Disclaimer: see part 1 for full disclaimer.
The Complexities of Human Interaction
By Random1377
Contact 6: Can I be Like You?
Man this place gets quiet at night…
Hikari crept through the apartment as quietly as she could, casting a wary glance at Shinji's door. It had only been fifteen minutes since the boy had gone to sleep, but she thought she could hear him snoring. "Must have been tired," she mused softly, gently pushing a paperback out of her path, "Asuka sure was."
The redhead fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, leaving Hikari awake and not the least bit tired. On the contrary, she felt uplifted… euphoric.
It had turned out to be a great day.
Sure it took some work, she thought, slipping into the kitchen and reaching for the fridge handle, but I think Ikari knows that I-
"Shouldn't you be in bed?"
"M-miss Katsuragi!" Hikari exclaimed, covering her heart with her right hand as she whirled to find the woman sitting at the kitchen table, "you scared me."
Misato took a sip from the can she was holding before replying, "Yeah, and it was pretty damn funny, too." She eyed the girl as she tried to recover from her shock. "Isn't tomorrow a school day? It's past midnight, Hikari."
"I wasn't really tired," Hikari shrugged, "I don't sleep that much anyway, even at home."
"You should try," the woman said gravely, taking another drink, "sleep deprivation can kill you…"
Hikari nodded, averting her eyes as she whispered, "Are you… talking from experience, Miss Katsuragi? It might not be my place to say this… but you look wiped out…"
Misato gave the girl a ghost of a smile. "You're right," she said quietly, swirling the can around for a moment, "it's not your place."
The class rep blushed, turning around and opening the fridge. "Sorry…" she whispered, rummaging around for a moment and pulling out a gallon of milk, then grabbing a foil-covered plate off of the counter. With a hesitant smile, she walked to the table and put the plate and jug down, taking the seat next to the purple-haired woman.
"What's that?" Misato asked, nodding to the plate and emptying the can in one long pull. "Leftovers? 'Cause I'm not hungry."
Hikari shook her head, grinning as she pulled the corner of the foil back. "How's that look, Miss Katsuragi?" she whispered conspiratorially, "Shinji made them."
A more honest smile lit the Major's features as she examined the plate's contents. "Now those," she said quietly, "look great."
With a mock bow and a flourish, Hikari pulled the foil back, revealing a perfectly symmetrical stack of brownies. "He said to make sure you got some," the girl winked, "so I was just going to have one."
"You sneak," Misato chuckled, shaking her head, "he would have figured it out, you know – look at how he arranged them."
"Oh he said we could have some," Hikari clarified, taking one of the brownies and offering it to the woman. When she reached for it, Hikari softly added, "But he probably told us four times when he was making them that he hoped you would like these…"
Misato's hand wavered a minute, then she took the desert, setting it on the table in front of her.
The two women sat in silence, considering the small brown square. "Your father called me at work today," Misato whispered suddenly, rolling the can slowly between her palms. "You have a… doctor's appointment day after tomorrow at four."
Hikari swallowed. I'm not supposed to know about… about that, she thought, recalling the conversation overheard at her own front door.
"I had a physical for school," the girl said, trying to sound light, "just three weeks ago."
The can between Misato's palms made a crinkling sound as the woman unconsciously applied more pressure, and had it been a bottle, Hikari was sure it would have cracked – or else Misato would have been peeling at the label, an alternate form of tension release.
"It's not for that…"
Hikari flinched slightly, unprepared for the woman to volunteer the truth. "W-what's it for then?" she asked unevenly.
Misato's tired brown eyes met hers. "Your father gave me temporary stewardship of you," she said quietly, "Do you know what that means?"
"He… gave you custody??" Hikari gasped, feeling her world gray slightly.
"No, no," the older woman shook her head, "stewardship – it means that he's given me written permission to do whatever I feel necessary to ensure your health and wellbeing as long as you're in my house. You're still his child, and you're still going home when the time is right, but while you're here…" she took a deep breath. "While you're here, I have the right to do what I feel is right in order to ensure your safety… do you understand?"
"I… I think so," Hikari stammered.
Don't, she thought as the woman took a deep breath, don't tell me the truth! Lie to me! Tell me it's something else! Don't remind me of everything that's bad after I had such a good day! Please? I know I have to go… but don't say it so plainly – let me pretend for another day…
Misato, it seemed, did not hear her mental plea.
"You're going in for a psychiatric evaluation on Saturday," she said quietly, pushing the empty can away and leaning back in her chair to fold her arms. "As your father's… stand-in, for now," she said reluctantly, "I think you have a right to know this… and to be prepared." She met the girl's eyes. "After the evaluation, you will meet with your sisters and an intermediary." She shook her head slowly, reaching across the table and taking the young woman's hand. "I don't know what will happen after that, Hikari," she said honestly, "but you're welcome here if… if things don't… go well…"
Hikari swallowed, her eyes fixed on the empty coffee can as she replied, "I don't want to go, Miss Katsuragi…"
"I wouldn't either," Misato said gently, squeezing the girl's hand, "but you have to work this… this situation with your sister out. Even if you feel like you have to come back here, that's fine, but you can't just run away from your problems, Hikari – you have to face them."
Hikari averted her eyes. "How was work?" she asked dully.
Misato sighed, releasing the girl's hand as she pulled it away. "Like a nightmare…"
Immediately sensing the other woman's pain, and deciding it was better to shift the focus from herself, Hikari asked, "Is it anything you can talk to me about? I'd be glad to listen…"
Anything, she thought as the woman considered this, anything to keep me from thinking about Saturday…
"Another Child was found today," Misato whispered, taking the can and rolling it between her hands again, "another… pilot."
"Oh…" Hikari nodded, "like… Asuka and Shinji?"
Misato nodded. "I can't say much more about it," she mused, "a lot of it's classified – and please don't tell them, ok? Shinji will just start moping about how EVA affects everyone, and Asuka will start planning how to beat him…"
"My lips are sealed," Hikari promised solemnly. "So the new… Child," she said softly, "do you know if he's nice?" She smiled as Misato looked confused. "If he's going to be piloting with Shinji and Asuka, I'd hope they all get along."
She blushed as Misato whispered, "You're sweet, Hikari, you know that?"
"Not sweet enough, I guess…" the girl said sadly, "or my dad wouldn't think I'm crazy…"
Misato sighed. "He doesn't think you're crazy," she said quietly, "he loves you very much, and he's worried about you – that's all."
Hikari slowly re-covered the brownies, smoothing the foil carefully and deliberately before murmuring, "And… I can come back here if I need to…?"
"If you need to," Misato nodded, "but I think it would be better if you found a way to work things out, you can't keep run-"
"-ning away," Hikari finished for her, grinning weakly, "Yeah, I think I get it."
Misato rubbed her eyes. "Sorry," she muttered, "I'm so used to dealing with Shinji…"
"Does he run away a lot? I can't picture that."
The older woman frowned. "You know," she said thoughtfully, "he doesn't anymore… but when he first got here, he ran away more than once… it was a rough time."
"I'll bet," Hikari agreed, "it must have been hard for him to be all alone in a place he didn't know surrounded by people that all wanted something from him."
She met Misato's wide eyes unwaveringly.
"Don't you think?"
I know you meant it was hard for YOU, she thought, watching the woman closely, have you even thought about how he felt at all?
"Yeah," Misato grumbled, blushing faintly as her mind came to the same conclusion as Hikari's, "I'm sure." She hesitated for a minute, then asked, "Hikari… are you…" she met the girl's eyes, "interested in Shinji?"
"Am I… oh not like that," Hikari said quickly, "he's… nice, and I want to be his friend, but I think…" she sighed, "well, there's this guy at school that I kinda sorta really like…"
"Kinda sorta, huh?" Misato winked, "Is he as cute as Shinji? Because I'll tell you, if he wasn't so young, I might go for it myself."
"You…" Hikari took a deep breath, trying to remind herself that the woman's policy on matters of closeness was not the same as hers. "You like him that much?"
Misato smiled, slowly turning the brownie in small circles on the table. "Yeah… I do."
"Well," Hikari said slowly, "To- this guy's kind seems like he's tough at first, but he's always really nice when he thinks no one's looking…" She blushed and lowered her eyes, "I might even… you know – that other L word…"
"Oh…" Misato whispered, her smile growing a bit wistful, "well… does he know that?"
Hikari laughed softly. "Do I seem like the type of girl to just go up to a guy and say 'hey how about it?' I'm not like-" she snapped her mouth closed before the word 'you' could escape.
"Asuka?" the purple-haired woman offered helpfully, arching an eyebrow and taking a bite of the brownie. "Tell Shinji I liked them…" she murmured around the mouthful, "and give me a glass… these are rich."
Hikari did as she was asked, pouring the woman a glass of milk and putting the jug back in the fridge, her appetite suddenly gone. I almost told her who, she thought tiredly, and then, if she told Shinji… he might have told Touji – not on purpose, I'm sure, but it might have come out somehow…
There was a moment of quiet as the two women thought of the same boy, their reasons, though, as different as night and day.
"So," the girl said softly, taking the plate and putting it back on the counter, "are you driving me on Saturday, or is my dad coming to get me?" She forced a smile, "Or do I need to take the bus?"
"Your father said it was up to you, actually," Misato informed her. "I can drive you there if you want, but I have to work so I can't drive you back…"
"Can… Shinji ride with us?" Hikari asked impulsively.
"Well," Misato said quietly, "that's his day on watch, so it would probably be easier if I just dropped you off and took him to NERV – that way I wouldn't have to come back for him." She raised her eyes. "Why not Asuka, though?"
Hikari shrugged uncomfortably. "She doesn't run away."
"I don't follow…" the purple-haired woman admitted.
"You said Shinji used to run away," Hikari said softly, lowering her eyes, "maybe… if he rides with and I can keep remembering that he's not running away anymore… I can be stronger."
"You're weird."
Hikari blinked and looked up, finding the woman smiling as she stood up.
"Your logic is all kinds of screwed up," Misato said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "I like it."
Hikari chuckled. "Th-thanks…"
"Go to bed," Misato instructed. "Trust me – in the morning, this whole thing won't look as bad as it does now."
"Yes ma'am," Hikari bowed.
"I thought I told you to stop that," Misato chided.
"Can't help it," the girl shrugged, "I'm used to showing respect to old people." She covered her mouth as the woman glared at her. "Just… just kidding," she giggled, "maybe you should get some sleep too, Miss Katsuragi."
"Maybe I should," Misto grumbled, "now get out of here before I wake Shinji up and tell him you want to share his bed."
"You… you wouldn't!" Hikari gasped, scandalized.
"Try me," the woman grinned wolfishly, cupping her hands around her mouth. "SHIN-"
"I'm going!!" Hikari yelped, scurrying out of the room, "Night!!"
Slipping into Asuka's room, she sighed, grinning as she heard Misato's full throated laugh.
How does she keep from waking everyone? She thought, making her way to Asuka's bed and slipping under the covers, They must be used to it I guess, but-
She gasped as Asuka suddenly rolled onto her side, embracing her and shivering violently. "A-Asuka…??"
The redhead's face was screwed up into a mask of pain, and her shaking grew more pronounced as a weak sob escaped her. "Mama…" she moaned, "don't… please… mama!"
Hikari clenched her eyes closed. God… she thought, a wave of pity washing over her, oh God, Asuka…
Hesitantly, she wrapped her arms around the girl. "Shh," she whispered, stroking her hair, "don't cry… I'm… I'm here, Asuka… mama's here…"
Instantly, Asuka calmed, snuggling against Hikari with a content sigh.
For three endless hours, Hikari held her friend, stroking her hair and staring up at the ceiling as she thought of all the problems surrounding her. From friendship, to family, to thoughts of where she belonged, her mind relentlessly poured over every aspect of her life. And when she finally managed to fall asleep, she was still holding Asuka tightly to her chest, though if it was for the redhead's comfort, or her own… she no longer knew…
Continued…
Hikari's Excess Baggage
Hi hi – Hikari here! Man, poor Asuka! And I thought I had it bad. Not much Excess Baggage today – just a quick little prank that Misato and Shinji played on me on the set. I was so mad!! Hope you like it!
Begin sequence.
Hikari nodded, averting her eyes as she whispered, "Are you… talking from experience, Miss Katsuragi? It might not be my place to say this… but you look wiped out…"
Misato gave the girl a ghost of a smile. "You're right," she said quietly, swirling the can around for a moment, "it's not your place."
The class rep blushed, turning around and opening the fridge. "Sorry…" she whispered, rummaging around for a moment. She was just moving the milk to the side when a hand reached out of the back and grabbed her arm.
With a shriek the girl grabbed the closest available item – a block of cheese, as luck would have it – and hit the hand as hard as she could.
"Did you get that?" Misato laughed, "Please, someone tell me we got that on tape!!"
Hikari groaned as Shinji's laugh echoed the purple-haired woman's. "Oh very mature," she griped, peering through the prop-fridge to find the boy's grinning face. "Was this her idea or yours?!" she demanded.
"Mine," Shinji laughed, "she wanted to have my head in here, but we couldn't talk props into changing the set that much."
"I should have known," Hikari grumbled, blushing as a chorus of laughs sounded from all around her. "I'm going to my trailer, you as-"
"Cut!"
End sequence.
Ahem, yes, well… I guess I have a little trouble taking a joke. Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed this week's Contact, and be sure to come back next time for Can I Hold Your Hand? And maybe there'll be some fanservice!! …Misato? Have you been changing the script!?
See ya!
Pre-read on this Contact was by Ryoma, who doesn't know that brownies keep longer in the fridge and can always be thrown in the microwave to warm them up if you need to ^_^
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com