Neon Genesis Evangelion: Scenes

Works by Jonathan

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Author's note: About two weeks before I started writing this fic, I decided to quit writing because I felt that after several attempts at my second fic, I was not meeting my expectations. But sometimes, one feels that he must express himself, to himself, and sometimes others. The result was three days of thought, and ultimately this piece of fanfiction. I hope readers like it, and perhaps with some response (and perhaps without it), I would write again. I would like to thank the people who urged me to continue writing after they learned that I decided to stop. Thank you all. Neon Genesis Evangelion is owned by Gainax, and was created by the mind of Mr. Hideaki Anno.

...

    A young girl sat in the tall grasses which swayed lazily to the wind's gentle tune. Around her, pink blossoms laughed as they flew through the air freely, to where it did not matter. The leaves chased after them, each with its own song of emotion to tell to its destined flower. The court of trees overhead smiled as their children set off to pursue freedom, life, and love. Even higher above, the skies cleared its way for the sun's display. The clouds, passing through life serenely, told the tale of how the world felt today.
    They look... peaceful, the girl mulled to herself. She clung her knees gently to her chest, leaning forward, resting her chin upon her arms. What seemed special (more so than a gentle soul truly existing) were the eyes of this child, which were really only half open. They looked forward meekly, looking at the flowing scene as if it were a still picture. Their relaxed mood contrasted the blazing color with which they boasted. The light did not find their way to these spirited orbs, yet they still held an intensity that could not be mistaken. Even more out of the ordinary was how Ayanami Rei's hair was set ablaze by the sun's glow. They were almost white from the bright beams which found their way through the trees' shielding, crowning her with an angelic might. Upon closer inspection, it could be reaffirmed that Rei's hair was still an azure blue, though it seemed lighter now, as if Rei herself had become lighter somehow, as if the winds would carry her into the air if she so let it.
    She sighed.

...

    "Sometimes I still think back to... it," Shinji murmured, leaning against the wooden railing of a bridge he sat upon.
    It was a long, thin bridge, which sat over a lake that was perfectly circular, exactly like the two which sat next to it. No one would have guessed from such peaceful settings the violence that occurred here a small while ago. Small birds twittered through the air playfully, while below was a scenic ground to which few animals roamed around anymore. The only living creatures were the people who walked back and forth across this bridge, to think, to remember, and sometimes, just to be.
    Rei did not turn her head as she remained as she was, leaning upon her arms (which in turn rested upon a lower set of railings), her eyes the only visible section of her serene mood. Only silence responded to Shinji's open thoughts.
    "Sometimes, I wonder how, if things had been different, I'd be missing... this," Shinji continued, knowing in his mind that Rei, although her expression was lost, was hearing every breath that he breathed. "I mean, to live. Sometimes I wonder how if I hadn't... I wonder if I didn't appreciate... and then I think, how could I not have, since there are so many things to see... How could I have missed all this before?" Shinji's ramblings ended in a sigh, and a sense of relief washed over him, causing him to tilt his head up towards the sky, to oblivion, to nowhere.
    Ayanami Rei responded with but a blink of her eyes.
    Here Shinji's voice became a small slight croak and a sigh, for he was really speaking only for himself now. Perhaps he would cry. "It was so long ago..."
    Rei, however, took note of this simple matter and was confused. "It was a year ago."
    Shinji chuckled a bit to himself at the innocent observation. He buried his head in his arms, staring at his feet and the water sleeping below. Rei's eyes slid to her side ever so slightly, looking for Shinji's response.
    "Hai, I know... I know." Shinji smiled at Rei's naivete, but did not find need to explain himself. He knew know, after many days spent here speaking with Rei (or rather, to Rei, who rarely responded), that she often could easily find deeper meaning to plain words, but she still had her simplicity.
    "I must go now. Sayonara, Ikari-kun," and with that Rei stood up swiftly without a second thought, and strode towards the end of the bridge. Shinji sat there, staring at the water, with the same sense of loss he felt every time she would leave like that. No, it was much, much, stronger this time. Suddenly, Shinji began to remember some of the worst times in his life...
    Through the entry plug hatch, "Ayanami!"... Through the rubble and flames, Shinji looked up to see the accusing eyes of a beheaded Unit-02... "Ayanami, without even a rifle?" "Shinji-kun, I can only water plants."... He lay on his bed, sick beyond himself, until "Shinji!" and moments later, "I think, I am the third."... It's body was torn to pieces, hanging lifelessly upon the many spears which stood on both sides of EVA-02.
    Shinji thought of nothing as he found himself charging across the bridge a moment later. "Ayanami!"
    Rei, upon hearing the calling of her name, slowed her stride to a halt, and turned her head to her side, spotting Shinji, slowing down his run to a stop, breathing a bit more heavily than normal, but standing upright. He seemed very nervous. "What?" she asked, turning around completely.
    Shinji found that he could not answer one of the simplest questions in existence. He found that he was perspiring a little, and not from the jog before. "I..." he began, groping around for something to say. "That is..." again without an answer, Rei tilted her head slightly - something very out of the ordinary - and it seemed, fortunately, to snap Shinji out of the fog his mind had created. "Good- good luck in high school... and with everything, Rei." Shinji took a breath, one that made his heart tremble with a sense of relief.
    Rei gave a slight nod, closing her eyes briefly as a sign of affirmation. With that, she went back on her way, but stopped again, when she felt her hand held back gently.
    When Rei turned around this time, she saw a very calm Shinji, who took her hand, opened it softly, and with his free hand he laid a recognizable thin chain with a simple cross strung on it. Shinji smiled, not nervously or meekly, but softly. "Please don't forget me."
    Rei stared at the gift, and slowly closed her palm after some consideration. She knew what this meant to Ikari-kun, and found that it now meant something to her, as well. Her eyes, simply special, darted up calmly to meet Shinji's expression-
    -just in time to feel a sensation spread across her cheek. From within responded a warm feeling, rising to her face to meet the light kiss. Rei found that she was staring straight at the sky, blue and open, staring at nothing. Shinji's lips left her side.
    He stepped back, almost cautiously (caution from himself), and mentally sputtered. On the outside, all he showed was a pair of cheeks with a tinge of red. For some time, there were no words spoken out loud, just grasps at understanding.
    Finally, Shinji smiled, not nervously or meekly, but again, softly. "Sayonara, Ayanami Rei." He turned around and walked aimlessly the other way (even though he was actually supposed to head home in the same direction Rei did). Rei, on the other hand, did not turn around just yet. Instead, she looked at the pendant in her hand, trying to understand the deeper meaning; not find it, but understand it.
    Some people strolling by would see a very still girl in the middle of the pathway.

...

    It's not very different, Shinji thought to himself as he entered his new classroom. The appearance of the building may have been something new, but the atmosphere was a familiar one. Touji Suzahara and Aida Kensuke still sat near the rear of the classroom, laughing with one another, enjoying every second of life as their spirits would yield. Asuka Souryuu Langley and Hikari Horaki again found themselves huddled around a desk and smiling as they spoke happily. The rest of the class, with the exception of a few new faces and the lack of some old ones, was a routine scene. There was laughter, shouting, and excitement. Strangely, the only thing that seemed to be missing was the presence of a quiet girl by the window, chin resting on her hand, mind somewhere else. Her being, though it always seemed non-existent, was something that Shinji had just expected to see.
    "Baka Shinji," came a familiar call, drawing Shinji's gaze from the window with a smile. He looked up and saw Asuka waving him over, to which he complied. She pulled his collar down and whispered, an eye out for eavesdroppers, "Did you get to say good-bye?"
    Shinji waited a second before answering. "H-hai."
    Asuka nodded, letting go. She didn't need him to answer. Noticing the missing pendant which was always tucked inside his shirt was enough.
    Shinji waved as he strode over to meet his oldest friends.

...

And so after some time, Rei brought her arm to her side, clutching the pendant gently. A stare up towards the sky would reveal the flaming clouds which blazed above. One would barely notice the chirping cicadas in the distance. The winds seemed to be getting stronger as the trees and grass became darker. With one hand Rei stood up steadily while slipping the necklace back over her head. The fire reflected off her eyes as she stared at the skies above. Smiling softly, she closed her eyes, turned around, and began trekking down the hill towards her new apartment.

~fin

Special thanks to Toh Eel Loong for his advice and feedback (12/14/99).

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