The entire conference room was dark. If there were chairs, tables, people here then they could not be seen. There was only one weak, red light cone shining from the ceiling at the front of the room. A woman was standing firmly at attention in the middle of that light, but it was too dim to show more than just her stature.

"Captain Katsuragi," a deep and growling voice from the opposite end of the room sounded. "Despite our earnest requests, we were denied any questioning of the pilot of EVA-01, the only person directly involved in the incident. Can you explain this?"

"Yes, sir," Misato answered. "The pilot needs specialized treatment, which can only be guaranteed at NERV Headquarters. Furthermore, her emotional stability is of paramount concern for her ability to pilot the Evangelion in the first place. As the organization tasked with defending the world against the angels, NERV has therefore decided that subjecting the pilot to questioning would be an unacceptable risk to combat readiness."

"Then you will stand as her proxy," the voice declared.

Another voice, higher and slightly grating, spoke up. "In this incident, didn't the angel attempt to communicate with a human being?"

"I find no indication of that in the pilot's report," Misato answered. "The visions described seem more likely to be a result of being completely isolated and probably having feared death for fourteen hours at this point, and seem to revolve entirely around the pilot itself. As a contact measure they would be highly ineffective."

"If the report is correct," a third voice spoke up. "It may not be complete. The pilot's memory may have been tampered with."

"There is no evidence for this suggestion," Misato stated.

"There could not have been," the same voice replied. "The EVA's AC recorder was not functioning. We cannot exclude such tampering."

A fourth voice spoke up. "That all the visions were about the pilot herself leaves another possibility: Was the angel interested in the human spirit? The human mind?"

"We do not have enough data to answer this question," Misato explained. "We do not know whether the angels even have a concept of what a 'mind' is, whether they can understand human thoughts, or whether they would be interested in them."

"Then let us talk about strategic factors, Captain," the same voice continued. "The first six of the current wave of angels relied on pure strength. The last two angels operated more subtly. One infested an Evangelion, the other one tried to take an Evangelion into itself. Could it be that the angels are becoming more interested in their most direct enemy, the Evangelions? And could it be they are shifting their strategy?"

"Based on the previous attacks, there appears to be no systematic organization among the angels," Misato answered. "Therefore, there can be no trends or patterns in their attacks."

"Quite so!" the grating voice answered. "The angels always work alone. That is obvious."

"What do you mean, sir?" Misato asked.

"You are not allowed to ask questions!" the first voice told her.

"Understood, sir," Misato confirmed.

"Dismissed," the voice ordered.

"Yes, sir," Misato confirmed.

The light cone went dark. For a short while, nothing at all could be seen. Then 12 large objects appeared in a circle, all of them of them twice as large as a human being. The room must have been considerably larger than first assumed. They were illuminated, but didn't seem to light anything else around them. Broad, black monoliths with the word "SEELE" written on each of them.

"Your friend's dedication to protecting her pilot is commendable, don't you think… Dr Akagi?"

In the middle of the circle, in front of the monolith labeled 01 a woman could now be seen in the faint light. Ritsuko Akagi was standing there, completely in the nude.

"She doesn't know what is going on," Ritsuko replied. "But her instincts have always been good. She has a tactical intuition."

The voice was booming from Monolith 01 again. "Now, Dr Akagi, please understand we do not want to disgrace you. We'd like to carry this out calmly."

"I feel no disgrace," Ritsuko answered blankly.

She was not ready to reveal her true state of mind, her emotions to the metaphorical face of the enemy. SEELE. The Old Men. Gendo had spoken about them. His enemies. She would have to stay firm. By now, she had studied so much in Biology and Metaphysical Biology she could probably graduate in them. To a woman of science like her, a body, even a nude body, should just be a body. A thing that served a purpose. Nothing to be ashamed of.

"You're a strong woman," the grating voice congratulated her.

"It is clear why Ikari entrusts you with so much authority," another, rather soothing voice spoke up. "You are responsible for the medical treatment of the pilot of EVA-01, the former pilot of EVA-00, is that correct?"

"The 'First Child' as we designate her at NERV," Ritsuko confirmed.

"We spoke of the angel trying to contact a human mind, but that is not strictly speaking true, is it?" the voice asked. "Is the First Child human?"

Ritsuko remained stoically silent.

"Is she a projection of the Second Angel?" the booming voice now asked. "Did Gendo Ikari commit this blasphemy?"

Ritsuko managed to suppress a sneer. Like you did with the First Angel? Though she supposed there was a certain difference. Second Impact had been necessary, after all.

The soothing voice spoke again. "We understand the situation you're in, Dr Akagi. We would have much rather interviewed the First Child herself as well. But Ikari did in fact withhold her from us."

He had to. Rei was too important for all their plans. Ultimately, everything rested on control over her. She was a tool of utmost importance...

"So we came to an agreement," the grating voice stated. "A compromise."

"In order to not endanger the First Child, Ikari sent you," the booming voice announced.

"You are here with his knowledge and cooperation." The grating voice. "You are the First Child's substitute."

"So you see, unfortunately we have to interrogate you, not her." The soothing voice.

From the start, Ritsuko had tried and managed to keep her face even. But as the truth slowly dawned on her, surrounded by droning voices, her view became simply blank. Unfocused.

...not her. Gendo has chosen her over me. He knew. He agreed with them. He sent me. I'm going through this because he prefers her to me.

...I'm just Rei's substitute. Always have been.

The droning voices had come to a halt. Ritsuko hesitated. Then she spoke up.


Rei was back in the lava of Mt Asama. But there was no tension here. EVA-00 simply swam in the lava like in NERV's swimming pool. Not piloted by her, but her as the EVA. Rei, as Rei, emerged from that pool to walk outside, and saw a black and white striped ball above her in the sky. Three of them. Dozens of them. The city around them stretched for miles and miles. Rei could now see it from a nearby cliff. The city below her was vaguely like Tokyo-3, but mostly just an unfocused blur of detail less buildings and streets. And it grew ever further in the plain around it. Like a flower field. Rei walked towards that flower field.

She could see two human shapes in the distance. She smiled, knowing who they were. It was an unfamiliar feeling on her face. She walked up straight to them, but the distance to them remained ever the same. She was wearing the dance training outfit now. The flowers around her were gradually turning to fires, but even amidst the two fires she could see the human shapes. She felt hot, very hot. There was something inside Rei that did not just want to reach those two shapes, be close to them, but also… more.

And the closer Rei now came, the larger the shapes grew, until Asuka and Shinji were towering above her. Rei was confused. She was with them now, but they were so far away. But… she was also the EVA. And suddenly she had the same height as them. They looked at her oddly, as if they didn't understand. And then there was a roar in the distance, and an entire armada of Ramiels were approaching. One of them heated up. EVA-00 sprinted forwards and held up its suddenly appearing shield. The beam hit the shield, burned through, hit her…

...and she was in a dark room.

She was in a dark room.

Her body lay motionlessly on her futon, but her heart was beating so loud as if it were a drum. Rei's face was expressionless as she kept looking up to the ceiling. This is reality again. The images were more in focus, things made sense, and didn't randomly shift around. Is this what a dream is like?

She simply kept lying there, eyes wide open, face rigid, and didn't know what to do. Fear was spreading inside her. Is this my mind? What is inside me? That angels could induce visions was one thing. But this had come totally out of nowhere. And the images of that dream still reverberated inside her. The fire, Asuka's and Shinji's look, the Ramiels, the beam… it had all been so terrible. It was over now, in fact it had never really happened. But then why won' t this fear go away? Rei was terribly confused and frightened.

She needed… she needed… stability. Something to make the fear go away. A safe harbour from the storms inside her…

Asuka.

Her face lit up a small bit when she remembered her. Only just that Asuka was in the same apartment, that she could be there if things got bad, was an immense relief to Rei. She could know what to do. Would be stability, in any case. Safety. Comfort. Rei didn't quite know what the redhead could do, what she expected from her, but she really had the urge to see her now.

In one determined movement, she got up, left her room and walked up to Asuka's. Moonlight was falling into it as she opened the door. Asuka lay spread all over the futon, her long hair falling every which way from her head, almost creating a small blanket of its own. Even in sleep, Asuka looked vibrant. Rei remained standing at the door and looked at her. She was still shaken from her dream, but now didn't know what to do.

"Asuka..." she whispered, too afraid to be louder. There was no reaction. And yet, Rei still craved her support. So she spoke up, "Asuka."

Asuka's body began moving on the futon. She rolled around, slowly rose her head and looked up sleepily. "Ah… Was… Rei?"

"It's me," Rei confirmed from the door.

Asuka sounded sleep-drunken and grumpy. "What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

"I had a dream," Rei explained. "It was the first dream I ever had. I do not know what to do."

Asuka supported her upper body on her right lower arm to look closer at her. The redhead's view became more focused. "What do you mean? Your first dream?"

"I have never dreamed before," Rei explained.

"...huh," Asuka just replied. "You sure that angel hasn't screwed with your head?" Rei didn't reply. Couldn't explain the entire situation now, in the middle of the night, standing in the door frame to Asuka's room. The angel was not the problem. What would happen now was. After a while, Asuka spoke up again, "So… what's the problem?"

"I am… afraid," Rei answered. She tried to articulate her response. It helped her to find the main problem. "The dream shocked me. If I return to sleep, this might repeat itself."

"Your first dream, huh?" Asuka muttered. "Yeah, I suppose that would be terrifying for anyone." She groaned. "I'd offer you to make tea for us, but I'm tired. You know what? I..." She hesitated.

"Asuka?" Rei prompted her.

"Remember the night before the Israfel fight?" Asuka asked flatly. "I had a nightmare. And then… I didn't anymore. After I had stumbled onto your futon." She became quiet again.

"I remember," Rei told her.

Asuka chuckled softly. It sounded… unsteady. "Come here then. Who wouldn't sleep peacefully safe in the arms of the great Asuka Langley-Soryu?" Rei hesitated, fearing she could misunderstand her. Asuka groaned. "Get into the damn futon, Rei. I'm tired."

With small rapid steps Rei moved to the futon. She hesitated only a second; she had been there before after all and it had been nice. She hadn't even finished laying down when Asuka's arms came around her.

"Hmmm. Teddy bear," Asuka commented. "Sleep now, Rei."

And Asuka was right. Rei did feel safe now. Maybe dreams would claim her again, but she would always have Asuka here for her. And it just felt nice to be wrapped up in those arms, her arms. Rei had always felt adrift in the world of humans, had never felt connected to any of them. Only piloting Evangelion had let her felt associated with humans at all. Now, she was physically anchored at a safe harbour. Anchor…

Though, there also was something else she was feeling now. A certain kind of heat. She was suddenly very aware of the details of Asuka's body behind hers. How it rubbed against hers when one of them moved. How soft it was. How certain parts pressed against her back. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was new. And confusing. It was a sort of emotion that demanded to be acted upon, but Rei didn't know how.

Asuka… and she thought of Shinji as well. Would she feel the same with him? She suddenly had the urge to know. The two… the two were always a pleasant thought, and now Asuka was right here, pressed up against Rei.

It took a surprisingly long time until Rei could sleep again. But then she had a very sound and calm sleep.


What would we do without Asuka?

Well, Shinji would probably just sit out the day at home. Which wasn't the worst prospect in the world, especially if it was together with Rei. But it was better to have Asuka around, both in general and in particular because she actually initiated stuff. Like her suggestion now to go to the city. She also had left little doubt why she had had that idea.

"Do try not to stop and stare open-mouthed at every mundane thing, though, Rei," she had teased the blue-haired girl.

That proved to be easier said than done. Already on the way to the city there had been many things that raised Rei's interest. The way the train there moved beneath her. The glass dome the central rail station used as roof. The loud song of the cicadas at a park the three were passing by.

"How long have you lived in Tokyo-3 already?" Asuka asked with considerable amusement.

"All my life," Rei answered.

Shinji didn't mind these episodes at all. Rei was adorable whenever yet another sudden interest caught her. Her wide-eyed looks, even while the rest of her face remained entirely calm, tilting her head, the sheer sense of wonder in it all. He liked seeing that on her. And the excitement was infectious. Just the fact that Rei, the quietest of the three, showed such an interest in things now... that excited Shinji as well.

He carefully blocked the question of how else he might excite Rei, even though it was burning in the back of his mind. Rei was not just adorable.

Asuka sighed as they walked on. "And to think that those bugs will go on with this all year round here. I guess I'll miss winter this year, but hopefully not next year as well."

Shinji furrowed his brows. "You want to go back to Germany?"

Asuka shrugged. "I got deployed here because of the angels, nothing more."

"Oh," Shinji voiced. That was blindingly obvious, even. Why had he never thought of that? So I will eventually lose her. But why then did she coax all those promises out of me about never leaving her? Not that they aren't true, but it's actually irrelevant… "Don't you like it here?"

Asuka scoffed. "Japanese society, Japanese customs, Japanese school… Kanji, unlocked doors, paperboard walls… Japanese food, well, yours is quite good, but you know what I'd really want again? Some plain, normal bread. And not just this toast bread stuff, either. A real loaf of bread. I had heard that is usually what German expats miss first. Seems like it's true."

Shinji's mood darkened. He was speaking quietly now. "So… you'll return to Germany..."

Asuka hesitated a moment before speaking up. And she sounded considerably less self-confident now than she usually was. "When I do… why don't you two come along? I mean, by then I'll surely have spent one or two years here. Seems fair to me if you then do the same in Germany."

"To Germany?" Shinji echoed surprised. "But… I'll still need to visit school!"

Though it was a tantalizing prospect, actually. Not so much going to Germany, but the thought of a future in general. Asuka seemed sure the angel war would eventually end and she could go home. A world without EVAs and angels… Shinji hadn't thought of the future in a long time already. It had never mattered to him. Now he was wondering about that. A future… together with Asuka? Together with Rei? Maybe it was better after all not to think about that...

"You can do that in Germany as well," Asuka argued. "No more of this stupid learning by rote! What do you say, Rei?"

Rei remained silent for a while before she answered. "We should focus on the present. That is where we are."

Asuka stopped short. "Huh. Wouldn't have expected that from you. But you're right. Carpe diem!" She glanced sideways at Shinji and grinned.

He sighed and smiled tolerantly. "I indeed don't know what that means."

Asuka loudly and happily explained as they finally entered the shopping district. Here, Rei basically couldn't even stop and pause staring. The lights, the facades, the shops… it seemed like everything was a whole new world for her. That was of some concern to Shinji; after all, it had come so suddenly. But seeing Rei like this… surely, this couldn't be a bad thing?

She and Asuka surely were Shinji's two favourite people in the world. The three spent so much time together, talked with each other, laughed with each other… trusted each other, had been together in one futon already… Sooner or later, something would have to give. They couldn't stay in this weird state of a mutual, un-acted upon triangle attraction forever. But as soon as somebody were to move, that triangle would be destroyed.

And Shinji would, maybe, be all alone again.

"So, where do we go first?" Asuka asked in a booming voice.

Shinji smiled weakly. For now he still had their company. "Well, there is a music shop, right there, where I wanted to go."

"Hrmpf, fine," Asuka conceded. "But afterwards we're going clothes shopping."

Shinji shrugged. "Fine by me."

Asuka did a double-take. "Wait, what? Aren't you boys usually dead set against that?"

"That always seemed like a silly attitude to me, anyway," Shinji mumbled. "It's not like I'm unused to just waiting, you know."

"I guess that's true," Asuka conceded slowly. Then she turned around. "What about you, Rei? Do you want to go to any particular place?" The blue-haired girl shook her head. "You don't need to come along everywhere, you know."

"It's okay," Rei answered softly. "I enjoy your company. And doing something."

Asuka mumbled something while a faint smile appeared on Shinji's face. Then the three got going to the music store. Shinji wanted to look for certain note sheets, and generally see what they had. With some luck even some old tapes, but then, his SDAT player was usually occupied by the same tape anyway.

The three entered the store… and Rei froze. This was more than just her 'noticing' something again. She actually had her mouth slightly open, and her body went rigid.

"Rei?" Shinji whispered softly.

"I'm hearing..." Rei said blankly.

Hm? Oh! "The music?" Shinji asked.

Rei looked at him and then nodded. Shinji didn't recognize the song that was being played. Some popsong in English, with a heavy reliance on electronic sounds and definitely not cheery-upbeat or sappy enough to be by some idol or boy band. It wasn't bad – it wove a rich tapestry of sound – but it wasn't anything that special, either. Yet Rei just stood there and listened, apparently totally enchanted by the music.

Asuka gently touched her shoulder. "Rei?"

The bluehead just shrugged her off and continued to listen. She did so for the full remaining length of the song. Asuka and Shinji were too surprised by that, and also slightly worried about her, to move. Once the song ended, Rei relaxed. Without looking further in the store, the three just left.

"That… seems to have had a strong impact on you," Asuka commented.

Rei nodded. Then she turned to Shinji. "Give me your SDAT player, please."

"Uh..." Shinji voiced. He hardly used that thing in public anymore, but he still always had it with him. "Sure."

Rei plugged in the earphones. Shinji showed her the controls. Then she skipped forwards. To a very specific song. Shinji smiled when he saw which one it was. As they walked on, Rei seemed to be in her very own world.

"Why do you even go to such stores?" Asuka asked. "I haven't actually bought any music since Misato showed me torrenting years ago."

Shinji furrowed his brows. The idea bothered him somewhat.. "But isn't that wrong, to use someone else's work on the Internet without permission?" When Asuka just scoffed, he went on. "I mean, you also wouldn't download a car."

"What kinda argument is that, idiot?" Asuka complained. "You could also say you wouldn't download a person and it would make as much sense."

Besides her, Rei missed a step but caught herself again.

"So," Asuka continued. "To the boutiques and clothing stores it is now."

Shinji smirked. Waiting time it is. He didn't think he needed any new clothes. And truth be told, he also kinda doubted Asuka needed new clothes. That was not how it worked, after all.

Luckily for him, Asuka didn't even try to get him interested in new clothes for himself. But she seemed very interested in Rei getting new stuff, commenting how this or that dress or pair of trousers or whatever would look on her. And she was usually right. Shinji had a sneaking suspicion Asuka only did that to see Rei in as many different clothing styles as possible, but he had no complaint about that at all. He had… similar interests.

And during all this, Rei never removed her earplugs. She went into changing rooms with earplugs, and came out to present the new clothing item with earplugs as well. Shinji doubted she had them out inside the cabin. She seemed very eager to listen to that music. That meant Shinji couldn't do what he usually did while waiting, using his SDAT player, but that was quite alright. It looked very good on Rei. He liked how she enjoyed the music, how enchanted she was in her own, quiet way, the look of it on her. But then he supposed he would find almost anything look good on Rei.

Though she also looked very good with nothing on her... He was about to banish the thought, but then wondered if this changed Rei would react likewise. Which brought forth images of Asuka on Rei, and how Rei might have reacted and…

Shinji was very quiet as they walked to the next store.

Inside it, Asuka exclaimed, "You know what we need? Swimwear!"

Shinji just blinked at her. Rei reacted with some delay, still focusing on the music in her ears. "I already have..."

"Yes, yes, that boring white swimsuit," Asuka interrupted her dismissively. "How about you try some bikinis? And I think I also should get some new ones."

"But we've seen that we can't even go to the beach somewhere!" Shinji protested. "And it's not like you go to the pool all that often."

Asuka waved her hand dismissively. "You're missing the point." She stopped short and looked at him more intensely. "Do you even have swim trunks?"

"Ah, sure," Shinji replied.

Asuka scoffed. "Well, knowing you they will probably be as fashionable as Touji's tracksuit. We should get you some new ones as well."

Shinji's exclamation of "But why?" wasn't even heard anymore as Asuka already dragged Rei forwards. Shinji followed the two with some uncertainty. Asuka seemed to have planned something. That could be something good, or something to run away from. Sometimes both.

To be fair, at least she was very good at picking out stuff. What she chose all looked nice, all had reasonable prices, and she was very quick about it. Shinji was relieved by that.

Asuka looked at a bunch of bikinis in her hand and mused, "You know… if we're buying them anyway, we might as well see what they'll look like."

The tone of her voice made Shinji wary. "What do you mean?"

She grinned, but it looked unsteady. "That we'll try these things on, of course."

"What?" Shinji exclaimed.

"Oh you heard me," Asuka answered. "The changing rooms are in a secluded corner and there's nearly nobody here. And as you say, it may be some time until we can actually use what we're buying here."

"But why then..." Shinji stammered.

"Don't fret so much!" Asuka told him. "You'll look good in those trunks. Are you coming Rei?"

The bluehaired girl nodded. Seeing that Shinji was still hesitating, Asuka took his hand and dragged him forwards. At that point, he just turned off his thoughts and followed.

"Very well then," Asuka stated. Now she did sound a bit nervous. "Everyone pick a cabin."

Fully undressing to change was something Shinji had to do every time he had to get into the plugsuit. Even so, it was a bit uncomfortable to do that in a clothing store, changing room or not. His head was slightly red when had finally put a pair of swim trunks on.

"Are you all ready?" Asuka asked from her room. "Then let's come out."

Three curtains rustled at the same time, and three teenagers in swimwear now stood face to face. Even now, Rei was still wearing the earplugs. Her bikini was blue, with purple whirling patterns on the sides and on… uh… Shinji looked away, fearing his view may have lingered a bit too much, to Asuka. Her bikini was multi-coloured, a red gradually turning into orange. It looked really nice. Its cut only just so stayed on this side of being decent, though. Shinji felt more warmth spreading on his face.

"Eyes up!" Asuka commanded him.

"You're one to talk," Shinji muttered in reply. Asuka's eyes were definitely not resting on his face. He turned to look at Rei again… and was kinda shocked to see that she was openly looking him up and down, as if scanning his whole body. Or not just his – she was giving Asuka the same sort of looks.

"W-well, Rei," Asuka addressed her, "What do you think? Does this all look good?" She threw her arms into the air and half-turned her waist to present her bikini. Or more properly, herself.

"We will buy this anyway," Rei reminded.

Asuka groaned. "Yes, but still. Does it look good?"

"You look very good in this," Rei told her. "And Shinji looks very good as well."

"Ah… I also really like… your… uh..." Shinji stammered.

"You look great," Asuka told her cheerfully. "Even if this idiot here can't spit it out."

"I, uh, also like your bikini," Shinji managed to tell Asuka.

Asuka snorted amused. "Yes, I can tell by where you are looking."

"Ah… s-sorry," Shinji apologized, suddenly feeling very self-conscious and guilty.

"I don't think Asuka minds you looking," Rei observed. "I don't."

Shinji, with his head still hanging low, glanced up to Asuka. "...oh?"

Asuka raised her chin defiantly and looked sidewards. "Well, let's just say I have come to terms with people always looking at me. After all, it isn't like this isn't warranted."

Shinji smiled weakly. He still feared he might have offended her, still feared he might have acted improperly in general, but Asuka didn't seem to mind at all. Rei was probably right. Wait, does that mean…

"Well then," Asuka spoke up again. "Let's also try the other stuff."

Oh gods… But Shinji complied, of course. So he got to see a black bikini, a white bikini, a a purple bikini, a pink bikini. And the girls both looked gorgeous in them. Which was nice, but…

Asuka walked over to Rei, laid an arm around her shoulders and leaned against her. "What do you think, Shinji? If the day ever comes, are we ready to go to the beach?"

"Uh… yes?" Shinji answered. Then he quickly turned around and retreated into the changing room. Lest the girls take too close a look. He could hear Asuka suppress a giggle outside. Oh GODS…

"Well, I think that was it then," she called from outside. "Get dressed again, we'll go to the till."

By the time Shinji had paid for his new trunks, his heart was more or less running normally again. It was almost a pity to see both Asuka and Rei in their normal clothes again, but also much more peaceful for his mind. He managed a weak smile. Actually, this hadn't been so bad…

He had some swim trunks now he'd probably never use, but Asuka and Rei had looked really great in those bikinis. And everybody had looked at everyone. Hmmm… Slowly, he trotted behind Rei and Asuka as they all left the store.


In theory, Misato could understand Kaji's wish for protection from surveillance. He was probably a bit paranoid about this, but then he had always fancied himself some sort of secret agent. So Misato had agreed to meet at an outlying bar. But did it have to be such a hovel in order to be secure?

Located in a back-alley in the west of the city, near the condemned district in which Rei had used to live, it was a ridiculous construct of wood and corrugated iron leading to a dark and seedy interior. The dim light hardly could break through the smoky haze everywhere. The seating groups were separated by low wood walls and thin cloth sheets.

He's probably trying to show me how roguish and 'dangerous' he can be. Bah. Hasn't changed at all...

There he was now, sitting in front of her. Unkempt hair and stubble; cultivated uncultivatedness. It was a deliberate style with him, nearly an act. If he was always looking grungy and subdued, always the man who is smiling weakly and pretending to not really care what's happening around him, then people would start underestimating him. But not Misato, that was for sure. On his request, she had come in private clothing, not uniform. Except for the service pistol she was carrying on a belt around her waist, beneath her shirt.

"I hope they at least don't poison the drinks here," Misato grumbled.

"Your highly trained liver should be able to handle it," Kaji joked.

Misato gave him an angry stare. And then drank from a beer can in front of her. The bar didn't even have style enough for cups. "So, why did drag me out here?"

"There are some things I thought you should know," Kaji told her seriously, but then smirked again. "Just so you can see that I am being productive."

Misato scoffed. "What is it?"

"Your organization hasn't exactly covered itself in glory recently, has it?" Kaji began. "Our plans were brilliant, of course, against Ramiel and Israfel." He smiled broadly but then got serious again. "But afterwards… the failure to cooperate with the conventional forces against Israfel, the frankly disastrous tactical handling of the Bardiel fight, the failure once again to cooperate with the JSSDF in the clean-up of the Matsushiro disaster..."

Misato sighed. "Asuka talked to you, didn't she?" She took another swig.

Kaji shrugged. He made an exaggerated gesture out of it. "Let's just say I have a first hand source for such information, as any good inspector should. And said source also told me something else. About Ritsuko's planned actions against the latest angel. Seems she has become quite hard and cynical, don't you think?" He took a minimal sip from his can. Mostly he had only ordered it for show and décor.

Misato's face became hard. "She has. We have tried to rekindle our friendship now and then, but… here in Tokyo-3 she has always remained distant. I have no idea what has happened to her."

"That's one reason why I was against her joining us," Kaji explained. "Another one is this: The Marduk Institute doesn't exist."

"What?" Misato hissed.

"Officially, the Institute consists of 108 companies, laboratories and offices around the world," Kaji told her. "No way I could check them all by foot. But from NERV Headquarters I could check NERV's contacts with them, make some inquiries in the countries where they're supposed to be located. And every single one of them is an empty shell. None of them exist beyond their mailboxes."

"But why?" Misato asked. "Why would NERV put on such a charade?"

"That's a very good question," Kaji agreed. "And only just recently the Institute sent the papers verifying Kaworu Nagisa as Fifth Child. To our dear friend Ritsuko."

"You think she's in on that?" Misato asked.

"She has to be," Kaji claimed. "She oversees all the technical details of Project E. You couldn't dupe her with some letters from nowhere. Also, the Marduk Institute's so called report on Shinji only came after his first battle. How did Ritsuko know he would be able to synch with EVA-01?"

"Ritsuko as part of some grand conspiracy?" Misato asked. "Rits, what have you gotten yourself into?"

"But this may not be our most acute concern," Kaji continued. "Ritsuko has worked at NERV for years without anything happening. But that new boy..."

"Kaworu Nagisa," Misato spelled out the name.

"Yes," Kaji replied. "There is a lot about him and the last battle angel that just doesn't add up."

"Like what?" Misato wanted to know.

"Dr Heck's official cause of death is an accident," Kaji explained. "Officially, it was him who managed to break the Dirac Sea which made up the angel, but in doing so he leaned too far out of his helicopter and fell to his death. But according to the first witness reports of the helicopter crew, he stumbled. They have changed their reports now, and Kaworu has always claimed Heck had leaned too far out of the helicopter."

"Witness reports are notoriously unreliable," Misato reminded him. "Though the official after action report is in fact weird. The timing at the end..."

"Yeah," Kaji agreed. "Officially, Heck found a way to raise EVA-01 and EVA-04 from the Dirac Sea and in doing so destroyed the angel. But as everyone present could see, EVA-01 emerged several minutes before EVA-04 did. And the angel still appeared fine then. Only afterwards did it begin to break up. Now it could be we're just too stupid to understand the physics behind it all, but I'd say this smells."

"So, what about Kaworu?" Misato asked.

Kaji grimaced. "The boy is just… weird. Always this creepy smile on his face." Misato had to smirk at that. You're one to talk. "Seemed completely unperturbed that the man who was supposedly his mentor fell to his death right in front of him. And he has a tendency to warble philosophically, even at the most mundane questions. That's just not how fourteen-year-olds talk. There is something not quite right with him. He's so… detached. As if all this is just a big game to him or something. And he is like that all the time."

Misato smirked again. "Seems like he has made quite an impression on you. I really can't comment on this. I haven't met him yet. He wasn't yet officially part of NERV Japan at the battle, so I couldn't debrief him, and Section 2 took over the questioning concerning Heck's death. I suppose I'll see what he's like at his first synch-test."

Kaji shrugged. "I could live with a weird boy. That isn't really what's worrying me." He grinned. "Guess I just needed to rant. Anyway, I tried to find information about him in databases from NERV Germany. I left… certain backdoors there in my time. And doing it from Japan has some advantages; this is supposed to be the headquarters after all."

"Let me guess: You found nothing?" Misato guessed.

Kaji shook his head. "They won't be that stupid. But all the files I found were pretty… blank. Very sparse, always the same formulations… I'd say they're all rather recent fakes. There don't seem to be any genuine files on him in NERV Germany."

"Hm," Misato voiced. She sipped at her beer can as she tried to process this information. "What do you think this all means?"

"I have no idea," Kaji admitted. "Certainly neither of us have ever met the boy at NERV Germany. He said he was at the Hamburg branch, so it could be… but that's very convenient don't you think?"

"And Hamburg never really did EVA development," Misato added. "After all, only we had something to work with. EVA-02."

"Exactly," Kaji agreed. "But seeing that the Marduk Institute is a scam, that Kaworu now is a pilot and that he has apparently always been with NERV… it stands to reason he was always slated to become a pilot. But why keep this secret? From the rest of NERV Germany as well?"

"Beats me," Misato muttered. Then she considered. "Ritsuko couldn't have known what would happen. Otherwise she'd never have presented her insane plan. So, if Kaworu isn't from her conspiracy..."

Kaji suddenly became very serious. A shadow fell on his face. "There is a far vaster conspiracy out there, Katsuragi. And that's why we need to be careful. Kaworu may be their tool."

"A far vaster conspiracy? What's that supposed to mean?" Misato ask. Kaji just returned to smirking, which infuriated her. "And why are you telling me all this, anyway?"

"Standard procedure," Kaji claimed. "If they get me, who would pass on all my investigation results to the U.N.? Agents and inspectors should always make sure someone else is kept abreast of their progress."

"Don't say things like that," Misato grumbled. "Nobody will 'get' you. You're being stupid."

"… don't be so certain, Katsuragi," Kaji stated flatly. "That's another reason. All this shady stuff is happening in NERV. Your organization. That puts you at risk for whatever may come."

"You don't trust NERV," Misato stated.

"After all this? Not a bit," Kaji confirmed. "So please, Katsuragi, watch your back."

He sounds so sincere. Misato knew how rare this was for him. So she relented. "...okay. I will be careful. Even though I don't even know about what."

"Ritsuko," Kaji suggested.

Misato remained silent for a while and then admitted, "There's that. But I'd hate to lose our old friend for..."

Suddenly, the cloth curtain to her and Kaji's seating group was violently torn open. A group of five men entered. All of them were burly. Their hair was either short cut, or as a pony-tail. Some wore sunshades, and Misato could see tattoos on two of them. Her danger instincts kicked into gear.

"Look what we have here," one of the men bellowed. "I don't think you two are from here." Kaji wanted to stand up, but the man raised his hands. "Oh no, but that's fine, just fine. We like to have guests around. But it's a bit rude for guests not to announce themselves, don't you think?"

Another man spoke up in a high-pitched voice. "Let's sit down with our guests, shall we?"

The man who had spoken first had reached Kaji and put a heavy hand on his shoulder. Kaji reacted calmly, grabbing his beer can. Misato, however, jumped to her feet. "I don't think so. I think we'll just go."

"Oh, but I insist you enjoy our hospitality," the man near Kaji told her.

"You heard the man, Katsuragi," Kaji said calmly. "We wouldn't want to slight the honourable Mr Imamura, now would we?"

The man next to him grunted. "And who are you? I figured you for a NERV type, but..."

Yes. What is he playing at? Misato walked backwards to retreat into a corner.

"And how is Mr Marukawu?" Kaji continued. "I am looking forwards to another game of shogi with him." Apparently feeling a bit unsure about him, the man next to him let go of his shoulder. "Now..."

"I am sorry to interrupt, and I apologize if we have targeted a man in good standing with us," the man who was obviously a yakuza interrupted him. "But what about her? You called her Katsuragi. Misato Katsuragi, NERV Captain, isn't it?"

Kaji sighed, stood up as well and took some steps backwards. "You are well-informed as well. So, what now?"

"We don't like NERV people in our locales anymore," the Yakuza answered. "So I'm afraid we'll have to teach her a lesson."

Kaji's smirk became very lopsided. "I'm afraid that won't be..."

"Oh shut up all of you," Misato shouted. She had used the time everyone was focused on Kaji to draw her weapon. Adrenaline was rushing through her body, but her military training and experience was stronger. She had seen plenty of would-be tough bravados down in South America. She was entirely calm. "Now, back off, all of you. There are enough bullets in this thing to shoot you all twice over, and that's exactly what will happen if you come too close."

Someone in the mob scoffed. "Do you even know how to use that thing, babe..." He hadn't even finished when a shot lodged itself right in his foot.

Misato grinned a predator grin. "Convinced of my marksmanship skills now?" Beside her Kaji whistled in appreciation. When the mob still didn't move, Misato added. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to report failure to your oyabun. You can only decide if you want additional injuries, or worse."

A lengthy stand-off ensued, but finally, the mob relented. They dragged their injured comrade outside and made way for Misato and Kaji. This was the tricky part now: Getting to the exit door, without a wall at their backs to cover them. She wished she had brought along a second pistol to give to Kaji. It figured that that idiot thought knowledge alone would be a sufficient defensive weapon.

She breathed in relief when both had in fact made it out the door. Then they ran.

When they reached Misato's car, both were already somewhat breathless. She had parked the car a good distance away from that rundown bar, both for its own security and because it was just too flashy; it could too easily be tracked back to her. It was parked in a well lit and secured parking lot. They should be safe here.

"What the hell..." Misato wondered breathlessly, supporting her body on the bonnet of the Renault Alpine.

Kaji, meanwhile, was too busy just panting. "I need to… cut back on those cigarettes," he finally managed to say.

Misato snorted. "Thought some name drops would protect us, huh?"

"Hey, it nearly worked, didn't it?" Kaji answered. The grin on his face died down. "But they knew you. Were looking for you."

"Well, they didn't get me," Misato answered. "Also, since when do you play shogi?"

The grin reappeared, broader than before. "Who said I do? But I do know that Fumio Marukawu of the Inada-gumi is a very passionate shogi player." He hesitated. "In fact, I do think he plays regularly with Vice Commander Fuyutsuki."

"Well, some spy you are," Misato said dismissively. "And yet you had to be bailed out."

Kaji walked up to her. "And I can tell you, Katsuragi, there is nobody by whom I'd rather be bailed out."

Adrenaline was still rushing through Misato's bloodstream. And Kaji was coming closer. Sure, he maybe was no great fighter, but he did have this roguish charm that he cultivated so fastidiously.

She raised her chin. "And why would I want to do that again?"

Another step closer. A broader grin. "Because you'd miss out."

Now Misato smirked back, leaning against the bonnet. "And I suppose you'll show me now on what?"

"Yes," Kaji simply answered. He leaned over her.

Then they kissed. Kissed as they hadn't in a long time. Kissed with all the passion bottled up for several years.