Chapter 21

A.N.: Okay, folks, here's how it works. I don't own any of the Eva characters or descriptions, and I don't own anything that comes from Angel, either.

Shinji and Misato walked downstairs to investigate who had come in the door. Shinji was surprised by Misato leading the way into the living room, actually pushing past him to do so. She had a very hard look on her face, as though expecting another attack.

Okay, Shinji thought, pride's one thing. The way she's acting, like she's got something to prove, that's just bordering on obsession, and it could potentially get her in a lot of trouble.

What they found was Rei sitting on one of the couches, wrapped in a fluffy white robe. Shinji wasn't sure what she was wearing underneath it, but he suspected it wasn't much.

"Up kind of late, aren't you, Rei?" Misato asked, her voice friendlier now that she knew who was in the room.

"I was in the hot tub and I guess I lost track of the time," Rei replied apologetically, "I'm sorry. If I'm bothering you, I'll leave."

"Not unless you put on something a little more modest than that robe," Misato said. Shinji laughed softly.

"What?" Misato demanded, rounding on him.

"Oh, nothing," Shinji chuckled, "You just sounded exactly like a mother or an older sister or something right there, that's all."

"Hm," Misato grunted shortly, then turned back to Rei, "Well?"

"I have my bathing suit on under the robe," she said shyly, "I just put this on because I felt chilly."

"Didn't you bring any other clothing with you," Misato asked, "Or did you just wear that robe over here this afternoon?"

"I brought other clothes," Rei replied defensively, "but it got windy this afternoon and they got blown into the pool. They aren't dry yet."

"I'm sorry," Misato said, softening, "Would you like me to throw them in the dryer so you can get home and go to bed?"

"I'm not in any hurry. I'm…still kind of leery about being at home alone at night," Rei said uncomfortably.

"That's understandable," Shinji chimed in with a nod. Misato looked askance at him.

"Well, I mean, look at the facts," Shinji continued, undaunted, "The last time Rei stayed at home without any kind of supervision, she nearly had her throat ripped out by a crazed werewolf trying to send me a message written in blood."

"I wasn't home alone," Rei protested, "Mom and dad were in their bedroom. They just…didn't hear anything. And when they didn't ask about it the next morning, I didn't volunteer anything. After they left for work, I dug out the cleaning equipment and scrubbed the hell out of my floor until I got most of the blood stain out."

"Do you think they'll notice much?" Shinji asked.

"I don't know," Rei said with a small shrug, "Maybe if I can find a nice area rug to cover the spot, they'll never know. What do you think?"

"It might work," Shinji said encouragingly, "But, you know, if you want, you can sleep here at the house tonight. That is, if you feel like it would help you sleep better and it's all right with you, Misato."

"Hey, if Rei needs a place to sleep that she feels secure in, I say let her stay," Misato said, sounding more and more like her usual, jovial self.

"However," she added, sounding too suddenly serious to be believable, "I'd better not catch her snuggled up in my boyfriend's bed in the morning. If I do, oh boy am I gonna be pissed!"

"I wouldn't try to steal him from you!" Rei said, sounding abashed, "I'll sleep here on the couch!"

"Mellow out a little, Misato," Shinji said sheepishly, "There's nothing like that between us anymore."

Rei's eyes fell when she heard Shinji say this. As Misato was staring most intently at Shinji, she didn't notice. Shinji, however, did notice. It ripped his heart out with grief that he had just re-broken Rei's heart after she had done so much to sneak her way back into his life.

"On second thought, I think I'll go home and sleep," Rei said quietly. She got up and started for the door.

"Well, go after her," Misato said insistently.

"What?" Shinji asked, "Why?"

"It's too late in the evening for a girl like Rei to be out alone dressed like she is," Misato replied, "And besides, she looks like she's on the verge of tears. Go after her and bring her back."

Shinji didn't need anything more to be said. He rushed out to the entrance hallway. He caught up with Rei as she was pulling open the front door.

"Rei, wait!"

"Just let me go home so you and Misato can have some privacy," Rei protested.

"I can't do that tonight, Rei," Shinji said adamantly, "You're only wearing a robe and a bikini, and I'm not even sure you're wearing the bikini--,"

Shinji's ramble was cut off by Rei pulling open the front of her robe. Underneath it, Shinji saw her white bikini's bottom, but the top was missing, leaving her perky breasts exposed to his view. Shinji gawked despite himself.

"I wasn't lying," Rei said quietly.

"But you weren't telling the truth, either," said Shinji, "You're only wearing half a bathing suit, and I can't, in good conscience, let you go outside at night wearing only that."

"You're sweet, Shinji," Rei said, "you really are. I can see why Misato loves you so much. That's why you don't need me here tonight. Misato's still recovering from a terrible ordeal and she needs quiet and support from people who love her."

"And she invited you to stay," Shinji added, "What does that tell you? She wants you to stay, Rei. Please? It's not safe for you to go out there at night dressed like that, even in the 'burbs."

"It's only a short walk to my house," said Rei, closing her robe and stepping out the door, "What could happen between here and there?"

"Maybe…that?!" Shinji shouted, diving at Rei and knocking her down.

"Shinji, what the hell--?!"

"Look!" Shinji said pointedly, indicating what looked like a man standing back up and turning to face them.

"Who's that?" Rei asked, confused.

"I think," Shinji said as the man faced them fully, "I think the better question is: what is that?"

"I'm insulted," the man said, "You're a creature of the night yourself, and you've never heard of vampires? Man… Kids today are so jaded!"

"I'm sorry," Shinji said, "did you just say vampire?"

"Yeah," said Misato, stepping out the door, "vampire. Blood-sucking maniacs. They're scum, Shinji, and you need to kill them whenever you get the chance, because they won't hesitate to kill you and anyone you care about."

"How do you know so much about us?" the vampire asked, "I don't know anything about you, other than the fact that you look absolutely delicious."

"You stay away from her," Shinji growled, getting to his feet.

"How are you gonna stop me, little pup?" the vampire taunted.

"I'll tear you apart," Shinji snarled. Then, with a howl, he transformed into his werewolf form. He tackled the vampire and began to claw and slash at him. A brawl between the two night-creatures began. Shinji picked up the vampire and hurled him over the top of the house, then he leaped over the roof after him, easily clearing the roof in a single bound. When Shinji landed in the backyard, the vampire was up on its feet and waiting for him. The two combatants re-engaged in their mortal duel.

"Shinji!" Misato shouted, charging out the back door, "Go for its heart or its throat!"

The vampire charged at Shinji again. This time, Shinji was ready. As the vampire leapt at him, Shinji grabbed him by the neck and sank his fangs into its neck. The vampire dropped to the ground and writhed in agony. Shinji watched with satisfaction as the skin on its neck began to crack and crumble.

"AAAAARRRGGHH!" the blood-sucker screamed as his body crumbled into a pile of dust. Shinji pulled back to humanity and scooped up some of the dust into his hands.

"What the hell was that all about?" Shinji asked, rolling some of the dust on his fingertips.

"Can't say for certain," Misato replied, "But I'm gonna guess that that vampire you just dusted was intent on feeding on Rei, and you just saved her neck, literally."

"No, I mean, how'd a simple bite to the throat kill a supposedly immortal creature?" Shinji said, "Vampires…they are supposed to be immortal, right?"

"Yeah, they are," Misato answered, "I mean, unless you stake them through the heart with wood or cut off their head, or there's always the waiting for the sun to rise. They're not fond of holy water or fire. And, I guess they're not fond of werewolf bites, either."

"I think I almost agree with the dust-bunny, here," Shinji said, "How the hell do you know so much about vampires? I mean real ones."

"We have a history," Misato said shortly, "And it's not a good one."

"What happened?" Rei asked.

"They took my family," Misato said, her voice quiet and emotionless, "When I was eight, a vampire came to my house. My parents didn't know. They thought he was their old friend, so they invited him in. He toyed with them at first, making mom scream for help, then hitting her in the face to shut her up. He made me watch helplessly as he drank them both. I would have been next, but someone came."

"Who?" Shinji asked, amazed at Misato's dark past.

"A man," Misato replied, "He was tall, he had short, somewhat spiky and messy hair, and a really heavy brow. He stopped in the doorway and shouted at me: 'Invite me in! I'm here to help!' I didn't know why he wanted to be invited in, but I couldn't make my mouth move to speak. So, I just motioned with my hands rapidly for him to come in. He burst through the doorway and staked the vampire with few problems. I watched that soulless bastard crumble to dust with a tear-streaked smile on my face. When he was gone, I walked over and spat in the pile of dust and kicked it around. Then, I cried. The man walked over and stood next to me. His voice was very calm when he spoke.

"'They're gone…aren't they?' I asked. I felt dead inside, because I already knew the answer.

"'Yeah,' he replied, sounding very calm, 'Yeah, they are. I'm sorry.'

"'Who are you?' I had asked him, 'How did you know I needed help?'

"'I'm Angel,' he replied, 'I have people who…tell me when there are people in trouble. I'm sorry I didn't…get here in time to save your parents.'

"Wait a minute," Shinji said, temporarily interrupting Misato, "He's a guy, and his name's Angel?"

"Yeah," Misato said, "That's the only name I got from him. Before he left, he gave me his card and told me that I should call him if I ever needed help again."

"Do you still have that card?" Shinji asked.

"It's been almost twenty years," Misato said.

"Do you still have it?" Shinji repeated.

"Yeah," Misato said, "I keep it…upstairs."

Shinji, Rei and Misato went upstairs to Misato's bedroom, where she went over to her dresser and dug through her top drawer. She produced a small business card that had an artistically inscribed picture of an angelic being on it. Shinji read the name "Angel Investigations" across the top of the card. Shinji read a phone number across the bottom.

"Misato," Shinji said, "Does the phone in your office have a speaker-phone setting?"

"Yeah," said Misato, "Why?"

"Because I think these people can help us," Shinji said, "Let's go give them a call."