"I called your name, O Lord
from the depths of the pit.
You heard my plea:
'Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.'"
- Lamentations 3:55
I woke to Yoko shaking me softly.
"Come on! We're going down to the pool! Misato's gonna be sleeping off the hangover all day, we've got free time!"
"Unk..." I lifted my head. Walker had a towel over his shoulder, and was already changed into a Tommy Hilfiger bathing suit. Yoko was in pastel pink Capris, and a loose fitting pastel green shirt. I ressurrected myself from bed. They headed down to the pool, the heavy dark wood door closing behind them. I washed my face and brushed my teeth, changed into my swimsuit and proceeded out the door and down the long, red carpeted hallway, down a flight of stairs, and into the sunlight of the pool deck. Walker was treading water in the middle of the pool. Yoko was sunbathing on a deck chair, eyes closed. I wrested my eyes from her long enough to notice Kou, Shinji, and Asuka by the other end of the large pool. Asuka was splashing Shinji and telling him he was a dirty, dirty little man. Shinji half-heartedly blocked the splashing water and flying insults. Asuka's red and white striped bikini top was bouncing as she flailed wildly, sending waves of water at Shinji. Kou's green eyes bounced along in time, his head rising and falling as he stared. Asuka spied him from the corner of her eye, turned, and glared at him. His eyes were fixed, and he all but managed to duck a powerful right punch from the fiery red-head. He backed off to a safe distance, followed quickly by Shinji. I turned away from the action to find Touji flexing his all-too-athletic body for... Sayuri? Sayuri was smiling, adding insightful comments like, 'nice' and 'that's good!' Touji was grinning triumphantly. Ayanami was stretched out on a chair like Yoko. Her black bathing suit showed no indication of her having swum in the pool at all. Unlike Yoko, however, here eyes were not closed, and she was staring blankly into the distance. She looked a little too enchanted with the cloudless sky for any conversation right now, and I dropped into the chair next to Yoko. Yoko turned her head my way and opened her eyes.
"Finally decided to join us?" she asked. I nodded.
"Yep. Looks like Kou and Shinji are getting into trouble... Not to mention Touji..."
"Is that... the waitress? Sayuri? God, I pity her! Touji's a bag of wind, huh?"
"Bag of testosterone's more like it! Uh oh, looks like Asuka's coming their way. This aughtta be fun!" Asuka sat down on the foot of Sayuri's chair. She adopted a mature, responsible look, her face and pose just ringing with responsibility.
"Oh, Touji, give it a rest, can't you see this girl isn't interested in you?"
"Huh? But we were just..." Touji protested. Asuka motioned him away.
"Now you go away and leave her alone!" Asuka frowned at him dramatically. Touji backed away slowly, making his way to hide with Kou and Shinji.
Asuka turned to Sayuri.
"I must apologize for my... colleague... He is very immature sometimes"
"It's alright. Besides," she said, her innocent smile changing to a very adult, sly one, "you're much hotter than he is! I mean, look at him! He doesn't have very good muscles, his swimsuit is out of style, and he's just a dumb jock! You, on the other hand, are a fine specimen."
"Um..." Asuka's eyes were wide open in surprise. She stumbled on her words, and Sayuri continued.
"You're really hot. Good body. Really good! Nice thighs, good posture, cute blue eyes. All good. You've got pretty hair, and you're part foreigner. Exotic, neh? Some girls don't like that, but I do! You've got nice legs, your breasts are great, hmmm... Also, your expression of complete and utter confusion suits you perfectly! I think we're going to get along well!" Sayuri traced her hand up Asuka's back, and the dazed girl jumped to her feet.
"You're... You're... You're not lesbian, are you? Or are you just pulling my leg?"
"That's for me to know, and you to find out, darling!" Sayuri winked sexily. Asuka smiled and backed away slowly. She managed to back up far enough to fall into the pool, at which Kou and Touji burst into laughter. Sayuri waved to Yoko and I, and we waved back. Asuka had extracted herself from the pool, and was angrily berating Touji, whose fault everything had suddenly become. I shook my head and chuckled.
"Good old Asuka!" Yoko said, giggling.