Chapter 141: Deception

"Well well well…Look who we have over there boys," the leader of the gang stated. "Unfinished business."

"…hey Kazo," one of the gang members asked in a low voice. "What's goin' on here?"

"Don't know," he said looking around them. "Seems like our fellow and under classmates have gotten busy. Don't sweat it boys, we will be milkin' some after this little…payback."

"Heh heh. Sounds good boss," the rest of the group muttered in agreement with head nods.

"Hey Ikari! Quit making out with the Ice Queen and get your ass over here. There some unsettled stuff we need to talk about," Kazo demanded and pointed at the two pilots.

"Appears they have recovered mostly," Ayanami stated recognizing all of them.

"Indeed," Shinji said with a blink and putting something in his pocket. Bending forward and zipping up his backpack a little, he stood up.

"Are you going to them?"

"Yes Miss Ayanami," he said and started walking forward toward them. "Please stay here for the moment."

"…" she said. Part of her wanted to argue and tell him not to go. On the other hand, he had taken care of them before without too much effort. Despite the remembrance of that, she still felt uneasy about him approaching them.

"That twerp is coming over here. Still has the same face man," one gang member stated irritated.

"Don't worry boys," Kazo said with a shark smile. "We all got a piece to make sure his face will look different."

"Uhhh…hey guys," another stated and pointed at the male pilot. "He didn't have…scars on him before, right?"

"What are you blind? Of course he didn't have…" the gang leader stated then looked closer. By the time Shinji was closer to them, all of them noticed the amount of scars on his arms and hands. The long one down his neck made him look more like a mobster. Seeing him at more than an arm's length away from them, he stopped. Continuing to have the stoic face, he gave them a slight nod.

"Afternoon gentlemen. I see that all of you are mostly recovered. Yes?" he asked with an impassive tone.

"…" Kazo said giving him a frown. A part of him felt goosebumps from remembering what the male pilot did to him and his gang. Feeling his finger and nose tingle, he shook his head. Putting on a shark smile again, he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Nice of you to come by Ikari. Real friendly of ya…say, maybe ya know what's going on around here."

"I will answer as best as I can sir."

"Is there some kind of festival goin' on or somethin'?"

"Yeah, like a couple's competition?!" one gang member asked excited. He was immediately scorned at by the others in which he backed away a little.

"…" the Third Child said with a slow blink. "To my knowledge, no."

"So all these students are gettin' the frisk on and the adult patrols ain't doin' shit about it?"

"More or less…yes."

"Damn. We have been missing out!" he said smirking. "But enough about that. We'll get back to partying and ruling our turf of the campus grounds."

"Now you!" Kazo stated pointing at the male pilot. He saw the male pilot look with his eyes at his finger. Immediately retracting his hand, he crossed his arms over his chest.

"We came to return the favor of when you ganged on us."

"…" Shinji said giving a slow blink and didn't respond.

"Hmph. Maybe this will make you start beggin' for mercy," he said and got out a document. Seeing that the Third Child only looked at it, he gave a shark smile at him.

"You're smart Ikari. Ya got guts for comin' over here knowing you'll get a beat down. Read it. We ain't going to gang on you…yet."

"Very well," the male pilot said. Walking closer, he grabbed the piece of paper calmly.

As he began to read it, Shinji placed his right hand into his pocket. Grabbing onto the object that was there, he continued scanning through the document. Halfway through it, the dark clone sounded. It made repetitive glitching giggles in various places in the background. By the time he got to the bottom portion of the document, Shinji couldn't hear anything else. Only the demented wall of mirth surrounding him filled his ears.

"Well, we are here," Misato stated turning into the school's parking lot. Getting into a slot and turning off the car, both exited the car.

"Looks the same," Asuka stated.

"Let's head to the admin office to fix your leave of absence," the Major stated.

Both walked onto the campus and headed for the administration building. As they walked, they noticed students eating and figured it was the lunch period; however, they saw a large amount of students out and about.

"Seems like a school event or something," the redhead said noticing what a lot of students were doing.

"Seems rather bold and forward for a school event," Misato stated noticing the same thing as the female pilot. Both saw that there seemed to be way too many student couples out and about. Avoiding all of the ones by passing them by, the admin office was seen up ahead. At the same time, they saw something occurring in a courtyard. Both saw the Third Child standing in front of a group of senior students.

'Well if it isn't…wait…are those,' Asuka thought seeing who the male pilot was with. Recognizing the male senior students, she blinked in surprise.

"Asuka? Where are you going?" Misato asked noticing her crouching a little. Moving toward the courtyard, she hid behind a small tree with concrete around it. Looking around it, the people standing in front of Shinji was the same gang members.

"So they are back," she muttered to herself.

"Who?" the Major asked peering around the tree as well.

"That is Kazo and his gang. They are back probably to beat up the Third from the last encounter."

"…hmmm…?" the lavender haired woman stated looking at them with narrow eyes.

"The group that got sent to the hospital from getting beat up by the idiot standing in front of them."

"Oh, now I remember…so this is a showdown then?"

"Looks like it…but…why aren't any of the nearby students walking away from that tense area with the gang?"

"Maybe they are lost in their lovey-dovey PDA."

"…" the Second Child stated narrowing her eyes. As much as she didn't want to converse with the male pilot anytime soon, watching him beat the gang up again would be enjoyable. Looking back at the Major, she had a small smile on her face.

"You actually just going to stand and watch them fight?"

"Ehh? Don't you want to see?" Misato said smirking.

"Why? It's stupid anyway."

"Alright, then let's go then."

"After the idiot knocks the snot of them again."

"Ya finish it?" Kazo asked tapping his foot with impatience.

"I have sir," Shinji said and handed back the piece of paper.

"Based on this, you'll be suspended indefinitely if you harm any of us. Not only that, you'll be arrested for assault. Given the number of my gang, it will be a number of years behind bars if you even touch us."

"…I see…" Shinji said only blinking and looking back at him. Kazo and his gang snickered at him and started cracking their knuckles. Some started getting out batons, clubs, and brass knuckles.

"Well dipshit…you ready for your beat down?"

"May Miss Ayanami leave?"

"Hell no shithead. She was our prize the first time. She will be coming with us after knocking the shit out of you."

"If that is the case gentlemen, may I give you all a present in return?"

"A present?" Kazo asked blinking surprised. "A peace offering?"

"No," Shinji said slowly moving his eyes only to look at him with a stoic face. All the gang members felt something deeply murky from how the male pilot looked at him. Pulling out something from his pocket, it appeared to be a metallic cylinder.

"What did he pull out?" Misato asked narrowing her eyes. Other than seeing a metal object in the Third Child's hand, she couldn't define what it was.

"What's he doing? A peace offering?" the Second Child asked noticing what the gang members pulled out. "He's in deep crap now."

"He beat them all single handedly last time, right?"

"…well…yeah," Asuka stated. "But they have weapons. What is he going to do with a small object?"

'It's pretty girl Asuka!' a young child stated excitedly nearby. Only Misato froze stiff and felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

"What the-!?" the Second Child stated turning her head to the right. A young boy jogged to her and reached his arms around her neck. Giving a hug, Misato slowly turned her head to look at them. Her eyes widen seeing the female pilot hug the familiar looking child back. A smile was on her face.

"Where did you come from you little squirt?" Asuka said then was giving him a noogie.

'Hee-hee. Not so hard!'

"If you aren't going to answer my question, I'll make it difficult for you!" she said beginning to tickle him. The boy started squirming and laughing to the ground.

'Noo…heh heh…I'm not telling…hahaha…okay! I-ha ha ha-I give.'

"What was that? I didn't hear you?"

'I give Asuka! HA HA HA HA! Please Asuka!'

'…!?' Misato thought staring hard at the scene next to her. '…what…the…'

"That's better," the redhead said with a smirk. Putting the child in a playful headlock, she turned to the Major. Blinking from becoming startled, she saw the Major with a bewilderment and apprehensive expression looking at the boy.

"Misato?"

"Y-Y-Yes?"

"What's wrong?"

"…" Misato said looking down. Slowly pointing at the smaller individual, he smiled and gave a small wave.

'Hi!' the boy said with a friendly innocent smile. 'Who is this pretty lady Asuka?'

"This is Major Misato Katsuragi. She is my supervisor, caretaker, and roommate. You be on your best behavior and no mischief around her."

'Awwww,' he said with a pouting face. Seeing the stern look from the Second Child, he flinched and looked down.

'I'll be a good boy.'

"Better," she said and rubbed his head with a small smile on her face. It caused the boy to perk up and look pleased.

"…Asuka…why is he…here…?" Misato asked feeling her brain hurt from the normal behavior the boy was showing. The aspect of it looking like the Third Child still seemed surreal.

"I don't know. This kid started visiting me every day when I was in the hospital. Oddly, it helped me recover faster. Seeing that idiot like this made me feel better too. How did he get here, I have no clue."

'…no…that means she is…' Misato thought feeling goosebumps flare on her arms and limbs.

"Anyway, this little twerp is-h-hey!?" Asuka stated before feeling her arm being pulled by the young boy. "What are you doing?"

'…I…have to…pee…' he said with a guilty look.

"…really?" she stated with a deadpan look.

Misato saw something in her peripheral vision and turned toward the direction of where the gang was. Immediately freezing, horror swelled inside her hard. The evil clone of Shinji was kneeling in front of her and rocking forward and back in slow motion. It had narrow slits for eyes and an enormously wide toothy grin. Unlike the other versions she had seen, this one looked more than menacing as it hissed at her.

'…g…o…ppppiiiissssssss#$%#…O…r…StAyAnDiNhAlEmeeeeeeeeee.' it stated as half of its head was moving up and down as a mouth.

"…!?" the Major said swallowing slowly. Curling her lips in and pressing on them, she darted her eyes at the Third Child. She saw him dropping the metal object to the ground. The dark clone stopped rocking and formed more black-red eyes on its body. Not even waiting to watch it hit the ground, she immediately grabbed both Asuka's and the boy's wrist.

"Let's go guys! I need to leak too!" she said standing up and walking briskly to the building door nearby.

"Geez Misato, slow down—huh?" Asuka said hearing something blow up. Looking in the direction of where the gang and the Third Child were standing, a large smoke cloud formed. All the sudden, the Major started jogging while pulling the two along.

"Hey what the!?" one of the gang members stated covering his mouth.

"Damn! It's a smoke bomb!"

"Whatever! Get em'! I want that punk's face messed up!" Kazo ordered.

"I can't see him."

"Stop complaining and just pin him down!"

"Ikari!" Rei stated standing up when a huge smoke cloud engulfed him, the gang members, and the surrounding area around them.

About to head toward him, she felt her leg knock over his backpack. Looking down, a gas mask came out of the main storage pouch. Seeing a note written on it, she kneeled down and picked up both. Reading what the simple note said, she blinked and looked back at the group. Her eyes widen from seeing that the smoke cloud had grew out more to twice its diameter. It seemed to be expanding rapidly. Not questioning the message, she put the gas mask on quickly. Tightening the straps, the growing gray cloud engulfed her.

'Wow…the fog is getting bigger!' the young boy stated and pointed.

"He had a smoke bomb!?" Asuka stated in surprise. "Why the hell is it getting bigger that quickly?"

'Come on! Come on!' Misato thought rushing to the double doors to the administration building. Reaching them, she let go of both and opened the doors.

"What's going on Misato?"

"Don't ask. Just head for the stairs. Go!" she stated closing the doors.

"G-Got it!" Asuka stated grabbed the boy's hand. "Come on. I'll race you to the stairs."

'Okay!' he said with a big smile and immediately started jogging. Following Asuka down the hallway, the stairs were close by to their right. All three began to ascend as the smoke reached the building's windows. Feeling that they would be cleared, the Major looked down.

'Damn it! It's coming in,' she thought. They were on the small platform before going up more stairs to the second level. 'What kind of smoke bomb did Shinji have?'

'I won! I won!' the male child stated jumping to the top of the stairs with his hands in the air.

"Damn kid. You got titan thighs," the redhead said breathing heavily.

'Damn it…I'm out of shape despite doing mild exercising at the medical facility,' she thought frowning. Looking back, Misato came up to the top of the steps. Thinking she was out of shape too, she still had an apprehensive look on her face. About to speak, she felt the boy pull on her skirt a little.

'Is the fog evil?' he asked a looking up at her.

"Nah. It just isn't good to breathe in. Don't you worry squirt, I'll protect you," she said with a confident smile and held out her hand. Seeing him smile and grasp her hand, he gave a perky nod.

"How does it look down there Misato?"

"…well…the smoke is not rising anymore," the Major said turning around and heading for the windows. "Just wondering how far did it spread…to…ohhhh no."

"What?" Asuka asked walking over to the windows. Once seeing it, even she looked surprised.

'What is it? Is it the fog? Let me see it Asuka!'

"Okay okay. Keep your pants on," the Second Child said bending down. Picking him up and holding onto him, she felt him hold on to her.

'wwhoooaaaa…it got even bigger,' the boy stated amazed. 'Do you think the big kids got lost in the fog?'

"Probably since they were in the middle of it."

'It went passed where that lady with blue hair was sitting.'

'…no…Rei!' Misato thought with widen eyes of worry.

"…" Ayanami said trying to calm her breathing down. When the smoke cloud went passed her, everything around her became a thick fog. Her skin instantly felt clammy as if the smoke had a chemical agent that reacted on the skin. Looking down to see the backpack, it was barely visible. Moving her hands in front of her, she could see only about a foot or so before it became blurry. Moving her hands down to her side, she took a step forward.

"Ikari!" she called.

Her voice was muffled by the gas mask and the filter canisters on either side of the mouth piece. Slowly proceeding forward, she could hear the cry outs of the gang members. Strangely, she began to hear thuds on the ground around her. Some sounded like one person while most of them sounded like two people close together. The falling sounds became numerous as if a whole crowd got floored to the ground.

"…Ikari…are you there?" she called out again slowly walking forward.

Turning her head a little to the left and right, there was nothing but thick gray clouds. Turning her head back straight, a dark silhouette materialized in front of her. Stopping and stepping back, black-red eyes appeared before disappearing in the fog. Feeling her vitals increase a little, she started side stepping. Using the silhouette as the center point, she visualized curving around it.

After about making a 90 degree arcing turn, the gang members were louder and seemed to sound different. Focusing on listening and keeping her eyes in the direction of where the dark silhouette was, it sounded as if they were enjoying themselves. After completing a 180 degree arc, Ayanami stared backing up. Only making a couple of steps, she could decipher what Kazo's group was actually saying.

"Yyyyeeaaahhh…that's it."

"We definitely hit the jackpot."

"Where did all the babes come from man?"

"Who cares? All of them are hungry for what we got packing."

"…yeah, you're…whoa, slow down there."

"Let me see what ya ladies have…mmm-mmm…damn fine."

'hEeHeEhEe…WhY#%#$t…H…a…N…k…Y…o…U…'

"…!?" Rei said stopping.

Feeling the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, the familiar feminine voice was some place behind her. Oddly, the phrases of what the gang members were making didn't sound as if they were actually doing it with people. Only they were making sounds of receiving.

"…miss…Ayanami…" a familiar voice called.

"…!?" she said blinking and focusing on the sound. Turing around, she heard slow footsteps. Unable to pinpoint where they were coming from, they were getting closer.

"…miss…Ayanami…"

"…Ikari?" she asked slowly turning around again.

Feeling apprehension building inside of her from not knowing or seeing what was coming, she felt trapped. Deciding to go back in the direction of the bench she was at, a hazy dark silhouette was standing a few feet away. Seeing the crimson iris stare back at her, she decided to back up. Hitting something behind her, she froze from hearing someone breathing heavily. Also breathing hard herself, she didn't turn around.

"…miss…Ayanami…are you…alright?"

"…what…what is going on?" the First Child asked quietly. Not moving, the dark silhouette was slowly getting closer. At the same time, Kazo's gang and himself were getting more vocal. It sounded as if an explicit groupie was occurring where they were.

"…my apologizes…for not…g…i…v…i…n…g…y…o…u…#$%#$…a warning…"

"…that's…okay Ikari," she said nervously and backing up into him more. "May we…leave here?"

'WwwwwhhhhHHHHYYYyyyy#$^#$DoN'tYoUwAnTtOStAy #$ #$%^ ANDPLAY!?'

"…" Ayanami said going around the person behind her and holding onto their back.

"…my apologizes…sir…"

'…heeeeeee#$^#$%…mOrE…pArTiCaPaNtSTHEN!'

"… #$%#$Y#$$^E#$^%#S#$%S#$#$%#I#$%#$R#$%#..."

With the sound of a switch being pressed, the sound of four smoke bombs boomed. Within a matter of minutes, the entire campus and its buildings slowly became engulfed with the developing smoke. It caused all the students that were on upper levels of classrooms to blink all the sudden. In a wave of confusion, half the students from each classroom were still in their seat. Confusion began to take hold as the smiling students that surrounded them vanished after blinking.

Looking around dumbstruck, the sounds of students pointing and stating something brought most of the out of their stupor. Turning toward their classroom doors, a rolling fog swept in. All of them feared that it was smoke when a few pointed out that it was fog instead. It caused a massive amount of relief for people. Even facility staff and teachers were relieved knowing that the school was not being bombed or on fire. However, when the fog rolled into their offices and classrooms and engulfed them, a sensation of eeriness went through them quickly then faded away.

In the South Side Police Department Station, the day for the police was relatively calm. A mixture of people out in the field stated that the there was low activity while patrolling. The ones working in the office were working on a case or paperwork of some kind. The person manning the front desk was busy on answer and directing calls. Dispatch was busy on directing a call towards patrollers.

With the front desk busy with phone calls and tending a person at the front entrance, any other calls would be directed toward the next administrative person. Nami was busy filing documents when her desk phone rang. Going toward it, she got out a notepad. Sitting in her chair, she picked it up and answered it.

"South Side Police Department. How can I help you?" the secretary asked. Listening and nodding her head, she blinked feeling a little alarmed.

"We will definitely have officers go to the school and check out what is going on. Is there anything else regarding of when it happened?…okay. Thank you for your call. Bye."

Putting the phone down, she picked it up again to call dispatch. She stopped hearing a tapping on a window. Looking over at the sound, it was the chief knocking on the window between their offices. He was already on the phone and motioned her to come into his office. Putting her phone down and picking up her notepad, she went over to his office. Opening the door, she caught the last portion of his conversation.

"…just one patrol car. I will have someone rendezvous with them," Ryu stated before putting his desk phone down. Going to his window, he picked up binoculars and peered in a direction.

"Is it the school?" Nami asked and saw him nod.

"Come look for yourself," he stated. Hearing her walk over, he stepped aside. Without the binoculars, she could see what looked like a smoke/fog cloud at where a high school was. Looking with the goggles, she could see that it had engulfed the entire campus of the school.

"That can't be fog."

"It is more likely smoke bombs."

"Terrorist attack?"

"Of the last three callers, none of them have stated the sight or hearing of gunfire."

"Any from the school?"

"No…which is concerning," Ryu stated and pulled out his cell phone. Selecting a contact number, he put it to his ear. Hearing it ring once, the connection was made.

[Hey.]

"Sorry. Not a social call. Smoke bombs have gone off at the school the Eva pilots go to."

[…what!?] Rayne stated startled. The sounds of feet turning around on gravel were heard. […I see it…when did that happen?]

"Probably a couple of minutes ago. I have put one patrol to go there. I want you there as a precaution."

[You know I am being watched.]

"I don't care at this point. A whole campus of students' lives maybe at stake here. Don't intervene if necessary."

[…what do you mean?]

"There is no gunfire. There is no destruction. The smoke has engulfed the entire campus and doesn't appear to be dissipating."

[…alright…I'll let you know what I find] the Fifth Child stated and ended the call.

"Is it wise to put her in that predicament?" Nami asked as the Chief ended the call.

"She is my only outside resource that can respond now," he said when his cell phone rang. Looking at it, it was an unknown caller. However, the call went through and was put on loudspeaker.

'…T…h…A…n…K…y…O…u…F…o…R…t…H…e…A…u…D…i…E…n…C…e…#$%#$' a distorted and malicious voice whispered through the phone before glitching into a barbaric screech.

"…!?" both Ryu and Nami flinched as he ended the call. Instantly recognized the voice, he placed a hand over his face.

"Ah shit."

Back at the school, someone appeared onto the rooftop. Escaping the classroom, Kaworu landed softly on the rooftop of the building he was in.

'What happened?' he thought feeling odd and alarmed at the same time. 'Where did all the students go?'

'More so,' the Sixth Child said.

Seeing that part of the fog that entered the classroom, a portion of it traveled with him when he vanished from his homeroom. The small amount that was around him faded into the surrounding air. Noticing a growing mass of it ahead, he walked toward the handrailing. Looking over them, the smoke/fog had casted over the entire school. It was growing higher and higher. Watching it with curiosity, it seemed to stop and level at the height of the rooftops. Though it crawled onto the floor of the roof, it never went any higher.

'What is this fog? It…feels strange and odd…could it have been another Angel?'

'No…that is impossible. All Angels have been eliminated up to this point. None have been reported to have survived.'

"Then why…" he said kneeling a little to feel the fog between his fingers. "Does this feel like it is…I don't understand."

'YoU%#$sEeK#$%#eNlIgHtEnMeNt#$^#%$yyyeeeessss?'

"…?" Kaworu said blinking in surprise and standing up. "…who…said that?"

'heeee#$%#$eee#$%#ArEyOu…C…u…R…i…O…u…S…?'

"…you…" he said confused and alarmed. "…how…are you here?"

'…j…u…m…p…'

"…what…?"

'…JuMp…'

'…iNtO…'

'…ThE…'

'…mIsT…'

"…why…?"

'…'

"Answer me…why?"

'…A…d…a…m…i…s…t…h…a…t…y…o…u…?' a barely alive voice called out to him. Recognizing the signature, his eyes widen more.

'…h…e…l…p…m…e…p…l…e…a…s…e…'

"…!?" Kaworu said not believing what he heard in his head.

Despite recognizing the voice and who it belong to, the other evil aura emitted from the fog as well. Looking around for higher ground, there was a space above the roof access door that provided more space. Disappearing and reappearing on top of there, he felt the tension inside of him go down a little. About to ponder more of what was going on, he heard another distant door opening from another rooftop.

"We should be…safer up…here," Misato stated after opening the door leading to the roof.

Asuka and the child were behind her and entered the rooftop area. Breathing hard from going up more sets of stairs, all three could see that the fog had reached to the floor of the roof. Looking around them, there were only a few school buildings with rooftops. It looked like they were surrounded by a sea of gray clouds as the campus below could not be seen at all. Walking only towards the middle, they saw the fog reached just to their ankles but never went any higher.

"Strange…this feels more like a mist," Asuka stated from how her feet felt.

"…yeah…it doesn't smell like smoke either…what the heck is this stuff?" Misato asked out loud.

'Hee-hee. Fly foggy!' the boy said giggling.

Both women turned to see the boy bending down and grabbing the rolling fog. It stayed in his arms when he stood up. Throwing his arms toward the sky, the small cloud would spread around before disappearing slowly. It looked like he was enjoying himself; however, Misato's apprehension was still present. The more she stood with the fog around her, the more eerie she felt.

"Let's get to higher ground guys," she said pointing to the elevated space above the roof access door.

"Sure…hey squirt…" Asuka stated turning toward where the child was. Her face suddenly dropped as she started running. Misato saw where the boy was and instantly followed the Second Child. The child was standing on the hand railings then jumped forward.

'Cannonball!' he stated loudly.

"NO!" both women shouted stopping at the railing. The child vanished into the fog without a sound of a crash or splatter afterwards.

"God damn that kid!" the redhead shouted out loud. Turning around, she headed for the roof door only to be stopped. Looking back at the Major, her face was in fear.

"Misato, let me go!"

"Wait," Misato said quietly then spotted something to her right. Looking over, the Second Child followed her line of sight. Blinking in surprise, she saw a gray haired teen boy standing on the hand railing. Dressed in the male's school uniform, he had crimson eyes looking at them with a blank face.

"Nagisa…when did you get here?" Misato asked not moving.

"Just now," he said blinking. "What were you two looking and talking at?"

"…?" Asuka said feeling the Major hold her wrist firmer before letting go.

"We thought we saw someone jump from the window from the floor below."

"You did?"

"With the heavy fog, we can't say for sure if what we saw was real or not."

"…yes…" he said nodding his head. "Until this…fog goes away, shall we go to that higher place above the roof door?"

"Sounds good…oh. Asuka, the Sixth Child Kaworu Nagisa. Nagisa, the Second Child, Asuka Langley Souryu."

"A pleasure," he said with a small smile.

"…hi…" the redhead said with a tight smile. Watching him jump down from the hand railing, all three headed toward the ladder to get on the area about the roof door.