Standard Disclaimer

Round and round the cycle of my stories goes where it stops…if you're paying attention you already know. More of the parent arc and I hope ya enjoy it.

X-X

What We Make of It

Chapter 43 – Today's hell is for…

- or –

It's a job with perks

System fully recovered, damaged sectors repaired, all systems nominal. That and a bevy of other system readouts passed through the computerized likeness of a brain that was housed in the impenetrable steel case that was Kos-Mos's skull. Her lovely red eyes finally shown through her fluttering eyelids as her system finished its recovery cycle. "Shinji-sama, good morning," she spoke as she stepped out of her master's closet.

Yawning as his sleep was kindly broken by his personal robotic servant, Shinji sat up in his bed and scratched the back of his head. "Kos-Mos! You're finally awake again. I was getting a little worried, but Washu-chan insured me you would be fine," he said with much relief. He had been reading, not fully understanding them mind you, the readouts from Kos-Mos's station nightly hoping for her to awaken. "Mama-Hild even asked if I wanted one of her minions to heal you," but Shinji sagely thought demonic magic and Kos-Mos wouldn't have mixed well.

Pulling Sumomo and Kotoko out of the bays in her back, they had recovered as well, Kos-Mos put the dynamic duo of confusion on the floor. Kneeling before Shinji, her long blue tresses obscuring her face, Kos-Mos knew shame. Prostrated before her bonded human she stated flatly, "Shinji-sama, I humbly request punishment for my actions. If you wish me deactivated I would accept such." She had nearly destroyed the city, lost her organic components to lust, and could have killed him.

It was to early in the morning for Shinji to fully understand just what the heck was happening. "Kos-Mos, you weren't in control of yourself, it's not your fault," he quipped as he helped the android stand back up. Feeling weight pressed against each leg, Shinji recognized the sensation of his tiny computerized friends climbing up to his shoulders. "I forgave everybody involved with the incident, and that includes you," he said softly as he pushed Kos-Mos's hair off her shoulder.

Dancing on Shinji's shoulder, Sumomo just assumed Shinji's forgiveness of Kos-Mos extended itself to her. Having not been infected, Sumomo did cripple Shinji's capabilities by getting short circuited at the start. "Hurray! Hurray! Forgiveness! Forgiveness!" she sang as she pulled the tiny tambourine out of hammer space and played a jaunty tune. Kotoko just hung her head in shame at her counterpart's insanity.

Clutching at Shinji's hand on her shoulder, Kos-Mos's logic circuit was nearly breaking at the words. Her study of humanity had been fairly unflattering. The majority of the world would not have forgiven near death experiences so quickly, and yet her master just brushed it off as if it was her stating she didn't wash his socks. "Shinji-sama…I would have seriously hurt you had I found you…I would have robbed you of your innocence. How can you forgive so quickly?" not that she was against forgiveness, she just wanted to know why.

"Because Shin-baby isn't like normal meat-sacks is all," Morrigan cooed from her position in the door. She'd watched the tin doll beg for forgiveness only to have it handed to her like a cheep bobble. Shinji really was cut from a different cloth than the rest of humanity, as the part of him in her soul chorused. "But while he says he accepts it, I don't. What type of protector nearly causes the rapture while half of her soul is still free?" Morrigan sauntered over to the scowling android.

Shocking both demoness and quasi-human, Shinji dove at Morrigan and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Morrigan-san! Mama-Hild said you would be gone for a long time!" Shinji gushed as he hugged his savior. Morrigan's actions during the virus incident had not been lost on Shinji. She saved his life countless times, was hurt protecting him, and Shinji wasn't about to let that go unrewarded.

Patting Shinji's head lovingly, Morrigan's anger dissipated like a man's confidence before Asuka's mocking. "Well I got out of my training a lot faster than the instructors thought possible. You see I have a job interview today that I just can't miss," Morrigan's voice twittered. The body next to hers was so warm, so inviting that she forgot she was supposed to me making life hell for Kos-Mos. Her interview with Hild was a formality, but Hell was anything but lenient with the need for proper forms. "Speaking of time, I think your mother is expecting you at the table for breakfast, so get a move on," she said as she reluctantly disengaged from the boy and playfully swatted his rump to get him moving.

As the door shut, and Shinji absent from the room, Kos-Mos stomped her foot defiantly. "I register the fact you saved his life, but I will not forgive you for the damage you caused him before," Kos-Mos's internal computer filed Morrigan under 'perma-bitch'. The only thing staying her hand from turning into painful death dealers was Shinji's affection for the bat-winged harpy. "You owe him your life as well, so do not look so high and mighty. I have broken you before," Kos-Mos walked back to her closet.

Plopping down on Shinji's bed, arguably the most highly contested real-estate in Japan, Morrigan grabbed the fabric with her elegant fingers. "I owe him more than that you giant windup toy, but you might find me stronger than I was back then," Morrigan's head wings flapped playfully. During her training, Morrigan found her powers hand intensified greatly. Her time spent with Shinji had changed her more than she thought, and the closer she stayed to him the more their souls bonded. "But don't worry that little head of yours, I'd hate for you to start smoking from over clocking. Just like you, his safety is now my concern," she fell back onto the bed and moaned suggestively.

Her eyes shifting to blue, Kos-Mos smiled awkwardly at the reformed succubus. "I see that you truly are a different creature from back then. But what type of job would you be seeking?" she asked while syncing up with Kotoko. Watching her master eating with the creature of impossible power, Kos-Mos could only wonder. "What would you need of money?" she added as Sumomo fell into Shinji's soup and splashed broth everywhere.

"Hild is taking interviews for 'personal' servants to her son, and she is making me apply as a formality," Morrigan traced her lips with her finger. She wasn't going to idly sit by and let some insipid girl come in hoping for some stud only to hurt Shinji in the process. "And judging by the mountain of paperwork I saw on her desk this morning…I'm not the only one," Morrigan was going to enjoy helping Hild evaluate the prospects.

X- Hell is paperwork if you didn't know – X

Standing before her assembled class, spying on the parents that were slated for the day's little show, Chiyo was having serious doubts about the plan. Didn't any of her students have normal parents, or were they all spawned from insanity like Cthulhu's little helpers. "Settle down everybody, its time to get the day started, and you know how I hate being delayed," she pulled nail out of her top desk drawer and flashed it to the crowd…it didn't have the affect she wanted. Some days it really sucked being a teacher.

"So you're bringing those little things to school again?" Touji asked as he pointed at the frowning Kotoko. "Won't Chiyo-sensei object to you having toys on your desk?" he quipped as he moved to poke Kotoko's bells. "It's your funeral if she gets angry," and Touji wasn't going to help him.

Proving that even though she was tiny, Kotoko had fangs, the tiny computer chomped down hard on the jock's finger. It was a big finger and she had a tiny mouth, but Kotoko did not allow anybody to call her a toy. After the jock pulled back his throbbing digit, "I cannot speak for my counterpart, but personally I am not a toy Suzuhara. I am a state of the art persocom, with full wi-fi accessibility, fully programmed to defend and observe Ikari-sama in his daily actions," her statement would have held more weight had Sumomo not dived on her in a show of solidarity.

Laughing at the computer dog pile on his desk, Shinji just shrugged. "Kos-Mos fixed them this morning and she insists I bring them with me, and Nerv agreed to it," Shinji didn't mind really as Sumomo was cute enough to strike joy in even the hardest of men's hearts. "Oh and Kensuke, Mama-Hild said I can't take up your dad's job offer right now," not that Shinji knew he had been propositioned to be a man-whore.

Wondering if he could buy Sumomo off Shinji to dismantle and mass-produce the unit, Kensuke grimaced. "Dad will be upset, but I'm sure he'll try talking to your…mom…about it later," Kensuke, like Touji, had a hard time accepting any motherly thoughts with Hild. The woman was just to sexy to be considered a mother, and they didn't like the MILF term to much.

Beaming the three boys in their respective heads with bits of chalk, Chiyo had just about gotten the classroom under control. "Suzuhara, Aida, and Ikari it is class time and when it is class time you are what?" she bellowed. She hated being so loud all the time, but it was the only way to get the students to respect and listen to her. It took a great deal of effort to maintain the 'rage' required for her little-miss bitch routine, but remembering Sakaki's stealing of her dog helped.

All three boys stood up, bowed, and in unison, "We're sorry Chiyo-sensei! When class is in session we are listening!" After the class erupted into a giggle-fit, Chiyo gave them the evil eye and the laughter died faster than the libido of the last boy to hit on Ayanami Rei.

"That's better," Chiyo rewarded her class with a toothy grin. Pulling out the sheet associated with the first parent, Chiyo sighed heavily. I thought I made it clear that stay at home mothers were NOT acceptable parents to bring. But the student in question…Chiyo doubted the girl had a thought in that empty head of hers. "First up we have Ikuko Tsukino, mother of Usagi Tsukino. Ikuko-san if you would?" the teenage teacher gestured to the woman seated next to her daughter.

Standing before her daughter's class, Ikuko really didn't know what to say. "G-good morning everybody, as your teacher said I am Usagi's mother," she pointed at her daughter. Being a stay at home mother, Ikuko had a fairly boring life, and up until just recently had spent most of her time either cleaning the house or watching television. Finding Usagi's journal one day however…Ikuko started living the life of many bored housewives. "Unlike what you've probably heard before, I don't technically have a job," she worked her hands to the bone, but that didn't pay so it wasn't a 'job'.

"Tell them about your cinnamon rolls!" Usagi chirped hoping to help her struggling mother. Giving the options of her mom or dad, Usagi didn't want her boring dad to come to school and threaten all the boys like he was oft to do. "Or tell them about how you get all those great deals at the market?" Usagi was well meaning but a trifle slow at times.

Her frazzled purple hair threatened to go grey at Usagi's ideas. "I doubt your friends want to hear that dear. I'm a housewife so that means most of my day is spent maintaining the cleanliness of our home. Something Usagi goes to great lengths to destroy," Ikuko's eye twitched at the thought of the storm Usagi could bring to a nice clean home. Looking around the room, Ikuko found the boy that the teacher mentioned as Ikari…and the name matched some of Usagi's journal entries.

Now being a bored woman, Ikuko found joy where she could. Usagi foolishly leaving her journal out, and open while she cleaned the girl's room provided some relief. Scanning the contents to make sure her daughter wasn't doing something bad, like drugs or gambling, Ikuko was shocked to read about the new love interest in her daughter's life. What made things even better was Usagi, freakishly enough, had a complicated plan to get the boy to visit for supper one day. And that made thoughts of cougars not just mean cats any more. Ikuko and Kurumi had much in common.

X- Usagi's mom must be near insane from living with all the randomness –X

"Thank you uh…Excel…we have a lot of other applicants so we'll let you know after we've made out decision," Hild said nicely as she closed Excel's file folder. Standing up and opening the door to the hallway, Hild groaned as the line of applicants appeared to be growing and not shortening. Closing the door as the eccentric and wildly insane woman left, Hild fell heavily into her chair. "Ok, maybe I'm making this to sweet a deal, because I believe I've seen three of the same people in line outside and that means dimensional crossing," she moaned.

Setting fire to Excel's application, Morrigan shrugged, "You are offering these women a high paying job to tend to the most desirable man on the planet. What were you expecting?" she was just happy that Hild didn't pull a fast one on her. The contract she signed to be one of Shinji's aids was the standard 'if you break this you die horribly' plans, but the benefits package was outstanding. "Did you want to break for lunch? Maybe practice your little spiel for your day at school tomorrow, 'Mama-Hild'," Morrigan chided.

Snapping her fingers and causing Morrigan's chair to vanish, Hild was losing patience with the sea of eager would-be employees. "The fact we had to lease out an office building to host all these women is a little much," she spun her chair to face the succubus she both hated and adored. Anybody with the guts to mock her was special, and Hild liked special. "We'll see two more and then I'm all for some drinks and teasing Keiichi and my daughter for awhile," and then it was time to go home for some more fun teasing her adopted son.

"Ah the infamous Keiichi Morisato, living proof to be careful what you wish for," Morrigan let out a royal laugh. Even hell found Belldandy's antics amusing, and moderately alarming. Pulling out the next folder as she got to her feet, Hild didn't replace her chair, Morrigan's eyes widened, "Next we have Misato Katsuragi?! Wasn't that the woman that Shinji asked could move in?" Morrigan was tempted to tease Shinji as Misato had done, but thought better of it.

Hitting the buzzer to send in the next victim disguised as an applicant, Hild's predatory smile returned. "Of course she is, and she too is a friend of my daughter. Now I'd normally just let her in, but it's too much fun to tease this one," Hild did enjoy tormenting mortals. Waving to Misato as the woman came in, donned in her red flight jacket, Hild gestured to the chair, "Have a seat Katsuragi-kun, and tell my why you want this position?"

Not having expected the formal invitation to Hild's little meat market, Misato was alarmed at the throng of humanity outside the snug office. "Look, I'm here because some strange girl named Mara dragged me here and said you wanted to see me. Is this about Shinji-kun offering to let me stay with him?" and Misato really missed that kid. "And before you say anything he did NOT ask me to be his concubine," Misato huffed as Morrigan stared hungrily at her.

That shiver of pre-battle bliss worked its way through Hild's body. "Now is that anyway to talk to a boy's mother? I know my son has feelings for you, and you were his guardian for a time, but that is in the past isn't it?" Hild smoothly stated. Pulling a few choice images from Misato's folder, she handed them to the woman that was already hired but didn't know it. "What can you tell me about this picture?" she asked in a neutral tone.

It was a picture of her hugging Shinji in more than just a motherly way. "It's a picture of Shinji and me before that pageant business," oh how her voice was close to losing its edge. Another picture was put in her hand, "And this is me giving him a good luck kiss…that's all…" Misato was tempted now to slap the ever loving snot out of Morrigan as the damn woman snort-laughed at her.

Spinning her chair around, Hild gazed out the window of the fourteenth floor office she was seated in. The view would have been breathtaking to a mortal, but Hild only found it mildly amusing. "I know you care for him in ways that transcend friend status. I also know that if giving the opportunity you'd seek out a relationship with my son. What I want from you is your word that you won't do something scurrilous with him," such things were impossible for humans to do, not on the demonic scale.

"What Hild-sama is so coyly stating is she wants proof you wont' be keeping her son awake at night with your unwanted old-woman advances. Not when he will have much younger and firmer choices," Morrigan struck at Misato's weak point for massive damage. If Misato was a pokemon, a Misa-chu for example, her elemental weakness would be 'age', and Morrigan had all the TM's.

Her nails dug deeply into the armrests of her chair. Misato was not enjoying the game of cat, mouse, and bitch. "Look, I don't know what little scene you have playing in that empty skull of yours, Morrigan, and I don't care. Yes, I'll admit it, I love Shinji. There I said it, happy? I miss living with him, I took him presence for granted, and now I'm suffering for it. But he asked ME yesterday about this, and the fact I'm here means he told you, Hild. So what are you going to do?" Misato seethed. She was not going to be toyed with by some woman that nearly killed Shinji, or the woman that snatched him out of her life.

Without a word, Hild got out of her chair and stood right in front of Misato. Bending over, she stared at the woman, eye to eye. At first Hild appeared appalled and ready to toss Misato out on her still firm rump. "Katsuragi-kun, in light of your shocking admission I have no choice but to…" Hild could see Misato holding her breath. For all the pomp and flair Misato was afraid, but it took courage to say what the woman had said. "Offer you bedroom directly across the hall from Shinji's. He'll need a mature woman like you to show him the ropes, I just hope he doesn't pull a Belldandy on us and get addicted once that barrier is crossed," Hild's face lit up like a Christmas tree on fire. "Now get out of my office," Hild ushered the blushing woman out of her office and back into the waiting hands of Mara.

X- Hild is so much fun to write –X

"Thank you very much Hino-san for that enlightening story about the changes of Shinto in Japan," Chiyo nervously wiped some sweat off her cheek. The perverted old man had been undressing the entire female student body with his eyes the entire time he spoke! He even asked a few girls wanted to try on the robes if they agreed to uphold tradition and not wear undergarments! If his granddaughter hadn't stopped him who knows how far down the depravity stick he would have went. "Does anybody have any parting questions for him?" she shook her head 'no' as she spoke.

Wisely the students were either horrified or stricken dumb by the tiny man's display of how not to live. They enjoyed the stories about the gods and such, but once he got started on how attractive the girls in the class were, it went right down into creepy town faster than a sweet down Usagi's throat.

Picking up the details of the next parent, Chiyo crumpled the paper and dropped it on the ground. "Oh lets just get this over with, up next we have Ritsuko Akagi, guardian of Ayanami Rei. Ayanami, would you roll her up please?" Chiyo asked pointing at the still confined and wheelchair bound doctor.

"And make it snappy, and be a dear and scratch my nose, thing's been itching like mad all day," Ritsuko moaned as Rei kicked the back of the chair and sent her careening towards the front of the room. In the most dignified way possible, Ritsuko screamed like a little girl and plowed into Chiyo. "Damn it Ayanami! I've been punished enough for the day. Now you show proper respect to me or heaven help me I'll spike the damn tank!" the woman that was the epitome of manners and decorum.

Helping Chiyo to fix Ritsuko's wheelchair, Rei, still high on Lady X Butlers, just grinned evilly. "First of the commander is my legal guardian you were just sent in his stead, and second you'll find the tank a different place next time you visit," Rei had rekindled her friendship with Ruri and the first manner of business was making a few changes at Nerv. "Now you behave yourself or I'll have Shinji tell Attim she can 'play' with you," Rei jabbed as she returned to her seat, giving Shinji's shoulder a simple caress as she passed.

"I hate my life at times," Ritsuko moaned as the students stared blankly at her. "Alright let's get this dog and pony show started," she started as she perused the bored looking students. "As some of you might know, well those of you that can read, I work for Nerv as head of the Tech wing. It's a big agency that recently has lost most of its purpose because my mentor's family is coming and they have technology that makes us look like savages sitting in dung huts," Ritsuko was having a very bad day.

Eying the bottle of 'water' that actually was vodka, Chiyo seriously considered taking a mighty swig of it. "Wow, that is an impressive job Akagi-san, you must have to work long hours. Is their anything you can tell us about Nerv?" Chiyo didn't like being talked down to, but this woman seemed crazy so she was going to allow it. Anything to get the mask wearing woman out of the building faster would be best.

"Sure why not, I mean it's just a secret organization after all isn't it?" Ritsuko snidely replied. "I mean its not like my position has been put into doubt, now I get to spend my time babysitting a girl who gets her personality from reading manga, and I'm about to lose my scientist license. Ask away children, what can mama-Ritsuko tell you about Nerv today?" she ranted.

"TELL US ABOUT THE EVANGELIONS" Kensuke screeched at the top of his lungs over powering any other human voice. He was not going to let a golden opportunity like this pass him by.

Squinting her eyes, Ritsuko tried to remember where she saw Kensuke before. "Oh you're that kid that's been sending in all the applications! Sure I'll tell you about the Eva's. Their giant worthless tin-cans! Washu can personally take out the Angels with any number of gadgets of hers. So why she makes dimensional guns, I have to play with angel DNA that crashed into Antarctica causing Second impact, and deal with the fact that each of those giant monstrosities has a human soul trapped in it!"

The class just stared at Ritsuko…and she stared back.

"I didn't just say that did I?" Ritsuko asked as sanity started to annoyingly creep back into her brain. She had just divulged enough of Nerv's secrets to warrant not only being fired, but fired out of a cannon into a brick wall that was set on fire. When the students just nodded their heads she cried out, "Oh damn it!"

X- For her next trick watch as Ritsuko tries to eat her own head –X

"Well its time for the last parent for the day," Chiyo felt like crying tears of joy at that statement. After Ritsuko dropped a few truth bombs and ravaged what were the mental cities of all the students, several nice men in suits wheeled the good doctor away screaming obscenities. Once that little scene was finished, two more fathers told the class how great jobs in the food industry could be and lulled the students back into a boredom coma. "Oh seems that we have the mother but not the daughter for this one. For the last parent of the day we have Misaki Jurai, mother of Sasami Jurai," Chiyo beckoned the heavily layered Misaki to come to the front of the class.

Making her way through the desks, only knocking over three students with her heavy Jurain robes, Misaki beamed joy at the students. "Yes, my dear Sasami-chan has caught a bit of a cold, but insisted I come today to talk to all of you," well that is what Misaki took Sasami's fainting to mean. Washu was teaching her how to alter her age, but Sasami wasn't the quickest to master age manipulation.

Mixed feelings, Chiyo was amazed at how delicate and refined Misaki's kimonos were but they clashed with the ditzy and flighty appearance of the dignitary. "So, Jurai-san tell us about yourself, and what you do for a living?" judging from the sight Chiyo guessed trophy wife.

"Oh call my Misaki you little cutie," Misaki batted at the diminutive teacher and barely restrained herself from hugging the child. Turning back to the students, winking at her daughter's fiancé, Misaki was about to blow their minds again. "I'm the second queen of Jurai and head of the personal body guards to the royal family. Jurai as you might not know is the ruling power in this sector of the galaxy," she flashed her eye melting smile at the students.

Touji was the one to make the mistake of talking first, "Are you a writer or something because that sounds like a crazy awesome movie or something, but what do you really do?" Nobody, save the pilots, believed Misaki's drivel and thought she either mad or making it up. Throwing gas on the fire Touji continued, "And you look to thin to be head of a security force, they have to be strong!"

Picking up the chair that was provided for her, Misaki bent the metal bars of the chair like pipe cleaners. "My what a rude boy you are, I'm glad my son-in-law is nothing like you," she dropped the heap of metal on the ground before the stunned audience. "As for my lineage," she pulled her sleeve up to her mouth, "Funaho-oneesama could you be a dear and fire a shot next to the school?"

Funaho, bored on the tree-ship eagerly obliged her flighty co-wife and fired the typical warning shot next to the school.

After the ringing left the student's ears, Misaki tugged the future king of Jurai to the front of the class. "Now for a persona matter, I wanted to invite all of you to the wedding of my daughter the second royal princess of Jurai to the only son of Yui Ikari," she ended by hugging the mollified boy. "Sasami and you will be so cute together…Ryo-Oki can be the flower girl!" Misaki squealed at the mental image. Seeing a blue haired girl raising her hand, "Yes, you have a question?"

Ami, quick witted as ever, heard a piece of fried gold in Misaki's odd statements. So while the other girls were horrified at the idea of Shinji being married to somebody not them, the genius schemed something worthy of Washu. "Jurai-san, you mentioned you were the second queen, does that mean you're from a polygamous state?" she asked while watching Shinji apparently get eaten by Misaki's robes.

Finger to chin, Misaki nodded. Misaki wasn't a fool, and knew Shinji had quite a few would be suitors, so she had to give this girl an A for effort, Ami earned a few points. "Why yes it is. With our lifespan going into the thousands a single pairing wouldn't be very useful. My husband is seen as odd for only have two wives, but we make up for it with gusto," and nearly breaking the royal scepter.

With that a collective sigh of relief was uttered, followed by the realization that whoever married Shinji would be royalty. Things escalated very quickly.

X- Misaki can just ruin lives –X

Shinji really didn't know what happened, but after Ami's question about Jurai school just exploded into strangeness. The girls all got strange looks on their faces, and once Hikari let them go for the day they all ran out for whatever reason. "Oh well, Misaki-san has that effect on people," Shinji said knowing full well Misaki's eccentricities. Walking down the street towards his new home, Shinji stared absently up at the sky thinking.

And walked smack dab into somebody and knocked the poor thing over. Broken from his revelry about Misaki's wedding plans, Shinji found himself standing over a woman in a deep blue kimono. "Oh, I'm sorry miss, don't know where my head was," he apologized and extended his hand to help the woman up.

Aoi was in a pickle, she was lost in a city she wasn't supposed to be in, got hired for a position her father would skin himself if he knew she had, and to make matters worse she was getting hungry. "It was my fault entirely, my mind was elsewhere," she bowed lightly as the boy helped her to her feet. Her whole life had been flipped around thanks to that horrid man Gendo. She lived her life to be the perfect wife for the man she was arranged to marry. Having met the boy in early childhood at his uncles, Aoi had to admit she was smitten with him so devoted herself wholly to the concept.

But just one day ago she was told the arrangement was off. Gendo had lied to her family to extort money! However that woman Hild offered her an alternative. Become a servant, a personal servant, and nothing need change for her desires in life. The interview had been strange, the woman's secretary had fake bat wings glued to her head! But she got the job, and was trying to find the building, but was horribly lost.

Knowing that kimonos weren't generally issued clothing anymore, Shinji quickly gathered this woman wasn't from the area. "Forgive me if I'm rude, but are you new to the area?" he asked as the beautiful woman dusted herself off. Her form was hidden by the trim kimono, but her face was wondrous yet hinted at naiveté. "Are you looking for some place or somebody?" he asked as the woman's face cutely scrunched up in confusion.

To timid to outright ask for help, Aoi simply nodded, "I got a job today, but I don't know where the building it. You see the interview wasn't held at the establishment." Aoi got a strange vibe from Hild, but the woman appeared to wholeheartedly care about Shinji and that's all that Aoi needed to know. Having heard strange stories from her assistant, Aoi wished she had been able to attend the pageant he hosted…she also wished she could have viewed it but televisions 'were for low-class' her father always said.

Noticing that other pedestrians were starting to watch them, Shinji opted to escort this woman away from prying eyes. "Did you have it written down or something? I don't know a lot of this city, but I could try to help you," in a clutch he could call Misato for a drive.

Handing Shinji the scribbled address, Aoi warmly gazed at the strange boy that was helping her. He seemed familiar, but just couldn't place how and why she might have met him. Living sequester from normal people and being raised to be the perfect wife did detract from social gatherings. "If it isn't to much trouble, I would hate to start by being late," or heaven forbid she get found by one of her father's men. She loved the man, but she was devoted to Shinji.

"This is around where I live, I can take you there if you want," Shinji offered as he thought he made out the writing. It wasn't the best handwriting, but if he squeezed his eyes he thought he could read it well enough. "It's about two blocks south," he pointed as he started leading the woman. "So what type of job is it?" he couldn't help but ask. The woman appeared to be from money so whatever type of job she had must be something elegant.

Her face flushed crimson, but Aoi wouldn't lie to the nice boy helping her. "I'm a little ashamed to admit it, but I was hired to be a personal servant to the man I was to marry," Aoi would never say 'concubine' as Hild had stated. Knowing her duties to the role, Aoi wouldn't flinch from them, why would she? She was going to marry Shinji anyway, so either way it led to the bed. "Things became complicated due to his father, and this might be my only chance to be with him," she said solemnly.

Dropping his satchel at the sheer honesty of the woman, Shinji stooped down to reclaim it. "You really are devoted to him, he's a lucky guy," Shinji said dumbfounded. Whoever the guy was, he was a real lucky bastard. "I hope it works out for you though…a woman such as yourself shouldn't have to suffer," nobody should he thought.

Chatting about lighter subjects as they traversed the short distance, Shinji had to admit he did envy the man this woman was seeking. She was whole heartedly giving herself to him, and even taking a job that others might see as sinful to do it. But when the got to Shinji's house, Aoi looked from the paper to the hovel of a shack she saw standing in the place Shinji saw an immaculate mansion.

Hild was very clever in her defensive spells. Unwanted people would only see a rundown building. Aoi was welcome, but the spell hadn't been modified yet to allow her to see the truth.

"Oh no…this is the building but its…that woman lied to me?" Aoi gushed as tears threatened to break. Here she thought Hild had taken pity on her for the sudden abandonment of the near lifelong pledge of marriage. But now she was standing before a ruined shack that symbolized her life. "W-what do I do now?" she pleaded to the boy gazing confusingly at her.

Walking out the door to meet her son, Hild was pleased he was already getting to know his first official concubine. "Oh Shin-chan, you meet Aoi-chan already? I wasn't expecting her until tomorrow," Hild was going to give Shinji a little surprise in the morning with Aoi standing in his room with nothing but a bow on her head, but that might have been a bit much. "Aoi, this is my son Shinji," she said putting her hands on Shinji's back and giving him a gentle nudge, "take good care of him."

"YOU'RE SHINJI-SAMA!" Aoi yelped in shock. He had grown so much since the time she had last seen him that she hardly could reconcile the idea. Fainting dead away into Shinji's waiting arms, she left the boy more perplexed than anything. He had only seen her once, and it was a very bad time in his life, but a vague half cloudy memory of the adorable child peaked through.

X- And I've finally got Aoi into the story…only took about 40 chapters –X

Author Notes

Remember all those chapters ago I mentioned Aoi? No? Well she did make a cameo back at the Halloween chapter too so it's about time she officially join up. Hope ya enjoyed this chap and continue to support this insane-mixup of anime references

I need to get a life…but its fun not having one

Ja Mata

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