Life's Tough Chapter 1, an evangelion fanfic

TITLE – LIFE'S TOUGH
DATE STARTED– 20080627
DATE PUBLISHED - 20080721
AUTHOR – Wonga316
PRE READER – TheWickerMan

AUTHOR'S NOTES
This is an AU fic without Angels and EVA and some characters may appear OCC. Expect the occasionally spelling and grammar mistake, we try our best to catch them all but some do get away :p

CHAPTER 01

TOKYO 3 IKARI RESIDENCE

"Shinji! Shinji!" his mother called out from downstairs. She was putting the finishing touches to his packed school lunch. Realising that his breakfast was quickly getting cold, she decided to leave her household post and wander up stairs.

"Just how long do you intend to sleep in?" She asked before opening the door to his bedroom.

The fourteen year old was comfortably resting under the warm of his blankets. Yui sat down on his mattress and gently shook his shoulder. The teenager responded with a few incoherent mumbles and rolled over.

"You are just like your father when we first married," She giggled and reached over to clamp his nose with her thumb and fore finger. It was the same trick she would use to wake Gendo in their early years of marriage.

The boy slowly began to stir. It quickly became an energetic struggle for air.

He sat up in bed like a rocket with arms flaying wildly, gasping for air.

"Good morning sweetie," Yui left his side to open his curtains. The morning light stung his eyes, "You are almost fifteen years old and I still have to wake you for school."

"You don't have to suffocate me in the process…" Shinji rebutted and reluctantly swung his legs over the edge of his bed.

"Well, how else am I going to wake you up when you only have twenty minutes to get ready and be at school?" She replied with a cheeky grin knowing how he would react next.

"CRAP! I'm gonna be late again!" he leapt out of bed and hurriedly changed into his school uniform while knocking things over and making a mess.

"What are you doing?!" She half berated him, "Your buttons are all wrong and you haven't tucked your shirt in!" Before Yui could fix his attire, he was out of the room and down the stairs.

Shinji quickly grabbed the first eatable thing on the kitchen table and shoved it right into his mouth. He completely missed his lunch and was heading straight to the front door. The boy almost fell face first while trying to get his shoes on but an arm caught him.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" his mother said from behind and held up the pack lunch she had made for him.

"Thanks mum!" He went to grab it but Yui quickly pulled away from his grasp.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" she repeated herself and offered her cheek for a goodbye kiss.

"What is this mum?!" he said unwittingly. But Yui persisted and held lunch away while waiting for her customarily good bye kiss. Embarrassingly, Shinji obliged. He quickly pecked her cheek and snatched his lunch.

"Really… sons never appreciate what mothers do for them…" Yui huffed and watched his son run out the door. Before he reached the front gate she had remembered something and chased half way out.

"Come straight home after school today! Your sister is back from boarding school and your father as well from his business trip. I'm making a special dinner for all of us!" She shouted to him.

"Huh?" Shinji didn't get everything she said. He turned his head while still running and ran into someone. The other person was a man and much bigger than Shinji. The rushing school boy ended on his backside.

"Damn it! Who was that?!" he said with a tinge of anger.

"What was that?! You ran into me!" a deep voice answered. Shinji looked up from the ground to a large man in a dark suit with matching dark sunglasses. His shades concealed portion of the scar that ran down the side of his face.

"What's going on? Who's the brat?" Another voice said and similarly dressed man appeared from the driver side of a parked black Mercedes

Soon he was faced with too intimating individuals. Shinji being from the TV and internet generation quickly concluded in his mind that the strangers with yakuza or gang related. His first reaction was to scamper backwards like a funny crab.

"Oh I'm terribly sorry. I apologies for my son's behaviour," The sound of his mother's voice was like a saving grace; "He has a habit of sleeping in and is constantly late for school."

Yui offered an apologetic bow to the men. They both dismissed it and pretty much couldn't care less now.

"Upsy-daisy," Yui pulled her son up from the ground and dusted his backside with her hand, "You haven't even step foot on school ground and your uniform is dirty already."

The suspicious men shared a joked at his doting mother babying his son. Shinji quickly realised this and distances himself from Yui. He set off down the street as quick as possible.

Yui watched him until he turned the corner and was out of sight. The first man approached her. She looked at him for a moment and then doubled checked that the street was empty.

SLAP

The sound of her open hand connected with the man that Shinji had run into. His designer sunglasses fell to the ground and broke. A small trickle of blood and could be seen from the corner of his lip. The second man approached and received the same punishment from the mother.

"Our humblest apologies Ikari-dono!" Both men bowed at the waist. They kept their heads and eye pointed to the ground, "We'll accept any punishment you bestow upon us!"

"You know the consequences for disturbing my home life," Yui replied with an ice cold voice. If they had dared looked up, they would have seen all the emotion had disappeared from her eyes as well. The loving and caring mother moments ago had vanished. In its place stood a callous, compassionless woman.

"We understand! But we bring some bad new about Ikari-sama!" He first man said with a slight tremble in his voice. The other man was shaking in fear and having a difficult time keeping still.

"Bad new concerning my husband?!"

TOKYO 3 – LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL

Shinji had almost run the entire way to school and was exhausted but he had made it just in time before the final bell and the closing of the school gates. He gazed across the school ground and saw his two best friends entering the main building.

"Kensuke! Touji!" He shouted to them. They both turned around and waved back. Shinji hurried over.

"Late again Shin-man!" Touji half laughed and slapped his back a little too hard.

"A school day wouldn't be right if we didn't see a half dressed out of breath Shinji Ikari," Kensuke Aide added.

"Hey! You guys are supposed to be my friends!" Shinji said a little angrily while fixing his shirt. The trio began making their way toward their homeroom to start another morning.

"You know…" Kensuke began to saying something, "I over heard some parents talking about their daughter coming back from boarding school on the way here."

Shinji knew what he was eluding and choose to ignore him.

"There's only one boarding school in the district," Touji added. They attacked quickly from two sides and it was too late for Shinji to escape. The pair rushed him holding their hands in prayer.

"Please! Let us welcome Rei-chan home together!" they begged together.

"No," Shinji deadpan and pushed past his friends but he didn't get far. Their first plan of attack with begging didn't work so they moved onto plan B. They quickly got in front of Shinji again blocking his path.

"Now I get it… You just want to keep you sister all for yourself!" Touji pointed an accusation finger at his finger.

"I never pictured you to have an older sister fetish. You disgust me Shinji…" Kensuke followed up to complete the two prong attack.

"Sigh… I don't see why the both of us are getting so excited. She's just my sister." Shinji's words only fuelled their desire to win the battle.

"Just your sister?!" the pair yelled right into his face causing him to fall backwards.

"Ken! Tell him!" Touji's queue caused Kensuke to reach into his school jacket and pull out a sheet of paper which he began reading from.

"Name Ikari, Rei. Age 16. Bust 88cm. Waist 63cm. Hip 93cm. Rated top 2 of her year for grades. Rated top 4 of her year for sports. Dislikes red meat. Likes romantic strolls under a full moon. Voted top school idol in the Tokyo 3 district for 3 consecutive years running!" Kensuke read his researched biography of Rei with all the passion he could muster.

"So what you think of that, Shin-man!!" Touji pointed again but this time Shinji no where to be seen. They turned around to see that their friend was already half down the hallway. Shinji had used the time taken by Kensuke to slip away.

They quickly hurried after him, pushing other students out of the way. There was nothing that the pair wouldn't do to satisfy their desire.

"Ikari," But the two stooges quickly stopped in their tracks when they heard the voice of the Vice Principle call for Shinji.

"The headmaster wants to see you in his office immediately," the man said trying to look as menacing as possible.

"Headmaster? What is it?" Shinji asked.

"What does immediately mean Ikari?!" the Vice Principle almost threatened which caused Shinji to hurry away.

He ran as fast as he could. When he reached the office he composed himself and fixed his dress before knocking. There was no answer at first so he knocked hard a second time. He decided the excuse himself and enter without permission.

"Excuse me. It's Ikari. The Vice Principle told me that I had to come," He said nervously as he opened the door. It was dark with the shutters closed. His eye caught his desk and the high back leather chair which was turned around facing away from him. He could see that the visitor lounges were empty. He automatically assumed that no one was in the room but this quickly changed when heard someone's muffled cries from behind the door.

He peered around the door to see the school headmaster bounded and gagged. He was held from behind with what seem like a katana pressed against his throat. The shutters on the window opened and the light reflect off the blade almost blinding him.

The moment he lost his sight, he felt someone grab his wrist and jerk him violently into the room. He clumsily fell forward onto the fall.

"Is this really him?" a gruff voice asked, "He's not much to look at."

The sound of the headmaster's chair spun around and soft footsteps approached.

SLAP

The footsteps were followed up with a solid slap and the man with the gruff voice fell to his knees.

"You've just signed your family's death warrant," The girl didn't take too kindly to the way Shinji was man handled. The death threat was met with humblest apologies from the man on the ground.

"Now stand. Let me see you," he was gently helped up and then embraced in a warm hug. Her scent was familiar and a soothing hand stoked the back of his head, "You have grown brother…"

"Brother!" Shinji's eyes widen and pulled away to see who was hugging him.

"What the hell?!" He confirmed that it was his older sister. First thing he noticed about her was her attire. She was dressed in completely black business suit. Her appearance was a shock and that was compounded with everything that just happened.

"We haven't seen each other in almost six month and that's the first thing you say to me?" she said with one of her smiles.

"Why are you dressed like that? Who is that? Why is the headmaster tied up?" he grabbed her by the shoulders demanding answers.

"I'll tell you everything soon but we have to go somewhere first," She told him with a steely look in her eyes that he had never seen.

"But… But…" he hesitated.

"Please trust me," she kissed him on the cheek which took him back a bit, "I'll never let anything happen to you."

"We should be able to move through the school quietly now," the person wielding the katana said and then threw the headmaster to the floor, "The students should have started class by now."

"Oh forgive me rudeness," he placed his blade back into its sheath when he saw that its appearance made Shinji nervous and bowed, "My name is Kawrou Nagisa. I'm responsible for Rei-dono's protection. It's an honour to meet you at last Shinji-sama."

"Eh?! Protection?! Dono?! Sama?!" he replied so eloquently.

"Rei-dono, I take full responsibility for my subordinate's behaviour. It was totally unacceptable and deserve any punishment you deem fit to impose," he continued bowing as he apologised to Shinji's sister.

"We'll discuss this matter later, we must first return to the family compound," Rei said astutely and before Shinji could mutter a word of protest he was dragged out the door by his sister.

It was just like Kaworu had predicted. The trio quietly made their way through the school without being detected. They avoided classrooms and took the round about way to the back gate.

"Wait…" Shinji protested as he continued to be dragged by the hand, "We can't do this! We can't leave the headmaster like that!"

"Do not concern yourself, Shinji-sama," Kaworu responded while flanking Rei, "I've instructed a clean up crew to attend the headmaster."

"Brother, please," Rei said with a slight anger in her tone, "We can discuss things in the car."

"Rei-dono is right. This area is too exposed. If something were to happen it would be hard for me to protect the both of you," Shinji gave a strange look at the two people in front of him. He thought his sister had hit her head on something and Kaworu had watched way too many action movies.

He wasn't allowed another word of protest and hurried along again. They reached cross the yard quickly and reached the back gate where three cars where waiting for them. They were all the same jet black Mercedes E-Class saloon and came complete with their own driver and suspicious looking characters. Shinji counted five of them and noted that they wore black suits to match their prestigious motor cars. All five men bowed when they neared.

Kaworu opened the door passenger door for Rei while two men got into the front car and another two ran to the back car. Shinji almost hit his head of the roof when Rei pulled him inside. Kaworu entered the front passenger and their driver started the engine.

As they began their journey, Rei noticed that Shinji was having difficulty finding his seat belt. She unbuckled and helped him out.

"Heh… I've never been in a Mercedes before…" he half laughed and then remembered that there were more pressing matters.

"Where are we going?!"

"We're on our way to the airport," Rei responded calm as she returned to her seat.

"That's nice," he said almost sarcastically, "Why am I going to the airport?!"

"Brother…" Rei moved closer and turned to face him. The first thing he noticed was a soft bludge pressing against his arm which distracted from his questioning, "Do you trust me?"

"What… What are you doing?" He was really uncomfortable at her close proximity.

"All I can tell you for now is that it concerns father. Once we reach our destination then mother will tell you everything," She pulled away from him when finished speaking.

"Eh? Something happen to dad?" his thoughts immediately turned to his father.

"I can't say…" Rei looked out the window with an almost sad expression, "Mother gave orders not to say anymore."

"Mother gave orders…" He wanted to ask more but the mood in the car had changed. The siblings had not seen each other in almost six months and all he had done was shout at her. He was starting to feel bad so he reached into school bag and produced a packed bento.

"Here," he offered it with a smile, "You must have missed mum's cooking while at boarding school."

"But it's only nine thirty in the morning?" She replied with a puzzled look.

"Well… if you don't want any then I'll just help myself," he said with a sly smirk.

"I didn't say that!" His ploy had worked; Rei took the pair of chopsticks from his other hand.

"Itadakimasu," She began sharing the box lunch with her brother. Kaworu looked back from the front seat with interest.

"You are a good brother, Shinji-sama," He said with a smile.

"Am I?" he said scratching his head in a comically fashion.

"Eyes to the front!" Rei ordered with a stern voice and Kaworu immediately turned away, "Now brother. Say ahhh…" She held a portion of food with the chopsticks to his mouth. Shinji was now regretting his idea to break open the bento.

Brother and sister finished the meal just before they reached the airport. Shinji looked out the window and noticed that they were driving away from the main passenger terminal. The convoy pulled into a restricted road only used for airport authority approved cars. They reached a security gate and the guard on duty lifted the boom gate and waved them through.

"Whoa… We are on the runway…" Shinji stared in amazement at the giant passenger jets parked and slowly taxiing around. He had never been on a plane before and everything was a novelty.

"We are here," Kaworu announced and got out of the car. He opened the door for Rei and the driver opened the door for Shinji. It took him a moment to realise that he was suppose to exit the car and had to quickly pack away his empty lunch box. When he got out a strong gust of wind hit his face and blew his hair all over the place. The gust came from a parked helicopter warming up before take off. He saw Rei being escorted to the aircraft by Kaworu and realised that he was suppose to be following. Shinji ran towards them hugging his schoolbag against his chest. Kaworu slid the helicopter door open and helped Rei inside. He didn't take up his offer for a hand and tripped while climbing inside. He almost fell face first. His comical movements caused his sister to smile. When she noticed Kaworu was snickering she shot him a death glare and he immediately stopped.

Kaworu was last to climb in and closed the door. This stopped the air rushing around them and dampened the noise from the rotor blades. Again Shinji was having trouble with his seat belt and need Rei's help. The cabin suddenly jolted as it lifted off causing him to lunge forward and indivertibly grab his sister chest.

"AH!" he instantly freaked and Rei was stunned at what had happen. The scene was too funny for Kaworu not to laugh out loud.

"QUIET YOU!" She demanded with the red flush of embarrassment still on her face.

"Now, now," Shinji tried to calm her down, "It was an accident. I'm sure it must have been funny. I know I would laugh if I was in his position."

But his words had the opposite effect with his sister.

"Mmhp… I see that you have picked up a few bad habits while I was away," She pouted and returned to her seat, "Frankly I'm disappointed in you brother."

The incident distracted Shinji from the fact that they had taken off and cruising towards their destination. The teenager had never been flying before let alone a helicopter. His head was almost glued to the window the entire time. They crossed over the city and went high into the mountains. Below was only woodland and nature. There was an occasional road and even that was dirty.

Suddenly a man made structure stood out of the tree line. It was a massive building. As they neared it become appeared that it was a mansion of immense proportions. They flew over the structure and Shinji could make out the nicely cared for garden surrounding the mansion. Adjacent to the main mansion were smaller buildings. Next he spotted the landing pad and their helicopter began descend. There were two tiny figures standing a safe distance from the helicopter pad awaiting their arrival. As soon as they touched down the engines began winding down and he could hear himself think again.

Kaworu opened the door again and was first to get out. He helped Rei out. Instead of waiting for him this time he followed Rei who walked straight over to the people he saw over head.

Shinji was really hesitant about getting out. He had no idea where he was and what was going on. He carefully peer his surroundings while clutching his school bag like a safety blanket. The first thing he noticed was how clean and fresh the air was. The sounds of birds and natures surrounded him and lulled him into a false sense of safety. He was too busy enjoying peaceful ambience to notice someone was approaching.

"Rei says that you enjoyed your pack lunch today?" A familiar woman's voice said.

At first he was startled and then looked up to see his mother smiling sweetly at him.

"She was also nervous talking about the trip here. Did you do something that you shouldn't?" She asked her son with a single raised eyebrow.

"Eh?! Mum?!" The first initial shock was the sight of his mother. Next was trying to explain that he didn't intentionally grab her, "Wait that was an accident!"

This caused her to laugh out loud. She composed her self before talking again.

"You can come out. I'll tell you everything that's happening," Her reassuring words were enough for him to step out. She walked ahead and he realised what she was wearing. Yui wore an elegant black kimono that was offset with a few white trims. The next thing he realised was the large character stitched with gold across her back.

"Why are you wearing that? And why does it have our name on it?" he asked almost stupidly.

She quickly spun around like a model in a fashion show, "Is that all you can say? Honestly, sometimes you really are like your father…"

Shinji quickly went into damage control, "I didn't mean that. I mean…"

He felt weird saying but it was be bad not too

"I mean… you look really pretty…" He couldn't even say it while looking at her face but it was good enough for Yui. She quickly hooked her arm around his and began walking with him.

"Thank you Shinji," She said with a smile, "Even though I'm your mother, I'm still a woman. And it's important for gentlemen to comment on a lady's appearance."

She brought him over to where his sister was talking to the other individual he spotted while in the air. He was an older man. His hair thin, grey and neatly combed back. The mystery man don a dark suit similar Kaworu except for a tiny gold insignia pinned to his lapel. The man's experience and worn eyes cast over Shinji in his dishevelled school uniform. At first he looked like, he was going to be anger with him but this wasn't the case.

"It's an honour to finally meet you, Shinji Ikari. My name is Kozou Fuyutsuki." The man bowed politely. Shinji just scratched his head, a little confuse to what to do.

"Introduce yourself Shinji," His mother gave a some what impolite nudge with her elbow to his side.

"Oh! Nice to meet you!" He quickly bowed.

"Please follow me. Must apologies for dragging you out of school and I'm sure that you have plenty of questions," Fuyutsuki turned and headed towards the house. Everyone began following except for Shinji. A large pond with a cascading waterfall had caught his attention. It was beautifully landscaped in the traditional Japanese style. He was staring at colourful and large koi inhabiting the water.

"Brother please…" Rei sighed. She stomped over and dragged him by the hand inside.

"Oh sorry!" Kaworu had to hide his sniggering behind his hand while Yui and Fuyutsuki just smiled.

"If you like the garden so much, you can come visit any time you desire," the older said and continued walking inside.

The interior of the mansion was more than Shinji could ever imagine. The long hallway they were in was paved with polished marble floors that he could see his own reflection. Delicate light fixtures lined ceiling. Fancy art hung on the walls like an honour guard for the five of them.

No one spoke a word as they walked which made Shinji uncomfortable. Only the sounds of their steps echoed the air. As always, whenever Shinji was uncomfortable he would find any random thing of interest. He decided to step in the central of each marble square so he wouldn't cross the line.

"What are you doing?!" Rei also berated him.

"Hmmm? Oh nothing!" He said a little too loud which echoed which would have been embarrassing for anyone else.

"The floors in this hallway are over hundred years old. They were a gift for your great grandfather from Italy," Fuyutsuki explained almost like a tour guide, "The lights and some of the art were also from the same region in Italy."

"Oh I see… Huh? My great grandfather?!" It took a moment for it to registry with Shinji.

"Ah, we have arrived," the old man said before Shinji could ask more questions. They had reached a set of double doors. Kaworu raced to the front and opened them for everyone. The doors opened into a modest room with simple tatami flooring. A table sat in the middle surrounded by small sitting cushions. The European interior of the hallway had quickly changed to something much more comfortable for Shinji.

"Please sit," The old man sat himself down. A tea set was in the middle of the table and he began pouring for everyone. It was only know that Shinji realised how thirsty he was. He didn't have anything to drink on the helicopter ride when he shared his lunch with his sister.

"Thank you very much," In his haste to drink; he forgot that tea was hot. Consequently, he burnt his lips and spilt his tea all over the table.

"Brother!" Rei half scolded as she used a handkerchief from Kaworu to clean the mess he made, "Have you become a klutz as well as a pervert while I was away?"

"Now, now…" Yui motherly used her handkerchief to wipe the boy's face, "Shinji is at the age where he should be interested in the opposite sex. And you have always known that your brother hasn't been very coordinated."

"…Thank you both for embarrassing me…" he sighed at his mother and sister's words.

"You are right Yui," Fuyutsuki half laughed, "He reminds me of Gendo when he was Shinji's age."

"Gendo? You mean my father?" Shinji asked and suddenly the atmosphere changed. This was the queue for Yui to start explaining everything.

"Shinji…" She took a deep breathe, "There has been a secret which we have been keeping from you. Please understand we hid it from your because it was for your best interest."

The serious look and tone on his mother caused the maelstrom of confusion and nervousness within him.

"Your father is not a university lecturer that you believe. And he wasn't at a conference this week… He's… He's…"

Shinji mixed emotions changed again. The anticipation of his mother's next words had him on the edge.

"He's… the leader of the largest organised crime family operating in Japan…."

He was stunned for a moment. The words 'organised crime' bounced around in his head and didn't sink in for a good minute or so.

"Shinji?" his mother was concerned and touched his shoulder. He slowly turned his head towards her.

"What do you mean by 'organised crime'?" he asked sounding silly.

"The underworld," Fuyutsuki added, "Media and popular culture commonly refer to us as Yakuza. Personally, it's a derogatory term which I find insulting. We have always been the Ikari family."

"Oh so like gangsters?" Shinji remark came out in a comical fashion.

"You can say that?" his mother laughed, "But it's not as glamorous as the movies make it out to be."

"Wow… So father's a gangster…" he mumbled.

"Brother... please show a little more respect…" his sister urged him to act appropriately.

"Oh sorry!" he apologised, "So is dad around?"

"Actually, the truth is that you father is missing," Fuyutsuki said. Immediately mother and daughter had forlorn expressions.

"Last week, your father ordered a secret meeting with some of the first lieutenants on the family cruise ship. He didn't say what the meeting was about but that's not uncommon. The family ship was due back into harbour yesterday but it didn't arrive. We conducted a search immediately and sweep the entire east coast of Japan. Unfortunately, we were unable to locate the ship or your father,"

Shinji quickly slammed his palms into the table, "What you mean he's missing?! Are you still looking for him?!" His reaction startled everyone.

"We had to cancel the search," the old man moved back from the table and bowed so his head touched the tatami mats, "I apologies Shinji-sama!"

"You did what?! He's been missing for how long?! Less than a week! And you are giving up!" he shouted angrily.

"Brother!" Rei shouted back at him while trying to hold her tears, "We had no choice. All our manpower was devoted to the search. This concentration of our activity would have been easily notice by our enemies. If they suspect that father is missing…" She couldn't finish what she wanted to say.

"Other families would see this as an opportunity for a hostile takeover or even worst try to destroy us," Kaworu who had remained quiet until now.

"Destroy us? Didn't you say we were the biggest… you know…" the words organised crime family still didn't sit well with him.

"The Ikari family didn't become the biggest and most powerful organisation without upsetting a few people,"

"Damn it!" Shinji fought to control his frustration and sat back down. An uncomfortable silence fell the room. In his shouting, he had forgotten about his mother's feelings. She was trying hard to control her shaking hand. Shinji saw this and realised that shouting wasn't going to get anything done. He reached over and took his Yui's hand and with the other took Rei's hand.

"You said dad's the boss, right?" He just looked at him, "When you think about it, you have to be pretty tough to be the boss. So I think dad's fine. Gangsters are tough!"

Yui smiled and wiped her tears after the encouraging words, "You're right Shinji… I'm sorry… I should be comforting you not the other way around."

"You might not have become a clumsy pervert after all," Rei gave her brother's hand a squeeze.

"So Fuyutsuki-san, if we can't look for my father then shouldn't we go to the coast guard or something?" Shinji asked the old man who still had his head lowered.

"Please understand Shinji-sama," he said almost shouting into the tatami mat, "The nature of our business makes cooperation with any of the authorities highly unlikely."

"Hmmm… I guess that would be a little awkward," he rubbed his chin in thought, "Then how about we just make the search smaller then. That way the other families don't know."

"Is that an official order Shinji-sama?" he asked.

"Ah… yeah sure what ever… Hang on, what you mean by official order?" Fuyutsuki's choice of words seem strange to him.

"Shinji," his mother called him, "Because your father is missing, there is no as the current head of the family. As Kaworu-san touched on it before, a family without a leader is in danger from other families and even internal fighting."

"Oh… So that means you'll take over?" He pointed at his mother but she shook her head.

"Ikari family tradition doesn't allow women to assume the head of the family. It has been like this since the beginning in the 1700s during the Genroku period," she answered.

"Oh… Hmmm… then Rei is-"

"I'm a girl, brother…" Rei placed a lot of emphasis on 'girl' and 'brother'.

"Ha! Sorry I forgot for a moment," he scratched the back of his head comically.

"Shinji… We are asking you to become the head of the Ikari family in your father's absence," After his mother finished talking everyone backed away from the table and bowed politely like Fuyutsuki.

"HEH?!"

"I beg of you! Shinji-sama! You are our only hope! If we don't act quickly then the Ikari family will fall apart. Please I beg of you! This family has over three hundred years of history! It would be shameful to let it end by these means," Fuyutsuki's heartfelt beg stunned Shinji. He didn't think they were serious at first.

"Ah…mum…" he was lost for words as well.

"Shinji… Whatever you decide your sister and I will support you," She said.

"Yeah but what you think I should do?"

"I… believe that you should refuse the role," The unexpected answer caused a gasp from the other's around her including Rei, "The reason we kept the Ikari family a secret from you is because the day you were born, your father and I decided to give a chance at a normal life. What you are being asked to do is very dangerous."

"Yui! Do you understand what you are saying?!" the old man almost shouted.

"If the price of my son's life is the fall of the organisation then I'll gladly pay it! My husband is missing and you are asking me to sacrifice my son?! I was against this from the very beginning but I did it because of an obligation to you. Never question me again!"

Shinji was shocked by his mother's words and the manner she said them. Her words were full of spite and venom. It was something which he had never seen before.

"What should I do, sis?" he whispered to Rei.

"I agree with mother," She concur with everything word Yui had said, "If you assume the role as head of the family you will be a criminal. I wanted you to have a better life than this."

"Kaworu, what do you think?" Shinji asked Rei's protector. It was out of the blue and the body guard sat up straight.

"What do I think? I'm just a lowly foot solider for the family. My opinions are worthless. But it honours me that you think so highly of me," he replied rather flattery.

"You're a bodyguard for my sister. That means that you have saved her from danger," Shinji asked another question.

"A few times but they are nothing to speak of. It's my job and duty to do so,"

"So that means that Rei owes her life to you," Shinji scratched the back of his head again.

"Brother!" Rei said to correct him, "Kaworu position in the family is to ensure my safety above everything else. There is no need for you glamorise what he does."

"That's not very nice," Shinji remarked, "The way I see it is that I owe him. If he didn't do his job then something bad might have happen to you." He reached out and touched her on the shoulder.

"To be honest…" Kaworu hesitated at first but continued, "My first impressions of Shinji-sama were not very high and doubted that he could be the head of the family but that has changed. It's true that the role of the family head is difficult and dangerous. But you can be taught how to be tough and how to protect yourself. There are characteristics you need to be a leader which can't be taught. I believe Shinji has these characteristics."

His flattering words embarrassed Shinji.

"Hahaha…" He began scratching the back of his head again in a comical fashion, "I guess I have no choice now do I? I'll do it."

His agreement to take up the position mortified his mother. Her hands tighten and fingers dug into the tatami mats.

"Leave us!" She ordered. When no one responded she was absolutely furious, "I SAID GET OUT!!"

Her snarling words send everyone except for Shinji hurrying towards the door.

"Why… Why…" her voice was cracking and just a whisper.

"If I don't then we can't look for dad," His words shocked her. The warnings from his sister and mother didn't even calculate as he was only concerned with finding his father, "I know that he's fine somewhere. So we can't let everything fall apart while he's away. I don't know much about this family thing but it seems pretty important."

"I'm sorry Shinji," Yui apologies and wiped her tears, "I'm ashamed that I didn't realised that you have grown up so much. My baby boy has become a young man. But please tell me the instant you don't want to do this!"

"Sure thing," he waved nonchalant, "By the way, where's the bathroom? I've been getting ready to burst for ages now!"

His predicament caused her to laugh out loud. This didn't help Shinji at all.

"It's not funny! I really have to go!" he pleaded again.

The door slid open. Fuyutsuki and Kaworu were in the doorway on their knees bowing. They both acknowledged Shinji as the new family head. Rei was standing in the back with a very angry scowl on her face. She stomped over to her brother and mother and grabbed by the front of his shirt.

"Eh… Do you know where the bathroom is?" he asked her.

"You have no idea what you are getting yourself into! We are trying to protect you yet-" She ignored his question and began shouting into his face.

"REI IKARI!" Yui interrupted her mid sentence, "You will show the proper respect to the head of the family! This behaviour is unacceptable!!"

"But mother!" She wanted to protest but found Yui bowing like the old man her body guard. She didn't like what was happening but conceded. After releasing Shinji she sat down in front of him and bowed.

"Please forgiven my rudeness," the words strained from her mouth.

"Now, now…" he tried to lighten the situation diffused the tension, "I don't understand why you all have to be so formal. I just want to know where the bathroom is." He emphasised by holding his crotch area.

END OF CHAPTER