Chapter 20: Switching Back
Hello all you readers! I'm back with another installment of Deviance from the Norm. I know all you people can't wait for more, so here you go!
Disclaimer: I do not own NGE, Gainax does. I do, however, claim ownership of all original characters
Preread by YouarenotasrandomasI
Shopping District
It was a few hours after noon, and there were many people about. Among the people was a pair of teenage kids. Anyone who thought the kids were out on a date, were very wrong. Nervously following his old body, Shinji wondered what Asuka could want to do here. Although she said to but new clothes, he couldn't help but wonder what else she was up to.
"Asuka, are we there yet?"
Wickedly smiling, Asuka replied, "Yep"
The two were standing in front of a fairly large clothing store. Grabbing Shinji's borrowed arm, she dragged him into the store. They continued through the store until they had reached the men's section. Now realizing what her goal was, Shinji let out a low groan.
"Asuka, I've already told you, I don't need any new clothes" he said in a traditional Asuka-like whine
Frowning, the former red-head dragged the boy down the aisles of clothing, "Shut up baka. You need something other than just this stupid school uniform. It'll do you good to have something nice to wear for day to day activities"
Grumbling, Shinji allowed himself to be dragged towards a rack of clothes, where Asuka proceeded to search for something suitable for Shinji. Holding several shirts against the body she was borrowing, she considered different options for him.
This blue shirt should go well with his eyes, she thought, I should probably get him something formal as well.
While she was doing this, Shinji looked around the store, observing the other people around them. He was interrupted from his musings when Asuka tugged on his sleeve.
"Come on," she said impatiently, "I want to try these on"
Into the changing rooms she went, Shinji waiting outside. Listening to Asuka muttering something about shoes, he let his thoughts drift.
I wonder, what does Asuka think of me? He thought to himself
He went over what had happened during the time they spent together. During the first week the two spent in be spelled closeness, they had been growing closer. After the crisis with the shadow Agric, the bond seemed to grow stronger. Shaking his head to clear thoughts of the vile being, Shinji let his thoughts drift to other things. When they swapped bodies, things were, for lack of a better word, weird. The two were living the way the other did, and learning more about each other.
The door opened, and Shinji turned to see himself completely changed. Asuka had dressed his body in loose jeans, blue t-shirt, green wind-breaker, and a baseball cap with Yankees on it.
Looking in the mirror, Asuka said, "You look good like this"
Pulling a few tough guy poses, she continued, "Let's see what else you look good in"
The boy could only watch helplessly as Asuka went back into the changing room. Not even waiting for his opinion, just like she usually does. Sighing in resignation, Shinji turned to see the two people he least wanted to see. Kensuke and Touji were walking down the aisles, looking at the clothes on display.
Pushing into the changing room, he startled Asuka, who was trying on some different clothes.
"Baka, what the hell are you-" she was interrupted when Shinji placed a hand over her mouth
"Touji and Kensuke are outside" he said in a low undertone
Eyes widening, Asuka peeked through the door to see that it indeed was true. The two remaining stooges were outside. Frowning, Asuka closed the door and locked it.
"We'll just have to wait till they leave" she said confidently
Internally, she was slightly worried. Forget having Shinji barging in on her while changing, even though technically it was his own body, having the others outside made it even more difficult as the room wasn't really that big.
Outside, the two boys were looking through the formal wear section. Touji picked one up and held it against himself.
"Hey, what do you think of this?"
Kensuke, bored out of his mind, asked, "Why are we here again? And why are you so worried about clothes all of a sudden?"
Flushing slightly, the other boy replied, "In case we have to go somewhere and need something nice to wear"
Slanting his eyes, Kensuke said, "I think you're looking for clothes in case you go on a date with a certain female"
Jumping, Touji said, "Who said I wanted to take Hikari out on a date?"
"I didn't say it would be with the class rep"
Blushing a deep red, the jock replied, "Just tell me if this seems nice"
Sighing, Kensuke walked away, "I don't care, just pick something nice, go on your date, and leave your best friend for good"
Grabbing the four-eyed stooge, Touji asked, "Hey, stop that. We'll always be friends, you, me, and Shinji"
"Yeah right, Shinji's already lost his soul to the red devil, and now you're roped in by the class rep. Why is it that my two best friends are dating the two worst girls in the whole world?"
The two began a series of debates about girls, dating, and why Shinji and Asuka were spending so much time together.
Meanwhile, the topic of their conversation were trapped in the dressing room, waiting with bated breathe for the two stooges to leave. Their prayers went unheard as the two walked towards them.
Knocking on their door, Touji asked, "Hey, are you done yet?"
Disguising Shinji's voice, Asuka said, "Just begun, I may be in here a while, so you may try somewhere else"
Fingers crossed, the pilots hoped for them to follow their advice. Unfortunately, the fates seemed to be against them as Touji took a seat against the wall.
"That's okay, I can wait," he said crossing his arms, "we don't have anything to do, so take your time"
By now the two pilots were beginning to panic. Touji and Kensuke were both trapping them inside the room. Leaving would only get them in trouble, as Kensuke was most likely filming everything around him with his stupid camera.
"Asuka," Shinji whispered fearfully, "what do we do now?"
While Asuka was pondering on their next move, Sai and Keevan entered the store. Since Keevan was a child, there weren't many school uniforms he could wear, so he had to get them custom made.
The pair spotted Touji and Kensuke talking to each other by the dressing room and headed towards them.
"Hey, what are you two up to?" Sai asked
Frowning, Kensuke replied, "Touji's getting clothes to get ready for his date with the class rep"
Keevan decided to check with the clerk about his uniform and left the elder boys to talk amongst themselves. At the moment, Sai was introducing to them to some interesting news
"The schools going to host a costume dance party next week. I've heard that there will be food, drinks, music, and a costume contest at the end" Sai said in an enthusiastic tone
The stooges were intrigued by this news. Since Second Impact, there has been a drought in school festivities and cheer, so this costume dance was something that was well needed and well deserved.
"Wow," Touji exclaimed, "this should be awesome. Where did you hear about this?"
Tapping the side of his nose, Sai said in a mischievous tone, "I have my sources"
The three were enthusiastically talking about the event while Keevan returned carrying a bag with his school uniform. Finding Sai talking with the stooges, the mage took a seat next to the door of the dressing room. The child, although well trained in self-defense and capable of going home by himself, was still a child with the fear of being alone.
Waiting, he heard a light tapping coming from the room next to him. Turning, the door opened slightly to reveal both Asuka and Shinji.
"Hey, kid," Asuka began, "could you help us out?"
Keevan nodded, "That shirt is really nice," he said, "how about wearing a lighter shade?"
Confused, Asuka was about to ask what he was talking about when Shinji said, "Please help us get out of here without Touji or Kensuke seeing us"
Smiling, the young boy nodded as he replied, "Well, since you said please. Give me a minute"
Surreptitiously pulling out his wand, Keevan muttered a few words and pointed it at the stooges who were talking with Sai. A light green glow appeared, unnoticed by the three, around them. Holding a finger to his mouth in a shushing gesture, Keevan motioned for them to leave.
Mouthing thanks, Shinji allowed himself to be dragged by a grumbling Asuka towards the front door. Outside, Asuka began to vent her anger by swearing loudly in both German and Japanese.
"Verdammen! Those damn stooges had to come in at THAT time! When I get my hands on them, I'll-"
Whatever she was about to say next was interrupted when both their cells rang simultaneously. Wondering who was calling, they pulled out and pushed the connect buttons.
"Shinji, Asuka, return to main", came Iak's neutral voice, "We can put you two back to rights now"
The signal then disconnected, leaving the teens feeling excited. They were finally going to be returning to their own bodies. Running towards the nearest alleyway, Shinji checked for any watchers while Asuka activated the special feature on her cell. When the portal opened up, Shinji followed his body through, arriving instantaneously in front of the door to the Avatars' base of operation.
Upon entering, the pilots noticed an odd feel in the air. Peering around, the pair noticed Rikku and another woman talking over tea. She was wearing a silver dress as well as a full silver mask. The woman in silver turned to see them, and gestured towards the couch
"Come, join us" the masked woman said
Asuka stepped up and asked the woman in an impetuous tone, "Are you the one who can put me back in my body?"
Cringing slightly, Shinji told her in a low undertone, "Don't make her mad Asuka. She might not if you do"
Realizing her mistake, Asuka took a deep breath and then tried to say, "Well, I, um, that is…"
Raising her hand to stop the girl's attempts, the woman told her, "There is no need for that, Asuka. My name is Mimara, the Second Council, and yes, I am here to help the two of you"
Breathing sighs of relief, the teens smiled at one another. Then they looked in confusion as they turned back to the masked woman.
"How did you know my name?" Asuka asked
Chuckling slightly, Rikku answered the question for the other woman, "She's one of those types who can't keep her nose out of other people's business"
Fearing for the Aerolan's life, the teens wondered what Mimara would do with such insolence. To their surprise, the masked woman also chuckled, but less so than Rikku.
Directing her attention back to the pilots, Mimara told them, "My unofficial title is the Secret Searcher. There is nothing that I don't know about anyone"
Both teens gulped at this as they feared what she would do with the knowledge she had. Seeing her gesture to the seats again, Shinji and Asuka sat and were given tea.
"Don't worry," Rikku said, "Mimara's actually nice, and she won't tell anyone your secrets. That is, unless you make her mad"
The pair shared a small chuckle, to which Shinji and Asuka looked on in confusion as Iak sat down next to them
"Yeah, they confuse me too" he said in a wry tone
Mimara turned to Iak and replied, "Is that why you were in your room praying to every god and goddess you know?"
Flushing while Rikku laughed at him, the Aerolan replied, "I admit, yes, and also because you're one of the few people who can actually send a shiver down my spine"
Putting down her empty teacup, the masked woman stood up, "Might as well start on what you asked me to do"
She took a few quick steps towards the little open space in the living room and turned. Shinji and Asuka found themselves standing in front of her without ever recalling getting up. Swallowing down their fear, they unconsciously grabbed each other's hand.
Placing a hand on each teens forehead, Mimara said, "Close your eyes"
Doing so, they had their eyes closed for no more than a few seconds before she then said, "Okay, you can open them"
Confused, Asuka was about to shout out her questions when she realized that the hand that was holding Shinji's had reversed. Turning, she saw that she was looking at Shinji, not herself. The boy was looking over his own body, as though making sure that everything was alright.
"Well that was quick and easy," Asuka said, delighting in using her own voice again, "I don't see why we needed to close our eyes for"
Rikku answered for Mimara, "Imagine you're watching the landscape pass by while driving in a car. Now imagine that at a hundred thousand times that speed"
Both felt a little green, seeing as how they felt that way whenever they went riding with Misato. Shinji turned to Mimara and bowed to her
"Thank you for putting us back to our right bodies"
Tilting her head, she replied, "It is no real deal. I often have to deal with problems like this all the time"
Feeling an elbow digging into her side, Asuka turned and bowed to the woman, "Thank you"
Nodding back, Mimara turned to the other two, "I would like to see my old student again before I leave"
The door opened at that moment as two boys entered the building. Carrying a few bags, Keevan and Sai looked slightly exhausted
"Tadaimas" the duo said as they entered
The younger looked up and a big smile grew on his face. Dropping his bags, he rushed into Mimara's arms.
"Sensei, you made it!"
Laughing lightly, the masked woman said in a kindly tone that contrasted greatly with her imposing mask, "I'm glad to see that you're alright little one"
A quizzical look on her reacquired face, Asuka turned to Iak and Rikku. The female responded, "Keevan doesn't have much family before entering the Avatars, and kind of sees her as a motherly figure"
Shinji wondered how such a frightening figure could possibly be at all mother-like. Looking to the pair, he saw that Keevan was acting like the child he was. Normally, the boy mage acted mature, like an adult. It was rare when Keevan acted like a kid, but here he was with this figure he saw like a mother.
Noting the time, Shinji decided that maybe he should help cook dinner. Walking away, it was a while before he realized that something was different. Turning around, he saw that he was now standing more than five feet from Asuka
Hearing a gasp, the red-head turned to ask Shinji what was wrong before realizing that they were farther apart than they were for the past few weeks. Everyone else was also surprised, and turned to Mimara for answers.
Behind the emotionless mask, she said, "I fixed a few other things while I fixed them"
Unaffected by the incredulous stares directed at her, Mimara turned back to Keevan and asked him how he's been. Not really understanding what was going on, Keevan led her to the bookshelf, where he began to tell her everything that happened.
Iak stepped by Shinji and asked, "Do you feel any different?"
Remembering how they used to be able to sense each others feelings, Shinji closed his eyes and concentrated.
'Damn witch. Why does this keep happening? It's been one thing after another for us-'
Opening his eyes and gulping, Shinji turned to see that Asuka was staring at Mimara's back as though trying to burn a hole through her. Stiffly turning back around, the boy walked into the kitchen as silently as possible.
Understanding what was most likely happening at the moment; Iak turned to Rikku and gestured towards Asuka. Nodding in understanding, she got up and stepped up behind the red-head and led her protesting away.
"It's about to get really loud, isn't it?" Sai asked
Nodding, Iak pulled out two pairs of earplugs and gave a set to the technician. Putting the other pair in his own ears, he took position by the kitchen door should the need to stop Asuka forcefully arise.
"Shinji, get ready to cover your ears" he called in warning, since he only had the two pairs of plugs
The boy was about to ask what he was talking about when a screech reverberated through the building.
It's a good thing we don't have neighbors, the Aerolan thought while sighing
There we go, another chapter down. And in record time too, I can't remember the last time I updated so quickly. Anyway, please R&R and I'll get back as soon as possible with the next chapter
Later!