+++++ UNN CVN-75, Over the Rainbow. Monday, +13.

It was just after the new day dawned that Shinji was wheeled out of the decompression chamber, seeing Misato and Nanako waiting for him. A coterie of sailors and marines had assembled nearby, cheering him heartily and helping to get him back on the vessel. Without any idea of what the people around him were saying, Shinji wearily lifted one hand and waved back to try and convey gratitude for their help. For his trouble, he received several high-fives, handshakes, and fist bumps along with good firm pats on his shoulders. Every single one hurt, but he wouldn't complain as they were clearly happy.

Misato teased him in an effort to hide how terrified she'd been, "So what happened to, 'I got him'?"

Displaying a wit that he often ignored, Shinji shrugged one shoulder. "I said I got him. I didn't say anything about getting good footing."

After Nanako translated the parlay into English for the assembled crew, she inwardly thrilled as everyone laughed uproariously and renewed their cheers. If the captain was able to make jokes while on the bad bed, then everything was going to be all right. Looking to 'Goofy', she tried to get them moving after having begun the important RUMINT train, "How can we help get him to where he's going, Doc?"

"They'll take him from here," the cheery woman announced, gesturing to the waiting team from the 'Rainbow's sickbay. "I need to fix a few things here. They have my records."

Painfully freeing one hand, Shinji reached over and took 'Goofy' by the hand. "Thank yuu."

"Anytime, Sugar." Kissing the back of his knuckles, she set his hand back under the blanket and waved goodbye.

The next hour was a blur of questions and answers. Yes, he was warmer. No, wiggling his toes wasn't painful. Yes, his skin hurt. No, if they reached for the necklace he'd start breaking limbs. Yes, he felt like he'd been injured. Different people with different specialties asked the same questions with the same replies, and all in all Shinji felt it was not only inefficient but probably not conducive to him feeling like he was in recovery. "Misato…if I ask you nicely will you let Nana-chan start shooting people?"

Choking on a laugh, Misato shook her head and chafed his chest. "That wouldn't be very sporting of me, I'm afraid. Just a little bit longer, ok? I promise, we'll get you home, get you tucked into your bed, and I'll personally petition for the next week off of school for you."

The reminder of school, and the likelihood he wouldn't make today's classes, caused him to sigh out and close his eyes. "I…." He swallowed, unsure of how to express what he was feeling.

Nanako, sitting opposite Misato, was holding one of his hands and massaging his wrist. "What's going on in Shinji World?"

"Is it bad that the only reason I'm interested in school is because I want to see the people there?" He didn't have enough energy to try and 'pretty up' the issue. "I'm not learning anything. I'm…I'm filling out blanks with what makes sense, but I'm way behind. Hakubi-sensei is doing what she can, I know she is, but I'm more than twelve years behind and there's no catching up. I bring up points that I'm positive others already know, and I think everyone's just being nice to me because I pilot the damn Eva." Gritting his teeth, he finally spat it out, "I'd rather just work on being a better pilot."

"Let's wait a bit before we go making serious decisions…ok?" Surprising Nanako, Misato took his other hand and slowly shook her head. "You don't go to school just to learn numbers and characters. You go to school to learn how to be a student. To learn how to be a part of a larger group of people. To learn how to survive conflicts without escalating them to violence. There's a lot I'm positive you're learning there, Shinji. I'm sure Dojima-san will help me express your concerns to the school, and I'll make sure that Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki is at least aware of the issue. We'll even talk to Rits. If she and Lieutenant Ibuki can't think of a way to help, I'll eat Unit-02."

The first thing Nanako had thought was that Misato would be overjoyed to have him in NERV more often. That instead she defended him without dismissing him was a genuine shock. "Captain Katsuragi's right. She'll work her side of the show, and I'll talk to a few people on mine. Thank you for bringing this to us, Shinji. I really thought you were happy there."

He sighed and looked away. "I'm…good at faking it."

+++++ Tokyo-3 harbor. Monday, +13.

Shinji departed the Over the Rainbow with far more pomp and circumstance than he'd expected. Most of the crew had assembled, rendering honors in the military way as he was regally wheeled towards the gangway. At the top of the structure that would allow him to exit the vessel without having to leave his wheelchair, he was greeted by a conference of the various Captains of the Fleet and the Admiral himself. Several pictures later, he was given a small wooden box and informed that he would always be welcome aboard their vessels. At the bottom of the structure, Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki and Ritsuko waited patiently with Funaho and Misaki.

"Your legend grows, it seems," Kozo stated with a droll smile. "Another engagement, another victory, and the first and hopefully only underwater operation in an Evangelion." His face turned towards the serious. "I am grateful that you elected to go along, Pilot. If you had not been there, we might well have lost the entire Fleet to say nothing of Pilot Soryu and Unit-02. You did well."

Wrapped snug in warm blankets, Shinji was only barely able to incline his head forward. "Thank you, sir. I heard Soryu-san arrived before I did, is she ok?"

"She is physically as healthy as can be expected. She'll be in concussion protocol for the next few days," Ritsuko answered for Kozo. "She was…unamused at your having taken Unit-02 into combat."

Shinji blinked a few times, trying to process Ritsuko's intent. "She's mad at me?"

"If she is, that's her problem," Misaki spoke softly. "You assured her survival by taking over after her inability to maintain her own balance. It is my understanding that you not only protected yourself during the same action, you sheltered Captain Katsuragi in the process. You then located Pilot Soryu and saw to her immediate safety. Finally, you climbed aboard Unit-02 while injured and defeated the Angel. It is not her place to judge you or your valor."

Watching as Shinji sighed and closed his eyes, Kozo began to see the other half of the young man's lineage shine through. "I have the utmost confidence in your ability to temper frustrations, Shinji. Doctor Akagi has asked that you come in for a post-contact physical, after which I will happily dismiss you from any relevant duties save for emergency requirements. Things like the possible end of the world and whatnot." Shinji's quiet chuckle brought a hint of a smile to his lips. "My apologies, General, Doctors, but I'm a little old to be up and about at four in the morning. I will leave our hero in your capable hands."

"Thank you, Sub-Commander," Funaho stated with more respect than she'd used previously. Waiting for the man to be on his way, she then looked to Ritsuko with a warmer tone. "Could we convince you to gather the samples at the hotel, Doctor? We really would like to get him comfortable sooner rather than later."

"I was actually going to offer that myself," Ritsuko assented without hesitation. "I brought my kit with me, just in case."

"Outstanding foresight," Misaki approved. "Captain Katsuragi, I would appreciate an opportunity to speak with you later today about the operation. I understand that your tactics were crafted more of necessity than pre-planning and would like to hear you out before I start crafting my own report."

Misato bowed properly for the rank she was addressing. "I have a few items to discuss myself, ma'am. Pilot Ikari brought some things to my attention, and I want to see if you can perhaps help direct some resources from the UNOIG to assist." Running her fingers through Shinji's hair, she looked at him while continuing, "I feel his concerns are more than valid, and because of his special circumstances I'd hope we can bring some special resources to bear."

"I look forward to the meeting, then. Thank you, Captain." After the implicit dismissal, Misaki waited for their number to now only include the Juraians and Ritsuko before speaking in a less formal manner. "Shinji…I am sorry."

He knew she was apologizing for more than just being roughed up in battle. With a weak smile, Shinji nodded. "I…." They weren't alone, but he thought he could allay some fears. "I don't hold it against anyone. This is my life, it's just how it is."

"But it can, and it will, get better," Ritsuko took up Misato's place at his side. Crouching down she tapped his nose. "Whatever is going on, you know Maya-kun and I will be there to help you. I'm sure that Misato isn't helping just because she has to, either. Ok?"

Clapping her hands quietly, Funaho started herding people towards their vehicle. "Let's not waste any more time out in this cold air. We all have work to be about, and Shinji needs his rest."

+++++ Tokyo-3 Intercontinental. Monday, +13.

His time alone with Ritsuko had been brief, but the kiss she'd given him amongst the various lab draws more than made up for that brevity. Laying in his bed, all alone at his request, Shinji fought off sleep while contemplating what to do about the 'problem' he was about to unleash. He enjoyed how Ritsuko's kiss lingered, how she told him that she was proud of him for stepping up when things became grim, how his first question being about someone else's health showed that he wasn't the type of man to just selfishly draw all of the attention to himself. "Because it cannot be about me anymore," he breathed out. "It has to be about…about my crew." Placing his thumb against the back of the necklace, he prayed that he didn't have to use her full name. "Ðandy, Ðandy, Ðandy."

Entering his reality between the blankets and his flesh, Verðandy had her arms wrapped around his neck and her cheek pressed against him as she quietly sobbed. Clinging tight to him, she wordlessly puled with a fear and pain that spoke directly to Shinji's mindset and personality. It had been dark, cramped, and without hope…it had been torture.

Without thinking through what it would mean, Shinji settled his arms around her torso, hugging her close atop him and whispering soothing words of comfort and understanding. He knew what it was like to be caged. To be left without light or hope. To have nothing but his own terrible thoughts to comfort him as he waited for a dawn that likely would never come. He understood her pain, and he was profoundly sorry that she had to endure it. For the next half of an hour, he coaxed her down from the high-strung fear. When she finally took her face from his, looking into his eyes with a clinging grief, he smiled with the hope he'd begun to discover in himself and said, "Such a beautiful woman should never be made to cry…I am sorry, Ðandy."

"I was watching you die." A full-body shiver accompanied her whispered confession. "You…you fought; you fought like a Valkyrie to defend your people. I watched you be tossed around inside…it. You never despaired. You never quit. You fought until you couldn't, and then you accepted that you'd done what you could."

The feel of her body pressing against his was having expected consequences, though he tried to ignore them. "I mustn't fail them."

"Who? Who inspires you to fight so?" The top of her foot began to run along his shin.

"E-everyone." She was beyond beauty, just as every other woman he knew. Somehow, however, her 'feel' was different enough that it was becoming hard to control the compulsions. "You, Ritsuko, anyone who has tried to help me climb out of the darkness and into the light. None of you had to help me, you chose to help me. My life for your safety is…it's an easy choice."

Her breath grew deeper, her chest swelling against his. "I can feel your heart."

Assuming that she meant the physical organ, he made another stab at humor to defuse the situation. "It beats fast when I'm close to…someone so…y-you know."

Biting lightly on her lower lip, she slowly shook her head. "I mean I feel your heart. The core of your emotions, your feelings."

"W-well…at least one of us can."

"You want to bring joy to everyone." Her face grew thoughtful, as if she was seeing something she'd not seen before. "You…don't want dominion. You don't want anyone to have dominion."

"I, uh…." He shrugged, inadvertently causing his bare skin to brush pleasantly against her semi-clad body.

Resting on her elbows, she set both of her hands on either side of his neck. "You would willingly accept being cast aside by another, if it meant they were happy." Digging the back of her thumbnails lightly into the softest part of his throat, she breathed out one more word, "Hild."

A voice Shinji recognized, but certainly had not expected to hear again, giggled from a nearby corner. "Aw, you're spoiling the surprise. If you leave it in, I'll make sure he puts it-"

A bright flash popped into existence in front of Shinji's eyes, blinding him. When he could see again, Verðandy had turned around, sitting protectively on his chest facing away from him. The way her clothing had shifted meant he had new knowledge regarding what goddesses wore beneath their skirts, but there was no way for him to look around that particular framing owing to her feet keeping his face upright.

"I would sooner die than let him carry your taint." Crossing her arms under her chest, she glared daggers at 'Goofy'. "Cease your hiding behind petty illusions, demon."

"You know, if you scoot back just a touch I bet he could use his teeth to grab the stick you have lodged up your ass," Hild chortled out. "You going to keep teasing him with that thing, or are you going to let him use it?"

"He is not nearly as crass as you are," Verðandy declared with full confidence. "There is no shame in his being aroused by my beauty, nor is there shame in him desiring to touch me. He understands that there is a time and place for everything, unlike you." Suddenly feeling an indecently pleasurable sensation blossom from beneath her, she wished that Shinji had remained silent so that his breath didn't caress her quite so close.

Keeping his voice steady by sheer force of will, Shinji vied for both peace and a release from the erotically charged situation, "I can't see her, Ðandy…but she sounds like the doctor that helped me after they pulled me out of Unit-01. I don't think she's going to attack me suddenly, so…uh…you don't have to stay where you are if you don't want."

"Tell you what," Hild purred, slinking up onto the bed, "you stay where you are…I'll sit here," she put herself astride Shinji's lower torso with only the bedsheet between them, "and we'll have a nice family chat."

The generously proportioned newcomer had fully half of Shinji's attention, now. The radiative warmth and pressure she provided him set his heart to racing even faster than before. "I-I-I-," further commentary was prevented by Ðandy scooting back and away from Hild, finally placing something against his mouth that he truly believed would not be wise to move his lips around at that moment. Breathing through his nose was challenging, and the sensation of being smothered was at once both thrilling and worrying.

"We are only family by the thinnest of ties," Ðandy stated firmly. "My elder sister made her choice, and while I will forever welcome her should she choose the proper path again I do not have any such inclinations towards you. Do not harm my Shinji again, or I will defend him with the full might of Heaven."

"Ohhh," Hild whined seductively, "I didn't hurt him." Leaning hard against him, she gyrated her hips. "And you didn't remove it, dear. You amplified it." Seeing Verðandy gasp, she struck out with her hands to grab the Norn's before she could move. "We're a Triplet now…and I think your curse might just make everything better."

Shinji felt several small trinkets bounce off of the blanket to land noisily against the carpeted floor below, their weight far greater than the size of the impacts. Whatever it was that had just happened, though, had caused Verðandy to begin to sweat. If one of his team was in danger, he couldn't just lie there and try to get everyone to talk anymore. He was the one responsible for defending them, and he was going to defend everyone. Summoning his reserves, he violently heaved his body towards his right. The push coupled with the unexpected momentum change sent both Verðandy and Hild off that side of the bed, giving him the freedom to roll down so that he was standing between them with his fists in the ready stance that he'd been shown in school during lunch breaks. "Stop! I will not let you hurt her."

"But I'm not," Hild innocently sing-songed. With now tanned skin and silver hair, she looked to be the mirror opposite of 'Goofy'. Several royal purple markings, inverted mockeries of Verðandy's blue insignias, framed the same violet eyes. "In fact, I've given her something Daddy Dearest never would have." Taking advantage of Shinji's inattention when he glanced back to see if his friend was ok, she placed herself up against him without her own clothing on. Standing just astride the painfully perpendicular portion of his person, she looked him dead in the eyes and showed him eternity. "You've stuck yourself out from the doldrums of your kind, Shinji." Sticking her tongue out she ran it, feather light, around his lips. "There's a reason there's safety in remaining with the faceless masses, in not letting the things that creep in the shadows see you noticing them. The Juraians hesitated, which is going to cost them dearly now. You've got a Norn tied to you," squeezing her thighs together, she felt his shudder of pleasure and smirked in triumph, "and now a Greater Demon. What do you say we have a nice, long, group hug?"

The door into the bedroom was kicked open, Minaho, Nanako, Misaki, and Funaho charging in and taking up flanking positions around Hild. Weapons were out, primed, and aimed directly at the known threat to Galactic Peace. "Step away from him, slowly," Funaho demanded. "You have five seconds to comply."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Slithering around, Hild somehow managed to put her back to Shinji's front. With his hands in hers, she caressed them along her torso and around her breasts while chuckling darkly. "Might want to check with your 'goddess' back there, first."

Standing in the doorway, worry and anger gnawing at her in equal measure, was Washu. The redhaired powerhouse glared hate towards Hild as she urged a reduction in tensions, "This bitch planted a Doublet System in Shinji. If you kill her, you kill him."

"And you kill daddy's little princess back there," Hild added with a leering grin. "She made it a three-way. Good luck stopping a war."

Helpless on the floor, Verðandy was clearly wracking her mind for any form of solution to the dilemma. She had chosen not to attempt to use the System Force to remove the virus from Shinji, to honor his deal with the Juraians, and now that hesitation had cost Shinji greatly. "She…is telling the truth. Somehow, she's convinced Yggdrasil to conjoin our souls together within the same file. Unless we can remove the curses laid upon us…we're unable to kill one another without killing ourselves."

"Kill?" Misaki looked to Verðandy intently, clarifying, "Only kill, not harm?"

"It isn't comfortable, but…yes."

"Oh good." Moving with lightning speed, Misaki tore Hild off of Shinji and threw her through the window before following after her to begin recouping some of the new debts owed.

Shinji's knees buckled, sending him to the floor to curl into a ball of embarrassment and fear. He couldn't make a sound other than a low whimper, his strength and bravado drained from him by the confused unknowing of what had just come to pass. It was his fault, somehow, he knew that. He had not been good enough to keep Unit-02 on the vessel. He had let himself be injured enough to be infected by Hild. He had asked Verðandy to enter the mirror, instead of stay by his side. His secrets from the world were now imperiling everyone, and he didn't know what to do save hide from his shame.

By and through her authority as First Empress, Funaho took over his care. "Verðandy, convey him into the shower. Gently, now." When the Norn hesitated, her voice firmed further, "The culpability for this travesty falls upon your kind, child. You will be part of repairing it, or you will be made prisoner of the Jurai Empire, choose quickly." Inwardly relieved when the blue-blonde goddess moved to help Shinji, Funaho turned to face Minaho and Nanako. "Go and temper Her Majesty's excesses. I doubt she would kill the craven whore, but I do not doubt that Hild will push her close to the line." The two junior members of the household were quickly off and away on their task, leaving only Funaho's old friend and confidant. "Has your course changed?"

"…No." Washu shook her head, snapping her fingers and setting the room to rights. "I had hoped for a little more time to boost his confidence, though. He's been taking fire from all sides, and he could have used a bit more romance."

"He will have his romance," Funaho waved off the concern. "The good doctor, her young protégé, perhaps one or two others of his species. For now, I feel that love will see him through the trials. He is more than a good man, and I have seen nothing in him of my late husband's…weakness. I believe we can stake peace upon him, so long as we accept that we are only a part of a greater whole."

Walking closer, taking up Funaho's hands, Washu shook her head. "He wasn't weak. He stayed strong, as long as he could, and fell victim to the idea that any one person can hold up the sky themselves. Azusa loved Tenchi so deeply that he just…couldn't see the galaxy for the stars anymore after we lost him."

Funaho's smile was gentle, though her tone was venomous, "Yes. He loved Tenchi very much, didn't he?" Freeing her hands, Funaho turned around and moved towards the bathroom. "Would that he had loved Misaki and I as much."