Standard Disclaimer
This is going to be a shorter story, just a quick little funny one while I finish the details of my next 'big' one. Thinking five or six chapters. Sad that summer is ending and my current work project has gone insane. But such is life.
X-X
Katsuragi-san's Dragon Maid
Chapter – 1
Her head ached terribly and her mouth was a dumpster fire of bad tastes, yup a lovely morning for Misato. Rolling to her side, the red glaring light from the alarm proudly told her she was already running a little late. Why hadn't her alarm woke up, not that her body would have responded much better robbed of the extra ten minutes? Reaching for the tiny plastic device, she felt along the top and sure enough the tab was conveniently slid over to the off position. Guess she played her little game again. If I sleep through the shift, I can call in sick!
It didn't matter much, if she wasn't there, they only thing people were doing or talking about was the massive undertaking of dismantling the Fifth Angel. Why couldn't it have vaporized like the Third? That would have made life perfect. Shinji already got them a perfect specimen with the Fourth, they didn't need a giant undetermined crystal sitting in the middle of the city.
"Shinji, coffee and hangover medicine please," she rolled back onto the bed, "Oh and something light. I hit it to hard last night." It had started simple enough, a night out with the bridge crew and Ritsuko. Celebrating their last victory…their victory ha…and the halfway point in the cleaning, they went out on the town! Shinji and Rei did the real fighting, they just watched…she watched. Feeling helpless in her fight against the angels, worse than helpless mortified. The boy she was starting to feel was family nearly died the first time he fought the thing, he had to fight for her! So after the others left, she hit a late night store for a bottle to share with Shinji and…
Oh god! Did she do something with Shinji? Getting up in a rush, her head swimming and her vision a swirl of unsettling colors, Misato rushed out of the room. Where was the bottle? Where was Shinji? She loved the kid yeah, but she wasn't IN love with him, and she sure as hell didn't want to have a drunken romp with him! Kid deserved better than a sloppy drunken woman's advances who didn't remember it! "Shinji, you alright?" she called out as her stomach rebelled against her.
"In the kitchen, Misato-san. Just finishing your toast and scrambled eggs. That easy enough for you? I can make some miso, but that doesn't help you much," Shinji lazily called back. Setting the table as Misato collided with the doorframe, the lad saw something that bothered him and he rushed to her side. Leading her to the bathroom by the arm, "Are you feeling alright, Misato-san?"
Just as he had done a few times before, Misato let Shinji tend to her disastrous morning. Gently taken to the bathroom, helped to her knees and her hair pulled back, Misato daintily expunged into the toilet. Gods, she was a wreck this morning. Bitter over not able to help the pilots, fear over Shinji's life, loneliness at losing connection from the other co-workers, and yet pride in all of their successes all boiled over into one long bender. Collapsing against the bowl and Shinji pat her back, "You're a true marvel my little butler. You sure you want to keep living here with me and all this?" Was he smiling like he always did when she called him 'butler'?
"Of course I want to stay here. You took me in, and who would look after you if I left?" Shinji did have a little lightness in his tone. Kid was a hard read, tried to keep everything inside, yet Misato could tell a happy comment from one of his 'just getting by' ones. Handing her the pink 'wife' cup, Shinji hovered over her as she drank the water, "Feeling better?"
Handing back the empty cup, Misato felt leagues better, "Yeah I'm good. Give me a minute unless you WANT to watch me use the privy, and I'll be out for your breakfast." She nearly fell over laughing at how fast Shinji ran out of the room, kid was too pure. He needed a girlfriend, but his options were rough. Ayanami was the best…if by best you meant most convenient…since she worked with him and spent the most time. Kids in his class were all catalogued and reviewed, not a lot of suitable candidates there…poor kid.
Taking care of business, and finding her uniform for the day already hanging in the room, Misato changed. "Kid thinks of everything, what WOULD I do without him around. Then again I shouldn't be relying on him this much…maybe giving him a complex or something," Misato found a mint in her pocket and her heart warmed. Really did think of everything. Finding him eating, and tossing a rare bit to Pen-Pen, Misato took her seat with that warm feeling growing. A nice little family. Sure she'd love more, somebody to be there for her in ways she wasn't comfortable Shinji tending to, but this was good.
They ate, she asked him about school and his two friends. With the trip to intercept Unit-02 in the planning stages, maybe she'd let Shinji bring those boys with him. Make a small vacation out of it so Shinji could relax. One of Misato's big fears was stressing Shinji out to much. She had her booze, her plastic friend, and Ritsuko for de-stress. Shinji…kid didn't even have a dirty magazine in his room. Unless he had access to extra dimensional space since she checked from time to time. Hell she debated leaving a picture of herself from college and a pair of her panty...but if he wanted he could just take it from the laundry since he did it. With Shinji's help, she felt well enough and they were both leaving on time.
"Plans for tonight?" Misato asked as they both put on their shoes. Maybe she'd take him to a restaurant or something…anything.
Shouldering his satchel, Shinji shrugged that non-committal gesture of his that said leagues. He had nothing, expected nothing, and would have supper on the table for her by the time she got home. "Homework, we have a project due," a lie or truth Misato didn't know. Opening the door for them, the two of them stood facing something neither in their life ever expected. A giant reptilian face filled the whole space, it's hot and moist breath billowed Misato's hair and Shinji's eye shut at it…then he shut the door. "Uh…did I see that…did you see that?" Shinji asked with near panic setting in.
Recovering faster than Shinji did, her military training kicking in, Misato grabbed Shinji and nearly threw him behind her. Drawing her sidearm, "Get ready to run. Maybe it's an angel, but…it looked like a dragon!" But that was insane, dragons didn't exist! Then again eldritch horrors that tried to destroy the earth weren't supposed to exist either. More pride came to her when Shinji didn't run screaming but picked up her umbrella, and the kid thought he was a coward. "On three then…one…two…" she opened the door and threw it open. No dragon but there was a girl in a maid outfit, with orange hair that flared out to red at the tips and horns.
"Katsuragi-san, hello, sorry I'm late but the writings you gave me was a little off. I had to track you by smell," the horned woman smiled energetically and bowed. Turning to Shinji her eyes hardened just a little, "Is he the butler you mentioned? Little small isn't he?" Waiting patiently at the door, Shinji and Misato moved out of the way and gestured for her to enter. Entering, the woman sniffed the air above Shinji's head and then Misato's, "This looks like a small dwelling, but acceptable."
"Um, excuse me miss…but who are you? W-what are you doing here?" Shinji asked as he kept trying to peak past Misato. Not having it, the captain continually pushed Shinji back and kept her hand at the ready just in case. Finally noticing the tail swishing back and forth behind the woman, it was plump and green, appeared slimy like a snake.
When the woman didn't answer, Misato tried, "Yeah, w-who are you again? What are you late for? C-care for some coffee while we talk?" Misato didn't even think about work, didn't think about Shinji being late for school, this oddity required all her attention and care. Those horns appeared to be bone or wood, the maid frock was of excellent design but it looked like one of those silly maid café things, and that hair was unnatural…it was so perfectly blended in its transition. "S-Shinji, do we have any breakfast left?" she told him and he hustled off to the counter.
Plopping down on the chair across from Misato, the woman's smile was wide and infectious, "My name is Tohru, and I'm going to be your maid. You offered me the position last night when you found me in the woods." When Shinji moved about, Tohru's eyes were on him and evaluating him, taking the plate of food she sampled it…then inhaled it and the coffee he provided. Almost indignantly, "I admit he has skill…but I can do this too. A dragon can do anything a human can and better."
"In the woods? You mean the one outside of town?" Misato asked as memories started to come back. She had wanted to keep drinking, thoughts of Shinji and if she was ruining his life, and the want to see the place she took him after the Third angel…had she actually went there? "I don't remember to well…and I offered you a position as maid?" Why the hell would she do that? She had Shinji for…
Taking the second cup of coffee Shinji provided, Tohru sipped this one slower, "Yes. You said you had a butler already, I assume it's that male here, and said you wouldn't mind a maid to make it easier on him. Then we drank the saki you brought…and I slept longer to fully heal from the wound you saved me from. Now I'm here." The woman beamed happiness at Misato with those colorful eyes and tiny fangs glinting in the sun.
"B-but Shinji-kun is more my w-ward than butler…" when Tohru didn't seem to pick up the term, Misato bit the bullet, "m-more my son than servant. I don't need a servant. Couldn't afford one." Shinji did all the work for free, and her car was expensive…she couldn't afford a live in maid let alone a dragon! Would she require gold or sacrifices or something? Noticing Shinji's eyes going glassy, Misato nodded and pulled him in close, couldn't put that genie back in a bottle so in for a penny in for a pound.
Oddly enough Tohru smiled at that, "So he isn't romantically involved, he's part of your family. Good, then we have nothing to compete over. And I won't cost you a thing! I would just live here with you and serve you." Tohru's tail flailed about much alike a dog's, back and forth in wide circles, Pen-Pen watched it mystified.
"D-did you hear me, I don't need a maid though," Misato smoothed Shinji's hair as she hugged him with one hand. At those simple words, Misato saw Tohru's smile fade and her tail stop instantly. The room felt as if it cooled a full ten degrees. Oh now that woman or dragon or whatever appeared devastated…Misato hated that look on the woman's face. Finally taking in the whole of Tohru, Misato was amazed she missed just how beautiful the woman was! A figure that might even be bigger than hers, a face that was equal impish as it was attractive, long slender limbs…and they all oozed betrayal.
Getting out of the chair, Tohru finished her coffee in one drink. "Sorry for the misunderstanding then. If you don't remember…and you don't need a maid. I will…leave," she pushed the chair back in and took a few steps back.
"M-Misato-san?" Shinji asked just as worried and soft. Kid had a glass heart, and it was aching seeing the woman before them so…fragile.
Even if Shinji hadn't said anything, Misato had a small thing for cast off creatures. Pen-Pen was adopted because she didn't want the bird put down, felt sorry for it. She took Shinji in as a two part plan to get some bonus, and because she hated the idea of him living alone like some castoff. A collector of the cast-off and abandoned, Misato had her answer, "So do you know HOW to be a maid? I've been feeling bad about Shinji doing so much around here. Kid should relax more, enjoy life more…a maid could help shoulder some of the burden I put on him. You alright with that?"
"Of course!" Tohru's eyes widened and the few glistening drops of flew were batted away. Clenching her hands, Tohru just vibrated with joy.
Ruining the moment, Shinji screamed out shock, "Misato-san! We're both going to be late if we don't hurry! I can make it by the bell, but what about you?" Shinji was already heading towards the door and pushing Misato towards it as well, followed by the bewildered Tohru.
"Tohru, can you get me to the base?" Misato asked without even thinking of why she asked. A dragon might be able to fly or teleport or something…and if she was late Ritsuko would read her the riot act, hell the commander might even be upset with her for it!
Shimmering green, Tohru nodded and dove over the balcony that overlooked the apartment complex's quad. Flying back up, but not in her human form, but the original green giant beast. Speaking directly into Misato's mind, "Jump on! I'll take you wherever you want to go!"
"I'll…we'll talk about this when I get back from work. Best to keep it a secret for now…bye," Misato's confidence was rocked. Not only did angels exist, but now apparently a dragon did as well? Having seeing crazy things in her life, Misato could take a lot, but a dragon that turned into an attractive woman that was going to be her maid, that was a stretch. Climbing up Tohru's back, the spine rubbed in a very private place and sent shivers up Misato to the base of her neck. "Just don't go to faaa!" Misato got out before Tohru flew off.
How Misato didn't fall off must have been magic or something, as the g-force was intense, the wind biting, and her eyes were watering. Yet she felt no real pain, never felt herself slipping, and the view from above the city was amazing. "This is..incredible," Misato gasped out…not thinking Tohru could hear her.
"This is nothing yet, Katsuragi-san! Just wait I'll show you even better things!" the energetic voice filled Misato's mind again. Guess Tohru had better hearing than expected…a lot of things were unexpected. Nobody saw them, nobody cried out in panic, and no Nerv sirens, just a breathtaking view of the city from above the clouds. Directing Tohru to the base, Misato was having a few reservations about her spur of the moment decision…but they were dwindling.
X-X
Sitting at his desk well after school let out, Shinji was just not focusing today. Hard to focus when two big mental shocks left the shores of his mind rattled. One was of course some of the best news he ever heard, the other was well it was just insanity made flesh. Hearing Misato thought of him as a son, well Shinji's poor and abused mental state latched onto that and enveloped it. Feeling lonely and abandoned for as long as he could remember, to hear the woman he was starting to care for reciprocated it? Yes, he was smiling more all day. Then there was the Tohru issue…any other day he'd be apprehensive of going back to his home…and it was a home now. But thanks to Misato's comment, Shinji would accept a 'dragon' or two.
"Ikari-kun, are you going to stay much longer? We need to finish cleaning and your desk is one of the last ones," Hikari was just a little curt. Among the class cleaners, she was the first to approach the boy who just sat staring at his school work. He hadn't worked on any of it, but his pencil was on it so he at least looked busy. Hikari and the others however likely didn't share Shinji's joy for the day and wanted to leave.
Knocked out of his happy place, Shinji quickly gathered his things, "Sorry class representative. I'll be on my way." Talking to girls…Shinji was not the master of that little skill, not even a novice. Girls were attractive, they were illusive, and they were cunning. They planned, and plotted, they moved in packs to confuse and leave guys off their stride. Shinji's strategy for dealing with women was the same he used for most things, avoid it and run if possible. Hikari was never cruel to him, always kind, and that left Shinji worried. WHY was she polite, nobody was kind for no reason.
With his half completed school work and books in his satchel, Shinji bowed lightly to the cleaners and rushed out of the room. He overheard one of guys making a joke about him, the others laughed except Hokari. The class representative told them to be polite and get working. Maybe he was a bit wrong in thinking EVERYBODY was mocking him, but it was just easier to lob everybody into one bucket. It was safer, it was less painful. "But what if Misato-san didn't mean what she said…" but Shinji couldn't believe that. Misato's comment had come out to out of the blue, to sudden at the arrival of that abomination to be faked. But why had Misato asked Tohru to live with them?
Slowly walking out of the school, Shinji pondered that leisurely. Misato had taken him in when he had no place really to go, maybe she just liked to help people in that position. Despite being a drunk, slob, horrible tease, Misato was a good person. She didn't show it to those that didn't know her, that didn't get close, but the real Misato was far better than the prim and proper Captain Katsuragi. And they did have an extra room, so why not keep a…a dragon. A very attractive dragon in human form, but Shinji was smart enough to see Tohru had soft eyes for Misato and until she heard he wasn't a threat harsh for him.
"No matter, I'm fine like this," Shinji mumbled. He wasn't alone now, not after this morning's declaration. Let people with more courage take the risk and date and get into relationships. That wasn't for him, not everybody HAD to do such things. Rounding a corner that would lead him to the exit, Shinji suddenly saw a very fancy fingernail right before his eye on hand extended its digits to the max. Letting out a shrill yelp and crooning his head back, thankfully the nails didn't gouge his eyes out just cut his eyebrow. But not being the most dexterous of people, Shinji's leaning sent him tumbling back onto his butt.
What other students saw the exchange pointed and laughed. Why wouldn't they? However the source of the sudden assault and her two friends weren't laughing and gathered around the downed pilot. "OH hey sorry about that! I didn't…wasn't looking where I was going and showing my friends my new nail job!" an energetic upperclassman said. The woman was a vision if nothing else, tall, long blond hair done up fancy in twin braids, well-honed makeup, and well…a very large bust possibly larger than Misato's.
"Galko-chan you need to watch where you're going, I mean you cut his face," the mousy looking girl to the attackers immediate right said deadpan. Now this was a girl more Shinji's understanding, with frizzy hair and glasses that matched Kensuke's.
Rubbing at the injury, Shinji was a little shocked to find blood on his fingers. Not a lot, but facial wounds tended to seep quite a bit. Ashamed and embarrassed at being bowled over and being hurt by the woman, Shinji's shame was overpowering. A 'popular' girl…he hated them. Well not them, but what they represented. People who thought they were better just because of status. People that wouldn't spit on him if he was on fire, best to avoid those types most of all. "I'm fine, I should be watching out too," Shinji couldn't look up at them. Other upperclassmen were moving about, taking notice of the exchange, great they may even start to bully him if this girl 'Galko' was popular enough.
"But how could you watch for somebody throwing their hand around a corner?" the last of the trio to the extreme right of the first asked. Somehow this one sounded very conflicted…ditsy yet regal, a very odd combo. Attractive as well, with longer straight hair, and a bangle on her wrist that just screamed expensive.
Kneeling before Shinji, and unexpectedly flashing him, "That could get infected. I'm so sorry. We're going out for karaoke and I was really proud of my nail job and…I'm sorry. Here, I should have a band aid." Rifling through her back, the woman loamed over the boy, and he saw the envious stares of some of the older boys. Pulling one out, "Here let me clean that and put this on for you."
"You'd make a good mother," Shinji blurted out quite against his wishes. It just came to him, bubbled up from inside and tumbled out stupidly. But anybody that had disinfectant and bandages on them at all times, the girl's nature was oppressively nice, and how tenderly she treated his injury it just screamed matronly. After his words filled the hallway, the woman looked at him and her hand stalled as she blushed. Sliding out from underneath her, "I'm sorry…just…you were very gentle and…and…I'll shut up."
Standing up quickly, yet extending her hand down to Shinji she kept it there till he took it and she yanked him up. "S-so…like I was saying. We're going out to sing. W-want to come along? Be an apology for hurting you. You guys don't mind right? They call me Galko, this is Otako, and Ojou," Galko gestured to her friends in kind.
"Hey wait," the girl labeled Otako adjusted her glasses, "Aren't you Ikari Shinji? The pilot of Unit-01?" The other two girls gasped at that, and Galko paled terribly. "Better watch out Galko-chan, you might have just committed a felony! You better pay him back with your body or he'll turn you in and you'll go to jail! And with a figure like yours, you'll make a big splash in prison!" Otako teased yet moved closer to Shinji.
Waving his hands wildly, Shinji wanted to leave and leave now! More people were paying attention to him, never a good thing, this girl knew he was a pilot as well. "It was an accident, no worries at all. And I wouldn't want to intrude on your evening, I have a guest at my apartment anyway. M-my guardian has a friend over and I need to tend to her," Shinji slowly moved in a circle around them…but saw older boys moving in close. Great, just great they were going to do or say something to the 'little kid' that had the audacity to talk to his 'superior'. About to run off, he winced as he heard his cellphone hit the ground…couldn't this just end.
"Next time then, when you're not busy. And make sure you wash that again when you get home, Yuusha," Galko beamed a smile at him. Picking up his phone, she worked it with the skill of somebody that spent a lot of time with phones. "Added my number, just text me whenever you're free and we can set something…up…WHAT are you smiling at!" Galko turned to her friends.
Hurrying off before he could hear anymore, Shinji just wanted this encounter over. It was a joke, they were setting him up for something and he wouldn't fall for it. Avoiding eye contact with those that had watched the encounter. Just get home and delete the number, let the encounter fade away. "She wore pink…lacy pink…" Shinji said and grunted out frustrated. That image might be stuck in his mind for a while. Banishing it as best he could, not well, he hurried home to avoid anymore embarrassment.
"I'm home," he called out not knowing what to expect. Was Tohru still there, or did she rush off somewhere never to be seen again. Now in a perfect world that was exactly what would happen, but Shinji had given off the idea of perfection. Setting his satchel down, he timidly moved about the apartment and waited for fate to intervene. And he saw Tohru gazing out the window overlooking the city. "T-Tohru-san, are you alright, anything I can get you?" he didn't know to interact with this new creature.
Turning quickly, her tail knocking over the assembled junk on the coffee table, Tohru nodded confidently. "Yes…boy…knowledge. You're a butler, and based on how Katsuragi-san said it, that is something like a maid! So you'll tell me, what does a maid do besides hold up signs?" Tohru presented her own sign. It was just a white piece of paper with the words Tohru and Katsuragi and a heart surrounding them.
So she forgot his name, and apparently loved Misato, whelp Shinji was just happy not to have been thrown out by the woman. "Did you see a maid café on your way here and that is where you got the idea? My name is Shinji if you forgot," or didn't care to remember which could have been the case. Keeping a distance from the woman, something about her just never stopped seeming dangerous.
"I did, where I got the idea for the clothing. You humans have such silly clothing, a dragon would make something MUCH better. But if Katsuragi-san likes it, I'll keep using it. So what else does a maid do?" Tohru put her sign down and stalked around Shinji. She didn't have the harsh glare she originally had, more curiosity now that bordered enthusiasm. Pointing at his head, "You got hurt? Was there a battle? This world has the smell of holy invasion."
Sitting on the couch, Shinji turned the television on, more for the sound than for the show, and he gestured to the chair. Shivering when Tohru sniffed his hair a few times before sitting. "Well, what you saw wasn't really a maid. They're just restaurants that dress up like them to increase sales. Actual maids cook, clean, and tend to the house of their employer. I don't even know if all maids have uniforms like yours. W-where did you even get it?"
"That stuff is easy! How hard could cooking and cleaning be? As for this," Tohru gestured to herself, "It's my scales. I can make them look like whatever I want!" To mystify the mortal boy, Tohru shifted her gloved hand into several variants before ending with the white again. Puffing her chest out, Tohru was pride on tap, "So, since you are her offspring, basically, what does Katsuragi-san like! What food does she like, drinks, do for fun, tell me so I can be the best maid for her!" Why she was so focused on this task, Shinji wouldn't venture a guess nor bother trying.
Turning down the volume, Shinji leaned back in thought, and to avoid the bizarre nature of Tohru's human form. "Well as for drink that's easy. Just about anything alcoholic, but most Yebisu is her preferred beer. She'll eat junk food all the time unless I make her eat healthier, but her favorite is ramen with curry in it. As for hobbies…driving fast, board games, and teasing me. She's…nice but a slob when left alone so I…we'll have to clean up after her," Shinji was going to try accepting Tohru. Misato wanted Tohru to stay, and Shinji saw that broken and neglected expression Tohru had this morning and wanted her to stay as well.
"Curry and ramen…show me this. I want to learn how to make it how she likes it!" Tohru grabbed Shinji by the back of the neck. Carried like a cat into the kitchen, Shinji was disturbed at how easily she lifted and carried him. It was as if he was made of air and mist, no lighter than a feather. Dropped unceremoniously in the kitchen, Tohru was bouncing on her feet as she waited her 'training'.
Getting out the ingredients, his original menu planned for the evening thrown out, Shinji set them all on the counter. "Did you want me to cook and you watch it, or did you want to get some practice in?" Shinji asked. He learned better by doing and not watching, who knew how a dragon learned.
"I'll do it, I want to make her first meal perfect! So…what do I do next?" Tohru approached the cutting board. Grabbing the cutlery in her fists, she watched as Shinji picked up a second and followed suit. "Oh so it ISN'T held like a dagger. Makes sense, humans need such help with such simple things," Tohru laughed. Guess dragons had a superiority complex to humans, fitting.
Over the next two hours, an hour and a half longer than it normally took, Shinji taught Tohru how humans cooked ramen. It was mind shattering how strong Tohru, and how she could use magic. Whenever she spit the cutting board, she'd just point at it and it was whole again! If the food wasn't to her liking, she created more. Again and again Tohru tried to follow Shinji's instructions and was in fact a perfect student! Everything he told her, she grasped neigh instantly and often applied a small change to make it better for herself. Finally they had a pot of curry and ramen Shinji was amazed came from their cheap stock.
"There, that should do it. Now we just have to wait for Katsuragi-san!" Tohru spun around holding the plate. Leaning over Shinji after she set the plate down, she nodded a single time. With one eye closed, "I will tolerate you, boy, as you are her offspring. But try to get between Katsuragi-san and me and I'll gut you. Alright?" She extended her hand out in an awkward handshake.
Her grip was strangling and he worried his bones might snap, but Shinji knew it was actually not on purpose. Tohru was just establishing intent and dominance…how the jocks and bullies acted at school. "That is fine, Tohru-san. I don't plan to get in your way, and I thank you for helping me around the house. If you need any tips, just ask," he actually smiled. It was hard not to like Tohru, even if she constantly stated how superior dragons where to lowly humans. She was chipper and energetic, much like Misato. And she had powers that left his brain hurting…life had changed again. When Misato did get home…Tohru was overly smothering with her affection for Misato, Misato who actually looked to enjoy it. Shinji was happy to see that.
X-X
A week into Tohru's tenure as a live-in maid and she was starting to get the hang of things. Humans really did live odd lives, but for Katsuragi she'd gladly perform the silly tasks. They made her happy to see and hear Katsuragi's approval. Defending the home against thieves, cleaning the mess, and cooking delicious food, yeah she could do this for a good long time. Moving about the apartment after Katsuragi and Ikari had left, she hummed a little ditty to herself as she cleaned. Mop on the hardwood floor, she made it shine with just a little saliva mixed with the solution Ikari used.
"You…keep getting in my way and I'll cook you, bird," Tohru glared down her deepest enemy as of late. Pen-Pen always got to sleep in Katsuragi's room, Tohru only got to do so twice! The pet got to snuggle close up with Katsuragi, Tohru wanted that position, but she couldn't cook the bird for some reason! Bowling Pen-Pen over as the avian stood his ground against the mop, Tohru smirked as he warked and waddled off. Two nights ago she had a terrible dream, a dream of pain and fear, and she fled from the room Katsuragi gave her to the woman's bed. Maybe it was just because Katsuragi was mostly asleep, she let Tohru climb in and the fear and pain instantly left. "Wonder if Ikari ever did that?" Tohru wondered.
Putting her mop away, Tohru went to the next of her duties. Laundry was a wonderful time of the week. She didn't need to do the cloths everyday, but when she did…joy. Taking the clothing out of the drier, Tohru set about separating Ikari and Katsuragi's into two piles. "He is her offspring, even if not by blood," Tohru had seen it before. It was rare, but some parents abandoned their offspring and another dragon or family would adopt the fledgling. And watching the two humans interact, yeah Tohru accepted Ikari as Katsuragi's. And since he wasn't trying to get between them, Tohru accepted him as her offspring as well. You protect your brood, she would protect Katsuragi and Ikari, just…if one HAD to go it would be Ikari.
Looking at the mound of Katsuragi's clothing, Tohru had to wipe the drool from her lips. "Oh no it is still a little dirty, better sanitize it," she said to Pen-Pen that watched. Taking wads of clothing she stuck it in her mouth after getting a good heavy sniff of it. Oh how Tohru loved Katsuragi's scent! It was a cornucopia of aromas! Using her potent saliva to clean and sterilize the articles of clothing, she felt her wings pop out a little. Leaving Katsuragi's clothing out to dry a little more, Tohru bundled up Ikari's and put his in his room.
"His room is very drab, not like Katsuragi's at all," Tohru quipped. Plopping the few school uniforms and even rarer casual clothing on his bed, she just scanned the room. Nothing denoted it was lived in except the sign on the door and the clothing on the bed. Maybe Katsuragi would get HER a sign for her door…would be better if it was a sign for their combined room! In time, in time. Spotting a lacy bit of purple, Tohru's heart spiked, "Oops, I left some of her undergarments in his pile…" Katsuragi joked about that last night after her third post meal Yebisu. Tohru took to teasing the lad just as Misato did, it was fun and reminded her a little of Kanna, and that reminded her of home.
Since Ikari was going to cook today, she agreed to let him help from time to time, Tohru found herself on the veranda overlooking the city. "Let's go see what they're up to!" Tohru was dizzy with anticipation. Katsuragi wasn't alright with Tohru wandering the city alone right now, but if she kept her veil up so nobody saw her, Tohru saw no problem with it. And she was interested in what her flatmates did while away. Their talks about 'angels', 'evangelions', and 'geo-fronts' had left Tohru a little complex. The angels sounded like the Holy war machines, but old and antiquated ones that the Chaos Dragons easily dispatched centuries ago.
Scrawling a quick note to Ikari, just in case watching Katsuragi turned into something greater, Tohru reverted to her true form and flew off over the city. It felt great to stretch her wings, to feel the wind in her face, but she did knock over odd little metal bits atop the buildings. Did they call them antennae or something? Thankfully they were far too weak to hurt her so Tohru paid them no mind. Catching Ikari's scent on the wind, an easy task for one such as Tohru, she flew off towards his school. Seeing a lot of children outside in the quad, and noticing the sun was at its midpoint, Tohru landed and turned back into a human. "It must be their lunch time," she figured. Kids were eating and mucking around.
Keeping her veil up, she moved through them with ease. So a peaceful world this was, the humans so soft and vulnerable. In her world kids this age would likely be training for military service or starving somewhere. So, what was the child of her little brood doing? A child with Katsuragi-san, that was something Tohru was starting to think about. For the first time in her existence she felt such total a pure love for another creature. Following Ikari's scent she wandering the building a little. Katsuragi teased him about girls liking him, was that the case and he was hiding it when provoked.
"She smells…off," Tohru stopped in Ikari's classroom as she saw a blue haired girl with red eyes. Almost a Holy scent but a nasty perversion of it. Since Ikari wasn't in the room she continued her search, and found a stronger scent trail…she'd ask about the blue-hair later. A floor higher, Tohru found her target and a grin spread across her face. He WAS talking to a girl, well more the girl was talking to him. Moving in closer to hear better, Tohru was getting ammo for tonight's teasing.
Keeping a friendly distance from Ikari, the girl leaned in to peek at the box of food he had, "Oh so you bring your own bento as well? Boys that can cook are rare, good on you. So you think about going out to karaoke with me and my friends yet? I still feel I owe you for that cut last week." The girl reeked of pheromones and the artificial scent that Katsuragi used. Though Tohru loved Katsuragi's original scent far more.
"I'll think about it, Galko-san," Ikari couldn't look at the woman, "I have to cook tonight for my guardian and her friend. And like I said before, it was an accident so it isn't that big of deal." He squirmed under the gaze of the larger woman, who was moving as Tohru noticed, intentionally to get his attention. Finally turning to her, Ikari had that look about him that Tohru was starting to dislike, a look of fear, "You can text me though when you're about to go. If I'm done cooking already I'll ask if I can."
Flicking Ikari's forehead lightly, this Galko laughed lightly, "Sure thing. Hope you can make it this time. I hate owing somebody. Oh and Otako-chan wants to talk to you about that robot of yours. Talk to you later Yuusha." With a wave the busty girl turned and skipped off. Tohru watched her go and Lucoa instantly came to mind…close to same hair color and the large breasts. Now that girl had a low case of attraction based on the pheromones Tohru smelled, these Teenagers were so easy to read. But why had Ikari gotten scared and sent her off?
"Ikari, what the fuck did we tell you squirt?" the cause made itself known. Walking around Tohru as she contemplated the departing girl. A group of three larger boys strode up to Ikari and pressed him against the wall. Slapping the uneaten lunchbox on the ground, the food scattered and ruined, "Kids like you need to know your place. You're dirt under our shoes, so don't go sniffing at Galko-chan's panty just because you're this hot-shot pilot." The lead male grabbed Ikari by the shoulder and slammed him against the wall hard. Holding him by the shirt, lifting him off the ground, "Next time she talks to her, tell her off, call her a name or something. Anything to get her to stop talking to you. She's to nice to do it."
Rage, rage filled Tohru as her beloved Katsuragi's child was being accosted by a pack of cowards. Mating rituals were the same here and as it was among the humans of her world. The urge to knock them down, to hurt them as they were hurting was going…but Tohru was smart enough to know a better solution. Quickly finding the departing girl, Tohru pulled off one of the girl's hair ties. Pretending to be the wind, she tricked the girl back to the assault still in progress. Let's see how the girl likes seeing the cowards attacking Ikari. With how soft this world was, such acts of violence likely wouldn't be seen as good. The more 'civilized' humans got the more they tried to hide their violent nature.
"Hey! What the hell are you guys doing to him!" Galko yelled as soon as she saw what was happening. Rushing over to them, she got between Ikari and the other boys who now looked horrified.
Clapping her hands, Tohru bobbed her head as she did a good job. Watching the aftermath for a few minutes she had enough to tease him on. After chasing the boys off, Galko asked Ikari about the ruined lunch, and then they shared hers. Yup, a good job done…now for the reward! Finding an open window, Tohru leapt out and flew off towards Nerv. It was harder to find, the car masked Katsuragi's scent very well, but not enough. The true issue for Tohru was getting into the base! That place was locked down and covered in doors and grates all over it. So, she waited for somebody else to enter and she held the door open so she could enter. Something must have broken as the door didn't shut, but no matter.
Once inside of Nerv, it was a lot easier to find Katsuragi, her scent stood out a lot more in the artificial environment. Moving through the base, Tohru frowned…it was a military base. The uniforms gave it away, even if they weren't training and had no weapons. The air about the place, the miasma of depression oozing out of everybody did fuel Tohru and wake her up a little more. Chaos Dragons could feed on such emotions, and it was such feelings that woke Tohru after a long nap.
"So many people here, and it has such a strange smell," Tohru didn't like it, it had the subtle smell of Holy and Order. Order opposed Chaos, was Katsuragi working for Order? No, Katsuragi was to wild and untamed to be a laky of Order. And it was far too subtle and low to be official, neither side played coy.
Moving through the hustle and bustle, eventually Tohru found herself on the command bridge. Hands clasped together, her horns tingled, she found Katsuragi-san! The bridge was all working, staring at those computer boxes, looking at screens, and manipulating dials. This world was far more advanced than her own, where the humans still lived in huts and stone houses. Content to just watch Katsuragi in her element, Tohru was happy to do so.
Katsuragi was the focal point of the room, Tohru wouldn't have expected less, and commanded the lesser humans about like a general. What they were talking about, Tohru hadn't the foggiest, but she gleamed they were scanning for things and setting up defenses. Odd though, if it was the war engines of the Gods, why would this base have the lingering scent of it? Questions for later, when she didn't have Katsuragi to watch!
"Katsuragi-san, I have the repair report on Unit-00. The armor had to be scrapped and totally replaced. But it's complete and ready for testing," the man in the glasses stood far to close for Tohru's liking. The man, Hyuga if she remembered right, had his sites on Katsuragi!
Finishing off the last vestiges of the lunch Tohru made for her, Katsuragi took the paper from the man and nodded. "Get Ritsuko up here, we need to have Ayanami tested now that it's cleared for use. Guess that means Shinji needs to start testing again too," Misato drummed her fingers over the paper.
Poking his nose into zones Tohru was ready to throw him for, Hyuga gazed into Katsuragi's lunchbox. "What are those odd green-red bits Katsuragi-san? Ikari-kun use spoiled meat or something in your lunch?" he pointed at the hunks of meat left behind.
Tohru's tail stood out violently! Spoiled!? This human dare call her tail meat spoiled! It was fresh and delicious! "She found it again! Why won't she eat my tail?" Tohru was disappointed. She had tried a few times to get Katsuragi, and Katsuragi only, to eat her tail but all for naught! Every time it was either found and separated or declined. Someday! Someday she'd get Katsuragi to taste her tail!
"It's not spoiled at all. Just not something I feel like eating, and no you can't have it. And if Unit-00 is finished, I guess we can speed up the acquisition of Unit-02, get on that," she shooed the man away. Leaving Katsuragi to her own work, Hyuga left scratching the back of his head dejected…good stay away.
Wandering about the command bridge, Tohru gleamed what she could of the workings of those Katsuragi dealt with. The girl was reading a magazine most of the time, the long haired man was playing an imaginary lute, and the tricky male read picture books. When another woman came onto the bridge, Tohru was awoken from a semi-doze, human work was a little boring.
"What did you need Misato, shift is nearly over and I want to relax. Been a long day," the new woman was blond and smelled horrible. But unlike the man, Katsuragi let this one get in closer and that got Tohru's attention. Opening Misato's long forgotten lunch box, Ritsuko's eyebrow raised, "Ikari-kun buying you fancy stuff now? That isn't beef." Grabbing a piece she tossed it towards her mouth.
Intercepting the bit of tail, Misato tossed it back into the box, "Not for you. And you're right it isn't beef. But it isn't Shinji-kun's doing. I have…a new border right now. Friend I made while drinking last week after you guys left me. Her name is Tohru and she's…going to be staying for a while. Helping Shinji keep the place clean." Katsuragi's face softened as she sealed the box and put it away. Getting up, nearly knocking heads with Ritsuko, she rotated her arms to work a kink out. After a small yawn, "And I wanted to tell you that Unit-00 is ready for testing and that means we can move up the timetable for Unit-02"
Joining Misato in walking towards the door, Tohru kept in front of them and grew too loath this Ritsuko woman. How DARE another human get so close to HER Katsuragi-san, it wasn't allowed! "Great more testing, the commander will insist we start either tomorrow or the day after. Just what I wanted. So now that you ruined my mood, how are you going to make up for it? And this Tohru, not another teenager you grabbed I hope," Ritsuko asked as the headed to the car garage.
"Want to meet her? Shinji-kun is cooking tonight so we can all get a good drink on and you can meet her," Misato offered simply enough.
Taking off as Ritsuko agreed to it, Tohru had to go inform Ikari of the change in plans. And she had to ask him a few questions about this Ritsuko woman! Tohru needed to think and plan, oh and see how the lunch ended for him.
X-X
Color Misato happily content with the new change in her life. Two full weeks of living with her new maid, Misato was enjoying the change more than she expected. Her little moment of sympathy for the wayward woman left not only her life better but Shinji's and Tohur's as well. It wasn't all roses and clover, the queue to the bathroom was horrid at times, but the bad was far outweighed by the good! Tohru was learning not to destroy or lick her clothing, and Shinji wasn't forced to do all the work himself! And…Tohru was a perfect aid in Misato's favorite pastime of teasing Shinji.
But one thing Tohru needed was casual clothing, not that Misato had a problem with the maid outfit. The cosplay French maid outfit suited Tohru really well, go figure it was magic, but everybody deserved a little extra clothing. So on their shared Sunday off, Misato was insisting on this little shopping trip. "Are you sure you don't want to hit up the mall? That place has all the stuff we need, and we might see that girlfriend of yours Shinji-kun," Misato teased the lad she drug along. Maybe get him a nice gift or something. Tohru had called out the empty nature of his old room…he switched with Tohru for some reason giving her the bigger room.
"She's not my girlfriend, Misato-san! We just…we just had lunch the one time and text a little," Shinji blushed and tried to collapse into himself. Walking down the open air market, both Shinji and Tohru got more than a few hello's from the sellers. And the boy was selling the situation short, it wasn't a few texts here and there, Misato watched him texting for over an hour most days!
Waving at a fish seller, Tohru looked over at Shinji and got a wicked gleam in her eye, "So you didn't each the lunch she made for you yesterday? 'I made to much, help me eat it' sounds pretty forced to me. And if you could smell her pheromones…" Tohru trailed off with a glance right over at Misato. With Misato at the center of their little walk, Tohru beamed her hope for praise from Misato. "And that place, the mall, is too much like a castle for my tastes. Bad memories of those places. Rather be out here, more like my home," she fixed her basket that already had a complementary bushel of carrots.
"You're not telling me things again, Shin-chan. Keep downplaying this girl and I'll have you bring her over some night," Misato threatened without intent. It wasn't as if Misato didn't have a full readout on this girl already. Name, family, candidate potential, and all the rest. She hated to spy on him, but Shinji was important not only to her but humanity as a whole. Couldn't let some random girl with a bad mental tick get attached and hurt him or something. So far Shinji's 'Galko' checked out, so Misato would let it play further. Watching a butcher wave Shinji over, Misato stopped, "What is it about you two and this market?"
Standing at Misato's side as Shinji headed over to the gruff looking mountain of a man, Tohru just so happened to brush up against Misato's arm. "He brought me here to the shopping done last week. I've been coming here ever since. They're easy to cox and think I like them, I get bonuses. Only humans that matter are you two," Tohru was smiling and happy as she said it. Times like that reminded Misato that Tohru didn't care much for humanity as anything other than insects, herself and Shinji aside.
"You're fitting in more and more, I never came here with him. How much did he do before you showed up to help? Thanks Tohru," Misato patted that hand next to hers. Tohru was simple despite her massive powers, Misato gleamed. Hint at wanting Tohru's help or how she 'appreciated' Tohru and the dragon leapt at the chance to please Misato. It was oddly flattering to know such a powerful creature was smitten with her.
If a person could actual glow, Tohru would be doing it, "Of course! I'll do more if he wants. My duty as a maid means I should take care of it!" She really was a simple dragon. Taking the cut of beef that Shinji handed her, "Thank you Togasa-kun. Did you get him to give us the lean cut this time, Katsuragi-san deservers the better cuts."
"Y-yeah I did, but I feel bad about it. He gave me such a nice discount," Shinji moved back to Misato's side. What was this little collusion going on here? Tohru was teaching Shinji to trick better deals from people? Chaos real did spread didn't it.
Continuing down past more stalls, Misato was relieved her spur of the moment decision hadn't hurt or ostracized Shinji at all. If Tohru didn't like Shinji or made him feel put out, she'd have to pull the plug on this little experiment. But they were getting along well, Tohru was treating Shinji well and he was warming up to her, good deal. "Well you ready to get some new cloths, my treat for all you've done. And if you see something Shinji-kun, say the word. You need some better casual clothing too," Misato stood proudly before one of the few clothing shops in the outdoor arcade.
"Stop teasing you two. It's too early for talking like that, he's shy. I mean I text you guys and you don't think I'm…" a very top heavy blond said as she opened the door. Coming to a halt the teenager nearly collided with Misato but stopped, her friends however did crush into her back. Rubbing the back of her head, "Sorry miss, I didn't see you there and…and…Shinji-kun?"
Spreading out behind Galko, Otako and Hime stepped outside of the store and stared at the trio before them. "No go on, Galko-chan, what were you about to say you're not? Was it lesbian? We know that since you've been talking about…" Otako found her mouth covered with Galko's hands as she frantically looked back at the older women.
So this was the Galko from Shinji's phone and the other side of those text messages. Color Misato confused, this was NOT what Misato expected. A fashionista that had the body of a pornstar? Seriously, Misato wondered if this teenager was bigger in the chest than she was, was this Shinji's taste in women? Misato had expected a girl more like the giggling girl not the painted nails, the eye shadowed, and oddly timid looking girl. "So you're the other woman making moves on my Shinji-kun are you? Not what I expected," Misato crossed her arms and did her best browbeating attempt.
"S-s-she isn't make moves or anything Misato-san, it is just a few lunch recipes and the like," Shinji waved his hands about dismissively. He took a few fugitive looks at the trio of school girls, but his shoulders slumped as he continued.
Snapping her fingers, "Tohru get their phones. Let us see if it is simple texts," Misato had to act fast. If these kids started to recover from the shock of running into one another they might realize she shouldn't be doing any of this.
"Here you go, Katsuragi-san!" Tohru had moved faster before anybody could react to. If Misato asked, Tohru listened. Holding both phones out, Shinji's was unlocked yet the other girls had the password screen. Tohru handed over the devices and crossed her arms in success.
Swiping at Misato's hand, Galko's face was full red, "Don't read those! Those are private! And…just because you're his guardian doesn't give you this right to invade our privacy!" Galko hip-checked Shinji to the ground as she frantically tried to get her and his phone back. But Misato was a little taller and faster, added Tohru was a wall Galko had to go around as Misato spun.
"If you get defensive, it means you have something to hide, that denotes guilt," Misato kept her hands stretched upward. Reading the texts on Shinji's side, her eyes went wide, what have her ward and his lady friend been talking about? A lot of questions…so many questions…none of it simple topics. Nope, 'does it really stand up in the mornings', 'how big can it stretch', and more oddly sexual questions but no overt relational texts. Looking at the girls, Misato's eyebrow rose high, "You three are some odd birds. They have books you can read about this and not…and to answer your last question yes every man needs time after they finish before it gets hard again."
Getting off the ground, Shinji spoke before thinking, "That isn't right Misato-san, mine doesn….t" And four sets of eyes were on him, Tohru's were still on Misato. His whole body going red, Shinji's eyes bounced around as he let a very personal piece of information out, and he was about to flee.
"I'm keeping these for now, you four get some lunch my treat. And when you get back I'll give you these back. I need to review them a little more. Unlock yours so I can confirm things," Misato held Galko's out to the girl. Watching her put the password in, 8-5-4-3, Misato fished out some money and handed it to the woman. Leaning in close, whispering to her, "You be honest with him. I won't stop anything if you want it, but if you fuck with him for fun I will end you." Her smile was genuine and the stunned expression on the girl's face told much.
Taking a few steps backward into her friends, Tohru pitching Shinji towards them, Galko nodded, "I'm not playing, just not sure…" Then the quickly sped off towards some of the food stops leaving the adults behind.
It took Misato a few seconds before her façade broke and she laughed heartily. Handing Tohru one of the phones as the entered the shop, the bell tinkled their entrance, "Take a look at these things. Kids are so strange nowadays. And to think they're asking each other such peculiar questions, kids just have sex on the mind." Misato wiped a tear from her eye, oh she needed that laugh. And the necessary threat to the girl went over well. The girl might not be on the make for Shinji now, but she was nice enough girl to not mess with him for fun. It wasn't a game, it was just teenagers becoming friends, Shinji needed more friends.
"Oh I didn't know this…and….really? Humans are so bizarre…" Tohru was pouring over the texts. Misato peeked and it wasn't just Shinji and Galko's but the others as well. Guess even dragons had questions about the oddities of the human body. She would have kept reading the texts had Misato not taking the phone and put it away.
Putting them in her purse, Misato gestured to the clothing, "We're here to get you something nice to wear so you don't look like a walking cosplay fetishist. So what looks good to you?" Misato gave the shop a wide swipe, and felt giddy. How long had it been since she felt this way? A long time, college maybe with Ritsuko and Kaji. It was fun, it was lively, and she could relax without the crutch of Yebisu. Without Shinji and Tohru…what had her life become?
Giving the teenagers' ample time to hang out, Misato and Tohru went over various types and styles. Tohru modeling for Misato the options and gaging the success on some unknown factor. After they tried on so many that Misato wondered if it wasn't the whole store, they made a single selection and made their purchase. "Oh, you mentioned something about pheromones, what did you mean?" Misato asked as they left the store and saw the four approaching. Shinji had the mousey girl on his right and she was talking…but he had the blond on his left and she was closer than expected.
"Pheromones are pheromones. The younger you humans are the more of them you exude when you're in heat. And that girl is pouring them when she's around Ikari-kun. I think she wants to breed with him," Tohru hugged her new clothing to her chest.
Coming to a halt, Misato did NOT want to hear that! It was all well and good for him to have friends, but sex? Sex with that bombshell? Please no, she did not want to walk in on that type of thing! "Just kids, they won't do…Tohru!" Misato yelled and pointed at the kids. Misato saw it happening and knew she was to far away to do anything.
A man had ran at them, grabbed at Galko's purse and Shinji was trying to fight him off. Misato was running towards them the moment she saw a flash of light…a knife. The mugger was going to slash or stab Shinji as he stupidly tried to fight him. Kid had courage when he didn't need it! Running as fast as her legs would carry her, Misato's blood was ice water in her veins as she stumbled and pitched forward. Tumbling to the ground, eyes on the man pulling back his weapon, Galko slapping his back to no avail, "Tohru stop him!"
And she did, Tohru was at Shinji's side and had two fingers pinching the mugger's wrist. There was imposing, and then there was a man threatening a dragon's brood imposing. Misato could swear she saw Tohru's aura radiating out of her. "You dare threaten Katsuragi-san's child? Drop it, now or I shall take the whole thing," Tohru towered over the man who fell to his knees. The knife fell, and then Tohru poked him in the stomach with her pinky and he collapsed to the ground. Once he was unconscious, Tohru hustled over to Misato's side and helped her up, "Did you hurt yourself, you fell. Did you need a bandage…I could like the scrap and make it better! Dragon saliva is very curative!"
The whole arcade that saw the event had been silent for a few moments, Misato gripped Tohru's hand ready to tell her to run. It had been impossibly fast, and Tohru had displayed crazy strength, would the people freak out, panic, or turn on the woman? But when they started cheering, they rushed to Shinji and Tohru about their bravery and for stopping the mugging, Misato relaxed.
"You kids are odd, but you're good kids. Just don't go about experimenting and just keep it all spoken and things will be fine," Misato handed Galko back her phone. Waving for Shinji to come over to her, she saw Galko was reluctant to let him after his show of reckless bravery. Once she had him close, her relief was palatable, she hugged him tight, "And you. Don't be doing stupid things like that! Getting hurt over something like this…he might have really stabbed you! Think about your health before doing things like that. Now…lets go home." She draped an arm around Tohru and Shinji's shoulders, "He'll text or talk to you girls later. Enough excitement for one day."
Leading the pair home, Misato paused for a moment when she saw an odd looking little girl watching her. Wearing almost a tribal dress, and with unique silvery hair, Misato blinked and the child was gone…maybe just a trick of the light.
X-X
The day after getting her new clothing Tohru was standing behind Ritsuko's back, she watched the readings move all over the place. They meant something, but she didn't really care. She just wanted to watch Ikari's test to see what he did while at this base. Whenever he did his 'sync' tests his level of mana was higher for a day or so afterward, and for a world with so little magic it was interesting. Floating in blood, the blood of one of the war engines though, she'd never have expected that. She'd ask him if he knew that when he got out, Ikari wasn't the type to handle that type of thing well.
"Alright Ikari-kun, Ayanami-kun, we're done. Ikari-kun you're up another three percent, Ayanami you're stable," Ritsuko announced. Triggering the emptying of the tanks, Ritsuko quickly turned around and looked right at where Tohru was standing.
Stretching her hands above her head, fingers entwined, Maya let out a lovely grunt. "Something wrong Sempie? You keep looking behind you," the younger tech asked. Saving the results of the test, such a diligent worker, Maya spun her chair around to get up.
Following Maya's example, Ritsuko got up and shook her head. With a little chuckle, "Nothing is wrong. I just keep feeling like somebody it watching me lately. You ever get that feeling?" Again she coincidentally found herself looking in Tohru's direction but not actually seeing the dragon.
Glaring at Ritsuko, damn woman was just to close to Katsuragi for Tohru's liking, she was tempted to trip the woman as she passed. Keeping her jealousy to herself, Tohru waited for them to leave and followed with them. Ritsuko's time would come, if she ever tried to get between Katsuragi and Tohru! But that was for another time, she heard Shinji talking lightly to the odd girl, so Tohru shifted targets. Shuffling down the hall, she saw the pilots in their odd armor, so weak and pointless in a real battle. "So what is this?" she wondered.
"So you've fully recovered then, Ayanami-san?" Ikari asked the albino as he opened the door for her. Like with the blond woman, Ikari had the faint scent of pheromones wafting off of him, but nowhere near as great an amount. Both teenagers had an aura of magic lingering about them as well, enough to cast a few spells if they knew any.
Not slowing, but eyeing where Tohru was standing, Ayanami made a quick move towards the shower room. "Akagi-san has released me from my recovery efforts. I am well," she was quick and to the point as always.
Tohru had to cover her mouth as laughter threatened to leave her lips as Ikari tried and failed at making small talk. Kid tried to be polite and nice, but it just hit the wall of ice. Tohru would have to tell Katsuragi about this! Katsuragi worried about her child a lot, just like Tohru's father had for her when she was Ikari's age. Following Ayanami into the female side of the changing room, she was amazed at how forward Ayanami was in changing. Not checking if Ikari was watching, standing right in front of a small cloth that separated the two sides, the young girl just hit the button on her wrist and let it fall.
Now Tohru was much like Ayanami in this regard, nudity wasn't a big thing for dragons. But living with Katsuragi and Ikari...she learned humans were much more ashamed of showing their skin to others. First time Tohru left the shower she got twin yells from both her flatmates, Ikari even started bleeding from the nose! Lessons learned that day, helped she called Fafnir and Lucoa to learn about humans and nudity...Fafnir didn't help at all.
Moving closer to Ayanami, Tohru watched the girl closely. She did notice Shinji's outline on the other side of the screen...ah so he noticed the girl on the other side and hurried off quickly with a yelp of surprise. Sniffing the air above Ayanami's head, it singed her nose with the nastiness. A foul creature this was, reeked of holy, but didn't have any of the normal indicators. Maybe she'd have to call her friends again about this. This world was so remiss of the things her world had it made Ayanami stand out as very peculiar and dangerous. With so low mana, this world shouldn't have a creature like this.
"Ikari-kun, do you..." Ayanami started and got up looking at Tohru much like Ritsuko had. Going so far as to slowly start reaching out, not that Tohru continued to stand where she was reaching, Ayanami's face got a small frown.
Hurrying over to the girls' side at Ayanami's call, Shinji was alarmed, "What is wrong, Ayanami-san...w-wh-what?" Shinji drank in the nudity of the girl and is pheromones exploded as his eyes widened. Turning around quickly, "Is something wrong?" Thankfully he had changed quickly and wasn't in Ayanami's rather delicate state.
"Nothing, it was just an odd feeling I had," Ayanami didn't react to herself being seen in the buff, "I apologize for calling you." Grabbing a towel she headed off leaving Ikari and Tohru in the wake of her oddness.
Once Ikari left the locker room, Tohru couldn't hold back her mirth anymore, "Your pheromones are still high. Do you wish to mate with that girl too?" Tohru had taken an active role in learning Katsuragi's favorite hobby of teasing. She kept herself hidden from sight, but she spoke to Ikari's mind. Moving through the base towards the exit and hopefully the apartment where Katsuragi was, Tohru watched all.
"I don't want to...mate with Ayanami-san! I just wasn't...wasn't expecting to see her like that. A-attraction isn't everything! I...I don't know Ayanami-san that well..." Ikari panicked a little. His face was all red and his body trembled just a little.
Oh yeah that's right! Tohru forgot, human's were more beasts than dragons where! They were attracted to a lot of their kind, but it took emotional responses before they wanted to breed. So maybe that blond girl was just attracted too and not wanting to breed, she'd have to watch more to find out. "So you're not attracted to Katsuragi-san or myself then?" Tohru dropped her disguise once they left the base. At times when Katsuragi would tease Ikari, mostly with pulling on parts of her clothing and threatening glimpses of flesh, it made Tohru wonder.
"I-I do, it's just different! M-Misato-san is special, and you're...I think...you like Misato-san, so I don't think about you two like that. Unless you're teasing," Shinji was near his breaking point for teasing. If pushed to far, he'd just shut down and stop talking, it didn't happen often but they did go overboard once or twice.
Ah so he did think of mating with the other two though,Tohru put that nugget of information away. Mating with Katsuragi-san though, that was a dream! Would have to use a little bit of magic to give one of them a thingy, but they weren't to that stage yet, Katsuragi-san was shy just like Ikari-kun was. Enjoying the sun on her skin, Tohru was loving her new life...this was the right choice to make. "It's my turn to cook today. Any idea on how I can get Katsuragi-san to finally eat my tail meat?" she asked her fellow chef.
Relaxing now that the topic wasn't about him, Shinji increased his pace as his breathing calmed, "You think of grinding it up like the hamburger meat from yesterday?"
"That would rob it of its texture and flavor! I'll just have to keep trying, she'll eat it someday. Maybe I could just use a love potion to lower her resistance to trying it," Tohru was not above a little greasing the wheels. If it went towards a good end, well good for her, it wasn't that bad a thing. Chaos was chaos after all, where was the fun in being good all the time! Hearing the chime of Shinji's phone, human technology in this world was a marvel, Tohru's eyebrow rose, "That girl contacting you again?"
Fumbling with his phone, Shinji was caught red handed and had no skill at fibbing, "I-uh-yeah it is Galko-chan. She..." He stopped walking as he read the note and his color rose again.
Taking the device from his prone hands, Tohru squinted to read the small text. "She wants to make you a lunchbox tomorrow? That's it?" What was the big deal about cooking a lunch for somebody, Tohru made Katsuragi lunch nearly every day now. Oh, maybe this was one of those relationship steps she saw on the television! Tohru had taken to watching a few shows after she finished her daily work and was waiting for her flatmates to return. It helped learn the new human culture. If only her world was this peaceful and calm, maybe she'd have stayed. But it wasn't...it was violent and cruel. It made her fight for her life constantly, and Tohru was tired of centuries of war and fighting. It was better here, she had Katsuragi here, and she wasn't leaving.
Stuffing the phone back in his pocket after responding to the text, Shinji's smile was quite large. "She does," was all he said. Shutting out, Shinji was done interacting with people for awhile, to overloaded with thoughts. Tohru didn't press, lost in her own thoughts as well.
They got back to the apartment to find Katsuragi laying on the couch watching a sports match and cheering for one side. Tohru was learning the sports of this world, football was an odd thing, kicking a ball around into goals, but if Katsuragi liked it, Tohru would learn about it. Sitting down on the couch next to the woman she loved, Tohru just basked in the comfort around her. Soft bed, good food, pleasant company, and no hunting bands of humans or Order Dragons.
"So how went his tests? He ran to his room already, somebody happen?" Katsuragi asked. Twisting her head to gaze at Tohru, the dragon's heart felt light as air.
Taking Katsuragi's feet into her hands, Tohru started giving the woman a light massage. Keeping her voice low, "Ayanami-kun almost sensed me and called him into the changing room while she was nude, and he received a message from that blond woman from yesterday." Enjoying the sounds coming from Katsuragi while she relaxed into the ministrations, Tohru flexed her new skills.
"Bet that about killed him, Ayanami is such a strange kid. Always has been, likely always will be. Going to have to tease him about that later. Thanks for going with him today. After yesterday's little fear...worried about him more than usual," Misato yawned a little as she wiggled her toes. They stayed that way for a few minutes watching the game. A nice and peaceful afternoon. "So what are you making for supper?" Misato finally asked as the game ended.
Getting up, whenever Katsuragi asked about something it meant she was wanting it soon Tohru learned, she fixed her maid frock. "It's a surprise, and I'll get started now. Just you wait," she skipped off to get started. She'd mix her tail meat in with some of the beef they had, it'd work this time! She got started cooking and again felt a peace she hadn't known in her world. Things could only get better if she stayed. The odd Ayanami would be sorted out, she'd talk more with her few friends from her world for tips on living with humans, and just ride this out.
X-X
Notes
So there you have it...the principle A and B plots. This will mostly be an odd slice of life comedy bit with Dragon Maid being the A-plot and the Galko stuff being the B-plot. Both of these were originally ideas I had for 'full stories' but both were just missing something to make it work well. Combining them I think will make for a more interesting tale. Again this is just going to be a small five or six chapter thing as I finish the plans for my next big thing. Hope ya enjoy it while it lasts.
Later
Mercaba