NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: THE CHILD OF LOVE
NINETY-NINTH MONTH
Written by Axel Terizaki (aterizak@club-internet.fr, axelt@fanfiction.net).
ICQ# 34301980; IRCNet: #teri-chan
ASUKA's Notebook: http://asuka.notebook.eu.org/
Proofread/retooled by Dave Watson from an early draft, 1999 5 18.
Final draft by Terizaki shortly afterwards.
Retooled further by Watson, 1999 6 08, 13 & 21, 7 10 and 2000 1 13 (when the basic HTML was also done). HTML Version 1.0.
EXTRA
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE?
NINETY-NINTH MONTH:
Their Fifth Anniversary!
It seems that we are in Misato's apartment. A door opens, revealing a little girl with long red hair. She's wearing a cute dark blue dress with a white ribbon around the collar. She walks silently into the kitchen, as if she's sleepwalking. She then pushes a chair up to the fridge, opens it, and moves the chair in front of it. She then climbs up onto the chair, takes a can of orange juice out of the fridge, climbs down onto the floor, pushes the chair back to the kitchen table, and closes the fridge door. She then jumps into another chair, puts the can on the table, opens it, raises it to her lips, then drinks half of it in one gulp. After that...
...the whole house is woken up by a loud "YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!" coming from the little girl. She hears a couple of muffled voices and some rustling from another room after that.
Little girl: "Oops..."
Soon, the door next to the little girl's room opens and reveals a young woman with fiery red hair. She enters the kitchen.
Young woman: "Teri-chan!!!!!!!"
The little girl takes the orange juice can and tries to hide it in the sink. Of course, the woman sees her doing it.
Teri: "Hmmm...y-yes, okasan?"
Asuka: "Never do that again, okay!?"
A young man appears just behind Asuka. It's a still-sleepy Shinji. Teri rushes up towards him and jumps into his arms.
Asuka: "Teri-chan! Are you listening?!"
Teri: "Hey, let me at least give otousan a cuddle..."
Asuka: "'Otousan' is mine, Teri-chan!"
Shinji is still very unresponsive to the scene in front of him. He never could get the hang of mornings.
Teri: "Maybe, but for now, he's mine!"
Teri sticks out her tongue at Asuka.
Asuka(fuming): "Hmmmmmmrrrr........!"
Shinji(realizing): "Hm, Asuka-chan, you're not gonna be mad at your own daughter just because she wants to give me a cuddle, are you?"
Asuka: "Well...you're right. I shouldn't be jealous of my own daughter. It's bad."
Teri: "Okasan is bad."
Asuka(reluctantly): "Yeah, yeah, I am."
Shinji: "You know, Teri-chan...imitating grownups is bad, too."
Teri: "But Auntie Misato is a good person!"
Shinji: "Of course she is, but drinking like her is bad. Especially first thing in the morning, understand?"
Teri: "Yes, otousan. I won't do it again."
Shinji: "Good girl."
He fatherly strokes her auburn hair. Misato chooses this moment to make her appearance. She is already in her NERV Commander uniform.
Misato: "Thank you, Teri-chan, for waking me up..."
Teri then jumps from her father's arms to Misato's.
Misato: "Hey, hey, hey! You're in good form, as always!"
Teri: "Oh yes, Auntie Misato!"
Asuka(to herself): "Grrr...she only acts like a nice and innocent little girl when there's other people--"
Teri: "Oh, okasan. Don't say that I'm not a good girl! I always am!"
Asuka(softly): "I forgot about that...damn..."
Shinji puts his hands around Asuka's waist from behind and plants a kiss on the back of her neck.
Shinji(whispering): "At least I'm a nice husband, aren't I?"
Asuka: "Hmmm..."
Shinji: "Something wrong, Asuka-chan?"
Asuka: "No...nothing at all, my love..."
She then turns her head back to him and kisses him tenderly on the lips. Teri looks at them carefully.
Teri: "Otousan and okasan are kissing again!"
Misato: "Heh heh. Your parents are in love, Teri-chan. That's normal."
Teri: "In love? What does that mean, Auntie?"
Misato(giggling): "Well, you'll find that out when you've grown up a little, Teri-chan. Don't worry."
Teri: "Ah."
Misato puts Teri back down.
Misato(to herself): "Damn, she looks so much like her mother..."
Teri: "Auntie Misato, why are you saying that I look like okasan? Do I look that much like okasan?"
Misato: "Yes, you do, Teri-chan. Have you ever looked at yourself in a mirror?"
Teri: "Yes, but...oh, you must be right, Auntie Misato."
Asuka and Shinji finally break off their seemingly endless kiss.
Asuka: "Oh, before I forget, Misato..."
Misato: "What?"
Asuka(shouting): "DON'T DRINK YOUR BEER IN FRONT OF TERI-CHAN, OKAY?!"
Misato: "Oh, well...sorry..."
Teri: "Why? Is drinking bad?"
Asuka(tenderly): "Oh no, Teri-chan...drinking's not really bad. Just the way that Misato does it."
Teri: "Oh...tell me, okasan..."
Asuka: "What?"
Teri: "Where's Axel-chan?"
Asuka: "Ah...your brother is at Auntie Wond...Rei's house."
Teri: "Why?"
Asuka: "Well, because..."
Seeing that her wife is hesitating, Shinji takes the initiative.
Shinji: "You see, Teri-chan, you're now almost eight..."
Teri(nodding): "Yes! Auntie Rei said that I'm a big girl now!"
Shinji: "Exactly. And it's now five years than your mother and I have been married..."
Asuka(lovingly): "Five years in a few hours, baka Shinji..."
The calendar shows that it is November 19th, 2024. Exactly five years ago, Sohryu Asuka Langley renounced her maiden name in favour of her new husband's one, Ikari. It somehow makes her feel free when others call her 'Ikari Asuka Langley'. She is now free from her mother, free from her past. She feels...even better than before.
Shinji: "And so, tonight, I'm taking your mother to a secret place, just the two of us..."
Teri(giving him one of her best kawaii looks): "Can't Axel-chan and I go with you?"
Shinji: "No, Teri-chan...it's only your mother and I tonight."
Teri(pouting): "Otousan's evil!"
Asuka: "Maybe, but 'otousan' is right for now, Teri-chan."
Shinji smiles and takes his daughter into his arms. He then whispers something into her little ear.
Shinji(whispering): "But I'll give you and your brother presents when we come back. So be a good girl with Auntie Misato and Auntie Rei, okay?"
Teri: "Okay, otousan."
Shinji: "Your brother is at Auntie Rei's house because he has to get used to her and her new home...understand?"
Teri: "I think."
Shinji: "Good. So why not join him while otousan and okasan are celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary, hm?"
Teri: "Yes, yes! When are we leaving? I want to see Auntie Rei!"
Shinji: "We'll leave soon, don't worry."
Teri: "Don't do silly things with okasan, otousan."
Shinji(stunned): "Huh?"
Teri(grinning): "I don't want another brother or sister now, okay?"
Shinji and Asuka are now turning deeply red with embarrassment. Misato can't help but laugh.
Asuka: "By the way, Misato, where's Kaji?"
Misato: "He's at HQ."
Asuka: "Oh...doing 'things' again?"
Misato: "Well, sort of...we're seeing if we'll accept the UN's proposition about helping them in the war in this country...well, I can't remember its name..."
Shinji(sarcastically): "What a wonderful commander we have here..."
Asuka: "You know perfectly well how we feel about this, Misato. Neither Shinji nor I want to be involved in a conflict and killing people."
Misato: "I know that, don't worry. I just want you to...scare them."
Asuka: "What, like destroying some little things with our young innocent hands in order to show them how powerful we are?"
Misato: "That's it! And you have to accept it. They wanted to trade you-know-what, Shinji, for our help in this war."
Shinji: "Then, I guess I have no choice. Don't worry, Misato-san. Asuka and I will take our places in Eva Unit 01 and 02 then."
Asuka: "But what are you talking about? What are we 'trading' with the United Nations for this?"
Misato(grinning): "Oh, you'll find out sooner or later, don't worry!"
She looks down at Teri, who is listening carefully to the adults' conversation.
Misato: "So...Teri-chan. I'm bringing you to Auntie Rei's house. Okay? Go take a bath and we'll leave after that."
Teri: "Hai, Auntie!"
Teri then heads towards the bathroom.
Some minutes later, Shinji and Asuka are eating their breakfast at the kitchen table while Misato waits for Teri.
Misato: "Oh, by the way...Asuka, Shinji...you're now 22 and...Kaji and I decided something."
We can suddenly hear a loud squawk coming from the bathroom...
Teri(from inside the bathroom): "Come on, Pen-pen! Don'tcha want to take a bath with me?"
Asuka(to Teri): "Teri-chan! I already told you that Pen-pen's too old for you to play with him now! And you're too big to bathe with him anymore."
Teri(disappointed): "Awwww!"
Misato: "Don't worry, I'll take him with me..."
Shinji and Asuka(surprised): "Huh?"
Misato: "I'm going to live with Kaji. So, we decided to give you this apartment. I've taken care of all the administrative problems. This apartment's now under the name of the Ikaris. This is our present for your fifth wedding anniversary."
Asuka: "You...you're leaving? And...we won't see you anymore?"
Misato: "Of course you'll see me, just not as often as usual. I'm just going to live in Kaji's apartment. And besides, you'll soon need one more room for Axel-chan. He can't sleep in your room forever."
Shinji(sighing in relief): "That's good. We'd really miss you if we never saw you again."
Misato: "Not as much as I'd miss all of you. But I'd like a little more, uh, space to ourselves, you know?"
Asuka: "That's a really big present you're giving us, you know...I don't know how to thank you..."
Misato: "Don't worry, it's the least I can do for you two. You saved our planet, and you continue to fight for mankind's safety. I don't see why you shouldn't have your own piece of happiness, too..."
Asuka: "Misato...I'm still happy being here with you and Shinji. As long as I'm with him, I feel good."
Misato: "I know that, Asuka. I really thought that your wedding day would never come, because of Ikari Gendo, and because of your behaviour when you were together, always arguing...and even now, I almost feel as if it's a dream. My two roommates married, and with two children of their own. I feel like a grandmother when I see Teri-chan, because I lived with you and I've been your guardian for many years, and Teri-chan is the fruit of my efforts to bring you together. So, thank you, Ikari Shinji and Ikari Asuka Langley, for being the two children I never had."
Asuka: "Hey, stop that! You're making it sound like we'll never see each other again!"
Misato: "Yeah, you're right, Asuka. I'm giving away too much of my feelings..."
Shinji: "Misato-san, thank you too for all the great moments together. And I hope that you'll come here to visit our family often...and I wish you a happy life with Kaji-san."
Misato(brightening): "Thank you, Shinji-kun! Of course, I'll visit you, and I'll live as happily as I can!"
The little girl finally comes out of her bedroom, washed, dressed and ready to leave.
Misato: "Okay, time to go."
Teri says goodbye to her mother and father, who have just stood up from the kitchen table, and gets ready to leave with Misato...
Asuka: "And Misato, please drive carefully this time...I don't want Teri to get used to driving fast, okay?"
Misato(reluctantly): "Yeah, yeah..."
She looks down at Teri.
Misato: "Sorry, Teri-chan. No more stepping on the gas. It's your mother's orders."
Teri(disappointed): "Awww..."
Misato(to Asuka and Shinji): "Okay, you lovebirds. Have a happy anniversary!"
They then disappear behind the front door of the apartment. Asuka continues to glare at the door.
Asuka: "Sometimes our daughter scares me."
Shinji walks up behind her and puts his arms around her waist. He stands half a head taller than her now.
Shinji: "I know...and she isn't aware of what's inside her...the power she really has."
Asuka(closing her eyes): "You think so? I don't. I think she does know, but tries to hide it."
Shinji: "Maybe...I hope she'll make good use of it, anyways."
Asuka: "According to Ritsuko-san, Axel-chan doesn't have the same skills as her."
Shinji: "Then the things my father did only affected Teri-chan. That's good to hear."
Asuka: "Hmmm...I think we can trust Teri-chan, Shinji. She's really a good girl, and would never do any harm to anyone. After all, she inherited more than 90% of my genes, according to Ritsuko-san."
Shinji: "We'll make sure she learns not to hurt anyone."
Asuka(sadly): "When I think about what your father did to me...and to her..."
Shinji hears a sniffle coming from his wife. He unlocks his arms, steps in front of her, and puts his hands on her shoulders.
Shinji: "That's all in the past now, Asuka..."
He looks into her beautiful blue eyes. They're full of tears.
Asuka(crying): "But...she'll never be normal! She'll always be bothered about that! And what will people think of her when they find out? They'll think she's some kind of monster! Ritsuko-san talked to me about this! Shinji! She can read minds! She can move objects just by looking at them! And who knows what powers she'll have by the time she's grown up!? Oh, Shinji..."
She buries her head in his chest. Shinji wraps his arms around her again.
Shinji: "...I know, Asuka. I know that Teri-chan is...not a normal little girl. But she's our daughter. That's what's most important."
Asuka(sobbing a little): "Sniff...and we can't do anything...if only I'd kept taking those pills when I was carrying her, none of this would be happening!"
Shinji: "Don't say that, Asuka. It's not your fault. It's my father's...no. It's the former NERV Commander's fault."
Asuka(now just sniffling a bit): "Hmmm...being in these strong arms feels so good, Shinji...please, hold me tighter..."
He doesn't need to be asked twice. Asuka takes a deep breath and slowly recovers.
Shinji: "Come on, Asuka-chan. Today is our fifth wedding anniversary. I'll make you happy today, like I did five years ago. I will never forget that smile you gave me when you said 'I do' in front of the priest. And it may take my entire life to repay you for that smile, but I'll do it."
Asuka(softly): "Shinji..."
Shinji: "Hm?"
Asuka(whispering): "Where are we going tonight?"
Shinji: "Tonight? That's a surprise..."
Asuka(softly): "Oh come on, tell me..."
Shinji: "I'm gonna take you where I should have told you that I love you from the beginning..."
Asuka: "That doesn't answer my question, baka Shinji..."
Shinji takes a piece of paper from his pocket and shows it to Asuka.
Asuka(surprised): "Oh!!"
Shinji smiles at her.
Asuka(happily): "A boat ride! My sweetie baka Shinji!"
Shinji: "Ha ha ha! Misato-san prepared everything for us...it's only for us. There'll be no one else there...except for the working crew, of course..."
Asuka(smiling warmly): "Well, I don't think that a United Nations aircraft carrier is very romantic, but it'll do!"
And with that, she kisses him passionately...
THE END
Author's notes:
Okay, I needed to write that, mostly because a part of myself was willing to do it, but also because many of my readers wanted to see how Teri-chan would be as she grows up. Now that you know, leave me alone, okay?
Ahaha, I'm kidding, don't worry. I have a few ideas for her teenage years, like the relationship she has with her brother and mother in particular, the evolution of her state, etc. I just have to write them down onto disk. But I don't know if I'll write that. Please understand, I need a good plot in order to write a good story, and unfortunately I don't have one for Teri's teenage years for now.
Special thanks to all of my pre-readers : Al-l-Bus, Alain Gravel, Borderline Case, Dave Watson, EBJ, Eva_Pilot00, Greg Thomas, DJ Lesser, Kaoru Nagisa, Jon Byram, Pheaton, Readiosys Fisher, Sammy Sy, Shinji The 10 O'clock Assassin, Sudhoda'ya, and Sushi Boy!
(I hope I got you all! :-) )
Note that some authors wrote things featuring Teri-chan, like Ayanami's Lesson, A Pilot's Day Off and Teri's Romance! They're available on ASUKA's Notebook (and on other archives too, depending on the author's will).
