I do not own Evangelion.


There Is A Difference

XXXXXXXXX

"Ikari should be punished!"

"He is taking things to far bringing in the fourth in so soon and recklessly."

"Yes it makes you wonder who's supposed to be in control."

"We are in control not him."

"The scenario's in shambles how can even we go about correcting the deviation's?"

"The deviations made have not gone outside our bounds of control."

"we must take the reign's of control back. And tighten them"

"No!" Keel spoke up getting the attention of everyone present. "We will set things the way the should be. I have already prepared to have this correct everything that has gone wrong. We know the cause and we shall prepare to bring it under our control."

"Is it really that easy there still so many problems how could we possibly fix this?"

"Its simplistic and easy we only need one person to solve our problems."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

It had been three and a half months now. Since the unfortunate event that turned Shinji Ikari from a boy to a girl. It had started out as a scary and unfamiliar experience beyond the boys comprehension. Now life seemed to be normal to the now girl. Things seemed to get better every day. For the first time in Shinji's life. She looked forward to seeing her father.

Something she would have never thought possible with out the thought of running away involved.

Shinji had just gone to several dinner's with her estranged father. She had already gone on three since the first one. And the once terrifying commander of Nerv apparently wasn't always that way. Gendo had told Shinji several stories about him and his wife.

Shinji found a few funny Gendo had apparently been wiped by his wife Shinji's mother. Gendo had been less then thrilled when Shinji started laughing at one story about when him and Yui had first moved in together. Gendo didn't say anything only avoiding eye contact a look of annoyance on his face.

Shinji relationship with Asuka had become a bit more complicated. Mostly Asuka started avoiding the brown haired girl. She had started finding reasons to leave the house. Spending the night at Hikari's house more and more often. When she did stay and sleep at home she seemed to float about the apartment. She would just sort of stare at Shinji with a blush on her face when Shinji met her eyes Asuka would would become red with anger? And yell at Shinji and tell her to stop staring.

"Hey you two welcome home. You guys are late today. Not do anything you shouldn't be are you." Misato asked with a slight giggle and slur. Asuka blushed but didn't say anything as she sat down at the table ignoring there guardian. Instead choosing to look at there guest. "Oh so cold Shinji-kun whens dinner?"

"I'll have it ready in a little while Misato." Shinji said as she started heading into the kitchen.

"Well I think its about time I left I'll see you all tomorrow." Kaji said as Asuka jumped to attention.

"You don't need to leave why don't you stay for dinner." Asuka offered quickly as the man shook his head.

"No no I've been here most of the day I would hate to impose any further."

"Come on Kaji it would be wonderful your so thin and a man needs to eat."

"Oh I don't want to be a bother on dear Shinji."

"Its no problem I was just about to start cooking, Its no hassle to cook a little extra."

"Careful Shinji if you keep feeding strays they may end up staying." The Nerv major said as she started to jug down her beer.

"Oh I'm a stray now is that it Katsuragi? Then what are you?" A mischievous grin spread onto his face. Misato spat out the drink in her mouth all over the can face red while glaring at Kaji.

"If you want to leave then just do it you don't have to stay. Its cheaper instead of having you eat all of my food."

"Oh how you wound me Katsuragi, If its really an inconvenience then." Mock sadness filling his face as he started to get up.

"Don't listen to her Kaji, its not an inconvenience." Asuka said excitedly jumping onto his arm trying to sit him back down. "I'll cook for you."

"NO!" Shinji shouted getting the attention all present. She wasn't about to let either Misato or Asuka to cook. " Uh I? I can handle it Asuka. Why don't you stay Mr. Kaji it wont take long to prepare dinner."

Kaji sighed closing his eyes before sitting back down at the table. "My what kind of man would I be to say no, to so many pleading eye's. I suppose a good man should never turn down a home cooked meal."

"Shinji let me help you." Asuka started to demand. Only for Shinji to get in the way keeping Asuka from the kitchen the last time Asuka tried cooking the oven had blown up in a flume of flame's.

"No no its okay Asuka I can handle it. Why don't you go and get cleaned up you had a long day today didn't you I can handle the cooking."

"Hey love birds don't fight. Maybe I should do the cooking." Misato spoke up. Kaji Asuka And Shinji all paled at the thought.

"Actually Misato I still need to get the ingredients for tonight's dinner." Misato seemed to nod at this Asuka not paying attention. Or barley as she left the room. Heading towards the shower.

"Do you need any help Shinji-kun?" Misato asked as Shinji shook her head.

"I should be back soon I'm just heading over to the convenience store I'll be back in a few minutes." She said in a rushed voice not wanting to give Misato any leeway towards the kitchen.

"Okay be safe then." Misato called out as Shinji left a smile on her face. The moment the apartment door closed Kaji's relaxed face became serious, as Misato seemed to sober up pretty quickly as well. "Are you really sure about whats going on?"

"Yes the transport arrived earlier this morning. It caused quit a bit of concern for the commanders." Kaji said getting up from the table to close the door to the dinning room looking to see if Asuka was around to hear or not.

"But why wasn't I told anything?"

"I don't know. I doubt that commander Ikari knew what was going on today." Kaji said as he shifted his eye's to the door listening intently as the shower in the house started a couple of minutes later. Kaji began to relax a little when he heard Asuka humming in the shower. "I think there running damage control at the moment. Nobody's allowed in or out of the air port until everything is checked out and secured."

"But why weren't we informed what was going on? Why the suddenly delivery not that I'm complaining but." Misato asked apprehensively. It was all messed up they should have been informed immediately. Yet no one had said anything not even to her. If not for Kaji she'd probably still be in the dark.

"I'm not sure all I know is that it didn't come alone." Kaji said getting a curious look from Misato. Kaji reached into the bag he carried with him and started pulling out files.

Misato looked at him for a moment before she started to open up the folders. She wasn't going to ask how he got them or where. But the folders where full of pictures and very few documents. "What is that an Angel?"

"No take a look at this." Kaji said as he opened up one of the folders. To a list of documents Misato started scanning through it as realization donned on her.

"Wait there making more then one." Misato said as she scanned over the documents a lot closer. There was to be 13 in total but only nine where being made. "Why so many. Why bother making them it'll be to late by the time they finish making them."

"That I don't know my self but one other thing of interest. Rember when I said it didn't come alone" He pulled out a folded up piece of paper handing to Misato. "You should be getting a larger portion some time tomorrow more detailed as well. Look in the top corner."

Misato opened it up to see it was a photo copy of some picture's of some document's. Looking in the top corner she could see something that looked like a face. " A picture who? Wait! Is that supposed to be..." Misato surprise was cut short by the ringing of her personal phone. On the counter regretfully she handed the paper back to Kaji and got up. She looked at the Id "Section 2?"

Kaji tensed at the mention of the commanders personal security. Where they on to him? Kaji listened closely as Misato took the call. "Shinji's what! I'll be right there."

"I'll be back in a minute Kaji, well talk about this later. Somethings happened to Shinji. Stay here and watch Asuka for me." Kaji nodded his head as he stayed where he was. He started packing up what he had brought he was thinking about burning it just to be safe. He'd shown Misato what he wanted now he didn't have a need for any of it. He already had copy's.

XXXXXX

Shinji was relaxed as she walked down the street holding onto a bag full of the ingredients. She needed she picked up a little extra since she was feeding an extra mouth tonight. She wanted to hurry back She didn't want Misato or Asuka attempting to start cooking with out her there to try and run damage control.

Shinji cut through an ally way she used frequently in order to get back to the apartment. A mistake she found she quickly regretted. As a guy smoking a cigaret saw her. He stepped in front of her path "Hey there what's in the bag."

"Its dinner." Shinji said attempting to step around him. "Excuse me."

"Whoa now I'm not done." the man said grabbing her shoulder pulling her back. "Your rather cute you know that." The man breathed out a puff of smoke into Shinji's face who coughed.

"I uh thank you but I need to get home." Shinji said a slight cough as she attempted yet again to get around him only to be stopped as he stepped infront of her.

"You know its dangerous walking down these alleyways at night. I should escort you you know and then you could do me a favor." Shinji was starting to worry what was this guys problem what was he doing? The realization never really came to Shinji still thinking kind of like a boy 'Does he want money?'

Shinji stepped back as the man stepped forward. Shinji the turned to start running afraid she was going to be mugged. The man grabbed her wrist pulling her hard back into him he forced her into the wall of the ally way.

"I I don't have any actual money on me." Shinji had paid with her Nerv I.D. card

"Thats alright I'm sure there's something you can give me" The man said a leer in his eye' he held Shinji's hands above her head. Shinji struggled to get them free but her captor was stronger. His hand out stretched as he reched to grab and rip her the upper part of her school uniform.

"Wait stop let go of me." Shinji commanded fear enveloping her as she started to shake struggling to get free of him.

"You seem to cause her discomfort." a calm new voice called out the man froze looking around to see some kid in white shirt and black pants.

"This isn't any of your business, Get lost."

"That's quit convenient because I already am lost ." the boy said in an aloof attitude, but he almost seemed cheery at the thought.

"Wait help me! Please!" the ally way was dark and she couldn't see his face.

"Help how?" the boy said as he walked over towards them. The man using his free around and back handed the kid In the head knocking him to the ground.

"My that was quit rude." the boy informed as he got back up rubbing the side of his head. The man went to punch the boy again only this time the boy stepped back out of range, the punch meeting only air. The boy then stepped forward and grabbed the mans neck.

Shinji watched still pinned by the mans hands as the boy about her age grabbed the mans neck and just seemed to squeeze. She felt the mans hold on her wrist loosen, as she got control of her arms again. She slid out of the way watching the scene play out in muted surprise and shook. Scooting as far away as she could.

The man seemed to gasp and struggle to draw breath. Trying to pull the boys vice like hand from his throat, but to no avail.

Soon he stopped moving the grasping struggle coming to a stop, as he passed out from the lack of air. The boy let go of the mans throat as he fell to the ground like a sack of potato's.

"My he was quit unfriendly wouldn't you say?" the boy asked far to relaxed about the incident. He then turned his attention to Shinji sending a new feeling of fright. Was she going to be next."Are you okay?"

"Yes thank you." Shinji said as the boy extended his hand to help her up Shinji hesitantly took it.

"He ripped your cloths. Why would he do something like that what purpose would that serve? You lilin are quit confusing." He mused to him self Shinji was confused what was he talking about?

"Im sorry what?" Shinji asked as she got a better look at him, he had ash white hair and red eye's.

The boy was smiling at Shinji. "Hmm nothing goodnight then." He started walking away.

"Wait your leaving?" Shinji blurted out confused.

"Of course why would I stay? Do you need more help?" The boy asked in what Shinji thought was amused confusion.

"No I just."

"Well then your welcome." Shinji watched the boy leave listening as he started humming. Shinji was about to fallow him.

"Pilot Ikari!" A man yelled out she looked down the ally way and saw someone in a suit approach her. He seemed to inspect there surroundings examining the unconscious man and her ripped top exposing her bra.

"What happened are you okay?" The man was clearly a section two agent. Who was supposed to be fallowing and watching Shinji.

"I'm fine I just I think I just want to go home now." Shinji said the man nodded pulling off his black coat draping it over her shoulders he then pulled out a phone and made a call.

Soon Misato arrived on the street dressed in part of her Nerv cloths and her home wear. "Shinji are you okay." Misato asked in a rush looking the teen over. Shinji seemed fine physically only a portion of her cloths where torn.

Shinji nodded her head as Misato picked her up off the ground. "Sorry I dropped the groceries for dinner."

"Don't worry about that. Lets get you home." Misato turned her attention to the section 2 agent. "Get this taken care of."

"Yes ma'am." Misato spent the rest of the night listening to Shinji's story. The only thing that scared her about was that Shinji didn't seem to frightened about what had happened. Kaji suggested Shinji may still be in shock over the incident. Being a boy the thought of something like that actually happening to him/her would be unreal. But Shinji insisted she was fine. Asuka spent most of the night watching Shinji like a hawk after hearing what happened. She waited for the right time

Most of the night passed like this Misato stealing glances at Shinji watching how she would act. Asuka on guard switching between fawning over Kaji to look at Shinji. As they started eating It became uncomfortably quite and to stuffy in Kaji's opinion.

"So how has Mr. Suzuhara been adjusting to the new life style?" Kaji asked casually as he ate his meal.

"That idiot is so useless he can barley move the Eva's in the dummy body's. His selection has to have been a mistake."

"The fact he can even move them at all means his selection wasn't a mistake at least according to the marduke institute." Kaji said matter O'factly. Although he knew the truth the only ones who selected the candidates for the Eva's was the comity. "Now that I think about isn't he your friend Shinji-kun?"

"Yes he is it was quit a surprise I'll admit. I didn't think he would ever consider being an Eva pilot." Shinji said thought fully staring down in to the bowl of rice in front of him.

"Well everyone does have there reasons for doing what they do what would Mr. Suzahra's be?"

"I'm not sure." Shinji said slowly thinking about Toji often made his dislike for the Eva's well known along with the angels. It was a complete flip of character for the boy.

"Who cares its only the stooge." Asuka said between stuffing multiple mouth fulls of food.

"None the less it must be a bit easier now that there are four of you now." Kaji said.

"Easy for the children not for the tech crew. They have to constantly change the data for the Eva's the rotating schedule they have set up is ridiculous." Misato said recalling Ritsuko's complaints about the work load they had to deal with. Because they only had three Eva's that meant that they could only test three children at a time. So the latest schedule had Toji cycling through all three eva's through the week.

On Monday it was unit 00 on Tuesday it was unit 01 Wednesday unit02. On the day that he would Synch with one of the Eva's the designated pilot to there Eva wouldn't go in for that day on Thursday and Friday Toji wouldn't come in at all and the three original pilots would come together for tests. All it meant was that the children had a little bit of extra spare time then they did before.

"Yes Dr. Akagi likes to complain doesn't she almost feels like college all over again." Kaji said looking at Misato. "Well almost."

He watched as a blush spread across Misato's face and yet she still had dignity to glare back at him.

To Shinji Misato's spirit's seemed to be lifting higher then Shinji had ever seen. The purple haired guardian was always happy and cheerful from when Shinji saw her at home at work. She'd only seen Misato's mask break when dealing with the angels even then, she still seemed to see the bright side in the impossible. But recently she seemed to glow like the sun around the apartment and Nerv.

Shinji believed Mr. Kaji was the cause he had stopped by the apartment a couple of times. Much to the delight of Asuka. He'd even stayed for dinner a couple of times, at Shinji's insistence after the man had complained about not getting a proper meal. Asuka was always quick to try and get him to stay.

The rest of dinner seemed to become more relaxed. Before long Kaji had left everyone had gone to bed and Shinji was staring up at the ceiling thinking about that strange boy who had 'helped' her.

XXXXXXX

(School the next day)

"Come on you guys you have to talk to Misato for me you gotta." Kensuke begged on his hands and knees in front of Shinji and Toji. It was lunch time and and after a month Kensuke had figured out why his best friend Toji had been declining to hang out with him. "Please I'd give anything to be a pilot even a reserve like Toji."

"Listen man its not like anything your imagining Ken its boring. All I do for four hours is set in a little tube and think quietly. That's all we do day in and day out." Toji said complaining about it

"I don't care the moment an angel attacks that means it goes from boring to exciting right Shinji?"

"I ….suppose Although I wouldn't call it exciting." 'More like terrifying.' Shinji would rather things be quit and normal.

"But still it would be wonderful." Kensuke said a dreamy type of voice. The idea being on the battle field lighting up the sky with his bullets riddling his enemy's corpses with bullets. "Don't they have you do simulations at the very least?"

"Sorta my simulations don't involve much combat. I'm spending more time trying to get the damn things to walk then I am anything else. Plus trying to remember all that other stuff the weapon stashes the escape routes not to mention all of the location of the spare umbilical cables. There littered all over the city."

"Where?" Kensuke asked salivating over the information. Toji was about to speak when Shinji spoke up interrupting the jock.

"Uh Toji your not supposed to tell Kensuke or anyone that stuff. Remember what happened when Ayanami over heard you complaining to loud on the walk to Nerv." Shinji said trying to remind the larger teen who seemed to have trouble keeping quit about Nerv affairs Rei had already confronted Toji about it two other times since his designation.

Toji paled for a moment Rei Ayanami was surprisingly scary for being so quit and meek.

"Wait what did Rei do?" Kensuke asked Toji leaned in and began whispering into his friends ear. The color on the boys face disappeared as Toji described the incident. "No way seriously?"

"Yep wasn't cool at all man."

"Ayanami Rei said that?"

"I'm serious."

"Ayanami ice queen Rei told you that?"

"I'm not sure its possible to do that to the human body but I don't want to find out." Toji said as he went back to his meal. Kensuke looked at his before sliding it away losing his appetite.

"But can't you guys put a word in for me at the very least. Common please Come on Shinji your fathers the commander of Nerv can't he do something?"

"Father said that the selection for Eva pilots wasn't up to him it was the um I think it was Marduke Institute that makes those selection's." Shinji said giving what information she had about pilot selection. It had been something she asked her father on one of the dinner's he took her to.

Gendo had become serious and asked why she wanted to know. Shinji wanted to know why Toji had been selected. Her father mulled it over for awhile before he said that pilot selection was done through the Marduke institute. He had no say In the matter of pilot selection. Shinji had asked what requirement someone needed to be a pilot and her father had said it was classified and wouldn't talk about the subject any further and Shinji folded not wanting to upset her father any further then he was starting to sound and destroy what relationship she currently had with the man.

"Oh alright Its settled then I'm going to find this Marduke institute and ask them myself."

"Well good luck with that Ken. Oh Shin-man You think I could barrow some of your notes from physics primer. I'm haven trouble with it." Toji asked as he took another bite of his sandwich. "If I fail my little sister will tear me a new one."

"Sure no problem." Shinji said digging into her bag for the notes. When a question hit Shinji. "Hows your sister doing."

"Huh oh um she's doing better. They've started her on rehabilitation." Toji's had been caught off guard by the question. But he seemed to brighten up at the thought. His little sister was making better progress now since being transferred to the Nerv hospital. "I was going to go and see her after the Sych test today."

"Thats wonderful Toji." Shinji still felt guilty about what had happened to the girl. "Could I come with you?"

"I suppose so if you want." Toji said a apprehensively weary about someone knowing the reason he had become a pilot. It was sore spot for him that made him feel guilty about. "Why do you want to see her."

"I want to apologize to her." Shinji was avoiding Toji's eye's looking down at her skirt wringing her hands in nervousness. Toji for his part just scratched his head looking at the girl.

"You know you don't have to it wasn't your fault." It seemed kind of hallow saying it especially after going so far as to pick a fight with Shinji when he found out of the former boys pilot status.

"I want to I still feel like I was the cause." Toji wasn't as surprised as he thought he would be at hearing Shinji say something like that. The third child had a nack for taking the blame for a lot of things even when it wasnt her fault.

Toji grabbed Shinji in a head lock. "Fine You can go but don't act like the world is falling appart or someone hit your dog. You look better with a smile on your face." Toji said grabbing his fellow pilot in a head lock.

"AHHHH Toji stop that." Shinji yelled out in surprise and panic. "Le-le-let go!"

"Ah come on this is fun. Take it like a man Shinji."

"But"

"But what?

"Asuka."

"Asuka?" Toji looked up to late seeing only a flash of red furry.

"PERVERT!" Asuka evoked striking the teen, In the middle of the classroom with her bag. Asuka had been eating her lunch in peace after getting it from Shinji. She spent the meal talking to Hikari gossiping with her. That was until she had heard Shinji's cry of pain. Her head had snapped in the direction of the three idiots so fast Hikari swears she heard a snap.

Asuka watched for less then a second. Looking at the stupid Jock hold defenseless Shinji in a head lock a look of pain and surprise on the girls face. It was the only incentive she needed to attack the boy. Especially after what had happened the night before. She proceeded to vent some built up anger on the poor boy.

XXXXXXX

Rei sat in her usual spot staring out the window. She only moved her eye's in the direction of Shinji. The girl was struggling to calm pilot Soryu down and keep her away from the new pilot Suzahra.

Her thoughts strayed to the commander. He had been acting differently. The ringing of her cell phones caught the attention. Rei pulled her cell phone out looking at it. The number belonged to the commander.

Gendo would never call unless it was something of importance. Nobody noticed her answer it. Most of the attention was drawn towards Asuka Toji and Shinji.

"Asuka I think you went to far." Shinji said crouched down looking at Toji. Who had several large lumps on top of his head two red hand prints on his face which was buried into the floor. The only reason they new he was alive was because his body would spasm and twitch.

"He had it coming." Asuka wiped the dirt off her hands on her skirt. She then rounded on Shinji pointing an accusing finger at him. "And you your to soft on him!"

"What!"

"You heard me you shouldn't let a boy touch you in any kind of familiar fashion. Boys are perverts and will always try to take advantage of you." Asuka then went on instructing Shinji. As she started dragging her over to where Hikari was sitting eating her lunch as though nothing had happened. Leaving Kensuke to deal with the mess on the floor called Toji Suzahra.

"When they get to close you have to make sure they know where they stand never give them an inch or they'll take a mile." Asuka continued as she dragged Shinji away. She sat down in front of Hikari. "From now on your not allowed to spend time with them alone."

"Huh?" Shinji was kinda of confused "Why?"

"Because um there untruest worthy!" Asuka said brashly as she took several large bite's of the apple on her desk. Shinji noticed Asuka seemed overly aggressive today for some reason. "You be careful tonight going to Nerv. I don't have to go in tonight so if he gets close you slap him and hard."

"Asuka are you okay?" Hikari finally broke into the conversation. She thought it was nice and sort of cute the way Asuka was so over protective of Shinji but it seemed she was going a little far.

"Yes why do you ask?"

"Well your face is red." Asuka was going to retort but stopped, When She felt a hand to her head.

"Hikari's right your very warm Asuka maybe you should go to the nurse's office." Shinji suggested feeling Asuka's forehead.

"I..i.. I'm fine!" Asuka snapped slapping away Shinji's hand. Shinji recoiled back a little muttering a quit sorry. Hikari watched the interaction contemplating Asuka's reddened face as she ate.

"So Asuka are you still up to going out tonight?" A muffled yes was heard as Asuka became more intent on eating her lunch holding the Bento up to her mouth eating the rice inside.

"What are you guys doing?"

"Oh where going to go to a Karaoke Bar tonight." Hikari smiled at the thought she Asuka and her little sister Nozomi. She had promised to take Nozomi for getting top marks on one of her tests. She had invited Asuka and would have invited Shinji but she had Synch tests tonight.

"That sounds like fun, I've never been Karaoking before." Shinji mused to her self

"Really next time I go you should come with us."

"I don't know I'm not a very good singer."

"So neither is my older sister but that doesn't stop her." Hikari laughed recalling the last time her older sister Kodoma took a younger Hikari, Nozomi and there father to a kareoke bar. It was the last time they went as a group everyone always seemed to find a reason not to go. Hikari conveniently had house work that needed done. Somehow work always seemed to call her father in on those occasions as well.

Hikari reminiscent day dream came to an end when Rei Ayanami walked up to the three teens. "Did you need something Ayanami?"

"I came to give a message to Soryu and Ikari-kun." This got the two's attention Asuka stopped stuffing/hiding behind her bento. "Synch tests where canceled today."

This startled both pilots. "Why?" Nerv never canceled synch tests unless there was an angel attack or something equally serious. Shinji asked "Did something happen?"

"I am uncertain I was told we were not to go into Nerv today, for any reason unless we are called." Rei said impassively it didn't mean much to her but it was quit a surprise to the girl. "It was the commander's orders."

"I see. I hope nothing terrible happened." Shinji felt a little worried about what maybe happening at Nerv.

"Don't worry about it if it was serious they would call us in not tell us to stay out." Asuka said berating Shinji.

"I guess your right but I'm still a little worried."

"Bah don't be it just means you don't have to go in your free tonight." Asuka waved it off as Hikari's face lite up with joy.

"Oh Shinji you can come with us!" Hikari stated enthusiasticly. Shinji looked at Hikari smiling hopefully and couldn't bring her self to decline and silently nodded"It's perfect we can all go to the Kareoke bar you should come to Ayanami."

Hikari stated getting the pale blue haired girls attention. Rei was uninterested in the prospect of going anywhere except home. She was quit ready to decline. "No thank you I."You should come with us Rei it will be fun please." Shinji spoke up looking at the quit girl Rei felt a slight pang in her chest looking at Shinji before giving her answer.

"I Have never done such a thing before. I doubt I would be very useful in the endeavor." Rei voiced out loud as Shinji smiled at her.

"Thats okay Its my first time to we can learn together." Shinji offered as a light tint of red powdered Rei's cheeks.

"If it is not a hassle I shall join then." Rei spoke quietly her eye's avoiding Shinji's.

"Its not a hassle Ayanami I promise you it can be fun." Hikari said as she got up the sound of the lunch bell ringing through out the school yard signaling the end of lunch.

Rei swiftly walked away back towards her seat. "Ah why did you invite her?" Asuka complained to the freckle faced girl with a mild pout.

"Is there something wrong with Ayanami?"

"She's stuck up."Asuka stated not holding back her opinion of the girl

Asuka! that's not nice Rei's just well she's different." Shinji said squirming for the right words. Asuka only starred at Shinji for moment before huffing at her. It was at that time the bell began to ring and signal the end of lunch.

"What ever." Asuka said simply getting up without another word. Heading to her desk. The conversation ended with that and soon class had resumed. Asuka spent the rest of the day with a pout on her face. And before long school ended and the four girls where heading towards the Karaoke bar.

Hikari quickly found the job of conversationalist fell on her. Shinji had spent most of her time trying to keep peace between Asuka and Rei. Well more like trying to keep Asuka calm. Things seemed to lighten up a bit when Hikari's little sister Nozome joined them.

The grade schooler was a ball of energy that instantly took to liking Shinji. Declaring quit boldly that Shinji was way nicer then Asuka. Angering the german girl only to win back favor when she commented that Rei was weird.

Once they arrived at the Karaoke bar things seemed to calm down slightly as Asuka found something to vent her energy on.

"On WiNgS of FiRe." Asuka finished her hard rock song She tossed the mike over to Shinji. "Your turn Baka." Hikari and Asuka had already had there turns at singing. Now it was Shinji's turn. She felt increasingly nervous Asuka and Hikari where good singers Shinji wasn't feeling very confident.

"Would you like a turn Ayanami." Shinji offered as the quit girl looked through the book holding the music selection. Rei looked up at Shinji shaking her head.

"I am uncertain what I should do I have never sang before." Rei spoke honestly.

"Really I'm surprised you don't you really seem like the type who would enjoy singing." Hikari said although that was a blatant lie on Hikari's part. The girl honestly belived that Rei would have a nice singing voice. "Why don't you go Shinji."

"I no um why don't you or Asuka take another turn. I'm not very good at this sort of thing I feel embarrassed." Shinji offered the mike back to Hikari who frowned.

"OH shinji-chan Do a duet with me." Nozomi practically begged with wide puppy dog eye's

"I don't know I'm not a very good singer."

"Please please please."

"Nozomi leave Shinji alone if she doesn't want to she doesn't want to okay." Hikari scolded her little sister.

"It's okay I guess I can try." Shinji felt her resistance to the little girl crumble when she became upset, Shinji steeled herself to try and sing a song with the her. A couple of minutes later and many messed up lyrics later Shinji, Shinji was blushing and embarrassed by the end. Nozomi seemed quit proud of the achievement of finishing the song.

"Lets do another one!" She proclaimed excitedly as she began to look through one of the music books.

"Lets give some one else a turn well do another one later." Shinji said a little rushed as Asuka snickered at Shinji's expense.

"I think you did an okay job Shinji you should have more confidence." Hikari said as she took the mike ready to choose her next song. "Hey Ayanami do you want to do a duet with me?"

Rei was quit for a moment before quietly declining. Hikari nodded her head expecting as much before Nozomi volunteered to be her partner. As the Horki sisters began to sing Rei sat down next to Shinji. Pointing at one of the songs in the book.

"You want to do this one?"

Yes"

"Its a duet." Shinji commented as Rei nodded looking at Shinji intently. Shinji caught on to what Rei was asking. But she asked the question anyway. "Do you want me to sing with you?" A silent nod was all Shinji received as she smiled slightly.

Asuka watched this interaction silently as she took a sip of water. She also watched as the two girls sat up after Hikari and her sister finished and started to sing a slow rhythmic song. Asuka had to admit the two of them sang very beautifully together.

Asuka then began digging through her book looking for another song she wanted to do. It just so happened to be a duet. Most of the time passed like this Asuka and Rei choosing duets and Shinji singing with the two of them. Asuka seemed to pick out three at a time while Rei would quietly pick one every once in a while.

Before long the nervousness Shinji had felt was gone as she started having fun singing even braving enough courage to do a solo song. Before to long three hours had passed and there time was up.

Shinji was excitedly chatting with Hikari and Nozomi about there singing. Asuka was pointedly staring/glaring at Rei. Asuka wasn't going to say anything or make a scene, but she felt so angry and irritated with the blue haired girl more then usual.

Eventually the two sisters broke off from the Eva pilots to go home leaving the three alone. In a busy part of the city. They arrived at the train station.

"Asuka I'll be back I need to use the bathroom." Shinji said Asuka snapping back to reality as Shinji held out her school bag. "Will you watch this for me."

"Sure." Asuka said avoiding eye contact with Shinji's cheerful smiling face. Asuka watched Shinji leave and then rounded on Rei.

"Is something the matter Pilot Soryu?" Rei said meeting Asuka's gaze.

"No nothing at all." Asuka aggressively spat out

"I see." was all Rei said as she looked on ahead waiting for her train.

"And whats that supposed to mean?" Asuka asked in annoyance. Rei didn't say anything instead choosing to sit and quitly wait for her train. Asuka fumed at her for several long minutes until Shinji's return.

Shinji was still in a happy and bubbly mood upon her return. Commenting she wouldn't mind going Karaokeing again sometime. Commenting to Asuka they should go again on there next day off. Asuka was all to happy to agree the only thing that ruined the moment was when Shinji invited Rei to join them.

"I think you have a beautiful voice right Asuka." Shinji commented looking at Rei as the girl subtle fidgeted at the praise

Before Asuka could make a comment on her Opinion of the dolls singing the train started to arrive signaling her and Shinji could now leave. Rei had to wait for another train before going home.

Asuka swiftly bordered the train with hmph paying no mind to the blue haired girl. Only watching as Shinji apologized and said good bye. She didn't care one bit at all how the first child seemed to blush in embarrassment.

XXXXXXX

(The next day.)

The next day when Kensuke and Hikari showed up alone at the appartment Shinji had a bad feeling. Misato hadn't been home at all after her and Asuka got back. Nor was there wayward gaurdian in bed the next morning like she normally would have been if it had been a long shift for her at Nerv.

"You guys are here." Hikari said in surprise.

"I guess they only needed Toji then." Kensuke said musing to himself.

"Whats going on wheres Toji?" Shinji asked knew there had to be a connection already to this.

"Who cares where the stooge is he's probably skipping." Asuka voiced stepping out of the appartment holding her bag.

"No he's not there was a note tapped to his door saying he had to go into Nerv this morning." Hikari said informing them. She then seemed a bit uncertain. "We weren't sure if you two would be here or not."

"Oh please maybe he's making up excuses so he doesn't have to go in." Asuka said waving it off as she started walking

Shinji and the others fallowing behind her. "I mean really skipping school and claiming its for Nerv he's going to get in a lot of trouble."

It was very true Asuka had tried it once back when in Germany and she ended up under house arrest for almost four months and had to be escorted by section 2 agents everywhere and everywhere included home school and Nerv. That was it.

"I don't think so Misato wasn't home last night and she didn't come in this morning." Shinji said as curiouse worry started to fill her.

"Maybe it has something to do with Osaka military airport." Kensuke threw out getting a confused look from everyone around. Hikari he expected to be confused but Shinji and Asuka. "You two don't know. Nerv locked down the entire airport no one in and no one out. There was a serious scare supposedly a bomb was involved at least that's what they've told the media. I don't think that's the case a large cargo plain landed with something important the day before."

"So what not like that matters to us. Whether its a bomb or some stupid delivery of some sort." Asuka started to ramble off but Kensuke shook his head as he interrupted.

"It was an Eva sized cargo plain if you catch my drift." Kensuke smirked inwardly as he got the Germans undivided attention. "If I was to speculate a new Eva arrived and its going to be Toji's after all there are four of you now it only makes since."

"Kensuke how do you know all this?" Shinji asked they hadn't been informed about any thing then again Nerv often lacked the refined ability to tell them simple things.

"Who cares. All this means is that the stooge won't be as useless as he has been. We've finnaly got back up although I doubt he'll be any help really." Asuka said this in total conviction as she went on to describe terrible ways he could get himself killed because he was an idiot.

Hikari became unusually quit on the way to school. Sometimes it was hard to forget that they where in the middle of a war and that her friends where in the middle of it. They where still kids weren't they? Why did they have to fight wasn't this the type of thing adults where supposed to do?

XXXXXX

"Alright I think thats enough for today Suzahra-kun thank you for coming in so early if you leave now you could probably catch your afternoon class's." Misato said over the speaker of the comm as the boy yawned in agreement.

Outside the window stood there new asset it was different from the Eva's they normally worked with it was supposed to be a test model for the rumored MP Eva's still in development. This thing was supposed to be the template for those Eva's and wasn't made for anything to strenuous in terms of combat. It didn't even have armor attached let alone anything resembling a weapon. Nor did it have shoulder pylons. Only an umbilical cable and an experimental flight harness of some sort attached to its back supposedly it could fly.

Toji couldn't even get a synch score of 1%. He had a steady 0% percent through out the whole test. She wasn't even sure how to relay orient it into combat. It could remain active for up to five minutes with out the umbilical cable but that wasn't very useful in combat. Recon maybe but not for what they had to constantly work with in terms of the angels.

And the pilot well they hadn't found him yet apparently the pilot had come with the Eva but had disappeared from the airport before the arrival of Nerv. The pilot was missing which had sent the entirety of Nerv into a panic.

The entire thing was a cluster of problems all rolled into one. The information Kaji had given her hadn't been much help at all either while informative at the time now it was useless. She knew the name of the pilot the specs of the Eva everything was more or less in order now. The only problem was the missing 5th child.

XXXXXX

Shinji stared at the front of the class. There he was that boy who had saved her from that guy just the other night. He was still dressed the same with that aloof smile.

"Hello my name is Kaworu Nagisa." He said out loud still smiling as his eye's roamed the class. Before settling on Shinji. "I hope we can get along."


Author note

I wasn't to pleassed with writting the attempted rape secen and it lacked the impact I was really hoping for in my opinoin. To be honoest I was extremely unsure how to do it and i may bump the story up a rating becouse of it from this chapter on things will be geting a little more depressing.