As Shinji layed himself down on his bed, he took a quick glance to his right. On his nightstand, was a frame with a picture of his mother holding him in her arms. He was an infant at the time. A baby. This made him reminisce on earlier that night.
...
"That's right," Misato said. "Ritsuko was just as stumped as anyone would be. I know I drank a little at the party, but it's too early to know for sure if anything might be wrong." Asuka and Shinji where dead silent with the same expression on there faces. Shinji stood from his seat and left for his room and stayed there till this moment where still he lied. He just couldn't see Misato as a mother and now she just comes out with the news she's pregnant? It was too much to mentally grasp at the time. He leaned over to his lamp and turned it off, hoping some rest would help him deal with the situation in the morning.
With one last glance at the frame, he turned off his light. "Good night, Mother."
As the sun broke over the city, Shinji woke with a red blurry vision. A quick rub of his eyes, however, revealed Asuka with a rather tranquil look on her face as she looked down on him. He layed there and stared back up at her. Both of them not saying a word, continuing to stare in each other's eyes. Time seemed to have stood still.
"Well!?!?" Asuka shouted abruptly. "Don't you have anything to say about it!?!?" Shinji nearly shot out of bed and into the wall when she snapped. "About what? It's six thirty in the morning? What could possibly be so important to talk about now?" Asuka simply flicked Shinji on the forehead. "Misato! That's what's so damn important!" Shinji sat out of bed so he was sitting up next to Asuka. "Okay, what about her?"
"I honestly don't think she know's what she's gotten herself into." she said. "A kid is a real huge responsibility. She's almost always drunk, she can't cook, and she never cleans." Shinji took a moment to let it all sink in. It was true, she was a real slob, but he trusted her. "I think she'll do just fine." he said. Asuka rolled her eyes and smacked Shinji upside the head once again. "You obviously don't see what I'm trying to point out to you, you idiot!" Shinji rubbed his head as he heard her out.
"Where the hell are we going to put her baby!?!?"
Later that morning, Asuka brought up the topic with Misato and Kaji. "Well, seeing as we only have three rooms..." Misato paused, hoping that there would still be an apartment after her suggestion. "...you two will have to bunk together in one room." Asuka's eye began to twitch "Wha... what did you just say?" Asuka's temple was throbbing and her fist was clenched to the brink of drawing blood with her own nails. Shinji scooted his chair away from her slowly so he wouldn't make any sudden movements. Misato and Kaji knew what would be coming up soon, so they prayed to god, gave each other a kiss, and hoped for the best.
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT'S HOLY ARE YOU SAYING!?!?!"
The three stared blankly at her for a moment. 'She's taking it a hell of a lot better than I thought.' Misato thought to her self. Kaji took over. "Well, The baby will need it's own room, and seeing as I'm bunked up with Misato, I'll trust that you two will take this like couple of mature teenagers and learn to live with the decision and each other." Asuka with a pummeling bang of her fist on the table, could not accept this. "You mean live with this idiot!?!?"
"Try to calm down!" Misato pleaded. "It's not like you two will be living together for the rest of you're lives. And we're not even sure if I really am pregnent. It was just a suggestion." Asuka took her seat, still fuming. "Well, how about this..." the three looked at her to hear out her proposal. "How about I bunk up with Kaji and you two share a room?"
Misato didn't want to think about that idea. "You know, we'll discuss this later. Shinji and I need to get ready for school." Kaji looked at his watch and noticed the time as well. "Yeah, I better get ready to head to the office." As they all left the dining room, Asuka was left in her seat. She was clearly not happy about this.
"WHAAAAT!?!?"
That word echoed through out the halls of the high school when Misato announced to Kaworu, Kensukei, Touji, Hikari, Crystle, and the rest of the class the big news she kept from them for awhile. "Okay, class. Hold that pose!" Misato took her digital camera and took that precious Kodac moment she was waiting for. The class was still frozen stiff, their mouths hanging open, with utter astonishment. She looked around and noticed that only Shinji and Rei where the only ones who where still sane at the moment. She reached back under her desk into the "in-case-of-emergency" drawer and pulled out some little boxes. She handed them to Shinji and Rei asking them for a favor. "Ok, guys. On three, throw them everywhere in the room." Rei and Shinji opened the bags full of snappers and saw dust carefuly. Shinji didn't like this trick too much. As for Rei, she had one bright smile on her lips, a rare sceane for the class loner. Misato began the count down.
"Ok, one...two-three!"
The whole class was filled with loud pops and cracks as the floor lit with the mini-explosions. The class snapped back to reality and ducked for cover under their desks. The class fell deftly quiet with everyone scared half to death. Misato sat from her desk with her camera taking photos of as many of her students she could get. "I love this job."
At lunch, The stooges, together with Rei and Hikari, where discussing their teacher's big news. Other than Shinji, they just didn't know how to handle it. Kensukei and Touji where heart broken, Hikari was thunder struck, and Rei had a puzzled expression on her face and her eyes where deep in thought. "I can't beleive it!" Touji shouted. "The most beautiful woman in the world! Our teacher and friend is having a kid!" Touji burried his head and wallowed in misery. Kaworu looked at him in his pitiful state. "Oh, just get over it. You never had a chance with her and you know it."
"Do you don't have to be so cold, you heartless bastard!?!?" he shouted. Kaworu always enjoyed shattering his dreams and knocking him off his high horse. "I'm only stating the facts. She's more than twice you're age, married, and now she's having a child." Hikari took a sip of her milk as countless thoughts entered her head.
"Hey guys?" she asked. "What do you think she's going to name the baby?" Kensukei took out his tape recorder and set it on the table on record. Crystle looked with a puzzled expression in her eyes. "Do you always carry a camera or recorder around with you?"
"Sure! They always come in handy around these guys." Crystle shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe I'll understand someday." Kaworu thought about the question Hikari asked for a minute. "Well, considering Kaji will be her new last name, how about Kenji?"
The table bursted with laughter, causing the 'coolest' guy in school to blush at his own mistake. "Yeah right! Nice one, Class heart-throb! KENJI Kaji?!?!" Touji was gripping his sides and buried his face into the table. Shinji wiped a tear from his eye and spoke up. "But, how do you know if it's going to be a boy? It might be a girl." The table was once again deep in thought. Rei thought of a name that she thought was real cute.
"What about Kanami?" She said softly. Hikari thought about it long and hard. " Kanami Kaji...?" She smiled and looked a Rei. "I like the sound of it! That's first on the list. You're getting this, right Mr Aida?" He smiled and reassured her. "Don't worry about it! I got the whole thing on tape." Touji came up with another idea. "Hey, what about Sasukei Kaji?" The table turned their full attention to Touji. He felt like he just made a complete jack-ass of himself.
"I LOVE IT!" Hikari shouted. Touji's heart felt like it stoped for two seconds flat as she scared the living hell out of him. "WELL, DON'T SHOUT AT ME LIKE THAT!!!" he snapped back. Shinji thought of a name that he thought was on the tip of his tongue. "Hey guys?" he said. "What about... Kyoko if it's a girl?" He didn't know why it sounded so familiar, but he felt like it had something to it that made it so... perfect. The whole table lit up with smiles as Rei spoke up. "That's a beautiful name." Kaworu smiled at his suggestion. "I'm sure Miss. Katsuragi will love it." Crystle looked at Shinji and gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. "Nice one, there Shinji."
Touji was walking Hikari home after school. They decided to talk more about the subject at hand. Misato's child. "You think Misato knows what she's doing?" he asked. Hikari shrugged her shoulders. "I honestly don't think so. But she did put up with those two for well over two years. I think she'll be fine." They kept walking to her home and talked about numerous things that where going on at school, home, and other matters. Touji walked on and noted how Hikari's freckles and pig tails made her look a lot more relaxed and more serene then she actually was. She noted his staring and lost her patience. "Just what are you gawking at, Mr. Suzahara?"
"Oh.. I-that is..." Busted. His nervous system was shot. His brain stopped. He had no control over what he said at that place and time. "I was just admiring you're eyes. That's all"
...
Hikari Horaki, the class representative, was struck down with one of the nicest things any boy has ever said to her. However, that was not the jist of it. Touji Suzahara. The biggest corn dog in school with the toughest reputation, was practically reciting poetry to her. She was so blushed and felt a warm rush all over her. Coming to her senses, she simply smiled at him and continued to walk on home.
Touji's body returned to it's normal functions as his brain rewound what previously just took place. He remembered pausing for a moment and recalled staring into her eyes. And lastly, he remembered saying...
"WAIT! HIKARI WHAT I MENT TO SAY WAS... HEY WAIT FOR ME!!!"
Meanwhile...
"Mr. Nagisa?" Rei asked with a cold, stern voice. "Yes, Miss Ayanami? Would you like me to carry you're bag for you?" Rei shook her head. "No. I just wanted to know... why are you following me?"
Kaworu had beam following, or rather 'escorting' Rei home from school and to the store. "Just to keep you company. It's not safe to walk alone and I feel it's my obligation to see you home safely." Rei look puzzled. "Obligation?" Kaworu jumped up a poll and picked a flower from a tree. He twisted around the poll and offered her the sweet smelling gift. "Why of course. It's my duty to look after the most beautiful girl I know." Rei looked rather shocked at his actions as she flustered over all he just said. "um... thank... you."
And yet at the same time...
"So, how did you come up with that name, Shinji?" Crystle and Shinji was strolling down the park on their way to her home. "I don't know." Shinji replied. "It was just... something I felt I had to suggest. And I feel like I know it from somewhere." He was lost in thought as he stopped in his tracks. Crystle noted this and snapped her fingers in his face to bring him back. "Helloooo? Earth to Shinji!" He looked around and was brought back to reality. "Oh, sorry. I... Must have just dozed off al of a sudden." He offered her his arm, which she gladly accepted, as they walked home together.
"Hey, Asuka! order fifty-two's up!" Asuka was working her ass off waiting tables and waiting for her break in thirty minutes. "Damn. I can't believe a college grad like myself is busting tables." The kitchen bell continued to ring like an alarm clock. "Hey, Soryu!!! Order FIFTY-TWO!" Asuka shook her head and headed straight back to work "Yes sir! Right Away, sir!" She ran to the kitchen, took the order and delivered it to the table in the corner. "Here we are. A Strawberry Sundae and a burger with... extra... pickles...?"
"Thank you so much, Ms. Soryu. And I could use another refill here. Lemonade, if it's not too much trouble." Misato dove right into her juicy burger and enjoyed it's savory flavor. Asuka looked at her, crossed her arms and quietly, began to scold her. "What in god's free will are you doing here?" Misato swallowed her first bite and explained. "I love the food here. I'll have to thank Shinji and his friends for recommending this place." Asuka's eye was twitching. "I bet. Ok, a refill of lemonade. Will that be all?" Misato thought about it. "Yeah, can I also get those ex-lax chocolates you gave Touji the other day?"
Asuka couldn't help but smile and chuckle at his expense. "Well, serves him right. He had to go and drill Shinji for that information." Misato was intrigued. "Oh, do go on." She wanted to know more about what it was so that deserved poor Touji a day in the bathroom. Asuka simply turned her back and continued walking on to the kitchen as she looked at her watch. "Damn, it's been only two minutes since I last looked at it." She sighed a sigh of frustration as she headed back for work.
Misato enjoyed her meal, but that wasn't the only reason she was there. She looked at her watch and noted her "date" was late. "C'mon, I waited here for thirty minuts already." she cursed under her breath as she took another bite into her burger. The front door opened and a woman with short, blond hair and a blue dress walked in. Misato looked up at the chiming door and saw her appointment walk over to the bar. "Hey, Ritsuko!" she blurted out with a full mouth. She looked over her shoulder and saw Misato waving at her to come sit with her.
"Ugh, she never had any table manners." she thought to herself as she smiled and waved back. She made her way to her and took a seat across from her in the booth. "Well, looks like you got you're appetite back. That's... always... good." Ritsuko was trying not to look directly at her as Misato finished her lunch. "Hey, you want in on this?" she offered the doctor a spoon for the sundae. Ritsuko took the spoon and a large chunk from the frozen dish. "This reminds me of the old Nerv days." Misato took a scoop for her self. "Yeah, which reminds me of our old college days."
Ritsuko ate her fill and took some papers from her purse. "Anyway, about those tests you took the other day. I just want you to know that this is not for sure one hundred percent." Misato set down her spoon and licked her lips of the last bit of whipped cream. "Ok, Ritsuko. What are the results?"
...
"Well!?!? Spit it out Already!!!" The two ladies nearly jumped out of their skins when Asuka shouted out of impatience. Asuka noticed the whole dinner looking at her with uneasy eyes. "I mean, did you call?" Asuka was standing like she was going to take another order. "Um... no, thank you Asuka..." Ritsuko looked at her with a million questions running through her head. As she left, Ritsuko looked at Misato with a puzzled look. "Why is she working here of all places?" Misato tried to explain. "She's just here until-"
"She's working a waitress job?!?! I never expected this from here! and in this dinner and that dress?" Ritsuko was out of it. "Hey! What about the results?" Misato shouted. Ritsuko shook her head. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that... She's not even old enough to work here, is she? I mean she's, what, sixteen now? And she has a college degree-"
"WHAT ARE THE TEST RESULTS!?!?" Misato's patience was out the door with all of her ranting. "Oh, sorry again. The test where..."
Back home, Shinji and Crystle where reading over the United States' history and wondered. "How the hell are we going to do this?"
"Sorry, Shinji. Social studies was never my best subject. If it was math or science, then this would be a different story." she said reluctantly. "Oh, it's ok. I don't think we need to explain everything in detail. Just the major changes." They where busy writing down what they needed for the report when Kaji came in with briefcase in hand and a cigaret in his mouth. "Hey, kids. How goes the studying?" Shinji eyed him like he was breaking some forbidden law. "Oh, sorry, about that you guys." He made his way into the kitchen and put his cigaret out quick.
The two students worked for hours when the phone rang, startling the two. Kaji answered the phone. "Hello, this is the Katsuragi-Kaji residents. May I know who's calling?" He stood there and listened to the voice over the phone. With a rather puzzled look, he handed the phone to Shinji. "It's for you, Shinji. Sounds like Rei has a problem."
Kaji handed the phone over to him and left Shinji to his conversation. "He- hello? Is that you Rei?"
Rei was in her apartment with Kouru putting up her groceries. "Yes, Ikari. I was wondering if you can explain to me what Mr. Nagisa is doing in my apartment. He's insisted on helping me with my homework, shopping, and even cleaning after Buchi." Shinji was thankeful that she couldn't see him over the phone and asked her. "What is he doing there in the first place?"
She was just as puzzled as he was. "I am not certain. But he said something about 'escorting' the most beautiful girl home." Crystle looked at Shinji who turned white as a ghost. "Hey, what's wrong? What did she say?" Shinji knew what Kaworu might be up to and knew he better get there fast before anything happened. "Hey, Kaji!" he souted. "I'm going to Rei's to see what's going on there. I'll be back before dark, ok?"
Kaji peeked out of the kitchen, making sure neither Shinji nor Crystle saw him in his cooking apron. "Ok, I'll have dinner ready by then. Hurry back." Shinji helped Crystle up and both where out the door. Kaji returned to cooking and Pen-Pen stared from the doorway at the man in pink. He noted the bird's glance. "What?"
Shinji and Crystle ran for several blocks until they got to Rei's apartment complex. Shinji rushed to the elevator and pressed the button to Rei's floor. Crystle, on the other hand, was completely lost. "So... why are we here?" He looked at her with a rather nervous smile on his lips. "Well, you know how Kaworu is kind of a real flirt?" Crystle nodded. "Yeah, I mean he's kind of a James Bond-Lupin-Austin Powers-kind of guy. He cracks me up."
Shinji looked even more worried at those words. "He 'escorted' Rei home and she called saying he's 'making himself comfortable.'" Her eyes widened and her cheeks grew rosy-red thinking about what he might have in mind. The elevator swung open and the where both sprinting towards Rei's room. When they got to the door, however, there was definitely something going on in there.
"No... Mr. Nagisa. You can't... I can't bend that way! No, not there!" Both Shinji and Crystle where white as a snow covered hill hearing that from outside. Luckily, Rei gave him a key card in case of an emergency. He swiped it and the door slid open with a his. "Kaworu, this time you went to fa-!" They both looked at them lying on the floor in a pile on top of a poke-a-dot colored mat. Kaworu looked up to see what was going on, but lost his balance and collapsed, which in turn, made Rei fall over as well. They both started laughing at their own expense. "Hey, Shinji!" he said. "You're just in time for the next round. Would you like to join us as well, Ms. Karsnook?"
"I can't believe we ran all that way for nothing." Shinji was lying on the floor covered in sweat. Crystle, however, looked like she could go on for another block or ten. "Aw, c'mon. That was barely a warm up. But you can run like hell when you have to, I'll give you that." He only panted harder. "You know, you would be a shoe in if you tried out for track." Shinji only let out a chuckle, but grabbed his water next to him and drank as much as he could.
Crystle looked at her watch and saw it was late. "Well, I better get going. I'll see ya later, ok?" Shinji sat up and walked her to the door. As they opened, She accidently bumped into another entering the door as well. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking." Shinji looked to see Asuka and Crystle face to face. Asuka looked like she had a hard day. "No, It's ok." she said. Shinji was astonished to see her keep her cool like that. She made her way in, tossed her coat on the floor, and collapsed face first on the couch. Misato and Ritsuko was not far behind when they walked in as well.
"Oh, Hiya, Crystle! You look like you had a busy day." Misato said, noting her sweat on her forehead. "Oh, it's nothing. Just a little jog. I'm, in a hurry, so I'll see you at school. bye!" and with that, she was off. Ritsuko looked at her run. "Wow. she's quite the athlete, huh?" Misato smiled. "Yeah, already captain of the track team, too. She left the last one in the dust the other day." She hanged her coat up and noted Shinji was, also, out of breath. "Well... what have you two been doing while we where gone?"
Shinji was utterly embarrassed about what she said in front of everyone. Asuka looked up with a panicky look in her eyes and was about ready to unleash her day's stress out on him when Kaji stepped in. "Oh, they just went over to Rei's place to see what she wanted. That's all." He stepped out of the Kitchen with a frying pan, oven mitt, and a frilly, pink, apron on over his cloths.
"Hahaha, Hahahahahaha!!!!"
Kaji walked back in the kitchen with his head hanging in shame and his face red with embarrassment. The laugh lasted a good minute when Misato spoke up. "So, you joining us for dinner, Dr?" She nodded. "Sure. I have nothing due in the morning, so I guess I can spare the night here." Misato sighed with a relief. "Wow, Ritsuko. I remember when you used to be all work and no play."
At the dinner table, Misato was famished as she opened a cool draft. "Well, cheers to all!" But before she could even get the first drop down, she was tackled by everyone with no remorse. "What the hell are you doing!?!?" Ritsuko took the can out of her hand with brute force. "What do you mean 'what are we doing'? You could be drinking for two!" As everyone recovered from the dog pile, Kaji noted the doctor's words. "Wait, did you say 'might'?" Ritsuko nodded. "Yes. The tests where inconclusive. It's still way to early to tell, but we still need to take all necessary precautions just in case." Kaji smiled, but was rather disapointed. "I see. Well, better safe then sorry." Misato was almost on the brink of tears. "My beer... all gone. It's back to canned coffee now."
Shinji noted a lump in his pocket and removed the tape recorder Kensukei let him borrow. "Oh, Hey, Misato. The guys and I thought about some names. You know, just in case." Everyone grew silent as he pressed play. On the tape, they replayed all the names they came up with earlier. Asuka was simply chewing on a chopstick as the tape rolled on. But one name caught her ears.
"Hey, what about Kyoko?" Asuka looked at the casset as it played on. "Yeah, that's almost perfect." Shinji stopped the tape and looked at Misato for comments. "Well, Kyoko is a rather common name, but I like it." Kaji raised his glass. "Ok, then if it's a boy, it's Sosukei. If it's a girl, Kyoko." Everyone raised their glass to his toast.
"Hey, Asuka. Are you ok? You're all of a sudden realy quiet tonight." She took a gulp of her drink. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a hard day, that's all. Excuse me." She picked up her plate and set them in the sink. She made her way to her room where she changed into her Pajamas and fell in to bed. She felt it had to be a coincadent. And Misato was right. The name was very common. But it still hurts just hearing them say it. She prayed that it would all go away and that tomorrow would be less hectic.
To be continued...
Well, I guess I have no choice but to leave everyone hanging for a little bit. I want to apologies for the twister joke, for I know it is one that has been used over and over again. Right now, I feel really low due to the fact that this fiction got rejected from Evafics.org due to my apparent writing skills. Oh well. Can't win them all, huh? I'm just doing this because I'm bored and because people seem to like it. ^_^;
Well, untill next time, I leave you with a quote of "wisdom."
"Oh, Raiden. my sympathies. You know, spy missions are called 'wet-works' for a reason."~*~*~ Col. Campbell from "Metal Gear Solid 2: Son's of Liberty" (Those who played it know what it means.)
