Author's Notes: Dylan – Madness? This... is... EVA! (author is lynched for such a tired pun)
Pyro – either that or she is channeling one of the Chaos Gods.
GlAssbOy – You have the right to a pitchfork. One will be provided for you by the State if you do not have one ;-p
Where was Shinji? Fleeing for his life. As well he should. This is Asuka, after all. He's just lucky that (once again) he was the first to wake up.
Chapter 11 – Calm Before the Storm / Twins
Sachiel and Shamshel sat on the edge of the semi-active volcano, slouched back against a protruding rock formation, each of them using ripped-off pavilion roofs as hats to shield their eyes from the rising sun. Sachiel held a make-shift fishing rod loosely, and Shamshel had his tentacles resting over the tractor-trailer rig that was serving as their tackle-box.
"Gaghiel should be gettin' in 'bout now."
"Yep."
Long peaceful silence.
"Looks like rain."
"Yep."
(hock, spit).
Long peaceful silence.
"Anything?"
"Not a bite."
Yet another long peaceful silence.
Sachiel was suddenly yanked down into the volcano before he even had a chance to whimper.
Long peaceful silence.
"You been mighty quiet, Sach. You oka-" Shamshel's fake country accent was interrupted by a very hot Israfel being dumped into his arms. "AAAAYIIIII! IT BURNS!" He dropped the slowly cooling Angel onto the rock beside him.
"Thanks for the backup, there, 'buddy'!" Sachiel gasped, his hands on his knees as he caught his breath and gingerly touched his burn wounds.
Azumi Ishikawa sat at her desk, humming quietly as she sipped her coffee and looked over her case reports for the day. This one looks interesting. Apparently there was some kind of spat between a pretty large group of people. Women it looked like. The psychologist usually had just one, and sometimes two people in her sessions. Every once in a while an entire family would come in, but that was so rare it wasn't even worth mentioning. But this... she shook her head slowly, her curiosity piqued. She reached over and pushed the 'talk' button on the intercom.
"Send them in, please."
The door slid open revealing a young man flanked by four women with varying expressions of angst and anger on their faces. Her curiosity grew, and she found herself feeling a touch of pity at the harried look on the young man's face. She banished her feelings and donned the cloak of objectivity.
"My name is Azumi Ishikawa," she said in a warm voice. "For our sessions, please call me Azumi. Now, if you would, take a seat and introduce yourselves," she said with a kind smile, indicating the cushions laid out on the floor. "Starting with the young man." She of course had their names and pictures, but found that a wealth of information could be had just in the way someone introduced themselves. Plus, it was a subtle way to begin the helpful group exercises that were usually called for in such large counseling sessions.
"Shinji Ikari," the boy said, not meeting her eyes. She took note of this.
"Asuka Langley Sohryu!" the redhead exclaimed, with what was obviously a pasted-on smile.
"Rei Ayanami," the girl said softly, sitting at ease.
"Hikari Horaki." The class rep's voice was somewhat subdued, and there was obvious anger.
"Mana Kirishima," the brunette mumbled sulkily, glaring at Asuka.
"Now," the doctor began, preparing a list of probing questions that did not in any way seem confrontational or obvious. She need not have bothered.
"What they did was completely unacceptable!" Hikari shrilled. "They're too..."
"...is that jealousy I hear, Hikari?" Asuka shrieked. "Maybe you want to get your hot little hands on his..."
Hikari went pink, and her rebuttal died on her lips as she realized that at some level it was the truth. She struggled with herself, then started to speak, only to have Mana break in furiously.
"You have no right to speak like that after I soundly defeated you in such..."
"You caught me by surprise!" Asuka screeched. "Just you..."
"You want a rematch?" Mana asked with a fierce smile.
"Any time, any place!" Asuka snarled.
"Give me specifics."
"Quit acting all smug!" the redhead's temper began to fray. "You know where to find me!"
"Yeah, I do." Mana gave the redhead a vicious little grin. "Inside Shinj-" Asuka flew at the brunette and it took Shinji and all the other girls to pull them apart.
Azumi took off her glasses, pinched the bridge of her nose, and tried to fight off the beginnings of a headache.
"Shinji," she said, putting on her glasses and deciding to tackle the simplest-looking problem before her. "Is there something wrong?"
"...uh," the boy was unsure of how to answer. "Yes, that's why they brought me-ouch!" Hikari had kicked him in the leg. "...that's why we all came here today," he said, looking side-long at the normally demure Class Rep, who averted her gaze for her own sanity's sake.
"What I mean is," the doctor favored him with a warm smile, but he still refused to meet her gaze. "...you have yet to look me in the eyes." The doctor was somewhat surprised to see the varying range of emotions pass over the different girls' faces. Panic from Hikari, thoughtful curiosity from Rei, and of course enraged jealousy from Asuka, who quickly schooled her features back to just rage.
"...eh, you don't want me to do that, doctor," Shinji said coughing delicately.
"Why not?" she asked, genuine curiosity pushing her to ask the question directly. The girls' expressions continued to change rapidly, and they all blushed to varying degrees.
"...don't you dare tell her," Hikari said towards Shinji in an undertone.
"...uh," Shinji began to sweat, and then the door opened, and he almost collapsed with relief at the interruption. It was the Ancient Professor. The man nodded towards Shinji.
"Come with me, if you please, mister Ikari." He smiled at the doctor. "I hope you don't mind, but something has been brought to my attention, and I feel that the boy requires special instruction."
"Of course, Sensei," Azumi nodded, and Shinji stood up. The girls watched him go, mixtures of longing and desperately wishing they knew what he might accidentally reveal on their faces. Azumi watched the girls, her curiosity continuing to rise. No doubt about it. They are all smitten with the boy. Most curious.
Shinji and the Professor walked down the hall, and questions filled the boy's mind.
"Wait here, mister Ikari," the old man said, unknowingly sealing the fate of yet another young female. "I must get something from my office." He had reasons for not wanting Shinji in his private sanctum, and in his mind the chances were small of any further incidents during the short time he was in his office. After all, the boy had managed to keep his harem down to just four young women, which meant he knew what was happening and was atleast practicing restraint. The old man smiled as he entered his office and locked the door. Young Shinji Ikari is indeed unique. I have been given clearance to instruct him, which is unusual. Young men this strong in the Charm were usually framed, and then tossed into the looney bin to keep them out of trouble and from interfering with the Council's 'Deep Dark Secret Plans', but the Charm Council was loathe to lose a young man who obviously practiced such restraint even without any training.
Shinji leaned against the door jamb unknowingly mimicking one of Kaji's poses. The boy's confidence had gotten a boost as of late, though he knew no amount of confidence would save him from Asuka if the girl decided to punish him for their shared 'accident.' His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar face who walked into view.
"Hey, Mana!" he said with what he hoped was a befriending smile. The girl was an enigma to him. She had initially been brash, using him to enter the resets (for reasons he did not know), but she had recently grown almost cold towards him. True, he had not paid her much attention, but she was the one who had been ignoring him... His thoughts were interrupted by a niggling doubt. The brunette had been walking along, her head lowered, her books hugged against her chest in a very feminine fashion. Mana was usually bold and outgoing. Did Miss Azumi get to her somehow? "Mana, what's wrong?" He asked, putting a hand on her shoulder as she passed.
The girl looked over her shoulder, turning at his touch. "Oh, you were talking to m-" her voice caught as her eyes connected with his, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. "How-how do you know my name?" she asked shyly in a voice so quiet he could barely hear it.
"What are you talking about, Mana," the confused boy drew closer trying to hear what she was saying.
The girl's blush deepened, and her hand crept up to his cheek without her knowing. How does he know my name? He-he's so cute... Shinji did not know that this was the real Mana Kirishima, who had transferred into Tokyo-3 along with the first operational Trident. This Mana was quite shy, and was used to being bundled around by Section Two. Impossibly, she had led a more sheltered life than Rei, but without the Gendo-abuse (in other words, she had a normal family).
Shinji reached up and took her hand, which had been resting on his cheek for the last half-minute.
"...aah!" she jumped, her books slipping from her hand, and she would have collapsed into a heap on the ground if Shinji had not suddenly put his other arm around her waist to hold her up. Her blush deepened and frantic tears gathered at the edges of her eyes. She brought her free hand up to her cheeks. I-I'm blushing! How embarrassing! His eyes drew her closer, and she shuddered a little as Shinji's eyes widened.
Wait, this isn't Mana... The boy backed up, realizing he had accidentally seduced what had to be Mana's twin sister. Embarrassed tears flew from her eyes as she shook her head once, gathered her books from the floor, and fled blindly down the hall.
Oops, Shinji thought with an embarrassed grin. Mana happened to glance back as she ran, and his grin did not help. "...aaah!" She ran right into another student and books flew in all directions. She slumped to the floor in a dead faint.
"...um, are you okay?" the girl she had run into bent over her in concern.
Shinji felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see the Ancient Professor.
"Are you ready?" the old man asked. Shinji nodded.