Apparently ffn didn't send an alert mail for the last chapter. Hopefully it will for this one. If you have followed an alert email to here, make sure you also have read Chapter 35 ;)
Misato was in a bad mood.
One reason was that she didn't like being blindfolded. By her estimation, she had been in a driving car for about an hour, but for all she knew she had maybe been driven around the block a dozen times. But even now that the blindfold had been removed – another reason was that she didn't like all those thuggish-looking men around her, people who were trying to intimidate her and make sure she understood this was their turf. And she especially disliked that she had no gun on her. As a compromise, she had been allowed to bring a combat knife with her, but that would only help so much when surrounded by people with guns.
Of course, this was the only way to meet the oyabun of the Inada-gumi. And some wannabe samurai would not frighten Misato. Unlike them, she had seen actual frontline battle. Even unarmed, she merely considered those gangster poseurs potential tactical threats, nothing more. She wouldn't be cowed by them. She couldn't; for that she deemed them far too ridiculous.
But what really pissed Misato off was what she had learned from Kaji before the yakuza had picked them up. The inspector had made the same blindfolded tour as her, always at her side. And he knew the real reason why the yakuza had thought it necessary to teach NERV a lesson. In principle, Misato couldn't even disagree. She would still condemn how the yakuza had targeted innocent employees, but NERV had in fact acted arrogantly and recklessly and needed to be sent a message about this. And worst of all, nobody had even told her what had happened.
The building she and Kaji had been escorted to was a small house in the middle of the countryside, with no settlement nearby. They had had to move pretty far away from Tokyo-3 to reach an area like that. The house was relatively unassuming on the outside, but the interior architecture seemed quite expensive, mimicking classical Japanese design elements as if they were in the estate of a daimyo lord. And yakuza oyabuns had a habit of seeing themselves as just that, as Misato knew.
Misato held her head defiantly high, while Kaji merely had a weak smirk on his lips but seemed just as unflappable. That was how they reached their final destination: A reasonably-sized room with no more furniture inside than a small, low table in the centre; the Japanese sort at which you didn't sit on chairs but on the ground. Their escort stepped out of the room again and left them with the other two people inside: At the table, on a pillow, sat a man in his sixties. He looked fit for his age, but was of a thoroughly unimposing stature. A thin grey beard grew on his face. And behind him stood a man in his fourties, a burly man with a bullish neck who seemed ready to snap a person's spine at a moment's notice. His hands were at his side, and Misato noticed that his left hand was four-fingered, while on the right hand his pinky finger was missing one knuckle.
Whatever Misato might think of the man, when Fumio Marukawu of the Inada-gumi invited one to his home, his guests were well-advised to bow. And so she and Kaji did, deep enough to show proper respect and deference to the man. Only then did Marukawu gesture Misato to sit. So she did, while Kaji remained standing at her back.
"My guards have assured me you have come here without a pistol or any other gun," Marukawu started.
"Whatever I may think about your organization's activities, it is widely known to be honourable and to stay true to its word," Misato answered. "So I know I will be safe."
"And yet you brought a knife," Marukawu mused, as if this was just an interesting philosophical conundrum, not a concern of immediate practical importance.
"Soldier reflexes," Misato told him. "It is not like this knife would help me much against your men. But without any weapon at all, I'd feel naked. I might as well have come here unclothed then." And stop grinning at my back, Kaji.
Marukawu's face didn't change at all. "An acceptable explanation. Now, I believe there are matters to discuss between us."
"Yes," Misato agreed. "Though for the sake of the discussion, I must note that I haven't been informed of the nature of these matters until very recently. So whenever necessary, please feel free to enlighten me about details I might miss." Of course, the true message here was to claim a measure of innocence. But it would have been bad form to try to openly push off all responsibility to NERV in order to stay squeaky clean.
"Our actions were supposed to be a message to NERV command," Marukawu stated. "It was a message only for those who would understand it. Those who wouldn't don't concern us. We thought as Operations Director you would be part of the former. If you aren't, maybe we're wasting our time here."
"It is well possible," Misato allowed. "In NERV Headquarters, there are three people who outrank me. I assume all of them are in fact in the know." She paused to stress the point she was about to make. "But I can assure you none of them would come. I am but a humble Major whose rank may be insufficient, but I am the highest ranking NERV officer available for such talks."
"That doesn't reflect well on NERV," Marukawu stated bluntly.
"I am truly sorry for the inconvenience," Misato apologized. "But we may need to work with what's there, if you want to get your message across."
Marukawu remained silent for a moment. "Our message, yes. So you have heard of that?"
Misato had… from Kaji. The man standing behind Fumio Marukawu was none other than Toshiro Suzuhara – the father of one Touji Suzuhara. And even though NERV had to know details about Mr Suzuhara, there was no note of it anywhere on Touji's dossier. Just as Kaji had said, the official pilot dossiers were all worthless and unreliable.
And Mr Suzuhara was furious about how NERV had gone about recruiting his son. Even though he was Touji's father, they hadn't even informed him about the fact, much less sought his surely legally required assent. As Kaji had said, NERV had grown too arrogant for its own good. Unfortunately for NERV, Mr Suzuhara was the kumi's wakagashira – Marukawu's most trusted lieutenant. Essentially, after the oyabun and the saiko-komon, the organization's chief of staff, he was the number three in the Inada-gumi. Someone who had the oyabun's ear and could appeal for protection of the honour of himself and his family.
That was essentially the reason for the ongoing NERV/Yakuza feud: The recruitment of Touji.
"I have," Misato confirmed. "And even though I am not in any way involved in the recruitment process for new pilots, and have no say in how it is handled..." she now looked Suzuhara right in the eyes. "I am the woman who is sending your son into life-and-death battles." She slowly got up from her sitting position, and then bowed deep in apology to Suzuhara.
Marukawu nodded slightly to Suzuhara, allowing him to talk, and the man did. "That you are. Sending fourteen-year-old children, among them girls and my son to suffer and maybe die for us. Is that right?"
Misato stood straight again. "No, it is not. There truly seems to be no other way of piloting the Evangelions, and there truly seems to be no other way to stop the angels than the Evangelions… but it isn't. NERV is necessary for defending the world, but it does so by sullying itself with guilt. And I'm in the midst of it."
"A sullied woman," Suzuhara scoffed.
Misato sat down again. "I know it isn't much, but I think I, as well as Inspector Kaji here, can make conditions better for Touji and the others. NERV Command is currently in a tight spot regarding several issues, and your attacks are one of those. We can use that to our advantage… but only if your attacks do stop then." Suzuhara scoffed again. Misato nodded. "I understand. If that isn't enough..."
She carefully got the knife out of its sheath, holding it so as to indicate she meant no threat with it. She laid it on the table, and then took out a clean, white, small piece of cloth, and laid it next to the very sharp knife. Then she again looked Suzuhara right in the face.
"I am willing to show the extent of my chagrin over what I'm doing in other ways," she told him firmly.
"Katsuragi!" Kaji hissed at her side. But Misato didn't react.
Neither did Marukawu. Suzuhara had an almost shocked expression on his face at first, but then changed that to a dismissive look. He obviously did not believe she would go through with this. In any case, neither of the yakuza said anything.
So Misato folded out the cloth on the table, and laid her left hand on it. Then she took the knife, while still looking Suzuhara in the face. Only then did she look away. The task would require her full attention. She spread out the pinky finger of her left hand, brought the knife down…
"That's enough." Marukawu spoke calmly and gravely.
Blood was pouring heavily out of where the knife had cut through the finger's skin… but not deeper than that. Misato had stopped immediately at hearing the oyabun's voice.
"This would draw too much attention," he declared. Outwardly, he showed no reaction to the display that had happened in front of him. "It would not do if a woman inside NERV who might be useful for us is drawing suspicion to herself. And a four-fingered hand is rather difficult to hide."
"Very well," Misato stated. The cut hurt, but she would not show that. That hand could well have hurt a whole lot worse. She had been ready to go through with the ritual. For now, she simply let the hand bleed onto the cloth, without regarding it.
Suzuhara managed to have his face well under control, but he couldn't hide a certain shock, maybe even some concern. Meanwhile, Marukawu continued to talk. "You promised us an improvement in the situation of Suzuhara's son. Honour would be satisfied then. After all, we can't demand him to be withdrawn from the defence of humanity. But we can demand that he be treated with respect and honour."
"That is my goal as well," Misato told him.
"If you manage to achieve that, the attacks will stop," Marukawu promised. "If you need them to stop at a certain time, be it for a demonstration or other ways that will help that purpose, just give the signal. But you better deliver on your promise. Otherwise, I will invite you here again, and then I won't stop you."
"Understood," Misato confirmed.
"Until then, our attacks will continue," Marukawu explained further. "But as a sign of good will, we will decrease the frequency of our patrols. That should also decrease the frequency of attacks for now."
Misato bowed her head. "That is very much appreciated."
"Then let us all get to work, shall we?" Marukawu prompted.
Misato understood the cue. She wrapped the cloth around the heavily bleeding finger, sheathed the knife again and stood up. She and Kaji bowed again, and then turned to leave. Outside, they were expected by their "guides" again.
"That was insane, Katsuragi," Kaji hissed.
Misato, walking a bit brisker, was a steap ahead of him. "It worked, didn't it?" she argued coldly.
And if Marukawu hadn't stopped me, I would have deserved it.
Asuka opened the door carefully. Shinji was with Rei, leaning against the living room wall and also on her shoulder. So she had been free to answer the door. One of them was always there to be near Shinji. It was a surprisingly good arrangement. An arrangement that… worked.
The opening door slowly revealed an awkwardly smiling Hikari standing behind it. When the door was fully open, she held out a bunch of papers. "The homework for you and Ayanami again. And for Ikari. Nobody answered at the Katsuragi apartment… again..."
That was little wonder, with Misato at work and Shinji here. And it had already been so the previous day, Monday, as well.
Asuka took the papers and sighed. "You'd think they'd leave us in peace with this crap, after we just saved the world. Again."
Hikari looked a bit abashed. "Sorry, I just..."
Asuka tucked the papers under her left arm and waved her right hand dismissively. "I know, I know. You're not the one deciding this. You're just the class rep. I'm not blaming you. But it still is a shit system and I reserve the right to say so."
Hikari smiled faintly. "That doesn't always bring you very far."
"So we should just smile when..." Asuka started and then stopped. Hikari had nothing to do with all her problems with NERV. "Never mind. You can ask Touji about details." She was sure that he did a fair amount of complaining himself. She grinned. "How is he? Have you two finally kissed?"
"ASUKA!" Hikari exclaimed. Her head had turned red in record time. But that reaction was in fact suspiciously quick.
Asuka kept the grin. "Sure, continue playing the prim and proper class rep, if it pleases you." It seemed she had to accept that Touji and Hikari were a thing now. And in that case, the two might as well get it over with. After all, Touji was an idiot, but apparently a well-meaning idiot that one could depend on. So why shouldn't Hikari kiss him?
Hikari raised her head sideways defiantly. Well, she had a good coach in this. "I will have you know there is in fact nothing improper going on between T… Suzuhara and me."
"Your loss," Asuka declared. "And for heaven's sake, at least do call him Touji."
"You're incorrigible," Hikari muttered. With her no longer putting up a fight, Asuka registered that as a victory for herself. "Say… when do you think you will be able to come to class again? What… what is the problem, anyway?"
"The last angel," Asuka muttered. "It hit us pretty bad. Me, Rei, Sh… Shinji..."
"I see," Hikari merely stated awkwardly. And what more was there to say, in fact? Hikari was no pilot. She had no idea what could happen during those battles. For years, Asuka had never cared how much her status as pilot isolated her from others. Now she was feeling it acutely. "Are you… are you feeling okay right now?"
"I wasn't hit as hard as the others," Asuka deflected the question. "Shinji was hit hardest." Wait, I still need a reason why I'm staying home. "But Rei and me, we… well, I'd rather spare you the details, to be honest. We aren't constantly affected, but..."
"I see," Hikari said again, this time barely more than a whisper. "May I… May I come in? Maybe talking will help. And, uh… don't worry. I won't tell anyone if something happens."
For a moment, Asuka seriously considered the offer. She had no doubt Hikari's promise was genuine. So she might also not talk if she were to see Shinji constantly clinging to either Rei or Asuka. But that wasn't what Hikari was expecting. Even if Asuka could get her to keep silent by reminding her of that promise, her estimation of the pilots could take a major hit.
"I… would prefer you didn't, please," she hence answered. It sounded rather meek for her standards.
"Ah, sure," Hikari replied. An awkward pause ensured. "Well, uh… I suppose I need to..."
"How is everyone at class?" Asuka asked. A rather sad smile appeared on her lips. "What's the news?"
So for five to ten minutes, Hikari relayed the newest gossip from class to Asuka. Truth be told, the redhead hadn't really paid attention to that for weeks now. This all had once been so important to her. The social standing, the gossip, the rivalries and alliances inside the class. It had been important to her to be on top of it all. And being on top was still important to her… but she just couldn't bring herself to see the daily struggle for her place in the class hierarchy as relevant anymore. It all just seemed so trivial now… after Rei's near-death, now with the state Shinji was in… it all appeared tiringly mundane and irrelevant.
Still, exactly that triviality made it a welcome distraction. For just some minutes, Asuka didn't need to worry about fighting to the death, about the fate of the world, about indignities at the hand of NERV, about Shinji's mind being violated, about him potentially being near suicide again. Compared to that it didn't matter one bit what rumours said who was going out with whom, or the newest self-embellishments or sordid stories of people. But exactly that made it good to listen to those things for a few minutes.
Hikari hugged Asuka as a goodbye, and then left again. With a sigh, Asuka closed the door, and walked into the apartment again. She laid the papers down on the kitchen table.
"Who was it?" Rei asked softly as she entered the living room. Even Shinji, though still cuddled up to her, looked with some interest at her.
"Hikari," Asuka answered. "We talked for a bit." She grinned weakly. "Seems like the class can manage without us."
It was mostly meant as a reassurance to Shinji. He was improving, but probably the only reason this was notable to Asuka and Rei at all was because they were constantly around him. He still didn't seem to have energy for anything, he still needed the constant physical reminder that Asuka and Rei wouldn't leave him, but at least he didn't try to apologize anymore and at least began paying attention to things around him again.
Asuka knelt down next to the two, stroked Shinji's hair lightly and looked at Rei: "So, I think when the doorbell disturbed us..." She grinned again, viciously so. "...I was in the process of utterly dominating you." They had been playing Street Fighter before they had been disturbed.
"And you enjoy that," Rei stated flatly.
"Well, yeah, I do enjoy..." Asuka stopped. Then realized what she had been about to say. Then blushed.
Rei's lips curled up. "I do as well. But we can't continue now. We need to catch a train soon, in order to make it to the synch-test."
"You're both going, I assume," Shinji stated. It sounded dark.
Rei sounded uncomfortable. "You know we have to."
"Do we?" Asuka challenged that assumption. "I hadn't planned to go." She stood up again and began pacing. Shinji wouldn't be able to come to the test, and it wouldn't do to leave him here alone. He might be stable again, but… it would pain him. And there was more. At the moment, Asuka had zero interest in playing Akagi's guinea pig. Not even in a regular synch-test. "The bastards suspended me, so why even do this boring synch-training bullshit? Hell, for all we know, if we go, that crazy blonde bitch will try to spring another nude test on us. And somebody needs to stay with Shinji."
Rei looked down at the head to her side. "That's true." Shinji didn't protest or apologize, just smiled weakly.
"I mean, I know those tests are important for our combat readiness, but… urrrrgh…" Asuka complained, walking up and down the room. "After what Akagi tried to pull last time..."
"I understand," Rei assured her. "But I could go."
Asuka stopped and jerked her head around to look at the blue-haired girl. "What do you mean?"
"You could stay with Shinji," Rei explained. "And I don't mind the idea of nude tests."
Asuka cleared her throat awkwardly as she remembered her first visit to Rei's old apartment. No, the First Child very evidently had no problems with nudity. Her statement still came as somewhat of a surprise. "Could have fooled me," she stated with a lopsided grin.
"Me doing the nude test was not what I objected to," Rei explained. "I objected to it being forced on you and Shinji. And to the staff trying to spring it on us as a surprise."
That had Asuka slightly stumped. "So you did it… I mean, it was a dangerous action, all things considered. And you did it for our sake?"
Rei looked her square in the face. "Yes."
Again a blush coloured Asuka's cheeks. "Well… uh… thank you. I… I'd still hate to do such a test, you know, and who knows what else NERV has in store for us..."
"If they try to force something on you again, I will help again," Rei promised.
"But what about you?" Asuka asked. "You have no problems with how the witch doctor treats you?"
"I'm used to it," Rei stated.
"That doesn't exactly sound reassuring," Asuka muttered.
"I never considered there could be an alternative," Rei explained.
Well that absolutely won't do! Asuka was shocked at that attitude. With large steps she walked up to Rei and knelt down in front of her. She grabbed her right arm and told her: "There is one. You… you may not mind public nudity as much, okay. But if there ever is anything… anything… you mind, you'll come and tell us, right? We'll help you, just as you've helped us."
"I know," Rei merely stated. Even for her standards it sounded soft.
"That Quacksalber has misused as guinea pig for too long already," Asuka declared as she stood up again. No more. She is under my protection now.
"I still need to go the test," Rei answered.
"...why?" Asuka asked.
It took a while before Rei answered. "The Commander. He considers me…" There was a notable pause. "...the most obedient of the pilots. He fears my contact with you two is eroding my loyalty. If he gets evidence of that, he will order me to move out of here again."
"No!" Asuka exclaimed. "He… he can't do that, can he?"
"He can," Rei merely confirmed.
Shinji spoke up from her shoulder. "He is the commander of NERV. NERV seems to basically rule Tokyo-3. Who… who could stand up to him?" And with a mutter: "It's always been like that..."
Rei nodded. "I need to follow his and Akagi's orders."
Asuka didn't like this. At all. It made Rei sound like… like…
Her eyes went wide.
"Only to a degree!" she shouted. "You're an EVA pilot. You aren't a doll, you hear?"
"I'm not a doll," Rei agreed. She hesitated. "But I need to..."
Shinji got up from her shoulder to look at her. "I… I understand. I really wished you could stay, but I… I know my father. We can't provoke his anger." He turned his head to Asuka and shook it. "We have to play it safe."
Asuka breathed out. She felt defeated. "Okay. You'll go. But I sure as hell won't. Orders be damned."
Another tiny smile appeared on Rei's face. She sounded actually… amused. "I hadn't expected you to."
"And please Rei… be back here quick and safe, you hear?" Asuka pleaded.
"Of course," the blue-haired girl promised softly. Then she stood up.
The synch-test was strangely... lonely. In recent time, ever more pilots had been added to the roster, but now only three of them were present. For the first time since Asuka had come to Japan, Rei had had the girls' changing room to herself. Both the redhead and Shinji were back at Asuka's and Rei's apartment… No. At our home. So Rei being 'alone' in the Geofront… it almost felt like the bad old days. The days when she had nothing but those tests, when she had nobody, when a rare smile from Commander Ikari was the height of human contact for her.
Shinji had understood why she had to go, but he had still looked terrified when she had left the apartment. She sighed into the LCL and reminded herself that Asuka was still with him. The recent days had at least made one thing certain: None of them would ever be truly lonely again. Even Rei, who was without the other two at this test, would then, afterwards… come home. It was a new and infinitely reassuring concept for her.
Thinking forward to that event would get Rei through this test.
It wasn't just the newly found concept of boredom that bothered Rei. Even so, half-floating in the LCL of the synch-test entry plugs could still be very relaxing. The problem was just that today's test was not very conducive to peace and relaxation. Akagi and Suzuhara had practically tried to murder each other with their stares before the test began, and Rei had constantly been on guard for another physical attack by the doctor.
And even now that the three present pilots – Kaworu, Suzuhara and Rei – were in their entry plugs, the tension remained. Over the comms, Rei could hear Suzuhara sighing and making noises of annoyance.
"A bit more concentration, Touji," Akagi ordered stiffly.
The boy just groaned in response. Katsuragi chimed in cheerily, "Don't worry, Touji. You've already made it through the halfway point. Just hang in there, all right?"
The relation between the heads of Section 1 and 3 was also at an all time low, but they still seemed to be able to work together in a professional manner. Nonetheless, Akagi made a tiny scoff at Katsuragi's friendly approach.
"Pointless..." Suzuhara muttered.
"Part of your job," Akagi insisted. "So do your job!"
Now Suzuhara exploded. "I am! I'm here after all, right? What the hell more do you demand?"
"Some discipline and concentration would be nice," Akagi muttered. "Just focus on the test now."
But Suzuhara was not in a mood to end this "Or what? You'll threaten to cut support for my sister again?"
Before Akagi could answer, Katsuragi intervened: "There's no need for shouting. Please, Touji, focus on the test. And Dr Akagi, I think it's justifiable if he's a bit annoyed by the test."
"It isn't exactly conducive to his synch-rate scores," Akagi insisted. "And his unwillingness to cooperate leaves me with extra work in figuring the pilot-unit harmonics out!"
"Yeah well, maybe," Katsuragi allowed. "But he is the pilot of EVA-03. Irreplaceable. Basically, all these pilots are more valuable than we are."
Rei couldn't hear a reaction over the comms. In fact, an immediate, eerie quiet followed. Only after some minutes could she hear a scoff from Suzuhara again. For the rest of the test and afterwards, Rei was vaguely worried. Relationships between pilots and command remained at an extreme low. This could lead to complications if another angel were to attack now. The Commander would see a clear solution to that problem: Total obedience from the pilots. However...
I'm not a doll. Asuka wouldn't want her to be a doll. And that resonated with Rei's newly reunited personality – of which a part was just angry, angry about what they had done to her and were still doing to her. I won't be a doll ever again.
Before she could go shower, Rei went into the Pribnow Box, together with Suzuhara and Kaworu, for the debrief. As with the previous tests, it was held by Lieutenant Ibuki, but Dr Akagi was still present.
Eventually, the Lieutenant concluded, "Well, that's all. Let's hope for improvements next time, shall we?"
"And that Asuka and Shinji will be here," Akagi muttered.
"Shinji is in no state to come to a synch-test!" Katsuragi protested.
"And what excuse does Asuka have?" Akagi asked.
Katsuragi's face got hard, but she didn't answer that question. Couldn't answer it, most likely.
Instead, Rei spoke up. "Asuka and Shinji prefer to be addressed with their family names by you, Dr Akagi."
Akagi turned towards her. She seemed surprised by this intervention. "I know! But neither of them is here! That's exactly the problem, Rei!"
Rei's face darkened. She would not just stand here and take it. That is what the half of her soul that had been in her second boy would have done. Not any more. "...Ayanami."
Ritsuko's eyes widened. Suzuhara chimed in, "Yeah, and while we're at it, it's Suzuhara for you."
"Nagisa," Kaworu added.
"That's ridiculous!" Akagi protested.
"Whatever you say… Ritsuko," Touji replied with a grin.
"In all fairness, Asuka and Shinji have requested that of you," Misato intervened. "And I think we in the command staff should honour such requests. Including the ones voiced here."
"Yes of course you would think that!" Akagi exploded. "You would let them get away with anything!"
Katsuragi's face and voice hardened. "As long as they pilot. And as long as they do, we are in their debt."
That was a new sentiment from the Major, as Rei realized. Akagi looked down and balled her hands into fists. "Dismissed, everyone," she simply said.
Katsuragi walked over to the pilots and gently herded them outside the Pribnow Box. Rei understood the cue and walked to the showers.
This state of affairs in NERV can't go on.
"Everything is fine," Asuka told Shinji with an amused grin on her face.
For the first time in four days, the boy had grown a bit restless. Maybe it had to do with Rei being absent; that made him nervous. Rationally, he knew she would come back, but that only did so much to quell the fears inside him. He needed to do something that could maybe ensure she would come back… and thus he had decided to again cook for her and for Asuka.
Asuka had been slightly astonished. Shinji had been slow to start, almost fretful again, but it seemed his old instincts had kicked into gear eventually. Cutting vegetables, preparing sauces, he had been in his element again. Now and then he had looked slightly panicked, but then Asuka would always walk over to him, lay an arm around him, take a hand, stroke his hair. Somehow, it had all worked out.
And now, everything was ready. He would start the actual cooking as soon as Rei was back. And for that event, everything had to be perfect. Checking again and again for that was the only thing Shinji could still do.
Shinji smiled weakly. "I know… it's just..."
Asuka embraced him from behind. "I know. And you've done great. I'm looking forward to dinner."
"Sorry I couldn't also prepare some meat for y..." Shinji began.
"You already did more than you needed to do," Asuka interrupted him. "And your vegetarian dishes are delicious as well."
The two just stood there in silence for a few moments. While it was mostly for Shinji's sake, Asuka found she did enjoy the constant physical contact with him. Also, the usual closeness to Rei. The way the three had grown so touchy-feely… there was something there… it was almost like… like they were all romantically involved.
The door opened. "I'm home," Rei announced softly.
Basically as soon as she had entered the kitchen, Shinji had fallen into her arms. Rei's eyes first widened in surprise, then she smiled gently and closed her arms around the boy. She also granted Asuka a smile.
The German girl smiled back. It was good to have Rei back. That Rei had needed to do the synch-test all alone was something that hadn't sat right with Asuka. Much of the blue-haired girl was still a mystery, but it seemed she had been alone all her life. Asuka didn't wish her to be any longer, not even just for the duration of a test. Oh sure, the weirdo and the jock had been there, and they could be counted on, so Rei had been safe. But that was not quite the same as her not being alone.
Gently, Rei nudged Shinji forward a bit. The boy still stayed at her side, but now the two could walk over to the living room and sit down on the floor there.
Asuka did so as well. She took Rei's hand and asked, "Tell me: Was the test okay?"
"We – the pilots – and Dr Akagi argued," Rei reported. "It was tense." She paused. "I'm glad to be home again. With you..." She looked Shinji in the face. "...and you."
"I'm also glad you're here," Asuka told her. Shinji didn't respond verbally and just nestled closer to Rei.
"It's odd," Rei remarked.
"What is?" Shinji muttered at her side.
"Us sitting here like this," Rei explained. "So much bodily contact. Without inhibitions about it."
Shinji visibly tensed. Asuka let go of Rei's hand. "I suppose, but it came about because well… well..."
Rei tightened her hug around Shinji and took Asuka's hand again. "I like it."
Asuka was blushing now. Of course she also liked it, but that had so far been left unspoken. The truth was she didn't know what she and Shinji and Rei were. That confusion wouldn't stop them from helping Shinji; that concern overrode everything else. But it was still all very confusing.
Still, she managed to answer, "I… I do as well."
Shinji murmured contendly, but after a while raised the issue, "And how long will this last?"
Asuka furrowed her brows. "I told you. We won't leave you."
Shinji actually smiled weakly at that. "I know. But… once I'm better. Once I… I can return to Misato's apartment."
An awkward silence followed that statement. Shinji had raised a good point. The current state of affairs had come to be entirely because he had needed help. And once that was no longer the case… well, it would be good if Shinji was feeling better again. But she would miss cuddling with him… and with him gone, Rei would most likely sleep in her own futon again as well…
It was Rei who voiced this point. "I like having you two both here."
Asuka didn't know what to say. Everyone basically knew how everyone else felt, but exactly that made it difficult to talk. What more was there to say?
"But what can we do?" Shinji mumbled. "We can't all… all of us… you know."
"All of us be together?" Rei asked. "Why not?"
"Because… because..." Asuka stuttered. Her eyes were now as wide as saucers, and she was blushing furiously. All three of them together? Her together with both Shinji and Rei… images were shooting into her head. At the same time, Shinji's stuttering was even more incomprehensible.
"Because that isn't done!" Asuka finally managed to say.
"I see," Rei merely stated. It sounded sad.
Shinji chuckled sadly. He looked down on the ground. "It would be so convenient, though. I could… I could have you both." His hands balled into fists. "But that is selfish. I don't..."
Rei looked at him and whispered, "I love you, Shinji." His head darted up. It nearly collided with hers, but she bent sidewards a bit. "You don't know how special you are. You… understand. Care. More than other people."
Seeing Shinji's happy surprise, Asuka couldn't help but add. "I love you as well. You're the nicest boy I've ever met… the best boy. Willing to defend us all, willing to listen to my bullshit, always just wanting to help. I… I didn't think I'd ever become close with such a person. That someone like you… you know, would be nice to me. But here we are. I… I love you."
Neither declaration was anything new, of course. They all knew how close they were, how much… love there was between them. And yet, Shinji in particular seemingly had to always be reminded of that. And thus, he was now utterly stunned. Asuka liked seeing him that way.
"I love you as well, Asuka," Rei said, now turning to her.
And thus now Asuka's world was turned on its head.
Rei had promised her a kiss already. But this had then been more or less… forgotten. None of them had wanted to endanger the delicate state of affairs that existed between them after all. Until now, apparently.
"You had the passion and the force of will to help me," Rei continued. "You are burning with passion. I want to watch that flame burn. It's beautiful."
Before Asuka could stammer a response, Shinji joined in, smiling faintly again. "You are amazing, Asuka. Always fighting. Never giving up. Pr… protecting those whom you… whom you love. Our guardian angel. I… I love you."
Two people… Asuka had always gone through life trying to be the best at everything because for her that was the only way to be of any significance at all. Without her talents, she would just be a thorny bitch and nothing else. Certainly nobody people could love. And yet… Two people have confessed their love…
Asuka was so much in a sort of daze that Shinji continuing to speak only barely registered with her. "And you, Rei…" He shook his head. "You're wrong. You are the one who always understood. With you, I never had to be afraid to offend you or anger you. You always understood. Always were there for me. Waiting at that one spot near the park, always. So… uh..." He was blushing heavily as well now. "I love you."
Is this really happening? For weeks now, none of them had dared to move. Any move could have threatened the wonderful thing they had. And yet now it seemed they could just sweep all problems aside. Ignoring that people normally came together as pairs, as couples. Was it really that easy?
"I never thought I could have that effect on people," Rei answered Shinji.
"Are you stupid?" Asuka spoke up now. She had to make the girl see that she did. "You're… you're serenity incarnate. Not just your beauty, but the grace with which you move, your voice… your patience, your quiet caring… the general peace and calm that seems to surround you like an aura. You're amazing, Rei."
"Does this mean..." Rei asked quietly, not daring to finish the question.
Asuka thought she might soon die from all the heat in her cheeks. "Yes. I love you, Rei. Us two living together was the best thing that could ever have happened to me. And with Shinji now here as well..."
Rei's cheeks began to colour as well. She looked down, but Asuka could see a smile on her face. And not just her usual style of curling her lips up, but a genuine, almost broad smile.
"But..." Shinji tried to protest. Which was funny, because he nonetheless didn't let go of Rei. "What does that all mean? What can we do now?"
"Be together," Rei simply said, without looking up.
Yesss… the emotional part of Asuka wanted to leap at that chance. She could cuddle with Shinji and Rei. And, uh, maybe also do other things with them. Take closer looks at their well-built bodies. Together. And just… in general stay together with them. With the security that neither of them would ever leave her.
And yet… she still didn't quite grasp how this would even work. She felt insecure and hence said nothing. Another silence ensued. Rei still held Asuka's hand, and Shinji's head was still leaning against her shoulder, while she was still looking down. In that, it was a comfortable silence.
Finally, it was surprisingly Shinji who spoke up again. "We… we could try it. You… you know. I have kissed both of you, but… you two haven't yet."
Now Rei looked up – right in Asuka's face. The German girl was too captivated by the prospect of such a kiss to react much. "Asuka… do you want to kiss me?"
The redhead looked at her. Her lithe figure. Her serene aura. A face liked carved out of stone. Thin lips. And that image was overlayed with so much trust. She trusted Rei… wanted to be close to her. She nodded dumbly.
Gently, Rei let go of Shinji and moved a bit over on her knees. Shinji seemed to have little problem for once with being left alone, instead watching this all with a benevolent smile.
Rei and Asuka were now face to face, both kneeling upright. Something still made Asuka hesitate. Rei was attractive. She loved Rei. She trusted Rei. And yet, there still was a part of her which associated 'kissing' exclusively with boys. Which was stupid. Because looking at those lips, she definitely wanted to…
Rei's head darted forwards. Caught Asuka by surprise. But the redhead didn't care. Just joined in the kiss.
It was… fantastic. Different from kissing Shinji. Both felt incredibly soft, and yet both were unique. Which was good. Which was amazing. She had Rei here, with her, kissing her. Her arms closed around the blue-haired girl. She wanted to never let go. Closeness…
It was Rei who finally withdrew, and at that point, both were panting. Asuka looked Rei in the eyes; the blue-haired girl was blushing and smiling. And next to them sat Shinji and… smiled as well. He looked as if he had just seen a miracle.
"That was… one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen," he admitted in a whisper.
Asuka was still slightly panting, though maybe more because she felt light-headed rather than any actual need for breath. Her head was red and she was grinning. "Maybe… maybe we can in fact try this." Shinji AND Rei. Rei AND Shinji… The world was spinning around Asuka.
"So… is that it?" Shinji whispered, sounding very unsure. "All three of us? I… you both… I..."
Rei turned to him. "We both love you."
A tear formed in the corner of Shinji's eye. He darted forwards and grabbed both girls in a huge hug. All three of them fell forwards. Asuka laughed and giggled as they did so. It was just so much of a relief. Two people who loved her. No complications. Just, against all expectations, not just one person who could find it in them to love her, but two. And now she was in a big embrace with both of them.
They all remained lying as they were, all of them breathing heavily. Even Rei did. Even for her, this had to be extraordinary. Asuka could basically feel the happiness of her… my what? Boyfriend and girlfriend? Companions? Partners? It didn't matter. Only their love for one another did. She got up, on all fours, and climbed on top of the two. Her head darted down to kiss Shinji. She enjoyed that feeling, then withdrew, in order to kiss Rei. It was incredible. She could kiss. More importantly, be kissed. And that by two people. Two people whom she absolutely loved and trusted. It was magical.
She straightened up and looked down on Shinji and Rei, who now lay face to face. Slowly, gently, their lips came closer and they kissed as well. Asuka smiled. She could feel no jealousy towards them. If anybody else were to threaten their arrangement, Asuka would fight tooth and nail, but those two were part of the arrangement. It was just good to see them both happy.
Shinji and Rei ended the kiss. There still was basically no space between their faces, but now they looked up at Asuka. And in a sudden and surprisingly coordinated motion, they stretched their arms out and pulled Asuka down, right on top of them. That was where an again giggling Asuka came to a rest for now, close to both her loves.
Now that their faces were in as close together as possible, kisses became so much easier. Rei would kiss Asuka, Asuka would kiss Shinji, Shinji would kiss Rei. Part of Asuka still found that all surreal. Of course, any sort of kissing was still unchartered territory for her, but that was certainly not what she had ever envisioned or expected to happen. It was wonderful, but it still also was confusing. But that didn't matter. What mattered was that Asuka could feel both Shinji and Rei, their bodies next to hers, their warmth, their scent. And the kisses. Sweet, amorous kisses.
They did this for… Asuka had lost any sense of time. Half an hour? An hour? When somebody, Shinji, finally spoke again, he was entirely out of breath. "There is still food... I could warm up."
"Getting hungry?" Asuka laughed. "I guess you do have reason to be exhausted now."
"Easy… for you to say," Shinji joked. "Up there… letting us carry your body weight..."
Asuka kissed him, quick but intensively. "Are you complaining?" Shinji just shook his head.
"Eventually we will have to eat," Rei stated.
"I could… warm it up," Shinji offered again.
"And let me lose out on your kisses?" Asuka pouted – half in jest, half seriously.
Shinji grinned. "You still have Rei. And I can still watch." He got flustered. "It… It really is beautiful, you know?"
Asuka jumped up, showing off how athletic she was. "Come on then, you two beauties. Now… now we'll have all the time in the world to continue this."
And she looked down on her loves and knew it to be true. The future looked bright. She had Rei. She had Shinji. She had people who loved her. And she would stay with these people forever.