Disclaimer: see part 1 for full disclaimer.
The Complexities of Human Interaction
By Random1377
Contact 3: Will you Protect me?
"Ow!" HIkari stuck her thumb in her mouth and sucked it gently, scowling at the pan as if it had been acting maliciously. "Guessh thesh aren't the no-heat handle kind," she mumbled around the digit, casting around for a hotpad. "Mishato shaid Ikari doesh all the cooking," she grumbled, "how doesh he schtand it?"
She blinked, taking a step back as a pattern suddenly fell into place.
"Ahhh…" she whispered, taking her thumb out of her mouth. "I see it. Knives and other sharps over here," she pointed to the left of the stove, "spatulas and wooden spoons here," a point to the right, "and hotpads and other miscellaneous stuff on this shelf right here." She smiled happily and grabbed a hotpad. "I should have known he'd have a system."
She hummed quietly to herself as she continued preparing dinner. I wonder what they eat at NERV, she mused, adjusting the flame on the pan and pulling out a skillet, "Probably jerky and soda," she giggled, "which explains why Ikari's getting a little soft around the waist!"
Thirty minutes later, she was in the process of arranging plates on the table when the sound of the front door opening reached her.
"Miss Katsuragi?" she called, "I hope you don't mind, but I thought I would cook some lunch for me and you and Asuka – is that ok?" She grinned as Asuka herself came into the kitchen, running a hand through her damp hair and tilting her head back to inhale the smell of cooking food that permeated the kitchen. "Hey."
"Hey yourself," the redhead grinned, dropping into one of the kitchen chairs. "It's just you and me – Misato had to go make sure wittle Shinji's all tucked into his EVA for the day."
"Oh be nice," Hikari admonished, "he helped me out last night."
"I was being nice," Asuka winked. "So what's cooking?"
"I'm cooking American tonight!" Hikari declared.
"You're cooking Americans?" Asuka said blandly, "Make sure you add salt – and lots of it. American's are at their best when they're salty."
"So you're like this at home, too…" Hikari sighed, still grinning. "Ok, I'll be more specific – and no wisecracks, please. I'm cooking a dish called Dirty Rice, which is from the American south. I found a package of it in the back of the cupboards… kinda dusty, but still before the expiration date."
"Yeah," Asuka nodded, "dry stuff like that lasts forever… so that's it? Filthy rice?"
"Ooo!" Hikari growled, grabbing the spatula and brandishing it menacingly. "Dirty rice… and no, that's not all – I'm making hamburgers too."
"Now you're talking!" the redhead exclaimed. "Do you know how long it's been since I've had a good hamburger?" She leaned back in her chair, sizing Hikari up. "So," she said, her tone changing to business, "did you kick her a-"
"No," Hikari cut in smoothly, "we got into it about… well, you know," she hurried on as Asuka nodded, "and she started yelling and calling me… bad things, and I threw a plate at her."
"Gotta work on your aim," Asuka nodded sagely, "so after that, you came here and got naked with Shinji… you perv."
"Hey!" Hikari cried, blushing brightly, as she glanced down at Shinji's shirt. "It's not like that – and you're the pervert for even thinking it!"
"Hikari?"
"Huh?"
Asuka's grin turned sly. "I hope you're at least wearing your own pan-"
"Stop!"
The redhead laughed. "You're so timid," she chuckled, "you blush even if I just say pan-"
"Don't!"
Asuka's grin grew exponentially. "What?" she said innocently. "Pant-"
"I mean it!"
"Pan-"
"Don't!"
"Panti"
"Asuka, come on! That's… personal stuff!"
Asuka drew in a deep breath.
PenPen, Misato's penguin, yawned as he waddled into the kitchen. Can't you people keep it down? he thought, glancing up at the two noisy teenagers, I mean really…
From where he was standing, the argument looked playful enough – what with both of the girls laughing as the dark-haired one chased the other around the table… but he could not fathom why on earth the one he thought of as 'The Loud One,' was chanting, 'panties, panties, panties, panties,' as she ran.
Walking under the table so as not to be trampled, the penguin made it to his refrigerator and opened the door, taking a final look back over his shoulder as the two girls collided, holding onto one another as they gasped for breath and continued laughing. Kids…
"You're… such a… pervert…" Hikari panted, smiling happily as she clutched at her friend for support.
"Hey…" Asuka returned, sounding just as winded, "I'm not… the one… wearing Ikari's clothes…" She grinned, "I thought… you liked… Suzuhara…"
"I… I do…" Hikari admitted, leaning back on the table and folding her arms as she regained her breath, "but Ikari's not so bad, I mean-"
"You can't have them both," Asuka grinned, flipping her hair off her forehead.
"Come on!" Hikari sighed, "Give me a break! I just… you always told me Ikari was kind of a loser, and he was really nice." She shrugged, "I just want to get to know him a little better, that's all."
A faint frown flickered over Asuka's face, disappearing before it even registered in Hikari's consciousness. "He is a loser," she said coolly, "but hey, do what you want – only don't blame me if you end up with three kids out of the deal, Misses Ikari."
"Why are you being like that?" Hikari asked, averting her eyes. "I'm not going to marry the guy – just be friends with him… what's the big deal?"
"Can we not talk about him?" Asuka said with some exasperation. "Feed me, woman!"
Hikari hesitated, not quite sure how to handle the quiet hostility she had sensed from the mention of Shinji's name. "Ok, sit down," she finally sighed, "just don't think I'm cooking all the time!"
Asuka nodded, slipping into one of the chairs and resting her chin in her palms. "How long are you staying?" she asked curiously. "And you are sleeping in my bed, right?"
"Well," Hikari said slowly, taking one of the plates and dishing up some rice, "the couch-"
"Nnnnnnnnot!" Asuka cut in. "You're not sleeping on the couch. I have a queen-sized mattress – not a crappy futon, either, a real bed… so you're with me."
"Thanks…" Hikari whispered, smiling warmly.
"Yeah, yeah," Asuka waved a hand, her grin returning as she added, "unless you want to sleep in Shinji's bed, in which case-"
"Hey!" Hikari grumbled, "You were the one that wanted to stop talking about him!"
"Ok, ok," Asuka rolled her eyes, "just don't keep me up all night with-"
"Arrghh!!"
"Your snoring…" Asuka finished, offering Hikari an innocent smile.
"Eat your lunch," Hikari grumbled darkly, trying to look as menacing as she could, "or I'll tell Shinji you want to kiss him!" She blinked as Asuka muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, 'been there, done that,' and nodded.
She's different too, she thought as she prepared the redhead's meal, she's not usually this caught up on… on sex – or Shinji. Am I just blind at school, or do they just put on masks when they leave home?
She received no answers to her questions as she got a plate for herself and the two began eating. The conversation over lunch revolved mostly around other people at school, from the latest dating news ("No – with Arima? Really??") to hints of the next math exam ("I hate that non-linear crap!!") to what they might wear on a date if one of the really cute seniors invited them to a dance ("Remember that black dress? Yeah, of course I'd loan it to you!") and finally around to talk of a nap.
"I'm beat," Asuka yawned, pushing her plate back. "That was really good."
"Thanks!" Hikari beamed, "Let me get this stuff in the dishwasher and we can go hang out in your room."
"Sounds good," the redhead nodded, "But do me a favor?"
"What's that?"
Asuka's nose wrinkled. "Change."
Hikari looked down at her outfit, frowning slightly. "I… don't have a lot of stuff with me," she said reluctantly, "is it really that big a deal?"
"Fiiine," the redhead grumped, "just… try not to look down the front of my shirt, or the similarity might be too much and I might slap you."
Hikari's eyes widened. "Ikari… he does stuff like that?!"
"All the time," Asuka nodded with some satisfaction, "I'm surprised he hasn't tried to sneak into my room and cop a feel yet."
"Asuka!"
Hikari's mind was reeling. He could have… done that to me last night! She thought, plucking at the sleeves of the boy's shirt, I never knew he was like that…
Still trying to reconcile the Shinji she had spoken with last night and the Shinji Asuka was describing, Hikari followed the girl into her room… where she was regaled with more tales of Shinji's perversity, finding herself more and more thankful that she had such a protective, kind-hearted friend in Asuka.
By ten o'clock that evening, Hikari was thoroughly convinced that she should never, ever be alone with Shinji Ikari…
Continued…
Hikari's Excess Baggage
Hiya. Hikari here again, putting the finishing touches on the latest chapter. Today we've got a lighter exchange for you. This was never really part of the story – we just kind of improved it on the set. What can I say: it was late… we were tired… Asuka started it, and we just kept it rolling. So here it is.
Begin Segment.
"Hey!" Hikari grumbled, "You were the one that wanted to stop talking about him!"
"Ok, ok," Asuka rolled her eyes, "just don't keep me up all night with-"
"Arrghh!!"
"Your screaming…" Asuka finished blandly, ignoring the girl's look of shock. "I mean – once you see that kid's teeny little thing, you'll be screaming, 'Asuka! Save me! Please, I'm begging you!!'"
A slow grin spread over Hikari's face. "You sound like you're talking from experience," she said lightly, "why are you looking at Ikari?"
Asuka shrugged. "I just caught a glimpse when we had a sync test," she said easily, "a little glimpse… you know what I'm saying?"
Hikari giggled. "I'm sure it was an accident," she laughed, "but maybe if you asked, he'd let you get a better look."
The redhead leaned back in her chair. "No thanks," she said emphatically, "if I want Vienna sausages, I'll get them in a can."
Hikari exploded into laughter, unable to keep from throwing her head back. "B-but," she stammered.
"No," Asuka corrected, "no butt." She grinned as her friend collapsed on the table, roaring with laughter. "Ok," she said, standing up and stretching, "I don't know about you guys, but I think we're done for the night. Call it a wrap?"
"Cut!"
End Segment.
There you have it – just a little silliness between Asuka and me. Well, I guess that's it for now, but be sure to stop by next week for the next chapter – Will you Understand Me? And this time I know it'll be longer!
See ya next time!
Pre-read was by Ryoma, who said – and I quote: "Hikari is so cute!"
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com