Disclaimer – NGE and all its characters are copyright their respected owners, but I'd hope everyone knows that by now.
Ch-11 - A lady and a Tiger walk into a bar... -
"Fuyutsuki…"
He turned his head at the sound of his name, hitting pause on a small disc man and removing a single ear bud. He looked up at her, examining the exceptionally large woman standing in front of him. It took a few seconds before he recognized her, a warm smile appearing on his face.
"Ah, Akagi. My word… and here I thought Katsuragi was exaggerating when she told me about you." He sounded and looked frail, and as Ritsuko drew closer she could see many cuts hiding under his clothes. He sat crookedly in the chair like he was in pain, one of his arms curled around him clearly injured.
"Sub-commander! What happened to you?" She asked as she knelt down next to the chair, her head rubbing against his good hand slightly. Fuyutsuki was just like her, used by Gendo and caught up in all the lies. The only difference was that even with everything that went on at NERV he was truly a good man at heart. Ritsuko was still unsure if she could say the same about herself.
"Oh, just an encounter with the beach locals, its no longer important. I'm more curious about you right now." His good hand stroked her hair chuckling a bit at the incredibly soft feeling under his fingers. "How curious… it feels like fur."
She ignored that revelation, not caring anymore about the changes to her body and instead turned her eyes back to Misato. "Why didn't you tell me about him? I could have tried to treat these wounds!"
Misato sighed almost as if she knew Ritsuko was going to say exactly what she just did. "Wouldn't have done any good. I found him like this, if those crabs got to him it happened long before either of us came back." Misato then turned to leave, still not used to the eerie glow of Ritsuko's eyes glaring at her. "Ill let you two talk, I'm sure you have questions for him."
Ritsuko watched her leave, and then closed her eyes. Genuinely enjoying the feeling as he stroked her hair gently. "What's… happened to the world Kozo-san?"
"Hmm. Besides the obvious instrumentality occurring I'm sad to say… I have no idea. Except, that someone has taken the opportunity to seize control."
"It is NERV isn't it… that place… that… hell on earth."
"More then likely… yes. As to who is commanding those men and those monsters, well, they have yet to make an appearance. But they are too organized to be simply men banding together randomly." Kozo said, and felt Ritsuko tense under his hand.
"Please tell me it's not him. Please tell me its not Gendo…" She shivered as she said his name, burying her face deeper into the side of the chair as Kozo continued to pet her gently.
"Like I said, I honestly do not know, my condition has prevented me from exploring as much as I'd like to. Though, the whole atmosphere, the creatures, those madmen chasing you, it does not seem like Rokubungi. All he wanted was to be with Yui again, he could care less about what happened the world itself and the people in it."
He looked down at her and noticed the sudden shift of emotions playing out on her face, pain and anger in her eyes. "I must ask you now, if it were to turn out to be him… what would you do?"
She stood up suddenly eyes downcast and full of rage just at the thought of Gendo. Her bottom lip trembled as she tried to form the words that were currently jumping around her mind. "I… I would..." A quiet growl escaped her throat. "I don't know."
"I see. Somehow I think it would be nothing good, that's for sure." He chuckled to himself as he looked at her standing beside him. He sighed as he took in every inch of her, admiring the way powerful muscle flowed elegantly over her tall frame. "Gendo was a fool."
She looked at him quizzically, not quite understanding what he was talking about.
"He did not deserve Yui, he did not deserve you." He looked up at her, and for a second Ritsuko could have sworn she saw a flash of anger. If so it had vanished in an instant, replaced with kind warm eyes. "You should consider yourself lucky, if I had been a younger man when we worked together, well... I probably would have flirted with you a lot more." He said in a lighthearted tone. Ritsuko could only turn away as she felt her face redden slightly.
"Do you mind?" He asked as he raised his good hand to her arm closest to him. She nodded and he let his hand trail over her forearm until fingers reached sharp black claws. He examined them closely, pricking a finger on purpose to test their sharpness. "That's incredible. But, what could have caused this?"
Ritsuko sighed. "That was something I hope you would be able to tell me. Even if I was her daughter, I hate to say it but… you probably knew my own mother better then I did."
Kozo thought to himself for a minute before looking up at her. "You believe she has done this to you?"
"She's the only one who really could have." Ritsuko shrugged.
"Makes sense I suppose." He furrowed his brow as he tried to think of anything that he could tell her. "I'm sorry I can't be of much help on the matter. If Naoko is responsible, she would have most likely done this before I met her, and in private."
"I guess, but…" She hesitated a second, unsure if it was the right time to ask this. "From when you knew her, she never mentioned anything about… my father, did she?" Ritsuko asked with a sudden hopeful look in her eyes, if he could tell her anything at all would have her feeling a lot better.
"Now that you mention it, I don't recall her ever mentioning him. She always struck me as the single mother type. Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing." She didn't feel like driving Kozo insane with that little puzzle. Ritsuko was about to change the subject when Misato returned, leaning against the doorframe casually.
"Did you tell her what you think about Shinji?" She had changed out of her police gear and was now wearing a simple red top and jeans.
"I was just about to, thank you Katsuragi." He noticed Ritsuko's interest peak on the subject of the boy. "But this is something that could be discussed over a nice meal, that is if you would join us." He invited her politely.
"I don't want to intrude, I know how hard it is to find food as it is." Ritsuko replied as she recalled the rather lousy supplies she and her charges have been surviving on.
"Oh we don't have to worry about that. Besides considering your physical stature, you look like you are not eating well. A good steak should fix that right up."
Ritsuko nearly bit her tongue, her animal side immediately latching onto that word. And just like a trained dog her mouth began to water just thinking about meat. "S-steak?"
Late afternoon, and the sun was beginning its slow descent in the sky. Ignoring the brilliant displays of colored light outside her window, Maya shifted through the folds of paper she had torn from the printer, annoyed that she was unable to make out exactly what she was looking at.
She, along with the others really had nothing else to do while Akagi was out. So, without any other ideas or death defying outings planned, they had taken the rest of the day to just chill out and wait for their guardian to return.
A bag of potato chips nearly hit her in the face as it flopped down onto the papers, violently startling the girl out of her trance.
"You looking at that again?" Toji asked as he walked into the small patients room Maya had chosen for herself. He was slightly annoyed that the older woman had taken to being on her own, and was using the printed documents as an excuse to hide her emotions. Toji knew what it was really didn't matter anyway, Maya simply wanted proof that she pulled something from the MAGI, proving that the super computer was still operational.
"I don't understand what this is, I've seen Sempai's work and this doesn't seem to relate to anything she's ever worked on. I honestly have no idea what this is." She said as she shuffled through a few more pages trying to make sense of the theories and equations printed all over.
"Maybe it's not hers. You said Akagi-san took over from her mum right? Maybe it's her mothers stuff."
Maya stiffened, feeling a bit stupid for not thinking of that sooner. But even so, she should have been at least able to link it to some sort of project old or new. She said nothing though and continued to shuffle through the pages pointlessly keeping her mind off other things.
"Maya-san… she's okay." Toji said out of the blue, but it had the effect he was expecting.
Maya dropped the papers ever so quietly. "She's never been gone this long… why hasn't she come back yet?" She said softly, her head lowered in defeat.
Toji took a cautious step further into the room not liking how blue Maya was looking. "She's probably still looking for whatever it is she went out for in the first place. I'm sure she's fine."
Maya sat up and looked out the window, her face an expression of worry and sadness at the same time. "How long has it been since those sounds stopped? And don't tell me you don't know explosions and gunfire when you hear it."
"I dunno, a few hours maybe?"
Maya tried to compose herself, but the more she thought about it the worse she felt. "Its been too long she would have come back by now." She inhaled sharply, trying not to break down. "They must have got her."
Toji was standing behind her now as she held back tears, still a little unsure of what to do or say. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to at least console her a little. "Hey, don't think like that. You've seen what Akagi-san's capable of; she fell of a building and was barely scratched! You think a couple explosions would bother her?"
He paused for a moment as he imagined it… they probably would. Shaking his head he continued. "Besides, its possible they weren't even shooting at her."
Maya sat up a bit straighter in the cot as she tried to force herself to think like Toji, but as much as she tried, it only caused her to think the worst and feel even more horrible. Finally she stood up and faced him, before suddenly wrapping her arms around him in a hug.
Toji was too shocked to say anything, only aware of Maya hugging him. "Maya-san I-I…
"I'm sorry Toji, I know I'm the adult here and I'm not really acting like one. It's just... I can't help it." She tightened her hold on him, calming down only slightly when she felt him return the hug. "It wasn't so bad when it was just monsters, but now with these men about, thinking scheming men." She let out a long drawn out sigh. "I'm scared of what will happen to us if she doesn't come back."
"Hey, what happened to the blood thirsty Ibuki who wanted to see those men dead huh? And don't forget who took care of Asuka before you even knew Akagi-san existed." Toji tried to cheer her up as best he could, patting her back reassuringly. "Give yourself more credit Maya, I'm pretty sure if you had good reason you could kick my ass any given day."
Toji felt her hold on him slacken and relief flooded through him when she pulled back a little to look him in the eyes. "Thank you Toji-kun." She said, still holding on to him in the small little room. "But it's not just Sempai that's bothering me. What if… what if we can't stop those crazy guys? What if we can't fight off those monsters?" She looked at him oddly before continuing, almost knowing what she was thinking sounded incredibly silly.
"I never liked any of those horror survival movies that Shigeru and Makoto always bragged about. But, only because whenever you see that one small meek person in the group… you know that they're in for it." She looked up to make sure she hadn't lost Toji in the sudden change of subject. "You don't really have to look hard to notice it's pretty obvious that in our little group, I'm that person… I can't help but feel a bit worried."
Toji had to hold back a smirk, now that he thought about it; their little group and the whole situation did seem like one of those bad horror flicks. "But, this isn't a movie Maya-san…"
"I know I know… it's just… What if all the other people don't come back and we're stuck here in this messed up place forever?"
Toji stayed silent for a second, not denying that he had thought of these things as well. "Well, then we'll just have to convince Akagi-san to steal a boat and we can all sail to a nice little warm island and live out our lives on a beach. Doesn't that sound nice? Alone on a beach with just…" He was going to say himself but he didn't really feel like being slapped at the moment. "Just your Sempai and me? Oh and we can't forget Asuka… and PenPen. Unless we eat him."
She began to giggle as she hugged him again, resting her head on his shoulder casually. "You know PenPen should really be careful around Sempai, I'm sure I've seen her eyeing him like a hungry cat."
They both laughed before another awkward silence engulfed them. A moment went by that to Toji seemed like forever, he didn't know if he should say more or just stand there, it felt like she was never going to let him go.
"H-hey… you want to see if the others are up for a game of wheelchair hockey?" He asked before the silence drove him crazy.
Maya began to shake in his arms, and Toji began to worry that he had gone and upset her again with his stupid suggestion. Thankfully he heard her begin to giggle once more, before breaking into a hearty laugh.
"Idiot." She rubbed the moisture from her eyes that had threatened to spill, and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. "But I'd love to. Maybe we can get Asuka up and moving instead of staring blankly at the clouds."
Toji blushed furiously, and apparently had forgotten how to speak. "I…uh… er… I'll go find some penguin- I mean! I'll go find some chairs then!"
"Where in the nine hells did you find these?" Ritsuko asked as she sniffed around a backroom full of boxes, each containing about two hundred factory sealed preserved and ready to cook steaks of all cuts and shapes. Misato made an effort to try and keep the excited scientist behind her, but Akagi kept pushing her way forward as she sniffed at the airtight packages. "How haven't they gone bad?"
"We found them in an unmarked truck parked out back, don't know what company prepared them, but this is like alien technology." Misato said as she grabbed a couple packs, hoping to god Ritsuko would not go crazy and try to devour it along with the hand that held it. She pulled at the airtight, yet stretchy plastic showing Ritsuko the state of the meat. It was a healthy red color, and the only warning on the label was Do Not Freeze.
"How is this still fresh without being frozen?" Ritsuko mind went through every explanation she could think of, raising a brow at the only thing she could come up with that made any sense. "The packing looks like it could be in some sort of suspended animation." Ritsuko poked at one of the packages, her scientific mind overriding her hunger for about a second. "Interesting."
"Unless it's some kind of fake imitation meat, looks like it. All I know is that they taste good, and we haven't been poisoned yet!" Misato chuckled as she shifted through for a nice thick cut for her tiger-like friend. "So, how do you like you're steak?"
"How exactly are you going to cook this?" Ritsuko had to ask, the place was running on a few solar powered lights and battery operated things, but from what she's seen there was no electricity to really power a fridge or a stove.
"There's a big barbecue on the roof, and if we think things may come sniffing around, one of the stoves in the bar's kitchen is gas powered." Misato replied as she held a package just out of Akagi's reach. "So I ask again, how do you like your steak?"
"Uh…" Ritsuko took a little too long to answer, green eyes following the package hypnotically as Misato waved it about in the air.
Misato eyed her suspiciously before grinning. "You'd eat it right now if I opened it wouldn't you?"
Looking ashamed Ritsuko looked to the floor and let out a whine.
"Oy... I'm taking more then one for you. Last thing I want is to give you a taste for meat and not be prepared. There's a headline for ya. 'Heroine saves the world –eats best friend.'
Ritsuko grumbled. "You'd probably taste bad anyway."
They watched in awe, their own plates left untouched.
Massive top and bottom fangs scraping every last morsel from the round bone left behind from one of many massacred steaks. Huge jaw muscles bulging under the skin as they worked diligently, Kozo and Misato did not doubt if she wanted too she could crush the bone easily. Ritsuko looked up suddenly to see them staring and let the white bone fall from her mouth and back to her plate. Misato said nothing, then using two fingers pushed her plate towards the hungry doctor.
Ritsuko eyed the plate to her left for a moment, before pulling it under her. "I feel guilty."
"Don't there's plenty. I'm going to guess that stash was being shipped somewhere with the purpose being to 'feed an army' most likely the one the blew the crap out of NERV." Misato said as she watched the Doc take a huge bite from the chunk of beef, and envied the way the woman savored every bite.
"Its not that…" Ritsuko said between bites. "It's the fact that … I'm here enjoying this great food, all the while I've left the others with canned ass, and sugared death. You even had a means to cook it! Cook it really really well I might add."
Misato accepted the rare compliment. "Hey, I may not be a gourmet chef yet, but Shinji did teach me a few things that come in handy on a barbecue."
At the mention of Shinji Ritsuko suddenly came out of her meat induced high and remembered that Kozo had something to say about him. She swallowed the last of her meal and licked the plate clean before looking to him. "Speaking of Shinji… what did Misato want you to tell me?"
"I believe it is Shinji who has brought us back." Kozo said simply, pushing his uneaten dinner aside and resting back in his chair at the table.
Ritsuko lowered her head, frowning as she took in his words. "You think he brought you back as well?"
"I know he did, as he did Misato, as he was doing to others as well… those he cares for at least."
Misato slammed her fist down on the table, not able to believe what the old man was saying. "But if Shinji does have this 'power' wherever he is… why bring back section two! Why bring back those murderers!"
Kozo waited for Misato to settle down. "They are the exception. I doubt he had a hand in bringing them back, its possible the same could be said about you're little friends Ritsuko currently has in her care. Maya and the boy are not like us; their will to live is powerful that I would not doubt they came back on their own accord. As with the others, it's simply unfortunate that their hearts are so easily twisted to evil."
Ritsuko sighed as Kozo explained his theory, she was still confused on one fact that's been bothering her ever since the first time she saw the ghost of Shinji. "I can understand Misato… but why us? Why me?"
Kozo chuckled to himself, realizing Ritsuko still believed that she did not deserve a second chance. "I hardly talked to the boy. But I supposed the times that I did he took a liking to me. I had lived my life, and had no intention of returning to this world so why he chose me… well, maybe he just wanted someone with experience to help you along." He smiled crookedly masking the pain his broken body was in. "As for you, apparently he somehow knew you would return like this, strong, powerful, able to make a difference."
Ritsuko stood up from the table growling. As much as she'd like to believe Kozo's words it was just too far fetched. "But how would he… how could he possibly know I carry some sort of mutation in my genes! How would he know I would turn into this… monster?!"
Kozo shifts his position, propping himself up on his good hand and letting his injured one rest on the wooden dinner table. "I think Shinji has become… what Seele thought they were destined to be."
Akagi shivered, the scenario fit, it fit frighteningly well. Although Gendo's ultimate mission was to simply see his wife again, the members of Seele were bent on joining the world in some sort of single sentient being. In a sense, making themselves gods. To think now, perhaps it is a young boy who both thwarted and stole their throne…
"Shinji…" she whispered, closing her eyes and hoped he could actually hear her. "You should of chose someone else…I'm no hero…"
Fuyutsuki let out a sigh. If he were right about the Ikari boy, then he would have to get Ritsuko out of this funk if she's going to be of any help to anyone. "Look at it this way Ritsuko. He's asking for your help where he cannot reach, and he's sent allies to help you." He looked at Misato and smiled.
Misato in turn looked to Ritsuko, and nodded. An unspoken understanding suddenly shared between the two. Ritsuko snarled, knowing what had to be done now. "So…where do we start?"
"Its too dangerous to storm the gates just yet, especially after that helicopter attack. We should lay low for a bit, a day at least." Misato said as she got up and began collecting the plates. "That'll give us time to think up some sort of strategy as well."
Kozo agreed with her, understanding that these men seem to be out in force right now. He looked to Ritsuko with an idea. "Why don't you bring your friends here Ritsuko, there's plenty of rooms available and its quite safe. Not to mention I would enjoy the company when Misato is out adventuring."
Ritsuko thought about it for a moment. "How did you come across this place anyway? You don't strike me as the bar owning type." She asked, still a little impressed at the luxury that went into the mini-mansion.
"I used to frequent this place often, and helped the original owner financially when he was first starting out." Kozo replied, a far off look in his eyes as he remembered past years. "I don't think he would mind us using this place, but if he does… well… I'll just let you answer the door should he return."
Ritsuko sneered at his joke, and wondered perhaps that sudden jab was the result of hanging around Misato too long.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to bring the others here, they would be more comfortable…" Ritsuko was hesitant, unsure if it was safe to move all of them at once. "I'll probably have to make two trips, Asuka is still dependant on a wheelchair."
"I can help with that if you're willing to take me, but lets wait until nightfall." Misato said as she returned. "I know you can see in the dark so I'll assume you're better suited for stealth right? It'll just make it easier for you to sneak me back with you. Just… no more galloping please." Misato smiled sheepishly at her friend while rubbing her still aching and bruised ribs. "Why don't you go take a rest until then, you still look a little haggard from today's excitement."
"That sounds heavenly actually…" Ritsuko sighed. Although she recovers a million times faster then normal people, her little run from death had drained her significantly. "Do me a favor though? Call the hospital and tell Maya what's happening. I've been gone too long and… well… you know how she is around me."
"Yeah, and the way you look now, I can't help but feel sorry for you." Surprisingly it was Kozo and not Katsuragi who said it.
Even so, Ritsuko turned her head towards Misato. She knew now, prolonged exposure to this woman would result in the development of a terrible sense of humor it.
"You're all horrible."
Later that day, twilight time, Misato fulfills a request from her friend who had saved her life that day. And now she sat, phone to her ear waiting for someone to pick up on the other end.
"Hello?" Came a small voice on the other side of the receiver, Misato could only smile.
"Hello Ibuki, do you know who this is?"
"This... sounds like M-Misato-san!" The excited voice on the other side exclaimed.
"Shhh don't let Toji hear you! I want it to be a surprise when we…" Misato had planned to tell the girl both she and Ritsuko would be returning shortly, and with some dinner in hand, but Misato soon found she had to hold the phone away from her ear lest she be deafened.
She couldn't see the small timid woman she once knew back at NERV anymore, all Misato was imagining was the giant rabid bulldog barking into the receiver on the other end.
"What have you done with SEMPAI!" Maya shouted out, along with various colorful curses and imaginative death threats. "You're with those guys aren't you? I swear when I find you… tell me now! What have you done with SEMPAI!"
Misato waited a second to make sure the woman had stopped screaming, not wanting to lose her hearing anytime soon. "I...uh. Fed her then let her take a nap."
"Wait what?"
"We met up on her little outing and I brought her back to my place, she's fine Maya. Though I can't say the same for the couch." Misato tried not to remember the terrible sounds coming from the piece of furniture as the Doc lay down on it. "Everything okay on your end? It was Rits' idea to give you a call, but she kinda' fell asleep."
"Ah, yes were all fine here. We were just a bit worried after hearing some weird noises in the distance."
"Oh, yeah…that was just us having a little fun." Misato went on to explain to Maya what happened, giving her a less then detailed and more sugarcoated story obviously. They spoke for a little while longer before they said their 'goodbyes' and 'take cares', with Misato promising to see them soon before hanging up.
She walked backed to the small room where Ritsuko lay. Just like Kozo's reading room, it was the same warm colours with soft carpeting and wood paneled walls. Everything matched and fit together flawlessly, everything except the Amazon taking up the entire couch in the corner. Her larger friend was on her back and sprawled quite comfortably across the small brown leather couch, fast asleep.
Misato took a step closer to her sleeping friend, wondering if the sound of light snores where in fact the sounds of a mutant-tiger-person purring blissfully in their sleep.
"Rits… what the hell are you?" Misato whispered to herself, as she looked her friend over. Ritsuko's face was pressed against the armrest, the position pulling her cheek back and exposing one long intimidating fang. That, paired with the clawed paw-like hand that was slung over the side had Misato wondering if it was a good idea to trust her. For the most part Ritsuko seemed to be in a good mental state, but at the rate her transformation seemed to be going, Misato wondered how long that would last.
"You better not make me shoot you Rits, the second you put any of us in danger I won't hesitate." She whispered again as she turned to let her friend sleep in peace for another hour at least.
"I won't hesitate, that's a promise."
A/N
Sorry about the wait, holidays and all.
Little bit o explanation in this chapter, nothing else besides that but had to get it out of the way. Next chapter should be more fun. :3