+++++ 4th Angel + 7 : Thursday (28)

"Good morning, Shinji-san," Gen seemed surprised when he greeted his young trainee at the door, "I had heard you were out drinking with some of your compatriots last night. Late, last night. You don't seem the type to be rude and abstain, and yet you show no signs of intoxication." Leaning in to sniff, his eyebrow raised, "Did you simply drink water?"

"Eight full pints of alcohol, according to Ichigo-kun," Suzuki walked up, Suzuka beside him. "It seems our young scion here is a waste of perfectly good booze."

"Good morning, Suzuka-san," Shinji bowed politely to the lady of the group, manners being far too important to ignore regardless of the ability of the woman he addressed to pound him into the dirt. "Gen-san, Suzuki-san," he inclined his head to the two men who weren't as inclined to formality. "I honestly feel fine. Other than the normal…issues, I guess, where you drink too much liquid. Whatever Vidar-san was giving me must not have had much alcohol, he seemed fine after drinking about the same I did."

"Mead," Suzuki answered Gen's questioning look. "Perhaps eighteen, twenty percent. His minder tried a single glass, her assessment was that our student has a stout constitution. We shall see how he holds up the morning after," stepping aside for his wife, he held his hand out in the direction of the park they trained in. "Keep your pace to hers, Shinji-san. No faster, no slower."

Suzuka, it seemed, was born to run. While Shinji felt he could have easily outpaced her, the newest trainer started out at a pace that would have been punishing before his change. "It pleases me to see that you take these exercises seriously, Shinji-kun." Without breaking stride, she handed him his training knife, "The Horaki family could not have chosen a better man to shelter, if you approach everything you do with this same vigor."

"I'm lucky Hikari-san asked to help me," Shinji held the weapon in a single hand with a reversed grip, bracing the wooden length along his forearm to stop it from accidentally hitting anything or looking any more like a lunatic to any passersby than he already did. "They've been wonderful to me, and I'll do anything I can to repay that kindness."

"Mmm," she nodded once. "Whatever unnatural spirit possesses you, it is clearly benevolent. You do not even breathe heavily during a controlled run. Tell me," she asked in a voice that wouldn't have been out of place in discussing the weather, or the changing of the tides, "what are your intentions towards the Horaki women?"

Intentions?! "I-I don't have any intentions!" Shinji shook his head vigorously, struggling between keeping his eyes on the path before them and looking at his newest instructor to assure her that there would be no 'intentions' happening in the Horaki household while the patriarch was away, or even after he returned for that fact, "I'm happy j-just knowing that Hikari-san likes b-being around me."

"So you do not wish to bed her?" She looked sidelong at him, "That's unfortunate, I would imagine she'd be quite eager to lay with the man that won her heart. What of Kodama-chan? Are you equally disinterested in her affections? She has never been overly interested in companionship, turning down many offers to pursue her education. Do neither of them please you?"

"A-affections?" Shinji blinked rapidly, trying to see the point of the question, "I…uhm, I'm happy when she hugs me. I t-try to do what she's asked me to do, and give her a kiss in the morning, but…I wouldn't say I'm disinterested, just I'm not going to push either of them towards…intentions." Sensing her motion, and barely getting his defense up in time, he parried an overhand slash from her practice sword, "Whoa!" She struck twice more, all while maintaining the run, allowing him each time to slap the well-telegraphed blow aside.

"That is not what I meant, Shinji-kun," her tone was chiding. "I doubt your capacity to push Hikari-chan towards a meal of your choosing, much less push her towards your bed should she not wish to go there. Whatever history you have with the concept of intimacy between man and woman, it is clear that you have much further to go than most men your age. A man must have strong passions to keep two women contented. Do you perhaps hide yours as you hide everything else? You show fear readily enough, and sorrow. But nothing of joy, or pleasure. It worries me, and as their mother's second, I must know the truth before I will be content to allow things to continue."

Two women? I'm not with Kodama! Shinji had no good response to give, especially since he knew she was right, at least about the last part. Joy was a foreign concept to him, and pleasure was something he'd had precious little of. He enjoyed playing with Nozomi, being teased by Kodama, just existing around Hikari, but actually displaying those emotions…. The rest of the run was silent, the training equally so. He had been given something to think about, and something to worry over. Am I not being fair to Hikari? Am I not showing her how I feel? …Does that hurt her feelings?

+++++ 4th Angel + 7 : Thursday (28)

Later that morning, Shinji stood by the stove, the one place where he was most comfortable both in and with the world. Ingredients went in, food came out, and everything happened the way it ought to. There were no complications, nothing was confusing, nothing for him to worry over but heat, time, and motion. The meals he created for the household might not be enough, in the grand scheme, to demonstrate to the women how he cared for them. But for now, it was something he could do to show the three women in the house that he cared.

"So I see they didn't make you drink too much," Kodama's voice preceded her into the kitchen. "Either that or you burned it off during your morning beatings," she reached him, taking his arm and shaking her head at the red marks. "How are you feeling? It's been a rough couple of days, and I've added to them. I'm kind of glad, though. It feels nice to have that secret off my chest." Her touch was gentle, and she had a difficult time meeting his eyes.

The look of contrition on her face didn't suit her, Shinji decided. A man must have strong passions…. Reaching down, he lifted her up slightly so that he could greet her as she had asked to be greeted. The kiss wasn't much different than the first one he'd agreed to give her, just slightly more practiced. It wasn't too much for her to ask for, and Suzuka was correct in that he didn't do enough to show them that he appreciated them. Words were nice, but actions meant more. Letting her down gently, he gave her his warmest smile, "Good morning, Kodama. I'm fine, I-"

Leaping up, she wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs about his hips, and laced her fingers through his hair as she took a second helping of what he offered. Compensating for her additional weight, Shinji stepped back and bumped against the bend in the counter-top, reflexively grasping around the backs of her upper thighs to support her. She lingered at the task far longer than Shinji would have thought to, and fear began to war with his other less irrational emotions as he worried that she was still in the grips of her own time-related confusion. Surely she was confused, why would she be so eager to kiss him like she was?

Slowly, she withdrew enough to allow him to speak, "K-Kodama," he was more out of breath than he thought he'd be. Sprinting didn't cause him to be this winded, "Are…uhm…are you ok?" I'm going to need to tell Hikari about this. I need her to understand that I don't know what I'm doing. If this is what kissing her does, I'm clearly doing something wrong.

"Oh, I'm wonderful," she touched her lips to his lightly once more, her voice warm and smoky. "How are you?"

These aren't her thighs. "Y-you, uhm…you're just wearing your thong today," his desire to let go of the part of her body he just realized he was holding onto clashed directly with the part of his mind that demanded he not allow her to come to the harm of an uncontrolled fall to the floor. "I'm…uhm, I'm sorry that I-"

"If you apologize for holding my ass," Kodama sing-songed, "I might just have to show you how well I've studied Judo." She locked eyes with him, her smile fading into a look of longing, "You and I are going to go on a date. We're going to try doing things I like to do, and we're going to see if maybe you like them too." Rocking her hips slightly, she ran her feet along his legs as she felt him between her own, "I want you to tell me, right now, if you aren't even slightly interested in me, Shinji. If it had been me on the ladder, and not Hikari, would you be with me first?"

I'm enjoying this. I'm a pervert. I'm everything Asuka accused me of being. "I-I'm with Hikari," Shinji's stammer slipped its leash. "I-I c-can't say th-that w-we'd-"

"Yes or no, Shinji," using the strength in her core muscles to balance she leaned back, sitting directly on a part of him that was waking up rather quickly. "Do I interest you?" He could see her preparing for rejection, the walls slowly rising to protect herself as she was turned away from him due to the capricious whims of fate. "Is this," her hips shifted slightly, "just a reaction to hormones and abstinence?"

Fate, he scoffed. I need to tell them. It doesn't matter if I think she's wonderful, once she knows where I'm from she'll hate me. "I'll tell you…after we've had a talk. The three of us." Steeling himself, he lifted her up enough to force her to disengage the leg-lock she'd placed around him, then set her down on her feet. "If we're all going to be completely honest with each other…there are things that I need to share. Things that might change how you all feel about me. I wouldn't feel right…telling you how I felt, without telling you where I'm from."

"Tonight, then," she could sense that he wasn't rejecting her, instead rejecting himself. "We'll talk after the Sprout goes to bed."

+++++ 4th Angel + 7 : Thursday (28)

The walk to school seemed to be the best opportunity to prepare Hikari, and so Shinji dragged his feet slightly. "Hikari…do you have a moment?" He swallowed, not looking forward to what he had to say, but needing to say it anyway. I enjoyed it. I'm a pervert.

"Is it about Kodama?" The Class Rep wasn't fully out, but the edge in her voice clearly indicated that Hikari was primed for an argument, "Because she told me what she did. If you even think for a second about taking the blame for this," keeping her hand in his, she gave him a sidelong warning glance, "I'm going to drag you into the bushes and kiss you until you see sense."

"Y-you…." The 'threat' didn't make sense to him. "The bushes?" Looking to the side, he noticed the thick shrubbery lining the hilltop swaying in the breeze, "I…uhm, I…kiss me?" The threat really just didn't make sense.

"Ok," pulling him to a stop, she tugged him down and kissed him with far more passion than he was used to in public. She had to stand on her toes to do so, and he had to slump, but there was no place either of them would rather have been at that moment. Following a long, slow, count to twenty, she dropped to her heels and gave him a cat-that-got-the-canary grin, "You did ask."

"I…uhm, I did," Shinji nodded, too confused to argue the point, "after a fashion."

"She also told me that we're going to have a talk tonight. I think it's a respectable idea, and I want you to know that no matter what…." She trailed off, looking back to the house, "I support you, ok? I don't love you because you love me, or because you're something I don't think you are. I love you because of the man you've shown me, and because of the things you've done for my family." Smiling back at him, she shook her head slowly, "You and I aren't done, Shinji. Not by a long, long ways. Now, come on," taking his hand, she turned him towards the school again. "That's later tonight, and we have class to attend, training to do, and you have a race to win."

+++++ 4th Angel + 7 : Thursday (28)

"Other than the selection of the standby pilot, the unit has been solidly formed." Finished with his briefing, Kozo switched the main monitor back to the cost display for transporting Unit-02 from Berlin to Tokyo-3, "Everything has been set so that at no point in time is he ever without someone to prevent him from willingly engaging in rash decisions. He has additional responsibilities that we're placing upon him to keep him engaged, and most importantly he'll be viewing his life through how he effects the world around him."

"The reports you forwarded to the General Assembly," shifting the conversation away from the established point of discussion, Gendo tapped a stack of folders, "you seem to have decided to leave in a great many details that go directly against proper procedure. I expect you have an explanation?"

Here we go. All in. "The Council will have a challenging time explaining away the inconsistency between their official account and what actually happened. As much fun as you may have had eliminating certain problems, this will force any bad actors to use even greater discretion as the news media focuses everything on the Third Child's bravery. Going forward, the UN will either sanitize all media coverage regarding the Angel attacks, which will generate anger among those nations not members of SEELE as well as a not-insubstantial number of citizens within SEELE-governed nations, or they will have to admit that the entirety of the world's safety lies on the shoulders of a young man who was the target of repeated assassination attempts while they cut the security budget every month."

"Reducing their options," Gendo murmured. "Who did you use to disseminate the account?"

"Ryoji Kaji," the old professor rolled his hand, "it seemed best to use established hands to limit the number of variables in play. I let him 'discover' the reports on an encrypted node he believes we don't know he has access to. He, as expected, transferred the data directly to a number of his contacts in the I.G. Section of the U.N. that's been sniffing around the SEELE council for some time now."

"Interesting." Gendo looked at the stack of folders, the brief conversation clearly over.

All that needs to happen now, is you having a change of heart about this madness. Kozo held his tongue, recognizing the ice around him was not terribly thick. We can win, if you'd just put your skills to a better use than orchestrating the ritual sacrifice of your only child to reunite in death with a woman that willingly abandoned you both!

"I'll expect updates on any actions taken by the Inspector General office. While they are useful for keeping the old men off balance, they could just as easily turn their attentions to the Third Child's recent transformation. Looking too deeply may lead them to the First, and that would be inconvenient," the Commander of NERV shifted his glasses slightly, his steely gaze becoming visible, "for everyone."

"Understood," another rook off the board. I might still win this game, "I'll see to it personally."

+++++ 4th Angel + 7 : Thursday (28)

"Good morning Shinji-san," Rei arrived earlier than normal to class, "good morning, Hikari-san." Pausing before Shinji's desk, she tilted her head to the side a fraction in anticipation of his inspection.

"Good morning, Rei-san," Shinji politely stood, leaning down enough to catch her scent. "Coconut," he nodded slowly, she's making an effort. It's confusing as all get out, but she's climbing out of her shell. He laughed mentally, And she's not making those odd requests of me anymore. That's worth all of this alone. "It's ok. Better than yesterday." Standing up to his full height, he smiled, "But what do you think, Rei-san?" If this keeps up, it won't seem so odd for me to have a few moments alone with her to discuss what she was talking about.

"Presenting my opinion before all available data has been gathered would nullify the neutrality of third-party assessments. It is tactically unwise to limit the available sources of information in such a manner." Shifting towards Hikari, she waited patiently.

Hikari took one of Rei's hands, holding it gently and inhaling the scent, "You're definitely on the right track, Rei-san. Did you think about what we talked over yesterday? I think you have the beginnings of a good plan, but you're the one who needs to come up with more ideas otherwise it won't be as meaningful."

"I have," Rei bowed slightly in gratitude. "I believe that I will have a functioning strategy by the middle of next week." She paused, frowning, then stepped forward and mechanically wrapped Hikari in a hug, "I appreciate your efforts on my behalf. Your input is invaluable." Stepping back, she gauged Hikari's reaction, then turned and walked over to her desk.

"That was…interesting," Hikari whispered. Her sentiment mirrored Shinji's thoughts, "It's progress."

Shinji wasn't rude enough to ask what Rei and Hikari had talked over, though he was curious. He knew that he'd find out when it was time to, and not a minute before. "I think it's nice," he stated quietly. "I don't know why she's doing it, but her beginning to reach out to people around her, even if it's just you for now, is a great start towards her making friends."

"I think it's wonderful that you're taking an active hand in it. Showing some leadership," Hikari's smile was well-pleased. "That conversation my sisters and I had while you were out with your fellow pilots last night touched on that, among other things." She began to glow with giddy feelings, watching her efforts bear fruit, "Small steps, Shinji. Small steps." A month on, he's not the same timid young man. Every day he gets more confidence.

"Shinji-kun!" Natsuko bounced into the classroom, "I need help! One of the underclassmen threw my shawl up in a tree, and I can't reach it." Crouching down at his desk, allowing him an unobstructed view down her blouse, she gave him the 'puppy-dog' eyes, "Please? I don't want to be cold during class."

Hikari's joy drained as a scowl formed, "Do you know who it was?" She might not like that the young woman had eyes on her boyfriend, but she would not put up with poor behavior towards her classmates.

"No," Natsuko pouted, "just some little boy that didn't like 'No' as an answer. He wanted to go out on a date, and I do not date underclassmen." She turned back to Shinji and simpered, "Please?"

"Of course," his mouth settled into a frown. Unacceptable. I can't let people bully others, especially since everyone's being so nice to me in allowing me to act as Hikari's deputy. "If you see them, please make sure to point them out to Hikari-san, or me. We'll talk to their Class Rep, this is unacceptable behavior." Standing, his arm was quickly enveloped by Natsuko's natural attributes as she took his hand and glomped to his side, and before he could ask which tree, he was being tugged out of the classroom. Calling over his shoulder, he tried not to slam his face into the doorframe, "I'll be back in a moment!"

"Thank you, Shinji-kun," it amazed him how Natsuko seemed to be able to walk functionally despite being turned into his side the way she was. "I didn't know how else I was going to get it down, and it's my favorite shawl."

Walking briskly through the hallways, Shinji keeping the pace faster than Natsuko seemed eager for, he kept his eyes in motion. Nodding a brief greeting to people that moved out of their way, thanking others for their kind words as they passed. If any of the males around were the guilty party, they didn't show it, and neither did his 'helper'. She, thankfully in his opinion, remained silent for the duration of the trip, seeming to soak in the attention of everyone they came across.

When they reached the tree, Shinji looked up, then back down into the adoring eyes of his classmate. Attempting to subtly withdraw his imprisoned limb, he lowered his voice to avoid embarrassing her, "I'll…uhm, I'll need my arm, Natsuko-san." With his free hand he pointed up to the branch, "It's a bit higher than I can reach, so I'll need to-"

"Oh, you could pick me up," she stepped around in front of him, looking up at him with an overly-pleased smile. "I could reach it for you, if you just lift me a bit." Taking his hands, she placed them around her torso just below her breasts, "I'm really light, I promise. You could do anything you wanted with me, with how strong you are."

Shinji felt the eyes of everyone moving past on him, What is it you want, Natsuko? Are you really flirting with someone who's dating somebody else? The concept seemed anathema to him, and he didn't want to believe it of someone else without definitive proof. I can excuse Kodama, she's just being…family. Like Misato used to do, only without the pushing away and pulling towards. But the way Natsuko held his hands just on the underside of her rather ample chest left little room for alternatives. "I think," he stepped back, forcefully retrieving his hands, "I have another way to get it." Taking a few more steps to the side, he looked at the shawl, "Move away some, please. I don't want to run into you."

Gauging the distance between him and the trunk, then from the trunk to the shawl, he nodded to himself. He'd seen Gen do similar things in practice, and Suzuki often jumped from much higher only to land safely. Keep your knees loose, jog through the landing. With a running start, Shinji jumped up and planted his foot against a segment a meter or so up the tree's trunk then kicked himself off towards outlying branch holding the shawl. Easily snatching it from where it lay, he landed back on the blacktop then jogged a few steps to bleed off momentum before shaking the long cloth out to free it of needles and dirt.

Folding the triangle, "Here you go," he handed it back to Natsuko with a nod. When the passersby all cheered the act of athleticism, Shinji blushed and turned to wave recognition of the applause. It's so easy to do these things in this body. I wish I understood my limitations, or even my capabilities. The only way I learn is through the training, and they're not pushing me past what they think I'm able to do. Lost in his own thoughts he was caught off-guard, unready and displeased when Natsuko pulled him down to plant a kiss on his lips.

"My hero," her smile was full of meaning. "Thank you, Shinji-kun. I really do appreciate it." Pressing herself back against his front as he stood up to his full height, she looked up at him, "If there's anything I can do to help…."

"You should be more careful," Shinji stated, a slight scowl diminishing the blush of excitement at the praise of the crowd. He didn't bother lowering his voice, wanting it to be clear to anyone who might hear, "I understand you're grateful, but if you go around kissing other people's boyfriends you might develop a reputation you don't want. I'd hate to see someone like you have to deal with that, Natsuko-san. Imagine if someone kissed your boyfriend. You wouldn't be very happy with either of them, would you?" Spying Yang standing in the crowd, smiling happily at him, he turned and headed back to the classroom, "We should go. We don't want to be late."

+++++ 4th Angel + 7 : Thursday (28)

Shinji started lunch by eating quietly as he listened to Shinobu carry on about the incident by the tree earlier in the day. He was struggling not to tune her out, like Rei seemed to be doing, out of habit. His limit on dealing with people was arriving quickly, between the bar the night before, his 'helpers' in class, and now his increased need to be a good host during lunch. I have to remember to mention this to Hikari. Ask her to find a way to help me not be around people so often.

"And then," Shinobu huffed, "she plants a kiss on his lips, bold as you please!" The bluenette was far more livid than Shinji, "Of course Shinji told her off for it, but the nerve!" Her frown was, he believed, frankly adorable. "Auuuu, why aren't you more angry Hikari?" Even angry, his friend seemed to be a living doll, an animated toy that one day would find someone she loved, he hoped. Someone that would be able to deal with her ill-tempered rants.

"Because he'll be coming home with me tonight," the Class Rep shrugged, "and the entire school just watched him shoot her down. What can I do to her that he didn't manage?" She leaned over to bump him with her shoulder, "I told you, Shinobu, I trust my boyfriend to do the right thing. It's a part of him, just like his wonderful eye color, or his amazing skills on the cello."

"I am still sorry it happened," Shinji offered contritely. "I had hoped she would have accepted that I only see her as a friend, after I said as much in class yesterday. I guess I shouldn't have let hope blind me to her actions before I got the shawl down."

Shinobu's cheeks puffed angrily out, "What else did she do?" It seemed their friend was going to be mad on their behalf, a fact that concerned Shinji greatly. She had more than enough matters in her own life that were causing her grief, she didn't need to borrow his or Hikari's.

"She placed his hands alongside her mammary glands," Rei intoned from her position between Hikari and Shinobu, her eyes still focused on her meal. "It appeared that she anticipated he would lift her off the ground to reach the shawl, thereby placing his face in a socially impermissible position."

"You…did you come down with us when I went to help her, Rei-san?" Shinji blinked, looking through his memory to see if he could remember having seen her.

"The tree she threw her shawl into was easily visible from my seat," Rei's deadpan made it difficult for him to get a gauge on how serious she was being. He knew she had a sense of humor hidden beneath her stoic nature, at least the Rei from his previous timeline did.

"She…threw her own shawl in the tree?" Hikari frowned, "You're certain?" Rolling her eyes, she sighed heavily, "Shinji, she's your 'helper', so I'm asking you first. Would you mind if I had a talk with her? I don't want her doing anything foolish, not because I'm afraid of you falling for her, but because it will likely be incredibly disruptive to the class when you put your foot down. If you think you can handle it, I'll let you. But if you don't want to, or don't think you can make it clear enough, I'm willing to."

"What…uhm…." He closed his eyes, drawing a steadying breath, then breathing out slowly. I can do this. Trust the Light. Speaking loud enough for the surrounding people to hear him, as he knew many listened in on their conversations, he asked for help, "What do you think is best, Hikari? If you think it would be better for me to take her aside and have a talk, I will do so. If you think it would be better for you, since you are the Class Representative, I trust you to do what's best. I believe I made it clear that you're my girlfriend, and that she was risking damaging her reputation, but I agree. More might be necessary."

"I'm not afraid of what others think of me," Hikari stated plainly. "You've publicly, and frequently, made it clear that you're my boyfriend. I don't think you need to do anything else, Shinji. Let me handle this, as Class Rep, not as your girlfriend. I think you've done enough." She let the girlfriend side out, for a moment, and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, "And I thank you for choosing to be with me."

The recognition that she listened to what he had to say the day before warmed him, and the kiss reminded him that no amount of affection from his girlfriend was too small to excite him unreasonably. "It's an easy choice, Hikari. As easy as breathing."

"I would like to ask a question," Rei tilted her head, analyzing Shinji's face. "A kiss, such as the one Natsuko-san gave you earlier. Are they unwelcome by any party but Hikari-san?" Her eyes seemed too large, as if they contained something far greater than a schoolgirl. "Does that mean the kiss I gave you as a sign of gratitude was unwelcome?"

Shinji flushed as he remembered the scene, the memory of the 'shopping trip kiss' triggering the vision of her nudity in her apartment, then of landing on her. The Rei that's dead. Dark thoughts following the embarrassment of having to provide an answer filled him, flowing out to the two women on either side of Rei, eliciting two very different reactions.

"Not really," Hikari stated just as Shinobu gasped out an, "Of course it is!" The two women frowned at each other, Hikari upset that Shinobu was speaking for her, and Shinobu upset that Hikari was opening up an avenue of another woman being forward with Shinji.

"It was given out of honest gratitude," Hikari calmly asserted. "Rei-san doesn't have any confusion as to Shinji's place in my life. She's reaching out to her fellow pilot, and she's reaching out to me. I don't think she's had much, if any, affection in her life, and being given the opportunity to give some, in a friendly manner, to Shinji out of that gratitude is perfectly fine."

"You are his primary concern," Rei asserted bluntly. "In all things, he has chosen his life to revolve around you. I am, at most, a secondary concern. If my gesture was ill-received, I apologize, Shinji-san."

"N-no," Shinji shook his head. I'm so sorry that I've seen you like that, Rei. I'll never be able to forget, and I'll never forgive myself for it. "You didn't…kiss me like Natsuko-san did. I was…uhm, I was caught off guard, sure. But…so long as Hikari doesn't mind, and you don't…you know, abuse the trust she's giving you…."

Rei nodded slowly, then gave the barest hint of a smile, "Thank you, Shinji-san. It makes me happy to know that I am not unwelcome in your life." She turned to Hikari, "I would like to discuss this with you in greater detail, to make certain that I obey any boundaries that you would set as his intended. Unless I am mistaken, he puts greater faith in your judgment than his own, and until he asserts his rights you are the best source of information."

"How can you be ok with this?!" Shinobu's mouth was drawn into a hard line, "Kissing should only be between you two, not just anyone who happens to be on an approved list."

"So he shouldn't be allowed?" Hikari shook her head firmly, "No. He's not going around seeking out satisfaction, Shinobu. He's not going from woman to woman building up a rapport with them just so he can cheat. Rei-san isn't asking to sleep with him, she's not even asking for him to love her. She's not going to be greeting him every day with a kiss."

"That would be inappropriate, and against standing orders," Rei spoke into the pause.

"As…odd as that sounds, it proves my point," the Class Rep was creeping into her tone. "It's situational, Shinobu. If there came a time that Shinji did something wonderful for you, something that showed you exactly what he showed Rei-san, and you gave him a kiss out of honest gratitude? It would be fine. You're not pursuing him, and even if you were interested in him you would listen when he said that he was with me. It's a very different situation to the one with Natsuko-san."

"I disagree," the inn-dwelling bluenette stood, looking towards Rei with her eyes narrowed. "I think you're setting a bad precedent, Hikari. And I think you'll regret this." Turning on her heel, she stormed back towards the classrooms.

A flash of insight brought the reason for Shinobu's actions to Shinji, "Keitaro-san."

"Among other things," Hikari nodded, sighing sadly. "I'll have a talk with her, later, as well. Don't take it personally, Rei-san," she reached over and laid her hand gently on the young woman's knee. "She's just gone through a rather bad break-up, and I think she's a lot more sensitive about things right now than she normally would be."

"Her ire is not directed at me," Rei sealed her lunch box. "It is directed at you. She would prefer to occupy the position that you offer to me, in allowing me to display affection to Shinji-san. That she cannot, for reasons that you and she alone would know, likely hurts her far more than whatever this man may have done to her." Standing, she brushed off her skirt, "I will return to the class so that you may enjoy the last of your lunch together. Thank you for inviting me to share some time with you, the camaraderie is most appreciated." Bowing politely, she turned with a dancer's grace and floated off.

Shinji watched her walk away, "Hikari," he kept his voice low, "why are you ok with Rei-san giving me that kiss?" Looking down as she took his hand, he shook his head, "You weren't very happy about it the day it happened."

"Because she told me a story," his girlfriend scooted closer, leaning against him. "She's just like you, Shinji. For as long as she can remember, your father has been her guardian. And for as long as she can remember, he's lied to her every day about where she's come from. About who she is. She doesn't even know who her parents were. Your fight against the Angels is all she's had, and she's been terrified of it from the start." Taking the last of her food in her utensils, she offered it up to him, "Then you come swooping in, just as she's going to have to fight a monster, alone, with cracked ribs, a fractured arm, a broken pelvis…." She watched him chew, trying to imagine him refusing to fight, and feeling it wholly belittling to him. "Scared and alone, facing death she received a reprieve when a good man shows up and stops her from facing any more pain. She adores you, Shinji. Because the first time you saw her, you asked her how she was feeling." He could hear her holding back tears, "You did what you always do, what nobody else has been willing to: you put up with her odd quirks, you showed her human decency. She'd walk through fire for you, now. You and her will fight monsters together, and she swore to me that she'd bring you back home alive no matter what. And…." She swallowed, trying to force her fear of him being harmed yet again away.

"That…doesn't mean you need to allow her to do something you don't want," he shifted his grip on her hand, comforting her as best he could in public. "I meant it when I said I belong to the Horaki household."

"And a friendly kiss is nothing more than a friendly kiss," Hikari firmly asserted. "Tell me Shinji, if you honestly feel that you're going to be attracted to her. Are you not the man I've known for almost a month now? Are you hiding some secret lecher that is the world's best actor?"

She's scared that you're going to, Shinji, a gentle whisper sounded into the pregnant pause. Just as she comforts you, so must you comfort her. It's the only way you'll win. "I'm not leaving you," he'd have to worry about the voices in his head later. For now, they were right. "I can't lie, and you know that. She's…attractive. But I meant what I said: I chose you, I choose you, and I will continue to choose you." Borrowing something Raffle had said to him, he grinned and lifted her chin to force her to look at him, "After all, what's a Paladin without his Light?"

"You, sir," Hikari's smile was a mix of joy and sorrow, "are getting far too good at smooth talk. I'm going to have to watch myself, or you'll have me kissing you here at school."

"That would be terrible," Shinji deadpanned. "I'd have to chastise you, to set a good example for all the impressionable minds you're responsible for."

Shifting her head slightly and pitching her voice so only he could hear it, she whispered, "Would you wear leather, or maybe your work clothes?"

His blush was immediate, and total.

+++++ 4th Angel + 7 : Thursday (28)

Shinji kept his eyes focused on the ground around him. So many people were looking at him from the nearby bleachers, all cheering for him. Misato sat with Nozomi on her lap, the two ladies rocking back and forth clapping their hands, both belting out cheers for their 'brother'. The Tactical Commander and Maya, who also called out passionately for his success, were automatically on board with the diversion, bringing along with them those members of the bridge crew that weren't essential for monitoring potential incursions and wanted something of a distraction from the doldrums of the day. Ritsuko and Rei were sitting on the opposite end of the bleachers, the pair only intending to be there long enough to support Shinji in his misadventures, before going back to whatever the bottle-blonde intended them to do. Kodama stood on the edge of the track with Hina and Rina, who were her first official trainers, laughing boisterously at something the twins had mentioned. The entirety of the Damned, as they referred to themselves, was in attendance, with their various loved ones that could attend the short notice unofficial function. Even Professor Fuyutsuki, his Sub-Commander, was standing there smiling fondly at him. The man's bearing conveyed pleasure, and pride.

But none of those eyes weighed as heavily as Hikari's. She was standing with Raffle at the end of the straightened racetrack, each holding one end of a thin ribbon to mark the victor. He could see she was speaking quietly to the blonde, while looking at him, who was animatedly responding. It was clear to Shinji that Hikari was being reassured, and just as clear that Raffle had no doubts at all about the outcome of the race.

"Ok you two," Feelgood gestured to the two starting blocks, "when I fire the starting pistol, give it everything you've got. You both know the stakes, so I want a good, clean, race. Glitch, as the elder contestant, you get to choose your lane. Three, or six?"

"I'll take three," the dark-skinned pilot patted Shinji on the back. Raising his voice to be heard over the din, he introduced Shinji with a broad gesture, "The folks are all here to see him, so let's put him on the outside where everyone will get a good look, yeah?"

The cheers following the statement embarrassed the young pilot further. What if I fail? He knew he was fast, everyone said so. But was he fast enough? Was he just going to end up being left behind in the dust, and-

"Settle," Glitch's voice was a loose murmur as he led Shinji to his starting blocks. "Nobody's judging us. This is all in fun, and I promise you that no matter what happens you're going to have the respect of everyone here for trying."

Feelgood smirked, "Just put everything you have into it, Shinji. Don't hold back, don't think about it, just power through it. Win or lose, I'm just glad you're being a good sport about all of this. The last race we had, there was a lot of bellyaching about nonsense that ruined the atmosphere. This? This looks like it's gonna be good for morale."

"Which is why we're doing it," Glitch added. "Because end of the day? We're all friends. So let's be good friends, Shinji, and give them a great race."

Narrowing his eyes, Shinji felt the strength and confidence of the two men envelop him. They knew he could do it, and they were the two that were supposedly betting against him. "O-ok," he nodded once. "Good luck, Glitch."

"That's a boy, Paladin," the man's infectious grin beamed out happily. "Now, to your block."

Feelgood turned to the audience and raised his voice to announce the contestants, "Ladies and gentlemen, friends and family, and begrudgingly that dork over there with the sunglasses on." Toggle laughed and made a rude gesture back to his friend, his wife pulling his hand down and admonishing him good-naturedly. "Now presenting in Lane Three, the standing record holder, representing Botswana by way of NERV's First Air Group, Tebogo 'Glitch' Mbau!" Standing aside and gesturing to his wingman, who was waving his hands above his head rapidly to recognize the applause, the rockstar pilot waited for several seconds before clapping his hands as well, and moving to Shinji, "And presenting in Lane Six, the challenger on loan to Raffle by Hikari Horaki, representing our own nation of Japan by way of Section One's Evangelion Project, Shinji 'Paladin' Ikari!"

Shinji heard everyone calling out in support, the crush of sound from before him overwhelming. True to the words he'd spoken, he heard Glitch standing behind him cheering just as loud. We're all friends…. Bowing politely in recognition of the audience's applause, he turned to Glitch and bowed again. He'd give him the best race he could, win or lose. He owed nothing less than his full effort, to someone who would call him a friend.

"All right you two, on your marks." He walked to the inside of the track as they assumed the starting position. "Get set."

Shinji sucked in one final breath, blowing out as much anxiety as he could. In less than a minute, it'd all be over. In less than a minute, he'd have done something that seemed to make everyone happy just to watch. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shinsuke raise his arm smoothly. His legs tensed, his hands steadied, his breath stilled. There was nothing for it now, he was committed. He was going to run…but not away.

The sharp report of the gun uncoiled him like a spring, his form wasn't perfect, but there was no more slowness to his first step. The hesitation that so commonly plagued him had been washed away in flame, purged by accidents and intentional decisions. His knees pumped, his arms churned, his hair flowed out behind him like a pennon. The first hundred meters disappeared behind him before he knew it, and still he wanted more speed.

He wanted to go faster, not because he might be losing, but because they asked him to. He could hear everyone in the stands, their cheers, their cries for him to go all out. The next hundred meters flashed past, his heart beating steady, his body reminding him that there was always more to give if he asked for it. The dark voice caressed his mind, There will never be a limit, not for you, Shinji.

His feet struck the ground with the violence of the angry tides, his breathing in tune with the Song of Morning. He was powerful. He was power. The third quarter was no barrier to him, there was no 'wall', nothing but a rapidly dwindling distance between him and his goal.

The ribbon pulled taut, but could only be broken once. Victory would be granted to the man that snapped that thin strand. Victory would be his. He cared nothing for the knife, nothing for who would be asked to host people to a party. Such concerns were mere window dressing. Pretty frills to hang over the display case that contained the true value of his efforts. He would either gaze upon it with pride, or know that his best wasn't enough.

Striking the goal, still pumping as if he had another hundred meters to race, he only pulled up once he was ten full strides past the line. His breathing as steady as ever he turned to face the first person he thought to ask about the results, and his reflexes saved him from being bowled over by the same, a happily laughing Hikari. Holding his girlfriend close, he saw Glitch shaking his head as the man walked over with a huge smile on his face, "Did I win?" He felt Raffle impact him from behind, the blonde pilot having latched around his neck whooping with joy, "D-did I win?"

"You won," Glitch was breathing the way Shinji thought he himself should be, "and by far more space than I'm comfortable with. We'll have to ask the MAGI, but I think you beat me by at least three seconds. My friend, I do believe that I have been soundly defeated." Admitting his defeat with the same smile he gave promising to win the race, the man demonstrated exactly what he had offered to Shinji before, a strength of character and honor.

"It was a good race, Glitch. A great race." Shinji bowed carefully, enough of a dip to be respectful but not so much that he risked harming either of the two ladies clinging to him. "Thank you for helping me focus. I succeeded because you reminded me that we're all friends here."

"Let's go greet the audience then, my friend," the lanky pilot tilted his head towards the standing crowd. "I want to introduce you to my wife."

"C'mon, c'mon!" Raffle hopped down, jogging ahead, "I gotta rub this in Feelgood's face!"

Feeling Hikari begin to move, he held her back, "I won." Looking down into her beaming smile, he frowned, "I won by three seconds?" What's happening to me? "I…I shouldn't be…."

"You're fine," her smile disappeared, replaced by a look of calm determination. "Nothing's wrong, nothing's out of place. You're just a little older than you normally would be, because of the changes, right? You work out all the time, you-"

"Oi!" Raffle waved from halfway between them and the grandstands, "C'mon you lot, you're holding up the ceremony!"

"You're fine." Hikari tugged more forcefully, prompting him to start walking with her under his arm, "If you think something's wrong, we should talk…we should ask Ritsuko-san. She's your doctor, she would know."

"Y-yeah," but what's wrong with Ritsuko?

The first person to reach him for congratulations from the audience was Nozomi, the little whirlwind dashing over and jumping at him, forcing him to let go of Hikari to catch her, "Nii-san!" She giggled happily as he hefted her up onto his right shoulder, holding her firmly in place so that he could restore Hikari to her rightful place on his arm, "You were soooo fast!" She smiled happily at his opponent for the race, waving at both him and his wife, "Glitch-san was really fast, too. You must run all the time!"

"Usually after I chase him out of the house for leaving his clothes outside of the hamper," the grinning woman walking alongside Glitch teased her husband gently. "You should see him move then, little one. Like a bolt of thunder, he is."

"Bah," Glitch rolled his eyes good-naturedly, "you will understand soon, Paladin. Once your Light has you good and married, you'll hear all about your flaws. It's all sweet talk and good food now, but after? Woosh!" He clapped his hands dramatically, "Gone, like the wind itself!"

"That would be hard to see happening," Kodama approached with the Sub-Commander. "Considering I have to fight Shinji to not cook us every meal, to not do everyone's laundry," she looked at her housemate with a happy grin, "to not spoil my little sister with bedtime stories."

"You cook? Bah," Glitch's wife smacked her husband on the chest, "would you introduce us properly, you wastrel?"

"Yes dear," the dark-skinned man seemed happily in love with his wife, the banter more of a long-term game to them than any actual signs of domestic troubles. "Paladin, this is the song in my heart, by the grace of God, Maria Mbau. My love, this is Paladin, named by his parents Shinji Ikari."

Gripping Nozomi tightly about the legs, Shinji bowed as best he could with his burden, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Maria-san." Introduce your family. "You may have met already, but please, let me introduce you to my…my family. This," he bounced his passenger slightly, "Is Nozomi Horaki."

Nozomi waved happily, "It is very nice to meet you, ma'am."

"Her sister, and my girlfriend, Hikari Horaki," he paused again.

"How do you do," Hikari's bow was liquid grace.

"And their elder sister," Shinji gestured to the Professor's side, "Kodama Horaki."

"Pleased to meet you, ma'am," Kodama moved over to the shoulder that Nozomi sat upon, putting her arm around Shinji's back and laying her head on his arm.

After more banter between his opponent in the race and the man's dear love, Shinji was led by Kozo from small group to small group, making the same introductions over and over, followed by small talk. The elder statesman seemed keen to have him take the lead in the conversations, only offering small comments as appropriate, or when it was time for the small group to move on to another encounter. After the last of the introductions, he maneuvered them all over to the table to finally take something to eat and drink.

"Well done, Shinji-kun," Kozo nodded in approval. "You're getting the hang of your position."

"Position?" Nozomi turned about in a small circle between the four people as she ate from everyone else's plates, dancing to her own tune, "As winner of the race?"

"Your 'nii-san'," Kozo's voice implied heavily that he approved of the connection, "is the Lead Pilot for his team. We decided that his efforts merited recognition, and that he was mature enough to hold more responsibility." He looked to the gatherings behind Shinji, "That the Air Group has taken a liking to you, and that you've taken them into your confidence, only proves how correct we were."

"Has," Shinji frowned as he remembered that he hadn't seen any of his Guardians, "uhm, has anyone seen Ritsuko? Or Misato, or Maya?" I need to ask her about these changes.

"Doctor Akagi has gone to continue Ayanami-chan's training," Kozo asserted smoothly. "If I understand correctly, that's also where Captains Ibuki and Katsuragi went."

Kodama grimaced, "I'm surprised you didn't hear the-"

"Spirited discussion," her 'uncle' cut in gently. "Do not worry, Shinji-kun. They were happy to watch your race, and just as pleased to see how handily you won. However, as you know, responsibilities have piled themselves on all our shoulders. The tension between them is natural, as your guardians are all very capable women with differing ideas of the best methods to produce results. It's why I set them up in the way I have, to give you various means of assistance in challenging times."

"Paladin!" Feelgood called from near the bleachers, "If you have a moment, I'd like to ask you a few things."

"Go ahead, Shinji-kun," Kozo urged him onward, once more glowing with pride and contentment as he gazed on the son of Yui. "I have my own duties to see to. Congratulations on your victory, I look forward to seeing many more similar victories in the future."