And my name is in them!"

"What?" Misato pushed past Asuka to get a look at the screen.

"I wasn't reading the stories with the pilots in them!" Kaji insisted to Misato. "Only the ones with you, and Ritsuko, and Maya, and-"

"Oh, my God!" Misato backed away from the computer, her expression one of horror. "I'm on there too! And Shinji, and Rei, and half of the Project E staff!"

The Major grabbed Kaji's ponytail and yanked down on it, resulting in a yelp escaping from him.

"I didn't write these!" he cried. "I was monitoring access to the site and a new story was posted a little while ago by somebody inside NERV Headquarters!"

"Just now?" Misato released Kaji and stepped back. "But the Commander said we're not allowed to access the site! How could somebody post?"

"We're not allowed?" Asuka cried. "Why not?!" She wanted her reviews, damn it!

"The new story was a Lemon," Kaji said, pointing to the story in question. "It's written by somebody calling themselves 'Bastard King.'"

"'Retribution,'" Misato began to read. "'When NERV's Project E Staff misbehave, they must be punished accordingly.'"

"'Bastard King.' Where have I heard that before?" Asuka asked, her temper gradually subsiding. "That's what some of the techs call Commander Ikari when he's not around."

Misato and Kaji shared a look. "He wouldn't..." they said in unison.




THE OFFICE OF GENDO IKARI

NERV's Supreme Commander was chuckling quietly to himself, while Fuyutsuki stood beside him, shaking his head in disapproval.

"Ikari," Fuyutsuki sighed. "Did you post a story?"

"Perhaps," Ikari said, regaining his usual composure and adopting the 'position.'

"Well, let me see it."




THE OFFICE OF RYOJI KAJI

Misato and Asuka were crowded around Kaji's computer, watching as he scrolled through the Commander's contribution to the world of fan-fiction.

"That's just wrong on so many levels!" Misato cried, finding that reading the work of 'Bastard King' to be like passing a car accident. You don't want to look, you know that you shouldn't look, but you just can't help it.

"We can't say anything though," Kaji said, clicking out of the story. "Because he'll know we're still reading the stories and probably have us all shot."

"I can't believe he's Shinji's father sometimes." Asuka shook her head in disgust. "No wonder Shinji's as messed up as he is!"

"Asuka!" Misato gasped, before looking thoughtful for a moment. "Actually, you probably have a point there."




THE OFFICE OF GENDO IKARI

"Well?"

"Well..." Fuyutsuki raised his eyebrows at the story. "I'm sure your story will have a fan base out there...somewhere."

"You don't like it then."

"I didn't say that."

"Hmm." Ikari switched the laptop off. "Unit Three arrives tomorrow."

Fuyutsuki nodded, relieved that Ikari was changing the subject.

"The Fourth Child has been notified, but we will use the Dummy Plug for the Activation," Ikari said. "I will be meeting with Doctor Akagi shortly, the Dummy Prototype is finally ready."

"On schedule," Fuyutsuki said. "And the pilots and this fan-fiction business?"

"According to Major Katsuragi's report, the children know less than I expected them to, but they still know enough to upset the scenario."

"Didn't you say the Second Child made a spiteful reference about Seele during the synch-tests?"

"She was making reference to a 'Fan-Fiction Review Group' who call themselves 'Seele,'" Ikari explained. "Apparently she was displeased with how they rated her story."

"I see." Fuyutsuki didn't bother to hide his amusement. "Are the old men aware of these websites?"

"At this point, no," Ikari said. "And that is how I intend to keep it."

"And so things must proceed as they were meant to," Fuyutsuki said. "How will you get things back on track?"

"It will all fall into place, Fuyutsuki."




THE APARTMENT OF REI AYANAMI

The ceiling, despite it's familiarity, was not providing the First Child with any comfort. Nor was the blood-like aroma of LCL, which seemed to have become more noticeable lately, that lingered around her since the final test for the Dummy System only hours ago.

However, Rei's thoughts were currently focused on the revelations of the fan-fiction, rather than being submerged in LCL, and the impact these revelations were having on her relationship with Shinji Ikari.

Rei had not been 'born' like other children. She had been 'created' by a man named Gendo Ikari and her life would serve a purpose.

"Whose purpose?" Rei asked the empty room. "His purpose."

Commander Ikari. He was agreeable, but it was beginning to dawn on Rei that perhaps he only cared for her because of the resemblance she bore to Yui Ikari. That she was simply a tool to him and nothing more.

"Am I 'Rei Ayanami' to him?" she asked. "Or am I another 'Yui Ikari'? What am I to Shinji now?"

Shinji was now aware that she had been created, and that she had been created from the DNA of his mother.

This was a disturbing discovery for the younger Ikari, Rei understood.

How could she put him at ease?

Talking seemed to be a manner of resolving issues amongst people. Even though Rei did not enjoy talking, more often than not it seemed unnecessary, if it meant Shinji might be at ease and consider her a friend once more, she would attempt conversing with him.

Yes, Rei thought, I will talk with Shinji at school tomorrow.

This idea seemed to make her happy, and a small smile animated Rei's face as she thought about conversing with the son of Ikari.




TERMINAL DOGMA

Gendo Ikari and Ritsuko Akagi stood before the Dummy Plug. It looked the same as a regular Entry Plug, the only noticeable difference being that it was blood red and had the words 'REI AYANAMI' printed along it.

"If the Eva believes it to be a pilot and synchronizes, then that is sufficient. Load the data to Units One and Two, and to Unit Three when it arrives." Ikari was apparently unconcerned with any potential bugs in the system.

"I was wondering if you would still go ahead and use the Fourth Child," Ritsuko said. "After what we discovered amongst that fan-fiction confirmed your suspicions about Unit Three."

Ikari seemed almost amused as he regarded her. "You think I would knowingly sacrifice a child to an Angel?"

Ritsuko was unsure how to answer this question, and of course, Ikari knew that. Had the man not almost sacrificed his own son on numerous occasions to achieve his goals?

Recalling the information in the stories, if the unfortunate incident had occurred with Unit Three as it was meant to, then, sadly, the life of the pilot would have become irrelevant.

The Angels had to be destroyed.

"Hmm." Ikari didn't seem concerned by the fact that Ritsuko had not answered his question.

"Would you have shot me?" Ritsuko asked quietly.

"I see." Ikari almost smiled. "So, that is why our liaisons have cooled off."

"Please don't tell me that's what motivated you to write that terrible lemon," Ritsuko said.

"It was posted to check that you were properly monitoring any access to the websites," Ikari said, slightly raising an eyebrow as he watched her. "You didn't enjoy it?"

"I know I've played a part in many terrible things here at NERV, but I would hate to think I was partly responsible - or the inspiration - for that rubbish you considered a story."

"At least you are honest in your review of it," Ikari said, returning his gaze to the Dummy Plug.

"Would you have shot me?" she asked again.

"In those circumstances?" Ikari's tone became serious. "Yes."

"I see," Ritsuko said sadly.

"Would you have destroyed the Dummy System and attempted to self-destruct Headquarters, killing everybody present?" Ikari asked, turning to face her.

Would she have done that? Forget Casper would have betrayed her, could she have attempted to kill everybody in Central Dogma? Ritsuko could not answer that, but the idea that she could sink to such a state over a man made her feel ill...

Closing her eyes, she realised it was time to follow Misato's advice.

"You can't be the man I need you to be," Ritsuko said quietly.

Ikari said nothing.

"And I can't be the woman who keeps your bed warm at night while you wait to be reunited with your wife." Ritsuko gave him a sad smile.

If this upset him, he gave no sign.

"You will still be able to function as the head of Project E?" he asked.

"Yes," Ritsuko said.

"Then I see no problems with our...arrangement coming to an end."

Arrangement, Ritsuko repeated silently. Mother, how could I have been so stupid?

"Good day, Doctor," Ikari said, taking a step towards the door.

"Gendo?" Ritsuko called out, causing him to halt. She hated how her voice sounded, like that of a desperate woman, like her mother's voice.

He turned around, expression unreadable.

"If you were about to shoot me," she said. "What do you think your last words to me might be?"

The blue-grey eyes seemed to bore into her skull, and Ritsuko felt her confidence wavering.

"It just seems…" Ritsuko added, forcing the shakiness from her voice. "That nobody out there in cyberspace knows what you said before you pulled the trigger."

The smallest smile tugged at his lips.

"Ritsuko Akagi," he began.

If he says 'I love you,' Ritsuko thought, I'll run straight back into his arms.

"I honestly don't know what I would have said," he said finally.

"Damn," Ritsuko sighed.

But then Ikari surprised her.

"Our time together," he said. "It was...agreeable."

For Gendo, that was the equivalent of saying it was wonderful.

Ritsuko, deciding not to push her luck anymore, simply nodded in agreement.




THE GEOFRONT

Shinji Ikari was wandering through the GeoFront, happy to get away from the sterile environment that was Headquarters, when he saw a familiar figure standing in the distance.

Kaji and his melons, Shinji realised with a smile.

And then Shinji's expression became momentarily sad, as he recalled the things he had read amongst the Eva Fan-Fiction.

Kaji was going to die in his quest to uncover the secrets of NERV.

"Hey, Shinji!" Kaji was waving him over.

"Hi." Shinji came to stand beside the pony-tailed man and glanced down at the melons. "You know...I've read about these conversations we have."

"Me too," Kaji replied with a grin. "It's almost as if there's a script telling us what we'll say or do next, isn't it?"

"Yeah." Shinji watched as the water began pool around the base of the melons before sinking into the soil.

"It's unsettling in a way." Kaji set the watering can down and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "To think we have no control over everything, that our ability to choose has been taken from us and everything is predestined."

"It is," Shinji agreed. "If all these bad things will happen anyway, is it worth even trying?"

"It's always worth trying, Shinji."

Shinji turned to look at him, hoping that - like in the stories he had read - Kaji might provide some insightful knowledge or advice that would make things easier to understand.

"You've learnt things about your friends that you might never have known," Kaji said. "How does that make you feel?"

"I'm not sure," Shinji said. "Knowing these things makes life more complicated and difficult."

"You're not seeing the positives though."

"Positives?"

"That's right," Kaji said. "The knowledge we have, of possible future events and about our friends, may help us in the end. What you've discovered about Asuka might allow you to understand her better, and so you might grow closer to her." He glanced towards Headquarters. "The same with Rei Ayanami."

"Misato told me that even though I know what I do now about Rei, she is still the same person she was before I found those things out."

"Exactly," Kaji said. "So you see, you've learnt things about Rei that might enable you to understand her better as well. Do you see what I'm getting at, Shinji?"

"I think so," Shinji replied. "I should talk to Rei. I've been avoiding her since...I found out."

"Good idea," Kaji said, grinning. "Women will always remain a mystery to us, so every little bit of information that might help us understand them is priceless."

Shinji smiled, and then knelt down to inspect the melons. "My friend has been selected as the Fourth Child," he said.

"Toji Suzahara."

"Yes." Shinji brushed some dirt off one of the melons and stood up. "He's going to be...Unit Three is..."

"Anybody who has read those stories knows what may happen," Kaji said. "But we now have time to prepare for it."

"Knowing what I do about Unit One," Shinji said. "I'm reluctant to pilot it again."

"Didn't she save you though?"

"I...yes, I suppose she did."

"And by saving you, allowed countless others to be saved from the Angel," Kaji said. "But you need to take one step at a time, Shinji. Don't think about what may happen in a few days, what do you need to take care of now?"

"I need to speak with Ayanami," Shinji said. "And Asuka too."

"Right," Kaji nodded. "Actually, you might want to hold off talking to Asuka at the moment. And Katsuragi, for that matter."

"Why's that?"

"Well, I accidentally found these stories..."

 

 

Part 7

NOTES:

Thanks again to AkagiNaoko and Spirogyra for pre-reading.