The Hallway

Chapter Six

The Look

Neon Genesis Evangelion is property of GAINAX.

Thanks for your readings and commentaries.

Ritsuko Akagi showed many documents where her Unit asked for more financial resources to Operations because Project Evangelion needed additional funding because of last battles against Angels, and Misato was Operations`s head and Ritsuko wanted to get her approval but the captain always replied to each budget codex because the involved funding reached a very high number. Finally, Misato agreed with most of needed resources and Ritsuko achieved to get the approval.

"It was very fast captain Katsuragi. Thanks". Ritsuko kept the documents in her bag and Misato invited her to go to cafeteria because lunch time was coming. Both women walked for many levels before entering the cafeteria where many employees talked and ate before their remaining journey. Misato wanted to share what Asuka and Shinji hid but Ritsuko began a new talking about Angels and chances for Fourth Impact.

She is always working here. Maybe, NERV is the perfect place for avoiding own problems.

My father told me that job was better than psychologists and friends.

Misato`s father seemed a ghost because she could see him before her eyes, but it was only a remember. Ritsuko realized Misato`s numbness and asked her about Asuka and Shinji.

"They are fine. I do the best". Misato told that both pilots were warned about sync results and Asuka reacted bad and wrong. "Unfortunately, she cannot accept her faults and Shinji reacted in opposite way".

"They are located in opposite places captain. Asuka doesn't show fear in the Evangelion and Shinji is always thinking if his job is right". Ritsuko looked her watch and said that Commander Ikari was waiting her with Fuyutsuki in their office. Finally, she left Misato in the cafeteria.

"She leaves me alone and you appear". Misato said it to Kaji that joined her in the table after Ritsuko`s departure. "Is it your lunch time?"

"Yeah, why did you ask it?" Kaji carried a packet with the lunch.

"I don't know the nature of your job here and maybe the shifts are so different compared with the rest of the employees". Misato watched the TV in the LCD screens across the cafeteria.

"Where did Ritsuko go?" Kaji asked Misato that ate meat.

"Meeting with Commander Ikari. Maybe it is a top secret". Misato asked again for his job nature because Kaji ignored her seconds ago.

"You know…it is a secret job". Kaji argued secret protocols belonged to higher levels inside NERV and Misato preferred not ask again, but they were quiet during long minutes.

"Please tell me that there is no another woman in your life". Misato realized Kaji was nervous and confused because she never demonstrated her love in NERV, but Kaji kept calm.

"You are wrong Katsuragi…my mother…Ritsuko…and so on". Kaji smiled when Misato moved the head like conceding the play to him.

"I really appreciate your honesty Kaji because many people used codes for talking about everything and I feel trapped inside those codes. You understand what I said before but this is not the place for it. I am not in time". Misato looked around but the remaining people inside the cafeteria was completely focused on eating or watching tv and not spying what Kaji and Misato talked, except by a single person that watched them from the entrance. He was a man with a black suit.

"I am sorry Misato but you cannot be quiet in this time. I thought about your trouble with Asuka and Shinji and maybe they only want to live their lives, but I don't know about their true intentions. It is your task". Kaji enforced his words about life inside higher levels.

"Life and intentions. I really admire you. You were concise". Misato commented about her time in the hospital after Second Impact. "I didn't say words for two years and when I was ready for talking the only person before my eyes told me "why". I don't understand her". The captain felt Kaji was interested in her remembers. "I didn't ask it to her".

"You will hate me again Katsuragi…Why? Why is the same look in your eyes? What is the reason?"

Asuka watched TV with Pen Pen in the apartment when Shinji arrived very rush and immediately asked for Misato, but Asuka told that she was in NERV. They smiled to each other and Pen Pen realized it. Asuka followed Shinji to his bedroom.

"Asuka…how are you?" Shinji saw how Asuka closed the door behind her and they were in the room. "Please". Shinji invited Asuka to take seat on the bed with him.

"Thanks. I am fine" Asuka examined the spots on the ceiling and Shinji left the SDAT player on the night table. "You should clean it".

"Yeah, but it is difficult". Shinji felt tense and nervous because Asuka just looked the ceiling.

"You pilot an Evangelion and you felt unable to clean the ceiling, please". Asuka spoke with ironic voice and Shinji put the head down. "It is very easy to defeat you Ikari. What happen if I were an Angel?"

"You are an Angel for me". Shinji smiled to her but the girl was serious.

"You are stupid because your feelings are revealed very soon to the enemy. Actually, you shouldn't show what you really felt to anyone". Asuka really confused Shinji because the boy moved the head like saying "no".

"But you put your face down last night in front of me". Shinji prepared those words in his mind during Asuka`s attack and the German girl felt embarrassed. "Yeah, it was awesome for me because your head was in my…

"Stop! We did it too. You did it". Asuka walked around the bed very angry and Shinji tried to apologize but Asuka didn't want to hear Shinji.

"I am sorry. My words weren't correct". Shinji touched Asuka`s hands with his hands.

"Misato saw you last night, right". Asuka sat on the bed again and Shinji was stood in front of her.

"Yeah, but I only mentioned that you suffered nightmares and I was just checking if you were fine. She believed me". Shinji knew that Asuka wasn't pleased with the explanation because she hid her face with both hands.

"Ikari, she isn't silly. But I didn't suffer nightmares last night". Asuka felt a bit relaxed than previous minutes and Shinji sat next to him.

"Will you wait me tonight?" Shinji asked Asuka that looked the ceiling again like the beginning.

"Yeah, sure". Asuka changed the look to the floor and Shinji lift her face with the hands and said: "It is the same look".

"What look?"