Standard Disclaimer
Happy 2013 everybody! First chapter of a story for the new year. All my vacation is over, my sickness is getting better and work is…well still work so not much to complain about there. Hope you all had fun.
X-X
Friend of my Enemy
Chapter – 14
Sitting at his desk, staring at the multitude of red marks and error checks, Touji groaned inwardly. He was supposed to be hanging out with Kensuke, Shinji, and Tayura right now, first real day of hanging out since they got back from the Okinawa trip. But no, he had to be at school getting tutored by Asahina about how much he failed his vacation work. Why did this girl just have to hate him so much! On the positive though, he got to watch his new homeroom teacher going over the class roster.
Rubbing the eraser of her pencil against her temple, Akane hummed. "Suzuhara-kun did you even try to do the work right, or did you rush through it last night?" she asked coldly. Setting the last of his papers on top of the pile, she drummed her fingers over the top. Her cool and collective demeanor changed to irate when she exploded, "You're more intelligent than his! Stop messing around and get serious or your future is going to go know where!"
Mind locking up, Touji was caught red handed. He had just slapped answers down in rapid succession while watching television the night before. "I know I need to put more effort in, but I don't care about Japanese history!" it was boring and had nothing to do with his life. "And mythology and folklore is useless. I mean why would I need to know about monsters and demons?" he jabbed his fingers on the page. His finger jabbed at a pure white kimono clad picture of the 'snow woman' of myth, ha stupid stories.
Slowly gazing up from her class listing, Yukino Hanadai bore her dispassionate expression towards the duo. "All knowledge is important, Suzuhara-kun. Your fellow classmates were able to do the work amicably," she muttered before going back to her work.
Her hands rubbed up her biceps briskly, "It's cold in here," Akane mumbled. Putting her books away, Akane accepted reality of the times. "This is it for today, but I'll be expecting you to keep staying late each day until you get your marks back up. Suzuhara-kun, I know you can do the work, and Hokari-kun put me in charge the after school tutoring so I take it seriously. So either you work with me or I get Ikari-kun to apply some pressure on you," she actually smiled softly.
A feeling of elation welled up within the lad upon hearing that, he was free! But what was with that smile Asahina had? Shuffling his papers into a book and slamming it shut, "You have a thing for Shin-man, Asahina-san? That why you're always on his ass about Minamoto-san and the others?" Man why did Shinji get all the girls? Touji knew Shinji had some appeal to some woman, but man he just couldn't fathom why? Spotting the slight coloring of her cheeks, Touji guessed he was right. "Trying to get on my good side to put in the good word for you?" why couldn't he get a girl?!
Stomping her foot, Akane leaned in closer to Touji hurling denials. "Ikari-kun is just a friend! I don't like him like that! I like…I like…" she sputtered before going even redder in the face. After staring blankly for a few moments, she stood up demurely and coughed into her fist. "I don't know why I bother sometimes. Anyway, no I don't need you to 'put in a good word' for me. I need you to try harder on your work, or I'll have to…make home visits to insure you're getting better," and with a nod she walked out of the room.
"You are oblivious to many things, Suzuhara-kun," Yukino said without even looking at him. Her pen wafted over the papers with markings appearing quick and fast. "Tayura-kun needs more time dedicated to mathematics, Aida is to focused on technology, Asahina has gained one pound," she rattled off more evaluations of nearly every student.
About to leave, Touji couldn't help but stop once he realized he hadn't heard the new and exceptionally cute new teach say Shinji or Himari's name. Standing by the door, just outside of it, Touji strained to hear anything about those two missing names. "She seems to hate those two," Touji licked his lips in anticipation. Over the few hours they spent with the new pale and black haired beauty was soft spoken to everybody but Shinji, and that made Himari speak harshly towards the teacher. "So maybe Shin-man isn't the be-all-end-all woman slayer the girls think he is?" it did Touji's self-esteem good.
Opening the door more, Yukino tapped Touji's shoulder, "Eaves dropping is not becoming of a student." Where her finger touched a small chill worked through everything she made contact with. "As for Ikari-kun, I do not know his ability to see to a woman's desires and wishes. But if what I hear is correct, he is well versed in many technique and caring," her cheeks colored just a little before heading back to her desk.
Touji stood ridged and cold as he leaned against the wall. He hadn't even heard her move let alone open the door before she tapped him. A gaggle of other girls pointed at him, snickered and ran off talking about what the teacher said about Shinji. "W-whatever, I'm late anyway," Touji tried to shake off the cold and dread. He had games to play, stories about Okinawa to embellish, and friends to talk to! Passing an irate looking Chizuru and Ayanami, Touji offered the gorgeous woman a brief wave, but she didn't seem to notice. "Guess she's upset about something, and Ayanami is…Ayanami," girl was emotion dead, but he'd ask Shinji if what they said about the quiet ones was true.
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, his satchel hanging at his side, Touji made haste to get away from the school. Students were mostly gone by now, but he wasn't alone as he walked off. Spotting a small girl with an odd looking girl standing next to her waving, he shrugged as he walked past them trying not to make eye contact. "Little kids ain't my thing," that other girl was cute though, but best just to head on. His mind went back to Asahina, girl was a real ball breaker, why couldn't Hikari be his tutor instead. That would have been awesome, not another of the cult of Ikari.
After a short ten minute walk, Touji found himself ringing the door buzzer at Kensuke's and kicking off his shoes. "You guys won't believe it, but that new teacher has a list of all our problems already!" Touji informed as he jumped onto Kensuke's couch. They troupe were already playing a game, Shinji and Tayura were playing while Kensuke had his laptop open as usual. "Sorry for being late, Asahina was busting my nuts over not doing the vacation homework," Touji reached into the waiting bowl of chips.
"Just make yourself at home why don't you," Kensuke scoffed as he reclaimed his seat. Fingers dancing over the keyboard, the geek snickered at whatever he was looking at. "And we were just talking about Yukino-sensei. Tayura said she's a friend of his moms or something," he got some junk food himself.
Raising his fists in victory, Tayura gloated over the defeated Ikari. "In your face Shinji-kun! You might beat me at most other things, but in the world of virtual combat I am the master!" the young man was jovial to obscene levels. Dropping his controller though, Tayura spun around to address the newcomer directly. "Oh yeah, Suzuhara, Yukino," he paused almost confused at the name but pressed on, "Is related to my mom's assistant. She's distant but fair."
Picking up the discarded controller, Touji stole the winner's right to continue playing. It was a small way of getting revenge against Shinji for having Chizuru as a girlfriend, being the only one of the group with a girlfriend. They could all trounce him at games, so they did to make themselves feel a little better. "Well, distant might be to light a word, frigid works better. Though she seems to outright hate you Shin-man. What you do, walk in on her in the nurses office or something?" Touji needled Shinji just a little. Seeing that woman in the buff though, might be worth detention or holding buckets. Yukino-sensei was a hottie.
Picking his new fighter, Shinji's grin was only partially fake. "I don't think that's the case. Maybe Yukihana…I mean Yukino-sensei is just more like Ayanami than Himari? You have to know how to read her facial features a bit more than others," he licked his lips as the fight started. Right off the bat, Shinji was already at a disadvantage a he fumbled about the controller, missing blocks, and button mashing. It was a no-contest as Shinji's masculine fighter was utterly owned by the tiny buxom lass Touji picked. Head hung in shame, "I'm done for now," he held out the controller. "So how was Asahina-san's tutoring?" Shinji asked.
Since Kensuke took the reigns of Shinji's fallen controller, Tayura found Touji a very appealing target. "Yeah, she's taking her personal time to help you out, so you better put forth your best efforts for her!" aggression and jealousy ebbing out of him. Casually alternating between the screen and the overly focused face of Touji, Tayura's eyes hardened just a little. "Not fair that you get to spend time with her on vacation AND after school," he crossed his arms and sulked.
"Hey you want to take my place, by all means you can have her!" Touji said offhandedly. Damn Kensuke was playing cheap today. Jump then special or block and counter? His head wobbled to and fro but in the end his waffling got him defeated as Kensuke hit him hard and fast. After a loud and tasteful string of swears, "Man, Ken, way to go easy on me. As for school, I just don't care about the subject is all. Monsters and demons…it's stupid! We live in the present, not the past. Why care about such fantasies and delusions? Right?"
Shinji and Tayura shared an amused look, but it was Shinji that shrugged. "It might sound useless, but it's culturally important, and you never know when those stories will come in handy. You should thank Asahina-san for helping you though. She's not as busy as Hokari-san, but she is busy with a lot of things," Shinji passed the controller over to Tayura wanting to avoid another savage beating. "So you going to tell us what we missed in Okinawa? Kensuke told us you were busy?" Shinji sipped a can of tea idly.
Eyeballing the back of Tayura's head, Touji anticipated some fun with this match. "Sorry Shin-man, but I don't think I'll be taking your new woman up on her want to help me. You can tend to her yourself," Touji thumbed his chest with pride. When Tayura dropped the controller and cast a baleful glare at Shinji, Touji's eyes widened with shock and mirth. "You like that chick don't you!? Man Tayura, you sure do aim low," Touji took the time to polish off Tayura's fighter earning a quick victory.
"At least she's cuter than that class rep you drool over! And more intelligent too!" Tayura recounted as he rejoined the game. Capitalizing on Touji's turn to be shocked, the lad gripped his controller hard to the point of nearly breaking it, pummeled Touji into digital red paste. Over his shoulder, Tayura had a glint in his eyes, "What, didn't think we noticed you're fixation with that rules lawyer? Shinji spotted it, but hate to tell you but she's been asking about him a lot whenever we're at the store she works at. Think SHE is the real convert to Shinji's harem."
Propping himself up on his hands and legs, Shinji crab walked out of fist range of the two warring factions. While still in projectile rage, Shinji was no longer watching the game as it entered its third and final round. "Guys, I keep telling you I don' t have a harem! Asahina-san and Hokari-san are just friends of mine is all," his watch started to beep, but Shinji just stopped it and cringed when both turned on him. "Honest guys! I'm not trying to date either of them!" he assured.
Now he HAD to beat Tayura for accusing him of liking Hikari. Cute as a button, stern when necessary, with those cute twin tails and freckles…so what if he liked Hikari damn it! Girls like Chizuru and Himari were out of his league, but he could hope his childhood friendship with Hikari would mean something. "You better not be aiming for Hikari, Shin-man. You've enough women, whatever you say, and I will ask her out! I almost did over vacation!" a bold faced lie, but neither Tayura or Shinji had gone with them.
The match went long, Touji and Tayura fluctuating who was winning time and time again. Both played defensively, it was safer. Leaning forward, controller hidden in their laps the two tuned out Shinji and Kensuke talking about Yukino-sensei and the few bits of the vacation the geek was lauding up as victories. In the end, the timer was the victor as neither could score the final blow.
"Fine! I admit it," Touji dropped his controller and grabbed the bowl of food, "I like the class rep. And it's obvious you like that ge…you like Asahina," Touji held up his hands in defeat. He'd not mock the girl in Tayura's presence, assuming the same went for Hikari. "I'll talk down Shinji so she won't fall for him, if you do the same for Hokari at that grocery store for me," he reached his hand out in friendship.
Shaking Touji's hand, Tayura and gave it a good solid pump, "Together we can keep Shinji-kun from stealing our ladies!" Never mind the fact that Shinji was in the room, dumbstruck, and paling at the conversation he was hearing. Patting the floor closest to Shinji as he could get, Tayura chuckled, "Sorry Shinji, but they do talk about you. And you've already got my sister and…that should be enough." A strange and peculiar expression wafted over the boy's face, but he said nothing else.
"Chizuru-san should be more than enough for any man," Touji got a goofy grin until Tayura slugged his arm. "Anyway, listen to my awesome vacation!" Touji went into his embellished account of Okinawa. Lies were bold and mighty, since Kensuke had taken to the arcade during the trip, Touji had nobody to contradict him. Women had been approached, the spoke to him, and Touji made those sound as if he had conquered Spain with a matchbook and a penlight. "So what did you two do, didn't you work Tayura?" Touji washed down his tall tale with a soda.
Checking his watch again, Shinji grimaced and stood up. Smoothing his slacks, "Tayura will have to tell you the details. I have to go and meet Himari-san. I…we got into a fight over vacation due to an issue with the last angel. And I'm making it up to Chizuru-chan and Himari-san right now, so I have to go." Cleaning up after himself, Shinji offered his goodbyes and headed out to his date.
"Man, at times I envy him and others I pity him. He's those girls slave it seems," Touji took Shinji's place closer to the television. But Shinji was his buddy, and Touji would support and help him wherever he could. But he did plead that they didn't have to fight over Hikari that would not be cool. Listening to Tayura detail stories from the onsen, Touji could picture Tamamo in his mind and that earned him another slug from the boy. Kensuke brought out a frozen pizza for supper, and they continued into the night comparing stories and palling about. Was a good day.
X-X
Today was NOT a good day, and it was for the obvious reason of her boyfriend spending time with 'the other woman.' Though knowing Shinji was off with her brother but soon Himari did leave Chizuru just a little irked. She had the whole day yesterday to be pampered and coddled, but she would always want more. Though just thinking about how the date ended last night, her first time inviting her little pupil (actual their first time with a third party) left Chizuru's thighs rubbing together.
Watching the school depopulate, Touji waved at her but she was to fixated on trying to surpass those pleasant memories and the desire to crash Himari's date to care. With Rei at her side, Chizuru left her hand on the pale girl's shoulder tensely. "I don't know what mother is thinking, but I can't let this pass without a fight," she informed her student. She saw Rei nod but not talk, Chizuru would have to work on getting Rei more vocal…well more vocal outside the bedroom. Girl had lungs and knew how to use them when in private. Leaning against Rei, pressing her assets against the girl's back, "And you say all the licenses were up to date and accurate?"
Following the boys that walked by, noses hemorrhaging like fountains, Rei pulled out a flip notebook from her pocket. Once the obscenities of Chizuru manhandling Rei had stopped causing bleeding, "That is correct Mis…Chizuru-san," Rei remembered her lessons. It wasn't proper to call Chizuru mistress outside of the apartment as it left people confused. Blinking rapidly as Chizuru pushed closer against her, hear to ear, Rei sneezed cutely as Chizuru's hair tickled her nose. "Yukino Hanadai is a fully accredited and practicing junior high teacher in the field of English and Japanese Folklore," Rei flipped the book closed.
Pleased at her girl, Chizuru's hands slid down Rei' shoulders to her bust and gave her a little reward. After squeezing, finding Rei's heft to be rather small but firm in comparison to her own, Chizuru released the squirming fledgling wolf-girl. "She's going to have to answer to why she's here. I…I don't know really what happened at mom's, and I don't want to know. Whatever happened that night is between them," but Chizuru could tell something happened that night. Tamamo and Yukihana were damn well glowing the next morning, and Shin-chan was exhausted. But the idea of her mother bedding her boyfriend left Chizuru feeling uneasy.
"Had I been able to attend the retreat I would have tended to alp-Shinji-san's needs myself. I apologize for my inability to leave the city," Rei informed a late leaving troupe of girls of her wants. Leaning forward just a little, Rei's eyes hardened nearly unnoticeably, but Chizuru (and Shinji if he had been there) noticed. "Is that this Yukihana you spoke of? She is rather lacking in emotional tells and facial recognition," Rei said without a single trace of irony.
And there she was, her mother's right hand lady attempting to play at being a teacher in Shinji's class. It had been her idea, well partially, to have Shinji get closer to Tamamo and Yukihana at the onsen so she couldn't be to upset. But the end result was unknown, and she prayed would stay that way forever. Though if Yukihana was here now it meant either Tamamo was disproving of their relationship or maybe trying to cut in a little. Handing Ayanami her satchel, Chizuru stomped towards her target with every intention of screaming the answers out of the snow girl.
"Yukihana what are you doing here? I thought after that last night at mom's I'd not see either of you until summer vacation!" Chizuru asked hotly. Normally calm and collected, it helped to tease Shinji into an unintelligent mass of pleasing man-meat, Chizuru was off her game. Fully aware they were in public, despite the fact it was mostly devoid of students, Chizuru was tempted to fire off foxfire. "Is it my taking Ayanami-chan under my wing? Do you not trust Shin-chan still? Or is it this other slayer that's got you hiding about our school?" she was nearly nose-to-nose with the woman.
Sidestepping Chizuru, the woman in question kept on walking until she was even with Ayanami. "I am Yukino Hanadai not this Yukihana of whom you speak," the woman said with only the tiniest inflection. Tilting her head to the side, Yukino grabbed her chin with her thumb and forefinger. "As for Ayanami-kun here, she could stand to get a little more sun. To many pale students," she nodded once and went on walking off the school grounds.
So angry at being brush off her tail popped out, Chizuru was lucky nobody was behind her to see it. Forcing herself to calm down, and collecting Rei as she ran after Yukino, Chizuru wasn't the type to just accept things on face value. Feeling the familiar cold sensation she got whenever she touched Yukihana, Chizuru spun the teacher around, "Yukihana don't play games with me! Did mom send you here to spy on us, or is it something else?" Were they in danger? Did she have to worry about Tamamo attacking Shinji!? Her mother was an older pure demon, maybe just maybe she held a grudge about something. Could she…could she attack her own mother for Shinji?
Brushing Chizuru's hand off, then fixing the disheveled collar that resulted, Yukino let out a long and cold breath. "I am Yukino Hanadai, and I was hired to replace the retiring Suzuki Amano, that is all. With the…attacks happening in the city it is well paying though many teachers avoid it," Yukino was insistent with her tone. Spinning on the balls of her feet, the teacher again tried to leave, "In the future do not assault a teacher unless it is an important matter."
A nervous tick throbbed along Chizuru's right eye marring her normal graceful expression. She wasn't going to get blown off like this. Grabbing a discarded soda can, she chucked it at the back of the departing teachers head. The can didn't hit as Yukino's head shifted just before it could connect, adding more proof that the woman the ninja in question. Grinding her teeth, "Ayanami-chan we're following her and making her confess why she's stalking our school."
Being dragged by Chizuru at speeds of walking that nearly toppled her, Rei had all the grace of a boat anchor. "Do you not trust your mother and her assistant, or are you concerned that after joining our pack, they will try to appease Shinji again?" Rei finally got her footing after half a block. Being randomly jerked from right to left and alternating speed as Chizuru played spy though, Rei found herself colliding more than once with Chizuru's shapely behind.
Rounding the corner, Chizuru came to a halt for two reasons. First and foremost was Rei's question, did she trust her mother? Releasing her captive pupil, Chizuru grabbed her own left wrist and rubbed it lightly. "I trust her. As much as I fight with her, with as long as we've been at odds I trust her," Chizuru felt warmth in her chest. While being forced to work rather than have fun with Shinji had been a pain, but she had found herself enjoying being with Tamamo. Softly and mostly to herself, "She's crazy and annoying, but I love her. Not as much as that brother of mine though."
The second reason why Chizuru's frontal assault ended so suddenly was addressed when Rei asked, "Where did Yukino-sensei go?" Rei took a step past Chizuru scanning the street, populated with shoppers and commuters as they had wandered into the business district. Her lips drew into a thin line of concentration, "With the speed of our progression, she should not have been able to lose us."
Damn ninja women being able to just vanish whenever she wanted! "Well she has to be close by, doesn't she?" if only she could turn back to her normal form. Maybe they could get to the roofs, a bonding experience with Rei-chan…though they had a real close bonding session with Shinji already. Hard to get any closer than they were last night, tasty too. "So what do you think we should…" Chizuru was going to ask until she got interrupted.
"Minamoto-san, Chizuru Minamoto-san?" a well dress man in a three piece suit and sunglasses asked. Adjusting his tie, the man extended his hand out in friendship. "I'm with Nerv and I've been asked to bring you in on request," he pulled his hand back after Chizuru just looked at it with disdain.
Now this was obviously a lie and a trap, Chizuru could sense the 'man' wasn't human at all and fibbing to boot. Shinji was with the kitten, and if anybody from Nerv was here they'd be looking for her cute puppy. "So why don't you just tell me why you're here instead. I'm on a little date with my favorite girl right now," Chizuru grabbed Rei and held her in front of herself. Hugging Rei protectively, ready to dash away with the girl at a moment's notice, Chizuru took a moment to enjoy the warmth the girl had. Pushing Rei down a little, propping her chin on top Rei's head, she just frowned.
Growling, the man rotated his shoulder and rolled his head in a circle. "You're not going to make this easy for me are you? They said you were smart, but I guess I saw those bit tits of yours and thought they were just sucking up to you," the man snapped his fingers and a blue aura of seclusion was erected around the three of the to give them some privacy. Taking off his glasses, the man's eyes were slight red on black, and his teeth started growing larger as drool trickled down. "Maybe I'll have fun with you before I turn you over," he pulled off his tie and dropped his glasses.
Ok, this wasn't expected, but Chizuru wasn't too worried. Without needing to worry about civilians she could go all out. Moving Rei behind her, Chizuru let her ears and tail out while her hair changed colors. "Why is it that only Shin-chan realizes that I'm beauty and brains?" she thumbed her nose with her right hand. Summoning a ball of foxfire, she felt her adrenaline starting to spike, she hated fighting. "You be a dear and tell me who sent you and why?" she hadn't expected somebody to go after her. No, her thoughts were it was Shinji that would be the target instead.
"I don't talk to my bitches, I just use them and leave them," the man's body exploded out of his clothing. More than three times larger than before, covered in red scale like skin, twin bone white horns protrusions from his head, the oni's foot long tongue hung out of its mouth. "Never had a Kitsune before, and you have such a tiny treat with you. But I'd likely break her in half," he grabbed at his crotch menacingly.
Her own ears and fluffy tail erupted out, Rei got into a defensive stance behind Chizuru. "Mistress, if things turn south, flee. I will distract him while you get to safety. Just tell Shinji I am sorry for causing him pain," Rei tried not to sound fearful and nearly did it. But with such a towering monstrosity before them, and herself being untrained in demonic fighting, Rei was ill prepared for this.
Turning towards Rei, Chizuru kissed the air lightly, oh she could just eat this girl up with peaches and cream! "Rei-chan, you'll not need to do that. This is just an oni, and they're not worth caring about," she pitched her fire into its face. The ball exploded in a mighty haze of smoke and debris. "See, oni are weak to fox fire. I didn't even need Shin-chan to merge with to take one of them…" Chizuru felt a savage blow to the back of her head sending her to the ground rolling. Leaping to her feet, rubbing the back of her head and finding a trickle of blood, "Ok, this is new."
Snickering loudly, the oni held a talisman out in front of him. "Normally I'd be dust by now, but we I'm not stupid, fox. This time it's going to cost you," his hand snaked out towards Rei. The girl leapt away leaving the oni's claw nothing but concrete to destroy into chunks. His head spinning around upside down laughing, "Oh this one is fast. I love the athletic ones. Slayer has good choice in bodies, be great to show him your broken bodies! Maybe I'll just break your will and he can…can…"
"Chizuru-sama, you came to see Tamamo's new onsen in the city? I wasn't expecting your visit," Yukihana said from behind the oni. An ice chunk the diameter of a basketball sunk through the creature's chest and was buried in the ground. "Allow me to take out this trash so you and your friend can speak with your mother. She wants to meet Ayanami-san here, and you likely have questions," she let her ice spike vanish leaving just a hole in the creatures chest.
Now that was why she didn't fight Yukihana, when the woman was serious it was frightening. Chizuru had to swallow hard to keep herself from being sick. "Well, I'll…ask you about Yukino-sensei after I talk to mom. L-lets go Rei-chan," Chizuru paled. The oni's innards fell out of the hole in its chest as the creature fell forward lifeless. After the got inside the onsen…how she missed that she suspected magic was involved, Chizuru hugged Rei softly. "S-sorry about you having to see that. I could have taken him out myself. I likely wouldn't have killed him like she did though," she patted Rei's back.
"Oh isn't this just darling!" Tamamo said as she sauntered into the receiving room. "So you're my daughters protégée, and aren't you just adorable," Tamamo gave both girl's a hug. Walking the two stunned girls through her newest establishment, more a public bathhouse than an onsen, Tamamo fluttered down the halls. "Don't worry about Yukihana and your…tail…I'll go into why I'm here watching. And it's not to do with that wonderful man of our…yours," she hid her face behind the sleeve of her elaborate kimono.
Still a little rattled at the fight and the onslaught that she witnessed, Chizuru let her mother lead her on. The oni wasn't really a fight to care about, she could have easily taken it out. But that talisman, how did it know her powers? Only person she knew that was watching her was Shizuka, but she trusted her! Somebody else had to be spying on them! The other fear was, what would have happened to her little puppy if that bastard got his hands on her. It was time to teach Rei a bit more combat abilities.
Being led into the empty bath, Tamamo didn't open until tomorrow, the trio of women relaxed after the sudden appearance and disposal of the oni. Tamamo informed the two of why she set up shop in Tokyo-3. Her studying the guardians and the Ikari bloodline left her apprehensive. Something about apocalyptical scenarios, the merging of all races into one. Things were getting dangerous, and her daughter's nose was right in the middle of it, so Tamamo was going to keep a closer eye. Oh and offer Chizuru and her lovely Ikari-kun free access to everything Tamamo had to offer…Chizuru assumed she meant the onsen…she really hoped so.
X-X
Checking himself out in the glass door to the café, Shinji smoothed his disheveled hair into something passing for respectable. A traffic jam left him more than five minutes late for his date with Himari, and he was dreading the repercussions. It had taken the whole weekend of pampering and slaving away for Chizuru to get her to forgive him for his 'transgressions'. Knowing Himari as he did, Shinji suspected it would take more effort to get his bodyguard's pardon. Being late was not the best start for it. But he'd do his best, in all he could, and eventually she'd tolerate him and ease his troubled heart.
"Always smells so good in here," Shinji sighed contently. Walking into the tea shop was normally a good thing. The warmth of the English art style, the shiny wood work, and the aroma of teas and coffees was succulent. Lately though, he was loath to admit it, the main waitress seemed to either avoid him or was afraid of him. "Stupid mega-playboy rumors, hope Lizlet-san doesn't believe that nonsense," he only had one girlfriend, a bodyguard, whatever Rei was, a fiancé, and whatever was going on between Tamamo, Yukihana and himself. That wasn't a harem…right?
A petite girl with green hair and lavender eyes greeted Shinji at the door with a bright smile. "Welcome to Café Relish, master. How many in…oh aren't you Ikari Shinji-kun?" the maid covered her nose and mouth with the menu. "Y-you're not here looking for…for more girls are you?" she actually looked bashfully at Shinji.
He would exact his revenge on Touji and Kensuke for perpetrating that damn rumor! "I'm here on a date with a friend of mine. She should be here already. In a beautiful traditional clothing and a long ponytail," he held his hands apart the length of Himari's luxurious hair. Oh how he ached to run his fingers through it again, suspected she did too judging by the looks she gave him this morning. Clearing his mind of the fog of longing, "She should have gotten here about five or ten minutes ago?" Pull in those hormones! This was a diplomatic mission to salvage the damaged relations, not a call for arms.
Pointing at a booth in the corner, the maid lowered her menu shield but maintained a coquettish look. "She arrived with another lady friend. Y-you're dating both of them? Those rumors are true Ikari-sama," the maid handed Shinji the menu. Squealing lightly as their hands touched just briefly the girl took off to gab with the other maids. The myth and legend of Shinji Ikari master woman slayer went up a notch that day.
Grumbling under his breath, Shinji tried not to think about how that girl looked at him. It was like a side of beef, as if he was some celebrity or something. Not what he wanted at all. Waving at Lizlet as he passed her, "Good afternoon Chelsie-san, I'll have my regular when you have a moment." She squeaked and nearly dropped the pitcher of water she was holding on the drooling boys, but nodded in acceptance. "Sorry to keep you waiting Himari-san. Shizuka-san I wasn't expecting you today but it's always a pleasure," he had thought this was to be a date…but with Shizuka? This wasn't going to be like last night with Chizuru AND Rei? That had been an endurance trial.
"Shinji-sama doth be a trifle delayed, but tis acceptable as I know of whom you spent thy time," Himari batted her eyelashes at him. Scooting over in the booth so Shinji could sit next to her, the coy cat demon's hand covered Shinji's the moment it touched down on the cushion. "Had thy been with that fox of yours, t'would be a different song being played," she intertwined her fingers with his.
Twirling her finger around the lip of her tea cup, Shizuka's smile was snarky as ever. "Neko-hime here has been anxious since we found the blacksmith. He's going to have her blade fixed in a week, but gave her a loaner weapon," she sipped her tea with relish. A foot under the table scored a direct hit between Shinji's legs as it caressed his inner thigh. "She's also been hungrily waiting arrival. Though I am not sure if its food she wants, or something more engaging," her foot finally pulled back.
"Y-y-y-your tea Ikari-kun," Lizlet nearly dropped the cup on the table her body was shaking so heavily. Eyes moving about the table frantically, never settling on any one person for long, she was about to fall over due to nerves. Her panicking did leave her impressive assets jiggling about, making most of the guys fawn over Shinji's table for receiving special service. "It-it's on the house so…drink it all…all of it!" she nearly cried as she ran away from the table to the backroom.
Feeling warm from running over to the café from Kensuke's, Shinji favored the water already present over the steaming cup of tea. "She seems a bit more flustered than normal. You didn't say anything odd to her before I got here did you, Shizuka-san?" he wouldn't put it past the Mizuchi. Shizuka was from Misato's school of teasing, that being sexual harassment was par the course. Squeezing Himari's hand, she seemed nervous as he was, "And what did I hear about your sword? You found somebody that could fix it?" So that explained why Shizuka was here, Himari was adamant that once the water demon found a suitable repairman it be made known.
Rubbing her shoulder against Shinji's sensually, sending the boy into a blushing fix, Himari get her flirting fix on. This was to be her day in many ways, and teasing Shinji was a group activity that Himari was slowly mastering. "Doth that snake ever not intone mischief? Upon our arrival she let slip, that yon slayer was here to collect her pretty head and add it to his ample collection. Though, thy head is mine on this eve," she released Shinji's hand and pulled out the wrapped parcel she had with her. "Tis not as perfect as Yasutsuna, but shall suffice for the fortnight the repairs shall take," she lowered it back down.
Hearing an odd rustling about the café, Shinji took a quick survey of the clientele. For some reason most of them were leaving, which was odd. The café was usually bustling with tea enthusiasts or guys drooling over the maid outfits, though now it was nearly empty. Why did he suddenly feel himself in danger? "Well I'm glad you found somebody that could help Himari-san," he tilted his water glass towards Shizuka who waggled her tongue at him. Just what did that girl see in him, did she still consider him an enemy?
"Well I couldn't turn down the offer of a little double date with Slayer-kun, my price for such expedited work," Shizuka confessed. Using her straw, she captured a little of her cream soda in it. Letting a single drop of amber colored liquid fall onto the curled up wrapper making it unfurl and spread out. "Remind you of anything Slayer-kun, from what I saw with Neko-hime it's about accurate," she snickered and put her straw back in the glass.
There was subtle and then there was Shizuka, and both Shinji and Himari were aghast at her little innuendo. "Y-you don't mean that d-do you Shizuka-san? I know at the onsen you slept ON me for warmth, but that…and…this…you're just observing us right?" Shinji stammered but found himself captivated by the pale girl. She was very cute in a dead girl kind of way…looking like a living corpse was odd. Her constant feeling of moisture was different too, but she was interesting none the less.
Drawing Shinji to her protectively, Himari draped her arm around his shoulder. "I did leverage Shinji-sama's time for expediency, but I doth not believe you meant to go so far. For an observer, be it not wrong to meddle?" she was breathing hot and heavy on Shinji's neck. He had told her in the past that, well it was a bit of a turn on of his, so she had to be doing it consciously, right? Forcing, gently though, Shinji to face her, those fang like teeth glinting in the light of the café, "Though Shinji-sama seems intrigued by such a notion. Has thy faithfulness reached a conundrum?"
Feeling much the mouse between the cat and snake, Shinji just squirmed in his seat. "W-wonder where Chelsie-san is, I'd like to order my supper now. It-it's on me by the way, so order whatever you want," he could feel both Himari's warm and Shizuka's cold feet touching him in places. It was maddening as much as it was intoxicating. So this was love, pure unabashed love…Himari and Chizuru. Sure there were others, Rei most notably, and it made Shinji's heard swell to near bursting. His slacks, well they were getting close, and would if the teasing continued.
"So two is not enough for you, after last night I shouldn't be shocked," Shizuka stunned the duo. Letting her tongue unfurl, the café was now empty, she sampled some of Shinji's free yet untouched drink. "What were the scores for finish lines crossed? Puppy-kun with three, Kitsu-hime with five, and the poor slayer with only two. For a male you do have inhuman like endurance…" she stopped and her eyes went wide, "this is poisoned, lethal."
In the time it took Shizuka to pull her tongue out of the tea cup, Himari had unfurled the guard around her temporary blade, vaulted over Shinji, and was eying the proprietor menacingly. "So my instincts prove true then, thy harlot tis a demon," she pointed the kitana's blade at Lizlet's neck. Walking slowly in a circle around the blue eyed blond, Himari sneered wickedly. "Ruining my chance for romantic with Shinji-sama, another foil to punish you with," she lunged at the maid with a wild strike.
Dropping with her knees, the blade soaring overhead missing, Lizlet covered her head with her hands. As both Shinji and Shizuka got out of the booth but gave Himari room to move. "I'm just a tea sprite trying to survive is all! I don't want to be Ikari-kun's next victim!" she cried out. Rolling behind Himari she pointed her arms at both groups letting tea leaves billow out from within her maid outfit. Filling the previously tranquil room with black dust, "J-just leave me in peace please!"
She knew he was a demon hunter and was thinking he was going to attack her? Oh Shinji started replaying most of his interactions with the attractive maid in his head. Hadn't Lizlet's attitude changed towards him after Shizuka made a comment about him 'slaying' her? Hell hadn't Shizuka said even today Shinji was here for her head? Go figure the normally polite and kind maid was freaking out and trying to prevent him from doing so. He had to do something, had to talk to her before things got even further out of hand!
"Lizlet-san, please stop this, it's just a misunderstanding!" Shinji tried opening the floor for diplomacy. Stepping closer into the battle field, the teary eyed maid pointed a hand of blinding tea leaves into his face. Not the most harmful of attacks, but not a white flag either. Coughing as the leaves got into his eyes, stinging and blinding him, Shinji staggered closer to her. Grabbing at his throat as the leaves started coating his throat making breathing hard, "P-please stop this, we don't mean you any harm!"
Shifting her focus to Shinji, as he got closer to her, Lizlet doubled her assault on him. "I'm sorry Ikari-san, but I heard them say you were here to kill me. I…I just want to make tea is all," she sounded almost hysterical. Crying openly, a dribble of snot rolled down her nose marring her pretty looks, and making for one messy looking maid. Sniffing hard, "J-just go away please."
With a mighty war cry, Himari showed she wasn't in a forgiving mood. "Master will not be going anywhere without me!" she slammed her weapon through Lizlet's chest. The effect was instantaneous, the cloud of tea leaves dropped to the ground. Opening her eyes, an emotion approaching shame and regret crossed Himari's face. With her blade piercing Lizlet's heart, parting her elaborate costume, Himari balked when the maid just tilted her head seemingly unharmed, "You…you're…"
"My outfit! You ruined it!" Lizlet cried and back stepped out of blade. The wound, if it could be called that, healed instantly leaving only a large expanse of exposed skin and the bottom of a black lacy bra. Putting one hand into the uncanny valley, larger than Himari's but smaller than Chizuru's, to cover the hole, "Do you know how hard I worked on making this?"
Pointing at the counter that held a multitude of jars of tea and cups, Shizuka was coughing out the last of the leaves she inhaled. "She's a tsukumogami, Neko-hime! An inanimate object given life from over a hundred years of use! Likely that cup on display," she fell to her knees gagging harder. Her hand jutted towards the center shelf where a very ornate and old looking English tea cup.
"Himari stop!" Shinji tried ordering his protector, but a feeling of familiar was washing over him. Himari was losing herself in battle again, just like before. She wouldn't listen, wouldn't stop, until Lizlet was destroyed! Scrambling to his feet as Himari vaulted the counter and lifted the tea cup in question. Standing stock still, trying to guess Himari's next move, Shinji tried again, "Please Himari-chan, just put it down. We're the ones in the wrong here. She was just protecting herself is all!"
Standing between Himari and Shinji, Lizlet was stunned at what she heard. Her mouth opened and closed several times, "S-Shinji-san…you…you mean it?" She didn't seem to mind she was flashing part of herself at him, or maybe it was just the fear of destruction making that little bit of info a moot point. Himari's laugh however broke the mood, "No don't!" Lizlet cried out as Himari tossed the cup into the air towards Shinji and her.
Everything came to a slow, time seemed lengthened and distended, but Shinji felt every nanosecond. Lizlet was walking backwards towards him, arms flailing about high trying to catch the cup, but she was to short. He was going to have to do it, breathing stopped as he moved into an intercept pattern. 'I can get it, it's right in my…' the wind was knocked out of him as Lizlet smashed into him. So focused on the cup, he forgot she wasn't watching where she was going. "Watch out!" he tried futilely to warn her, but it didn't stop anything.
She collided with him, back of her head smashing into his nose sending both of them to the ground. As they fell, the self-proclaimed spun in the air to try and catch her actual physical body. Her hands went to stop her descent though, not to make the catch leaving her encasing Shinji's face and showing him the slash in her uniform. "I'm…I'm…alive?" she cried out earnestly.
His hands outstretched, Shinji could feel the cold porcelain of the cup against his fingers. He also noticed that even if it wasn't her real body, Lizlet's human form was just as warm and real feeling as Himari. He tried to talk, but got a mouth full of bust instead, but he saved her it seemed. Once she sat up, and actually sat down on something Himari had planned on earlier, Shinji got out a breathless, "L-let's talk about what just happened calmly."
Over another cup of tea, Lizlet having put her real body back on the shelf, the quartet came to a consensus. Shinji, while being a demon hunter, didn't have any desire to slay demons that weren't evil. Himari apologized for losing sense of herself, but chastised Shinji for being too forgiving, and Shizuka watched it all skeptically. After a meal on the house, the café started repopulating, and the trio of daters left back to the apartment. With Misato at work, and Asuka likely with Kuesu, they planned to work off some of that post battle adrenaline. Shizuka gave the score of, Himari-4, Shinji-2…and Shizuka watched on hungrily and debated.
X-X
She knew she should have just called in sick today, but even then they'd just reschedule this torture. Misato sat in a lone folding chair in her dress fatigues with a slew of UN, Nerv, and other regulatory bodies across from her. And they did not look happy, willing to accept answers, and for some of the older ones regular. Knowing of the impeding debriefing had left Misato with trying to find an out, but as the highest ranking officer that had been at the onsen she was being held accountable.
"So Captain Katsuragi, from your own report you state you were at a resort hotel called Tama-No-Yu for the days of your absence," a greying UN inspector from Russia spoke in very broken Japanese. Amid the gunmetal grey walls, the white table, and the dim lights the man appeared decrepit and ancient. Holding up a copy of Misato's report, the man slapped the tip of the paper, "Such an establishment doesn't exist in the region you stated, nor in the island itself."
Well the man had a point, not that Misato had an answer anybody sane would accept. "All I can say is that the inn was run by the mother of the Third Child's girlfriend Chizuru Minamoto ," Misato addressed the council with all the form and tact she could muster. When she heard the briefing of pilots, Shigeru, Makoto, and herself being missing for days, Misato could only make one guess. Freaking demons and their magics! How was a woman supposed to stay sane in a world where she could just vanish for days! Now she had to answer for it, "Given the state of the weather at the time we didn't have an option other than to stay at the inn."
It was Gendo's turn to speak, and he did with little seeming care. "Did you at anytime feel you were in danger, or that the pilots were at risk of being harmed?" he pushed his glasses up in a bored manner. Seated at the end of the procession, sandwiched between Kozo and a long black haired Japanese woman, he stood out as the darkest dressed person there.
Aside from the freaky green haired Shizuka and Asuka, nobody at that inn seemed like a threat. Waking up with a face full of dead like girl, cute yes but creepy, Misato was slowly getting used to Shizuka's odd mannerisms. "No, the cold temperature was the only threatening factor. That was why we didn't consider walking when we learned the phone lines were down," this was all standard operating procedures…so why the production? Shuffling under the intense gazes of the council, Misato felt herself flush.
A nearly bald woman from the Japanese government seemed to wheeze more than speak, "What was this business at the volcano to begin with? From our reports you nearly lost Unit-01 when some cables broke? Has the pilot received proper disciplinary action for risking a multi-billion dollar piece of military hardware?" The woman's thin black rimmed glasses had lenses the size of bottle bottoms.
And now more people blaming Shinji for being a hero and not letting Asuka die, Misato was sick of it. She had been upset when she had to speak down to him for it, was tempted to tease him when she saw Chizuru and Himari punishing him, and now official word was he hadn't suffered enough. "The Third Child acted to salvage the operation without orders yes. But in doing so saved not only Unit-02 but the Second Child. He has been disciplined for his actions, and threats of additional reproductions if he acts without orders again," this time she was a little harsh with her reply.
It was the woman sitting next to Gendo that gave Misato the biggest case of the willies. Classically beautiful, sharp featured, but cold and calculating she leaned over and let her tresses splay forward. "While I would like to take your word for that Captain Katsuragi, track record for the Third Child is not the greatest. Running away, needing a personal bodyguard, and this girlfriend and her mother are at the heart of a near kidnapping of two of the three pilots and our captain of operations with two of the command staff. I want to speak to him personally," she rattled off the list expertly stressing the most damning points.
Reading the name plaque before the woman, Misato felt her ire rising. "Miss Meruhi, that isn't really an option. We need to keep the pilots near at hand, and have their public appearances to a minimum. To change that is to risk exposing them to outside sources we wouldn't really like them too," Misato fixed Meruhi with an icy stare. Something about that woman was to calculating to be concerned with this meeting. Why the fixation on Shinji, why not Asuka? Her eyes opened just a little extra in shock, "We could make the Second Child available to you though, she does like attention."
Where Misato expected Gendo or Kozo to say something to preempt her little bluff, Asuka was NOT going anywhere near that woman if Misato could help it, Meruhi spoke first. Reclining in her chair, her UN outfit clung to her body like a second skin, "I've already spoken with the Second Child on numerous occasions back in Germany. She is not the problem. We have a possible security breach and it's centered on the Third Child. Commander, I know that Captain Katsuragi here is likely well meaning, but her latent maternal instincts are likely causing her to think poorly. I request the Third be brought in at a future time for questioning on this incident."
"Sir I must protest this!" Misato shouted out as her temper flared. Bringing up her feelings for Shinji, that tone of voice, and mocking her barren nature was making Misato want blood. Standing up quickly, her chair falling back with a crash Misato took a step towards that insufferable woman. "I question why Miss Meruhi is so fixated on one little girlfriend and our pilot?" did this woman know about demons too? If this bitch was trying to get to Shinji or maybe even Chizuru it was a dangerous thing. Meruhi could take Chizuru, but that meant hurting Shinji so…no deal.
Standing up along side of Kozo and Meruhi, the later slipped her hands into her pockets and glared at Misato openly, Gendo raised a hand. "Katsuragi stand down. As commander of Nerv I will allow this meeting to go forth only with an appointed member of Nerv accompanying the Third Child. And with that I suggest this meeting come to a close," he lowered his glasses to look Misato directly in the eye.
"But…but…"Misato wasn't done yet! They couldn't just hand Shinji over to this freak, they couldn't end this meeting yet! She had no idea why they had this meeting now other than to propose access to Shinji, and that left Misato feeling used. Nobody used Misato, not without dinner, a movie, a lot of booze, and her having feelings for the lucky young man! "Meruhi-san, you better know I'll be the one with him when you talk to him. This isn't over yet," she pointed at the departing woman. When she saw Meruhi smirk, Misato about lost it. All her being wanted to rush and pummel the woman into a smear on the ground. The padre of UN peacekeepers though kept her from enacting her mental plan.
Left alone to her own devices, Misato proceeded to smash a garbage can in the empty meeting room into a flat piece of metal. "OH this isn't over yet you smarmy freak. I'll find what you're up to and when I do you won't like me very much!" Misato proceeded to hoist the bird at the now closed door. She hated the fake authority these UN and government bastards had. Undoing the top three buttons of her fatigues, she took her hat off and headed to her car. "At least that was the end of my shift, I could use a drink," a fleet of them would start. Shinji's supper was going to make it even better. Assuming that harpy didn't drag him off somewhere. Himari was always polite enough to have him home early.
The drive home was uneventful, Misato only cut off three people and nearly ran over one old woman crossing the street. Her adrenaline was still running high, and her nerves were agitated from just not knowing why that meeting seemed so…guided. "As if Gendo set it up knowing that woman would ask for Shinji," but why? Gendo never cared about Shinji before, and now he was handing him over to the UN for questioning? And that woman was so fixated on Chizuru, they knew something. They had to!
Getting out of her car though, Misato was shocked to see the parking garage wasn't empty. "Hello little girl, is something wrong?" Misato asked the young girl sanding by the elevator. The girl looked cute, seven or eight years old, and lost. Bending down to be on the girl's level, "What's your name, I don't remember seeing you here before." Many of the units were empty, so Misato was pretty sure she knew most of the residents, and none had a girl like this.
"I'm Minori Mitama, and I'm looking for my older brother," the tiny short black haired girl said with a brilliant smile. With her hands clasped together at her waist, she swayed from the balls of her feet to her heel and back. "Who are you ma'am?" she didn't sound condescending at least.
Not liking being referred to anything that constituted 'older', Misato chose not to acknowledge the little barb. "So your brother lives here? Do you know what floor, what unit he lives in?" she didn't recognize the surname or any young men with children. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a piece of candy she had and put in the girl's hand. "It's not safe for little girls like you to be alone like this, want to come with big sister until we can find your brother?" she hoped nothing was going on upstairs the girl shouldn't see.
Before Minori could do or say anything the elevator door opened and a peculiar looking woman stepped out. Much like Ayanami and Shizuka she seemed devoid of emotions, "Mitama-sama," she shook her head slowly no.
Popping the candy into her mouth, Minori just smiled and skipped over to the new arrival. "Not right now Misato-san! Maybe some other time," she grabbed the new girl's hand and the two walked away leaving Misato alone.
Taking the elevator back up to her floor, Misato tried not to think about how that girl knew her name, or the other girl. It wasn't time to think about things like that. And what was a little girl anyway, no fears from little kids. Let whoever Minori's brother worry about it. Pulling her keys out she listened to the door for a moment and heard nothing. At least it was safe to go in.
"I'm home! Hope you're not doing anything I wouldn't approve of," Misato teased out jokingly as she walked in. Kicking off her shoes she walked into the mostly dark apartment, to the sounds of the television playing. Finding the green haired monster that used her as a mattress a few days ago watching it, "So you're the only one still up? Its only 10. What's up?" Heading to the kitchen she found her supper waiting for her with instructions on how to cook it. She loved that, like being the breadwinner of a family. Shinji was the stay at home husband, and she was the woman of the house. "Just need to get rid of three or four others, get him five years and…" Misato fumbled her beer can to the ground as Shinji stepped out of the bathroom.
His vision of Misato blocked by the towel he was using the dry his face with, Shinji was naked as the day he was born. "Shizuka-san, I heard talking, is Himari-san up already? Normally she sleeps longer," he stopped when the beer can rolled over to his foot. "Its…not eleven yet right?" his lower half twitched involuntarily as it stood full mast.
"Beer-kun came home early, Slayer-kun, and she's enjoying the show. As for Neko-hime she's still recovering from your new finger and tongue trick," Shizuka called out from the living room, her tone laced with merriment.
Swallowing hard, Misato couldn't take her eyes off the goods. "Somebody either hit a growth spurt since moving in or you were hiding something from me Shin-chan," Misato snickered as she spoke. Ok, so Shinji was hung like a horse it seemed, far from what she saw when he first moved in. "I think…I'm going to have my beer in my room tonight and turn in early," she wanted to NOT think about what happened in the apartment before she showed up. Her last boyfriend, Kaji, wasn't even…how did he…where did the blood come from?! No, don't think, just go to the room, hit the hidden bottle of whisky and think tomorrow.
X-X
Standing on the roof of her apartment bathed in blue light, Asuka was starting to feel a little anxious about her current environment. After several days of pondering, talking to Kuesu, and watching Shinji going off with those demons, Asuka knew she had and wanted to act. Seeing how feeble Shinji was, both in resistance to female forms and in fighting she had her idea. She'd offer to train him in hand to hand combat, her specialty. A side benefit would be they could both work on their demon hunting skills, Shinji was easier to draw from.
"So how did it end up like this?" Asuka mouthed under her breath. It wasn't just Shinji and her now, they had spectators. Chizuru and Ayanami were clad in spandex suits, oh how Asuka hated seeing that big breasted floozy in anything skintight, and stretching next to Shinji showing off their goods. The other, and bigger, threat in Himari was clad in her kimono and doing sword training. Herself in a sweat suit, "You paying attention to me, Shinji, or are you distracted by your…friends?"
Grabbing Shinji by the neck and drawing him to her cheek, Chizuru nuzzled her life mate affectionately. "Oh we won't be a bother to Shin-chan. Rei-chan needs training in her skills, and I want to make sure you don't hurt any vital part of my favorite slayer," she kissed his cheek lightly. Releasing her blushing mate, Chizuru spread her legs eagle on the ground and proceeded to show of her flexibility. Bending so far forward she smooshed against the ground with a grin from ear to ear. Oh she knew Asuka was watching.
Trying to mimic Chizuru's actions, Rei sat facing her mentor and moved in pantomime. "Yesterday's events were very informative. It is as Chizuru-san says, I am ill prepared for this new aspect of life," Rei couldn't quite touch the ground as Chizuru could. After a few forward stretches, Rei laid on her back and arched her back while standing on her tip toes and hands.
Spry little minxes, Asuka had to admit, but nothing she couldn't do herself if she wanted. But she wasn't on the make for Shinji, no she didn't have to parade herself for his gawking enjoyment. "Let's get going, Shinji. Let them do what they have to," no she owed him a life debt. He was a nice boy, a potentially powerful ally, and she liked him as a person. "Stretch like I do, or you'll be sore," she got on the ground and did a few simple stretches.
"I'll try, but I'm not very limber," Shinji confessed. It took conscious effort for the lad not to fawn over the shapely bodies around him, but he did an amicable job of it. As for the actual pre-workout activities, he did far better than even he suspected by the look on his face. After the pre-game was finished, Shinji got up and offered his hand to Asuka, "You sure it's a good idea for you to teach me this? I don't have a fighter's mentality."
His hand was warm, Asuka knew that powerfully well. Rubbing the feeling off on her sweats, she did not want to get distracted. "Well I can't make you a master like myself in a few hours, but I can teach you some self-defense moves. They're simple and effective against all manners of foes either human or otherwise," she cast her gaze at Himari. Watching the girl sprout her ears and tail, Asuka was amazed at the fluidity of the cat-demon's movements. Leaves and other floating debris cut so quickly it was as if Himari wasn't moving, beautiful and dangerous.
Without missing a beat, almost as if she knew she was being watched, Himari sheathed her blade and turned to the pair. "An intelligent sentiment. Shinji-sama need not be a master, he need only hold off until either yon fox or myself can finish off whatever ails him," she didn't look winded or fatigued despite all her efforts. Hoping off the ledge of the building upon where she trained she slid up behind her charge. Sinking her claws into Shinji's shoulders playfully, "Now do not play with her to hard, Shinji-sama. We have plans for after this training."
Frowning as Himari went off to join Chizuru and Rei, Asuka wished she had a tissue to hand Shinji as he snooze and sniffed. "Maybe it was wrong to give you that allergy," Asuka did know it was Kuesu's doing but couldn't counter it. Her friend had every right to stack the deck though, so Asuka wouldn't question it. Leading Shinji further away from the training trio of seductresses then asked, "Now stand like this, and punch me."
Predictably Shinji stood rod stiff and stammered out incoherently for a few moments. "I-I-I can't punch you! Isn't there something-something else I can do other than that?" he back stepped from the girl with his hands up defensively.
"You're not going to hit me, stupid, I'm too skilled for that. It's to demonstrate how YOU can counter a punch if ones thrown at you," Asuka should have felt insulted but didn't. Normally when she did this with people, they were condescending and fearful they'd hurt her. Somehow though, she didn't think that was what Shinji was thinking. He was just being thoughtful, not looking down on her, more credence to why Kuesu loved him, despite how she spoke and acted. Thumbing her nose and raising her fists, "Now either you punch AT me like you mean it, or I'm going to do so to you. And with your defenders disposed I bet I could get a few good licks in."
His body turned full red at some internal thought brought about by Asuka's comment sent a chain reaction in the girl. "S-sure, just go easy on me then," Shinji fought past the unintentional innuendo. Balling up his right fist, Shinji let fly an honest attempt to punch Asuka in the stomach. The attack was deflected by Asuka, his wrist caught, and then she twisted his arm in a painful angle behind his back. Falling to his knees, panting out in sudden pain and anguish, "Th-that was…h-how….stop?"
Having been trained in pressure points and submission holds, Asuka knew how hard to push to cause pain that lasted and pain that only seemed to hurt. Letting go of her captive, she helped him back up with a cheeky grin. "Doesn't hurt anymore right?" she was a little concerned. She had only trained with Kuesu before and the first time they did she pulled the poor girl's shoulder out. When he just shrugged and wiggled his wrist a bit, she assumed he was fine. "Now I want you to try it on me," she grabbed his hand and placed it on her wrist, "Not too hard and I'll tell you when to stop."
Actually laughing a little, Shinji held Asuka's wrist gingerly almost delicately. "I'll try, but that was something else. You were so fast, and I could barely think or even move with the pain. But the moment you let go, as if nothing happened," the wonder was palpable in his reverence. Mimicking Asuka's move, clumsily but effectively he brought Asuka to her knees as she did him. When she patted the ground with her free hand he released her, "That was, I didn't hurt you did I?"
"That was so manly Shin-chan! Maybe you can practice that on me! But then again you've always been good with your hands with me," Chizuru called out from her own practicing. The fox had her ears and tails out, hair golden blonde, and how the sweat was clinging to her made that red leotard nearly transparent.
Don't fall into a bickering contest with that thing, do NOT let her goad you! Asuka fought against the desire to yell and succeeded. She had Shinji's attention, and she was going to keep it and guide him towards salvation. Salvation being human kind, Kuesu, and not living in sin with demons. Rotating her shoulder, working the kink out, "Didn't do any lasting damage. You did good though, quick learner it seems. So let's continue." Soon Asuka beset the boy on a bevy of hand-to-hand techniques. First demonstrating them on him, and then letting him try them on her.
He had promise, Asuka realized, but his nature was what held him back. The holds were too soft and gentle. Punches lacked the necessary savagery to stand up against vicious fighters. But if he remembered half of what she taught him, he'd at least last long enough for somebody to show up. That was, if he didn't use his more formidable powers. They broke for lunch, Shinji going over to the trio of other girls and offering Asuka to join in. She refused the group but accepted his lunch, boy could cook a mean meal even if it wasn't suitable to her western palette.
"The young pup has great aptitude for learning, leagues beyond what I thought possible in a single morning session," Himari affectionately pet Rei behind her wolf ears. Sipping her tea daintily, leaning against Shinji's left side as Chizuru took the right, she was the picture of content. Though one half laden eye, "And yon fox is quite the adept teacher. Far more so than expected. Tis a shame you shant want for training in weapons though as I could have done far better."
Gnawing on the fifth of ten ribs, Rei's face was slathered in sauce and meat juice. Either due to her excessive workout or just really enjoying the meal, Rei was a real messy eater. Dribbling on her white leotard, "Chizuru-san is adept at energy manipulation and Nerv has already trained me in hand-to-hand. As such, if you wanted…Shinji-san…I could also teach you some grappling." She said his name so tenderly it was nearly unheard amid the winds atop the building. Her face adoringly gazing at her 'alpha', she was smitten.
Finishing off his fish, Shinji poured the rest of his tea out on a drain before standing back up. "I'd like that Ayanami-san," the look both Chizuru and Rei gave him was harsh, "I mean Rei-san." Something had happened between them, Asuka couldn't help but notice, that forced a more intimate relationship. "This is good exercise, and I don't want to hold any of you back if things get dangerous. But for now I think it's time I repay Asuka-san for her time and work with her with our…um…" he sputtered as he turned to Asuka questioningly.
"Shinji-sama gets enough exercise to find his weight in decline/Shin-chan you burn so hot with me you're wasting away!" Chizuru and Himari contested Shinji's comments but not his intentions.
Grabbing his hand and dragging him away from the wanton gazes (seriously were they about to pounce him right there?) and back towards their private training ground. "Not to interrupt your disgusting conversation, but we have to work on human techniques. Unlike you three, we have to work harder to harness spiritual powers. Me more than him, so he'll be my battery as he tries to get Light Ferry under control," she hated admitting her weaknesses. But when it came to mental powers, Asuka was the lightweight to Shinji's heavy.
Cleaning up the mess they made, Chizuru put her hands on her hips and leaned back heavily. "Well you're right about that. But Shin-chan and I can just merge if needed and then nobody can stand against our love!" she winked playfully at the lad who was putty in her hands.
Smacking Shinji before he could start walking over towards Chizuru, as he appeared ready to, Asuka stomped her foot. "You've spent the last four days with those two, you can spend a little more time training before running off with them again!" she grabbed his ear and bent it painfully. Thankfully the demons either didn't mind her little love tap or agreed with her statement. Once they were a respectable distance away, "Seriously, you need to keep your focus. That's a big problem of yours. One flash of flesh and you're…is that all Kuesu has to do to get your attention?"
Sitting down in the lotus position, just as Asuka did, Shinji frowned as he put his hands on his knees. "I'm not THAT bad. Just Chizuru and Himari have a way of…speaking to me with their eyes. We've…I don't know how to explain it. We trust each other with our lives. Himari is my protector, and Chizuru has literally been inside my soul," Shinji tried to explain the event she nearly watched. "Anyway, let's get going with this, and maybe you could…tell me about Kuesu-san. All I have is vague memories, and I want to know her better but I don't know where she is or how to talk to her," he confessed.
Not having had a kitsune merge body and soul with her, Asuka had to admit she couldn't relate to Shinji's statement. Also she never had anybody say they would protect her forever. When Shinji saved her, it opened her eyes to things, she…trusted Shinji as she did Kuesu. So if Shinji trusted those two the same way, maybe she shouldn't be so adamant they were evil. Nothing they did seemed bad, let alone vile and wicked as Kuesu said all demons where. Kuesu hadn't had such personal contact with them, and the demons Kuesu did get involved with were the murderous kind.
"So, what do you want me to do? I'm not trained in any of this. I can sort of remember just a little from my childhood, and when I did it before I wasn't really trying," Shinji tried not looking over Asuka's shoulder. He failed mostly as Himari and Chizuru had started doing a little light grappling, mostly Himari flinging Chizuru around while Rei cheered the girl on. Letting some of the more interesting squeaks and moans sink in, the lad shifted in his seat to hide the result, "Do I just concentrate?"
Grumbling under her breath, Asuka handed Shinji a stick she found on the roof. Maybe he wasn't a pervert but those demons were, and they were playing him like a fiddle. "Shinji, try to keep yourself focused alright. I know you're a man and those ladies behind me are distracting, but if you can't focus you're useless," she felt that spike of irritating growing. Closing her eyes, she tried to shut out those sultry moans herself. OH they had to be doing that on purpose, to mess with her…him yeah she wasn't into that…damn it sounded hot. Taking a deep breath, "You just focus on the stick and I'll focus on you. That's all."
Holding the stick in both hands in his lap like a sword, Shinji mimicked Asuka's poise and breathing. "I'll do my best, but I might need to talk to somebody else to get better," he didn't come off as condescending but he did talk down to the volatile girl.
"Fine, go to Kuesu's apartment without your girlfriends and talk to her about it. She's been wanting to talk to you anyway without them around. Just…be patient with her," Asuka knew Kuesu could be temperamental at times. Focusing on Shinji's being, trying to tap into the spiritual energy that was inherent to all the great slayer lines. "Just deep breaths, and let me focus. Kuesu is a sweet and great girl, you'd really like her. Just…give…her…" she felt it again. She felt his aura and energy ebbing out of him like she did with Kuesu, only it was far more extreme.
Where Kuesu was a bright and fiery ball of energy, spastic like a puppy leaping and bounding around with reckless abandon, Shinji was not like that. He was broad and expansive, warm and soft glowing warmth that soothed and illuminated. They were stellar opposites, and Asuka was hard pressed to tell which she liked the sense of more. But she knew she could just sit and bask in it all day given the option. Summoning a ball of flame, bigger than what she could do alone and with Kuesu, Shinji was just easier to draw from. He was a battery where Kuesu was just ambient energy.
All of Asuka's focus when away though when she felt a pair of soft and warm cushions pressing against her back and hands teasing at her stomach. "Are you done playing with my hubby, or are you just going to stare at him for another hour?" Chizuru nuzzled her cheek against Asuka's.
Thrusting her arms about, knocking herself out of Chizuru's grasp and falling into Shinji, Asuka found herself staring into his eyes. "That was…it was an hour already? It felt like only a few minutes! If that's how you are alone, I wonder how it is when both of you mer…" my did he have beautiful eyes. And was she closer to him than she was a moment ago, her arms were going slack lowering herself closer to him.
Slowly moving his hands up to his face, holding Asuka back from any potential mistakes, "Y-yeah it was an hour. Sorry but I couldn't make the Light Ferry, I think I got close those. As for Chizuru and myself merging I don't know if that's a…" and then he was bathed in light. Whiskers popped out of his cheeks, sleek black ears erupted from his head as Chizuru took matters into her own hands. Tired of watching Asuka prostrate herself atop him, she chose just to do what Asuka asked. "I-uh…guess she…wanted to?" Shinji eeped out.
"You're cuter with the whiskers I'll admit," Asuka admitted as Himari pulled her off the combined pair. Listening to Himari and Rei fawn over how Shinji did look more huggable in his combined form, Asuka chose to try her linking again. Chizuru said they were invincible while combined, well Asuka doubted that. Blocking out Rei's dry rubbing against her matriarch and patriarch and Himari tried prying the fox girl of, the sound was even feistier. When she found it again, the difference was…well she couldn't fathom it. All Asuka knew was she felt love on a level she never felt before, it brought a tear to her eye, and she was jealous.
X-X
Notes
Well there you have it, first chapter of the year. And a lot of things happened and a lot of it is important plot elements. Have to balance the lime bits with story…hope you're still enjoying it.
On a side note my next chapter will be for Wandering Pilot. Man…I don't know what to think about that story. I love writing it, but I expected it to be mostly ignored…seriously queen's blade doesn't seem to popular but man its getting a lot of hits for me.
I'm glad you guys read it, really really glad, but some of you are a little over zealous. I'm sorry I can't spend more time writing, but yelling at me to get chapters of it out, and not in my story rotation…upsets me to a degree. I hate being this way, but I'm the type of person that when I'm told 'you have to do this' my first reaction is to say 'no I don't'.
Again, thanks for the reviews but only saying "write this on your little time off' doesn't help me to much ^_^
Later
Mercaba