EDITING NOTE:

italics denotes thoughts - I tried using brackets, but FFnet stripped them off, so I re-edited all the chapters. some of the later chapters will make a LOT more sense now. Also, FFnet has stripped off loads of my other formatting. I try to fix it as I catch it, but sometimes, I don't see it.

Notes:

thanks for all the comments. And don't worry, I'll ignore most of them :)

Seriously, I am not writing the story tailored to the reviews, but reviews ARE very useful. They let me gauge if the concepts that I am trying to use are coming across, or if I am being too subtle. So a big thank you to those that commented on my plot devices - you know who you are.

START

A light winked on over the empty table, followed in quick succession by a dozen more. The table was the only furniture in the poorly illuminated chamber.

"What do you have to say for yourself, Ikari?" One of the lights pulsed in anger as the voice issued from it.

Gendo sat at the end of the table, hooded in shadow, hands steepled before his face. "I do not know what you are referring to. Would you care to be more specific, or would you rather I called in a mage to read your mind?" A small smile pulled up at the corners of Gendo's mouth.

"Don't get smart with us, Ikari!" Replied another light in a waspish tone. This one was of an almost orange hue, "Number Three was referring to the reports of draconic infiltration of Ikari Keep."

"There was no infiltration."

"That is not what my spies tell me."

"When you get new spies, try to hire ones with a modicum of intelligence. Yes, we had an infestation of magical vermin, but there was nothing draconic about it."

There was an angry silence.

"You had better be telling the truth, Ikari. You know the consequences."

(0)

In a subterranean grotto deep under Ikari keep, a large crystal stood on a pedestal in the center of an arcane design inscribed on the floor. Unnoticed by anyone, the milky light seeping from it had, over the course of the past couple of months, changed to a warmer, more orange hue, and in a few places, the sharp edges of the crystal appeared to have softened and flowed, like wax.

(0)

Asuka stumbled out of her room, still tugging her kimono into place I hate these things . Sniff. Sniff.

"Baka, I told you, you don't have to make a German breakfast every morning. Not that I don't appreciate good food and all, but like I said yesterday, The centipede thing was just payback for rescuing me at the volcano. We're even." Despite her protestations, Asuka looked happy.

"Ok." Shinji put the plates on the table in his usual quiet way, "breakfast is served."

(0)

"Rei how are you doing in there?"

Rei was trying to operate the Ikari armor. The armor, the support staff and the other two teens were all outside of the city, in a pasture just at the operating range of the Armors.

"Everything is operating adequately"

Makoto stretched in place, looking up from his equipment. "It's good to be outside, after everything."

Shinji nodded. The teen had been standing nearby, watching his armor, with a tense look on his face. It feels wrong to have somebody else wearing my armor. Which is odd, since I don't particularly like wearing it myself

Makoto leaned in and continued quietly "I heard about what happened down in the cave. Don't hold it against Misato - she feels horrible about it."

Shinji looked up, surprised. "I know, and I don't."

"Well, maybe you should," hissed Asuka as she walked up to join the discussion, "I mean, it wasn't just us - I can handle that sort of thing no problem, but you saw what happened to the others, like Yuki."

"Asuka, it wasn't Rei's fault that she walked into the middle of the battle."

"Well, it is true that Yuki never did have much sense, but I still say that there should have been a safer way to evacuate the non combatants!" Shinji watched Asuka's display of outrage, hiding a small smile.

"What are you smiling at, Baka?"

"Nothing"

(0)

Rei was still working with the armor "It is more tiring than the Wind armor, but I could operate this armor for the required duration." She reported.

As Rei floated in the Ichor, her thoughts drifted - operating the armor required no thought, for her. It is good that Shinji has this armor to protect him While her features were as expressionless as always, the blue haired girl was undergoing unprecedented internal turmoil. The recent centipede infestation had placed the three teens into a more intimate conflict with the enemy, without the armors to act as an equalizing agent. And without the armor, some were less equally than others. He could die. And for him, that is permanent.

To calm herself, Rei dropped into a light trance as she walked the armor through its drill. But a thought occurred to her, knocking her out of her calm state This is where Shinji looks out onto the world from. Several heartbeats pass Am I seeing the world as he sees it? This idea restarted the stream of thoughts.

What does he see when he looks at me?

Rei contemplated that thought. Rei was more used to dealing in the negative, in the 'lack of action': What actions she could not take, what things she could not express. And that had extended to her interaction with others. She knew what she did NOT want: She did not want Shinji to be romantically involved with another woman, and she had taken steps to make sure that was so, first with Mana and then Yuki.

What do I want him to see?

The idea of taking actions to change things to what she wanted was a new concept, and somewhat troubling: It required that she know what it was that she desired.

And introspection was something she had never practiced before.

(0)

"Ok, Shinji. Your turn."

Rei was just getting out of the Ikari Armor as Ritsuko started testing Shinji in the Wind Armor.

Shinji tried moving in the armor. "It's a lot more of a struggle. It almost feels like the armor is fighting me."

Misato glanced at Ritsuko worriedly.

Ritsuko replied, "his bond is very weak. The armor is rejecting him - this is not unexpected."

Misato looked surprised, "what do you mean?"

"The Wind Armor is far more complex than the others. Since Rei can operate it, she has no trouble with the others, but the reverse is not true."

Inside the armor, Shinji was working up a sweat, trying to get the armor to move as he directed. The Armor is rejecting me. Just like Rei. Shinji started in surprise where did that thought come from? He thought for a moment but it is true - she wants nothing to do with me. I wonder why but in his heart, he knew he would never ask.

(0)

"The results are very promising." Gendo was looking over the report on the tests of the previous day. "According to this, the Spirit Wind system should work as expected."

"The Marduke conspiracy is not happy with our progress."

"The Kami Armors are almost perfected, and the Spirit Wind is on track. I do not see what they have cause to complain about."

"They suspect that you are not complying with the original plan for the Waters of Chaos. They are quite angry"

"Oh?"

"The Shogun has contacted me, hinting that I should stage a coup to replace you."

Gendo smirked, "their understanding of the situation is obviously flawed."

(0)

"Breakfast"

Asuka stumbled out of her room, almost colliding with an equally somnolent Misato. As Asuka slumped down into her chair, she was awakened by a loud "YAAH!"

"Oops, sorry Pen-Pen." Asuka raised herself, allowing a slightly crushed avian to scuttle to freedom teach the stupid bird to steal my chair . She glanced down at her breakfast. German sausage. She looked up at Shinji with a bemused smile. The other teen was casually finishing up his miso soup. She opened her mouth to say something when she caught sight of Misato chugging her breakfast.

Pop

Pop

Both eyes took in the breakfast scene.

"YEEA-HAA!"

Asuka quickly changed her tone to a lighter one, "So you have finally developed an appreciation for good food, Hmm, Baka?"

Misato snorted, "All that meat will make you fat, Asuka. And it is expensive. You should stop forcing poor Shinji to keep making you those greasy things for breakfast."

Asuka looked annoyed. Shinji was simply amused.

Misato, either not realizing that she had misread the situation, or refusing to admit the fact, continued, "I have a wedding to go to this afternoon, So I won't be home for dinner."

"That's ok - I'm going to be out as well."

"Oh? A date." Misato almost purred with curiosity.

"Something like that." Asuka waved the question away airilly, as if to say 'see, I have as much of a social life as anybody else.' She added out loud, "I may be out late - if the drawbridge is up, I'll crash at Hikari's."

Before Misato could tease Asuka any more, Shinji added "I'll be out for most of the day as well."

Misato did not say anything to that - she apparently knew where he was going.

(0)

Shinji glanced again at Rei. She spends more time with my father than I do. Maybe I could ask her what I should talk to him about

Shinji was worrying about meeting his father with an intensity most boys his age reserved for a first date. He had not heard a word that sensei had said this morning . Which was not a problem, since sensei was mostly repeating what he had said yesterday - he had apparently been out drinking the night before, and was having a hard time concentrating through his pounding headache.

Shinji had not spoken with his father since his return to Japan. He, as a dutiful son, had tried once or twice, but his father was always busy. Am I nothing more than a tool, a weapon for him?

Shinji sat tensely and clutched his desk.

Rei glanced at Shinji. Something seemed different today, but she wasn't sure what. Is he happy? Angry? Not knowing what else to do, she turned to look back out the window and slipped into the trance she used to control her emotions. Though for once, the emotion in question was not anger.

As school let out, Shinji stole another look at Rei. She will only turn me away again. Shinji followed his classmates out.

(0)

WHAM

WHAM

spirits take you, Why aren't you responding

"Kaji" Asuka projected as loudly as she could and still claim that she didn't yell.

He said he would take me shopping today Asuka's stomach knotted in fear didn't he?

She sat down on Kaji's stoop and recalled the conversation

Flashback

"So I think going shopping would be a wonderful idea" Asuka gushed. She had been chatting with Kaji for the past half hour or so. Well, to be honest, Asuka had been doing most of the talking, while Kaji limited himself to an occasional 'uhm-hmm' As he edited some lyrics.

"Uh, yeah." Kaji looked up from the his papers to smile at Asuka.

"And then you could go have a night on the town in the evening, It would be so romantic."

"Uh huh." scribble scribble

"So what are you doing tomorrow?"

Kaji looked up with his usual smile, "I'm going shopping and then maybe going out in the evening."

End Flashback

Asuka's stomach clenched. He wasn't talking about going out with me. I bet he didn't even hear a word I said.

The red head wandered out of the keep and into town. Now what do I do? If I go home now, I'll be a laughing stock. She thought about Ok, maybe Shinji won't laugh at me, but Misato will. And even Shinji will think I am pathetic.

As luck would have it, Asuka almost walked into Hikari.

"Oh, hi Asuka."

After a few minutes of small talk, Hikari asked her friend, "Are you certain you don't want to be set up on a date? Kozuma's husband says that several of his friends want to go out with you."

Asuka grimaced My only chance "Yeah, I'll take a chance" Asuka had to smile at Hikari's excitement.

(0)

Ritsuko leaned over to Misato as the wedding party filed into the dining hall and whispered sarcastically "Isn't this so exciting?"

Misato glared "Oh, what do you care? It doesn't matter that your still single at 30 - it's almost expected of a sorceress."

The Sorceress in White took a more conciliatory tone "So you're the last of our group still single, big deal! You still have a great figure - you'll find somebody" If you bother to look.

It was at this point that a certain rumpled minstrel walked in. "Oh, good, I was afraid I had missed the important part." He glanced at the buffet table.

"And where were you? You were supposed to meet us at Ritsuko's"

"Sorry, I got tied up with work."

"You're a traveling minstrel! You set your own hours!"

Kaji scratched his head in embarrassment, "Yeah, I guess I forgot. How about we go get some food?"

(0)

Shinji walked up the hill to the Ikari family shrine and around to the side, placing his offering in the small nook there.

Now what? It is like this every time. After I place the offering, I don't know what to do. Should I say something? Shinji felt a presence behind him.

He asked without turning, "What do you think of, when you come here"

"What I plan to have for dinner." replied the cool voice.

"But why come, then." Shinji asked, shocked, as he turned to face his father

"One must keep up appearances, Give the masses something to believe in." Gendo smiled cynically, "This whole charade only has meaning in the eyes of the people - my marriage to Yui was arranged for political reasons. And like in most such marriages, we never much cared for each other." Seeing his son's confused look, Gendo added, "my attentions have always been... elsewhere."

(0)

"You wait here, babe, while I get us some drinks." Asuka's date patted her rear - again - before making his way to the counter.

The two of them were in an ill-lit pub filled with young, working class couples, most of whom seemed to be groping each other, or so it seemed to Asuka.

The are all perverts When she closed her eyes, an image from memory flashed across her mind.

Flashback

"Soroyu-dono, please, you must have misunderstood" a fourteen year old Asuka stood pressed up against the wall, as the Daymio's son held her in place with one hand, while he reached under her kimono with the other.

"You didn't complain last time. I think you liked it."

End Flashback

(0)

Asuka arrived home, furious and embarrassed, but she made sure to open the door quietly. I don't want to deal with anybody right now. Especially not that overly perky geisha

But as she slid the door closed, she realized that there was music. She crept quietly towards it.

Shinji was sitting on the balcony, his back to the wall as he played a melancholy tune on his flute.

Asuka's anger melted away as she listened. He's good. He's very good. As she listened, a deep calm settled onto her. She hadn't felt so relaxed in years. It was not happy music, but it made her content. It was as if the music was sympathizing with her, telling her that everything would turn out ok.

She wasn't certain how long she stood there, listening, but when the music stopped she quickly pretended to be heading towards the kitchen to get something.

(0)

As the two teens finished dinner, Asuka looked up, "Do you know when Misato is getting home?"

Shinji shook his head, "She said she was going to go out drinking after the wedding. And since the drawbridge is up by now, she's going to have to find someplace in town for the night"

"And she's supposed to be our role model." Asuka shook her head in disgust.

"Hey, didn't you say that you'd be out late too?"

"The date didn't work out." Asuka replied, annoyed at the reminder.

"That's too bad." Shinji collected the plates

Asuka looked at him funny. A few minutes later, she asked in an unusually tentative voice, "hey, Shinji, you want to make out?"

Shinji stopped dead, like a deer caught in the headlights. "Ahh..." He glanced to his side, on the off chance that Asuka was talking to some other Shinji, "Ahh..."

Asuka smirked, "oh, you know how it's done." She reached out and gently grabbed his nose and pulled him towards her.

Shinji didn't resist.

The kiss started awkwardly, with the two teens just standing there, but then Shinji reached around Asuka with one arm and pulled her close, putting his other hand behind her head. The kiss became more passionate.

Asuka began tugging as Shinji's shirt, trying to pull it off.

Shinji broke free from Asuka long enough to point in the general direction of the corridor. "Uh, my room." He managed to get the two of them to stagger into his room and kicked the door shut.

(0)

"The drawbridge is up." Misato stared blearily at the Keep, holding on to Kaji for balance.

"I told you it was late." Kaji reminded her, without any rancor.

"Well, I guess we could go back to the last bar." Misato swayed slightly.

"I don't think that would be a good idea. How about we head to the Fox and Swan."

"What's at the Fox and Swan?" Misato asked suspiciously.

"I have a room there, for when I need to stay in town"

"Hey, are you trying to take advantage of my ineri.. inebri.. in-eb-riat-ed state, Kaji-san"

Kaji smiled "Maybe"

"Good."

As the pair turned to leave, Misato swayed , "Kaji, why did we break up, the first time?"

"I don't know. I can't think of any good reason."

"I remember!" She exclaimed drunkenly, "You couldn't take anything seriously. You just drifted, from one thing to another."

"I was a kid. And it was your fault too, in part: you were afraid a relationship would get in the way of your career."

"We were both kids" Misato leaned into Kaji's side.

(0)

It was well after dawn when the front door of the Katsuragi apartment slammed open, and muffled voices drifted into Shinji's room.

Asuka was just drifting into consciousness, her arm resting on Shinji's chest.

"G'd night." Asuka's groggy mind churned Sounds like Misato's home

"Are you sure you can make it to bed on your own from here?" Kaji. Yesterday, that would have made me furious

"Yesh - otherwise I might end up doing something other than sleep" Drunken giggle. Asuka frowned hentai she put her head back down and snuggled up to Shinji.

"Ok. See you tonight, then."

The sound of the front door closing was followed by a trail of 'thumps' leading to Misato's room, until she finally flopped into bed.

A resounding snore filled the air.

Shinji started awake, almost knocking Asuka of off the futon.

"It's just Misato - she's home"

"oh, ok." Shinji's brain sputtered to life. Asuka slipped out of bed and bent over to pick up her panties. It seized up again.

"Last night was nice" Asuka grabbed another undergarment that was hanging off of a dresser,

"Ah, Asuka, I have to.." Shinji was starting to panic. His mind was still loggy from sleep, and almost unable to form coherent thoughts

"You knew what to do - you must have done that before." She said in a mock scolding voice, turning to give a Shinji a wry smile, so that he would know that she wasn't really upset. Seeing his panicked look she stopped and her smile slipped. She brought her handful of clothes up to her chest.

"Asuka, we can't, I mean, I'm supposed to marry Rei!"

Asuka's jaw dropped and her face cycled from shock, through outrage to fury. Her jaw snapped shut with an audible click. She pivoted on her heel and she stormed out, not bothering with the rest of her clothes.

"Asuka! It's not, I mean..." Shinji slumped on his bed in defeat.

(0)

The room was dark, except for the balls of light hovering over the oak table.

"The next armor is due to arrive at New Edo within two weeks."

"We need to select another warrior"

"Ikari has already proposed a candidate." A sheaf of papers appeared in front of each globe.

"He does so without consulting us?"

"His arrogance grows daily!"

The lead voice over-rode the other "But the choice is not a bad one. We shall let it stand."

"This time"

(0)

Kaji fiddled with the wire as he tried to pick the lock. He was deep in the catacombs - deeper than he had known they extended. The walls were of rough hewn rock, which made the door look all the more incongruous: it was of thick oak, and looked new.

Almost got it

"click" the lock popped open, and the door swung open an inch

"shwick"

That almost sounded like a sword being drawn

Kaji felt something cold against the side of his neck

"So, is this your real job? Spying for the Emperor?"

The Shogun, actually Kaji turned slowly to face a furious Misato, holding a katana level with his neck. "I see you are feeling better. You never did have a problem with hangovers"

"No, what I have a problem with is you - you betrayed my trust, everybody's trust in you."

"You have always been the responsible one," Kaji replied, "you do your duty and you don't ask question. Well, have you ever wondered why the dragons always attack New Edo and nowhere else?"

Misato shifted her grip on her sword, moving it to an ox guard, "What are you getting at?"

"Your duty is to defend Ikari keep against the dragons. So why is this here?" Kaji kicked backwards, pushing the door all the way open.

Inside was a huge dragon, curled up as if asleep. It's grey-blue scales seemed to shimmer and flow, like water. It almost seemed to move in its sleep. On it's flank there was a deep gouge, from which ichor slowly dripped into a barrel below.

The only restraint on the monster was a huge chain that went from its neck down into the bedrock.

"Tiamat"