Eva Muyo - Chapter 2
Disclaimer: The usual disclaimer applies, all ownership and rights go to Masaki Kajashima, AIC, Funi, Hideaki Anno, and ADV. I just cane up with the story idea.
Shinji, Asuka, Tenchi and Noike would arrive in Okayama "Welcome... to Okayama, home sweet home." Asuka and Shinji would stare wide eyed and slack jawed at the pristine country home large enough to house several people and the virtually untouched countryside surrounding it. They would remain like that for several before Asuka would eventually decide to break the awkward silence. "H-how... How... How was this place... not affected by Third Impact at all!?" She choked out in disbelief.
"That's easy!" A high pitched mature ish voice chirped out behind the two teens, shocking them. "G-GAAAH!" They cried out in unison. "I simply created a cozy pocket of subspace to surround the house and grounds once the crazy energy readings started to approach critical levels! Child's play for the greatest scientific genius in the uni-verse~ Aaah, I'm such a GENIUS!" Washu simultaneously explained and gloated causing Tenchi and Noike to sweat drop at the scientist and goddess's antics.
"Ahahaha! You were so dumbstruck at the farm I bet you never once heard or saw my portal open up, huh!?" Washu would tease the two teens.
"Washu! Don't sneak up on and play games with our guests like that! They've already been through enough as it is! Besides weren't you the one lecturing about bedside manner earlier?" Tenchi reprimanded the scientist. "What!? A genius cant take pride in her work? Besides someone was going to have to explain how the house, farm and shrine went untouched through all of that mess. And who better than the galaxy's scientific mind!? Ahahaha!"
At that moment two minutature marionette versions of the diminutive scientist would pop up on each of her shoulders. "WASHU, YOU ARE A GENIUS!" "WASHU YOU ARE THE GREATEST IN THE UNIVERSE!" "WASHU WASHU YOU'RE THE ONE! HOORAY FOR WASHU! WOO HOOO!"
"Alright Washu, that's enough. You're going to make them even more uncomfortable than they already are." Tenchi reprimanded her yet again. "Tenchis right. I can already tell by their inquisitive looks that they aren't quite buying your explanation about the house." Noike added.
"D-dann straight..." Asuka finally managed to get out. "Just what in the hell do you mean by subspace!? Another dimension or something? Not even NERV had that level of tech! And even if I were to believe it could be achieved out here in the sticks, how would you have managed to get it to such a wide scope? J-just who or what all of you?"
Before Tenchi or the others would be able to get a word in, it would surprisingly enough be Shinji who would step in. "Asuka... About a year a go if someone were to tell me I would be piloting a giant robot- powered by my mother's own soul, no less- to fight giant aliens for the sake of humanity... I'd say they were crazy. My point is, that we've both been seen and been through situations a lot crazier than this..." He said before gently and cautiously placing his hand on the red heads shoulder.
"...Alright, alright... Fine. But you can't tell me that you're not wanting to know what the hell is going on too, right!?"
Tenchi would finally get a word in to the two teens "Miss Asuka, Shinji. I promise we'll explain everything soon enough. But you've both been through quite an ordeal and need a bath, some food a good night's sleep and some time to adjust. And miss Asuka needs medical attention, so please try to relax and let us help you both get situated, okay?" As soon as Tenchi would finish trying to assuage the Germans uncertainty, she would hear and feel her stomach growl, causing her to blush a deep crimson. "A-alright... Explain later. I really do need some help and if you can manage it, I would appreciate something to eat besides junk food and Bentos..." And with that the trio would lead Shinji and Asuka into the large where Washu would cart Asuka into a door on the side of the stairs which would surprisingly lead into a rather large laboratory.
As Asuka lied on the gurney in the lab's examination room, Washu would push a few buttons on the gurney before tapping on her floating holographic laptop. A visual display of Asukas body and vital systems would pop up blinking and beeping, leading Washu to "hrmm" and "ahhh" for a few moments before the said teen would interrupt her.
"Well? What's the verdict, Miss Washu? How badly did those Eva bastards mess me up? Am I going to be a Cyclops from now on?"
"Hold your horses. I still haven't gotten all of the data yet, alright?"
The diminutive goddess clacked at her keyboard for a little bit longer before responding to the Second Child "Your bandaged arm and leg are mostly intact albeit with some heavy nerve damage. Your right eye will need to be replaced, however. But with a few of your own stem cells it should be a piece of cake for me to grow you a brand new one. Your nerves should be easy enough for me to patch up too, but it'll take more time as id have to do it in situ. I'd say give a few months and I should have you good as new, add some good food, R&R, and physical therapy."
Meanwhile Shinji sat on the outside of the entrance of Washus lab as Asuka had been insistent on Shinji waiting outside for her modesty. He was leaning up against the wall, pivoting on the balls of his heels back and forth nervously, when a Noike would come up behind him and place a calming hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Shinji. If anyone should be able to fox your friend up it should be Washu. You're both in good hands, now."
"I… i know, Miss Noike. We're at least a hundred times better off than we were before you showed up now. But still… I just can't help but worry about her… you know?" Shinji answered.
Meanwhile back in Washu's Lab-Clinic, Asuka would would put a hand uo to her bandaged with her mouth agape and blink in surlrise and disbelief for a few moments replying, "R-really…? Y-you can even replace my eye? I thought that I was going to have be a pirate for the rest of my life!" Asuka replied to the crab haired scientist.
"Ahahaha! Don't you worry about it. Like I said, i'll need some of your stem cells, but that can wait till tomorrow. You've already through enough for now… Noike! You can tell Shinji that I'm ready to check up on him now. And if you don't mind, i could use your help getting Asuka here up on a float chair for the onsen. Her bandages can come off as well, I don't see any need for her to keep them on. I'll join you all as soon as I finish here alright?"
"Yes, Washu. C'mon Shinji-kun. No need to be nervous. Washu wouldn't do anything to you that you wouldn't want."
"Alright, I'm coming in." Shinji called in to the lab. "Are… are you alright, Asuka?" He asked his friend as Noike would assist Asuka out of the lab.
"I would say 'alright' is a bit of a stretch, Shinji. But… I'll live. And I've heard it's not something that can't be fixed… But, thanks for caring." She would manage to offer Shinji a weak smile in return.
"She'll be fine, Shinji. I'm taking her to our onsen to get cleaned up. You can join Tenchi in the men's bath after Washu is finished with your check up okay?"
"A-alright… I-I'll see you after our baths, okay Asuka?" He called to his friend before stopping to think about the past events for a few moments. He couldn't help but wonder why he couldn't help but feel comfortable around these strange new people who had taken him and Asuka in. In fact he felt more comfortable around them then he had with Misato when he first moved in. It would be some time later before he would come to the realization that it would be because they had shown him and Asuka real and genuine care and respect without any ulterior motives like Misato and his father had. His musing would be interrupted by Washu as she would direct him to sit down on the gurney that had Asuka had been on earlier and proceeded to give him a quick check up. After a while she would diagnose him as healthy and for and order him to the same food and rest she instructed for Asuka.
Meanwhile Asuka was lounging in the onsen on the floating chair Noike had provided for her. She would find herself becoming absorbed into her own thoughts once more as she pondered the events of the last few days. The attack from the JSDF, her battle with the EVA units, Instrumentality... And oddly enough she would find her thoughts returning to her former guardian as well...
Misato... She took both of us in. I always accused of her coddling Shinji, and maybe she did, but she would come down on both of us if needed and and look out for both of us. It's not like she played favorites with him or anything. I think I was just jealous of her for how much Kaji would fawn over her. But thinking over it, If -I- was an adult I wouldn't want some kid hanging over me all the time either. I didn't want to believe Shinji when he told me he was dead, and I just ended up pushing the only other person for me to go to away from me and over the edge... If they ever DO come back, I want to apologize to both of them... Her mind would then turn to her fellow pilot and housemate. Stupid Shinji... As vehemently as I may try to deny it, I really did come back for him. He actually managed to surprise me a few times. First by jumping into that volcano for me, then during the black out, and by running into to kill that giant meteor angel. Then he came back during the fourteenth angel. I really was worried about him after the twelfth angel... But why didn't he help me when my mind was being violated by the fifteenth angel! It had to be that damned doll, Wondergirl! Yet they sent him in to help her! she thought to herself before trying to scoop up some water to splash in her face to calm herself down. Schiest! I know now... It's not all Shinji's fault... As hard it is I'm just going to have to try giving Shinji some slack; and ask him myself... Once we settle in some first. She reminded herself. Gott, It's true that only people you really care about can manage to drive you this crazy... She thought to herself with a small smile and light blush creeping onto her face.
Meanwhile Shinji would find Tenchi out in the main hall waiting for him, watching some odd fish in a tank lining the wall. "Uhm... Mister Masaki, excuse me, but... I-Im ready... For that bath Miss Washu mentioned earlier. Shinji timidly announced. "And if it's not too much trouble, I'll need some new clothes... These are pretty dirty... And probably smell like blood from the LCL." He added tugging at his collar nervously. "Sure thing, Shinji. And please you don't have to be quite nearly so formal. Just call me Tenchi, and I'm sure we can find something for you to wear until Washu can have a machine make you both some replacements." Tenchi said in a friendly manner as he led Shinji to the male side of the family's floating onsen.
"Okay... Tenchi-san... I-I'm sorry. I've been handed around so much from my father, to my teacher, and finally to my old guardian; I've just made it a habit to use honorifics and do as I'm told to avoid trouble... It's kind of hard to do otherwise anymore..." Shinji said with his face pointed towards the floor blushing with a sullen look.
Tenchi would smile ruefully before gingerly placing a hand on Shinji's shoulder. "Don't apologize, it's okay. I can understand that old habits are hard to break. Especially ones that have been ingrained in us for so long. But I assure you, that you're among friends here. And at the very least, until people start returning, you and Miss Asuka can consider yourselves part of our extended family." He said showing Shinji a wide, genuine heartfelt smile.
"...Family... I... I like the sound of that... Thank you... Tenchi." Shinji finally replied after a moment showing the young Juraian Prince a genuine smile, something Shinji had not been able to do since Kaworu's death.
After a few minutes the two young men would make their way to the onsen where Shinji would be greeted by a warm cloud of steam. As the two would enter the pool, Shinji would be greeted by two older men, "Shinji, this is my dad and grandpa; Noboyuki Masaki and Katsuhito Masaki." Tenchi would introduce Shinji to the patriarchs of the Masaki Clan. Shinji would respectfully bow to the two older men in greeting. "Uhm, h-hello. Its very nice to meet you both. Th-thank you, for taking me and Asuka in!" He would reply somewhat nervously and stiffly.
"Haha haha! Hey now, you two are guests here! No need to be so proper. Besides, we wouldn't dream of leaving two young people to fend for themselves out in that mess!" Noboyuki would answer Shinji with a large congenial smile before playfully slapping him on the back. "Noboyuki is right. Please, feel free to make yourselves at home here, and try to relax. Whatever misfortune caused you two to be stranded like that, try to put your worries behind you and consider yourselves a part of our rather large family- at least for the foreseeable future." Katsuhito said warmly to the young former pilot.
After a few minutes of listening to the musical tones of the women talking on the other side of the onsen screen, Shinji would begin slowly before being jolted awake from his near sleep by the deep base of Katsuhito. "Huh? O-oh. I'm sorry, sir. I didn't catch your question. I was falling asleep." Shinji said timidly. "That is alright, Shinji. I was asking how it was that you and Miss Asuka came to be alone on the back in Tokyo-3." The Masaki patriarch inquired of their new houseguest. "I… I'm… not entirely sure, sir. I think that Ayanami probably had a hand in it. The last thing I remember was my mother telling everything would be alright… I was just as surprised to see Asuka there too… anything else beyond that is still rather confusing to me as well…" he said with a distant far off look in his eye.
The eldest Masaki would adjust his glasses before crossing his arms and nodding to himself digesting Shinji's response. "I see…" He answered "Well, whatever had caused this catastrophe, I am sure the answers will be presented to us in their own time. What matters now is that were all safe thanks to Washus fast actions. What do you think on the matter, Tenchi?"
Tenchi blinked a few times before looking over to Shinji who was half asleep in the hot spring. He would move over to this father and grandfather and talked in a hushed low tone "Well… i dont think hes saying all he knows, but we both know they aren't the cause of this mess and are victims like everyone else, Grandpa. They'll be questioned once we arrive on Jurai by Great-Grandfather and probably a lot more strict. But that can wait till tomorrow or till they've settled in more. I think they've both been through enough as is, and according to Tsunami are going to need proper guidance."
Katsuhito nodded in agreement before replying "Yes. I believe youre right Tenchi. There's no need to force this matter quite yet. Besides from the look of things I think they are both quite exhausted. He said motioning to the nearly asleep Third Child.
Shinji was eventually gently shaken out of his near sleep state by Tenchi "Hey Shinji, it's time to get out of the bath and ready for dinner. Are you feeling okay?" He would kindly ask the boy.
"I'm sorry Tenchi-San, I'm still pretty tired and confused by everything that's happened. I'm not sure how much longer I can stay awake. Dinner won't be long will it?"
"Don't worry, Shinji. Dinner will be simple tonight; and you've already met nearly everybody who lives here. There are a few others, but they won't be arriving till tomorrow." Tenchi replied as he would help Shinji up out of the bath and would get him some clean clothes which would consist of a pair of grey daw string jogging pants, a plain white t-shirt and a navy blue haori.
Shinji along with the older men would dress quickly and soon everyone would be ready to eat. They would enter a large dining room where Shinji would realize that the Masakis were a very traditional family; as the table wasn't like Misato's - which was a large sit down western style table - but was a low setting traditional Japanese style table and everyone would have to kneel.
Tenchi would set the table for everyone as Asuka Noike and Washu would come into the dining and before long it would be time to eat. It was a quick and simple but well prepared meal and everyone would do their best to make Shinji and Asuka feel welcome. Once dinner was over, Tenchi and Noike would show Shinji and Asuka to a medium sized room divided by a privacy partition with a futon on each side. "I'm sorry we can't give you both your own room right now, but this is the only spare room we have at the time." Tenchi would explain apologetically. Asuka would send Shinji a warning glance before sighing "It's fine. You've already done more than enough for us any way." She would say before heading to the opposite side of the room and closing the partition. After a few minutes of Tenchi and Noike leaving, she would open the screen to issue a warning to Shinji "Take one step over to my side of the screen Third Child, and you're-" she would get out before realizing that Shinji was already out cold and asleep. "... Goodnight, Shinji…" she would say with a sigh before going back over to her own side and falling asleep as well.
Meanwhile Washu would be finishing up in her lab and sending a transmission to the others back on Jurai and letting them know that it would be okay for them to return to Earth as well and she would be arranging a long distance portal back to their rooms for the night.
Authors notes: I couldn't really come up with a good subtitle for this one, so zim open to suggestions. If this one is a little bit shorter than the last its because its meant to be a little bit slower of a beginning. I'm just setting things up for things to come. I had thought of having some more with Ayeka and the others coming in but so think ill save it for the next chapter. Going to take a break to brainstorm and figure out hiw I want to proceed for the rest of the story. I hope youre enjoying it and feel free to PM me questions and or leave a review. Thanks to all in advance. :)