Summer is getting away from me! Oh well that's just life I suppose. Life on this end of the screen is going fairly well. I've a new idea for a novel that I'll be starting soon, going to use what I learned from 'the long walk' and make it a lot better.

X – X

The Gift

Chapter – 26

Urd had to hand it to Skuld for the creativity and completeness of the fake persona that was created for her. Walking alongside Misato down the corridors of Nerv, she snuck a peek down at the badge adorning the lab coat she wore. 'Morisato Urd' stood out in dark black text and a very alluring mug shot of herself stared out sexily. Choosing to garb herself in more Ritsuko's style, she was listed as a system administrator after all, Urd wore a sleeveless black shirt to match her black shorts and nylons, the white coat made her ensemble stand out even more.

"It's so different to see this place at my full size and just walking through it," Urd quipped softly to her guide. She didn't need Misato to show her around, Urd had the base memorized from countless times passing through it, no Misato was there just for show and to have somebody to talk too. "And I'm glad you didn't overreact this morning when he came home," she poked Misato's arm gingerly. Urd hadn't expected Shinji and Takashiro to go almost all night and pass out in each others arms on the floor…but Urd had to admit Shinji was getting very good at making a woman feel squishy.

Waving her hand out, Misato pressed her badge to the door lock, and groaned. "I didn't want to make a scene in front of Metatron and Asuka," Misato retorted. The metallic door glided open on its perfectly oiled hinges, but it did let out the tiniest of squeals. "And I know why you did what you did with this Takashiro woman, but it's still hard to accept you know? Knowing the man you love is off sleeping with strangers…makes you feel a little unappreciated?" Misato's tone hinted at worry and a little depression.

Urd knew what Misato was hinting at all to well, but knew what the result of the 'normal' path lead. Keiichi and Belldandy were proof that when a lot of women loved one man and they didn't get a chance it left them all bitter and regretful, and it made them hate the woman. No, the situation was ideal if not a little strange. Misato would get used to it in time, Urd hoped. Scanning the training room, Urd pointed at the assembled crew. "Ibuki is going to be an issue, that man…Makoto will be fun, but that woman…" Urd didn't like the look of Yui at all.

"Yeah I'm not a fan of Yagami-san either, but she became quite popular with the rest of the command staff after her arrival," Misato wrinkled her nose. Her shoes clacked hard against the metallic floor, announcing their arrival without words, Misato put a hand on Urd's shoulder as if she were about to present her to the masses. "Now be good and normal or this will get ugly real fast," she hissed through a press on smile.

Swiveling around, Makoto's all too eager smile washed over him. Sitting up straight, one hand coyly masking a tent, his other waved at the woman he hoped was coming in. "Misato, didn't expect to see you this morning, and…w-who is that?" his voice hitched and his slide down his chair a little.

"Showtime," Misato whispered to herself and forced a cough. "Everybody if I could get your attention for a moment?" she called out loudly. With one hand still on Urd's shoulder, Misato pointed at the annoyingly beautiful woman. "Due to some of the issues we've been having with the Magi lately, Ritsuko thought it necessary to get an additional systems administrator to help her take care of things. And this is the lucky woman, Morisato Urd, treat her well," she took a step away leaving Urd the center of attention.

Within moments Urd found the three command staff and the handful of entry level tech workers giving her their undivided attention. At that moment, at that precise second in her life, Urd felt the change her life had taken. The women were shell shocked at what they saw, but the men, and this is what was new for Urd, the men's leery and lusty eyes were repugnant. Seeing them undressing her with their eyes, fantasizing strange meetings in closets or break rooms, it made her sick! Before she loved how she made men frothy and buckets of desire, she enjoyed teasing and toying with them but in the end leaving them unsatisfied…well a few were satisfied. Now, now she had somebody she loved, somebody she cared for, and she didn't like knowing that other men wanted Shinji's place at her side.

Clearing her throat, the epiphany still ringing like a bell in her mind, Urd was off her stride. "As Misa-chan said, I'm the new system admin, and I think it'll be a real pleasure to work with all of you. W-would you mind telling me what is going on right now, might help me catch up on what I'll be working with," her innards felt like ice as the man, Makoto was practically drooling.

It was Maya that broke from her perfection induced paralysis, "We're giving the pilots a synchronization test. It is a way for us to gauge how well they're improving with communication with their evangelion." Tugging on her collar, the uniform felt uncomfortably tight for some reason, Maya still didn't realize she was thrusting her bust out at the woman as she spoke. "We save the records in the Magi so we can run reports and see how they ratios change over time, and what has the best effect on the pilots," she informed and turned back to her work.

Walking the scant feet over to Urd, Yui extended her hand with a smile. "Yagami Yui, sub-commander. Morisato-kun, I had no idea we were getting a new support member for Akagi, Katsuragi must not have told me about it," she gave Urd's hand a squeeze harder than friendly but not to hard to draw pain. "No matter, Akagi has been a little off her stride lately, judging from the reports, I'm sure you'll help her get back on top of things," her tone was neutral but as soon as she finished talking, not waiting for a response, Yui headed back to the bay of monitors.

"Not a real friendly woman is she? I can see why she's snogging the commander," Misato whispered into Urd's ear. "The man coming up behind us is going to be brown nosing you so hard you have to be careful. Give him an inch and you'll have to have him surgically removed from your leg," she giggled a little. Patting Urd on the back, Misato left the new software goddess to her fate to join Maya in talking to the pilots.

Looking down at her hand, Urd didn't know what just happened. Something about that woman still didn't add up. She had spied on Yui almost constantly for the first week she arrived, but nothing stood out as unusual, but that coldness in the woman's grip. She'd have to keep checking into that woman. No matter, she'd be able to act with even more freedom thanks to Skuld's gift.

Tapping Urd on the shoulder, Makoto smoothed his hair back with his other hand. "Good morning, Morisato-san, would you like a review of our system? I'm here right now for data entry so I could let you see how things work if you want?" he sounded just as eager as ever. He waved his hand at his station with a few head bobs, his eyes wide and his smile almost split his face in half.

Exhaling hard, Urd wasn't in the mood for toying with this man, getting him to mess his pants didn't sound fun anymore. Shinji however, Urd could tease and toy with that boy forever and never get bored. Emotions, they changed things for everybody. But the quick thinking woman came up with a glorious way to stop the pestering this man was threatening, and save Misato from it as well.

Her eyelashes fluttered coyly as she followed along side Makoto to his computer. "Misa-chan was supposed to go over this with me but…well…it's a little embarrassing. We had to break in my new office," seeing the shocked expression on his face, just as she wanted Urd knew he took the bait hook line and sinker. "Oh she didn't tell you that she had a girlfriend? Oh! I'll have to punish her for that when I get her alone!" she smacked her palm to her fist and faked an angry glare at Misato.

"E-E-Excuse me!" Makoto squealed and ran off to the nearest bathroom to clean himself off. Urd's beauty compiled with the mental image of her and Misato in the throws of passion sent the poor man over the edge.

Waving at the retreating man, Urd felt a smidgen of pity for him. It wasn't that the man was boorish or a pervert, he just came on to strong and to fast. Under other conditions she might have even considered letting him get a taste of paradise, Urd did like the geeks, but she was a one human demoness now. Sitting at the station, Urd chuckled at what she saw. Having worked on the Ygddrasil for a few centuries, Nerv's system was akin to numbered shoeboxes. Her mirth was short lived however.

"Ikari-kun your scores are dropping, what is the problem?" Yui asked loudly over the speaker. "And it looks like you're about to fall asleep. We've talked about this, haven't we? Am I going to have to put a stop to things?" her authoritative voice filled the room with its hidden threat.

Shinji's voice, meek and fearful, came over haltingly. "S-sorry Yagami-san I didn't get a lot of sleep last night, school project. I'll do better I promise!"

Once the feed to the plugs had been severed, Misato stomped her foot and spun Yui to face her. "What was that about, Yagami-san? He is only down by one fucking point and you make it sound as if he's massacred a bus of orphans!" she accused. Her finger jutted at the readouts as she stomped again. "Shinji is doing his best here, why are you being so critical of his efforts? Sure Asuka and Rei are doing better, but that is no reason to single him out!" her anger more than evident.

Pushing Misato back a few feet, Yui's eyebrows hardened. "Major Katsuragi might I remind you of who is in charge here?" she said coolly. Adjusting her hat, rudely disheveled by Misato's sudden twirl, Yui continued. "I know he is living with you, and that emotional attachment is clouding your judgment here. We are at war, he is a soldier, and he is engaging in activities that are putting all of us at risk. Pilot Ikari agreed to the terms that if his performance started to dip, repercussions would be felt. Now I'd hate to have to separate him from you, but if you continue to blind yourself with your feelings to this fact, I'll have no alternative but to find alternate housing for him," she nodded once. A cruel smile crested her face, "Now as a show of your understanding, you'll tell him to try harder."

Urd could see the unadulterated hate oozing out of Misato as she picked up the microphone and switched it on. Agreeing with Misato, Urd was tempted to crush the puny human woman for having the audacity to behave as she was. But…but…Urd did realize the bitch had a point. Rei and Asuka were surging ahead thanks to the blessings life had thrown at them, Shinji was higher than he would have been, but his body was taxed with all the exertion. I'll have to arrange a little pep talk or something for him. He'll be depressed…Fourteen has been…yes…Fourteen.

"Shinji…could you try a little harder on concentrating on the tests please?" Misato forced herself to say. The loathing was so thick that even Maya was worried by it, but Misato didn't make matters worse. After the unwanted order, Misato turned off the communication. "Let's go Urd, I have a lot more to show you?" she didn't stop to see if Urd was following. Misato stomped off to the lockers and proceeded to kick the shit out of one of them.

X-X

"Are you sure you wish to do this, Soryu-kun?" Metatron asked as the pair stood outside the apparent dilapidated building. With nothing else to do, Urd had forbade both Asuka and herself from tending to Shinji's battered self-esteem quoting 'she had plans', Metatron stood along side her closest female companion. "We know they don't mean harm, and they are genuinely in love with Ikari-dono, confronting them merits us nothing," she tried reasoning.

Pushing open the door to Succubus-Central, Asuka was not in a reasoning mood. Standing in the hallway, "Get out here now you damn harpies!" she bellowed at the top of her lungs. The artistic and well maintained hallway, a Persian rug ran the length of the first floor hallway, contrasted wonderfully to the bleak exterior. "We know your representative is back and she was supposed to tell you all that we'd be coming!" she continued and pounded on the door of the first apartment.

Standing a hairs breath away from Asuka, ready to defend the volatile girl if any of the succubus opted to fight, Metatron was impressed with the interior. "They have good taste in art. This hallway reminds me of some of the buildings in the heavens," Metatron grabbed at a silk tapestry hung on the side of the door. "Besides that, what good will this do? I know you are feeling angry ate Ikari-dono's debasement, just as I, but we should trust in Urd's ability to cheer him up," she turned to the opening apartment door.

Aged to roughly twenty-one, clad in a form fitting business suit and wearing frameless glasses, the Rei that did the taxes cleared her throat. Lawyer Rei was the most evil of the group, and the biggest threat to mortals. "You are violating the city ordinance for noise pollution, Soryu, now cease and desist or I shall be forced to pull you up on charges," she adjusted her glasses as her monotone voice casually threatened a lawsuit.

Coming down the stairs, the original Rei rolled her eyes upon seeing the guest. "Oh yes, she did say you would be coming. I thought we had time to install stronger locks on the door," Rei quipped as she finished her decent. As Bookish Rei had been at Nerv, the original had began making plans with her sisters to turn the only unused apartment into one for Shinji. "I assume your visit is one of peace and sisterhood?" she quipped with her dry humor.

Surrounded by this much demonic energy was making Metatron's head spin. Her latent urges to crush and destroy all demonic taint was hard to resist, but she held strong. "Ayanami-kun, we come here today to set some ground rules for our shared intimacy with Ikari-dono," Metatron's voice lost some of its edge as pleasant memories wafted over. "We believe you are exerting to much pressure on him to perform, and that is having a negative effect on his piloting," not that Metatron knew what that meant, only that a threat to her new happiness originated from it.

"What my friend is trying to say is simply this. Stop fucking Shinji so damn much and let him get some damn normal sleep! You keep this up shit's going to hit the fan and by shit I mean your damn head!" Asuka raged and stomped her foot making a priceless Ming vase fall and shatter. "If whatever you call that tramp that I swear I saw giving Shinji a handjob before the test told you, he's getting read the riot act from that new sub-commander," she seethed.

"Follow me to the roof, it seems your angelic friend is overpowered by my sisters' and my auras," Rei gestured to Lawyer to follow. It was evident that a battle was underway, but a battle of words, and Lawyer was the strongest on that front. As they ascended the myriad of stairs, "And to alleviate you fears, my sister did not user her hand, she used her mouth, as did Shinji." Rei's smile, though small and unseen, was of pure bliss.

Catching sight of countless iterations and variations of Rei staring out through half opened doors, Metatron was more tempted to draw her sword. The building was alive with succubus, and they all wanted Shinji and only Shinji. They were specialized and training themselves to better a skill, and that meant Metatron would be unprepared to fight them all if the time came. "So you admit that you take advantage of his giving nature, adding to his deteriorating physical state?" she took a deep breath as they walked out onto the roof of the building.

The late afternoon sun glinted off Lawyer's glasses as she summoned a ledger from the infernal realms. The late Sunday air was dirty and humid, making clothing stick to bodies and hair lay limp, but Lawyer appeared cool and aloof. "From our records, yes we keep records, none of us have had as many turns with Ikari-sama as either of you," she handed Asuka the spreadsheet. "So your comment is without merit and baseless," she summoned another copy for Metatron to read.

"Holy shit you have this thing…you have…columns for positions, times on top, times on bottom, foreplay used…wait…my name is on this!" Asuka's face burnt red with embarrassment. "How did you know about that time I…that he…we only did that once!" Asuka's thunder had been stolen.

Finding Asuka's listing and finding the only entry with a one in it, Metatron's eyes went wide. "You had Ikari-dono pee on you?" she said incredulously. Never did Metatron factor bodily waste into the lovemaking equation, nor did she want to. Finding her own entry, Metatron went down the listing with an attention to detail. "This is flawless, you even have the listing for the times I…" the stoic and deadly assassin fell silent.

"Yes we have the times you achieved orgasm before Shinji did, seems he is very apt at making you dirty the sheets yet you don't return the favor. Your foreplay is abysmal," Rei sat at the patio set they set up on the roof. Gazing to the west, a dark bay of clouds were rolling in, dark and dangerous. "So as you can see from the data, it isn't our fault Shinji is tired lately. Though we were astonished that Urd-sama would have him break Takashiro," Rei frowned a little at that.

Handing Lawyer back the spreadsheet, Metatron cleared her throat. "It was a joint decision between Urd and myself to have Ikari-dono engage in that vein. He needs to be able to seduce just as he needs to be able to fight. Some opponents are weak to such attacks, as Hiroko was, and it prevented her from learning of the Lexicon," Metatron turned to Asuka with a disproving eye. She didn't think introducing Hikari to the power of the book was good, it was still demonic and it could taint the lovely child.

Crumpling up the paper, Asuka chucked it over the side of the building. "I don't care what you're spying proves. We don't keep him from having a good night sleep. Does your precious report go into THAT? You harpies banging him while he should be sleeping? I think not," she crossed her arms and sat across from Rei. "And what host doesn't have drinks for her guests?" she tugged at her uniform's top to air out the humidity.

Opening a hidden fridge built into the chimney, Rei tossed Asuka a diet green tea. "If anything us making love to him in his sleep is making him have a better night's sleep. His mind is entertained while his actual body gets to rest and recuperate," she admitted and opened a can for herself. "But we digress, what would you like to propose?" she nodded to Lawyer who started writing.

"Limit your entrance to Ikari-dono's dreams to twice a week," Metatron said as she eyed Asuka sipping her tea. The heat didn't bother her, she could regulate her body temperature at will. Just like Asuka however, Metatron was off her stride after seeing just how poorly she faired on the printout. The Rei's were attentive to all of Shinji's needs, and on the flip side he was more outgoing and accommodating to them. The Rei's had lower numbers, but they had more numbers in more entries. Metatron felt like a novice, and that wasn't something she had felt in ions.

Never looking up from her roster, Lawyer continued speaking in her courtroom tone that when used properly really got Shinji's libido jumping. "Unacceptable. As our demonic nature requires, we must feed on sexual energies. Asking us to limit our consumption is paramount to asking us to starve ourselves. As our actions serve to assist Ikari-sama, we see no need to stop," she crested the ledger to watch Asuka's reaction.

Asuka's nails extended and tore the can into shreds of metal and her tail and ears flickered about madly. "Fine, stop banging him OUTSIDE of dreams then! If you can get off with just that, stick to that! Or here is a novel idea, you're fucking succubus! Go after some other pervert and drain his soul completely! That should fill you up for weeks!" she took the new can of tea Rei handed to her with a nod.

Leaning over, a bead of sweat trickled down her chin, Rei did her best to recapture her deadpan expression of the past. "You're asking us to become whores and murders so you can continue to have what we crave? Dreams are wonderful yes, but the actual act…feeling him, being felt by him, it is a four star meal compared to the bread and water of the dreams. And if we killed, Metatron would kill us, or worse Shinji would stop caring about us," Rei leaned back in her chair, "Request denied."

"You are correct in both matters. Ikari-dono would likely be displeased with your killing, and I would be forced to act if you did," Metatron was starting to see the problem. The succubus were limited in their food selections due to their human love for Shinji. They didn't want to feed on others, and they couldn't drain completely. "If we cannot get you to change your ways, and we do not wish the same, what can be done to prevent the further decline?" she asked more to herself.

Finishing her drink, Rei opened the fridge and pulled out a tray of petit fours and set it on the patio table. "The problem only started recently, last few weeks or so. We must learn what changed in Shinji to cause this. He was able to mix business and pleasure before, but something changed," she mused and looked to Asuka and Lawyer.

"Like hell I know what changed in that idiot! But I see your point," Asuka's ears slicked back and her tails topped its mad trashing. "This isn't over…but for now we'll call this a draw. Lets go Metatron, we need to think about this," she got out of her chair and headed home with Metatron in tow.

X-X

She watched as the door opened and the body she was expecting hurriedly entered and shut it behind him. Maya had reevaluated her thoughts about the boy since their little trysts had started. Just looking at that bashful face, how he couldn't quite maintain eye contact with her, and his eagerness had cast doubts on her initial theorem. They hadn't had many encounters, but the few they had made Maya learn to appreciate him. He wasn't cruel, he wasn't a beast, and he wasn't capable of blackmailing Ritsuko into sleeping with him.

But that lead Maya down roads of thought best left not traveled. Because if Shinji wasn't forcing Ritsuko into things, Ritsuko wanted to be with him and that caused Maya to pause. Initially she wanted to break Shinji, force him to give up his nefarious plans for dirtying the illustrious Akagi. Having sampled the goods, Maya knew why Ritsuko might just have a thing for the boy, he was a natural. So he wasn't evil, and he was skilled at making a woman feel loved and overwhelmed with coital bliss. Strike two against Maya's original thought.

And that lead things to where they were now, Maya had her cat of nine tails on her tiny desk, her dominatrix gear however was on the hanger, she hadn't changed. Maya couldn't go through with it now, not without knowing why this kind hearted boy ALLOWED it to happen. Her tiny bust, coincidentally they fit perfectly in Shinji's hands, pointed at the lad, "Have a seat Shinji, we need to talk."

"Ibuki-sama, did I do something wrong? I thought you said you wanted to…" Shinji gushed as he sat down. The rings under his eyes marred his genuinely attractive features with the sings of sleep deprivation. Taking his seat in Maya's low-back green padded chair, he didn't just fall into it, he sank into it. "Was it something I did?" he asked with a heart wrenching sincerity.

Shaking her head, Maya wondered what part of this boy she had believed capable of essentially raping a woman. He wasn't capable of it, Maya knew that now, he didn't have the necessary evil to do such an act. "You did nothing wrong, Shinji, and for today just call me Maya alright?" she wasn't going to play the master/slave game today. This was serious enough without needing to worry if he was just saying what she wanted to hear. "I wanted to talk to you about Ritsuko and Yagami today," she held out her hand to the boy she could see was having a bad day.

Clinging to the life preserver Maya's slender fingers provided, Shinji gave the hand a good squeeze. "What about them? You don't think that Yagami-san and I are…do you?" he looked away at the found himself reading the titles of the books on Maya's small book shelf. Tech books, coding books, and all manners of computer related documentation that proved Maya was well suited for her job and not just a pretty face.

"First off I want to apologize for thinking you were forcing Akagi-san into having sex with you," Maya confessed as she pulled her hand back. Picking up her toy, Maya gave it at few flicks of the wrist and watched the lashes dance. "You're too nice a bo…to nice a man," Maya wouldn't call anybody she was sleeping with a boy. "And after having shared the experience with you, I can see why she enjoys it so much. You've become quite the pleaser, Shinji," Maya tittered as the boy blushed.

Rubbing the back of his head, Shinji's eyes filled with a bit more light than they had earlier. The fatigue pulled back showing the true face of the lad, tired but happy. "T-thanks for saying that…at first I think Akagi-san just liked how it felt. But lately I think its becoming more of a…I don't want to say she's starting to Like me…but I…um…I'm…" he blushed deeper.

"You can't share with a person on that level and not start loving them, if it's truly consensual. More proof I was wrong about you," Maya turned her chair. Looking at her Master's degree on the wall, she couldn't believe the road her life had taken to put her in this position. Talking to a teenager she was engaging in dominatrix games with about being in love with her supervisor of which she had more than a passing desire for. "But that leads me to my next point. What is going on between Yagami-san and you?" she asked setting her palms on her knees.

Scratching the side of his face, confusion and worry inching into his lips and eyes, Shinji tilted his head. "What do you mean? Nothing is going on between us, besides me not living up to her expectations," he sounded defeated and tired again. "She knows about Asuka, Rei, and I and said that if it starts impairing my ability to pilot she'd have to do something about it," he head hung low.

"That's not what I'm talking about, Shinji. She talks to you the way I do when we're…she sounds like she's acting like your master. Are you two doing the same thing we are?" Maya asked and dropped the toy in a drawer and shut it. "I don't know why you let me do it, but for her to come and so soon start ordering you around like she owned you…did I do something to make you think that was normal?" Maya's big worry was out. Did her little power trip with Shinji open the door for other women to just walk all over him?

Maya's words echoed not only in the room but in Shinji's head. "You think she's really acting like that?" he asked as realization started to dawn. "I didn't think…I thought it was just how a more 'military' supervisor would be. Misato is to kind to treat us like that, but Yagami-san…" he trailed off and closed his eyes. Deep in thought, his head bopped from side to side. "A-as for us…at first I was intimidated by it…but as we did more…as I saw how happy it made you…I started liking it to. Its different, it's dangerous but fun…I really like it," he bashfully added with a rosy hint.

Sliding her chair back, Maya made her way to her lover's side. That was the correct term wasn't it, her mind told her. Even if she didn't love-love him, she cared about him beyond a simple co-worker basis. "I don't know what Yagami is thinking, but don't let her treat you like she owns you. I own you," she lifted his head with her finger. Kissing him softly on the lips, she contemplated going further. They never had vanilla sex, but she pushed him back. "Not today, Shinji, you're looking to haggard as it is," she saw him shamelessly smile. "But next time we get to getter I hope you have this Yagami business sorted out, and then…then you'll taste Maya-sama's lashes of love," she kissed his cheek again and saw him to the door.

X-X

It looked later that it really was, thanks to the heavy cloud cover masking the last remnants of the set sun. Touji had his hands stuffed in his pockets and did his best to not think. "Any idea why you girlfriend is asking both of us to meet her? You two aren't into any freaky shit are you?" he asked as he kicked at random litter along the road. His day was not what his typical Sunday was. No video games and television while he avoided Mari's questions about homework. He had been thinking about his night with Haruhi, and then the call from Nagato came.

Hands behind his head, clad in his military fatigues, Kensuke hummed out in contemplation. "Yuki is into some strange things now and then, but when it comes to alone time it's just her and me. But if Suzumiya asked…I don't know. Yuki bends over backwards for that girl, glad you've come along to keep her occupied with those dates," Kensuke spied at Touji from the corner of his eye.

Growling fiercely, Touji was not wanting to be reminded of his station as Haruhi's pet. "Look it wasn't a date alright? We just ate some food, investigated to stupid karaoke, she sang a bit, we…" Touji winced mentally as he said just one word to much. He wasn't sure how Haruhi got him to do it. It was almost as if she dared him to, and he fell for it. What was worse was he liked it.

Eyebrow raised, Kensuke slowed to an idle stroll. "That, my dear Suzuhara-chan, is what we call a date. And what was with that pause at the end, Suzumiya get under your skin? Are we going to have wedding bells soon?" he joked. Pulling out his phone and checking the time, they still had ten minutes before Yuki was to arrive, and Yuki was punctual if nothing else.

"Call me 'chan' again and I'll find a way to make you eat your laptop whole," Touji grumbled and took a seat at the bench at the station. Hunched over, Touji pulled his hands out of his pocket and stared at them, praying they didn't offer Kensuke any insight into what they had done. "She said that I wasn't boring like the others. Said I'm interesting…I'm never going to get rid of her am I?" he didn't know if he wanted to though.

Sitting down next to Touji, Kensuke idly scanned the photos on his phone. Yuki was the star of most of them, but only a few did she so much as have a slightly upturned lip. "I swear Yuki and Ayanami must have taken lessons at the same school of acting to look that emotionless," he shook his head knowing better. "And no, if what Yuki told me about Suzumiya is true, if she finds something interesting she never lets go of it. You're practically married to her already. Now are you going to tell me why you're so obsessed with your hands, or do I just assume Suzumiya somehow tricked you into praying to her?"

Touji fell off the bench with the grace of a drunken master. Shock and guilt washed over him as he saw Kensuke bearing down on him. "It…she got drunk dude! I got drunk…stupid bar must have mixed up our orders and before I knew it the tea I was drinking was gone…" Touji just lay there reliving the past night. "All I can remember clearly is thinking 'man she can sing…she sure is cute…is it hot in here?'" as he spoke it came out in dreamlike qualities.

"She just kept singing and then she started dancing a bit as she sang, really getting into it," Touji closed his eyes reliving the moment. "Then she just stopped, took a big drink, and sat down," he slowed down as the avalanche of words tumbled and blurred together. "She just stares at me, you know, like she's thinking real hard about what to say and then she just goes, 'Boring! Men are supposed to be animals when alone with pretty girls!'" he actually chuckled a little as he tried to get the right pitch for Haruhi's voice.

Leaning back, gazing up at the streetlights as the flicker on, Kensuke just lets the story wash over him. It was an easy story to predict, but not with the actors involved. "Wow man…just wow," he slips out truly impressed with what he was hearing.

Continuing on as if Kensuke didn't interrupt, Touji is lost in the memory. "So I said 'what makes you think I find you cute?', to which she just smiles and points at my crotch. Damned if I didn't have a half mast going, and not like I can refute it either. She's damn gorgeous, she'd be popular as shit if her brain wasn't full of espers and genies and shit," he sits up and rests his back against the bench.

"Then she sits across from me and those damn booths are cramped as hell when it comes to sitting," Touji grumbled. Crickets and cicada chirp and play ambient music to Touji's tale. "And get this man, she flashes me her panties and I almost dropped right there. I mean…shit like that doesn't happen with normal girls. But then again Haruhi isn't normal is she, she doesn't mice words, doesn't waste time…" something borderline admiration fills his words. "And the last thing I'm going to say is she fucking dared me to do it…said 'a real man knows you to make a woman feel good, are you a real man?'" and with that Touji falls silent, the rest of his story if for Haruhi and himself to know.

Walking out into the light of the streetlamp, Yuki nods as she half speculated what Touji had said. "Then it is true, you are the chosen one of Suzumiya Haruhi. Come with me, we have much to discuss," Yuki extended her hand waiting for Kensuke to claim it. When he did the trio went off to Yuki's vacant apartment. She fixed them tea, and then shattered their minds about certain truths about Haruhi and herself. Kensuke eased her mind of a particular fear when he refused to release her hand despite the truths told. Yuki smiled.

X-X

The air condition in the bar was cranked to full blast, and Misato did not like it. "Are you going to tell me why you dragged us out of my nice new apartment into this dive, or am I just going to leave you with the bill?" Misato took a swig of her rum and coke, graciously provided by a man with thinning hair. She had just gotten out of the bath and saw Asuka's note when Ritsuko demanded Urd and she go with her to the closest bar to get hammered.

Fancying herself a nice red wine, Urd sipped the sweet drink and continued to fake paying attention. "Oh what's a matter Misa-chan, to good for the bar scene now? To many free drinks from men that hope to get your name or a little more?" she clicked her glass against Misato's making a lovely chime. "But I wonder what is getting you so…nervous? Ritsuko-babe," she eyed the chain smoking doctor.

"You know damn well what has me feeling like this! You said your sister has made bodies for the AI's in the magi! That mean's three versions of my mother are running around town! Do you know how insane that sounds!" she shot back her tequila and pointed at the glass singling a refill. "That woman made my life a living hell, and now you're saying there are THREE of her! God what is she going to do to me now?" Ritsuko's head fell hard against the table making her shot glass collection, now number twenty, fall over.

Setting her cup down, not in the mood for public intoxication, Misato snorted. "You drag us out during a thunderstorm because you have mommy issues? You're a grown woman damn it! Start acting like one already! What is your mom going to do tell send you to your room? Cut your allowance, or maybe if I'M lucky forbid you from horning in on Shinji so much," Misato hooked her left leg over her right and flashed the balding man her panties accidentally.

"Wow didn't know you could do something like that while flying!" Urd let out a low whistle before shaking her head back to reality. "I mean everybody can have mother issues. I mean up until I became a demon I had issues with mine, but nowadays things couldn't be better. Just hope she doesn't want some mother daughter bonding using…" Urd shuddered at the idea of a three-way with Shinji and her mother…she did not want to lose the man she loved to her arguably sexier mother.

Eyes on Ritsuko shaking like a leaf in a windstorm, Misato sighed heavily. "You've been making odd comments for the last hour now Urd. I think its time you spill the beans on what Shinji is doing and who he is doing now? I'm seriously starting to like the idea of renting him out. If I'm going to have to share I might as well make a tidy profit out of it," Misato picked up her drink, thought about it and set it back down. She'd been drinking to much lately.

Feeling that damn nagging itch start to build again Urd was seriously considering changing her stance on waiting for Shinji to come to her. The show Fourteen was putting on would have been illegal in most countries, and it was making Urd needy. "A reward for my start succubus and a nice cheering up for our depressed pilot is what is happening. Apparently Fourteen doesn't mind the rain because after they made love in the park, she scooped him into her arms and they're currently flying around the city as Shinji eases her out of weeks of pent up longing," Urd had worried Fourteen would be the one to snap, but the girl held strong and was now getting her reward.

"How is that even possible? You cannot screw somebody and fly at the same time? Wouldn't he fall off our out…or something?" Misato asked a little to loud for her own good. Her anxiety about things replaced with genuine interest in the concept. "And you mean to tell me she got him to do it in public…at a PARK?" Misato didn't notice the eyes of the other patrons turning to their table.

"Fourteen is inventive when it comes to her tactics and yes it is possible, and yes he took her in a park. She grabbed a tree leaned forward and…after he got over the fear of exposure really ramped up the reward," Urd took a longer draught of her drink. Shaking her tresses as she watched Fourteen plummeting to the earth, post climax the succubus's wings went limp and she fell, Urd fell back into her seat as Fourteen rebounded and took back to the skies. "Girl deserved a reward for finding that little troll Hiroko before things got out of hand. And judging by the look on her face right now, she's content," not that Urd was.

"Who has time for this when my mother is out there plotting and planning damn it! We need torches and pitchforks! Hunt the monster down and burn her lab into the sea before she has the chance to summon Haster!" Ritsuko slurred as the time delayed tequila bombs started going off in her skull. "She'll steal all the marmosets and leave nothing for us to eat! IA IA CTHULHU FATA…."

Her fist daintily stuck in Ritsuko's stomach, Urd hoisted the now unconscious woman over her shoulder. "We do NOT need to see if that guy is living on this plane currently. Last time I saw him it took three weeks to get him to stop trying to date me. Ew," she punctuated her statement with a shudder. "Lets get going home lover, I don't feel like being in the bar right now either," Urd felt a sudden kindred with Misato. They both were feeling overlooked and underappreciated by a certain young man. They both knew he cared, but something was lacking…as if they'd been replaced by newer models.

Accepting Urd's hand, Misato nodded and the two shared a moment of understanding. An unnamed boy was going to have to have a talk with these two women about certain things. Feelings needed to be sorted out, and Misato had to smooth things over regarding her forced order from the morning.

Time was moving faster and faster towards the apex. Yui's little scheme was doing more damage than even the angelic spy could have hoped. Soon the next angel would come, and if Yui had her way the end would be coming right after it.

X-X

Notes!

Yeah…not much to say really. Debating having a lemon with Fourteen and Shinji but it would have been to forced and cheesy. Don't think I won't have one eventually, oddly enough Fourteen is one of my favorite characters in this story.

Anyway, have a good summer, swim for me when I can't, and get out and get some sun!

LATER

Mercaba