[Untitled ^^;]
				Written by: Kamui Shirou
				  Ayanami@softhome.net


Takes place somewhere in the timeframe between Episodes 22-24.
** = thoughts

---

	Asuka eyed a leaving Rei with sheer malice. **Commander's 
little pet. All the more reason to hate you.**  Rei glanced back at 
Asuka, meeting her eye before the door slid shut behind her. Asuka 
slammed her locker and ran a defiant hand through her hair. **Dumb 
puppet. I will never be like you. No one will control my life.. 
never again.**
	Asuka left NERV, walking towards Misato's apartment, turning 
along the way to watch the waves crash onto the seashore with the setting sun 
highlighting the foam. She noticed a lone figure, perched on top of a 
rock overlooking the sea. Asuka began to make her way to the seashore, 
towards the figure without fully knowing why. She stopped a few feet 
short of the figure, eyeing the figure's silky gray hair. 
	Then the figure spoke, a deep but soothing voice, "Hello, Second 
Children, Sohryu Asuka Langley."
	Asuka started. "Who are you?"
 	The figure, a boy, Asuka now realized, turned to her and smiled, 
the suns last rays flickering across his face. "Nice to meet you. I am Nagisa 
Kaworu, Fifth Children."
	"Fifth?" Asuka glared and fumed, "Why wasn't I told that the Fifth 
was found? Great! Now this day is ruined!"
	"This is not what is bothering you. Your day was already 'ruined', 
according to yourself." Kaworu slid off the rock and thrust his hands 
into his pockets. 
	"Why do you care? How do you know what's on my mind?" Asuka faltered 
under Kaworu's gaze, a red stare that seemed to burn into her mind and 
comfort her at the same time.
	The sun set behind Kaworu, who stood still, studying Asuka. "You 
shouldn't be so quick to begin hating people. Some are not as different as 
you as they may seem." Kaworu looked away, "That is not the entire reason 
you hate, of course."
	Free of his penetrating gaze, Asuka clumsily regained her 
composure and sneered, "You think you know everything. You damned 
kid." Asuka turned and began to walk away, but stopped just within earshot 
of Kaworu, not wanting to leave.
	"Kid? You consider everyone you meet lower than yourself?" 
	"That's right. I am the Second Children, you know."
	"I am aware of that. I am also aware that the Third Children 
holds the highest synchronization rate." 
	Asuka blurted, "That dumb Shinji! Him and Wonder Girl! The Commander 
is totally partial to them, and ignores me, who is perfectly capable of 
handling everything!" 
	"Ayanami Rei.. I see." Kaworu seemed as if he wanted to say more, 
but stayed silent. 
	After a long silence, Asuka asked, "Do you want to come to Misa- no, 
Major Katsuragi's apartment with me?" **Oh my god, why did I say that?** 
Attempting to recover, Asuka turned. "Not that I care. You better meet the 
people you'll be working with now."
	"Actually," Kaworu walked over to Asuka, "I'd be honored." Kaworu 
took Asuka's hand and kissed it. Blushing, Asuka could only stand still, in 
shock from her asking him to the apartment and his actions. Still smiling, Kaworu 
bowed, "May I escort you, m'lady?"
	With one movement, Kaworu put Asuka's hand on his arm, and they began 
walking, leaving the seashore behind them. 


				---------------


	"Was it really necessary to do this?"
	"Yes. It's been like this from the beginning. So it will end like 
this as well." 
	Ritsuko gave Gendou a cold look, one which the Commander didn't 
catch. **You bastard. First Rei, now this. Your wife, your son, your "daughter", 
my mother, and now me. And It will end with me. I'll take you down with me.** 
Despite her thoughts, Ritsuko nodded and replied evenly, "I see. As you 
wish, Commander."

				---------------


	Shinji sat by himself in the dark room. The boy started as he heard 
the door open, but it was only Misato. He looked up at Misato. She regarded 
him blankly, with no expression on her face. Turning, he followed Ritsuko and 
Misato to another room. 
	"This is... Ayanami's room?" Shinji's eyes widened. 
	The lights in the room switched on suddenly, blinding the three 
momentarily. Thick glass lined the walls and behind the glass, bodies
floated in LCL. Shinji froze, for the bodies were alive. And smiling.
	Misato stiffened and turned to Ritsuko, who had a smug expression
on her face. Misato pointed her gun at her old companion, her finger on the
trigger.
	"Why won't it work?" Ritsuko frowned and threw a manual control switch 
to the ground with a crash. "I can't destroy.."
	"I could not trust you." Gendou's voice rang coldly throughout the 
room. "Arrest her, Major Katsuragi."
	Misato looked at the Commander, then back at Ritsuko, who held out 
her hands. "Follow your orders, Major. I would not stop until I destroyed 
them all. This is the end for me."   
	"I am sorry you had to see this, Shinji." Misato stared at the door 
where Gendou and Ritsuko disappeared. "The tragedy of people possessed by Eva. 
I am also one of them."
	Shinji turned and left. Misato sighed. **Is this how they will make 
it end? By turning ourselves against each other? In the end, will man destroy 
the enemy, only to find that the enemy was man itself?**
         A floating Rei grinned.

				---------------


	The glass of water shattered as it hit the ground. Shinji stared 
at his shaking hand, trying desperately to calm it. **Why? Why Ayanami?** 
Shinji stooped and began to pick up the shards of glass with his trembling 
hand, but only succeeding in cutting his hand. He stared at the blood 
trickling down his arm and his eyes blurred. Curling up next to the broken 
glass, Shinji tried desperately to control himself.
	The door to Misato's apartment opened and closed. Calling out, Asuka 
peered down the hall. "Hello? Anyone home? Where's Shinji-idiot? He's supposed 
to cook dinner tonight. Hey-oh god.." 
	Asuka ran into the kitchen and knelt by Shinji. "Shinji! Are you 
alright?"
	Shinji's eyes focused momentarily on Asuka, thinking it was Misato. 
"Misato? I can't.. please.. help.."
	Kaworu stooped next to Asuka. Together, they lifted Shinji, an arm 
around each of their shoulders, and laid him down softly on his bed. 
	**Was that Asuka, or Misato? Must be Misato, Asuka would never say that 
to me.. she'd have to be... a whole new person..** The room began to spin in 
Shinji's vision, and he winced as more blood trickled down his arm. 
         Asuka looked away from Shinji, obviously unnerved. "Uhmm.. he'll 
be okay." She left without a glance back at Shinji.
         Kaworu stood to leave and tucked blankets around Shinji, who was 
asleep instantly. His eyes lingered on Shinji, and he smiled to himself. "Third 
Children, Ikari Shinji."

				----------------

         Light flooded the dull jail cell. Ritsuko blinked, letting her eyes 
become accustomed to the light after being isolated for a duration of time. "Doctor 
Akagi Ritsuko. Commander Ikari wants to see you immediately."
       Ritsuko stood and felt the cold steel of the handcuffs being clamped over 
her hands once more. **Mother, is this how it was with you?**
       "I have another use for you, Dr. Akagi. You will be working in the 
laboratory. Due to your serious crimes you will be back in your cell upon 
completion. That is all. You are dismissed."
       "And if I refuse?" It was not a protest, only a defiant remark.
       Gendou did not move. "You cannot refuse."

				-----------------


       "Ritsuko, is this how they plan to make us do their bidding?" 
       "They already pull our strings. They can make us do whatever they want, 
at whatever cost." 
       Misato frowned. "What is it? What is it that has caused you to give up 
hope?" Gritting her teeth, Misato could not help commenting acidly, "Not that 
you cared for any of us anyway!"
       "Think whatever you want. I'm tired of it all." Ritsuko looked to 
Misato, standing in the doorway of the jail cell and began to cry. "I want to 
leave. I want this life to end. He's using me like my mother." 
       This surprised Misato. "You are stupid if you wish to end your life. But 
why? First Rei, now her?"
       "Tell Shinji. It doesn't matter now." Ritsuko's face remained hidden. "If 
you won't help me, if you won't break free of those controlling you, then don't 
talk to me anymore."
       Before the cell door shut, Misato said without looking back, "Kaji wanted 
to say 'Sorry'.." 
       Ritsuko waited until the sound of footsteps receded, and began picking the 
lock. **No one can help me now. Trust no one.**

				
				-------------------


       "Shinji? Hey, are you okay?" Asuka knelt by the bed.
       Shinji did not reply and curled up into a tighter ball. "Answer 
me, Shinji!!" Asuka stood and frowned. "What, so I help you and you don't 
even thank me? What happened at Nerv today? You think you are the only one 
that ever suffers? Hmph!" Asuka tossed her hair and stormed from the room.
        Kaworu sat by the bed. "Shinji?" Kaworu stroked Shinji's hair. 
        "Who can I talk to? I can't face Asuka or Rei.. never my father, 
or Misato anymore." 
        "I'm here. Don't forget."
 
				-------------------
   
        **Mindless puppet.** Asuka glared at Rei across the classroom, who 
was staring out the window as usual. **You are so weak. Letting people use 
you. Doll. Doll! I'm better than you. I'm better than anyone in this class!** 
Asuka looked at the empty chair across the aisle, Shinji's chair. **Shinji-idiot 
won't even talk to me.**
	It had been about a week after Asuka had met Kaworu. Asuka blushed. 
**Nagisa Kaworu.. I don't mind having him around. He's the only other sane 
Children, besides me.** Asuka suddenly realized that class was over and she was 
one of the few still in the room. She began to leave, but saw Kaworu talking to 
Rei outside and hung back, listening. 
	After a long silence, Rei turned and walked away. Watching her leave, 
Kaworu ran his fingers through his hair and said without turning, "Ready to 
go, Asuka?"
	Asuka colored, realizing Kaworu had known she was there all the 
time. "Go where?"
	"NERV wants to see us. All of the Children."

				--------------------


	"Welcome."
	Light suddenly flooded the room. The Children, Shinji, Asuka, Kaworu, 
and Rei stood apart from Gendou, Fuyutsuki, Ritsuko, and Misato, each wearing a
different expression. "I thought it appropriate that I inform you all at 
the same time." Gendou stood.
	Asuka, suddenly stiffening, tightened her grip on Kaworu's hand and 
frowned. Gendou pushed a button, and the wall in front of them shifted and changed 
to reveal a vat. The same vat Shinji saw the Rei clones in. Except this time, 
it was different. Alongside the various Rei clones, there was something 
different. Scattered throughout the Rei clones were Asuka clones. Asuka stared 
and slowly began to shake her head. "No! What..what? How? They aren't.. me! I'M 
ME! I'M THE ONLY SECOND CHILDREN! I'M THE ONLY SOHRYU ASUKA LANGLEY!"
	As Asuka's yelling echoed throughout the room, all the Asuka clones turned 
to look at the Second Children when she yelled 'Asuka'. They smiled at her.
	"I WON'T BE A PUPPET! I WON'T..." Asuka felt her knees give way, 
and all was darkness.
 

---

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