The day went as many others had, boring with the Eva pilots and the Saiyens training during the PE classes.  Goten spent a great deal of time watching his friend's face, it was a very amusing subject to see him scowl and growl at people that looked at Rei sideways and even to see him nearly power up to Super Saiyen when one of the older boy's slapped her butt: Trunks's face had been absolutely priceless.

At the end of a day like this, all anyone wanted to do was relax and since it was Friday, they all intended to do exactly that.  Even Rei had her own special way of relaxing, damned if anyone else knew what it was though.  Before they reached home, Trunks grabbed Goten aside to speak to him

"I think we should leave the city for a few weeks" he said

"Why?" Goten asked, clearly confused

"Because I believe our presence here is now dangerous and puts our friends-"

Goten cut him off "Our mates as well" he said

"…In danger" Trunks finished, doing his best to ignore Goten's suggestion

"I don't think its that big of a deal, I mean what are they going to do, kill us?" Goten wasn't convinced

****************

Deep inside Nerv, in a room were access and knowledge of was restricted to three people in the whole of Nerv, 14 black monoliths floated around a man at a desk; that man was Gendo Ikari: he was being interrogated

"Ikari, who is the owner of the large power level we felt yesterday at the site of the Angel battle?" the oldest member of Seele, Keel Lorenz demanded

"I honestly don't know.  I felt it as well and I am impressed.  Anyone who can amass that amount of power would make a valuable ally," Gendo said

"Or a powerful and dangerous adversary.  Be realistic Gendo, anyone with this power won't bow to you" Keel taunted the commander but it was no rival's jibe: it was plain fact.

"Everyone has a weakness Keel, all I must do is find this person's and exploit it" Gendo retorted.

Keel remained silent after that.

*******************

Ritsuko was in her lab examining a piece of the Evangelion armour that had been struck by the energy from the mystery fighter; there was also a sample of blood from the metal on Rei's entry plug from who ever ripped it to pieces getting her out

[Whoever this guy is, he is amazingly strong] she thought and ran the test on the blood

NO MATCH FOUND flashed in front of her eyes, then a second message appeared:

HUMAN CELLS:                    50% CONSISTANCY DETECTED

UNIDENTIFIED:                    50% CONSISTANCY DETECTED

"What the hell?" Ritsuko swore aloud and asked the computer to cross-reference the other cells with the sample taken from what was left of the 3rd Angel

NO MATCH

"Well I'll be goddamned, more aliens, but friend or foe?" she wondered and called Misato, as the caretaker of two of the three children, she needed know about this.

"Misato, it's Ritsuko.  Yeah I need you to come down to Gen-Lab 3, I have something here you should know about" she said to her friend

/Okay/ she replied

Ritsuko ran one final test on the blood.  She asked the computer to isolate the human cells and try and give an approximate age for the subject via those cells.  The result was surprising:

POSSIBLE AGE: 15 TO 16 YEARS

"This makes the pilot's safety even more paramount: the could be mixing with them at school" Ritsuko said to herself as Misato came in

"What is it?" she asked the scientist

"It seems our mystery fighter isn't an Angel, that's good news I suppose.  The bad news is we don't know what the other half of him is," Ritsuko said

"Half?" Misato was confused

"Whoever it is, is half human, the other half is unknown.  And get this: using an isolated scan to human cells, the computer has determined that our visitor is between the ages of 15 and 16" Ritsuko lit up a cigarette and took a puff

"No shit?" Misato asked

"No shit" Ritsuko answered

Misato was starting to put a few puzzle pieces together: two new teenagers appear at Asuka and Shinji's school, another alien or even aliens arrive on Earth and massive power levels are popping up.  She also remembered that Hikari told her that when the 4th Angel attacked, Trunks and Goten didn't appear in their designated shelter.  While it was possible they went to another one by mistake, Misato doubted it: Goten was naïve not dumb, and from what Shinji told her: Trunks was sharper than a samurai sword.

[These coincidences are too close together and too closely related on a too many levels not to have some truth to them] she thought.

"Thanks Ritsuko: listen, I know Rei is a solitary person, but I think it would be in her best interest to move in with me or you until we find these 'visitors', agreed?" Misato asked

"Yeah, I think you're right this time Misato" her friend said and returned to her work

"Oh and don't forget, the commander let me use one of the conference rooms for my birthday party tonight, Maya and I are decorating the room after I've done these tests.  Bring the pilots, maybe a party can loosen even Rei up", she added

"Oh cool.  I'll take care of drinks", the beer-loving Captain said.

Ritsuko groaned as she thought how drunk her friend could get and even the extra expense of non-alcoholic drinks for the kids and non-drinking staff.  Misato walked out of the lab with the full intent of getting information out of Goten or Trunks, or if she could swing it, Rei

"Wait, what does she mean 'this time'?" Misato realised that Ritsuko had ripped her and she hadn't even noticed

"Never mind, I need to talk with Asuka and Shinji first" she decided and made her way to the Nerv car park to go and see them since they were at home at the moment

*******************

Rei sat in her room listening to a small Discman with classical music on the CD; right now she was listening to 'Moonlight Sonata' and contemplating the party her sister had invited her to at Nerv: it was a birthday party.  Party, that meant lots of noise and light and people.  Three things that she wasn't overly fond of, but Rei respected, even liked her sister so she would go, but it didn't mean she would enjoy herself.  Upon another examination of the invite, it said that the invite was plus 1 guest, and dress formal but comfortable

[It doesn't say I have to bring someone else, just that I can] she reasoned

But that didn't sway her mind's overall decision; if she was going to this party, she may as well have someone who she could talk with without being awkward.  That was an easier part of the two other points: the dress would be a little more difficult but it could be done.

Sighing, Rei got up and went to her wardrobe and found a white dress that her mother had given her a long time ago: plain white, nothing on it, no patterns or anything like that, just clean, plain white.  The dress did however come with a piece of jewellery: a ruby pendant on a gold chain, also her mother's.  A pair of black shoes she had for school would suffice for footwear.  Now she tackled the other part of her problem

"Trunks probably dislikes parties as much as I do, but it cannot do harm to ask him" she reasoned.

As she walked up the stairs, that pain in her neck came back again: the cause of which was still a mystery in itself.  Rei rubbed the sore area of her neck really hard: that was the only way it would subside.  When Rei reached the door the pain went away, shrugging her shoulders she knocked on the door, only softly but she knew Trunks could hear it.  It took only a second for the young Saiyen to reach the door and open it

[What?  I thought she'd be avoiding me like bubonic plague after what Goten told her] Trunks was surprised

"Trunks, I have to ask your assistance" Rei began

"Why don't you come in?" Trunks asked

Rei saw no good reason to refuse the request and nodded; Trunks stepped back and allowed Rei entry.  Looking around, Rei noticed that despite similar sizes, Trunks and Goten's apartment was nicer than hers.  To her however it was irrelevant, she sat on a cushion.  Trunks did the same, facing her.

"I have been invited to a party, my step sister's birthday party" she explained a bit more

"Okay" Trunks gently prompted her on

"The invitation has got 'plus 1' written on it, and it would help me a great deal if, you accompanied me" Rei used up a great deal of courage to say that

[Parties make me uncomfortable] she thought again

[Well, this certainly isn't what I expected] Trunks thought

"Okay, if it'll make you feel more comfortable at the party" he agreed

[How did he know I was uncomfortable at parties?] Rei wondered

"Is the type of dress a concern?" Trunks asked

"Yes, casual yet formal, is what it says" Rei answered and got up

Rei turned to go, walking slower than she seemed to want to go; she felt a reluctance to leave.  Years of her seclusion however enabled her to fight the urge to stay, down

"Goodbye Trunks" she said and walked back home

Trunks stood totally stunned for almost a full ten minutes

"Okay" he was still rather shocked

*****************

Shinji was in his room, contemplating: he had seen a power of heaven and it was a force to be reckoned with.  So if these two were here, why were they putting their lives on the line to fight the Angels when powers like that were present to fight?

[Why, Goten said another group of aliens sent them to fight, ah, um, Buu] he paused to look at the picture of Hikari he had

[So why can't they engage the Angels too, I mean, Trunks minced the last one so bad there wasn't anything left of it] Shinji lamented

These thoughts eventually led to Shinji questioning his own reasons to pilot Eva, was is it to prove to Hikari that he was strong, to prove to his father that he was a warrior deserving of his respect or to the world that he was no ordinary boy?  Shinji sighed; it bothered him that he wasn't as strong as he could be.  Goten's training was making him stronger than he ever thought he could be but it felt as if it still wasn't good enough

****************

Hikari lay on her bed as her sister fussed over her impending date with Shinji at the Nerv party.  Although Hikari has assured Kodama that it was a birthday party for one of the staff, and that no one of any great importance was going to be there, her sister had still insisted on Hikari looking her best.  Kodama was searching for some nice perfume and maybe a family piece of jewellery to go with it.

"Oh come on Hikari, you like Shinji right, let's at least make an effort to make you look good" Kodama said

"Kodama, I like Shinji a great deal and I'm sure he will look good, but I am going to a birthday party not a diplomatic function!" Hikari cried out

Kodama only grinned

"Who said anything about a diplomatic function, I want to make sure that you and Shinji look so good together, that Asuka will be jealous" Kodama never really got on with Asuka

Hikari just sighed and tried to drown out her sister's silly ranting while she lamented on the fact that Shinji was trying time and again to prove he loved her and that he was worth something.  It drove her nuts but she didn't have the heart to tell him that he didn't need to do it.

[Oh the complications of being in love] Hikari said to herself.

****************

Asuka on the other hand wasn't having such thoughts, but she was seriously questioning her relationship with Goten since the revealing of his origins to her.  Could she love an alien that for all she knew was descended from the very creatures that were trying ton invade her planet and destroy her fellow man?  She was so confused about everything

"Goten looks human enough, and the tail is rather cute" she said in an hopes of convincing herself that she could have some kind of intimate relationship with him

However he who deludes others is only blinding himself and Asuka knew it: until it was proven to her that Goten was no relation to the Angels or that he was not going to transform into something horrible and scaly every night, all bets were off.  Asuka groaned and got up to get ready for Ritsuko's party, which promised to be something interesting: she had heard that Rei was coming and she was bringing someone with her.  Despite Asuka knowing instantly who it was, it would be interesting to see them interact with each other in this kind of situation.

"Let's see; the red dress with tie straps, a black neckband and red shoes.  That should do it" she mumbled and went for a shower, still wondering if she and Goten could be

*********************

Misato was a different story: she was easily quite happy: she was good at her job and her boyfriend, one Ryouji Kaji was also very good at his, they made plenty of money and they were getting married at the end of the Angel War.  However Misato was human and she worried about the two children in her care, although neither of them showed it, they were scared of dying, the only thing that took the edge off that fear was the fact that they could use Ki to get them out of some hot water if needs be.

[And I bet Asuka fears not being able to love Goten] Misato thought

"This is wrong on so many levels: kids in the front line of a war.  I always thought that was illegal" she lamented and looked at Shinji as he applied aftershave in the main room.

"Well, time to get this circus on the road.  Let's go everyone" Misato said and grabbed her keys

Shinji and Asuka called out that they were coming and the pair soon materialised: Shinji was in a light grey suit with a black tie and a red shirt and Asuka was in her dress.

***********************

Misato picked Hikari up on the way; they were also picking up Goten.  Misato wasn't comfortable with that but that was the only way she could watch them and see what was what.  Goten, in a black suit came strolling out and sat beside Asuka: Trunks was no where to be seen

"Nice suit Goten" Misato said, trying to be normal

"Thanks Misato" he replied and smiled at Asuka, a smile that melted her heart

"Hi, Goten" she said and smiled back at him

Misato wondered how Rei was getting to the party but knew that Rei was capable of looking after herself so she just kept driving.  Something nagging at Misato was, whom Rei was bringing with her, Asuka had told her that Rei was bringing someone but not who it was.

They arrived at Nerv's main gate after a few minutes.  The room Ritsuko had gotten was in the administration department so it was open to the public and not near any of the important areas.  The kids went in first and were followed by Misato; Goten however took a quick glance at the sky

[Here they come] he said to himself and continued inside

THUD, Misato turned around and took a mental snapshot: Rei was in Trunks's arms like a cliché maiden with her arms around his neck.  The white dress and ruby pendant just completed the picture.  Trunks was dressed in a black suit, white shirt and red tie.  Trunks gently set Rei on the ground and she dusted herself off, not that anything could hit them through the field Trunks put up to fly.

"Are you okay?" he asked

Rei nodded

Yes, lets go inside" she said

"Captain" Rei said curtly as she passed Misato

"Rei, and you're Trunks I guess" she said and pointed to Trunks

"Yes I am" he replied and followed Rei inside, brushing past Misato

**********************

Inside, there was a lot of Nerv staff mixing and drinking and laughing.  The two pilots and their dates were at a table with Maya, Aoba and Hyuga chatting.  Maya kept throwing dirty looks at the group of younger techs who were making fun of Rei

[I wish she would come in with a hunk of a young man and show those bitches up, just once] she thought

Little did Maya know that her wish was going to come true sooner than she thought; for as soon as Rei walked in, they began to giggle, but Trunks came up behind them and smirked, his green eyes glinting in the party lights

[Wait, green eyes?] Goten gasped as it hit him like a Ki wave

[That cheeky little sod, he turned Super Saiyen 2 just to come here] Goten knew Trunks could be a bit risky, but this was a beauty

Maya was looking open mouthed at the young man behind Rei, his clothes fit him like gloves and it showed off a few of his muscles.  It was the hair and eyes that Maya couldn't take her eyes off: his hair was platinum white and swept up like a flame that seemed natural to her.  His eyes were an odd shade of green but were sharper than spear heads

"Go get em Rei" Maya said to herself

Ritsuko was equally pleased; not only had Rei shown up, but she had brought a date with her and a rather handsome one too

[Thanks for a great birthday present Rei] Ritsuko thought as she thanked another quest for coming.

**************

Commander Ikari watched the celebration from his office via the video link, his eye trained on the two unidentified teens.  The one with black hair seemed harmless enough but the one with gold hair seemed to radiate danger and the same kind of mysterious sex appeal as James Bond

"I must remove her from the party soon, otherwise irreversible damage could be done" Gendo said to himself

***************

The party was getting to a dancing part, eventually the slower songs started and the slow dancing began.  Rei enjoyed this quieter music and wanted to know what it felt like to dance to it

"Would you like to try it?" a voice asked her: she looked up and saw Trunks

"Okay, can you dance like that?" she asked

"Yes, can you?" Trunks replied

"A little" Rei answered

"Okay, come one and I'll show you something my parents taught me" he said and led her to the dance floor

Those who knew Rei best stared in utter shock as she and Trunks began to, quite well, slow dance to the song that was on 'Bridge Over Troubled Waters' it was.  Then without warning, Trunks lifted up into the air a little, around three feet up, but he was still flying

*********

Gendo saw this and he moved so fast that he nearly dropped his glasses.  He had to get her out of there before her barriers broke

*********

Rei was in a type of bliss she had no idea existed and almost as if by instinct, she and Trunks leaned in to kiss each other, but the entrance of Commander Ikari stopped the process

"PILOT AYANAMI.  I WISH TO SEE YOU IN MY OFFICE NOW!" he bellowed