+++++ 3rd Angel + 7 : Friday (8)

Shinji sat in his new room, having been sent there without preamble by Toshiro upon his return to his new home. Unable to assist in any regard, or provide his side of the encounter, he was left with dark thoughts circling his head. Toji wasn't like this before, the first fight was expected, if far earlier than he remembered. Sakura's injury was just as damaging to the mercurial jock's pride as it was to her body, and he needed an outlet for that aggression. But it was a combination of time, Sakura chewing his ear for striking Shinji, and Hikari taking him to task before that had given it to him. Now, he hadn't been to see his sister for whatever reason, Hikari was…violently opposed to him, and Toji was stuck without support or access to what he needed to move forward.

All of this started when he caught Hikari. Had he waited, not shown up until later…kept his head down. He'd still be living with Misato, she'd not have been punished for something he did, Hikari would be there for Toji. Toji needed comfort more than he did, his own life was destined for misery, he could find a way to…the Thirteenth. Falling backwards onto his bed, Shinji recalled the broken form of his one-time friend being pulled from the entry plug. Digging his fingers into the flesh beneath his eyes, Shinji groaned, "What am I supposed to do? How do I fix any of this?" A firm knock on his door reminded him that there were more immediate problems, "C-come in." He raised himself to a seated position, and braced for the inevitable.

Toshiro slid the door open quietly, stepping through and closing it just as silently, "I would like to begin with an apology." The big man held his hand up for patience, "I did not have the chance to explain my actions before I did what was necessary. Asking you to retire to your room was not intended as punishment, nor did I intend it to be quite as long as it has been before I came in to discuss with you today's events. As I said before you left, I want you to work with me to protect everyone. I do not see you as a child in need of direction, but as a lost soul in need of stability." Crossing to the desk that had been purchased to help fill out the new addition to the house, the big man settled his massive frame easily, "My daughters, however, are still my children. They still require direction, and will always be my primary focus. Sending you here was to remove distraction and chaos, so please, forgive me."

"I…of course," Shinji nodded, unable to see the connection between the various items.

"As pleased as I am that they would eagerly defend your person," he tried a different tactic, "I needed to give them the opportunity to explain themselves and their reasoning. You were, from Mikoto-Chan's perspective, never in any physical danger. Nor were you given an opportunity to properly finish your attempts at de-escalating the situation." He paused, motioning for Shinji to speak his mind.

"I just wanted him to see that I understood his frustrations," he leaned forward, eager to speak now that he had been given a chance to do so to a willing audience. "I put his sister in the hospital, I took the woman he's interested in away, Section Two got him suspended…he's not a bad person, he's just angry and doesn't have any way to focus that anger! He could be a good man if someone gave him a chance…."

"I see," Toshiro nodded. "Would you answer a few questions for me?"

"S-sure?"

"When the citywide alarm sounded for evacuation, where were you?"

"I…uhm," he tried to remember, "I was still on the rail line coming to Tokyo-3 from Nagano. By the time I arrived the Angel was already destroying sections of the old industrial district. I saw it, first hand, while waiting for Misato-San."

"As I was told," the big man seemed to consider the information. "How long was it before you arrived inside the Purple Guardian?"

"About…an hour? Maybe a little more?" Remembering that the order of events this time through was different, he walked through the timeline out loud, "I called Misato-San from a payphone, but the lines were all busy. She wasn't where we had arranged to meet, and I waited there for at least ten minutes before she pulled up. Then we drove another ten minutes, with a two or three-minute pause during the N-Two strike. Five minutes to ride the car elevator to the parking center. Then…twenty-five or so minutes with Misato-San walking around lost. Once Ritsuko-San found us, we spent five minutes riding the elevator to the gantries, the short confrontation with my father, a few minutes while they introduced me to Unit-01…maybe another four minutes while the Angel and I stood there staring at each other…." He had arrived much faster, even with the delays. Shopping for batteries and getting her car moving again the first time had taken close to half of an hour alone.

"So I know that I understand you correctly," Toshiro interjected into the pause, "from the time you arrived in Tokyo-3 to the time you engaged the Angel, it was at least one and a quarter hours? This does not include the, from what Section Two has explained, thirty-eight minutes between the alarm sounding and your arrival in the city." The patriarch of the Horaki clan spoke kindly when he made the damning point, "So the Suzuhara boy had nearly two hours in which to convey the most precious cargo he will ever be given to safety, and he instead lashes out at someone who had even less time to dispatch the monster? Two hours, Shinji, before you could even begin to protect us." His sorrow at the situation became evident on his features, "Sakura-Chan's injuries occurred because the Suzuhara boy did not heed the alarms. The debris that landed on her, did so before you were standing in Tokyo-3. Thirty-four minutes after the Angel's arrival. Four minutes before you stepped off the train."

"I-I…b-but I," Shinji's eyes twitched as his mind refused to accept that he wasn't culpable. "It has to be my fault, it's my job to protect everyone and I didn't protect her!" He slammed his fist down against the bed, "I didn't do my job!"

The big man stood, "Are you certain?" Crossing to the door, he slid it open, "Child, please come here." A few seconds later, Nozomi walked in and frowned when she saw how distraught Shinji had become. "Go sit with him, if you would."

Hurrying over, the little lady climbed up into Shinji's lap, pushing aside his hair and looking into his eyes, "What happened, nii-san?" Patting his face, then his shoulders, she moved with a practiced touch beyond her years, "Did that stupid boy hurt you?"

"I explained how it was that little Sakura-Chan came to be hurt," Toshiro sat back down at the desk. "Shinji refuses to believe that he is not at fault, he fears he did not do his job." Sighing, he looked to his youngest, "Were you harmed during the attack, child?"

"No," she shrugged. "Sensei herded us all into the shelter, carried Tanaka-Kun when the dork lost his shoe." She rocked back and forth slightly, "I was scared…but now that I know nii-san is the one who saved us all, it isn't so scary anymore."

"And why wasn't Sakura-Chan with you in school?"

"She was sick," Nozomi grimaced. "She said her stomach wasn't being very nice…I won't be rude and explain further."

"Where was the Suzuhara boy?"

"That stupid boy was at home because her daddy couldn't miss work. She told me that her brother left her alone in the bathroom, refused to help her when…well, her stomach was very upset." Nozomi's disquiet warred with her desire to be fully honest with her father's questions. "She told me she didn't hear the alarm. She was cleaning herself."

"How many of your classmates were hurt?"

"Just Tanaka-Kun, when he lost his shoe he skinned his knee. Big dork started a fuss over a scrape, I've had worse wrestling around with sis." She looked up to Shinji, "You did a good job, nii-san. If you hadn't beaten up that Angel, it could have broken one of the shelters, maybe even Hikari or Kodama's."

"Or, perhaps others," Toshiro left it unstated that the little girl in Shinji's lap was in just as much danger. "Thank you, Nozomi-Chan. Please return to your dinner."

"Are you sure?" She looked between her father and Shinji, "Nii-san seems like he needs hugs."

"He is learning a hard lesson, child. You know what that means."

"All right," she sighed. Twisting suddenly, she stood on the bed and pulled his face against her stomach in a tight embrace, "Daddy helps us learn because he loves us, ok? He's not trying to be mean, even if it feels that way sometimes." Hopping off the bed, she looked at her father, "Be nice, Daddy. Nii-san has had a very bad day."

"Of course, child. Now scoot." Waiting until the door was once more closed, Toshiro gauged Shinji's mood. He could see that the Third Child's mind was at war with itself, he also knew that he couldn't be aware of a tenth of what the young man was thinking. Shinji had secrets within secrets, as much as was splayed across his face there couldn't help but be hidden depths. "You kept Nozomi-Chan, her twenty-two fellow students, her teacher, the two other classes in her grade full of students, her school, the entire city, all safe. Nothing you could have done, Shinji Ikari, would have changed Sakura-Chan's fate. But I ask you this," he waited for the young man to look up, "what will you do now that you know the truth?"

"I…I don't know."

"Would you have struck him, had you known this?"

"No!" Shinji shook his head fiercely, "I don't want to hurt anyone, I'm supposed to be protecting them!"

"So why did you not protect your girlfriend, my daughter?" There was no ire in his voice, no anger or malice, just calm certitude.

"I-I…I…." He thought quickly back to the encounter, "I didn't…I didn't stop him from grabbing her." His mind soaked up the new burden eagerly, "I could have moved her aside, grabbed his arm…but that might have hurt him…."

"And so, instead, you allowed Hikari to come to harm."

"He wouldn't listen!" Shinji's fists clenched and unclenched rhythmically, once more processing his frustration at life.

"So you made the choice to do nothing," Toshiro pressed in on his point. "Allowing him to do what he would, despite having the capacity to prevent it."

"But I…I'd hurt him. I'm supposed to protect him too."

"Are you?" He tilted his head thoughtfully, "Does someone who adamantly refuses to accept responsibility for their own life, for the lives of those in their charge, deserve protection? Someone who would do evil to innocents because they refuse to accept reality? Should you not, instead, remove their responsibilities so that they may act like the child they would pretend to be? If necessary, their freedom?" His eyes locked Shinji in place, "If you are forced to choose between the Suzuhara boy and your wife, would you do nothing and hope that no harm befell either?" The room darkened, "What if it were ten such boys? What if you knew that once they were no longer satisfied with your wife, they would go on to defile her sibling? Then once Kodama was not enough, Nozomi? Would you allow the depredations to continue simply because your principles demand you do no physical harm?"

The cold iron jaws of logic crushed his chest, and Shinji could find no purchase to push them away. The darkened corridors of his mind dredged up imagined scenarios where Toji…. His arms drew rigid, the visions proceeding just as Toshiro had described them. Each disgusting, horrible, vile act clearly played out in the musician's fertile mind. Swallowing hard, he could scarcely force his voice to work, "I'm not supposed to hurt people. I know what it feels like to hurt, I'm supposed to be hurt, not others." There was no passion, no conviction, just the reality of his situation.

"You are supposed to defend those who can't defend themselves against those who won't control themselves," Toshiro countered firmly. "Against human or alien, Hundreds of meters tall or less than two, your duty is to defend the defenseless. Your responsibility to guard those who shelter beneath your hand." He stood, "What would you do, Shinji Ikari, if I were to tell you that I intend to go out and beat my daughters?"

He blinked, "I-I'd stand between you."

"Do so," Toshiro gestured to the space between him and the door. "On your feet, Pilot."

Shinji moved into place, "B-but you won't," he frowned as he held his arms out.

"Won't I?" Toshiro swatted him aside, sending him careening into the reinforced wall, "Is this the limit of your convictions, Pilot?" He stepped back, "Now, stop hiding your strength. On your feet."

Shinji climbed slowly to his feet, awareness of the lack of pain confusing him. He had been struck hard enough to send him flying, and there was no pain. Once more interposing himself between the big man and the door, Shinji set himself. The second swat caused him to stumble, work to keep his footing, but did not send him flying. The third swat nearly dropped him to his knees, his reflexive urge to avoid pain combining forces with the urge to not allow someone to harm themselves on him.

"You are stronger than you know," Toshiro stared impassively at the young man he knew in his heart his daughter would one day soon marry. "But strength without purpose, without conviction, is so much fluff." Drawing his elbows in, he set his broad chest for impact, "Now strike me."

"I-"

"Strike me, or I will go through you and strike one of my children at random until you do," his voice never changed timbre, "and remember what my daughter said. A Horaki keeps their word." Watching Shinji bunch his fist up, as amateurishly done as he had feared, he shook his head, "And do not hold back. If you damage me, the fault is mine. I have been shot, stabbed, bludgeoned with all manner of tools and construction materials. If you have within yourself the ability to do me permanent damage, it is all the more important that I see it firsthand. Now strike me, or I will go through you and do what I must to force you to."

Don't fight the changes. Shinji thought back to the Fourteenth Angel, how it felt when Unit-01 dealt the first crushing blow of its engagement. The shift in power, in weight, how his body had moved when he was so terrified that Misato was about to be killed by his inaction, by his…by his running away. You have been marked, Shinji. His body moved, liquid, fluidly as if he were made of water. He stepped into the punch, curling his trailing leg to spring forth, stomping with his leading foot as if he intended to break the floor beneath him, and when his fist contacted Toshiro it hit like a tidal wave obliterating the shore.

The woosh of Toshiro's breath was emphatic, the big man dropped heavily to the floor, landing on his rear and coughing as his body adjusted itself back to normal. "That," he laughed, "was acceptable." With a broad smile, he held a hand out, "Help an old man up, will you?"

Shinji was shocked, as his body worked mechanically towards placing Toshiro back on his base, he couldn't believe that he had not only struck the mountain of human, but had done so hard enough to drive him to the floor. "I-I'm so sorry," his mind regained traction and control, "I…you, you told…and hitting you…."

"You did as I asked, lad," Toshiro clapped him on the shoulder. The blow might have staggered someone else, and might once have staggered Shinji himself, but he was too focused on the potential harm to the man keeping a roof over his head to notice and react as he would normally. "Now, we need to teach you how to harness that strength, to tune it appropriately."

"I…I would have really hurt someone his size," he shook his head, "I can't hit people like that!"

"Unless you need to, to save someone, no you shouldn't hit someone like that." The big man gestured for Shinji to leave the room, following behind him, "Appropriate use of the tools at your disposal, Shinji, is the difference between a bully and a guardian. You should attempt words first, make an earnest effort to convince the people around you not to come to blows."

Hikari rose from her seat on the couch, where she had been patiently watching the door and hoping to see her boyfriend since her father had finished interrogating her, "But if you must use force, be decisive. Do not hesitate, do not allow for retribution." She smiled sadly, "We've heard the same quote from Daddy all our lives, Shinji."

With a gentle shove, Toshiro pushed Shinji towards his daughter, "Hikari's first fight ended with several bruises she would not have needed to endure, had she remembered the lesson the first time."

Hikari stepped into Shinji's stumble, catching him and using the excuse for a warm embrace, "I was lucky Kodama was nearby. Getting kicked in the ribs hurts." Allowing him space, reluctantly, she gathered his hands in her own, "Let's make those brownies. Sakura-Chan needs some happiness in her life right now, and you need a chance to think through what Daddy talked to you about." Her eyes glittered, "And Daddy needs a chance to sneak the barbecue corn chips you bought him upstairs where he thinks we won't know he has them."

+++++ 3rd Angel + 8 : Saturday (9)

School finally over after an unremarkable half-day, Hikari and Shinji walked to the station where they were to meet Nozomi. "I'm glad you hit him, Shinji," the freckle-faced young woman smiled easily. "Daddy's right," bumping him lightly with her shoulder, she giggled, "you aren't a bully. You couldn't be a bully, you try too hard to protect everyone. But you need to learn to protect yourself. I trust you not to become a monster, I trust that you'd only use it to defend people."

"Are…are you sure?" He loved having her on his arm, he loved how it felt when she said she trusted him, but he couldn't understand how she could possibly trust him when he was capable of such violence, "I mean…I want to protect everyone, but…."

"And what part of protecting everyone means you don't also use force? We don't live in a world where words alone sway everyone." She held out her dainty fist, "I haven't had to use force in years. Almost a decade, in fact. I'm very glad I take time to practice, though. Because I will not stand there and let someone hurt someone I love. Maybe now, that idiot will get the message."

Nozomi caught sight of them as they rounded the corner and started bouncing, waving happily, "Nii-San! Nee-Chan! Hurry, the trolley's coming!" Her enthusiasm for the outing warmed Shinji's heart, the simple joy a reflection of the knowledge that he was causing it.

"I didn't bring my runn-oh my!" Hikari gasped as Shinji scooped her into a bridal carry and dashed the remaining hundred meters. Nozomi jumped onto the newly-arrived car, standing to the side as her declared older brother hopped the last step coming to a halt. Back on her own two feet, the freckle-faced beauty laughed, "Ok, I guess your Nii-San has it under control."

"S-sorry," he blushed, looking down. "I…uhm, I just-" The idea had struck him, and without thinking he had given in to the impulse. "You're so light, and…well…." Nozomi laughed and started looking at the passing scenery. Her attention span dented heavily by the half day of enforced studiousness at her own school.

"Don't worry," Hikari patted his chest happily. "You've already swept me off my feet metaphorically, I guess it was just time you did it physically too." Her eyes glittered as she grinned happily, "Thank you. For coming today, Nozomi's been looking forward to it."

"Well," he looked to the young girl seated before them, "anything for my imōto." The happiness he felt at that simple statement surprised even him.

"Careful now," Hikari whispered into his chest, "talk like that's going to set me to looking for wedding dresses."

Shinji shivered involuntarily, his mind flooded with visions of her seated atop him, her grand marital kimono spread around his lap as she moaned his…. Swallowing heavily, he tried to blank out the thought, uncertain as to where it had suddenly come from, "S-sorry." The imagery in his mind, however, was transparent to the woman he loved.

She looked up at him, her eyes luminous, "Never apologize for thinking of me like that. You, Shinji, are the only man who will never have to apologize for that, if I have my way."

"I-it's obvious…isn't it?"

"It's like I told you, your instruction manual's pretty visible," bouncing off him as the train car slowed rapidly, she giggled. "Which makes maintenance a breeze."

"Heh," he laughed at the image of her opening his head and working with wrenches to 'fix' him, "I guess you'll be the grease-monkey in our relationship then."

"Only for you, Shinji. Only for you."

The doors opened, and Shinji knelt down after exiting on another whim, "Want your Nii-San to give you a ride, Nozomi-Chan?"

"Yay!" The little girl clambered onto his shoulders seating herself astride his neck, her weight posing even less of a challenge to lift than Hikari had, "Onward, my noble steed! We go to rescue the fair maiden in the evil castle!" Hikari took Shinji's hand, mouthing a 'thank you' to him as they set out.

The hospital wasn't in bad condition, at least from the outside. It didn't seem as 'modern' as the same building in NERV's area of the GeoFront, but it also didn't have a multi-trillion-yen advantage. As they climbed the steps to the main entryway, Nozomi waved in friendly greeting to several passing nurses and elderly patients. With one hand taken by Hikari, and the other firmly grasping his passenger's ankle, all Shinji could do was nod slightly in greeting. It was odd, being seen and greeted, the looks he received a mixture of curious and easy-going. He knew his hair was untraditional, and if Nozomi was already this popular there would be concerns about him carrying her on his shoulders, but none of the passers-by seemed to be anxious, so he kept on as if nothing was wrong.

The woman at the check-in desk tittered a laugh at Nozomi, "Hello Nozomi-Chan, I see you managed to bring other visitors today."

"Yep yep! This is my Nee-Chan, Hikari," Hikari bowed in greeting. "And my noble steed! His name is Shinji."

Shinji inclined his head, "Thank you for taking care of Nozomi-Chan, ma'am."

"She's a joy to know, Shinji-Kun." The older woman handed the clipboard to Hikari, "Would you mind signing for everyone? I wouldn't want to unbalance your little sister."

"Of course, ma'am," Hikari filled the boxes in with a clear, flowing, script. "Do we have enough time for an extended visit, or will visiting hours be over soon?"

"You have a few hours yet, Hikari-Chan. And thank you, all of you, for visiting Sakura-Chan. The little ones don't have nearly enough to occupy their time, and visitors at or near their own age are invaluable for the healing process." Taking the clipboard back, she checked the names, "Ikari?"

"Ma'am?" Shinji answered reflexively.

"N-no, nothing." She smiled, a practiced motion, "Please, enjoy your visit."

"This way," Nozomi patted his temple, waving her hand before his eyes in the intended direction, "we gotta go up!"

"Well then," Shinji knelt, "why don't you climb off and lead the way. Don't want to accidentally hit your head on anything."

Sliding off, Nozomi led them onward. Preferring the stairs over the elevators, she resembled a mountain goat as she clambered up the staircases. Hikari hung behind Shinji, letting him find a balance between keeping his eyes averted from Nozomi's unaware displays and awareness of the placement of his footing. It wasn't that she minded him sneaking a look under her own skirt, but she knew he'd mind, and that was all the reason she needed.

Five flights later, they arrived at the hall door, with Nozomi bracing the heavy fire-door open, "This way," her voice was respectfully lowered. "Third door on the right, past the new mom with the broken hip and the empty room with the bad ceiling." Waiting for Shinji to take the door from her, she smiled as he held it for both her and Hikari. She wasn't oblivious to propriety, but this was the man that would one day be her older brother in truth. If he saw up her skirt, so what? She was his self-declared imōto, it would be like seeing a toy doll.

As the trio approached the target door, Shinji tensed. He was about to see the young woman that he put in here. You didn't, Toshiro explained it to you in very concise detail. Even though he won, this was the price of victory. She's alive because you won. How many, just like this, did he not know about? How many people were hurt because he couldn't defeat the Angel outside of the city? She'd hate him. She'd-

"Steady," Hikari swung in front of him, holding his elbows and looking calmly into his eyes. "You're fine. She's alive because of you. Nothing you did or did not do, caused or could have prevented this. Maya-San said, expressly, that you hurried everything along. That it was you, not anyone else, that prevented more time from being wasted. Sakura-Chan needs a hero, she needs someone that's going to show her hope. You're my Sub-Rep. So I need you to put on your fake smile, go in there, and take care of our kohai. Can you help me, Shinji?"

Clenching his jaw, he swallowed the reflexive denial, "I'll…I'll try my best." I mustn't run away.

"I know you will. You're my boyfriend," standing on her toes, she kissed him lightly. "Now, let's go Nozomi."

"Hai!" The little girl smiled in understanding, "She isn't mad, Shinji. She's not mad at all." Pushing the door open, she knocked, "Sakura? You awake?" The antechamber had the privacy curtain drawn, so she waved everyone in to let the door close behind them.

A cheery, if slightly tired, voice called back, "Hi, Nozomi. I heard voices, is one of the doctors here?"

"Better," she peeked in, making sure her friend wasn't indecent. Seeing that all was clear, she threw open the curtain and dramatically announced, "I present to you the hottest couple in all of Tokyo-Three, Hikari Horaki and Shinji Ikari!"

"Hi, Sakura-Chan," Hikari's smile was glowing, "thought we'd stop in and check how you're doing."

Shinji caught himself about to bow and beg for her forgiveness, the sight of the bed-ridden youth overwhelming him. He could see the medical braces through the sheet, knew the pain that she had to be in. Fake the smile, you useless fuck. She is here because nobody cared, so you go in there and you lie your ass off. If anyone deserves an effort it is this little girl. "I hope we haven't caught you at a bad time, Suzuhara-Chan. We brought a gift, though, so maybe that will make up for it." Walking over, his strides matching Unit-01's powerful gait, he sat down as he reached into his bag and pulled out the lacquered box of brownies, handing it to her with a gentle smile.

"Oh me, oh my," Sakura blushed, "you…you really didn't have to Ikari-San."

"Please, just Shinji. I've spent my fair share of time in hospitals, and if there's one thing I know for certain, it's that the food has a blandness to it that grates after a day or so. Go on," he rolled his hand, "it's all yours."

Opening the lid, she gasped, "B-brownies? Hikari-San, did…?"

"Oh no," Hikari swung her arms around Shinji's shoulders, hugging him against her chest, "Shinji made these. When he heard that you wanted to see him, he came up with the idea and the execution all on his own."

"I hope you enjoy them," he added quietly. "If you should like something else, I'll see what I can do to make it for you. I'm very sorry that you were hurt, Suzuhara-Chan. I want you to know that just like Nozomi-Chan, I'm pulling for you."

"We all are," Hikari nodded. "Go on, he wouldn't let anyone else try one. We want to know how he did."

Sakura's eyes widened, "Y-you didn't?"

"I made them for you," he shrugged. "It wouldn't be right to give your gift to someone else. Not even my girlfriend," he patted Hikari's hand.

Hefting one out of the box, the tremble in her hand forced Shinji's back rigid. When she put it on her lips, and bit down, the way her eyes relaxed and her cheeks blushed, she looked momentarily far older than her years. "They're wonderful," she breathed. "Oh me, oh my, I haven't had anything homemade like this in forever. Not if I didn't make it myself." The smile she cast at him broke his heart, "Thank you Ik…Shinji-San." Setting the uneaten portion back in the box, she closed it, "I'm going to pace myself. I don't want to eat them all now and have none for later."

Shinji cautiously swallowed, pushing his anger and self-loathing deep down, "When you run out, you let Nozomi-Chan know. I'll send something else up with her. I'd visit more often, but…."

"You have to save the city," she nodded. "I, I really didn't expect you to visit at all."

"Hey," Nozomi pouted, "I told you I'd bring him!"

"Well," she looked down, "…Toji swore he wouldn't."

"Suzuhara-San doesn't know Shinji as well as he thinks," Hikari stated diplomatically.

"Hikari-San," the little girl blinked back tears, "I…I'm glad you're not dating him." She hiccupped, her face screwing up, "He…he doesn't…."

Shinji flexed his hands, trying to stop them from bunching into fists. Her brother was hurting her. Getting in fights, running around like an idiot. "Excuse me," he stood up, she wouldn't want a stranger to see her cry like this. "I need to go call NERV, make sure everything's ok."

Hikari nodded in understanding, moving to take Shinji's seat and begin to comfort the young girl.

Stepping out into the hall, Shinji pulled out his phone, punching in Misato's cellphone number with more force than necessary.

The line connected quickly, "Shinji?"

"Misato-San," he kept his voice down, "I need a favor. I know I don't have any right to-"

"No, no," she cut in. "Favor me, what can I do? I've been trying to think of when to contact you, but…well, never mind, what do you need?"

"Toji Suzuhara. I know you're closer to Section Two than Maya-San or Ritsuko-San are, even if you don't get along with them. After our…well, I guess fight, what happened to him?"

"Ok…why?" She sighed, "Shinji, he tried to beat you up. He was caught on tape, again. NERV isn't in the habit of letting that kind of stuff slide. This is twice he's tried something."

"I'm in the hospital visiting his little sister, Misato." He dropped the suffix, hoping she'd understand exactly how desperate he was, "She needs her family, and he needs to see what his idiocy is costing him."

"Shinji-"

"Misato, I know exactly how it feels to be all alone and hurting. I'm not expecting you to get him off without punishment, I just want him to visit his sister. I want him to see how much she misses him, needs him. For her. Please, I'll pay you back…somehow."

The line was quiet for a moment, "Ok. I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you." He looked at the time, "I'll let you go, we'll talk more after my simulation training."

"Shinji?"

He pulled the phone back up to his ear, "Yeah?"

"I kind of miss you, too."

Before he could respond, the line went dead. Looking at the 'call disconnected' screen, he frowned. There was nothing he could do. If he moved back in with her, he'd hurt everyone he lived with now. If he stayed away, he was hurting Misato. Maybe he could visit. But why would someone who'd only known him a week want to visit with a boy half…ten years her junior. 2018? Was it really somehow the future, despite being the past?

"Excuse me," a low voice sounded from behind him.

Turning around, Shinji expected to see a doctor, or someone upset that he was using a phone in the hall. Instead, he saw…an older Toji. "I'm sorry," he bowed stepping to the side.

"No, no," the man smiled weakly. "I should apologize. I…overheard your conversation just now."

"Oh."

"My son," the man clasped his hands behind his back, "takes after his mother. He's very headstrong, prone to acting before thinking things through. And when he feels someone has wronged his family, he's nearly completely unreasonable."

"I-I'm sorry," Shinji bowed again, deeper. "If I was-"

"If you were faster, it wouldn't have mattered. The damage was done before the Purple Guardian was deployed. If you were stronger, the monster would still have been defeated." He looked at the room, "And if you were less of a man you wouldn't be here begging your superiors for my idiot eldest child to be given the freedom to see his sister. Please, Ikari-San, don't bow to me." He waited for Shinji to slowly raise himself upright, "I should be the one begging you for forgiveness. Twice, he attacked you. And to look at you, it's clear that he was allowed to leave intact the second time only by your patience."

"He…he's only trying-"

"No," the man cut him off with a gesture. "He is a disgrace, Ikari-San. Not only did I give him a piece of my mind when I saw the first tape, but so did little Sakura-Chan. I…haven't shown her the second."

"Please don't," Shinji closed his eyes in pain. "She doesn't need to see that."

"Only until she's out of the hospital," the elder Suzuhara sighed. "She needs to know what he did. She needs to see what she should avoid, in the future." He gestured to the door, "Did little Nozomi-Chan bring you?" Shinji nodded. "Let's go back in, I'd like her to know that I'm here."

Shinji trailed him back inside, hoping that the little lady was done crying. He'd stand, silent, in the corner if she had yet to finish.

When she saw her father, she sniffled, "Papa." Hikari was perched on the bed, stroking her hair. Nozomi was on the far side, closer to the window, holding her hand.

"Oh my," Suzuhara-San groaned in mock-disdain. "Were you watering the bed flowers again?"

"I was," she smiled sadly. "Hikari-San and Nozomi-Chan were here to help stop me from overwatering them."

"Thank you, ladies," he bowed slightly. "It is good to see you, Hikari-Chan. Please send your father my regards."

"Of course, Suzuhara-San," Hikari stood, moving clear so that Sakura could be with her father. Subtly gesturing, she asked for Shinji to move to the end of the bed so she could stand by him. Once he was in place, she took his arm and held onto it. "Sakura-Chan asked for gingersnap cookies, if you wouldn't mind, Shinji?"

The realization was quick: She was clearing things up with Toji's father. "Of course," he smiled broadly. "Would you like them soon, or would you like to work through what you have first, Sakura-Chan? Your choice."

"He made me brownies, papa!" Sakura's happy laugh was a bit soggy, "Hikari-San and Nozomi-Chan swore on the stones that he made them himself." Reaching over to the bedtable, she lifted the box, her arms shaking as she strained.

The big man scooped the box up, saving any potential accidents, "That was very nice of him, Sakura-Chan. Did you say 'thank you'?"

"She did," Shinji asserted softly. "And it is nothing, truly. We're all pulling for her, sir."

Hikari felt his quiver, knew he was fighting to stay upright. She could almost smell his regret, the sorrow eating away at him, "Why don't we make those cookies together, Shinji? I'd like to help with the supplies, at least."

"He threw away a golden chance, Hikari-Chan," the elder Suzuhara smiled, "but I congratulate you on finding someone far better. Ikari-San, would you mind waiting a week before sending in the next batch? I don't want to seem overbearing, but she is on a recovery profile."

"Of course, sir." Shinji inclined his head, "I wouldn't want to be the reason for her recovery being delayed."

"On the contrary," the man stroked his daughter's hair. "I believe you'll be the reason her recovery is accelerated."

+++++ 3rd Angel + 8 : Saturday (9)

"You're serious?!" Hikari's deadpan statement was just loud enough to cause Nozomi to stir from her sleep in Shinji's lap briefly. "Why on Earth would you do that, Shinji?"

"Because it's what she needs, and it could help him," he knew he was in the right. "Throwing him in NERV's jail for a couple of months isn't going to do anyone any good. If he doesn't graduate school, how is he going to find a job? If Sakura-Chan needs someone to care for her, and he can't get a job to support her because nobody tried to get him help, then what?"

"Shinji, if they let him out he could decide to just come after you again."

"And my girlfriend is the lead Sentai Ranger," he smiled sadly. "Besides, when he hit me it didn't hurt, Hikari. Between you and Kodama I'm not incredibly worried that he'll be able to do anything dangerous." Moving a stray hair that had begun to assault the passenger on his lap's lips, he sighed, "The only other option I thought of was taking her in myself."

"I…had thought of that, too," Hikari deflated. "I've known Sakura since she was born. I changed her diapers, fed her formula, watched her grow and play with Nozomi." Tears built up in her eyes, threatening to break free, "Shinji, I nearly let myself date a man that…Toji let Sakura get hurt because he was lazy. What kind of person does that make me?" Laying in a way that didn't crowd out Nozomi, the freckle-faced beauty cuddled against her boyfriend. The couch was perfect for such things, and she had long wanted to make use of it that way. That her younger sister was asleep didn't prevent a thing, it simply showed her what she had gained in Shinji that he held her sister so tenderly.

"You were just lonely," he worked his arm around so that he could run his hand around Hikari's elbow, trying to convey the sense of comfort to her that he himself was feeling. "I know how that feels, believe me. If you're lonely enough…even suffering through someone shrieking invectives and decrying your every action seems better than enduring another day alone."

She snorted, too down on her own actions to accept his dismissal so easily, "How is it that you don't know about the historical dramas, but you know about the Sentai series?"

Because Toji wouldn't shut up about them. "I…uhm, I overheard a guy from class talking about them. Was curious, so I looked it up. Seems…well, it seems like something that I wouldn't have been terribly fascinated by. The comparison seems apt, though. They fight to protect everyone, and they struggle to maintain their personal life while fighting against those that want to hurt everyone. So, my girlfriend: The Red Ranger."

She schooled her voice, wanting to seem upbeat even though she felt nothing of the sort, "You are a silly man, Shinji Ikari." A single tear escaped, unseen by the man that held her tight, "And I love you all the more for it."