Disclamir: I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or any characters used therein… do I really need to say this?

Iris

By Scarecrow

Chapter One

Inner Haven

It was a common misconception that Misato Katsuragi was a party girl. It was one of the many stigmas placed upon her from her college days, but the fact of the matter was that Misato never really enjoyed or frequented many parties. So calling her a party girl was simply a misrepresentation of the truth. A more appropriate classification would probably be lush...or booze hound...or for the truly up tight an alcoholic, and in that, there was a distinct difference.

It was that difference that made the thirty-ish talent coordinator, for Higher Nerv Recording Agency very uncomfortable. She was in a bar… A rather seedy bar... Awaiting the next act to come on stage… nursing the flat ginger ale. That's right, ginger ale. Not a Draft beer, not a mixed drink, not a single malt liquor. Ginger ale.

"You're act's up next right?"

Misato looked from her glass to the bleached blond beside her. Ritusko Akagi, executive of marketing at HNR and her closes friend. Best friends through college, they somehow managed to rise to board position together. Ritsuko was a promotional genius. She helped over fifty artists achieve gold in sells, and was the only person that Misato truly trusted in the entire company and she was… drinking an Amaretto Sour.

"Why ARE YOU DRINKING?" She yelled. No body seemed to notice in the noisy bar.

"Two reasons. One, I'm not driving, and two, I'm not working."

"What the hell do you mean 'not working'? I didn't call you out here for a girl's night out."

That was only partially true. If she had to burn a perfectly good Saturday night, then at least she would have some fun doing it. And while Ritsuko wasn't exactly miss congeniality, she always knew how to have a good time and managed to keep Misato out of trouble in the process… well… partially out of trouble.

Ritsuko ignored the woman beside her and continued to sip her drink.

She had never been so envious of the woman. It should have been her who was enjoying such a concoction. To Misato, alcohol was much like a good man. Stimulating, comforting, and most importantly, intoxicating… and she was certain that Ritsuko Akagi didn't know how to appreciate either. Misato looked down at the glass that rested in her friend's hand. 'Oh the things I would do to you'

Misato thought ended abruptly as Ritsuko sat the glass unceremoniously on the table and began to applaud.

She turned her attention back to the small stage at the edge of the room as the previously performing band waved to the tightly huddled crowd. She supposed it would be the polite thing to clap as well, but forbid the thought that she encourages them. Calling them a garage band would have been gracious… That would imply that they actually practiced. What she heard on stage was a menagerie of bad musicians whose over inflated egos certainly dwarfed their diminutive skills. It was that reason that she hated going to these. Trash outnumbered talent in spades… and her rule of never drinking while working always seemed to bite her in the end.

'Damn it Kaji… these guys better be worth it' she thought to herself.

That damn man. It was his "suggestion" that she checked out this band, saying that the lead guitarist what exactly what she needed. And just how was he supposed to know what she needed, huh. She didn't know why she listened to him… The sooner she learned to ignore his "suggestion" the better off she would be.

She needed a drink.

The reverb of a mic being held too close to a speaker snapped her attention back to the stage as a rather thin character, that looked completely out of placed under a spot light, spoke into the hot mic.

"Um… test…" The microphone hissed angrily back at him… "Hey, can we turn this down a little? Test… Test… okay… um… Moving on to the next band…Um… please put your hands together… as we in the teal room present to you…" The man fumbled with a note pad in his hand "… …Inner Haven?" and with that said he sutured lazily off the stage.

'This had better be good.'

The room filled with silence as the house lights dimmed in the little bar.

At least they tried to piece together a performance. The rest of the groups she heard that night just beat their instruments on stage. They had the understanding that a good stage performance invokes more than the sense of sound, but sight as well.

The tell tale sound of drum sticks rung out as the drummer counted down.

Misato hummed quietly to herself. The music flowed through out the small tavern as the lights warmed up showing four teenagers on stage, two guitarists, a bassist and a drummer… the classic rock ensemble.

They're look left something to be desired though, not to say that they were unattractive individuals. Not at all, they just looked like they came out of the crowd and hopped on stage. The drummer was wearing a badly abused jogging suit while the bassist wore jeans and a plain white tee shirt. But for the style of music, they fit in… The Rhythm guitarist too, She wore a frilly black skirt and a sleeveless black top… Granted, if the guys behind her wore leather, she would look better, but there was no problem in that. No, the real problem was with the young man standing on stage whom she assumed to be their lead guitarist. He was wearing a school uniform complete with jacket… buttoned perfectly to the top.

Misato wondered just what, exactly, she was supposed to expect from these kids. But to be honest she was a bit impressed… they didn't sound bad… not to say they sounded good. She only heard their opener, but they already bested the other groups that played tonight. There was potential there. To say that it was potential enough for her to work on a Saturday night, she doubted, but it was potential none the less so she may as well check the kids out since she was here.

(oO-Oo)

Misato sat confused… the flat ginger ale she had been nursing long since forgotten.

There was definitely something strange about the group. They had a good sound. The drummer was good, and he had the look. The bassist was quite good as well. But that didn't explain the comment from Kaji… he said the lead guitarist was what she needed... but the lead guitarist wasn't anything truly special. True, he was good… really good. It took her a while to notice, but he was covering for the rhythm guitarist at parts while playing the lead, on the fly. It was almost impossible to tell from the sound, he just did it seamlessly. That, in and of itself, was not worthy of her time, guitarist after all, were a dime a dozen.

She did have to admit that he did have a thing going for him. A weird 'do your parents know where you are right now' kind of feel, and when he finally took off that damn uniform jacket and unbuttoned his top button she couldn't help but scream as hard as the rest of the girls in the bar that he was rid of the infernal thing.

She noticed he had a good physic. Far from "hunky", but he was definitely built well…and cute.

The young woman on stage grabbed the mic as she struggled to catch her breath.

"Thank you… You guys are so awesome…" She panted into the mic. "I know it's little late for introductions but you're going to get'em any way." The crowd cheered and clapped to her. "My names Mana Kirashima, I'm lead vocals and Rhythm guitar…" The crowd cheered again. "To my left is Shinji Ikari. Back up vocals and lead guitar. I know… he's awesome right" the crowd went wild again as the young man blushed slightly and waved to the crowd. "On drums we have Touji Suzahara." Touji played a quick fill that earned another rise from the crowd, "and last but not least we have Aida Kensuke on bass." And Aida played a bass line that received more applause.

"Now that you all know who we are… I think I'm going to let Shinji take lead on this one"

Misato closed her eyes as the first strum off the song rung out. She knew it well. It was a classic from before the impact… one of the few things that she chose to remember from the time. She listened as the lead guitar seemed to dawdle along the resonance of the rhythm guitar lines, as if answering an unasked question. But it wasn't the playing that grabbed her attention.

'If I leave hear tomorrow…'

Misato's eyes popped as the dulcet sound resonated in her ears. Looking up she saw the lead guitarist singing into the mic. It was a sound that she had not expected.

'would you still remember me'

His eyes were closed as he sung effortlessly. His lips skimming dangerously close to the mic as a single bead of sweat rolled from a lock of his hear and by some strange piece of magic, hung their. There was no way this was the kid in the uniform for earlier. This was something else... This was sex… and sex sold. The boy continued to sing through the song as she sat captivated on the edge of his seat.

And then they hit the bridge.

It was different than the original but just as intense… and it was good… no it was better than good… it was awesome. It was as if, for this one song, he didn't concern himself with covering for the rhythm… and it was just him, playing for all he was worth. She heard the second lead echo from behind his, and looked over to the young woman. They must have really practiced this song if she could play a meticulous lead like the one she was playing now. She didn't seem to have the talent to play something like this. No…something was off. She studied the young woman and noticed that her hands still strummed the basic chords of rhythm.

'You have to be kidding me' she looked back at the young man… And then she saw. He was playing both leads…dueling back and forth with himself. She didn't notice when, but his pick now rested delicately between his lips as his fingers danced gracefully along the strings.

Misato could only watch him in pure awe as his left hand moved in a blur along the neck of the guitar. And the crowd went wild. He would challenge the lead with a line… then answer back, just as passionately, laying a new challenge, arguing a new position. That was exactly what it sounded like, like he was having a heated conversation with him self, both sides speaking their case emphatically… and at times simultaneously.

She looked over at the blond that sat beside her. Who sat watching the performance with the same wide eyed fascination that she had moments before.

She immediately ran her mind through the list of offer-able signing options. She would have to have this thing sealed up tonight. There was no way that she would let someone sink there fangs into him, at least not before she had the opportunity. He could go far. An illustrious solo career was a definite possible, but there was something about him being on stage next to a women that seemed more captivating.

…Asuka

She thought quietly to her self. She imagined the fiery red head next to the dark haired boy. Their styles begged to go together… the seductive vixen and the shy gentleman caller… now that was seductive. Asuka needed another group. Her voice wasn't strong enough to hold a large following yet. Sure, she could manage teeny boppers, but damn it, she hasn't been primping that girl for eight years to be a one hit wonder. But with him… Oh the future looked bright indeed.

Suddenly Kaji's words flooded to her mind. Damn it… she hated when he was right.

Well, he was good for something every now and then.

(oO-Oo)

End Chapter One

(oO-Oo)

Arthur's Ramblings:

To all you guys who got this far, thanks for reading. I'm new to this whole fan fiction thing… so please feel free to critique and criticize as you see fit… well constructively… I don't want see any comments about my mother or the size of my forehead in any reviews… but any criticism concerning the fic itself would be greatly appreciated. Anyway… I'm shutting up and getting out of the way… so go and drop a review… good, bad, or indifferent… whatever… can't get better if you don't know what you're doing wrong, right.

-Scarecrow

Songs used in chapter one:

Free Bird – Lynrd Skynrd