Chapter 3 - I see the angels, I'll lead them to your door
"Pregnant?!" Kaji exclaimed, "How?!?!"
"I thought you of all people would understand 'how'." Ritsuko replied with a smirk.
"Rits……."
"She's been pregnant for at least three months." Ritsuko stated slipping into Doctor mode. "Conception is placed just before she arrived here. The MAGI estimate at least a day, maybe two."
Kaji stared at the paper, then at Rei and Ritsuko.
"Does she know?" he asked.
Ritsuko shook her head.
"I don't know. She might, but I think not."
"She does not." Rei stated.
Kaji and Ritsuko looked at the First Child curiously.
"She would have told me." Rei continued, "And you as well Dr. Akagi."
Ritsuko nodded. Until Kaji came in, the Angel had only spoken to Rei and herself.
"So," Kaji said, "How do we rescue an Angel from the Devil himself?"
"It's going to be difficult." Ritsuko admitted, "Considering her injuries, we can't move her far."
Kaji nodded. "I think I know of a place. What about her AT-Field?"
Ritsuko shook her head.
"She's off the drugs as of today. But it will take time for them to completely leave her system."
"I see." Kaji looked off thoughtfully.
"Kaji," Ritsuko asked, "Where exactly are you planning on hiding her?"
"Plain sight is always the best," Kaji replied, "Don't you agree?" He then glanced at Rei.
Ritsuko followed his gaze to Rei. She knew what he was implying. The question was, how much did he know. She turned back to Kaji.
"I doubt your apartment is the best place."
"I wasn't thinking of my place." Kaji stated.
"Well she can't come to my place!" Ritsuko replied, "I have………visitors calling at unusual times, if I'm there at all."
"My apartment is unacceptable as well." Rei spoke up, startling the other two. "It…… Shinji says it is not healthy."
"I'll see about getting you moved." Ritsuko replied, knowing that the very idea of Rei moving would annoy the Commander. She then turned to Kaji. "So where were you thinking?"
Kaji smiled.
"Well………." He tapped his chin. "It's a surprise."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Misato shook her head.
"Explain this to me again."
Ritsuko let out a long suffering sigh. For the past three days, she'd been going through her mother's notes on the attempt at retrieval of the first pilot of Unit 01, over tens years before. She'd also been checking on the condition of Arael. The Angel had remained unconscious, though her wounds were slowly beginning to heal. She was also able to get DNA from the unborn child of the Angel, and had the MAGI Casper crunching the data on it. All data regarding the Angel's pregnancy was hidden away on Casper, accessible only to Ritsuko.
"I'll give you the dumbed down version." Ritsuko snapped. Misato blinked and then frowned. "Basically, we are going to 'force' the EVA to let Shinji resume his physical shape and release his 'soul' back into it."
"Will it work?" Misato asked.
"I don't know." Ritsuko said, "We have a chance." She sighed. "But you should know, this was tried with Unit 01's original pilot ten years ago."
"And?"
"It failed." Ritsuko turned and looked back out the control room window towards Unit 01. "Can you give me some time alone? I have to double check a few things."
"Right……I'm heading home." Misato turned and left the room.
Ritsuko let out another sigh, then glanced back out into the EVA holding bay. Her eyes sought out a certain individual. When she found the person she was looking for, she found that person's red eyes already looking at her. Ritsuko gave a nod.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rei nodded back at Ritsuko. She then turned and headed out of the EVA bay. Before leaving, she gave a quick glance at the still Unit 01.
'Please come back Shinji.'
She headed out into the hallway and pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number. It was picked up on the other end after one ring.
"Go." She said before hanging up. She continued on to the main control room.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Go." Kaji immediately hung up his cell phone. He then pulled out a remote pad. Ritsuko had given it to him earlier in the day. On it, it showed the status of all three MAGI supercomputers.
But he was only concerned with one.
"Come on Casper." Kaji whispered, "Time to show your motherly side." He pressed a button on the pad. Immediately a timer began to count down.
Kaji turned and headed down towards the bowels of NERV.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Open a link to Melchior." Ritsuko said to Maya, "I want it to confirm my calculations regarding the test."
"Yes Ma'am." Maya replied. She quickly began to enter the commands.
"…..you know…" Ritsuko said, looking as if she was thinking, "add in Balthasar. I want to be sure. Casper can handle things for the moment."
"Yes ma'am."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You want what?" Aoba asked.
"The current status of Unit 00." Rei replied.
"It's only been a few days Rei." Hyuga said, "I'm sure it's only….."
"I wish to know when it will be ready." Rei stated.
Hyuga glanced at Aoba and shrugged. Aoba turned and began typing commands into his terminal.
"Hey," Aoba called out, "Maya's got Balthasar and Melchior tied up."
"Doing what?" Hyuga asked.
"Looks like their calculating probabilities." Aoba replied.
"Well let them be and pull up Unit 00 status." Hyuga muttered.
"I would," Aoba snapped back, "But it looks like Dr Akagi has all Unit 00's data in Melchior."
"What?" Hyuga got up and walked over. "Why would she do that?"
While the two techs pondered over the idiosyncrancies of the Head of Project E, Rei allowed herself a smile as the Techs missed the flash of information from Casper, as well as the flicker on several terminal screens.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kaji raced to the first door in the hall and opened it, without having to swipe a card. The second door to the outer room was equally open. There, laying on the gurney, still looking very frail and unconscious, was Arael.
Moving quickly, Kaji grabbed a blanket that Ritsuko had said would be there and unfolded it on the floor. He then gently lifted Arael from the gurney and lay her on the blanket. He quickly wrapped her in the blanket and then lifted her again, this time heading out of the room.
He dashed down the hallway and passed through several unlocked doors.
"I'm glad you're light." Kaji muttered to the unconscious Angel in his arms.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Report."
Ritsuko jumped at the sound of the Commander's voice. She turned to see him and Fuyutsuki standing just behind her and Maya.
"We were just verifying a few more calculations." Ritsuko explained, "We have a lot more preparations to due, as well as more calculations….."
"How long?" The Commander asked.
"Another two weeks, three at most." Ritsuko replied.
"Very well." The Commander replied, "Should you be unable to salvage the Pilot, reset Unit 01 for Rei."
Ritsuko and Maya both blinked.
"But it rejected Rei……" Ritsuko began.
"Either it will accept Rei," The Commander stated, "Or Rei will be 'adjusted' so she is accepted."
Maya stared at the Commander, stunned. Ritsuko had been expecting his comment.
"Yes sir." She stated.
The Commander let out a grunt, then turned and left.
"Ma'am?" Maya asked, "What did he….."
"It's best you not ask Maya." Ritsuko replied.
"Yes Ma'am." Maya turned back to the terminal.
Ritsuko turned and walked to the glass that separated her from the EVA bay.
'Come on Kaji.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kaji tapped his foot impatiently as the elevator rose. Every so often, he'd glance down at the figure in his arms.
"Never did think I'd end up with a real Angel in my arms." He said softly. "Closest I came was Misato."
The elevator let out a ding, and the doors slide open. Kaji smiled. The Elevator had deposited him near the main parking lot for NERV. Once he reached the parking lot, he planned on borrowing a NERV vehicle to get Arael out of the base. But as he entered the parking lot, he saw an even better way.
Quite convenient too.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Misato sighed as she headed to her car. All Ritsuko had been able to tell her was statistics and hypothesizes, nothing definitive over then that the retrieval had been tried before, and failed. She hadn't know Shinji very long, but she did now she just couldn't bare the thought of going on without him.
'Shinji…….'
"Misato."
"Shinji?!" Misato turned around and frowned.
"Sorry Misato," Kaji said, "But I am not him."
"Damn right you're not!!" Misato snapped. Then she noticed he was carrying something. "What's that?"
"More of a 'who' really." Kaji said, "Open your car please."
Misato's eyes went wide.
"What?!?!"
"I want to put her inside your car and get her to your apartment." Kaji explained.
Misato shook her head. "No way!! There is no way I'm taking some girl you picked up back to my place. Not until you answer some more questions."
Kaji glanced down at the remote.
"I really don't have time for this Misato." Kaji said, "We need to go. Now."
Misato's face went through several emotions. She finally threw her hands up in the air.
"Fine! Put her in!" Misato exclaimed as she opened the door.
Kaji gently placed the figure into the backseat, then ran around and jumped into the passenger seat just as Misato slammed the car in reverse. Kaji glanced nervously into the back seat.
"I don't suppose I could ask you to go easy?"
Misato glared at Kaji.
"Guess not."
Misato threw the car in gear. Tires squealed as she peeled out of the parking area and headed towards the surface train.
The trip on the train was spent in complete silence. Misato was leaning against her left arm, glaring out the side window. Kaji kept looking at the remote, as well as looking at the figure in back.
"Just who is that?" Misato asked as the train doors opened, allowing them to drive up the ramp out of NERV and into Tokyo 3.
"Someone that Commander Ikari shouldn't be allowed anywhere near." Kaji replied. He then looked down at the remote.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Magi supercomputer Casper ran silently as internally, a clock that matched the one on the remote clocked down. At the appropriate time, a pre-programmed command was issued by Casper. This command was directed across to the command frequency of Section 2.
Within moments, Section 2 agents across the city began racing for the spot they had been ordered to. All the Agents went……..
Even those assigned to the Pilots.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kaji looked at the remote as they pulled up to Misato's apartment.
"Ahh," he said, "Plenty of time."
Misato frowned.
"Just what is that?"
"A little something Ritsuko gave me." Kaji explained, "Otherwise there was no way we could get her," He indicated the figure in back, "…out of NERV."
The two got out of the car. Kaji gently lifted out the figure before following Misato to the elevator. As the door closed, Misato turned to Kaji.
"Just why is she so damn important?" A worried look then came over Misato's face. "You didn't kidnap Rei did you?"
"No!" Kaji replied, "Though the mysterious Miss Ayanami did help the good Doctor and I to pull this off. Speaking of which………." Juggling his load slightly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed a number single handed and waited for someone to answer.
"Objective accomplished." Kaji stated when the person answered.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Status?" Ritsuko asked.
"Compilation is 33 complete." Maya replied, "Estimated time to completion, 48 hours."
Ritsuko was about to reply when she noticed Rei had returned to the EVA bay. Her red eyes met Ritsuko's. She gave a nod, then walked away. Ritsuko smirked. The smirk vanished as she turned to Maya.
"Let it continue to run." She said, "We'll meet back here in the morning."
"Yes Ma'am." Maya replied, "Good night Ma'am."
Ritsuko turned and headed out of the room.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asuka stared blankly at the TV, flipping through the channels, bored. Even Pen Pen seemed bored, well, as bored as a penguin could be.
'Stupid Shinji.' Asuka thought, 'Losing control of his EVA and letting it suck him in.' She sighed. 'Hikari's out visiting Jock Stooge.' Her stomach then gave a lurch as the next thought hit her.
'Misato's making dinner…….'
Asuka rolled her eyes skyward.
'If there is a God, please get Baka Shinji back here to save me from Misato's cooking!'
The sound of the front door opening then reached her ears.
"Shinji?" Asuka said hopefully.
Misato peered around the corner and grinned at Asuka.
"Why you miss him?"
"Of course not." Asuka replied, folding her arms across her chest. "Like I'd miss that idiot."
"Now Asuka," Kaji's voice came, "It's no use lying to me……"
"KAJI!!!" Asuka shouted, leaping to her feet. She was ready to wrap her arms around Kaji when he stepped into view holding something.
"What's that?" Asuka asked, "You bring me a present?"
"No." Kaji replied. He then glanced at Misato. "Shinji's room is the first door on the left correct?"
Misato nodded while Asuka's eyes went wide.
"Shinji's back?" she asked as Kaji headed towards Shinji's room.
"No." Misato replied.
"Then who's that?"
"Kaji hasn't told me." Misato said with a glare at the unshaven man's back.
The two women followed Kaji into Shinji's bedroom. Then they watched as he gently laid the figure on the bed and began to open the blanket. Grey hair was soon revealed. Asuka and Misato both gasped.
"Is that the woman that was found at the Tenth's explosion?" Misato asked.
"Isn't she the one Baka Shinji sat on with his EVA?" Asuka asked.
"It's a bit complicated." Kaji said as he finished removing the blanket from the woman. He then pulled the covers over her.
"What's complicated about it?" Misato asked, "IS it her or not?"
"It is her." Kaji said, "But it's still complicated."
"Dammit Kaji!"
Kaji glanced at the woman in the bed. "Perhaps we should do this elsewhere."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The three assembled at the kitchen table. Misato sitting across from Kaji, while Asuka sat beside him. Kaji avoided looking at either of the others, preferring to stare at the table.
"Well?" Misato asked, sounding annoyed.
Kaji remained silent.
"Why is she here?" Misato asked, "Why did you bring her here? And why are you keeping her from the Commander?"
"Patience." Kaji replied.
Misato growled.
"How can I be patient when you won't tell me why there's a strange woman in MY apartment?!?!?"
The front door then buzzed.
"Asuka." Kaji said, "Would you mind letting Dr Akagi in?"
Asuka frowned, but didn't want to disappoint Kaji. As she got up, Misato sent Kaji a look of confusion.
"What does Ritsuko have to do with this?"
"She can probably explain things better then I can." Kaji replied.
"In several ways." Ritsuko stated as she followed Asuka in. She glanced at Kaji as she sat down. "What have you told them?"
"Very little." Misato growled, glaring at Kaji again, "Other then the Commander wants that woman."
"She was the one Baka-Shinji sat on with his EVA." Asuka stated.
"Well," Ritsuko said, "I suppose that's the place to start then." She leaned forward and looked at Misato and Asuka alternating. "When the Tenth exploded, it created a rift in time and space. That rift drew someone from the future, that woman, whose name is Arael."
"Arael?" Asuka asked, "Sounds almost….biblical."
"In more ways then you know." Ritsuko said, "You see…..she's an Angel….."
Misato and Asuka were on their feet in seconds.
"WHAT!?!? HOW COULD YOU BRING THAT THING INTO MY APARTMENT?!?!?! LET ME CRUSH HER WITH MY EVA!?!?! WHY IS IT STILL ALIVE!?!?! HOW COULD YOU EVEN THINK OF BRINGING IT HERE?!?!?!"
Ritsuko raised her hand, silencing the two.
"She's been locked away in NERV for two months now." Ritsuko continued, "During that time, the Commander has tried to interrogate her, and failed. She has only revealed things to myself, the First Child, and Kaji."
"Why Wondergirl?" Asuka hissed.
Ritsuko faced Asuka. "Because the Commander ordered her to interrogate Arael, only it didn't turn out the way he planned." She then looked back at Misato. "I'm sure you noticed the change in Rei."
Misato frowned. "She's been coming by here to talk to Shinji. They've been spending a lot of time together."
Asuka grumbled something in German.
"Arael is the reason Rei is changing." Ritsuko said, "And there's more. She knows about us, all of us."
"WHAT!?!?!" Misato and Asuka shouted.
"She's told me she knows of us," Kaji said, "About Shinji, Suzuhara, Horaki, Aida, even you and Misato. In fact," Kaji gave them a slight smile. "she claims that she is quite close to you three pilots."
"Why would I ever consider an Angel a friend?" Asuka said with a frown.
"Don't know," Kaji replied, "But everything else she's told us has come true. The Twelfth, Thirteenth and Fourteenth Angel attacks went as she stated."
"She knew Shinji was the key to beating all three attacks." Ritsuko said softly.
Asuka's face immediately darkened at that comment, but before she could speak, her Guardian did.
"Why is an Angel helping us to kill it's own kind?" Misato asked, her voice filled with venom.
"In truth, she's only told Ritsuko, myself, and Rei." Kaji explained, "She refused to help the Commander in anyway, much to his………….displeasure."
"He shot her," Ritsuko said, "Repeatedly, trying to force her to reveal her information. Her knees, shoulders, elbows, all shot apart. When Rei and I found her, the entire cell was covered in blood."
Asuka stared at Dr Akagi's description. Misato remained skeptical.
"Why would it help us though?" she asked, "Why are YOU helping it?"
Ritsuko sighed. "I can't really say when it started. One day I looked into the cell, and instead of a cold hearted killing machine, I saw a person." Ritsuko looked at Misato. "It's said the eyes are windows to the soul. Her eyes………it was like they were calling out to me in despair. You know she has nightmares? She calls out to people in her sleep. Crying and begging for forgiveness."
"So we have an Angel from the future who's upset about what it's done." Misato grumbled. "How do we know she isn't the one that wipes out Humanity?"
"Considering she says she knows us, and a few other factors, I highly doubt she wipes out Humanity." Ritsuko stated.
"What makes you say that?"
"Because she was cloned." Ritsuko explained, "She said she was defeated, killed by EVA 04."
"EVA 04 is gone though." Misato said.
"I know that." Ritsuko explained, "That discrepancy, as well as a few others has led me to believe that Arael is from an alternate timeline. A parallel universe if you will."
Misato flopped her head on the table.
"I need a beer." She muttered.
"You said she attacked us and lost?" Asuka asked, "Then has she already attacked?"
Ritsuko shook her head.
"No."
"Then when….."
"It's best we leave which Angel she is up to her." Kaji replied softly, "She did say that her attack was the worst. She was very troubled by it, another reason that I trust her."
"It still doesn't explain why you brought it here." Misato pointed out, "I can see where Commander Ikari would find it useful in predicting Angel attacks and I can't really condone shooting it, I'd like a pot shot at it as well. So why are you keeping it from him."
"SHE," Kaji said, reinforcing the word, "is three months pregnant."
Misato and Asuka's jaws dropped.
"It gets better," Ritsuko said, "I ran a DNA sample and compared it to those on file." She pulled out s sheet of paper. "The child has relatives here in Tokyo-3."
"WHAT!?!?!?!" Misato and Asuka shouted.
"MAGI are 99 certain, that the child has a relative, a Grandfather, living here in this city."
"WHO?!" Misato asked.
"Kensuke Aida."
"THE STOOGE!?!?!" Asuka shouted.
"HOW?!?!?!" Misato asked.
"We don't know." Ritsuko replied, "I didn't know about the child until a few days ago. Since then we've been planning on getting her out."
"The last thing we need is the Commander with access to an Angel/Human child." Kaji stated, "Imagine the implications……"
"I can imagine a few." Ritsuko muttered.
"Eh?" Kaji glanced over at the Doctor. "What's that?"
"A story for another time and place." Ritsuko replied. She then turned to Misato and Asuka. "I don't know how long she's going to be out. I'm not entirely sure how long she'll take to regenerate from those wounds. I do know it will be some time before she can form an AT-Field." Ritsuko looked at the table. "I'll understand if you're worried about having her here. But we've nowhere else to put her. And she truly means us no harm."
"Section 2?" Misato asked.
"Never saw her arrive." Kaji said, "They were…….occupied elsewhere."
"Who knows she's here?"
"Beside the people sitting at this table," Ritsuko stated, "the only other person is Rei."
Misato sighed, then looked at Asuka.
"What do you think?' she asked.
"Asuka," Kaji said, "it would mean a lot to me if you let her stay."
Misato frowned at Kaji.
"What kind of game are you playing at?!" She turned back to Asuka. "This is an Angel we're talking about!"
Asuka remained silent, staring at the table. Everything that had been said went through her mind. An Angel. Here in the apartment, appearing to be human. She was from the future, and had already been defeated once. She has said she was Asuka's friend, as well as the other pilots. And she was pregnant, with of all things the stooge's grandchild.
Asuka finally looked up at Misato.
"We should at least talk to her." she said finally.
Misato sat back in her chair.
"Very well." she replied grimly, "The Angel stays, for now."
Kaji and Ritsuko nodded and began to leave. Ritsuko paused at the door and looked back at Asuka and Misato.
"When she does wake up," Ritsuko said, "you will have questions. I can already guess the one that will be foremost on your minds. All I ask is you wait until speaking to the subject of that question, before asking. I'm sure Arael will say the same." She then turned and left.
"Well that was ominous." Asuka noted.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neither woman got much sleep that night. Both had the Angel on their minds. By early morning, Misato had finally drifted off to sleep. Asuka remained awake, staring at the ceiling, her mind still reeling about the Angel. She had finally begun to drift off when a thud reached her ears.
It had come from Shinji's room.
Asuka climbed out of her bed and moved silently to her door. She opened it a crack and peered into the hall……….
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was as if the flywheels of her mind were starting off slowly and picking up speed. Slowly, Arael became more aware of her surroundings.
First off: she knew she was not stuck in the damn chair.
Second: she was in a comfortable bed. That led her to the third item:
It was unlikely she was still at NERV.
She opened her eyes and looked around. The room she was in was vaguely familiar. She slowly sat up and continued to look around. The room had little in the way of decoration, as well as few furnishings. Besides the bed, there was a desk, and a dresser.
Arael turned and placed her feet on the floor. She then pushed off the bed and stood up……..
Only to promptly fall face first to the floor with a loud thud.
"Owww….." she moaned. Obviously she wasn't as fully healed as she would have liked. Her shoulders still throbbed with pain, as did her knees. Her elbows felt completely numb, not really a good sign, but still……..
Arael slowly rose onto her knees, hissing as she put weight on them. She then crawled to the door and opened it. Sticking her head out, she peered up and down the hall. Three doors lined the hall. Two were shut, and one was obviously the bathroom. The feeling that she knew this place grew even stronger.
With low grunts and hisses of pain, Arael crawled out of the bedroom and went down the hall. When she reached the living room and looked around, her heart fell into her stomach.
She realized EXACTLY where she was.
And it wasn't by her own, personal memories. It was from the memories of others.
Arael shook her head. She continued to struggle further into the living room. From there, she could just make out the time on the wall clock.
5am.
She continued crawling across the living room to the door that led to the balcony. She opened the door and pulled herself outside.
The night was quite cool, but pleasant. Arael moved to a deck chair and climbed into it. She lay back on it, closed her eyes, and sighed. When she opened them, she glanced down at her knees. Blood could just be seen staining the bandages there.
"Damn." She muttered as she lay her head back against the chair. She looked up at the sky. Sometime in the near future, the Arael of this universe would attack……….would attack Asuka………….would hurt Asuka………..horribly.
She didn't know if she could stop it from happening.
She did know she couldn't bear to let anything happen to Asuka.
She closed her eyes.
'Kami-sama please help me………'
"You sure don't act like an Angel." A voice intruded on her thoughts.
Even without looking, Arael easily recognized the voice.
"And what does an Angel act like?" Arael asked.
Asuka frowned as she heard the voice of the Angel. It reminded her of Wondergirl's voice. She sat down in the deck chair beside Arael.
"Well they usually appear without warning and proceed to trash Tokyo-3." Asuka replied
"Do they now?" "Arael replied, a smile beginning to appear on her face. "I seem to know of a certain EVA pilot who caused more destruction then the Angel during her first combat sortie from NERV."
"Hey!" Asuka glared angrily, "That was all Shinji's fault!"
"Sure it was." Areal replied, smiling.
Asuka looked away, muttering in German. Arael's eyes widened, before narrowing into a glare.
"I am not a lying gray haired slut." Arael snapped turning her head to finally face the Second Child.
Asuka blinked.
"You under…." Her voice then trailed off.
"What?" Arael asked.
"Your eyes……" Asuka whispered, "They're like……Wondergirl's……"
Arael knew exactly who Asuka was referring to.
"I suppose they are." Arael replied, "Now what was it you were originally going to ask me?"
Asuka made a mental note to bring up the eye issue again.
"You understood what I said." Asuka repeated, "When I spoke German."
"I understand many languages." Arael replied. "Now you explain yourself."
"What?!?"
"Why am I a slut?"
"Well you're knocked up aren't you?"
Arael stared at Asuka stunned.
"Wh…..what?"
"Dr Akagi said you were pregnant." Asuka replied, "With Kensuke Aida's grandchild. How low can you stoop, having a kid with any of his spawn is beyond me."
Arael didn't hear her final words. Instead she turned her attention to her stomach.
"I'm pregnant?"
Asuka blinked. "Shiest! I forgot! Dr Akagi said you didn't know!"
"I'm pregnant?" Arael repeated, her voice even quieter then before. Her mind began to drift.
'I'm pregnant…..with Sentaro's child…….with my child…….' Her eyes widened slightly. 'It will be Angel and mortal………….it……it……….' She closed her eyes. 'Oh I wish I was with you Sentaro.'
"Um hello?" Asuka waved her hand in front of Arael with no response. The Angel just kept mumbling the same phrase over and over.
"I'm pregnant."
With a growl of frustration, Asuka went back inside to fix herself some breakfast.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Misato slid open her door and shuffled down the hall to the kitchen. Oblivious to anything else, she went straight to the beer fridge and pulled one out. The can hissed as she popped the tab. She then downed the beer in one gulp before letting out with her cry.
"YYYEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!" she cried out, "Nothing like a tradition Japanese Breakfast!"
"Only in this apartment." came a grumble from the table.
Misato turned to see Asuka, poking at a substance that appeared to be a sausage patty.
"When did we get sausage?" Misato asked.
"We didn't." Asuka replied.
"Then what's that?"
"Scrambled eggs."
Misato stared at the object on Asuka's plate.
"That is scrambled eggs?"
"Well it was supposed to be." Asuka said with a sigh, "The greatest Eva Pilot ever……defeated by the kitchen stove." Asuka looked over at Misato. "Please tell me they've figured out how to bring Shinji back?"
Misato raised an eyebrow.
"Not Baka-Shinji?"
Asuka frowned.
"Knock it off Misato I'm trying to be serious here."
"Ritsuko says it will be another couple of weeks." Misato replied.
"Oh great." Asuka groaned, "The chance of food poisoning grows."
Misato glared at Asuka.
"I'll have you know Shinji likes my cooking."
"That idiot would eat anything you put in front of him." Asuka pointed out, "Just because it'd hurt your feelings if he didn't."
"We'll see about that WHEN he comes back!" Misato stated. She then turned and went through the cupboards. She returned to the table with a bowl and a box of Rice Krispies.
"Uh Misato." Asuka began as her Guardian poured herself a bowl of cereal.
Misato turned to Asuka, her face still locked in a glare. Asuka pointed at the cereal.
"There's no milk in the apartment."
Misato drooped slightly.
"There isn't?"
"Nope."
"Well who's fault is……" Misato turned and looked at the chore calendar. Under 'Get Food' was her name. Misato turned back around to see a smirking Second Child. She looked back down at her now filled bowl. Not willing to admit defeat, Misato pondered her options.
Eat it dry.
Put it back in the box and find something else.
Find a milk substitute.
'Option three it is.' Misato rose to her feet and walked back to the fridge. Asuka frowned.
"Misato, there isn't any m……" Her voice trailed off as she spotted what was in Misato's hands. "You can't be serious."
Misato grinned popped open a can of beer and poured it into her cereal. Asuka stared in stunned amazement as her Guardian poured an entire can of beer over her bowl of cereal, then grabbed a spoon and scooped some into her mouth.
"Ah……" Misato sighed, "Snap, Crackle, Burp."
The two were so absorbed in their breakfast (Misato happily chomping away while Asuka shook her head in total disgust) that they missed the sounds of their guest stumbling towards the kitchen. Arael appeared at the entrance into the kitchen, clinging to the wall, as it was the only thing really keeping her upright.
"Hello." Arael said softly.
Misato and Asuka both looked over. Misato's eyes narrowed slightly while Asuka got to her feet.
"So you finally snapped out of it." She said.
"I'm sorry." Arael murmured, stumbling to the table and sitting in the empty chair. "I……it was a bit of a shock. We've only been married three years and had been trying………"
"Who?" Misato asked, "Who has been trying?"
Arael looked down at the table.
"My husband and I."
"The Spawn of Stooge." Asuka grumbled.
Arael rolled her eyes.
"My husband is hardly 'spawn'." She grumbled, "As to his father being a 'stooge', he mellows out."
"What about the other one?"
"You and he fight quite often."
"Do I win?"
"Of course."
"Damn I'm good."
"Excuse me." Arael and Asuka turned to the rather annoyed NERV Major. "Far be it from me to interrupt a conversation about the future." Misato continued, "But I think there are other more important things to discuss. Other then who beats the crap out of who."
Arael only nodded while Asuka looked at her Guardian curiously.
"The Angels?" Misato said.
Asuka sat back in her chair.
"What about them?" she asked, "I'm Asuka Langley Sohryu, Second Child and ……"
"….designated Pilot of Evangelion Unit-02," Arael said in a droning voice. "The greatest Eva pilot there ever was, or will be."
Misato smirked, in spite of herself, at the look on Asuka's face.
"You do know her pretty well." Misato said, trying to regain her composure.
"You have no idea." Arael replied. Misato noticed that the Angel's voice had grown a bit softer and sounded a bit mournful.
"OK." Misato began, "First things first we ……."
"Can we get me different clothes?"
Misato looked at the Angel.
"What?"
"Clothes." Arael repeated. She picked at the gown she wore. "It'd feel nice to not look like a hospital escapee."
"Even if you are one." Asuka muttered.
Arael ignored that crack, as did Misato.
"Fine." The Major agreed. She then looked at Asuka. The Second child raised her arms in protest.
"Whoa! No way. I mean, really Misato!!" Asuka pointed at Arael, then at herself. "She's bigger then me. There's nothing I have that will fit her!"
Misato held her head and looked down at her cereal.
"Alright!" She said, slamming her hand down on the table, causing all present to jump. Pen Pen even peered out of his fridge to see what was going on.
Misato rose to her feet.
"I'll give her some of MY clothes!" She turned and started out of the kitchen. "And then we get down to some serious talking." She added as she vanished out of sight.
Arael let out a sigh and let her head thud into the tabletop. Asuka raised an eyebrow at the Angel's display.
"What?" she asked, "Are the attacks really that bad?"
"They are bad." Arael muttered into the table, "but that isn't what's worrying me at this moment."
"What?"
Arael raised her head and stared Asuka right in the eye.
"Misato's style of dress."
Asuka fought the smirk that was trying to appear on her face. She had a pretty good idea what the Angel was referring to, but she really wanted to hear someone else, other then her, voice it.
"What about it?"
"Well," Arael said, "to be honest, she dresses like a skank around the house."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Misato stuck her head out of her closet as the sound of laughter came from the kitchen.
Laughter interlaced with a few German comments.
"That had better not be about me." Misato grumbled as she dove back into her closet.