Chapter 7
A Familiar Plot of Land
The airplane slowly descended; gliding above the runway the enormous wheels screech as they make contact with the ground. The nose of the plane levels with the ground and the pilots apply the brakes, the metallic flying hulk gradually decreases in velocity and taxis across the road before finally turning off towards the terminal. The pilots gracefully navigate the plane alongside the terminal, following instructions from the radio tower they were allowed to pull in and officially announce that they have landed in Germany. The two pilots shake hands on a successful and safe flight across the pond and wish each other a good evening as they both gather their belongings.
Asuka retrieved her carryon baggage and lead Ash off the plane. The deadening feel of the average airport terminal was absent; Ash didn't loath walking the tiles behind Asuka to hopefully collect their luggage from the conveyor belt, the constant flood of noise from numerous origins around him didn't plague his ears, something was different. Today would mark the day Ash Ketchums wasn't annoyed with an airport terminal. He figured it was because he was still jet lagged from traveling through many countries and time zones; especially having to stop for a day in each country just to wait for Asuka to finish a business meeting in said country. It took them five days to touch base in South America and Africa (A layover had occurred in Brazil which lead to a wonderful evening at a luxurious hotel at the expense of NERV.) but the two had touched down in Germany. A sigh of relief from the two as they knew it would be only a few more hours before they can fully unwind in the privacy of their own homes. Asuka knew she was due an ear full from Misato when Misato wakes up in Japan. Still, Asuka was in the right, a young man and woman who aren't engaged or even dating should never share the same hotel room together. It's not like NERV is hurting for money, Asuka thought.
The bags finally appear and the two snatch up their respective suitcases. Beyond the sliding doors Germany greets the weary travelers with an icy breath. For a second Ketchums wondered if the snow storm burying North-East America was stretching all the way across the Atlantic Ocean and pummeling Germany. Nonsense, as Ash knew that the weather was a bit out of wack albeit normalizing since Second Impact. He even heard news that Japan was actually cold this time around; still no snow fall. The two spot Shinji. Asuka lays down her luggage to greet her husband with a warm hug and a quick kiss, she lets go to allow Shinji and Ketchums to shake hands and hug briefly.
"Been a long time Ketchums." Shinji said while fixing his winter beanie.
"Yeah it has."
Asuka interrupts saying that it would be better to have this conversation in the car where they can at least enjoy the luxury of a heater. The men agreed and made their way to the car (With Shinji bringing up the rear since he had to first grab Asuka's luggage.). Asuka quickly clears the snow off her winter boots and slams the car door shut, instantly melting into the seat when her skin first felt the heat. Shinji pops the trunk and the two place the luggage, quickly securing the lid prior to rushing into the car and thawing out for a second. When comfortable enough Shinji shifts the gears into Drive and slowly crawls back onto the main road. At a cautious leisure the car powered through the snow towards home. Following his personal safety measures for driving in the snow Shinji never took his eyes off the road as he asked about the flights. Asuka gave a brief summary of the drastic change in weather when they reached south of the Equator. She also talked a bit about the meetings and that she already knew from the start that the organizations were joining NERV. The meetings themselves were just a formality, a front to protect face. She knew the leaders were trying to come off as interested in the deal instead of desperate of getting a chance to work together with a future powerhouse that is NERV.
"After all, self-imagery is still a vital part of any business." Asuka declared.
Shinji wanted to ask Ketchums but thought to save it instead after he got a few beers in him. Shinji initially was against alcohol but after living with a semi sober guardian and being married to such a festive girl, beer and wine slowly became integrated with their night life. (This consisted with staying home, getting drunk, having sex, and falling asleep.) When a standard night life wasn't enough, Asuka and Shinji would instead drive to Berlin to enjoy the late hours under colorful lights and ear blistering music, this would also include alcohol and a steamy night at a classy hotel.
The plot that they live on was just outside of the small town of Waizenfeld, just north of Berlin. A town small enough that it falls asleep when the sun dips below the horizon.
What would normally take forty minutes lasted for just over an hour to leave the Berlin city limits and reach the Soryu Acres. The car sits next to the panel that controls the sturdy gate, only problem is that someone would have to reach out of the car to punch in the security code. Asuka told Shinji to input the code fast so that not too much cold air floods in. Easier said than done, Shinji thought. Shinji knew the code by heart, the obstacle would be his hand slowing down when winter's numbing grip latches on. The three brace for the shock of winter as Shinji lowered the window and pressed the numbers; he wished he was able to press the tiny keys with his gloves on. With success he quickly (Or as fast as the car would allow via button) rolls up the window. Asuka and Ketchums teased the young man with appreciation albeit hyperbole. The branded gate drags across the ground to allow passage.
Once parked the three quickly traverse the frozen front lawn up to the front door, Shinji made quick work of the lock. Ketchums wasn't able to notice that the outside of the house was quite lavishing, the inside gave him proof enough to come to such a conclusion. He knew that the couple had money but if the house was the needle on the gauge the meter might have overblown. The entrance hall alone possibly had more money invested than his entire apartment back in the States. Quite the modern décor was on display everywhere you look, from the stair railing leading to the upper floor to the kitchen island that tied together top of the line appliances and back to the living room plus fireplace. Ketchums dropped off his coat and hat with the rest on the coat hanger and enjoyed the central heating for a bit. Once warm enough he met the other two in the kitchen during their idle chit chat. Once all together Asuka went straight for their liquor cabinet and pulled a bottle of vodka. While Shinji quickly grabbed three shot glasses the three reconvene around the oddly not too luxurious dinner table. The table and chairs stuck out like casted fingers when compared to the rest of the room. Ketchums wondered what was the connection that lead to have a mismatching dining set. Once the opened bottle of vodka was placed on said table, the little thought in his head was trashed like a sticky note that had outlasted its usefulness. The hard liquor splashed against the bottom of each glass and each three raised a glass.
"To a family member returning home." Asuka said.
The three glasses met with a clink and the first shot was downed.
Comfortable in the IKEA-esque dining chairs and with warm liquor sloshing in their bellies, Ketchums was experiencing his first night life adventure with old comrades. He himself was never a big night life person; he would rather enjoy a beer or three with friends at a familiar pad with good music than to experience a night club. Lord knows how many times Misty tried to pull him into one of those establishments, though he knew she was just trying her best to cheer him up. Few thoughts slumped their way across Ketchums' mind as he halfheartedly listened to Asuka.
-Clothes are in the car, but I'm not going out there.-
-Wonder where I'm sleeping tonight?-
-Here?-
-Wonder what's for breakfast?-
-Shinji's a good cook, I'm sure it'll be good.-
-We always joked about opening a restaurant or diner, since I'm living here now I wonder if we should think about that more seriously?-
When the correct amount of alcohol bleached his blood his mind shut down for the night. Now through watery eyes he sinks another shot of vodka like he was dying of thirst. Through a drunken lisp he was able to form the sentence:
"So is this the typical night for the Ikari household?"
As fast as quicksand the question eventually reached their brain, only for the two to acknowledge that they were not listening. Ketchums tried his best to repeat the question with a sixty percent memory accuracy. Asuka answered with a yawn and announced that it was time for bed. She stood up slowly and set off to find her bedroom.
Shinji replaced the quarter full bottle and successfully dragged Ketchums to his feet. Climbing the rug covered stairs to the second floor they just catch a glimpse of Asuka opening the far door in the hallway and closing it behind her. Shinji opened the first door on the right and mumbled something before being cut off by an alcohol flavored burp. He then loses interest, or memory of what he was just doing, and stumbled off towards the far door in the hallway. Ketchums stood in the hallway with his attention split between a dark room and Shinji's drunk walk that would rival a snail's crawl. Losing interest, or memory of what he was just doing, Ash reached into the room and searched the inner wall for a light switch. His hand rubbed in all directions prior to feeling a bump close to the door frame. No peg, but it did feel like a small bump that gave way. Pushing in the bump activated the light fixture.
Inside with the door shut Ketchums kicked off his shoes and took a glance through the window. He could see the car parked in the drive way, as well as the outline of the walkway from both the road and drive way leading past his view. He took a minute to remember the fact that he was no longer looking at a snow covered road from his apartment in America but instead a snow covered front lawn in a house in Germany. No snowfall, but he knew this would be short-lived.
Under the light Ketchums quickly memorized the path from the light switch to the bed, when confident he killed the power to the fixture and traced his steps to his destination.
Success.
Safely on his bed Ketchums peered at an unfamiliar ceiling until his eyelids grew heavy. Even then he still couldn't fall asleep, not yet anyways. He also had no strength to stand back up; once he dropped on the bed his body had shut down for the night. No thoughts came to him. He felt this was wrong but due to possible alcohol poisoning he won't have any lucid thoughts until the sun rises over the horizon. Or at the very least he sweats out enough vodka for his body to properly function. Brainless, bodiless, and unable to open his eyes Ketchums merely existed in bed for an unknown amount of time.
Alas, with enough time spent lying down and unable to form a coherent thought, Ketchums blacks out.
Writer's Notes: I apologize for my absence, a short chapter in no way makes up for such a gap. I had just picked up a new job so a lot of free time was spent at work and at home recovering from work. (It's been a while since I've had a job so I have yet grown accustomed to actually being busy again.) I am finally catching up so I will try to keep this at the least a weekly update. My goal is to have this update twice a week so actual progression of the story can be made. Until then, thank you for your patients and as well for reading this. I appreciate any reviews that you leave.
