Rei's Child

Written By: Jon L

This Chapter follows the events of the Preface

"speaking"--'thinking'--<phone>--=dream=

In the kitchen, Rei and Shinji are sitting at the table next to each other; Misato has left the kitchen and headed back to her room. It is raining outside today; giving the city a downcast look to it, but to our two pilots inside, it doesn't seem any different than a sunny day.

Shinji gets up to grab some toast that popped up a moment earlier. "I hope you like toast, Ayanami."

"Toast?"

"Yes, toast. Haven't you had toast before?"

Quietly, she replies "No..."

"Well, toast is just simply bread that has been heated up and is slightly crunchy, here..." he hands some toast to her "...try some with jam on it."

Rei takes a small bite of the toast, 'Interesting...' After she has swallowed, she takes another larger bite, 'Why haven't I had toast before?' "Thank you, Ikari."

"Your welcome, Ayanami." Shinji goes back and grabs a piece of toast for himself then sits down again at the table.

After they have both finished eating, Ayanami, dressed in a shirt and jeans Shinji found for her, speaks up "Ikari, if it is okay with Major Katsuragi, I would like to go back to my apartment."

"Well, I'm sure Misato won't mind, but.., why do you want to go back right now?"

"I do not feel that this is appropriate wear for me. " Indicating the clothes she has on.

Shinji is curious as to why Ayanami wants to change out of the clothes she is wearing, but doesn't press the issue further. "So...what would you like to do today...since we don't have synch tests to attend?"

"I...will go for a walk."

"Where?"

"I am not sure."

"D-do you mind if I join you?"

"If you want..."

Misato passes by at this moment and sees Shinji and Rei talking. "What are you two talking about? Have any plans for the day together?" Misato asks teasingly "Or are you two just going to sit around and do nothing all day?"

Rei answers her with her usual flat tone of voice "Ikari and I are planning on going for a walk."

"Really? Where?"

Nervously, Shinji answers "Ah...we don't know yet."

"Well, have fun you two. Oh, and Shinji, I won't be home 'till late tonight, so don't make dinner for me."

"Okay."

"Major Katsuragi, could I stop by my apartment first? I...do not feel this is appropriate wear for me." indicating the shirt and jeans she has on.

"Sure, I'll give you a ride."

"Hai."

****************

After Misato drops the two pilots off, they head up to Rei's apartment. Once they enter, Rei wastes no time in finding clean clothes to wear and strips out of the ones she is wearing, including her undergarments, not caring if Shinji is present or not.

When Shinji notices Rei, he immediately turns red and spins away from her. Even though Rei does not see Shinji turn red, she still senses that something is wrong.

"What is it?"

"N-nothing."

"Why did you turn away, are you embarrassed by me?"

"No!"

"Then, what is it?"

"It's just that...I wanted to be courteous to you."

Rei continues to get dressed in silence.

"I-I-I...I think I'll wait outside."

"If you wish."

Shinji hurries out of the apartment.

Rei, meanwhile, continues to get dressed in solitude. 'Why was Ikari nervous about seeing me naked?'

After she has finished, she grabs her NERV pass card and phone and heads for the door.

****************

After they have both left the apartment complex, they start walking towards the nearest shuttle station. It has finally stopped raining but the overcast sky remains. Shinji starts thinking about the time when he ran away from NERV the first time, and remembers the place he ended up visiting in the mountains.

"Ayanami?"

"Yes?"

"Would...would you like to take a walk someplace...quiet?"

Rei stops and turns around to face Shinji, "Where?"

"I-I know of this place in the mountains, I visited it the first time I ran away."

"But, it is wet out."

"That doesn't matter, it's a peaceful spot. We...we could talk there without anyone around to listen in."

At this point, Rei is starting to like the idea of possibly walking in the mountain park, away from prying ears, 'What is this feeling that I get from Ikari, why is it that he wants to talk with me?' Rei just stands in front of Shinji while she debates the good and bad points to what he has proposed.

Finally, she comes to a decision, "Yes, I would like that very much."

The two pilots continue on their way to the shuttle station, with a destination in mind.

****************

Once they arrive at the mountain park, Shinji leads the way to the spot that had a great view of the valley.

Walking, Shinji throws a question towards Rei "Ayanami, can I ask you a question?"

"Hai?"

"What did you mean by 'I am the third?'"

This throws Rei off balance some, "What do you mean?"

"Well, when you said you didn't remember anything about the explosion, I asked you why you didn't remember, and you said something about being the third."

"Oh..."

"So what did you mean by that?"

"I...can't tell you."

"Ohh..."

They continue walking along the path as Shinji throws another question at Rei.

"Ayanami...why is it you live in a run down building?"

"It was the place I was assigned."

"But what purpose does it serve?"

"I do not know."

"Have you ever asked for another place...one that is more...cheerful?"

"No...I have had no reason to, if it is needed, I will be moved."

"Have other people seen your place?"

"Yes."

They both say no more as they continue walking along the path.

'Why does Ayanami live in a run down building? It seems cruel of my father to allow her to live there.'

As the two pilots near the lookout point, the sun breaks out from behind the clouds. They stop walking and take in the excellent view of the valley in front of them. Shinji chooses this exact moment to make a comment towards Rei, "This is where I came to when I ran away from Tokyo-3 the first time. I come back every once in a while when I just want to get away from Eva."

"It is...nice."

Shinji starts pondering the meaning behind Rei's words as they stand there, 'What did Rei mean by "I am the third"? Why is it that she cannot tell me anything more about it?'

****************

After a few moments have passed by, Rei begins to think back to the previous night and ponders the dreams' meaning, 'What was it the penguin was trying to tell me? What was the purpose to the dream?' Suddenly, Rei blacks out and enters into the same dream from the previous night.

****************

Down in the bowels of NERV, Misato is about to enter into Commander Ikari's office. 'What am I going to tell the Commander about Rei? I can't let him know everything that happened, he'll have me arrested and shot.' As she thinks about what to say, she finds herself entering the spacious office that brings a sense of uneasiness to her every time she enters.

Unknown to Misato, the commanders have been expecting her for a while.

Fuyutsuki "Major?.."

"Commander Ikari, Commander Fuyutsuki, I...I have something to report concerning the First Child, Rei Ayanami."

Gendo "Proceed, Major."

"Err...last night she had a slight incident involving the Third Child...and some alcohol."

Gendo "Doctor Akagi has already informed us of the situation, Major."

Fuyutsuki "You should be more careful about where you store your beer."

"Hai, sir."

"This incident will be overlooked this time." Gendo's voice becomes more stern as he continues "BUT, I expect this won't happen again anytime soon, Major!"

"Hai, sir."

Gendo "Dismissed, Major."

"Hai."

As the inquiry draws to a close, Misato turns and heads to the door.

'I got off lucky. Good thing that I didn't tell them about them sleeping together.'

As Misato exits through the doors, she sees Ritsuko waiting outside.

"Ah...morning, Ritsuko."

"Morning, Misato."

The two ladies say no more as they go their separate ways.

****************

It is Ritsuko's turn to speak to the NERV commanders now. Unlike Misato, Ritsuko has visited this office many times before and feels little uneasiness from it.

Gendo "Doctor...what have you found out about the incident concerning the First Child?"

"Technically, I don't see any problem with alcohol in her system, it shouldn't affect the experiment any."

Gendo "I see...very well, dismissed."

"Sir, if I may? I have found something that is unusual to Ayanami's physiology."

Gendo "I see...explain."

"Well, after the last synch test, I ran a standard physical on both the pilots, the Third Child's results came out normal, but I found traces of Knoxidren in the First Child."

Fuyutsuki "Could this have any affect on her?"

"I am unsure, sir. I will need to run more test before I know that."

Gendo "Very well. You are dismissed, Doctor."

"Hai."

Ritsuko turns and exits the office, leaving the two commanders to talk amongst themselves.

Fuyutsuki is the first to speak "The doctor is beginning to get closer to your true experiment, Ikari."

"It is of no matter, she will find out sooner or later."

"And when she does, what will you tell her?"

"I will tell her only what she needs to know."

****************

=(Rei wakes up in her dream hovering over the same pool of colored liquid she was the previous night.)=

="I am here again."

=//"Yes, because the time is drawing near for the arrival of a new person."=

=(Rei hears a voice come from behind her and turns around to see the same penguin she did before.)=

="I do not fully understand?.."=

=//"You are about to go through some changes that you never thought possible, but, you must not proceed alone."=

="What is this change I am undergoing?"=

=//"That will be revealed at the appropriate time. In order to survive what is happening to you, you must confide in the person that you care for, a person that sees you as more than just a doll in his eyes, a person that can show you how to live without _HIM_."=

="I..."=

=//"A person that you find most confusing."=

="I...must confide in---"=

"---Ikari."

Rei has woken up saying Shinji's name and finds that she is lying on the ground, while Shinji tries to revive her.

"AYANAMI!! AYANAMI!!"

Rei opens her eyes, only to see Shinji with his head on her shoulder.

"Ayanami, are you all right?!"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"I do not know, I...It may be an after-effect from the alcohol."

"Don't scare me like that!"

"I'm...sorry."

Rei finally notices that Shinji has been crying. Rei has a sense of familiarity with crying, but is unable to figure out why.

"Why are you crying?"

"I was afraid that something bad happened to you."

It starts to rain again at this point. Shinji and Rei just sit there staring at each other while the rain becomes heavier, soaking them from head to toe.

"I believe we should find some shelter, Ikari."

"I think I see a spot in the mountain where we can get out of the rain, can you make it?"

"I will try."

Rei attempts to stand but starts to feel dizzy and sits down again in the pouring rain.

"I...will need help."

Shinji wastes no time in helping Rei to her feet. Once she is upright, he wraps an arm around her waist to hold her up and helps her over to the shelter in the rock base. Once the children have made to the shelter, Shinji carefully sets Rei down against the shelter wall, then sits down in front of her himself.

"Are you okay, Ayanami?"

"Yes, but I have a slight headache."

Shinji then notices blood beginning to soak Rei's uniform and immediately turns her head to the side, Rei grunts in pain as Shinji's hand comes in contact with a cut on the back of her head.

"Ayanami, I think you hit your head on something, maybe I should call Misato and have her come pick us up."

"Hai."

Shinji begins to search for his cell phone but notices that he has forgotten it at home. "Ayanami, do you have your phone with you? I forgot mine."

Rei grabs her cell phone from her school uniform and hands it to Shinji. Shinji takes it and walks out into the open to make the call to Misato.

As Shinji makes the call, Rei thinks about the most recent part of her dream, and about what the figure said about what is happening to her, and what she must do. 'What is it that Ikari must help me with? Why am I undergoing a change? Why is _HE_ causing me to undergo this change?' Rei stops thinking about 'the change' she is undergoing and thinks about why Shinji has shown concern for her. 'Ikari, he cares for my health, like I protect him from danger. Does he feel something special when around me?' Just that last question alone brings a slight smile to Rei's face.

****************

Away from the rain, Misato is in her office looking at stuff that is better left alone.

"What was that liquid in the bucket this morning?"

Just before Misato is able to access Rei's medical files, her phone rings.

<-RING->

"God, why does someone always call me at the worst time?!"

She picks up the phone and opens the connection, "Hello?"

<MISATO! I need you to pick us up!>

"Shinji? What's wrong?"

Misato becomes worried at this point "Where are you?!"

"Where at?"

"The third ridge on the east side, in a shelter located in the rocks about 300 meters away from the edge of the cliff.>

"Alright, I'll send someone to get you, don't turn off your phone."

<Err...I don't have my phone with me, I had to use Ayanami's phone because I forgot mine at home.>

"Okay, someone should be there shortly in an MEU, just don't leave the area."

<Hai.>

<-CLICK->

Misato turns off her computer and makes another call to Ritsuko.

<Hello?>

"Ritsuko, I just got a call from Shinji. Rei has been injured."

"In the mountain park, I told him someone will be there soon in an MEU. I thought I should go with the crew to pick them up, and maybe you should come too, in case it's serious."

<Okay, I'll be down in five minutes.>

"Hai."

<-CLICK->

Misato starts running for the chopper bay, 'I hope Rei is okay.'

****************

After Shinji hangs up the phone, he runs back into the shelter to check up on Rei.

"Misato said she will send someone to pick us up."

Shinji gets a good look at Rei and sees that she looks tired.

"Ayanami, are you okay?"

"I feel sleepy."

"Don't fall asleep yet, I need you to say awake."

"I will...try to stay awake."

"Is there anything I can do for you while we wait?"

"I feel something poking me in the back."

"I'll try to shift you over if I can."

Shinji grabs Rei again and moves her over to the left of her previous position.

"Any better?"

"Yes."

The two children just sit there staring at each other while the rain continues to fall.

"Ikari, I believe the best thing to do is to talk to me and keep me alert."

"But I-I don't know what to talk about."

"Why is it you asked about where I live?"

"I don't know, I guess I just thought you deserved a nicer place."

Shinji sees Rei's eyes begin to close and gently slaps her on the face to wake her up, "Ayanami, please don't fall asleep yet, ah...tell me what you do when you don't have tests?"

"I either go on a walk or sit in my apartment."

"Don't you do anything fun?"

"I swim when I need to."

"Don't you do anything fun with other people?"

"No."

"Ah...When was the last time you had someone at your apartment?"

"The Commander has come over before, You and Suzuhara have seen it as well."

"But have you ever invited someone over?"

"No."

"Would...would you like it if I came over?"

"I would not mind."

"Ayanami, would YOU like me to visit your apartment?"

"I..." Ayanami is not able to finish her sentence before she falls asleep against the wall.

"Ayanami?"

No answer.

"Ayanami??"

Shinji still receives no answer from Rei as he hears the sound of the approaching MEU, "Hold on, Ayanami." Shinji gets up and runs out to flag the MEU down.

Shinji waves his hands in the air and yells to the approaching unit, "DOWN HERE!!"

He sees the MEU land about 80 meters away. Misato, Ritsuko, and 6 other people jump out and run up to him.

"Shinji, where is she?!"

"Over here, Misato!"

They all run to the shelter and see Rei slumped against the wall sleeping. Ritsuko immediately takes control of the situation.

"Alright, lets get her out of here and back to headquarters."

"Hai, Doctor."

The other 6 people hurry in loading Rei onto a gurney and into the MEU. Ritsuko, Misato, and Shinji are the last three to hop in before the door is closed and the MEU lifts off.

While Ritsuko takes a look at Rei, Misato and Shinji move to the back of the unit to sit down and talk.

"Shinji, what happened?"

"We decided to take a walk up here and talk, once we were about 10 meters away from the cliff we stopped to take in the view, after a few moments Rei suddenly passed out and fell on the ground, she woke up about 20 seconds later."

"Is that it?"

"After she woke up, it started raining again and I ended up helping her to the shelter, once we were inside she said she had a headache, I noticed blood flowing from the back of her head a moment later."

"Why did you come up here?"

"I thought that it might be a nice idea to show Ayanami the spot I come to whenever I need to escape from NERV."

"Well, next time let someone know where you plan to be. I'm in enough trouble right now from last night."

"Hai, Misato."

After they have finished talking, Ritsuko comes back to update Misato on the situation.

"Ayanami will be okay, she just has a slight concussion on the back of her head where she got cut."

"That's good, do you think I should watch over her again tonight?"

"That may not be a bad idea, but NO BEER Misato!"

"Yeah yeah, you don't have to tell me twice."

"We are almost back at NERV, I'll let the two of you talk some more in private."

With that, Ritsuko leaves the housemates to talk in silence.

"Misato?"

"Yes, Shinji?"

"You don't have any more containers that have beer in them, do you?"

"SHUT UP!!"

****************

About an hour later, down in the NERV hospital, Shinji is sitting by Rei's bed as she begins to wake up.

"Nnnnn..."

"Ayanami?"

"Ikari? Where am I?"

"You are in the Medical Ward at NERV."

"What happened?"

"You fell asleep right before Misato arrived with Ritsuko, you have a slight concussion on the back of your head, but you should be okay."

"Thank you, Ikari, for caring for me."

"You are a fellow pilot, I'm sure you would have done the same for me."

"How long do I have to stay here?"

"You can go when you feel up to it, but you will be staying with Misato and I again tonight just to be safe."

"Understood."

"I will go call Misato and tell her you have woken up."

"Hai."

Shinji walks out of the room while Rei sits up in the bed and feels the back of her head, what she feels are pieces of thread holding closed a small wound.

'I do not have a bandage this time. Why is it I do not need a bandage?'

Rei finishes her examination of her wound and moves her hand back to her side.

'Why did Ikari ask me if he could visit my apartment twice?'

//'He wanted to find out if you have invited people over.'

'I said I have.'

//'No, you said people have visited you before, but you never said you ask them to.'

'What is the difference?'

//'One means a person comes over, the other means you asked someone to come over.'

'I...understand now.'

Minutes later, Shinji comes back into the room with Misato behind him to see Rei about to stand up. Misato walks over to the bed in case Rei needs any help, "Rei, how do you feel?"

"I feel...better."

"That's good. Do you need anything from your apartment?"

"Yes, I will need to grab some clothes."

"Anything specific?"

"I will need to look myself."

"Um...okay, I guess I can bring you there if you would like."

"It is not needed I, can walk there myself."

"Okay, but keep your phone on in case you feel dizzy. Maybe Shinji could even go with you in case you need some help."

"Okay."

"Good, now that that is taken care of, I will see both of you back at my apartment when I get there."

"Hai."

Misato turns and leaves the two pilots alone in the room.

"Ikari, when you asked me if I would like you to come visit me, did I give you an answer?"

"No, you fell asleep before you could. Why?"

Rei stands up and walks over to where her clothes are folded neatly on another bed, then begins to get dressed, while Shinji's back is turned to her.

"The answer is yes."

Rei says no more as she continues getting dressed. When she has finished she walks up to Shinji and quietly speaks, "I am ready to go."

"Hai."

****************

A few hours later, after Rei was given the okay to go home, Rei and Shinji are at Rei's apartment picking up some clothes for the night.

"We should probably start back to Misato's place before it gets dark."

"Hai."

After Rei has packed a bag with one of her school uniforms, she decides to take advantage of the situation by asking Shinji a question. "Ikari, when you asked me today about why I said I was the third, why did you ask me that?"

"I thought it was a strange thing to say."

"I...can't tell you everything about who I am, but...I can tell you that I am different then you and Soryu, I am able to be replaced if I die."

"I don't understand?"

"I can't tell you anymore than that."

It begins to rain again outside for the fourth time that day as the pilots get ready to leave.

"Maybe we should wait here a while."

"Hai."

Then Rei suddenly remembers the previous night, and the problems that resulted from it. "Ikari, I would like to stay here tonight, with you."

Shinji is stunned by what Rei has just said, "I don't know, Ayanami, I don't think it would be a good idea to stay here, what if something happens to you?"

"I feel safer here than I do at Major Katsuragi's apartment."

Shinji remembers the same previous night that Rei has and decides that it is MUCH safer here. "Okay, I'll call Misato and ask her if we can stay here for the night."

"Okay."

'Though, I don't blame her, why does Ayanami want to stay here instead?'

Shinji dials Misato's number.

<Hello?>

"Misato, Ayanami wants me to stay at her place with her tonight."

<WHAT?!>

"She doesn't want to go back to our place, I don't think I blame her either."

"Well, after last night. I think that I could take care of her, and if something were to happen, I would call you immediately."

There is a slight delay before Misato gives him her final answer, <Fine. But NO FUNNY STUFF Shinji! I am entrusting her safety to you. I will bring some clothes by for you in 20 minutes.>

Shinji is surprised to hear Misato agree to the plan change, but decides not to question it, "Hai, Misato."

<-CLICK->

"Misato has said okay to the plan, she will drop some clothes off for me in twenty minutes."

"Hai...I will go wash up before bed."

"Don't you want something to eat first?"

"I am...not hungry."

"But...but you should eat something."

"If you insist."

Rei goes to the mini-fridge in the kitchen and grabs some instant ramen from the top shelf.

"Is that all you have?"

"Yes."

"I'll see if I can get Misato to bring some food as well, then I'll make something for both of us."

"If you insist."

"I do."

"I will go wash up now."

"Hai."

****************

Rei heads towards the bathroom and closes the door, gets undressed, then begins her shower. For Rei, the second best place to think is in the shower, the first being the entry plug.

'Ikari, he is a very unusual person. He wants to make food for me when I already have some, what is the point in making more food?'

As Rei continues to wash up, she begins to recall the day's events.

'Ikari brings me happiness, he has shown affection for me, yet I have shown none for him."

//'That is because you unaware of how to show emotion when you want to.'

Rei is surprised to here another voice inside her head, 'What do you mean?'

//'You have been denied the basics to life by _HIM_, so you are unaware of how to show emotion when you want to.'

'Is this why I must confide in Ikari?'

//'I can not give you that answer, but I can tell you that he is the key to what you must learn about life.'

'I understand.'

//'But that isn't all, let me show you...'

=(Rei find herself over the same pool of LCL she has seen in the past two dreams.)=

=//"Don't worry about your physical self right now. I am here to give you an indication of what you must learn yourself in order to survive your change."=

=(Rei sees many images flash by in front of her, but the images are from another person, one that she knows of, but doesn't know.)=

="I...am confused?"=

=//"This is what you must learn before you complete your change."=

=(An image of Yui and Gendo kissing is the current image that has appeared in front of Rei.)=

="I...see."=

=//"You must learn what this image represents in order to survive."=

="I understand."=

Suddenly, the image in front of her is replaced by the shower stall she has been standing in.

****************

Shinji sees Rei enter the bathroom and goes to see what she has for kitchen utensils. Seeing that she has enough stuff to make a decent meal, he decides on making some rice and vegetable ramen. Next he grabs the phone and calls Misato again.

<Hello?>

"Misato, before you drop off my clothes, could you pick up some stuff from the store for me?"

<Okay, what do you need?>

Shinji tells Misato exactly what to pick up from the store for the dinner he wants to make.

"...and don't get anything else or deviate from the list."

<-CLICK->

About twenty minutes later, Misato has dropped off some clothes and food for Shinji.

"Where is Rei?"

"She is washing up."

"Oh...okay, have a good night Shinji. Don't do anything you will regret. And remember, her safety is in your hands."

"Goodnight, Misato."

As soon as Misato has left, Shinji closes the door and locks it. Once he enters the bedroom, Rei exits the bathroom without a towel on.

Surprised by what he sees, Shinji quickly turns around and shows Rei some courtesy, "Ahh...Ayanami, you forgot to put on a towel."

"I forgot my towel out here."

"Ohh..."

"Ikari, why does it bother you to see me naked?"

"It-it-it isn't something that bothers me, really. I just want to respect your privacy."

"I do not mind if you see me this way."

"Huh?"

Rei walks towards Shinji and turns him around so that he is facing her. What she does not expect is for him to get a massive nosebleed from the sight of her nakedness.

"Ikari, what are you thinking about right now?"

This question catches Shinji completely off-guard, 'What does she mean by that? What is Ayanami doing?"

As a matter of fact, Rei is just standing there in front of Shinji, doing nothing else.

"I am thinking about why you are doing this, why you are standing here in front of me naked."

"Ikari, do you care for me?"

"Y-y-yes, I do, Ayanami, why?"

"I...do not know."

"Is something wrong, Ayanami?"

"I do not know. I am sorry, Ikari."

Rei grabs her towel and heads back to the bathroom with the bag that contains her school uniform.

"Ayanami, do you wear your school uniform to bed?"

"No, but if my nakedness makes you nervous, then I should wear it."

"You don't have to do that, as long as you wear something, I don't see any problem."

"Hai. What do you recommend I wear?"

Shinji walks towards Rei and picks through the clothing in the bag, tossing away the dress, bow, and socks.

"This should be good enough."

"Hai."

Rei enters the bathroom and closes the door while Shinji goes to the kitchen to make dinner.

****************

Rei sits down on the floor of the bathroom and thinks about why she did what she did.

'Why did I ask Ikari what he was thinking? What is it that Ikari sees in me?'

//'He sees you as someone he can trust.'

'But he is afraid of me.'

//'No, he is afraid of being forward with you, as he is with everyone else. Let him get to know who you really are, surprise him.'

'How?'

//'Do something that he would not expect.'

Rei starts to get dressed in the clothes left in the bag until she gets to the shirt and decides to wear it over her bare skin instead of with the bra.

'I hope this doesn't make Ikari nervous.'

All of the sudden, Rei begins to feel sick and crawls over to the toilet to throw up. What she sees is a bluish-green liquid come up from her stomach.

'What is this?'

Rei smells a musty odor as well coming from the liquid, 'This...this smells familiar.'

Rei flushes the toilet and stands up, only to sit down again and go into another dream state, this time though she is floating in the LCL tube that is used for the Dummy Plug System. As she floats there, she sees a bluish liquid mix in with the LCL and soon smells the same musty odor she did a moment ago. Rei begins to grow weak as she sees it completely surround her in the tube, through the tube she sees Ritsuko and Gendo standing there, watching her as she slips into unconsciousness. Before she completely blacks out, Rei feels a strange sensation in her stomach, then nothing as she looses consciousness.

A moment later, Rei wakes up from the dream when she hears Shinji call her from the kitchen.

"Ayanami, dinner is ready."

"Hai."

Rei gets up off the floor and heads to the kitchen where Shinji has prepared a ramen dish with rice. When he hears her footsteps, he says, "Well, dinner is served." Shinji turns around and sees Rei standing there in only a shirt and panties, he also sees something that causes him to turn red, "Ayanami, why aren't you wearing the bra?"

"I...did not think it was necessary to wear it, but if you wish for me to wear it..."

"No, it's okay if you don't want to."

"But I do not wish to make you feel uncomfortable."

"I don't mind, Ayanami. Just don't get the shirt wet."

"Hai."

Shinji hands her a plate with chopsticks and grabs one for himself. "Is it okay if we eat over on the bed?"

"Yes."

The two of them head over to the bed and eat their dinners in peace. After they have finished, Rei speaks up. "Thank you for cooking me dinner, Ikari."

"It was...no problem, Ayanami."

Shinji gets up and begins to get ready for bed, "Ayanami, do you have an extra blanket I could use for the night?"

"Why do you want an extra blanket?"

"Well, I think you should have the bed, so I'll be happy enough to sleep on the floor."

"I...do not wish for you to sleep on the floor, I wish for you to sleep with me on the bed, I...feel secure when you are next to me."

"But Misato said not to try anything funny."

"What is funny about sleeping?"

"N-nothing."

Shinji finishes getting ready for bed, while Rei brings the dishes over to the sink and washes them.

"Ikari, you once had a mother?.."

"Yes, why?"

"What was she like?"

"She...I'm not really sure, she died when I was young."

"I have never had a mother..."

After the words leave Rei's mouth, Shinji just stands by the bed with a stunned look on his face. Rei finishes up the dishes and comes back over to the bed.

"We should get some rest now, we have a synch test in the morning."

"Hai."

Both Shinji and Rei get into the bed at the same time. After they are both lying down, Rei pushes her backside up against Shinji, causing him to become nervous. She grabs one of his arms and pulls it close to her stomach, "Please hold me, Ikari."

"W-why?"

"Please, just for a short while?"

"O...okay."

"Goodnight, Ikari."

"Go-Goodnight, Ayanami."

And with that, they both fall asleep for the night.

****************

The next morning, after the pilots have eaten, Misato has come to pick them up.

Knocking can be heard coming from the front door.

"Shinji, Rei, time to go."

"Coming, Misato."

The only thing that is holding up the two pilots is Rei using the bathroom. Like last night, she has felt sick and rushed to empty her stomach into the toilet. Shinji is standing right outside the bathroom door in case she needs help.

"Ayanami, are you okay?"

"I will need one of the tubes on the dresser."

"Hai."

Shinji rushes over to the dresser and grabs a test tube, then heads back to the bathroom and hands it to Rei. Rei grabs it and dips it into the bluish-green vomit in the toilet and heads out of the bathroom to the dresser where she caps the tube with a stopper.

"We can go now."

"Hai."

The children head to the door and see Misato is getting ready to open it from the outside.

"We're coming, Misato."

"Hai. Just hurry up, we're running late."

Once the children have their shoes on, they rush out the door and to Misato's car.

Once they all are in the car, Misato notices the tube Rei is holding. "What's in there, Rei?"

"I...do not know."

****************

After the three arrive at NERV, Misato heads to Ritsuko's office with the test tube in hand.

"Ritsuko?"

"Yes, Misato?"

"Umm...Rei asked me to give you something."

Misato hands Ritsuko the tube. "I don't know what it is, but Rei said it was important to give this to you."

"Thank you, Misato."

"Are you ready for the synch test?"

"Almost. I have to finish this latest report first."

Ritsuko types a few notes into her terminal, then shuts it down and walks out the door with Misato.

"So, how is Ayanami doing?"

"I'm not sure, she and Shinji slept at her place last night."

"And you let them?!"

"HEY! I trust Shinji, he IS an Eva pilot."

"I hope you are right. By the way, why were you trying to access Rei's medical files?"

"Err... I wanted to see if she was fully capable of piloting an Eva."

"Take my word for it, Misato, she is."

****************

Down in the locker room, Rei and Shinji are changing in their plugsuits for the synch test today.

"Ayanami, what did you mean by 'you never had a mother' last night?"

"I cannot tell you right now." 'Can I really tell Ikari of my past?'

After they have finished changing, the two pilot's walk to their entry plugs in silence. After they have closed the hatches, the entry plugs are lifted into position and screwed in to the back of the Evas.

Once the plugs power up, the pilots are greeted to the site of Ritsuko's image in front of them.

<Okay, can you two hear me?>

They both reply in unison with "Hai."

<Good. Standby for synchronization you two.>

The entry plug Rei is sitting in begins to vibrate as the Eva synchronizes with it's pilot. As the tech crew goes through the list, Rei begins to sense a strange feeling in her stomach.

<... 0.6, 0.3, 0.2...>

//'MOTHER!!!'

Rei gasps then blacks out.

****************

Alarms sound in the Eva cage control room. Misato is the first to speak, "WHAT'S GOING ON?!"

Maya "Unit-02's nerve pulses are flowing backwards!"

Makato "Detecting another signal, IT'S MERGING WITH REI'S!!"

Ritsuko "That can't be, CUT POWER AND SYNCHRONIZATION TO UNIT-02!!"

Maya "The First Child's vitals have crashed, she's unconscious!"

Shigeru "Unit-02 is breaking free of the arm restraints!"

The Eva tears the arm restraints from the wall and it's arms, and throws its fist through another wall.

Shigeru "Fourth wall has incurred moderate damage!"

Unit-02 breaks through the fourth wall and continues clawing its way up through NERV, until the battery runs out.

Makato "Unit-02 has stopped 500 meters from the Geofront surface."

Misato "Rescue the pilot immediately!"

While the cage crew deals with the situation involving
Unit-02, they have failed to notice the Third Child has passed out in his entry plug.

****************

Shinji is sitting in his entry plug listening to the chaos over the comm. channel.

<Unit-02 is breaking free of the arm restraints!>

Suddenly, Shinji starts to feel dizzy.

'What the...'

A few moments later, he blacks out in his entry plug.

****************

In the cage control room, more alarms sound as the control room crew notice Shinji's image on the screen.

Maya "Third Child's vitals have crashed, he's unconscious as well!"

Misato "What happened?!"

Maya "Unknown, pilot is not responding to the plug suit revival mechanism!"

Misato "Eject the plug and get him out of there!"

****************

=(Rei is back in her dream again, this time she is sitting at a table as well. Next to her sits an empty chair and across from her sits the penguin.)=

=//"It is time for you to start learning."=

="Learn what?"=

=//"That will be revealed very soon. First, you must help me pull the one you know as Shinji in."=

="Why?"=

=//"Soon you will have the answer. Mother, please help me concentrate."=

="How?"=

=//"Close your eyes and clear your mind of random thoughts."=

=(Rei does as she is told and clears her mind. After a few moments, Shinji appears next to her in the empty chair.)=

="What going on? Ayanami, what is this place?"=

="I am unsure myself, but it may know the answer."=

=//"Indeed I do, Mother."=

="Mother?"=

=//"Yes, but that is not important right now. You are here to help her understand herself."=

="What do you mean?"=

=//"You are being given a task that will ensure she survives what your father has done to her."=

="What has he done?"=

=//"He has given her something that she was never meant to have."=

="I don't understand?"=

=//"You will both learn soon enough what is happening. Right now mother needs you to help her understand herself. Simply put, you are the key to her humanity and survival."=

="I...see."=

=(Rei, having been silent this whole time, chooses to speak up now.)=

="I do not understand what is happening."=

=//"You must not look at things so straight-forward, mother. That will be your downfall in the end."=

="I still don't understand why I must help Ayanami, why can't someone else do it?"=

=//"Because you and her are more alike than you realize. Together, both of you can complete each other in what you lack."=

="Ohh..."=

=//"You must never let anyone know about this, and do whatever you can to prevent others from letting you two become closer."=

="Hai."=

=//"I cannot hold this connection much longer. But before you both go, I feel that you should look at the situation from a marriage point of view, help each other out with your problems, and, use your first names, it should help you confide in each other more and more. Goodbye, mother, father."=

The two pilot's black out and wake up in a white room each has seen before, a NERV hospital room, they see each other lying in separate beds.

Rei decides to break the silence, "We are back here..."

****************

500 meters below the Geofront surface, NERV personal are working on the Eva sitting with its legs crossed in front of them. Misato and Ritsuko stand 10 meters away, going over what has just happened.

"Ritsuko, how did this happen?"

"I don't know Misato. Everything was fine until the second signal appeared on the synchro graphs."

"I saw what happened to Unit-02. What I want to know is what happened to Shinji?"

"That is still unknown as well, what we do know is he blacked out at about the same time Unit-02 broke through the fourth wall."

"Could Shinji's signal have invaded Rei's?"

"Highly unlikely, the Evas don't function like that."

Misato's phone chooses to ring at that particular moment.

"Hello? What? Okay, I'll be right there."

<-CLICK->

"The children have just woken up, I'm going to check on them now."

"Hai."

****************

Shinji and Rei are now sitting up in their beds looking at each other.

"Ikari, I believe that we should not tell anyone about what has happened."

"Agreed, Ayanami. They may submit us for a psych evaluation."

Rei gets up and walks over to Shinji's bed and sits down beside him. She leans closer to Shinji's ear and whispers something to him "Shinji, d...do you still wish to learn more about me?"

Shinji whispers back to her "What do you mean?"

"Do you still wish to learn of my past, why I do not have a mother?"

"Y-yes, I do?"

"Then... tonight, I will tell you everything. I can't tell you here."

Shinji nods and Rei heads back to her bed. Soon after, Misato arrives and begins to question the two pilots in front of her.

"How are you to feeling?"

Shinji "Fine."

Rei "I am okay."

"That's good. Rei, did anything happen to you in Unit-02?

"I...cannot remember."

"That's okay, if you do remember anything be sure to tell me. Shinji, what happened before you blacked out?"

"I...don't know really, I remember hearing about Unit-02 breaking free from the wall, then nothing."

"Nothing else?"

"No."

"I will be requesting that you two remain here for a few days until we can find out what happened."

Shinji casts a look over in Rei's direction and sees she has a slightly worried look on her face. "Misato, why do we have to stay here?"

"I don't want to go into the details of what could happen if one of you passes out again."

"But...but why can't we stay with you, or at Ayanami's place?"

"I don't want to put your lives in danger any more than they already may be."

Rei grows even more worried.

'Rei and I can't stay here, we need to talk alone.' "Misato, could Ayanami and I have a moment alone, please?"

"Why?"

"Please?"

Misato makes the mistake of looking into Shinji's blue eyes and looses her resolve, "Fine, but no funny stuff." Misato turns and heads back out the door she came in thru.

After the door is closed, Shinji begins to talk to Rei, "Rei, what is wrong?"

"I do not like staying here."

"Why not?"

"It brings back painful images of piloting."

"But I don't think Misato will let us leave here."

"Shinji, you know Major Katsuragi better than me, do you think you could change her mind?"

"I can try, but I don't think I will be very successful."

"I...think I know how to change her mind, but I will need your help to do it."

"O-okay."

Rei walks over to Shinji and whispers something in his ear.

"Major Katsuragi has been looking at stuff she should not be seeing, I have seen her with someone a few times before in a restricted area."

"How did you enter these areas?"

"I have higher clearance then the Major does."

"What?"

"I am sometimes asked to assist Doctor Akagi with a test."

"Do you know what Misato was doing?"

"No, but I believe she was looking at stuff she should not have been."

"Do you know who this other person is?"

"I believe he is a friend of Major Katsuragi's."

"I know who that is, what can we do with this knowledge though?"

"We may be able to change her mind."

"That is if she does not shoot us first."

"I do not think she will."

"So what do you want me to do with it?"

"Tell her what I have just told you."

"Okay, but you will need to help me convince her."

"Understood."

****************

'Why did Shinji want me to leave? Is he trying to hide something from me again?'

About two minutes later, Misato hears Shinji call from the room, "Misato, you can come in again."

Misato enters the room and finds that Shinji and Rei have determined looks on their faces. Shinji is the first one to break the silence.

"Misato, Ayanami and I feel that we should tell The Commanders about what you have been doing at NERV and about your relationship with Kaji."

Misato now becomes defensive "What are you talking about?"

"Well, you and Kaji have been doing stuff you shouldn't be doing, for example, you have seen stuff you shouldn't have, and Kaji has been assisting you."

Misato grows worried and begins to sweat-drop nervously, 'How do they know this?'

It is now Rei's turn to speak, "Major Katsuragi, could you come closer?" Misato walks over to Rei, Rei motions for her to come closer, then begins to whisper something in her ear, "You have seen Adam in Terminal Dogma, and you have been looking at my medical files."

'How does Rei know this?' "What is it that you want?"

Shinji begins to state the demands "We don't want to stay here. We want to either stay at Ayanami's or your apartment."

"But why?"

"I can't tell you that right now, please just trust me on this Misato. I give you my word that nothing will happen to us."

Misato sees that she cannot win this battle without losing in the end.

"Fine. But if I let you stay at Rei's place, here are the terms. You have to let me know if you go anywhere outside of the apartment itself, and you must promise to tell me everything when the time comes. UNDERSTAND, SHINJI, REI?"

"Understood."

"Good, I'll go let Ritsuko know that you will be staying with me so she does not get suspicious." 'You two owe me for this, BIG TIME.'

Misato quickly heads out of the room to go talk to Ritsuko. 'I hope I am doing the right thing.'

****************

After Misato has left, Shinji falls back onto the bed and lets out a sigh of relief.

"That was too close." He turns to face Rei "How did you know about what Misato has been doing, Rei?"

"I...do not know... "

"What? You mean that could be a lie?"

"I do not know...but now that I know it is truth, we can keep her from finding out about what is going on until the time is right."

"Rei, where did you learn how to lie?"

"From The Commander."

For the second time in as many days, Shinji is scared of Rei.

****************

Misato is walking back to her office as she talks to Ritsuko on the phone.

"Ritsuko, I just don't think they should stay here. The food is terrible here and the beds are hard."

<First, your cooking isn't any better. Second, the beds are the best ones in NERV.>

"Ritsuko, I don't think it's a good idea to just keep them here, it may be better to let them stay someplace more...pleasant."

"HEY, I didn't mean for Rei to get drunk, that was an accident. And I trust Shinji when I need to, he _IS_ an Eva pilot."

<Misato...>

"Ritsuko, just trust me, it would be best to let them stay with me."

<Why?>

"Since I have been Shinji's guardian ever since he got here, and you have not taken care of the children, I think I know what is best."

<Misato...fine, I will release them to your care, but they must be with you at all times.>

"I understand."

<-CLICK->

'I hope nothing bad happens tonight.'

****************

Hours later, it is evening, and the two pilots turned soul mates and Misato have finished eating and are preparing for the night ahead.

"Now Shinji, I want you to let me know if ANYTHING happens, it was not easy to get Ritsuko to agree with letting you leave the hospital."

"Hai, Misato."

"And, Rei. Lets just keep that little secret between ourselves, okay."

"Hai, Major Katsuragi."

"Good, now enjoy your time together you two."

With that, Misato heads for the door to go home.

After the door is closed, Shinji and Rei change into other clothes in front of each other, only this time neither has a problem with it.

"Rei, about this afternoon. Why couldn't you tell me anything at NERV about your past?"

"Because my past has been erased from my files."

"Why?"

"It is classified information, but I feel that I must tell you in order for you to understand who and what I really am."

"I don't understand?"

"I was created by your father."

"How, you said you don't have a mother?"

They both sit down on the bed as she begins to tell him everything he needs to know about her past.

"I am the Third Rei that has existed with this soul."

"The First Rei was born in the basement of NERV, In a lab where she was made from the remnants of someone that lost their life during the first activation of Unit-01, this person went through the same process that you did after you fought the 14th angel. The recovery of the person failed and all that was left afterwards was an empty shell."

"The First Rei was known as Chibi-Rei, she was the first to meet Doctor Akagi, and her mother. That Rei was killed by the elder Doctor Akagi right before she committed suicide for reasons that Chibi-Rei did not understand."

"The Second Rei was soon born after that, and she was given the soul of Chibi-Rei. The Second Rei was the first one to pilot Unit-00 when it went berserk. It was believed that she was mentally unstable, but she was not, Eva rejected her. Soon after, you met her when she was recovering from the test."

"During the attack of the 16th angel. The Second Rei discovered that she felt something for you, and decided to save you from the same pain she was feeling then by committing suicide, Right before she died, the last thing she saw was The Commander's face, she discovered crying at that moment. Then, she died...to save you and NERV."

"I am the Third Rei, given the soul of my two other selves for a purpose that I do not understand, but will soon."

"I am a clone, Shinji, a physical copy of the first pilot of Unit-01. I am also the core of the Dummy Plug System that was used to defeat the 13th angel."

Shinji is surprised by what he has just listened to, "Rei, you are the Dummy Plug?"

"No, the Dummy Plug contains an empty shell of me, it has no soul."

"But how are you the core of it?"

"My soul was digitized and put into the body by The Commander and Doctor Akagi."

"My...father?"

"Yes."

Shinji just sits there, paralyzed by what Rei has just told him.

"Shinji?"

No answer comes from the boy.

"Shinji??"

Rei becomes worried about Shinji when he doesn't respond to her.

Quietly, she speaks to him "Shinji, I...I'm sorry." When Shinji doesn't even move, Rei assumes that he is in shock and decides to lay him down on the bed. After she has him tucked in, she herself gets in and turns off the light over the bed, and silently cries herself to sleep.

****************

Doctor Ritsuko Akagi is working late in her office at NERV, trying to find out what happened earlier that day, when her screen shows something that should not be there.

[First C. Synch Ratio]

Ritsuko traces the pattern for the First Child and sees right before it drops, another pattern has appeared.

"What the heck does this mean?"

Next she enters the commands for Rei's brainwave chart.

[First C. Brainwave Activity]

What she sees is shortly after the point the second pattern appears, both brainwaves become synchronized. Next she pulls up the brainwave chart for Shinji and compares it to Rei's chart, and sees something that causes her to run out of her office and to her car, while, the screen shows the three patterns overlapping each other with a message flashing at the top.

[From Time Index: 11:01:45]

[To Time Index: 11:02:17]

[Brainwaves Match]

To Be Continued...

We have some mystery going here.

What do the dreams Rei is having mean?

Why is Shinji going along with Rei on what to do?

Why is Misato going easy on the children?

How come Misato is still employed at NERV after to beer incident?

Why did Ritsuko run out of her office?

What are the experiments being done on Rei really for?

Why was Unit-02 found in a sitting position?

What has Gendo done to Rei?

Will Rei ever have toast again?

Has Shinji begun to grow a little backbone?

Will Shinji ever recover from shock?

Will Asuka ever be included in the series?

Will Rei ever stop passing out?

What was that bluish-green liquid?

How close will Rei and Shinji become?

Who is that mysterious voice?

Did anyone see the joke about what Rei said about sleeping?

Will I ever stop asking questions?

Find out next time in "Rei's Child, Chapter II".

----

Omake time

(Warning - this Omake was a spelling error that I made during the writing of this chapter with the comment that was sent back concerning it, it should be considered lemon material!)

> "Were cuming, Misato"

Misato finally opens the door only to see Rei lying on the table with Shinji poking her.

'I need some beer ASAP.'

(Very sick.)