Chapter 28: Training for Perfection

After setting the table and the three women sat down, Shinji brought dinner out. Small plates were around the main bowls that each of them had including Pen-Pens. Asuka and Rei watched as the older women and penguin make water works in their mouths and dug right in their meals. Misato's consisted of an Italian cuisine with sausage. Pen-Pen's consisted of strips of catfish meat stuffed with pineapples and orange peppers.

Both female pilots looked at theirs. Asuka recognized her meal as a European dish with polish sausage in a bowl. Rei looked at her meal that consisted of rice and yellow curry. She couldn't tell if there was meat or not; however, she did see cubes that appeared to look like the color of cooked chicken.

"There is no meat inside your meal Miss Ayanami," he said while placing down beverages for them. "I sautéed tofu instead of meat. That is your preference is it not?"

"It is," Rei said feeling a little better.

"You are a vegetarian Rei?" Misato asked after swallowing food in her mouth. The female pilot nodded her head a little. Asuka took a bite of her meal. She struggled to not make a sound of enjoyment for how it tasted.

'Explains why she looks thin,' the Captain thought now having a dinner topic to distract them from the tension in the kitchen earlier.

"Have you always been one?" Misato pressed on.

"I think so…I don't like the taste of meat or fish."

"Your mezing oout Furst," Asuka said with a mouth full of food.

"…" Rei said watching the Second Child bite into a piece of pork readily. Looking back at her meal, she frowned at her co-workers display of being a carnivore. Picking up a spoon and scooping her food, she took her first bite.

"…?" Ayanami said feeling her mouth produce more saliva than normal. The combination of flavors mixed well. Looking down at her meal, she felt an odd impulse of wanting to eat it more.

"Is there anything else you need for your meals?" Shinji asked standing behind the remaining chair at the table. He was holding a tray at his side that he used to carry all the food in like a waiter.

"…" all of them including Pen-Pen looked at him with a mouthful of food.

"…" he said with a blink as three voices were watching their interests with a proud gaze.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Misato asked after swallowing.

"I will eat in the kitchen."

"Mmm-mmm, denied," the Captain said making an X with her arms.

"…very well. I shall retrieve my meal and eat here."

"Mmm-hmm, correct," she said smiling seeing him bow a little.

"…" both Asuka and Rei said watching him leave.

Momentarily, he reappeared with a bowl, chopstick, and a tea cup. Sitting in the remaining chair, he began to eat. Not seeing anything out of the ordinary of his entrée, the Second Child went back to eating her meal. Ayanami would occasionally glance to watch him consume his food. She noticed he repeated a sequence. He would look down at his food, pick up a portion, stare at it a little, slowly put it into his mouth, close his eyes and chew.

'This is nice for a change,' Misato thought pleasantly looking how all of them were eating together.

After dinner was finished, Asuka, Misato, and Pen-Pen drank their beverages with filled-satisfied stomachs. Rei drank her beverage while still tasting her dinner.

"How was dinner madams and sir?" Shinji said calmly looking at all of them.

"Great/Wark!" Misato and Pen-Pen said at the same time.

"Not bad Third Child," Asuka said hiding that she enjoyed what had.

"It was good Ikari," Rei said stoically.

"Thank you," Shinji said bowing while still sitting. He was about to get up when Misato waved her finger at him.

"You need to eat enough to keep up your strength Shinji."

"…" he said sitting back down. "Very well."

"I have been meaning to ask. Do you have trouble eating with the condition you have?"

"It sometimes can be challenging," Shinji said staring at the remaining amount in his bowl.

"Oi, what are two yakking about?" Asuka asked. Misato looked at her and just smirked.

"Ikari has schizophrenia Pilot Souryu," Rei interjected before Misato did.

"…!?" the Second Child said looking at the First Child. "Ha! Yeah right."

"You didn't know Asuka? It was in his profile that you read," Misato said smiling at her.

"Wha?" the red head said looking at the Captain bewildered. She slowly looked at the Third Child as he was looking at a portion of his food. He slowly put it in his mouth and closed his eyes.

"Ha ha, that is a joke. You really a psycho Third?" she asked feeling a little paranoid.

"Unfortunately, I do have the symptoms to be one," he said not looking up and continued to eat at his slow pace.

"Wait, wait, wait a minute," Asuka said feeling confused. "Shouldn't you then be in a mad house?"

"Possibly."

"Why aren't you?"

"Good question."

"What?" Asuka said then became a little irritated. "What kind of an answer is that?"

"I don't know why," was all he said and continued eating.

"Hey," Asuka said with narrow eyes turning toward Misato who was drinking her beer. "Is this an inside joke or something?"

"Mmmm…no," the Captain said with a straight face. It made the female pilot blink a couple of times then looked like she was having a headache.

"…" Rei said bringing her tea cup close to her lips. It hid the small smile she had watching the red head become frustrated and confused. It strangely made her feel better.

"Ok…ok. So let me get this straight. This guy here is a legit psycho and is allowed to pilot an Eva. Not only that, he goes to school and is your butler. Does that make any sense to any of you?!" Asuka stated.

"At first, no. But his condition doesn't seem to progressing. At least, that is what Ritsuko has stated," Misato said.

"Piloting an Eva helps his mental disorder?"

"Sounds a bit crazy, I know. But so far, he hasn't had any symptoms since piloting," the Captain stated forgoing to mention of his brief episode not too long ago.

"Huh, that's a first," Asuka stated then looked at the Third Child. He was almost done and was stoically staring at the portion he picked up with his chopsticks. He slowly put it in his mouth and chewed.

"Hey Third?"

"…?" he said opening his eyes and swallowing. "Yes Miss Souryu?"

"Does your condition alter what you see and feel?"

"It can from time to time."

"Oh?" Asuka said then prompted her elbows on the table and gave a small smirk. "Give me an example."

"Very well. Say I am eating chocolate pudding. When I taste it, it can turn out to be mud instead," he explained looking back at them. Asuka and Misato looked at each other and started snickering.

'They find his disposition amusing?…I do not see the humor in his example,' Rei thought looking at the two females. Looking back the male pilot, he kept didn't change his expression. He took the last portion in the bowl and looked at. Despite him feeling clammy inside out, he put the "food" in his mouth and chewed.

'…tell them…tell them what you are eating,' the accented voice rang in his with mirth.

'Hey-hey-hey!' Shino stated.

'No way! Don't do that!' the crazy voice piped in.

'You'll make all of them lose their dinner!' the child voice stated his dissent.

'The more reason to tell them.'

'Shut up!' the three voices stated at the same time.

"…" Shinji said ignoring his voices and swallowing the last bit of his meal. Picking up his tea, the remaining amounts did not look like the clear green drink. It had a strong iron smell to it with a couple of things squirming in it.

'…say it…'

"…" he said putting the drink down.

'…don't say it…'

He took his napkin and wiped his mouth. Looking back at it, there small bits of blood, skin, and veins on it.

'…sAy It!…'

Putting it in his bowl, he started to collect all the bowls and small plates together. Both Asuka and Misato calmed down and watched him.

'…DoN't SaY iT!…'the three voices shouted in his head.

"So what were you eating just now? Moth balls, oil, dirt, garbage, or maybe your own underwear," Asuka said with an amused face.

'…S…A…Y…I…T…!…' the accented voice shouted in evil mirth. The voice with red-blue eyes did not voice anything and kept quiet.

"Oh stop it Asuka," Misato said giggling.

'…D…O…N…'…T…Y…O…U…S…A…Y…I…T…!…' all three voices raged causing a migraine to form around the area of the pilot's left temple.

"I rather not say it," Shinji said getting up and retrieving the tray from the kitchen. He started putting the dishes on it.

"Fine. I'll just say you were eating dirty underwear then," Asuka said with a smirk.

"…" he said nodding impassively. He lifted the tray up. "Excuse me."

All three watched him calmly walk into the kitchen and began cleaning the dishes. They failed to see the small carcass on the table that was still bleeding profusely and spilling onto the floor. Rei felt something nearby that made her shiver. It felt clammy and a little nauseous. Not sure why the sudden occurrence, she looked over at where he sat. Nothing was there. Ignoring it and drink her tea, the feeling slowly went away.

Both Asuka and Misato talked amongst themselves while the sounds of dishes were being cleaned. It was a strange scene for the First Child. She had never eaten with many people before. The only other person that she had dined with was the Commander on rare occasions. Though she did feel a slight discomfort from feeling like a crowd was around her, it was still pleasant and acceptable. The running water stopped and Shinji came back out.

"I have finished Miss Misato. I shall begin the other duties and will leave you madams toward your training," he bowed and walked away. Rei and Asuka watched him re-enter the kitchen. He came out with trash bags filled with a weekend's worth of garbage. Exiting the room, Asuka blinked confused.

"What's he doing?"

"Oh, being a butler," Misato said.

"…you mean…he's your butler!?" Asuka asked astonished. Rei blinked in surprise.

"You could put it that way," the Captain said scratching her head sheepishly.

"He does all the chores?"

"Yep."

"Laundry?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"The cleaning?"

"You bet."

"…why?"

Misato shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not sure why, but he says it serves him a purpose for coming here."

"Hmph. He is probably just pervert in disguise," Asuka stated before gulping down her drink.

Rei looked at the Second Child then took a sip of her tea. The drink seemed to help her calm down from the developing violent emotions in her. A feeling of wanting to strangle the other female pilot came and went quickly.

"Men, they're all perverts. None of them can match up to what Kaji is," Asuka said pleasantly about the unshaven man. Misato sneered and rolled her eyes. Looking to the side, she muttered something under her breath about the man. Taking a swig of her beer, she semi-slammed it on the table to get the girls' attention.

"Okay girls, back to work!" Misato said with vigor.

Asuka groaned while Rei just nodded with an impassive face. The rest of the evening went on with the two female pilots placing hands and feet on the lighted circles. In the background, Shinji did household chores quietly trying not to distract or disturb his co-workers. He made his way to where he was sitting at dinner and looked down at the table.

"…" he said still feeling the hairs on his neck standing on end.

The filleted open baby was still lying there and paling. The organs he pulled out and ate left the small carcass semi-empty. Getting a wet wipe, Shinji pushed the dead body into the trash bag. He proceeded to wipe up all the blood that pooled on the table and floor. Once done, he proceeded to other chores.

When night came, the Third Child finished what was needed to be done. About to seek Misato for any other tasks, she and the female pilots looked very busy. The three voices that were interested in the women convinced him to not disturb them. Going toward the hallway to the entrance, he bowed goodbye and left unnoticed.

"Alright, that's good enough for today," Misato said after looking at the clock to see it was near bedtime.

"God, finally…eww I'm all sweaty," Asuka complained then walked toward the bathroom. Rei ignored her fellow pilot and looked around the room. She didn't hear anything except the TV turning on and the water running in the bathtub. Exploring the apartment, she didn't find him. Going to the patio area, no one was there.

'Ikari must have left home,' she thought walking back into the apartment. A disappointed sensation went through her making her pout a little. Shaking her head, she pushed it aside and prepared for sleep.

Two days passed as neither Rei or Asuka were seen at school. Their days were spent trying to synchronize everything they did. Every step, breath, action, and even talking the same was a part of their training. Not much progress came between them but at least, to Misato's benefit, they hadn't torn each other apart or blown the apartment up.

The tensions between them seemed to be growing. Asuka kept up her verbal assaults with an annoyed face. Rei kept her neutral face. However, the Captain felt her crimson eyes turned hostile many times during these arguments. Fortunately, the dagger eyes would die away to nothing momentarily. Misato didn't have to worry too much about herself. She had plenty of beer to calm her nerves.

On an observation level, there were certain aspects that struck Misato odd. Most were directed at the Third Child. One was how silently he worked around the apartment. It was almost like he was never around them. But when that thought occurred, she would see him in the corner of her eye scrubbing away on the floor, cleaning an appliance, or repairing a household mechanism or damaged furniture.

The second oddity was he always seemed to bring everyone's nerves down to a calm level. Even when Asuka said outlandish things about the operation or NERV, she directed her attention to him. At first, it was strange how just looking at him seemed to quiet her down slowly. Not in all her life has Misato seen anybody calm down Asuka from her just looking at them. However, it wasn't for pleasant reasons. His murky aura would be present during these verbal assaults. She noticed that very time Asuka calmed down, she looked uncomfortable and would turn away from him.

Another thing was how Rei would sometimes look for him around the house during a break or when they finished training. She always seemed to relax a little if he was in her sight. Of course from her un-emotional face, figuring that out was hard. Misato notice it after one of Asuka's verbal assaults towards Ayanami. Afterwards, Asuka broke off and went into the restroom.

She watched as Rei looked irritated then noticed Shinji in the kitchen. Walking into the kitchen, she stood a little behind him as he was drying the dishes. The closed fits that were on her hands slowly opened as Misato heard them do small talk. In the way they acted and behavior, she would bet money that they were at least relatives of some kind.

In the afternoon on the third day, the two female pilots continued to train. To their unawareness, three people were coming up the elevators in the apartment complex. Two elevators dinged on a floor with two boys coming out of one and one girl from the other.

"Hey, it's the class rep," Toji said.

"Well if it isn't the two stooges," Hikari said back to Toji and Kensuke.

All three walked in the same direction. "So, what brings you here?" asked Toji.

"To check up on Asuka, what are you two doing here?"

"To see where Shinji keeps heading after school," he replied back. All three halted at the same apartment.

"Why did you stop here?" all three asked and pushed the door bell at the same time. All three heard two females reply at the same time. The door opened to show the First and Second child dress in same cloths wearing headphones.

"Yes?" Asuka/Rei said in unison.

"…" the other three individuals outside stared with perplexed faces.

"…what is this?" Hikari asked in confusion.

"We have to do everything in unison according to Misato," the two responded together monotone.

"Everything?" Kensuke asked.

"Everything from eating, breathing, talking, and sleeping together," both answered causing immediate reactions.

"What!?" Hikari stated with a flustered face. Both male students looked at each other and grinned.

"Hikari, it's not what you think!" Asuka said.

"You both are living in sin!" the class rep stated covering her eyes with her hands.

"Hikari, I said it's not like that! I swear!" Asuka retorted. Then she looked at the other two seeing their ear to ear grins.

"What are you two perverts looking at!?"

"What kind of gossip would happen if this got out in school Mr. Aida," Toji asked still staring at the red head.

"Hmm, definitely would strike a buzz," Kensuke said still grinning.

"The two Queens in a sinful partnership. It would be gold," the jock stated evilly.

"…?!" Asuka said recoiling then started cracking her knuckles with a scowl. "You wouldn't dare."

"…" Rei said nothing with her stoic expression.

"Hey everybody!" Misato said from behind the group. Her appearance broke any acts of brutality from the Second Child.

"Could ya explain this?" Toji asked jerking his thumb at both Asuka and Rei.

All went inside and Misato explained to them the entire situation. The freckled face girl sighed in relief while the two boys held slight disappointed faces. Hikari instantly grabbed the water penguin and set the creature in her lap. Pen-Pen looked oddly at the female then shrugged his shoulders and sat comfortable in the human's lap.

"So how is their coordination test going?" Hikari asked.

"They are getting there…" Misato said as the four watched Asuka and Rei synchronized their movements on the dotted board. They went on for a minute until the doorbell rang which made Asuka miss a lighted pad.

"God damn it!" she yelled and started swearing in German. Rei stopped and stood up having a neutral expression. She just blinked.

"…almost" Misato finished with a sigh.

The three students clapped their hands for the impressive display of coordination. They saw the both girls walk to the door in unison. The only problem was Asuka's face looked deadly. They almost felt sorry for the person outside the door.

"So…what does Shinji come here for?" Toji asked.

"Well…" Misato said sheepishly scratching the back of her head. They all heard the front door open.

"You messed me up Third Child!"

"I am sorry Miss Souryu, it was unintentional."

"Yeah right, and stop apologizing!"

"Sorry Miss Souryu. That would be impossible for me."

"You're impossible to deal with!"

"Sorry."

"ARGH!"

"Do you need help Ikari?"

"I am fine Miss Ayanami, thank you."

The four watched the three Eva pilots walk into the living room. It was a strange sight even for Misato to see all three chatting amongst themselves. The four saw Shinji bow to them with a backpack on and plastic bags in his hands. They continued to the kitchen with Asuka behind him chewing his ear off still. Rei walked in front of them leading the small party into the kitchen. A few moments went by as the chatter stopped with both female pilots coming back out.

"Shall we try again Pilot Souryu?" Rei deadpanned.

"Hmph, fine Wonder-girl," Asuka said throwing a lock hair behind her. The two went back to the dotted floor and began their training again. The four then saw Shinji come out in a black suit, white dress shirt, black slacks, and dark red tie.

"Greetings. Are any of you thirsty or hungry?" he calmly asked to the group of people staring at him silently and surprised.

"…Shin-man…" Toji stated looking back and forth between Misato, the two pilots and him.

"You're their butler?"

Shinji nodded. Toji and Kensuke looked at each other than slapped his back.

"Shin-man, I didn't know ya were a player!" Toji said vigorously. His outspoken thought made Hikari frown at him. However, the sight of the Third Child's attire looked nice to her.

"I can assure you Mr. Suzuhura my intensions are not that," Shinji said with a blank face.

"Oh? I'm hurt Shinji," Misato said with a hurt expression. The boy expressed nothing while three students looked back and forth between the two.

"Is that so Misato?"

"Yes," she said and turned her head away closing her eyes.

'Oh-oh…say this! Please say this!' Shino shouted joyously into his head. Shinji just blinked before responding.

"Is there something I can do to make it up to you Misato?"

The lavender haired woman grinned and turned to the dark magenta eyed boy. "You can do just that…"

"Kiss and make up" she said slyly.

Misato knew she would strike reactions from Shinji's and Asuka's friends, but didn't expect the three pilots to react as well. The three visitors recoiled with the Toji and Kensuke looking at Shinji longingly. Hikari looked at the older woman with surprise and distaste at the small teasing. To Misato's surprise, Rei seemed to stop the training in mid step.

She was looking at the floor for a while then slowly looked at her. Asuka stopped and wailed at Rei for stopping and messing her up. Ignoring her ranting, Ayanami was staring at the male pilot. The first thing the purple eyed pilot expressed was nothing. But, she did notice his pupils shrink and was staring eerily at her. Quickly as she noticed, his pupils came back. He kept an impassive expression and blinked.

"I think not Miss Misato," he said with a bow and walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, what went on?" Asuka asked taking her headphones off.

"Oh, not much…" Misato said giggling a little then looked back at the two pilots. "Now back to your training!"

"Yes ma'am" both replied back at the same time. Unnoticed to everybody was the small expression of relief from Rei's face. She quickly went back to her impassive face and continued her training. The First Child didn't know why her statement struck her hard. Ignoring all the questions that were developing in her head, she pressed on with the training.

The next three days went by as both female pilots slowly progressed to complete synchronization in everyday activities. To Asuka's relief, Misato didn't say they had to bathe together even though sharing everything with the First Child was not to her liking. Rei didn't express anything but Misato knew that her relation with the Second Child was mutual to what Asuka thought.

On the evening of the last day, Rei and Asuka completed the synchronizing procedure three times in a row at %100. Misato had Shinji sit next to her while watching them.

"Alright, looks like you two are ready! Don't you think so Shinji?" Misato asked happily that the plan was going smoothly. He nodded.

"Congratulations on the accomplishment Miss Ayanami and Miss Souryu."

"Heh, it was easy unlike you who wimped out," Asuka said standing up with hands on her hips with a smug on her face. Rei was about to say something when Misato interrupted.

"Now now Asuka, he chickened out for a reason," Misato smiling at Shinji who remained stoic.

"Oh, what was the idiot's excuse?"

"Apparently, he is afraid to live with women. Aren't you Shinji?" Misato teased by poking his cheek with one finger. Asuka and Rei looked surprised at the male pilot. He still didn't express anything.

"…so…you are gay then Third?" Asuka asked thinking if he was then everything he didn't react to made sense.

"…" Shinji said turning his head slowly to his right looking at the Captain. "What do you think Miss Misato?"

"…" Misato was about to say something when she remembered the time when she successfully cooked a meal.

"Nope, he's straight," she said as she messed up his hair.

"I shall get refreshments," he said and stood up. They watched him go into the kitchen.

"How do you know that Misato?" Asuka asked looking suspiciously at the Captain.

"Oh…I just know," the lavender haired woman replied back with a smile.

"Yeah right…what do you think Wondergirl?" the red head asked looking at the First Child to her right.

"…" Rei said blinking and turning her sights at the Second Child. She reflected on a past event in which he said something to her.

"I think he is heterosexual."

"…whatever," the red head said when a cell phone went off. The three heard Shinji answered it in the kitchen.

"Shinji speaking."

[Hey Shinji, it's Rayne. We found where Tennsuki is hiding.]

"I see, time?"

[Meet me in 30 minutes at the corner of Biyu Street.]

"Very well," he said and closed his cell phone. Coming out with a tray of beverages and snacks, he placed them on the table. All three of the women were looking at him curious.

"Excuse me madams I must leave early today."

"For what?" Misato asked.

"I have an errand."

"Do you have to dress up in that suit for it?" she asked getting a nod in return.

"Where will you be going?" Rei interjected.

"An event on Biyu street."

"Is it a butler event thing?" Misato asked in which he shook his head no. His voices started giggling hysterically at what would transpire at the place they were going to. The accented voice gave a suggestion.

"An old acquaintance recently contacted me and wished to get in touch," Shinji said walking to the entrance hallway. "He indicated that he would call to let me know when he was free."

"How nice," Misato said smiling feeling happy that someone from his past wanted to get together. On the same note, if she could get information on that person, Misato could know more about the pilot's mysterious past.

"Is there anything else that is needed before I take my leave?" he asked with a blank expression.

"Nah. Have a good time with your friend," Misato stated seeing him bow.

"Thank you. Good day," Shinji said leaving taking his backpack with. All three heard the front door open and closed.

"Who do you think that acquaintance of his would be?" the Captain thought out loud.

"Who cares?" Asuka stated. "None of us would know."

"He did stay with a family and became their butler. Possible it is one of them or another butler from that time. Or maybe it could be a maid that has lingering feelings for him."

"Ha! I doubt anyone would have lingering feelings for a psycho creep."

"That's a bit harsh to say that about him," Misato said frowning a little at the red head. Both went back and forth and failed to notice Rei had left the room. A strange impulse came over her that was directing her to the patio. Standing in front of the door to it, she pondered why. Opening it, a cold wind blew in followed by a distant thunder.

"…?!" she said feeling a strong foreboding washed over her. Closing the door, she leaned on the door handle for support.

'…what was that…' she pondered getting strength back to stand. Looking outside through the window on the door, nothing but the dark night was outside. Walking away from it, she felt confused and wondered if the Third Child would be able to explain the odd and strong sensation.