This chapter's dedicated to the LRK and LAS fans out there, to Emily, and to SSD and Eric Blair. Belated Happy Valentine's Day.
Imparadised in one another's arms.
- John Milton (1608 - 1674), English writer.
Referring to Adam and Eve, Paradise Lost
Dinnertime went smoothly, as this was the best Shinji had for the longest time. Sure, he didn't have a real family, which he longed for many years, for his father was shut completely in an ivory tower, and his mother's soul resided in the most notorious biological war machine ever built in the history of man, and yet…
He was with the only family he had; the eldest surrogate sister who boasted the sexiest body in the entire base, who can whip up a solid battle stratagem that she could go up against the likes of Rommel, Yamamoto, Patton or Nguyen Giap, and yet able to hold up to her own to even the stiffest drinks served at any dive; a redheaded girlfriend who, despite wielding a complete tsundere personality of a giant-cartoon-mallet-packing nagger worthy of a Taiga Aisaka or an Akane Tendou, had as much common ground with him in terms of past lives, ups and downs, which at first anyone think they came from very different worlds and upbringing, but anyway, they were on the same wavelength and Shinji could now speak his mind with her; a very understanding metrosexual friend who'd helped him snap out of his deep blue funk and get a grip at life, and somehow even in a very short time they hit it off like they were childhood pals since kindergarten; and a certain blue-haired girl who, at last, now completely related to Shinji in terms of genetics and thus in partial possession of his mother's personality.
Shinji noted that since it was almost close to Christmas Day, he finally figured out that this was the best gift he gave to himself, without cost, without strings attached nor can be sold or bought or traded. It was priceless, just as that famous Visa advertisement said so.
However, it wasn't just Shinji who was enjoying all this, as he talked about school and the various hijinks he had with Kensuke and Toji, but each of them had their own little anecdotes to tell and laugh (or in Rei's case, merely smile) about.
In this moment lasting approximately forty minutes, they forgot the mole with his plastic bombs, yesterday's terrorist attack and the attempted home invasion that followed, the specter of SEELE lurking a thousand kilometers away, nine Mass-Production Evas waiting to be unleashed, political intrigue on a global scale, Commander Ikari brooding somewhere as Chairman Lorenz was quietly making chess moves for a hostile takeover, and… in Kaworu's case, the Seventeenth Angel just threw out his original secret mission of subjugating NERV.
For tonight, to hell with all that, and just once he wanted to be a normal teenager who also wanted to have his first night out with friends... No, with his own family, really.
With this surrogate family that he now belonged to, what more Shinji Ikari could ask for?
So priceless.
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION
LIGHT AND WATER – SEASON 3
CHAPTER 34:THE NIGHT AT THE O-CLUB
(A Valentine's Day/Christmas Season Special)
An alternate path fanfiction by soulassassin547
Written on 2/16/2011 19:12 a2/p2
"Okay, this is the last batch we have, Lieutenant," one of the officers in charge of reconnaissance systems told Makoto Hyuga, as the final downloads from NERV's orbital reconsat and from the organization's own UAV came into the computer's hard drive.
With hands on the keyboard and mouse, Makoto adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses and checked every high-resolution picture right on the screen; each picture was taken with a 60-megapixel CCD digital camera from the reconnaissance satellite, and from the 30-megapixel camera mounted on the sensor ball on the nose of an unarmed variant of the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator; the UAV was programmed to fly a predetermined flight path over Gotenba, Mishima, Numazu, Atami, Odawara and Minamiashigara.
As requested, Misato wanted full camera passes over the Jietai (Self-Defense Force) formations that grew in strength for the past two weeks, to determine the actual composition of those forces, and to plan a contingency measure to deal with them, in the event should the government becomes hostile on NERV.
Earlier in the mission, when one of the Jietai generals called up directly and demanded as to why there was a Predator buzzing right on top of one of their divisions, Makoto coolly replied that they were conducting a harmless and legitimate photoreconnaissance survey for post-battle damage assessment, and he even presented two documents (by email attachment) that justified the flyover.
Anyway, the pictures showed combat vehicles parked in formation, and some of them tallied with the inventory that was on the list which he earlier presented to Misato.
Satisfied, he nodded to the other officer and said, "I think it doesn't hurt if it's okay to make a copy, right?"
The OIC nodded. "No problem, Hyuga, and anything we can do to help your boss. You're okay to copy."
"Thanks," Makoto replied as he plugged the USB flash drive into the port and began copying the photos, and then he pulled out his mobile phone and dialed Misato's number. No more than ten seconds she received the call.
"It's me, so how things are going?" Misato asked.
"I got them," Makoto answered. "Copying them right now."
"And how they're holding up?"
Makoto sighed. "Buildup's getting heavier as we speak. They've added MLRS and 102mm howitzer batteries, along with a few ECM and commo trucks." He was referring to Multiple-Launch Rocket System tracked missile launchers, howitzers, and trucks bearing electronic countermeasures and communication equipment.
"Looks like they're getting real serious about us, huh?"
"Oh, sure," he said, "But, did I just heard someone with you?" Makoto noted that he could hear some other voices in the background.
"Yeah, it's Shinji and Asuka, they're dressed up and having a bit of a grooming issue," Misato confirmed. "We're going to the O-Club."
Makoto chuckled. "Oh, I forgot," he replied. "Guess I'll have to change into civvies." Civvies meant wearing civilian clothing.
"Good, 'cause for tonight let's drop work, hang out there and relax," Misato said. "Have you eaten already?"
"Yeah. Had yakudon while watching the recon guys do their stuff."
"Can you still hold your drink?"
"Probably," Makoto said, feeling unsure. "It's been about… what? There's a month since the last time I had my bottle of beer."
"That's not a problem. I'll see you bridge guys later, okay?"
Makoto grinned. "Okay, later, Misato. Thanks."
"Thank you, too." She then hung up.
As he pocketed the phone, Makoto sighed and wondered whom he wanted to dance with. Was it Misumi Kuroda, the girl manning the workstation just below him, close to Casper? Or Sheryl Yuen, working at Records and whom he sometimes talked to while borrowing a folder or two. He also thought of what to wear, too; maybe a good shirt and a pair of jeans would cut it.
No, perhaps maybe he could ask Misato even for a little dance, for the sake of unrequited love.
In his own miniscule room, a few doors away from Misato's quarters, Kaworu Nagisa was in front of the mirror, finished buttoning up his microfiber black shirt over a white cotton t-shirt. He was also wearing a pair of light-green pants and the same white sneakers that were issued to him prior to his departure. Kaworu also guessed that by now, Rei was done showering, and probably wearing the civilian clothes that Asuka had lent to her.
Just then Rei walked in with towel in hand, and a plastic bag containing her school uniform and Kaworu's toiletries, and hung both on the hat rack just behind the door. She was wearing a white baby t-shirt, a pair of blue jeans and her usual white plimsoll shoes.
"Oh, that was fast," Kaworu noted.
"I did not bother too much about personal appearances," Rei said. "Girls in my school tend to do so, worrying about their faces."
"Pimples, right?"
"Yes," Rei confirmed, before she went over to Kaworu and straightened out his collar and sleeves with her hands.
"Now you're doing this just like a mother," he remarked.
Rei smiled. "I know. It is now my instinct."
"You're okay with that?" Asuka questioned Shinji as she combed her hair right in front of the mirror. She could also hear Misato showering in the bathroom, humming to a song that she didn't know; probably an old enka
song.
The Second Children was wearing a pink camisole and a long-sleeved cashmere sweater of the same color, a white miniskirt and a pair of low-profile Sketchers, while the Third Children had put on a black Uniqlo t-shirt, blue jeans and Adidas sneakers.
"Yeah," Shinji answered. "I feel comfortable wearing them, and Misato said 'casuals', isn't it?"
Now Asuka sprayed herself with a bottle of Nenuco, a popular Spanish baby cologne brand. "Want some of my cologne?" she offered.
Shinji sniffed, figured the scent seemed refreshing, but he shook his head. "No, it's okay."
"C'mon, just try it," Asuka badgered. "It's unisex."
"What does that mean?"
"Dummy dear, it means that either boys or girls can wear it."
Shinji nodded. "Oh… Okay," he agreed before she began to spray his neck and collar.
After toweling, then dressing up in a blue skirt, a white camisole topped over with a yellow blouse, Misato picked up her mobile phone sitting on the edge of the wash basin and dialed Fuyutsuki's number. The elderly Sub-Commander picked up after a few rings.
"Yes?" Fuyutsuki asked.
"It's me again, sir. Just a change of venue," Misato answered.
"Where?"
"At the O-Club, so I'll bring a laptop instead."
"I see. Guess I'll have to dress up, then. Why there?"
"Almost everyone wanted to go 'cause they got promoted."
Fuyutsuki chuckled. "I forgot. It's perfectly all right for you people to let off some steam and enjoy yourselves. Okay, I'll see you later there instead."
Misato nodded. "Thank you, sir. We'll have to go now," she said, before disconnecting. The woman then sighed, picked up a hairbrush and said, "Sometimes I have to mix business with pleasure."
Like any military or scientific installation almost far from civilization, NERV HQ was built to be entirely self-sufficient, making it resemble effectively as a small town: apart from laboratories and research facilities, it also boasted of quarters for both permanent personnel and visitors, cafeterias and restaurants, a stockade, bathhouses and swimming pools, a pair of convenience stores (the world's lowest Lawson's branches), a bank, a movie house, chapels, temples and a mosque, a full sports complex, a huge library, a heliport, a geothermal power plant, farms, gardens and a park, and of course, the Officers' Club, the Non-Commissioned Officers' (NCO) Club, and the Enlisted Men's (EM) Club.
The three dives, sited just near the linear train station (and far enough from the main HQ pyramid, following the "out of sight, out of mind" dictum), were suggested by some American personnel years ago, who were employed early in the history of the organization, as they felt it was difficult and time-consuming back then to go all the way up to the ground to enjoy the Hakone night life. Patterned after their military forebears, these nightclubs had their own stock of booze, skilled bartenders, in-house bands, and bouncers (who were really volunteers from the security brigades).
Unlike their civilian counterparts outside the fence, there were no blond-haired hostesses hanging around and certainly no costly Ladies' Drinks to pay for; each patron is limited to at least eight bottles or cans, or until visibly inebriated and must be asked to leave; and these dives all closed at one in the morning.
At the moment, Team Eva was standing right before the O-Club's two-story façade, its sign flashing brightly in neon tubing as throngs of off-duty personnel, some of them parking their bicycles on the racks, approached the doors and let the volunteer bouncers check them out before they were admitted inside. The air in the Geofront was also cool, the 320 giant ventilators above their heads blowing in fresh December air from the outside.
Before they left their quarters, apart from locking the doors, Misato wrapped Kaji's box in the same plastic bag used for transport, and then hid it in the closet. She also reminded the night duty attendant to let no one enter their quarters without her explicit permission.
"Well?" Misato asked the Children, who felt like blinking initiates to an unknown inner sanctum, in varying degrees of unease and uncertainty. The woman, with her laptop (and Kaji's SD card still slotted in) in its bag and hanging from her shoulder, noted their speechlessness. She then sighed and said, "Don't worry, if you couldn't understand something, ask me as I know things like these like the back of my hand."
"Okay," Shinji said, his hand holding Asuka's.
"So, what else I'm gonna expect inside?" the redhead asked, her pink purse dangling from the shoulder. While on their way to the pub, Asuka had explained to Rei about the purpose of the purse, which was to keep in her personal belongings such as money, debit and ID cards, favorite makeup and a phone. To be honest, she was enjoying the role being a tutor to Rei in everything she knew about normal teenage life.
"Apart from the drinks, which there are some non-alcoholic stuff," Misato continued explaining, "if you want to, anyone can dance and request a song, sing karaoke, play an instrument, recite some poetry, or do some stand-up or rakugo comedy. There's also foosball, air hockey, a UFO Catcher, darts, a purikura booth, pool, arcade machines… Well, this is where everyone lets their hair down; name it, it has everything."
"Ah, I see," Rei said, nodding.
"Quite interesting," Kaworu remarked.
"All right, guys, let's get in," Misato finally ordered, "and don't worry about the bouncers; they're friendly 'cause I know them and I hope they know who you are."
The two bouncers were tall and beefy as wrestlers, and were clad in black t-shirts and jeans. As they walked towards the door, one of them upraised his hand and greeted in a baritone voice: "Colonel, good evening."
"Good evening, Lieutenant," Misato replied, for she knew the bouncer's cuff rank as she frequently patronized the pub, mostly in her earlier days of her Tokyo-3 assignment.
"Why them?" the bouncer asked, pointing out at the Children.
"They're under my command."
The bouncer looked worried. "Ah, the Eva pilots… But this is an over-twenty hootch, Colonel Katsuragi. We're not supposed to serve stiff booze and brew to minors," he warned.
"But we do have some non-alcoholic drinks, right?" Misato questioned.
"Yeah, ma'am," the bouncer confirmed.
"And minors can be supervised by a guardian, is it correct?"
"That's an affirmative."
"Finally, is there a non-smoking section?"
"Sure, no problem, ma'am. It's to the left of the stage."
Misato sighed in pleasure. "Well then, that settles everything. Thank you."
In approval, the bouncers nodded and grinned like Cheshire Cats. "All of you are in. Welcome to the O-Club and have a nice evening," they both greeted and then ushered them through the doors.
Once inside, they were quite surprised just how big it really looked than on the outside, with NERV memorabilia and framed pictures nailed and tacked onto the walls, along with Christmas decorations festooned about; and at the moment, an impromptu jazz band onstage was playing a Louis Armstrong number; besides the door a bunch of Aussies were crowded around the foosball table, swilling their beer and cheering; two men were quietly playing chess on one table and sharing a bottle of Jack Daniel's, while there was a British group playing darts; a posse of Americans were gathered around the pool table, swilling from bottles of Budweiser; some patrons were engaged at the arcade consoles, playing fighting games. The atmosphere was redolent with some hint of cigarette smoke, but completely saturated with the cacophony of music, loud talking and mobile phone ringtones.
On the right side of the stage was the bar, stocked with every bottle of booze from floor to ceiling, and the bartender and his assistant were busy serving drinks to thirsty patrons, the taps flowing with beer, filling up mugs with the golden nectar.
Misato led the Children to their table, fortunately with no one else occupying it, and they sat on the cushy seats. Each table, covered in white linen, had a small lit candle, salt and pepper shakers, a napkin holder in the middle, and four copies of the menu. She then laid down the laptop bag, picked up one of the menu cards lying on the table, and asked amiably, "Do you have anything to order? A drink perhaps to kick off things?"
Kaworu and Rei, being completely unaccustomed to their new surroundings, merely shrugged, but Shinji and Asuka were both of them reading off the list on the menu.
"I'm gonna be okay with a Shirley Temple," Asuka said. "No, make that two; one for me, and another for Rei."
"I'd like a root beer float," Shinji said, looking up.
Misato turned her attention to the other Children. "Kaworu, do you want something?"
Kaworu nodded. "Oh, I'll take what Shinji wants, and I'd like to try it."
"Great," Misato said cheerfully with an upraised hand to catch a passing waiter's attention. One of those waiters saw her and approached, then asked what she was ordering, and heard her request, including a tall Guinness for herself. Once done the waiter headed off to the direction of the bar.
Just then the band finished their number, walked off the stage, and the lights were dimmed. In their place and further up the stage, a black DJ wearing a Marc Ecko shirt took over with his turntable and mixer, put on a Paul Van Dyk track, and with a microphone began to make his introduction: "Good evening, people! This is DJ Les and welcome to the O-Club! Are you having a great time tonight?"
The crowd responded with a resounding "Yeah!" in several languages.
"Word has reached me that we have some special guests tonight. Know who they are?"
Cheers erupted, the throng anxiously demanding to know.
"WE GOT 'EM CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE!" DJ Les declared.
Suddenly the spotlight was trained upon Team Eva's table and this time louder cheers and whistles came from the crowd, applauding their presence. All four Children were bewildered and blushing furiously at first, not expecting to have this much homage given to them, but Misato was laughing loudly.
Realizing that their celebrity status had just hit them, Asuka waved her hand and grinned. She then turned to Shinji, who was visibly blinking amidst the spotlight, and asked, "Aren't you glad we're the life of the party?"
"Uh…" Shinji mumbled, not sure how to react.
Instead Asuka shook her head and laughed at the wary boy.
On the other hand, Kaworu simply shrugged, but Rei, in apparent disbelief, blinked twice.
"Guess we'll have to wave our hands, just to tell them we're okay with them," he suggested, before they all waved their hands, to the delight of the throng.
"Now that they're here to bless this night," DJ Les exclaimed, "Why don't we start things with some party pumpers from the Nineties?" The patrons roared in approval when the DJ laid in a track from Naughty by Nature, diverting their attention away from the Children, and just in time the waiter finally arrived with their drinks on a tray.
"Okay… Two Shirley Temples for the ladies," the waiter said as he set the non-alcoholic cocktails from his tray and onto the table; both glasses held a dark orange liquid with ice and a maraschino cherry, along with an orange slice for garnish.
"Thank you," Asuka said while Rei nodded. The First Children, curious about the cocktail presented before her, began to eye its contents.
Still upbeat. the waiter grinned. "For you two guys, here's your root beer floats, all nicely done," he said, setting the filled mugs in front of Shinji and Kaworu.
"Much thanks," Shinji said.
"This looks… interesting, but thanks," Kaworu added as he hefted and inspected his mug, which was filled almost to the brim with A&W, and the last inch topped off with whipped cream.
"And to the Colonel," the waiter finally said as he placed the tall, frosted mug of Guinness Stout right before Misato.
"Oh, thank you," Misato said, beaming and then she handed the waiter his tip of a 500-yen bill.
The waiter nodded in satisfaction and said, "My pleasure. Enjoy your evening." He then left them alone, now allowing them privacy for themselves.
"So, this is what a night-out looks like," Shinji commented.
"Yeah," Asuka agreed. "What do you think?"
Shinji nodded. "Cool. My first time, really."
"So do we," Kaworu added as Rei nodded. "Never been in a place like this before," he said.
"Okay, guys… I'll teach you a bit of etiquette when hanging out right in a joint like this," Misato finally spoke. "First, just before we raise our glasses, say kampai and take the first drink, what do you wish for?" she asked them all.
The Children were now quizzing themselves as to what they wanted, before Kaworu was the first to answer: "To an uninterrupted friendship," he said, raising his mug.
In imitation of her boyfriend, Rei softly smiled as she lifted her glass and said, "To my brother, and to my love."
"Thank you, Ayanami," Shinji said, nodding, before he turned his attention to Kaworu. "Congratulations, Nagisa."
"I promise, I'll take good care of her," Kaworu avowed before he chuckled.
Asuka sighed and hoisted her glass, but said pleasantly, "This one's for Mama."
Misato nodded, holding up her mug. "To Kaji, his kisses and his cache-o-truth… and what about you, Shinji?"
Shinji blinked. "Me?"
"Yeah. Got an idea?"
'Oh," the young man blurted. "Okay… This one's for all of you, to peace… and to Mother," he wistfully said, now holding his mug aloft.
And Misato declared, "Kampai!" as their glasses clanked in mid-air, before they drank.
About ten meters away from their table, two men were sitting at a small table, dressed in sport shirts and jeans, swilling from their bottles of Kirin, smoking Mild Sevens, and popping wasabi peanuts into their mouths. One of them then whispered into the sleeve of his shirt, which had a small microphone pinned to, and said, "We're on station. Target's present and is right ahead of us."
"Copy that. Keep an eye on them," the surveillance leader answered, in a British accent, through the first man's earphone. "Just don't get drunk," he warned. "We've got all night to do this."
The first man nodded. "Roger that, sir."
Inside a nondescript Toyota service van, just fifty meters away from the O-Club, Deputy Director Morrissey adjusted his headphones and squinted at the flat-panel display that showed him the dive from the inside, through regular security and surveillance cameras. More than half of the van was filled with electronic gear dedicated to eavesdropping, and if needed can transmit and relay data to others within the command chain on a need-to-know basis. He then picked up his mobile phone and called Commander Ikari, who was watching their progress from his office.
"We have some progress, Commander," Morrissey reported. "Nagisa is with the others, along with Colonel Katsuragi."
"What are they doing?" Gendo asked, as the Englishman extended their video feed right into the Commander's computer. He then leaned forward to see what they were looking at.
"Having cocktails, sir. Check out Camera 4, and there they are."
Gendo nodded, but grimaced at the same time. "Very good, but you people must give me an hourly progress report. Is that clear?"
"That's an affirmative, Commander," Morrissey replied.
Gendo put down the phone on its cradle, and he stood up from his seat. He then paced around, thinking of the hours ahead. Everything was in place, as Morrissey had reported earlier, ready to follow Kaworu wherever he goes.
He'd already read the reports that were obtained from that boy's synchronization test just a few hours after he arrived, especially with Maya's summarization of what Kaworu was able to do: he was capable of manipulating his sync rate like so much tweaking the volume of a stereo.
Of course, Gendo knew it was too amazing that Kaworu was already suspect, that he now concluded that the Committee sent him an Angel, a wonderful gift with a deadly twist.
And then he thought of what Rei was doing right now with him; she was supposed to report on his movements, but neglected to do so.
Then what was going on with that girl? What she was really doing with Kaworu?
Gendo frowned, finally figuring out that they were probably having an affair, and was it a sign of her rebellion, betraying his trust he placed upon her? Was she trying to break away from him, cutting out the bonds that he established with Rei?
He then thought of the previous Rei who'd been very loyal and compliant to him, and he remembered the girl lowering her personal inhibitions whenever he came to her. True, he raised her, trained the girl personally, and tried to instill his personality as much as he could.
Gendo shook his head, as he realized that Rei, despite being the vessel that he intended to use to bring his wife back from the beyond, was still very much a teenager, struggling to learn the complexities of life at that stage of her life.
Sooner or later, however, in the next few hours he will bring to Rei the harsh meaning of the word obedience, and he had no qualms at taking Kaworu away, forcing that boy to serve his own purposes.
Even if it meant killing the Fifth Children by his own hand to fulfill the prophecies.
DJ Les was now playing a slow song from Boyz II Men - On Bended Knee - on his turntable, thus softening the atmosphere in the pub and couples began to come down onto the dance floor. By then the Children and their guardian had imbibed their drinks almost halfway to empty. Kaworu and Rei both commented that they never drank something this delicious in their whole lives, a welcome and refreshing change.
But Asuka noted the white moustache of creamy foam on Kaworu's upper lip. "Hey, look at that, Kaworu," she remarked, giggling.
Kaworu blinked. "What?"
"You got a milk moustache," Asuka said as she took out a tiny mirror from her purse and showed his reflection in the mirror.
"Oh, I didn't know that," Kaworu exclaimed as he reached out to pick up a napkin and dabble his lip on it, and they all laughed, except for Rei, who could only daintily cover her mouth with a hand in light mirth.
That act, however, didn't escape Asuka's gaze, and she leaned forward. "Hmmmm… I've never seen you do that, Wondergirl," she said.
"I am amused," Rei answered, blushing and smiling lightly.
"You're laughing, Ayanami?" Shinji excitedly questioned as Asuka brought out her phone and snapped a picture of the First Children in smiles.
Rei nodded. "Yes."
The girl's admission brought applauses from her companions, before Asuka noted that the DJ was now playing a new song: Angela Aki's This Love.
"Shinji?" Asuka asked, tabling her half-full glass of Shirley Temple.
The young man blinked. "Yeah?"
Asuka smiled. "Wanna come with me and dance?" she offered, pointing at the direction of the dance floor.
"Sure," he answered and then took her hand as they rose from their seats and went off.
"Good luck, guys," Misato chimed as she watch them took their place among the other dancing couples. "Isn't it sweet?" she remarked to both Kaworu and Rei, who were fingering their drinks. "Want to join them?" Misato suggested.
Rei and Kaworu looked at each other for a second, before he agreed. "Okay, if that's what you want," he said, and then he turned to Rei and asked, "Will you come with me?"
Rei nodded. "Yes."
This time the other couple slowly got up and left, Kaworu gracefully taking Rei's hand as they walked together towards the dance floor.
Left alone, Misato, teary-eyed, sighed and smiled in triumph, and at the same time having bittersweet feelings in her heart. "I wish you were here to see this, Kaji," she remarked, swallowing hard, before making another toast to her lover. "God, I'm so proud to be their guardian."
For the first time in years, Kozo Fuyutsuki wore a shirt under a brown jacket with elbow patches, and a pair of brown tweed pants. If he could remember correctly the last time he wore this ensemble (which was normally hanging in his closet, wrapped in plastic), it was eleven years ago, back when there was Gehirn, when Yui was in corporeal form, and he then worked as an assistant chief researcher. He tried to use his long-neglected bottle of Old Spice on the dresser, but to no avail the bottle had dried out over the years, forcing him to pass by Lawson's in the main HQ and bought a bottle of cheap aftershave.
Now, once he entered the dimmed sanctum sanctorum of the O-Club, he breathed in and scanned the crowd around him, looking for Misato. Amidst the crowds, with the resident DJ playing a love song, he found her at the far side of the room, left of the stage.
He walked up, squeezing himself through the crowd, and settled on the vacant seat that Misato offered to him.
"Good evening, sir," Misato greeted. "I've never seen you wear something other than your usual uniform."
"That's right," Fuyutsuki said. "Where are the Children?"
Misato grinned. "Oh, they're dancing."
The elderly man sighed, saw the Children in two separate swaying couples, and said, "Well, well, well… they're now acting their age." He then chuckled. "No, make that a coming of age."
'Sure they do, sir," she remarked.
"And I'll call that a case of healthy progress." He then pointed at the laptop, which was now up and running. "Do you have something for me?"
"Of course, sir," Misato said as she turned the laptop around, facing Fuyutsuki. "Nagisa has just found much of Kaji's cache, in his garden."
Fuyutsuki blinked. "How?"
Misato explained that, acting on her request, Kaworu and Rei went over to Kaji's garden, weeded and watered his plants, and just before they were about to leave, Kaworu accidentally tripped over the box, pulled it out and brought it to her.
"Where is it?"
"I've left it in our quarters," Misato said, "but Kaji had also included a memory card with most of his files inside, so I brought it along with me."
"I see. Can you show me what's inside?"
Misato nodded, and opened one of the files. From his pocket, the old man took out his reading glasses and wore them, before he leaned forward to scrutinize closely and in minutes he was skimming each and every one of the files.
"Where he managed to get all of this?" Fuyutsuki asked in an incredulous tone.
"Only he knows," Misato replied. "What's necessary is that everything that we need is in there."
Now Fuyutsuki was pondering, figuring out what to do with this stupendous hoard of data sitting right before him, and then he remembered how he tried to bring Gendo down, but that plan was foiled when he was offered the opportunity to work alongside him, out of the need to fulfill Yui's wishes.
But to divulge these revelations right now… He wasn't sure if that was the right time to do so; if he did immediately, that meant risking his leadership, and he needed that leadership to maintain the cohesiveness of the entire organization.
On the other hand, if he could plan and time it correctly, they could switch the table around and cause SEELE's monster to turn against those old men. But when?
"There's another thing I'd like to tell you, sir," Misato said, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Pardon me?" Fuyutsuki questioned as he pocketed the glasses.
"You may not believe me," Misato answered, indicating Rei dancing with Kaworu in the distance, "but… Rei now possesses the memories of Yui Ikari, Shinji's mother."
This time the elderly man's mouth gaped in total disbelief, as if he was solidly kicked in the rear. "How… How that happened?" he mumbled.
Misato took a breath, and began to explain how Rei fainted at the mere sight of Yui's picture, fell into a strange trance, and then woke up to discover that she carried a secret past that Unit-01 had earlier implanted into her mind while it went out of control during the failed compatibility test.
"…and then Rei called Shinji her brother," Misato concluded.
Fuyutsuki blinked. "Brother?"
Misato smiled. "Cross my heart, but that's what she said. You said before that you and the Commander cloned her from Doctor Ikari's DNA, right?"
"That's true," he confirmed.
"And that means, in genetic terms… Shinji and Rei are siblings."
The old man sighed and laughed. "Goodness, I never thought I'm living the day that the truth about these two will come in an unlikely way. Frankly, I would also like to see the reaction on Ikari's face if he ever finds out."
"That'll be interesting, sir… But, would you like to order a drink or something?" Misato offered, indicating her now-empty mug.
"Get me a tall Kirin," Fuyutsuki said, nodding. "We'll leave all other business for tomorrow, and make ourselves merry tonight, shall we?"
"Okay, sir."
And just as Misato was about to stand up and leave for the bar, suddenly a group arrived right before their table: Makoto, Maya and Shigeru, Ritsuko, Tsutomo and Natsumi, then Trudy and Paul; the entire posse was dressed up for the occasion.
Ritsuko, wearing a blue dress and her hair dyed blonde once again, and being the highest-ranking officer in the group, gave a smile and said, "You're not alone, sir. Mind if we could join you?"
Color Me Badd's Wildflower was now on the turntable, as Rei snuggled closer to Kaworu, his hands behind her back as they danced and rocked slowly, in imitation of the other couples doing the same thing.
"I'm going to be very honest, Rei," Kaworu whispered, while he was cautious not to step onto Rei's feet.
"Yes?" Rei questioned.
"It's my first time that I'm dancing, and my first time being here," he admitted.
Rei smiled. "This is also my first," she said.
Kaworu sighed. "It feels so good to experience something new, and there's a certain kind of magic of discovering these new things first-hand, rather than by merely reading them from a book or the TV."
"You are right," Rei agreed.
"Another thing that makes you amazing… it's the first time I heard you laugh, even if it's soft."
"I did not know that I feel good once I was able to laugh," Rei answered.
Kaworu nodded. "That's true… and I just realized something."
"What is it?"
"The secret to the tenacity of the lilim isn't just the mere acquisition and storage of knowledge," Kaworu said. "It's hope, the hope for the future, which is why they can rise and rebuild from the ashes after a cataclysm or war. It's what motivates them to live, to fight on, to make their dreams a reality. Even with love, many still hope to find it, like what's happening right now, and what we have found for ourselves."
"I think you are right in saying so," Rei said. "There is still hope for us."
"And with hope, we have nothing else to fear," Kaworu concluded.
On the other hand, Shinji and Asuka, in an embrace, were watching the other couple dance and whisper to each other, before they turned their attention to themselves, swaying while being careful not to bump into others.
"Now they really hit it off," Asuka remarked. "Just look at them, and they're learning fast."
Shinji snickered softly. "Uh, is there such a word called reinvention?"
Asuka nodded. "Yeah, if I'm correct, it means the radical change of something or somebody, in terms of appearance, presentation, form or function."
"Ah… Then Ayanami has reinvented herself."
"Yeah," Asuka agreed, "and in a single week she went from a boring wallflower to a real person. That's for the books, yet to me she still hasn't changed the way she speaks."
Shinji sighed and then said, "Ever since Kaworu came here, things have changed so much for the past few days, and it's quite fast, like a roller coaster ride."
"Uh-huh," Asuka murmured.
"But in the process, we discover who we really are, and what's our purpose being here."
"That's self-discovery."
The Third Children grinned. "Oh, thanks… There's such a word, after all."
"You're welcome for me to expand your vocabulary, my dummy Shinji," Asuka mocked.
This time both of them shook and laughed, before they almost quieted themselves down.
"Know what?" Asuka whispered. "In my whole life I never danced in something like a prom."
Shinji blinked. "A prom?"
"Yeah, a promenade is a school dance," Asuka clarified. "Just like the kind of dances you have on the night of a cultural festival in school, and in America they always have that event in their high schools, like the ones you see in the movies. It's a formal tradition, a kind of a rite of passage that they look forward to."
"Really?"
"Uh-huh, and as far as I'm concerned, this one is close enough to a real prom, and we're not yet even sixteen years old."
Meanwhile the rest of Misato's crew had commandeered several empty tables and chairs, and then linked them together to form a long table. The waiter then delivered a full round of drinks among the group, including a hibachi to barbecue strips of marinated beef. They sat down, with Fuyutsuki being placed right at the head of this impromptu table as the patriarch of the "family".
"Say, ma'am, those Children are now going steady?" Maya asked, being the consummate romantic, but she hasn't touched her beer. "Isn't that so sweet and romantic?"
Misato nodded. "Damn right," she confirmed, pointing her finger at the dancing couples.
"Whoa," Makoto awed as Maya giggled and blushed.
"Never in a million years can this happen," Shigeru remarked. "Shinji and Asuka were, back then, like oil and water because we can't mix them."
"That's right," Ritsuko agreed after a puff of her Mild Seven, tapping the cigarette on the rim of the ashtray. "But that's changed. They got the gist of who they really are."
"And in growing up they also broke down the walls," Misato added before making another quaff of her beer.
"Quite poetic, Colonel," Fuyutsuki said, nodding. "Where's Director Hamamoto?" he asked Tsutomo.
"Still busy, sir," Tsutomo answered. "Usually neck-deep in paperwork."
Fuyutsuki made a face. "Ah, I see… That's too bad, he should be here, enjoying himself."
"But, on the other hand, we've conducted a full inspection of the arsenal. Every piece has been accounted for, all of them in good working condition."
"Very good," Fuyutsuki commended, "and Major, how's it going?"
Paul, his rank being mentioned, stood up and said, "Received a new ship, then Trudy and I made a test hop a few hours ago." He was referring to his new Cheyenne gunship. "She's smooth to the touch, sir."
Now the Children were coming, all four of them were in smiles as they walked back to their table, but were surprised to see that everyone had showed up, and they applauded.
"Oh, what's that for?" Asuka demanded in a rather lighthearted tone.
"I think we really made them happy," Shinji answered as the Children sat down among their elder peers.
Fuyutsuki, quite pleased with his people and their presence, stood up and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I think it's time for a toast, but first, let me speak."
Everyone nodded back at him, wanting to hear as they picked up their filled glasses and mugs, and stood up in unison.
"It's been a turbulent year for all of us, beginning with Shinji's first battle when he first came here, and we were able to meet that very first challenge of our lives. From there we witnessed triumph and tragedy, happiness and sadness, through hell and high water, and yet the one thing that kept us going is a very simple word, and that word is hope."
"Hear, hear," his audience intoned.
Fuyutsuki sighed, and he turned his attention to Shinji and Asuka. "To you two, it's been a very long way since the first time you saw each other, and at first you weren't able to get along, you have your faults, and we all thought you two weren't made for each other… But, Miss Langley, after you made the decision to stay, everything changed as you have discovered who you really were."
Asuka nodded in acknowledgement. "Thank you… But call me Asuka instead, sir."
Fuyutsuki smiled. "Thank you for reminding me, Asuka, I'll take your word… and now, Shinji."
Shinji blinked. "Pardon me?"
"I wish your mother were here to see you, as I think you've finally matured for even a short time, so I'm thankful that you learned much, understood and overcame your own weaknesses. Don't ever change that."
This time Shinji blushed. "Thank you, sir," he said, nodding.
"Now," Fuyutsuki said, "Kaworu Nagisa, for even you're a newcomer, we have a reason to be thankful for you."
Kaworu nodded, blinking. "Why, sir?"
"The best thing about your presence is that you're a catalyst for change. You maybe considered the best, but what is more admirable about you is your generosity and your propensity to help people, especially your teammates within Project E… and had it not for your intervention, it would be very difficult even for us to turn them around."
"I appreciate that, sir. Much thanks," Kaworu answered as he smiled.
"Keep the good work, son," Fuyutsuki said. "Finally, in the same way a white rose blossoms in full from a simple bud, you have changed much, Rei Ayanami."
The First Children blinked. "Sir?"
Fuyutsuki nodded. "That's right. You never fail to astound the people around you, as you have transformed yourself into a better person. I admit that, back then you were almost mechanical, almost devoid of emotion and having this unfeeling, as if you were impervious to pain. Yet even you have your own personality, you have a heart and a mind of your own. Then Nagisa came and changed all that, and you were not the same again but instead… I'd say you've come to age, and so I commend your emerging maturity."
Rei bowed her head. "Thank you, Sub-Commander," she said, now blushing completely.
The elderly ex-professor gazed at his subordinates, who hung on every word he uttered, and with his glass of beer aloft he toasted, "To the Children… and to Kaji, Akagi, and Ikari."
"Hear, hear!" the assembled adults cheered louder, before they all tossed down their drinks, and at the same time with the rest of the pub hearing all this and watching them, the patrons yelled and whistled in approval, and that really brought the house down.
In the surveillance van, Morrissey yanked the headphones away from his head, as the recorded roar coming from the planted bugs nearly blew out his eardrums. Wincing and his ears smarting as he adjusted the volume, he said aloud, "What the hell's going on with those people?"
His assistant, seated just a yard away, merely shrugged.
Now the party in the O-Club was in full swing, the cheerful atmosphere rejuvenating and moving even the most laggard of spirits. DJ Les (his real name was Lieutenant Leslie Booker Smith of the Eva Maintenance Division, and formerly an aircraft mechanic of the US Navy) was now busy, taking requests from eager patrons as he played one song after another; the Children and the Sub-Commander's presence graced the scene; all was magnificent inside the dive.
As they cooked and ate the strips of beef on the hibachi (except for Rei and Kaworu, of course, being self-declared vegetarians and so they opted for salad bowls), Trudy and Paul thought it a great opportunity to present to their friends about their own version of yesterday's events, their hands imitating the flight of their gunships as they narrated their war story. Misato, Shinji and Asuka corroborated with the pilots, adding their own experience of fighting off their attackers as the Cheyennes went for the kill to rescue them.
With their turn, Misato and Tsutomo explained on how the home invader Oda tried to kill Asuka but instead got the dose of his own medicine, and Misato humorously added that no one should underestimate her capacity to fight, even when intoxicated.
Not wanting to be outdone, Asuka and Shinji recounted their laughable "married couple" experiences, beginning with their first encounter on the aircraft carrier, followed by the next several missions against the Angels, and between those missions they talked about embarrassing moments at school.
Excusing themselves, Tsutomo and Natsumi left the table, went to the dance floor and danced together to a slow song, before the Children likewise stood up and followed them, and the bridge crew trio were off to try their luck with the UFO Catcher; meanwhile Trudy and Paul decided to play pool, and Fuyutsuki wished them luck as they ambled to the table with their bottles of Kirin.
Now that they were the only ones left, Misato noted that Ritsuko was quiet for most of the time, apparently brooding as she drank and smoked. "What's on your mind?" she asked.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Ritsuko said, flustered. "N… Nothing, I'm enjoying the atmosphere."
Misato nodded. "Ah."
Ritsuko tapped the cigarette on the ashtray. "But I remember something… Have you remembered about us talking about hedgehogs?" she asked before taking hold of her glass and drank.
Fuyutsuki blinked. "Hedgehogs?"
"Yes, of course," Misato answered. "Why?"
Ritsuko tabled her glass, pulled a drag off her stick of Mild Seven and blew a stream of smoke, before she went on. "It used to be that we were so concerned about Shinji's behavior, that like a hedgehog trying to give warmth to others, yet in the process hurting with quills, he's afraid then, of hurting others." She then produced a small smile and added, "But now, he's a changed man, and that's what I'm happy about. "
"So what do you think about his future?" Misato asked.
"Personally," Ritsuko answered, "I think he'll be a better man than his father, not wanting to repeat the same mistakes… and I also think that he'll be getting himself a box of disposable razors."
Misato blinked. "For what? Don't ask me he could—"
The scientist shook her head. "Nope, he will shave off any trace of stubble on his chin at the first sign because I feel he doesn't want to be that chip off the old block."
"Well," Fuyutsuki interjected, as he popped wasabi-coated peanuts into his mouth, "he's really his mother's son, that's why he has an affinity for Rei, because, as you two have said before, she carries the positive characteristics that were also present in his mother."
"And which, of course, makes her his sister," Ritsuko added.
Fuyutsuki nodded. "That's right… Wait a minute."
Both women blinked. "What is it, sir?" they asked in unison.
"If you're wondering where the Commander is, right now he's spending his time alone at his office," the elderly man disclosed.
"Even now?" Ritsuko snorted and shook her head. "What the hell he is, Ebenezer Scrooge?" she whispered aloud to Misato, sourly making a comparative reference to the brooding, money-obsessed Charles Dickens character.
"I think he still has his ghosts to exorcise," Misato quipped before they burst into laughter, yet just as she was about to pick up her drink, someone tapped onto her shoulder. She turned around to find Makoto standing right before her, the younger officer adjusting his glasses before he smiled.
Misato blinked twice, quite surprised. "What?"
Makoto sighed and offered his hand. "Can I have this dance with you?" he requested.
Seeing that the Children once again took the floor, DJ Les smiled and he put on Flightless Bird, American Mouth, before the lights were dimmed and a hush swept over the patrons.
"Oh, I know that," Asuka said, recognizing the song, as her arms were around Shinji. "It's from the movie." She then smiled.
Shinji blinked. "What movie?"
"Twilight, you goof."
The boy chuckled sheepishly. "Oh, hehe…"
But Asuka thought about changing the subject, perhaps about the Evas. "I haven't seen you pilot Unit One," she said.
"Except for my practice with Kaworu in the gunnery room, and that was a few days ago," Shinji answered, remembering the afternoon where he and the Fifth Children were tested, "I haven't done so in combat, ever since Ayanami blew up Unit Zero."
"Can't wait," Asuka said, nudging closer to the young man.
Shinji blinked. "What for? Another battle with an Angel?"
"No… I really wanted quality time with you," she admitted. "Only us alone, so why not later, after all this?"
"Where do you think we should be going?" Shinji asked worriedly. "Misato might get angry if we run off to someplace."
Asuka frowned. "Why not ask for permission? After all, we should be having our turn, just like what Misato and Kaji did before."
"Oh, I see… Anyway, where do you want us to go?"
"To the pool."
Shinji had a double-take. "Why? I can't swim, and we could get ourselves in trouble," he doubted.
"Trouble? It's always open, yet it's also off-hours and no one else's gonna hang around there, and besides, you need help."
"You mean you want to teach me how to swim?"
"Yeah."
"Even wearing these clothes?"
Asuka grinned at the young man in a naughty way. "No, we'll skinny-dip."
"I don't understand, but what's that?" Shinji wondered, having never heard of the word, as Asuka transliterated the word from English into Japanese.
The redhead giggled at his inability to comprehend. "You'll find out later, dummy," she riposted, but was then surprised when the girl saw Misato dancing with, of all men, the geeky-looking Makoto Hyuga, her aide-de-camp.
"So… Why me?" Misato asked, as Makoto led her in their steps, waltzing gently.
"You're alone, that's why," the lieutenant said, his hands embraced behind the woman's back.
"Ah, come on, tell me the truth," the colonel badgered softly. "Otherwise people would start telling strange stories about us. HQ's a small world, and you know that."
Makoto nodded. "Okay… It's like this: I've been working with you for the longest time."
Misato blinked. "And so?"
"I wanted to tell you, because I don't have the courage back then to tell everyone else for it's my terrible secret."
"You mean you do have a crush on me?"
"I'm sorry, but y… Yes," Makoto finally admitted, swallowing hard but he was trying to maintain their dancing tempo without missing a beat.
"Thanks for telling me the truth," Misato said, trying not to cry.
"Uh my pleasure, but… What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.
"I remember someone," she whispered while blinking, reminded all too well of Kaji.
Makoto merely shrugged. "No, don't worry; I understand whom you're thinking of, and I hope he's okay with me doing this gesture for you… Fact is, it's a great honor for me."
"I'm all right with it." Misato then laid her head on the younger man's shoulder. "Just one night, and I need someone that I can confide with."
The lieutenant nodded. "Will do… Semper fi," he whispered, reminding her that his faithfulness and sense of duty matched that of the American Marines' famous motto.
As Natsumi and Tsutomo were in an embrace, swaying slowly to the music, the agent said, "I'm sorry about what happened, but we couldn't avoid it." He was referring to yesterday's entanglement with the IR, which forced them to cancel their date at Odawara.
"I understand that," Natsumi said. "Shit happens all the time."
Tsutomo chuckled. "Yeah, right…. But you know what? It's strange for me that we accidentally wound up in the thick of things, right in the middle of whatever is happening."
Natsumi sighed. "I noticed that, too, Tomo, but I want to say something."
"About what?"
"To tell you the truth, when I was fourteen, back then I wasn't able to date anyone, nor anyone asking me to go out," she sadly admitted. "I couldn't even get chocolates on White Day."
Tsutomo blinked. "Why? You look great now."
'If you saw my high school pictures, well, I look very embarrassing: I had braces, I was too thin, I didn't have a nice, delicious chest… and I was a nerd, but not an otaku! It's no wonder that I was a target for bullies." Natsumi then made a sour face.
"There's nothing wrong being a nerd," Tsutomo said.
"But there's a difference between an ordinary nerd, and a creative nerd who have ideas that can make money," Natsumi countered. "I'm in the former, doing boring things, and those in the latter… the man who set up Facebook or the guy who either made Windows or the Mac or Napster, they're the ones with the interesting jobs."
"I don't care about that, Natsumi. You've come a long way from that old self of yours, so don't beat yourself."
Natsumi nodded. "Well, okay… But thanks for having an open ear, 'cause I wanted to get this inferiority complex off my chest."
"My pleasure," the agent said, as the audience watching them from the dim background, began to flip open and light up their Zippos and any lighters they held, slowly creating a startlingly beautiful and magical backdrop, a constellation of tiny yellow flames.
"Oh, by the way," Natsumi said. "Where do you want us to go after this?"
Tsutomo had a double-take. "You tell me where."
"Instead, why don't we have a nightcap of some hot coffee at my pad?" she finally suggested before beaming in a naughty way.
At that same moment, DJ Les now carefully switched over to Magic Works, a slow song from one of the Harry Potter movies: "This one's going out to all the lovers out there. Hold each other tight, and keep each other warm…"
Now the whole world had their eyes on Rei and Kaworu, dancing slowly in the spotlight, savoring this moment while being surrounded by a candlelight constellation made out of Zippo flames.
And dance your final dance
This is your final chance
To hold the one you love
You know you've waited long enough…
So… Believe that magic works
Don't be afraid
Of bein' hurt
Don't let this magic die
The answer's there
Oh, just look in her eyes…
His heart moved greatly, Kaworu then stared into Rei's soft eyes and figured that somehow fate had played a strange yet beautiful trick on them; they weren't supposed to be together like this, for they belonged to rival lilim, akin to Romeo and Juliet, fated to be pawns in their struggle to achieve Instrumentality.
Yet this was their quiet rebellion, a daring defiance of their masters' directives.
And make
Your final move
Mmm, don't be scared
She wants you to
It's hard
You must be brave
Don't let this moment slip the way…
Rei snuggled closer to Kaworu's shoulder, as if she didn't want to let go. Kaworu then smiled and he wondered where Shinji and Asuka were dancing. Ah, he found them just a meter away, in their own intimate world, but without a word Shinji stared back at his direction and then held up an a-OK sign, telling them that everything was perfect as Asuka lazily rest her head upon the boy's shoulder.
Congratulations, Kaworu saluted them in his thoughts, softly smiling, and then he guessed as to what Misato and the others were doing. Perhaps they were also watching them, awestruck and maybe heart-struck, remembering love unrequited, and he grinned when he saw Misato dancing with Makoto among the other couples. Love is blind, he told himself.
Believe that magic works
Don't be afraid
Afraid of bein' hurt
No, don't let this magic die
Ooh, the answer's there
Yeah, just look in her eyes…
"I do not want to lose you," Rei whispered into his ear.
"I will not," Kaworu solemnly replied. "We'll always try to keep ourselves together, I promise."
The First Children sighed. "Thank you."
And don't believe that magic can die
No, no, no, this magic can't die…
Both Children paused, and then Kaworu said, "Merry Christmas, Rei."
Rei nodded. "Merry Christmas to you, too, Nagisa," she answered, her cerise eyes blinking softly.
They took a breath to gain courage, before Kaworu leaned down to kiss Rei slowly on the lips. As they did, both savoring this intimate moment among the other lilim, the Fifth Children thought of the NERV motto taken from a famous Browning poem: "God is in his heaven; all's right with the world."
Indeed, even for this one night, with the forewarning and the danger of the future held at bay, everything was all right.
So dance, your final dance…
'Cause this is, your final chance…
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I delivered… and I SCORED! (Laughter) Okay, I did this one in a space of less than three days, fueled by my own caffeine-and-oatmeal-powered imagination (don't worry, I really eat a very balanced diet), with the entire plot, dialogue, scenery and situation locked in, then stitched and assembled in my mind, before my fingers do all the walking.
To be honest, this chapter was conceived several months ago while in planning for this season, and even as everything else tried to overwhelm me, I fought to keep the storyline intact, up to the dénouement, refreshed from time to time by new ideas.
All right, then, I don't know if this was the best chapter I came up with, but I really wanted to capture the moment, that one magnificent part of the story, render a world in words and emotions, with characters pulsing with life, heart and mind.
And this is one of those moments. To my readers worldwide, I always thank you for inspiring me to move forward with another written page, and keeping my imagination ablaze.
Next Chapter: Trysts (working title, guys, so SERVICE! SERVICE!)