A/N:: Been awhile. Enjoy.
Harry Potter: Fourth Child.
Chapter Two: Becoming Acquainted.
They had furniture, due to the sub-Commander's generous nature. Along with some smaller odds and ends, among them some books for his shelf, trinkets and pictures for his walls. Of the pictures, he had an odd moment this morning when he noticed the figures within were not moving; it took him a second longer, and to shake the slumber from his mind, before he realized they had never been moving in the first place. The moment passed and he let the confusion of it pass as well, he was not ready to face those questions so early.
His collection of books was meager, but some of the titles seemed interesting. A few detective novels on Kaji's recommendation along with The Lord of the Rings; his conversation with the strange Dr. Akagi had piqued his interest in them.
Harry glanced up from his breakfast, noting the red numbers in the digital clock. Ten minutes before he should leave. Not realizing how much time had passed he finished off his meal and tossed the fork and dishes into the sink, letting them soak there for the day. Either he or Kaji would get to them, depending whose day ended first.
Hastily, he stole to his room, packing a thin computer notebook into a shoulder bag. On it were his textbooks and lessons needed for school, along with a handy Japanese-to-English translator Kaji had helped him install; in case he ran into trouble with the written word. His spoken Japanese was flawless, even down to the accent, much to Harry's surprise. Their days out shopping and interacting with the focused populace of Tokyo-3 had shown that.
Harry slipped into the bathroom to check his reflection; white oxford over brown slacks, the leftover uniform from his old life. Kaji suggested he buy a pair of black pants, but Harry had been adamant.
"I'm an Eva pilot now, right?"
"Well…yes."
"Then the wrong color pair of pants shouldn't be asking too much, right? I mean, you already got those boots…"
"Fine, fine, you win this round, kid. Just don't be late."
The conversation had transpired the night before. Harry had been testing just how far he could push the man. It was nothing really against him, just himself trying to assert some control over his life after the heavy-handed way he had been treated. He had felt a little guilty for the rebellious act, but this morning he was glad to be garbed in something familiar.
He checked the hands on his watch and made for the door. Kaji had told him how long the walk would take, and until he got into the routine, he would rely on the older man's estimation. As Harry slipped on the pair of hiking boots his guardian had gifted him, he questioned how Kaji had been able to figure out the distance. It was a trivial wondering of his mind, not something he would despair over.
Harry opened the door and stopped in his tracks, green eyes going wide in confusion. Rei Ayanami stood before his threshold, hand raised to knock on the door.
"Uh…good morning?" He managed. "What are you doing here?"
Rei lowered her hand, her usual expressionless face regarding him. "I am here to escort you to school."
Escort? "What, Nerv thinks I need to be baby-sat?"
"That information is classified."
Harry tried not to roll his eyes. "Let me guess, alpha clearance?"
She nodded and turned to leave, expecting him to follow. Having little else to do, he locked the door behind and was soon walking abreast her, the silence between them slowly eating at him.
This would be a lot nicer if she were doing this on her own. "You're still following orders, aren't you?"
She nodded. "I have been ordered to guide you through Tokyo-3 and the Evangelion project to better help you cope. I have also been ordered to be your friend." She glanced to him, two ruby colored eyes betraying little emotion.
"Great," he muttered. "Were you given any other commands regarding me?"
"Yes."
He sighed. "Alpha clearance?"
She nodded.
Harry could only shake his head as they continued their trek to the school. Every few paces they would pass a monument and Rei would tell him if it were an access point for their Evangelions. One nondescript building housed a secondary power plug if his unit switched over to battery power. Another housed additional munitions and was called locker-612. Harry was simply amazed at how much the city seemed to cater to the needs of the Evas.
"Is this whole city designed around the Evas?" he asked after she pointed out a munitions locker.
"Yes, every facet of the city has been designed for both convenience for the Evangelions and defense of the geofront."
Harry let his eyes follow the tall skyline, seeing the mirrored windows and imagining something else behind them. Something beyond just the aesthetic value normal cities used when constructing buildings. Every small detail was planned and coordinated with a grander scheme in mind. The very scope of the project became clear when he realized suddenly the city was a designed like a fortress, built from the ground up with that single thought in mind. Wow.
They continued on in silence, the scope of Nerv settling into him. Fuyutsuki had mentioned something about Nerv, that if an Angel pierced their defenses it would trigger another Impact. Could it be that Nerv was protecting something the Angel's desired, or needed?
Further exposition was cut-off when Rei darted into a nearby park. Harry hastened after her, calling her name in futility. Much like at the train station the day before, she took a straight line to wherever her destination was. Through underbrush and across concrete sidewalks she ran, varying only slightly when a bush was too dense for her to cut through. Harry was panting, but barely managing to keep pace.
Then she was around a tree and came to a stop, her breathing louder than normal. Harry came up catching his own. "Wha—what were you chasing?"
She ignored him and peered around, slowly scanning the entire area that was no more different than the others they had run through.
"Well? It's not exactly nice to run-off like that and then to ignore me." Harry drew a deep breath, calming himself. "In fact, it's pretty rude."
Rei gave him a strange look, half-confused and half-curious. "I…am sorry." A frown played across her face. "I thought I saw danger." She gave another scan of the area, before settling her gaze onto the ground. There she bent over and picked-up and small shining jewel, the light of the sun refracting in it beautifully. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. As Rei slowly turned it over he swore her eyes flashed once and the jewel responded. Then it suddenly shattered into a hundred points of light, each harmlessly playing across their skin.
"Was that the thing what you saw?" Harry asked running his hand over the bared skin of his arms. He felt no residual effect from the strange crystal.
"No, it was why I didn't see them."
"Who?" Harry clenched his hands. "What's going-on, Rei? Was someone spying on us?"
"Yes."
"Well…?"
"That's—"
"Classified." Harry clenched his jaw and spun around.
"I'm going to school. I'll see you there." He had enough of the abstinent girl. Ordered to be my friend—of all the dumbest things. What could have been an easy transition into this obviously dangerous world was made awkward and difficult by his co-worker's demeanor. Could they have used no other pilot to help him?
It was then he noticed Rei had rejoined him. He increased his pace, hoping she would get the hint. He had little luck with that. He was sorely tempted to try and run, but seeing her abilities a moment ago put a lid on that plan.
"I can walk myself to school." He spoke tersely.
"I am to escort you."
"I don't care!" Harry did not miss the slight narrowing of her eyes. That small gesture of anger made him check his own. "You're not making this easy." Rei's brow crinkled, but she chose not to respond. Harry tried a different route. "Dr. Akagi said that you aren't very sociable. Is that true?"
"Is it not necessary for me to fulfill my task."
"O…kay." Harry gave up and just accepted the fact that this thin albino girl would most likely be his shadow for the next few days, hopefully until he was situated.
Finally, their long walk to the school neared its end as he could the building at the end of the street, surrounded by the long shadows cast from the sun on this early morning. Finally.
They walked a few more paces and the dark shadows began to stir, to shimmer and warp. Harry's pace faltered as he tried to understand what was happening. The sunlight dimmed, turning to night and suddenly stars were twinkling in the sky. He glanced around confused. Skyscrapers and buildings blurred into tall foreboding trees, while the concrete morphed into grass and dirt. He whipped his head about, finding Rei replaced with someone else, possessed of brown hair and brown eyes. He did not know the girl. She was speaking to him, but he could not discern her words, only muffled sounds.
Then the shadows grew into haunting and damning figures with features cowled in hungry darkness. Hundreds of them with black, ravaged hands reaching out to him, their desire palpable in the crisp evening air.
He was suddenly a different person with a different purpose. He knew how to battle these horrible things, even though their name escaped him. He held something in his hand and he raised it high, but the object was ephemeral and he realized with dread what he needed was far off.
The things were drawing near and he saw the girl next to him wilt under their stares. His own legs were growing weak.
"It's not supposed to be like this!" he cried. "I know how to beat you!"
He brandished the translucent object, knowing the key was held within, waiting to be unleashed with just a few uttered words, but they escaped him. Memory did not serve him, leaving him to the mercy of the creatures bearing down on him.
Harry Potter fell to his knees and screamed.
Somewhere distant, in a room surrounded by metal walls of strange readouts, a slim wooden object glowed briefly for a moment.
Then suddenly everything was righted. The sun hung in the air and the shadows lay dormant on the concrete. There were no creatures seeking him, no mysterious girl with brown hair and eyes. Only Tokyo-3 and Rei Ayanami looking down upon him with bewilderment.
"You are okay?" she inquired.
Harry licked his lips and gained his feet, his knees shaking. For several heartbeats he stood there, trying to grasp what had just occurred. Had he really seen all that? I had to, it seemed so real. Yet, he found himself once more in a foreign city in the accompany of a fellow pilot. What was that? A waking dream?
"I'm fine," he said at last. "Just a panic attack."
Rei was silent, red eyes scrutinizing him. "You don't need medical attention?"
"No, I'm fine, just my nerves is all." Harry looked to the school. "Let's just keep going," He walked forward, not caring if she followed or not.
They approached the school to see the courtyard bereft of students. Were they late? He was tempted to ask Rei, but he just wanted to sit down and forget about the strange morning he was having. He let Rei lead the way through the sterile hallways and enter a classroom labeled A-1. Within he found rows of similarly dressed and seated students, the only difference being their style of hair. As they entered together they drew every eye of the room, he noticed a few jaws slackened.
A girl with brown pigtails stood. It took her a moment to find her voice as she addressed them. "You're both late."
Rei ignored the comment, so Harry answered for them both. "We had a little trouble in the park." He stopped himself from saying more when he remembered some information he knew might be classified. Several snickers echoed in the quiet room and Harry realized how the statement could be taken the wrong way. "Not like that!" he hastily amended. This only served to further amuse them. The girl who had first addressed them sighed, muttering something under her breath and giving her classmates an exasperated look.
Thankfully, the teacher saved Harry from further embarrassment. He was an older man with balding white hair and stooped stature. "You're the new student?" Harry nodded as the chuckling died. The teacher gestured towards the desks. "Have a seat, we were discussing Second Impact." With that he turned back to the board that was littered with small scrawl.
Harry looked for a seat and chose one a few rows from the window towards the back. He avoided locking gazes with anyone, the embarrassment still fresh in his mind. He was glad he kept a blush from his cheeks. Taking a seat he put his bag down and removed his laptop. Glancing up showed Rei hovering between his seat and one by the window. If Harry was right she looked torn, giving him and the empty chair equal weighted glances.
Resolve settled over her shoulders and she took an empty seat next to Harry's own. More stares greeted this unremarkable action, only broken by the girl with the brown pigtails annoyed tone. "Pay attention, the teacher is speaking!" Some still lingered but eventually they diverted their attention back to the front of the class.
Harry longed to ask his companion what all the strange glances were for but knew he would not get a satisfying answer. He decided it had something to do with his fellow pilot's strange behavior.
After his uncomfortable introduction to the class he was glad to have the teacher's lessons distract him. The morning waned by, history bleeding into arithmetic. Half-way through math lesson he was glad for Kaji's translation technology, for his skills at reading Japanese were not up to par with his speaking abilities. Through quick typing and organizing his screen he was able to follow the teacher.
Towards the end a chat message popped onto his screen.
Do you work for Nerv? It read.
Could he answer it? Was his status a secret? Before he could contemplate any further ramifications another text message appeared.
Don't answer that! Harry was taken aback. He glanced about and saw the same brown-haired from earlier glaring. It took him a moment to realize she was glaring at someone behind him. Following her gaze found a slight boy with a pair of large glasses covering his eyes. He was sulking but no more messages appeared on Harry's screen for the rest of the day.
It was after that exchange he noticed Rei staring away from the rest of the class, looking out the window at the world beyond the mundane trappings of the school. If he did not know better, it seemed she actually appeared bored, with her head resting her hand, head titled to the side. He just put it down to more of her strange behavior and continued with the day's lesson.
By lunchtime, he was growing tired of her ever present presence, thus he made a quick excuse of wanting to eat alone. For a moment it seemed she would eat with him regardless, but she only turned away, leaving him finally in peace.
Lunch was a simple affair for him, sandwiches on wheat with sliced deli meat. He longed for a good meat pie, but finding this in Tokyo-3 had been hard enough. Early into the meal his moment of respite was interrupted.
"So you're the new pilot, eh?" Harry looked up from his position in the shade of a tree to find a tall boy dressed in a dark jumpsuit. He had tanned skin and dark hair and was accompanied by the slight boy with the large glasses he had seen earlier.
Harry swallowed his food. "I don't think I'm allowed to discuss it."
"Pfft! Whatever, man. It's no secret Rei, Shinji, and Asuka are pilots. Everybody already knows."
"Oh. I didn't know that."
"Heck yeah, we've," he gestured to his friend, "have even been inside one!"
"Really?" Harry asked dubiously.
The tall looked riled. "Yeah, we even watched Shinji kill an Angel."
The smaller of the two chimed-in. "He's telling the truth. It was an accident, but it is the truth." A smile grew on his face. "They even made us sign a bunch of forms telling us everything we saw was classified." There was an eagerness to his voice as he spoke.
"In that case, I'm the Fourth Child."
"Thought so. We would have found out earlier, but Hikari caught me." Harry assumed the smaller teen meant the pigtailed girl from earlier.
The tall jock absently rubbed his arm. "You know how she can be, and the last time someone asked Shinji it did disrupt the class." His friend chuckled and Touji glared at him. "What's so funny?"
A secret smile was the small teen's only response.
Heading off what looked to be an argument, albeit a probably good natured one, Harry introduced himself. "Harry Potter." He stood and offered a hand in greeting.
The two took a moment to react. "Touji Suzahara and this is Kenske Aida. Mind if we join you?"
Harry resumed his seat, patted the earth, and moved over a bit, glad for some normal company. "I'd be happy to have you."
The two sat and proceeded to gorge themselves like normal teens, gasping for breath between massive bites. When all were finished and full, Touji opened the conversation. "So what's up with you and Rei?" Harry looked heavenward. "That bad?"
He nodded. "It's been a nightmare with her. Every time we talk is like trying to…" he shook his head. "I'm not sure what it's like, but it's frustrating!"
"You don't say?" Touji laughed.
"Has she always been like that? Hard to talk to?"
Kenske answered. "Yep, since she first came to school. Of all the pilots, she's the worst. Granted, Asuka's not much better. She's more a bitch than anything else, though." Harry looked askance at the description for her.
"Hey, you don't know her, yet." Touji said laying back on the ground. "You'll understand in time. We did. I don't know how the Shin-man puts up with her honestly."
Kenske shrugged, choosing to lean against the tree. "Me neither. He seems the most normal of you pilots, but sometimes I wonder."
"Think he likes her?" Touji asked idly.
"The way those two have gotten at it the past few days? I wouldn't be surprised."
Silence fell for a moment before it was broken by Touji's deep voice. "Oh hey, we got any of that money left? I wanna buy my sis a gift for this weekend."
"Yeah some."
"What do you mean 'some?'" Touji propped himself onto his elbows.
Sensing yet another disagreement Harry inserted himself into their discussion. "Money?"
Touji waved his hand. "Yeah, we took a couple shots of Asuke and sold them. Half the school lined up for'em."
"You sold nude photos of a girl?" Harry asked, his hand clenching.
Touji went stiff and sat up. "What? Who said they were nude?"
Kenske coughed and spoke. "No, they weren't nudes, just pictures of her doing normal stuff. You know, walking, eating, smiling. Nothing else."
"There were a few of her from gym class." Touji pointed out. "And that time we snuck into the pool to see her swim."
Harry's expression darkened. Nudes or not, it's not right to sell someone's picture like that. The demography of the customers left little imagination as to what the photos were going to be used for.
Kenske noted Harry's expression. "Hey, don't get mad at us. We only harnessed what nature had blessed her with and offered it at a reasonable price."
"You exploited her for your gain. That's low." Harry shook his head.
"Oh please, like you wouldn't jump at the chance if we offered you a discount." Touji said disgusted. "You're no better than us."
Harry's nostrils flared and he spoke in a low voice. "I wouldn't buy anything like that from you; especially from someone who's risking their life fighting Angels so you two can still live."
Kenske cringed and looked away, stray fingers nervously fiddling with his shirt. Touji looked taken aback, rubbing his hand through over his neck. Harry did not care how uncomfortable they felt, they deserved it!
"Yeah, so…there was something else we wanted to ask you." Touji began.
"What?" Was Harry's curt reply.
"We haven't seen our friend all day. We were wondering if you know what he's been up to." Both of the teens looked to him, hopeful.
Harry avoided their glances, choosing to look away and shrug. "It's classified."
Kenske opened his mouth, but shut it, choosing instead to stare at the blades of grass before him.
"Classified?" Touji cried, indignant. "We know it's got somethin' to do with an Angel! We just want to know if he's okay."
Harry turned to face him, speaking slowly. "It's classified."
Touji took a breath and drew himself-up, shoulders tense. "I don't—"
"Pilot Potter." Came a quiet voice, interrupting the taller boy. Three pairs of eyes looked to see Rei standing over them, cast in the sun's rays.
"Yes, Rei?" Harry was relieved to see his other pilot, strange as that was.
Rei went to respond, but Touji quickly spoke over her. "Where's Shinji at? Is he okay?"
Harry scowled. "I told them it was classified, but they seem to think their trip in an Evangelion entitles them."
"We never said that!" Kenske cried, rising to his feet. He addressed Rei. "We just want to know if our friend is alright." His taller fellow nodded, regarding Harry with narrowed eyes.
There was long pause before Rei answered, turning two red eyes from one teen to the other. "It is classified." Was there a slight hesitation before she spoke? Regardless, Harry smiled, relieved. These two did not deserve to know anything for how they had treated a pilot.
Touji sat in shock, his mouth agape, while his companion appeared betrayed, a hurt expression crossing his features.
"Was there something you needed, Rei?"
"Yes, we have received orders for after school." She gave Touji and Kenske a blank look, but they understood. In silence they collected their things and marched off, Touji giving the pair a dark look. Harry ignored them as Rei spoke. "The Captain has ordered us to join her at her apartment this afternoon."
"No problem. We'll walk there together, I assume?"
She nodded before turning and walking from whence she came, Harry noting how diminutive her steps were.
He recalled the awkward silence with her through the morning, and her renitence at conversation in general. Mirroring that was his defense of Asuka. These are my fellow pilots, people I'll be risking my life with fighting the Angels. Harry quickly gathered his things, stowing them into his pack, and rushed to catch the pilot.
"Rei, wait!" She paused as he came abreast of her, head tilted to the side. "I'm sorry."
Her eyes crinkled in confusion. "For what?"
"I lied earlier about eating alone." He swept his foot over a mound of grass, eyes watching the motion as he spoke. "I just didn't want to eat with you." He drew a breath and met her gaze. "We're supposed to be fighting together and all I can think of is how hard it is to talk to you. You don't make it easy."
Two ruby eyes looked to the left, staring at something over Harry's shoulder. "I'm…only following orders."
Then Harry saw it, an uncertainty about her, an emotion barely conveyed in the hesitation he knew he heard. She may have been following orders, but the task was not an easy one for her. Harry relaxed. "You're not used to," he searched for an appropriate word, "interacting with others are you?"
The hesitation was more pronounced as she opened her mouth, but it took a moment for words to be forthcoming. "No." The response was soft, barely louder than a breath.
I'm not making things any easier for her. The revelation was not surprising, but it made him see he could choose a different route with interacting with this pilot. She seemed at ease with all things work related, but anything beyond that she showed either indifference, apparent by her boredom during class, or uneasiness, seen through her sparse interactions with others. Harry wondered if she even cared for others beyond those already close to her. Was anyone even close to her?
"You want to spend the rest of lunch together?"
"There is not much time left."
Harry shrugged and started walking forward. "It would make following your orders easier, right?" He turned back and gave her a pleasant smile.
Walking forward she joined him, and together they approached the school, Harry asking questions about Eva, questions he knew she would be comfortable answering. As they talked he wondered why someone as socially inept as she seemed would be ordered to become his friend.
Lunch soon ended and the rest of the school day went forward with more work on Harry's part as he tried to wrestle with the language. Several times he fell behind, cursing his own limited abilities, but he persevered. At times he felt like quitting, recalling days of thoughtlessly casting aside assignments and lounging during some lectures. Yet, he also recalled diligent work and long hours of studying at his boarding school. The dichotomy added to the hectic day, but he chose to be studious, accepting the language barrier as a challenge.
At last the final school bell rang, he leaned back in his chair, lounging, glad to have survived the day, yet mentally fatigued as well. The students filed out, chatting, and the two from lunch gave Harry weighted looks before exiting.
Harry turned to Rei. "We have to go the Captain's apartment now?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Pilot Soryu and Shinji are there training."
Shinji? It appeared there was someone she was close to. Near an hour, later and one trip across town, found the two of them knocking on the Captain's door.
"Oh, I'm glad you two could make it! C'mon in!" She gestured the two within. As Harry removed his shoes he could hear strange beeping sounds coming from the main living area of the apartment. Following Katsuragi revealed two teens his own age dressed in strange uniforms; black body suits complemented with blue and pink draped over their upper torsos. They were adorned with headphones, and each was trying to step upon a pad with various colored spots lighting up in sync, though the pilots' motions were far from tandem.
The girl had a nice figure, athletic with toned muscles. Red hair was swept back by two red clips atop her head, with several strands darkened by sweat sticking to her forehead. Crystal blue eyes barely noticed his interest as she concentrated, occasionally giving the small framed boy next to her irritated looks.
The boy in question was smaller than Harry with gangly limbs. Short dark hair glistened with sweat as awkward motions tried to keep pace with the shifting lights. Two dark blues eyes glanced to him before quickly looking away towards his partner, then quickly glancing away from her.
As Harry and company made their way to a table set in front of the two practicing pilots, he noticed each time they failed to be in synch, a buzzer would announce their mistake. Harry took a seat and heard the red-haired girl growl, throwing a murderous glance to her partner. At that moment, Harry could see why Touji would call her a bitch; he would hate to have that look directed at him.
Misato opted not to sit, instead marching to a control panel off to the side. Both pilots watched as she killed the power, glad for the respite as they wiped the sweat from their brows. "Break time." Misato called as she addressed the two pilots. "Grab a seat and get a drink, it's time you met the new addition to the team."
Approaching the table as one, introductions were given. Shinji was polite with a simple, "Nice to meet you." Asuka gave him a measuring look before making a grand introduction. "I'm Asuka Langley-Soryu, Second Child and pilot of Evangelion Unit 2."
Harry imagined he was supposed to be impressed, but the costume and sweat took away from whatever effect she had been hoping for. "Nice to meet you."
Asuka took a seat beside him, while Shinji sat opposite her, both opting to down bottles of water. Misato was ready for additional drinks and a couple of towels, both were gratefully accepted and used.
"You didn't catch me at my best," Asuka began. "You should see me in my Eva." There was pride in how she held herself, head held high and small smile in place. Shinji sighed and Misato rolled her eyes. Rei was currently staring at the wall.
Harry could only shrug. "I saw your battle with the Angel." Her head fell and her eyes narrowed. Harry instantly regretted the words. "There were—"
"There was a certain idiot teamed with me getting in the way." She gave Shinji a significant glance.
To which in responded, "At least I was more concerned about defeating the Angels than showing off like a rookie."
"Rookie? I've been training with Eva my whole life! What've you done besides hide from Daddy?"
Harry saw Shinji tense. Beside the foreign youth Rei watched the exchange. But before the pilot of Unit 01 could respond, Misato slammed the flat of her palm against the wooden table, shaking Harry's glass of juice.
"Hey, knock it off you two! This is the exact reason why you're doing this little song-and-dance." Neither looked repentant, but grudgingly stilled their tongues. Misato sighed. "That's not much better, but I guess it's an improvement. In order to beat this Angel you two have got to learn to work together, only with a simultaneous strike on the creature's core can it be destroyed."
Toward the end of Misato's speech, Asuka had been silently repeating her rote for rote. "Yeah, yeah, we know, we know."
Misato bristled. "If you know then why don't you do anything about it?"
"Because he's so clumsy! Dancing with him is like dancing with a tree."
Shinji looked to the table, his mouth a thin line. "I'm not that bad."
Asuka sniffed, but held her peace. For a moment there was silence before Asuka turned to Harry. "So how long till you get your Eva?"
"Dr. Akagi said it would be sent here in a month. Not in time to help with the current Angel."
"No, this one is mine." Misato cleared her throat, giving the young girl a significant look. "And Shinji's."
"I see." How was I supposed to even respond to that? Harry wondered, not enjoying the conversation skills of these pilots any better than Rei.
"Where do you live?" Shinji asked.
Asuka quickly spoke. "Probably alone, lucky devil. I would be to if not for the stu—" Asuka cut herself off after giving Misato a quick glance. "Circumstances being what they are." She gave her guardian a tight smile.
Annoyed, Harry responded. "Actually, I don't live on my own. Kaji's my guardian." Shinji looked interested in the news, while Misato and Asuka looked shocked. "Sub-Commander Fuyutski thought it best if I had someone to help me become adjusted to Japanese culture." Speaking of which, he wondered if he would ever become accustomed to sitting on the floor. The table they were at was a foot off the ground and all had their legs either crossed or tucked under it. Why would they not use chairs in the living room, when they use them at the dinner table?
"Kaji actually agreed to watch you?" Misato snorted. "Doesn't really sound like him." There was little love for the man in her voice.
"Well, I don't think he actually had a choice."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The sub-Commander seemed to have forced him to do it, with the approval of whoever Kaji reports to."
"The UN." Misato supplied. "He's the direct liaison between them and Nerv. More a watchdog than anything else, which is exactly all he'll ever be."
It seemed Kaji held a fonder view of the Captain than she did him. In his exchange with Misato he had not noticed Asuka scooting a little closer to him. He could smell the sweat from her skin. "So what's it like living with Kaji? He was always so nice to me in Germany." It seemed honey dripped from her tone.
Harry leaned away to give himself some breathing space. "He's nice enough and helpful. We went and got a lot of books for me yesterday. I used to read a lot in my old school." As the words left his mouth, he felt the lie of them, even though his memories said otherwise.
"What school did you go to? Was it private?"
"Hogwarts, and it was private." Everyone, save Rei, gave him strange looks.
"Hogwarts?" Misato asked, smiling.
"What the hell kind of name is Hogwarts?" Asuka declared, her tone no longer inviting.
Did I just say Hogwarts? An image came to him; one of a beautiful castle reflecting in the still surface of a lake darkened by night. The moon hallowed old towers, while the stars twinkled in the background. Harry felt a rush of dizziness when the image was replaced with one from his memories; of a stale brick building resplendent in ivy and fake marble columns. Concrete steps led to the entrance and tall windows lined the frame of the building.
"Sorry, I meant Essex Memorial School for Boys." Harry studied the table, daring to look up. What greeted him were shrugs and uncaring eyes, save for Rei, who was regarding him with what he thought was an inquiring stare. Was she recalling my breakdown earlier?
"So it was an all boys school then, huh? I can relate." Asuka continued, her tone once more friendly. "I went to one when I was little, but I didn't like it much. So, I had Papa send me to a co-ed school, instead. That was before my college courses, of course."
Harry's lips quirked into a smile. "So you attended an all boys school?"
"What? Huh?" Realization dawned and she crossed her arms. "You know what I meant."
Misato laughed while Harry and Shinji shared a grin, much to Asuka's chagrin. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, laugh it up." The young girl pointedly ignored them, instead directing her attention to a bottle of water.
"Okay, I think you've all had enough of a break, time to get back to work. And remember, you are trying to work together." Asuka and Shinji both moaned, grudgingly gaining their feet and replacing the headsets. The music resumed and Harry watched as the two exchanged awkward glances while trying to mimic each other's dance. Their rest seemed to have done them some good.
"Is it true Asuka has taken college courses?" Harry leaned closer to Misato.
"What, didn't believe her?" Misato grinned.
"Well…it seemed she—"
"Liked to boast?" Misato finished for him.
"Er…yeah."
His Captain laughed, drawing Rei's attention. "Yes, she's taken college courses. She even has a degree in Physics. A Bachelor's to be exact, though she'd want you to believe otherwise."
Harry looked bewildered. "Then why is she going to school still?"
Misato's expression turned somber. "The same reason you're going to school and not working at Nerv solely. Because the mental strain of fighting the Angels is too great. You kids need a routine and school seemed the logical idea."
"Kaji said pretty much the same thing."
"Smartest thing he's said all week."
From there the conversation lulled, Misato intent on the two pilots attempting to dance in sync where as Rei was once more studying the wall. Harry chose to bring out his laptop and get started on the day's homework, unsure how long he was expected to remain. Half-way through his literature project Misato suddenly rose and turned off the music, drawing his and Rei's attention.
Holding her head in one hand, she spoke. "This isn't working. And don't argue Asuka! I'm not in the mood." The sweating red head shut her mouth, her protest dying before it was given. "We've got fourteen days to get this right, and I don't think this stupid machine is going to work."
"Then what are we going to do?" Shinji ask, wiping his brow, pointedly ignoring the glare his co-polite was giving him.
It was then the doorbell rang, and from the way her face lit-up it seemed inspiration had struck. "From this moment on, you guys are doing everything in synch. Eating, sleeping, walking. Everything.
"What!" Came two indignant cries.
"Starting with answering the door." Misato smirked and jerked her thumb to towards the apartment's entrance. "Get going and see who it is."
The two walked off, grudging looks greeted with nothing but a smile from their leader. As they answered the door Harry heard muffled voices, two sounding very familiar. Oh, great. As five people entered the room, two pointed accusing fingers his way.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Touji shouted, rounding on Harry.
Harry narrowed his eyes. "Visiting, and I would like to say that the information concerning your friend is no longer classified. They're both fine." Harry gestured to Asuka and Shinji, the latter seemed confused, but the former had a half-smile on her face, as if sensing what Harry was doing.
Misato giggled. "Behave Harry. C'mon guys and have a seat."
It was then Harry noticed the pigtailed girl behind Shinji's friends. She supplied her name and sat next to Harry, giving the two other boys a suspicious look. By his recollection, she was the Student Representative he had met earlier that day. "Have they been giving you a hard time?" she asked.
Harry looked to them, noticing they were talking with their friend. "Yeah, they kept bugging me about where Shinji and Asuka were. I told them it was classified."
Hikari shot the students in question a stern look. "I'll deal with them later."
Asuka made her way over. "Hikari!"
"Asuka!"
They had a brief embrace, before Asuka fell to rapidly complaining about Shinji. "God, he's so awkward. Like a tree." She stuck her tongue out. "I've been doing the sequence perfectly, but he can't get it right. Ugh. That Angel would have been mine if Shinji had just followed my lead…"
Hikari brought a hand to her mouth, hiding a smile while Asuka continued. Harry glanced away, watching Shinji talking with his friends while Misato laughed at something Kenske had said; the young boy looked ecstatic at having amused the attractive woman. He then glanced to Rei and found her own eyes upon him. They shared a look, him surprised and her passive. She then glanced away, resuming her vigil upon the wall.
"Alright, that's it!" Misato clapped her hands together and ushered both pilots to resume their stations. Asuka gave her a dirty look but acquiesced. Smirking, Misato resumed her seat, throwing a calculated look to the assembled students.
Minutes passed and still they could not synchronize, but Misato barked at them, adding the pressure. Harry was not sure, but he thought he heard Asuka growl. Then the young pilot threw a fit, throwing her headset on the ground. "This is so stupid! He can't even get it right!"
Misato only smiled. "So you're giving up?"
"Well you don't have anyone else..." Asuka flipped some hair over her shoulder.
"Rei?"
"Yes, ma'am," was her soft reply.
"Why don't you give it a shot."
"Yes, ma'am." She stood and took Asuka's place on the pad.
Harry was surprised at the transformation that overcame Shinji. He visibly relaxed and even looked contented. The music started and the two began to dance, easily stepping into the same rhythm, each lost to the world with nothing but the beat and the other's presence.
Everyone watched until they heard a huff from Asuka, proceeded by her storming from the apartment. Hikari stood and admonished Shinji, forcing him to pursue the wayward pilot. From there the scene seemed to fall apart, Touji and Kenske defending their friend, though both were soon cringing at Hikari's reprisal. Rei was lost to the commotion, standing next to the machine, her eyes upon her hands.
"I'll just go put these in the sink." Misato said in a cheery voice, collecting everyone's cups. It was then that Harry discreetly collected his items and made for the door. He looked back at Rei, knowing she would probably want to walk him back to his apartment, but he would rather walk alone right now. He had much to think on, in particular the other two pilots he would be risking his life with. He needed to learn more and made a mental note to query his guardian.
His arrival home was met with absence and silence, only a quick jotted note the only information from Kaji. I'll be out for the evening, there's some money on the table for take-out if you're not in the mood for cooking.
Harry took the bank notes and pocketed them, then set to work on his dinner and tomorrow's lunch. With careful motions he readied a decent meal, every now and then casting a look to the note taped to the refrigerator.
Dinner devoured and dishes from the mess and this morning cleaned, he tore the note down and balled it up, tossing it into the trash. The rest of the evening was spent jumping between reading and finishing his homework. With the chores done he went to bed, debating staying up late to continue his book, but in the end he killed the light and slept alone in the empty apartment.
The next day was spent much like his first, eating breakfast by himself and attending school. Touji and Kenske paid him little mind, save the taller would sometimes give him dirty looks. Hikari was polite, but she was only being friendly. Rei accompanied him to school that morning, without mentioning his sudden departure from the day before. Harry felt no need to apologize. Lunch was spent in relative quiet, save she informed him he had to report to Nerv the next day early in the afternoon. The school would forgive his absence, but he would have to make-up the work.
The afternoon, following school, was spent doing his homework at Misato's, watching Asuka and Shinji struggle to work in tandem. Misato and him talked a little, but he was not in much mood for chatting, a fact he suspected she eventually caught onto. When he asked to leave, he saw Rei readying her own supplies. She walked him home, still without commenting on his behavior the day before.
Talking to her was easier now that he had some understanding of her, but still their conversations were a far cry from what was normal.
That night was the same as before, another empty apartment with money left on the table and another note trashed. This time Harry took him up on the offer and ordered take-out. Wishing to be adventurous he tried a local place and was not too disappointed. He chose to stay up late reading, seeing if Kaji would even come home. When midnight produced no guardian, he doffed the light with a sigh and drifted to sleep.
Above was a high ceiling of metal, mirroring the design of the walls comprising Nerv. Thick cables was traced along the where the two met, disappearing into the metal. They lead to four tanks situated in the center of the room, spaced four feet apart and held suspended above a vat of purple liquid. He had access to the tanks via a catwalk, which he was presently leaning over vomiting into the liquid below.
Orange liquid, mingled with the day's food, poured from his mouth and lungs into the still purple below. Harry wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, once more conscious of the form fitting suit clinging to every curve of his body. Something surged in his stomach and he once more retched over the edge, more bile than orange LCL in this round. Coughing hurt and stung his throat.
A plastic cup was placed in front of him, courtesy of a slim hand with carefully trimmed nails. He accepted it. "Thank-you."
"Do you sometimes feel nauseous?"
He shook his head while drinking the water.
"Have you ever vomited after an emotionally intense event?"
Again he shook his head, wishing the water would wipe the taste of bile from his mouth.
"Have you ever felt the need to vomit after masturbation?"
What? "I'm sorry?" Harry managed, turning to look Dr. Akagi in the eye. Again he was struck how cold those eyes could be upon him. He suppressed a shudder and refused to look away, meeting blue eyes with green.
"Have you ever felt the need to vomit after masturbation?" She repeated the question in a toneless voice.
"No. I've never felt the need to vomit after jacking-off." He did not bother keeping the sarcasm from his voice. She frowned, then reached for his head, but he leaned away. She tsked and closed the distance, fiddling with the A1 clips atop his unruly black hair. She brought out a small device from her lab coat pocket and studied it a moment. "So throwing up after doing these test isn't good?"
She gave him a brief glance before returning to her examination. "No, it's not. If you had been synched with your Eva it would explain the nausea more, considering the stress of piloting for the first time can do to a pilot. It seems your body is not reacting well to the LCL." She pressed a key then addressed him. "We're done with the first round of the harmonics tests—"
"How'd I do?"
She gave him an irritated look. "You did poorly compared to the others pilots. Coming in at thirteen point seven, not enough to sync with Eva. Now climb back in."
"What? I thought I was done?"
"Only the first round, but I need to run further tests on your submerging with LCL. It could be the reason for your low harmonics score."
"Great." Harry turned back to the tank, still bitter from the way they had introduced him to the strange orange liquid. He recalled her initial words to his shocked protests. "Don't worry, you'll be able to breathe it."
Ten minutes later had him once more retching over the side of railing, his stomach heaving painfully when nothing else would come out. Dr. Akagi once more greeted him, sans cup of water.
"Your harmonics fell." She did not sound pleased. Harry really did not care how she felt, he felt miserable. "According to the tests of your initial examination, you should be getting at least twenty-one in this test. You aren't."
Harry rested his head on the railing, wishing nothing more than for this test to be over with. Glancing down, he took in the black suit he wore, trimmed in bright green along the arms, legs, and chest. He was glad it did not accentuate his lower regions, he did not know how he would react to that.
"Climb in again."
Harry looked to her to protest, but it died in his throat when he saw her abruptly turn around and walk back to the control booth. Several unpleasant names for her went through his mind, but he kept them to himself.
Once more in the tank, filled again with the abhorrent liquid, her voice broke over the comm. "We're not leaving this room until you manage an eighteen percent, so I suggest you soldier-on and concentrate. If you cannot manage this simple test, then you have no hope of piloting Eva."
Harry grit his teeth and took a calming breath. He would do this. If only to spite her. He calmed his nerves through some effort, ignoring her inane comments, which he thought were designed to help him. He phased her out and concentrated only on the vibrations shifting through the liquid, trying to reach out through the A1 clips on his head. The world seemed to fall away, but he could feel the nausea in his gut, trying to worm its way up.
"You were doing well, but…" Her words were only an irritation, something to be cast aside like an old sock.
His world was only the vibrations and his mind. Regulating his breathing calmed the nausea a little, but it was something he would have to get used to. He had agreed to this, innocents depended on him. It was a burden he would carry. Time lost meaning and eventually his sick stomach settled.
"Very good, Harry. Just…" More irrelevant words. More time passed. "Okay, we're done here. Drain the LCL."
Harry breathed in relief as the LCL drained from the tank. Instead of heaving the strange liquid from his mouth, it simply poured out of his lungs, joining the rest for disposal.
Upon walking across the catwalk, Dr. Akagi was waiting for him, a proud smile on her face. "You managed it, Harry, I knew you could if you…" Her voice trailed as he stalked past her, in no mood for whatever fake emotion she wanted to show him. He found Rei awaiting him in the hallway dressed in school uniform, passive eyes taking in his wet hair and wet suit. She fell in step with him as he walked to the showers, eager to be rid of the LCL and plugsuit.
"How can you stand it?" he asked after a time.
"Stand it?"
"The LCL and the tests."
A long moment passed and they reached the entrance to the male side. They paused. "It's all I've ever known."
Harry's mouth dropped, quite unsure how to respond except with, "I'm sorry." She's not sad. No regret, nothing. It was just a part of her life. Rei turned and sat upon a bench across from the entrance, an obvious sign she would wait for him. With nothing left to say he entered to wash away the LCL and change back into his normal clothes.
The sun was hovering near the horizon, casting long shadows from the trees lining the right side of the path; to the left was nothing but overgrown fields. Some miles back his car was parked in an abandoned home, left there for his return. A chill wind blew through the branches and swayed the man's ponytail. He paused, ears keen for the sound of a car. He was confident he had lost the Section-2 agents sent to watch him, but with his activities it was never wrong to be overly cautious. Satisfied none were coming, he continued down the dirt track.
Ahead was Kaji's destination, an old shack that was once used as a waystation for the park rangers, back when the government cared for such things. Hopefully, his contact would be waiting for him there. He was not disappointed.
"Hello, beautiful." He spoke to a squat woman of middle age with shoulder length brown hair. Between thin lips rested a burning cigarette. "They'll kill you, ya know."
She exhaled and removed it from her mouth, pinning it between two thick fingers. "They'll kill you, too, if they find you."
He smiled. "I was referring to your habit."
She blinked and looked down at her hands, then shrugged. "They'll kill me, too."
"What news do you have for me? Found anything about the Marduk Institute, yet?" He took up a position leaning against the wall across from her, shoulders relaxed and stance at ease. It was never good to show someone you did not trust how tense you were.
She removed from her purse a manila folder; nothing was safer from high-tech scanners than ink and paper. He took it, extracted the papers, and began skimming them. He nodded his head every now and then, it was as he expected. The Marduk Institute was owned directly by Gendo Ikari along with Keel Lorenz. "Interesting. The question I pose to you now, is who controls it?"
"Ikari at the moment. He chooses the pilots."
"And Lorenz?"
"Has yet to object."
"I see." He paused, reading through more of the paper, looking for any hint about Rei. Nothing, which was to be expected, finding any information on her was near impossible. "Any leads tracking down sick girls with albinism on the international level? Born around Second Impact?" He doubted there would be any, but it was a shot worth taking.
"None. All leads have been confirmed. Another dead-end."
He nodded, wondering if she were even aware of the pilot's origins. She worked directly with the JSSDF, the military harm of the Japanese government, but he knew for himself she reported to Seele. Who in turn were his bosses. They used him to spy on Nerv, while using her to spy on him. He in turn used her to acquire information his bosses already knew for his own purposes, and to show them he was actively trying to uncover Nerv's secrets for them. It was all part of the game.
"Well, if there's nothing further…"
"There is." She reached into her purse once more, and Kaji readied to reach for his gun. He was not fool enough to realize they could end his life at any moment; the main reason she insisted on meeting in such a quiet place. She removed another folder and handed it him. Harry Potter was marked on the front.
He took it, curiosity driving him. What about the Fourth Child had Seele wondering? Had Nerv managed to pull something with one of the pilots? He removed the papers and began to read, swiftly hitting the high points of each paper. What he read shocked him.
"This is real? No cloak-and-dagger smoke screen thrown at me?"
"We pulled the records straight from his former school. The one he didn't attend. Word from up top says they want you digging into his background, find out where he really came from."
According to the papers, a young man named Charles Holland disappeared from Essex Memorial School sometime over the summer. He vaguely matched Harry's description of unruly black hair and glasses. Teachers noted he was a diligent student, but he rarely drew attention to himself. He lived on the outskirts of London with his grandmother. Kaji held little doubt he was dead.
"These are the originals?"
She nodded and took another hit from her cigarette. "They were found among the school's hard copy records, but were deleted from their database. Replaced with Harry Potter's."
Rubbing his chin, Kaji considered his ward carefully, trying to recall if he had acted strange at all. He had appeared to him a typical teen, with very little subterfuge about him. "So Harry didn't attend Essex, but he's obviously from England. Or is that in doubt as well?"
She shook her head. "He arrived in Tokyo-3 with his relatives during the first Angel attack. They left for Great Britain and he didn't. But the tale gets stranger. They have no knowledge of him, ever. We searched and found two references in their taxes at claiming two dependents around the turn of the millennium."
"Someone covered his tracks but got sloppy." He read more about this Charles Holland. He seemed to fit Harry's personality somewhat, but from what he had observed, his ward was not as much a wallflower as the file would suggest. "So somebody wants us to think Harry's just your typical teenager picked to save the world." He smiled. "The question is why?"
She nodded and finished her cigarette, flicking it out a broken window. "Exactly. And that's what the higher-ups want you to find out."
So that's why Seele agreed for me to be his guardian, they wanted me to keep an eye on him. "I'll see what I can come-up with. Does it take priority?"
"No. Finding out what Nerv is hiding takes priority."
"I shall prevail." He gave her a nod and walked from the building, his feet once more set upon the dirt path. He pondered for a moment letting Gendo in on this meeting, but thought otherwise. The man humored him when it came to Rei, since Seele was already aware of her special status, but Harry Potter was another matter entirely. He had a feeling Gendo had wanted whatever was about him kept from the superiors.
Once the building was finally out of sight he relaxed some and let his mind wonder to the puzzle that was his life. To the quagmire that he had set foot in when coming to Tokyo-3.
The first was his intricate status of agent and double-agent, depending on who he was speaking with. Seele thought him their tool to be used against Nerv, but he trusted Ikari more than them. Gendo knew him to be Seele's spy, but he also used Kaji for his own reasons. One of which was smuggling the Adam sample out from under Seele's noses. In return, Gendo gave him information on Seele, while he plumbed Nerv for his own answers.
He personally believed that his spying amused Ikari more than anything. The Commander of Nerv always was the kind of man that thought he held all the cards no matter the situation. However, in this case, Kaji had a sinking suspicion Ikari did hold all the cards. That he had somehow taken control of Seele's plans and was steering the world to his own end. An end Kaji feared, and one reason that drove him.
The second confusing part, and one he struggled with, was Misato. How odd that fate had lead them back together now of all times, when it seemed that the end of the world was only one battle away. Was it a sign? Did he want it to be a sign? He sighed. This was no longer college where their futures had a chance of being one. He had his goal of finding the truth and she hers of ending the Angels. Them becoming involved would more than likely compromise his position, despite how much he wanted otherwise.
He sighed and cast a look to the sun drowning on the horizon, her last rays' feeble attempts filtering through the trees.
How he wished it could be otherwise.
The first week was over. Grueling tests at Nerv followed by long days at school, with only the occasional glimpse of his guardian. His only companionship throughout was the cold-eyes Dr. Akagi and the distant Rei. Neither were adept at conversation, though he did understand Rei better. He had only occasional talks with the other two pilots, but at the moment both were too involved with their training to focus on much else. Misato was friendly with him, but she was spending her time split between seeing her wards synchronized and creating a plan of attack the Evas could use once the Angel regenerated in nine days.
His own Eva was still three weeks out from delivery, the final battery of tests were being conducted. There were several bugs to be worked out in the programming, according to Dr. Akagi's lab assistant, Maya. She was sweet woman compared to her boss, but she seemed meek. At least, the times he had seen her interact with the Doctor.
Currently, he was walking after school, having been given the afternoon off from Nerv thanks to his improved scores. "You'll be ready for your Eva when it gets here. We'll put you through some simulators next week, then have you start studying the lay-out of the Tokyo-3." Had been Dr. Akagi's words.
The sun was shining in the west, still some time before sunset. Around him were only a few people, he had walked this way to avoid of the bustling crowds of the city. He was not quite ready to return to an empty apartment with yet another note. He was not sure what was worse, to be unfairly punished by his relatives, or neglected by his guardian. So much for helping him learn the culture.
The last thought was a bitter one, for there had been numerous times at school he had embarrassed himself. From using a fork and spoon at lunch, to calling some by the wrong honorific. He was learning though, and Hikari had been a massive help whenever he had any questions. She was the only source of normal interaction he had had this past week, but she had been polite only. Or maybe that was just how she was with everyone?
He shrugged.
He glanced back and saw Rei shadowing him some meters back.
He recalled their initial conversation before his trek.
"Look, I just want to go for a walk, you don't have to come along. Really, I'll be fine."
"I have my orders."
"Okay, then hang back, because I'm sure your orders didn't include walking beside me."
With that he had set-off, and thankfully she had chosen to follow at a distance. He was frankly tired of her presence day-in and day-out. He had tried ditching her as he had after seeing Shinji and Asuka, but she proved determined. How long was she supposed to follow him?
Time passed and his thoughts wondered, from his old school to his old haunts back in Surrey. He pointedly tried not to think about the disparity of his memories, doing so always left him feeling bereft and lost. Better to stay grounded in what he knew was true, at least what he hoped was. Soon he found himself in a construction zone, the telling noises drifting in from the site to his left. He paused and looked up at the frame work of a soon-to-be skyscraper.
Above saw a team of men hoisting a massive steal I-beam off the ground. They called to one another to make sure it was secured, some holding radios and talking to a team at the top. One man yelled for them to stop, while he peered up at the lines holding the beam in place. Then their voices became distorted, as if echoing down a tunnel, drifting farther and farther away until all he could hear was the roar of a beast.
He was no longer outside, no longer worried about Eva or being a pilot. He had come down here for a single purpose of saving his friend's sister. Her likeness and name escaped him, but what he faced, with two golden eyes pecked out, was known. A basilisk, the king of serpents whose gaze could kill. In his hand, he gripped a golden hilt inlaid with giant rubies, whose sharp edge was the only thing standing before him and the serpent.
A voice, silky and slippery spoke in a familiar tongue. "Kill him!"
The giant snake reared its head, fangs glinting in the subdued light. It struck, quick as lightning, its giant maw of a mouth covering him, its sharp teeth puncturing his skin. He cried out in pain and went to one knee, thrusting the sword forward, hoping…
The world twisted and turned, and the frightened calls of men once more filled his ears. Eva returned and the basilisk was nothing more than a memory taunting him. I'm going crazy! Was his only thought as he found himself laying on the ground, holding his head in his hands. Sweat soaked his body, and his shoulder ached, presumably where he had fallen to the ground. He tried to hold on to the vision, the different sense of self he had possessed, but it slipped through his fingers like water.
He felt like crying for what was lost and found tears crowding his eyes.
Then he looked up to find Rei staring at him, eyes crinkled. Was she concerned?
"I'm fine," he croaked out. "Just another panic attack. I don't need to see a doctor."
Rei opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly her attention darted to the right. He followed her gaze and saw a bolt of blue light flying through the air. Her red eyes flashed and the light struck a hexagonal field, making it skitter across the strange barrier. Rei jerked her head behind her as the barrier disappeared, only to block yet another blue bolt. Two more struck from nowhere, only to be blocked as well.
Rei risked glancing to Harry. "Stay down." Her tone was soft but her intent was evident; protecting him.
Then a barrage came from across the street, from where the original had been sent. A dozen blue bolts seemingly appearing from thin air.
Harry did not know how to react, only that Rei was somehow blocking those lights. Is it an Angel attacking?
There were more frightened calls coming from Harry's left, opposite the side of Rei's manifestation. He looked that way and opened his eyes wide, for the construction workers was screaming and yelling, some even running away, for their heavy I-beam was now spinning out of control. One of the hoists had snapped, leaving the beam connected only to one. It took Harry a second later to realize it was coming for them.
"Re—" He was never allowed to finish her name as it came spiraling down, the ends a blur of motion. He watched in horror as one of those ends struck Rei in the side. His fellow pilot was sent instantly flying with the sound of shattered bones as her wake. Harry saw her body skitter across the asphalt, turning end over end like a doll, before coming to a stop, motionless.
The beam of metal kept going, uncaring for the damage it had wrought, passing over Harry, leaving before a gust of air, before continuing on its path to be buried into the concrete, breaking apart whole junks of the road.
Harry's hands were shaking as he got to his feet, but his knees almost gave out. "Please Merlin, let her be okay," he muttered as he made his way to her side, his vision swimming. "Rei!" He shouted coming to her.
He dropped to his knees and shook the body, which responded limply. "Rei! Can you hear me?" He turned her over and saw two red eyes vacant of thought, and a mouth slackened and reddened by blood. His eyes roved over her pale body, taking in the horrible way her midsection was twisted, how he could see bone sticking from her arm, how her chest seemed to have been caved in.
"No…" Harry whipped his head around, screaming. "Somebody help! Anybody!"
Several men in black suits, guns drawn, were rushing over, while the men at the construction site looked on in horror. Four men surrounded Harry and the body, one held a phone to his ear, talking rapidly. Harry heard him mention an ambulance and the Commander. One agent pulled Harry from the corpse, Harry struggled against him a second, before he realized these men were here to help. He let him get dragged away, casting a final glance as one of the men began testing the girl's vital signs.
Harry already knew the answer. Rei Ayanami was dead, killed while trying to protect the both of them from some strange attack. Killed protecting him.
He was lead to a side-walk where they sat him down. "Don't talk to anybody. Just sit and we'll take care of this." Was the man's only words to Harry, and he was glad for them. Talking was the farthest thing from his mind, and now, coming down from the events and accepting what had just happened left him disquieted and feeling hollow. Numb to everything around him save those two unseeing red eyes.
Harry waited under the watchful eye of the man in black, hoping that someone could make sense out of what just happened.
The room was cast in darkness, the only light coming from a wide window set behind the man hunched over a polished oak desk. His hair was a short brown and orange-tinted glasses covered two blue eyes. White gloves hid his hands, while an impassive expression hid his thoughts. Etched onto the floor before him was an intricate design of the Tree of Sephiroth. Fitting for what his designs were for the human race, and himself.
Upon the desk were several items, where usually it was devoid of decoration and utility. A portable computer lay opened with several videos playing at once. One depicted a hospital room where his ward Rei lay with IV's connected to her arm. Across from her sat Shinji, seated into a bare metal chair with his hands in his head.
Disappointing. Gendo watched the video for a moment and saw the pilot raise his head and speak. Rei gave a single word response before again choosing to study the wall before her. Shinji abruptly stood and went to her side, his hands reached for hers, taking one into his grip and seeming to plead with her.
She only looked to him in confusion, eyes widened and head cocked to the side. For a long moment they stared at one another, before Shinji released her hand and walked out of the room, head hung low, arms limp by his sides.
Pathetic. Rei watched him leave then gently touched the hand he had held, rubbing it for a moment before looking down and examining the white sheets covering her body. Gendo went to look away, but noticed further movement.
Rei systematically felt her body, starting with the abdomen, then leaning forward and rubbing her legs, pausing every so oft to squeeze the large muscle groups. Sitting up, she repeated the process with her chest and back, taking additional time with her spine. Ending it she felt along her neck then let her hands trail down her face.
She's remembering the pain. Interesting. Apparently finished, she adjusted the bed so she could lie down and study the ceiling.
Done watching he switched his vision to the video next to it, currently paused, depicting Harry sitting at a desk with a pen and paper before him. Across, leaning against the metal table, was an agent of Section-2, garbed in their usual cold black. Close to Harry was Kaji, for once not going through the motions of being the boy's guardian.
"Play." The video came to life and their voices filled the room.
"Start from the beginning and write down anything pertinent to the situation. Any small detail should go into it."
Harry nodded absently, while Kaji reached over and squeezed his shoulder. Harry seemed to shy away from the touch and Kaji seemed to get the hint, removing his hand and giving the pilot some distance. "Forward." The video sped-up, showing solely Harry writing quickly, then pushing the papers to the agent who read through them. "Resume." It went to normal speed, picking up where the agent was speaking.
"Why were you on the ground?"
"I felt dizzy and fell down. I was looking at the steel beam the workers were raising. I sort of just got overwhelmed by the size of the building. Vertigo?" He sounded nervous. Was he lying?
The agent wrote something in the margins of the paper before asking, "Did you notice when the beam became unstable?"
"No, I was too shocked at what was happening." He paused and gave the agent a severe look. "What was going-on? Was it Angel related?" He sounded tense. The interview had occurred the day after the incident, and it looked like Harry Potter had not slept much. The video itself was not a live-feed, but a recording. It had been a week since Rei had been 'killed.'
The agent did not bother returning the glare. "That information is classified."
"It bloody well shouldn't be!" Harry got to his feet, shoulders tense, hands upon the table. "Whatever that was targeted me and Rei, and I think I deserve to know what was trying to kill me!"
"Harry," Kaji went to his side, voice stern. "Calm down."
"Who are you to say that? You weren't there, I don't even know where you've been." Harry shrugged off Kaji's attempt to ease him back into the chair. Kaji became more insistent, but a beep sounded in the room. That was when Gendo had personally intervened. The agent touched his ear then nodded twice. He addressed Harry. "What happened is classified, but you were not the target. Pilot Ayanami was."
Harry's face went slack and his shoulders slumped. Without argument, he allowed his guardian to reseat him. "It's not because she was a pilot, was it?" He looked up, two green eyes piercing the man. "It's because she could make that field, isn't it?"
"That's classified. And as of this moment, everything you saw Pilot Ayanami do is classified as well. You may only discuss it with those of Alpha Level clearance."
"So I can't tell the other pilots…" He sighed. "It doesn't matter now anyway, does it?"
Gendo nodded, recalling at the time the young man still believed Rei to be dead. It appears the incident had stressed him, and that was the reason he was reviewing it; he had to see if the strain would work against the memories planted within him. So far, there was little evidence to suggest that theory, which matched Ritsuko's results from the examination.
The man touched his ear again, and spoke in a low voice. He nodded once. "Pilot Rei is still in intensive care and looks to be recovering. The damage was not as severe as first thought."
Kaji and Harry both looked shocked. "What? How? I saw her die!"
"At Nerv we have the top medical facilities available geared solely to the health of the Pilots." He reached for a form at the corner of the table and presented it to the other two. "Sign these waivers citing both of you will not discuss what has transpired."
Kaji signed it immediately, while Harry echoed the gesture, pausing only for an instant.
"Can I see her?" Harry asked, eyes again glaring, but there lay suspicion in them now.
"No."
"Why not?" His tone was insistent.
The man glanced to Kaji and motioned his head to the door. "This meeting is over."
Kaji grabbed Harry, but he shook him off, standing on his own and stalking from the room, his guardian a few steps behind him.
Gendo had observed enough and closed the file. There would be no helping the suspicions raised among the pilots by Rei's miraculous recovery. In the end, it would not matter because none had the means of discovering the truth. Kaji himself had so far had little luck in the area, though this would only fuel his need to know even more. Harry would still pilot, but it was his guardian that Gendo would have to watch more carefully.
He was already aware of the secret meetings, but they did not worry him. Seele thought they had their dog well trained and well aimed, but they did not know that Kaji's true allegiance was foremost to himself. So long as Gendo provided snippets of information to Kaji, he could be used as a means of misinformation. So far, Kaji had agreed to leave out a few bits of information in his financial reports.
Gendo's attention went next to the reports laying open on his desk. The price of silence from the steel workers had not been too steep, but coercing them to relocate to another part of the globe had not been easy. As the attack itself and who perpetrated it? That was the hardest question to answer, for he had assumed none in the wizarding world were aware of Rei's special ability to block magic.
The only link between her and that lay with two incidences. The first was when the first magician refused to rewrite Harry's memories; he had been killed. The second was the next wizard used; he had been successful. He may have deduced why her presence was there, and that was why the Nerv agents among the Japanese wizarding society were actively looking for him. Thus far, he had eluded pursuit.
Gendo thought he had an understanding with the hidden wizards. He would not disclose their existence to a paranoid world, he had threatened to link them with the cause of Second Impact, and they would leave him and his organization alone. Added they would aid him in his manufacturing endeavors, though that had been more Seele's influence than his own. It had not surprised him in the least they had been aware of the existence of the wizards, nor did it surprise him they had considerable influence over them.
The simple truth was that Seele controlled most of the world's governments through the UN. Thus their ability to broker near limitless resources for Nerv.
It had not been difficult to find willing moles among the wizards, it seemed their society mirrored his own, stratified by those with money and those without. Aid the ones without and they would become informants. Give those who had money something else, at times influence through Seele or desires, and he had infiltrated their ranks. All men wished something, it was only finding what they wanted.
And so far those contacts had supplied some valuable information. There was a faction among the wizards who opposing involvement with muggles. Among that faction was a sect who vehemently opposed working for Nerv. Through some means this sect had become aware of his acquiring several of their populace for Dr. Akagi's curiosity. It stood to reason they were the ones responsible for the attack upon Rei, an act which sealed their doom.
He had yet to apply pressure to the Japanese wizarding government to oust these terrorists, he wanted to gather more information first. Wanted to consider a way to further fragment them, for the one thing that could disrupt his operations was a united wizarding world set against him. It was a problem he would need to consider further.
He leaned back in his chair and placed his hands gently in his lap. He had wished to finish his work abroad, but the attack on Rei had required him to fly back that night. He was not pleased to learn of Misato's initial failure with the Angel, but he trusted her plan. Despite her personal foibles, there was a reason she had been picked for the position. Her passion at defeating the Angels drove her to think of creative strategies to defeat them. And that was exactly what the Ops Director of Nerv needed to fight such varied foes.
Yet, he may not need her. May not need anybody. If he himself could wield the power of an Eva, he could stand atop the world and recreate it in his and his wife's image. He could bypass all the political maneuvering, could crush the Angels with his own fists. All he need do is open the cabinet, remove the suitcase, and let them become one.
Become one with destiny…
Become one with a God…
Become God…
Gendo removed his hand from the cabinet latch and used it to adjust his glasses. He drew in a deep breath, and exhaled slowly, once more regaining control of his thoughts. He gave the cabinet a shrewd look, respecting the insidious way the sample worked on him, striving to merge with him. It was an annoyance for now, but if the voice grew any stronger he would remove the sample from here and find another place for it.
A throat cleared, drawing the Commander's attention to who stood in front of his desk. Fuyutsuki. "Ikari?" his voice held a trace of wariness.
How long had he stood there? Had the embryo enthralled him for that long? It could not have been more than a minute. "Yes?"
Fuyutsuki frowned, but knew better than to ask after his health, knew he would not receive a satisfactory answer. "Have you reviewed the report of the wizards? Have you chosen a course yet?"
"You worry no reprisal will embolden them?"
"They eliminated Rei for a reason. I think they may have a plan set in motion."
Gendo leaned forward. "I agree, but for now we won't interfere directly. We will use their own government to hunt them."
Fuyutsuki leaned his head to the side, considering the problem. "I agree for now, but if they prove ineffective, we may have to take steps ourselves. We can't have them making strikes like this against us."
"Agreed."
"What of recruiting some of them for Section-2?"
Gendo remained silent a moment. "It is a risk, and they would have to be chosen with care. We do not know if any would be interested." He leaned back in the chair, eyes regarding the older man. "Look into it."
Before the discussion went further, movement from Rei's camera caught his attention. He saw Harry Potter enter the room and approach the bed. He would need to remind Rei of her orders regarding the young wizard. She was the only one with the ability to contain him if he became prone to remembering his past.
He turned back to Fuyutsuki and continued their discussion on what to do regarding the wizards of Japan, the events of the camera ignored.
The walls were sterile and white, dimmed by the fluorescent lights lit from above. He walked under them, wondering if the lack of any shadows had been considered in the design of the medical ward. He noted there was a general lack of warmth among the sparse decorations, something muggle hospitals seemed to have in abundance. Maybe regular hospitals cared more for their patients than Nerv did.
He stopped at a crossroads, noting the hallway numbers. Rei was in 3-A, so he made his way down the hall, hoping she would be conscious. He had been in several times the past week, he had made the trip after school, but each time she had been under. The hallway opened up to a lounge with the windows on the right giving a beautiful view of the geofront, it's artificial light shining through, illuminating a thin figure in front of it.
It was Shinji, and he had his arm against the window with his head bowed on it. Harry was not sure if he was looking at the reflective tile floor or the picturesque view before him. Was he even noticing anything?
Harry approached him cautiously, then noting Asuka's presence against the far wall. She was leaning forward typing into her cell-phone, oblivious to his arrival.
"Hey," Harry spoke softly, his voice carrying in the open space. Asuka gave him a curious look before returning to her activity.
It took a time for Shinji to respond, and his tone was low. "You're here to see her, aren't you?"
"Yeah. Is she awake?" Shinji nodded. Harry supposed he was not in a talking mood. "Thanks, I guess."
Harry walked away but was stayed by Shinji's voice. "She's not the same."
The black-haired teen paused and turned. "I'm sorry?"
Shinji glanced to the floor, his right hand suddenly closing. "She's not the same, they've done something to her. She…she's different."
There was a snort from the wall. "Oh please, she's still the same emotionless doll she's always been."
Shinji whirled to face her, hand tightening into a fist. "She's changed!" There was a challenge in his voice. Asuka rolled her eyes but stayed her tongue. It seemed the two had already had this fight before.
"Actually, she does have emotions, I just don't think she's good at expressing them." Harry provided.
"Oh, really? I never would have guessed." She rolled her eyes again and decided it would be better to direct her attention on the phone.
Shinji gave her a glare before returning his eyes to the window.
Harry turned from them both, uncertain what awaited him in that room. He was made ambivalent by Shinji's words, but he was confused by Asuka's assertion. Then again, Rei was closer to Shinji. He shook his head, not sure what to think about the pale pilot, considering what she had done against those strange lights.
He entered the room, taking in the stale walls of white and the matching bed sheets, where Rei's skin nearly blended in. There was an IV attached to her left arm and a few bandages were bound around neck and shoulders. She turned to look at him, two red eyes scrunching in confusion.
He went to her side, a question leaving his lips. "How are you?"
She blinked, her face becoming a familiar passive slate. Another blink. "You are Pilot Potter?"
Harry startled, his head leaning to the left. "Yeah, Harry."
"I see." She lowered her head and examined the bed sheets. "I…I had been given orders about you?" She nodded then turned to him. "I'm sorry, please leave."
Harry stared for a long moment, but clenched his fist. So far none had given him an explanation of what had happened, and he was tired of getting yanked around by Nerv. "No," Two green eyes speared her, "not until I get some answers."
Her mouth slackened, but she closed it and returned his glare with a small one of her own. It was then that Harry understood what Shinji meant about her changing. Her demeanor was different; assertive and not as socially-awkward. She remained silent, but Harry was undeterred. "What happened? What was that field you made? Was it an AT-Field?" He had recognized it from watching the videos Misato had supplied him for his training. He found it baffling how any human could produce them.
Rei's eyes faltered, falling to the bedsheets for a moment before returning his gaze. "I don't remember."
The tension in Harry's shoulders eased. "What do you mean? You were there. Or—" A sudden image of her body upon the concrete, a broken doll, unmoving. Brain damage? He looked over her pale body, what parts were shown. There was hardly any scars. Something else? "What do you remember?"
"I remember dying." She closed her eyes and looked to the sheets, eye contact finally broken. "I don't know why I'm still alive. I don't know what I'm alive for."
Harry let out a breath, bringing a hand to his hair and rubbing it. He did not know what she was talking about, but her voice worried him. She almost sounded despondent, lost. Whatever she's been through it couldn't have been easy, and here I am demanding answers she doesn't have. Unless she was lying? He sighed. He didn't think she was, but out here in Japan he wasn't sure who to trust.
Harry walked away from the bed and began to pace, eyes darting across the tiles reflecting the subdued light from above. He did not know what to do. The attack had showed something deeper was going on than just fighting Angels. He abruptly stopped and turned to Rei, surprised to find her gaze upon him. Was the answer behind those red eyes?
"What do you remember?" he asked approaching her bedside.
She gave him a strange glance, eyes slightly narrowed. Harry adjusted his glasses, patient, he knew she had asked him to leave, but he wanted answers. Guilt gnawed at his gut, but he pushed it aside. He had been pushed around far too much as of late.
"I don't remember," she whispered.
Harry lowered his head and took a deep breath. "You don't remember the lights, the field, or the steel beam? You don't remember protecting me? Nothing?"
"I protected you?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, but they say I wasn't the target. You were."
She remained silent, her apparent default response to most questions. What words of comfort could he provide about people trying to kill her. It's just something you get used to. Harry's mouth dropped open, wary of how that thought flitted across his mind. He walked away, the other inconsistencies rearing within his mind. He took a breath.
I don't need this right now. I don't want to deal with this. Like a torrent the inconsistencies bore down on him. The misnamed school. The forest he knew was there, but remembered was not. His memories of studying where he held no interest in it. The hundred cloaked figures bearing down on him and the strange girl. The giant snake and him standing resolute before it. Not right now! Not right now! What's wrong with me?
Harry suddenly felt the wall against his back, stopping his slow procession backwards. Breath haggard, hands and forehead sweaty, he tried to regain control of himself. Why did it feel like he had no idea who he was? Why were there conflicts in his own memories?
"I don't know." Came Rei's soft voice.
"What?" He must have spoken his last thought aloud.
She repeated herself. "I'm sorry, I don't know."
He sighed. "I don't know, either."
The moment stretched as the two locked gazes, and Harry was the first to look away, choosing to study the tiles on the floor.
Does she remember my breaking down on the way to school? He doubted it. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pressed you. If you don't remember, you don't remember, but thank-you for saving me." Harry did not wait for a response before exiting the room.
Nothing in this place made sense, and he did not know who to trust. He was not even sure if he could trust himself.
The dance had begun. Two giant mechas, one the color of kings, the other the color or rage, danced in tandem while a divided being sought their deaths. There was weapons' fire and melee combat as the two Eva's tried their desperate gambit at destroying the Angel in a single simultaneous strike.
From within the bowels of Nerv, Harry Potter watched the two Eva pilots working being nothing but impressed at their level of skill. Ten days of constantly doing everything together had brought their motions in sync, a far cry from when he had first met them, when they could barely seem to get along. Behind him was Rei, almost completely unharmed despite the damage.
Misato's loud voice spoke into a panel, her finger pressing the comm. "Shinji, you're faltering, step it up. Asuka, don't take the lead or you'll break pattern."
"Yes, ma'am!" Came two quick acknowledgements, though Harry could see no difference in the two Eva's motions. It seemed Misato had a sharper eye than he.
It had only been a few seconds since the Angel had been sited near Tokyo-3, and only a few more since both Evangelions had managed to divide the Angel. At the moment they were seeking cover behind obstacles and offering distracting fire. Even though this part of the sequence did not have them mirroring each other exactly, they still managed to keep in step with the other.
Behind him on a raised platform, watching, were the Commander and sub-Commander, though both had remained silent from the start. Off to the side, tucked out of anyone's way, was Harry's guardian Kaji, who over the past three days had managed to come home at least once. He had attempted to strike a conversation with Harry, but he had received nothing but silence. It was obvious the man found Harry a burden, and the teen would not deal with the man's false overtures.
Monitoring several, screens which Harry thought showed the physiology of the pilots, stood Dr. Akagi with cold blue eyes, a pen hanging from her red painted lips. Arrayed to the left of her and in front of the Captain were the bridge crew, though Harry had only learned Maya's name. The brown-haired lady had seemed nice, going so far as to offer him a wave and smile when he first appeared garbed in his plugsuit.
He was not sure why he and Rei were there dressed, considering he had yet to gain an Eva, but he assumed it had something to do with procedure.
On the vast screen showing the battle, the two Evas leaped high into the air, flipping and spinning amid the dancing sun's rays. Then like a hammer, their soles came down upon the reuniting Angel at just the right moment, catching the dual core right before it coalesced into a single orb. The trail of destruction the strike made carried both Evas and Angel up into a mountain. What followed was a bright flash of light from an explosion that momentarily outshone the sun.
Instantly there was a cheer from the assembled crew, from the three in front to the various techs and clerks working the peripheral systems. Misato gave a great whoop before spinning on her heal and addressing the Commander. "Target destroyed, sir! Permission to celebrate?"
Several eyes widened at the statement, and the cheering subsided, supplanted by fear.
Gendo only looked down through a pair of orange-tinted glasses. "Permission granted. Good work, Captain, you have redeemed yourself."
With that he turned to leave, leaving behind even more cheering. Until Fuyutsuki groaned, turning a dial on a panel before him. The sound of two arguing pilots filled the room, shifting the cheers to snickers and laughter. The sub-Commander brought a hand to his head, muttering, "They're embarrassing us again."
Misato wore a devilish grin, chest swollen with pride. "Bring the pilot's home crew, and everyone take your families out to eat tonight, we just bought humanity one more night to live." She paused. "That's an order people!"
There was another round of cheers before it subsided as people focused on the work that was still to be done. Harry glanced to see Misato marching over to Dr. Akagi, pointedly ignoring Kaji calling her name. The two women spoke in low tones before the doctor nodded, a bemused smile on her face. The two left in each other's company, Dr. Akagi waving to Kaji good-bye.
Harry's guardian stood daunted for a moment, before an easy grin claimed his lips. He approached his ward with a light gait. "We did it."
Harry gestured with his thumb to the big screen. "They did it."
Kaji shrugged. "A victory earned is a victory shared. One day it'll be you they'll be cheering, and whoever was or wasn't there will share your victory."
Harry shrugged, not to eager for this conversation with the man, more eager to remove himself from the base and the plugsuit. He still had some homework he needed to finish and some reading he wanted to get ahead in. He found that distracting himself with school work let him forget that something was inherently wrong with his mind.
"C'mon, Harry, it'll be good for you. Get you out of that apartment."
"I do get out. I come to Nerv for tests and to learn the building layout. I go to school and learn. I just don't feel like going out and celebrating."
"Your captain gave you an order."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I don't think she'll punish me for not following it."
"Okay, how about I invite Rei?" There was a twinkle in his brown eye. "Hey, Rei, would you like to come to dinner with us? Your captain ordered you to celebrate."
Rei was silent a moment. "I do not know."
Harry let out a tired sigh. "I said I wasn't in the mood."
Kaji gave him a wry grin. "We get to live another day, and you're not in the mood to have a good time?" He shook his head. "Oh, to be young again and depressed."
"Look!" Harry took a step forward, his face inches from his surprised guardian's face. "I'm not in the mood, alright?"
His voice had been louder than necessary, and several of the techs looked their way. Being under others' scrutiny was something Harry was accustomed to, even though his memories told him he had been a wallflower through his school years. Not again!
Fists balled together, he stalked away from Kaji and the wondering eyes of the crew. He did not have to look back to know Rei was following him like a lost puppy. For a few days she had ignored him, getting back to her life, until yesterday she had waited for him to go to school. When pressed, she said she had been reminded of her orders.
Into the changing rooms he went, hoping to soon be out of the base and away from his stupid guardian. The only reason he had sought out Harry was because Misato had shot him down. The man had a duty, but he would rather chase after some dead relationship that had gone down in flames years ago. You're something else, Kaji.
With that bitter thought, Harry changed his clothes and waited for Rei to join him in the walk home.
Kaji leaned against the railing, half-hearing the idle chatter of the Nerv personnel. Most were making plans to go to their favorite spots that evening, while others spoke of enjoying the night with their families, just happy to be alive again. Those kids have no idea how much hope they give to people in this city.
Which once more brought his thoughts onto his ward; Harry Potter. The child was as stubborn as Kaji had seen, not even caving to the pressure of going out, though it would do him good. He was under a lot of stress and seeing the others pilots working may have added to it. He imagined the incident with Rei had not eased things for him. By rights the girl should be dead and buried, but there she was, hardly injured at all.
And the things she had been able to do! Incredible. It only cemented in Kaji's mind that he would find out what was different about the girl; he was beginning to think she was not even human.
Kaji shook the stray thoughts aside like a dusty cobweb, instead turning his focus back to Harry and what to do about him. His more nefarious activities, taken up for noble reasons, had pulled him away from his apartment over the last few weeks, and it had created a chasm between him and his ward. He thought a few nights spent at home and maybe a few dinners out would repair the damage, but he was not so certain anymore.
That had always worked with Asuka.
Asuka, though, had been infatuated with him, which had helped in keeping them acquainted. He had thought the same had worked with Harry, minus the infatuation, but it had not. His 'cool' factor must have fallen away, or Harry was under more strain than he imagined. He chuckled and shook his head. Sad that I can rely on kids thinking of me as cool to get them to talk. It had worked well in Germany to ask Asuka's friends and make sure the rigorous training regime and college courses had not been taking their toll on her.
Unbidden a snippet of conversation emerged from his memories, spurred by his thoughts on Harry.
"So why are you going?"
"I have to know what happened. All this destruction, it wasn't God's work. It couldn't have been."
"I don't think so either, but do you have to leave?"
"Don't worry, you'll be fine. I'll come back in a few years and get you. I promise."
Kaji's held fell. I thought I had dealt with that. His fingers itched for cigarette, but he ignored the addiction. He would have been near Harry's age, too. He drew a breath and succumbed, reaching for a cigarette and lighting it.
"You know there's no smoking in here." Came a voice from one of the bridge crew. It took a second for Kaji to get his name. He had glasses and brown hair, and behind his eyes was a bright intelligence.
"I know, Shigeru." He cocked his head to the side and smiled. "That's why I was just leaving."
He turned and walked away. He tried to shake that distant and damning conversation, but to no avail. I guess I should find a nice bar tonight. I might even run into Misato. The thought was a pleasant one, but in his current mood it was a bitter one. Yet another reminder of what had been lost to time and the Angels.
A/N:: Well, there is more of the fic. This chapter is more geared towards setting a few more things in motion, also to show the interactions of the pilots. I tried hard to keep everybody in character while interacting with Harry. Asuka's character was not as hard as I thought it would be, Shinji on the other hand stressed me, since I was always more focused on his timidity than his aggressive side.(Which Asuka seems to bring out in him.) Kaji was fun to write. I think he's a bit more OOC than the others, but I like him this way. I mentioned Unit 03 and all, but that didn't happen. Had to kill Rei first and have that attack go down. Next chapter will have Unit 03 and the first Angel Harry has to face.
As per usual, if there are any critiques people would like to level my way, don't hesitate and I'll do my best to address them. Thx for reading and enjoying.
-byl, out.
