Neon Genesis Evangelion: Forever Intertwined

Episode 26

Words from the Author:

Alright, I'm finally back into writing more or less to the pace I was before. Okay, maybe not EXACTLY, but I'm doing pretty good. I'm going to continue on from where I left off in the last episode because I left you all with a bit of a cliffhanger, which if I may say again is a very common thing in an Evangelion story. I really don't see any action for this episode, so I will be doing my best not to make it too long, but some things can't be helped. Here's the famous reminder... Neon Genesis Evangelion belongs to Anno and Gainax. No one should ever delude themselves into thinking otherwise. Enjoy, everyone.

Episode 26: Within One's Heart

The episode starts off with Kaworu and Rei on the balcony of the apartment as the words that Kaworu had just spoken to Rei ring through her head. Rei maintains her distance from Kaworu while lightly leaning her back against the sliding door that leads back into the apartment with her hands behind her back. At the same time, she displays an uneasy expression as she remembers the first time those words came out of Kaworu's mouth.

Kaworu continues to have his body facing away from Rei as he's gazing at her out of the corner of his eyes with his head turned to the left while pleasantly smiling. "You do remember, correct?"

Rei breathes heavily a little as she relaxes herself and says with a composed tone, "Indeed, and I now understand exactly why you said that long ago, however..." She removes her back from the sliding door as seriousness resonates from within her eyes. "I have changed. I am no longer bound by Lilith's soul after 3rd Impact."

Kaworu calmly responds. "I did not say you have not changed." He then turns around to face Rei, rests his back against the rails and folds his arms. "You have very much changed... But that does not mean you and I are not still the same."

Rei sharply retorts with a hint of disdain showing. "And what evidence do you have of this? This is the first time we have spoken since that day we met."

Kaworu turns his head to the right to look away from Rei while maintaining his smile. "Nero told me everything that he had witnessed here."

Rei displays a bit of surprise and jumps a little. "He told you about everyone? Not just Asuka?"

Kaworu returns his gaze to Rei without turning his head. "Of course " He then turns his head to properly look at Rei. "You all mean a lot to him apart from what he desperately tried to make you believe."

Rei smiles as she's quite pleased by Kaworu's statement. She then shows some concern and takes a few steps towards Kaworu. "Tell me what he told you about me."

Kaworu asks in a teasing way, "Why so interested, Ayanami?"

Rei quickly answers with a harsh tone. "Because you are making your judgment of us being the same by what he told you, right?"

Kaworu chuckles. "Indeed, you are correct. I like how you caught onto what I was implying."

Rei shows a bland look with her head tilted to the left. "Tell me."

Kaworu shuts his eyes while lowering his head. "He told me that you have changed. You are more social, that you have developed better relationships with the others, that you have gained qualities you lacked before..." He lifts his head up to look at Rei. "For example, your sense of humor and the value of life."

With that said, Kaworu pushes himself off the railings, unfolds his arms while taking a few steps towards Rei to have himself mere inches away from her and says with sincerity gleaming from his eyes, "You may have tried once to give up your life since 3rd Impact, but you did it with pure thought of protecting others. Not because you thought that you could be replaced."