DISCLAIMER: I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or its associated properties. All copyrights belong to their respective owners.

"So, how is your research coming along then?"

The door of the research room had just closed the moment Kouzou asked this question. His face betrayed no emotion as he looked toward Yui for an answer - an answer that was not forthcoming. The brief return of the smirking, teasing Yui whom he had grown so fond of seemed to disappear the moment he asked this question. In her place was the wary young woman he had been sitting in the cafeteria with just a few moments ago.

While more relaxed than she had been in the cafeteria, Yui still seemed somewhat shy about this topic. 'Likely because she fears the question of funding may be raised again,' Kouzou thought. He decided it'd be best to squash that worry, though it meant having to raise the question - however briefly.

"Ms. Ikari," Kouzou started, "if you're worried that I'm going to ask about funding again, relax. I won't. I'm simply curious about the progress of your research."

Kouzou knew that she'd have to respond. After all, it was her research that got her the internship with him in the first place. And his mentorship was needed for her research, so his input would be needed. And since there had been distance between them over the past two weeks, it hadn't been easy for him to keep track of how her work had progressed. He was hopeful that this line of inquiry would allow him to mend the rift, as it was a line of inquiry which Yui couldn't politely evade.

However, as he looked at the sad eyes of his young intern rising to meet his, Kouzou felt a pang of guilt. Making her uncomfortable, however necessary, was something he took no pleasure in.

"You might not ask it, Professor Fuyutsuki," Yui began, her voice shaking. "But I have to tell you anyway."

Kouzou's eyebrows rose at this. 'I didn't think she'd ever want to discuss this.' Aware of her anxiety, he took a gentle tone.

"Take a seat," he said softly, gesturing to the chair parked in front of his desk. As he made his way behind the desk, he was aware that he'd have to watch his words carefully so as not to upset her. This was going to be a serious discussion.

"Is everything OK?" Kouzou asked, his voice soft and concerned.

Steepling her fingers in front of her mouth, keeping her eyes on Kouzou's desk, Yui responded: "My funding requires me to be away for the summer."

Kouzou's mind went blank. "Wha-?" he eventually got out.

Keeping her tone even, Yui continued: "As a condition of my scholarship, the UN require me to go on a vacation research scheme during the summer break. It'll be for 6-8 weeks. However, the placement cannot be at the university I'm studying at, and I need a letter of recommendation."

"I see," Kouzou lied. He still didn't see why this made her anxious. "Where will the placement be?"

"Germany," Yui replied. "At a lab near Bonn. It's near to where the UN are based in Germany."

"Do you require me to provide you with the recommendation?"

Looking up at him for the first time since she sat down, Yui nodded. "I-is that OK?"

Kouzou's mouth gaped. 'She was worried about me recommending her?'

"Of course," Kouzou replied. "You're an excellent researcher and a capable intern. And if it means that your scholarship is maintained, then there's no reason for me not to recommend you."

Yui bolted right out of her chair. It was so sudden and so unexpected that Kouzou couldn't even react. All he could was watch as she made her way around the table and hugged him while he still sat, burying her face in his shoulder and weeping with gratitude.

While before he couldn't react, now he was hopeful that he didn't react - in the wrong way, at least. Returning her hug, Kouzou slowly stood up from his chair. They stood like that for a while; Yui sobbing, Kouzou comforting her, each locked in the embrace of the other.

Eventually, Yui pulled back enough so that Kouzou could look at her face. Her mascara had smudged from the tears her blue eyes were still shedding, but she still looked pretty. Her mouth was opening and closing at intervals, as though she wanted to say something but couldn't quite get it out.

"Take your time, Ms. Ikari," Kouzou said soothingly. He could see that she was trying to calm down and wanted to help her be less anxious. And, he wasn't eager to end the hug they were still locked in.

Finally Yui got out: "I-I'm sorry. It-it's just so...so important...that I do this placement."

She was beginning to get control of herself, and Kouzou wasn't about to derail that with further questions. At least not now. She needed reassurance, and he needed to provide that.

"I understand. But you needn't have worried yourself. I'm only too happy to provide a recommendation for you." Yui smiled at this, which Kouzou took as a good sign. "That said," he smirked, "I've never had a student this delighted to get a recommendation."

A burst of laughter came from Yui at this, which pleased Kouzou. After two weeks of distance from this young woman whom he thought so highly of, he had managed to comfort her and make her smile - laugh even.

Yui's anxiety wasn't completely chased away; she was still shaky, still teary-eyed. But she had regained enough composure to be able to speak clearly. With a genuine smile, she "Thank you, Professor. This means more to me than I can say."

Before Kouzou could reply to this, he found his lips on the receiving end of an impassioned kiss.

How much time had passed between the kiss being received and the words "Oh, I'm so sorry Professor!" being heard in the distance were unknown to Kouzou. His mind had all but blanked as he found himself having received what he had wanted for more than a month. But once he heard Yui's shamefaced reaction, he quickly recovered from his daze.

"Huh," Kouzou started. "Oh, don't worry about it," he started. 'I'm certainly not,' he added within his mind, but knew that he needed to handle his anxious intern with more tact than that. "Just got carried away a little, I guess."

"I guess," said the fiercely blushing Yui. "Still, I-I shouldn't...that is...I don't know what..."

"Ms. Ikari," Kouzou started, laying a reassuring hand on Yui's shoulder. "You were worried about this placement in the summer. You weren't sure if I'd say yes to recommending you. And it's all worked out for you, so your excitement got the best of you. There's no need to apologize for being passionate about your research."

'Besides, it's not like I was resisting you.' Kouzou wisely kept that thought unsaid.

Yui nodded at this, smiling with gratitude. "You're so understanding. I don't know what I'd do without you."

'The feeling is more than mutual,' Kouzou thought. But what he actually said was: "Well, I guess you'll have to learn what that'd be for a few weeks this summer." Smiling, he continued, "Meanwhile, how does a game of shogi sound? I think we've earned a little break from our work after this past few weeks."

Yui beamed at this. "I'd like that." Smirking, she teased, "Besides, I still have to even the odds."

Kouzou smirked as he set up the board, "Well, now's your chance."

Kouzou enjoyed shogi. He had started playing it as a child, and it remained one of his key recreations into adulthood. His research and limited socialization meant he had few chances to play it with others in recent years, so when he met someone who shared his passion he seized the opportunity. And in Yui he had found a competitive opponent - one who he still held a 2-1 lead over, but who hadn't made it easy for him.

However, as he sat with Yui for what was their fourth game, his mind wasn't on the game. Even though it was his idea to play, that was simply to spend time with her - and to have time to work out what had transpired previously.

Yui's anxiety about the placement was understandable enough. Kouzou was around long enough to know how vital it was to sustain any academic funding you can get, so that part was understandable. But as he watched Yui gleeful about having won furigoma - the move that decides who goes first in shogi - he still had questions regarding her circumstances.

'If her funding is from the UN, and her father has a position of importance there, surely she'd have less to worry about than most,' Kouzou thought. But then it hit him; if Yui had earned the scholarship on merit, and lost it through a failure to secure a placement, there may be a loss of face that would not be tolerated at home. It would explain why she was so anxious about the scholarship.

'Hmm, but why did she doubt I'd recommend her?'

This thought bothered Kouzou too, not least because he had an answer for it as well. The distance between the two since the 'near-moment' from a couple of weeks ago had made things awkward between them, and made it harder for her to approach him. Indeed, this was the first game of shogi they'd had since then.

"You must be getting rusty, Professor. Are you even paying attention?"

Yet again Yui had succeeded in derailing Kouzou's train of thought. Turning his attention to the game, he saw that Yui had already captured three of his pawns.

"I-I guess I must be rusty," Kouzou said absent-mindedly. Forcing an edge on his voice, he cocked an eyebrow and looked Yui straight in the eye. "Don't get overconfident. It's still early in the game yet."

Smirking, Yui replied suggestively, "I know. It'll be a while before I have you where I want you."

'Think before you say anything,' Kouzou's mind screamed.

"Well, you still have a few moves to make before you place me in check," Kouzou replied.

"It's OK," Yui said teasingly. "I've thought of what moves I should make."

Kouzou only grinned his acknowledgement of this, but mentally he was finding it difficult to not read into what Yui was saying. His safest course of action was to treat it as though they were talking about the game. He was familiar enough with Yui's teasing to be comfortable with it.

'That kiss, though...' That was a considerable step-up from Yui's usual teasing, and she did it at a time when she was emotionally raw. And when he was in a position to comfort her.

He had managed to rationalize it for her - and had surprised himself at how quickly he'd been able to do so. But while she seemed convinced by what he said, he wasn't sure he was himself. 'Could it be that...'

"Checkmate!"

Kouzou blinked, his thoughts again halted by Yui's interruption. "It's 2-2 now, Professor," Yui grinned triumphantly. "You'd best be ready next time."

"Hmph," Kouzou mock-pouted. "You've won the battle, young lady. But the war is far from over!" This drew giggles from Yui.

"It will be if you don't focus on your game," Yui replied in a taunting manner. Then she stopped, and looked at Kouzou thoughtfully. Her smile faded, and her face took on a look of concern. "You have seemed distracted this past couple of weeks, actually. Are you OK?"

Inwardly, Kouzou sighed. He now had to lie to her again. The last thing he wanted to do was tell her that he was worried about how awkward things were between them after their near-moment. Especially now that relations between them were warm again.

"I've just had a lot of work to do. I guess I let it get on top of me. I figured you were in the same boat."

"Hmm," Yui replied, not sounding entirely convinced. But then, with a knowing look, she replied: "Well, don't forget. I'm here to help."

"Point taken, Ms. Ikari," Kouzou said evenly. Then, with his own smirk, replied: "Just be sure to heed your own advice in future, OK?"

Yui giggled at this. "I guess I asked for that. Fair enough."

And with that, both went back to work.

To be continued...

Author's notes: I'm hoping I got this chapter right. Please, read and review.

Traitor of All Traitors, the identity of the 'watcher' will be revealed in the next chapter.