A note from the Hime no Argh herself-
Well, folks, I'm back among you with a new chapter for the time being. Unfortunately, this chapter is only a fraction of the size of the last one. Sorry, but I need to get ahead of myself before I can post a lot again. Unfortunately I'm not that far ahead in the story- only a little more than halfway to the ending of Act II, and the new act starts with this chapter.
I'm at my dad's now and he has a nice computer so I will probably get a chance to write a lot, but maybe not update a lot. Hopefully when I get home I'll have lots to post. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I hope you'll be kind and not reprove me for the length. Thanks in advance.
Oh my gosh, I almost forgot to apologize for spelling Kaji's name wrong in the last chapter. It wasn't until I looked it up that I realized it's Kaji with a "j"! Gomen nasai!
* * *
Act II: I once was lost and now am found.
"Well, Shinji, looking forward to being back in the Eva?"
Shinji grinned at Misato as they walked side-by-side through the twisting corridors of NERV HQ. "Absolutely. It took long enough for the repairs to be finished."
"An entire month," Misato sighed. "Of course, that is because the damages were so severe," she promptly amended.
"Yes, but Eva 01 was hardly damaged at all," Shinji said in a dismissive tone. "Ritsuko could have at least called me in for a test or two."
"Shinji, haven't you figured out why we insist on performing harmonics tests on all three of you at the same time?" When her son only shrugged, Misato sighed exasperatedly. "It's to synchronize your movements, like we've been trying to since day one." She considered adding a big, hearty 'duh' but decided against it.
Shinji laughed. "If Asuka and I couldn't synchronize after living together for months, how do they expect us to synchronize by making sure we all get tested in unison?"
"Well, no one really had any hope for you and Asuka after seeing how much you two clash."
"I wonder how Rei and Asuka are getting along?" Shinji said distantly.
"Frankly, I'm surprised they're getting along at all," Misato admitted. "Just goes to show you should expect the unexpected."
"So...Asuka's pretty much moved out, huh?"
"I suppose so. Asuka's pretty cozy over at Rei's place. They're even sharing a bed, she told me."
Shinji smirked. "Sharing a bed? What kind of relationship do they have?"
Misato shot him a disapproving glance. "From what I've heard, strictly plutonic. Asuka says they barely even talk."
"I bet Asuka gave up trying to start a conversation."
"Maybe." Misato shrugged. "But hey, you never know. Sometimes silence can be more meaningful than an entire conversation."
"At least where Rei Ayanami applies," Shinji conceded. "So is Asuka still mad at me?"
"I don't doubt it," Misato said bluntly. "About that. You'd better be nice today. We don't need petty rivalries interfering with the test results. Or didn't you think that you were a factor in Asuka's recent low scores?"
Shinji shrugged. "If I'm a factor, it's only because Asuka is so competitive."
"Well, just don't goad her, all right? I mean it, Shinji."
"I won't goad her, Mom, I promise."
"Good." Misato looked up as the entered the test facility to find Ritsuko waiting, standing next to a computer terminal manned by Maya.
"Hello, Misato, Shinji," Ritsuko said. "Ready for another test, Shinji?"
"Ready and waiting."
"Great. The plugs are already prepared. You can go get into your suit."
"Okay. Later, Mom." Shinji turned and went off to the lockers.
Misato sank into an empty seat. "So where are Asuka and Rei?"
"They arrived before you. They're either in the lockers or already at the cages," Ritsuko said distantly, looking out the viewing window into the test facility.
"Any tricks up your sleeve for this test?" Misato asked sweetly.
Ritsuko pursed her lips. "Not a one," she said tersely.
"There's a possibility of some unexpected results today," Maya added with a coy smile. "It's sure to be interesting test."
* * *
"They had some bulletins waiting for you at school today, but nothing too life-shattering, I'm sure." Asuka's voice carried through the curtain separating the male and female lockers as Shinji quietly slipped into the locker room and began shedding his clothes. "Hikari was going to take them over, but I told her I would since I live with you now, and some pervert boys overhead. Naturally they started hollering and making jokes. What a bunch of obnoxious jerks."
"Maybe you shouldn't have spoken so loud, Asuka," Shinji muttered under his breath. He'd been clear across the classroom today, but had still heard Asuka's announcement to the class rep.
"Anyway, the bulletins are in my bag if you want to see. I figured I'd meet up with you here for the test. You're always here. What do you do here?" Asuka paused, perhaps to catch her breath. "Wait, shut up for a second. I thought I heard..." Asuka trailed off, then suddenly the curtain was thrown open.
"Ah-hah!" Asuka yelled triumphantly, radiant in her fiery-red plug suit. Then she focused on Shinji.
"AGGGHHH! PUT YOUR DAMN SUIT ON!" Asuka flung the curtain shut. Shinji shook his head as he stepped into his plug suit and pulled it on.
"Ugh...my eyes have been soiled!" Asuka whined from the other side of the curtain.
"Oh, shut up, Asuka," Shinji said irritably. "You're the one who had to open the curtain."
"You're the one who's late! Why the hell are you parading around naked instead of hurrying to get into your suit?!"
"I wasn't 'parading' and no one asked you to wait around for me." Shinji pressed the wrist compressor and the plug suit immediately molded itself to his skin.
"Eww! I wasn't waiting for you! Don't you ever get that idea!"
"Gladly," Shinji muttered.
"Are you decent?!" Asuka snapped.
Rolling his eyes, Shinji got up and left the locker room, letting the abrupt click of the door shutting be his answer.
* * *
"So...tell me again why we waited until the Evas were repaired to conduct a harmonics test?" Misato asked around the pen she was chewing on as she and Ritsuko waited for the pilots.
"We're not just conducting a harmonics test," Ritsuko replied absently, leaning over Maya's chair to clack away at her keyboard. "We're also going to perform a compatibility test."
Misato sat up in her chair. "You mean you're switching the pilots around?"
"That's right."
"But Unit 01 won't respond to any pilot except Shinji, and Asuka only wants to pilot Unit 02-"
"Asuka is under NERV's jurisdiction and will do as she's told," Ritsuko said crisply. "As for Unit 01, we have to explore our options. Remember that Unit 01 was once compatible with Rei, before Shinji arrived. I have a theory that the lower Shinji's synch ratio is with Unit 01, the more like it is to any other Eva. If this is true, Unit 01 might just work with Rei or even Asuka."
"But will Shinji be able to synchronize with the other Evas?"
"I don't know. We know that Unit 00 once rejected him, but we haven't tried him with Unit 02. In any case, we may still end up with an unmanned Eva." Ritsuko sighed. "If only the fourth child was in any sort of piloting condition. We need spares badly."
"Well, have there been any reports on the fifth child yet?" Misato asked.
"No, the fifth child hasn't been found. Although SEELE..." Ritsuko trailed off thoughtfully.
"What?" Misato demanded.
Ritsuko shook her head. "Never mind. It's nothing."
"Sorry to interrupt, but the pilots are waiting at the cages," Maya reported.
Ritsuko nodded. "All right. Get them into their entry plugs so we can start."
"Time to see who beats who this week," Misato said with a wry smile. "Anyone wanna cast a bet?"
* * *