Disclaimer: see part 1 for full disclaimer.
The Complexities of Human Interaction
By Random1377
Contact 4: Will you Understand me?
Monday morning was bright and clear, making the walk to school seem all too short to Hikari. Asuka's bed was nice, she thought with a sigh, man, why couldn't her door have been open that night?! She frowned as they approached the school. Maybe he was lying…
She made her way into the classroom, Asuka at her side, and took her seat.
"I thought Misato said it was twenty-four hour watches?" Asuka asked sarcastically.
Hikari blinked, looking up as Shinji walked through the door.
"She said I couldn't miss school," he said quietly, "I was on for twenty-one, though." He glanced at Hikari, offering her a timid wave. "Hi Miss Horaki…"
Pervert! Hikari's mind screamed as she sniffed and turned away, I can't believe you treat my friend that way! And what did you try with me while I was sleeping?? You make me sick!
"Ikari," she whispered coldly, folding her arms.
Unable to resist seeing the reaction on the dirty-minded boy's face, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes. She blinked as she found him not outraged, or slyly considering how she had figured him out… but rather…
Crushed… he just looks crushed…
Not quite sure what happened, she watched in silence as the boy slowly made his way to his desk and sat down, an expression of tired knowing on his face – as if he was thinking, 'I should have seen that coming.'
She shook herself as the teacher came in. "Everyone rise," she called, "bow… be seated."
What was that look? She thought as she took her own seat, Asuka said he was ALWAYS thinking about sex, so I don't see why he's surprised that I don't approve!
For the entire class period, she tried to figure out what Shinji's game was, stealing quick looks at him from time to time – fully expecting him to be staring at her, or one of the other girls in the class… but he simply stared straight ahead a blank, weary expression on his normally neutral face.
"Class rep?"
She blinked as the bell rang. "What is it, Miss Sansui?" she asked calmly.
"Can you help me with this problem?" the shorter girl asked, her tone sounding rather petulant and whiney. "I can't figure it ooout."
"Of course…"
She bowed her head to look at the problem, and when she looked up Shinji was no longer at his desk.
"Where's Ikari?" she asked, turning in her seat to look at Asuka.
The redhead shrugged. "Hell if I know," she said dismissively, "the other stooges dragged him off somewhere."
"Oh."
Hikari spent the rest of the day with a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach as her trust in her friend's judgment warred with her personal experiences with Shinji. When Shinji and his friends Touji and Kensuke did not return, she began to grow concerned.
"Don't sweat it," Asuka mumbled, "not like any of them add to class time – or hadn't you noticed how quiet it's been today?"
"I… I guess so," Hikari admitted. When class finally ended she said, "I'll catch up, ok? I have to clean today."
"See you at home," Asuka said, abruptly grinning, "I'll make sure pervy cooks something good for us."
The light tone of the girl's voice only increased Hikari's unease, but she nodded, waiting until all the other students streamed out before slowly rising. "She knows what she's talking about," Hikari murmured to herself, gathering some discarded papers, "but he was… so nice – I don't get it…"
He's probably just acting that way to catch me off guard again, she reasoned, biting her lip at her own analysis, that fits, I guess, but… She turned, finding one of the desks in the classroom still occupied.
"Ayanami," she said calmly, hiding her surprise with practiced ease, "is there something I can do for you?"
The enigmatic girl considered this question for a moment. "You are busy," she said softly, rising to her feet, "it is unimportant."
Oh no you don't! Hikari thought angrily, you're not getting away that easily!
"I've got a minute," she said smoothly, stepping into the aisle between the desks and blocking the other girl's path, "so what is it, Ayanami?"
Rei glanced around, trying (Hikari guessed) to find an escape route. When nothing presented itself, she met Hikari's eyes. "I merely had a question," she whispered.
"Yes?" Hikari pressed, refusing to let the normally quiet girl escape with vagueness and silence.
"I was wondering… why you are being cruel to Ikari."
The class rep frowned. "I'm not," she said coolly, eyeing the girl closely, "I'm treating him like he deserves to be treated."
"I see," Rei said softly, "my apologies for wasting your time."
Hikari folded her arms, arching an eyebrow and continuing the conversation in spite of the blue-haired girl's obvious desire to see it end. "Don't you think you should be a little worried that you're working with a peeping tom like that?"
"I do not understand," Rei said quietly, apparently seeing that she was not going anywhere until the other girl decided to let her, "Ikari has never been inappropriate."
"Well…" Hikari said slowly, thrown off by the First's calm certainty, "maybe he just hasn't had a chance to do anything that you could catch him doing."
Rei tilted her head to the side. "You are incorrect," she whispered, "when Ikari delivered by newest access card to me, I was alone in my apartment, and I was undressed." Hikari's eyes widened as Rei concluded, "Ikari averted his eyes, as was proper, and apologized for his intrusion."
"He… he might have… stolen a look…" Hikari stammered, now completely unsure of what to believe.
"No," Rei said coolly, "his back was to me, and there are no reflective surfaces in my apartment." She frowned slightly. "I do not normally engage in conversations like this," she murmured.
Wow, Hikari thought dizzily, trying to sort things out, really??
"But since you seem to be… misinformed, I will also mention that Ikari is larger than me, and physically superior, and he had ample opportunity to overpower me had he the desire." She bowed slightly, "I mean no disrespect in correcting you, Miss Horaki," she said quietly, "I hope you do not find my behavior inappropriate."
"N-no…" Hikari managed, stepping to the side, "not at all… thank you for the information."
A simple nod was her only reply.
Hikari hesitated as the blue-haired girl stepped past her, then called, "Ayanami."
Rei glanced over her shoulder. "Yes?"
The class rep assessed the other girl. I need to know what's right… she thought quickly, I… I've always trusted Asuka…
"What do you think of Shinji?"
Rei seemed unsurprised by this question, but hesitated before replying, "My opinion of him is not important."
"Please," Hikari said quietly, "I really want to know."
Rei considered this for a moment before nodding. "He is a good person."
"You don't think that maybe… he's just pretending to be?" Hikari asked slowly. "I mean, he could just be-"
"No."
Hikari blinked.
"My opinion of him is that he is a good person," Rei repeated calmly.
"I see."
The blue-haired girl waited for a moment, then turned and moved towards the door, pausing only to say, "Goodbye," before slipping out.
"Yeah," HIkari said belatedly, "see ya…"
Slowly, she continued cleaning the classroom, considering all that she had been told. Ayanami could just be unobservant, she thought as she arranged the desks to sweep the floor, but… she's always so attentive in class, and she gets good grades, so I know she's paying attention here. How could she make a mistake like that with someone she works with? But Asuka's never lied to me before… it just doesn't make sense…
Sweeping the floor, she sighed.
"So who do I believe?" she whispered, resting her chin on the broom handle, "my best friend… or the silent girl that spends the whole day looking out the window?"
She continued sweeping. Or do I believe what I feel?
With an aggravated cry, she threw the broom to the floor. "Damn it!" she growled, "Why is this bugging me so much?! I hardly know Ikari – why should I care one way or the other? Yeah, he was nice… but if he's a pervert, shouldn't I stay away? But what if he's not? What if Asuka… damn it!!"
Forcing her thoughts of Ikari to the side, she sat on the floor.
Besides, she thought glumly, I've got other things to worry about… like Dad thinking I'm crazy…
Taking a deep breath, she cleared her mind entirely, concentrating on her task until it was complete. Nodding in satisfaction, she gathered her book bag and headed for the door, returning to her current home in thoughtful silence.
Continued…
Hikari's Excess Baggage
Hey there, Hikari again. Wow, Contact 4 ends with a whole lot of uncertainty! What IS a girl to do?? Aaaanyway, this week in Excess Baggage we've got a little extension to the last scene. Kinda spooky, but I think you'll like it, and this is definitely not part of the regular story – or I'd be outta here!
Begin Sequence.
Taking a deep breath, she cleared her mind entirely, concentrating on her task until it was complete. Nodding in satisfaction, she gathered her book bag and started towards the door… but she came up short as her eyes reported a quick flash of red just outside. Blinking, she hurried to the door and threw it open, but there was no one on the other side.
She listened intently, holding her breath and expecting to hear the sound of stealthy, retreating footsteps, but again – there was nothing. "Maybe I am going crazy," she muttered, slinging her bag over her shoulder and shaking her head.
Slowly, she began walking, her footsteps echoing off the walls as she moved.
"Where is everyone?" she whispered, stopping for a moment and looking around the darkened halls, "I can't be the last one here! I know the seniors have activities…"
Taking another look around, she raised her foot… and froze as another echoed behind her.
"Who's there!?" she demanded, spinning on her heel and glaring at the empty hall. "This isn't funny! Ayanami, is that you? I saw you, you know!"
Silence.
"Whatever!"
Angrily, the class rep turned and began walking. There it is again, she thought, walking a bit faster as another step echoed behind her, man, ask a couple questions about Ikari and she turns into a robobitch!
"I know you're there!" she shouted, turning again, "Why don't you come out and-"
"Miss Horaki?"
Hikari screamed as a hand landed on her shoulder. "Ayanami!" she gasped, turning to find a pale girl standing behind her, "Don't do that!"
"You left this in the classroom," the girl said softly, offering Hikari a picture.
"I did?" Hikari asked, taking the photo and frowning, "But how did you-" she looked up, cutting herself off as she found the hallway empty.
Clutching the picture to her chest without looking at it, the class rep bolted, never looking back as the echoing footsteps began their pursuit, seeming to grow closer and faster with every step she took. With a desperate cry, she lowered her head and ran flat out, her lungs burning as she gasped, 'no' over and over, trying to ward off whatever evil was pursuing her.
With the exit in sight, her feet betrayed her, sending her sprawling to the linoleum with a terrified cry. Sobbing in fear, she rolled onto her back, ready to lash out with her foot at her mysterious follower… but there was nothing.
Sobbing and laughing at the same time, she sat up. "Imag…ination…" she gasped, wiping sweat from her brow, "just my… imagination…"
Finally catching her breath, she remembered the picture the pale girl handed her. Smoothing it out from where her desperately clutching fingers had wrinkled it, she turned it over… her eyes going wide at what she saw.
"N-no…!"
Her desperate sob would be the last sound she ever made, for the picture showed her… on her knees… in the very hallway she was currently in. Behind her, her lips curved up in a vicious, leering grin, was the girl Hikari had mistaken for Rei, though now that she could see the picture, she could see that the girl's eyes were a plain brown, and that her neck had a jagged cut running its length.
In the girl's right hand, poised to strike, was a wickedly curved dagger, its edge rusty and pitted with what looked like old, dried blood. Swallowing… praying to God that this was some incredibly elaborate, evil prank… Hikari turned… and found that it was not.
End Sequence.
Whew… so you can see why I'm glad this was just an extra little scene. They did get Rei to play the psycho-spirit, though – I mean, the scene wouldn't have worked otherwise… but man, the director had to do some smooth talking. Poor Rei couldn't stand the idea of seeing me that scared, even if it was just an act.
That's it for this time, but be sure to check out next week's contact: Can I Try Again? And I promise it'll be longer this time!
See ya next time!
Pre-read was done by Ryoma – who wanted to see more blood. *Shrug* weirdo. ^_^
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com