SIXTH - DELIBERATE MISTAKES
Chapter One
Revelations
It can be said that life runs in patterns. Indeed, many people, after a period of rebellion and freedom in their youth, settle down into a regimented, 9 to 5 existence, seldom breaking from a routine that varied only slightly from day to day. The life cycles carried out in the apartment of one Misato Katsuragi, however, could hardly be labeled as such.
But Chaos Theory tells us that even in seeming randomness, there is an underlying order, for those who look hard enough to see it. This morning, the small measure of order, disturbed for a month, was slowly re-establishing itself. Misato was, for the first time in many weeks, sleeping soundly, all being right with the world, or, at least, as right as the world can be, considering the times. Asuka Langely Soryu slept as well, as she had for the past week, the worries and fears she subconsciously carried, unable to truly admit them to herself, had dissipated like mist in the morning sun. Shinji, as always, had risen early, and was preparing breakfast for his roommates. Had Misato know this, she would have scolded him, and sent him back to bed, forcefully, if need be. For Shinji was only a week removed from the month-long ordeal caused by the Angel of Might. In order to defeat the Angel, to save NERV, Shinji's soul had once again burst free from its moorings, his Evangelion awakening to strike down those who threatened its pilot. But, Shinji himself nearly paid the price for that victory, having gone too deep within the recesses of his Evangelion, and, in the end, his physical body was absorbed into the LCL, leaving his soul trapped within the bio-mechanical robot known as Evangelion Unit-01. And yet, somehow, he had survived, his body having been returned by his Eva.
The few times he had let himself think of the narrow escape he had had, he had been unable to answer just why exactly he had been returned. The only thing that made any sense to him were some of Kaji's first words to him. *Luck……is a part of my destiny……*
Shinji's reverie was brought to a halt by the sounds of movement from the living room. It appeared that the smell of food had saved him from the trouble of rousing his roommates from bed.
"Asuka, whatever that is, it smells GREAT! I hope you made a lot, 'cause as hungry as I am, Shinji might not………" Misato trailed off, as she finally notice that Asuka was not the one cooking breakfast. "….Shinji…..and just WHY, may I ask, are you not in bed?"
Shinji flushed, his eyes dropping to the pan of bacon he was frying. "….Sorry Misato……it's just that…….it's been a week now…..and I feel fine. I'm tired of laying in bed all week…..I want to move again…to go back to school…..I just feel……that I'm not earning my keep around here……."
"Shinji…" Misato deadpanned, her eyes still boring holes in his skull. Somewhat hesitantly, he looked up. "You're burning the bacon, Shinji….."
"Huh?!" Suddenly, Shinji was made aware of the smoke beginning to rise from the pan's contents. It seems he had, indeed, burned the bacon. "Oh gosh! Sorry sorry sorry……" Frantically, he scrambled to salvage what he could, as Misato looked on, a smile of genuine affection cracking her face. She patted him on his back, as his breathing returned to normal.
"Don't worry about it Shinji……I'm just glad that you're feeling all right…." Still smiling, she retrieved her morning beer, and sat down at the table, her fingers playing with the can's tab. "To be honest, I was going to ask you if you felt like getting up and going to school today anyways, so you saved me the trouble. I take it that you DO feel like going to school today?"
Shinji nodded. "Right now, anything's better than staring at my ceiling all day…"
"That sounds like the Shinji I know….by the way, when you get out of school, could you bring Rei home with you? There's something I need to tell the three of you, and it'd be easier if you were all here."
"What if she's not in school, Misato? You know how often she's absent…."
Misato smirked. "Then go by her place and get her, Shinji. If she's not there or at NERV, then I can't think of where she'd be." Her grin broadened. "This way, you have an excuse to go see her, don't you?"
Predictably, Shinji flushed, fumbling with the plates in his hands. "But…Misato, you know……it's not like that….Ayanami and I…."
"Yeah, I know. But like I said, it's just too much fun to tease you, and I've been deprived that for awhile now. I was worried I might have lost my touch."
"Oh, I don't know, Misato. I think that pervert will take any opportunity to be alone with any girl he can get, even one like Wondergirl." Her face wearing a smirk that mirrored the one on her guardian's face, Asuka laid her schoolbag down by the table, and seated herself, waiting on Shinji to serve her.
"Morning Asuka…" said Shinji, somewhat half-heartedly, the bite of her words having shattered what little tranquility his morning had previously held. Absently, he placed the usual helpings of breakfast before his roommates, before serving himself.
"So you're coming back to school today, are you Shinji?" asked Asuka. Shinji nodded, unwilling to say anything at the moment, the sting of her previous comment having not yet faded. "Well that's good….."
Shinji blinked, wondering if he had heard right. *No way……could she actually be saying……*
"….cause it's been the SAME questions EVERY day from your two fellow stooges. 'Where's Shinji?' 'When's he coming back?' I was beginning to think Aida was going to try to hack into NERV itself to try to find out where you were." She smirked, oblivious to the look of wonderment that had grown and died on Shinji's face. "I'm tired of covering for you, Third Child. You'll save me a few gray hairs by coming in today. It's the very least you can do for someone as wonderful as me."
Shinji said nothing, whatever hopeful feelings that had been budding inside of him having been dashed. *So much for things being different between us…….but then, I should know that's too much to hope for.*
"So, Misato…….what's this big announcement we all need to be here for?" inquired Asuka, changing tack abruptly. "It must be pretty important if you need Wondergirl to be here…..so spill, what's the news?"
Misato shook her head. "Sorry Asuka, officially, it's classified by NERV. Until this evening, I don't have the authority to tell you…….." Her expression changed, the playfulness draining from it in a heartbeat. "If I told you now…" she stated, her voice cold and professional. ,"I'd have to kill you…..Eva pilots or not….."
Shinji felt his heart leap into his throat at the intensity of the glare Misato was leveling at Asuka…no, at both of them. Even the unshakable Asuka had paled, if only a little.
Then Misato's face cracked into a smile, as she began laughing. "Just…..just kidding, kids…..GOD! The looks on your faces……" She broke off, as another fit of laughter seized her. "Go on you two, there'll be plenty of time to talk later tonight, but you're going to be late if you don't hurry up."
Asuka, still mildly annoyed at Misato, glanced at the clock, and, noticing that, this time at least, Misato was serious, bolted the remains of her breakfast down, and snatched her bag in one hand, and Shinji's arm in the other, and dashed out the door. "Ach, come ON you! I'm not going to be late because you're out of shape from laying in bed for a week. Move, Third Child, I'm not dragging you all the way to school!"
Shinji merely sighed, and began running alongside her, a faint smile cracking the corners of his lips.
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The day had started off as another of the bright and sunny days that were so commonplace in the continual summer that had followed the Second Impact, but halfway through lunch, it had started raining, resulting in several drenched students. Even now, the school day nearly over, it was still pouring down rain in an intensity that was usually saved by nature for hurricanes or the rainy seasons of certain countries. Shinji's teacher droned on, speaking of the Second Impact as though every other lecture he gave was not of the exact same subject. The class, for the most part, was counting the minutes until freedom, their eyes firmly glued to the clock, watched as each second ticked by, inching them one second closer to the end of another school day. Shinji was not one of these students.
His eyes were firmly starting at, and beyond his desktop, his mind firmly elsewhere, or, more correctly, else when. His arrival back in school after a month long absence had caused a stir, smaller than he expected…..but still, it was nice to know that…he had been missed.
Predictably, Kensuke had badgered him with a flurry of question about his whereabouts for the past few weeks, some vaguely credible, some so far off base that Shinji had to stifle laughter, worried about hurting his friend's feelings. And Hikari, of course, had presented him with a stack of printouts several inches thick, but had surprised him with a whispered "I'm glad you're back…….Asuka's been worried about you…." Shinji was aware that Hikari knew Asuka better than anyone else in school…..but Asuka showing concern over him wasn't something he could easily believe…….because, to him, her actions did not match Hikari's words.
Touji though……..Shinji had barely been able to look his friend in the eye, his gaze inevitably drawn to the prosthetic arm and leg Touji now wore……and it had been all his fault. He had hastily began stammering an apology, an apology that had died in his throat when Touji had risen, a look of fury on his face. Shinji had cringed, having seen that look once before, right before Touji had decked him. Shinji's head lowered, his eyes closing, awaiting the inevitable….something he felt he completely deserved. His surprise had been complete when Touji merely tapped him on the head, barely mussing his hair. Confused, Shinji had opened his eyes to see Touji glaring at him.
"Ikari…..you really ARE an idiot, you know that? Misato visited me in the hospital, and she told me what happened, what your father did. I know that it wasn't you attacking me…but I guess the Demon didn't give you my message…"
It has been said that if you speak the name of evil, then it will appear, and, at that moment, Asuka made believers of Touji and Kensuke.
"And just WHY do you two Stooges think I'm your personal messenger girl?" Touji, of course, chose to mumble something under his breath, something that earned him a swat on the head by Asuka, then Hikari. "Tell me, if you were so worried about your fellow Stooge here, why didn't you just go and visit him yourself? Honestly, BOYS!" She sighed, a wearied, put-upon sigh, and dragged Hikari back to their seats in the rear of the classroom, leaving Touji to glare daggers at Asuka's back.
"Man, someday, I'm going to ram a stake right through that bitch's heart. Yo, Ikari, you're been in her room, right? She sleep in a coffin or what?"
While Shinji frantically shook his head no, no to what, his mind hadn't figured out yet, Kensuke merely sighed. "Touji, that's VAMPIRES, not demons. She couldn't even be walking around in the sunlight if she was a vampire, she'd melt, or burst into flames, or something……." He trailed off, as Touji's face took on a VERY evil grin, indeed, his mind no doubt picturing said things happening to Asuka, slowly, and repeatedly.
"Yeah, I guess that would be too easy, huh?" He sank into his seat. "Just shove the bitch outside and watch her fry….we could even charge tickets….OW!" A pencil rebounded off Touji's head, the following insult unnecessary for identifying the projectile's owner. Thankfully, the teacher had chosen that exact moment to enter the classroom, and Hikari, stepping into her role as class representative, had defused the situation, glaring Touji back into his seat, and away from Asuka.
*All in all, not a bad day back…..I guess I was missed, after all..* thought Shinji. *Even Ayanami, I think…* True, it had only been there a microsecond, but the normally blank expression on Rei's face had slipped when he had stepped into the classroom that morning. Everyone else had been too busy watching Shinji to notice it, but Shinji, being unable to marvel at his own return to school, had seen it. And he had seen…what? Surprise? Anger? Relief? Happiness? He honestly couldn't say. Rei, despite having spent more time around him than anyone else, save his father, remained a mystery to him.
Which reminded him that he still needed to tell her about the meeting Misato was having after school. *At least it's NERV business….it'll sound less like I'm asking her out or something, and I'd never hear the end of that.* Vaguely, he was aware of the bell ringing, the class letting out a collective sigh. After rising and bowing to the teacher, the students began rising and packing their bags as though they were evacuating from an Angel attack.
"So, Ikari, what do you want to do today?" Asked Touji. "We've got a month of catching up to do, and there's no time like the present, and no place better than yours, right Shinji?"
Shinji shook his head, the grin plastered across Touji's face a familiar one. *A month of not seeing Misato, you mean…* "Sorry guys," he said. "Not today, Misato said she needs us home today, some official NERV announcement or something……and that means pilots only….sorry," he finished, somewhat lamely. His eyes flicked to the door of the room. Asuka had already left, not a problem, as she knew about the meeting, but Rei was on her way out too, and Misato HAD said she needed to be there. Sighing, Shinji called out to her. "Ayanami! Could you wait a moment? I need to talk to you…."
Halfway through the door, Rei stopped short, turned, regarded Shinji, who of course, couldn't suppress a blush underneath her gaze, blinked, and nodded. She stepped back into the classroom, out of the general path of the students, and waited, her arms folded behind her, one hand grasping the elbow of her other arm, which dangled freely.
"Official NERV business, huh, Shinji?" asked Kensuke, a very different smile on his face, but one that was just as familiar to Shinji. "Been missing your honey, have you? Not that I can fault you, Rei is QUITE the babe, if you can look past her freakiness…."
If possible, Shinji flushed even redder, praying that Rei hadn't heard that. "It's not…..Ayanami and I AREN'T like that, how many times do I have to say it? Misato needs her there tonight, so she asked me to tell her….since you both know Asuka doesn't like her…." Shinji's voice trailed off at that, his mind reminding him just how little Asuka cared for 'Wondergirl', as she referred to Ayanami. It still bothered him that she thought so little of Rei. Despite the differences of the two girls, they were both close friends to him…..he just wished they got along better with each other. Sighing, leaving his thoughts for another time, Shinji stood up. "And Ayanami isn't freaky, she's just herself….if that makes any sense. I'll see you tomorrow, guys…"
Distantly, Shinji heard his friends say their farewells, as he walked over to where Rei stood, her eyes shifting from the window, where she had been staring, to him. "Ayanami, thanks for waiting on me."
"Ikari-kun." She said, her typical greeting to him. "You stated that you wished to speak to me?"
"Yeah, c'mon, walk with me. I'll tell you on the way there," he said, distractedly, wanting to get out of Touji and Kensuke's eyes, knowing perfectly well he still would never hear the end of this. Hurriedly, he exited the classroom, Rei close behind him.
"Where are we going, Ikari-kun?" she asked, as they darted from awning to awning, trying to stay out of the pouring rain as much as possible.
"To Misato's. She asked me to bring you there after class, she says there's an important announcement that she needs to tell us, official NERV business…….she didn't think you would have been told yet, so she asked me to bring you when I came home today."
"I see…." Answered Rei, her voice neither rising or falling a decibel. "Captain Katsuragi was correct, I have not been informed of any new reports pertaining to NERV. Do you have any idea of the nature of the announcement, Ikari-kun?"
Shinji shook his head. "No, I don't. Misato said she didn't have the authority to tell us anything until tonight….She actually told Asuka that she'd have to kill her if she told her anything this morning, but I think she was joking." Shinji smiled, then, just as quickly frowned, as Rei simply stared at him.
"Then I am sure Major Katsuragi will inform us when we arrive." Stated Rei. Shinji, not having much to say to that, remained silent throughout the remainder of the walk, his curiosity, despite himself, having been piqued by Rei's inquiry.
*I do wonder what's so important that Misato had us come directly home…….* Mentally, he compared scenario after scenario, reviewing and discarding one after another, finally resigning himself against second-guessing Misato. Knowing her, it could be something not so serious….for all he knew, she had put together a surprise party for him, and had used the excuse of a 'NERV announcement' to lure himself and Rei there. Shinji sighed again. He really didn't need something like that right now….school had been stressful enough to make him want to simply curl up in bed and sleep for a week.
"Ikari…."
Rei's voice broke Shinji from his reverie. Slowing in his walk, he turned to regard her, thankful that the rain had slackened enough to where it was only a light drizzle. "Ayanami….did you say something?"
"Yes, I did……" her voice was quieter than normal, so that Shinji almost had to strain his ears to hear her. "Ikari….I was….glad….to hear that you were unhurt by your Eva….and it…..made me feel glad to see you in school today…"
Shinji started, nearly tripping over his own feet as Rei's words registered in his mind. Somehow, he found his voice. "Ayanami….are…are you saying that you were worried about me?"
She considered for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I…..I believe I am…"
All the stress of the day fell from his shoulders like the rain that dripped from his hair. Unable to help himself, he smiled at her. "Thank you….Rei. I know it's silly to say this, because I know that Misato, Touji and Kensuke, and even Asuka, in her own way…were worried about me……..but it's still nice to hear that from someone…."
For a brief moment, Rei's face opened up, as the corners of her mouth turned up, in a small, small smile. And then she blinked, and she was Rei Ayanami again, her face again devoid of expression. "We should hurry Ikari-kun. Major Katsuragi probably wishes for us to be there soon." And with that, she started off again, her pace much brisker than before, leaving Shinji to follow after her, wondering exactly what had happened.
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"Misato, I'm home! Ayanami's with me too!" called Shinji, as she slipped his shoes off, shaking water from his hair.
"And it's about damn time, too!" came Asuka's voice, from the vicinity of the kitchen. "Took you long enough, didn't it? What were you up to with the First, Shinji?" Shinji rounded the corner into the kitchen, Asuka greeting him with a smirk that was purely predatory. "On second thought, keep it to yourself. I don't really want to know what a pervert like you was doing with her."
Shinji merely sighed, not willing to dignify Asuka's taunt with a response. Rei, for her part, merely made her way to a seat at the table, her eyes traveling to the balcony door, and beyond.
"Hey kids, we all here?" Misato strolled through the living area, dressed conservatively (at least for her) in jeans and a T-shirt. Still enough to send boys like Touji and Kensuke into fits of hormonal outbursts, but better than what Shinji and Asuka had come to expect. She glanced at Rei and Shinji, smirked, and tossed them the towels she had been carrying. "Dry off, you two. When Asuka came home dripping wet, I had a feeling you two would need these." Shinji nodded thanks to Misato, as he and Rei began drying themselves off. Misato stepped into the kitchen area, paused, as if considering something, and then turned, returning to the table and seating herself. "C'mon, Shinji, sit down. I know Asuka's chomping at the bit to hear what I have to say." Indeed, Asuka's impatience was rather apparent, her fingers drumming a staccato beat on the wood of the tabletop. Shinji seated himself, setting his schoolbag on the table, still absently drying his hair out.
It was then that he realized something, or, more correctly, the absence of something. *No beer. Misato ALWAYS has a can when she's talking to us……this must be pretty important…or pretty serious…*
"Ok….you probably all heard about NERV-02 in America vanishing a couple of months ago, right?" Wordlessly, they all nodded, and Misato continued, her voice steady. "Well, right before they were wiped out, they were sent a list of possible candidates for the Fifth Child from the Marduk Agency. The various other NERV branches in America were testing those candidates when the disaster happened….." she paused, her hand groping for a beer can that wasn't there. "With everything that's been happening over the past month here, NERV has been too busy with repairs and dealing with….the consequences of the attacks to pay much attention to our other branches. But….I was informed by Commander Ikari yesterday that…one of the branches hit paydirt….."
Shinji and Asuka's eyes widened. Rei blinked.
"So…then they've found the Fifth Child?" asked Asuka.
Misato shook her head. "According to what I was told, they found him only a few days after we found the Fourth Child…" Shinji fidgeted at this, still a bit uneasy with the memories that the mention of the Fourth Child brought. "…but with the attacks by the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Angels, and with Shinji being absorbed by Unit-01, we were just too busy to notice….But now…Ritsuko was sent over to America yesterday to bring him, and his Eva to Tokyo-3….I gather that the higher ups in the UN are worried that we'll lose another branch in the US…."
Shinji spoke up. "So, then, the Fifth Child is…coming here?"
"Yeah…..they flew out this morning at around 0800 hours…..they're probably getting close to landing right about now…."
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It was raining…he hated the rain.
He could see the rain beating itself against the windows, could hear the millions upon millions of drops pelting themselves against the roof above him. Had he chosen to, he could have remained in the passenger section, could have continued to watch Dr. Akagi as she typed endlessly away, her mind already on the activation test for Unit-06. In all truth, he probably would have been advised to, as that was one of the only sections that was heated on the transport, providing the few humans ever carried by the plane a moderate amount of comfort. The cargo section, where he was now, was cold, so cold his breath was visible with every exhalation, the mist curling from his lips, breaking apart in the air.
God, he hated the rain.
At least it was dark here. His eyes could only barely make out his surroundings, and then, only when a patch of light broke through the cloud cover. But the light had long ago been swallowed up by the storm, and he had not seen for……minutes, hours? He didn't know. Time had little meaning in a black void.
A flash of light, a bolt of lightning cutting the sky, for a brief moment illuminated the room, bringing vision with its light, before also bringing blindness, however temporary, to eyes that had only seen darkness for untold hours. But, in that brief moment of sight, he saw everything he needed to.
His shirt, discarded several feet away, when the feel of cloth against his flesh finally became too much. His Eva, its form firmly bolted down and secured, a giant bound by Lilliputian hands. And he saw himself, in the smooth metal of the Eva, lying there, his skin resting against the armored chest plate, the cool metal a balm to his burning skin.
And then there was darkness, the rumble of thunder arriving on the heels of the lightning, forever chasing after it.
*I hope we arrive soon……I feel far too close to the rain……and what it brings with it…..*
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For a long moment, they all just sat there, three minds digesting what they had just been told. Finally, Asuka spoke up.
"Then, if he's landing right now, why aren't we there to meet him? He's probably heard all sorts of stories about the great Second Child, and can't WAIT to meet me!"
Shinji sighed, long experience having shown him that Asuka was one of the few people he knew who could deliver a line like that, while both keeping a straight face, and believing every word she spoke. But, despite himself, Shinji too, was curious. "When do we get to meet him, Misato? Is he coming over tonight, or do we meet him later, once he's moved in somewhere?"
Misato shook her head. "Definitely not tonight, Shinji. I doubt he'll feel like doing anything except sleeping after a plane ride that long. You're all going to meet him tomorrow, right after school. You're expected to come straight to NERV headquarters from school, Ritsuko and I will introduce you to him then."
"You did say 'he', right Misato?" asked Asuka. When she was given the expected nod, she continued. "So then, what's he like? I for one think it's about time we had a real man piloting an Eva, not a spineless idiot like Shinji."
"Don't know…" said Misato, sipping a beer that she had recently liberated from the fridge. "Haven't met him or heard anything about him. All the reports I've seen talk about his piloting skill and his background, and, no, Asuka, you don't have to worry, he's had barely a month of training with Evas, his synch ratio isn't even comparable to Rei's, much less yours or Shinji's.
Asuka gloated a moment silently at this, until, unexpectedly, Rei spoke up.
"Major Katsuragi…what is the Fifth Child's name?"
For a moment, Misato just stared, amazed that Rei had spoken, much less asked a question. "…..His name is Avery Black, Rei."
"I see." And with that, Rei turned her attention away from the group, back out the window, to the sky above. "Is there anything else that we should know, Major Katsuragi?"
Misato shook her head. "Nope. All I was supposed to do was tell you about the Fifth, and make sure that you'll all be at NERV tomorrow to meet him."
Rei nodded. "Then I shall leave now." She rose, and headed for the door, schoolbag in hand. "…..Goodbye…"
"Bye, Rei." Waved Misato cheerily. "See you at NERV tomorrow!" The blue-haired girl exited the apartment, without so much as a backwards glance.
"Bye…." Shinji muttered, albeit a bit late, as the door had already closed behind Rei by the time he found his voice. He sighed.
"Shinji, tell me you're not SORRY to see that stupid doll leave, are you?" Asuka glared at Shinji, somewhere between annoyed and amused. She sat there a moment, awaiting an answer from him, but, when it became apparent, from the look on his face, that no answer was forthcoming from Shinji, she sighed, throwing her hands in the hair in exasperation. "I just don't get you. You've got the GREAT Asuka here, and Misato too, and you're missing someone as boring as that stupid doll?"
"She's my friend, Asuka. I miss my friends when they're gone…." Retorted Shinji. "…even if they aren't as great and wonderful as you, Asuka."
"And just how is it that you're friends with someone like her? She doesn't do anything but what she's told to, never talks unless she's spoken to……..honestly, what makes you think she even knows how to be a friend?" demanded Asuka.
"Oh, don't be so hard on him, Asuka. I think it's nice that he cares about Rei," said Misato, smiling archly. "Honestly, someone like her needs a friend, even if she doesn't act like it," Misato took a long sip of her beer, rolling the liquid around on her tongue, as though she was sampling a fine wine. "Mankind is at it's heart a social animal. Some people might act differently, but no one really wants to be alone. People were meant to go through life together…….two by two, or in groups…..but not alone."
Shinji and Asuka both raised an eyebrow at this. "Wow, Misato…….that's pretty profound, at least for you,"
Misato matched Asuka's smirk with one of her own. "In beer there is truth….or somethin'. Any who, kids, I'm going to bed. I've got a long day tomorrow with the Fifth arriving today, and it'll start earlier than I care for. Nite, all." Misato departed, the door to her room sliding shut with an audible THUNK, her body probably hitting the bed much more audibly.
Shinji settled back into his chair, sighing audibly. "Another pilot…….and the world won't stop for that." He rose, picking his schoolbag up. "Nite, Asuka. I expect I'll be working on my make up work for most of tonight, if I want to get it done."
Asuka glared at him, pinning him in place. "And what about dinner?"
Shinji blinked, confused. Quickly, he glanced back to the chart of chores, making sure he had seen correctly. "Asuka, isn't it your turn to cook?"
If anything, he glare intensified. "Baka-Shinji! Do you see all the times last month your name is up there? Who do you think had to cook while you were gone?" She crossed her arms over her chest, her glare turning into a pout. "The way I figure it, you owe me at least a few decent meals, for all the times I had to cook in your place."
Shinji sighed, a defeated, weary sigh. "Fine. Just tell me whenever you get hungry….I'll be working in my room until then."
Asuka's pout cracked into a smirk, telling Shinji what he already knew, he had given into her again. "Good boy, Third Child. Before you know it, I'll have you good and housebroken. You MIGHT even be passable company by then. Now, go get your work done, I'll tell you when I'm ready to eat." She strolled off to her room, leaving a thoroughly floored Shinji in her wake.
"…..HOUSEBROKEN?!"
Asuka's laughter trailed out of her room. Yes, it was good to have Shinji back.
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School the next day both flew and dragged, depending on who was asked.
Asuka, for her part, was excited. More social and outgoing than Shinji and Rei put together, she relished meeting new people…and then summarily showing them how great she was. So she chafed behind the lectures and lessons that she, a college graduate, had already learned. Her day passed in a staring contest with the clock, which would have had two holes burned through it from the intensity of her gaze, had that been in her power.
Shinji, too, was excited, though his feelings were tempered by the worries of his past experiences. The last time a new pilot had been found, the pilot had been Touji….and he had ended up maimed. True, he was worried, but the knowledge that this time, at least, the pilot couldn't be anyone he knew helped chase some of his uneasiness away. He couldn't completely shake the feeling of dread, but it was lessened to the point that he was able to actually look forward to meeting the Fifth Child.
Rei, of course, had only the barest of interests in the new pilot. Whatever information about him that was deemed to be pertinent would be made known to her, either by the pilot himself, or by the Commander, when and if she received a report about the new pilot, as she had with the previous three. So her school day passed as did all others, the teacher droning in the background, her eyes firmly fixed on a point well beyond the horizon.
But time marched on, as it always did, oblivious to the hopes and fears of mere mortals, or the glares of bored students, and eventually, class ended for the day. Asuka's pent-up energy burst from her in a whoop, as she nearly physically dragged Shinji from the classroom, with Rei following behind, at a much slower pace. It was in this manner that the three Children made their way to NERV headquarters, Asuka practically sprinting there, Rei walking at her usual unhurried pace, and Shinji staying in between the two, occasionally yelling to Asuka to slow down and wait. This was a suggestion that was not taken well, until Shinji reminded her that all three of them needed to be there, and not just her. After that, she kept pace with Shinji and Rei, although she did maintain a considerable distance between herself and them.
Once inside NERV itself, they were met halfway by Misato. "Hey kids!" She glanced from one to another, grinning at Asuka. "Excited, Asuka? I don't blame you, I'm a little excited myself."
Shinji blinked. "You mean……you haven't met him yet, Misato?"
She shook her head. "Nope. Ritsuko told me he's been sleeping his jet lag off for most of today, so he just came in a little while ago. And anyways, they dumped all his arrangements on me, so I've been busy setting up his living arrangements and getting him registered for school."
"So, he'll be in our class, right Misato?" asked Asuka.
"Yep. American schools are supposed to be paced differently than ours, so he may be ahead or behind you guys in some areas. And I don't know how fluent in Japanese or Kanji he is, either, so help him out if he needs it." She smiled jokingly. "That's an order. Now, c'mon." They head towards one of the examination rooms, Misato leading. "Ritsuko told me she was going to give him the routine physical when he came in, so they should be finishing up by now." As they arrived, Misato stuck her head into the room, looking around. "Hey, Ritsuko? Are you guys done in here, is the kid decent?"
Ritsuko's voice answered, echoing from the back of the room. "Yes, Misato, we finished a little while ago. I told Avery to wait here until the pilots arrived. Are they with you?"
"Yep, I met 'em on the way in!" She glanced at the three Children standing behind her. "Come on, kids, let's go." She ushered them into the room.
Inside, Ritsuko was seated in front of a computer, typing away, no doubt recording the results of the Fifth Child's physical into the system.
"So, how'd he do?" asked Misato.
"Hmmm? You mean Avery? He's in decent physical shape, considering. Nothing really troubling, but I'm going to recommend that he start doing some sort of exercise a few times a week. He's a little under the standards needed for an Eva pilot. Psychologically….."
"Dr. Akagi?" interrupted Asuka. "Just where IS the Fifth Child?"
Ritsuko looked up, looked around, and blanched. "Dammit, where did he wander off to? I swear, that kid is too quiet for his own good!"
"Don't tell me you misplaced him?" deadpanned Misato.
"He was here a minute ago……he probably went to find a restroom, in all honestly. He didn't really strike me as the curious type. He barely said a word the entire time I examined him, didn't even ask why I wanted to know some of the things I wanted to know…" She settled backwards into her chair. "Honestly, I've had more productive conversations with my cats…."
"Great…." Sighed Asuka. "ANOTHER quiet one…." She glanced back at Shinji and Rei, watched Shinji squirm for a moment, and smiled. Rei, of course, just met her gaze impassively, but that was no surprise anymore. She was about to turn back, and say…something, to Ritsuko, when she noticed that there was someone standing behind Rei. Seeing as how the individual was only slightly taller than Rei, and Shinji was next to Misato, Asuka made a quick, but correct assumption. "Hey, Fifth Child, stop hiding behind Wondergirl and let us get a look at you!"
CONTINUED