Disclaimer: see part 1 for full disclaimer.
The Complexities of Human Interaction
By Random1377
Contact 2: Will you Shelter me?
Hikari opened her eyes slowly, smiling as she inhaled. "Mmmm…" she hummed, stretching languidly, "Western breakfast…" She relaxed her body, staring up at the ceiling and folding her hands on her stomach.
"Good morning, Hikari," a quiet voice murmured, sounding as if it was coming from directly above her head. "I'm glad you woke up. I need to speak to you."
Hikari rolled onto her stomach, blinking as she found Shinji's guardian, Misato Katsuragi, sitting in the chair next to the couch. "Good morning, Miss Katsuragi," she replied, rising to her knees and bowing awkwardly. "Please forgive my intrusion."
"Forgiven," the purple-haired woman said quietly, "but I'm afraid I am going to need an explanation." She raised a hand as Hikari drew a breath. "Shinji told me the story," she said firmly, "or at least, what he's been told… but I want to know why, exactly, a fight with your sister means you ran halfway across town."
"It was a… pretty bad fight," Hikari answered.
"So I gathered," Misato returned dryly, examining her fingernails absently and frowning as if what she saw concerned her. "But Shinji…" she leaned forward suddenly, resting her chin in her palms and lowering her voice. "Let me tell you something about Shinji, just really quick," she said softly, "I trust Shinji. I've lived with him for half a year, and I think, in spite of his shyness… or maybe because of it, that he's really good at observing people."
"Ummm, ok…" Hikari said uncertainly.
Misato pursed her lips, murmuring, "So when he tells me that the girl sleeping on my couch says she wants to be his friend – but says it when she thinks he's asleep – and that he's sure that she needs help… I kind of pay attention."
"He was faking?" Hikari asked incredulously.
"No," Misato grinned, "he's a light sleeper." Her smile fell away as she sat back and folded her arms over her stomach. "So tell me, Hikari," she murmured, "is he right? Do you need help?"
Hikari bowed her head. "I don't want to be an inconvenience, ma'am," she said quietly, "and Shinji's already been kind enough to let me sleep here… and borrow his clothes…"
"You didn't answer my question," Misato pointed out, narrowing her eyes.
"I just… need a couple days to sort things out," Hikari whispered, bowing as best she could, "please may I stay here, Miss Katsuragi?"
Misato's nostrils flared. "I don't appreciate evasiveness, Miss Horaki," she said coolly. "And I don't need your father knocking on my door with the police behind him, accusing me of harboring a runaway or trying to hold you against your will – you being here without his consent could be seen in a very bad light, Hikari, can you understand that?"
"I'll call him," Hikari assured her, keeping her head down and speaking in soft, non-aggressive tones. "He'll understand."
The older woman looked the class rep up and down, biting her bottom lip as she took in the sweats and tee shirt that belonged to the Third Child… and thinking about responsibility and duty.
"If he gives his permission," she said firmly, "you may stay for a few days – just until you can get things worked out at home." She rose to her feet, staring down at the girl in thoughtful silence before adding, "I trust Shinji… and in spite of what people think of him – Asuka included – he's not as weak as he looks… nor is he all that open with others." She shrugged slightly. "What I'm trying to say, believe it or not, is that you're getting to stay because he let you borrow his clothes. He wouldn't do that for just anyone, Miss Horaki… I hope you can appreciate that."
Hikari nodded. "Yes ma'am," she replied docily, "I do." She smiled timidly, lowering her voice and adding, "And I meant what I told him… I do want to be his friend."
Misato smiled, glancing towards the kitchen. "I'm glad," she whispered honestly, "he needs more friends." Her smile faded as she reached into her jacket pocket, withdrawing her cell phone and presenting it to the girl. "Call your father right now," she said quietly, "and I'll take you over there to get a suitcase together." Her lips threatened to quirk into another smile as the girl took the phone. "As cute as it is to have you scampering around the house in Shinji's hangout clothes, I think it would be more appropriate to have some of your own things while you're staying here."
The younger woman blushed, tugging absently at the bottom of Shinji's shirt to ensure that her midsection was covered. "Asuka's door was locked," she explained lamely.
Misato laughed. "Call your father," she chuckled, shaking her head, "Shinji's gotta go to NERV, so we'll drop him off on the way." She winked. "You can ride up front."
Hikari did as she was told, her blush intensifying as the Major stayed in the room. "Hello, papa? Yes…" she rolled her eyes, "no, papa – not this time. I know that!" She uttered a frustrated growl. "No, papa! Not this time! If Kodama thinks she can… no, no papa! I'm staying with a friend. Uh huh…" she nodded to herself, rubbing her eyes as if pained. "Uh huh… yes, papa, I will. I'm coming to get some clothes… I know… yes, I know, papa, but I can't be there right now." She sighed. "Thank you, papa… I'll be there in a little while…" she smiled softly. "Yes, papa… I know. I love you too. Ok, bye bye."
"Well?" Misato asked, taking her phone and slipping it back into her pocket.
Hikari shrugged slightly. "He wanted me to try and work it out with my sister," she said quietly, "but he understands that I need some space… so he's sending her out to do the shopping so she won't be there when I come."
Misato nodded. "Sounds like a good man," she said gently. "Let's get going… you can eat in the car."
The class rep shuffled her feet. "I'm sorry I'm-"
"Oh don't," Misato cut in sharply, "don't start apologizing, please. I said you could stay, you said thanks, let's drop it, alright?"
"Yes ma'am," Hikari replied uncertainly.
"And drop the ma'am."
Before the girl could reply, the Major was off, striding into the kitchen and telling Shinji that it was time to go. She's… strong, Hikari thought, smiling faintly as she heard Shinji vying for another minute to finish the sausages.
Three minutes later, they were on their way down to the car. Hikari smiled at Shinji as he opened the car door… but after a quick, almost nervous glance at Misato, he simply slid into the back seat and fastened his belt, staring down at the floor in total silence.
Strange, she thought, frowning as the woman got in and started the vehicle, he looks embarrassed all of the sudden. She stole a look in the rearview mirror, finding the boy keeping his eyes downcast. I don't get it, she thought, confused, he was so open and funny last night, but now… now he's even worse than at school!
She was forced to keep wondering, as the drive to NERV was silent. She smiled again when Shinji climbed out of the car, but he simply hurried into the building, his head down and his fingers wrapped so tightly around the straps of his backpack that they were white from the tension.
They drove in silence for a few minutes before Hikari managed to ask, "Is Shinji mad at me?"
"Mad?" Misato echoed, "Why would he be?"
"I don't know," the girl confessed, "he just seemed really quiet."
"And you've known him how long, now?" Misato chuckled. "That's just Shinji."
"But…" Hikari murmured. But he was so… so NORMAL yesterday!
"I doubt he's mad," Misato said after a moment, swerving to avoid a car that was traveling too slow for her tastes. "He's just not too adept at living."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hikari asked skeptically.
"Hell if I know," Misato winked, "it's just something a friend of mine said once." She sighed. "Seriously though," she mused, "it means that he's not so good at relating to others, and let's face it – you're a pretty girl… you slept in his house, and," she grinned happily, "you've already gotten into his pants, so-"
"Miss Katsuragi!"
Misato laughed out loud, delighted by the scandalized expression on the girl's face. "Oh, you'll have to get used to that if you wanna live with me!" she exclaimed, pulling the car over and turning the engine off. "But about Shinji," she said gently, "don't worry too much… I think he's just a little unsure about how to talk to you right now."
That's not it, Hikari thought astutely, he knew how to talk last night – hell, he made me feel like I belonged there, even though I woke him out of a dead sleep. Twice!
"I'll go up with you."
Hikari blinked, realizing that the older woman must have mistaken her thoughtfulness for hesitance. "Ok," she said belatedly, figuring it was too late to decline, since the woman was already stepping out of the car. Quickly, she followed, falling in step behind the woman as she headed straight up to the door. "You don't have to knock," she said awkwardly, reaching for her keys.
"Because you'll use your telekinesis to open it?" Misato asked dryly.
Hikari blushed, her hands sliding over the smooth, pocketless leg of Shinji's sweats. "Sorry…" she said sheepishly.
Misato grinned, knocking on the door and shaking her head. "Forget it," she said easily, "just be quick, ok? I've got to go get Asuka from NERV in a little while." As they waited, she added, "I'm trying a 24 hour watch with the pilots. Yesterday it was Asuka, today it'll be Shinji, and tomorrow, Rei."
"So Shinji won't be home for a whole day?" Hikari asked, feeling slightly crestfallen.
Damn, she thought sadly, and I was going to try to talk to him later – to see why he's mad.
She bowed as the door opened. "Hello, papa," she whispered, stepping past him without meeting his eyes, "I'll only be a few minutes…" Hurrying to her room, she gathered a week's worth of school outfits and underclothes, impulsively grabbing two casual outfits and her toothbrush, and stuffed them into a shoulder bag. She cast a quick, suspicious glance at her sister's door, scowling deeply as she slung the bag over her shoulder and headed back down the stairs.
The sound of slightly strained conversation made her pause just inside the front door.
"…regardless," her father was saying, his voice slightly muffled since he had moved onto the porch, "I still feel that I must apologize."
"As I said, Mister Horaki," Misato's voice returned politely, "she's friends with two of my charges… it's no trouble at all to let her stay a week or two…" there was a brief pause, "or as long as she needs to."
"You are too kind," her father said apologetically, "I'm afraid… she's like her mother – very strong-willed and confident. If she was the only one in the house like that, I don't think it would be an issue… but since her older sister is the same way…"
"I understand," Misato answered levelly, "but with all due respect, Mister Horaki… have you considered counseling for the girls? I mean… it may not be my place to say this, but it seems to me that this type of all-out war you're describing is a little outside the realm of your normal sibling rivalry…" there was another pause. "Pardon me for being so forward."
Hikari edged closer to the door, her jaw dropping open at her father's reply. "I have scheduled psychiatric evaluations for all three girls, Miss Katsuragi," he said gravely, "not just because of this, but because they are all… hurt."
"Hurt?" Misato repeated. "How so?"
Hikari's father sighed wearily. "Yukino was taken from us when Nozomi was only four," he said slowly, "and all of the girls were very attached to her. I'm afraid… I haven't been the best father, up to this point, and I don't feel that I can relate to them – do you understand?" Misato must have nodded, Hikari reasoned, as her father continued. "They're all so… angry," he said sadly, "even little Nozomi. They try to hide it from me, but I can see it in their eyes every time they look at Yukino's picture. I'm afraid that if I don't help them… they are going to hurt themselves…"
Quickly wiping her eyes, Hikari took advantage of the brief lull in the conversation to call out, "I'm ready!"
She stepped quickly onto the porch, looking from one adult to the other. What she saw was very telling. Misato's face went from sudden surprise to a pleasant smile so fast it actually made Hikari dizzy, whereas her father… simply looked embarrassed – as if he had been caught kissing the woman instead of talking to her.
"Shall we?" Misato asked lightly, nodding to Hikari's father.
Hikari felt a lump in her throat as her father returned the nod, his eyes flashing briefly with an emotion she never thought she would see.
Pity.
Slowly, the two women walked to the car and got in, making sure that their seatbelts were secure, and drove away from the Horaki house.
Continued…
Hikari's Excess Baggage
Hey, it's Hikari again. Wow… things got kinda heavy at the end there, didn't they? I mean… my own dad, sending me to see a shrink. Too wild.
Well, this week's Excess is just a little scene. At first I was going to see Nozomi on my way back from room, but if that happened, then it would have been unrealistic to think that Dad and Misato would still be talking when I got back, so it was cut out to get me back downstairs in time. It was kind of short anyway, but here it is.
Begin segment.
She cast a quick, suspicious glance at her sister's door, scowling deeply as she slung the bag over her shoulder and headed back down the stairs.
"Nozomi!" she exclaimed.
Her younger sister stood at the bottom of the stairs with one hand on the rail, glancing up at her with a small frown. "Hi," she said quietly, lowering her eyes and starting up the stairs.
"Hey," Hikari said, crouching down to eye-level as the girl reached her, "Hey, I'm gonna be gone for a few days, so you gotta take care of dada, ok?"
Nozomi nodded. "Ok," she whispered, frowning as she took another step and paused. "Are you… going away like mommy?" she asked timidly.
Hikari flinched. "No, honey," she replied, her voice thick. "I'll come back, I promise."
In spite of her reassurance, the little girl did not seem comforted. "Bye…"
Taking a deep breath, Hikari watched her sister make her way slowly up to the top of the stairs. "Bye…" she whispered sadly.
End segment
I'm sure that Nozomi will turn up in another chapter, so for everyone that likes adorable little girls, don't worry!
Guess that about wraps it up for this chapter. Look out for the next week's installment, titled: Will you Protect me? And this time I'm sure it will be longer.
See ya next time!
Pre-read of this contact was by Ryoma, whose biggest complaint was that Hikari wears a seatbelt when she drives with the Major. :P
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com